And Then, Saturn

[Radio: (A) Masters] God of War Gemini Man transmits, "Brother....."

[Radio: (A) Masters] Snake Man transmits, "What?"

[Radio: (A) Masters] Enker transmits, "You feel the void, don't you, Gemini Man, you feel it cascade through your being, feel it empower your limbs.. You feel the end of remorse, the thirst to succeed, the need to persevere."

[Radio: (A) Masters] Guts Man transmits, "Enker's doing his Skull Man impression again..."

[Radio: (A) Masters] Snake Man transmits, "What?"

[Radio: (A) Masters] God of War Gemini Man transmits, "Not YOU... you hissing, ungrateful, SIMPERING..." "Enker..."

[Radio: (A) Masters] Guts Man transmits, "Wait Enker doesn't do impressions."

[Radio: (A) Masters] God of War Gemini Man transmits, "Ahhh...wonderful... This is good. Very good."

[Radio: (A) Masters] Snake Man hmphs. "Good job desscribing yourssself, Gemini. When did you ssstart hisssing?"

[Radio: (A) Masters] God of War Gemini Man transmits, "We'll deal with YOU, and your damn COMPLAINTS, later." "This is so much more important."

[Radio: (A) Masters] Shadow Man transmits, "...Let us all avoid childishness, at least for a moment. How did your mission go, Sempai?"

[Radio: (A) Masters] Enker transmits, "So vast.. So.. So much to see.. I have returned from my celestial dip within the expanses of the void, let me assure you all of that. The others.. will return shortly, I feel. Fate smiles upon us, those I consider kindred."

[Radio: (A) Masters] God of War Gemini Man transmits, "Absolutely. Congratulations, Enker."

[Radio: (A) Masters] Guts Man transmits, "Snake Man, what's he talking about?"

[Radio: (A) Masters] Snake Man transmits, "Either he'sss got it, or he'sss going out of hisss mind. Or both."

[Radio: (A) Masters] Snake Man transmits, "Consssidering what a nutjob Gemini isss turning into, I'd lay my money on the latter."

[Radio: (A) Masters] Enker transmits, "Who can say for truth, Snake Man? There are so many weavings, so many tales this story could end with -- so many times there may be no end. Whoever would have thought it so?"

[Radio: (A) Masters] Shadow Man transmits, "It sounds like he recieved Justice's pendant."

[Radio: (A) Masters] Snake Man transmits, "Which one, do you sssuppossse?"

[Radio: (A) Masters] God of War Gemini Man transmits, "A good one. We can tell."

[Radio: (A) Masters] Snake Man transmits, "Either that or he sssomehow managed to get Cryssstal'sss brain"

[Radio: (A) Masters] Enker transmits, "So many times I have heard you say that, all of you, so many times, on and on and on and on and on and on and.. on. Yes, so many, many times."

[Radio: (A) Masters] Guts Man transmits, "Right..."

[Radio: (A) Masters] Snake Man transmits, "Ssso what are you going to do now?"

[Radio: (A) Masters] Enker transmits, "I think.. I'm going to Disneyland."

[Radio: (A) Masters] God of War Gemini Man laughs.

[Radio: (A) Masters] Guts Man transmits, "Can we come?"

[Radio: (A) Masters] Snake Man transmits, "Disssneyland?"

[Radio: (A) Masters] God of War Gemini Man transmits, "We want to come!! Fix us! Please!"

Florida

If you enter Florida from the north, it is fully possible to believe that you took a wrong turn and ended up inside an old cartoon. What was once Florida is now the world's largest theme park - the Disney Universe. Covering all of what was once Florida and a large section of Georgia, the park caters to every conceivable taste and need. People in Disney character suits swarm from all corners, and if you can stick a pair of black mouse ears on it, they're there. This includes the park's prize attraction - a small security force of mouse-eared Ride Armors, composing nearly the world's entire total of civilian-owned Ride Armor units. Amongst all this cheeriness are a few tiny bastions of reality - the meticulously preserved Kennedy Memorial Space Center remains untouched as a landmark, and the bizarre island of Key West has held out against all encroachments.

Guts Man [Normal] [RM]
Enker [Enker] [RM]
Shadow Man [Armor] [RM]
Snake Man [RM]
Scorpio [Scorpio] [SD]
Kennedy Space Center

Obvious exits:
Submerge leads to Underneath Caribbean Sea.
Submerge leads to Underneath Gulf of Mexico.
Submerge leads to Underneath Central Atlantic.
Sea leads to Caribbean Sea.
Gulf leads to Gulf of Mexico.
East leads to Western Atlantic Ocean.
North leads to Eastern Seaboard.
West leads to Louisiana.
Up leads to Sky Above Eastern United States.

Snake Man blinks and looks around, taking a step backwards at the same time. Unfortunately, he trips over a root and goes sprawling on the ground.

Gemini Man looks around, as if light is hurting his eyes. "Uhhh...huh?"

Guts Man oooohs and ahhhhs as he's sucked into a strange portal, ending up in Disney. Wasn't he here earlier tonight?

Floating on air is a keen expression, but even more so when it's really happening. Enker's hands are raised to the skies above, as the ring that brought everyone here resettles about his body. His visor is gone completely from his helm, and his eyes.. are incredibly deep. "As promised so does the promiser deliver without warning, without heed, without creedo. Welcome, those of my kindred, to Disneyland."

Shadow Man was in mad-dash in the Aswan Dam complex with the portal. His reaction time allowed him to stop short, but the portal would have none of that, and sucked him in just the same. Instantly upon emerging, a hand shoots up and with a sound like a monkey wrench being thrown in the gears of the machinery that powers the universe, one of his Shadow Blades is generated. He adopts a combat stance, and his eyes quickly sweep the area, at which point he realizes where he is... Glancing first to Enker, and then to Snake Man, his expression clearly readable.

Gemini Man looks around again, and up at Enker...then laughs heartily. "Awesome, Enker. Let's..." he looks around at the cheerful, artificial environment, then shudders with joy at the mere thought... "BLOW IT UP."

Snake Man just takes a deep 'breath'... It's pretty obvious which pendant Enker got, and so his mind races back over everything he heard or saw of Saturn. "Oh boy."

Guts Man doesn't remember much of Saturn, he doesn't even think he faced him during the invasion.

Enker brings his hands up, forming a circle with both thumbs and both index fingers. He peers through it down at the mass of Robot Masters, before he shakes his head. "I've seen it so many times already, Gemini Man, Gemini Man, Gemini Man, Gemini Man.. So many times have I seen it, in so many ways, so many unwarrented, so many with due reason. It matters not, why add to the tally? It matters not, why shouldn't we add to the tally?"

Snake Man climbs to his feet, leaning on a nearby fence. He gives Shadow a meaningful glance, and then looks at Enker. "Uhh, yeah. Right." Then he looks around. "What now?"

Gemini Man blinks, and turns his head sideways. "...Huh? THAT... better be your OKAY, Enker..." His red optics start to flicker around wildly, and the gun at his side starts to pulse red... "Because...we need to kill. NOW!"

Snake Man shakes his head at Shadow, but makes no reply.

Shadow Man whispers something to Snake Man, and then puts his Shadow Blade away. "...Why have you brought us here, Sempai?"

Enker seems to be off in his own world, staring blankly into the void -- his eyes show no life. The moment passes, and he's quite suddenly standing by Gemini Man's side, reaching a hand out to steady the war-obsessed compatriot. His words echo in a strange manner. "There is no need, no need, no need.. Your thirst is seen so clearly, in so many ways, so many paths that it may take. If you wish to destroy something, and I know that you do, it shall not be here. Not here. Not here. We are here to rejoice, Man of the Shadows. We are here to indulge in the festivities available here. Who wants to ride on the teacups with me?"

Guts Man states, "I wanna go to the It's a Small World and do a Godzilla impression."

Snake Man shakes his head. "I'm going to sssee if I can find a mecharat. Shouldn't be too hard in thisss plassce."

Snake Man whispers to Shadow Man: '... an ... ... him. ... want ... get ... good idea ... what ... power ... ... like.'.

Shadow Man pauses for a moment, listening to Snake Man although he does not turn his head. He nods then, and crosses his arms. He whispers a reply, and then speaks clearly... after a pause, in which he appears to be gathering his willpower, something that he rarely finds himself needing to do...
"I suppose I shall, Sempai."

Enker's touch seems to have an opposite effect from its intent, as Gemini stiffens, and shoves the Elite's hand aside. "No. No, nononono... it's been too long... There's something we HAVE to fix....NOW."
Behind Gemini, the holographic twin materializes. Though he doesn't say a word, his eyes narrow...he holds up three fingers, and shakes his head.
"We'll enjoy the festivities... our OWN way." Gemini Man grins.
Suddenly, the hologram grins, too, and skips up, like an excited child on vacation whose just discovered a whole new spirit for the moment. His eyes narrow again... "Come on...let's go steal that b*tch's apple."
Gemini Man responds, "It's a HOLOGRAM, stupid."
The twin starts to rush off, "And SO'm I!"

Enker taps his finger to his lips, before he goes 'Ahh!' and raises the finger skyward. "I'll give you the next best thing, Guts Man! You can do your Godzilla impression upon the cups of tea, the teas of cups. Come, come, we shall whittle the time away within this land of fun, within this funland." Whether they come along or not, he begins floating away towards the Teacup ride which is.. rather close.

Snake Man shakes his head, and then stalks off, presumably to look for lunch.

Guts Man shrugs and follows Enker, he's changed. He's no longer so what's the word he's looking for? Ah. Stuck up.

Snake Man disappears out of sight, after which he drops a Search Snake, instructing it to keep an eye on Gemini. Then he wanders off towards the consession stand to get a drink.

Shadow Man is very obviously keeping his eyes on Enker as he follows the Elite, his footsteps clearly audible for once.

Enker blinks for a moment, both seeing a line at the tea cup ride, and yet not at the same time. He waves a hand, and his Ring comes loose, the line -- there's one middle-aged man to the rest of those watching -- disappearing into its vastness to reappear elsewhere. "And 'lo, no line there is, line of nothing before us. Come, those of my kith, let us ride and ride and ride and ride.."

Gemini Man is rushing off, in two bodies, now towards the slow-rides and the restoration of the Snow White mine cars. Yes, it's an old prank; it's a classic, but when in Disney Universe...you have to, you've GOT TO, steal the apple. In fact, the frequency at which such acts continually occured resulted in many of the animated robots being replaced with holograms CENTURIES ago... Well, all right...so to modernize the prank, break the projectors. Plus, the old ride made children cry. Bonus! As Gemini tears through the crowd, he simply shoves the late-night customers and the staffers aside harshly, not taking time to injure them nor check to see if they are injured.

Snake Man wanders back towards the spot were he left the others, still keeping an eye on Gemini with his Search Snake.

Guts Man gets a crazy idea as he spots the crazy tea cups. "Mmmmmmm giant coffee cups." Guts Man makes his way to the platform grabbing hold of two of the cups' handles. Without much effort he lifts the fiberglass cups from their base. He then puts one cup into another with the handle sticking out from the cup entrance. Aha! He's done it, a giant cup to drink coffee out of! He wonders if they'll give him free refils at Disney Universe with such a big cup?

Enker simply looks at Guts Man as the Elite Commander rides on the teacup. Strangely enough, he's constantly looking at Guts Man, no matter how the teacup turns to and fro, his deep black gaze always on the gigantic Robot Master. He must be moving, though, to judge by how the cup he's sitting on is being cut up by the ring around the Elite's body.

Shadow Man follows Enker reluctantly, before asking a question, trying to remain as... pleasent as possible. "I assume... when we are done here... you'll be using this power against the Maverick Hunters?"

Snake Man watches the three at the teacups and shakes his head. He considers going after Gemini, but then considers the possibilities of what could happen. So he stays put.

Guts Man starts to look around for some coffee. These cups are a dream come true. This truly is the most magical place on earth.

Gemini Man, despite Enker's warning, is taking no measures to curb his lust for wanton destruction. Upon reaching the entrance of the ride, the twins tip over the train at the entrance, sending the sparse population of the ride screaming and running. One of them turns around, reaching out to snap and break something alive... His shaking hands reach, and with a quick snap he tears apart the neck of one of the few figures still stolid by the gates...he crushes it, with intensity in his eyes, though it crackles with lightning rather than bone--one of the park's security droids. The second twin enters the ride, and explosions begin to ensue within, while the first drops the crushed guardbot, and looks around again. Something with blood...

Snake Man winces at the shrieks and crashes coming from Gemini's direction. Still, he just sits down on a bench and sips his drink. Too bad the only thing they had was lemonade. He's gonna be sick as a dog later.
Snake Man sends a radio transmission to Shadow Man.
Shadow Man receives a radio transmission.

Enker's gaze is upon Shadow Man constantly now, despite his teacup's movements. "Why the Maverick Hunters, those who Hunt the Mavericks? Why not the Mavericks themselves, the Hunted, or the Force of Reploids, the Repliforce? So many targets, so many times, so many targets, hit so many times. Why again, and why not again?"

Shadow Man nods. His gaze, likewise, remains fixed upon the elite, despite his motion... Since there is no relative motion between the two. "I see, Sempai. ...Tell me. Do you think I should kill Sempai Bass?"
Shadow Man is normally not that obvious, therefor one could assume he's being so for a reason, whatever that may be.

A row of crashes and explosions tear a line through the park, as a crazed twin bursts his way right through the walls of the row of rides. Through the newly reinforced constructs of the Wild Ride...sending the fiberglass oceans dedicated to Peter Pan (video volumes one through eleven) up into a blazing inferno...and finally ending up on the far side of the holographic theatre. If, by some chance of horrific fate, any copies of 'Captian EO' still exist, they will exist no longer.
While outside of the rides, Gemini manages to catch up to and tail a human woman...grabbing onto the back of her hair and pulling her towards him. He grins and laughs as he hears the screams... but...halts, suddenly. oO(What's this?)Oo Something in the shadows has piqued his curiosity enough that his hand opens, and he lets go...

Enker seems to look past Shadow Man, to something else, to something /between/.. He shakes his head slowly, a pensive frown appearing on his face before the expression vanishes, and the deep stare returns to the Shadowed Man before him. "You are not capable of such, I see that. Each time, each weaving, you are not capable of it, you are not /allowed/ to commit such an act. The act is forbidden to you, quite so, quite so."

Guts Man disappears somewhere in Disney Universe in search of coffee to fill his cup with.

Snake Man watches Enker and Shadow go around and round on the cups, and watches Gemini through the eyes of his Search Snake. Something has piqued his brother's attention, and he's rather curious as to what it is.

"And what about you, Sempai?" says Shadow Man. There's a slight change in his position, a shifting of weight to place it more over his center and and almost imperceptable fine adjustment to the joints. To the eyes of the experienced combatant, he's maximizing his ability to get out of the way of an attack, if necessary.

Enker replies simply, perhaps the most simple statement he's made since reappearing. "What about me?"

"Why do you think you should not kill Sempai Bass?" replies Shadow Man, a slight alteration of his original inquiry...

What the Search Snake will see...is eyes that are scanning for IT. Gemini searches around...one might say he was smelling the air, if he had any means by which to do it. And, then, his view locks into place. Calmly, he walks forward, toward the camera view.

"A better question, why should I?" Enker breaks the rules, answering question with question. Take that, english teachers!

Shadow Man says, "Do you think you should not?"

Snake Man doesn't even make a start, should Gemini happen to look back that way. As for the Search Snake...
Time for evasive manuvers. The tiny serpent ducks behind a hot dog stand, and disappears into a garbage can.

Enker raises a finger as if to answer, but instead smiles. "I knew you'd say that. Who can say what the answer truly is? I see yes, I see no, I see yes, I see no, I see neither. I see neither. I see neither. But do you see? No, you do not see, you do not see that which is directly before you any clearer than you see the tip of your own nose, kith of mine, my kith. You do not see, for sight is beyond your ability."

"...And," says Shadow Man, raising his right arm, which morphs into a standard Robot Master arm cannon, pointed at the chest of the Elite, although if it is powering up it is not audible, "if I shoot you, Sempai, should you then shoot me?"

Hmmm. Gemini was SURE he'd seen something... He looks around again. Then, there is the sound of an explosion from deeper in the park, and the rising melody of screams, and he ignores the search, in favor of checking up on the progress of his twin.

Enker's lips quirk into a faint smile. "Now that is the question you yourself will answer by pulling the trigger, or by not. Sometimes you do, and sometimes you don't. Sometimes I do, and sometimes I don't. Do you think you can hit infinity?"

The Search Snake pokes its head out of the can, then follows Gemini, making sure to keep out of sight as much as possible.

Snake Man sends a radio transmission to Shadow Man.
Shadow Man receives a radio transmission.
Shadow Man sends a radio transmission.
Snake Man receives a radio transmission.
Snake Man sends a radio transmission.
Shadow Man receives a radio transmission from Snake Man.

Enker begins to look bored, waiting for the radio chatter he /knows/ is going on to finish.

Shadow Man whispers briefly into the radio built into his helmet, keeping his eyes locked on the Elite. "No," he says.
Then he fires.

Shadow Man misses Enker with his Generic Ranged attack.
Enker deflects Generic Ranged from Shadow Man.

One Gemini Man emerges from the Hall of Presidents sometime later, carrying the purloined head of Rutherford B. Hayes. He tosses it like a dodgeball toward the other Gemini as he approaches, and it is soundly caught. "Out!" says the arriving twin, and chuckles. Then, he slams the anamatronic head onto the ground, and takes a few calm steps to close the gap between the pair. He whispers something into the other twin's aural, and the second Gemini laughs heartily in response, and nods. But....wait. The twins halt, listening. A *fight* nearby?
You whisper, "Don't you think the waters of the Small World would look beautiful, running RED?" to Gemini Man.

The buster discharges, and the blast quite suddenly winks out of existence before it strikes the ring-wearing Enker. For his part, the Elite Commander cocks his head, staring at Shadow Man still. "No. Yes. No. Yes. No.. Yes. Infinity reaches on forever, and it cannot be struck so easily, not so easily can it be struck. Do you wish to try again? Infinity is ever changing, and rarely constant."

Snake Man's calm, even gaze takes in the events. He's still watching Gemini through the Search Snake too. He takes special note of Enker's actions. However, Gemini's statement is taken with some alarm, and he speaks into the radio again.
Snake Man sends a radio transmission.
Shadow Man receives a radio transmission.
Shadow Man sends a radio transmission.
Snake Man receives a radio transmission.

Wordlessly, Shadow Man's arm morphs back into its normal configuration, terminating in a blue-gloved hand, which he lowers to his side, both biceps now resting on the back of the 'teacup'.

Both Gemini Men shake heads. Must have been just their imagination. They both exchange glances again, and rush off, leaving fires raging behind them. One of them laughs, as the other shouts the old battle cry.... "BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD!!!"

Snake Man growls to himself, "Blood for the ssstupid god isss more like it..."

Enker's head is suddenly cocked the other way. Another blink of the eye, and it's back where it really was. Or was it? Who can say. "No? Well then. I grow.. grow.. grow dissatisfied with this. This bores me." The ring about his body rotates, and the Elite Commander is no longer on the ride, but walking away from it entirely.

The Search Snake ducks out of sight as the twins head back in its direction. Whether it's fast enough is open to debate, as the small green tail ducks around a curb.

Shadow Man somersaults out of the teacup before it stops moving, landing on the larger rotating platform, from which he leaps off of... And then proceeds to follow the Elite, but at a reasonable distance.

Gemini Man takes random potshots from both cannons now as he navigates, and white and red lasers ping-ping around the plastic scenery, some exploding where they touch. One shot rings true enough to make a visitor's flesh sizzle, and Gemini is suddenly finding himself pounding on and exchanging blows with a well-armed, mouse-eared security force that appears out of nowhere from the depths of the 'secret' park underground.

Enker's hands raise above shoulder level, the Elite leaving the ground as there were nothing below him. He's then facing those below him. "Are the festivities other with, the fun at an end, the enjoyment gone? I wish to return home for a time, home for a time, to make an announcement.. Gemini Man, come here, come here." The ring about his body rotates, a replica of it appearing in front of the other pendant wearer, beckoning.

oO(Hm?)Oo Both of the twins perk their head up like gophers from their homes, at the echoing sound of their name. Then they look at each other. oO(That's right...Enker said...)Oo One of the distracted twins takes a backshot from a robomouse, and the twin turns around and plasters the creation with an unnessicarily powerful explosive blast. The other twin heeds the call first, heading back to the teacup ride; it takes the distracted one a moment to disengage and catch up.

Snake Man stands from his bench, and then walks over to where Enker is leaving the ride. "Ssso tell usss, sssuddenly enegmatic one, what are your new goalsss, if not to dessstroy the Huntersss? Do you ssstill feel loyalty to the Massster, or are you your own Massster now?"

Enker seems to be getting ready to send everyone home, truth be told. His hands raise above shoulder-height again, the ring upon his body increasing in rotation. "Your questions have been heard before, Snake Man, and will be heard again. Have not been heard before, and.. will not be heard again. So many weavings, so many paths. Which are true, and which false?"

Gemini Man runs forward, then skids to a halt as he arrives before Enker. A moment later, the other Gemini Man does the same, and seems to crash and fade into the first Gemini as the hologram disengages.

Snake Man says, "They have not been heard before by me. You would be able to anssswer thossse quessstionsss, and indeed, you mussst anssswer them before Ballade will allow you accesss to the Massster, I essxpect."

Enker replies four times over, voice overlapping to the point of confusion. "I always serve Albert Wily, Albert Wily I always serve. No other, none other, never another, never until-til-til-til.." He trails off, eyes aglow as he sees that which is not. "Prepare yourselves. Egypt will shortly be upon us, unless any of you wish to stay here."

Shadow Man crosses his arms, otherwise saying nothing, glancing to Snake Man.

Gemini Man snickers a little at Enker's antics. He 'gets it...' KIND OF... even if the rest of them are, likely, unsure. "Home then."

Snake Man returns Shadow's glance, and then nods to Enker.

Egypt

A blazing wind dances around this area as sand is blown in all directions... Once upon a time less than 14,000 square miles of the Egyptian land area was cultivated or settled on, but much has changed since then; Egypt, while not nearly as busy as some other areas, is still a bustling trade route and well established community. The ancient Egyptian structures such as the great pyramids and the Sphinx are still standing tall, unmarred by millennia of age. A few of the old culture's other constructions still stand tall as well, reminding many of the achievements of the ancient people that once lived here and standing out from most of the technological advanced buildings in the area. Aside from the few cities such as Cairo, vast deserts make up most of what is Egypt today, much like it was centuries ago. The large Nile River and all that surrounds the massive body of water is within view.

Egyptian Ruins [RM]
Ancient Pyramid
Cairo

Obvious exits:
Northeast leads to Israel.
West leads to Eastern Sahara.
South leads to Aswan Lake Region.
North leads to Nile Delta.
Up leads to Sky Above Nile Region.
Shadow Man has arrived.
Snake Man has arrived.
Enker has arrived.

*Blink* Everyone's back outside the Citadel quite suddenly, the Elite Master still floating above ground. "Yes.. Yes, that worked well. We are back, back we are, returned to home, to home we are back to.."

Snake Man whispers to Shadow Man: '... he alwaysss have to ... ... ... ...'.

Gemini Man looks around again. ...Wow...neat. He nods sagely at Enker... Then, looks, in turn, at the other two Masters. "Squadmates. Before you turn in... We should talk."

Shadow Man nods to Gemini Man. "In the Command Center, I think."

Snake Man turns his gaze evenly on Gemini. No fear here, nope. None showing, anyway. But Snake is good at hiding his emotions behind his reptillian visage. "Oh?"

Gemini Man smiles at Snake Man. ...How strange. "Sure." His eyes flare...just once. "The Command Center." He turns on his heel, kicking up a little sand, heading for the Citadel.

Shadow Man has left. Shadow Man makes his way into Egyptian Ruins.

Enker follows along, voice echoing. "A large stream, winding downward, its nearly as big as its African cousin. And around here, its arms are a dozen. Nearby is a city, beads and beer aplenty."

Command Center [Skull Citadel]

Skull Citadels Command Center is situated behind the eyes of the skull that adorns the Citadels northern outer wall. A viewscreen set between the eyes can be used to call up images from within the base, computer data, visual communications, and a direct visual feed from the skulls eyes themselves. In the middle of the room a circular table has chairs for Dr. Wily, Bass, King, Enker, Ballade, Punk, and Quint. This table has been fitted with a tactical holographic projector as well as computer database consoles. Around the rest of the Command Center are various other workstations arranged in a ring around the central table. The workstations can run autonomously, but some situations and meetings call for the presence of more Masters. At the point on this ring nearest to the viewscreen, a large raised dais has been created so that Dr. Wily can speak from it and appear more formidable. It is also the spot from which visual communication is transmitted.

Snake Man [RM]
Shadow Man [Armor] [RM]

Obvious exits:
Spiral Staircase leads to Corridor [Skull Citadel].
Descending Stairwell leads to Vehicle Bay [Skull Citadel].
Ascending Stairwell leads to Restricted Access Area [Skull Citadel].
Enker arrives from the Vehicle Bay [Skull Citadel].

Enker has arrived.

Snake Man takes a seat, leaning back in the not so comfortable chair. Then he puts one leg up over the arm and waits for the others.

Gemini Man brings up a position behind Shadow Man and Snake Man, following them into the Command Sector. He paces behind the row of seats...not sitting down, himself.

Enker is quite suddenly in his normal seat, the chair never having been moved out. One moment it's empty, the next the Elite Commander is present. That ring of his is probably cutting into it, too.

Shadow Man arrives first, assuming a position against one wall, supported by his left leg, right foot placed flat against the wall, arms crossed.

Snake Man notes Enker's presence with some annoyance. Apparently this ring has made him nosey as well.

Gemini Man blinks as Enker suddenly appears, and flickers a narrow-eyed gaze over in his direction. SQUAD BUSINESS. Still... it isn't like Gemini can make him leave. Gemini walks between the seated Gamma and the standing one, then, paces back. When he passes again, he duplicates, sending one each to address them both. It is the hologram, actually, that leans over onto the table, getting pracitcally in Snake Man's face... but it is the original that steps up to Shadow Man, and speaks. " 'Concerns'. Hm?"

Enker simply looks back at Gemini Man. Are people forgetting so soon just who the Elite Commander is, despite his latest enhancement? Squad Business is something that the Commander can see to if he so desires.. And he may as well, since he's got nothing better to do.
Enker misses you with his Ring Slash attack.

Snake Man's tail suddenly whips around, wrapping around the hologram's neck. Then his tail gives a snap, pushing it back across the table. He sends a glare at the real thing. "How many timesss have I told you? I don't deal with the sssecond bessst. If you're going to addresss me, do it yourssself."

Shadow Man raises his head, yet keeps his gaze leveled on Gemini Man, so that his eyes are angled somewhat downwards. "Clarify. Sir."

The twins startle a little as a gold ring slashes in the air between them, and they glance back at Enker. The original Gemini gives the Elite a sheepish look, and throws off a salute, by way of apology. The momentary distraction from the Saturn attack is enough to allow Snake Man to snatch at the hologram. The holo recovers, and responds to Snake Man: "Only because I know how much it IRRITATES you, Snake Man."

"CONCERNS," Gemini Man responds to Shadow Man. "Do you THINK I don't know what's ON the computer..." his voice raises to a roar, "WHEN I AM SITTING IN THE COMPUTER?"

Snake Man turns his chair to face the original, the feet scraping along the tiles like fingernails on a chalkboard. He pointedly ignores the clone. "Gemini, do you ssseriousssly think you are FIT to lead the sssquad in the ssstate you're in?"

Shadow Man nods. "While you are not entirely yourself, it is best that you not have command. Your behavior has been... erratic, and furthermore, we do not know what extent of control whoever is behind this may be able to aquire of you."
He turns, then, although well aware of Gemini Man's current condition and therefor ready for a possible attack, to Enker. "The same goes for you, Sempai. I recommend that you remove yourself from command until Sensei can overcome the pendant's mental influence. I expect something as... trivial as rank holds no interest for you."

The hologram seems determined to be noticed. After Snake has turned, the cloned Gemini reaches out and grabs the other Master by the back of the neck, sinking his fingers into the synthflesh. He stage-whispers right into the other Master's aurals, as Snake has done SO many times to him...but loudly enough for the rest of the gathered to hear. "SHUT up...and wait your turn, to SSSSSSPEAK, SSSSSSSSSNAKE." With the last harsh consonant, he spits.
The original Gemini gets into Shadow Man's face, bursting out in anger like a drill sergeant. "I WILL SHOW YOU ERRATIC!!!" For a moment, his gun starts to charge, but, then, he reaches out with the other hand and throws a punch at Shadow Man's gut, designed to shove him back.
You strike Shadow Man with your Punch attack.

Enker suddenly falls back properly on his chair. Why? Because the golden ring encircling his body is suddenly gone, only to reappear behind Shadow Man. The Elite speaks as the newest addition to his body begins to gain revolutions. "Who can say, Shadow Man, Man of the Shadow, Shadowy Figure? There are many weavings that this can take, but some things are better left unsaid, unsaid is where they should say, isn't that right? Yes, that's right." He places a gold-backed fist onto the table, and knocks twice. The Ring slams forward for its intended target.
Enker strikes Shadow Man with his Ring Slash attack.

Snake Man's head whips around, faster than the eye can follow, opening wide. The one eye that the hologram can see glints with malevolant fury as he twists out of its grasp and makes a strike for the arm that held him a moment before.
Snake Man strikes you with his Bite for 1 units of damage.

Shadow Man is smacked simultaneously, or virtually simultaneously, both in front and behind. And thus, he explodes.
Yes, explodes. At the instant of the impact with the ring from behind, the area where Shadow Man stood becomes a cloud of thick black smoke, completely opaque as it is first formed before dissipating into the air and particles falling, just after Snake Man bits Gemini Man's clone. However, Shadow Man is now nowhere to be found... Except perhaps to the nose of Snake Man, from which it is more difficult to hide.
Shadow Man misses you with his Shadow Smoke attack.
Shadow Man misses Enker with his Shadow Smoke attack.
Enker deflects Shadow Smoke from Shadow Man.
Shadow Man strikes Snake Man with his Shadow Smoke attack.
Snake Man is temporarily disoriented by Shadow Man's Shadow Smoke attack.

Pharaoh Man arrives from the Vehicle Bay [Skull Citadel].
Pharaoh Man has arrived.

Enker puts his guard down.

Shadow Man has disappeared...but Gemini Man isn't at all concerned about Shadow Man, for the moment. The real purpose of calling this meeting in the first place was to blame Snake Man for demotion Gemini recieved...of course, talking Shadow Man into taking the blame HAD to have been Snake's doing. And now, Snake Man had dared to spin around and sink fangs into ANY part of him... Not even paying attention to the smoke dissipation, the original Gemini spins around to defend his clone, just as the clone draws back to pull the teeth from his arm.
Rage building in both twins, they have the same thought at the same time. Fire.
You strike Snake Man with your Double Shot attack.

Enker seems to grow bored as soon as it begins; he's seen it before. He'll see it again. The Ring returns to encircle his body, and he pushes himself easily out of the chair and into the air. The smoke evaporates around him as he progresses. "Cease and desist, stop, end now, no longer shall this proceed. The next person to throw an attack at someone else will embrace infinity, that I see for certain."

Snake Man's teeth drag through the clone's arm, as if sinking through thick mud. Blinded by the smoke flying about and the exaltation of finally getting a little bit of revenge for his earlier defeat, he doesn't notice as the clone and the original charge up their lasers. And thus he's still chewing on the arm when one burns its way through his back, and the other the shoulder. He spits out the offending limb, tumbling out of the chair and onto the floor.

Shadow Man sends a radio transmission.
Snake Man receives a radio transmission.

Snake Man grits his teeth, replying to his radio as he lies curled on the floor.

Snake Man sends a radio transmission to Shadow Man.
Shadow Man receives a radio transmission.
Shadow Man sends a radio transmission to Snake Man.
Snake Man receives a radio transmission from Shadow Man.

This time, it is the hologram who has to reign in, his hands shaking.... He wants MORE... But the original Gemini just laughs, as he has a better angle on viewing Snake's pain. He tosses his head back with laughter, then says, to the other two Gammas... "What ARE you both talking about NOW?"

Shadow Man activates his stealth mode.

Snake Man's eyes pop open, and he gives Gemini that same, malevolant, mocking gaze. "About YOU, of courssse."

Enker's body quivers, the golden ring briefly fading in time with the Elite Commander into, of all things, pitch blackness. Whatever was about to occur does not, however, and he stares down at those about him. "That is.. impolite.. Snake Man.. Not polite.. certainly not, to speak of one behind their back, when their front is not facing you, when they cannot hear."

Shadow Man is, at this point, presumably... well, nothing can be presumed about Shadow Man, at this point. In actuality, he is in the shadow of one of the more removed workstations, watching and listening silently.

Gemini Man intones to Snake Man... "It just KILLS you, doesn't it? No one was really afraid of you but ME, and now you can't even have THAT..."
The hologram is shaking with both rage and fear...he knows that there will be pain if he doesn't comply to the command, but, oh, the pain of NOT complying... "I... WILL NOT... WILL NOT..." He turns and grabs the chair Snake Man has just recently vacated, and, in leiu of shooting Snake again, he picks up the chair and smashes it, multiple times, on the floor.

Enker comments idly, watching Gemini Man's actions. "And I so liked that chair. Then again, I did not like that chair, but then.. I did. Who can say which way it weaved, and what glory that chair may one day have garnered..? No matter, it matters not. Calm yourself, Gemini Man. Snake Man, taunting you should cease. Shadow Man, you should show yourself, reveal yourself.."

Snake Man rolls over onto his chest, and then pushes up on all fours, mech fluid drooling from the hole in his shoulder and puddling on the tiles. He grabs the upended chair and forces himself to his feet. He looks at Enker, and states, "I've never been one to highlight courtesssy over franknesss, Enker. You should know that." Then he turns to Gemini and spits a glob of acid on the floor in front of the original's boot. "Asss for you, I've ssseen you grovelling on the floor a few too many timesss to be too afraid, regardlesss of what powerful toysss you might have. Ssso jussst think of that nessxt time you wish to take me into combat. You may win, but asss I repair, I'll sssimply be reliving all the timesss I had YOU pinned to the floor underneath me, begging to be let up. I don't think I need to remind you of any ssspesscificsss, now do I?"

Gemini Man's hologram vanishes, and when the paired personalty reacts to the merge, Gemini's cool stare toward Snake turns up into an agressive snarl. He looks down at the acid pool at his feet, and up into Snake's eyes. "As always, Snake Man... THAT is DISGUSTING." Then, before he can succumb to either the old fear or the new anger--who can say which?--he pushes past Snake, heading for the exit.

Ballade arrives from the Vehicle Bay [Skull Citadel].
Ballade has arrived.

Shadow Man seems to have no response to Enker's request, if he heard it. Perhaps he's left. The doors never opened, did they? Unless in the smoke... But even he's that fast, they aren't, are they?

Snake Man flashes Gemini a predatory grin. It amuses him that he annoys the twins, even in their enhanced state.

Enker is presently floating above the meeting table, shiny new ring shining like the rest of him. He watches Gemini Man depart, and a crooked smile appears on his face; other than that, he seems to be waiting for something. No doubt for the final part of his order -- those given to Shadow Man -- to be fulfilled.

Snake Man is standing near an upturned chair, mech fluid drooling down his back and shoulder. He looks a little pained, but triumphant nonetheless. He obviously considers having won a victory.

Gemini Man stalks out of the room, seething.

The door to the command center hisses open, revealing the slim graceful shape of Wily's bodyguard in silhouette for a moment. Stepping through, Ballade lets the door hiss shut behind him, his eyes taking in every corner of the room as he slowly makes his way over to his seat at the table. Enker gets a long, thoughtful look, and then a nod. Everyone else gets ignored - or so it seems.
"Enker. So you succeeded."

Shadow Man is apparently perfectly fine with being ignored, and furthermore with allowing Ballade to have Enker's full attention.

The humm of charged systems die down as Ballade exits powered Mode.

Enker is almost in two places at once for the split moment it takes for him to return to his usual chair at the table, settling down into the chair once more, right into the grooved slice already made by the ring around his body. He nods curtly to his fellow Elite Master as the other enters. "Nothing less was expected, and what was expected was success. Since anything less than success would be a failure, then yes, what was expected has indeed come to pass. I could not properly assist in the return of King and Punk, but I assume they were likewise returned to the planet, for I have.. shaded knowledge of that, at the best, at the best."

Ballade listens to Enker, a very slight frown curling the corners of his mouth downwards. "While I congratulate you on your gained power... I would be remiss in my duties if I didn't mention a... change in you." He gestures vaguely with one hand. "Primarily in your speech patterns, but I suspect it runs deeper?"

Gemini Man, still scowling, stomps into the room... from the staircase, above. It takes him a moment to notice that he isn't leaving the Command Section, but, instead, walking directly back INTO it. He flickers his eyes around the room for a moment in surprise, then, grimaces. BAH. ENKER.

Enker's wandering eyes come to rest on Ballade, gaining eye-contact with his fellow Elite. The window to the soul, some say, but what will Ballade see? The endless realms of infinity present within his brother, deep black eyes without an end, deeper, deeper, deeper, deeper, deeper, deeper, deeper, deeper, DEEPER, DEEPER, DEEPER, DEEPER, DEEPER. Does Ballade have the strength of will to turn away?

And again the door to the command center hisses open, but this time to reveal the one, the only: Pharaoh Man. What is he doing here? That's for him to know, and for you to find out if you even care, as he enters the command center, he finds it to be occupied... "Well... What happened here? That doesn't matter, The Pharaoh has important matters here, and would be greatful if you left him alone for his task." Yes people, he's asking for it.

Snake Man rolls his injured shoulder, the fluid becoming thicker before it finally stops flowing. The last of it slowly drips to the floor, leaving Snake's body clean, but still with a round gaping hole in his shoulder. Still, he watches the seeming power struggle between the two Elites with intrest.

Does he? At first, it would seem that he doesn't, the Violet Elite going still as he meets Enker's infinite gaze. The moment drags on, and on... before Ballade raises a hand to blow the gaze. Whether it's a matter of will, or of programming that simulates it, Ballade has strength of mind well in abundance. After all - he is perfect.
"Enough."
The world is said calmly, quitely - almost a whisper. "Are you fit for command?"

Enker lets out a soft laugh. "As stalwart as ever, as sturdy as ever, as endurable as granite and as thick as a block. You were well made, most of the time, most of the time certainly, but not all of the time. Sometimes you never were, and sometimes I never was, and.. No matter, it matters not. I am fit to lead, I am always fit to lead, but I question the requirement of it. I find myself.. bored.. with the idea, boredom grows, I feel unfilfilled.." He waves a hand, eyes drifting off to something unseen, before he delivers a shrug.

Snake Man sends a radio transmission.
Ballade receives a radio transmission from Snake Man.

Snake Man speaks quietly into his radio, and then gives Gemini a malevolent glare. He seems to enjoy taunting his brother, even though he no longer has the upper hand. Pharaoh is ignored, of course.

Gemini Man steps back into the command section, though not of his own choice, and watches Enker carefully. ...Did he mean that? Gemini Man does his best to ignore Snake Man, though he can't help shooting the other master a quick glance before looking back up at Enker... and Ballade. Yes...about that demotion, then? Gemini begins to stomp back into the center of the room, passing Snake up as he does so.

Ballade glances at one side for an instant, looking at Pharaoh Man for an instant. Then he turns back to Enker. "And with the Doctor obsessed with this quest... Mmm." He pauses for a long moment, and then actually sighs very slightly. "Very well. If you do not wish to lead, then I shall take up the position. I shall command - until you desire to reclaim your rightful place, of course."
Rising, Ballade folds his arms behind his back, stepping away from his chair. "Excuse me for a moment Enker." And then he fixes his gaze fully on Pharaoh Man. "I believe... you just attempted to order the Elites to serve your whim. Do you wish to reconsider this act?"

Snake Man waits... and waits... and waits... until it doesn't seem he's going to do anything as Gemini passes. Then nearly faster than the eye can see, he squeezes one eye shut, and his lips part slightly as he aims a few droplets of acid spit right for Gemini's audial. His mouth is closed before anyone notices, or at least he hopes.
Snake Man strikes you with his Grasp for 0 units of damage.

Pharaoh Man knows no elites in his world of delusions, "What elites? While you are rather respected for being Amun-Wily's personal champion, and Emperor Enker... What is that stupid ring you're wearing? Well, nevermind, you should thank The Pharaoh for even considering you as equals! Now get it, and let The Mighty Pharaoh attend to his own matters!"
Pharaoh Man fixes his gaze on everybody in turn, with a rather angry look in his face, which would scare any law abiding citizen in the world.

Enker doesn't seem to have a response for Ballade's words, eyes falling on Pharaoh Man. The Ring encompassing his body seems to shimmer, wanting to.. do something, especially after hearing that. It disappears from around his body, the Man with the Golden Gun falling back onto the chair. It reappears over the table, already beginning to revolve, preparing.. Both golden-backed hands are pointed, one at Snake Man and the other at Ballade. "I knew you were going to do that-at." He double-talks, voice partially overlapping.

Ballade nods slowly to Pharaoh Man. "I see. A pity." He shrugs very slightly, a low humm filling the room. "You were warned." And then his face goes utterly cold. His right hand is a blur as it snaps out, seeking Pharaoh's neck. If he gets a grip, he squeezes to the point that it's painful, lifting the Son of Ra off the floor by brute force. As he gazes upwards, one might notice that his shoulder units are beginning to glow as his systems build power.
And then he spots the ring out of the corner of his eye, and half turns, cocking his arm. "Recant, or pay the price."

It can't be helped. Orders, self-preservation...nothing takes precendent over the will of the pendant, and as the ball of venom flickers out at Gemini and strikes him right in the side of his head the pendant once again screams for retaliation: destruction. Gemini Man shouts, and leaps toward Snake Man, his hand outstretched. Not firing the empowered cannon, he simply wants nothing more than to do as he did before, and tear the other Master apart!
You miss Snake Man with your Twin Tackle attack.

Pharaoh Man wasn't expecting this... At first he doesn't believe that he is actually caught by the neck, but when is raised into the air... Well, he can't really say that he is hovering there, "Hey! Put The Pharaoh down! He is a god, fool! Put him down, or prepare to pay!!! Amun-Wily will hear of this when it's all over! Put him down! Noooowww!!!"

The Ring abruptly begins spinning in the other direction, counter-clockwise, and the area inside the ring shimmers to reveal, of all places, a view of the Arctic from high orbit.
Enker cocks his head, resting it upon his index and middle fingers. He seems resoundingly bored. "I knew Gemini Man was going to do that, too.." He sighs, and swings a foot underneath the table.

Hand tightening around Pharaoh Man's neck, Ballade just shakes his head slightly. "Fool." He sees the vista in the ring, and a cold smirk twitches at the corner of his lips. Normally he'd just use the window, but this is even better.
"You will learn that while Wily may be a God to you - I stand at Wily's left hand side - always. Do not cross me, or pay the price." And then the Elite explodes into motion, hurling Pharaoh through the whirling disk. Even as he releases, he whirls on Gemini Man and Snake Man, his amplified voice cracking like thunder in the enclosed space. "Cease this! Now!"

Snake Man is more agile than the twins took into account, it seems. He leaps forwards as they begin their move, catching the back of the chair and somersaulting into the seat, and then completing the roll onto his feet. He ducks behind the side of the chair, glaring with gleeful malevolance at Gemini. "And you sssay you were fit to remain the leader of Gamma sssquad? Don't think I objected becaussse of my opinion of you from before. If that had been the cassse, I would have sssaid sssomething before you got the pendant. You have no control."

Pharaoh Man is thrown towards the 'stupid' ring, "What trickery is this! AAAAA!!! Someone catch The Pharaoh, quickly now! What is this ring????"

Click...SMASH. When Gemini Man divides again, one of him makes a recovery, catching the edge of the table to break his fall and landing on his feet on the other side...while the other smashes directly into it, denting it, skidding across the table and crashing to the floor. Gemini Man can't come up with a comeback for Snake's insult...he's already LOST control, and the shot that fires out of his arm cannon proves it.
You strike Snake Man with your Gemini Cannon attack.

Enker taps his fingers on the table, still looking rather bored. "And I knew that, too.. This is all too predictable, predictable this is.." Gone from his chair, the Man with the Golden Gun reappears above the table, balancing perfectly on his ring even as Pharaoh Man heads for it. The Mirror Buster appears in front of him, rotating rapidly, before it spits out some rather painfully bright energy at the entire room.
Enker misses Ballade with his Mirror Flash attack.
Enker misses you with his Mirror Flash attack.
Enker strikes Snake Man with his Mirror Flash attack.
Snake Man is temporarily disoriented by Enker's Mirror Flash attack.
Enker misses Shadow Man with his Mirror Flash attack.

With the whine of power systems, Ballade engages his Powered mode.

Shadow Man is currently hiding within his namesake element, which, by definition, means that the light from the Mirror Buster is blocked by an object between itself and the ninja Robot Master.

Ballade is, to put it simply, annoyed. He gave an order. That order was ignored completely. This does not make Ballade happy. His world has been upset, and Gemini Man has volunteered to be his outlet.
Dancing lightnings gather in his shoulders as his systems kick into overdrive. Light dances across his eyes as his visor slides into place, the paremeters for the weapon discharge set. There is no mercy, and no warning.
Only the Ballade Crackers.
Ballade misses you with his Ballade Cracker attack.

Snake Man sees the shot coming, and ducks back behind the chair. Unfortunately, upholstry makes a poor shield for that sort of thing, and the shot comes right through it, hitting him squarely through the chest and knocking him rolling against the far wall. He coughs out some fluid, and gives a hiss of pain. Opening his eyes just before Enker sets off his blinding light, he hisses louder and covers his eyes with his gun arm.

Gemini Man somehow avoids being blinded by Enker's stunning flash... perhaps too blinded already by his own rage. The twin on the floor hops up to his feet and prepares to attack Snake himself, when, suddenly, the Ballade Cracker singes between the pair. The original jumps aside to avoid the blow. Yes, Gemini ignored the order, and now, Gemini has a new target. Not able to decide between finishing Snake and engaging Ballade, Gemini Man and his hologram both aim shots, knowing of a way they can attack BOTH...
You miss Ballade with your Gemini Laser attack.
You strike Snake Man with your Gemini Laser attack.
Snake Man falls to the ground, unconscious, due to massive systems damage.

Snake Man is of course, defenseless, resting against the wall with his gun arm over his eyes. Doesn't even see it coming. The shot impacts him roughly midsection, going right through him, and he promptly collapses and shuts down in a shower of sparks and fluid.

Enker seems, for the large part, a touch annoyed. Well, that's what he gets for using partially outdated hardware, isn't it? He sighs to himself, and makes a cutting motion, the Mirror Buster disappearing once more. But 'lo, did Gemini Man just make an attack on one of the Elite..? Certainly not, yet.. certainly so. "Gemini Man, Gemini Man, both of you, one of you, all of you.. Stop now, cease, desist and quit. STOP NOW, CEASE, DESIST AND QUIT!" The voice cascades from all sides at once, the Ring reappearing around Enker's body.

Ballade sees Snake go down out of the corner of his eye, and tightens in his gaze. The Crackers that miss Gemini Man impact harmlessly on the wall, splitting apart with only a minor electrical surge. Ballade's not about to blow out the wall - these shots are keyed to robots.
The beam that's fired at him is simply avoided - how Ballade can dodge a laser is anyone's guess, but when the beam passes through, he's not there. Instead he stands with his feet planted, and energy cascading down his arms as a new pair of Crackers build in the launchers. Only these ones seem to be stressing the System.
"It would appear your attitude has been badly damaged. No matter..." And then Ballade cuts loose.
Ballade strikes you with his Super Ballade Cracker for 50 units of damage.
You take extra damage due to your Explosive weakness.
You are below your courage-endurance point.

One cracker strikes each twin, and one of them simply DISSIPATES with the force of the impact, shattering into light and illusion. The other fares almost as badly. The Cracker SMASHES into Gemini's chest, shattering his breastplate into crystal shards, and tearing his torso apart. He flies back across the room, then, for a moment, seems as if he is going to fall unconcious. Then, he rises up, shudderingly, to his knees. Though his breastplate is gone, that pendant still remains, glowing, on his torn chest.

Enker descends down between Ballade and his victim, the heavily injured Gemini Man, hands outstretched in both directions. He speaks quickly, yet in his new way. "And this is your first action, your initial move, your placement of the rook, as Commander in my steed, Ballade? For shame, you should feel shame, the shame should weigh upon you. Your actions are a disgrace to the mantle, Ballade, when words would have soothed the taunted Gemini Man just as well. Snake Man however.. brought that upon himself, yet again. I would suggest you take a greater care in how you handle matters next, in what you do to follow, in what action transpires after this, if you wish to hold that mantle until I reclaim it, take it back, make it mine again."

Ballade straightens up, letting the power flow out of his arms, grounding itself into the floor. "Mmm. Mayhap, mayhap not." Slowly his visor rises into his helm as the last of the flickering electricity grounds itself. "I left him alive. Considering his refusal to obey orders, I feel that just punishment." He folds his hands behind his back, settling into his usual calm.
"And I expect that Gemini will be extremely cautious with his temper in my presence from now on." He frowns very slightly. "I dislike the effects of these pendants. However, I must simply deal with them... as I see fit. If you feel I have done wrong, then you may take the mantle of command back yourself Enker. I have no real need for it. But if I am to have it, I will wield it the way I see fit."

Enker yet again, but a surprisingly quick report.

"Ballade is in command for now, until I return, when I return, at least until I return. I will see to matters far afield, away from here, elsewhere, until such a time as this can properly be rectified, brought to rights, handled."

He's gone. Yet, was he ever there to begin with?

That report goes up even as Enker floats there, looking upon Ballade. He finally smiles, and inclines his head. "That is true, truth that holds, but the truth you see is not always the same. Sometimes it differs, sometimes it is outright lie, and other times it serves a purpose higher than the purpose you presently serve. But, no matter, it matters not." The Ring begins rotating around his body.

Gemini Man finally stands all the way up, and leans against the far wall where his body was tossed. He groans, and reaches up his hand to the empty hole in his chest, then, up, to the glowing pendant, feeling it hot beneath his hand. Despite himself, he smiles, slightly. It's comfort. His eyes open wide, and he coughs, and gives a weak laugh.

Ballade watches Gemini Man with no real expression on his face. He observes the smile, and the laugh. "Mmm. Gemini Man - report for repairs. And I have an order for you: Leave Snake Man be. Avoid him if you must. He will be recieving similar orders. I will not permit furthur conflict between Robot Masters." He notes Shadow Man taking Snake Man, but doesn't see a need to say anything - efficiency is good.
"Now. Go get repiared. We have work to do."

Enker indulges in a secretive smile, and gives a slow nod to his head. But is it approval of Ballade's actions, or something else entirely..? Who can say, truthfully? He's far, far too erratic right now. Disappearing from his place, he eases into his seat, deepening the ring-groove. "So many riddles, so little time."

Gemini Man nods stiffly at Ballade, and walks toward the stairs. His hand still clasped around the pendant, his steps are now surprisingly unwavering.

Shadow Man departs with Snake Man, via the spiral staircase.

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