Magnus
Mercenary (Admin)
Posts: 73
Power: 6
Speed: 10
Accuracy: 9
Armor: 3
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Post by Magnus on Oct 29, 2013 20:31:09 GMT -6
Nodding his head to the friendly waiter, he continued to just sit there and wait patiently. It actually felt good to sit down in a seat instead of a large tree branch. Of course, all that could have been avoided if he had just went home. As Lambda spoke about the cafe owners, he didn't really respond right away as he took the story in and listened carefully. He always wondered how it was like to have parents...well, of course he had parents, but he never actually had the chance to meet them. Or rather, he was likely too young to possibly remember them and why they weren't in his life. It must have been quite the feeling to have such people in your life...but it saddened him on the inside that the young ones running the cafe lost two people so precious. Of course, he wasn't going to comment on that aloud.
"...I see. It definitely takes a pretty strong level of determination to keep it strong after that. I wouldn't mind coming by this place more myself and supporting them once I pull myself out my zenny situation again. Besides, I like smaller places than the big joints anyway." Though his smile quickly changed to a straight frown as he looked downward at the mention of the hunters, scoffing silently to himself. "...Hmph. The Hunters, eh? Wish some of them could see this..." It wasn't as if he disliked the actual hunters in serve, but the organization's laws and forceful methods just rubbed him the wrong way. If Priscilla were still here, maybe he still would have been with them...or not. He would have gotten tired of it at some point anyway.
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Lambda
Carnifex CEO
Posts: 23
Power: 10
Speed: 3
Accuracy: 5
Armor: 10
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Post by Lambda on Oct 29, 2013 21:07:00 GMT -6
"It certainly offers an interesting perspective," Lambda agreed noncommittally, not entirely sure what she was getting at. It wasn't like she had come here planning on talking about the café, but it had sprung to mind as a possible way to gauge the young cyborg's character. The irony of the fact that he was likely technically much older than her was not lost on the Bioroid, but she ignored it with grace. "I am unable to empathize with their unique situation, but I cannot help but respect their dedication. Giving up when times get difficult, acceding to all-too-human weakness, even the desire to run away from responsibility..."
Lambda paused, pondering for a moment whether she was talking about them or herself. She wasn't sure she liked the answer. "It is an insidiously alluring mindset, to allow oneself to weaken and falter because of circumstance. 'It isn't my fault.' 'The world just works that way.' 'Maybe if I was stronger.' I suspect we have all thought that way at least once. People avert their eyes from the truth. They avoid responsibility. The correct path is rarely the easy path, nor the road most traveled."
Heh. Put like that, the Hunters didn't sound that bad. They certainly weren't evil by any means, just absolutely dedicated to their own brand of absolute justice. Lambda looked up into the light fixture, almost welcoming the discomfort of the bright light as a focus for her mind. Her goal would certainly be easier with their backing, but - it was a foolish, idle dream. They would never accept the deaths of humans as a necessary goal. Partially in response to Magnus's comment, partially unconsciously voicing that train of thought, Lambda continues her thoughts aloud. "The Hunters fear mavericks so much they have cleaved to the opposite extreme, butchering their own kin without remorse at the slightest hint of deviance from their ideals. They alienate those who could otherwise coexist."
Huh. That had gone places she hadn't expected. Ever the opportunist, Lambda turned her gaze to Magnus directly, preparing to gauge his reaction as she continued without pause. "One could almost make the point that they are directly responsible for the endless threat of mavericks. By removing any hope of reconciliation, of diplomacy or compromise, they ensure the bloodshed continues."
Yeah that wasn't going to sound sacrilegious or anything. She was more concerned with Magnus's reaction than any possible repercussions for her words, though. As someone ostensibly human, or at worst a cyborg, it wasn't as though anyone was going to accuse her of being a Bioroid just for not liking the Guild.
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Magnus
Mercenary (Admin)
Posts: 73
Power: 6
Speed: 10
Accuracy: 9
Armor: 3
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Post by Magnus on Oct 29, 2013 22:54:50 GMT -6
In truth, Magnus wanted to say something, but simply couldn't as her words made him think back on many things. Yeah, it was true that when he was just a kid, he wanted to just be helpful alongside the good guys...and in sense, he still desired that sort of dream. But when he thought about all the moments where he was weak or powerless to prevent something, he never did shift the blame away from himself from it all. Many died trying to protect him...and it was his fault, despite Priscilla's dying words stating otherwise. Most of the ones who saved his butt back then didn't even want to. But it was the simple fact that he was technically still "human" that the roids back then threw their lives away to make sure a human wasn't killed. He was powerless and he was forced to face reality as time passed in his decade-long career as a hunter.
He had no right to even weigh in on the subject. As much as he wanted to serve justice, he couldn't even save people in front of him. To this day, he still tried to become stronger to avoid repeating the same mistakes of the past, but he really wondered how far he progressed...or if he did at all. It had been well over a full year since the war ended and he drifted along this path of uncertainty along with Ignius. To say he wanted to branch himself off from the hunters when he left, nothing changed during that time frame...even if it technically wasn't that long ago. Really, he was just sitting around picking off on bad apples when he'd get jobs. He only went the path of a mercenary because it was the closest thing he could get to taking on the real bad guys...but there had to be another way than relying on forceful methods that kill the bad guys only half of the time and kill the innocent the other half like the hunters did.
...But it seemed like Lambda had the same view of them to a certain degree, though a little more extreme compared to his own opinion. Not like he cared for that bit. What she spoke was the truth. "Yeah, and I was blind to their view of justice long ago before seeing first hand how things operated." He leaned back in his seat, crossing his arms as he gazed in another direction. "...The innocent reploids who were killed and deemed maverick for simple misunderstandings or poor attempts in resolving the situation on the hunter's end far outnumbers the amount of true roids who were just plain evil...the infamous Sigma, for an example. Sure, he was a tyrant, but they allowed him to spook them beyond imagination and now they're terrified of any sort of irregularity among their own kind. And worst...I was forced to dirty my hands under their command. But I learned from that mistake and broke free from those I used to look up to as heroes."
He really shouldn't have even said any of that. Guess it all just poured out on it's own, so he couldn't help it when that happened.
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Lambda
Carnifex CEO
Posts: 23
Power: 10
Speed: 3
Accuracy: 5
Armor: 10
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Post by Lambda on Oct 30, 2013 1:03:52 GMT -6
Huh. Seemed that she had hit a nerve. Lambda had, quite frankly, had very little idea what to expect from Magnus - and she expected his actual reaction to be anything but what it was. Not that she was liable to tell him as much. Even if she had just been fishing, she had found out the hard way that deceiving others often aided in the creation of productive relationships. In this case, hopefully, looking intelligent. Better he not find out the sordid truth on that matter.
"It is ironic. Long ago, the concept of 'choice' was the holy grail of artificial intelligences. A computer that could think, that could act, that could learn. Now, that very choice is denied them, even by their own kind." Not that she actually cared all that much about whether or not reploids had the ability to decide to go maverick - she was quite the maverick herself, to go by the Hunter definition, and a Bioroid on top of that! Oh, if there was a robot hell and it was run by Hunters, she was going to have an exciting afterlife.
His last comment hit a nerve she had not expected, raising Magnus in her estimations a few notches, as he spoke of something all too familiar to her. Bereft of an immediate answer, Lambda glanced down at her own hands, pristinely clean to the eye, but drenched crimson with the blood of those she had eliminated along the way. Most had been guilty, and the rest had gone into battle knowing that their lives were at stake, but that did not ease the burden that their lives put on her soul.
Heh. Robots. Souls. That debate would never truly die. She didn't much care. The only difference is if she would burn in hell or simply evaporate into eternity; neither was a particularly pleasant thought, and she intended to accomplish much more in this life before she found out which was the truth of the next. Dirtied hands... what kind of world forced people like him to live with that burden? She deserved it. Lambda was not particularly proud or ashamed of that fact, but it was not a truth that she could deny. She was an inhuman monster leaving a trail of bodies along her path - no matter how noble a goal she might have, nothing could purge the stain from her, and she would not have accepted absolution were it offered. But Magnus, Eris - "...You deserved better," she said quietly, still trapped partway between her thoughts and the world around her.
It took a few moments more to recall herself, and like black magic a cup of coffee had appeared before her, the fading footsteps of Julius disappearing into the back already. No ramen yet. She wasn't sure if they even had it on the menu, but they were a resourceful bunch; Lambda suspected they had already figured out how to fill the order quite well. She grabbed a sugar packet from the container, and another, and another, and another, and another, and another. And one more just for good measure. Familiar motions. Rip off the top of one with a moment of effort, pour the ivory crystals into the roiling liquid in the cup, repeat. "Then bear that sin." So much for impartially testing his reactions; this was turning into advice hour. "Do not allow their deaths to be in vain. Whether you change the world or save others in their name, give their deaths meaning."
She sighed, evincing more emotion than she had even considered a possibility entering the café. It was frustrating to be able to empathize with Magnus more than he could ever know, but be so thoroughly unable to help him or even admit to him how similar they were in that regard. "The weight of a life is... tremendous," she admitted, not really sure where to go with that. "-But that just makes it more important to... keep moving forwards, to remember it and use it without allowing it to break you." Not that Magnus seemed too broken, so maybe she was just overthinking this. Lambda chuckled darkly. "Apologies. I will heed my tongue." He probably didn't want to hear her lecturing him about things she knew nothing about, from his perspective, and in a way she didn't. It just... hurt to not be able to do more for him.
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Magnus
Mercenary (Admin)
Posts: 73
Power: 6
Speed: 10
Accuracy: 9
Armor: 3
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Post by Magnus on Oct 30, 2013 13:16:47 GMT -6
This time, Magnus actually turned his sights to Lambda, hearing every part of what she spoke, word for word. He once more had nothing to reply with right on the spot. Though for now, he just closed his eyes as he shook his head and giggled silently to himself. "...No, you're right. While I resent how their laws work, at the end of the day, I still took innocent lives...and I'll never forget that. I've just traveled on a really bumpy road after I went my own way, is all. Just got to work through it while being reminded of it all."
He rested his hands down now, getting into a very concentrated thinking position. "That's all I can do for now anyways. When I left the hunters, I vowed to handle justice my way for the sake of those who died because of me...even if said method may take a while to find. But if I quit just because I can't bear the weight of everything, then I'm no better than the Maverick Hunters." That's the dream we shared...right, Priscilla?
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Lambda
Carnifex CEO
Posts: 23
Power: 10
Speed: 3
Accuracy: 5
Armor: 10
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Post by Lambda on Oct 30, 2013 21:11:53 GMT -6
Well, there wasn't really a ton she could say to that. Any wisdom she attempted to impart would be hollow at best, hypocrisy at its finest from a monster who had killed humans and reploids alike of her own free will. Pretty words only went so far, and in empathizing with Magnus, she was only insulting him by lumping his sins in with hers. "...I will not profess to have the answers to your situation, but I admire your strength to continue on." Different coping methods, she supposed. They both continued on despite their pasts, but he still had the hope to attempt to confront his past; she was far beyond redemption.
"So long as you do not lose yourself, living and holding to their memory is the best you can do." She was interrupted by the back door swinging open, hitting the cabinet on the far side of the frame with a thud, as Julius ambled out with a gigantic smile and a good-sized bowl of what she supposed was ramen, not that she had ever had it before. "Sorry for the wait, sir, took a bit to git all the ingredients, but I hope it's to yer liking! Coffee alright, miss L?" His smile turned diabolical - or maybe teasing, she wasn't sure - as he continued. "Need any more sugar?"
"No, it's... fine. I mean. Good." She didn't quite match his gaze, eliciting a hearty chuckle. "Aint nothin' wrong with liking your coffee sweet. Wait, thass' a double negative, aint it? Aint... not... nothing wrong, then!" She smiled despite herself, fond of the cheeky little devil even if she could feel a headache coming on out of sheer embarrassment, but he wisely held his tongue, pirouetting in place and dashing back into the back room for... whatever was so interesting back there.
Lambda took another sip of her coffee, looking furtively at the door as if someone was going to complain about her sugar usage. Damn that was good stuff. The atmosphere was a little lighter than it had been, though, leaving her half wondering if the duo had heard some of what she and Magnus had been discussing. "But enough of that topic for the time being." She sat back in her chair, getting her thoughts back on track with practiced ease. "So. What do you think about the rumors that have swept the city despite the Hunter Guild's best efforts to keep the full story secret? Are they merely overreacting to a possible threat or lone Bioroid, or is Sigma himself marching upon Abel City as we speak with an army of next-generation murder-bots?"
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Magnus
Mercenary (Admin)
Posts: 73
Power: 6
Speed: 10
Accuracy: 9
Armor: 3
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Post by Magnus on Oct 30, 2013 23:09:08 GMT -6
"...Yeah." Well, he certainly had no clear way to go about the conversation at this point, but when his ramen arrived, he stared down into the bowl. Other than admiring how it was cooked, it was definitely a bowl of noodles he couldn't chow down all by himself. He'd use that method he thought of earlier to take the rest he didn't eat on the go and give it to Ignius with mixing it with that edible machine liquid. As such, he looked up to the young waiter as he smiled brightly. "Hey, thanks! This looks pretty delicious."
That it did. He even had the old-style chopsticks to eat them with. He couldn't wait to dig in. It wasn't one of his favorite dishes for nothing. Besides, he'd definitely enjoy it more than his usual since he was almost starving...not eating for a whole day was like murder to him. The moment he took one good bite of the noodles, for some reason everything around him felt so warm and fuzzy, like he died and went to heaven...then came back to tell the story that no one would likely believe. Okay, on the inside he was just enjoying this way too much. As he looked over to Lambda and the waiter, he merely widened his eyes a bit and almost dropped his chopsticks as he finally realized all the sugar she put in her coffee...she must really like sugar...
But he just decided to leave it alone for now and continued to enjoy his ramen. Not like he needed to ask her about it. After one more bite, she seemed to raise another subject that was actually on his mind too. "...Well, something tells me it's bio-roid related. I mean, if it wasn't, they wouldn't be so secretive about it. I could understand if it's Sigma related...but that'd mean someone was stupid enough to go up on the moon's surface." Part of him says the latter was bad...while the other part wanted to see how this "Sigma" really was. It'd definitely be a good test of his skill against such an opponent that even the S Class Hunters struggled with. But at the end of the day, him coming back was bad, so that was just curiosity hitting him there. "It's got to be something dealing the bio-roids though. They're likely being secretive about it so people won't panic over a possible war restarting...and that's the last thing we need right now. I hope it was either just a rumor blown way out of proportion or someone's sick idea of a joke..."
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Lambda
Carnifex CEO
Posts: 23
Power: 10
Speed: 3
Accuracy: 5
Armor: 10
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Post by Lambda on Oct 31, 2013 17:07:22 GMT -6
"Mmhmm." Bioroids made sense, and the Hunters would always get bent out of shape over them. "The Jakob Elevator is guarded though, is it not? I've yet to hear of a break-in there." Sigma had been a threat worth getting worked up against - his massive campaign of extermination was very nearly the pinnacle example of why the Hunters had to act the way they did now. Mavericks sure did a lot to make her job easy. Lambda was fairly certain she could taste the sarcasm melting her tongue. Or maybe that was the sugar. "No, I don't think it has anything to do with Sigma. Not yet. It could be something like a Bioroid group dedicated to bringing him back, but if so, they're not ready for the real move - and the Hunters would come down on them en masse if they even suspected that was the truth."
Which left... what? Just random bioroids? She didn't know much more about the situation than she had admitted, but it felt like there had to be more of an answer than 'Sigma did it' or 'random bioroids.' "Suppose it is Bioroids... perhaps they suspect that Bioroid manufacturing techniques were revived, or even enhanced. Perhaps a next generation of Bioroids, much as Reploids were recently upgraded. Their evolution, even during the short duration of the war, was impressive; who knows what the Bioroids of tomorrow will look like?" Well, one of them was a dour, white-haired woman who happened to be sitting in a café talking nonchalantly about the subject with an ex-Hunter, but Magnus prrrrobably didn't need to know that.
"The world is changing, though. The Guild struggles to hold everything together after the last war, but it is only a matter of time until the next war, the next Sigma. Not an enviable position, no matter their past misdeeds." She chose her words carefully as she continued. "Which means it is necessary for third parties to do their part to keep the peace, to help those who would otherwise be lost. And the Guild is a necessary evil in the meantime, to be worked with or worked around."
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Magnus
Mercenary (Admin)
Posts: 73
Power: 6
Speed: 10
Accuracy: 9
Armor: 3
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Post by Magnus on Nov 1, 2013 11:04:23 GMT -6
"...The true test begins now." He began as he placed his chopsticks down. "You're right. The only reason we're all even sitting here now is because everyone joined forces when it became too tough for one group to handle alone. The hunters are trying to deal with things themselves again...and if they don't place their pride and duty behind them this time and work together with others again, they'll end up brutally crushed. And as much as it'd be a lesson to them, this world still needs their protection. However, since I've cast aside my badge, they wouldn't listen to the likes of a 'sellsword', as they say."
He was still surprised people even used that term in this day and age, however that was the truth. He could relay his feelings of the matter to Sean and Emilie, but he doubt they'd be taken seriously. Besides, he wouldn't want to put them in that sort of position anyway with how things are just starting off as rumors for now. He was sure those two had their own thoughts and feelings on the matter that he could respect. "But no matter what, I'll fight too. If wartime really is about to come crashing down on us again, they'll accept my help whether they like it or not...that or I'll just fight alone. If it's kept covered up, everyone else on the outside will just get caught off guard again like when this all started. Besides, I also have my own reasons for needing to get involved..."
...Vengeance? In a sense, yes. While it won't bring back those who fell, he had his own duty to protect his fellow residents of the world. It was another way of him taking responsibility for the past, but this time, he'll at least accomplish something.
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Lambda
Carnifex CEO
Posts: 23
Power: 10
Speed: 3
Accuracy: 5
Armor: 10
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Post by Lambda on Nov 1, 2013 18:03:10 GMT -6
Lambda took another sip from her coffee, listening to and dissecting Magnus's response in her mind. A strong sense of justice. A feeling of responsibility. Outright hatred and disgust for the Hunters' methods. He was... probably not going to be super eager to go around killing reploids and possibly humans just for some tech, regardless of whether or not it was for - arguably - a good cause. She wasn't necessarily disappointed; the less people in the world who were willing and eager to do that, the better. Still a minor setback to what she had hoped to accomplish.
But his hands were already stained, and she wasn't entirely ready to give up in the long term. Maybe she could bring him in eventually. In the meantime, there were plenty of more-or-less above-board tasks that she hired mercenaries for, and she would want a better idea of his combat skills before hiring him for the shadow wars regardless. So. A minor setback at worst, potentially even an possibility rather than a problem. She could use that. The bioroid smiled lightly after he finished, still digesting the content of his words, but already with an idea of where to take the conversation.
"An admirable goal." She put the coffee down, crossing her arms as she stared at Magnus, almost challenging. "But how will you achieve it? What will you accomplish alone? To sacrifice yourself solely for an ideal is to betray the burdens you carry, to pass the burden to others rather than shouldering them yourself."
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Magnus
Mercenary (Admin)
Posts: 73
Power: 6
Speed: 10
Accuracy: 9
Armor: 3
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Post by Magnus on Nov 1, 2013 19:52:48 GMT -6
Just as he was going to pick his chopsticks back up, he halted his hand for a moment as he fully broke her question down in his head before resting his hand on the pair of sticks, actually having a little smirk on his features. "That's the thing...I'm not planning on dying. To achieve a goal, you have to make a vow to yourself to see it all the way through from beginning to end. And even if you don't have any followers or allies to help along with that goal, then you've got to stand on your own two feet and go forth anyway. If I lack faith in my ability reach my goal, then how will I gain the trust of others?"
He took a moment to have a large bite of the ramen before swallowing and continuing. "Call me stubborn, but no matter the situation, I'm going to fight whether I'm alongside someone or not. It's better than doing nothing. So when I think about fighting alone, yeah it does sound pretty suicide. But if I don't fight, I'm a dead man anyway...and there was someone in particular that wouldn't forgive me if they saw that I didn't give it my all." It's quite ironic that he has to fight something alone anyway, seeing as he also has to watch out for the Forsaken just about every day. But other than those lunatics, he knew taking on past enemies of the war was no easy matter...all the more to hope everyone could come together like they did before so things wouldn't turn out to be so chaotic. But hope alone wasn't enough. He just had to fight and protect what he could on his own for the time being.
"And besides, I do have Ignius with me. Even if he isn't completely suited for combat, he's my partner and friend. If it wasn't for him in the war, I wouldn't be sitting here right now..." He tilted his head to the side a bit, seeing the mechanical canine through the glass outside sleeping by the door as he placed a warm smile on his face. He wasn't alone with Ignius there staying by his side even at the deadliest times.
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Lambda
Carnifex CEO
Posts: 23
Power: 10
Speed: 3
Accuracy: 5
Armor: 10
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Post by Lambda on Nov 10, 2013 3:14:39 GMT -6
"...It seems we're a pair of idiots, then." There was no venom in her quiet words, spoken more to herself than anyone else, and Lambda made no effort to explain her initial response, the wry smile on her face as much a reflection of her feelings on the matter as her inability to remain silent. She was growing to like this guy a lot, his response to her last question similar enough to what she had eventually dredged of from herself over countless sleepless nights working late. They had different motivations, different methods, and certainly different lives - but neither of them would ever stop moving forwards. Could not stop moving forwards. If anything, it made her want to help him more; he might not yet have that much blood on his hands, and they had enough similarities in goals that perhaps she could carry that burden for him as well.
Certainly he had more of a place in her dream world than she did.
Today was continuing to go in unexpected directions, she mused, appraising Magnus thoughtfully once more as she carefully crafted her words. His personality was important once other qualifications were met, but ultimately irrelevant if he did not even have the skills to be useful to her. It was a harsh way to phrase things, the Bioroid knew, but she had no alternative to relentless pragmatism in achieving her goals. On the bright side, at least she didn't forsee it being particularly likely that she would need to explode Magnus to further her goals, so all things considered this was really an overall positive exchange for her!
Acutely aware of the fact that she had long since learned to delegate recruitment to people who were not terrible at it, Lambda opted to brush common sense aside and hurl herself headfirst into the business of making a fool of herself. At least she had some experience with that. "You don't have to be alone, though." A little hurried, slightly less confident and impartial than she had been aiming for. "Why don't you work-" With me "-At Carnifex?" Pushing forwards without giving herself a chance to talk herself out of it, the probably-defective Bioroid continued. "We're always looking to expand our mercenary force, and you need a job, right?"
Acutely aware that she was acting more like a socially awkward teenager asking her crush out to a high school dance than an intelligent and ruthless businesswoman making a contract, Lambda trailed off without a strong closing statement, not really sure what else to say. She had wanted to comment about the familiar atmosphere of Carnifex, about what they were trying to do, but perhaps it would better to see his initial reaction before going into much more detail. Or just letting one of the PR people do the talking for her.
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Magnus
Mercenary (Admin)
Posts: 73
Power: 6
Speed: 10
Accuracy: 9
Armor: 3
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Post by Magnus on Nov 10, 2013 11:22:28 GMT -6
Magnus eyed her from the corner of his eye due to her first response. While it was apparent that she was directing it towards the both of them, it was beginning to make him curious about what exactly she was aiming for...or what she was trying to gain from this conversation in particular. The subject itself, or all that they've talked about up 'til now seemed to strike him as random, for he usually didn't chat about such things with someone he had just met. But as he tried to piece it together and took another bite of his ramen, it was then that what she followed up with shined some heavy light on his curiosity.
...He had to admit to himself that he'd never heard of Carnifex, or what they primarily do other than now learning that they have a mercenary group, which he'd be a fool to pass up a job offer. Though he suddenly had a hesitation that he couldn't understand. While Lambda herself seemed like a good person so far from what they've been talking about, he had no idea of what Carnifex stood for and their purpose. While a job's a job, he didn't exactly take every one available, since he wasn't a money-grubbing merc like most are and only accepted jobs he'd see himself doing. He didn't know if she meant working with the company as a main job in their mercenary force or not, but he wasn't sure on how to reply. So of course, the next best thing for him to do was quite simple.
"That's...quite the generous offer. What kind of work would I be doing exactly?" An honest question was always the first and best step to take with something he knows little to nothing about. However, judging by how she brought it up after stating he was willing to fight alone, he at least felt that whatever she does for Carnifex, the jobs she'd offer would at least be good-natured or just means of helping each other out. He questioned himself on the inside as to why he was suddenly becoming so cautious...but that should be a good thing. If he allowed his naivete to cloud logical thought, he'd end up throwing himself in a bad position that he would have wished that he'd never taken.
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Lambda
Carnifex CEO
Posts: 23
Power: 10
Speed: 3
Accuracy: 5
Armor: 10
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Post by Lambda on Dec 13, 2013 17:27:47 GMT -6
"Searching for and securing Lost Technology, primarily." Lambda almost smiled. Sometimes she wished she had the leisure to enjoy her work more. Adventure, excitement, discovery - like a futuristic Indiana Jones, every time she accompanied an expedition it was an interesting experience, but she could not help but focus on the possibility for disaster and casualties rather than enjoying the missions for what they were. Eris certainly managed it, but for her part, Lambda found herself unable to shirk the mantle of responsibility she had taken upon herself.
Perhaps it was for the best. Not having fun was a small price to pay for ensuring that as many of each group came home alive as possible, both for her conscience and for the valuable relationships they had forged with many mercenaries in the process. ...Always with the business. She did smile this time, a thin smile that did not reach her eyes. "Dangerous but rewarding. Laboratories from the war" - Bioroid laboratories was left unsaid, but implied - "often host things better left asleep, but the potential gains to humanity outweigh the risks." That was why she did what she did, was it not? Certainly the financial well-being of Carnifex was important, and she cared for it, but in the end it was a tool to achieve her goals - goals that benefitted more than just the people she paid.
She wasn't entirely sure what to make of his initial reaction, though. Guarded. Open to the possibility, but not locking himself into an agreement. Did he have something against Carnifex, or had he honestly not known what the name meant among mercenary circles? "You are aware of what the name Carnifex Laboratories represents, I assume."
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Magnus
Mercenary (Admin)
Posts: 73
Power: 6
Speed: 10
Accuracy: 9
Armor: 3
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Post by Magnus on Dec 13, 2013 20:48:53 GMT -6
Lost technology. He was well-aware of many locations that harbored labs where bio-roids were created due to taking missions of infiltrating such places around enemy bio-roid defenses in the war. Those locations were under heavy security and was difficult to break through with a large party, hence they were generally left alone during the fighting unless the higher-ups needed more info from stealth specialists like himself. So when Lambda spoke of these labs, he had a good idea of what she meant. He remembered before resigning that the locations found were clear of any activity and apparently didn't have anything useful to track any surviving bio-roids down, so the hunters left them alone. As she explained, he had to admit that the risk was pretty big. After all, the locations that were found weren't the only ones around...so there were possibly hidden areas no one knew about. He could see where Lambda stood though...while the bio-roids were in the end a mystery, the technology that gave birth to them could be used in a number of good ways that didn't involve killing people.
But the main worry at the end of the day was the hands the technology would fall into once they're unearthed and brought in. He wasn't worried if Lambda was the one who it all fell on, which he couldn't tell if that was the case yet, but there were others out there who doesn't know how to handle power and knowledge that are far beyond them, thus creating a whole new disaster. But from how she spoke, Magnus could feel something there. While Carnifex's intentions could seem a bit shady from another perspective, that worry would become rather moot point if the technology was handled with care and with the general thought of aiding humanity and machine alike...and Lambda showed that rather perfectly.
"Oh, sorry. I'm not familiar with Carnifex in the slightest...I was just curious. Since I'm not exactly an average mercenary, certain jobs or companies I'm completely lacking knowledge of...or if they don't fall into my line of work, I won't bother seeking info. However..." He paused, looking the other way for the duration of his reply. "...From what you just explained, I wouldn't say the job is completely out of my category. I wasn't lying earlier when I said I was a ninja. I'm literally...a genuine shinobi. I possess fighting skills and knowledge lost, or rather forgotten, to this day and age...and applying them to the modern age. Infiltration, stealth, and assassination are my specialties while on the job...and it's technically no different than search and retrieve missions."
There were a lot more information to provide on his background as a ninja, but that would require digging into the secrecy within the Arts of the Shinobi that were simply not allowed to be shared unless he was passing on the knowledge for another to learn the style. Plus, it wasn't truly relevant enough to explain while seeking a job. But what was relevant was what he had to say next. "While I'm not bragging, I could help Carnifex rather flawlessly. While a mercenary generally takes whatever job they need to, I'm a bit different. If a job interferes with my morals...even if it falls within my line of work, then I'll pass on it. Someone...taught me these skills for the sole purpose of following my dreams...and doing something that deviates from those dreams would place an irremovable stain on both the way of the shinobi, and betraying those who lost their lives for me. It's the path I've chosen to walk as I continue the quest to fulfill my dream."
Finally looking back to Lambda, he had an obvious look of determination and earnest in his eyes. "But if Carnifex's intentions with unearthed lost technology are truly pure in the end and for the sake of humanity and machine, then it's a job I can imagine myself doing. By dangerous, I'm sure you mean threats other than the unknown. If I have to fight for a cause that means everyone will benefit from it's purpose in the end, then I'll take on any job you give me."
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