Society of Justice 3: Crisis on the Earth

[NeoAC]

Katie's question struck up an unsavory reality for Brian. This wasn't like the other missions where there was just a clear result that could end to the status quo. There wasn't a massive zombie army to defeat or a mad scientist to coerce into fixing his damn machine to restore minds to their proper bodies. Hell, that scientist may not even exist in this world. It was looking pretty grim. No. No I can't be thinking that. We're going to make it through this. We're done it before. Why can't we do it again? Oh hey, orange juice. Sweet.

"Yeah," he finally answered Katie as he pulled the carton of OJ out of the fridge. "Yeah, I think we'll make it back home." He went to the same cupboard that Katie went to and grabbed a glass for himself. "Just gotta keep up the faith, you know? I mean, there's been so much that we've been through already there, it's gonna happen. For sure." He poured himself a tall glass of the juice and took a long drink from it. "Just gotta keep going til we find the person to get us to where we need to go, you know?"

[hr]

Briân held Catherine as close as he could to his body, he never wanted to let go. This was the woman for him, he was sure of it now. Sure Monique was willing to put up with his powers, but Briân could have sworn she was only doing it because she got off on the pain. Like some sick game. With Catherine he only felt the pain of mental anguish over the fact that this was the best they could do. This kind of paradox Catherine eluded to, of being so close yet miles away. It hurt, and the tears soaking into his shirt drove the pain deep into him.

"Caterine," he said, struggling himself to try and keep the waterworks from flowing. "Je...Je t'aime ici." He pulled her even closer. "I....I love you too, even like zis. I do not care anymore. I do not believe zat even ze liberashion of Canada would compare to being able to just 'old you in my arms witout worrying if I am 'urting you. I will stay 'ere, wit you. I just...want you to be strong for zis as well. Given zat I doubt zere is some miracle cure on ze 'orizon, zis may be ze best there is. You know zat I will be true to you even if ze only action I would be getting would be from my left 'and. I just want you in my life. I want you to tell me zat you feel similarly to zis. That knowing zis could be as good as it gets, we will not part again." He looked down into Catherine's eyes, there were tears forming in his own now. "Say it for me."

 

[Pm0n3y]

Jason raised an unseen eyebrow in intrigue at several of Tommy's subjects. The eye, the planning on covering said eye, and at the mode of repression that was forced upon Tommy back in the prison. He began to pipe up, telling his teammate about his fairly similar experience.

"A glyph? Huh. I guess I can say the same thing happened to me. When I got into an little 'altercation' with some of the soldiers, they put shackles around my ankles so I wouldn't fight back. They looked pretty standard, so I tried breaking out of them when Taryn, Katie and I had some free time. Thing only thing was, I couldn't get out of them. When I placed my hands closer to the cuffs, the armor closest to them withered, as if these particular cuffs were repelling my Key abilities. I came up with a theory, that they used the Seal of Mictlantecuhtli to enchant cuffs like those so unruly Keyholders wouldn't be able to break out so easily. I'm kinda glad we haven't incorporated the seal as smartly as that in our universe, or I might've been caught by now." He explained in a somewhat thorough fashion to Tommy, pausing to catch a breath before continuing with a realization.

"You think...maybe our predicaments were one in the same? Considering the Key's Aztecan/Spanish heritage, I always wondered if our magics were related in any way..." He added, his voice wandering to let the thought sink.

[hr]

Takashi looked at the slightly taller clone, returning her wishes with a small, sincere smile before gradually entering the room. He did a slow scan of the area, the rumors gabbed about by his fellow soldiers seeming to be true. The individuals scattered about the room seemed lost in their own conversations, talking among themselves and not paying much attention to the extra body that entered the room.

The sight of these extravagantly dressed individuals seemed almost too surreal for the young soldier. Then his eyes settled on one spot in the room. It was a Keyholder, shrouded from head to toe in nothing but his armor. Takashi's eyes widened in surprise before narrowing in sheer anger. The shimmering blue cracks, in complete contrast against the jet black coverings reminded him of someone, a particular being that he thought he'd never have to see again. He slowly removed his gloves, hands quivering in anger as dark red tendrils enveloped his hands, claws forming at the tips of his fingers. Still distracted by the giant that stood ahead of him, Takashi rushed towards the seemingly familiar Keyholder tackling him out of his seat and to the ground. With armored hands gradually tightening against his brother's neck, Takashi looked down towards him, leaning in close with a look that expressed supreme malice.

"You motherfucking bastard. You have some nerve showing yourself around these parts, you know that? I don't know what kind of mind games you played on the Second Lieutenant or her clones, but they aren't working for me. You hear that? I can see through your clever ruse Lieutenant Colonel. Or, dare I say, big brother." He spoke in sneers, barely able to contain his anger as his grip around his brother's neck tightened indefinitely, his attack leaving deep cracks in the pressured area as Jason began to desperately gasp for air.

 

[Captainguy42]

Tommy moved quick as soon as Takashi tackled Jason. Takashi was always slippery but this time he didn't see Tommy coming. He sprung up from his chair, and grabbed Takashi by the shoulders. A fired an electric shock from his gloves, enough to make his lose his death-grip on Jason's throat. He lifted Takashi up then pushed him against the wall.

"Jason are you alright?" Tommy asked, as he continued keeping pressure on Takashi so he wouldn't slip away.

 

[Pm0n3y]

Jason managed to roll to his side, struggling to his feet as he expelled hard coughs, air beginning to refill his lungs. He let out a small "I'm fine" before succumbing to more coughs. As Takashi squirmed under Tommy's grip, Jason looked on towards his brother, a look of disappointment and confusion began to form on his face as darkness repressed from it, revealing his emotions. He was disappointed due to his brother's reaction, yet confused by his words. However, as Takashi managed to get a good look at Jason's face, his expression from one of anger, to one that displayed humility, or nervousness.

"W-who are you? Why do you look so young? What kind of trick is this?!" He said, resuming his squirming fit with a burst of energy. Tommy shoved him further up the wall as result. Jason said nothing, his frown displaying how he felt.

"It's not a trick. I'm your brother, i'm just not from this world. None of us are. Look, Takashi, I don't know what my alternate counterpart's done to deserve such hatred...but..." Jason paused, averting his gaze momentarily.

"But? But what?!" Takashi exclaimed from under Tommy's grasp.

"I'm sorry." He let out, looking back at his brother sincerely. Takashi calmed from that, a phrase such as that hasn't been said to him in years. With the words coming from a person that resembled a younger version of his older brother, Takashi hung his head. Jason signaled for Tommy to let him down as he moved closer.

"He's fine Tommy. Thanks for the assist." He added, giving his fellow an appreciative pat.

 

[Captainguy42]

"No problem," Tommy lowered Takashi to the ground gently, not wanting to rough him up any further, " Sorry about that," He said as he let go, "I'm Tommy by the way." He added, not entirely sure Takashi was really in the mood for introductions, but always more than willing to be polite. He took a step back then turned to Jason, " Jason, isn't Takashi supposed to be the older one?"

 

[CounterAttack]

"I dunno, Brian... I think this is far bigger than anything the Society has faced before," Katie continued, feeling that now would be as good a time as any to explain how she felt. "In my time with the Society, we've been through a lot of shit - excuse the language - but this takes the cake. I don't know if we'll make it back... I honestly don't see how, unless we find this universe's Mordtoten." And even that was going to be a challenge, unless he was out in the open and advertising his location to anyone who happened to walk down a street.

Katie's train of thought was derailed by the violent entrance of... someone calling himself Jason's brother? That could only be Takashi, and Catherine had said he was here, at her base. But what was up with his attitude towards Jason? That was uncalled for. Takashi had mentioned the rank of Lieutenant Colonel... Katie drew the conclusion that the alternate Jason was in the United America army. No wonder Takashi was pissed. She watched the events in the lounge unfold with a wary eye.

[hr]

Catherine would have said what Briân wanted her to say without him telling her to do so. Now that she had said those simple words, all the old memories - and the old feelings - came flooding back to her. The two of them fighting side by side... rest and recuperation in a temporary camp... Catherine treating an injury Briân had sustained in a fight... the horrifying revelation of his terrible power, experienced first-hand...

But she did not fear those memories. She embraced them, just as she was holding the man now. Through sheer force of will, she stopped herself from crying into his shirt. A couple of renegade tears slid down her cheeks as she met his gaze with her own, but she made no effort to brush them away. There was an almost tangible silence in the air before Catherine spoke.

"Briân... my Briân. I don't care what happens, I don't care whether we find a cure for you or we don't," she began, conviction firm in her voice. "But I am not leaving you. Not now, not ever... and I won't let you walk away from me again. I love you, and for as long as I breathe I will still love you. No matter what happens to us, no matter if I get hurt because of it. I don't care. I love you. Now and forever."

 

[NeoAC]

The fact that Katie, a veteran member of the Society, was feeling such anxiety over the current situation was an eye-opener. It was enough to make Brian realize that this might not be the simple solution he vocalized, and might be more akin to the previous thoughts he had ignorantly pushed out of his head.

"Still," he was about to answer as the noise erupted from out in the lounge. There was a bit of a scuffle going on but it died down rather quickly. Brian couldn't really see what was going on, but it seemed to hold Katie's attention. This meant his brain was prepared to scare the rest of him. Shoot, what are we going to do if we are stuck here forever then? I don't think this place is going to have XBL...or readily available Keith's. This is going to suck.

[hr]

Briân looked deep into the eyes of his little fleur-de-lis. He could see the emotion, the clear truth. This was being put in stone. Tears fell from his eyes matching the ones still remaining on her cheek. For the first time in a long time, he smiled. "Merci beaucoup. Merci," he repeated. "Merci, Caterine." He bent down and planted a quick kiss on her forehead, staying barely long enough to have contact with her skin, his hand rubbing against the shirt on her back, just to make sure she was there and he wasn't dreaming.

There was noise coming from outside the door, in the main room. It was an unwelcome reminder that the two were still in the middle of a resistance war. "I suppose we should probably go an 'ave a look at zat racket, zee wat is going on, non? I will not 'ave my little fleur-de-lis neglecting duties just pour moi."

 

[RBMidknight]

After quietly insisting that Levi sit down while she located some sort of beverage for the both of them Taryn set out to locate the kitchen. She crossed the lounge, noticing Ethan had made his way to one of the Resistance computers. 'I wonder if there are files for our doppelgängers.' Taryn thought. Without breaking her stride she pulled out her phone and made a note to request access to the system. Which, as she thought about it further, they may not be too keen on allowing. 'Could have left the technopath part out of the introduction...' Taryn's phone flashed a warning that its battery was low.

[hr]

(Elsewhere...)

¡WARNING!
New Target has accessed the System.
New Target found.
Designating New Target as T-392.

The words displayed in bright green text, completely obscuring the image of a local bank and its weekly delivery schedule. Beside of the image was a repeating list of coordinates. But the monetary-aquirement job didn't matter right now. What mattered was...T-395. Tango Three Nine Five.

"Good job, scriptie, I won't be rewriting you after all. Show me, show me!" With child-like enthusiasm Taryn clapped her hands together.

Returning location.
Location designation: 395-V91W-9DN8-194820-QZ0FI...
¡WARNING!
Signature data may be corrupted.
Printing complete signature.
Continue (Y/N)? _

"This can't be right." Taryn protested as she watched the pages slowly print one by one. She began reciting the data with each new page. The data started coherent but then became messy. Three pages into the recitation Taryn slammed her fist down on the printer. The machine shook violently but continued working. It was used to the abuse. "It's...it's tainted!" the aggravated technopath exclaimed, "It's dissolved! It's....oh wait no this isn't my copycat's signature. This is a tag! Of course you can't recognize it you silly little program you." The hand that had impacted the printer was transferred to the nearest monitor.

The remaining pages dropped to the floor when Taryn spun her chair around.

Continue (Y/N)? [u]Y[/u]

"So the copycat has a pet. A little sloppy on the imprinting, this blend should be a flawless separation. And there's no tail. Trail. Rail!" *ahem* "Let's see what you're capable of."

One keyboard, five pages, and eight pencils were shoved off of the desk leaving only a monitor and its spider web of cables. Two hands, half-covered by white cloth, were placed on the either side of the machine. The physical access was unnecessary of course. And the sparks that flew from every port and the sudden dimming of the light fixtures were simply side-effects of an unbridled power.

Nearby equipment began to intermittently come to life, then fade, as Taryn accessed the System. Past the net of firewalls she'd created herself. Over the hills and across the streets in the time it took for the last pencil to stop rolling. And finally past some rather amusing security measures. Really. Who were they kidding.

It wasn't quite what she'd been expecting. In fact it was enough of a difference to make her pause. One finger idly tapped against plastic casing. "Oh, but you're not whole. You're...pieces." Taryn gave a low hum of disappointment. She already had so many pieces already. Pieces and parts and bits and bytes. "But that's okay. Pieces are still worth using. Let's play connect the dots."

On the screen, dots did indeed begin to form. Dots followed by lines and then numbers. Entire brain patterns were displayed, copied, and filed in quick repetition. For use later. Should they be deemed useful later. Taryn realized after the first few hundred that this hands-off approach was simply not enough. Hands-on was better. In fact-

"Come visit me, little machine. I've got some questions for you. Many questions. But first you need to. Obey. My. Command."

Rerouting mechaneural responses. Child's play.

[hr]

Jason's scuffle with his alternate brother caught and held Taryn's attention. Thankfully the altercation was brief, with Tommy's assistance. "Kitchen is...this way." Taryn muttered, pointing in the direction as she resumed her quest.

"Oh, hey." Taryn greeted Katie and then Brian as she entered the kitchen. Focused on the task at hand she didn't wait for a reply but set about fixing two glasses of water. Dr. Pepper, it seemed, was not a popular Resistance beverage. Taryn didn't dwell on the fact that perhaps there was no Dr. Pepper in this universe.

Taryn returned to Levi and set the glasses down on a small end table situated next to the sofa "Here are these", Taryn drew out the last word as she steadied the table, "and I'll be right back." As long as the team was stationary, she figured she could charge her phone. And maybe get a look at the computers at the same time. Taryn slowly walked up to Ethan. She put her hand on his uniform sleeve.

"Find any USB 3.0 ports?" she asked.

 

[tsatoma]

The sensation was odd and fast to Ethan, the stinging feeling running through his circuits before reaching his head. The young man had barely any time to fight back, the few seconds of resistance doing too little before he lost control over himself. Ethan tensed up as he awaited for something to happen, the wait taking forever in his mind before he was told to do come to whoever was controlling him.

There was a sense of familiarity in whoever was controlling him, but his mind was too busy trying to fight against them to identify them. He was given a command to come to them, and he could do nothing but obey. He heard Taryn ask him an unimportant question and place a hand on his uniform, the feelings inside of him barely registering at this point as he stared at the computer screen. An unintelligible beep emitted from him before he suddenly stood up from the chair and started to walk out of the lounge. It was less of a walk and more of an awkward shuffle as his human side tried with little results to fight against his robotic side.

The small and brief fight between Jason and Takashi gave Ethan the right distraction to slip out of the room unnoticed; most of the room still watching even once the fight was over. The cyborg then started to head down a hallway towards an unknown destination.

 

[CounterAttack]

Katie gave Taryn a small wave as the technopath popped in and out of the kitchen. It wasn't often that Taryn or Levi had this much contact with the rest of the Society: at least, that was how Katie saw it. They spent so much time together, it made for much less interaction with the rest of the team.

Katie gave a small sigh, set her glass down to one side and watched the Society go about their business... after a while, she noticed a few changes. Two new someones, both familiar, had entered the lounge... and someone else wasn't there. Requiem - Katie had never really gotten used to calling the cyborg Ethan - was missing. He must have stepped out for something, in which case Garrus was likely to know about it.

"'Scuse me a moment," she said to Brian, slipping out of the kitchen and approaching Garrus. "Hey, where's Requiem at?" she asked, trying to be casual. It was difficult to do so; the thought of being stuck here was still wandering about in her mind, leaving fear in its wake.

[hr]

Catherine didn't answer Briân immediately. She wanted the rest of the world to vanish, as it had done when her lips had met his. She wanted the world to consist entirely of herself and the man she loved... but she knew there was more to it. There was always more.

But her words had been true. She would rather have Briân here with her and not be able to touch him, than for him to be in Canada where she couldn't even see him. And now that he was with her, she would not let him walk away again.

"Yes... yes, you're right. We should rejoin the others," she eventually said, wiping the tears from her face and doing her best to clear the redness that she expected to be in her eyes. Before opening the door, Catherine reached up and placed a brief kiss on Briân's lips for the second time. In that second, she felt the warm sensation in her chest grow in intensity - but she pulled back, not wanting to hurt him by hurting herself.

Catherine led Briân out of the room and back down the short hallway to the lounge. The clone stood aside to let them pass: the first thing the original Catherine saw was Takashi Jinrou standing with two of the others: Tommy and Jason, she remembered their names. All three of them appeared to be a little banged up, at least. A chair was overturned, and it had suffered a little bit of damage. In a flash, the formal persona that Catherine usually adopted was back, and in full force.

"Mr Jinrou, what happened here? Did you attack this man?" she demanded.

 

[Pm0n3y]

"Jason, isn't Takashi supposed to be the older one?"

"Yeah...yeah, he is." He answered, realization and intrigue increasing in droves. He took a step up towards he brother, placing a hand on his shoulders. Takashi looked on blankly, his eyes diverted from Jason's altered glance.

"Takashi, you also called me a Lieutenant Colonel. Brother...what am I in this universe?" He asked, voice filled with plead. Takashi didn't answer initially, his mind was still taking all this in. There before him, stood a man-or at least, barely a man-who seemed to be a splitting image of his brother, his much older brother. And at the same time, he wasn't. This boy before him bore the same markings, attributes, speech patterns, and possibly ideals as his alternate counterpart. However, he bore dissimilar traits as well. Other than the small change in discoloration in the cracks of his armor, the younger counterpart showed sympathy for his brother. Takashi couldn't even tell if the counterpart knew of his elder's acts, or of his emotions towards his immediate family, and yet, the boy apologized for it all, immediately taking responsibility for all his alternate's troubles. Takashi couldn't understand how a person could just take up for something they possibly never knew happened, and that person would be his brother. It was overwhelming, to say the least. Jason looked at his brother, frowning slightly as he hesitated to answer him.

"Takashi...?" He asked worriedly, snapping fingers in his brother's face in hopes to break him from his trance. Takashi pushed away from his brother, finally managing to meet his brother's gaze with his own glare.

"Do you mind? This is a bit much for me to take in. I don't know how you all can just, shrug this whole ordeal off like it's nothing, but...goddammit..." He snarled at his brother, and at the towering man behind him, quickly turning away to lower himself into murmured curses, all in the confusion of what stood before him. The confusion began to anger him. As he turned back to face the overwhelming anomaly before him, his commanding officer's voice broke him from the moment, but not from his emotions. He pushed past Tommy and Jason, and hastily approached his higher upper.

"Mr Jinrou, what happened here? Did you attack this man?"

"Second Lieutenant, with all due respect ma'am, but don't you think you should've informed your company ahead of time that you were bringing individuals into the base that easily resembled very powerful forces? Forces that we've spent months, years even, opposing against? We've lost men, shed our own blood and sweat against United America's military, and yet, you bring in a man that looks exactly like their most prominent general, and a guy that looks like my brother and their Lieutenant Colonel?" He told his superior in a faux calming manner, his true anger and confusion of the whole situation hiding beneath. Jason stepped up behind him before he could continue his rant.

"Takashi, I told you before. We're not from this universe-" As Jason tried to further explain his cause, the younger brother anxiously spun on a heel to face him, he becoming quite excited with anger as the tension rose between them.

"And what makes you think i'm supposed to believe you, huh?! Have you thought of that?! Did you think I would've just bent down, and just accepted your stupid-ass clause? Did you stop for one second and wonder on how fucking retarded this crap would sound to me?! And for that matter, Did you think it would've been easy for me to you just forgive my brother for the years of abuse he brought upon me before and after my dad died?! Like, your one 'sorry' would sway me, just like that?!" He told his brother, voice rising with every sentence as he poked at his chest.

"If you're not from here, as you insist on reminding me, then you don't know what that fucker's done to me. The fact that he tried to kill me and our people after some of us refused to integrate with the military only made things worse! I don't even know why you apologized to me in the first place." He finished, his tone immediately changing back to its lower, hateful tint. His hands began to shake again. Takashi even contemplated attacking the faulty doppelgänger a second time, only to disregard the thought as he remembered that his superior loomed behind him. Jason remained silent, distraught at what his brother said to him.

"Maybe...he was destined to hate me...in whatever form he's in, it'll just...be the same, huh?" He thought, sadly looking on at what conspired in front of him.

 

[NeoAC]

Brian leaned against the counter, sipping the juice he had poured. It sounded like a mess out there in the lounge. He wasn't going to be getting involved in that. Not quite yet.

[hr]

The brash young fighter was starting to get on Briân's nerves. Especially with his superficial manner of judging people. Yes it was strange that some of these new recruits happened to look like people here. He still wasn't sure about that somewhat goofy sounding kid that was apparently his doppelganger, plus there was that other Catherine. However, one doesn't harbor a terrible power for years without learning that looks are only skin deep.

He stepped ahead of Catherine and seized the kid around his face, fingers firmly clamped on the skin. "I wonder eef you realize 'ow absolutely stupeed you sound right now? If so, I 'ighly doubt you would bee takeeng such a tone with Ms. Southe here." He put more emphasis on the accent as he was accustomed to doing when looking to intimidate. Nothing put fear into a man like a strong Canadian accent. "I, 'owever, am nowhere as patient, so I am going to say zis once and I 'ope eet sinks into zat tick leetle skull of yours." Takeshi's energy was already starting to flow out of him. Briân could feel it. "I would take great care in judging zose who 'ave decided to put zeir asses on ze line for zis cause. Oui, zere appearance is strange, even a leetle too familiar in some cases, but if zey are willing to fight to take down zose bastard Americans, zen zey can look like Pierre ze elephant man for all I care. You need to get a FUCKEENG GRIP on yourself before I start getteeng a tighter one on you, because I will not tolerate ze kind of bullsheet zat you are spewing. Zis is ze force we got. I will not stand for eet being beateeng up eetself. Now get your sorry derriere back in attonsion, before I ram a steeck up zere and do it myself." He let go of Takeshi, sending him crashing to the floor.

He left him where he lay as he returned to Catherine's side. "Pardon-ez moi, Ms. Southe. If you wish to continue speeking to zis man, zen by all means." He hated being so formal with Catherine, but he knew the image she wanted to project in public and he respected that. He turned back to the three in the lounge, standing and waiting for the next move.

 

[Captainguy42]

Even someone as thick as Tommy could see the hypocrisy in what Briân did, using his powers to reprimand Takashi for attacking Jason else. "Are you certain that was completely necessary?" He asked Briân. He wasn't exactly sure what Briân had done, but it was obvious he had done something to weaken Takashi, and he doubted it was a painless process. Can our Brian do that? Then again, there's Catherine, so his powers could be different.

 

[Pm0n3y]

As Takashi performed his rage-fueled rant against his brother, he found himself attacked and subdued by none other than Briân McKenzie, a man who's previous actions made him a well-known face to both American and European Resistance forces. In midst his outburst, Takashi managed to face the man that stood behind him, only to receive an extent of Briân life-draining powers. As he sternly spoke to the boy in a increasingly thickening accent, Takashi couldn't help but feel his powers siphoned from him, his Key's armor receding from his hands and arms. Briân continued to talk, and kept Takashi within his grasp. Takashi's eyes began to glaze over, his steadily weakening gaze affixed on Briân. Eventually, Takashi couldn't make out what his superior was saying to him as his legs began to weaken under him, his breaths becoming ever short. The elements took over, and Takashi found himself falling under his own weight.

Takashi blinked awake within the minute, still slightly dizzy as he managed to catch his breath, looking up towards the man who weakened him, who was now talking to the Second Lieutenant. A man that Takashi could've generally said that he looked up to, had forced himself into something that one could argue didn't involve him. Takashi staggered his feet, using the arm of a nearby chair to steady himself, only to fall into said chair. He looked up again at Briân, eyes blinking slowly.

"Even...for s-someone with p-powers like yours...you could n-never understand my pain...S-sir." He stammered through slurred speech and long heavy breaths, still drained by the attack. Jason looked on at what transpired before him, only to frown at the result. Jason sat down next to his brother, putting a concerned hand on his shoulder, only to have Takashi sloppily, yet forcefully, push away from it. Takashi kept his gaze averted, not bothering to turn and face this strange form of his brother.

"Just...because someone else stepped in, sapped my energy, and talked about judging and looks...you still think...that i'm supposed to trust you?" Takashi asked harshly, his speech beginning to clear up. Jason shook his head, Takashi's volition seeming nigh unbreakable. It was a trait that even the other Takashi displayed on a common basis.

"You don't have to trust me Takashi. But it's okay. I'm still going to provide as much help as I can to this force. All of us will. Even if you see me as a villain, I won't act in such a way towards you. I promise you Takashi. Even if I don't know what my counterpart's done to you, I want to personally atone for everything he's done. One way or another." Jason slowly explained to his younger brother. Takashi's eyes softened as he took a slow glance in Jason's direction before diverting his gaze for a second time.

"Stop talking to me." Takashi replied simply and coldly. Jason lingered in his brother's presence momentarily before walking away from him, calmly exiting from the scene. He entered the kitchen, not noticing Brian. As he approached the sink, he found a nearby cup, and turned on the tap. As he hung his head, his breaths became heavy as he watched the cold water run before him, his eyes steadily affixed on the flowing liquid as it fell into the sink, crashing like a roaring torrent into the steel surface before making an exit into the drain.

"Are you gonna be okay Jason?" Erebus asked.

"Y-yeah. I just...need some water." He answered somberly, his hands clutching the edge of the counter, seemingly holding himself up. Tears began to quietly fall from his face as he attempted to fill his cup, his breaths were long and ragged as a horrible frown twisted onto his face.

 

[CounterAttack]

"Mr Jinrou, hold your tongue and listen to me," Catherine ordered. Her expression and voice were both far colder than Takashi's. "Use your brain for a second. If these people were our enemies, why would I have brought them into my own home base? Second Lieutenant Bishop and I found all of these people locked up in Prison Block Theta. The man bearing similarities to Lector - " she shot a glance at the seated Levi " - had been injured, presumably by the General's own hands. As an aside, do you honestly think Lector would be caught dead out of his uniform?" Again, she glanced at Levi's clothing, noting the difference in the two men's choice of apparel.

"As for the mirror image of your brother, he was jailed just like the rest of them. He also had no knowledge of the presence of the Key Corps in United America forces, nor knowledge of you being with us, until he was informed as such," she explained.

"I do not expect you to trust these people, let alone like them, but you will not go around assaulting them in any way. They are our allies, and you will treat them as such until they are proven otherwise. For now, return to your quarters. You are dismissed," she stated. The formally clad clone gestured to the door. Once Takashi had left, the original breathed a short sigh of relief and her facial expression softened considerably. Mr Jinrou was a difficult man to deal with at the best of times, in her experience.

"I apologise for that. Sometimes a little authority goes a long way," Catherine said to the group as a whole. "Now then..." she added quietly, casting her eyes about the room. Her gaze landed on Katie: the woman who had said she could control plants was out of her green-and-brown armour, which was standing up against one wall. She was an enigma to Catherine: presumably she had come from this bizarre idea of an alternate dimension.

The cloner beckoned to Katie, gesturing to a couple of seats that were apart from the others. "You and I need to talk, Ms Demeter, whenever you are ready," she added.

[hr]

Katie watched the proceedings with some alarm, her query about the missing Requiem forgotten. She was unsure of how it would conclude until Catherine stepped in, pulling rank on Takashi and giving him an earful. Jason didn't take Takashi's attitude too well, it seemed... when he walked into the kitchen, he did so almost too calmly, like there was a methodical sense to his movements.

She turned her attention back to Catherine in time for her counterpart to beckon to her. "Me? Um... alright, just give me a moment," she answered, remembering that a clone had said that the original had wanted to speak to her. She wanted to check on Jason, make sure he was alright. At Catherine's nod of approval, she slipped into the kitchen to find Brian still there, quietly observing, and Jason standing at the sink. Katie approached the latter, careful not to startle him.

"Hey, are you okay?" she asked, leaning up against the counter beside him.

[hr]

With the problem of Takashi removed, Rowan and Spoon leaned back in their seats, almost identically. The former gave a sigh of relief: even if a part of him disapproved of Catherine pulling rank, it was good to eliminate issues as soon as they came up, rather than let them linger. He said as much to Spoon, quietly so the cloner wouldn't overhear.

±Hm, yes, I agree to an extent. But with that attitude you would never make it in the military, Rowan,± Spoon answered, giving the shapeshifter a look of mild amusement.

"Fair enough. I don't plan to join anyway. And hey, as I said, I haven't killed a man," Rowan reiterated.

±What would you do, though, if you were forced to take a life? If you had no other choice but to kill a man standing in front of you?±

Rowan had to think over that answer. It was a difficult question. "I guess... I guess if there were absolutely no other option, I'd do it," he eventually said. "But only if it was impossible to take any other action."

±I see... But perhaps that wasn't the right question. If you did end up killing someone, how would you feel? Would you be able to live with yourself afterwards? A day after? A month, a year?± Spoon continued to question him. Again, Rowan didn't answer immediately. The psychic's questions were both confusing and understandable at the same time.

"I... I don't know. That depends on a lot of things. Who they are, what they did to deserve it, what I use to kill them - "

±You're avoiding the question. Dancing around it won't get you anywhere.±

"Sorry, sorry. Um... yeah, I don't know. But you said it isn't something to be enjoyed."

±That I did. I do, however, feel that it is something that you should experience. Just to see how it feels. You can't hide away from it in this line of work, especially since at least one of your powers is more or less designed to be a weapon.±

 

[NeoAC]

Briân hated having to do use his powers like that Takeshi. He had been a good soldier for a while, they had even fought along side each other in a few battles. But he was acting completely out of line, and it was the only way he knew to cool him down. It was one thing to go off on your fellow soldiers. It was another to go off on your commander, especially when that commander was the only woman he ever loved. Besides, Takeshi had to learn that those were not the things that were to be said to the commander's face. You were only supposed to think them and spout off when they weren't around. At least his cold tactics appeared to have worked. He wasn't beating the shit out of the other person anymore, even if the other person did run off.

Catherine picked up where he had left off now that Takeshi was able to stand again. She tore into the headstrong Key Corp member with the same kind of calculating coldness she usually reserved for her enemies, again, necessary for the points to hit home. Briân almost felt sorry for Takeshi, the mental beatdown coming so soon after he sapped away his physical strength. As Catherine went off to take to the woman who bore such a resemblance to herself, Briân stayed put amidst the throng of people, maintaining some order as he pulled in Takeshi for a quick follow up.

"I apologize for using my...'powers' on you like zat, Takeshi," he whispered. "I 'ad to calm you down some'ow, before someting unfortunate 'appened. 'Owever, do not say I do not understand pain. I 'ave endured more due to zese 'powers' zan you will ever know. Next time you make such claims, take Ms. Southe's advice and tink about wat you are saying before running your maut like zat again."

[hr]

The noise had come to a sudden end in the lounge, which worried Brian. It probably meant his services were going to be needed. Instead, Jason came in, and went directly to the sink, acquiring some water. He looked like he was in a state of shock, his chest was heaving, he was crying, it was a bad scene. Katie went to comfort him and Brian followed after.

"Yeah, Jase," Brian asked him. "You OK there, buddy? What's going on out there? Sounded some rough."

 

[RBMidknight]

"Ethan?" Taryn was started to get worried. And not just because she was lost in a dimly lit hallway inside of a Resistance base located in an alternate universe. Ethan was completely unresponsive. But he wasn't immobile. His awkward, shuffling gait concerned Taryn. It was very reminiscent of the zombies that invaded the Promenade. An unpleasant comparison.

"I know I've asked already but where are you going?" Taryn's initial tone of curiosity was now quiet urgency. Had accessing the Resistance computer done something? Fried some circuits? Trying to physical restrain or direct Ethan's movement hadn't proved effective at all. Taryn silently wished that the Society's communicators still worked. She didn't want to leave Ethan in case he wandered into some hostile Resistance soldier. Or worse.  But she wasn't sure how to contact Garrus or Levi to get their attention. 'Someone will notice eventually...' she hoped. There were only...a few stairwells and hallways and one sort of half-step between them and the lounge. 'No wait, there was more than that...'

Because she was focused on Ethan, and how to get the attention of a solider without getting shot, Taryn paid no attention to the cameras and monitoring equipment on the walls. If she had bothered to check, she would have noticed that they were all angled toward the closest wall. And some of the lights were blinking. Lights that indicated that the equipment was enabled and functioning properly.

When Ethan finally stopped it was in front of a metal door. Completely solid with no discernible handle. Taryn sighed with relief, happy to have reached an end point. "Okay." she said firmly, taking a hold of Ethan's sleeve, "Let's go back now because-what are you doing?"

But of course there was no response. Taryn's grip was lost when Ethan's arm jerked forward and his hand wrapped around a numeric keypad she hadn't noticed. With another quick jerk the faceplate of the device was removed. Pulling some of the wires free Ethan held up his hand and fed the ends of the wires into his index finger. His body jerked, and Taryn jumped backwards in reflex. She glanced around the hallway, expecting alarms, but there were none. There was also still no one in sight. With the wire still anchoring him to the door panel Ethan slowly turned toward Taryn.

"Hey.." she said cautiously. "Are you ready...to go?" Taryn kept her voice low and steady. She still couldn't decipher Ethan's attitude. 'Easy does it...' Taryn took a deliberate step forward and moved to take Ethan's sleeve. She gasped when Ethan's free hand shot out to grip her wrist instead and she was pulled forward.

Off-balance, Taryn stumbled through the doorway just as the door slid open. There were no lights. Only darkness. Taryn held her hand out, bracing for the impact of table or chair. But there was none. She regained her balance and immediately turned back to the doorway.

"Ethan, we're not supposed to be-." A deceptively normal-looking fist slammed into the side of Taryn's head. Stunned, she fell to the ground.

 

[socialtangent]

Levi had sprung out of his seat when the conflict between Jason and the alternate Takashi escalated. Magnetic energy was focused into his hands in anticipation for a brawl that never came to fruition. This universe's Brian, apparently known as Briân, quickly subdued the uncooperative Keyholder with the assistance of Tommy, and Catherine gave him a firm chewing-out. A very distraught Jason shuffled off into the kitchen, with Katie and Brian not far behind. Takashi's unbridled anger had struck something deep within him. Hopefully, he would be better after having some time to cool off.

The gathered energy dissipated as Levi sighed tiredly. Once more unhappy with the idea of standing, he slouched back into his seat. He reached for his glass of water and took a drink. The water had a very distinct metallic tang to it, probably from being excessively filtered and disinfected. A necessary measure to be sure, but it didn't do anything to prevent the copper taste the liquid left behind. Better than nothing, he thought with a mental shrug as he took another sip.

 

[Pm0n3y]

Still only gathering his bearings, Takashi could only watch as his commanding officer coldly dug into him, informing him on cruical points leading to the Society's innocence. Takashi hung his head in shame, a realization of his naïvety. She promptly dismissed him from the room afterward, leaving him to think of what he's done. He stormed from the room, doing his best to not make any eye contact. He managed a quick glance in the direction of the kitchen, noticing the one that called himself a brother, slumped over the sink in a fairly distraught state, comforted by his friends. Takashi diverted his gaze in haste, beginning to realize how much his blunder affected this peculiar group of people. As he made his way out, Briân fell in beside him and gave him one last piece of his mind. Takashi slowly looked towards him, shaking his head as he sighed.

"I don?t think you completely heard me when I said that. Sir...I understand your pain. We all do, I think. Shit, I practically got an even better understanding not too long ago. I can only imagine how hard it must be for you to go on and live a normal life, with powers like yours. It's one of the reasons why we look up to you, y'know? The way you can present yourself in such a confident way, despite your cons. And have you ever seen yourself in battle? Even when you don't resort to your powers, you were a force to be reckoned with." He stated, his last lines uttered with a fanboyish tone.

"I feel like I should be that way. Like you. Not letting my own problems interfere with other problems. But whenever I looked into that Keyholder's eyes, hell, when I just shot a glance in his direction, all I saw was my older brother. All I saw was the way he treated me, the way he betrayed us...it's hard to just get over these things, for me at least. All I felt was the rage that I wanted to unleash on him. When he apologized to me, it gave me a brief feeling that things could go back to normal, that there could've been even a sliver of a returned normality. That I could've even had my big brother back. But things never can go back to normal. I then thought that he was only performing some sort of mind trick on me, as if he were feigning some sort of false trust. Even if wanted to, I still wouldn't be able to trust him, not yet at least. I would've hoped you, of all people, would've understood that." Takashi replied, his voice lowering steadily. As he finished, he realized he and Briân had stopped walking, and stood at the threshold of the lounge. He shared one last look with Briân before walking off.

[hr]

Jason began to struggle to fill his cup, his vision blurring from the tears. As he stood at that sink, distraught thoughts began to plague his mind. He usually tends to keep said thoughts away, but now, in his weakened state, they flowed from his psyche like a consistant stream. Erebus made attempts at calming his host down, but to no avail.

"Dammit...I'm still a wanted man at the Key Corps, my brother hates me no matter which universe i'm in, this...thing...inside me makes daily attempts to destroy everything I've kept close...dammit...it's becoming to much to bare...agh...Goddammit!" He thought somber thoughts as he refused to break contact from the sink. He put a hand to his face as the tears became heavier, becoming harder to hide his thickening, stifled breaths.

For once, it felt all his problems had become too much. He hated the feeling, it was one of the things he could've legitimately admitted to hating, and yet, it leaked through him uninterrupted. This feeling of hopelessness. Eventually, a voice broke through his self-inflicting barrage of negative thoughts. He slowly looked up from his lowered position, realizing it was Katie who spoke to him, Brian following in after her. What they asked were simple questions, and yet, he couldn't help but feel a bit better after them. Maybe he was just acting on some sort of subconscious defense mechanism. He managed to stand up straight, to properly face the two.

"...yeah, Kate...Brian...I'm fine. Just...it was a lot to take in, is all." He hesitantly replied to the two, displaying a small, faux smile.

 

[tsatoma]

The worst part for Ethan was that he knew what he was being forced to do and could do nothing to stop it. Whoever was controlling him had gotten into his system somehow; either through sheer luck or skill. Ethan couldn't decide which option was worse, but the fact that he was not able to fight back made him believe it was the latter.

That brought up the question of how this person was causing him to do this; was it through sheer technology? Ethan knew that that shouldn't be possible; he had more than enough safeguards to stop a takeover like that from happening. Which meant it was someone with a power that had caused this.

The conclusion did not help him at all as he watched his body punch out poor Taryn after leading her into a secluded area. Cords and wires were grabbed from boxes in the dark room and used to restrain Taryn after her jacket was taken off. Ethan tried to regain control of his movements as she was taken to a chair and tied up, but stopped after hearing a sickening snap as he was forced to tie her arm down to the chair.

'Maybe it's best for me to just stop fighting it. I can't win,' he thought solemnly, sadly accepting that there was nothing he could.