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Dec 8, 2023 1:45:41 GMT -5

Post by Shorette on Dec 8, 2023 1:45:41 GMT -5

It's been weeks since Shorette's mission, or rather Yoguri's, a militant that was an ex-soldier of the Society of Welvth that took over her town, mission since successfully recovering an artifact that would then live on forever through its artifact that was said to be made by her city's goddess: Ittar's Vision. A small orb painted with the sky, sun, and the goddess itself. With the aid of an eccentric penguin android, "Pengu" that turned on the organization that programmed him due to "unacceptable manners" from the group, they were able to retrieve it and store it in a safe spot where no one would be able to find it, or so Yoguri claimed. Shorette never questioned the specifics, but all she did was trust the soldier's word. However, they've yet to encounter the main leaders of the organization.

Since their adventure, the trio lived among each other in a small, quaint cabin within the Northern Continent where discretion is a must when it came to Shorette's profession. Yoguri came around with the young woman's job of being a treasure hunter, or at least retrieving lost or stolen treasure and returning them to their rightful place. "Pengu", on the contrary, always tagged along. He grew a bond with the two women, mainly Shorette as she was the more welcoming type whereas Yoguri always gave the robot a cold shoulder. It's a plausible theory that the mechanical penguin did grow on the soldier, but she was all but familiar to the idea of showing and giving affection.

Today was a special day, not like others where they either relaxed for the day or were out for weeks, months even trying to retrieve an artifact or exploring lost ruins or abandoned cities for research. The trio received a note on the step to the cabin's door, two pages at least. The gist of the first page of the letter explained catching wind of what happened in Nifara and heard about taking back Ittar's Vision. The second page explained who the letter was from, their location of where to meet, and why they sent it. This was written by someone that went under the name "Darc". Although the explanation of sending the note was left vague, all the trio knew was that this Darc figure heard what happened and requested to "use their services" in exchange for a "handsome pay", whatever that meant. They were some sort of "protective service", similar to what the Society of Welvth branded themselves as. It sounded suspicious and Yoguri protested for obvious reasons, but Shorette insisted otherwise with the android agreeing with the young woman.

The trio traveled in a small black car. Shorette was in the driver seat, Yoguri sat in the passenger seat, and Pengu was in the backseat. They were on their way to the location of where the note instructed them to meet, which wasn't too far as they grew closer to their destination. "Sure. Why not? Let's go lure ourselves into yet another trap where we'll be met with gunfire and bullets decorating us with holes and blood that'll leak out of our bodies. GREAT idea." Yoguri's skepticism and pessimism was made clear, but Shorette shrugged it off with a lighthearted laugh.

"Relax. You'll live longer." Shorette joked. That wasn't to say that the young woman disregarded Yoguri's concerns completely. She wasn't blinded by the potential deal of a "handsome pay", but instead curious on what "Darc" wanted them to do. She wanted to learn more about the organization Darc worked with, or assumingly led; when and how they were established, etc.

Pengu, while stared blankly out the window, gave a little shrug as confirmation that he listened to the conversation. "As cynical and... ahem, graphic Yoguri's expectations and doubts of this 'Darc' person are, they are valid feelings. They could be a Society of Welvth version two! If not worse! We have not done any research to properly decide if this trip is worth doing. We do not have much to research to begin with! We do not even know how they know of the Society of Welvth!" The android, as expected, sided with Yoguri, mainly as a way to help calm her down if the young woman had to guess... and in a way, make her warm up to the robotic animalistic humanoid.

Yoguri scoffed at the android's agreement; half entertained, half annoyed. "Tin can makes a point. How can we be too sure we're not going to our early graves?" She asked.

Despite the negativity and doubt that clouded in the car, Shorette's eyes only stayed on the road while her expression remained neutral. It was clear she was the only one that wasn't filled with second thoughts or imminent danger coming their way, but instead lead with intrigue at what would be offered or what would be needed done. As someone who assumingly took control as leader of their leader group, it was natural for Shorette to try and reassure both Yoguri and Pengu that there was nothing to be afraid of. "Listen, I'll be honest. I'd be lying if I said I was more excited than nervous, but that doesn't mean we should back down. For all we know, if we didn't except their offer, they'd track us down, anyway. They managed to find out where we lived for that note to be sent." She explained; a thought that hadn't arose from the other two. It would've been very liekly and possible for whoever "Darc" was to find the trio's home as proven through the letter sent to them.

"Now that said... we also know how to deal with situations like this. It isn't our first time. The first sign of danger that comes our way, we haul ass. We'll fight if we have to, take some lives if it's an absolute must. Until we ever get to that point, I at least want us to see what's in store for us. On the other hand, that also means keeping your guard up and not get comfortable. Whatever happens... we stick together." Shorette continued. She had confidence in her group, so the lack of certainty in their abilities was nonexistent and had full trust in both Yoguri and the android.

Pengu was heard sniffling from its beak, as if touched by Shorette's speech. "That... t-that might be one of the most motivational speeches you've given yet!" He complimented as he flipped his flipper into a thumbs-up motion.

Yoguri rolled her eyes and shook her head, but remained silent. It seemed as though Yoguri was only willing to comply, but still had the uneasiness trapped inside; understandable. Even Shorette herself didn't knew what was coming. Even she was nervous.

But it was too late to back down now. All Shorette could do was drive until they've reached their destination.

WC: 1,141

OOC Notes:

- Current PL: 85,440 (Suppressed to 21,360)
- 2x Event
- Super Weighted Clothing +75% PL
- Training Dummy +25% PL
- Wealthy +10% Zeni

Yoguri:

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}

Pengu, the Training Dummy:

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}

Last Edit: Dec 8, 2023 2:08:11 GMT -5 by Shorette

60

POSTS

Shorette

POWER LEVEL

105,292

Tech Points

1/30

Forms

Unleashed Potential [x13]

Zeni

28,494

Archived

Dec 9, 2023 12:12:55 GMT -5

Post by Shorette on Dec 9, 2023 12:12:55 GMT -5

"Whoa...!"

Pengu exclaimed in awe as he spotted what could be the trio's destination. The car approached to a singular futuristic and sleek architecture that was located near the outskirts of North City. Its tall stature overtook the rest of the city's general appearance, a ship dock where a few flying ships made their landings, and what looked to be a few employees entering the building. Shorette and Yoguri both peeked out the window when the young woman parked near the entrance. Shorette whistled a low note of admiration while the soldier displayed almost no emotion. "Well... it sure doesn't look like anything Society of Welvth would hang around in, don't you think?" She asked Yoguri.

Yoguri scoffed and rolled her eyes at the assumption. "Doesn't matter. We still keep our heads up and stay alert at all times. I don't care how fancy this place looks, since we're going in, it's still a potential danger to us." It was evident that the soldier was still on edge, and Shorette understood. This building may not represent the organization they've encountered, but that didn't eliminate the idea that anything can go wrong.

"Agreed, and somewhat on par with what Shorette said to us earlier. We mustn't be too tensed, but we also cannot be too relaxed!" Pengu followed up with his own take with a flipper in the air, as if he came across a revelation.

"Then it's settled. Let's go. Eyes peeled, and the first sense of danger that comes our way, we're out." Shorette was the first to get out of the car, then came out Yoguri, and finally the penguin android. The trio were met by glossy doors that slid right open as they approached them. As they took their steps in, they were greeted by a lustrous lobby where there were a few people that lounged around. By the look of their outfits, they seemed to be important people of the sorts with designer and expensive jewelry. "Huh... this seems to be a rather prestige faction." The young woman observed as she continued to look around.

Pengu nodded as he attempted to scratch the lack of chin he had. "I'll say! Everyone looks so pricey! It's like one touch and you might break them!" The android was fascinated with what he saw. It made Shorette wonder what kind of organization they were about to deal with and what kind of services would be needed from the trio in the first place. "Judging by what we're looking at, whoever called us here, this 'Darc' person or whatever, he must really meant it when he said we'd be paid handsomely!" He sounded almost excited to meet "Darc", despite the constant reoccurring topic of danger and staying alert.

As if on cue, a man approached the trio in an all white suit, slicked back hair, and a bright whitened smile plastered on his face. "Good afternoon!" He greeted them with a slight bow. "You three must be the ones Mr. Darc requested to see. And you," He paused for a moment to look at Shorette before he continued. "Must be the leader of the pack, Shorette. You came right on time. Please, follow me!" Without anyone being able to get another word in, the man began to walk down the lobby with the expectation that the trio followed them. They all gave each other suspicious glares before Shorette shrugged her shoulders and became the first to follow the man before Pengu, then eventually Yoguri, tagged along.

When the three caught up, the man spoke again. "My name is Miller, but you may call me Mill if it makes you feel comfortable! Mr. Darc is very excited to meet you three. He's heard a lot about your adventures with Nifara and the Society of Welvth. I must say, though, they're a very rowdy bunch. Disorganized too, I might say!" He exclaimed.

Pengu gasped and nodded vigorously in agreement. "Tell me about it! They lack such manners to someone that was programmed to help them! Throughout my lifetime there before I was able to separate myself from them, only three, and THREE only, ever said thank you to me!" The android cried. "They were lucky I didn't go against my programming at the time to give them a good lesson on what it means to have good manners, I tell you!" He exclaimed as he curled a flipper into a fist and shook it in the air.

Miller turned to Pengu and also gasped in shock. "You poor thing! I say, you should've gave them a real good beating! I would've been right behind you in that beating!" He agreed.

Yoguri heaved a heavy, annoyed sigh before she decided to interject. "Anyway," She was quick to change the subject before Miller and Pengu tried to advanced the conversation. "How the hell do you know about us? About the Society of Welvth? Nifara? And most importantly, how did you know about what we did?" The soldier came out with the real questions. This Miller figure seemed to know a lot about what happened along with Darc. The question was how?

All Miller did was turn back to the elevator and smiled at it. "You'd be surprised with how much we know about a lot of stuff. But do trust me when I say that we only have good intentions with what we want you to do for us. I am more than confident enough to believe that your values would at least be similar with ours and what we stand for." He explained.

"And... what exactly are your values?" Shorette asked.

Right when the young woman asked her question, the elevator doors opened. "You'll learn soon enough. Come, Mr. Darc is waiting for you downstairs." He said.

As he ushered the trio into the elevator, Miller was the last one to enter before he pressed a button for the elevator to go down just after the doors closed.

WC: 995
TWC: 2,136

60

POSTS

Shorette

POWER LEVEL

105,292

Tech Points

1/30

Forms

Unleashed Potential [x13]

Zeni

28,494

Archived

Dec 10, 2023 0:49:28 GMT -5

Post by Shorette on Dec 10, 2023 0:49:28 GMT -5

Everyone on the elevator stood in silence as they felt themselves descend from the lobby and further below. They didn't know what to expect or who to expect, all they could do was just wait until they've arrived. Shorette turned her head around to observe everyone's expressions; Yoguri's was, as expected, neutral. She kept a stony look on her face, unable to detect any emotions on the surface. However, Shorette could tell the soldier was still nervous just from how occasionally the corners of her mouth kept twitching. When she shifted her attention over to Pengu, who looked almost giddy for what was about to come up; whatever that would be. It appeared Pengu got a little caught up with the short conversation he had with Miller and amazed with the overall appearance showcased in the lobby. Finally, her eyes laid on Miller, who held a friendly smile throughout the ride down.

Shorette would be a liar if she said she wasn't nervous. She was. Not to the extent that Yoguri most likely felt, but the young woman didn't know what the three would encounter, specifically whether or not it would be something she might be able to have some control over. Regardless, she was ready nonetheless. She was used to improvising and any potential dire scenario that might come their way would be no different. Shorette shoved both hands in her pockets as she gently sighed to herself as they continued to wait in silence.

Finally, the bell rung in the elevator as it stopped moving. They've finally made it to their destined floor. Shorette looked up to see where they were through the monitor. It read "G6"; this meant they were likely underground, although amazed that there were such floors beneath the building. "We're here." Miller announced, at the same time the doors slid open. "Please, come this way," As he walked out of the elevator, the trio followed right behind them.

The four of them walked down the spacious hallway as they took in what they saw. Pipes aligned on the walls and ceiling while there were a few machines that stood against the walls all lined up. The area was dimly lit with a few puddles of water that littered the ground, and just at the back of the area was a brighter source of light by what seemed to be from a large computer screen, followed by a few other sources of lights just a few feet down from the computer. "So much technology... so many machines..." Pengu whispered in awe.

It wasn't just the amount of machines that was interesting, but also the change in scenery. In the lobby, it was all modern, comfortable, and carried itself to be affluent. On this floor, it was the opposite. It was gritty, dark, almost isolated. Compared to the exterior design of the building and the lobby's interior, the atmosphere on G6 felt almost unsettling. There was something off about the location and Shorette couldn't put her finger on it. Perhaps since it was meant to be a more private setting, it would only make sense that the lack of sparkles and sleekness made the scene more significant to meetings of the sort. Maybe.

Miller eventually led the three to a man that sat in front of the large screen, completely focused on what was on the monitor. At first glance, there were multiple windows opened with diagrams of multiple areas with vehicles cluttered around. The man himself looked to be relatively young; mid-20s at best. His outfit appeared to be somewhat ragged with scratches and a few tears. A noticeable quirk was, when focused, all over his body. It was mechanical, or most of it was. There were luminous blue streaks that ran down his face, in his hair, and down his neck. His expression was determined, almost crossed the territory of anger.

"Mr. Darc," Miller called out to the man in the chair. There he was. The man that sent the letter, sitting right there in the chair. "I wanted to inform you that our guests have arrived and would like to commence the meeting. I will be excusing myself, should my services not be needed any further beyond this point." He informed the man with a slight bow.

It took just a few more seconds for the Darc to focus on the screen before a soft smile spread on his lips. "Thank you for your service, Miller. I'll be sure to call you if I need anything." His voice had a deep tone with a soothing element behind it. It sounded as if he were extremely laid back, cordial even. As Miller made his final bow, he turned around and left the trio with Darc. The man turned his seat around and got up, stretched his arms over his neck before he placed them by his sides. The man was tall, just by a few inches compared Pengu who nearly reached six feet. "Shorette, Yoguri, and Pengu." Each time he mentioned their name, he made sure to get a good look at them individually while he maintained his smile.

"I'm really happy I finally get to meet you three in the flesh... my name is Darc, the founder of Volpe Enterprises. I know this is a very... unorthodox place to meet, given what you've seen in the lobby. I wanted to be as discreet as possible. I understand you must have a lot on your mind that you would like to ask. Mainly, how do I know about you three and your involvement with both Nifara and the Society of Welvth. I will be more than happy to address any concerns and the likes you have."

"How the hell do you know our names? How did you know about what happened at Nifara? What's your relationship with the Society of Welvth? Why the hell do you want us here? What are you going to do if we say no? If I say no?" Yoguri wasted no time in asking her questions. Each question asked, she was closer to being driven off the edge with how cautious and overly nervous she became.

Shorette shot a glance at the soldier with a troubled look whereas Pengu looked panicked as the soldier babbled on. There was aggression in her tone, out of fear for any potential danger in this very moment. The young woman knew this along with the penguin android, but Darc didn't. It'd be possible for him to take Yoguri's tone and questions the wrong way, so Shorette had to act fast and interpose to hold some control over the situation. "You'll have to forgive Yoguri. She means no ill intent. She just... doesn't have the best track record with the Society of Welvth... given her past affiliation with them, as you might already know." She explained, her calm kept and cracked a soft smile of her own to hopefully soothe the tension.

However, Darc vibrated a low, soft chuckle as he shook his head. "No need to apologize. I know you all are on edge of some sort. Some of you are better to hide it than others," He paused as he looked at Yoguri before returning his attention to all three of them."But like I've said, I'm more than happy to answer any questions to the best of my ability. Before anything else, though, I'd like to make you three a little more comfortable. Please, if you can follow me," Darc walked past the three and motioned towards a roundtable surrounded by a couple of chairs. It was the perfect amount to seat all four of them. The trio, as they've yet again exchanged uncertain stares at each other, eventually complied and walked towards the table. Shorette sat next to Darc and Pengu sat across from him. Yoguri, on the other hand, only stood behind her chair.

"I'm standing." Yoguri announced with her arms crossed tightly on her chest.

Shorette sighed from Yoguri's declaration. "Come on, Yoguri. The least you can do is-"

Darc interrupted the young woman as he held his hand up for Shorette to stop talking. "Now, now. If she doesn't want to sit, that's completely fine. Like I said, I want you guys to be comfortable. No need to force her. I completely understand the doubt and suspicion. Communication is key, and if we want to work together, we have to be upfront. And upfront, I'll be." He explained.

"Then answer my questions." Yoguri demanded, almost a snarl as she spoke.

The man didn't take it as a threat, so his response was coolheaded, opposite of what the soldier was at the moment. "Well, all of them can be answered with one single name... and it may come off as a surprise." He trailed off as he stared at the android with a warm grin.

Shorette followed Darc's glare as she noticed his eyes were on the robotic humanoid penguin, an eyebrow cocked out of confusion. "Hold on... you mean to tell me..."

Pengu looked on in confusion as he watched Shorette and Darc, his eyes darted between the two before he finally caught on as what was being alluded. "Wait... y-you mean... me? A-Am I the answer?!" He exclaimed in shock.

WC: 1,544
TWC: 3,680
OOC Notes:

Darc

SPOILER: Click to show

Last Edit: Dec 10, 2023 1:39:51 GMT -5 by Shorette

60

POSTS

Shorette

POWER LEVEL

105,292

Tech Points

1/30

Forms

Unleashed Potential [x13]

Zeni

28,494

Archived

Dec 10, 2023 2:06:16 GMT -5

Post by Shorette on Dec 10, 2023 2:06:16 GMT -5

Yoguri's eyes shot at Pengu in almost betrayal. The possibility that the android worked with Darc could be plausible, and it was clear that the soldier was already convinced. "You mean to tell me the damn plastic animal was working with you the whole time?! You were SPYING on us with this thing?!" She yelled.

Pengu held its flipper up defensively as he shook both of them frantically while shaking his head in panic. "N-No! Please! I have no clue what he's talking about! I've never even met the man, just like you two! Trust me! I-It must be some sort of bad joke! B-Because I'm an android! ...I-I think... r-right?" Shorette had a feeling Pengu was completely unaware with any potential relations with Darc, but Yoguri had her gut feeling that the android collaborated with Darc from the start.

Darc chuckled as he laid back in his seat. "Well, yes and no. See, Pengu doesn't recognize me because he was reprogrammed, so any trace of memory of me in his database was wiped. However, that didn't cut me off from accessing his database and other features, such as the camera, picking up audio, scanning people's power levels, things of that nature. So in a sense, I had access to his senses, so to speak." He explained.

"Hang on, so you mean to tell me that you were the one that created Pengu? And he doesn't even know?" Shorette's eyes widen at the revelation. Someone who looked to be very friendly towards children at an amusement park created by someone who's practically seen it all, almost broken down; they contrasted, but somehow they were connected. The question was why?

Darc nodded his head. "That's right. It's a... lengthy story as to what happen, but just to shorten it: Pengu was created for Valope Enterprises. He was meant to be our happy going mascot, a representative to our company. He was meant to be a symbol of hope, ambition, and optimism. It's what our company stood by. I took him out for a test run, just to see how he operate. Next thing you know, my luck ran out when the Society of Welvth came in. I was attacked, and Pengu was taken away from me. They reprogrammed him, wiped any traces of me from his motherboard, added a scouter feature to scan for power levels... basically, they made him more suitable for combat, or at least training. And like I said before... they didn't completely block me off from having access to him of some kind." He explained.

Pengu's mouth was almost wide open. "S-So... you're my creator. Y-You're my real... father...!" The android gasped.

"If you want to call me that, sure." Darc laughed.

"Wow... to meet my creator... my REAL creator...! Ugh, I feel so many emotions!" Pengu exclaimed dramatically. "I have so many questions about my past life! I feel as if I've been reborn! A new me! Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy...!" The android practically shook in excitement as he was ready to shoot as many questions as he could at Darc on what he was like before he was reprogrammed, how he was treated, who he befriended...

But before Pengu's excitement got the best of him, Shorette jumped in. "And as much as I'd love to hear Pengu's origin story, you're not telling us everything, or at least the more important parts." She confronted the man.

"Agreed." Yoguri mumbled.

"What?! How is this man being my true creator not important enough?!" Pengu protested.

WC: 589
TWC: 4,269

60

POSTS

Shorette

POWER LEVEL

105,292

Tech Points

1/30

Forms

Unleashed Potential [x13]

Zeni

28,494

Archived

Dec 10, 2023 17:28:45 GMT -5

Post by Shorette on Dec 10, 2023 17:28:45 GMT -5

Shorette shook her head while her eyes stayed on Darc. "Oh no, the announcement of your 'true creator' is very much important." Shorette started off. "It just doesn't necessarily add up. You make an animatronic as a mascot, 'take it out for a test run', then the Society of Welvth all of a sudden came out of nowhere and took away Pengu. That doesn't sound believable not one bit." In other words, there was more than what the man let on, or at the very least, she wasn't believing exactly what was being said. It might've been the design of Pengu becoming a mascot that didn't necessarily add up, especially since the atmosphere given at the lobby felt more full fledged that something like Pengu, who looked more suitable for children, would stand out like a sore thumb. Not only that, but not a lot of people would be fond of the android's presence and the energy he has.

"Yeah. You expect me to believe a group like the Society of Welvth would want to steal someone like Pengu of all things? Something that looks like it belongs in a kids' show?" Albeit the stylistic choice for Pengu's design was... out of the norm, Yoguri concurred with Shorette's doubts that the organization saw any value in Pengu initially. There was more than what Darc let on. Even then, that only left more questions left to be answered.

Darc held his hands up in mock surrender as he sighed. "Alright, alright. You got me. I'll admit, that's not completely the whole truth or what Pengu was really designed for." He admitted. "So... Pengu was designed to be a combat android. Now, while it's true he's still meant to be affiliated with Valope Enterprises, think of him as another employee who was meant to help undergo any sort of contract assigned to him the same way a human would. Or a Saiyan. Or any living being willing to work with us." He started off. "He's meant to be an element of surprise type of character, hence why he's a penguin instead of a human looking android. People may be thrown off by his appearance, but he was one of the best I've built and one of the best this company ever had." The man continued in almost an adored tone.

"So... Pengu did some 'contracts' for you. That, and you're an inventor of some sort. You know, creating androids and such." Shorette asked for confirmation.

Darc nodded before he continued. "I've created a lot of androids, though none like Pengu prior to his creation. They all looked more human. While they had some success, Pengu's success rate was greater than what I would've ever imagined. Sure, he had some quirks that were... unwonted, but that didn't hinder his ability to get the job done." He said. Pengu was a top class contractor, something both Shorette and Yoguri never imagined or saw. They never had any doubt in his combat abilities, but being considered as an elite came as a slight shock, especially with his eccentric attitude.

"Then how the hell did those bastards get a hand of him and reprogrammed him if he were so elite?" Yoguri asked.

The man went silent, his eyes spaced out as if his mind intentionally went blank. He almost looked anxious to explained what happened. "It was a set up. We received a contract to retrieve an item that was never real in the first place. The Welvths must've caught wind about Pengu as the company's reputation grew. So, someone feigned to request our services, have Pengu hunt at a certain location, then ambush him outnumbered. Again, since I have access to his feeds, I was able to see the whole thing. Since then, while I had access, I was trying to think of all the ways I can bring him back while they wiped out his memory and his past relations with the company." He explained. The way he talked, the way his eyes shifted around, Shorette picked up that Darc thought it was all his fault Pengu was in a compromising position. No, to him, he knew it was his fault and the guilt on his face showed.

All Yoguri did was shrug her shoulders at the explanation, nearly unimpressed with the story. Shorette, however, tried to shine some light in the darkness Darc felt. "Well, look on the bright side. Pengu's now back thanks to Yoguri and I, he's still in good conditioning, and we've made sure that he's well taken care of... or I've made sure that he was well taken of." She chuckled.

"That's right! Yoguri... has her own way of showing care, but Shorette here? An angel, I tell you! Not to mention she's insanely strong! I mean, Yoguri is also strong as well, but Shorette? INSANELY strong!" Pengu chirped in to help remediate what the man felt.

"Watch it, tin can." Yoguri snarled at the android.

Darc took a moment to himself before he couldn't contain the chuckle he held in any longer at the banter the trio presented. "That's true. If it weren't for you two, Pengu could still be with the Welvth's. So thank you both for bringing my elite back." He said, the warm smile back on his lips. "Now, do you three have any other questions?" He asked.

"I do." Shorette said. "Why are you... all roughened up for?"

WC: 904
TWC: 5,173

60

POSTS

Shorette

POWER LEVEL

105,292

Tech Points

1/30

Forms

Unleashed Potential [x13]

Zeni

28,494

Archived

Dec 10, 2023 20:45:36 GMT -5

Post by Shorette on Dec 10, 2023 20:45:36 GMT -5

Darc looked down at himself, checked out his arms, his outfit, fluffed his hair, then chuckled again. "This? Well, I was a contractor too, once upon a time. What happened to me happened to a lot of contractors that take on high risk jobs. I was on the brink of death, and, well, I was saved with a few screws and bolts installed in me. I'm slightly more new and improved compared to my former self. I may not move the same way, but hey, at least I'm still alive and managed to transition to a slightly safer position." He said. So before he became the CEO, he was just any other contractor doing what he did best. One slip up nearly costed his life, but was saved at the cost of becoming a cyborg.

"Interesting. And here you are now, sitting at the top at the highest rank. Well done." Shorette complimented.

Darc nodded his head as he finally looked over at Shorette. "Thank you. It took a lot to be at where I'm at now, and I've uh... had some few regrets. Regrets that I sometimes wish I can go back and rewrite for better outcomes, but... I can't go back to the past. I just have to live with it." He said.

The young woman knew exactly what Darc meant. Before, she had a lot of regrets. There were many events that Shorette wished she could go back and change. Things would've worked out differently if she never tried to follow her father's footsteps and uphold his legacy while trying to make her own as an archaeologist. For all she knew, he could've still been alive if not for the hypothetical lack of interest she had in continuing what her father started. She'd dream of changing such events, but the harsh reality was she had to sit there and live with what happened. That was when Shorette swore to live without regrets rather than acknowledging them for what they were, even if she'd ever mention she wouldn't change a thing about what happened. Everything she did, she meant it. No second thoughts, no looking back.

"I hear you. No point in looking back at something that already happened. That's why I everything I do, I live by it. Every time I improvise, I make sure everything or almost everything works in my favor. If not, I keep trying until I do. Sometimes living in regret is a form of punishment that lasts forever. I refuse to be punished for as long as I live, as long as my soul ventures to the afterlife, one day. The day I regret will be the day I die. And I don't plan to die anytime soon." Shorette spoke.

Pengu hesitantly rose his flipper, as if to ask for permission to speak. However, he spoke anyway. "I... I do not think ignoring regret is a healthy coping mechanism." He cooed, adding in his own input. "Regret can teach you a lot about yourself! You learn more on where you messed up. There, you can assess yourself to making sure to avoid the same mistakes you've made rather than pretend they never happened. It's better to see them as achievements than burdens, I'd say!" He said.

Darc rose his eyebrows, amused at Pengu's take on the topic. He never knew the android could be so... philosophical. He definitely morphed into something greater than the man expected when he was taken away. "So do you... live in regret, of some sort?" He asked.

"Oh, I do not LIVE in regret, but I do, however, regret. That regret is used to calculate where I've failed and how I can better myself! I feel as though... I plan better, when I have my regrets. Every day, every moment, is a new day and a new moment. I think it's better to acknowledge your regrets than to simply... not regret." Pengu responded.

Shorette thoughtfully stared at the android and took in his response. He had a point, to an extent. While the young woman remained firm on her stance on regret, it would be the perfect learning experience. "Very interesting take on it. I can agree, you can learn from your mistakes and use them to better yourself in the future." She stated. She then turned over to Yoguri, who remained silent throughout the conversation. "Alright, and what about you, stone cold soldier? How do you view regret, or what do you do with it?" She asked.

Yoguri shot Shorette an annoyed look. "Are we seriously having this conversation? We have more important stuff to talk about." All she had in return as a response were stares, as if they expected her to participate. She hated it. A defeated sigh escaped from her lips, she leaned against the chair. "Fine. I do regret. It's a way for me to take accountability that I've fucked up and teach myself to never do it again. I use it to discipline myself. I find it very effective." She explained. "Now, can we move onto the more important things that brought us here? Like why the hell we're here, more specifically what you want us to do?" Yoguri asked, her attention shifted over to Darc.

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Dec 10, 2023 21:42:56 GMT -5

Post by Shorette on Dec 10, 2023 21:42:56 GMT -5

"Right, right. Don't worry, I know we sort of dragged this out longer than you've wanted, but... this has been very enlightening, meeting you three like this. I think I have a very good grasp on your characters, your morals and values, and other defining traits that contribute to your identity." Darc almost sounded fascinated as he spoke. He took a moment to close his eyes and take a deep breath before he exhaled and opened his eyes. "Okay... I need you three for two major reasons. One, you'll fit right into Valope Enterprises as contractors that can help our cause. Before I get into the other reason, let me be more specific." He said.

"Now... Valope Enterprises is a fixer agency that leans towards taking care of the corrupted and helping the poor and weak. We help those that need it the most and help whenever we can. We do try our best to do it under the radar so we won't catch any heat from the USD. But... if we have to take drastic measures if there's no other choice, we still try our best to use caution when doing so. We don't do any sort of dirty work from the dishonorable, but sometimes we do resort to dishonorable methods if we HAVE to. The world isn't perfect, so we just act accordingly and use our decision making skills to the best to our ability." Darc continued.

"So you're looking for more contractors to work under you. I'm guessing you're understaffed?" Shorette joked.

Darc shook his hand slightly, the admission that the young woman was somewhat right. "Somewhat. We need more capable contractors. I've seen what you three did through Pengu's feed at finding Ittar's Vision, and you three look very capable. That's what I need. That's what this company needs. The more we get people like you, the more we can be more effective in being able to help others." He explained. "That said... I know our appearance may be anything but humble," He said in reference to the building's expensive design and the lobby's sleek craft. "But believe me when I say that we accept clients of all classes. Poor, rich, middle class, whatever. We don't, however, accept anyone, regardless of class, to use our services for any form of revenge or corruption." He added.

Pengu rose his flipper again. "And I think I am speaking for all of us when I say we're very much complimented by your kind words! But may I ask... what is the second major reason?" He asked.

"Society of Welvth." Darc, this time, was quick in his response. "We're getting weary of their presence, given that the number of run ins we've had with them is growing. They're seeing our strength grow and we're becoming more visible in their radar. I don't know exactly what they want from us or what their end goal is in relation to us... but all I know is that I need all the help I can get to keep this company alive and well, not under enslavement by a bunch of ruthless terrorists." He admitted.

Shorette looked back at Darc, understanding why the three were called into this very meeting. "So you wanted to meet us because we've already had our own run in with the Welvth. Since we've got what we wanted from them, or rather got it back, you see us as the perfect candidates for whatever you have in store for us to do to them." She assumed. It made perfect sense, especially since Yoguri and Pengu had their previous affiliation with the group and Shorette was able to navigate through their bases during their adventure.

"That's right. I'm not going to sugarcoat it. I need the best of the best to work with me to take those assholes down, or at least hit their where it hurts to permanently reduce their strength." Darc admitted. "And after seeing what you three could do, why stop it at a one time deal, when I can have you three as my elites for the company? I'd like to use your skills for the greater good, and I have a feeling you three feel the same." He said.

"And what do we get if we accept your offer? Of not just joining you, but dealing with those bastards a second time?" Yoguri asked.

"The best treatment I will provide for you. And I'm not just talking about your paycheck as I've mentioned in my note." Dark answered. "VIP treatment, special benefits, you name it at a reasonable price, and I'll make it my mission to make sure your needs are met. You have my word. You guys are the best, so you will be treated as such."

The three fell silent at Darc's words, considering whether or not they'd accept, if they were all even on the same page with their decision of acceptance or denial. "Well... if it's for the greater good as you claim and we'll be rewarded with their efforts... who am I to deny?" She responded.

"Agreed! That Miller gentleman was so nice! We already connect! I felt it!" Pengu exclaimed his decision in excitement.

All that was left was Yoguri, who still stood in silence. Everyone turned to her, expectant. After what felt like an eternity of silence, she finally spoke. "I don't think I have much of a choice on whether I get to say yes or no so... screw it. I guess I'm in." She said.

Darc sighed in relief and stretched his smile into a grateful. "Thank you three. Seriously. Thank you. This means a lot to me." He said. "But before anything else... or before we get to the Welvth, I want you two to settle in. I have a contract for you three to tackle tomorrow. I want you to get familiar to what we do and what kind of work you'll be getting into. I'll bring Miller back down here and have him take you three to your respective VIP rooms. I want you all to get all the rest you can get for tomorrow... and before you go, I must say: Welcome to Valope Enterprises. You will not be disappointed in what we provide."

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Dec 11, 2023 22:31:53 GMT -5