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Posted: Mon Oct 07, 2019 2:44 am
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"The hero?" Veronica whispered to herself. It was true, Snagem was mostly full of missions to get heroic things done despite doing them in an antihero way. However, she was on a darker grey area. Veronica's eyes blazed with fury. She wanted to take the decision into her own hands. But then the others started to speak up about sparing him. It was foolish, it was stupid. She didn't understand why they were rationalizing sparing him. When it came to an enemy as clear as this one, there was only one answer. There was no need to allow Ein to have another breath - another chance to inflict more pain. His words were pitiful. He was a coward. If they didnt want blood on Their hands, then it was fine, she was passed beyond morals since her 'death.'
"i would gladly do it." She spoke up. Deciding against saying exactly how she would. "And it would not be simple or painless." She stared at the man, letting him know full well she meant it. Even then, she knew deep down she would have to accept their decision. Maybe they were too good, maybe she was wrong, maybe. After all, there were just so many things she didn't understand.
(Vote kill)
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Posted: Mon Oct 07, 2019 7:22 pm
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Posted: Mon Oct 07, 2019 8:53 pm
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Back with Ulla and Keiko, the child was still healing her mother's broken bones. Lucario was speaking to Decidueye and Togekiss at the moment as the two were told to go back into their Pokeballs for the time being. Once they returned, Lucario felt something odd as his ears perked up. "I believe they are with him now.' Ulla froze slightly at the thought of her brother meeting their parent's killer. She shivered but then looked at Keiko as she could only smile nervously. "It's finally over...isn't it?" She asked as she looked down on the ground. "Mama...do you think...they are going to kill him?" She paused. "Growing up, it's always been just me and my brother. And I knew it was exhausting on him, raising his newborn baby sister. We had grandparents to check up on us and make sure we went to the doctors regularly. But...other than that. It was just us two...I'd always ask him where our parents were. Anytime I would see a family together when we would go out to do errands...then when turned four. He told me what happened to Mom and Dad. He even took me to their grave site. I always thought they were just so busy traveling based on the stories Leon told me...I couldn't help but cry." She said wondering how Keiko would react with Leon telling her about their parents at such a young age. "But you know...even though I was sad. I was also happy. To know they loved me so much, I know they did. I felt it through Leon. Even though he is lazy, a good for nothing sometimes, I felt it." She said as her smile disappeared.
"I know my big brother...better than anyone else...but...I'm afraid what he will do. But, whatever he does, I'll always have his back. Just like how he always watches over me. Of course, I will also have yours and Papa's back as well." She said putting up her best smile.
"....This is an obvious trap..." Leon said as he crossed his arms putting away his kunai. No matter how you looked at it, it was a trap. The temptation was really strong though. Even though he was basically he was on his death bed, Ein still held all the cards in his hand. He knew everyone's backstory, he knew he had some sort of piece in their stories. That's what tied everyone together. All of them had some sort of agenda, and every Snagem was from different regions so his crimes could be almost worldwide. Leon listened in to everyone's vote, especially Ter's seeing how he was now his sister's adopted father.
Something about this, was severely wrong. He was making such a broad statement....were they being hidden recorded? He only thought of this because he remembered seeing broken cameras in the other room when they fought S-22. It would make sense, he had a crowd of his slaves watch his group face S-22. What makes this no different? If they were, that wouldn't be all that surprising to Leon. It would actually be perfect for Ein. All the world's eyes would be on Snagem. If they were being watched, the world would regardless be not all for what their decision would be. They would either be known as cowards for not killing a man that caused so much death. Or monster themselves for killing a man who couldn't fight anymore.
"You killed my father. You killed my mother...You killed the idea of Ulla ever having a regular childhood. You've hurt so many people...rotting in a cell wouldn't just be enough. After what you did in Black City, the Fairy World, even here...you shouldn't have the freedom to live." He said restraining every muscle in his body not to just charge forward to kill him where he sat. "...You don't deserve to live. But you shouldn't be killed on your command...that's too easy..." He said as Leon took a step back from everyone. "...I'm not voting if this piece of garbage lives or dies...I'll follow you guys to the end, no matter what verdict we end up choosing...if it ends up being even...I'll rethink it. For my sister's sake." He said as if he just got a really bad taste in his mouth.
(Vote: Neutral)
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Posted: Mon Oct 07, 2019 11:06 pm
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Posted: Tue Oct 08, 2019 8:24 am
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Posted: Tue Oct 08, 2019 7:01 pm
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Sub silently listened to Ein as he went on his spiel about villains and heroes, shocking some of the team with his sudden reversal of which side what was what. As to many of the Snagems it was clear to Sub what Ein was doing, a sort of reverse psychology however he saw it as a step further. Ein wasn’t simply trying to make them take the choice of killing him and proving that they were just as ‘bad’ as he was, so that he could die as the poor victim or something. No, instead Ein had set himself up to be ‘right’ no matter which course of action they took. He was, far beyond his expiration date so to speak and his grandest of schemes had failed, so what did it matter if they killed him or imprisoned him? Either way he would be dead soon so why not get one last manipulation over his most hated enemies? One last one up. And if they did spare him he would be allowed to taunt the lesser beings a little while more during one of their ‘civilized’ trials. In Ein’s mind he still gets one last win in, a short imprisonment or death were both just minor inconveniences to him at this point.
Turning his attention to his teammates he listened closely to their various decisions on whether or not to spare or kill Ein, each them justifying themselves through various means however he couldn’t claim any of them to be wrong. Ein had harmed many here so he didn’t blame those who wished to kill him and get it over with, and he certainly saw the morality in sparring. To Sub though it really didn’t matter what they chose, neither choice felt satisfying to him. Sure, killing him would make for certain no one else would ever be harmed by him and death was supposed to be the ultimate punishment. And turning him into the proper authorities to stand trial and receive the proper punishment for his crimes was the more ‘just’ choice. Neither sounded pleasing to him, or even close to being enough, perhaps nothing they did would be suitable for a monster like Ein. Hopefully one day the Snagem leader would be able to feel closure after the end of his crusade against Ein.
After everyone made their call Sub took note that the group was evenly split between spare and kill. He had to give off a bemused scoff over this turn of events, it was a fitting result for a group such as themselves. So it would seem that just as he chose to declare this war against Cipher and Ein over three decades ago it would be him who decided how it ended. For so long he thought he knew the choice he would make when it came to this point, but now he wasn’t so sure. Why he had such mixed feelings now that he stood at the end of this long and grueling road he did not know, nor did he have the time to consider it, he had a team waiting on him to make the final call and put this madness to an end.
“Blizzard, Freth.” He called out, turning away from Ein to face the pair of Hybrid. “Take Ein out onto the arena floor, I feel like at least one of his victims, the prisoners, deserve to know the fate of their captor. If he so much as sneezes I want you to ice him where he stands. I mean it, not even a twitch.” Sub said to the pair of Hybrids before facing the rest of the team. "The rest of you head on up as well."
He then turned back towards Ein, approaching his desk and walking around it to the other side, now standing behind. Looking over Ein he noticed the computer screen on his desk, once he took notice of the information it displayed his stomach sank and a chill ran down his spine. It was data pertaining to the Ultimate Weapon and from what he could tell it was very close to being fully charged for a second shot. Just like the one in Black City it could only be powered by excess energy given off by Pokemon and Hybrids in battle for small quantities or in death by said creatures which provided far more. The first shot was clearly empowered by Tristen’s little feat with the Zapdos Heart and the sudden death of all those Shadow Pokemon likely gave a large amount towards the second round. If they had done battle with S-22 just a bit longer they would probably all be dead right now.
Shaking off the dread of realizing they very nearly faced death a second time, the first alluded by Aiden, Sub reached over and took the mouse on the desk and clicked the window out, not wanting his teammates to know about this, at least not know. With that done he pulled Ein’s chair without even the smallest amount of care and glared down at him. “Your escorts are here. Don’t want to keep the audience waiting, right?” He said, smiling for the first time since arriving.
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Posted: Tue Oct 08, 2019 7:22 pm
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When the vote of sorts became a deadlock, I could see it in Sub right at the moment. He knew what I did. On any other occasion, I would be the more righteous type and let more proper authorities do their thing; usually in my case giving a foe an opportunity in redemption. It was a lesson I had learned a long time ago. Before Snagem. Problem was, Ein was a different sort. Just as Freth said, he had long before now to be just and refused to do so. Worse still, although I made the notion to go along and shaft the b*****d, there really was no right answer to this. Ein would twist what transpired here to his own machinations and find victory in it, regardless. One last manipulation in an attempt to divide the team, perhaps? It was ridiculous. Ein, as psychotic as he is, probably knew a person's desire for retribution. Each person's take on instant catharsis versus long-term deliverance; and it wasn't limited to people such as Ein. Or Lysandre. There are those who enact punishment to those committing much lesser crimes, like merely getting caught with a joint, or getting drunk and copping a feel on a woman without consent. Ein knew a person's want to enact punishment to people of all sorts and he lambasted in potentially showing that any one of us here in this room staring down this old man, debating how his life is going to go within either the next five seconds or five years roughly, is every bit of a monster that he is, righteous or not. I'm not going to lie, it is a bit harrowing when one thinks about it.
Freth and I perked up once Sub called us. We were to take Ein to the arena floor and should he even shift in any way uncalled for, he was to be taken out. Freth and I looked at each other for a second and complied without another word. We went over to Ein. "Your two feet or we carry you. Your choice." I said to Ein. I wasn't going to promise that carrying him was going to be pleasant.
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Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2019 1:02 am
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Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2019 1:10 pm
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Aile recovered from her retching outside shakily, clutching at her ribs still. At the mention of heading up that she heard from the inside of the room, the trainer nodded to her Flygon, who helped her up to the arena once more, the two looking to meet up with Robert again. When they did find him, he looked rather concerned with Aile’s state, rushing over to look her over. Oi, Sandeh! Wat in de fekkin’ hell did yeh find to make yeh dat pale? And shakeh as a damned earthquake?”
“You’ll see eventually, but… Ugh. Just the squallor.” Aile shivered as she leaned on her staff and Tatooine, wincing as she breathed in the fresh air.
“Huh. Well. Yeh shouldn’t have gone in at all den.” The man felt around Aile’s lower rib area, gingerly, trying to not cause any more discomfort than she was already in. Sighing and shaking his head. “Lass, is it normal fer yeh lot teh get yer asses in over yer heads like dat?”
“If we don’t, who will,” Aile asked back. “A man who’s batshit crazy by now, probably, and refused to let go of a grudge with the intelligence to back all of that up. You’d have to be crazy to go up against that. And well, it paid off somehow.”
Robert shook his balding head. “Right… If I had Hilda here, I could at least see if she could help yeh wit deh pain, but she was at least in her Pokéball and hidden when I was grabbed. Dose need teh get set, however. Deh sooner deh better.”
“It can wait until we hear what we’re doing with Ein,” Aile gritted, eyes narrowing as they waited for their ‘esteemed guest’ to arrive.
“Yeh lot haven’t decided yet?!”
“We’re split on how to deal with him. Boss has the deciding vote, and he wanted you all to hear his decision as well.”
“Huh. Dis’ll beh interestin’.” Robert crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes as well, waiting on the decision.
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Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2019 2:54 pm
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I shook my head and mentally let go of the Betyl Stone, causing the Psion Edge in my hand to dissipate. While waiting for others to vote, I was starting to second guess myself and my motives. I still wanted Ein stopped permanently, but I had no right to decide whether a man should live or die regardless of the man's actions. In the end, though, I was glad the final say landed neatly on Sub's lap, and made my way to the arena as said fearless leader ordered Ein dragged there if the b*****d refused to go willingly.
I didn't go back to my fiance's side as I arrived, however. She was still getting healed by Ulla anyway. Instead, I made my way to the seats and started using Psion Edge to relieve Ein's prisoners of their binds. I'd use a key to do so, but forgot to look for one while I was in Ein's room, so I had to be careful not to hurt the soon-to-be-liberated individuals as I was freeing them. Keiko was quick to notice my presence, however. "Is he dead?" she asked loudly so I could hear from the distance I was from her. Her question took me off-guard. She didn't ask if he was finished, or whether he was taken care of, or anything less violent. I was a bit surprised by this as she was usually a lot gentler of a person. I knew she was angry at Ein, but...
"We'll see in a moment," I told her, and got back to freeing the prisoners. I was confident that Blizz and Freth were right behind me with Ein in tow, so Keiko wouldn't be kept waiting long.
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Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2019 4:28 pm
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SubonicXP Shaking off the dread of realizing they very nearly faced death a second time, the first alluded by Aiden, Sub reached over and took the mouse on the desk and clicked the window out, not wanting his teammates to know about this, at least not know. With that done he pulled Ein’s chair without even the smallest amount of care and glared down at him. “Your escorts are here. Don’t want to keep the audience waiting, right?” He said, smiling for the first time since arriving. Blizzard120 Freth and I perked up once Sub called us. We were to take Ein to the arena floor and should he even shift in any way uncalled for, he was to be taken out. Freth and I looked at each other for a second and complied without another word. We went over to Ein. "Your two feet or we carry you. Your choice." I said to Ein. I wasn't going to promise that carrying him was going to be pleasant. "Pfeh." Ein scoffs, slowly and shakily coming to his feet, a sinister smile crossing his face as he sees Sub click through his computer. "My audience? I think maybe one of us has misread this situation." He takes his oxygen tank and takes a few puffs of air, perhaps the last his lungs would ever need. He replaces it on the desk, buttoning up the few remaining buttons of his tattered lab coat and running a hand through his thinning hair, straightening it out slightly. "Come heroes." He says, the ghoulish grin never fading in the face of his own potential demise. "Let's go change the world."
With that, he amicably folds his arms behind his back and follows Blizzard and Freth up out of the tower, meek as a little lamb to the slaughter, smiling the whole way.
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Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2019 5:17 pm
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"You're mistaken, Ein, always were. We're no heroes. However we will change the world, together." Sub told Ein as he grabbed his shoulder, stopping him for a few seconds, just long enough to correct him. He would let go of him right after and allow his Hybrid teammates take the man away.
----
Once Blizzard and Freth had taken Ein to the arena above, by any means necessary, and the rest of the team had joined them as Sub instructed them to, the Snagem leader himself would arrive on scene. A good deal of the prisoners had been freed by Cera and the other Snagems who had stayed behind, though it looked like a majority them had yet to leave the bleachers in spite of their new freedom. It was clear they were scared, terrified of Ein and the power he had wielded over them and their homeland for so long. Sub could already see their confusion when the two Articuno hybrids came back with an elderly man in toe, perhaps some of them already figured out who that was but couldn't quit come to terms with it.
"This is Ein." Sub shouted out to the prisoners as he walked in front of Ein, gesturing towards him. "This is the monster that has plagued you, your families, your Pokemon, and this entire region for so long. This pitiful excuse for a human can no longer harm you, look upon this miserable old crone and know that while his evil was great he was still just as mortal as you. His reign of terror is over." He informed the crowd.
"Now you're probably wondering what will become of him, what punishment is benefiting enough for a creature of such vile machinations. Only one punishment is good enough for what he has done, the only punishment that the people of Orre can take solace in." With that said Sub yanked Ein by the arm away from Blizzard and Freth and he resisted he would pull him by any other means necessary. He stopped at the end of the arena where a section of bleachers was completely blown off, the edge of the arena ending abruptly and providing a long fall down on the other side.
"This is Orre justice!" He shouted with zeal to the audience as he stood in front of Ein. Now looking down at the old man the Dark One smiled and whispered to him, his shadow seeming to stir under the lights of the stadium. "Time to change the world." Sub would then deliver a sharp kick to Ein's chest, knocking him right off the edge and send him hurtling down towards the ground below. Once he was out of sight of the audience however a certain ghostly figure would rise up out of Ein's own shadow cast against the side of the tower as he fell. With a cackle Griswold would leap out of the shadow and 'swallow' him whole, saving him from meeting an abrupt end with the lifeless Orre ground.
Sub gave the people of Orre, and half the team, what he knew they wanted but in the end he chose to spare Ein. Not for the reasons the others figured, that is to turn him over for trial. No, Sub had other plans to properly punish the mad scientist, though he wagered neither side would be too keen on his idea with one not considering it proper justice and the other not getting the death they felt was needed . But for now he wanted to light a fire in these abused innocent people, so perhaps when they return to their homes they will tell tales of what happened here and inspire the rest of the region for the first time in decades to live their lives without the shadow of Cipher or Ein lingering over them.
Turning away from the edge without looking, and ignoring the wild cheers from the ‘audience’ who now chanted the name ‘Team Snagem’, Sub approached his teammates. He knew some of them would be angry with him, others shocked, but right now he doesn't have the physical or mental energy to explain the situation to them or justify his actions. Looking down at the ground he noticed a single black feather that once belonged to his beloved bird. Picking the feather up and staring at it for awhile he began to tear up. Before he allowed a tear to form he wiped his eyes with the palm of his hand and stuffed the feather away into a pocket on the side of his vest and looked back at the faces of his teammates with a smile. “Mission complete. Let’s go home.”
[Mission: Complete]
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Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2019 5:30 pm
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Posted: Wed Oct 09, 2019 5:32 pm
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Freth and I escorted him to the arena, where everyone would witness what would become of Ein. Sub was a bit hammy, as he tends to be every now and then, but what came of a shock was his sudden sending him over the edge. It may come to a shock to some, such as Tristen looking on from a distance as he continued to aid Darts in anyway he could, mouth agape out of shock at the stunt. But what Sub probably would realize that some might know the secret to what he actually did. A fact not more obvious than the looks of indifference on Freth's and my face. While the two of us couldn't necessarily see what happened, we could sense it, and we were left to draw our own conclusions. What we could at the very least discern, Ein lives for another day...just not in the way Ein would have expected. Cheeky. I suppose in the end whatever happens to Ein would be up to Sub, probably just as it should have been from the start.
I looked down for a moment, musing over this mission. The last few years. The people we fought and those we allied with. Too many were affected by this, one way or another. I suppose me too, I guess. I put my arm around Freth, bringing her close. It was over. It was all that mattered. "Let's get everyone rounded up and let's go." I said softly to her.
"Gladly."
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