Talk about snobby.
Anyway, how's my story so far?
I have to continue the story here. The bandwidth exceeded...again.
Chapter 15: DiscoveryZero stirred.
"I think he's coming to."
"Yeah, his body's twitching."
"Is he all right?"
"Hmm? Infinity? Jon? Kelveros? What just happened?"
"You fainted after a battle with that huge mech," Jon replied. "Oh, yes. By the way, how do you get things out of that void?"
Zero sat up.
"Hmm...You want to get the mech out? Something as colossal as that requires a large amount of space... Infinity, we're taking him to the Extractium Testing Zone." Zero replied.
"Are you sure? That place has a high explosion factor, and most humans can't survive it," Infinity replied.
Zero chuckled. "He's not most humans. Let's go."
They walked out of the Chronicles Chamber, and to the Central Vent. Here, all landings of the Temple were accessible. Only Seraphim were able to use this, as there were no platforms in between the landings, and the only way up was to use wings or a flying mechanism.
They flew down, Kelveros with his jetpack, Infinity, Zero, and Jon with their wings. They went past the First Landing, to the Laboratory Inferior, to the Laboratory Secundus, then the Laboratory Minor, then the Laboratory Major, and finally past the Laboratory Superior. Finally, after fifteen minutes, they arrived at a huge half white, half black door, presumambly made of Extractium. The huge golden sign on the five-storey tall door read: "Extractium Testis Plaga". A sensor popped out of the door, scanning Zero's mask, body, and eyes. Then, the same sensor scanned Infinity's face, body, and eyes. The sensor retreated, and a green light on a panel beside the door blinked. A microphone popped our from the hole and Infinity and Zero spoke as one: "Ut Lumin quod Obscurum opportunus ut unus, thy vox vinculum vadum exsisto laxo!"
The mammoth gate slowly slid open. A small laboratory, equipped with all manner of dials, mechanisms, tools and the like was set in one corner, with a long window leading from one end of the room to the other. Seats were set around an emerald table, set at the other end of the long room, and a door led to the outside, which seemed to look like a crater of some sort. A golden chest was set in a corner of the laboratory.
Zero walked to the door, said the same thing again, and it slid open. He beckoned for Kelveros and Jon to follow.
"Infinity, you stay here. Monitor his progress."
Jon didn't know if it was the sheer size of the next room, which wasn't a room at all, or the fact that it was just a huge, grey crater that surprised him the most. Zero lifted his hand, and he muttered something under his breath. The vortex formed yet again, this time spitting out the marble jars it sucked in a few hours earlier.
"How did that happen?" Jon asked.
"It's a re-forming of space and matter. When the void inhaled these marble jars, the void's matter and the jars' matter became one, controlled by the dominant power of the void. When the matter from within is released, it re-forms and takes the space it used to."
"I understand. So basically it's just fusing and de-fusing the matter?"
"That's about the gist of it."
Jon grinned.
Time to have some fun."Right... So if I just..."
Jon drew energy from his magic reserves and gasped. The power was incredible, almost as if someone had just connected him to the power supplies of about ten nuclear plants.
"Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. So, how does this work?"
"You release the energy into the Void, but will it to return the objects it's absorbed."
He did so. The mech shot out, slamming into the wall at such high speed it shook the floor on impact. Zero winced.
"Not that hard..."
"Sorry. I'm having trouble limiting my spells."
Jon sent a mental probe into the robot, making sure it was deactivated. There was no response.
"Right. Judging from Kelveros' armor, he probably has the most experience with technology here. Any chance of a hand?"
He blinked, then nodded. Jon propelled himself up to the Mech's central chestpiece and opened it; there was easily enough room for both of them. The hatch closed after Kelveros entered it.
"Any ideas about this thing's security?"
He produced a small scanner and plugged it into the console. After a few seconds, it projected a string of meaningless numbers onto the wall.
"It's encrypted for Fire's use only. You might be able to break the code, but it'd take hours."
Jon frowned. There had to be a faster, and better, way.
"I have an idea. You might want to get out." Jon opened the hatch.
Kelveros' eyes widened and he jumped backwards, activating his jets in midair.
"What's going on?"
Zero's voice echoed through the room.
"I'm going to try and hack it so I can control it. I don't know if you want to leave in case it fires, but I'd recommend it."
He nodded, then they walked out and sealed the door. Jon closed the hatch.
"Ooookay. Let's see..."
Jon pressed a button at random. The console instantly lit up, showing a stream of moving numbers and letters, along with a series of red lines. The letters and numbers were coalescing and de-fusing, looking like a jumble of meaningless chains.
Looks like he has a sense of humor. This looks like a minigame or something, not a security system.Poking a letter, Jon realised it was using a touch-screen interface. Obviously, he needed to put the letters and numbers in order to unlock the robot.
Alrighty, then. Time to test my hacking skills.Chapter 16: G.U.N.D.A.M. SystemAround the emerald table, Zero took out a mini-computer-like object. As the screen was touch-sensitive, he pressed a panel on the little screen. He put it to his ear.
"Laboratory Superior! This is Zero. Send an analyzer to the personnel side of the
Extractium Testis Plaga. Anaylyze the mech in the
Plaga and make replications based on its frame."
Zero put the device back in his pocket.
"So, Infinity, how's he doing?" Zero asked.
"He seems to be okay, but I think we need to put up the defense aura just in case." Infinity replied.
"All right. Can you send Probe-1 into the cockpit?
"Sending...now. Aura shields activated."
A little orb rushed from the laboratory to the door. It seemingly passed through the door, and it ascended, going into the cockpit of the giant robot. Zero's voice rang from the probe. Golden plates started lining the
Plaga."Jon! What's going on right now?"
"I'm trying to hack the system, but it won't work!"
"We'll be sending an analysis to this probe. Hope that'll help."
"Got it."
Just this time, the analyzer from the Laboratory Superior arrived at the personnel side of the
Extractium Testis Plaga. He had with him a small computer-like device, a scanner device, and a decoder. He first scanned the anatomy, the size, and the technology which it was based on. Then, he used the decoder to scan its core to see its classification and unit number. The decoder blinked, then sent out a display of red letters on the screen: G.U.N.D.A.M. System GAT-X105AP. Suddenly, the G.U.N.D.A.M. aligned itself vertically to the left of the screen, erasing the other words. Words were typed out behind the letters. Finally, the screen looked like this:
General
Unilateral
Neuro-link
Dispersive
Autonomic
Maneuver
Synthesis
System
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
"G.U.N.D.A.M. System GAT-X105AP," Zero read out.
"Pardon?" Jon asked.
"That's what the decoder says. I don't think it's the code, though... Hey, it's doing something else. General Unilateral Neuro-link Dispersive Autonomic Maneuver Synthesis System."
"Er?"
"I think it means it uses your brainwaves to copy your movement when it's running."
"Any chance of the code?"
"We can't run a direct unencryption from here. Maybe there's something in your computer which can help you."
Jon suddenly remembered the Atlas of Chaos, the little book that he had seen in his chambers and had the information on all Allandria. Surely it had information of Fire, and maybe hints on the password?
"
Atlas of Chaos, return to your master. Come!"
Instantly, a book hit him on the head.
Not bad for a first attempt, he thought.
He flipped through the book to the details of the Fire Realm.
Atlas of Chaos, Section 5B:
The Regent of Eternal Flame is as hot-headed as he sounds. He makes his home in the Aegis Volcano, a place which most humans cannot enter due to the blistering heat. His servants are Magma Golems, creatures formed from lava flows at his command, and he serves as Order's Right-hand man.
Hmm... I wonder. 5B makes him the second of the Elementals, and he's second-in-command of Order's forces. So the number is 2. But what's the word? Jon frowned. Only one way to find out. He pulled the letters out of the stream and placed them, in this order:
AEGIS-2 ONLINE
[glow=gold, 2,300]
ENCRYPTION REMOVED. ACCESS GRANTED.[/glow]
The probe floated up to Jon's shoulder.
"Not bad. How did you guess?"
"Aegis is his home, and I don't think he's been anywhere else he really enjoys being. Online was easy, as it's what I wanted it to do."
"Hmf. It still seems far too lucky."
"Whatever. Are you going to come and look at this thing?"
The golden plates retreated as Zero entered. Jon hopped out so he could have a better look.
"I'll wait outside. You should probably see if you can control it, it might be useful."
Jon grinned, then walked out.
This was going to be interesting, he thought.
Chapter 18: Enter the GundamZero flew up to the mech, which really should be called a Gundam now, due to the acronym. He mentally opened its hatch and climbed inside, seating himself in the large chair. Instantly, two holographic screens appeared which showed two identical cockpits like his. Panels. buttons, and gauges lay beside the armrests, and a red, streamlined helmet was hanging from the roof. Zero put on the helmet and information was displayed from the visor. He could see everything that the Gundam could see, apparently, because a holographic display was put in front of him that showed a grey crater and a long, illuminated window.
Move forwards, Zero thought. The Gundam took a step forwards.
Shoot the wall, Zero thought. The Gundam took one of its hip-mounted guns and shot the wall behind it.
"It works!" Zero shouted, amplifying his voice so it penetrated the hatch. Opening the hatch, he saw that Infinity was running into the huge room. Zero flew down.
"Have you asked them yet?" Infinity asked.
"Yes. They're in the production stage already," Zero replied.
"PRODUCTION?! Are you mad? What's going on here? Unless... you used the Analyzer Prototype, didn't you?"
"Yes. Speaking of which, I think we should check in the Laboratory now."
Zero and Infinity walked to the Laboratory Superior, leaving Jon and Kelveros behind in the
Plaga to train with the Gundam. As they entered the silver door of the Laboratory, they were greeted by none other than Magellan, the Evoker that had brought Jon to Corios.
"Ah, Lord Zero and Lord Infinity! I assume you're here to observe our G.U.N.D.A.M System prototypes?"
"Exactly, Magellan. I know where they are. You need not come with us."
"Yes, Lord Zero."
Zero and Infinity walked left, past a clamouring group of white-clad Seraphim scientists with their wings folded. They reached another silver door that said,
Exemplar Plaga: Authorized Alio Tantum A sensor much like the one of the Testis Plaga's door popped out and scanned Zero's retina. It retreated into the hole after recognizing him.
"After you, my brother, and see the marvels we have created."
Infinity stepped through the doorway. Nothing could have prepared him for what stood on the other side.
Two massive Gundams, similar to the one that Zero just tested, stood side-by-side about ten metres away from him. One had folded black-and-blue wings, a golden V-shaped head crest, the same head as the test Gundam, a black chest with a small hole, and two exhaust vents on the central chestpices, which were blue. It had white, triangular shoulders, white arms, jointed very much like the other Gundam's, and white legs with black linings.
Zero pointed to that one. "That's the ZGMF-X20A. It's codenamed the Strike Freedom. It also has a new definition of "G.U.N.D.A.M: Generation Unsubdued Nuclear Drive Assault Module. It is named so because the scientists found flaws in the test Gundam, the GAT-X105AP, that made it have less energy while fighting. This one's got more energy, making it stay in battle longer, and increasing its performance. It's also my personal model, they told me."
A similar model stood beside the Strike Freedom. This one had only one set of V-fins (The Strike Freedom had three, one behind the other, the first one gold and the other two white) which were gold. It had a blue central chestpiece, blue side chestpieces, and teal exhaust vents. It also had blue forearms, shoulders with blades on them, and grey limbs. It had red-and-black wings, folded back.
"Infinity, this unit is yours. It's the ZGMF-X24S Destiny. It uses yet another operating system, Gunnery United Nuclear-Deutrion Advanced Maneuver system. They say that this is one of their best units built so far."
"This... is... insane. I never knew that the Analyzer was THIS powerful... How did you get this? We haven't even made one yet!"
"...Haha. I've been working behind your back, Infinity."
"All I can say is that I hope this works."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Meanwhile, sitting in a dark room lighted only by synthetic moonlight, was none other than Dis Manibus. His face, was as always, covered with a gold mask.
A click of his fingers raised a holographic screen, the faces of Ieuan, the Earth Elemental, Tom, the Fire Elemental, and the Master of Order.
"I think that you'll like these new mobile suits. I personally created yours, Order. It's known as the Akatsuki."
"Thank you... Dis Manibus. I hope to see it in action soon."
Chapter 19: Future of TechnologyZero recieved a mental blip from Jon. Appearently Jon wanted to test some new "mechs" he had made. And of course, what better way to do so than against Zero's Gundams?
"Infinity, we're going to the Zero-Sepulchrum Plaga. It seems Jon wants to test HIS mechs."
"HE has mechs too? Our forces are obsolete..."
"No, they're not. We're only going to use these as defense or when we've got full-scale war on our hands."
"And what of our soldiers?"
"Count these mechs as a blessing, not a curse. Our soldiers are there to fight, and their jobs will be completed."
As the Seraphim Lords stepped through the silver gate to the Seprulchrum Plaga, they heard a huge rumbling noise in the Plaga.
The Lord of Chaos had arrived. With his test projects.
Two huge mech units, one ten stories tall and one three stories tall, towered above the Lords. Zero took one look at them and said, "Not good enough."
Jon chuckled. "You really think so? These are my pride and joy, Zero... Please respect them."
Zero streched out his hand, forming the dark vortex which contained his works.
"Meet the Strike Freedom and the Destiny, Jon - the Gundams that will secure our victory."
"Don't be so sure, Zero. My ArMeD suit will be more than enough."
"You do know that these things will literally crush you if you get too close, right?"
"Of course. I built two of them."
"Well, it's your body."
The young Lord of Chaos handed Kelveros a small pad of thick paper. "This is the manual for the Stiletto, so you can learn it on the fly.", Jon said.
"Everyone ready?" Jon's magically amplified voice rang through the Plaga.
"Of course," was Zero's confident answer.
"Mmhm," Infinity yawned.
"What, we haven't started yet?" Kelveros cockily drawled.
Kelveros locked the Stiletto's missile launcher on Jon's ArMeD suit. Jon rolled out of the way just in time and warped behind Kelveros' mech. Jon used the grapple hook to connect to the Stiletto's leg.
"Here's Jonny!" Jon gleefully screamed.
"What the?!" Kelveros looked shocked.
Jon started to hack into the Stiletto's mainframe. The interface was to match the floating symbols. A few seconds later (full of Kelveros' swearing and attempts to shake Jon off) Kelveros ejected out of his mech and into a wall 500 metres away.
"God, but that kid's quick," Kelveros said into his communicator. "Give him hell from me, Zero - Extractium-powered hell."
"Copy that, Kelveros."
The Strike Freedom's wings burst open, revealing golden-veined devices that looked like huge blue shards of glass. Zero shouted, "Meet the DRAGOON system, Jon - this will finish you off!"
The shardlike devices burst from the Strike Freedom's wings. Jon was amazed to see that they fired lasers too. Jon was grazed by a laser and was surprised to see that even a graze hurt a lot. His suit was cracking where the laser hit - perhaps a disintegrating beam? Jon ducked out of the way of another laser, and went for Infinity's Gundam. Unfortunately, Infinity was prepared. Infinity drew his beam sword, flying up and thrusting down, sending a shockwave at Jon. Jon lay paralyzed for a second, and dashed towards the Destiny with his grappling claw ready.