Settle the Differences
Early morning at Novus
UNIT CONSCIOUSNESS SAMPLE:
Restarting…
Rerouting power sources…
0…20%…50%…70%…90%…100%Complete!
Primary Database recovered
Secondary Database recovered
Download Combat Procedures
All systems activated…
Slowly, the static filled Zero0X's field of vision, and then formed into a clearer view. The first thing the cyborg saw is the face of the young Bellato ranger. If the cyborg was a human, it might be startled or surprised. But such outburst of emotion was alien to the Accretia. Zero kept watching the midget, while analyzing the situation. When the Bellato went to the other way, it noticed that he had a companion…a Cora!
Designate targets…
Primary Target: Bellato, Ranger-type
Secondary Target: Cora, Force-user type
Appropriate Action: EXTREME PREJUDICE…
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"Well?" Cly asked. He answered,
"After hours for dismantling it, I manage to fix its programming. To be honest, I never see such complex program and design…but at least; it might be enough to prevent it attacking us,"
"I don't like the word 'might'?" she said sarcastically, "Because I can't stand…" The spiritualist was unable to continue, and pointed to Ran. The Bellato turned back and saw…the hulking Accretia looms behind him.
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UNIT CONSCIOUSNESS SAMPLE:
Appropriate Action: EXTREME PREJUDICE…
Prepare Armaments…
WARNING! The Database has been corrupted…
The tampered instructions cannot be used.
Change settings…Run the diagnostic program…
Scanning…
Reload new settings…Reload new instructions…
Scanning…
Appropriate Action: PROTECT…
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Zero0X stared Ranskye and Clytemnestra mutely as its CPU had a hard time to accept the new instructions until,
"Whom shall I protect?" The Ranger startled to hear the question. Not receiving the confirmation, Zero0x asked again,
"Whom shall I protect? Answer me…"Braved himself, Ran asked the cyborg back,
"What is your registry number, Unit?" He knew from the Academy and surveillance that each Accretian were registered with numbers. Hearing that, Zero replied,
"Unit Zero0X, Job Warrior, sub class Gladius…" Ranskye shouted excitedly,
"Yes, I did it! I am da man!" Unaware to the outburst, Zero0X repeated its inquiry,
"You are not answer my question…whom shall I protect?" Coughing a bit, the Ranger said with a tone of authority,
"Unit 0x, you must protect Ranskye of Bellato and Clytemnestra of Cora with all cost! Understand?" The cyborg's CPU buzzed and immediately responded,
UNIT CONSCIOUSNESS SAMPLE:
New objective acquired!
Appropriate Action: PROTECT RANSKYE OF BELLATO AND CLYTEMNESTRA OF CORA WITH ALL COST.
Scanning…
The cyborg replied, "Affirmative, Unit Zero0X shall protect Ranskye of Bellato and Clytemnestra of Cora with all cost! Order is accepted! Loud and clear!" Satisfied with his handiwork, Ranskye turned to the Spiritualist with a big grin, "What do you think?"
Cly frowned, "I am not impressed at all…I would rather blow this iron scrap than bring it along with us," The Bellato replied,
"Come on, don't be sour-graping…beside you should check your HP and MP pots first…" The remark made Clytemnestra silent. The midget was right; both of them had limited supply of potions. Though they had scavenged from the dead, those weren't enough. Refused to drop the matter, she pointed to the cyborg,
"What about this? I think the abomination consumes more potions than both of us combined…bringing this would be the biggest mistake!"
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As they quarreled, Zero0X overheard their conversation,
UNIT CONSCIOUSNESS SAMPLE:
Analyzing the conversation
Subject: Clytemnestra of Cora
Decode the Corites language…Analyzing voice tone
Data: Irritation over potion consumption by Unit 0X
Analysis: a. Not knowing the Accretian's efficiency
b. Underestimating the Accretian's efficiency
Appropriate Response…
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While Ranskye and Clytemnestra still argued, the cyborg called,
"Unit 0x requested permission to speak…" Both of them turned, and then the ranger said,
"You have the permission, Unit 0X. Speak!" The Accretian explained,
"The Accretian was designed to use the MP and HP potion efficiently. In dire situations like this, my mechanical body can be modified to consume potion half of their original usage. By then, I won't use your supply at all…" The Spiritualist was dumb-founded to hear that; she didn't expect the cyborg could understand their conversation. Throwing her face away, she said,
"Suit yourself! Just keep that beast away from me…" As she left, Ranskye glanced to Zero,
"Don't worry. We'll be used with you. Just take it easy…" The Accretian warrior asked,
"What do you mean with 'take it easy'?"
"Uh, never mind!"
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Next morning,
The ground zero suddenly became alive…with the arrival of the Accretians. They quickly surveyed the explosion site, searching anything they could find. Gungnir stood stoically and waited the first one to come. When the Scout returned, he barked,
UNIT CONSCIOUSNESS SAMPLE:
"Report!" Shadx13 reported,
"Commander, my tracking sensor had detected three foot tracks. It concluded that one of those tracks belonged to our lost warrior!" The Assaulter asked,
"Which direction they go?" The Phantom Shadow pointed to East. Without being asked, ExvionE47 said,
"The direction leads to the no man's land…Imperial posts reports that the Turncoats were roaming freely there." Gungnir glanced dangerously to the strange-accented Specialist.
"Unit E47, you are allowed to speak when I order you! Understood?" The white-armored cyborg merely shrugged. Then the Leader said,
"We shall follow the trail, while Unit x13 leads us. Once the survivors were located, we shall extract them and return immediately to the Empire. If the Turncoats obstruct us, just eliminate them with extreme prejudice!" His tone did not suggest that any of these instructions were open to debate.
"Leader," Gruudx76 spoke up regardless, "Are we not waiting the reinforcements once the survivors were located?"
Gungnir turned and glared to the Dementer with obvious disgust, "What manner of fool question is that?" Gruudx continued,
"According to my program, the instruction will put us in disadvantages. The Turncoats usually moved in large number. It simply seems…" Gungnir silenced further questions with a vicious backhand that left the speaker dazed on his back among the hubris. Had it been a human, the cyborg would end with severe head trauma. "We are made to serve the Empire! The Empire's wish is my wish!" There were no further questions. The others followed their leader exactly as he commanded.
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Far from the ground zero,
Ranskye, Clytemnestra and Zero continued their journey. They passed the arid, desolate lands toward East. All of them were silent and not talked to each other. While they walked, the sun scorched the land below. Ran wiped his sweated brow, while Cly looked better to worse. He turned to the Accretia,
"Unit 0x, perhaps we should take a pause."
The cyborg inquired, "Why? According to my calculations, our distance from the estimated crash site is just 20 miles. We will be there in 3 hours…"
"Yes," The Ranger replied, "But we have walked almost non-stop; beside Cly and I did not have such stamina and durability like you. We must take the rest then."
UNIT CONSCIOUSNESS SAMPLE:
Scanning…
Primary Subject: Ranskye of Bellato
Secondary Subject: Clytemnestra of Cora
Increased heart beats
Increased sweat productions
Increased breathing rate
Conclusion: Exhaustion and strains due to sunburn.
Appropriate Action: STOP
"Affirmative, we shall take a pause," Then Zero0x distanced itself from them. Clytemnestra spoke,
"I have a bad feeling for this…I think you are not completely control that abomination,"
"Come on, Zero0x did not show any suspicious acts so far…don't be paranoid…" The Spiritualist said,
"Fear is necessary, because it is our instinct to survive. Midget, I suggest you should watch your 'pet' carefully!"
"I will if you don't call me 'midget'!" The Accretia stand mutely, as they debated again.
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Four hours later at morning,
"I stand corrected," Penthesilea remarked, "Someone does survive…" The Hunter was surrounded by Almasyr, Alcyone and another Spiritualist. Unlike the others, the Spiritualist's eyes were covered by shroud and she was black-haired, which uncommon amongst the Corites. They had just come out from the portal. The young Knight asked,
"I know it…" he looks hopeful, "Can you tell it is Clytemnestra?"
"Unfortunately, no! The trail was mixed up with the others…there's something else here before us?" The Warrior snarled,
"The steel abominations…" Penthesilea nodded, before continue,
"They were about a company and just left yesterday, before us…It seems they went toward East," Alcyone quipped,
"Perhaps Priestess Teresrias would tell us about her divine vision…" The black-haired Dark Priest turned to them and spoke,
"I saw three souls walking toward East…one of them were looking for something there. That what I have seen in my vision," Almasyr asked,
"Did you see Clytemnestra among them, Priestess?" Teresrias smiled enigmatically and answered,
"I only know what is revealed to me only; the rest are belongs to DECEM," The female Hunter shook her head, while sighing,
"I just hope you could give us the best clue…" she glanced to Almasyr, "Now what? Minister Quiane stated that we are coming here to retrieve your betrothed's remains, yet she was survived." The young spiritualist said,
"Perhaps, we should return to the Colony…or we might risk the Minister's wrath…" The warrior didn't answer as he gazed toward East. Then he said,
"Penthesilea, I ask you trace the tracks, while we return to the Colony…I will tell the Minister that you're on the recon mission…" The Hunter grinned,
"Glad to know you are not gives up easily!" Then Teresrias whispered the Return Gate spell …
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Miles away from their location,
Ranskye, Clytemnestra and Zero0x held inside the protruding boulders on the desert. As expected, their rations ran low and the MP/HP potions wouldn't satisfy their hunger and thirst. Of course, the Accretia was least affected of it. As the only leader, the Bellato Ranger had to make the hard decision that he said,
"I will go hunt…" The Cora startled to hear it,
"I beg you pardon? You will go to hunt? What do you think to get as our food?" Ran scratched his head,
"Dunno, maybe I can get Flym, Lunker or Stink Bug…"
Clytemnestra looks disgusted, "Yuck, you would eat those critters…I would rather dead than eat those things," Annoyed, he asked,
"Alright, Princess! What do you usually eat at your homeworld?"
"Green herbs and vegetables, beans and anything that DECEM provides to his children?" Ranskye almost unable to held his chuckle, and that irked the Spiritualist,
"What so funny with that?" He spread his arms over the horizon,
"Take a look, do you think plants growing here? Naturally, I don't eat those creatures. But I can't think otherwise! Beside, I always ate them during my training at the Bellato Army!"Clytemnestra screamed shrilly,
"You expect me to eat them? Never! I won't stoop low like you!" Taking his bow, Ranskye shouted back,
"Fine, don't ask me for a portion if you are hungry!" Few steps away, she called him again,
"Wait, bring this abomination with you! I don't want it nearby me!"
"Come on, Zero won't harm you! I had reprogrammed it…" The Cora shouted aloud,
"Just take it with you, would you?"
"Fine, have it your way!"
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Zero watched them arguing; the cyborg did not paid attention to the bickering. For a strategist, this can be exploited for an advantage. Unfortunately, Zero wasn't a strategist and not realizes its importance. When the Bellato called, it responded,
"Do you want Unit 0x to accompany you?" The Ranger nodded. The Accretia rose and began to follow him. It managed to overheard his complaints,
"Women! Cora or Bellato are the same! They just like to boss us around…" The sentence ticked Zero's database and quickly inquired,
"May I ask what it means of 'boss us around?"
"Nothing! If I had explained to you, you won't understand either…"
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UNIT CONSCIOUSNESS SAMPLE:
Conclusion: Relation between female and male species is COMPLICATED
Appropriate Action: Pending
Zero decided it won't be useful for its database…that just wasting few gigabytes.
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Hour passed by,
Clytemnestra awoke and saw nobody. It seems the Bellato midget and his Accretia pet hasn't returned yet. Suddenly she heard a loud growling. Her tummy was hungry, but not so loud like what she heard before. It must be coming from outside the boulder. Once went outside, she startled to found out that…the boulder was surrounded by a pack of Snatchers. They once were wild creatures that roamed the Novus. However, the Herodians, Accretians, Bellatos and even her own people had experimented upon them heavily, until they turned aggressive. Alone, they were easily dealt with, but they found strength in the numbers. Not only the Brats, the adult Snatchers also joined them. What made the Spiritualist transfixed in fear were not them, but their Alpha…Splinter Rex. Splinter Rex was rare to encounter; when it was nobody was survive to tell the ordeal. Its body was larger than the Splinter, and had a pink mane around its head. Its fierce eyes stared the Cora spiritualist hungrily, followed by its pack.
The Rex gestured the packs to close toward the terrified Cora. They circled her, while snarling and licked their teeth in anticipation of fresh meat.
Clytemnestra trembled fearfully; she wasn't used to face so many Snatchers and let alone the Snatcher Rex. With her low MP, she could drive the smaller one but not the bigger one. Slowly but sure, those beasts walked closer to her. She lifted her staff shakingly, wondering which spell she would use to them. She shouted,
"Be gone, beasts or the wrath of DECEM shall fall upon you!!" The Snatchers responded by howl loudly and still went toward her. The bluff has failed. One of them jumped toward her…
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Facing with certain danger, Clytemnestra whipped her staff and shouted,
"Approaching!" Instantly the bluish aura covered her feature, and sent the Snatchers wary. She immediately followed with another spell,
"Prism Beam!" An orb of fire came out from her right hand and struck the nearest Snatcher Brat down. Within second, the entire pack thirsted for her blood. The Cora Spiritualist did not stop until there,
"Fire Pierce!" Instantly, the area surrounding her was engulfed with fire and killed two more Snatchers. One of them leaped toward her, yet she was quick enough to send an Electric Ball to fry the beast. Realizing that, the pack began to attack her simultaneously. Cly brushed her staff away, in process struck a Snatcher Brat dead. She cast another spell,
"Air Splinter!" A blast of strong wind drove the beasts away, but not enough to deter them. She wondered how many of them remained. Her Vain Fall had crushed one more. She was at the standstill. Though skilled to cast one Force spell after another, Cly had to admit that she wasn't able to cast them simultaneously like a Caster. Beside, her FP began to run low. Before another Snatcher ran to her, she cast Fetor, which sends the beast suffocated. It kept going until she had no more FP to fuel her spells. The dead Snatchers and Brats scattered her surrounding, but the Snatcher Rex stay still. Accompanied by the remaining Snatchers, it walked toward her slowly but sure. Exhausted, the Cora fell to the ground, awaiting her demise.
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Before succumbed to their onslaught, Clytemnestra heard shouting and saw the beasts turned to the opposite direction. She saw Ranskye and Zero have returned. The Ranger pulled his bow and shot the Snatchers one by one. The Accretia charged forward to intimidate the rest of the pack. Those sent the remaining Snatchers scurried away. However, the Snatcher Rex was still defiant and glanced toward the terrified Cora. She screamed,
"No…stay away from me! Stay away!" The beast ignored her plead and almost charged her until…a loud painful roar heard. The Cora opened her eyes, and saw a 14-inch Throwing Knife protruded from the Rex's torso. She turned around and saw Zero brandished a set of the said weapons.
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Ranskye startled to found that Zero still had another weapon. He thought he had locked its defense programming, yet it seemed the cyborg still had another tricks from its sleeves. But this wasn't the time to discuss that. Clytemnestra still in danger; they had to get rid the Snatcher Rex out of her range. He pulled another arrow and whispered,
"Double Shot!" Instantly two shot struck its target bulls-eye.
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UNIT CONSCIOUSNESS SAMPLE:
Objective: PROTECT RANSKYE OF BELLATO AND CLYTEMNESTRA OF CORA WITH ALL COST.
Zero saw that its charges was threatened, therefore it did what written in its database. Its primary and secondary armament was inactive. For Accretian Warrior, it was mandatory to have auxiliary armaments just in case. Quickly, the cyborg was retrieving the throwing knives from its hidden shelf and activate the Long-Distance Programming. Precision and Reload instantly kicked in. It threw its knives faster than the Bellato Ranger pulled its bow. Yet, the Snatcher Rex refused to leave its soon-to-be prey. That prompted Zero to take drastic measure! It took the beast and punched it with the steel knuckles. The Rex did not want to lose; its steel-sharp claws scratched the Accretia's armor. The epic struggle between the beast and the steel creature raged on, and the Snatcher Rex still strong, making Zero wonders how much the beast HP. Then it howled again, when Ranskye managed to shot its eyes.
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At the same moment, Zero locked the beast's neck and pushed its engine beyond limit. The cyborg twisted the Snatcher's neck until it produced a loud sickening pop and crack, which prompted Cly to throw her face away. Instantly, the beast stopped to struggle and the Accretia let its limp body fell to the ground. Ran quickly went toward the Spiritualist and asked,
"Cly, are you hurt?" To his surprise, the Cora hugged him and cried aloud. First, he was at loss with such act but then he comforted her,
"Cly, it is alright! You are safe now…" Distancing herself, Clytemnestra wiped her tears and asked,
"What took you so long? I almost think I would see DECEM sooner…" The Ranger shrugged,
"We hunt quite far and found some Lunkers…then Zero inform me that it sense something at our shelter. That's why we returned here quickly," Cly turned to Zero and saw the dead Snatcher. She stared the cyborg suspiciously,
"I thought Ran had reprogrammed you, but why do you still have hidden weapons?"
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Zero0x heard the inquiring question,
UNIT CONSCIOUSNESS SAMPLE:
Analyzing the conversation
Subject: Clytemnestra of Cora
Decode the Corites language…Analyzing voice tone
Data: Inquiring about the presence of auxiliary armament
Appropriate Response…
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The Accretia turned to Ran, "Unit 0x requested permission to answer," The Bellato nodded as it spoke,
"It is mandatory to all Accretian warriors to have auxiliary weapons such throwing knives. The Empire required its citizens to be versatile and mobile whenever required. We the Accretians, aren't limited by specializing a single weapon,"
Ran asked, "If that so, why don't I encounter such notice inside your programming?"
Zero0X explained, "Perhaps, it was well-hidden inside my programming. I simply activate it due to the situations. If Ranskye wants, perhaps I can turn it inactive as well…" The Ranger held his hand off,
"No, it won't be good…perhaps we should let you have your weapons…however your primary and secondary armaments will stay inactive. Do you understand, Unit 0x?"
"Loud and clear!" To this, the Cora protested,
"Why do you agree with this tin-can so quickly? It might stab us from behind…" Ranskye pointed the dead Snatcher Rex,
"Do you think Zero0x will backstab us after it help you from certain death?" Clytemnestra didn't answer, and she glanced to the cyborg.
"Perhaps you must say thank you to Zero0x…" To this comment, she turned irate,
"Ridiculous, this abomination not understands such expression! Why should I say 'thank you' to it?" Suddenly, Ran chuckled to her.
"What is so funny?" The Bellato replied,
"Well, you've said it…indirectly. You say "why should I say 'thank you'…awhile ago!" Realizing her mistake, Cly blushed red and stormed out angrily. To this, Zero0X asked,
"What's wrong with Clytemnestra?"
"Nevermind! Zero, help me to prepare the roasted Lunker…"
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Few hours at midnight,
Ranskye and Clytemnestra fell asleep, while kept the distance from each other. Zero0x didn't feel need to sleep as its battery could kept him standby. Beside, it still repaired its CPU,
UNIT CONSCIOUSNESS SAMPLE:
Scanning…20% data has been restored
…Combat configurations downloaded
Check armaments…
Primary Armaments: DISABLED
Secondary Armaments: DISABLED
Auxiliary Armaments: ACTIVE
Check…Auxiliary Armaments: 14-inch Throwing Knives sets
The Accretian watched the sleeping Cora and Bellato intensely, The Bellato managed to tamper its programming, but not entirely. Beside, it could decipher the data, which had not tampered,
Reviewing Accretian Doctrine…
"The Corites and the Bellato are the Empire's enemies…"
Primary Subject: Ranskye of Bellato…HOSTILE
Secondary Subject: Clytemnestra of Cora…HOSTILE
Appropriate Action: WAIT UNTIL THE DATABASE RESTORED…
With that, the cyborg decided to enter into Sleep mode and wait until the daybreak…for a meantime it would get along with its ruse.
Author's Note: Hello, the chapter is done! Recently, I quite busy in my work. Slowly but sure, Ranskye, Clytemnestra and Zero had started to know more about each other, though they didn't realize the cyborg's ploy. I decide to include the Snatcher Brat and Snatcher, but I never see the Snatcher Rex while playing RF Online. The bare-handed battle of Accretia just my imagination. What about the Bellatos? What will this trio find in their journey to return? Find more in the next chapter, "Connecting Hearts and Souls". See you later!