Aleister's minds quickly came to a conclusion, he couldn't just straight up tell the truth-
A grin spread across his face, but why not? After all, truth was just a matter of perspective.
"An honor to meet you, Captain Okita". He greeted her with a nod. "I am Aleister Crowley, and I am your master... However, first I must ask you fully listen to me before you make any judgement upon what type of man I am".
"Thats...". The Assassin's eyes narrowed, and she nodded slowly.
"Thank you, now where to start... By this point I'm certain you've realized you are not in a world governed by Gaia or Alaya. This world is called Earth Bet, a piece of a set of mirror versions of the same Earth. In this world... Well theres no other way to put it, its ending". Was he perhaps pushing it a bit to much? Not really. Cults, corrupt idiots in power, and three apocalyptic monsters, Earth Bet was dying, slowly.
"A... Dead planet?". Okita frowned.
"Not exactly, allow me to explain...". Aleister began to spin the a half-truth, the Endbringers, the dozens if not hundreds of criminal gangs, Parahumans and how they came to be, and finally. "The PRT, the so called bastions of Justice... Are nothing but corruption and fools. They refuse to use lethal force unless a criminal has received a kill order, criminals constantly escape from them and on some level I believe they even do it on purpose".
"Thats...". The Assassin grit her teeth. "Unacceptable! How can they enforce justice if they refuse to take the means to do it!?".
"I agree Captain, I truly do... They even created 'The Wards', pah! Its just an excuse to brainwash child soldiers... Poor innocent children, broken by the experience of Triggering and then molded into weapons, thrown out onto the streets to fight killers and criminals. This world is entirely desensitized to the idea, even the so called child protection service go along with the PRT". Aleister made a show of frustration on his face, he wasn't against the idea of child soldiers, but honestly the PRT used them so idiotically! "We are fighting a titanic force here, hundreds of mentally unstable criminals, brainwashed children and those so called 'heroes'... We've been forced to take some drastic and downright evil measures to keep up".
"...". Okita kept quiet, but she knew she was about to hear something she wouldn't like.
"Mine and Medea's plan is simple, take over this city, gather our power and move out, much of the world is already in ruins or chaos... Taking it over would be easy". The master sighed, sadness leaking into his voice. "I've... I've had to do some things, and I can't even say I regret those things. Kidnapping, murder, I've literally killed someones personality to use their body as a meat puppet and have children trapped in cages...".
"Its not about good or evil in this world Assassin". Medea interrupted, drawing Okita's attention. "In this world, its about how much good we can do for as little evil as possible. I am an evil person and even I'll admit this, but this world has taken it to an unacceptable level, if you don't believe us, see for yourself".
The Assassin stayed silent, looking at the ground, her hair completely covering her face.
"...If this world is truly as horrible as you say, I can understand and sympathize with your logic... But if your lying to me". Okita raised her head and Aleister froze at the stare she was giving him. "If you hurt children and innocents for your own sadistic fancy, I will cut you down".
"I'll admit I do take some joy in humiliating and hurting people, but I promise that has and will never be pointed towards the innocent". He held out his hand. "So Captain Okita, are you with us?".
"...I feel as if I'm making a deal with a devil, but if we are truly all that stands between order and chaos... I've already worked as a killer once, I can do it again". Okita took her master's hand, shaking it-
"Perfect! Now, get that sexy ass over here and I'll get you some clothes that fit this era!".
"H-huh?! What! Get off me you crazy Caster! Master! Master help! Heeeelp!".
"I'm sorry Okita, but even I can't stop her when she's like this...".
Okita doesn't like the idea she's letting evil get past her, but she's been convinced Earth Bet is truly and absolutely fucked without someone taking over. Aleister explained everything he knew about parahuman powers as well, so she's now aware of shit like Masters and Thinkers.
Aleister looked at the mess in front of him, it... Looked vaguely human, but somewhere along the way he'd messed up. The difference between creating a full android and a cyborg was huge.
He needed to have enough computer storage for the AI, adding in the controls for the body, and everything else he'd need to ensure the body would actually pass as human...
"Looks like you'll be waiting a bit longer for an actual body, FB". He apologized to the AI.
"Its fine... A body doesn't have purpose". Was the AI's simple reply, still, he had wanted to reward her for how useful she was during Leviathan's attack.
Action failed... Although I'm still confused why so many were going for this. FB is an AI that serves best in the digital world, giving her a body is kind of a waste considering she'll spend most of her time on the internet still.
CRITICAL ACTION! Thanks to a lucky spin, this action has been massively improved to produce far greater results!
Aleister was glad about one thing regarding Leviathan's attack, nobody was around to check if he expanded the basement or moved some wires and pipes about... And by the gods he was SO happy about that.
"HAHAHAHAHA! IT WORKS! IT WOOORKS!". He cackled like the mad scientist he was, drawing concerned glances from Medea and Okita.
"Uhm... Aleister, dear? Are you... Okay?". The Caster asked, but flinched back when Aleister turned to her with feral excitement in his eyes.
"It worked! My greatest weapon WORKS!". The master went back to cackling, and this time Assassin decided to get a clear answer.
"Yes! But what does it do? All you've done is laugh about it working!". At Okita's words, Aleister blushed, o-oh, no wonder they were so confused.
"Allow me to show you two... As soon as I get an animal to- Thank you Medea". The Caster had quickly teleported in a sleeping seagull, which he quickly placed into the large chamber he'd created, closing the door behind him. "Now ladies, behold the genius of one of the Multiverses greatest minds!".
He pulled down a large switch, green light leaking through the chamber slightly, before it slowly opened to reveal something shocking to the two woman.
"What... The hell?". Medea was a master of magecraft, she knew secrets of the Age of Gods, and by all logic she knew, this was impossible.
"I-its... A robot?!". Okita was much less elegant in her response, staring at the mechanical seagull.
"Behold... The work of the mad genius Doctor Robotnik, or perhaps I should say... Doctor Eggman?". Aleister's grin never left his face as he held out his hands.
"Behold, The Robotizer!".
Oh my... I think this is the first critical action this quest got. Basically its landing on the super luckiest option possible when I'm using my dice or spinner, and it improved a mere cyborg converter, into a bloody Robotizer.
Eggman's going to be so proud.
New technology created.
- The Robotizer.
The genius work of Doctor Eggman, it converts organics into deadly war machines. It does not work on spiritual bodies, nor will converted parahumans keep their abilities (Because they lose their Corona Pollentia, meaning the Shard loses its connection).
Aleister had been surprised to learn about a dozen different ways to brainwash someone thanks to his Mad Scientist abilities, and many of them didn't even include stuffing metal into Vista's brain. The simple VR set he'd made should work.
"Are you listening to me, Vista?". He asked the girl, who responded with a slow 'yes'. "I need you to listen to me, countdown from five with me...".
He slowly talked, the music and words the VR set played helped along. He slowly suppressed her original personality, not removing it however, she could have valuable information he wanted. He was essentially putting her main personality to sleep and creating a second one to control her.
He considered giving her a new name for this second personality, just in case, but he couldn't think of anything to be honest. Something to do later to ensure the second personality was fully stabilized perhaps?
Aleister let out a sigh as he finished working on the wall he was transmuting, a grin on his face as he trapped on the now solid vibranium walls. Add in the magic Medea was performing to enhance it even further, he doubted even a Divine Spirit could break these walls... Well at least a low level one.
"Master, are you sure you want this?". Medea was utterly serious with her question, his eyes were drawn to the golden pelt in her hands, an artifact of legends, the Golden Fleece. "If it activates, even I can't control the dragon that will be summoned...".
"Its a last resort, if this base is lost... I want whoever breaks in to burn". It was better to lose the workshop in ashes then let it fall into enemy hands.
"Very well, I'll begin setting it up". Medea got to work from there, dozens of magic circles appearing around her as she began setting up the ritual required to activate the Argon Coin. While at the same time, setting up a process to summon dozens if not hundreds of Dragon Tooth Soldiers if they were attacked.
We already have bombs, now we have vibranium walls and a dragon... GET FUCKED COIL!
Aleister looked over the pictures FB had presented him with, while at the same time patiently listening to Medea's physical voice as she explained everything her familiars saw and Okita's telepathic voice as she explained what she saw on her end.
The Empire was done for, many of its lower members had been captured, and two new groups had risen from the ashes. Fenrir's Chosen, lead by that psychotic bastard Hookwolf, it was composed of those who were more violent or active then the rest. They were violent to everything and didn't care for the Endbringer Truce still in effect, having attacked multiple Leviathan relief supplies, Aleister made a note to deal with them quickly if he wanted Brockton Bay to recover faster. They were also still incredibly racist.
The Pure was the other half of the former Empire... And they were pathetic, sure they had a Cape of some power in Purity, and they claimed themselves as heroic, while still being racist bastards and focusing near completely on Fenrir's Chosen. They had also sworn revenge for Faust, seems they figured out he was the one who had taken Alabaster, oh well.
The ABB had grown drastically, with Lung free citizens were fleeing to him and beginning for protection. Yet they seemed more focused on stabilizing themselves, good, Lung was smart and focusing on letting Brockton Bay recover before he pulled any moves. Aleister felt some respect forming for the ABB leader... Even if he still planned to deal with him.
There were many smaller criminal groups trying to make grabs for power, idiots each and every one of them. With the Endbringer True active, the PRT would fall onto them like a hammer in order to try and regain the public's loyalty.
Speaking of more heroic individuals... New Wave was in chaos, with Shielder dead, Glory Girl and Laserdream captured, Panacea had been seen running herself ragged in the hospital... Which was really impressive considering she had the endurance of a Demi-Servant, when was the last time she'd slept?! But still, this was a good opportunity for Aleister, everyone was already against Faust for breaking the Endbringer True, so why not put even more fire onto his villainous side by kidnapping or killing Panacea?
Finally onto the PRT, they had went onto overdrive. Capturing as many criminals as they could to prove they were still effective, yet they had done nothing to to deal with the larger criminal gangs, with Armsmaster, one of the leading forces of the PRT... It was only a matter of time before they crashed and burned. Especially with the public against them after they allowed Wards to be kidnapped.
A grin crossed Aleister's face, oh this was good. So much opportunity... He also made a note to investigate Faultline's Crew, but they were rather private and never took jobs in the bay. But they were mercenaries, he could potentially get them working for him if he made enough gold or perhaps something else they wanted? Weren't they investigating Case 53's?
He hadn't heard anything about the Undersiders or Coil, but he supposed they must be in hiding or left Brockton Bay until the chaos calmed down.
Some good things here! A critical action resulting in gaining one of the most awesome machines in fiction, brainwashing Vista, securing the base, and learning the full situation of Brockton Bay.