Mosaic City, located along China's coast, is quite large city sometimes called the Crossroads Between Nations due to its diverse population. While it was once a large tourist spot, the city was placed under a blockade as the military appeared claiming there was a radiation leak. The true hazard, however, is much more sinister.
Pyxis hung back as Vincent engaged the shadow, analyzing both his and its capabilities from what data she was given. Both were...fairly underwhelming. Vincent made the most of what he had, but he was noticeably under-equipped. It reminded Pyxis of how she had arrived, but in her case it had been due to a rushed deployment. She hadn't had a chance to be properly outfitted. But if Vincent had only recently arrived, he should have had more time. So why was there such a drastic difference in their combat capabilities?
Three hits managed to finish off the shadow, as opposed to the single short burst Pyxis had torn through the one before it with. Still, he did at least deserve congratulating on his work so far. "Not bad," she said. "Although...I can't help but notice the difference in strength and equipment between us. If I may ask, just how much prior combat experience do you have?" She wasn't expecting much. Pyxis herself had no field experience before coming here. She had plenty of training, and a little bit of experience against captured shadows, but all the strength she had gathered had been here in Mosaic. It was possible that Vincent was the same way.
Post by Vincent Celosa on Apr 9, 2014 21:53:36 GMT -5
A quick check up on his current standing, the lights on his HUD glowing a faint green and a healthy blue, the Android decided to take this lull in combat to heal himself up with some help from Orpheus. The metallic persona soon plucked a soothing note only heard by Vincent and he could estimate that whatever damage that had been done to him was either completely negated or that the difference was negligible. He also tried a bit not to look embarrassed at the compliment he had received, even if it had been followed up with a question towards his abilities.
It wasn't so much as a sore topic for him as it was an irritant. Vincent, deciding then that honesty would get him farther, tried his best to think of a way on how to explain his predicament with his fellow Suppression Unit. "I was manufactured 5 years ago, though preliminary training and protocol had me tested for an entire year before being fit for duty. Following that, I've amassed two years worth of live experience and battle data. However, due to a miscalculation in the latest mission, I suffered heavy damages and had to be rebuilt from near-scratch. Majority of my Memory Banks, and my prior equipment, had been damaged and had to be wiped away to allow me to function once more. Repairs took 2 years, and barely any materials were left in order to make any worthwhile equipment." Nodding to himself, satisfied with the explanation, Vincent then began to lock the chains in place once more.
"I've also been trying to see where I can outfit myself with better equipment, at least in terms of defense. Orpheus is good enough to handle regular targets, most of the time."
So it was battle damage from a previous mission that caused it. Not just easy to fix stuff, either, but having to be rebuilt almost entirely. Pyxis had posed such a scenario before, when explaining to Alisa about advantages she, as a machine, had over humans, but hadn't even thought about lasting damage at the time. In Vincent's case, to his memory banks. That left the question of, if such a thing happened to her, what could she end up losing other than combat experience?
...Perhaps the mindset of 'I can always be repaired' wasn't such a good one to have after all.
"I see..." Pyxis said. "Don't worry about regaining combat experience, though. You pick it up fast out here. I started out around the same capabilities as what you have now, and I've only been here for two months. Same for equipment. Most of what I'm using now is modified from parts that shadows out here were carrying for...some reason."
Post by Vincent Celosa on Apr 11, 2014 8:58:56 GMT -5
"That is comforting to know." Vincent admitted, relief more noticeable with how his tone became that much lighter as compared to the subtle relaxing of his shoulders. "Though with that said, I find it difficult to find a chance to get out here a lot while trying to integrate into society." And here, as if he was once more trying his best not to look embarrassed, out of place, or incompetent in front of what he was slowly using as a standard for his temporary superiors, Vincent tried then to seek out more information.
"Is it…is it possible that you help me out with this? For having that much longer than I, it would be very appreciated if you could give me some aid so that I may complete my purpose in a more efficient manner."
Last Edit: Apr 13, 2014 20:15:05 GMT -5 by Vincent Celosa
Ahh, the usual problem. Integrating. While it wasn't particularly difficult for Pyxis to act human -- even when she first arrived she could easily pass herself off as a socially awkward gamer -- integrating into the society of Mosaic City came with its own problems. Namely, the lockdown. Needless to say, someone people had never seen before suddenly appearing after the city was cut off from the outside raised a few questions. Especially when that appearance came with the official process of transferring schools. The organization had forged an excuse, but some people were still suspicious.
Fortunately, most of those suspicions just cast her as being incredibly lazy, a shut-in, or similarly negative traits, rather than the more accurate belief that she had somehow come from outside the lockdown. She could handle a few hits to her reputation for the sake of her mission.
For Vincent's case, though, she couldn't be sure of the specifics. All she knew was what he said: that he had some difficulty balancing the process of integrating into society with exploring the shadow-infested zone and fighting shadows. And that he was asking for Pyxis's help. "With which part? Re-building combat experience or integrating into society? Either way, sure, I can help."
Post by Vincent Celosa on Apr 13, 2014 20:14:03 GMT -5
"With both parts, if ever possible."
Vincent admitted, the slight bow of his head seemingly in accordance with how the locals would plead when it came to things of great importance to them. He wasn't sure if it was completely applicable here in his situation but seeing as how Pyxis had been able to integrate herself rather well into this society, or at least that's what Vincent had been able to gather from the cues being left behind, he assumed that this sign of humbleness may ease in the transition and of the procedure itself.
"Though as to which we should prioritise, I am conflicted in choosing what. I live in a rather secluded workshop so it's rather bare of people in the first place but I can't just leave that to chance. On the other hand, it is my main objective to protect the people within this city and destroy any shadows who're planning on infesting the place."
Last Edit: Apr 13, 2014 20:14:24 GMT -5 by Vincent Celosa
Both parts, huh? When it came to integration, Pyxis could only speak from experience. And that experience was that most of it just sort of...happened. She had started out seeming rather awkward and unusual, and that still hadn't entirely gone away. She was still much more comfortable talking either with other Users or over the local network, since in both cases her oddities could be more easily understood or explained. But, she could still help. Even if that ended up amounting to introducing him to people who could help more.
As for combat, that was easy. She was no teacher, but he didn't need to learn completely from scratch. There was, at least, a base to go on.
"If my experience is any indication, you have to take them both as they come. Devote time to both, but take opportunities as they arise rather than forcing yourself to choose one over the other. On that note, there's been a meetup of some sort after each of the major battles, so I can introduce you to a few of the local Users during the next one. But since that's coming up soon, getting into good combat shape should be a higher priority for the time being."
Post by Vincent Celosa on Apr 14, 2014 23:35:37 GMT -5
"The date for the major battle has been noted. And thank you for the help, it should at least aid me in getting a better hang of things from here on out." Vincent informed with another bow of his head. Checking back to his internal clock and the options presented to him in his hud, the android was pretty confident that he could still last quite a while before requiring another charge up. That, and his energy levels were all still within the green so there was no immediate danger of suddenly shutting down.
"And opportunities huh?" A few thoughts began to flit about his mind but ultimately, the robot decided against asking if the maid could accompany him further from here on out. He didn't want to deter her much longer for whatever it was she was going to do so the next best thing would probably be to schedule some kind of meet up later on for when it was more convenient for her.
"Then would it be fine for you to schedule a time and place where you can help me? I would understand if it isn't possible at the immediate moment."
Last Edit: Apr 14, 2014 23:35:56 GMT -5 by Vincent Celosa
After confirming again that he had noted the date of the next full moon, Vincent asked to schedule a time and place to help him out, citing the possibility that it wouldn't be possible right away. It was a reasonable assumption, since Pyxis was clearly heading back towards the safe zone and had even said as much. But that was because the other option was going into the most dangerous shadow nest yet at less than perfect condition.
"Actually, I could do it now, if you wanted," Pyxis said. "I was heading back because I wasn't about to head into the giant floating castle out that way," she pointed towards the ominous silhouette in the distance, "Unless I was fresh. Anything less that would still be just fine. I doubt that helping you out would take all that much energy." If Pyxis was reading his output right, Vincent was operating at the same capacity that she had been before the cleaver girl shadow fight. That felt like so long ago by now. Her strength back then and what she had now didn't even compare. Handling even things that might have been difficult back then would be no problem.
"If you're still not sure, I could schedule some time in the next couple days, but I promise that I'm still more than capable of accompanying you. It's you I'm more concerned about."
Post by Vincent Celosa on Apr 15, 2014 6:30:48 GMT -5
"Then it would be very much appreciated."
Vincent nodded at the offer, and given with all the talk of opportunities decided to take this one by the horns rather than letting it slip away. Again, he was still in pretty good condition and this time he even managed to snag himself a worthwhile teammate. For the most part, even if things became a bit awry for him, then there would still be enough fire power to take the enemy out if it called to it.
"My systems are all still green, and it seems to be prudent to learn how to work with others earlier rather than later. As you said, there's going to be something going down soon and I highly doubt that there's only going to be a handful of Users present during then." Once more entering his battle mode, or at least the phase right before it, Vincent began to exert more energy into keeping his sensors alive and stretching them as far as possible without creating any blind spots for himself.
"And it may seem a bit bearing from me, but I would prefer that you lead the way."