[Radio: (F) Public] Yin Yoma Byte transmits, "...In the end, even if we are defeated... you will become the Slave to the Corrupt UN Government Officials who will take power. In the end, General... ...if you win... ...you will be nothing then the UN's Bludgeon of Fear, Terror, and Power. Remember this... ...as you defeat me..."
[Radio: (F) Public] Chi transmits, "You are a slave to your hatred"
[Radio: (F) Public] General transmits, "*quiettly responds* That is quite enough, Chi. He has forgotten the reason behind why we fight. It is, ultimately, the same thing we strive to protect. Free will."
[Radio: (F) Public] Chi grumbles, "Yes, sir."
[Radio: (F) Public] Yin Yoma Byte rumbles, his voice crackling, fading in and out. "...in the end... ...we all fight for what we believe in. But... in the end... ...we are all controlled. ...mark my words as prophecy, General... ...should you defeat the Maverick Empire... ...The Repliforce will rise as the new symbol for Terror and Control in this world... ...I... ...have Spooooooookeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee--..." Byte's transmission fades into a crackling, hissing static.
[Radio: (F) Public] Tengu Man transmits, "...eh?"
You enter the Eurasia - Empire Central Square.
Eurasia - Empire Central Square
This area is by far as breathtaking as any downtown megalopolis area, but even moreso due to the large dome that covers the top of it revealing the black emptiness of space, disturbed only by the defiant light from the hundreds of stars. This is the main hub of activity on the space colony Eurasia, and it's easy to tell. Mobs of people constantly rush through the streets and sidewalks at all hours of the day. Armed guards watch over the proceedings carefully, making sure things continue to run smoothly and efficiently with as few disturbances as possible.
Contents: Contents:
Abernathy [Working] [C]
Lift Down <LD>: Eurasia - Sub Level 1
Lift Up <LU>: Eurasia - Skydeck
South <S>: Eurasia - South Quadrant
North <N>: Eurasia - North Quadrant
East <E>: Eurasia - East Quadrant
West <W>: Eurasia - West Quadrant
Teleportation Station <TS>: Teleportation Station--Eurasia
Abernathy
---Abernathy---
'A portrait of misplaced composure in black and white' is perhaps the best way to summarize this creature. Young, human, and male, he is of the 'average' subset for his chosen profession; but 'average' he is otherwise not, especially in appearance.
An albino, his coloration is typical of that disorder: Ice-white skin and hair, with pale pink eyes. His normal attire of black--turtleneck, slacks, trenchcoat, boots--serves only to offset this abnormality; the strangeness accented by the dashes of black makeup--lipstick, eyeshadow--on his narrow face. His short hair has been teased into the spiked style that's favored nowadays, kept that way by some gel that shimmers silvery in the proper light. A pair of round-frame sunglasses are perched on his nose; given his albinism, they are likely more practical than mere affectation.
Completing the strange portrait are an odd juxtaposition of accessories: A small silver ring in his pierced left ear, and the badge of a low-level United Nations diplomat, hanging from a simple chain about his neck.
--------------
As always, Eurasia is crowded, alive with the hustle and bustle of its own inhabitants and visitors.
Slowly walking through the main crowd is a teenager, standing out with his bright hair while vanishing into the background at the same time. He's just your average teen, by all appearances, wearing a set of miniscule headphones and an olive-drab messenger bag slung over his shoulder. Also of note, as it isn't in his desc, is a black-and-gray synthleather jacket.
This is the image Tengu Man presents to the world around him; this is his own illusion. The Master is here for his own personal reasons, seeing as he's got a friend who lives here and...well... Eurasia being the multicultural hub that it is, there's bound to be something here for the ancient Mexican holiday of the Day of the Dead. Yes. He seeks...flowers?
Eurasia could be a beautiful place; and that not merely for the vista of stars outside its central dome. The crowds of tourists and residents that were the station's lifeblood could be a glorious thing, too -- to a social creature. Such it is with the UN diplomat Abernathy -- though, to be fair, he's less 'social' in the traditional sense ... and much more manipulative.
Such ideas are of ancilliary interest, however.
The day finds our intrepid diplomat in deep conversation with a small knot of people, reploids and humans both, a stone's throw from Eurasia's 'main drag'. Though it's impossible, over the crowd noise, to hear anything of what might be being discussed among the members of the group, it isn't that difficult -- after a moment's observation -- to determine that it's merely a meeting of friends; nothing more, nothing less. ... Not even the most dedicated of the UN's lackeys, after all, can be on duty all the time.
Hrm? What's that smell? Fresh-cut flowers? Yes indeed, somewhere nearby that group of people stands a flower stand, with specials today on marigolds. Because everyone loves marigolds? No, because that's the flower of the dead. The owner even has a small ofrenda set up nearby, with pictures of the deceased and small amounts of food and other treats.
It's over there that Saigama-Tengu heads, listening to some music as he does. The songs do nothing but poke holes in the Master's now-fragile psyche, but he's forcing himself to listen, forcing imself to think about the things he's done. He's going to make himself do this... As he walks toward the flower stand he passes fairly close to Abby's group of people, reaching into his bag for something... <This is foolishness...> (To you...and it /is/ your fault.)o. <True, Saigama, but you needn't get all sentimental about it. What are you, feeling guilty?> (...so what if I am?)o. Yep. He's arguing with himself. Again.
Pink eyes narrow slightly behind sunglasses as Saigama-Tengu passes by Abby's cohort; not, perhaps, out of any special interest, as the whole group -- with that unusual singlemindedness a large enough gathering of humans exhibit -- is apparently alternating between their conversation and unusual intentness on the patrons of the flower stand. The normal commentary flies -- most, if not all, of the group are well-aware it's the Dia de los Muertes, and are full of random conjecture on who might be buying which flowers and for why. Punctuating the conjectures about dead lovers and dead children and skeletons in the closet is the occasional indignant, "I don't see why..." or "People are fools..." The general consensus is, seemingly, that while a day celebrating death is well-warranted and worthwhile, memorial services as a whole are a waste of time. Some people's kids.
The knot loses coherency for some moments in the wake of Tengu's passing, one or two among the group disappearing into the crowd ... including Abernathy, who departs the group with a cocky salute and an unheard comment, to ... follow Saigama. And for what better reason that he intends to purchase some flowers, as well?
The ochre-haired teen may secretly despise Mexico with a passion, but at the moment, that's all the more reason to honor this particular holiday. Inwardly, it's almost as if he's punishing himself. He has taken steps to try and...repent his transgressions. Yet some part of him knows it'll never happen. The Saigama side of his personality bemoans this fact, and yet goes along with it anyhow, hoping and praying that someday somebody will forgive him... The Akuma side, the demon within, however, does not give a damn whatsoever. It fights the notion of repentance.
Saigama-Tengu gets his turn at the flower stand, forking over several zenny for a gladiolus and two orange-red marigolds, the traditional cempasuchil flowers of El Dia de los Muertos. As soon as he's given the flowers he takes them in hand, also holding what looks like two small photographs, indistinguishable due to his hand being in the way. He keeps walking, thinking he'll...just sort of...add to the ofrenda. 'Cause that's what he's supposed to do, right?
As he turns to walk away, he catches a glimpse of Abernathy behind him, and...blinks. (...hey, wait...)o. Suddenly he remembers, and another wave of guilt passes over him briefly as he thinks of Elias'...loss, and Gale's severe beating. The incident that got him promoted to Theta Advisor. <Oh, for Wily's sake, get over it.> (Yes, for Wily's sake! For Dad! Dad wouldn't want u-- you to just kill things, that's not what he built...me...for...)o. Akuma-Tengu fights harder against the other side of his persona, disgusted with all this...emotion. Tengu meanwhile just heads for the ofrenda...
[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Beta CO Metal Man transmits, "Any more of those phantom transmissions?"
Abernathy is a stand-out in a crowd, isn't he? Oh well. Such was his lot in life, and he's hardly one to complain -- it came in handy. He, too, obediently waits his turn in line -- before purchasing a single spray of red gladioulus -- the flower of gladiators. Hm. Tengu's glance toward him is noted with the thinnest smirk -- did the diplomat know /who/ this was, or the guilt the incognito Robot Master bore, he'd most likely -- merely dismiss such feelings with amusement. After all, neither he nor Bridgit suffered unduly during the African debacle; moreover, Elias -- Elise -- and Gale reaped the rewards of their own foolish actions.
Flowers now safely in-hand, the diplomat turns away from the stall -- only to pause, consideringly. Instead of leaving, he ambles somewhat in the direction of the ofrenda himself, remaining out of the way of others who wish to make offerings -- but near enough that he can observe those who /do/ come. Human behavior around death was always of infinite interest ... and neither in Seoul nor Moscow did they celebrate the Day of the Dead. If 'celebrate' such behavior could be called.
Trying to ignore the albino semi-behind him, Tengu reaches the ofrenda and quickly kneels down beside it. It's one of those that's open to everyone to celebrate the deceased; this particular ofrenda has the traditional pan de muerto sweetbreads, candy skulls and sweet atole, as well as perhaps too many flowers. Cempasuchil pervades the air around it.
The Master-that-isn't places all but one of his cempasuchil and the photos on the altar, a contemplative look on his face. "<Forgive me,>" he says quietly in Japanese with the soft, lilting tones of a native speaker.
The photos are of two men, one with a kingly bearing, the other slightly more worse-for-wear and aged. Neither of them bare any resemblance to the teen.
[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Dr. Wily transmits, "Ooooo..yes....its finally done. Now how to get it all out of here. I've got it, mmyes. All of you, get down to the construction bays!"
[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Tengu Man transmits, "...ahh...I'll be there as soon as I can."
[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Knight Man transmits, "As ye wish Milord."
[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Beta CO Metal Man transmits, "On may way"
Abernathy stands aloof, watching the display with an air of distinct -- amusement -- though he does not interfere or otherwise harass the other man. That would be uncouth; and the Tengu is not the only one experiencing the chide of internal voices today.
The teen, his self-imposed duty done, sits for a moment, eyes closed. But only briefly, as he sneaks a look behind him without turning his head. He senses the diplomat's air of amusement, and... it just doesn't help. (Laugh at me if you will. I deserve it! I am a /monster/...)o. <Oh, /please/. Seriously. I'm getting sick of all this self-loathing. Just GET OVER IT ALREADY.>
The teen trapped inside of this Master just wants to curl up on the floor and weep. The photographs are of the two casualties of an incident in Hokkaido caused by himself and Shadow Man, to draw out the Maverick Hunters. This weighs extremely heavily on his mind, as losing control of oneself is extremely unsettling, especially when it occurs to you that you killed people. But he doesn't let a single tear fall, especially due to lack of tear ducts. Instead, after that brief moment of thought, he stands, hearing the call of his father. His father. The thing that straightens him out in the end, always. His creator, his only parent...
Quietly Saigama-Tengu walks past Abernathy with nothing more than a cursory glance as he heads toward the teleporters.
Still laughing silently, the diplomat watches the Robot Master depart -- before his distinct air of amusement fades, his gaze resting on the ofrenda and its tokens to the deceased. The tableau remains, unchanged, for mere moments -- before he, too, turns to leave, for the teleporters. He's been maudlin enough for one day.