https://omni.zulenka.com/ Wed, 05 Aug 2026 22:25:42 +0000 MyBB https://omni.zulenka.com/showthread.php?tid=6982 Sun, 12 Nov 2017 07:11:42 +0000 Luci]]> https://omni.zulenka.com/showthread.php?tid=6982 https://omni.zulenka.com/showthread.php?tid=6768 Thu, 31 Aug 2017 16:05:02 +0000 Ash]]> https://omni.zulenka.com/showthread.php?tid=6768
Immediately she was welcomed with Desman’s voice, screaming bloody mary and tears running down his face whether he knew it or not. She just stood there and let him have it out for a moment, her tail flicking naturally behind her. Her bored eyes look around at the nothingness of the area. It was their personal space, so it only made sense. She tested the functions of her cyberdeck, having not been in VR before here on the Omniverse.

She tried to manipulate her image, only to find access denied. Her brows came together instantly. ‘What does that mean?’ She thought, turning back to her cyberdeck and trying once more. Big red letters shot up from her screen in a hologram: ACCESS DENIED: REQUIRED PROGRAM NEEDED FOR SHAPESHIFTING!!

She hit it with her fists, drowned out by Desman’s screaming. With the slightest hint of rage in her blood finally, she turned to him and gave his face another slap. It wasn’t the face of the man she was used to seeing in cyberspace, but it didn’t hurt her hand either. “Stop! What’s wrong this time?” Every time they gained any progress towards his chill level, he spikes it to the ground with yet another fit. It was starting to get draining.

The sudden sting across his metallic jaw-line dragged Desman back into modern day reality; he stared up blankly at the woman, then sighed and averted his gaze. "L-look, I don't want to talk about it. C-can't we just go." there was a definite tone of depression in his voice, this comment seems to be more serious than his other little fits he had been emotionally breaking down over.

A brow rose behind her horns at that, but she found herself calming down little but little again. "What do you mean you don’t want to talk about it?” She insisted, crossing her arms. “You were just talking about it!” He'd notice she wasn't making any attempt to leave. She had the power to lock him in here and might do so if he doesn't comply.

"Look, VR isn't all fun and games for everyone, I-" Desman gulped, trying not to think too much. "I've some bad experience, okay? I, really don't want to go into details.."

Unfortunately for Desman, this was the one time Ash felt like digging. She was normally only curious when it sounded interesting. This sounded like basic abuse but for a different class of people. “Fine. Let’s make a bet then. We play a game, and if I win you tell me. If you win...“ She stopped, actually not having a motivation for him thought out but quickly smirking and running her hands down her body in a very sexual way but they stop at her hips like she wasn’t about to grab herself for him to get the full force of the idea. “Well, you can pick your own prize. I’ll tell you anything you want to know or do whatever you want me to do. No strings, no games, no secrets.”

Desman just sat there silently for awhile, while from the outside it looked like he was deciding whether it was worth it or not, his mind was just racing for an idea of how to get out of the situation. "....fine" he sighed in defeat. "what type of game did you have in mind?"

Ash’s tail flicked happily at his agreement. Her hand came back up and tapped a few buttons on her deck. Boxes with game titles appeared in holograms. Using her finger she waved through the selection. If he was observant enough he could see the impressive number indicating how many games she had in her library.

He felt dread settle itself in his processor when he realized she meant to keep going with this VR idea. His flight instinct kicked back in and he shakily summoned a menu to log out. Unfortunately, he had to scroll just a little bit down to get to the button. This left him concentrating on what he was doing and not what was going on.

His menu shatters like pixelated glass as a blade slashes through it. Red Devil’s Quill landed on the ground at his feet. When he looked up at her, she was clearly not amused by his attempts to leave. “Do that again.. And I will lock you in here…” She threatened, her cyberdeck turning from its cold blue to purple as a warning.

Could she even do that? The robot had no idea but wasn't willing to test it out. "O-okay." He just hoped that the game was as far away from his experiences as possible.

Her eyes narrow a bit as if challenging him to push his luck.

Then she simply went back to selecting a game. She had been planning something a little beginner friendly to start with, but now she was tempted to drop something difficult on him. She tried to remain calm, she didn’t like her emotions flying off the handle like that. If there was no meaning behind your outbursts, they meant even less to people who were subjected to them.

Her hand went back to the holographic titles and flipped through them. She considered the idea of asking what he wanted to play but decided he lost that privilege. She clicked on a shooter.

The very limited space quickly became a large map. At their backs, virtual water lapped at the sands. Above them a dreary day of dark clouds outlined by hopeful rays, cut in two by a sudden flash of sickly green lightning. The world was both beautiful and chaotic around them. In the distance, they could see cathedrals and towers of old Europe. They could also see modern machines of war; tanks letting loose their cannons in the distance. In Ash’s hand, a starting machine gun appeared, at her back, a sniper rifle.

She had been in nothing but the panties she’d summoned, but now wore skin tight and form fitting armor. She examined her gun. “Whoever gets the most kills wins.” She explained. “Friendly fire has been turned off.” She added, then began to walk forward down the linear path. Ahead they would find some basic waist high walls for cover that would indicate a fire fight is about to go down.

The robot had to remind himself that these would be computers they were facing as he hurried along to join Ash, at least then he wouldn't hold back.

-

Ash slammed her back into yet another stray wall. It wasn’t that she didn’t know how repetitive a shooter can get, she didn’t care. It was fun just holding the trigger down and watching bodies fall. If shooters got any more complicated than that, they’d be something else entirely. They were fighting other humanoids but mutated sometimes. Without the cut scenes - which she cut out for simplicity sake - or the dialogue of pre-made characters it was hard to understand what was going on. But basically they were fighting failed experiments for super soldiers as fodder, and occasionally a big bad successful super soldier as a boss.

She was at 117 kills so far. This could be read at the corner of her vision in her hub. She couldn’t see Desman’s total, but she was confident it was still below her’s.

That said, she was getting a little bored with this game. She had more challenging shooters, but there had to be something with more variety in her library. She jumped out and with her machine gun, she peppered a lowly soldier until he stopped moving on the ground before ducking back into hiding.

She also preferred another type of game, survival horror. She wondered if he could handle something like that...

Then she decided that if he wanted to win he was going to have to.

While Desman was tearing through a set of enemies, he’d watch as the vegetation around them began to pulse and grow, it consumed the world around them, and one of the new trees ensnared several of the incoming enemies with a frog tongue-like motion with a sticky vine. The super soldier's cry out in desperation before they are silenced with what sounds like bones crunching in the bushier limbs that he could not see.

The grotesque creatures he’d been eliminating for points in their game turned to fire at something in the tree but then were assaulted by something even more twisted, big, and stomach curling.

It had six limbs in total and the outer layers of its flesh looked wet. Upon closer inspection, if he dares, reveals that it was also somewhat transparent and the mix of colors in its flesh was they many strangely shaped and sized organs that beat unnaturally with the pulse of blood.

It had no eyes, sensory type obviously. Its maw comes to a point of smooth almond shape until it opens its mouth to eat the head of one of the soldier's its tentacles had pinned to the ground. Rows upon rows upon rows of sharp jagged teeth wrap around it before crushing the helmet until the blood of the poor experimented on human runs past its lips as it chewed briefly then swallowed the skull and brains.

Another one falls upon a few more humans that were trying to escape before the first one turns its oblong head in Desman’s direction. Gill like slots expands across the ‘bridge’ of its muzzle as it sniffs out more prey.

Desman quite gladly accepted the change in enemies, they reminded him much less of the VR 'game' that he had to endure though, sure the thing it did remind him of wasn't the happiest thing either, but at least no one died from it, well, at least not from the monsters.

The creature sniffed the air deeply, while Desman mentally prepared himself to take on this large monster it seemed to size him up by the smell he was giving off.

It rolled in the air like its body had no top or bottom, or if it did it was upside down. Its limbs touched the building it had leaped out of, its ‘paws’ connecting to the overgrown vegetation that grew across the face of the deteriorated building. Like a magnet, the creature clung to it and began to sniff the air once more.

Behind him appeared Ash, the machine gun firing full blast at something out of view. Something that could return fire as a spray of bullets tried to rip her to pieces. She ducked behind a falling apart wall which is chipped away at the bullets from whatever was following the demon. She has long striped pieces of the armor away to make it easier to move, but if he could tear his eyes from the creature long enough he’d see blood pouring from a bullet wound in her arm. There was another hole in her leg, making movement a little more difficult but not by much.

By the time he could look back, the creature was already moving again. Silently, quickly, and in glob like movements that were strange to the eye as well as how you’d describe them. It ran like a mix between a bipedal of four legs and a centipede. Its limbs rippled as they moved, and clawed to get the distance it needed for its new prey. It made no sound but looked like it struggled to move at all. It had no grace, but it also had no sound.

Desman watched as it passed him on the falling buildings, heading straight for the sex demon that he called his friend. Ash didn’t seem to notice, too focused on the people that were closing in on her. She still works a grin, but for how long?

Desman fired a round of his blaster at the creature, all three of his attacks missed as the thing got closer to Ash. Trying to close the distance for a better aim, the robot leaped over a wall, only to stumble and fall as his wheel caught on it. 'Fuck'

The familiar sound of Desman’s body crashing to the ground caught Ash’s attention, she glanced over just in time to see the creature wobbling closer. Her face twisted up in disgust before she forced herself away from the corner she’d tuck herself into.

A spray of bullets greeted her, but Ash ducked away to avoid it. She heard the armor take the abuse of most of it, then screams of the people who’d be firing at her as the creature landed on the ground behind her. For something she hadn’t noticed a moment ago, it was loud upon landing. Spearing through two of the four guys and letting the other two run for their lives, it turned back to Ash.

Desman watched as it snatched her in mid stride.

Ash felt the air being forced out of her lungs as she was scooped off her feet and into the air. Twisting in the creature’s grasp gathers electricity in her hand before touching its limb. The blue lightning traveled up its slick arm but even as it screeched out in pain it’s arm kept carrying her through the air to the opposite side of its body. Where she was slammed with all its power into the ground with such force they could hear something break.]]>
Immediately she was welcomed with Desman’s voice, screaming bloody mary and tears running down his face whether he knew it or not. She just stood there and let him have it out for a moment, her tail flicking naturally behind her. Her bored eyes look around at the nothingness of the area. It was their personal space, so it only made sense. She tested the functions of her cyberdeck, having not been in VR before here on the Omniverse.

She tried to manipulate her image, only to find access denied. Her brows came together instantly. ‘What does that mean?’ She thought, turning back to her cyberdeck and trying once more. Big red letters shot up from her screen in a hologram: ACCESS DENIED: REQUIRED PROGRAM NEEDED FOR SHAPESHIFTING!!

She hit it with her fists, drowned out by Desman’s screaming. With the slightest hint of rage in her blood finally, she turned to him and gave his face another slap. It wasn’t the face of the man she was used to seeing in cyberspace, but it didn’t hurt her hand either. “Stop! What’s wrong this time?” Every time they gained any progress towards his chill level, he spikes it to the ground with yet another fit. It was starting to get draining.

The sudden sting across his metallic jaw-line dragged Desman back into modern day reality; he stared up blankly at the woman, then sighed and averted his gaze. "L-look, I don't want to talk about it. C-can't we just go." there was a definite tone of depression in his voice, this comment seems to be more serious than his other little fits he had been emotionally breaking down over.

A brow rose behind her horns at that, but she found herself calming down little but little again. "What do you mean you don’t want to talk about it?” She insisted, crossing her arms. “You were just talking about it!” He'd notice she wasn't making any attempt to leave. She had the power to lock him in here and might do so if he doesn't comply.

"Look, VR isn't all fun and games for everyone, I-" Desman gulped, trying not to think too much. "I've some bad experience, okay? I, really don't want to go into details.."

Unfortunately for Desman, this was the one time Ash felt like digging. She was normally only curious when it sounded interesting. This sounded like basic abuse but for a different class of people. “Fine. Let’s make a bet then. We play a game, and if I win you tell me. If you win...“ She stopped, actually not having a motivation for him thought out but quickly smirking and running her hands down her body in a very sexual way but they stop at her hips like she wasn’t about to grab herself for him to get the full force of the idea. “Well, you can pick your own prize. I’ll tell you anything you want to know or do whatever you want me to do. No strings, no games, no secrets.”

Desman just sat there silently for awhile, while from the outside it looked like he was deciding whether it was worth it or not, his mind was just racing for an idea of how to get out of the situation. "....fine" he sighed in defeat. "what type of game did you have in mind?"

Ash’s tail flicked happily at his agreement. Her hand came back up and tapped a few buttons on her deck. Boxes with game titles appeared in holograms. Using her finger she waved through the selection. If he was observant enough he could see the impressive number indicating how many games she had in her library.

He felt dread settle itself in his processor when he realized she meant to keep going with this VR idea. His flight instinct kicked back in and he shakily summoned a menu to log out. Unfortunately, he had to scroll just a little bit down to get to the button. This left him concentrating on what he was doing and not what was going on.

His menu shatters like pixelated glass as a blade slashes through it. Red Devil’s Quill landed on the ground at his feet. When he looked up at her, she was clearly not amused by his attempts to leave. “Do that again.. And I will lock you in here…” She threatened, her cyberdeck turning from its cold blue to purple as a warning.

Could she even do that? The robot had no idea but wasn't willing to test it out. "O-okay." He just hoped that the game was as far away from his experiences as possible.

Her eyes narrow a bit as if challenging him to push his luck.

Then she simply went back to selecting a game. She had been planning something a little beginner friendly to start with, but now she was tempted to drop something difficult on him. She tried to remain calm, she didn’t like her emotions flying off the handle like that. If there was no meaning behind your outbursts, they meant even less to people who were subjected to them.

Her hand went back to the holographic titles and flipped through them. She considered the idea of asking what he wanted to play but decided he lost that privilege. She clicked on a shooter.

The very limited space quickly became a large map. At their backs, virtual water lapped at the sands. Above them a dreary day of dark clouds outlined by hopeful rays, cut in two by a sudden flash of sickly green lightning. The world was both beautiful and chaotic around them. In the distance, they could see cathedrals and towers of old Europe. They could also see modern machines of war; tanks letting loose their cannons in the distance. In Ash’s hand, a starting machine gun appeared, at her back, a sniper rifle.

She had been in nothing but the panties she’d summoned, but now wore skin tight and form fitting armor. She examined her gun. “Whoever gets the most kills wins.” She explained. “Friendly fire has been turned off.” She added, then began to walk forward down the linear path. Ahead they would find some basic waist high walls for cover that would indicate a fire fight is about to go down.

The robot had to remind himself that these would be computers they were facing as he hurried along to join Ash, at least then he wouldn't hold back.

-

Ash slammed her back into yet another stray wall. It wasn’t that she didn’t know how repetitive a shooter can get, she didn’t care. It was fun just holding the trigger down and watching bodies fall. If shooters got any more complicated than that, they’d be something else entirely. They were fighting other humanoids but mutated sometimes. Without the cut scenes - which she cut out for simplicity sake - or the dialogue of pre-made characters it was hard to understand what was going on. But basically they were fighting failed experiments for super soldiers as fodder, and occasionally a big bad successful super soldier as a boss.

She was at 117 kills so far. This could be read at the corner of her vision in her hub. She couldn’t see Desman’s total, but she was confident it was still below her’s.

That said, she was getting a little bored with this game. She had more challenging shooters, but there had to be something with more variety in her library. She jumped out and with her machine gun, she peppered a lowly soldier until he stopped moving on the ground before ducking back into hiding.

She also preferred another type of game, survival horror. She wondered if he could handle something like that...

Then she decided that if he wanted to win he was going to have to.

While Desman was tearing through a set of enemies, he’d watch as the vegetation around them began to pulse and grow, it consumed the world around them, and one of the new trees ensnared several of the incoming enemies with a frog tongue-like motion with a sticky vine. The super soldier's cry out in desperation before they are silenced with what sounds like bones crunching in the bushier limbs that he could not see.

The grotesque creatures he’d been eliminating for points in their game turned to fire at something in the tree but then were assaulted by something even more twisted, big, and stomach curling.

It had six limbs in total and the outer layers of its flesh looked wet. Upon closer inspection, if he dares, reveals that it was also somewhat transparent and the mix of colors in its flesh was they many strangely shaped and sized organs that beat unnaturally with the pulse of blood.

It had no eyes, sensory type obviously. Its maw comes to a point of smooth almond shape until it opens its mouth to eat the head of one of the soldier's its tentacles had pinned to the ground. Rows upon rows upon rows of sharp jagged teeth wrap around it before crushing the helmet until the blood of the poor experimented on human runs past its lips as it chewed briefly then swallowed the skull and brains.

Another one falls upon a few more humans that were trying to escape before the first one turns its oblong head in Desman’s direction. Gill like slots expands across the ‘bridge’ of its muzzle as it sniffs out more prey.

Desman quite gladly accepted the change in enemies, they reminded him much less of the VR 'game' that he had to endure though, sure the thing it did remind him of wasn't the happiest thing either, but at least no one died from it, well, at least not from the monsters.

The creature sniffed the air deeply, while Desman mentally prepared himself to take on this large monster it seemed to size him up by the smell he was giving off.

It rolled in the air like its body had no top or bottom, or if it did it was upside down. Its limbs touched the building it had leaped out of, its ‘paws’ connecting to the overgrown vegetation that grew across the face of the deteriorated building. Like a magnet, the creature clung to it and began to sniff the air once more.

Behind him appeared Ash, the machine gun firing full blast at something out of view. Something that could return fire as a spray of bullets tried to rip her to pieces. She ducked behind a falling apart wall which is chipped away at the bullets from whatever was following the demon. She has long striped pieces of the armor away to make it easier to move, but if he could tear his eyes from the creature long enough he’d see blood pouring from a bullet wound in her arm. There was another hole in her leg, making movement a little more difficult but not by much.

By the time he could look back, the creature was already moving again. Silently, quickly, and in glob like movements that were strange to the eye as well as how you’d describe them. It ran like a mix between a bipedal of four legs and a centipede. Its limbs rippled as they moved, and clawed to get the distance it needed for its new prey. It made no sound but looked like it struggled to move at all. It had no grace, but it also had no sound.

Desman watched as it passed him on the falling buildings, heading straight for the sex demon that he called his friend. Ash didn’t seem to notice, too focused on the people that were closing in on her. She still works a grin, but for how long?

Desman fired a round of his blaster at the creature, all three of his attacks missed as the thing got closer to Ash. Trying to close the distance for a better aim, the robot leaped over a wall, only to stumble and fall as his wheel caught on it. 'Fuck'

The familiar sound of Desman’s body crashing to the ground caught Ash’s attention, she glanced over just in time to see the creature wobbling closer. Her face twisted up in disgust before she forced herself away from the corner she’d tuck herself into.

A spray of bullets greeted her, but Ash ducked away to avoid it. She heard the armor take the abuse of most of it, then screams of the people who’d be firing at her as the creature landed on the ground behind her. For something she hadn’t noticed a moment ago, it was loud upon landing. Spearing through two of the four guys and letting the other two run for their lives, it turned back to Ash.

Desman watched as it snatched her in mid stride.

Ash felt the air being forced out of her lungs as she was scooped off her feet and into the air. Twisting in the creature’s grasp gathers electricity in her hand before touching its limb. The blue lightning traveled up its slick arm but even as it screeched out in pain it’s arm kept carrying her through the air to the opposite side of its body. Where she was slammed with all its power into the ground with such force they could hear something break.]]> https://omni.zulenka.com/showthread.php?tid=5564 Sat, 17 Dec 2016 09:19:22 +0000 Kenpachi Zaraki]]> https://omni.zulenka.com/showthread.php?tid=5564
“Robertson.”

The voice boomed authoritatively from overhead, the speaker supernaturally loud. The room itself was the size of a decent sized auditorium and bore high ceilings lined with countless varieties of cable and wiring, each color-coded and carefully arranged to cut polychromatic highways parallel the bright fluorescent lighting. Despite his quick pace, it took the well-dressed sentinel nearly a full minute before he could cross the pearly white tiling to approach the far end of the room. Much like the corridor from which he had entered, the interior could only be described as clinical in presentation; not a single speck of dust had been allowed to settle upon the recently-waxed flooring. Lining the eggshell walls as he passed were countless high-tech devices and computer racks, each whirring quietly as they processed inputs and churned through their assigned tasks. The monitors above each bay flashed quickly through various programs at a dizzy pace, their contents indecipherable even to the Agent himself. This, of course, was by design. It was all strictly need to know.

“What is the status of our little experiment?” The speaker’s voice had adjusted to a normal speaking volume as Agent Robertson had neared, though his tone seemed somehow no less intimidating. Despite the many odd entities he had encountered over his lifetime, Robertson had always thought that his commander’s timbre seemed alien in some indescribable way. 

The suited operative stopped his march as he reached a raised platform, the pulpit perhaps measuring twenty feet by twenty feet and rising about a meter from the sterile tiling. Atop the platform was affixed what could only be described as a large, cylindrical glass chamber, inside which the Agent’s target sat. The top half of the containment chamber had been removed, the remaining glass reshaped and fashioned into a sort of throne. “Master Deus,” the agent began, standing at attention. His gaze remained level, not daring to look upon the being that sat within upon the dais. He instead kept his eyes trained on the throne itself, behind which a plethora of wires and tubing cascaded downward toward the floor. “X-3 has awoken.”

“I’m aware,” came the reply. A silence hung in the air for a few seconds before Deus’ unique inflection was heard again. “I did not ask what happened, I asked for his status.” As he spoke, the lights overhead seemed to flicker, almost imperceptibly, in time with his cadence.

“Reports show that he survived the altercation and situated on Tier Six of Coruscant. During his escape he took Agents Williams and Miller out of commission.”

“Ensure that this does not become a trend,” Deus responded, a hint of annoyance detectable in his words. “We can’t have too many of your men offline. Are we prepared for Mr. Valentine’s visit?”

“The appropriate measures have been taken at your request.” His orders had been clear and he had followed them to a tee. His commander was nothing if not particular.

“In the meantime, then, ensure that Ms. Rui fulfills her purpose.” From upon his throne, the being smiled. 

“Acknowledged.” Robertson turned on his heel, marching back toward the doorway. 

From atop his borosilicate throne, Deus closed his eyes, returning to his preparations. As if on cue, the sterile tiled floors of the chamber shifted, the linoleum changing composition entirely in Robertson’s wake as he exited. As the door clicked closed, the being opened his gray eyelids and looked upon the expansive stonework floors that had replaced them. So too had granite and marble replaced the tech-clad walls and ceilings, instead now bearing ornate candelabras and stained glass. The vast expanse between the far doorway and the raised platform had filled itself with approximately two dozen rows of mahogany pews, each stocked with hymnals. Lavender-shaded lips curled slightly into a smile as he closed his eyes once more, returning to work.]]>
“Robertson.”

The voice boomed authoritatively from overhead, the speaker supernaturally loud. The room itself was the size of a decent sized auditorium and bore high ceilings lined with countless varieties of cable and wiring, each color-coded and carefully arranged to cut polychromatic highways parallel the bright fluorescent lighting. Despite his quick pace, it took the well-dressed sentinel nearly a full minute before he could cross the pearly white tiling to approach the far end of the room. Much like the corridor from which he had entered, the interior could only be described as clinical in presentation; not a single speck of dust had been allowed to settle upon the recently-waxed flooring. Lining the eggshell walls as he passed were countless high-tech devices and computer racks, each whirring quietly as they processed inputs and churned through their assigned tasks. The monitors above each bay flashed quickly through various programs at a dizzy pace, their contents indecipherable even to the Agent himself. This, of course, was by design. It was all strictly need to know.

“What is the status of our little experiment?” The speaker’s voice had adjusted to a normal speaking volume as Agent Robertson had neared, though his tone seemed somehow no less intimidating. Despite the many odd entities he had encountered over his lifetime, Robertson had always thought that his commander’s timbre seemed alien in some indescribable way. 

The suited operative stopped his march as he reached a raised platform, the pulpit perhaps measuring twenty feet by twenty feet and rising about a meter from the sterile tiling. Atop the platform was affixed what could only be described as a large, cylindrical glass chamber, inside which the Agent’s target sat. The top half of the containment chamber had been removed, the remaining glass reshaped and fashioned into a sort of throne. “Master Deus,” the agent began, standing at attention. His gaze remained level, not daring to look upon the being that sat within upon the dais. He instead kept his eyes trained on the throne itself, behind which a plethora of wires and tubing cascaded downward toward the floor. “X-3 has awoken.”

“I’m aware,” came the reply. A silence hung in the air for a few seconds before Deus’ unique inflection was heard again. “I did not ask what happened, I asked for his status.” As he spoke, the lights overhead seemed to flicker, almost imperceptibly, in time with his cadence.

“Reports show that he survived the altercation and situated on Tier Six of Coruscant. During his escape he took Agents Williams and Miller out of commission.”

“Ensure that this does not become a trend,” Deus responded, a hint of annoyance detectable in his words. “We can’t have too many of your men offline. Are we prepared for Mr. Valentine’s visit?”

“The appropriate measures have been taken at your request.” His orders had been clear and he had followed them to a tee. His commander was nothing if not particular.

“In the meantime, then, ensure that Ms. Rui fulfills her purpose.” From upon his throne, the being smiled. 

“Acknowledged.” Robertson turned on his heel, marching back toward the doorway. 

From atop his borosilicate throne, Deus closed his eyes, returning to his preparations. As if on cue, the sterile tiled floors of the chamber shifted, the linoleum changing composition entirely in Robertson’s wake as he exited. As the door clicked closed, the being opened his gray eyelids and looked upon the expansive stonework floors that had replaced them. So too had granite and marble replaced the tech-clad walls and ceilings, instead now bearing ornate candelabras and stained glass. The vast expanse between the far doorway and the raised platform had filled itself with approximately two dozen rows of mahogany pews, each stocked with hymnals. Lavender-shaded lips curled slightly into a smile as he closed his eyes once more, returning to work.]]> https://omni.zulenka.com/showthread.php?tid=5297 Fri, 07 Oct 2016 01:18:43 +0000 James Knight]]> https://omni.zulenka.com/showthread.php?tid=5297 https://omni.zulenka.com/showthread.php?tid=5023 Tue, 30 Aug 2016 19:16:18 +0000 Guu]]> https://omni.zulenka.com/showthread.php?tid=5023
In the center of the room was a man dressed in a suit, smoking a large cigar. He had a receding hairline stretching to the back of his head, but what hair he did have extrended up a foot up in the air. His big bushy silver mustache featured prominently on his crusty face. He blowed up another puff of smoke as she finished his last e-mail on his laptop.

Once he finished typing, the computer retracted into the floor and the man reclined in his large velvet red chair. One of his subordinate approached.

"You sure it was wise to antagonize King Sombra like that?"

The boss took another long inhale on his cigar before blowing out another gust of smoke.

"Even if he knew where to find me, he'd never get to the Dataverse."

"But sir, was all this really worth it? Was it really worth the trouble?"

The boss chuckled under his breath, the subordinate felt like he may have asked a stupid question.

"Of course. I don't care if my son was a low life, King Sombra will pay for killing him."]]>
In the center of the room was a man dressed in a suit, smoking a large cigar. He had a receding hairline stretching to the back of his head, but what hair he did have extrended up a foot up in the air. His big bushy silver mustache featured prominently on his crusty face. He blowed up another puff of smoke as she finished his last e-mail on his laptop.

Once he finished typing, the computer retracted into the floor and the man reclined in his large velvet red chair. One of his subordinate approached.

"You sure it was wise to antagonize King Sombra like that?"

The boss took another long inhale on his cigar before blowing out another gust of smoke.

"Even if he knew where to find me, he'd never get to the Dataverse."

"But sir, was all this really worth it? Was it really worth the trouble?"

The boss chuckled under his breath, the subordinate felt like he may have asked a stupid question.

"Of course. I don't care if my son was a low life, King Sombra will pay for killing him."]]> https://omni.zulenka.com/showthread.php?tid=4707 Sat, 16 Jul 2016 17:20:50 +0000 Albert Wesker]]> https://omni.zulenka.com/showthread.php?tid=4707
Vexing, perplexing, disquieting, disturbing, irritating, concerning, and downright distressing!

This was the second time in as many outings that his operator had suddenly ceased communication in a rather alarmingly abrupt fashion. One moment they had been in the middle of a flight to assist in some exploration or other of the....the Dante Verse. Then all hell had broken loose, and the data connection between the primary presence of Cricket, the information-seeking and humor-supplying assistant to the far more taciturn soldier navi, Colonel, and the data backup which had, in a grim turn, become the primary presence of the digital assistant navi. 

"Oooooh, being reconstituted from backup data and rogue code fragments is precisely the opposite of a pleasant experience...especially when the backup is done in such haste, and so shortly after being reconstituted to begin with!" The little digital construct wailed, shaking a nondescript fist at the equally nondescript binary sky. "....sigh. I wish sometimes I were capable of breathing so that I could actually sigh and properly express just how disagreeable this entire ordeal is."

The disgruntled little helper program turned away from the rather substantial amount of nothing occupying his field of vision, to survey the smoking, sparking remains of several viruses and 'cleaner' programs which had crept into the digital space that made up the connection hub for Colonel's PET on the dataverse. "I should really clean up in here. Perhaps go and explore, afterward. Have a wander around while I wait for the inevitable, and eventual, restoration of communication with my operator. Hmm..."

A broom materialized in one outstretched hand. "Well...first things first. Cleaning up and re-purposing all this loose data. It's just cluttering up the place in this state."]]>
Vexing, perplexing, disquieting, disturbing, irritating, concerning, and downright distressing!

This was the second time in as many outings that his operator had suddenly ceased communication in a rather alarmingly abrupt fashion. One moment they had been in the middle of a flight to assist in some exploration or other of the....the Dante Verse. Then all hell had broken loose, and the data connection between the primary presence of Cricket, the information-seeking and humor-supplying assistant to the far more taciturn soldier navi, Colonel, and the data backup which had, in a grim turn, become the primary presence of the digital assistant navi. 

"Oooooh, being reconstituted from backup data and rogue code fragments is precisely the opposite of a pleasant experience...especially when the backup is done in such haste, and so shortly after being reconstituted to begin with!" The little digital construct wailed, shaking a nondescript fist at the equally nondescript binary sky. "....sigh. I wish sometimes I were capable of breathing so that I could actually sigh and properly express just how disagreeable this entire ordeal is."

The disgruntled little helper program turned away from the rather substantial amount of nothing occupying his field of vision, to survey the smoking, sparking remains of several viruses and 'cleaner' programs which had crept into the digital space that made up the connection hub for Colonel's PET on the dataverse. "I should really clean up in here. Perhaps go and explore, afterward. Have a wander around while I wait for the inevitable, and eventual, restoration of communication with my operator. Hmm..."

A broom materialized in one outstretched hand. "Well...first things first. Cleaning up and re-purposing all this loose data. It's just cluttering up the place in this state."]]> https://omni.zulenka.com/showthread.php?tid=3466 Wed, 30 Dec 2015 23:54:09 +0000 Enzo Matrix]]> https://omni.zulenka.com/showthread.php?tid=3466
That's when he realized that it all looked familiar, and this was what he was used to. This odd reality that was the Dataverse was, in fact, more like the world he knew. He held his hand up and inspected it more closely, wondering what exactly that meant. Was Mainframe hidden somewhere in the Dataverse? Somehow he didn't think it would be that simple.

He glanced over to AndrAIa, who was inspecting her own hands in the same amazement. She noticed the similarities to their own realm in this techno-world, which was comforting to Matrix. At least he wasn't going crazy. She lowered her hands and looked to her boyfriend, and the two made eye contact.

"Enzo..." AndrAIa rarely uttered Matrix's first name, except on the occasions that she was utterly overwhelmed by something. "This is..."

"I know," Matrix interrupted, since it was obvious their thoughts were aligned. "I couldn't place it until now, but this is more like Mainframe than the rest of the Omniverse."

"What does that mean, though?" AndrAIa asked as she watched Frisket wander around, sniffing the ground and making sure there was nothing in the immediate area. "Are we back in the Net?"

"I was wondering the same thing," Matrix said, as he looked to the settlement before them. "I think we could get a few answers in that place, over there."

AndrAIa looked over as well. There were a few tall buildings, and what appeared to be an ocean on the other side. It all looked pixelated and fake, however, like it was a cheap picture plastered against a wall. Despite how familiar it seemed, she couldn't ignore the oddities of it, and that left her even more concerned. She knew Matrix was right, though, they had to go investigate if they were to figure this out. She glanced up to the sky above them as she continued to take in her surroundings, though, and suddenly gasped.

"Matrix, look!" AndrAIa shouted, and pointed upwards.

Matrix jumped in surprise from his girlfriend's sudden exclamation. His hand instinctively wrapped around the grips of his gun, but he restrained himself from drawing and brandishing it in any particular direction. Instead, he looked up to the direction she was pointing, and his eyes widened in amazement of the sight.

High above them there seemed to see some sort of sky highway. Yellow lines traced in a full circle to shape out what appeared to be a transparent tube, with vehicles and vessels off all sorts traveling in both directions. It was difficult to make out exactly what they were because of how high in the air they were, even with the assistance of his cybernetic eye. What he could tell, however, was that no two crafts were identical.

"This isn't the Net," Matrix announced in awe as he released his weapon, and Frisket barked in agreement.

"You're right," AndrAIa agreed, somewhat deflated and defeated. For just a brief moment, she had thought that their home was in reach. "But it's something like it."

The three of them watched as a stereotypical white rocket ship lifted off from the city before them, flying straight upwards. It entered the transparent tunnel through a well defined gap in the lines. Then, it merged in with all the traffic and took off down the pipe at an incredible speed, quickly disappearing once it did.

"We're gonna need to get on that highway," Matrix realized.

"I agree," AndrAIa said, but then shifted her glance back downwards. "But let's go to the town, first, and get a feel for this place. Maybe even find a guide."

Matrix slowly nodded as they began to take their first steps towards the city. He really didn't like the idea of relying on outside help, but he had to admit that it might be needed. He shook his focus from the sky above, and instead looked to AndrAIa and Frisket, who had gotten more than a few steps ahead of him while he was distracted.

Something was unsettling about the Dataverse. It was foreign, yet familiar all at once. It just added to the mystery of the Omniverse, and he didn't like that. It only made him realize how far they were from getting back to their home.]]>
That's when he realized that it all looked familiar, and this was what he was used to. This odd reality that was the Dataverse was, in fact, more like the world he knew. He held his hand up and inspected it more closely, wondering what exactly that meant. Was Mainframe hidden somewhere in the Dataverse? Somehow he didn't think it would be that simple.

He glanced over to AndrAIa, who was inspecting her own hands in the same amazement. She noticed the similarities to their own realm in this techno-world, which was comforting to Matrix. At least he wasn't going crazy. She lowered her hands and looked to her boyfriend, and the two made eye contact.

"Enzo..." AndrAIa rarely uttered Matrix's first name, except on the occasions that she was utterly overwhelmed by something. "This is..."

"I know," Matrix interrupted, since it was obvious their thoughts were aligned. "I couldn't place it until now, but this is more like Mainframe than the rest of the Omniverse."

"What does that mean, though?" AndrAIa asked as she watched Frisket wander around, sniffing the ground and making sure there was nothing in the immediate area. "Are we back in the Net?"

"I was wondering the same thing," Matrix said, as he looked to the settlement before them. "I think we could get a few answers in that place, over there."

AndrAIa looked over as well. There were a few tall buildings, and what appeared to be an ocean on the other side. It all looked pixelated and fake, however, like it was a cheap picture plastered against a wall. Despite how familiar it seemed, she couldn't ignore the oddities of it, and that left her even more concerned. She knew Matrix was right, though, they had to go investigate if they were to figure this out. She glanced up to the sky above them as she continued to take in her surroundings, though, and suddenly gasped.

"Matrix, look!" AndrAIa shouted, and pointed upwards.

Matrix jumped in surprise from his girlfriend's sudden exclamation. His hand instinctively wrapped around the grips of his gun, but he restrained himself from drawing and brandishing it in any particular direction. Instead, he looked up to the direction she was pointing, and his eyes widened in amazement of the sight.

High above them there seemed to see some sort of sky highway. Yellow lines traced in a full circle to shape out what appeared to be a transparent tube, with vehicles and vessels off all sorts traveling in both directions. It was difficult to make out exactly what they were because of how high in the air they were, even with the assistance of his cybernetic eye. What he could tell, however, was that no two crafts were identical.

"This isn't the Net," Matrix announced in awe as he released his weapon, and Frisket barked in agreement.

"You're right," AndrAIa agreed, somewhat deflated and defeated. For just a brief moment, she had thought that their home was in reach. "But it's something like it."

The three of them watched as a stereotypical white rocket ship lifted off from the city before them, flying straight upwards. It entered the transparent tunnel through a well defined gap in the lines. Then, it merged in with all the traffic and took off down the pipe at an incredible speed, quickly disappearing once it did.

"We're gonna need to get on that highway," Matrix realized.

"I agree," AndrAIa said, but then shifted her glance back downwards. "But let's go to the town, first, and get a feel for this place. Maybe even find a guide."

Matrix slowly nodded as they began to take their first steps towards the city. He really didn't like the idea of relying on outside help, but he had to admit that it might be needed. He shook his focus from the sky above, and instead looked to AndrAIa and Frisket, who had gotten more than a few steps ahead of him while he was distracted.

Something was unsettling about the Dataverse. It was foreign, yet familiar all at once. It just added to the mystery of the Omniverse, and he didn't like that. It only made him realize how far they were from getting back to their home.]]> https://omni.zulenka.com/showthread.php?tid=2549 Sat, 19 Sep 2015 01:12:05 +0000 Jim Raynor]]> https://omni.zulenka.com/showthread.php?tid=2549 Quote:Continued from Big Apple, 3PM
Ditto's majestic wings beat the virtual air, propelling him high above the information superhighway, or so Enigma called it. Pidgeot's form allowed the duplicitous informant to ride on his back, but there was no trusting her. She was only here because she knew where the rogue soldier had gotten to, and even then that was a tenuous reason. Ditto was fully prepared for another betrayal; perhaps she would lead him into a corrupted area of the Dataverse, trapping him for all time; an ambush may be prepared, ready to leap out on command to kill him; he had no inkling. Ditto had tried transforming into a psychic type in order to read her mind, but either his powers were on the fritz or Enigma knew how to deflect his intrusions.

Indeed, even now, Ditto's real body sat inert at a Coruscant terminal, his brain plugged into the Dataverse, enabling his consciousness to virtually occupy it. Enigma was in a similarly exposed position, but she wasn't one to leave things to chance. She would have some sort of backup or escape plan. Yet Ditto had forced her to the terminals and made her show him the way with brute strength. Unless she had a contingency for being kidnapped, she wouldn't have had time to organise anything. Ditto should at least be safe.

In any case, all he knew was that to trust Enigma was suicide.

And yet there they were, cutting through the sky that didn't really exist, a black river flowing in both directions, random streams diverting off on tangents, leading further into the bowels of the Dataverse. Ditto didn't like being in here. It felt strangely surreal, having his consciousness pumped into a set of ones and zeroes. He felt present in the same way as if in a dream; he was there, but not altogether tangible. The Dataverse did an admirable job of simulating gravity and movement, but there was something in every step, in every flap of his wings that just felt ... wrong. Ditto didn't want to tarry in this digital realm longer than he had to. It made his already foul mood even worse.

"Pfft! Dammit, can you not grow these stupid feathers?" Enigma whined, pulling on the luxurious yellow and pink feathers that crested Ditto's head.

"Stop putting your face in them and it won't be a problem!" Ditto snapped. He still hadn't completely settled after their run-in at the warehouse. If she had held out a second longer when he had her in his Machamp bear hug, there would've been a good chance that she would be dead by now. "If you'd rather walk, I can turn upside down."

"Oh yes, you talk tough. But if I'm a splatter on the highway, I'll be kicked back out into the real world and you won't be finding your AWOL soldier now, will you?" Ditto couldn't see her, but he could feel that damn smug grin that Enigma wore whenever she won an argument against him.

Once I've got my mobile Dataverse device, all bets are off.

Ditto increased his altitude to fly over the top of a monstrous building that jutted out of the ground, wielding such importance as to divert the information superhighway around it, the two roads rejoining on its other side.

Ditto looked down as they soared overhead. "What is that?"

"The Dataverse Library," Enigma said, unimpressed. "A lot of data in there. Maybe even all data ever."

Ditto humphed. "Sounds like your sort of place."

"Not the sort of information I deal in." A silent moment went by, then, "hey, I've been meaning to ask ... how did you do that trick back at the warehouse? Your clone?"

Ditto laughed. "Do you really think I'd divulge that information to you, of all people? Not a Vanillite's chance against an Arcanine."

"I don't know what that means," Enigma said. He decided not to enlighten her.

"So what can we expect when we run into the rogue soldier?" Ditto asked.

"What you'd expect," Enigma said. "Tough, trained in combat, well armed, strong convictions. It'll be hard talking him down, and even harder beating him down."

They continued on their lazy path in the skies until Ditto felt a tap on his back.

"See that road going north east?" Engima said. "Follow it."

Ditto veered right and shadowed the curve of the off ramp. An archway housed a blue, fluctuating portal a short distance from the main highway, and the traffic passed through. Nothing appeared out the other side of the archway; indeed, there was no road after it.

"Through there?" Ditto asked.

"Through there."

Ditto flattened his wings against his sides and dove. The wind whipped about his aerodynamic form, his crest feathers flailing wildly. He felt Enigma's fingers tense and wrap painfully around tufts of his feathers as they fell like an arrow at the end of its flight. It smarted a little, but Ditto grinned internally at Enigma's discomfort. It was petty and vindictive, but dammit Ditto was enjoying himself.

As the rooves of the vehicles on the road zoomed up to meet them, Ditto flared his wings and hooked into effortless sailing, entering the portal.

The shimmering, water like surface of the portal faded from Ditto's vision. Through the other side, a sprawling city appeared before them. Ditto spread his wings and rose on the simulated air currents, leaving the traffic to roll on.

The city wasn't very impressive. The entire segment, or program, or application, or whatever, seemed to be built solely for this run-of-the-mill place. Ditto skirted around its edges, inspecting. A densely populated city, but industrial, polluted, lacking in presentation and detail that would make it seem like a decent place to live. A grimy, crowded concrete jungle. Why would anyone want to visit such a place when anything could be done in a digital world?

Ditto's wing cut through a cloud of smog billowing from a steel mill chimney. "This is where the elusive soldier is hiding? It doesn't appear to be all that clandestine."

"There's a lot more garish places than this, be sure of that," Enigma said, coughing. "It's little to do with where he's hiding and more to do with how he's hiding."

Ditto reminded himself of the importance of staying on guard. "Elaborate."

"We're in the Dataverse. We're here, as in a virtual representation of ourselves, and for most people they appear here as their mind believes them to look in the real world. But if you know some tricks, you can physically enter the Dataverse while looking like someone completely different."

"Nifty skill," Ditto said, "but that wouldn't explain why the Empire couldn't find the soldier. Surely a fleeting avatar modification wouldn't be enough to throw off their trackers."

"Entering physically doesn't technically make you an avatar. You are here, so you are you. But you're right. It isn't enough. Let's just say that he ... had help."

Ditto grunted. "From you?"

Enigma chuckled. "No. Not from me."

"I know your name is Enigma, but you don't have to live up to it whenever you're asked a question."

"Look, just know that when we find him, we're going to encounter resistance."

"Really?" Ditto said. "And here I was thinking he'd just hand himself over."

"He's in hiding with a dangerous bunch," Enigma said. "And that's ignoring the fact that the soldier himself is not to be underestimated. This is not going to be an easy fight."

Ditto didn't answer, but he thought as much. He was confident, though. His powers were slowly returning; with each day, a new form returned to his suite of choices, opening up new avenues of combat. A soldier with some nerdy friends wouldn't stand up to the ultimate power of Ditto.

"So, can we go to him now?" Ditto asked. "I want to get in and out of here as quickly as possible. There is still too much to be done in the real world."

He caught himself. Real world? Kanto was the real world. The Omniverse was some twisted perversion he had been forced into. In no sense should he consider it 'real.'

Enigma's voice was cold and low. "I have a feeling he might be coming to us."

"What?"

"Missile! Over there!"

Ditto looked around. "Over where? I can't see where you're pointing!"

"Three o'clock and down!"

Ditto adjusted his gaze and a silver cylinder spewing fire and smoke rushed towards them. Ditto banked hard to the left, Enigma's grip on his feathers ripping at the stems. He felt the heat and wind of the missile roast over his exposed stomach as he regained control and swung around. The missile continued off into the distance.

"What the hell was that?!" Enigma screamed. "You almost threw me off!"

"Oh yes, sorry," Ditto said absently, his keen vision scanning the landscape beneath, searching for the beginning of the rapidly fading smoke trail. "Next time I'll be sure to fly directly into a rocket to avoid flustering you for three seconds."

She didn't respond. Point: Ditto.

The ground below was littered with skyscrapers and high rise apartment buildings. The smoke trail hinted at the position of their attacker, but the second missile really helped Ditto nail the spot.

Much more alert this time, Ditto swerved from the projectile's trajectory and dove down. Pidgeot's enhanced vision picked out every little detail from such a distance that Ditto wondered why he didn't transform into the bird Pokemon whenever he needed to find something. On top of a apartment building, dropping a rocket launcher to the ground to reload it, was his foe.

Ditto spread his wings outwards and coasted to the roof. Enigma hopped off immediately, a scowl written into her face. Ditto didn't care; he had more important things to concern himself with.

"You there," Ditto said. "Seems you have a problem with my aerial sightseeing tour."

His attacker hoisted the bazooka onto his thick, metal arm and aimed down the sights. His prosthetic red eye glistened in the light.

It was the bounty hunter he encountered on Tier 1.5.

"A talking bird, huh? Funny. A much smaller bird told me you might be here. Maybe you know her?"

Ditto looked around. Enigma was gone.

"Shit."]]> Quote:Continued from Big Apple, 3PM
Ditto's majestic wings beat the virtual air, propelling him high above the information superhighway, or so Enigma called it. Pidgeot's form allowed the duplicitous informant to ride on his back, but there was no trusting her. She was only here because she knew where the rogue soldier had gotten to, and even then that was a tenuous reason. Ditto was fully prepared for another betrayal; perhaps she would lead him into a corrupted area of the Dataverse, trapping him for all time; an ambush may be prepared, ready to leap out on command to kill him; he had no inkling. Ditto had tried transforming into a psychic type in order to read her mind, but either his powers were on the fritz or Enigma knew how to deflect his intrusions.

Indeed, even now, Ditto's real body sat inert at a Coruscant terminal, his brain plugged into the Dataverse, enabling his consciousness to virtually occupy it. Enigma was in a similarly exposed position, but she wasn't one to leave things to chance. She would have some sort of backup or escape plan. Yet Ditto had forced her to the terminals and made her show him the way with brute strength. Unless she had a contingency for being kidnapped, she wouldn't have had time to organise anything. Ditto should at least be safe.

In any case, all he knew was that to trust Enigma was suicide.

And yet there they were, cutting through the sky that didn't really exist, a black river flowing in both directions, random streams diverting off on tangents, leading further into the bowels of the Dataverse. Ditto didn't like being in here. It felt strangely surreal, having his consciousness pumped into a set of ones and zeroes. He felt present in the same way as if in a dream; he was there, but not altogether tangible. The Dataverse did an admirable job of simulating gravity and movement, but there was something in every step, in every flap of his wings that just felt ... wrong. Ditto didn't want to tarry in this digital realm longer than he had to. It made his already foul mood even worse.

"Pfft! Dammit, can you not grow these stupid feathers?" Enigma whined, pulling on the luxurious yellow and pink feathers that crested Ditto's head.

"Stop putting your face in them and it won't be a problem!" Ditto snapped. He still hadn't completely settled after their run-in at the warehouse. If she had held out a second longer when he had her in his Machamp bear hug, there would've been a good chance that she would be dead by now. "If you'd rather walk, I can turn upside down."

"Oh yes, you talk tough. But if I'm a splatter on the highway, I'll be kicked back out into the real world and you won't be finding your AWOL soldier now, will you?" Ditto couldn't see her, but he could feel that damn smug grin that Enigma wore whenever she won an argument against him.

Once I've got my mobile Dataverse device, all bets are off.

Ditto increased his altitude to fly over the top of a monstrous building that jutted out of the ground, wielding such importance as to divert the information superhighway around it, the two roads rejoining on its other side.

Ditto looked down as they soared overhead. "What is that?"

"The Dataverse Library," Enigma said, unimpressed. "A lot of data in there. Maybe even all data ever."

Ditto humphed. "Sounds like your sort of place."

"Not the sort of information I deal in." A silent moment went by, then, "hey, I've been meaning to ask ... how did you do that trick back at the warehouse? Your clone?"

Ditto laughed. "Do you really think I'd divulge that information to you, of all people? Not a Vanillite's chance against an Arcanine."

"I don't know what that means," Enigma said. He decided not to enlighten her.

"So what can we expect when we run into the rogue soldier?" Ditto asked.

"What you'd expect," Enigma said. "Tough, trained in combat, well armed, strong convictions. It'll be hard talking him down, and even harder beating him down."

They continued on their lazy path in the skies until Ditto felt a tap on his back.

"See that road going north east?" Engima said. "Follow it."

Ditto veered right and shadowed the curve of the off ramp. An archway housed a blue, fluctuating portal a short distance from the main highway, and the traffic passed through. Nothing appeared out the other side of the archway; indeed, there was no road after it.

"Through there?" Ditto asked.

"Through there."

Ditto flattened his wings against his sides and dove. The wind whipped about his aerodynamic form, his crest feathers flailing wildly. He felt Enigma's fingers tense and wrap painfully around tufts of his feathers as they fell like an arrow at the end of its flight. It smarted a little, but Ditto grinned internally at Enigma's discomfort. It was petty and vindictive, but dammit Ditto was enjoying himself.

As the rooves of the vehicles on the road zoomed up to meet them, Ditto flared his wings and hooked into effortless sailing, entering the portal.

The shimmering, water like surface of the portal faded from Ditto's vision. Through the other side, a sprawling city appeared before them. Ditto spread his wings and rose on the simulated air currents, leaving the traffic to roll on.

The city wasn't very impressive. The entire segment, or program, or application, or whatever, seemed to be built solely for this run-of-the-mill place. Ditto skirted around its edges, inspecting. A densely populated city, but industrial, polluted, lacking in presentation and detail that would make it seem like a decent place to live. A grimy, crowded concrete jungle. Why would anyone want to visit such a place when anything could be done in a digital world?

Ditto's wing cut through a cloud of smog billowing from a steel mill chimney. "This is where the elusive soldier is hiding? It doesn't appear to be all that clandestine."

"There's a lot more garish places than this, be sure of that," Enigma said, coughing. "It's little to do with where he's hiding and more to do with how he's hiding."

Ditto reminded himself of the importance of staying on guard. "Elaborate."

"We're in the Dataverse. We're here, as in a virtual representation of ourselves, and for most people they appear here as their mind believes them to look in the real world. But if you know some tricks, you can physically enter the Dataverse while looking like someone completely different."

"Nifty skill," Ditto said, "but that wouldn't explain why the Empire couldn't find the soldier. Surely a fleeting avatar modification wouldn't be enough to throw off their trackers."

"Entering physically doesn't technically make you an avatar. You are here, so you are you. But you're right. It isn't enough. Let's just say that he ... had help."

Ditto grunted. "From you?"

Enigma chuckled. "No. Not from me."

"I know your name is Enigma, but you don't have to live up to it whenever you're asked a question."

"Look, just know that when we find him, we're going to encounter resistance."

"Really?" Ditto said. "And here I was thinking he'd just hand himself over."

"He's in hiding with a dangerous bunch," Enigma said. "And that's ignoring the fact that the soldier himself is not to be underestimated. This is not going to be an easy fight."

Ditto didn't answer, but he thought as much. He was confident, though. His powers were slowly returning; with each day, a new form returned to his suite of choices, opening up new avenues of combat. A soldier with some nerdy friends wouldn't stand up to the ultimate power of Ditto.

"So, can we go to him now?" Ditto asked. "I want to get in and out of here as quickly as possible. There is still too much to be done in the real world."

He caught himself. Real world? Kanto was the real world. The Omniverse was some twisted perversion he had been forced into. In no sense should he consider it 'real.'

Enigma's voice was cold and low. "I have a feeling he might be coming to us."

"What?"

"Missile! Over there!"

Ditto looked around. "Over where? I can't see where you're pointing!"

"Three o'clock and down!"

Ditto adjusted his gaze and a silver cylinder spewing fire and smoke rushed towards them. Ditto banked hard to the left, Enigma's grip on his feathers ripping at the stems. He felt the heat and wind of the missile roast over his exposed stomach as he regained control and swung around. The missile continued off into the distance.

"What the hell was that?!" Enigma screamed. "You almost threw me off!"

"Oh yes, sorry," Ditto said absently, his keen vision scanning the landscape beneath, searching for the beginning of the rapidly fading smoke trail. "Next time I'll be sure to fly directly into a rocket to avoid flustering you for three seconds."

She didn't respond. Point: Ditto.

The ground below was littered with skyscrapers and high rise apartment buildings. The smoke trail hinted at the position of their attacker, but the second missile really helped Ditto nail the spot.

Much more alert this time, Ditto swerved from the projectile's trajectory and dove down. Pidgeot's enhanced vision picked out every little detail from such a distance that Ditto wondered why he didn't transform into the bird Pokemon whenever he needed to find something. On top of a apartment building, dropping a rocket launcher to the ground to reload it, was his foe.

Ditto spread his wings outwards and coasted to the roof. Enigma hopped off immediately, a scowl written into her face. Ditto didn't care; he had more important things to concern himself with.

"You there," Ditto said. "Seems you have a problem with my aerial sightseeing tour."

His attacker hoisted the bazooka onto his thick, metal arm and aimed down the sights. His prosthetic red eye glistened in the light.

It was the bounty hunter he encountered on Tier 1.5.

"A talking bird, huh? Funny. A much smaller bird told me you might be here. Maybe you know her?"

Ditto looked around. Enigma was gone.

"Shit."]]> https://omni.zulenka.com/showthread.php?tid=216 Fri, 04 Oct 2013 02:27:06 +0000 Samus Aran]]> https://omni.zulenka.com/showthread.php?tid=216
Samus looked at her own hand. No difference. Then she compared it to the scenery. Was it just her, or was it somehow more … pixelated? She tilted her head.

Nanoha was the first to break the weird silence. “So, it looks like we’ll all be working together.” She smiled. “I’m glad.”

Samus felt a twitch in her eyebrow. She hoped the young woman wasn’t pursuing some feel-good adventure. Honestly, she didn’t know what to make of being asked to work as a group in the first place. It was the first time in a … long time. For now, she decided, it was probably for the best to stick it out. If things got difficult later, she could always split off to take care of things on her own.

“Let’s just get on with things,” said the hunter. She stepped towards the one obvious entrance of the room they were in.

Nanoha shrugged at Proto Man, who scratched his chin awkwardly. “I wouldn’t worry,” said the aerial mage. “If this problem is so big, I’m sure it’ll find us.”

Samus turned, and her raised eyebrow was fully visible through her visor. “Well let’s find it before it finds us.”]]>
Samus looked at her own hand. No difference. Then she compared it to the scenery. Was it just her, or was it somehow more … pixelated? She tilted her head.

Nanoha was the first to break the weird silence. “So, it looks like we’ll all be working together.” She smiled. “I’m glad.”

Samus felt a twitch in her eyebrow. She hoped the young woman wasn’t pursuing some feel-good adventure. Honestly, she didn’t know what to make of being asked to work as a group in the first place. It was the first time in a … long time. For now, she decided, it was probably for the best to stick it out. If things got difficult later, she could always split off to take care of things on her own.

“Let’s just get on with things,” said the hunter. She stepped towards the one obvious entrance of the room they were in.

Nanoha shrugged at Proto Man, who scratched his chin awkwardly. “I wouldn’t worry,” said the aerial mage. “If this problem is so big, I’m sure it’ll find us.”

Samus turned, and her raised eyebrow was fully visible through her visor. “Well let’s find it before it finds us.”]]> https://omni.zulenka.com/showthread.php?tid=20 Sat, 03 Aug 2013 02:08:39 +0000 Omni]]> https://omni.zulenka.com/showthread.php?tid=20 technology. It is the Omniverse's equivalent of the internet, but unlike our internet can be entered directly. The Dataverse is as varied as it is vast, and contains many areas created by programmers and programs alike. All the separate areas of the Dataverse are connected by the Information Highway, a massive 'river' of data like a gargantuan tube carrying ships and digital denizens back and forth. There are many junctions and crossings that lead off into separate 'sub-worlds' in the Dataverse.

The Dataverse Library
Within the depths of the coding that forms the Dataverse, lies a massive section of precisely arranged information known as the ‘Databanks’. This zone within the Dataverse is in essence a virtual library, bringing together all of the information contained in the books of the Library of Coruscant and even some information that is only accessible from within the Dataverse. Few know how the Databanks came to be, but the general assumption is that they are the creation of the digital entity known only as the ‘Librarian Agent’. The Databanks appear to be so vast within the virtual environment that many who dared to venture within have found themselves lost within the vaguely defined halls and row upon row of bookshelves. While many users of the Databanks are merely citizens of the Empire who prefer to read digitally than from physical books, many researchers have found ways to search the Databank’s vast store of information at a much more rapid pace than even the databanks within the great glass library can. Those with devices that enable them to access the Dataverse are able to use the Databanks as a sort of handheld library- an invaluable tool for one who prefers to plan and think than merely apply brute force.

File Island – File Island is the centerpiece of something called ‘The Digital World.’  A region of the Dataverse inhabited by creatures known as ‘Digimon’ (or digital monsters), the Digital World is mostly wilderness filled with giant monsters and random references to out-dated computer technology (digging up the dirt may reveal pieces of motherboards or circuits).

At the epicenter of the Digital World is File Island, located in the middle of a vast sea.  Many liken File Island to a miniature Omniverse, as the island contains various regions that mirror locations in the Omniverse.  The southern forests and jungles of File Island are where most Digimon are ‘born’ from random amalgamations of binary code.  From the Native Forest, they travel around, naturally growing stronger until they can digivolve into more powerful forms.  

Anyone who arrives at File Island will find a Digimon waiting for them, regardless of an individual’s mindset, background, or experience.  This Digimon will serve as their assistant in navigating the island, and over time, reflect the traits of his or her ‘Digidestined’ companion.  With the help of a Digi-destined, a Digimon can digivolve quicker and reach its pinnacle of strength.

There are some fragments of civilization scattered around File Island, but File Village/City is the only central society.  Under the leadership of Gatomon and Jijimon, File City serves as a safe bastion for young or peace-loving Digimon.

At the center of File Island is Mount Infinity—a terrifying place where only the most powerful Digimon and their companions dare enter.  It is said that Mount Infinity is home to the most vicious Digmon but that there is also a secret exit from the Dataverse somewhere inside.

Non-player characters centered in File Island: Gatomon]]> technology. It is the Omniverse's equivalent of the internet, but unlike our internet can be entered directly. The Dataverse is as varied as it is vast, and contains many areas created by programmers and programs alike. All the separate areas of the Dataverse are connected by the Information Highway, a massive 'river' of data like a gargantuan tube carrying ships and digital denizens back and forth. There are many junctions and crossings that lead off into separate 'sub-worlds' in the Dataverse.

The Dataverse Library
Within the depths of the coding that forms the Dataverse, lies a massive section of precisely arranged information known as the ‘Databanks’. This zone within the Dataverse is in essence a virtual library, bringing together all of the information contained in the books of the Library of Coruscant and even some information that is only accessible from within the Dataverse. Few know how the Databanks came to be, but the general assumption is that they are the creation of the digital entity known only as the ‘Librarian Agent’. The Databanks appear to be so vast within the virtual environment that many who dared to venture within have found themselves lost within the vaguely defined halls and row upon row of bookshelves. While many users of the Databanks are merely citizens of the Empire who prefer to read digitally than from physical books, many researchers have found ways to search the Databank’s vast store of information at a much more rapid pace than even the databanks within the great glass library can. Those with devices that enable them to access the Dataverse are able to use the Databanks as a sort of handheld library- an invaluable tool for one who prefers to plan and think than merely apply brute force.

File Island – File Island is the centerpiece of something called ‘The Digital World.’  A region of the Dataverse inhabited by creatures known as ‘Digimon’ (or digital monsters), the Digital World is mostly wilderness filled with giant monsters and random references to out-dated computer technology (digging up the dirt may reveal pieces of motherboards or circuits).

At the epicenter of the Digital World is File Island, located in the middle of a vast sea.  Many liken File Island to a miniature Omniverse, as the island contains various regions that mirror locations in the Omniverse.  The southern forests and jungles of File Island are where most Digimon are ‘born’ from random amalgamations of binary code.  From the Native Forest, they travel around, naturally growing stronger until they can digivolve into more powerful forms.  

Anyone who arrives at File Island will find a Digimon waiting for them, regardless of an individual’s mindset, background, or experience.  This Digimon will serve as their assistant in navigating the island, and over time, reflect the traits of his or her ‘Digidestined’ companion.  With the help of a Digi-destined, a Digimon can digivolve quicker and reach its pinnacle of strength.

There are some fragments of civilization scattered around File Island, but File Village/City is the only central society.  Under the leadership of Gatomon and Jijimon, File City serves as a safe bastion for young or peace-loving Digimon.

At the center of File Island is Mount Infinity—a terrifying place where only the most powerful Digimon and their companions dare enter.  It is said that Mount Infinity is home to the most vicious Digmon but that there is also a secret exit from the Dataverse somewhere inside.

Non-player characters centered in File Island: Gatomon]]>