"I'm certain you all have many inquiries you desire to voice," The Oracle, Rhein said. "The most prime, no doubt, concerning your past. But before we delve into that, I should briefly elucidate you about your role as a Doomsday Unit. And how imperative a role that is."
The five of them all look at each other with anticipation.
"Also, please forgive the limited information your Orbital Wardens could provide you. As a precaution, we minimized their knowledge of you all in case of a data breach. Given their nature as AI."
The hologram walked around to a desk to the left of AJ and the rest of the units. Unchained by any projector that would keep him in place, he walked as any of them would. The fact that he was merely an image and not an actual person made AJ hesitate around him, as if he were something alien.
Rhein lifted a remote from off the table.
He can interact with the world without any issues?
TY had similar thoughts, except he was outspoken about them, "Most curious, a translucent figure able to impact the area in such a… tangible way. Incredible. What other marvels do you possess? Are you AI as well? Or an emulation of a human?"
Rhein laughed, "It's surprising, no? A novel innovation in holographic technology that shortly emerged after you were put to sleep, But please, save the questions for now."
Fiddling with the remote, the oracle pressed a button that made a screen materialize in front of each of the Doomsday Units.
"As you all have already been told by your Orbital Wardens, you are Doomsday Units, given the task to save this world from utter doom."
Up on the screens, an image of The Falling Sky had appeared. The black pixels obscuring the blue behind it.
Rhein pointed toward the screens, "This is the catalyst for our world's end. The so-called Falling Sky. An calamitous entity that begins to eat away the heavens above, erasing the sun and all light. It then spreads to living beings, including humankind. Like a cancer, it progressively consumes, leaving no stone untouched."
A D-Bugg appeared on the screen.
"The D-Buggs you have encountered and battled are entities that originate from The Falling Sky, seeping almost endlessly through with the sole purpose of eliminating any and all lifeforms from this world. They kill without judgment, taking the life out of people who can do nothing but witness their own demise in helpless resignation. A terrible end if you ask me."
He turns the screens off.
Rhein studied them all and then smiled, "Now we come to you five. I called you the Final Bastions because that is exactly what you are. You are our final defense, failure here means failure for us all."
RL juts in, "I get that. But what does that mean? What are we even supposed to do that lets us save the world?"
"Good question, RL-004, let me get to that."
RL raises her eyebrows, confused at whether the Oracle was being serious or sarcastic.
"Saving the world hinges on what's up there," he points upwards, "The Falling Sky. Stopping its advance by the D-Buggs means to arrest its ceaseless expansion. Your objective is to discover a means to ascend into the D-Buggs domain, and then find a method out how to excise The Falling Sky from the world.
PS speaks, trying to wrap her head around what he was saying, "Wait, you want us to go up there? Where the D-Buggs live? For all we know there could be a nest of millions up there."
Rhein nodded, "Correct."
"I find myself in accord with PS on this matter. Should we even succeed in entering The Falling Sky. The task you've given us is a nearly impossible one."
The oracle frowned at TY yet nodded again at the truth of his statement, "TY-005, the fate of the world hangs in the balance. In no universe would it be easy to shift the scale to our favor. The odds are stacked against all of us."
Rhein, seeing their faces grow sullen, turned to lift their spirits, "But, let it not be said that you have no aid. As Doomsday Units, you are physically superior humans given also the ability to time-tread. We suspended time to give you all the time you need to save us. Additionally, we've sealed away myriad Auxiliary devices around that world that may help you more easily fend off the onslaught of D-Bugg attacks. "
He looked at TY's Heldyr and AZ's spear, "I see that some of you have already made use of them, had I known you all would wake at different intervals... If I had prepared more to start... However, that would have also been too dangerous…" He trailed off.
This man. He doesn't seem to be lying. But he does seem all over the place, quickly jumping from topic to topic.
AJ speaks up, "Before you continue and before I agree to anything about what you want us to do, answer me. Who are you? And what makes you privy to all this information?"
Rhein slaps his forehead in slight frustration, "Ah, you're right. Introductions should have been first on my list. My name is Rhein, you can consider me an Oracle of sorts. I am your intermediary, tasked to tell you everything you need or want to know, even more so than your Orbital Wardens. Though my form exists as code, my mind remains uniquely my own. I am, by no means, an artificial intelligence. That may be confusing, but that is the truth."
Rhein walks closer to AJ, "As for your second question, I am a lead scientist who helped create the Doomsday Project, the initiative that created you five as you are now."
The doomsday project, it was a term AJ could almost sense in his head, but only the name and not what it meant.
"Now where were we… Ah! Auxiliary Devices. I think you are all already aware that you can either search for these items or fabricate them yourselves using spare parts salvaged from the D-Buggs. However, you will require a synthesizer to do so. And luckily for you, we have one available in this room."-
Rhein gestured to his left. They all turned and noticed a unique looking structure somewhat reminiscent of a printer or fax machine. Rhein walked up to it and rested his transparent hand on the top.
"It's rather simple really, choose the amount of parts you want to synthesize, and in no time, this machine will sprout an item to help you brave this frozen world." He frowned embarrassingly, "Though, forgive me, the synthesizer is quite dated compared to modern ones.
The synthesizer was a machine unknown to the Doomsday Units yet it sparked curiosity within many of them. An item that can create weapons out of D-Buggs that had assumedly been being produced for a number of years prior given there are newer models. Because of this, AJ wondered about the importance of the D-Buggs in general.
Are they truly a threat that came from The Falling Sky. If so, why do we have tools that are made to process them before they even invaded?
There was a history with the D-Buggs, AJ could draw that out from the way Rhein was speaking. A history he too may know once he regains his memory, if ever at all.
Rhein wafts his hands toward him signaling them to come over, "You all have parts, no? Come, make an Auxiliary Device for yourself, increase your chances of survival."
They all complied and took time to create their first Auxiliary devices. The process was somewhat random. After a couple of seconds the chosen materials hover above the top of the synthesizer, they all dematerialize. A series of quiet buzzes erupt and ultimately an item is formed in front of the user. Whether it be a weapon, a piece of armor, even a vehicle, it all depends on the types of materials used.
AZ was first, "Given I already have a weapon of my own I'll synthesize the D-Bugg's armor plating into something."
AJ watched as AZ flaunted his blade around.
"Been meaning to ask, what's that blade?"
"My Orbital Warden said it was called Lucifer's Fang."
TY chimed in, "What does it do? For example, Heldyr accumulates significant power over time."
"I wonder the same. I haven't been able to access the power of it, if it has one at all. Rhein, would you know?"
I don't believe him, he sounded way too confident.
Rhein looked at the Blade, "Regrettably no, I did not work in the AD manufacturing department on the project. My knowledge of it is quite rudimentary. Whatever your Orbital Warden knows is the most information you will glean. The rest is up to you."
AZ frowned, "A shame then."
Time passed and AZ's Auxiliary devices were created, they were two pieces of armor to help increase his durability:
-----
Unflinching Arm Bracer
LvL 2 - Armor
[The arm bracer features an impact-absorbing layer that disperses energy away upon contact. This reduces the severity of injuries and ensures a steady balance even in the face of powerful attacks.]
Defense - 2/20
Resilience - 4/20
Mobility - 6/20
-10% damage decrease
Slight knockback resistance.
-----
Unflinching Leg Bracer+
LvL 2 - armor
[The leg bracer features an impact-absorbing layer that disperses energy away upon contact. This reduces the severity of injuries and ensures a steady balance even in the face of powerful attacks.]
Defense - 2/20
Resilience - 4/20
Mobility - 5/20
-15% damage decrease
Slight knockback resistance.
----
PS was next, and she created her first weapon to finally prove a threat to higher level D-Buggs and a piece of armor using the thrusters from the B-tier D-Bugg.
-----
Amped Dagger
LvL 1 -Dagger
[A Dagger made of D-Bugg plating, capable of cutting through even the toughest of materials.]
Damage - 1/20
Penetration - 2/20
Weight - 1/20
-----
Boots of the Clouds
LvL 4 - armor
[Advanced footwear designed to provide enhanced mobility and agility through integrated explosive thruster propulsion. These armored boots feature a robust, reinforced exterior to withstand the rigors of intense use, while housing powerful propulsions that enable the wearer to execute a second jump while suspended in the air.]
Defense - 2/20
Resilience - 1/20
Mobility - 7/20
-Double jump
-----
AJ was next, using most of his materials he created a katana, the spear and core from the Plaza and the the ignition boosters of the B-tier create it.
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Ignition Outburst
LvL 5 - Sword
[A weapon hosting a mechanism within its hilt that generates a highly volatile substance. When triggered the substance ignites, creating a powerful explosion. It is sometimes capable of setting the blade ablaze and intensifying its cutting potential.]
Damage - 7-11/20
Penetration - 5-10/20
- ignition
-10% chance of blade burning, doubling attack penetration
-----
He also created a scanning device with the core and tail of the scanner D-Bugg he killed.
-----
Critical Scanner
LvL 2 - Tool
[A device designed to identify and analyze critical weak points in robotic systems. Using advanced sensor technology, it performs a detailed scan of a D-Bugg to detect one vulnerable area at a time.]
- Easier to find critical spots once on each machine
-----
"Do not worry, " Rhein said, "Synthesized Auxiliary Devices are already attuned to you and will be forever yours. So long as you breathe."
"Wait a minute, "RL said, " How can we even use this? Time is frozen, right? And how the hell can you move?"
"How indeed. Just like you, time flows freely within this room. We called it the Constant. A room unimpeded by the stoppage of time and all things in it are free to move as they please. This is precisely why the synthesizer operates here."
"So if we bring people here, they can also Time-tread?" RL asked.
Rhein thought for a second, "Perhaps, should they ever remain in the room. I do not advise that. There are very few Constants in the world, and very many people. It's a fool's errand to try."
"Alright."
TY decided to save his parts to help create something better later on. His Heldyr was doing enough for him on its own for the time being.
Unfortunately, RL was unable to create an Auxiliary Device of her own.
"Given that you only had a singular core, you are unable to synthesize anything yet. Two items are required." Rhein explained, "While it was a very powerful core, you will have to wait. I suggest you stick close to your companions for your own safety."
RL frowned, scowling at herself for her contained time being a liability to others. AJ noticed her frustration. He put a hand on her shoulder.
"We'll kill another D-Bugg as soon as possible to make you an AD."
She smiled, yet the frustration of feeling useless still remained.
"Remember," Rhein started, "Creating Auxiliary Devices is not the only option. Many very powerful ones are stored in myriad places across the globe, I advise you seek them out."
"Before that," PS walked towards Rhein, "I think you owe us some answers about our past."
"Oh right," Rhein said as he started fidgeting with the remote again, "about that…"
AJ frowns, "Don't tell me you won't tell us now!"
Rhein shook his head, "No! I would want nothing more than to tell you all of your past. F it is essential that you attain a complete understanding of yourselves before venturing into the Falling Sky; its uncertainties are fraught with peril and a staunch mind is paramount. Nevertheless, there exists a grave risk in me divulging your past."
"And what is that?"
"It is true I was once acquainted with each of you by name, and I could tell you about them now. However, should I, as a secondary observer, reveal your identities to you, your minds would struggle to forge a psychological connection with your past selves. You would likely perceive it as mere narrative rather than a reflection of who you truly are. A complete fragmentation of the self will occur, mentally destroying you. I know, it's an undesirable aspect given as Doomsday Units, but a necessary one."
The five Units began to wane in their acceptance of what Rhein said.
"However, I do know how you can reacquire what you lost," The screens reappeared and a map of Europe was shown with a red dot on the southern end of the island of Britain. "And perhaps this should be your initial destination. Make your way to the Angelgard Communications Tower in London. That is where you all trained to become Doomsday Units. Your memories were deliberately sealed. A necessary procedure to prevent the aging of your minds and the intrusion of dreams during your slumber. It is at this location that you will have the opportunity to unseal and reclaim those memories."
Certainly! Here's a more refined version:
"Perhaps this should be your initial point of focus. Proceed to the Angelgard Communications Tower in London, for it is there that you underwent your training to become Doomsday Units. Your memories were deliberately sealed—a necessary procedure to prevent the aging of your minds and the intrusion of dreams during your slumber. It is at this location that you will have the opportunity to unseal and reclaim those memories."
"To London?" PS asked, "Across the… English Channel? I think?"
"Yes," Rhein said, turning off the screen once more, "That is what you all should do."
Rhein grabbed some items off of the table and handed one to each of them. It was a small circular device with a blue button in the middle of it.
"These are Warp Tables. Auxiliary Devices that will allow you to transport you and your Orbital Warden back to the CCC at a moment's notice. These work only once, so please use them after you make it to London."
AJ studied the item and then looked up at Rhein, his face was soft and genuine, it gave him the desire to trust him.
I hope I don't regret this.
"Very Well, I'll go to London. You better be right about our memories being sealed there. Because if not, I'll figure out how to shut you off."
"I would dare not think nothing less to happen. So that settles it," Rhein studied the group and smiled widely at them, "This will certainly do. Doomsday Units, trek up to London. Gather as many Auxiliary Devices as you can on your way. And most crucially, embark on a journey of self-discovery. Reconnect with your true selves. Remember your motives, your desires, and the reasons behind your choice to become Doomsday Units. The return to me here. Then, and only then will you be prepared to serve your purpose."