"Alright you three, now that you know about materials you can move onto the next series of missions; but first you need a veteran to contact in case you need help." Lieutenant Feron had his arm over the shoulder of an orange knight. "This is an old comrade of mine, we worked together to set up the rescue camp as an isolated rendezvous for crash survivors and invited Strangers to guide them to Haven."
The orange knight seemed lax amongst them.
"We call her Izola."
Green tilted his head slightly.
"She looks a little heavy."
The heavily armored knight stood at an uncomfortably close proximity to Green. His overwhelming girth was intimidating and overpowering. Green backed away.
"Alright, what do you have for us to do?"
Green seemed distraught by the presence of a more intimidating warrior than himself.
"A'ight kiddies, git!" Izola pointed to a knight mumbling furiously while pouring various colors of crystal into the imminent gate platforms. "'e needs help ove' there, get shov'lin'!"
As the three turned, Izola grabbed Green by the shoulder.
"Not so fast, I need ye' fer somethin' back 'ere."
Izola led Green to a console near Feron.
"Y'see these li'le buggers?" Izola indicated a group of Gremlins. "They got a few 'f us, we need ye' three t'git 'em back." Izola slapped Green on the back. "Take yer crew and git rollin', Squire!"
Green was slapped on the back again and stumbled, running up to the other two as they finished the supply of crystals for that gate. Izola coughed a laugh, resuming her position by Feron.
_____________________________

The three Squires made their way to the platform, preparing for another dive into the planet to learn more of the alien world. Blue looked down at his Firotech, rolling it around slightly as though to flourish it out while sneaking around a Lumber distracted by Green. Blue heard something about yellow blobs with purple spheres in them and how they combined, courtesy of Green and his over enthusiastic and loud voice. Every ecstatic call from him seemed to ring out the elevator shaft.
"Calm down, Green. We should be there shortly."
Red stood in the middle of the platform as they descended, Green was leaning on the balcony.
"Are we there yet?" Green was becoming increasingly impatient. "I have to get back to Izola, I
want some nice armor like that. You got that blast suit from Bechamel, why should you be the only one?"
Blue remembered their meeting with the over decorated knight in the market. He silently wished to have received new armor himself, but felt intimidated by Green; the close range warrior should have more defense first, seeing as he would get hit more often.
"I asked the lieutenant about better equipment for you two, he said there will be something soon." Red kept his gaze on the imminent plane of dim gray with various patches of thick grass and statues. Green looked away from Red.
"As long as I get to bash heads, I can wait a little longer."
The three arrived on the surface of the floor, setting out into the fray. Blue kept his distance from the middle of battles, using his Firotech on anything that got too close. The yellow, oozing sentient creatures seemed more concerned with combining than attacking him. When they
combined their accumulative mass increased, most likely giving it greater power and health as a larger threat. Blue attempted to point this out as Green seemed to bash them together. Red took notice of this and shared a short stare with Blue.
"Green, back away, you are making them combine!"
Green seemed not to have heard.
"Green, we need to survive this, not empower them!"
"I need a challenge, the bigger the better!"
Green continued to pound them into a quivering mound of yellow substance. The strange blob shortly after burst, covering Green in the mucus. Blue could not help but quietly laugh.
"Is this funny to you?" Green seemed insulted.
"Yes, actually." Red smiled slightly. "I was trying to warn you that would happen."
The party moved on wordlessly, though Red and Blue let a laugh or two slip every once in a while. When they did Green let out a grizzled moan and battered the alien jellies more brutally. After several unplanned giggles the team found a camp where several knights seemed to be
hiding behind various consoles and fallen objects.
"We have been sent by lieutenant Feron, how may we assist you?" Red immediately addressed the cowering crew.
"Th-the s-s-sli.." The knight seemed too terrified to answer.
"Forget this, we can just beat them down!" Green jumped on the party button. Blue looked between Red and Green, awaiting an order. Red was the first to speak.
"Will you be alright back here while we take care of the slimes?"
"S-s-su.." The knight attempted to speak, only to collapse from passing out.
"Cowards. Come on, we got this!" Green disregarded the hiding knights and called out again for his team to join him. Red was followed by Blue onto the button as more of the lichens appeared, only to be crushed by Green. The fungal abominations attempted to combine, only to be blasted apart by a bomb thrown into their cores on behalf of Red. He seemed unphased by the obliteration and scattering of large chunks of the yellow substance. A large, darker, spiked lichen appeared after the smaller ones were disposed of; it was definitely larger and more
menacing. The spikes seemed to be positioned as projectiles prepared to be fired with a swift spin to release them from its body.
"Finally, something that might hurt." Green charged toward the lichen, preparing to slice it in half. This attempt was answered by a quick spin and several spikes knocking him down with significant effect.
"It releases spikes within its body when threatened which impale the target. You would know that if you were awake while the lieutenant was lecturing us." Red began winding up a bomb while using the various debris around them as cover from the spiked projectiles. Blue attempted to get Green to his feet.
"Put me down, I can do it myself. Help Red by making the bastard burn." Green must have passed out after this order, as his body went limp and he refused to respond. Blue propped him against the barricade where the other knights were hiding, taking his Firotech out in a flourish of the hand and wrist. The lichen seemed to be preoccupied attempting to pierce into Red, though his thick blast suit would protect him better than the light armors of Green and Blue. While the behemoth kept its attention on Red, Blue prepared his Firotech for a more powerful bullet by charging the trigger while a meter below the flame barrel began to fill to indicate the charge. As the charge built and the gun itself seemed to expand, a voice from behind called out.
"Make it burn!"
The call surprised Blue, releasing the trigger and sending a burning sphere toward the large lichen. In a burst of flaming energy the slime erupted into flame, its surface beginning to bubble from the heat. Red took advantage of this opportunity, jumping over the short barricade and
throwing a bomb into its surface; the heat allowed the solid device to pass the membrane. Red fell to the ground, rolled, and sprinted towards Blue. Blue was stunned by the glorious burning object as Red jumped into him, taking both to the ground with Red over him to block the explosion. Blue could only see Red but heard an enormous splattering and saw large chunks of the lichen impact the floor around them. Red seemed to be taking hits from the fallout of the explosion. After the damage seemed to be over Red rolled off of Blue, laying on his back. A small
spherical chunk of the jelly laid where the lichen was destroyed. Green was beginning to regain consciousness in the distance, trying to pull himself upright. The jiggling purple blob was fairly solid yet moldable. Blue pocketed the item and began to drag the immobile knights to the platform.

Sure, I was going to start a couple side characters for what comes later. Give me any details you want the character to have; loadout, anything about their personality, et cetera. I have been busy for the past week so new stuff has been coming slowly

By loadout I meant the base equipment; as the story progresses the knights upgrade their equipment, meaning if you want to be all 5* your character will be benched for a long time. As of right now your character will only appear when the story gets to late T3. I would explain this but that would spoil what I have planned. As for their personality, you should be able to make up the general idea; boastful, innocent, et cetera. Later on the knights get equipment based on their personality. Again, explaining this would spoil what happens later. I may be able to incorporate other characters into the story, but they have to be appropriate for where they are to be used.

By the way, not that this spoils anything for those who actually play the game, when the story beats Vanaduke there will be a lot more. When I first thought of making this thread I only cared about what happened after being able to beat Vanaduke, but decided against it to build up a few characters first. This is actually due to a thread somewhere else asking why this game does not have its own show, seeing as other games do it. I thought it would be interesting but the issue is how to develop a personality from robots in space who crash landed. Due to lack of certain details I sometimes create my own idea of what happens to roll with for unanswered questions. For example, in my prologue, there was an explosion on the ship and someone said it was because they were fired upon. This entire thread is meant for entertainment purposes without being influenced by personal preferences, such as my dislike for Polaris spammers claiming to be gunslingers or Nitronome spammers claiming to be "pro". Throwing explosions at everything constantly while preventing your party from landing a hit does not help them fight what you are spamming.

Also, the third chapter is going to have three parts; I would post them all in the same post but some people like to take breaks between perspective switches.

Green was able to stand again without leaning on anyone and even had the strength to equip the fur coat and cap from Izola. It seemed comfortable yet indulging in the warmth and light padding. It may be a little too fluff for his tastes, but the pierce defense helped Green to recover. The medic released Green back into Haven to find Blue who had been dispatched on a solo mission to return a sword to a fallen knight. Green may not know what a dead knight would do with a sword, but the thought of being able to get back in the fray distracted him. He thought of milling about the market, looking for a new sword to match his new armor, but thought better to check in with the lieutenant that he is on his feet again.
"I see you are well again."
Green turned to where the voice mumbled from. A knight in a similar coat to his own leaned against a wall in an alley. It was pale as snow. The knight was wearing a small shield with a spiraling design on the face, though it seemed to be the same size as the one Green was using.
"I hear Izola has been doing favors for you."
Green thought of Izola. Who was this strange knight?
"Especially the part where she gave you armor from my arsenal." The knight indicated the Wolver set Green was wearing. "You do realize theft is a crime."
Green stood his ground. No one would intimidate him, especially if it meant coming between him and Izola.
"Izola gave it to me personally. You had nothing to do with it."
"Ah, but I do; you see, she took it from my arsenal without asking or paying. A Vanguard has to make a living, you know."
Vanguard. Green knew immediately that was the highest rank a knight could get. This knight must be powerful and experienced.
"You have two options. You can either pay for it, or..pay for it." The knight flashed the handle of a Dread Venom Striker. Green knew where this was going but regretted no one would be around to watch. Green began to move his hand to his sword.
"Ha! That puny toy is no match for my Venom."
When both had their hands grasped around their sword handles and were about to draw them, a massive blade crashed between them.
"Echo, wha'd ah tell ye'?"
Green was relieved she had shown up, but at the same time disappointed he could not impress her by trouncing the Vanguard.
"You know as well as I do that you stole that Wolver set from my arsenal." Apparently this knight was named Echo. Ha, what a punk name.
"Y'said it w's on th'house, y'e dummy."
Echo turned away from them. What an embarrassment. Green was about to laugh.
"If'n y'll take't easy on th'li'le guy, I'll pay fer it m'self." Izola motioned to her arsenal to withdraw
payment for the items but was stopped by Green.
"No, I can pay for it. Red left a note on their prices before I put them on." Green took out a couple thousand crowns and handed them to Echo, who rudely snatched them.
"Now, wha'd'y'say?"
Echo was still looking away.
"Sorry."
"Sorry fer whut?"
Echo turned to Green with a spiteful expression.
"Sorry I almost killed you."
Echo walked away.
"Don' worry none 'bout 'im, he's jus' cranky."
Izola gave Green a slap on the back which almost knocked him over.
"Thanks. I should get back to my team now." Green
set out to find Feron.

__________________________________

Red was still in the private bunker. Remi has been throwing everything but the kitchen sink at him, attempting to outwit or overpower the demolitionist. Unfortunately for the research team and the enemies forced to face him, Red had always been at least four steps ahead of the incoming enemy. It had reached the point that all Red needed to hear was a few seconds of whatever was falling down the pipe and he knew exactly what to do before even seeing what falls out. Remi was beginning to lose his smile.
"Turn it up, double the spawn rate."
More enemies came out at once, only to be dispatched by the knight who faced Remi unscratched.
"Feron will have my mist tank if he finds out this knight has survived this long. We tried all the first tier enemy group waves imaginable, except.." Remi slowly turned back to the knights at the consoles.
"Ten shock Lumbers and ten shock Meta Knights."
Remi turned back to the one way window and began to smile again. There was no way anyone in such weak armor could survive this. Remi picked up the intercom again.
"Twenty enemies will appear, wait for all of them to come out before beginning the simulation." Remi sat back in his seat, awaiting the carnage of the puny knight. If he can do this, Remi would be out of a job.
"Sir, this amount of enemies would surpass first tier difficulty. Are you sure we should be doing this?"
Remi turned to the knight who dared speak in defense of the same demo who obliterated three Alpha Wolvers in the previous wave.
"Shut up and do it."
The team complied. Red took his normal position behind a chunk of debris and awaited the twenty enemies to appear. After the fourth consecutive Lumber Red turned to the
window.
"How many of these are there?"
Remi chuckled slightly.
"Enough." Enough to take you down, Remi thought to himself. This had gone on for far enough. This knight had to be either destroyed or beaten into submission. It was impossible for anyone to have survived this long. Any second his team or, worse, Feron would come looking for him to do some meaningless research mission. Remi thought it would only take a few rounds with a couple exploding jellies and Devilites; not exploding Devilites, normal ones, but they all fell victim to a tiny Proto bomb. A Proto bomb! Remi would have had difficulty using his Big Angry, not that it is very practical for the tactics Red has been using. His speed seemed to outwit and outmaneuver everything which attempted to locate him, as Remi could not help but gawk in amusement at how someone so immature and unprepared could possibly be this venerable. Something must be wrong.
"What was your name, Red, was it?" Remi was stuttering. "Ha-have you had combat experience before this?"
Red had fallen the last Lumber and turned to the window.
"Not that I know of." Red thought for a moment.
"Well, my team thinks I was part of a secret experiment on the Skylark before the crash, but it was probably just rumors. I have no memory before opening my escape pod."
Remi hesitated. What secret experiment? Vanguards knew everything that went on in that ship. He would have to ask Feron. But, ask him what? A disturbingly combat savvy newbie told him what some other low knights told him? This was the first time anyone had done this well, but this is also the first time another demo was allowed down here. It would sound more rumor than a serious question. Remi took the intercom again.
"Our program is now complete for the time. Please exit." Remi punched the button to lower the gate and mumbled furiously while striding towards the elevator platform to return to the Arcade. No one in first tier has done this well before, at least not since..
"When can we do this again?" Red was standing next to Remi. Remi thought over a retrial in case the enemies have been sick recently. Perhaps a retrial would clarify the results as false so Remi would have nothing to report about.. The memory faded him. What was he supposed to be watching out for? He would have to ask Feron when they returned, when Red was out of earshot.
"Ah, yes, well; I will let you know." Remi was not about to give this knight another go at their
precious research supply, especially since their item drop rate was live since they were obtained directly from the Clockworks. They may have let him get away with the heat and materials, but the crowns were returned to Remi. He made up an excuse to take the money, seeing as it
would be suspicious if someone went with a Vanguard and suddenly became a few thousand crowns wealthier. Perhaps this knight could help defeat the beast in..
"Remi! Where have you been?" Feron called out to the Vanguard, Red beside him. He nearly jumped.
"Researching." Remi looked back at Red for an instant and ran up to Feron.
"We have important matters to discuss later."
Feron seemed to take notice Remi was not of his normal wisecracking personality. Something must have happened.
"Very well then. Red, you and your team have an important mission to accomplish. I sent a few other teams a while ago but none have returned yet." Remi whispered something to Feron and returned to the platform, using the key to go somewhere again. Red kept his attention to
the lieutenant.
"As you may have heard a beast has been lurking the first tier of the Clockworks. Your team is being tasked to look into this. While you are there be on the lookout for other teams who may have gone ahead. Dismissed." Feron turned to the same platform Remi had used.
"Lieutenant," Red called out, "is there something I should know?"
"No. Nothing. You have a mission to complete."
Feron used his own key on the platform and left as well. Red looked around. Where was his team?
__________________________________

Green was dragging Blue again. Why? Green forgets. It probably has something to do with exhaustion. Blue was too tired to move, Green was bouncing off the walls again. It made sense for him to carry Blue to meet up with Red where Feron ordered. Green felt more powerful wearing the Wolver armor. He felt an edge greater in brute force, every strike more powerful than Proto could have given. At least Blue was still light enough to carry. Not much in his arsenal, fairly light armor, small weapons. Green had little to complain about. His encounter with Echo may have distracted him from what he was doing but at least he got to see Izola again. It was always nice to know he had a Vanguardian angel. Green saw Red looking around as though he were lost.
"Hey there, you lost?" Green laughed slightly, though carrying Blue around has become a tedious chore. Why was he always carrying him around all the time? He has his own legs.
"The lieutenant and Remi had something to take care of. Feron mentioned a beast in first tier and we should check it out, also there may be other teams in there."
That was all Green needed to know. He picked Blue up again and charged to the platform, ready for Red to get on so he could punch the button. It was always fun to punch the
button. One second nothing is moving and everyone is just standing there, the next feels like a thrill ride. Green was almost hopping with impatience. Red slowly came to the platform, his gaze fixated on the floor. This was unusual to Green.
"Drop something?" Green knew Red always had his arsenal locked except while picking up items. It was locked.
"No, it was something the lieutenant said." Red shook his head and was on the platform. Green wanted to jump on the button and fly downward but felt the need to wait for something.
"What did the lieutenant say?" Green was curious now. The lieutenant never enjoyed talking to low rank knights, especially Squires.
"It was nothing." Red activated the button and the platform lowered. Green was about to protest, as Red knew Green liked to punch it, but made no such action. Something must have happened. Red may not be the most sociable but he never kept secrets from them. Did the lieutenant say he was going to disband their group? Is the lieutenant going to only accept one of us as a Vanguard? Red returned his gaze. What was he staring at? Green suddenly realized he had been staring at him.
"What is it?" Red seemed distraught as though he had been physically active recently. Green almost panicked.
"You look a little beat down." Green knew there were no signs of damage but knew something combat related had occurred. "Have you been doing missions without us?" Red hesitated and looked away. He seemed unwilling to admit. Green pursued.
"You can tell us anything, us three, we are a team. They throw us through a scrapper and come out with nice hats." Red did not so much as look at him. A chill seemed to flow through Green. Someone was in a mood, Green thought. The platform lowered in silence, or at least
near silence. Blue began to stir. Green propped him up.
"Buddy, glad to see you functioning." Green thought of slapping him on the back, but he was barely conscious enough to take it. Instead Green looked up at Red who kept his gaze locked away from them.
"Red, Blue is starting up again." Red did not move at all. The lieutenant must have broken him. Blue regained awareness when the platform came to ground level, a dim forest with intimidating mist bordering the visible floor. Green let Blue stand on his own. There were several large trees sprouting from the mist. From these trees various sized objects seemed to be sprouting. Red looked up at a large one. It seemed to be shaped somewhat cylindrically, yet was covered in small short spikes. The cylinder was somewhat dim green while the spikes light brown. Red continued to stare at it. Green was becoming frustrated.
"What are you staring at?" Red was still watching it. Was it going to do something? Was it an enemy in disguise? Green thought so. He pointed at Blue.
"Hey, shoot down whatever Red is staring at!" Blue did not hesitate with his Firotech, leaving the shape unscathed while the stem which once attached it burned to cinders. Red continued to stare at the fallen object. It was near his feet but he made no motion toward it.
"Do something!" Green shouted at Red. There was still no movement. What did the lieutenant do, smash his audio sensors?
"Wake up!"
Red snapped to. The object must have had him entranced. It must be destroyed. Green took out his sword and motioned towards it but Red held out an arm to stop him.
"What are you doing?" Green asked, focused on breaking whatever it was. It made Red braindead, what would it do to the others? Blue looked over to the two. He was admiring the scenery.
"What is that?" Blue asked, apparently oblivious to Green already asking the same question.
Red walked up to the object and picked it up. He turned it upside down and revealed a dial, similar to that of his Proto bomb yet not the same design; it required to be wound in the same way but the dial did not jut out of the object. Red turned to the arsenal station nearby and switched this new object with his old Proto sword. Green assumed the object was supposed to be a bomb. It looked like one, Red thinks it is one, and it has a little wind up dial like one. Green thought to ask Feron about it later but stopped. Red can do that. Green has other things to do.
"Alright, roll out. We have a beast and other knights to find. Hopefully we will find the knights
before the beast does." Red took point. Green always took point. Green tried to run ahead.
"Red, let me take point. I can handle it." Green felt a little stubborn standing up to Red like this, but what if something jumped out before he could charge his bomb? It was better for the close range, quick strike knight to be in front in case anything jumps out at them. Red agreed. Blue was walking backwards, nearly bumping into Red. Green held his sword in one hand and kept his shield ready to activate in the other. Nothing was going to take them by surprise. Not even the three Wolvers who jumped out and surprised them.

__________________________________

Blue was facing away from Green, which was unusual. Normally Blue would wait for something to try to surprise him and make it burn, but this time Red was close to his back. It was nice to have a change of pace but it felt unnatural. Red had always gone to his own fights while Blue and Green clear the main path, but Green was out of sight. Blue felt uncomfortable.
"Red, is everything alright up there?"
Red stopped and Blue bumped into him again.
"Stay here. The fog ahead is too thick to see through and Green walked right into it. Blue felt helpless. Without Green they could easily be ambushed by any wild, pointy-toothed, savage..

A rustling in the thick grass nearby surprised him.
"Wh-what was that?" Blue held his Firotech in both hands and aimed towards it.
"Fire into the grass, the floor itself is inflammable but the thick grass patches are."
Blue complied. With Red at his side keeping an optic sensor out for anything coming, Blue fired into the various grass patches around them. Nothing stirred. Blue was becoming increasingly afraid. Where was Green? He would usually be holding a Wolver by the tail by now or something. Negative thoughts began to flood his mind. Maybe they got him and as he and Red continue they would find his mangled remains. Maybe this beast found him and no one would ever find anything. Blue began to shiver.
"Calm down. My map indicates Green is on top of a hill nearby." Red patted Blue on the shoulder and began walking, following his map to where this hill must have been. Blue followed. Red was the only one with the map, which had locators on all three of them in case anyone got
lost. Blue was about to ask why only he had it but realized it would be distracting for a swordsman to be watching a map while slicing or for a gunslinger to be watching a map and where the target moves in mere seconds. Red also kept the team organized and directed the paths, though Green always took Blue to where more fighting was to enjoy. When they temporarily separated like this Red always seemed to be fine with going solo while he and
Green were together on the main path. It must be lonely to always go alone, possibly not returning. Since he was the only one with a map no one would know if Red were disabled. Blue began to worry even more. Wait, where did everyone go? Blue looked around and saw nothing but fog. Red had disappeared.
"Red? Green?" Blue began to panic. Without his team he was an easy target.
__________________________________

Paralyzed in fear, Blue merely crouched in a patch of thick grass while waiting for something to make a noise in the distance.
__________________________________

The fog was too thick to see through, yet thin enough not to disrupt the map. Red kept his gaze between the map and where he was going, in case anything thought of taking him by surprise. Wolver cries faintly echoed all around. Red tried to ignore their ravenous calls to action yet could not help but consider the scenario if they decided to take the offensive. Red was not prepared for an ambush yet did not expect one. This did not mean Red was ignoring the thought, merely setting it aside to focus on finding Green nearby. His energy signature was strong enough to identify him as alive and moving around in a small area, possibly taking care of a few stray Wolvers. A few less things to worry about. Red was about to whisper behind him to stay close but remembered he had told Blue to stay behind. It was for the best in case they could not handle the the mission so someone can report they need substantial reinforcements. Red considered the strange pinecone object Blue had shot down for him after having stared at it for an abnormal length of time. It appeared to be a bomb, it looked like it would be a bomb, but it felt unnatural and dormant. If it were dormant the bomb would have no use to him until active, rendering the new device a waste of a weapon space. It may prove useful in the future so Red kept it equipped, though sometimes moments of regret found him.
"Come on, you can do better than that!" It sounded like Green, panting heavily. Red looked from the map to where the voice came from and followed.
"You call that biting my leg? Ha! Not even a scratch!" A Wolver whine yelped as a body was thrown onto the ground in an audible thud. He must be close.
"Not even an army of you can stop me!" Multiple yelps and thuds sounded off consecutively. Where has he been this whole time? Was Green simply throwing Wolvers around?
"Run, cowards! Go back to your wimpy dirt cribs!" Green was panting very heavily as though having endured a lengthy and painful battle. Red held back a smile.
"I.. I got all your names.. Ne..Next time I.." Green must have fell over. Red took up a run toward the voice and found Green laying on the floor with a few minor scratches. The coat protected him from most of the damage but he was at least minorly hurt. Red pulled him up.
"You missed some party," Green said in a quick breath. "I can stand fine, I just need a bit to get back up."
Red let go of him. Green was barely standing for a few seconds but quickly corrected himself.
"Where is Blue?" Green looked around behind Red.
"I asked him to stay behind in case we were overwhelmed, he is near the entry point." Red checked his map again. Blue was still in the same position and not moving, his energy signature strong enough to be alive. It was the same as when they previously separated so nothing must have happened.
"Can you continue to clear the path while I bring Blue?" Red thought of taking point instead, but it was more important to escort Blue than babysit Green, who would just jump into the fray again.
"The fog can be disabled by a switch nearby, I was clearing an ambush which appeared." Green walked further up the hill and punched a large dial which cleared the fog around them. It was still a little misty, though for the most part it was clear enough to have visible contact with enough distance to move without a map.
"Go back and get Blue, I can take whatever comes along next." Green ran down the hill and continued along the path eastward. Red went back for Blue
"Blue, Green and I cleared out the path." Red knew Blue would be able to recognize the fog had cleared as well. Red looked around. He looked back at the map. Blue was supposed to be around here, the map indicated so. A noise flustered a patch of grass near him. Red turned to it.
"Are you in there?" Red began to reach to check. In a thick form of vegetation on the opposite side a voice whispered.
"Red? I thought that was a Wolver." Blue stepped out of the plants. It covered him well, Red would have been fooled by it. At least Blue would have been safe by himself.
"Green is continuing along the main path." Red turned to begin returning to the mission at hand. Blue jumped out of the camouflage and followed behind Red with his Firotech in hand. Even if Red were unable to use the pinecone, at least someone would have his back. It felt abnormal to have support for once. Was this why Green always fights so recklessly, because someone has his back all the time? It seemed strange to him for someone to be dependant on another, yet both dependant on each other. Red became enveloped with thought again. A couple times he bumped into something or almost fell in patches of thick grass. A voice pulled him back into reality.
"Finally you two have caught up, I was getting bored waiting." Green was kicking a Wolver in the head. When Green turned away from it the Wolver burrowed away. Their path continued southerly into a purple gray haze which led to a grim room with a gate raised in a northeast exit. A large party button glowed in the center. Green instinctively began to run for it, but Red stopped him. Something was wrong with this. Where was this beast that the lieutenant mentioned? He had heard its faint calls emanating in the distance, though it seemes to be around where they are. No one else seems to have noticed.
"Come on, we have to get going," Green threw the hand down. Red ignored him. A faint breath could be heard from the thick forestry west of the button. Red began to charge a Proto and slowly crept towards the slight clearing. A large smiling face began to poke out from
bushes in the trees.
"What are you looking at?" Green was just over his shoulder, peeking at the beast.
The behemoth charged out of its hiding place and burrowed
into the ground on the other side of the room. Red and Green were both knocked over, dazed. Green was holding back a laugh.
"This is not funny." Red began to pick himself up without offering assistance to Green. Green stood smiling while Red ignored him. That was immature and obnoxious. Maybe this team was too silly for what missions lay ahead of them. Red pondered filing for a switch.
"Alright, we should get started now." Green and Blue were on the party button. Red looked up at them and dragged himself on. Red was not in the mood for games
where the lives of others was at stake. This was serious, not a playground. Zombies, Kats, more turrets; they were cleared with enough ease for Red to continue thoughts of becoming independent or joining a more mature team. Green got on his nerves and Blue was too dependant. If Red did change to another team, would they be worse? Or if he went solo, what would happen if the battle overwhelmed him? He was stuck between one pain and potentially far worse suffering. Red put the thought out of mind to refocus on the mission. He had to at least get through what was currently rolling, seeing as he could not simply turn around and give up. The party may have continued wordlessly but Red was distracted by thought. Would this team be able to handle what several other teams failed to return from? Their survival was somewhat important, even for a small band of Squires. There was nothing particularly interesting about them, Remi himself said Red was nothing special for a bomber. Bombs are designed to clear large groups, therefore Red did as he was supposed to. Red planned to ask if a similar test would be administered to either of his comrades but Remi had always cut him off. Perhaps the test was supposed to be a personal evaluation of ability, no one but the subject and subjectors were to know of personal results. Red decided to keep it a secret in case it would compromise the system set by their superiors. There was no reason to upset them for the personal satisfaction of a mere Squire. Red was too preoccupied in thought to realize his team was trying
to speak to him, though their requests were understood and carried out mutely. They stopped trying to speak to him when they cleared the first floor and boarded the platform to continue. Red avoided meeting optic sensors in case someone would ask where his attention has gone. He heard nothing and spoke nothing, therefore the world was mute. Only the faint whisper of Wolver calls could be heard, though barely at best. Most of the time Red simply turned to where they were rather than wait for something to make a sound to give away their hidden position. The scenery gradually became grayscale, the world losing its color. The others seemed not to have had their colors change. Red was about to ask but withdrew in case someone would be surprised of his sudden speech. A large, dark, red eyed beast was visible through the normally camouflaging scenery, but Red could see without the distraction of color. The world became plain, mechanical, void of life until blade or bullet befell it. The giant beast continued to watch them, following them along the outskirts of the forestrall terrain. Red kept his gaze locked on it, as it to him. Both realized they could see each other yet made no move on the other. Sometimes Green would stop the party and try to look where Red stares, most often staring directly at it, but never notices anything. Neither the swordsman nor gunman stopped to ask where Red had mentally disappeared to since he continued to assist in combat, yet seemed to wander as they traveled to the next opening.

One room after another. No color anywhere. All the world was locked in complete grayscale, all except the dim red glow emanating from the eyes of the beast; they would normally be solid red, but their glow is strong enough to break the grayscale. The eyes may have followed him along the path but the beast made no motion to assist the various Wolvers and Chromalisks being destroyed; it merely watched and followed. Red was becoming upset with this. What was it waiting for? Did it simply stare at the other parties before striking? Was it going to wait for them to be crippled before making a move? Every second seemed to be building up to their meeting, knight to behemoth. Occasionally someone would look back to him, only to turn away shortly after. It was no use trying to wake him up. There was no color, the only sounds were faint whispers, the world seemed to move in slow motion. Every second seemed longer than it should. Reality became a dream. Red wanted to break out of the trance but could not do so. He took out the pinecone. What was going on? Was this device affecting his sensors? No one else seemed to be affected, yet reality continued normally for them while Red was trapped in delayed animation. The second elevator platform came into view. Several enemies were cleared in silence, the world continuing its drawn limp which dragged on; Red was beginning to become afraid. Was this permanent or an illusion? Was this state of sense created by something or was he malfunctioning? He looked at the pinecone again. Perhaps the device was interfering with him somehow, though it was an organic object created by a native plant with bombastic properties..

"Come."

Red was startled. It was the first noise he had heard above the occasional whispers since the beast had revealed itself to him. Was this fear? Was he becoming insane? He listened in case it spoke again. Nothing followed. Green appeared to be calling out for him to board the platform, though no noise came. Blue was also staring at him, as though curious. Red followed and the platform lowered, the eyes continuing to appear in his own mind. The beast must be interfering with him. Red thought he was staring back at the beast while on the platform but it was impossible for it to be there. It must have burrowed to the next floor to continue stalking. When the platform came to the third floor the red eyes were staring directly at him. Everything was still void of color but time had begun to speed up, returning to reality. At least one sense had begun to return. The beast seemed to be smiling at him. What was going on here? Was it testing him somehow? Was the dulling of senses a means to break him? Red walked up to where the beast was perched, meeting its gaze in near arm length. Green was standing next to him, trying to do
the same. Apparently he could not see it. Green turned to him and seemed to be asking what he was staring at, but no sound came. There was no sound still. The three continued to the next room in silence, a large opening with a bell device in the center. Red had noticed a few of these earlier but no one touched them. Surrounding the north half of the bell was a patch of thorn bushes. This must be a place of skirmish to come. The beast was nowhere in sight though Red felt as though it were close enough to resume its previous activity. Green seemed to be inspecting the bell, questioning Blue since Red was unresponsive. Green and Blue shared a glance and got on the party button. Red did hesitated upon hearing the voice again.

"'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimle in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe."

This made no sense. The voice continued regardless.

"Beware the
Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite,
the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub
bird, and shun
The frumious
Bandersnatch!"

Red was becoming annoyed by this gibberish.

There was no hesitation. The beast arose from the northwest corner of the room standing in plane sight. Red had no doubts the others could see it. The voice continued again.

"And, as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tugley wood,
And burbled as it came!"

They seemed to be paralyzed in surprise. Red took Green by the shoulder and shook him. No response. The beast slowly approached them, holding its gaze. Red had to act quickly or they would meet the same fate as those who had preceded their arrival while keeping the others alive. The bell must be in the room for a reason. As the beast came closer to Green and Blue, Red attempted to rush for the bell. Red expected the voice again but no sound came. The beast stood within close proximity to the bell. Red kicked it.

"He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sou-"

"Shut up! Enough of this!" Red had finally spoken. The others endeavored to meet his sight to no avail, as they were still paralyzed. The beast had been startled by the bell, its near black hide turned yellow; it seemed to waver in movement as though it had been struck on the head. Red withdrew the pinecone and attempted to wind it. It was entirely possible the device was not a bomb at all, though this was not a time for doubt. When the bomb was charged Red found the beast was attempting to swallow him, to which Red threw the object into its mouth and jumped to the floor. He expected an explosion even without most of his senses, or at least a blast which would attempt to roll him over. Red remembered his team. They were still standing there, unable to move. The beast was attempting to cough up the device though it seemed to be near the
end of the fuse. Red got up and was about to tackle the others to protect them from the blast but stopped his dash when the beast regained its dark hide. Red hesitated. The beast burrowed again, spikes following its path as it traveled to another corner of the room to prepare another
strike. It seemed to know to avoid the bell now. Red noticed the floor appeared slightly green, his sense of color was beginning to return. The beast seemed slightly crippled though not incapacitated. If his handicap were created by the beast, defeating it must return them. Red turned to his team again. They were still standing there. Red took his Owlite shield off of the lock on his arm and made the two sit with the shield covering them, the bubble covering both. At least they would be protected. Red turned to the beast again. Even without his shield he planned to regain his senses. He was definitely more vulnerable without the Owlite, but as long as the beast
followed the same dive pattern it would not be an issue to predict. When the beast attempted to charge the two under his shield Red would charge for the bell while preparing another the pinecone to be charged again, kicking the bell before tossing it in. With every blast Red begun to regain senses, sound became more clear from the agonizing roars erupting from the beast, color began to form again as the grass became more clear. The world was returning to reality with every round. Eventually the beast was too crippled to burrow, merely taking chase across the now lush grass; the trees appeared to remain an ashen, depressed dim gray though his attention was focused on regaining awareness of the world near. Upon countless repetitions of the same bait and switch, the beast began to falter; its chase slowed notably, giving Red the opportunity to end the ceaseless dance. With a final repetition the beast collapsed, the will to continue deceased. Red approached the fallen terror as his teammates attempted to stand. The shield had dropped.

"And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!"

Green was taking teeth out of the beast as a prize. Red ignored the plundering and sought where the voice cometh.

"O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!"

The others seemed not to notice.
"Has anyone else heard a strange voice calling out nonsense?" Red wanted to know if he was going insane.
"Nope." Green continued to pick teeth out. Blue turned for a moment to shake his head.

In front of the elevator a recording device was on the floor. Red picked it up. He recognized the voice as Euclid, leader of Alpha Squad; Red believes he had seen him once on the Skylark though is unable to recall the memory.

"As Spiral HQ is not yet fully operational and most systems are offline, these personal recordings will have to suffice as a record of our expedition until HQ can establish an Uplink system with squads in the field. The clockworks are both fascinating and horrifying. Within
a seemingly impossible machine all manners of alien worlds exist within the giant globes that endlessly churn through every floor. What purpose do they serve? And from where did these worlds come from?"

Blue was listening over his shoulder while Green was preoccupied with the various green crates nearby.

"Before the crash the Skylark performed a partial scan of Cradle's surface that revealed what appeared to be a landscape composed of enormous parches of disparate terrain. The Clockworks are a manufactured place, perhaps the worlds they contain are harvested from the terrain above. But how?"

Red pocketed the device. The same voice spoke again.

"'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;"

The team assembled on the elevator, Red tried to ignore the voice.

"All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe."

Perhaps he was going insane.

What was wrong with a little instability?

I have recently been working on the Snarbolax mission. Antigua only exists after defeating Jelly King. Therefore, until the story gets far enough into T2 to mention Jelly King, your character will still not exist. I can make a few cameos until then at best.

Did you try any of the threads where someone takes your character specs and makes a story out of it? This is going to take me a while. If you want your story for yourself I recommend those threads since they want to write about your character first. If I have time I can just write an independent story for your character. If you want to be part of this story it will take a while.

"Congratulations, you three are now Soldiers."
Lieutenant Feron handed each of them a small badge of bright gray with a faded red-violet military stripe. Blue had to admit it was nice, but it would seem out of place to attach it to his meager Proto armor. Everyone else had a nice armor to attach theirs to. Blue looked between Red and Green, who were both standing at attention in presence of their commanding unit.
"Sir, I have several questions for you." Red did not change his stance. Feron almost smiled at him.
"Very well. As for you two," Feron pointed to Blue and Green, "I will have a mission for you two later. Knowing this one," Feron looked to Red, "we will be conversing for a while."
Blue shuffled his feet uncomfortably. Green was holding the crest close to his face, admiring the prestigious implication of the object.
"Come on, we have to get Bechamel to attach these!" Green was ready to go to the Bazaar. Blue hesitated, switching his sight over to Red who was walking with Feron to a platform. Were they going in the Clockworks without us? Feron withdrew a key from his arsenal and opened a strange screen. Blue had never seen this before.
"What are you waiting for?" Green grabbed him and pulled him to the Bazaar.

__________________________________
The purple knight had left his enormous scissors at his stand. It was a slow business day anyway. He laid back, staring at the sky. It was a clear day. Not a single wor-

"Bechamel!"

He spoke too soon. Bechamel rolled over and gave a hazed expression to whoever disturbed his peace. A green knight in Wolver and someone in Proto were running toward him. These two again.

"Bechamel! We need you to attach these!"
The knight in Wolver held up a Cobalt crest. They must have been cleared for second tier. But, wait; the one in Proto was not equipped for it. Looks like another day to make a profit.
"Welcome, welcome." Bechamel stood up and brushed the grass off. The green knight was in his face already.
"Come on, come on, go go go!"
Bechamel was about to smack this obnoxious idiot untilthe blue knight walked up to his scissors.
"Away from the scissors, kiddo." Bechamel was
waving for the knight to go away. Stupid Proto newbies.
"Blue, come on, leave those alone." Green turned to him as well. Bechamel was holding back the urge to smack him on the back of the head.
"Alright, what can I do for you two?" He wanted to relax again. Dealing with obnoxious knights was stressful.
"We got Soldier rank and these crests." Green was holding them up again.
"Okay." Bechamel walked to his stand. The blue knight was staring at the floor.
"Is there something wrong with this one?" Bechamel did not look at Green but he knew who he was referring to.
"He is always like this." Green was standing close to Bechamel again. He pushed the ecstatic knight a few steps away.
"I need a little space."
Green was still excited.
"Before we begin you two need to know this process is permanent. Once the accessory is attached the only way to remove it is to destroy it permanently." Bechamel was giving his routine last-chance shtick to weasel out of the unpaid job. Feron paid him reguarly but it was not enough to make the job worth it to make a living.
"Well, on second thought, maybe we should wait." Blue kept his gaze to the floor, hands behind his back. Bechamel gave him a once over.
"Did they make you a Soldier?" Not even in two star gear and given second tier access, what a load. The knight looked slightly upward.
"Y..Yes, I am with Green." Blue wanted to back away but Green was behind him, blocking escape. Bechamel would have laughed if this were not so pitiful.
"No Vanguard would even think of letting you pass without the right ranked gear." Bechamel let out a breath while going through his arsenal for something to sell to get rid of the two knights. He found an old Cobalt set.
"Here, try this on. They are a thousand four hundred a pop." Bechamel tossed the helmet, torso and shield to Blue who immediately equipped them. It may be plain, dull, and the same standard uniform of most of the other knights but at least it was something better. Blue went through his own arsenal after equipping the items and found he was about a thousand crowns short of the full price. He had already equipped them so they were bound and to run away right now would be stealing. Blue turned to Green while keeping his gaze downward.
"I got your back, buddy." Green withdrew the remaining amount from his own arsenal and handed it to Blue, who gave it to Bechamel for the equipment. He was holding back a smile.
"Pleasure doing business."
Blue kept his gaze down. Green laid his arm on his shoulder. Bechamel took notice that both were still there.
"Need something else?" The green knight spoke.
"Yeah, I need a new sword and shield. My Proto stuff is junk." Bechamel would have laughed. These two are pathetic.
"Alright, hold on." Bechamel went back to his arsenal and found a spare Brandish but no cheap spare shield.
"This is a Brandish, it works like your Proto but all details are better." Bechamel tossed it while in its scabbard. "Even the charge attack works the same."
Green gave him a confused look. Blue was testing mobility with the Cobalt set. Bechamel thought for a moment. What happened to the red demo that was with these two? Bechamel was about to ask but realized they were just Soldiers, he would turn up eventually; probably dead. A lot of new knights are thrown in the Clockworks and never return. It was part of the natural cycle of elimination of stupid; the smarter knights knew not to get themselves killed while the stupid knights attack anything they see and expect no retaliation.
"You got what you needed, now go back to work." Bechamel was not about to play babysitter for a hyperactive punk and a wimp. The sooner he could get rid of them the better.
"Does the lieutenant have something for you two yet?"
Bechamel had little time for this, there were other new knights to sca- help.
"N-No, thanks." The blue knight turned and walked toward the Arcade. The green one followed. Finally.
__________________________________

"Is there anything else you wish to ask?" Feron was exhausted. Where were the other two? He needed a break.
"I believe so, sir." The red knight standing next to him may have shown respect for his rank yet procured several unusual questions; Vanguard keys, the origin of
the Strangers, and too many questions following. Feron did not have most of the answers so Red had to navigate through it logically. The process was long and agonizing. Feron had to give him something to do to keep the knight and his ceaseless curiosity distant and occupied.
"Soldier, I have a mission for your team." Feron did not meet his gaze in case there would be more questions.
"I trust you are familiar with the variances of damage afflictable by inhabitants of the Clockworks."
Red hesitated.
"Yes. Beasts and jellies inflict pierce, fiends and undead inflict shadow, constructs and gremlins inflict element; gremlins also created constructs and the Clockworks."
"I have three missions, one for each of your team; you each shall face different forms of damage and learn how to fight average enemies of the second tier. You will receive the mission to clear a Deconstruction Zone with constructs and gremlins who seem to be destroying a part of the Clockworks to rebuild it. If allowed to complete this task the Clockworks will become unstable for our knights. A few knights have already been sent but none have returned. The last transmission from their team implies they have been captured. You are to liberate the captured team and disable a console in the area." The platform reached the Arcade.
"Do you have something for my teammates?"
"Yes, they each have something to do. You are dismissed to your task while I give the others theirs."
After Feron got off the platform to address Blue and Green Red activated the platform and lowered again.
"Have something for us today, boss?" The green one was in his face. Perhaps Feron should have Izola train him to be less confrontational.
"Yes. I have given your teammate a mission to disable a gremlin facility. You two are also going to be running solo missions."
Blue immediately brought his gaze to Green. Feron knew these two were dependant on each other. Perhaps it would be best to call in someone else for the more difficult one, someone with experience in second tier. These two rely on each other for combat tactics and are likely to be easily destroyed if allowed to go into a new tier, especially since the difference is fairly substantial.
"Alright, you two will stay together. I have someone else in mind for the third."
Green beamed.
"Thank you, lieutenant."
"Your mission is to clear a boiler room beneath Moorcraft Manor, the floor at the beginning of the second tier. A strange breed of jelly named 'Oiler' have been interrupting flame filtration by absorbing it into their own bodies, creating an unstable inferno which will destroy Moorcraft if allowed to proceed. Remove these abominations from the area." Blue and Green took the platform and delved into the Clockworks. Feron had to make a few calls.
__________________________________

The prison was pitch black as always. The only visibility was through a puny window, barely large enough to see through with both eyes. Out the window the guard was asleep. He was able to deactivate the security system without being noticed but had never needed to do so as they would simply imprison him again if escape were constant; or worse, increase the rate they drain energy. He felt his own arms. Vibrant, light blue shards sprouted from the prison loadout uniform. It was painful but provided the energy they needed to harvest for their alchemic crafting. The com link on the guard rang and the guard fell off their seat.
"Wha-I was awake! The prisoner is here," the guard looked at the tiny window and met his gaze. The guard immediately fell on his back in surprise.
"S-Stop staring at me like that!" The prisoner would have laughed if the guards were not so pathetic. Their duty consisted of sitting and pacing around the facility, expecting someone to try to break him out. Only someone as insane as he would even consider doing so; he was one of
the first to crash and was captured by the gremlins. He had no memory of what happened but remembers being trained in demolition based weaponry to destroy areas under order
of the gremlins. It was a fun job, being rewarded for blowing things up; he never realized he was actually destroying parts of the Clockworks to prevent the Order from finding him. He had been a loner amongst their community but it was better than being locked up all the time, especially after the Order had painfully removed his blast suit. It was a gift from the gremlins who essentially raised him, gave him the power to help in a substantial manner; now he was a crystal source to be kept in a cage like an animal. This may be due to his past resistance to capture, as several Vanguards were obliterated into ashes; ha, ashes. Funny.
"What are you doing in there, prisoner?"
As if the guards cared. What could he do, stare through the window? There was nothing to do in the cell except admire the glowing blue shards piercing out of his body.
"If you behave I might give you a little treat."
A treat? What would a guard be able to offer, a delay on the extraction by a few seconds? These incompetent cowards believed they had the power to do anything when in reality
without this prison they would be nothing more than scrap metal and ash. Even without his blast suit or bombs he had been trained by constructs in combat well enough to know how to rip a knight in half and consume their energy. The gremlins gave him a life and the equipment to protect his people; the Order threw him in a cage and uses him like a cow for milk. At least with his real family they limited extraction to the excess which interrupted his mobility; the Order has been scraping him for all the crystal matter they can possibly pick out of him. In the past he had a blast suit to protect his endoskeleton but in the Order he is forced to wear a thin and meager armor which barely protected.
"Is the prisoner prepared?" A familiar voice was on the intercom. It was time again.
"Prepared as always." The guard smiled to the window, amused by the thought of another painful
procedure for their prisoner.

Is Ilsola from another story by someone else? If so I will need to read it before introducing your character. The loadout is very similar to Izola. Why is there +2 charge and +2 universal damage? Where does that come from? The equipment will be an issue as no one will have more than two active weapons until around chapter 11; the current team only has their Proto weapons and one weapon to upgrade.

Which of the following quotes would best describe something they would say?

"Stay out of the way or I might accidentally hurt you"
"Watch out, I almost hit you"
"Alright, I forgive you, but try not to do that next time"

Having retained their memory will be a significant factor later in the story.

Other than the above, I should be able to get them in soon; "Dusk" ought to appear soon as well, perhaps they will be in a team.

Mad Bomber is unfitting for someone "impulsive" who uses Irontech; also, someone else will have that set later on. By later on I mean chapter 10. The rest of the loadout is fine. The name could be something to tease them for, inspiring them to further prove their battle prowess with enthusiasm. I can make their personal color orange if you want.

Not much I can interrogate for, the personality seems straightforward enough to work with.

I have been fairly busy lately. I may be able to get the next part out by next week.

Not all characters will live forever.

If I continue explaining from here I would be spoiling major story points. But, sure, Volcanic would be fine.

Alright, I have your character thrown in the pot; I keep notes on all characters made by myself and other users.

I may have posted this before but I do have my own characters to add after the current party.

Everyone dispersed throughout the Arcade. Even Brawl was trying to limp away. Red motioned to help him. Brawl merely turned from him. Red turned to where Feron left. The doorway seemed void of life in spite of the knights swarming throughout the Arcade.
"Come on, we have work to do." Green spoke solemnly. Blue hesitated to follow him to the platform, sharing a glance with Red only to proceed. Their party had been assigned to investigate a place called "Candlestick Keep" where strange horrors of shadow dwelled. Red
disdainfully declined joining their expedition to find answers. Why did Feron flee at the sight of Brawl? Why does Brawl know the lieutenant? What was going on around here?
"Hold on, boyo." Brawl had grabbed Red by the leg.
"Yes?" Red expected a revealing explanation of what nonsense was going on.
"I need a drink." Brawl collapsed again and seemed to have fallen unconscious.
"Yes, sir." Red thought to carry Brawl to a bar, only to realize there is no bar in Haven. Brawl coughed himself awake and uttered a few more words.
"Take me southwest to the old bar."
"Southwest of here is the Bazaar, sir."
His eyes flashed.
"What did you say?" Brawl hauled himself upright.
"The Bazaar is there."
Brawl seemed surprised. Without a word he stormed to the sought area, recklessly smashing through anything which dared to even think of getting in the way. The doorway dividing Arcade and Bazaar had a new dent to be fixed.
"They did it." Brawl was standing in awe of the Bazaar.
"Yes, this has been here for quite a while.
Strangers and knights alike have created busi-"
"They did it." Brawl interrupted with a hoarse repetition. He seemed displeased.
"Is something wrong?"
"They did it." Brawl repeated the phrase again and continued his rampage to the main area of Haven where Feron fled. Red was beginning to doubt the thought of answers coming to fruition at this rate.
"Brawl, I need to ask you a few things." Red attempted to calm him. It was no use. Brawl answered but did not so much as turn to address him.
"I need to speak to Feron." Brawl stopped and activated a similar mapping device to the one Red has been using. It was barely lit, but a dim cyan signal came from the training hall. Brawl charged in, Red followed.

__________________________________

Several new recruits were standing in a line, each holding a Calibur. They all had various colors and designs for their Proto armors but all held the same blade.
"You may be wondering why you are all being trained at once. Today, the Order has decided to teach recruits in classes rather than individual tutoring to save time between training and assignment." A large knight in Plate armor paced along the line of recruits.
"Today, you are part of the Cobalt project."
A short knight of cyan coloration immediately raised his hand and began to hop.
"What is Cobalt?"
The commanding knight stopped. He paced back to the little knight who dared speak out of turn and loomed over him.
"You are part of it."
"But what is it?"
The heavily armored knight with vibrant orange eyes gleaming behind the face grate turned from the recruit.
"Something I hoped we would never have to use."

"Feron!" A hoarse roar shredded into his thoughts, stunning him before he could turn to face the source. The heavily armored knight stormed up to him, the wretched
stench of ash singed his olfactory sensors.
"It happened."
Feron regained his composure and stood face to face with Brawl.
"What happened?"
"You know. Boyo."
Feron began to become restless.
"I assure you, I have no idea wh-"
"You know." Brawl was on the verge of pressing his face grate down on Feron.
"Would someone mind explaining what is going on?"
Red was becoming increasingly confused by the second. Brawl began to answer.
"Your boss here is-"
"Everything is under control, Brawl."
How did Feron know his name when he never introduced him?
"Do you two know each other?" Red believed the pieces were beginning to come together, though had no contemptible image to base this assumption on.
"Know each other?" Brawl began to overpower Feron and force him to bend his knees slightly.
"Too well."
Brawl spoke malevolently. He seemed to be an entirely different knight, vengeful and sinister. Feron retained his tone but could not help receding as the crushing weight continued to press on him.
"Get off of me!" Feron pushed Brawl away and brushed himself off as though he were assaulted by a foul behemoth.
"Our past is behind us."
Brawl was becoming more aggravated.
"Our past will never be behind us! I remember what you did."
Feron cringed.
"Vanguards, arrest him!"
Several knights in the area apprehended Brawl. Several were familiar to Red.
"Remi? Izola?" No one so much as looked at him.
"Take him to the prison."
As they dragged Brawl out, who flailed wildly, Feron turned away and held his hands over his face.
"Are you alright, sir?" Red stood next to the lieutenant who kept his face hidden.
"Yes. I believe so." Feron arose and faced Red.
"That was Brawl, my previous.. The previous threat
to the Order." Feron seemed to take pain in these words.
"He had been decommissioned, deactivated, and destroyed many years ago."
Red was shocked. Brawl was a criminal? How could this be?
"What did he do?"
"I am not authorized to disclose that information." Feron turned away from Red. Red pondered
this for a moment. That meant someone did have authorization, though it may not be the lieutenant. Red had to know.
"Permission to seek authorization, sir?"
Feron gave Red a condescending glare.
"Granted."

__________________________________

As the red knight in the heavy blast suit exited the training facility, Feron thought to himself.
"Try as he may, no one can find out. Regardless of strain or stress, no other knight holds the truth; at least, no other knight which is able to remember."

Feron returned to the room where registration had been taken for the recent mission and found it not to be the same room anymore. Everything was out of place, there were pieces of metal and debris everywhere, and the walls had dents. Feron ignored the mess and checked the console. Apparently everyone had signed up for it. Feron went through the names in hopes of finding someone familiar.
"Green, Blue."
What was this, a joke? Those were colors, not names. At least the registration system involved a link to their personal communication devices in case this would happen. Most of the newer knights were the low class working force on the Skylark before the crash, giving little reason to have personal identities. All they needed to know is what their job is. Since the crash they became mixed with the higher classes and decided they should also have names. Feron would have isolated them before this could happen if he had the authority at the time, though the only one with clearance for that kind of command was B-
"Lieutenant, are you here?"
Feron turned to the door. Walkon was peeking in.
"Yes, come in." Feron returned his attention to the console.
"Have you selected a team yet? Because I can spare today if w-"
"I think they can handle it." Feron kept his focus on the screen, going through the list.
"I could at least lecture the team on preparing themselves against what they are going to face."
Feron looked up from the console.
"Very well then." Feron looked back at the screen for a moment. "Actually, bring some recipes with you and some crystallized energy from storage." Feron smiled to the screen as four names had been selected. The four who were expendable yet may prove worth advancement in the ranks. If they fail, little would be lost. If they succeed, Feron would have much to gain.
"Amber, Blue, Green, and Korin."

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The stone hall was poorly lit. Their optic sensors provided the majority of light which illuminated their path, the occasional lit torch contributing.
"I should have made sure they dismantle you before trying to kill you." Echo mumbled in hopes to be unheard, answered by another strangling.
"Next time, boyo, you come down with me." Brawl threw Echo to the floor again and continued down the hall. Echo stood and continued wordlessly. Red hoped not to intice this wrath, yet was curious of how this violent relationship had started; why did they hate each other?
"Brawl?"
He did not turn to face him but still spoke.
"Yerp."
"What happened between you and Echo?"
Brawl stopped walking but did not turn.
"Long story, boyo." Brawl continued walking. Echo mumbled again.
"Old scars unhealed, reopened."
When Brawl turned around Echo flinched.
"More a scrape than a scar." Brawl turned forward and continued again. Red pursued.
"Something must have come between you two."
Echo spoke up.
"He was my..our..instructor a while ago."
"Who?"
"Me, Izola, the other Vanguards; back when we were kids. Brawl here was supposed to teach us how to fight in a group."
Brawl interrupted.
"Project Cobalt, the end of individual knighthood, where all new recruits became a single machine of a single mind."
"Project Cobalt?"
Echo spoke again.
"They were training us to be Cobalt knights, all using the same equipment to organize the ranks and keep us a united force."
Brawl retorted abruptly.
"They wanted to turn new kiddies into machines."
Red pondered this for a moment.
"I thought we were already machines."
"Imagine being controlled by one knight, along with hundreds of thousands of other knights."
Red stopped walking. The power of such an army, under the will of one?
"How is that possible?"
"Project Cobalt."
Brawl held his arm to stop them and stood perfectly still. A few light footsteps could be heard in another hallway. Brawl pointed the two to another hall and started to scout the other hallway. Echo seemed to be sparking from a fractured mechanism but it was barely audible even when standing right next to him. Red laid Echo propped up to the wall and looked down the hall where Brawl had gone. He had disappeared.

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Light was diminishing. These torches had been unused since Brawl was active, and considering how old the kiddies had gotten now it has been a while. He had to leave the kids back in a corner while he neutralized whatever was over here. In spite of the absurdly heavy armor Brawl was able to strafe along the wall and calm his breath. Echo was too weak to even consider attacking the other kid, but vulnerable to the deception Echo had been known for. Brawl
approached a split hall and stopped. He stood on the divide and waited. If he remembered correctly there were decorative statues in open areas such as where he was and an unoccupied pedestal had been collecting dust. Brawl stood on the pedestal and assumed a stance, crossing his arms and bowing his head. He heard someone coming from the
hall on the left. As the echoing footsteps became more audible and constant he dimmed his optics to imitate a statue. The opening was dim enough to only notice his eyes were lit if someone came close enough to grab by the shoulders. Out of the corner of his vision Brawl noticed a knight wearing armor with several spikes and horns, purple waves emanating from the haunting armor. A yellow-green glow emanated from the eye openings on the helmet
and decorated a few plates on their arms. A large false jaw snarled around its neck. Brawl recognized this old freak but could not risk being caught if their reunion was on unpleasant terms.

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These halls reeked of rotten metal and stone. Sylvin had been asked to light torches in this ancient prison for the guards who were supposed to be there, though Sylvin knew the morons Feron calls guards would be too afraid to come back to this old horror show. After all, this is where they are still keepi-

Sylvin noticed a statue at the end of a hall he had been walking through. It was equipped with a severely abused Volcanic Plate armor set and seemed to be covered in rust. It made the rest of the entire prison smell like a field of flowers dipped in honey. How interesting. Sylvin approached the statue and immediately become occupied with enjoying the spectacle. Nothing he has ever seen has such scars or pain, except maybe..
"You know, this old statue reminds me of someone I once knew."
Sylvin looked up at the helmet. There seemed to be a very slight orange glow behind the faceplate. Orange? No, this was impossible; Sylvin witnessed what happened, there was simply no possible way-

There was a whisper of static ahead. Mecha Knights? No, they know not to come down here. No one comes down here, especially not after what happened; unless they have a death wish. Sylvin had admired what haunted these barren halls, yet feared what may befall him if he were to encounter what was still lurking. Of course, Sylvin had heard someone was still down here guarding it but that was quite a while ago. It was easily possible the lone guard had gone insane, most likely destroying themself to escape seeing as there is only one exit in the whole prison. That exit was hidden in the prison which is currently active, barricaded and hidden so well that it
may as well be impossible to find. If a guard stumbled out of this pit, everyone at the working prison would have known; but no one has come up. No one alive, at least;
Sylvin had taken the duty of clearing remains which may be lingering in these halls, though occasionally he heard faint echoes of someone walking in the far distance. Sometimes Sylvin would bring a new recruit or two with him, though he rarely brings them back; they disappear. They would be walking along, usually right behind him, then Sylvin would notice the whimpering stopped and turned to see no one was with him anymore. He usually found what seemed to be the remains of these unfortunate little knights elsewhere in the prison, usually in the middle of
a hall or placed on an empty pedestal, then had to take them out. It was always difficult to explain to Feron where they went seeing as he was usually caught with the
remains, but he always used the excuse that the little knight had followed him in and he had tried to find them to take them back to town. Sylvin himself had never brought frightened knights to what was most likely their end, seeing as the remains often lacked their vital mist tanks or any of their internal mechanisms, but with the hollowed exoskeletal armor he always had an interesting story to tell the other Vanguards. No one ever wanted to hear about it, but Daxen usually listened at least. Everyone else is too impolite to even sit and listen, let alone see the remains.
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Red alternated his attention from the hall where Brawl had disappeared to Echo. He had to be aware in case Brawl needed him to get out of there, but he could not risk turning away from Echo who could attack at any second to escape.
"Why do you and Brawl have friction?"
Echo looked up at him.
"Back when he was my instructor, I was not the best student."
Red pursued.
"What did you do?"
"You ask a lot of questions, kid." Echo turned away from Red.
"Why was Brawl in a trash chute?"
Echo flinched.
"He was trash."
"There must have been a reason for him being in there."
"Alright, you got me." Echo sat up a little. "A while back he was our instructor, but that was not his real job. He was the warden for this old jail." Echo raised a hand to show he meant the prison they were currently sitting in. "Some old knight gave him the job of the new recruits, something about Cobalt and class training. They gave all of us Cobalt stuff, Caliburs, and Blasters. We were all pretty well matched." Red listened intently.
"Been too long to remember who the old knight was, but Brawl was pretty young when this happened. Of course he resisted, being a stubborn old brute, but when he heard Izola was in it he signed on for it." Red pondered this. Izola? What did she have to do with
anything?
"Yeah, him and Izola; something between them, I tried asking her but she never wants to talk about it."
Red mentally noted to ask her himself.
"Anyway, Brawl was a mean old prison warden; he wanted nothing to do with a bunch of kids. The other Vanguards were in our class, back when Sylvin was less crazy and Walkon was still clumsy. We all had to use Cobalt stuff so it got pretty boring. I usually ditched to get my own style but old Brawl never liked that. He gave Izola some little Plate stuff to use while everyone else had to use Cobalt, but it was pretty heavy for her so she had a tough time using a sword. I tried to help her but Brawl always sent me away."

A small metallic clunk echoed from down the hall; not the hall where Brawl had gone, the opposite direction.

"A team has been selected." Jorin sat next to Feron, both occupied with a console of records.
"I heard Walkon has withdrawn crystals from storage. Are we going to dwindle our supply further before we have to revisit..it..again?"
Feron kept his focus on the console to address Jorin.
"Sylvin is our medium to..it. He brings unworthy knights down there, we find the crystals, we purify them into a source of energy. It may not be powerful enough to replace what we need for our ship but it significantly helps in the alchemical process required to upgrade equipment to promote knights to fortify our military."
Jorin leaned back and refocused his optic sensors.
"Lieutenant, did you say the treasonous prisoners are being held in that same prison earlier?" Feron looked up from the console.
"Yes."
"Are you sure nothing will happen? I mean, no one is really guarding down th-"
"We win either way." Feron returned his attention to the console.
"Yes, sir."

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"Today, team, you have been assigned to a very dangerous mission." Walkon paced back and forth along the four knights lined up. "Some of you might not come back alive." Walkon stopped in front of Green.
"Which is why I volunteered to help you knights out. With me I have the supplies needed to craft vital equipment for some of you," Walkon redirected his attention to Blue momentarily, "while others could use improvement." Walkon proceeded to the supply container and tripped on a rock nestled in the grass. Amber uttered a chuckle. Walkon scrambled to his feet.
"Is something funny?"
Green answered unexpectedly.
"We await your supplies."
Walkon brushed the grass off his purple armor and opened the container. Inside were several recipe modules and a few light blue crystals. They were different from the kind of mineral found in the Clockworks, but somewhat similar in color. Walkon revealed the items to the team and dragged the container next to the alchemy machine.
"You, blue knight, why are you still in Cobalt?
What are you, Jorin?" Walkon activated the crafting machine and identified himself. A catalog of items were listed on the screen.
"I-I use guns, sir." Blue was peeking around his side.
"Of course you do, now stand here." Walkon pointed for Blue to stand a couple paces away then began to place materials into the machine input. He then drew a tube from the machine and piked it into the crystal, which began to drain its illuminated glow. As the crystal began to become
gray, two items selected on the screen became highlighted. Walkon activated the craft and a strange equipment set came out.
"I expect to be paid back for these." Walkon handed the armor and hat to Blue who immediately equipped them. The armor was a poncho and the hat looked silly, but at least it was better than the Cobalt armor he was using.
"This is the Gunslinger set, it makes your guns fire faster." Walkon slapped Blue on the back and turned to the others. Blue almost fell over but managed to recover. "You, green Wolver, you next."
Green approached the machine and awaited his own improvement. Walkon was looking over him.
"I need you to unequip your Wolver armor and do the crafting process yourself." Walkon found the appropriate recipes and gave them to Green. "You should already have materials for this." Walkon reset the machine and let Green identify himself then attached another chunk of crystal to the machine to be consumed. Green had to switch to his Proto armor to use his Wolver equipment in the process, seeing that the outcome would be a more powerful version of it. Green deposited the materials and activated the process. From the output came a nearly identical helmet and torso, though different colors. Green re equipped the armor and noticed its defenses were higher.
"Hurry up, we have to get through all of you."
Korin had his Plate armor upgraded to Fused Plate and Amber had his Spiral Demo blast suit upgraded to Fused Demo. The blast suit was a pleasant green.
"That should be enough. You are all on a tab, so be sure to come back with enough to repay your debts."
Walkon threw the dim crystals back into the container, closed it, and began to push it back to storage. As he was beginning to exit the garden he turned to give a final order.
"Meet up in the Arcade on the gate second from the
left."
Walkon continued to push the box while the others continued. Walkon had gone east to a blocked off area while the others had to wait in the Arcade. Blue had planned to continue with them but instead decided to trail behind Walkon, keeping his distance since the barricade was not guarded. As Blue followed silently behind Walkon the other three would have been lounging at the platform by now.

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Green was about to find another Vanguard to begin the mission, seeing as none of them had the code for the mission yet, so he decided to talk with Blue while they waited for Walkon to return. He turned behind him where he thought Blue had been following, only to find no one behind him.

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Walkon had to get this container back to be replenished before nightfall. Once it goes dark, Sylvin would be upset with him again. Last time Walkon came at night Sylvin forced him back to town, though he was usually alone in this older part of the area. That knight has always had a thing about the old and dead, especially in the broken down factory that used to be over here. Sylvin had kept a protest against tearing it down to build a new one, but Feron decided its remains should stay as a monument to the past; which is strange, considering usually anything reminding Feron of his youth is destroyed. He never answers questions about his past, though most of the Vanguards seem to have diminished memory to their youth. Walkon tried to remember back when he was as inexperienced as the four young knights he had helped not too long ago, but could recall nothing. He remembered Remi pulling constant pranks on him back when they had to work together for a while as Soldiers, but before that was blank. Maybe Sylvin would know.
"Walkon here, bringing in some used crystal."
The air locks lowered as Walkon pushed the box along. He heard a small metallic tap on one of the several doors which had opened. He looked up to see behind him, noticing the sun was going to set soon. He turned back to his business to get out of this old place as quickly as possible. There was no guard nearby to manage the security because everyone was back in town or in the Arcade, using consoles from afar in case an enemy force comes and captures one of our knights to use against us. What would they do, steal some rusted piles of metal? There was nothing around here, except maybe the prison no one uses anymore. The Order used to take prisoners back when Walkon was tormented by Remi, but the prison looked pretty small from where he saw it. It was basically a thick metal bunker, probably not even big enough for more than a few Lumbers. It was definitely well fortified. The only time he ever went inside that prison was to drop off a message for Sylvin, who was napping as usually during the
day propped up against a wall next to the little jail cell. Sometimes a few things in the cell were moved around, probably Sylvin keeping himself occupied. All he ever does is sulk around here, probably because Feron always puts him down for his negative attitude.
"Nice to have company." Sylvin spoke as though
he saw him every day. It was rare for anyone to even approach the front gate, except for the creepy knight himself. Usually people only came by to drop off empty energy crystals, though usually drained crystals are stacked up at the front gate and Sylvin brings them restored the next morning. Where does he get the energy from?
"Just bringing back some used ones."
"Been a while since you had to use these." Sylvin had opened the container and was playing with an empty crystal. "Must be up to something."
"I am quite content with my regal attire."
Sylvin laughed.
"Probably helping some new guys. Back in our time people had to come down here themselves. You remember?"
Walkon tried to remember. That must have been before he was stuck with Remi.
"Uhh..no..?"
Sylvin gave him a displeased expression.
"Sometimes I hate being our oldest." Sylvin tossed the crystal back into the container and closed it. "I can have these full and out front in the morning."
"Thanks. They were used where we should get some profit, the lieutenant has them going after Royal Jelly for a recon module."
"As if we need another to learn where Alpha Squad went." Sylvin sat back in his chair again. "We already know where they went, Feron just wants to test how new knights can survive."
"The lieutenant is giving them the experience they need to be promoted in the ranks of the Order to join us against the vicious aggression of native forces." Walkon did not hesitate to counter.
"Whatever you say." Sylvin began to rock in the chair, tilting it at an angle which would easily fall over.
"I will come for the box tomorrow." Walkon exited the facility and returned to the Arcade.

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The rooms were poorly lit, the entire area enclosed with various bunkers scattered around. Blue had followed Walkon through the air locks at the gate but was unable to exit without being caught. Blue decided to explore the area before trying to think of an excuse for him being there. There were lights every once in a while along the walls but overall it was still pretty dark. Blue turned to where set. Warm orange light grasped at him only to crawl away as night began to return to Cradle. An ominous mood began to assume control of the area. Some of the bunkers seemed abandoned, doors laying on the floor near what seems to have been the entrance though hinges were broken and untouched. It looked like someone had beaten down several doors but the walls and windows seemed untouched; windows were still barricaded with what seemed to be metal bars attached from inside the rooms, but they have gathered a significant layer of dust. Blue peeked in one of the open doorways, but it was too dark to see anything. There was barely enough light to see a couple steps into the room from the doorway and no lights were on inside the room. Blue thought of walking in anyway, but decided instead to find somewhere to settle for the night. Most of the bunkers stood isolated so Blue searched for one which was attached to the giant wall of the area. It may not have been the best idea, but being caught by the knights he heard talking in one of the bunkers would be better than hiding in some old ruins. At least there was some light. Blue found a couple old boxes next to a corner and sat behind them for the night.

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"Sorry that took so long, I had to drop off those empty energy crystals." Walkon had to run for the Arcade before the other Vanguards noticed he abandoned his duty. The knight in Dusker armor was frantically searching the Arcade.
"Something wrong with that one?" Walkon was shaken a little from seeing Sylvin again. Too many bad memories.
"He keeps asking about something blue."
"Blue, my comrade, he was the gunner with us."
Green continued to throw boxes out of his way to continue
his search. Walkon paused to think of where he may have gone. His mind traveled back to his recent encounter at the abandoned area, how he thought he heard someone following behind.

They both have green parts, apparently I think they are the same thing.

Hopefully there will only be one more part for chapter five, maybe two. Probably not. I hope not.