Expedition Permanence (Morgasimer)

Negotiations were quickly grinding to a stop; words were no longer enough to sway Tagiser. After spouting out the history of Gaia and their life under her thumb and the coils of the Avatars, Tagiser was no more convinced that what Milton spoke was the truth. But the disbelief started rooting into whether Milton was a Persona user or not, a fact that Milton could easily demonstrate in the office. With a smirk starting to form on Milton's face, he stepped back from the desk to prepare his summoning.
"So, you doubt I am a genuine Persona user? Morgasimer could testify to this fact, but I feel words are no longer enough for you. Time I applied some action to this negotiation."
"Arcana Trigger activated." The electronic voice of a growling man echoes seemingly from Milton's body
"Well? Is this enough to convince you that I speak the truth?"

"A... Persona?" Targiser's stance softened slightly as Milton summoned his other self to his side, yet his falter only lasted a moment. Tagiser's resolve grew as so did the black and velvet blue flames at his feet. Behind him a ghostly figure began to materialize As it's form became solid, an overwhelming feeling of nausea would flow though Milton's sensors. The O2 tank he was currently breathing from would hardly be enough as his toxisity sensors spike higher then before, warning him of all manor of diseases and bacteria that now filled the air around him. With a ghostly whinny, Targiser's Persona had been summoned


"The world of Permanence has taken so much from us. Yet the one thing it will never take is who we are, and who we choose to be. There is a duality, a choice that must be made for every man woman and child of Permanence. To live within Cog Town, within a suit knowing that the world is cruel, or to live in Potts-Field and love the world that took who you are." Morgasimer looked to Pestilence with a slack jawed aw, seemingly stunned at it's presence. Targiser took two strong steps forward, his phantom self following close behind. As he came closer to Milton, the thickness of the rot in the air grew.

"Targiser this isn't the time to be having a dick swi-" Morgasimer started having shaken off the momentary stupor that Pestilence had given her. However, a side long glance from Targaiser quickly silenced her. "Leader...."

"We refused to flee into ignorance at Gaia's presense before... I will not make light of the sacrifice of those who died just to run now... So I will ask this very plainly... Why should I trust you, and why should I uproot the lives of over five hundred people? Think carefully about your next words. And please, put that toy away." Targiser was a mere few feet from Milton now. The feeling of filth wafting off Pestilence was almost maddening... yet even with this overwhelming wave of contagion, Milton could now see into Targasier's head piece... and through the other side.

Despite Milton's gagging at the thick smog that his throat was feeling at the moment, Phobetor and Milton still managed to stand their ground as Tagiser and Milton stood face to face, Phobetor and Pestilence standing apart in the same fashion. If all these toxicity spikes weren't already signaling for Dr. Klein and Anni to summon the other Mekor soldiers and storm the surface themselves, it wouldn't take long before someone went after Milton. He could feel his body corroding a bit on the inside from all the toxins running though his system already. Staring back at Tagiser's head with the bright glare of his eyes, Milton spoke as straightforward and serious as he could convey.

"True, I cannot force your people to follow my direction over yours, nor do I know how this society works any more than you. But ever since I started learning about your people, I've been more convinced that a new home among the stars like Junction is just what those threatened by Gaia need. I intend to remove the threat of Gaia from your society in any way I can, whether you intend on moving to Junction or not. Your duality is gaining a third option, the chance to leave this corrupted planet behind and explore the universe for a proper home to call your own. Knowing the multiverse, there's a clean Earth out there for all of you to call home.

Have I not explained several times over how I have no intention of misleading you or your decisions? When Morgasimer's helmet cracked and she could have potentially lost the gas in her suit entirely, I could've just left her. But I didn't. I saved her as best I could. I could've just walked off with her and left you all here to deal with your Gaia, but I didn't. I came to speak to you.

Speaking of, it's rather appropriate you use the word 'uproot' in this scenario. This planet is fairly rooted into the lives of your people, so I can understand your concern of uprooting an entire city. But is it truly better to leave them on a planet with soil that could be toxic or lose nutrients before you know it or, even worse, be uprooted by Gaia herself? Or is it a smarter decision to take a chance on a rich, expansive symbol of the variety of the universe like Junction?
You're the gardener, Tagiser. All I can do is tell you is where the other planter boxes are. On another note, I can't see anything inside your head portion of the suit. Are you... really all smoke in there?"

Targiser seemed... actually slightly taken aback by Milton's response. At mention of a breach of Morgasimer's suit, he would turn to the woman in question. His posture and the look that both he and Pestilence gave her asked a question that needed no vocalization. The glare she shot in turn answered as such. He returned his gaze to Milton and chuckled slightly. "Ya know kid, I think I like you. You're tenacious and don't back down. That's admirable... Hell I would have traded in that coward Fel for someone like you in a heart squish back in the day. Tenacity is the only thing that kept us alive all those years ago. And it's what will keep us alive now. You're right, maybe it's better to leave, maybe there's a Bronze world out there, glorious and brown just waiting for us... But... we can't leave, I refuse to abandon everything just because some bright eyed kid says he's got a magic space ship. I won't stop anyone who willingly comes, but I will not abandon the fight I started ten years ago. Gaia, Permanence, The Avatars... This is my fight, and if you really are from another world, it's not yours. I won't run before this is settled..." Targiser let Pestilence fade into the dark fog it created as he slowly sat back down at his desk and shot a pointed glance at Morgasimer "And frankly, I'm disappointing that you are..."

"T-Targiser..." A mix of emotions flashed across Morgasimer's face. First a mix of shock and pain, then sadness... finally, however, it seemed to settle on a demonic rage."Cut the Crap! We just got handed an out! If we had this ten years ago you know damn well we would have taken it! Permanence is HELL! Why in the name of God do you want to stay so badly! It's this thick head of yours, this damn pride that got Shiar killed damn it!" In an instant Morgasimer's hand clamped over her mouth in a vain attempt to keep those words from spilling out. "Leader, I didn't-"

"Kid... You asked if I'm just smoke in this suit right?..." his voice was a tired rasp as he spoke. It sounded as if he had aged twenty years sense the last time he spoke."Just how willing are you to sacrifice for the people of this city? Are you willing to lay down your life?... No, that's a stupid question. Of course you are, cus you're a naive kid who wants to save the world? But what if it was someone else's life? Are you willing to lay down the life of the one you care for the most for this city?... I was." Targiser sat for a moment, silently.

"Leader..." Morgasimer started, only to be cut off before she could continue.

"Morgasimer, don't... If you want to start rounding up civilians for some mass exodus just do it... Just bare in mind what that means for those like me who are to head strong to give up." Morgasimer said nothing in response and merely nodded sharply before quickly exiting the room, leaving her helmet behind"..... So kid... any questions before I ask you to please get the hell out of my office?"

Milton glared back at Tagiser's chuckling, this time accompanied by a smirk as he nodded in agreement. If Milton was anything besides intelligent or at least seeking intelligence beyond his own, he was tenacious. Having several armor layers helped him run through hails of rubber bullets and sword swings in combat training, but Milton knew that when you showed how tough your head was, people tended to give way if you're the speeding bullet that can force any foe to back down. But that smirk quickly faded as he realized Tagiser was staying. He still believed that the fight against Gaia was too great to separate from. The deaths of those close to him, including this person named Shiar, tied him down to the planet, so if there was any chance to get him on board, it would have to involve getting rid of this Gaia.

While Milton silently nodded and beamed at Morgasimer during her outburst, he turned to tell Morgasimer to stay only for her to be just outside the door when he could muster a response. Tagiser's further questioning into if he would risk his life or another's would be met with a straightforward nod of the head.
"I would risk my life before another person but not out of being some naïve kid. I've been through hell before Junction came around. My life... a single person who decided to follow me is worth more than I am worth. After all, they could just replace me with some AI..."

With the meeting wrapping up, Milton picked up Morgasimer's helmet and turned to leave the room, looking back to speak his last.

"Just one, sir. What will you do if Gaia and her Avatars were no longer a threat to you? If you'll reconsider then, you know where to find me. Actually, I'll probably return to let you know."

With that done, there would be a quick hiss and click emanating from Milton's body as his reserve tank started depleting. With that, Milton covered his mouth with the scarf and handed Morgasimer's helmet back over to her.

"Sorry... looks like I couldn't get through to him. But at least we have a chance with the people of Cog Town. Thanks for standing up against him for me. It was quite brave of you, and I appreciate every word you spoke. So, how do we go about gathering the people?"

"Heh... If Gaia and her hell spawn were no threat, then there'd be no reason to leave." Targiser chuckled as he watched Milton leave, sure that he would see the kid at least once more before this ended. As the door closed behind Milton, Targiser would let out a deep sigh and pull a small leather bound book from one of the drawers in his desk. Quietly he would thumb the bold number 4 printed on the front.



Milton would find Morgasimer seated in a plush waiting room arm chair next to a rather sizable hold in the wall that had not been there when they walked in, and a few spears jetting out of the wall opposite the new hole. Her frame heaved slightly as gentle sobs escaped her, slightly pink tinted tears streaming down her cheeks. "Damn it.... Damn it!" She would not notice Milton until he directly interacted with her, at which point she would snap to attention and wipe the tears from her eyes.

"Shit... Ah... Yeah, Uh... You're welcome... yeah." Before the truly embarrassing nature of her situation could set in she would spring to her feet, take her helmet from Milton's hands and make for the elevator. "I-I'll get the guard to start spreading the word, you head back to your ship and let whoever's in charge know we're coming..."

Morgasimer would stay for only a moment before nodding and leading Milton to the elevators.

What else could he have said? How else could he have convinced Tagiser that this was the way to protect his people? Milton's brain was both reassuring him that what he did was the best he could manage while his AI chewed him out for attempting negotiations without the proper experience in the department. Ah well, at least Morgasimer would be following him to Junction, so he wouldn't be going back empty-handed. While he himself wanted to tear up at the worry over what would happen to the citizens of Cog Town when he and those brave enough to follow him left for the great beyond, he saw Morgasimer was taking it just as hard.

While he wanted to sit with Morgasimer to reassure her that things would turn out alright given time, her action of taking the helmet and storming off for the elevator left him silent as he followed close by.

"It'll be alright. Whoever wants to come to Junction will have my utmost priority in protection. While you go about that, I'll let CWIS know that we should be expecting more visitors, perhaps get a biodome set up for you in the meantime. Best of luck, Morgasimer. I'll see you soon.

With the offer set up, Milton's reserve oxygen was closed off as his coughing started back up. The further he got out of the city, the louder a short alarm blare would beep from his body. That could mean only one thing; Dr. Klein considered him in a state of emergency and was planning to send backup to collect him. Realizing this, Milton bolted out of the city as fast as he could, making his way back to the clearing where he would shoot a flare for the ship to pick him up. But it seems that the job was done for him. The ship was just landing, letting out a pair of heavily armed automatons and the familiar, stern gaze of Dr. Klein staring back at him.

"Ignoring your environment hazard alerts, taking in that much toxic gas, and an unexpected glitch in your systems programming... this report better be good, Milton."

[Milton - EXIT]