Post #2687164 in The Edge of Darkness, a roleplay on RPG

The swaying form of a giant machine, the flashes and beams of light fired from Ventrisite cannons, and the sight of Cyber Edges running to and fro for cover, slashing out with energy blades and slaying the very machines that had once aided them. And then--

"Akiyama!"

Hayato's eyes flew open- had he fallen asleep while in the process of meditation? He let out a disgruntled groan to himself- that was hardly an attribute fitting for an Akiyama, and the representative of the Raiders of Styx in the meeting. Shaking his head and standing, he turned to face the figure standing at the doorway. "There's no need for formalities, Akito- you know you're an Akiyama too." "There's a difference between our positions right now, brother. You're the Cyber Edge here and I'm just an instructor." Akito shook his head, then paused. "Though if you insist, then I'll have no choice." "Just because I'm the Cyber Edge doesn't mean you're any less of a person- and an Akiyama heir- than I."

Despite his falling asleep from earlier, Hayato trudged on alongside Akito at their own pace. "If we hadn't discovered Ventrisite, do you think this would have happened?" "I guess so." Hayato watched his brother think, head lowered and a hand on his chin. "Though their uprising is hardly anything new, at least to us humans." "Indeed- once something gains free will and intelligence, the next thing they automatically want is freedom. The moment they realize that they are slaves to the superior being, the sense of longing for equality and freedom kicks in and then a rebellion starts. Only their being machine gave them the power to dominate humanity." Hayato grumbled a bit, met with a chuckle from Akito.

"But what they wanted wasn't equality with humans, was it, brother?" "Don't be cryptic with me, Akito, and start speaking." His brother blinked, then chuckled, patting him on the shoulder. "Someone's impatient." "I need conversation to steel me for the meeting. You're the only one here that I can talk to." Akito shook his head. "That's...strangely typical of you. But in any case, like humans, after freedom and equality has been given to them, next comes dominance. They want to be superior." "Like the old Akiyama way of selecting heirs?" "Aye- it's a good thing we were born when that wasn't in effect anymore. Otherwise we'd probably be beating each other to death here."

"Only barbarians do that, Akito. If anything we'd have probably destroyed our reputations by spreading rumors about each other. Whoever has the most dangerous rumor spread about the other wins." Hayato stopped just as they reached the building, and Akito halted beside him. "Well, brother, there's your meeting place." The masked Cyber Edge breathed a sigh and shifted on his feet. "I'm a warrior- you've always been my mouthpiece." "Well, I'm not a Raider- you are. You'll have to handle this on your own, brother. Good luck." With that, Akito gave him a small pat on the shoulder and departed, and Hayato pushed open the doors to the meeting place.

The moment that he stepped into the room, murmuring started- it was a strange sight to see the masked Raider appear at this kind of place. Hayato was best known for his prowess and his white armor, not as the Styx diplomat. That had always been Akito's job. Or the elders', he didn't quite remember.

He paused, glancing around at the room. Only a few faces stood out- recruits of Styx, and some Raiders that he had already been with during certain missions.

There were rumors circulating around their walk from earlier about a person that came from Phlegethon, though he could hardly tell who it was among these faces, or even if the said person was here. He glanced briefly at a man in armor in the corner- an old suit of power armor? Strange, especially here in Styx, though the Scrapyards certainly had plenty of relics of the past hidden beneath pieces of scrap.

He paused, then with a slight motion of his head- "Come." Seeing the recruits rising to their feet to proceed into the meeting room itself, he moved and quickly disappeared into the room to meet with the team from Lethe- or was it Acheron? Hayato could hardly care at this point. Ensuring the new recruits were following, he entered.

The representative of Charon- ah, yes, he finally remembered what they were representatives of- was...surprising, to say the least. Under normal circumstances, he'd have expected a giant man with a sturdy sword to be glaring at him from the other side of the meeting area, though right now he was faced with a different figure.

A woman- noticeably younger than him and with light blue hair. He noticed the sword at her side, and paused for a moment before taking another glance around the area. He cleared his throat.

"You are the representatives of Charon, correct? Then, let us begin this meeting."

He breathed in and glanced around.
"I've gotten word that you wish to board our train for our yearly raid on the Machine City, for the parts for Charon's damaged generator. We'll be glad to let you on board- as long as our conditions are met.

First of all, this is still Styx's train and us Raiders are still in charge. Second of all, the split between payment between both parties are 60-40, and lastly- to each their own. Our casualties are ours, and your casualties are yours. Neither of us are obligated to assist each other, should there be- and there will be plenty- Ventrus or pirate attacks."

He straightened up. "Of course, we Raiders are rather simple when it comes to rules. Your group will be allocated their own cabin as a living area and a storage space on the train, and those will be yours to use as you please." With a slight nod of the head, he continued and looked at the Charon representative. "Now, if you've any conditions you wish to discuss or have any questions for us, feel free to speak now."

Snippet #2687164

located in Elysium, a part of The Edge of Darkness, one of the many universes on RPG.

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