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Post by Zero on Aug 16, 2009 0:12:39 GMT -4
This is a free thought RP with no set series of events. XJ-0 has died in battle after a selfless act. This RP will focus on the other OC's reactions to his apparent death, despite his body not being found.
You can have the characters discuss it amongst themselves, or they can individually dwell on it in private. Your call.
There are questions to be asked: - Why was Zero? - Why did he fight? - What do I fight for? - Where am I going? ______________________________________________________
Prologue
Jessie leaves the group behind. Jane leaves shortly after, to see if Jessie is okay.
No signal has been received, nor could an electro-rhythmic pulse be detected. They know.
Zero has died.
ZERO: Journey's End- "AFTERMATH"
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Post by Jakob on Aug 16, 2009 2:31:14 GMT -4
Jakob sat down on the parapet of the building he was sniping from. Zero was now gone, made him think about his own potential for actual death.
He didn't think much, because he knew he was capable of keeping himself alive pretty easily. Jakob was more disturbed at the fact that Zero was simply hesitant.
Everyone was hesitant, all of them. Jakob had doubts that any of them have fully realised that things are done because they need to be done... Or if he's bored. Either way, he does work for the sake of doing work.
He does it for the protection of KPG, directly, and indirectly. He plans for the future, already with second-plans, third plans, and even tenth-plans for the next hundred years. Jakob was tactical like that, something no one else could really do.
Except maybe KPG, for reasons only Jakob would know.
He cleaned his sniper rifle and reloaded its clip with extra shells. He put it all away afterward and secured his coat.
His bike stood waiting. One security bypass later, and Jakob was on his way home.
An ally was dead, but Jakob had already planned for his future in the event that Zero somehow got destroyed. No worries, no regrets. Just one dead bot at the exchange of an evil bot.
Fair trade.
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Post by Champ on Aug 16, 2009 3:30:06 GMT -4
Champ sat on an all too familiar rooftop. He stared towards the city, it's neon glow seeming dimmed. Tonight, it's greatest hero was dead. XJ-0 was no more. He'd been a light in a dark world. Now it seemed that all the light had gone out. Champ felt numb inside. Zero had been an inspiration to him. He had been a friend. He had been a hero. But more than that, he had been a symbol. He had been proof that justice still existed in the world. He had been proof that no challenge was impossible to overcome. Anything was possible. Now, it seemed that nothing was right. Champ wondered just why he was fighting. He wondered if it was worth it. He wondered why he didn't just give up. His answer came to him just as the doubt began to take hold. "Hey, hero," A soft voice said, "Are you alright?" He turned to the newcomer. Her light hair waved slightly in the soft breeze. Her blue eyes brimmed with sympathy. She was the best friend he had ever had. He needed her now more than ever. "I don't understand," Champ said, "Zero was this city's hope. Now what can we hope for." Azure stared at the night sky. It was a black expanse that seemed unending. In the night, she could see a single star. She smiled, and turned back to her grieving friend. "We can hope for a new day," She said. She turned, staring into her grieving friend's eyes. "The night is always darkest before the dawn," She said simply. Champ stood, staring at the city again. Once Zero had been it's protector. Who would save it now? Sirens filled the air. Red and blue lights flash. Champ's eyes found them quickly. He turned, looking back at Azure. She smiled back. "Go on, hero," She said, "They need you." Champ took off, following the lights. Zero was gone, but his cause was not lost. It never would be.
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Post by Zoomer on Aug 16, 2009 3:31:41 GMT -4
Alex stayed behind for a bit.
Thought his original self had had thoughts to kill Zero at one time, it had been for the sake of saving innocents (though it hadn't worked out that way). They fought for the same reason, but Alex had been a newcomer. Who knows how long he'd actually been there? He didn't, anyway.
He'd been a protector, always putting others before himself. He wasn't corrupted by the sins of humanity, as most of the others were (including himself). Completely selfless. Full of hope and determination.
He'd made the ultimate sacrifice to protect them. Despite his claims, Omega would just have been an enemy, no matter how much of a 'savior' he had believed himself to be. That much was clear.
In truth, Alex had envied Zero.... he just wish it hadn't shown as anger and distrust....but then, that was a different Alex now.
He could start fresh, without all the problems of the past.
He just hoped the others would forgive him.
*****************
The first Alex had already seen and heard parts of the story and put the pieces together. He knew what had happened.
Oh well....it didn't matter anymore. One less person to hate him for his past actions. One less reason to be afraid.
One less distraction from the distractions he could pick for himself.
One less thing that could make him face reality.
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Post by Jessie Winkler on Aug 16, 2009 6:57:48 GMT -4
A couple of days later, Zero's used-to-be girlfriend was still crying, but not as much as before. Her sister checked up on her every so often, but kept her space. Now, however, Jane decided was a good time for them to chat. "Hey. You wanna talk about it?"
"...he didn't deserve to die..."
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Post by Damion / Xerox on Aug 16, 2009 22:35:47 GMT -4
*a sillouette watches the sunset on a cliff overseeing the forest near tremorton, after silently viewing the events that transpired*
*Zero, the one he had tried to take, the one he had tried to fight, the one he had tried to use, the one who had the opportunity to kill him but spared his now mortal life, was gone*
*his scythe gleams in the setting sun of a dying day*
*out of the mask of the sillouette, a tear rolls from the eyesocket*
? ? ?: you freed me... you rescued the world of a fate worse than my corruption... and you died for it... a brave and valient soul indeed...
*the figure kneels and placed his weapon in front of him flat on the ground of the cliff*
*he gets up*
? ? ?: my your legend never fade, my friend...
*he walks off, leaving his source of power behind, never to be seen again*
*the scythe turns to stone against the ground, and an inscription writes itself on the blade of the weapon*
*it says "Long Live Zero, the True Hero..."*
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Post by Hunter on Aug 16, 2009 23:46:26 GMT -4
Gene smiled when he saw the sign. Welcome to Tremorton Spaceport, it said in bright LED letters. After spending two long weeks on a business trip to Cluster Prime, it was nice to come home. He was especially glad to be back on Earth after the final leg of his return trip was delayed for two hours by an asteroid hurtling towards the planet. Sure, the space station had shopping and restaurants to pass the time, but being stuck in orbit was making Gene a little bit stir-crazy, until he heard that the asteroid had been safely destroyed.
He walked over to the baggage claim and waited for his bags to roll in. While he was waiting, Gene looked up at the monitors above the carousel. Most of them just listed departures and arrivals to and from the spaceport and the adjacent Tremorton International Airport, but one of them was turned to a TV news network. Since the monitors didn't have sound, he had to follow along by reading the closed captions.
GNN HAS RECEIVED SOME NEW DETAILS REGARDING THE ASTEROID THAT WAS DETONATED JUST OUTSIDE EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE EARLIER TODAY. SOURCES TELL US THAT A ROBOT FROM THE AMERICAN CITY OF TREMORTON WAS ON THE ASTEROID AND HAS GONE MISSING SINCE THE BLAST. THE ROBOT, ZERO, WAS KNOWN AS A LOCAL HERO IN TREMORTON AND WAS REPORTEDLY ON THE TRAIL OF AN INTERSTELLAR CRIMINAL WHEN THE EXPLOSION OCCURRED. SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAMS HAVE BEEN DISPATCHED, BUT SO FAR AUTHORITIES HAVE FOUND NOTHING. GNN WILL BRING YOU MORE INFORMATION AS THIS STORY DEVELOPS.
Gene snickered. Yeah. Big blast like that, and he's just missing. Missing a few limbs, maybe. But I don't think his next of kin will have any problems cashing in his insurance policy. He glanced down at the conveyor belt. Dang. Still nothing. And back up. I should probably feel worse about this than I do, but then I really didn't know him that well. Geez, we work together for six months and I barely know him. What does that say about me? Oh well. Too late for regrets. I do feel bad for the people who did know him, though. An important part of their life is now... a dead part of their life. There has to be a better way to word that. Back down. Oh, come on! What's taking them so long? And up.
If it's any consolation, he died as he lived: blowing stuff up. It's how he would have wanted to go. I guess the rest of us will just have to go -- oh, hey, my stuff! Gene grabbed his bags off the carousel and started walking toward the long-term parking lot. Hm. Do I have to pee before I get in the car? Nah. I went on the space station. I wonder what they do with that stuff. Do they jettison it? Do they recycle it somehow? Maybe use it as fertilizer on a hydroponic farm? Aw man, this is gonna bug me. I'll have to look it up when I get home.
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Post by Jakob on Aug 17, 2009 4:23:54 GMT -4
Jakob sat in the lawn chair, fiddling with an old R700 rifle, before loading it with shells and taking pot shots at the set-up targets. He couldn't care less about the fact that Zero was now gone, and gone for good. He'd rather worry about the possibility that other allies would act strangely as a result of the fact that he's gone.
Jessie Winkler, Jakob remembered her name for the first time. She'd be hysterical for a while, should check on her just in case.
Jakob locked up the sniper rifle and drove to the Winkler abode; and climbed up to the window sill, just in time to hear "He didn't deserve to die..."
Jakob waved to Jessie's sister... What was it, Jen? Jean? Jan- Jane! That was it. Jakob waved to Jane, and noticed that Jessie didn't seem to look up.
"Course he didn't," Jakob said, "Didn't commit crimes. Didn't cause a situation that made him look bad. Although he cared too much on how others thought of him. Held back too much. Had many regrets and allowed them to bother him. Admired the fact that he dropped all that when it all hit the fan."
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Post by Zero on Aug 21, 2009 0:01:43 GMT -4
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Post by Champ on Aug 22, 2009 1:28:49 GMT -4
Time passed slowly in Tremorton. Eventually the city moved past the death of Zero. A statue was erected in Tremorton Park to honor his memory. Myths spread that he was still alive, since no body had ever been found. Champ did not believe the stories. People just wanted to believe the impossible. But Zero or no Zero, Tremorton still needed to be protected. That was why he found himself crouched in an alley, his ears straining to catch mumbled conversation. A weapons deal. Champ slowly drew his blade, turning his attention to the criminals beyond. As he turned the corner he heard weapons click. He tensed, ready to strike. But the crooks weren't facing him. They were facing a shadow beyond. "Hey, what is this..." One mumbled. "It...it can't be...," Another mumbled. The shadow stepped forward. The crooks let loose, firing full automatic at the newcomer. The shadow casually walked up to each, throwing their rifles to the floor. He knocked each one out with only one blow, flowing easily from one assailant to another. Soon each crook was face first on the pavement. Champ looked at the vigilante responsible. His heart froze. The figure looked over it's shoulder at him. The silhouette was unmistakable. In a moment it was gone. "Z?" Champ breathed into the silence.
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Post by Zero on Aug 22, 2009 1:38:16 GMT -4
((I'm not doing the clone or Star Force thing here, so don't everyone 'trip' too much. The point of this RP is for everyone to mourn, get over his death and better themselves for it. Take it as an opportunity for some character development. You can add some action or a subplot if you wish, but remember that Zero is gone. He's not coming back in this RP.))
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Post by Champ on Aug 22, 2009 1:40:51 GMT -4
((I was more going for disrespectful young copycat, a la Death of Superman(Or Dark Knight Returns, all of the crooks influenced by Batman to dress up), but whatever. My only thought is that the whole mourning only takes a while. The problem is drawing the line between playing off Z as something Gaudy in death and respecting what he really was))
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Post by Zero on Aug 22, 2009 1:52:13 GMT -4
((Ah, alright then, go ahead. On a side note, I posted the first part of the story of Zero's father in fanfiction. I'm hoping to finish it tomorrow. It's gonna be short.))
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Post by Hunter on Aug 22, 2009 2:25:29 GMT -4
The statue of Zero was unveiled during a memorial service in Tremorton Park, which Gene had attended more out of a sense of obligation than anything else. But as he drove home from the service, his mind wandered back to the fallen robot. I still can't believe they weren't able to find his body. I did the math: their search radius couldn't have been that big, and a human-sized metal object shouldn't be that hard to find. Besides which, most robots are fitted with emergency beacons. He should have lit up their radar like a Christmas tree, and instead they get no signal at all? The guy must have been incinerated. Vaporized, even.
The good news is, it means he can't come back as a zombie. Then again, every form of zombiism I can name is strictly organic, so that wasn't really a threat to begin with. Not yet, anyway. The bad news is, he's released trillions of metallic particles into the atmosphere. Breathing in bits of dead robot? Not healthy at all. I bet we see a spike in respiratory problems in the next few weeks. Maybe even an uptick in lung cancer in the long term.
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Post by Jessie Winkler on Aug 23, 2009 23:45:23 GMT -4
To Jessie, it felt like everyone had forgotten about Zero. Forgot that his death even happened. Even Jane seemed like she stopped caring. She just reccomended seeing a psychiatrist. 'Great. Just great,' the younger sister thought on a day like any other. "Maybe I just need totalk to someone else."
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