>>1008481
>>Head down the alley so you can have a private discussion.

>>1008481 Here's a link to all the other chapters.

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=Geistalt

You wander down the road, trying to appear as collected and natural as you can to avoid arousing suspicion.

You keep your mouth shut, awaiting her instructions.

She taps her stuffed, living umbrella against the cold winter pavement and beats her other plush toy against the wall with it, commenting, "It's taken a lot of effort to keep you out of Terumi's reticle."

She looks at you with a pressing glance, as if trying to teach a pet how to perform a new trick (without injuring itself).

Despite her air of contempt (and her obnoxious English accent), her facial expression lets you know she's truly concerned about how everything might turn out for you.

"It's also been exceedingly difficult to negotiate with Kokonoe," she resumes. "But that's not the reason I opted to enlist your help this morning."

>"You sound worried."
>"What's been happening as of late?"
>Keep your mouth shut.
>"Glad to do something useful for a change."
>[write-in]

>>1008577
>"You sound worried."
>"What's been happening as of late?"

>>1008577 Sorry. Forgot about tripcodes. It won't happen again (unless I go on hiatus again, for some reason).

>>1008577
>You sound worried
>What's been happening as of late?

Blazblue quest returns!

"You sound worried," you reply. "How've things been going?"

"Don't interrupt me," she interjects. "It's quite unkind. And to think you made such a courteous first impression."

You shut your lips and give her an understanding nod.

She looks up at you, continuing, "Of course, I can't rightly blame you. It's only natural that you'd be curious."

She opens another portal and lifts her umbrella, resuming, "Out of personal dissatisfaction and a not-so-subtle outrage, Terumi has thrown a few other plebeians' lives into peril. I've been trying to protect those I can, but, for the most part, my endeavors have been offset by the sheer number of congenial bystanders he's had deliquesced for seithr."

You barely keep up with her convoluted rambling.

She goes on without any hesitation, adding, "First and foremost among them are two of Noel's associates: Jin Kisaragi and Makoto Nanaya. I suggest you become acquainted with the latter. She's a spy for Kokonoe, and one of Hazama's subordinates."

She takes your hand, trying to lead you through the portal–with a surprising amount of force.

>Follow her.
>"Thanks for the advice."
>"Where are we going?"
>[write-in]

>>1008776
>"Thanks for the advice."
>"Where are we going?"

>>1008776
>Where are we going?
>Also who has Terumi thrown into peril? Is he targetting specific people?

"Thanks for the advice," you hurriedly comment, asking "and where are we going?"

"Oh; you'll bloody well find out!" Rachel answers, dragging you through the portal.

"And whom else has Terumi thrown into per-"

You emerge, once again, at Kagutsuchi Port.

You take a couple steps out to find a female squirrel beastkin in the standard attire of the Novus Orbis Librarium Intelligence Department–and a blond Praetorian Guard bleeding out on the ground beside her. You immediately identify the katana he appears to be clutching in a death grip as the 2nd Causality Weapon, Yukianesa.

"Oh, my god; your injuries! What should I do?! I don't know any healing ars-" she comments, cutting herself off.

"That's quite enough," Rachel interrupts.

The beastkin's just about ready to break down in tears–then she turns to face you, her physiognomy switching to one of bitter wrath.

"YOU!" she screams, beating you into the ground with a single punch.

She turns and faces Rachel, delivering a glare that screams "traitor."

You pick yourself back up as she charges at you again, apparently getting ready to give you the beatdown of your (admittedly short) life.

>"That wasn't nice."
>"Wait; I'm not Hazama!
>"Calm your tits."
>[write-in]

>>1009165
>*sigh* Really Rachel? Bringing me around someone who KNOWS Terumi and doesn't know me? That's asking for issues. Before we ask, know I'm not Terumi, just ...... for lack off a better word a clone. Going on a guess, Mister bleeding out is Jin and you're Makoto.

"Thanks for the advice," you hurriedly comment, asking, "and where are we going?"

"Oh; you'll bloody well find out!" Rachel answers, dragging you through the portal.

"And whom else has Terumi thrown into per-"

You emerge, once again, at Kagutsuchi Port.

You take a couple steps out to find a female squirrel beastkin in the standard attire of the Novus Orbis Librarium Intelligence Department–and a blond Praetorian Guard bleeding out on the ground beside her. You immediately identify the katana he appears to be clutching in a death grip as the 2nd Causality Weapon, Yukianesa.

"Oh, my god; your injuries! What should I do?! I don't know any healing ars-" she comments, cutting herself off.

"That's quite enough," Rachel interrupts.

The beastkin's just about ready to break down in tears–then she turns to face you, her physiognomy switching to one of bitter wrath.

"YOU!" she screams, beating you into the ground with a single punch.

She turns and faces Rachel, delivering a glare that screams "traitor."

You pick yourself back up as she charges at you again, apparently getting ready to give you the beatdown of your (admittedly short) life.

>"That wasn't nice."
>"Wait; I'm not Hazama!
>"Calm your tits."
>[write-in]

You get up as soon as you can, demanding in an exasperated tone, "Really, Rachel? Bringing me around someone who KNOWS Hazama and doesn't know me? That's just asking for issues."

That appears to have settled it.

Makoto calms down and turns her attention back to Rachel.

You add, "Before you start jumping to any conclusions, I'm not Terumi; just... a clone, for lack of a better word."

"Going on a guess, mister bleeding out is Jin and you're Makoto," you finish.

Rachel goes off and declares, "Enough of that. I've had quite enough of listening to your voice for one day."

"Sorry," Makoto apologizes. "It's just, what do you expect?"

"Anyways, it looks like the Hero of Ikaruga could use a hospital," you pitch in as Rachel creates another portal and takes her leave without any prior notice.

"I just don't know how to deal with the world sometimes," Makoto sighs.

"Well, I can relate to that," you reply. "She told me you work for Kokonoe as well, by the way... and you seem to be taking the fact that I'm a clone rather easily."

"Yeah; well, this isn't the first case I've heard about of someone getting cloned," she responds.

She twists around, apparently alerted to someone else's presence. "Who's there?!" she demands.

Suddenly, a huge man with an X-shaped scar on his face in green ninja clothes with a bright red scarf fastening a giant nail around his neck, an exposed abdomen, and unkempt hair steps out into the open. He stands well over three inches taller than you. You recognize the nail as the ninth Causality Weapon: Rettenjou.

"Halt! I do not wish to fight you, young lady!" he answers.

"Kagutsuchi appears to have no shortage of Armagus these days," you cleverly remark.

"Sorry, but who are you?" Makoto requests.

"I am Bang Shishigami, a ninja who fights in the name of love and justice!" he responds. "Might the injured man lying behind you be... Jin Kisaragi?"

>"Yep!"
>"So, what's the story between the NOL and Ikaruga?"
>"Okay... Why the hell should we trust you?"
>[write-in]

>>1009542
Just apply palm of hand to face.

"Can we NOT do this? Please? Jin's hurt, you're outnumbered and frankly this is starting to get tedious.

"You... Those clothes... You're from Ikaruga!" Makoto comments. "Are you here to... kill him?!"

You argue, "Can we NOT do this? Please? Jin's hurt, you're outnumbered, and, frankly, this is starting to get tedious."

The ninja, "Bang," shows an expression of deep contemplation.

"There's no cause for worry," he eventually answers.

"The war is over, and we... have lost. I may disapprove of what the NOL's been doing," he goes on to explain, "but I refuse to harm an injured adversary. Besides, if I'm going to exact vengeance upon the butcher of Ikaruga, it'll be on even terms."

>"The hell kind of logic is that?!"
>"In that case, would you mind helping us get him to a hospital?"
>"Thanks... I think."
>[write-in]

>>1009939
>>"In that case, would you mind helping us get him to a hospital?"
Or at least make sure no one stops us?

"In that case, would you mind helping us get him to a hospital?" you ask.

Makoto's already been busy carrying him on her shoulder. You decide to pitch in.

"Not in the slightest!" he answers, taking Makoto's place. "In fact, there's a doctor I've been going steady with: the lovely Miss Litchi!"

You eventually arrive at Bang's abode in Ronin-Gai. Litchi visits, as promised, and gets busy treating the Major. The curtain of night eventually descends upon the city.

>"So, what's your history with Noel and Jin?"
>"Kokonoe hasn't contacted me all day. What instructions has she given you? Just curious."
>"Do you think I should get out of here to avoid drawing all the wrong kinds of attention?"
>[write-in]

>>1010078
>>"So, what's your history with Noel and Jin?"

"In that case, would you mind helping us get him to a hospital?" you ask.

Makoto's already been busy carrying him on her shoulder. You decide to pitch in.

"Not in the slightest!" he answers, taking Makoto's place. "In fact, there's a doctor I've been going steady with: the lovely Miss Litchi!"

You eventually arrive at Bang's abode in Ronin-Gai. Litchi visits, as promised, and gets busy treating the Major. The curtain of night slowly but inexorably descends upon the city. You and Makoto wind down on different beds in the same room.

>"So, what's your history with Jin and Noel?"
>"What happened in Ikaruga?"
>"Kokonoe hasn't contacted me all day. What instructions has she given you? Just curious."
>"Do you think I should get out of here to avoid drawing all the wrong kinds of attention?"
>[write-in]

>>1010234
>>"I met her at the port three days ago. I told her to go back to Iwasu. Kokonoe seemed to approve. Do you know what happened to her?"
>"Don't you find the lack of soldiers in this city kind of disturbing?"

"So, what's your history with Jin and Noel?" you ask.

"Jin was the head of the student council at the Military Academy," she explains. "Then he graduated, became the Hero of Ikaruga, and was basically never heard from again."

"As for Noel, we were roommates," Makoto comments after a few seconds' worth of thought.

"I take it Tsubaki was, too," you add.

"Yeah. We were thick as thieves, for the most part. The best of buds."

You connect the dots, realizing she was probably briefed about Tsubaki's mission.

>"So, what's Kokonoe told you to do? What's the game plan?"
>"I met her at the port three days ago. I told her to go back to Iwasu. Kokonoe seemed to approve. Do you know what happened to her?"
>"Don't you find the lack of soldiers in this city kind of disturbing?"
>"I met Noel in the Cathedral four days ago."
>[write-in]

>>1010259
>So whats Kokobke told you to do? What's the game plan?
>Don't you find the lack of soldiers in this city disturbing?

You go on, asking, "Don't you find the sparse number of troops in the city kind of strange?"

She answers, "Yep. And I know damn well what Hazama's been doing with them."

"So, who are you?" she immediately proceeds to ask.

You respond, "A name's just a name, but, according to Kokonoe, I was called 'Ryouma.' Apparently, I was designed to serve as one of Terumi's other host vessels."

"Hmm..." Makoto muses.

You take it she's known about Terumi for a while. Not too long, but long enough.

"So, what assignments has Kokonoe given you?" you ask. "What are we doing in the grand scheme of things?"

"She just gave me instructions to travel around the town looking for Noel," she responds. "Trying to keep her away from Terumi. Trying to keep her safe."

"I met Tsubaki at the port three days ago," you add. "I told her to go back to Iwasu. Kokonoe seemed to approve. Do you know what happened to her?" you ask.

"She's still here..." Makoto answered anxiously.

Damn.

>"Does she even remember it? 'Cause Terumi has Ouroboros."
>"How long have you known that your commanding officer was possessed?"
>[write-in]

>>1010463
>>"Does she even remember it? 'Cause Terumi has Ouroboros."

>>1010463
> What is Hazama doing with the soldiers? Do you have any idea what he might be planning?
>Does she even remember it? Cause Terumi has the Ouroboros.

>>1010463
>"Does she even remember it? 'Cause Terumi has Ouroboros."
>"How long have you known that your commanding officer was possessed?"
>"Have you seen Noel?"

.

"Does she even remember it?" you ask. "'Cause Terumi has Ouroboros."

"Hell if I know," she responds.

"So, where is Noel?" you ask. "I saw her at the Cathedral four days ago. I tried to get her out of there; that was my first mission. Of course, she had no idea who the hell I was. She just followed me out of there, thinking I was Hazama."

You drone on, "I know Terumi wiped that memory."

You keep asking relentlessly, "So, how long have you known your commanding officer's possessed?"

"About a day," Makoto sighs.

Huh.

"Rachel told me."

"Go figure," you mutter.

Makoto rolls around in her bed and covers her head with her pillow.

You notice how late it's gotten. You get out of bed. "Turning off the lights, now," you calmly declare–but loudly enough so as to make sure she hears.

"G'night, Ryouma."

>"Good night."
>"Anyways, I'd best get out of here. Wouldn't want the Major to jump to conclusions like you did."
>[write-in]

"Does she even remember it?" you ask. "'Cause Terumi has Ouroboros."

"Hell if I know," she responds.

"So, where is Noel?" you ask. "I saw her at the Cathedral four days ago. I tried to get her out of there; that was my first mission. Of course, she had no idea who the hell I was. She just followed me out of there, thinking I was Hazama."

You drone on, "I know Terumi wiped that memory."

You keep asking, relentlessly, "So, how long have you known your commanding officer's possessed?"

"About a day," Makoto sighs.

Huh.

"Rachel told me."

"Go figure," you mutter.

Makoto rolls around in her bed and covers her head with her pillow.

You notice how late it's gotten. You get out of bed. "Turning off the lights, now," you calmly declare.

"G'night, Ryouma."

>"Good night."
>"Anyways, I'd best get out of here. Wouldn't want the Major to jump to conclusions like you did."
>[write-in]

>>1010812
>Good night

>On the way out if we can I want to snag her cellphone to see if there is anything that might be useful information wise.

>>1010817 Alternatively:
>Leave without a word.

"G'night," you respond.

You consider checking her phone for info–it's on the chest of drawers next to her bed–but you realize it's probably locked.

After all, what kind of intelligence officer leaves their belongings unsecure?

You head out, back to Orient Town, and consider making the room you're staying at an HQ of your own.

>>1010909
>Set up the room as HQ and head out into town to see what the locals are saying and if there are any leads

>>1010909 Archived.
That's it for today. Thanks.

>>1010943
Looking forward to the next thread, this is really good. Will you be posting tomorrow?

>>1010970 ...Yeah; probably.

Here's my Twitter (in case anyone cares). http://twitter.com/Geistalt

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>>1010970

You buy a bunch of equipment with the money you were allotted by Kokonoe: a couple dozen surveillance cameras, a handful of monitors, and a laptop.

The day waxes as you get busy.

You spend the night (and the better part of the subsequent day) setting up cameras next to the streets of Ronin-Gai and Orient Town. They furtively transmit their footage to the laptop. It takes hours to set up, but it appears to be worth the effort.

By the time you're done, it's a few hours into the afternoon.

You lay back in your chair and glance at the screens hooked up around your room.

As the day progresses, you notice a few other abnormal occcurrences–namely a fight breaking out at that restaraunt you visited and people wielding Armagus weapons all over the city.

Kokonoe's voice resounds throughout the joint as you watch and reflect on all the things you heard the past few days.

She mentions, "I heard you encountered one of my colleagues."

"Blame Rachel," you retort. "She's the one who dragged me all the way out there to meet Makoto in the first place."

"Calm down," Kokonoe responds. "I just wanted to know how much you shared with each other."

"Well, she already knew about Terumi. Apparently, Rachel told her everything there is to know about him."

Kokonoe scoffs at that statement.

"Anyways, I didn't stick around. I worried about what kind of confusion it'd make," you go on.

Kokonoe takes her time to brood over that, answering, "It's just as well. Tsubaki was on her way down Ronin-Gai this morning, and could have crossed paths with Makoto and Kisaragi."

You feel like there are a few things she's been keeping hidden, actively refusing to talk about.

"Anyways, it's probably a good idea to not keep all our eggs in one basket."

You helpfully comment, "I've been doing way more than that, I might add; I've also been setting up surveillance."

"Huh," Kokonoe responds. "Where is it, how thorough is it, and what have you got?"

"Beside the streets of Areas 19 and 25," you respond. "There was a fight between Ragna and what looked like a Murakumo Unit that totaled a restaurant in district 25."

And a stray magical girl brandishing Muchourin.

"Speaking of which, what the hell are all these Armagus doing in one city?"

Kokonoe immediately answers, "Nothing important... except for Ouroboros."

"And, for the record, that would-be Murakumo Unit was Lambda–a lifeless doll I had one of my other subordinates, Tager, recover from the Ibukido ruins in Ikaruga," she goes on.

You wonder what the story behind that might've been.

"So, what have you got for me this time?" you request.

"I sent Tager after Noel a while ago," she responds. "I just wanted to let you know in case he runs into her. If he does, I want you to follow her."

"By the way, are you ever going to teach me how to defend myself?" you inquire. "I still don't know how to-"

She cuts you off, answering, "Eventually."

You know using seithr comes more easily to the furious–and the aggressive. You consider what Terumi's fighting style might look like–the way the balisong knives you were given require constant pressure and sudden force to effectively use.

Like teeth instead of carving implements.

Kokonoe's dismissive answer snaps you out of it.

"Thanks," you respond with wry but well-meaning vitriol. "Real informative."

"Speaking of which, where have you been?" you ask. "I didn't hear a thing from you yesterday."

She hurriedly answers, "Sorry. I've got other people to deal with. And I had to get some sleep."

>"Ah; yes. Sleep. I remember what that was like."
>"I'll be sure to meet up with Tager if I find him."
>"Where is Tager now?"
>"Anyways, I'll let you know if I find Noel."
>[write-in]

>>1012164

I wouldn't be surprised if they changed the way archived threads freeze (reject any new comments, that is).

I am, however, frustrated.

Let me know which thread I ought to use.

http://www.strawpoll.me/12039166