fourth rune; blood; video

[deadelfwalking]

 [the feed is inconsistent throughout this transmission, particularly the visuals, which cut out at random intervals, followed by brief audio feedback.  Koltira kneels beside a couple of bodies, and he's holding the netbook so as to provide a clear view of their still, open-eyed faces.  The edges of his cloak are visible, as well; he has placed it over them like a temporary shroud, as his purpose here is not to show off trophies of war.  Several other figures stand near the bodies; one is Emma Frost, in her diamond form, arms crossed over her chest.  Tier Halibel is an active blur, still battling ground troops.]

Exsilium, I have something to show you.

[A clawed, armored hand gestures to the men on the ground.  They are exactly, eerily alike in form and detail, with unnerving, milky-blue eyes and sharp, attractive features--high cheekbones, strong jaws, perfectly and scientifically symmetrical.  Both of the men have black hair, neatly cut; they are twin to one another in every way, like mass produced mannequins.]

These are the faces beneath the masks.  Acquaint yourselves.

[the feed becomes even more unstable.  The last image it catches before cutting out entirely is that same armored hand, passing over both men's faces, shutting their eyes with surprising, solemn gentleness.  Koltira doesn't hate these men: it's clear that they are just tools, prefabricated slaves created for the UE's use, and he knows more than a little something of that.]

Comments

Video

[totallytrustworthy]

....well that's not unsettling at all, is it?

[Does she want to even know what life is like wherever these guys came from?]

[deadelfwalking]

[probably not, Chloe.] It does not endear me to this United Earth, certainly.

[trustycrowbar]

Good god... There's not a single identifying trait between them is there? These guys are all clones, and built from someone's misplaced idea of a perfect specimen on top of that.

[deadelfwalking]

[the choppy feed warps Koltira's already gravelly voice.]

Yes----clearly--

[ex_bandai157]

[ yeah no reply here just what the fuck ]

[deadelfwalking]

[f'real, brother]

[action]

[myownbestfriend]

[Emma's agnostic on the matter of whether clones are people. On the other hand, she thinks someone trying to kill her has forfeited any right to keep living they may have had, so the deaths don't bother her, especially in diamond form.]

We need to take one alive. Briefly.

[deadelfwalking]

As you like.

[he scans the lines of troops that march and surge around their little hideout, searching for someone who may have strayed from formation. Upon spotting a likely candidate, he stands on the threshold of the building's entrance and extends a hand; the same spectral lightning he used in the VR bursts from his palm and grabs the straggler by the throat, then yanks him right into Koltira's range. Ice coats the Masked's body as chains wrap around his ankles and arms, holding him in place. This kid isn't going anywhere.]

{Audio]

[standup_for_justice]

Twi- no. Copies?

[deadelfwalking]

Seems that way.

[Audio]

[strategic_guile]

Nice and creepy. Even twins don't look so eerily similar.

[deadelfwalking]

[more interference. Koltira's voice is a frustrated scowl.]

Indeed. These----are truly---bastards--

voice

[latkje]

[Holy creepy canon flashbacks, Batman!]

You think they've been made?

[deadelfwalking]

There is--element of control---[fsshhh, ffsssh. This network is just not being cooperative.]--their design.

Video;

[hungover]

[Welp, Haymitch is looking just barely drunk enough to handle this.]

Mutts, huh. Not surprised.

They look more human than most.

[deadelfwalking]

[fsssh.] --mutts? [Johanna had used that term before, and he's still not fully clear on the meaning. Perhaps this voice was of her world, too?]

video;

[invocation]

[Jesus Christ...] What the hell...? They're a buncha freaks!

[deadelfwalking]

That is---[ffssshh ...]--put it. I'm of the mind--[fssh]--pitied.

video

[life_binder]

What is it?

[ It's clearly not natural, that's for sure. ]

[deadelfwalking]

I cannot properly say, Life-Binder. They are humans, but--[some interference warps the next few words. He continues:]--seem to act under one will. Much like---Scourge--

[ audio ]

[obfuskate]

Artificial beings. This much is clear.

... Ghh... [ they are admittedly unnerving... ]

[deadelfwalking]

Not entirely--[ffsshh]--but--modified---

[audio]

[acemedium]

W-What is this, Clone Wars? That's creepy!

[deadelfwalking]

I would say vile, but--[fssssshhhh.]

video;

[onemoredeath]

There is a slight difference in the way they smell, but yes. [ The diet may be similar as well, but even genetic copies have a difference in odor to them. Also he looked like he had been in a fight and amused by said fighting. ] I did say they were too much alike, did I not?

[deadelfwalking]

[the way they--smell--? That's a strange detail to point out, brother. Koltira's faltering image frowns into the camera.] If you did--[fsshhh]--did not see--

video;

[hellodeadpeople]

[ melodramatic deadpan here ]

Oh look, scientifically engineered super soldiers. Who didn't see that one coming? [ says someone whose entire life was this crap ]

[deadelfwalking]

It is a common--[fssshhh]--unforgivable tactic.

[he wasn't scientifically engineered from birth, but he was certainly altered and enslaved as a tool for war.]

[Audio]

[biwinning]

Let'th thet them on fire.

[deadelfwalking]

[fsshhhh]--what?

video

[wrexy]

Hrn. And what's your point?

[deadelfwalking]

It is good---
[ffssshh]--know the enemy. And there are--[fsshhh]--conclusions to draw, I think.

[seamend]

[ wow Aileen is having so many issues with this entire situation ]

Koltira-- [Stop? Even she know's that's a ridiculous thing to say at this point. But even still...] Be careful.

[deadelfwalking]

[oh, merchans. THIS IS LITERALLY A WAR ZONE. Friendship bracelets just aren't going to cut it.]

Always, my lady.

video

[fourscience]

They are all clones then? Such a shame. To be born only for this purpose...

[deadelfwalking]

It is the basest evil.

voice

[healplz]

[ well that's totally fucked up. but MORE IMPORTANTLY: ] Koltira— are you well?

[deadelfwalking]

I would not--[ffssshh]--well, but--[fsshhh]--pressing on.

And you, Ashraf? You are underground--

[Video]

[hornedomen]

[As concerning as that was, Ico was more worried about his friend.]

Koltira, be careful.

[deadelfwalking]

There's little need---worry--me.

text;

[bratworth]

[ Just as well that text can't convey the sheer sense of horror that Edgeworth is currently experiencing. ]

They're exactly the same.

[deadelfwalking]

No more---slaves.

[voice]

[fitful]

[ yeah yeah yeah whatever well-acquainted whatever satero doesn't want to see their faces he can't fight them right now BUT ]

You!

[ you can't see it but he is POINTING AT HIS SCREEN ]

Come back here, I'm still going to fight you!

[deadelfwalking]

[JUST STARES AT THIS. DO YOU KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW, SATERO??]

[action]

[sacrificar]

[after she's done taking names and kicking all sorts of ass.]

Uniform in appearance as well as attire.

[video]

[kingdom_of_song]

[Swann sees many things in the dead, but the ones that stand out are the fae, beautiful and alien. Identical, borne of the same womb obviously. The eyes remind him of the old men and women, eyes glazed over and blind from cataracts. There's a sense of power about them; even over the video feed he can sense it.]

Fae creatures. A true, dangerous folk, to be sure.