Infinite Project | (IC)

[Koishi]

Washington | Amboy

---

Hollow merely tilted it's head at Cicero, mostly confused about the whole experience. Something likely shared with the several people who witnessed the event, although theirs was more for the human whose lap they were not in.

Contact with others was not their strong suit. In fact, there were very few things they had which could reasonably argued that the creature was good at, other than staring, which their gaping abysses continued to do to the driver of the vehicle, this coupled with their motionless nature made them look like some kind of oversized doll.

[Cucoo5]

Washington | Amboy

---

Cicero was sitting in his car, tapping on the wheel nervously as he drove to Amboy. Everything is going to be fine. He made his way to a parking lot of a hardware store on the northern side of the town, making sure he chose a spot that would allow him to drive off in a moment's notice. Ok, now to just call up Trace and tell her where you are, simple.

***
Trace was rapidly approaching Amboy with Hollow in tow. She stayed near the roads, but far enough to stay away from prying eyes. When she came to a river, she navigated to a place near the bridge before using the functioning thruster of her Aether Wing to provide enough thrust to clear it in one leap. From there, she cut through farm fields until Cicero's call came in.
"Trace, I found a spot at a hardware store at... uh... two-twenty first avenue and... four-oh-fifth way. We'll maybe be able to get some supplies to try and patch you up here, too. Where are you now?"
"N E four hundred and nineteenth S T and N E Cedar Creek R D." Trace recalled a sign from a few seconds ago. Cicero muttered okay and went silent for a moment.
"Ok you're close. keep heading along the road until two-twenty first."
"Understood." Trace continued on, continuing to use her thruster to sprint towards the destination.

***
Cicero leaned over the steering column, looking out the windshield down the road when he started to hear what sounded like a small jet engine before seeing rapid movement in the trees across the way. When it suddenly stopped he knew it was Trace. "Oh goddammit she used the Aether wing all the way here." I should have told her not to. With a sigh, he got out of the car and waved in Trace's general Direction. She saw, packed the Aether wing so it looked like a backpack, and proceeded across the road with a small jog. As she approached, Cicero saw what she was carrying and had an extremely puzzled look. "Uh, Trace, what... what is that?"
"A creature I found in the woods. It's my new friend!" Trace's voice carried an unusual childlike tone as she presented Hollow by holding him out arm's length away, which caught Cicero off-guard. <> In addition, he glanced about, noticing the occasional stray glance in their direction.
"Ooooh boy. Uhm... let's...let's talk in the car."
Trace tilted her head inquisitively as she tried to understand Cicero's response as he went and opened the passenger door for her to get in. "Understood."
Once inside the car with the doors closed, Cicero stared at Hollow wordlessly. <>

[Koishi]

Washington | Southern Forest

---

Hollow barely moved, simply looking around as they moved at very high speeds. It was hard to keep up with the rapidly changing surroundings at first, but the little creature adjusted to the speed, things becoming clearer as they moved.

Hollow listened to their carrier as they spoke to someone. So this fellow who held them was called Trace? It was the best they could assume. That, and a lab was attacked. Was perhaps it linked to that... place? A very slight, nigh unnoticeable shudder came over them as they thought to that. Then, Trace seemingly turned to them. The little hollow thing tilted their head somewhat as Trace spoke of help. They only vaguely knew what that was, it was something their brothers and sisters were never allowed. But it hopefully wasn't bad, at least.

[Cucoo5]

Washington | Southern Forest -> Yale

---

Trace held little Hollow firmly as she spooled up the still functional engine of her Aether Wing. When she throttled it up, she angled it just so she could essentially perform a leaping run. She decided to initially run away from the helicopter noise, heading south by southwest. As they ran, she tried to scan her surroundings as fast as she could. She eventually strayed close to a road, noticing a green sign. Yale 1/4 mile. She stopped, curiosity overtook her.
"Yale, a place in Washington state, south of Mobius Labs." The voice told Trace. "Keep going." Before Trace could ask any questions, a remote signal attempted to connect to her communication relay. She noticed the source name: Cicero. The nickname of the one assistant that performed system checks. Allowing the connection, she suddenly heard a panicked male speak to her.
"Trace? What's going on? What happened at the Labs?"
"The lab was attacked by soldiers."Her reply was calm. The conversation occurred in her mind, but she patched it through to her voice box and allowed Hollow to listen in. "I was told to escape south. I was intercepted by an attack aircraft. Several of my systems are damaged. Aether Wing right engine has been disabled-"
"Never mind the system report, Mobius Labs was attacked? Why?"
"They were targeting me."
"You?" Cicero went silent for a moment. After a moment, frantic movements could be heard, punctuated with crash of drawers being opened and a suitcase being stuffed. "We gotta run. Hide. Something."
"Correct." Trace was analyzing the audio, trying to comprehend what Cicero was doing.
"Government will be after you... after me." Another frantic thud of something being thrown to the floor. "It's like a movie. Ok, wait... like a movie..." Another pause, this time followed by a chair moving and rapid clicking of a keyboard. "We gotta meet up. Where are you?"
"Yale."
"Yale?" More clicking. "Yale. North by north east. Ok keep going south...uuuhhh... south, southwest. Go to Amboy, I'll meet you there."
"Confirmed. Heading south, southwest to Amboy." With that, the connection was terminated. Trace then addressed Hollow directly, "Ok little one, we can find help. Cicero will help us..." She stopped for a moment, a puzzled look appeared on her face. How will he help us? As she wondered that, she started to keep moving, crossing the road and heading in the direction specified.

[Koishi]

Site 47 | Topside

---

Soane's optic narrowed slightly at the last remark, further noting the condensed gas creature seemingly had a memory only somewhat more reliable than a mayfly's. Something to put on the report, they supposed.

"Site 47. My employer's main facility for the region." Soane spoke, heading up to the door and swiping a card before the doors slid open. They gestured one of their many hands inward. "Head in, if you would please."

Koi nodded, looking inside as they walked in. A single large welcome desk was positioned in the room, lights notably dimmer than many normal places. Nobody manned the desk, leaving the place empty and notably silent.

"Nobody on the desk?" Koi asked, noting the suspicious nature of it.

"Not open today. Otherwise would've used the back." Soane explained before leading them onwards. They headed past the small set of bathrooms and into a maintenance area, and in the back lied a single elevator. They used a different keycard, swiping it open before stepping inside. "If you would step inside?"

[SUSTIC]

Site 47 | Topside

---

Bandit, while standing proud about his choice of name, ended up remembering that... they were in the middle of something

When he remembered at Koi's remark, he rubbed the back of his neck "Oh uh... yeah, I'm sure I'm ready and whatnot." He replied as he quickly picked up his pace as he continued to follow Koi and their new 'friend.' As he followed them through the place, he asked. "So what exactly is this place again?" Bandit had asked as he continued to follow.






Oceans of Cali

---

After 013 got his plate of food, a cup of dark coffee with no creamer, and a small sandwich, he began to examine the Mess Hall. After spotting the last empty table, which was close to the one that Edward and Sarah were sitting at, 013 walked over and sat down. Sandwich in hand he started eating, while the thought of the missing cargo from that truck is still on his mind.

[Koishi]

Site 47 | Topside

---

Koi was very slightly perturbed by the name choice, considering what they had to deal with a few hours ago, but outward sides of such emotions were easily masked, as not to make Bandit believe they disapproved. But a name was better than none, regardless of coincidental ties to past events.

"Are you's ready then, Bandit?" Koi calmly replied. "We's still wastin' time. N' stuffs. "

Koi still didn't exactly wanted the gas-fellow here, especially with the delays. They believed it was a bad decision, and reminded themselves to see about getting this "Bandit" back to the city soon, after this robot mess was dealt with. Regardless, they waited for the cloud's proud stance to fade before acting, though soon they were tempted on simply tugging on them and dragging them along. They had places to be, and new connections to set up. Lives didn't remake themselves.

[Kristia]

Oceans of Cali


"Here is what I don't get, Edward." Sarah spoke while looking at the picture "Whoever was on that heli had high tech weaponry, so either whatever was on that convoy was a deeply important object or a dangerous person, they attacked us without thinking, black ops style from afar." the blonde reasoned and sighed.

"I know where you are going with this, but the data is just too scant to get some work, although I'm already trying to find anything on the web and satellites." Edward responded with a shrug "Maybe we can find something, but I can't give you an estimate."

The two kept talking while one of the soldiers had walked into the mess hall, if they noticed him, they didn't voice it.

[SUSTIC]

Site 47 | Topside

The green man froze for a very brief moment as for the first time since... sometime, he remembered that he did not actually have a name. It has been something that crossed his mind in the past, but he never really... focused too much on it. Not because he never had time to think. Rather because he always kept forgetting to think of a name. Living the life he's been living never really warranted him needing a name, but with a new friend... in a strange place with others to talk to. He might as well start thinking now.

Almost absentmindedly he did nod, giving a very brief confirmation as he thought hard on a name... What would be a good name...? He needs something fitting for a name he thought. Something that fits him... but what? For most of his life since he last more vividly remembers, he lived a life in the sewers. Scrounging around for sustenance. Often fighting with various animals like rats, possums, the occasional sewer gator, and raccoons... "Those sneaky little bandits always took my food..." He thought aloud as he remembered the times he actually fought with raccoons over food.

As he thought about the raccoons and how they were always thieving little bandits, something clicked in his mind. He's technically a bandit as well. Always stealing the occasional food from a windowsill, scavenging through trash cans, and how he stole some clothes as he fled with Koi from the city. It made him thinking...

"Thief! No no that's a dumb name... Crook? That's slightly better... Wait a minute it just hit me!" He thought aloud as he stopped in his tracks, looking triumphant at the name he just thought of. "Bandit! From here on out I shall go by Bandit ya hear!?" He proclaimed, hands on his waist as he stood proud... even though they should be moving along...



Oceans of Cali

013 continued to think deeply about the truck for a little while longer as he was trying to figure out what was in it. However with his lack of sleep, and all the chaos that ensued, he's feeling too exhausted to try and think about it any further....

He was about to lay down when he heard his stomach growl... Hearing his stomach growl he groaned a bit, having realized he actually hasn't eaten in quite sometime. Not only that but he's feeling quite thirsty as well. With that and a sigh, 013 had stood up from his seat and left the area him and his men were in.

It took about 5 minutes and the process of asking someone if there was any place to get some food before he finally found the Mess Hall. Finally having found the mess hall 013 yawned as he entered the dining area of the ship. The smell of food, not super fancy or high quality food filled the air, but it was still the smell of food. In fact the smell brought him back to many times in the past where him and his many brothers and sisters of the IP Line got together for food... With that he entered the Mess Hall, walking right past the table where Sarah and the Android fellow were sitting.

[Kristia]

(Assuming I didn't miss a post after the timeskip)
Oceans of Cali | Some indefinite time later


The sound of someone making notes could be heard from the mess hall, being Sarah as she wrote in a small notebook "So we got a few more people than expected, another group to inestigate and probably being.. no, surely being searched if the new group found the decoys and filled with viruses ship." the blonde kept working on her notes as the table suddenly had a faint cyan colored reflection. Looking upwards, the markswoman raised an eyebrow "Here I thought you would still be in your lab."

The android shrugged as he sat on front of her "Working on it right while also being here." he tapped his head as a small light could be seen beeping constanlty "Unfortunately, we got just enough material to keep investigating, the target is dead and we got another gun aimed at our backs, and I don't like having that from afar." the android brought a photograph to the table "I'm not going to bother with details, but this is some high tech kind of weaponry, either military or spec ops, or whatever, we got enough dirt to bring down some nations."

The photo itself was of the flying vessel that fired at Samantha and Lynchwood, coming from the sniper of the former, while it was blurry and not that good because of the distance, at least it had enough for the scientist. "For now, we can lay low until reaching the base in Baja California and then get back to work."

[Koishi]

Site 47 | Topside

---

"Wells then, gimme a name! Come up with one, accept you's marshmellowy nature! Somethin' like tha." Koi replied, getting out of the seat and the car. "N' get ready to move, toos, we's got places to goes, peoplepersons to meet, etc, etc."

If the gas-like being would look around, they would likely actually notice the surroundings. Plentiful trees surrounded them, as well as a fairly innocuous looking building to the side, the car being in it's parking lot. It looked like some kind of tourism center, or something akin to one, although with windows shaded to obscure it's inside. Soane finally ceased leaning, tail automatically readjusting as they did so.

"Are we ready, then?" the machine asked.

[SUSTIC]

Site 47 | Topside

The green gas man just sat there thinking for a moment as memories of what had happened earlier began to flow back into his memory. "I don't think I'd need that. I'm beginning to have my memory jogged a bit. . . We were in the city, stuff happened, ran through sewers, then ended up here?" He replied, asking to make sure that his memories weren't wrong, or at the least the right memories of what happened earlier. "You can also stop calling me fella now... I'm beginning to not like being called that..." He asked again, though mainly to Koi.

[Tewi_Inaba]

Project Esper | Living Area

With the newly made plate in hand Alex had turned around and was getting ready to head over to the refrigerator to grab something to drink. When Jenny asked her question though Alex stopped. He turned his head towards her with a shit eating grin, playfully sticking his ass out as he spoke. "Me of cores!" He teased as he playfully slapped his own ass with his free hand. After which he opened the fridge as if nothing had happened.

[S121]

Project Esper | Living Area

Jenny had placed the meal meant for Misaka down on the table and walked back as she heard Alex's remark. This sparked her interest a little and caused her to form a rather sly grin.

"Oh? And who has the best ass in the bunker?", Jennifer asked as she got within arm's reach.

[Tewi_Inaba]

Project Esper | Living Area

"Jealous she has the second best ass in the bunker." he answered as he turned around once again to fill yet another plate. He filled this one much in the same way he did for Jenny's. This one was most likely for Alex.