soulping | Blade's Heart

[meanwhile, Hank is moving away from Charles so he can do that, and keep Systems' attention]

And if I decide against returning it?

[there are books, a handgun, and a chocolate bar. two cards still lie on the desk: steal a pair of shoes, and argue for moderation.

Shawbot continues to follow Hank.]

"Unacceptable."

[The Shaw-machine lunges forward and grabs Hank, flinging him onto the operating table and pinning them with his hand. They're right on top of the mannequin now. Shaw's eyes glow.]

"Preliminary scan reveals abnormal strength and speed, concealed other anomalies. Recommendation: study and transfer. Beginning procedure."

[And that's when his OTHER hand splits apart and forms into a buzzsaw.]

[KEVIN BACON COMBINED WITH THAT DICK ROBOT]

[HER TWO NEMESIS..ES.... combined]

[and that evil thing is rounding on one of her nerds, which is unacceptable]

Hey! You dumb bucket of bolts! Buzz off!

[picks up that steal a pair of shoes card and throws it like a Yu-Gi-Oh villain]

[ okay, so that's happening. Meanwhile, I'm gonna get the mannequin . . .

. . . and step on it ]

[what the hell is Star doing here fighting Kevin Bacon?!? I HATE ROBOTS SO MUCH

Welp he's going to react with the only thing he has and

Tear his glasses off to try and shove them down Kevin Bacon robot's throat as hard as he can]

[the card Star threw taps against Shaw-bot's head. and it abruptly... loses both its feet, which appear next to Star instead.

at the same time it makes a garbled noise as Hank shoves his glasses into its mouth, and it withdraws slightly, enough to loosen his grip on Hank.

when Charles steps on the mannequin ... nothing seems to happen to Shaw. but the mannequin shivers, and raises its arms slightly, pawing at the foot.]

[ pulling his foot back ]

What . . . ?

[HA HA GOT UR SHOES]

[okay now throwing ARGUE FOR MODERATION]

TAKE THAT!

[grabbing the BUZZSAW ARM and shoving it away as he tries to. Get a leg up to kick Systems off of him or away or soMETHING]

Will someone grab the damn gun and shoot this thing?!

[he's a helper]

[with the foot gone, the mannequin pushes its arms back on the floor, trying to get up.

the ARGUE FOR MODERATION card hits! Shawbot... stops, whirring, spitting sparks.]

"Logic error detected. Foreign command line corrupting internal systems."

. . . Did that actually work?

Yeah!! Leave Hank alone! His life is already hard enough, he's really nerdy and he can't make a move on the girl he likes!

[someone else should probably shoot the thing]

—comments like that aren't necessary, Star!

[KICKING IT AGAIN]

[Shawbot sparks again, spitting garbled gibberish. The continual toll of the fight and the cards and having to deal with so many people has finally halted it-- but something else is happening, next to Charles.

The mannequin rattles, then slowly raises its head. It slides itself off the floor and stands erect on the ground. Is it looking at you? Hard to say, given it has no face or features to speak of. The mannequin raises both its arms to the sky -- then the wire composing its form shoots upwards, spiraling up into the air. The wire flies up to the centre of the hollow then arcs downwards in every direction, briefly covering the area in a spidery dome.

As the wires hit the ground, there's a terrific rumble under your feet. The junkyard constricts, the sky disappears, everything goes dark. There's a terrible shriek, that sounds more like the mortal Shaw than the machine.

Only for the light to reappear a few moments later. The desk, shelves and operating table are still there. But now they stand within an actual room. Two picture frames sit on the desk now: one of Shaw, the other of Systems of Contention. The sparking, smoking body of the robotic Shaw lies behind the desk.

Steel walls enclose the place, and the air seems both less foul, and older, dustier. The mannequin is gone entirely.

Hovering above the operating table is a flickering flame, dancing silver.]

[coming in at the best time]

...It appears I missed something interesting.

[. . .

Okay flailing his way off the table to land on his knees and just. Breathe for a moment]

[coming to him, concerned]

Are you alright?

[big breath out, before he pushes to his feet]

I'm alright. Somehow.

[offering him a hand if he needs it to get up]

Good. What happened here?

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