Meme Doc P.H.D
Paladin Ascending Vol 1 #6: Project Ascension
Mason Gardner stumbled across his desk. He had just received unstable thoughts while drifting off at the meeting. To avoid such an embarrassing moment, he made up the best excuse possible. Maybe, it really was.
He quickly contacted his only friend at this current moment—-only possible in the washroom, like how he tried to call Sam, was the exact same tactic that spies did. Sociably the best way of contact......as they spoke.
And Edens’ image came flickering on. He decided to give his mentor’s team his own mission:
File retrieving.
And that’s how the slew of investigative missions started.
***
Nightfall. Tokyo, way past midnight:
Ghostforge raised his pistol at the monitor towards him, having heard the sounds which taunted and challenged him. Then Harry pulled the trigger at the mainframe, aimed with two bullets. He realised it was still talking, like how the unconscious body that Knifenight was.
Slightly annoyed, he waited and walked through the wires, which he felt....slippery. The visor had showed him the sight of water and wire alike, connected to the giant machines surrounding him.
Unknown voice: ”Had enough yet? I still have more to come. Admit your defeat, ghost. I would be more than happy to see your downfall.”
Harry: ”You talk too much. Maybe focus on your own weakness before planning your next move. My friend, about a while ago, decoded what was supposed to be here.”
Voice: ”It isn’t finished. You lack the expertise of a programmer. Insufficient.”
Harry: ”And what if I had already stole it from your pocket when you weren’t looking?”
Voice: ”Hahahahahah......no.....there isn’t. Too late, agent. You will never discover the secret of the powers! I could even bring forth reanimated corpses to life!”
Harry: ”Bullsh*t. You oughta know A.I.s talk better than this. Meet my friends who did the work first.
With the quick snap of his thumbs, the lights came on. Standing around the shadows were the assembled team of Avalon Squad. Despite the grizzled and injured looks, Blades drawn, guns loaded. Their stances were more than ready.
Voice: ”Impossible....I sent more Yakuza after your leader! How could they not have killed him?!
Tyrone: ”Not if I’ve been contacted by the ally button and a quick blood transfusion. Even without the blood, I can heal fast.”
Sam: ”With the apple from the doctor. Give it up, Everest. You know you won’t win.”
Erin: ”That was a good show, thanks to my holographic disks. And you gotta take credit, Nightedge, Sabershift and Dusksmoke as well.”
Voice: Imbeciles! Take them down now.... Protocol is activated.
And with the other half of the room’s lights coming to life, a bunch of armoured ninjas, clad in the same black yet silver with their swords, readied the own positions. The team looked at each other and grinned—-eyes glaring with the elements of their abilities, with the glaring energy, shadows, electricity, smoke...activated.
Like a spectacle of things dancing around the room, they fought, bathed under the multitude of colours...
***
(5 hours later)
Edens looked up at the council. Raze was not pleased with the current “mischievous” acts he and his team had committed. The whole committee did look stern
Edens: ”I see you summoned me again, Madame. Trust is the most concern, isn’t it?”
Raze: ”For your behaviour shown, it is unacceptable. These people need discipline and proper training. They don’t even know how to take orders. When I say a mission gets cancelled, it gets cancelled.”
Edens: ”Not without the proper protocol and permits....you didn't manage to override it yet, madam.”
Raze: ”Are you refusing my commands, Edens?!”
Edens: ”I’d rather be thinking of the bigger situation than be sitting here and discussing my actions like politics. The time the command done could have been so much better.”
With his message, it took the board long enough to have their mutual discussion, as a chair popped up behind Edens. He grabbed a seat as the robot offered him a cup of coffee, silently listening. He blinked and through his eyes, Gardner nodded to him.
The mission....was truly a success. They had won Tokyo. Doors behind the doctor burst open, alerting the guards who were battle ready, raising their rifles. A bunch of smoky, battered looking group of 5 people appeared. It was Avalon Squad.
Tyrone: ”Wait up before you judge, and spare us a minute.”
Jesse: ”Sorry to interrupt the party, but it took us more than enough. I said two days, when investigation took us one week. We’re right on time, not due yet behind schedule.”
Sam: ”We promised the files. North has lost his partial conquest to gain access to so much things. We should let Mason Gardner do the explaining.”
***
Gardner (hologram): ”It is my well-being that I sent this team on their mission to redemption. I, under full intent, knew that they had guilt and regret over a previous mission. And so they accepted this offer. To me, it was personal as well. But they foresaw the bigger thing coming, because North is dangerous. Let’s say my days are limited....and I needed my friends who I could trust on a fight, a crusade. What you’re seeing are the evidence of multiple files containing the powers of everyone on earth. We might have the labs, but....”
Edens: ”Not enough to surprise them. Multiple setbacks. Which is why I approved as well. I spent 5 hours wasted talking with you—-the superior board, while I could have used it to spend more quality time on researching. And helping others.”
Erin: ”Because of the mainframe, an A.I. set up by North, called E.V.E.R.E.S.T. It was designed to trap us in case we found out the locations....”
Tyrone: ”Provoked by the Yakuzas, which a quarter of them were mentally controlled....and we fought Everest’s own ninjas in the server room as well. Anything to say left goes through the box. You guys approving this now?”
The committee looked at each other again. Raze’s face glittered with signs of anger and embarrassment. It was like the halftime basketball game where the coach had the explaining to do. And the coach was exactly Edens, who put a smile on his face. Gardner simply nodded his head and explained the remaining details to board.
Moments later the team went into celebration, having their reputation rebuilt on the foundation they had started around the agency.
Edens: ”Commencement, squad? Whatcha guys feeling ”
Ty: ”Yeah, it’s dope doc....am I glad everyone did so much of the good work. It’s painful , but I guess that’s what agents are for eh?”
Erin: ”Couldn’t have been said better, agent boy.”
Ty: ”You did a fine job as well, shadow-hackergirl. Just like old times.”
Erin: *knocks Ty’s elbow playfully* ”Hey...! I mean....yeah, that was my name in elementary for being such a nerd.”
Ty: ”Wasn’t there an award for that? Most gorgeous, hottest hacker of the year?”
Jesse: ”I thought your dad said that was true, Erin. Wasn’t it? Haha.....how about a chat over coffee about high school experiences?”
And then Jesse did the same thing, knocking Sam’s elbow and grinning at Harry as well. He held a very sly smirk.
Sam: “J....you gotta be....no.”
Jesse: ”I smell more than just coffee, right, Harry?”
Harry: ”I almost lost it after the just like old times part. Can someone remind me in Greek instead?”
Edens: ”Very much like the old times. Way to go team. So, I have this new assignment on the status in Texas. Recon military mission. Who’s with me?”
*dead silence*
Edens: ”Over coffee, and beer, and dinner’s on me. Say yes, please? Guys?”
Everyone: ”Hell yeah!
Edens: ”And here we go.....”
****
(Sometime after the Tokyo incident, 3 days later, Hokkaido:)
Dusksmoke wandered around the remains of the base. His footsteps had led him here thanks to destroying EVEREST and his robot cohorts. Preoccupied with discovering the mysterious sources that had led him here, his ear buzzed. The holographic image of the businessman known as Mason Gardner appeared.
Dusksmoke: ”Just as I expected. I know who they are now....”
Gardner: ”Before you ask, I’m not here to offer money, not anything. They’re having their victory. They deserved it. It’s always good to establish friendships.”
Dusksmoke: ”At least I kept him safe and sound, so that’s good for now. The white ninja and the talkative one named Knifenight are jailed. By the way, how are you doing?”
Gardner: ”Feeling fine, temporarily. I’m still having these nightmares. I don’t know how long can I even stay alive....maybe a year. That’s what Edens said. They’re working on a cure.”
Dusksmoke: ”Good to know. We may not know each other, but you have gained my respect for this....you gotta stay strong. Health comes first. Whatever will come, will come.”
Gardner: ”Maybe, I will. But then again, missions are important. I still need to fight against them. And him--North. Only with the big plans we’ve got, it’s basically a game of chess....and a game of gambling death. I need Paladin as a long running partnership.”
(1 week later. Canberra, Australia, deep sea base:)
The hurried sounds of the man ran past the hallway. He had a knack for tripping the expensive antiques over. But this time he didn’t. He managed to stumble upon the room in front of him, made from rich gold. And he knocked.
Man: ”Come in, soldier.”
Soldier: ”Status update, Mr. North. Are you willing to hear it?”
North: ”Report.”
Soldier: ”The event the enemy agency caused in Tokyo...has dealt sizeable damages to our plans. We’ve lost more than a quarter of planning, of resources...they’ve won this time. It is like inching one step closer to a open war to be engaged.”
North: ”And my good....henchmen? My loyal and faithful servants?”
Soldier: ”They could be freed, eventually. Maybe, more or less. We always can have the army prepared, reactivating the Exiled Spectres. They haven’t been used in the last 2 months. So what is your move, sir? Shall I carry the orders out?”
Mr North: *turns chair around, revealing the armoured, creepy look* “Yes, do it as usual. Proceed with what it’s supposed to be done. The breakout will commence at the prison, as the usual drill. My niece would be more than happy do to so, since she is in this room as well. We may have failed....but we still have other plans for our friends over there......this time, it will be the game of checkers. A game to gamble life....and I will control destiny as I can shape it when I want it to be.”
Soldier: ”Order is heard, my lord. Ship boating, now?”
North: ”Yes.”
Paladin Ascending Vol 1 #6: Project Ascension
Mason Gardner stumbled across his desk. He had just received unstable thoughts while drifting off at the meeting. To avoid such an embarrassing moment, he made up the best excuse possible. Maybe, it really was.
He quickly contacted his only friend at this current moment—-only possible in the washroom, like how he tried to call Sam, was the exact same tactic that spies did. Sociably the best way of contact......as they spoke.
And Edens’ image came flickering on. He decided to give his mentor’s team his own mission:
File retrieving.
And that’s how the slew of investigative missions started.
***
Nightfall. Tokyo, way past midnight:
Ghostforge raised his pistol at the monitor towards him, having heard the sounds which taunted and challenged him. Then Harry pulled the trigger at the mainframe, aimed with two bullets. He realised it was still talking, like how the unconscious body that Knifenight was.
Slightly annoyed, he waited and walked through the wires, which he felt....slippery. The visor had showed him the sight of water and wire alike, connected to the giant machines surrounding him.
Unknown voice: ”Had enough yet? I still have more to come. Admit your defeat, ghost. I would be more than happy to see your downfall.”
Harry: ”You talk too much. Maybe focus on your own weakness before planning your next move. My friend, about a while ago, decoded what was supposed to be here.”
Voice: ”It isn’t finished. You lack the expertise of a programmer. Insufficient.”
Harry: ”And what if I had already stole it from your pocket when you weren’t looking?”
Voice: ”Hahahahahah......no.....there isn’t. Too late, agent. You will never discover the secret of the powers! I could even bring forth reanimated corpses to life!”
Harry: ”Bullsh*t. You oughta know A.I.s talk better than this. Meet my friends who did the work first.
With the quick snap of his thumbs, the lights came on. Standing around the shadows were the assembled team of Avalon Squad. Despite the grizzled and injured looks, Blades drawn, guns loaded. Their stances were more than ready.
Voice: ”Impossible....I sent more Yakuza after your leader! How could they not have killed him?!
Tyrone: ”Not if I’ve been contacted by the ally button and a quick blood transfusion. Even without the blood, I can heal fast.”
Sam: ”With the apple from the doctor. Give it up, Everest. You know you won’t win.”
Erin: ”That was a good show, thanks to my holographic disks. And you gotta take credit, Nightedge, Sabershift and Dusksmoke as well.”
Voice: Imbeciles! Take them down now.... Protocol is activated.
And with the other half of the room’s lights coming to life, a bunch of armoured ninjas, clad in the same black yet silver with their swords, readied the own positions. The team looked at each other and grinned—-eyes glaring with the elements of their abilities, with the glaring energy, shadows, electricity, smoke...activated.
Like a spectacle of things dancing around the room, they fought, bathed under the multitude of colours...
***
(5 hours later)
Edens looked up at the council. Raze was not pleased with the current “mischievous” acts he and his team had committed. The whole committee did look stern
Edens: ”I see you summoned me again, Madame. Trust is the most concern, isn’t it?”
Raze: ”For your behaviour shown, it is unacceptable. These people need discipline and proper training. They don’t even know how to take orders. When I say a mission gets cancelled, it gets cancelled.”
Edens: ”Not without the proper protocol and permits....you didn't manage to override it yet, madam.”
Raze: ”Are you refusing my commands, Edens?!”
Edens: ”I’d rather be thinking of the bigger situation than be sitting here and discussing my actions like politics. The time the command done could have been so much better.”
With his message, it took the board long enough to have their mutual discussion, as a chair popped up behind Edens. He grabbed a seat as the robot offered him a cup of coffee, silently listening. He blinked and through his eyes, Gardner nodded to him.
The mission....was truly a success. They had won Tokyo. Doors behind the doctor burst open, alerting the guards who were battle ready, raising their rifles. A bunch of smoky, battered looking group of 5 people appeared. It was Avalon Squad.
Tyrone: ”Wait up before you judge, and spare us a minute.”
Jesse: ”Sorry to interrupt the party, but it took us more than enough. I said two days, when investigation took us one week. We’re right on time, not due yet behind schedule.”
Sam: ”We promised the files. North has lost his partial conquest to gain access to so much things. We should let Mason Gardner do the explaining.”
***
Gardner (hologram): ”It is my well-being that I sent this team on their mission to redemption. I, under full intent, knew that they had guilt and regret over a previous mission. And so they accepted this offer. To me, it was personal as well. But they foresaw the bigger thing coming, because North is dangerous. Let’s say my days are limited....and I needed my friends who I could trust on a fight, a crusade. What you’re seeing are the evidence of multiple files containing the powers of everyone on earth. We might have the labs, but....”
Edens: ”Not enough to surprise them. Multiple setbacks. Which is why I approved as well. I spent 5 hours wasted talking with you—-the superior board, while I could have used it to spend more quality time on researching. And helping others.”
Erin: ”Because of the mainframe, an A.I. set up by North, called E.V.E.R.E.S.T. It was designed to trap us in case we found out the locations....”
Tyrone: ”Provoked by the Yakuzas, which a quarter of them were mentally controlled....and we fought Everest’s own ninjas in the server room as well. Anything to say left goes through the box. You guys approving this now?”
The committee looked at each other again. Raze’s face glittered with signs of anger and embarrassment. It was like the halftime basketball game where the coach had the explaining to do. And the coach was exactly Edens, who put a smile on his face. Gardner simply nodded his head and explained the remaining details to board.
Moments later the team went into celebration, having their reputation rebuilt on the foundation they had started around the agency.
Edens: ”Commencement, squad? Whatcha guys feeling ”
Ty: ”Yeah, it’s dope doc....am I glad everyone did so much of the good work. It’s painful , but I guess that’s what agents are for eh?”
Erin: ”Couldn’t have been said better, agent boy.”
Ty: ”You did a fine job as well, shadow-hackergirl. Just like old times.”
Erin: *knocks Ty’s elbow playfully* ”Hey...! I mean....yeah, that was my name in elementary for being such a nerd.”
Ty: ”Wasn’t there an award for that? Most gorgeous, hottest hacker of the year?”
Jesse: ”I thought your dad said that was true, Erin. Wasn’t it? Haha.....how about a chat over coffee about high school experiences?”
And then Jesse did the same thing, knocking Sam’s elbow and grinning at Harry as well. He held a very sly smirk.
Sam: “J....you gotta be....no.”
Jesse: ”I smell more than just coffee, right, Harry?”
Harry: ”I almost lost it after the just like old times part. Can someone remind me in Greek instead?”
Edens: ”Very much like the old times. Way to go team. So, I have this new assignment on the status in Texas. Recon military mission. Who’s with me?”
*dead silence*
Edens: ”Over coffee, and beer, and dinner’s on me. Say yes, please? Guys?”
Everyone: ”Hell yeah!
Edens: ”And here we go.....”
****
(Sometime after the Tokyo incident, 3 days later, Hokkaido:)
Dusksmoke wandered around the remains of the base. His footsteps had led him here thanks to destroying EVEREST and his robot cohorts. Preoccupied with discovering the mysterious sources that had led him here, his ear buzzed. The holographic image of the businessman known as Mason Gardner appeared.
Dusksmoke: ”Just as I expected. I know who they are now....”
Gardner: ”Before you ask, I’m not here to offer money, not anything. They’re having their victory. They deserved it. It’s always good to establish friendships.”
Dusksmoke: ”At least I kept him safe and sound, so that’s good for now. The white ninja and the talkative one named Knifenight are jailed. By the way, how are you doing?”
Gardner: ”Feeling fine, temporarily. I’m still having these nightmares. I don’t know how long can I even stay alive....maybe a year. That’s what Edens said. They’re working on a cure.”
Dusksmoke: ”Good to know. We may not know each other, but you have gained my respect for this....you gotta stay strong. Health comes first. Whatever will come, will come.”
Gardner: ”Maybe, I will. But then again, missions are important. I still need to fight against them. And him--North. Only with the big plans we’ve got, it’s basically a game of chess....and a game of gambling death. I need Paladin as a long running partnership.”
(1 week later. Canberra, Australia, deep sea base:)
The hurried sounds of the man ran past the hallway. He had a knack for tripping the expensive antiques over. But this time he didn’t. He managed to stumble upon the room in front of him, made from rich gold. And he knocked.
Man: ”Come in, soldier.”
Soldier: ”Status update, Mr. North. Are you willing to hear it?”
North: ”Report.”
Soldier: ”The event the enemy agency caused in Tokyo...has dealt sizeable damages to our plans. We’ve lost more than a quarter of planning, of resources...they’ve won this time. It is like inching one step closer to a open war to be engaged.”
North: ”And my good....henchmen? My loyal and faithful servants?”
Soldier: ”They could be freed, eventually. Maybe, more or less. We always can have the army prepared, reactivating the Exiled Spectres. They haven’t been used in the last 2 months. So what is your move, sir? Shall I carry the orders out?”
Mr North: *turns chair around, revealing the armoured, creepy look* “Yes, do it as usual. Proceed with what it’s supposed to be done. The breakout will commence at the prison, as the usual drill. My niece would be more than happy do to so, since she is in this room as well. We may have failed....but we still have other plans for our friends over there......this time, it will be the game of checkers. A game to gamble life....and I will control destiny as I can shape it when I want it to be.”
Soldier: ”Order is heard, my lord. Ship boating, now?”
North: ”Yes.”