Room 177 (Gear)

[MKR]

Great those things would learn from this wouldn't they. That shouldn't be his problem but he knew whose problem it would be before the end of today. With the battle over Iso leaned back in his chair, the Diamond Weapon landing on the ground. "Something... New." He spoke, air circulating in and out "And eventually, I feel..." Iso exhaled loudly "There will be more. Eventually." With a groan he placed himself upright, where were those dreadful Archon Loafs when one needed them. He'd have to recharge his energy while Clint researched. With a flourish the sword vanished, leaving a trail of light behind as it evaporated into nothing once more. Becoming the same Aether from which it was forged.

"The League will come when their cleanup crew doesn't respond to a scheduled call in, your time here. Gustav. Is limited acquire all the data you can get for your theories, we have ample to discuss on that and what you'll be doing in the meanwhile." his energy had stabilized at least, as Iso directed the man that dragged him into this mess. He would be thinking about what those things wanted with this facility as well as the many questions to ask Clint.

"Because as soon as we're done here, we'll be arranging things for the foreseeable future." His schedule did not have the space to personally visit Orphan and correct every single person there, no instead he would need a different method. The idiom two birds with one stone came to mind as well. "And if there happen to be any plates left here, we'll be taking those." The functionality of these 'scales' of Orphan would be a prime point of discussion, after all that Antibody reaction was it proximity that caused it, was one's gaze required or was it like a fungus spreading spores into the air, landing only to bond with humanity.

 

[Nemesis]

Dr. Clint observed Iso's fatigue in silence as they descended. Perhaps there was some element of weakness to his newfound benefactor after all? He filed it away for future contemplation, but before he could even formulate a response, the radio crackled to life.

"Hello? Can you hear us?" Said a man's voice.

"Thank you for saving us! Those monsters were killing everything in sight! You're our heroes!"

Slightly taken aback, but turning bright red regardless, the Doctor punched a response, being careful to hide their faces from view.

"It's... not a problem - we just happened to be in the area. We'll be touching down in this area for some repairs. Don't worry about us - just focus on helping the wounded."

"Of course. And... thank you, again."

There was a click, and Clint was left with contemplative silence. Nobody had ever called him anything like that before. Maybe there was something to this whole thing? Not looking to incur Iso's wrath any further, he disembarked in a hurry, darting off to collect the materials he sought, playing the day's incidents in his head, over and over.

Nothing would ever be the same again, he knew that - but change brought joys, as well as sorrows. He would take the good with the bad, as he always had... and, somehow, find a way to help his "family" as well. He was sure of it.

---

Meanwhile...
Tower Hangar Interior
Africa

"That was it? I wasn't even at half mast!"

Chief's voice cackled at his own vile joke, the laugh rattling uncomfortably off the rusty walls of the Tower's innermost hangar. Projected onto one of its vast walls was a live feed of the battle that had just played out, as well as the preceding slaughter. Angie waited for his mirth to subside before answering, deadpan as eer.

"It's a process, Chief. That's what the Beastwoman said."

A long, slow, artificial sigh followed. Both turned their attention to the second feed, centered on the Internicine itself, interred where it had been carefully transplanted, as the facility started coming to life. The sheer speed at which it was able to manufacture was something worth marveling at, in and of itself.

"Do you think it feels humiliation? Shame? A burning thirst for VENGEANCE?"

Chief's enthusiasm, today, was far from infectious. A shape was now taking form in the heart of the Internicine, 3D-printers whining and whirring as technology unknown even to them worked its magic.

"It's not like us, sir." Said Angie, tersely.

"If anything... I think we should be a little weary. It hasn't turned its guns on us yet, but that doesn't make us its masters. More like enablers, if anything else."

"And that's what makes this fun, Angie." Said Chief in response, briskly.

"You do remember fun, right? You had it, once? That's what makes it worth studying. If each iteration is better than the ones preceding it, what do you think happens in the end?"

They both contemplated the question as, still smoking and hissing from the sheer heat of its creation, the next Pulverizer stepped forth from the mold - on a pair of long, distinctly human looking legs, eye glimmering to life like a distant, cerulean star, heralding impending doom.

 

[MKR]

After Clint had left the machine Iso's hands probed his pockets in search for something, heroes... It always was the same song and dance, a villain arises and heroes vanquish them. Such was the cosmic cycle of good and evil as decreed by the unwashed masses.

Never once acknowledging motivation behind action for the savior, the hero, if today could be a greater villain tomorrow. Let them have their fantasies. Fingers grasped the rectangular object and pulled it out of the pocket.

One click to unlock the phone and another one to dial someone on speed dial. Fingers tapped on the console as he watched the feed of the outside. "Pick up." annoyance hit his tone seemingly ordering the person on the other side.

After only a moment longer, reception.
"It's me. Are you absolutely blind?!" he swore that one was an abject failure from birth to inevitable death. "I'm at the place from half a week ago, the one with the woman. You want to tell me how you didn't notice this!" Between malice and incompetence, assume the latter. However if it was the former there was some distant hope still. While Clint was busy he'd have more than enough time to finish this conversation.