[center][h3]SOU Hideout[/h3]
Level 11 Tora (98/110) Level 11 Poppi (98/110)
Midna’s [@DracoLunaris], Geralt’s [@Multi_Media_Man], Pit’s [@Yankee], Blazermate and Susie’s [@Archmage MC], Sakura and Karin’s [@Zoey Boey], Raz’s [@TruthHurts22], Bede’s [@Crimson Flame], Roxas’ [@Double], Benedict’s [@Dark Cloud]
[b]Word Count:[/b] 2765[/center]

“Oh, you can see it?” Jessica took the question meant for Goldlewis, courtesy of Raz. “You must be psychically sensitive. I can’t myself, but I’ve heard that whatever’s up there is due to a number of defunct Vision projectors. Nothing to worry about.”

Once the SOU personnel said their part, Midna explained her abilities, including her incredible talent for storage. “That’s a very good card to have in our hand,” Jessica remarked. “I could easily see it becoming the cornerstone of a well-laid plan or two.” That opened the floor for the other Seekers to chime in with their own capabilities, including Tora and Poppi. While that amounted to far too much to keep comprehensive track of, the team’s new allies filed away relevant bits of information as it came to them.

Before the former conversation could resume, one of the newer members fixated on a name a twin mentioned earlier. Though it passed everyone else by, that name held special significance to Raiden, so he didn’t plan to sit idly by and let its invocation slide. The others noted his instant change in attitude, like a dog raising its hackles, and just like that the conversation’s shift toward a more genial tone dissolved away.

“Leaders of Desporhado…” Goldlewis leaned forward enough to put his elbows on the table and rest his chin in his hand. “They ain’t public-facin’ like Psych-OSF, so they mostly keep to themselves. Still, whenever big-time Machines show up and the grunts can’t handle it, it’s the same couple o’ elite units that head out to shut ‘em down, and the Crows never turn down a good story.”

M took it from there. “Desporhado withholds the names of its operatives, but the appellations given and popularized by the press work well enough. Khamsin, Mistral, Monsoon, Jetstream, and Sundowner. They’re all elusive, powerful, and like the Septentrions, fused.”

“Wait, fused?” Peach asked, surprised at the mention and almost panicked when Giovanna confirmed it. “As in spirit fusion? There are fusions in Midgar? And how!? We only know because of the Master of Masters!”

Giovanna smiled smugly. “Mhm. You’re looking at one, in fact. I didn’t always look like this, although me and the lady I ended up taking on did have a lot in common.” After flipping her braid, she let her tone grow more serious. “Sorry, but we don’t know where, when, or how the procedure originated, except that it began with the government. Its existence isn’t the best-kept secret, but it’s harshly criminalized. Only the police and military are exempt. It's for the strong, to make them even stronger.” She jokingly flexed her arm and smirked. “Even if it isn’t much of a secret to you guys, I’m still spilling the beans here, so don’t sell me out, ‘kay?”

By that time Raiden had presented his red-bladed sword. He offered a description too vague for those present, who lacked detailed information on the PMC, to identify as one of Desporhado’s seldom-glimpsed elites. After that, though, Raiden offered a little of what he knew alongside his express condemnation, but his thoughts did not seem to make any waves among those present.

“Looking at it from a different perspective,” Jessica observed. “Thanks to the Ever Crisis, Midgar is already embroiled in a constant and bitter war. If what you say is true, maybe Desporhado already has exactly what it wants.”

Raiden proceeded to put forward a suggestion, but what began as a proposition quickly turned into both an announcement and a threat. All eyes fell on Raiden; Giovanna in particular straightened up in her chair, her face stony, and beneath her Rei perked up in response. It was Goldlewis, however, that spoke first.

“Ya better watch your tone, son,” he told the cyborg, rising to his feet with his hands planted on the table. “Ya wouldn’t want anyone gettin’ cross with ya now, do ya? ‘Fore we go any further, lemme tell ya one thing. We’re all on the same team here, ‘cause we share the same goal. That means everyone’s wellbein’ is priority number one. It’d be a shame if any damn fools ran off an’ got ‘emselves killed, but the real problem is gettin’ caught. Just by sittin’ at this here table, ya already done seen an’ heard more than enough to put the lives of everyone here in jeopardy if ya went off alone an’ ran your mouth, or got caught by the G-men. That ain’t a chance I wanna take. So unless you plan on raisin’ hell, I reckon ya got another think comin’.”

Goldlewis took a deep breath and sat back down with a stormy look on his face. Once Raiden better understood the situation he now found himself in, the group discussion could continue. The Twilight Princess went on to share her thoughts on the new information she received. Doing so gave the others a chance to come to their own conclusions as well; even if massive pieces of the puzzle remained missing, a lot of new information was already in play. Her first proposition was to enlist the help of Avalanche, which had both its pros and its cons.

“Not the worst pick,” Giovanna conceded, her guard lowering again bit by bit. “Being in a tight spot nowadays, they’d have a tough time turning down whatever help they can get. Operations with them might stay under the radar enough to escape the government’s notice, too. But [i]because[/i] they’re a small group, we might not get much from a partnership. Low risk isn’t worth lower reward.” She cracked a slight smile once she heard Geralt’s opinions on the Hermits. “Right you are. They say the Hermits have the black market cornered wherever they can be found.”

Next, Midna suggested enrollment in Neuron. Jessica adjusted her glasses as she thought about it. “That option crossed our minds as well, although Giovanna and Goldlewis are too well-known. You might be able to join them, however. No psionic abilities needed; Neuron officers are mostly just well-armed policemen. Those spotted fighting Chimeras are just the cream of the crop.”

“It’s worth noting that I did say ‘naked’ eye earlier,” N added. “Other methods of extrasensory perception are able to sense Chimeras too, to some degree. Those with Clairvoyance excel at it, for instance, but most psionics can get a bead on them. Neuron is simply specialized for it.” He nodded at Geralt. “That method of yours might be worth a try. And psychic power is by no means a requirement when it comes to fighting Others.”

Lastly, Midna put forth the idea of creating an official cohort of the Seekers’ own to rival those in Midgar. Goldlewis nodded. “It’s a good idea in theory. Goin’ legit. Strength is somethin’ everyone respects, and you can get real popular by playin’ the press. Buildin’ up renown an’ influence in Midgar, ‘specially by fightin’ the enemy, will do a lot for ya. Thing is…well, it’ll be tough as hell. Takes a whole mountain of time, patience, and money to even get through the bureaucracy it takes to get started, and if you ain’t official you’d be lucky if ya didn’t get branded as terrorists yourselves.” He shrugged, leaned back, and crossed his arms. “But hey, if ya still wanna go your own way, this here Sector ain’t a bad one to start in.”

“That remind me!” Tora piped up. “Sector this, Midgar that. Tora not understand. Where even are we right now? Tora need see big picture for moment!”

Jessica laughed through her nose. “Right, I suppose we glossed over that. Here.” She put up an interactable display of Midgar on the laptop. “I’ll give you all the short version. Midgar is divided into eight sectors. Each one includes both the plate, the upper section, and the lower section, the slums. That makes sixteen distinct city districts, each one with their own…flavor, let’s say.” She proceeded to skim through them one by one.

“Sector 1 is the most fantastical one. The only place in all of Midgar you’ll find magic and magitech. It’s the farthest from the Valley of Ruin and is a different beast compared to the rest of Midgar. [url=https://i.imgur.com/wN3wKfh.png]Piltover[/url] up top is a center for invention and art, while [url=https://i.imgur.com/Wld1e5v.png]Zaun[/url] down below is a polluted alchemical mess.”

“Sector 2 is the quirky one. Spacious but hard to traverse. [url=https://i.imgur.com/WG7HnG5.png]Hekseville[/url] is the city’s aeronautics and space center, a haven for sophisticates and geniuses practically floating in the sky itself, while [url=https://i.imgur.com/1aEL7uq.png]Lei Legona[/url] hangs beneath the plate, the squalid and dangerous Houseboat Fleet.”

“Sector 3 is the home of the brain. In most of Midgar the psycho-sensitive population is around forty to fifty percent, that jumps up to ninety-nine-point-nine percent in this sector. It’s also called Vision Town thanks to the psychic projections that completely blanket it; it’s a completely different world from what ‘duds’ like us see.” Jessica said that word with an ever-so-slight edge. “The Plate is called [url=https://i.imgur.com/lD9zes8.png]Suoh[/url]. The Otherlobe is there, and Suoh Tower, the source of Psynet. Beneath is [url=https://i.imgur.com/BKvQnqg.png]Seiran[/url]. A waterbound array of skyscrapers all the way up to the plate, it’s seen as ‘holding up’ Suoh.”

“Sector 4 is computer central. Right next to the sector of psychotechnology is the sector of cybernetics and digital media. It’s regarded as the best Sector for the rich, even in [url=https://i.imgur.com/fmL8KVN.jpg]Night City[/url], which is the lower portion, but also the worst for the poor, even up above in Veles. Neuron has their hands full.”

“Sector 5 is wildly different. Its lower section, [url=https://i.imgur.com/KwuSYXo.png]Paris[/url] is a colossal heap, ranging from the decrepit tunnels of Deep-Paris all the way up to the grasping towers of Neo-Paris, just below the plate. I forgot to mention it earlier, but that’s where the Errorists are. A radical group against psychic technology. The plate itself is the [url=https://i.imgur.com/ig3yu1h.png]City of Glass[/url], a beautiful but dangerous surveillance state.” Jessica glanced around. “I mean, there are camera clusters everywhere in the city, and they can all record sound, but it’s the worst in the City of Glass, where the rich and powerful lord over even other plates in their sparkling skyscrapers.”

“Ahem, anyway. Sector 6 is the major commercial district. On top you’ve got the [url=https://i.imgur.com/jV1kAcp.png]Megafloat[/url] with its Golden Saucer, rising up from a gigantic network of markets and malls. Down below is [url=https://i.imgur.com/pi9lBkm.png]Casino Night[/url], home of gambling and the infamous Wall Market, where you can get or do just about whatever you want for the right price.”

“Sector 7 is where we are. It’s pretty normal, all things considered. More open skies, less weird stuff going on, about as quiet as Sector 2. The plate is simply the District, with lots of residential zoning, and underneath we just have the [url=https://i.imgur.com/25j4L6d.png]Slums[/url], with many junkyards and salvage operations.”

“Finally, Sector 8 is a jam-packed urban sector. The plate, [url=https://i.imgur.com/I0zzxu2.png]Inkopolis[/url], is up there with Suoh in terms of trendiness and approachability. It’s the sports hub, and where most of the city’s nonhumans live. Down below is [url=https://i.imgur.com/ghMqxeA.png]Detroit[/url], a bustling industrial zone of metal and machines with Desporhado’s Bunker in the middle of it all.”

While Jessica gave her voice a rest, Giovanna answered the Witcher’s last question as best she could. “I’m afraid I don’t know anyone matching that description, but I’ll make sure Bridges knows to keep an eye out for your daughter, mister. They say anything can be found in Midgar, so…hopefully that applies to this Ciri, as well.”

By that time, Poppi had thought of her questions. “Excuse me. Can you tell us more about the Septentrions? Including their names, if you know them.” she asked.

“They are the seven most powerful members of Psych-OSF,” N replied. He glanced at Raz. “You said something earlier that I missed replying to, right? This might answer your question. While Chief Zanotto is in charge, the Septentrions are the public face of the organization, and for many, the Midgar war effort itself. Each commands a platoon of five that stand out over the rank-and-file psy-ops and p-types. Though they don’t all care about the limelight, they’re as much celebrities as they are soldiers, more popular and respected than most politicians, so we do know their names. Major General Karen Travers and Major General Fubuki Spring stand at the top, and the others are Colonel Sasha Nein, Colonel Camilla Vodello, Captain Seto Narukami, Captain Morceau Oleander, and Captain Kyoka Eden.”

No names rang a bell for Poppi, but she did not regret asking, and it sounded like Raz might know a thing or two. “You mentioned sky rails as means to get around,” she said to M. “Is that a form of train?”

“No, no.” If he weren’t such a stoic, the doctor might have chuckled at the misunderstanding. “They are literally metal rails that wind through the sky, connecting buildings and even plates. ‘Sky-line’ is probably the better term. People can use sky-hooks to ride them via magnetism, or grind along the top. They were intended for freight rather than people and are risky, but they’re also free and hard to monitor, barring the odd gang stirring up trouble. As such, they’re also rarer in higher-class areas.”

“What about other means of transportation?” Poppi added.

M put his hands in his pocket. “There are actual trains, as well as countless roads and a large highway network. The trains mostly run between the two levels, carrying workers back and forth. If you want to use public transportation, you’ll need these.” He held up a hand to reveal a sleek wristband. “GridLinks. The government likes people to stay where they belong, so traffic between plates -and especially between levels- is observed and tracked. ‘Links are just fancy IDs, although they include financial standing and a few other choice details. They’re easy to falsify, at least, if you know the right people. But it might be for the best if you got your own cars. The two cars we have in the parking garage next door won’t cut it, even if they weren’t registered to us.”

“And…” Poppi offered her third question. “Since you’re the experts in Midgar, what would you recommend we do?”

As she expected, it wasn’t something that Goldlewis and the others failed to consider. The Secretary of Absolute Defense replied after a moment. “Well, I think Ms. Midna and Raz both brought up good points. If the Guardian’s really here, as the lady in black implied, it ain’t much of a stretch to assume that it’s connected to the Ever Crisis. Might even be the ‘source’ she mentioned. That means in order to get to the bottom of it all without the Administration breathin’ down yer necks all the damn time, the best thing to do would be to join the fight, either with Neuron or the ‘OSF. Strut yer stuff and climb up the ranks, the more public the better. Get in close with the people on the front lines and see what y’all can hear, both about the Ever Crisis and the government. Maybe even turn ‘em to your side. All without stirrin’ up trouble and gettin’ targeted by the government.”

“Jeez, you make it sound easy,” Giovanna laughed. She then addressed the Seekers as well. “You came at a good time. We’re in an election cycle, and the vote’s in just a couple weeks. The big debate’s tomorrow night, and you won’t want to miss it. You’ll be able to get an idea of who’s running things around here, and who might be if the people lean their way.”

“Excuse me.” Quiet for most of the proceedings so far, Peach finally thought of something to ask. “You mentioned forecasting in order to predict Other attacks. What’s the weather like today?”

N pursued his lips as he crossed his arms. “Hmm. Last I checked…cloudy. Scattered showers possible over Sectors 2 and 3 into the evening. The Scarlet Guardians are on patrol.”