spellbinders | here we go again...

[ Would an android truly be able to understand something of alien, biological origin? ]

I've made my choice. I must see through to it, so I'll do as much as I can before it ends.

[ As long as there's something to fight, he should be able to stay lucid. ]

Just...be careful.

[It's hypocritical to say, he knows...but it's still concerning watching someone assume enough risk to demand a safeguard like his presence here]

You're not the only one who can fight.

[ He isn't, but there also are a shitton of Uvi and his conclusion was that they should employ the most devastating strategy possible to their enemy. ]

I know. I mustn't let you come to risk.

[ Because, as he's said to Lenka, this world is better off without him. ]

...Don't insult me.

[Julius isn't quite human, so 9S can muster up some sass more easily here. It's a struggle where humans are concerned, feeling it's not truly his place, but Julius is something else...

Still human insofar as it counts though, in his eyes]

Why call on somebody if you're not going to rely on them?

[ There are plenty of things he could have said here, but he lacks the words. It's thus in his favour that telepathy transmits in his stead - conviction (for the duty that he must do), regret (at calling upon another's help), and a lingering visceral fear that 9S would perish. ]

I need your help. But I won't let you die.

Edited 2017-09-08 03:13 (UTC)

I don't plan on dying again anytime soon.

[There's a word in there he has to bum-rush out of his own thoughts because he's still not particularly great at this whole telepathic conversation shtick]

But I'm expecting you to keep living too, you know.

[ Strange, how 'dying again' applies to the both of them - but it's not a topic to be asked about, not when he's requiring 9S to do something unpleasant. ]

I'll try my best to fulfil that.

[ If anything, he can feel slightly more confident that he would find acceptance here. ]

I'll be here to make sure.

[That statement applies to more than one thing of course. He intends to help Julius should he need it. And likewise, he plans on making sure the man remains alive.

Surely he doesn't have the option of another body]

[ If only they knew. ]

Thank you.

[ As with most battlefields, the enemy falls upon them shortly; they are able to fend them off via telepathic coordination. Robot soldier, (formerly) human soldier; the language of battle is a common tongue that they are fluent in - one that would hopefully see them out.

As the last Uvi fall silent, the static that accompanies Julius' words start to get just the slightest bit louder. ]

Can you...change back? Out of that thing?

[He still can't see that whole mass as being Julius, when only a very small part resembles the man he recognizes. But that sound isn't natural. That sound usually means something systemic is wrong.

At least, that's always been the case for androids.

As such, he looks up at Julius with concern]

[ There's silence, a few moments of static: ]

I think. I think I can.

[ This is the second time he's changed, and consciously at that - a force that rippled through his body and commanded it to change. He should be able to do it.

Should the Singularity stay put.

And he not have to fight battles on both fronts at once. ]

I just need time...

[ The Aragami comes to a halt, hovering silently as the light from its core starts to intensify. ]

I'll cover you then.

[Though it seems quiet with that last wave dispatched, 9S remains on guard. Whatever this is, that growing static is disquieting. If any sort of interruption would cause a problem or prevent Julius from changing, then he has to ensure that doesn't happen.

With the number of Uvi around, he can only hope they've put a significant dent in their forces by now.

He steps nearer to the thing that Julius is a part of, or rather, what he's become now, monitoring their surroundings]

Are there anymore?

[ This part seems to be clear, but there's no telling if other places need clearing. If they're done, Julius can try to turn back now.

The keyword being 'try'.

Battle had united the two minds in his body on one purpose, but now he has to suppress the Singularity's instinct to consume. Wood, stone, metal, it mattered not what type of matter; only that it could be touched. If 9S listens intently, he would be able to perceive the ebb and flow of what is heard as static - the mind of the Singularity sending out its voice as Julius tries to seal it. ]

[It doesn't take long for 9S to survey their surroundings. There isn't anything to interfere with his efforts, and the relative quite around them lets him focus. Well, save for that static buzz that seems to be gradually increasing in volume...

That's quite concerning]

None in this area...

[And thus none anywhere too close]

[ If Julius had any reply, it's drowned out by a sudden burst of static. The telepathic connection cuts off as the Aragami twitches as if a puppet with errant strings - a moment later, it rights itself.

And aims one of its sword wings downwards, the blade whistling by 9S with a breeze - ]

[It's lucky, 9S thinks, that Julius chose a YoRHa unit. It's all that passes through his mind as his senses alert him to the shift in Julius' demeanor, the static growing loud as he leaps back to avoid the attack, afterimages spreading around him.

His attention snaps up to the remaining part of this creature that still resembles the man he knows, teeth gritted behind closed lips. That's it then, isn't it?

Like the logic virus, this thing is threatening to consume him.

...Then like that same virus, can he counterman it?]

[ Fortunately for 9S, the Singularity is hackable. Unfortunately, it is also something difficult to hack; not in the sense that it provided many defenses but that its will was blindingly, overpoweringly strong. Like a beam of pure light that raced heavensward; flashes of discordant images feeding into the android's perception as he braced himself against the organic mind. A beautiful blue planet, skies framed by trees, the sound of birdcall - memories of a planet before mankind.

ʟɪᴠᴇ. ᴄᴏɴsᴜᴍᴇ. ᴇᴠᴏʟᴠᴇ. Thus was its will, one that eclipsed the lone soul trying to hold it back. 9S can probably find something that resembled Julius' sense of self in that wash of blinding brilliance. All is not lost, yet it's taking all his effort to remain existent. ]

[It's something akin to hacking a system administrator like Eve. Something powerful, and in contrast, far more developed. 9S assesses this much, having to pause in hacking to reposition himself so he can avoid attacks. He doesn't have the advantage of surprise, nor does he have someone to cover for him, and so his efforts are cautious.

These defenses are stronger than he might've expected, besides. But maybe he should have, when it's a being not dissimilar to Emil in power.

He concentrates in the hope that he can weaken the creature's defenses and perhaps cripple its use of a limb or two, rather like he did with the Engles unit he and 2B once faced. The problem, of course, is that he can't mount an offense. In the process of hacking, though, he comes across a name and the knowledge that that person is here...

9S may not relish seeing memories he shouldn't be privy to, but at a time like this, he'll take what he can get. And he reaches across their bizarre mental network, focusing on that face, and that name. He can only hope it works]

Julius needs help—

[ The torrent of light bears down on 9S through the link, though it dims in parts and flashes as if something was reaching through the curtain from beyond. The android is successful in getting the Aragami to stop moving; it twitches a little as if pinned down by an invisible spear.

However, its mental realm is a different story altogether. The will of the Singularity starts trying to worm its way into the android's consciousness, though it can never get too far before its influence is forcibly, unnaturally withdrawn.

Julius is there... inside. Somewhere. Now if only Lenka can get here in time... ]

--Julius!!

[There's no finesse to the mental yell that answers a few moments later, likely radiating across half the combatants on the field and indiscriminately aimed in general direction of both 9S and the thing that had at some point called itself Julius Visconti. It's a call to whatever is left to hear it in the Singularity, but also an answer -- details like location and battle situation are swept aside in favor of a rapid burst of pressure and feeling: they've got incoming.

And then he's there -- landing in a flurry of impact and debris behind the strange spread wings of the Aragami, sliding directly into a roll under it to get between the creature and 9S. Honestly, Lenka doesn't have a clue what he's jumping into, but that's the good thing about telepathy -- he hasn't had the time nor the guidance to figure out how the hell it works, but he can get a general sense of urgency and the gravity of the situation. Of course, he already knew how bad it was the moment Julius stopped responding to check-ins; he's been bracing himself ever since they parted ways, staying as close as was practicable to the path razed by the Aragami's blades and beams.

He has the borrowed greatsword up and ready by the time he's in position, staring up at the Aragami for the second time today with an up close and personal vantage point he really could have done without.

However, there doesn't seem to be much movement just yet. Is it charging up an attack?]

... Whoever you are, move back.

[He's going to need room to maneuver with that sword, and 9S doesn't seem to be moving to engage the Aragami either. He's not sure what kind of stalemate he's just arrived in.]

[It takes 9S a few moments to answer, in his present situation. It's difficult to pin down this creature, more or less. A challenge to take over its limbs if only to prevent them from moving, because the fact is that he's unable to do more. He can't take full, functional control like he could with machines.

This creature is far more like a magical entity.

He stands there, quite still, hands extended in Julius' direction. The light that bounds between his hands and the thing he's nearly been swallowed up by launches in volleys of pale amber, which pass quite harmlessly around Lenka. He's not the target, and there are only certain types of beings that 9S can hack.

Truly, he's surprised that it's working right now]

How far? [He asks, voice tense. This face he recognizes: he's sure Julius supplied it to him, and that's why he saw it] I can keep it still, but...only within a certain range...

[ On the outside, the Aragami doesn't move from its stilled position. However, the light coming from its core may be a better indicator of how it's faring - originally a soft, lambent blue while Julius was in control, then intensifying to a harsh illumination once the Singularity had subsumed within it. The core flashes in a manner of a lighthouse, perhaps indicating of wavering intent...

... and recognition, as 9S buys enough time for Julius to metaphorically claw his way into perception. ]

You came...

[ His words are barely perceptible beneath a flood of static; certainly not strong enough to wrest back control just yet. ]

... So this is your magic.

[That's his first guess, anyway, Lenka having just noticed the strange amber light snaking around him -- his first instinct is then to back away from it, but he needs to make sure he can keep the Singularity away from the stranger behind him. Whoever he is, he obviously has an idea of what's going on with Julius, and some way of controlling the creature.

For the moment.

Lenka keeps his sword up, and tries to ignore the fact that he's standing in the middle of some kind of magical field of dubious sturdiness.]

If you can move as far as possible, it will give me more room to defend. Just in case.

[The rest of this harebrained plan is still shrouded in mystery and uncertainty; aside from the makeshift God Arc in his hands and a vague assurance from Julius earlier that he'd somehow fight the Aragami from the inside, Lenka doesn't have anything to go on. It's not any great comfort when the thing has at least six times as many blades as he does -- but then Julius is there. A little bit of him, far off, like speaking through a fading radio.]

Of course I'm here. [I have to be, he doesn't quite say, or think, because that's not exactly what he means] Are you?

Edited 2017-09-19 09:06 (UTC)

Not magic, no. This is a Scanner's power.

[9S begins to back up at a cautious pace, uncertain how close he might need to be when he's never dealt with something like this before. He had hacked magic entities before, but they were attacking and naturally, distance was something he had to create rather than moderate.

This, one the other hand...

Despite the caution of his movements, 9S is still an android. He still moves with an unnatural speed and coordination that don't befit a human, and he's drawn back several yards before he halts. And all the while, he hasn't allowed his hands to drop, still extended toward the thing Julius is now a part of]

You know... what you have to do.

[ A man cannot fight a battle on two fronts, and neither can a Singularity. 9S is doing a great job at keeping it immobilized, so Lenka already has room to strike. ]

I'll battle it on this side... please.

[ Just kill me.

Except the Singularity would not let him die. However, it would at least allow him a respite if it was beaten, if only for a short while. ]

here we go again...

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