[OmegaMan]

"Oh, that overgrown snake that the Hunters took down not too long ago?" Blaze Lioness mused as she followed. "Can't say I'm partial to that blue stuff that makes up the planet. You know... What's it called... Water? I don't want it to rust my features." She grimaced as she thought of getting anywhere near water. She didn't want to risk short-circuiting her circuitry. Yet another reason she liked being free from Ciphus's leash. That old crystal-coot kept his hideout on an island and below sea-level at that.

"So long as I don't have to get my feet wet, I suppose I'll be fine."

[『ちびまる子ちゃん』正人]

"You'll get a bit of dirt on your feet in Algonquin, that's it." Elzareth trudged down the street, ignoring the rather rustic feel the city residential district has. "For being a Japanese-Canadian city, it sure doesn't boast any Japanese technology."

the Harbour was only a little ways away.

"So, tell me a little more about your old master," Elzareth said more as a command than question.

[OmegaMan]

"What's there to know?" Blaze Lioness asked. Part of her old programming was resisting telling Elzareth anything about Ciphus. But it was quickly overcome. "He's a suave individual at first glance, but meticulously plans out his courses of action. Those actions, of course, all for getting what he calls 'the Ultimate Power.' But I know now that nothing can possibly be stronger than the will of Lord Sigma."

[『ちびまる子ちゃん』正人]

Elzareth paused, not replying right away but continued walking.

"Where is this 'Ciphus?'" he asked after a minute of silent walking.

[OmegaMan]

Blaze Lioness's original programming started to interfere with her processes again. She clutched her head. Her eyes twitched violently for a brief moment. Her original personality was internally struggling with her new personality. Finally, after that brief moment, the two processes compromised. Blaze Lioness looked up and spoke.

"If you care so much, why don't you look for him yourself?" she said with a sly smile.

[『ちびまる子ちゃん』正人]

Elzareth looked over to Blaze Lioness, raising an eyebrow. "Smart ass," he said with a chortle.

He didn't ask any more questions, opting to wait for questions instead as they got to the bottom of the hill. He took a right on the street towards the harbour's front gates.

[OmegaMan]

Blaze Lioness had no questions as she continued to follow Elzareth. What was there to ask? She just wanted to sharpen her claws on some misguided fools. And the sooner she was patched up, the sooner she could get to work for her new master.

[『ちびまる子ちゃん』正人]

"One thing you have to keep in mind. Your Ordarium can pick up, and be picked up by others with Ordarium. In other words, you can tell your allies apart from enemies much easier. The only way to be truly tricked is to use a Copy Chip with Ordarium-infected DNA on it," he said while walking through the empty streets.

Occasionally, a car would drive by, either towards Central Park, the Oliver's Coffee, or towards the universities.

[OmegaMan]

"Ally or not. They get in the way of my fun, I burn them until they're cooked to perfection," Blaze Lioness said, followed by a maniacally giddy, giggle. "Except for, say, you and Lord Sigma, of course." Blaze Lioness continued to follow Elzareth. All the while, she still kept her casual stride and took in the sights. The city was becoming more and more boring by the minute. At least earlier, there were people to fry. Now the cars just seemed like tumbleweeds.

[『ちびまる子ちゃん』正人]

They approached the gates of the harbour, barricaded off by a Federation blockade. Elzareth stepped forward with no resistance. None of the soldiers present even seemed to notice the two newcomers.

[To Harbour]

[OmegaMan]

Blaze Lioness couldn't help but notice that the soldiers paid them no heed as they walked through. She grinned as she followed Elzareth inside. She fancied that they were giving her and Elzareth due respect. Of course, she doubted if that was what was really going on, but she could dream.

[To Harbor]

[OmegaMan]

[From Aquillo Project]

A yellow beam of light shot from the sky and hit the ground. It changed shape, quickly taking the form of a Reploid. Omicron had been successfully transferred. However, he had no idea where he was, nor how long it would take for the enemy to detect him. The detective kept his wits about him as he assessed his surroundings. First things first, he would have to figure out where to actually start looking. As of right now, he had practically no leads, or rather, he didn't know where to find his lead. Omicron had no idea where the one labeled 'Bionic Zero' was. And considering how the situation had already gone to hell, he was wary about asking any people directly.

[White-Jet]

[From Subruban District 1]

Ryuta finds himself back in the so-called "Streets" of Layer 1, looking around for someplace to go. He saw Elzareth and the Lioness reploid heading towards the harbor, but was in no mood to pursue or fight either of them.

Unsure of how sharp everyone's memories were form the fiasco at the park, Ryuta decides to pull down his ponytail and throw the hood of his newly bought sweater over his head in an attempt to hide as much of his appearance as possible from suspicious eyes before wandering through the sidewalk of the streets in search of other areas he hasn't checked out yet.

[OmegaMan]

The detective glanced about the streets as he walked. The destruction was a farcry from the ruined manor he visited a week ago. Omicron kept his wits about him as he approached what he believed to be the source of a lot of activity. It looked like a park. As risky as investigating a crowd was, Omicron didn't have any leads. Although he was aware that a certain someone was still in the confines of New Hera, the detective had no idea where to look for him. There really weren't many options at the moment.

[White-Jet]

Ryuta didn't wander long before noticing the blond haired detective wandering about the "streets", most likely on a solo scavenger hunt for more clues on the origins of Ordarium and its potential manipulation of the machines that harbor it. He would help with the investigation, but worries there may either be undercover Hunters lurking about, waiting to pounce him the second he approaches the detective, or sharp-hearing city officials that would turn their weapons on them at the mere mention of Maverick Hunter.

On the other hand, there wasn't much he could say that the detective hasn't already figured out after receiving the vial back at the Confederation Bridge. There was the matter with Kazuo, but the fret of undercover Hunters lurking around made him even more nervous as to what could happen he told the detective, flat out, that their new recruit is more than just wires and metal. It was probably better to let the detective notice his presence and follow after him rather than walk up to him and expect a one-on-one interrogation of the current situation.

Thinking back on the Ordarium, itself, he starts to ponder whether he should look even further into its origins, himself, or just stick to what Dr. S told him and linger around the city until Doomsday comes crashing on the foundation. He had been to the Energy Plant on a couple of occasions, but not to explore the area itself.

Going there with so many guards out on patrol could be suicide, but he remains hopeful that the simpleminded ones won't cry "wolf" at the mere sight of his shining dark hair. Then again, he really shouldn't be hogging most of the information for himself even if it meant saving his butt from any situations he would rather not get caught in.

Ryuta looks back towards the detective, noticing he was somewhat lost in the city. He doesn't blame him though, he's only been to the city once and only through the more legitimate Federation branch. Perhaps if he can lure him towards the Energy Plant and let him figure out how to leak this to the Hunters he won't have to feel like he's withholding information that should have been important to the "professional" organizations.

But how to get his attention without exposing himself too much in front of nearly every single official who has most likely seen his face as a threat to the livelihood of this city? He figures the detective would be sharp enough to recognize him at first glance, so he decides to hang about and feint ignorance by looking towards the park and pretending to be curious by the aftermath of what went on earlier, all the while keep a spiritual watch on the detective to see if he had noticed him during his next visual scan of the area.

[OmegaMan]

Omicron paused for a moment and looked around. There were some people still roaming the streets, it seemed. But none whom he thought would know anything important. As Omicron looked around, he caught a glimpse of a guy in a typical hoodie looking toward the park. He thought nothing of it for a second, but after a moment, he took a double-take. He stared at the figure for a moment and blinked twice. The detective didn't have the best facial memory in the world, but being a Reploid sure had its mental perks. Omicron was positive he knew that face. And he slowly realized whose face that was.

The detective glanced about cautiously, before nonchalantly walking toward the figure. He was positive it was Ryuta. And boy, did he need a lead. Omicron stayed on alert, though. He didn't know who or what could be watching...

[White-Jet]

Having sensed the detective recognize and make his way towards him, Ryuta begins to make his move towards the direction of the Energy Plant, "oblivious" to the detective's approach, but mentally hoping he would figure out what he was trying to do and follow without doing anything that would draw unwanted attention from the remaining corrupt Feds wandering the area.

But as he was attempting to lead the detective towards the plant, he couldn't help but worry that he either might unintentionally lure him into a trap, or that the trip was going to be a waste of time and effort towards what Maverick Hunter expects him to find while wandering the city.

[To Energy Plant]

[OmegaMan]

Omicron wondered what Ryuta was up to. Surely he noticed him. Or maybe not? Perhaps the persecuted individual was oblivious to his presence. Whatever the case, Omicron hastened his walk. Ryuta was the only lead he had. He wasn't about to lose sight of him!

[To Energy Plant]

[OmegaMan]

[From New Hera: Central Park]

Omicron left the amusement park with a rather grim, irritable, and frustrated demeanor. He had not only failed to gather information from where the doll had originated, but he had made a scene that would no-doubt get the rest of the Sigma followers, as well as the corrupt Federation officers, up in arms for his appearance. And considering Omicron's involvement with the military just prior to the coup, he knew it was far too likely to be identified as an opponent to this regime.

Irritated, Omicron eyed the streets and buildings as he walked along the sidewalk. The place was an utter wreck. How the hell could there still be citizens without weaponry celebrating in the streets?! This was chaos! If Omicron had suspected any form of civility in this veritable hell, he wouldn't have opened fire on an unarmed civilian. This scenario was just too bizarre and too stressful to grasp all at once. And now, his investigation was all but ruined! How and where could he get information on Kazuo now?!

Just then, he looked up and glanced into an abandoned shop's window display. There was a plush doll bearing Kazuo's likeness propped up against a flat-screen television. Playing in vibrant colors on the television was some sort of animation. It looked Japanese in origin; an 'anime'. Omicron would have brushed it off, but did a double-take. On screen was a rather uncanny rendered image of Kazuo....

"What the hell is this about?!" Omicron asked aloud before quickly barging into the seemingly abandoned store to take a look at the animation...

OOC: I'd appreciate it either Arby or White-Jet described what was happening on the screen as I have little-to-no idea of how Kazuo is portrayed here.

[White-Jet]

[From Central Park]

Ryuta arrived just in time to see Omicron barge into a seemingly abandoned shop. Though he should be more concerned with healing himself than getting further into the meddling of a now aggravated detective, the nearest pharmacy was on the other side of the building, forcing him to have to pass by the window just to get inside.

While making his way past the building, he noticed the same plush toy as the one he picked up at the amusement park sitting next to a flat screen TV which was showing some kind of anime of the now famed Kazuo.

It appears to be an animated version of the fight with that Hydra animaloid at the Confederate Bridge, except the Hunters were in far worse shape and Kazuo using his gravity powers to drive the savage 'roid back; only X, Zero, and Axl were recognizable while the rest that were involved were replaced by generic extras.

Ryuta couldn't afford to stick around and see what else was changed from what he witnessed, not only is he in danger of losing blood, he also didn't want to give the detective more reasons to put more distance between them upon noticing he had become aware of who was really defending him against the onslaught back at the park. He continues towards the pharmacy before the next commercial which would most likely prompt the detective to continue his scan of his current surroundings that would include the windows exposing the activity outside.

(I'll leave the anime at that, unless Arby decides not to swoop in and give more information on the core concept of the series)