New Beginning 22: Once Upon a New Beginning...

[Celadon's Penultimate]

Watching Brutus' battle with Zale's shadow was quite entertaining, true enough, but the Penultimate had to admit. Shortly after the two had taken to fighting, some feeling of discomfort began to nag at him. And while he was mostly able to ignore it, there were times when it rang through clear as a bell; another mind clearly pulling at his own, grasping for his attention, reaching for his audience. One such time came as Brutus and Shadow clashed with their weapons.

He stood up to cheer, and in that mere instant of weakness, the message erupted into his mind:

"Das Penultimatu...errespondei...Das Penultimatu...errespondei..."

And quick as it had come, it was gone again. It had reached its objective, though. It had gained the Penultimate's attention. He turned around slow, and then spoke into the air, as that seemed the only way to find Zaleramancer at the moment.

"Hey, Zaleramancer..." he blinked, "did you hear that? It sounded familiar, but...well, even Clairaudience doesn't work all that great when you're working with another person's mind for Wi-Fi. Mind if a bit of airspace is cleared so I can receive the message more clearly?"

[Zaleramancer]

"Sensors: Negative. Permission Granted."

[Celadon's Penultimate]

All of a sudden, the Penultimate erupts from his seat, "YEEEOWW! Hey, watch it, wouldja?!"

As sound from the Astral Realm died down to a reasonable volume to his ears, he sighed, put his hand to his ear, and continued, "Okay, yeah...yeah, you're good, now what's the deal with you trying so hard to reach me? I...I see...oh, hey wait, no, don't--! Don't panic! I'm coming, I'm coming! Get Techne and the servants to your bunker. I'll...yeah, I'll be back with Brutus as soon as I can. Oh...okay. Alright. Okay, bye."

He turned around, not knowing where Zale's presence might be, and spoke again to the thin air, "Um, Zale, sorry, but I have to go. It seems that Computress has some company coming. And it promises not to be pretty."

[Zaleramancer]

"Asta la byebye?"

[Celadon's Penultimate]

"Something like that." The Penultimate replies, "It seems that Computress has spotted signals from members of her race within Celadon's star system, and they're approaching fast. For whatever specific reason is unknown, but their weapons are armed."

[Zaleramancer]

"Boom. Headshot. Activate Rear Shields, Guv."

[Ericus Europaeus (Bug)]

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[Celadon's Penultimate]

"Uh, actually, Zale", the Penultimate blinks, "members of Computress' race never come alone--"

"Master Penultimate." Computress' voice interrupts by projecting to the entire arena, "I am afraid that this will be my last message to you for some time. My race has come for me, and I cannot allow them to locate me, so I must put forth as little energy as possible. Though, before I go, I feel I should warn you. My entire race seems to be on the horizon. As I can tell, they are analyzing all of your capabilities, and strategizing to counteract them, as we speak."

[Celadon's Penultimate]

 "Oh...nothing." The Penultimate sighs, "Just an ancient and unimaginably intelligent race of supercomputers come to take back my supercomputer to their home world, even at the risk of exterminating all sentient life in the process."

[Ericus Europaeus (Bug)]

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[Celadon's Penultimate]

The Penultimate calls a laptop to hand, tapping into only the barest of Computress' resources, "In about two seconds. Something about a Power-Neutralization apparatus. Wait, WHAT? Aw, dangit."

DZHOOOOOO...

The Penultimate looks around, "Computress? Com...Computress? You there?"

"Affirmative." Computress replies, "And I have analyzed the effect intended by my race. It seems that their first order of business was to strike against competition. Namely, they have produced a field of radiation with the same effect as that of the superhuman ability Reality Anchoring. Anything reality-bender level, by my calculation, will have been demoted to merely superhuman."

(In essence, power levels have been reduced for the coming arc, to make sure nobody just up and solves this in an OP manner...no one-hit kills, etc)

[Ericus Europaeus (Bug)]

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[The Narrator]

Idiot wake up...

*wiping the drool from our mouth*
"Huh, what's up"

Some attack is heading this way, and some thing just up and affected your powers...  Weren't you listening to that Penultimate fellow...

"I was sleep, been here for days in my time.  I wonder what's up?"

I'm glad you got your rest sleeping beauty, cuz you know we've just been sitting here yapping away and....\

*Bugs attack hits*

*Narrator lands on the ground surround by a shield.*

"So my All-Shield, wouldn't come on, what's this?"

Well since this your powers were dampered, I decided to come out!  Yay!  I'm free!  

"Areson, why are you here?"


Hey, the Psycho Shield still works!  And you're just got some scratches on your costume!  Plus that someone must be anchoring cuz mental jail you locked me in busted open!  And I'm here forrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreeeeevvvvvveerrr!


(Areson, another mental aspect of Narrator, who's super random....)

"Ugh, I gotta deal with this, let's just go see what's up."

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

"That's not so bad," I reply. I din't have anything that bent reality in the first place except as a side-effect."

[Celadon's Penultimate]

"That, of course, was only the first line of defense. I imagine, after this, that they shall begin leaking forth enemies to take you all out. Unfortunately, I cannot elaborate much more than that, as they are no doubt seeking out my psychic signature as we speak. Be well, dear Penultimate, and be well, dear allies of the Penultimate. As security permits, I shall attempt to contact you, and inform you, to assist as best I can, from time to time. Until then, however, I will be away, and out of contact range. Best of luck."

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

I frown, "So then that means that a fight's going to be up soon?"

I turn to Suzu quickly, motioning for her to get going, "Ah, Suzu, retrieve number I5478324 from storage and prepare to use it as necessary."

"Yes, ma'am!" Suzu cries as she teleports away, leaving no trace that she was in the vicinity except a few broken glasses of champagne.

[Celadon's Penultimate]

"Though, fortunately, it also means we'll form some new alliances soon! Maybe..." the Penultimate offers half-heartedly, "So, um, yeah. There's that. I wonder what kind of villains they'll be, though. Oh, and by the way, Zale, now would probably be a good time for us all to exit your mind. Ya know...what with the possible impending extermination of all sentient life, by a race of superintelligent supercomputers, and all that."

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

I begin to move quickly, teleporting out onto the actual surface of the planet we are on.

[Celadon's Penultimate]

The Penultimate follows behind quickly, taking Brutus with him.

(Which do you guys think is better to narrate this arc? First person, or third?)

[Philote]

"Should I expect visitors to Aeon?"