Robot Martial Law!

[iamtheeggman]

Who: You and the GLORIOUS ROBOTS OF THE EGGMAN EMPIRE!
What: Robot Martial Law!
Where: FDC!
When: May 24 - June 1
Warnings: POSSIBLE VIOLENCE

Well, it finally happened. Things went too far. A mad scientist was in charge of security in the city, and had declared martial law.

And it was... working???

The streets were quiet as curfew approached. The riots had all but stopped. Crime was on the decline. Perhaps things under. the Eggman Empire wouldn't be so bad after all...

Robots were out on patrol across the city. Would you be one of the ones to rub the militia the wrong way? Did you have a crime to report? Did you have objections to how this whole situation was being handled? Your friendly robot militia would be happy to listen.

I think.

Comments

[testsubject1]

But Chell wouldn't have it. The school had its ups and downs, but she couldn't stand for being confined against her will. Especially by robots.

So it was that Chell had opened her window, prepared to sneak out of the school with the cover of darkness. She carried her Portal gun and wore her Aperture Longfall Boots, so she could easily withstand the drop from her window, as long as there weren't robots patrolling directly below her.

Man it was just like that thing in Ocarina of Time where Link had to avoid the guards, and then that thing was repeated in Spirit tracks but anyway

It was all she needed, though. The Portal Gun she wasn't even sure she should take, since she really had no idea if any of these surfaces would work with portals. But it was possible. Hopefully fate would be kind and she could disable these bots by using the portals. Maybe.

Either way, she quietly jumped down from her window once the coast was clear, and quickly ducked behind a wall, keeping an eye out. As quietly as she could manage, she crept along the grass, eyes darting back and forth. And she did fairly well so far, keeping out of the way of the robots, but she couldn't have good luck this whole time, could she?

[iamtheeggman]

The ground was not the only place being patrolled by the robotic militia. Robotic bees flew overhead, keeping their eyes out for anything out of the ordinary.

And something that was clearly not a robot out and about after curfew qualified. Upon catching sight of her, a Buzzer flew down, trying to confirm the sighting. This would have been Chell's cue to hide.

[testsubject1]

Above her. Chell had checked above her at times, but sometimes it was hard to really see in the dark. But she was confident that she could outwit these robots, because she had done so before. Not once, not twice... But a few times.

Still, she didn't notice the bee robot at first as she crept behind the bushes, that is, until she heard the buzzing. With an inaudible gasp and wide eyes, she looked up, seeing that horrid bee monstrosity above her before she dove into the bushes, loudly rustling thorns and leaves. Thorns scraped across her skin, but she didn't care. Minor damage as long as she could escape.

[iamtheeggman]

An intruder confirmed, the Buzzer sent a signal to a nearby patrol to alert them of someone out after curfew. The bee attempted to keep on her tail to track her movements, as Egg Pawns scurried down the streets towards her position.

[iksb]

Upon the declaration of martial law in Final Destination City, Mukuro took certain precautions. She took care to withdraw her pieces of weaponry so that she would not be caught without a weapon at all times. There was a knife strapped to her thigh, handguns on her belt and strapped across her back was a rocket launcher. Save for the rocket launcher, all were handily concealed.

She knew the tyranny of military rule, having been part of a mercenary force which helped to enforce various forms of it. The use of sophisticated robots meant that it was unlikely without some knowledge of combat would even attempt what she was doing. But there she was - "suicidal" Mukuro Ikusaba.

Curfew came and Mukuro was outside the gates of Smash Academy. Her destination would be the Police Station. She needed more information. Without so much any hesitation, she stayed in the shadows and made her way.

[iamtheeggman]

The robot militia was out in full force. Egg Pawns marched the streets, flying robots patrolled the skies, and bugs with wheels rolled around the roads, looking for anyone who dared break curfew. The eyes and ears of the Eggman Empire were everywhere, and it would be pretty daring to try and sneak past them.

[maskxdemasque]

Ron was alright with extra patrol around the city. Really, he was. If the crime rate was going down, that was a good sign, right? Sure it was!

He was alright with it until he realized he couldn't even leave the city to go home for a brief visitation with his wife. Sure, his job was demanding, but he had reinforcement available now. And he was going crazy living for two months without seeing Desirée! So when he tried to leave the city only to find that the boundaries were closed off to him, he had a panic attack.

And then he broke down and started crying, right in the middle of the city. When he stopped, he had another panic attack. Once he calmed down enough, he tried to call Desirée. But his phone batteries were dying, and the call didn't go through, and then he had no phone to call her with. So he started to cry. Again.

What more was there for him to do but to go back to the academy? It was nearing curfew far too fast for his slow and mopey pace to bring him back to safety before curfew fell. Ron forgot about curfew completely, to be honest: all that was on his mind was the misfortune he had encountered, and how heartbroken he felt.

Ron was headed back for the academy, but not fast enough.

[iamtheeggman]

It was 10:00, and all was not well. The robots switched to patrol mode, searching for anyone who happened to be out past curfew.

And they found one.

"HALT," an Egg Pawn called out. "YOU ARE UNDER ARREST FOR VIOLATION OF CURFEW."

[maskxdemasque]

The moment the Egg Pawn declared that Ron was under arrest, a gut reaction kicked in. Ron screamed, "IT WASN'T MEEEEEE!" while withdrawing into himself, clutching onto his arms with his hands.

Then, he took the time to process what he said. Violation of... curfew? What time was it, anyway? Ron checked his watch.

10:02 PM... Oh. Oh no. Ron looked up to the robot and protested.

"N-No! It's just a mistake... I p-promise!" he insisted, holding his palms up in front of him in denial.

[iamtheeggman]

"BY ORDER OF THE EGGMAN EMPIRE, ALL CITIZENS ARE TO REMAIN IN THEIR HOMES AFTER THE DESIGNATED CURFEW TIME, UNLESS CARRYING AUTHORIZATION," the Egg Pawn explained. "YOU WILL PRESENT AUTHORIZATION OR COME WITH US FOR QUESTIONING."

[will_be_god]

Machines were Cyrus's specialty. Ever since he was a child, he'd been far more comfortable around machines than humans, and he thought of the world in terms of things that could rebuilt if they became unable to function.

So it would be fairly simple for him to understand how to break Eggman's robots down...if he had one to experiment on.

Usually he was all in favor of peace at any cost. But to obtain it through fear ensured that any peace would be only temporary, that a breaking point would be reached and that the city would once again be saturated with violence. Putting a stop to that warmonger's plans would be simple if he could get one of the robots.

He sent Weavile and Houndoom out into the city to hunt for one. His presence would be immediately caught, especially since making public his intent to fight against Eggman's plans, but his Pokémon would be mistaken for wild animals. Or that was his plan, anyway.

[iamtheeggman]

It would seem Eggman trusted nobody, especially in a city where an ordinary Pokemon could turn into an openly defiant and frankly unpleasant human. Wild animals were one thing. Pokemon were another.

Not that he particularly trusted woodland animals much more, given past experiences.

But either way, when a robot patrol spotted an unaccompanied Pokemon in the streets, they immediately assumed the worst.

"HALT, UNIDENTIFIED POKEMON. RETURN TO YOUR PLACE OF ORIGIN OR BE DETAINED BY ORDER OF THE EGGMAN EMPIRE," an Egg Pawn demanded, raising a gun.

[will_be_god]

Weavile scoffed. A gun was only so fast, and Weavile were known for their speed. It sped forward, zigzagging around to throw off the trail, with the intent of slicing the gun from the robot's hand.

[iamtheeggman]

Well, that didn't end how the Egg Pawn hoped, what with the gun being sliced in half. No, Egg Pawns weren't known as the fastest of Eggman's army.

Motobugs on the other hand...

A pair of beetles on wheels zoomed from around the corner, charging for Weavile.

[monotreme_101]

Knuckles had no intention of letting Robots look after his neighborhood. In his apartment slumbered the girl he loved and the pet he'd raised from infancy and he wasn't about to let the place they lived go to shit due to vandals and thugs OR tin plated extensions of Eggman's ego.

So, he was patrolling as he had done almost every night for weeks. He stuck to rooftops and alleys, dressed all in black and with a range of items and tools to help him should he need to apprehend someone or defend himself. He'd done a lot of good in their neighborhood since December. He'd stopped car jackings, muggings, assaults and break ins.

This was where he lived and he was determined to keep it safe on his own terms.

[iamtheeggman]

The robot militia had things well in hand. They didn't need any help from a spiny ant-eater. As a matter of fact, they seemed to take offense to any of Team Sonic's very existence normally. So far he had gone undetected, but his luck couldn't last forever. Not with all manner of Badniks hiding out in the most unexpected places, on the lookout for suspicious figures.

[monotreme_101]

He was, indeed, good at not being spotted when he wanted to remain out of sight. Right now, he ducked in behind a shrub as he heard a platoon of buzz bombers hover past.

damn bugs....

Suddenly, an idea came to him. Well, really, it wasn't such a big revelation. He just happened to notice half a brick nearby. That was, really, about all the incentive he needed to pick it up and hurl it through two or three mechanized insects.

....so, he did. The night was lit by the resulting explosion as two of the bugs were hit dead on, scattering shrapnel to the wind. He immediately ducked away, hoping not to be spotted.

Best idea.

[iamtheeggman]

The remaining robots definitely noticed the destruction of their compatriots. They frantically flew about the rooftops, scanning for any sign of the attacker. An alert was sent to a nearby squad to come stand by for the location of a curfew breaker.

They were not happy with this.

~*Welcome to FDC*~

[awakeningwill]

It didn't feel like there was a single panel of his armour that been unscorched by the intense explosion over the Earth's atmosphere. Cracks lined his whole body, discharging licks of electricity every time Zero tried to move. The diagnostics check was... less optimistic than he would've liked. And that Cyber-elf he'd been taking care of was missing. Considering that final battle, it was surprising that he survived at all. It wasn't a stretch to imagine that Croire did not.

Or maybe... he survived because she didn't. Wasn't it the sacrifice of a Cyber-elf that unsealed him in the first place...?

Maybe it was the case and maybe it wasn't. There was no helping it - he had to get up. He would not allow himself to shut down while lying in this dumpster. With his joints stiff and burnt out, he had to pour all his willpower into forcing them to function again. Zero pushed himself up and grabbed the edge of the filth-stained container to steady himself as he stood. His body felt like lead. But, at least for now, it was moving.

He half-leapt, half-toppled out of the dumpster, managing at least to land on his feet, however shakily. The shock of impact alone felt like it was dislodging his circuitry for a moment there, but once he started walking, the momentum of putting one foot in front of the other was getting less and less excruciating as he went. Just keep moving. Eventually, he had to run into someone.

Unfortunately, that someone was an Eggbot. It was several Eggbots.

It was curfew.

Zero narrowed his eyes as they began advancing on him, muttering a low, "Damn." These mechs might not have been any make that he was familiar with, but he recognized an enemy when he saw one. He didn't know why they were targeting him, but he didn't need to - it looked like his battles were far from over. Ignoring the grave extent of his injuries, he drew his buster gun and loaded the hilt of his sabre into the magazine slot. At the very least, he'd take out as many of them as possible before his body gave out.

Re: ~*Welcome to FDC*~

[iamtheeggman]

The sound of something crashing in an alleyway definitely warranted some investigation from the friendly neighborhood robot militia. A squad of Egg Pawns accompanied by some Motobugs and Buzzers made way for the source of the sound, and when they saw an unidentified hostile drawing weapons on them, they were ready to attack.

"HALT. YOU ARE UNDER ARREST BY ORDER OF THE EGGMAN EMPIRE," the lead Egg Pawn demanded, as the others raised guns and lances. "DROP YOUR WEAPON AND SURRENDER."

Re: ~*Welcome to FDC*~

[awakeningwill]

Yeah, that was gonna happen.

Zero's finger tensed over the trigger button. Strategically, there were times when surrender was the best way out, it was true - but it went against all his instincts to do so. He had no idea what kind of regime this 'Eggman Empire' operated under, but from this assemblage of minions, it couldn't be anything pleasant. To deliver himself willingly into their hands was just foolish. It was not an option.

They all looked like small fry, but their weapons were already trained on him - there'd be no time to charge his buster. With no other option, Zero fired a barrage of shots from his buster at the flying eggbots to take them out first.

Re: ~*Welcome to FDC*~

[iamtheeggman]

Mechanical bee shrapnel flew about as the bees exploded. From the wreckage, a small bird flew out of the carapace of each machine, taking off to the sky. The remaining badniks took this as a signal that no, he would not be coming quietly. Egg Pawns began to shoot back, trying to strafe about him. Motobugs drove in a perimeter around them to try and prevent this mysterious blonde woman from escaping.

Chell's escape attempt Part 2: the failure

[testsubject1]

Chell had successfully escaped this curfew once. She stayed away from the school for a few days after that, relishing in the freedom of not being trapped by a bunch of robots, but... that joy was short-lived. She was still trapped in this city somehow. Some sort of unknown force was preventing her from leaving - she would either walk in circles or hit some sort of unknown barrier. (And she knew she wasn't the only one. Others had suffered from this.)

So reluctantly she came back to the school after a few days, needing food, clean clothes, a shower... But she didn't stay for long. She just couldn't. Not when those electronic menaces were surrounding the school, mocking her. Entrapping her against her will. It was definitely partially a desire to show them up, to prove to these robots that she could overcome them.

Once more she leaped from her window, safely landing on her feet on the wet grass during the dark of the night. The street lights and the moon provided illumination, along with any lights the robots might be sporting, so Chell of course attempted to remain in the darkness as best she could. As long as that bee didn't find her again. As long as those robots didn't remember her portals. She would have to find that road again and make portals...

Re: Chell's escape attempt Part 2: the failure

[iamtheeggman]

Motobugs were still patrolling the streets, and Buzzers still flew overhead. They had been on the lookout for Chell, ever since she evaded their patrol previously. They were determined not to let her escape them again.

I am just so determined to have her get caught hahaha I'm horrible

[testsubject1]

How many others had been able to avoid this totalitarian robot-lord's patrol? Chell wouldn't really be surprised if she was the first and only one to do so - but it didn't matter. All that mattered was that she could escape. Maybe there was some thrill in it to her, some excitement in a droll life.

Or maybe this time she could finally get out of the city.

It wasn't long before Chell heard those familiar buzzing sounds. There were more of them. Had they spotted her yet? She had to move quickly and quietly now, try not to use her Portal gun unless she had to. (Because... these weren't testing robots. They could potentially learn.)

Unfortunately, Chell was not a perfect escape artist at all. She hadn't been aware that the texture of the ground had changed to a stone pathway, increasing the loudness of her steps... until she found herself falling. There was a small stair there that she hadn't seen, so she ended up falling forward onto her knees, creating enough of a noise to alert anyone nearby. Oh no.