deepground&#x27;s blade

"Any of them could've executed the failsafe, it would've killed every member of Deepground all at once. They were nothing more than a loose end to us." Weiss stated simply as he couldn't really care about whether Xehanort thought about keeping them alive if he was in the Tsviet's place. That was just a hypothetical about a past situation, something not worth the consideration at this point.

"The point is to minimize giving a potential enemy a tool to use against me." Weiis would rebuke, using the prior statement regarding them both keeping the full extent of their powers hidden from each other. "The issue isn't due to the numbers. If I can keep from having my focus split between several issues, I would prefer to keep it that way. My numbers are meaningless due to your capabilities."

Weiss wasn't going to personally admit it, but the master had the skills that would even give the leader himself trouble and he couldn't tell that there would be a clear winner.

"I will have a sample made for you. You definitely seem knowledgable enough to figure out how it is made. Will that be sufficient?" He wasn't going to do so without making some adjustments to ensure that he had a special safety mechanism that would only affect those injected by the sample.

"Shelke's network makes it instant to organize and direct our forces. She can handle the information input and can determine the optimal positioning. A force without the necessary means of support is doomed to fail." Weiss stated, though Shelke herself wasn't responsive to the compliment as she keeps focused on her objective.

The area would shake slightly as a man almost nine and a half feet talk walks over, carrying a aircraft rocket system like it was mere child's toy. "So, you are the person that Weiss has taken an interest in?" Azul stated, that while he personally didn't see anything interesting about Xehanort, he wasn't going to go against Weiss's orders. "My name is Azul the Cerulean." The man would make an introduction, resting the weapon system on his shoulder to free up a hand should a handshake be presented, though Azul wasn't going to be surprised if it wasn't.

Xehanort hmph'ed, tsk'ing. "Fair enough -- it's only natural you try to protect yourself,'' he agreed with the other, as he pulled at the strands on his face. "Focus is incredibly important. It's what drives us." As much as he was dark, the elder could nevertheless empathize. He chuckled at the next bit. How disappointing - but how much was that accurate? Even if it were only mild or moderate increases in power, it'd still do wonders on already enhanced power-filled people no doubt. He could easily secure another path to victory through this... Perhaps experiment with the Riku Replica, or of No. i? No, a copy of both ... contained within their very own Data World.

He nodded, bringing himself back to the situation at hand. "That should be sufficient, yes. I can only imagine I could replicate the serum as well in due time. Weeks." ..He had to be patient in using it, even if time felt a bit constrained. It depended majorly on whether or not the Guardians of Light were ready.

..He wouldn't dare trust handing any of the information, nor the sample, over to Vexen. Not when he heard rumors of the other trying to play double-agent. This serum could determine the tides of War. He's seen the limited amount of power already, afterall. No, he had to hoard it to himself. Keep it secret, even if he knew his Others would find out one way or another.

".. Indeed,'' he said, as he allowed himself to be dragged out of his thoughts, and hummed. Quite the.. opposite of the Organization. But then again, Xehanort had made sure to build the 'support' himself through making vessels of its members. Insurance. A safety net. A solid grounding, no matter what.

He then gazed over to Azul, taking in his large form, tilting his head back to stare up at the other. He nodded as a greeting, though not offering said-hand at all. Politeness would be enough. "Indeed, I am - I am Xehanort." He tilted his head, eyes boring into the taller man, though not feeling one bit threatened due to the man's size. "I see you are his defense in a way?"

"Even if we tried to inject them, some might not be deterred by it." Weiss stated, considering that some might be such a devoted employee to ShinRa that even dying for them would be a valuable use of their lives. If anything, they should at least make themselves useful to Weiss for experiments.

Hearing the offer being accepted, Weiss would shift his attention toward Shelke. "Shelke, inform the soldier's to make the serum." Shifting his attention back toward Xehanort. "Though there will always be information that we each keep from the other, there has to be some extent of concession. Comrade would be pushing it. This might be best described as a strategic partnership." Weiss would remark.

"Order has been received and acknowledged. Soldiers are moving." Shelke stated, making sure that the information regarding the presented order. "Weiss, Nero is finishing up extermination of WRO soldiers in sector 17. He'll be returning once he is finished." Shelke would later add on.

Weiss would hear the information, but wouldn't react. "Your methods most likely are different, but given the calm demeanor amidst your extended departure, you know the importance of having a foundation." Weiss honestly didn't know for sure, but at the least felt that it would be a safe guess to say it was different.

Azul wasn't at all surprised that Xehanort wasn't intimidated, after all, the Keyblade Master was someone that had Weiss's interested. "When I am not needed at the front line, yes." It would require large concentration of forces to necessitate bringing in the towring Tsviet.

"Azul's main directives are minimize the acquisition of reconnaisance information that is directed against us. When enemy positions are identified, Azul is sent to maximize the damage done to such positions." Shelke states from her seat.

"Every Tsviet has personalized equipment to maximize their strengths and minimize their weaknesses in as few pieces as possible." Weiss states calmly, though somewhat vagulely as the equipment varies with the Tsviet inquired about.

"Those who fail to think through their actions are prone to such obvious ploys." Weiss stated simply, a simply flourish of his hand effectively mirroring waving off those described by the statement like flies not worth swatting.

"Only the wise are worth consideration, those who rely on brute strength will be pushed to revealing their full capabilities and then subdued." They have a mixture of brute force and wisdom, though the wisdom largely laid with Weiss himself.

"The scientists have been killed in order to ensure the safety mechanism doesn't activate. There should be notes on the injections, but given the nature, I have it under constant watch to ensure that it isn't used against our forces. Access permissions will be from me personally and unauthorized access may have unpleasant response." Weiss stated calmly.

The notes were actually separated throughout the base in several locations. Given the visor's ability to spread information, it didn't make much of a deterrent for them. The visor's also allowed for rapid relay of orders. Unauthorized access would respond with the notes in other sections being destroyed as well as simple kill orders.

"If you want access, I have to ensure that you have no intention of using the injection against Deepground." Weiss stated simply. The word potential ally that Xehanort had used earlier would be utilized in the response.

"Weiss, Azul has finished his sweep of the perimeter and is on his way over." Shelke stated from her post.

''Hmm, they weren't strong enough,'' he muttered harshly, dipping his brows. It did bother the elder -- but he didn't know the entire circumstance. ''You simply didn't trust them,'' he said with a note of disdain throughout his tone, but also of understanding. "It was a matter of survival - and they've lost that battle quite easily." If anything, it felt a betrayal against one's own forces - an unprompted one. Not that he hadn't done the same myself -- tossed others off to the side.

He tilted his head, as the other belted out about 'promises'. "Whatever I say could only pacify you to a certain degree - whether or not I decide to lie. Then again - due to your numbers, if I were to carry out such actions, you'd no doubt catch me relatively quickly." Walking Weiss through it - to prove how pointless it'd be.

"I see that hints for me to be able to use it on others outside of your organization, if I so wished to - correct?"

He allowed a beat to pass through them before attempting to open his mouth again. But no. ''Azul,'' he repeated, committing the name again to memory. Especially if he were to work with the Deepground. ".. if anything, I find it far intriguing how seemingly well-put together Deepground is. It's not simple to build such a massive amount of forces."

"Any of them could've executed the failsafe, it would've killed every member of Deepground all at once. They were nothing more than a loose end to us." Weiss stated simply as he couldn't really care about whether Xehanort thought about keeping them alive if he was in the Tsviet's place. That was just a hypothetical about a past situation, something not worth the consideration at this point.

"The point is to minimize giving a potential enemy a tool to use against me." Weiis would rebuke, using the prior statement regarding them both keeping the full extent of their powers hidden from each other. "The issue isn't due to the numbers. If I can keep from having my focus split between several issues, I would prefer to keep it that way. My numbers are meaningless due to your capabilities."

Weiss wasn't going to personally admit it, but the master had the skills that would even give the leader himself trouble and he couldn't tell that there would be a clear winner.

"I will have a sample made for you. You definitely seem knowledgable enough to figure out how it is made. Will that be sufficient?" He wasn't going to do so without making some adjustments to ensure that he had a special safety mechanism that would only affect those injected by the sample.

"Shelke's network makes it instant to organize and direct our forces. She can handle the information input and can determine the optimal positioning. A force without the necessary means of support is doomed to fail." Weiss stated, though Shelke herself wasn't responsive to the compliment as she keeps focused on her objective.

The area would shake slightly as a man almost nine and a half feet talk walks over, carrying a aircraft rocket system like it was mere child's toy. "So, you are the person that Weiss has taken an interest in?" Azul stated, that while he personally didn't see anything interesting about Xehanort, he wasn't going to go against Weiss's orders. "My name is Azul the Cerulean." The man would make an introduction, resting the weapon system on his shoulder to free up a hand should a handshake be presented, though Azul wasn't going to be surprised if it wasn't.

"Pitiable, yes. Those that are satisfied with the current state grow lax and do little more than drag others around them down. It is a despicable epidemic that almost caused the death of the world and now they are incapable of seeing that the population boom has only accelerated the collapse of the planet." He stated, knowing that people would be too willing to resort to the simplest life, regardless of the cost.

"There was an eco group known as Avalanche that sought to destroy the reactors to save the planet. However, the damage was always escalated beyond their intent to twist their actions to Shinra's benefit." Feed the people's fears and insecurities to tighten their belief in Shinra, even if in the end they didn't care about them.

"The enhancement vary with the member of the Tsviet. Some of us have speed, others have power. That one that met us at the elevator, her name is Shelke the Transparent. She wasn't gifted with either, but was gifted with intelligence instead." Though the fact that it could potentially go against Hojo's designs who inhabited Weiss's mnd made her a tool awaiting its disposal. "I have acquired both speed and power." A calm smirk formed as Xehanort established a quick yet correct assumption. "Much like yourself, I keep the full extent of my abilities concealed. Though for most of the enemies I have, even that is more than what is needed."

"A secondary effect of the combination of gene splicing and the injection was a controllable transformation. Though the transformation is bestial in appearance, it is the full release of our abilities." Weiss stated simply. "Though it is large and makes it hard for us to stay hidden."

"The injections on the standard soldiers was mediocre, but enough in the numbers that they were given. Increased strength, endurance, and reflexes. The outfit and equipment was initially designed by Shinra, but was refined by Shelke."

Weiss would approach a central throne like structure before taking a seat. "One of our members hold a power similar to your own, though the extent may not be the same. Each person has a set of weapons to best utilize their abilities."

Oh, the list for my reasons grow longer by the second... A hand went and gripped at his shirt. This world's suffering matched with some of the other worlds' suffering, certainly. This was the precise reason why he'd have to go to such lengths .. "Messy,'' he simply commented, sighing as he released the white material. "It's like an endless cycle. One group tries to fix it.. but gets swallowed up into the carnage instead." He could have laughed at the sheer irony of it all.

He scoffed, eyes twinkling expectantly. "I have figured, there was something hidden within your movements." But then again, he was a seasoned warrior, having fought for so many years. ''That explains it. It seemed you had a .. hesitancy within your step." He very much did the same, especially when not trusting an acquaintance - but it seemed like this situation was shaping to be quite atypical. He let out a flat-out chuckle escape through his lips and a shake of the head. "It is wise to do so - one never knows if their abilities could be used against them. Even by potential allies."

He then listened, even looking elsewhere, as if the woman would still be there. Imagine if my replicas could have such tweaks ...

He blinked, watching the other.

"Would you happen to have notes on such injections and the like? Is there a scientist around?'' He tilted his head.

"Of course, I may find this highly useful for my own allies, as we battle against our enemies in a world much like this one... as we attempt to fix it." Reset it.

"Those who fail to think through their actions are prone to such obvious ploys." Weiss stated simply, a simply flourish of his hand effectively mirroring waving off those described by the statement like flies not worth swatting.

"Only the wise are worth consideration, those who rely on brute strength will be pushed to revealing their full capabilities and then subdued." They have a mixture of brute force and wisdom, though the wisdom largely laid with Weiss himself.

"The scientists have been killed in order to ensure the safety mechanism doesn't activate. There should be notes on the injections, but given the nature, I have it under constant watch to ensure that it isn't used against our forces. Access permissions will be from me personally and unauthorized access may have unpleasant response." Weiss stated calmly.

The notes were actually separated throughout the base in several locations. Given the visor's ability to spread information, it didn't make much of a deterrent for them. The visor's also allowed for rapid relay of orders. Unauthorized access would respond with the notes in other sections being destroyed as well as simple kill orders.

"If you want access, I have to ensure that you have no intention of using the injection against Deepground." Weiss stated simply. The word potential ally that Xehanort had used earlier would be utilized in the response.

"Weiss, Azul has finished his sweep of the perimeter and is on his way over." Shelke stated from her post.

"Here, you probably wouldn't have lasted as long as you have. Not many people with your amount of experience are able to utilize it at your age." Weiss stated, seeing no reason to be apologetic about claiming the master was old, but complimented his abilities and whatever kept him as capable as he was.

The elevator did not begin to move up. It actually started to travel deep underground. "The lands were barren and rife with monsters. The company set up walls to protect the people and utilized the Lifestream to help the land grow food while also protecting the reactors." Though a lot of areas had the same problem, none of them killed the planet for the sake of the people.

"The heads of Shinra sought a place that claimed to be paradise. They saw this planet to be nothing more than an expendable stepping stone. Only those that lived on the elevated plates would be invited to the paradise. The people that lived on the ground would be left behind." Weiss stated, though whether or not the planet was such a paradise, Hojo would be able to do whatever experimentation he pleased.

Once the elevator had stopped, a young woman was standing outside, looking between the two men before speaking. "Weiss, should I gather the Tsviets to meet the guest?" The woman spoke calmly yet in a monotonous voice.

"Once they are free, yes. Do not have them divert from their operations." Weiss stated calmly, the woman nodding her head before dashing back to her post.

"Out of those that were made in the open experimentation. Only one specimen survived unaffected. Most got deformed or suffered from poisoning." Weiss stated calmly, but there wasn't much concern in his voice.

"That one specimen was remarkable. However, he eventually went mad and turned against Shinra. Several armies of standard soldiers were no match for that specimen. The specimen killed the president of Shinra and almost caused the destruction of the planet." Though it was known to Shinra about the Nibelheim fire, it wasn't important to Hojo, so it wasn't going to be stated.

Weiss calmly answered the presented questions, despite the nature. "We are in a separate force. Everyone here was taken from their families and rather than being bathed in Mako were given injections. Held under lock and key until needed. When the Shinra building was destroyed, it broke the lock, but the security measure was still in place, but was eventually dealt with."

"Known as Deepground. The soldiers serve me. Most are rank and file soldiers. They follow every order given. At the top of the group are five people that had their genes spliced with that of a separate skilled warrior that made us more receptive to the injection. That group is called the Tsviets with me at the head." Weiss finished as he made his way to his position, the soldiers saluting as the two passed before resuming their patrols and other duties.

The elder tsk'ed, but took as it was. ''That merely says everyone here is weak, at least of my generation. And who knows of many others?" Yen Sid, and Eraqus had been more than agile into their later years - and who knows how many more older keyblade wielders there had been? That he hadn't discovered?

Oh, his mistake. Nonetheless, yellow kept onto the other, listening as he went on about Shinra. "Quite manipulative on their part,'' he muttered, humming. Though, it was clever tactics all the same. In a way, he had to admire it, the way the company secured life on this world. It was far from being a simple solution - even if it had provided one. He was about to inquire once more, but that's when they were suddenly approach by some woman. He eyed her, figuring it'd only be natural that he'd meet more people.

He was thankful for her to not interrupt Weiss' explanations any further, and he could freely turn back towards the other.

He widened his eyes lightly, gripped by the tale, as the white-haired male continued. "Enhanced human beings,'' he muttered, sweeping his vision over the area, before resting yellow back onto the other warrior. "So what exactly are all of the enhancements given then? I have seen a mere sliver of your full potential then, I see."

He wordlessly eyed the soldiers as they went by.

"No wonder they had been persistent in their pursuit of me - was that one of the characteristics enhanced within, at least, the lower levels?"

"Pitiable, yes. Those that are satisfied with the current state grow lax and do little more than drag others around them down. It is a despicable epidemic that almost caused the death of the world and now they are incapable of seeing that the population boom has only accelerated the collapse of the planet." He stated, knowing that people would be too willing to resort to the simplest life, regardless of the cost.

"There was an eco group known as Avalanche that sought to destroy the reactors to save the planet. However, the damage was always escalated beyond their intent to twist their actions to Shinra's benefit." Feed the people's fears and insecurities to tighten their belief in Shinra, even if in the end they didn't care about them.

"The enhancement vary with the member of the Tsviet. Some of us have speed, others have power. That one that met us at the elevator, her name is Shelke the Transparent. She wasn't gifted with either, but was gifted with intelligence instead." Though the fact that it could potentially go against Hojo's designs who inhabited Weiss's mnd made her a tool awaiting its disposal. "I have acquired both speed and power." A calm smirk formed as Xehanort established a quick yet correct assumption. "Much like yourself, I keep the full extent of my abilities concealed. Though for most of the enemies I have, even that is more than what is needed."

"A secondary effect of the combination of gene splicing and the injection was a controllable transformation. Though the transformation is bestial in appearance, it is the full release of our abilities." Weiss stated simply. "Though it is large and makes it hard for us to stay hidden."

"The injections on the standard soldiers was mediocre, but enough in the numbers that they were given. Increased strength, endurance, and reflexes. The outfit and equipment was initially designed by Shinra, but was refined by Shelke."

Weiss would approach a central throne like structure before taking a seat. "One of our members hold a power similar to your own, though the extent may not be the same. Each person has a set of weapons to best utilize their abilities."

"It's very rare that two different people have near identical capabilities. It's very smart that you keep your full power hidden unless needed." Weiss stated simply as while the two could make the plunge and land unharmed, the elevator ride would give them more time.

"Very well. I will explain as much of the world's history until the elevator arrives, then will continue on the way down." Weiss stated as he tucks the card back in his pocket. "Feel free with any questions you may have."

"This building belonged to a company called Shinra. It harvested the life force of the planet and used it to power various machines. It made the people's lives easier but was killing the planet. This life force is called Mako when harvested, but is called the Lifestream as it flows through the planet." Weiss stated, not really caring about the history of the planet.

His biggest interest was in his projects as it was the mental data of Hojo inside Weiss's body. "We are located in the first Mako Reactor, identified as Mako Reactor 0, also utilized as Shinra's Headquarters when it was still functional."

"Eventually, 8 more Mako Reactor were built in an octagon formation around Reactor 0, each numbered 1-8. To protect the Reactors, Shinra developed a military force, with people bathed in Mako for enhanced ability to lead them." Weiss stated, though he was loath to admit what was going to come next.

"However, very few that got Mako infusion survived. Most perished, few lived but with defects, but..." He would be cut off by the ding of the elevator as it arrived at their floor before opening its doors. Weiss would walk inside and wait for Xehanort.