Sudden Holes in Reality?

[Kiera Bright]

Thread Title: Sudden Holes in Reality?
Participants: Keira vs ? ? ?
World: Human World
Death Setting: Non Death Enabled
Rating: R
Location: On the outskirts of Karakura Town, an old abandoned asylum stands stubborn and decrepit. The area is dominated by the large three story building. The main central area spanning most of the hill, the building occupies, with a each wing L turning off the central entrance. A large dry fountain stands in front of the main entrance, and the exterior covered in patchwork sheets of metal and roughly laid stone.
Special Conditions: Multiple fighters can enter the fray, pm me for record purposes.
Circumstances: After months of toiling, theorizing, and contemplating, Keira had finally built a very rough prototype. This prototype rift generator, is Keira's ticket to further spiritual exploration, but who knows to what ends she will use this? Anyone in the area will notice it going off, and who knows if it is safe for Karakura Town? Or will some others decide to lay claim to this technology?

[Kiera Bright]

Keira stood upon one of her giant, purple, reiatsu generated hands, craning her neck up to the large tower behind the asylum she called a laboratory. The tower stood over thirty feet above the roof of the asylum. With the patch work frame holding the large dish structure on top. The dish was pointed in the direction of the moon. There was no particular reason for this, she just wanted to test the rift generator in a space least likely to cause noticeable damage to herself, her lab, or the town itself. After hours of thinking where to open the first rift, why not in the place that has the most available open space, the sky! Sure there were planes, and what not that could be affected, but they were acceptable losses. 

Keira stood tall despite her short, thin, frame swelling with pride. One could say that she was glowing a bit brighter from it. She didn't care. It was almost time. She moved her hand up the asylum walls, and over the roof to inspect the structure one more time. Her critical, bright, pink eyes scanned the structure from top to bottom pushing on the supports slightly to make sure they were sturdy. The thing didn't budge. Good. With a final nod, she returned to her place in the front of the asylum. With the large, dry, fountain at her back, and the flimsy, iron, gate beyond that, she was sure that she was alone. She didn't want this to damage the town, that would just bring trouble.

She held two cables in each hand. Once she put them together, the rift should open. She was almost drooling at the prospects that lay beyond their own world. She had been visited by many spiritual beings throughout her career. Shinigami, the so called, protectors of peace. Feral, and most importantly hungry, hollows wanting to devour her, and many other types drawn to her for one reason or another. She had data on them all, but none of it was close to completion. Mod Souls were few and far between to properly experiment on. Any race of hellish origins were just as rare, if not more so. Even shinigami just came one at a time. If she studied their hives, maybe she could gain further insight on them. 

Keira shook her head, strands of long, pink, hair falling in front of her eyes. Now wasn't the time for day dreaming. Now was the time for action! She slammed the two cords together, which sparked and crackled with electricity. The whining of power increasing, and the grinding of gears turning were music to her ears. The dish started to glow a ghostly, green, glow in the night. As time ticked by, more power was gathered. She kept track of everything on a little laptop beside her. Everything needed to be carefully monitored. One wrong move, and she might just open a black whole dooming the entire world. She figured there was only a ten percent chance of that. 

After three minutes, the generator was fully charged, and a beam of green energy was shot out to the sky. The beam stopped a couple hundred feet above her head. Keira had to move back farther to clearly see what was happening. The black rift, in the center of the green vortex, was only a small thing at first. Only the size of a marble. Well that just won't do. No sir. She increased the power output getting it to increase in size yet again. Now the whole was big enough to fit maybe an arm through. Still not enough. More and more power was given to the machine. The whole would only grow a little at a time. More power, need more power! With a press of a satisfyingly large, red button, she tapped into the city's power grid for more energy. Who would get fussed over a little black out? Now she was getting somewhere. 

The rift was now able to fit her easily, with room to spare. Yes! She did it! She cheer like she never could since her childhood. She was finally getting somewhere. But now the biggest question was emerging from her every working mind. Was it now time to test the rift itself? That was the hardest thing to test now. How would she do it? She always could try going through herself, but that was her last resort. She wondered if pushing someone through with a cord would work. Possible, and maybe a funny story for her if successful or not. Keep mental note. She giggled softly quickly composing herself despite no one being around. She wasn't done yet.

A series of beeps from her computer, made the small woman jump slightly looking down. Her eyes widened when the display showed that the power output was growing unstable. "No,no,no,no!" She muttered trying to regulate the flow, and increase powers to the stabilizers. "It was going so good. Why now!?" Unable to fully stabilize the rift, it wobbled, and shifted, like a mirage in the middle of a desert. All the proud scientist could do was watch it shrink back into itself and collapse. Keira covered her ears for some kind of energy discharge, but there was nothing. After a few seconds, she moved her hands from her ears with a sigh. 

Sparks started flying from the power generators and several loud bangs could be heard. Luckily nothing exploded on her, but things were going wrong. Sparks flew from the structure and more bangs followed. A small explosion lit up the top of the structure leaving smoke to billow into the darkness of the night sky. The strain was too much for the city's grid as well. The entire town was plunged into darkness. Several pinpricks of light could be seen as transformers blew, and maybe a power plant or two was going haywire. "oops." was the only thing she said. Well if her experiment didn't alert everyone with any energy sense or working eye balls, the black out would have. Now wasn't the time to dismantle and ponder date. Now was the time to be alert, and on the defensive. 

SPOILER: Click to show

{Stats and Skills}
Strength - 100 - 25% = 75 Points

Speed - 125 - 25% = 94 Points

Spiritual Pressure - 400 Points

Reiatsu Strength - 1050 Points

Light Aura - 20 Points

Dark Aura - 80 Points

Instinct - 300 + 100% = 600 Points

Senses - 225 + 100% = 450 Points

Energy sensory - 250 + 100% = 500 Points

Healing Expertise - 0 Points


Battle Analysis 2

Mental Incantation 2

Learning 2

Illusion Resistance 2

Analysis 2

Science 2

Strength of Will 2

Crafting 2

 

[Aramis Tezuka]

These readings... These readings... No. This was a concern. It had to be a concern. The Captain of Division 12 had actually come out of his hole and went to the human world. That sort of thing never happened. Aramis Tezuka was known for a lot of things in Soul Society by those who had met him and even some who hadn't. Being late for meetings for example. Having a very odd demeanor that made him hard to follow. And most notably, known for basically existing within the Squad 12 barracks and its surrounding area. The sight of the Squad 12 Captain away from his division had become an increasingly rare thing following his promotion. Something done only if it was specifically requested by a high ranking officer, or if he had no other choice. That Aramis was out in the Human World was a rare sight indeed.

And it indicated things that were not good.

With Aramis's energy sensory, detecting the location of the asylum in which Keira operated was easy enough. The Captain bolted along the airground, making a beeline for it. He saw a green bolt of energy crackle to the sky in the distance. No. That is not good. The thought flashed through Aramis's mind as he hastened to reach the site before it was too late. He could sense a tremendous reiatsu near that beam of green light. A Failure, I believe, judging by this signature Aramis noted. Well that was novel. As was what they were doing. But this was uncontrolled and dangerous. One should always be careful when playing with portals. A mistake far too many of his subordinates had made. And plenty of them were now wandering around Hueco Mundo, or alternate realities, or space, or... well some places Aramis didn't really know. Neither did the division. They never did find out where Tamara had ended up after she fell through that one hole she'd made....

Mercifully it seemed that the generator had shut down before a significant rift could be formed, causing Aramis to breathe a sigh of relief. But that left the one who made it. A reiatsu like that... it was hard for him not to zero in on Keira's location. The Captain slipped through the darkness as easily as breathing, and landed on solid ground near the asylum. It was pitch black, without even the moon to light the area, but that didn't stop Aramis, who had eyes like a cat. "You are advanced with your mastery of technology. For someone who lives in this world." He said aloud, looking towards Keira. "It's impressive." Aramis donned the black garb and white haori of the Captain of the Twelfth Division.

"But you should not be doing this alone and unsupervised. Risky. Foolish. Liable to make things go. Very badly." He continued sternly, speaking like a lecturing parent to the pink haired woman.

[Kiera Bright]

Keira waited for a moment surprised that no one showed up yet. It wasn't uncommon for Keira to have visitors just from picking up her reiatsu, but this was something far more noticeable and yet nothing. With a shrug Keira turned back to the damaged structure. She was still on guard, not convinced that someone wouldn't show up. She couldn't wait forever, and there was work to be done. She needed to diagnose what went wrong, search for the components to fix the issue, make the repairs, all before she was able to attempt the experiment again. She also needed to find a more suitable power source. The city's energy grid proved unsuitable for the task. Maybe she needed a large city...questions for later. 

She hasn't even moved from her current position before her body stiffened. Her keen energy sensory picked up someone approaching. She hated being right. Keira rubbed her eyes with a her thumb and index finger. Well nothing can be done to prevent this expected visit. All she can do now is try to shoo them away with minimal damage to her laboratory. She really needed to find a nicer place. She thought bitterly casting a quick glance to the decrepit, patched together, building that called home. She may have hated the place to her very core, but it was all she had at the moment. Still this place was better than no lab at all, so she would defend it at all cost, and all the work she put into it, or take it with her if the worst should happen. 

She was able to track the individual approaching easily. They didn't seem to make an effort of trying to hide their reiatsu from her. That meant either they couldn't, or they were thought it would be unnecessary. Cocky bastard. The closer the intruder got, the more she was able to pick up on. A shinigami this time. She was sure at least one of them would show up, but she couldn't think how cleche it was that they were the first to show up. One would think that the so called "protectors of peace", would have gotten here when the actual incident had taken place. Not after it. Keira turned to the direction that the person was coming from with reaching into the pocket of her lab coat and popping in a piece of candy in her mouth. The hard, sour, candy was pushed from one side of her mouth to the other, as she waited. 

A man landed in front of her. She would give him a six for the entrance. Her pale face held her stoic mask well. The man wore the usual get up she saw most shinigami wear, though the white thing was new. Judging by that, and the power that she could sense from him, she could assume that he was a high ranking Shinigami. That would explain why she felt just the one, instead of a team of them. This was troubling. If she attracted the attention of such a man, then who else could she be being watched by now? Again, question for later. She focused her attention to her guest. His complements were noted, but his lecturing was something that she could do without. He knew nothing about her, and he dared to lecture her about how she conducts her research! Her bright, pink, eyes narrowed slightly.

"Your concern is noted, but unnecessary Shinigami." She said finding a break in his lecturing. "Now, who do i have the pleasure of visiting my laboratory this time?" She asked in a more resigned tone. She really didn't want to deal with something like this. At least the hero types didn't try to lecture her on things that she already knew. They just went on about the typical stuff. She needed to be stopped from hurting people, she was an abomination, a blight on the world, and for some reason, she had one person actually tell her to think of the children. That one was rather random, but at least it was different. This however, was starting to piss her off. 

[Aramis Tezuka]

Aramis truthfully hadn't even been going for much of an entrance. That Keira would have rated his entrance at all would have amused Aramis. Or maybe it wouldn't have. It was often difficult to say exactly what went on through his mind, or if Aramis was truly ever "amused" by anything at all. Something that could feasibly have passed for amusement anyways. Keira's stoic expression met Aramis's as he made his statements and she waved off Aramis's concerns. "This time, agreed. The experiment failed. Still. Rifts between the worlds? Very dangerous. Do you know what door you are opening? If you do it without guidance, you are as like to open one to a place you want to go, as you are a place that you do not." He commented. "Plus, an open door can be entered both ways." He warned her. "Trapdoor spiders know only to open their burrow once they know they have found prey. If they leave the door open carelessly, then predator can become prey very quickly."

As she asked for his name, Aramis paused, adjusting his glasses. "Aramis Tezuka. Captain of Soul Society's Research and Development Division." He introduced himself. "Successor to Captain Bokuga Sayuri, my father." He continued. Not technically true-- there was no blood relation between Aramis and the previous head of Squad 12, and Sayuri likely had not seen any fatherly bond between himself and Aramis. To him, Aramis was a research subject, and nothing more. But it didn't stop Aramis from considering the man who had permitted his existence as such. It was the closest thing to a father he had anyways. At the very least, Sayuri was the one who had impressed upon him, Aramis's.... "questionable" moral code.

"And you?" Aramis asked of Keira. He had not yet drawn Revenant, though he could sense that Keira's power vastly outclassed his own. "Not Fullbringer, Quincy or Arrancar, I see." He stated. "Curious. But very powerful. Reiatsu that would make most Captain's envious." He continued his analysis of Keira. "The device you used. May I see it?" He asked. "Professional requirement. Falls upon me to report it to Central 46. Need to assess threat potential. Nothing personal. Very unfortunate. Prefer the free and active exchange of knowledge. Only way to truly advance science." Aramis stated curtly. He then paused in consideration. "Humans have been working on mastering nuclear fusion for some time. Hmmm.... Flaws in their methods. Imperfect. Could reiatsu fill hole? Or unique ability? Something to consider." He broke off, seemingly talking to himself, before being brought back into the present and addressing Keira again.

"Others like you around? Or only you?" He asked of her. "Other devices like this one? Or is this your dream work?" He asked. "What is your goal? Travel to other worlds? Why? To see if you can?" He pressed. "Or for nothing more than knowledge?" He added, curiously. He was asking a lot of questions, he supposed, but Aramis was a naturally inquisitive person, and it was rare he encountered someone outside the twelfth division with this much technical genius. Aramis was, truly impressed at Keira's accomplishment. And he found it truly regrettable that he had to do his duty to Soul Society and inhibit this project from reaching further without Soul Society's oversight. Even the oversight was likely to be a stretch if the Central 46 found out about this. Soul Society heavily restricted travel between the worlds. They did not want other races able to access them easily. It was bad enough that Las Noches and the Vandenreich could reach in, they didn't want XCution to also be able to stick their hands into the pot as well! But Aramis, on some level, recognized, he had asked enough questions and gave Keira breathing room to answer.

[Kiera Bright]

Keira's bright pink eyes rolled as he continued his lecture. She gave him some leeway though. She could tell that he didn't know who he was dealing with, and what she knew already. It was regrettable how she came across a lot of her leads, but in her defense, those...interviewees, did trespass first, and most of them made some attempt at her life. She made sure that held herself back to non-lethal means of information gathering, and made it painful enough to get the message across. A reassurance that they wouldn't get off as easy next time would be the final warning for any that were fortunate enough to walk out of the asylum alive. Regardless, she was well aware of the hunting habits of trap door spiders. The metaphor wasn't lost on her however. 

"Yes but without opening that door to lay its silk, the spider would never know when to open that door." She countered "Or know when not to." She added. Keira shifted slightly from one foot to the other. She honestly wasn't used to standing for so long. She would normally use her flood to relax whenever she was out and about. She just didn't have a need for it during the experiment. It would be unwise to activate it now however. Though her raw power was greater than the shinigami's, she didn't want to spook him, and cause an unnecessary incident. Though as he introduced himself, she was not so sure that it could be avoided this time. A captain. Huh. It seemed that she got more attention than she realized. She let out a hard exhale from her nose, as he continued on. She asked for his name, not his family tree. At least he was polite enough to give his name. She might as well do the same.

"I am Doctor Keira Bright." She said with no small amount of pride. "Practitioner of all sciences, and seeker of knowledge." That was enough. He seemed smart enough to get the point. Her cheeks puffed slightly, moving her candy from one cheek to the other, as he mentioned her condition. His observations were accurate, though she suspected that he knew more than he was letting on. She wouldn't press that issue. It wasn't why he was here. Her body tensed when he asked to see her Rift Projector. Her eyes narrowed slightly allowing him to explain his reasoning for asking. She was aware that Squad 12 was the science decision of the Serete. She gained a basic understanding of the chain of command from the brains she picked. Now he was rambling about human's research into Nuclear fusion. She raised an eye brow watching patiently for him to get back on track.

Then more questions followed. What was this the Shinigami Inquisition? She didn't have anything against him personally. If he had just happened by and was curios about what was going on, maybe they could have gotten along. Sadly, he was here on official business, and Keira couldn't have others knowing what she was capable of, and interfering in her work. If he was curious as to why she was studying this, she could at least tell him that. With any luck, giving some information would help appease the captain and get him to back off for a while. At least until she was able to perfect her work. She would never willingly allow anyone else to interfere. Once was enough.

She gestured to the empty space around her with a lazy wave of her slender hands. "As you can see, I am the only one here. I am sure that if there were others here, you would have been able to pick them up as easily as me." She paused contemplating of giving him the rest of the information he wanted. She mentally shrugged. What was the harm? "This is my only prototype. I wouldn't call it a dream project, but rather a necessary step." She stopped to swallow the last sliver of candy in her mouth. "I developed this device partially for the reasons you suggested. These portals to Huaco Mundo, and your world, would give me access to samples I wouldn't get from random passerby's. If your worried about me trying to interfere in Shinigami affairs parish the thought. Your society holds little interest to me." She said trying to head off any following worries. 

Now, it was time to address the biggest question that he had asked her. One that took no thought to answer. "I regret to inform you, that I will not allow you to inspect my machine." Her voice had an icy edge to it. Her arms were crossed in front of her chest keeping her eyes fixed on Aramis. "The last time I let another scientist look at my work, it resulted in sabotage. As a result of that, I become the being before you. So I think it is more than understandable that I would rather not tempt fate again." Her eyes narrowed into a dark glare. "Besides, I have no intention of allowing an organization, that has nothing to do with me, interfere and tell me what I can or cannot research."

[Aramis Tezuka]

Aramis gave Keira a thin smile as she countered his metaphor. That was rare. Even if people caught the meaning of his metaphor, very few used the metaphor itself as the basis of argument. Her argument was sound enough, but Aramis still felt it was slightly naïve. Though she likely thought the same of him. He would let the point rest a moment or two. While she wasn’t entirely mistaken, at the same time, Aramis wondered how much she really knew about exactly what was out there. Oh yes, Shinigami she seemed familiar with, and he expected she knew of arrancar and Hollows. But what of Hell? Or other planes beyond that? Was she aware of how dangerous it was to open that door? …Then again…. Perhaps a door out of Hell could prove useful to Aramis’s own designs. The Nakabakki seemed to consider that a moment, seeming to space out.

As she introduced herself, Aramis nodded. ”A true pleasure then, to meet a fellow scientist, and pursuer of knowledge.” Aramis replied and he seemed genuine. Aramis had found ever since he had started leading Sayuri’s old division that he just couldn’t connect with non-scientists anymore. All the other Shinigami were so obsessed with strength. Being the strongest, being the fastest, the toughest… whatever it may have been. Why did nobody strive to be the wisest. Aramis considered wisdom slightly more valuable than intelligence. There was no pride in being the smartest Shinigami, he felt. You’d run out of things to challenge your mind if that was the case. And if that happened, then the mind stagnated, and that was the demise of progress.

Keira assured him she was the only one there, which matched Aramis’s assessment. So either she was telling the truth, or she had a friend that was extremely good at hiding. Or, there was the third option, which was that they were being observed by a third party that neither of them knew about. But Aramis considered the first option—that Keira was being honest, the most likely. ”So you say, but if you are clever enough to develop a device to tear open a rift between worlds, you could have developed one to conceal one’s spiritual energies from detection as well.” He replied. ”But I believe you nonetheless. You have no reason to lie. You could destroy me without the need for help.” Aramis suggested, surprisingly plainly and without any real fear in his voice or expression.

So, this device was a prototype. Aramis, closed his eyes and breathed in deeply through his nose. In other words, she fully intended to continue her work with this, and possibly produce more variants and copies of it. ”Once more, I believe you.” He stated when Keira said she had no interest in interfering with Shinigami affairs. ”However, the Seireitei may not agree with you. I won’t bore you with the political details, but the Thirteen Court Guard Squads are quite jealously protective of any means to access Soul Society. The difficulty in reaching Soul Society has kept a number of our enemies at bay for some time. It is not your purposes of your device that concerns them. It is the possibility for your technology to fall into the wrong hands, or be copied by others.” He pointed out.

Keira was also reluctant to let Aramis check her machine. When she explained why, Aramis understood her concern and he nodded in understanding. ”Your caution is wise then. Unwarranted, but wise. What is the phrase…. Ah yes. “I would sooner destroy a stained glass window than an artist like yourself.” Something like that, I believe it was.” Aramis stated. ”I have considerable respect for your aptitude with creation. Have you developed this independently? Or have you built this off the research of another?” If this was an independent project, then that was good news. It lessened the chance the technology could be replicated. Alternatively, if there was a baseline that she had created her technology off of, then it would be good to know as well, so that Aramis could see to it that no other factions could get their hands on it.

”Is there no way we can come to a compromise?” Aramis asked. ”I have a wealth of information, collected over thousands of years, in the Squad 12 databases, that is mine to do with as I wish.” Technically true, but not truly accurate. Central 46 would be less than pleased if they knew he was sharing knowledge with an outsider. But well. They just didn’t have to know. There was a lot of things that went on in the Research and Development Division that they did not know about. ”I do not suppose we could make some manner of exchange? Knowledge for knowledge, I believe?” Aramis proposed. ”With you overseeing, if I could inspect the signals, and means your device uses to open a rift, My division could engineer a means to detect an attempt to open a portal, as well as determine who is using it, and guide it on our side, to a suitable, and safe location. Security is not sacrificed for the Seireitei, and you may conduct your research. Of course, if you wish to venture through Hueco Mundo, I have no need to control access there and you are free to explore those sands however you like.”

Aramis paused for a moment to consider. ”I do, however, caution you if you intend to go forwards. You seem intelligent. You should know there are doors you should not open. And it is unclear if your device at present can control which door it is opening. I know some of the things that lurk in the dark.” Aramis said, his voice dropping, and the first inflections of emotion slipping into his tone. ”And they do not belong on this world, or any other but their own. Can you be certain that while you lay out your web, nothing else will crawl into your burrow?” He asked Keira. There seemed to be genuine concern in Aramis’s voice this time. Whether for Keira, or for the fallout of opening the gates of Hell wasn’t entirely certain.

[Kiera Bright]

Despite the reasons for Aramis being here, and the intrusion itself, Keira was starting to feel glad that he was the one to show up. He was the first, in a very long time, to match her on an intellectual level. It was nice. Most others that intrude on her solitude only spout some one liners, and try to use force to over power her. The more intellectual among them, would try to appeal to a false sense of morality to dissuade her from her planned course, or try to get her to work with them. Now however, there was no force, rather a thoughtful debate on a complex subject from opposing view points. It brought a small smile to Keira's lips. She almost forgot what this felt like. 

She waited letting him respond to her points, like any polite discussion would dictate. He made the point that if she could open rifts in space, that it wouldn't be too out of the realm of possibility to hide others with technology. True, however he did concede that she was alone, so there was no point in debating that point. Though if he really thought about it. Would they really be having this conversation if that was the case? Most likely, she would have such a person sneak up and remove him from her sight the second that she sensed him coming. She was almost glad that she didn't have someone capable of that. What a conversation she would have missed. 

Once again he believed her on her individual stance on the Shinigami society. They seemed too ridged and dug in by tradition for her to see much interest in. Would she conduct an interview or two, maybe some examinations, sure, but their goals and methods were seemingly opposed to her own. Which was confirmed by by Aramis' admitting to the Shinigami's Brotherhood of Steel ways of hoarding advance technology, or techniques for their own benefits. The comparison was almost too perfect. She had to stifle a giggle from escaping her, and interrupting Aramis, or at least giving the wrong impression of her opinions on the matter. She made a note however, of the fact that it may not be her specifically they were worried about, but others. 

What surprised Keira the most was Aramis' understanding of her reluctance to him inspecting her rift generator. She made sure to hide it, as best she could, and took special mental notes on the subject. The phrase he used to describe his attitude of her was new, to her, but she understood the meaning. The complement on her clever ingenuity was not missed either. It was hard not to allow her pride to show, but she also had to remind herself that he was not here just to praise her wit. He was here for her invention, sent by others that were angered that she dared develop parallel to them. That put a damper on her mood. Still, maybe something could come from this. She would answer his question at least. "Everything in this laboratory was developed by me and me alone." She allowed her pride to show now however. 

Once again he reaches for a compromise. She sighed a bit not wanting to be standing through all this thinking. She activated her flood, and a large, tall, dark purple arm made of pure reiatsu formed behind her. She lowered it low to the ground cupping it into a chair like shape. With ease, and confidence of years of repetition, she strode onto the construct and took a seat, her back against the long fingers. She rested her right elbow on the crook of the thumb, and rested her cheek in her own cupped hand. If Aramis paused due to her actions, she would just silently wave for him to continue trying to seem as non threatening as she could at her elevated level. 

This was already starting to sound like that half assed deal with that big titted mod soul. Keira thought listening to his proposition. It seemed that he wanted three things, to her count. He wanted to inspect the working of her machine, as per his initial reason for coming. Second, he wanted to either, alter her work, or develop something, to interfere with her work, and lastly, the ability to control hers, and any other person able to get as far as she has. Those three things, for promise of shinigami knowledge.  There were several red flags telling her that this was a bad deal. Maybe useful in the short term, but could almost be a determinant in the long run. 

Keira straightened putting her finger tips together, as she thought hard on the matter. "That is tempting proposal Aramis, but I have a few questions of my own concerning it." She said in a flat serious tone. "Firstly, by my count you want three things from me, yet only offer one thing in return." She took a breath to push down any anger rising to the surface before continuing. "Leaving the more business like matters aside, tell me, how can I be sure that things will go exactly as we agree?" She leaned forward a bit of sadness in her eyes. "Unfortunately, the blunt fact is that you are not the end all in this matter. You have no less than eleven other peers with just as much authority as you, two more that out rank you, from my own understanding." She was not intending any of this as an attack on his character, but rather stating facts as she understands them. 

"Who is to say that later, you, your successor, or even your peers, or superiors won't block my every attempt to use the rift as per our agreement. Blocking not only my access to the Soul Society, but Huaco Mundo as well. I will have no way to oversee the decisions of the shinigami, or means of protecting my interests against such a force alone." She nodded sure that he would understand the implications of that sentence alone. "Taking the pin out of the matter of the information you offer, how can I know that it is worth the trade? If it turns out to be something I couldn't have figured out on my own, well i would feel quite cheated, but on the other hand," she said extending her hand to the side. "If your peers can detect this," She motioned to the rift generator. "Then it wouldn't be too far fetched to assume they would know if I used the information you give me." 

She turned her comparison gesture into a shrug. "I do not know how well informed you all are on internal affairs, but can assume one or more would come to the conclusion that I either stolen that knowledge somehow, or come to the conclusion, that I stumbled onto something I shouldn't, and this whole mess starts again, with a chance it wouldn't be you standing here." She stopped again allowing her argument to sink in. She would address his concerns about other worldly interlopers at another time. That possibility was never lost on the failure. She had her own contingency plans, and several appropriate personal to deal with such things. Right now, she wanted to draw attention to their own philosophy. If she is a more benign party in search of such knowledge, then what is to stop someone just as determined as her to cause harm?

"Also I find Shinigami policies quite flawed on the matter." She sated matter of factly.  "I am proof that with enough determination and hard work, I can get this far on my own, but I will not be the last to try." She sat like a queen on her thrown judging the shinigami before her. "What would stop others like me? What would stop a group of like minded intellectuals from these enemies of yours. What about the forces of Huaco Mundo that already have this ability?" Her attention was fixed on Aramis. She needed to know how far was he willing to fight the march of progress. She decided to use Aramis' tactic and use her own metaphor.

"When all the doors are shut, people look for a window. When all the windows are barred and nailed, you drive people to make a choice." Her voice was calm. Lacking any of the irritation that she was feeling. "Some will choose to be content with where they are. Others will get creative, looking to the vents, or hidden doors others overlooked to continue progressing. Other still, will try and brute force their way through looking for weaknesses in the doors, bars, and walls, even if it means destroying themselves to do it. So my question to you Aramis Tezuka, captain of squad twelve, isn't the very thing shinigami want to achieve, the very same thing that is pushing people to open those doors that shouldn't be opened?" Guess I got to that point sooner than I thought, Keira thought with a mental giggle. 

Reiatsu Arm -25 3975/4000

[Aramis Tezuka]

So this lab was Keira's. Aramis gave an impressed nod. "Remarkable what you've accomplished on your own then." He stated. "I wouldn't have developed half of what I have without the resources afforded to me by my division. You're a prodigy." He complimented, seeming to be genuinely impressed. "A shame for your condition. Would have left you an open invitation to join my division in the event of your unfortunate demise. But. Somehow. I feel you would not accept that anyways." He added.

When Keira created her arm of reiatsu Aramis only paused just so long as to ensure that Keira was not leaving the conversation, before continuing. As Captain of the division that prided individuality, and freedom of expression he was accustomed to, and enabled a great many quirks. Keira was hardly the first person to turn their back on him mid-sentence. Aramis took a look at the arm. "Sitting like a monarch of old upon their throne." Aramis stated, with what might have barely passed for some kind of joke or tease on his part. Or about as close as Aramis got. "Intriguing ability. Extremely versatile no doubt. " But moving on from Keira's power, which she did not appear to be intending to use to attack him.

Keira broke down Aramis's offer and Aramis tilted his head slightly as he considered her terms. His right hand came up to adjust his glasses slightly. "Point made, though based on somewhat erroneous assumptions." He replied. "Technically and officiall speaking, I answer to the Captain Commander, and to the Central 46." He agreed. "However. With regards to technological development and information storage, only 9th and 13th Divisions have even a modicum of understanding of Squad 12 developments. 13th Division is the only one which would have knowledge of this particular device." Aramis noted. "However. Who do you think it was that designed their detection systems. Understand how they work. Know their blind spots." He added. "Would take centuries to uncover if at all, provisioned that you keep a low profile when operating in Soul Society." Aramis let the other half of the penny drop. "Of course to do so, I would have to understand the operation of your device."

Keira's point about Aramis's successor was a good one as well. "Concede point on my successor. Could remove files regarding this, but would lack integrity of me, and risk slowing advancement of technology. And I will not do that." Aramis agreed. "A reasonable concern. Though, without assistance, forays into Soul Society could result in Shinigami interception. You are strong. Very strong. But... I doubt invincible. And even if you were. Results of experiments can be easily tainted by outside interference, such as meddling Shinigami, who do not know better, and only understand that an immense reiatsu just broke into our world." This also would serve as an answer to Keira's statement about her device being detected. "Besides which. If technology develops or Squad 13 independently discovers a way to bypass blindspots, I am in a perfect position to alert you."

But as far as the information? Aramis actually gave Keira a thin smile. "What data would you be interested in. Will offer free sample, as a show of good faith." Aramis replied. "And besides which. Giving you this information will help your own research, which my own division may take notes from, depending on direction you take it. Might take it a direction we have covered extensively. But might take it further. Or take it in a direction we never considered. Consider that more than fair compensation simply for that much." Aramis said.

The Captain fully agreed with Keira on Shinigami policies. "Completely agree. Policies are outdated, and obstructive. More than one Shinigami of 7th Division shut down useful experiments." He also paused for a moment. "Also more than one Shinigami of 7th Division become subject of experiment trying to do so." He shrugged that part off. "You are exceptional. Granted, others like you may exist, but you are rare Doctor Bright. I do not expect someone would replicate your designs so easily, unless you helped them." Aramis replied.

When Keira stated this to Aramis, Aramis considered her answer. "Correct." He reluctantly agreed. "However. Does that mean that one should leave the door to their fortress open to their enemies? Or ignore if an enemy finds a way to climb over its walls? This is the heart of science as well Doctor Bright. Answering problems. Correct that reinforcing Soul Society's defenses against intrusion will encourage others to try to break those defenses. Which encourages Soul Society to seek out superior defenses. A neverending cycle of development. Perhaps not ideal from a military standpoint, but most interesting from a developmental one, would you not agree?"

Aramis decided to change tracks just a bit. "I would offer you a sanction to operate and develop freely under Soul Society supervision, but I expect you would see that as a shackle, not a benefit. ....And I would agree with that." He noted. "There is much to be said for independent freedom, and you do not want for resources. Still. Is there something you do want, Doctor Keira Bright?" He asked.

[Kiera Bright]

Keira listened patiently, as Aramis countered her points with his own, and even, albeit reluctantly, agreed with her on a couple of points. She gracefully accepted the compliment. It was rare getting a sincere compliment from someone, usually people tell her what she wants to hear so they don't get experimented on. It was a nice feeling. She giggled slightly as Aramis' conclusion that she wouldn't have taken his invitation to join his squad if she died. "With how our conversation has been going, I might take you up on that offer. if you are still heading the division once I find the means for my stabilization." She stated her goal as a fact. She will find a way. No matter the costs. 

The smile flattened to a neutral expression of displeasure however, as she leaned back into her reiatsu construct. "However," She started with a serious tone. "I think that our conversation has gone on long enough." She stated matter of factly. Her turned slightly to the generator pointing at it with her index finger. "Like I said before, I will not allow anyone to gain anything from my work, even if I have to destroy it myself." With a silent command a bolt of lightning shot from her fingertip and went right through the center of the generator hitting several major, and volatile components. The device blew in a mini inferno tipping the entire structure to fall away from them.

The structure landed with a heavy metallic thud, shattering of more components. "I know that fighting won't do either of us any good at this point, but we will have so no one makes a liar out of us." A small mischievous smile, and a wink would hopefully convey the no harm done. "Try not to disappoint me captain. Or you might end up another one of my test subjects." She waited for him to make his move. If it was truly enough to have the device destroyed then good, but otherwise, she would use this opportunity to see what her new friend was capable of. He saw her ability, she wanted to see his now. The last thing either of them needed was more shinigami checking in seeing what was taking so long. 



Hado #4: Byakurai (Pale Lightning) -25 3950/4000

[Aramis Tezuka]

Aramis gave a curt nod, but there was a smile tugging at the edges of his lips. The Captain was almost tempted to wipe it away, so out-of-character was it for him to do such a thing. "I hope you stabilize soon then." He stated. "Would offer you data on previous, similar cases if you ask of it." Aramis saw Keira's own expression change. She'd made her own mind up about something. On how this meeting would end. "I see." That hardened expression and her statement about their conversation. Yes, Aramis saw where this was going. He'd done his best to size Keira up in their talk. His database on Failures was substantial, and he had perused their data, but Keira would be a dangerous one. Her power absolutely dwarfed Aramis, and combatively, Aramis was one of the weakest Captains anyways, his talent in planning, strategy and deception then head on combat. Fortunately, the darkness provided many such efforts.

He did not however, expect Keira to destroy her own creation. Behind his spectacles, Aramis's eyebrows raised in genuine surprise. but the small smile and wink told Aramis the rest of the story. Sly woman... The safest place for your blueprints is in your head... You have the resources and knowledge to rebuild it. Of course that would make sense. If this is the first you've attempted it, then this was just a prototype. He mentally praised Keira. Keira announced her desire to battle him and warned him not to take her lightly, lest he end up as her own experiments.

"Hnn hnn..." Aramis was shocked. He had actually given a small chuckle of amusement. This was a rare day for the Captain indeed. "As you wish." Aramis replied as he reached to his hip and drew his zanpakuto. A tarnished steel rapier. Unusual for a Shinigami who typically utilized katana-type weapons. "Your power is overwhelming. I had best not take you lightly. Therefore... Erase. Revenant." Aramis invoked. His Zanpakuto did not change much in form, but the rapier's tarnished edge suddenly gleamed a shining silver, its dull metal guard replaced by a resplendent golden one. An ill-fitting form, Aramis thought, for one such as him, but while he could certainly change the appearance of his Zanpakuto if he had chosen to, it really was more trouble than it was worth. Aramis didn't exactly put much stock into simple cosmetic adjustments that would serve no tactical purpose.

And speaking of tactical purposes... Keira posed a conundrum that put Aramis at a disadvantage. He could not hold back against her, this much was evident, but at the same time, based on what he knew of Failures, they were volatile. A clean, solid shot could kill Keira outright if he was not careful. Aramis typically compensated for his below-average speed, and pitiful strength by utilizing an attrition based style, but against Keira he couldn't be certain that even a light blow could set her off. And he certainly did not want to kill her. She was far, far too useful and interesting to kill. Not even as a test subject, but a colleague and ally. First things first. What did Aramis know about her. Be patient. Break things down. Her ability appears to be a reiatsu construct. This will present much the same problem as when I sparred with Taien Hadahou. Revenant is powerless against things it can't hit. However she is currently not inside the construct, so she is vulnerable. If direct harming blows cannot be used, then either a light direct hit from Revenant, or strangulation? Revenant should be safe enough, but results of Failures and strangulation... Test results, inconclusive. Aramis's brow furrowed. D-. While potentially successful, risk is very high, rate of success is low, and results are indeterminate. Not a good plan of action. Best to evaluate her abilities for now."[/i]

Against Keira's constructs, Aramis didn't dare bring out his chains just yet. Those constructs looked dextrous and the last thing Aramis needed was for one to seize his chains and slam him around. And he couldn't afford to tip his hands off of Revenant's abilities too early as he had against Taien. Keira was smart. If he gave her too much information then she'd figure him out immediately. It seemed Keira was a very poor matchup for Aramis, but the Captain merely took this as an opportunity to learn. Aramis did have one trick, one ace in the hole he knew he could attempt with Keira but he had to be sure it would work. Revenant was naturally weak against individuals capable of sensing reiatsu, as they could bypass its illusions. If Aramis was going to use his ace in the hole against Keira he had to make sure it would work, and not find she could see through Revenant when it was too late.

But he'd have to find a window for that test. For now, Aramis had to provoke an attack. The Nakabakki Captain surged forwards, blade aimed up, stance low to the ground where he could easily adjust his footing. A controlled charge at Keira, not amazingly fast, but deliberate and certain. Although Aramis doubted Keira would let him actually reach her, if she did, Aramis would throw a light and quick cut aimed at her forehead, with Revenant seeing if he could afflict her with Revenant's effects immediately. Of course, it was very unlikely that Keira would allow this, but Aramis still had to do something to provoke an action so he could gauge more than just Keira's raw reiatsu strength.


Reiatsu Remaining:2000/2200 (-200 for Shikai)
Shikai: 1/6

SPOILER: Click to show

{Stats and Abilities}
Strength: 100 (60)
Speed: 400 (300)
Reiatsu Strength: 200
Spirit Pressure: 330
Light Aura: 10 (0 in Saisei Oni)
Dark Aura: 90 (100 in Saisei Oni)
Senses: 70 (210)
Instinct: 200 (600)
Energy Sensory: 100 (300)
Healing Expertise: 0
Total: 1400

Skills

• Martial Arts: Fencing—3

• Strength of Will—2

• Analysis—3

• Disguise—2

• Illusion Resist—1

• Lack of Fear—2

• Battle Analysis-3

Total: 16

[Kiera Bright]

Keira managed to get a not only a smile, but a chuckle out of the captain. She smiled herself sitting back down into her reiatsu hand, as Aramis released his zanpakuto. The design of the weapon would seem to fit, from what she knew of him, but the color no so much. She wondered how much control a shinigami has over the abilities or appearance of their swords. Speaking of, she was wondering what Aramis' did. She had no wish to experience it first hand, but maybe...she had to focus. As much as she was sure that Aramis didn't want to hurt her, but how much could he really hold back? She would need to keep her defenses as tight as ever.

When Aramis lunged forward, Keira just had her mount move in a circular motion to the left Aramis avoiding the blade of his sword. She had her arm move just fast enough to stay ahead on the blade. Keira would extend her right hand and a pink orb of reiatsu built up in her hand. She aimed the bala center mass of his body keeping her senses on alert for any direction that. Like Aramis, she didn't want to show all her cards in the first hand. She wanted to keep her reiatsu hand's true abilities hidden as long as possible. She had to wonder through, how does Aramis compare to the other captains? If she legitamently beats him, what does that say about the shinigami leadership as a whole? 

Bala -50 3900/400

[Aramis Tezuka]

Tch. Of course his attack was futile. Not that he had expected otherwise. Keira's arms were faster than he was, and-- Curious.... The flow of her reiatsu. That's a Bala. While others might have considered this with surprise or alarm, Aramis noted this with clinical detachment as if it wasn't a bolt of reiatsu capable of taking off his head. Which is was. Being hit by that would punch a hole clear through him. Aramis vanished in a flash of movement. Shunpo, the traditional Shinigami technique. Where to though? Nowhere near Keira. Aramis had disappeared into the nearby structure, melting away into the shadows. Here is where he would conduct his own tests of Keira's ability. Most opponents wouldn't be able to notice Aramis once he had slipped into the darkness. Too many focused solely on their fighting prowess and took no measure to improve their general situational awareness. But Keira was smart. Intelligent. Aramis respected her as an opponent and intended to take no chances. He needed to make sure of her abilities before he made his moves. And so the Nakabakki used his Zanpakuto to slice some pieces from a nearby wall, and with a half-decent pitching arm, hurled the debris from the darkness at Keira.

Naturally... having been cut by Aramis's Zanpakuto, the moment his blade bit into the wall, these fragments vanished from all five senses. Invisible to sight, taste, touch, smell or hearing, as Aramis pitched them at Keira from the darkness, most opponents would be incapable of noticing their approach. Unfortunately for Aramis, Keira wasn't most opponents, and with her Energy Sensory abilities, if she were to focus on detecting Aramis's reiatsu she'd note a strange "sheath" of reiatsu flying towards her from the building. She still wouldn't be able to sense the objects with her five senses, but her energy sensory would allow her to detect their location nonetheless.

Regardless, this would be vital information to Aramis, depending on Keira's response. A reaction to his attack would prove to the Nakabakki that Keira could indeed see through his Shikai's ability, and would make this much more difficult for him. Of course... While it made it more difficult, it made it infinitely less dangerous than for Aramis to bank on the assumption that the Failure could not see through it at all, and make a critical misstep as a result. This was vital testing, even if the results of his experiment would not serve Aramis well. He still had some tricks up his sleeve....

Yes, we do have some tricks left, don't we? Aramis's brow furrowed in frustration. He still did not know the nature of the voice. Not truly. Was it his Zanpakuto spirit? Or was it his repressed self? Some combination thereof? What was it that whispered such dark thoughts to him when nobody else was there? We are not killing her. I have not met one of this world with such genius. It has been too long since we have spoken with someone of her intellect. He responded in his mind, as he kept his focus on Keira's response to his projectiles.

Speaking of which, Aramis noted it would be dangerous to stay in one place, and was already attempting to move through the building, using his own energy sensory, and hearing to track Keira's movements, slipping into darkness and through the shadows. Though not practiced in Shinigami stealth tactics, without lights on in the building, and with it being night, there were plenty of shadows for him to try and slip into-- though if Keira could see through Revenant's ability, then her powers of sensing would likely seek him out anyways. Still, testing for Keira's reactions would be vital. Seeing if she would pursue him or not. If she did, that was fine. If she did not and instead tried to bait Aramis out... Well then. That would give him time to prepare his next trick, wouldn't it?

Reiatsu Remaining: 3150/3300 -50 for Shunpo
Shikai: 2/6

[Kiera Bright]

Keira watched with slight amusement as the bala soared through the air impacting a hill in the distance. The explosion flashed a brilliant pink light before fading into dust and dirt blowing in the wind. She would have expected nothing less from him. If he had taken that bala, she would have surely mourned the loss of a potential friend, but still would have gained a body to use. She could have easily guessed where he would go, but her senses told her exactly what she needed to know. He headed to the only place with any cover at all. Her own asylum. Under normal circumstances, that would have been the signature on the death warrant for anyone else, but she would let it go, this time. 

She stretched out with her energy sensory easily able to pin point his location. She rode silently on her reiatsu construct, the others flanking her. "If you plan on hiding in my asylum," She started before one of her hands instantly moved in front of her, the second that she sensed the rock coming her way. With a squeeze it was turned to dust in the strong grip of the reiatsu hand, and it quickly moved back into place beside her. "I do insist that you don't open any locked doors. Some of the residences here are awfully hungry." As if on cue, an all too familiar howl echoed through the nearly empty halls of the asylum. The sound seemed dampened like it was coming from somewhere deeper than should be possible. 

"It does seem that you are a poor match for me Aramis." Keira continued getting closer. "I can see through your powers, and you do not have the speed, nor the will, to strike me with your sword." She sent each hand around to flank the captain. They would try to ensnare him in a cage like grip keeping him from moving deeper into the asylum. "But there is something else I sense, something more interesting." She paused getting a better feel for what it was. "Something that I have been looking into myself for some time. Maybe there is more that we can look into together."

[Aramis Tezuka]

So, she could indeed track his ability. She could see through Revenant's effect. Superior strength and speed was nothing new to Aramis. His physical capabilities were low for a Captain. The ability to see through Revenant's abilities, however, was something more uncommon. Only one other opponent had successfully penetrated the veil of Revenant's power to this day, the former Vice Captain of the Kido Corps, Taien Hadohou, and he had done so not through directly seeing through the effect, but rather by deductive reasoning through the interaction of Revenant with his kido spells. Although Aramis had no doubt that Keira could have done the same, it was an unsettling situation that she could see through the ability. Still.... This meant Aramis's decision to test her with the stone was the correct choice. Diving in himself, with only Revenant's power to shield himself would have resulted in his immediate defeat.

Keira swept up to the asylum and began hunting him. Aramis had no notions now of hiding in the structure. If she could see through Revenant, she could pinpoint his location. In which case, there is only one other option left at my disposal. Situation is dire. Under ordinary circumstances, would use this as a notion to flee.[/color] Aramis mused in his mind. Keira warned him not to open doors and mentioned that he was a poor match. Aramis responded. "A+. An excellent assessment of the situation." He agreed. "But as you surmise, there is something else. Ordinarily, would prefer not to use this, but against an opponent of your caliber, intellect and ability, it would appear there is no further option. I hope, at least, this will provide useful data for your own research." Keira's limbs moved out to encircle him, but had not fully trapped him yet. This was the time to do so. "Sadly, cannot take credit for this. This was my father's work. Not mine." Aramis brought his hand to his longer sleeve and reached underneath it. With a small flick of his wrist, he unlocked the shackle. While the sleeve on his left arm was long enough to cover the limb entirely, something happened under there. Inky black wisps of shadow, visible even in the dark asylum crept out from under the shackle, and Aramis's reiatsu changed to take on a far more malevolent feeling. While there was undoubtedly still an aspect of a Shinigami's reiatsu, it was mixed with something else. Something much more sinister. If one was inclined to use a less scientific or inexact phrasing for the feeling his reiatsu now gave off, it would be Evil.


And then Aramis unleashed his second trump card. If Revenant's vanishing prowess was his first trick, this was his second. Yessss...... Saisei Oni. Primera Etapa. Shadows expanded from Aramis's sleeve and crept up his arm. They covered his chest and torso, swarmed his neck and engulfed his head. Fingers of darkness wrapped and bound his legs and right arm, until all of Aramis was consumed by the greedy tendrils that had skittered out from his longer sleeve. For a brief instant there was nothing but a dark shroud in the vague shape of a man where Aramis stood. Then twin, glowing orbs opened where his eyes should have been, and razor sharp blades extended from his forearms. "Fade...." It murmured, and from its chest, a black fog suddenly erupted and spread. It wrapped over Keira's constructed arms, over Keira, and covered the asylum and the surrounding grounds, blanketing them in a pitch black shroud.

Even with Keira's eyes she wouldn't be able to pierce this physical obstruction to her senses, and even her skill at sensing reiatsu would be muddled, as the entire area now seemed to exude the same reiatsu as Aramis himself. It was as if he was everywhere around her. While if she focused hard she could probably gauge his approximate location, an exact pinpoint would be challenging now, while she waited at constant risk of attack from the unknown. Her own reiatsu, of course, would stand out like a beacon in this black mist, affording Aramis himself no such disadvantage. If she perked her ears for sound, she would detect the distant sounds of screams, and the crackling of flames. While her hearing was certainly unimpeded in this black mist, it would be more difficult to parse the subtle sounds of him sneaking up on her with the distracting background noise-- in addition to the fact that Aramis was no longer walking. Launching Paranoia before his transformation was entirely complete, masked Aramis's legs merging together into a tail of darkness that let him hover off the ground. Absolute darkness. A perfect means on which to sneak up on and assassinate a victim.

Of course, Aramis didn't intend to kill Keira. But he always had trouble controlling himself in Saisei Oni. His natural demonic nature filled him with a sadistic bloodlust in this form which made it difficult for him to control it. Once he was protected under the veil of his fog, Aramis attempted to use air ground to climb the hallway above Keira's head and swoop overtop of her in the darkness, attempting to settle behind the woman for an attack from behind. He could contain his nature. He was sure of it. For one such as Keira, he could contain himself... Aramis attempted to slip behind the woman and place one of his arm blades gently against her neck. This was his last real card to play. Terror would take too long to employ against her, and Duskbringer would have no effect on one as powerful as Keira. If his shroud could not deceive her senses, and she had a way of tracking him even in this fog, then the Captain was well and truly beaten here. Not that he necessarily minded a defeat to a mind like Keira's, but he would not tolerate his own destruction. No, no, no. He was certainly inclined to avoid that.

Reiatsu Remaining: 2650/3400 (-200 for Saisei Oni, -300 for Paranoia)
Shikai: 3/6
Saisei Oni Primera Etapa: 1/6[/i]