Ground Zero

You wonder if you've lost your mind again, because you can't believe you're even considering this…

"Hey! Uh, hello! This is Zeropolis Guard territory! What do you want?" you call out to the group of cyborgs. One of them briefly talks to its heavier armed brethren and then steps forward to meet you; it's a female, mostly human looking cyborg. She's sort of cute, well cuter than what you're used to around here anyway.
"Yes, greetings. I am AVA-93, former human remade, emissary prototype, from the Cybernetic Evolution." She says unemotionally.
"Prototype?"
"Yes, I am one of a kind. The Cybernetic Evolution typically does not believe in wasting time with words. We prefer a more direct course of action as we are attempting to remake humanity to a higher state of evolution."
"I see…so what purpose do you serve then since you guys tend to shoot first and ask questions later?"
"Why to make contact with you mutants of course. The Cybernetic Evolution is currently at war with a human organization called the Combine. They refuse to see the light, are a committed foe and greatly outnumber us. So we must find every means available to defeat them. We have heard that mutants are victims of human prejudices and that you are typically shot on sight when found outside the City."
"Well I suppose you could say that, though I can sort of see why they might be suspicious of us, many of us aren't exactly friendly types."
"Yes, I have heard that most mutants are completely hostile, I am surprised to see the amount of organization you have shown as I thought this was not the case."
"Around here, we're the exception rather than the norm, so what did you have in mind?"
"An alliance of course. We would like you to help us destroy The Combine."
"Whoa, hold on there. I'm not exactly in charge of this place; you'll have to talk with Captain Salazar, as he runs the Zeropolis Guard. There's also the fact that we're in a war ourselves with a group of mutants that outnumber us, we wouldn't be able to help much. Then there's the whole fact…"

You hesitate, but AVA-93 demands that you continue.

"Yes?"
"Well there's that fact that if you're trying remake humans into cyborgs, what happens after you defeat all the humans? Will you try to remake us as well?"
"A thoughtful question. At the present time, you mutants are not suitable candidates for remaking, though what the future holds is unknown. However you can be rest assured that if we ally we will never attack you as long as we are at war with The Combine."

That answer doesn't really make you want to suddenly be their friend, though it was an honest answer. The only thing you can think of is let Captain Salazar decide how he wants to handle this, so you take AVA and the rest to see him.

During the talks Salazar doesn't seem very concerned about what might happen in the future so much as what an alliance can do for him now. AVA mentions that they can supply him with their own high tech weapons to help in the war with the Shadow Horde, if the Zeropolis Guard starts raiding nearby Combine towns. He immediately agrees, and AVA leaves explaining that the first shipment will arrive as soon in the mean time they want an attack launched on the Combine immediately.

You advise strongly against this course of action. The Shadow Horde hasn't even been attacking in large groups like it once did. You don't like the idea of fighting a two front war and spreading your strength so thin, and you still don't like the idea of allying with a bunch of cyborgs with a superiority complex. Salazar doesn't want to hear it though; his vendetta against the Shadow Horde is too great. He wants them gone and is willing to do anything for the chance. In fact he's pissed off at you for advising against it, so he says he's sending YOU along with a few others to start attacking the Combine towns!

You leave Zeropolis for the first time in five years; it's very odd to you. Everything seems different, like cleaner. Even the air seems fresher. You almost feel like you don't belong here anymore, the others traveling with you feel the same way. Soon you approach a nearby town; of course you stay away for awhile plotting of how to approach this situation.

Over the course of a few months you organize successful raids on Combine towns, mostly at night, taking advantage of your night vision. (Which seems perfect at this point)
While you do feel superior to them, you don't have any particular hatred for humans; this is just job to you, nothing more. You don't have too much resistance for the most part. Most of the Combine force is holding off the Cybernetic Evolution. But you do lose people under your command, some through the attacks, but some due to being called back to Zeropolis. Apparently the Captain is having a lot more difficulty than he thought when he started sending troops down into the sewers to take the fight to the Shadow Horde. Eventually you're all by yourself! In fact you're wondering why Captain Salazar hasn't called you back since you're his second in command, you know he was pissed at you, but if he's calling everyone else back, why not you?

At this point you can't even really do too much, except maybe hang out in the wilderness sniping the occasional Combine citizen or soldier. In fact given this situation, you get the feeling he's pretty much abandoned you.

Maybe you should just leave. It's not like you couldn't survive out here. Your time in Zeropolis has made you better in everyway. You could even withstand long periods of food and water if need be. (Though lately you've been eating the mutant wildlife and drinking their blood to sustain you, so it isn't really a problem)

You have 2 choices:

« Go Back