Act 1: Roger the Negotiator

[paradigmstop]

Paradigm city had shrunk in the distance behind him as he trudged forward in Big O. The city that had lost its memories, that had tried so hard to keep them lost, was now just a speck on the horizon. He and Big O had seen perhaps too much in recent past, but there were too many questions unanswered. He'd resolved to himself, and it seemed that Big

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[mecha_eihwaz]

[A weirdly-dressed flying woman with disattached mecha wings approaches Big O, addressing it to its face as if talking to the robot directly.]

Please identify yourself! We've had a battle lately so I need to know who are you.

[paradigmstop]

First a relatively-normal looking man could fly, and now this girl?

He sighed, rubbed the space between his eyes for a moment, and then just opened the cockpit, the orange and black collar portion sliding up over the faceplate and obscuring her view of Big O's features. Roger called up from just below where the girl was.

"Come down here, and let's talk face-to-face! I have a rule that only handsome girls can come into Big O unconditionally, though. You should count yourself lucky."

From his position, he might have been able to get an inconveniently-situationed upskirt shot. He looked away, cleared his throat, and straightened his tie, even if she wasn't revealing anything. It was uncouth to stare.

[mecha_eihwaz]

[Well, that certainly was unexpected. She floats down to the cockpit's level and stands on its edge. Nope, no upskirt shots here - she's pretty experienced at avoiding those.]

Oh? Ah, so you are a human in a giant suit as well! I thought I met one of the rare robots who live on this planet. Who are you, mister?

[paradigmstop]

He chuckled. "No, I'm no android, though I've met my fair share. It seems I've met another, haven't I, miss...?" he extended his hand.

"I'm Roger Smith, Dominus of the Megadeus Big O, and negotiator until recently of Paradigm City. The world outside of Paradigm is certainly far stranger than I had expected..."

[mecha_eihwaz]

Ah, right! I'm Lily Rain EVE, an Angel Force operative from the faraway world of Cosmic Ark. From a human perspective, well, you could say I'm a robot alien.

[She extends her hand for a shake as well.]

Megadeus Big O is the name of the giant suit, I assume? I never heard about Paradigm City before, though...

[paradigmstop]

He just smirked. Enough ridiculous stuff at one time would overload anyone's senses, so he just took it in stride that she was an alien robot girl. "No, I suppose you wouldn't have. Paradigm seems to have been wiped off the maps fourty years ago. We had no record of history before the incident that happened fourty years ago, causing everyone alive to lose their memories. I'm not surprised the rest of the world is as unaware of Paradigm as Paradigm is of it. Pleased to meet you, Miss Eve. I am certain Big O is pleased as well."

Her hand was small, but definitely not all organic. He was used to androids, so the "alien" part was the only bit that wasn't immediately abssorbed.

[mecha_eihwaz]

What a mysterious occurence! I learn something amazing every day. Do you know what caused that city-wide amnesia?

Ah, and does that mean Big O is sentient even though he's piloted? We have a few robots like that as well on White Chalice! Um, at least I assume it's a "he". He looks like one, at least.

[paradigmstop]

This girl Eve acts like she's around thirteen. At least Dorothy was adult-like. He grinned, patted the back of his head. "That's one of the things I am trying to find out, Miss Eve." He patted the controls. "And Big O's Big O. He's a good fellow." Intentionally vague!

[mecha_eihwaz]

Do you believe the answer to that might lie outside Paradigm City, then? I'm not sure if anyone on White Chalice ever heard about it, I'm afraid...

[paradigmstop]

He nodded. "There is a group called the Union, who sent their Megadeuses to try to get rid of Paradigm City from across the ocean. I will find them." At least, that's what he was going to do until he either found the Union or found out there was no Union, or whatever.

[mecha_eihwaz]

That sounds vaguely like the Federation... Although why they'd want to antagonize a city for no reason, I don't know. And I've never heard someone use words like Megadeus or Dominus before. Is that Latin?

[paradigmstop]

He raised his shoulders. "I guess so? I'm no Latin scholar," he said. "But even I know that Big O and the other Bigs are older than our history records can say." He shook hie head a bit. "Paradigm has been pretty constantly annoyed by a giant robot here and there for years. It's only been recently that I guess some people have been getting too close to Memories that the Union wants to keep lost, or something."

She called them the "Federation." He knew them as the Union. Did they use intentionally vague terms to refer to themselves wherever they went, perhaps?

[mecha_eihwaz]

Hmm... You definitely should ask on White Chalice if anyone knows anything about it, then! Besides, you said you are a negotiator, right Mr Smith? I think some people on the ship could use someone with such skills.

[paradigmstop]

"Do you think so?" he asked.

Then it dawned on him.

"Ship? There's no ship around here. What are you talking about?"

[mecha_eihwaz]

Oh, you will see one soon enough if you keep going this direction! I assume you've never heard of White Chalice before? It's a really massive, independent ship, filled with people of all kinds! And lots of powerful giant suits, as well.

[paradigmstop]

"I suppose," he said with a little shrug, "I will have to trust you on this. Lead the way, Miss Eve." He followed her until they were close to White chalice, keeping up small talk along the way.