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IP remained quiet, giving the garden a look around, Upon seeing the saplings, IP seemed to freeze where it was, its posture suddenly faltering. IP nearly fell over before she finally managed to look away from the saplings, and when she looked back up at the party, she seemed afraid. "What... what are those saplings? A-and why did they... produce those unusual effects?"

IP nearly drew her gun when Yuyuko darted out, but relaxed once it was clear she wasn't hostile. After hearing the invitation, the gynoid nodded. "We would be honored, Madam. But first..." IP turned to Masako. "How soon will LOTUS reappear?"

Lyra frowned, pulling out her Swapper and confirming her suspicions. Whatever those pulses were, they were disabling her items - and likely the items of her colleagues. Looked like she had she had some priority targets to deal with. Approaching the crowd of Item Jammers, Lyra began her usual shouting. Hopefully her armor hadn't been disabled, or this fight might be more than a little painful. "OI! YOU CHEAP METAL PIECES OF CRAP? YOU THINK YOU'RE SAFE, STANDING BEHIND YOUR COLLEAGUES? WELL THAT'S GONNA DO YOU A WHOLE LOTTA NOTHING WHEN WE CLOSE IN AND VOID YO

Lyra'd smelled burned machinery and plastic before - when she'd been able to afford a grenade launcher to take out armored foes - but never so intensely as what she was smelling now. Once again, she was thankful for her helmet - because it meant nobody could see her grimace in disgust. As she approached the rubble and spotted the two girls, she frowned. Those were probably Brave's mooks they were fighting off while Lyra'd been trying to take out... whatever it was she was fighting not too long ago. At any rate, it looked like she was about to get into another fight - and this time,

IP quietly said, "Data gathered from various combat reports suggest that in the event combatants are sent flying, surviving the shrapnel and explosive blasts that cause such flight tend to be greater concerns. Your world likely behaves differently from mine, however. Nevertheless, regardless of the fairy's state, I promised not to interfere."

Lyra was about to press the issue further - maybe asking whether the swordswoman's own survival was non-important, or mentioning the fact that 6D hadn't quite recovered from being swallowed, or even bringing up the fact that nobody had the ability to predict what they would be going up against next - but the contractor stopped herself. Why was she doing this? Putting aside the fact that Mira was quite the fighter - so her confidence was likely at least somewhat deserved - Lyra had no reason to press further beyond some sense of guilt for her own past. Besides, Mira was

"When I came across it, the dolphin was bashing at the fence of the park trying to get in. I wasn't about to let it get the first shot." As much as she wanted to give Iowa and Bridgett trouble for not assisting her, she had to admit wrongdoing this time. "But suppose I should've tried to get backup first. I hadn't expected to require the assistance of so many others just to injure it. I'm sorry." Before she could hear the response of her colleagues, however, she did have someone else to talk to. Rushing up to Mira, Lyra stood in front of her. "Hey, before we get over to the next fi

IP stared for several seconds before shaking her head. "While Youmu did mention that Yuyuko had complained of hunger, I seriously doubt that we will be able to -" IP suddenly froze up for a few seconds, before sighing and continuing along the road. "We should get moving. We are losing valuable time. If you wish to execute your plan once we have arrived, I will not interfere."

"As a matter of fact, I have no experience in devising plans such as yours. Is there anything I can assist with, or should I simply wait for you to execute the plan?"

"Androids don't die," IP said. "And just what is it that you are planning? What did you buy?"

IP followed along, turning to the swordswoman, her expression softening this time. "I am not familiar with this region, and I have never seen such a method of conflict resolution. As for our odds of success? Our employer chose us and sent us to this location for several reasons - at least one of which is that we are not just regular humans. If we were not capable of completing this mission, I doubt they would bring us here at all. In addition, at least two artifacts were already retrieved prior to this attempt - and that was before UB-65 -" she gestured to the submarine woman " - and I arrived

IP turned back to Youmu, the gynoid's maid headdress shaking a little, as if it didn't fit quite right on her head. This time she asked, "Back to my earlier question... You still have not explained what 'danmaku' is exactly. If it is not a model of firearm, what is it?"

IP stared at Masako as she dragged Rory away. As soon as she was gone, IP simply asked, "That person was selected to be a member of this team?"

As she turned around to survey her handiwork (trying not to shiver too much), Lyra leaned back a little to dodge the bullet flying at her. Not much of an issue, she'd been shot at dozens of - Her vision jolted suddenly as Lyra felt the familiar pain of a sword wound. She turned to look at her attacker and saw - Mira. Lyra probably should've expected that from the person who had charged into battle barely an hour ago. At any rate, the wound didn't feel too deep, so Lyra decided she could shrug it off. Breaking free of the ice, the contractor rushed at the dolphin to perf

"Danmaku? I am... not entirely certain what those are. Does Yuyuko have access to a heavy machine gun? A vehicle equipped with a cannon?" IP seemed to have calmed down now, and just looked confused. "As for the ability to invoke death... Are there any specific precautions we could take to resist this power?"

After listening to Youmu's explanation, IP lowered her shield and holstered her weapon, though her expression remained the same. "Please do not threaten my colleagues again." After a brief pause, she then asked, "Where is Yuyuko, and what weapons and tactics does she prefer to use? From what you've told us, diplomacy may not be an option."

IP didn't even flinch when Masako struck her. She also didn't listen, if the words she said were any indication. "This woman has threatened us with a sword. I shouldn't have to explain the severity of that threat." She did, however, allow Masako to approach the distressed swordswoman and give her the business card, though she tensed up when the 'detective' poked the woman on the nose.

Dammit. Not fast enough to avoid the first hit... But with the creature distracted as it was, it probably wouldn't be able to hit her as hard the next time. Probably... She'd been depending on that word more than she'd hoped as of late. Lyra shook her head, trying to clear it of distractions - both from the pain and from the memories. Right. Now that the dolphin was focusing on her, she could fall back on an old tactic. Anyone who'd used a Swapper would know about it. Lyra pulled out her device - jury-rigged as it was - and pointed it at the Dolphin.

IP did, however, choose to move between the swordwoman and UB-65, pulling out and raising her shield as she did so. Though she didn't aim it at The swordwoman just yet, IP also drew her pistol, entering into a stance ready to block any attack directed at UB-65. Her mouth - which had at first been slightly agape in confusion - drew closed into a thin line. "Lower your weapon immediately. If you attempt to harm my colleagues, I will respond with lethal force." The words had the stillness of a firing squad about to be given the final command. "Once you have complied... then we can discuss

IP walked over and knelt down at the unconscious man, trying to scan him for injuries. As she did so, she noted, "We will have to continue this conversation another time. Right now we need to hurry."

IP nodded. "My own capabilities are also largely support-related - restoring the health of allies and improving their damage output - though I was able to acquire a firearm before I was transported here. You said earlier that your chassis was usually a... tablet? That is an unusual design for an AI. What was your original purpose?"

IP nodded in understanding of LOTUS's explanation. "In that case, each one of us must have some degree of ability to fight off these Trespassers - which brings me to an issue I believe is very important. What are this team's capabilities? What weapons and equipment do they currently have, what are their skills, and do they possess any outstanding strengths or weaknesses? You seem to be a fairly observant individual, and the information would help us coordinate our actions when the time comes to fight those creatures."

IP just looked down at Chen's young form, seeming only now to notice her for the first time. IP's mouth curled into yet another serious frown. "I do not believe it is safe for a child to accompany us on our investigation, even if you are the daughter of the woman who is assisting us. Why didn't she come with us personally if she was interested in helping?"

IP turned to Dr. Powderbelle as she commented on the lack of a phone plan. "I believe the inability to call your employer may be due to a lack of transmitters. While I do not possess much knowledge about this region, what I have seen so far suggests a lack of infrastructure in general. The road we are currently traveling on is simply a dirt path. There are no signs of any radio antennas or similar structures, and there don't appear to be any tall buildings in general. We may be in a rural area at the moment."

IP's head tracked LOTUS's movement as the fairy flew onto her shoulder, face expressionless. IP lowered her head in thought before beginning to explain. "Trespassers are creatures that travel from various... 'worlds', for lack of a better term... intending to destroy... reality itself? I'm afraid I did could not fully process the information I received. Defeating these creatures took priority over my previous mission... Unfortunately, I am not aware of their specific capabilities, other than that they greatly exceed my own. What Rory said earlier suggests that you have successfully eliminated