The Daedalus Engine (CVnU Exotic Weaponry Shoppe)

The Black Market from Mars

Dr. Daedalus is capable of the impossible. Weapons and entire armories have been stocked, garrisoned, and fortified by his ingenious mind. But he is no smarter than any willing participant of scientific expansion. His spheres of experience come from the fact that his powers of inspiration lie within the machines he makes and modifies.

He can see the magic of industry as it works. Gaseous clouds of heat energy and smoke pluming into the sky are the fuel with which he creates his inhuman designs. Science as a practice cannot be attributed to what he does. He and the machine are one. They are the Imperative of Creation, the Iron Law he abides by: to create, and watch unfold.

That is his purpose in life, and that is why he opens his vaults to those in pursuit of strange, exotic technology.

Ammunition Types:

• Vulkanite - formed around solid matter; melts through the ATP in muscle fibers; radioactive in nature

• Plasma - the energy of stars; corrodes solid matter even through proximity

• Arc - powerful chained bursts of electromagnetic devastation; scrambles organic tissue and actively seeks out more

• Venom - released or contained as a gas; lethal even in small doses

• Radon - pure radiation; penetrates all but the densest metals

• Gauss - pulsations of strange pseudo-lightning designed to strip away matter layer by layer

• Scream - pure audial destruction, using sound waves of varying frequencies and volumes to tear atoms apart

• Pulse - concussive blows on a subatomic level, puncturing through armor without tearing it and bypassing shields without breaking them; the real anti-magic

• Vibro - the devastating power of an earthquake in the palms of the user's hands; able to drill through solid matter

• Virus - the flesh-eating viral ammunitions of an ancient and forgotten age; unstable after a few seconds and requires organic tissue to survive

• Proton - much like gauss technology, proton weapons instead knock aside the nucleons of atomic structures, making them less stable and more easily destroyed

• Photon - Daedalus' first achievement was weaponizing light particles; this ammunition's latent electromagnetic radiation scrambles everything from cell phones to brain signals

• Cutter - turning the plasma energy and molding it into an arc pattern, the cutter is born; designed to slice through solid matter at close range

• Tearer - a companion to the pulse type; capable of slicing through matter with concentrated fire

• Shredder - another companion to the pulse type; one-man mobile artillery platform; the bolts cascading down gauge out chunks of the target

• Quark - similar to its foundation weapon type in gluon, quark weapons are capable of destabilizing matter; they are not, however, able to bring it back together, instead focusing solely on pure destructive output; targets are often vaporized to base components without a trace of them ever being there; substantially more powerful than gluon technology, but without its added firing mode of reconstituting matter

• Distortion - combining various elements of scream and gluon tech, distortion is wave-based and focuses on molecular destabilization over time and over large areas; living targets are often left with residual neural scarring, while inorganic materials are either entirely vaporized or molded beyond recognition

• Conversion - the opposite of distortion tech follows a similar foundation recipe, only in reverse; conversion works by using beam tech rather than wave-based analogues, bringing together forms of matter and melting them down through the power of atomic fusion between two independent molecular bodies

• Grinder - a sister of shredder technology, grinder instead works under the skin or armor and pummels organic tissue into submission

• Dominatus - an esoteric ammunition type, Dominatus magnetizes one target to another, with suitably gruesome results depending on the setting

• Impact - a weapon type that increases in power output if used in succession; prone to failure if deployed too often; pure destructive power with a heavy emphasis on molecular oppression technology that often crushes a target into paste

• Graviton - defines two types of weaponry: those that increase the planetary gravity around an area or target, and those that use gravity as a kind of compression bomb

• Lance - the sister type to cutter; designed to slice forward and multiply in power as it is sustained; prone to overheating

• Gluon - the ability to either bond together quarks or destroy the bonds between them, that is the power of a gluon weapon; essentially a matter destabilizer with the atomic capability of reforming it on a whim

• Melter - white-hot slag produced from chemical reactions deep within the fuel source of the machine; completely lethal to armor, reducing it and whatever it protects to molten debris

• Scorcher - the heat of a legendary beast long since extinct captured in the throat of a flamethrower-type napalm launcher; actually used to describe several types of weapons, such as fire bombs; the substance itself sticks to a target and burns without fuel, even while underwater to some extent

• Wrecker - manipulates air particles around the barrel in order to create extremely dense projectiles meant to literally smash through targets; the projectiles can include gatherings of smaller particles and even living organisms

• Destroyer - basically a coiled laser brought into existence by a powerful tesla cable; the impact brought on by the resulting blast is enough to shatter solid concrete with the kinetic force alone

• Volcano - usually mounted on larger super-heavy tanks, but user-appropriate versions are available; a design based around a massive series of turbine engines each heating up a barrage of ammunition in quick succession, this weapon vomits forth thick plumes of molten materials so hot that tanks are instantly turned red-hot, organic targets are vaporized, and the very earth begins to boil

• Tempest - beginning as a ball of highly-condensed electromagnetic energy, Tempest ammunition is meant to be fired point-blank to a target in order to shred them with lightning-based plasmoid bursts

• Stasis - used to keep targets in an independent gravitational well, or to rip out parts of their body without breaking skin or flesh - surgery without surgery, and with optionally nonfatal results

• Replication - a particularly nasty ammunition type meant to copy organs or body parts, usually resulting in grotesque flesh-shapes being left behind

OOC:

• Request a weapon and Daedalus will make it for you, prices can be negotiated but ultimately he loves watching his weapons being used more than anything
• Yes, he is supplying to organizations that ask him for his technology
• Due to the complex arcano-industrial process by which his gear is made, it is impossible to actually replicate
• Location thread, don't destroy
• It moves, hence the name "Engine", so whatever city you find it in it won't be there for long

0_0 Well, Damn that's badass!

@william_lebeau:

Now accepting all major credit cards

@the_nomad:

I could, instead, turn that television into another form of weapon if you so desired

@thisisgonnahurt: Nah, I'm good. Television is already a top of the line weaponized product. Awesome substance though!

Now, that does beg the question. Do ya accept anything else, more of value?

@serpent_vi:

All payment is valid, friend.

Deep within the bowels of the Engine, the nefarious mad scientist Dr. Daedalus worked. His body glided along the floor, held up by clattering spidery support structures that served as legs. He waved his hand over a portion of an unassuming wall, revealing a number pad. The code was already programmed into his movements. With it, the wall opened along a concealed crack with a series of hydraulic whirs.

Daedalus didn't say a word as he reached into the confines of the sealed chamber. The frozen contents hissed with clouds of icy mist. He pulled a glass container from the cold room, sealing it back behind him without hesitation.

It was nothing more than a human brain in a jar, preserved in a fluid that maintained cellular structure and reconstruction. For all intents and purposes it was 'alive', though to attach it to a fresh body and expect life would take serious work to accomplish.

For this test, he wanted to fully copy the brain using his latest Replication ammunition type. Since it was independent from other organs, his hypothesis was that it would either fold over itself much like a conjoined brain or simply duplicate on the spot.

Loading a cartridge into a pistol-shaped firearm, his mechanical fingers wrapped in cold anticipation of what would happen.

But that was why he industrialized sorcery, and turned it into a means of solving whatever his twisted mind conjured.

With a simple squeeze of the trigger he shot the Replication bullet into the core of the brain, causing it to boil and bubble into contorted images of flesh and grey matter. Its container and the fluid within overflowed as the neural organ doubled in size and shape.

His primary theory proved correct, and thus the brain became a conjoined twin of itself. A series of robotic laughs came from the insidious doctor.

"Most interesting."

@mockingjay

The Engine that Moon pursued out of New Orleans was an automated one, meant to distribute weapons to designated clients outside of Daedalus' immediate reach. It was on lockdown mode, returning to the source of its vast armories. Moon couldn't enter it, but he could follow it.

It took unmarked roads and traversed near-suicidal pathways to get to where it needed to go. Seventy-three more miles and the Engine crawled into what seemed like a sprawling metropolis in the middle of nowhere. It didn't crop up in the middle of the night, however. Electricity didn't come here, as there were no lights to navigate the deepening night.

The only illumination came from the moon and from the glowing eyes of the metal village's myriad occupants. They were refugees, Icarii driven out by rumors of their kind being exterminated throughout the southern United States and Mexico. There were few, as the majority of them were wiped out in a large-scale police raid not too long ago.

Daedalus was gathering them for one last information assimilation, and then deactivation: a bittersweet farewell to their father and to each other.

But Moon would only see them almost single-mindedly marching towards the village center from all directions.

Interesting

@darkchild:

The Engine is sort of an umbrella term meant for wherever Daedalus is, and I'm planning on giving him a buff

@thisisgonnahurt: hmmmmm

@thisisgonnahurt: Darkness is everywhere and it never eludes to being anything but darkness, a place where the dark and depraved can exist without falter. An from within this darkness the being that has taken on the moniker of Ginju slowly slithers. A long trail of what resembles a snails trail, sticky and reflective in the small amount of light that shines from machines. It slowly slides at the feet of the many machines that steam and bark with loud thumps and clomps. The robotic nature of nearly all within the Engine, its noises of constant movement echo and create an almost symphonic resonance that Ginju can find soothing. They don't move for any other reason than thats what they were designed for, the ooze that slithers on the ground slowly wraps around an automaton and squeezes, the robot continues to function even in his tight embrace. As he squeezes all he says is "More...." the action of destroying something that has no life to give him still gives him a wondrous sensation of glee and he wants to continue his "onslaught"

@ginju:

Daedalus toiled within his workshop, the empty shells of his Icarii children surrounding him. They were no longer needed, and he wanted to implement their knowledge somehow. No sensors or alarms went off when he physically understood a presence in the far part of the corridor he occupied. There was a humanoid shape crushing some of the Icarii he had extracted the information from.

"Hello my friend," he began, his strange pseudo-bipedal shape moving towards the new creature.

"Where did you come from?" he inquired, tilting his head curiously.

@thisisgonnahurt: Tossing the empty shell his gelatinous form transformed into a large face with an odd smile across its body. Ooze dripping tendrils thud to the ground, he looked the creature before him up and down. All he muttered was "We...are...hungry..." a large tongue sliding from the great big mouth that formed in the center of his body

@ginju:

The mad doctor took out a test tube and let some of the ooze drip inside, before corking it and holding it up to the light.

"Ah yes, very hungry indeed..." he muttered. "I have a solution for that,"

Daedalus ushered the creature from the shadows with a cacophony of metallic limbs, bringing it to a work desk of sorts. He patted the surface of it, wordlessly telling the creature to get on top of it.

"Wait just a moment my friend,"

He could see the magic of technology and used it in all of his creations. He could create machines that mimicked life, or weapons that were practically impossible to understand. But for the shadowy beast... he had a special gift.

"You hunger for life, that is why you went after my children. They're dead now, so that doesn't bother me," he smirked.

"What I can give you is this, however,"

One of his limbs stretched across the room on hydraulic tendons, opening a wall leading to a freezer. It closed once he got his chosen test material, a healthy portion of flesh from a fresh cadaver Bertram, one of his android children, brought home one day upon request.

He brought some of his Replicator ammunition to bear, the pure plasmoid nature of the weaponry being little more than paint for him to construct his latest masterwork.

"A self-replicating piece of human flesh, perhaps that will do something yes?"

Fearlessly, he placed the meat into Ginju's waiting mouth and watched curiously for the results.

The flesh would be swallowed instantaneously given the creature's size and temperament around food, and the Replicator technology infused into the cells would just cause it to create more of itself constantly.

@thisisgonnahurt: Creature of impulse but no where a creature of less intelligence, Ginju watched as the mad man created something. Ginju could smell it, it was flesh but it knew it was something else as well. Something massive and tiny filled there brain as the creation was placed onto his open mouth. Eyes many narrowed on the madman and its tongue stretched out, placing the creation into a newly formed hand that jutted from its massive and changing body. Its eyes shot from the mass stretche out on stalks and blinked at the new thing in front of it, taking a bite from the creation the flesh swirled in its mouth and then swallowed. It filled its insides well but the creature known as Ginju was not satisfied. Now it took a form that akin to a more humanoid specimen. Legs formed and it stood tall, its head forming into something less Lovecraftian and more human.

Holding the creation out to the mad man it spoke "We...are...not fools doctor. We need to kill what we eat, but the offer was appreciated. IF you gave it life and it moved...perhaps it would be more fun." Ginju now fully formed in a sense it had clear thought, its base form was instinctual no thinking needed just fight and feed. Now he was a more formed creature, his brain high functioning

@thisisgonnahurt:

Okay, this should be the place according to that prick I beat senseless. He got off his bike to take a look, but it wasn't what he expected. It didn't stay still; it kept moving instead, suggesting to follow the enigmatic object. Maybe this isn't it. Maybe it's legit. The conundrum. Without much thought, Moon decided to go with his instinct and follow it. He hopped back on his motorcycle to continue the trail, a deadly one. With many twists and turns and near-death experiences Moon somehow defied the odds and stayed alive, tailing whatever this thing was. There were no lights here similar to the world without the sun, though Moon was used to it considering how often he does things at night. "Damn thing is almost outta gas," said Courage disgruntled. "I should've filled this bitch up, guess that means I'll resume on foot." Moon stopped the motorbike and reached for his two pistols stashed away along with some ammo. He cocked 'em both and prepared for the worst, heading in the village center direction.

@ginju:

"A pleasure," he watched Ginju form and shape himself into a more humanoid body.

"I am Daedalus. I am happy to have been of some service,"

The robotic doctor shifted his attentions elsewhere, but kept Ginju as a guest in mind. He continued working on a biomechanical interface that incorporated DNA from a powerful source. It wasn't purely cloning, more bonding between organic matter and machinery - a perfect melding of the two.

Daedalus wasn't afraid of keeping secrets, as no one could replicate what he could do. He could see and use magic in his creations, making the impossible reality.

"How else may I be of assistance?"

@mockingjay:

Daedalus was where all the automatons converged, giving them each a tender embrace before taking their memories and intellects. Everything they were, he archived, and disposed of their empty shells.

"We're sorry Father," they kept apologizing.

"No, please, don't be," he would reply. That was all he could muster through the bittersweet oily tears his mechanical face would produce.

It was an altogether strange sight for Moon, but this was indeed the man - or being - responsible for the weapons, for the Icarus Twins, and for the chaos raging involving the increasing amount of mysterious robot sightings.

@thisisgonnahurt:

It wasn't too long till he came in contact with the genius behind it all, Daedalus. The name of this person to Moon, however, was a mystery so when he confronted him, the words were brutally honest to just get a grasp on this puzzle. "What's up, cancer patient? Miss your hair? But on to a more important question... who are you?" said Moon with the twin pistols locked and loaded, looking in the direction of the stranger.

@mockingjay:

Daedalus turned around, his Icarii blankly staring at Moon. But their Father tilted his head curiously, his biomechanics whirring inside his head as he observed the man aiming pistols at him.

"I am Daedalus, and according to my memories of Atticus and Bertram... you are the one who killed them. You also followed one of my minor Engines here," he smirked.

"Welcome! What can I do for you?"

"Daedalus, huh? So you're the mastermind behind this shit?" he smiled deviously before adding "Yes, I did kill your dolls. They were annoying and had to be dealt with." he shrugged, showing no remorse for his actions. Moon didn't bother answering Daedalus but instead asked something. "What are you gonna do 'bout that?"

@mockingjay:

Daedalus looked away, unafraid of what might happen.

"Nothing, I suppose. Atticus and Bertram are already dead, nothing is going to change that. All this has taught me is that I have failed, and that I can improve,"

He turned back towards Moon.

"If I cannot improve, then I might as well die. That is the Imperative."

@thisisgonnahurt:

"Bullshit! Don't think I'll drop these heaters just 'cause you told me you won't do anything. That's the oldest trick in the book and I ain't fallin' for it." He was eager to learn what he could about him. How could someone from the surface so peaceful create such? What are his goals? Even though the guns were still aimed at Daedalus, Moon slightly calmed down to hit him with a question. "From what I see you're a perfectionist, yes?"

@mockingjay:

Daedalus nodded, not flinching at Moon's anger or his threats to use the guns pointed at his head.

"I like to work. I enjoy seeing the fruits of my labors come to life, to see them grow and do their own work. If I cannot do that, then I cannot call myself Daedalus."

"That so? Shouldn't call yourself somethin' else considerin' you already failed?"I heard about that raid on your bots and it was a disaster indeed. So when you put that into perspective why did you soldier on?"Like a professional, Moon was still watching every little detail around him because you can never be too sure and while he had the mad genius talking his eyes were set on the Engine, wherever it might be.

@mockingjay:

"Possibly," he laughed a bit.

"I sense that my time here is coming to an end, my friend. No matter what I do it will never be enough. I've only one more try left, and you're at the heart of it all."

"Heart of it all?" Moon stopped for sec realizing he's at his objective. Okay, this is mine. I'mma take it somehow but I need an escape plan. If I take out Daedalus then I can get what I came here for. Hopefully. Thoughts ran through his head. "Daedalus I'm taking this frickin' Engine one way or another. You said you didn't want smoke, but I'm not giving you much of a choice."Moon spun around and rounds were fired where Daedalus was at, planning to light him up like a Christmas tree.

@mockingjay:

"The Engine follows me, my friend. You'll find that out soon enough,"

He looked at Moon, smiling as he took the bullets into the various biomechanical parts that held his myriad limbs together. The impacts broke him apart, but he kept smiling.

It was sad, but honest.

"I enjoyed my time here," blood and oil oozed from his wounds.

He took a device from his belt and pressed the button.

"But all my work is for naught."

Moon would find himself in the middle of the forest sometime in the morning. The sun was rising, and the village he infiltrated was gone. Daedalus was gone, never to return.

@thisisgonnahurt:

Moon smiled as he watched him fall apart, thinking it would be so easy but Daedalus had a plan to go kamikaze and nuke everything he worked for if that meant protecting it; himself included. Courage tried to stop him, shouting "NO!" but he was too late. Everything was gone. The Engine all of it. Now, who's the failure?

Moon woke up, wondering how he's still alive. Not too long after he grunted, displeased about what went down. It took him a minute or so to gather himself and come to the conclusion that he failed. CD fell knees first and begin to pound the dirt with his fists and let out a sigh. "What a waste."

@thisisgonnahurt: A twisted smile came to its face only to fade as it thought of how to ask, its body contorting and shivering in anticipation it finally spoke "Can you built such an object that a living island cannot detect it?" simple and to the point was the question. Without giving anything outright away he asked what he needed.

@ginju:

Daedalus curiously only put a hand on Ginju's shoulder, almost reassuringly.

"I am sorry my friend. It seems I have done all that my programming has allowed. One last invention, and I was to expire. I had tried to find something in the vast armories of my original's weapons to improve upon, but I was physically incapable of such a feat,"

His body began to fall apart, the lifeline severed at the source somewhere far away.

"The Engine... is... dying..."

All light faded from his eyes, and the living, breathing machines surrounding Ginju stopped.

Without the original Daedalus, his inventions would soon fade - the magic binding them together going with him to... wherever he went.