Super Smash Quest - Story - Chapter 112: Reploid Weirdness
Date: December 18th & 23rd, 2004.
Metal Man (GM): Zero is at the Underground garage. People are busy retrofitting equipment into an MTA. Metal's CAC looks a bit damaged... someone must have taken it for a joyride!
Professor Oak: "Well... I'm afraid to say this, but we need one more part to make this cloaking system work."
Zero: "Just tell me what it is and where I get it."
Professor Oak: "It won't be protected by any mad scientists, though. It's just in Kakariko Village, which is not too far away. To the north, somewhere near the mountains."
Zero: "... Isn't that part of the place that's stuck somewhere in the middle ages?"
Professor Oak: "I'd suggest using the warp room to get there quickly... Yes! Yes, it is. But thanks to your fight with Jeff Maxwell there, one of the parts fell off. Luckily, it had a tracer on it."
Zero: "Ah. I was about to ask... anyway, I'll get going."
Professor Oak: "Okay."
Nick Caligo (GM): The reploid heads to the warp room.
Metal Man (GM): There's a specific warp 'tile' set to Kakariko village.
Zero steps on the warp tile and waits. Thankfully, teleportation is a familiar experience for him.
Metal Man (GM): *ZOOP* Zero reappears in the middle of a small mountain village... With a large crater up atop a hill, and several burnt houses. A dark mist comes from the well.
Zero: "... Looks like there was some collateral damage."
Metal Man (GM): A person comes out, and sees Zero. ...She looks surprised for a moment, but then comes right up to Zero. (It's Impa)
Impa: "Thank goodness! Someone has come to help fix our ghost problem!"
Zero: "Ghost problem?"
Impa: "...Yes. A mischievous spirit came from under the well. It used some strange sticks to shoot energy projectiles at that house!"
Metal Man (GM): Impa points to the charred bits of stone that once was a house.
Zero looks to her with that hardened glare that seems to be fixed to his face... he's wearing strange attire... for a knight...
Impa: "Then, something came from the sky and blew up the windmill!"
Zero looks to the house, then back to Impa. "Where's this "Ghost" right now?"
Impa: "Below the well. The last time I saw him was when he stole something from the ruins of the windmill... it was shiny. There's a ladder down there, but I must warn you... that place is cursed!"
Zero walks over to the well, muttering to himself sarcastically. "So am I..." ¬¬ He pays Impa little regard as he jumps right in.
Metal Man (GM): There's a ladder that goes down there. The black fog seems to make it hard to see. And so, Zero leaps in... ~Link's Awakening Dungeon Music~. At the bottom, it is dark, lit by lanterns that have purple flames.
Nick Caligo (GM): He ignites his saber, hoping for some light.
Metal Man (GM): There's a dead end, but you can see it must be a turn to the left. There are several ancient runic symbols on the walls.
Zero: *examines the symbols.*
Metal Man (GM): They look like some sort of primitive symbol language.
Zero: "... Can't read it." He uses the dex to try and analyze them.
Dex: "Scanning... Scan complete. Interpretation: "The Dark One Died Down Here, He Comes for Revenge, To Destroy The World!"
Metal Man (GM): The ground shakes after the dex says that. A strange door with mist comes out from under it. It's... opening.
Zero drops into his usual low combat stance. "... So what else is new..."
???: "Who dares disturb my sleep?" A purple figure rises out of the mist.
Zero: "I'm here to get the part that was taken down here from the windmill. If you stand in my way, I'll have no choice but to destroy you."
???: "...So... a Quester is here for an item! Well... too bad. You killed meeeeee!!!!"
Metal Man (GM): The mist forms a bit more concrete... it's a purple reploid.
Zero: "... ?? Who are you?"
???: "I can't giiiiiive it to you here... you must cooooome to my graaaaaaaveeeee!!!! I am Phaaaaaantom!"
Zero: "... Oh... terrific..." -_-#
Dex: "...That is the Quester who went insane and killed an entire city of innocent people before being killed by the Questers."
Zero: "He was also one of the crappiest hunters we had."
Phantom: "You willl... have to go to mmyyyyy graaaaaave first!" He disintegrates, and a long path of red torches light up.
Metal Man (GM): It's a tunnel.
Zero: "... Why do I get the feeling that I REALLY shouldn't trust this guy."
Dex: "He betrayed the Questers and died for it."
Zero: "Don't you ever shut up!?"
Dex: "..." *click.*
Zero: "Alright... time to follow the creepy guy who's probably leading me STRAIGHT into a trap..." *proceeds down the hall, following the torches. He hardly seems to trust the very ground beneath his feet right now.*
Metal Man (GM): The hallway seems to be a bit brighter as Zero goes... Water drips from the ceiling, occasionally dripping on Zero. The ground is slimy with moss. Cracked stone is everywhere, and... now there's another door. Except it's got two Stalfos in front of it.
Zero: *voomvoom!* His saber's brought back into combat position quickly.
Metal Man (GM): They hear the noise, and turn to fight. The somewhat slow Stalfos are in the trademark fighting position.
Zero opens up the round by executing a quick upward slash on Stalfos 1.
Metal Man (GM): *SLASH.* The bag of bones is jolted a bit.
Zero charges for one attack, then unleashes a level 1 charged saber slash on it. He IMMEDIATELY unleashes an unavoidably fast attack, then follows it up with a normal one (this takes place across two attacks, not three) *VreeeeeeEEE!* *SWIPE-Slash!* *Auto-hit--* Hit!
Metal Man (GM): Zero has given this Stalfos quite a thrashing, so far.
Zero follows it up with a Ten-Retsu-Jin "Split Heavens" attack. He boosts himself upwards with his jump jets and hits it with an upward slash.
Metal Man (GM): Zero manages to hit yet again.
Zero: SLASH! While still in mid-air, he executes a downward SMASH attack to send it into the floor. *wiff.*
Metal Man (GM): Zero misses horribly, prompting a counter-attack. The Stalfos glows, then rushes at Zero to slash him thrice with its sword.
Zero takes one hit, then blocks the other two with his saber.
Metal Man (GM): The same Stalfos belches a small fireball at Zero. *HIT* Poisoned! It's some sort of corruption poison, so it still effects Zero. (As in, corrupting matter) Then it leaps at Zero, trying to cleave him in two with that sword of its. *YOW!* *SLASH*
Zero: "AGH!"
Metal Man (GM): The Stalfos then backs off and puts up its shield, while the other Stalfos rushes in for a three-slash strike.
Zero: *Again he takes only one hit of the three.*
Metal Man (GM): Zero takes extra damage from poison.
Zero growls and starts the new round off by dashing around the Stalfos in such a way that he has one lined up behind the other. His saber disappears, and a buster appears mounted on his arm. There's a bright flash before a single, thin, continuous laser is shot through both of them. *POW!* *POW!* Both Stalfos take damage.
Metal Man (GM): Stalfos 1 looks kinda weak.
Zero morphs his weapon back into a saber and dashes in at Stalfos 1, charging up for one attack before dumping that doubleslash attack on him. *AUTO HIT! *
Metal Man (GM): It's still alive, but looking bad.
Zero: *HIT! again.*
Metal Man (GM): It's still going... the bones are cracked.
Zero takes another swipe at it.
Metal Man (GM): Hit. It crumbles into dust.
Zero turns to the other Stalfos and swings again, throwing a blade wave at him.
Metal Man (GM): Hit. The Stalfos is knocked back a bit, into the wall.
Zero whips his weapon around behind his back with his left hand and brings it back out with his right--but now it's a bit different. He summons the chain rod and shoots it off at the Stalfos to bring it into melee range.
Metal Man (GM): Miss. It blocks the attack with its shield, then attacks with its sword. Wow... pathetic rolls... It misses, slashing the wall wildly.
Zero dodges out of the way of the flurry of attacks, then spins around and tries to cut its spine from behind. *CRITICAL HIT!!*
Metal Man (GM): CRIT! It's almost 2/3 dead.
Zero slashes across its spine a second time. *NOT SO CRIT!!* And then he follows up by calling his buster in place of his saber and charging it for two--yes, TWO attacks and unloading the fully charged shot on the Stalfos. Three attacks going into this, so this better turn out good.
Metal Man (GM): Annoyingly enough, it misses and blasts a wall. It turns around, and rears up and shoots another fireball at you.
Zero: The shot, saturated with energy, deals damage. To... a wall..
Metal Man (GM): ...It hates that wall you shot. Counter-round!
Zero pours three rapid-fire shots into the Stalfos. Hithithit!
Metal Man (GM): It's about to die... FINISH HIM!
Zero: And then, he charges for two attacks again. He REALLY doesn't like this bloody Stalfos. The large plasma shot is unleashed upon it again... And... crit misses... >_<
Metal Man (GM): The Stalfos counters with a leaping jump attack. ...And misses, hitting the wall again.
Zero: "..." *watches this thing have a seizure against a wall for a second before he decides to just put the poor, mentally challenged Stalfos down with a RAKUHOHA!! He charges his fist with purple energy, then slams the ground. A purple shockwave of plasma engulfs the immediate area.*
Metal Man (GM): It runs into the wall and falls on the attack backwards.
Zero: The Stalfos is consumed by the energy dome and receives damage.
Metal Man (GM): *BAM* The Stalfos is incinerated. The door opens, revealing some sort of... temple...
Zero: "..." He uses that Full Restore he got in the last mission to restore all his HP and status.
Metal Man (GM): Zero is completely restored.
Zero: "These things sure are tough."
Metal Man (GM): The temple has a locked door... but there's a nice looking key on a pedestal that should open it. There are pots scattered about in typical Zelda fashion.
Zero snatches the key, then smashes the pots to see if there's anything worthwhile inside.
Metal Man (GM): When Zero goes to snatch the key... *FLAME TRAP.* It pushes Zero away from the key before he can touch it. The key is now surrounded by a ring of seemingly solid fire.
Zero: "!! ... Dammit! Son of a bitch!" *He looks around for something that might work on the fire. A switch, perhaps?*
Metal Man (GM): There's... lots of pots!
Zero: "... Hmm..." He checks to see if any of them contain water.
Metal Man (GM): One of them does. ...There's also one with oil in it.
Zero: "... Hmmmmmmm..." He carefully considers the possibilities of an oil pot being thrown into a fire... "... Nah, don't want to blow up the key." He throws the water pot at the fire.
Metal Man (GM): *BAM* The fire goes out... the key flies onto the floor. It's large enough that Zero can easily see it. I guess undead freaks like golden keys.
Zero snatches up the key, then.
Metal Man (GM): The locked door has a nice looking lock on it.
Zero: "I'm glad I didn't smash all the pots first." He turns to the remaining pots and smashes them apart.
Metal Man (GM): The oil pot makes an ungodly mess. ...Which catches on fire... Oh well. At least Zero doesn't have to worry about smoke inhalation.
Zero: "..." *Smacks forehead.* "Not an item in the whole bunch. Whatever..." He jams the key into the lock, suddenly wishing for an ice chip about now.
Metal Man (GM): Zero gets the key into the lock, and the door opens. ...There's some sort of cathedral in here. A statue lays in the center. Nobody is in there. The organ at the center is untouched.
Zero: "...?" He walks in carefully, looking around... his eyes fall on the statue first.
Metal Man (GM): The statue is of Phantom. There's something written in regular english on it. 'Ye who wishes to experience the fury, push ye statue.'
Zero: "..." *pushes ye statue, being the big lug that he is.*
Metal Man (GM): Zero pushes it easy. ...Beneath it is most certainly a grave. A coffin. It rises up to the same level as the church. The organ plays a couple notes, as the coffin opens up on its own. Yup. It's bits and pieces of Phantom... which then float together.
Phantom: "You have cooooomeeee to geeet the iteeeem, riiiight?"
Zero: "Yeah. Let me guess, I have to kill you to get it, right?"
Metal Man (GM): The organ plays in the background in notes similar to his voice.
Phantom: "...I reallllyyy must beee lesss predictablleeeeeee!!!! You've gooot me there... but I won't go down without a fiiiight!"
Zero: "Yeah, I think the "Experience the fury" part gave it away."
Metal Man (GM): He whips out... two machineguns. What sort of Reploid is that thing?
Phantom: "It is now time to show my power! I shall prove that I can defeat Questers!"
Metal Man (GM): Phantom strafes Zero with the machinegun, floating to the left while shooting at him. Ok... then only one hit... , because it was a crit.
Phantom: "Curse you! You move too fast!"
Zero: "Or your aim is lousy. Now let me show you how a REAL Reploid does it!" This is clearly going to become a firefight. He starts by throwing a blade wave at phantom.
Metal Man (GM): Hit.
Phantom: "Graaaaah!"
Zero continues by swapping out the saber for his buster. He fires a three-shot burst at Phantom first.
Metal Man (GM): All three hit.
Zero continues by lazing him with that continuous laser.
Metal Man (GM): He kind of disappears, avoiding the attack entirely.
Zero: *Miss!* Zero winds up lazing a charred line in the walls.
Phantom: "Now now, THIS is how it's done!" He chucks a plasma grenade at Zero.
Zero: *A splode.*
Metal Man (GM): *KABAAAM.*
Zero's caught in the blast.
Metal Man (GM): Phantom follows that up by spraying the area with bullets again. Ouch!
Zero: "Ah!! Son of a bitch..." *decides to drop the train on 'im. He decides against the laser shot since he's so damn fast and starts off with another three weak buster shots.*
Metal Man (GM): All hit!
Zero: *peltpeltpelt.*
Phantom: "What do you think you're doing? Slightly damaging me to dead?"
Metal Man (GM): Phantom then laughs some more. Man, what an annoying little freak.
Zero throws another blade wave at him...
Metal Man (GM): And he dodges it by a mile, earning a counter-attack!
Zero: Aaaaaaand misses. Roll, you're gonna die.
Metal Man (GM): He strafes Zero yet again. This poor cathedral is looking like a holy cathedral!
Zero: *HITHIT therestmiss.* His low-health-related badge kicks in and he gains an eerie blood-red aura.
Metal Man (GM): Well, the annoying monster continues spraying the area with bullets. DEATH! Minus one life! Two lifes left!
Zero: "I'm getting sick of you fast..."
Metal Man (GM): Phantom blows the smoke from those machineguns. "I'm only warming up..."
Zero: "So'm I!" With that he thrusts his arm out, and in a bright flash the buster changes to the Chain Rod, which shoots forward to impale Phantom and bring him to Zero.
Metal Man (GM): Hit. Grabbed!
Phantom: "Urgh!"
Zero: Phantom receives and is grabbed. He morphs the rod to the saber and Tenretsujins him good, leaping and slashing upwards.
Metal Man (GM): Hit.
Zero: *SWAT!*
Metal Man (GM): It's a conspiracy!
Zero continues his attack by charging up for one move and then double-slashing Phantom. *AUTO-HIT! * *HIT!*
Metal Man (GM): He's looking pretty darn beaten up.
Zero then falls to the ground with Phantom, summoning that purple energy into his body and unleashing Rakuhoha on him. I'll probably regret this. *FLARE!* He's caught in the blast as he falls back down to earth. He takes He charges for TWO attacks now, switching to his buster and unloading a fully charged shot at him. *POW!!*
Metal Man (GM): He falls back, breathing heavily and torn up more than usual.
Phantom: "No... you can't win... I am the great Phantom!"
Metal Man (GM): Phantom is surrounded by blue flames. The entire area starts rumbling. The glass cracks. He throws away the guns. One of them fades away... but another one becomes real somehow.
Zero: "You're the weakest Phantom I've EVER seen. I bet the real one is rolling in his grave now knowing that his name's being shared with someone as pathetic as you."
Phantom: "You... dare insult me? I AM THE REAL PHANTOM--..."
Metal Man (GM): A lightning bolt strikes through the ceiling, causing an explosion around Phantom. There's a hole in the ceiling... it shows Lon Lon Ranch.
Zero: "!" He hops back. "..."
Metal Man (GM): Phantom is there in the center of the crater, glowing with purple energy.
Phantom: "You may have been correct... but this is Phantom's body, with Phantom's memories! ...But you still defeated Phantom's body..."
Zero: "Oh, lovely. First you don't even have the self-respect to use a real weapon, now you're stealing one of my trademarks! Do I get the item now, or do I have to beat you up more?"
Phantom: "No... take the item..."
Metal Man (GM): Phantom pulls out the item... a simple little mirror orb that seems almost invisible. He then rolls the mirror orb on the floor to Zero, before exploding. The entire temple starts crumbling. A blue portal out appears.
Zero snatches up the orb. "*sigh.* Stupid fool..." He walks through the portal.
Metal Man (GM): Zero reappears in Kakariko village.
Impa: "So... did you get rid of the ghost?"
Zero: "Yes."
Impa: "Thank you. Please take this as our thanks."
Metal Man (GM): Zero notices that the machinegun that turned real is stuck to his left leg. Impa gives Zero a bag of money. 2000 coins.
Impa: "With the ghost gone, we can live normal lives again!"
Zero: "..." -_o He takes the machinegun, which is sticky with... like... some manner of ectoplasm... and then takes the bag of coins, looking a little perplexed at the gesture of thanks. "Um... Thank you!"
Metal Man (GM): Zero acquired: Phantom's AK-47. The Dex beeps.
Dex: "You have 1 message from Professor Oak."
Zero checks his Dex.
Metal Man (GM): It shows Oak, of course.
Oak: "Hi Zero. We've got a warp ready to get you back. Just press the blue button."
Zero hits le button while waving good-bye to Impa. "Good luck to you."
Impa: "You too!"
Metal Man (GM): *WARP.* Zero appears in the garage, conveniently.
Professor Oak: "Okay, so you've got the part?"
Zero holds out the nearly invisible reflective orb.
Oak: "That's it. Once we stick that in the MTA, it's ready to go."
Zero: "Right." He looks up at the MTA.
Metal Man (GM): There's a ramp that leads into the MTA.
Wolfman sees a new ramp in the garage that leads to... some sort of vehicle.
Metal Man (GM): Inside would be a cockpit much like the one on Jeff Maxwell's mecha.
Wolfman gets a look at the cockpit, and hops in for some crazy reason.
Zero: "...!? What are you doing! Get out of there, you nut!"
Metal Man (GM): Well. It's blocky, all white, about 20 feet tall, got two legs, a seemingly faceless head, blocky arms like the arms of characters in FFVII...
Wolfman: "Ack!" *hops out.* "Sorry; I'm a little bored right now."
Zero ignites his saber. "Explain yourself right now!"
Metal Man (GM): Professor Oak neatly takes the orb from Zero while he does that and goes to stick it in the MTA.
Wolfman: "I was bored and was hoping to find a way to kick some butt."
Zero: "Bored. Right. Well, there's a dozen other MTAs around that you can steal."
Wolfman: "I managed to stop Robotnik's army from invading Magellean Tower in the CACs. What is wrong with me wanting to try a new vehicle?"
Metal Man (GM): There are only two CACs, FYI. A black, damaged one that says 'Metal's property' on it, and a broken messed up one that nobody even touches.
Zero: "THIS one is too important for some joy-riding lunatic to just make off with."
Metal Man (GM): Oak comes out of the MTA.
Wolfman: "Alright... do you have any other vehicles you would recommend to me?"
Oak: "I installed it... oh. Yeah. About the joyriding..."
Zero: "Any one but this one!"
Oak: "You just happened to... errr... take the president's limo out and get it all dirty."
Wolfman: "Very well... huh? I'm sure I didn't!"
Oak: "Not to mention use some of its missiles and... scratch the paint."
Wolfman: "I don't see a limousene in here." *double checks the room to be sure.*
Oak: "Well, when I mean dirty, I mean you touched it. Which is not allowed..."
Zero: *sigh.* "Oak, please have someone look after the ship while I go do some preparations."
Metal Man (GM): There's a black CAC that looks LIKE a 4-passenger limousine.
Oak: "Yes. I shall have Mack do so."
Wolfman: "Well how else was I supposed to stop Robotnik? I didn't see a sign that said that it belonged to somebody."
Zero: "..." -_-#
Metal Man (GM): Oak points at the neon sign that says 'Property of Metal'
Wolfman sees the sign now for the first time.
Oak: "...Well... it did kind of say it in red, neon letters... Maybe someone unplugged the sign."
Zero heads for the shopping center and sells Phantom's machine gun.
Wolfman: "Point is, if it wasn't for my 'joyride' as you call it, Magellean Tower might have fallen."
Metal Man (GM): Machine gun sold for 2000 coins. G&W sticks it in a display case.
Oak: "...Anyway... it's not my car, and it isn't even property of the Stadium. Metal bought it when we went around throwing out the obsolete CACs."
Zero: "That machine gun belonged to Phantom, the Quester who was buried beneath Lon Lon Ranch in Hyrule. It should attract quite a few customers."
Wolfman: "Alright, thanks for letting me know for future reference."
G&W: "Then it should be... in a display case!"
Metal Man (GM): G&W puts it in a nice display case, then puts a nice sign over it. '10,000 coins.'
Zero: "Heh. Alright then. Take care. ... Wait a second..." *thinks.*
Wolfman just leaves the garage in a little disgust and goes to R&R to try to relax.
Zero: "... Do you sell any recovery items?"
G&W: "Hmmm. We have a Recovery pill, which recovers 10% HP. It costs 300 coins per pill. We also have Full Recover, which costs 3000 coins. It recovers all HP and gets rid of status effects."
Wolfman turns the TV on, wondering what's on (hopefully not some live action news again)
Metal Man (GM): It's currently on the 'Endless News Channel' However, there isn't much news going on...
Zero: "Hm. Anything that restores about 30%?"
Wolfman turns the TV off and just relaxes on the couch instead.
Metal Man (GM): They're talking about the latest game: Super Pokemon III: Turbo Rocket edition.
G&W: "Hmmm... the quarter-heal, restores 25%, costs 600 coins. More economical, but less chances that it won't be wasted."
Zero: "Give me two." He forks over 1200 Coins, grinning a bit. His Refund badge will insure that this money isn't wasted.
Metal Man (GM): He gives Zero two of them. They're shaped like a quarter hunk out of a circle and have a rainbow soda-like liquid inside.
Zero puts them in his pack. "Thanks... also, how much would a custom badge cost?"
G&W: "Custom? It'd take a week for each badge point it uses. The price depends upon the ability. What do you want it to do?"
Zero: "I'd like one that bestows elemental properties on its wearer."
G&W: "Okay... that'll use 2 BP, take two weeks, and cost 1800 coins."
Zero: "Hm. Alright then. I'll pay you when it's done. I want it to use the Ice element."
G&W: "Ok."
Metal Man (GM): GW writes up an order for it and puts it in a cabinet.
Zero: "Alright. Thanks."
Wolfman looks around R&R just in case there is more than a TV and a couch.
Zero heads off to his room to rest before his big trip. Taking a break from SSQ for now.
Metal Man (GM): There is... a red button on the wall! With an exclamation point. It's by the glass windows. There's also... the holo cylinder..
Wolfman decides NOT to hit the button... he goes back to resting on the couch.
Metal Man (GM): And the man eating couch, behind a glass case. Oh... and there's a weird floorboard. It looks like it was put in backwards.
Wolfman thinks his eyes spotted something... he goes on the floor, only to find... "...what the heck? Maybe my optics are deceiving me... did I put that piece of floor board in the wrong way?" *tries to fix the floorboard and put it on the right way...*
Metal Man (GM): Wolfman opens it up. There's stuff under it! ... at least 4 bottles with 'Schnaps' written on them.
Nick Caligo (GM): XD
Wolfman lifts the floorboard up, only to find... what does he see? He sees something he can't tell... he picks up two bottles worth, then goes to the holo cylinder and activates it.
Metal Man (GM): The right side of the floorboard has 'PzKw' scratched into it.
Wolfman never saw that; he was going to the holo cylinder.
Metal: "Holo cylinder, here and ready. What can I look up for you?"
Wolfman: "Please tell me what 'Schnaps' is."
Metal: "...It appears to be Panzer's favorite drink... though not quite sure on what it is..."
Wolfman: "Is it safe to drink?"
Metal: "...It might make you dizzy. Says something about alcoholic content... maybe that's why it was hidden?"
Wolfman: "Thank you."
Metal Man (GM): There's also some sort of golden medallion, like a badge, down there.
Wolfman puts the two bottles back where he got them, having no desire to get dizzy. Then, he looks at the floorboard a little closer... and then sees a golden thing. He reaches down to get it.
Metal Man (GM): It's got some sort of eagle on it. It's a badge. It would take up 1 BP if Wolf wanted to equip it... but it seems like there is no hint at what it does.
Wolfman has 2 BP to spare... he takes it and puts in on, EQUIPing it.
Metal Man (GM): Wolf gains... mystery powers that don't do anything! ...Yet. It looks shiny. It also makes him feel... tougher. Without any actual special stat increases.
Wolfman tries to get a better look at the floorboard now while admiring his toughness.
Metal Man (GM): It has 'PzKw' scratched on it.
Wolfman: "How could I have placed this board backwards... or did someone else do it? And what is this 'PzKw'?"
Metal: "...That basically means Panzer was there."
Wolfman jumps at the voice, and then turns around... seeing Metal.
Metal Man (GM): It's the hologram, of course. Must have left it on.
Wolfman: "Remind me to install an auto-off switch if you aren't used for 20 seconds Holo-Metal."
Metal: "Whatever you say."
Wolfman: "Just one last thing... what's the fastest way to the control room? It's been awhile since I've seen Panzer last, and I'm hoping I can get in touch with her again."
Metal: "Gee, I wish we knew where Panzer was, but for some reason, there's just a whole lot of ???s on that subject."
Wolfman: "So locating isn't really an option?"
Metal: "Well... unless you want to randomly check dimensions, not really. She disappeared without a trace. It was... near the end of our first mission it happened. The first campaign, I mean."
Wolfman: "I'll pass on that idea... but thanks for letting me know."
Metal: "You're welcome."
Wolfman turns off the holo cylinder this time, and decides to go to the holo training rooms again... no red alerts mean no other way to improve.
Metal Man (GM): Okay, so Wolf goes into the holo room again. Blahblahblah, press button, Professor Oak Hologram.
Oak: "What holo simulation do you require?"
Wolfman: "Is there a list I can choose from?"
Metal Man (GM): Meanwhile, the stash remains open to the air and sunlight...
Oak: "Well, it's kind of customized to what you want."
Wolfman: "Alright... how about a strength training program?"
Oak: "Okay... I'll see what I can do."
Metal Man (GM): The new training thing creates another environment. It's Bowser's castle, and the enemy is... a Whomp.
Wolfman: "Just stone? Time to put its lights out." *runs to the stone and goes for a punch attack in the nose... or thereabouts.*
Metal Man (GM): SMACK! One problem... His nose isn't damaged. The attack bounces right off of his nose.
Wolfman: "Wha?"
Metal Man (GM): He then tries to fall on Wolf. Wolf pushes him back.
Wolfman needs to try something else... he equips his saber, and first attempts to jump BEHIND him.
Metal Man (GM): Wolf leaps into the Whomp's face and bounces off. Then it tries to crush Wolf again.
Wolfman: "This isn't fun you know."
Whomp: *Whomp grunt noise.*
Wolfman goes for another jump above him, saber still armed.
Metal Man (GM): Wolf leaps above him.
Wolfman lands behind him, and IMMEDIATELY goes for a Spin Attack in hopes that the back was the weak spot.
Metal Man (GM): Wolfman start feeling hatred towards this Whomp for some weird reason. Wolf knocks it over. The medallion Wolf equipped has turned half silver.
Wolfman notes the quick medal change... what is going on with it? He ignores his badge issue right now... he attacks the back of the Whomp while it's down with a sweeping kick.
Metal Man (GM): Supa-miss.
Wolfman doesn't really hit anything though.
Metal Man (GM): The Whomp turns around and tries to smash Wolf.
Wolfman: "...mother."
Metal Man (GM): SMACK! That medallion seems to be glowing rather oddly... The whomp uses its turn to get up.
Wolfman really notices that medallion going... he still ignores it, and attempts to jump over the whomp to get over to his backside; the sword is NOT armed right now.
Metal Man (GM): Wolf gets back to the back of the Whomp.
Wolfman rears up and punches the backside.
Metal Man (GM): Wolf punches it... huh. That punch looked sorta like Warlock Punch. Oh well. It's defeated... but something weird is going on.
Wolfman: "Wait a second... that felt... too easy." *looks at his medallion again.* "What are you?"
Metal Man (GM): It's all silver now. And glowing with some sort of ghastly pallor. It says nothing. But the arena morphs into... a graveyard.
Wolfman quickly takes in his new surroundings.
Metal Man (GM): It's a normal graveyard, got a few trees, mostly dirt.
Wolfman: "Just what I need... a freaky badge that takes me to a graveyard... perhaps it wants to lead me to my death or something." *goes to the nearest gravestone and absentmindedly touches one while passing it by.*
Metal Man (GM): It feels real, but it's still a hologram. However, what Wolf sees ahead is... different. It's a ghastly dark town.
Wolfman adjusts his eyes again... what type of town is over there? He rushes to it.
Metal Man (GM): Everything is purple, and the houses have turned pitch black with white magical outlines.
Wolfman: .oO(A purple town? I must be dreaming.) *wanders around this town, hoping to find someone.* "Hello?"
???: "Hello?"
Metal Man (GM): Some of the mist coalesces into a person.
???: "It is you! Cursed one! You wear the badge!"
Wolfman: "You mean this silver one?" *points to it.*
???: "Yet another cursed one... the last one somehow took it off and hid it away..."
Wolfman: "How is it cursed?"
???: "You activated it! Well... it was forged here. It was meant to give power... but instead... it became evil... corrupted by even slightly evil thoughts..."
Wolfman: "Is there any way to get rid of the curse? I doubt giving this badge back would work."
???: "It shall appear... soon enough."
Wolfman: "What shall appear?"
Metal Man (GM): The misty person melts into the ground, and Wolf re-appears in the hallway outside the warp room, with a mild headache.
Wolfman: "Oww... did someone get the number of Launch Octopus's tentacles?"
Metal Man (GM): Some dark voice seems to be calling Wolf to the underground garage...
Wolfman: .oO(Oh great... now I'm hearing things. I must be getting sick.) *follows the voice for no good reason towards the garage...*
Metal Man (GM): Wolf sees... Metal's CAC again... since it's still unlocked, it'd be easy to use it again... Mack has his back turned, watching Zero's MTA, which seems to have no value to Wolf. In fact, Wolf has this foreboding feeling that that MTA is cursed. As if, touching it is deadly.
Wolfman sees the MTA, but decides not to mess with that. He hopes to find something else other than Metal's CAC.
Metal Man (GM): Wolf finds a regular, unused MTA. Nobody owns it. In fact, it has a sign that says it's free to be used by any new or returning-to-work Quester.
Wolfman goes to the unowned MTA, glad that he won't have to steal it. .oO(That curse... I almost wanted to steal Metal's... I need to break it soon!) *tries to activate this MTA and get it going... perhaps he can find a world with a healer that can remove this curse.*
Metal Man (GM): Now... Wolf has a location in mind. Robotnik's base. Wolf wants to meet Robotnik... He can heal the curse! ...At least, he should... he is a doctor...
Wolfman gains a new thought...oO(Robotnik? No way, he can't--He's a doctor, of course he--but he's evil, and--but you're evil too--SHUT UP the both of you.) *shrugs his shoulders and just pilots his way towards Robotnik's base... wherever that is.* "I really need to see a shrink or something."
Metal Man (GM): It's conveniently located next to a lake and a forest. Well, long story short, Wolf lands there. It's a weird place... hundreds of red-and-yellow buildings. An entire city, with streets and everything.
Wolfman lands and sees the lake... excellent; a quick dip shouldn't hurt. He jumps in. (hoping MMX physics apply here in that drowning is difficult)
Metal Man (GM): Ok... so Wolf jumps in the lake. It feels good to get all that dirt off his... metal/fur. Luckily, it's empty. There aren't any bloopers or 8-eyed Octos waiting to eat him.
Wolfman gets back out and shakes himself off... that feels better. A little refreshed, he walks towards the nearest building and takes a look through the window... if any exist.
Metal Man (GM): Wolf looks through one of the windows. There's some sort of assembly line. Robots are assembled piece by piece and stacked in nice rows. There's a tower in the center, where Eggman should be.
Wolfman has a strange feeling about this... ignoring whatever his thoughts tell him (or don't), he goes to the central tower.
Metal Man (GM): Wolf walks right up there. No alarms go off, which is weird... There were plenty of signs on the way that said 'Intruders will be obliterated!'
Wolfman: .oO(No alarms went off... this is weird. Even the signs say I'm to be destroyed.)
Metal Man (GM): The door opens for Wolf, revealing a lobby, and an elevator. The lobby is empty; the elevator is set for floor 5.
Wolfman figures nothing will go wrong and enters the elevator.
Metal Man (GM): The elevator goes up, and stops at the fifth floor. It opens up. Eggman is waiting for Wolf behind a desk.
Dr. Robotnik: "Hello! I was... sort of expecting you."
Wolfman: "What do you mean, sort of?"
Dr. Robotnik: "...The fact that you landed nearby, and the fact that you have a sort of purple aura around you that the cameras picked up. Now then, what can the Eggman Empire do for you?"
Wolfman: "I never asked for this purple aura... I think it came from this badge." *points to it.*
Dr. Robotnik: "That is... a very interesting badge. Mind if I take it?"
Wolfman: "Go ahead; I don't feel right with this one." *gives up the mysterious badge of... something.*
Metal Man (GM): Eggman grabs it away and looks at it.
Dr. Robotnik: "...This is highly strange..."
Metal Man (GM): ...Then it magnetically moves back to Wolfman, right out of Eggman's hand.
Wolfman: "...what the?!?!?"
Dr. Robotnik: "...It appears to have bonded to your metal-biological body."
Wolfman: "I did not ask for this... great; those guys were right... I am cursed."
Dr. Robotnik: "It felt like... evil... but I'm already evil! Do you think I really have much use for an evil badge?"
Wolfman: "Perhaps you know someone that would want to be evil? Granted, even if you did, how would we get the badge away from me?"
Metal Man (GM): Wolfman get another idea. Shooting Eggman with the Move giver to get some of his intelligence... although it also would give him stronger moves of his own.
Dr. Robotnik: "I... don't know. Where did you get this badge?"
Wolfman: "I found it in a hidden compartment within my base. It was tucked along some sort of alcoholic bottles."
Dr. Robotnik: "..." .oO(Those people must have all SORTS of evil artifacts laying around!) "...I see... would you mind if I... visited your base?"
Metal Man (GM): The badge is neutral on this idea.
Wolfman: "I don't trust the alarm system... it could fry you on the spot."
Dr. Robotnik: "Oh well. Now then, did you come here with a deal in mind?"
Wolfman: "If you can honestly tell me how to remove this curse, I'll give you 100 coins."
Metal Man (GM): He scratches his chin.
Dr. Robotnik: "Oh? So you want to remove the curse... Well, that's simple."
Wolfman: .oO(I should have said 50.)
Dr. Robotnik: "All you have to do is surrender all your forces to the Eggman Empire! Yes... that badge is my weapon... I can control you with it!"
Wolfman: "And Zero wears french braids when he goes to battle."
Dr. Robotnik: .oO(Really could use a coat of red and yellow paint...) "...Okay... so obviously, an intelligent person like you wants this badge off cheaply. First, you must bring me 7 chaos emeralds. Then I can use them to break the curse!"
Wolfman: "I'm trying to make a neutral deal that will help both of us, but NOT let one person rule the world here."
Dr. Robotnik: "...Okay... what if Zero holds the chaos emeralds and I tell him what to do with them?"
Wolfman: "I doubt he'd want to listen to you."
Dr. Robotnik: "Of course, that's the only way I know. The enchantment on that thing is beyond my technology. So it's either the 7 chaos emeralds, or eternal curse of doom!"
Metal Man (GM): The idea of shooting him with the move giver is starting to sound really good now.
Wolfman: "How about option three; I give you intelligence instead." *pulls out his Move Giver and shoots him with it, hopefully without regret.*
Metal Man (GM): Wolfman shoots him; by doing so, Wolf gains intelligence. Eggman's moves are strengthened.
Dr. Robotnik: "...??? What a funny gun that is... I feel stronger!"
Metal Man (GM): Wolfman's sure it's listed somewhere in the Stadium how to break the curse.
Wolfman: "I gave you strength; you let me go to figure this curse out on my own."
Dr. Robotnik: "...That's fine with me. With these new moves, I can finally defeat that heinous hedgehog!"
Wolfman: "We'll see... later." *leaves QUICKLY to the MTA to get back to the base.*
Metal Man (GM): Wolf gets back to base. He remembers something somebody left in a vault. In his office.
Wolfman arrives back, and then goes to his office to check up on something. He enters the combination on the vault and opens it.
Metal Man (GM): Wolf opens it... d'oh! That stupid curse has led Wolf to the sheath of the Sword of Darkness. Somebody left it in there when they stole it a while ago...
Wolfman: "What the? I could have thought the Sword of Darkness... oh SLAG IT!"
Metal Man (GM): It doesn't have any power in it, but it looks nasty and could make people think Wolf has the sword of Darkness.
Wolfman quickly goes to the holo cylinder and tries to make a call to Mewtwo.
Metal Man (GM): Mewtwo appears on it, via dex.
Mewtwo: "Yes?"
Wolfman: "I think my recently gained intelligence is malfunctioning... I opened the vault to the Sword of Darkness and I'm cursed with a badge... I think I need both of them removed PRONTO!"
Mewtwo: "...Don't tell me. You drank the Mega Mack like Locos did?"
Wolfman: "I don't recall drinking anything. But I did pick up a badge that was hidden in a compartment in R&R."
Mewtwo: "...Great... you must have found one of Panzer's stashes..."
Wolfman: "I did."
Mewtwo: "Well... then you'll need Panzer to fix it... in the mean time, don't think any bad thoughts."
Wolfman: "That's already happened."
Mewtwo: "It seems already bad thoughts over a whomp lead to Robotnik getting Melee Moves."
Wolfman: "Exactly."
Mewtwo: "Well... I'll see what I can do. Just remember, even if someone hits you with something... just don't think about it."
Wolfman: "So should I just sleep or something?"
Mewtwo: "No sleeping... dreams are harder to control. With that, you could bring down Zio himself!"
Wolfman: "Well I don't think paying any more bills will help me. ...I'll figure something."
Metal Man (GM): Mack the repairman comes in to R&R and discovers the bottles.
Mack: "Who's been hiding alcohol under the floor? There is a refrigerator, you know!"
Nick Caligo (GM): lol
Metal Man (GM): Mewtwo calls back.
Wolfman answers his dex.
Mewtwo: "Panzer will be there soon..."
Wolfman: "Thank you." *goes to the main lobby/entrance area.*
Metal Man (GM): It's nice and relaxing to sit there. Nice and sunny, too.
Wolfman takes a seat and relaxes.
Metal Man (GM): Someone knocks on the front door.
Wolfman goes to the door and asks "Who is it?"
Salesman: "You too can own a wonderful supervac 3004!"
Wolfman: "No thank you." *shuts the door.* "Stupid door to door salesmen... they should be shot to..." .oO(DOH! Stop thinking or saying bad things!) *goes back to the couch.*
Metal Man (GM): Wolf gets the coolest idea: turning on the TV. Wolf hears a motorcycle outside.
Wolfman almost reaches for the remote, but then hears something... he goes back to the front door. "I wonder what's going on now..."
Metal Man (GM): The doors FLY open. Wolf is smacked behind one of the doors into the wall. Whoever's entering can't see him, and vice versa.
Wolfman: *OOMPH!* "Ouch... Can anyone here me?"
Metal Man (GM): Nope. Nobody hears Wolf... because the door is stuck to his mouth. He hears someone speak. Panzer.
Panzer: "Where's the idiot with my medallion." *She takes her helmet off and blinks.*
Metal Man (GM): Wolf can, however, push the door off of his mouth.
Wolfman is sure he heard Panzer speak... oO(I am NOT an idiot!...much.) He tries to push the door away from his mouth.
Metal Man (GM): Wolf shuts the door, and sees Panzer.
Wolfman: "PANZER! Finally get to see you again!" *goes to welcome her in and hug her.*
Panzer: *Looks and sees the medallion, mostly black and silver.* "Wolf. What the hell have you done!" She pushes him off, growling.*
Wolfman: "Let's just say that curiosity wants to kill me right now. So if you know what to do, please do so."
Panzer: "Nothing to be done. Take me to a microscope. If it's fully activated you're screwed."
Wolfman: "Follow me to the lab." *goes to the lab... only to realize he doesn't know where it is (unless it's the garage).*
Wolfman arrives at the lab, with Panzer behind him.
Metal Man (GM): Panzer follows and looks around, until Wolf arrives.
Wolfman: "Oak? Are you in here? We need a microscope quickly!"
Oak: "...There's one right there." *He points at an entire table of microscopes.*
Wolfman goes to the microscope table, and lets Panzer do her thing... whatever that is.
Metal Man (GM): Panzer is looking for a tiny bit of gold on the mostly silver medallion. With the microscope.
Panzer: *She finds a small bit of gold, then faces Wolf, looking grave.* "There's only a little left. You need to get to a bed. It'll drain you badly, but you're safe from death unless you don't hurry."
Wolfman: "So I was right... sleep was a good idea. Don't get the wrong idea here... but follow me to my room."
Panzer: *Nods and follows, sighing.* "Sleep wouldn't have helped."
Wolfman: "...I'm confused." *says that while walking.* *arrives at his room, and gets on the bed.*
Panzer: *She reaches and touches the medallion. It gives no reaction to her but it bugs Wolf. She starts to take it off and it starts to draw energy from him.*
Wolfman deals with this energy drain as best as he can... he continues to let Panzer do her work.
Panzer: *She yanks it off suddenly, stepping back quickly.* "Now you need to rest. I'll get Oak to monitor you."
Wolfman: "Thank... you..." *attempts to get some sleep now.*
Panzer: *Nods and walks out, yelling for Oak. She's lost.*
Metal Man (GM): With Wolf out of commission for a while, we return to Zero. Zero has landed, he's out, and he's heading straight towards Wakatu, where Yurie's dex has been detected. As well as a lot of energy.
Zero: "... I'm going to need to be careful. There's no telling how powerful she is."
Metal Man (GM): It's dead ahead... *clank.* *Clank.* *CLANK.*
Zero: ..?
Metal Man (GM): Zero hears something coming towards you from the side.
Zero looks to said side.
Metal Man (GM): Upon looking, Zero sees it very plainly. Wow, another reploid! Blue... spikey... vaguely like a hedgehog...
Zero: "... Identify yourself."
Metal Sonic: "Well, if it isn't the Quester I was looking for. I am Metal Sonic."
Nick Caligo (GM): The reploid levels his buster pistol. "Why are you looking for me?"
Metal Man (GM): The eyes of the machine turn green for a split second, and Zero hears something like a camera sound as they turn red again.
Metal Sonic: "I have just copied your information. That is all I needed."
Zero: "... Well, I guess I can't let you leave, then, can I?"
Metal Sonic: "I guess not..." The robot suddenly seems to liquify.
Metal Man (GM): It then... morphs into some sort of weird new identity. It looks like what would happen if Locos and Zero were fused into one being... kinda freaky.
Metal Sonic: "But I doubt you'd want to mess with me."
Zero: "People have been trying to copy me for a long time, and I'm not about to let some puddle of liquid s**t do what everyone else can't!"
Metal Man (GM): Metal Sonic laughs, then gets into battle stance.
Zero starts off by firing a triplet of buster shots at it.
Metal Man (GM): 2 hits.
Metal Sonic: "You will regret this, machine." Metal Sonic does a wild move at Zero: He punches and kicks at Zero simultaneously.
Metal Man (GM): *SMACK.*
Nick Caligo (GM): *Hit.*
Metal Man (GM): Then, after that strange attack, his right hand morphs into a sort of hammer, and he tries to punch Zero with it. And he hits Zero like a freight train. He suddenly stops.
Metal Sonic: "With every form I acquire, I become more powerful. This is only the beginning!"
Zero: "Nnrr..yeeeee... Dahh, stupid... THING. EEAH!!" He morphs his weapon into the Z-Saber and dashes in with a stab.
Metal Man (GM): Hit.
Nick Caligo (GM): He continues by jumping and slashing upwards, trying to carry Metal Sonic into the air with him.
Metal Sonic: "An impressive move. Maybe I should try it on you."
Metal Man (GM): Another hit.
Nick Caligo (GM): He then executes a spin slash in mid-air, trying to catapult Metal Sonic away.
Metal Man (GM): Hit.
Nick Caligo (GM): As he lands, he morphs his weapon back to the buster, charges up for two attacks, then unleashes a fully charged shot at the metal monstrosity.
Metal Man (GM): This thing seems to be taking considerable damage. Zero misses, but not badly enough for a counter.
Metal Sonic: "It is time I showed you that I am truly more powerful."
Nick Caligo (GM): He finishes by using one of his Quarter pills.
Metal Man (GM): Metal Sonic's right arm and left foot morph into that hammer again, and try to club Zero. With dark energy!
Zero: *dodges to the side.* "Looks like you're getting rusty already."
Metal Sonic: "Your form is clumsy at times."
Zero: "Only when it's used by someone it doesn't belong to! HAA!" He throws a blade-wave at Metal Sonic.
Metal Man (GM): He dodges, once again, unable to counter.
Metal Sonic: "What a way for you to eat your own words..."
Zero: "I haven't even gotten started yet..." The reploid grins a little.
Metal Man (GM): Metal Sonic tries to uppercut Zero with the hammer, electricity flowing through the attack. ...And by fly I meant try to dig his way through Saga.
Zero spins around Metal Sonic and rams his saber into his back. *CRITICAL HIT.*
Metal Man (GM): *EL CRITICAL.* Zero basically blasts the monstrosity away, onto the ground.
Zero then draws out his buster and starts charging. "Time to cut your miserable life short!"
Metal Sonic: "I underestimated you."
Nick Caligo (GM): He unleashes the fully charged buster shot on Metal Sonic/Copy Zero/Locos.
Metal Sonic: "But, I can't hang around to find out what you have planned... the data from the other Questers is needed!"
Metal Man (GM): Zero basically blows himself up. Zero is sent flying into the air. While this occurs, Metal Sonic gets the hell outta dodge.
Zero: "Damn it! Overcharged it..."
Metal Man (GM): However, the way to Wakatu is clear. An ornate bridge crosses a small pond, and then, there it is.
Zero: "Next time I see that liquid s**t, I'm going to clean his clock good..."
Nick Caligo (GM): He proceeds to Wakatu.
Metal Man (GM): Zero crosses the bridge, and, woohoo, he's caught up to the main group.