Super Smash Quest - Story - Chapter 279: Deceptive Computers
Date: 4:34:26 PM, June 3rd, 2006.
Garrick Fy`aar as we last left him, had snuck out during the celebrations that the Questers and Smashers had after the final battle with Kuja and The Void. Still carrying his busted up and completely drained armor, his dented and scuffed shield, his slightly dulling sword, and Metal's Plasma Axe, he headed for the long road west. His destination: Hyrule Town. There wasn't any other real place to go, and his one plan was to get his
*and his one plan was to get his weapons and armor cleaned and ready before he tried for his one true goal: To find the thing that would make him truly unique as a fighter.*
Metal Man (GM): Your destination isn't exactly the only real thing to go to, but it is a definitely real place.
You'd notice how neat the path is--almost like it was recently made.
Garrick Fy`aar: "...hm."
Metal Man (GM): You walk by Lon Lon ranch; it seems very peaceful, too.
Then you reach a fork in the road.
Garrick Fy`aar hefts his makeshift pack onto his back a little higher. He had to stuff his armor and his shield in there, his weapons in their sheathes and holsters along his back.
Metal Man (GM): One, which goes South, says 'Eisnaught'
The other direction, North says 'Thru Toad Town'
Garrick Fy`aar: "...hmmm."
*He pulls out the cloth map he got from Robotnik and looks it over. Which route was shortest?*
Metal Man (GM): Directly north of here, on the path.
The other way, south, is the wrong way.
It goes to Eisnaught.
Garrick Fy`aar: "...oh."
*He shrugs, rolls up the map, then heads north.*
Metal Man (GM): You head north. More and more field is here... one wonders how it stays so green.
You eventually pass the turnoff to Toad Town. This road has the occasional peddler and Toad walking on it.
Garrick Fy`aar: "...excuse me, sir?"
*He stops at one of the peddlers...*
Peddler: "Huh?"
Garrick Fy`aar: "You wouldn't happen to have a dark cloak for sale, wouldn't you? Nothing fancy."
Peddler: "No, sir. I have a crate of mushrooms."
Garrick Fy`aar: "Ahh. Well, do you know anyone who would?"
Peddler: "I'm on my way to Eisnaught to sell them to a delicatessen... and... no. But there is a relatively large market in Toad Town."
Garrick Fy`aar: "...that would be exactly what I'm trying to avoid. All I need is a way to not be so... easy to spot in the open."
Peddler: "Then you picked a rather bad road to walk on. At least fifty people would have seen you if you were just walking from Eisnaught to here."
Garrick Fy`aar: "Well, good thing I didn't walk from Eisnaught..."
Peddler: *Quirks a brow* "Then you either just entered the road or have been walking from Lon Lon ranch, which is actually worse. The milk trade is rather busy there."
Garrick Fy`aar: "Well, I suppose I'll make due. Thanks anyway.
Maybe I'll get lost in the crowd... heh..."
Peddler: "I have a route to take." *Walks off.*
Garrick Fy`aar keeps his head low and his backpack high to cover himself as much as he can. He also removes his jacket and stuffs it in the bag as well, moving quickly into Toad Town toward the marketplace. He's got to be quick.
Metal Man (GM): Indeed, he does. He heads into Toad Town, where the vast majority of Toad traders are.
Garrick Fy`aar quickly tries to spot one that might sell a cloak that would keep him hidden and out of sight...
Metal Man (GM): You find... nothing. Just a bunch of loud tradespeople.
They yell the name of their goods out, making anyone who moves near them rather out in the open.
Garrick Fy`aar gives it another glance over...
He growls and makes to get out of there. He'd have to make due without, sticking to the shadows. The last thing he wanted is some member of this new Nintendus government on his tail for some odd reason...
Metal Man (GM): You continue going north; a large variety of people see you, but nobody seems to care.
Garrick Fy`aar: .oO(I'd think they'd be all over me cause of my old Quester status... meh, all the better)
*He continues his trek north to Hyrule Town, his feet pumping down the road...*
Metal Man (GM): You eventually make it there, hot and sweaty. The castle drawbridge is down, however you can tell it's being watched by Hylian guards.
Garrick Fy`aar keeps his head down and makes his way in...
Metal Man (GM): You walk on in, to what you remember as being a ruined plaza. It has been rebuilt, and splendidly at that.
Garrick Fy`aar: "...hm."
*He continues his way in. He doesn't know if he's spotted, nor does his care, but his eyes move and glance around for the local blacksmith...*
Metal Man (GM): You discover a building with strange Hylian lettering on it... you can't tell exactly WHAT it is, though. The door's unlocked.
Garrick Fy`aar moves up to the door and knocks gently...
Metal Man (GM): No response; though the door, as always, can be opened.
Garrick Fy`aar goes ahead and opens it then...
Metal Man (GM): Hmmm...
You open up the door, and see something strange going on inside.
The door is open just a crack; you see in on something else...
???: "The Kuja Infantry have been scattered, but we will rise up again."
??2: "We must coordinate our people to rebuild what was once Kuja's for ourselves; even if our God is dead... we deserve it."
???: "Yes. Here is the secret code-paper." *Sound of ruffling paper* "That'll be it for now."
??2: "May Kuja bless you."
???: "Indeed." *Vanishes.*
??2 sits back in the middle of the so-called 'shop', hammering something.
Garrick Fy`aar gently closes the door silently, then knocks loudly.
??2: "Huh? Uhhh... come in!"
Garrick Fy`aar opens the door, keeping his head low. He walks inside and looks at this fellow...
Metal Man (GM): It's an average-sized man with gray clothing; his eyes are a dull green.
He's skinny, and hammers some steel while in front of a small furnace.
Garrick Fy`aar: "Excuse me, sir?"
Metal Man (GM): A tattoo on his shoulder can be seen; it's worn out, though, so it just looks like blurry, gray ink.
??2: "Hmmm?"
Garrick Fy`aar: "I'm looking for the local blacksmith. Do you happen to know where he or she is?"
??2: "You've been staring at one since you entered the door."
*He chuckles, with a rather raspy laughter.*
Garrick Fy`aar: "Oh really? Well, good. I've been looking for an experienced blacksmith for quite a few days, now."
??2: "What do you have in mind?"
Garrick Fy`aar makes his way closer to the man, shutting the door behind him.
??2: "Something secret, eh."
Garrick Fy`aar: "Oh, I was hoping to use your tools for a while. I need to make some repairs on my, stuff. Secret? No, no. I'm just not wanting to let the air out."
??2: "Oh... yes... my tools." *He wipes some sweat off of his brow.* "I have some basic ones you could use... but... the better quality ones are too special to be used by anyone but me. Not because I wouldn't take payment for them, though." *He coughs.*
Garrick Fy`aar: "Ehhh, that's just it... I have no money..."
??2: *He laughs again* "I have... ways... which you could pay. But you'd have to be willing to do some rather... unorthodox things."
Garrick Fy`aar moves over to the man's work area, looking over the tools he must have hanging there. He reaches up and takes a Square Bolt Hammer off the rack...
"Ahh, nothing like a good Ball Peen, huh?"
??2: "Nothing but the best, however basic it might be. I make plenty of money... mainly because I charge everyone in some way."
Garrick Fy`aar: "Right, right..."
*He replaces the hammer on the rack, then turns to the man, smiling broadly.*
Metal Man (GM): He makes a sly grin. In the light of the fire, you can see the dirty stubble on his chin. The flames are reflected off of the sweat in his forehead; and with the door closed, it feels much warmer in here.
Garrick Fy`aar: "But first, one thing..."
??2: "Without a thing, there would be no point in this discussion, now would there?"
Garrick Fy`aar moves faster than a blink. All those years of fighting has given him lightning fast reflexes to the drawing of weapons. His sword is out and the tip is at the man's throat before the ringing of the sword is completely heard.
"...where is the real blacksmith?"
Metal Man (GM): Your sword goes to his throat; he blocks it with a pauldron which has Kuja's logo on it... you couldn't see it, with his hands down there behind the desk.
Garrick Fy`aar smirks...
??2: "I am the real blacksmith... I made this with my own two hands, Quester."
Garrick Fy`aar: "Buzz. Sorry, wrong."
??2: "Only a Quester would attack me... because the other people, knowing my identity... would not matter. They hardly remember old Kuja there."
Garrick Fy`aar: "Who said anything about Kuja? I just want to know why you're an imposter?
You get the hammer name wrong, you're completely the wrong build for a blacksmith...
Me, I'm just a wandering stranger who needs to fix some things."
??2: "No, sir. You wish to know who I am... and you want my tools. Your clever tricks fail to notice... what I was intoning about advanced tools. That hammer hasn't so much as been touched."
Garrick Fy`aar: "Heh, so you got me there..."
Metal Man (GM): He lets out another round of laughter.
??2: "It is true, I am absentminded about the names, but there is no replacement for a toolmaster 5000."
Garrick Fy`aar: "...hmm."
??2: "Without which, Kuja's battles would have probably involved bare-handed men without a single bit of armor on their bodies."
Garrick Fy`aar: "Toolmaster 5000, eh?"
??2: "Oh, yes. It can hand-craft any weapon you've seen before... and then some. Made for a load 10 times the amount it gets these days... it'll last forever."
Metal Man (GM): You feel somewhat cold now, despite being in such a hot room. He stares blankly at you.
Garrick Fy`aar: "..."
.oO(What are you doing...)
"So, I take it you were some scientist in Kuja's operation, hmm?"
??2: *He laughs again* "No, you happened to have killed all of those."
Garrick Fy`aar: "Why do you keep assuming I'm a Quester? I'm just some guy who's taken advantage of some of the finer technology this planet has to offer."
??2: "Technology..." *He moves a finger across Garrick's armor with no concern for his hand* "...which was prominently featured on our security alerts before everything died."
Garrick Fy`aar: *The armor would buzz a bit, but not enough to hurt*
Metal Man (GM): You can see it now; this man appears to have been previously wounded in battle.
Garrick Fy`aar: "Still wrong. Not a Quester."
Metal Man (GM): His left arm sports a shiny silver hand.
??2: "You may hide your past identity... but it does not matter. To the Phoenixes, you are a marked man... if you are seen near our establishments again, we will... kill you."
Garrick Fy`aar: "The Phoenixes... planning on Kuja to rise from the ashes, do you?"
*He just looks the guy over... even WITH the damage, could Garrick beat him without his armor?*
??2: "A sort of theme, yes... we will strike the Questers in a way only you will know... their very lunches... poisoned."
Metal Man (GM): Knowledge: Kuja Infantry check.
You can tell this is a very dangerous man.
Several scars show he survived the uphill battle against both Ivan's infantry and chaotic people.
He survived despite his armor turning against him via Gerald's virus.
And he appears to have considerable rank from the past, judging upon the hand--most people weren't 'worthy' of such in Kuja's ranks.
The hand itself appears to be even more special in that it wasn't any old Magitek thing, but a complete metallic unit. Whatever he hits with it is likely to feel the pain.
But his true position within the Infantry evades you...
Also, you get the feeling he may have backup.
Garrick Fy`aar: "...heh."
*He slowly loses his tenseness, sheathing his sword.*
??2: "I will be a gentleman and let you leave... only a vast sum of coinage or outright betrayal of your past oaths could appease me now."
Garrick Fy`aar: "Heh. You're too kind."
Metal Man (GM): He holds his metallic hand up; it reflects the flames and shines... he crushes a granite rock on his desk into powder with it.
??2: "Next time, this will be... your skull."
Garrick Fy`aar: "You underestimate me... but, one last thing. What's you're name?"
??2: "John."
Metal Man (GM): He cackles a bit more.
Garrick Fy`aar: "...John. Heh. John Doe?"
John Portmanteau: "John Portmanteau."
Garrick Fy`aar: "Interesting last name."
John Portmanteau: "Don't forget it... or it may come back to haunt you."
Garrick Fy`aar: "Trust me, slick. I have a feeling we'll have a good fight sometime in the future. Now, if you'll excuse me."
Metal Man (GM): He idly draws things in the granite dust, ignoring you entirely.
Garrick Fy`aar steps backwards and leaves...
Metal Man (GM): You're back in the cool plaza now. Man, that guy was creepy.
Nowhere near as nice as Mack, plus he may or may not have a mob-like presence.
Garrick Fy`aar: "...alright, gotta try one more thing..."
*He turns and heads for the upper left portion of the town... toward the Temple of Time.*
Metal Man (GM): The Temple of Time has been recently rebuilt.
The entryway is open, though a number of monks in red robes are around.
Two stand by the entryway; two others are inside by the empty altar.
Two more guard a closed door of time.
Garrick Fy`aar slowly moves his way in. No chance of a blonde girl in a white and purple dress, is there?
Metal Man (GM): Nope.
Just monks in red robes.
Garrick Fy`aar: "...you guys are new."
Metal Man (GM): They bow serenely to you as you wander inside.
Monk1: "We are the order of the Triforce. We ensure it is to never be stolen again. What brings you to this most holy place?"
Garrick Fy`aar: "...hoping to find... guidance."
Monk1: "There are many ways for us to guide you... but most are looking for something specific."
Garrick Fy`aar: "...I'm looking... I'm looking for the power that was meant for me, if there is one."
Monk1: "That is something beyond our own training; for us, we ignore the self and tap into the power that is all. The pursuit of individual power is opposite to our training. As it is the way of the dark one."
Garrick Fy`aar: "...what do you mean, 'tap into the power that is all'?"
Monk1: "Instead of bettering ourselves singly, we all join together into our own order; we look similar and act similarly, and from this we become a whole which is greater than any single being."
Garrick Fy`aar stands there, shaking his head...
"...you know who I am and what I left behind, don't you?"
Monk1: "I know nothing; we, however, know a little. What you left is unknown, but you appear to be searching for something."
Garrick Fy`aar: "I... don't know what I'm searching for..."
Monk1: "That, then is your problem. Without direction... you go on the path of The Void."
Garrick Fy`aar: "My past... my future... my place... Then what IS my direction??"
Monk1: "Forward through time."
Garrick Fy`aar: "That's for Link, guy... I don't have the Master Sword and I don't have a time machine..."
Monk1: "Then why does time pass as we talk? You do not move as quickly, but you cannot stop time."
Garrick Fy`aar: "But... dah, you don't get it at all! I was useless..."
Monk1: "We do not get... we receive. You are only useless when you call yourself useless."
Garrick Fy`aar: "Everything I tired, I ended up going toward the the darkness. Evil. I don't WANT to do that... I want to find a path that leads me to something that's light..."
Monk1: "There was required darkness to bring order to the madness of the past. Now that that is over now, the darkness is also past."
Garrick Fy`aar: "In my profession, the darkness is NEVER past... It always looms in some form... some way..."
Monk1: "You do not appear to have a profession."
Garrick Fy`aar: "Of course I do, I'm a Que--..."
*He stops abruptly...*
Monk1: "A Quester who is here without a mission is equally without a profession as a drifter."
Garrick Fy`aar: "...I just want to be better. I want to be stronger.
I want to be able to hold my weight when it comes to the tough stuff."
Monk1: "Then stop calling yourself everything you hate. All of your problems... are caused by your own mind."
Garrick Fy`aar: "..."
*He sighs and runs his hand through his hair...
"...I left because I could do nothing... because every time I tried to help in a way that would make a difference, I was only helping darkness.
I was losing myself to it...
I don't want to do that... I know that there is something out there that could make things better.
...or someone."
*He slowly turns and stares off into one of the marble walls*
Monk1: "That is yourself."
Garrick Fy`aar stands there... then slowly nods...
"...yeah... it is, isn't it... heh, you don't know it, guy, but you just made a pretty good joke..."
Monk1: "One must be able to amuse oneself by standing still; it is of no surprise that my jokes are also decent."
Garrick Fy`aar: "Heh... I think I know where I need to go... ...you don't happen to have a cloak, do you? Brown?"
Monk1: "A large amount of brown robes are here."
Garrick Fy`aar: "That'll have to do... May I have one?"
Monk1: "We do not mind." *Bows, gives one to Garrick.*
Garrick Fy`aar takes the robe, wrapping it around himself...
"Thanks... what's your name, by the way?"
Monk1: "I am a monk. My name... does not matter. You may know me as left-door monk."
Garrick Fy`aar: "Left Door Monk, huh? Alright then... I'll be back here to talk to you some other time.
I'm sure you'll recognize me."
*He makes to shake his hand, then stops, chuckles, and bows to him.
* "See you later, LDM."
Monk1: "Indeed."
Metal Man (GM): Aaaand we must fade out here. 1. For dinner. 2. Long enough for now.
3. +500 EXP to Garrick.
Garrick Fy`aar turns and leaves the Temple of Time. He knows exactly where he needs to go, and exactly how to get there. He raises the hood of the cloak over his head, shoulders his pack, then leaves Hyrule Town... heading south... for the Great Desert. And the Gerudo.
Metal Man (GM): Quester Headquarters, Big Room
All interested Questers are in the Big room, where the mission selection machine (complete with buttons) has been finished.
It displays a 3d-ized map version of what is seen here.
http://archive.metalman88.com/MissionMap1.png
Julian Sawyer is conspicuously absent. In his place is a note that says "Meet you in Warp Room."
Metal Man (GM): Metal himself stands nearby, looking over it.
Kamui walks in to the room, looking around with his hand resting on the hilt of his rune dagger.
Digifanatic: *Is also not here... apparently he's taking this one off or something.*
Editor's Note: Ironically, by doing that, though, he gets to technically be counted as participating in this mission. Heh.
Trigger walks in looking a bit tired.
Dragoshi walks in to the room, and leans against the wall
Gibby yawns and slowly makes his way over to the Big room. "Another day, another... gold piece? Sure, why not."
Metal Man: "So then. Which mission are you guys going to take today?"
Aribar looks over the choices... Hrm..."
Metal Man: "We've got that same computer error, that same stowaway in the space station, the guy at the mercy of some psycho over stopping time, and then the ever-present and new mystery involving the Arctic."
Dragoshi looks at the choices as well.
Julian Sawyer: *Looking closer at the note, a Number seems to be hastily scribbled at the bottom with Julian's poor handwriting.* "2."
Metal Man looks at the handwriting. "Mission number 2 already has one vote for it, it seems."
Trigger: *Yawn* "Hmm, what was mission 2 again?"
Metal Man: "I can give you the text, in fact, I should say what the Arctic one says."
Kamui raises his free hand, bringing up two fingers.
Dragoshi: *Stowaway on a space station, Trigger.*
Aribar: *say* "Two seems the most important..."
Gibby: "Eh... doesn't matter to me."
Dragoshi moreso specifically, Gaia Defense Station.
Metal Man (GM): 2: Someone has snuck aboard the station. Find them and arrest them; they may or may not be packing weaponry.
Trigger: "Hmm, I like space let's do that one."
John (GM): The strange phantom drifts in through a wall, looking around at the gathering, knowing there must be potential for another battle brewing...
Metal Man (GM): 5: It appears a team sent out to explore some ruins down here has mysteriously disappeared. Go to the arctic and search for them!
Dragoshi: "...Huh. I'm doing the second mission as well."
Metal Man: "Quite a nasty bunch of circumstances, these days. What with all these people vanishing. Looks nearly like number 2 is unanimous.
Good way to have it. Of course, if someone objects, they're free to speak... or... uhhh... however we are to communicate with our ghostly friend."
Dragoshi: "...Sign language, maybe?"
*He shrugs. *
John (GM): The shade simply nods his head in agreement... And gives a thumb up for good measure.
Metal Man: "If you're going for number 2, it looks mostly straightforward. Some random bum's in quadrant 1, and they don't really like having stowaways on that space station. Mainly because... goodness."
*He holds up a paper with most of the specifics blotted out, and CONFIDENTIAL on it.*
Dragoshi: "...Arseload of weapons?"
Metal Man: "I don't even know what's on the station. Merely mention of high-powered... gardening experiments?"
Dragoshi: "Or some sort of stereotypical superweapon? ...Eh. I'll just keep my thoughts to myself"
Metal Man: "All the better we take a stowaway off of it, I guess. We don't want to find out what it's about the wrong way. Is everyone ready?"
Dragoshi: "Ready as I'll ever be."
Trigger: "I'm ready."
The Wraith nods.
Dragoshi materializes his helmet on.
Trigger loads a clip into his gun.
Aribar nods, ready... However, today he doesn't seem to be wearing his armor.
Kamui nods his head signaling he's ready to go.
Metal Man: "You may hire me if you desire; however, the price applies. ...We should get on the elevator and get to the warp room."
*He steps on the elevator in the center of the room, as always; the mission choice console goes into the floor.*
Kamui: *Nodding his head, he then runs on after Metal Man before pulling to a stop on the elevator and looks around blinking a few times. He then looks to Metal, then to the others.*
The Wraith drifts into the elevator shaft, choosing to be at least somewhat conventional this time...
Dragoshi: "...Armor... Check. Weapon... Check. Helmet... Check. Yeah, I've got everything ready." *Dragoshi then goes over to the elevator.*
Trigger walks into the elevator.
Gibby twitches and steps inside.
Metal Man (GM): The elevator rises up... you're in the warp room now.
Dr. Light is there.
Dr. Light: "Oh! Hello... I just finished adding the supercharger."
The Wraith nods courteously to the doctor, then tilts its head at the comment.
Dragoshi: "...Supercharger?"
Gibby: "Yo, Dr. Light."
Julian Sawyer's there too, Vendetta's hilt hanging from his belt and his fedora tilted low over his face.
Dr. Light: "Outer space is so far away... even with this, the Gaia Defense Station is about the only place we'll be able to teleport to all the way out there."
Dragoshi: "...Woah."
Aribar: "Ah... So it increases the distance the Warp Room can take us."
Julian Sawyer: "Zzzzzzz..."
Gibby: "Sounds good to me."
Dr. Light: "Which should be fine. No abnormal outer space objects have been detected; The Void's death took on out all of the Smithysats."
Metal Man: "Good riddance, those were always a pain."
Trigger smacks Julian to wake him up.
Dragoshi: "...Smithysats?"
Dr. Light: "Now... erm... be careful! That station is rumored to be full of secrets."
Kamui tilts his head to the side, looking slightly confused.
Metal Man (GM): Dr. Light walks out. "I have to supervise this, and only certain times of the day will it work for this range."
Metal Man: "Fire it up." *Stands aside.*
Gibby: "...secrets?"
Trigger: *Hmm...*
Julian Sawyer: *No response... You'd be a heavy sleeper too if you stayed up all night and most of the day.*
Dragoshi: "...Can villains come up with names for their crap that DON'T sound unoriginal!? I mean, come ON, Smithysats!?"
Metal Man (GM): The warp machines power up. It's a bit slower this time.
Dragoshi then calms down.
The Wraith just smirks and (silently) cracks its knuckles as it drifts over to the warp machine.
Trigger: "Yeah, you gotta point there."
Metal Man (GM): Rmmmmm... rmmm... rmm rmm rmm rmm RMMM!!! *FLASH.*
Dragoshi: "...right, right."
Metal Man (GM): You feel, for a few moments, as if you're flying through a world made out of white styrofoam.
Then you reappear out inside a cold, metallic room.
It's the space station.
Dragoshi: "...Woah. Are we inside a styrofoam cup? ...Wait. Nevermind."
Metal Man (GM): You can see you are on the outskirts of Sector 1. An LED message is projected near the top of the ceiling.
Julian Sawyer , who was previously leaning against the wall, falls backwards and pratfalls, getting a rude awakening "ZzzGAH!"
Dragoshi: "...Huh."
Computer: Welcome to Gaia Defense Station
Dragoshi looks up at the ceiling.
Kamui looks around, blinking a few times and tilts his head to the side, he then looks towards Dragoshi, giving a questioning look.
Trigger: "Well, I guess we are here."
The Wraith briefly glances up at the message, then looks around at their surroundings...
Metal Man (GM): It then points arrows, showing you should go... to your left. (You're facing towards the inside of a cylindrical-shaped area.)
You can see out regularly space portholes in your area... Nintendus is down below.
You're above Eisnaught, in outer space.
It is rather quiet here.
Gibby: "Ah, space... the no-so-final frontier."
Julian Sawyer: "...Last time I do that..." *Julian gets up off the floor and tilts his fedora back up, revealing some shadows under his eyes and his dreads are slightly frayed.* "Mmh... What's goin' on?"
Metal Man (GM): There's doors which lead deeper inside this sector... but the doors are locked shut.
Dragoshi: "...Yes. Quite."
Kamui looks towards Gibby, then chuckles softly.
Dragoshi: "We're on a mission Namely taking care of the stowaway on this Defense Station."
The Wraith silently drifts in the direction that the arrow is pointing, simply trusting that the others will soon follow...
Metal Man (GM): You feel... watched... as you walk.
Gibby follows the others hoping they meet someone soon.
Metal Man (GM): Your footsteps clank on the metal ground.
Aribar mutters, "Now, if I was a stowaway where would I hide?" and continues on.
Dragoshi walks follows the others.
Julian Sawyer: "Picked that one..." *Left side!*
Kamui looks around, blinking a few times as he walks on after Wraith, his hands sliding in his pockets.
Trigger begins to follow the others.
Metal Man (GM): The walkway curves to the right... space makes direction difficult, doesn't it?
Gibby: "And me without a map..."
Metal Man (GM): You then reach... a massive door which, to you, goes to the left of your current position.
You're on the other side of the sector... these sectors are pretty small.
Julian Sawyer's stumbling a bit and moving slowly. Apparently his still isn't fully away.
Metal Man (GM): The LED message changes; it's been following you.
The Wraith starts rotating slowly as he drifts forward through the walkway, until he ends up upside-down just before it reaches the door...
Julian Sawyer: *Yeah. That.*
Dragoshi: "..."
Julian Sawyer: "...Woah."
Metal Man (GM): Unknown intruder is down this way. Please be quick in your transit across the inter-sector bridge.
Gibby: "Cool!"
Dragoshi sees the message.. .oO(Bloody stalker)
"...Heh. Thanks for the info."
Gibby: "Intruder? Wonder who that could be..."
Trigger: "Let's kill it dead!"
Metal Man (GM): The huge, square bulkhead hisses open, as a massive walkway suspended in space can be seen.
Julian Sawyer: *Smacks Trigger* "We ain't supposed to kill 'em. Jus' arrest 'em..."
Metal Man (GM): It's like a massive straightaway, just large enough for you to walk in.
Dragoshi: "...Woah. Just like the ARK. ...I think."
Metal Man (GM): Windows to the ceiling... floor... and walls make it disorienting.
The Wraith holds up one hand to the others in the group, signaling to wait as it drifts forward again...
Trigger: "Aww man."
Metal Man (GM): In the walkway, of course. In the sector, it seems normal.
Dragoshi follows
Gibby shakes his head to all the confusion.
Julian Sawyer: *Walks across* "...Man, you ain't even been here a week and you talkin' like you know everythin'..."
Metal Man (GM): The walkway is about 200 feet long.
Gibby walks across slowly, making sure there are people in front and behind him.
Metal Man (GM): You walk on into it; the air smells somewhat stale. Your feet clank even more; every word echoes about a hundred times.
Kamui: *Blinking a few times, his nose begins to twitch softly. Sudden he takes a sharp inhale and sneezes silently.*
Trigger: *Follows Julian* "Well, I'm always kinda like that."
The Wraith glances back, seeing them following anyway, and just shrugs, continuing...
Aribar: *nick Aribar.*
Julian Sawyer: "Wasn' talkin' to you..."
Metal Man (GM): The LED floats and, mid-air, begins describing things to you.
Gibby: "Hello!" *He tries to echo his voice. *
Metal Man (GM): A man was accidentally beamed up the space elevator.
Julian Sawyer: "Tha's what, the 4th time I told you that? You gotta stop actin' like you the center of attention."
Metal Man (GM): Gibby gets a reply back... his own voice.
Gibby: "Heh... I love doing that."
Metal Man (GM): He, upon reaching here, became irrational.
Dragoshi: "Heh."
Trigger gives Julian a blank expression.
Metal Man (GM): ...He ran from where you beamed up down this way... you took about a day, though, so he kept on running about.
The Wraith looks at Gibby, and smirks, letting out some strange rasping sound that must be some sort of chuckle...
Julian Sawyer: "Yeah, like that."
Metal Man (GM): You are the only people with security clearance to this area.
And yet... I cannot show you anything deeper than the walkways.
Dragoshi: "...Ah."
Julian Sawyer: "...Wait, what's so secret back here that we the only ones that can get to it?"
Gibby: "Why not? We should be allowed!"
Dragoshi: "I can understand that, since you want to keep things a secret."
Trigger: "Hmm..."
Metal Man (GM): You finally march across the endless path. Another door hisses open, revealing a far larger area... it's like a massive 20-story cube.
You're in the middle of it... the only floor anyone is apparently allowed on.
Floor 0.
Dragoshi: "...I swear, if it's something as stereotypical as a superbeing or superweapon or any other stereotypical thing you find in a space station, I'll be agitated."
Julian Sawyer: "Stupid floatin' words... ain't answering my question..."
Metal Man (GM): This area appears to be made for human occupation, but it isn't inhabited.
Dragoshi: "...Record crowd."
Gibby: "Kinda creepy if you ask me."
Metal Man (GM): Listen checks, everyone.
Trigger: "Yeah."
Julian Sawyer: "Look, hush you' mouth so we can get this done. Ain't got time for sarcastic comments..."
Kamui tilts his head to the side, wondering how it became so silent.
Metal Man (GM): It is somewhat easy to hear in here... but your own talking makes it a little harder to hear.
Anyone who I didn't notice heard nothing unusual.
Trigger: "What was that noise?"
Metal Man (GM): You may go left or right here.
Dragoshi: "...What the frawk was that noise?"
Gibby: "Huh? What noise?"
Julian Sawyer: "What -CENSORED- noise?"
The Wraith turns around and tilts its head curiously at Trigger and Dragoshi...
Dragoshi: "Shush. Footsteps."
Trigger: "I guess I was just hearing things, sorry."
Kamui shrugs his shoulders, then goes on to the right.
Julian Sawyer: "Which way'd they come from?"
Metal Man (GM): Left goes across the left side... to the right goes the bottom. Kamui begins walking off to the right.
Dragoshi: "...I KNOW I wasn't hearing things... Bleh. Oh well"
Gibby: "Wait! Shouldn't we... ah well." *He shrugs and follows Kamui.*
Metal Man (GM): Semi-pause on him; until the others pick a direction.
Gibby follows after him.
Julian Sawyer: "Which way'd you hear 'em from?"
The Wraith shakes its head and drifts toward Dragoshi some more (though still comfortably distant), seeming to be interested...
Dragoshi: "Now, if I could only tell which direction those footsteps came from..."
Trigger goes in the left direction.
Julian Sawyer: "..."
Metal Man (GM): That leaves Julian, Dragoshi, and John to pick sides.
The Wraith narrows its eyes, turns around and starts searching for anything that may be of interest or suspicious...
Julian Sawyer: *Facepalm* "The words said the intruder was on the lower levels... but I'll be damned if I'm gonna listen to somethin' that won't answer me." *Heads left.*
Metal Man (GM): Wraith: Search check.
Dragoshi looks at the Wraith. "Huh. Do you see anything... Odd?"
The Wraith narrows its eyes again as it spots something... It drifts down a ways on the right path, and lowers itself, inspecting something on the floor... It then backs away casually, unable to touch it.
Kamui: *He stops in his tracks, looking towards the ethereal creature.*
Metal Man (GM): Still semi-paused on people who took paths... John and Dragoshi have to decide first.
Dragoshi: "...Huh. Think we should go right?"
The Wraith then nods slowly and moves on down that same path...
Dragoshi goes down the right path, and follows the Wraith.
The Wraith points at where it was looking before moving away from it, though.
Metal Man (GM): And Aribar can pick a path... nice and quickly?
Dragoshi looks at what the Wraith is pointing at.
Aribar follows after Julian and company on the left path.
Metal Man (GM): It's a broken shoelace.
Okay...
LEFT PATH
The three on the left path run down it.
It's a ghost town.
They run... and run... but nothing seems to be there.
Even though Trigger heard a noise off to the right, he ran... left...
Aribar: "You'd think there would be people on this thing..."
Trigger: "Yeah."
Metal Man (GM): You're heading towards the intersection which turns to the top of the square.
Do you lefties continue up to there?
Julian Sawyer: "You'd think that'd intruder'd know we comin' after him and head in the opposite direction..."
*Yup.*
Trigger: "...what?"
Aribar continues to run up there.
Metal Man (GM): Meanwhile...
RIGHT PATH
The far larger parade encounters... an unkempt man in a trenchcoat. He looks at you all as if you're monsters.
Dragoshi picks up the shoelace and analyzes it with his Scan Visor, hoping to get info on who this belonged to.
Metal Man (GM): ???: "...Stay... stay away!"
Gibby: "Who are you?"
Metal Man (GM): The shoelace matches his shoes.
Dragoshi: "...Eh."
The Wraith folds its arms calmly and tilts its head to the side as it looks this... person over.
Dragoshi tosses the shoelace away.
Metal Man (GM): ???: "That computer... it's a monster! You're monsters! Everyone! Monsters!"
He takes off running.
Dragoshi: *He then looks at the man.*
Gibby: "Hey--wait!"
Dragoshi: "Yep. ...His sanity meter's at 0."
Gibby runs after him.
Metal Man (GM): An unshaven man in his 30's with black hair and a brown trenchcoat.
Dragoshi: "Possibly even a -10."
Metal Man (GM): You chase him up into the next segment.
LEFT PATH
The Wraith pursues, taking 'shortcuts' via flying whenever possible.
Metal Man (GM): The lefties... on the other hand... are now walking down the top of the square.
They'd hear yelling up ahead.
???: "Monsters! Ahhhhhh!!!!"
Julian Sawyer: "..."
Kamui raises an eyebrow, tilting his head to the side not saying anything about what the man said. He just stood there, before running after him.
Aribar: "Eh?" *The elf unsheaths Moonlight and starts ahead a little bit faster, thinking someone is in trouble.*
Julian Sawyer: "Sounds like our man..." *Julian heads towards the voice.*
Metal Man (GM): BOTH
Trigger follow Julian.
Aribar: "Or someone about to be attacked!"
Metal Man (GM): You all are running towards him.
He's cornered... literally.
Julian Sawyer: "Got you now!"
Metal Man (GM): People come from the right side of the square, and the smaller group has him at the top branch.
Trigger: "Mister, whats your problem?"
Dragoshi: "...Quite. We've got our intruder cornered."
Metal Man (GM): He stares, wide-eyed, and then runs up to a sealed door and starts banging on it.
Gibby: "Calm down... we want to help!"
Metal Man (GM): The LED stuff appears around him.
Julian Sawyer: "Don' s'pose you'd do the smart thing an' surrender 'fore we bust you up."
Metal Man (GM): I wouldn't do that if I were you...
Aribar starts slowing down. "Who are you?"
Julian Sawyer: "...I thought you couldn't get in here."
Gibby: "...Smooth."
The Wraith is likely to fall somewhat behind the others of the group due to its lack of speed, but it lifts up a bit to float over their heads and toward the man...
Trigger: "Idiot."
Dragoshi: "...What he sai-Okay... What?"
???: "Gah! Gah!" *He looks at John and takes off running towards Julian* "Ghost monster!!!"
Kamui: *The silent one tilts his head to the side, not knowing what to do here. He just keeps his space from the man, before he then runs over and tries to grab the man and pull him away.*
Julian Sawyer tries clotheslining him and taking him down.
Metal Man (GM): Roll a generic close-range attack check. And... Julian, too.
Julian Sawyer: *WHAPAPOW!*
Gibby raises an eyebrow and looks over at the ghost. "Oh yeah... that guy kinda DOES look like a ghost."
Metal Man (GM): Julian knocks him over cleanly, and Kamui hits a wall with his fist.
???: "Gahhh! Ow." *Passes out.*
Aribar sheaths the shortsword and looks at the crazed man like he's insane.
Dragoshi walks over to the man.
Gibby: "...Did you really HAVE to do that?"
Trigger: "Nice miss Kamui."
Julian Sawyer picks him up by the collar and throws him over his shoulder "We done here."
The Wraith just smirks, amused at the reaction... And 'chuckles' again at Gibby's comment.
Kamui draws his hand back, blinking a few times looking over to Trigger then gives an embarrassed smile.
Metal Man (GM): Thank you... but... I have more to say.
Aribar: "This was easy... Why did he call us monsters, though?"
Julian Sawyer: "An' yeah, I did. Otherwise we'd have some kinda chase sequence on our hands."
Dragoshi: "...Okay. Out with it, Quite. And, I bloody hate chase sequences."
Gibby: "You would..."
Metal Man (GM): A hologram projector appears out of the floor. A strange figure emerges from it... it looks like a computer program.
Julian Sawyer: "An' I thought YOU couldn' get in here. What's the deal?"
Metal Man (GM): http://archive.metalman88.com/GUNICARD.png
Kamui: *Looking over towards the holographic projection, Kamui tilts his head to the side.*
Gunicard E-Light: "...I am the Gunicard E-Light series automated space station maintenance program."
Gibby: "Uhh... hi?"
The Wraith glances to the readout whenever it changes, but its dark eyes are frequently lurking around at its surroundings...
Kamui waves his hand softly.
Trigger: "Wow. A talking card."
Julian Sawyer: "...Yo' point? This sucka sabotage somethin' we gotta take care of?"
Metal Man (GM): Wraith: You'd see sealed up doors leading into the middle of this sector, which reminds you of a massive base of sorts.
Dragoshi: "...Huh."
Trigger: "What?"
Gunicard E-Light: "...My job is to protect the secret of this place, behave ethically, and be as useful as possible to those aboard."
Gibby: "So... will you be of use to us and tell us the secret?"
Dragoshi: "Ah."
Gunicard E-Light: "...This was a relatively easy mission, I must admit... but it wasn't exactly why I brought you up here. Secret? ..."
Dragoshi: "...Gibby. Tha-...Yes, secret."
Julian Sawyer: "So what's the plan? What'chu got hidin'?"
Metal Man (GM): The image distorts a bit. Then again. And again.
Dragoshi: "...What's wrong?"
Gibby: "...Something I said?"
The Wraith: *Another raspy chuckle as it glances to Gibby, then to the image...*
Gunicard E-Light: "Program conflict 2. Unable to serve all goals. Bzzt. Heap overflow."
Aribar: "Does this guy screaming, 'monsters!' have anything to do with it?"
Metal Man (GM): It smooths out.
Kamui: *He tilts his head to the side, then yawns softly before watching the hologram begin to bug out.*
Dragoshi: "Gaw dammet, Gibby."
Gunicard E-Light: "...Sorry about that... asking me about the secret is a bit dangerous."
Aribar narrows his eyes and wonders what that little blurb was.
Gibby: "Oh... sorry."
Dragoshi: "You made the guy paradox himself. Or itself.
...Whatever, really."
Trigger: "...wha?"
Gunicard E-Light: "The guy was screaming monsters because of a mental condition he has."
Julian Sawyer: "So why the hell you bring us up here? I done asked this 3 times and haven't gotten a response!"
Dragoshi: "...Dementia?"
Gunicard E-Light: "..." *Distorts a bit more at Julian's request* "I... can't... really... tell you... that..."
Gibby: "We should be careful... the thing's fragile with certain information."
Julian Sawyer: "So why you talkin' to us if you can't tell us anythin'?!"
The Wraith drifts by in front of Julian, casually wagging a finger at him...
Kamui grows a small sweat drop on the back of his head at the Gunicard.
Dragoshi: "..."
Gunicard E-Light: "Bzt. There is a problem in the station. I need your help."
Gibby: "What kind of problem?"
Dragoshi: "What's the problem?"
Julian Sawyer: "So -CENSORED- tell us!"
Gibby wishes he had a bar of soap right about now.
Gunicard E-Light: "...Telling you that is acceptable."
Gibby: "That's good..."
Dragoshi wishes he had a can of soap soup
Gunicard E-Light: "...There is an error... caused by a damaged unit in Sector 3."
Dragoshi: "Quite."
Gunicard E-Light: "...But I cannot tell you what it is."
Julian Sawyer: "So where's Sector 3?"
Gibby: "Why not?"
Gunicard E-Light: "Here."
Dragoshi: "...Any shortcuts to get there?"
Julian Sawyer: "...So where's the damage?"
Metal Man (GM): The thing projects a map... which, neatly, fits up with its own appearance.
The Wraith tilts its head to the side, lofting an eyebrow...
Aribar: "So we have to fix something we know nothing about. Aren't there people who work here to keep this place up and running?"
Kamui would moves his hands around in strange symbols, almost like sign language.
Metal Man (GM): Sector 3 is in a door right in the corridor behind you. "...I am the person who does that."
Gibby: "Well... it looks close enough."
Julian Sawyer downloads the map onto his Dex if he can.
Metal Man (GM): You do so.
Dragoshi: "Quite."
Aribar: "I meant people who can physically work with things like this..."
Kamui downloads the map on his dex as well.
The Wraith starts drifting slowly toward that door, still facing the image.
Dragoshi downloads the map onto his Scan Visor8
Gunicard E-Light: "...I cannot replace it by myself for some reason. You are the only ones with security clearance. Place this tube into Sector 3's holding device. That is all."
Gibby looks over to the ghost dude and starts following him. "Hey wait up!"
Julian Sawyer: "So we jus' go in, fix the damage, an' take out the bot? Easy."
Aribar: "Who owns this thing?"
Trigger: "What thing?"
Aribar: "This entire space... Satellite... Thing."
Dragoshi: "...Either the APN, or some other organization, is my guess."
Metal Man (GM): A tube appears out of nowhere... it's full of something. "This satellite is owned by the APN."
Julian Sawyer takes the Tube.
Aribar steps back from said tube.
The Wraith smirks almost in a friendly way to Gibby as he approaches, arms still folded.
Dragoshi: "...Thought so."
Julian Sawyer: "You." *Motions for Trigger to come over.*
Metal Man (GM): The door to Sector 3 depressurizes and opens, revealing a similar catwalk to Sector 3.
Trigger follows after Julian.
Gibby smiles back and looks over at the opened door.
Dragoshi follows the others.
Kamui would follow on after, and begins crossing the catwalk.
Gibby: "Looks like we go in there..." *He steps inside and starts walking. *
Julian Sawyer: "Take him." *Dumps the intruder's body onto Trigger, then heads to Sector 3*
Aribar: "I can't believe that the APN would have such lousy security and maintenance."
Metal Man (GM): The hologram watches you as you leave.
Trigger: "Ok."
Gunicard E-Light: "Good luck." *Vanish.*
Aribar follows the others. "I think I can revive him. Perhaps we can talk a bit of sense into him."
Metal Man (GM): You walk, dragging the intruder and the tube.
The Wraith reaches into the shadowy tendrils of its own chest and procures a small, equally shadowy stone as it turns around and starts heading down that corridor...
Gibby: "But doesn't he have a mental problem? I don't think it'll be that easy."
Julian Sawyer: "Ari, don't. We gonna have a lot less trouble if he don't wake up."
Trigger: "Man, he's heavy."
Dragoshi: "Talk sense into a guy with a mental problem? What are you, nuts?"
Aribar: "Well, sooner or later he's going to wake up anyways. And you don't know until you try."
Metal Man (GM): You're half-way there.
Julian Sawyer: "So then we knock him out again."
Metal Man (GM): This place continues to creep you out.
Gibby: "That seems a bit rash..."
Julian Sawyer: "An' we ain't gonna try NOTHIN' 'till we get back to HQ. Hear?"
Dragoshi: "...Eh."
Metal Man (GM): A lone, unstable computer monitoring an unknown, empty facility.
Trigger: "We could heave him into space, I mean who's gonna miss a psycho?"
Gibby: "Yes master of the entire freakin' universe..."
Kamui was walking along after the others, holding his dex in hand and playing a small solitaire game on it, making sure he didn't walk in to anything from time to time.
Julian Sawyer: "'Cause we gotta bring him back ALIVE."
The Wraith looks around, keeping an eye out for seemingly broken or missing parts...
Aribar mutters a, "Yes, Julian..."
Metal Man (GM): You see... absolutely nothing broken. In fact, it's all brand-new.
Gibby: "...So what's broken?"
Metal Man (GM): 3/4th now. Geez, that tube is heavy.
Julian Sawyer: "Somethin' in Sector 3."
The Wraith strokes its chin as it drifts along, letting out a strange, low mrrrr'ing sound... It shakes its head.
Gibby: "Hmm... but the whole place looks so... new."
Trigger: "Whats up with that?"
Metal Man (GM): You reach the door, which opens... revealing Sector 3, which is another cylinder-thing.
However, a single door opens up, revealing some sort of core area.
Julian Sawyer: "That's 'cause that wasn't Sector 3."
Trigger: "Finally, we're here."
Metal Man (GM): A lot of computer stuff is in here... plus a tube-shaped place to insert the tube.
Gibby: "Boy, walking around here all the time, you GOTTA be in good shape." *He wipes the sweat from his forehead. *
Aribar looks up at the ghostly wraith from time to time, not sure what to think of it. As he enters Sector 3 he looks around and says, "I hope one of you are better with electronics than I am."
The Wraith nods to Gibby, eyes somewhat narrowed as it continues, drifting just a bit faster with the intent of taking point on the others...
Julian Sawyer: "Must be some kinda energy tube or somethin'..." *Goes to place the Tube in the Tube-Shaped Place.*
Metal Man (GM): A status indicator is next to it, which says... 'Tube3: EMPTY' is there. It has a green circle next to it.
You place it on in. It is accepted.
Gibby: "...That's it?"
Trigger: "How anti-climatic."
Julian Sawyer: "We still gotta find the bot that did this, I think."
Gibby: "I thought we'd have to fight some big robot monster or something!"
Metal Man (GM): Everyone: Roll a 'luck' check.
The Wraith eyes the tube for a moment, then looks around for any strange activity...
Metal Man (GM): Also: John, search check.
You all see the green light flicker and then change to a smiley face.
Roll a d20+2, then, Dragoshi.
Julian Sawyer: "Bet there's gonna be somethin' bustin' in to attack us sometime soon..."
Metal Man (GM): Nothin'.
Green text appears.
Thank you. That is all I need for now. You may exit inner sector 3.
Gibby: "...What a rip off!"
*He grumbles.*
Metal Man (GM): I will ensure you are paid the amount for an average mission.
The Wraith stares curiously at the smiley face light for a moment...
Julian Sawyer: "Man, I wanna get this over with so I can get some SLEEP."
Trigger: "Hah, I knew nothing bad was gonna happen."
Gibby: "This stinks..."
Metal Man (GM): The man begins to stir a little. He mumbles.
???: "Monsters... monsters everywhere... argh..."
Gibby looks over to the man.
Trigger: "Hmm?"
Gibby: "He's coming to."
Julian Sawyer: "It's an' easy mission, I'll take it..." *Walks over to the man and smashes him on the back of the head.*
Trigger looks at the man.
Kamui looks down at the man, then pet's his head lightly as if the man was a dog or something.
Metal Man (GM): He's KO'd.
Julian Sawyer: "Uh-uh! You ain't wakin' up till we get back."
Metal Man (GM): ???: "Mon... co... zz..."
Aribar: "It's too easy... And so much for him coming to."
Dragoshi: "God dammit, Julian."
The Wraith glances at the man, and drifts up a bit to inspect that light more closely...
Gibby: "...Your mother never hugged you often did she?"
Metal Man (GM): Another search check, Wraith.
Trigger: "..."
Dragoshi also inspects the light a little more closely.
Aribar starts back towards their entrance point. He's wondering why this station is empty, how that man could get onto this ship, and why his couldn't have been easily repaired.
Metal Man (GM): Green text shows around Aribar.
Gibby sighs and follows Ari back mumbling to himself.
Metal Man (GM): No need to go back there. You can warp off in Sector 3.
The Wraith eyes it curiously for a moment, then drifts away... It then turns around, and drifts back toward the group...
Julian Sawyer: "Go to hell, I'm tired."
Dragoshi looks at Wraith. "...Do you think there's something suspicious?"
Aribar: "Ah. Thank you, appearing green text." *He enters the room again.*
The Wraith glances to Dragoshi and holds up a thumb and forefinger close together.
Gibby shrugs and goes back into the room.
Trigger follows Gibby.
Dragoshi nods.
Julian Sawyer: *Comms base* "Yo, Mets. Mission accomplished, an' we bringing the guy back."
Gibby: "Where are we going to keep him?"
comms: "Affirmative. We have the warp set up."
Metal Man (GM): A green text appears once more.
Julian Sawyer: "Brig."
Dragoshi: "...Obviously."
Trigger: "...duh."
Metal Man (GM): Once again, thank you for your work... will that be it for now?
Kamui looks towards the green text, then raises his hand as if having a question.
Gibby: "Oh, right..." *So he's rusty with the headquarters a little...*
Aribar hesitates for a moment. "Wouldn't you ask us that, not vice versa?"
The Wraith looks at the text with narrowed eyes... but shakes its head.
Metal Man (GM): What sort of question do you have?
Dragoshi looks at the text suspiciously, then looks away.
Kamui begins motioning his hands around, speaking in some odd sign language
Dragoshi: .oO(...I 'ave a baaaaad feeling about this... Oh well.)
Metal Man (GM): There are no food provisions on board that I can access yet.
Julian Sawyer: "..."
Kamui blinks a few times, then shrugs his shoulders.
Gibby: "That's a shame..." *His belly grumbles a little.*
Metal Man (GM): The warp home is ready. *A white portal appears off to the left*
Julian Sawyer: "You can eat at base." *Heads into the portal.*
Trigger enters the portal.
Aribar enters the portal. He wants to get back home and in contact with Metal or the APN...
Gibby: "I suppose... what a disappointing day..." *He goes into the portal. *
Thank you.: *With that, he goes over towards and in to the portal.*
Metal Man (GM): *WARP* *WARP* *WARP WARP.*
The Wraith wasn't looking at Kamui at that moment, so missed a chance to facepalm. It then slowly drifts toward the portal... Eyeing it with suspicion as always, but if finding nothing alarming, goes right on in.
Julian Sawyer: "We didn' get shot at or nothin'. Seems like a great day to me."
Editor's Note: Man, if this version of Julian was in SSQ^2, I don't think he woulda had any problems at all...
Gibby: "But it was boooooring."
Trigger: "Yea."
Dragoshi glances around with suspicion, then enters the portal
Metal Man (GM): You all exit. You fly through the styrofoam world again.
Julian Sawyer: "Big mutha-CENSORED- deal. You want excitement, fight eachother."
Metal Man (GM): You begin to wonder why you are flying through it when you warp, but soon land back at HQ.
Gibby: "Bah..."
Metal Man (GM): The man is in Julian's hands... he begins to stir again.
Julian Sawyer: "...What the..."
Dragoshi: "...I still have my suspicions... Oh well."
Aribar: "Don't KO him again."
???: "...Land... land... yes... thank you."
Trigger: "Whats that guy's problem?"
Aribar: "We're back now."
???: "Away from the... monsters..."
Gibby: "Looks like it."
Julian Sawyer: "I'm takin' you to Metal..." *Heads to Metal's office.*
Kamui walks on through the HQ, making his way to get the pay check.
Aribar follows Julian.
Metal Man (GM): He gets up, brushing himself off as you... err... push him around.
The Wraith drifts somewhat away from the group, arms folded, and turns to look at the man in Julian's arms...
Metal Man (GM): MISSION COMPLETED: 10,000 coins
Trigger follows Julian.
Aribar: "Sir, can you tell us what you're talking about? Monsters on the space satell... Thing?"
Metal Man (GM): +1000 EXP
???: "..." *Snaps out of his concussion-induced daze* "What am I doing down here?"
Gibby makes his way over to the kitchen. He needed something to eat FAST.
???: "...What? But... then who's maintaining the satellite?"
Aribar: "We were sent to get a stowaway off of a space station thingy up in space... Ah! I knew it!"
???: "Stowaway?"
Julian Sawyer: "Some program."
Aribar: "YOU maintain the station, huh?"
???: "...Where did these dirty clothes come from?"
Dragoshi leans against the wall. "...So, that Gunicard was a faker?"
The Wraith lets out something of a growling noise as it eyes him, and nods...
??? brushes off his cloak.
"Fake... no... he can't be faked. We made sure of that."
Julian Sawyer: "...Oh GODDAMMIT! Do NOT tell me we just got fooled."
Trigger: "You don't think that maybe the program was the stowaway?"
???: "...All I remember was being overwhelmed by some sort of hallucinations while aboard. I had just asked Gunicard what its purpose was."
Dragoshi: "...It's always a possibility, dude."
Julian Sawyer: "It's a friggin' program!"
???: "I forget what it said... whatever it did left me dazed all the way until now."
Trigger: "It could have been hacked."
The Wraith shakes its head at Trigger, and looks at the man again, listening to each word he says...
???: "...What... wait... you were... moving something."
Dragoshi: "...That little... If we ever go up there again, I am going to defrag it... PAINFULLY."
Aribar: "So it drugged you because you accidentally asked it about its secret..."
???: "What... exactly... did you move?"
Aribar: "A tube of energy."
???: "..."
Metal Man (GM): He nearly faints.
Julian Sawyer: "We placed it in some kinda container... What? What'd I do now?"
???: "...That was... a nuclear warhead..."
The Wraith raises an eyebrow, a look of anger growing on its face...
Dragoshi: "...Should we go ba-WHAT!?"
Gibby steps back out eating a ham sandwich. He notices everyone surrounding the mental guy. He takes another bite and listens in.
Aribar: "...This would be both a good and bad time for saying this; I KNEW IT!"
Gibby: "What I miss?"
Julian Sawyer: "...Son of a -CENSORED-!" *Julian immediately drops the man and dashes for the Warp Room.*
Trigger: "..."
The Wraith throws a punch through the air as it turns to the side...
Dragoshi: "...MY SUSPICIONS WERE RIGHT!"
???: "It's too late."
Gibby is confused.
Dragoshi follows Julian, but stops.
???: "It will be two days before it is in range to get to again."
Trigger: "Oh god you don't mean?"
Aribar: "...What can we do to prevent it from being launched?"
Dragoshi: "...Yes. What?"
???: "Oh... that... don't worry yet. They are to only be launched when the APN is in trouble."
Gibby puts the sandwich away for later. Looks like something serious just happened.
Dragoshi: "...Ah."
???: "I don't know what type. However... Gunicard doesn't seem very stable."
Julian Sawyer: "...So what constitutes as it bein' in trouble?"
???: "...I don't know... they won't tell even me. And I lived there while it worked."
Aribar: "We should disarm it in any case."
???: "...That would constitute as 'trouble', actually..."
Julian Sawyer: "Son of a -CENSORED-." *Punches a wall out of anger.*
Trigger: "Hmm, how do we disarm it anyway?"
Aribar: "Let's explain this to Metal and see what he thinks."
???: "I don't know... remember, I was trying to find out what this was about when I asked it that."
Dragoshi: "Quite."
Julian Sawyer: "We disarm it, it -CENSORED- launches!"
Gibby: "I agree!"
The Wraith looks around for Metal, Light, or some other personnel of HQ...
Dragoshi: "...I'll go deliver the report."
Metal Man (GM): Metal wanders in.
Aribar: "Metal, we've been at least partially had."
Dragoshi: "Metal. Just the man I needed to see."
Gibby: "Hey Metal! We got a problem!"
Metal Man: "...Huh... why is that stowaway wearing a lab coat? Is it Wily?"
Dragoshi: "We've been partially had"
Julian Sawyer: "Mets, we in trouble."
??? throws off a dirty trenchcoat, revealing a lab coat.
Metal Man: "...What kind of trouble?"
Dragoshi: "A Gunicard gave us a tube to put into a machine."
The Wraith turns to face Metal, and shakes its head... It taps its throat and passes a hand inquiringly toward Metal...
Dragoshi: "The tube was a nuclear warhead."
Julian Sawyer: "'Parently some unstable AI up in Gaia tricked us into knockin' this guy out and armin' a nuclear warhead!"
Gibby: "Yeah... what they said."
???: "An experimental AI tricked them into arming a nuclear missile."
Dragoshi twitches
Metal Man: "...What's keeping it from launching? Most bad guys fail at being that tricky."
Dragoshi: "...Of all the goddamn stereotypical-"
Aribar: "We should contact the APN and see if they can disarm it or something..."
Julian Sawyer: "Long as the APN ain't in trouble, we safe."
???: "It is supposed to protect us... but it appears to be paranoid."
Metal Man: "...Uhhh... right... There's a problem there."
Dragoshi: "...Yep."
Metal Man: "That mission wasn't filed by the APN."
Trigger: "Hmm, what's it paranoid about?"
Gibby: "Huh?"
Julian Sawyer: "...Metal..."
Metal Man: "It was filed by Gunicard. If we tell them this, they might be less than happy."
Dragoshi: "We'll have to wait to days before-...WHAT?"
Aribar's mouth drops open.
Julian Sawyer: "Why don't you TELL us this before you send us Up?!"
Metal Man: "It sort of got its way there by a hole in our own system!"
Gibby: "...Ugh."
Metal Man: "I didn't know... it was forged."
Dragoshi: "...Oh, for-"
Trigger: "Craptastic."
Aribar: "Who cares if they're not happy? Lives are in danger."
???: "The AI is an excellent hacker."
Gibby: "Well nothing we can do about that now."
The Wraith shakes its head, making a strange rasping sound as it taps its throat, and then its ears, then points to Metal...
Dragoshi: "Note to self. Defrag Gunicard... THE HARD WAY."
???: "However... we are safe for now, as long as no space-based threats attack us... or we step carefully around it."
Julian Sawyer: "Mets, the second that satellite passes back into range, tell me."
Aribar: "Tell all of us."
Dragoshi: "Quite."
Metal Man: "Aye aye. I'll make another mission of it."
Gibby: "...You sure do say quite a lot."
Trigger: "Dude, A defrag will make it run faster, you want it to kill us all faster Dragoshi?"
???: "I will have to live here for now. I hope you don't mind?"
Dragoshi: "...I mean REFRAG."
Metal Man: "I have plenty of space... just don't let the APN know."
Dragoshi: "...Sure. I guess. What's your name, anyway?"
Trigger: "Dude, I'll do it ok?"
???: "It's both of our heads if they know. And you have a backup job, I don't."
Metal Man: "...Well, I better update the map. Hopefully we won't have any more missions like this... Dr. Liiiiiight!!!" *Runs off.*
Aribar: .oO(These guys are more concerned with keeping their places than saving lives...)
Dragoshi: "This does not bode well."
The Wraith makes an aggravated sound as it follows after Metal...
Gibby: "I KNEW that mission seemed too easy..."
Julian Sawyer: "...Forget this for now. I ain't had any sleep in 24 hours... Night." *Heads to his room to crash.*
Trigger: "Dragoshi, all you need to do is delete its CONFIG.SYS file, and it will die."
Dragoshi snarls and follows the Wraith
Metal Man Wraith, and Dr. Light knock into one another.
Dr. Light: "...Hmmm... what a nice coincidence."
Metal Man: "???"
Trigger follows after Dragoshi.
The Wraith more like passes through the others, but alright. It turns around to face them after going through.
Dr. Light: "My inter-dimensional translator has been perfected."
Dragoshi: "Oh, and Trigger. With on well-placed Indignation I could FRY the damn thing in it's entirety."
Dr. Light: "All we need to do... is warp a communicator to that ghost person."
Metal Man: "But... there's also an A.I.--"
Dr. Light: "Sh! I'll get to that later!"
The Wraith makes a rather relieved face and nods to Dr. Light, nodding.
Aribar looks over to Light and the others and shakes his head. He starts towards the R&R and decides to study his spell book.
Trigger: "I got something better, we fire an E.M.P. at the base."
Metal Man (GM): He walks by, then places a communicator in the warp room.
???: "It is EMP shielded. It will nuke the source of the EMP."
Editor's Note: Trigger is accidentally a genius. Why not launch an EMP at it that appears to come from deep space, so it launches the nuke so far away it never explodes?
Trigger: "So much for that idea."
Editor's Note: No! You were so close!
Gibby goes back to his sandwich. He hated computer terminology. It made his brain fry up.
Metal Man (GM): Dr. Light puts a smash dex in the warp... and it vanishes, Star Trek style.
Then it suddenly appears in The Wraith's hands.
Editor's Note: ...or Dr. Light perfects Star Trek style warp and renders the problem trivial, I guess that could happen too.
The Wraith follows Light, rather interested... And smiles as the items appear in its own hands.
Dr. Light: "That should allow him to speak to everyone with a smash dex."
Trigger: "...Cool."
The Wraith promptly equips the communicator in whatever manner necessary, and fires up the Dex...
Metal Man (GM): It seems to be faster than previous dexes.
It lights right up. It looks ghostly to everyone else.
Metal Man: "...How'd that guy get stuck between realms, anyway? How does the teleporter even work with him?"
Dr. Light: "...I don't know. We should ask Professor Oak. It's similar to a beast he calls... Ghastly..."
The Wraith holds up his Dex toward the others, signaling them to take out their own.
Metal Man taps a side on his armor. "I have one up in my helmet."
Metal Man (GM): Dr. Light takes out his white one.
It looks like a Megaman device.
Gibby blinks at the ghost dude's Dex, shrugs, and takes out his own and looks at it.
Trigger takes out his Dex as well.
The Wraith: "It's about freakin' time... Glad someone could take a hint. Alright, that program out there isn't working how it's supposed to. I noticed several fundamental flaws in its so-called 'programmed' activities even as I was there... And it's got some sort of un-good plan up its sleeves..."
Dragoshi: "...That seems to be the case."
Trigger: "Hmm..."
Metal Man: "...I'd guess so, my dex imagery of it reveals all sorts of things. It couldn't even take some common questions. ...It's locked up so tight, too. I'm not even sure if the APN was supposed to have it turned on."
Gibby: "Figures... the guy that can't talk knows everything."
???: "Ah. It was in testing... it hadn't been activated yet. It would have normally had nukes, but this... was far too early!
Now we have a bit of a problem."
The Wraith: "Also, the machine that we put the warhead in itself doesn't seem to be working right. That cutesy little display of a simple smiley face had flaws in it... I get the feeling that someone--or something--had done something to the system itself..."
???: "But who? Gunicard uses a proprietary system... only it can change itself, and adding the nuke actually protects it... you see..."
Dragoshi: "...Huh. Only a skilled hacker could do something like that..."
???: "Once a nuke is loaded, it will launch it if someone tries to reprogram it."
Dragoshi: "...Or someone within the system... The plot thickens, that it does."
???: "A normal hacker would want control of it... which means constantly subverting it. ...With a nuke in it, any outside hackers would be nuked."
Trigger: "That would mean someone else could be aboard that base that we didn't know about."
Metal Man: "...That'd have to be someone the likes of which we've never seen..."
SIMBER: "It is a shame it never tried to communicate with me. I could have determined something about it."
???: "Huh? Oh... that's the precursor to Gunicard right there."
Dragoshi: "Wait. What?"
The Wraith looks to the stranger. "...Do you know why the program simulated psychosis in your mind, doctor?"
Gibby: "Precursor?"
???: "No... it wasn't supposed to be able to do that. We based it on SIMBER's design by Gerald Robotnik."
Trigger: "Hmm, this is getting stranger by the minute."
???: "With the improvements made by Ivan and Metal who made it work good. ...And extra commands secret to me."
The Wraith: "Then you can't take anything about it for granted..."
Dragoshi: "...How much of SIMBER's design did you have as an example to work on?"
SIMBER: "...The APN should have been more careful. Gerald's programming destroyed Kuja's entire civilization! Most of mine was destroyed and sent into the null zone because of how violent it was."
???: "...All of it... a complete batch, found in the ruins of Metal Sonic's base."
Dragoshi: "...Interesting. I should read more about these events. Oh, well. I'll take a few books in the library about it later"
???: "It had been sold to us by a strange-looking, skinny man."
Trigger: "Dr. Wily?"
Dragoshi: "...Any distinguishing features about this skinny man?"
???: "He had a faded silver tattoo, faded green eyes... weird hair..."
Dragoshi: "...Furthermore, why would Metal Sonic have it?"
The Wraith tilts its head at this, making a mental note of it. "Did you know anything else about this man...?"
???: "One of his hands looked rather plastic-y."
Dragoshi: "Was it some odd color?"
Trigger: "Hmm..."
???: "SIMBER had been reactivated there by Ivan Robotnik, and it took control of the base long after Metal Sonic. His hand was almost pinkish."
Dragoshi: "Ah, ...Pinkish. Like, a purplish pink?"
???: "Just pinkish, like fake skin."
Gibby wonders where they're going with this.
Dragoshi: "Ah."
Trigger: "You know who he's talking about Dragoshi?"
Dragoshi: "...No."
The Wraith: "Suspect all, even in times of peace. It is overabundance of trust that can open the door to more enemies... You bought and installed this program with no knowledge of how he obtained it or what he could have done to it?"
Trigger: "Oh... ok."
SIMBER: "...Very odd... but we don't have enough information to find out why. No, we did extensive testing."
???: *Said that.*
Dragoshi: "...Huh."
???: "We fixed it. It worked, but was insecure. Anyone could get anything from it."
Dragoshi: "So it had a case of paranoia, then?"
???: "We installed it and I began programming it with security measures... and safety ones. Then this happened when I accidentally found out about the nuke."
Trigger: "Like a firewall?"
The Wraith: "And you were able to analyze and understand each piece of the old Robotnik's programming, to know its entire purpose and capability?"
???: "Not entirely. We modeled it after SIMBER here, which is known to be peaceful."
Dragoshi: "...Firewall? The way they prolly' encrypted it, it's prolly a ****ing FLARE WALL!"
???: "...I cannot know what my programming did in conjunction with Gerald's."
Trigger: "Should have used 128bit encryption."
???: "The APN, nay, Ivan himself contracted us to do it."
The Wraith disables the communicator for a moment as it makes some strange, angry rasping noises...
Dragoshi: "...From what I heard, Gerald's a somewhat insane genius. For all we know, he could've used this as an override of sorts..."
???: "They have most of the details, but they have so many security measures... they would freak out more over us knowing of the nuke than Gunicard having it."
Dragoshi: "...Though, that would be impossible, since he's, oh, what's the word... DEAD."
Metal Man: "Gerald's last program killed all technology. We can tell, by not having been nuked yet, it isn't attacking. So there's a bit of leeway... but... small amounts."
The Wraith: "...Yet."
Dragoshi: "Keyword is 'yet'"
Trigger: "Well, what's the plan of attack here?"
SIMBER: "I will monitor the situation. Nova will also be informed--he operates over, not under, the APN."
???: "Next time it is in range, we beam aboard and activate the debugging program."
Dragoshi: "...Sounds like a good idea."
???: "That will disable it, and, yes, that is a normal function for Gunicard. We just have to avoid asking it anything related to its purpose or even mentioning it has a nuke.
Otherwise we may have to do more physical damage to get access to the debug."
The Wraith: "Use caution, my friends... 'Normal' doesn't very well apply to this program anymore."
???: "Also... hope no space attacks come."
Gibby: "Good idea... I'd rather not go and paradox it again while it had a nuke."
Trigger: "Right."
Dragoshi: "...Mhm."
???: "The schematics show that it was made to repel the likes of the Smithysats with high-powered lasers... and perhaps the nukes too. Nuclear explosions in space would be devastating."
Dragoshi: "...How so?"
???: "EMP disables all technology down here."
Trigger: "Right."
The Wraith: "Doctor... As the warhead was armed, the light display changed to show a blue smiley face... But there was one yellow pixel in the face. Would that mean anything to you?"
???: "Communications satellites are annihilated. ...
That was supposed to be a nuclear symbol! Not a smiley face!"
Gibby: "Wow... talk about going into detail."
???: "Smiley faces have no place in nuclear missile launchers. Especially blue ones."
Trigger: "Unless your insane."
Gibby: "Sure did look like a smiley face."
???: "Blue is not a color we use. Green for unarmed and safe, yellow and black radioactive sign to mean it is armed."
The Wraith: "That's what I suspected... Are you sure that the program is working even REMOTELY as it is supposed to, good sir?"
???: "I can't tell. It scrambled my head with the psychosis."
Trigger: "How?"
???: "I can tell it is protecting itself... and apparently us... nothing more. Why it does what it does... I don't know. It made a point of preventing me from knowing 'how'."
Trigger: "That's pretty freaky."
???: "Yes... that is about all I know for now."
Gibby: "That's why I don't trust none of that fancy technology. It never works out as well as you want it to."
???: "I should go rest... my head hurts. It must have hit me with a stunner and then engineered, by itself, a way to drive me insane."
The Wraith: "...Sometimes to protect a person, one must keep said person in the dark... However, I do not feel that this is the case here. Good day, doctor... And hope that no ill comes of this event."
??? wanders off.
The Wraith closes its dex.
Metal Man: "...I must file some emergency plans. We have a nuclear-safe bunker mode..."
Gibby watches ghost dude put his away and does the same.
Dr. Light: "I'll get right to it."
Metal Man and Dr. Light walk off.
Trigger: "A friend told me, 'Computers won't take over, they will just annoy us to death.' Guess he was wrong, HA!"
Gibby: "Ahh... back on the job, and already we have a nuclear threat."
The Wraith looks at Gibby, and yet again lets out that rasping chuckle...
Metal Man (GM): Aaand that's it for the main mission stuff for today.
You guys can continue RPing, though.
In fact, I'll be able to provide sporadic AI interaction... first, I must get a drink.
Gibby decides to go take a nap. All that walking sure tired him out. You'd think a place like that would have moving floors or something.
Dragoshi goes to the library, to brush up on past events.
Trigger decides to go watch some TV.
Aribar continues reading his spellbook in the R&R. When Trigger comes in to watch TV he looks up briefly, but goes back to looking in his book and mouthing the arcane words.
The Wraith puts the dex and its stone away as it backs into the nearest wall, deciding to start... haunting around some more, exploring (though respectfully trying to stay out of places clearly off-limits to Questers).
Trigger changes to the racing channel.
