Super Smash Quest - Story - Chapter 318: The Battle for SPONGE
Date: 7:43:18 PM, August 20th; 6:21:36 PM, August 21st, 2006.
Metal Man (GM): WARP!
Shadow (And Charles) appear in the middle of... ...an exploded base.
Shadow: "What is this? It was perfectly operational just a while ago. Well... I brought you here. Something to do with other cor---I mean lower people must have destroyed this place."
Charles Magellean looks to the left, then he looks to the right. He then looks to Shadow through the corner of his left eye. "You positive this is their main HQ?"
Shadow: "...As much of it as remains before us... yes."
Metal Man (GM): He lifts a broken sign. 'Mages Council First Research Division'
Charles Magellean smells the place. "Smoke... blood... nuclear radiation... wait..."
*Sniff, sniff, SNIIIFFFFFFF!* "Yes. The Questers have been here.
Their scent is faint, but they were here recently."
Shadow: "Another classic Quester job. I've done my part. You are free to exit this... hole... any time you wish. I have more important business to do."
Charles Magellean shakes his head and sighs.
"Goodbye. May we do mutual business again."
Metal Man (GM): He shakes his head at the rubble, before then vanishing.
You can see a bunch of broken rubble, a sealed-off door, and two other doors
..And a footstep behind you.
Charles Magellean kneels down to the ground, looking at the sign. He grabs some of the rubble, and glares at it. He turns his hand downward, the rubble slowly falling back to the ground.
Metal Man (GM): *TSEEEER* The Ninja appears on the spot, apparently after having been warped from somewhere else.
Charles Magellean observes the footprint, examining it. He leans down to do so.
He eye moves to the voice, but no physical movement is identified. He looks back to the footprint.
Metal Man (GM): Nothing seen there. Maybe it was your imagination.
Charles Magellean stands back up. He turns slowly to the doors.
The Ninja looks around a bit more, noticing that this place is looking very familiar. "Wait a minute... Is this fate?" He then moves around as he examines the are he's in.
Metal Man (GM): It's the same place you just saw explode a little bit ago, Ninja. The one the Questers accidentally exploded.
Charles Magellean can smell no one close by. He stands in front of the sealed-off door.
The Ninja: "Yep. It is place that fate shoves in face." *He then pauses for a bit as he looks at Charles.* "Ah? Is that who I think it is?"
Metal Man (GM): The door has a warning on it. 'DANGER: RADIOACTIVE CONTAMINATION BEYOND THIS POINT'
Charles Magellean reads the sign. He then walks to one of the doors. He turns the knob on the door left or right, depending on which it way it is, and turns it. He pushes the door forward with moderate speed.
The Ninja: "Ah! No touching! Big explosion happen here!" *He runs at Charles waving his hands.*
Metal Man (GM): Ah... but he walked to a different door.
One of the ajar ones, which, once opened, reveals... a long tunnel, with a sealed bulkhead blocking the way forward.
A sign on the bulkhead says 'TO BASE 2'
The bulkhead is fitted with the latest in defenses.
Charles Magellean goes to the other door and does the same opening routine he did for the previous door.
Metal Man (GM): This other door opens up and reveals a library ..One that has been ransacked.
There's a hole in the ceiling, too.
Charles Magellean enters the library. He shakes his head and observes his surroundings.
Metal Man (GM): You see a big slash through several books, an area marked 'Magical Beasts' which has been emptied, and broken bookends on the floor.
The Ninja doesn't seem to be doing much other than standing outside and going over the scene of what happened here and the cause of it. Then he lets out a sigh.
Knowledge Seeker: "So not only do they destroy the base, the Council's written knowledge is also decimated. Such wasted energy."
Charles Magellean looks to the ceiling and notices the hole in it. Seeing as the other ways are blocked off, he judges the distance.
The Ninja shakes his head, then decides to get down to business. He knew he was brought here for a reason and the first thing he's going to do is enter the library to figure out who the person is.
Charles Magellean: *Distance between where he's standing the hole in the ceiling. He is disguised. Wearing the attire of Organization XIII, his silver hair hides his right eye. His mouth is under the coat. Replacing the insignia of the Nobodies is a pile of books with a sword going through them.*
The Ninja: "Err... Erm. Excuse me!" *He now tries to get Charles' attention.*
Charles Magellean turns to face the familiar face of he who first appeared when Dark Metal Man also first appeared.
Knowledge Seeker: "...I had thought all the subordinates of the Man in Armor had completed their mission here. Leave me be; we do not have business with one another." *He looks back to the hole, JUDGING the jumping distance.*
The Ninja: "Erm. Not to sound rude, but I don't that you are with Magic people. Why are you here?"
Charles Magellean turns his head slightly to the direction of Zalesta(?).
Knowledge Seeker: "That knowledge... is not meant for you." *He looks back.*
The Ninja: "Ah. But as wise said, Knowledge is for anyone willing to accept."
Knowledge Seeker: "You are the same as the rest of them."
The Ninja: "It is not also not wise to to think you know someone. And I was brought back for reason. I have no idea what reason, but I will find it. That, or Sky High was right."
Metal Man (GM): The jumping distance is about 20 feet, which is rather unusual for anyone not a smasher or a Quester.
Knowledge Seeker: "You are a Quester, so I have nothing more to digress with you."
Metal Man (GM): You leap on up and... into the surface.
There is no clear trail to denote exactly where whoever did this went.
The Ninja: "Hey! You may be done with my, but I have question that must be answer.*"He's not letting him go that easily and tries to jump after the Nobody.*
Charles Magellean makes a single bound through the hole in the library ceiling, landing on his feet on the surface of the next floor.
Metal Man (GM): The Ninja follows him, leaping even a bit higher than the Knowledge seeker did.
Charles Magellean looks around on this 'floor.'
The Ninja jumps through the hole and does a flip forward before landing on the next floor. He then looks around the area as well.
Metal Man (GM): You're outside.
All you see is grass.
Charles Magellean mouth twitches, though there is no visible sign since it can't be seen.
Metal Man (GM): It appears there's not much here, merely grass, a ruined QH base, and they way you came out here.
Knowledge Seeker: "No. I am not ready to leave yet."
Charles Magellean walks back to the hole and merely 'steps' into it. He goes back into the library.
Metal Man (GM): The library is not only missing the books, but looks... to be dilapidated.
It's rather calm here, having already been mostly destroyed.
Charles Magellean: "At least one member of the Mages Council must still be here." *He walks back out the door, then goes to the door with the hallway and the bulkhead.*
Metal Man (GM): The bulkhead remains in place. It's heavily locked, apparently by people who knew the security of this base was toast when it exploded.
The Ninja leaps back down through the hole and keeping on following the Nobody as if he's like some form of lost puppy. "So what are you looking for?"
Metal Man (GM): It has no apparent buttons. No panels. No real vulnerable segments.
Knowledge Seeker: "I am looking for those that lead the Mages Council. I seek to give them part of my knowledge."
Charles Magellean looks to Zeltara with his left eye.
Knowledge Seeker: "Knowledge is my purpose. That is why I am the Knowledge Seeker."
The Ninja: "Oh. I have phone number of council. Called them when Aribar had to make Sky High god."
Charles Magellean looks back to the bulkhead.
Knowledge Seeker: "The knowledge that you have is not practical. This place is their main HQ... what remains of it."
Metal Man (GM): A smooth hunk of steel with a label on it, nothing more, nothing less.
The Ninja: "Yeah. Usual what happens when you don't read fine print."
*He then looks at the bulkhead as tries to sense if there are any traps or barriers on it.*
Knowledge Seeker: "This bulkhead is a riddle. I do not currently have even a guess as to the knowledge of how to unlock it."
Metal Man (GM): No traps. It's a literal hunk of steel made to block entry.
The Ninja: "If I open this, will you answer questions?"
Knowledge Seeker: "I will do no such thing. Your business is your own, as is mine."
Charles Magellean: "Hmmm..."
*He looks to the Ninja.* "You are a subordinate of the Man in Armor. That means you carry the dexing device that is given to all of you."
The Ninja: "I do. It is how I saved Questers from so many deaths. But why do you ask, Mr. Seeker. I hope you don't place on taking it from me."
Charles Magellean looks to the bulkhead for a moment.
The Ninja: "But I could make you deal." *He goes up to the bulkhead and tries to put his hand through it.*
Metal Man (GM): It's magically warded. Your hand bounces off of it.
Knowledge Seeker: "Distrust is common, but I have a proposal as well known as a sign of good faith. If you show me a 'sign of good faith' by sharing with me the knowledge that your device has when you scan it, I will show you a 'sign of good faith' as well."
The Ninja listens to the Seeker as he tries his old trick by trying to put his hand in-between the door and the wall. "And what would you like scanned?"
Metal Man (GM): Again; it is warded... you can't even seem to fit through there.
These people are the foremost experts, apparently, on their defensive stuff.
Charles Magellean: .oO(The dude has got to be kidding. Almost all the other Questers would've known already what I wanted dexed.)
Knowledge Seeker: "This bulkhead."
The Ninja: "Oh. You don't need to scan it. There's a ward on it. I can't pass through. The only way you can open is from other side or from computer."
Charles Magellean raises an eyebrow. The left one.
Knowledge Seeker: "You would refuse even to show good faith? I am disappointed of how they act nowadays."
The Ninja: "However. I give them call." *Then opens up the Dex and uses the number he knows to try to get a hold of anyone on the other side.*
Metal Man (GM): You hear phones on this base ringing.
Hmmm... must be a different base.
Knowledge Seeker: "Well now... perhaps you and the others are not as Dark as I thought."
The Ninja: "Not others, just me. I must know what I work around or I will fail." *He then decides to go ahead and scan the bulkhead for the Knowledge Seeker.*
Smash Dex: "Some sort of highly powerful bulkhead. Judging from what happened in here, it is intended to keep anyone out, even the mysterious subject known as '4'."
The Ninja: "Ugh! Mr. Four made a fool out of me... And It was Questers' fault."
Knowledge Seeker: "I have half-expected you subordinates were responsible for what happened to this base. Regardless, you have shown me a sign of good faith, so I will show you one as well."
Charles Magellean turns to face Zeltara.
The Ninja blinks as he closes the Dex and pockets it, now looking back at the Seeker.
Knowledge Seeker: "I will answer three questions pertaining to me. I caution you, if you ask a question as a Quester would usually do, I will not answer it, and it will be wasted."
The Ninja: "And now beating around the bush!"
Knowledge Seeker: "We shall see. Ask your three."
The Ninja: "Let's see. You told me who you are... Hmm." *He thinks for a moment.*
"Why are you Seeking the knowledge of our quests when we finish them?"
Knowledge Seeker: "I am doing no such thing. It is by an unforeseen incident that my business with the Mages Council coincides with whatever happened here in this base by you subordinates prior to my arrival here. I keep my business separate from your whenever possible.
One question used."
Editor's Note: Indeed he does keep it separate, that's why I've had reason to not include it in my logs half the time.
The Ninja: "I see. Now that answers a few others I had. Guess that means I move towards something else. Why is it that you find the Questers nothing more than a lowly bunch of Goombas?"
Knowledge Seeker: "You asked a question of knowledge that is not only trivial, but is what I would expect from a Quester to ask me. Two questions used."
The Ninja: "Picky. I'm getting ex-quester vibe from you. In that case. My last question. Can I join you for this search of knowledge as I cannot find it by what I'm doing now?"
Knowledge Seeker: "I would feel joy for others to join my cause in the pursuit of retrieving and giving knowledge. Unfortunately, it is a solo path for me. You are a Quester, and must stay bound to your duties. In the past, the Questers would often ask generic questions too often, thus why I do not answer them.
I have shown you my sign of good faith to you, but this knowledge I will give to you without no exchange expected."
The Ninja: "Alright."
Knowledge Seeker: "My standing with you subordinates of the Man in Armor and the Being of Chaos is not adversarial, yet I am not to be called for in time of need or help."
Charles Magellean looks to the bulkhead one last time. He then turns to Zeltara again.
The Ninja: "I know you mean Metal. But who is Bring of Chaos?"
Knowledge Seeker: "The name it is known by is 'The Void.' With your permission, I would seek passage with you to your HQ. I have business with the being of chaos again since it helped me with my efforts to reach this base."
The Ninja: "Metal's other side. Alright. Since you gave me free knowledge, I give you freebie. But Are you not going to try to open this first?" *He looks at the Bulkhead.*
Knowledge Seeker: "I could attempt to do so." *He personally investigates the bulkhead himself.*
Metal Man (GM): A hunk of Steel blocking the way. It seems nearly implacable.
The Ninja: "Because while I am here, I need to talk with Tirk."
*He then gets and idea and pulls out the Dex again, give the number another call.*
Knowledge Seeker: "A member of the Council." *He touches it.*
"I, myself, am curious of them. Not even I have much knowledge of them."
Metal Man (GM): The phones ring in the base you're in and are never picked up.
The door is cold.
The Ninja then follows the sound of one of the phones ringing.
Metal Man (GM): You see one of many phones in this office laying on there floor, scorched.
It rings.
Knowledge Seeker: "The knowledge of trying allows one the knowledge of the unknown, despite the consequence."
Charles Magellean knocks on the bulkhead like he would on the door.
The Ninja hmms to himself, then looks around the office. What is he looking for? Why the directory for the base of course. Like a list of numbers to call certain departments.
Metal Man (GM): You find... burnt stuff. Everywhere.
Even if they did have it, the explosion burnt it to a crisp.
brb, getting a snack
The Ninja sighs, then gives the number another ring as he tries to find an office that isn't destroyed.
Metal Man (GM): Baack
You walk around, but realize all the offices were blown to pieces.
All 3 of them.
Charles Magellean knocks on the bulkhead like he would on a door to a person's room or big guy's office.
Metal Man (GM): You get no response.
The Ninja then decides to pick up one of the phones to see what will happen.
Metal Man (GM): You are in a phone call to yourself, with the dex. Nothing much else.
Seems they were quite insistent in making their new base unreachable.
The Ninja hangs up the phone, then picks it back up and pushes zero.
Charles Magellean: .oO(I'm a Lunarian, so I can think like a magician. Now if I were an eccentric mage, how would I get past one of my own defenses?)
Metal Man (GM): You press the button. You hear a crackling noise, then nothing. The phone's toasted.
Charles Magellean attempts to think as a mage of the council and see how one would get past a defense from the outside.
The Ninja: "Argh!" *He then tosses the phone across the room.*
Metal Man (GM): The phone hits the wall and crumbles into bits.
Charles: You first think that you'd be as unpredictable as possible, and secondly that the only way to actually get past them would be to know how to normally activate/deactivate them, probably something magical.
Charles Magellean snaps his finger.
The Ninja finally heads back to the bulkhead area with the Seeker. "DO you have idea?"
Charles Magellean raises his head up from his looking down to think stance.
Knowledge Seeker: "I may have just deduced the way of solving the bulkhead riddle. Knowing the way of the arcane user, I have deduced that one must be unpredictable as possible, and that this bulkhead must be normally deactivated, perhaps by magical means."
The Ninja: "Oh! Like a button or level?"
Knowledge Seeker: "Correct. What remains is the knowledge of what normally activates and deactivates something that a mage would use as a mechanism."
The Ninja claps his hands together and looks for the most misplaced device in the area.
Knowledge Seeker: "I will attempt a cliched method: 'Open sesame.' "
Metal Man (GM): You look... and find nothing. Well, you do find something, but it definitely won't open the door.
It's in the book room. Some sort of sleeve protruding from a bookcase.
The door does nothing.
The Ninja blinks as he goes back to the book room, then looks at the sleeve from the bookcase before gripping it and pulling on it.
Metal Man (GM): The bookcase (And sleeve) fall down. You realize... it was attached to a person.
However, the person in specific's body does nothing but disintegrate.
You catch a fleeting glimpse of white hair.
The Ninja: "Ah! Who are you!?"
Metal Man (GM): It re-integrates to the side. Clearly, it is Sephiroth. The wind picks up, and books fly about, as he slowly lifts a book. He blocks the way into the main room where Charles is currently mumbling at the bulkhead.
The book says... 'Being 252: Sephiroth'. He drops it on the floor, before speaking.
Sephiroth: "Who are you? I am nothing more than the end of this world... and you?"
The Ninja: "...A ninja with very wet pants."
Charles Magellean takes out the Ressikan flute and begins playing Zelda's Lullaby.
Metal Man (GM): Sephiroth laughs and takes out his sword, before then making a quick swipe; it cuts the book to pieces.
Sephiroth: "Shoved off a cliff... you'd think that could stop me, but no... I merely landed in the very place I wanted to be."
The Ninja blinks as he slowly back away, then shakes his. "Ah, but I didn't do that."
Metal Man (GM): He laughs again, suddenly becoming transparent and breaking into three clones, which all move out-of-step with one another, but actually move,taking a page from the now spineless book.
You can hardly tell which one of them picked it up.
Charles Magellean: "Nothing. This has become a hopeless cause."
Sephiroth: "It is my goal to purify this planet and take back my own. Only then can my ancestors be avenged."
Metal Man (GM): The page shows, simply, a large amount of psychological disorders diagnosed in 'Sephiroth', many of which include 'Xenophobia' 'hallucinations' 'addiction to Mako' and 'Homicidal Tendencies'
The Ninja: "Ah, but put thought into that. Sephiroth."
Metal Man (GM): He crumples it before floating backwards and into the middle room, onto the middle, now burnt, meeting table.
He points his sword skyward, speaking so that Charles can hear him.
Charles Magellean snaps his finger. He simply puts his hand on the door and attempts to use magic to open it.
Sephiroth: "The light side is merely what happened to the second generation of traitors... you will be next."
The Ninja: "Second Generation of Traitors?"
Sephiroth: "Those on the light side... whose kind evolved a violent and deadly tendency... they repaid my charity with destructive weaponry."
Charles Magellean looks to outside the hallway while using magical energy in his body, puzzled about someone saying the light side.
Sephiroth: "To pay for them, and the first generation of traitors, all life on this planet must be... reformatted."
Metal Man (GM): He stabs his sword into the table.
The Ninja then slowly moves away from the Sephiroth and tries to reach for the book he put on the table.
Sephiroth: "Because of what they have done to yet another poor planet."
Metal Man (GM): He stabs the table again, pointing at the nuclear reactor, as you get the book.
Sephiroth: "And all of the filthy traitors who once used me."
Metal Man (GM): He stabs the table much harder, cracking it.
Editor's Note: For those of you reading this, confused as to what the point of this is: There is no point, I always ended up making weird, nonsensical excuses for Sephiroth to 'look cool' in my sessions back in this era.
The Ninja: "Wait. You're going to cause an explosion?"
Metal Man (GM): He stops for a moment, before then slowly looking up, with a crazed look on his face.
Charles Magellean takes his hand off of it. Frustrated that the Questers interfered, by accident, he leaves the hallway and goes into the library.
Sephiroth: "No... I'm going to poison the souls of everyone on this planet... and cause their deaths to be most painful... and then... with their life wrested from existence... I shall use their essence to create the true promised land."
Metal Man (GM): You walk into the main room, where Sephiroth is.
Charles Magellean: .oO(Oh no!! Not him... okay okay... regain composure...)
The Ninja pockets the Book then gets out his Dex, trying to contact Metal.
Sephiroth: "You shall not call for reinforcements... not while I am speaking."
Metal Man (GM): He laughs before hurling a very powerful bolt of lightning at The Ninja.
Knowledge Seeker: "The subordinates block my path by accident. Perhaps another time."
Metal Man (GM): 150 electrical damage.
If it goes over your HP, you're still left with 1 HP, however it knocks the dex out of your hands.
Charles Magellean looks up to the hole again.
He left eye looks into the eyes of Sephiroth.
Sephiroth: "Try that again and you won't have any hands, my foolish friend." *He chuckles* "I will make this short, though, not wishing to wax on worthless traitors."
Metal Man (GM): He turns to face Charles.
The Ninja: "Gah!" *He kneels down as he gets hit, the Dex now out of his hand.* "...Sephiroth. They were right."
Knowledge Seeker: "..."
Sephiroth: "You are a hollow shell of a man who pretends to know everything. Even Hojo had more of a soul than you. Why you persist in trying to imitate those who were destroyed is not my business, but your death would be most treasured by me."
Charles Magellean looks away.
Sephiroth: "Bear out your true identity in shame, for you have betrayed a perfectly neutral people of the stars for these mud-rats."
The Ninja: "Mr. Seeker. You must take Dex and get Metal. I will distract him!"
Knowledge Seeker: "You may speak your words, but I have no business with you. Good day."
Metal Man (GM): Sephiroth slashes once at the Knowledge Seeker.
If hit, it deals no damage; merely disables the holographer and other disguise effects.
Sephiroth: "Once my powers have recovered, I shall ensure none touch the promised land... for only I deserve to be healed by its infinite grace!"
Charles Magellean holographer begins to short-circuit. Hmm.
The Ninja: "Ah... No. Sephiroth. You will not kill people. I give you no permission."
Sephiroth: "It is not my intention to kill either of you... I merely plan to indirectly poison your lives. As will happen to everyone... everyone... everyone."
Charles Magellean returns to normal. No more silver hair or anything.
The Ninja: "You are just weak-minded fool if you think I will let you do such thing."
Charles Magellean looks to Ninja. "You won't tell anyone, will you?" Looks to Sephiroth.
The Ninja: "...No time for reunion. Charles. WE have crazy man to deal with."
Sephiroth: "I must admit... I am weak-minded... in that I am foolish to not kill you both now and save me the trouble."
Charles Magellean: "I have no quarrel with you, son of Jenova, so let me be, as I am not involved with the Questers, and I even go as far as stay out of everyone's way. Oh forget it." *He just attempts to leap out of the library.*
Sephiroth: "But then no one would know of my return. So... heed my words... for they are your death sentences."
Charles Magellean trips and falls, but gets right back up. "It's the QUESTER's death sentence."
Metal Man (GM): Charles trips on a book as Sephiroth suddenly phases out of existence from the area you're in. All you hear are some words, echoing for a short moment.
Sephiroth: "All who betrayed the planets of these worlds will never live to see their dreams completed."
*He vanishes.*
Charles Magellean: "AND HERE'S MY WARNING! INTERFERE WITH ME AGAIN, AND HELL'S FURY SHALL BE MILD TORTURE COMPARED TO MY WRATH~!!! Every single bastard is out to get me for some reason. Either The Void, Kuja, or even the Solarians."
The Ninja: "First Dracula... Now Sephiroth. And Questers getting themselves killed. I'm going to die."
Charles Magellean blinks perplexedly. "Dracula? Hmm."
The Ninja: "Long story... However, I have many questions to ask you, but only one important one."
Charles Magellean: "Ask it, then leave me be."
The Ninja: "Will you join us to stop Sephiroth? It will be tough without you."
Charles Magellean: "It will be tough, but you Questers have managed this far without me. I *Will* live out the rest of my life in peace now that my own personal world circles this one. Every problem that threatens Nintendus is dealt by you people. I live in peace away from you people and the trouble that revolves around you. I know that I live in peace because you'll take care of any problem, even the Time Calamity."
Editor's Note: The former is certainly true. The latter however is a laughable pipe dream. Here I will answer the implied question: This game is about the Questers and those who oppose them. If he didn't want to be involved in those schemes, all he'd need to do... is not roleplay in this game anymore. Just that simple. Alas, I lacked the communication skills to force this issue, so you get to see these weird IC-OOC crossovers like this.
To preserve you, the reader's sanity, I have made it so only especially crystallized examples like this make it into the logs, as one person whining "Why do things happen to my character" gets old really fast when it never stops repeating.
The Ninja: "...I will not tell anyone that I saw you here. I merely saw the Knowledge Seeker and ran into Sephiroth."
*He then kneels down to pick up his Dex, then looks at Charles as he stands back up.* "I leave you in peace for now, but when and if we finish this. I will see you again, Charles."
Metal Man (GM): The Dex appears to have a 'warp home' button ready. You can just press it to get back.
Charles Magellean walks up to Zeltara. He uses his magic to attempt to influence Ninja's perceptions that this is the truth. "Yes, you did not see me here. You only saw the Knowledge Seeker and Sephiroth. You never saw Charles in their old base. You only saw Knowledge Seeker and bad man Sephiroth.
Your memories are blurry because you were injured by him."
The Ninja would look at the Dex, however, before he gets close enough Zeltara would have drawn out his sword and points it at Charles. You can't see his face, but his eyes show an enraged person. "Magic may be my weakness, but you have long ways before corrupting mind! I am very tired ninja who's been doing nothing but keeping Questers safe and having to deal with Vampires and Demi-gods. I am not happy right now. I know what I see and I will be mute about what I see. I wish to be friend but do not fool with mind or I be your enemy.
I have to go back and tell Metal that Sephiroth is back while trying to keep Questers from killing each other. Including Julian."
Charles Magellean: "It's distorting memories, not corrupting minds. No matter how kept a secret is, information has a way of coming out."
The Ninja: "Are you forgetting, Charles? I'm a ninja. If I can keep face hidden for so long, I can keep name hidden longer."
Charles Magellean: "Ninja or samurai, there are vulnerabilities. I apologize for not asking for you to volunteer to the procedure."
The Ninja: "I will see you again, Charles. And you will only be seeing me." *He presses the warp button on his Dex.*
Charles Magellean: "If you expose me... ...The same blood oath for Sephiroth will be put on you as well. Count on it."
The Ninja: "I have something others don't have. Honor."
Charles Magellean: "A Quester with Honor; you'll forgive me if I sound skeptic. Remember that this never happened. I will take extreme lengths to protect what I do."
*He jumps out of the hole.*
The Ninja: "...Hmph. A ninja's jump is never done." *He walks into the warp.*
Metal Man (GM): *Warp* *Fadeout.*
Charles Magellean: "The Ninja may be honorable... but can he be trusted..." *To be continued.*
Editor's Note: He can't, but, in this case, he has little to gain even if he mentions Charles' name, since, well. Charles' stuff is 90% irrelevant by design. Maybe if he had just arranged to have his own game somewhere else, this wouldn't be a problem, haha! Oh well.
Metal Man (GM): Mission
Metal is at the big room, looking over papers stamped 'CONFIDENTIAL'
Metal Man: "Let's see... today we have a big problem."
Julian Sawyer's got his feet up as usual "What's the word, Mets?"
Digifanatic: "Yeah... after that last mission..."
Scott Gibson: "Hm?"
Digifanatic: "And I'll shut up."
Metal Man: "An unknown intruder is attempting to gain access to a top-secret device... wait a minute... named SPONGE?"
Gibby enters the big room. Today would be different from the last mission... he'd work WITH the group.
Metal Man: "What is it with other people and that thing?"
Alexia: *Under her breath* "Problem is that Julian's back..."
Digifanatic: "Strange name."
Alexia: "Sponge again?"
Gibby: "...Sponge?"
Alexia: "...By the way, that reminds me."
Dragoshi: "Sponge again?"
Scott Gibson: "Sponge... sounds weird."
Gibby rubs his chin... or lack thereof.
Metal Man: "Anyway, after that snafu from earlier, I shall come along to ensure that, while you still work freely, you work as a team."
Alexia: "Did you find anything out about that powder?"
Gibby nods.
Metal Man: "Dust of Metroid Rathos. Highly carcinogenic."
Gibby: "Of course. I believe it was a lesson we all learned the hard way."
Alexia: "...Glad I washed my hands..."
Digifanatic: "Oh man... cancer."
Scott Gibson: "Nasty stuff."
Julian Sawyer: "...Christ. Glad I wasn't there."
Dragoshi: "Heh. Glad I didn't touch the stuff."
Digifanatic: "Alright, can I please just say one thing, Metal?"
Gibby: "Ditto..."
Scott Gibson: "Mm-hm."
Metal Man: "Maybe worse than cancer, I have a feeling anyone who's truly infected by it becomes one of Rathos' goons."
Aetos shakes his head at Digi. .oO(Here he goes...)
Editor's Note: As if the nonsense Aetos often says is any better than Digi.
Julian Sawyer: "...Like I said, glad I wasn't there."
Metal Man points at Digi. "Suggest I have restraining orders about Julian and I hurl you into the floor."
Editor's Note: Technically this past Metal should have exiled Julian entirely out of the Stadium for good, which would have obliviated any problem. (The Questers are supposed to be good guys; someone so dedicated to antagonism just never should have been allowed free roam to harm others. I mean Charles ended up in that place when he did that, so why not Julian?)
Gibby: -_-; "Oy..."
Digifanatic: "Well, I just want to say that I don't want to see any arguing or fighting."
Scott Gibson cocks an eyebrow.
Metal Man: "I will deal with that."
*He stands up, wearing... a blue cape? And brushes it off his right shoulder before walking to the warp thing.* "Follow me. We're going."
Editor's Note: This is one of the first proper signs of 'on-model' Xavier Ridgecrest, as much as he technically was there in Season 7 too.
Scott Gibson: "After a fuck up like that I'm not surprised that you're going along to hold our hand on this mission."
Gibby: "...You're coming with us?"
Julian Sawyer: "...Gibbs, ain't you been LISTENIN'?"
Metal Man: "Yes. I want to be able to identify where problems come from and stop them myself."
Alexia follows Metal to the elevator.
Gibby: "Uhh... no ears... heh..."
Metal Man: "Live footage isn't good enough."
Aetos goes.
Alexia: "Why not? Another day in the life."
Gibby points to his non-existing ears.
Dragoshi: "Sounds like a good idea." *Follows the others...*
Digifanatic walks with the others...
Scott Gibson follows to the elevator..."So what's with the cape?"
Metal Man marches into the warp elevator. "Merely to denote I am a Quester. Nobody remembers me."
Julian Sawyer gets up and heads for the elevator "Mets, I'd think people'd have a hard time forgettin' you."
Scott Gibson: "Oo-kay."
Digifanatic: "Ah... and I can agree with Julian."
Gibby: "I think the cape's nice. It add a bit of style!"
Metal Man (GM): *WARP* *WARP* *WARP*
You appear on a flat base area, surrounded by tall walls.
Gibby looks up.
Scott Gibson: "Snazzy."
Metal Man (GM): For miles and miles, purple sand dunes surround this base, which has imported dirt.
You're on the south end of the base, in the middle of a runway.
Gibby: "Huh..."
Metal Man (GM): On the right side are several hangers.
Dragoshi: "...Huh."
Metal Man (GM): On the left are a collection of two small radio towers, and one huge R&D building.
Digifanatic: "Interesting place... R&D, anyone?"
Metal Man (GM): It is midday, and rather hot. Sand kicks up, blowing around Metal's cape.
Alexia: "Sounds good."
Gibby: "Yeah, alright..."
Scott Gibson: "I'm game."
Metal Man: "Looks peaceful... tooo peaceful. Yes. Let us go to R&D and check out the ambience."
Digifanatic: "Yeah..."
Gibby: "The calm before the storm?"
Metal Man marches directly towards R&D.
Digifanatic starts to walk towards the R&D building.
Gibby wobbles his way to the building.
Alexia follows the others to the R&D building.
Dragoshi marches along behind Metal.
Scott Gibson hikes his guitar and follows to the building.
Metal Man (GM): Gibby: You think some sort of beast is here. The howling of the wind terrifies you.
Everyone else so far: You don't hear anything unusual.
Gibby starts looking around all paranoid.
"...Did you guys HEAR that?"
Scott Gibson: "Hm?"
Alexia: "Hear what?"
Metal Man: "Hear what?"
Scott Gibson listens.
Metal Man: "Jinx!"
Gibby: "Sounded like a... *Gulp* ...monster!"
Scott: "...You hear it too!"
Alexia: "You owe me a Metal Cola."
Dragoshi: "Are you sure you ain't hearing things?"
Alexia chuckles.
Scott Gibson: "What the hell is that!? I hear it too."
Gibby: "SEE? I ain't crazy!"
Metal Man (GM): Julian: Even your ears hear nothing strange.
Gibby: "The musician can hear it!"
Metal Man: "Eh. We can kill it if it's real."
*He looks around.*
Scott Gibson: "I have musical ears so I have to discern tones."
Digifanatic: "Metal has a point."
Julian Sawyer: "Maybe you BOTH crazy, an' it's spreadin' like some kinda virus..."
Metal Man: "I don't see anything unusual."
Gibby whimpers a little, but eventually gives up.
"Alright... lets just move on."
.oO(I -know- I heard something...)
Metal Man (GM): You're half-way to R&D, and see sideways-turned tables and benches.
Odd.
Digifanatic: "And I didn't hear anything strange..."
Scott Gibson: "Metal, should we split into groups and check it out and meet back?"
Alexia: "I think you might be going nuts, Gibby."
Metal Man (GM): You pass several empty silos to your right, and the two other small towers to your left.
Gibby: "Eh... maybe..."
Digifanatic looks to see if there are any marks in the ground from offensive maneuvers, etc.
Dragoshi: "...Huh. Looks like an angry tarantula ran through here. 'Cept without the webs..."
Metal Man: "...Split up... no. Then you can make mistakes with my back turned."
Alexia: *Muttering again* "Heaven knows I'd recognize insanity..."
Scott Gibson: "Oh, yeah..."
Aetos is confused about where the group IS exactly.
Metal Man (GM): Digi: Plenty of bullet holes in the ground.
Scott Gibson looks around.
Digifanatic: "Well, someone's been using a gun..."
Scott Gibson: "Something's up majorly."
Digifanatic: "See bullet marks all over."
Alexia: "...Sheesh. Looks like a warzone."
Julian Sawyer: "It IS a warzone."
Gibby glances at the bullet holes and gulps.
Julian Sawyer: "Why else we be here?"
Metal Man looks around once more. "Hmmm. What could those benches be for---"
Metal Man (GM): *BBBT BBT BBBBT* Bullets spray from behind the benches.
Scott Gibson: "Cover?"
Metal Man (GM): Metal is hit several times.
Gibby: "AHH! Metal!"
Metal Man: "To the right! Quickly!"
Scott Gibson: "Huh!? Shit, Metal!"
Digifanatic: "Oh great..."
Alexia reflexively dives.
Scott Gibson dodges right.
Gibby starts running to the right.
Aetos: .oO(Yeah!) *Runs to the right.*
Metal Man leaps to the right, behind a nearby hangar.
Julian Sawyer: *RIGHT!*
Dragoshi: "..." *Dives to the right, and starts following Metal.*
Digifanatic runs with the others.
Scott Gibson gets behind the hanger.
Metal Man (GM): You run to the side. More bullets begin flying where you once stood.
Julian Sawyer: "The hell was that?!"
Scott Gibson: "So much for negotiations."
Gibby: "Who the heck's firing at us?"
Metal Man: "I don't know."
Dragoshi: "A fast sniper. Either that or a machinegunner with bad aim."
Digifanatic: "That's what we're figuring out!"
Metal Man (GM): *PING* a bullet bounces off Metal... it came from behind!
Alexia: "Or turrets."
Metal Man: "Gah! We're not safe here either. Someone find a better position!"
Alexia: "...MOVE!"
Dragoshi: "...Also, they are apparently bad shots."
Digifanatic tries to see if he can figure out something from even a quick turn behind his back while he's running.
Gibby starts searching for a good hiding spot.
Scott Gibson: "Can we get into the hanger?"
Aetos: "Uh... uh..." *Searches for a door to a building.*
Dragoshi: "Somewhat." *Starts searching for a good hiding spot as well.*
Scott Gibson searches.
Metal Man (GM): The buildings are across the runway, which is guarded by the gunfire from behind the benches.
Alexia looks around frantically for a hiding place.
Metal Man: "Good idea. We just need to quickly leap inside this hangar before those thugs up ahead can shoot at us."
Gibby: "Right!"
Julian Sawyer: "I'm on it." *Jedi Door Opening Trick!*
Dragoshi: "...Understood."
Metal Man (GM): You're facing the side of the hangar.
Do you carve a hole into it from there?
Scott Gibson: "Time to Rock'n'roll."
Julian Sawyer: *And Julian carved a hole to get inside.*
Digifanatic heads with the others...
Metal Man (GM): *PING* Another one misses.
Metal Man: "Or... that way."
*He follows Julian into the hangar... the front doors are open.* "Quick! Close those!" There's a big wheel to crank them shut with.
Julian Sawyer: "Y'all gonna stand there gawkin' or get in?" *Julian enters.*
Digifanatic runs on in.
Gibby gets into the hanger after Julian.
Alexia runs into the hangar.
Julian Sawyer: *And Julian heads over to the wheel to turn it!*
Scott Gibson runs in.
Metal Man (GM): The sniper shoots at Scott before he can enter the hangar.
20 damage if that hits.
Julian: STR check.
Scott Gibson: "Shit! That was too close!"
Metal Man (GM): Julian tries to crank it, but it appears that it's too heavy to do alone.
Aetos trots in as well.
Metal Man (GM): There's one crank on each side.
Julian Sawyer: "...Anyone gonna HELP?"
Metal Man (GM): You hear men shuffling outside.
Alexia tries to crank the other wheel with TK.
Dragoshi moves over to the other crank.
Scott Gibson grabs the wheel.
Metal Man sees Dragoshi grab a wheel, try to crank it, and bend it.
"Wait, wait, wait."
*He watches the wheel bend some more.
* "You have to work TOGETHER. You can't just rip it to pieces!"
Editor's Note: Yup... yup, exactly what I thought. Even back then, even with how boggled Metal Man was, he was able to make the Questers work together.
That was why SSQ^2 failed and this season did not.
Defective leadership still has a better track record than absolutely nothing.
Scott Gibson lets go.
Metal Man (GM): -In order to 'work together', you must both declare you are trying to turn the wheel as a team, then both make STR checks.
Julian Sawyer: "...On three."
Alexia: "Metal's right."
Scott Gibson grabs it.
Julian Sawyer: "One..."
Scott Gibson: "Ready."
Julian Sawyer: "Two..."
Alexia grabs the wheel.
Gibby grabs as well.
Julian Sawyer: "Three!" *Crank.*
The Ninja decides to help Julian.
Scott Gibson: "NGGH!!!"
Gibby: "Grrr..."
Digifanatic helps over on Julian's side...
Metal Man (GM): The doors are now starting to shut. However... you see your foes appearing before the doors as they close.
Gibby: "Drat... too late."
Alexia: "Nnngh... Just a little more..."
Digifanatic: "Bit faster!"
Aetos gets a look at them as the doors shut.
Dragoshi: "C'mon, faster people..."
Julian Sawyer: "Keep goin'!"
Metal Man (GM): They attempt to shoot at Aetos from outside.
Metal Man: "It's going as fast as it can... just wait for it to close and evade the shots!"
Metal Man (GM): *BLAM BLAM CRIT.*
Julian Sawyer: "Watch yo' asses then!"
The Ninja: "I'll distract them!"
Metal Man (GM): 45 damage per hit, 90 on the crit, aimed at Aetos.
Alexia: "WE GET IT, JULIAN!"
Scott Gibson: "Go for it."
Digifanatic: "Yeah! Just stick to the sides..."
Dragoshi: "Thanks, Ninja."
Metal Man (GM): The doors continue closing, based on momentum alone.
The Ninja pulls off the wheel and stands right near the doors and throws his sword-staff at one of the foes.
Aetos holds his wounds as they sting, but he was still looking at them...
Metal Man (GM): However three men wearing military garb and armed with P-90's open fire at the opening... as The Ninja runs to hurl his staff at them.
Digifanatic: "Aetos! Do you want a Shroom or a Vial?"
Metal Man (GM): None of them move fast enough to counter the move; one gets stabbed by it and falls over.
Aetos snaps his fingers, turning into wind... still seeing what they look like.
Metal Man (GM): The other two attempt to avenge him by firing at The Ninja.
Alexia: "Nice move!"
Metal Man (GM): 45 damage per hit.
*SLAM* The doors close.
Dragoshi: "Finally..."
Metal Man (GM): *PING* *PING* *PONG* *PINGPINGPINGPING.*
The Ninja does a fancy matrix like dodge as the bullets barely miss him.
Metal Man (GM): People are firing at the silo.
Digifanatic: "Okay..."
Metal Man (GM): It won't hold for long.
Inside the silo is one airplane, which is armed with two... propellers?
Alexia: "Look fast, then get out!"
Metal Man: "Odd. They must have to use old airplanes to get out here."
Gibby: "You think we could use it?"
Metal Man: "Anyway, now we need some way to get into the R&D. Quickly."
Scott Gibson: "Sweet."
Metal Man: "I don't know how to fly such a thing."
Digifanatic: "Yeah..."
Dragoshi: "...Yea. Think we can kill them with it b-Right."
Metal Man (GM): It's a two-seater.
Julian Sawyer: "Where's R&D?"
Dragoshi: "I have some expertise."
Alexia: "We could throttle it up and plow it into them."
The Ninja: "I am not good with machine. They break on me."
Aetos: "What's an R&D?"
Gibby: "Drag, you could provide a good distraction."
Metal Man: "Just across the way... and a few feet north."
Metal Man (GM): *PING* A hole from a bullet appears in the roof.
Dragoshi hops in the plane's pilot seat.
Digifanatic: "Okay. Dragoshi's good with planes and stuff... anyone--oh, man..."
Metal Man: "They appear to be getting better aim at this silo."
Alexia: "And we might wanna hurry."
Gibby: "Indeed..."
Dragoshi: "Okay, which one of ya wants to take the back seat?"
Aetos sighs. "Ready for takeoff?"
He steps over by the propellers.
The Ninja: "I'll by more time. Metal, I need you help to by time."
Julian Sawyer: "Dragoshi flies off, provides a distraction, and we sneak across while he's flyin?"
Gibby: "Sounds like a plan to me."
Scott Gibson: "Sounds like the best idea."
Metal Man: "Okay. What's the plan?"
Digifanatic: "What he said."
Dragoshi: "Yea. I'm ready for takeoff..."
Metal Man (GM): Who's in the airplane now, if anyone?
Scott Gibson jumps into the seat behind Drag.
Dragoshi: "Thanks, Scott."
Digifanatic: "Dragoshi and someone else in that plane--ah, thanks Scott--and now it's up to us to keep moving."
Scott Gibson: "Guess I'll give it a shot."
Gibby: "Good luck guys!" *He gives Drag and Scott the * "Fin" *up. *
Julian Sawyer: "...Y'know, we only needs one person."
Aetos literally steps inside one of the propellers. His wind form would hopefully begin spinning the propeller rapidly... while he fires another wind attack at the other propeller to get it spinning fast too.
Digifanatic: "Good luck guys."
The Ninja: "How fast can you move, Metal?"
Scott Gibson gives the guys a thumbs up as the canopy closes.
Alexia: "Anybody need a flight lift when we run to the silo?"
Metal Man (GM): Firing... wind attacks? At the propellers?
Alexia: "It should be faster than running on foot."
Metal Man (GM): Better roll the attack rolls for those.
Dragoshi: "Okay... Tell me when we're ready for takeoff..."
Metal Man: "I can't move very fast in this armor, but bullets tend to ricochet off of me."
Gibby: "Err... what's Aetos doing?"
Julian Sawyer: "...Christ." *Facepalm.*
Scott Gibson: (to Dragoshi) "It's not a Vespa but it'll do."
Metal Man (GM): One propeller starts up, you aiming just carefully enough to blow it the right direction.
The Ninja: "Good enough. You dance for men, I stab them in back of head."
Digifanatic: "I think he's trying to power the plane with his wind abilities."
Gibby: "Oh... clever!"
Aetos is standing in the other propeller, in wind form.
Metal Man: "Okay then..."
Julian Sawyer: "A'ight, let's open the gates! Get this muthafucka off the ground!"
Digifanatic: "YEAH!"
Scott Gibson: "Roger."
Metal Man (GM): Roll again for second propeller.
The Ninja: "We by enough time to get others we they need to be."
Metal Man: "This way, then. I'll distract the snipers."
*He walks outside via the hole in the side.*
Dragoshi: "..." .oO(I'm itchin to start this thing...)
Metal Man (GM): *PING* It barely misses, as the plane starts up.
It's now moving towards the... closed gates?
Better open them up!
Digifanatic: "RIGHT!"
Gibby: "...GAH! The gates!"
The Ninja: "May you Questers do well with honor." *He slaps his hands and poofs.*
Alexia: "HOOPING FUNT!"
Julian Sawyer: "One, two, three!" *CRANK!*
Scott Gibson looks over the controls... he checks what is in the back seat too.
Digifanatic heads back to one of the cranks and starts to open.
Metal Man meanwhile, walks outside. "Hey, you! Snipers! Over here!"
Gibby quickly runs to the gate and starts cracking away with the others.
Dragoshi: "C'mon... I need the gates open..."
Metal Man (GM): The doors begin to slowly open.
Digifanatic: "Bit more, folks..."
Julian Sawyer hides behind the doors.
Scott Gibson grabs the control yoke for the guns..."Sweet action."
Metal Man (GM): The two men in the way see the plane... ...they're gonna attack if you don't do anything!
Alexia: "One more time!"
Metal Man (GM): Better shoot at them with the plane.
The Ninja sneaks next to Metal and tries to find some of the snipers firing at him.
Julian Sawyer: "WE DONE ALL WE CAN!"
Metal Man (GM): Ninja: Search check.
Julian Sawyer: "Can't do no more 'cept wait!"
Scott Gibson lets the guns rip.
Aetos goes up to them and tries to blow one away with a flow of wind.
Metal Man (GM): A roll of 2 d20+5+(Ability in piloting) Scott.
Scott Gibson: "I'll provide some cover!"
Metal Man (GM): Ninja: They're atop the radio tower, 2 TP (20 units) away.
Aetos: Attack roll.
You grab one of them. Where do you throw them?
The other guy shoots at Aetos.
Dragoshi starts up the plane when the gate's open... After waiting for Scott to open fire.
The Ninja goes to sneak up on the snipers near the Tower.
Aetos debates throwing him into the propellers, but that might jam it. He launches him into a wall.
Metal Man (GM): The Ninja sneaks up to the door of the tower, as the two men are distracted by Aetos.
Scott nails the other guy; both guys with guns are shot, as the plane leaves the hangar.
Scott Gibson: "Oh yeah!"
Metal Man (GM): The doors are fully open. The snipers, distracted, shoot at Metal.
The Ninja uses his climbing ability to climb up the tower near them.
Digifanatic: "Good luck, guys!"
Julian Sawyer: *Everyone distracted?*
Metal Man: *MISS* *THUNK* "Ow!"
Gibby: "Are we good to go?"
Aetos hovers over to the 'wherever we're supposed to run to'.
Digifanatic: "Think so, Gibby."
Scott Gibson: "Drag, when we get off the ground circle around and we'll strafe em'!"
Metal Man (GM): Everybody... except... more men coming from R&D, and manning the leaned-over benches. Five of them.
Digifanatic: "Julian, good time to hightail?"
Julian Sawyer: "...Goddammit."
Gibby: "...Drat!"
Metal Man (GM): You can turn right to reach them, or left to launch the plane.
Alexia glances around.
Julian Sawyer: *Dexes Scott* "Take out those guys by the benches!"
Dragoshi: "Good idea..."
Metal Man (GM): The Ninja sneaks up to the top of a tower. He's behind a sniper, who shoots at Metal.
And misses.
Scott Gibson: "Got it."
Alexia: "Focus, focus..."
Metal Man: "Hey! Keep on shooting at me, you garbage-men!" *Runs around, slowly.*
Julian Sawyer: "Jus' wait..."
Digifanatic: "Sure."
Alexia concentrates and looks for anything that might help.
Metal Man (GM): Scott misses the benches and shoots up the ground in front of them.
Julian Sawyer: *Are the guys at the benches distracted by the plane?*
Alexia is distracted by the gunshots and glances back, ruining her search.
Metal Man (GM): Alexia: You think of trying to stop the bench-men.
Scott Gibson aims again toward the benches and unloads.
Metal Man (GM): The bench men, indeed, are distracted by the plane.
They return fire.
Gibby: "We could attack them while they're distracted."
Metal Man (GM): The plane is riddled with bullets as Scott misses them again.
Julian Sawyer: "A'ight, go go go!" *Julian rushes across to R&D.*
The Ninja tires to knock the sniper out.
Dragoshi: "Dammit!"
Digifanatic: "Okay!"
Julian Sawyer: "We'll take 'em out after we get past the benches!"
Gibby follows Julian to R&D.
Alexia follows Julian, flying at full speed.
Metal Man (GM): Julian runs across the area as the plane takes severe damage.
Digifanatic follows Julian.
Gibby just nods.
Metal Man (GM): Any more and it might explode: Roll an attack, Ninja.
Scott Gibson: *Dexes everybody* "We need some cover or we'll be swiss cheese before we get off the ground!"
Metal Man (GM): You shove him off the radio tower.
The other sniper hears the guy scream and turns to fire at The Ninja.
He misses. Horribly.
Sniper1: "D'oh!"
Metal Man (GM): Ninja: That man is a single jump from one tower to another away.
The Ninja: "Ah hahah! Have nice trip!"
Scott Gibson tries to improve his aim and squints..."Say hello to my little friend."
Metal Man (GM): It's a long way down, but... easy.
The Ninja easily dodges that and goes to jump towards the other tower.
Julian Sawyer: *Is the ground force across the runway and able to attack the guys behind the benches?*
Metal Man (GM): Jump roll, Ninja. (d20+AGI mod)
Dragoshi: "..." *Makes the plane take flight and has it strafe the enemy... If it already isn't flying...*
Metal Man (GM): Julian: You can try to attack them, but they're behind a wall of benches... hard to hit.
The attack fails to penetrate their defense as they fire again.
Julian Sawyer: *Can we get BEHIND the benches?*
Gibby: "I could try throwing a grenade at them."
Alexia: "Keep going!"
Scott Gibson: "Sunnova!"
Metal Man (GM): The plane is shot up as it goes to take off. It crashes right in front of them, adding to their defenses... you two better leap out of it.
Dragoshi: "Dammit!"
Scott Gibson: "Agh!"
Dragoshi jumps out of it, and attempts to toss a grenade at the snipers... If possible.
Scott Gibson jumps out and makes sure Drag's ok.
Metal Man (GM): You can try to, yes. But you must walk in front of the door of R&D to do so.
Scott Gibson: "You alright?"
Metal Man (GM): The Ninja makes it across. The sniper shoots at him again.
Alexia: "Oh, heck, the plane's down..."
Metal Man (GM): 20 damage if that hits.
Digifanatic: "Well, I think we'll just have to combat the snipers now..."
Gibby: "Are Drag and Scott ok?"
Julian Sawyer, upon reaching the benches, decides to take a shortcut and use the Jedi Path Clearing Trick to cut a hole in the defenses!
Metal Man (GM): One problem: They all notice it.
You cut a hole through it and they all open fire on you.
45 damage per hit.
The Ninja gets grazed by the bullet, but it doesn't stop him as he tries to jump kick him off the tower.
Aetos uses his wind powers to knockback the benches, trying to make them slam into the people behind them.
Scott Gibson: *Dexes everyone* "Guys, we're ok but we're pinned down!"
Metal Man (GM): Ninja: Attack roll.
That sniper's taken care of.
Julian Sawyer takes the shots but still stands! "C'mon, into the breach!"
Metal Man (GM): Metal takes out his rod and (slowly) follows the Questers. Aetos shoves the benches into the men, slightly damaging and distracting them.
The Ninja then looks around to where he might be needed the most.
Dragoshi: "Stupid sonofa..." *Runs to the benches to help Julian...*
Metal Man (GM): You can either go into R&D or attack the men behind the benches.
Scott Gibson follows Dragoshi.
Metal Man (GM): Metal is heading towards R&D for some reason.
Digifanatic follows Dragoshi and Scott.
Gibby just heads straight into R&D... what a crazy battle.
Alexia: "I'll head to R&D!"
Metal Man: "Let us secure the entryway while they take out those men."
Alexia flies into R&D with Metal and Gibby.
Digifanatic: "OH NO... we're splitting up here!"
Julian Sawyer: "Gibby! Get back here, we need offe-...Goddammit. Everyone else, get 'em!"
Scott Gibson: "Not the way I'd hoped it'd go but we'll manage."
The Ninja goes poof again and tries to sneak up on the men.
Metal Man (GM): Now Scott, Dragoshi, and Julian may take one turn each fighting five men behind the benches.
Aetos keeps with the plan. Run to R&D... hopefully we can make it without those bench-people attacking again.
Metal Man (GM): And Digi.
Digifanatic: "I guess we'll have to do this, then."
Dragoshi: *When he reaches the benches he tosses a grenade at the snipers. DC 20 AGI check. I think.*
Metal Man (GM): The R&D people all run at the entrance... where one man with a P-90 fires at the first person to reach there, Alexia.
45 damage if that hit Alexia.
The men scatter, but only two escape and three of them die.
Alexia gets struck and falls out of the air, landing on her feet.
Metal Man (GM): They shoot at Dragoshi.
Dragoshi: "Ha!" *Watches as he blasts three men.*
Metal Man (GM): 45 damage per hit, Dragoshi.
Metal Man: "Take out that man in the doorway!"
Dragoshi: *Gets shot twice, unphazed* "Pathetic."
Julian Sawyer then finishes the job by grabbing one guy with Focus Slam and slamming him INTO the other sniper.
Metal Man (GM): The weapon for R&D have one target: A single man with a P-90.
Scott Gibson: "Let's get these bastards!"
Alexia: "Right!" *Throws a Mindblast at the guy.*
Scott Gibson runs at them with guitar raised.
Digifanatic stands back a bit, and then runs into another sniper fir 1 TP (2 units) and crashes into him w/Celestial Fury.
Metal Man (GM): Julian smashes one guy to bits, and harms the other guy.
Digi's attack is mildly delayed.
Gibby takes out an Ivantek grenade, pulls the pin, and hurls it at the guy at the entrance. (DC 18)
Metal Man (GM): Scott smashes the guy down...
Aetos: "Anyone want some healing?"
Metal Man (GM): Gibby blasts out the entrance.
Julian Sawyer: "...Christ people, little overkill huh?"
Metal Man (GM): He's down, this area is secured.
Dragoshi: "Heh."
Gibby: "God him!"
Metal Man (GM): The one remaining bench guy shoots at Julian.
Scott Gibson: "Whew! OH YEAH!"
Alexia: "Better than him living."
Metal Man (GM): 45 damage if that hit.
Aetos shrugs.
Metal Man (GM): Oh. Scott was at him.
The Ninja goes to sneak attack the last guy.
Metal Man (GM): Well then. He has just enough energy to shoot Julian.
Julian Sawyer: *Damn you.*
Metal Man (GM): Then... roll sneak attack, Ninja.
Julian Sawyer retaliates with HAYMAKER TO THE FACE.
Metal Man (GM): He's deeeaaaaaad.
Scott Gibson: "Nice work guys."
Metal Man (GM): Julian sends his corpse flying into the desert.
*Phew* Massive melee battle complete.
Digifanatic: "Julian, I got an Ultra Shroom, here." *Tosses Julian one of his mushrooms.*
Alexia: "And you said WE were over-killing?"
Dragoshi: "..." *Slides out a recov vial out from under his cloak and drinks it.*
Metal Man (GM): Let me compute EXP before we continue.
Julian Sawyer: "Teach 'em to muthafuckin' shoot me." *Julian grabs the shroom and downs it.*
The Ninja: "Snipers taken care of."
Scott Gibson: "Everyone relatively unhurt?"
Dragoshi: "Yep."
Digifanatic: "I'm fine."
Gibby: "I believe so."
Julian Sawyer: "Everyone's good, let's move on."
Alexia: "I got hit, but I'll live."
The Ninja: "I am fine. I have grapes after all."
Metal Man (GM): +500 EXP to Scott and Dragoshi and Ninja, +400 to Aetos , +350 to Julian, +200 to everyone else.
Digifanatic: "Oh, yeah, I still need to ask you about those."
Alexia looks around the R&D.
Julian Sawyer heads towards the R&D entrance.
Digifanatic: "But, yeah, let's head back in."
*He follows the other two.*
Dragoshi dashes towards R&D.
Metal Man (GM): Entering: R&D.
Scott Gibson: "Sure."
*He follows the others.*
Metal Man (GM): It's a very small building, so there's only one room per floor.
I'll get a drink, then. Short brb.
Gibby: "I think we did pretty good for an unexpected attack."
The Ninja: "Hmm. Good for ambush. Might want to look at footsteps carefully."
Gibby: "Footsteps?"
Aetos searches for footprints. "Huh?"
Julian Sawyer: "He's jus' sayin' things again."
The Ninja: "Ah, Jules. You must watch foot and mouth at same time."
Aetos looks up.
Metal Man (GM): This room is interesting.
Digifanatic: "Hey, hey, hey. This is what Metal and I were getting to..."
Gibby snickers.
Metal Man (GM): It's got a tiled floor, the occasional window, an elevator at the other end, and a desk with a chair on it, and a computer.
Scott Gibson: "Heh."
Metal Man (GM): A dead man is near the chair.
The computer has red letters on it.
Scott Gibson: "Oh, ...yikes."
Gibby: "...Creepy much?"
Metal Man (GM): 'SECURITY COMPROMISED-BASE LOCKDOWN NECESSARY'
Scott Gibson walks over to the computer.
Digifanatic checks out the comp...
"Lockdown necessary..."
Julian Sawyer moves the dead guy.
Gibby takes a look at the elevator.
Metal Man (GM): It flashes red and apparently needs to be logged in to to be used.
Scott Gibson: "I think I can shut off the lockdown with my guitar."
Metal Man (GM): The elevator is locked shut. You can't open it as it is now.
The Ninja: "..." *He uses his senses on the guy to see if the guy is faking or is booby trapped.*
Julian Sawyer: "Ain't that s'posed to be what we're doin'?"
Gibby: "Go for it."
Metal Man (GM): You detect he's a downed Ivan fighter.
Digifanatic: "Anything, Ninja?"
Metal Man (GM): The guy who was SUPPOSED to control this computer.
Dragoshi: "...Huh."
Metal Man (GM): You may try, Scott.
The Ninja "claps twice and bows his head, then searches the guy's body."
Metal Man (GM): However, that guy you killed near the door was the guy who probably killed him.
Julian Sawyer: "Hmmm..." *Julian looks him over for something that contains log-in information.*
Scott Gibson whips out the cord from his guitar and plugs it into the computer's USB port.
Metal Man (GM): A dialogue pops up.
'Please login.'
Username:
Password:
Scott Gibson: "Hm..."
Digifanatic: "Whoa... I never thought you can do something like that with a guitar."
Metal Man (GM): Ninja: You find a book containing his orders for the day.
Julian Sawyer: "Got anything?"
Metal Man (GM): 1. Backup computer systems
The Ninja takes the book and read through it.
Scott Gibson: "A login screen."
Metal Man (GM): 2. Ensure Security is Online
Julian Sawyer: "'Was talkin' to the Ninja."
Metal Man (GM): 3. Shut down SPONGE
Gibby glances at the computer.
Metal Man (GM): 4. Monitor power consumption
Digifanatic: "He looks like he's found something vital."
Metal Man (GM): 5. Maintain rations
6. Receive next day's orders.
The Ninja: "... Maybe later."
Gibby: "...HEY! I think I still have that thing that I use to hack computers with... maybe that could help."
Metal Man (GM): Nothing else in it but pages and pages of past orders.
Julian Sawyer: "It's a book... an' it don't look like it's got what we need."
Metal Man looks around. "Hmmm..."
The Ninja flips to the second section.
Metal Man (GM): Blank pages.
Gibby: "Lets see... where did I put it?"
Metal Man (GM): It's a list only.
Digifanatic: "This is strange..."
Gibby starts rummaging through his inventory, and eventually pulls out his Dex which has the hacking device installed in it.
Julian Sawyer: "...So ya' gonna do anythin', Scott?"
Gibby: "Ta-da! Instant access."
The Ninja decides to flip through the entire thing just in case someone decided to write something useful in it."
Metal Man: "Be careful with that, Gibby. We don't want to damage anything."
Dragoshi: "That we don't..."
Metal Man (GM): Ninja: Blank pages, old orders, nothing else. It's a thin book... enough pages for one year's worth of orders.
Gibby: "What do you mean? Wouldn't this help hack the computer and get what we want?"
Julian Sawyer continues searching for log-in information on the dead guy.
The Ninja keeps the book anyways. Then searches around the room for anything else.
Digifanatic: "Yeah... but he's afraid something may be damaged or something."
*He tries to help out Julian's cause.
* "Nothing..."
Scott Gibson: "Give it a go Gibby, looks like I need to work on this thing a bit."
Dragoshi: "...Need any help, there?" *Attempts to help with Julian's cause.*
Gibby: "I'll only do it if everyone else agree to it."
Metal Man (GM): Dead guy's log-in information was apparently stolen.
Julian Sawyer: "...A'ight, looks like this guy's clean."
Dragoshi: "Yep..."
Digifanatic looks to see if there's anything on the desk aside from the computer.
Metal Man (GM): The Ninja sees the following: A fake houseplant, a clock on the wall, a cup of coffee, a newspaper, a bookcase full of old references, and some guy's watch.
Aetos looks to the elevator. If he was lucky, there would be a keyhole somewhere...
Julian Sawyer: "Scott, you need help or anythin'?"
The Ninja: "..." *He goes to search the enemy they killed at the door, after taking the watch.*
Metal Man: "Well, it'd hack the computer, but we can't know whether or not it'd damage it as well."
Scott Gibson: "I've gotta fix something on this when we get back."
Gibby: "Hmm... then we should use it as a last resort."
Scott Gibson points to the guitar.
Julian Sawyer: "...So is it gonna help us now?"
Alexia: "...I wonder if there might be something in the other buildings?"
Metal Man (GM): Hmmmm...
Digifanatic: "Upstairs?"
Metal Man (GM): The Ninja finds the other guy's gun, and... not much else.
Digifanatic: "Wanna move on?"
Alexia: "Let's."
Metal Man: "We can't... the elevator is locked."
Metal Man (GM): The elevator lacks any sort of keyhole.
Digifanatic: "Ah."
Gibby: "I'd do the hacking thing, but... it's risky."
Digifanatic: "Okay."
The Ninja begins to wonder, and picks up the gun to look at it.
Julian Sawyer: "Scott! You still with us?"
Digifanatic: "Let me put it to you this way, Gibby."
Scott Gibson: "Yeah, I'm here. I'm thinking. To no avail."
Digifanatic: "The only way I can possibly imagine anything getting damaged is if someone commanded the files to be warped around a bit. If you leave the files as is and just read up on stuff, don't think anything will be hurt."
Gibby: "I know, it's just... I don't want to suffer a repeat of what happened last time..."
Scott Gibson: "You have our best option Gibby."
Julian Sawyer: "Look, lemee try wit'out Gibby's Dex first. Don't wanna have the chance'a corruptin' nothin'."
Metal Man (GM): brb; take this time to puzzle over the room, as I eat a quick cheeseburger.
Gibby nods.
Digifanatic: "Alright... go for it, Julian."
Gibby: "I agree with Julian. It's safer..."
Scott Gibson: "It's in your court."
*He unplugs.*
"At least I proved that it works. Now I just have to fix a few minor system issues."
The Ninja then begins to steal the enemy's uniform.
Julian Sawyer: "A'ight... here goes nothin'." *Julian cracks his knuckles, and tries to hack his way into the system/get past the log-in screen.*
Alexia: "Any way to unlock the elevator from the computer?"
Dragoshi: "...Hmmm..." *Decides to the same as Ninja.*
Scott Gibson: "Workin on that, Alexia."
The Ninja then decides to put on the uniform and disguise himself as the enemy. Though he is holding the gun wrong.
Gibby looks at Ninja.
"...Why are you wearing a dead guy's outfit?"
The Ninja: "If you can fool friends, you can fool enemies."
Scott Gibson: "Nice idea... You'd fit in aside from the ninja mask."
Gibby: "Buuut... wouldn't they notice you within our group anyway?"
Julian Sawyer: "An' the fact that you travelin' wit' us."
Dragoshi: "Unless they had a ninja training program..."
Digifanatic: "Yeah..."
Scott Gibson: "!"
Dragoshi: "Well, that and all the other reasons..."
Scott Gibson: "Idea!"
Digifanatic: "That's... the only problem."
The Ninja: "I'm the hired assassin. I'm here to kill all of you."
Gibby: "Hmm?"
Alexia: "Spill."
Digifanatic: "Yeah, Scott?"
Dragoshi: "Ker-zuh?"
Scott Gibson: "Star Wars!"
Digifanatic: "...WHAT?"
Julian Sawyer: "Sho... Star Wars?"
Digifanatic: "What does that have to do?"
Gibby: "...We had a war? WHEN?"
Julian Sawyer: "Now you tellin' me you get our MOVIES to on yo' crazy planet?"
Scott Gibson: "Ninja brings us in looking like prisoners and we attack from the inside!"
Gibby: "...Movie?"
Digifanatic: "Oh."
Julian Sawyer: "Long story, Gibbs."
Alexia: "...That's the stupidest plan I've ever heard."
Digifanatic: "I see. You should have just said that instead..."
Julian Sawyer: "One problem: The mask."
Gibby just nods it off then.
"Just take it off..."
The Ninja: "Mask stays."
Julian Sawyer: "Then no plan."
Gibby: "What have you got to hide from us?"
Digifanatic: "Wait..."
Scott Gibson: "Yeah, you'd have to ditch the mask, dude. You stick out like a sore thumb."
Gibby: "You'd disfigured or something?"
Digifanatic: "Anyone else willing to wear the suit?"
Scott Gibson: "I'd probably look the most normal."
Digifanatic: "Yeah, or me."
Scott Gibson: "True."
Alexia: "I don't think they hire many 15-year olds, so I'm out."
Digifanatic: "If nobody else wants to, I'll do it."
Scott Gibson: "I'm easy."
Julian Sawyer: "Look, this ain't gonna work anyway."
Gibby: "I doubt they hire Kirbies either."
The Ninja: "Well. Alright. But to tell you the truth... Under my mask..." *He then grips the chin part of the mask.*
Gibby takes a look.
Dragoshi: "...?"
*Expecting another mask under it...*
Julian Sawyer: "I'd think they'd know their own guys and that we ain't one of 'em."
The Ninja he pulls the mask down... To reveal another mask. "I have another mask under it."
Scott Gibson: "..."
Julian Sawyer: "..."
Gibby face plants.
Julian Sawyer: "I'm not gonna bother."
Digifanatic: "How many?"
Dragoshi: "...Anyone who didn't expect that, raise their hands so I can smack them"
Alexia: "...*Facepalm*."
Gibby: -_-; "Typical..."
The Ninja: "You asked."
Scott Gibson: "He's a ninja, he probably has an infinite amount under there."
Gibby: "Look, lets not even bother."
Digifanatic: "Yeah, alright."
Gibby: "Just stick with the original plan."
Digifanatic: "But we still have to deal with the computer."
Scott Gibson: "Eh, it was worth a go."
Julian Sawyer: "I'm workin' on it."
Digifanatic: "Back on topic, folks. Thanks, Julian."
The Ninja: "Actually, I had different plan. Who can sneak?"
Digifanatic: "Not me, Ninja."
Gibby: "Uhh... I'm small."
Alexia: "Not me."
Scott Gibson: "Bull in a china shop."
The Ninja: "...Julian?"
Julian Sawyer: "What you think?"
The Ninja: "That's a no."
Gibby: "Quite..."
Digifanatic: .oO(Sarcasm is a weapon...)
The Ninja: "Metal... Like throwing place against a wall."
Dragoshi: "...I'm a flyer not a sneaker..."
Digifanatic: "Alexia... you can fly and pull off telekinesis."
Metal Man (GM): Julian messes around with the computer and logs in... one problem!
He didn't boot up the GUI. He's in text mode. So he has to find out all the commands by himself.
Julian Sawyer: "...Goddammit."
Digifanatic: "I can somewhat teleport if it's necessary, and I may not be surprised if it is. What is it, Julian?"
Julian Sawyer: "I dunno text mode!"
Metal Man: "Technically if I did it I'd probably be too recognizable. I doubt they hire maniacs wearing armor."
Digifanatic: "Ah, okay... You mind if I try something?"
Alexia: "Try 'help'."
The Ninja uses his disguise and pushes his hand against the elevator door.
Digifanatic: "Yeah, exactly."
Dragoshi: "..." *Leans against the wall, waiting.*
Metal Man (GM): You can move through it, although you'd be alone doing so.
The inside of the elevator is also locked, though.
Julian Sawyer: "..." *Types in help.*
Gibby just watches and waits.
The Ninja: "Hmm. I am useless right now. I will go into their racks and figure out how to get thing open."
Alexia: "And while I can fly and use TK, I'm still not very experienced at it. I had basically the space of a week to learn it before I got tossed into Shooting Star Summit."
Digifanatic: "Ah, I see..."
Julian Sawyer: "...Racks?"
The Ninja then goes through the door and into the elevator... Sneaking like in case someone is hiding in it.
Metal Man (GM): '>Help Ivantek Computer Console 10.b
Commands
Open - Opens a file
Dir - Lists files'
Digifanatic: "So it's basically down to Ninja's agility and plain secrecy/hiding and my teleportation... here we go."
Metal Man (GM): 'Del - Deletes a file'
Alexia: "Friggin' Kefka took away my whole past life..." *Looks down at the floor.*
Digifanatic: "Eh?"
Metal Man (GM): 'Help file corrupted. EOF'
Julian Sawyer types Dir.
Metal Man (GM): The Ninja goes into the elevator. It is empty.
'>Dir
Folder: CommCtrl
Folder: RadioScan'
Folder: Decrypto
Folder: IvantekOS'
Digifanatic: "Alright, fine, I'll ask you later..."
The Ninja then jumps through the roof and onto the top of it.
Metal Man (GM): 'Bootup.q Hardwarelist.q'
Alexia: "Sorry. It's kind of painful to talk about..."
Metal Man (GM): 'VGA.q HELP.q -Corrupted'
Digifanatic: "Judging by the context of the previous statement, I imagine."
Metal Man (GM): 'README.txt End of Listing'
Scott Gibson: "Any luck?"
Gibby: "...So... one of those file thingies can open the elevator?"
Julian Sawyer: "Fucking hate text mode..." *Open README.txt.*
Metal Man (GM): The Ninja jumps atop the roof. Nobody up there, merely a bunch of ceiling tiles and antennae.
'>Open README.txt
Readme for IvanOS
Congratulations, you have just installed IvanOS.
Please take a few moments to get acquainted, then begin reading page 5 of instruction manual.'
The Ninja would climb up the sides to the next floor, just outside the door.
Metal Man (GM): 'In order to run a print server, you must enable QQQ logging and activate Epsilon data transfer.'
Scott Gibson: "Guess you really have to go back to the basics to solve the hard problems."
Editor's Note: A long one, so the log cuts out in the middle. Guess you'll have to wait to see the next one!