Super Smash Quest - Story - Chapter 326: Plot Review Redux
Date: 5:04:46 PM, September 15th; 7:01:20 PM, September 16th, 2006.
Metal Man (GM): John & The 'Leader'
Leader: "Negotiate for release... you want your... friends but that... cannot be easily... completed by now."
The Wraith: "Easily, no, but I'm willing to put some effort into this... With our minds together, we may be able to figure something out, hmm?"
Leader: "You do not... understand the issue." *He takes out a rather miraculous looking sphere; it appears to have trillions of 1s and 0s flowing through it.*
"This is the data... collected by Gerald... throughout all history. It says that... attempts to interfere... with the natural... order of things... by doing that... will cause chaos.
The Null Zone... is intended to... only be modified... by those you... may know as... 'Astral Beings', then."
The Wraith: *He eyes the sphere...* "...I am no stranger to chaos, my friend. My entire existence as you see it was brought about by chaos." *He ponders this...* "...I am sure that they wouldn't mind this particular procedure..."
Leader: "If they are... supposed to escape... the Astral beings... already have given... them a way. We do not... need to interfere."
Metal Man (GM): He looks at the sphere carefully, fingering it as if it had something important in it.
Leader: "The creator did... not like those... astral beings. I... hope they can... be done away... with permanently now."
The Wraith: "Really, now... I suppose that device capable of demolishing existence would do such a thing...?"
Leader: "That was already... tried by him. They managed to... protect themselves, though."
The Wraith: "Mmm... How do you plan to do this, then...?" *He gazes deeply into the sphere as well.* "Something to do with this, I suppose...?"
Leader: "There is a... way that you... will never know. I stay here... because my comrades... have already met... the target for... the plan now. I am the... guard of this... wrecked up place."
The Wraith: "Target...?" *He drifts down to the ground, moving to 'sit' upon the floor, touching it with one hand to see if it'll go through.* "Namely...?"
Leader: "I cannot know... because this is... an automated signal... which was why... we came here... in the first place."
Metal Man (GM): You can go down through the floor, however nothing is below this portion of it.
The Wraith: "I see... Mind if I take a looksie?"
Leader: "You can look... but there is... nothing to see."
The Wraith: *He shrugs a bit.* "I'm curious... Is it straight thatta' way?" *He points at an angle downward & toward the exit the others took.*
Metal Man (GM): He points at it.
Leader: "That is the way."
The Wraith: "Very well, then..." *He waves, and glides off in that direction.* "We may speak again soon..."
Metal Man (GM): You walk on down there. It becomes increasingly dark, until you reach a well-lit blue walled room with the remaining four guards sitting in a square around the machine.
They face you, and block the way to the machine; however, they do not make any attempt to attack you.
Five other guards are not seen in this area.
The Wraith: *He waves in a friendly manner as his eyes rove around the area.* "Mmm... Where are your friends...?"
Metal Man (GM): They silently look to you?
Guard1: "They are completing... the plan made."
The Wraith: "Mm-hmm..." *He slowly backs away, eyes still roaming, into the corridor again, then pulls out his dex...*
Metal Man (GM): You pull it out; it seems to not work very well in this area.
John: *Of course, to contact Metal.*
Metal Man (GM): You get a static-y signal from HQ.
Metal Man: (Dex) *Static* "Hm?"
The Wraith: "We have... a bit of a situation, here. Charles, Aetos, and Julian all managed to get themselves sent into the Null Zone, and some of Kuja's old supersoldiers have been raised and are now broadcasting Gerald's virus..."
Metal Man: (Dex) "There is one thing that prevents their plan from working; the interference. No reports of the virus reaching out communications yet... however I wish they hadn't been sent there, Ivan himself has said that realm to be nearly unopenable."
The Wraith: "I was hoping the interference would cause them some issues... Charles was gone before I showed up, Aetos followed out of desperation, and Julian ticked the supersoldiers off enough for them to send him away... The soldiers said something about astral beings are the only ones capable of altering that realm..."
Metal Man (GM): (Dex) "It's out of our hands for now, then. They appear relatively unintelligent, because the closest target is the Neo-Earth outpost, which probably is incompatible with their virus, and likely to defend themselves."
The Wraith: "They said it's an automated process... Perhaps Gerald wasn't taking in the possibility of magnetic interference getting in his way when he wrote the program. ...There is not much else that I can do; any attempt to remove these guys would risk existence getting destroyed."
Metal Man (GM): (Dex) "I've noticed some strange activity on the radar. Perhaps our friends are less stuck in the Null Zone than it would seem. IF you're finished, I think it'd be best for you to warp to HQ."
The Wraith: "Aye... Beam me up, I s'pose. We'll have to deal with this later."
Metal Man (GM): *EL WARP* Your part complete.
Metal Man (GM): Metal finishes the loose ends before Mission
Charles, Aetos, Ivan, and a sleeping Julian are in the Null Zone. The other-worldly Ivan has nearly finished the new device.
Ivan Robotnik: "Well, it's been nice seeing you. But I must go back to my infinite meditation after this."
Julian Sawyer apparently went back to sleep after Charles and he finished their little tirade... Whatever.
Ivan Robotnik: *Sticks a screwdriver into the machine and pries out a bolt* "That should do it..."
Charles Magellean checks his watches. "Mm-hmm. I can tell that we've been here a while. None of the second hands have been moving."
Aetos ponders if that's all he saw Ivan do to the machine.
Metal Man (GM): You saw him do a ton of things.
Reroute wires, solder new circuits...
He also took out a mini-computer and reprogrammed the 'firmware.'
Charles Magellean: "Wait... a... moment." *Examines them all closely...* "...Oh my. It's that time already."
Aetos blinks uncasually.
"Um... I dare ask, what time?"
Metal Man (GM): It's 12:00 all the time.
McDonalds would be in a state of quantum indecision if it built a place here.
Charles Magellean gets out his abacus. "Lemme make sure. 5x rotation, 3 cycles, 201 hours since the last time I had it..."
He puts away the abacus and pulls his sleeve down to hide the watches. "Yep, it's time for me to take the day off."
Ivan Robotnik: "Now... just press this button to get back to Turion."
Metal Man (GM): He hands the device to Aetos.
Aetos nods, and looks at Julian.
He takes the transporter and nudges Julian with his foot.
Julian Sawyer: *Snrk... Julian fidgets for a little bit, eventually getting back to his feet, rubbing his eyes* "What, we finally gettin' outta here?"
Aetos: "Yeah. Hey, I wonder how long we've been here in our own time. Ready to go?... We've got to pit-stop at Turion first."
Julian Sawyer: "Then we can use Sky to get us home... an' maybe get some more of those grapes. I got a business proposition for the Ninja..."
Aetos shrugs. "Locos?"
Charles Magellean: "Aye? We'll okay. It was nice to meet you, Ivan of this lack of dimension."
Ivan Robotnik: "I can't help but wonder if I'm the cause of you still being marooned in the time you are now... had you gotten the emerald, you could have escaped."
Aetos: "Yeah. Good luck with your... issues. Be sure to get me to stash the money from the hot dogs somewhere where I can find it... if you see me again."
Julian Sawyer: "...Yeah. What they said."
Aetos waits for Charles and Julian to come in close.
Charles Magellean stands next to Aetos and Julian. "Can't wait to talk to you guys again."
Aetos: "...Wait, what?"
Julian Sawyer: "An' tell the other me he's a chump."
Metal Man (GM): He waves, as you can turn on the machine now.
Aetos: "...We'll talk about this in a second."
*He pushes a button on the gadget.*
Metal Man (GM): *WARP*
You're on Turion; from here, you can request a warp back to HQ, or not, as you choose.
Julian Sawyer taps on Charles' shoulder from behind.
Aetos: "Now, I'm not going to let you leave without me again!"
Charles Magellean: "Go ahead, Julian."
Julian Sawyer: *Haymaker to your FACE.*
Metal Man (GM): I believe that's a hit.
Aetos: "So, Charles? Are you coming to the HQ with Julian?"
Julian Sawyer: "You had that comin'. Trust me."
Editor's Note: And technically that was merciful, given the inanity Charles had gotten up to... yes, normally I would disagree with Julian's methods, but... Charles was already quite accursed with evil deeds by that point in time.
Aetos looks around, wondering where they are on Turion.
Metal Man (GM): In the same village, as always; it looks the same, and the people appear used to Questers coming in and out.
It's all probably been done by now; maybe not 50 years, but at least 10-20 of them have passed.
Charles Magellean is knocked backwards, his feet sliding in the dirt, his head knocked backwards. He pulls his neck back down without using his hands while the neck makes some cracking noises. Julian may be partly in disbelief what he sees on Charles's face...
He closes his eyes, smiling at Julian. "Wow, you've gotten even stronger over time. I guess I can learn a few things from you."
He opens his eyes again. "I can't imagine how much better you feel, but I can always try, right?"
Julian Sawyer: "Yeah yeah yeah, you go ahead an' play nice an' pretend you ain't the pompous whackjob you are."
Editor's Note: I wish Julian remained this lucid in SSQ^2, it's almost like he's another person when I see him in this old log.
Aetos wonders what Julian is going to do next. "Are you planning on calling HQ, Julian?"
Charles Magellean walks forwards again, bizarrely calm.
"We'll, to say I disagree with you mean I'd be lying."
Julian Sawyer: "In a minute... What?"
Aetos looks out to the river. .oO(I wonder what happened to the population of dinosaur-wolves.)
Charles Magellean: "In meditating, I've remembered that every once in a while, a person has to take a vacation from themselves. All their hostilities, opinions, beliefs, etc. They're pushed aside for the sake of becoming closer with other people.
Now it won't last for more than a day before we're yelling at each other again calling each other jackasses, but for now, I've put it aside for the sake of our bond."
*He looks to Aetos.* "Any bond with any person."
Aetos looks back to Charles. .oO(Huh?)
Charles Magellean: "Wasn't one of us supposed to contact Quester HQ by now?"
Aetos: "In a minute apparently."
Charles Magellean: "Well, I guess... I could wait." *Looks to Julian* "You mentioned you wanted to get 'grapes' while we were here..."
Julian Sawyer: "Jus' wanted to wade though all the BS comin' outta your mouth." *Julian dexes up HQ.*
Smash Dex: "...Contacted."
Aetos rubs his chin, and slams the Boba Fett Helmet (which still doesn't do anything...) on his head and yells in a call: "SKYHIGH!"
Metal Man: (Dex) "I see, so you were saved after all. What can I do for you?"
Sky High: *Pops in out of nowhere* "???"
Aetos points to Julian. "He wants grapes so he can scam Ninja."
Sky High: "Then he won't get any."
Julian Sawyer: "...Hol' on a minute, Mets." *Looks to SkyHigh* "I jus' wanna offer him a business proposition. Nothin' wrong with that."
Sky High: "I will, however, dispense them if it is a fair deal."
Aetos coughs up some words.
Julian Sawyer: "I dunno where the hell you got 'scam' from that."
Sky High: "And?"
Aetos knocks on his helmet. "Hrm."
Julian Sawyer: "Basically, what I was thinkin' is I'd set up a competin' grape-sellin' business, merge it with his so we got two grapevines, an' therefore lower prices."
Charles Magellean puts his index finger under his mouth, looking another way. "BS? Since when was putting aside prejudice for the sake of bonding fake?"
Editor's Note: All the time, Charles. All the frickin' time. Often OOCly too! But that's another story, not for this particular log.
Sky High: "But... that'd result in me competing with myself. I don't want to earn less coins, either."
Julian Sawyer: "...Sky, I dunno if you noticed this, but you're on a whole different planet. Kinda limits your sales, ya?"
Aetos: "Julian, how do you plan on getting the right ingredients required to grow those grapes in crops?"
Sky High: "Except he's selling them, so that benefits me."
Julian Sawyer: "Can't be that hard. Jus' need a board, some seeds, water, an' some dirt. An' how so?"
Aetos: "You need some special fertilizer."
Charles Magellean uses this time to just commute with random Lizardmen (Consider this as background conversation, not as part of the foreground that Julian, Aetos, and Sky are).
Sky High: "...I will not reveal my business secrets."
Aetos makes sure to keep an eye on Charles.
Julian Sawyer: "Look, I'm jus' sayin' that competition an' horizontal integration results in better prices for 'your' customers, the Questers."
Charles Magellean is asking semi-personal questions and relating experiences from his own past.
Sky High: "If I am to give you any, I will have to think on it first."
Julian Sawyer: "A'ight, I'll take that."
Aetos: "Sky High, is this helmet ... very durable?"
Sky High: "Yes."
Aetos: "I just hope it wont crack and fall apart later on, you know?"
*He shrugs.* "Ok, thanks. Ready to go, Charles and Julian?"
Charles Magellean thanks the latest one for the conversation and returns to the two Questers and the God talking about their grapes.
Julian Sawyer: *Back to the Dex!* "Yo! Mets! You still there?"
Metal Man: (Dex) "Zzzz... eh? Yes."
Julian Sawyer: "Set up a warp."
Metal Man: (Dex) "Affirmative."
Metal Man (GM): A warp home appears; yay. You can finally get back to HQ.
Aetos twiddles his thumbs.
Julian Sawyer: "A'ight, so you comin' with Charles? Aetos don't have much of a choice in the matter."
Charles Magellean: "Of course. I want to greet my old comrades and reestablish ties before the holiday is over."
Aetos: "If you're going anywhere from HQ without the group of Questers, then I already have a goal for us to pursue."
Julian Sawyer: "...Righ'. Everybody in!"
Charles Magellean thinks about the word he used. "...Stupid me. There's no real translation for that particular word."
Aetos pushes Julian into the warp.
Charles Magellean enters the warp.
Aetos goes too.
Julian Sawyer enters the warp.
Metal Man (GM): *WARP x3*
You all arrive back at HQ. Metal himself is slightly surprised to see Charles, but shrugs.
Metal Man: "Well, you're just in time. It's about time for people to decide on a mission again."
Julian Sawyer: "Yo. ...Great."
Dragoshi: *Leaning against a wall, half-awake, then opens his eyes* "...Zuh?"
Charles Magellean: "Already? Well then. Hmm." *He casually thinks...*
The Ninja: "Gah! Cha- I mean... Mr. Knowledge Seeker. How are you?"
Dragoshi: "...What's this 'bout seekers of knowledge?" *Shakes his head slightly.*
Digifanatic walks into the Big Room, passing it by a bit back and seeing nothing. Now seeing a few of the guys, he heads in.
Charles Magellean looks to The Ninja, who he doesn't recognize at first, then it strikes him because of the mask he wears.
"Ahhh, Zeltara. How are you?"
Digifanatic: "Hello, folks. What strange goings on have I missed this time?"
The Ninja: "The usual. Sneaking and stabbing. Oh, and I sell grapes and burgers."
Dragoshi: *Ker shrug.*
Charles Magellean smiles. "The more skills you use, the more adept you become. Keep it up."
Aetos raises an eyebrow. .oO(Unless... Charles was him?! Hrm.)
The Ninja: "Of course!" *He gives Charles a light bow* "So what brings you here? ...And where is mean lady?"
Charles Magellean: "Dragoshi, is that you? I hardly recognized you without your metal skin."
Dragoshi: "...It was armor, and yea it's me. I decided to get rid of the armor and rely on my own natural abilities from now on."
Editor's Note: At least for now... we shall see in the future, this is perhaps not so permanent.
Charles Magellean: "You're lookin fit."
Dragoshi: "Thanks."
Aetos scratches his head. .oO(If Wraith saw what happened in the Astral Realm through the Dex... could he have seen the happenings in the Null Zone?)
Charles Magellean looks to Digi. "Hey, Ian. Visited your family yet by using Atlantis?"
The Ninja: "I also went through very odd challenge. I fought what Samus fights... I think."
Digifanatic: "A while back."
Scott Gibson: "So this is the infamous Charles Magellean?"
Digifanatic: "Last major visit was after Kuja got the axe."
Scott Gibson: *Just walked in.*
Digifanatic: "But I keep in touch with everyone. Yeah, he is, Scott."
Charles Magellean: "?"
Digifanatic: "Oh. He's one of the newer folks."
Scott Gibson: "Ah, good to meet ya."
Charles Magellean looks to Scott. "Well now. I'm certainly at a disadvantage of knowledge. Glad to meet ya."
Aetos: "He kills things with his music."
Scott Gibson: "Coolness."
Charles Magellean peers over to see the guitar strapped to his back.
Aetos: "Yeah. That."
The Ninja: "Wait."*He looks Charles* "So everyone knows now?"
Charles Magellean: "A weapon that fits a Quester, I should say."
Digifanatic: "Heh. Cause there's a little headbanger in all of us... well, most."
Scott Gibson: "Oh this?" *Hauls up guitar* "It's pretty fitting."
Aetos: "Knows what? Something about Charles and the Knowledge Seeker?"
Charles Magellean looks to Ninja. "No, but judging by the way you walked in, I'd say you've had a bit too much, what you call it... sake?"
Trigger: "Hey, what's up everyone?"
Digifanatic: "Ah, not much."
Charles Magellean: "Knowledge Seeker... Knowledge Seeker. Nope, haven't heard of him."
The Ninja: "Erm. I am confused now." *He scratches his head.*
Digifanatic: "Hey guys, is it true that Ari is kinda retired from the Quester biz? Thought I heard something about it..."
Aetos blinks.
Charles Magellean walks around Scott a couple times. "You certainly look humanoid, but... you're smell is... different."
Digifanatic: "It could be a rumor for all I know, but I haven't seen him in a long while."
Scott Gibson: "Yeah."
Charles Magellean: "Uniquely trained, I take it?"
Scott Gibson takes off his Ozzy glasses showing his brilliant gold irises.
Charles Magellean: "!!"
Scott Gibson: "Trained by the one and only Master Jimi Hendrix."
Digifanatic: "He's an interesting fellow with--yes, an interesting story."
Scott Gibson: "A long one too."
Trigger: "Yep."
Dragoshi: *Eyes half-closed, still awake... For the most part* "...Bleh. I really need to stop staying up too late. Either that or this cloak's gettin' too heavy. But, either way. And, yea, a rather interesting story. Interesting and long."
Charles Magellean: "Would you forgive my ignorance? I have no knowledge of this person?"
Digifanatic: "Don't worry about it,Charles. After all, none of us did when we saw him for the first time."
Charles Magellean: "I'm not worried, Ian. Just wanting to know since I'm on uhh... 'shorn leaft.'"
Dragoshi: "...Short leave, you mean?" *Yawns slightly, then cricks his neck.*
Digifanatic: "Ah..."
The Ninja: "So." *He looks at Charles again.* "Who are you now?"
Digifanatic: "But yeah, Scott is from some other planet that started receiving communications with Earth in the 60s."
Charles Magellean thinks for a moment before speaking. "Yes, but there's no literal translation between what it means in Lunarian and what it means in English."
Scott Gibson: "Well, there's a slight discrepancy there but I'll explain later."
Digifanatic: "Sorry."
Charles Magellean looks to Zeltara and chuckles. "I'm Charles L. Magellean. We sort of met each other in the Deku Forest?"
Digifanatic chuckles a bit, not concerned, as usual. He'll let Scott take care of it...
Trigger starts to zone off in thought.
Scott Gibson: "No prob. It's a long difficult story so don't sweat it."
Charles Magellean: "I'm all ears, sir. I won't be able to be like this again for a good while again."
Digifanatic: "Yeah. Hard to abridge it for consistency. Like Stairway to Heaven."
The Ninja: "Oh right! Charles! It is good to see you again! I am so sorry for leaving Questers for short time, but I needed to refocus on skills."
Digifanatic: "Except that's a song that should be made short."
Charles Magellean looks to Scott. "This may be an odd question, but during missions, do you do musical accompaniment?"
Scott Gibson takes a seat and twangs a bit on his guitar before he starts in on his story.
"Musi-What now?"
Aetos's ears twitch and he searches his cape for ear-plugs.
Charles Magellean: "Is it a question that bothers you?"
Trigger stashes Aetos's earplugs in his pocket.
Scott Gibson: "No... I'm just confused on what you mean."
Dragoshi: "I don't think he knows what you mean by musical accompani-yea."
Digifanatic: "I think he means is do you actually play stuff as offense or if you just smack your guitar like Townsend."
Scott Gibson: "Oh! I do both."
Dragoshi: "...I don't think that's what he meant. Then again I could be wrong" *Yawns lightly again.*
Charles Magellean: "Well, I suppose that is as close as I could have been."
Digifanatic: "It helps when you have a guy like me who likes some of the same stuff he does... some."
Charles Magellean: "I'm having this feeling I'm forgetting to greet someone else..."
Trigger: "Who?"
Aetos points at Metal.
Charles Magellean looks around and sees Metal several times before looking at the direction of where Trigger asked the question.
Scott Gibson: "If it can be played on a guitar I probably know it. I'm a rock aficionado."
Aetos smacks his forehead and sighs.
Charles Magellean: "I don't believe I know you as well..."
Dragoshi: "Who? Met-Oh, you mean Trigger." *Shakes his head, trying to wake up.*
Aetos scratches his head. .oO(I know Ninja was here before Charles left! What's up with this?... But I do not know if Trigger was...)
Trigger walks over to Charles to greet himself.
"I'm Trigger, I'm still kinda new at being a Quester."
Scott Gibson: "Ok, well on to backstory, there was a war between the Galaxy Space Police Brotherhood, whom I work for, that's been going on for a few centuries. There was an attack on some GSPB ships by Medical Mechanica forces, the guys we were fighting the war with. Somebody on the GSPB side tripped some comm channel and broadcast some music by Jimi Hendrix broadwave and it shorted out the MM ships."
Trigger: "Ok, cool."
Aetos keeps covering his face with his hand. .oO(And the story I've heard a million times...)
Metal Man: "Oh. Don't mind me. I have to... err... program things! Yes." *Begins typing furiously... realizes he isn't at a computer* "...I hate when that happens." *Steps out for a moment.*
Scott Gibson: "Then they managed to pick up Jimi Hendrix by saving his life from a drug overdose but couldn't let him go back to Earth so they employed him to fight for them. After defeating the MM forces back to their homeworld both sides signed a cease fire which is still technically in effect. Then Jimi took my people and freed them from the MM. Then he colonized a new planet for my people and called it Voodoo Child."
The Ninja: "Metal is the usual odd... Metal... Thing."
Dragoshi: "Yep."
Trigger: "Metal scares me sometimes."
The Ninja: "He's a fun puppet though."
Scott Gibson starts playing something he learned recently and plays the Mario Bros. theme on his guitar using all harmonics, thus it sounds like it's straight out of the game.
Dragoshi: "Eh. I thought it was funnier when you used that skeleton to do the Bacon Man song."
Scott Gibson: "Heh... Yeah that was fun."
Charles Magellean blinks a few times to Scott. "Well, that... takes a while to take in."
Scott Gibson: "Try living through that era... That was crazy."
Digifanatic: "I can only imagine for your place... So, yeah... when's Metal going to get us set for our next task?"
Aetos: "Probably when he's done with his 'things'..."
Scott Gibson: "Hey Charles, you know any rock songs?"
Charles Magellean opens his mouth, then closes it.
Aetos pulls his spear off his back and flips open the terminal. He pokes several buttons, messaging something to Charles' Dex. He wondered where it was.
Charles Magellean: "No."
Trigger: "Hey Scott, do you know any song from a band called DragonForce?"
Scott Gibson: "Oh... Hm... Oh HELL YEAH, MAN!"
Trigger: "What can you play?"
Scott Gibson breaks into the solo for "Through the Fire and Flames."
Dragoshi: "...Nice."
Trigger: "Sweet..."
Charles Magellean: "Well, with Metal's permission, I'll be staying here for the duration of my 'duli ezea whyl self' so I can develop a personal bond with each of you before, as I am called by my antagonists, a 'self-righteous, pompous bastard.'"
Trigger: "Cool. ...Are you a bastard?"
Scott Gibson finishes the solo... then shakes his hands a bit. That was a fast one... "Whew."
The Ninja: "So Charles will join our side?"
Trigger: "Just asking, not calling you one."
Digifanatic: "Guess so."
Scott Gibson: "Let's see, Through the Fire and Flames, of course, Black Winter Night, Where Dragons Rule... a few more."
Digifanatic: "Sounds like it to me."
Charles Magellean: "Well... it's what I've been called, so I guess it is true when you look at me like one."
Trigger: "What about Valley of the Damned?"
Aetos taps his foot, singing in his head... flooding out Scott's guitar as best as he can.
Trigger looks a Aetos. "What's your problem with Rock music?"
Scott Gibson: "Heh..."
Trigger: "Did it kill your family?"
Scott Gibson: "May want to pop the earplugs out of his skull, Trig."
Trigger: "How, they're in my pocket."
Charles Magellean: "Me join the Questers again? Oh, that's out of the question. I've become too intolerant of how they handle situations to be with them actively again."
Trigger: "I stole them before he popped them in."
Aetos: "I don't HAVE earplugs. OH.
I have an announcement!"
Digifanatic: "Oh?"
The Ninja: "..." *He looks at the others and joins Charles' side.* "Take me with you."
Dragoshi: "Zuh?"
Charles Magellean looks to Aetos and shakes his head. "Not right now."
Aetos: "...Ok then."
Trigger: "Wha?"
Aetos: "Never mind."
Scott Gibson starts playing some more acoustic stuff, "It's Been Awhile" Staind... lyrics and all. Figures it goes out to Charles based on the lyrics... heh... heh...
Aetos's ears twitch again. "Since I said I'm Sorry!"
Charles Magellean: "Right now, I see you guys as individuals and not as Questers. This is how it is until I go back to my usual self."
Aetos closes his mouth with his hands.
Trigger starts laughing at Aetos.
Aetos activates a system on his spear. It would (hopefully) start playing the Diet Pepsi theme song.
Charles Magellean: "Well, nothing else for me to do except wait until you guys return from your mission."
Trigger: "You're not coming?"
Charles Magellean: "Since I did not sign the Manifesto, I no longer have the option of cheating Death like you guys do. Combined with the fact that I can't do anything in a battle situation any more would render me as a very large liability."
The Ninja: "Ah! But you have good insight!"
Trigger: "You could be like our second Tactician."
Aetos scoffs.
Digifanatic: "Oh, boy, here we go..."
Trigger: "What'd I do this time?"
Charles Magellean: "And that is reason to not be part of your mission. From what Aetos has told me, you're mixed about how you guys cooperate with Valentine."
Digifanatic: "Yeah, that's all, Trigger. I, personally, don't mind her.
And I'm not just saying because I'm guy talking to a girl... that has nothing to do with it."
Charles Magellean: "Well put."
Digifanatic: "She seems like a friendly enough person. And, for the most part, according to what I know, she is."
Trigger: "I'm gonna stop talking for awhile." *Zones off.*
Charles Magellean: "Aetos has said she cannot be trusted, and my Young Ward's opinion has influence with me."
Digifanatic: "Trigger, you're not the only person who brings up touchy stuff. I mean, comments like that are made everyday. That's why there are wars."
Charles Magellean: "Meanwhile, Julian would sooner kill a person that says that his style of solving problems is wrong."
Scott Gibson: "Heh."
Digifanatic: "Yeah... And that's when I get ticked off.
When people say things about Julian that just incite some sort of argument."
Charles Magellean looks to Dragoshi. "Looking at you and how you're usually mellow... I say you have nothing against her, either."
Dragoshi: "...Could be worse."
Digifanatic: "But I'mma shut up now..."
The Ninja: "Wait. Didn't mean lady go with all of you?"
Digifanatic: "Cause I've probably rubbed in it way too many times."
Scott Gibson: "By the way Charles, if you're interested Julian, Dragoshi, Gibby, and myself formed a rock band. Could help on your... uh... information quest... thing... or whatever it is."
Digifanatic: "Julian? He doesn't seem like rocker to me."
Charles Magellean looks surprised. "A rock band, you say? Hmmm, quite an interesting turn of events."
Scott Gibson: "Julian? No but Linkin Park has Mike Shinoda."
Charles Magellean continues to look to Scott. "What are your thoughts on Valentine?"
Digifanatic: "I don't listen to them..."
The Ninja: "Wouldn't he slam guitar on ground?"
Digifanatic: "No offense, but isn't it kind of obvious that he'd be more suited in some gangsta group or something?"
Scott Gibson: "Val?...heh... heh... Well I wasn't too keen on her at first but I've got no prob with her now. Well in Julian's case we're trying to incorporate two genres into one."
Digifanatic: "Oh... like that Walk This Way thing?"
Scott Gibson nods.
Digifanatic: "Ah yes."
Dragoshi: "Which two genres again? I think Rock was one, but what was the other...?"
Scott Gibson: "Rap, and I guess hip-hop."
Dragoshi: "Ah."
Charles Magellean: "No, I am firm on my decision. You are better off without me in your missions."
Scott Gibson: "They sound the same to me."
Digifanatic: "Same here. I was never too crazy for it. Either, sorry."
Valentine Kilmer: "I hope you don't mind if I squeeze myself into the conversion." *He hovers in on her usual platform.*
Scott Gibson: "Nah... no prob."
Digifanatic: "Oh, hey."
Charles Magellean looks to Valentine. "The 'Tactician' of the group, I take it?"
Digifanatic: "She is."
Dragoshi: "...Yep."
Valentine Kilmer: "That I am. Though most seem to follow Julian's motto of 'Smash and hope for the best' ideas."
Trigger wakes back up.
Charles Magellean: "One of my main reasons of the leaving the Questers. I couldn't change with the times."
Trigger: "...*Yawn*."
Charles Magellean examines this person more thoroughly.
Digifanatic: "Yeah. Things seem to change here so often, it's insane.
Yet we keep on rolling."
Trigger: "Did I miss anything while I was out?"
Charles Magellean: "Not that type of change, Ian..."
Scott Gibson: "Ian?"
Digifanatic: "I told you. My real name.
Just he's the only one that calls me that."
Charles Magellean: "Very professional... but somehow... leaves a mystery for one or two males in this room."
Dragoshi: "...Mystery?"
Scott Gibson: "Oh..."
Charles Magellean: "Knowing Ivan, though, his employees have ways of defending themselves."
Digifanatic: "Yeah, I know."
Metal Man arrives back in the main room. "Sorry about that."
Charles Magellean looks to Metal. "Ahh, Illian. Long time no see."
Valentine is a rather short looking human, even though she sits crossed legged on a hovering platform that is her choice of transport. She has a light pale side to her skin with a closed lab coat that covers mostly everything on her upper body and a matching pair of white slacks to go with that. Her eyes are red, but her hair is somewhat a normal lightish brown color.* "And you're Charles I take it. I heard rumors of you."
Dragoshi: "Illian? Is that the boss' real name?"
Digifanatic: "Yes."
Editor's Note: No.
Metal Man: "The same goes here, however I do happen to have lots of footage."
Charles Magellean looks to Val. "I am, but we will talk later. Your group will be departing shortly."
Trigger: "Great, home movies time."
Charles Magellean looks to Metal.
Scott Gibson: "Movies? What're we watching?"
Valentine Kilmer: "I will not be joining them. I have other things to attend to."
Dragoshi: "...Huh." *Straightens himself, then goes back to leaning 'gainst the wall.*
Trigger: "I thought we were gonna see a flashback, that's all."
Digifanatic: "Well, Metal, anything new?"
Charles Magellean: "Meet you later then, Ms. uhhh..." .oO(Hmm, Aetos never mentioned her last name.)
Azure casually walks into the room with yet another book in hand. This time it was a crimson red one with a blue side trimmings. All the page numbers were red--he found that amusing.
Metal Man: "Flashback? I don't need those. I use this." *Projects an image of Aribar proclaiming 'Never mess with a Jentanian Wizard!' onto the wall for 5 seconds with something in his gauntlets.*
Digifanatic: "Heh..."
Trigger: "...AAAAHH HA HA HA HA!!!"
Charles Magellean: "One of his more memorable lines."
Valentine Kilmer: "Just Call me Valentine."
Scott Gibson: "Heh."
Metal Man: "Anyway, let's see what's up for votes today."
Digifanatic: "Good idea."
Charles Magellean whispers. "Very well."
Dragoshi: "...Heh."
Trigger: "Mm'kay."
Charles Magellean: "Before you begin..." *Goes up to near Julian.*
Julian Sawyer is currently not in the room.
*He must of slipped out when everyone else started talking.*
Charles Magellean: "That man is lesser known for his tardiness, I suppose."
Trigger: "Yeah..."
Azure sits in a chair unaware of the world around him as he dove deep into the tale.
Charles Magellean: "Julian, that is."
Metal Man looks up the computer n' stuff. "Okay..."
Julian Sawyer then enters the room, wiping his face with a napkin, then casually tossing it in the trash "What'd I miss?"
Trigger: "...Everything."
Charles Magellean: "About 20 minutes of conversation."
Digifanatic: "Just a bunch of random conversations."
Dragoshi: "Eh. Nothin' much."
Trigger: "...Yeahhh."
Julian Sawyer: "Nothin' then. Got it."
Dragoshi: "Like I said, nothin' much."
Digifanatic: .oO(I think he gets it.)
Trigger: "I think he gets it now."
Julian Sawyer: *Narrows eyes at Trigger* "Gets what?"
Trigger: "...'Do we have to fight?"
Digifanatic: .oO(*sigh* Here we go again.)
Julian Sawyer: "Nah, I'm jus' askin' you to explain what you said."
Trigger: "COME ON, I don't wanna fight with you."
Metal Man: "Mission... uhhh..."
Scott Gibson: "Julian, don't bother with it."
Metal Man: "Mission 13. Malfunctioning What? This one... has been sitting around forever."
Julian Sawyer: "An' like I SAID, I jus' want an' explanation."
Dragoshi: "I believe he meant you got what I said. Then again I could be wrong, I haven't completely woken up yet..."
Scott Gibson: "What Drag said."
Digifanatic: "He's right."
Trigger: "I said that, cause I thought you knew that you missed nothing but pointless talking."
Scott Gibson: "In other words he was agreeing with you."
Digifanatic: "And the others, Metal?"
Metal Man: "And... uhhh... Mission 18. We gotta find out sometime who's buying all the underwater equipment in Port Destiny."
Julian Sawyer: "That's all you had to say."
Trigger: "...Sorry."
Metal Man: "And in the Arctic, there's... uhhh... some sort of abominable snowman. Mission 19."
Dragoshi: "...Wait. Wut?"
Metal Man: "Take your pick; we haven't gotten any new ones yet."
Trigger: "I'll take 19 for the win."
Julian Sawyer: "Idjot. An' I'm votin' 18. We still have to get Dan his fish."
Digifanatic: "13."
Scott Gibson: "13."
Dragoshi: "...Hmm...13 or 18..."
The Ninja: "I go with 13. It is lucky number."
Dragoshi: "...Not like mine matters, but 18."
Trigger: "I'll... take...18 FOR THE WIN!!"
Metal Man: "One for 19, three for 13, and one for 18... ... two for 18, none for 19, three for 13."
Aetos tilts his head.
Scott Gibson: "I think that about says it all." *Stands up and slings his guitar* "Takin' care a' business..."
Metal Man: "Errr... Tied."
Aetos: "What exactly is malfunctioning where?"
Metal Man: "My brain malfunctioned, Aetos." *Chuckles.*
Charles Magellean: .oO(True, I didn't hear Young Ward voice an option.)
Aetos: "I thought that happened a long time ago."
Metal Man: "It happens occasionally."
Aetos: "So... in regards to mission 13, then?"
Metal Man: "Mission 13 involves a weird malfunction at Atlantis. I'm not sure what happened, but it's probably something important."
Digifanatic: "Yeah, that sounds pretty big."
Trigger: "Isn't that the place with the warp to get us back to our own dimensions?"
Scott Gibson: "I just want to get 13 out of the way."
Aetos: "That sounds good. I'll say 13."
Trigger: "I'll say 13 too, wanna check this place out."
Scott Gibson: "Wait, it goes to our dimensions!?"
Trigger: "That is what I keep hearing."
Charles Magellean: "'The Questers are to investigate what had malfunctioned on Atlantis.' "
Scott Gibson: "If we find any kind of dimensional equipment I REALLY hope I can find my Vespa! I dunno where my baby is and it's been sitting outside that club for so long now."
Valentine Kilmer: "It's an easy job, so try not to get stuck in the Null Zone again."
Digifanatic: "Heh... Well... sounds like we're hitting Atlantis."
Aetos: "Stuck in the Null Zone? Excuse me, but we weren't stuck."
Scott Gibson: "I just want my baby back. I put a lot of custom parts on it."
Dragoshi: "..." .oO(What a waste of time.)
Trigger: "...You got a girlfriend? ...Oh.
...Never mind."
Digifanatic: "Hit it."
Charles Magellean looks to Valentine in an odd manner.
Aetos sighs. .oO(Why me...)
Charles Magellean: "Tactician or not, she has to be a Quester if she jumped to a conclusion like that."
Aetos shakes his head. .oO(Why them?)
"I told you, Charles."
Scott Gibson: "It's probably lonely out there. It has it's own built in AI with a personality all it's own."
Valentine Kilmer: "Hmm. I expect that to be an insult then?"
Aetos: "She's no different."
Dragoshi: *Chuckles in response to what Charles said* "...Heh."
Scott Gibson: "Yeah, a scooter with a personality, who'd a thunk it, eh?"
Charles Magellean: "Insult or not, it is a truth in a majority of situations."
Aetos goes over to Charles, tells him he expects Charles to be there when they get back, and gets a head start to the elevator warp thing.
Digifanatic: "Yup... let's just go."
*He starts following Aetos.*
Julian Sawyer's already gone. Jeez, you people are slow, what with the talking.
Editor's Note: I normally disagree with Julian but this season I've found myself agreeing with him quite a bit, could they get a move on? It's been 470+ lines... and this next mission hasn't begun.
Scott Gibson moves into the warp praying he'll find his scooter wherever this dimensional stuff is.
Dragoshi follows the others.
Valentine Kilmer: "You are right. When the others leave, we will talk more about this."
Trigger follows the others.
Scott Gibson: "I'll finish the payments on it... c'mon just let me find it!"
The Ninja is long gone as well.
Charles Magellean: "True to my word, we shall have that conversation. Perhaps we can move to a more central locale? The Questers' Big Room is mainly for their missions and Metal's paperwork."
Valentine Kilmer: "That it is. Where would you like to take this?"
Charles Magellean: "Their cafeteria."
Valentine Kilmer: "Very well. Follow me." *The platform as he turn around as she hovers out of the room and into the kitchen.*
Charles Magellean follows the platform into the Questers' kitchen. He goes to the fridge and takes out some Coca-Cola Max. He sits down in the center of the area, popping the top of the bottle. He takes a bit of a swig.
"For as long as I've been here, Nintendian food gives me the nourishment I require, but the taste of it is horrendous to my taste buds. This Coca-cola is the closest thing to what I have on my homeworld.
I should say... what is left of it."
*He looks to Valentine into the eyes, putting his bottle down.* "Now, what do you desire to say to me first?"
Valentine Kilmer: "You may begin how you see fit." *She's across the center area, fully facing Charles as the platform gives off light humming sounds in the quiet area.*
Charles Magellean: "I will begin where there is tension, as I can only guess. The situation became awkward when I had said you were a Quester because you jumped to a conclusion."
Valentine Kilmer: "It is true. It would seem that the arrogance of Julian was slowly blocking my judgement. But I must also never make a public apology either."
Charles Magellean: "The New Yorker is a man very set in his ways, absolutely blocking out any alternative that does not suit his version of the right answer. I'm not sure what his lifestyle was like specifically, or how he lived, but I know that it has opened my eyes more than once. The Questers have had the tendency to react with their reflexes than their minds more often than not as well as being distrustful of situations."
Valentine Kilmer: "Oh? I see a few things in him, but maybe I'm simply overlooking something that cannot be seen with eyes alone. Is this something you can share, or do I get a riddle to figure on my own?"
Charles Magellean: "Well, it's more of one of the reasons that I had to quit the Questers."
Valentine Kilmer: "I'm fully aware of their reflexes. That is why I am here to help with use their minds and not their hands and feet. There is more to battle than fight with strength alone."
Metal Man walks in, his joints clanking as usual. "Hmmmm..."
Charles Magellean: "That's your problem right there. Ever since the defeat of Kuja, the world has turned from evil to good. It has changed."
Metal Man: "At times I wonder my own place in this. Without any real anti-Quester foes, all I have to do is ensure the maintenance of some old computers."
Valentine Kilmer: "Oh. Hello, Metal. Do you wish to share some insight as well?"
Charles Magellean: "While some of them want to change, the majority tend to fall into the tendencies of old."
Metal Man: "I might as well. I am one of the longest-running continual members of this organization; even Wolfman's had his time off."
Valentine Kilmer: "Which gets them killed, or even worse, it gets others killed. Yet, it seems that the Questers are too busy with their selfish greed now-a-days."
Metal Man: "That was their original problem, and I have yet to have fixed it. I think Kuja temporarily paused it; he killed some of the greediest ones and tortured the remaining ones over a series of many years..."
Charles Magellean: "Which is why I left the Questers. The world was changing, but some of them don't understand that unless they change, calamities like the Mages Council headquarters will only increase in number. I had told Aetos, point blank, that if the Questers did not change how they solve the problems of Nintendus, then they should step down and allow someone who can.
As for me... well, I cannot change as well. That is the other reason why I left."
Valentine Kilmer: "Hmm. Maybe it is time we should look back on this then. I'm thinking of ideas that would give them painful lessons that help fix the problem as well. Force them to think before swinging a sword."
Metal Man: "It is my objective to change them, and I have only managed to keep them from getting worse. I myself would go out and fight, but paperwork often keeps me here."
Charles Magellean: "The core personality of the individuals cannot be changed. It only results in accusations, heated arguments, and further lack of teamwork. If what I said remains true, you will have failed in you job as Quester Tactician."
Metal Man chuckles nervously. "We all try what we can."
Valentine Kilmer: "It is something I must analysis more on. The first key to teamwork is getting the others to work together."
Charles Magellean: "Valentine, how high a position do you have in Ivan's employment?"
Valentine Kilmer: "Intel."
Charles Magellean gets out his "Earth dictionary."
Valentine Kilmer: "Gathering information."
Charles Magellean puts back the 5,000 page small book into his back pocket.
"Ahhh... Ivan."
Valentine Kilmer: "Much like what I did for Section 9."
Metal Man: "Sector 9?"
Valentine Kilmer: "Something I use to do before I came here. Public Security Section 9. Well known for information warfare. We were always one step ahead because he used every resource we had to get the jump on someone."
Metal Man: "Ah. I do know he outsmarted Kuja himself; and The Void. It was only a few people who managed to outsmart him, but they were flukes."
Valentine Kilmer: "I'm not saying we should always outsmart the enemy all the time. I just believe we should know what we're dealing with before we scramble into an area."
Metal Man: "It is difficult to know, these days, thanks to the seemingly random missions we are solicited for."
Charles Magellean: "Seems you've reached an impasse, Valentine. I tried to get around it to no avail."
*He takes a might big swig.
* "You said you had heard rumors about me, ma'am. What would those be?"
Valentine Kilmer: "Just what I read from Metal's data entry of past missions which involved you."
Charles Magellean: "Which would be..."
Metal Man: "Ah yes. I have made many of those."
Charles Magellean takes a mighty big swig again.
"Has... has Ivan said anything about me anymore?"
Metal Man: "I haven't heard anything, but that isn't really my position to know."
Valentine Kilmer: "Well, the most recent one that Metal has yet to enter was about the Russian Soldier that really didn't exist . Vladimir Va'Ruushkah was it?"
Metal Man: "Yes. Only the chaos of The Void could make such a suggestion turn into reality..."
Charles Magellean: "Merely another form that my Nobody, Mahlec Haxgel, had taken upon."
Valentine Kilmer: "It is interesting how paranoia so deep can soon turn into reality if one wills it."
Charles Magellean: "Mahlec was the cause of the rise of the Magellean Military as well among other temptations, even though it had given me advice in the past. It is true that all that remains of me is a historical figure. All I do now is sit atop the peak of my base upon The Moon and silently think things over... and over... and over..."
Metal Man: "Sounds somewhat boring. I prefer to write down accounts of the past and interpret them carefully."
Valentine Kilmer: "Do you even plan on carrying out what you think about, Charles?"
Charles Magellean: "Really, there's only one thing left for me to do. Short of defeating The Void before he joined you, Illian, I faced my past, no longer have a Nobody, or have chaos energy surging through me. All that's left is to find out what that white robed hologram told me to do."
Metal Man: "I have a sinking feeling you may get to fight him for real some day. However he seems more interested in warfare against his fellow men rather than fight us."
Charles Magellean looks at him with one of his eyes opened, the other closed.
He checks his watches. "Crap... the vacation is already over? Wow, I don't remember it being that short.
His fellow men?
By the way, what I meant by that is that now I've become myself again. Beliefs, emotions and all that."
Valentine Kilmer: "While it could be a bad thing as your beliefs could possibly could your judgement, it is also good to know about the true Charles L. Magellean that is before me."
Charles Magellean: "Really, true is in the eye of the beholder. I was taking time away from myself, not being limited by modesty. Just cold, hard honesty and fact. For one thing, I wouldn't have said about the male subconscious statement."
*He talks to Metal again.* "You were saying that The Void had... fellow men?"
Valentine Kilmer: "I believe he would mean the Questers as he is tied with Metal now. The Void has some interesting attacks as well. I'm sure you seen this as well, Charles."
Metal Man: "The Phantom Lords. I've heard only a little, but they apparently have some racket involving control of everything."
Charles Magellean: "And The Void was one of these Lords?"
Metal Man: "Yes. He rebelled, for some reason, claiming that he was bored with nothing but order. He aided us in defeating the lord which was supposed to attack us now, known as 'The Fury'."
Valentine Kilmer: "The Fury. The one who Ivo help defeat against the Questers, right?"
Metal Man: "Yes. Between us and him, The Fury got beat down."
Valentine Kilmer: "I see. But do we truly know if it was defeated?"
Metal Man: "Only contained, so far, as even The Void is unsure as to whether we can destroy a Phantom Lord."
Charles Magellean: "Do the Phantom Lords work in similar ways? Needing a corporeal vessel?"
Metal Man: "Not quite. This, he looked for fragments of himself hidden inside other corporeal vessels. They vary from being to being."
Charles Magellean: "I'll keep this in mind. Knowing that I was a prime enemy to The Void, will the other Phantom Lords come after me now that I am aware of them?"
Metal Man: "...They hate The Void. They would probably try to ally or possess you. Mainly because, with him on our side, we know just enough to strip away their mysticality and replace it with disagreement."
Charles Magellean: "The Mages Council leader was interested in me being a member since they don't know of Lunarian magic, but I have yet to say anything to them."
Metal Man: "Ah. Well, I don't know much about it either. I wish I had something more important to do; while I can outfight many, my place is not explicitly in the battlefield anymore."
Charles Magellean: "I'll be on my way back to my world. Nothing more to say here."
Valentine Kilmer: "That is true. I wish you luck, Charles."
Metal Man: "Perhaps... but I do regret a lack of senior Questers around these days. New people always telling me they're the best... they're just filling the role which the person before them once filled."
Charles Magellean: "Almost forgot: Do you know anything about 'magic words of creation' ?"
Metal Man: "No more than I know what happened to my old house."
Editor's Note: Funny, it's almost like he's beginning to remember things like his house/apartment on Erastia all the way back in this season.
Valentine Kilmer: "Magic words of Creation? I might have a small idea. It would sound like a magical spell to bring something to life. That that is just an educated guess. Maybe Sky or Ivan know more about it."
Charles Magellean: "It's important that I know; a robed hologram told me to request a holy artifact of Yortsed, (replace the the encrypted control cube with this primitive doctor's own?), and say the magic words of creation."
*He had the words in parentheses because he has no idea what Met meant by that.*
Editor's Note: I'm thinking it related to Ivo Robotnik or Ivan Robotnik's own cube of power, but it's been too long for me to remember either.
Metal Man: "Hm. Must be some sort of logic puzzle."
Charles Magellean: "And Lord Bahamut knows that I've been here with Questers for too long to think critically."
Valentine Kilmer: "A robed hologram? It wouldn't happen to be a white robed man, would it?"
Charles Magellean: "It is."
Metal Man: "Huh."
Charles Magellean: "It said I held the key to greatness, and all I had to do was use it."
Valentine Kilmer: "The same one that told Rathos about him being the key." *She now looks over at Metal.*
"I believe we have found our next challenge."
Charles Magellean: "Then it said about that whole Yortsed artifact thing and then said 'all shall be revealed.' ...Uh, whatever. What did this 'Rathos' look like?"
Metal Man: "A blue Samus made of phazon with a lot of programming code on its surface. Its helmet looked nearly Solarian."
Charles Magellean: "..."
Valentine Kilmer: "Indeed. He too met this hologram."
Charles Magellean had a look of pure dread and seriousness on his face.
"You have to got to be FF******G KIDDING ME."
Valentine Kilmer looks back at Metal. "Something I missed?"
Charles Magellean: "Tell me everything that has happened since the first appearance of this Rathos thing."
Metal Man: "Well, it was found in the ruins of my civilization's last outpost. A Solarian, though dying, dictated his personality into a computer.
It managed to hijack an entire sector, and escaped into outer space.
From there, it tried to destroy us with Gunicard. Julian stopped it, and it fled again. Eventually, a Space Pirate frigate crashed in the arctic."
Charles Magellean: "Does this Rathos thing have a full name?"
Metal Man: "Metroid Prime came forth to attack us, only for Rathos Lell to corrupt it."
Charles Magellean: "I see."
Metal Man: "Thus it became Rathos Lell, a wandering abomination."
Charles Magellean: "So it's become this... this..."
Editor's Note: Your disgust at how ridiculous this plot is is shared by me, Charles.
Valentine Kilmer: "Is he still in the temple, Metal?"
Metal Man: "Yes, and peaceful, for the time being."
Charles Magellean: "What the hell does it call itself now??"
Valentine Kilmer: "Would Charles like to speak with him?"
Metal Man: "Metroid Rathos."
Charles Magellean pounds the table so hard that it tilts a bit.
He gets out of the chair and swipes the bottle down to the floor.
"How many times WILL THOSE GODDDAMN SOLARIANS CREATE ABOMINATIONS!?!?"
Editor's Note: Oh... ...a couple million times, Charles.
Valentine Kilmer: "Do calm down, Charles."
Metal Man: "As long as one tenth of their sentience is in existence."
*He projects a map of the world, then it being nearly erased.
* "They destroyed my people and many others. It was only a fluke I pressed the button which killed them all."
Editor's Note: Hey hey, don't write them all off as evil like that, past Metal. We have no clue what the non-evil scientists of their kind did, for one. And those Neo-Earthians aren't angels either.
Charles Magellean: "It was bad enough that they defied the laws of natural process by combining magic and technology to create their wretched magitek. Now one goes as far as to DEFY existence by fusing with A PARASITE!?"
Metal Man: "Technically it was data, which is why it cannot terrorize us like the old ones did. All we need to do is find a weak point."
Valentine Kilmer: "If I study it enough, I can do that. In fact, I'll do that while the others are on their mission tomorrow."
Charles Magellean: "Your dimension or mine, those people were always making banes on reality, Illian. That is why this thing MUST be destroyed at all costs."
Valentine Kilmer: "And cleaning up what's left of the other job."
Metal Man: "I think, then, you're likely to not want to know that Gerald had a virus of his own resurrect a bunch of Kuja's armor suits and had them camp out in some Solarian ruins."
Charles Magellean: "Oh please, why do you think they were released? I tried to access the console, but all I got was corrupted gibberish. When I went to turn it off, something beamed into the armors and went strolling into the desert. Now I made sure that the source was gone by destroying the screen and knocking over the console. Then I followed them to the ruins."
Valentine Kilmer: "Come to think of it. How did the others get into the Null Zone anyways?"
Charles Magellean: "I don't know. Aetos said he wanted to stop me because The Businessman asked him to do so. Apparently, he regards the Null Zone as off-limits or something. Julian, I have no idea."
Metal Man: "They were sent there by Gerald's superweapon."
Charles Magellean: "Their leader said that the machine wasn't even built by Gerald. Just used by him."
Metal Man: "Hmmmm. Well, the closest I know is that Gerald was once possessed by The Void."
Valentine Kilmer: "Yes. The very weapon to send the super soldiers there. So it is true." *She then looks back at Charles* "And why were you there?"
Charles Magellean: "The Ivan of the Null Zone came to my world in a satellite. Before being sent away by Ivan of this realm, he challenged me to come to the Null Zone to see if I'm truly evil. He had said I was the last remaining piece of The Void. Coincidentally, that Ivan killed my Nobody with a weapon he called 'Lawbreaker.' My colleagues said the only clue as to how to get into the Null Zone was by accessing the sealed machinations of the Solarians since they're both evil as the other. I wanted to ask your brethren at the Lost Outpost about it, but wound up at Nova's ruined base.
Also something else about Dark Matter, but apparently, I didn't need it."
Valentine Kilmer: "The very base in which we ended up at. And I take it you tried to ruin the console as well."
Charles Magellean: "So like I said earlier, I followed the things to the base, tried to deter them to no avail, and went inside the ruined Solarian tower which wasn't abandoned after all. They said I couldn't follow them because about death, or something, so I asked for the Null Zone machine. They granted me my request. Valentine, if you recall I said I knocked over that console and destroyed that screen in Nova's base to make sure that more of those blasted beams couldn't come out of it.
Now what I want to know is why the Questers were butting their noses in my business.
Why were they at the base?"
Metal Man: "A blip on Gerald's computer, which lead them to Nova's base."
Charles Magellean: "The Dimensional cannon basement?"
Metal Man: "Yes. I heard people turned it on, but were astonished to find no laughing Gerald, no evil plan, and no world-destroying madness."
Charles Magellean: "Better be careful not to put an x-zone sphere there. Someone said that doing so would cause the virus to run amok."
Valentine Kilmer: "Someone?"
Charles Magellean: "Okay, I overheard Shadow saying that doing so would cause the virus to run amok. Shadow the Hedgehog."
Metal Man: "Hm. So then he must have expected us to have put it there first."
Charles Magellean: "As did I."
Metal Man: "But since it wasn't, the idea was... utterly thwarted."
Charles Magellean: "Ignorance is another of the Questers' qualities. Or is it tendencies?"
Valentine Kilmer: "That's right. No one knows Gerald better than Shadow."
Charles Magellean: "Poor Gerald. Combined with the death of his granddaughter, his role as a Marician, being used by governments twice to make horrible weapons, and being possessed by The Void... I just hope that he has found his peace on the Farplane."
Editor's Note: Nope!
Valentine Kilmer: "A sad fate for someone that just wanted to see a better world. Resulting in his mind snapping. Enough sad talk. Let us rewind to a current point in which I have solved."
Charles Magellean: "What the hologram said to me?"
Valentine Kilmer: "Yes. Even Metal knows of what I speak."
Charles Magellean: "Well I'm in the dark. Tell me your version of the solution."
Valentine Kilmer: "You claimed the robed man called you a Key, correct?"
Charles Magellean: "Yes."
Valentine Kilmer: "As we were saying before, Rathos was also contacted by the same man. He however told us of this and what the use of it was. We have found something deep under the ground that even Kuja himself didn't know about. A temple full of challenges to gain current power.
Rathos was the key to unlock the Metroid challenge.
That was a given. However, I have yet to know what you can unlock if you can unlock."
Charles Magellean: "Which is why I gotta leave now for my home. If I know anything else, I'll let you know. One important matter left, though. It's about this 'incident' of a base that wasn't my own on The Moon?"
Valentine Kilmer: "Actually, Charles. I have a way of knowing. However, we'll discuss this on later terms. Is there a way I can contact you? Oh. You mean the second moon base?"
Charles Magellean: "Aetos said that Dracula and another being were trespassing upon my homeworld. Who was this other person?"
Valentine Kilmer: "An unknown being that goes back the name of #4. I wish I had more information, but this being is good at keeping it's tracked covered.
It was also the source behind the Mages' HQ destruction."
Charles Magellean: "Know this: This will not be tolerated again. Those without approval of the Lunarians or Lord Bahamut to be on The Moon was a serious offense 35 Lunarian years ago and is violation today. I want the both of these culprits both captured and/or killed. The Questers were able to destroy the entire hostile base, so I will look the other way for them and you.
As for contacting me, Valentine, no such thing will be possible. I will contact you when I have new information on the matter."
Valentine Kilmer: "We will do what we can, Charles. We'll also let you join in if we find a lead."
Charles Magellean: "Keep Julian on a leash and I may consider your offer. Sorta nice to you. Metal, if I may have a transport ready for The Moon?"
Metal Man: "As you wish."
Valentine Kilmer: "Hmm. I wish you luck, Charles."
Metal Man snaps his fingers, and a warp appears.
Charles Magellean: "You and SIMBER being united this way is being... uneasy to me."
*He begins to walk to the warp.* "I've been wandering... is the astral realm the same one as the ascended ones?"
Metal Man: "It's easy to set up, like a clapper. And yes."
Charles Magellean: "Most disturbing. I'll be more than happy to pay you to find out why The Businessman didn't want me to go to the Null Zone, even though the Ivan there just wanted me to show up and leave."
*He mutters under his breath,* "Conspiracy is always around to bug me."
He enters the warp while hearing their parting words.
Valentine Kilmer: "Now then, Metal. You know where I'm going, right?"
Metal Man: "Yes."
Valentine Kilmer: "Then I'll take my leave. Give the Questers my regards, will you?"
Metal Man: "I will." *Sets up another warp.*
Valentine Kilmer: "I hope this will win their trust." *She enters into the warp.*
Editor's Note: Nope...
Metal Man: "Hmmm... nobody's here..."
*He tap dances when nobody is looking. Fadeout.*