Super Smash Quest - Story - Chapter 330: Ultimately Useless Tests

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Date: March 3rd & 4th, 2007.
Metal Man (GM): The camera starts... again, far away from the Q.S. Seeker. Armon, currently ruler of the machine faction, is reclining in a chair, analyzing data. His monitors show Questers fighting, the MM2, Sonic, Ruin Miasma, and events on the planet in general.
Armon: "Poor, poor Smithy. Look what savage people these are. They must have ripped you into a billion pieces."
Metal Man (GM): He flips about. He catches the tail-end of an MM2 person being blown up near a pile of rocks... and flips by it.
Armon: "So boring, though. No invasions, like that Kuja fellow once threatened."
Metal Man (GM): He plays an ancient message.
Kuja: (Comms) "ATTENTION CITIZENS OF SAGA. My invasion forces are on the brink of completion. You have no time to escape. All your bases shall soon belong to me! Now, it is time to show you your---what? Who set the Dimensional Cannon to act like a bomb? ...Rest assured... I shall come!"
Metal Man (GM): The old message fades into a 'SIGNAL LOST' image.
Armon: "Hmmm... what is this..."
Metal Man (GM): He flips to an old image from another of Gerald's labs. The area has been trashed.
Armon: "...This wasn't like this before..."
Metal Man (GM): He flips to another one. It shows Angel Island... with a massive hole in it.
Armon: "...Ivan's old lab too?"
Metal Man (GM): He flips to, finally, an image of the pre-X-zone project area, where Sardis Mongul probably once worked. It has been obliterated.
Armon: "Hm... puzzling... those have all been completely abandoned, and their data is with me. Why would---"
Metal Man (GM): *BLAM* The door to his room is blasted and flies over his head, embedding it into the wall behind him. A humanoid figure, whose identity is obscured by the light coming from the door, stares at him with glowing red eyes. His boots are metallic-looking.
???: "...I have come to take the last data written in the name of the Smithy Project."
Armon: "What use is it to you? Smithy was a failure. Although I still don't know wh---"
???: "SILENCE!" He blasts a hole in the floor near Armon, sending Armon careening into a monitor.
Armon: "Uh... gh... fine, take the data. I don't need it anyway." He chucks an ancient disk, probably encrypted by the likes of Gerald, at ???, who smashes it with the heel of his left boot.
Metal Man (GM): ...But he does not leave.
???: "Surely you didn't think I would believe that to be the only copy?" He moves. An electronic noise is heard.
Armon: "...That is the only copy on these systems. Gerald's viruses destroyed most of our past systems. The only copy left is in this lab." He shows an image of the lab in which the Ultimate Emerald sits.
???: "Then... I shall spare you..." *click.* "One tenth of you, I mean."
Metal Man (GM): *BLAM* He fires, and the entire area explodes. Meanwhile, on the Q.S. Seeker...
Mewtwo: "Going to see the Ultimate Emerald, then?"
Dragoshi: "Aye."
Alexia nods.
Digifanatic: "Consensus says as such."
Alexia: "Hopefully, this time, E Li won't show up."
Aaron warps in.
Aetos twiddles his thumbs.
Alexia: "I'm still finding bits of dye on my bed."
Digifanatic: "Yeah... I hope."
Dragoshi: "...Eh. I don't mind either way."
Traon is just there, not saying much, but listening.
Mewtwo: "E Li Three vanished again... I last saw him near Armon's palace."
Dragoshi: "...Huh."
Darkdata: "Interesting."
Mewtwo: "But, you definitely do NOT want to see him again, right? So to the Ultimate Emerald you go."
Digifanatic: "The guy seems to be everywhere, huh?"
Harnit just listens to the veteran Questers while standing in the corner... He wonders how this mission will go...
Metal Man (GM): Mewtwo opens a warp to the lab.
Mewtwo: "You may proceed to go there."
Alexia: "Masks?"
Mewtwo: "Yes. The walls do not keep the poisons out..."
Dragoshi: "...wha?"
Douglas shrugs and enters... *mask.*
Alexia nods again, puts on her mask and enters the warp.
Digifanatic: "Ah, right..."
Alexia: "You coming, Harnit?"
Digifanatic: *masks up and warps out.*
Dragoshi: "Oh. Right. Those." *Puts on his mask and enters za warupo.*
Darkdata: *Mask on, warp.*
Harnit then hurries after the others... In a bit of a day dream it seems. "Sorry, sorry!"
Traon puts his mask on and goes into the warp.
Metal Man (GM): *WARP* The Questers appear... in the spacious, ruined lab. The Ultimate Emerald sits perfectly still. Probably inactive.
Dragoshi: "...So."
Alexia takes a deep breath, letting it out slowly.
Harnit: "Ooh... That's what we're here for?"
Alexia: "Ready if you are."
Metal Man (GM): The Questers hear footsteps approaching.
Alexia: "..."
Douglas blinks. "Maybe we should hide?"
Metal Man (GM): *clank.* *clank.* *clank.* *clank.* *clank.*
Douglas does so, just in case, even if the others don't.
Alexia takes out her gun and looks for a hiding spot.
Metal Man (GM): There's debris everywhere. Easy to hide.
Dragoshi: "...Sure thing." *Looks for some place to hide... And, does so readying his machinegun.*
Alexia hides behind a particularly large piece of debris.
Digifanatic: *tries to hide as well.*
Traon tries to hide as well.
Metal Man (GM): The Questers hide. A man with metallic boots wanders in... and a metallic helmet, and shoulders, and such. It's Metal Man. He appears to have... a cape bought from the merchants of Capital City?
Alexia: "...?"
Metal Man: "Hellooooooooooo in there? I heard the Questers were here... just wanted to see what they were up to... hmmm..."
Dragoshi: *Still hiding.* .oO(Metal? Here? How iffy...)
Alexia raises an eyebrow, but continues hiding. Something is REAAALLY not right here.
Harnit ... Puts on a breathing mask as he realizes the air burns his nose and lungs... And wonders why they're being asked for...
Digifanatic: .oO(Probably a being transformed...)
Metal Man looks around, staring at the emerald as if it is a normal object. "Hm. Gerald's handiwork is all over this place."
Douglas switches his eyes, to reveal the truth.
Dragoshi: .oO(Nope. ...Nothin' odd. Normal as far as I can tell. Though, how would he know about this?)
Digifanatic: .oO(What in the world... what am I trying to believe?)
Metal Man begins looking around the area a bit, out of curiosity. "This is quite an interesting place. Perhaps I shall take some mementos home with me."
Digifanatic: .oO(This ain't right.)
Metal Man picks up a plaque that says 'ULTIMATE EMERALD' and then takes out a camera and takes a picture of the Ultimate Emerald.
Dragoshi: .oO(Peculiar...)
Metal Man then shrugs and goes to walk out. "Maybe the Questers went somewhere else."
Metal Man (GM): *CLANK* *CLANK* *CLANK* *CLANK* He wanders into a hallway and out of earshot.
Dragoshi: *Drops a tarantula and has it stealthily follow 'Metal.'*
Digifanatic: .oO(If this ain't the real one, he's blowing something up.) "What are you trying to do?"
Alexia: *facepalm.*
Metal Man stops suddenly and turns to Digi's position. "Hm... a strange echo that sounded like Digi..." He takes out his dex and presses a few buttons. "That's funny... since when do the Questers hide from me?"
Metal Man notes the tarantula and rubs his chin.
Darkdata: "..."
Alexia: .oO(Digi, you're an idiot...)
Metal Man: "I guess they'd never believe, in my free time, I took the burnt-out teleportation ring Zio once used and rigged it up to go to Genetia."
Harnit blinks and still wonders why they're hiding...
Metal Man: "Ah well. I'm sure they don't want supplies of new items, food, and drink." *He shrugs and continues walking... he's heading towards the outside of the lab.*
Metal Man (GM): He's far away from everyone now--outside the lab.
Harnit whispers to the others, "Why were we hiding?"
Tarantula: *Follows Metal...*
Alexia waits until she's out of ear and eyeshot before slowly standing back up.
Metal Man (GM): The tarantula would follow Metal outside, to where he would be... well. Unless Dragoshi is a mind-reader, he wouldn't know, but it'd be able to follow him everywhere he went.
Dragoshi: *Does the same, but stays in a hard-to-see spot.*
Digifanatic: *gets up as well, and says half-quietly.* "Hey, I'm sorry, but if that was a fake and it used Metal's form to screw us over... better to stop its plan now than after it's too late."
Dragoshi: "...'K. Think we should follow 'im?"
Harnit: "Ahh... Who's Metal? Someone of importance?"
Digifanatic: "Our boss, actually."
Dragoshi: "...Our leader."
Digifanatic: "Eh, same idea."
Douglas: "If he's here to give us things, he'd be showing up in the Seeker sooner or later. "
Dragoshi: "Yea."
Alexia: "Hrm..."
Harnit: "Ah..." *The kid hms and wonders about something...*
Douglas: "We'd best just tackle one thing at a time." *Looks to the emerald.*
Harnit: "Well, there's one way to know if he's real or not."
Alexia: "Oh?"
Douglas: "...Oh?"
Dragoshi: "I second that."
Harnit pulls out his dex. "Why not contact him on this?"
Dragoshi: "...Would we even be in range?"
Alexia: "Only one way to find out."
Dragoshi: "Ah, what the heck. Just try either way." :/
Digifanatic: "Not a bad idea."
Alexia takes out her Dex and rings Metal.
Harnit: "He just left a little bit ago..." *Puts his dex back.*
Metal Man: (Dex) "Hello?" In the background, there are some of George's people with him.
Alexia: "Metal, there's an impostor going around using your form."
Douglas blinks. He facepalms for a second, then returns to posture.
Dragoshi: *Facepalm, Level 10. 3 seconds.*
Alexia: "..."
Metal Man: (Dex) "And where has this impostor been?"
Alexia: "I just did something phenominally stupid again, didn't I?"
Metal Man: (Dex) "No, really. I wanna find this impostor and beat him down."
Alexia glances towards the door. "Wait, someone's coming. Call you back."
Dragoshi: "...Again?"
Alexia slams her Dex closed and facepalms.
Harnit looks to the door...
Metal Man: (Dex) "Someone is coming?" *click.*
Digifanatic: "Wha?"
Douglas: "Let's just get this done, and worry about that later."
Dragoshi: "...Yea."
Douglas holds his hand out to the emerald and wonders how it was activated before.
Metal Man (GM): Hm... now it sounds like somebody IS coming.
Douglas: "...Or not. Hide again?"
Metal Man (GM): *Clank.* *Clank.* *Clank.* *Clank.*
Alexia: "Hey, I'm getting good at this."
Digifanatic: "Definitely."
Alexia hides again.
Digifanatic: *hides.*
Dragoshi: .oO(Not again...) *Hides. Again.*
Douglas: *hide.*
Harnit: "Let's just face him now... The emerald will attract him anyways!" *Goes to hide with the others...*
Metal Man (GM): Metal Man wanders into the room again, oblivious to everyone hiding.
Douglas chucks a pebble at the emerald before bolting behind debris.
Metal Man: "Aha! I have found the impostor!" *Begins fighting with self.*
Dragoshi: .oO(Still has the tarantula following him...)
Metal Man: "Take that! And that! And that!" *Hands punch one another and he flies around as if he's in a fight with himself.*
Darkdata: "..." *is at a loss for words.*
Dragoshi: .oO(Wait, that thing didn't get squashed in an accident yet? Holy damn.)
Metal Man (GM): He then finally stops and then shrugs.
Digifanatic: .oO(It's almost as if E Li Three took him over!)
Metal Man: "I knew you were in here, Alexia. However I thought I'd still have some fun at your expense. Of course you can hide, but I can know where you all are with this."
Dragoshi: "Okay. Enough screwing around." *Jumps outta the rubble.*
Alexia charges up a Heat Beam and stands up.
Metal Man takes out his dex and presses a button--everyone's dexes beep.
Digifanatic: *gets out of the rubble and opens his Dex.*
Metal Man (GM): He dusts off his cape and looks around.
Metal Man: "So... I saw your mission on my dex. You want this rock to balance stuff?"
Dragoshi: *Walks past Metal and picks up the tarantula that was following him.* "...Well, at least it wasn't the mooing one."
Alexia's eyes narrow.
Digifanatic: .oO(Still a bit suspicious...)
Alexia: "Okay, enough. Where's the REAL Metal?"
Dragoshi: *Puts away his tarantula.*
Harnit frowns. "Why don't you trust him?"
Metal Man: *Takes off his helmet at Alexia, making it appear as if he's headless.* "WoooOooOoooOOOOOO!!!!"
Dragoshi: *Laughs.* "That's our boss."
Harnit opens his eyes widely in surprise. "Gah!"
Digifanatic: .oO(If E Li Three transformed into him I will NOT be surprised.)
Metal Man: *His head pops out of his armor, still somewhat old looking. Oddly, he doesn't seem to mind the atmosphere.* "Hm. This place isn't as toxic as the outside." *Puts his helmet back on.* "Now... you guys have been saying you want to do this mission. Let's see about getting it started."
Dragoshi: "Heh. 'Kay."
Metal Man: *Snaps fingers.* "Aetos, you touch the rock again."
Douglas leaves his hiding and touches the rock. Er... Emerald.
Metal Man (GM): It glows, and once again is as normal. Metal stands with the others and lets it talk.
Emerald: "...It appears my test has been rather... bad for you."
Dragoshi: "How so?"
Emerald: "How suspicious are you? You suspect your own leader of being evil when he marches in with no weapons drawn and says nothing of malice. While he is somewhat hard to account for, one must gain true balance and decipher good from evil much quicker. It is the suspicion which fuels the MM2."
Alexia sighs. Damn, damn, damn, damn, damn.
Emerald: "Using your balance you can cause them to doubt their own leaders and destroy themselves."
Dragoshi: "Sorry if we're trying to be careful."
Emerald: "It is, in fact, hereditary in the organization to self-destruct."
Dragoshi: *He lets out a slight hiss.*
Emerald: "You are safe in my presence, regardless of who is here. It is me and me alone who chooses who lives and who dies here."
Dragoshi: "...I see."
Emerald: "Kuja himself would die if he walked before me, godship and all."
Harnit blinks... A little concerned at that.
Emerald: "In fact he made plans to destroy me at one time. It was a sudden explosion that disabled those. Which brings me to a source of great balance..."
Alexia: "So what? Do we lose?"
Dragoshi: "And, that is...?"
Emerald: "No, you must gain balance by doing one more test."
Dragoshi: "...Fun."
Digifanatic: "Okay."
Emerald: "...The information of Kuja's entire civilization lies below here, a transmitted burst by the computers Gerald set up there to retain it all for himself after destroying Kuja's copies. But Gerald died before he could ever use it to become God and control me. In your hands, however, you may use the last of Kuja's research for good, instead of evil."
Metal Man (GM): The room shakes and rattles as it twists around a little. A floor tile lifts up, revealing a primitive floating elevator.
Dragoshi: "We'll be sure to do that."
Emerald: "But below this threshold lies functional Gerald machines."
Dragoshi: "Though, I presume there is many an obstacle in the way."
Emerald: "Beware them, for they represent his ultimate evil."
Dragoshi: "We'll be sure to do that."
Alexia enters the elevator.
Dragoshi: "...Now I'm just repeating myself. Heh." *Follows.*
Douglas nods to the emerald appreciatively and enters the elevator.
Darkdata: *To the elevator.* "More twists than a fantasy book, what a life to lead."
Digifanatic: *follows.*
Metal Man follows. He stands onto the elevator.
Metal Man (GM): After everyone has gone onto the elevator, it sinks into the ground, down a twisting mess of passages.
Harnit belatedly follows...
Metal Man (GM): Eventually it lands deep within an underground cave, where water sloshes about both sides of a rusting iron path, and dim LEDs light the area. The unstable iron catwalk leads through a number of areas... the water level has risen, in some areas it is 1 or 2 inches submerged.
Harnit: "... Is this safe?"
Digifanatic cautiously walks off and starts following the path, wary of the water but not too concerned... it's the machines that may irk him.
Dragoshi: "...Prolly'. For now, anyway. But I have a feeling that safeness won't last for long."
Darkdata: "It never does."
Harnit follows the others, holding up his robes a bit so they don't get soaked in the water.
Alexia continues down the catwalk. Never before has she been more grateful that she's a hoverer.
Digifanatic: "Well, we do what we have to and take it from there, 'tis all."
Alexia shakes her head. "Something here isn't meshing with me. I don't know what."
Metal Man walks as well. "Beats me. Although this is probably not safe."
Metal Man (GM): The group reaches a split in the route up ahead.
Dragoshi: *Follows.* "Eh. Prolly' just the feel of this place."
Metal Man (GM): One goes further on into the cave area, where the water gets faster. The other, turning to the right, leads into a rock cave and goes slightly further up.
Dragoshi: "Up or down?"
Darkdata: "I saw we should go lower, deeper into the cave."
Harnit: "I'd rather not take a fall into water..."
Alexia: "...Lower." *She heads down.*
Dragoshi: *Followfollowfollow.*
Digifanatic: .oO(She's taking the path with the faster water?)
Aaron follows downward.
Digifanatic: *heads down.*
Traon follows.
Darkdata: *follow.*
Harnit frowns and reluctantly follows...
Metal Man (GM): Going downwards, the Questers reach a big iron door blocking the way further ahead. A bulkhead. It's rusted shut. It has a single lever for opening/closing.
Alexia makes sure to stay well above the rushing water.
Aaron attempts to ram it down.
Dragoshi: "...Bet it's trapped."
Darkdata: "Watch a flood of water coming out..."
Alexia: *thinking.* "...Focus."
Digifanatic: "I would not be surprised."
Metal Man (GM): *BANG* *BANG*... not strong enough to ram it down with that. The door is very tough.
Digifanatic puts an ear up to the door to see if he can hear any strange activity regarding water on the other end.
Alexia: "Hit it in unison."
Darkdata: "Remember, Fire and Ice people. Hot and cold."
Dragoshi: "Mhm."
Harnit: "... There IS a lever!"
Douglas: "Aye... Why don't we try that?"
Harnit: "It just might work..."
Dragoshi: *Lightly taps on Harnit's head.* "Anyone there? Maybe 'cause it's, I dunno... WAY too obvious?"
Douglas: "But... not everything in the world ISN'T obvious..." *He frowns.*
Harnit: "..."
Alexia: "...Uh, Dragoshi?"
Dragoshi: "...what?"
Alexia: "If it's stupid, and it works, it's not stupid. Let's try it." *She pulls the lever.*
Harnit searches about the immediate area of the catwalk. He looks for anything that might make it look detachable or operated by the switch.
Darkdata: "Go Alexia."
Dragoshi: "...If this leads to a trap, I'm smacking you upside the head."
Metal Man (GM): The lever is the only thing on the door... nothing on the walls besides dim red emergency LEDs. The lever shakes, then a big layer of rust breaks off of it. It suddenly falls into 'unlocked' and the door creaks open.
Dragoshi: "...This just seems too easy."
Darkdata: "And this is why the obvious usually works."
Harnit: "Not everything is a trap."
Darkdata: *Through the door.*
Alexia: *ENTER DOOR.*
Dragoshi: "...Seriously. This just seems too easy so far." *Follows.*
Digifanatic: *waits for something strange with the door... guess not! He walks through.*
Harnit enters the door.
Metal Man (GM): The group walks on into a room from which the water originates. Stained white tiles sit on the floor, as a rush of water issues down a trough on the right side of the room. There's a door to the left labeled 'Kitchen', and a door dead ahead which says 'Mechanical Lab I.' The doors are both ones with doorknobs, made of wood, and locked. A card table is in the middle of this room. Amongst many old containers of alcohol sits some playing cards... a game of Solitaire.
Darkdata looks at the left game.
Digifanatic looks around a bit, taking is some of the interesting sights...
Metal Man (GM): He's 1 card away from winning... but the way its set up makes that 1 card unusable. Therefore, he has lost at the last possible moment.
Dragoshi: "...Huh." *Looks at the game as well.*
Digifanatic: "Bit strange, but well, might as well look."
Alexia closes her eyes and thinks.
Metal Man: "He was sorta kooky."
Alexia: "...Whoever was here was here for a long time. Repeatedly."
Digifanatic takes a second look at that solitaire game...
Harnit walks over to the mechanical lab door and looks at the lock...
Digifanatic: "That one card is like what the Emerald mentioned."
Dragoshi: "Ahh."
Douglas: "Odd that there was no cheating."
Digifanatic: "Dying right before he could use it."
Alexia: "Hmm... I wonder why that water is still running."
Dragoshi: "...Overflowing sink?"
Metal Man (GM): The lock is a normal, old-fashioned key lock.
Alexia looks towards the kitchen door. "Maybe."
Metal Man (GM): Both use old style key locks, the ones with the really large keys.
Darkdata: "Most people..." *Moves the cards around so that it looks like he won.* "Do something like this, when they lose."
Digifanatic: "Dude, I wouldn't... I don't know about you, but sometimes, I have no idea what goes on beyond the grave."
Alexia looks for a way to shut off the water. It's not absolutely scaring her, but it's... unnerving.
Harnit hrms...
Metal Man (GM): The water comes from a hole in the wall and down the trough. It's like a river.
Harnit: "Ahah..."
Alexia: "We should probably shut off that water."
Harnit: "I think I know how to unlock these doors... I need water, though."
Digifanatic: "Hmm... any way to plug it?"
Alexia: "...I get your drift, Harnit. Ice key?"
Harnit nods.
Dragoshi: "Heh."
Douglas: "...How creative."
Digifanatic: "I'll take your word on that."
Douglas: "We could just cut them open, though..."
Harnit starts muttering the words to a spell to try and command a small stream of water to flow to the mechanical lab's lock, head inside, and freeze... If Water Energy Control doesn't cover that, then he just tries to unlock it with the force of the water.
Darkdata: "A very unique puzzle."
Douglas: "But only if this fails..."
Metal Man (GM): Harnit creates an ice key that can be used in both doors.
Harnit: "Heh... Easy."
Digifanatic: "I like that..."
Darkdata: "Wow, Nice work."
Harnit lets the extra water flow back to the river and unlocks both doors.
Dragoshi: "Impressive."
Darkdata: "Harnit, you are the Key to our victory over the doors."
Alexia: "..." *She hits Darkdata.*
Digifanatic: "Darkdata, what is it with you and puns?"
Douglas sniffs and takes a peek inside the kitchen.
Harnit chuckles.
Darkdata: "I am just punny that way."
Traon thinks for a moment and a sweat drop trickles down. "And aren't I the key to creating holes in piles of debris?"
Digifanatic: "Alright."
Alexia opens the kitchen door.
Darkdata: "I mean it's not like I said that Harnit made a clerical sucess or something."
Digifanatic: *follows Alexia to the kitchen.*
Alexia: "Someone hit him again."
Darkdata: *le follow.*
Douglas is pushed aside by everyone as he was peeking into the kitchen.
Traon follows along.
Dragoshi: *Follow.*
Darkdata: "I could of said something even worse, along the lines of 'he's so cool' or somesuch."
Alexia: "You just did. Hit him again."
Darkdata: "You only abuse the ones you love."
Dragoshi: "...Heh."
Digifanatic: "You know, I don't think we'll hear the end of this."
Douglas: "Alexia, some miscreant adventurers seem to have rubbed off on you... I really don't think arguing with eachother is a good idea today."
Alexia: "...You got kids, Darkdata?"
Darkdata: "No. You should know that I am unwed Alexia."
Alexia: "Well, if you want them in the future, shut up."
Traon winces at what Alexia is thinking. .oO("This could get dangerous..." 'I don't trust her. Watch out.' "Shut up will ya?")
Dragoshi: "Hmph. That's a bit of a cheap threat, don't you think?"
Darkdata: "Where did you get that temper? It's hot enough to put the sun out."
Alexia: "...I'm getting tired of the job, shall we say."
Digifanatic puts his hands in front of him and spreads them apart as if to say "I'm not saying anything."
Darkdata: "Anyway, what is in this room?"
Douglas sighs, no one even caring that they pushed him away, and enters the room.
Harnit enters the kitchen after the others fight for the right to enter first...
Metal Man (GM): Inside is a 50's oven range, a fridge, a cutting board...
Aaron opens fridge and searches.
Dragoshi: "...Huh. Pretty average looking for a place that belonged to an evil scientist."
Alexia: "Yup."
Digifanatic: "Yeah... I'm hitting the lab. Probably a lot more interesting..."
Darkdata looks around the kitchen for anything interesting.
Alexia follows Digi to the lab.
Harnit decides to follow Digi...
Douglas: "Ermm, we could give this place a sweep nonetheless. It's always nice to see surprises." *He opens the fridge.*
Digifanatic: *walks to the lab door and opens it.*
Dragoshi: "...Yeaaa." *Get to searchin'.*
Metal Man (GM): The Questers find... knives, forks, spoons... cooking machines... The fridge is filled with empty bottles, baking soda, and a glowing tube. Dragoshi finds a blender.
Douglas: "Cooking with Douglas and Dragoshi..."
Dragoshi: "...Now if only I had various random objects."
Douglas grabs the backing soda and glowing tube.
Metal Man (GM): The tube has a label on it. 'Radioactive Ink: Do not use near children.'
Douglas clears his throat.
Metal Man (GM): The baking soda smells of stale alcohol.
Dragoshi: "What'd ya find?"
Douglas: "Here, Dragoshi... go ahead and do whatever you want with this stuff. I think I'll go on and wait for you outside the lab."
Douglas hands Dragoshi the glowing tube and the "Baking soda."
Metal Man (GM): Darkdata discovers an old bottle of Atlantean Brandy. It must be thousands of years old. In fact, only the smell tells him what it is--the bottle has bizarre characters on it.
Traon: "What do ya got there, Dark?"
Dragoshi: "Huh. Radioactive ink. Weird." *Hands them back to Douglas.* "Thank you. Just curious, was all."
Darkdata: "What an odd bottle of alcohol. Who can read the label?"
Douglas puts them back where he found them. These things could cause some back accidents... he then leaves for the others who went to the Lab.
Dragoshi: "Mind if I try and read it?"
Traon: "Not me, but if it is old, then it's some good stuff... They say if you let an alcoholic beverage age long enough, the taste just gets better and better." *He shrugs and goes silent again.*
Darkdata: "Go for it." *Holds it up for him to read.*
Metal Man (GM): The mechanical lab has the following in it: A small (10 foot tall) crane, hordes of unfinished robots... and one specific machine that sends chills down everyone's spines.
Dragoshi: "...Eh" *Heads over to the lab.*
Metal Man (GM): Code-named "Robo-Kuja", it is his attempt to create a robotic version of Kuja that would then go forth and destroy Kuja.
Darkdata: *heads to the lab.*
Harnit shudders at the sight of the machine and wonders what it is...
Metal Man (GM): Highly unstable and pure magitek crystals are a large portion of its design. It stands, soullessly staring at the wall.
Dragoshi: "...Well... damn."
Alexia: "Should we break it?"
Metal Man (GM): There is no obvious door ahead in this room.
Metal Man: "I'm unsure."
Digifanatic: "Who knows..."
Darkdata: "Dragoshi, could you read the label?"
Dragoshi: "Oh, sure. I'll try, at least." *Tries to read it...*
Metal Man (GM): Dragoshi reads the bottle. 'Atlantean Brandy.' That is all it says.
Dragoshi: "Atlantean Brandy."
Digifanatic: "Interesting..."
Darkdata: "How odd. Might as well pocket it for now." *Puts it away.* So what is in the lab?"
Digifanatic looks at some of the lesser robots.
Dragoshi: *Follows Digi.*
Metal Man (GM): Digi sees a variety of advanced designs, all of them in pieces and unfinished. All rather primitive by comparison to his later designs. The Kuja-bot sits perfectly still, still staring and dead. The large room's accumulation of debris makes it hard to tell where it ends.
Aaron looks for something to beat the tar out of.
Digifanatic: "Oh man..."
Traon looks about and kind of spits off to the side. "This place is a complete sty..." he looks around to try and find something of at least half an interest.
Dragoshi: "...Hmm."
Metal Man (GM): The Kuja-bot stands there.
Dragoshi: *Tries to assist Traon.*
Metal Man (GM): Aaron finds... nothing.
Darkdata: *helps others.*
Digifanatic: "The Emerald said this is his ultimate evil..."
Metal Man (GM): Dragoshi finds the Kuja-bot enclosure to be blocking something, as does Darkdata. Traon merely finds some debris.
Harnit: "This must be what the emerald was talking about, aye."
Dragoshi: "...Odd. The damn thing's blocking something."
Harnit: "Does that... Emerald want us to use a copy of a god?"
Traon sighs and goes to the others. "I saw we move it. It does look deader than dead."
Dragoshi: *Backs off about five feet, readies machinegun, and charge.* "It LOOKS that way."
Harnit blinks and looks to Dragoshi... And then backs out of the way.
Digifanatic: "But, wait a bit. The Emerald said to use Kuja's research... these are Gerald's machines."
Metal Man (GM): It continues standing there, staring soullessly.
Aaron starts blindly hacking at random stuff.
Metal Man: "It's blocking the way to something..."
Dragoshi: "...Yep."
Metal Man (GM): Aaron kicks up a whole ton of debris. He turns to smash something against the Kuja-bot... his weapon bounces off of it like it was made of rubber. Its eyes light up and its hands casually rip free from its binds.
Dragoshi: "...Huh."
Digifanatic: .oO(Not again.)
Robotic Kuja: "How dare you hit me with your club. You shall pay for this. Ultima."
Dragoshi: "...Well, he's boned."
Metal Man (GM): Ultra damage as a searing deathray obliterates Aaron.
Robotic Kuja: "Questers identified. Unknown objectives."
Dragoshi: "...I hate it when I'm right."
Harnit opens his eyes in awe at the power...
Robotic Kuja: "..." He turns to the other Questers, and makes a 'come here' gesture. "It appears you are seeking the knowledge I guard."
Dragoshi: "...Pretty much, yea."
Robotic Kuja: "Do not fear. Except for the fool who dared to hit me, I will not use my near-Godlike powers against you."
Dragoshi: "...Okay."
Robotic Kuja: "I was built by Gerald to stop Kuja from obtaining this resource. He is apparently dead now."
Aaron: *REVIVES* "Me sorry."
Dragoshi: "Then I won't try and hit you, then." *Drops the charge and puts his machinegun away.* "Apparently so."
Robotic Kuja: "I was supposed to deliver this information to Gerald himself... He is also dead."
Metal Man (GM): The robot has a robotic representation of Kuja's voice.
Harnit: "What knowledge do you guard?"
Dragoshi: "Yea. What kind?"
Aaron: "Me real sorry." :(
Robotic Kuja: "The accumulated knowledge of Kuja's entire reign. I am so powerful because I use Kuja's secret formula for ultimate power."
Darkdata: "You do remove the evil right?"
Robotic Kuja: *Gestures at Aaron.* "That was a reflex action. I do not actually hate you. It is beyond robots to hate. ...No, I am most definitely evil." He laughs. "That is why I will let you in... for a price."
Harnit: "I take it you don't mean coins..."
Metal Man (GM): He points at all of the Questers.
Robotic Kuja: "Give me... a smash dex."
Metal Man: "...Hm... this is up to you guys. It's your information, not mine."
Aaron: "What dex do?"
Dragoshi: "...Don't see why not."
Robotic Kuja: "Your knowledge is an equal to Kuja's. The price for seeing Kuja's is for me to acquire a replacement, should Kuja's lose its value." *He holds out a hand.*
Harnit: "What do you plan to do with this knowledge?"
Dragoshi: *Carefully hands his dex to Robotic Kuja.* "There ya go."
Robotic Kuja: "Guard it as I have Kuja's."
Darkdata: "Need something new to read?"
Robotic Kuja: "Perhaps if Gerald does not come for it... Ivan, or Ivo will. Or George."
Darkdata: "It must get boring."
Robotic Kuja: "Perhaps... but I can turn off and on easily."
Metal Man (GM): He grabs the dex, and data quickly runs through his eyes. Within moments, he... looks different.
Dragoshi: "...?"
Robotic Kuja: "Such impressive knowledge... you are the yin to Kuja's yang. And now I can do melee moves too."
Dragoshi: "...Heh."
Metal Man (GM): He thrusts a fully charged Shadow Ball into some debris nearby.
Darkdata: "... I will not make such a easy pun."
Dragoshi: "Impressive."
Robotic Kuja: *He tosses the dex back.* "You may pass, but Gerald's other security systems are ahead."
Dragoshi: *Catches it.* "A-thank you."
Digifanatic chuckles a bit at DD's statement.
Metal Man (GM): He steps to the side, revealing a door he was laying on top of.
Harnit: "Can you offer us advice on how to best the systems?"
Dragoshi: "...I presume it'd be best to either evade those, right?"
Robotic Kuja: "...They are a refined variant of what you've seen before. You should be able to best them in out-and-out combat."
Dragoshi: "...Sounds simple enough."
Digifanatic: "Ah."
Metal Man (GM): The way ahead is clear.
Dragoshi: *Onward!*
Harnit starts forward.
Metal Man (GM): Down here are the metallic corridors of the 'Inner Sanctum' as a sign nearby says.
Digifanatic: *moves on.*
Metal Man (GM): Digi and the others soon discover the reason this place has never been truly broken into. The rusted iron catwalk floats over an infinite sea of... old-fashioned X-zone.
Darkdata: *Follow.*
Metal Man: "Woah. This I never expected."
Digifanatic: "Not these insanities again."
Darkdata: "Well it's not that I don't trust that catwalk... But..." *Walk on air clearsong.*
Metal Man (GM): Darkdata fills in small gaps with the clearsong. It should be safe to walk across.
Darkdata: "I like to be able no not fall to my doom."
Metal Man (GM): As the Questers look about, a booming voice is heard.
Dragoshi: "Same."
Gerald Robotnik: "HOW DARE YOU ENTER THE DEEPEST CREVICES OF MY SECRETS... YOU SHALL BE DESTROYED AS WERE MY HOPES AND DREAMS!!!"
Metal Man (GM): The recording cues into a new device appearing...
Harnit: "Eep!"
Metal Man (GM): ...A sphere... one of those some Questers may have seen before. Black X-zone energy appears, and it soon forms into a vagely angelic figure. A shield, wings, a halo, and a robe of darkness. Its eyes appear to be like black holes.
Dragoshi: *Machinegun and charge being readied...* "And, you are...?"
Harnit: "I don't like thiiiis..."
Digifanatic: "Like I said, insanities."
Metal Man (GM): It roars in dissonant tones and walks towards the group.
Metal Man: "It doesn't look like a good angel to me!"
Dragoshi: "Bah! Angels are rarely a good thing."
Harnit looks about...
Metal Man (GM): It's walking onto the wide rocky area overlooking the X-zone pit.
Digifanatic looks to see if there's anything past the angel...
Harnit: "Shall we fight?"
Dragoshi: "I guess."
Harnit quickly tries to Shadow Shield as many people as possible pre-fight...
Metal Man (GM): Beyond the angel is another cave area. Harnit shadow shields everyone.
Darkdata: "... Do I have no say in this? Sigh."
Harnit: "I think it's a bit too late now!"
Dragoshi: *And, Drag, wasting no time fires off a charge from his machinegun, but instead of the usual Flame Blast, it's an Ice Tornado! And, it looks... Deadlier to say the least.*
Metal Man (GM): Dragoshi hit it with the Ice Tornado.
Dragoshi: *And, then...!* *Drago throws a molotov!*
Metal Man (GM): It vehemently punches it off into the abyss.
Dragoshi: "...Uh-huh."
Metal Man (GM): ...Not very far at all, as it walks right into Dragoshi's face, and alternatively punches at him with its right hand, and shield-butts him with its left. *PUNCH-SMASH-PUNCH-SMASH-PUNCH.*
Darkdata: "Oooh, that had to hurt."
Dragoshi: *Uhhh... ow, ow, dodge, ow, ow.* *Well, that was retarded. He just lost my first life like THAT.* >_>;; *Quick revive.*
Douglas merely uses some energy to huck a couple darts made of wind at the thing...
Metal Man (GM): Hit, hit. It is knocked back--the darts go through it, dealing their damage.
Aaron grabs, jumps and slams the Angel to the ground.
Metal Man (GM): Hit. However it only takes the damage--it seems to be made of raw energy.
Aaron then grabs the angel. "Batter Up!!"
Metal Man (GM): Hit! Again, it cannot be grabbed or thrown, but it can be clobbered, as it takes yet more damage.
Harnit quickly tries to decide what to do next... He casts Insight on Metal Man and Dragoshi.
Metal Man takes advantage of the buffs for some Mach Jab action. *Hit.* *Miss.* X_x He then tries... Deathmachine! 4 inaccurate shoes! He misses with them all! "Note to self... stop relying on chance."
Digifanatic sizes up the angel's appearance a little bit and contemplates what darkness or light would do to it. But, why bother that when he could Fire Punch the sucker and then slam it around a bit with an Aerial Strike and a swing of the Golf Club?
Dragoshi: "Nah. You just choose the wrong moments at the wrong time."
Metal Man (GM): Miss hit hit.
Darkdata: "I always learn the hard way..." *Living Elemental Darksong.*
Metal Man (GM): Darkdata attempts to create an elemental out of the X-zone. Instead he summons The Void.
Dragoshi: "...Hiya."
The Void: "Wahahahahahahaaaa! Who is this trying to use my energy for their own fun? Some... little Bard-person?"
Darkdata: "Just me screwing up as per usual."
Dragoshi: "...Wait a damn minute."
The Void: "Very well. I shall... do something... to reward your needless use of energy!"
Dragoshi: .oO(Shouldn't he be Diolize?)
The Void: *Spins around at random.* "The person I point at shall have a... GOOD thing happen to them!" *Stops, pointing at Aaron.* "It's your lucky day, strange club-wielding thing!"
Aaron: "Huh?"
Darkdata: "Heh, this is too much."
Metal Man (GM): He fires golden energy at Aaron, making all his attacks hmega-accurate for a while. Also he suddenly becomes twice as intelligent.
The Void: "And now... to go back to my body." He messes up Darkdata's hair and vanishes.
Digifanatic: "This could be quite interesting."
Darkdata: "Erm... Thanks."
Aaron: "What happened to me?"
Darkdata: "Your IQ++;"
Dragoshi: *Tilts his head to the side.* "A boost in intelligence, apparently."
Darkdata: "In the shortest terms."
Aaron: "How do you figure?" O.o
Dragoshi: "...Well, he said something GOOD. But, meh." *Lessee... How about...* *He takes damage from a spider!*
Metal Man (GM): It turns to Douglas and fires a black beam at him. Level 5 Death. It works! *INSTA DEATH*
Darkdata: *Eyebrow II Up* "Well that is not good."
Douglas quickdraws his keyblade and charges up a blue laser on the tip. It later bursts out and blasts into the Angel.
Metal Man: "Let's see what golden barbarian can do."
Aaron: "I'm not sure what's going on, but here goes." *He swings the club twice more.* "Batter up!"
Metal Man (GM): Both hit. Aaron beats up the evil angel some more.
Aaron: "That felt good."
Darkdata: "Hmm, Should I try again?..."
Digifanatic: "Don't know..."
Harnit casts Insight on Dragoshi and Shadow Shield on Aaron.
Metal Man: "Let's see how you like summa this!" *He takes out his bullhorn and screams.* "SKYHIGH FOREVEEEEERRR!!!!!!!!!"
Metal Man (GM): The Angel takes damage and is dazed.
Dragoshi: "Yell 'EXPLODING DISCO BEES FOREVER!' next." >_>
Darkdata: "Better then Yellow Submarine at least."
Metal Man (GM): During which Metal Man takes out his chainsaw axe and viciously swings at it. He hits due to Daze. More damage.
Metal Man swings his elbow at the angel. So close to a crit...
Digifanatic is a bit nerved at the lack of success last turn. However, he's still up for smacking that angel of death around a bit more. He goes for the Icy Kick and finishes off with a Running Charge. However, for kicks, as he retreats, he decides to guard Harnit, trying to keep someone with tactics like his in the fight.
Metal Man: "Hm. Feels just like old times. Or perhaps new times... with superchargers attached?"
Metal Man (GM): It ducks the kick.
Darkdata: *snort.*
Metal Man (GM): Hit.
Digifanatic: *guarding Harnit as planned.*
Aaron: "Am I really speaking? That is weird."
Darkdata: "Hmm... I wonder... Instead of raising a elemental..."
Dragoshi: "...Mhm."
Darkdata: "Call of the Music/Call of the void/Will you join us in battle?/Luck will decide!"
Metal Man (GM): The Void appears again. This time he wears a straw hat.
The Void: "I didn't know you wanted me to appear again. Let's see what happens this time!"
Metal Man (GM): He spins around.
Dragoshi: "...Nice hat."
The Void: "Something... BAD will happen to..."
Dragoshi: "...Exploding disco bees?"
The Void: "...Mr. McTraitorman!"
Dragoshi: .oO(Better hope he doesn't divide by zero.)
Douglas is dead!
Darkdata: "Hmm since the target is dead, could you pick the one before him?"
Metal Man (GM): Aetos is revived. Then his hands and feet are turned to stone. His evasion is halved. Then he is hung from the ceiling, where he cannot (easily) escape from.
Darkdata: "Or that works" *Eyebrow up again.*
The Void: "No dice. For I am the ruler of things random... besides dice. How I hate the lord of dice..." He vanishes.
Douglas blinks, shaking his head as he revives upside-down with stoned hands and feet. "...Wha..."
Metal Man: "You're stoned, dude."
Dragoshi: "Bad pun, Metal."
Darkdata: "Erm... Sorry!... Hey, that was my pun!"
Metal Man: "You must have not noticed my own tendency for puns, then."
Darkdata: "Well great minds think alike."
Douglas wiggles.
Metal Man (GM): Douglas can... make a Wario impersonation?
Dragoshi: *Lessee... Flipkick, Flipkick, wheeeeee...*
Douglas: "I'ma Wario! I'ma gunna weena!"
Dragoshi: *And some INDEEGNATION. Yeah. Fired from za machinegun!* :D
Metal Man (GM): Hit miss hit hit. Dragoshi defeats the angel with the Flipkick.
Douglas: "Hrmph. Good job!... " *Wiggle.*
Metal Man (GM): The effects of the spells (including those on Aaron and Douglas) vanish.
Harnit: "Whew... That was a bit painful..."
Douglas falls to the floor.
Darkdata: "Well Bone's IQ was good while it lasted."
Aaron: "That odd."
Harnit: "Does anyone need a bit of healing?" *Holds up some mushrooms.*
Darkdata: "I do! My first rise elemental spell is a real x-killer."
Aaron: "What happen?"
Metal Man: "Didn't get a scratch... probably because he was picking people off in a strangely ordered fashion."
Dragoshi: "...Yeaaa."
Darkdata: "May I have some Harnit?"
Harnit tosses three Mushrooms to Darkdata. "If you need more just say so! I've got plenty."
Darkdata: *Eats.*
Dragoshi: "No thanks. I'm fine enough as is."
Darkdata: "Thank you~"
Dragoshi: *Might've lost a life, but he's still going very strong.*
Digifanatic: "I'm fine."
Darkdata: "Onward then! But first..." *Re-applys the walk on air clearsong to the walkway.*
Dragoshi: "'K." *Followfollowfollow.*
Digifanatic: *moves on.*
Harnit follows the others over Darkdata's bridge if it is safe.
Darkdata: *Across he goes.*
Aaron follows.
Metal Man (GM): The Questers reach two doors. And two infantrymen standing in front of them.
Infantryman1: "Behold! The two door puzzle!"
Infantryman2: "One of us always tells the truth!"
Infantryman1: "And one of us always lies."
Digifanatic: .oO(Ohhhhhhhh, THIS again.)
Infantryman2: "You may ask all the questions you want."
Douglas: "Yeah, ok." *Eyes of Truth.*
Metal Man (GM): Douglas detects... they are wearing suits of lead! No fair! Douglas can't tell a thing.
Dragoshi: "...Okay."
Darkdata: "What would the person beside you say is the right door? This is at both of you. And right as in the path we need to go though."
Infantryman1: "That is is safe!"
Infantryman2: "That it is not safe!"
Infantryman1: "The right is the path you do not want to go through!"
Infantryman2: "The right is the path you want to go through!"
Digifanatic: .oO(That works both ways... No, wait...)
Harnit: "... So we can ask as many questions as we want, you said?"
Darkdata: "Yeah, I am starting to think there is more to this puzzle, ask away Harnit."
Harnit: "Hrm... I want to make sure I know... Could you two answer that?"
Douglas coughs. He fires a dart of air at Infantryman1.
Darkdata: "..."
Metal Man (GM): It flies right through them.
Infantryman1: "No!"
Infantrayman2: "Yes!"
Digifanatic: "What is the equivalent of 3 + 2?"
Darkdata: "You're as bad as Bonecrusher."
Infantryman1: "6!"
Douglas: "Are you incorporeal, #1?"
Infantryman2: "10,0000!"
Dragoshi: "Now... Both of you. What is the square root of sixty-six million, two-hundred thousand?"
Darkdata: "Both liars."
Infantryman1: "Yes!"
Infantryman2: "No, he isn't."
Infantryman1: "10!"
Infantryman2: "11!"
Dragoshi: "...You're both off."
Harnit: "Hm..."
Digifanatic: "You ARE both lying!"
Dragoshi: "Now, here's another one."
Infantryman1: "Yes we are."
Infantryman2: "No we aren't!"
Douglas: "Did my attack go through you, Infantryman1?"
Infantryman1: "No it did not."
Darkdata: "Arg, you can tell the truth and lie!"
Infantryman2: "Yes it did!"
Darkdata: "You can do both!"
Dragoshi: "If the liar is... Uhhh... damn. I forgot."
Infantryman1: "No we can't!"
Dragoshi: "Someone else try it."
Infantryman2: "Yes we can!"
Infantryman1: "So, you are smarter than you look..."
Infantryman2: "But we shall never reveal which door is the right one!"
Harnit: "Why?"
Dragoshi: "I was gonna ask something that would've ended in a paradox, but I forgot. DAMMIT."
Douglas: "Infantryman #1 lied when he said one of them always tells the truth."
Darkdata: "They can switch. We just confirmed that..."
Dragoshi: "So, what does that mean now? We need to find the TRUTH teller?"
Infantryman1: "We wouldn't be very good security managements if we didn't stop you."
Infantryman2: "Or maybe we would."
Douglas opens Door #1.
Harnit: "When was the last time you got paid?"
Darkdata: "..."
Dragoshi: "Nah. You wouldn't."
Douglas: "I'll look out for you guys... As in... scout it out..."
Dragoshi: "But, how are we so sure that there isn't... A HIDDEN PATH!?"
Darkdata: "Or some such nonsense."
Douglas: "These guys are a waste of time, I'd imagine."
Darkdata: "If you can lie all the time, is your statement that you can lie a truth? If you tell the truth all the time, is your statement of a lie a lie of a truth of a lie of a truth?"
Dragoshi: "THAT'S what I was gonna try and say."
Metal Man (GM): They stay silent for a few moments... Douglas opens door #1 and they laugh.
Infantryman1: "You will be doomed!"
Infantryman2: "You will be doomed!"
Harnit opens the second door.
Infantryman1: "You will be doomed!"
Infantryman2: "You will be doomed!"
Dragoshi: "Now... Here's another good question."
Harnit pokes one of the men...
Darkdata pokes the other.
Dragoshi: "What if, yanno, BOTH paths lead to doom?"
Douglas: "Or they both lead to the same place."
Harnit: "Then we would be doomed."
Digifanatic: "With that kind of logic, you may be right."
Dragoshi: "...Not really. We'd just need to figure out where a hidden passage might be." :/
Digifanatic: .oO(And I may not be crazy.)
Darkdata: "My question Dragoshi, is why you never sent one of your search sn... spiders to check it out? You know, though one of the doors..."
Infantryman1: "You can try all you want..."
Dragoshi: "...There might not be enough space for it to squeak through, obviously."
Infantryman2: "But we hold the keys."
Darkdata: *Call item Darksong.* "Keys."
Harnit looks at the infantry men... What do they look like?
Metal Man (GM): They look like dark versions of the original Kuja Infantrymen. Darkdata tries to steal 'keys' Nothing happens.
Infantryman1: "If they were literal, so would we be."
Infantryman2: "You must be far more intelligent to pass us!"
Darkdata: "Worth a shot. You know what would be funny, if the answer was around here somewhere. If only the doctor was forgetful enough to leave a clue."
Harnit: "Would you please enter your respective doorways?"
Digifanatic tries to think of how to deal with this situation.
Darkdata: "Which one of you is the best guard?"
Infantryman1: "I am!"
Infantryman2: "He is!"
Infantryman1: "He is!"
Infantryman2: "He is!"
Dragoshi: "...Heh."
Metal Man (GM): They begin repeating 'He is' over and over again.
Darkdata: "Not what I thought would happen, but it works."
Metal Man (GM): Eventually, they both explode. As do the doors.
Harnit blinks.
Aaron: "Huh?"
Metal Man (GM): This reveals a third door which is real and not fake. Also a third guard.
Digifanatic: "Whoa."
Infantryman3: "I am the only one who tells the truth. This is the only real door."
Dragoshi: "...Hiya."
Darkdata: "How do we pass you?"
Dragoshi: "Ah. So you know what the square root of sixty six million two hundred thousand is, then?"
Infantryman3: "Give or take some error on my part, around 8136.3382427231969152123276625836."
Digifanatic: .oO(I call shenanigans. Or a calculator.)
Dragoshi: "Weird. I thought it was 8139.4102980498531936765079549919. But, eh. I guess mine must be off by 3." :/
Digifanatic: "Three out of about 8100 isn't bad."
Infantryman3: "You may proceed, of course." He stands to the side.
Dragoshi: "Thank you." *Enters the door, carefully.*
Harnit: "... Why did you calculate that out? Wait, I don't want to know." *The boy shakes his head and starts onward.
Digifanatic enters as well.
Darkdata: "I thought you were supposed to be a guard?"
Infantryman3: "I am partially machine. I will not lie; I am a very poor guard."
Dragoshi: "And I had it precalculated under my random numbers list."
Darkdata: "Because no one has gotten past the wonder twins?"
Douglas trots in through the door.
Metal Man (GM): The Questers walk on in... and see the most insidious test yet.
Gerald Robotnik: *Recording.* "Wise guys, eh? This is what outsourcing is for!"
Dragoshi: "Outsourcing what? Bees?"
Darkdata: *sigh, follow.*
Metal Man (GM): There is... a sign in here that says 'This Trap made by E Li Three (TM) (R) (C) (CC) (CCC) (CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC)'
Dragoshi: "...Uh-huh. That's a lot of Cs."
Digifanatic: "Never mind the Cs."
Metal Man (GM): The door to the next room is made of steel. It has a blue force field. On a table, the following objects exist:
Darkdata: *facehand.* "E Li..."
Digifanatic: "It's the name that matters."
Metal Man (GM): A butcher knife, a smiley face, a banana, a rocket launcher, a Pikachu doll, and also boiling acid.
Dragoshi: "...Knowing how crazy go what the fuck E Li is, I say the banana. ...Or the smiley face. Heck, the DOLL is a good choice too." >_>;
Douglas picks up the smiley face and wears it as a mask.
Harnit pickes up the banana and pokes the force field.
Darkdata: "I wonder..." *Tosses the banana at the field.*
Metal Man (GM): The Smiley face comes to life and laughs evilly, as it then flies off of Douglas's face and slices off one of his arms. The banana implodes the second Harnit Barute touches it.
Douglas whimpers and passes out.
Metal Man (GM): 75% of his current health is destroyed.
Dragoshi: "...Huh."
Harnit: "Gah!"
Dragoshi: "Anyone wanna risk the doll?"
Darkdata: "Pikachu go! Disable the force Field!"
Metal Man (GM): The Pikachu doll comes to life and leaps at Darkdata's face! It flies into a wall and KOs itself!
Dragoshi: "...Okay."
Metal Man (GM): That leaves a butcher knife, a rocket launcher, and boiling acid.
Harnit walks over to Douglas and frowns...
Dragoshi: "...the knife?"
Digifanatic: "Great... the three most destructive."
Harnit gets the arm, puts it next to Doug, and casts Nature's Regeneration on them...
Metal Man (GM): The arm is re-attached. Although painful to Doug.
Douglas awakens in pain.
Digifanatic: "Fine, I'll take one."
Darkdata: "Hahaha, Eli Three is just..." *Pokes the force field with his finger.*
Digifanatic carefully goes for the rocket launcher and aims it at the heart of the forcefield.
Harnit: "Aaah... Don't put on strange smiley faces in the future..."
Metal Man (GM): Darkdata's finger is annihilated.
Digifanatic: "WOW!"
Darkdata: "So much for that idea."
Metal Man (GM): The rocket launcher flies off of Digi's hand and into the force field.
Harnit then tends to his own blast-esque wounds with five Mushrooms...
Darkdata: "Harnit, could you do something about this?"
Metal Man (GM): It conks Darkdata in the head before annihilating itself. That leaves... the butcher knife, and the boiling acid.
Harnit: "Ah... I don't think so... And I don't know if I want to try!"
Dragoshi: "...The acid."
Darkdata: "Please try ha-OW!"
Digifanatic: "I didn't aim it at you!"
Douglas tears up and hides under the table.
Dragoshi: "Ah, sod it." *Tries the knife.*
Metal Man (GM): The evil smiley lays under the table. It stares at Douglas. Dragoshi picks up the knife.
Darkdata: "Like I was saying, could you please try?"
Douglas: "AHH!" *Flee.*
Metal Man (GM): It turns into a dove and flies away and vanishes.
Dragoshi: "...A dove knife?"
Metal Man (GM): The acid is in a beaker.
Dragoshi: *THE ACID!*
Metal Man (GM): Dragoshi picks it up... it splashes all over him! Ahhhh! ...But it heals him to full health instead of burning him?
Douglas throws a wind dart at the face under the table.
Dragoshi: "...Fuh?"
Metal Man (GM): Nothing is left on the table. The smiley face flies around the room, missing people's heads by inches.
Harnit waits until the craziness is over and tries to push the table into the force field.
Darkdata: *Places the stub oh a finger in the acid.*
Metal Man (GM): It's like Oddjob's hat... The finger is healed by the weird acid. It's apparently healing potion in such high quantities it bubbles. The table is shoved into the force field.
Dragoshi: "...Wow."
Metal Man (GM): The force field explodes, along with the table. The beaker only has a small amount of potent healing... acid... in it.
Digifanatic: "Wow. Point, counterpoint."
Darkdata: "Yep, I saw that coming."
Harnit: "This is... Gaah!" *Dives to the floor.*
Metal Man (GM): The way ahead is now open... though the vorpal smiley is still flying around at random.
Darkdata: *Tosses the Pikachu doll at it.*
Metal Man (GM): It hits the Pikachu doll and explodes.
Dragoshi: *Decides to duck under the smiley of EVAL and head into the next room.*
Digifanatic continues on as well.
Douglas follows the rest.
Darkdata: "Anyway, Next room."
Metal Man (GM): The Questers reach... the final destination.
Darkdata: *Follow.*
Metal Man (GM): ...A massive room full of servers. ...Wait a minute...
Digifanatic: "Oh boy."
Metal Man (GM): This is an exact copy of Gerald's lab under the Kuja tower.
Dragoshi: "Ah hayell."
Metal Man (GM): Massive, towering mainframes with green lights... a center control area...
Dragoshi: *Looks around...*
Digifanatic: "Okay... before anything. The first test involved a paradoxical situation. The second was solved by using the one object not expected."
Harnit looks about and wonders why this whole assignment has been odd...
Digifanatic: "This may be a perfect copy but there still may be a strange twist nonetheless."
???: "It is the end of the world... as you know it... and here you come to see it all destroyed."
Metal Man (GM): Shadow walks in, in full MM2 gear.
Dragoshi: "...Hiya."
Shadow: "I made sure to follow you here. Just as I suspected... this information could destroy the MM2. I... will not... let that happen!"
Dragoshi: "Hmph. And why NOT?"
Darkdata: "Hmm, I don't believe I have had a chance to meet this enemy?/Friend?/????"
Dragoshi: "Oh, wait. LET ME GUESS. I's none of our business, huh!?"
Shadow: "I was... betrayed by those IIF fools. In the time I died, I saw an image of the future."
Harnit holds up his staff defensively... He doesn't like this.
Shadow: "The MM2 destroyed, you gathered together a staff. Kuja's information deals in how to unlock its power. DIRECTLY. You use... this information... and destroy the MM2. But that's not all!"
Metal Man (GM): He uses his own commands to cause it to show projections of entire planets exploding.
Douglas: "Aran?..."
Shadow: "The great power within does not stop at the MM2. It destroys... everything!"
Digifanatic: .oO(Fact... or propaganda?)
Shadow: "Even The Void is a puny party to this massive armada of annihilation. You're just too dumb to prevent this from happening. Gerald told me to give hope to humanity. That is what I shall do!"
Douglas: "If the Emerald sent us to get the information on using Aran against the MM2, then this was a waste of time."
Metal Man: *Points at Shadow.* "You speak nonsense. In fact I remember we DESTROYED the staff when we first obtained it. Get out of our way or you will be destroyed."
Dragoshi: "Metal. Stand down for once."
Douglas blinks.
Harnit: "Can't we solve this in a civil manner?"
Shadow: "Destroy me? I'm afraid that's out of the question. I am the true Ultimate Lifeform."
Dragoshi: "I doubt it'll be a good idea to resort to violence."
Douglas: "And what about the staff pieces we've been finding in the X-zone?... Those aren't the same staff?"
Metal Man: "I'm unsure if we can reason with him, however. I'll see what you do first, though."
Aaron: "Violence. Me like."
Shadow: "The very same, traitor."
Douglas winces at Shadow.
Dragoshi: "Huh."
Shadow: "This information... you would have the same as Kuja... you would know the dimensional boundaries and how to break them..."
Douglas: "At least I refused to betray the Questers for YOU."
Shadow: "You made the wrong choice."
Dragoshi: "..."
Shadow: "While Ricky goes on his insane jihad against machines, I'm doing the real work to save the MM2. Now turn back and ignore this technology."
Harnit: "You're with the MM2... I haven't been able to study what's going on, but what are you trying to do?"
Shadow: "The MM2 are the rightful owners of this planet, being Smithy's expeditionary force's descendants. The fool Charles Magellean misdirected their true goals. But now they are on track... too much on track. Let it be known Charles caused great suffering for millions because he did not allow the force to return once Smithy died!"
Dragoshi: "...the force?"
Shadow: "His memory... should be annihilated. The force. The expeditionary force. He revived it again and again. And again and again and again. Had it stayed dead, those who remained would have left Nintendus, leaving only Zylcon. Instead they have evolved apart from the forces here. Civil war is caused... because of him."
Dragoshi: "...ONLY Zylcon?" *Doubts that, highly.*
Harnit is confused now... "So we are in your way of controlling a planet you believe to be yours? I curse being uninformed..."
Dragoshi: "You... are correct, in a way."
Metal Man: "The planet of Genetia belongs to the people of Genetia. Not to machines."
Dragoshi: "But, you forget one thing."
Metal Man shakes his head. "You guys can take the data. I shall take on Shadow."
Dragoshi: "Do you know what that is?" *Waits for Shadow to answer.*
Harnit: "What about his warnings?"
Shadow: "...Perhaps. But what does it matter? This information is deadly."
Dragoshi: "You forget Kuja, but meh. I guess that minor detail doesn't matter then, huh?"
Metal Man: "He is thinking from the point of view of Gerald, who had both hatred for all humanity and hope for it. Therefore he is quick to destroy in the name of peace."
Dragoshi: "...That has to do a REAL number on one's sanity."
Shadow: "Kuja... is a joke. His information... is not."
Harnit frowns and looks to Shadow. "What sort of hope were you told to give humanity?"
Shadow: "A chance to be happy. This information could destroy more than humanity."
Metal Man: "I've taken Shadow before. I think I could take him now. Back when... he came forth and ridiculed us just like this..."
Dragoshi: "...need assistance?"
Shadow: "You're still nothing more than a fool. And I am stronger this time!"
Metal Man: "...I am unsure. Has he become stronger since Kuja's time?"
Dragoshi: "Hmph. Only a-Yes."
Metal Man: "The last time I fought I managed, barely, to stalemate him."
Dragoshi: "His strength has grown over time."
Harnit: "I don't believe we're thinking this out entirely..."
Dragoshi: "From the last time I fought him, his speed was the current equivalent of my own at this current time. But, by now..."
Metal Man: "We could try another tactic. Do you know of anyone who has fought Shadow before?"
Shadow: "Trying to call in backup? How cute."
Dragoshi: "Lessee..." *Thinks. Who ELSE aside from the Questers has fought Shadow and lived to tell the tale?*
Aaron: "Me hate cute."
Metal Man (GM): Dragoshi thinks... of Metal Sonic?!?!?!
*Flashback.* Metal Sonic: "I am... KING OF THE ARENA!" *Breaks Julian's neck.*
Dragoshi: "...I don't know why, but METAL SONIC of all people is coning back to my mind. Maybe because he broke Julian's neck." >_>
Shadow: "Hmph. Nothing you send against me can win."
Dragoshi: "And, Julian was all, well... You know."
Metal Man (GM): Out of nowhere, a... Ultimate Emerald warp appears?
Dragoshi: "...Hm."
Harnit frowns and steps back from the warp.
Metal Sonic: "Some strange stone has told me to fight for you. That I shall do... but I would prefer to defeat you all... I shall do that later, in the arena!"
Darkdata: "Easy Events 101, Remind me to read some more history files after."
Shadow: "How weak can you be? Fight me!"
Dragoshi: "...Well, speak of the metallic devil! I mention you, and you pop up. Man. That has got to be nuts."
Douglas ponders how they can retrieve the information.
Dragoshi: .oO(Anyone else...)
Metal Man (GM): Metal Sonic points at Dragoshi.
Metal Sonic: "Not... exactly."
Dragoshi: "...How so?"
Metal Sonic: "The... energy stone told me this was a test. Which... you have passed."
Dragoshi: "...I see."
Metal Sonic: "The temptation to fight Shadow even though he could probably destroy you. Which you have resisted."
Metal Man: "...I still want to punch him."
Digifanatic: "Whoa."
Dragoshi: "The temptation would've been idiocy."
Darkdata: "Getting More intelligent every day!"
Shadow: "...Grrr... some stupid ROCK is trying to use me as its plaything? After I destroy you, I'll break it into a million pieces!"
Metal Man (GM): Shadow leaps into battle with Metal Sonic... they move too fast for anyone to see. Oops.
Dragoshi: "...Have a good time dying...'Ultimate Life Form.' I mean, if you attempt that."
Harnit: "This is not good..."
Metal Man (GM): Although... neither of them seem to be outmatched.
Metal Man: "Well... better get the data before they destroy this place with their fight. ...But I want to fight Shadow again some day..." *Shakes his fist.*
Dragoshi: "Huh. Apparently, Metal Sonic must've gotten stronger while we weren't looking or some-Right!" *Looks around for it while EVADING the battle.*
Harnit: "You aren't concerned at all about his warnings?"
Darkdata: *gets data with dex.*
Metal Man: "Let me tell you a story, Harnit. Back in the Kuja days, he came to our HQ, and said everything we did against Kuja was futile."
Digifanatic: *also assists in the search.*
Metal Man: "He then tried to invade. I alone fought him. Despite heavy odds, I beat him back, and we beat Kuja. His warnings are not so accurate to discourage us from stopping those he works for."
Metal Man (GM): Meanwhile, the Questers find themselves at the central terminal... 'Insert Dex here.'
Harnit does not look very happy, but the young mage doesn't speak up either.
Darkdata: *does so.*
Metal Man (GM): The data is downloaded... an icon appears.
Dex: "Ivo Robotnik is willing to pay each of you 10,000 more coins for a copy of the data to use on the Master Egg MK3."
Douglas shakes his head and sighs. "What a mooch."
Darkdata: "Should we send a copy?"
Dex: "It contains data on Kuja's greatest invention: the Dimensional Cannon. Used on the MK3, he could potentially create a dimensional cannon that destroys objects permanently."
Dragoshi: "...Wow."
Digifanatic: "Oooooooh..."
Darkdata: "... Hmm... No."
Digifanatic: "Yeah. As in exactly.":
Douglas looks in Gerald's Legacy for Dimensional Cannon.
Darkdata: "I don't think anyone needs that much power."
Dragoshi: "...Of course no."
Digifanatic: "10K isn't gonna cut it for me on that."
Harnit: "We shouldn't send it for any price."
Douglas: "I agree with Harnit." *nod.*
Digifanatic: "Third."
Darkdata: "I agree also."
Metal Man (GM): The legacy shows an outline of a cannon.
Dragoshi: "I already said I agree so it'd be redundant AND stupid."
Metal Man (GM): Underneath it is written by... Sardis Mongul...
Darkdata: *Sends a sorry but no response to Ivo.*
Dragoshi: *Peers over Douglas.*
Metal Man (GM): 'Creation of this... could allow the prospective wielder invade other dimensions, destroy timelines, and wreak havoc across time itself.'
Dragoshi: "...That's odd."
Metal Man (GM): 'The only artifact as strong as this... is Aran's Staff'
Digifanatic: "And that is not how I want to defeat the MM2."
Metal Man (GM): There's no complete blueprints in the book. It's only a diagram. However! Upon downloading the Kuja data onto the dexes, the Questers see... the complete version on their dexes. The offer from Eggman closes out.
Dragoshi: "...Huh."
Metal Man (GM): It's... very novel, yet deadly.
Dragoshi: *Analyzes it, curious.*
Metal Man (GM): Magitek distortions take one X-zone orb, the Seven Time Stones, a Y-zone orb, and a true X-zone cube... And power it up to the point it shreds time and space itself. Anything it hits... is retroactively erased.
Dragoshi: "...Well, that'll never happen."
Digifanatic: "Not in our faction."
Metal Man (GM): It can also be made to create a hole of the likes that allowed Kuja into the dimension.
Darkdata: "Hmm, delete the data that we do not need?"
Harnit: "No one should be allowed to wield this power..."
Gerald Robotnik: *Recording.* "My knowledge is now yours... unleash it... and destroy reality! Ha... ha... hahahahahahaaaaaaaa!!!"
Dragoshi: "As there's prolly' no existing Y-zone orb, whatever that is, the Seven Time Stones are destroyed, there's prolly' no true X-Zone cube that exists anymore, and... Hmm."
Digifanatic: .oO(How about no, Gerald?)
Metal Man: "There is no telling what could be done to revive it. We should take this and go back and ask the Emerald what it meant..."
Dragoshi: "The X-zone orbs... I think Diolize has them, or he did have ONE when he was The Void. Dunno, really."
Metal Man generates a warp to the Emerald.
Dragoshi: "Aye." *Enters the warp.* "Glad I decided not to fight this time."
Harnit shuffles into the warp...
Darkdata: "We will let the emerald look this over." *Warp!*
Metal Man (GM): *WARP et al.*
Digifanatic: *warp.*
Metal Man (GM): The Questers appear in the Emerald room... it lights up again.
Ultimate Emerald: "...Do not fear... I never meant to use the Dimensional Cannon."
Dragoshi: "...I see."
Douglas enters the warp as he skims the book for a staff.
Digifanatic: "Thank goodness."
Ultimate Emerald: "What we have is the MM2's paranoia... and this data here shows how to finish... the gun Dragoshi has. Also it has information on the anti-Quester field."
Dragoshi: "Then apparently, Shadow's grasp on his sanity is either far more tenuous than most people's that I ever seen, he was horribly misguided, or... He stumbled onto an alternate reality. Anti-whatnow?"
Ultimate Emerald: "Shadow... is partially correct."
Dragoshi: "...Again with him being partially correct?"
Ultimate Emerald: "I have foreseen it. You will one day assemble the staff."
Dragoshi: "What? Did he forget Kuja and a pineapple? ...oh."
Ultimate Emerald: "That is all, however, I know."
Dragoshi: "I see."
Ultimate Emerald: "Now... using these instructions you may create Vendetta Laser Cannons. They can pierce force fields used by the MM2."
Dragoshi: "...Whee. More Vendetta class stuff."
Harnit frowns. "Is it possible to deconstruct the staff before we use it?"
Ultimate Emerald: "They will also make Vendetta Weaponry available to those with money."
Dragoshi: *Looks at his machinegun and shrugs.*
Ultimate Emerald: "Unfortunately, it assembles itself. It appears to be sentient."
Dragoshi: "Well, I already have one type of Vendetta weaponry."
Ultimate Emerald: "Like me..."
Dragoshi: "And it's a prototype. A very, very dangerous one at that."
Ultimate Emerald: "...Had you fought Shadow, I would be inclined not to let you have the information."
Darkdata: "Nothing musical--" *Picks a few notes.* "--Nothing useful."
Ultimate Emerald: "For you see..."
Dragoshi: "I'm impressed by the fact that it was even possible to make a one-handed version, let a-...Hmm?"
Ultimate Emerald: "Fighting even a delusional foe who is trying to merely warn you would have meant you could have built the cannon merely to attack those who warn you. ...Such as Sardis Mongul."
Dragoshi: "...Hmm. Sardis must play a pretty big role in all of this. Or something."
Ultimate Emerald: "With that in mind... you are allowed to return to your base."
Metal Man (GM): The warp to the Q.S. Seeker appears.
Douglas still looks through Gerald's Legacy for a staff object.
Metal Man (GM): It shows no staves.
Digifanatic: "Emerald, one question."
Metal Man (GM): Gerald had absolutely no hand in the staff, nor did he see it.
Digifanatic: "Is there any way to go on in our futures without the staff so as to be able to do something favoring our cause?"
Dragoshi: "...Hm. Douglas. Turn to the machinegun page again. I forgot as to why... He never finished it. I'm sure it had something to do with stability, but still..."
Aaron: "Me warp now."
Douglas goes back to the Vendetta machinegun page.
Ultimate Emerald: "The staff will assemble itself..."
Digifanatic: "I understand that part."
Ultimate Emerald: "If you do not have it, someone else will."
Digifanatic: "Uh oh..."
Metal Man (GM): The Vendetta Machinegun mentions 'Prone to self-destruction if used at higher velocities than XX.'
Dragoshi: "...What velocity is XX?"
Digifanatic: .oO(And that means chaos no matter what. Dang we're screwed! Maybe...)
Harnit frowns and enters the warp... He is unsure as to how well the mission went...
Digifanatic: *warps back to the Seeker as well.*
Douglas: "So this information from Kuja can fix the gun, yet Gerald didn't know how?"
Darkdata: *warp.*
Dragoshi: .oO(I doubt it. It'll prolly' go vavafoom if we even try) *Enters the warp back to the Seeker.*
Douglas tilts his head to the emerald. "And so this makes us balanced?"
Metal Man (GM): XX = Unknown.
Ultimate Emerald: "...Balanced enough."
Douglas tilts his head to the emerald. "And so this makes us balanced? Balanced enough for... you?"
Ultimate Emerald: "Not... yet."
Digifanatic: .oO(Too many strange things... wonder I'm still doing this, but hey, I don't mind.)
Douglas feels the Questers have got bigger and better things to learn from the Emerald, he waves, and leaves.
Metal Man (GM): Back at Quester HQ. HQ is currently empty, of course, due to recent events--with the Questers on Genetia and all. Metal Man appears at the last moment, running in and assuming his seat in the Big Room just as nobody is looking.
Metal Man: "Phew... nobody noticed I was missing."
Metal Man (GM): He sits there, gathering dust for a moment, then looks around.
Metal Man: "Hm... it's too quiet."
Alex: *A blue, swirling portal opens up in front of the Quester HQ* Swrrwwoooommm... *He steps out of the portle just a moment after it opens. The dark blue cloak he wears flusters as he looks at the HQ. He holds the Quester emblem that ties his cloak together, and nods, walking up to the door. His purple eyes wander about, and his sandy-brown hair flusters when the blue portal shuts. Then he steps up to the door and knocks.*
Metal Man (GM): The door opens automatically.
Alex blinks, startled for a moment, then enters the building. "He-hello?"
Metal Man (GM): A startlingly empty corridor leads deep within, where there is a light on.
Alex slowly moves through the empty hallway.
Metal Man (GM): Wandering past images of Skyhigh, Mewtwo, Klumsy, and Star Steel, Alex reaches the big Room. Metal sits in his chair, finely covered with dust and wearing a blue cape that looks much like a rug.
Alex clears his throat a moment later.
Metal Man: "Funny that you came here... the Questers aren't here anymore. And neither are the exciting events that follow them." *He facedesks, as if out of boredom.* "You... came for something?"
Alex: "...You are Metal Man, no doubt?" He looks over Metal closely, with a peculiar expression. "Yes... Sir. I came to join the Questers." *He nods and looks around.* "What happened to them?..."
Metal Man: *He finally raises his head.* "You actually know what the name means, don't you?"
Alex blinks rapidly, then ceases. "Well..." He shakes his head, "Is something wrong?"
Metal Man: "Nothing is wrong. That is the problem. But if you want to see them, they are on Saga."
Alex places his index finger to his chin. "Saga..." As if recollecting something. "Where... is Saga? Would you wish me to join your group there?"
Metal Man: "Saga? That is... an old name for the planet." *He points out to the sky.* "Of course I would." *Then he takes out an old picture of the original 5 Questers.* "Is there anything else you need?"
Alex bows, his familiar blue cloak folding over his shoulder. "I don't believe so. I will not fail you as a Quester, Metal Man. And I will make my family proud." Then he scratches his head as he returns to his posture. "How can I get there, exactly?"
Metal Man: "That is a difficult proposition. Until recently." *He stands up, and twists a light fixture on the wall.*
Metal Man (GM): A big door opens in the wall, revealing a massive, black ring. Zio's portal ring. Hooked up to a bunch of machines.
Metal Man: "This was used to exile people from there to our planet. I have rigged it up to work in reverse. Behold." *He pulls a lever.*
Metal Man (GM): The lights flicker, the room shakes, and then a portal to Genetia's Capital city appears.
Metal Man: "This will take you there---better take this too." *Hands Alex a breathing mask.*
Alex takes the mask. "Thank you, sir. I hope to see you again soon." He begins to walk to the ring and waves to Metal and enters the portal.
Metal Man: "I shall see you soon enough."
Metal Man (GM): Metal watches the portal shut behind Alex, and then reprograms the ring.
Metal Man: "With only Ivo, Dr. Mario, and Professor Oak wandering around here, it should be a cinch for my absence to remain unnoticed." *He turns on the ring again and steps inside...*
Metal Man (GM): MEANWHILE... on the Q.S. Seeker... the group is on the Seeker, as usual.
Alexia steps out of Darkdata's room and heads to the main bridge.
Dragoshi: *Leaning gainst the wall, in a staring contest against a tarantula. ...Good god, this guy must be friggin' bored.*
Harnit is in the cafeteria of the space ship... Staring at a plate with some ice cubes melting on it.
Aaron is in the ship's mini weight room.
Metal Man (GM): Appearing on the bridge, a certain metallic hedgehog inspects the area.
Metal Sonic: "Hm... inferior consumer model electronics... and they're everywhere."
Alexia: "...! YOU!"
Metal Sonic: "Me."
Alexia ducks down into her battle pose and pulls out her gun.
Aaron: "Who you?" *He readies his club.*
Dragoshi: "Oh, hiya." *Waves to MS, while still in a staring contest with the tarantula.*
Metal Sonic: "I am Metal Sonic. And I have come here to challenge the strongest of you present to a battle."
Dragoshi: "...Huh?"
Alexia: "Nice try. What're you really here for?"
Dragoshi: *Throws the tarantula away.* "Yo."
Metal Sonic: "If I wanted something, I'd make it obvious." He marches towards the arena. "I won't leave until I have defeated the greatest you have to offer."
Dragoshi: "..."
Alexia: "...This ship wouldn't happen to have an airlock in there, would it?"
Dragoshi: "...Don't even think about it."
Azure walks in .oO(That's an interesting decoration... what reason behind does he have I wonder.)
Alexia: "Why? It'll get him out of here, trouble-free."
Dragoshi: "But where's the fun in that?" *Smirks.*
Metal Man (GM): Metal Sonic remains in the arena--he stands there, waiting for a challenger.
Dragoshi: *Stops leaning against the wall, and heads towards the arena, machinegun drawn.*
Harnit exits the cafeteria, muttering about something and sees an armed Dragoshi walk down the hallway... "What's going on?"
Metal Man (GM): He stands, and sees Dragoshi. He points.
Metal Sonic: "Do you challenge me to a battle for the title of most powerful battler?"
Alexia: "More insane stuff, Harnit..."
Dragoshi: *He chuckles.* "Yea. I guess so. ...Though, the question herein, is... What'll stop you from trying to snap my neck like ya did Julian's?"
Azure .oO(That's odd... that was not his original request... and wouldn't he need to have the title himself...)
Harnit: "Since so much insane stuff happens around here does that mean insane is normal? Would normal then be insane? Or... Arg. Head hurts..." *Scratches his head while following the others to the arena and taking a seat on the sidelines.*
Douglas decides to watch...
Azure: "Odd words coming from a machine..." *He closes his book on Mushroomian history.*
Alexia heads to the arena.
Metal Sonic: "Like I need to snap necks anymore." He moves to combat-ready stance. "I don't need that type of fighting anymore--you shall be destroyed with punches, kicks, and my extra abilities alone. Do you accept now?"
Alexia: "...Harnit, trust me. Insane here is a way of life."
Dragoshi: "Sure. I'm always up for a challenge." *Enters into a combat-ready stance as well.*
Alexia takes a seat next to Harnit.
Metal Man (GM): He gets into battle stance. The arena morphs into that of Final Destination.
Metal Sonic: "You appear to be sensible--but you shall not be so for long."
Metal Man (GM): He rockets immediately at you and throws three punches at Dragoshi quickly.
Dragoshi: *Dance, dodge, ow!* *Knocked back slightly, and stunned.* "...Heh. Not too shabby."
Metal Sonic: "I'm only getting started."
Dragoshi: "Good."
Metal Man (GM): He charges up his right fist with electricity and tries to punch Dragoshi in the gut with it. *CRIT.*
Dragoshi: *OOF!*
Alexia winces.
Dragoshi: *A little too dazed to talk at the moment, please try again, duckshirts.*
Alexia: "THAT'S gonna leave a bruise."
Harnit: "Oooh... Aye..."
Metal Man (GM): Then he flips around and tries to kick Dragoshi in the head with a roundhouse kick. Due to daze, auto-hit. Dragoshi is knocked over.
Dragoshi: *Gets back up, and shakes himself off.* "Huh." *Yeesh, from full health to one-quarter in one turn. Gaw damn.* >_>;;
Metal Man (GM): Then he leaps over to Dragoshi and tries to leap up and down on top of him over and over again.
Dragoshi: *Drag dodges them all!* "Hmph. The aim on that was rather shoddy, but... My turn, now!" *Okay, to start off with a combo of Tidal Blast from his machinegun, and a flip kick!*
Metal Man (GM): All hit.
Dragoshi: *And, then, el Drago kickasso...* *Pulls out a molotov and throws it at MS! Burn, baby, burn!*
Metal Man (GM): He ducks under it quickly.
Dragoshi: "Hmph."
Metal Sonic: "Now taste more of my power!"
Metal Man (GM): He blitzes with electricity, and out of the hole in his stomach he fires three projectiles of ball lightning at Dragoshi... and there's a crit!
Dragoshi: *Oh, oh. Nice going. Really. And he was warming up too. Bastard.*
Alexia: "Ouch."
Douglas: "Is Dragoshi alright?... He looked angry as he got KO'd."
Dragoshi: "...You lucky... Son of a sidewinder..." *Before getting KO'd.*
Metal Sonic: "Luck? I don't need that either." *He goes to stand by the wall again.* "Next! ...Or if that's all you got, I shall wait."
Metal Man (GM): Dragoshi is revived.
Dragoshi: "Oh, please."
Douglas frowns and stands, and jumps down into the arena.
Metal Sonic: *He faces Douglas.* "Do you challenge me?"
Dragoshi: "I'll believe that when the mooing tarantula escapes from it's cage and ducks explode while pineapple flavored radios rain from the sky." *Walks off.*
Harnit: "Good try, Dragoshi! ... And good luck, Doug!"
Douglas: "Yup." *kicks the ground.*
Metal Sonic: "Let's see what you've got."
Metal Man (GM): He wanders into range...
Douglas snaps his fingers and changes into windy.
Metal Sonic: "Wind... that is interesting, yet pointless."
Douglas: "You can believe me when I say that physical attacks will harm me. Mhm."
Metal Man (GM): He spins his hands and chucks three balls of lightning at Douglas.
Douglas: "Yeeaowch" *2 hit.*
Metal Man (GM): Then he electrifies his hand and goes to punch Douglas in the gut with it.
Douglas: *Hit, dazed.*
Metal Man (GM): Then he fires a lightning bolt at Douglas with one of his fingers. Or perhaps at the scenery behind him.
Douglas: *Hit due to daze.*
Douglas coughs up some smoke and sighs. His arms form two wide blades, as scimitars, and he tries to Sunder MS with what time he has left.
Metal Man (GM): He is hit by all of them.
Metal Sonic: "And now it is time to finish you!" He fires not one, but nine balls of lightning at Douglas.
Metal Man (GM): ... one crit!
Douglas vanishes, ker-dead. He reforms moments later, revived, though. End of battle.
Dragoshi: *Leaning' 'gainst wall.* "...Now, that on the other hand wasn't luck."
Metal Sonic: "Perhaps I am too powerful to be defeated by you. It is no matter. I shall wait until someone in my own league exists. Of course, if anyone else wishes to challenge me... they can."
Harnit: "Why do you want to prove your worth?"
Dragoshi: "...Meh. That strikes me out, then, as I've already got struck down ridiculously fast. I'll just watch."
Harnit: "... And what happened to that black hedgehog you fought?"
Douglas jumps up to the stands, at the ungodly speed of 11 feet per second!
Metal Sonic: "Prove mine? It is not me who needs to be proven. And him?" He chuckles. "Even with lower physical power, his fancy electronics were disabled by lightning. He swears revenge, of course."
Dragoshi: "...Of course."
Metal Sonic: "I shall wait patiently for any other challengers, of course." He stands by the arena.
Harnit: "Hm..." *The kid is at least a little glad that no one died in that conflict.*
Metal Man (GM): A knocking is heard outside.
SIMBER: "...Someone is by the door. Should we let them in?"
Harnit looks up to the door... "Why not?"
Dragoshi: "...I'll go check and see." *Zooms over.* "...Eh. Don't see why not." :/
Alex is a tall and thin youth of about fifteen years... blahblah blah... look on the character's page.
Editor's Note: Too bad you don't have one due to the passage of time, Star Alex!
Harnit: "Ah... Greetings!"
Alexia looks up.
Alex would be wearing the same breathing mask as the other Questers own, though.
Metal Man (GM): The doorlock opens to let Alex in.
Alexia: "..."
Alex nods. "Hello, Questers!" he walks in.
Dragoshi: "Hiya."
Metal Man (GM): The door shuts behind him.
Alexia: "Hello."
Aaron acknowledges his presence with a grunt.
Alex blinks rapidly as he sees Alexia, then seems to snap out of a trance as he looks to the others. He clears his throat. "My name is Alex... and I've decided to join you all on your adventures as a fellow Quester."
Harnit looks to Alexia. "People appearing out of nowhere... Really normal here?"
Alex removes the breathing mask.
Alexia: "..."
Harnit: "Ah... Welcome!"
Alexia: "Oh, er, uh, yeah, pretty much."
Dragoshi: *To self, chuckling.* "Normal is an understatement."
Alex's purple eyes meet Alexia's again. "What are your names?"
Aaron: "Bone crush!"
Harnit stands up from the arena's benches and bows before the new Quester. "Harnit Barute, at your service, Alex."
Alex notes BC's unclean appearance. "Heh..."
Alexia: "Alexia..."
Metal Sonic: "I don't work here. I merely challenge these people to battles as a Smasher."
Alex looks to Harnit casually. "Thank you, Harnit." He bows to Alexia.
Alexia: *blushing.* "Really, that's not needed..."
Dragoshi: *Stays silent 'till everyone introduces themselves an' whatnot.*
Alex: "This is quite a large... erm... space ship, right?"
SIMBER: *Appears.* "Indeed."
Dragoshi: "...Yep."
Alex jumps. "Gah!"
Dragoshi: "...That's SIMBER." *Points to him.*
Alex calms down and examines SIMBER closely, even prodding it once or twice. "Oh... This is SIMBER..."
SIMBER: "The Quester Ship Seeker."
Harnit chuckles... "Ah... You've got plenty of stuff to get used to! Aren't adverse to insanity, right?"
Alex blinks.
SIMBER: "Intergalactic ship... it came from Nintendus to here."
Dragoshi: "Yep."
Alex: "Really?... Why not just use magic?..."
Alexia: "Nice to meet you."
SIMBER: "Magic? We do not have a large supply of it. Kuja was the one who used magic."
Dragoshi: *Nods.*
Alex shrugs. "Oh... Kuja... He's still gone, correct?"
Dragoshi: "Pretty much, yea."
SIMBER: "...What do you know of him?"
Dragoshi: "...Now I'm curious."
Alex: "Hm... just what was told in stories..."
Dragoshi: "Stories?" *Raises an eyebrow.*
Alex nods.
Dragoshi: "Hm. Interesting. I'd ask about them, but that would be rude of me. ...I think. Don't know, really." *Shrugs.*
SIMBER: "He is quite dead, I assure you."
Alex: "Oh... well, I'm sure they were all things you know about."
Dragoshi: "Dead in mind, body, and spirit, right? Or is it just two of the three?"
Alex: "Anyway. I'm very happy to join the rest of you. ...Where would be an acceptable place to stay?"
Harnit: "Hrm... Where'd you get your stories at? I need to read up on the Questers..."
SIMBER: "So far as can be seen from the videos, and also noting the destruction of Ruvyn, who carried a remaining chunk of his soul."
Dragoshi: "Ah, yes. That guy."
Alex: "I... was told them by someone. That's all." he sighs and grips his cloak-tie.
Harnit: "Ah..." *The boy thinks for a moment.* Er... SIMBER, was it? This ship has a library, right?"
Alex looks about the area a bit.
Harnit: "We're in the arena right now..."
Alex moves up to Metal Sonic.
Harnit: "There's a lot of places in this ship. It'll take a day or two before you stop getting lost!"
Alex: "You look very interesting..." *He turns and snickers at Harnit.*
Harnit shrugs. "I'm just glad I found a map before supper time."
SIMBER: "A rather great arena."
Dragoshi: "...Yep."
Metal Sonic: *Looks down at Alex.* "Of course I am. I am the greatest Smasher."
Alex: "What a title..."
Aaron: "Me like smash!"
Dragoshi: "...Well, he was ranked number 1 in the now-defunct CAL."
Metal Sonic: "Probably the only active one." He gestures. "They all chickened out to protect their own places."
Metal Man (GM): He nearly falls face-forward when Dragoshi mentions the CAL.
Metal Sonic: "Yes... that... I wonder where all the money went."
Alex dodges...
Dragoshi: "...Whatever DID happen to it that became now-defunct, anyway? ...That's what I'm wondering. I mean, if it's now-defunct, ya have to wonder..."
Metal Sonic: "I don't really know... one day we had it up, the next Dr. Mario reclaimed the head room to be his office."
Dragoshi: "...Yeesh."
Metal Sonic: "Perhaps we should find out some day."
Metal Man (GM): Mission added: 'CAL Mystery.'
Harnit: "You are... Very focused about fighting..."
Dragoshi: "Yea."
Metal Sonic: "Of course. I was built to destroy Sonic."
Dragoshi: "...Heh."
Harnit: "It was nice meeting you, ah... Alex. Alex... Alex... Gah. Sorry, I'm bad with names... In any case, I'm getting tired..."
Alex sighs and tries to get Harnit to show him to a room.
Harnit guides Alex to the Questers' rooms... "Ah... I suppose just look about until you find an empty one! G'night."
Alex thanks Harnit and finds the room close by and goes to sleep. He's traveled a long time.
Aaron: *There's rather loud snoring from BC's room.*
Dragoshi: "...Wow. The activity in here really died faster than, well... Hmmm... One of those Robo-koopas. And they died, like..." *Snaps claws.* "That. But, eh." *Heads back to his room, then, seeing as there's nothing else left to do...*

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