Super Smash Quest - Story - Chapter 344: Gerald Wars Pt 3: The Holographic Last Stand
Date: 6:42:26 PM, November 3rd to 11:42:13 PM, November 3rd, 2006.
Metal Man (GM): El Climactico De la Explosion`'
The Questers still not back from their extra-dimensional trip, and Julian and Charles with their hands full elsewhere, Gerald watches from his control tower as his ships begin to get into range of Nintendus.
Gerald Robotnik Hologram: "Yes... yes! The day has come... those worthless humans will know what it feels like... the despair... the pain... the death! And... in the same breath... I shall revoke Kuja's writ of existence... for it was he who insisted Nintendus remain, for all time, even if he had found better worlds."
"That fool... one cannot predict machines by spiritual means."
Metal Man (GM): He types into the console. All four ships are at full power, their lasers ready, and soon in range.
Gerald Robotnik Hologram: "Once they're gone... I can finally rest in peace... except..."
Metal Man (GM): He turns his sensors to the Second Moon.
Gerald Robotnik Hologram: "That fool still persists... and my saucer of doom will not repel them from life so easily! Otherwise I would be content... and destroy this moon and myself, to complete my worthy cause."
"This... is the pain of this world... that people persist in foolery... for he does not know... oh... he does not know."
"He was always a pawn in plans he could never comprehend... he was the second Zio..."
"That Kuja... how devilish of him... to have indirectly given the Lunarian a chance to enforce his writ on me. But I must not reveal the truth... that would only empower him."
"Still... I must be vigilant. These weapons, in the wrong hands, may save worlds and peoples I wish death upon."
Metal Man (GM): He sets a program; it appears to be something important, but the camera does not show.
He walks out of the room, closing the door. The darkened room, only lit up by a monitor, stands still for a few moments, before the great relic of Kuja's time slowly fades off.
---MEANWHILE---
The four ships approach Nintendus, their lasers automatically powering up.
No matter how fast the other ship with the Questers moves, it appears they won't come back fast enough.
Down in Quester HQ, alarms are going off, as Metal sets a few options and prepares for the worse.
Metal Man: "That insane fool! He may have bested the Questers, but surely there is something I can do... but not much."
*He looks through his papers.* "Where is it... where is it..."
"Ahah!"
*He takes out a folder labeled 'Project X' *
"Let's see... Wolfman told me to use this in case of impending planetary destruction."
"But... what does it do?"
*He takes out the strange, garage-door opener device, and presses the button. Nothing noticeable happens. *
"...I sure hope it's useful." *He walks downstairs into a bomb shelter.*
Metal Man (GM): The camera zooms by, to a tower in the middle of Eisnaught.
Ivan looks at the incoming ships... and scoffs.
Ivan Robotnik: "Hmph! My uncle may be intelligent, but he only seems to think in terms of his era. Those ships are grossly oversized--like battleships--and no match for carriers. It has become evident the Questers won't stop him in time. I shall have to defend myself!"
Metal Man (GM): He picks up a red phone.
Ivan Robotnik: "Deploy all regiments... immediately!"
Metal Man (GM): The camera zooms over to the military base in the Magnetic wastes.
A commander, who has just finished talking on a red phone himself, makes a hand signal, and presses some buttons.
Several silos open up, revealing launching pads.
The walls extend outwards as an elevator covered with small blue ships begins launching; men and women in air force-style suits (but blue) scramble onto them as an air raid siren goes off.
*BOOM* A huge blue, roundish carrier blasts off. There's only one, but it's equally sophisticated to its battleship foes.
In the distance, five smaller Neo-Earthian ships launch from the surface.
Back in outer space, the ships begin to charge; but the ships from Nintendus fly out and begin attacking them.
They retaliate, with deadly force; it looks as if they will only be inconvenienced by the smaller, weaker Nintendian ships, and even though the rickety Neo-Earthian ships deal some noticeable damage, they seem to be prone to failures.
Zooming back to the Second Moon, Julian is on the Dauntless, now heading towards the Second Moon.
He receives some more comms hails, this time from a familiar face.
Jeff Maxwell: "Hello, Quester-ship. Could you give me a hand? I've got a death-weapon firing at me."
Metal Man (GM): And, indeed; a black UFO is firing weird black rays at Jeff's MTA.
The Halberd is firing all of its lasers into the UFO, but its reflective surface seems to repel them.
Every so often it attempts to fire at the base below, but is usually knocked off course.
Julian Sawyer's just sitting in one of the chairs, twiddling his thumbs when he gets the call "...You never DO stay dead, huh? Sure, gimme a sec..." *Julian gets up and heads for the Death Ray firing station, and tries to target the UFO.*
Metal Man (GM): You have a full complement of lasers... as well as Dr. Ivo Robotnik's ultimate Death Ray.
And!
Gerald Robotnik's Other-Zone gun of Doom
You may fire at will.
Julian Sawyer: *Fire fire! Yeah!*
Metal Man (GM): Which weapon?
Death Ray is a laser, Other-Zone is capable of teleporting the target to another dimension.
As it did to the shields of that ship and to part of its plating.
Julian Sawyer: *Let's go with the Other-Zone first.*
Metal Man (GM): The Other-Zone gun is, apparently, the only thing to phase this UFO.
By nature of annihilating it.
Jeff Maxwell: "What was that? How did you just make it vanish?"
Julian Sawyer: "...I shot it?"
Jeff Maxwell: "Wait a minute... that's just like that gun It had! Impressive... how did you steal one of Gerald's weapons?"
Metal Man (GM): Charles: You see, visibly, the UFO vanishing from a dark ray, similar to the one it had, being fired on it while it had its back turned.
Charles Magellean: "!?"
Metal Man (GM): Julian: You notice a 'fuel critical' indicator. Hm... that ate a lot of power.
Julian Sawyer: "I TOOK it. Ain't like that's a hard thing."
Metal Man (GM): You're gonna have to crash land... as the lights begin flickering.
Julian Sawyer: "...An' I need to land. You guys got a refueling station?"
Bob, Lord of Electric Death: "We have fuel, but no landing pad."
Julian Sawyer: "PADDED refueling station?"
Charles Magellean: "FAYTH, determine point of origin of the ray that hit the UFO!"
Julian Sawyer: "...Fuck, where you want me to crash then?"
F.A.Y.T.H.: "Origin: Q.S. Dauntless. A ship which is currently projected to crash land into our base."
Charles Magellean is deadly silent.
"Do we have ways of setting on a different path?"
"I want options, people."
Julian Sawyer , not seeing a further use for the weapons, moves back to navigation and tries to level it out while Eggman determines where he should crash.
F.A.Y.T.H.: "Hm. Adjust degree 25 left."
Julian Sawyer follows the magical disembodied voice's directions.
Charles Magellean: "Relay that info to the navigator of the Dauntless."
Bob, Lord of Electric Death: (Comms) "Hit the control stick to go left for 2 seconds, Julian."
Julian Sawyer: *Bob's too.*
Metal Man (GM): The ship moves a bit, then crashes into a deserted field on the Second Moon.
Julian Sawyer's lucky he's strapped in.
Metal Man (GM): It is mostly undamaged.
However you have no way to just walk to the Moon base.
Julian Sawyer: *The spaceship doesn't have space SUITS?*
Metal Man (GM): Even worse... your comms is telling you Gerald's ships are currently kicking the tail of various Nintendus ships.
Nope. No space suits... you left without them, to allow for maximum speed.
Charles Magellean: "..."
Julian Sawyer: "Fuck fuck fuck... Can you guys send a refuelin' truck or somethin' out here? Our forces are gettin' kicked to the curb right now!"
Bob, Lord of Electric Death: "He requests fuel. Should we send some to him? He appears interested in dying by attacking the four Kuja ships bent on destroying Nintendus without any chance of victory."
Charles Magellean: "Send it to him so the Questers can get the hell off this world!"
Meta Knight: (Comms) "Charles. I have reason to believe the Halberd could aid the Nintendus defense. Should I back them up?"
Charles Magellean gets up from the seat. "If it's one thing I can't stand, it's those people that come to the Moon without permission. Permission granted, Sir Meta Knight. Assist the Nintendians."
"Fayth, hail the MTA by Jeff."
F.A.Y.T.H.: "Hailed."
Jeff Maxwell: (Comms) "Yes?"
Charles Magellean: "Maxwell, do you have room in your space heap for a passenger? I'm going to Nintendus's moon to bring the war to the Gerald virus and retake that which it stole from me."
Jeff Maxwell: "There is room, however I would fear for your safety. My life is expendable, but Gerald could kill us both if we got too close."
Julian Sawyer, while waiting for a response, decides to run a scan of the Dauntless' weapons to see if they're all up to date, and how much fuel they take to fire.
Metal Man (GM): They're up to date; you don't have to worry about fuel once it's fully fueled; just that, in the case of going top speed, it runs the reserves down to nearly nothing.
Charles Magellean: "We were once Questers, you and I. Let us take the death risk once more to bring down that which is against us. Surely you have reason to stop Gerald, don't you?"
Jeff Maxwell: "I do. I shall come."
Charles Magellean: "Ricky, you are in charge of the Moonbase in my absence. May Lord Bahamut watch upon all of us."
Metal Man (GM): Julian: A droid refills your fuel. You are prepped for launch.
Ricky Koopa: "Do not fear. My military resources will be coming soon."
Charles Magellean: "Good. Standby for my transport signature. Charles out. Terminate the channel. Set transport coordinates for inside the MTA."
F.A.Y.T.H.: "Affirmative."
Metal Man (GM): A warp appears for Charles.
Also, the Dauntless awaits for the 'takeoff' button to be pressed.
Julian Sawyer waits for the droid to disconnect the fuel nozzle and lock up, then hits the takeoff button, sets it to autopilot, and heads back to the weapon console.
Metal Man (GM): The droid disconnects and such; you takeoff.
Charles Magellean raises his right arm in the air. He puts his hand on his left shoulder. "For Freedom."
He enters the warp.
Metal Man (GM): Charles appears in the MTA, behind the seat of Jeff, who sets a course for Gerald's base.
Jeff Maxwell: "Hard to believe I'm still here... especially after Zero was so insistent on killing me. And, ironically... it was he who vanished, and I who survived."
Julian Sawyer: "Hmmm..." *Julian checks: Can he scan the First Moon Base from the Dauntless?*
Metal Man (GM): It's outta range for now.
However, Jeff Maxwell's MTA is going there.
You might have a good chance of getting to there if you went with them.
Julian Sawyer decides to tail the MTA, having a pretty good idea of its purpose. Like he said, this is war. Ain't no time to hold a grudge...
Jeff Maxwell: "Milord, the Dauntless is following us. Perhaps we will have a higher chance of survival now."
Charles Magellean: "Perhaps, but I made a verbal contract with them to not interfere with them. I suppose they don't know that I'm with you. Although... I'm sort of curious."
*He smiles a bit smugly.* "So, who's smarter? The 'great Jeff Maxwell' or the remnants of the brilliant mind that was Professor Gerald?"
Julian Sawyer: "..." *And that's when Julian remembered he'd left the Businessman on hold since he first called him*
"FUCK!"
*He immediately flips open his dex and switches to the appropriate channel.*
The Businessman: "Well, well. It looks like you owe me something now... like... three hours of my time. Hm... an arm... a leg... or perhaps your nose... what would look best on my mantle..."
Julian Sawyer: "Uh, real sorry 'bout that BM. Heat of the moment, y'know? But what say I send over a fruit basket or some thin' and we call it even, huh?"
The Businessman: "If you value your appendages, you will do an errand for me. I desire all of Gerald's research."
Julian Sawyer: "What a coincidence. That's where I'm headin'."
The Businessman: "He has, after all, done things we astral beings... have neglected for years. Download all of it onto this."
Metal Man (GM): A disk appears in Julian's hands.
Julian Sawyer: "Deal."
The Businessman: "If you do it well, I might give you a bonus... but I don't expect that."
Metal Man (GM): The communication terminates.
Julian Sawyer: "What do you mean by we-...Whateva." *Julian flips his dex closed and silently mans the weapons console...*
Metal Man (GM): You begin to reach Gerald's moon base... hoo lordy, this thing is NASTY.
It's three times as large as Eisnaught, made of steel towers. It is a fully operational military base.
Julian Sawyer: "...Jesus. Gonna hafta do some work on this."
Metal Man (GM): It has five gigantic ion cannons... and a massive force field... and billions of little laser guns atop the buildings.
Not to mention the Valhalla, with all of its weapons able to aid in the defenses.
You can't see the shield generator. It may be... *Gasp* Deep underground.
Julian Sawyer: *Ion cannons in front of shield?*
Metal Man (GM): They're inside it... which is actually good for you.
Otherwise they could have fired, and thusly, killed you before you saw them.
Julian Sawyer: *EVERYTHING's behind the shield?*
Metal Man (GM): Yes.
You begin to discern more bad news.
This base has a full fighter squadron...
It's unknown if they can fly by themselves, buuut it appears to have had everything but the commands necessary to send its wrath at you guys when Nintendus was saved.
Julian Sawyer: "...It never fuckin' ends..." *Julian checks the Dauntless' inventory for a separate fighter or an escape pod should it go down in a spectacular explosion, as it is likely to do.*
Metal Man (GM): It only has an escape pod.
You have enough fuel to attempt another shield trick, with Gerald's own gun, however as you have seen, it could be deadly to make the shield explode.
Julian Sawyer's going to make someone suffer for this... preferably Gerald. What to do... Luck check?
Metal Man (GM): You can try, though luck may not help you here.
You are lucky, dice-wise. Thusly you are reminded of various past endeavors with large towers, lasers, and insurmountable odds: When in question, fly into the main building with yer ship and attempt to crash-land, so that you can get inside and way from the lasers.
Julian Sawyer picks out a good spot to crash land... again... on Gerald's base, and preps the Other-Zone blaster "Computer, Ramming speed on my mark..."
He sets coordinates for the crash while he's at it.
Computer: "Coordinates accepted."
Julian Sawyer make sure he doesn't crash into the MTA as he flies by, hovers his finger over the button... "...Mark!" *And hits the button, hopefully firing the ray and taking out the shield right before the Dauntless crashes into it.*
Metal Man (GM): It blows away the shield; Gerald hails you.
Gerald Robotnik Hologram: "Your work is in vain; now, behold your doom."
Metal Man (GM): All of the ion cannons, lasers, etc. fires at the Dauntless; all of the attack ships fly upwards and shoot at you.
The shields are obliterated. Then the wings. The hull is in danger of complete failure when it crashes into the tower.
Computer: "...Near-complete destruction of flight features. Please locate maintenance facilities."
Julian Sawyer's halfway to the escape pod by the time that particular message gets sent... right before he gets in, the tower gets its ass KICKED.
Metal Man (GM): The hatch then opens up; you see that you're inside the tower... and that the hole you made was sealed up, to maintain air pressure.
You're inside a deserted lobby. Long dead Supersoldiers and scientist corpses lay on the floor.
Julian Sawyer: "...I'm a fuckin' GENIUS!" *Julian scrambles out of the Dauntless.*
Metal Man (GM): You may go up a floor, or down a floor. This place is a wasteland.
Julian Sawyer: *Don't suppose Julian could set up a map?*
Metal Man (GM): Can't seem to get one; the computer's wrecked, and this tower has stealth measures up.
Julian Sawyer: *Do Supersoldiers have guns? That work? He would feel better if he had a weapon that wasn't his fists. And he can make macho poses and everything with guns.*
Metal Man (GM): They don't have guns... because you can see... they have bites out of them ..In fact, almost everything in here looks like somebody tried to eat it.
Julian Sawyer: "...Moon demons? I hope not..." *What level would Julian guesstimate he's on?*
Metal Man (GM): You see one of the corpses, desperately biting some sort of chair in its death throes.
Long dead, but still clamped onto the chair with its teeth.
You're sorta high off the ground, near level 5 or so.
Julian Sawyer heads up.
Metal Man (GM): You head up, passing the eerily unmanned computers and hordes of corpses.
Julian Sawyer: *Working computers?*
Metal Man (GM): The stairs wind around, continuing upwards. This was a flight control tower, once.
The computers are functional.
They appear to be monitoring progress and commanding the starships.
They show the starships overpowering various other spaceships.
Julian Sawyer wonders if he can shut them down from here... or download data for Ol' BM.
Metal Man (GM): You press a few keys; no response. They seem heavily protected.
Julian Sawyer: *Haxxor Attaxxor! Computer Use Check to get access for shits and giggles And nothin'. Upwards!*
Metal Man (GM): You go further upwards, into a boardroom full of dead people in suits.
Hm. Unsettling. They planned on trying to sell military weapons for food, but died of starvation.
Julian Sawyer: *Military weapons that are still usable?*
Metal Man (GM): They would be, yes, but they're not in this room.
Rather, in Warehouses 1-25, down below and across the way on one of many eerie streets... but the shields are down. No air while that's going on.
Julian Sawyer: *Damn. Upwards!*
Metal Man (GM): You walk further upwards... and encounter a locked door. One of those weird metallic doors you see in the malls.
It's shut, for sure.
*brb one moment; feel free to act as I get some food.*
Julian Sawyer: *Welded shut? or Explodeable?*
Metal Man (GM): Explodable, not welded shut.
Julian Sawyer: *Would exploding the door created explosive decompression?*
Metal Man (GM): No.
Julian Sawyer: *C4!*
Metal Man (GM): It blows up, revealing a command center. One... where Gerald sits in a chair... grinning?
Julian Sawyer: "Fancy seein' you here."
Gerald Robotnik Hologram: "Well well, if it isn't the fool who sent his friends to oblivion. It's about time you got here... I have... a duel to finish."
Metal Man (GM): He takes out an orange lightsaber.
Then... another one, in his right hand.
...Then another one appears in a robotic hand attached to his side...
And a final one, on another robotic hand on his other side.
Four in total; he brandishes them in succession.
Julian Sawyer: "...Fuck." *Julian decides to turn tail and check out the lower floors really quickly.*
Gerald Robotnik Hologram: "Not so fast, fly boy."
Metal Man (GM): You move to escape; a bunch of blast doors descend everywhere.
You could C-4 them, but there's too many; hundreds.
You run past a few, but find too many of them. Escape is nearly impossible unless you had something like Schnelltott to cut your way through.
Julian Sawyer: *And Aetos just had to be on that ship when it got sent to nowhere...*
Gerald Robotnik Hologram: "If you are who you say you are, you will beat me... but you know the iron rule; Gerald Robotnik is always right."
Metal Man (GM): He walks towards you, getting in a battle stance.
Julian Sawyer: .oO(Fuckfuckfuckfuckfuck...) *Julian quickly scans the room, looking for some kind of projection system or something that's keeping up Gerald's substance, because he KNOWS Gerald doesn't have an actual physical body anymore...*
Metal Man (GM): https://web.archive.org/web/20051224095305/http://doulifee.com/prc/PrcSong/prc21/Prc21_to_-_Level_Six_Descent_LSD_Bonus_Mix.mp3
You look for one; you don't see any. Even more troublesome, his body appears to... clank.
Julian Sawyer: .oO(FUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCK) *Julian glances the control consoles then, to see what they control...*
Metal Man (GM): They control the entire base. However, as with most things, their instrumentation is... holographic only.
Gerald Robotnik Hologram: "Come on; fight me like a man, you fool. I don't want to fight a coward. I didn't build a replica of my old self just to watch you run away; if I wanted to kill you, you'd have died already."
"I believe... a true battle of epic proportions is in order."
Julian Sawyer: "Yeah yeah yeah..." *Julian resigns to his fate, and puts up his dukes.* "Seems a bit unfair, tho."
Gerald Robotnik Hologram: "Unfair? Coming from you? You've changed... the first time you fought me, you seemed intent on killing more than me, but also the very existence of the air around me! Very well; I will fight an unwell vessel."
Metal Man (GM): Duel-- Julian vs. Gerald
Roll Init
Julian Sawyer: "That was when I had backup. An' I STILL lost, if you remember. I ain't an' idiot, I ain't gonna fight a battle I can't win 'less I got no other choice... like now." *GodDAMMIT.*
Metal Man (GM): Order: Gerald, Julian
Gerald Robotnik Hologram: "Feel the wrath of my despair!" *He runs up to you and slashes wildly, with all four sabers.*
Metal Man (GM): 15 damage per hit.
Julian Sawyer's able to dodge all but one!
Metal Man (GM): He then does it again, fiercely invading your space.
15 damage per hit.
Gerald Robotnik Hologram: "Yes... that is it... dodge and weave... attempt to fight, instead of foolishly run!"
Julian Sawyer: *And Julian does it again!* "The hell are those, cheap knockoffs?" *Julian suddenly reaches out to grab the up close Gerald with blood-red glowing gloves!*
Metal Man (GM): You attempt to grab him; he moves his sabers to interpose.
Alas; none are fast enough. You grab him.
Gerald Robotnik Hologram: "Hmph! That is not possible... my saber defense should be unstoppable!"
Metal Man (GM): Damage? Throw direction?
Julian Sawyer: "Knock knock!" *Julian grabs Gerald by his two Extra arms, lets the damaging surge into him, and Focus SLAMS him into a conveniently-nearby Blast Wall!*
Metal Man (GM): He flies against it and bounces off, taking an additional 10.
Julian Sawyer reaches into his vest for something to intercept the bouncing Gerald with...
Metal Man (GM): Seems to harm him more than you expected.
Julian Sawyer: *FUCKING BRICKS!*
Metal Man (GM): He gets up, looking angry. Then he sees the brick coming; but does it hit?
Julian Sawyer launches it at Gerald's face out of frustration of drawing ANOTHER ONE.
Metal Man (GM): It smacks him in the face.
Julian Sawyer: *Crunch.*
Metal Man (GM): He used all of his saber mastery against that one move.
Julian Sawyer: "Lookin' back, this ain't so bad! C'mon, fat man! Let's bounce!"
Metal Man (GM): He is now angry; he glows, and then holds all four of his sabers together, charging up a massive laser.
Gerald Robotnik Hologram: "Burn!!!"
Metal Man (GM): A HUGE laser flies over your shoulder, blasting a blast door down.
He then walks closer and flails his sabers at you.
Julian Sawyer: *Too slow! Julian gracefully ducks it, doing the splits! He's in a mocking mood today And pays for it.*
Metal Man (GM): 15 minutes per hit. Er. Damage, not minutes.
*VOOSH VOOSH VOOSH VOOSH* It's not like fighting a man... it's like fighting a Quadropus!
Julian Sawyer: "I'm jus' gettin' warmed up, sucka!" *Julian pulls himself back up by his collar, then reaches out and tries to grab Gerald by the extra arms again with blood-red glowing gloves!*
Metal Man (GM): He uses the arm and tries to defend.
He moves it in the way; you run into it and take 5 damage.
Julian Sawyer: *Try again!*
Metal Man (GM): He fails to block that. Hit.
Julian Sawyer's got that grab locked in! And... he keeps it on! He's got something planned... 36 damage, EoT.
Metal Man (GM): He first tries to break free. Opposed STR checks.
You prevent him from breaking free; so he decides something else.
Julian Sawyer's got that hold locked on TIGHT.
Gerald Robotnik Hologram: "YOUR SOUL... IS MINE!!!!!"
Metal Man (GM): He holds out his hands and attempts to take over your body with orange lightning. Opposed MNT checks.
Julian Sawyer: "Oh FUCK YO-" *LIGHTNING-ED.*
Metal Man (GM): You are hit with a ton of lightning, and are KO'd. However, your body is still alive. Gerald, feeling weak, as he was near defeat, pushes your body off of him, and slumps onto the floor.
Gerald Robotnik Hologram: "That... was... too... close..."
Julian Sawyer: *Second Life?*
Metal Man (GM): You're KO'd, not killed.
It was a knockout attack.
Not SSB-style KO'd; you only get another life if killed or SSB KO'd.
Gerald Robotnik Hologram: "Hm... a shame I had to cheat. He would have won otherwise. I shall give him a present anyway."
Metal Man (GM): He tosses another orange lightsaber atop Julian's body.
Gerald Robotnik Hologram: "By the time he wakes up, I won't be here anyway."
Metal Man (GM): He walks out, leaving Julian behind.
*A few moments later*
Julian wakes up, with an orange lightsaber on his chest. (Deactivated)
And... a lingering voice in his head which tells him to touch the consoles.
Julian Sawyer: "Urgh..." *Julian opens his eyes... and realizes Gerald isn't there anymore.* "DAMNIT!" *Julian immediately jumps to his feet, momentarily forgetting the lightsaber, but grabbing it before it can fall to the floor* "...How the... Don't matter." *Julian quickly flips open his Dex and sees if he can get a read on if Gerald's still in the base...*
Smash Dex: "Gerald is currently outside the base... about to attack Charles? The lightsaber appears to be a perfect copy, nay, the same sort as Vendetta. However it seems weaker... as most weapons seem to be, nowadays."
Julian Sawyer: "...Stealin' my thunder AGAIN." *Julian kicks a nearby console out of frustration... and inadvertently touching it.*
Metal Man (GM): You suddenly have all sorts of information in your mind.
Plans to destroy Nintendus... the Second Moon... and something more important. MUCH more important.
That said, the program details notify you of an 'impending event', as the ships have nearly completely defeated the Nintendian fleets.
Julian Sawyer: "...This is big." *Julian's awestruck... but not awestruck enough to look for a slot he can place the BM's disk in so he can download the data.*
Metal Man (GM): The disk downloads the data; apparently a side-effect of whatever weird mojo he did to your mind.
It is then sent into the realm and vanishes.
Now all that is left is going down and, perhaps, finding a way to put a stop to his plans.
The blast doors are gone.
Julian Sawyer: "..." *WHOOSH! Julian's rushing downstairs as fast as possible to save the day! Maybe!*
Metal Man (GM): *MEANWHILE...*
Dragoshi, Aetos: You here?
The ship you're on soon reaches the galaxy of Nintendus. The multiple personalities, thankfully, seem to quit their babbling.
Aetos: "Hmm... Finally shut up, Dragoshi?"
Metal Man (GM): But... for good reason. You see the ships of Gerald, five seconds from firing. They've already shot down many Nintendian ships.
Computer: "This may come as alarming, but if we don't do something, Nintendus won't exist soon."
Dragoshi: "...Hope so."
Aetos: "I can see that, but are we in range to do anything?"
Computer: "No."
Gerald Robotnik Hologram: (Comms) "You are too late. Behold the destruction of your worthless planet!"
Aetos shakes his head. "Then why did you suggest we do som--... "
Metal Man (GM): The ships open fire; their lasers burn the surface of the planet, dealing heavy damage to some areas.
Computer: "They cannot quite destroy it entirely unless we let them."
Dragoshi: "Son of a sidewinder..."
Metal Man (GM): The ships fire again, but this time Gunicard flies in the way. It is horribly damaged. However it shoots one of the ships with a... heat ray?
The ship in question is heavily damaged by the secret weapon.
Dragoshi: "Well try and move into range ASAP, and after doing so OPEN FIRE with full f-...Fuh?."
Ivan Robotnik: (Comms) "What did you think I was going to do? Let you destroy my planet?"
Dragoshi: "...These things are weak against heat based weapons?"
Gerald Robotnik Hologram: (Comms) "You are too immature to accept your impending death. Open fire!"
Metal Man (GM): It goes to open fire again, but this time the fire is eaten by some sort of interdimensional portal.
Dragoshi: "...Also, nice Deus ex Machina, Ivan. ...Even though it's apparently going to be horribly temporary"
Metal Man (GM): Gunicard flees in the melee.
Dragoshi: "...Question. Do we have any heat based weapons...?"
Ivan Robotnik: (Comms) "Don't just sit there... I'm running out of options!"
Computer: "Unneeded. There is enough firepower to destroy all of those ships. Move to the enemy ships?"
Aetos looks over the controls again. "We're trying to get in closer. Nothing here can reach so far."
Dragoshi: "Of course."
Computer: "Command... accepted."
Dragoshi: "Open fire on them with our strongest weapons at the necessary force once we're in range."
Metal Man (GM): It speeds up and enters range to attack.
Gerald Robotnik Hologram: (Comms) "One ship against four is a foolish bet."
Metal Man (GM): The other ships turn and open fire on your ship, which almost immediately loses its shields.
Computer: "...Not good... we've only managed to damage another one of them... and that may be the last attack we get!"
Dragoshi: "Even though it could possibly fire like a machinegun from hell...? Speaking of which, OPEN FIRE! DEATHRAYS, FULL POWER! ..."
Aetos: "Can we jump dimensions still?"
Computer: "Their shields appear to have been enhanced! ...This would be our last chance to do so. ...Dimensional rift detected."
"...Another dimensional rift."
"...What... a third one?"
Dragoshi: "...Another?"
Aetos: "Reinforcements?"
Dragoshi: "...What the..."
Metal Man (GM): *RIP* Out of thin air, a huge amount of UFOs appear and begin mobbing the other big ships.
*RIP* And... Master and Crazy Hand also appear to attack. But the third is the oddest.
Aetos: "The Lacent?"
Dragoshi: "...I wonder if it's our interdimensional associa-...Yep. If it isn't, then... Well, I hate to say-...Okay. Screw it. Even though gonna hate to quote Julian on this, it never fuckin' ends."
Aetos: "Isn't there any way to get in closer? Faster?"
Metal Man (GM): *RIP* A fully-functional Archelago model I, manned by... IIF agents? And... stocked with... ancient technology? Appears.
Dragoshi: "...This is starting to make less and less sense by the second."
Computer: "We already are in range. We've been firing non-stop. The ships don't seem to be stopping."
Metal Man (GM): The comms begin to overflow with messages.
Aetos: "Not even when using our most powerful Deathray? What? Open all messages in chronological order."
Computer: "Something was tweaked with them while we were gone. I sense increased power and diameter to them... and they don't seem to be budging."
Shadow: (Comms) "All right, Gerald, we know what you've been up to. Surrender now or be destroyed!"
Dragoshi: "...Yes, please do."
Aetos: "This is not a ship under Gerald's command anymore. Direct your messages to the other ships."
Metal Man (GM): These are messages sent out to all other ships; not specifically to this one.
Aetos orders the Shadow communication to end.
Metal Man (GM): You're just overhearing them.
Dragoshi: "...Stupid friggin' scientists..."
Lacent Commander: (Comms) "We have come to settle this sparsely inhabited planet. We cannot let you destroy it. ...Whoever you are in the other, non-'Gerald' ships, please get out of our way."
Master Hand: (Comms) "This planet was made the way it was by us; it is not your privilege to just destroy it!"
Metal Man (GM): A massive, four-way space battle begins.
It appears they all have different motives... and have been summoned too much, too soon.
Aetos: "At least... they are all here to save Nintendus... for now."
Dragoshi: "...Yea."
Aetos: "But..."
Computer: "This has bought us some time... the only way TO save Nintendus, lies in those shields..."
Dragoshi: "...?"
Aetos: "Can we discern if Shadow the Hedgehog is in his ship?"
Dragoshi: "...Are we going to use their shields against them or something?"
Computer: "The communications information indicates so."
Aetos turns to Dragoshi. "We could take him out... right now."
Computer: "Those shields on Gerald's ships are what keeps them from being destroyed. We would have destroyed them all otherwise. He somehow enhanced them while we were in that other dimension."
Aetos: "I'm speaking of Shadow's ship."
Dragoshi: "Hmmm... That we could. That we could..."
Computer: "I think we have more urgent problems; you are free to attack that ship, though, but I doubt it'd be a good idea."
Aetos shakes his head. "I suppose... it is important to go against the more common enemy first, despite the fact Shadow is an infamous villain. And despite the fact he will probably cause an event nearly equal to this, in the future."
Dragoshi: "Very much so. Well, anyway, is there a way we can turn their shields against them?"
Aetos: "I'm not knowledgeable on that subject."
Dragoshi: "...I was asking the computer."
Computer: "The information in my databanks indicates the information to disable their shields is at his moon base."
Aetos: "Hrm. Should we make our way there, or try for another option?"
Computer: "It's all up to you."
Aetos: "I was talking to Dragoshi."
Dragoshi: "...Hmm... What would our chance of success be if we were to attempt to go for the base?"
Aetos: "Probably higher than staying out here being useless."
Dragoshi: "...I was asking the computer. Again."
Computer: "99.99%. The defenses there have gone deadly silent."
Aetos: "Verywell. How long will it take to get there?"
Dragoshi: "...Good. Head towards the base. Check if there's anything else there as well"
Computer: "10 minutes."
Metal Man (GM): The ship moves on, past the epic battle.
Amazingly, the super-shielded Kuja cruisers seem to have the upper hand.
Gerald Robotnik Hologram: (Comms) "Hah hah hah! Didn't expect that, did you? You can thank Charles' X-zone shield for that!"
(Comms) "I'll show you... I'm more than Kuja ever was... I'm master of the universe!"
Aetos: "... Didn't Charles have a program that could take out his own X-zone shields?"
Dragoshi: "...He did?"
Aetos: "I believe so... but I don't think we have time for that (Because the GM wants us at the moon >.>). Let's just find a way once we're on the first moon."
Dragoshi: "Agreed."
Metal Man (GM): You go towards the moon... meanwhile!
Charles is in the MTA with Jeff. Suddenly, another UFO launches... and this time, it's personal!
Gerald Robotnik Hologram: (Comms) "Come to die, Charles? I will gladly supply the cake for your funeral."
Charles Magellean: "Maxwell, this shielding that Gerald uses for the UFOs..."
Jeff Maxwell: "Yes?"
Charles Magellean: "You said it's stronger than the technology I used for the X-Zone shielding? What's the possibility that it's modified from my own as well?"
Jeff Maxwell: "I believe it is stolen, mainly because it acts similar. Do you know of a weakness?"
Charles Magellean: "X-zone energy has been all but sealed up thanks to the efforts of Sardis. Short of another burst that came from the Dauntless, I'm all... out of ideas unless..." *He thinks.*
Dragoshi: *To Bowser in the Sk-...Dammit.*
Metal Man (GM): You think... and think.
And then you think... opening a portal atop it would probably be similar to the effect X-zone energy would have on it.
Charles Magellean: "...!" *Snaps his finger*
"If we somehow open a portal over the UFO, it may have a reaction similar to the effect of firing energy at it."
Jeff Maxwell: "A shame. My MTA lacks such a capability."
Gerald Robotnik Hologram: (Comms) "What's that? A bunch of silence? Hah! You should use your time more wisely."
Charles Magellean: "It was a thought. Suggestions?"
Jeff Maxwell: "I have enough power to shove it around, but not to damage it... unless we can shove it INTO a portal, or, perhaps, something big and deadly."
Metal Man (GM): The computer beeps. A mildly-damaged Kuja ship is looming large behind you.
Jeff Maxwell: "...Do you know why that is approaching us?"
Charles Magellean: "No, but that'd probably be the next best thing, don't ya think?"
Jeff Maxwell: "Hm... yes. We can shove it into that."
Metal Man (GM): Jeff Maxwell's MTA moves around the UFO, which opens fire furiously.
Gerald Robotnik Hologram: (Comms) "Yes! Fight! Ye fool!"
Jeff Maxwell: (Comms) "No." *Opens fire with a massively charged laser.*
Metal Man (GM): *BLAM* It hits the shield... and is absorbed.
Gerald Robotnik Hologram: (Comms) "Hah! Didn't even touch me---Ahhhhh!!!!!"
Metal Man (GM): It collides with the incoming Kuja ship.
Then is flung into a skyscraper.
It bounces off the ground and into the air for a few feet before regaining control.
Gerald Robotnik Hologram: (Comms) "...Curse... you..." @_!
Metal Man (GM): The ship begins spinning around and firing in all directions, not hitting much.
The Kuja ship appears unharmed by the ricochet.
Jeff Maxwell: "Quick! We have a moment to attack or move. What shall we do?"
Charles Magellean: "Since that thing is impervious to us, let's land at the Valhalla Fortress before it starts coming at us again."
Jeff Maxwell: "Good idea. Maybe he'll think of something dumb to do while we land."
Metal Man (GM): The MTA flies forth and onto Valhalla. Gerald, angry, eventually rights himself.
Gerald Robotnik Hologram: (Comms) "What? H-how dare you! Get AWAY from there!"
Metal Man (GM): The people on the bridge of the Kuja ship see what's going on, and now may also act.
Computer: "It appears we have Gerald in a UFO, with another of those shields. Perhaps we should shove it away with our lasers."
Charles Magellean: "I can survive in an atmosphere without air, Jeff. I can jettison from this machine at your convenience."
Aetos: "What the... jerks! Who's MTA just slammed a ship into us!?... Oh."
Dragoshi: "...Yea. I think we should."
Metal Man (GM): *TSEER* A big ol' laser punts the shielded craft into the ground.
Dragoshi: "Hopefully into the sun or something large."
Gerald Robotnik Hologram: "I'll get you for this!" *SMASH.*
Dragoshi: "...The ground will also work."
Computer: "...He won't be getting to us for a short while... but... what's going on over there?"
Dragoshi gets a cheap laugh out of Gerald crashing. Again.
Metal Man (GM): Charles: The MTA docks, opening its way into the Valhalla.
Aetos: "Where?"
Dragoshi: "...Let's just follow them"
Computer: "The A.S. Valhalla."
Charles Magellean: "Proceed to open the MTA."
Computer: "...We could dock, but it'd prevent it from moving."
Dragoshi: "...Yea. Definitely follow them."
Jeff Maxwell: "I shall."
Metal Man (GM): The MTA hatch opens; revealing the bridge of the Valhalla. Fully operational. Charles may walk out and aboard.
Aetos: "Well, we apparently need to get in there anyways."
Dragoshi: "...That is if it doesn't stray too far off from our destination."
Charles Magellean climbs out of the MTA and lands on the metal floor with his feet. He gives the right arm raising, hand on left shoulder salute and says, "For Freedom. What will you do now, Maxwell?"
Computer: "I can dock in a nearby building and you can walk aboard, IF you wish."
Jeff Maxwell: "Your choice; you'll be paying my bill eventually, I hope."
Dragoshi: "...That'll work"
Charles Magellean: "I no longer need your services here. I'll be fine on my own. After all, this is my domain."
Jeff Maxwell: "As you wish. I shall depart, if you don't mind?"
Metal Man (GM): The big ship slowly moves to dock, nearby.
Charles Magellean: "You don't need my permission. Just survive this endeavor, okay? Good-bye, Jeff." *He walks inside.*
Jeff Maxwell salutes, then flies off.
Metal Man (GM): Before the Questers or Julian can get involved, Charles is at the bridge of his ship. Charles: What do you do?
Charles Magellean approaches the middle of the room.
"Trevor."
"Trevor!"
Metal Man (GM): A white light appears, then Trevor.
Trevor: "Yes, Charles?"
Charles Magellean: "Why did you deviate from the itinerary that you were to carry out?"
Trevor: "To protect Valhalla from what would have been imminent destruction at the hands of Gerald... which he wanted so badly. He is... inconvenienced... now. We can leave."
Charles Magellean: "..." *He turns away*
"Trevor, I have declared a state of war on the Gerald virus."
*He turns to face Trevor.*
Trevor: "All the better. Once undocked, this base can be destroyed. Gerald will be done for before he could even begin. I have the plans for his shields."
Charles Magellean: "Good, but before that, I want to know if the virus's programming is anywhere in Valhalla."
Trevor: "It was a part of the deal that he would NOT be allowed to control Valhalla, instead using it for backup in case of his defeat. No virus is here. I am in full control. In fact..." *He grins evilly.* "I can control his entire base and overwrite his code."
"He... was too stupid to resist my offer."
Charles Magellean smiles smugly.
Trevor: "Generation I hologram. Can't hold a candle to the real Gerald, in which case I'd have been blown to bits."
Charles Magellean: "Good, however all I came for is this Fortress that rightfully belongs to me."
Trevor: "He's crashed out there because he hadn't thought of firing his ion cannons at that ship... he thought he could retake it... no... aliens modified it from that. He purposefully left this base vacant... when he could have filled it with people who would stop us now. But he's a people-hating hologram... like the Mavericks, they are too dumb."
Charles Magellean: "Good. Trevor, we're moving out."
Trevor: "We better. The Questers wish to board... we wouldn't want that."
Charles Magellean: "Wait... belay my order."
Trevor: "Unless... you want them on?" *Waits.*
Charles Magellean: "..."
*He gives a look of suspicion.* o_O
Trevor: "I thought you disliked them, but I can let them on if you want."
Charles Magellean: "An idiot Gerald is not, real or otherwise."
*He taps his foot for a couple moments.*
Trevor: "A fake hologram. It's a foolish pile of numbers."
Charles Magellean: "No, it's more than that."
Trevor: "I--we--hold all the cards. You may do what ever you want."
Charles Magellean: "...Did you just say you?"
Trevor: "I said we."
Charles Magellean: "Now I am definitely suspicious of this being a trap."
Trevor: "A trap? I am not as stupid as Gerald. Traps... are ineffective."
Charles Magellean: "A contingency plan for nearly anything. That's what he is."
Metal Man (GM): You're there, but currently the doors are locked on Valhalla.
Trevor: "Ah... no. He is an afterthought made by Kuja. A joke to waste your time while worse things happen."
Charles Magellean attempts to detect the motive of Trevor.
Trevor: "Look at that fighting; look at the code. He never had a chance... I knew from the beginning."
Metal Man (GM): Your motive check brings up.. ..That he wishes to serve your interests to the bitter end.
However you cannot tell if he has outsmarted you or not; he seems unnaturally intelligent.
Charles Magellean begins to ease up.
Trevor: "The Questers are outside... ...is that Schnelltott?"
Charles Magellean: "You will understand that I cannot be so trusting in a predicament such as this."
Trevor: "It is fine. I would not be so trusting either."
Charles Magellean: "A mistake well learned as a Quester."
Trevor: "We must hurry; let the Questers on or not, that Gerald is indisposed temporarily. Our counterstrike must be swift. His ships yet nearly defeat the awesome forces of the Gods."
Charles Magellean is too busy to notice that he said Schnelltott.
"Begin rerouting all of Gerald."
Trevor: "You are a genius, Charles; it is your borrowed genius over there that defies those forces."
Metal Man (GM): You hear clicks as the ship moves to full power; suddenly the entire base's operations are visible.
Trevor: "We have the base in our hands... to rule or destroy. It has yet another function... but I dare not touch that one."
Charles Magellean: "Then leave it alone for now."
Trevor: "The Questers wait outside. Let them in?"
Charles Magellean: "No. I am bound by a verbal contract not to interfere with them anymore."
Trevor: "They shall never get in, then."
Charles Magellean: "Set a course for the Second Moon."
*He looks to outside the window.*
Trevor: "And of Nintendus?"
Metal Man (GM): The ship begins launching; the Questers would see this.
Aetos, Dragoshi: Do you go back onto your ship in response?
Charles Magellean: "I hold no grudge."
Dragoshi would do so, and motions for Aetos to follow.
Aetos: "Where are you going? We're here to find out how to stop those shields, aren't we?"
Charles Magellean: "All that has wronged me was Gerald when he attacked me. Ironically, it is now we that control the virus."
Trevor: "We have a choice; destroy the shields of the Gerald ships or let them destroy Nintendus."
Dragoshi: "Huh. It's prolly' no use."
Metal Man (GM): Questers: You may also go forth, to Gerald's command post and find out how to destroy the shield yourselves.
Charles Magellean: "Destroy the shields. I'd rather not bear the burden of a destroyed planet on my conscience."
Aetos: "You're right. It's ironic that the x-zone shield is protecting the secrets of itself."
Metal Man (GM): You'd notice a strange change in the base, though; the monitors are freaking... out.
Then you see, far away, the shields of the former Kuja ships going out, and they beginning to take heavy damage. The base shows images of it.
Dragoshi: "Quite. Now let us go to our intended destinati-...Huh?"
Trevor: *Smirks* "Thus ends Project Prometheus."
Dragoshi: "...What WAS that?"
Trevor: "What perfect timing! The forces will be too worn out to fight one another or invade Nintendus. The Arsenal of Freedom has saved the world this time."
Metal Man (GM): The Valhalla, with Charles, flies to the Second Moon. Fadeout on them... for now.
Charles Magellean smiles as he looks outside the window.
Metal Man (GM): Julian runs on down and knocks into you two.
Aetos falls down from the collision. "Ow!"
Dragoshi falls down from the collision as well"..." @_!
Aetos: "Wait... Julian!?" *Rubs his head and gets up.*
Julian Sawyer's in such a rush that he just bounces back up and continues on his merry way.
Metal Man (GM): He's... still goin', folks.
Do you follow him?
Dragoshi: "Woah! Wait a sec." *Follows.*
Aetos: "You ditched us in some unknown universe! Get him!" *Makes chase.*
Metal Man (GM): You follow him; you're now running all the way on down the tower.
You reach the bottom. Julian: What do you do?
Julian Sawyer: *What the hell is DOWN there?*
Metal Man (GM): A power control station.
Julian Sawyer: *We're assuming floors 4-2 held nothing of interest... but that certainly is. Julian checks it out.*
Metal Man (GM): A bunch of levers and stuff.
You can turn the power on and off with these... except!
Weird, Charles-standard control OSes have been loaded here.
So it appears... Charles has control over this, now.
Julian Sawyer: "...That motherFUCKER! I fuckin' KNEW we shoulda left him for dead!" *Angrily kicks the console(He does that a lot), then calls up HQ.*
Metal Man: (Comms) "Yes?"
Julian Sawyer: "Charles' got control of the whole fuckin' base!"
Aetos skids to a halt behind Julian now
Dragoshi would do the same (?)
Metal Man: (Comms) "That is... good and bad. However it appears Nintendus is safe... the ships lost their shields and were destroyed."
(Comms) "What of Gerald, though?"
Aetos clears his throat.
Julian Sawyer: "Hell if I know..." *Julian swerves around suddenly* "What YOU want?"
Aetos: "Gerald, last I saw, was drilled into the surface of the moon with our new ship's lasers."
Dragoshi: "...Yep. Pretty much. Sucks to be him right now, I bet"."
Julian Sawyer: "...Well that's jus' fuckin' FANTASTIC. Did you confirm he's actually dead?"
Aetos: "Did I say he was dead? No."
Dragoshi: "...We didn't even mention anything about death. ...Sheesh. Hate it when people assume crap."
Aetos nods.
Julian Sawyer: "Well that's the idea you get when you go around tellin' people you shot someone with a LASER and made a CRATER!"
Metal Man (GM): You heard of the destruction of the Kuja ships from Metal himself.
Aetos: "Well, since the ships are gone, I think we should leave now. This should be our last enemy target, and it's not a good thing to be hanging inside it if some people start blowing it up."
Dragoshi: "Pretty much, yea."
Metal Man (GM): (Comms) "Might as well make sure Gerald is defeated; I wouldn't want to let him get away."
Dragoshi: "...Might as well. To the ship!" *Runs off to the ship.*
Julian Sawyer sees if he can bring up that shield again so they have air and can go outside...
Metal Man (GM): Seems possible; it doesn't seem against raising shields.
Julian Sawyer does so. He's doing THIS personally.
Aetos: "Ready to go, Julian?"
Metal Man (GM): The shield is up; you can walk outside.
Julian Sawyer doesn't answer. He just heads outside, looking really focused...
Aetos: "Jerk." *Follows.*
Metal Man (GM): Julian heads outside... the crashed ship is easily visible from here.
It appears to be shieldless, now.
Aetos: "Let's blow it to smithereens!"
Dragoshi then notices that no one's following him, but he shrugs and continues his way to the ship.
Metal Man (GM): *BLAM* The door flies off of it. Out steps a very aggravated Gerald.
Julian Sawyer just walks on over, idly reaching into his back pocket and pulling out a grenade...
Gerald Robotnik Hologram: "Hm... so it appears I have been bested by a hologram..." *He turns to Julian.* "Don't just stand there. We must stop Trevor."
Aetos: "Why Trevor?"
Dragoshi then lets out an "Oh, sod it." And heads back over to the others.
Gerald Robotnik Hologram: "You see what happened to my ships, no? You see Valhalla flying to the Second Moon, no?"
Aetos is unsure what is best... kill now, or ask questions, then kill.
Julian Sawyer: "First I'm gonna stop YOU!" *Julian suddenly charges, aiming to crash into Gerald's face with a Big Boot!*
Gerald Robotnik Hologram: "...You asked for it."
Metal Man (GM): You fly at him with a boot; your foot gets speared by two lightsabers. 20 damage.
Oops. 15.
Aetos: "He's got... a lot of lightsabers. .oO(I want a blue one...""
Gerald Robotnik Hologram: "Halt there, Julian; I know you wish to kill me, but that must wait. The Trevor has control of my secret project. You don't know... he wants to rule Nintendus, and apparently already has the keys in his hands."
Dragoshi would prolly' be back to where the others are by now seeing as he's heading towards their at full speed... .oO(?)
Julian Sawyer disregards the pain in his foot, fueled by frustration over being shown up by Charles, and proceeds to whale on Gerald's face with a Haymaker.
Gerald Robotnik Hologram: "You can thwart Charles, too!" *He is hit.*
Aetos: "...Charles?"
Metal Man (GM): He falls over.
Aetos: "Do you really think they would try to take over Nintendus? That's foolish."
Gerald Robotnik Hologram: "Gah... I may die before I can say this... he foolishly trusted Trevor."
Dragoshi: "...Greaaat."
Julian Sawyer then bends down and tries to pick him up, no blood-red glowingness this time.
Gerald Robotnik Hologram: "Trevor... wishes to... revive... Zemus..."
Julian Sawyer: "You got 2 minutes to convince me 'fore I tear you limb from limb."
Dragoshi: "...Who?"
Gerald Robotnik Hologram: "The darkest sorcerer to exist! And also someone who has the power to fight even those armada which protected Nintendus to-day. But that's not all. He's too smart. He's told me. I had to surrender to him!"
Julian Sawyer: "An' why the hell should I believe YOU?"
Aetos: "Exactly. This is clearly just a ply."
Julian Sawyer: "After all you done, you expect US to believe this bullshit just 'cause you near-death?"
Gerald Robotnik Hologram: "Valhalla is nearly to the Second Moon. If not stopped, it will be too late. The reason lies in the computers on this base."
Julian Sawyer: "You got a minute left."
Gerald Robotnik Hologram: "The... Prime Directive."
Dragoshi: "...Okaaay... I'm gonna need one thing before I can deal with this" *He pulls out the prototype vendetta machinegun* "Any way to get the bugs out of this thing?"
Gerald Robotnik Hologram: "Only if you spare me."
Julian Sawyer: "Tell me what the Prime Directive is."
Dragoshi: "...Huh. Decisions, decisions. Oh, fine. Also, I'm going to need to figure out how to change my hand back to normal seeing as your gun's little bug turned it into stone."
Gerald Robotnik Hologram: "...It was established long ago, deep in Project Prometheus, which is simple; distract the world with the ships while a second fleet invaded the Astral Realm. ...And Trevor now controls those ships, no matter where they are..."
Aetos: "...Do you still have the Businessman on hold, Julian?"
Gerald Robotnik Hologram: "I originally used his help to unleash the horrors you saw earlier... I had the timing because he was able to make it."
Dragoshi: "...Wait. He still has that guy on hold?"
Gerald Robotnik Hologram: "I saw you coming because he predicted you. It was a ploy... and I believed I held the reigns, until now."
"Now; I shall only do one more thing before ending my pointless existence."
Julian Sawyer: "...Let's take this inside."
Dragoshi nods.
Metal Man (GM): He takes the gun, then one of his lightsabers. He rips out some weird core thing from the lightsaber and sticks it inside the machinegun, then shoots Dragoshi's hand with it.
It is turned back to flesh. He gives the gun back after setting it to 'normal' mode.
Dragoshi then takes it back "Thanks."
Julian Sawyer about-steps and heads inside the base, still carrying Gerald.
Gerald Robotnik Hologram: "Oh... no... I cannot live longer; I am ruined. My creator would not bear my existence any more."
Dragoshi: "Sooo... No more stone bug?"
Gerald Robotnik Hologram: "It now properly weakens flesh to the point of destruction instead of hardening it."
Julian Sawyer: "No, you gonna do what you said you gonna do, an' stop Charles. Or tell me how."
Metal Man (GM): You drag him inside; the program MUST be failing. It's falling apart, logically, but it seems to barely retain coherence.
Dragoshi: "Ah. Magnifico."
Gerald Robotnik Hologram: "The ship... your ship... yes... that is the only way to win."
Dragoshi: "Now all that leaves is one last problem..."
Gerald Robotnik Hologram: "You should thank those aliens... they saved it from becoming Trevor's. Your only choice is to come from behind and destroy Valhalla."
Dragoshi: "...Great. Now that means I have to thank whatever caused me to be in my current situation."
Julian Sawyer: "That simple?"
Gerald Robotnik Hologram: "...If you don't value your Lunarian friend's life, yes. It wipes out Trevor and the person he intends to use as a tool."
"Even if he has a backup, with all Lunarians dead, he has absolutely nobody to use."
Dragoshi: "..." .oO(Expecting Julian to just go for it in...)
Gerald Robotnik Hologram: "That's how simple it can be."
Julian Sawyer: "Perfect. One more thing before you go, tho."
Aetos's eyes widen.
Gerald Robotnik Hologram: "Is it a punch to my artificial face?"
Dragoshi: "..." *00ber-facepalms* .oO(That was expected)
Julian Sawyer: "Close." *Julian pulls Gerald in real close, to where they're face-to-face* "My name is Julian Sawyer." *Julian's gloves glow with that familiar blood-redness* "I don't lose." *And with that, Julian whirls around and Focus Throws Gerald into a nearby wall!*
Metal Man (GM): He is smashed into the wall.
The image of Gerald vanishes; you realize that was actually a possessed Supersoldier suit.
The last one you will ever see.
The suit itself falls into a billion pieces.
There are no more traces of Gerald--or Kuja--left anywhere. However, in their place, Trevor's programming.
Odd. If he was quite as malicious as he described, why did he not pick up on you and attack you here?
Aetos: "OK. We need to book."
Julian Sawyer: "An' it ends. Finally. C'mon fellas, let's bounce. Where's the ship?"
Aetos goes up to the ship where they docked.
Dragoshi: *Nods* "Follow me" *Goes back to where the ship was docked.*
Metal Man (GM): The ship is just a few stories above; which you can walk to easily.
You walk inside... but the ship speaks.
Computer: "We have a problem, Houston... the shields are up on this base... and we're inside it."
Julian Sawyer: "...I'll be right back."
Dragoshi: "'Kay"
Aetos: "Scan for hostile activity aimed at us."
Julian Sawyer heads back downstairs, the new Vendetta's hilt spinning in his hand...
Metal Man (GM): You go forth; thence with you have access to a terminal.
Julian Sawyer calls it 'New Vendetta.'
Editor's Note: A name that never particularly sticks, if my memory is correct.
Aetos: "...Can you do so?"
Julian Sawyer switches the shields to Off
He 's two stories below, Aetos.
Aetos taps the consoles. "Hellooo?"
Computer: "I have done so. No hostile activity."
Aetos: "Roger. Prepared for takeoff?"
Computer: "Once the shields are down, yes."
Aetos: "The second Julian steps foot into the ship, we need to jet over in range of Valhalla, with weaponry prepared."
Computer: "The blast will probably kill all aboard. Still proceed?"
Aetos: "Yes."
*He looks to the entrance, waiting for Julian.*
Julian Sawyer: *Are the shields down?*
Metal Man (GM): They don't turn off.
Julian Sawyer: *Is there a button to turn them off?*
Metal Man (GM): Yes.
Julian Sawyer has pressed that button.
Metal Man (GM): It doesn't work, still. It refuses to take the input.
Julian Sawyer: *Computer Use check to get it to work?*
Metal Man (GM): You may try.
Julian Sawyer: *Haxxor!*
Metal Man (GM): You manually override it, forcing the shields down.
Julian Sawyer: *Back to the ship!*
Aetos calls to Julian as quickly as possible, once he gets there. "Call the businessman again. I have a favor of my own to ask."
Julian Sawyer: "Call him yo' damn self."
Aetos: "I'm too busy checking the time!"
Metal Man (GM): I say we pause here, then. It'd be a bit undramatic for the true finish to be with... three people?