Super Smash Quest - Story - Chapter 439: Shadows of the Light Side
Date: June 20th & 21st, 2007.
Metal Man (GM): Metal Man sits at his desk with the Questers in the Big Room.
Dragoshi: *Leaning 'gainst the wall as per usual.*
Metal Man (GM): So far as one can see, everything is normal, except for charts of an old base on the 'Light' Side of Nintendus.
Dragoshi: "So, what's today's order of business?"
Metal Man: "It appears we found Dr. Archellago... no less conniving than before, either..."
Garrick: *is most likely sitting there, the Burning Chill on the table before him, gently tapping the hilt on the table top.*
Julian: *Julian would be in his usual seat, feet up on the table.*
Metal Man: "He's taken residence in one of Charles' old bases that was formerly overrun by the IIF and a bunch of other nameless acronym people who all acted the same. Unlike Charles, he isn't out to take over the world... so getting him may be difficult."
Garrick: "And fortified it beyond all rational doubt, most likely."
Wolfman comes back to Big Room.
Alexia: "I wonder what he's trying to do, then..."
Metal Man: "Basically. He's using it so he can avoid us."
Julian: "Make some kinda impenetrable fortress so we can't wreck his ass."
Wolfman: "...if he wants to avoid us... what harm can he do to us?"
Garrick: "We still need that money."
Dragoshi: "Well, he still has those crystals..."
Metal Man: "He's swindled countless people, and will continue to do so up there."
Garrick: "Righting wrongs, and the like."
Dragoshi: "Mhm."
Julian: "What they said."
Metal Man: "Mainly, he has some interesting knowledge we need to boot."
Alexia: "What's that?"
Wolfman: "Hmm... boot out of his head, in other words?"
Metal Man: "...He was behind a number of things we just took for granted. The Archellago. Early Kuja ships. I'm also beginning to become suspicious of his lone wolf nature. I've never seen a foe walk around, scamming other bad guys and us equally. That's a new kind of dangerous..."
Garrick: "This itself could be a scam."
Metal Man: "Not to mention... the base itself." *pulls up several diagrams.*
Dragoshi: "...?"
Metal Man: "It has the most advanced Magellean Military technology... Magitek... Mako power plants... even confiscated Kuja and Ancient technology. All there at once, because so many different people inhabited it."
Garrick: *whistles.*
Wolfman: "Do you think we should get Ivo's help?"
Dragoshi: *Low whistle.*
Metal Man: "Complete with many redundant defense systems. Ivo would be baffled; honestly, I'm unsure how far you can get in there. The probe we sent there was hit by lightning, a missile, and a freaky hole in space-time."
Wolfman: "In other words, we're attempting a suicide mission."
Metal Man: "I have suspicions it may target spy satellites next. ...No. That's the thing. The ground defenses were overrun repeatedly by many militaries. Few of the outside ground defenses work, although the inside ones appear to be in repair and would be active by the time you reach there."
Garrick: "Not only that, but we have solid experience with most of these technologies. It's the Ancient and the Kuja stuff I'm worried about."
Metal Man: "Yes. Even worse, this man brought in fresh Magitek."
Garrick: "..he what??"
Julian: "Don't suppose we have any kinda support for this mission."
Metal Man: "Earlier, he stole it from a Magitek factory."
Dragoshi: "I doubt it."
Metal Man: "We tried to stop him, stole a lot of it back, but he fled with a bunch himself."
Garrick: "...well, I can send the Dauntless into orbit. Have Nova supply air support, if needed."
Metal Man: "Enough to activate anything he wants there... naturally, it wasn't originally a Kuja base, so nothing major, but as for support... It's like swatting a fly with a machinegun. He's hiding in one of many buildings. Some are heavily guarded; others are in danger of falling over and being destroyed by wind alone. Some buildings are set to auto-guard, and continue to act as if they're inhabited, even without guards."
Garrick: "Hmm... so, building by building search."
Metal Man: "He's likely to be able to move around a lot, too."
Julian: "So we get the Dauntless into orbit, an' knock over the weak towers from space 'fore we go in an' waste time goin' tower to tower."
Garrick: "One miscalculated shot could have a Magitek beam on the Dauntless before anything happened."
Metal Man: "The aerial defenses are complete, though. You might invite a fight with it if you fly over it... Like I said, it picked up that probe and blew it to heaven."
Wolfman: "Perhaps we should split up this time then?"
Garrick: "Exactly. I'd rather not risk the Dauntless so foolishly."
Wolfman: "Some of us take ground, some air."
Metal Man: "A ground-based recon is safest. Outside it is a dead zone."
Garrick: "How close can you get us?"
Metal Man: "Outside the main gate. It won't look active from first look. You guys just gotta carefully look for traces of inhabitation. He's clearly human, and not addicted to anything like Phazon. He's gotta get food from somewhere."
Garrick: "Fair enough..."
Leo: *walks in the big room.* "Sorry I'm late."
Metal Man: "No problem, although it'd take me quite a while to re-explain it to you, Leo."
Alexia: "Hey, Metal, would you mind doing something for me while we're gone?"
Metal Man: "And that is?"
Alexia: "Uh... would you mind checking out that Wolfos hide? For some reason, I keep wanting to put it back on..."
SIMBER: "No addictive properties found." *Points at Alexia.* "You clearly want to be cursed by it willingly. I've been scanning it over and over again. It has something wrong with it, but putting it on over and over again is not what triggers it."
Alexia: "Uh... if you say so."
SIMBER: "Dr. Archellago is... subtle... with his tricks. His coins pass most gold tests except if you go to melt or bite them."
Julian: "Good thing I keep my room locked..."
Wolfman: "Well, biting is my specialty." *smirks.*
Dragoshi: "And I'll do the melting" *Chuckles.*
Leo: *just sits down and listens in.*
Metal Man: "Anyway, there you go. If you're ready..." The warp opens. "One note: No threatening one another. I'll personally deal with anyone who thinks its a great idea to attack or threaten other Questers with violence. You're here to do your mission, not become the mission."
Wolfman simply nods.
Metal Man: "Had I simply obeyed that principle when Charles went mad, he'd have not caused the mess he did. After all, crazy or not, he can't really kill people locked in a jail cell... ...or preferably sent to where he REALLY came from."
Metal Man (GM): And the warp to the base remains open.
Dragoshi: *Nods.* "Anything else...?"
Leo: *gets back up and walks towards the warp.*
Julian: *Looks at everyone else.* "So are we goin' on this suicide mission or not? Let's bounce." *Julian gets up and heads into the warp.*
Wolfman goes to the warp.
Dragoshi: *Moseys on along to the warp.*
Alexia heads over and enters the warp.
Leo: *enters the warp.*
Metal Man (GM): Disputed Base, Light Side Territory. The Questers appear at an airstrip which some of them remember, right near the entrance.
Julian: "...An' it just had to be THIS base."
Garrick: "...hey, I remember this one."
Dragoshi: "...Not again."
Wolfman lands safely.
Metal Man (GM): This place has changed, though; a ripped up tower to the side. The airport main terminal has been converted into a fortified building with steel doors.
Wolfman: .oO(...I don't recall being here... but it doesn't matter. Time to infiltrate.)
Garrick: "This is new.."
Alexia: "Isn't this where we blew up that crazy guy?"
Garrick: *slowly looks t Alexia.*
Metal Man (GM): More buildings have been added; a 3-story rectangular building with red stripes on it, and the remains of a massive dome behind that.
Garrick: "That... is basically... every third mission we've ever had."
Leo: "Heh."
Alexia: "Yeah, I probably should have specified..."
Garrick: "Welp, let's see here..."
Wolfman gets a quick look to see if there is a quick way to enter the base or not.
Metal Man (GM): The Questers can waltz right in. It looks like three epic battles occurred here, all of them totally disintegrating the base's prior defenders.
Julian: "Remind me how we're 'sposed to get in here again?"
Wolfman finds the entrance easily.
Metal Man (GM): The fences have massive holes in them. Dead soldiers and equipment are strewn everywhere.
Wolfman: "...I believe we just go in that way."
Garrick: *on the other hand, looks for telltale signs of habitation. Trash cans, lack of dead bodies...*
Metal Man (GM): The Questers see the MM2, the Arsenal of Freedom logo, Aetos' old insignia on some... IIF logo... Imperial Collective logo...
Julian: "A'ight, looks like gettin' in's the easy part..."
Alexia: "Uh, I doubt that."
Metal Man (GM):The Questers even see some old Kuja gear strewn about. This place is where people go if they want to have massive, fight-to-the-death army battles, apparently.
Alexia: "If this guy's really as smart as he says, he's probably expecting us to try those holes."
Garrick: "Keep you eyes open for habitation markers. Lack of corpses, trash, food, anything that yells out life."
Leo: "Okay."
Dragoshi: "'Kay."
Metal Man (GM): One can enter any of the buildings I mentioned, or continue looking around. The security out here is nonexistent, although the Questers see a probe crashed into the ground.
Julian: "I'm guessin' he don't have much in the way of footsoldiers. We probably gonna walk in on a trap without even knowin'."
Wolfman: "Start with one side, work our way down?" *points to the left-most building.*
Julian: "Or we could jus', y'know, walk in."
Garrick: *stays away from the buildings, getting a better feel for the place by walking around.* "The question is, which building?"
Metal Man (GM): It's a post apocalyptic wasteland by now. The fighting has obviously blown up any plants here.
Julian: "None of 'em. Don't think we'd find anythin' in there, an' he's most likely rigged 'em to explode when we reach the 2nd floor or somethin'."
Metal Man (GM): There's a main airport terminal, a ruined tower, a 3-story rectangular building with red stripes on it, and a massive dome behind it.
Leo: "So, where do we go?"
Wolfman points to the one that is mostly to the left.
Garrick: "...hm... if I were a con man... I'd hide in the place where I would least be suspected to be found... I say the tower."
Wolfman: "Start there, work our way down?"
Metal Man (GM): Left to right is Airport terminal, 3-story rectangle, dome, then tower.
Wolfman would be pointing to Airport terminal.
Metal Man (GM): Wolf points at the terminal. It's a small little building.
Julian: "We could split up like Wolf said."
Alexia: "...Dome."
Metal Man (GM): Somebody re-enforced it a couple thousand times... it looks like the site of fierce firefights.
Dragoshi: "Then we might possibly die more quickly." :/
Leo: "..."
Wolfman: "...I take it no airport terminal then. ...tower?"
Julian: "We keep in contact via Dex. If one of us runs into trouble, we radio fo' help."
Alexia: "I don't think so..."
Wolfman is confused here... which one to take?
Leo: "I'll go with Wolf."
Alexia: "I still say we try the dome."
Garrick: "Spliting up might be the best way to handle things."
Wolfman: "Then we'll split up. Hop on Leo. The two of us will take the airport terminal."
Leo: "Alright." *hops on Wolf.*
Garrick: "I'll take that tower, then."
Julian: "I'll check out the Tower."
Wolfman: "Alexia, dome. Garrick, tower. Julian, rectangle. Is that alright?"
Metal Man (GM): I'll address each group, one building at a time.
Garrick: *glances to Julian, shrugging.* "Which one you want?"
Dragoshi: "...I'll help check out the dome as well."
Wolfman forgot about Dragoshi.
Julian: "I said the tower, but if yo' dead-set on it I'll take the office building."
Garrick: "I'll take the tower then."
Wolfman: "I'm not dead set. I merely made a suggestion."
Garrick: "Keep in contact."
Julian: "Dexes out at all times, people."
Leo: "Okay."
Garrick: *starts in that direction, linking his headset to the Dex for immediate communication with the others and moves on in.*
Alexia nods, taking out and opening her Dex before heading to the dome.
Metal Man (GM): *Horror movie music.* j/k. *Insert 'Lost Colony' from SA2 music here.*
Wolfman takes Leo over to the airport terminal then.
Dragoshi: *Readies own Dex as well.*
Julian: *Julian takes his Dex out of his back pocket, flips it open, tunes it to the group-comm frequency, and heads for the 3-story building.*
Leo: *takes out his dex.*
Metal Man (GM): We start, left to right. Airport Terminal. The people going this way would see the Airport Terminal... the front door is heavily barricaded. A Jeep of some kind was crashed in front of it. Behind that is the door, made of steel and locked shut.
Wolfman: "...as usual, a locked door."
Metal Man (GM): The area is riddled with bullet indentations.
Leo: "Wow, the place looks like hell... like every other place..."
Metal Man (GM): It's 3 feet off the ground, and mostly broken.
Wolfman: "Trigger, I'll need you to hop off for a moment. I wish to try to see if I can lock-pick with my claws."
Leo: "... Okay." *hops off Wolf.*
Wolfman: "Sorry, but it's easier for me to do this when I don't have to worry about you falling over."
Leo: "It's cool, but who's Trigger?"
Metal Man (GM): The lock to this door would be hard to pick... as it's a sliding door. And the real locking mechanism (to the side) is electronic... and was blown up.
Leo: "Think you can blow the door down or something?"
Wolfman: "I can try my Wolfkahouha, but that can risk attracting attention. Should I do so?"
Leo: "Maybe not..."
Wolfman: "Then I'll try ramming it." *attempts to rocket tackle the door.*
Leo: "Okay."
Metal Man (GM): *BONK* Well, Wolf does damage it... ...but his face is stuck in the door.
Wolfman doesn't rebound as usual... uh oh.
Leo: -_- "...You ok Wolf?"
Wolfman is struggling to get his head out... he is moving his hind legs erratically. He is unsure if he can see inside the terminal.
Metal Man (GM): Nope; Wolf dented the door. It's blocking his vision.
Leo: *starts pulling Wolf's legs trying to pull him out.*
Metal Man (GM): Leo pulls him out... Wolf's face looks a bit dented.
Wolfman somehow gets yanked out...
Leo: "Are you ok?"
Wolfman: "...in short, no."
Leo: "Need a heal?"
Wolfman: "No need. We need a door to be opened. Perhaps you can try something?"
Leo: "Hmmm, ok I'll give it a shot."
Wolfman stands back.
Leo: *stands in front of the door.*
Wolfman: .oO(...okay, this isn't good. If we can't get in, we're in trouble.)
Leo: *takes out his sword and attempts to pry the door open.*
Metal Man (GM): Leo did, however: what greets the Questers is the sound of alarms! The building makes about six different alarms!
Leo: "...Whoops..."
Wolfman: "Leo, call the others. I'll spring the trap." *steps inside.*
Leo: "Okay."
Metal Man (GM): Wolf stands there: Not a good idea. Even worse, walking at it. Several laser guns descend and open fire!
Leo: *calls up Julian.*
Metal Man (GM): Leo opens the contact to Julian as lasers fly everywhere.
Leo: "Hey, we need help in the Air---OH SHIT!!"
Metal Man (GM): *BLAM* *BLAM* Leo runs away as Wolfman is knocked out of there and takes damage. The laser guns continue to sit there, strafing even as both of the Questers there move out of range.
Wolfman gets blasted to where Leo is. .oO(hey, a trap that didn't instant kill me!)
Julian: *takes the call.* "Figures you two would be the first to set somethin' off. What is it?"
Leo: *pant.* "Lasers..."
Julian: "So knock 'em out."
Leo: "Too many."
Wolfman: "...alright, maybe I should have used the Wolfkahouha."
Julian: "One EMP 'nade'll take most of 'em out. Should, at least."
Leo: "...Last time I pry something open..."
Wolfman gets a look at the lasers... can they aim up?
Julian: "Even if you don't have a grenade, you got ranged attacks, right? Stay outta their firing range an' pick 'em off."
Leo: "Think this might help somehow?" *shows Wolf a roll of duct tape.*
Wolfman: "...worth a shot."
Leo: *hands Wolf one off his rolls of duct tape.*
Wolfman: "...I see what you want me to do." *somehow ends up holding onto the tape.* "Note that if I get close enough, I'm unleashing my move."
Julian: *And Leo ignores Julian's advice in favor of a suicide tactic that may or may not work depending on how Metal calls it.*
Metal Man (GM): The turrets can aim up.
Wolfman: "...Trigger, time to improvise this idea. You run in. I fly in."
Metal Man (GM): They're only limited to the area of the door itself, though; not intended to repel invading armies.
Leo: *to Julian.* "We don't have any EMP grenades."
Julian: "So pick 'em off from outside."
Wolfman: "Leo, ready?"
Leo: "Wait."
Wolfman: "Waiting." .oO(...this is not my day.)
Leo: "I have an idea."
Wolfman: "Name it."
Metal Man (GM): Get any closer than 5 feet and they can hit.
Leo: *walks up one unit and casts a powerful earthquake.*
Wolfman sees what he's doing and jumps up.
Metal Man (GM): The ground shakes... nada.
Leo: "Gah, it didn't work..."
Wolfman somehow gets the duck tape on him... mostly on the front legs and forehead.
Leo: *retreats one unit back.*
Wolfman: "This is how duck tape should work, right?"
Leo: "Yeah."
Wolfman: "Then it's my turn again."
Leo: "Wait."
Wolfman: "...waiting." .oO(Seriously, I don't like waiting.)
Leo: casts protect on Wolf.*
Wolfman nods, then attempts running close enough to unleash Wolfkahouha hell.
Metal Man (GM): Wolf blows that laser turret mess up, taking more damage in the process. One can now enter the place... but it isn't inviting. War-torn metallic plates line the floor, and inside are a number of defunct control panels.
Leo: "Nice one Wolf."
Wolfman made it work... somehow. "...thank you. But I'd rather not do that again."
Leo: *walks in the terminal.*
Wolfman hopes to find some sort of sign of life here... granted, a terminal might not have much, but... he checks the individual panels to see if they have a use.
Metal Man (GM): *Click.* The Questers walk inside, triggering the pressure plates.
Wolfman: "..."
Metal Man (GM): Spikes impale Wolfman and Trigger's feet, dealing damage to each of them. Further progress inside would just mean more spikes at this point.
Wolfman jumps back.
Metal Man (GM): The Questers can see almost all the inside but a locked portion deep inside. It looks empty.
Leo: *jumps back as well.*
Wolfman: "...alright, so all we can see is something back over there."
Wolfman gets out his Dex... but not to call Julian. "Let's at least see if there are traps anywhere else that we can... or can not... see." *scans.*
Leo: "Is anything showing up?"
Dex: "Insane number of traps detected. Several redundant systems are online. Most of them have been triggered and await another chance to strike."
Leo: *looks at Wolfs dex.* "You gotta be kidding me..."
Wolfman: "...we should have done that first. We can't get in, and even I have to admit we are under equipped. The only question... which spot should we try now?"
Leo: "So, should we back out and meet up with the others then?"
Wolfman: "...we should try another building, and let them know. Which one do you want? I made the bad choice with this one."
Leo: "Wanna try the dome?"
Wolfman: "...that will work." *tunes Dex to other Questers.* "Wolfman, calling Questers. The Airport Terminal is too guarded and secure for us. We're going to catch up with those at the Dome."
Metal Man (GM): So we switch to the Rectangular Building Group, going a little bit back in time.
Julian: "Whatever."
Metal Man (GM): Rectangular Building Group.
Julian: *That would be Julian.*
Metal Man (GM): This door is less well guarded. It has a simple chain around its handles.
Julian: *Julian'll be breaking that chain...*
Metal Man (GM): *RIP* The chains shatter. The doors hang open. Inside Julian sees a dark entryway... abandoned weapons lay about. Holes in the walls in here. Of interest: a counter with half-burnt documents... through a hole in the wall Julian also sees a sealed tube.
Julian: *Not being one to wander in blindly, Julian parts the doors, fishes a flashlight out of his back pocket, turns it on, and shines it in the entry way to get a better view... Julian goes ahead and dexes the room for traps while he's at it.*
Dex: "No traps detected. This building was overrun repeatedly. Nobody bothered to repair it."
Julian: "Looks like we got a clear way in, then..." *Julian enters the building, flashlight still shining... and let's check out those documents.*
Dex: "Faint life signs detected inside the tube."
Metal Man (GM): Julian look at the documents.
Documents: 'UNKNOWN SUBJECT 52: We recovered some sort of being today, while on recon. It activated and tried to kill our men, but we subdued it easily. It mentioned something about the end of the world, and repeatedly told us about something while imprisoned. It had a prototype armor technology which made it invulnerable to everything but the most powerful Ancient weapons we could muster. It must have come in search of Magellean's remaining forces, but we cleared them out a couple days earlier. Will continue this report later. Signed, Colonel Harkohn of the Second Magellean Military.'
Metal Man (GM): The tube is opaque, due to a lot of dust on it. There's some stairs too. They go up.
Julian: *Julian would be reading this out loud so the Dex could record all of it...* "Dex, cross-reference the description of the thing with all the info in our database an' see if it turns up any matches with it..." *Julian meanwhile goes to look in the tube! Wipe off some of that dust...*
Metal Man (GM): An unwelcome face is behind it. It's a Thirteen Gentleman android.
Julian: "...Thought so."
Dex: "Thirteen Gentleman android. For some reason, these are indestructible."
Metal Man (GM): Its eyes light up. It begins speaking... which Julian's never heard much of from these before.
Android: "Organic being. I would not be here right now, so much as preparing for the destruction of all you know."
Julian: "Don't I know it..." *Julian calls up ever.* "Callin' all Questers, Julian here an' I got some bad news. 'Parrently 'fore Archie got here the Military was able to subdue a 13 Gentlemen Android. Don't know what the mea-what."
Dragoshi: *Dex.*"...Wait, what?"
Wolfman would have been blasted by the machine guns at this time probably: not answering yet.
Garrick: *Dex.* "Whoa whoa whoa..."
Julian: "An' it's talkin' now. Hol' up."
Android: "I was originally deployed to destroy that which was wrong. That has happened. The final phase calls for the destruction of everything. It is a shame. The Magellean Military would have been most excellent to destroy."
Metal Man (GM): It breaks out of the tube... not at all hostile.
Android: "I need not kill you. The time has come, and it is inevitable. I was waiting for someone like you to come in the first place, organic being."
Metal Man (GM): It looks around, seeing the devastation.
Julian: *Oh shi-Julian's making sure everybody gets this down.*
Android: "The Light Side is already destroyed as it is. There is little time left for your puny civilization. Everything you've ever known is a lie, and all shall be revealed soon."
Julian: "Who put you up to this?"
Android: "God himself has assigned us to this task."
Julian: "...God. That's just great."
Android: "I need not announce his might. It is what it is. He is the real thing, unlike the Aran and the Magellean and the Kuja. Everything you know shall be gone soon... but..."
Metal Man (GM): It taps Julian on the shoulder.
Android: "You should really work out more. Dr. Archellago is slippery enough to even escape God's grasp."
Metal Man (GM): He then idly walks through a wall and slowly away. Hm. Super-freaky.
Julian: "...Yeah, the world's comin' to an' end, an' he's got the time to comment about my exercise routine." *back to comms.* "Everyone get that?"
Wolfman would have gotten that part of the message.
Garrick: "This is nuts..."
Metal Man (GM): Julian hears Leo being hit by lasers.
Leo: "AHHHH!!! I'M TOO YOUNG TO DIE!!!"
Wolfman: "..." *fails evade. gets knocked back.*
Dragoshi: *Dex.* "Yep..."
Leo: *evades.*
Metal Man (GM): Still, this is a three-story building. There may be some upstairs too.
Julian: "...Whatever. I've still got two stories to check out, I'll keep you guys poster. Julian out." *Julian closes his Dex and heads for the second story.*
Metal Man (GM): Julian walks up and see two old soldiers playing cards.
Bob: "Hey Joe. I heard a robot say the end of the world again."
Joe: "Yeah right, Bob. He always says that."
Bob: "Some guy's here, too. He looks like he could smash a bus."
Joe: "Really?" He turns to Julian. "Wanna play cards?"
Julian: "...Am I intrudin' on somethin'? Who you workin' fore?"
Bob: "Oh... work... that was a while ago..."
Joe: "I was a member of the Arsenal of Freedom!"
Bob: "And I was a member of the Second Magellean Military."
Joe: "Nobody pays us anymore, and we lost our homes because of it, so we live here."
Julian: "Playin' cards."
Bob: "Stay away from the airport terminal. Some guy put a bunch of booby traps in there."
Joe: "Yeah. He also sold us socks which were actually gloves with holes in them."
Bob: "I shot at him, but then he flew directly upwards."
Joe: "So then, you looking for something? That robot don't usually talk so much."
Julian: "So you two've met Dr. Archie then. You got any info on where he's currently holed up?"
Bob: "He's clearly at the center of the dome."
Joe: "No, no. He's at the Tower."
Bob: "There's a tower inside the dome, though."
Joe: "But the dome isn't tall enough. Then again, this building is technically a tower."
Bob: "What do ya mean? There's only one tower here, and he ain't in it."
Joe: "Yeah... but... I pictured him somewhere high up..."
Julian: "So you guys don't know."
Bob: "We've been arguing that point a while. I don't think either of us can be sure where he went... he flew around a lot."
Joe: "Ah, but there is probably a place which matches both our descriptions somewhere here."
Julian: "So you know he's in a tower, but you don't know WHICH tower. Good enough I guess... Anythin' you can tell me about the Dome an' the Tower?"
Bob: "The dome is a bit guarded, and the Tower is just hazardous..."
Joe: "Yeah, I lost my boots in there. That tower to the right is about ready to fall over."
Julian: "A'ight... Anythin' else on this floor 'cept you two?"
Bob: "A refrigerator filled with beer."
Joe: "Only the best!"
Julian: "You know anythin' about the 3rd floor?"
Bob: "Not much... it might be dangerous up there."
Joe: "It's kind of attic-y."
Julian: "Hmmm... Anythin' else you guys might want to tell me?"
Bob: "Nah. Nothing ever happens here."
Joe: "It's a graveyard. Especially since that weird thing in the sky yesterday."
Julian: "K. Thanks for the help..." *Julian heads upstairs to the third floor, whipping out his Dex in the meantime to relay this new information.* "Callin' All Questers, it's Julian again wit' another breakin' news update: Two former Military guys are hangin' out on the 2nd floor of the 3-story buildin', an' they have confirmed that Dr. Archie is in the vicinity. They've narrowed down his location to the Dome An' The Tower. They say he's located IN a Tower, but they say there's a tower in the Dome too. Also, anyone in the airport terminal, get the hell outta there. It's full of traps."
Metal Man (GM): Julian walks on up to the third floor, and sees for himself a large variety of weapons laying around.
Julian: "'Parrently the Dome IS lightly guarded, but the Tower is apparently a deathtrap, hazardous an' ready to fall over at any minute."
Garrick: *dex.* "Got it. I'll be careful."
Metal Man (GM): A single computer sits up here... it was left on.
Julian: "That's all for now. Julian out." *Flips the Dex closed, and checks out the 3rd floor.* *Checks what kind of weapons.*
Metal Man (GM): Old-style, these appear to have been desperately hoarded in the final days of Aetos-led occupation. Guns with bullets. Rounds and rounds of them. Obviously Aetos' way of leading was failing. These didn't even have a chance to be used.
Julian: "Hello hello, what we got here..." *Flips open Dex again.* "Callin' All Questers, Julian here with another report: I just found a cache of guns on the 3rd floor. 'Parrently the Military was hoardin' 'em durin' it's final days. There's a computer up here too, I'm gonna look it over. Julian out." *Flips Dex closed, heads for the computer...*
Metal Man (GM): Julian heads to it... his movement moves the mouse on it some. A video plays. It's obviously Ricky, who looks somewhat downcast.
Julian: "Video..." *records it with the Dex.*
Ricky: "Clearly, the Magellean Military is doomed to fail. I am afraid there is no recourse to solve the issue Charles posed originally..."
Metal Man (GM): *Video skips a little, then continues.*
Ricky: "...I have realized the truth of this realm, and of this fight, however... the Questers are not our true enemy. Charles was against another foe, one far greater... but he himself became like that enemy before he could warn us... It is too late. The Questers are incoming, and they are a force we chose to fight thinking we could do their job. I crushed Aetos' forces only to become like theirs... the cycle never ends, does it... This message is to anyone wondering why the Empire died here. You may take what you want... but if you value your safety, do not go to the center of the Dome Complex."
Metal Man (GM): It ends.
Julian: "...Wow." *Julian yet AGAIN opens another line to every Quester.* "Callin' All Questers, Julian again with another breakin' update an'...well, see for yo'selves." *Sends out the video.*
Dragoshi: *Dex.* "Damn soupdish and-...oh, for crying out loud."
Julian: "So yeah, anyone headin' to the Dome oughta wait until everyone finishes up elsewhere. We gonna need to take this one as a unified force."
Garrick: "Well, shit..."
Dragoshi: "Understood. I guess that means I should head elsewhere, right?"
Julian: "I'm all done up here at the Office Complex, so I'm gonna head for the tower to help out Garrick. Julian out." *Julian flips his Dex closed... and checks out that weapons cache again.*
Metal Man (GM): Many machineguns. Old models.
Julian: *Anything Uzi style?*
Metal Man (GM): Hm... Uzi style... :)
Julian: :(
Metal Man (GM): Julian finds an old one immediately.
Julian: *There's one... how about a second? Akimbo Action GO!*
Metal Man (GM): Julian finds a second. He'll need to refurbish them later, though.
Julian: *Julian receives: Old Guns! Awesome! Julian quickly stores them away in hyperspace, and heads back down.*
Metal Man (GM): Okay then... Dome Group.
Dragoshi: *Actually, it's just Dragoshi. There is no group.* *He checks the entrance to the dome.*
Metal Man (GM): The entrance is a bit difficult to get to... it has been buried under slag. This is before any warnings from Julian whatsoever.
Dragoshi: *Dragoshi blasts it down from four feet away.*
Metal Man (GM): Good choice. It falls over, landing just short of Dragoshi's feet. He can now walk right on up to the entrance.
Dragoshi: "...Hmm." *walks over to the entrance. Checks for any locks on the doors.*
Metal Man (GM): Yup. A padlock. A very flat-looking padlock.
Dragoshi: *Walks four feet away again, opens fire on it. >_>*
Metal Man (GM): It breaks off. The doors flap open, then fall over. It wasn't too well secured, probably barely held its ground in time of war. But the inside is amazing. A vast dome, with fallen girders and spots of light from holes in the ceiling everywhere.
Dragoshi: *Aims his dex at the inside of the dome, scanning it for any traps. >_>*
Metal Man (GM): Dead armor suits lay around everywhere, and some tower under construction sits there...
Dex: "No traps detected... nearby."
Metal Man (GM): In the center. One can walk towards it; there isn't much else here, at least, not to the untrained eye.
Dragoshi: "...Hmm... Should I check it out now or later...? ...Maybe I should gather info about the general area around before bothering with it... Then again I could be acting like too much of a worrywart... Then again, there I could be walking into a-Sod it. I'll just check the rest of the area and save the tower for last." *Enters dome, and examines the area away from the center, all while checking for traps...*
Metal Man (GM): Dragoshi finds no traps... instead he finds something else. The suits of armor stand up. Robots...
Dragoshi: "What the heck..."
Armor1: "Surrender in the name of the IIF or be destroyed!"
Armor2: "The Gerald Virus demands you die!"
Armor3: "All hail Charles Magellean!!!!"
Metal Man (GM): They begin firing everywhere... Dragoshi better run if he value his life.
Dragoshi: "..." *Just throws an EMP at them, 'cause SERIOUSLY now. Oh, and he runs away.*
Metal Man (GM): They all fall right back down. At this juncture, Dragoshi hears the area is dangerous. He also hears lasers hitting Leo and Wolfman.
Dragoshi: *Tries to steal the weapons from the fallen armor.* >_>
Metal Man (GM): No, they're shoulder-lasers. Because each side did nothing but copy Kuja, they all have the same superb anti-theft style built-in.
Dragoshi: *Snarls in agitation as he sees this.* "Typical." *Leaves.*
Metal Man (GM): Dragoshi leaves the building.
Garrick: *was last heading for the ruined Tower.*
Metal Man (GM): The dome was explored by Dragoshi alone.
Julian: *Julian would be heading for the Tower to help out Garrick after he finished the Office Building... which would take a while if Garrick just started.*
Metal Man (GM): The others explored their areas, leaving the tower alone. Where Garrick would be sitting outside of which, probably staring at the door, which he's been shooting at for a while and still hasn't broken. It's some insane stuff. A door of pure energy. So everyone would regroup in front of the ruined tower... where the energy door still awaits.
Garrick: "SON OF A BITCH!!!"
Metal Man (GM): The area around the door is pockmarked; many a person attacked it. It has yet to break.
Garrick: *yells out in frustration as the others walk up, unloading everything he has on that door.*
Wolfman ends up at the Tower... with no Leo. .oO(must have went back to the terminal to try breaking the traps again.)
Alexia blinks.
Julian: "Whoa whoa whoa, take it easy, Garrick. Don't we got somethin' for this?"
Wolfman: "...I take it this is the only obvious way in?"
Metal Man (GM): The door continues standing.
Wolfman looks at the ground and tries to determine what it is made out of.
Metal Man (GM): Dirt. But one doesn't want to dig under this tower. It's teetering as-is.
Garrick: *snarls.* "I hate stuff I can't get into.."
Metal Man (GM): It might fall over entirely. Which... would definitely alert Dr. Archellago to the Questers' presence.
Alexia: "Did you try knocking?"
Metal Man (GM): Most of the defense the Questers have found were automated.
Garrick: "...it's pure energy. It'd melt my hand to nothing."
Metal Man (GM): Dr. Archellago hasn't set up much of a presence here.
Dragoshi: "..." *Looks at Alexia as if she just said something really stupid.*
Julian: "Drago, knock it down."
Wolfman scratches his head... digging might not be the best way.
Dragoshi: "...'Kay." *Pulls out machinegun starts shooting at the door.*
Metal Man (GM): *Click.* *Zot.* *Beep.* They rebound off of the door.
Wolfman: "Garrick, you said this door is pure energy. Perhaps we should use pure energy against it?"
Julian: "That didn't work. Hmmm... Wonder if there's a switch for this anywhere."
Garrick: "No no... hm... turning off the power source would work. Or siphoning off the energy."
Wolfman: "What's a good way to siphon off energy then?"
Julian: "Garrick, try checkin' out the 3rd floor of the Office Building. There's a computer up there, might be the switch."
Alexia: "...I could try Overloading, but I'm not sure if I could absorb that much energy."
Metal Man (GM): The door is rainbow-colored.
Garrick: "Better than nothing... be right back." *pauses.*. "...it's prismatic!"
Wolfman: "...prism? That is, colors... and white?"
Julian: "An'?"
Garrick: "Well, it's possible to bust through prismatic energy with a right combination of magic... I could try to magitek it open..."
Dragoshi: "...Prismatic..." *Tries to cast Indignation on the door.* >_>
Leo: "You need magic?"
Metal Man (GM): It bounces off of the door.
Wolfman: "...worth a shot then Garrick."
Garrick: *glances to Leo.* "Not just magic. But the right combination. We've got to go from the highest frequency color to the lowest. ROYGBIV."
Dragoshi: "So, we start at red..."
Garrick: "So, somebody cast something with fire..."
Julian: "I'll be backin' out of the way, then..." *Julian, being the non-magical guy he is, won't be joining in the rainbow magicks parade.*
Dragoshi: "Leo. Cast Fire on the door."
Wolfman: "Hold on a second."
Leo: "I'm on it. Hmm?"
Wolfman: "Shouldn't we organize what attacks we each use? I don't recall an 'orange' elemental."
Garrick: "...hm..."
Alexia: "How about a less intense fire?"
Leo: "..."
Garrick: "Prismatic is weird like that..."
Wolfman: "Fire, less intense fire, electricity, wood, water, less water, poison?"
Garrick: "...that might do it."
Leo: "That's confusing..."
Alexia: "Do we even have all of that?"
Wolfman: "Then where do we get all of the attacks?"
Leo: "I have Fire and Bolt."
Alexia: "Hmm... Could violet maybe work with this?"
Garrick: "Someone just try some fire."
Alexia forms a purple Psy Needle on the end of one of her fingers. "They match colors, at least..."
Garrick: "Leo, if you would, some fire."
Leo: *forms a fireball in his palm and hurls it at the prismatic door.*
Metal Man (GM): It hits the field and sinks in.
Wolfman: "...is that the effect you were hoping for Garrick?"
Alexia: "Want me to do a Heat Beam next?"
Garrick: "Well, the red should not be in the door anymore... at least, that's how I learned it. Yeah, go ahead."
Alexia takes out her gun, charges up, and fires a Heat Beam at the center of the door.
Metal Man (GM): It hits the door as well, and sinks in.
Wolfman: "Next up would be... electricity I think. "I don't recall who can use Electricity... except one, but I don't see her."
Dragoshi: *Well, Indignation is electrical, but apparently it bounced off the door. * :/ "I can use electricity too, yanno." >_>;;
Wolfman: "Then give it a shot... again."
Leo: "If it doesn't work, I'll use bolt."
Wolfman: "...actually, use Bolt first. Dragoshi, hold your fire."
Leo: "Okay." *casts bolt on the door.*
Metal Man (GM): It sinks into the door.
Wolfman: "Next up... I think wood. But I have an alternate idea." *attempts to get a scoop of dirt.*
Metal Man (GM): Wolfman picks some up... but it's brown-colored.
Alexia looks around. Any trees?
Wolfman: "Wood elementals deal with earth. Dirt is from earth. Let's hope I'm right." *tosses the dirt into the door.*
Metal Man (GM): It bounces off the door and hits Wolfman.
Wolfman gets dirt all over him.
Metal Man (GM): May want to try something closer to Green this time. No trees nearby. They were all shredded into bits. Those few that even existed here in the first place.
Alexia: "...Darn."
Wolfman: "Alright, dirt doesn't work."
Metal Man (GM): There's some moss growing in the moist, destroyed ground, though.
Wolfman sees some moss... barely. He tries using the moss instead.
Metal Man (GM): That sinks into the door as well.
Dragoshi: "Water's next, right?"
Wolfman: "Prism deals with colors. It's not elements."
Dragoshi: "Ah."
Wolfman: "Though elements do help. Is your Ice Shot blue enough?"
Dragoshi: "Yea."
Wolfman: "Then fire away."
Dragoshi: *Ice Tornados the door...*
Metal Man (GM): It sinks into the door.
Wolfman: "Indigo next... Alexia, you had something?"
Alexia: "It's worth a shot." *flings the purple Needle into the door.*
Metal Man (GM): *BONK* It sinks into the door. Close enough.
Wolfman: "Violet is left. ...crazy idea."
Dragoshi: "Go on...?"
Wolfman: "Leo, fire your Fire move. Dragoshi, your Ice Tornado. Red + Blue = Purple."
Dragoshi: "That makes sense."
Alexia: "...Wouldn't it make steam?"
Wolfman: "Then let's hope it's purple steam."
Dragoshi: "Heh."
Leo: "Okay."
Alexia steps back a bit.
Wolfman gets out of the way here.
Leo: *forms a fireball in his palm and hurls it at the door.*
Dragoshi: *And, Dragoshi hurls an Ice Tornado at the door, more specifically at the fireball, so they connect at the same time and make something violet...*
Metal Man (GM): The timing is way off, but the door breaks anyway. Inside lies something rather old. Indeed. This was Charles' last base where he had any semblance of sanity.
Alexia: "...Dusty."
Dragoshi: *Dexes the tower's inside for any traps...*
Wolfman: "...we'll work on teamwork later."
Metal Man (GM): No traps. The elevator's busted, and the only way up is stairs. Everything is burnt black.
Alexia heads inside, gun drawn, and starts up the stairs.
Julian: *To the stairs.*
Wolfman moves slowly in.
Leo: *follows Wolf.*
Garrick: *heads on in.*
Dragoshi: *Follows along...*
Metal Man (GM): The Questers walk up the ruined stairs... they see new equipment!
Julian: *Oh snap!*
Leo: 0_0 "Sweet!"
Metal Man (GM): Computers. Wires. All brand new. Attached to the dead stuff. It hums... various holographic displays are everywhere. Yet the Questers cannot read a word they say.
Wolfman opens his eyes wide.
Garrick: "Bingo... no doubt about it. He's in here."
Alexia: "Which most likely means he has something set up for us..."
Julian: "Or he could be, y'know, anywhere. The two in the building said he likes to move around a lot."
Wolfman: "...then we'll just have to be ready."
Metal Man (GM): The stairs continue up; the technology appears to only get more extensive. The Questers make out one important thing: He's structurally supported the building, and a lot of old machines have been plundered.
Garrick: "Well, at least we can find clues about where he might be now."
Alexia: "Why would he need ten tons of outdated computer stuff?"
Wolfman: "Even outdated computers are useful."
Garrick: "He's a scam artist, though. He'd probably pawn it off as the newest technology.'
Julian: "That's still a whole lotta power."
Wolfman: "So, do we steal it back?"
Leo: "Hmmm..." *picks up a old keyboard.* "I could use this as a blunt object to hurt people with..."
Julian: "What are we gonna do with it?"
Leo: "..." *tosses it away.*
Wolfman: "We might not need it. But does Dr. Archel?"
Metal Man (GM): One can continue up the stairs; the Questers can see some reinforcements up here.
Julian: "He's gonna be dead within the next few hours. Don't think we need to bother with takin' his stuff YET."
Garrick: "...hm."
Wolfman: .oO(...I'm guessing my question won't be answered.)
Garrick: "...I have an idea."
Wolfman: "Yes Garrick?"
Alexia: "Bring the ceiling down on them?"
Garrick: *looks at the reinforcement. Checks what it's made out of.*
Metal Man (GM): A silver metal. Cracks have formed around it. Charles' towers had to be made cheaply, as they often were insanely tall.
Garrick: "...if I take a few of my spare energy rounds from the M-150 and rigged them with a radio receiver from some of these parts, I could make mild bombs. A great way to have a backup-plan... warp out and blow it sky high."
Alexia: "Why don't we do that first to see if he dies?"
Julian: *Shrugs.* "Sounds good to me. You gonna need any help?" *Julian's still packing 6 bricks of that Super-C4...*
Alexia: "If not, we haven't lost much, since we can just chase him again."
Wolfman stays out of this conversation... .oO(...something about this idea isn't right)
Garrick: *doesn't know Julian has such.* "Just placing them... let's see..."
Julian: "How big explosions are we talkin'?"
Garrick: *looks through the parts, seeing if there's enough here to make said receiver and if he has enough rounds to do it.* "We don't need huge ones. If we put one bomb on each strut, with only a mild yield, and blow them all at the same time, it could do it."
Julian: "'Cause I still got 6 bricks of that Super-C4 if you need it."
Garrick: "Oh, no no no. That'd just turn this place to dust."
Leo: "..."
Wolfman: .oO(...)
Leo: "That's nice to know..."
Julian: "That's a bad thing?"
Garrick: "We wanna bring the tower down, not vaporize it. ...well... do you WANT to blow it up that much?"
Dex: "Technically, any blast will reduce it to dust. It is structurally unsound. It survived many attempts to torch it, but lost most of its upper floors."
Julian: "I dunno. I'm jus' thinkin' if we're gonna do this, we oughta do it full-power."
Leo: "Well, lets just use the C4 then."
Dex: "Any kind of blast will just destroy it utterly."
Alexia: "So let's just blow this place up and go."
Wolfman wonders his Wolfkahouha could possibly do it... or if that's wishful thinking.
Garrick: "Then place on on the bottom strut and that'll do it. We don't WANT to kill him. We want to threaten him."
Alexia: "...Why?"
Julian: "Remind me why we don't want to kill his ass."
Alexia: "If we kill him, we can just get the cash off of his body."
Leo: "Yeah."
Garrick: "Do you really believe that he has a spot of cash on his person?"
Dragoshi: "Or he might not have it on him and he has it stored somewhere else."
Garrick: "No, if I were him, I'd store it somewhere safe. And that includes our 1 million coins.."
Dragoshi: "Which then screw over our attempt to get our money back in the first place, ya-...Yea. That."
Julian: "I'm pretty sure the 'Get the Coins' mission is long over with. Right now our concern's with killin' this guy so we can focus on The Destroyer."
Alexia: "So let's blow him up and then look for clues."
Garrick: "Okay, then let me twist this around your brains. According to Phantom, this guy can outrun the Destroyer. Out trick and outsmart him. Who BETTER to know who the Destroyer is and how to find him?"
Dragoshi: "Of course..."
Wolfman: "Then should we just go up?"
Garrick: "Plant a C4 at the bottom of the tower, THEN go up, yes."
Wolfman doesn't understand that logical order.
Garrick: *will wait till Julian places the bomb..*
Dahl: *is ... umm ...with the group.* ^^;
Julian: *We'll assume Julian went and planted the Super C4 during Julian's BRB. And now he's back!* "C4's set an' rigged to blow."
Garrick: "Right... up we go."
Wolfman: "...lead on then."
Metal Man (GM): Anyway... the Questers can continue upwards.
Dahl: *blinks.*
Julian: *Onward and upwards.*
Leo: *Goes up.*
Dahl: *follows .*
Metal Man (GM): The Questers make their way up. Soon, the ruined finery of the old Charles stuff gives way to the mechanical, silver, raw nature of these machines.
Garrick: *movin' right along.*
Dragoshi: *Following...*
Metal Man (GM): The last blackened chandelier soon vanishes as the Questers climb into a hole-filled area... ...and then to an area that has been constructed entirely from scratch. Oddly, nothing goes to stop them. They walk on all the way to the top, easily.
Wolfman: .oO(...alright, where is the trap?)
Garrick: "...hmmm..."
Dahl: *glances around.*
Wolfman: .oO(I'm too much at unease here.)
Metal Man (GM): The Questers see the sky... all around... ...and, standing in the center, Dr. Archellago has just finished working on something.
Dr. Archellago: "Dropping in so soon, Questers?"
Wolfman: .oO(...and now I know why.)
Julian: "...A'ight, Garrick called it."
Dr. Archellago: "I didn't know you wanted to lose to me yet again."
Wolfman: "I believe we were climbing up, not dropping in."
Garrick: "Told ya."
Metal Man (GM): He flips down a single, green targeting thing over his left eye, and types a string of commands in.
Dr. Archellago: "By now you've probably heard of my reputation. Which is why I'm not just going to mindlessly attack you."
Leo: "...Well... s***..."
Dr. Archellago: "I have never been pinned down by anyone, much less the likes of you. And you may rather escape this realm with your lives than kill me. Yes... this place is as short-lived as coins made of gold whose actual value exceeds what is written on them."
Wolfman: "For one, I at least appreciate the variety in our routine. At least we don't always have to fight... yet. However, is there some way we can reach an agreement so that we both get what we're after?"
Dr. Archellago: "Are you kidding? Fighting me... is not so much that but being slaughtered mercilessly."
Julian: "We was gonna kick your ass last time 'fore you skipped town on us."
Dr. Archellago: "You caught me that one time and failed to capitalize on it! You shall never have a chance like that again... Now I give you your choice."
Metal Man (GM): He types in some more commands, and a huge amount of holo-screens appear. They merge to show all of this universe... ...and several indicators. They show the integrity of it declining greatly.
Dr. Archellago: "In but a week or two, all of reality could simply vanish. At least, this one. The destruction of that cancerous pocket only gave it a few more days..."
Wolfman: "...not if I can stop it!" *charges forward, hoping to knock Archel away from the keys.
Dr. Archellago: "I myself only dropped in to sell my wares. And you are the only customers left!"
Metal Man (GM): Wolf knocks him over. He laughs, on the floor.
Dr. Archellago: "I'm not the one doing it."
Wolfman: "Then who?"
Julian: *facepalm.*
Dragoshi: "...And said wares are prolly' part of some inane scam or somethin'..." *Mutter.*
Dr. Archellago: "Who knows?" He brushes himself off and continues typing. "I'm trying to figure that out. I mean, you're the richest people for several universes. I can't let you all die without giving me half of your money, can I? But I can't sell anything if the universe is gone!"
Wolfman: "Then how do you know that all of reality is crumbling?"
Garrick: "...you propose working together."
Dr. Archellago: "A simple fact, Wolfman." He points to the entire ruined base.
Metal Man (GM): The Questers begin seeing it shake... shift... ...The scenes of the past work themselves out before the Questers.
Julian: "...Aw hell not this again."
Metal Man (GM): McDermid revives and glances at the Questers from just a few months ago.
Leo: "...Freaky."
McDermid: "What are those people doing up there?"
Dragoshi: "...What the..."
Wolfman tries to ignore McDermid... whoever he is.
Metal Man (GM): He dies. He revives. He dies. It happens several times before dying down... ...in correspondence to a knob Dr. Archellago is turning.
Wolfman: "Alright, you have a point Dr... what are you doing?" *notes the knob.*
Leo: "Heh, that's kinda funny."
Dr. Archellago: "Yes... yes! My machine is a reality stabilizer. If I turned this off, you'd be wanting to run for home now!"
Wolfman: "I thought you said you weren't controlling this!
Dr. Archellago: "I thought that, if so many scientists could destroy reality, I could fix it."
Wolfman: .oO(...seriously, one of you dex him or something.) "Well, did you have to try to scam a lot of people out of their money to do so?"
Dr. Archellago: "Those people are probably happy not being attacked by people from three years ago who should rightfully be dead. The truth is, reality is disintegrating very quickly. And I've run out of funding. If I don't get any help, then... This."
Metal Man (GM): He turns it off.
Leo: *whispers to Julian.* "Should we do something considering that Wolf has the Doc preoccupied?"
Metal Man (GM): All reality save around the tower suddenly goes INSANE. The Questers see alternate-reality Julians fight Charleses who appear and multiply ala Agent Smith. Metal Man fights Dr. Robotnik fights thirteen Geralds who wield truck engines.
Wolfman: "...how much more funding?"
Dragoshi: "...What the hell."
Metal Man (GM): Explosions appear for no reason. The Questers see Dr. Wily appear in it, screaming "MORE THAN THE SUN IS EXPLODING THIS TIME!!!!!"
Leo: "...That looks fucked up..."
Metal Man (GM): He turns the machine back on.
Julian: "...Christ."
Wolfman is trying to ignore all of the craziness.
Julian: "This is bigger than I thought..."
Dr. Archellago: "Everything. Every coin. All of them. The machine already is running thin."
Wolfman: "Wouldn't that destroy the economy though?"
Dr. Archellago: "I've gone bankrupt trying to keep this small area safe."
Leo: "Your machine is coin-operated?"
Dr. Archellago: "There can't be an economy in a world where a coin may turn into a bomb and then into Charles Magellean."
Dahl: "..."
Leo: "..."
Dragoshi: *Tries to determine if Archellago will really use every coin for this stabilizer of his.*
Garrick: "...how do we know that this is not another scam of yours and that's just a generator to make us believe that reality is breaking up?"
Metal Man (GM): Dragoshi would think of it simply; Archellago doesn't want to be gibberished into nothingness, now does he?
Julian: "Do we really want to take that chance, Garrick?"
Wolfman: "...do realize what you are asking."
Dr. Archellago: "Beats me. But when your cola becomes sentient and eats your nose, don't blame me."
Wolfman: "You want every single coin, rupee, crystal, ring, dollar bill, yen, etc on the planet?"
Dr. Archellago: "You can, even worse, fight me, but if this is destroyed your realm is already a foot in the grave."
Wolfman: "Not even the Questers can give that to you. You would have to appeal to the other governments."
Dr. Archellago: "...No, I only ask every one you possess. That would be enough to build a grand machine capable of arresting this entire issue. In fact, if I could reverse-engineer the Dimension cannon and take Ivo's example, I could probably fix all of reality."
Wolfman: "...there are two spots that I am aware of where reality went haywire, according to your theory. One, Charles and his actions."
Garrick: *ponders... wondering if the Dimension Cannon COULD be reverse-engineered.*
Wolfman: "Two, a time vortex sorts, changing minor things, but still mostly affecting us." of sorts.* "How exactly do you intend to rectify both of those, and anything else?"
Dr. Archellago: "The Charles issue was fixed. The one which surrounds you is what continues to damage reality. I simply cancel it out with electromagnetic waves attuned to your frequency. Unfortunately, the distortions are becoming very unpredictable, and also very strong."
Wolfman turns to the other Questers for a moment, while keeping an eye on Archel.
Dr. Archellago: "Sooner or later basic properties of physics may cease to exist as we understand them... that is the fail-safe point. And we're close to that point."
Wolfman: "...I might have been the leader in the past, but I leave it up to you."
Dr. Archellago: "Well, yes. You make your choice. I'm only doing what I believe is right."
Wolfman: "If nothing else, I do thank you for the opportunity to have a diplomatic discussion." *is still waiting for the other Questers to respond.*
Julian: "Wolf, I don't know about you, but I kinda LIKE having a reality that doesn't shift randomly all the time. I support payin' up."
Leo: "Hmm?"
Dragoshi: "...Yea, sure."
Leo: "I guess I'll pay up as well..."
Garrick: *wonders if HE could do it... instead of this guy...*
Metal Man (GM): Either way, it'd cost countless amounts of coins, or so Garrick would think. But worse, Garrick would need to have already started some to be on time... even with his head start, according to that map, Archellago is actually slightly behind.
Wolfman: "...partial majority."
Garrick: "...I'll give you my coins... but only if I can help."
Dr. Archellago: "I care not how many, but how much... the more coins, the more of reality I can prevent from vanishing into thin air. The instruments are very delicate... I'm afraid only I can properly maintain them. Teaching you would cost valuable days, hours, even minutes."
Garrick: "...I'd at least like to watch."
Dr. Archellago: "For my technology is distinct to the others. Some call it ancient, but it is in reality the true successor to the technology of Earth. Oh, yes, you can watch, but it might be boring."
Wolfman: "Allow us to call our leader at HQ please."
Julian: "Wolf, I don't see how this is such a hard decision for you. It's pretty clear cut: Either you pay the man an' you get to exist, or you don't an' you DON'T get to exist."
Dahl: "..."
Wolfman: "I'll explain why it's difficult. For one, even I am starting to get old."
Garrick: *reaches into his pocket and tosses him the coins he has.*
Wolfman: "For another, I do find some of this hard to believe. And three, I addressed that request to Dr. Archel."
Dr. Archellago: "You are free to call your leader, but please don't do it near my equipment... it's very sensitive. Hence why fighting is useless. The opening blows would destroy my machine and sanity in this area."
Wolfman: "...Questers, keep an eye. I'm making my call."
Leo: "Alright."
Wolfman steps outside the room to make his call and tell Metal all of the situation.
Metal Man (GM): Ok, so, not counting Wolfman... *counts.* 519,700 coins so far. Not counting Wolfman.
Dr. Archellago: "Hm... that's about half-way to a tenable situation..."
Wolfman: *to Dex, outside of the room.* "Wolfman, calling Metal." *gives entire situation.*
Dr. Archellago: "1,039,400 coins then... that should be enough... but I'll wait."
Metal Man: (Dex) "...I see. Well, the difference is not existing or existing. You make your choice. Personally, I can't donate much, as it's sort of trapped in my car... er. Spent on it."
Wolfman: "...understood. Wolfman, out." *closes the Dex and returns.* *takes out 50K coins.*
Julian: "Finally get the concept of 'not existing' through yo' head, Wolf?"
Wolfman: "...I might be feeling like an old reploid, but if I'm going to die, this isn't exactly how I wish to take you down with me." *smirks.*
Metal Man (GM): 569,700.
Julian: "If that's everyone..." *Julian reaches into his back pocket, roots around for a sec, and takes out a sack full of 569,700 coins. That's a big sack!*
Garrick: "...those are some deep ass pockets."
Dr. Archellago: "1,139,400 coins... wonderful. I shall get to work... now."
Leo: "And I thought MY pockets were deep..."
Metal Man (GM): He rings up several orders before the Questers' eyes; various technological devices. Scientific things... raw materials. A massive amount.
Julian: "Hyperspace. I had 'em built in when my bank account started to grow."
Leo: "...Well... wow."
Garrick: *leans over to where he's ordering.* "...do you really need that much duranium?"
Dr. Archellago: "This tower needs to be reinforced. I hate the style of it, but if it falls over, we're all doomed. Also, this machine tends to consume large quantities of it... it operates using high-order molecular transfiguration."
Wolfman turns to Julian. "Shouldn't you be cleaning up a mess you made at the bottom of this tower?"
Julian: "I'll take care of that when we leave."
Wolfman nods. "...how do you suggest we reinforce the tower then?"
Julian: "We don't. He does."
Dr. Archellago: "It'd be a true scam for you to pay me for working on my tower. I do all the work. You may rest easy."
Wolfman: "...fair enough." .oO(...I'm still uneasy about this.)
Julian: "So what's in that Dome in the middle of yo' complex? "
Wolfman: "And the Airport Terminal?"
Dr. Archellago: "The Airport terminal is an old fixture. I guarded it because it's full of money. The Dome was built by the people before me."
Wolfman: "...money? Such as... the unaccounted money that was removed from our HQ?"
Dahl: "..." *head tilt.*
Dr. Archellago: "Money which is now being used to ensure your headquarters don't explode."
Wolfman: "Let me guess: when reality explodes, HQ is first to go."
Dr. Archellago: "No, but the disturbances do seem to favor your headquarters."
Wolfman: "...fair enough."
Leo: "...That sucks."
Wolfman: "Anyone else have questions here? I think we've taken care of most everything here."
Leo: "I'm good."
Dahl: " I am all set.."
Julian: "I go nothin'."
Dragoshi: "...Eh. I have nothing, either. ...Think we should check out the center of that dome before we leave?"
Wolfman: "Let's clean up our mess on the bottom floor and get a warp out then."
Leo: "Well, lets go then."
Garrick: *proceeds to move over to a nearby corner to watch Dr. Archellago work. He will do this until he grows tired, which would be in a good few hours, then warp out.*
Wolfman starts to head out then.
Leo: *leaves as well.*
Julian: *Julian heads downstairs, and assumes that everyone follows because they can't very well warp here. Julian picks up and deactivates his Super-C4 on the bottom floor, and calls in a warp home outside of the tower.*
Dragoshi: *Dragoshi heads out as well...*
Dahl: *leaves.*
Metal Man (GM): Mission Complete.