Super Smash Quest - Story - Chapter 459: Snake's Training Mission Disaster

Date: August 25th, 2007.

Metal Man (GM): Mission / Session. The Questers, for a change, are in R&R. And/or throughout HQ. Rooms are upstairs. The place is same as usual; no exposed rafters though. Tile floor, white painted walls. Less sliding glass doors, now they're simply windows. The room is also better climate controlled; The old place tended ti get too hot/cold near the windows. Indeed, it is a very peaceful afternoon. The sun's a bit low, so the sky is orange.

Dragoshi: *Pretty much leaning 'gainst the wall, as per usual, waiting for stuff to happen. >_>*

ChancÃ© is on the couch, filing away some stuff in his handy book.

Aribar is reading a book in the R&R.

XaoShi relaxes in the entertainment room, listening to some classical bagpipes.

Metal Man (GM): BOOM. ...Ah. Just a battle. Odd... nothing explodes anymore. A current tournament battle shows Peach fighting... Wario? It also says 'Applications for Questers will open shortly'

Aaron: "What's going on down there?"

Metal Man (GM): The R&R seems mostly peaceful; most of the noises come from the Stadium itself. Which is conveniently open to the Questers; just a walk down a hallway. Apparently, in addition to the coins and moves, the Questers also get free seats to every battle.

Aribar looks up at the newcomer.* "Greetings. You're a new face around here."

ChancÃ©: "Well, I am done logging for today, I think I will see the battle."

Dragoshi: .oO(Applications for Questers... Hmmm... Maybe I should apply once said things open up.) *So, Dragoshi decides to go and watch the fight to see what Wario will do. >_>*

ChancÃ© heads over to watch the fight.

Aaron: "Dude... that guy's huge."

Metal Man (GM): The fight is progressing normally. Wario is throwing Bob-ombs at Peach, and the arena is some sort of tropical island. With floating cloud platforms, palm trees, and... attacking sharks and sea gulls.

XaoShi: "Oi, guys, wait up!" *he heads through the kitchen to grab a drink then heads down the hall towards the Stadium.*

Metal Man (GM): No items, though. Peach is currently flying over the Bob-ombs. She springboards off of Wario and then lands atop a palm tree. She then pulls out a vegetable and chucks it at Wario, who turns around for it to hit him in the face.

Dragoshi: *Sees the 'gulls.* .oO(...I wish I could still use those albatrosses.)

Aaron: "No wonder the ground was shaking."

ChancÃ©: "Heh, Go Peach."

Metal Man (GM): Wario wipes the vegetable off his face and leaps up, kicking her in the shins. So she hits him with a golf club. It's the very end of the match... both are at high %s and at their last lives. Wario scores a headbutt which sends Peach off the side... she floats back.

XaoShi: "Ohh... Peach comes back strong, showing shades of Happy Gilmore this time. Yeesh!"

Metal Man (GM): A Seagull hits peach and sends her up... She floats back down.

Wario: "Come-a on! You were dead three-a times!"

ChancÃ©: "You can do it Peach!"

Metal Man (GM): He leaps down and picks up a shark (yes, one can do that) and chucks it at Peach, who has landed next to him. But she takes out Toad at the last moment...

Toad: "Ahhhhhhh!!!!!!!"

Dragoshi: "..Did he just throw a shark?."

Aaron: "It looks like it."

Metal Man (GM): The Shark explodes at Toad, who then hits Wario with those weird spores. Wario flies off the stage and sinks into the water. *POOM!*

Announcer: "GAME SET!"

ChancÃ©: "Oooh, that has got to hurt."

XaoShi: "Woohoo! Go Expendable Lad!"

Metal Man (GM): Peach apparently won that battle... she walks off. And the crowd cheers. Then the Questers' dexes beep subtly... hm. Must be time for the mission.

ChancÃ©: "I will have to get the video of this battle after."

Aaron: "Poor shark, he's going to have trouble eating that guy."

ChancÃ© opens his desk and hits a few buttons.

Metal Man (GM): They sound sort of like alarms on watches. "BEEPBEEP-BEEPBEEP."

ChancÃ©: "Hmm... *Heads to the big room.*"

Aribar starts towards the Bigger Room.*

Dragoshi: *As does Dragoshi.*

Metal Man (GM): All walk in. Today's mission presenter is... ... SIMBER.

Aaron follows them.

SIMBER: "Oh. I almost forgot to mention... you will not likely have to listen to the same person over and over and over again."

Metal Man (GM): The general that is a blue hologram salutes everyone as they walk into the cool and semi-dark Bigger room.

Dragoshi: "...'Kay."

XaoShi: "Found yourself a character generator, did you?"

SIMBER: "Well, no. These are my real clothes, at least, that's what the Galactic Federation told me."

Aaron: "What's up, everyone?"

SIMBER: "We have the person who is related to each mission introduce it."

ChancÃ©: "So you seem to be busy digging though your past."

SIMBER: "Now, before I say anything... it turns out, you have a choice between missions. You can address those strange Toads who fear holograms... or... train with some guy who sounds like a car thief."

Metal Man (GM): A box in the room suddenly moves and out springs another guy in military clothes... Snake.

ChancÃ© looks at snake.

Snake: "Car thief? What do you think I am? You're the one who stole my chair."

ChancÃ©: "So... about those toads?"

Snake: "You should really do some more training with me, Questers. That was sloppy work... you went after Bowser BEFORE looking before the object Peach wanted. We all know people make mistakes, but we don't want a repeat of The Void, now do we?" He seems irritated. SIMBER ignores him.

Aribar takes a few steps away from Snake...

SIMBER: "The Toads are on another nearly-completed construction project."

XaoShi: "... and this coming from a man who was hiding in a box marked 'Contents: Not Snake'?"

SIMBER: "They're in Toad Town, which has been under construction for quite a while--"

Snake: "Hey, I'm serious about my work, kid. Why, if the enemy even discovers you, you should be dead. What were the Melee Questers made out of anyway? Titanium?"

ChancÃ©: "I will wait for both sides to state their argument..."

SIMBER: "...They have no interest in learning how to hide in boxes, old man."

ChancÃ© takes a seat.

Snake: "Old man? Well. I don't see why that matters. At least I am alive. Unlike you."

SIMBER: "...Anyway... You simply find them in the construction site, and then do what you must to convince them of the truth. Speech, beatings, theft, whatever it takes. I don't want them blowing up any other potential AI."

Snake: "Hmpf. All you AI are the same. There aren't enough circuits in your little can thingy to possibly make you act like a real live human."

XaoShi: "Hardly seem worth the beat... wait. Snake, how much have you dealt with explosives?"

SIMBER: "Human emotions are useful sometimes, but others times, lacking them can be handy."

ChancÃ©: "Yes, Snake can come along on this mission and help us."

Snake: "Explosives? Everyone I've fought has used them one time or another."

ChancÃ©: "That sounds like a wonderful idea."

Snake: "You want me, to help you fight against a bunch of little men with explosives? That's ridiculous. I could just kick them and we'd be done. But, I guess pay IS pay..."

ChancÃ©: "You could also give us basic training on this mission as well. A kinda, two for one deal, ne?"

Aribar frowns, not liking this change of plans...*

Snake: "To an extent. You have to listen, unlike those other Questers I heard about, who would walk around defying everybody and shoot everything."

Dragoshi: >_>;;

Snake: "They were just nuts. Without The Void, I bet they die within 10 missions from now."

Aribar: "You underestimate them."

SIMBER: "He does have a point. You can't fight everyone in this world."

Dragoshi: "Yep."

SIMBER: "But I don't see why you should hide from everything either."

Aaron: "Void?"

Aribar: "An old and dead foe."

Snake: "It's not hiding. It's tactical movement. You wouldn't know that, being dead."

SIMBER: "..."

Dragoshi: "..."

ChancÃ©: "Our chances would be better with training."

Aaron: "Name's Aaron, by the way."

Snake: "So. Shall we knock over these silly wimps and go get some coffee? I'm getting tired of standing here."

Aribar: "Aribar Hunter."

ChancÃ©: "We would be in a better position to handle those toads."

Snake: "And this fossil over here appears to have sat there while other, more brave men died for his mistakes."

Metal Man (GM): SIMBER crosses his arms and vanishes.

ChancÃ©: "So, training first then?"

Aaron: *to himself.* "Why can't we all just get along?"

Snake: "Much better. That electrical racket was annoying me. Come on. You took orders from a COMPUTER? They're programmed incorrectly half the time. Nah, you guys are Questers. We'll train using those Toad people you can't stop talking about."

ChancÃ©: "Like your nanobots?"

Aaron: "The little mushroom guys?"

ChancÃ©: "Anyway, I guess we will be taking the warp, or walking?"

Snake: "None of your business." He begins walking out. "Now, we need to warp there first... what is it with you people and ignoring physics?"

Dragoshi: "..."

Metal Man (GM): He's walking all the way down a short path to a small, square room.

Dragoshi: *Follows along.*

ChancÃ©: "What is with you and injecting little robots in your blood?"

XaoShi: "Bad sophomore class in college, Snake. We like to spite it every now and then."

ChancÃ© follows behind the rest.

XaoShi wanders along.

Snake: "None of your business, twerp." *He looks at the panel for the warp machine.* "Gee... this looks dangerous."

Aaron: *Following the others."

Metal Man (GM): He looks at it closely, talks to someone on his radio, and then turns to the Questers.

ChancÃ©: "SIMBER, can you handle the warping?"

Aribar weakly chuckles to himself and follows the others.

Metal Man (GM): SIMBER does not respond to ChancÃ©.

Snake: "He's not gonna help us with me on the team. Two-timing jerk. Now, I need something called a Decks."

ChancÃ©: "Hmm, he must be angry at you Snakey."

Snake: "Do any of you have a Decks? Snakey? My name is Snake. Unless you want me to call you..."

Metal Man (GM): He takes out a book and flips through it.

Snake: "New... Quester... #2???"

XaoShi starts patting his pockets.

Aaron: "Decks of what?"

Snake: "This thing is old." He flings it over his shoulder.

ChancÃ©: "Anyway, what is this deck?"

Dragoshi: "...I was expecting something ridiculous like Chancey."

Snake: "Decks. Some sort of electronic device. It... interfaces with the Warp Room."

Aribar: "... Do you mean DEX?"

XaoShi: "Oi, Drago - the device Wolfman was using?"

Snake: "Oh. That's what it is. Yes." He holds his hand out. "I just need one for a moment."

ChancÃ© is too busy facepalming to notice he wants one.

Dragoshi: "Which would then lead me to making a reference to this one time when I kept throwing Chancey eggs that had grenades in the-Oh, right." *Pulls out his Dex. <_>*

Snake: "That SIMBER thing resented me, and the man who looks like a Wolf was too busy. And this guy named Metal Man, the crazy guy who ENDORSED the suicidal tactics of the old Questers... couldn't find him."

Metal Man (GM): Snake snatches it, and presses some buttons.

Snake: "Now... 3... 2..."

Metal Man (GM): WARP.

Snake: "...1..."

Metal Man (GM): Everyone is in the middle of a sandy desert.

Aribar: "I think... You messed up."

Aaron: "Oww... my eyes."

Dragoshi: "...Sheesh, these things are fast."

Snake: "Hm... you don't figure they build buildings in the middle of a desert, do you?"

ChancÃ©: "Snakey Snake Snakey..."

XaoShi squints, turning from the glare of the dunes.

Dragoshi: "Heck, even faster than usual."

Snake: "SNAKE. Not Snakey. That just gets on my nerves."

Metal Man (GM): He looks at the dex.

ChancÃ©: "Is this Dry Dry Desert?"

Snake: "Ah... I pressed two buttons at once. These things..." He shakes the dex. "They're made for midgets, I swear. Can't even get a three-number coordinate right..." He presses a button.

Metal Man (GM): WARP. Everyone appears in front of a construction project. ...In the middle of the street in front of it. Cars veer out of the way and honk at them.

Aaron shakes his fist at them.

Aribar: "Gah!" *Rushes over to the site.*

XaoShi: "Oi!!" *he jumps quickly towards the site, dodging a Viper or two.*

ChancÃ© walks out of the way and towards the site.

Snake: "Oh, for cripe's sake. Do they not know that there are streets in front of these places?" He hands the dex to Dragoshi and runs onto the sidewalk.

Metal Man (GM): The group sees... problem #1.

Dragoshi: "...Next time, I'm doing the warping." *Follows the others, and takes his Dex back.*

Aaron: "..." *Then gets out of the way.*

Metal Man (GM): One of those construction barriers. A sign that says 'This is an Injury-free zone.' and 'Hard-hat zone.'

Snake: "Pft. We don't need hard hats. And what do they mean, injury free? They can't magically prevent them from happening. Now... to get into here..." He tugs on a chain to the entrance.

Dragoshi: "Yea. I mean, this isn't a cheesy cartoon."

Snake: "We need somebody with lockpicks and the skills for such."

Wolfman appears out of nowhere... He has a rubber ducky with him though.

Snake: "Let me guess." He sees Wolf. "Gah! Do you always have to do that?"

Wolfman: "...sorry: I was taking an oil bath." *squeaky squeaky.*

ChancÃ©: "So no snakey hun, how about Natrix, Colubridae?"

Aribar glances to Wolf.* "Greetings." *Turns back to Snake.* "We don't need lockpicks."

Aaron: *...* "And I thought I was the freak... huh."

Snake: "A... rubber ducky?" He facepalms, then motions to others. "...But breaking this lock would make a hideous noise."

Wolfman: "What's going on Snake?" *makes the duck disappear.*

Snake: "Of course..."

Metal Man (GM): He looks at the barrier. It's only 8 feet tall.

Aribar: "We don't need to break it, exactly..."

Snake: "You could just climb over it. I'll do that."

XaoShi: "Seems simple enough."

Metal Man (GM): He gets stuck half-way.

Snake: "I hate it when this happens."

Metal Man (GM): He uses his strength alone...

XaoShi jumps after him.

Dragoshi: "Well, I guess jumping over it would bring too much attention to us, anyway." >_>;;

ChancÃ©: "You are doing great!"

Metal Man (GM): And barely gets over.

Wolfman: "I prefer just jumping."

Wolfman will just jump up first...

Metal Man (GM): Xaoshi falls and takes damage. Wolfman just leaps over it.

Wolfman then midairs for pinpoint accuracy!

ChancÃ© jumps double jumps and umbrella's his way over.

Metal Man (GM): It's harder to jump than to climb.

Dragoshi: *And, Dragoshi decides to climb. Whee.*

Metal Man (GM): ChancÃ© leaps over. Dragoshi climbs over.

XaoShi: "Oww..." *he shakes himself off then tries again.*

Metal Man (GM): Snake is busy dusting himself off after nearly falling off it.

Aaron will jump over.

ChancÃ©: "Ta-da."

Metal Man (GM): Xao jumps over.

Snake: "Figures. You can all jump like plumbers who eat mushrooms. If I could do that, I'd have just leapt to the top of the building by now."

Aribar looks about for Toads.

Metal Man (GM): Aribar doesn't see any yet. The entrance to the building is a glass door, the swinging kind.

Dragoshi: "Eh. I climbed, 'cause I thought jumping would've attracted too much attention." >_>;;

Metal Man (GM): Another chain holds it shut.

Snake: "Now, we can't just jump over this."

Wolfman: "Where I'm from, jumping comes in handy more than climbing."

Snake: "Of course, if you had... lock picks... we could get in."

Aribar tries to jump to the top and climb over then... Double jumping since it'll probably be needed.*

XaoShi: "Is it even locked?"

Metal Man (GM): Aribar grabs onto the edge.

Wolfman: "XaoShi, why would Snake lie to us?"

Aribar tries to pull himself over then.*

Snake: "I'll show you." He shakes it. "Locked."

Metal Man (GM): Aribar falls over, Snake style.

ChancÃ©: "Dragoshi, can't you pick it with your erm.."

ChancÃ© thinks for a bit...

Aribar: "Gah..."

ChancÃ©: "Claw... nails?"

Snake: "A paper clip would do, if you were good enough."

Metal Man (GM): On their side.

Aribar shuffles over to the others...*

Metal Man (GM): This inner area consists of dirt and scaffolding around the door. But inside is where one would likely find Toads.

Wolfman gets one of his claws out... sharp and pointy. "Will this do?"

Snake: "If you know how to pick locks, yes."

Wolfman: "...it's been awhile, I'll admit."

Wolfman attempts it anyway.

Metal Man (GM): It unlocks. Snake stares at Wolf.

Snake: "Why didn't you do that in the first place? Now... another thing to practice. Don't enter yet."

Wolfman: "I'm occasionally a slow thinker. Lead on, Snake."

Snake: "Somebody take a look inside first."

ChancÃ©: "I think Wolf was afraid he was rusty, in more ways than one."

Wolfman: .oO(...that too ChancÃ©.)

XaoShi: "Want me to look around, then?"

Snake: "Only one person... more would tip off people inside. Whoever's best at it should look."

ChancÃ©: "I am not the best.."

Dragoshi: "Well that counts me out." *Waits for someone else to do it.*

XaoShi: "I've got a fair eye."

Aribar: "Eh, go ahead. I'm not really stealthy enough for this."

Wolfman stands down... not going to anger Snake anymore with his "sudden" skills.

ChancÃ©: "Looks like XaoShi is up to it."

Snake: "So... you..." He takes out another book. "Zow... sheeI... do it."

XaoShi walks to the side of the door, then slowly looks to the side of the door, scanning slowly across the interior.

Metal Man (GM): XaoShi succeeds pretty nicely, looking inside and seeing a bunch of thrown around construction stuff... and a single policeman guarding a doorway up ahead. XaoShi hears construction noises past that man.

Snake: "What do you see?"

XaoShi slowly returns to the side of the door, careful not to draw attention.

XaoShi: "It's a fair mess in there. Lots of equipment scattered, while a lone guard is near a door across the way."

Snake: "Good... we can sneak in."

XaoShi: "Sounds like he's watching the entrance to the zone they're working on now."

Snake: "They've cleaned up the police force here. They'd understand we were here on a mission, but we'd have to pay for the false call if they saw us."

Aribar: "... Sneak." *He says it skeptically..*

Wolfman: .oO(...stealth... NOT my greatest quality.)

Snake: "You guys don't want to pay for something you can't afford, so... I propose we pick up the junk and use it to sneak in."

Dragoshi: "...'K."

Wolfman just nods.

Aribar: "Pay? why not just calmly walk up and explain the situation?"

Snake: "...Are you good at talking to people? Because... the policemen are still a bit wary after that whole The Void thing."

Aribar: "I've done a bit of diplomatic work... STILL wary after five years.."

Snake: "Especially since somebody who looks like you... uh... Non-evil Aribar... was seen a while ago. Yeah."

ChancÃ©: "I am about as stealthy as a cymbal monkey, and I like to poke fun too much to be diplomatic.."

Aribar: ".. As opposed to an evil Aribar?"

Snake: "I'd talk, but they would probably consider me a... enemy soldier." He looks at his clothes. "Should have worn different clothes."

ChancÃ©: "Wolfman, can't you pull a few strings? You are well known."

Snake: "Ah, yes." He turns to Wolf. "They like you. You could try."

Wolfman: "...say hi, ask them to leave, that's it?"

Wolfman was brought in a bit suddenly, and missed the briefing.

Snake: "Nah. Get the policeman in there to let us in."

Aribar frowns, wondering... Could Doopliss still be around?*

Wolfman: "That should be simple. Wish me luck."

XaoShi: "These are the toads who blew up the old stadium, Wolf. SIMBER wanted us to... convince them that all AIs aren't the same."

Snake: "We'll find them later... the vulnerable people are never just out in the open. He'll only have to talk to that policeman, I think."

Wolfman goes to the policeman, moving at a 'normal' pace... he hopes to get his attention naturally.

Wolfman: .oO(ChancÃ©, you are about to be proven right...)

Guard: "What's a guy like you doing here? This is just a construction site... kind of a dump."

Wolfman: .oO(...what to say, what to say...) "...I like garbage?" .oO(WRONG THING!)

Guard: "... I... guess that's okay."

ChancÃ©: "Well... just... what?"

Metal Man (GM): He's not suspicious of Wolf, but he would be of anyone else. And also, he still blocks the way in.

Wolfman: "I have some friends that are trying to help move some things in as well. We would like clearance please."

Guard: "Oh. For you, Wolfman, bring anyone you want in. I'm going to take a break."

ChancÃ©: "Well, that was... lucky?"

Wolfman: "Thank you sir."

Metal Man (GM): He opens the door in and walks out. What a dummy.

Wolfman waves for the others to follow.

Digifanatic: *is there.* .oO(Dang...) *follows Wolf in.*

Wolfman: .oO(...how DID I DO that?)

XaoShi walks in slowly, shaking his head.

ChancÃ© follows behind Wolfman, one can see the ??? symbols above his head.

Aaron: *Follows.* "I was wondering if I could do something to pitch in."

Aribar follows the others, a bit absorbed in his own thoughts now..*

Snake: *Walks in.* "Well, that went well. They apparently eat more donuts than are healthy for one's brain. Now... again. We need someone to check out the next hallway. You never know what's in there."

XaoShi: "Wolf, how the... crud, lad, you've got a regular cult of personality around ye, seems like."

Digifanatic: .oO(Another new face... we'll chat later.)

Wolfman just shrugs. .oO(I don't have that much of a personality, really)

ChancÃ©: "XaoShi?"

XaoShi: "Oh, right. Let me take a gander.."

XaoShi peers around the corner.

Metal Man (GM): XaoShi sees... ...the most obvious thing in the room: A single Toad, and a way to another room.

Snake: "What's in there?"

XaoShi: "Just a Toad and a door, looks like. Simple enough."

Snake: "What color Toad?"

Wolfman: "It never is simple..."

Metal Man (GM): Xaoshi doesn't remember.

Aribar: "... What color?!"

XaoShi: "A... white one?"

Snake: "The blue-hatted ones were what SIMBER said."

Aaron: "There's more than one color? I thought there was only red."

Snake: "White one? That'd be... no spots on their hat."

ChancÃ©: "Look again maybe?"

Snake: "Nah, if you do that, you risk being seen. Are you sure it was white?"

XaoShi: "It had white spots. Of that, I'm quite sure."

Snake: "Okay, then we have to sneak through the room."

ChancÃ©: "..."

Snake: "Unless Mr. Charisma machine wants to interject again."

Wolfman doesn't trust this... but... no place to argue right now. He IMMEDIATELY backs away.

Snake: "Remember, not everyone is as dumb as that guard."

Digifanatic: "Maybe it was like an inverse... red field and white spots."

Snake: "So... everyone pick up some junk."

Metal Man (GM): Snake picks up the only box in the room. Naturally.

Wolfman tries to find some junk that can... well, work with him.

Aribar: ".. I don't particularly want to sneak about like a lowly thief."

Dragoshi: "..." *Just collects himself some junk.*

Metal Man (GM): Planks, barrels baskets, wood planks...

Snake: "Can you climb ceilings, then?"

ChancÃ© picks up a... big basket?

Snake: "Nobody's lookin' up there."

Digifanatic: *finds whatever he needs... hmm, a barrel.*

Snake: "Or you could talk your way through alone..."

XaoShi grabs a small wooden pallet.

Wolfman goes for one of the bigger items... a barrel will do.

Aribar: "..."

Snake: "...Or if you're crazy, sneak up behind 'm and bop them on the head."

Aaron finds a wooden plank to use.

Snake: "I don't recommend that unless they're... dangerous. Now... you just do as I do." He walks into the room, hiding under the box... slowly.

Metal Man (GM): He manages, just barely, to not be seen by the Toad inside. He is half-way through the room. Xaoshi missed something...

ChancÃ© attempts to sneak by, however he is not too sure...

Aribar frowns as he watches the others go on...

Metal Man (GM): ChancÃ© wanders into the room and hits a wall. The Orange Toad turns to see him, but then falls into a bucket of paint.

XaoShi slowly moves along the side of the room.

Orange Toad: "Blech!!!! I hate it when this happens!"

ChancÃ©: "Oww.."

Metal Man (GM): Having not seen the paint can before, Xaoshi nearly collides into it... but the Toad hit it instead. What he missed was a paint can. That Toad fell into it before anyone else could.

ChancÃ©: *Attempts to finish leaving the room...*

Metal Man (GM): He's still prying himself out... Snake motions to cross the room quickly, while he's distracted.

Digifanatic continues to leave the room.

Dragoshi: *So, Dragoshi under the guise of a bunch of planks, tries to sneak by. Whee.*

Wolfman understands the motion, and thus tries to hurry.

XaoShi hurries away from the paint, embarrassed.

Metal Man (GM): Aaron and Digi bump into one another. Then Wolfman falls into the paint with the Toad.

Dragoshi: *And Dragoshi is an awesome!*

Digifanatic: .oO(Oh man, of all the guys to bump into...)

Wolfman: .oO(Oh man, of all the things to fall into...)

Metal Man (GM): Everyone else does fine, and exits. However...

Aribar hears all the commotion, decides something's up... He enters the room. Not particularly being stealthy..*

Metal Man (GM): The Toad attempts to talk to Wolfman, only to fall back into the paint. And then trip on a board.

Digifanatic sighs and gives an "I'm sorry" gesture (without saying anything) and walks on.

Wolfman attempts to recover... somehow...

Metal Man (GM): The Toad is so distracted, one could run past him. Wolfman runs into a wall.

Aribar blinks and watches the disaster of orange paint, fungus, and robotics.

Metal Man (GM): Then he manages to escape. The Toad attempts to look around... He falls over and a belt sander hits him.

Aribar walks over and guides Wolf to the exit.*

Metal Man (GM): Aribar could probably scream if he wanted, and not be noticed. That Toad's a bit busy being hit by things.

Wolfman just shakes the cobwebs out of his head...

Metal Man (GM): The Toad gets up, and notices the footprints...

Orange Toad: "Hmmm... that's odd. It must be that idiot policeman. Oh well."

Metal Man (GM): He continues work, cleaning up the mess he made. The group is at some stairs... incomplete stairs.

XaoShi turns to Snake.* "So, sneaky enough for you?"

Wolfman: .oO(...Snake, I'm sorry you had to see a lot of this...)

Snake: "Now... we don't have much time... so... one of you look for anything interesting in this room."

Aribar: "Don't have much time?"

Snake: "Before that Toad realizes it wasn't a policeman who walked through."

Wolfman is still recovering from his... strange experience: not doing it.

Snake: "Of course, there's a good chance he'll walk into a wall."

Metal Man (GM): Digi finds... a ladder up! Yay!

Aribar: "Mh.." *The elf sighs and looks about.*

ChancÃ© scampers up the ladder.

Digifanatic motions the others to the ladder as he starts to climb up.

Metal Man (GM): Meanwhile, Dis. Aster, the Toad, attempts to think...

Aaron climbs up the ladder.

XaoShi: "Well done, Digi. Far sight better than I've done."

XaoShi follows up the ladder.

Orange Toad: "Wait a minute... since when were policemen wolves?"

Aribar follows the others...*

Wolfman also climbs up... uh oh.

Metal Man (GM): Snake climbs up the ladder.

Dragoshi: *Climbs up.*

Digifanatic: *quietly.* "Thank you."

Metal Man (GM): Everyone climbs up just in time...

Wolfman hopes to hurry up in time... stupid paint.

Metal Man (GM): The Toad walks over and looks... it's like the Questers vanished.

Dis. Aster: "Hm... meh." He walks back.

Aribar: "You know, it's hard to climb up ladders with one hand. You guys should feel lucky."

Metal Man (GM): And trips on a piece of wet newspaper.

Snake: "Good... that's the last of him."

Wolfman just nods... he doesn't trust himself to speak.

ChancÃ©: "Poor Toad.."

Snake: "Now..." Snake moves a bit closer to the way ahead... uh-oh. There's a giant board in the way.

Aaron: "Poor guy. He couldn't help tripping over himself.

Snake: "This board could be very obvious, if we just move it. Someone stealthily move it slightly to the left."

Aribar just stands off to the side...*

Dragoshi: *Decides to go for it...*

Digifanatic: *Pas moi.*

ChancÃ© stands by Aribar.

Aaron: "You have something that would make a strap for it?"

Metal Man (GM): Dragoshi does so... leaving a gap anyone can look through, without being seen.

Aaron: "So we can move it without having to peer out?"

Snake: "Now... somebody look inside."

ChancÃ©: "XaoShi?"

Snake: "We'll decide what to do... after we look."

Wolfman quickly wipes the paint off of his feet... if it hasn't already dried.

XaoShi: *aside to Lucent.* "Certain you want that after the little blunder we just walked through?"

Metal Man (GM): Wolfman wipes the paint off his feet.

Snake: "You guys are apparently good at what ever you're told to do... which is handy."

ChancÃ©: "I believe in you."

Snake: "I was afraid you'd tell me off for just suggesting some stealth. But, even though you're about as stealthy as a grenade, it... works... somewhat."

XaoShi shakes his head, focusing again to try to examine the room.

Wolfman: *quietly.* "We'll do what we can to improve our stealth skills then. We do need more practice."

Metal Man (GM): Xaoshi has the eyes of an Eagle this time.

ChancÃ©: "A LOT of practice Wolfman."

Dragoshi: "What kind of 'nade are we talking about. Incendiary or frag?"

Metal Man (GM): 3 Toads, 1 hole in the floor, a power sander, and 2 buckets of paint. Blue Toads.

Digifanatic: *quietly.* "Yeah, some of us are alright, but there are a few of us who can get it done."

Metal Man (GM): All blue. All with... explosives. They apparently carry them on themselves at all times.

XaoShi slides back, muttering.* "Holy crud..."

Metal Man (GM): The Toad downstairs succeeds in cleaning up the mess. The footprints are gone from there. That may come in handy later.

ChancÃ©: "What did you see?"

Snake: "So... what's behind that door?"

XaoShi: "Snake - 3 Toads this time. There's a gap in the floor, looks like where they're still working on the room. These are the blue ones Simber mentioned, all right - they're carrying some explosives. Oh, Wolf, there's a couple more paint buckets in there."

Aribar chuckles...

Wolfman just frowns... as best as a reploid can.

Snake: "Ok. So this is where we decide... do you beat them up... steal their explosives first... talk to them... scare them?"

Wolfman: .oO(...not this again...)

XaoShi shudders.

Snake: "Or... do you push them into buckets of paint and down a hole in the floor?"

Aaron: "You're call."

Digifanatic: *quietly.* "That last one sounds like fun."

Aribar: "Let's just talk sensibly to them.."

Wolfman: *quietly.* "...if we can push them into the buckets, that could work."

Dragoshi: "...I say we steal their explosives first, then talk to them."

Snake: "There's more of them up above, so we can practice..."

Dragoshi: *Saying this quietly of course. <_>*

Aribar: "... That's also good."

Digifanatic: *quietly.* "But seriously, though... yeah, I like Dragoshi's idea."

Deloth: *suddenly behind the group, whispering.* "Why are we being quiet?"

ChancÃ©: "I agree with Dragoshi."

Snake: "We don't want to be heard, Deloth. Which reminds me."

XaoShi: "Use the paint, I'd say. If we can cover or jam the fuses, we can prevent the bombs from going off."

Aribar: "Remember that we need to--'allo, Del--convince them AIs aren't bad, not kill them."

Snake: "Don't threaten anyone. At least, not until it makes sense..."

Wolfman: "...wait a second Aribar. I'm technically AI. I'm not really 'living, breathing' after all."

Snake: "To stop their bombs... yes. You have to use stealth to get in."

ChancÃ©: "But you don't look computery."

Dragoshi: *Does this mean Dragoshi gets to use the mass of planks disguise again?*

Aribar: "You're more... Of a robot thing, not like SIMBER."

Snake: "They probably distrust machines... Also, I'd suggest only those with Stealth abilities go in first, if you want to steal or damage their dynamite."

Wolfman stands down.

Snake: "So. Who wants to stop their dynamite, and how? It'll take a good throw to hit their dynamite with a paint can..."

Digifanatic: "I say just defuse it, but I'm not quick enough to pull it off..."

Snake: "Defusing them might be trickier."

Deloth: "If we could get our hands on it, just for a second..."

Snake: "You can steal the dynamite."

ChancÃ©: "Dragoshi could steal and pocket it."

Wolfman does not feel like he's up for stealing.

XaoShi: "Aribar - think you can talk to them? We can sneak around them first, then take the dynamite while they're focused on you."

Snake: "But, again. You need to be skilled at it. And stealthy..."

Aribar: "Mmm..."

Dragoshi: *Quietly.* "Well, I am a good thief."

Snake: "We don't want to lose our negotiation abilities too quickly. SIMBER said they were very irrational."

Aribar: "I could do that."

Aaron pulls out of his "duh" state. "I'm sorry, what?"

Snake: "So. Whenever you're ready..." He moves the board a little. "You can sneak in. Only sneaky people, of course."

ChancÃ©: "Aribar would make a good distraction."

Snake: "I'll watch, since I don't want paint on my good boots. Nor do I fancy being exploded..."

Digifanatic: "Well, I'm pretty sociable."

Aribar: "Okay, so just so I know for sure... I go in calmly, distract them, and you guys steal the dynamite."

Wolfman: .oO(...I hope we're not going to have a fight again...)

Digifanatic: "If I can persuade them just right, that'll definitely throw em around for a bit."

Aribar thinks up a plan for this..* "Yeah, this can work."

Deloth: "I'd be more intimidating than anything else, so I'll stay back for now..."

Aribar: "The only problem is that once I go in there, they might be suspicious of the doorway."

Snake: "You'll have to explain that away... or have the sneaky people go first."

ChancÃ©: "Sneaky People first."

Digifanatic: *Quietly.* "Yeah, and then Ari and I can have our little chat."

Aribar: "Okay... Get in there, somehow hide, and then the distraction begins."

Deloth thinks...

XaoShi: "Okay, so let's get in there. Silently and slowly, lads. Ready?"

Deloth: "Is there another way to reach them?"

Digifanatic: "Sounds good, Xao."

Aaron: "I guess I'm going to be a lookout then."

Aribar: "Not really, Del."

Snake: "Through the floor, apparently... I looked myself. But... the bottom floor has an Orange Toad on it. I dont' know what that means, but. You'd have to sneak that way too. Double-hard. And jump, or... climb."

Aaron: *to Snake.* "I still can't get over the fact there's more than one color of Toad."

XaoShi: "Who else is coming?"

Snake: "Yes. It confuses me, too."

Digifanatic: "Only after the stealth team."

Snake: "You'd think the midgets would have individual outfits. They're not soldiers, after all."

XaoShi: "Drago?"

Aaron: "They are construction workers, I think they need uniforms of their own sort."

Deloth: "Well... stealth isn't something I'm too good at. I'll stay back and be a lookout, I guess."

Dragoshi: "...'K." *Prepares to get to sneakage...*

XaoShi: "Here goes nothing, then. Follow, if ye will."

XaoShi slowly crawls in, keeping quiet out of the attention of the toads.

Dragoshi: *And, Dragoshi carefully sneaks behind, making sure not to be too close to Xao.*

Metal Man (GM): One Toad notices nobody. The other two see Dragoshi. None of them see Xao.

Toad2: "Hey! What're you doing in here?"

Toad3: "Yeah... this is a construction zone!"

Metal Man (GM): Xaoshi is in position to steal from any of the Toads. Or... hit them from behind... etc. They're staring at Dragoshi instead. Except for Toad1.

Toad1: "What do you mean? I don't see anyone."

Aribar looks to Digi...* "Should we go in?"

XaoShi waits out of sight to watch the Toads, motioning to the others slowly to come on.

Digifanatic: *quietly.* "I say, wait it out a bit..."

Dragoshi: "..." *Dragoshi distracts them... WITH DANCING! Well-guessed, Aribar. Well-guessed.*

Metal Man (GM): All of them are distracted.

Toad1: "Uh... nice dancing?"

Toad2: "What the?"

XaoShi giggles silently off to the side.

Toad3: "Strange..."

Wolfman: *quietly.* "...no comment."

Digifanatic: *quietly to Ari.* "Maybe we won't be needed."

Aribar chuckles at the sight..*

XaoShi: .oO( Crud... I don't know that I can grab the bombs that quickly... why aren't they talking?!)

Metal Man (GM): The Toad down below falls into the paint can again.

Dis. Aster: "Gah! I swear I heard something but... paint everywhere!"

Metal Man (GM): The Toads are staring at Dragoshi like he's insane.

XaoShi slowly motions to the others behind the door, trying to get them to come out.

Metal Man (GM): The Toads turn to look to Dragoshi... due to the late timing, though, XaoShi could possibly be seen too! None of them notice Xaoshi as he steals Toad2's dynamite.

ChancÃ©: .oO(What is he thinking going so slow? He should just steal the TNT!)

Toad2: "I think something is up... maybe..."

Toad1: "What do you mean? This is totally uncalled for!"

Toad3: "Eh, it might be Dis. Aster's fault."

Dis. Aster: "I heard that!!!! If only I could get up to smack you..."

ChancÃ©: "Hmm... I may be of use."

Wolfman better help out... but what...? Okay, crazy idea.

Digifanatic: *to Ari.* "You know, the more of us that come in and screw around, the more suspicious."

Aribar: "Walking in might make them more suspicious.."

Aaron attempts to intimidate the Toads.

Aribar: "Yeah.."

Wolfman steps out, and says in his best imitation voice:

ChancÃ© runs in, did you know that...

Wolfman: "Hi, I'm Wolf Man." *batman joke.*

ChancÃ©: "That Scorpions will sting themselves to death if you put a drop of rubbing alcohol on their back."

Digifanatic: .oO(He's nuts)

Metal Man (GM): The Toads look at ChancÃ©. Then they look to Wolfman. Then they see Aaron. They are confused!

Aribar blinks...

Wolfman: .oO(...did that really work?)

Toad1: "Ahhh!!!! Wait... Scorpions? What does that have to do with...?

Toad2: "All right, I don't know what's going on here. We better..."

ChancÃ©: "Did you also know that..."

Toad2: "Discuss our knowledge of the situation!"

Toad1: "Enough!! Tell us why you are here!"

Toad3: "Yeah. You're seriously annoying."

Toad1: "More so than Dis. Aster!"

Dis. Aster: "I am NOT a turnip, whoever said that!"

Aribar: "I just realized... How will we know when they stole the dynamite?"

Wolfman: "As I said, I'm Wolfman. I was informed that you had... some phobias of artificial intelligence."

Digifanatic: *to Ari.* "I'd think they be back to this side of the place to let us know or something."

ChancÃ©: "We are here to talk about a rumor."

XaoShi slips behind another Toad, and tries to slip away another dynamite.

ChancÃ©: "Wolfman... you are as blunt as ever."

ChancÃ© facepalms.

Dragoshi: "Oh, sure. That. Well, I don't know about the others, but, I on the other hand have a horrible sense of direction and bad memory, so when you put 2 and 2 together..."

Metal Man (GM): Xaoshi fails to steal dynamite. Toad1 fails to see him. Wolfman fails to alleviate the situation.

Wolfman tries something else...

ChancÃ©: "We are hear to talk about a rumor that the fire in the old stadium was not an accident."

Wolfman: "...are you aware that I am also artificial intelligence?"

Toad1: "..." They step away from Wolf.

Digifanatic: "That's it..."

Aribar: "... This is backfiring greatly."

Wolfman: "Even though I am the head of the Stadium?"

ChancÃ©: .oO(In all my years I have never seen more of an IDIOT.)

Toad1: "All right, it's exploding time."

Aribar enters the room.* "Wait, wait!"

Deloth: "...I can't wait any longer."

Digifanatic: *walks into the room, trying to be friendly.* "Please, don't feel intimidated by him. He's a very nice guy and he really wouldn't attempt to hurt you folks..."

Metal Man (GM): They reach for their dynamite... ...one of them is missing...

Deloth kicks the door open. "HUZZAH!"

Digifanatic: *BAM!*

Aribar: "Think this through. There's no reason to even HAVE that dynamite. And don't you know how powerful that is? You'd blow yourselves up if you used it in here!"

Metal Man (GM): Snake goes to hide.

Digifanatic: .oO(NOW what?)

Metal Man (GM): He manages to hide... meanwhile, Digi -BARELY- prevents an explosive situation.

Toad3: "...You have some explaining to do, then. What's with the karate kid and his antics?"

Dragoshi: "Don't mind him. He's an idiot." >_>;;

Wolfman will stay quiet for now.

Deloth: "...Hey, now..."

Toad 1: "Oh. That makes perfect sense."

ChancÃ© attempts to show he is wise and old and that he knows what they did.

Toad 3: "Yeah."

Toad 2: "What? These people are crazy."

Metal Man (GM): Toad 2 remains unconvinced. He's about to reach for his nonexistant dynamite...

Wolfman tries to show through his Smash Dex Melee Stadium and its matches... which does involve some AI to keep the hazards running.

Aribar: "Look, we were sent here to talk to you.."

Wolfman: "Is this familiar?"

ChancÃ© stops looking wise and says a random fact!

Toad2: "...That's a rather odd thing to do..."

Aribar: "We were sent by some friends of Mario, Luigi, and Peach."

Wolfman: "It is. However, it couldn't have been done without some artificial intelligence. Knowing when to unleash chaos, then items."

Metal Man (GM): Snake steals Toad 3's dynamite while nobody is looking.

Wolfman: "Mario and company are a part of it as well, if that helps."

Deloth just sighs and keeps his mouth shut. He's definitely not having a good track record lately...

Digifanatic: *optimistically.* "But yeah, if you ever see him *pointing to Wolfman.* around here, don't be in fear. He's a good guy, he's not a friend of the Void and, in fact, the Void is the last thing he wants to be friends with. So, you wanna have some tea with us after your shift?" *Maybe.*

Metal Man (GM): They're disarmed.

Aribar: .oO(Not ENTIRELY a lie...)

Digifanatic: *That was it.*

XaoShi holds his breath and tries to slip the last dynamite

Metal Man (GM): XaoShi steasl the last dynamite stick. Toad 2 goes to throw dynamite... ...it isn't there.

Toad2: "..."

Metal Man (GM): And Snake blocks the doorway out.

ChancÃ©: "And now that you are all disarmed, I think it's time we have a little talk."

Toad2: "You took our dynamite! There must be something important..."

Toad1: "Fine... what is it you want to say?"

XaoShi shows the sticks to the Toads.* "Sorry lads, these make me a bit nervous. Care to keep talking now?"

Deloth: "..." *facepalm.*

Toad3: "We're disarmed! Noooo!!!"

Aribar: "You guys blew up the old Quester HQ, right?"

Dis. Aster: "Ahhhh!! Paint in my face again!!!"

ChancÃ©: "We have poof you blew up the old stadium when you attacked an AI."

Toad1: "Yes... but only because evil The Void people were in it."

ChancÃ©: "The Void is dead people."

Dragoshi: "Yep."

Aribar: "Aye, there is no more Void."

Toad2: "Nono... these are alive people... which giant bugs have."

ChancÃ©: "If he was alive, and you threw TNT at him, DO YOU THINK HE WOULD NOT HAVE ATTACKED BACK?"

Aribar: "What you found was an AI named SIMBER."

ChancÃ©: "and the AI was not evil."

Toad3: "But... TNT defeats everyone!"

Wolfman lets the others handle this one.

Dragoshi: "Deader than deadest dead thing to the Nth degree of dead, even."

Toad2: "Not evil? Well... there's the thing..."

Aribar looks about and checks how big the room is.

Toad2: "We've fought evil AIs before."

Metal Man (GM): About 10 by 30 feet.

Dragoshi: "Prove it."

Metal Man (GM): 10 feet tall, too.

Toad2: "Easy... this!"

Aribar: "Oh?"

Dragoshi: "And by that I mean, pics or it didn't happen."

Metal Man (GM): He takes out a picture of... an AI. It's PSIM.

Toad2: "Giant... bug people have them."

Digifanatic: "Listen... the AI you found in HQ is not evil. Just because you fought one evil AI doesn't mean all of them are."

Toad2: "They invaded a housing project and attacked us."

Metal Man (GM): They are not convinced.

Aribar: .oO(Idea..)

Toad2: "The... space bug people... they had many cylinders. And said they were Void people who would kill us!"

Aribar: "So you think all AIs are evil?"

ChancÃ©: "Look if all AI are evil, Wolfman would of killed you all and eaten your souls."

Wolfman: "I've helped the Questers fight the Void, and I'm also AI. I'm not evil either."

Aribar: "Wait... Space bug people?"

Toad2: "Yes! Only space bug people and The Void have them. ...Maybe... but... Space bug people."

Toad: "Yes. They made weird noises and blew up houses. It was annoying."

ChancÃ©: "Are gone, created by the Void, and he is DEAD."

Dragoshi: "...Hmm. Well, while you are right that there are evil AIs such as Bob, Lord of Electric Death for example... Most of these evil AIs were illusions he made, if I'm not mistaken. Add to it, that those space bug people were prolly' illusions too."

Toad2: "Their only weakness was explosions."

Aribar: "Never heard of them before... Where'd you find them at?"

Toad2: "Nono... these are people Samus knew."

Toad: "They appeared in a warp on the edge of Toad Town."

Dragoshi: "Oh. Those space bugs."

Toad: "Looking for... a cylinder."

XaoShi: *aside to Digi.* "Bob, Lord of Electric Death?"

Digifanatic: *to Xao.* "Very old name."

Toad: "So... we figured they wanted the one inside the old HQ."

Toad2: "We got a contracted job to take it apart... but... the cylinder came alive and attacked us, almost like you did!"

Digifanatic: *Xao.* "And a long story which I'm not quite confident I'm all-knowing of."

Snake: "Only... it didn't steal your dynamite, did it?"

ChancÃ©: "The AI never attacked you."

Aribar: "What did it do to attack you?"

Toad: "No... no it didn't."

Dragoshi: "...Yes. What?"

Toad2: "It... appeared, and told us not to destroy the place!"

Toad: "Naturally, Dis. Aster tripped on one of us and caused a bomb to go off."

Digifanatic: "That's because it was his home for years."

Metal Man (GM): Dis. Aster is hit by the other power sander.

Dis. Aster: "Ow! My face!"

Dragoshi: "Dammit, Dis!"

Wolfman: "...so we hear."

ChancÃ©: "We have a capturing of the TNT being tossed..."

Toad2: "Oh, that. We tossed it so we wouldn't explode... the building was on fire."

Digifanatic: "The AI was, and still is, an ally of ours. We used him there as much as we used the kitchen, the bedrooms, the televisions..."

Toad1: "Being afraid of the glowy person at the time, we tried to... what?"

Aribar: "So far it sounds like you're the ones at fault, not the AI."

Toad: "I guess... but... there's something else you should know.

Dragoshi: "What, if I may ask?"

Aribar: "Yes?"

Toad2: "This place has an AI cylinder too!"

Dragoshi: "Really? interesting."

Toad: "We're in here trying to figure out how to turn it off."

Toad3: "Yeah. The thing inside it is obviously evil."

Digifanatic: *contently.* "Oh... do you mind showing it to us?"

Aribar: "Can you show us?"

Toad3: "Uh... yes."

Dragoshi: "Do you have any idea on what it looks like?"

ChancÃ©: "Evil?"

Metal Man (GM): He opens a plank and goes to the next set of stairs up.

Dragoshi: *Ker-follow.*

Toad3: "It's red... looks like a space bug... and shoots lasers."

Digifanatic: "Thanks." *follows.*

Toad3: "The Space bugs dropped it here in vengeance for when he blew some up with dynamite."

ChancÃ© follows the crazy toads.

Wolfman follows along... finally getting somewhere.

Dragoshi: "A red, Space Pirate-esque AI..."

Toad1: "Also for torching that building... apparently hiding the AI from them."

Deloth tags along, somewhat dejectedly.

Aribar follows the others..*

XaoShi heads up the stairs as well.

Dragoshi: "Oh crap. What if they dropped an AI cylinder containing one of their old generals?"

Toad2: "Who knows."

Metal Man (GM): They point to a door up the stairs. An eerie red glow is there.

Toad: "Enter at your own risk..."

ChancÃ© marches up.

Dragoshi: "Also... Red... Hmm..."

Wolfman nods.

Digifanatic: *to Ari.* "I wish we took SIMBER with us."

Snake: "I'll stay back here and make sure that Policeman doesn't come back and go crazy."

Wolfman: "Thank you." *enters slowly.*

Metal Man (GM): Fayth was red. However... Fayth is dead.

Aribar: "Before we go in... Do you Toads finally believe not all AIs are evil?"

XaoShi: "Snake, pass that third stick, would you?"

Deloth heads up the stairs and walks into the room.

Aribar nods to Digi.*

Toad1: "Er... welll... Non-spacebug ones are not evil! The Spacebug ones shoot lasers..."

Aribar: "Okay. Will you tell your friends they aren't all evil?"

Wolfman: .oO(Glad I'm a non-spacebug one then.)

Dragoshi: *Shakes head.* "No, no... Fayth died, so it can't be him. Maybe it's... no, those guys destroyed that one."

Toad2: "Sure. They're on lunch break."

Digifanatic: "Yeah, that would be an evil one if it shoots lasers."

Metal Man (GM): The door up ahead is opened... and there is the target.

Dragoshi: *Muttering to himself, trying to think up of who this mysterious red AI is...*

Metal Man (GM): A cylinder of Space Pirate technology. It's been plugged in haphazardly, and the room's filled with mist for no reason.

Aribar: "Okay... Better get going then. We might be in for a fight."

Wolfman: "...why not just pull the plug?"

Metal Man (GM): A single skylight by the ceiling fills it with a few orange rays of the sun...

Aribar: "... And cut back on the dynamite."

Deloth: "...Okay, who was the one that plugged this thing in?"

Toad2: "It has a backup power source... and shot lasers at us when we tried that."

Wolfman: "Hmm, good point."

Toad2: "Now... good luck!" *Stands back.*

Deloth glances around the room for anything to block the sunbeams with.

Metal Man (GM): The hologram cylinder clicks ominously. The sunbeams are the only way to see in here.

Dragoshi: *Dragoshi gets into stance...*

Metal Man (GM): But there are several sheets of wood around.

Aribar: "Hm... Hello?"

Deloth: "Hmm..."

Dragoshi: *Looks for mirrors.*

Metal Man (GM): Finally, a Space Pirate appears. Red... a bug-ish 6-footer of a guy, with a grenade launcher in one hand, and a laser gun in the other. No mirrors.

Deloth grabs one of the sheets of plywood and toss--uh-oh.

XaoShi walks in, entering a balanced state, and waving the mist around a bit.

Wolfman: .oO(...so here's our enemy)

Deloth: *drops it, sword out, let's RUMBLE.*

Metal Man (GM): It teleports in front of everyone, and screams in its native gibberish.

Aribar: "Oh piffle!"

Metal Man (GM): The Hologram Space Pirate sizes the Questers up, and then fires two laser beams at Aribar. Sucktown, USA.

Aribar ducks beneath the shots.*

Metal Man (GM): Success. Grrr. He fires again, at Aribar, too! Twice, too...

Aribar rolls forward to get right up next to the bug.

Wolfman takes advantage of the Hologram not shooting at him by running towards him and giving him a good solid punch-punch combo!

Aribar is hit... But shrugs it off.* "Burn, you big bug! Don't mess with a Jentanian wizard!" *The elf holds out his hand palm-first towards the space pirate. A wave of intense heat incinerates the bug.

Metal Man (GM): Hit. Hit. Hit. He is unable to dodge.

XaoShi runs off-kilter at the bug, spinning around before bashing it with his fist.

Metal Man (GM): Hit.

Dragoshi: "Hmm..." *Dragoshi snaps his left claw, and a small wisp of flame pops up... Though, he only focuses on it a little, making it grow a teensy bit larger...* (Charging up Din's fire...)

Digifanatic takes out his golf club, but doesn't use it in his conventional matter as a makeshift Pop Star Hammer. He grips it with both hands, draws it back, and then gives a smashing ram into the HSP's chest!

Metal Man (GM): It attempts to dodge, but fails, and is hit.

Dragoshi: *So, anyway, that thar Dragoshi lets loose his fiery death wisp on the Hologram, which EXPLODES into a blaze of destruction! Err... The, wisp of fire, not the space pirate, if you were confused there.* (Din's Fire)

Metal Man (GM): It attempts to leap out of the way. And is still hit, despite decent luck.

ChancÃ© attempts to pick a vegetable!

Metal Man (GM): The Space Pirate fires a Grenade at Wolf, Aribar, and Xaoshi!

ChancÃ© then with full force fires it straight at the hologram!

Metal Man (GM): Yeouch!

XaoShi tries to roll off to the side, away from the blast.

Aribar: "Oh piffle!" *The elf dives behind the pirate.*

Wolfman attempts to roll out of the way to the left of this one...

Metal Man (GM): Also, hit, ChancÃ©.

Wolfman leaps to the Holo Space Pirate, and decides that some teamwork is in order. He gets OUT of Aribar's way, then rears back... and stays reared back. *Charging Super Smash.*

Aribar: "Take this!" *The elf, still near the space pirate, jumps into the air and quickly conjures up an orb of explosive energy. He sends it right into the big bug, the force also pushing him back a bit. He then rushes towards his foe, the wind picking up around him. A whirlwind twists about the elf as he spears past the Space Pirate, smashing him some more.* (Missile, Whirling Fortress)

Metal Man (GM): It dodges the Missile, and then Aribar Whirling fortresses it into a wall, taking damage.

Aribar: "Gah!" @_@.

XaoShi runs in quickly, trying to tie up the bug and hold it in place.

Metal Man (GM): The bug's atoms attempt in vain to move XaoShi's, as kinetic forces cause its light-encased photon shell of unknown properties to attempt to move to the direction left of XaoShi's position. It fails to evade the grab and the attraction between atoms allows XaoShi to pin the strange photonic thing in place for the time being.

Wolfman has reared back enough and charged the required potential energy. He thus unleashes his right hand towards the monstrosity that is the space pirate while the ally XaoShi has him pinned down enough to hopefully cause enough damage.

XaoShi: "Now, Wolf - squash this flipping bugger now!!"

Metal Man (GM): Meanwhile, the sun's photons entire the room through the skylight and bounce off of various things, making them visible and such. The grab makes the bug even slower than usual, although it is actually of the Space Pirate species. If it were alive, but it is not. The bug's attempt to dodge the attack is halted by the superior grabbing ability of Xaoshi. It is hit and thus damaged.

ChancÃ©: "Hmm.." .oO(Ari looks injured...)

ChancÃ© starts charging up his magic!

ChancÃ© attempts to use his white magic to heal his hurt companion!

Aribar: "Th-thanks, ChancÃ©.."

Digifanatic decides to take a risk and launch a bunch of attacks on him at once... he flares up his right hand and launches a Red Fireball at the HSP to start off. After the flame fades off and the hand cools down, he takes the time to launch a RAPID FIZZURY of rights and lefts!

Metal Man (GM): He attempts to duck under the fireball. He then attempts to leap over the Fury. He leaps into it instead. He was eventually knocked free.

Dragoshi: *Anyway, Dragoshi then decides to make some s'mores... Using the HSP as the wood for the fire, as Dragoshi blasts out a mighty gout of reddish-orange flame!* (Firebreath)

Metal Man (GM): It tries to leap to the side. And fails.

Aribar slowly walks towards the pirate and fires two explosive orbs of magic at it.* "Explode in a fiery ball of death already!" (Missile x 2)

Metal Man (GM): The Pirate leaps left, then right, like a pro. He's dodged these before. So he only dodges one! The Holo Space Pirate goes flying at Aribar... trying to fly -through- him!

XaoShi: .oO(Drat... what did Aribar ever do to this guy?)

Metal Man (GM): Blammo!

Aribar dives backwards, at least taking some force out of the blow.*

XaoShi dashes to the side of the HSP, then spins towards it in a strong back heel kick.

Metal Man (GM): It attempts to dodge to the left... Hit!

Wolfman attempts to Dex this guy while XaoShi Does his thing.

Metal Man (GM): Success.

Dex: "...DING! Holo Space pirate."

Metal Man (GM): Unknown origin, probably created on technology stolen from the Galactic Federation. This model is made to destroy intruders. Only, it has been set to designate the entire building as an intruder. Hence, it destroys anything that gets near it. With lasers, grenades, and flying through them. HP: 128/250.

Dragoshi: "..."

Dex: "End of entry."

Wolfman: "...that entry just seems... strange." *shrugs.*

ChancÃ©: "Eh, guys, why not toss the three sticks of... nah, It would set a bad example for the toads."

Wolfman: .oO(Yes, it would.)

Dragoshi: *Anyway, Dragoshi, decides to just prepare by getting into stance... Which makes him look like he's leaning back a bit...* (Charging Smash Attack)

Digifanatic continues to have his share of fun against the HSP... he takes a sizable leap towards the Pirate and takes out the Digivice, pressing one of the buttons. A swarm of energy surrounds the Quester, pulling him down into the HSP, hoping to give him a big whooping of Digital Slam (Stone)!

Metal Man (GM): He goes to run out of the ray. And barely fails. He barely failed.

Dragoshi: *So, anyway that thar Dragoshi finally stops leaning back then zooms forward, somewhat slower than usual, but when he reaches the pirate, he rears his leg back, and attempts to strike him with a mighty upwards kick!* (Smash Attack)

Wolfman: "So, you want to do some dodging, huh? Well, dodge this!" He jumps towards him, and then attempts to flip over and give the hologram a good hip drop pounding.

Metal Man (GM): He attempts to move to the left... And dodges Dragoshi's attack with great gusto. He then goes to dodge the hip drop of doom... by sidestepping. Failure.

ChancÃ© sees a good chance to start charging his bow to attack the monster.

Metal Man (GM): It is knocked over the cylinder. Still within range.

Aribar: "I'll melt you down into... Whatever holograms melt in to!" *The elf yells out and a flood of incineratingly hot air rushes over the space pirate.* (Fire Breath... TIMES THREE.)

Metal Man (GM): Hit miss hit. The Space Pirate counters with a Grenade at Aribar, ChancÃ©, and Xaoshi! ...A sucky grenade of not-so-much doom.

XaoShi ducks, trying to shield himself from the blast.

Aribar is blasted backwards, hitting into the wall and knocked unconscious.

Metal Man (GM): -1 Life to Aribar!

ChancÃ© with his bow charged for three ticks unleashes the arrow right at that monster!

Metal Man (GM): The Space Pirate attempts to leap over it. It succeeds.

ChancÃ©: "Bleh.."

XaoShi clenches his fists, dancing in before he hails down a furious series of blows on the pirate.* "Would! You! Just! Die! Already!"

Metal Man (GM): It goes to non-descriptively roll, but is hit instead!

Aribar groans, waking up from a very painful nap.*

Digifanatic, now un-"Stoned", continues to take his time doing what he feels is necessary. Once again, he goes for the golf club, but now uses it for its standard combat purpose... gripping it and giving it a big horizontal swing to HSP's side (Pop Star Hammer)!

Metal Man (GM): FAILURE. For both Digi and the HSP.

Digifanatic: "Alright, Xao, the stage is yours! And Wolf..."

Wolfman decides to rear back again... but from a distance. He's thinking of using his whole body for attack, but needs some time to charge up. *Skull Bash Charge!*

XaoShi: "Let's see if I can do this right this time..." *he opens his hands into a stiff, claw-like shape, then charges the HSP* (koopa klaw) <(-^_^-)^

Metal Man (GM): It attempts to dodge, most likely in vain! Yup. HP: 164/250.

XaoShi: "Gotcha, you corporeal parasite!" *he tries to bite a chunk out of it's neck.*

Metal Man (GM): Sucktactular dodge!

XaoShi grins at the HSP, red subatomic particles dripping from his goatee.* "So long, punk." *He chucks the hologram at its generator.*

Dragoshi: *So, anyway, Dragoshi annoyed at his last attack being a crapout, decides to just go 'eff it', and spin like a tornado, attempting to carve up the pirate!* (Scythe Tornado, AKA Spin Attack.)

Metal Man (GM): The Space pirate attempts to leap out of the way.

ChancÃ©: "I am tired of missing, So i will bring out my old stand by... VEGETABLES!"

ChancÃ© picks up a pumpkin and...

ChancÃ© tosses REALLY hard at the stupid hologram.

Metal Man (GM): He tries to dodge to the left.

ChancÃ©: "Pumpkinaha! You know, when I have pumpkin, I always like to follow it up... WITH A SQUASH."

Dragoshi: *Roars, that's right, roars, not groans, at how bad that was.*

Metal Man (GM): Then he tries to dodge that other attack... still hits.

Wolfman has charged up his stance enough. He quickly aims for the stupid pirate hologram, and lets himself FLY. well... not quite fly, but he's still going to get a headache. *charged skull bash attack!*

Metal Man (GM): It hits. The Space Pirate replies to Wolf's attack with lasers. Two of them.

XaoShi: "Come on, Digi - lets see if we can end this!"

Digifanatic: "Sounds like a plan!"

Digifanatic pulls back his right knee and practically tosses it into the HSP as Digi's body curls in midair. It seems as if he's got his bicycle kick back into his repertoire after its long hiatus! *UPWARD SMASH!*

Metal Man (GM): Hit.

XaoShi adds his own kick to the mix, swinging round with a hard roundhouse to the HSP's neck (smash attack)

Metal Man (GM): He tries to dodge that... Hit. The Space Pirate tries to fly through ChancÃ©!

ChancÃ© attempts to dodge by jumping out of the way!

Metal Man (GM): Hit!

Aribar staggers up onto his feet.* "I'm... Gonna be feeling that... In the morning. Ugh.." *The elf shakes his head and tries to regain his senses. He then fires two orbs of magical energy at the evil bug of death.* (Missiles x[1+1^64])

Metal Man (GM): He attempts to dodge... again. And yet again! Hit! HP: 224/250.

Digifanatic: "ChancÃ©? Think you can settle this now?"

ChancÃ©: "Hmm... Only if I get really lucky... One Last Vegetable then."

ChancÃ© chucks the squash at the Pirate.

Metal Man (GM): It tries to dodge... And succeeds!

ChancÃ©: "... That is it... it's time to eat your vegetable you spacebug!"

Dragoshi: *So, anyway, Dragoshi sways back and forth slightly, then gets into stance, scythe raised above him...* (Charging Smash Attack.)

Metal Man (GM): It tries dodging that other vegetable... Hit.

Wolfman will get to the OTHER side of Dragoshi, so that it would look like: Dragoshi, pirate, Wolfman. Wolfman then charges up a super smash for ONE tick... his right leg is ready for some kicking!

Wolfman has charged up long enough. He goes for a Roundhouse Kick style super smash attack, hoping to time it well with Dragoshi's smash for ultimate destruction.

Dragoshi: *So, anyway, Dragoshi lets out a ferocious yell to the sound of "HRRR-GRAH!", then zooms forward, preparing to cleave the hologram down the middle with MIGHTY downward slash!* (Smash Attack. Now watch it crap out)

Metal Man (GM): He tries to leap above both of them at once! Both hit!

Digifanatic: "I don't think that was timed any better."

Metal Man (GM): The Space Pirate yells at everyone before immediately shorting out. The cylinder busts open... and then... mysteriously warps out?

Digifanatic: "Oh, what is this?!"

Dragoshi: "What the..."

Dex: "Outgoing warp detected... ..." The dex shows an image of a Space Pirate base. "It appears they are running some hologram trafficking operation."

Wolfman: "...say what?" *checks Dex.*

Dex: "That may be of interest..."

Digifanatic: *opens Dex and sees that pop up.*

Metal Man (GM): Snake walks in, holding a cup of coffee.

Digifanatic: "Well, sir, what do you think?"

XaoShi: "Amaretto?"

Snake: "What took you so long? I had enough time to clean up the mess that Toad made, get myself coffee, and then watch a few television shows!"

Aribar: "..."

Wolfman: .oO(Alright Snake, did you at least like the team up... SHEESH!)

ChancÃ©: "... Don't make me make you eat one of squashes Snakey."

Aribar: "And what exactly makes you so special?"

Dragoshi: *Eyeroll.* "Any other complaints?"

Snake: "No, no. However, we should leave... they're still a bit suspicious."

Dragoshi: "Quite."

Snake: "Could you... get a warp out of here?"

Dragoshi: "And this time, let me do the warping."

Wolfman calls HQ then.

Wolfman: "Wolfman, calling Bigger Room."

Snake: "I don't feel like getting sent to that desert again."

XaoShi: "Ah, fine. We've got the dynamite anyway, they can't do much harm now."

Dragoshi: *Eyeroll.* "...Oh, nevermind. Wolf's got it."

Metal Man (GM): HQ is called.

Dex: "Automated warp acti---"

Metal Man (GM): WARP.

ChancÃ©: "Anyway, Toads, if the AI is bad let us defeat it? K?"

Metal Man (GM): Everyone appears on the Bigger Room's table again.

Snake: "Hm. I guess it's a lot simpler than warping out."

Metal Man (GM): He steps off the table.

Dragoshi: *Hops offa the table. Whee.*

Snake: "Well, that wasn't too bad... ...but you, Wolfman. You need to learn how to sneak better!"

Aaron: "What's up, guys, sorry I couldn't be of aid this time."

Wolfman gets off the table.

ChancÃ© jumps off.

Wolfman: "No argument. I'm better as a fighter anyway."

XaoShi slides down to the floor. "You'd think they could warp us onto a couch or something.."

Aribar: "Just a painful mission.."

Wolfman: .oO(At least I'm able to WORK with others...)

Snake: "Now... I must go." He walks out... apparently needing to do something.

Aaron: "How'd it go?"

Metal Man (GM): MISSION COMPLETE.

Aribar: "We... Mostly lived."

Wolfman (GM): Another cutscene takes place. "As Questers become successful, they become richer and more knowledgeable on the ways of Brawl combat. Press the d4 button to determine the type of move. Then press the d100 button. That result, plus your luck, determines the move you get. As Questers, you must use all of your moves wisely. And you must eat your Frosted Flakes every morning. And pray every evening. And--" *BOOOM*

Nick Caligo clubs Wolf with the "Get On With It!" hammer.

Dragoshi: "...But I prefer Coco Puffs." >_> *Cocoa.

ChancÃ©: "There goes that narrator again."

Dragoshi: "A-yep."

XaoShi: "Remind me to send the guy with the detonator a Christmas card."

Dragoshi: "Quite."

Digifanatic: "That works."