CONFRONTATION - Story - Chapter 28: Stars and Emeralds

Date: 4:20:46 PM, May 7th to 9:17:02 PM, May 7th, 2013.

Metal Man (GM): Recap
Things heated up on Alsa.
Borne moved in and took over the Echidna island. Garrick made a plan to go for the chaos emeralds.
Marley and Valron plotted to, in concert with this, cause a distraction by having Illian start a fight with Xavier in Borne's territory.
Discussions with the Mushroom Republic were also involved. It's been a little time after. After a day's rest, Valron would be back at the docks, having been alerted to a vessel that landed there. Another of Illian's.
The vessel has a rather formal looking Solarian. He would look around, as if all of it was beneath him.
He would then look to you as well, glaring with coldness that you can never really explain.

Solarian: "Ehlo, Studetant. The leader sent me. It would appear that the Born Underminer has treacherously taken the Echidna Island."

Valron looks back at the Solarian, not really seeming to care about the glare. "So I've heard."

Solarian: "Your plan was received as well. Comrade Marley sent the data. The battle shall begin with the Inferior Imposter in time for your friend. This ship and others will provide transportation."

Valron: "Wonderful."

Solarian: "It is up to you whether you wish to oversee the conflict with Xavier or negotiate the treaty with the Mushroom Republic. I have been told by Illian that he suspects you might have a decisive influence on Xavier if you are there. But I could be wrong."
"Maybe you are the one who would be decisive here instead."
"We Solarians do not understand these troubles, for on our planet we would simply kill all the annoyances first."

Solarians: "Your task has been charged with you. You can choose what you are able to do."

Valron: "Hm. I see. I'll tell you what. I'll try and get everything tidied up here first, /then/ move to assist with the matter of this fight. I would rather not have things here fall apart just because I assumed it would go smoothly without me there to check on something."

Solarian: "So what that shall be is that. Then I shall see to it that then that is. But the time is short. The Illian will move soon. The Xavier is said to be in the area. The rare time is passing by. I will note that you will not have time to do both."

Metal Man (GM): He would put a hand to his jawbone.

Valron: "Rrgh. Truly a problematic situation of situations, then."

Solarian: "Detected intensive battle occurring."

Metal Man (GM): He would gesture and magitek-project an image.
You would see Borne's ships attacking where Tails' lab was.

Valron: ".../Well/, then."

Solarian: "Detected--Borne has been allowed to destroy the cave where the Gate Star was. However those were moved... still. Ships."

Metal Man (GM): The image would zoom in on a fleet of modified GUN-Time Cop ships.

Solarian: "Also."

Metal Man (GM): It would show...
An entire army of robotic Deathguards.
Based off of the Gray Mann's tech.
They're basically all over the Echidna island.

Solarian: "New Borne technology. Appears to be stolen from Gray Mann."

Valron: "Certainly looks like it."

Solarian: "This was a test run. And it succeeded without even firing many shots. Projecting of the certainty is... potential danger to us is extreme."
"Some ships seem to be moving towards this position."

Valron: "I wouldn't doubt it."

Solarian: "Incoming transmission?"

Valron: "I shall get matters settled here, the... n?"

Metal Man (GM): An image of Borne appears. It's an announcement, not so much at you specifically, and you can't really respond.

Commander Borne: "Mushroom Republic. You are in imminent danger. Potential spies are out to coup your elected government. I have dispatched emissaries to protect you. Our new machines have proven 100% effective against any potential Sloan or Alsan Quester agents that may lurk among you. They shall not bother the integrity of your government."
"The Alsan Allied Forces will rise. The time for you to join is now, before foreign enemies corrupt you."
"This is... going to be an important warning to heed, so don't ignore me this time... I won't be so nice next time... ...because there is simply no one who can prevent me from freeing this planet from the undemocratic board the Alsan Questers placed on it."
"Consider your next move carefully." *Click.*

Valron: "...Hm. Well, then. I suppose that's settled."

Solarian: "Borne is going. Illian has also begun going. Movement detected near the Emerald site. Xavier craft also detected. Which do you choose? Borne incursion group will likely land here. But Xavier group will be over there."
"Borne himself... uncertain."

Valron: "Mmhh. Seems that it may be best to settle matters here. Perhaps. I'd rather not risk losing a potential ally, especially when we seem to be so close on sealing the deal, as far as things go."

Solarian: "I must leave then. The Xavier group will require my attention."

Metal Man (GM): He would back up and onto the ship, and then make a strange Solarian salute as it flies off.
The way to Peach's castle is clear, as you see distant smoke on the horizon.

Valron nods to the Solarian, before making his way to the castle. "Right, time to get this red-hot mess sorted out."

Metal Man (GM): You'd walk in and see Peach staring at the images of vast machine armies on Angel Island, and the Alsan Allied Forces all over the place, and the incoming ships.
She would look to you, and sigh.

Peach: "We're not going to be in a very pretty situation if this keeps up..."

Valron: "I've heard. Things are certainly looking rather hideous."

Peach: "If we don't join them, forces larger than anything we've really encountered are going to overrun us... anyway... ...And your 'Illian' has told me he needs his forces to defend his part of the world."
"I can't abandon my people either..."
"The Echidna might have been able to help, but they're basically brainwashed and now also invaded anyway..."

Valron: "Mmhh. Yes, this is certainly quite troublesome. Add to it something needs to be figured out as it is..."

Peach: "And Mario... he disappeared a while ago after eating an orange mushroom..."

Valron: "That's... certainly peculiar."

Peach: "He said something about how the shelving units were plotting to take over the world, and then said he must find 'Ikea' and destroy it..."
*Puts hands to her face* "Oh, it's just so terrible!"

Valron: "A bit of an understatement, but yes."

Peach: "I spoke with Daisy. But she and Bowser have already gone to some sort of shelter... The ships have enough power to destroy this castle, and they're coming right here..."

Valron: "Mmh..."

Metal Man (GM): Alerts start going off. Some distant patrol units are literally unable to even track the ships. They just jam all the Robotnik-corp sensors on the ships.

Peach: "...And his ships have been altered... they seem to be invisible to our sensors. But I thought... only Robotnik could do that?"

Valron: "He does have clones."

Peach: "...We have about 15 minutes before he arrives. That toad, Sloan, is coming here again... and I don't think he'll take no as an answer..."

Valron: "...Ugh, Sloan as well?"

Peach: "Yes. He said something about 'an alternative'..."

Metal Man (GM): *BZEWM* Sloan appears in, via rings that rip a hole in the roof and deposit him down besides you.

Valron: "I doubt he'll be all that pleased to see- Oh."

Sloan: "Why... yes! It is me!"

Valron: "Speak of the badly-dressed devil."

Metal Man (GM): He's wearing read and purple spiky pauldron'd blazers and hideous hobnail boots.
His cowboy buckle is an oversized Texas shape.

Sloan: "Well, I've got no plans to take over. But if you just sign this contract and politely escort this Illian fool off the property... I will remove Borne for zero dollars, zero coins and zero cost at all."

Peach: "What? But how is that possible?"

Sloan: "Borne and I have issues... and he knows if I choose to appear here, he will be overwhelmed. You have only one thing I want: the Seven Crystal Stars."

Peach: "But those hold together the Star Road!"

Sloan: "So what? Give them to me, and you will never bother with Borne again! You don't HAVE an option, this silly billy has NOTHING!"

Valron: "...Crystal Stars, huh."

Sloan: "He's going to stand here and watch your castle explode."

Metal Man (GM): He would smirk and look at Valron.

Sloan: "Mario would have been able to fetch them for you, but I'm afraid he is... not in good shape."

Valron: "Or... I could get them myself."

Sloan: "Oh what a bother he had to fall back on his habit now. Maybe he could have been a hero... Hahaha... in 15 minutes?"
"Tell me, what kind of time travel device do you have?"
"I've ever so slightly slowed time here, and even then it's running out."
"I just want to see you try, in fact... it would be... amusing."

Peach: "You're going to doom my kingdom over watching him try to find Stars?"

Sloan: "I can do whatever I want! If you don't want this madness, GIVE ME THE STARS."

Metal Man (GM): Sloan takes out his big clock and hangs it on the wall.

Valron: "Time travel? Well, I know a couple of guys, but I do wonder how helpful they'd be in that regard."

Metal Man (GM): It starts counting down.

Sloan: "Maybe you do. But can you contact them in FIFTEEN MINUTES?"

Metal Man (GM): He starts the timer.

Sloan: "Surprise me!"

Metal Man (GM): He then leans on the wall.

Sloan: "Or, you can just give ME the stars, and this can end!"

Peach: "Er... I can wait right?"

Sloan: "Sure. Just not too long!"

Metal Man (GM): You can, actually, so yes.

Sloan: "FOURTEEN MINUTES."

Metal Man (GM): Also note if your turn comes up in BOTVGH, I can pause the timer.

Valron coughs. "A moment." "Hey, you two. I need a little help. I need to collect the Crystal Stars in about 14 minutes. Got anything that could help with that?"

Ael: *Static static static.*

The Arbiter: *C* "Only if it doesn't destroy reality." *Calculates* "...Yes, if you sacrifice something else of equal value."

Sloan: "Pah! Don't listen to him, he's a Time Cop, trying to trick you! Also, THIRTEEN MINUTES."

Valron: *C* "And what would that be?"

The Arbiter: "Calculating... yes. All of your weapons. All of them. The balance would equal out the universe."

Sloan: "He won't take THAT deal, hahahaha."

Valron: "...Didn't know six weapons equaled seven artifacts."

Sloan: "Come on, princess. Twelve minutes before your kingdom is destroyed!"

The Arbiter: "It's close enough."

Valron: *C* "DO IT."

Sloan: "What?"

Valron: *C* "I can always get more weapons later."

Metal Man (GM): *Time stops*
The clock is at 11:37.
It stops there, in time.

Valron: "You're not very bright, are you, Sloan?"

Metal Man (GM): Sloan is... unable to respond.
He's frozen in time.

Valron: "Hmph. Six weapons is /nothing/."

Metal Man (GM): Your weapons disappear. Instead a note is given to you.

Valron snatches the note, quickly reading it.

Metal Man (GM): 'You may find them, but I cannot just give them to you. Take the warp pipe in the third closet to the left.'
It has a number, denoting that location in the castle, down the hall from here.

Valron nods, already making his way there
He is /not/ leaving that note behind in any case.

Metal Man (GM): You walk, and find a golden warp pipe.

Valron enters the warp pipe. Vwoop vwoop vwoop!

Metal Man (GM): You appear up in the clouds.
The world starts scrolling. You see... coins... in the air...

Valron just keeps a steady pace, ignoring the coins
He ...For the moment anyways.

Metal Man (GM): The coins float by and the zone ends, revealing a new zone--some sort of sky castle, like a sort of cathedral to the Stars.

Valron goes to make his way to the cathedral.

Metal Man (GM): You'd walk in, and see the seven stars. Locked in place on altars. Of course, you can just take them.
The keys appear for all of them before you.
Another note from the Arbiter.

Valron goes to read this note as well.

The Arbiter: (Note) '...I'm not exactly sure how to use the stars. I would express caution before taking all of them.'

Valron looks around, checking the area, looking for any information on that sort of thing. Starting with the altars themselves, before moving on to look around the area in general.

Metal Man (GM): They seem to denote the different qualities of these stars. Vigilance, Patience, Temperance, Fortitude, Intelligence, Passion, and Perseverance.
No good description of what they do, although you would see some old Italian shoe footprints in the dust.

Valron goes to stand in those footprints... and jump up!

Metal Man (GM): You'd hit an ? save block. A... dialogue appears above your head.
You, Dragoshi, the player, are... offered to save your game???
It saves your game.
The dialogue goes away... hm.
Not useful.
The steps do lead off to the side, though.

Valron: "...Well, that was... strange, to say the least."
*He just shakes his head before walking off to the side. Maybe there'll be something helpful there.*

Metal Man (GM): You discover a bunch of ancient, cracked murals... which also seem to include something strange. Specifically, they describe the stars... and then also have near them... a pile of mushrooms.
Orange mushrooms.
Recent footsteps are here, along with an orange pipe that leads off to the side.

Valron doesn't even touch the orange mushrooms, considering what he heard Peach say about them. Nor does he touch the pipe. He instead checks out the mural.

Metal Man (GM): The mural indicates that the stars are meant as some sort of energy devices, that are "Only to be used to defend the Kingdom." It shows if they are all seven "Placed About the Ruler and the Incantation Spoken" they will... create some protective field.
The incantation looks like it was blasted off by someone with a grenade launcher.

Valron: "...Really. Of course the /most important part/ wouldn't be there."

Metal Man (GM): The footsteps indicate hideous boots that have "I AM SLOAN" marked in the dirt wherever they walk near the exploded part.

Valron: "Here's hoping Peach remembers the incantation, then... ...That tackily-dressed /rat/."
"Of course he would do something slimy like this."

Metal Man (GM): With that in mind, it's up to you to decide the next action.

Valron: "...Hey, Arbiter. I don't know if you can do anything else here but if it's possible to sacrifice something else for the mural's restoration, a note would be nice right about now. If not, then, uh. This is problematic."

The Arbiter: "Unfortunately, no. That would require going back in time, and I'd need fuel for that. Which I can't get now, or in 15 minutes. Ael is out of range. Xavier has fuel and isn't on our side and doesn't know how to use his."

Valron: "Mmph. Any idea what these iffy-looking orange mushrooms do? In any case... This is problematic."

The Arbiter: "It's clear they're made by Sloan, and most likely something to prevent the user from actually using the Stars... or at least, they must have been used to specifically stop Mario. I have no clue where that pipe goes..."

Valron: "...I'm guessing I'd be pretty much on my own if I were to chance it and go through there. In any case..."
*He would go back to the main room with the Crystal Stars in them.*

Metal Man (GM): You'd see them, sitting perfectly still.
The keys to open the case right there.

Valron would go to carefully open the case and take the Crystal Stars.

Metal Man (GM): You have all 7. There's a pipe back down, or you can go somewhere else.
A final note appears.
'The time freeze lasts until you descend.'

Valron ...actually no. He doesn't take them. He stops before he can. "Hm, actually. I just had a thought."

Metal Man (GM): You put them back. Time stop is uneffected.
It remains stopped.
Yes, and, yes.

Valron: "Alright, one last question before I get this show on the road. Would simply having Peach /recite/ the incantation over the comms work, or would I need something that'd make her presence known to them? Because if so, I think I can get things done straight from here without any trouble."

The Arbiter: "...It might work, but there's no guarantee. I don't know the specifics of this magic."

Valron checks to see if his thing can do more than just mere comms. Like... maybe show the person he's talking to as well via projection.

Metal Man (GM): It can. Magitek comms and all.

Valron: "...I think this just might work."
*He sets his comms to Peach's frequency, making sure to have it project her image.* "Alright, Arbiter. I feel like we can pull this one off."
"Let's get this show on the road."

The Arbiter: "...I assume you need the timestop to end?"

Valron: "Yes. Can't really talk to the princess if she's still, well. Frozen in time, after all. Just wanted to get everything nice and set up before I needed it to end."

The Arbiter: "Very well."

Metal Man (GM): The timestop ends.

Sloan: "Hahahaha. Doubtless by now, you've seen I've made your plan impossible."

Valron: *C* "So, Peach. You remember the incantation, right?"

Sloan: "Any last words before Sloan blows this place to bits? Or perhaps you will see reason, Princess?"

Peach: "Yes, but--"

Sloan: "But I have a gun, you see!"

Valron: "I'm right in the room and I'm projecting your image. ...Really, Sloan?"

Sloan: "The only incantation she will sing is the one I let her say."

Valron: "You're stooping to hostage situations?"

Sloan: "Those are words losers say, Dragoshi." *He would laugh.*

Valron: "That is so... unlike you. Have you lost your touch?"

Sloan: "The entire reason I ever lost hold of this planet... was not taking its customs in. So... either you accept my proposal, Princess... or your place goes bye-bye... or YOU go bye-bye."

Valron: "Hm... I wonder..."

Sloan: "Make up your mind quickly, Princess... my gun IS loaded..."

Valron: "What would happen if I were to, say... Try my own hand at channeling /my own/ energy into making a barrier of sorts?"

Peach: "Well, I--"

Valron: "I do have the heart of two planets beating within me after all."

Sloan: "Too late!" *TSEER* "...hm. You were right. It wasn't a hostage situation."

Metal Man (GM): He used a harmless zapper device.
Peach is KO'd.

Sloan: "Go ahead!"

Metal Man (GM): It was one of those Zat guns...
Without Peach, it is up to you to either figure out the incantation or try to use your own energy.
To provide incentive, those ships are coming in rather fast.

Sloan: "While you do that... I think I'll get myself--"

Metal Man (GM): The comms shows... Marley entering the room.

Marley: "What in the name of Salvador Dali?"

Sloan: "You! Go away!"

Marley: "I've been looking forward to punching your stupid face in for ages!"

Valron: "Oh, hey Marley. I need to figure out the incantation needed to protect this place in a few minutes."

Sloan: "Damn you, Marley! You'll lose like everyone else!"

Valron: "Or figure out a way to use my own energy combo powers to do it myself. Either or."

Metal Man (GM): He goes to shoot Marley... ...you see Marley take out his phase pistol.

Marley: "Right. Let me just scare this carrion bird."

Valron: "Think you could wake up Peach while you're at it?"

Marley: "All right Sloan, it's your shield vs. Mad Man technology. What wins?"

Sloan: "...I will kill you, Marley, but now is not the time! Not when Borne could kill us both!"

Marley: "Waking up Peach might be a bit difficult right now..."

Sloan: "Hah! You can't possibly do that in time!"

Metal Man (GM): Meanwhile, the ships get ever closer.

Valron: "Then why not tell me the incantation and spare us all the agony of Borne? Or you could just warp out or whatever. I don't mind."

Sloan: "Oh... yes!"

Valron: "I haven't been put in impossible situations before, no."

Sloan: "What if... I used the incantation?"

Valron: "Ah. But I'd rather you not. That could have. Some, well. Unfavorable consequences."
*In any case...*

Sloan: "See, I came here planning to use them, but it appears you've found them for me. I don't even know how you did. I walked in the same room and saw nothing."

Marley: "Right... there's no time to punch our or shoot out Sloan. There's only one thing to do... ...steal a Princess."

Metal Man (GM): Marley grabs Peach and starts running.

Sloan: "Hey! That's my job! Come back here!"

Valron: "...Oh. Well, then."

Metal Man (GM): Sloan would go to chase Marley, but then stop.

Sloan: "What's that? Borne's within range of attacking my ship? Damn. I guess I'll take this place over another time. You got lucky today, Valron... but not very. Brace yourself, because next time I'll bring the whole fleet... and shoot you first."

Valron takes a moment to think about the mural... and the incantation. Specifically, how it'd go.

Metal Man (GM): The mural showed the image of a planet... and then an energy field around it...
The ships start to get into range. Another Borne thing is sent out.

Commander Borne: *R* "Why are you not responding? Where is your leader? Have the agents already taken over?"

Metal Man (GM): This is something you can respond to.

Commander Borne: *R* "I detected Sloan in the era... he may have taken over. If so, this shall be as I suspected--an act of mercy."

Valron: *C* "Yeah, Sloan dropped in and tried to do a hostile take over. Just missed him."

Commander Borne: *R* "Hm. And you. What is your objective there?"

Valron ...in any case, takes a deep breath as he glows with a beautiful cascade of blues and prisms, focusing on the Crystal Stars, his mind thinking of a powerful protective barrier covering the Mushroom Kingdom. That is, if it isn't /too/ late anyways.

Commander Borne: *R* "You alone cannot defend this nation alone."
*R* "It will need protecting."

Valron: *C* "Oh, not much. Just wanted to shoo Sloan."
*C* "You know how much of a badly-dressed rat he is, after all."

Commander Borne: *R* "Useful. I shall be sure to suggest you as regent of this realm, once it has been incorporated into the alliance."
*R* "Of course, I need to talk to Peach first... ...and maybe an explanation for why strange energy measurements are coming in."

Valron: *C* "She's a bit incapacitated at the moment, so."

Metal Man (GM): The stars would glow, and the energy barrier would appear, inches before the ships were about to breach the perimeter.
Borne would seem... uneffected, despite the obstruction.

Valron: "By that, I mean Sloan shot her with that gun of his and- whomp! Out like a light."

Commander Borne: *R* "Very well. I shall wait until she is awake again."
*R* "This would be improper if she were not here to sign the papers."
*R* "The protection of Alsa is above simple territorial disputes. Sloan has merely distracted from the overall goal."

Valron: *C* "Sloan can be such a bother like that, yes."

Commander Borne: *R* "He wishes to divide us. Your field... it should be put down, when..."

Metal Man (GM): A huge explosion is heard on Borne's comm.

Commander Borne: "..."

Valron: "...And what was /that/?"

Commander Borne: *R* "My business with you is... important, but... there is a madman... and he is causing a mess."

Valron: "A madman, huh? I'm guessing one of the blue-caped variety."

Metal Man (GM): The video shows Xavier... and a lot of ships.

Commander Borne: *R* "This had better not be your doing. If he succeeds, you know he will come for you next."

Valron: "Then let him come."

Commander Borne: *R* "I hope you understand the need to stay together... because he will teach you a lesson in death otherwise." *CLICK.*

Valron chuckles.

Marley: *R* "Seems like the distraction threw him off... ...I don't like what I'm hearing though."
*R* "Xavier seems to have the upper hand. Some freakish ship the size of a moon... well... it's coming... ...and he has... someone named Razor on his side too."

Valron: "I, on the other hand find this quite fascinating. I do wonder what is ticking in that fellow's head sometimes..."

Marley: *R* "Needless to say... it doesn't sound like Illian's forces are doing too well against him. You should... well you have to stay, due to that field."
*R* "Hopefully Garrick can get those Emeralds quickly, or it may be the end for more than just Borne."

Valron: "Right. Stay /right in this spot/ or stay in the Mushroom Kingdom?"

Marley: *R* "The Mushroom Kingdom."
*R* "Your will powers the field. You must stay around as long as you want it up."
*R* "You control the Stars now."
*R* "Maybe... just maybe... they might be useful with those Chaos Emeralds too..."
*R* "Seven of each... imagine what might be possible if it could be controlled..."

Valron: "Either way, I suggest finding a way to wake up the princess your first priority at the moment. To be honest, I'm kinda amazed this worked... Though I do wonder why Sloan was so insistent on wanting me to try..."

Marley: *R* "He's always two or three layers back on all his plans. No one can ever fully decipher his plans."

Metal Man (GM): And... we'll pause here.
+5 EXP to Valron

Valron: "Hm... Certainly interesting."

Metal Man (GM): I plan, anyway, to session a bit more often, I'm slowly getting in the groove again.

Metal Man (GM): Now lemme recap... first, what do you remember, Sky?
Noted. Your ship is ready to leave for the destination. As you do so, there would be... Illian.

Illian MacGregor: "Now... we have the plan. I've detected Xavier Ridgecrest has, in fact, already been on the planet, yet again. We shall lure Xavier to this planet by ensuring the Dweezil do in fact come here. They shall add to the distraction."
"Especially since I have sent them false information to make them likely to agree on the flimsiest of pretenses."
"Your goal, of course... is the emeralds."
"I know you would probably want to kill Xavier yourself, but I believe I shall kill him instead. That's... the sacrifices of war."

Garrick Fy`aar is gearing up for this little excursion, making sure he had plenty of ammo and equipment.
"I don't particularly care about Xavier... as long as he dies... It's Borne that belongs to me."

Illian MacGregor: "I'm unclear what Borne has planned. He plans to send his people to the Mushroom Kingdom. Valron has volunteered to stop him. You should get a look at this, too."

Metal Man (GM): It's a feed from Angel Island.
There's... robots everywhere.
Deathguard-like robots.
They have the Gray Mann's tech... ...but they're run by Borne's logo.
Floating overhead are Time Cop-GUN Ship hybrids, ships much stronger than anything other than maybe a White Kuja Ship.

Garrick Fy`aar: "...well, that's lovely..."

Illian MacGregor: "It appears that Borne has fully assimilated the Gray Mann's tech. My leads suspect Borne may have killed him, too."
"I don't think even a cybernetic old man could defeat Borne in a fight."
"Given all he had was a dagger and Borne could... well..."
"It's basically like trying to defeat spacemen with a steam engine."

Garrick Fy`aar: "Well, that takes him out of the picture, at least... so that only leaves Borne and Sloan. And Xavier, of course..."

Illian MacGregor: "Yes. Xavier was reported having regained his car, after causing a strange incident near the ruins of Borne's Smash Energy Factories. There are no more Smash Energy factories, if you wish to know."
"It appears shortly after that incident with taking the robots from the Gray Mann, all the Smash Energy facilities were demolished in a controlled demolition."

Garrick Fy`aar: "Good... how close are we to critical mass on this whole 'distraction' situation?"

Illian MacGregor: "Close, but I'm still making sure Xavier doesn't catch on. He has advisors who are more than smart enough to see through a ruse."

Garrick Fy`aar: "If I'm going to sneak in there, I'm going to have to have everyone's eyes on whatever is going on."

Illian MacGregor: "Borne's eyes are on the Mushroom Republic, currently."

Garrick Fy`aar: "If anyone catches wind on what we're planning with the Emeralds, they'll come screaming back for me."

Illian MacGregor: "I am detecting... yes. The Dweezil are also inbound. Whether or not Xavier actually shows up... that will suffice to start."
"The Dweezil still wish Borne dead after he repulsed them last time."
"Borne will be split in two just trying to take both the Mushroom Republic and the Dweezil. Xavier will then undoubtedly come."
"You must begin now, while Borne is still confused. Valron seems to be doing a decent job against his attempts at the Mushroom Kingdom."

Garrick Fy`aar: "Setting course now."

Metal Man (GM): You can take off for the destination under the radar with your stealth ship now... or wait.
You take off now, moving towards the jungle-encrusted valley.

Garrick Fy`aar heads out. He has no reason to stay.
"Going radio silent, Illian. No signals unless an extreme emergency occurs."

Illian MacGregor: "Understood. Going silent." *Click.*

Metal Man (GM): You would land, as you see in the distance, large ships going to battle.
Tons of them.
They haven't fired yet, but it's... massive.
This is enough ships to actually engage in an intergalactic war... and they're only 200 miles away.
The sky is literally darkened by them.
Huge, steam paddle-wheel ships, made of improbable bronze and silver.
And further away, massive GUN ships, equipped with Eggman and Time Cop-inspired spirals and electrodes.

Garrick Fy`aar: "...heh... let's hope that it's still going on once I have the Emeralds... I'd love to get in on that..."

Metal Man (GM): It's like a showdown between the top of Steampunk and the top of Sci-fi.
And here you are... at the foot of a Mayan step-pyramid.
It's covered in green moss.
Signs translated into 10 languages all warn of horrible death if you enter.
Interestingly, there's another bit of writing you can barely see scratched below it.

Garrick Fy`aar brings the ship down. As he does so, he scans the surrounding area for anything of interest.

Metal Man (GM): You'd have to look closely to see what it says.

Garrick Fy`aar frowns, getting out of the ship... he heads to take a look at it...

Metal Man (GM): You look closely.
Carved in the bottom is, crudely...
'JACK WAS HERE FIRST, LOSERS'
It's a very old carving... filled with moss.

Garrick Fy`aar: "...and look where it got you..."

Metal Man (GM): The first explosions occur in the distance. You can't make it out, but the sounds of it are some massive tesla coil vs. a Phase Cannon beam that was clearly twice as big as any you expected to see out of Borne's ships.
Inconclusive so far, which is heartenening.
Neither seems to really be able to do much more than create an unholy noise and shoot eachother's nearly invincible defenses.

Garrick Fy`aar smirks, then proceeds to lock down the ship, making sure no one can get into it, then has the autopilot send it off to a suitable landing spot nearby. Once that is done, he preps his gear and heads inside, keeping an eye out for any traps or tricks that might be down there.

Metal Man (GM): That said, your knowledge of physics suggests that won't last.
You'd walk to the steps, and find... well, your first gauntlet.
All the steps have pressure plates.
Dead people line them.
Skeletonized, stabbed, set on fire... ...one of them literally bitten by a giant stone statue of a crocodile inset half-way under the steps.

Garrick Fy`aar: "...hrm."

Metal Man (GM): The people line the steps themselves, the rest of the pyramid dusty and covered in dirt, mulch and leaves.

Garrick Fy`aar scans the layout of the fallen bodies using a combination of his Megascanner and his Mapper, trying to determine a safe way to travel up the steps.

Metal Man (GM): You discover only death occurs on the steps themselves, but not on the surrounding slopes of stone.

Garrick Fy`aar nods, then goes and finds a big ol' stick. He uses it to prod several feet in front of him on the stone slopes, juuuust to be sure.

Metal Man (GM): The slope stone moves a little! ...Nothing happens.

Garrick Fy`aar keeps moving up at a nice steady pace until he gets to the top.

Metal Man (GM): You reach the door.
It's barred by glowing turquoise bars.
Piles of dust surround the bars.
The bars glow ominously.
The gaps between the bars are exactly the size you could fit your hand through.

Garrick Fy`aar hrms and scans them.
"Magical energy?"

Metal Man (GM): You detect...
Alsan Energy.
Extreme amounts.
Enough to incinerate people ala Jack's death staff.

Garrick Fy`aar: "Lovely... Well, at least it's not anti-matter..."

Metal Man (GM): The gate has rarely moved. It is surrounded by dust and mud.
A thin line through the mud suggests it moved once, eons ago.

Garrick Fy`aar looks for a latch, level, switch... something hidden along the sides that might be a release lever.

Metal Man (GM): A single note on the wall seems to be written by Jack, again.
'Hah! A little death energy is nothing for me! SUCKERS.'
You look. There seems to be nothing but stone wall.
This was more than your average door--it stood assault for hundreds of years.
The dust ranges from stuff you may have seen yesterday to ancient solidified dust.

Garrick Fy`aar: "It's a door. Doors open."
*He makes sure that these bars are actually real. He tries throwing some debris at them.*

Metal Man (GM): Given the note by Jack is... inside the doorway... clearly he got that far.
The debris disintegrates.
The door makes an angry noise of some kind.

Garrick Fy`aar hrms and sees if he can trace it to its power source.

Metal Man (GM): Let's see... the lines seem to go down into the ground somehow...

Garrick Fy`aar: "Annnd it is powered from inside. Perfect. Alright, the door is meant to open. It's got to have some sort of release from the outside or people couldn't get in."
"Can't Magitek my way in, I don't have any coins..."

Garrick Fy`aar scans the blocks surrounding the gate. Are the standard sandstone or something similar? Could he blast around the gate?

Metal Man (GM): The stones are clearly standard ancient rock.
It could most likely be damaged.

Garrick Fy`aar: "Yeah, and I bet Alsa wouldn't care much for blowing up their ancient temple..."

Metal Man (GM): Speaking of explosions, you see one off in the distance.
Hmmm.

Garrick Fy`aar would also check to see if there is anything just beyond the door. A switch on the wall or something on the ground.

Metal Man (GM): There's a pathway leading deeper inside behind it.
Your repairmaster has an interesting thing to it.
You can't repair away the door.
But you can repair some long lost instructions next to the door.

Garrick Fy`aar does so!

Metal Man (GM): It says in ancient runes things you don't understand. But this... is... Alsa!
So it rearranges, like that ancient temple did.
It says...
'ONLY THE WORTHY MAY ENTER...'
'YE WHO WISHES TO USE THE EMERALDS, MUST CONSENT TO A TEST TO THE DEATH.'
'ALL WHO TRY TO BREAK IN... WILL DIE.'
'PLACE YOUR HAND ON THE BARS WILLINGLY WHILE SAYING 'I SWEAR TO FIGHT THIS CHALLENGE TO THE DEATH' TO ENTER.'

Garrick Fy`aar: "...well, good thing I didn't blow the temple up..."
*He readies himself, checking his pistol one last time before he takes a deep breath and says aloud while moving to touch the door.*
"I swear to fight this challenge to the death."
*Touch.*

Metal Man (GM): You touch the door. For a split second, the world goes white and you almost feel dead. Then you realize.. ..You're inside the door.
Without having opened it.
It warped you.

Garrick Fy`aar: "...huh."
*He glances behind him at the sun once more, then draws his pistol and knife and heads inside slowly, down into the depths.*

Metal Man (GM): You walk in, and discover it's much bigger on the inside than the outside.
The steps go down into a massive arena.
There, an armada of skeletons form the audience.
And at its head is an ancient skeletal emperor... echidna emperor.

???: "And here comes... the challenger! Garrick Fy'aar!"

Garrick Fy`aar frowns and slows his steps, not completely entering the arena juuuuust yet.
"...and you would be?"

Kragok: "Emperor Kragok. Master of the Echidna. Caretaker of the Emeralds. Few have been intelligent enough to enter the front door. Fewer have survived the challenges. And none have won other than Sonic!"

Garrick Fy`aar frowns. Wow, a new name. He hasn't heard a new name in... ages.

Kragok: "You are a worthy one. You seek the great Emeralds."

Garrick Fy`aar: "I do. I want this damn war to end. I want the fighting to end. The Emeralds will do the trick, or so I've heard."

Kragok: "I once had the emeralds, myself, but I was cursed to caretake them for my boon. You wish the Emeralds to end a war? Then you are worthy. Fight the challenges and you can earn the emeralds. Win, and you have the emeralds. Lose... and you become one of the challenges yourself, a servant to this temple forever. You agreed by touching the bars, so... there's not much choice. Though I hear sometimes, you can fight to earn your life back, few of these rejects have the gumption. A handful have done so, though!"

Garrick Fy`aar: "Well, good to hear that it isn't the end... be honest with me, though. How up front are these challenges?"

Kragok: "They range from this..." *He notes a pathetic man with a spear...* "TO THIS." *... ...*

Metal Man (GM): It's that freaking armadillo in a mech.

Garrick Fy`aar: "...huh. ...so, just fighting?"

Kragok: "Some fights are of a more... intellectual nature."

Metal Man (GM): He points to a scholar with a book.

Kragok: "But I assure you. Only the best can survive. The worst... die. The rest... must serve in this cursed arena!"

Garrick Fy`aar: "...are there any bananas?"

Kragok: "What? Bananas? Where?" *He checks under his chair.* "No. There are no bananas!"

Garrick Fy`aar: "Oh, thank Christ..."

Kragok: "You come from a strange planet... which is why this is so interesting!"

Garrick Fy`aar: "Alright, then. Let's just hope I have enough ammo for all this..."
*He steps fully into the arena.*
"Shall we, mi'lord?"

Kragok: "Definitely. Battle 1: Billy The Fighter!"

Metal Man (GM): He clangs his staff... ...and some half-grown kid with a sword stands up to face you.

Billy: "I'm Billy the fighter! I'm going to beat you and earn my way out of here!"

Metal Man (GM): He can't be more than 15 years old.
His arms are so skinny, they might even be as skinny as mine.

Billy: "Surrender before my awesome might!"

Kragok: "Remember, he doesn't die for real. No matter how violently you destroy him! Nor does he feel much pain. We got tired of him screaming years ago. This battle will test... ...your ability to battle at all!"

Garrick Fy`aar shoots him.

Metal Man (GM): Roll 'em.
He falls face down in the mud.

Kragok: "Excellent. No waiting for you!"

Metal Man (GM): Billy is added to a "REJECT" cage.

Billy: "Aw man! I almost had him!"

Garrick Fy`aar: "...oh, come on. That's not all that nice. Do you really need to put 'Reject' on there?"

Kragok: "That's the wages of losing, my friend! Win to avoid joining him in there!"

Metal Man (GM): He then taps the staff again.

Kragok: "Battle 2: The Thug!"

Metal Man (GM): You see... it's... it's one of those thugs!
From the Casino!

Garrick Fy`aar: "...whoa."
"Okay, unexpected."

Thug: "Eh... what're you doing here?"

Garrick Fy`aar: "I kinda want the Emeralds."

Thug: "I came here to try and kill the Questers with the emeralds. Then I, well... kinda died. Oh well. A job's a job. Time to make with the violence."

Metal Man (GM): Roll init.
Agility.
Agility/10 that is.
Order: Garrick, Thug
He has a machinegun.
A cheap one.
No armor.
He's got a cheap suit.
And a bent cigarette.

Garrick Fy`aar nods a bit, then suddenly jukes right, before sprinting left and putting a slew of shots into the air.

Thug: "Eh. Let's see what you can do. Hope this goes better than that time that broad came in here and decapitated me. F@#$!, that hurts."

Metal Man (GM): You do everything but kill him in one hit. He's barely alive.
You get 2 TP per turn, so you can shoot once more.

Garrick Fy`aar does it again, then.

Metal Man (GM): You shoot him... he's dead.

Thug: "Lordy... it's another one like the woman."

Metal Man (GM): Nope. You get 2.
Each move uses 1 TP.
I changed it.

Garrick Fy`aar skids to a stop.
"Right, that's two... how many more left?"

Kragok: "So. one shot. Two shots... now for your three-shot enemy. Oh... there's about ten. They... increase in difficulty."

Garrick Fy`aar: "Alright, ten, not bad, not bad."

Metal Man (GM): Your next enemy is.. ..That Pioneer 2 Robot that REFUSED TO DIE.

Garrick Fy`aar: "Pffft, wow."

Metal Man (GM): It walks in, looking like a train ran over it... then it killed the train.

Kragok: "We call this one the widow maker."

Garrick Fy`aar: "This about the stopping point for most people?"

Kragok: "It should be a higher rank, but we're fairly sure its victories are caused by random chance. This... this is what stops most people."

Garrick Fy`aar: "Yeah, I figured."

Kragok: "Battle 3: The Damned Robot That Kills People."

Garrick Fy`aar: "You good, buddy?"

Robot: "BEEP BOOP."

Metal Man (GM): It glows menacingly.

Garrick Fy`aar: "Same to you."

Metal Man (GM): Init again.
Order: DEATH ROBOT, Garrick
DEATH ROBOT
It raises its hand. Not to ask a question. But to blow your frickin' head off with a frickin' laser beam attached to its frickin' arm.
Agility/10.
Block is resist/10.
You feel searing pain as the frickin' laser beam burns you for 30 damage. It also ignores half your DR.
That eats its turn.

Garrick Fy`aar: "Okay, okay, that hurt..."
*He had to get that blaster away from it. He closes fast, dropping another combination of shots into it as he runs.*

Metal Man (GM): It leaps over the shot.

Kragok: "This is why it's called the Widowmaker. I tried to get Jack to fight it, but he told me he was only here to insult me."
"He said he didn't need emeralds. Only to insult people."

Garrick Fy`aar was suddenly in the robot's face. He places his hand on it's laser shooting arm... and then does something technical.

Metal Man (GM): You hit it.

Garrick Fy`aar slices into the thing with his knife and the laser goes spinning off behind Garrick, landing with a thump in the dirt.

Metal Man (GM): The laser flies off of it.
It lands in the mud... like you said!
DEATH ROBOT
Death robot is enraged! It tries to slap you!
God help anyone who offends Death robot.
You get slapped... for 10 damage.
Well.
It's not the end of the world.
4 damage after DR?
It swings at you some more, furious in its rage.
10 more damage that gets reduced to next to nothing.

Kragok: "Smart move... that thing is stone stupid."

Metal Man (GM): *adds the 5 damage to it.*
It throws sparks from the bleed.
Precisely from where it was hit.

Garrick Fy`aar growls and drops his knife into the thing's chest, then uses the extra leverage and hip tosses the thing into the ground.

Metal Man (GM): Hit.

Garrick Fy`aar proceeds to level his pistol and drop a shot straight into it's face.

Metal Man (GM): And it's hit again.
That last shot explodes its face.
It falls down onto the ground, a pile of rubbish.
The rubbish is warped into the reject cage.
It immediately reassembles and starts chasing the Thug and Billy around.

Thug: "Not this again!"

Billy: "Ahhhhhhhh!!!!"

Garrick Fy`aar: "HEY!" *He levels another shot at the cage, aiming for the robot.*

Metal Man (GM): Roll it.
The robot is shot again and falls into a pile. Again.

Kragok: "Phew. I hate when it starts chasing them..."

Garrick Fy`aar: "You sit your ass down and stop being a damn pest." *He turns and heads back to his starting position. He's bleeding a bit from the mouth and a nasty burn on his side.*

Kragok: "Now, you get a rest." *He would slam his staff, and you are healed.*
"Every three battles, you are healed."
"Six more until you fight The Champion."

Garrick Fy`aar: "Oh. Wow, okay."

Kragok: "One moment while I bring out the next fighters. They can be... a bit cagey."

Metal Man (GM): The 'REJECT' cage is moved, and is replaced with the 'MEH' cage.

Garrick Fy`aar takes a moment to change the clip on his pistol. That was the one thing he was worried about, running out of ammo during this whole thing.

Metal Man (GM): And at this point... I need to pause. Have to eat dinner, and these will also be more... meaty challenges.
You will gain your EXP though. Be sure to spend it!
+7 EXP to Garrick
We can carry on with this even as the others get sessions, so we can do small bites here or there until all 10 are done, or you somehow lose and an alternate resolution comes about. :p