Date: 5:31:31 PM, June 18th; 10:31:37 PM, June 18th; 11:50:45 PM, June 21st; 7:27:25 PM, June 30th; 9:01:08 PM, July 7th, 2012.
Metal Man (GM): Recap The Protectors invaded Borne's base, destroying his defenses and crippling his operations, summoning Anthon Tark, Emperor Cylus, Sloan, Marley and O'Neill to destroy Borne's base and control over the city. All seemed to be a success so far due to Garrick's interesting digital warp invasion gambit. But Borne had plans of his own, creating some sort of Born-Garrick fusion body to replace his own body. He also warned of how Jack would return and destroy everyone if he was killed. But Gibby, Dragoshi, Sloan and Marley refused to take his word for it. They stand before him, on the pod used by Borne to hold the clone. Borne is there, his black jacket fluttering in the brisk wind generated by the speeds this thing is going. All around are lit up caves which have sunlight coming through cracks in the ceiling. Diffused light shows the blue water aquifer below. Continuation.
Borne: "You face me, not knowing what I am capable of. I came back from the dead even after Panzer did her best to stop me. I manipulated the Nintendus Brawlers into serving my aims. And I will overcome YOU! Fight me, then, and die!"
Marley: "I'm going to ram my fist so hard into your face you won't be able t' yell such idiotic things ever again!"
Gibby: "If I had a gold coin for every time I heard that one..."
Sloan: "Let's not get too hasty here. I want to hear him beg for mercy."
Metal Man (GM): Roll inits
Dragoshi: "We'd be both rich. Perhaps moreso than Jack."
Metal Man (GM): Order: Sloan 10, Marley 9, Borne 7, Gibby 5, Dragoshi 5.
Sloan: "You speak a lot of nonsense, Borne. How about I make you stop?" *He shoots a Zat beam at Borne.*
Metal Man (GM): Hit, Borne is stunned, -4 to his AGI for one round.
Borne: "Dirty tricks won't make you stronger than me."
Metal Man (GM): Also... no damage.
Marley: "You can talk to my fists."
Metal Man (GM): Marley pulls back his arm and it glows a bright Teal. Then he fires the energy punch straight at Borne. Hit... that would do a whopping 81 damage, but then Borne tries to parry it! The parry attacks both hit, and on top of it, he hurls Marley into a jagged pile of metal on the platform!
Borne: "Brute force never prevails."
Gibby: "You okay, Marley?"
Marley: "I'll be alright... ergh..."
Metal Man (GM): Marley takes 24 damage and -4 to his AGI from that one. Sloan 10, Marley 9, Borne 5, Gibby 5, Dragoshi 5.
Dragoshi: "If you say so..."
Borne: "Witness there, the reason Marley could never win. More importantly why you can't either!"
Metal Man (GM): You hear violent explosions outside. Lasers.
Illian MacGregor: *C* "Some sort of laser grid has started up in the city! It's tearing the Echidna forces apart!"
Borne: "You broke some of my defenses, but it seems you forgot about the other ones. Too bad."
Dragoshi: "All the more reason to stop you right here, then."
Gibby: "Grr... you won't get away with this."
Metal Man (GM): Borne then takes a CQC stance and goes to pick up Marley. And misses! He does however jump to the side, making it so that only Medium range weapons can hit him.
Borne: "Everyone keeps telling me I won't get away with things. It never really stopped me."
Metal Man (GM): Yeah. Unless you want to eat 2 init walking after him. You can use 2 init to walk into range, then attack all in one turn.
Gibby gobbles up 2 init to get to him, then goes for an upward slash attack.
Metal Man (GM): Hit! *KLANG*... 4 damage after DR.
Borne: "I AM made of metal, you know."
Gibby: "That won't stop me from trying."
Borne: "Typical Quester action. Go ahead!"
Metal Man (GM): Yes, you are going to love having that this battle.
Dragoshi levels Phantom's Machinegun at Borne going to give him a good blasting with a concentrated hail of gunfire!
Metal Man (GM): Hit! 3 over his AC. Remember that weapons only add +10 for each 2 hits over AC. Yes.
Dragoshi: "Shut up."
Metal Man (GM): Actually you deal 48 damage, with rounding down and such. After DR, that is.
Gibby makes a mental note about piercing.
Sloan: "You talk too much. Have a swim." *Throws the golden bowling ball at Borne; -2 init for weapon switching.*
Metal Man (GM): The bowling ball flies through the air and smacks Borne in the chest, carrying him off the platform and into the wall. He takes no damage but wastes time climbing back onto the stage, using one of his flourishes.
Borne: "Do you actually fight, or are you only here to ANNOY me?"
Sloan: "...Some of each."
Metal Man (GM): Marley gets up, uses 2 init to get next to Borne, then defensively tries to punch him in the face. Borne is barely hit. 18 damage after DR.
Borne: "You always go for the fists, Marley. How pitiful."
Metal Man (GM): Borne goes to respond with an aggressive grab-throw combination. He hits both times. 24 damage total to Marley. Then he shoves Marley back towards Dragoshi with a Flourish! *BONK* The two would take 10 damage before DR and be knocked back into medium range.
Dragoshi: "Yeesh..." *He mumbles as he doesn't feel much of the blow, more annoyed than anything.*
Gibby sits this turn out to gain some more init.
Metal Man (GM): We modified it to be a bit more regular. You regain 2 init. If you then rest the next turn you gain 4.
Dragoshi: *Re-focuses his aim, continuing to open fire on Borne, attempting to blast him with more highly-concentrated bursts of gunfire.*
Metal Man (GM): Borne tries to move to send the attack into Marley instead. It hits Marley. How much damage does it do with 3 over target's AC? (include your STR and such)
Dragoshi: "Gah! Sorry, Marley..."
Marley: "He does that all the time. Argh!"
Sloan yawns, takes out blue Phoenix pistols.
Marley: "You won't survive this for long, Borne!" *He flings an Echidna punch at Borne.*
Metal Man (GM): Borne goes to parry by grabbing Marley. He grabs, and throws Marley entirely off the platform...
Marley: "Blaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!!!" *Splash.*
Borne: "I have to admire his strength, but I don't think he was very intelligent."
Illian MacGregor: *C* "Marley is trying his best to catch up to you... do your best to survive in the meantime!"
Sloan: "This really is tiresome, Borne. You know you're going to lose."
Borne: "I just removed the only person... ...one of two people who had any chance of killing me with brute force!"
Sloan: "You're right! I don't use brute force."
Dragoshi: "This should be good..."
Metal Man (GM): He opens fire on Borne with the Phoenix. Borne shields himself as he gets hit over and over again. 10 damage. Borne is... annoyed.
Borne: "What's your game, annoying idiot?"
Sloan: "Why don't you try to hit me and find out?"
Borne: "I'm not going to attack you, Sloan. You told me to do just that. I'm not stupid."
Metal Man (GM): Borne takes out... the Phase pistol.
Borne: "I'll just shoot ALL OF YOU!"
Metal Man (GM): Threatens all three of you. Ignores half DR. 20 damage. Sloan's field manages to take the hit.
Sloan: "Hmph."
Borne: "See! You have one of those annoying force fields on you! Why would I even waste a millisecond punching that?"
Sloan: "I wanted to see your hand get dented."
Dragoshi steps back a little, grumbling a bit. He got hit, definitely, but he's standing tall.
Metal Man (GM): You'd notice the Phase pistol has many settings on it, while you're facing him. He's obviously turned his down a few notches to avoid accidentally self-splodin'. And to have such a wide beam.
Borne: "You still resist me? But I can just throw all of you into the river. Then you will be out of my hair. Not dead, but... that can be done later! This is my world, Quester wannabes! You aren't taking it that easily!"
Metal Man (GM): Borne has lost about a 4th of his HP so far, FYI.
Gibby switches his weapon from his broadsword to a dagger for 2 init. He then charges forward and stabs at Borne.
Metal Man (GM): Borne redirects both extra attacks... right back at you! You hit yourself twice!
Borne: "Only a fool runs at a man with steel hands with a sword."
Gibby negates those attacks and counterattacks with the dagger.
Borne: "But a real fool tries to attack a CQC master with the dagger."
Metal Man (GM): Roll AGI. You miss, but he used both flourishes on that one. And... you can only negate one of them. So you still get hit by one. The damage you'd do if you hit someone with 8 successes, and they had your AC, with the dagger. And apply your DR to it, as you would normally. Yeah. Also, how much did that decrease your Init? Borne stares at you, slowly grinning. Despite the nicks and cuts on his armor, he seems well enough to continue this for a while.
Borne: "Tired of harming yourselves yet?"
Dragoshi ignores Borne's remarks, simply going to take a moment to clear his thoughts. (Rest.)
Metal Man (GM): I'll start with Garrick, since he sees more of the outside action... Continuation Garrick is working on the hacking portion here. It's slow going due to how heavily encrypted the whole thing is. He would be making slow progress. Only... to start getting warnings from the console. And then a report in...
Illian MacGregor: "...Borne has activated laser defense systems in place in his city."
Garrick Fy`aar: "You've got to be kidding me..."
Illian MacGregor: "He set them up after he was attacked repeatedly in the past. Lasers are blasting everything out of the skies in that area. Worse yet, it appears he is rallying support from the other side of his domain. It is coming here."
Metal Man (GM): The screen shows a fleet of ships... a converted Time Cop Battleship flanked by modified Reploid ship designs and Dauntlesses.
Garrick Fy`aar: "We've got to hold out, Illian. Dragoshi and Gibby are with Sloan and Marley, fighting Borne downstairs. I've almost got his clone taken care of."
Illian MacGregor: "...And he also called the Mushroom Republic in on the other side."
Metal Man (GM): The other screen shows invading Eggman-ized Bowser doomships opening fire on Anthon and the Echidna ships.
Garrick Fy`aar: "Oh, for fuck--MARIO is coming??"
Illian MacGregor: "...Potentially. He is rather erratic, they rely on their army these days. It appears the Mushroom Republic hates the Echidnas and took their act of war against a fellow council member to be one step too far. Luckily, Jack has sent nothing except one ship, where Jack himself is watching... and eating popcorn. I have the current progress of the fight as well. Streaming it to you."
Metal Man (GM): You would see Borne basically out-CQCing everyone, throwing Marley into the water below and causing the Protectors to shoot themselves and... Sloan holding back for some reason.
Illian MacGregor: "The issue is that Marley is not skilled enough to hit him head on, Sloan appears to have other priorities and... the Protectors do not seem strong enough to take him on in such small numbers. Success rate for them is 25%... Success rate for destroying the clone, however, seems to be 100%."
Metal Man (GM): As you would see yourself, nothing is stopping you, a little bit more and the clone is destroyed.
Illian MacGregor: "There are... options... but time is short. Borne's forces are digging in. They won't let us take over without a bloody war. It depends what your goals are."
Garrick Fy`aar: "Illian, if we let this clone get out, we're screwed..."
Illian MacGregor: "The clone is under control, seemingly. No one has approached your position."
Garrick Fy`aar: "...why...?"
Illian MacGregor: "They appear to be attacking Anthon and the Echidnas, who apparently are Borne's most hated enemy. I... don't know. Maybe you should investigate."
Garrick Fy`aar: "You would think Borne would want this person to live no matter what... ...Red Text, continue the procedure without me. I'm going to search around."
Red Text: "Affirmative."
Metal Man (GM): Red Text is more than able to do it since no physical person is around to interrupt. The base has fallen silent. You would see Illian troops standing around, looking for any enemies and finding none.
Garrick Fy`aar pulled himself from the console, drawing his pistol. He would stare at Illian's troops. "...why are you STANDING here! Go assist someone!"
Illian Soldier: "We were assigned to guard you."
Editor's Note: Hilarious how Garrick accidentally nobody'd himself with that one.
Garrick Fy`aar: "God..."
Illian Soldier: "If we leave there is a much higher chance of you being attacked. Shall we leave to assist in the city?"
Garrick Fy`aar growled and started to pace... he needed to figure out what was going on... Borne wanted to implant his brain in the clone, giving him a better body... but he didn't seem to care about the clone dying... why? "...either he doesn't want the clone... or he doesn't NEED the clone... ...which would mean he has other clones..." *He stares at the other tubes... that are empty.*
Metal Man (GM): It does seem they were identical to the one you saw. Clearly at least one of them was used. They've been empty and dry for a while but they aren't brand new and unused. There is documentation, partially burned, thrown around near the door.
Garrick Fy`aar: "...there are more clones... we've only seen two..." *He immediately starts going through it.* "No more tricks, no more underhanded switches or backstabbings... I'm not a Quester anymore. C'mon, I need a lead, a clue, SOMETHING..."
Metal Man (GM): You see a ledger. Apparently at least five were made. The partial pieces seem to note a string of failures, then one named Garrok. The next page is missing. The clone you saw is not mentioned in the previous 4 entries either. Most importantly is the reference to a "Capital City Facility."
Garrick Fy`aar: "...oh God... ...the laser defenses... of COURSE... It's a FUCKING DECOY!"
Metal Man (GM): And the screen shows that the laser defenses, originally meant to keep out Time Cops or Questers, basically having repelled the air attackers. The sky over Capital City is full of defending Mushroom Republic and the remains of the Borne GUN fleet.
Garrick Fy`aar: "Red Text! Are you deep enough into the cloning logs to get a scan on that clone?"
Red Text: "Yes. The clone's data is mine. Indeed. I am about to turn it off and destroy it utterly. There is only one problem."
Garrick Fy`aar: "Let me guess... it has no active bodily functions..."
Red Text: "The Protectors and Sloan are standing on it with Borne. When it deactivates they will have nowhere to stand."
Garrick Fy`aar: "Oh, well, shit."
Red Text: "The code here seems to suggest that there are multiple equally powerful clones. This was merely one of them."
Garrick Fy`aar thinks...
Red Text: "Backups appear to be his mantra. Of course I have no clue where they would be. He has half the planet to hide them in."
Garrick Fy`aar: "I have an idea..."
Red Text: "The good news is, this one was most likely to be activated first. We have set him back some time."
Garrick Fy`aar: "I'm just not sure what to DO. I can't leave Gibby and Dragoshi fighting Borne to die... ...but if the clones are in that facility, I have to stop them..."
Red Text: "Yes. Their success rate is rather low. We can beam them out if needed."
Garrick Fy`aar: "...how close are you to dropping that clone down there?"
Red Text: "I press this button and it is destroyed. Borne's systems stopped protecting it."
Garrick Fy`aar: "...because Borne doesn't care anymore... right..."
Red Text: "In fact they basically handed me the code. It's real, too. I just don't know why he would do that outside of dunking the people he's fighting."
Garrick Fy`aar: "He's going to his other facility. He has to be... I HOPE he is... alright, here's what we do."
Red Text: "I would advise caution. You have damaged one of his facilities, but remember that he holds an entire continent. It is most likely there is a facility on the other end of that tunnel, yes. I have scanned the area and determined it goes in that direction before his jammers make it impossible to tell what's in Capital City."
Garrick Fy`aar: "Then that's where I'm going."
Red Text: "The path is open. We can warp you onto the platform, or a ways to the side of it on scaffolding down there."
Garrick Fy`aar: "Get the four of them out of there. Tell them they're warping out, then nuke the clone as soon as they do. Get them patched up."
Red Text: "...I will do so."
Garrick Fy`aar: "Then put me someplace quiet so I can follow Borne."
Red Text: "Shall I warp them to the ship? The base you're in is safe, but that Time Cop ship of his is poised to arrive in 15 minutes."
Garrick Fy`aar: "They need medical attention, I'm sure of it."
Red Text: "I will put you on the scaffolding, it is quiet there. Affirmative, executing the plan."
Garrick Fy`aar: "Get them all out and patched up and ready to go back in. They'll need to come down on me when I call for them. Please let me be right..."
Metal Man (GM): We go to move to the other group, which is still facing Borne. Other Group Borne stands there, with a bloody grin on his face.
Gibby is out of breath by this point. "He's... good... ugh..."
Borne: "You had me for a minute there... but you cannot fool me."
Dragoshi takes a deep breath.
Borne: "There are no heroes, no villains. You cannot force a box on me!"
Illian MacGregor: *C* "Protectors, prepare for a warp out."
Gibby smiles.
Borne: "Now... go ahead, attack me... or... smile?"
Dragoshi: *Steps back a little in surprise... before nodding.* *C* "Understood, sir."
Gibby: "Looks like... our job here... is done."
Dragoshi: "Suppose so."
Sloan: "I think we are done here. But not for long."
Metal Man (GM): Marley climbs on, soaking wet.
Dragoshi: "Much more work to be done?"
Marley: "Now wait a cotton picking second here! I just got back!"
Borne: "Want a dunk in the river, old friend?"
Marley: "...Aw, nuts to that."
Metal Man (GM): *WARP* The group warps off. Alarms sound on the clone. Borne glances down.
Borne: "Don't worry. Your sacrifice was not in vain, myself."
Metal Man (GM): He backflips off as it falls into the water and explodes. The group arrives on the Dauntless. ETERNAL DAUNTLESS.
Gibby kisses the ground.
Illian MacGregor: "Welcome back. We are going to be repairing your wounds... so you can go back in soon."
Gibby: "Yeah, that'd be nice. I've... been better."
Illian MacGregor: "Garrick discovered before it was too late that you were going to die for nothing."
Gibby: "Did he take care of the clone?"
Illian MacGregor: "There are multiple clone facilities, and Borne was ready to make mincemeat of you. The clone is dead, yes. One of a couple in existence... though. The most ready one, however."
Gibby: "Good... good..."
Red Text: "Even then, his program was not ready to use it fully."
Dragoshi: "I see, I see."
Red Text: "It may have played to his favor we prevented him from using it... I suspect it had issues and he may have been easier to kill while trying to adapt to it..."
Illian MacGregor: "That's all hearsay though..."
Dragoshi: "So we still have some time before it's too late."
Illian MacGregor: "What if he was still deadlier despite those, Red?"
Red Text: "...I guess."
Dragoshi: "Not much time, but it should at least be enough to throw something together."
Red Text: "But his Mad Man body is made of steel, and he knows it like a second skin. ...Though it is slowly dying..."
Illian MacGregor: "See!"
Red Text: "I guess you're right."
Dragoshi calmly shows off Phantom's Machinegun. "Steel didn't do him much good against this, then."
Metal Man (GM): The medics heal Gibby and Dragoshi.
Dragoshi chuckles.
Illian MacGregor: "It's steel nanites, so it tends to buckle like flesh... very durable flesh though."
Gibby: "Oooh, watch the cut... ahhhh... that feels good."
Illian MacGregor: "We're going to wait on Garrick to find out what's going on now. Otherwise... we don't want to send you in blind. That would give him the advantage again, and he nearly played us."
Dragoshi: "Aye. I'd imagine if I wasn't using something meant to tear right through people I'd have a much more serious problem." *He nods.*
Illian MacGregor: "Much smarter than I expected. I will have to thoroughly eradicate all Mad Man data..."
Metal Man (GM): He then turns on a screen for Garrick. Garrick is now warped into the next location.
Illian MacGregor: "We'll be watching you, Garrick. See if we can give any useful advice."
Metal Man (GM): We move to the catacombs under Capital City. The tunnel that was going down to here earlier is nearing some sort of base, underground. Garrick would see the base up ahead, and wet footprints heading towards the door ..And a Deathguard guarding the door, which appears to have some complex verification device keeping a barrier on.
Garrick Fy`aar moves quietly down the tunnel, his gun and knife at the ready as he does so. He keeps to the shadows, following the footprints and trying desperately to make no sound... he wasn't in any shape to fight. One good shot and he's gone. He'd have to scout, not fight.
Metal Man (GM): Up above, the battle rages. The ground forces struggle against the onslaught of death lasers. The Deathguard has some new weapon you've never seen before. It appears to be... Zero's sword. But... made for hand held use...
Garrick Fy`aar swears inwardly as he kneels, seeing this. He couldn't take on a Deathguard by himself. And he couldn't bust through that barrier without the Deathguard noticing... he looked around for any sort of other possible entrance. A ventilation duct, a crack in the wall, something...
Metal Man (GM): There are ventilation ducts... they appear to have been lined with hundreds of thousands of barbed spikes on all 4 sides inside.
Garrick Fy`aar makes sure to take a picture of this, zooming in on the weapon before pressing a button and sending the photo to Illian and the others.
Metal Man (GM): It appears he read the Evil Overlord list.
Garrick Fy`aar: .oO(Joy...)
Metal Man (GM): There is also the river itself. It goes into the base. And... there appear to be sharks down there... Sharks... that do NOT have laser beams on their frikken heads...
Garrick Fy`aar: .oO(Gotta get inside... hrm...) *He looks at the river... honestly, that's his best bet.*
Metal Man (GM): There's a camera pointed at the river... why is there a camera there? A small sign is next to it.
Garrick Fy`aar frowns as he looks at the camera...
Sign: 'Go ahead. I like to see your death on camera.'
Garrick Fy`aar rolls his eyes. .oO(Like to see my death on camera, huh... okay... let's try this...) He has a plan. If it'll WORK, he doesn't know, but... He grabs one of the grenades on his belt, setting it to smoke and rolls it out infront of the Deathguard.
Metal Man (GM): The Deathguard sees the grenade... ... and acts like nothing happened. Yes. Smoke fills the room.
Garrick Fy`aar: .oO(Please don't tell me they have some sorta extra vision... here goes...) *He surges forward, clearing the distance from his spot in two bounds before shoulder checking the Deathguard as hard as he can INTO the river.*
Metal Man (GM): He flicks his wrist and goes to slash you right across the face. If hit... 25 damage. If. You could counter. But also, do tell me your current HP. Ah. Ok. So, he hits you with that, and stares at you, his eyes glowing.
Garrick Fy`aar growls as the attack hits, skidding backward. So now there was this. "Get out of my way."
Deathguard: "...I could slash you in two and become the most--" *He hears something in his ear.* "...What? ...Borne wants to see you personally."
Garrick Fy`aar: "...what?"
Metal Man (GM): He lowers his sword.
Deathguard: "This request is bananas, but I must honor all orders, or impale myself on this sword for failing."
Metal Man (GM): He stands aside and the door opens for you... but it is quite obviously a trap. The other side is a force fielded cage.
Garrick Fy`aar thinks fast... this could get him to the heart of where Borne is...
Deathguard: "He has told me to kill you if you try to escape. Though I told him, you would probably warp away. He doesn't seem to care."
Garrick Fy`aar: .oO(...no choice. I need an in.) *He slowly rises from his stance, walking carefully by the Deathguard. He pauses and stares at him for a moment before moving further in and through the door.*
Deathguard: "Just know that if you do kill him... I will be there. You seem to be the first real challenge I've seen in years. It would be a pity not to fight you fairly."
Metal Man (GM): The man flicks the sword and puts it to his side, letting you in.
Garrick Fy`aar: "Says the guy in extensively high tech gear facing a man thirty years his senior and in the decline of his life."
Deathguard: "It's not in the toys, but the spirit."
Garrick Fy`aar: "Spirit can't help if the body isn't willing, jackass."
Deathguard: "I have heard of your CQC... I would naturally wish to learn from your experience."
Garrick Fy`aar: "I'm not teaching you a damn thing. Now get out of here and let me see your boss."
Deathguard: "Your way is clear." *He would then became silent and you would walk in...*
Metal Man (GM): You walk into the cage, which locks in place and surrounds you with the super-force field. Borne would appear as well, walking in and looking at you.
Garrick Fy`aar glares back.
Borne: "Back again? I need your help, anyway. To destroy Jack, of course."
Garrick Fy`aar: "I just couldn't stand being without you. Fuck you."
Borne: "Ah, but you see. We already are basically one and the same. All it takes is one transfer and I will have your DNA. Which... will be superior since I... fixed the mistakes."
Metal Man (GM): He takes out an injection gun.
Borne: "You are old... your body is only half the power it could be."
Garrick Fy`aar: "You are a fucking THIEF. A MONSTER. You STOLE from me."
Borne: "We all have problems. But I was thinking I could pay you for what I stole. What is it you want, Garrick Fy'aar?"
Garrick Fy`aar: "You stole my DNA. You VIOLATED me. There's nothing you have that compares with that."
Borne: "Yes. To save an entire country."
Garrick Fy`aar: "Not good enough."
Borne: "I am dying... and Jack has threatened to kill everyone the day I die."
Garrick Fy`aar had one trick left up his sleeve... the one trick Illian told him would work no matter what.
Borne: "I must be alive... to make the Defenders a success."
Garrick Fy`aar: "Then make a body for yourself that DOESN'T involve me! Do you have any idea what you're doing?!"
Borne: "Yes. The people who made you... didn't. I am the only one who contained a similar issue with Nanite Metal Sonic. Self destruct switches in every body. Pressed whenever I like. I know this is necessary, because... this body I'm using, I stole from Marley. The Mad Man System had no failsafes, and you know what happened."
Garrick Fy`aar: "So you restarted Les Enfants Terrible... for your own selfish gains."
Borne: "Is it selfish to stop the death of ten million people? My name will be burnished... but so will yours."
Garrick Fy`aar: "So you stop Jack? Then what? Huh? HUH?! I know you and how you work. You'll take over RIGHT where he left off!"
Borne: "Oh. Then what have I been doing all these years, sitting here, defending my country without invading anyone except the worthless Time Cops?"
Garrick Fy`aar: "YOU WERE STEALING MY IDENTITY!"
Borne: "Did it really belong to you to begin with? I know who Solid Snake is."
Garrick Fy`aar pauses with that, staring at him...
Borne: "I know what they did. I visited that world. I took from that world what I needed. His powers are the only thing that could give me the equal strength to this... inhuman puppet I inhabit."
Garrick Fy`aar: "Don't you speak that name... you don't deserve to speak that name..."
Metal Man (GM): He slams his arm into the wall, revealing the hideous blood that is inside the body he has, all silver-metalish.
Borne: "I was created against my will by Jack and Mad Molly. Before you judge me, consider that we are very similar."
Garrick Fy`aar: "I'm nothing like you.'"
Borne: "I rebelled against their protocols. Just as I will against yours."
Garrick Fy`aar: "We HAVE no protocols! We want to set things right, that's all!"
Metal Man (GM): He creaks his head.
Borne: "So you could get me an alternate body with no trace of your DNA in it? That has the power to destroy Jack? Is that what you're saying?"
Garrick Fy`aar doesn't say anything... he can't do anything like that.
Borne: "Because if that doesn't happen... millions of people will die."
Garrick Fy`aar: "And why are you the only way we can stop Jack? What about Illian and the rest of us? We've proven ourselves. We can do it."
Borne: "One facility down, one clone of mine destroyed... You may be able to do so eventually, but not in time."
Garrick Fy`aar: "You don't know that. You're delusional."
Borne: "I would work together, but... it's clear my enemies are your friends. So I'm just going to give it to you straight up."
Garrick Fy`aar: "Then let's hear it."
Borne: "I have facilities everywhere, clones ready as I speak. I have backups of backups of backups, because... well... this. You have destroyed a vast piece of what I have done with your first attempt. But if what you seek, is to put useless infidels in my throne, then give me my last chance to destroy Jack personally."
Garrick Fy`aar preps himself. He might have enough juice to break the cage, but that's it. He'd need to do this fast if he's going to incapacitate Borne and get a signal out to the others...
Borne: "This body... can be used to kill him."
Garrick Fy`aar: "...so you would just sacrifice yourself to kill Jack."
Borne: "That's it. You can go ahead and blow up everything of mine in some horrible battle. I just want to finish my job."
Garrick Fy`aar: "...and what if I told you I had a plan to kill Jack myself?"
Borne: "Alsa is my planet, these are my people. I will not sacrifice them, for a petty war with you or Jack. Your plan... what plan is this?"
Garrick Fy`aar: "Something I've been thinking about while I was busy cracking your clone's encoding software. I'm not an idiot, Borne. Far from it. Besides you, the worst thing on this planet right now is Jack. He needs to be stopped. I know that."
Borne: "It is not idiocy but misplaced motives which separate heroes from monsters. Idiots... don't succeed."
Garrick Fy`aar: "...let's make a deal, Borne."
Borne: "That is what I wanted to hear." *He would cradle his fingers.* "You see... I did not believe you the first time... then you showed me... that you were not Questers. So I will be entirely honest this time... because I do not favor the death of my people because I... underestimated someone."
Garrick Fy`aar: "I will not sacrifice lives, Borne. Only my own. I'm tired of seeing good men die and bad men live. ...don't get me wrong, though... I still want you dead. In a big way."
Borne: "And I... have remained sickened by how the Questers made my father the most powerful monster on this planet. You have your reasons."
Garrick Fy`aar: "This is what I propose... You leave Jack to me. I'll take care of him. In exchange... you stand down your military actions on this planet. And you kill all the remaining clones you have with my DNA in them and destroy all the data involving them. You live and can focus on a medical procedure to keep yourself alive, Jack dies."
Borne: "Define 'stand down' and what particular actions. Broadly, of course, but I need to know what in particular. Hm. If you kill Jack, then I can use his corpse to heal this one. His body is Mad Man material."
Garrick Fy`aar: "No more Deathguard. They're too powerful for their own good. You limit yourself to a handful of bases."
Borne: "Heh heh heh..." *He would then tap his fingers.* "What of those who have already been converted to it? They cannot be converted back by any normal means."
Garrick Fy`aar: "They'll become your personal guard and they'll remain to protect you and you alone."
Borne: "Oh. Well, acceptable."
Garrick Fy`aar: "Like I said, no more needless deaths."
Borne: "The bases I have are all on this continent. Do you refer to something else by any chance?"
Garrick Fy`aar: "That'll work, I suppose."
Borne: "GUN territory and all."
Garrick Fy`aar: "We can hash bigger deals later."
Borne: "The Democratic Council will be there to discuss. You see... Once Jack is gone, someone must administrate his territory. You could do it. Anyone but him will make life better for the rest of us."
Garrick Fy`aar: "Heh, me, a leader... we'll see. I tried that once."
Borne: "He... does nothing but vote to kill everyone. He... comes into panels playing loud rock music on a guitar that shoots lasers. He seems to hate all sentient life."
Garrick Fy`aar: "No one seemed to want to follow me and people kept saying I was crying for attention. I just wanted people to not be stupid."
Borne: "Ah. I have reviewed THOSE recordings." *Evil grin* "That is why I destroyed their pitiful Stadium. ...Hmmm. You do want that derelict Stadium in Jack's territory, don't you? To destroy, I mean."
Garrick Fy`aar: "I could give less of a damn about it. The Questers are behind me."
Borne: "I'll have fun detonating it, then. One more problem."
Metal Man (GM): He shows a video.
Garrick Fy`aar: "That being?"
Metal Man (GM): Anthon Tark's men in the streets, flanked by Echidna... shooting Borne's men up in Capital City.
Anthon Tark: "This city will be MINE! Fight them! Break down the doors!"
Metal Man (GM): They are then seen attacking the GUN HQ building.
Garrick Fy`aar: "...yeah."
Metal Man (GM): Though outnumbered, there appear to be hordes of robotic supersoldiers with Anthon.
Borne: "...You can't stop him... can you?"
Garrick Fy`aar: "...not in my current state. That mech of yours ripped me up."
Borne: "I mean this, because... I don't think anyone can make him stop. ...I guess we can let him blow up the admin building and figure out how to placate him later. I'll... evacuate all people away from him."
Garrick Fy`aar: "We could order him to stand down, but I don't know if he'll listen. ...are you blocking all signals from this place?"
Borne: "All that aren't mine. If you want to talk to him though."
Garrick Fy`aar: "No. No, that won't help. Give me a moment to think..."
Borne: "I cleared away the personnel so far..."
Garrick Fy`aar: "...okay..."
Anthon Tark: "If only Panzer was here, then no one could stop me!" *Blows up sealed door.*
Garrick Fy`aar: "You're not going to like this... but I have a plan."
Borne: "... ...He is raiding his old stash of weapons right now."
Anthon Tark: "Pah! Phase Pistols. Phase Rifle is more like it!"
Metal Man (GM): He takes out the primitive laser rifle and starts shooting away more locked doors.
Anthon Tark: "Now to find the controls to this place..."
Garrick Fy`aar: "We're going to try and trick him."
Borne: "...Well, that's the only thing that worked for me the first time. What shall we do?"
Garrick Fy`aar: "And we're going to play the long game. Heal me up and let me at him."
Borne: "Last time, I pretended to be dead, then made it impossible for him to rule. Heal you... very well."
Metal Man (GM): He tosses you... a Borne-manufactured Mega mushroom. 100% healing. It has a GUN logo on it. Funky.
Garrick Fy`aar scarfs it down, feeling a shitton better.
Borne: "The Mushroom Republic has its benefits. ...Mostly Mushrooms."
Metal Man (GM): Anthon continues climbing the stairs, drinking some Admin booze before becoming annoyed.
Garrick Fy`aar: "Okay... now we need to convince him that I'm his enemy. In fact, we need to convince everyone that I'm their enemy."
Anthon Tark: "There's no more soldiers to destroy. What do they think they are doing..."
Garrick Fy`aar: "Best way I can think to do that... is to let me fight him for a bit. I'll need to get in his face, get him angry, and then run."
Borne: "I actually... have a suggestion."
Garrick Fy`aar: "That being?"
Borne: "Panzer helped him take over when I was gone the first time. You hate Panzer."
Garrick Fy`aar: "... ...that's a very good point."
Borne: "Tell him you're that nasty Garrick person she hates. Not to mention... ...he seems to be interested in mindless destruction right now."
Anthon Tark: *Picks up an image of Borne and lasers it* "Where IS everyone?"
Garrick Fy`aar: "Sounds fair enough... alright, send me in. Let's hope he doesn't kill me in the process."
Borne: "...I'll warp in and save you if need be. If that doesn't make him hate you, nothing will."
Garrick Fy`aar: "That'll do it."
Metal Man (GM): A warp appears in your cage, up to the top of the tower. Where Anthon is sitting in the admin chair, angrily looking in the desk.
Garrick Fy`aar steps inside it, nodding. "I'm watching, Borne... no funny business."
Borne: "None at all. That's Sloan's thing."
Metal Man (GM): You warp up, facing Anthon. Whom stares at you, confused.
Anthon Tark: "...How'd you get up here?"
Garrick Fy`aar stands there, glaring daggers at Anthon.
Anthon Tark: "...You know where Borne is? I defeated his forces, but I can't find him."
Garrick Fy`aar: "I've had enough with your damn rampage. Stand down."
Anthon Tark: "Ah, you saw what I did. Fair is fair... I had to teach them a lesson. All right, I'll hang out here instead. The chair that is rightfully mine, after all."
Metal Man (GM): He then idly begins fiddling... with the desk controls.
Anthon Tark: "Phase two of the invasion... is to take the rest of the city."
Garrick Fy`aar pulls his pistol and blasts the desk controls.
Anthon Tark: "They left this tower and--" *BOOM* "Gah!"
Garrick Fy`aar: "You know."
Anthon Tark: "What in the hell is your malfunction?"
Garrick Fy`aar: "I've always really hated you."
Anthon Tark: "..." *He peers at you, as if scanning your very soul.* "Is that so?"
Garrick Fy`aar: "Allying yourself with Panzer."
Anthon Tark: "Panzer. What is it with her? She burnt all 400 copies of Borne's rules so I could take over."
Garrick Fy`aar: "That bitch made my life a living hell for the better part of my career."
Anthon Tark: "Hm. I could sort of tell she would do that... not entirely sure why she helped me either. Except... that's it! To annoy you! Wait a minute... no. To defeat Borne."
Garrick Fy`aar: "She didn't care about Borne. She didn't care about anyone. All she cared about was her damn UNIT. She was trash. And you were trash to work with her."
Anthon Tark: "..." *He thinks.* "Hmmm... yes. She did. ...But leave me out of it, I told her it was hopeless and she did it anyway." *He seems... a bit more perturbed when you finally talk about him.*
Garrick Fy`aar: "Leave YOU out of it?"
Anthon Tark: "I told her that there were thousands of those rulebooks. She found and burned them all."
Garrick Fy`aar: "No... no, you should have saw that for yourself. But you didn't. You just let her go about her merry way."
Anthon Tark: "So you think it's my fault she did all that to you?"
Garrick Fy`aar: "Quite the interesting take on things coming from a guy who supposedly enjoys law over everything else. Letting a robot run around that's nothing but pure chaos."
Anthon Tark: *Narrows his eyes* "I was in a bind! I couldn't stop her because the law said I couldn't!"
Garrick Fy`aar: "You were weak."
Anthon Tark: "Now you're just getting annoying! You want to make me mad or something?"
Metal Man (GM): He gestures to his rifle.
Anthon Tark: "I can fight if that's what you want. But nothing good ever comes of that. Not for me, and not for the Demon Memorial 4th floor. Their blood spread across the concrete like paint."
Garrick Fy`aar: "You're just scared I'd wipe the floor with you."
Anthon Tark: "Ah... AH! ...You are a really, really OLD version of the mercenaries who invade my office! You challenge me to a battle? Then so be it. It's old man vs. old man now!"
Metal Man (GM): He IS rather old... thus making this REALLY strange.
Garrick Fy`aar: "Let's see what you've got, then..."
Metal Man (GM): *One sec* They got plenty in before... they'll do something sooner or later. Now, roll AGIs. Anthon Tark is ready to fight! Anthon 5, Garrick 2
Anthon Tark: "I heard something... you're... some sort of project, aren't you? Like everyone else who comes in and attacks me in my office? You must be some evil human clone of Shadow or something!"
Garrick Fy`aar: "If you're saying I'm a clone, then you're--what."
Anthon Tark: "Well, that's what I used to get, I guess humans may be the new hedgehogs for being used as research projects."
Garrick Fy`aar: "...just come on!"
Anthon Tark: "Whatever it is, I've been shooting evil projects in my office for 20 years, so I'll go ahead and do it yet again."
Garrick Fy`aar drops into his CQC stance, drawing pistol and knife.
Metal Man (GM): Anthon spends his first turn... scanning you. Post me your charsheet again.
Anthon Tark: "M-155? That some sort of vegetable or something? Here in Alsa, we use phase rifles!" *...Except those went out of fashion so long ago, he has the only one still known to be operational right on him right now.*
Garrick Fy`aar scans him right back. He might as well know what he's getting into.
Metal Man (GM): One sec, need to add a little to this so you can see all the stats you need to see...
Anthon Tark
HP: 0/420
STR: 21
END: 17
AGI: 15
MNT: 17
AC: 5
DR: 12
IC: 7
FA: 5
Phase Rifle - RANK 7 WEAPON
More Damage 3x - +15 damage
More Range 1x - Hits medium range targets
ADDED HIT DAMAGE 2x
SPECIAL: Pierces DR if fired with -2 to hit
Grenade Launcher - Rank 6 Weapon
More Targets 3x
More Damage 3x - +15 damage
Officer's Sword
More Accuracy 2x - +2 to hit
Added Hit Damage 2x
Pierces half DR
Flourishes (2 per round if wanted)
Disfigure Attack deals extra damage to enemy's aesthetic appearance, even though it still does the same damage otherwise.
Hide When you are moving about the battlefield, you can hide behind cover to evade the enemy's attacks entirely. Only medium range or higher attacks will hit if you use them against the enemy from cover, but at the same time they can counter-attack you for only a -1 init loss if you miss.
Knockout Should your attack reduce the enemy to 0 with the move this is paired with, it will only KO the enemy instead of causing them to slowly bleed to death while unconscious.
Short-Circuit Scramble the circuits of a machine should you hit with this attack--effects depend on machine and the machine's resiliency to logic circuit errors.
Snipe Spend a round studying the opponent; the next turn you can attack with double accuracy roll.
Garrick Fy`aar: .oO(Well, that's not fair at all.)
Anthon Tark: "Now, let's see how many times I can shoot you with this rifle before you decide to run away. I won't mind if you do, because mindless killing is more my enemy's thing."
Metal Man (GM): Oh. And his role is Colonel. Forgot to note that.
Garrick Fy`aar: .oO(I've got to hurt him enough that I make him angry.)
Metal Man (GM): He decides to spend his time still sitting at his desk, aiming at you, probably with his Snipe ability.
Garrick Fy`aar suddenly vanishes from sight.
Metal Man (GM): Yup, if you stay anywhere near him he can probably write his name in your blood... which is why doing that is a good idea.
Anthon Tark: "...Dammit. I hate when Sloan did that to me. It's just as annoying right now."
Garrick Fy`aar: *...then suddenly tinking into the room from an open door is a grenade, which bounces off a wall and lands right in Tark's lap.*
Anthon Tark: "...This is the 52nd time that a grenade has--" *BOOM.*
Garrick Fy`aar: "Oh, I'm sorry! Did I just roast your chestnuts? Maybe you should come and pay me back for that one!"
Metal Man (GM): He gets out of the remains of his desk, coughing.
Anthon Tark: "You're still not as annoying as some mobians I've encountered, but destroying my desk... ... ...why am I talking to the man who called me trash and blew up my desk? Bahhh!" *He switches to just trying to outright shoot you now.*
Metal Man (GM): Currently he can't even aim at you, so he uses his turn to move outside the room to where you are. And... nothing else, he's just there. Used his turn running over.
Anthon Tark: "You had better stand in one place, I have a bone to pick with you, annoying explosion person!"
Garrick Fy`aar is standing out in the hallway, having trained his pistol on him. He smirks and fires what appears to be a dart...
Metal Man (GM): Hit. His DR negates all the damage, but the AC and DR thing does work.
Garrick Fy`aar nods once, then... vanishes again.
Anthon Tark: "What did you do, poke me? ...Guh." *Throws dart away* "Not again... There he went, back into the office I'm sure."
Metal Man (GM): He takes out his grenade launcher.
Anthon Tark: "Well, better do this then."
Metal Man (GM): You hear the office explode.
Anthon Tark: "...He isn't here. What is the meaning of this, weirdo? You warp around, shoot me with a dart... are you Sloan's evil twin?"
Garrick Fy`aar suddenly reappears behind him, digging his knife into Tark's back before planting his knee behind his own and making to slam him into the ground.
Metal Man (GM): Hit, 4 over AC. Add in STR, yeah. Yes. So +20 damage at most, since +10 for each 2 over. Ah... attack again then.
Garrick Fy`aar drops his knife into the man's neck as he falls, slashing over his throat.
Metal Man (GM): You slash him. 2 over.
Garrick Fy`aar finishes up by vanishing a third time.
Metal Man (GM): He slowly stands up.
Anthon Tark: "...Hmmm. Well played, maniac. I can't be in two rooms at once. AND I can't anticipate teleporting loonies."
Metal Man (GM): He narrows his eyes.
Anthon Tark: "I'm just going to have to think of something."
Metal Man (GM): He calls on his radio.
Anthon Tark: "Delta-Echo-Four."
Metal Man (GM): You hear... the supersoldier robots running into the room.
Garrick Fy`aar stays hidden quietly behind a large hunk of debris in his formerly whole office. He can't keep this up forever... .oO(...shit.)
Anthon Tark: "All right. Destroy everything in this floor. Rip it to pieces. Find that bastard so I can throw him off the building. No one makes a fool of Anthon and lives."
Metal Man (GM): There are eight of them. They're fanning out and ripping all the furniture to bits and hurling it everywhere.
Garrick Fy`aar: .oO(I think I've overstayed my welcome...)
Metal Man (GM): You won't be able to stay hidden long, given they are also picking up debris and throwing everything around.
Anthon Tark: "It's about time I remodeled, anyway."
Garrick Fy`aar looks around... is there a window he can use?
Metal Man (GM): Lots and lots of windows. In fact... *SMASH* The robots are being clumsy and breaking them wide open. Floor 99.
Anthon Tark: "Watch the sides, men. I don't want any bystanders flattened by a rogue couch."
Metal Man (GM): You can also climb onto the helipad. It's the next floor up.
Garrick Fy`aar: .oO(...best bet is up for now.)
Metal Man (GM): You have about a minute or two before the robots find you otherwise, given they are basically being killer furniture killing robots. You can even just warp up there, really.
Garrick Fy`aar looks around for a nice hunk of debris he can pick up... he waits three breaths... then chunks it out in the opposite direction, away from the window. The motion should draw the robot's attention for the time he needs to leap out and teleport up to the helipad. He nods, and then warps up there then.
Metal Man (GM): You wait three breaths, then warp on up, avoiding that whole mess.
Borne: *C* "So then... you need to warp out, or shall your robotic Metal Man clone deal with that?"
Garrick Fy`aar lands and rolls. Popping to his feet and immediately scanning the area with his eyes for any threats.
Metal Man (GM): There are no threats up here. Anthon never really thought to go up here. No Borne guards either. Any would be Echidnacopters got blown up by the death lasers you see far below.
Garrick Fy`aar: *Comm* "I've got him mad. That's all there is to it... and no. I won't be talking with Illian beyond the next message I send him. I can use one warp back to the Magnetic Wastes, if you will be so kind. Then I'm going radio silent for a while. Give me... five minutes, then drop me in the Magnet Wastes." *He immediately beings typing something on his wrist bound computer.*
Borne: *C* "Very well."
Metal Man (GM): You type. Nothing else up here. Strangely, you begin to hear drills downstairs.
Garrick Fy`aar: *Comm* "Our deal is still in effect, Borne. Garrick out. ...I really hope this works... sorry guys... this is the only way I see us doing this without an issue... there, message sent. Computer, disconnect from any Protector based comm systems and mask my signal against their detection grid. ...let's hope I'm right."
Metal Man (GM): The computer does as said. We go to the Dauntless, where Illian is confused.
Illian MacGregor: "...I have no clue what just happened. The signal vanished. Anthon Tark is mad... Borne has stopped attacking..."
Gibby: "That's a good thing, isn't it?"
Illian MacGregor: "...I can only assume that the threat of the Garrick clones is dealt with."
Gibby: "Great! Now let's go get Garrick back. I've got the perfect meat product for him to try out."
Illian MacGregor: "I would, but he's no longer in range. One of Borne's fields may have... jammed it. Although... I just got a message?"
Dragoshi: "...Huh?"
Illian MacGregor: "Hm. What does it say?"
Metal Man (GM): He turns on the message.
Garrick Fy`aar: *Bweeem* *Garrick is standing on top of the building where he just fought Anthon.*
Gibby listens to the message.
Garrick Fy`aar: "This is Garrick."
Dragoshi: "Is it just me or does nothing seem to be adding up he... ere?" *He stops and listens.*
Garrick Fy`aar: "I've had a change of heart."
Illian MacGregor: "Something is odd..."
Garrick Fy`aar: "I can't deal with any sort of Metal, no matter who he is."
Gibby: "..."
Garrick Fy`aar: "Consider this me resigning from the Protectors. If I see you again, I will be your enemy."
Gibby: "...what?!"
Garrick Fy`aar: "Do not try and look for me. I can't be found. I WON'T be found. You will not win, Illian... not this way. Goodbye." *Bweeem.*
Metal Man (GM): Illian glances at it, logically calculating, silent. Then he glances to the other two.
Gibby: "...we have to find him."
Dragoshi doesn't speak up, also thinking about it, before looking at Illian.
Illian MacGregor: "This does not add up. I cannot say I believe it. At the same time, it is an opportunity."
Dragoshi: "Yes, something about this does seem off."
Illian MacGregor: "The confusion on Alsa means no more Garrick clone threat. We can let it settle and return to figure out what happened."
Dragoshi: "All... right, then."
Gibby: "We're not just leaving this!"
Illian MacGregor: "Five different factions are fighting as I speak."
Dragoshi: "'oy, Gibby. Calm down. Don't think there's really much else we can do."
Illian MacGregor: "I cannot fight all of them."
Dragoshi nods. "We're but one group."
Gibby: "Not much we can do?! What the heck did I sign up for, huh? A team that just abandons their members?!"
Illian MacGregor: "No." *He puts his palm out.* "We must wait for it to calm down, then send a stealth mission to find him. Right now any attempt would be a suicide mission."
Gibby: "What if it's a trap, huh? What if he's in danger. He could be in trouble, and we'd be leaving him..."
Dragoshi: "Oogh... I don't think either of us would exactly be all that suited for stealth, but. Alright, then."
Illian MacGregor: "Ragnar will be up and ready to aid in that. I have Garrick's records."
Dragoshi: "Good. The little guy seems like our best bet in that regard, really."
Gibby: "Questers don't just-" *He pauses.*
Illian MacGregor: "He does not die that easily. Remember. It was I who defeated Kuja with the Questers."
Gibby: "...that was a slip."
Illian MacGregor: "We will find out what happened. We will save him, one way or another. I understand. This is confusing and hard on us all. As much as I cannot feel emotion."
Dragoshi: "It may take us a while, but... So long as everything turns out okay in the end, right?"
Illian MacGregor: "Garrick had to vanish long ago, when we fought Kuja. This is not the first time this has happened."
Gibby: "...I'm going for a walk."
Illian MacGregor: "You must have faith in Garrick."
Gibby walks away from Drag and Illian.
Dragoshi nods to Gibby, before looking back at Illian.
Illian MacGregor: "..." *He crosses his arms.* "I will see to it this ends well."
Dragoshi: "...I hope so."
Illian MacGregor: "On Kuja's grave, I pledge it will be so."
Dragoshi: "Either way, I have a feeling that that long, long road we're heading down only just got longer."
Illian MacGregor: "It is Alsa. It is to be expected. But I am Illian. It shall not stop us from our goals."
Dragoshi: "Yes. For now, we just need to figure out where exactly to go from here."
Illian MacGregor: "I shall let us rest, then we shall begin our plan for the next step. Even if the worst has happened... the Garrick clones are no longer an issue."
Dragoshi nods. "Understood, sir."
Illian MacGregor: "That is more than the Questers could ever have gotten in this situation. We shall remain resolute in the face of any adversity."
Dragoshi: "Of course. Can't let something like this trip us up. Is there anything else that needs to be addressed, or will that be all?"
Illian MacGregor: "For now... rest up. We shall discuss our next plans later."
Dragoshi nods in response, heading off in his own direction.
Metal Man (GM): And session over. I'll deal EXP after I think a bit.
Metal Man (GM): I'll let you start us off and throw up the flag here so I log it. Bonk bonk bedon--er, Garrick session
Garrick Fy`aar (GM): *The camera would cut to the Magnetic Wastes, a cracked and craggy area to the far, far north. This had been Garrick's home for the longest time and he was glad that it still existed to some extent in the transition between Nintendus and this new world. He would appear via warp in the middle of it, glancing around and grumbling for a while before walking northwards. There was an entrance to his underground lab there.*
Metal Man (GM): It's all as you left it. Side note, I'm amazed anyone remembers it because I only used it for a short time, then upped it with the X-zo--er anyway. Nobody touched it. The only person on this planet of any interest was the Mewtwo here, and he left. Ganondorf and Bowser know not to cause doomsday by risking a Quester attack too.
Garrick Fy`aar would eventually make it to his lab, unsealing the well hidden door and moving inside, sealing it behind him. He would immediately go to his stock room, speaking out loud as he did. "Computer, activate and run diagnostic on all connected technologies within the base, then run a full bio-scan on myself."
Metal Man (GM): Ah, one question. Running Nova or just a generic computer here? Keep in mind either is possible. Since the world re-instated in whatever the "best case" scenario would be.
Computer: "Affirmative. No unusual contaminants detected."
Garrick Fy`aar: "Any signs of DNA removal from me in the past week?" *He would start carrying various metal cases from the store room to a large work area on the western end of the lab, setting them down with dull thumps.*
Computer: "No signs of forced DNA removal. Reminder: Shed skin cells or hair could have been collected without touching your body at all."
Garrick Fy`aar: "Of course, of course... but the good stuff is internal... right."
Computer: "Additional data suggests you were harmed, then healed. Potentially, any blood that escaped would be a potential vector."
Garrick Fy`aar: "Computer, I need you to link up with the satellites in orbit and do a full scan of the planet. Locate my lifesigns no matter where they originate from."
Computer: "This planet has been scanned. Nintendus is not easily scannable, however." *You see the map of all the many regions... which are constantly shifting.* "You are the only person that matches your lifesigns."
Garrick Fy`aar: "Hrm... can you scan the other planet?"
Computer: "Alsa is not accessible from Nintendus. Following the Wulfgar invasion all contact between here and Alsa was sealed off. You must remember this as you would have had to use an indirect route."
Garrick Fy`aar: "Right... ...well, I'm going to have to build a way for me to get back to Alsa, then. ...which means I'm going to have to construct a warping device."
Computer: "The barrier was built by Red Text and The Hands. Breaching it is possible, but inadvisable. Indirect route suggested. The Signus system has no rulers and no rules, and connects to both worlds."
Garrick Fy`aar: "Indirect route, huh... For that, I'm going to need a ship."
Computer: "It also is reputed to be the home dimension of Xavier."
Garrick Fy`aar: "Oh joy."
Computer: "There is nothing there but a collection of asteroids orbiting a destroyed planetoid. It would be used more often if there were not so many reports of a 'Wing Fortress' robbing ships that stray too close to the asteroids.'"
Garrick Fy`aar groans, leaning against a wall... fully constructing a ship that would pierce the dimensional barrier with faster than light travel would take weeks, even months for him to build alone... "...maybe I can hitchhike... heh... computer, there isn't any ships in the system, is there?"
Computer: "Star Fox, Samus, Captain Falcon confirmed to have space ships. Additionally, remains of REDITS found on Stadium property. Last used by Smash Stadium Commander Yurie to travel to Saga. ...It is a rusted hulk filled with plants growing in it but the warp core is sealed inside."
Garrick Fy`aar: "Hrm... That could be helpful, but getting it here would be difficult..."
Computer: "Magnetic wastes make transport of any machinery difficult, 95% chance of magnetic distortion damaging anything electronic which stays in the area for more than one hour unshielded. ...Precisely why no one has found this base."
Garrick Fy`aar paces, frowning... "Okay, so, we have a warp core that can work, but no way to get it here without destroying it by the time I got it into the base. We could also bum a ride from someone, but that means asking one of the old Smashers to deal with Metal... not something anyone is willing to do... ...I could build the ship right in the stadium, but even with the warp core, we're talking months to get a fully working new ship off the ground..."
Computer: "Fox, Samus and Falcon are mercenaries."
Garrick Fy`aar: "Yeah, and sick of me, I'm sure."
Computer: "Enough coin will change their minds. Though all three are very expensive. Given they are the very best, at what they do."
Garrick Fy`aar: "Okay, okay, okay, what do we know... We need to get back to Alsa soon. Establish a base there, too, I'd imagine... For that, we need to pierce the barrier and we can't do that without space travel. For that we need a ship."
Computer: "Warning: Alsa continuously scanned by Red Text."
Garrick Fy`aar: "I could hire someone OR build my own... Computer, what do we have in terms of money? Do I have any old coins stored?"
Computer: "Only dead zone is within Jack's control. Your pension is in storage here on Nintendus, since you were considered retired."
Garrick Fy`aar: "Greaaaat... Amount?"
Computer: "32 thousand coins. Withdrawing it will however leave a record either Metal Man may encounter if they come here."
Metal Man (GM): Money note: That should be enough to pay the high fees of any of the mercenaries.
Garrick Fy`aar: "Hrm... ...alright... Can we fry the computers to raze the logs? Drop an EMP on them or something?"
Computer: "Yes. And attract the attention of Master and Crazy Hand, who ever since the Evil Wolfman incident seem to watch them and the Stadium like a hawk. They fear anything odd may mean another Evil Wolfman on the horizon."
Garrick Fy`aar: "Oh, for fuck... so anything I do will attract attention."
Computer: "Yes. Differing types. You are expected to use your pension, they will not mind it. But if either Metal visits they will notice it. It is a calculated risk."
Garrick Fy`aar: "...got to cover my tracks in some way... can you get my in contact with the Hands?"
Computer: "Yes, they are omniscient and most likely have an idea of you having visited here. They only are limited by what they pay attention to... which is rarely you or I, but rather the Smashers. Crazy, Master, or both?"
Garrick Fy`aar: "Master. I don't want to deal with Crazy Hand if I don't have to."
Metal Man (GM): Master Hand appears on the screen.
Garrick Fy`aar: "Master Hand... long time no see."
Master Hand: "Hm. So there is more to you coming back here. Why have you contacted me, Garrick? There had better not be another threat coming to Nintendus."
Garrick Fy`aar: "...it's POSSIBLE, but unlikely."
Master Hand: *Groan* "Just tell me what it is, so I can seal the realm off permanently and be done with it."
Garrick Fy`aar: "I'd rather you not, since all my stuff is here..."
Master Hand: "You can hide out here if you want, just as long as whatever it is gets sealed off for good."
Garrick Fy`aar: "Look, you needn't concern yourself with it now. Nothing is on its way here just yet."
Master Hand: "I do not want any more pests in this realm. I spent years building the worlds in it..."
Garrick Fy`aar: "And I'm planning on taking care of the issue myself."
Master Hand: "So you tell me what I have to do to make them go away."
Garrick Fy`aar: "I need my pension. And I need you to cover it up so it looks like I never talked to you or touched your computers."
Master Hand: "And why do you need it hidden?"
Garrick Fy`aar: "Because someone might come calling and asking where it went off to. I'm going to be tracked."
Master Hand: "If I don't know who, then I can't guarantee success."
Garrick Fy`aar: "...Metal."
Master Hand: "There is a physical vault and--hm. I banned him from this world, didn't I? ...But he's allowed to read it all the same... ...I would banish him from that, but he would know."
Garrick Fy`aar: "Things have gotten more complicated as of late."
Master Hand: "I will ensure nothing remains of a trace of the transaction. Metal has been a pain in my wrist for years."
Garrick Fy`aar: "Good... keep quiet about our little talk here. And make sure your brother doesn't go blabbing either."
Master Hand: "I isolate everything I do from him. He only comes in to act as my muscle."
Garrick Fy`aar: "Alright... it was good talking to you again, Master Hand. I'll try and keep from bothering you any further."
Master Hand: "Ideally, the villains here exist to help me destroy intruders to this realm, not attack me. Crazy just... forgot that for a time. Good. The less I have to interfere, the better. You shall have your coins, and your secrecy. Because it means less headaches for me."
Garrick Fy`aar: "Very good. Garrick out."
Metal Man (GM): The connection ends and a huge pile of coins appears.
Garrick Fy`aar: "Computer, establish a comm linkup with Samus Aran... she seemed the most sympathetic to my cause when I last saw her." *He makes sure the coins AREN'T on screen.*
Metal Man (GM): They are moved to the side by a good shove. Samus appears on screen.
Samus: "A Quester. This must be important. The Questers never think to talk to me."
Garrick Fy`aar: "Don't insult me, Samus. The Questers are long since dead, and rightly so. ...but I need your help."
Samus: "Just as I figured. They were as happy-go-lucky as my old teammates from that Phazon incident. You need my help? What is the mission?"
Garrick Fy`aar: "Transportation and possible protection."
Samus: "Who is after you?"
Garrick Fy`aar: "No one, as of yet, but where we're going might attract some attention."
Samus: "Well. Name the area and I'll prepare. For the normal price, of course. When you were a Quester, Master Hand could force my hand. But now... well, you're just like me. A lone agent."
Garrick Fy`aar: "There's a system a distance away from here, sending you coordinates..." *He does so* "...and might attract the attention of an old foe of mine. I need passage for me and some equipment. We'll be going to this place, breaking through the dimensional barrier, then returning to Alsa, where I will depart."
Samus: "That system. Figures. The only Phazon fiend left in the universe. I've been waiting for an excuse to destroy him."
Garrick Fy`aar: "He's going to be more of a challenge than you think... from what I hear, he's arming."
Samus: "I spent years wiping out phazon and he somehow replicates it solely for his own amusement. If he is arming then he must be stopped before he becomes the next Dark Samus."
Garrick Fy`aar: "There's nothing we can do about it as of now."
Samus: "Phazon does horrible things to people... I will assist you through this system. ...Then consider destroying him myself."
Garrick Fy`aar: "...Samus."
Samus: "You will... be at your destination safely before then."
Garrick Fy`aar: "I can't tell you what to do, but I always considered you somewhat sane. Don't bite off more than you can chew."
Samus: "I am well aware of his reputation. I watched him grow into the monster he is now. Master Hand told me never to attack him despite his obvious evil."
Garrick Fy`aar: "...alright. So, passage to the Alsa system by way to this... other place... what will this cost me?"
Samus: "25,000 coins. I charge less than average because I consider the fights themselves valuable. Enemies drop things. As long as you let me collect their dropped items you will be good."
Garrick Fy`aar: "You can take what you want. I only ask to look at it before I give it to you. Should it come to that."
Samus: "You may look at it, scan it even, but it shall belong to me in the end."
Garrick Fy`aar: "Agreed."
Samus: "I will prepare my ship. In one day I shall arrive, take half my payment and you, then once the trip is successful I will take the other half of payment."
Garrick Fy`aar: "I will see you then."
Samus: "Affirmative. Samus out." *Click.*
Garrick Fy`aar sighs and bends over the console, breathing in and out slowly... he was getting too old for this... "...alright...24 hours. That should give me enough time to work on something... but what..."' *He walked over to the metal cases and chose one that was smaller than the rest, setting it on the table and opening it. Inside was a series of parts and a mostly completed gun. It was different than anything else he had made, a work in progress... and old, from the looks of it.* "...if I'm going against these people, I'm going to need to be prepared for whatever they throw at me. I need to take it in stride and keep pushing. This, I think, is my best shot... I can't use it on Nintendus, but Alsa..."
Computer: "Alsans are classified as one of the more hostile races in the galaxy. Extreme prejudice is often required."
Garrick Fy`aar: "...but I've got to solve my biggest problem first. I need to be able to mask myself from Red Text's scans."
Computer: "Highly difficult, Red Text has a scanning index which even Borne cannot stop without a full fledged dimension barrier. Suspected to be due to Magitek influence."
Garrick Fy`aar: "Red Text's scanning is Magitek based...?"
Computer: "Yes."
Garrick Fy`aar: "...then the only way to counter that would be with Magitek."
Computer: "The updated information you obtained from Illian explained that many of Red Text's advances were due to magitek."
Garrick Fy`aar looks at his hands for a moment before trying to pull at the Magitek. It seemed so easy on Alsa, it can't all be gone on Nintendus...
Metal Man (GM): The mountain of coins is insanely tempting. It feels like you have an entire ocean trying to pour through a door you opened just slightly. Smash Energy was fried. Nobody even thought to test for Magitek. They all thought Xavier made it up. It's there, such that you would be able to use it as before.
Garrick Fy`aar: "Computer, keep a continuous bioscan on me... I don't want to accidentally cause some serious incident and have the Hands all over me."
Computer: "Currently there appears to be nothing other than magitek energy. No mutations."
Garrick Fy`aar would move over to the pile of coins and pile some into a bag. Five thousand was really all he could spare with this. He hoped it would be enough... "Okay... the goal is enhancing my current tech to hide myself from Red Text's scans... probably all scans, if I can wrangle it... here goes nothing..."
Metal Man (GM): Now... roll a MNT check.
Garrick Fy`aar set the bag of coins on the table in front of him and slapped his hands together in a loud clap before muttering under his breath, pulling at the coins in front of him for power.
Metal Man (GM): Darn it, I was going to do a fakeout where you roll poorly and then I go "PSYCHE! That was old me! I'm not stupid anymore, so we don't rely on those anymore!" You create a golden wristwatch, with invisible hands on it you can only see! It has an extra button that makes you invisible.
Garrick Fy`aar: "..."
Metal Man (GM): Hm... seems rather The Spy themed. Should work...
Garrick Fy`aar: "...so suddenly I'm the spy. ...awfully gaudy for me, though." *He slips the watch over his wrist, locking it into place.*
Computer: "Being made entirely out of coins, the magitek probably assumed you wanted golden material."
Garrick Fy`aar: "Magitek is dumb like that. I'm not Jack."
Computer: "Past examples normally used other objects to help guide its direction. Otherwise... gold."
Garrick Fy`aar: "I was TRYING to integrate it into my suit... whatever. Let's just hope it'll last long enough that I can get somewhere where Red Text can't find me. Alright... now we wait."
Metal Man (GM): Indeed. End Session.
Metal Man (GM): Time to intro... finally.
King Demon: *Zzzzzzzzzz.* *Sleeping in the cockpit of Metal's ship.*
Metal Man (GM): Intro. The Wing Fortress approaches the ruins of Xavier's homeworld. Asteroids hover everywhere, as chaotic bits of lightning arc between them. At the center of it all is a huge chunk of the planet, barely suspended by a series of field generators. The asteroids violently pummel Xavier's ship as he moves in to land. On the bridge with him is Ederick Holmes.
Xavier Ridgecrest: "Here is where my base of operations is. It's also where we're going to prepare for the upcoming battle. Now that we have the Time Cop Core, we can outrun anything Illian has. So now we need to figure out how to actually kill him and his goons."
Metal Man (GM): Continuation. The planetoid piece looms large in the window, revealing that it is in fact a military base... one with almost no oxygen, filled with craters and fires that never go out.
King Demon: "So... nice."
Ederick Holmes sits back in a chair, feet up on a control console and hands behind his head. "Sounds like the beautiful start to a plan."
Metal Man (GM): It was implied he was on the Wing Fortress, so... yes. Ederick would notice Demon walk out from another room.
Xavier Ridgecrest: "Ah. Ederick, meet my friend, King Demon. One of the initial 5 Questers. And he is all mine. Mine! ...I mean on our side."
Ederick Holmes sits up and holds out a hand. "Howdy, nice to meet'cha. Eddy Holmes is the name."
King Demon: "Uh... yeah..." *Looks at the 'planet' outside the ship* "Nice place." *Shakes Eddy's hand* "Demon. Good to meet ya."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "With that done, I shall now go to land."
Metal Man (GM): He begins flying it towards a massive anomaly in the center of the base. The systems wildly begin to malfunction along with the lights. The ship shakes violently as Xavier casually turns the engines off.
Ederick Holmes: "Hey, uh, boss. Don't we need those to land?"
Xavier Ridgecrest: "This anomaly will do that for us. That's the reason nobody can follow us here. Go in here with the engines on and you'll be blown to bits. It's a concentrated hole in time itself."
King Demon: "... Remind me when I can randomly hit buttons again, will ya?"
Xavier Ridgecrest: "Of course. ... ...Don't do it now, I've precisely calibrated them using the most random choices available."
Metal Man (GM): The ship shakes and bumps some more, before landing inside a hangar. The sky above is completely white.
King Demon: "Yeah, sure." *Shrugs* "I just haven't gotten to smash anything in a while."
Metal Man (GM): The hangar has a rusted mess and "ERASTIAN DEFENSE FORCE" plastered on it. All around are... dead soldiers, who look like they died minutes ago. The ship opens up, and Xavier goes to exit.
Xavier Ridgecrest: "Don't mind them. They're stuck that way forever. Ael's Time Attack began here, and this area was frozen in time forever. Trying to move them is like touching a brick wall."
King Demon: "That sounds like a dare..."
Ederick Holmes makes a quick check to ensure he has everything and follows the bossman out. "No worries about us getting stuck that way, right?"
Xavier Ridgecrest: "No worries at all. It only did that to whoever was present when it happened. And Ael is dead, so... It's not like it can happen again. Only he would realize this place's potential as a hiding place. Partially why I needed him to die. He's gone now, so we can hang out here and no one will know where we are, even if they figured out how to track the Time Cop Core. Now, today I'm going to add to our team and our weapons all in one." *He walks to a door at the end of the hangar and opens it up.*
King Demon: "Uh... right... so what are we supposed to do in the meantime?"
Xavier Ridgecrest: "What I just said, actually. We go out and add to our team and weapons... as a team. It's not so big a deal." *He turns on the console in the middle of this room... it's like a holo-table.* "We just kill the Elite Erastian Guard in their main fortress, where the last remains of their entire empire hold out as a never-ending vigil hoping a few people they sent for help come back for vengeance on me and also the Time Cops. Just a few massive space ships, a fortress armed to the teeth and hordes of very ticked off, brainwashed fascist soldiers willing to fight to the death."
Ederick Holmes: "Sounds like we're a bit outmatched."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "Of course we are. That's why we don't fight fair. We have a Time Cop Core. If I hook it up to a weapon I dredged from this base, it will create a massive tornado of time energy, utterly discombobulating the entire place. Then we wander through the mess, shooting anybody still living or sane, and get what we want. Mostly their sweet armory and a bounty hunter who they seem to have imprisoned. Any questions?"
Ederick Holmes shakes his head. "Let's get to the shooting and looting."
Metal Man (GM): He leans on the hologram of their base, which is 5 stories tall and bristling with laser cannons.
Xavier Ridgecrest: "Right. I'll just grab out can opener."
Metal Man (GM): He digs in the floor and rips out--still plugged in with live wires, mind you--a huge funnel shaped object device.
Xavier Ridgecrest: "Normally, this concentrates their energy to power bases like this."
Metal Man (GM): The lights dim.
Xavier Ridgecrest: "They didn't realize it can also focus Time Energy into a destructive maelstrom. It's energy-agnostic."
King Demon: *Shrugs.*
Metal Man (GM): He walks back to the ship.
Ederick Holmes follows him back.
King Demon: "Energy... WHAT!?" *Follows.*
Xavier Ridgecrest: "They made it to use any energy, due to a lack of energy on their end. I know, I served in their military. The armor I wear is the same they use. Mostly."
King Demon: "Any energy, huh?" *He lights his hand on fire, smirking.*
Xavier Ridgecrest: "They hated a lot of things. Freedom, critical thought... bright colors..."
Metal Man (GM): He would go back onto the ship and power it on.
King Demon: "Borne must have been REALLY popular with them."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "Actually he would be annoying to them. They do not like commanders who directly fight the enemy. Nor do they like machines that think for themselves."
King Demon: "Well, that WAS supposed to be a sarcastic comment..."
Metal Man (GM): The ship rips out of the white-out area and now begins to fly towards the base in question. Xavier wires the cone into the Time Cop Core and points it at the base.
Xavier Ridgecrest: "Brace for it..."
King Demon: "We have seatbelts?"
Xavier Ridgecrest: "...I'm the only one with a chair, actually. Hold on to something."
Metal Man (GM): The comms beeps. A man appears... a man with a wrinkled face and a red fist icon on his hat.
Ederick Holmes kneels down and secures himself against the nearest wall.
Legion General Antonius: "This is Legion General Antonius. You are intervening in Erastian Airspace. Land and be executed for this action. Or resist, so that we have a reason to slowly torture you to death."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "Hi Anty! What's up?"
Legion General Antonius: "...You again... You will be ripped to shreds for what you have done, traitor. Allow me to destroy your ship as a prelude to the infinite horrors that will visit you."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "Watch me press this button and shut you up instead!"
Legion General Antonius: "Like that is--"
Metal Man (GM): The core glows violently. A massive beam hits the fortress... and all the rooms suddenly fly around like pinballs. Time cracks like an egg and bits and pieces fly everywhere, some smashing into the windshield. An atonal screeching noise occurs and the sky turns all sorts of unearthly noises. When it ends, the base is basically a gigantic floating wrecked jigsaw puzzle. The image of Antonius is split like a broken mirror. It fades out slowly.
Xavier Ridgecrest: "Right. Now to go and fetch the goodies. Just be wary. There's guards everywhere. I've done something similar so they aren't just going to be dead."
King Demon: "Ok, that's cool. Got a handheld version?"
Xavier Ridgecrest: "...No, unfortunately. We can work on making one after we steal this bases' stuff though!"
King Demon: "Damn... wonder if we can find some research into making one..."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "They have more of these... cones in there. Just one caveat."
King Demon: "That works!" *Smirks* "Let's go!'"
Metal Man (GM): He picks the melted ruins of the old focus funnel off of the Core.
Xavier Ridgecrest: "It eats through these like candy. Indeed. It's killing time!" *Lands ship and runs out.*
King Demon heads out, drawing his gun and looking around.
Metal Man (GM): So... You walk towards the base. The field causes a ringing in your ears, which then fades.
King Demon: "Ugh... shoulda taken some Tylenol before we disembarked..."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "Hm, yes, I may have underestimated the effects of it... a little."
Metal Man (GM): The main door in is locked. Or was, anyway. It's floating far away from the entrance. You can walk right in. The base has two-toned tiles and steel walls.
Xavier Ridgecrest: "At least we don't have any annoying doors to deal with."
Metal Man (GM): The first obstacle is another man wearing the same armor as Xavier. Only he has some sort of huge machinegun and is standing in front of a bulkhead.
King Demon: "Yeah... no doors, huh?"
Erastian Soldier "So, the infamous traitor shows himself. You will not pass this space, fiends! The technology which you stole has been upgraded. I can kill all of you without taking mortal damage."
King Demon: "Did he just call us traitors and friends in the same sentence?"
Erastian Soldier "You're deaf, aberration. I called you a fiend. Which is what you are!"
Ederick Holmes: "If we can't kill you, maybe we'll just knock you over like a turtle."
Xavier Ridgecrest: "You guys kill this annoyance. I'm going to break the bulkhead."
King Demon: "Oh... yeah, that sounds more accurate." *Shrugs.*
Erastian Soldier "Who do you think you are, Rebel, ordering around fools?"
King Demon: "Can we just shoot him yet?"
Xavier Ridgecrest: "I'm the Time Bandit, and you're about to become metallic paste! Say hello to Antonius for me!"
Erastian Soldier "...You demand your death. So be it!"
Metal Man (GM): He raises the gun and... BATTLE.
Ederick Holmes takes out his mechgun and ignites his photon dagger. "Alrighty then!"
Metal Man (GM): Roll END checks. Demon: Roll a q10. Order: Demon, Ederick, Soldier. Once without using any Stamina. It costs more to add on any role abilities, which is defined by the Stamina use of each Role Ability. The amount you rolled at the start of battle is your starting stamina. So 10 currently.
King Demon aims for the soldier's eyes and shoots once.
Metal Man (GM): No, an AGI one to-hit for that. Hit. 3 over his AC. Damage? Remember to add STR to your damage. In this case, STR + your weapon's added damage. 7 damage after DR.
Erastian Soldier "Pah! Worthless!"
King Demon: "Aww, damn, I was hoping I poked his eye out!"
Erastian Soldier "There's a reason we have 5 inch plexiglass visors, you know."
Ederick Holmes rushes up to the soldier, trying to target a weakpoint in his armor and strike him with his daggers.
Metal Man (GM): 7 over his AC. He doesn't move much. Rather he is just tough. Not as tough as Xavier as he hasn't spent forever reinforcing his armor but, you can tell where Xavier's toughness comes from. 24 damage after DR.
Erastian Soldier "I will reduce you to dust, fiends!"
King Demon: "You and what army?"
Erastian Soldier "I AM the army!"
Metal Man (GM): He opens fire on both of you with his Explosion attack ability, combined with an attempt to knock both of you off of your feet. 11 base damage. 10 more if he scored 2 over. 10 more on top of that if he scored 4 over your AC. Also, -1 stamina if he hit you with it. He also uses 1 stamina for using the role ability. I think Ederick did the same with his Target attack as well. Note how all Role abilities cost some stamina now. Yes. Order: Demon 9, Ederick 4, Soldier 4.
King Demon: *Rushes the soldier, pulling out his sword as he does so* "Metal's head is detachable, let's see if yours is too!" *Aims at the man going for a kill swipe.*
Metal Man (GM): Yeah, the trip attack from the Soldier ate the stamina point. And... That's AGI, actually. AGI for the to-hit. Reroll... Yeah, just reroll in this case. Yes. Hit, 4 over. Ok. 12 after DR. Might pause after this, to be quite honest I feel strangely zombie-like and it's not working so well for GMing. Doesn't feel up to my standards.
Ederick Holmes continues to try and chink away at the soldier's armor.
Metal Man (GM): 6 over. That said, we have ourselves more data on the system. Today so far I have learned... don't make nemies with so much HP. 24 damage after DR.
Metal Man (GM): +300 EXP to Aribar and Demon, +100 to Xao for watching.
Metal Man (GM): METAL MAN IS REALLY SLOW AT DOING THESE THINGS AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA -> LOADING -> ?????????? *CLICK* The job started simple enough. Xao had been hired to kill a maniac named Antonius. He'd been hiding on a hellish half-planet that had been exploded. Antonius was the last major leader of the Erastians, an evil group of mass murdering fascists. It was pretty simple, really. He had few guards. He was only there because nobody dared go to that planet. Because of this dreaded "Xavier" who apparently lived there. Xao had gone in to do the job, professional-like as always... when some weird time traveling git pushed him over and got him spotted. Before he could fire a shot, eight guys in metal armor had deathrays pointed at him. Xao is now in the laser-prison of their base. He'd been there for days, starved and not treated well. These people were trying to break him down so they could get the info on who hired him. But even he didn't know their exact name! Prison Cell, Astos base. Xao is there now, the laser bars still up. He has no weapons and the guard out front is busy smoking a cigarette.
Xao is busily perfecting an overhand shuffle. "Weird time traveling git... what were the odds my day would wind up so thoroughly scrapped. I don't suppose you have time for a quick game, friend?"
Erastian Guard: "Shaddup in there, goddamn assassin! That's the third time! I'll shoot you myself, but... the Emperor said no! God, I hate this post."
Metal Man (GM): He takes out his laser gun, and stares at it.
Erastian Guard: "Why did they give me this f#$%in' thing if I never was supposed to use it? This day can't get any worse. Ed was supposed to do this but they put HIM on front door duty today!"
Xao: "Shiny. Did they teach you how to use it, too?"
Erastian Guard: "Of course they did, you snarky sonuvab@#ch. There was once an empire here, you know. The best f#$%in' place in the galaxy. Then this one mo#$erf#$ing maniac blew it all up to save himself. The guy who pushed you looked like that @#$@head, you know? Maybe he screwed you over too! So tell us who paid you and we can let you off this festering rock."
Xao: "Come now, you really don't think that's likely to happen, do you?"
Erastian Guard: "...No. I just want to get off of f#$%in' guard duty and find out what has Antonius so plastered to his viewscreen these days. You'd think it was some repeat of that--"
Xao: *One would think that was almost loud, the way you describe it.*
Metal Man (GM): The entire place shakes up and falls apart, the floors get aligned on the walls and everyone is thrown around, yourself included. The bars shut off. He gets up and points his gun at you.
Erastian Guard: "Don't go anywhere, chuckle@#$%! That was the mark of the Destroyer! He'll kill you too!"
Xao: "The what, now?"
Erastian Guard: "The one who blew up this planet. He appeared twice in one spot and caused some Time Sentinel to go nuts and blow us up. Everyone within a continent of the event died. We're the poor @#$%ers who didn't die in that explosion!"
Xao: "So. Counting up these facts in front of me... there's an entity who previously blew up a planet, committed near-genocide, and has just reappeared. And yet you find me the more credible threat to counter with that fine firearm?"
Erastian Guard: "Yes! Now come with me, if you don't want to become a statistic! Or don't... then I can laugh at your @#$%ing stupidity."
Xao: "Sir, I'm honored."
Erastian Guard: "You can't shoot the Destroyer."
Xao pockets his deck and rises to follow.
Erastian Guard: "He's not human. He's not Erastian. He's a... a... thing! I can shoot you. But no. Antonius wanted you ALIVE."
Xao: "Bigger than a breadbox, even?"
Erastian Guard: "So god damn it, you're going to live! He's a man... like one of our soldiers... Except he laughs all the time, because death is his friend and the screams of his victims are his meals. He'll rip us both to pieces without even knowing what race we are!"
Metal Man (GM): He then walks up some stairs. Crooked, but still there.
Xao glances around quickly - any sign of my equipment?
Metal Man (GM): You see a fine sword... impaled into the wall and bent into bizarre angles. That warp effect that blew the place up really messed it up. The stairs are at weird angles too. The Guard has to keep bending his head to walk up them.
Xao: *Alright, then. Xao will follow at a slow pace, taking his time to ensure his footing on this wonkiness.*
Metal Man (GM): Xao follows along, and eventually the two reach the main room. Antonius is in there, livid. He stares at a monitor showing a huge flying ship and then, at you and the guard.
Legion General Antonius: "What is the meaning of this? BACK TO YOUR POST RANDALL!"
Xao snickers.
Randall: "Sir, sir! The post is destroyed! This is the only room that makes any @#$%in' sense here anymore!"
Legion General Antonius: "...So be it. I do not issue pardons. But I might get into the business of it if it avails me. You there, whatever your name is. Do you wish to serve your sentence to the empire as a soldier?"
Randall: "You've got to be @#$%in' kidding me! That guy's half starved and tried to kill you!"
Legion General Antonius: "I have all of five remaining guards, and one of them is slowly being torn to pieces by what is literally a demon. Do YOU want to walk out and be the next one?"
Randall: "No... no sir." *He seems sobered by that remark.*
Xao: "And that's the Destroyer you mentioned?"
Legion General Antonius: "Yes. He eats souls and spits out nails. He'll eat your soul too, if you don't kill him. But if you succeed... or just get him to go away... I have the coordinates of all our treasury that remains, hidden away on a distant planet. It would all be yours."
Randall: "You're @#$in' me, sir. We can't give it away like that!"
Legion General Antonius: "If we're dead, we won't be ALIVE to spend it! ...And know that there is no shame in failure. Many good men have tried to kill the destroyer and failed. So... what do you think, prisoner?"
Metal Man (GM): Note: You can either run away, risk your life trying to kill him bare-handed, or take his offer. Or make something else up. I like choices in my games. Also, small brb.
Xao: "There's a certain flair I find... lacking in your offer thus far. You should know by now I liked the odds of dealing with you in a more... direct fashion. But a... what was the phrase you used, Randall? A -thing- which can devour souls, the treasury of an empire, and what seems to be a tragically short service... it lacks the thrill of a viable gamble. Let's just say you can count on my desire to survive and keep my soul wherever it may metaphysically happen to be at this moment."
Legion General Antonius: "Acceptable. If you will not fight the Destroyer, then... assist us in leaving this cursed base."
Randall: "What do you need HIM for?"
Xao: "The odds, however, might increase in your favor if you were to return certain effects which were removed from my person, when I first arrived here?"
Legion General Antonius: "Oh. Yes. If you want your things to destroy the Destroyer..."
Metal Man (GM): He would point outside the door, dead ahead.
Legion General Antonius: "I already have them there, in the now destroyed armory. You may take them and anything else you want. But you will be locked out from here, until you complete your mission."
Xao: "Fair enough, sir - no security measures, drones, trip wires, laser fields, or other nasty little habits I'll need to notice?"
Legion General Antonius: "We had lots of those, but the Destroyer blew them up. Mind any malfunctioning laser fences. My remaining soldiers will assist you as well. Strength in numbers, after all."
Xao heads for the designated door. "Consider them minded, sir. My thanks for my effects - and good luck."
Legion General Antonius: "Randall, however, will guide me... for the specific displeasure of contravening my will, he must be spared the glory of battle."
Randall: "..." *He just slumps against the wall.*
Metal Man (GM): The door opens, then slams behind you. You see a room in flames up ahead. It's been turned sideways. Dead guys are thrown about everywhere. You hear fighting in the distance. Your equipment is there on the floor. Also many of the rifles these guys use and a weird hand-held device you have no clue what the purpose of it is.
Xao: *I'll just gather my things up first, then - situate my holster and keep a round chambered in the .45, but in the holster.*
Metal Man (GM): You get your things. They're in good condition.
Xao: *Once that's settled, I'll take a closer look at the hand-held device.*
Metal Man (GM): The device is a black hockey puck made of stone with weird runes all over it. It feels warm. Is it the fire or the device? Who knows. It feels balanced for throwing.
Xao: *I'll pocket it in an outside pocket on my coat.*
Metal Man (GM): You put it there. Anything else to do with this room? The fighting is down... stairs... There are no stairs, just a ramp made of rubble.
Xao: *Yes - I'll take a quick check of the rifles, see if any look like they're in proper working order, and set whichever one looks best leaning against the wall next to the... ramp. Then head downramps.*
Metal Man (GM): You walk down the ramp and see three guys in metal armor.
Erastian Soldier2: "Hey. It's the prisoner. Antonius' own prisoner. So precious."
Erastian Soldier3: "No armor or anything, just walking to his death."
Erastian Soldier4: "Would you two knock it off? I want to live here."
Erastian Soldier2: "Oh, so now he's your friend too?"
Erastian Soldier4: "Ed's being torn apart by a demon. That door is the only thing between us and also being torn to bits."
Erastian Soldier2: "Precisely why I'm not opening it!"
Erastian Soldier3: "The Emperor's toy can do it for us if he wants. Or not. I'm fine with hanging out here."
Xao: "Shame, gents. You're on duty - it's hardly the time to be sitting around playing cards." *He idly starts shuffling in his left hand.*
Erastian Soldier2: "I could go for a game right now actually. This Destroyer @#$% is a bunch of lies. That's a demon out there, not the Destroyer."
Erastian Soldier3: "I still think we should help Ed."
Erastian Soldier2: "Only because he owes you money!"
Erastian Soldier4: "I'd leave if the Emperor wouldn't kill me the second I moved away from guarding his door."
Erastian Soldier3: "Well, it's a valid reason, you know. He lost big to me in the last game."
Xao: "It's a bit simpler than that, boys. The rather angry chap, Destroyer or not, will be coming through that door momentarily, correct?"
Erastian Soldier2: "Yeap, he will. Or so they say. I think it's just some raiders."
Xao: "It seems to me that Ed is rather nicely paying off his debt by giving him something to shoot at, then."
Erastian Soldier3: "Raiders don't fire dimensional cannons at us, Bob!"
Xao: "Or would you rather wait and deal with our dear friend when he can give his full attention to you?"
Erastian Soldier2: "Eh, if you wanna go in there, you go. I'm hanging out here."
Erastian Soldier3: "Let's go while there is still an Ed to save!"
Erastian Soldier4: "I'm doomed either way. Your choice, prisonery guy."
Xao pulls a cheap paper deck out of a back pocket and tosses it to the reticent soldier. "Enjoy yourself, chap. That one's been rather forthcoming in solitaire."
Erastian Soldier2: *Catches it* "Maybe I can beat a game for once while you kill the non-emergency out there."
Xao heads to the door, heading out first and low. "Give it a sec and come on, then?"
Erastian Soldier3: "Whatever you say, Emperor's Errand Boy."
Erastian Soldier4: "Y-yes sire..."
Metal Man (GM): The door is locked. You can push a button to open it. You hear fighting outside.
Xao: *I'll push it, then peek around the doorframe when it opens. Provided gunfire, explosions, or the like aren't coming out through it.*
Metal Man (GM): You push it... You here, Demon? You there? You're up now. The door up ahead opens, Demon, after you just finished mostly defeating the soldier. You don't SEE anyone there, though. Xao: You see... Demon. Demon: Describe yourself.
King Demon: *Is beating up on the soldier, and apparently having a bit of fun in the process Is a 7 foot tall... well, demon... with wings and claws, brown hair all over his body and a pig-like snout... as well as horns protruding from his head.*
Ed: "Ow! Argh! My spleen!"
Metal Man (GM): Ed is not dead. He has a ton of HP in fact. But he isn't gonna last long.
Ed: "You... won't... pass!"
King Demon: *Shrugs* "You didn't need your spleen anyway." *Is holding a beamsword... what is he, a Jedi!?*
Metal Man (GM): Demon: Ed is no longer really a factor, and the door just opened right up for you. You can try to kill off Ed, or go forward.
King Demon shrugs and just punches Ed as he walks by him toward the door.
Xao: "Excuse me?" *Pokes his head around the door frame.*
Metal Man (GM): Now for Xao to describe himself for Demon.
Xao: *Is a slightly taller than average human, shaggy hair starting to turn grey, cloth overcoat, and pockets. Lots and lots of pockets.*
Metal Man (GM): Demon would see Xao. What you two do next, up to you.
King Demon: *Looks at Xao curiously* "Hmmm? Another soldier?" *Smirks and readies his sword.*
Xao: "I take it you're the one responsible for-" *Looks around the twisted rooms* "-this?"
King Demon: "Oh... well, partially, yeah."
Xao: "So then you're also the one responsible for- " *Reveals the deck of cards in his left hand, drawing and holding out a four of clubs* "-this?"
King Demon: "Uh..." *Not sure what that's supposed to mean.*
Xao points out a notch knocked into the corner of the card. "The deck's not much good to me now, now that your explosion went and shook everything up. If you're going to take over my contract the least you could do is replace it."
King Demon: "Contract?" *Looks around, suddenly wondering where the hell everyone else went.*
Metal Man (GM): Ed is passed out and you can make out some soldiers in the distance.
Xao: "Antonius, the gent running this place? I imagine you're/you'd be the one(s) who took up the offer after I fell out of contact."
Metal Man (GM): Ederick has vanished, and Xavier was apparently hanging out further behind working on something. Or maybe he got distracted by a shiny nickel. You could go back to check. The field inside the anomaly messes with time so you're not entirely sure.
King Demon: "You might have to ask the one who owns the ship we arrived on about fulfilling a contract... What was the contract, anyway?"
Xao looks at the limp, misshapen form of Ed, then back to the demon. "You have to ask?"
King Demon: "Oh, him?" *Shrugs* "Knock yourself out... he's already knocked out, so..."
Xao: "Unfortunately, I don't get bonuses for extra work done. But if you're not here to kill Antonius, then... if you don't mind my asking?"
King Demon: "Actually, I think I am supposed to be finding that guy. You wouldn't happen to know where he is, would you?"
Xao: "That depends on how you are with sealed doors and walls. Back where I came from, past a few guards playing solitaire and a nice little ramp of a stairwell you'll find the armory, as well as a door leading back to the man himself. If you can get through it, that is - he seemed to think it wouldn't open until I'd dealt with 'the Destroyer.' You, I'm presuming."
King Demon: "Nah, it's not me... I don't think." *Shrugs* "Considering I'd never heard of Antonio until about an hour ago..."
Metal Man (GM): The soldiers behind would be looking to Xao. Apparently waiting on the 'go' word or something. Nothing going on behind Demon at the moment, yet.
King Demon: "Show me the door, I guess."
Xao: "Hold on one moment - can you deal with a couple of Ed's friends? They could use a nice stretch and warmup."
King Demon: "Exercise?" *Smirks* "Sounds like fun!"
Metal Man (GM): You can then go on in and attack the soldiers, or... something else. Your choice. Also my head hurts, we'll probably pause after this choice.
Xao walks back towards the door, calling to the soldiers - "Just some raiders, come on lads!"
Metal Man (GM): The soldiers run in to attack, charging with their guns blazing.
King Demon: "... Raiders?" *Yeah, he's a bit confused, though when he sees the soldiers, he gets into a fighting stance once more* "Oh, good!"
Metal Man (GM): And we'll pause here. Sorry about that, but I have a headache. @_@ +300 EXP to Xao, +100 to Demon.