Navi Net-Shop

The helpful prog had to wait a moment before he was greeted; it had approached TempoMan himself, and the navi was just finishing up a separate call, a small data screen in front of his eyes.

"No, the store is safe. No-one was hurt. Yes, I think there might be at least one navi in danger. Of course, I'll have the store security footage forwarded. Of course. Thank you." After another moment, the opaque screen slid away and TempoMan turned to the prog.

"Sorry about that. What can I do for you?" He nodded at each request in turn while the prog relayed its orders. "That's right. One moment." The store-navi quickly retrieved the requested upgrades and passed them across to the hovering prog after he did a cursory check of the payment. "There you are. thank you for shopping, and do let your owner know that their business is always appreciated." With a last nod, he concluded the transaction and waved the prog on its way.

==

Kemix Get: HPMem 1, Knockback Shot, PUv2-4
Kemix Lose: 2900z

“Will do! Thank you, good sir!” The program would speak before taking the upgrades and floating out of the store. One more stop for the “fatass” navi Ava had before he could go elsewhere.

A piercing black light slammed into the network, the resultant particles quickly reforming into a fluid, black form. A luminous blue globe followed from the sky, crashing into the inky black form in a burst of brilliant azure light. A moment later, a slender blue-and-white netnavi took her first wobbly, uncertain steps into Suitachi’s online navi shop.

Tem frowned, her focus entirely on staying balanced in this unfamiliar body. She flexed her fingers on her right hand experimentally - first individually, then all at once - before suddenly tightening them into a fist. Instantly, a small display burst into existence next to her right arm, containing a list of navi components and a note from Suien. She sighed with exasperation as she read the hastily-typed communique.

Tem, tbh I’m a lil buzzed rn. I figured out the SP stuff, but I trust u to do shopping 4 Rass. Stay out of trouble and return to PET if u rnt feeling good

Well at least gesture commands seem to work she thought, closing the window with a snap of her fingers, Honestly, when I told Suien I wanted to practice my movement subroutines while the main body was still in stasis, I was hoping for a slightly less… public… debut.

Looking for all the world like Tempoman’s intoxicated booth-babe, the former subsystem stumbled over to the storefront. Leaning into the counter for support in an unintentionally alluring way, she waved down TempoMan with her free hand.

“Greetings, TempoMan.EXE, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance,” she said in a bright, chipper tone, “I am in the market to procure a number of upgrades and was hoping that you might be able to assist me.”

Buster Upgrade 7: 7000
Buster Upgrade 8: 8000
Phasing Shot: 1500
Navicust Expansion 1: 1000
Navicust Expansion 2: 1250
Process Upgrade 11: 1100
Process Upgrade 12: 1200
Process Upgrade 13: 1300
Process Upgrade 14: 1400
Process Upgrade 15: 1500
First Armor x5: 12500
Fast Armor: 5000
Process Edit: 140

Total: 42,890Z

By the time Tem had tested out her new autonomy and made her way to the counter, TempoMan had zipped across to greet her with a smile. Despite the open field on her unintentional posing, the shop-keeper retained a professional focus on her face, except where he was obviously checking to make sure she wasn't going to fall and hurt or break anything.

"Easy there miss, welcome!" He opened his mouth as though to continue some kind of longer greeting, or maybe to ask what she needed, but Tem was quick to respond with a well ordered list of parts and with a level of clear articulation that seemed to catch the store-navi off guard, juxtaposed against her unsteady demeanour. He nodded instead.

"That won't be a problem at all. One moment." He ducked behind the counter briefly, then returned with several small data packets. "Starting from base level expansions today? What number process firmware does you navigator need? Oh, and if it's all for the same navigator, you don't need to worry about the process edit at all - one comes built into every process upgrade as standard these days, so you're already all set for that." A few other small questions followed as TempoMan discerned what version numbers of different parts Rass was up to, but after an efficient back and forth Tem was presented with the neat stack and her payment taken.

"There you go! Some hefty defence there. Good luck out there, and come again if you need anything else!"

==

Suien LOSE: 42750z ((NB: Process edit not necessary, so not deducted))

Suin GET: Buster Upgrades v7 & 8, Phasing Shot, NaviCust v1 & 2, PU v11 through 15, Fast Armour NCP, First Armour NCP x5

Tem blinked. TempoMan’s courteous response and prompt service caught her completely off-guard. Despite her syrupy tone, she had expected some sort of pigheaded comment from the cobalt-blue shop navi and had taken the liberty of preparing a number of cutting retorts in advance. When no such comment came, she found herself staring at TempoMan instead, a slight blush coloring her cheeks.

Catching herself, she quickly shifted her body and pushed off the counter with a stumble. “I, uh… thanks,” she muttered, her upper body swaying as she managed a small wave, “I’m sure we’ll be back before too long.”

As she turned away and started walking toward the exit, the former subsystem felt warmth in her face, the corners of her lips drawing upward into an involuntary grin. Touching her cheeks with her gloved hands, Tem furrowed her brow in contemplation, which, surprisingly, failed to suppress her smile.

That’s… new. she thought, as she initialized a jack-out command and disappeared in a stream of black light.

A Mr. Prog bobbed into the Net-Shop. In a departure from the typical design, this one was gunmetal-grey, with vaguely-canine features that mostly boiled down to two triangular points sticking from the top of its head, and a ':3' face in place of the usual wide grin. More notable was the Navi, clad in a red skinsuit and armour the same shade as the Prog, holding onto its shoulder and following it inside with unsure steps. "NOW ENTERING: TEMPOMAN'S NAVI NET SHOP, BARK BARK!" the GuideProg announced cheerfully, complete with fully voiced onomatopoeia.

"Thanks," ScorchMan replied, tinder-dry. The noise of the shop's bustle was impressive, though confusing; he kept hearing the same voice jump wildly around the store, sometimes speaking in two places at once. The store was warm with activity, rife with impressions of a tide of body heat coming and going. He suddenly realized he had no way of knowing where the front desk was, short of stumbling around feeling for something.

The thought made ScorchMan want to cringe. He edged over to the wall and listened hard, casting for anything that would give away the shopkeep's position. Maybe the register would make a noise? Could he just listen for other Navis listing their orders? There were so many voices...

To Hades with it. The blind Navi waited until he heard someone thank someone else and walked over; surely even a shelf-stocker would be able to help if he told them what he wanted, right? That part, at least, he'd done his research on. Stepping as surely as he dared, ScorchMan summoned a zenny chip and a typed list and gave his best smile, nevermind that he probably wasn't looking the right way and his helmet covered most of his face anyhow. "Hello there, I've been told this is the right place for amateur NetBattlers to purchase upgrades? I'm in need of some basics, I did the math and this should cover it." He held his hand out palm-up, gesturing for whoever he'd found to take both the list and the datachip, and perhaps kindly direct him to the actual counter.

[Purchasing:
- HP Memory x1 (1000z)
- PowerUP x1 (1000z)
- Element Shot (500z
- Process Upgrades v1-5 (1500z
- Total: 4000z]

After entering and listening for a short while, ScorchMan eventually reached out to find a shopkeeper using some fairly safe quick deduction. He was somewhere just shy of the middle area of the store, by his best guess, but the voice the responded as he made his enquiry was helpful and profession.

“Hi there, just one moment sir...” There was a pause of about a second or two, and the sense of the navi nearest him moving slightly; small sounds of small objects contacting and sliding against larger displays followed before he had the sense of the other navi giving his attention more fully to him.

“Well, as you say, this is your first last and only stop for any navigator needs. Not just new battlers, but experienced virus busters and grizzled veterans alike as well. We stock everything you could need for navis of all capabilities.” There was another pause as, presumably, the speaking navi assessed ScochMan properly; the list and chip was received and accepted out of his hand.

“That ought to be no problem at all, if you'll just step this way...” ScorchMan was able to sense the close proximity of the navi moving near him, though the shop-keeper didn't ever actually reach out or touch him directly. “Just left here sir... that's right. And here we are...” A short digital registry and transfer sound followed, before a slim data loop rested neatly over one of ScorchMan's hands; it immediately communicated itself as a short tether to a number of products whose signatures matched his requests.

“Everything is in order there. Do have a good day.” There was another short pause, but the shop navi spoke up again after clearing his through quietly. “I know this might be out of place, sir, but I feel I ought to mention it, just in case, but as well as navigator supplies we do also handle a number of deeper system processes, repairs and recovery operations for navigators who suffer long term detriments – permanent crashes of various systems, that sort of thing. Your operator would have to make a more formal appointment, of course, but there is a lot we can do. I apologise; I don't know your circumstance. Many newer navis aren't aware that we offer those services though, so I felt it was worth mentioning. Either way, good day to you, and do come again!”

==

ScorchMan GET: HPMem 1, PowerUp x1, Element Shot, PU v1-5
ScorchMan LOSe: 4000z

That, ScorchMan thought, had been remarkably painless. Even the shopkeeper's advice hadn't felt at all obsequious, for all that he usually couldn't stand unsolicited comments on his condition. "I'll keep that in mind, thank you," he said quietly, surprised that he meant it. "Could I...well, anyway, I should talk to my Operator. Have a good day."

He'd kept track of the directions the shop Navi (TempoMan?) had guided him through. When he made for the door, collecting his GuideProg on the way out, he only missed the door by a little bit, catching the frame in his hand and patting his way out. A crimson datastream announced his exit a few seconds later, along with a, "JACKING OUT, BARK BARK!"

<(To Kotobuki Fire Station)>

((From => Jenny's Home))

Courser made his way to the store front on foot for a change... or at least, gliding on his small water eddy in a relaxed, side-on stance. The current fluttered down and faded away as he passed through the doors and stepped forward to walk properly about the store itself, waiting for one of the shop keepers to be free. After a moment he stepped forward.

"Hi there... Just looking for a couple of updates to get past a milestone or two today before I tackle other things..."
"Yeah, like the shark wasn't enough, you nutter..." To one side, a second courser had slipped out of the shadows by shop display and heckled the main CourseMan with a smirk and a shake of his head. Courser cut a glance at the clone, but did his best to ignore it for now.
"So... I need to go to NaviCust twenty-four, and Process Update twenty-five, please." He snapped his fingers and a small swirl of water encircled his hand and took the form of a tiny blue crystal, which he flipped across the counter. It was part of the spare they had left after the earlier run, so he was sure Jenny wouldn't mind him spending it too much.

==

Buying:

NC Expansion 24: 6750z
PU 25: 2500z

Total: 9250z
Funds Remaining: 520z

Turning around from some busy orders he had been putting in for, the navi would give a smile and a nod at Courser's appearance. "Just a second sir, just give me a-" He began, pausing briefly at the mention of a shark. "I'm sorry, you mean- No, nonono, nobody's THAT crazy. Anyways, order noticed, give me a second."

He spoke hurriedly before turning back around, shaking the mention of a shark from his head as he grabbed the two upgrades for the navi, turning right around swiftly as he yanked them off the shelves, pushing them onto the counter. "You're in luck, these are the last ones we've got in stock for the moment. Shouldn't take too long to get them back in though!" He mentioned, taking the crystal with a nod. "Have a good day sir. And, please, there's this new "trend" going around...please be a -bit- more reasonable than some of the other younger navis..." He would continue on without a lost beat, shaking his head again with a mumble under his breath. "'Cybeast Challenge'...what is with these kids these days? That's just poking the hornets nest..."

Courser get: NC Expansion 24 and Processor Upgrade 25
Courser lose: 9200z

Courser held his peace and nodded his thanks to the assistant as he accepted the purchase and tucked it away.
"It's all about the view count with some, I hear. They'll do any reckless old thing for them, so I hear. Take care." With a tip of two fingers to his temple, Courser waved farewell and headed out of the shop

((To -> A cyber cafe))

Link from network.

Quote (Shopping List)

Current Zenny: 85,190z

Current Upgrades: NC+HP = 23 (8 NC + 15 HP)

HP Memory:
v16 - 6,750z
v17 - 7,000z
v18 - 7,250z
v19 - 7,500z
v20 - 7,750z
-------------
36,250z

v21 - 8,000z
v22 - 8,250z
v23 - 8,500z
v24 - 8,750z
v25 - 9,000z
-------------
42,500z

Total: 36,250z + 42,500z = 78,750z

Remainder: 85,190z - 78,750z = 6,440z

DragonierMan walked into the SciLab NET Navi-Shop with a piece of paper with numbers scribbled on it. He turned it around in his hands and placed it on the counter facing TempoMan. "Hello. I am in need of some expensive upgrades." He then adopted a look of shock as if he remembered something. "Oh! One moment," he said as he turned around for a moment to fiddle with a vid-window that he brought up.

A huge burlap sack, almost as big as he was, appeared on the ground in front of him. It had a big Z symbol emblazoned on it. He picked it up and spun around to face the shopkeeper, the bag hefted over his back. He then pitched forward and slammed the huge sack down upon the counter top, a few zenny coins spilling out of the top of the bag and dropping down behind the counter on TempoMan's side. Clinking and scattering all over the floor. "Keep the change," he smiled as he paid with almost 79k of bloodstained zenny.

---

Turning around to face Dragonierman, Tempoman would give a light bow as he did. "Expensive upgrades? Well lets see he- Holy...o-okay then...that'll be...seventy-eight hundred and seven-hundred fifty zenny then. Did you plan on paying by card or..." He continued on, eyes going wide as Dragonierman SLAMMED that massive sack of zenny onto the counter, every passerby looking intently as the sack nearly took out the entire counter by way of it's weight alone.

Tempoman, obviously MORE than a little disturbed at such a massive bag of zenny, hurriedly picked up the upgrades requested and tossed a tied up bag of everything to Dragonierman, figuring he would catch it, he would need a new counter...but the pricy upgrades combined with the warlord's penchant of utter destruction of everything in his way would far more than cover it. "H-Have a good day sir! And please...a zenny transfer next time? We...can't exactly afford you to...destroy our counters each time you come in."

Dragonierman LOSE: 78,750z
Dragonierman GET: HP UP 16-25

"I will keep that in mind for next time," DragonierMan smirked as he waved the small pouch of upgrades that TempoMan tossed him. "See you around," he stated as he headed out the door. ON TO ADVENTURE!!!

{EAX028}

{<<< From Homepages: {Amlipeda} - Homepage of Amity.EXE <<<}

Amy's faith was rewarded when the digitised datastream reassembled her body and Lily's into an area that, judging by the displays around her, was safe to assume was some sort of navi upgrades store.

There was only one navi in sight, so assuming this was the shop-keep she approached it with a hint of caution. "Hello," she offered, waving one hand awkwardly as a greeting. "I was told this was the place to buy navi parts? If I give you 4,650 zenny, are you able to provide me with a Lv.4 HP Memory, a Lv.2 PowerUP and a Lv.9 Process Upgrade?"

She extended out her hand with the required amount of money, hoping she wasn't about to be robbed of some hard-earned cash.

"Sorry if I'm talking out of turn, but do you ship the parts to an address...? Or do I get a receipt and come back with my operator...? I'm still not entirely sure how this works."

----------

Lv.4 HP Memory - 1750z
Lv.2 PowerUP - 2000z
Lv.9 Process Upgrade - 900z

Total Required: 4650z

((From => Rogan's Room))
----------

SciLab again, even though it had only been a night and a morning since she was here last. Lyntael moved quickly through the main thoroughfares of the public area, happy to stick to the more populated areas as she went this time around – she didn't know any of the many strangers she passed on the way, but after her previous evening's brooding something about the presence of other people gave her a comfort she hadn't expected.

The door the navi shop opened for her and she ducked in, mentally going over what she needed as she took an extra moment to pretend at browsing the catalogue while she unconsciously and needlessly re-straightened her vest and brushed down her skirt quickly. The shop was quiet at the moment, and it seemed that only TempoMan himself was on the counter this early, with none of his other multitude of other shop assistants present. The store navi was busy with someone else already and Lyntael waited her turn, then paused to give the other woman a bright smile and a small wave as they passed one another. There were plenty of nice people in the world still.

Once it was her turn, she stepped up to the counter and repeated the wave for the shopkeeper.

“Hey. Good morning, me again. Just a couple of things today... I need PowerUp versions eleven and twelve, and process updates... twenty-two and twenty-three, please.” She reached up to her emblem, tracing a circle around the edge of it with one finger and drawing out a string of faintly glowing data that coalesced into a small crystal containing the transfer confirmation and held it out across the counter.

==

Buying:

PowerUP 11 & 12 : 23000
PU 22 & 23: 4500z

Total: 27500z
Funds Remaining: 6300z

TempoMan perked up and nodded towards Amy as she arrived and gave off all the signs of a navi new to purchasing upgrades. He offered her a reassuring smile.

"Yes indeed, welcome! Upgrades and repairs, if you need them." He paused while she made her request, then nodded again, turning to one side and accessing a small console that swiftly materialised several small packets. The three each looked a little different as he laid them out on the counter in front of her and accepted the payment in return.

"Oh, no need to worry about physical parts - that's all become pretty optional in recent years you know. We still sell physical chip upgrades in the main store, to operators, of course, and it's convenient for some, but really, the physical chips just contain firmware updates and efficiency restructures that work cumulatively with each other. It's not too difficult to do the same thing with direct data transfers just like these!" He grinned again and pushed the three upgrades across to Amy.

"It's all pretty straight forward, but you might need your operator to grant permissions and confirm the updates, on their side, once you get around to installing them. Anything else I can get for you today? If not, do have a good morning!" He tipped an invisible hat towards Amy and concluded their business, then turned his attention towards the other navi that had entered behind her.

((Which I need someone else to do ^.^))

==

Amity GET: HpMem v4, PowerUp v2, PU v9
Amity LOSE: 4650z

"Thank you for waiting! Two powerups and two process upgrades... one moment," he said, taking the glowing zenny packet and subsequently tapping the console next to him. A scanning light briefly washed over Lyntael's body, before a few nondescript boxes with "UPGRADES" and a happy-looking Tempoman caricature waving a greeting printed on the top. The shopkeeper Navi blinked for a few moments, before sighing. "Er, right, those weren't supposed to be out on production yet..." he said, returning a sheepish look to Lyntael. "It should be all in there, though. Thank you for shopping with us, and have a nice day!"

Lyntael GET: PowerUP x2, Process Upgrade x2
Lyntael LOSE: 27500z

"Really...?" Amy was surprised; she hadn't expected this turn of events. As the three packets lay in front of her, the realisation that they'd never have to return to the physical SciLab gave Amy some much-needed relief. It was clear that Eric had some difficulties with that area; although she hadn't yet worked up the nerves to press either her operator or his sister about it, her curiousity hadn't yet beaten her resolve not to create any more unnecessary dramas for herself.

"Thank you," Lily acknowledged, hoping for her navi's meditative trance to not be taken as impoliteness. It was enough for Amy to snap back to her senses as she did a small bow and collected the three unique packets from the counter before turning around and heading for the door. She now realised this space wasn't a network, it was just a building in a larger space.

As she headed towards the door she passed another female navi that gave her an energetic smile and a wave to accompany it. Amy wasn't used to such interaction from passersby, and awkwardly tried to reciprocate the action a moment too late. It was possible the yellow figure may have missed the gesture as she moved to the counter for her own assistance, leaving Amy waving at the wall in front of her.

"Awwwwwkwarrrrrd..." Lily whispered from behind, the taunt filling Amy's cheeks with a rosy red as she barrelled forward towards the door, almost impacting it before opening it and stepping through to the street outside.

Lily couldn't help but cackle some more as the two walked down the road, boots hitting the pavement just a little too hard. "We need to work on your people skills, don't we," she tried to justify the laughter as Amy stormed down the pathway.

"Oh whatever!" she seethed under her breath, feeling the imaginary stares of every passerby burn into her despite not a single program paying her any attention. "Eric, has Max worked out where he wants us to go yet?"

"Right here, you know," the man in question pointed out through her intercom. "Did you finish droppin' off your friends?"

"Of course. So where are we going?" The attitude was cooling off, but her face was still red.

"I need you to visit three stores in Electown. I emailed you the shop names, the parts I want and some money. Look for the things with (i)s above them, they'll help you out." The navi heard an odd creaking sound as Max groaned. "I'm done for tonight. If you get the parts we'll continue tomorrow morning." Some thudding sounds followed that gradually got softer until they disappeared completely.

(i) things...? Amy pondered. The instruction might make more sense once they were there. "Alright then, I guess we'll head for that Electown portal you were talking about earlier, Eric." Amy fiddled with the three items as she walked. "On the way, can you grant permission for me to install digital updates...?"

Eric's hands were already digging into his backpack. "Just a second..."

----------

Upgrades Acquired!
HP Memory x1, PowerUP x1, Process Upgrade x1
Zenny: -4650 (4920 >>> 270)

HP Memory: 3 >>> 4
Max HP Increase: 210 >>> 230

PowerUP: 1 >>> 2
Aspect Increased: Rapid Shot (1 >>> 2)
New Buster Stats: Attack 2 / Rapid 2 / Charge 1

Process Upgrades: 8 >>> 9
Signature Pool: 400 >>> 440

Level Up! HP Memory x1, PowerUP x1
Amity.EXE: Level 8 >>> Level 10

{>>> To Electown Net: Shopping for a Future >>>}

Lyntael received her updates with another small nod and a quiet 'thank you' towards TempoMan, then turned to make leave the store. She paused just beyond the threshold, her eyes drawn to the other navi again as she departed - the little butterfly briefly fascinated her and for a moment sh debated chasing after the other woman to strike up a conversation... but Rogan was waiting for her, and the other navi seemed like she was already deeply involved in conversation with her operator. Oh well; she let the thought go and made her way towards a network transit that could get her to her other destination quickly.

----------
((To => The Bounty Shop))