Rudy's Meetup Point

If Jest had wanted to confuse the crowd and the targets, he got his wish: his actions were nothing if not incomprehensible. The dancers weren't at their peak, having just danced. Sweat flew in a messy arc from the deadlocks of the girl (understandably, none from the robot) as Jest smacked both with his scythe. After that, getting the brand on them was easy. The big, burning "WEAK" imprint that was left behind on each of their chests wouldn't do wonders for the duo's street cred...

"Wow! I'm starting to think you are crazy after all!" the voice of Rudy laughed over his receivers. "That's great, I needed a crazy guy for this! Especially cause I think that stunt put an NP officer on your tail! You might want to steer clear of her if you can. Her name is City; you'll know her cause her armor is made like skyscrapers, although she's a shortie herself. Now," the clown continued, lightening up its tone, "let's get out of that alley and to the right. Don't go left or you'll be in GNA territory, and that's a lot more dangerous than messing with ordinary Joes protected by the police, believe you me!"

To the right, Jest saw a motorcycle gang, led by a big guy with a spiked helmet and a blond handlebar moustache. "See those guys? Their leader is tough, but I'll bet the gang all rallies around that one dog! Brand as many of those guys as you can and then get away. I would give this one some thought though... If they're all on those bikes when you try to leave and they see your ambush coming, you're gonna get caught for sure. But no pressure! I'm sure they're a really nice leather-jacket motorcycle gang!" Jest's handler guffawed.

Luckily, a large building on the opposite side might provide the perfect get-away. It seemed almost purposely constructed for ease of climbing up the front and the bikers wouldn't be able to follow him up. Alternatively, he might try the alleys. There were about ten bikers to potentially brand, not counting the leader. None of them looked as tough as their boss (unless the whimsical nature of the guy's moustache offset his huge biceps in the observer's mind).
Jest knew there was no point in attempting a suprise attack against a group like this. So instead he took an alternative rought and sauntered right out into the midst of the group and stood there leaning against his scythe for what must have been the most akward silence and violent tention since the end credits of mmbn6. So as if they weren't already looking around for their blunt and steriotypicaly random instroments of destruction. Jest had the bright idea to stoke the embers a bit.
pinpointing the obviouse weak-link jest looked down at the guys bike...
"what the ..., is that an eco-bike?! seriously, what are you a dentist or something putting on your fancy biker.gmo and playing weekend roadwarrior dress-up? No joke, you dont even look like you can even give that thing a kick start."
*looking diagonally over his shoulder at the head biker*
"Seriously, where did you get these guys? they look like D-rate heel grunts or shogun errand boys, At best!"


*Achievement unlocked : new insult available "dirt bag"*
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The chosen guy, who's gleaming bald head, skinny arms, and pale skin made the dressed-up dentist assumption seem fairly accurate, responded by revving his motorcycle and scowling. "Where do you get off, huh, Clown?! Making fun of me while you're wearing that crap!" he growled in his loudest, most violent bark.

"Easy there, Slim. The guy wants something and we're gonna find out what," the big leader murmured, in a voice that was calm yet somehow overpowered the sound of motorcycles rumbling. "Even if what he wants is a dozen tire treads like zebra stripes, we can make that happen. Why don't you tell us what ya want?" he asked, fixing his lower lip tightly beneath his moustache.

"If he gives me any more bull, I'm gonna knock him flat on his back,"the dentist turned biker threatened.
Jest was silent for a few moments crossing his arms over the corner of the scythe. Jest stared unblinkingly at the mans reflective forehead with a glazed over look on his face, thinking to himself. Hmm... what do I want? actually we never really thought that one through did we?... Not unless you've been thinking where I can't see. I didn't really plan past the insults... Big Surprise. I was sort of expecting them to have shot us into the undernet by now. hmm..

Jests mouth curled and ears perked up as he snapped back into reality. "Sounds like a fair trade. Ya see I'm on a mission to find out which navis are weak and which aren't and I've just gotten done dealing with some god awful street performers and was looking to kick it up a notch. So here I am testing, *Scans his finger across the crowd* You!" Pointing his comparatively puny finger towards the big Brute of a Gang Leader. "If I can beat you in an arm wrestling contest I'll Brand you as weak and your gang has to find a new area. If I lose you can try your best at that *twirls finger in air trying to recall* ground roadkill jerky thingy."

*Private chat*
"Really?! you couldn't have just stuck with the scrawny dentist? You had to go calling out the Hulking Biker?!"
"Its fine i've got this all planned out. Just watch and Be astounded as the Amazing JesterGiest makes the Giant Cry!"
"Now here's the problem with your game, Son," the big guy drawled, leaning across his motorcycle's front and crossing both his arms. "No leverage. If we all want to run you over for whatever reason, we'll just do it. So how about this: if you win, sure, I'll take your brand or what not. If I win, we may or may not choose to turn y'into skid marks on the tile, but before that, you'll have to tell us who gave you this mission and where we can find em. Deal?"

He punctuated his sentence by calling over another gang member on a motorcycle, who left it parked so that the bikes touched face to face. He put one meaty arm up and rested his elbow on the center between the giant handlebars, signalling for Jest to take the other seat and do the same. "Let's shake on it."
Cocking his head back Jest gave a glance towards the alley way in thought. "Meh, It was probly a Dude anyway you'll just save me the time, laybor and disposal." Jest took a few strides then stepped up onto the motorcycle and Stood there for a moment. Then Plopped down akwardly on the seat propping his elbow between the handle bars.
Daemon was out of his comfort zone at this point franticly trying to find something to do about the situation... "Your going to get snapped like a freaking TWIG!!! Why doesn't that bother you?!!" *sifting quickly through the chip Deck* "Dang navi cant just have a normal fight gotta go having hair brained ideas without informing me... no, no..." "Hey OPPY! Just wanted to let you know, I can hear you *In a hushed tone* and you sound insane. need to lay of the Gamers Crack 'ight?" Daemon continues on unphased "Why isnt there a Super Buff arm Chip or something?!" "yea your scaring me imma just turn your volume down." *Still seen throwing papers off the desk and pulling empty pockets inside out* "This is it im gonna break my navi... again... Wait, aHA!!!" Finally finding the chip he was looking for, Daemon turned back towards the laptop to find he had been muted and that the contest was about to start. Daemon slid the chip in just as they were about to touch.

Slot in [Rageclaw1]
"I'm hurt, Brother! I don't know what hurts more: that you can't tell my gender or that you are considering betraying the RoT! It's the duty of us crazy people to be smart, you know? Clear up misconceptions that stupidity is part of insanity!" Rudy complained over Jest's receiver. "Or maybe you were joking? I understand having to hurt others for the sake of a joke better than anyone!"

Not hearing any of this, the big guy nodded, reaching out his hand. "You got guts, Son. Or more likely you're a few short of a six pack," he murmured.

Two things happened simultaneously Jest grabbed his hand; the first was that his rageclaw shattered under the other guy's bare hand; it was very much an attack in its own right. The second was that the navi's stats were sent over to Rudy. "That guy's the opposite of weak, actually! What are you doing out there?" Jest's client asked with a laugh in its voice. It was clear that he/she was deriving at least a little sadistic pleasure from his situation.

"Sorry Brother," the big guy finished, then snapped Jest's arm down in something like a Judo throw,leaving him virtually uninjured but flat on his back. "That's enough kiddin. around. I don't really want to run you over and I doubt my boys care, but we do want to know who hired you so we can finish this business."

"No siree, we're not throwing this mission yet! Stall em for a bit and I'll throw down some smoke to cover your escape. And whatever you do, don't go into that high-rise building in front of you, okay? You gotta retreat backwards!" Rudy assured his/her agent.
"Ghaaa!" The shrill voice in his ear went on a rant about an oganization he wasnt a part of and how he was soiling the name of crazy. And something about being related... Mood kill. ultimatly jest was letting pass in one ear and out the other just like all the other scoldings he got as an official navi. blah balah blah officails dont copy data from scilabs blah blah blah... same old, same old... "Ghaaa!!" he found himself saying for the second time as the two navis interlocked hands for a contest of strength that couldnt have lasted more than half a second.

The Last minute RageClaw Served to be less that useful against the large crushing grip of the Biker. Resulting in Jest being wrenched off of the bike and onto his back. Not to say that this was his first time being Flung around like a rag doll but it was his first for seeing a chip broke by a bare handed navi.

Dazed momentrarily something in the back of his mind was screaming at him... Litterally. "I reinforced your arm before he shattered the humans chipdata. Now, get off your @$$ before we both get killed you Moron!!" "Who are you, again?" "Oh, For the love of! we dont have time for this! Im taking control get out of the way!"

Jests eyes were glazed over and starring Upwards at the vast Net above him. the only thing blocking his view was a large Hulking Shadow standing to his right. Jests lips moved slightly and hissing static popped and crackeled from deep in his chest as his body lurched upright and arm extended towards the Brute. Two distinctly different voices/languages echoed simultaniously "shircack-010110-SHanah...FragPulse.. Pishhhhhhhhh010010"

Alright, now get up and get out of here while they're confused! Jest snapped out of it and after a second, jumped up into a stance like he had no clue where he was. Patting himself down looking for missing chunks his hand landed on... the brander sticking out of his pocket. The mission information flooded back into his head and remembered his objective. Daemon had seen the whole thing and after about having a panic attack Daemon slotted in a chip to give Jest a chance at escape.

*Contagious(Transmittable Glitch)
*HACK (+Glitch)
1] FragPulse (30Dmg + Knockback + Glitch)+Glitch
2] Slot-in [DashAttack] *Awaiting results before use*
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"Now, now! Quit panicking unless you're going to hit yourself with that brand!" Rudy half-laughed, half scolded over the audio connection. "Are you panicking? It sounds like you are!" The voice quieted down as Jest continued, then slowly spoke up again. "Actually, I can't tell what's happening at all! This show needs subtitles..."

The biker guy was similarly confused; he dismounted his bike and walked over to where Jest was. "What's this? You bringing in more help? You really want to get run over after all, huh?" he asked, approaching and extending one hand out to teach Jest a more painful lesson than before. As he did, a glitch tore into his system. "Aw damn it! Son of a bitch!" he cursed, flailing his arms as if shaking something off... but nothing was happening to his arms. He removed his helmet to scratch at his blond, crew-cut hair... only it wasn't there any more. All of the hair had vanished from his head, including his mustache.

The bike crew watched with their mouths open; the bald, possible-dentist from earlier bit his lip, then exclaimed: "LEADER! YOUR HAIR!"

"Screw you, Clown; I'm not givin' you any more inches-" the big guy snarled, turning this way and that. Of course, Jest had already taken off in a clean get away. Glitching the boss had been the perfect way to draw away everybody's gaze.

---------

"Wooow, impressive! I didn't even have time to throw down the smoke, and it was a clean getaway! And you didn't fall into that NP officer's trap, either! That skyscraper was her trap, by the way. Anyways, I'd say that ruining their boss was as good as branding all of those weak guys, good job! It's a shame we had to sacrifice a strong guy to do it, but those weaklings are going to feel the sting of that for a long time, I'm sure!" Rudy snickered, sounding utterly pleased; the misfortune of the boss seemed more like a formality to pay tribute to his/her organizational goals than a genuine regret. "Alright, how about this: you've earned yourself a DoubleJump! If you come back to our starting alley, I'll give it to you right now!"

"...Or!" the voice spoke back up, always laughing. "Or you can get one more target for me and I'll give you GoingRoad to. How about it? The target, in case you're wondering, is the NP officer who's trying to trap you right this very second~" There was a small pause before the navi continued. "Are you wondering how to find her? It's easy! Her skyscraper's still there, isn't it? I'd suggest you climb to the rooftops for a better view, or if you're feeling lucky, try strolling on in. The very tower might be a trap though, so I wouldn't recommend it. Whatever you do, don't go back through that same circle you were just in... I don't think the Bald Biker and you are going to see eye-to-eye any more!"

Looking back, the skyscraper was still easy to see. There was no clue of where City might be operating it from... and the alleys and buildings were so dense that if she was controlling it from a remote location, finding her might be impossible. The only ways to accomplish the mission would be to lure her out somehow, or to walk directly into her trap...
Dashing quickly between the gang members "What would a guy like me ever do without a homicidal weapon like you?" the only response to this was a grumbling static from his chest "Why can't I understand him again?" Daemon questioned "Don't know, don't care." Sticking his tongue out at the floating head of his Operator "maybe he doesn't like you." Crossing his arms in front of his chest Daemon was conflicted about the path his navi was leading him down. Was it possible He had spent to much time on his own.
Ignoring his operators indecision, Jest set off towards the closest building.
"Hmm, lets see... so, do I want less chips and an officer chasing me, or do I want more chips and a pissed off officer hunting me... I'll take option #2 please!"
Using the buildings fire escape Jest thought to himself "If only I had the double jump right now then could MegamanX my way straight to the top of this thing instead of using this long outdrawn metho.. hey I'm already at the top! huh, short building" looking around Jest spotted a much taller building one block over... "Time for some slow-mo Matrix Jumping Skills..." Seconds before leaping towards the next Building Jest looked towards the camera and said "Due to budget cuts this section has been replaced with a low budget matrix scene... Don't try this at home." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24hqdDDTZZs
... 20 minutes later
Slightly exhausted from jumping and climbing across building tops Jest Enacts his most secret ability on Daemon... Capcom logic POWN!!!...
"Hey I'll need the big gun. You know, just in case anybody jumps out and just randomly attacks me while I'm on top of this building 3 stories off the ground which just happens to have a perfect view at that sky scraper."
"I already know what your doing, you don't have to try and trick me to slot-in chips. Just ask like a normal person."
Turning away from his op Jest put one hand to his mic and began relaying a message "Deception compromised, I repeat Deception compromised." "who are you talking to?" Snapping into an upright position "Nobody! no-one at all."
Slot-in [Machinegun1]
Materializing the large machine gun on his arm Jest Set the sights and looked down the barrel towards the sky scrapper trying to find the Net Police Navis location. possibly trying to look for him as he was looking for her.
"Gooooood! I'll be watching!" Rudy responded in approval from the other side of the receiver.

Before long, Jest was watching too. It felt a little strange, to know that two navis (if not more) were keeping eyes on him while he was still trying to find one of them... On that note, if the other navi had any kind of idea that their watching wad being watched, they'd probably stop and either find a new position and switch tactics. With that in mind, he was unlikely to locate his target.

The sound of sirens shot through the alleys below... Closer than was comfortable. Still, they would have to get up the buildings, however they approached. "She's gotta be in that building! Because this is a high priority weakling, I'm going to help you out. I'll act as a decoy to distract the police and the bikers. In the mean time, approach the building from above! I'll bet she's on the top floor!" the RoT clown conjectured.

Soon after, a loud, distracting explosion cane from one of the alleys. Either they'd decided to bomb him or that was Rudy's distraction.
Peering down the the barrel Jest scanned the rows of windows finding nothing more than layers upon layers of working class navis. The distant explosion was his battle cry stirring and resonating deep in his being. Jest Stepped off the building and turned sideways slightly. RIP whirred violently from his place of slumber feeling the Jerk then plummeting as they both dropped towards the net floor 4.. 3 stories below. His very survival was being put onto this navis apparent death wish. The rip scythe summoned itself in Jests hand and planted itself into the wall. the tip skidded across the surface of it until it caught and dug in sending a shower of sparks and debris trailing behind. slowing their descent enough to make a safe landing at the ground floor.

Spoiler


Seeing no other choices than to either climb a sky scrapper like Kong or fight his way through the navi drones Jest went with the second option. sprinting head long towards the closest entrance and bursting in with Machinegun at the ready.
((In the future, remember that designing specific details of an unknown environment like this is something you shouldn't do; I hadn't described anything that was inside the building for a reason and when you inject the fact that the building has many inhabitants, it may disrupt whatever plan I had. Instead, you would be expected to either look inside the building for any inhabitants or enter and then look, but creating the inhabitants can mess me up.))

Thankfully, any civilians that Jest had seen from the outside seemed to be some kind of illusion; inside, the illusion became more apparent. While it had looked detailed from the outside, the inside of the building was a very simplistic, gray, hollowed structure with a single elevator. There was no way up besides that elevator, so Jest was forced to use it.

The elevator continued up safely, floor after floor, with no actual way of stopping until reaching its final destination. The bell rang, letting him out onto the top floor. Fortunately, the bell ring hadn't been loud enough to alert the room's sole occupant, who was deep in concentration on the other side of the building...

A short, blond girl dressed in a simple black navi-suit, designed sleeveless and ending in shorts on the legs, was crouched with a sniper rifle pointing just out of one of the windows; it must have been hidden by the illusion of blinds on the top floor windows from the outside. Her chest, elbows, hands, shins, and feet were all covered in gray armor, complete with yellow, rectangular slots, from which yellow light shined out. She had her back turned to Jest, but still seemed lost in thought... as though she were about to snipe something this very moment. Jest could probably approach quietly without her noticing, but she might get her shot off before he could get close.
sprinting through the doors and doing a quick side roll into the room ready to fire upon any attackers or sudden traps. instead he was met with an eerie silence and light grey walls only accented by a single elevator... "why would anybody pay for all of this empty space? ECHO!!!!... echo" turning around towards the entrance he had just come thorough "I mean look at this Expensive waiste of perfectly good money! This smells like govenment... you know what I bet we paid for this in out taxes!" Jumps on one side ... "People!" Jumps back inside "No people!" Jumps back out side... before this became an game of "peat and repeat" Daemon interjected bringing some much needed focus to the mission. "What are you doing?! there is a mob of angry motorcyclists out for blood and you want to play hopscotch with the twilight zone? come on get you head in the game and complete the task at hand!". Amused by his Operators irritation. Jest chuckled a bit as he walked over to the elevator and pressed the button. the doors slid open and jest stepped into the pleasant music filled metal box. (elevator music ) as Jest stepped inside, the elevator activated and the doors closed behind him. not seeing much else to do during the wait he chose to pick at his headphone which seemed to have given him a lot of feedback during this mission. *Clink,Clink* "what the heck?" it took a few second of fumbling around his ear before he finally turned his head to look at his hand and found out that he was holding a gun to his own head. "Oh, oops." switching hands he made the correct adjustments.
the Door opened with a *Ping!* looking around the room it appeared equally as drab and empty. well other than the sniper standing conveniently unprotected from attack with her back towards the only apparent entrance onto this floor. Pulling the Brander from his pocket Jest prepped it for its final use. Brandishing both the Machine gun and the brander Jest quietly stalked up to his prey. Speaking to each other in private chat: "your not just going to kill her are you?" "Well, duh not if you distract me I'm not. anyways she wont be deleted... probly, she'll just get EJO'ed" Daemon obviously still having conflicting thoughts about this missions objective. "But that's a NetPolice Navi isn't it?" "Yea I hope so otherwize im in the wrong building...(the look on Daemons face made Jest think he had crossed a line somewhere)... Look I'm certainly not one to look a gift horse in the mouth. So if your finished... I'd like to get this show on the road!" Bringing the brander above his head like a black and white slasher film. Jest was ready for her to turn around after getting branded. At which point he would unload the entire clip in an attempt to knock her out of the window to give her a new perspective on life, but mostly just the concrete at floor one.
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The approach was easy enough; whatever the officer was focused on, she was so thoroughly enthralled by it that she didn't notice Jest. The only problem was that the slinky approach gave her the time she needed to finish what she was doing. Unfortunately, judging by the high-pitched shout over the audio communication, what she was doing was probably shooting Jest's employer.

The sound of fumbling around indicated that at least the ROT clown was still moving, so hopefully he wouldn't have to collect his reward post-mortem. Whatever usual banter would be exchanged, however, had been replaced by only muffled swears and running.

On the bright side, Jest accomplished his goal; branding the girl's back was easy enough. She fell forward, dropping the rifle out of the window and just barely stopping herself. She turned around at looked at Jest with pretty blue eyes, although they were currently widened in a mixture of alarm and outrage. Before either of them could think about the situation, any longer, he pushed her out to join her rifle.

No amount of police training can stop someone from crying out after being pushed out of the highest floor of a skyscraper. Her body turned smaller and smaller until finally exploding into data on the tile of the net. It was almost as gruesome to watch as it would have been in real life, only with data instead of blood and gibs. That was the kind of fall that could hurt a navi right to her core... she might be living with something worse than a "WEAK" tattoo.

The sniper rifle and shot had alerted the attention of the bike gang when it fell; the body, however, let them know for sure that Jest was in the building. "Time to pack up circus!" one of the bikers one-liner'd, his voice so far away it could barely be heard. It became even less audible as sirens approached. Now was the time for Jest to weigh whether he thought it would be a better idea to leave and hope that his employer would reward him through the GNA, or to see if he could provide any further assistance... but it might be outside the scope of his contract and would definitely be outside the scope of his personal safety. Bikers would be coming up the building and from the sounds of it, the police were bringing helicopters.
The NP Sniper squeezed off her shot which was echoed in his ear piece from Rudy's end of the comm. link. Thankful he had just adjusted the volume or else it might have broken his concentration... Jest turned his end of Rudy's comm. link off for a second and said "Nice Shot." before jabbing and branding her right between the shoulder blades. She whipped around quickly to get a full view her attacker. instead the Blue eyed NP had a perfect view down the shiny metal end of a lot of hurt. Rethinking his actions momentarily as he clicked his comm. back on. Jest showed some sympathy for the NP navi, pausing in dramatic suspense for just a moment "Nothing personal about the branding. Its in my contract... But this isn't!" he deactivated the Machine gun and instead football tackled her out of the window. With both of them plummeting to what would seem to be a very messy end. Daemon had been wincing and had shut his eyes expecting a large mess instead he opened them to see two navis and the outside of the skyscraper moving with increasing speed.
"Have you lost your Mind?!!!" "Oh, hello Oppy perfect timing as usual." Jest reached out and took a grasp of the floating Screen with both hands. "Here's your heads up. I'm going to need the Dash Attack Again." With that said he attempted beating the NP navi with the Operator screen. the screen dissipated after a few swings (as this was not its originally intended purpose) just as daemon was seen loading the chip. Jest then tried to plant his foot squarely in the center of her face or chest in an attempt to push off and throw her downwards and him slightly upwards (though after a few moments they would be falling at terminal velocity again). "Don't worry she'll be fine, Cats always land on their feet.". With the Chip Data now loaded Jest used the NP Navi as his living jump timer the second she hit the ground he would use the dash attack to leap mid-air upwards and towards the Alleyway so as to counteract the speed at which he was currently falling. "Wait for it... wait for it... *Crash! Shatter!* Now!!"

1) Movement: Tackle / Falling
2) Movement: Falling / Tustle
3) Dash Attack : Used for its dirrectional movement ability to counteract the falling and possibly dying part.