A chance to show off

CourseMan skated up towards the group as he split into two. Both Navis weaved through each others' paths, further confusing the viruses from which one was the real CourseMan. The Kabutank and Cannons fired at the approaching Navis. The Cannons split their fire while the Kabutank launched a pair of small bombs into the middle of the two CourseMans' paths.

The barrage was intense, and even with their evasive maneuvers, one of the Cannons tagged the Decoy. CourseMan managed to dodge out of the way of a screaming cannon shell to run right into a pair of explosions. The Kabutank's twin bombs exploded around both Navis. The Decoy vanished in a cloud of smoke while the real CourseMan was blackened and nicked by shrapnel. The concussive force also threw off CourseMan's aim, his shot flying harmlessly past the Kabutank.

The Kabutank then started to move, trying to get out of the way of CourseMan's path. However, CourseMan skid to a halt and took aim at the moving virus. The Navi's Shotgun blast struck the tank, blowing a hole in its armored plating.

The Metool, not wanting to be left out of the battle, struck the ground with its pickaxe. It sent a retaliatory shockwave at CourseMan. Though the Navi easily dodged out of the way of the energy wave.

-Viruses-
Kabutank: 40HP [Connected to Truck Bed]
CannonDumbA: 50HP [Truck Bed]
CannonDumbB: 50HP [Truck Bed]
Metool: 40HP

-Objects-
Truck Bed: 100HP
GMD: 20HP [Truck Bed]

-Terrain-
100% Normal

-Navi-
CourseMan.EXE: 70HP [Decoy Broken!]
Well, that didn't go quite as planned... Blinking smoke from his eyes, Courser kept moving nonetheless, and shrugged off the sting of shrapnel. It wasn't really as bad as all that. Sort of. He worked his shoulder surreptitiously for a moment, willing the sensation away.

"You'll have to do better than that my friends! You missed both of us!" He winked across the field at his decoy, who had slipped into substance again behind one of the cannons and quickly tore a figure eight amongst the two pieces of fixed artillery before taunting the metool nearby with laugh.

Courser himself moved the other way, still focused on the tank in between taking a quick glance at his screen to see whether Jenny had noticed the slight fumble. He could see part of her face and one eye while the lower half was obscured by sheets. The dreamy, lidded set of her gaze reassured him that his less than perfect moments had gone unnoticed. He tipped an invisible hat to her with a grin.
"Any more toys, my lady?"
"Mm... yeah, just a..." there was some movement that he couldn't quite track with, before the view settled again. "hahh, there, that good?" Courser didn't take the time to check what she'd sent, just grinning to her and stretching to show off his chest a bit more.
"Perfect. Just what I needed." He winked again before returning his attention to the battle.

One reason there as no need to check what she'd sent was, of course, how very limited her stockpile was to being with. He couldn't really afford misses like that until their arsenal expanded a bit. It was more risky to him, perhaps, but safer in the end to make sure he had a clear shot before trying anything. He tried to keep his eyes on everything that was going on, picking his moment as he lined up as carefully as he could. It was a difficult enough shot to make perfectly at the best of times, and he stayed light on his toes until he was sure he had an opening.

As he dodged and wove, his whips twitched and thrashed in rhythm to his movement, beginning to split into sharp protrusions and spikes that bristled and tugged outward, trying to tear free. As the opening came, Courser me eyes with his copy for the briefest moment, then turned his arc into a small spin that lent speed to the Axel jump that followed. At the peak of the spin his arms flared out, whips lashing around at a frightful speed and shooting several of the tight water spines outward like darts. One was aimed directly at the tank before him, but the other two went further, driving instead towards one of the stationary turrets, just as his decoy ducked in to bring his own wave whips overhead at it in a far more eye-catching 'attack', laughing again as he did.


Summary

*You Missed Me Honest! (Self-Decoy)
1) Dodge
*Decoy dodging and taunting amongst cannons
2) Aim
*Decoy making a very fancy and very useless 'attack' against CannonDumbA
3) AquaNeedle ( 20(25) x 3, Variable, B(A), at Kabutank (x1) and CannonDumbA (x2))
The Kabutank, the Metool, and one of the CannonDumbs target the decoy, obliterating it in a hail of projectiles. The second CannonDumb shoots at CourseMan, but fails to hit the slippery Navi. The Navi retaliates with lashing tentacles of water as the Kabutank begins to speed off. The tank is damaged heavily by the pressurized water, and one of its truck bed turrets are ripped out of its housing and sent crashing to the street behind it, as it begins to run away with its prize. Leaving the poor Metool laborer behind. What would its wife and two tiny kids say?

-Viruses-
Kabutank: 15HP [Connected to Truck Bed] [1 Movement Away]
CannonDumbA: DELETED
CannonDumbB: 50HP [Truck Bed] [1 Movement Away]
Metool: 40HP

-Objects-
Truck Bed: 100HP
GMD: 20HP [Truck Bed]

-Terrain-
100% Normal

-Navi-
CourseMan.EXE: 70HP [Decoy Broken!]
"Now, press them!" The shout came not from CourseMan, but from the clearing cloud of smoke and dust had just dispersed his quickly reformed decoy. The clone that surfed out of the cloud was pointing towards the moving truck, as though ordering Courser himself while it arced away, for all apparent signs acting wary of getting shot at any more.

Courser, meanwhile was less concerned about the retreating enemies and more for running through his, admittedly very small, arsenal. In a quick glance he assessed his options, making a decision.

"Last one, Jen, then you can just sit back and enjoy the show, alright?" A vague hum responded, and there was a moment of awkward one-handed fumbling as she got her last chip sent over. Without any time to wait, CourseMan was already moving, darting in to scoop up the much beleaguered metool with one set of wave whips that were already retracting and firming into proper grabbing claws.

"Hang tight little guy, wouldn't want to get left behind now, would we?" He chuckled and winked at the metool, offering it a deceptively friendly smile as he grabbed for it. With a heave, he turned the action into a fluid, strong motion to hurl the virus at the retreating truck, aiming long, for the damaged tank itself.

Even if it connected, though, he'd have a run to catch up and claim his prize, so Courser took off, the small waves at his feed kicking up into a more furious wave that sent him chasing after the retreating vehicle. Across from him, his wing-man had cut in again, catching up first and waving a hand in front of the one remaining turret, blocking its view as he feigned fascination.
"So, you on remote or something? I always wondered what makes the mechanicals like you tick, you know? Just how much processing is going on in there? Any at all? Can you even feel this?" The questioning was delivered in a curious, eager tone as the decoy Courser messed about in front of the cannon, probing its muzzle with illusory water tendrils and other such inanities. He was, careful, though, to never put himself where a fired shot might hit something more valuable.

Courser laughed to himself, weaving back and forth for a moment as he drew alongside. He lashed out as one curve brought him closer to the side of the truck, raking at the turret with his claws.
"Quite messing around! We've work to be doing!" He let the amusement seep though his voice, even though he was, in effect, talking to himself.

Summary

*No, seriously, you missed, I swear it, honest, see?! (Self-Decoy)
1) RageClaw (20 Impact, as Throw, attempting to throw Metool at the retreating Kabutank, B)
*Decoy closing distance
2) Movement: Catching up to surf alongside the side of the truck that still has its cannon
*Decoy messing with and generally being a pain at CannonDumbB
3) RageClaw (40 Slashing, at CannonDumbB, B) (RageClaw with 4 uses left)


[[OOC: Sorry for missing several days... had quite the weekend.]]
CourseMan picked up the poor, stranded Metool and chucked its butt like a football into the retreating Kabutank. The Metool flew like an RPG and smashed helmet-first into the tank, smashing through it to the other side. The Kabutank exploded in a spectacular fireball, that for some reason did not seem to harm the bed it was hauling. Physics be damned.

The CannonDumb did not like this one bit. And it tried to fire upon the multiplying Navi as he closed. But the cannon shell went sailing by the two Navis as they dodged out of the way. CourseMan then closed and slashed the immobile turret as his decoy distracted it further, rending a huge gash along its machine housing.

The Metool stumbled to its feet and slammed its pickaxe into the ground. The shock wave sped across the ground and struck the real CourseMan. What a lucky shot!

The decoy that CourseMan made then expired in a puff of watery mist.

-Viruses-
Kabutank: DELETED
CannonDumbA: DELETED
CannonDumbB: 10HP [Truck Bed]
Metool: 20HP

-Objects-
Truck Bed: 100HP [Immobile]
GMD: 20HP [Truck Bed]

-Terrain-
100% Normal

-Navi-
CourseMan.EXE: 60HP [RageClaw: 4/6] [Decoy Expired!]
The tank exploding brought the escape attempt to a halt, but even so, Courser couldn't stop the small grunt of discomfort as the shockwave disrupted his water eddy and made him stumble a few steps. It was far from his most graceful moment. Even so, his instincts kept him moving and he rolled quickly back to the side, back the way he had come until he came upright again, rising claw-first behind the fixed turret to finish off the destruction work he'd started earlier.

As he dodged, his decoy reformed again, slipping up from the ground behind the cheeky metool and jumping over it with a nimble vault. He came down neatly collapsing with perfect coordination into a cross-legged pose, sitting right in front of the little creature's face with his hands on his knees and a disappointed frown on his features.

"Hey now... Is that any way to treat a guy who's just trying to make sure you're not left behind, huh? For shame, little guy, for shame... attacking an upstanding man of fortune like myself." He shook his head and let out a loud sigh. "Now, look at me when I'm talking to you, hmm? You can't just go shooting off shockwaves like that all over the place, any time you get a bit startled. It's undignified and very unclassy." Here, he sat up a bit straighter, though he was still sitting on the ground in front of the virus, and stretched enough to flick his collar and adjust his coat. There as a hint of self-aggrandising swagger in his tone as he continued, drawing attention to his perfectly matching outfit and rugged charm. "You should really take more care, or you might hurt someone you don't mean to. Just play it cool, like me, you know? Besides, if you..." The strange mix of scolding and advice continued without pause, the decoy seeming to enjoy the sound of his own voice more than anything else.

The real Courseman slipped out to the side, around the pair, and then came in again from the side, dashing in fast and low the last few paces to blind-side the virus and rake his claws at it again, no longer with any friendly smile but a cool, serious intent instead.


Summary

1) Dodge
* Is that any way to treat a mate? (Self-Decoy)
2) RageClaw (40 Slashing, at CannonDumbB, B)
3) RageClaw (40 Slashing, at Metool, B) (RageClaw with 2 uses left)
With the Metool distracted, the real Courseman came in and deleted both viruses with giant claws. All that was left as the decoy vanished with a smirk was to collect the prizes.

-Viruses-
Kabutank: DELETED
CannonDumbA: DELETED
CannonDumbB: DELETED
Metool: DELETED

-Objects-
Truck Bed: 100HP [Immobile]
GMD: 20HP [Truck Bed]

-Terrain-
100% Normal

-Navi-
CourseMan.EXE: 60HP [RageClaw: 2/6] [Decoy Expired!]

~Battle 2: Victory!!~
Rewards: Cannon, 270z

OPEN GMD: Y/N?
With a small sigh, courser made a last small circle around the space, letting the last of his momentum drift away. Done with, finally. the whole battle had been a touch more effort than he'd expected and he found himself vaguely short on breath as he surveyed the aftermath.

"So, Jen, what did you think? Good show?" As he spoke, Courser stretched, pulling open the unbuttoned front of his shirt a little more to catch the breeze as he panted. The beginnings of a delicate sheen of sweat marked his brow and he wiped it away with a casual motion as he waited for her answer. It came only in the form of a small, muffled gasp and a smothered giggle, then a short moan, while a glance at the viewscreen showed that it was, once again, mostly obscured. This time it looked like she was probably holding the PET against her chest or something, as it was mostly skin that covered the screen. Courser shook his head with a grin. Best probably to just take that as a yes and move on.

A good distraction would be the prize those viruses had tried to make off with and he busied himself examining it briefly, before reaching out a hand to activate it.

[Confirming Open GMD]
The GMD opens to reveal...

... A battlechip!

GET: Pulsar1

Quote (Pulsar1)

Damage: 70 + Object Triggered Blast 2
Accuracy: A (Primary) / B (Blast)
Description: Fires a sound wave. If it hits an object, its range is amplified, hitting anything near that object in a blast of noise.
Duration: Once
Element: Null
Special: Object Triggered Blast: Blast effect that only works if the attack hits an Object, such as a RockCube.
The crystal opened and Courser occupied himself with examining the data for as long as he reasonably could before sending it on to Jenny. Even so, there was still no acknowledgement from her end. Not unless you counted what he could hear of short breathing that hitched every now and then... maybe the over-deliberate stretching had been a little much after all. A delicate, high-pitched groan, followed by another gasp came through the channel and, for the sake of chivalry, Courser flicked the line to mute.

Young ladies with a over-abundance of hormones and eager innocence aside, Courser looked about and wondered which way he ought to head. The viruses he'd just fought had been heading somewhere with their loot, perhaps there was more of it in a stash somewhere. He took a step in that direction, then stopped as a concerned look took hold of his features. If he was completely honest, moving on right away probably wasn't wise. He'd taken more damage than his pride wanted to allow, and he wasn't likely to be getting any direct support form Jenny for a few minutes at least, now. The idea of fighting another combat like the last, hurt as he was and without any chip support was... humbling, to say the least. He fidgeted with his shirt and coat for a few moments, straightening his outfit and shrugging his shoulders. No... no sense being reckless. With a small sigh he sent a message back to Jenny in text only, then flicked away his view of her screen before the girl could embarrass herself any further. It was just polite after all... he ignored the slight warmth in his cheeks and instead sat down where he was to wait.

It was a few minutes before he received and further input from the girl and un-muted the channel. Her voice came through soft, out of breath and more than a little sheepish.

"CourseMan? A-are you there still?"
"Of course, Jenny." It was an effort to keep his own voice level, but all the same he managed a soft, warm tone. "Always here for you. I thought it best not to look for more trouble for a short while. On reflection, though, I think it might be better if we take a break here; I could do with a rest."
"Oh! Ah... um, sorry, I... Oh gods..." She trailed into an embarrassed silence and Courser let his quiet, faintly amused laugh be heard rather than stifle it.
"Please Jenny, I'm just your navi. Don't fret or worry yourself, alright? Just, pull me out for now, and perhaps we might do this, or something else, again soon, ok?" As he spoke, Courser stood up, unfolding neatly to a stand from his cross-legged pose. He pushed the screen back so that Jenny would be seeing his whole body again then put on leg forward, bowing toward she with one hand across his chest. "Whatever most pleases you." His reward was another small groan.
"You're doing that on purpose."
"I aim to please."

The shadows seemed to grow about him as he felt the link opening to pull him out and he grinned to himself, shaking his head again as he turned into them and faded from the net.

((Courseman Jacking-out, Returning to => Jenny's Home))