Raising Awareness

[[JACK-IN AUTHENTICATED. LOGIN FROM: YOKA]]

A red beam landed in a part of the ACDC Net. As small embers of flame danced about, a NetNavi materialized, warped in from its' PET into the ACDC Network. Honoo took a deep breath, and exhaled. It's been a long while since she got to stretch her legs, and she appreciated the chance to do so. "We'll need to drop by the Netsquare first, meet with a vendor and to get permission to plant the advertisements around the ACDC net." Kiri's voice chimed in, though her display image didn't show up. "And also, there's no need to engage if you don't have to. But feel free to let loose if you have to defend yourself."

"I gotcha." Honoo said as she swung her arms around. She gave her gauntlets a cursory weapons check. The flamethrowers and cannons both functioned as they should, and she slammed her fists against one another as if anticipating a fight. She grinned as she began her journey across the net towards the Netsquare.

Despite it haven't being that long, it felt like it had been ages since she had a chance to cut loose. Time to go to work then!

As Honoo primed herself up to go, she went across towards the main path that led to the NetSquare. Her first few turns were relatively uneventful, but as soon as she got to a small arch bridge over a deep chasm, she saw a few viruses were lingering around the area. On the bridge itself, a duo of brown Beetanks rolled about a rotating green crystal, examining it with curiosity, while a spiky green Fishy was posted near the edge of the bridge as a lookout. The Fishy spotted Honoo quickly, and let out a piercing cry, letting its comrades know of her presence. The rotund tank viruses quickly swiveled to meet her gaze with the muzzles of their cannons!

Beetank A: 80 HP (Middle of bridge, 1 move away, left of GMD)
Beetank B: 80 HP (Middle of bridge, 1 move away, right of GMD)
Fishy: 90 HP (Flying over Missing, near Honoo's end of the bridge)

GMD: 15 HP (Middle of bridge, 1 move away)

Honoo.EXE: 100 HP (This side of the land off the bridge)

Terrain:
40% Normal (Both sides of the bridge)
20% Normal (The bridge itself)
40% Missing (Either side of the bridge)

-- Battle 1, Start!! --

It hadn't been long until Honoo came across what was essentially a virus roadblock at a bridge. She halted in her tracks when the viruses swung around to meet her, their weapons primed, while the fishy took on an aggressive stance. A green crystal hovered in the center, as if guarded by the viruses. "Hey, isn't that..."

"A mystery data. Control your attacks, Honoo, and see if we can grab ahold of it. Something good might be inside it," Kiri remarked as she began sorting through her battlechip data for a suitable piece of equipment for the Navi to fight. Honoo bristled at Kiri's insinuation that she couldn't control her attacks with any finesse, but shrugged it off and prepared herself for combat. "Right then. Focus on those beetle things first then?" The navi asked as she clanged both of her fists together, as if attempting to intimidate the viruses.

Kiri nodded, before sending in her first battlechip data, a Firehit. Honoo's left fist ignited into flames. Honoo knew fishies tend to attack once they have a vector locked on. She held onto her fireball until then, but made herself seem as if she was charging for the Beetletanks. If the Beetletanks started firing, then standing still was more or less an invitation to get herself hurt.

She moved in a zig-zag pattern whenever she could on the bridge, giving the enemy artillery viruses a difficult time to fire any semblence of an accurate bombardment at her last position. All the while, she kept an eye on the Fishy as well, waiting for that tell-tale sign of its' rear thrusters engaging. Once it began its' attack vector, it would give Honoo an easy, predictable counter-attack vector as well.

SUMMARY OF ACTIONS:
Feint action: Close in on BeetankA and BeetankB
Firehit @ FishyA, 60dmg, Fire
Firehit @ FishyA, 60dmg, Fire

With her eyes on the prize of the Mystery Data crystal, Honoo made quick work of the Fishy virus as she delivered a fiery one-two fireball attack towards it, while making her way towards the Beetanks. Her attacks connected true on the Fishy, deleting it immediately, but her attempt at zig-zagging through towards the Beetanks failed, as they were able to blast some bombs in her face! (-15x2) She did manage to get in range of the tanks successfully, however, for whatever attack she had in mind afterwards.

Beetank A: 80 HP (Middle of bridge, melee range, left of GMD)
Beetank B: 80 HP (Middle of bridge, melee range, right of GMD)
Fishy: DELETED

GMD: 15 HP (Middle of bridge, melee range)

Honoo.EXE: 70 HP (Middle of bridge, in front of all current entities)

Terrain:
40% Normal (Both sides of the bridge)
20% Normal (The bridge itself)
40% Missing (Either side of the bridge)

"Kgh-!" Honoo disappeared from view as the bombs impacted with her. Smoke from the explosion obscured her from the Viruses temporarily. As the smoke began to fade, the Navi was revealed to have protected herself from major harm by bringing her fists together. It stung, but it hadn't taken her out of the fight just yet.

"All right, you little turds, my turn." Honoo growled as she lifted her gauntlet up, pointing her fist at the Beetank on the left. As Kiri slotted in two battlechips into her PET, something resembling a cannon suddenly popped out of a hatch on the forearm of Honoo's gauntlet. The weapon gave a soft thrum, before firing a solid cannon shell straight at the BeeTank on the left of the Mystery Data.

Without wasting any time, Honoo brought her other arm up, and with a sweeping motion slashed away at the BeeTank where the cannon had aimed at earlier, in an attempt to finish it off. She kept herself moving, not wanting to let the other BeeTank take yet another free shot at her, but she also made sure that the GMD wasn't in between her and BeeTank.

She eyed the BeeTank's barrel closely, and made sure her legs started moving the minute she saw the flare of a muzzle flash from the BeeTank's barrel.

SUMMARY OF ACTIONS:
Cannon - 60 dmg - BeeTank A
Rageclaw (slash) - 40 dmg - BeeTank A
Dodge - BeeTank B

Honoo's retribution towards the viruses for pummeling her with bombs was not delayed, as she pointed towards one of the 'tanks with her gauntlet. A cannon and a rake of her claws later, one of the Beetanks was destroyed. The other one rolled away from Honoo to reposition itself, before launching another bomb at her. Fortunately for the pyrotechnic Navi, the bomb barely sailed over her shoulder and onto a nearby panel behind her, cracking the flooring as it detonated.

Beetank A: DELETED
Beetank B: 80 HP (Other end of bridge, 1 move away)
Fishy: DELETED

GMD: 15 HP (Middle of bridge, melee range)

Honoo.EXE: 70 HP (Middle of bridge, in front of all current entities) (RageClaw 5/6)

Terrain:
35% Normal (Both ends of the bridge)
5% Cracked (Behind Honoo)
20% Normal (The bridge itself)
40% Missing (Either side of the bridge)

With no other targets in sight, and the BeeTank's attack failing to hit her, Honoo pressed her advantage, taking a flash step forwards, and closed in onto the virus. Lifting her rageclaw, she swung it downwards at the virus, slashing with flurry of swipes on the remaining Beetank.

Summary of Actions:
1. Dodge
2. Rageclaw - BeetankB - 60 dmg
3. Rageclaw - BeetankB - 60 dmg

[RageClaw is 40, but I'll let it pass lol]

With the only remaining target being the lone Beetank, Honoo managed to dispatch it relatively quickly with her RageClaw, and thus cleared the bridge of its toll trolls. The viruses disintegrated into junk data, leaving the spinning crystal on top of the bridge, ready to be decrypted if she so chose.

Beetank A: DELETED
Beetank B: DELETED
Fishy: DELETED

GMD: 15 HP (Middle of bridge, melee range)

Honoo.EXE: 70 HP (Middle of bridge, in front of all current entities) (RageClaw 5/6)

Terrain:
35% Normal (Both ends of the bridge)
5% Cracked (Behind Honoo)
20% Normal (The bridge itself)
40% Missing (Either side of the bridge)

-- Battle 1, Victory!! --
Rewards: 240z (Open GMD? Y/N)

As she finished swinging her Rageclaw until the remaining BeeTank had been turned into nothing but particles of data, the gauntlet on her hand changed from its razor sharp finger configuration, back into her default form. "That takes care of them. Now, let's take a look what's inside this GMD." Honoo said as she approached the GMD.

"Careful. We don't have any Unlocker subchips, so be wary if anything bad pops out." Kiri chimed in. Honoo simply nodded in agreement, and reached out her gauntlet to touch the floating crystal.

[[Opening GMD. Insert Zelda_Chestopen.wav]]

Upon reaching out to touch the crystal it began to spin more rapidly, then unravel itself. What was ultimately left in her hand was a small packet of chip data!

GMD: GreenWood1

Quote (GreenWood1)

Damage: 120 + To-All (Others) (Grass)
Accuracy: A
Description: Causes wooden spikes to rise from all Grass panels, skewering everyone but the user...even their allies.
Duration: Once
Element: Wood
Special: Only affects targets on Grass Terrain, excluding the User.

Honoo glanced at the chip data that rested in her hand. It displayed a small holographic display appeared for her which detailed the contents of a battlechip, allowing Honoo and Kiri to read up on the effects of the Battlechip they obtained. "This could come in useful. We don't have any Grass-panel setting chips but it's nice to know we'll have this option in the future," Kiri remarked. The Chip Data disappeared in a flash as it uploaded itself into Honoo's PET.

"That takes care of that. Seems like we've still got a ways to go before reaching the Netsquare." Honoo stated. Kiri simply nodded in agreement, though she recorded the coordinates of this location. Might be a good place to plant a poster here if people cross the bridge on occassion...

[[Battle 2 ready]]

After marking down the bridge as a potential location for a poster, Kiri had Honoo move forward through the network to reach the NetSquare, following the marked road. It seemed like the Beetanks had passed through the area before, with some cracked paneling dotting the road to her left and right, as well as some wayward rubble. Still, it didn't take too long for her to encounter a few more viruses to block her path, this time on an uphill slope on the side of a cliff. This time, a duo of black music note-shaped viruses bounced down the slope, along with two bobble-headed cactus viruses at the very top. The Melody viruses spotted Honoo approaching, and chattered some threatening-sounding chirps at her, as they got ready to bounce!

Melody A: 80 HP (Bouncing down the slope, 1 move to melee)
Melody B: 80 HP (Bouncing down the slope, 1 move to melee)
Cacty A: 70 HP (Top of slope, 2 move to melee)
Cacty B: 70 HP (Top of slope, 2 move to melee)

Honoo.EXE: 70 HP (Bottom of slope)

Terrain: 100% Normal

// Battle 2, Ready? Start!!

Honoo halted as she spotted the group of viruses in front of her taking a hostile stance at her. Halting, she cast a glance at her surroundings. Two cactus-like viruses at the top of the slope, and two musical note-like viruses at the bottom. Realizing there was not much else in the way, she decided to attempt a powerhouse breakthrough to the other side. "Kiri, I think we can powerhouse through these things," Honoo said as she pulled her goggles down to her eyes. She adopted a ready stance, bringing her fists up into a guarding position. "Of course. go with some range chips first. Stay on your toes, Honoo." Kiri replied as she inserted a battlechip into the PET, sending a stream of chipdata to her Navigator.

The cannons on Honoo's gauntlets emerged, a soft humming followed by a loud thunk could be heard as the cannon primed itself with a shell converted from the chipdata. The moment she heard a confirmation beep, Honoo started moving her legs, in an attempt to make herself hard to hit for the enemy. At the same time, she brought her cannon arm up and fired her first salvo, a fragmentation shell filled with flame-data, at the group of Cacty at the top of the slope.

SUMMARY OF ACTIONS:
1. Dodge
2. Heat-V - CactyA, spread to CactyB - 70 dmg, Spread 3 (Mass Destruction), Fire Element
3. Dodge

Priming her gauntlets' arm cannons with battlechip data, Honoo made quick work of the cacti in the back line as she launched a frag shell towards them, incinerating them completely upon contact. Her movements during the attack made it easy to avoid the Melody's attacks, which bounced down the slope and around her rather slowly. Still, it wouldn't behoove her to get hit by one of them; they looked pretty heavy.

Melody A: 80 HP (Bouncing in melee range)
Melody B: 80 HP (Bouncing in melee range)
Cacty A: DELETED
Cacty B: DELETED

Honoo.EXE: 70 HP (Bottom of slope)

Terrain: 100% Normal

"Ha! What's with these things? They're slower than I thought!" Honoo said as she evaded one of the Melody's attacks. Despite her making light of the virii, she could feel the wind created from the impact the Melody virus made when it crashed into a panel where she had previously been standing on. "They still look heavy, Honoo. Concentrate and keep up your evasion." Kiri said as she plugged in yet another battlechip. Honoo smirked at her operator's insinuation. Like hell I'm going to let these things hit me, She thought, as she continued to move around the battlefield, circling around the Melody viruses as they attempted to crash onto her with their bulk.

As the next battlechip data streamed in, Honoo's gauntlets lit up with the familiar explosion of fire energy. She circled around to the back of one of the Melody virus, and stopped herself in her tracks. Her armored legs skidded on the ground as she reversed her momentum, changing the direction of her movement towards the Melody Virus. She let out a battlecry as she threw a one-two punch with her oversized gauntlets, straight into the Melody Virus.

SUMMARY OF ACTIONS:
1. Dodge
2. Firehit1 - 60dmg - MelodyA - Fire Element
3. Firehit1 (continue) - 60dmg - MelodyA - Fire Element

With quick and nimble combat movements, Honoo darted into position and delivered a deleterious amount of damage to one of the Melodies. It had tried to bounce on her again as she positioned, but had no luck at all. The second Melody, however, paused. It had felt the roasting heat of the blows, and seen the efficient annihilation of the other viruses around about, and now its eyes darted from the smouldering remains of the first Melody, back to Honoo and it shrank back slightly. It went from bouncing energetically to more simply bobbing in place and seeming to tremble very subtly as it looked at Honoo.


-=Up For A Fight=-

Melody A: DELETED
Melody B: 80 HP [Bobbing and Shaking in Melee Range]
Cacty A: DELETED
Cacty B: DELETED

-=Blazing Bright=-

Honoo.EXE: 70 HP [Bottom of slope]

-=Terrain=-

Terrain: 100% Normal

Honoo raised her gauntlets up again into a guard position after backing away from her last attack, and brought herself face to face against the last Virus. She was ready to smash the creature's thing in earlier, but now looking at the last virus trembling, she found herself unable to do so. "Honoo, what's wrong? You're slowing down," Kiri said, a tinge of confusion in her voice at her Navi's sudden behavior.

"This virus seems to be having second thoughts about fighting me now. It could've attacked earlier but it's starting to back off," The navigator replied, her armored gauntlet pointing at the suddenly lethargic virus. Kiri raised an eyebrow. "You're showing the virus some compassion? That's relatively... odd of you." Kiri remarked. Honoo bristled at her operator's remark. "Stuff your perceptions of me, I just know an enemy's beaten when I see it." She asserted to the netop. Kiri couldn't help but stifle a small grin at the fact that Honoo has a conscientious personality after all.

"Well, it's up to you. But be prepared to fight back if the Virus chooses death when you offer it surrender," the operator said as she help up a battlechip, ready to slot in the moment things get hairy. Honoo nodded, and stared down the Melody virus.

"G'won. Get. Your team lost, and you're almost wetting yourself with fear, but that's no reason for me to delete you anymore. I've lost the mood to fight you already." the Navi said through gritted teeth to the Virus. She was ready to leap away should the virus attack, but she lowered her guard stance to a less threatening manner to reassure the virus that she wasn't going to attack it with its' back turned.

SUMMARY OF ACTIONS:
1. Dodge (If needed)
== Turnsplice ==

It took an extra moment or two, and it wasn't entirely clear whether the virus was understanding what Honoo was saying to it, but after a couple more timid bobs, the Melody perked up slightly and its eyes grew a little less watery and fearful. It gave a chirp that sounded more like a rising chord of soft, hopeful notes this time, as though played through an old fashioned midi synth of some kind, then hopped in the air. It turned around as it leapt up, and a soft shimmer of music wrapped around it. A moment later, it was gone leaving only the fading sound of its music in the air. Oh, and a sprinkling of zenny, too.



-=Up For A Fight=-

Melody A: DELETED
Melody B: SPARED
Cacty A: DELETED
Cacty B: DELETED

-=Blazing Bright=-

Honoo.EXE: 70 HP [Bottom of slope]

-=Terrain=-

Terrain: 100% Normal

-=Battle 2, Victory!=-

Spoils: 380z

As Honoo watched the Melody virus hopping away out of combat, she turned around and started her climb up the slope where her fragmentation shell had impacted. Bits of cinder still fluttered around the place from earlier, and would probably extinguish itself a while later as the network recalibrated itself back to a clean slate. However, the environment wasn't exactly what was weighing in on her mind. "Hoping that virus doesn't come back to bite you, Honoo?" Kiri chimed in, saying what was already in Honoo's mind.

"I'd like to see it try. Maybe it might have a change of heart from attacking future navigators and refrain itself from doing so again," Honoo replied, though a sense of uncertainty could be felt from her words. "Or it'll stew for revenge and come back with a larger group and try to delete you from existence." Kiri added playfully, though Honoo didn't seem to appreciate it, as she simply muttered a soft "Shut up, you" back at Kiri, before continuing down the path towards the netsquare.

[[Battle 3, ready]]

Whether she was regretting her mercy or not, Honoo continued on her way towards her destination. The path was broad, if a bit winding here. The grass to either side grew steadily taller as she progressed, and it wasn't long before the environment had begun to resemble a single road passing through a field of long reeds. The air stirred and a breeze made the field sway back and forth gently. For a while it seemed like the path would remain peaceful while they made their way through, but the sound of a muffled explosion broke that illusion moments later.

The sound was hard to pinpoint, but it seemed to come from off the road to the left somewhere. As if on cue, Honoo would begin to see a thick plume of dark black smoke beginning to rise from the grass field in the same direction, and the sounds of crackling fire began to drift through the grass. Before she could inspect any further, however, a patch of the grass just in front of her parted suddenly to admit a small swarm of panicked-looking metool. The one leading them had parted the grass with its pick, and was chattering something in a sharp tone, like it was issuing instructions and waving the others through. Most of the others weren't carrying their regular weapons, but seemed to be carrying several blackened and scorched mets instead, bearing them across the road and into the grass on the other side.

Upon seeing Honoo, the leader jumped neatly over the procession to put itself between her and them, lowering its pick across its small body in a cautious gesture. The edge of its helmet tilted down as though it was prepared to guard itself at any moment, but it kept one eye on Honoo all the same - there was something oddly sharp in its gaze as it looked over combat-ready outfit and heavy duty flame throwers. Whenever any of the fleeing metools paused, the leader one gave a short 'meep' that sent them on their way again without looking away from her.

The sounds of blazing fire grew louder from the smoking area that they seemed to be fleeing from, and if she looked int hat direction, through the now pressed down grass, Honoo would see a small collection of domed huts, each looking quite cutely like giant metool helmets, most of which were burning or smoking. In amongst them, a group of other viruses seemed to be having fun torching the place; two Miners in the middle of the compact village, and no fewer than four large OldStoves shuffling about and blowing fire over the huts variously. For its part, the metool watching Honoo flicked its eyes back to the burning village and then back to her. It seemed more interested in evacuating the other fleeing metools than starting a fight today.

-=Smoke and Fire=-

Miner A: 100Hp [Normal][Centre of Village]
Miner B: 100Hp [Normal][Centre of Village]
OldStoveA: 50Hp [Normal][Facing the entrance of Hut A]
OldStoveB: 50Hp [Grass][Behind Hut C]
OldStoveC: 50Hp [Normal][In front of Hut B]
OldStoveD: 50Hp [Grass][Alongside Hut D]

-=Falling Back=-

Metool Leader: 65Hp [Normal][Watching Honoo]
Fleeing MetoolA: 40Hp [Normal][Behind Met Leader][Fleeing]
Fleeing MetoolB: 40Hp [Normal][Behind Met Leader][Carrying Burned Met A][Fleeing]
Fleeing MetoolC: 40Hp [Normal][Behind Met Leader][Carrying Burned Met B][Fleeing]
Burned MetoolA: 25Hp [Carried by Fleeing MetoolB]
Burned MetoolB: 25Hp [Carried by Fleeing MetoolC]

-=Decisions To Make=-

Honoo.EXE: 70 HP [Normal][In Front of Met Leader]

-=Grassy Field=-

40% Normal [Broad path that runs through the middle of the field, and the circular area containing the huts, to Honoo's left]
60% Grass [Rest of the tall grass field]
0% Mines [The Miners like to place Mines. Mind your step!]

Tall Grass: All dodges are 10% more effective when in the tall grass, due to difficult visibility.

-=Village Hidden in the Reeds=-

Metool Hut A: 90Hp [On Fire]
Metool Hut B: 100Hp
Metool Hut C: 50Hp [On Fire]
Metool Hut D: 100Hp


-=Battle 3, Begin=-

EDIT: Begone, foul typos!