Groove.

A brilliant flash of yellow; the static crackle of electricity; an eye-piercing beam that threatens to rend the earth, descending from the Sky--!!!

And Soundman was online. He took a step- tump. He looked down, bewildered, then took another step- tump. The apparently-musical navi 'hmm'ed, deep in thought...

Then took off in a keenly-set pace, producing a steady tump tump clak thump! with his two-step and jump of a walk, each sound of his feet impacting on or leaving the ground accompanied by a drum beat or a clap respectively. Thus, in turn, Soundman created a small, upbeat tune.

...It was really quite fun.

(Battle 1)
Whuat?

Spoikies.

SpikeyA:60 HP
SpikeyB:60 HP
SpikeyC:60 HP

Soundman:140 HP
"Alright! Finally, it's time for some action!" Soundman grinned. Casting his right arm back, he then spoke again. "Trenn, send me the Firehit 1 and the Rageclaw, would you?"

Meanwhile, on the bench, Trenn nodded. He then realized Soundman couldn't currently see him, and spoke. "Roger that, buddy! Firehit 1 and Rageclaw coming up!" Trenn pulled up a holographic display of all the chips he had, then tapped the symbols representing the Firehit 1 and Rageclaw. They disappeared, sent to Soundman.

Back in the virtual world, Trenn's voice was accompanied by the requested chips; both reached Soundman at the same time. "Chips sent! Lock and load and take 'em out, Soundman!"

Soundman smiled. "Roger that, Trenn!" The musical navi whipped his right arm out towards the viruses, then chuckled, speaking in a light, hearty tone. "Do you guys know what it feels like to have pure, digitized feedback from a speaker rip you apart?" at the expected nonresponse, Soundman continued, "No? Neither do I. Let's hope I never find out first-hand like you!"

Soundman quickly flicked a few switches on the soundboard on his right arm into certain positions with his left hand, and what could only be described as pure audio feedback built in the stereo speaker on Soundman's right shoulder. It then shot through Soundman's arm, a powerful, dangerous current, and released through the speaker on his palm as a shrill wave of audio; a high-pitched screech of a thing that tore it's way, invisibly, towards one of the Spikeys.

Soundman shook his right hand vigorously, freeing it of any leftover data from that last attack, then clenched his hand into a fist, tight enough to make his virtual muscles shake. The hand burst into flame, and Soundman visibly tensed.

"Here I go!" Soundman shot a look towards one of the Spikeys, and charged, even as he spoke. "This hand of mine is burning red!..." He shouted, pace building as he caused an uproar of dust in his wake...

"Uh... Soundman? What're you doing-" Trenn's voice was cut off by another line from Soundman, who began to grow near to one of the Spikeys. "It's loud roar tells me to grasp victory!"

Soundman leaped into the air high above the Spikey, then began to descend, arm reeled back. "ERUPTING! BURNING! FINGER!" Soundman's arm was released from it's held-back position not a moment too soon, and the end of it's downward was accompanied by a loud crunch. "And now... HEAT END!" A flurry of bullets, coming seemingly out of nowhere, shot out quick as a flash from the side of the Spikey, headed towards the last one Soundman had not attacked...

Soundman pulled his arm back to it's normal position and hopped off the Spikey, walking towards the one he had just shot at at a brisk pace. His right arm, the same one that had been so 'Burning Red' earlier grew a different kind of red; blood red. It grew a set of three gigantic claws to go with the new blood-red fur that had covered it, which Soundman then used to strike out once at the Spikey...

...If all had gone well, this would end it.

1: Whine - 60 @ Spikey A
2: "ERUPTING! BURNING! FINGER!" Firehit1 - 60 Fire @ Spikey B
3: "HEAT END!" Shotgun - 50 + Splash @ Spikey C
4: Rageclaw - 40 @ Spikey C
Gundam Fight, End.

VICTOR: SOUND GUNDAM

VICTORY HAS BEEN GRASPED!!

GET: 450z
"Um..." Trenn's bewildered voice came through over the connection, "What... the heck... was that, Soundman?"

Soundman looked equally surprised, standing there, eyes wide and slightly twitching. "I have... no idea. Shall we never speak of this again?"

Trenn nodded in the real world. "Agreed."

(Battle... TWO!)
Suddenly, balls! Four of them buzzing by...

Battle Two!

EleballA = 80
EleballB = 80
EleballC = 80
EleballD = 80

Soundman = 140

Battle Start!
Soundman blinked once or twice, suddenly still. He then leaned forward slightly and squinted his eyes. There was something oddly familiar about those viruses... but weren't they usually native to Yoka? "Hey Trenn, wasn't the last time we saw these..."

------

"In Yoka?" Trenn finished, "Yeah. I wonder what they're doing here...?" Trenn altered the screen's view a few times, but didn't notice anything odd. "Well, they're the real deal as far as I can tell, so here's a few things to take 'em out with." Trenn tapped two of the icons for chips that he had pulled up, and the data from each was sent through the line directly to Soundman.

Trenn scratched his chin for a moment, considering sending a third chip-

-but decided against it. Instead, he tapped one of the icons for Soundman's signature attacks:

Restez.

------

Soundman took a step forward-

And a fast-paced tune comprised entirely of guitars and drums started up. It sounded out of tune... Soundman moved his right hand to his left soundboard to adjust it, but instead found that it, and his right soundboard, were auto-adjusting. He blinked.

It was then that the singing started up.

Blood is a river,
Flowing darkly amidst the tangled roots of the tall shining city
Crazy flowing mantide migrations
Engorge the big ventricle of heartbroken Netopia
So many heaven hoping, hopeful groping breathers
All tap together quietly and desperately in unison
Hey, hey, hey, is anybody listening?


Soundman found, to his surprise, that he was tapping his foot to the beat. No, he was making the beat with his foot. He smiled. Soundman burst forward in a full-on charge towards the enemies the moment the song started into the chorus.

News from the front!
News from the front!


Soundman neared one of the Eleballs and brought his right arm out in a clothesline, the crackle of static evident in the palm of his right hand. He struck out at the Eleball with his hand as he passed it, and, further, he used the leverage from the strike to spin clockwise around it, launching himself at another one of the Eleballs.

We're living in troubled times,
so many fighting for their lives,
why do the troops despise the news from the front?


As he damn near flew across the ground towards the second Eleball, Soundman's right forearm grew... beastly. Bloodstained fur burst outward in a sudden growth that spread, in a matter of seconds, across the rest of his forearm. His hand was still there, from what he could feel-- but his control over it was currently replaced with control of the bear-like paw that had taken over the hand.

He felt a slight tingle towards the front of the paw, and he focused on it for but a moment. Three sharpened, amber claws jutted outward from the front of the paw, and Soundman could've sworn he heard a beastly growl from somewhere in the back of his mind.

Ignorance is the root of fear,
and fear is the kindling of anger!
War is the bringer of shame,
but never has the burden lain so heavily upon the victim!


He shook his head to clear it as he approached the second Eleball. He jumped into a front-flipping curl, and grabbed the Eleball, bringing it into it. Just before he hit the ground, he used the force of the spin to help him throw the thing roughly at what his targeting systems had labeled as the 'third' Eleball. He ended the spin by landing in a crouch, and watched the Eleball twirl it's way through the air towards the third target...

Rage and desolation
Pain and loneliness
Isn't it all alarmingly familiar?
Hey, hey, hey, silence is a kill- Dwooo...


Wait- that wasn't right. Soundman's speakers stopped pumping out music, and he searched internally for a cause... he hadn't broken something, had he?

...oooooooooooooo...

It was about then that Soundman noticed there was a single bass guitar note, just barely audible, hanging in the air. He looked around for a moment for a source, and was suddenly wrapped up within a ball of... sheet music?

1: Active Signature: Restez (80 HP barrier to self)
2: Active Signature: Whine (80 damage @ Eleball A)
3: Rageclaw (Grab) to Eleball B
4: Rageclaw (Impact) to Eleball C (Throw B at C; 20 damage taken by both on impact.)

--Signature Cooldowns--

Whine: [2 TCD]
Restez: [Not Cooling Down]
The eleballs don't like Soundman's taste in music. Or- Maybe they just don't like the subwoofers. Perhaps they're navidiscriminatory. They don't love their bruthas. Or- maybe it's because Soundman is tossing them around like chew toys. We may never know. We may also never know why kids like Netopian Sugar-crusted-honey-bombs, but- that's a whole 'nother story. In any case, all their attacks, ping off the withstanding note, which blocks all their foolish attacks. That is, the two that were thrown couldn't really aim anyway. Or perhaps they were aiming for an insult, but didn't quite make it there.

EleballA = 80
EleballB = 20
EleballC = 80
EleballD = 60

Soundman = 140 (50 point barrier)
The sheet music suddenly stopped swirling around him, as if startled, and then- the only word Soundman could think of was that it rolled itself back into the subwoofer strapped onto his back. He reached back and felt up the backpack a few times with his hands to make sure it was alright, then shook his head.

"You know, Trenn, you really should tell me what the sigs do before you send me into battle with them. It'll make me look a lot less..." Soundman trailed off, waving his right hand in a small circle as he searched for the correct word, "...silly."

Trenn chuckled loudly then replied, in a mock-chiding tone. "Aw, but where's the fun in that? It's funny to watch you trying to figure out what the heck your various speakers are doing when you activate your sigs."

"You mean like it was funny when your mother caught you dancing in the front room, in your underwear, to Daft Punk?" Soundman grinned mock-sweetly as he snickered under his breath, then shook his head. "I suppose I get what you're driving at, then."

Trenn sputtered, trying and failing multiple times to form a coherent sentence, and eventually ended up muttering a quick, half-hearted 'shut up' under his breath. He tapped a few of the chip icons that were still lit up, then leaned back against the bench.

Soundman's hand gave a large twitch. When Soundman looked to see the cause, the spot that was usually occupied by his palm-speaker was now filled by a small, green metal tube. The name of a chip popped into his head, and he frowned. "A Cannon, Trenn? Honestly, we need to get some better chips."

Trenn shrugged from his spot on the bench. "True as that might be, I figured it would be more productive you get you some sig attacks first. Either way, there's more where that chip came from in your active cache, so use 'em all."

Soundman nodded. "Alright."

Soundman leveled his arm at one of the Eleballs, and his fingers bent slightly inward as if grabbing something. Energy began to build in the Cannon, characterized by little flecks of light drawing their way in from every which direction to coalesce as a small bubble in the barrel of the gun. Soundman smirked, and his fingers extended all at once-

-firing a small blast of light out of the barrel that spiraled as it flew towards an Eleball at high speed, pushing air out of its way as it went. Soundman turned away from the blast, seeing more pressing concerns on his agenda. Namely, the two Eleballs that were still at full health.

Soundman snapped his left arm outward with an audible crack, and a shorter, gray barrel replaced the green of the cannon on his palm. He leveled this at the Eleball he had tried to hit with his Whine sig, and let it fly. A single cartridge went flying out of the barrel and seemingly passed right by the Eleball, but then exploded at a specific angle, sending pieces of buckshot flying at it and, if Soundman's aim wasn't horribly dead beyond all reason, another Eleball.

He brought his arm out again, slowly this time, and snapped his fingers, causing his hand to burst into flame. Soundman suddenly rushed at the other unharmed Eleball, and time seemed to stop entirely a moment before he reached it. He struck out predictably with his left hand--

--and feinted, instead grabbing the Eleball with his still-Rageclawed right arm and roughly hurling it at another one, halfway across the battlefield.

He thrust his left arm out in a punch at the Eleball he had thrown in a similar manner earlier, and a larger ghost of his fist made entirely out of flame streaked across the battlefield towards it, leaving smoke in it's wake. There was a muffled 'boom' and a small explosion of smoke and fire, but Soundman couldn't quite see whether or not it had hit...

...Not that the bubble of sheet music that had recently reappeared helped clear his vision any.

Passive: Restez (Maintain barrier)
1: Cannon (40 dmg @ Eleball D)
2: Shotgun (50 dmg @ Eleball A; Spread @ Eleball C)
3: Rageclaw (Throw Eleball C @ Eleball D; 20 damage to both)
4: Firehit1 (60 dmg @ Eleball B)

--Signature Cooldowns--

Whine: [1 TCD]
Restez: [Not Cooling Down]
The critters take some potshots while Soundman talks story with his netop, the dude getting flustered at the most harmless of references of the past- but that's not the issue. Two out of Four are taken down, although the rageclaw nearly misses its target, it manages to make the hit. Just two left to go, right?

EleballA = 30
EleballB = DELETED
EleballC = 10
EleballD = DELETED

Soundman = 140 (20 point barrier)
((...Honestly, I don't feel like bothering to do more just to finish off these two. Apologies. >>;))

Trenn piped up with something- but Soundman merely shushed him by pushing a finger to his mouth and giving a glare.

He stomped his way over to one of the two remaining Eleballs, and struck out with the Rageclaw- once, then a second strike immediately following it. He spun on his heel and leaped toward the other Eleball, then gave it much the same treatment-- with a one-two punch combo with the Rageclaw, he finished his attack.

Passive: Restez (Maintain barrier)
1: Rageclaw @ EleballA (40 dmg)
2: Rageclaw @ EleballA (40 dmg)
3: Rageclaw @ EleballC (40 dmg)
4: Rageclaw @ EleballC (40 dmg)

--Signature Cooldowns--

Whine: Cooled Down!
Restez: [Not Cooling Down]
The virus dies pitifully under a barrage of attacks by the- pissed off Soundman.exe.

Reward: 400z
Soundman ran a hand through his hair, and scratched the back of his head. He stomped a single foot on the ground, and all of the scattered zenny was scooped up in a rush, gathered and downloaded into Trenn's PET.

He gave a small whistle then started off again, walking along to who-knows where.
Soundman wanders across some tanks and cubes.

DBLCUBEA: 100 HP (Blue)
DBLCUBEB: 100 HP (Red)
KabutankA: 80 HP
KabutankB: 80 HP
KabutankC: 80 HP

Terrain: 100% Normal

Soundman.exe: 140 HP

-READY?-
-BATTLE 3-
-ENGAGE!-
"...Interesting..." Soundman looked the viruses over with a curious eye, sizing up what he could tell they were capable of. They didn't look like much... but appearances could be deceiving.

"Trenn, could you send me some chips? Anything with enough power to take out the little tank-things." Soundman received a 'hmmm' in reply, and for a moment considered repeating himself, but a series of beeps coming in over the line, followed by various chip data unlocking themselves quickly squelched that option.

"That oughta work, don't you think?" Trenn spoke through the line, already leaning back once again. Soundman smiled, then triggered his Whine sig with a twitch.

What sounded (Quite audibly) like loud, loud static coursed down past his shoulder and into his right arm, then gathered into his hand. From what he could feel... Soundman flexed his hand for a moment, fully adjusted to the feel by now, ...the static was built up just behind his palm.

Soundman nodded and muttered a quick "Let's go, then.", and dashed off, step after step tapping down upon the ground and pushing him towards one of the three Kabutanks. He reeled his right arm back, as if he was going to punch the Kabutank- then suddenly jumped over it and thrust his arm downward, releasing a high-pitched screech, like audio feedback from a microphone down at the thing, giving him enough upward thrust to allow him to land on the other side of it.

Soundman shook his right hand for a moment, clearing it of the aftereffects of the loud attack, then lashed out with his left, producing a small gray barrel attached to the palm-speaker there. He ran at the other two Kabutanks and raised that arm, bracing it with his right so as to avoid his aim being thrown off-

-and fired, releasing a single cartridge at the pair that burst into a small cloud of shrapnel in mid-air. Shrapnel that continued the cartridge's course, hurtling through the air at breakneck speeds towards the two viruses.

Soundman continued his advance while this was going on, and red fur overtook his right forearm-- red fur that lanced out three gargantuan claws from its tip. Soundman hopped over the two Kabutanks when he reached them and sliced out with his Rageclaw in midair, then hopped back over them again when he landed, raining down a flurry of blows upon them.

He landed where he had first jumped from with a small clack from his boots hitting the ground, and then spun to see what he had managed to kill.

1: Whine @ Kabutank A (80 dmg)
2: Shotgun @ Kabutank B (50 dmg + 50 Spread to Kabutank C)
3: Rageclaw @ Kabutank B (40 dmg)
4: Rageclaw @ Kabutank C (40 dmg)

--Signature Cooldowns--

Whine: 3 TCD
Soundman decimates the first Kabutank under the pressure of sound from his signature attack. He then moves to a ranged-melee combo attack on the other viruses which successfully delete them as well. The Red DBLCUBE fires, sending a small energy beam at Soundman which made contact. The other cube just floats there, bored.

DBLCUBEA: 100 HP (Blue)
DBLCUBEB: 100 HP (Red)
KabutankA: DELETED
KabutankB: DELETED
KabutankC: DELETED

Terrain: 100% Normal

Soundman.exe: 120 HP
"Soundman," came Trenn's voice over the line, "we have trouble."

"Trouble?" Soundman's tense voice replied. "What kind of trouble?"

"The 'There's a giant war going on in the Electown Net' kind."

"...Oh." Soundman- ran. Just ran, straight in the other direction, away from the DBLCUBE viruses that remained. He skipped, and he hopped, and he did a flip or two-

And then Trenn hit the 'Jack Out' button.

((ALL actions: Jack Out))
Soundman successfully jacks out from the battle. The DBLCubes glow blue in despair.

DBLCUBEA: 100 HP (Blue)
DBLCUBEB: 100 HP (Blue)
KabutankA: DELETED
KabutankB: DELETED
KabutankC: DELETED

Terrain: 100% Normal

Soundman.exe: JACKED OUT

-ESCAPE!-
Soundman Gets... Wait, nothing. Nevermind.
There was no out-of-place jingle when Trenn hit the jack in button. No catchy tune, no mysteriously loud music.

What there was, however, was Wiz literally falling from the sky and hitting the ground hard enough to crack the panels he landed on. The small, boyish navi brushed himself off, then went floating off in a random direction, laughing.
Wiz's laughs seem to attract a group of viruses. Are they happy to see him back?

Probably not, but let's kill them anyway.

BoomerA: 60
BoomerB: 60
KabutankA: 80
KabutankB: 80
Windbox: 100

Wiz: 100

Terrain: 40% Metal (lawl), 60% Normal (centred on virus group)

-BATTLES ROUTINES: INITIATED!-
-COMMENCING BATTLE NO.!-

-ADDITIONAL MESSAGE: GREETINGS TO NAVI UNIT: WIZ.EXE!-