Data Mining 101

As DragonierMan logged onto one of the terminals, a trail of verbose text flooded the screen, mostly denoting system checks and process initializations. A short while later, the screen displayed a small green crystal, which would be known to most people as a Green Mystery Data crystal, though it did not seem to be complete. Underneath it, a percentage appeared to be slowly climbing to 100%, which seemed to correspond to the completion of the MD crystal, along with a very large number underneath that.

DragonierMan watched the percentage just go over 100%, which then reset to 0%. The large number underneath the percentage was then added to by one, and the crystal on the screen disappeared, reset back to zero and slowly building back up. Around the numbers and the crystal inside the screen were also a myriad of small circular buttons, each labeled with unfamiliar markings. The auto-translator did not seem to catch it, so it was probably not a foreign language, perhaps some encrypted code.

There was one exception to the case, however, and that was a large green button with a downwards-pointing arrow on it with the letters "DL" on it.

"I wonder if this is a creation center for Mystery Data (MD) packets?" thought DragonierMan aloud as his glowing eyes were drawn to what looked like a download button. He waited for the small green crystal displayed on the screen to build up to exactly 100% before he pressed the "DL" button, hoping to get it before it reset to 0%. "It is also possible that, according to this navi's data files, the mining he saw in ACDC was of GMDs being extracted directly from the bedrock code. It is possible that those same GMDs could be feeding back here for processing. If that is the case, this site is extremely valuable."

DragonierMan turned a controlled, blazing gaze toward the twin SPs, who visibly shuddered and gripped each other. "Secure the area and set up Flags. I want to be able to monitor this whole area." The two girls looked at each other for a moment, searching the others' expression, then nodded. They both reached down to the belts on their skirts and unclipped seemingly innocuous golden rings.

Squeezing the bands, the rings stretched up towards the sky and down towards the ground. They formed tall, hallow, golden poles with pointed ends. The girls went around the perimeter, pulling more rings from their belts, and driving the stakes into the metal floor. After they would plant one pole and move on, a banner would unfurl upon it, depicting a single stone tower of white marble on a solid, inky-black background. The top of each pole lit up like a lantern, shedding a soothing light on the surrounding panels.

Trent and Sasha simply observed and kept guard as the two twins ran around setting up patrols. Trent noticed that Dragonierman's eyes had switched over, meaning he was being taken over by the strange creature that he had yet to meet fully. Trent shook it off and kept himself away from the control terminals and kept playing guard. He had no interest in the data stream other than gazing purposes at its immense size, and no interest in the riched of the area. He left his ally to his work and kept his back safe while the work was being done. He was still unable to control his curiosity about things, which was ultimately a positive trait as it kept him from losing all sanity in the rings.

As DragonierMan pressed the "DL" button, a small mystery data crystal popped out of the bottom of the console, and the progress screen displayed a red circle around the spinning crystal. Above the red circle, a 24-hour timer appeared, slowly counting down to the seconds. The progress bar didn't seem to slow down any, though, and everything else was fine, as his Support Programs set up some flags around the area. Trent and Sasha stood guard, looking about for any approaching enemies.

So far, there didn't seem to be anything of note that could be dangerous. Attention would inevitably be drawn to the crystal. What secrets would it hold?

[Open GMD? Y/N]

Hmm...

DragonierMan looked down as the data crystal dropped out of the machine like a gumball. His eyes then drew back to the red timer-ring that had appeared around the crystal. It seemed like there was a period between "downloads" of twenty-four hours.

"I'm done with my end," stated Suzume as she drove the last stake into the ground. The lantern nub turned on as she released the golden flag pole and walked back to the terminals. It glowed softly among the other lights along the periphery, blinking slowly in unison. "I'm done too," Aya said as she stood around looking out at the surrounding Netscape in a half-distracted way, scanning for threats.

DragonierMan reached out and opened the GMD as Suzume came to stand at his side.

As the green mystery data was made and looked at by Dragonierman, so too did Trent become very interested in the contents and makings of these terminals. He slowly made his way around to a vantage point that allowed his to see what was inside the crystal as it was being opened. Trent was working his way towards the blue terminal, in hopes it did the same as the green terminal did. Trent didn't interact with the blue terminal yet however, due to wanting to see what was inside the green. Sasha kept the vigil on the area by command of Trent.

The crystal decrypted itself to reveal...

[GMD: 600z]

DragonierMan scooped up the money from the data crystal and divided the pile in half. "A little something for your help," he said as he handed 300z to Trent. "I think this is enough for right now. I will probably be studying this place for a while, so if you want, you are free to leave. I do not think I will be in any significant danger here."

DragonierMan: 300z
Trent: 300z

He turned to address his SPs, "Each of you pick a terminal and see what you can find." Aya left her spot on the periphery to go over to the blue terminal while Suzume walked around to the red terminal. They both logged on and began searching for their terminal's function.

Trent took his share of the zenny and looked to Mark, silently asking what he wanted to do. Mark flashed his wrist upwards to look at the time, even though he wasn't wearing a watch, and said, "Yeah we should head out. Sasha has enough of the bugfrags we were trying to get, and you need to get to work on getting back into the rings. That's the very next thing."

Trent looked to Sasha and called him over, the dog happily joining the side of Trent and was greeted with a rub behind the ears. Trent looked back to Dragonierman and said, "I must be heading out now. It was good to work with you again. Anytime I need some help I'll call. Until next time."

With that Trent disappeared from the networks in a flash of light.

{Jack out}
{+300 Zenny}

[+3 FXP]

With the green terminal relieved of its knowledge, DragonierMan commanded his SPs to check the other terminals. Lighting up, the layout of the screens seemed identical to the green terminal's screen. However, the red and blue crystals on those screens already had red circles around them, and instead of a 24-hour timer on the top, a padlock icon was displayed, with some cryptic-looking input keys on the sides of the icon. Probably won't get much of anything out of those.

DragonierMan nodded to Trent as he jacked out, then returned to the consoles. There were red rings and padlocks on the data crystals. Security lockouts for more potent Mystery Data. Well, there wasn't anything they could do about that at the moment. The glowing of DragonierMan's eyes faded, satisfied with their discovery. Then the three individuals left to clear out the surrounding territory, to keep their prize intact. Marching out into the unknown.

[Requesting Battle 1.]

Bump.

Walking forward through the network, DragonierMan and his SPs got to a large slope of a path leading upwards, on which floated some MagTect viruses. They didn't look particularly happy about him being there and walking on their road like some silly Navi.

-- ENEMIES --
Magtect A: 90 HP [Metal]
Magtect B: 90 HP [Metal]
Magtect C: 90 HP [Metal]

-- ALLIES --
DragonierMan.EXE: 175 HP [Metal]
Suzume.SP: 40 HP [Metal]
Aya.SP: 40 HP [Metal]

-- TERRAIN --
60% Metal (Sloped up)
40% Broken

-- BATTLE 01, READY? START!! --

[x3]

The twins looked around at all the broken terrain around them. They were apparently funneled toward the hilltop. Held secure by unknown viruses. As such there was very little room to maneuver. They would have to deal with what they had been given.

The light of the data pillar far behind them cast their shadow toward the hill. An inky form coalesced and separated itself from each of their shadows, growing into identical, humanoid silhouettes. The darkness drained away from the inky forms, leaving two identical, blond-haired girls in front of the MagTects.

The two clones drew daggers and made threatening gestures at the MagTects, shifting to flank the group. They looked like they were just waiting for the MagTects to make the wrong move before they would dart in and stab the viruses with their wicked-sharp blades. The originals drew their own daggers and went into defensive stances on either side of DragonierMan.

DragonierMan took the momentary distraction to launch a barrage of projectiles into the MagTects. Energy collected in front of the dragon's mouth-plate. A swirling white vortex forming out of the ether. It fluctuated and condensed in upon itself, molding into a tennis ball-sized sphere. Then he belched forth a torrent of destructive bolts.

They sailed across the battlefield, whistling through the air as each arced up the hill and down upon the viruses. The first two exploded thunderously in spectacular fireballs. Metal bits sheared off the floor and were scattered like leaves upon the wind. The next dozen and more came on in a great stream. A flurry of tiny blasts that also scattered haphazardly around, spreading destruction everywhere. Furrowing the ground where they penetrated.

As the deadly barrage came to an end, the navi was already charging up the hill at the viruses. He pumped his arms and legs and climbed that hill in a heartbeat. His momentum plowed into the viral lines, stomping over their bodies and driving them into the hard, cold, steel floor; or scattering them like a flock of birds.

Daaaaang, that's some coverage.

-- ENEMIES --
Magtect A: DELETED
Magtect B: DELETED
Magtect C: DELETED

-- ALLIES --
DragonierMan.EXE: 175 HP [Metal]
Suzume.SP: 40 HP [Metal]
Aya.SP: 40 HP [Metal]

-- TERRAIN --
60% Metal (Sloped up)
40% Broken

-- BATTLE 01, VICTORY!! --

-- REWARDS --
[MagBolt1] Battlechip, 240z, 15 BugFrags

DragonierMan coughed into his fist as the clones faded back into shadow and the twins came forward to collect the spoils. Aya struggled a little to haul back a large magnet that fell off of one of the MagTects. And Suzume produced a leather sack and skipped around collecting all the shinies. When they were done transporting the loot back to their PET, they moved onward to slay more viruses.

[Requesting Battle 2.]

Following the metal road to his next fight, DragonierMan found a sudden shift in the terrain. Shining yellow panels marked a stark divide between himself and his next opponents. A group of powerful viruses was orbiting an enormous red planetoid. It pulsed as if it were alive, leading DragonierMan to assume it must also be a virus. Aside from the viruses, three large rocks were also circling the planet in harmony with the other viruses. The movement of everything made it difficult to get a clear lock on anything, especially with the artificial moons also in the way.

BigBang: 120 HP [solar] ((This is the planet))
Satellite: 100 HP [solar]
PulseBulb: 120 HP [metalbody] [solar]
RedUFO: 80 HP [solar]
RockSphereA: 150 HP [solar]
RockSphereB: 150 HP [solar]
RockSphereC: 150 HP [solar]

Terrain: 50% Metal, 50% Solar

DragonierMan.EXE: 175 HP [metal]
Suzume.SP: 40 HP [metal]
Aya.SP: 40 HP [metal]

[Battle 2 - Begin!]

[x1] [x1] [x1] [x1] [x3]

DragonierMan stopped at the dividing line between cold metal and warm solar. The twins walked up behind and peeked over each shoulder. Their eyes widened as they drunk in the cluster of viruses swarming around another large planetoid virus, shining a bright crimson. It was a cornucopia of creatures that were all strange and unique. The three hesitated a moment and took up defensive postures. The twins summoned their clones while DragonierMan raised a golden shield. It was unclear how to proceed.

The four girls drew daggers but kept back. DragonierMan stepped forward with his shield raised as the girls quickly traded places with each other. Energy collected in front of his golden shield, forming into more than a dozen pale orbs. Smoke drifted off each as the pulsed and solidified. It was true that targeting was a mess amidst so many bodies. So logically the only option available to him was to just barrage the whole compacted area and hope that he hit something.

He launched the barrage of projectiles into the center of the virus formation. Motes of swirling white sped across the battlefield, peppering the cluster as they landed. Dust and smoke erupted out of each impact, quickly clouding the viruses in a thick haze. Finally the last bolt rang out and penetrated the cloud, exploding in a spectacular fireball amongst the viruses. Ending the thunderous barrage.

The navi ended the attack with summoning up another golden shield. The girls also got in behind him. Hunkering down behind their defenses, they awaited the counter attack.

DragonierMan first summoned up a shield to protect himself, and then unleashed bullet hell upon the viruses, destroying most of them in the process, along with the spherical rocks, which were ostensibly harmless. Unfortunately, through the barrage of attacks, the PulseBulb survived, thanks to its metallic body defense. It whizzed over to DragonierMan, and zapped him with some electricity. However, thanks to his Guard, it was reflected back at the bulb!

BigBang: DELETED
Satellite: DELETED
PulseBulb: 105 HP [metal]
RedUFO: DELETED

Terrain: 50% Metal, 50% Solar

DragonierMan.EXE: 175 HP [metal]
Suzume.SP: 40 HP [metal]
Aya.SP: 40 HP [metal]

All but one virus was destroyed by the barrage. And both shields lay in ruins around the navi, broken. The virus that had survived had been protected by a hard metallic casing. When it attacked, it came out of its shell. Unprotected, it was the time to strike.

DragonierMan, infused with the victory over the previous fallen, began to emit magnetic energy. His armor reverberated with power as the energy lashed out to ensnare the metallic virus and pull it closer to the navi. The twins backed off on either side of the navi as their hair began to stand on end. They formed their shadow clones once more and went to surround the virus when it was pulled in. A brilliant flash of light overtook the battlefield a moment later as the same magnetic power fed back upon itself and caused an electrical shock. The navi seemed unaffected as the source, but the metal floor would have amplified the shock to fatal levels.

It was at that point, had the virus survived getting fried, that the five pulled out their blades and surrounded the target. Arms moved up and down as they plunged their blades over and over against the virus. Stabbing and cutting and slashing and piercing. Carving at the virus until it would be nothing more than a pile of broken circuits.