Mach and Aera in Electopia

Machman picks up the data and uploads it to the PET.
[Good work. I assume you still want to keep going?]
If it's alright with you, Aera.
Aera nods and smiles.
This is fun! I'm ready for more.

Machman and Aera take a few quick steps forward before letting their thrusters to lift them into the air. They fly ahead, side by side.

((Ready for Battle #4))
The metal fields of Electown Net seemed to spread out in every direction as far as the eye could see. It was a nice change of pace to spot some Magnet panels coming up in the distance. At first it was only one or two here and there but it quickly became a problem. Soon, Machman found himself soaring over a metal strip stuck between nothing but Magnet panels. The enormous plains of electrical interference produced a constant low frequency static noise. Though he was too far out of range to be affected in any serious manner, the sound still got on his nerves. Aera seemed to be equally irked by the scratchy humming.

But that was the least of their worries when Machman found himself slowing down and being dragged to the ground below. Had his Airshoes suddenly stopped working? He quickly scanned the area to find viruses materializing before his eyes. A pair of MagtectEXs had already begun their attack, employing powerful electromagnets to bring down the aerial navi. Twistys formed alongside the Magtect groups with their RemoteBit counterparts floating close by. Machman's jets struggled to keep him afloat but it was a losing battle. It only seemed to only get worse as two more clouds of data compiled themselves into Catacks. The tanks converged on the navi slowly, carefully staying within the boundaries of the metal road.

Essentially facing a contingent of anti-air units, control towers, and tanks, Machman wondered if he had wandered into a base of some sort.

((Left Magnet))
MagtectEXA: 120 HP (attacking)
MagtectEXB: 120 HP
TwistyA: 80 HP
RemoteBitA: -

((Middle Metal))
CatackA: 120 HP
CatackB: 120 HP

((Right Magnet))
MagtectEXC: 120 HP (attacking)
MagtectEXD: 120 HP
TwistyB: 80 HP
RemoteBitB: -

Terrain: 40% Magnet, 20% Metal, 40% Magnet

Machman.EXE: 100HP [Omnishoes]
Aera.SP: 50HP

[Battle 4 - Begin!]
As Machman struggles to keep airborne, Aera rushes over to his side.
Are you alright? What's wrong?
Machman looks over to Aera, who seems to have no trouble in staying airborne.
I feel like I'm getting dragged down... Its probably those magnetic panels. Why don't you feel it?
I... I don't know. It might be because my internal electrical generators are creating a magnetic field that counteracts the pull of standard magnetic surfaces.
{Okay... I learned something today. Aera: Cute, infectiously happy, enjoys flying, houses multiple recovery programs, cute, looks like a supermodel when in a bathing suit, and is impervious to magnetism.}

[Uploading chips now, Machman. You take out those viruses on the magnetic panels, and Aera, you try to stop those tanks!]
Understood.
Understood.

Machman hovers a foot or two above the metal floor, trying to stay off its surface. He aims his buster towards the incoming tanks as the buster starts to develop multiple large holes on its surface.
Aera, I'll try to help you out. Once these things are trapped, let 'em have it!
A large bubble on the end of his buster starts to fill with smaller bubbles, drawn from the air being sucked through the holes on his buster and into the watery film drawn over it. The bubble is quickly sealed and he aims it directly at the two Catacks. He fires the bubble, it soars towards its target with a soft "blip" when it separated from the buster. Machman's buster disappears as he raises both of his arms into the air. A pair of green curved blades appear in his hand. He holds the newly formed boomerangs in a pistol grip as aims each boomerang towards its respective side of the metal "road"

As the bubble projectile explodes and showers the immediate area in water and ensnaring bubbles, Machman swings his arms downward and releases the pair of boomerangs. The two rapidly spinning blades quickly level out and buzz parallel to the magnetic floor below. Hopefully they are moving and spinning fast enough to hit their targets before getting forced to the magnetic panels. They zip towards the group of electricity-based viruses, passing by and turn sharply to return to their master. Machman stands ready to catch the boomerangs.

Aera brings on the sparks by aiming a palm at a respective Catank and launches a pair of bright electric bolts towards them. The energy blasts rip through the air, leaving a slight trail of current with the occasional visible discharge to the conductive metal floor. Mach floats ahead of Aera, his massive GutFist forming over his right arm and shoulder. He stands at the ready to counter an incoming attack, and his wings float outwards towards the outline of his body, the wing thrust nozzles pointed forward and primed to forcibly blast any incoming attacks away like a ping-pong ball in a wind tunnel.

ACTIONS:
Machman
BubbleStar1: CatackA,B (20dmg Aqua + Bubble Trap x3)[+ Take Aim]
Boomerang1: MagtectEXA,B, TwistyA (120dmg Wood)
Boomerang1: MagtectEXC,D, TwistyB (120dmg Wood)

Aera
Attack: CatackA (70dmg Elec x2? [due to bubble trap])
Attack: CatackB (70dmg Elec x2? [due to bubble trap])
/Aera

Counter1: (Counter attack with GutPunch for 70dmg + Breaking + Impact)
Gust: Blow away incoming magnets
As his first order of business, Machman took aim at the tanks with his BubbleStar for Aera's sake. The foamy spray worked wonders against the slow moving tanks, trapping both without problem. However, in doing so, he had given the MagtectEXs a window of opportunity by ignoring them. As he was no longer in contact with the floor, Machman hadn't fully noticed that he had been sliding ever closer to the viruses to his right. The attractive forces of the MagtectEXs acting on him from both sides practically cancelled each other out. But as he slid, the unsteady equilibrium was lost and he quickly found himself being dragged in too fast to escape. He pulled out a pair of Boomerangs and launched both in a retaliatory manner. One Boomerang flew off and took out a MagtectEX and the Twisty on the opposite side but the other attack was totally useless, circling around the targetted group without touching anything. The Boomerangs seemed to clear away the magnet fields, creating semi-circular paths of restored white panels in their wake.

Meanwhile, Aera had been aiming for the Catacks and fired one electric bolt. Taking advantage of the terrain and the bubbles, she inflicted a deadly amount of damage, forcing the virus to explode in a violent electric flash. She prepared to fire again at the other but her attack flew off course as the surviving MagtectEX from the left field powered up its magnets and started to draw her in.

A Remotebit satellite hovered over Machman and dropped a blast of lightning, setting off his Counter. He inadvertently teleported into range of the Twisty and threw a powerful punch. Fate seemed to transpire against him yet again as the MagtectEX shocked him out of the attack, saving the Twisty from harm. A powerful surge of electrical energy coursed through his body, overloading and setting off several programs at once. A powerful blast of air shot out from his jets, pushing away the virus one second too late.

Machman was stunned and surrounded by enemies.

((Left Magnet))
MagtectEXA: DELETED
MagtectEXB: 120 HP (attacking)
TwistyA: DELETED
RemoteBitA: DELETED

((Middle Metal))
CatackA: DELETED
CatackB: 100 HP [bubble]

((Right Magnet))
MagtectEXC: 120 HP
MagtectEXD: 120 HP
TwistyB: 80 HP
RemoteBitB: -

Terrain: 20% Magnet, 20% Normal / 20% Metal / 20% Magnet, 15% Normal, 5% Cracked

Machman.EXE: 50HP [Omnishoes] [stun: -1 action] [in Right Magnet area]
Aera.SP: 50HP [being pulled to Left Magnet area]
Aera watches helplessly as Machman is hit by large amounts of electric power.
Machman! I'm coming! Hang on-
Her sentence was cut short by a strong magnetic pull, her own generators just couldn't handle the powerful magnetic field emitted by the aggressive virus.

Machman could see she was being dragged by the attacking virus, and strains to overcome the electricity-induced immobility. He reaches his hand over the terrain below, drawing a large cube of stone up from the ground. The nearly 9' cube sits directly between him and the virus attempting to draw in his partner. His wings move in from his back and begin to circle around his right arm. He checks the location of the virus from a visual feed from his orbiting sensor arrays and prepares to make his move. The wings start to prime their thrusters, emitting cyan light. He checks over the angle one more time before thrusting his hand forward, his wing thrusters going full power in one quick burst. The concussive blast sends the rock cube sliding across the ground at a terrifying speed, aimed carefully to hit the Magtect virus and fast enough to hit it before Aera is drawn in too close.

Aera sees the incoming rock, trying her best to stay out of its path as it skids towards her attacker. Her thrusters work their hardest to keep her out of danger until the massive stone cube thunders past. She takes aim at the remaining Catack virus, hopefully still encased in its bubble "cage," and fires a powerful bolt of electricity towards it.

Machman shifts his focus to the viruses in his vicinity, and brings up his trusty Magnum. The chambers slide into position with rumbling clanks as the magnum slugs are secured in the barrels. A targeting display is projected a few inches in front of his eyes, showing a green cross hair where his massive weapon is aiming. Quickly and precisely moving his Magnum's position, the cross hair slides over the Magtect virus, leaving a red cross hair fixed over its position. The cross hair finally stops and changes red over the final Magtect.

As soon as the pair of red cross hairs appear, he opens fire. In three loud booms and a respective tongue of flame and smoke, the large explosive projectiles are sent downrange to their respective targets. The ground shakes with each discharge, a visible white ring forming in front of the barrel as a pressure wave from the massive weight of the slugs traveling at supersonic speeds.

ACTIONS:
Machman
RockCube: (Summon 200HP Rock Cube)
Gust: Push RockCube into MagtectEXB (200dmg + Breaking + Impact)[+ Take Aim]

Aera
Dodge incoming RockCube
Attack: CatackB (70dmg Elec x2? {bubble trap})
/Aera

Charge Magnum
Magnum1: MagtectEXC,D (120dmg Fire + Breaking + Panel Break)
Prioritizing Aera's well being over his own, Machman quickly recovered from his paralysis through sheer force of will. His systems stabilized to acceptable levels and he was able to summon and launch a Rockcube across the field, watching it slide over the magnets and scratch across the steel plated road. Aera could see and hear it coming and shifted out of the way in time to watch the block slam into the MagtectEX. Both were destroyed in the collision leaving Aera's side of the field virus-free. Having been almost deleted by a virus and a giant rock, Aera took a minute to collect her thoughts before realizing that the other Catack was still alive. She fired a quick attack at it in hopes of finishing it off but the bubble had popped and the small electric bolt didn't have enough charge to delete the tank in one shot. It crawled forward slowly and aimed its cannon towards Machman.

Machman charged his Magnum slightly less than usual as he was still suffering from the effects of his stunned state. He aimed the weapon at the two remaining MagtectEXs and fired, quickly deleting both at such close range. He felt confident in his victory but something was wrong. There was a loud blast that echoed throughout the area. A powerful explosion struck Machman from the back, knocking him off his feet and taking out his jetpack in a single devastating attack. Smoke poured upwards from the Catack's barrel. Aera could only watch in horror as Machman hit the floor like a ragdoll.

From a distance, the Twisty's Remotebit slowly made its way to Machman, firing a piercing bolt through the magnet panels as it progressed.

((Left Magnet))
MagtectEXA: DELETED
MagtectEXB: DELETED
TwistyA: DELETED
RemoteBitA: DELETED

((Middle Metal))
CatackA: DELETED
CatackB: 30 HP

((Right Magnet))
MagtectEXC: DELETED
MagtectEXD: DELETED
TwistyB: 80 HP
RemoteBitB: -

Terrain: 20% Magnet, 20% Normal / 20% Metal / 15% Magnet, 15% Normal, 10% Broken

Machman.EXE: 1 HP [Critical] [Downed: 1 action to get back up] [Omnishoes] [Jetpack destroyed ((Cannot use any jetpack-related sigs/attacks)) [in Right Magnet area]
Aera.SP: 50 HP [in Left Magnet area]
Machman is hit in the back by the powerful tank round, and is sent flying. He attempts to roll forward and soften the blow, but the magnetic panels didn't allow him to move his body in time. He hits the floor and quickly slides to a stop, held down by the panels' magnetic pull. Mazer winces as he sees his navi blasted away from the virus, he attempts to contact Machman as he pulls two recovery chips from his ChipMag, but he is quickly silenced by what he hears in the PET.

MACHMAN!!!
Aera screams out to her fallen partner, tears starting to form in her eyes. Machman struggles to get up, but he combination of massive program damage and the binding magnetism proves too much for the speed Navi. He feels something wrong with his wings; his worries are confirmed by a visual feed from one of his sensors looking back at him. His back plate is cracked and discolored by the tank round, and his wings are in no better shape. One is laying several dozen feet behind him, one is quivering on the ground next to him, and the other two are just barely functioning. The video feed starts to get blurred with static, eventually going dark as Machman loses consciousness.

Aera shifts her focus to the Catack virus that struck Machman down. Her bright blue eyes shimmer from the tears as her anguished facial expression twists into that of anger. Her right hand tightens into a fist, she squeezes so tight that her arm starts to shake. She charges the virus, her fist cracking with bolts of electricity. Her wings shoot her forward, closing the gap in just a couple of seconds. She twists her upper torso back, drawing her right arm and electrified fist completely behind her.
YAAAAA!!!
She drives her fist forward, aiming to strike the side of the tank turret mounted on the virus, and delivering a pulse of electricity directly from her hand.

After attacking the virus, her wings kick on again and she makes a bee-line to Machman. She slides to a stop next to him as she crouches down at his side. She hears a loud "crack!" and looks ahead to see the RemoteBit destroying panels as it floats towards the fallen Navi. She starts to panic, she has used up too much power to stop the Bit's advance. Mazer overcomes his surprise to Aera's attack and speaks to her.
[Get him out of there. Carry him, drag him, just get him out of that thing's path!]

Mazer's stern but calm voice brings Aera back into focus. She blinks out the tears welling up in her eyes and steps behind Mach, who is laying face up. She hooks her arms underneath his shoulders and sits him up to adjust her grip. She grabs him tightly around his lower chest and lifts as hard as she can. She activates her wings and points them forward in an attempt to drive them back and further away from the incoming RemoteBit. As she boosts backwards, Mazer uploads the pair of recovery programs, causing Machman to faintly glow green. Machman opens his eyes and attempts to figure out where he was and what was going on. He notices the RemoteBit shrinking in the distance, and also notices his feet partially dragging along the floor. It is then he notices Aera's arms wrapped tightly around his abs.

Aera quickly runs out of power and slows down. She couldn't bear the weight of them both and slowly slumps to the floor as Machman slides out of her grip. Machman's head lays on Aera's thighs as she sits on her feet in exhaustion. Machman looks up to Aera, her chest plate stained black and red by his broken and discolored armor, the damage hitting his internal programming and releasing blood-like indicator fluid. Her shoulders and back shudders as she sobs over him, tears running down her face and hitting Mach's metallic hair and face mask with little plinking sounds. Her eyes are closed but the tears continue to stream down her face. Machman raises his left arm up, reaching out to her face. His gloved hand touches her cheek, causing Aera to quickly open her eyes in surprise. The sobbing stops as she looks down at Machman and smiles, though her tears keep flowing.

It's okay, Aera. I'm alright. Please don't cry...
*sniff*I was so afraid... When I saw you get hit, I thought you were... were... *sob*
Mazer notices the RemoteBit was closing in fast, and warned the pair of the incoming threat.
[That virus is still gunning for you both! You need to take out the controller to halt its advance!]

Machman looks down and confirms the Bit's location, and looks back up to Aera.
Help me up, I still have enough to take this thing out!
Aera sits Machman up, she scoots forward and places her chest against his back, her left arm wrapped around him and her hand pressed against his chest. Machman points his right arm down range, aiming towards the immobile Twisty in front of him. A large mounting frame extends from the bottom of his arm, jutting as far out as his fingers when extended. A large triple-barreled vulcan materializes underneath the mounting bracket, securely bolted in place. A trigger flips up from the bracket and rests in his hand. Aera helps steady his arm as he confirms the virus's position using his sensor network. The vulcan spins up with a high pitched whir and quickly roars to life. A 2 foot long lick of flame extends from the end of the barrel as hundreds of rounds are blasted down range towards the virus. The gun fires with a constant tone, nearly impossible to hear the individual bullets going off one by one. The burst lasts only a few seconds before the weapon runs out of ammo, he loud burst replaced by the whirring of the still spinning barrels.

The vulcan disappears as the mounting bracket folds down into Machman's arm. He prepares to summon the last of his strength quickly fall/crawl out of the path of the RemoteBit's destructive bolts, if the vulcan doesn't manage to take it out.


ACTIONS:
Machman
-Action to get back up-

Aera
Attack: CatackB (70dmg Elec)
Mobility Junction
/Aera

Recover10: Machman.EXE (Heal 10HP)
Recover10: Machman.EXE (Heal 10HP)
Rising Barrage: TwistyB (100dmg + Break + Strategic Action {move out of RemoteBit's path}) [+ Take Aim]
Aera's single electric bolt finally brought down the last Catack in a shower of sparks. She raced over to Machman, who laid broken and battered and on the verge of deletion himself. Taking him into her arms, she attempted to flee but felt drained from having to expend part of her energy to attack and also from her rush to reach him.

Mazer slotted in two recovery chips to stabilize Machman from his critical condition. Though they did their job admirably, healing some of his major wounds, he was still far from being healthy. His jets were in ruins but at least his arms were intact. He raised his customized buster at the Twisty and carefully targetted the short virus. If he so much as twitched the wrong way, it would mean the end of him. The weapon seemed heavy. The Remotebit homed in. He was out of time.

Machman laid waste to the Twisty with a barrage of gunfire. The clouds of dust from the impact obscured his view of the target as he fired but he couldn't let up. The gun soon ran out of ammo and he felt finished in every sense of the word. The Remotebit had made it to his position and cackled overhead as it charged its electric attack. Machman closed his eyes as Aera embraced him tightly.

The blinking eyes on the satellite flickered before turning off. It seemed to run out of power and simply fell from the sky before disintegrating, raining down a shower of data bits on Aera and Machman.

They had survived.

((Left Magnet))
MagtectEXA: DELETED
MagtectEXB: DELETED
TwistyA: DELETED
RemoteBitA: DELETED

((Middle Metal))
CatackA: DELETED
CatackB: DELETED

((Right Magnet))
MagtectEXC: DELETED
MagtectEXD: DELETED
TwistyB: DELETED
RemoteBitB: DELETED

Terrain: 20% Magnet, 20% Normal / 20% Metal / 15% Magnet, 15% Normal, 10% Broken

Machman.EXE: 21 HP [Omnishoes] [Jetpack destroyed] ((Cannot use any jetpack-related sigs/attacks)) [in Right Magnet area]
Aera.SP: 50 HP [in Right Magnet area] [Equip]

[Battle 4 - Victory!]

Get: 1200z + Magbolt1 + 44 bugfrags
As the data showers all around them, they look around to see the danger has passed. Machman looks around then looks back up to Aera, who's leaning over him.
That was a close one, huh?
Aera isn't exactly amused, she's still shaken up by the battle.
Please don't scare me like that! I thought I lost you!
I'm sorry, Aera. You really saved me back there... again. Thank you.

[Hey Mach, you suffered some really serious damage to your wing programs. I think we'll have to cut this little adventure short.]
Machman closes his eyes and relaxes as he starts to glow cyan. Aera wipes the tears from her eyes as she also begins to glow cyan.
Alright. I think we could both use a little break.
The pair of programs make the change to cyan globs of light and beam up and out of the network into the waiting PET.

((Logged Out))