Mission: Area Exploration

Machman got a very convincing demonstration of the Catcher chip as the static navi in front of them raised a hand and then slammed it against the floor of the net, only for the UFO Mach had summoned to swoop down on it, steal the data it was about to release, and use the attack itself, causing three lightning bolts to rise from the net, damaging each of the Remnants.

Aera then unleashed a pulse of magnetic energy toward one of the lesser static navis while Mach followed up on his initial move with a wall of advancing bubbles. Both target navis, however, faded from view and reappeared when the attacks had passed, effectively dodging them. In the lead Remnant's case, this wasn't enough to stop it from getting hit and drawn in by the MagBolt, or from taking two hits from Machman's vulcan gun blast. Though the remainder of the shots did go wide as Mach strafed backwards.

Aera then fired a parting shot at the elec Remnant before joining him.

Rainfall, meanwhile, took Mach's advice and went after the third navi. She opened by firing off a glowing skull at it, then aimed a wide spray of water between the two normals. While her main target dodged, the first one got caught in the blast. The first one, deciding for some strange reason that almost being hit by a magnetic field was worse than actually being hit by water, and fired off shots at Mach and Aera, breaking their shields but leaving them undamaged. As if in response, Machman put up a guard, shielding himself and Aera.

Rainfall followed up her initial attack with a strong burst of wind, which hit the navi square in the chest and sent it flying, right to the edge of the path. It fell over, but managed to grab the edge to avoid falling into the abyss. Deciding it was probably out of commission for the next few minutes, Rainfall retreated behind Mach's guard as well.

Reaching over, the Remnant tried to pull itself up, but two seconds of effort failed and so it created a LongSword over one hand and swiped at the first target it could reach...Machman's Guard.

Needless to say, though it survived, the Remnant was likely feeling rather stupid...assuming of course that it felt anything.

In this time, the lead Remnant had advanced to the position where Mach had shielded himself, and when the guard fell it was right in front of them. The orbs surrounding him began to spin rapidly, releasing a pulse of electricity that washed over all three of them. Machman and Rainfall were badly damaged, while Aera was EJO'd outright. The moment it hit Machman, however, something strange happened to the otherwise useless IV pack. Instead of being destroyed, it began to glow faintly.

Rainfall wasn't so lucky, however. Though she survived, her eyes filled with static. Though she could still see, everything in her vision appeared to be made of static.
___

---Enemies---
Remnant V2-EX (E): 345 HP
Remnant V2-A (N): 310 HP
Remnant V2-B (N): 140 HP (Hanging from edge of path) (Glitch: -20HP per turn)

---Allies---
Machman: 20 HP (Glitch: Invincible IV Pack: Gain 5HP per action for the rest of the battle)
-Aera: EJO
Rainfall: 30 HP (Glitch: Static Senses: Sees the neet in varying concentrations of static.)

---Terrain---
70% Normal (Path)
30% ??? (Darkness on either side. Unprotected area of netspace, attempting to forcibly pass through will result in damage and possibly widespread glitches. Treated as Missing for grounded navis.)

---Map---
Map data is automatically recorded and provided with each turn. You can see two grid squares out in all directions (read: a 5x5 diamond area) and can move up to three grid squares outside of battle (but going the full distance risks you running into dead ends). White squares within your vision range are impassable.

Light gray=visible path. Dark gray=you are here. White=darkness. Orange=upper level. Red/Green: Arachne/Aegir's signals (last detected position)

Machman winced from the pain of the electricity that surged through his body. His plasma shield regained strength and raised itself again. He heard Aera cry out from the pain, but her voice was quickly silenced and he turned to see she was gone.

Damnit! Mazer, did she return to the PET?

No response.

... Mazer. Is she alright? Mazer!

All he heard in response was complete static. The signal must have become worse since the arrival of the Remnants. If the audio signal is completely down... there could be a chance she didn't get transferred back. This shook him to his very core, and he closed his eyes tightly.

{Destroy them. DESTROY THEM ALL!}

Machman's eyes opened, his irises were then a chocolate brown, just like the color of his metallic hair. His mask was a bright crimson, and a long hooded cloak of the same color draped over his shoulders and replaced his wings. His chest was bare beneath the cloak, but his abs were wrapped with white tape, and his long black pants was secured by a white and blue checkered belt. The skin-tight pants ended at his brown boots. A strange wind started to kick up and swirl around him, which caused his belt-tails and cloak to flap vigorously.

Machman saw the Remnant clinging to the edge of the path, and tapped into his Overwatch network feeds to get a better look. He saw exactly where the Navi was on the path, what he was using to hang on to said path, and where those points of contact were. Machman grabbed his cloak and cast it off his shoulders in one fluid movement. The crimson garment flapped in the air for a moment before it froze in place and folded down into a long, sharpened blade. With his target in sight, he exploded from his previous position, thanks to the winds providing him a constant source of kinetic power. He skimmed across the ground like a piece of debris in a hurricane as he brought his sword to bear. He zoomed next to the side of the path and lowered his blade to the edge. The blade, though formed from his rather soft cloak, created showers of sparks as it scraped across the edge of the path. If his attack went well, the Remnant would then have nothing to keep it from falling into the abyss below.

The winds behind him died down, and his cloak unfurled to it's normal form. He quickly slung it back over his shoulders, and reached behind his back with both hands. He then pulled two V-shaped, green boomerangs; their metallic surfaces flashed even in the relative darkness of the area. He brought his right arm back, boomerang in hand, and aimed towards the two other Navis. He threw the bent metal blade forward in one fluid motion, and it was sent spinning towards his targets with an audible droning sound, not much different from a spinning fan blade. As the first boomerang skimmed a foot or so from the ground and darted towards the Navis, Machman drew his left arm back in a similar fashion and threw his second boomerang forward, but aimed slightly left of his first boomerang's path. This boomerang zipped off as well, and though one couldn't tell from it's blurry, disk like appearance from the rotational speed, but this boomerang was rotating in the opposite direction.

The first boomerang passed through the Navis' locations and climbed before making a sharp 180 degree turn to the right, while the second mirrored the other by making a 180 to the left before diving back down and zipping back to Machman. Mach snatched the boomerangs out of the air, and placed his hands back into the folds of his cloak. After attacking the Navis so viciously without saying a word, Mach finally spoke. As he did so, a powerful windstorm churned around him and lifted his cloak to reveal his hands, which were open and palms facing forward.

My partner is gone, she's no longer here,
but you've unleashed something you'll truly fear.
Something new I now bring to the fight:
the very winds themselves! Feel their might!
PIERCING GALE!!

The wind cascaded around his body and congregated around his open hands and held fast in pale orbs of swirling compressed air. He then thrust both of his hands forward and towards the lead Remnant Navi, as a massive wall of wind barreled from behind him and kicked his cloak forward violently. This gust was like the hammer of a revolver, which caused the swirling orbs of air to explode from his hands in a column of hurricane-force winds that rumbled forth with the deep booming sound of a tornado. Anything within the path of the air current would be hit with a force equal to that of a jet engine exhaust on full afterburner, all at once.

As the winds receded, the currents of air swirled gently over his body in a seemingly rejuvenating effect.

ACTIONS:
-[Plasma Shield: Facing Forward]-
Activate RedCross (Wood/Wind, +10dmg to Wood Chips, +0HP, +0 Actions)
Gust: Machman.EXE (Propel Mach forward towards Remnant V2-B )
Sword: Remnant V2-B (80dmg + Slashing) [+ Take Aim] {Attempting to cause target to fall off the path}
Boomerang1: Remnant V2-EX, V2-A (60dmg Wood + 10dmg Element boost {x2 to V2-EX?})
Boomerang1: Remnant V2-EX, V2-A (60dmg Wood + 10dmg Element boost {x2 to V2-EX?})
Piercing Gale: Remnant V2-EX (10dmg Wood x2? + Life Drain + Microburst + 2TCD)

Cooling Sigs
Rising Barrage: 3 Turns Remaining
Piercing Gale: 2 Turns Remaining

((Bump))

((I'm testing a new modsummary style thing here for dramatic effect. If I end up not liking it, I'll probably never use it again.))

"Whoa, that's...not good," Rainfall said, taking a step back as Mach shifted to a crossed form and went berserk on the remnants.

"Amya, if you haven't fixed whatever's keeping me from using rain, I need you to do it now."

She sighed as she felt more chip data downloaded to her body. So her operator was still connected...and probably still working. Sighing, she healed herself with one and tried again. "Amya, can you hear me? AMYA! I need an answer!"

Machman, meanwhile, threw of his newly acquired, now sword-ified cloak and charged at the dangling static navi. He sliced at the hands of the remnant, cutting through part of the stage in the process. The navi's static-form hands simply faded from existence, dropping their former owner into the abyss below. Just before it would have disappeared from Mach's view into the darkness, its body broke apart and dispersed in several directions, as though having been torn apart.
___

---Enemies---
Remnant V2-EX (E): 345 HP
Remnant V2-A (N): 310 HP
Remnant V2-B (N): Deleted

---Allies---
Machman: 35 HP (Glitch: Invincible IV Pack: Gain 5HP per action for the rest of the battle) (1-hit Shield)
-Aera: EJO
Rainfall: 110 HP (Glitch: Static Senses: Sees the net in varying concentrations of static.)
___

Mach then re-donned the cloak and pulled two boomerangs from under it. He threw the first one forward, which the elec-element Remnant took without making any effort to dodge. The remaining lesser Remnant was hit as well, though in its case it was trying to recover from a failed attempt to catch up with Machman before he offed its companion. It retaliated with a short series of static blasts, which destroyed Machman's shield and did minor damage. Of course, minor damage was still major in Machman's condition.
___

---Enemies---
Remnant V2-EX (E): 205 HP
Remnant V2-A (N): 240 HP
Remnant V2-B (N): Deleted

---Allies---
Machman: 24 HP (Glitch: Invincible IV Pack: Gain 5HP per action for the rest of the battle)
-Aera: EJO
Rainfall: 110 HP (Glitch: Static Senses: Sees the net in varying concentrations of static.)
___

Machman then threw his second boomerang, aiming first at the lesser Remnant. It was prepared this time, however, and summoned a RockCube directly in the boomerang's path. The boomerang bounced off the cube and continued toward the other static navi. It again made no effort to dodge, but rather than taking the attack it raised a hand at the last second and...

...blocked the attack with it?

No. In the second that followed after the apparent impossible feat, the imposing from of a Dominerd virus appeared between the Remnant's hand and the boomerang. It then followed the boomerang back to Machman, opening its iron jaws wide and slamming them over the navi.

Immediately after attacking Machman, the Dominerd shattered, then faded before the pieces hit the ground. A CurseShield chip.
___

---Enemies---
Remnant V2-EX (E): 205 HP
Remnant V2-A (N): 240 HP
Remnant V2-B (N): Deleted

---Allies---
Machman: 1 HP (Glitch: Invincible IV Pack: Gain 5HP per action for the rest of the battle)
-Aera: EJO
Rainfall: 110 HP (Glitch: Static Senses: Sees the neet in varying concentrations of static.)

---Objects---
RockCube: 140 HP (In front of Remnant V2-A (N)
___

The hiding Remnant leaned out from behind its rockcube to fire again, this time at Rainfall. She dodged and returned the favor with a shotgun blast from the tip of her umbrella, which also missed. "Damn it, Amya," she grunted.

"Sorry, ......................kshhh...need more time," her netop's voice finally came through.

"Amya, I'm out of time here."

"Look, just..............ne more minute."

Rainfall turned to look at Machman, trying to judge his condition with a one-second glance. It didn't take much. "I don't think we have one more minute."

Fortunately, Machman wasn't out just yet. He shook off the CurseShield attack and summoned a windstorm, which hammered the elec Remnant and healed him...a little bit. As the orbs began spinning around the Remnant again, however, it became obvious that even that wasn't enough.

___

---Enemies---
Remnant V2-EX (E): 185 HP
Remnant V2-A (N): 240 HP
Remnant V2-B (N): Deleted

---Allies---
Machman: 26 HP (Glitch: Invincible IV Pack: Gain 5HP per action for the rest of the battle)
-Aera: EJO
Rainfall: 110 HP (Glitch: Static Senses: Sees the neet in varying concentrations of static.)

---Objects---
RockCube: 140 HP (In front of Remnant V2-A (N)
___

Electric coils materialized around Machman, binding him in place and leaving no room for him to dodge as a ring of electricity erupted from around the Remnant. The attack hit and reduced his efforts with the whirlwind to nothing more than stalling in an instant.

With Machman suitably incapacitated, the navi began floating toward him, arms stretched forward. "WhYYY do y-y-Ou inKSHTist on disTUrbIng thiZZzmemOry, intzt-erloper? Anzzter me this beFORE I baN-N-Nish you."
___

---Enemies---
Remnant V2-EX (E): 185 HP
Remnant V2-A (N): 240 HP
Remnant V2-B (N): Deleted

---Allies---
Machman: 1 HP (Glitch: Invincible IV Pack: Gain 5HP per action for the rest of the battle) (Hold! Cannot Dodge) (Stunx1!)
-Aera: EJO
Rainfall: 110 HP (Glitch: Static Senses: Sees the neet in varying concentrations of static.)

---Objects---
RockCube: 140 HP (In front of Remnant V2-A (N)
___

"Got it!" Amya's voice sounded in the void again with perfect timing. "Try this Rainfall, it........work."

Rainfall nodded, raising her umbrella to the sky. A thunderclap sounded in the sky above, followed by a few raindrops...then more, finally escalating into a strong rainstorm. "Answer me this, snapshot," she called over the rain to the elec Remnant. "If we're so in the wrong for coming here, why could we so easily in the first place? It's not like this is the Undernet with warning signs and gateway pages posted all over the entrance."

The Remnant chose not to answer. Instead, it looked skyward. "raIn...how fooOOoolish. Youbzztstpell yourOwn doom. I'll KSSHill you foRSSSSHure"

"Could be," Rainfall shrugged. "And you didn't answer my question. Though I doubt you'll have time to do either."

From the rainstorm above him, Machman felt most of his strength returning.
___

---Enemies---
Remnant V2-EX (E): 145 HP
Remnant V2-A (N): 200 HP
Remnant V2-B (N): Deleted

---Allies---
Machman: 91 HP (Glitch: Invincible IV Pack: Gain 5HP per action for the rest of the battle) (hold cured!) (stun cured!)
-Aera: EJO
Rainfall: 110 HP (Glitch: Static Senses: Sees the neet in varying concentrations of static.)

---Objects---
RockCube: 140 HP (In front of Remnant V2-A (N)

---Terrain---
70% Normal (Path)
30% ??? (Darkness on either side. Unprotected area of netspace, attempting to forcibly pass through will result in damage and possibly widespread glitches. Treated as Missing for grounded navis.)

---Map---
Map data is automatically recorded and provided with each turn. You can see two grid squares out in all directions (read: a 5x5 diamond area) and can move up to three grid squares outside of battle (but going the full distance risks you running into dead ends). White squares within your vision range are impassable.

Light gray=visible path. Dark gray=you are here. White=darkness. Orange=upper level. Red/Green: Arachne/Aegir's signals (last detected position)

Machman felt the cool rain over his skin and face, and closed his eyes as he felt his strength returning. It's odd for a rainstorm to make him feel invigorated, there must have been something else in the rain, something about his soul cross, or a little of both. The rain not only soothed his body, but also calmed his mind. He was thinking clearly, and didn't allow his emotions to come over him. He obviously was receiving battlechip data, and a crucial connection such as an EJO pathway would probably be one of the last things to fail due to connectivity problems. If Aera didn't in fact make it to the PET, then Mazer would have done everything in his power to lock on to Aera's residual data and somehow put it a form of stasis to prevent permanent deletion; which would have required Mach's assistance.

The voice that made the outburst a few moments ago had quieted down, since it was steadily murmuring and mumbling words like "destroy," "delete," and "eliminate," while Mach was engaging the remnants.

He couldn't dwell on that now, since the battle was far from over. Mach's shield regained strength and rose in front of him as he reached into his cloak and drew an almost comically large, dark snub-nosed revolver. He lifted the weapon in front of him and pointed the barrel skyward as he flicked the cylinder with his hand, which rotated quickly with a smooth whir. As the cylinder spun, a mass of leaves appeared at his feet and started to swirl around him and eventually obscured him from view. The cylinder then abruptly stopped with a metallic "clack!" The winds died down and the leaves fell gently to reveal Machman had completely vanished.

Another ring of leaves appeared just in front of the remnant's RockCube, and swirled into a tube of leaves. Inside the miniature cyclone, Machman had drawn his left arm back before he punched towards the stone cube. The pillar of leaves exploded as Mach transferred a large mass of air down his arm, past his fist, and into the face of the rock cube with violent force; hopefully enough to have forcefully pushed/thrown it into the Remnant. The scattered leaves remained on the field and gently fell to the path or into the void, revealing the barrel of Mach's revolver pointed directly at the lead remnant's chest. Mach pulled the trigger, which cocked the hammer back and released it, which fired off a very heavy, explosive magnum slug with a flash of light and a rumbling boom.

Before giving the other Navi time to react, he took a step back with one foot and pivoted himself towards his final target. He held the Magnum firmly in both hands and pulled the trigger again; to send a final shot towards the Navi's chest. Machman crouched down as he holstered his weapon, his legs loaded like coiled springs. He then burst forward with massive acceleration, quickly followed by a white pressure wave and an ear-shattering sonic boom. He careened towards the Navis as he flew a foot or so off the ground. He nearly instantly passed through the Navi's positions, and quickly had to decelerate for fear of falling off the path. He turned around in the air and landed in a three-point stance and dug his toes and fingers into the ground to slow him down quickly, and provide sufficient footholds for his next burst of speed.

He quickly confirmed he was pointing the right direction and had the Navis dead in his sights, and burst off the line again with another sonic boom. He passed by the Navis, hopefully either punching a Machman-sized hole in them or crushing them with the pressure wave that wrapped around him, and continued forward to fall back to Rainfall's position. He decelerated and touched down to slide to a stop. He rotated back around as he slid on his two feet, and stopped a few feet behind Rainfall.

Thanks for the backup, Rainfall. Glad to see your weather-bending powers are back at full strength.


ACTIONS:
-[Plasma Shield: Facing Forward]-
SCRAM Boost: Teleport in front of RockCube (Teleport + 2TCD)
Gust: Push RockCube into Remnant V2-EX
Charge Magnum
Magnum1: Remnant V2-EX, V2-A (120dmg Fire + Breaking + Panel Breaking)
DashAttack1: Remnant V2-EX, V2-A (90dmg + Impact)
DashAttack1: Remnant V2-EX, V2-A (90dmg + Impact)

((Bump))

The Elec Remnant fired off another ringed blast at Machman, but missed as he teleported in front of the Rockcube and attempted to knock it into the static navi. Before it reached, however, it lifted into the air on its own, controlled telekinetically by the same navi that summoned it.

Before it could be thrown, a whirlwind descended from the rainclouds, tearing the cube apart midair. The Remnant recognized the source and summoned a series of static bugs to fly at Rainfall. They hit, draining part of her health.

Meanwhile, Machman charged up a magnum and blasted both of the Remnants, which they couldn't do much of anything about. The lead navi did, however, retaliate with a series of short energy blasts from the orbs, which broke through Machman's shield and did minor damage. He then charged at both of them with a dashing attack, and then turned around and did it again.

The elec Remnant fell to the second attack, having only lasted as long as it did due to an undershirt program. It sputtered some distorted electronic gibberish, then faded back into static and dispersed. The orbs remained slightly longer, before falling to the floor of the net and disintegrating. Meanwhile, the remaining normal Remnant had regained enough health to survive the first dash without the help of its undershirt, and thus was still alive...barely.

For about half a second, before Rainfall ran forward and hit it over the head with her umbrella.

Unlike its companions, the last navi's final words were somewhat understandable. Though it hadn't spoken for the entire battle, it did so while falling apart and fading into more static. "KsshHi, IssssSHHHsThank you and have ashhhice day. KSSSHH You should take some time off to see the tSHSHHHKSSHould be quite a spectacle." By the time it finished those unusual statements, it was nothing more than scattered grains of static, already in the process of fading completely.

"That...has to be the most messed up last words I've ever heard," came a familiar gruff voice from the south path behind them. It seemed Aegir and Arachne had caught up.

"Where have you two been?" Rainfall asked.

"Trying to get over here. We...had our own problems to deal with," said Arachne. Both of them looked like they'd been through their own trouble, too.
___

---Enemies---
Remnant V2-EX (E): Deleted
Remnant V2-A (N): Deleted
Remnant V2-B (N): Deleted

---Allies---
Machman: 100 HP
-Aera: EJO
Rainfall: 60 HP

Arachne: 30 HP
Aegir: 50 HP

---Terrain---
70% Normal (Path)
30% ??? (Darkness on either side. Unprotected area of netspace, attempting to forcibly pass through will result in damage and possibly widespread glitches. Treated as Missing for grounded navis.)

---Map---
Map data is automatically recorded and provided with each turn. You can see two grid squares out in all directions (read: a 5x5 diamond area) and can move up to three grid squares outside of battle (but going the full distance risks you running into dead ends). White squares within your vision range are impassable.

Light gray=visible path. Dark gray=you are here. White=darkness. Orange=upper level. Arrows: Ramp between levels.
MAP UPDATED WITH DATA FROM ARACHNE AND AEGIR

VICTORY!
GET:
Machman: 1500z, ElecPulse1, +7 FXP with Rainfall
Rainfall: 1500z, Drain1, +7 FXP with Machman
___

Before they had much time to catch up, however, the network of pathways began to shake again. Just like last time, a blue light flickered in the distance, this time from the west. Perhaps the middle of the ringed path?

Machman deactivated his RedCross, and his body returned to it's default configuration.

Man am I glad to see you two. You look like you've had your fair share of trouble as well.

Machman winced and braced himself as the pathways shook again, but luckily for all of them, they didn't give way like the staircase. He also caught a glimpse of a blue light out of the corner of his eye; and it seemed to be back in the direction they came from.

Huh, what is that? Rainfall, Aera...

He paused as his mind froze for a moment as he reminded himself that Aera's situation may be as serious as he fears. He tried to keep his composure and resumed.

... and I came from that direction, so we shouldn't have too much trouble traveling West. I think we should check it out.

Mach was anxious to keep moving, so he could get one step closer to finding the source of this anomaly, and be able to get in legitimate contact with Mazer again.

ACTIONS:
Move 2 units West
Move 1 unit South

"We ran into some of those weird navis too. None of them sounded like a merchant when they were deleted, though," Arachne responded as they ran back toward the center. The light faded as they reached the loop again, and the entire area lurched upward.

Fortunately, this time nobody was knocked to the ground.

In the corner of the center platform that they could see from the path, the navis noticed the faintly visible form of a navi kneeling to the ground. From what they could see of him, he was a male humanoid navi, dressed in the outfit of an archaeologist or mechanic or...something. The lack of light made it difficult to tell. As soon as the light completely faded, a loud clang was heard from near him, as though he had hit the ground with something metal.
___

---Enemies---
None in range

---Allies---
Machman: 100 HP
Rainfall: 60 HP
Arachne: 30 HP
Aegir: 50 HP

---Terrain---
70% Normal (Path)
30% ??? (Darkness on either side. Unprotected area of netspace, attempting to forcibly pass through will result in damage and possibly widespread glitches. Treated as Missing for grounded navis.)

---Map---
Map data is automatically recorded and provided with each turn. You can see two grid squares out in all directions (read: a 5x5 diamond area) and can move up to three grid squares outside of battle (but going the full distance risks you running into dead ends). White squares within your vision range are impassable.

Light gray=visible path. Dark gray=you are here. White=darkness. Orange=upper level. Arrows: Ramp between levels. Brown=unknown navi

The path lurched upwards, but Mach wasn't in mid-step so he retained his balance. He was sent a foot or two into the air though, and instead of landing, he just remained perched there with the help of his boot and wing thrusters. The light started to fade, but the group saw the Navi in the center of the circular path. The light completely faded, and he couldn't be seen, but the clang was definitely heard

You guys saw him, right? Let's get over there!

Mach quickened the pace, the Navi didn't seem to be corrupted like the only other Navi's they've encountered.

ACTIONS:

Move 3 Units North

The navi didn't seem to notice them, and went back to work as Mach headed north.
___

---Enemies---
None in range

---Allies---
Machman: 100 HP
Rainfall: 60 HP
Arachne: 30 HP
Aegir: 50 HP

---Terrain---
70% Normal (Path)
30% ??? (Darkness on either side. Unprotected area of netspace, attempting to forcibly pass through will result in damage and possibly widespread glitches. Treated as Missing for grounded navis.)

---Map---
Map data is automatically recorded and provided with each turn. You can see two grid squares out in all directions (read: a 5x5 diamond area) and can move up to three grid squares outside of battle (but going the full distance risks you running into dead ends). White squares within your vision range are impassable.

Light gray=visible path. Dark gray=you are here. White=darkness. Orange=upper level. Arrows: Ramp between levels. Brown=unknown navi

Mach and company continued forward quickly, but careful to stay away from the edges of the path; they didn't want a sudden movement in the path to buck one of them off into the abyss.

ACTIONS:

Move 3 Units West

The path into the center of the ring branched out in front of them again after...well, moving some more.

"Wait," Rainfall said, stopping them before they could go down the path. "Amya, can I get an energypack here?"

The request was answered as a soft blue light surrounded Rainfall for a second, then faded. "Thanks. I suggest the rest of you do something about healing too. That navi may not have looked corrupted or...well...static-y...but I'm concerned about the fact that he's down hear at all. Be ready."

Arachne and Aegir nodded, similarly healing themselves as well.
___

---Enemies---
None in range

---Allies---
Machman: 100 HP
Rainfall: 320 HP
Arachne: 180 HP
Aegir: 200 HP

---Terrain---
70% Normal (Path)
30% ??? (Darkness on either side. Unprotected area of netspace, attempting to forcibly pass through will result in damage and possibly widespread glitches. Treated as Missing for grounded navis.)

---Map---
Map data is automatically recorded and provided with each turn. You can see two grid squares out in all directions (read: a 5x5 diamond area) and can move up to three grid squares outside of battle (but going the full distance risks you running into dead ends). White squares within your vision range are impassable.

Light gray=visible path. Dark gray=you are here. White=darkness. Orange=upper level. Arrows: Ramp between levels. Brown=unknown navi

Mach was almost at full strength, so he didn't request Mazer for any recovery items. But since Rainfall managed to reach her Operator, he tried as well.

Mazer, are you there?

[--I'm here, Mach. Thank goodness the connection cleared up; I've been trying to contact you saying Aera is alright. She's recovering inside the PET, save and sound.]

Mach closed his eyes and sighed with relief. With that worry out of the way, he could truly focus on the task at hand. He made sure the rest of his group was with him, and moved onwards down the path towards the Navi.


ACTIONS:

Move 3 Units South

All preparations complete, the group walked south down the path.

It was as looking closely would have suggested earlier: A circular platform at the end of a very short pathway. In the center of the platform was a dark gray circle of about four feet diameter with a slightly lighter rim surrounding it Any bit of common sense and knowledge of the net would tell everyone present that it was an out of use teleporter.

The navi they had seen earlier remained kneeling in the far corner of the platform, with a small section of the ground torn up in front of him. He wore a brown outfit with thick pants and jacket, both sporting many pockets. A brush stuck out of his right chest pocket, while a pickaxe was strapped to his back. The navi's face, meanwhile, was pale, paired with tattered black hair and dark-ringed black eyes with bags under them. Given the wires sticking out of the hole, it was likely the navi was working on the teleporter, and perhaps had been for a very long time.

It took him a few minutes to notice Machman and the others standing there, at which point he glanced up slowly. "Do you need something?" he asked. "I'm trying to work here."
___

---???---
Archaeologist Navi: ???

---Allies---
Machman: 100 HP
Rainfall: 320 HP
Arachne: 180 HP
Aegir: 200 HP

---Terrain---
70% Normal (Platform)
20% Teleporter (No bonuses. Cannot be altered, broken, or burrowed into.)
10% ??? (Darkness surrounding platform. Unprotected area of netspace, attempting to forcibly pass through will result in damage and possibly widespread glitches. Treated as Missing for grounded navis.)

---Map---

Light gray=visible path. Dark gray=you are here. White=darkness. Orange=upper level. Arrows: Ramp between levels. Brown=unknown navi

Mach and company approached the Navi, who seemed to just be minding his own business and working on what seemed to be a teleporter; apparently oblivious to the virus-filled void he's in. Odd. He didn't seem to be in the mood for idle chat or "what the hell are you doing here?!?", so Mach just tried to act natural.

Hi, we're a bit lost. Do you happen to know where we are? And I see you are kind of busy and all, but we noticed this place is a bit... off. Was it like this before? If not, what happened?

The navi blinked at Machman, then shrugged and answered. "It seems a bit odd that four navis would be down here because they were 'lost'. If you didn't plan on being here in the first place, why did you come down the giant hole in the net in the first place?"

"I'd rather like to know why it was there in the first place," Rainfall responded. "But...one step at a time. Answer his question."

"Fine," the archaeological navi grumbled. "You're about halfway between the surface and what someone decided to call the Rogue Nets. And this place is a piece of net history. As for what happened...time happened. Simple as that."
___

---???---
Archaeologist Navi: ???

---Allies---
Machman: 100 HP
Rainfall: 320 HP
Arachne: 180 HP
Aegir: 200 HP

---Terrain---
70% Normal (Platform)
20% Teleporter (No bonuses. Cannot be altered, broken, or burrowed into.)
10% ??? (Darkness surrounding platform. Unprotected area of netspace, attempting to forcibly pass through will result in damage and possibly widespread glitches. Treated as Missing for grounded navis.)

---Map---

Light gray=visible path. Dark gray=you are here. White=darkness. Orange=upper level. Arrows: Ramp between levels. Brown=unknown navi

[---Between the network and the Rogue Networks?]

Are you trying to do research in the area? It looks like you are working on that teleporter. Why activate a teleporter in such a hostile area?

Machman thought about how it was only recently that the void was identified, but the network must have aged much longer than that. There were so many questions, but he didn't want to overload the Navi with too much.

You must have noticed the Navi Remnants, rapid path shifts, and that blue light. What do you know about them? We are trying to figure out what this place is, and why it is drawing data into it like a black hole.

"Hey, hold on, one at a time, I can't answer all of your questions at once AND keep working," the archaeologist navi said, throwing his hands up as he spoke, then lowering them again to continue working on the teleporter. "Yes, I'm doing research here. I uncover and study things that are old and hidden. I'm an archaeologist, it's what I do. Incidentally, can I have that?" He pointed at the cube fragment Rainfall had been holding onto since passing the area the first time.

Rainfall glanced down at it, then sat it on the ground and slid it over. "Looks like a piece of junk to me. Go ahead."

The archaeologist gave her an offended look, followed by a laugh. "You four really don't know what you've stumbled into, do you? That 'piece of junk' is part of an old security cube. They're not used anymore...not surprising really, waste of space and resources, so I'm lucky to find even part of one.

"I suppose this goes into your next question. I saw you guys pass buy here and pick that up earlier, but I thought you were more of those static things. In case you don't know what security cubes are, they're barriers blocking those without access permissions off from private servers from back when someone decided they looked cool. In this case, the private server is a hotel homepage that was taken offline when the hotel closed. But if I can get this thing working, I may be able to bring it, or at least a backup of it, back online."

The navi took a deep breath, obviously not used to talking this much when not at a podium. "As for the 'remnants', from what I can tell they're echoes of navis that used to frequent this place when it was active. It seems like they're not happy about what I'm doing here, but they haven't bothered me yet."

Aegir growled and lunged at the archaeologist, but Arachne held one of her forelegs out to stop him. "What," he snarled, "You mean those things attacked us because of what you're doing?!"
___

---???---
Archaeologist Navi: ???

---Allies---
Machman: 100 HP
Rainfall: 320 HP
Arachne: 180 HP
Aegir: 200 HP

---Terrain---
70% Normal (Platform)
20% Teleporter (No bonuses. Cannot be altered, broken, or burrowed into.)
10% ??? (Darkness surrounding platform. Unprotected area of netspace, attempting to forcibly pass through will result in damage and possibly widespread glitches. Treated as Missing for grounded navis.)

---Map---

Light gray=visible path. Dark gray=you are here. White=darkness. Orange=upper level. Arrows: Ramp between levels. Brown=unknown navi

Mach listened carefully, and everything did seem to fall into place, but one thing still kept coming up without an explanation: The void. After Aegir's outburst, Mach approached him and spoke just loud enough for only Aegir to hear.

Easy, Aegir. Don't think I'm not disturbed by that fact, Aera was EJOed by one of those things. But beaten up/EJO'd Navis aren't very good at giving us information, and I bet we all would like to get the hell out of here.

Mach then turned back towards the Archaeologist Navi.

I see, we didn't realize this was an network archaeological site, but the massive, growing void in the middle of NetopiaNet didn't exactly clue us in to what this is. How did you happen to get here? Did you just notice a void and walk into it; somehow slipping past the hordes of viruses that were drawn to it? If this void continues to change like it has been, there will be more networks effected. We can't let that happen.