Cuddles & Puddles

With navigators an operators both more or less at the end of various tethers, the remaining threats in the hangar were thankfully no longer a real threat at all. The remaining missile veered off course and into the side of the hangar while, between them, Phase and Critias, with the help of their respective other halves manage dot get the situation under control, break apart the last virus and eventually calm down again.

As it finally broke down under their last assault, the pair were left alone in the large hangar a last, with just virus junk and debris surrounding them. A decent amount of bits would serve as convertible zenny, and by the time they both picked through the detritus, they each managed to find pieces that would make for useful chips.

-=Viruses=-
WindBoxWindBox (Wind & Fan)

All viruses in this family are immobile during combat, with the exception of being able to turn to face any direction it wishes. Later versions of this virus may switch between Wind and Fan effects, which requires one action, during which time all wind or fan effects cease. Bonuses and penalties do not stack if multiples of the same virus family exist on the field. Wind and Fan do not push or pull Objects, only creatures.

Area: SciLab, Yoka, Beach, Sharo, Netfrica, Hades Isle

HP: 100
Attack Damage/Effect: Wind Effect, Northwind
Attack Accuracy: S
Attack Description: Causes a large scale gale of wind to blow across the entire field in the direction the virus is facing. This gale will constantly move all targets this virus considers to be enemies in the direction the wind is blowing, which makes it difficult to land many kinds of attacks on it and allied viruses, such as thrown attacks and close ranged attacks. All those affected by the wind will also have their barriers and auras blown off by a constant Northwind effect.
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Wind, Zenny
Special: Causes short ranged attacks, such as (but not limited to) swords, melee attacks, and flame thrower style weapons, to suffer from a 30% accuracy penalty against targets they are being pushed away from. Both sides of the engagement suffer a 30% accuracy penalty with direct attacks perpendicular to the direction of the wind, and all thrown attacks.
Special: Those allied with this virus may opt to take advantage of the wind to increase movement speed or evasion by going with the wind. They do not suffer any penalties, however. Conversely, anyone may move along with the wind to increase accuracy by 10% for close ranged attacks, assuming the target is in that direction.
Special: Northwind effect to all enemies once per virus action while maintaining wind effect.
A: DELETED
WindBoxWindBox (Wind & Fan)

All viruses in this family are immobile during combat, with the exception of being able to turn to face any direction it wishes. Later versions of this virus may switch between Wind and Fan effects, which requires one action, during which time all wind or fan effects cease. Bonuses and penalties do not stack if multiples of the same virus family exist on the field. Wind and Fan do not push or pull Objects, only creatures.

Area: SciLab, Yoka, Beach, Sharo, Netfrica, Hades Isle

HP: 100
Attack Damage/Effect: Wind Effect, Northwind
Attack Accuracy: S
Attack Description: Causes a large scale gale of wind to blow across the entire field in the direction the virus is facing. This gale will constantly move all targets this virus considers to be enemies in the direction the wind is blowing, which makes it difficult to land many kinds of attacks on it and allied viruses, such as thrown attacks and close ranged attacks. All those affected by the wind will also have their barriers and auras blown off by a constant Northwind effect.
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Wind, Zenny
Special: Causes short ranged attacks, such as (but not limited to) swords, melee attacks, and flame thrower style weapons, to suffer from a 30% accuracy penalty against targets they are being pushed away from. Both sides of the engagement suffer a 30% accuracy penalty with direct attacks perpendicular to the direction of the wind, and all thrown attacks.
Special: Those allied with this virus may opt to take advantage of the wind to increase movement speed or evasion by going with the wind. They do not suffer any penalties, however. Conversely, anyone may move along with the wind to increase accuracy by 10% for close ranged attacks, assuming the target is in that direction.
Special: Northwind effect to all enemies once per virus action while maintaining wind effect.
B: DELETED
CannonGuardCannonGuard (CannonGuard)

CannonGuards are automatically in guard mode unless they are attacking. When guarding, the turret is protected by a shutter that will stop any and all non-breaking attacks from the front. This shutter cannot be destroyed, even by a breaking attack, so long as the virus exists. The shutter does not protect the turret portion of the virus against attacks from the back or sides. The base of the virus is also immune to non-breaking damage.

Area: SciLab, Kotobuki Town, Netopia, NAXA

HP: 60
Attack Damage/Effect: 15 Null + Lockon
Accuracy: A
Attack Description: Locks on and attacks
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): MarkCannon1, Zenny
Special: Immobile.
Special: Target's evasion counts less against this virus.
Special: Can guard against attacks.
: DELETED
RattyRatty (Ratty)

Area: SciLab, Kotobuki Town

HP: 60
Attack Damage/Effect: 30 Null + Blast1 + Homing + Ground Attack
Attack Accuracy: C
Attack Description: Fires a ratton missile that scurries in a tricky pattern toward an opponent.
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Ratton1, Zenny
Special: Gains one free dodge at 30 health, but this only activates if the virus remains alive at this value. Missile has object properties, as an object equal to the damage dealt: if a missile is fired and dodged, it will remain active at 30 HP and attack the opponent again before it is destroyed. Never comes alone, favors pack mentality.
A: DELETED
RattyRatty (Ratty)

Area: SciLab, Kotobuki Town

HP: 60
Attack Damage/Effect: 30 Null + Blast1 + Homing + Ground Attack
Attack Accuracy: C
Attack Description: Fires a ratton missile that scurries in a tricky pattern toward an opponent.
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Ratton1, Zenny
Special: Gains one free dodge at 30 health, but this only activates if the virus remains alive at this value. Missile has object properties, as an object equal to the damage dealt: if a missile is fired and dodged, it will remain active at 30 HP and attack the opponent again before it is destroyed. Never comes alone, favors pack mentality.
B: DELETED
RattyRatty (Ratty)

Area: SciLab, Kotobuki Town

HP: 60
Attack Damage/Effect: 30 Null + Blast1 + Homing + Ground Attack
Attack Accuracy: C
Attack Description: Fires a ratton missile that scurries in a tricky pattern toward an opponent.
Element: None
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Ratton1, Zenny
Special: Gains one free dodge at 30 health, but this only activates if the virus remains alive at this value. Missile has object properties, as an object equal to the damage dealt: if a missile is fired and dodged, it will remain active at 30 HP and attack the opponent again before it is destroyed. Never comes alone, favors pack mentality.
C: DELETED
SatelliteSatellite (Satellite)

Area: Netopia, Sharo, NAXA

HP: 100
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: Trap(Enemy in Targeting Cursor) + Seeking: Movement (High-Alt) + Dodge + Lock-On + Nullify Invis
Primary Attack Accuracy: C
Primary Attack Description: Generates a targeting cursor that sweeps back and forth across the field, looking for a target. The cursor ignores decoys, objects, illusions, and invisibility. If the cursor intersects with an actual enemy, Lock-On is achieved, and the virus launches itself into the sky at High Altitude.
Secondary Attack Attack Damage/Effect: (3 Null + Seeking + Enhanced Accuracy) x 10 Shots
Secondary Attack Attack Accuracy: A
Secondary Attack Attack Description: When Lock-On is achieved, this virus fires a barrage of 10 highly accurate shots at its chosen target before landing in its original position. Accuracy debuffs on the Satellite while using this attack are reduced in severity by one rank.
Element: Null
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): Lock-On1, Zenny
Special: Immobile outside of its primary attack.
Special: This virus will repeat its primary attack until it finds a target, after which it will be able to use its secondary attack once. When it changes targets, either of its own volition or its current target's death, or uses its Secondary Attack and lands in its original position, it must repeat its primary attack until it finds a new target.
Notes: Triggering invisibility or an illusion, or moving the Satellite forcefully after Lock-On is achieved does not allow a target to escape Lock-On. Lock-On is a shift in the Satellite's state, not a status inflicted on its target, and thus cannot be removed.
: DELETED
TwistyTwisty (Twisty)

Area: SciLab, Electown

HP: 80
Attack: 20 Elec + Panel Break + Drop Attack
Attack Accuracy: C
Attack Description: Summons a RemoteBit to rain down lightning and break panels.
Element: Elec
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): RemoteBit1, Zenny
Special: Immobile. RemoteBit is invulnerable to all attacks and effects. Can use Blinder once.
: DELETED
DarkProgDarkProg (DarkProg)

DarkProgs are Mr. Progs cruelly corrupted and warped to become expendable soldiers. They appear mostly as normal Mr. Progs, but their face is much more darkly colored, and have glowing white eyes, as well as missing their left arm. They attack by emitting static around themselves. While they are fairly strong attackers, especially in groups, they have poor endurance, which is only exacerbated by the fact their attacks harm themselves. They very rarely dodge, but will often try to move close to the enemy before attacking.

Area: SciLab, Netopia, NAXA

HP: 60
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 20 Elec + Nova 2
Primary Attack Accuracy: C
Primary Attack Description: Emits some of its life energy as a static field.
Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: Damage x 2, Self-Sacrifice x 2
Secondary Attack Accuracy: S
Secondary Attack Description: Charges up energy within itself. On its next turn, all of this virus's attacks deal +100% Source Damage, and deal twice as much damage to itself. This effect does not stack with itself.
Element: Elec
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): RingZap1 (Rare), Zenny
Special: ElecBody: This virus takes no damage from Elec elemental attacks.
Special: Self-Sacrifice: Every time this virus uses its Primary Attack, it loses 5 HP.
Special: Can use PanelGrab once.
A: DELETED
DarkProgDarkProg (DarkProg)

DarkProgs are Mr. Progs cruelly corrupted and warped to become expendable soldiers. They appear mostly as normal Mr. Progs, but their face is much more darkly colored, and have glowing white eyes, as well as missing their left arm. They attack by emitting static around themselves. While they are fairly strong attackers, especially in groups, they have poor endurance, which is only exacerbated by the fact their attacks harm themselves. They very rarely dodge, but will often try to move close to the enemy before attacking.

Area: SciLab, Netopia, NAXA

HP: 60
Primary Attack Damage/Effect: 20 Elec + Nova 2
Primary Attack Accuracy: C
Primary Attack Description: Emits some of its life energy as a static field.
Secondary Attack Damage/Effect: Damage x 2, Self-Sacrifice x 2
Secondary Attack Accuracy: S
Secondary Attack Description: Charges up energy within itself. On its next turn, all of this virus's attacks deal +100% Source Damage, and deal twice as much damage to itself. This effect does not stack with itself.
Element: Elec
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): RingZap1 (Rare), Zenny
Special: ElecBody: This virus takes no damage from Elec elemental attacks.
Special: Self-Sacrifice: Every time this virus uses its Primary Attack, it loses 5 HP.
Special: Can use PanelGrab once.
B: DELETED

-=Navis=-
Dignity.CMD: 10Hp [Ice]
Phase.Exe: 100Hp [Full cover from all effects, and untargetable by any means while Dignity is active][Has no functional combat capability of her own]

Critias.Bat: 40Hp [Metal][30Hp Casing]

-=Terrain=-
50% Ice
  • +10% Evasion to all. Non-Aqua Elementals get -20% Accuracy.
  • Aqua attacks: 25% Freeze chance, change terrain hit to Normal if triggered. Boost chance to 100% if Ice-type.
  • Elec attacks: +100% Source Damage.
  • Fire attacks: Change terrain hit to Sea.
  • PanelShot: Imbue Aqua + Freeze1.
[large circular section covering the near half of the hangar]
15% Glass
  • Slip Effect: -10% Accuracy, -10% Evasion to all.
  • Non-Ice Aqua attacks causes it to be Wet, doubles slip effect for Non-Aqua Elementals for 1 turn. Wet can expire early with Fire attacks. Can cause slippage for poor RP or heavy impacts on Non-Aqua Elementals, 1-2 actions to recover.
  • 200 Damage attacks: Change terrain hit to Broken. Damage threshold cut in half for Ground, Break, and Impact, to a minimum threshold of 25 when all 3 are present. Null 25 + Slashing + Nova 2 per panel broken, up to 200 (8 panels).
  • Burrow: Change terrain to Broken, 50 Null + Slashing to burrower, Null 25 + Slashing + Nova2 to surroundings.
  • PanelShot: Spread1.
[Broad central section, looking down into complicated machinery]
20% Metal
  • Cannot be Broken or Cracked except with Geddon/PanelShot, cannot be Burrowed into.
  • Elec attacks: +100% Source Damage.
  • 100 Damage Aqua attacks: Change terrain hit to Cracked.
  • 100 Damage Fire attacks: Change terrain hit to Furnace.
  • PanelShot: Imbue Elec + Break.
[Outer area, far end]
5% Solar
  • Elec Elementals get +5 HP/action.
  • Wood attacks: +100% Source Damage, change terrain hit to Cracked.
  • PanelShot: Imbue Elec + Stun1.
[Thin strip that surrounds the remaining glass]
10% Magnet
  • Non-Elec Elementals get -30% Evasion, and 50% (+/- 25% RP) chance to fail movement off the panel.
  • Only Elec Elementals can burrow.
  • Wood attacks: Change terrain hit to Normal.
  • PanelShot: Imbue Elec + Seeking.
[Small area on the opposite side of the glass]

-=Battle 02, Victory!=-
Phase Gets: 900z, WindHP: 100
Properties: Anchored
Object Damage: 100 + Impact
Damage Method: Telekinesis
Status Effect: Wind Effect + To-All-Clause (Enemies)
Accuracy: S
Description: Creates a WindBox to push enemies back and reduce their accuracy.
Duration: 3 turns or until destroyed.
Element: Null
Special: Wind Type: This chip counts as Wind Type for the purposes of Wind triggered effects, such as traps and terrain.
Trader Rank: D

Critias Gets: 900z, RingZap1Damage: 30
Accuracy: B
Description: Two sparks spin around the user, which damages anything foolish enough to draw near.
Duration: One turn
Element: Elec
Special: Damages anyone that gets within melee range of the user, regardless of why they're that close.
Special: This chip automatically attacks every action, starting with the action the user first uses it.
Trader Rank: D
With one last groan of discomfort, Phase reached forward to kill the engine, and was finally free to unclip from the seat harness. Still winding down, Dignity seemed to slump forward. Background programs continued to run, gathering a small datastream of salvage and preparing the mecha for transport. "Okay," Phase muttered, mostly to herself, "okay, that's enough of that for one day."

Back out the hatch she crawled, and onto the broad perch of Dignity's shoulder. When Phase opted to collapse leaned up against the colossus' head, Vincent felt a vein of worry worm its way into his post-battle high. "Alright there, Phase?" he chimed in. When she answered with a wordless, tired grin and a thumbs-up, he demurred with an awkward, "right, well, just let me know when you're ready to go, let me know." Gingerly, he climbed out of the mock-up console, knuckling tension out of his back with a pained grimace. He sent a rueful look Yu's way. "The things we do for our beta tests, eh?"

Phase rubbed her shoulder joint where she'd jammed it on a lever. Coming down off the adrenaline rush of combat, the aches and bruises of the day's sortie began to assert themselves. Critias was down by Dignity's feet; the logical thing to do would be to get down so Vincent could transport the abused bucket of bolts to their repair bay at Vaccine. In that moment, she was sore, exhausted, and really not feeling very logical at all, and so something made her call down, "Sorry, Crit, would you mind coming up here? I could use a hand."
Yusaku chuckled under his suit's mask, grabbing it by the snout and pulling it back. The rubbery material stretched and was moved out of the way, resting behind the young man like a hood. From the neck down though, Yusaku was still fully suited and connected with Critias.

"Tell me about it. Now that I know how you and Phase move around AR I can slim down your stuff an make it more comfortable. By next time you're here, I'll have an exact replica of Phase's pilot suit. I'll see if I can integrate those leg braces of yours into it too."

The young man stood up, waved his arms around a little, opened up his faux wings and stretched. Walking over his compute station he seemed to not mind still having three fingers per hand as he hrabbed a bottle of water and took a sip out of it.

"Hmm...I'm slimming down that bulky helmet too. You handled Vr really nicely without a puke. I think you're ready for the same advanced AR lenses I use. This means you can get away with just a visor yeah...."

He catalogued their encounters and all the data their suits recorded and everything. "Hm...I should also prepare something for datacrossing just in eventuality of...yeah that loos fine..."



In the meantime, Critias had his big sensitive ears twitch towards Phase's direction. The wyvern was a little battered and scuffed, but could still move around fine. He had seen worse days.

The bat's eyes widened when he managed to process the other navi's request. She was asking him to get close!?

Yusaku could feel nervousness rise within him,seeing Critias moving his snout towards Vincent as for waitig any sort of allowance before getting close.

A "go on" nod of encouragement from Yu later and the wyvern very slowly prowled over to Phase,trying to shrink down as much as he could to appear less menacing than his 3m tall usually bipedal stance.

Yusaku placed one of his claws on his heart. "You have no idea how high his core's frequency is right now." He told his older friend, sounding a little out of breath.

Critias' snout was now eye to eye to with Phase as the bat wyvern hybrid very gently nuzzled her cheek.

"I-I'm right here Phase. Are you alright?" He asked, somewhat worried and trying to avoid sudden movements. He would sit down, curl his tail around him and offer her to cuddle up in his lap if she needed a moment to rest. She could also lean against him if she wanted instead, or grab onto him too.
The giant nodded along, looking every inch the kindly encouraging teacher as Yu's train of thought took the lad for a ride. That is, until the premise of suit upgrades came up. Blinking owlishly, Vincent looked down at himself, still wrapped head to toe in Yu's mo-cap suit. A chuckle snuck free as he quipped, "Do you know, I'd completely forgotten I was wearing this?"

"Still not the worst thing you've ever worn!" Phase cupped her hands before her mouth and whisper-shouted. She didn't see the dry look Vincent levelled at her, but she knew the man enough to know it was there. Content, her head tipped back to rest against the wall of brass that was Dignity. There were no viruses, no devilwork puppetry stealing her limbs from her. She was herself and herself alone, and took comfort in that.

A clicking of claws on metal reminded her that she wasn't alone. Phase watched the tips of Critias' ears peek from the edge of the shoulderplate. The rest of him followed, packing the long lines of his wings and tail into a surprisingly compact package. Just hours ago, she'd have been cowering just having his face so close to her's. Now, having watched those fangs be bared in her defence, having shared shields...

She patted the space beside her, a wordless invitation to sit, or perch, or however the wyvern chose to arrange himself. Once he was settled, her eyes fluttered shut, and gently, ever so gently, her slight weight leaned into his side. "I'm okay...just tired. Sore," Phase murmured. "The Net World wasn't really built for human bodies, at least not ones that follow all the human rules."

"Feeling is our cross to bear," Vincent affirmed. Something was making his voice want to soften, the more he watched Phase's barriers finally begin to relax. A quick glance at Yu, and he knew he wasn't alone in thinking so.
Yusaku laughed. "Then it did its work. Who knows, maybe next time I can render Critias and Phase in the room with us and use our suits to give them...substance. Hmmm..."

Critias on the other hand was conflicted. He wanted snuggles, but he couldn't force it. So for now he was satisfied remaining completely motionless, allowing Phase to lean on him.

"Feeling eh? Well. I get to do that through my link Yusaku. I'm tired myself." He stated, softly. "But at least I am glad you're fine."
Redolence crept its way into Phase's sore muscles. The girl stretched up as a tremendous yawn overtook her, then settled herself back down, a boneless, noodly weight against Critias' flank. The wyvern's scales made for a hard, unyielding daybed, but the warmth radiating off him more than made up for the initial discomfort. "You look about ready for bed, you do," Vincent gently teased, "is it time for us to pack it in?"

In purest adolescent form, Phase's only response was to whine and cling to her bed. In this case, that meant a slender pair of arms wrapping as far 'round Critias' waist as she could reach. "Five more minutes," she murmured.

For a moment, all was quiet in the lab. Vincent was about to ask his host if he could kindly make the changeroom appear again, when Phase's quiet, sleepy voice piped back up. "Hey, Crit...d'you ever dream?" It was an exceedingly odd question for a Navi to ask, thought Vincent, but then, he supposed Phase and Critias were both a few shades off the norm for their kind. The man bent down to meet Yu's eye, collecting his folded clothing and silently tilting his head toward the far side of the room, hoping the lad got the message; best to give the tired Navis a little privacy.
Yusaku would nod at Vincent and follow him to the end of the room, allowing the two navi privacy.

Critias gave Phase a warm smile. He gently wrapped his tail around her waist and lifted her up enough so that he could lay down and settle her safely in his lap. He wrapped his arms around her, making sure to be extremely delicate all the way though.

"Do I dream...well...hm..." He mumbled, stopping for a moment so that he could think. "When I'm linked to Yusaku I'm able to experience his dreams as my own. I don't...I don't think I ever dream. I never really sleep." He replied. "And if you mean a dream in the other sense....well then I guess I do dream. One of them has become true right now."

The wyvern snickered.

"Eheheh...you know...I really like you Phase." He blabbed out, actually blushing lightly at that statement. "You're very nice."

The tip of the big wyvern's tail was wagging.
Phase gave a wavering, sleep-muddled coo as she was picked up and resettled in her scaly daybed, as warm and boneless as a snake in a sunny spot. Watching out the corner of his eye, something nebulous and parent-shaped in Vincent's gut churned. On one hand, there was a goodly dose of knee-jerk nervousness, mixed with the protectiveness that came from seeing Phase outside Dignity's shield, vulnerable. On the other hand...well, she was smiling.

Rather than try to sort his thoughts out enough to articulate, Vincent turned instead to Yu. "It's a shame we couldn't test your contraptions more, it really is a shame," he murmured. A quick glance at Dignity's readouts was all he needed to know there would be no more mecha adventures today. And even if he used his meager resources to play field surgeon with his creation...he glanced at the holographic Dignity, and the two tiny forms on her shoulder plate. "Oh," he said.

The man's face all at once softened; he simply couldn't help it. Whatever Phase might have thought of Critias' overtures, her answer would go unsaid for now, unless her answer was snoring lightly into the wyvern's abdomen. The day's exertions having settled in, she was well and truly out like a light. "Right then, right then, I suppose it's time to wrap things up," Vincent chortled. Straightening, he called to the room, "Phase.EXE, return to PET," and Phase shimmered into a turquoise lightstream. Out of Critias' arms she soared, and up to her waiting bed.

(Jacking out)
Yusaku chuckled, pulling his suit's elastic mask over his face again,placing one of his hand claws onto his own PC. A flash of green soffused inside the motion suit and Yusaku was once again sharing his body with his own navigator. "Oof...sorry crit...after the freezing deal I'm a little more sensitive to You inhabitiong my feedback suit again..."

(Critias jacking out)
((Critias and Phase gain an additional 8 Mutual FXP for the previous battle and for interactions between then and jacking out. Sorry for the delay.))