=><= <br> <img src="./images/Bunny Kapow Title screen.png"> by Timothy David [[New Game]] <br> <img src="./images/fizzy bear banner small.png"> (unless: (track: 'theme', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'theme', 'loop', true) (track: 'theme', 'play') ]=><= <br> EPISODE 1: THE INSTITUTE <br> [[Let's go!]] <br><br> <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Neutral.png"> It was a beautiful day in the always-colorful city of Detroitica. Quite improbably, Bunny Jones found herself standing at the steps of the Kaznowski Institute, a collection of circular skyscrapers of various and corresponding heights, right on the best part of the riverfront. (Well, she actually lived in the nearby suburb of Mount Clemens, but people from the area had a tendency to still say they were were "from Detroitica".) As far as she knew, the Institute was where all the...*weirdos* worked. You see, Bunny Jones lives in a world where monsters appear with alarming frequency. When these monsters appeared, a lot of awfully famous people from around town would go out to stop them, often using magical powers or driving giant robots or something, all while wearing ridiculous outfits. She never paid much attention because it wasn't the sort of celebrity gossip she was interested in, even if they seemed inescapable on the internet or on TV or whatever. And she **certainly** never expected to become one. [[So what happened?]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> A week or two ago, Bunny Jones had been walking to her favorite dog park with her family's beloved golden retriever Max, a dog nearly as sleepy and hungry as he is old. With her stops at the local cheese shop and nearby bakery out of the way (under the guise of 'picking some stuff up for her parents to make dinner with'), she was about to settle in to let Max romp around a little bit while she tore into some cheese and a baguette... ...when she saw the monster swooping down on the dog park. Standing about the size of a pickup truck, the monster (or *kaiju*, as Bunny had heard them referred to a few times) was tall and feline, with an eagle-like face and a body that appeared to be made out of some kind of polished living stone. In a strange way it seemed…almost cute, but still intimidating. The stone eagle seemed to take a particular interest in her and her dog, leaving Bunny frozen. This was the first time she’d seen one of these things in person, and it wasn’t the sort of thing your school taught you how to deal with. [[Jump out of the way!]] [[Dodge around the monster!]] [[Try to run away from the monster!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> Ah well. Bunny *was* pretty excited to go to culinary school, and if this got her out of her real classes for a few days, she certainly couldn't complain about missing out on geometry class. She brushed her short scarlet bangs up over her forehead, took several steps up the staircase in a manner she thought would seem impressive and powerful, and stuck her hand straight out towards Miss Ibanez. <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Sassy.png">"That's right, lady, I'm BUNNY JONES!" In response, Miss Ibanez shook her hand. "Hello, Bunny Jones. It's nice to meet you, and on behalf of the Kaznowski Institute, we'd like to welcome you to our halls of research. I'm Miss Ibanez, head of the SCT field defense team. Professor Kaznowski and I have been very excited to meet you." As she introduced herself, she led Bunny into the beautiful glass-and-metal entrance to the building, passing through an artfully neon-lit hallway full of beautiful pictures of creatures and people Bunny had never seen before. The lower floors of the building seemed to be populated by local businesses renting out storefronts or office space, albeit with a mix of strangely-dressed researchers and lab-types running back and forth. A brief elevator ride ensued. Miss Ibanez explained a bit of her background, including where she got her master’s degree and what she does to help the Institute, although the thing that really stuck out to Bunny was when Miss Ibanez mentioned she helped develop *laser blasters*? [[Here we are: Professor Kaznowski's office!]] (unless: (track: 'institute', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'institute', 'loop', true) (track: 'institute', 'play') ]<br> Frozen in place on the stairs leading into the building, Bunny decided that this whole thing just wasn't for her. It was weird enough that she already had to meet *one* monster, but even a full ride to the Culinary Institute wasn't quite enough to sway her into going ahead with this. <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Sassy.png">"Lady, I'm sorry, but whatever you do in there, it's just a little too freaky for ol' Bunny Jones.” <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Neutral.png">"Good luck with your weirdo science stuff, I'm outta here!" She grabbed onto the straps of her tiny yellow backpack, turned on the heels of her white canvas-and-rubber sneakers, and set off towards the arcade, mentally composing an excuse to her mother about how the Institute burned down and nobody could go there anymore. She knew she'd feel much better after a few rounds of light-gun games and a slice of that pizza they put Cheese Crunchies on. Who knows what kind of ridiculousness she'd be missing out on by not going up those steps after Miss Ibanez? Bunny Jones was completely comfortable *not* knowing, and maybe that was okay. THE END [[Hang on, wait, let's try that again->Bunny arrives at the Institute!]] (unless: (track: 'institute', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'institute', 'loop', true) (track: 'institute', 'play') ]<br> The journey to whatever floor contained their destination was briefer than Bunny would've expected. Soon enough, she and Miss Ibanez were approaching a large, ornate wooden door with a thick window reading "PROFESSOR KAZNOWSKI". In the small room before the door sits a round-faced, elderly woman at a surprisingly old-fashioned metal reception table. Before the woman sat nametag reading "Miss Hildegard", and what seemed to be several large catering trays full of pancakes and other breakfast foods. These pancakes quickly became the only thing Bunny could think about. [[Gimme them pancakes!]] [[Eh, I already ate today]] (unless: (track: 'institute', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'institute', 'loop', true) (track: 'institute', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Neutral.png">"Yeah yeah yeah, hey, it's nice to meet you too, thanks for having me. You know, I might concentrate a lot better if you gimme some of those tasty-looking pancakes you got there!" "Of course!" replied Miss Hildegard. "Professor Kaznowski is a huge fan of breakfast foods, and he always has them to offer guests to his office." Bunny knew that the pancakes wouldn't actually help her concentrate, but she was never one to turn down free breakfasts, nor did she truly care if she heard anything these weirdos had to say. **You got the Pancakes!** [[Alright, let's talk to Kaz!]] (set: $hasPancakes to true) (unless: (track: 'institute', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'institute', 'loop', true) (track: 'institute', 'play') ]<br> Maybe it was her misgivings about this entire setup, maybe it was the usual 'first day at school' nerves, maybe it was the fact that she'd already eaten two waffles and a hashbrown before she left her house today. Whatever the reason, for perhaps the first time in her life, Bunny Jones did not feel like eating pancakes. <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Sassy.png">"I...uh...no, I'm not going to eat anything from here. Nothing personal." [[Alright, let's talk to Kaz!]] (unless: (track: 'institute', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'institute', 'loop', true) (track: 'institute', 'play') ]<br> (if: $hasPancakes is true)[Equipped with nothing but her wits and a big stack of hotcakes, Bunny cautiously proceeds into the office following Miss Ibanez.<br><br> The office looked exactly like every dean or professor's office Bunny had seen in a teen drama set at a private school, with beautiful wooden shelves and the faintest smell of coffee.] Behind a large desk, cluttered by books about spies and space travel with a clunky beige computer monitor off to one side, sat an older gentleman with small, friendly eyes, greyish-brown hair starting about halfway back on the top of his head, and one of those tweed suits that people wear in movies to indicate they're both smart and old. He stands from behind his desk. "Ah, Miss Ibanez!" he said in a genteel voice with the faintest hint of an accent Bunny couldn't place. "I trust this is our new friend that (text-colour:"white")[[Ruby->Ruby?]] recommended to us?" Miss Ibanez nodded in affirmation. "She's every bit as energetic and inquisitive as Ruby told us she would be, even if I’m certain I bored her with my stories.” <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Sassy.png">“Boring?! Missy, you said you have a degree in biochemistry and that you helped invent a *laser rifle*, you’re already my favorite person here.” [[Ask Kaz why you’re here.]] [[Ask Kaz what they do here.]] (unless: (track: 'institute', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'institute', 'loop', true) (track: 'institute', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Sassy.png">*”Who the heck is Ruby? Was that the wolf-eared girl from before? Why didn't I pay more attention to what she said, instead of trying to get my bag of cheese and bread back from that monster?! HAS SHE BEEN SPYING ON ME?!”* <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Angry.png">*“Uh oh. Looks like they're still talking. Better look like I’ve been paying attention!”* <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Sassy.png">“Hey uhhh yeah, sure! Are you going to teach me how to use a laser or something? I was totally listening.” Kaz, who was in the middle of a sentence when Bunny snapped out of her internal monologue, was momentarily caught off-guard by this outburst. [[Ask Kaz why you’re here.]] [[Ask Kaz what they do here.]] (unless: (track: 'institute', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'institute', 'loop', true) (track: 'institute', 'play') ]=><= <br> EPISODE 2: THE GIRLS OF TEAM 64 [[Who are THESE weirdos?]] <br> (set: $meetEveryone to 0) (unless: (track: 'theme', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'theme', 'loop', true) (track: 'theme', 'play') ]<br> Kaz, Miss Ibanez, and Bunny took an elevator a few more floors up. Along the way, Bunny marveled at the bustle of people in costumes, groups of mechanics in oil-stained jumpsuits carrying supplies back and forth, and a few labcoat-types trying to get Kaz's attention. Eventually, they arrived at their destination: a pretty non-descript door in a long line of other non-descript doors, with 0451 written on a small metal plate affixed to the front. Under the number plate, someone seems to have written "THE HOME FOR INFINITE LOSERS" in scratchy permanent marker. Gently knocking twice before opening, Kaz popped his head in and announced himself. "Girls! I would like you all to meet Bunny Jones! She's considering studying with us here, and I thought she might be the perfect fit for your study group." Bunny remained in the doorway and waved awkwardly. Before her, in a sparsely decorated office, sat a long grey table with a round tabby cat, asleep in the center of it atop an open text book. Around the table sat three girls roughly Bunny's age; one engrossed in something on a garish gaming laptop, the other two having a spirited discussion over an open comic book, surrounded by fast food bags. Before any of them have a chance to speak, Kaz explains that these four are "Team 64", and gives their names as: Naomi Wyatt Mobo and Charlie, who Bunny assumes is the cat. He continued, "Now, if you'll all excuse me, I have to go make sure Bunny's KATS is ready for her to try out! Why don't you all introduce yourselves while I'm gone?" before departing, and closing the door behind him. <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Sassy.png">*”What am I supposed to say to any of these dorks?”* =|= [[Look around the club room.]] [[Talk to Naomi.]] [[Talk to Wyatt.]] [[Talk to Mobo.]] =|= [[Talk to Charlie?]] [[Team 64?]] (if: $meetEveryone >= 4)[[So...what do you all do here?]] (unless: (track: 'girls', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'girls', 'loop', true) (track: 'girls', 'play') ]<br> The layout of the club room reminded Bunny of any number of multipurpose classrooms back at school. Each of the girls seems to have helped in decorating their own little corner of it: Naomi sits in a high-backed gaming chair near a small wooden bookshelf full of expensive robot model kits and some nice-looking camera equipment, Wyatt has a fairly large book & magazine collection behind her with a few nearby figures of what Bunny could only assume were the anime boys and girls she has crushes on, and Mobo has nothing behind her except a small cactus, placed directly in front of the large window behind them all. Over in one corner sits a fairly large scratching post along with...some kind of magazine about business, but both of those couldn't belong to the cat, could they? =|= [[Talk to Naomi.]] [[Talk to Wyatt.]] [[Talk to Mobo.]] =|= [[Talk to Charlie?]] [[Team 64?]] (if: $meetEveryone >= 3)[[So...what do you all do here?]] ] (unless: (track: 'girls', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'girls', 'loop', true) (track: 'girls', 'play') ]<br> Bunny tentatively approaches Naomi, currently relaxing in a high-backed *~gamer chair~*, deep in thought about whatever loud, darkly lit action game she was playing. <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Neutral.png">"Uh...hey there! I'm BUNNY JONES, and..." With a squeak from the chair's base, Naomi quickly turned towards Bunny's direction, almost half out of surprise. <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"uhhhh hey yeah I'm not good at the introductions or small talk or whatever but uhh how about this" She turned away from Bunny briefly, and from the sounds of it, was scribbling furiously on a nearby notebook. After a moment or two, she wordlessly handed Bunny a piece of notebook paper. [[Read the notebook paper.]] (set: $meetEveryone to it+1) (unless: (track: 'girls', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'girls', 'loop', true) (track: 'girls', 'play') ]<br> Bunny turned toward Wyatt, a tall, lean girl with vivid purple hair who seemed to be wearing some kind of homemade suit of armor that was slightly too big for her. As Bunny approaches, Wyatt stands from the table and holds one hand up near head-level, seemingly expecting a high-five. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Hey new girl! Excited to have you on the team!" [[Return the high five.]] [[No high fives yet, I barely know her!]] (set: $meetEveryone to it+1) (unless: (track: 'girls', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'girls', 'loop', true) (track: 'girls', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Neutral.png"> "Hi...hello?" <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Sassy.png">“*It’s like she’s drinking her milkshake too loudly to hear me…*” Unsure of whether sure heard the greeting or not, Bunny attempted to wave to get the girl's attention. Suddenly, finally having realized she was being spoken to, and with an expression of great delight on her face, the pink-haired girl stood up abrupty. With a Burger Zone milk shake in one hand, she extended her free hand in one of the stiffest handshakes Bunny Jones had ever received. <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">"HIYO! My name is Mobo! M-O-B-O! I'm a robot!" The only thing more surprising than the volume and ferocity of her greeting, was the revelation that Mobo, upon standing, seemed to be about six foot five inches tall. Through this revelation, she continued shaking Bunny's hand hard enough that Bunny began lifting up and down off the floor, in rhythm with the handshake. (set: $meetEveryone to it+1) =|= [[Look around the club room.]] [[Talk to Naomi.]] [[Talk to Wyatt.]] =|= [[Talk to Charlie?]] [[Team 64?]] (if: $meetEveryone >= 3)[[So...what do you all do here?]] (unless: (track: 'girls', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'girls', 'loop', true) (track: 'girls', 'play') ]<br> Bunny noticed the sleeping tabby, introduced previously as 'Charlie', in the center of the table. An equal lover of dogs and cats alike, Bunny approached in hopes of maybe getting to pet it or offer it some treats. <img src="./images/Charlie.png">"wuzzat? What time is it? Do you have any coffee?" This was surprising mostly because she didn't expect the cat to be able to talk at all, but it still somehow wasn't the weirdest thing that had happened today. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Charlie, this is Bunny Jones, she might be coming to study with us. Bunny, this is Charlie! You could say he's kind of our...team mascot." "Every team of magical girls needs a talking animal mascot, right?" <img src="./images/Charlie.png">"Oh, hey there. Yep, that's me, ol' Charlie. I help the girls with, uh...business stuff. You should bring me food sometime, like…from your house.” <img src="./images/Mobo Determined.png">"That's a GREAT IDEA! He likes soft cheeses and anything with chicken in it! Oh, and sometimes he wants to just lick the salt off of your fries or the cheese powder off your Cheese Crunchies!" =|= [[Look around the club room.]] [[Talk to Naomi.]] [[Talk to Wyatt.]] [[Talk to Mobo.]] =|= [[Team 64?]] (if: $meetEveryone >= 3)[[So...what do you all do here?]] (unless: (track: 'girls', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'girls', 'loop', true) (track: 'girls', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Neutral.png">"So...you three are Team 64?" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"yeah we know it's a bad name and all" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"So, uh...the way it kinda works is that, if you're a team of magical girls or masked rangers or whatever, you can register with the Institute, and you can pick a name for your team!" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"You use it when you make public appearances, or just when you go out and fight evil or whatever." <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Neutral.png">"And...?" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"And, well...Naomi and I went to register for the Institute so we could learn to be magical girls and help out around the city, and that's when Kaz introduced us to Mobo, right?" <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Neutral.png">"Right..." <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"and...we haven't been able to agree on something since then." <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">"All of Naomi's suggestions sounded like names for a band with a violin player, and my ideas were super tough and cool but nobody understood my vision, and Mobo didn't quite get what we were trying to do so she just kept trying to come up with acronyms for "Mobo"." <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">"It's true! I wanted to help but I'm not good at acro...acronomanyms." =|= [[Look around the club room.]] [[Talk to Naomi.]] [[Talk to Wyatt.]] [[Talk to Mobo.]] =|= [[Talk to Charlie?]] (if: $meetEveryone >= 3)[[So...what do you all do here?]] (unless: (track: 'girls', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'girls', 'loop', true) (track: 'girls', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">"We...we do lots of stuff! We were some of the first to report on some of the more major monster sightings around here, and we've helped defend certain areas from monster damage, and..." <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“what she means is that we got absolutely razzled by monsters a few times when we've tried to help, and one time we got lost in the sewers because of reasons, but it's okay because a kaiju tried to eat Wyatt's dog once and we stopped it" <img src="./images/Mobo Determined.png">"YEAH! It's been great! Sure, I got electrocuted once and I think Wyatt and Naomi have both been chewed on a few times, but we always get out of it!" <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">"Because we have the power of BEAUTY and FRIENDSHIP!" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"Beautiful Friendship was another one of my suggestions for our name but Wyatt said it would make us sound more like a wrestling tag team” <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Sassy.png"> "So...Kaz is just sticking me on this team so I can get chewed on? *This had better be the biggest dang scholarship anyone has ever gotten.”* Just then, a pleasant voice chimed in over building’s intercom with a “*"Bunny Jones! Please report to room 302 in the Applied Sciences Wing! Your KATS is ready!"* <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Oh, heck yeah! We’ll show you the way there!” [[My what, now?]] (unless: (track: 'girls', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'girls', 'loop', true) (track: 'girls', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/naomi note_resized.png"> <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Sassy.png">"Oh...uh...great! Hi!" =|= [[Look around the club room.]] [[Talk to Naomi.]] [[Talk to Wyatt.]] [[Talk to Mobo.]] =|= [[Talk to Charlie?]] [[Team 64?]] (if: $meetEveryone >= 3)[[So...what do you all do here?]] (unless: (track: 'girls', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'girls', 'loop', true) (track: 'girls', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">"HECK YEAH! I like the spirit! Looking forward to having you with us on Team 64!" <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Angry.png">"Hey now wait a second, I haven't actually agreed to -" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"You got good height! Would you call yourself a runner at all?" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">""Hmm, looks like you know how to dress yourself too, are you at all interested in doing PR or interviews?" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">""Now that we've got a four-girl squad again, we're finally gonna hit the big time, I can feel it!" <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Neutral.png">"The big time...?" In her excitement, Wyatt found herself throwing an arm around Bunny's shoulders in an attempt at a hug that became a bit more of a headlock. <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">"That's right! I know me, Naomi, and Mobo are gonna be the next big thing in magical girl teams here in Detroitica, we just needed one last team member to round out the roster so we could really start getting out there and busting some heads!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“in a purely scientific sense, of course” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png"> “Now, obviously, we still gotta figure out if you're the Looks or the Muscle of the team, but that will come in time!" =|= [[Look around the club room.]] [[Talk to Naomi.]] [[Talk to Wyatt.]] [[Talk to Mobo.]] =|= [[Talk to Charlie?]] [[Team 64?]] (if: $meetEveryone >= 3)[[So...what do you all do here?]] (unless: (track: 'girls', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'girls', 'loop', true) (track: 'girls', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"No high five? Completely understandable! You can owe me one later once we start getting out there and tracking down some cool monsters or whatever!" <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Angry.png">"Hey now wait a second, I haven't actually agreed to -" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"You got good height! Would you call yourself a runner at all?" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Hmm, looks like you know how to dress yourself too, are you at all interested in doing PR or interviews?" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Now that we've got a four-girl squad again, we're finally gonna hit the big time, I can feel it!" <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Sassy.png">"The big time...?" In her excitement, Wyatt found herself throwing an arm around Bunny's shoulders in an attempt at a hug that became a bit more of a headlock. <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">"That's right! I know me, Naomi, and Mobo are gonna be the next big thing in magical girl teams here in Detroitica, we just needed one last team member to round out the roster so we could really start getting out there and busting some heads!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“in a purely scientific sense, of course” (t8n:"fade")+(t8n-delay:5.5s)<img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Now, obviously, we still gotta figure out if you're the Looks or the Muscle of the team, but that will come in time!" =|= [[Look around the club room.]] [[Talk to Naomi.]] [[Talk to Wyatt.]] [[Talk to Mobo.]] =|= [[Talk to Charlie?]] [[Team 64?]] (if: $meetEveryone >= 3)[[So...what do you all do here?]] (unless: (track: 'girls', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'girls', 'loop', true) (track: 'girls', 'play') ]<br> The girls left the upper floors of the building, following a similar path to the one Bunny took on her way in. Along the way, Wyatt talked her ear off about how great the food court downstairs was, and how the other normal businesses that still occupy the lower floors (presumably to help pay rent on the biggest skyscraper in the city) were usually pretty nice. Arriving at the lowest floor, Bunny and the girls approached a small, well-lit, and tidy food court tucked off behind the escalators, already filled with a litany of other Institute workers and attendees trying to relax and enjoy their lunch. Alongside the more 'normal' staff, she saw what she now could assume were fellow Expanders, including (text-colour:"white")[[two young girls with what appeared to be bear ears]], (text-colour:"white")[[a woman in a colorful sweater with a pronounced pair of mouse ears]] and (text-colour:"white")[[a guy with fox ears and a woman with tiger ears in what looked to be some kind of uniform-jumpsuit situation]]. Naomi darted off to her usual vegetarian sandwich spot, Wyatt headed for something called “Sweet Carl’s Maccy Shack”, and Mobo approached a stand with a massive soft-serve ice cream machine. [[Get a sandwich.]] [[Try the mac and cheese.]] [[Head to "Fries, And Nothin' But!"]] (unless: (track: 'institute', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'institute', 'loop', true) (track: 'institute', 'play') ]<br> Bunny Jones' real name was, indeed, Bunny. People are frequently surprised to learn this, and she's gotten fairly sick of explaining herself over the years, but "Bunny" is not a nickname. If it's short for anything, she refuses to let people know. (link-goto: "Go back.", (history:)'s last) (unless: (track: 'institute', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'institute', 'loop', true) (track: 'institute', 'play') ]<br> Bunny chose to accompany Naomi to a booth with a blue sign reading "BREAD BOYZ", accompanied by drawings of two large submarine sandwiches high-fiving with some kind of meat explosion between them. Naomi, evidently a vegetarian for the last several years, ordered herself a vegetarian Caprese sandwich with extra dressing, which sounded good enough that Bunny duplicated the order for herself. [[Eating lunch with the ladies!]] (unless: (track: 'institute', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'institute', 'loop', true) (track: 'institute', 'play') ]<br> Bunny followed Wyatt to Sweet Carl's Maccy Shack, a bright yellow stepvan whose menu promised a wider range of macaroni and cheese flavors than Bunny might've thought possible at one point in her life. As Bunny pondered between the Tex Mex Mac and the Truffle Mac, and Wyatt ordered her usual Chili Mac, she noticed a newly-familiar sight behind the counter: a photograph of what seemed to be Charlie with the words "DO NOT SERVE THIS CAT" emblazoned in large letters above it. Realizing Charlie was with them, she stepped out of line and ducked behind a nearby trash can to address him. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">"What's the deal here, CAT? They're not gonna let me order any mac and cheese if they find out you're here with me!" <img src="./images/Charlie.png">"Listen! It was a perfectly normal misunderstanding, like coulda happened to anyone! I forgot my mustache today, so I can't order for myself!" <img src="./images/Charlie.png">"I'll make it worth your while if you order for me! Come onnnn!" Always a sucker for an animal in need, Bunny clumsily zipped him into the backpack (just until she was out of sight of the food truck, of course!) and ordered a Truffle Mac for her and a plain for him. The transaction proceeded without incident, and Bunny thought better than to ask any follow-up questions. [[Eating lunch with the ladies!]] (unless: (track: 'institute', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'institute', 'loop', true) (track: 'institute', 'play') ]<br> The girls’ lunch break was largely taken up by Bunny hearing stories of Team 64’s past exploits. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“So there we were on the sidewalk! I summoned my sword from my subspace inventory, and Naomi was readying her psionic powers, but before we could do anything - “ <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Hang on, I’m sorry, this was happening during the *big holiday parade downtown*?” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Yeah! Naomi and I used to go to the parade all the time as kids, and I wasn’t gonna let some giant mantis run off with all the balloons! So anyway, Mobo just starts blasting over the crowd's head, and…” The rest of Wyatt’s story would be temporarily disrupted by another group of four young women approaching their table. Bunny quickly recognized them as the four wolf-eared girls in the figure-skating outfits from before, although the blue one in front was back in her street clothes this time. <img src="./images/Ruby Neutral.png">“Hey, Bunny! How’s your first day here?” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">“...” <img src="./images/Ruby Neutral.png">“Oh, I’m sorry! It’s me, Ruby!” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">“...” <img src="./images/Ruby Shocked.png">“...from the park? With, you know, the giant stone monster? Everyone was screaming and running? You threw cheese at it?” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Lady, I’m sorry, but if you’re expecting me to retain information, I don’t know what to tell you. Nice eyeliner, though.” “I’ll take it.” [[Talk to Ruby.]] [[Talk to the blonde one.]] [[Talk to the other two.]] (unless: (track: 'ruby', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'ruby', 'loop', true) (track: 'ruby', 'play') ]<br> The blonde woman, clad in her grey and red "magical girl uniform", eyes Bunny suspiciously. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png"> "What’s YOUR deal, lady? I'm just trying to eat lunch with these weirdos! I just got here!" In response, the woman smirks. “Oh, I’m just glad to see the professor has set you up with such a…unique group of teammates. Weren’t you girls the ones who destroyed all those floats at the parade last year?” <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“No! Maybe!” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Ha ha! Yeah, that was us!” <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">“Okay, yes, it WAS us, but basically nobody got hurt!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png"> “nobody we know, at least” The woman’s smile widens. “Ah. Good. I can tell your new friend here will be just as successful.” <img src="./images/Ruby Angry.png">“DIANA! Be nice!” [[Talk to Ruby.]] [[Talk to the other two.]] (if: $hasPancakes is true)[[Offer Diana a pancake?]] (unless: (track: 'ruby', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'ruby', 'loop', true) (track: 'ruby', 'play') ]<br> Looking at the two bear girls, Bunny noticed that the resemblance went beyond the bear ears - aside from a very minor difference in age, these two could've been identical twins. "Hi!" the youngest one said cheerfully, noticing Bunny's interest. "Are you new here? Do you wanna sit with us for lunch??" "Hey, Bri, I've told you, you can't just shout at strangers until they become your friend! That's why mom can't let you go to the toy store alone anymore!" replied the older bear girl, in a more serious voice than Bunny might've expected. "Hee hee, that's right! Anyway, hi! My name is Brianna Schmoopley, and this is my older sister Bailey!" said the smaller one, which Bailey confirmed with a brief head nod. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Cry.png">"You two are the *cutest thing I'd ever seen*" (link-goto: "Go back.", (history:)'s last) (unless: (track: 'institute', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'institute', 'loop', true) (track: 'institute', 'play') ]<br> Bunny approached the two uniforms, waving politely as she got close. The two of them sat around a table with lunch in front of them - both roughly the same age, one of them a slightly muscular guy with the sort of spikey blond hair that would indicate he was the main character of something, the other a slender woman with short-cropped bright-yellow hair. They both wore fairly solid-colored jumpsuits with geometric patterns across them; his a deep green with orange and blue striping across the upper body, hers a solid black with red detailing across the upper body and purple striping down one leg. "Oh hi, I didn't see you!" the man said in a deep but not threatening voice. "Name's Fender Jazzmaster, and this here is my lieutenant, Scarlet Lumiere." Scarlet asked, "are you new here?" Bunny briefly explained her situation, to which Scarlet responded, "Well, wouldn't you know, we happen to be looking for some new people ourselves! We're actually part of a mechanized search & rescue team that helps clean up after kaiju attacks, but we've had a few members transfer out lately." Fender chimed in, "so if you know anybody who wants to drive a GIANT ROBOT, let us know, huh?" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Giant robots? Oh my god, my boyfriend would think that was the *coolest thing*.” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">“...probably for the best he isn’t here, I don’t need him caught up in all this weirdness too.” (link-goto: "Go back.", (history:)'s last) (unless: (track: 'institute', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'institute', 'loop', true) (track: 'institute', 'play') ]<br> Diana recoils in theatrical horror. "EWW! No, I don't want a PANCAKE! Did you just take that out of your PURSE, you little freak?! <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">"Jeez, lady, fine! Your loss! Can't imagine why anyone would say no to a pancake, I put them in little baggies and everything..." [[Talk to Ruby.]] [[Talk to the other two.]] (unless: (track: 'ruby', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'ruby', 'loop', true) (track: 'ruby', 'play') ]=><= <br> EPISODE 3: THE GIRLS MEET THEIR FIRST MONSTER [[Our first WHAT??]] (unless: (track: 'theme', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'theme', 'loop', true) (track: 'theme', 'play') ]<br> “Geez Bunny, this place sounds *awesome!*” Bunny was on the phone with her boyfriend Isaac, catching him up on her first few days with the Institute. (text-color:white)[[Affectionately referred to as "Bear" since childhood]], Bunny knew he was the only person she could really talk to about her first few days at the Institute. <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Neutral.png"> "I guess if you think being given an old cell phone and being told to look for MONSTERS is cool, Bear!" "Well, have you seen any?" <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Sassy.png">"Psh, no way! We kinda just...hang out in the club room and read or eat snacks. Once we got a report of, like, a strange noise in someone's backyard, but it turned out to be the neighbor's weird kid going through the trash for bicycle parts.” <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Neutral.png">“Which is FINE, I don't even really want to meet a monster anyway..." "Really?!” replied Isaac. “I think it'd be SO COOL to see a monster! They're all big and scary looking, and maybe then I could, like, fight it with a robot or something!" Bunny thought better about telling her poor bear about the mecha program at the Institute; hoping to keep him away from all this weirdness, but knowing in her heart he and his goofy friends would find out about it eventually. [[The next day…]] (unless: (track: 'girls', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'girls', 'loop', true) (track: 'girls', 'play') ]<br> The girls turn their attention towards CAPTIV8, a fairly trendy restaurant situated at the western edge of the plaza. By its nature, CAPTIV8 was one of those mostly-glass, super-trendy joints that seemingly only existed to cater to business people in the area who needed to entertain other business people. Pushing through the typical plaza crowd of Expanders, Institute researchers, and completely normal people alike, Bunny stepped to the front of the group. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"Alright, girls, with places like this, you just gotta know how to talk to these *rich turds*. [[Look around the restaurant.]] [[Go back to the plaza.->Return to the plaza.]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> "Welcome to the Working Week!" came the greeting from the barista behind the counter, with a tone of voice that implied the fact they've said that dozens of times today already. Naomi's voice almost betrayed excitement. <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"oh my goodness but it smells *delicious* in here, ol' Naomi might be about to take a coffee break." <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">"Oh my gosh look at all the pastries and stuff they have!" <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">"Ooh, they have string cheese too!" <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">"I found out the hard way that I can't eat string cheese, but I'm glad for everyone who can!" [[Look around the coffeeshop.]] [[Talk to the barista.]] [[Leave the coffeeshop.->Return to the plaza.]] { (if:$checkWifi is true)(link-goto: "Check out the wifi here.", (either:"No monster!", "Yes monster!")) } (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Mobo Determined.png">"Hey! That building looks important! I bet THEY'VE seen something!" The building itself was a merging of old and new architecture, blending the concrete Art Deco of much of the city's skyscrapers with a modern lower floor lobby of glass and steel. A sign outside, as well as an imprinting on the automatic doors leading into the building, read "RIDGE LIMITED", matching the logo spread out around the rest of the plaza to indicate their sponsorship of various events in the area. [[Talk to the receptionist.]] [[Leave the office.->Return to the plaza.]] (if:$talkReceptionist is true)[[[Look around the lobby.->Lobby, yes IT worker]]]\ (else:) [[[Look around the lobby.->Lobby, no IT worker]]] { (if:$checkWifi is true)(link-goto: "Check out the wifi here.", (either:"No monster!", "Yes monster!")) } (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> The girls stride confidently into Snacktown, a convenience store on the corner at the far east side of the area. A large pair of glass double doors underneath a burnt orange awning, holding onto a sign reading "SNACKTOWN: WE'RE ALWAYS OPEN! FRESH NACHOS INSIDE!" Upon entering, Bunny feels a small rustling in her backpack as Charlie sits up, both paws over her shoulder. <img src="./images/Charlie.png">"Hey, you should get me one of those cheese dogs while we're here." "Can...can you have cheese?" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Oh yeah, we let Charlie have cheese all the time! Cheese, ranch, softer breads..." <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Just a little, though! Can't give a cat too much people food." <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">"Alright, but I'm grabbing one of those bad boys too, that sounds delicious!" [[Leave the store.->Return to the plaza.]] [[Look around the convenience store.]] { (if:$checkWifi is true)(link-goto: "Check out the wifi here.", (either:"No monster!", "Yes monster!")) } (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> The girls approach Noisemaze Arcade, a combination pizza place and arcade that opened up a few years ago, on the second floor of a building belonging to a fairly successful bar and grill called Chess Piece Face. The outside of the building was fairly well-worn in the way that all restaurants in Detroitica become eventually, with little about the barely-painted facade or bright red door to indicate its contents aside from a large banner reading "NOISEMAZE" in one of those ever-popular synthwave fonts. [[Go back to the plaza.->Return to the plaza.]] [[Look around the arcade.]] [[Talk to the guy behind the counter.]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> From the well-lit foyer, the girls could mostly see the sort of thing you'd expect to see in a restaurant for well-off grown-ups: a lot of people in varying degrees of businesswear, discussing important business with the others at their table while simultaneously trying to enjoy a multi-course meal of fancy seafood dishes. The crowd seemed fairly busy for lunchtime on a weekday, but given the amount of offices and hotels in the area, it wasn't terribly surprising. <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">"Ooh, what's *tuna tatare*? Oh, tacos, you guys love tacos! What's a *pa-ni-ni*? Can I eat that?" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"mobo, even if you had the money to eat here, I don't think there's anything on the menu that you could safely digest" [[Talk to the host.]] [[Leave the restaurant.->Return to the plaza.]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> Bunny, with Charlie peeping his head out of her backpack, took three long, confident steps towards the host's podium, who immediately began eyeing Team 64 with a mixture of suspicion and confusion. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"Alright, bud, you know about any monster sightings around here? We're in kind of a hurry, so if you could just cough up the details, we can go check it out." The host slowly arched one eyebrow in response. "I ASSURE you, CAPTIV8 is not home to any *monsters*, nor do we want to resort to that sort of talk in front of our clientele. Would you all please leave right this second, without a fuss? Including your...cat?" <img src="./images/Charlie.png">"CAT?! Did you hear how disgusted he sounded when he said that? Listen bucko, you don't know how much money I've spent here!" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">"I have never left ANYWHERE without a fuss, and TODAY isn't going to be the first time!" The two burly waiters who shoved the girls out the front door helped to make sure of that. <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"hey great job everyone, that went perfectly" [[Look around the back of the restaurant.]] [[Go back to the plaza.->Return to the plaza.]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png"> "So maybe the direct approach isn't getting us anywhere, but we can't give up now!" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">"Did you hear how rude that guy was to me? I HOPE there's a monster in that restaurant, and I hope the monster eats EVERYONE, starting with that guy!" Walking around the back of the restaurant, the girls soon themselves face-to-face with a group of surly-looking chefs in well-worn uniforms. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Let me talk to them, I have a cousin who's a surly chef at a chain restaurant." <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">"Hello, grizzled back-of-house staff! Uh, we're from the Kaznowski Institute and we were wondering if anyone here has seen a monster lately?" The chefs stared at the girls unblinking, until one of them spoke up. "Yeah. Sorta. 'Bout four days ago. Some big jerk a'peared in the restaurant. Looked like a praying mantis. Wi-fi went down. Buncha people couldn't use their phones or cash out with a credit card. Some jerk yelled 'bout our TVs going down, said he was here to watch the fight or somethin'." <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">"I...uh...that's actually *surprisingly* helpful and specific, thank you so much!" [[Go back to the plaza.->Return to the plaza.]] (set:$checkWifi to true) (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> The inside of the coffeeshop was pretty familiar to each of the girls, as they'd all spent time there studying (or avoiding schoolwork, depending). Faux wood paneling lines each wall, a small collection of tables, booths, and lounge chairs line the front window facing out to the street, and the serving counter in the center is home to a number of baked goods, lids, napkins, and the like. Customers sit around the place doing fairly typical coffeeshop things, like studying, playing on their phones, or working on their novels in a public place in the hopes that someone asks about it. Around the shop, several small TVs played daytime TV or family-friendly movies, at one point broadcasting a commercial where the girls from the Shimmering Midnight performed a dance routine that turned out to be for a local electronics store, somehow. A few additional monitors displayed their menu behind the counter, presumably all connected to the internet. [[Talk to the barista.]] [[Leave the coffeeshop.->Return to the plaza.]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> Naomi ambled her way to the counter to place her usual iced coffee order, alongside a chocolate biscotti for Mobo. As the barista (who seemed to have Naomi's exact same hair and glasses) finished entering the order into the register, Naomi took the opportunity to approach them about the monster. <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"so uhhhhh, have you seen a monster or anything around here?" The barista, briefly caught off-guard by the attempt at communication, adjusted their glasses and continued making Naomi's drink. "Uhhhh yeah, kinda, about two days ago some weird bug-looking thing appeared in here, and suddenly we couldn't ring up credit cards or use our fancy wifi thermostat or anything." <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"huh, weird, yeah, thanks" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"hey Mobo, got you a cookie" <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">"Yay! Dark chocolate bee-scotty! Thank you!" [[Leave the coffeeshop.->Return to the plaza.]] { (if:$checkWifi is true)(link-goto: "Check out the wifi here.", (either:"No monster!", "Yes monster!")) } (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> (if:visits is 1)[<img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Okay, how does Hyper Princess Lightphase figure this stuff out...?" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Alright, so it sounds like the monster has something to do with...the internet? Maybe?" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"okay so maybe if, uhhh...hey Mobo do you have wifi? can you, like, try to get his attention or something?" <img src="./images/Mobo Determined.png">"I do! I'm on the internet most of the day! Only on the sites Kaz lets me use, though." Mobo places a finger to her temple. Suddenly, a strange electricity filled the air, and a small glow nearby suddenly revealed a monster! Standing about 6'5, it had strange insectoid features on a more humanoid body, with pincers, bulging eyes, and a sharp, beak-like mouth. Upon his arrival, each of the girls noticed their phones acting strangely, quickly followed by Mobo freezing in place with a blank look on her face, mumbling to herself. The monster took a brief look around, and seemingly losing interest in his surroundings, disappeared nearly as quickly as he came. Mobo returned to normal as well, although clearly a little rattled for the experience. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Okay! At least now we SAW it, right? We're totally gonna do this!" As Wyatt's phone reconnected to the cellular network, it revealed that the last thing she had watched on her phone was the opening theme song to *Cosmic Diver Boy B*, an animated series about a mysterious blue-haired alien boy who came to Earth to fulfill a prophecy - with romantic results!] (else-if:visits > 1)[Mobo places a finger to her temple. Suddenly, a strange electricity filled the air, and a small glow nearby suddenly revealed the monster from before! Upon his arrival, each of the girls noticed their phones acting strangely, quickly followed by Mobo freezing in place with a blank look on her face, mumbling to herself. The monster took a brief look around, and seemingly losing interest in his surroundings, disappeared nearly as quickly as he came. Mobo returned to normal as well, although clearly a little rattled for the experience. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Come on! Stop disappearing so we can kick your butt!" <img src="./images/Naomi.png"> "also stop trying to possess Mobo or whatever you're doing"] [[Check the monster with your KATS.->Episode 3 monster KATS entry]] (link-goto: "Go back.", (history:)'s last) (set:$seenAnalar to true) (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> (if:visits is 1)[<img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Okay, how does Hyper Princess Lightphase figure this stuff out...?" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Alright, so it sounds like the monster has something to do with...the internet? Maybe?" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"okay so maybe if, uhhh...hey Mobo do you have wifi? can you, like, try to get his attention or something?" "I do! I'm on the internet most of the day! Only on the sites Kaz lets me use, though." Mobo places a finger to her temple. Sadly, not much came of it, other than the realization that Mobo spends a lot of her spare time playing *Farming Fantasy* using her robotic brain, somehow. Wyatt rushed to lower the volume on her phone before the rest of the girls noticed that the last video she was watching was, in fact, the opening theme song to *Cosmic Diver Boy B*, an animated series about a mysterious blue-haired alien boy who came to Earth to fulfill a prophecy - with romantic results!] (else-if:visits > 1)[Mobo places a finger to her temple. "Searching! No monster!" "Oh well, back to *Farming Fantasy!*"] (link-goto: "Go back.", (history:)'s last) (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">"Hiyo! We're looking for a monster! Have you seen one?! You can also tell us if anything weird or scary happened around here lately!" <img src="./images/Mobo Determined.png">"It's okay, we can handle it!" "Oh, well aren't you just darling!" the receptionist replied, clearly caught off-guard but still inclined to help. "Well, I don't think anything *scary* has happened around here, unless you count running out of coffee!" she began with a genial chuckle that Mobo and Wyatt shared, but Bunny and Naomi did not. "I do know that we had a big internet outage recently, but I couldn't tell you anything about it! If someone from the IT department were here, I'm sure they could tell you more about it - oh, but I'm sure that's not particularly interesting for a bunch of young ladies like yourselves!" For the first time since Bunny met her, Mobo's face turned deadly serious. <img src="./images/Mobo Determined.png">"Ma'am, you've been more help than you know, and we thank you" <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">"Did you hear that?! INTERNET STUFF!" [[Look around the lobby.->Lobby, yes IT worker]] [[Return to the plaza.]] { (if:$checkWifi is true)(link-goto: "Check out the wifi here.", (either:"No monster!", "Yes monster!")) } (set:$talkReceptionist to true) (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> The girls found themselves in a lobby that wasn't too unfamiliar to any of them, as they'd all been taken to "Take Your Daughter To Work Day" a time or two. Comfortable and oddly geometric lounge furniture gathered in the corner, away from a lengthy metal reception desk, emblazoned with the same Ridge Limited logo as everything else. To Bunny's delight, a free metal popcorn machine was placed directly to the side of the reception desk. Popcorn was her favorite non-breakfast food in the world, and if she had to go traipsing around town in a ridiculous outfit, half-heartedly looking for a monster, she was glad she at least got some snacks out of it. [[Talk to the receptionist.]] [[Leave the office.->Return to the plaza.]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> The girls found themselves in a lobby that wasn't too unfamiliar to any of them, as they'd all been taken to "Take Your Daughter To Work Day" a time or two. Comfortable and oddly geometric lounge furniture gathered in the corner, away from a lengthy metal reception desk, emblazoned with the same Ridge Limited logo as everything else. To Bunny's delight, a free metal popcorn machine was placed directly to the side of the reception desk. As she helped herself to her second paper cup of popcorn, she spied a harried-looking younger guy in ill-fitting khakis and a bright red polo shirt hustling from one elevator to another elevator directly across the hall. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"HEY! NERD! This nice lady told me you might know something about the internet, or whatever?" The nerd in question adjusted his glasses and paused to think about her question. "Oh. You must mean the outage." With a heavy sigh, he continued "Yeah. Happened three days ago. I was stuck quarterbacking a network outage for nearly seven hours. We just sent everyone home eventually. Never even got a good reason why it came back on." <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"hey uhh that was pretty smooth, how'd you know he was the guy to talk to?" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"I dunno, he just looks like everyone my dad works with, so I figured he was a nerd too!" [[Leave the office.->Return to the plaza.]] { (if:$checkWifi is true)(link-goto: "Check out the wifi here.", (either:"No monster!", "Yes monster!")) } (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]=><= (color:#ECEBEB)+(background:#b30000)+(b4r-color:white)+(b4r:"solid")[Save Game]<savea| (click: ?savea)[(save-game: "FileA", "Passage1")] (color:#ECEBEB)+(background:#b30000)+(b4r-color:white)+(b4r:"solid")[Load Game]<loada| (click: ?loada)[(load-game: "FileA")] <br> While the girls had all spent a lot of time at various Snacktown locations growing up, the ones inside Detroitica's city limits tended to be a little larger and more well-stocked. Drink coolers for beverages both hard and soft lined the walls, while rows of snacks, foods, and various home goods stretched throughout the center. Closer to the cashier's station (where a half-awake young man in a beanie slouched against the counter) stood an ATM, a lottery machine, the Slushy dispenser, a small roller grill full of fried treats, and a well-stocked nacho bar. Near the in-wall drink coolers, towards the rear of the store, stood a prominent cardboard cutout of Ruby Robinson, shilling some new kind of energy drink. [[Buy a cheese dog.]] [[Check out the lottery machine.]] [[Get some Slushys.]] [[Check out the nachos.]] [[Ask the clerk about the monster.]] [[Leave the store.->Return to the plaza.]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> Reaching into her bunny-shaped coin purse to retrieve a few wadded-up dollar bills, Bunny orders two cheese-filled corn dogs for herself and Charlie, who took his plain while Bunny drizzled a little ketchup and mustard from the nearby dispensers on top of hers. Charlie's cheese dog quickly disappeared into the open part of Bunny's backpack with him. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">"Are...you just eating that in my backpack? I have stuff in there!" <img src="./images/Charlie.png">"It's cool, I have a napkin." [[Ask the clerk about the monster.]] [[Leave the store.->Return to the plaza.]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> The lotto machine in the corner was a large, orange-plastic ticket dispenser that allowed the clerk to dispense scratch-offs and weekly lottery drawings to customers - with the proper ID, of course. <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"hey uhh what's up with this lotto machine, there's none of the blinky lights, or weird little displays, or whatever" From behind the counter, the surly clerk replied "Thing's been on the fritz since yesterday. Don't touch that. I don't wanna get yelled at for some kids dressed like wrestlers messing with the lotto tickets." [[Ask the clerk about the monster.]] [[Leave the store.->Return to the plaza.]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">"That's right ladies, you can all call me MOM, because I'm dropping y'all off at SLUSHY TOWN!" Wyatt excitedly led the girls over to the dispenser station reading "FROZEN CARBONATED SYRUP-BASED DRINKS". <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">"I'm getting a Fizzy Blast!" <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">"Me too, but I always put a little Summer Sizzle flavor on top so I can get some of that fake fruit taste I love so much." <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"oh wow they have a Cobalt Collision, like the pop from Taco Time" <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">"I can't drink these! I'm gonna see if they have one of those ice creams with the little spoon!" [[Ask the clerk about the monster.]] [[Leave the store.->Return to the plaza.]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> Snacktown's nachos are beloved by hungry people the world over, mostly due to how they're always there, and are often edible. The machines inside each location look basically the same; a large plastic dispenser reading "SNACKTOWN NACHO BLASTER!" with two large buttons, one for a liquid processed cheese, and the other for a runny meat sauce that was somehow always scalding hot when dispensed. Mobo, enraptured with curiosity, walked over to the nacho machine and pressed the cheese button, watching the curious-but-delicious-smelling yellow flow for a full ten seconds. <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">"HEY GIRLS! Does someone wanna eat this?" Concerned that Mobo was about to try eating something she shouldn't, Wyatt dashed over to see what the fuss was, only to find Mobo standing in front of an ever-expanding pile of cheese product that was beginning to drip onto the floor. Having done that herself growing up, Wyatt quickly shooed Mobo away from the machine before either of them could get yelled at by the clerk. [[Ask the clerk about the monster.]] [[Leave the store.->Return to the plaza.]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> The girls approached the counter with their purchases, where they were met by a worker slightly older than them wearing a stained Snacktown workshirt and a well-worn beanie over his eyes, accompanied by the inexplicable smell of cigarettes and gasoline. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"Hey YOU! You seen a monster around here? Aside from the weirdos that come in here around 2AM?" Bunny started laughing so hard at her own joke, that she almost couldn't hear the clerk's response. "Yeah, I guess." he mumbled towards the girls, "like...something happened yesterday and our credit card machine and lotto machine both went down. Stupid lotto machine is still on the fritz, like the boss keeps calling me to see if it's fixed but I keep telling him the guy hasn't come yet and then he just keeps yelling..." <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">"OH my GOD if you KEEP TALKING I'm pretty sure I'M GONNA DIE OF BOREDOM WHILE I'M STANDING HERE! Did you see a monster OR NOT?!" As Bunny shouted her reply, she grabbed the counter with both hands and began to vibrate with anger. "Eh. I guess." was the clerk's only reply. [[Leave the store.->Return to the plaza.]] { (if:$checkWifi is true)(link-goto: "Check out the wifi here.", (either:"No monster!", "Yes monster!")) } (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> (if: $seenArcadeMonster is true)[Even above the usual noise and commotion in an arcade, the sudden appearance of the monster throws Noisemaze into chaos. The typical afternoon crowd abandons their games, pizzas, and the occasional purse and backpack in their rush to escape the building, as the lights, televisions, and monitors of the arcade cabinets flicker on and off, adding to the panic and confusion of the scene. (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]] \ (else: )[At the top of the stairs leading into Noisemaze stood a counter wrapping around to the side of the snack bar, behind which a long-haired gentleman in a stained Vocaloid shirt sat to take people's drink orders or make sure none of the machines were on the fritz. Arcade games and pinball tables of all shapes, sizes, and eras stretch around the perimeter and middle of the building, with room near the front for seating. Various hanging lamps and colorful, aging neon bulbs wrapped around the ceiling provide illumination above and beyond the rows of glowing monitors. (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]] [[Go back to the plaza.->Return to the plaza.]] [[Look around the back of the arcade.]] [[Look around the front of the arcade.]] [[Look around the snack bar.]] [[Look at the far side of the arcade.]] { (if:$checkWifi is true)+(if:$seenArcadeMonster is false)[[Check the wifi at the arcade.]] (else-if:$seenArcadeMonster is true)[[[Confront the monster!->Confront the monster!]]] }<br> (if: $seenArcadeMonster is true)[The front counter sits, hastily abandoned, with nothing but a crinkled-up magazine about paintball to indicate anyone was there once. <img src="./images/Naomi.png"> "oh good, that creepo is gone, or disintegrated." <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png"> "Yeah, good, I didn't wanna talk to that weirdo too badly anyway." (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]] \ (else: )[<img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">"I...GUESS we could ask the guy at the counter if he's seen anything, but, ughhhh, that dude is always SO CREEPY when we come here to play games." <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png"> "Let ME handle this!" Bunny stomps over to the counter and cuts in front of the mom trying to order pizza for her kids. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"HEY! PERVERT! Have you seen anything WEIRD around here lately? OTHER THAN YOURSELF?!" Confused and intimidated, the long-haired arcade worker could barely squeak out "no?" before Bunny continued. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"GOOD! Tell us if you do!" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">"OH! And if I EVER catch you being a CREEP to these SWEET ANGELS EVER AGAIN, I will HAMMER YOU SO HARD YOU'LL LAND BACK IN THE 80s, WHERE THAT HAIRCUT BELONGS!" The clerk, and the befuddled woman trying to order food for her family, could only stare as she left. (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]] [[Go back to the plaza.->Return to the plaza.]] [[Look around the back of the arcade.]] [[Look around the front of the arcade.]] [[Look around the snack bar.]] [[Look at the far side of the arcade.]] <br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Mobo! Work your magic!" In response, Mobo simply salutes and presses her finger to her temple. Sure enough, a series of electronic disturbances appear all around the girls - first with their phones behaving strangely, then the Wifi-enabled TVs all around them start to suddenly change channel and distort their image. Before too long, a blue-and-white flash occurs, and the monster appears before them in the center of the arcade! Standing around the height of an average person, it had strange insectoid features on a more humanoid body, with pincers, bulging eyes, and a sharp, beak-like mouth. Despite...not doing much of anything, the monster's unexpected appearance sends everyone inside the arcade into a panic - including Mobo, who yelped as though she weren't expecting to see anything. (set:$seenArcadeMonster to true) [[Ask the team for advice.]] [[Look around the arcade.]] [[Talk to the guy behind the counter.]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> (if: $seenArcadeMonster is true) [The back of the arcade houses more of the retro games and older cabinets, with the change machines to the left and a hallway in the back leading to the restrooms. The monster is sort of ambling about this area, near some of the machines, seemingly...sniffing the air for something, but not taking a lot of action otherwise.] \ (else: )[The back of the arcade tended to have more of the old-school retro machines, including a Space City cabinet with a rotating selection of imported games, a standup *Mouse House* machine, the full-sized three-screen shooter *Grantron*, and a well-worn cabinet based on the old sitcom *The Thompsons*. Two change machines stand to the left side of the area, and a small hallway in the back leads to the bathrooms. ] [[Go back to the plaza.->Return to the plaza.]] [[Look around the front of the arcade.]] [[Look around the snack bar.]] [[Look at the far side of the arcade.]] { (if:$checkWifi is true)+(if:$seenArcadeMonster is false)[[Check the wifi at the arcade.]] (else-if:$seenArcadeMonster is true)[[[Confront the monster!->Confront the monster!]]] }<br> (if: $seenArcadeMonster is true)[The front of the arcade houses a number of older machines like *Mr. Chomp Chomp*, *Ms. Chomp Chomp*, and *Drive Blasters*. A few tables and booths throughout the area hold the things that people didn't want to take with them when they got up to run away during the monster's sudden appearance, such as leftover pizzas and forgotten jackets. The monster doesn't seem too interested in this area, as his attention seems mostly drawn towards the far wall of the building. [[Go back to the plaza.->Return to the plaza.]] [[Look around the back of the arcade.]] [[Look around the snack bar.]] [[Look at the far side of the arcade.]] { (if:$seenArcadeMonster is true)[ [[Confront the monster!->Confront the monster!]]] } (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]] \ (else:)[The front of the arcade houses a number of older machines like *Mr. Chomp Chomp*, *Ms. Chomp Chomp*, and *Drive Blasters*. A few propped-open windows let in a pleasant breeze, as well as the sounds from outside as the plaza continues to fill with people. Seated at the nearby tables and booths, a small amount of customers enjoy their drinks and snacks while taking a break from the games. [[Go back to the plaza.->Return to the plaza.]] [[Look around the back of the arcade.]] [[Look around the snack bar.]] [[Look at the far side of the arcade.]] { (if:$checkWifi is true)[ [[Check the wifi at the arcade.]]] } (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ] ]<br> (if: $seenArcadeMonster is true)[Normally, this is where the pizzas are prepared and put out for pickup, either by the slice or by the entire pie. However, the sudden appearance of the monster has led to a number of discarded items on the counter, including several slices of pizza, unfinished drinks of many kinds, and what appears to be a small white-and-red card at the far side of the counter. "Hey, someone left a pizza slice behind..." "...yuck, I better not, some kid probably licked it or something." [[Check out the card.]] [[Look around the back of the arcade.]] [[Look around the front of the arcade.]] [[Look at the far side of the arcade.]] { (if:$seenArcadeMonster is true)[ [[Confront the monster!->Confront the monster!]]] } (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]] \ (else:)[The well-worn snack bar, covered in years of spilled soda, fryer grease, and pizza sauce, was a familiar sight to each of the girls. Half of any good trip to the arcade is spent ingesting unhealthy treats, all the better to work up the energy to get back to the games. [[Go back to the plaza.->Return to the plaza.]] [[Look around the back of the arcade.]] [[Look around the front of the arcade.]] [[Look at the far side of the arcade.]] { (if:$checkWifi is true)[ [[Check the wifi at the arcade.]]] } (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]] <br> The far wall at the arcade was a combination of pinball tables based upon various movies and TV shows, as well as some of the larger cabinets that didn't fit elsewhere, such as light gun games and games where you ride a large plastic motorcycle. The highlight of this area seems to be Rhythmax Starlight 1999, the latest entry in a series of hit dance games requiring players to hit colorful arrow pads on the floor in time with the music. A nearby placard explains how this game actually offers a way to store and share your high scores on the Rhythmax Network using what they call a Starcard, a small card that stores your player information, scores, and current leaderboard standing, and uploads it to the network directly through the cabinet. [[Go back to the plaza.->Return to the plaza.]] [[Look around the back of the arcade.]] [[Look around the front of the arcade.]] [[Look around the snack bar.]] { (if:$seenArcadeMonster is true)[[[Check out the dance machines.->Dance machines, yes monster.]]] (else:)[[[Check out the dance machines.->Dance machines, no monster.]]] }<br> Analar, the monster, rummages around the rest of the arcade as the girls looked on. <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"dang, but it would be nice to take a turn dancing on these things, especially while that creepy guy isn't here." <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"Wait! Didn't you say these machines were connected to the internet somehow? Maybe if you two start dancing on here, it'll get his attention!" <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png"> "Don't have to tell us twice!" The monitors on the games flicker to life, and driving, catchy electronic music begins blaring out of the speakers on each machine, accompanied by colorful lights. Naomi and Wyatt land on the sequentially-lit mat buttons in complete synchronization as large arrow-shaped icons fly by them on the screen, having spent a good amount of their free time on this machine. <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">"Hey, wow! Look!" Sure enough, the girls saw Analar shambling towards the machines, clearly attracted by *something* going on over there. As he got closer, his body seemed to glow with a yellow aura as the machines around him all begin slowly malfunctioning, particularly the internet-equipped dance cabinet. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Cool plan, Bunny! Now what?!" [[Go back.->Look around the arcade.]] { (if:$hasNetworkCard is true)[[Use the network card!]] } (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"dang, but it would be nice to take a turn dancing on these things, especially while that creepy guy isn't here. we've been busting butt all day, and I don't see any monster here, do you?" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"I...look, we're here on business, but I GUESS we can take a break to -" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"- aw man, I don't have my normal wallet! I forgot to bring my Starcard!" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"that's fine, you know I'd stomp your butt anyway." <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">*"OH THAT IS IT!* As the machines blink to life and the catchy, pounding electronic music filled the air, a strange sort of electricity filled the room. The TV screens around the arcade begin to distort their image, several of the arcade cabinets throughout the room begin to randomly power on and off, and, sure enough, the girl's phones start losing their connection and rebooting. Before too long, a blue-and-white flash occurs, and the monster appears before them in the center of the arcade! Standing around the height of an average person, it had strange insectoid features on a more humanoid body, with pincers, bulging eyes, and a sharp, beak-like mouth. Despite...not doing much of anything, the monster's unexpected appearance sends everyone inside the arcade into a panic - including Mobo, who yelped as though she weren't expecting to see anything. [[The arcade erupts into chaos!->Look around the arcade.]] (set:$seenArcadeMonster to true) (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> Bunny turns the card over a few times in her hands. One side is emblazoned with a red-and-white design of stars and some abstract CGI art of a woman dancing, accompanied by the word "Starcard", while the back had nothing but a magnetic strip and a barcode. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"Hey NERDS! Do any of you NERDS know what this is?" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"oh yeah that's a Starcard, you use them to connect to the network on Rhythmax and upload your high scores and stuff." <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">"Someone must've forgotten theirs when they left. Psh, their loss, we're probably way better at this game than they are." (set:$hasNetworkCard to true) [[Look around the back of the arcade.]] [[Look around the front of the arcade.]] [[Look at the far side of the arcade.]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">"Alright, girls, it's here! Let's...uh...do our best out there!" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"It's time everyone knows who Team 64 is!" (if:$foughtArcadeMonster is true)[[Maybe let's try something else...]] [[Have Wyatt fight the monster.]] [[Have Naomi fight the monster.]] [[Have Mobo fight the monster.]] [[Have Bunny fight the monster.]] (if:$hasPancakes is true)[[Offer the monster a pancake!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> A brief green flash of light surrounds Wyatt as she produces a lengthy, ornate broadsword from seemingly nowhere. <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">"Prepare to taste the HARD STEEL of BEAUTY and JUSTICE, foul beast!" <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">"IN THE NAME OF TEAM 64, I'LL PUNISH YOU!" Her battle cry completed, Wyatt charged towards Analar the monster with a mighty roar and her broadsword in hand. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png"> "What was *that* all about?" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"oh yeah she's trying to do, like, a CELESTIAL WARRIOR OF DESTINY kinda thing, she's big into swords-and-magic kinda stuff." Bunny could simply stand and watch as Analar sent Wyatt flying backwards into a nearby table with a small bolt of electricty. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png"> "Oh. Neat." (set:$foughtArcadeMonster to true) [[Maybe let's try something else...]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> Out of nowhere, an eerie purple energy surrounds Naomi. Crackling with an untold power, objects around her seemed to levitate slightly, followed by Naomi herself beginning to rise into the air, while the same purple glow begins to shine from beyond the edge of her glasses. She effortlessly gestures one hand at a nearby table which begins to float into the air at her command, sending the long-discarded drinks and belongings atop the table clattering to the ground. Before anything else can come of this sudden transformation, however, Wyatt hurls herself towards Naomi. <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">"Naomi, NO! Not after last time! The arcade told us if you used your powers in here one more time, we get banned! For *life!*" Upon hearing this, Naomi's glow disappeared as quickly as it had arrived, sending Naomi (and the collection of floating debris) back down to the floor. <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"oh whatever, I only used it to steal fries a few times anyway, dunno why they're so mad" (set:$foughtArcadeMonster to true) [[Maybe let's try something else...]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> Mobo steps forward and speaks with the halting tones of someone who's been rehearsing their speech in their head. <img src="./images/Mobo Determined.png">"Don't worry, girls! MOBO will show this vile villain what for!" Bringing her two hands together in front of her, she raises her voice as small, blue bolts of energy begin to sizzle throughout her hair, torso, and arms. <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">"WE'LL DEFEND THE EARTH! HOT-BLOODED BEAUTY AND TRUTH *MOBO BUSTER*!" As though on command, as she finished her declaration, a rubbery, wobbling stream of orange energy spiraled out of her two hands, with blue flashes and bolts arcing throughout. The stream missed its intended target, and instead found itself hurtling towards a corner of the arcade's back wall towards where the retro Space City cabinet sat. With a horrible roar, the arcade machine burst into flames and seemingly disintegrated upon collision with Mobo's stream of energy. The full extent of the damage was only visible after the smoke (and burning plastic smell) evaporated, revealing a large section of the wall *behind* the machine was now missing as well. <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">"NOT AGAIN!" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">"Don't worry, sweet little Mobo, you tried your best, and I'm sure they can buy another one!" (set:$foughtArcadeMonster to true) [[Maybe let's try something else...]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> What should Bunny do? [[Swing at him with your hammer!]] [[Try a superjump!]] [[Changed my mind, let's try something else!->Confront the monster!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">"Oh man, we're in big doo-doo this time!" <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">"We're not in any deeper doo-doo than usual, Mobo! We just gotta figure this one out!" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"uh, I dunno Wyatt, this is pretty much like every other time we got absolutely razzled by some alien monster, except I'm not stuck in an air vent yet" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">"Okay, HANG ON! , I'm not here to get blasted by lighting or whatever, so let's make a *completely different plan*." <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"We know whenever the monster shows up, there's a wifi outage, right? Is there ANYTHING we can do with this information?" The several seconds of unblinking silence between all four girls didn't instill anyone with a sense of confidence, but they all knew they had to do...*something*. [[Look around the back of the arcade.]] [[Look around the front of the arcade.]] [[Look around the snack bar.]] [[Look at the far side of the arcade.]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">*"Keep dancin', ya fools! I got an idea!"* While Naomi and Wyatt continue their feverish dancing, Bunny takes the Starcard in her hands and swipes it through the appropriate card-reader on the back of one of the machines. The monster Analar, perhaps too caught up in the moment, suddenly let out a surprised roar as he appeared to almost be pulled into Bunny's Starcard via some unseen force, leaving behind nothing but crackling energy. Slowly, the machines and TVs throughout the arcade return to normal while Naomi and Wyatt remove themselves from the dance machine and slump to the floor with exhaustion. <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png"> "Yay! Bunny's so smart! She did it!" Mobo dashed foward to grasp Bunny in one of her painfully powerful hugs. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">"Yeah, maybe I AM pretty smart!" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"I just figured, you know...the monster was eating wi-fi or something? So I thought maybe if we used this thing it could, like...just live in here and eat all the internet it wanted? I guess?" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">"Look, I didn't actually think about it that hard." <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">"Alright girls, it sounds like our Greesome Threesome has become a Groresome Foursome! We're glad to have you on the team, Bunny!" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png"> "Yeah, //whatever.//" Naomi, at this point just lying on the floor, was too tired to do anything but reach up and point at the card in Bunny's hand. "so what do we do with that thing" [[That's a darn good question...->Episode 4 preview]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> To this point, Bunny hadn't had a lot of practice with her powers, aside from a few perfunctory try-outs in a gym located inside the Institute. But she knew that she had a hammer, and she knew she wanted to stop this gross monster from ruining her favorite arcade. After briefly weighing her options, she grabs her hammer in her hands, lets out her best warrior roar (that was closer to something approaching a raspy squeak), and swings with all her might. What she didn't anticipate, however, was for the monster to gently step to one side, seemingly not even noticing Bunny's approach. The combination of the force of her swing, the weight of her hammer, and her sudden lack of a target sent her flying into nearly a brief, flawless somersault... ...until her hammer, completely missing the monster, came crashing down on a nearby pinball machine based on *Beach Squad!*, an old TV drama about lifeguards that her mom used to love. (set:$foughtArcadeMonster to true) [[Maybe let's try something else...]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> Trying to remember how she pulled it off during her encounter with the monster in the dog park, Bunny braces herself, enters something of a runner's stance, and launches herself at the monster. Screaming in her most intimidating voice, with her hammer clutched tightly in hand, she quickly found herself... ...sailing right over the monster's head, straight through one of the back windows, landing completely unharmed on the sidewalk out back. Praying nobody else saw her, she brushes some of the debris off and awkwardly jogs back around to the front door. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">**"nobody say anything, I hate you all SO MUCH"** (set:$foughtArcadeMonster to true) [[Maybe let's try something else...]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">"What NOW, fearless leader?" <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">"I don't know! What would Hyper Princess Lightphase do?!" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Uhh...well, we just have to get rid of this thing now, right?" <img src="./images/Mobo Determined.png"> "Oh! I have an idea! What if we steal all the exit signs to the building, so the monster can't leave?" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"that's a terrible idea, Mobo, because then the monster would just live here and we could never come back to the arcade" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">"If we all pretend nothing weird is happening, do you think they'll still let me order a pizza from the counter?" [[Look around the back of the arcade.]] [[Look around the front of the arcade.]] [[Look around the snack bar.]] [[Look at the far side of the arcade.]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]=><= <br> EPISODE 4: THE GIRLS MEET THEIR NEXT MONSTER [[Aw, not ANOTHER one!]] (set:$checkedContainer to false) (set:$checkedCrane to false) (set:$checkedOffice to false) (unless: (track: 'theme', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'theme', 'loop', true) (track: 'theme', 'play') ]<br> A couple of days after handing Analar over to the Johns for study (and to let him eat all the wifi he wanted), the girls found themselves descending upon the Port of Detroitica, alongside the west side of the Detroitica River, not far from the Institute's headquarters. Their descent was, in this case, quite literal, as it was Bunny's first experience getting flown around by Mobo. Lacking for any transportation options otherwise, Team 64 often found themselves relying on Mobo's built-in jet boosters to carry them around the city, with nothing other than a powerful hug from Mobo to keep them safely above the ground until their arrival. <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">"We're heeeeeeere!" <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Cry.png"> "Oh my gosh that was *terrifying!*" <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png"> "Yeah, you never really get used to Mobo flying us around, but it's cheaper than bus fare." <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Alright gals, let's get to business!" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Kaz said he was getting some reports of some kinda giant bird who tried to wreck up some shipping containers, and he thought we did such a good job with the wi-fi monster, that he sent us personally!" [[Look around the docks.->The Shimmering Midnight arrive at the docks.]] [[Inspect the destroyed shipping containers.->The Shimmering Midnight arrive at the docks.]] [[Try to find an employee to talk to.->The Shimmering Midnight arrive at the docks.]] (unless: (track: 'girls', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'girls', 'loop', true) (track: 'girls', 'play') ]<br> Before the girls could get much of anything accomplished, they were suddenly interrupted by a flurry of activity near the front of the docks. What appeared to be several news vans appeared at dockside, each of them with different teams of reporters, cameramen, and technicians spilling out of the back. From across the docks, the girls could hear one of the newscasters addressing the camera. "That's right, Tom, I'm Brandt Brondtner for WDIV Detroitica News, and I've been told that we're to expect the Shimmering Midnight here at the site of a presumed monster attack on the Detroitica River!" Seemingly on cue, four color-coordinated sports cars parked alongside the gaggle of news vans, and sure enough, the members of Shimmering Midnight emerged from each vehicle, already changed into their uniforms. Diana led the pack, seemingly about to launch into some practiced speech to the public, but the reporters chose to largely ignore her, instead asking Ruby about what they're doing here, and how they plan to find the kaiju. <img src="./images/Ruby Neutral.png">"Well, uhh...we're here for the same reason we always are - to make the safety of Detroitica our first priority, and to get a better idea about why these S-Class Species appear where they do, and where they came from." <img src="./images/Ruby Shocked.png">*"Geez, good save, Ruby, that guy came out of nowhere!"* [[Talk to the reporters.]] [[Talk to the Midnight about why they're here.]] [[Ignore them and get to work.->Start looking around the docks.]] (unless: (track: 'girls', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'girls', 'loop', true) (track: 'girls', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Hey, uhhh...Midnight? Everyone? Hello? We, uh, we had it handled down here? We appreciate you coming by, but..." "Huh! Yeah, it sure LOOKS like you have it handled! Look at all that destroyed stuff behind you! Seems like you did a great job handling that!" Diana sneered theatrically, turning back to make sure the cameras caught her. "Maybe the Institute just sent us down here because they know you four freaks got lucky last time, and they couldn't trust you to actually find another monster!" <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Angry.png">"Listen to me, you DIET NOBODY VALUE MEAL! Nobody talks to my sweet little Wyatt-opia like that, especially not a STINKY DILWEED like you!" <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Angry.png">"And I have no idea who *you two* are, but I'm sure *you're* both -" <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">"Ha ha ha, thank you Bunny, let's *all leave now*..." Ruby approached the girls, attempting to keep a safe distance from Bunny, who was in the midst of aimlessly thrashing about in anger as Wyatt and Mobo tried fruitlessly to hold her back. <img src="./images/Ruby Sassy.png"> "Girls, I'm sorry about the confusion, and I'm...always sorry about Diana." <img src="./images/Ruby Neutral.png">"I know we've kinda gotten off on the wrong foot lately, but since we're all here, maybe we could help each other look around and figure out what happened?" [[Start looking around the docks.]] (unless: (track: 'girls', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'girls', 'loop', true) (track: 'girls', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">"Hey, what the heck?! They're stealing all our press! HEY! REPORTER MAN! The story's over here!" Brandt, the reporter, looked over at the girls before addressing the camera again. "Tom, it seems as though we've been joined by these four young women here! Girls! Would you call yourself the Shimmering Midnight's biggest fans? Also, are you responsible for the damage here at the docks?" <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">"Uh...I mean, the Shimmering Midnight are nice! Especially Ruby!" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"And I don't...THINK we wrecked anything? Girls, did we do this?!" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"not yet" From across the parking lot, Diana began angrily waving to get their attention directed back towards the Midnight. <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">"What the frick are the Midnight doing here?" <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Sassy.png">"I dunno, does it mean we get to go home early?" [[Start looking around the docks.]] (unless: (track: 'girls', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'girls', 'loop', true) (track: 'girls', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Neutral.png"> "HEY! Hey Diana! Is it true you found out you were a magical girl, when you tried to use your powers to trick a bunch of people into thinking you weren't a total *suck-lord*?!" <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">"Ha ha! Suck-lord!" <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">"Bunny, stop teaching the robot rude words!" [[Start looking around the docks.]]] (unless: (track: 'girls', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'girls', 'loop', true) (track: 'girls', 'play') ]<br> The girls approach the shipping area closest to the water. Directly in front of them sat a heavily damaged shipping container with goods spilled out all around it, to their left stands a damaged crane, and slightly behind that sits a large glass-and-concrete office-looking building. { (if:$checkedCrane is false or $checkedOffice is false or $checkedContainer is false) [ [[Check out the shipping container.]]<br> [[Check out the crane.]]<br> [[Check out the office.]]<br> [[See what the Midnight are doing.]]<br>] (if:$checkedCrane is true and $checkedOffice is true and $checkedContainer is true)[[What's that up there?]] } (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">"Wow! If I knew how to whistle, I'd be doing it right now, to indicate surprise! <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"yeah, somebody bonked this up real good, like...they wanted to eat this thing, or whatever was in it." The side wall of the solid metal shipping container looked as though it had been torn open, releasing the contents onto the ground, like a jelly donut that had a bite taken out of the middle so someone could get to the jelly faster. Piles of home goods such as plastic baggies, toys, disposable plastic flatware, storage totes, and the like sit strewn around the hole in the side of the container, all with varying degrees of damage. As the girls talked, Naomi used her telekinetic powers to lift up the mangled remains of a plastic tote for inspection. <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"uhhh so maybe I'm just projecting, but a lot of this stuff looks like it totally got chewed on" (set:$checkedContainer to true) { (if:$checkedCrane is false or $checkedOffice is false or $checkedContainer is false) [[Check out the crane.]]<br> [[Check out the office.]]<br> [[See what the Midnight are doing.]]<br> (if:$checkedCrane is true and $checkedOffice is true and $checkedContainer is true)[[What's that up there?]] } (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> The girls approach the ruins of a large dockside crane. <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">"First of all, when nobody is looking we're *totally* gonna race to climb up this thing sometime, like Naomi and I used to do with that old leaning tree in my parents' backyard." <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Secondly, this looks...not good." She was right - the crane was sitting at an angle that cranes don't normally sit at, with bent metal protruding from the crane arm all the way down to the operator's chair, and a lot of exposed wiring and piping. <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Neutral.png">"Ewwwwww! It smells like...sweet eggs...but eggs that also went bad." The source of this smell seemed to be coming from the engine of the crane, where to be the fuel tank looked to have been cracked open right down the middle. (set:$checkedCrane to true) { (if:$checkedCrane is false or $checkedOffice is false or $checkedContainer is false) [ [[Check out the shipping container.]]<br> [[Check out the office.]]<br> [[See what the Midnight are doing.]]<br>] (if:$checkedCrane is true and $checkedOffice is true and $checkedContainer is true)[[What's that up there?]] } (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Hey! There's someone in there! Maybe they saw something!" <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Sassy.png"> "Oh, yeah, like all those goofs in Campus Martius that were *so* helpful..." The girls cross over to a large, glass-and-concrete building sitting farther back on the docks, where they're greeted by a dark-haired woman, slightly older than everyone's moms, buried deep in some paperwork. The woman didn't look up when she asked "c'n I help you girls?" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Hi! We were, uh, wondering if, maybe, you'd seen...a monster around here lately?" "Nah." the woman grunted. "Got here this morning, saw the big mess out there, called the overnight supervisor, said some big winged thing swooped down and attacked while they were unloading." "'Course, he also once claimed one of our clients was using shipping containers to smuggle Bigfoot back into Michigan, so I didn't believe a word he said." <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">"Oh! Uh...thank you?" "'Course. And tell your cat to get away from the coffee maker." As she said this, Bunny was in the middle of trying to grab Charlie off the counter where the coffee machine was. <img src="./images/Charlie.png">"COME ON! You *know* you can't talk to me until I've had my coffee!" (set:$checkedOffice to true) { (if:$checkedCrane is false or $checkedOffice is false or $checkedContainer is false) [ [[Check out the shipping container.]]<br> [[Check out the crane.]]<br> [[See what the Midnight are doing.]]<br>] (if:$checkedCrane is true and $checkedOffice is true and $checkedContainer is true)[[What's that up there?]] } (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> Glancing back at the front of the docks where the newsreporters set up, the girls see that Diana and (text-colour:"white")[[the, uh, other two]] are still talking to the news team and making a big display of it. (More accurately, Diana was doing the talking, while the other two chimed in occasionally to agree with her.) Ruby, however, had split off from the group and seemed to be inspecting some of the damage around the docks, with her KATS held out in front of her. { (if:$checkedCrane is false or $checkedOffice is false or $checkedContainer is false) [ [[Check out the shipping container.]]<br> [[Check out the crane.]]<br> [[Check out the office.]]<br>] (if:$checkedCrane is true and $checkedOffice is true and $checkedContainer is true)[[What's that up there?]] } (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"I got an idea!" Bunny rummaged through her yellow backpack, and produced a small plastic baggie full of mushed-up dough. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png"> "Everyone likes pancakes, right?" Taking the most intact pancake she could find, she gently tosses it underhand to the monster. Analar, unmoved by this charitable display of breakfast, lets the pancake gently splat against his face before letting it slowly slump down to the ground. <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">"Are those pancakes *still in your backpack?!*" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">"DUH! They're still fresh, I got 'em in a little baggie! BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU GOTTA SEAL IN, WYATT! *THE FRESHNESS!*" (if:$foughtArcadeMonster is true)[[Maybe let's try something else...]] [[Have Wyatt fight the monster.]] [[Have Naomi fight the monster.]] [[Have Mobo fight the monster.]] [[Have Bunny fight the monster.]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Sassy.png"> "Do...do we have any idea what the other two are called?" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"I THINK one of them is named Jennifer and one if them is named Hannah." <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"I only know that because Diana yelled at them once in front of me, I've never, like...talked to them or anything." <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"yeah, uhhhh I'm pretty sure Diana would just yell at them if they talked to anyone" [[Go back.->See what the Midnight are doing.]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Neutral.png">"Whatcha doin', robot lady?" Bunny walked back over to Mobo, who was currently in the process of holding her hands around her eyes as though they were binoculars. <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">"Looking! What do you think THAT is?" As Mobo pointed, Bunny got a better idea of what she meant. Up in the sky, swooping downwards towards the girls at an impressive velocity, was what looked to be a large, bird-like creature. The monster's wingspan stretched about the length of two cars, leading with a long, sharpened beak, outstretched towards the docks. As it approached, the girls could see the unusual nature of it's body - devoid of any muscles or skin, the creature seemed to be completely made out of a translucent, teal-blue material, almost like crystal or plastic, that seemed to fold and bend in a way that no solid material found in nature ever would. <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Cry.png">"Oh my gosh, they're one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen!" Bunny's thoughts were suddenly interrupted by Diana shoving her to the side, yelling "THANKS, freakshow, but we can take it from here!". The two others elected to keep their distance from Diana and look to Ruby for guidance, who could only sigh in exasperation. [[Stop the Midnight from attacking.]] [[Activate your KATS to transform.]] [[Let the Midnight handle it.]] (if:$hasPancakes is true)[[Offer the bird monster a pancake?]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Angry.png">"DON'T YOU DO IT, YOU BIG TURD - " Either not hearing Bunny, or willingly *choosing* to not hear Bunny, Diana shouted "DREAMING GLOW!" as a sphere of distorted luminescence briefly envelops her, and then directs down her arms, shrinking until it reaches the space between her hands. Bunny, who didn't have much of a plan before yelling at Diana, found herself clumsily tackling her around the midsection, sending them both to the ground in a heap. Unbeknownst to Bunny, Naomi had stepped forward, creating a small, purple energy barrier in mid-air which crashed into Diana's clear projectile. The resulting explosion created a fairly colorful display in the air, which startled both the large bird creature, and Mobo. <img src="./images/Ruby Angry.png">"DIANA! What are you DOING?! We weren't in formation or anything, you could've hurt someone!" Diana, however, was more focused on corralling Bunny, who was seemingly in the middle of trying to bite Diana on the arm. "GET OFF ME, YOU LITTLE FREAK! Why do YOU care what happens to this dumb monster, anyway?!" Diana shrieked. <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Angry.png">"HE'S NOT DUMB AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT HE WANTS, YOU TRASHCAN! YOU CAN'T JUST GO AROUND, BLASTING YOUR PROBLEMS!" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png"> "Girls, I don't wanna be a butt, but I think we should focus on the giant monster..." [[Activate your KATS to transform.]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"'Scuse us, everyone, but the situation is under control!" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"TEAM 64! Uh...SHINING...ANGEL...TRANSFORMATION?" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Steel Vanguard, WYATT!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“psychic soldier Naomi” <img src="./images/Mobo Determined.png"> “Mobo!” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png"> “*Ugh.*" [[Have Wyatt approach the monster.]] [[Have Bunny superjump to talk to the monster.]] [[Have Naomi set up a barrier.]] [[Have Mobo fly up to the monster.]] [[Check out the monster with your KATS.->Episode 4 KATS entry]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Sassy.png">"Psh, whatever! Hope you get eaten by a HUGE BIRD!" Either not hearing Bunny, or willingly *choosing* to not hear Bunny, Diana shouted "DREAMING GLOW!" as a sphere of distorted luminescence briefly envelops her, and then directs down her arms, shrinking until it reaches the space between her hands. The sphere rocketed itself into the sky across Diana's outstretched arms like a toy car speeding down a ramp. Upon finding it's target, the bird-creature gave a pained shout as the sphere temporarily enveloped it and seemed to electrocute the bird, stunning him to the point where he fell back into the river. Diana turned back to Bunny in smug satisfaction. "See? THAT'S how magical girls are supposed to handle monsters. Aren't you glad you let the grown-ups deal with it?" Her speech left her completely oblivious to the fact that Bunny was dashing towards her, blinded with rage...as well as the fact that the bird had dramatically re-emerged from the river like some kind of watery Phoenix. Turning in time to let out a comical 'gulp', Diana quickly found herself pressed between the two parts of the creature's beak, before being tossed through the air and landing unceremoniously on top of the office where Charlie was trying to help himself to some coffee. <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">"I think that means it's our turn, ladies!" [[Activate your KATS to transform.]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]"So do you have, like...powers, or something?", Bunny asked around a mouthful of her lunch. "I'm over here with my big weird hammer or whatever, but I don't even know what you three do." Wyatt looked up from her lunch, offering to explain hers first. "Okay, so, when I first transformed, I got like...cool armor, right? But I had no idea what my deal was at first, until Kaz here told me I had, uh...sub...something..." "Subspace control!" interjected Kaz. "Our dear Wyatt has access to her very own subspace pocket, allowing her to store and carry a vast amount of physical items." "Yeah! So far I kinda just use it to carry around swords and stuff, because I was taking fencing classes before I came to the Institute. Thinking about getting a boomerang sometime, too!" "Oh. Huh." came Bunny's reply. "What about you, Naomi?" "Uhhh yeah, so I dunno the difference between, like, psychokinesis and telekinesis or whatever, but I can do, uhh...brain stuff. Like...*spooky* brain stuff." "Mmm", Bunny nodded in reply. "And Mobo?" "I'm a ROBOT!" Mobo shouted with as much enthusiasm as before, giving a little thumbs-up and a wink. [[Of course you are.->Eating lunch with the ladies!]]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Alright, big buddy, you don't gotta go home, but you gotta quit chewing other people's stuff up..." The bird let out a shrill, indifferent squawk while Wyatt *poofed* a boomerang into her hand from out of nowhere. <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">"So maybe...*it's time for you to fly the coop*!" She pulled her arm back and released the boomerang from her hand, flying straight and true, just past the bird's head. In response, the bird swooped back to catch the boomerang in its beak, and after chewing on it for a brief moment, spat it back towards Wyatt with disgust. As the girls all ducked to avoid the *woosh* of the boomerang suddenly returning, the bird took off and flew away in the direction it arrived from, seemingly losing interest. [[Oh. Well, I guess that's fine, then!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png"> "Hang on, girls! Before we do anything silly like last time, maybe we could just try...talking to it?" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"HI MY NAME IS BUNNY AND I WAS WONDERING IF-", Her jump didn't quite last long enough to finish her sentence, so she wound up for another one. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"IF YOU COULD TELL US WHAT YOU WERE DOING HERE -" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"BEFORE YOU STARTED CHEWING ON STUFF AGAIN?" At the end of her question, the bird seemed to gently catch Bunny in its lengthy beak, but instead of trying to eat her or anything, it just...gently held her there. Bunny then reached up to pat the side of its head, cooing gently in its ear. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">"That's right, who's a big ol' baby bird?" After a moment of this, the bird dropped Bunny back off on the pier and took off into the sky, flying back the direction it came from. <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">"Wow! You were like their mom, or something!" [[Oh. Well, I guess that's fine, then!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">"Naomi! Try setting up one of your barriers around us, in case they get any big ideas!" Without a word in response, Naomi raised her hands up just over her head, projecting the same eerie purple glow from before. As the energy concentrated into a bright purple flash, the girls found themselves looking at a strange, nearly-solid wall of swirling purple energy...that went for about six feet in any direction. Unfazed, the bird monster swooped in low to peck at the remains of the shipping container, before flying off in the direction it arrived from, seemingly unsatisfied with the leftovers. <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">"What was THAT?!" <img src="./images/Naomi.png"> "listen, it's really hard to do this, okay? I don't know how to make them any bigger than that yet" [[Oh. Well, I guess that's fine, then!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> As the bird departed, the Shimmering Midnight, sans Ruby, got back into their cars, with a disappointed camera crew not far behind them. <img src="./images/Ruby Neutral.png"> "Well, girls, we appreciate your efforts, and we'll be sure to keep an eye out for any more, uh...plastic bird sightings over the next few days. Maybe just go home and get some rest now, huh?" <img src="./images/Ruby Shocked.png">"I've got some in-store signings to do, and I'm starting to fall behind on my usual celeb gossip podcasts." <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"Oh my gosh, I love those too!" The next few days were fairly uneventful, until the four girls found themselves crammed into the back of a car driven by Bunny's boyfriend's father. Team 64 had caught wind that Isaac and Bunny were getting a ride to Detroticon, a comic book and collectables convention at one of those huge buildings in the suburbs that only seems to exist for conventions and boat shows. Wyatt, Naomi, and Mobo had long wanted to attend one of these conventions, and after Bunny refused to let them come along, they instead asked Isaac himself, who happily agreed, much to Bunny's annoyance. The whole trip, it would turn out, was the idea of Isaac's dad, who wanted to go get the autographs of a few actors from that violent zombie TV show he really liked. The drive there was mostly taken up by chatter about what comics and toys everyone hoped to find there, as well as attempts to explain to Mobo what a comic convention even was. [[Let's look around the convention center!]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> The inside of the convention center seemed to stretch forever in every direction, filled with cosplayers, dealer tables, and confused convention center employees just trying to keep the place clean. With their own goals in mind, the girls split off into separate groups. Bunny and Isaac headed off to find him a model kit from his new favorite series, *Bio Armored Ground Unit Bowman*. Wyatt went off to watch a stage-fighting demonstration performed by a group of cosplaying stunt people. Naomi and Mobo wandered around the dealer's room. Finally, Charlie went to shop for some new animation cels to hang up in the Team 64 clubroom back at the Institute. [[Suddenly, a familiar face!]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> As Isaac sifted through stacks and stacks of robotic toys and model kits that Bunny couldn't really tell apart, she spotted a fairly familiar face in the crowd. Although trying to hide her recognizable hair and eyes underneath a hat, the bob cut and colorful jacket were a dead giveaway for Bunny. <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Neutral.png">"Ruby! Hey! What are you doing here, Rubinicus? I didn't know you liked...*nerd stuff*!" Through the crowd, attempting to disguise herself with a pair of expensive sunglasses that she removed to talk to Bunny, emerged Ruby, (text-colour:"white")[[clutching a large plastic shopping bag closer to her chest.]] <img src="./images/Ruby Shocked.png">"*Ahh!* Yes, Bunny, I was just...uh...just trying to enjoy my time off without someone pestering me for an autograph or whatever." <img src="./images/Ruby Angry.png"> "So keep your voice down, would you?!" <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Sassy.png"> "Your secret is safe with me, lady." [[Immediately tell the girls that Ruby is here.]] [[See if Isaac found the thing he was looking for.]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Neutral.png">"So what's in the bag, wolf-lady? GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME" <img src="./images/Ruby Shocked.png">"NO WAIT, DON'T - " Completely unprepared, Ruby let her guard down just long enough for Bunny to clumsily *yoink* the bag directly out of her hand. Inside the bag were several fairly pricey-looking figures of Kynon, a half-human half-alien character from the game *Crosszone Uprising*, one of those big-budget action RPGs that let you romance half the cast. Kynon, of course, was one of the most popular romantic options. <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Sassy.png">"Well well WELL!" <img src="./images/Ruby Angry.png">"..." For the first time in Ruby Robinson's life, she found herself turning bright red with embarrassment before silently taking the bag back from Bunny. [[Immediately tell the girls that Ruby is here.]] [[See if Isaac found the thing he was looking for.]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> Each of the girls' KATS dinged simultaneously, indicating the arrival of *several* new messages to the group chat they all shared. <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Neutral.png">*LADIES* <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Neutral.png">*LOOK WHO IT IS* The next message was a picture of Ruby, looking down into her bag to make sure everything was still in there. <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Neutral.png">*I PROMISED HER I WOULDN'T TELL ANYONE SHE WAS HERE* <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Neutral.png">*SO I HAD TO CONTACT EVERYONE RIGHT AWAY TO TELL YOU THAT RUBY ROBINSON IS HERE AMONG THE NERD HORDES* The messages were met with a brief silence, before a series of *Now typing...* notifications all seemed to fight with one another to get their message out first. [[A commotion at the front!->Trandorah is here, text thread version]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> Winking to Ruby one last time to imply how safe her secret was, Bunny turned back to see how Isaac's hunt was going. <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Neutral.png">"Whatcha got there, bear?" Isaac giddily lifted a colorful cardboard rectangle. "BUNNY! Look! It's the Bowman G-Drive Armor! I've been saving up for one of these for MONTHS!" He thrust the box in her face excitedly while trying to explain what this robot was, and while Bunny could appreciate the blocky, heavily-armed mech on the box art, the rest of it was lost on her. As Isaac paid for his purchase, the long, lanky frame of Mobo suddenly appeared, standing a head or two above most of the crowd. <img src="./images/Mobo Determined.png">"Searching! Searching!" <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">"HI BUNNY!" <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">"THERE'S A THING GOING ON OUTSIDE, THAT I THINK YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT!" <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">"OH, HI RUBY!" Ruby could only look up and smile awkwardly, as people around her began to realize who she was. [[What happened, Mobo?->Trandorah appears outside the convention center.]] (set:$moboInsideConvention to true) (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> The girls met up by the front doors, and fought through the chaos to see what was going on outside. Sure enough, Trandorah had descended upon the convention center. As the girls approached, Trandorah seemed to be snapping angrily at a scared group of con-goers, who promptly dropped their purchases and fled. This seemed to cause Trandorah to immediately lose interest in his pursuit, and instead inspired him to crane his slender, hose-like neck down to scoop up the dropped bags of toys and comics, and swallow them in one gulp before letting out a mighty *squawk*. [[Transform and attack!->Transform and attack Trandorah.]] [[Hang on, what's Trandorah doing?]] {(if: $hasPancakes is true)[[Offer Trandorah a pancake?->Trandorah pancake convention center]]} (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">"Alright, girls, on three! TEAM 64...SHINING...METAMORPHOSIS!" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Steel Vanguard, WYATT!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“psychic soldier Naomi” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Mobo!” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">"Wyatt, I love you, but I gotta be real with you, lady - this didn't work last time, and it isn't gonna work this time." <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">"Oh, *come on!* We gotta do SOMETHING! Hyper Princess Lightphase wouldn't just stand there and let some giant bird ruin a convention!" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"she was also enormously powerful, and had a dude in a top hat who would come help out sometimes" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">"We WILL do something, Wyatt-tron, we just need a better plan than "run towards the baby bird and get chewed on"!" [[Hang on, what's Trandorah doing?]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"check it out, they totally just ate that dork's bag of vintage Death Roach action figures, think that's important at all?" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">"They're just a sweet little baby angel, right?" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"We just need to figure out what they're here for! Kinda like that bug we met, that kept eating the internet!" The girls took a second to think about it and decided Trandorah was here because... [[...they want to destroy expensive collectibles!]] [[...eat some plastic?]] [[...get some autographs from the special guests!]] [[...they have a problem with people that go to conventions?]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ] <br> <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">"Oh! Maybe they wanted to come here to ruin people's fancy toys?" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"we did totally just see them do that" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"*Sorta*, but...why were they eating random crap out of that shipping container? None of it was, like, cool toys or something, it was all just a bunch of stuff made out of..." <img src="./images/Naomi.png">... <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">... <img src="./images/Charlie.png"> ... [["...plastic!"->...eat some plastic?]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png"> "That's IT! Think about it!" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"They just ate that bag of toys, and they were eating a bunch of plastic totes and baggies and stuff down at the shipping yard, right?" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"sick, so now all we gotta do is go back in there and find a bunch of toys nobody cares about, and maybe if we feed them the crappy toys, they'll...go away, or whatever?" <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">"Girls, we're on the case! Ruby, stay here and keep an eye on the monster! Try not to let Trandorah bite anyone, or do anything that sucks!" <img src="./images/Ruby Sassy.png"> "Sure. Great. Happy to help." [[Team 64 is on the case!->Re-entering the convention center.]] (set:$metJunkToyDealer to false) (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Naomi.png"> "that's just silly, how would we fit them in there?" <img src="./images/Naomi.png"> "we'd have to get all the actors and comic artists and stuff to come out here and sign stuff for them, and we just don't have that kind of time" Maybe... [[...they want to destroy expensive collectibles!]] [[...eat some plastic?]] [[...they have a problem with people that go to conventions?]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">"No way! Trandorah is a beautiful free spirit, and if they ever picked on anyone, it's because it was some dill-hole who TOTALLY deserved it!" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"besides, we first met them at a dock, right? there weren't any cosplayers or anything there" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"if they have some kind of beef with people that go to conventions, they could've just flown around the city until (text-color:white)[[they found someone who looks like they write text adventures in their spare time.]]" Maybe... [[...they want to destroy expensive collectibles!]] [[...eat some plastic?]] [[...get some autographs from the special guests!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> *Thank you for playing my game!* Maybe... [[...they want to destroy expensive collectibles!]] [[...eat some plastic?]] [[...get some autographs from the special guests!]] [[...they have a problem with people that go to conventions?]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">"Alright, everyone! REMAIN CALM! TEAM 64 HAS THE SITUATION *UNDER CONTROL*!" The con-goers who heard her mostly gave the girls a brief glance, and then went on with their days. Bunny split from the team to briefly rejoin Isaac, who was standing by the door waiting to see when they would come back in. "Hey, what's going on out there?" he asked Bunny. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">"Don't worry your hunky little head about it!" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">"Me and the girls just have to go find some junky old toys to feed this beautiful bird baby outside so maybe they'll leave all the NERDS here alone." "Oh wow! Neat! Maybe I can help look around!" he replied cheerfully, hoping to maybe get his first chance at encountering a monster first-hand. "Sometimes, booths at these conventions have boxes of, like, real busted-up old stuff they just want to get rid of," he continued with a hand at his chin. [[Look around the middle of the dealer's area.]] [[Look along the far side wall of the dealer's area.]] [[Look around the back wall of the dealer's area.]] (set:$needJunkBox to true) (set:$needBowmanModel to false) (set:$metJunkToyDealer to false) (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> The girls wander deeper into the middle of the dealer's room, where the majority of the booths and stalls are. Colorfully-dressed con-goers excitedly dig through piles of toys, comics, and whatever else, all trying to find the one perfect thing they know is going to be there somewhere. [[Go back.->Keep looking around the dealer's area.]] [[Head to the booth with colorful art on the back wall.]] [[Head to the booth with all the glass display cases.]] [[Head to the booth with the boxes and piles of stuff.]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> The girls approach the farthest wall of the dealer's area. Cosplayers and con-goers stroll from booth to booth, every one full of drawings, paintings, custom toys, and handmade creations alike, all under a colorful cloth banner reading "ARTIST'S ALLEY". [[Go back to the beginning of the dealer's room.->Keep looking around the dealer's area.]] [[Look at the nearest booth full of plushies.]] [[Look at a nearby booth covered in art.]] [[Look at a nearby booth lined with cardboard boxes and plastic cases.]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> The girls approach the back of the dealer's area. Slightly busier than the rest of the room, the back wall is jam-packed with booths and tables full of toys, comics, and more, with many guests spilling over from lines leading to the celebrity-autograph area. [[Go back to the beginning of the dealer's room.->Keep looking around the dealer's area.]] [[Look at a nearby booth filled with toys and collectibles.]] [[Look at a booth filled with small, colorful figures.]] [[Look at a booth full of glossy photographs and merchandise.]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> The girls approach a smaller booth run by an older couple, filled with cardboard boxes. A large pegboard forms a back wall at the edge of the booth, with two small, thin half-walls to either side with colorful art hung from every available surface. Upon closer inspection, the art seems to be animation cels taken from several old cartoons, some of which the girls remember growing up with, some of which were a little before their time. [[Go back to the middle of the dealer's room.->Look around the middle of the dealer's area.]] [[Talk to the cel dealers.]] [[Look at the animation cels around the booth.]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> The girls approached a booth lined with tall, well-lit, glass display cases. <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"uhhhh wow, it's Scanline Retro Games" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"a Vtuber I follow did a big walkthrough of their store once, it was crazy." [[Go back.->Look around the middle of the dealer's area.]] [[Look in the glass display cases full of video games.]] [[Talk to the clerk at the game booth.]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> (if:$metJunkToyDealer is false)[The girls approach a booth packed to the brim with boxes, totes, and hanging pegs full of action figures and toys of varying age, type, and quantity. [[Go back to the middle of the dealer's room.->Look around the middle of the dealer's area.]] [[Ask the guy running the booth if he has any junk toys.->Solution booth dealer visit 1]] [[Look around the booth.->Solution booth dealer look passage]] ] (else-if:$metJunkToyDealer is true)["Listen, girls, I told you already, if you aren't gonna trade me that Bowman model, then no deal!" the dealer gruffly reminds them. [[Go back.->Look around the middle of the dealer's area.]] ] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> Bunny approaches the toy dealer, seated behind a small table with an old, beat-up credit card machine on there. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">"Hey YOU! We got a hungry monster outside who needs to eat some crappy toys! You got any?" The dealer turns behind him and gestures with his thumb towards a box labeled "FOR PARTS, MAKE OFFER". "Yeah, maybe" he begins in his crusty voice. "But I know what I got in there, and I don't need you girls lyin' about no monster just so you can flip this stuff online. What's it worth to you?" [[Make him an offer.->Offer money to the toy dealer]] [[Try to steal them.->Steal from the toy dealer]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"Ugh, look at all this junk..." <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">"These toys are from comics nobody has read in 30 years!" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"how come these figures of video game characters all look wrong" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">"WYATT! Stop looking at those paintings of women in chain mail fighting dragons and come help us!" Among all the chaos and toys, Bunny spots a cardboard box labeled "FOR PARTS - MAKE OFFER" on a wire shelf up above where the dealer was sitting. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">"Hey! Hey BUCKO! How much for the junk box?" The dealer looks back up the box, and explains in a crusty voice "I know what I got in there, and I don't want you girls flipping all this great stuff online after you leave. What's it worth to you?" [[Make him an offer.->Offer money to the toy dealer]] [[Try to steal them.->Steal from the toy dealer]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> (set:$metJunkToyDealer to true) Wyatt steps forward hesitantly, with her small green change purse in hand. <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">"We have, between the five of us...about seven dollars. And I promised my mom I'd use it to buy us food here." The toy dealer snorts. "Seven bucks? Kid, for seven bucks you should be grateful I even let you in here! I could be up for a trade, though," he says, stroking his chin while he looks at the girls' various purchases from the day before pointing over at Isaac's bag. "What about that Bowman model? My distributor has been having a super hard time getting one of those from overseas. Call it an even trade," he continued. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">"NO! No SWEATY SECOND-HAND TOY MAN is gonna make MY HANDSOME LITTLE BEAR have to give up that NICE NEW ROBOT that he SAVED UP SO LONG FOR!" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Wait! What if we found you another one of that specific robot or whatever? Would you still trade?" The toy dealer admitted it wasn't likely, but thought it was a fair offer and wished the girls luck. [[Go back.->Keep looking around the dealer's area.]] (set:$needJunkBox to false) (set:$needBowmanModel to true) (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"uhhh, Wyatt, would you, uh, stand in front for me for just a second?" <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">"NO! Naomi, you can't just steal this guy's toy box! That's not how heroes do things!" <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">"Besides, what if we get kicked out of here, like when you kept stealing fries at the arcade?" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">"Whatever. This guy probably sucks, I say we just steal his stupid crap" [[Make him an offer instead.->Offer money to the toy dealer]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> The girls return to the center of the dealer's room to continue their search. [[Look around the middle of the dealer's area.]] [[Look along the far side wall of the dealer's area.]] [[Look around the back wall of the dealer's area.]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Angry.png"> "Chonks! Quick! Hand me those pancakes!" <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">"How...long have those been in your backpack?" <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Neutral.png">"Long enough to still be fresh 'n tasty!" Bunny, jumping and flailing around with a pancake grasped in both hands over her head, waves frantically to get Trandorah's attention. "THAT'S RIGHT, BABY! COME ON DOWN FOR SOME OVEN-FRESH PANCAKES!" While Trandorah did, indeed, come on down, he seemed a little more interested in the plastic baggie Charlie was holding, encouraging the tabby to curl up into Bunny's backpack for safety, zipping the flaps closed behind him. <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Sassy.png"> "Your loss. I'll just go ahead and eat the rest of this for you. [[Transform and attack!->Transform and attack Trandorah.]] [[Hang on, what's Trandorah doing?]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> The text thread buzzed excitedly with memes and gossip about what Ruby Robinson, Detroitica's darling, could be doing at a comic convention, before Mobo had to interject. <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">*"Hi girls! I'm sorry to interrupt, but I think something is happening outside that we should know about! See you soon! Bye!"* This cheerful, yet cryptic message was accompanied by a grainy, phone-style photograph of a crowd of people seemingly running around in panic right in front of the building...as well as a blurry, yet vaguely familiar-looking bright blue shape. This was all the reason Bunny needed to show Ruby the picture, and that was all the reason the two of them needed to fight through the crowds and head to the front of the building. [[Is that who we think it is?!->Trandorah appears outside the convention center.]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"HEY! Hey Big Ol' Bird Baby! You want a PANCAKE?!" Pancake in hand, Bunny's flailing and screaming seemed to attract the bird monster's attention. The bird approached closely enough to sniff the pancake, briefly consider it, and then direct its attention elsewhere on the docks, accompanied by a quiet, petulant *squawk* from under its breath. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png"> "Fine, your loss! These bad boys are still fresh 'n tasty!" (set:$trandorahPancake to true) [[Go back.->What's that up there?]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> "Hey gramps and grammy! (if:$needJunkBox is true)[You two got any, like...junky toys or old plastic we can have?".] (if:$needBowmanModel is true)[You know where we can get a big expensive robot model? It's from a show called Bow-tie, or something?!"] The older man in the t-shirt and suspenders looked to his partner and stroked his beard thoughtfully. "No, I'm afraid not, but you're welcome to take a look at anything we got right here in the booth!" Naomi mindlessly poked at a box full of animation cels and picked up one random one, turning it over in her hand. <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"uhhh maybe there's something on these he'd wanna eat? some chemical in the ink or something?" <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">"Are you KIDDING me?! There is NO WAY we're gonna sacrifice this priceless *The Adventures of Speedy the Rabbit* art just so some huge crazy bird can eat it!" [[Go back to the middle of the dealer's room.->Look around the middle of the dealer's area.]] [[Look at the animation cels around the booth.]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> Wyatt and Charlie's eyes light up with recognition. <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">"Oh my gosh! I LOVED a bunch of these shows as a kid!" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"*The Real Ghostsmashers! Robo-Blitz 2000! The Adventures of Speedy the Rabbit*, AND the Saturday morning *Speedy the Rabbit* that was way darker for some reason!" Charlie had made his way to a stack of boxes, where he idly pawed through some of the cels. <img src="./images/Charlie.png">"Yeesh, I dunno about these prices though." <img src="./images/Charlie.png">"I know stuff is more expensive at conventions, but who would pay this much for background art from *Princess Avalon and the Crystal Gliders?*" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">*"OH MY GOSH WHAT, I LOVE PRINCESS AVALON!"* [[Go back to the middle of the dealer's room.->Look around the middle of the dealer's area.]] [[Talk to the cel dealers.]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png"> "Hey! Old video games are made out of plastic, right? What if we tried to feed the monster some crappy games nobody likes?" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"uhhh geez, for the amount of money these things cost these days, we'd probably be better off trying to buy gasoline and refining it into plastic ourselves." "Oh my goodness, she's right" said Isaac while he glanced across a brightly-lit shelf. "Why is this copy of Zapman *$80*?! Didn't you get that game for free when you bought the system for a little while?" [[Go back to the middle of the dealer's area.->Look around the middle of the dealer's area.]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> Mobo approached the clerk, a smug-looking younger man in a black polo bearing the Scanline Retro logo. (if:$needJunkBox is true)[<img src="./images/Mobo Determined.png">"Hello! We are in desperate need of excess plastic materials! Do you have anything you could donate to our cause?" "Well...I can't DONATE it, but we do always bring a box of untested old games that might have dead save batteries, or bit rot, or something, that we could sell you," replied the clerk. <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png"> "Thank you! How much would that be?"](if:$needBowmanModel is true)["Hello! We are in desperate need of a toy from a robot series called Bowman! Do you have anything you could donate to our cause?" The man with glasses thought for a moment. "Well...we don't really sell toys here." "But I do happen to have a copy of the pretty terrible Bowman video game from the 80s. It was for the Aicom Disk System, a console that never actually came out in America. " <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png"> "Thank you! How much would that be?"] Mobo, who up till now had believed 80 to be the largest number possible, was downright shocked by the price the man with glasses quoted her. [[Go back to the middle of the dealer's area.->Look around the middle of the dealer's area.]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> The girls approach a small table full of soft, colorful, handmade creatures of varying shapes and sizes. [[Go back to the far side wall.->Look along the far side wall of the dealer's area.]] [[Talk to the person running the plushie booth.]] [[Look at some of the plushies.]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> The girls approach a small table surrounded by two large wire racks. On each of these racks hung a variety of colorful drawings of what seem to be the most popular romantic interests from games, movies, and TV series over the past few years. [[Go back to the far side wall.->Look along the far side wall of the dealer's area.]] [[Talk to the artist running their table.]] [[Look at the art hanging up at the booth.]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> The girls approach a booth filled with long, thin plastic tables, lined with cardboard boxes. As they approach, they could start to tell that the boxes were full of what appeared to be Blu-rays, DVDs, and old video tapes, all in carious shapes and sizes of packaging. [[Go back.->Look along the far side wall of the dealer's area.]] [[Talk to the owner of the video booth.]] [[Look at some of the videos.]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> The girls approach a booth full of plastic and metal racks, each of them stacked to the brim with what seem to be expensive-looking import toys. (if:$needJunkBox is true)[<img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"These all look a little...too fancy. Let's check somewhere else." [[Go back to the back wall.->Look around the back wall of the dealer's area.]]] (if:$needBowmanModel is true)[<img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Wait! This place might have it! Look how many model kits they're selling! [[Go back to the back wall.->Look around the back wall of the dealer's area.]] [[Talk to the import toy dealer.]] [[Look around the import toy booth.]]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> The girls approach a smaller booth with two long tables. On each of these tables are spread out colorful, inexpensive-looking figurines with varying degrees of wear and tear on them. [[Go back to the back wall.->Look around the back wall of the dealer's area.]] [[Talk to the owner of the booth full of small toys.]] [[Look at the tables full of toys.]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> The girls approach a booth lined with cheap wooden peg walls, on which hang a collection of what seems to be glossy autographed photos and posters. [[Go back to the back wall.->Look around the back wall of the dealer's area.]] [[Talk to the photo booth manager.]] [[Look at the photos on the walls.]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"Alright bucko, (if:$needJunkBox is true)[me and these fine ladies back here need a box of crappy toys to go distract a this beautiful angel bird outside. You got anything?"] (else-if:$needBowmanModel is true)[me and these fine ladies back here need some super-expensive robot model from a show called Boatman or something, to go distract this beautiful angel bird outside."] <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"You got anything?" Without looking up from his cash box, the main with the cashbox and the tucked-in dragon T-shirt quickly mumbled "No, we only sell movies here." "And before you ask, I own the full legal and exclusive rights to distribute any of these titles in this country. <img src="./images/Charlie.png">"Sure you do. That's why you're selling them out of unlabeled plastic totes." [[Go back to the dealer's area.->Look along the far side wall of the dealer's area.]] [[Look at some of the videos.]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">"Hold on a second, how do they have a tape of Cosmic Diver Boy R: Moon Brothers? This hasn't even been translated to English yet!" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"looks like this place sells *fansubs*" <img src="./images/Naomi.png"> "it's pretty cool, even if most of the subtitles end up spelled wrong" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Wait, so if I bought this, I could be one of the first people to see the new Cosmic Diver Boy season?!" <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">"This is *totally* worth the $40 I got for mowing people's lawns." [[Go back to the dealer's area.->Look along the far side wall of the dealer's area.]] [[Talk to the owner of the video booth.]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> Wyatt approached the short, curly-haired artist in the loose-fitting sweater behind the table. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Excuse me! I'm sorry, but we're looking for (if:$needJunkBox is true)[any, like...scrap plastic or old toys you might have?"](if:$needBowmanModel is true)[this model kit from a series called Bowman?"] The artist looks up from a commission they were working on. "No, I'm super sorry, the only thing I have here are a few of these plushes I've made. But I know a lot of tables around here have toys and stuff!! I'm sorry I can't help!!" Their apologetic tone made Wyatt feel terrible for even asking, which led to *her* apologizing, which led to the artist apologizing *again*, and so on. This went on for a few minutes. [[Go back to the far side wall.->Look along the far side wall of the dealer's area.]] [[Look at some of the plushies.]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">"Holy butts, these are ADORABLE!" The table before her was spread out with a collection of soft, crocheted little monsters. Some of them resembled cartoony versions of real animals, some of them seemed to be unique designs more closely resembling round little aliens, soft winged monsters, or some kind of mechanical squid. "Oh, thank you!" said the artist from behind the table. "I call them Spacepals. They're all little friends from a place very far away who are here to make your life a little better, but the longer you get to know them, the more you wonder about the horrible secrets and awesome power they may contain." <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">"I feel the same way about Mobo." [[Go back to the far side wall.->Look along the far side wall of the dealer's area.]] [[Talk to the person running the plushie booth.]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Hi! Excuse me! We were wondering if you happened to have (if:$needJunkBox is true)[a box of cruddy old plastic or anything you're not using? Like some old art supplies or anything?"] (if:$needBowmanModel is true)[a model kit or anything of the robot from this Bowman series?"] The artist considered it briefly. (if:$needJunkBox is true)["No, I'm sorry, all my art is digital these days. I think the only plastic thing at this booth are these little transparent character buttons I made up" they explained, gesturing to some colorful chibi-shaped buttons on the table in front of them. <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">"No way! Art is, like...REALLY hard! We can't just use these cute buttons as bait!"] (if:$needBowmanModel is true)["No, sorry, I don't think I have anything from that series. I know it's MEGA popular right now though, so if you want I could draw a commission or something for you?" Isaac, excited by this news, quickly approached the table while pulling up Bowman reference photos on his phone.] [[Go back to the far side wall.->Look along the far side wall of the dealer's area.]] [[Look at the art hanging up at the booth.]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> The girls took a look at the art surrounding the booth, and Naomi gave a soft whistle. <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"dang, they have art of everyone's kings and queens right here" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"look, there's the space dude Ruby likes, here's that weird handsome dragon-guy everyone keeps making memes about online, here's a bunch of those superheroes from the space movie..." <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"...oh, look Wyatt, isn't this the girl from Legend of the Sword Princess that you like?" <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">"I'm sorry, do you mean LADY SERAPHINA? The Sword Princess herself?!" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"eww, you're gonna buy this drawing, and take it home, and like...kiss it, and stuff." <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">"Eww! Kissing is GROSS!" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"kissing is SUPER gross" [[Go back to the far side wall.->Look along the far side wall of the dealer's area.]] [[Talk to the artist running their table.]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> Isaac’s family had somehow gotten stuck with the last name “Camembert”, like the cheese. As a young girl, Bunny couldn’t quite figure out how to pronounce that correctly, but she knew what a “bear” was, and everyone figured it was close enough. Despite Isaac’s lack of resemblance to anything particularly bear-like, the nickname stuck in Bunny’s mind. [[Go back.->Our first WHAT??]] (unless: (track: 'girls', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'girls', 'loop', true) (track: 'girls', 'play') ]<br> Wyatt and Bunny approach an older man in big round eyeglasses. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Hey, it looks like you mostly do, like, memoribilia, but I was wondering if you had (if:$needJunkBox is true)[any, like...scrap plastic or old toys you can get rid of?"](if:$needBowmanModel is true)[this model kit from a series called Bowman?"] "Only toys I got are these up here", he says, pointing behind him to a shelf full of dolls representing Cosmo Crush Club, a magical girl team from the 90s. They all had weird fabric outfits and didn't look a thing like the women they were supposed to represent, but each one of them was autographed and accompanied by a four-figure price tag. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">"Yeesh, maybe if one of our parents want to sell a car so we can afford some ugly dolls that some weirdo has been keeping in his basement," [[Go back to the back wall.->Look around the back wall of the dealer's area.]] [[Look at the photos on the walls.]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"Hey! Do these people look familiar at all?" <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">"Oh yeah, check this out! A bunch of these are Expanders from around town!" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"There's the Elemental Ninjas, and that's the Guardian Witches!" <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">"Wow, this one is the Celestial Robot Force, that mecha pilot team that stopped that huge monster that lived under the lake from eating the Ambassador Bridge when I was like 10 years old!" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"wow, weird, it looks like this one is actually a picture of the Shimmering Midnight when they had that other girl who wasn't Ruby" The photo was autographed in such a way that Diana's signature was still the biggest one, and the girls couldn't actually read the names of the other three on the team. [[Go back to the back wall.->Look around the back wall of the dealer's area.]] [[Talk to the photo booth manager.]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> Eyeing the table of small, nearly child-sized figures and playsets, Wyatt approaches the elderly owner. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Hi! We're kind of in a pickle, and we were wondering if you had (if:$needJunkBox is true)[any, like...scrap plastic or old toys you can get rid of?" "Scrap?" asked the older woman running the booth. "Honey, scrap is in the eye of the beholder, but I've been collecting toys from Burger Zone since before you were born, and this stuff is priceless to me!" It then dawned on Wyatt that she's been looking around a booth full of Burger Zone kid's meal toys, which explained the vaguely...greasy smell a lot of them still had.](if:$needBowmanModel is true)[this model kit from a series called Bowman?" "Honey, if it didn't get a Burger Zone Kids' Zone toy, I ain't got it," came her terse reply.] [[Go back to the back wall.->Look around the back wall of the dealer's area.]] [[Look at the tables full of toys.]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">"Wait a second! Are these from the Burger Zone Kids' Zone? The B-Z-K-Z?!" Bunny's excited question was quickly answered as she frantically pawed through the tables full of toys. Among them included figures you could push down to make them spring up into the air, a few beach toys, some bicycle safety implements in the shape of cartoon animal heads, and those little games where you push a button to make water move around in an attempt to land a basketball in a small plastic hoop. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"Oh my gosh I used to have SO MANY OF THESE! There's the Barnyard Action Friends! Here's Chewy the Hamster! This is the cool guy with the goggles that they would put on the side of the bag your fries came in!" At some point in Bunny's excitement, Mobo had come over to join her. <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">"Aww man, this stuff looks great! How come I'm not allowed to eat the food at Burger Zone?" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"it's, uh, because you have a sensitive little robot tummy, and the only stuff you can eat without horking it back up has to have a ton of chocolate in it" [[Go back to the back wall.->Look around the back wall of the dealer's area.]] [[Talk to the owner of the booth full of small toys.]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">"Hey! Hey YOU! You got one of those...what's it called, bear?" "Bowman model kits!" replied Isaac, as he found himself distracted by a display of transforming robots. "Matter of fact, I do. It's up there," the dealer explained as he pointed up towards the highest shelf. <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"oof, but that is a LOT of money, we only have five bucks between us." <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">"Five? I thought we had seven!" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"we did, but I bought a can of Cherry Star Cola from a vending machine, so I guess it's more like...$5.25" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">"Gimme a sip!" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"can't, finished it already" [[Try haggling with the toy dealer.]] [[Look around the import toy booth a little more closely.]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> "BUNNY!" exclaimed Isaac as he clumsily burst into the booth, nearly knocking Naomi and Bunny over in his excitement. "That's it! They have the Bowman for sale!" Sure enough, facing upwards on one of the highest shelves, was the same Bowman G-Drive Armor model kit that Isaac had found earlier, with a price tag that was just as depressing as before. After confirming that the girls now only had five dollars to their name after Naomi spent two of it on a cherry cola from a vending machine, Wyatt was at a loss for how they would come up with the money to afford it. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Could we, like...haggle with the guy, or try trading for something maybe?" [[Try haggling with the toy dealer.]] [[Look around the import toy booth a little more closely.]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png"> "Excuse me, uhhh...so it's kind of a long story, but there's this monster bird rampaging around outside, and we need that Bowman model to make him go away, so is there any way you could, uh...come down in price a little bit?" The dealer asked Wyatt what she wanted to pay, and laughed in response. "Good lord, are you kidding me? I couldn't even just sell you the BOX for that much, do you know how hot this series is right now? How about you kids go run along and get some real money, and we'll talk." <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">""Kid"?! *KID?!* I'LL SMASH UP YOUR WHOLE STUPID BOOTH, YOU JAW-BEARDED -" <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">"Bunny! How many of these rampages are you going to try to go on?!" [[Go back to the back wall.->Look around the back wall of the dealer's area.]] [[Look around the import toy booth a little more closely.]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"uhhhh hey Wyatt, do any of these look kinda...off, to you?" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Yeah, wait, why is this one's hair color off? Why is her name spelled wrong on this box? And why are they all making big startled faces?" It took a second to dawn on them both before they looked at each other and said, nearly simultaneously... <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png"> <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"THESE ARE BOOTLEGS!" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"Bootlegs?" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"bootlegs are, uhhh when someone makes a cheaper and crappier version of a popular toy" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"sometimes they make bootlegs just so more people can afford a super-expensive toy, but some jerks try to pass them off as the real thing, so they can scam people into spending their money on a fake figure" [[Confront the import toy dealer.]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">"Hey buddy, we know what's going on here." "Oh yeah, what's that?" came the grizzled reply. <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">"That half of these toys are FAKES that you're selling for the price of a REAL one!" "I have NO idea what you're talking about," the toy dealer grunted. <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">"Sure you don't! I'm sure this box just says 'Battle Ham Justice Warriors' because that's some hit new game that's about to get big here in the States, right? With its hit main character, Go-ham?" "Psh. Maybe. What are you gonna do about it?" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">"What YOU'RE gonna do is give us that stupid, expensive robot model kit to stay quiet! Or we're gonna tell people that you've been ripping them off, AND that you were being mean to a bunch of beautiful young women!" The dealer quickly found himself handing the model kit over, just to get Bunny to stop yelling so loudly around the other customers. <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">"Wow, thanks Bunny! Your yelling helped us!" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">"You haven't seen anything yet, watch this." <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">"WOW, IT'S CRAZY WHAT THIS GUY IS CHARGING FOR OBVIOUS BOOTLEG TOYS! THIS TURD'S WHOLE BOOTH IS A RIPOFF!" The toy dealer quickly found himself receiving a lot of unwanted attention. [[Go back to the junk toy booth!]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png"> "Hey! HEY MISTER! We got the...thing...you...wanted!" "Huh. Wouldn't have expected it from you four, but you know what, I'm not one to go back on a trade arrangement." he said before handing the box of junk toys over to the girls. Nobody noticed him replacing the price tag on the Bowman with a new one that increased the price by about 50%. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png"> "Yes! FINALLY! Now let's get out there and give that bird a stern talking-to!" [[Head back outside to confront Trandorah.]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> As the girls emerged from the crowded convention center, they spotted Ruby in mid-flip. At first, it looked as though she was simply in the middle of a complicated gymnastics routine. <img src="./images/Ruby Angry.png">"STOP...TRYING...TO EAT...MY NEW STATUES!" Upon closer inspection, she was simply trying very hard to stop a large translucent bird from eating her bag of expensive (and handsome) alien figures. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png"> "Uhhh...sorry about that, Roobs, but we got a plan to get this beautiful baby somewhere safe! Right, Wyatt?" Wyatt, caught briefly off-guard, *poofed* the box of junk toys back into her hand from her subspace container. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Yeah, sure...uh...we got a plan, yeah!" [[Have Bunny jump up towards Trandorah.]] [[Have Wyatt throw a toy towards Trandorah.]] [[Have Mobo fly up to feed a toy to Trandorah.]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> Bunny grasped the first junk toy in her hand (some kind of one-armed shirtless soldier-type) and flung herself high into the air. Trandorah took the shirtless action figure into his beak with a surprising gentleness, and as Bunny landed, he nodded his head enthusiastically. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"Alright, little angel, you want another one?" The process repeated several times, until Bunny was just too pooped to keep jumping. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Cry.png"> "UGH, I'm so thirsty. You got any of that cherry cola left, Naomi?" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"sorry, I chugged it while we were yelling at people in the dealer's room" [[There's gotta be an easier way to do this!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"Wyatt, you're pretty strong, right? See if you can get one of those up there." <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">"I mean, yeah, I work out a little..." <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">"HAH!" In mid-air, Trandorah gulped the figure down happily, and squawked loudly in appreciation. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">"Come on! He's still hungry! Throw him another one!" <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">"What, so I'm just supposed to stand here throwing action figures at this bird until they go away?" [[There's gotta be an easier way to do this!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">"Helping!" Thrusters engaged, Mobo excitedly took off into the air, gently tossing a half-destroyed plastic race car model kit into Trandorah's mouth. In response, Trandorah gently (but knowingly) nudged Mobo's body with the tip of his lengthy beak. <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">"Now what do I do?!" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"HE'S STILL HUNGRY! GIVE HIM ANOTHER ONE!" Mobo turned back and gingerly tossed some kind of soft plastic monster into Trandorah's beak, the way a zookeeper would toss food to a wolf. While they were glad Trandorah seemed appreciative, the girls quickly realized they weren't gonna get anywhere at this rate. [[There's gotta be an easier way to do this!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Looks like our big buddy up there has an appetite! Now what?" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"Well, so he's clearly gonna want to eat more than just this, right? And he totally came here because he wanted to eat a bunch of plastic and junk!" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"Maybe we need to find somewhere that's got way more stuff for him to eat!" The girls put their collective heads together and decided they needed to take him to... [[...the inside of the convention center!]] [[...Isaac's house!]] [[...the plastic recycling place on the far side of town!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"oh come on, we went over this earlier, he's way too big to fit in there" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"besides, if he goes in there to eat everything, what if they have to stop having conventions here?" What about... [[...Isaac's house!]] [[...the plastic recycling place on the far side of town!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png"> "Hey, yeah! He's got a huge toy collection, right?" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png"> "Maybe Trandorah could just live with him for a while until we find somewhere better!" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">"NO! Nobody is making MY BEAR feed his toys to anyone!" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Cry.png">"Even if it is a sweet baby angel like our little bird up there! I'M TALKING ABOUT YOU, BEAUTIFUL!" Isaac, in his concern, had reflexively clutched his Bowman model closer to his chest and whimpered sadly. [[...the inside of the convention center!]] [[...the plastic recycling place on the far side of town!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> Dangling in Mobo's arms like a toddler being posed for a family photo, Bunny braced against the rushing wind as they rose into the air. <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">"There he is, Bunny! Now what?" [[Lure them with a toy.]] [[Lead them away from the convention center.]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"That's right, you big beautiful baby, come right this way! We got all the crunchy plastic treats you could ever want!" As Bunny shouted this, she waved a broken action figure frantically in his hand. It seemed to catch the large bird's eye, as he playfully flew along behind the girls, occasionally snapping at the outstretched hand of Bunny Jones. <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png"> "Hang on, Bunny!" As Mobo shouted her instructions, she increased the output of her personal thrusters, hurtling them in the direction of the recycling facility. [[What else am I gonna do, Mobo?!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> As instructed, Mobo sets off in the direction of the recycling plant, her arms wrapped in a vice-grip around Bunny, who was in the middle of trying to wave frantically enough to get Trandorah's attention. Shortly after, however, Mobo took a glance back at the scene behind them, zooming in with the telephoto lenses of her eyes. <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">"Uh oh! It doesn't look like he followed us, and I think he's just trying to eat Ruby's figures again! Returning!" Shouting her directions, she performed a clumsy, breakneck u-turn to head back towards the convention center. [[Lure them with a toy.]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">"Okay, Bunny! My built-in wayfinder tells me it's gonna be faster if I go right over the river!" Mobo gripped Bunny even tighter, to Bunny's dismay, before banking hard to the left. With her free arm, Bunny tosses another action figure behind her into the waiting maw of Trandorah. <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">"Hold on real tight! I think there's a bridge around here!" [[Fly over the bridge.]] [[Fly under the bridge.]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> With a clumsiness that suggests she's perhaps never gone this high or this fast before, Mobo arcs sharply upwards over a short vehicular traffic bridge. Excited to continue playing along, Trandorah swooped underneath the bridge, the strength of his wings disrupting the flow of water below him, sending a few adventurous jet-skiers splashing harmlessly into the water around them. [[We're almost there!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> Deciding it would be faster if she cut directly under the bridge, Mobo dipped down low above the water, carefully maintaining her speed so as not to lose Trandorah. Unfortunately, the rush of her boot-thrusters disturbed the water beneath them, sending a substantial wave up over Bunny Jones. Mobo was so focused on flying that she almost didn't notice the sudden weight difference from Bunny's absence... ...until she heard a raspy shriek, and looked down to see a wide-eyed Bunny plummeting into the river below. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Cry.png">"MOBO YOU DINGUS-" This was all Bunny could shout before the roar of the river drowned out her cries. [[Have Bunny activate her hammer.]] [[Have Bunny hold onto the box of toys.]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Mobo Determined.png">"Hold onto...something, Bunny! I can see it!" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">"Ugh, and I can *smell* it!" <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png"> "There's a big pile of plastic bottles over there! I'm gonna try to land on it!" <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png"> "We're here! I've decided to call it Mount Trashmore!" <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png"> "-ahhhhh!" As the heap wasn't exactly built to withstand an impact, and Mobo had never quite gotten the hang of landings, the girls found themselves spilling into a mountain of soda bottles, stained food containers, and the plastic bits from inside toy boxes. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png"> "Okay, grab some pop bottles and start swinging! We need to get Trandorah to land over here!" <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">"Hi, large bird friend! Come eat all our recyclables! Everyone already got their ten cents for it!" Soon enough, Trandorah was swooping down to greet their new playmates with curiosity. After Bunny convinced Trandorah it was (probably) fine for them to hang out here and eat, they found himself happily gulping down copious amounts of used plastic. Mobo and Bunny sat there happily watching, until a car horn sounded from behind them. Ruby had given the girls a ride to the recycling plant in her expensive Japanese racing coupe, and she and Wyatt emerged from the two doors to greet them. <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png"> "Hey girls, let's get outta here! This party looks a little...*trashy*." <img src="./images/Naomi.png"><img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png"> "ughhhhh" <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">"Yaaaaay!" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Cry.png">"Alright, little friend, you just stay here and eat all you want, and we'll come back to see you as soon as we can, okay?" In response, Trandorah honked happily. <img src="./images/Ruby Sassy.png"> "Oh, man, you two smell...*great*. My car is gonna *reek*." [[Glad that's over with!->Episode 5 Preview]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> In a moment of clarity, Bunny reached onto her back and swung her cartoonishly large hammer up over her head, towards Mobo. Mobo descended just far enough to grab it, but unable to control her momentum any farther, was forced to leave Bunny dangling from her free arm at the bottom of the hammer. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">"God, you know...a few days ago, I was just like any other beautiful girl, on my way to buy cheese..." <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Cry.png">"...and now look at me." [[We're almost there!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> In a panic, Bunny did the only thing she could - grab onto the box of toys they spent all afternoon looking for. Sadly, this sent her plunging right into the small river weaving throughout the suburb they were flying over. By the time Mobo got back to pick her up, the box had become a soggy, cardboard pulp, full of stinky toys that they still needed to feed to a giant bird. <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">"OH MY GOSH I AM SO SORRY BUNNY!!" In response, Bunny coughed up some river water and tried to gently pat Mobo on the back in understanding. [[Let's try that again...->What else am I gonna do, Mobo?!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]=><= <br> EPISODE 5: THE GIRLS MEET A LOT MORE MONSTERS [[Oh, COME ON!]] (unless: (track: 'theme', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'theme', 'loop', true) (track: 'theme', 'play') ]<br> Several days after the convention, Bunny was at home, indulging in two of her favorite pastimes. The first was playing her favorite game on her Dreamgraph Pocket handheld game system, *Apple Village Story*, where you’re a cute animal person in charge of a small village. The second was singing along to songs on the radio while trying to insert her name (either “Bunny Jones”, or just “Bunny” or “Jones” separately) wherever it made the most sense rhythmically. Just then, she heard a scratching at the door. <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Neutral.png">"Charlie...? What are you doing here?" <img src="./images/Charlie.png">"Well, Wyatt's parents told me they couldn't afford to feed me anymore, Naomi's mom said that Naomi gets too "weird and irritable" when she lives with another cat - which is weird because she's technically human - and everything Mobo eats is toxic to me, so I gotta live with you now." <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Neutral.png">"Don't...you live at the Institute?" <img src="./images/Charlie.png">"Sorta. Anyway, I heard you're a great cook. Oh, and you're supposed to get a message from Kaz or someone about how you're gonna...go...look for more monsters or something. A small buzzing from her KATS confirmed Charlie's vague information. Grumbling as she answered, she was greeted by the cheerful voice of Wyatt. <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">“Hey hey, girlie! Great news! I just talked to Kaz - he said because we’ve been doing such a great job handling all the kaiju sightings he’s sent us to check out lately, he’s gonna bump us up to Response Priority One!" <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">"We’re gonna get to check out all the real big, cool monsters that pop up in town! Isn’t that great?!” <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Angry.png">"..." Bunny's scream of frustration could be heard by her next door neighbors. On her Dreamgraph Pocket, the little cartoon bunny bopped back and forth with a shovel in her hand. [[FINE, WHATEVER, LET’S GET THIS OVER WITH]] (unless: (track: 'institute', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'institute', 'loop', true) (track: 'institute', 'play') ]<br> Not long after that fateful phone call, the girls found themselves inside Willow Tree Market, a large grocery store located in Detroitica’s college district that manages to offer vegan fare, expensive organic food, and the sort of junk food college students love, all at once. Specifically, the girls found themselves using the self-service hot bar for cover, while a large, cybernetic creature resembling a bipedal armadillo stomped grumpily around the checkout counters, angrily hurling objects across the store. The sounds of flying cash registers and packages of flavored seltzer nearly drowned out the loud, ever present New Age music playing over the in-store PA system. <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"gee, wonder what they're so grumpy about" <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">"If they keep throwing packages of expensive hummus at us, I'll GIVE them something to be grumpy about!" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"Oh come on, they're just an angry little baby! We just need to figure out how to handle it!" [[Check the monster with your KATS.->Atarax KATS entry.]] [[Go look around the store?]] [[Try to attack them!]] [[Try to go talk to them!]] (if:$ataraxSoundProblem is true)[[I think I figured out their problem!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju2', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju2', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju2', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Great question! We should…” [[Go look around the store?]] [[Try to attack them!]] [[Try to go talk to them!]] (if:$ataraxSoundProblem is true)[[I think I figured out their problem!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju2', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju2', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju2', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Okay, before anyone gets demolished by a flying organic energy drink, let’s try to look around the store for an idea! We’re all smart young ladies, right?” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"..." <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png"> "..." <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">"Hiyo! Why are we all looking at each other in silence?" <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">"*it's okay, Big Dog, you can get out of this just like Princess Lightphase would...*" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"Did...you just call yourself Big Dog?" [[Try to find a clerk to talk to!]] [[Look at the stuff Atarax has wrecked up already!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju2', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju2', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju2', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“Okay! I know it’s never worked before, but maybe we should just run up on him? We’re all pretty strong, right?” <img src="./images/Mobo Determined.png"> “That’s RIGHT! Let’s FIGHT for JUSTICE and SAVE THIS FANCY GROCERY STORE!” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“HEALTH AND BEAUTY MOBO BUSTER!” As she cried her new attack name, she let loose a rubbery orange strand of light from her crossed hands. As the light crossed the distance between them, Atarax sensed the change in their environment, and curled up to let their gleaming metallic shell take the impact of the beam. The beam then ricocheted off their back and into the ceiling, bringing down several lighting fixtures, as well as a large banner advertising a special on hand-rolled sushi. [[Check the monster with your KATS.->Atarax KATS entry.]] [[Go look around the store?]] [[Try to go talk to them!]] (if:$ataraxSoundProblem is true)[[I think I figured out their problem!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju2', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju2', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju2', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“Hang on! Before anyone does anything silly, let me go talk to them! Maybe they're just hungry, like my beautiful little Trandorah!” Cautiously, Bunny (with Charlie peering out of her backpack) crossed the floor to approach Atarax, walking as though she were trying to befriend a wolf in her backyard. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png"> “That’s right, you big shiny sweetheart, Bunny’s here! Now what’s got you down?” Caught off-guard by her sudden kindness, Atarax set down the cash register drawer and let out an oddly sympathetic sound, while waving their hands around their head, almost like they had…a headache, somehow? Unfortunately, Bunny’s attempt at talking to the gleaming metallic creature was interrupted by a nervous-looking store clerk who kicked over an entire shelf of flavored rice cakes in an attempt to hide from the kaiju. The sound caused Atarax to begin yelling and knocking things over again. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Cry.png">"AHH! Oh geez oh no! Girls, HELP!" <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">"Get back down here, Bunny! You almost got crushed by that freezer full of vegan birthday cake!" (set:$ataraxSoundProblem to true) [[Check the monster with your KATS.->Atarax KATS entry.]] [[Go look around the store?]] [[Try to attack them!]] (if:$ataraxSoundProblem is true)[[I think I figured out their problem!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju2', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju2', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju2', 'play') ]<br> Bunny’s ears twitched a little while she talked herself through a thought. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Okay, so my little brother also tends to throw stuff around when he gets angry, so maybe he’s just upset about something? Maybe the monster..." [[...wants to turn the lights off!->Atarax lights suggestion]] [[...hates the sound of the PA system!->Atarax PA suggestion]] [[...is hungry?->Atarax food suggestion]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju2', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju2', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju2', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“I mean, monsters might have sensitive eyes too, you know?” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"yeah, I mean, I'm not wearing these things just for fun, I get what they're going through" The girls work their way through the wreckage of the store towards a door marked EMPLOYEES ONLY, full of office equipment and electronic setups. Popping open a fuse box, Mobo extended a small cable from the center of her hand, and a moment later the lights throughout the store all went off, accompanied by a deep ka-chunk sound. Looking at each other hopefully, it seemed briefly as though peace was finally found, until a loud voice came over the PA, incoherently advising customers that the blackout was intentional. The sound of Atarax grumbling loudly and throwing things across the store was all the answer they needed. <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">"Mobo almost got hit by a case of locally-made beer, so I think we can assume this isn't the problem!" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"Uhhh...okay...what about..." [[...turning off the PA?->Atarax PA suggestion]] [[...finding them something to eat?->Atarax food suggestion]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju2', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju2', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju2', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“The poor baby seems pretty sensitive to sound! What if we cut the, uh, whatever the speakers are called?” The girls work their way through the wreckage of the store towards a door marked EMPLOYEES ONLY, full of office equipment and electronic setups. Locating a large metal console covered in knobs and EQ sliders, with a small microphone nearby, Mobo extended a small cable from the center of her hand, and a moment later the in-store New Age music came to an abrupt halt. Cautiously re-emerging from the office, the girls looked across the store to see Atarax rubbing his temples with his large metallic paws, with an almost remorseful look on his face as he started to pick up some of the things he was throwing around. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Hey there, Mondo Metal, how are you feeling?”, The monster *grumbled* in reply. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">“It’s okay! You just didn’t like all the noise, did you?” *grumble* <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">“And I bet you were just hungry, right?” *grumble grumble* <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“Girls! Will someone get them something to eat?” Naomi obliged by using her powers to float a few slices of pizza out from behind the bakery counter for Atarax and the rest of the girls. While Atarax sat enjoying their mushroom-and-spinach slices, Bunny turned to talk to the kaiju. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"So, like...what *do* you like?” Atarax took a moment to think, before grabbing a nearby mop and using it to gently roll a tomato towards a nearby broken jar of vegan mayonnaise, ‘sinking’ it into the rounded glass bottom of the jar. He then finished this display by clapping politely. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"I've got it!" [[What does the monster want to do, Bunny?]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju2', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju2', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju2', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“I bet they're just hungry! Everyone gets hangry sometimes, right?” <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png"> “Woof, *too true*. Elementary school was hard on me until they moved me into the earlier lunch period." Bunny scraped some mac and cheese into a to-go box from the hot bar where the girls were all hunkered down, and gently approached Atarax. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">“Hey little buddy! You want some macaroni? Of course you do, it’s delicious!” Offering the monster the open take-out container, her plan almost worked…until a prerecorded message over the PA system announcing that the store was currently having a special on organic peanut butter sent the metallic kaiju back into a rage, resulting in the mac and cheese splattering all over Bunny. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">"UGH. GROSS. Okay, maybe..." [[...they want the lights off!->Atarax lights suggestion]] [[...they hate the sound of the PA system!->Atarax PA suggestion]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju2', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju2', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju2', 'play') ]<br> Emerging from their shelter, the girls quickly descend on a colorfully-haired, college-aged clerk taking cover around the cooler where they keep the vegetarian lunch meat. <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png"> “Asking! Excuse me!” <img src="./images/Mobo Determined.png">“Hello, new friend! We were wondering if you could tell us anything about this monster?” The clerk, confused by the loud and friendly question, stammered for a moment. “I…I don’t know! They just...came in through the back, and it looked like they was just gonna help themselves to the hot bar, which was fine because monsters do that all the time, but then an announcement played over the PA and they just kinda flipped out like this!” <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">“Frick yeah, thanks so much, Nosering! That’s more than we had to go on before!” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png"> “Alright, so if the monster got that upset about an in-store announcement, that means they...” [[...want to turn the lights off!->Atarax lights suggestion]] [[...hate the sound of the PA system!->Atarax PA suggestion]] [[...want something to eat?->Atarax food suggestion]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju2', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju2', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju2', 'play') ]<br> Mobo peered up over the top of their improvised buffet-line cover, and held her hands around her eyes in her usual ‘binocular’ fashion. <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Searching!” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Hmm! It looks like they're surrounded by some dropped food…and it seems like they keep trying to grab stuff to throw upwards at the ceiling, up towards maybe the lights or the PA system?" <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">"They keep throwing cans of fancy diet soda, or those expensive potted plants they keep up at the front window!” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Okay, so my little brother also tends to throw stuff around when he gets cranky, so maybe the monster's just upset about something too? Maybe they…” [[...want to turn the lights off!->Atarax lights suggestion]] [[...hate the sound of the PA system!->Atarax PA suggestion]] [[...just want something to eat?->Atarax food suggestion]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju2', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju2', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju2', 'play') ]<br> A day or two later, Mobo was descending upon a small miniature golf course out in the suburbs, the girls all tightly clung to her as they hurtled through the sky. Greeted upon landing by a friendly dad-aged gentleman (with visible bird features) who ran the course, the girls were quickly caught up on the situation: evidently, all Atarax wanted to do was to eat and play mini golf! After the girls contacted Kaz, he called around to a few places he knew, and found a mini golf course far away from any major roads (to keep the sound down), where Atarax could sleep and eat in a small, soundproofed room during peak hours. Best of all, after it closed for the day, they got the whole place to themselves, as long as they promised to help clean up any balls or clubs that got left behind. It was a pretty nice ending to (one of) the most chaotic trips to the grocery store that the girls had ever taken. [[The next day…->The girls meet some cosplayers]] (unless: (track: 'girls', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'girls', 'loop', true) (track: 'girls', 'play') ]<br> A day or two later, after a particularly silly kaiju encounter that left the girls covered in slime and scorch marks (but appreciative of their local movie theaters - long story), the girls of Team 64 emerged back into the sunlight. They quickly found themselves suddenly approached by a small group of children, one of which seemed to be dressed in a homemade Naomi costume. “Hi! Are you Team 64? My name is Natalie and this is my best friend Andi and you’re like our FAVORITE magical girls ever!” the one without the costume began, before thrusting (text-colour:"white")[[a small drawing on plain white paper]] into Bunny’s hands. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Cry.png"> “You two are ADORABLE! This drawing is AMAZING! Naomi, look! She's cosplaying *you*!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"uhhhhh dang wow yeah you both look - *oh my gosh what am I supposed to say to something like this*” <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">“I think what my best friend Mumbles the Cat here is trying to say, is that your costume looks fantastic, and you two are just little sweethearts. Now WHO WANTS AUTOGRAPHS AND PICTURES?!” As she shouted her suggestion, she summoned a handful of colorful permanent markers from her subspace container that she, evidently, kept in there for this exact purpose. [[Always nice to meet fans!]] (unless: (track: 'girls', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'girls', 'loop', true) (track: 'girls', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/fanart_resized.png"> [[Always nice to meet fans!]] (unless: (track: 'girls', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'girls', 'loop', true) (track: 'girls', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“So you haven’t seen your sister since then?” The girls had been summoned by Brianna Schmoopley, a bear-eared young lady who helped out at the Institute alongside her older sister, Bailey. The two of them were the daughters of Ernest Schmoopley, who ran and operated a restaurant & brewery down by the Detroitica River called, appropriately enough, “Schmoopley’s”. Evidently, Bailey had heard some strange noises coming from the kitchen a night or two ago (when she was in there helping herself to some appetizers), and went off to investigate it the previous afternoon. Brianna hadn’t heard from her since then, and she was both concerned for her sister’s welfare, and worried that the two of them were going to get in trouble for sneaking off, so she summoned her friends at Team 64 to see what they could do to help. [[Look around the restaurant’s kitchen.]] [[Look around the dining area.]] (unless: (track: 'walking2', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking2', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking2', 'play') ]<br> The girls stepped into the restaurant kitchen, accompanied by Brianna, who was currently fumbling with a nearby lightswitch. The narrow kitchen stretched in two directions: to the right sat a grease-stained griddle, a deep fryer, and a well-loved wood-fired pizza oven. The left led back towards the tank area where the drinks are brewed. [[Check out the cooking equipment.]] [[Look around the brewing area.]] (unless: (track: 'walking2', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking2', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking2', 'play') ]<br> The girls, Charlie, and Brianna headed out to the restaurant’s dining area to take a look around. Not much pointed them in the direction of Bailey’s whereabouts, but Bunny did take a second to appreciate how most of the tables and furniture were made out of reclaimed wood. Wyatt had to stop Naomi from trying to eat some onion rings that had gotten left behind on the side of the bar closest to the kitchen. [[Look around the restaurant’s kitchen.]] (unless: (track: 'walking2', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking2', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking2', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“So this is where all the pizza comes from, huh?” “Yeah! Sometimes my dad still comes back here to help when we get busy. I don’t know if this is where Bailey was looking around, though…” started Brianna. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">“That’s a shame, but maybe we better start tearing into some pizza toppings just to make sure she didn’t, like, fall asleep in the pepperoni or something?” <img src="./images/Mobo Determined.png">“Girls! Stop being hungry! Our friend could be in trouble!” Bunny walked up to place a comforting hand on Mobo’s shoulder as they all turned to leave. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Mobo, it’s just a shame you can’t eat one of these bad boys yourself, otherwise you’d know how we all felt. [[Look around the brewing area.]] (unless: (track: 'walking2', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking2', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking2', 'play') ]<br> The brewery area on the other side of the kitchen was filled with several ceiling-height silver tanks full of a variety of beverages, including a homemade root beer that the girls all loved. Above them, on tall racks, sat a lot of equipment on a higher level of the building for canning and distributing their beverages. <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png"> "Man, I don't see *anything* other than, like...normal restaurant stuff." <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"Hang on, I think I smell something! Something *other* than pretzel butter, I should say." <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">"Looking! Girls, I think I see footprints!" <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">“Oh ho, where might YOU be headed, little one?” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">"Why do you sound like the host of a nature documentary...?" The footprints that Mobo noticed led underneath one of the tanks towards a small metal grate, serving as the opening to a small, dank tunnel leading away from the building. [[Enter the tunnel.]] [[Don’t enter the tunnel, it’s probably gross in there!]] (unless: (track: 'walking2', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking2', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking2', 'play') ]<br> Wyatt clumsily enters the tunnel first, with nothing but the light from her phone to guide the way. Complaining all the way, the girls work their way through a cramped passage full of cobwebs, crumbling cement, and…what appeared to be empty, discarded chip bags, snack containers, and soda cans. The mess grew in intensity as they approached a well-lit opening at the other end of the tunnel. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Hang on, I think I see a grate at the end of the tunnel!" Prying the grate open with her newly-summoned sword, Wyatt found the tunnel seems to have led to a large, disused warehouse up the road from Schmoopley’s. It wasn't too different from a lot of other older warehouses in the area, except this one was currently stocked up with a lot of strung-up Christmas lights and a tiny, makeshift skate park, complete with a half-pipe made out of discarded wood. Loud, fast music blared from an old portable CD player at the other end of the warehouse, where a large number of small, unidentifiable creatures seemed to be frolicing about, while a familiar shape sat on some kind of throne. It was Bailey, waving frantically to her friends from some recliner that was clearly plucked from the garbage and then decorated with garland and rope light. “Girls! Come over here! You gotta meet these little weirdos!" she shouted from her makeshift throne. [[Ask her what she’s doing here.]] [[Ask her about her…new friends.]] (unless: (track: 'walking2', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking2', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking2', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png"> “Aww, come on! It’s a MYSTERIOUS TUNNEL! Those always lead to, like, adventure or treasure or something!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“or a sad and potentially mysterious death” <img src="./images/Charlie.png">"I don’t think a single cool thing ever happened from going into a tunnel under a restaurant." <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Sorry, everyone, sounds like this is one for the fire department!” <img src="./images/Mobo Determined.png">“Girls! A FRIEND OF OURS asked for OUR HELP! Come on!” Mobo, in her enthusiasm, began shoving the girls into the tunnel. Her raw, robotic strength was difficult for the girls to resist, despite their loud complaints about how "stinky" it was presumably going to be in there. [[Here it goes!->Enter the tunnel.]] (unless: (track: 'walking2', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking2', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking2', 'play') ]<br> “Okay, so, I wanted to find out who was sneaking around in dad’s kitchen, right? So I caught one of these little buggers using the old food-under-a-box-with-a-stick trick! "And then I threatened to deep fry him until he told me what he knew, but then he seemed so…weird and harmless that I just brought a bunch of snacks over here. "And then they asked if they could use my old CD player, and then I went dumpster-diving around town with them so they could build all this cool stuff, and they got so excited they decided to call me the Chosen One!” explained Bailey, breathlessly. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">"Uhh..." <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">"Sure, yeah, this makes sense." [[This is all great, but Brianna is worried sick!]] [[Ask her about her…new friends.]] (unless: (track: 'walking2', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking2', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking2', 'play') ]<br> “These guys? I call ‘em the Grembunnies, cause they look like some kinda...bunny-gremlin! They don’t mind it too much.” Looking at a nearby Grembunny, the girls couldn’t help but agree with her assessment. Standing about 1-2 feet tall each, the Grembunnies were all something of a dingy gray-ish-green color, with matted gnarly fur all over their rotund little bodies (and some with impressive beards or mustaches), long rabbit-like ears, and the kind of fanged overbite you used to see on monsters in old cartoons. As the girls looked around, a Grembunny wearing a child’s sized leather jacket with tiny plastic sunglasses and spiked-up hair waddled over to Bailey and gestured back to the girls with his thumb. “Them? Oh, yeah, they’re friends with my sister and I! They’re cool!” Bailey replied before tossing the concerned Grembunny a tortilla chip for his troubles. Off to the side, a few Grembunnies laughed and celebrated as one of them bailed hard off their skateboard in mid-air. [[This is all great, but Brianna is worried sick!]] [[Ask her what she’s doing here.]] (unless: (track: 'walking2', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking2', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking2', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Alright, alright, this is all…strange and charming, but we are here on a mission." <img src="./images/Mobo Determined.png"> “That’s right! Your little sister Brianna sent us here to make sure you were alive and okay, and now we’re going back home!” Bunny had already found herself a ratty cushion to sit on as she guzzled down a juice box. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png"> “I dunno, I like these little weirdos! I say we just stay here!” The rest of the girls nearly had a chance to discuss this, before a few Grembunnies emerged from a sidehatch, covered in food stains and wielding broken old ladles, fighting for Bailey’s attention. “Yeah, you’re probably right, but I did promise them I’d help them get some more food, because they’re trying to learn how to cook for themselves," Bailey started. "They’re right in the middle of making a dish - can you four go back and grab one last thing out of dad’s kitchen for me? Just look for anything that would be great in a casserole!” [[Ugh, FINE, but then you gotta come home!]] (unless: (track: 'walking2', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking2', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking2', 'play') ]<br> The girls found themselves making the trek back to Schmoopley’s (above ground, this time, after learning how close the warehouse was to the restaurant), wondering what they needed to grab for the Grembunnies. Brianna was waiting for them at the door when they got back in. After needing to have the situation explained to her a couple times, offered to help the girls look through the kitchen to grab something for the Grembunnies to finish their casserole before the restaurant workers show up for the day. They went to the kitchen to look for.. [[...bread?]] [[...frozen pretzels?]] [[...baking chocolate?]] (unless: (track: 'walking2', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking2', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking2', 'play') ]<br> Bunny reached below the plastic counter where the plates get assembled, before producing a large plastic bag full of slightly-squashed dinner rolls that get handed out with some of the dishes. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“LOOK! BREAD! Everyone loves bread, right? And I’m sure ONE OF US can carry this up the street back to the Grembunnies!” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“This will be great in a casserole! They’ll figure it out!” Without explaining to Brianna why they found themselves running out of the store while forcing Naomi to carry a massive sack of bread, the girls found themselves on their way back to Bailey and the Grembunnies. [[Let’s feed these little weirdos!]] (unless: (track: 'walking2', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking2', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking2', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Pretzels would be great in there! Everyone loves pretzels! Naomi has been trying to eat that frozen one since we got here!" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"mmph mmph" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Okay, so pretzels *are* great, but they'd be hard to use in a casserole because they won’t cook through properly, and as they thaw, it’s gonna add a bunch of water to the casserole, and…” This went on for a few more minutes. <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png"> “Oh! We can’t use pretzels because it would make the casserole too WET! Let’s get some other, not-wet food!" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"...you know what, Mobo? Yes. Let’s get something that isn’t wet.” Such as... [[...bread?]] [[...baking chocolate?]] (unless: (track: 'walking2', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking2', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking2', 'play') ]<br> Appropriately enough, Mobo found herself rifling through a small metal pantry full of ingredients the restaurant uses for their various desserts, before producing a large yellow bag of baking chocolate. <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Oh wow, chocolate! This would be great! Maybe I’ll just have a little tasty taste…” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“Mobo, WAIT! That’s not gonna be…" <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">"PFFT! BLARGH! Ugh, I've been BETRAYED by this...GROSS FAKE CHOCOLATE!" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"Mobo, it isn't FAKE, they just use it for..." The noises Mobo made while trying to spit the unsweetened baking chocolate out rang in Bunny’s ears for the next several days. What about... [[...bread?]] [[...frozen pretzels?]] (unless: (track: 'walking2', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking2', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking2', 'play') ]<br> Emerging back into the warehouse, the Grembunnies were pretty excited about the flattened bag of dinner rolls, even despite Charlie stopping to chew through the plastic bag and eat one on the way. Bailey convinced everyone to stick around to see what they came up with, and about an hour later the two chef Grembunnies re-emerged from...somewhere. They were proudly carrying a steaming glass dish full of breakfast casserole, complete with the dinner rolls the girls had procured, several meats and vegetables, and an unsafe amount of cheese. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Is...is it weird that this is actually super tasty?" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"yeah one of them scraped the bacon and sausage out of mine, and these are some of the fluffiest eggs I've ever had" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">"So...we're not gonna think about how most of the ingredients probably came from a dumpster, right?" <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">"...BAILEY! It's time to leave!" Bidding her farewells to the Grembunnies, Bailey stepped down from her post as the Chosen One and returned to Schmoopley’s…just in time for her father to wait for her at the door, asking her where she’s been. The girls didn’t stick around to see how it went, but they were all glad their friend made it home. [[Sorry, Schmoopleys, gotta go!]] (unless: (track: 'walking2', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking2', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking2', 'play') ]<br> Not long after, the girls found themselves involved in an online AMA with a few of their fans. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“I would much rather fight one horse-sized duck <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">because that’s just, like…one big duck, you know? I can handle that <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">but a hundred duck-sized horses? those are basically just baby horses <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">and babies are capable of violence in a way I fear and respect” //-Wyatt, when asked which she would rather have to fight// <img src="./images/Mobo Determined.png">“To one day enjoy a balanced breakfast! The kind you see in the commercials, with a piece of toast and a bunch of fruit or something!” //-Mobo, when asked what her dreams for the future are// <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“oh well lately I’ve been working on a Backrooms/liminal spaces-themed mod for my favorite old PC game Boom" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"also ive been practicing falling asleep with my glasses on, because im pretty sure the whole thing about not being able to read in your dreams is fake” //-Naomi, when asked what she’s been working on lately// <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png"> “Okay so when you go out for Halloween, you don’t say “trick or treat”, right? <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">You say “GIMME CANDY” really loud, because then they don’t have the option to give you tricks! this way, EVERYONE has to give you the ‘treat’, you know?? You don’t want anyone playing tricks on you!” //-Bunny, on the best advice she could give someone who wants to get started as an Expander // [[Helpful as always, ladies!]] (set:$moboHearingPark to false) (unless: (track: 'girls', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'girls', 'loop', true) (track: 'girls', 'play') ]<br> The following weekend, the girls were asked by Kaz and Miss Ibanez to check out some sightings they’d been tracking of a monster - or perhaps a *group* of monsters - during a small festival over at Beacon Park. Upon their arrival, they were greeted by a thundering, painfully atonal sound, accompanied by crowds of people holding their ears and fleeing the park. Nearby, a surprisingly well-prepared volunteer stood watching the escaping park-goers, wearing ear protectors and trying fruitlessly to shout into a walkie-talkie. <img src="./images/Charlie.png">“This one’s a little too loud for ol’ Chaz! You have fun with this one, though!” [[Look around the park.]] [[Talk to the volunteer.]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju2', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju2', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju2', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“OKAY GIRLS, LET’S AT LEAST SEE IF WE CAN GET A LOOK AT WHO’S DOING THIS!” The girls made it about ten paces into the park before the sheer force of the soundwaves being generated started to push them backwards, resulting in Naomi flying end-over-end through the air and landing in a nearby booth full of sand art. Before they were forced to leave the scene, they caught a glimpse of something on a nearby stage, or rather a group of somethings: a few people-sized kaiju wearing coordinated leather jackets, trying very hard to perform on what looked to be instruments cobbled together out of scrap. Strangely, Mobo stayed behind, seemingly unfazed by either the volume or force of the sound being generated. [[Talk to the volunteer.]] [[Get Mobo’s attention!]] [[Check the monsters with your KATS!->Ep 5 park monsters KATS]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju2', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju2', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju2', 'play') ]<br> Hands clamped over their ears, the girls approached the volunteer. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“HI, EXCUSE ME, YES. CAN YOU TELL US WHAT’S GOING ON HERE?” “WHAT?” replied the volunteer, pointing at her ear protectors. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“WE’RE HERE TO SEE IF WE CAN TAKE CARE OF THE MONSTERS -” “THE WHAT? I CAN’T HEAR YOU, I’M WEARING THESE THINGS TO PROTECT ME FROM THE SOUND THOSE MONSTERS ARE MAKING!” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“WE’RE-TRYING-TO-TAKE-CARE-OF-THE… <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">…FORGET IT! COME ON GIRLS!” Shouting and flailing, Wyatt angrily gestured for them to follow her to the outskirts of the park. Mobo remained behind with the volunteer, looking around, seemingly unfazed. [[Get Mobo’s attention!]] [[Look around the park.]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju2', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju2', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju2', 'play') ]<br> Mobo, unaware of…basically anything, was blissfully enjoying her time at the park until she saw Bunny, hands folded over both sets of her ears - human *and* bunny - angrily trying to indicate Mobo should follow her. <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Hi Bunny! What’s going on?” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“MOBO! We have been trying to get you to walk away from the big crappy noise for like…okay, only like a minute, BUT STILL!” <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">“Oh! I’m sorry I didn’t hear you! I have an automatic built-in sound attenuator that dampens loud sounds when I get too close to them!” [[Have Mobo check out the monsters!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju2', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju2', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju2', 'play') ]<br> Mobo always liked to think of herself as pretty open-minded about new types of music, so she chose to embrace the moment and attempt to dance to the tuneless barrage of soundwaves being fired forth from the stage. This went on for a few minutes until her robotic brain received a text message from Bunny. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">*“MOBO! We can see you dancing from here! Please go talk to the monsters!”*, accompanied by a series of alternatingly sad and angry emoji. [[Whoops! Sorry, girls!->Go turn the sound off and try to talk to them!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju2', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju2', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju2', 'play') ]<br> Mobo, drawing on her brief experience with outdoor music performances (including the time Wyatt and Naomi took her to the punk rock festival they used to have in that big parking lot downtown), looked around for anything that seemed helpful, until she identified a small striped tent that housed the mixing board for the park’s PA system. Unplugging things until the noise finally died down, she re-engaged her normal hearing and waved happily to the girls, who came to join her. <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">"...so, as happy as we are that your band had a chance to play this festival, it's kind of, uhh...painful to people? And they might not be enjoying themselves here at the festival, you see..." This seemed to make the monsters genuinely sad. “Aww, geez, we’re sorry!” explained the skeleton in a surprisingly gruff voice. “We were just looking forward to finally performing in front of an audience, but uh…our friend Ahrea here might have a voice that's just *a little too powerful*.” As the skeleton said this, they sheepishly indicated the floating crystal, who (somehow) greeted the girls with a //“BE NOT A F R A I D”// spoken in frighteningly resonant tones more reminiscent of a horn than a voice. [[Could you just…not play music?]] [[Maybe it’s something with the sound system?]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju2', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju2', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju2', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Okay, but isn't there like...a garage or a canyon very far away or something that you could play at instead?" The monsters all seemed visibly saddened by the girls’ suggestion. “Awwww, come on!” pleaded the skeleton, still holding onto their makeshift electric guitar (which seemed to be just a stick with a lot of twine and magnets stuck to it). “We practiced SO HARD, and we just wanted people to hear our new song!” “I haven’t even done my solo yet!” chimed in the spiked cat-monster, holding up what looked to be some kind of exhaust pipe from a car. *“YOU SHOULD HEAR THEM, THEY'RE REALLY GOOD”* projected Ahrea, the living crystal. [[Maybe it’s something with the sound system?]] (unless: (track: 'girls', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'girls', 'loop', true) (track: 'girls', 'play') ]<br> Naomi raised her hand sharply, as though she were trying to impress a teacher with how fast she thought of the answer. <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“you know, Wyatt and I used to mess around with free music software back when we were gonna try to make lo-fi beats" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"maybe we can try to make your live sound a little less…angry?” The monsters nodded in approval as Naomi and Wyatt headed over to the sound booth. Starting with every knob set to 0, Wyatt gave the signal for the monster band to start up again, while she and Naomi worked their way through every volume and frequency knob they could find until they found just the perfect balance. With the frequencies balanced and the volume set to something more…reasonable, the crowd slowly returned to the park to hear the monsters perform! The general consensus seemed to be that they were…fine, but maybe they needed a little more practice. (Once you could actually hear what was going on, however, it turned out Ahrea had a beautiful tenor voice.) [[Doesn’t every band have a rough start, really?]] (unless: (track: 'girls', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'girls', 'loop', true) (track: 'girls', 'play') ]<br> Not long after, the girls found themselves huddled up in Wyatt’s room, surrounded by notebooks and art supplies. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Alright girls! If we’re gonna be Detroitica’s favorite new magical girls, we gotta have merchandise ideas ready, so I hope you all drew up what you want your action figures to look like!" <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png"> "So here’s mine: it looks kinda like me but it’s hella shredded in the muscles, and then it comes with a ton of accessories so you can have me fight evil with, like, swords and bazookas and stuff." <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png"> "It might also have some kind of chopping action if we’re not too over budget.” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Now, Mobo says she wants hers to have a spring-loaded blaster in her hand that ‘fires the distance of two football fields, like those foam dart launchers in the commercials...okay" <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">"…and ‘beautiful, realistic pink hair that kids can comb if they want to’..." <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"...alright, that’s kinda wholesome…” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Naomi says she wants hers to have…’an eerie, battery-powered purple glow’, and it comes with ‘a special fortune about each kids’ life that they can’t read to anyone, or it won’t come true’... <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">"...sure, yeah, that sounds right…” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“And Bunny, after seeing the rest of ours, wants hers to be ‘way taller and hotter than the rest of us..." <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">"...and it has to come with a huge expensive-looking sports car covered in missile launchers that only her toy can drive’...” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Oh! And Charlie came up with one too! He…doesn’t want an action figure like the rest of us, but he does want a “super-limited vinyl collectible that’s limited to 1,000 individually-numbered pieces..." <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">"...and can only be purchased online during a special collector’s event that everyone has to pre-register for if you want the chance to buy one…” <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">"...I don't know what I expected to happen when I asked you girls about this." [[It’s good to have goals at least, right?]] (unless: (track: 'girls', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'girls', 'loop', true) (track: 'girls', 'play') ]<br> A few days after the meeting about their action figures, Bunny was at home, singing to herself in the kitchen while Isaac played video games out on the couch. After going back to the Grembunnies to get their recipe for breakfast casserole, Bunny was hoping to make a version using vegetarian sausage for her and her little bear before a trip to the zoo. Charlie seemed to be reading a magazine someone left on the coffee table, and all was tranquil until her dog Max came by to sniff at the back door, a sure sign he had to be let outside. Upon opening the door just far enough to let Max out, she saw it - the stone griffon from before! The very same one that led to her getting scouted by the Institute! It began walking towards the back door, but not in a particularly threatening way; in fact, it seemed like it was having a nice old time in her backyard, and was hoping Max the dog could come play like they did at the park. [[Maybe let’s close the door!]] (unless: (track: 'girls', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'girls', 'loop', true) (track: 'girls', 'play') ]<br> Bunny was struck so hard by the sight of this gleaming marble bird-cat that she needed a moment to remember that she could, indeed, just close the door and leave it in the yard. However, by the time this thought occurred to her, it was a bit too late, and the stone griffon managed to wedge its head just far enough into the doorway… ...to reach on top of the stove, and grab the entire casserole dish in its beak before darting back out into the yard with his new breakfast. <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Angry.png">“HEY YOU SNEAKY LITTLE BUTTHOLE, YOU GET BACK HERE!” Shouting angrily at the kaiju, Bunny found herself propelling herself into the yard in chase. Max, a little on the old and confused side, found himself running alongside both of them, unsure of who he should be barking at, but barking all the same. [[Get Charlie to help!]] [[Get Isaac to help!]] [[Get Max to help!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ] <br> <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Neutral.png">"CHARLIE! You're on this team too! Get out here and help me get my breakfast back!" <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Angry.png">"...ugh, why did I bother?! Magical, talking animal or not, he's a cat! Cats don't care about *anything*!" [[Get Isaac to help!]] [[Get Max to help!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Sassy.png">"Bear! Isaac! Big handsome hunk o' mine! Can you come out here to help me rescue breakfast?!" <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Neutral.png">"..." “Did you say something, Bunny? I’m sorry, I’m in here playing Cybershock 3!” came his delayed reply. <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Sassy.png">“Forget it, honey bear! You just stay inside!” <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Neutral.png">*"I don't really need to get him any more involved with this kaiju nonsense than he needs to be."* [[Get Charlie to help!]] [[Get Max to help!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> Max may be several things - old, sleepy, perpetually hungry, sensitive to noise - but underneath it all he’s a good dog. And he *certainly* didn’t understand why his favorite person was chasing this vaguely-familar rock monster around the place where he pees. He did know, however, that it bothered him, so he decided to go over there to do something about it. Old Max was a dog of action when he wanted to be, but…sometimes being a dog of action means that you don’t get a chance to think very hard about what you’re doing. This resulted in Max barreling chest-first into the stone griffon, creating a loud THUD and sending the two of them toppling over in a heap, with the glass casserole dish flying high into the air after the impact. [[Superjump in the air and grab it!]] [[Try to use your hammer!]] [[Go check on Max!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Cry.png">*"MY BABY!* I'm coming, Maxie!" Bunny wound herself up to launch into another superjump, attemtping to cross the yard in time to check on. On her way, however, she found herself high enough up in the air to try and grab the casserole…before missing by several feet and landing clumsily next to Max. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">"OOF! OW!" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"Are...are you okay...Max?" Upon closer inspection, Max was absolutely no worse for the wear, and in fact seemed to be getting along well with the stone griffon, who was sniffing and hopping happily. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"Ugh...well, at least THEY'RE okay." <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png"> "Shame about my casserole, though." Bunny left Max and the griffon to bond over spilled breakfast casserole in the backyard, before going back inside to tell Isaac that she was just going to warm up some veggie dogs. (In her heart, she knew he would be just as excited about this as he was the casserole.) [[Can’t win every breakfast, I guess…->Episode 6 preview]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Cry.png">*"MY BABY!* I'm coming, Maxie!" Bunny’s goal was primarily to try to wedge the hammer between Max and the griffon, to prevent Max from coming to harm (and hopefully to stop the griffon from trying to pick a fight with her dog). Hammer held high, Bunny came swinging down towards the griffon…just in time to accidentally make contact with the casserole dish, sending it splattering to the ground. The surprisingly resilient oven-safe glass survived the impact, but the casserole did not - and even if it did, Max and the griffon were too busy bonding over the spilled casserole all over the yard, which they happily shared. <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Neutral.png">"Ugh...well, at least THEY'RE okay." <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Cry.png">"Shame about my casserole, though." Bunny left Max and the griffon to bond over spilled breakfast casserole in the backyard, before going back inside to tell Isaac that she was just going to warm up some veggie dogs. (In her heart, she knew he would be just as excited about this as he was the casserole.) [[Can’t win every breakfast, I guess…->Episode 6 preview]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Cry.png"> *"MY BABY!* I'm coming, Maxie!" Realizing that some things were more important than breakfast (but not many), Bunny dashed across the backyard to see if Max was okay. She quickly found that not only was Max fine (if not slightly more disoriented than usual), he and the griffon almost seemed to be making nice…by sharing the breakfast casserole that had crashed to the ground and splattered into a smile pile in the yard. <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Neutral.png">"Ugh...well, at least THEY'RE okay." <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Sassy.png">"Shame about my casserole, though." Bunny left Max and the griffon to bond over spilled breakfast casserole in the backyard, before going back inside to tell Isaac that she was just going to warm up some veggie dogs. (In her heart, she knew he would be just as excited about this as he was the casserole.) [[Can’t win every breakfast, I guess…->Episode 6 preview]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> It had been a long few weeks for Ruby Robinson - but then again, it had been a long few //years // for Ruby Robinson. As a member of the Shimmering Midnight, Ruby was pretty used to her time being in demand. Her powers (heightened agility and reflexes, plus a snazzy celestial bow that fires bolts of energy) had manifested much earlier in life than is normal for Expanders, appearing first while she was saving a few of her friends from a house fire that turned out to not be kaiju-related at all. This would lead her actress mother and tech businessman stepfather to push her into the local magical girl limelight, despite her desire to grow up to be something like a stuntwoman or gymnast. After a few years of fighting monsters in public locations with a lot of witnesses, her fanbase had built to the point where her parents were able to pull a few strings and get her introduced to the Midnight, which was a huge boon for her career. The effect of this made Ruby feel like she was joining the cast of a successful TV show that had already been on for several years. Half of the Midnight's job was to serve as a public liaison, helping to give the citizens of Detroitica a reason to stay cheerful in the face of increasingly-frequent monster attacks. The other half was to actually go out and fight the monsters, or at least minimize the damage incurred, which was the part Ruby liked more, much to her personal surprise. [[Which is why she’s…at the mall?]] (unless: (track: 'ruby', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'ruby', 'loop', true) (track: 'ruby', 'play') ]<br> Harbor Crossing Mall was a place Ruby was well familiar with. Part of it was because she actually enjoyed shopping there, being one of the few malls still in operation near her hometown of Grosse Pointe Farms, but part of it was due to the frequent media appearances and autograph signings she had to do at the mall. (When you become a magical girl, nobody really warns you about how much time you’ll spend signing autographs not far away from a monster truck or a professional wrestler.) She was meeting the rest of the Midnight there to look into some reported paranormal activity. Normally, this would be another team’s job - the Midnight was on a much higher tier of kaiju response (the kind where the city was in real danger), and normally the day-to-day investigative work would be left to other groups, like those nice little weirdos from Team 65 or whatever they were called. But the ever-increasing amount of reported kaiju sightings lately had Kaz worried, so any and all teams were getting called in to research potential kaiju appearances. This is why Ruby was about to meet up with the rest of the Shimmering Midnight in the middle of a crowded mall food court - an event that would usually include a lot of long lines and photo opportunities. <img src="./images/Ruby Neutral.png">"Diana. Hannah. Jennifer." The rest of the Midnight exchanged equally terse greetings with Ruby, in the same way you'd talk to a coworker you weren't especially close to. [[Let’s get to it.]] (unless: (track: 'ruby', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'ruby', 'loop', true) (track: 'ruby', 'play') ]<br> Ruby placed her hand in the center of the table, like an executive in a movie about business. <img src="./images/Ruby Neutral.png">“Let’s get to it, girls. Remember, Kaz asked us to be here as a favor, so everyone be polite, be observant, and be nice to the fans." <img src="./images/Ruby Sassy.png">"If you’re all good, I’ll see if I can sweet-talk us into a few freebies from the pretzel stand.” (link:"Talk to the witness.")[(set: $rubyInspectedMall to it +1)(goto:"Talk to the witness.")] (link: "Inspect the area of the sighting.")[(set:$rubyInspectedMall to it +1)(goto:"Inspect the area of the sighting.")] { (if: $rubyInspectedMall < 2)[[[Check out the rest of the mall.->Mall, no ogres yet]]](else-if: $rubyInspectedMall >= 2)[[[Check out the rest of the mall.->Mall, yes ogres]]]}<br> Ruby approached a young woman named Erica, wearing her hair high in a ponytail and still clad in her dingy gray polo from the movie & music store she works at inside the mall. <img src="./images/Ruby Neutral.png">"Hi Erica, I'm Ruby Robinson from the Shimmering Midnight. I was told you saw something around here that you wanted to talk to us about?" Still clearly shaken by the experience, Erica went on to explain to the Midnight that she was walking through the service corridors, on her way to the compactors, when there was suddenly a huge purple flash in the hallway that took out some of a nearby wall. After the dust settled, she saw some super tall lady with purple skin and white hair dressed like she was going to a Ren Fest, who yelled something about “getting her revenge on this wretched dimension once and for all” before, like…flying off into the ceiling. <img src="./images/Ruby Sassy.png">“Huh, yeah, that’s not the sort of thing you wanna see when you’re clocked in at work." <img src="./images/Ruby Neutral.png">"Are you hurt? Did you see anything else?” Erica replied that she didn’t, and she’s fine, but she remembered seeing a commercial for the Institute and she called to see if they could help at all. <img src="./images/Ruby Neutral.png">“Did you get all that, girls?” Hannah and Jennifer, behind her, nodded. Diana was too busy talking to a couple of fans who recognized her to respond. (link: "Inspect the area of the sighting.")[(set:$rubyInspectedMall to it +1)(goto:"Inspect the area of the sighting.")] { (if: $rubyInspectedMall < 2)[[[Check out the rest of the mall.->Mall, no ogres yet]]](else:)[[[Check out the rest of the mall.->Mall, yes ogres]]] } (unless: (track: 'walking3', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking3', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking3', 'play') ]<br> Ruby whistled to herself upon getting a better look at the damage caused in the service corridor. <img src="./images/Ruby Shocked.png">“I knew retail work was hard, but *this* is just unnecessary." <img src="./images/Ruby Neutral.png">"Diana, Jennifer, Hannah, see if you can get a reading off any of this, would you?" Her instruction prompted her teammates to flip open their KATS and sweep them around the room. The readings came nearly immediately. Amongst the ruined drywall and exposed wiring of the service corridor, a few piles of debris seemed to glow with a strange, residual purple energy that their KATS seemed to register as an unusually high concentration of retrotrons, but not clear enough to recognize as a monster of any sort. “Aren’t these things supposed to, like, tell us if a monster is around? What’s the deal here?” asked Diana, tapping the side of her phone impatiently. <img src="./images/Ruby Angry.png">“Yeah. And that’s why this feels like a bad sign." (link:"Talk to the witness.")[(set: $rubyInspectedMall to it +2)(goto:"Talk to the witness.")] { (if: $rubyInspectedMall < 2)[[[Check out the rest of the mall.->Mall, no ogres yet]]](else:)[[[Check out the rest of the mall.->Mall, yes ogres]]] } (unless: (track: 'walking3', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking3', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking3', 'play') ]<br> Directly outside the service corridor was a wing of the mall containing the usual combination of shoe stores, video game retailers, and those little booths where you can fix a broken phone screen. To the right, the mall seemed to stretch on forever, and to the left lay the food court, a large circular area lined by restaurants with an enormous carousel and playplace in the center. As the girls approach the food court, suddenly each of their KATS start reacting as though they were back in the corridor, inspecting the damage. <img src="./images/Ruby Angry.png">"MIDNIGHT! Form up! We're getting a reading!" Instinctively, the Shimmering Midnight formed a defensive position, backs to each other in the center of the food court, just in time to see two strangely-armored ogre-types approaching! The one on the left had deep orange skin with rusted, clanking armor, and the other had deep blue skin with more flexible leather armor. [[Guess we’re doing this!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> Directly outside the service corridor was a wing of the mall containing the usual combination of shoe stores, video game retailers, and those little booths where you can fix a broken phone screen. To the right, the mall seemed to stretch on forever, and to the left lay the food court, a large circular area lined by restaurants with an enormous carousel and playplace in the center. Nothing about it seemed any stranger than a sunny weekday afternoon at the mall normally seemed, but Ruby couldn’t tell if that was a good thing or not. (link-goto: "Go back.", (history:)'s last) (unless: (track: 'walking3', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking3', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking3', 'play') ]<br> Stomping angrily across the food court, tossing aside tables and trash cans alike, the blue ogre approaches first with their arms outstretched, intending to grapple! (link:"Attack the ogre!")[(set: $blueOgreDamage to it +1)(goto:"Blue ogre first-attack success")] [[Parry the ogre’s attack!->Blue ogre first-attack-parry failure]] (link:"Use your magic on the ogre!")[(set: $blueOgreDamage to it +1)(goto:"Blue ogre first attack-magic success")] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]=><= <br> EPISODE 6: THE EVIL FROM INSIDE THE MALL [[Spooky!]] (set: $rubyInspectedMall to 0) (set: $blueOgreDamage to 0) (set: $orangeOgreDamage to 0) (unless: (track: 'theme', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'theme', 'loop', true) (track: 'theme', 'play') ]<br> Moving to intercept the ogre’s next blow, Ruby braces her left elbow upwards, preparing for impact… (t8n:"rumble")+(t8n-delay:1.5s)[…before the ogre brings their arms down towards their sides, striking Ruby on each side of her midsection, bringing her crumpling down to the ground in a breathless heap.] (t8n:"fade")+(t8n-delay:2.5s)[“Great move, Fearless Leader.” chirped Diana, as the rest of the Midnight took a fighting stance over Ruby’s currently-prone form. <img src="./images/Ruby Shocked.png">"*cough cough*...yeah, easy for you to say from up there..." { (link-goto: "Continue the fight!", (either:"Blue ogre tackle attack passage", "Blue ogre arms out attack passage", "Blue ogre ax-handle attack passage (parry success)", "Blue ogre trash can attack passage (parry success)", "Blue ogre table attack passage (magic success)",)) }] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Ruby Angry.png"> "*No you don't*, ugly!" Weaving and juking across the floor with a surprising quickness, Ruby dodges nimbly underneath the ogre’s arms, before *striking* directly upwards into their jaw with an open palm. Stepping backwards, Ruby takes a second to brush her deep blue hair back into place and crack her neck, as the ogre slumps backwards, clutching their now-injured face and roaring in agony. { (if: $blueOgreDamage >= 2)[[[That's one down!->First orange ogre passage]]](else:)[(link-goto: "Continue the fight!", (either:"Blue ogre tackle attack passage", "Blue ogre arms out attack passage", "Blue ogre ax-handle attack passage (parry success)", "Blue ogre trash can attack passage (parry success)", "Blue ogre table attack passage (magic success)",))]} (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> As the ogre approaches… …Ruby backflips atop a nearby table (eliciting sarcastic applause from Diana), while summoning her celestial bow and assuming a kneeling archer position. <img src="./images/Ruby Angry.png">“ILLUMINATION BOLT!” As her cry finished, she creates and looses a gleaming yellow bolt from her bow, which collides with the ogre directly in their midsection. Upon colliding with the ogre, Ruby's arrow detonated into a brilliant yellow flash, sending the ogre *tumbling over* into a booth full of sunglasses. { (if: $blueOgreDamage >= 2)[[[That's one down!->First orange ogre passage]]](else:)[(link-goto: "Continue the fight!", (either:"Blue ogre tackle attack passage", "Blue ogre arms out attack passage", "Blue ogre ax-handle attack passage (parry success)", "Blue ogre trash can attack passage (parry success)", "Blue ogre table attack passage (magic success)",))]} (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> The blue ogre rushes towards the Shimmering Midnight, arms in front of them, looking to tackle one of the girls! (link:"Attack the ogre!")[(set: $blueOgreDamage to it +1)(goto:"Blue ogre attack-attack success passage")] [[Parry the ogre!->Blue ogre attack-parry failure passage]] (link:"Use your magic on the ogre!")[(set: $blueOgreDamage to it +1)(goto:"Blue ogre attack-magic success passage")] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> Intercepting the ogre’s approach, Diana steps forward, filling her hand with a glistening translucent light… (t8n:"rumble")+(t8n-delay:1.5s)[…but before she can bring the energy forward to intercept the ogre’s approach, the ogre's unstoppable tackle //knocks// her backwards across a nearby table, covering her in half-finished kid’s meals from Taco Town.] (t8n:"rumble")+(t8n-delay:1.5s)[{ (link-goto: "Continue the fight!", (either: "Blue ogre ax-handle attack passage (parry success)", "Blue ogre trash can attack passage (parry success)", "Blue ogre table attack passage (magic success)",)) }] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> The blue ogre rushes towards the Shimmering Midnight, arms out to either side, elbows bent to strike! (link:"Attack the ogre!")[(set: $blueOgreDamage to it +1)(goto:"Blue ogre attack-attack success passage")] [[Parry the ogre!->Blue ogre attack-parry failure passage]] (link:"Use your magic on the ogre!")[(set: $blueOgreDamage to it +1)(goto:"Blue ogre attack-magic success passage")] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> Intercepting the ogre’s approach, Diana steps forward, her hand shimmering with a sphere-shaped force blast. Crying out “GLEAMING GLARE!”, she raised her hand to strike the ogre’s midsection while simultaneously *releasing* the force blast, sending out waves of glistening translucent energy that knocked the ogre into the air, where they lingered for a moment before *crashing* down onto a nearby food court table. { (if: $blueOgreDamage >= 2)[[[That's one down!->First orange ogre passage]]](else:)[(link-goto: "Continue the fight!", (either: "Blue ogre ax-handle attack passage (parry success)", "Blue ogre trash can attack passage (parry success)", "Blue ogre table attack passage (magic success)",))]} (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> Stepping directly in front of Ruby, Diana smirks before bringing her hands together to create a shimmering, iridescent sphere. Shouting “GLEAMING REACTION!”, she stretches both hands out in front of her before releasing a ball of pure illuminated force, sending the blue ogre clear across the food court, *crashing* into an adjacent smoothie stand. { (if: $blueOgreDamage >= 2)[[[That's one down!->First orange ogre passage]]](else:)[(link-goto: "Continue the fight!", (either: "Blue ogre ax-handle attack passage (parry success)", "Blue ogre trash can attack passage (parry success)", "Blue ogre table attack passage (magic success)",))]} (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> The blue ogre approaches you with both fists clenched together, held high over their head in a double axe-handle strike! [[Attack the ogre!->Blue ogre parry-attack failure]] (link:"Parry the ogre!")[(set: $blueOgreDamage to it + 1)(goto:"Blue ogre parry-parry success")] [[Use your magic on the ogre!->Blue ogre magic-parry failure]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> Ruby straightens one leg behind her before launching into a running start, one knee outstretched in front of her, aiming to drive it into the ogre’s midsection… (t8n:"rumble")+(t8n-delay:1.5s)[…just a second too slowly to prevent the weight of the ogre’s attack from *crashing* down on her, sending her reeling off to the side, knocking clear through a few scattered food court chairs.] (t8n:"rumble")+(t8n-delay:1.5s)[{ (link-goto: "Continue the fight!", (either:"Blue ogre tackle attack passage", "Blue ogre arms out attack passage", "Blue ogre table attack passage (magic success)",)) }] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> Ruby, seeing the attack coming from a distance, swings her bow from over her shoulders and readies a celestial arrow with her right hand, steadying the bow in her left. (t8n:"rumble")+(t8n-delay:1.5s)[Unfortunately, in the time it took to do this, the ogre was able to close the distance between them more quickly than she expected, and brought their attack *crashing* down on the back of her head and neck. ] (t8n:"fade")+(t8n-delay:2.5s)[The impact sent Ruby (and her bow) clattering unceremoniously to the ground. { (link-goto: "Continue the fight!", (either:"Blue ogre tackle attack passage", "Blue ogre arms out attack passage", "Blue ogre table attack passage (magic success)",)) }] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> The blue ogre, looking around angrily, grabs the closest thing they can find to a weapon: a nearby trash can, filled to the brim with fast-food wrappers and empty drink containers, that quickly finds itself ripped from the floor and held aloft high over the ogre’s head! [[Attack the ogre!->Blue ogre parry-attack failure]] (link:"Parry the ogre!")[(set: $blueOgreDamage to it + 1)(goto:"Blue ogre parry-parry success")] [[Use your magic on the ogre!->Blue ogre magic-parry failure]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> Ruby, no stranger to attacks from creatures larger than her, places her palms together to summon one of her celestial arrows. Without placing it into her bow, she instead holds it in both hands, high over her head lengthwise. The power of the arrow, as well as Ruby’s innate strength, successfully stop the ogre’s attack from coming close enough to do any damage! { (if: $blueOgreDamage >= 2)[[[That's one down!->First orange ogre passage]]](else:)[(link-goto: "Continue the fight!", (either:"Blue ogre tackle attack passage", "Blue ogre arms out attack passage", "Blue ogre table attack passage (magic success)",))]} (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> Enraged by the Midnight’s skillful defense, the blue ogre glances around the food court until they can find the closest possible thing to a shield: a tall table, long since abandoned as people evacuated the food court, covered in half-eaten food from the local Burger Zone. The food *crashes* to the floor as the ogre holds the table directly in front of themselves like a long, grease-stained shield! [[Attack the ogre!->Blue ogre table-attack failure]] [[Parry the ogre!->Blue ogre table-parry failure]] (link:"Use your magic on the ogre!")[(set:$blueOgreDamage to it + 1)(goto:"Blue ogre table-attack success")] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> Ruby, sensing the ogre’s tactics, leaps up onto a nearby table and launches herself upwards with one fist cocked dramatically back in a classic flying punch! The ogre, however, had the advantage of height and equipment on their side, and was able to raise the table in time to deflect Ruby’s attack. (t8n:"rumble")+(t8n-delay:1.5s)[ In mid-air, Ruby *splattered* against the front of the ersatz shield before slowly slumping to the ground, more embarrassed then injured.] (t8n:"fade")+(t8n-delay:2.5s)[{ (link-goto: "Continue the fight!", (either:"Blue ogre tackle attack passage", "Blue ogre arms out attack passage", "Blue ogre ax-handle attack passage (parry success)", "Blue ogre trash can attack passage (parry success)",)) }] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> The ogre begins running directly towards Ruby, the table held directly in front of it like some kind of battering ram. Having never been attacked with furniture before, the only thing Ruby could think to do was to grab a chair away from another closer table, and attempt to swing it at the ogre, as though they were having some kind of furniture-based sword fight. (t8n:"rumble")+(t8n-delay:1.5s)[Sadly, table always beats chair in this matchup, and Ruby quickly found herself *bowled over* thanks to the flat laminate top of the table.] (t8n:"fade")+(t8n-delay:2.5s)[{ (link-goto: "Continue the fight!", (either:"Blue ogre tackle attack passage", "Blue ogre arms out attack passage", "Blue ogre ax-handle attack passage (parry success)", "Blue ogre trash can attack passage (parry success)",)) } ] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> Having never been attacked with furniture before, Ruby did the only thing she could think to do, and summon a celestial arrow into her bow. Her aim was true, as the gleaming saffron bolt loosed from her bow and struck the ogre’s directly in the center of the…table. The impact split the table perfectly in two, with the resulting force sending the ogre *flying head-over-heels* into the counter of the Pizza Party fast-service pizza stand in the food court. { (if: $blueOgreDamage >= 2)[[[That's one down!->First orange ogre passage]]](else:)[(link-goto: "Continue the fight!", (either:"Blue ogre tackle attack passage", "Blue ogre arms out attack passage", "Blue ogre ax-handle attack passage (parry success)", "Blue ogre trash can attack passage (parry success)", "Blue ogre table attack passage (magic success)",))]} (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> Ruby briefly takes a moment to compose herself and wipe the sweat from her brow, propped up against one of the few chairs still standing inside the food court. <img src="./images/Ruby Shocked.png">“WHEW! I dunno about you three, but this is the first fight I’ve ever gotten into at a mall! Are they always this //tiring//?” “Don’t get too comfy over there, it looks like Hannah and Jennifer are still trying to take care of the big orange one!” replied Diana, with more sincerity in her voice than Ruby was accustomed to. { (link-goto: "Continue the fight!", (either:"Orange ogre tackle attack passage", "Orange ogre arms out attack passage", "Orange ogre ax-handle attack passage (parry success)", "Orange ogre trash can attack passage (parry success)", "Orange ogre table attack passage (magic success)",)) } (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> The orange ogre rushes towards the Shimmering Midnight, arms stretched out front, looking to tackle one of them! (link:"Attack the ogre!")[(set: $orangeOgreDamage to it +1)(goto:"Orange ogre attack-attack success passage")] [[Parry the ogre!->Orange ogre attack-parry failure passage]] (link:"Use your magic on the ogre!")[(set: $orangeOgreDamage to it +1)(goto:"Orange ogre attack-magic success passage")] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> In response to the ogre’s charge, Jennifer stepped gamely forward and shouted “VERDANT CONTROL!”, waving her arms to bring one of the nearby potted plants to life. (t8n:"rumble")+(t8n-delay:1.5s)[Unfortunately, the plant didn’t respond quite as quickly as she would’ve liked, and the ogre found themselves *barreling* right through Jennifer, Hannah, and Diana, scattering them like bowling pins.] (t8n:"fade")+(t8n-delay:2s)[{ (link-goto: "Continue the fight!", (either:"Orange ogre ax-handle attack passage (parry success)", "Orange ogre trash can attack passage (parry success)", "Orange ogre table attack passage (magic success)",)) }] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> The orange ogre rushes towards the Shimmering Midnight, arms out to either side, elbows bent to strike! (link:"Attack the ogre!")[(set: $orangeOgreDamage to it +1)(goto:"Orange ogre attack-attack success passage")] [[Parry the ogre!->Orange ogre attack-parry failure passage]] (link:"Use your magic on the ogre!")[(set: $orangeOgreDamage to it +1)(goto:"Orange ogre attack-magic success passage")] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> Stepping just to the side of the monster, Diana, with two glowing spheres gently surrounding each hand, weaved her arms in a series of soft flowing motions mimicking that of a ballerina. As her movements completed, a series of shimmering iridescent trails seemed to follow her hands. The ogre suddenly reacted as though they had suffered a series of devastating blows to his head and chest, sending them toppling backwards towards the carousel. In response, Diana simply smirked. { (if: $orangeOgreDamage >= 2)[[[That takes care of that!->Final orange ogre battle passage]]](else:)[(link-goto: "Continue the fight!", (either:"Orange ogre ax-handle attack passage (parry success)", "Orange ogre trash can attack passage (parry success)", "Orange ogre table attack passage (magic success)",))]} (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> That final attack was the last straw for the two ogres. They had barely just arrived, summoned to do another’s bidding, and suddenly they’re getting knocked around like training dummies by these…these humans? The blue one turned to run first, and the orange one was shortly behind them, but not before letting loose with a wounded cry of “FOR ZENLAS!”, a combination of words that didn’t really mean anything to the Shimmering Midnight. <img src="./images/Ruby Angry.png">“Oh yeah? Well, GET THE HECK OUT OF MY MALL!” As the dust settled, the few people who hadn’t escaped the food court before the fight broke out stood up in applause, grateful to these four young women who chased the beasts off. Seemingly on instinct, Diana hopped up onto a nearby table to bask in the glory, bowing theatrically and thanking the nearby witnesses for their love and support. Ruby rolled her eyes and collected Hannah and Jennifer to leave. <img src="./images/Ruby Sassy.png">“We’re outta here, D-dog. Come meet us as Pretzels 'N Cheese if you get bored." [[What was all that about??->Episode 7 preview]] (unless: (track: 'ruby', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'ruby', 'loop', true) (track: 'ruby', 'play') ] <br> Seemingly on cue, Hannah shouted “JENNIFER! NOW!” As the ogre continued his approach, they suddenly found themselves ensnared by a series of vines directed by Jennifer from a nearby potted plant. Enraged, the ogre barely had enough time to recognize this was happening before Hannah replied with a cry of “RADIANCE STRIKE!”, a gleaming concussive sunbeam suddenly dispersing from her hands and knocking the ogre high into the sky. { (if: $orangeOgreDamage >= 2)[[[That takes care of that!->Final orange ogre battle passage]]](else:)[(link-goto: "Continue the fight!", (either:"Orange ogre ax-handle attack passage (parry success)", "Orange ogre trash can attack passage (parry success)", "Orange ogre table attack passage (magic success)",))]} (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> The orange ogre approaches with both fists clenched together, held high over their head in a double axe-handle striking position! [[Attack the ogre!->Orange ogre parry-attack failure]] (link:"Parry the ogre!")[(set: $orangeOgreDamage to it + 1)(goto:"Orange ogre parry-parry success")] [[Use your magic on the ogre!->Orange ogre magic-parry failure]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> Diana stepped forward to intercept the ogre’s approach, shimmering ball of light clenched between her hands. (t8n:"rumble")+(t8n-delay:1.5s)[Before she’s able to make contact with the ogre’s midsection, however, the ogre's attack came slamming down on Diana’s back, sending her *thudding* to the ground with an inelegant “oof” sound.] (t8n:"fade")+(t8n-delay:2s)[{ (link-goto: "Continue the fight!", (either:"Orange ogre tackle attack passage", "Orange ogre arms out attack passage", "Orange ogre table attack passage (magic success)",)) }] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> Hannah, hands clasped in the air high above her head, lets loose a cry of “GLOW CRASH!” and summoned down a shimmering swirl of light from between them. (t8n:"rumble")+(t8n-delay:1.5s)[The ogre, however, was just a little too fast for poor Hannah, bringing their attack down before hers could make contact. The impact sent her *reeling* backwards, hands clasped across her midsection.] (t8n:"fade")+(t8n-delay:2s)[{ (link-goto: "Continue the fight!", (either:"Orange ogre tackle attack passage", "Orange ogre arms out attack passage", "Orange ogre table attack passage (magic success)",)) }] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> The orange ogre, looking around angrily, grabs the closest thing they can find to a weapon: a nearby trash can, filled to the brim with fast-food wrappers and empty drink containers, that quickly finds itself ripped from the floor and held aloft high over the ogre’s head! [[Attack the ogre!->Orange ogre parry-attack failure]] (link:"Parry the ogre!")[(set: $orangeOgreDamage to it + 1)(goto:"Orange ogre parry-parry success")] [[Use your magic on the ogre!->Orange ogre magic-parry failure]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> Jennifer, poised on a nearby table, shouts “VERDANT CONTROL!” and points forward sharply with her left hand. Before the ogre could finish their attack, a nearby potted fern rumbles to life and ensnares the ogre’s arms with a series of spontaneously-generated vines, interrupting their attack in mid-stride and preventing any further injury to either party. Plus, it made the ogre look pretty silly. { (if: $orangeOgreDamage >= 2)[[[That takes care of that!->Final orange ogre battle passage]]](else:)[(link-goto: "Continue the fight!", (either:"Orange ogre tackle attack passage", "Orange ogre arms out attack passage", "Orange ogre table attack passage (magic success)",))]} (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> Enraged by the Midnight’s skillful defense, the orange ogre glances around the food court until they can find the closest possible thing to a shield: a tall table, long since abandoned as people evacuated the food court, covered in half-eaten food from the local Burger Zone. The food crashes to the floor as the ogre holds the table directly in front of themselves like a long, grease-stained shield! [[Attack the ogre!->Orange ogre magic-attack failure]] (link:"Parry the ogre!")[(set:$orangeOgreDamage to it + 1)(goto:"Orange ogre magic-parry success")] (link:"Use your magic on the ogre!")[(set:$orangeOgreDamage to it + 1)(goto:"Orange ogre magic-attack success")] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> With a surprising calm, Diana centers herself before stepping forward with her right foot and thrusting her left foot perfectly forward in a superkick. (t8n:"rumble")+(t8n-delay:1.5s)[The kick, however, found itself deflected by the oncoming table, sending Diana *crashing* to the ground. More embarrassingly, she found herself flat on the ground missing a shoe, as she looked up to see that one of her favorite yellow high heels had become embedded in the front of the table thanks to her kick.] (t8n:"fade")+(t8n-delay:2s)[<img src="./images/Ruby Angry.png">"I keep trying to warn you girls about wearing more practical footwear!" "Shut up! You're just mad that you're too tall for heels!" came Diana's sharp reply. <img src="./images/Ruby Sassy.png">"Wow, *rude.* I look *great* in heels, I just know not to wear them to a fight." { (link-goto: "Continue the fight!", (either:"Orange ogre tackle attack passage", "Orange ogre arms out attack passage", "Orange ogre ax-handle attack passage (parry success)", "Orange ogre trash can attack passage (parry success)",)) }] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> Diana, bending her legs as though she were about to throw a baseball, pulled both of her hands behind her back before launching forward a perfect, globe-sized sphere of glistening iridescence that quickly expanded into a small, curved force field roughly Diana’s height and several feet wide. The ogre, unable to stop their charge before the force field took shape, found themselves knocked backwards as though they just walked face-first into a wall. The added insult of the table flying up into the air before crashing down into their midsection didn't help the ogre's mood. { (if: $orangeOgreDamage >= 2)[[[That takes care of that!->Final orange ogre battle passage]]](else:)[(link-goto: "Continue the fight!", (either:"Orange ogre tackle attack passage", "Orange ogre arms out attack passage", "Orange ogre ax-handle attack passage (parry success)", "Orange ogre trash can attack passage (parry success)",))]} (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> “No you don’t!” shouted Jennifer, before adding “VERDANT CONTROL!” and summoning several suddenly-alive vines from a nearby potted plant. The vines sneakily removed the ogre’s impromptu shield, leading to a brief moment of confusion where they tried to clobber the nearby Hannah before realizing they were no longer holding anything. Taking advantage of this hesitation, Hannah pulled one fist back, charging it up with a gleaming yellow energy, and shouted “PHOTONIC CRASH!” before planting it squarely into the ogre’s jaw. The punch, combined with the sudden *detonation* of illuminated energy, sent the ogre careening backwards into a nearby trash can. { (if: $orangeOgreDamage >= 2)[[[That takes care of that!->Final orange ogre battle passage]]](else:)[(link-goto: "Continue the fight!", (either:"Orange ogre tackle attack passage", "Orange ogre arms out attack passage", "Orange ogre ax-handle attack passage (parry success)", "Orange ogre trash can attack passage (parry success)",))]} (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> =><= EPISODE 7: THE HOUSE ON THE WATER [[Summer episode!]] (unless: (track: 'theme', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'theme', 'loop', true) (track: 'theme', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Angry.png">“You *what?!*” “That’s right!” cheerfully replied Isaac, who was suddenly standing before her wearing a deep green and patterned jumpsuit not unlike the mecha pilots she met earlier, and now sporting a (fairly appropriate) pair of small, round bear ears. “I took this test here at the Institute to see if I could help fight monsters or whatever, and then they said I get to drive one of their robots!" he explained with excitement. Isaac continued breathlessly. "My best friend Rickard took the test with me! You remember Rickard, right?" "His first name is Brian but we all call him by his last name because it sounds cool. He was just at my house playing this new Dreamgraph game…” <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Neutral.png">“Hang on hang on, what test did you take?” “Oh! Well, we asked that Miss Ibanez lady if we could help at all, and then they just checked us out with a couple machines, and then they’re telling both of us that our brains make, uh…some kind of particle that means we could drive robots!" he said, visibly trying to remember what they were called. "They’re just gonna have us on, like, search and rescue at first so it won’t be anything scary, but they’re gonna let me meet my robot soon! They said it might even turn into a CAR!” <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Sassy.png">“And…WHY did you do this?” “You kept telling me all the stories about you and your friends going to help those monsters you keep meeting, and it sounded super fun!” Isaac explained with a wide smile on his face. <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Neutral.png">“*Oh great. Now my boyfriend is gonna get chewed on by some big mutant alligator because he thought it sounded “fun”.*" [[Poor little bear!]] (unless: (track: 'institute', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'institute', 'loop', true) (track: 'institute', 'play') ] <br> Not long after this, once Isaac had dashed off to meet his new mecha friend, Bunny found herself sitting in Kaz’s office with the rest of the girls, enjoying her customary third breakfast. <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Neutral.png">“Hey Kaz! Whatcha been up to, girl?” Kaz’s face turned oddly serious before thanking the girls for meeting with him, and asking Miss Hildegaard to send in their guest. As the door behind the girls opened, they saw a tiny young girl enter with a huge, beaming smile on her face. “Ummm excuse me are you Team 64? Oh my gosh you’re all my favorites oh my gosh” she began in a meek voice, before Bunny leapt out of her chair. <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Cry.png">“YOU ARE THE CUTEST THING IN THE WORLD, WHAT IS YOUR NAME??” Kaz took over. “Girls, this is Emmy Duchamps! She’s the granddaughter of a very dear, old friend of mine - the man who helped me establish the Institute, in fact." "She told me she had a favor to ask, and she specifically requested the four of you to look into it!” [[Ask Emmy about her favor!]] [[Ask Emmy about herself!]] [[Ask Kaz about his friend!]] (if: $hasPancakes is true)[[Offer Emmy a pancake!]] (unless: (track: 'institute', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'institute', 'loop', true) (track: 'institute', 'play') ]<br> Wyatt turns around in her chair, excited at the prospect of Team 64 being asked for by name. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Team 64 is on the case! What can we help you with, citizen?” Emmy continued explaining while the rest of the girls rolled their eyes at Wyatt's enthusiasm. “So, uhhhhh, my grandpa has this really nice beach house in another town, and my mom and I go stay there sometimes to take care of it, but the last couple times I’ve been there I’ve heard a lot of really creepy noises, and I’m worried there’s a monster or a ghost or something at my grandpa’s house!” Emmy explained breathlessly, her eyes growing wider as her story went on. <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“Alright, so there’s a lot of things I can handle, but monsters being mean to little kids and/or grandpas just fills me up with the ANGRY!” <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Angry.png"> “You know what, Wyatt? Me too. Nobody is mean to a grandpa, or this tiny little baby, in *my town*!” [[Let’s get moving!]] [[Ask Emmy about herself!]] [[Ask Kaz about his friend!]] (if: $hasPancakes is true)[[Offer Emmy a pancake!]] (unless: (track: 'institute', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'institute', 'loop', true) (track: 'institute', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Cry.png"> “Emmy, I am more excited to meet you than I’ve been to meet anyone in my life, including these three *dork-wads*." <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Neutral.png">“Why don’t you tell us a little about yourself? Emmy, briefly flustered, stammers a response. “Well, uh, I-I like swimming, and I draw sometimes, and I like playing with my dog Bringles, and my favorite foods are the pizza bagels they make at Stinky’s, and, and, and” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Oh wow! What if we all got to meet your dog someday? Dogs are great!” [[Let’s get moving!]] [[Ask Emmy about her favor!]] [[Ask Kaz about his friend!]] (if: $hasPancakes is true)[[Offer Emmy a pancake!]] (unless: (track: 'institute', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'institute', 'loop', true) (track: 'institute', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Angry.png">“Okay Kaz, SPILL IT! You trying to tell me you know people that aren’t us??” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“yeah, this is like when you see a teacher at the store over summer vacation, or something" Kaz chuckled softly. “Professor Duchamps was something of a mentor to me. Long before any of you girls were born, he and I took an interest in the existence of monsters and Expanders and the like, and we started developing a lot of the principles and equipment this Institute operates on to this very day!” <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">“Oh wow, so he was a grandpa AND he was super hecking smart? Where is he now?” Kaz’s face lost the nostalgic smile it was carrying. “Sadly, Professor Duchamps - or Henry - vanished one day while researching reports of a particularly powerful and vicious monster that had been seen all throughout Metro Detroitica. He left behind enough notes and technological developments to get the Institute started, but I can’t help but wish he were still here sometimes.” “Also, before anyone asks, it was his idea to name the Institute after me. I still regret this decision, but he was insistent,” finished Kaz with exhaustion, as though he's had to explain this before. [[Let’s get moving!]] [[Ask Emmy about her favor!]] [[Ask Emmy about herself!]] (if: $hasPancakes is true)[[Offer Emmy a pancake!]] (unless: (track: 'institute', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'institute', 'loop', true) (track: 'institute', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Neutral.png">“Emmy, let me tell you - when I find myself in times of trouble, I turn to one of these bad boys!” With that, Bunny reached into her backpack and produced one of her pre-bagged pancakes, offering it to a confused Emmy. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Bunny, uh…if we’re gonna give the nice girl a pancake, let’s at least give her a fresh one, huh?” Bunny shrugs and returns the bag to her yellow backpack. <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Neutral.png">“Whatever, lady, a pancake is a pancake." [[Let’s get moving!]] [[Ask Emmy about her favor!]] [[Ask Emmy about herself!]] [[Ask Kaz about his friend!]] (unless: (track: 'institute', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'institute', 'loop', true) (track: 'institute', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Cry.png">“Alright girls, I just met Emmy about ten minutes ago, but I’ve decided she’s the most important thing in my life other than Bear, and I am willing to do *whatever I have to do* to help her.” <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“That’s right! Any friend of the Professor’s is a friend of ours! Let’s get going!” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png"><img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Sassy.png"><img src="./images/Naomi.png"><img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png"><img src="./images/Charlie.png">“...” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png"> “...where are we going, Emmy?” Emmy explained that her grandpa’s beach house was over in Jefferson-Chalmers, a fairly pricey neighborhood of Detroitica sometimes referred to as "the Canal District" due to its location on a small inlet of the Detroitica River. Located on the far east border of the city (not far from the ritzy suburb Ruby called home), the area was still a good twenty minutes away by car. That twenty minutes quickly became about *eight and a half", after Mobo excitedly scooped the girls up and sent them all rocketing off northwards through the sky towards Professor DuChamps' home. (set:$visitedGarageAlready to false) (link:"The girls hit the water!")[(set:$visitedHouseAlready to false)(goto:"The girls hit the water!")] (unless: (track: 'institute', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'institute', 'loop', true) (track: 'institute', 'play') ]<br> (if:$visitedHouseAlready is false)[Mobo descended upon the beach house with the girls (and Emmy) in tow, kicking up a lot of dirt and sand as she landed. The house itself was a fairly modest ranch-style house, with an impressively large garage to the right, and a short wooden staircase leading down a hill to a boat launch directly on the canal. [[Look around the front of the house.]] [[Look around the back & side of the house.]] (link:"Check out the garage.")[(set:$visitedGarageAlready to false)(goto:"Check out the garage.")] ] (else-if:$visitedHouseAlready is true)[The girls return to the front yard, directly outside the house. [[Look around the front of the house.]] [[Look around the back & side of the house.]] (link:"Check out the garage.")[(set:$visitedGarageAlready to false)(goto:"Check out the garage.")] ] (unless: (track: 'professor', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'professor', 'loop', true) (track: 'professor', 'play') ](set:$visitedHouseAlready to true) <br> Upon close inspection, the house revealed itself to be…well, more house-like. The house offered a gently sloping roof up top, a few doors allowing various points of entry, and a big front bay window. <img src="./images/Charlie.png">"Can you *see* the size of that window? Imagine all the naps I could take in that bad boy!" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"Yeah, this reminds me of...some...architect with three names that my mom told me about about once." Nothing about the house indicated anything too scary, though, and certainly didn’t make it seem like a monster had been through here recently. [[Go back to the front of the house.->The girls hit the water!]] [[Look around the back & side of the house.]] [[Check out the garage.]] (unless: (track: 'professor', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'professor', 'loop', true) (track: 'professor', 'play') ](set:$visitedHouseAlready to true) <br> A small side yard divided the driveway from the rest of the house, stopping just where a beautifully rustic wooden staircase leads away from the house down to a shockingly clean part of the beach right at the edge of the property. Wyatt stood on her tippy-toes to peer in through a nearby window, joined by Mobo who had to stoop over slightly. The house itself seemed fairly-well cared for, although a thin layer of dust had settled on much of the furniture, betraying the fact that the place didn’t see a lot of use aside from when Emmy and her mom can stop by to keep an eye on it. [[Go back.->The girls hit the water!]] [[Look around the front of the house.]] [[Check out the garage.]] (unless: (track: 'professor', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'professor', 'loop', true) (track: 'professor', 'play') ]<br> (if:$visitedGarageAlready is false)[Approaching the garage, the girls found…a garage. It was a pretty nice one at least; connected to the house and guarded by both a large metal door (where the cars go) and a smaller windowless door (where the people go), protected by a fairly complex-looking electronic lock. (link:"Check out the lock.")[(set:$visitedGarageAlready to true)(goto:"Check out the lock.")] [[Go back.->The girls hit the water!]] ] (else-if:$visitedGarageAlready is true)[The girls return to the front of the garage. (link:"Check out the lock.")[(set:$visitedGarageAlready to true)(goto:"Check out the lock.")] [[Go back.->The girls hit the water!]] ] (unless: (track: 'professor', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'professor', 'loop', true) (track: 'professor', 'play') ]<br> The lock guarding the entrance to the garage consisted primarily of two parts - a smooth, featureless screen/keypad up at the top where a numeric code would be entered, and a large black metal knob. [[Try the knob.]] [[Have Mobo check it out.]] [[Have Naomi check it out.]] [[Have Charlie check it out.]] [[Go back.->Check out the garage.]] (unless: (track: 'professor', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'professor', 'loop', true) (track: 'professor', 'play') ]<br> Wyatt steps forward to try the knob to the door, fairly unsuccessfully. Taking a step back to dramatically stretch her arms, crack her knuckles, and grasp the doorknob more firmly than before, she was met with…about as much success, thanks to the door’s solid lock. <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">“Man! THAT is a well-made doorknob!” [[What the heck was that…?]] (unless: (track: 'professor', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'professor', 'loop', true) (track: 'professor', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Girl, you’re like…a robot, right? Can you, like…talk to the door?” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Ooh! Maybe! I would love to be friends with this door!” Pressing on the flat black surface above the knob, she revealed a panel of light-up number and letter combinations, not unlike the keys on a phone. <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Let’s see…M-O-B-O!” As she spoke, Mobo gently typed each letter of her name into the keypad before being met with a quiet but firm buzz to indicate a wrong code. <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“Mobo, why would Emmy’s grandpa make his password YOUR name?” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Oh! I didn’t think about that! Uhh…E-M-M-Y?” Trying again, Mobo was met with the same disinterested buzz. <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Neutral.png">“Okay Mobo, so it’s probably a combination of numbers and not letters. And you’re a robot, anyway! Can’t you just…hack into it?” <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">“Oh! I didn’t think about that!” Inspired, Mobo clumsily but forcefully jammed her entire index finger into the keyhole. In response, the keypad buzzed slightly louder than before, as a lot of concerning-looking sparks and smoke poured out of the lock. <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">“Darn! That’s how it works in the movies!” [[What the heck was that…?]] (unless: (track: 'professor', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'professor', 'loop', true) (track: 'professor', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Naomi, can you come check this crazy lock out?” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“what? why? how would I know anything about how this thing works” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Because you spend all day doing computer stuff, right? You’re always over there making boomer shooter levels and trying to program your weird oontz-oontz music! You’re like one of the smartest people I know, unfortunately!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“uhhh so that’s real nice of you to say but absolutely none of those things have anything to do with picking locks or anything” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“Ugh, come ON Naomi, can’t you even be the COOL kind of nerd who can, like, hack stuff? How am I ever gonna get you to break into my school and change my grades now?” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"oh wow that would be hilarious if I could do that" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"like, I'd change all your grades to read F-A-R-T in order down the report card" [[What the heck was that…?]] (unless: (track: 'professor', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'professor', 'loop', true) (track: 'professor', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Charlie.png"> “Okay, so what we COULD do is try to get the keys to light up, and then we can check for fingerprints." <img src="./images/Charlie.png"> "Depending on the clarity of the fingerprints, we can figure out which numbers get pressed most often, and figure out the correct order from there!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“why do you know how to do that” [[What the heck was that…?]] (unless: (track: 'professor', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'professor', 'loop', true) (track: 'professor', 'play') ]<br> A sudden gust of wind and an awful cackling from behind them got the girls to drop what they were doing and turn right around. They were greeted by the unexpected sight of a very tall, well-defined woman with purple skin and white hair wearing oddly revealing armor. She was accompanied by what seemed to be an endlessly-spinning sphere with a gleaming, reflective, almost metallic surface. The two of them floated several feet above the ground, accompanied by a continuous (and strong) wind. “I should thank you girls”, the woman began in a husky feminine voice, dripping with sarcasm. “Here I’ve been, trying to discover the location of the professor's wretched equipment, when all I had to do was wait for the four of you to bring his granddaughter back here!” <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“Who the heck are YOU?!” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png"> “Yeah, and why aren’t you wearing a lot of clothes?” “ENOUGH!” the levitating woman cried before turning to the sphere. “Come, my monster Morogisa! Crush them before I return to claim the prize we seek, and then you and I can be rid of this wretched dimension forever!” she commanded with a theatrical sweep of her right hand, directing the spherical kaiju in the direction of the girls. [[Here it comes!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ] <br> The spherical kaiju Morogisa approaches the girls, whirling and thrashing about while sudden arcs of lighting strike out from across their surface, scorching all they touch! <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“I dunno if we’re gonna be able to feed *this one* any action figures, girls!” [[Have Bunny talk to the kaiju!->Morogisa Bunny success]] [[Have Wyatt attack the kaiju!->Morogisa outside attack success]] [[Have Naomi parry the kaiju’s attack!->Morogisa outside parry success]] [[Have Mobo use her powers on the kaiju!->Morogisa outside powers success]] [[Check out the monster with your KATS!->Morogisa outside KATS]] (if: $hasPancakes is true)[[Offer the monster a pancake?]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> As Morogisa whips through the air across the yard, Bunny runs to escort tiny little Emmy to safety, shielding her from debris along the way. Wyatt steps out in front of the girls, summoning an almost too-long broadsword into her hand from out of subspace. Planting both of her feet into the ground at shoulder-width in a baseball stance, Wyatt draws her arms back. With a loud metallic *clang!*, she drives the flat part of her sword into the side of the kaiju, sending him ricocheting backwards across the yard, leaving several massive holes along the way. The recoil of her unorthodox blunt-side sword impact sent Wyatt tumbling gracelessly across the yard in the opposite direction of Morogisa, prompting her to dust herself off and pretend like nothing happened. <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png"> “PHEW! I mean…I knew I could do it! I don’t think they’re gonna stay down for long, though!” [[What do we do now?!->Morogisa fight end passage]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> As Morogisa whips through the air across the yard, Bunny runs to escort tiny little Emmy to safety, shielding her from debris along the way. Naomi steps out in front of the girls, removing both of her hands from her deep jacket pockets and raising them into the air in front of her. Surrounded by shimmering, crackling purple light, a large barrier of translucent purple energy rockets upwards around her just in time to send Morogisa ricocheting backwards across the yard, leaving several massive holes along the way. <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"so long, *ping pong*" [[What do we do now?!->Morogisa fight end passage]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> As Morogisa whips through the air across the yard, Bunny runs to escort tiny little Emmy to safety, shielding her from debris along the way. Mobo steps out in front of the girls, her hands placed in a slight triangle shape right in front of her. <img src="./images/Mobo Determined.png">"We are not women of violence! But I'm afraid you have left us NO CHOICE!" <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">"LOVE AND PEACE MOBO JUSTICE BLASTER! As light and energy gathered around the particle throwers built into her hands, she let loose with an impressive display of rubbery, barely-controlled orange-and-blue particles. The blast collided with Morogisa’s whirling center, sending them skipping backwards across the surface of the yard, leaving several massive impact craters along the way. [[What do we do now?!->Morogisa fight end passage]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> *ding! ASSIGNED DESIGNATION: Morogisa and Zenlas TRAITS: physical durability, electrical field manipulation, centrifugal force click!* <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“I’m going to call this one “reflections in a horrible steel ball-monster”” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png"> *“WHAT THE FRICK ARE YOU DOING, THIS THING IS GONNA SQUISH US, AND YOU’RE JUST OVER HERE PLAYING WITH YOUR PHONE?!”* <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“hey come on, I just wanted to get a picture, you guys got this handled” [[Have Wyatt attack the kaiju!->Morogisa outside attack success]] [[Have Naomi parry the kaiju’s attack!->Morogisa outside parry success]] [[Have Mobo use her powers on the kaiju!->Morogisa outside powers success]] (if: $hasPancakes is true)[[Offer the monster a pancake?]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> Bunny gently approached the roaring, whirling sphere in front of her, using her best “here kitty, kitty” voice. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png"> “Awww, hey there, big roundy buddy! I bet you’re just tired of getting bossed around by that gross lady in the weird outfit, aren’t you?” Reaching into her backpack, she produced a pancake from her seemingly-unending plastic baggie full of them. Before she had a chance to offer it, however, the monster violently zapped it out of her hands with a blast of his lighting! <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Cry.png"> “Wow! This one is a LOT meaner than usual!” <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“You alright, Bunny?! I don’t think we should try to feed this one!” [[Attack the kaiju!->Morogisa outside attack success]] [[Parry the kaiju’s attack!->Morogisa outside parry success]] [[Use your powers on the kaiju!->Morogisa outside powers success]] [[Check out your KATS!->Morogisa outside KATS]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Cry.png">“EMMY! Oh my gosh are you okay?!” “Oh yeah, I’m fine Miss Bunny, thank you for keeping me safe” Emmy replied, nearly in tears at the idea of her favorite magical girls coming to her rescue. <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“Alright girls, they mean business, and I don’t think the usual stuff is gonna work this time!" <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">"We gotta get rid of this thing and fast, before it uses us like the blinky things on a pinball table!” “Oh!” started Emmy. “My grandpa and Mr. Kaz used to make a bunch of stuff to fight monsters back in the day!" "Maybe there’s something in his garage we can use! I don’t know how to get us in there, but I have a spare key for his house!” she suggested, fishing out a long thin fabric necklace with a house key on it, clearly tied there by her mother. <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“cool, yeah, I don’t think any of us have any better ideas, let’s hide out in the house and figure it out from there” With that, the girls found themselves frantically unlocking the front door before clumsily tumbling into the foyer of the beach house, and then slamming the door behind them like characters in a horror movie, convinced that the front door will stop the monster. (link:"Check out the first floor.")[(set:$emmyBirthdayCode to false)(set:$momBirthdayCode to false)(set:$visitedStudyAlready to false)(goto:"Check out the first floor.")] (link:"Check out the second floor.")[(set:$emmyBirthdayCode to false)(set:$momBirthdayCode to false)(set:$visitedStudyAlready to false)(goto:"Check out the second floor.")] (unless: (track: 'professor', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'professor', 'loop', true) (track: 'professor', 'play') ]<br> The first floor of the house was pretty well-kept aside from the thin layer of dust that accumulates during the days when Emmy and her mother aren’t around. Three deceptively large rooms stretched out in front of the girls, each of them lined with a style of green carpeting that hadn't been popular in decades. [[Check out the living room.]] [[Check out the kitchen.]] [[Check out the study.]] [[Go back to the main room.->Beach house entryway return passage.]] (unless: (track: 'professor', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'professor', 'loop', true) (track: 'professor', 'play') ](set:$visitedBathroomAlready to false) <br> A well-carpeted staircase leads the girls up to the second floor. Before them stretched out a small hallway leading into three rooms; two bedrooms of slightly different sizes, and a modest bathroom at the end of the hall. [[Check out the hallway.]] [[Check out the master bedroom.]] [[Check out the smaller bedroom.]] [[Check out the bathroom.]] [[Go back.->Check out the first floor.]] (unless: (track: 'professor', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'professor', 'loop', true) (track: 'professor', 'play') ]<br> The front door of the house opened directly into the living room. Surrounding the girls were some well-loved furniture (including one of those giant recliners that every grandpa seems to own eventually), a coat rack and key hangers near the door, and a dusty old record player on a small side table near the TV and recliner. [[Check out the coat rack.]] [[Check out the key hangers.]] [[Check out Grandpa’s sitting area.]] [[Go back.->Beach house entryway return passage.]] <br> The girls approach the kitchen, and after some brief fumbling, find the lightswitch. In front of them appeared an incredibly normal-looking kitchen, although one with a little more tile and brass fixtures than they were used to. Before they could take too much time to enjoy it, however, a sharp gust of wind blows a nearby window open, and a sudden shock of lightning blasts forth, heralding the return of Morogisa! <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“THIS JERK AGAIN? Ugh, can’t you wait OUTSIDE until we figure out how to kick your butt?” [[Have Wyatt attack the monster!->Morogisa kitchen attack failure]] [[Have Naomi parry the monster!->Morogisa kitchen parry half-success]] [[Have Mobo use her powers on the monster!->Morogisa kitchen powers success]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> (if:$visitedStudyAlready is false)[As the girls fumbled for the lightswitch, the study mostly seemed to contain ceiling-height bookshelves crammed with books of various sizes, ages, and conditions, as well as a very nice-looking high-backed computer chair in front of an ornate wooden desk. Upon this desk sat a very large, old, and long-disused computer. [[Check out the computer.]] [[Check out the bookshelves.]] [[Try out the fancy chair.]] [[Go back.->Check out the first floor.]] (if: $DuchampsComputerPassword is true)[[Log into his computer?]] ] (else-if:$visitedStudyAlready is true)[The girls return to the study. [[Check out the computer.]] [[Check out the bookshelves.]] [[Try out the fancy chair.]] [[Go back.->Check out the first floor.]] (if: $DuchampsComputerPassword is true)[[Log into his computer?]]] <br> The girls return to the entryway of the house. [[Check out the first floor.]] [[Check out the second floor.]] (unless: (track: 'professor', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'professor', 'loop', true) (track: 'professor', 'play') ]<br> The coat rack held, unsurprisingly, a lengthy, multi-pocketed, military-style wool longcoat. Naomi, unable to resist, found herself rifling through the pockets, finding nothing but a few of those hard candies in the strawberry wrapping, and a long-expired coupon to a nearby Coney Island restaurant. <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">“Oh wow! Are those strawberries? The Professor says I can’t have those because he thinks it might not be good for my system, even if I dipped them in chocolate.” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“I gotta be honest, Mobo, despite appearances to the contrary, these don’t actually taste that much like strawberries.” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png"> “Weird! Why would the Professor have them, then?” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“stuff like this just magically starts showing up in your pockets, or at your house, when you get old.” [[Check out the key hangers.]] [[Check out Grandpa’s sitting area.]] [[Go back.->Beach house entryway return passage.]] (unless: (track: 'professor', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'professor', 'loop', true) (track: 'professor', 'play') ]<br> The small wooden rack of key hangers stood just above Wyatt’s head, and almost looked handmade, in that way a lot of older wooden goods do over time. Hanging from each of the pegs were what looked to be a spare key to the front door of the house, a car key, and a small card holder on a keyring, the perfect shape for an address card in case your keys or backpack get lost. Inspecting the card holder, Wyatt found a small scrap of paper. It was blank on one side, but turning it over revealed a small handwritten note reading “GARAGE REMINDER: MY THREE FAVORITE DAYS”. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Hey Emmy! What do you think your grandpa’s three favorite days were?” Emmy thought as hard as she could, but wasn’t able to come up with an answer. <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Oh! I bet one of them is Thursday! Thursday is a fun day!” [[Check out the coat rack.]] [[Check out Grandpa’s sitting area.]] [[Go back.->Beach house entryway return passage.]] (unless: (track: 'professor', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'professor', 'loop', true) (track: 'professor', 'play') ]<br> Bunny wanders over to the side of the room with the recliner, the side table, and the TV. The TV was one of those huge, waffle-screened, wood-paneled TVs that were all the rage for a few years, while the record player on the table was clearly a much older and well-loved model. Nearby sat a long-unused coffee cup reading “GRANDPA, YOU’RE MY BEST FRIEND”, among a lot of books and a couple framed photographs. [[Check out his record collection.]] [[Check out the books.]] (link:"Check out the photographs.")[(set:$emmyBirthdayCode to true)(goto:"Check out the photographs.")] [[Go back.->Beach house entryway return passage.]] (unless: (track: 'professor', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'professor', 'loop', true) (track: 'professor', 'play') ]<br> Professor Duchamps’ record collection looked like it was mostly a lot of…old people music. Bunny didn’t recognize any of the names, but the covers were all just a lot of older men (or groups of men) wearing suits, frequently with mustaches, almost all of them either holding acoustic guitars or petting dogs. [[Check out the books.]] [[Check out the photographs.]] [[Go back.->Beach house entryway return passage.]] (unless: (track: 'professor', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'professor', 'loop', true) (track: 'professor', 'play') ]<br> The professor’s book collection seemed fairly fitting for a professor. The stack on the side table consisted mostly of lengthy hardcover books discussing particle physics with beautiful images of the cosmos on the cover. Near these was a small paperback where a square-jawed man (apparently named “John Glames”) stood protectively in front of a frightened-looking woman while a strange silhouette descended upon them. [[Check out his record collection.]] [[Check out the photographs.]] [[Go back.->Beach house entryway return passage.]] (unless: (track: 'professor', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'professor', 'loop', true) (track: 'professor', 'play') ]<br> (set:$emmyBirthdayCode to true) Two framed photographs sat on the side table. One looked to be of Emmy and her younger brother, the other Bunny could only guess was a slightly younger version of Emmy’s mom, judging by the fact the woman had a similar haircut to Bunny’s own mom when she was younger. Picking up the photograph of Emmy and her brother, Bunny gave a small yelp when she thought she had broken the frame, but it turned out the bottom of the frame was entirely missing, causing the photograph to gently flit to the floor. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Cry.png">“Hey Emmy I’m super sorry, but - wait a second…” As she said this, Bunny saw two different sets of digits on the back of the photograph - 28 and 11. Emmy ambled over to inspect the pictures, and quickly put together that the two numbers represent her and her brother’s birthdays - July 28th for her, and August 11 for her brother. (if: $emmyBirthdayCode is true and $momBirthdayCode is false)[<img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Emmy, that’s GREAT!” That’s already two of the numbers! Do you have any idea what the third one could be?” Try as she might to remember, Emmy was no help, because when you’re that age, do you really care about any birthday other than your own? [[Go back to the first floor.->Check out the first floor.]] [[Check out the second floor.]] ] (else-if: $emmyBirthdayCode is true and $momBirthdayCode is true)[<img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Emmy, that’s GREAT! That’s all three of the numbers! Now let’s get over to that garage and make that big scary jerk leave your grandpa’s house alone!” [[Head back to the garage!]] ] (unless: (track: 'professor', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'professor', 'loop', true) (track: 'professor', 'play') ]<br> After peeping their heads out to confirm Morogisa wasn’t lying in wait, the girls blundered their way across the small gap between the front door and the garage to confront their greatest challenge yet: the electronic lock on the door. <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“hey uhhh, I don’t wanna be a party pooper, but did we ever figure out what order the numbers were supposed to be in, or what” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“UGH! I hate numbers! Okay, so…maybe it’s youngest to oldest? Or favorite to least favorite?! I don't know!" <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">“Looking! I think Morogisa is coming back!” Mobo was right - Morogisa had whipped around from the back of the house, whirling in place with a lighting and fury the girls hadn't seen in their previous encounters! Panicking, the girls decided to try… [[28 08 11]] [[08 28 11]] [[11 28 08]] (unless: (track: 'professor', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'professor', 'loop', true) (track: 'professor', 'play') ]<br> The computer itself was one of those huge, heavy, beige-colored towers from back in the days when computers were still kind of a new thing that not everyone had yet. A thin layer of dust covered the heavy, equally-beige mouse keyboard, next to which sat a lovingly framed black-and-white photo of a German Shepherd. [[Check out the dog picture.]] [[Check out the bookshelves.]] [[Try out the fancy chair.]] (link:"Go back to the study.")[(set:$visitedStudyAlready to true)(goto:"Check out the study.")] (if: $DuchampsComputerPassword is true)[[Log into his computer?]] <br> The bookshelves were lined with numerous tomes and volumes, just as many of them fiction as non-fiction. Hardcover books about physics, softcover adventure novels starring some beefy guy in a suit named “John Glames”, old magazines about people building airplanes in their own garage, and other similar publications stretched out from the floor to the ceiling across numerous matching wood bookcases. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Wow! What if there’s like…a secret door hidden here, and we just gotta pull the right book? Like in the movies!” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Sick, right?" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“yeah but that would also suck super hard because it would take friggin’ forever, and only Mobo is tall enough to reach the top shelves anyway” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Besides, what if that monster comes back and we all get killed surrounded by a bunch of science books? I don’t want people thinking I died being a nerd!” [[Check out the computer.]] [[Try out the fancy chair.]] (link:"Go back to the study.")[(set:$visitedStudyAlready to true)(goto:"Check out the study.")] (if: $DuchampsComputerPassword is true)[[Log into his computer?]] (unless: (track: 'professor', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'professor', 'loop', true) (track: 'professor', 'play') ]<br> Bunny, shoving poor Naomi aside, launched herself into the chair. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">“One side, suck-o, Bunny’s about to take a load off!” Instead of reclining deep into the cushion, however, Bunny found herself suddenly sitting up straighter than she ever had in her life. Turns out the Professor’s chair was one of those expensive ‘ergonomic’ chairs where every single part of it is adjustable, the kind you only see in catalogs they mail to executives at huge businesses. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“What the HECK is this? How come this guy’s chair is from the year 3000 but his computer is, like, the first computer ever built?” [[Check out the computer.]] [[Check out the bookshelves.]] (link:"Go back to the study.")[(set:$visitedStudyAlready to true)(goto:"Check out the study.")] (if: $DuchampsComputerPassword is true)[[Log into his computer?]] (unless: (track: 'professor', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'professor', 'loop', true) (track: 'professor', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Look, I’m never usually one for cybercrime, but…maybe there’s something in his computer that could help?” <img src="./images/Charlie.png">“I have no such problems. One side!” Hopping down from Bunny's shoulders, Charlie pressed the giant orange power button and slowly typed S-A-R-G-E with his paws on the keyboard. The computer slowly blinked to life, revealing an ancient OS with a rudimentary interface. Across the interface were a series of scattered documents and spreadsheets with titles like “S-CLASS SPECIES TRACKING - SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN”, “HYPERPOINT APPEARANCE RATES”, and “RETROTRONIC MEASUREMENTS”. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Uh...I don’t think some of these are real words, and none of it says “OPEN GARAGE HERE”, so I think we can turn the man’s computer back off now.” (link:"Go back to the study.")[(set:$visitedStudyAlready to true)(goto:"Check out the study.")] (unless: (track: 'professor', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'professor', 'loop', true) (track: 'professor', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Aww! I love German Shepherds!” (if:$emmyBirthdayCode is true)[<img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Wait a second, we should try to open that one too, maybe the last numbers are his dog’s birthday or something” This resulted in the four of them all clumsily trying to open it at once, leading it to smash to the ground, sending glass flying about the place. Gently picking the picture up, Wyatt flipped the image of the dog over to see another handwritten note, reading “PASSWORD: SARGE”. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Oh. OH! Sarge must be his dog’s name, and that must be his computer password! Doesn’t help us, but it’s nice to see someone love his dog so much.” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“also this guy totally needs to stop writing important information down on the backs of pictures of his loved ones” (set: $DuchampsComputerPassword to true) (link:"Go back.")[(set:$visitedStudyAlready to true)(goto:"Check out the study.")] [[Log into his computer?]] ] (if: $emmyBirthdayCode is false)[ The picture of the dog, while handsome and well-photographed, didn’t seem to be of any help to the girls. <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">"I bet if that dog were here, HE'D know how to get into the garage!" (link:"Go back.")[(set:$visitedStudyAlready to true)(goto:"Check out the study.")]] <br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Hey Bunny! How about you go talk this thing out of eating us like you usually do?" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">"Why is this whole thing *my* problem now?!" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">"Hey there, uhhh...you big ol' ball-buddy! I bet you're just tired of that mean lady in the shoulderpads bossing you around, huh?" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"Maybe we can just get you out of here and take you some place with a bunch of, uh, food and electricity, like...Naomi's house?" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"what the heck, don't just volunteer my electricity like that" As Bunny got closer to the monster, they responded by *whirling* in anger and *blasting* lightning bolts everywhere. Nobody was hurt, but it was far too close a call for anyone to be comfortable with. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png"> "AHH! Wyatt, don't send me over there to get electrocuted to death! I dunno what their problem is, but I don't think the usual stuff is gonna help!" [[What do we do now?!->Morogisa fight end passage]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> Clearly irritated by the whole thing, Wyatt again summoned her broadsword and ran towards the whirling monster in the window. <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“COME ON, WE’RE TRYING TO HELP OUR FRIEND HERE!” What she didn’t consider, however, was that the window was far too small for her to really accomplish anything. In frustration, she hopped up onto the windowsill and started swinging her sword wildly out the window… …which got her zapped by lightning for her troubles, sending her flying into a smoldering heap at the other end of the kitchen. <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">“Oh…COME ON…” [[Have Naomi parry the monster!->Morogisa kitchen parry half-success]] [[Have Mobo use her powers on the monster!->Morogisa kitchen powers success]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> Seeing the monster lurking in the window, Naomi took a step forward. <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“hey buddy, listen, I know you’re mad about getting bossed around by that floating lady, but we’re kinda doing something here” As she reached the halfway point between each kitchen wall, her arms raised into the air, surrounded by swirling purple wisps of energy, until they came together and created a perfectly rectangular purple barrier, the exact size of the window. This caused Morogisa to frustratedly bang their entire body against the barrier. <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“if any of the rest of you girls got a plan now would uhhh be a pretty cool time to tell ol’ Naomi” [[Use your powers on the monster! -> Morogisa post-parry kitchen powers]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> Mobo steps in front of the girls with an almost apologetic look on her face. <img src="./images/Mobo Determined.png">“I am sorry! We don’t usually do this sort of thing to monsters! But you are really getting in the way!" <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">"PEACETIME MOBO BUSTER!” As she cries this out, Naomi uses her powers to throw the window all the way open, just in time to let Mobo throw a series of lasers out the window. While many of them missed, Mobo was mostly firing in an attempt to simply scare Morogisa off - which it did, however briefly! [[Let’s get out of here!->Check out the first floor.]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“uhhh, any second now girls” Mobo steps in front of the girls with an almost apologetic look on her face. <img src="./images/Mobo Determined.png">“I am sorry! We don’t usually do this sort of thing to monsters! But you are really getting in the way!" <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">"PEACETIME MOBO BUSTER!” As she cries this out, Naomi uses her powers to throw the window all the way open, just in time to let Mobo throw a series of lasers out the window. While many of them missed, Mobo was mostly firing in an attempt to simply scare Morogisa off - which it did, however briefly! [[Let’s get out of here!->Check out the first floor.]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> As a way to get from room-to-room, the second-floor hallway performed its duties well. It would’ve been strictly utilitarian except for the presence of a small curio cabinet containing a framed photograph, a small wooden Buddha, and what appeared to be some commemorative plates on small plastic stands. [[Look at the picture.]] [[Look at the wooden statue.]] [[Look at the plates.]] [[Go back.->Second floor return passage]] (unless: (track: 'professor', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'professor', 'loop', true) (track: 'professor', 'play') ]<br> The master bedroom featured a large, comfy-looking bed, placed in front of a wall-sized print of a beautiful forest scene. Across from it sat an ornate wooden desk covered in various research materials, with a small adjacent bookcase. [[Check out the bed.]] [[Check out the desk.]] [[Check out the bookcase.]] [[Go back.->Second floor return passage]] (unless: (track: 'professor', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'professor', 'loop', true) (track: 'professor', 'play') ]<br> The girls enter a smaller bedroom. A tall bunk bed stands in the corner, as well as a few long-disused clothes dressers and toy boxes. The height, color scheme, and overall design of the furniture indicated it was for use by children. “This is the room I would stay in when my mom would bring me over!” Emmy explained joyfully. “I wonder if my favorite video tape of the cartoons my grandpa recorded for me is still in here? I forgot all about that!” As Emmy ran off to rummage through any belongings that may have remained in the spare room, the girls heard an unwelcome sound: the ever-familiar whooshing of Morogisa, the spherical kaiju, looming ominously in the small window near the bunk beds! [[Have Wyatt attack the monster! ->Morogisa bedroom attack failure]] [[Have Naomi parry the monster! -> Morogisa bedroom parry success]] [[Have Mobo use her powers on the monster!->Morogisa bedroom powers failure]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> (if:$visitedBathroomAlready is false)[<img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">”Wow, there’s a lot of neat stuff in here! This cologne smells great! How come your grandpa had so many razors if he grew a beard?” <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“Mobo, get out of there! We can’t just go through a man’s bathroom after he disappeared!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“wow dang look at these glass shampoo bottles, this is like some stuff you see at an antique store” <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“NAOMI! MOBO! GET OUT OF THE BATHROOM!” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">“Geez Wyatt, why are you taking the bathroom so seriously?” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“...because I have to pee and I didn’t want to wait for them to finish rifling through his stuff.”] (else-if:$visitedBathroomAlready is true)[<img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“Wyatt! Do you have to pee AGAIN?”] (link:"Go back.")[(set:$visitedBathroomAlready to true)(goto:"Second floor return passage")] (unless: (track: 'professor', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'professor', 'loop', true) (track: 'professor', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png"> “Oh my gosh! Emmy…is this your grandpa and Kaz back when they were like…young and handsome?” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“Eww! Wyatt, you can’t just tell someone their grandpa is *handsome!*” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“also there’s no way that’s Kaz, because he has always been old, ever since he started existing” Try as they could, the girls couldn’t seem to find any important numbers on the back of this picture, nor could they quite comprehend the image of Kaz with that much hair. [[Look at the wooden statue.]] [[Look at the plates.]] [[Go back to the second floor.->Second floor return passage]] (unless: (track: 'professor', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'professor', 'loop', true) (track: 'professor', 'play') ]<br> The statue was a beautiful, well-worn carving of a traditional sitting Buddha. A small plaque right next to it indicated it came from sometime in the 1600s. None of the girls were brave enough to inspect it any further, which was fine because they were confident it wouldn’t have helped on their quest anyway. [[Look at the picture.]] [[Look at the plates.]] [[Go back to the second floor.->Second floor return passage]] (unless: (track: 'professor', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'professor', 'loop', true) (track: 'professor', 'play') ]<br> A closer inspection of the plates revealed them to be collectible plates from //Photon-9//, a popular science fiction series from decades ago. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png"> “Ugh, I HATE that show, my mom used to have a huge crush on the one with the beard and she’d never shut up about it.” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“I love that show, there’s like an episode where everyone on the ship de-evolves into spider monsters or something, it totally rules” Nothing else about the plates seemed at all helpful. [[Look at the picture.]] [[Look at the wooden statue.]] [[Go back to the second floor.->Second floor return passage]] (unless: (track: 'professor', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'professor', 'loop', true) (track: 'professor', 'play') ]<br> The girls return to the area at the top of the stairs. [[Check out the hallway.]] [[Check out the master bedroom.]] [[Check out the smaller bedroom.]] [[Check out the bathroom.]] [[Go back.->Check out the first floor.]] (unless: (track: 'professor', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'professor', 'loop', true) (track: 'professor', 'play') ] (unless: (track: 'professor', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'professor', 'loop', true) (track: 'professor', 'play') ]<br> With an exaggerated flop, Bunny threw herself on top of the bed. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">“Alright, girls, you can handle the rest of this, right? Ol’ Jonesy here is ready for a nap.” <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“Bunny, you have ten seconds to get off that comforter before I have Mobo just pick you up. We can’t let Emmy see her heroes sleeping on the job, can we?” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“UGH, FINE!" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"...but I’m only doing it because I love Emmy.” Despite Bunny reluctantly pulling herself off the bed, Charlie had managed to already curl up for a nap, in that way that cats can seemingly fall asleep anywhere, at any time. [[Check out the desk.]] [[Check out the bookcase.]] [[Go back to the second floor.->Second floor return passage]] (unless: (track: 'professor', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'professor', 'loop', true) (track: 'professor', 'play') ]<br> Atop the desk sat a charmingly old-fashioned green reading lamp with an equally old-fashioned radio. Strewn across the desk were an expensive-looking silver and black dive watch, a desk-sized calculator, and a framed photograph. (link:"Check out the picture.")[(set:$momBirthdayCode to true)(goto:"Check out the picture.")] [[Check out the bed.]] [[Check out the bookcase.]] (unless: (track: 'professor', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'professor', 'loop', true) (track: 'professor', 'play') ]<br> Bunny glanced over the titles on the spines of everything lining one of the Professor’s numerous bookcases, and didn’t find a single thing she recognized. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“UGH, can’t this guy read anything cool? I don’t even think half of these are real words! What the heck is a *retrotron*?” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Bunny, Kaz tried to explain that you weeks ago, it’s the basis for how we get our powers -” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“You know I refuse to take in any new information, Wyatt! And even if I did, I CERTAINLY wouldn’t retain it!” [[Check out the bed.]] [[Check out the desk.]] [[Go back to the second floor.->Second floor return passage]] (unless: (track: 'professor', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'professor', 'loop', true) (track: 'professor', 'play') ]<br> Inspecting the picture, the girls found what appeared to be a picture of Professor Duchamps as a much younger man, holding a small, swaddled up baby in a hospital room, while a woman smiled with exhaustion from a nearby bed. Emmy’s face brightened with recognition as she looked upon the picture. “Oh my gosh! This must be the day my mom was born!” Sure enough, a helpful timestamp in the corner indicated a date of February 08 with the year smudged off. (if: $emmyBirthdayCode is false and $momBirthdayCode is true)[<img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"Emmy! I bet that’s one of the numbers we need to get back into the garage! Now we just have to find the other two!” [[Go back.->Second floor return passage]] ] (if: $emmyBirthdayCode is true and $momBirthdayCode is true)[<img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Emmy! You did it! That’s the last two numbers we need! Let’s get back to that garage!” [[Head back to the garage!]] ] (unless: (track: 'professor', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'professor', 'loop', true) (track: 'professor', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Girl, I appreciate the confidence, but…did you see the size of that sword I’ve been using?" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"There is NO WAY I’m gonna get anything done with a window that size, let alone an Emmy-sized bedroom.” <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png"> "No offense, Emmy." [[Have Naomi parry the monster! -> Morogisa bedroom parry success]] [[Have Mobo use her powers on the monster!->Morogisa bedroom powers failure]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“oh my gosh you guys, I am *so sick* of this jerk” As Morogisa reared back to build up speed and try to smash into the window, Naomi’s barrier took the exact shape and size of the window. This was just enough to send Morogisa flying backwards upon impact, the energy shield holding strong against the sudden blow. [[Great call, let’s get out of here!->Second floor return passage]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Oh no! Bunny, you know I’m…kind of a bad shot sometimes! What if I accidentally blow up some of Emmy’s stuff, or Naomi, or something? It’s really small in here!” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">“You could probably blow up Naomi, that’s fine.” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“hey uhhh wow okay” [[Have Wyatt attack the monster! ->Morogisa bedroom attack failure]] [[Have Naomi parry the monster! -> Morogisa bedroom parry success]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> A gentle *bzzt* from the keypad indicated the wrong code, prompting the smooth digital keypad to blink, almost taunting the girls to try again. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“WHY IS THIS TAKING SO LONG, WE’RE ABOUT TO GET CRUSHED OVER HERE!” The girls then decided to try… [[08 28 11->wrong garage code 2]] [[11 28 08]] (unless: (track: 'professor', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'professor', 'loop', true) (track: 'professor', 'play') ]<br> A gentle *bzzt* from the keypad indicated the wrong code, prompting the smooth digital keypad to blink, almost taunting the girls to try again. “WHY IS THIS TAKING SO LONG, WE’RE ABOUT TO GET CRUSHED OVER HERE!” The girls then decided to try… [[28 08 11->wrong garage code 2]] [[11 28 08]] (unless: (track: 'professor', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'professor', 'loop', true) (track: 'professor', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">“Ah-HA! See! Youngest to oldest! I knew it! Bunny Jones, you are truly America’s Sweetheart.” (set:$hasSonicDistorter to false) While Bunny was busy patting herself on the back, Wyatt quickly shoved everyone in through the garage door, slamming it behind them. (set:$hasEmmyActivator to false) <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“I don’t know how many more times we’re going to fool ol' Pinball-for-Brains out there by closing doors in their face." <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">"If there’s something in here that can get us out of this mess, we gotta find it, and fast!” (set:$hasHyperpointSynchro to false) After finding a cord to pull and turn the light on, the girls found themselves confronted by two long worktables covered in seemingly random parts and junk, as well as a massive… *thing*, in the center of the room, unhelpfully covered up by a tarp. [[Check out the left table.]] [[Check out the right table.]] [[Check out the big tarp thing.]] (unless: (track: 'professor', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'professor', 'loop', true) (track: 'professor', 'play') ]<br> The *bzzt* sounded once more from the keypad, although the girls would all swear it sounded like they were being mocked. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“GREAT! I’m gonna die here outside some old man’s garage, stuck here with YOU losers!" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Cry.png">"At least I can die knowing Emmy thought I was the absolute coolest thing ever..." The girls then decided to try… [[11 28 08]] (unless: (track: 'professor', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'professor', 'loop', true) (track: 'professor', 'play') ]<br> (if:$hasSonicDistorter is false)[The table to the girls’ left is covered in a thick layer of electronic bric-a-brac, including meters, fuses, unused circuit boards, and other equipment the girls had no hope of recognizing. In the center of the table, propped up on a small display stand cobbled together out of wood pieces and PVC chunks, was a lengthy black tube nearly covered in wires heading in all directions, with a grip on the underside and what appeared to be a microphone poking out of the other end. A small, handwritten note nearby read “SONIC DISTORTER”. (link:"Check out the Sonic Distorter.")[(set:$hasSonicDistorter to true)(goto:"Check out the Sonic Distorter.")] [[Go back.->Inside garage return passage]]] (else-if:$hasSonicDistorter is true)[The table to the girls’ left is covered in a thick layer of electronic bric-a-brac, including meters, fuses, unused circuit boards, and other equipment the girls had no hope of recognizing. [[Go back.->Inside garage return passage]]] (unless: (track: 'professor', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'professor', 'loop', true) (track: 'professor', 'play') ]<br> (if:$hasEmmyActivator is false)[The right table was covered in what appeared to be long-discarded, unfinished prototypes of kaiju-catching equipment. The devices took various forms, including a backpack from which protruded two long poles with a net strung between them... ...some kind of ridable pogo stick with a grappling hook that could launch out from underneath... ...and a frame of a bicycle with a series of helicopter blades attached to the back, with a note reading “NEVER RIDE” taped to the handlebars. In the center of the table, however, sat a very large and outdated cell phone, with a small placard reading “EMMY’S ACTIVATOR - WHEN SHE’S READY” sitting nearby. Attached to the phone were any number of dials, meters, and fuses, which gave it a very ‘homemade prototype’ quality. (link:"Emmy, is this yours...?")[(set:$hasEmmyActivator to true)(goto:"Emmy, is this yours...?")] [[Go back.->Inside garage return passage]]] (else-if:$hasEmmyActivator is true)[The right table was covered in what appeared to be long-discarded, unfinished prototypes of kaiju-catching equipment. None of the girls had the courage to try any of these clearly-unfinished (and clearly-unsafe) devices out for themselves. [[Go back.->Inside garage return passage]]] (unless: (track: 'professor', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'professor', 'loop', true) (track: 'professor', 'play') ]<br> The girls approach the large, tarp-covered object in the far back of the garage, up against the wall. The hidden device’s true purpose became no clearer as they got close, due to the various lump shapes protruding every which way from the tarp. A small, handwritten note pinned to the fabric was their only clue. In hastily-written handwriting, it read: “PROTOTYPE HYPERPOINT SYNCHRONIZER - DO NOT USE WITHOUT SUPERVISION, IT MAY SEND YOU INTO ANOTHER DIMENSION” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“ha ha, sick, I want to know what this thing does” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“*I DON'T*, NAOMI! I didn’t come all this way to get sucked into another dimension! Besides, it’s making Mobo all weird!” As the girls approached the machine, Mobo had frozen into place, a dazed look in her eyes, with her hands glowing an ominous purple color. <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">“Do you girls hear, like...a small buzzing?" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"What? No, I can only hear Ball-master outside thrashing around." <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"Oh great, Mobo's hearing sounds from outer space or something." (link:"Check out the Hyperpoint thing.")[(set:$hasHyperpointSynchro to true)(goto:"Check out the Hyperpoint thing.")] [[Go back.->Inside garage return passage]] (unless: (track: 'professor', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'professor', 'loop', true) (track: 'professor', 'play') ]<br> The girls return to the center of the garage. [[Check out the left table.]] [[Check out the right table.]] [[Check out the big tarp thing.]] (unless: (track: 'professor', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'professor', 'loop', true) (track: 'professor', 'play') ]<br> (if:$hasSonicDistorter is false or $hasEmmyActivator is false or $hasHyperpointSynchro is false)[<img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Was Emmy’s grandpa making, like…monster-hunting equipment in here? That’s so sick!” Turning over the index card revealed some hastily-written instructions for use: *"FOR USE ON KAIJU ONLY. CREATES A TEMPORARY STUNNING EFFECT THROUGH APPLIED USE OF SOUNDWAVES. TRY NOT TO USE IT AROUND FRAGILE MATERIALS - REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR COFFEE CUP!"* <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Okay wait a second, I don’t wanna go out there and just start blasting at it!” <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png"> “No way, this should just knock it out for a second until we can think of something!” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">”What do you think, girls, should we go try it or keep looking around at everything else?” [[Try out the Sonic Distorter!]] [[Keep looking around the garage.->Inside garage return passage]]] (else-if:$hasSonicDistorter is true and $hasEmmyActivator is true and $hasHyperpointSynchro is true)[<img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Was Emmy’s grandpa making, like…monster-hunting equipment in here? That’s so sick!” Turning over the index card revealed some hastily-written instructions for use: *“FOR USE ON KAIJU ONLY. CREATES A TEMPORARY STUNNING EFFECT THROUGH APPLIED USE OF SOUNDWAVES. TRY NOT TO USE IT AROUND FRAGILE MATERIALS - REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR COFFEE CUP!”* <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Okay wait a second, I don’t wanna go out there and just start blasting at it!” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“No way, this should just knock it out for a second until we can think of something! I think I got a plan - let's get outside and send this big weirdo back home!" [[Open up the door and confront Morogisa!]]] (unless: (track: 'professor', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'professor', 'loop', true) (track: 'professor', 'play') ]<br> Summoning up all their courage, the girls opened the garage door and confronted Morogisa. Sonic Distorter gripped tightly in her hand, Wyatt stepped forward. <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">“Alright, suck-o, it’s time to go night-night!” With that, she pulled the trigger on the grip of the Distorter. A loud *woo-woo-woo* sound, accompanied by pulsating soundwaves that were somehow loud enough to be *visible*, all crashed against Morogisa’s sleek round frame. The force of the impact wobbled them back and forth in mid-air before dropping unceremoniously straight into the ground. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png"> “Did…did that work?” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“WHAT? THAT THING WAS SO LOUD, I CAN’T HEAR ANYTHING!” Before Wyatt could get a chance to ask again, Morogisa started ominously rocking back and forth on the ground, before suddenly springing up into the air, whirling angrily and sending blasts of lighting flashing in all directions! <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“NOPE! Didn’t work! Back in the garage, girls!” [[Back to the garage!->Inside garage return passage]] (unless: (track: 'professor', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'professor', 'loop', true) (track: 'professor', 'play') ]<br> A sudden burst of confidence in her eyes, Wyatt grabbed the inner handle of the garage door and flung it open with surprising ease. <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">“That’s right, BALL-Y! I think it’s time for YOU to ROLL ON OUTTA HERE!” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png"><img src="./images/Naomi.png"<img src="./images/Charlie.png"> "boooooooo" <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">"Yaaaaay!" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"so uhhh what’s the plan exactly!” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Oh! The plan! Right! Well, first we need to…” [[Stun the monster with the Sonic Distorter!->Sonic Distorter success]] [[Have Emmy use her bubble powers on the monster!->Bubble powers step 1 failure]] [[Activate the Hyperpoint Synchronizer!->Hyperpoint step 1 failure]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> (if:$hasSonicDistorter is false or $hasEmmyActivator is false or $hasHyperpointSynchro is false)[<img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Hey Emmy, uh, I dunno if you knew about this, but it looks like your grandpa left you something…?” Emmy, a look of equal parts excitement and confusion on her face, gingerly took the phone into her hands. Flipping it over a few times, she was just about to tell the girls she had no idea what it was, when suddenly she accidentally pressed one of the face buttons! The girls then watched a very familiar light overtake Emmy - it was the same combination of swirling, engulfing lights and energy that appeared any time they used their KATS to transform! As the light cleared, Emmy found herself standing there in a light pink outfit that resembled a cross between a magician’s stage outfit and a ballerina costume, suddenly wearing a pair of soft ears that made her resemble a baby deer and clutching a small golden wand with a large jeweled circle on the far side. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Sick! Emmy, check it out! You’re an Expander just like us! Your grandpa must’ve known somehow, and made you this super-old version of a KATS!” As Wyatt surmised on what was happening, Emmy began waving her wand around out of curiosity. This resulted in the girls suddenly being gently pelted with a long, frothing stream of…what appeared to be bubbles! “Oh my gosh!” Emmy cried. “I am SO SORRY! I didn’t know what was going to happen if I did that!” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Emmy, you have nothing to apologize for, Naomi kinda needed to wash that jacket anyway." <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"are you...supposed to wash jackets?" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"This is great! I still dunno what we’re gonna do about that big jerk outside, though...” [[Keep checking out the garage.->Inside garage return passage]]] (else-if:$hasSonicDistorter is true and $hasEmmyActivator is true and $hasHyperpointSynchro is true)[<img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Hey Emmy, uh, I dunno if you knew about this, but it looks like your grandpa left you something…?” Emmy, a look of equal parts excitement and confusion on her face, gingerly took the phone into her hands. Flipping it over a few times, she was just about to tell the girls she had no idea what it was, when suddenly she accidentally pressed one of the face buttons! The girls then watched a very familiar light overtake Emmy - it was the same combination of swirling, engulfing lights and energy that appeared any time they used their KATS to transform! As the light cleared, Emmy found herself standing there in a light pink outfit that resembled a cross between a magician’s stage outfit and a ballerina costume, suddenly wearing a pair of soft ears that made her resemble a baby deer and clutching a small golden wand with a large jeweled circle on the far side. <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">“Sick! Emmy, check it out! You’re an Expander just like us! Your grandpa must’ve known somehow, and made you this super-old version of a KATS!” As Wyatt surmised on what was happening, Emmy began waving her wand around out of curiosity. This resulted in the girls suddenly being gently pelted with a long, frothing stream of…what appeared to be bubbles! “Oh my gosh!” Emmy cried. “I am SO SORRY! I didn’t know what was going to happen if I did that!” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Emmy, you have nothing to apologize for, Naomi kinda needed to wash that jacket anyway." <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"are you...supposed to wash jackets?" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"But I still dunno what we’re gonna do about that big jerk outside.” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Actually, you know what, I think I do!” [[Open up the door and confront Morogisa!]]] (unless: (track: 'professor', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'professor', 'loop', true) (track: 'professor', 'play') ]<br> (if:$hasSonicDistorter is false or $hasEmmyActivator is false or $hasHyperpointSynchro is false)[Unveiling the machine from under the tarp, the girls encountered a strange combination of tubes, wires, and stereo equipment, all surrounding a large metal cradle with what appeared to be a large piece of quartz in the center. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Neat! Uh…what does it do?” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“The sign said it *sends people to other dimensions*, Wyatt, which is why we’re *not gonna mess with it*!” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“I dunno, what if we could use it to send that monster to another dimension? We just need to figure out how it works!” As though to answer her question, Mobo continued approaching the machine, addressing the other girls in a strangely flat voice, devoid of her usual excitement. <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">“Do you guys ever get that feeling like there was something really important you had to do, but you totally forgot what it was, but you just knew you had to do *something*?” As Mobo got closer to the Hyperpoint Synchronizer, the machine suddenly rattled to life, loudly shaking off years of dust and disrepair, accompanied by a loud humming. The machine, continuing to *rumble* back to life, suddenly began projecting a swirling, polychromatic vortex directly above the large quartz crystal in the center, sending debris flying all about the garage. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">"Hey, little Mobo, you maybe, uh...wanna step away from the world-ending machine for a second?" <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">"I...I..." <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">"...oh, okay! Hi!" As Mobo walked back across the garage towards the girls, the machine slowly ground to a halt, dissipating the portal. <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“ha ha, cool, we’re totally gonna open a black hole and unmake reality today” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Okay, I’m sure there’s SOME way we can use this thing to get rid of the monster, right? We just gotta keep looking around the garage!” [[Go back.->Inside garage return passage]]] (else-if:$hasSonicDistorter is true and $hasEmmyActivator is true and $hasHyperpointSynchro is true)[Unveiling the machine from under the tarp, the girls encountered a strange combination of tubes, wires, and stereo equipment, all surrounding a large metal cradle with what appeared to be a large piece of quartz in the center. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Neat! Uh…what does it do?” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“The sign said it *sends people to other dimensions*, Wyatt, which is why we’re *not gonna mess with it*!” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“I dunno, what if we could use it to send that monster to another dimension? We just need to figure out how it works!” As though to answer her question, Mobo continued approaching the machine, addressing the other girls in a strangely flat voice, devoid of her usual excitement. <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">“Do you guys ever get that feeling like there was something really important you had to do, but you totally forgot what it was, but you just knew you had to do *something*?” As Mobo got closer to the Hyperpoint Synchronizer, the machine suddenly rattled to life, loudly shaking off years of dust and disrepair, accompanied by a loud humming. The machine, continuing to *rumble* back to life, suddenly began projecting a swirling, polychromatic vortex directly above the large quartz crystal in the center, sending debris flying all about the garage. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">"Hey, little Mobo, you maybe, uh...wanna step away from the world-ending machine for a second?" <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">"I...I..." <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">"...oh, okay! Hi!" As Mobo walked back across the garage towards the girls, the machine slowly ground to a halt, dissipating the portal. <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“ha ha, cool, we’re totally gonna open a black hole and unmake reality today” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Wait! I’ve got it! I bet we can totally use this thing to send the monster back to wherever they came from! Girls, let’s go, I got an idea!” [[Open up the door and confront Morogisa!]]] (unless: (track: 'professor', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'professor', 'loop', true) (track: 'professor', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Bunny, quick! Grab the Sonic-thingy and let him have it!” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Okay, but if either me OR the monster blow up, I’m gonna be SO MAD…” Hesitantly following Wyatt’s instructions, Bunny raised the Sonic Distorter high in the air. Accompanied by a shrill, comical *woo-woo-woo* sound, the soundwaves emanated from the Distorter and collided with Morogisa, sending the monster crashing to the ground, inert. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“PERFECT! Okay, now we just gotta…” [[Have Emmy use her bubble powers on the monster!->Bubble powers success]] [[Activate the Hyperpoint Synchronizer!->Hyperpoint failure, Sonic Distorter success]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Emmy! Now’s your chance to help! See if you can launch your bubbles at the monster!” Wearing her bravest possible face, Emmy planted both feet in the ground and waved her wand in the air over her head, summoning up a mighty storm of foamy bubbles. The bubbles made their way gently over to Morogisa, and upon colliding with the monster they just… ...sort of stayed there, as though the monster was going through a gentle car wash. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Uhh…Emmy, you did great! Hang on, maybe we can try something else first…we should…uh…” [[Stun the monster with the Sonic Distorter!->Sonic Distorter success]] [[Activate the Hyperpoint Synchronizer!->Hyperpoint step 1 failure]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Mobo! Get back there and activate the Hyperpoint thing! Maybe we can get him sucked into the portal!” Giving a brisk salute, Mobo ran to the back of the garage. Unsure of how else to activate the machine, she simply grabbed onto the sides of the machine with both of her hands, summoning another multicolored vortex. Morogisa floated in place where they were initially, seemingly unaffected. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Crap, they must be too far away! Maybe we need to…” [[Stun the monster with the Sonic Distorter!->Sonic Distorter success]] [[Have Emmy use her bubble powers on the monster!->Bubble powers step 1 failure]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Emmy! Now’s your chance to help! See if you can launch your bubbles at the monster!” Wearing her bravest possible face, Emmy planted both feet in the ground and waved her wand in the air over her head, summoning up a mighty storm of foamy bubbles. Having been previously stunned to the ground by the Sonic Distorter, the bubbles washed around Morogisa’s prone form. The gentle onslaught of bubbles caused Morogisa to start slowly rolling back towards the garage, like dirt washing off of pavement during a rainstorm. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Quick, Mobo! Get back in the garage and activate the…portal thing!” [[Activate the Hyperpoint Synchronizer!->Hyperpoint success]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Mobo! Get back there and activate the Hyperpoint thing! Maybe we can get the monster sucked into the portal!” Giving a brisk salute, Mobo ran to the back of the garage. Unsure of how else to activate the machine, she simply grabbed onto the sides of the machine with both of her hands, summoning another multicolored vortex. The force of the portal kicked up a swirling cloud of equipment and debris flying every which way from inside the garage, but despite the force being generated, Morogisa remained stationary. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Crap, they must be too far away or too heavy or something! Maybe we need to…” [[Try the Sonic Distorter again?]] [[Have Emmy use her bubble powers on the monster!->Bubble powers success]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Mobo! Get back there and activate the Hyperpoint thing! Maybe we can get him sucked into the portal!” Giving a brisk salute, Mobo ran to the back of the garage. Unsure of how else to activate the machine, she simply grabbed onto the sides of the machine with both of her hands, summoning another multicolored vortex. The vacuum-like force of the portal sent the equipment and debris inside the garage flying every which way. Morogisa, with an asisst from Emmy’s stream of bubbles, rolled end-over-end briskly down the driveway back into the garage, before being unceremoniously pulled into the vortex, swirling around and disappearing like water going down a drain. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“YES! Ha HA! Take THAT, you big pinball of evil! Mobo, you can shut the machine down now!” <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png"> “Mobo…you can shut the machine down!” <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">“I tried! I’m not touching it anymore! I don’t know how it works!” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“MOBO, I SWEAR, IF YOU GET US ALL SUCKED INTO ANOTHER DIMENSION I’M GONNA FIGURE OUT HOW TO KICK YOUR BUTT!" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">"AND THEN WYATT AND NAOMI’S BUTTS TOO! EVERY SINGLE BUTT I CAN FIND!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"ha ha, we're totally gonna unmake reality with a black hole today, I knew it” And with that, the girls found themselves desperately clawing onto everything they could (including Mobo, who tried in vain to use her thrusters). The effort was too late, and they were soon drawn helplessly into the portal just as Morogisa was. [[Where the heck are we going?!->Episode 8 preview]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Girl, my ears still hurt from the last time, and I gotta be honest with you, I don’t think the monster is going anywhere.” [[Have Emmy use her bubble powers on the monster!->Bubble powers success]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> Falling through an interdimensional portal, that you found in your friend’s grandpa’s garage, is a...unique sensation. The girls were surrounded by a swirling miasma of colorful lights that nearly resembled a stained glass window being stretched out to create a tarp. As they fell, the four of them all the sensation of swimming against a current they couldn’t see or understand, towards - or away - from a destination they couldn’t possibly imagine. Or no destination at all, depending on how you looked at it. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“This sucks! I can't believe I'm gonna die in a portal because of you...goon-babies!" <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“Oh quit complaining, it’s not like you’re the only one that’s gonna die here!” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">"That doesn't change things! If Mobo had just turned the machine OFF..." <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">“I didn’t do it on purpose, don’t yell at me! I didn’t wanna get us all sucked in here!” <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“Stop yelling at Mobo, Bunny! It’s like being mad at a puppy, you know she doesn’t know *why* she’s in trouble!” [[Suddenly, a light!]] (unless: (track: 'other', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'other', 'loop', true) (track: 'other', 'play') ]<br> After however long and however far their trip through the portal, a bright light emerged at the end of the proverbial tunnel. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Quick! That light! See if we can all get over there, maybe it leads to somewhere more solid!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“don’t think we got a lot of choice here" Naomi was right - the girls were pulled towards the portal the way water finds itself pulled towards a drain. After a brief flash too bright to see through, the girls found themselves…still floating, but at least somewhere else this time. Any attempt to discuss their new surroundings proved fruitless, however, as the girls quickly learned they were floating in deep space. As Wyatt, Bunny, and Naomi held their breath in desperation, Mobo engaged her thrusters (seemingly out of instinct) and tried to communicate to the rest of the girls. <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">“-----! — — —- –? —- – — — —- –!” Her pleas went unanswered, largely due to the lack of air in space. Suddenly aware that she couldn’t communicate with her friends, even if she wasn’t completely clear as to why, Mobo desperately looked around for a solution, spotting two bright lights off in the distance. [[Wave to the bright lights!]] [[Try to float over to the lights!]] (unless: (track: 'other', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'other', 'loop', true) (track: 'other', 'play') ]<br> Worried about abandoning her friends, Mobo tried desperately to get the lights’ attention, whatever they may be. <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">“---! —- —-! – —---- —- —-!” Her shouts went unheard and unspoken, due to the lack of air. Soon enough, despite the silence, her frantic flailing attracted the attention of…someone gently drifting towards them in a clunky, well-worn, bright orange space suit, carrying several similar suits in tow. Silently, the be-suited figure helped the rest of the girls into the empty suits (with Mobo declining one due to her not *really* needing oxygen), and gestured slowly for Mobo and the rest to follow them. The girls, safely embraced in Mobo’s arms as the oxygen returned to their brains, found themselves carried towards a large silver form off in the distance. [[Is that a spaceship?]] (unless: (track: 'other', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'other', 'loop', true) (track: 'other', 'play') ]<br> Hurriedly gathering her friends up in her arms, Mobo activated her thrusters, and in a pink-and-blue flash she was headed in the direction of the light. She didn’t actually have a great plan as to what she was going to do when she got there, but this turned out not to be an issue. She soon saw someone (or something) gently drifting towards them in a clunky, well-worn, bright orange space suit, carrying several similar suits in tow. Silently, the be-suited figure helped the rest of the girls into the empty suits (with Mobo declining one due to her not needing oxygen), and gestured slowly for Mobo and the rest to follow them. The girls, safely embraced in Mobo’s arms as the oxygen returned to their brains, found themselves carried towards a large silver form not far from where they currently were. [[Is that a spaceship?]] (unless: (track: 'other', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'other', 'loop', true) (track: 'other', 'play') ]<br> As the girls got closer, the silver figure off in the distance revealed itself as some kind of spacecraft, or at least as close to one as they could see in their current groggy, oxygen-deprived states. The vessel itself combined the function of a spacecraft with the form of an ancient pirate’s vessel On the exterior, the vessel offered an ornate, narrow front end that very quickly opened up into a lengthy, wide middle, before terminating in a combination of fins, thrusters, and what appeared to be to be ornamental tails. Waving ominously, the silent figure in the spacesuit led the girls aboard before somewhat rudely ushering them through a brief series of hallways. Each of the hallways eventually pointed in the direction of a large room filled with consoles, surrounded by a lengthy round viewport. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Is...is this the bridge?" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"probably, this looks like the room you'd spend all your time in if you were on a TV show about spaceships" As they enter the bridge, their companion in the spacesuit removed their helmet to reveal a surprisingly short, humanoid figure. The figure wore a short purple haircut and matching eyeshadow, and was now aiming some kind of stubby, handheld laser tube at the girls. “Cap? Kesso? I found these four floating around just outside radar range without spacesuits. Whaddya wanna do with them?”, the figure asked in a serious, yet squeaky voice. A lanky figure, presumably Kesso, turned around in his chair with a shocked expression on his face. “Without…spacesuits? What the heck were y’all doing out there?” he asked in a thin, nervous voice. A booming call sounded from across the bridge. “Zell, you were right to bring them to us. Well, then? What exactly brings you to our desolate little corner of the galaxy?” [[Tell the voice the truth.]] [[Lie to the voice to make yourself sound cooler!]] [[Ask the voice to introduce themselves first.]] (unless: (track: 'other', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'other', 'loop', true) (track: 'other', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“Alright, SCARY VOICE! You wanna know why we’re here?!” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"I'm here because some JERK STATUE came to life and tried to eat this expensive cheese I was going to bring home to cook with!" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"And because of THAT, this total babe with wolf-ears told me I had to go downtown to this building where all the weirdos have to fight monsters!" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"So then they told me, Stinky, Dog-Ears, and Girl-Tron here to go all over the city, into every empty warehouse, dank party store, and expensive restaurant around, to get chewed on by a bunch of goblins!" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">"And it turned out we were doing such a *good job* at it, that they made me go to some old man's house where I had to break into his garage, and then Girl-Tron decided to open up a portal that got us sucked into another dimension!" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png"> *"Or so the sign claims."* The shadowy figure at the far end of the bridge took a moment to take in Bunny’s story. “Hmm. A far-fetched tale indeed, but the universe does hold such mysteries as to make it understandable. And what of your friends - Stinky, Dog-Ears, and Girl-Tron, as you called them? Do you back up this young woman’s tale of wander?” <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“Those…aren’t our names, but yeah, that’s pretty much what happened, sir.” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"hah, she called you "Stinky"" <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">"Naomi, I...*ugh*" “Sir?” laughed the voice, taking on a more melodious tone. “I fear I’ve forgotten myself, and you simply haven’t an idea whose presence you find yourself in!” [[Continue the conversation.->Captain Lutomsk reveal, told the truth]] (unless: (track: 'other', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'other', 'loop', true) (track: 'other', 'play') ]<br> Naomi and Wyatt elbowed each other and exchanged a series of conspiratorial glances, knowing that this might be their only chance to impress someone from outer space. <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">“My name is uh...Captain Wyatt! And these are my fearsome barbarian warrior queens! And we’re just about the toughest group of smugglers and raiders you’ve come across in this quadrant!” The voice chuckled. “Raiders? The four of you look like you’ve barely seen a day of combat in your lives!" "And unless those opulent, untarnished clothes you’re wearing happen to have been stolen from a transport full of sheltered wealthy Spacers, I very much doubt you’ve stolen anything other than a second dessert after dinner!” it continued in a thunderous tone. <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“hey, we’re totally hardcore, I have so many un-returned library books, my school says they’re not gonna let me walk when I graduate unless I give them all back -” “Try as you might, you bold young wanderers, I’m afraid I just don’t believe you," "But I will say, I see your bravery and unwavering resolve in the face of what must be a fairly trying situation, and for that you have my respect!” the voice continued, becoming deeper, yet with a subtle warmth and melody. [[Continue the conversation.->Captain Lutomsk reveal, otherwise.]] (unless: (track: 'other', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'other', 'loop', true) (track: 'other', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“Okay, you know what? NO, Mister Outer-Space-Big-Shot!" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"I’ve spent the last few weeks nearly getting eaten by monsters, yelled at by evil witch-ladies, and sucked into strange portals in some old man’s garage!" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png"> "Howzabout YOU come down here and introduce yourself to ol’ Bunny Jones, and maybe I won’t totally pop off on you?!” The small purple-haired one (evidently named Zell) took umbrage to this. “How DARE you address the captain that way, you…rabbit-eared nobody! Do you know the things he’s done?!” The voice sounded again before things could escalate. “Hah! Such boldness and resolve! This sort of audacity in the face of the unknown reminds me…of a younger me! I applaud your tenacity, young warriors.” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Wow! He called us warriors!” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Yeah, yeah. How about you step forward and introduce yourself, Mr. Big-Words?” [[Continue the conversation.->Captain Lutomsk reveal, otherwise.]] (unless: (track: 'other', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'other', 'loop', true) (track: 'other', 'play') ]<br> The source of the voice strides into view. Before the girls stood a tall, broad-shouldered humanoid figure, one with muscular arms and an elaborate uniform that would look right at home on some kind of ancient naval officer, but also one with enormous bird-like wings and an equally bird-like face, all made out of some kind of moving, living fire. His face was strangely human-esque, with a strong jaw and high, proud cheekbones, although the lines were somewhat broken up by the sharp beak and large avian eyes. In a voice normally reserved for vampires in cheaply-made movies, he bellowed, “I am the Starbound Pirate King himself, Captain Lutomsk! Scourge of Dirmiark-3! The sole survivor of Colony Omicron!” He paused briefly, to let the girls bask in awe. An awe which, to his hidden dismay, never came. Instead, a voice spoke up. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">“Sure, yeah, those all sound like planet names or whatever. You mind telling us exactly where in terms of time and space we might be right now?" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"We’re from a planet called Earth and it’s probably pretty far away from wherever we are right now.” The lanky one at the controls was about to chime in, “Well, sure, we’re in low orbit around Planet…” before being cut off by his purple-haired co-pilot. “KESSO!” Come on! Don’t spill anything about…you know, why we’re here!” instructed Zell, the end of the sentence coming in a low, conspiratorial voice. <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">“Wait, what? Are y’all doing Cool Space Pirate stuff here? Because we could be totally down to help!” Right on cue, a door opened from behind the girls. [[Who’s this, now?]] (unless: (track: 'lutomsk', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'lutomsk', 'loop', true) (track: 'lutomsk', 'play') ]<br> The source of the voice strides into view. Before the girls stood a tall, broad-shouldered humanoid figure, one with muscular arms and an elaborate uniform that would look right at home on some kind of ancient naval officer, but also one with enormous bird-like wings and an equally bird-like face, all made out of some kind of moving, living fire. His face was strangely human-esque, with a strong jaw and high, proud cheekbones, although the lines were somewhat broken up by the sharp beak and large avian eyes. In a voice normally reserved for vampires in cheaply-made movies, he nearly bellowed, “I am the Starbound Pirate King himself, Captain Lutomsk! Scourge of Dirmiark-3! The sole survivor of Colony Omicron!” He paused briefly, to let the girls bask in awe. An awe which, to his hidden dismay, never came. Instead, a voice spoke up. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png"> “Sure, yeah, those all sound like planet names or whatever." <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"You mind telling us exactly where in terms of time and space we might be right now? We’re from a planet called Earth and it’s probably pretty far away from wherever we are.” Looks of puzzlement crept over the faces of their three hosts. “Young wanderers! Before we discuss our current settings any further, perhaps you’ll indulge me with the story of how you found yourself drifting in space outside my vessel?” asked Lutomsk. The four girls then took turns stumbling over each other, trying to catch Lutomsk up on the series of events that led to them being aboard his ship, all blaming each other for what happened, seemingly in an attempt to avoid hurting Mobo’s feelings. Lutomsk nodded subtly, seemingly unfazed by the tale he had just been told. “Normally, a story as wildly spun as that is an immediate sign of deceit. But with the four of you, I can see the honesty behind your…genuine confusion.” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“"genuinely confused", sounds like us" Zell, the purple-haired second-in-command, spun her chair to talk directly to Lutomsk. “Boss, you’re really buying all this? You don’t think they’re here for…the cargo, do you?” Before the girls could ask what they were talking about, a door behind them suddenly opened. [[Who’s this, now?]] (unless: (track: 'lutomsk', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'lutomsk', 'loop', true) (track: 'lutomsk', 'play') ]<br> “Addnine! What are you doing here?” asked Lutomsk of the figure in the doorway. Turning to see who he was addressing, the girls saw a surprisingly-familiar figure: a pale, slender woman with long pink hair, wearing a soft lavender sweater with matching bottoms, all beneath a lengthy military-style parka that threatened to swallow her up into it. <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">“Wow! How come they're the same thing I am?!" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“yeah, but like…sad-looking" It was true - the woman shared a surface resemblance to Mobo, but there seemed to be a great sadness behind her eyes, the likes of which the girls weren’t sure if Mobo was capable of expressing (and found the thought to be far too depressing, even if she could). [[Talk to Addnine.]] [[Ask Lutomsk what’s going on here.]] (unless: (track: 'lutomsk', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'lutomsk', 'loop', true) (track: 'lutomsk', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Hey there! Uhhh…everything okay? We’re cool, I promise!” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“If this PERVERT BIRD-MAN is holding you against your will here, you let us know and we’ll smash him good!” Lutomsk smirked at the small rabbit-girl’s sudden threat. Much to his surprise, Addnine seemed to share in his delight, giggling softly as she replied. “Hm! No, I am here because I want to be. Lutomsk and his friends have been very kind to me.” Addnine explained with a smile. “There’s…people who have been looking for me for a long time, and Lutomsk has done a very good job making sure they can’t find me.” <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">“Asking! Who could be looking for you? Are they…bad?!” The light and smile seemed to fade from Addnine’s face. Zell stood protectively in front of her, crossing her arms in a defensive fashion, despite the height difference between her and the much-taller Addnine. “They’re the WORST, and they want poor Addnine’s powers for awful reasons, and we’re not gonna let it happen! Right?!” As she finished her sentence, she looked over at Lutomsk and Kesso for validation, both of whom nodded resolutely in agreement. Seemingly on cue, a series of alarms suddenly rang through the bridge! [[Trouble out in space!]] (unless: (track: 'lutomsk', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'lutomsk', 'loop', true) (track: 'lutomsk', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“Alright, Birdman, spill it!" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"Who is this nice lady, and why does she have to live on your space-boat?!” Gesturing to the young woman in the doorway, Lutomsk offered, “I think she’d rather have the chance to introduce herself!” The woman shifted nervously in her coat, before putting on her bravest face to talk to the girls. “My name is Addnine, and I’m also from Earth. Lutomsk and his friends have been very kind to me.” She eyed the girls anxiously before continuing. “There’s…people who have been looking for me for a long time, and Lutomsk has done a very good job making sure they can’t find me.” <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">“Asking! Who could be looking for you? Are they…bad?!” The light and smile seemed to fade from Addnine’s face. Zell stood protectively in front of her, crossing her arms in a defensive fashion despite the height difference between her and the much-taller Addnine. “They’re the WORST, and they want poor Addnine’s powers for awful reasons, and we’re not gonna let it happen! Right?!” As she finished her sentence, she looked over at Lutomsk and Kesso for validation, both of whom nodded resolutely in agreement. Seemingly on cue, a series of alarms suddenly rang through the bridge! [[Trouble out in space!]] (unless: (track: 'lutomsk', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'lutomsk', 'loop', true) (track: 'lutomsk', 'play') ]<br> Leaning out the nearest view-port, the girls saw a small formation of gleaming, single-person spacecraft rapidly approaching off (what they assumed was) the starboard bow. Lutomsk bent low over a radar monitor, a grimace on his face. “The Galactic Federation! It was only a matter of time before they found out I wasn’t going to uphold my end of the bargain to surrender Addnine! A pirate’s honor means not allowing the Federation to make decisions involving someone’s body!” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Hold on, so those are, like…space cops? And they’re gonna come take Space Mobo, or whatever her name is?” <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png"> “Sure sounds like it. *And I hate them already.* What can we do to help, cap’n?” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“also is there anything to eat on here or what, we’ll take that as payment” [[Take up your battlestations!]] [[Do something to distract the Federation!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju2', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju2', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju2', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"So...does this ship have any guns or anything we can use?" "Well, I mean...", Kesso began stammering, "uhhhh..." <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“oh come on, every good spaceship has lasers! man your own jackhammer, girls! Commander Naomi is on the bridge!” With an enthusiasm the rest of the girls had rarely ever seen out of her, Naomi threw herself over the armrest of the nearest chair on the bridge and started randomly smacking at buttons. <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“reverse the polarity of the neutron flow! point us towards an amalgamation of asynchronous space! activate Absolute Terror Field! rebuild neural linkage network!” As Mobo cheered her on and the rest of the girls watched in horror, Naomi’s efforts were rewarded with a brief flickering of the lights. As the lights returned, a small tube connected to her battlestation produced a small, apple-like fruit. <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">“Brilliant strategy, Commander Naomi, you’ve provided us all with a healthy lunch. Any plans for the space cops?” Naomi slunk further into her chair, apple in hand. [[Do something to distract the Federation!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju2', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju2', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju2', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Maybe we can…do something to get their attention while the Captain thinks of a plan? We’re pretty loud and hard to ignore, right?” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Thinking! What if I go out there to distract them! I kind of look like the girl they want, right? Maybe I can keep them busy!” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“Okay Mobo, but we’re all gonna go out there with you, because if you go die alone in space, I’m gonna KILL YOU!” Donning their spacesuits, the girls drifted out on lifelines towards the Federation spacecraft, smiling and waving politely. <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Hi! It’s me! I’m a *mysterious space lady!*” A voice echoed across their headset radios, evidently from one of the spacecraft. “SUBJECT N-89 DETECTED. RETURN THE SUBJECT OR FACE IMMEDIATE RE-EVALUATION.” Charlie, tucked up into Bunny’s spacesuit, climbed up on her shoulder so he could be visible from inside her helmet. <img src="./images/Charlie.png">"Re-evaluate THIS, dillhole!" As he shouted towards the spacecraft, he raised a paw to make the cat equivalent of a rude gesture. “RUDE GESTURE DETECTED. DEPLOY THE B.A.T.” came the reply from within one of the ships. [[Deploy the WHAT??]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju2', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju2', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju2', 'play') ]<br> With a loud clank, a launching bay door slowly rolled up the side of one of the Federation spaceships, allowing for a figure to roar and unfold into space in front of the girls. The B.A.T. turned out to be a large, metallic, winged drone, built from gleaming metal but with curved lines to lend it a more organic appearance. Approaching the girls cautiously, the B.A.T. cocked its ‘head’ back in an attempt to seemingly get a better look at them. A raspy digital voice announced “SCANNING FOR SUBJECT…SUBJECT UNCONFIRMED…SUBJECT UNCONFIRMED” across the girls’ helmet radios as it swept back and forth, briefly stopping on Mobo in confusion more than once. [[Try to talk to the B.A.T.!]] [[Have Mobo distract the B.A.T.!]] [[Attack the B.A.T.!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju2', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju2', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju2', 'play') ]<br> Bunny gently floated towards the B.A.T., her hands raised. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Mobo, back me up here! Can you, like…beam a message to this thing?” Mobo thought about it briefly and put her hands out, attempting to create some kind of wireless connection between her and the B.A.T. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“That’s right, weird little robo-bug! You can’t…CONFIRM the Subject is here, right?” The B.A.T. looked at Bunny and then Mobo, cocking its head like a dog who didn’t understand where the treats went. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“And if you can’t CONFIRM the Subject is here, you kinda…don’t need to be here, right? “SUBJECT UNCONFIRMED” was all the B.A.T. could say in reply. Mobo stood there wordlessly, arms outstretched, focusing as best as she could. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">“Do you even WANT to be here? Isn’t there something MORE fun you could be doing? Like exploring space, or watching movies, or just getting away from…THOSE jerks?” A general transmission came from one of the Federation vehicles: “UNAUTHORIZED NETWORK TRANSMISSION TO FEDERATION ASSETS DETECTED! STOP NOW OR YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF IN VIOLATION OF FEDERATION CHARTERS! RETURN THE B.A.T. AT ONCE!” The B.A.T. gave no indication of whether it could hear the girls or not. <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">“I don’t know if this is working! I’ve never done this before!” [[Have Mobo distract the B.A.T.!]] [[Attack the B.A.T.!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju2', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju2', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju2', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“MOBO! You kinda look like the lady they’re here for, right? Let’s see if we can convince this thing!” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Hey, little robot-monster! Look over here! It’s me! The nice lady you’re looking for, probably!” The B.A.T. attempted to scan Mobo, but in response could do nothing but repeat “SUBJECT UNCONFIRMED” over and over again. In response, Mobo began to dance as joyfully as she could in zero-gravity, as the B.A.T. continued to look back and forth between the girls and the Federation troops in confusion. With one final bark of “SUBJECT UNCONFIRMED”, the B.A.T. turned and…started flying off on its own out of frustration. “UHH…B.A.T…DISABLED?” broadcast a confused voice from one of the waiting patrol vehicles. [[Whatever you’re gonna do, Lutomsk, do it now!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju2', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju2', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju2', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“Great, so now we’re out in space, surrounded by a bunch of jerks who clearly have no problem trying to harass and arrest young women. Now what?” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Uhhhh…MOBO! LET ONE LOOSE!” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">"SURROUNDINGS DISRESPECTED! MOBO BUSTER!” On command, an orange stream of light disintegrated the glove right off her hand, flying towards the B.A.T. and the onlooking Federation vehicles. The B.A.T., surprisingly nimble for its size, simply flew above the beam. As it dodged, a wing from one of the Federation patrol ships was sheared clean off, sending the vehicle spiraling away. The ship's radio broadcasted the panicked shouts of its passengers across all channels, before abruptly stopping as it flew out of range. <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“cool, yeah, those guys seem like they’ll respond really well to opposing force, now what” [[Try to talk to the B.A.T.!]] [[Have Mobo distract the B.A.T.!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju2', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju2', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju2', 'play') ]<br> The commotion outside the ship gave Lutomsk’s ship a chance to maneuver into position. As the ship neared, a series of blinding lights emanated from the ship like it was trying to advertise some big new movie premiere. From the center of the ship, a huge, staticy projection of Lutomsk himself emerged from the ship. A squealing sound over everyone’s radios precluded Lutomsk’s booming voice. “Attention, lackeys of the Galactic Federation! As you can see, the Subject - as you *so rudely* refer to her - is well under the protection of both myself and these courageous young wanderers here!" "I’m sure I DON’T need to tell you that any further intrusion on your part will result in swift and decisive action from myself and my crew! Now will you run back to tell Admiral Blackford what I said, or should I tell him myself?” he finished, with a great confidence in his words. No further transmissions came from the remaining Federation patrol vessels, and after a pause, they all turned to leave one by one. Later, back on the ship, Bunny found herself incredulous. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“Wait…you mean there’s NO GUNS on this thing?! You just scared those jerks off by being mean to them?!” Lutomsk smirked. “I prefer to resolve my problems without violence, when possible.” Zell spun her chair around and hit him with the side-eye. “He means that we ran out of money to buy more ammo forever ago, and we’ve just had to pray that nobody was going to notice or call our bluff," she explained. “Well, yes, that too,” Lutomsk continued, “but they don’t need to know that! Now, in exchange for your help, I was going to ask you girls…what in the blazes?” Lutomsk’s question was interrupted by the girls suddenly being surrounded by a strange but familiar-looking purple energy. <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">“Uhh…girls? Looks like it’s happening again! Everyone hold on!” <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">“We can’t stop it! We don’t know how it works! Goodbye, everyone!” [[Where are we going now?!]] (unless: (track: 'lutomsk', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'lutomsk', 'loop', true) (track: 'lutomsk', 'play') ]<br> Upon phasing back into some kind of reality, the first thing the girls noticed is that they were all successfully breathing oxygen (except in Mobo’s case). The second thing was that, wherever they were, it was very…warm and hazy, with a decent amount of plant life here and there, and some unidentifiable structures off in the distance. <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“you know, I’m pretty sure I could’ve figured out that bird-guy’s weapon systems if you would’ve just given me a second” <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png"> “Whatever you say, Naomi Nukem." <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">"Any idea where we are, girls?” Wyatt’s innocent question was then suddenly and rudely interrupted by the appearance of a giant mechanical hand, clad in orange and white armor plating, reaching down towards the girls. [[Attack the giant hand!]] [[Try to talk to the giant hand!]] (unless: (track: 'ultraman', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'ultraman', 'loop', true) (track: 'ultraman', 'play') ]<br> Bunny had decided that enough was enough. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“Alright, you TALL JERK! I am SICK of getting blasted off to who-knows-where only to have some SPACE TURDS keep trying to boss me around!” With that, she launched herself into the sky, hammer in hand, swinging wildly. With a surprising nimbleness, the hand snatched her in midair as though it were catching a fly, cradling her gently in its palm while she continued screaming and flailing. <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">“Oh no! Bunny is all the way up there now!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“yeah and she’s probably expecting us to get her down” Despite Bunny's flailing, the hand remained shockingly steady as it lifted her up. Clearing the trees, she saw that the hand was attached to a large humanoid robot, sleek and angular in a way reminiscent of fighter jets, bristling with armaments. "PLEASE COME WITH ME," a deep and synthesized voice echoed from deep within the robot's inhuman head. "IT ISN'T SAFE HERE." [[Where is "here"?]] (unless: (track: 'ultraman', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'ultraman', 'loop', true) (track: 'ultraman', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Cry.png">“Listen, bud, I’m sorry, we’ve had a SUPER weird day, and we’d really appreciate if you just…give us a second to figure this out, okay?" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"Ah, geez, I can’t even tell if he can hear me. Mobo, would you go up there and tell this guy to lay off for a second?” Mobo activated her thrusters to try and meet the giant at eye-level. Clearing the trees, she saw that the hand was attached to a large humanoid robot, sleek and angular in a way reminiscent of fighter jets, bristling with armaments. <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Hi! Hello! Excuse me! My friends and I are from very far away and we were hoping…” In the middle of her question, the giant machine wordlessly raised his hand and gestured for Mobo to land on it. A deep and inhuman voice echoed from within the robot's visored head. "PLEASE COME WITH ME," the voice explained. "IT ISN'T SAFE HERE." [[Where is "here"?]] (unless: (track: 'ultraman', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'ultraman', 'loop', true) (track: 'ultraman', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">""Unsafe"? Buddy, *we* could've told you that! Now how about you tell us - AH!" Before Wyatt could finish her sentence, the machine scooped up all the girls with a shocking gentleness into its free hand, before activating a pair of massive thrusters on its back to take off into the sky. <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">"Wow! Now I know how you all feel!" The trip didn’t last long, and the girls found themselves gently sat down in a clearing, Inside the clearing was a group of what appeared to be humans in matching uniforms, surrounded by a number of scientific equipment, radar machines, and communications arrays. Behind them, the robot's chest slowly parted ways down the middle to reveal a cockpit, where a young pilot removed their helmet and waved down to the group below. "Hey, everyone!", the voice began in a young voice brimming with unexpected enthusiasm. "I found these four wandering around in the Restricted Zone!" One of the humans looked up to reply, “You did good bringing them back here, Wardy. Now get back on patrol, we need to see what the Teracers are up to!" Returning a salute and closing their mecha cockpit, the one called Wardy took off into the sky inside their mech, leaving the girls alone with these uniformed strangers. [[Try to introduce yourselves.]] [[Ask them to introduce themselves first.]] (unless: (track: 'other', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'other', 'loop', true) (track: 'other', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Uhh…hi! My name is Wyatt, and we’re…uh, Team 64, and…could you tell us maybe where in space or time we are?" Before she could continue, the serious-looking man with the facial scar and sunglasses turned to a muscular redhaired woman in a tank top and combat fatigues. “Ever, scan them, please. Let's make sure they haven't brought any unwanted guests back with them," he instructed. Ever saluted and crossed the small patch of ground between herself and the girls. “Yessir, Captain Aller! Everyone please hold still for a scan! K8-Y, if you would?" she asked of a small device in her hand, pronouncing its name like "Katy". A strangely-familiar digital voice emitted from the screen on the device, as a familiar-looking pink-haired sprite filled the screen. “Aye aye! K8-Y, activating particle scan!”, the device chirped cheerfully. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“Hang on, wait a second, you can’t just go scanning someone’s particles! I've had enough of particles these last few weeks to last me a lifetime!" The device projected a translucent yellow triangle of light that quickly passed up and down over the girls. As the light faded, K8-Y replied “Scan complete! Trace amounts of Particle R detected, but can confirm carbon base for four lifeforms, including one cat! The tall one seems to be largely mechanical! No Rigol readings detected!” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“I could’ve told you that! We’re all humans here, except Mobo!" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">"And Charlie, but he eats and farts like a human does." "It's true, sir", the one called Ever replied to her commanding officer. "She seems to be a mechanical lifeform more advanced than what we've seen here." <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">"That's me! I'm just a silly little guy!" [[What are we doing here?]] (unless: (track: 'other', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'other', 'loop', true) (track: 'other', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“Oh no, buddy! YOU gotta tell US what’s going on here first! We’ve dealt with enough inter-galactic nonsense for one day! SPILL IT!” Before she could continue, the serious-looking man with the facial scar and sunglasses turned to a muscular redhaired woman in a tank top and combat fatigues. “Ever, scan them, please. Let's make sure they haven't brought any unwanted guests back with them." Ever saluted and crossed the small patch of ground between herself and the girls. “Yessir, Captain Aller! Everyone please hold still for a scan! K8-Y, if you would?" she asked of a small device in her hand, pronouncing its name like "Katy". A strangely-familiar digital voice chirped cheerfully from the screen on the device, as a familiar-looking pink-haired sprite filled the screen. “Aye aye! K8-Y, activating particle scan!” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“Hang on, wait a second, you can’t just go scanning someone’s particles! I've had enough of particles these last few weeks to last me a lifetime!" The device projected a translucent yellow triangle of light that quickly passed up and down over the girls. As the light faded, K8-Y replied “Scan complete! Trace amounts of Particle R detected, but can confirm carbon base for three lifeforms! The tall one seems to be largely mechanical! No Rigol readings detected!” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“I could’ve told you that! We’re all humans here, except Mobo!" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">"And Charlie, but he eats and farts like a human does." "It's true, sir", the one called Ever replied to her commanding officer. "She seems to be a mechanical lifeform more advanced than what we've seen here." <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">"That's me! I'm just a silly little guy!" [[What are we doing here?]] (unless: (track: 'other', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'other', 'loop', true) (track: 'other', 'play') ]<br> Breathlessly, and without being asked, the four girls stumbled all over each other to (once again) explain how they got there and what has been going on, although this time with the inclusion of their encounter with Captain Lutomsk. The scar-faced man apologized for his rudeness and introduced himself as Captain Rence Aller of the Colony Expeditionary Force. He attempted to explain his current predicament to the girls - evidently, humankind was embroiled in some kind of war with an alien race known as the Teracers who resent humankind migrating farther out into space. His squadron was out searching for Teracer fortifications when they were suddenly ambushed by a cloaked Teracer cruiser, and in the ensuing battle, the both of them have crashed on an unknown planet where they find themselves awaiting rescue. Adding to their problems, they've been running into trouble from the rapidly-mutating wildlife known as "Rigolians" that call this planet home. <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">"Man, everyone we've met lately has so much...*lore*. I kinda love it!" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">"I can't follow any of this nonsense. I wish my bear were here, he loves explaining giant robot backstories to me." <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">"When will the big mech come back? I liked not being the tallest robot in the room for once!" [[Ask what they’re doing out here.]] [[Ask about their familiar-sounding computer friend.]] [[Where did Wardy go?]] (unless: (track: 'other', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'other', 'loop', true) (track: 'other', 'play') ]<br> Ever sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose. “Unfortunately, we've been trying to salvage enough equipment to make a long-range distress call back to our command vessel, the *Tears of Shastasheen*." "Until then, we've just been hunkering down here in the wreckage of our ship, the *Velouria*, and trying to find out what the Teracers were doing in this sector," she finished with a sigh in her voice. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“So…you’re just stuck hanging out here by this mountain until your ride shows up?" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Man, this is like the outer-space version of when your mom forgets to pick you up from kendo class or something!" A lithe cadet, wearing a name tag reading "Lase Arrith", spoke to the girls while keeping their face buried in a series of nearby monitors. "Captain! I'm sorry to interrupt our, uh, *new friends*, but Wardy just messaged me back - sounds like he's got a sighting of a much larger Rigolian than usual!" they explained anxiously. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">*"Larger than usual?!* Oh god, don't tell me they have monsters *here* too!" [[Ask about their familiar-sounding computer friend.]] [[Where did Wardy go?]] [[What was that?!->Planet Enid alien appearance.]] (unless: (track: 'other', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'other', 'loop', true) (track: 'other', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“So, uh…K8-Y, her name was? What was the deal with the little voice we heard?” “That’s our AI assistant!” explained Lase, a young cadet with their face buried in an array of monitoring equipment. “She helps us track for alien activity, helps us study chemicals and other materials in the area, and she can even answer our emails for us if we’re busy!” they elaborated. Ever turned to the girls and reactivated the K8-Y she scanned them with previously. Upon a closer inspection, what they saw was the pixelated head and shoulders of a young woman in a headset with lengthy pink hair. <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">“Wow! Check it out, she’s like another little Mobo, but like…if Mobo was trapped in one of those cheap handheld games they used to sell at supermarket checkouts!” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">“*Ugh,* Mobo is gonna turn out to be like…God-Queen of the Universe or something, isn’t she.” <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">“I hope not! That sounds like a lot of work!" [[Ask what they’re doing out here.]] [[Where did Wardy go?]] [[What was that?!->Planet Enid alien appearance.]] (unless: (track: 'other', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'other', 'loop', true) (track: 'other', 'play') ]<br> Rence looked off into the sky and spoke with an almost fatherly pride. "Wardy happens to be the best pilot among us. I took his assignment aboard our vessel VERY seriously, and...while I hate relying on him so much, he and his skills flying our sole surviving Psibeamer are the reason we're all still alive," he explained. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Yeah, sounds like y'all got a real monster problem out there." <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">"We're kinda experts in taking care of monsters ourselves, you know. We've got a lot of them back home, but it's nothing we can't handle." <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">"WYATT! Why would you tell them that?! They might have us actually try to *do something*!" <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">"It's called *marketing*, Bunny! How many other magical girl teams can say they've advertised themselves in *another dimension*?" [[Ask what they’re doing out here.]] [[Ask about their familiar-sounding computer friend.]] [[Where did Wardy go?]] [[What was that?!->Planet Enid alien appearance.]] (unless: (track: 'other', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'other', 'loop', true) (track: 'other', 'play') ]<br> Disrupting the girls’ friendly rapport with the Expeditionary Force, a great rumbling shook the ground they all stood on! “High concentration of Particle-R detected! Alien presence manifesting!” chirped K8-Y from her plastic container. Her prediction was correct: in a field not far from the girls suddenly appeared a tall, insect-like creature with two great pincers and glowing oval eyes, appearing in a shower of yellow and purple sparks, storming angrily towards everyone’s current location. Captain Rence glanced up in concern. "It's a new evolution of a Rigolian! Wardy and the Psibeamer are too far out to respond to it! Ever, see if you can round up some -" <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">“Hang on, cap'n! Who needs a big robot when you have Team 64? Giant monsters are our speciality, let us handle it!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“also you have to promise to feed us when we're done” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Bunny! Mobo! Get up there and do your thing!” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">*"Why do I have to do it?!"* <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">"Because monsters like you! It's either that or get pincer-ed to death!" [[Talk to the monster, I guess?]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju2', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju2', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju2', 'play') ]<br> Grumbling under her breath (and impossible to hear over the woosh of Mobo’s thrusters all the same), Bunny found herself rocketing skyward, dangling helplessly from Mobo’s arms, feet swinging helplessly through the air. Not long after, she found herself face-to-face with the creature from earlier. Their eyes seemed to meet in the middle as though it was wearing a visor of some kind, and its mouth took the form of a sharp beak like you see on certain kinds of turtles. <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Hi! We’re Mobo and Bunny! We’d like to be your new friends!" <img src="./images/Mobo Determined.png">"But that means you can’t step on our other new friends!” The monster eyed them curiously, not with any hint of danger in their eyes, simply an unknowing interest in these strange two beings trying to communicate with them. <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">“Alright, Bunny! Maybe you should say something now! Monsters seem to like you!” Bunny decides to... [[...ask if the monster is hungry?]] [[...ask if the monster is tired?]] [[...ask if the monster is mad at the Expeditionary Force?]] [[Scan the monster with her KATS! -> Planet Enid alien KATS]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju2', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju2', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju2', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Everyone gets hangry sometimes! And you probably eat, I dunno, diamonds or gasoline or something, right?” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Wow, Bunny! It's like when you told me we could use our powers to rob a jewelry store or gas station someday! I didn’t know it was to help feed a monster!” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">“Uh…yeah, exactly! That’s why!” The monster responded with some dissatisfied grumbling, before swatting their tail against the ground in frustration. Trees fell, and she could hear the Expeditionary Force, Wyatt, and Naomi shouting from below as things fell around them. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Okay, okay, calm down little buddy! Uhhh…” Bunny then asks… [[...ask if the monster is tired?]] [[...ask if the monster is mad at the Expeditionary Force?]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju2', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju2', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju2', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">“Maybe you’re just sleepy? Does my big big monster baby need a nap?” The monster responded to Bunny’s well-intentioned cooing about as well as one might expect, angrily stomping around in a circle, causing the ground below them to begin splintering. (In Bunny’s defense, the monster looked like they briefly considered her offer, at the very least.) <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Uhh…okay! So naptime isn’t for everyone!” In response, the monster’s eyes began glowing an ominous red, clearly preparing to use some previously-unseen power. Bunny then decides to... [[...ask if the monster is hungry?]] [[...ask if the monster is mad at the Expeditionary Force?]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju2', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju2', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju2', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Oh! Are you mad because there's two groups of robot-army weirdos having a big space war on your planet?!" The monster, seemingly understanding her, took a look over Bunny’s shoulder towards where the Expeditionary Force was waiting, and then began snorting and growling angrily. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Okay! We’re getting somewhere! Did they…uh…wake you up too early? Did they play a bunch of music you don’t like really loudly? Did they blow up your house or something?” That last question encouraged another reaction from the huge, insectoid monster before them. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“So is your house…down here on whatever planet this was?” The monster seemed to nod and growl in response when she pointed upwards. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">“Okay! I think I got it! You stay RIGHT here, you sweet little baby! Mwah!” [[Go back to the Expeditionary Force and ask what happened!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju2', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju2', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju2', 'play') ]<br> Before Bunny and Mobo even landed, Bunny was already flailing and screaming in mid-air. Eventually, Wyatt was able to calm her down so she could explain to the Expeditionary Force what the monster (seemingly) told her was going on. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png"> "You guys only keep getting attacked by these poor kaiju babies because you're starting a *space war* right where they live!" Rence looked up at the monster, arching his eyebrows in concern. "I hadn't considered that, but you're right. We're just as invasive on their world as the Teracers would be on ours. Maybe...maybe this is just a lesson to humanity about our place amongst the stars." <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"Yeah, yeah, have your revelations later! Right now you gotta figure out how to keep your BIG STINKY ROBOT from blowing up their home and food supply!" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"Maybe go help that poor baby rebuild its shelter, and then...isn't there a Montana on this planet you could all move to or something? “Montana…?” came Rence’s confused reply. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“You know! Somewhere really flat and dry where nobody ever actually goes, except guys who drive trucks bigger than they need to be! FIGURE IT OUT!” As though to punctuate Bunny’s diatribe, the girls found themselves surrounded by the same purple energy that haunted them from before. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Do y’all hear, like…a woman’s voice shouting at us from far away?” <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">“Sorry, everyone! We can’t stop it! We don’t know how it works!” [[Where to, now?!]] (unless: (track: 'ultraman', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'ultraman', 'loop', true) (track: 'ultraman', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">"Wow! Look at us! Team 64, Intergalactic Peacekeepers! THAT'S one for the resume!" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">"Why do you care what happens to those dillweeds? We were on their planet for like an hour!" Before Wyatt could respond, the girls found themselves returning to whatever new reality awaited them. Looking around, they found themselves in what was perhaps the most pleasant environment they’ve found themselves in so far - a leafy glade in the middle of a beautiful, verdant forest. A sun from overhead seemed to coat everything in a beautiful golden glow, and the sky overhead was a peaceful lavender with what appeared to be a small collection of floating structures high overhead. Amidst the girls, glowing fairies seemed to flutter here and there, while a collection of comfortable forest animals meandered about unbothered. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Oh wow! This place looks great!” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“This place SUCKS ON TOAST, Wyatt!" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Cry.png">"I’m sleepy, I’m hungry, I don’t know where we are, and now I’m stuck here with YOU chodes in some field that looks like it’s from a novel that has a dragon on the cover! At the edge of their field sat a denser wooded area, a small collection of growth and underbrush, a still, calm lake that stretched out for a distance behind them, and a well-worn path leading to the east. <img src="./images/Charlie.png">"Girls, I normally hate camping, but this is some of the *comfiest* grass I've ever seen. Who's ready for interdimensional naptime?" [[Check out the woods.]] [[Check out the underbrush.]] [[Check out the lake.]] [[Head for the path.]] (unless: (track: 'other', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'other', 'loop', true) (track: 'other', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Okay, so…let’s not go TOO deep, but we should get a sense for where we are and what kind of nonsense we’re going to expect - let’s check out the woods a little bit.” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“alright, me and Bunny got your back if there’s like an owlbear or something” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“No we do not! I don’t even know what that is, but I know I’m outta here if I see one!” To the girls’ delight, the small wooded area around them did not contain owlbears, but instead... ...normal bears, happily enjoying some apples and keeping to themselves. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Cry.png"> “Okay, I take it back, this is the cutest thing I’ve seen in days, and now I *love these bears*." <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">"I’m still gonna throw Naomi to distract their mom if she comes at us, though.” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“worse ways to go" [[Check out the underbrush.]] [[Check out the lake.]] [[Head for the path.]] (unless: (track: 'other', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'other', 'loop', true) (track: 'other', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">“Alright, so if there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s that there's always good starter items in bushes and trees! Let’s go check it out!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"oh, cool, I always wanted to know what Ether tastes like, I bet I have to re-up my MP by now, or something" Rustling through the nearby shrubbery, the girls came upon what appeared to be a small family of round, mushroom-headed creatures, happily lounging in the dirt. [[Talk to the mushroom people!]] [[Check out the woods.]] [[Check out the lake.]] [[Head for the path.]] (unless: (track: 'other', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'other', 'loop', true) (track: 'other', 'play') ]<br> The lake itself was shockingly blue and pristine, even compared to the various lakes the girls had all seen back in Michigan. Approaching the lake, the girls caught the slightest bit of splashing and commotion, although it was commotion that seemed a little too sedate and deliberate to have been caused by fish - and the sight of a fin none of the girls had experienced before only confirmed these suspicions. <img src="./images/Charlie.png">"One of you with thumbs oughta catch me a fish, I've never had one direct from the source." <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Do you think there’s, like…mermaids in there?” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Cry.png">“WHAT?! I’VE ALWAYS WANTED TO MEET A MERMAID, THEY’RE SO PRETTY!” Bunny dashed to the edge of the lake and dunked her head straight underneath the surface. Through the crystal blue water awaiting her, she saw exactly what she hoped to - several beautiful mermaids just vibing on some rocks not far underneath the surface of the lake. One of them waved politely in confusion, and in her excitement, Bunny tried her best to communicate through the water. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Cry.png">“BLUG BLUG A BLOO BLOO BLAH BLUG BLUG! GLUB BLUG BLOO BLOO!” This was met with a lot of polite smiles and nods from the mermaids, until Wyatt came to pull Bunny out of the lake for fear of her drowning in her own enthusiasm. (And water.) [[Check out the woods.]] [[Head for the path.]] (unless: (track: 'other', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'other', 'loop', true) (track: 'other', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Alright, we’ve clearly got some idyllic fantasy forest where they stick all the low-level casual players, which means the REAL juicy stuff is probably up this path towards the first village, right?” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"CHARLIE! Wake up! We're outta here!" <img src="./images/Charlie.png">"Oh, come on, I just found the perfect sunbeam..." After collecting Charlie from his nap spot, the girls took to the path. The journey up the path was fairly uneventful, other than the occasional encounter with what the girls hoped were mosquitos, as well as the presence of the sun bearing down high in the sky. While the girls weren’t exactly keeping track of how long they’d been walking, it wasn’t long into their journey before they heard a commotion not far off into the distance. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Do you hear, like...shouting and swords clinking? Are we about to have a random bandit encounter?!" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"Wy Wy, I've known you for how long?" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"and you have mistaken *so many things* for the sounds of a swordfight over the years..." <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">"No, I totally mean it this time!" [[Check out the commotion.]] [[Try to get Wyatt to ignore it.]] (unless: (track: 'other', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'other', 'loop', true) (track: 'other', 'play') ]<br> Bunny was so overwhelmed by the sight of the small, mushroom-capped dwellers under the bush, she was nearly moved to tears. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Cry.png">“You’re all my babies now, and I love you all *so much*.” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Uh…it looks like they’re trying to reply, but they’re too little for us to hear them. Mobo, can you tell what they’re saying? Do you have, like…robo-hearing?” Mobo leans forward, a look of curiosity on her face in an attempt to hear the mushroom-people. <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Oh! I can kind of hear something! It sounds like they’re saying…*meep-meep-mee, meep-meep-mee-mee!*” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">“Thanks, Mobo.” [[Check out the woods.]] [[Check out the lake.]] [[Head for the path.]] (unless: (track: 'other', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'other', 'loop', true) (track: 'other', 'play') ]<br> The girls approached the direction of the commotion. Past a small thicket of trees, they came upon the sight of what appeared to be two large, well-armored humanoid wolves menacing a small family of local villagers. <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">“Watch this, gals. I bet those goons are gonna try to steal something from the villagers and present it to some horrible despot in tribute, or something.” One of the wolf guards patted the scabbard of his sword menacingly. “That’s right. We’re here on behalf of the Emperor, and it looks like SOMEONE is behind on their taxes!” he asked with a sneer. Right on cue, the scared father, holding his youngest child in his arms, replied “But…but we’ve paid our taxes! The Emperor is bleeding our shop dry!” with all the courage his voice could muster. <img src="./images/Naomi.png"> “how did you know this would happen" <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">"I'm good like that." <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">"It's because she's a huge dork that loves books about hot medieval dudes on horses." [[Try to intimidate the goons!]] [[Try to talk the goons into leaving!]] (unless: (track: 'other', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'other', 'loop', true) (track: 'other', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“What? No way! What if there’s like a damsel in distress, or a wizard who needs us to save them from an even stronger, more evil wizard?" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"We gotta go check it out! It’s what heroes would do!” <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">“Besides, I’ve always wanted to get in a swordfight on a lonely forest road!” [[Check out the commotion.]] (unless: (track: 'other', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'other', 'loop', true) (track: 'other', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“The Emperor, huh? What would the Emperor say if he found out his two worst soldiers got their butts handed to them by a wandering band of adventurers?” <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">"Oh wow! We get to meet adventurers, too?!" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">"She means us, Mobo." The two wolf-guards turned, snarling. “What was that about *butts*? You dare speak to sentries of the Empire like that?!” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“We do! And if you keep bothering this nice family of villagers -" <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">*" - hello, we’re here to save you -"* <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">" - you’ll have to contend with two of the deadliest warriors and two of the most horrible witches this realm has ever seen!” <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">"Warriors and witches?!" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">"She means us again, Mobo." <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"yeah, and she thinks we're witches, so..." Never good at improvising, Naomi attempted to levitate two small nearby twigs and make them dance back and forth, as though they were the legs of a puppet. <img src="./images/Mobo Determined.png">"Uhhh...BRAINSHOCK ROBO TACKLE STAR RAIN MOBO BUSTER!" On command, Mobo released a laser that did little more than take the top few branches off a nearby tree. [[Now how about you let those nice villagers go?]] (unless: (track: 'other', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'other', 'loop', true) (track: 'other', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">“You know, I don’t know how the Emperor would feel about a couple of his finest trying to shake down the public like this." <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">"And if he is okay with it, that’s no Emperor I’m gonna follow.” Shocked that anyone would dare address them in such fashion, the two soldiers turned to face Wyatt. “Who dares address soldiers of the Emperor in such fashion?” <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png"> “I dare! Actually, we dare!" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png"> "And since I can tell that you’re not used to being dared-at, how about maybe you guys scram before you both get your butts kicked, and the Emperor catches wind of your little side-hustle?" <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">"That is, if he doesn’t catch wind of the butt-kicking first.” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Hah! She keeps saying “butt”!” Seemingly at a loss for words, the guards nervously looked back and forth between each other and the girls. [[Now how about you let those nice villagers go?]] (unless: (track: 'other', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'other', 'loop', true) (track: 'other', 'play') ]<br> The guards were infuriated by the girls' brash display. “Nobody talks to Stig and Rend like that! We’re…we’re the toughest sentinels the Emperor has ever produced!” sweatily explained the smaller of the two guards. “And we get to do whatever we want in this little backwater village, you hear me?” commanded the other one, From behind the girls, a stern yet feminine voice rang out with a strange metallic echo. “We do hear you. And that’s why we want you to leave.” The faintest *swish* of a sword rang out twice, separating the two guards from the weapons that hung loosely around their waists. As one, the guards and girls turned in shock to look at the source of the movement. Looking for an escape, the endangered took it upon themselves to breathe a brief “thank you!” and scurry off into the woods towards safety. Before the group stood a lithe figure in full-body white and gold armor with a corresponding metallic facemask, as ornate as it was practical, clutching a thin metal rapier with a lovingly decorated hilt. The two guards sputtered out some vague threats of reprisal before deciding to scram into the woods, clumsily clutching their ruined scabbards, leaving the girls alone with their well-armored new friend. “I should thank you four. Your approach may be…curious, but I can tell in your hearts you are brave and true," came the voice from behind the girls. "Who knows what those brigands might’ve done under the pretense of their false Emperor had you not come along," the figure spoke in a stern voice. [[Who’s our new friend?]] (unless: (track: 'other', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'other', 'loop', true) (track: 'other', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png"> “Not a problem! That’s just what we do - saving the day, helping those who need it, and…” <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">"..." Wyatt’s explanation was suddenly cut short by their new friend beginning to remove their mask. The girls finally got a look at their savior. Lengthy, sky blue hair that almost seemed to glow in the high sunlight framed her face, a face that included a pair of piercing red eyes surrounded by delicate, well-worn features that indicated the sort of life she’d led recently, highlighted by the slightest hint of a scar up her left cheek. She appeared to be the same age as the girls, but clearly had lived a life of greater combat and hardships than they'd ever known. “I normally don’t reveal my true identity to those in these woods, but these are desperate times, my fellow travelers” she began, her voice no longer impaired by the cold steel of her mask. “My name is Aldorna. There are some who call me the Renegade Princess." "I was on my way to a neighboring village, and I can’t help but feel like the four of you would be my ideal traveling companions were we to run into any further…complications.” <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">“I…you…uh…we…you…uh” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“I think what our friend Thirsty the Dog is trying to say, is that we’re already very interested in whatever your whole thing is, and we’ll be very glad to help” [[Introduce yourselves.]] [[Ask Aldorna about herself.]] [[Accompany Aldorna to the next village.->Looks like we’re at the village!]] (unless: (track: 'aldorna', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'aldorna', 'loop', true) (track: 'aldorna', 'play') ]<br> Wyatt tried her best to regain her composure. <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">“I…uh, that is we, would love to come along on whatever lengthy and dangerous quest we assume you were currently on, or were on your way to!" <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">"My name is Wyatt, and I’m the, uh…Empress of Gilded Blades? Right, girls?” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">“*Sure it is.* And I’m Bunny Jones, the, uh…Tamer of Beasts, Large and Adorable. This chonky fellow is my uhh what do you call them…my familiar, Sir Choops!” <img src="./images/Charlie.png">“She’s actually my servant, I live at her house for free and she has to feed me chicken and throw my poop out.” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“the name is Naomi and I’m the uhh...King of...Wishful Thinking.” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Hi! I’m Mobo!” Aldorna smiled in sincere amusement, a smile that seemed to have not crossed her lips in some time. “I know not how you four came to be in my realm, but I can tell I will be glad to remain in your presence, if you so choose," she said with a sincerity she hadn't mustered in some time. <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“yeah, we're gonna go ahead and assume that Wyatt totally *so chooses*” [[Ask Aldorna about herself.]] [[Accompany Aldorna to the next village.->Looks like we’re at the village!]] (unless: (track: 'aldorna', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'aldorna', 'loop', true) (track: 'aldorna', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png"> *"Alright Wyatt, you can do this, it's just a totally hot warrior princess like you'd always hoped you'd meet..."* <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">“So what’s a totally bodacious sword-babe like yourself doing walking around these clearly-enchanted woods?” A deep melancholy crossed over Aldorna’s face before she regained her composure. “My tale is a long one, perhaps…not suited for young travelers such as yourselves." "But I suppose I could tell you that I am on my way to the nearby village of Caister on my way to ask after the whereabouts of my sister, who has been missing still for some time." She continued, "I suspect there will be some in that village who…will be less than pleased to see that I am still alive and roaming the countryside, and it may make your time here in our kingdom somewhat unpleasant.” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png"> “Vague political intrigue and threats of violence? Princess, I’ve been training my whole life for *this exact thing*, and I am happy to help however I can!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“by that she means she spent a lot of time in the library growing up” <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“So did you!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“yeah, but you were over in the corner reading books with dragons on the cover, I was getting yelled at for installing emulators on all the computers” Aldorna smirked. “I worry that what lies ahead for me may be a bit more dangerous than a library, but I certainly won’t leave you to travel these woods alone in the meantime," she replied in a tone meant to sooth and reassure these strangers. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">“I dunno, I’ve seen the sort of weirdos that go to the school library. *Like Naomi and Wyatt*.” [[Accompany Aldorna to the next village.->Looks like we’re at the village!]] (unless: (track: 'aldorna', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'aldorna', 'loop', true) (track: 'aldorna', 'play') ]Along the way to Caister, the girls tried their best to catch Aldorna up on the circumstances that lead to them arriving wherever they were, this time updated to include their adventures with the Expeditionary Force. Aldorna mostly listened politely as they walked, happy for the company. “But hey, enough about us, princess! You said something about your sister?” Aldorna nodded solemnly in response. “My sister is older than I, and thusly would be the rightful heir to the Wayward Throne of our kingdom Cassia. After the Emperor deposed our family, I have been roaming the countryside to reconnect my family in secret, but my sister’s whereabouts have remained…elusive.” “You can have my brother if it would help. He’s not too smart, but you can make him carry swords, or you could practice shooting an apple off his head with arrows, or something.” “Oh, Bunny,” Aldorna started, “would that I could engage in such sibling revelry. If nothing else, I do want you girls to remember to tell your loved ones that you love and appreciate them while you have the chance. “I’m not gonna say that to Henry, he blows chunks." [[Looks like we’re at the village!]] <br> As the pleasantly salty sting of fresh ocean air engulfs them, Aldorna and the girls emerge from the path into the bustling sea-side village of Caister. Before them stands a town square with villagers milling about in all directions around an ornate fountain, with a row of businesses and stalls off to one side, and a classically-styled inn and tavern off in the opposite direction. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Tell you what, Aldorna. How about you hang back where nobody can see you, and we can go in to ask about your sister for you!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“yeah, you know us, we’re uhhh real great, at, like… <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"...talking, to, uh…" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"...people” [[Visit the town square.]] [[Visit the business district.]] [[Visit the inn.]] (unless: (track: 'other', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'other', 'loop', true) (track: 'other', 'play') ]<br> The girls approach the town square. A fountain depicting two mermaids holding aloft a large bowl stood in the center, with various small booths and food carts dotting the area, serving regional favorites and seemingly overpriced beverages. <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">“People that work at food trucks always have the hot goss! Let me go charm these two up.” Wyatt approached a nearby cart where two men were selling some kind of tiny, grilled rodent on a stick that actually smelled pretty good, despite all appearances to the contrary. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Hey there! I’m thinking about trying one of your…uh…corn rats? But I had a question first. Have you two seen a presumably foxy blue-haired lady around here, probably with a crown or sword of some kind?” The first man responded with an unexplained nervousness. “Blue hair? Crowns? Do you mean the…” before the second man could silence him abruptly. “Nope! We haven’t seen anyone like that, either now or at any point in our lives! Now please go away from our cart, and also never speak to either of us again.” <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“Geez, man, I didn’t even get to try a rodent-on-a-stick.” [[Visit the business district.]] [[Visit the inn.]] (unless: (track: 'other', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'other', 'loop', true) (track: 'other', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“So if Aldorna’s sister passed through here, she might’ve stopped to buy something, right? Maybe some local merchants can help!” Entering the business district, the girls encountered a number of villagers bustling to and fro with their purchases and wares, strolling between rows of charming wood-and-stone buildings featuring colorful names like “Priya's Famous Carousel of Coffee” and “the Abracapothecary”. A few heavily-armored watchmen eyed the girls suspiciously as they passed, prompting Naomi and Bunny to make faces at the guards behind their backs. Wyatt led the girls into the nearest general store without paying too much attention to the name, or what they were selling, which turned out to be some combination of decor, antiques, and home goods. A serious-faced old woman sat behind the counter. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Hey there! I’m thinking about maybe getting one of these absolutely enormous wooden clocks for my house?" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"But I had a question first. Have you seen a presumably foxy blue-haired lady around here, probably with a crown or sword of some kind?” The woman’s face became surprisingly sympathetic as she audibly sighed. “Listen, dearies”, she began in a half-whisper, “I’m old enough to remember what it was like under the reign of the Wayward Throne, and I tell you the times were good. But asking about things like that is just looking for trouble around here, and I don’t want the four of you to be part of it! Now you just run along home and do something more cheerful and less dangerous with the rest of your day.” <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">"UGH. Come on girls. This lady isn't gonna help, and I worry Naomi or Mobo are gonna break something expensive." <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">"Wow! What's this giant, delicate lantern made out of?? [[Visit the town square.]] [[Visit the inn.]] (unless: (track: 'other', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'other', 'loop', true) (track: 'other', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Traveling adventurers always have to go to the tavern, right? Let’s go order something made out of meat and bread and see if we can find an adventure hook!" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Naomi gets extra bread though, because she doesn’t eat meat!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“oh heck yeah, I love bread” Pushing open two surprisingly-heavy wooden doors, the girls stepped into a busy tavern. Servers carried plates and mugs between tables full of diners of all ages and appearances, from local families and hapless tourists to more traditionally grizzled, sword-wielding adventurer-types. The girls took a few open seats at the bar, where they were greeted by a cheerful, uniformed waitress with a friendly face, a pair of ram’s horns poking out from the sides of her head, and a surprisingly familiar nest of lengthy, pink hair. <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">“Greetings! We’re a bunch of super-tough weary travelers who need several plates of your tastiest, uh…meat and bread!” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Also we can’t drink alcohol because we’re nice young ladies!” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“But first, I had a question. Have you seen a presumably foxy blue-haired lady around here, probably with a crown or sword of some kind?” The waitress suddenly grew a little suspicious, her eyes darting back and forth to see if they’re being watched. “Alright, so…you didn’t hear this from me, but a couple of wolf-guys were in here the other day being total jerks, and I overheard one of them…” she began in a low whisper. Before she could dispense with any further information, however, a sudden commotion came bursting in through the door! [[Aw, we didn’t even get our bread!]] (unless: (track: 'other', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'other', 'loop', true) (track: 'other', 'play') ]<br> A harsh, yet familiar voice rang out from the doorway of the tavern. “That’s THEM! That’s the girls who stopped us from collecting our rightfully-owed tithes to the Emperor!” The voice came from one of the two wolf bandits from earlier, accompanied closely by the other wolf bandit, the two of them surrounded by a phalanx of guards. “Yeah, and they totally know where the Renegade Princess is!” came the other voice, equally familiar. The guests of the tavern, already having their dinner spoiled by the intrusion of the guards, all reacted with varying degrees of shock at this revelation. Before the girls knew what was happening, they were being pushed out of the tavern at sword-point The poor waitress followed close behind them, protesting that the girls had been there the whole time, and had never heard of the Renegade Princess anyway. Her cries went sadly unheard, and soon enough the girls found themselves surrounded by armed guards; many of them on foot, with a few on gigantic insectoid mounts that resembled a large, striped praying mantis more than anything else. <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">“Hey Wyatt, do you think your new girlfriend knows we’re in trouble??” <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“She *isn’t my girlfriend,* Mobo, but I sure hope so." Knowing what was to come next, Wyatt produced the sword from her subspace pocket. [[Try to distract the soldiers!]] [[Try to talk to the bugs!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju2', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju2', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju2', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Naomi! Mobo! I got a plan! Follow my lead!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“what” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Huh?!” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“OH MY GOSH, EVERYONE, LOOK BEHIND YOU! IT’S A WYVERN!” Unsure of if Wyatt had pronounced that last word correctly, the only thing Naomi could think to do was use her powers to grab some nearby tree branches and float them around in a vaguely dragon-esq shape, although it looked more like a dog or cow unless you squinted. Meanwhile, Mobo fired her hand-cannons straight up in the air in an attempt to simulate some vague idea of lightning or dragon’s breath. All the while, she stomped around in a circle, making noises reflecting what she thought a dragon sounded like. It was all for naught, however, as two guards attempted to physically grab the four girls, sending the tree-branch-dragon crashing to the ground and interrupting poor Mobo mid-roar. [[Try to talk to the bugs!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju2', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju2', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju2', 'play') ]<br> In typical Bunny Jones fashion, her focus had largely been on the large insect mounts that several of the guards had been using to keep the onlookers at bay. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">"*Uhhhhhhhh...*" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“GIRLS! I got an idea! Cover me!” Without elaborating on what exactly she meant, Bunny wound up to launch herself into a super-jump aimed at the inside of the tavern. As she jumped, Charlie held onto her backpack for dear life. A brief commotion from inside the tavern heralded Bunny’s return, balancing several plates of half-eaten food in her arms like she was about to do some kind of plate-based magic trick. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">“That’s right, you sweet little bug-babies! Eat well and RISE UP AGAINST THE MAN!” Bunny then catapulted herself across the heads of several guards, barely landing on her feet. As she landed, she and Charlie began distributing the plates of unfinished lunches to the two bugs. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Pretty tasty, right? There’s plenty more back there in the restaurant, but you’re gonna have to smash through all these jerks to get there!” The two bugs shared a brief glance towards one another, and having made up their mind, cut a path back to the tavern, knocking aside whatever guard tried to get in their way. <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">“Dang, Bunny! Say what you will, but you’re somehow a friend to the animals, no matter *where* we go!” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">“That’s right, I'm a sexy genius! I know enough about despotic fantasy regimes to know that they never treat their beasts of burden very well!” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“What?” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Girl, you’re not the only one here who reads books with dragons on the cover!” Smirking, Wyatt held her sword in front of her, awaiting reprisal from the guards. A commotion sounded from behind the girls, and before Wyatt could respond, she felt the gentlest of touches on her elbow and forearm, helping to learn her sword forward into a proper two-handed stance. A gentle voice sounded from seemingly all around her. “Exactly as I expected of you girls - curious of approach, but brave of heart.” [[Could it be…?->Aldorna saves the girls the first time]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju2', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju2', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju2', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Hey, Wyatt! Your girlfriend came to save us again!” Mobo’s assertion was largely correct. Behind Wyatt, holding her arm into a slightly more formal sword fighting posture stood Aldorna, with her mask back in place. The onlooking villagers responded initially in confusion, and later with cries of jubilation once the situation had begun to set in - the Renegade Princess had come to Caister! With an acrobatic twirl that belied her heavy armor, Aldorna stood back-to-back with Wyatt, rapier drawn. “Anyone who takes issue with these four travelers not only takes issue with me, they take issue with the entire city of Caister!" she cried at the top of her lungs. "Let them go, and you’re welcome to attempt taking me into custody in their place!” Wyatt responded with a fury the girls wouldn’t have expected. <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“No way! We’re not gonna just leave you here with these goons, right girls? We owe you one! It's what Hyper Princess Lightphase would do! <img src="./images/Mobo Determined.png">“Yeah, she’s right! Wyatt’s girlfriend saved our butts earlier today, so now we’re gonna help save Wyatt's new girlfriend!" <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">“Oh my *GOD,* MOBO!" [[Go get ‘em, Renegade Princess!]] (unless: (track: 'aldorna', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'aldorna', 'loop', true) (track: 'aldorna', 'play') ] <br> “People of Cassia! It is I, Princess Aldorna of the Wayward Throne!” she cried from the fountain’s base. Reacting in shock to a voice none of them had heard in far too long, the crowds of both onlookers and guards turned to see what she had to say. “And this day, I am through hiding! I have seen much valor and bravery this day, from people just like all of you, and I will no longer allow my presence to go concealed!" Her voice broke under the long-buried truth of her words. "My family never abandoned you! Many of us died trying to defend you all! Today, I make public my intentions to reunite my family and take back the throne - not just for us, but for all of Cassia!” The viewing audience around her erupted into cheers - except, of course, the Emperor’s guards, who quickly began to realize exactly how unpopular they all are. One of the more cowardly among the watchmen turned and began to bark an order to his guards about trying to ‘contain the rioters’, but he quickly found himself staring down Wyatt’s sword. <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">“I wouldn’t if I were you, bootlicker.” <img src="./images/Charlie.png">“EVERYBODY FREAK OUT!” Seemingly on command, the crowd of onlookers began chasing the watchmen (and their friends, the wolf-bandits) out of town with whatever implements they could find, from rocks and brooms to loaves of stale bread and broken-off chair legs. Aldorna slipped over to the girls amidst the chaos. “I can’t thank you all enough for what you’ve done for me today! Much work has yet to be done in my kingdom, but I believe a much kinder sun is rising over this land. I simply wish I could do more to help you all get home as well!” <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">“Ah, that’s okay, we’re just glad we could…” <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">“...oh no no no no no not now!” The four girls once again heard a small, far-off voice shouting their names, although it somehow seemed louder and clearer this time. Purple energy began to rise all around them as they slowly began fading from view, despite Wyatt’s protests. <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">“Come on! No! Just five more minutes!” <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">“Sorry, Wyatt’s girlfriend! We can’t stop it! We don’t know how it works!” [[We’re leaving again!]] (unless: (track: 'aldorna', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'aldorna', 'loop', true) (track: 'aldorna', 'play') ] <br> As the girls fell back through that old familiar vortex, the trip seemed…shorter than the last few. Safely re-materializing at their destination, Mobo and Bunny both approached Wyatt for a comforting, if not slightly too-intense hug. <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">"Oh my gosh, Wyatt! I'm so sorry the portal took us away from your girlfriend!" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">"Yeah, but...uh...look on the bright side, you...might be able to...find another hot girl that isn't wanted by a corrupt and invalid dictator? Probably?" <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">"..." As the girls attempted to understand what just happened to them, two shapes emerged from the light of the now-open garage door. “Oh my gosh! Girls! You’re back!” came a very small and emotional cry. It was their friend Emmy, standing inside the doorway to Professor Duchamps’ garage! Beside Emmy stood a tall figure with deep green hair worn in a high, sporty ponytail. “Little Cookie? Are you okay?” the figure asked. <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"oh, hey Pheebs" [[Pheebs??->Episode 10 preview]] (unless: (track: 'professor', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'professor', 'loop', true) (track: 'professor', 'play') ]<br> =><= EPISODE 10: THE PROFESSOR'S MACHINE [[That doesn't answer my question!]] {(set: $machine_1 to false) (set:$machine_2 to false) (set:$machine_3 to false) (set:$machine_4 to false) (set:$machine_5 to false) (set:$monsters_1 to false) (set:$monsters_2 to false) (set: $monsters_3 to false) (set: $monsters_4 to false) (set:$mobo_1 to false) (set:$mobo_2 to false)} (unless: (track: 'theme', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'theme', 'loop', true) (track: 'theme', 'play') ]<br> The girls became quite the center of attention when they returned. As word spread of their sudden disappearance, and their equally sudden reappearance, a host of friends from all across the Institute came to hear their story, including Bunny’s boyfriend Isaac who attempted to comfort her with his favorite childhood blanket from his favorite childhood cartoon/toyline, Automorphers. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">"Listen! I've heard this story like five times, and if I have to hear it again, I better be eating something with an UPSETTING amount of butter on it! Bring me butter food!" *Slightly later...* <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“...and that’s basically it! Basically!” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">“Yeah, until Naomi’s *beautiful and talented* sister came to save us!” Kaz had been listening to the girls’ stories so intently that he had neglected to take a drink from the tea mug that had in his hand the entire time. Nor had he noticed the Institute researchers who had been buzzing into and out of the big, empty side room carrying boxes of research materials and equipment from Duchamps' laboratory, including the machine itself. “Yes, we…” Kaz began, finally snapping himself back into reality, “...we have young Emmy to thank." "She contacted me when you girls disappeared, and Phoebe was able to get there to help before anyone else could," he continued with gratitude. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"She's pretty great, right?" <img src="./images/Ruby Neutral.png">“Sorry it wasn't me that came to help, girls, I was a little indisposed, but me and Phoebe here go way back.” Ruby strode into the room, followed closely by Diana wearing casual clothes, still managing to look overdressed for the occasion. [[Ask Ruby what she was up to.]] [[Ask Phoebe what she was up to.]] [[Ask Kaz what the heck was going on in that garage!]] (unless: (track: 'institute', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'institute', 'loop', true) (track: 'institute', 'play') ]<br> “Go on, fearless leader”, started Diana with a grin, “why don’t you tell them what you were doing when we all got a message from Kaz that Team 64 went missing?” Ruby’s face suddenly turned more glum and embarrassed than the girls were used to seeing from her. <img src="./images/Ruby Shocked.png">“I…I was going to get high on my porch and watch wrestling on my tablet.” “She has a crush on the one with the sunglasses and the weird denim outfit. I think his real name is James? I dunno, that stuff is all fake," Diana continued with a sneer. <img src="./images/Ruby Angry.png">“First of all, don’t use his name like you’re friends with him, and secondly, *it's still real to me.*" [[Ask Phoebe what she was up to.]] [[Ask Kaz what the heck was going on in that garage!]] (unless: (track: 'institute', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'institute', 'loop', true) (track: 'institute', 'play') ]<br> Phoebe tossed her hair back with a practiced casualness. “I was actually on my way back from some charity work over in Lansing, and I was going to surprise Naomi and our folks by stopping by the house on my way back to this side of the state," she explained cheerfully. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Cry.png">“Charity work and going to visit your family? You’re an inspiration to us all, Rose Princess!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“hey, I visit our family all the time -” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“You still *live with them,* dingus!” Despite yelling at Naomi, (text-color:"white")[[Bunny struggled to contain her enthusiasm at meeting her hero.]] [[Ask Ruby what she was up to.]] [[Ask Kaz what the heck was going on in that garage!]] (unless: (track: 'institute', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'institute', 'loop', true) (track: 'institute', 'play') ]<br> Kaz began hesitantly, “Well, girls, as long as you’re prepared to continue discussing what exactly happened in that garage, I imagine you have some questions!" "And…frankly, so do I,” he continued as a perplexed look came across his face. “I have to confess that I drew the initial plans for this machine on the side of a take-out bag from a Coney Island, because I wasn't taking it seriously." "I *certainly* didn’t expect him to try to build it in secret while we worked on everything else," he continued, strolling around the machine to get a a better look, even if he didn't yet know what he was looking at. "Between that, and sifting through his stacks of reference materials which seem nearly impenetrable even by our standards, we’re going to have our hands full here - but if there’s anything you girls want to know, please ask away!” he finished, finally sitting back behind his desk. [[Ask Kaz about the machine.]] [[Ask Kaz about Mobo.]] [[Ask Kaz about all the monsters we’ve met.]] [[Do I look like I have time for an infodump, Kaz?!]] (unless: (track: 'institute', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'institute', 'loop', true) (track: 'institute', 'play') ]<br> “Aw, I couldn’t embarrass Little Cookie like that…” Phoebe began. <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“yeah, calling me Little Cookie in front of everyone is enough, thanks” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png"> “*Cram it, Little Cookie!*" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">"What are your stories, Phoeeeeebeeee?” “Well,” she continued, playing with her hair as though she needed to jog a memory loose. “I do remember the day we found out Naomi’s powers was the day she was at Wyatt’s birthday party when they were both super little, and we found out she was using her telekinetics to cheat at the bean bag toss game," she says with a laugh. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Hang on, why is this the first time I’ve heard of this? You cheated at bean bags at *my birthday party?*” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“well yeah, the winner got another free bag of those cookies shaped like the Burger Zone mascots, I love those things" <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Oh! Little Cookie! I get it now! Ha ha!” [[Ask Ruby what she was up to.]] [[Ask Kaz what the heck was going on in that garage!]] (unless: (track: 'institute', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'institute', 'loop', true) (track: 'institute', 'play') ]<br> …and found herself unable to any longer. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Cry.png"> “Oh my gosh, you are the COOLEST! I have all your toys!" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png"> "My dad got me an autographed poster of you from some comic store, and he wouldn’t tell me how much it cost!" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png"> "I watched on TV when you fought Duror, the Gospel Destroyer!" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Cry.png">"Oh my gosh oh my gosh I can’t believe you came to save me and my stupid friends from a scary thing in some old man’s garage!” Even with years of experience in meeting her fans, Bunny’s outburst still caught Phoebe off guard. “That’s…very kind of you, Bunny, and I’m just glad you’re all safe. I should thank you for taking care of my sister," Phoebe replied, with a glance over at Naomi. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">“Naomi? Yeah, I guess. Why isn’t she as cool as you, though?!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“...” [[Ask Phoebe if she has any embarrassing stories about Naomi.]] [[Ask Ruby what she was up to.]] [[Ask Kaz what the heck was going on in that garage!]] (unless: (track: 'institute', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'institute', 'loop', true) (track: 'institute', 'play') ]<br> “Ah, yes, this…device!” Kaz begins, pointing to the machine behind him which had been safely transported back to the Institute, doorframe and all. “I have to say I’m…shocked to see it actually assembled and functioning, but I’ll address anything you might want to know to the best of my ability!” (if:$machine_1 is false or $machine_2 is false or $machine_3 is false or $machine_4 is false or $machine_5 is false or $monsters_1 is false or $monsters_2 is false or $monsters_3 is false or $monsters_4 is false or $mobo_1 is false or $mobo_2 is false)[ [[Why did Professor Duchamps build the machine?]] [[How does the machine work?]] [[Why did that lady want the machine?]] [[Ask Kaz about something else.]] [[Ugh, that’s enough with the questions!]] ] (else-if:$machine_1 is true and $machine_2 is true and $machine_3 is true and $machine_4 is true and $machine_5 is true and $monsters_1 is true and $monsters_2 is true and $monsters_3 is true and $monsters_4 is true and $mobo_1 is true and $mobo_2 is true)[ [[I think I'm...out of questions?]] ] (unless: (track: 'institute', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'institute', 'loop', true) (track: 'institute', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Hi! That’s me!” (if:$machine_1 is false or $machine_2 is false or $machine_3 is false or $machine_4 is false or $machine_5 is false or $monsters_1 is false or $monsters_2 is false or $monsters_3 is false or $monsters_4 is false or $mobo_1 is false or $mobo_2 is false)[ [[Why did Mobo react so weirdly to the machine?]] [[Where did Mobo even come from?]] [[Why is Mobo…like that?]] [[Ask Kaz about something else.]] [[Ugh, that’s enough with the questions!]] ] (else-if:$machine_1 is true and $machine_2 is true and $machine_3 is true and $machine_4 is true and $machine_5 is true and $monsters_1 is true and $monsters_2 is true and $monsters_3 is true and $monsters_4 is true and $mobo_1 is true and $mobo_2 is true)[ [[I think I'm...out of questions?]] ] (unless: (track: 'institute', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'institute', 'loop', true) (track: 'institute', 'play') ]<br> “Ah, yes!" "Monsters, kaiju, S-class species, visitors...whatever you want to call them, I think it’s fair to say that trying to answer that very question is at the heart of everything we do here at the Institute!” (if:$machine_1 is false or $machine_2 is false or $machine_3 is false or $machine_4 is false or $machine_5 is false or $monsters_1 is false or $monsters_2 is false or $monsters_3 is false or $monsters_4 is false or $mobo_1 is false or $mobo_2 is false)[ [[Where do the monsters come from?]] [[What do they have to do with that machine?]] [[Ask Kaz about something else.]] [[Ugh, that’s enough with the questions!]] ] (else-if:$machine_1 is true and $machine_2 is true and $machine_3 is true and $machine_4 is true and $machine_5 is true and $monsters_1 is true and $monsters_2 is true and $monsters_3 is true and $monsters_4 is true and $mobo_1 is true and $mobo_2 is true)[ [[I think I'm...out of questions?]] ] (unless: (track: 'institute', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'institute', 'loop', true) (track: 'institute', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“UGH! I told you all when I got here that I already have too much knowledge and I refuse to take in any new facts!" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"And even if I did, I’m sure as heck not going to retain any of it! Let’s kick rocks and go get some cheese fries!” With a flourish even more theatrical than usual, Bunny Jones turned and stormed out of the room. <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"she's got a point, cheese fries are *very* good" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Yeah, I don't think we can stop her. Catch you later, Kaz! Thanks for saving our lives, Phoebe and Emmy!" [[So much for the lore!->Chapter 10 ending passage]] (unless: (track: 'institute', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'institute', 'loop', true) (track: 'institute', 'play') ](set:$machine_1 to true) <br> Kaz begins to casually flip through a well-worn journal atop his desk, one of many that seem to have been carried out of the Professor’s house after the girls departed. “Well, I…don’t know if I’ll do quite the same job explaining it, but Professor Duchamps always had a theory that the monsters we encounter come from another dimension, a reality somewhere beyond our own!” Kaz began. “He and I used to have conversations about attempting to open up a door into those worlds and see if he can uncover the source of our kaiju visitors, and better seek to understand them," he continued with curiosity. "Given what you girls experienced when the machine came to life, I can only surmise that the machine worked, which is not what I expected when he came to me asking for help with its design!“ [[Another dimension?!]] [[Wait, so there’s multiple versions of us running around?!]] (unless: (track: 'institute', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'institute', 'loop', true) (track: 'institute', 'play') ](set:$machine_4 to true) <br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Oh geez, Kaz only makes that face when he doesn't know the answer to something! He *hates* not knowing the answer to something!" Kaz began, “I’ve been trying to fully understand that since he asked me to help brainstorm the original device with him many years ago." "I *can* say for certain that it involves creating a specific frequency, resonance, and vibration by sending an electrical charge through those quartz crystals," he finished, gesturing towards the machine. "I also know that Duchamps believed that interdimensional travel would rely on crossing the quantum distance between dimensions who were somehow physically near each other through a gap called a *hyperpoint*?" His tone of voice indicated that not even *he* was sure if he believed it. Kaz finished with a sigh, "It's all completely theoretical at this point, I'm afraid." <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">"I'm pretty sure you guys are just making words up, now." (if:$machine_1 is false or $machine_2 is false or $machine_3 is false or $machine_4 is false or $machine_5 is false or $monsters_1 is false or $monsters_2 is false or $monsters_3 is false or $monsters_4 is false or $mobo_1 is false or $mobo_2 is false)[ [[Why did Professor Duchamps build the machine?]] [[Why did that lady want the machine?]] [[Ask Kaz about something else.]] [[Ugh, that’s enough with the questions!]] ] (else-if:$machine_1 is true and $machine_2 is true and $machine_3 is true and $machine_4 is true and $machine_5 is true and $monsters_1 is true and $monsters_2 is true and $monsters_3 is true and $monsters_4 is true and $mobo_1 is true and $mobo_2 is true)[ [[I think I'm...out of questions?]] ] (unless: (track: 'institute', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'institute', 'loop', true) (track: 'institute', 'play') ](set:$machine_5 to true) <br> “Her motives are yet unknown, although I can say with certainty that it would be absolutely catastrophic if this machine were to fall into the wrong hands,” Kaz began with a somber tone that the girls rarely, if ever, heard from him. “Ruby and Diana told me of their encounter at the mall recently, and they mentioned the name Zenlas?" he continued. "Our research shows that the name ‘Zenlas’ is either a name or a title commonly given to powerful warlords from...*somewhere else*, and while we don’t have a lot else to go on, I’m…confident in saying that we don’t want her getting ahold of the machine,” he finished with a wide-eyed nod. <img src="./images/Ruby Sassy.png">"Couldn't agree more. Her little goons at the mall sure weren't going down without a fight, I couldn't imagine what she'd be like if we ran into her." Diana rolled her eyes in the sort of theatrical way you do when you want people to see you do it. (if:$machine_1 is false or $machine_2 is false or $machine_3 is false or $machine_4 is false or $machine_5 is false or $monsters_1 is false or $monsters_2 is false or $monsters_3 is false or $monsters_4 is false or $mobo_1 is false or $mobo_2 is false)[ [[Why did Professor Duchamps build the machine?]] [[How does the machine work?]] [[Ask Kaz about something else.]] ] (else-if:$machine_1 is true and $machine_2 is true and $machine_3 is true and $machine_4 is true and $machine_5 is true and $monsters_1 is true and $monsters_2 is true and $monsters_3 is true and $monsters_4 is true and $mobo_1 is true and $mobo_2 is true)[ [[I think I'm...out of questions?]] ] (unless: (track: 'institute', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'institute', 'loop', true) (track: 'institute', 'play') ]<br> “Ask away, girls!” [[Ask Kaz about the machine.]] [[Ask Kaz about Mobo.]] [[Ask Kaz about all the monsters we’ve met.]] [[Do I look like I have time for an infodump, Kaz?!]] (unless: (track: 'institute', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'institute', 'loop', true) (track: 'institute', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“UGH! I told you all when I got here that I already have too much knowledge and I refuse to take in any new facts!" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"And even if I did, I’m sure as heck not going to retain any of it! Let’s kick rocks and go get some cheese fries!” With a flourish even more theatrical than usual, Bunny Jones turned and stormed out of the room. <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"she's got a point, cheese fries are *very* good" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Yeah, I don't think we can stop her. Catch you later, Kaz! Thanks for saving our lives, Phoebe and Emmy!" [[So much for the lore!->Chapter 10 ending passage]] (unless: (track: 'institute', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'institute', 'loop', true) (track: 'institute', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">"Kaz, I appreciate it, but I’m pretty sure my brain is full up already, and I don’t know how much of this is gonna set into my long-term memory.” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Same. Let’s get some cheese fries, girls.” Kaz smiled and bid the girls farewell, grateful for the chance to work out some of these issues aloud, and happy that he could shed some light on the (admittedly baffling) adventures these four have been embarking on lately. Phoebe knew better than to follow her sister anywhere, so she set off for home alone. This left Ruby and Diana alone with Kaz, and quickly remembering how little they had in common with one another, Diana began to feign interest in the machine while Ruby cleared out some unread emails on her phone. [[That’s enough lore for one day!->Chapter 10 ending passage]] (unless: (track: 'institute', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'institute', 'loop', true) (track: 'institute', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“hey, I know y’all are probably still crying over there, but uhhhh my sister is here, I guess” She was right - Naomi’s older sister Phoebe, better known to any magical girl fan in Detroitica as the Rose Princess, stood watchfully over Emmy. Phoebe stood several inches taller than Naomi, clad in her typical outfit of a red double-breasted greatcoat over a white skirt and matching top. The sight of the Rose Princess was enough to snap the girls out of their post-warp stupor; particularly Bunny, who still had posters of the Rose Princess all over her room. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Cry.png">“OH MY GOSH! Your sister is the Rose Princess? How come your sister is so much cooler and prettier than you are, Naomi?!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“...” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Hey, lay off the poor girl, people have been asking her that her whole life. Uhh…not that we actually think that or anything.” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“...” Phoebe kneeled down protectively towards Naomi. “Are you and your friends okay? Kaz sent me here to come check on you and Emmy! What the heck is that thing?” she asked. Emmy replied “I told you! It’s some horrible portal machine that ate this monster we were trying to get rid of and then ate the girls, too!” In their excitement, the four girls began their own recaps of their recent adventures. Talking over one another, correcting one another (or simply trying to change the subject when the story got too embarrassing), and trying their best to simultaneously explain or process what just happened to them, they eventually got through their stories. The story quickly got a little overwhelming for Phoebe, understandably so. Luckily for everyone, she was relieved when Miss Ibanez and a team of Institute employees wearing blue suits and carrying laser tubes approached from the front of the garage. Miss Ibanez, equally relieved to see the girls alive and confused at their attempts to catch her up as well, ushered them all into a vehicle back towards the Institute headquarters, with the girls talking the whole way. [[Kaz! Guess what happened to us!]] (unless: (track: 'institute', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'institute', 'loop', true) (track: 'institute', 'play') ](set:$machine_2 to true) <br> “Yes, exactly!” began Kaz. “Imagine a whole other plane of reality, where things exist just like you and I, but…different.” “A world that plays by its own rules! Think of the possibilities! Living things going about their everyday lives like we all do, and yet completely distinct in how they interpret the physics that govern the universe around us." "These dimensions would all have their own interpretations of the laws of nature like heat and gravity, and yet everyone there just wants to live their lives like everyone else!” he continued with increasing excitement. Kaz clears his throat and regains his composure. “I admit I was, er, reading that from one of Professor Duchamps’ journals, but I do agree with his sentiment." "Think about all the monsters you’ve met along the way - some of them eat plastic, some of them hate how noisy it is here, some of them just want to live in a warehouse and dance the night away. But wouldn’t you do that if you came from somewhere far away?” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Yeah, you know, everyone in those other dimensions was pretty nice, except for the people that tried to kill us! Maybe they’re not too different from us!” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“None of us are *beautiful runaway warrior princesses*, but I get what you mean, Mobo.” [[Wait, so there’s multiple versions of us running around?!]] [[Ask Kaz about something else.]] (unless: (track: 'institute', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'institute', 'loop', true) (track: 'institute', 'play') ](set:$machine_3 to true) <br> “Well…maybe,” replied Kaz sheepishly. “The idea of multiple versions of you all traipsing around is a little closer to something like multiverse theory, which is very possible!" "But those multiple universes would all be contained within one dimension, which is an issue we’re likely not dealing with right now," he said with finality. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">“Wait…so somewhere out there is, like, a ton of Mobos hanging around?” <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">“Wow! I hope I get to meet them one day!” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">"I wonder if I would like me, if I met me?" (if:$machine_1 is false or $machine_2 is false or $machine_3 is false or $machine_4 is false or $machine_5 is false or $monsters_1 is false or $monsters_2 is false or $monsters_3 is false or $monsters_4 is false or $mobo_1 is false or $mobo_2 is false)[ [[Why did Professor Duchamps build the machine?]] [[Why did that lady want the machine?]] [[Ask Kaz about something else.]] [[Ugh, that’s enough with the questions!]] ] (else-if:$machine_1 is true and $machine_2 is true and $machine_3 is true and $machine_4 is true and $machine_5 is true and $monsters_1 is true and $monsters_2 is true and $monsters_3 is true and $monsters_4 is true and $mobo_1 is true and $mobo_2 is true)[ [[I think I'm...out of questions?]] ] (unless: (track: 'institute', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'institute', 'loop', true) (track: 'institute', 'play') ](set:$monsters_1 to true) <br> Kaz takes a long sip from his tea, the way a teacher often does when they have a lengthy story to tell. “Well, back when Professor Duchamps and I were actively researching whatever creatures would appear in Metro Detroitica, his going theory was that they were somehow manifesting here from other dimensions, or at least another universe.” “And while at first I was mostly there to take notes and design the electronics, I admit it made a form of sense." Kaz paused for another sip of tea. "He’d partnered with Wayne State University to take deeper studies into monster biology and physiology; things like their eating habits and molecular structure," he continued with a touch of nostalgia to his voice. "What he found was that many of them couldn’t possibly have originated from our plane of reality, because in many cases they had as little in common with the carbon-based lifeforms of our world..." "...as you or I would have in common with, say, a car or a pastry," he finished with a chuckle. <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">“Well, maybe not Mobo. She’s kind of both a car *and* a pastry.” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“It’s true! I’m mostly metal and filled with sugar!” (if:$machine_1 is false or $machine_2 is false or $machine_3 is false or $machine_4 is false or $machine_5 is false or $monsters_1 is false or $monsters_2 is false or $monsters_3 is false or $monsters_4 is false or $mobo_1 is false or $mobo_2 is false)[ [[So why have the kaiju been appearing more frequently?]] [[What do they have to do with that machine?]] [[Ask Kaz about something else.]] [[Ugh, that’s enough with the questions!]] ] (else-if:$machine_1 is true and $machine_2 is true and $machine_3 is true and $machine_4 is true and $machine_5 is true and $monsters_1 is true and $monsters_2 is true and $monsters_3 is true and $monsters_4 is true and $mobo_1 is true and $mobo_2 is true)[ [[I think I'm...out of questions?]] ] (unless: (track: 'institute', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'institute', 'loop', true) (track: 'institute', 'play') ](set:$monsters_3 to true) <br> “Well,” Kaz begins, clearing his throat, “it’s perhaps not a question of what the monsters have to do with the machine, as much as it is what the machine has to do with the monsters.” (set:$monsters_4 to true) <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">"...what?" Kaz stroked his chin thoughtfully as he attempted to pick his words. “If Prof. Duchamps’ theory about the monsters originating from another dimension is indeed true, then the machine could be an attempt to better understand how they can cross over to our world!" he began, raising his arms over his head. "This could put us in a position where we could potentially attempt to prevent them from crossing over at all, or at least help us prepare for their unique needs when they arrive.” “Or,” he continues, with something of a wistful look in his eye, “maybe he just wanted to better understand what it was like in other dimensions, so he could appreciate the sort of things we all go through, no matter where we’re from." "I admit that’s a bit of projection on my part, but he and I founded this Institute on that exact sort of...*interdimensional idealism*," he finished with a brief glance out the window. “That sounds great! I think meeting people from other dimensions is fun!" <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">"We had a great time with everybody we talked to, and if we could meet people from MORE other dimensions, maybe we could all get along and do cool stuff!” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">"Mobo, half of everyone we met in another dimension tried to *kill us*!" <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">"But the other half was nice!" (if:$machine_1 is false or $machine_2 is false or $machine_3 is false or $machine_4 is false or $machine_5 is false or $monsters_1 is false or $monsters_2 is false or $monsters_3 is false or $monsters_4 is false or $mobo_1 is false or $mobo_2 is false)[ [[Where do the monsters come from?]] [[Ask Kaz about something else.]] [[Ugh, that’s enough with the questions!]] ] (else-if:$machine_1 is true and $machine_2 is true and $machine_3 is true and $machine_4 is true and $machine_5 is true and $monsters_1 is true and $monsters_2 is true and $monsters_3 is true and $monsters_4 is true and $mobo_1 is true and $mobo_2 is true)[ [[I think I'm...out of questions?]] ] (unless: (track: 'institute', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'institute', 'loop', true) (track: 'institute', 'play') ](set:$monsters_2 to true) <br> “A question we’ve been wondering for years! As some of you may know”, Kaz begins, mostly gesturing to Phoebe, Ruby, and Diana, who were all a little older and more aware of these things than the girls, “monster appearances tend to go up and down in frequency over time." "They were much more common when I was your age, for example, but then they would tend to appear much less often - or at least with much less impact - over the decades, until the last few years or so when the Institute really came into its own.” “Perhaps it has something to do with the Professor’s theory that the monsters are all coming from another dimension, and somehow it’s become…easier for them to move between dimensions?" "Even if it isn’t completely intentional, if someone or something is lowering the barrier for kaiju being able to safely cross over into our world, then it would make sense that many of them would follow suit, no?” he finished with the face a teacher gets when they totally nailed their lecture. (if:$machine_1 is false or $machine_2 is false or $machine_3 is false or $machine_4 is false or $machine_5 is false or $monsters_1 is false or $monsters_2 is false or $monsters_3 is false or $monsters_4 is false or $mobo_1 is false or $mobo_2 is false)[ [[What do they have to do with that machine?]] [[Ask Kaz about something else.]] [[Ugh, that’s enough with the questions!]] ] (else-if:$machine_1 is true and $machine_2 is true and $machine_3 is true and $machine_4 is true and $machine_5 is true and $monsters_1 is true and $monsters_2 is true and $monsters_3 is true and $monsters_4 is true and $mobo_1 is true and $mobo_2 is true)[ [[I think I'm...out of questions?]] ] (unless: (track: 'institute', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'institute', 'loop', true) (track: 'institute', 'play') ](set:$mobo_1 to true) <br> “I’ve been trying to puzzle that out myself!" Kaz starts with a look of genuine confusion on his face. "Between Mobo’s reaction to the machine, and the fact that the four of you kept getting pulled into and out of these situations..." "...I have to assume that *part* of how the machine works, is that any matter from another dimension will eventually get reunited with its home dimension,” Kaz tried explaining. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Wait, so Mobo is from another dimension?!” <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">“Oh no! Am I a kaiju?!” Kaz laughed in the way a parent would laugh when their child says they want to be a dinosaur when they grow up. “No, no, not at all, Mobo! You’re simply Mobo, and that’s all you have to be. You were just constructed in, perhaps, a far-off place in a far-off time." he said with a fatherly tone. <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">"Wow! I wonder what baby robots are like...?" (if:$machine_1 is false or $machine_2 is false or $machine_3 is false or $machine_4 is false or $machine_5 is false or $monsters_1 is false or $monsters_2 is false or $monsters_3 is false or $monsters_4 is false or $mobo_1 is false or $mobo_2 is false)[ [[Where did Mobo even come from?]] [[Why is Mobo…like that?]] [[Ask Kaz about something else.]] [[Ugh, that’s enough with the questions!]] ] (else-if:$machine_1 is true and $machine_2 is true and $machine_3 is true and $machine_4 is true and $machine_5 is true and $monsters_1 is true and $monsters_2 is true and $monsters_3 is true and $monsters_4 is true and $mobo_1 is true and $mobo_2 is true)[ [[I think I'm...out of questions?]] ] (unless: (track: 'institute', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'institute', 'loop', true) (track: 'institute', 'play') ]<br> Kaz’s forehead wrinkled slightly. “Yes. That. Well girls, I’m sorry for being so obtuse about it previously, but the truth is…we don’t know," he said resignedly. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">"I knew it, Mobo is gonna be some magical god-queen of the universe." “Well,” Kaz continues, “while we don’t know *where* Mobo is from, I can say I know where she was when we found her." "Specifically, we found her in a crashed…pod or craft of some kind at the bottom of the Detroitica River..." "...contained inside a capsule reading “ad bonum universi”, which I understand to mean “for the good of the universe” in Latin," finished Kaz with a look of puzzlement on his own face. <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">“I’m sorry, wait, you found Mobo in a *space pod?*” “Indeed,” continued Kaz as though he himself didn’t quite believe the story. “We moved her pod up into her old room where (text-color:"white")[[I keep my old books and some old band posters]], and we found that she had no physical damage." "When we got her back to the Institute, the Johns detected some corrupted memory clusters." "So we did the best we could, and...uploaded an unfinished chat-bot into her memory to give her some semblance of personality," he finished with a touch of bemusement. <img src="./images/Mobo Determined.png">“Hi! Ask me anything about the Institute! Remember to update your email password!” “We were hoping to use it to help people navigate the Institute’s website easier, but instead it became our friend Mobo here.” he sighed. <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"that's cool, I always wanted my friends to be able to connect to the internet" [[Why did Mobo react so weirdly to the machine?]] [[Why is Mobo…like that?]] [[Ask Kaz about something else.]] (unless: (track: 'institute', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'institute', 'loop', true) (track: 'institute', 'play') ](set:$mobo_2 to true) <br> “Like what?” Kaz asked innocently. Behind him, Mobo had lost all interest in the conversation and had instead started trying to construct a fortress out of unused tables and chairs. <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">"Wow! Fort Mobopolis is coming along great! Thanks for the help, Naomi!" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"hey no problem" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"are they still talking over there?" <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">"I dunno!" (if:$machine_1 is false or $machine_2 is false or $machine_3 is false or $machine_4 is false or $machine_5 is false or $monsters_1 is false or $monsters_2 is false or $monsters_3 is false or $monsters_4 is false or $mobo_1 is false or $mobo_2 is false)[ [[Why did Mobo react so weirdly to the machine?]] [[Where did Mobo even come from?]] [[Ask Kaz about something else.]] [[Ugh, that’s enough with the questions!]] ] (else-if:$machine_1 is true and $machine_2 is true and $machine_3 is true and $machine_4 is true and $machine_5 is true and $monsters_1 is true and $monsters_2 is true and $monsters_3 is true and $monsters_4 is true and $mobo_1 is true and $mobo_2 is true)[ [[I think I'm...out of questions?]] ] (unless: (track: 'institute', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'institute', 'loop', true) (track: 'institute', 'play') ]<br> “Yes, you know, things I’ve held onto from my youth," Kaz starts sheepishly. "John Glames spy novels, strategy guides for old computer games, a bunch of concert flyers and ticket stubs for bands like Sugar, Superchunk, and Bathroom of the Future.” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">"I like it! It's like living above a music store, except the music store has too much stuff in it, and they had to put a ton of stuff in my bedroom!" [[Go back ->Where did Mobo even come from?]] [[Why did Mobo react so weirdly to the machine?]] [[Why is Mobo…like that?]] [[Ask Kaz about something else.]] [[Ugh, that’s enough with the questions!->Do I look like I have time for an infodump, Kaz?!]] (unless: (track: 'institute', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'institute', 'loop', true) (track: 'institute', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Ruby Neutral.png"> "WHEW! Okay Ruby, you're all caught up on emails, you've confirmed your next few appearances and turned down the ones you, uh...didn't wannt to go to..." <img src="./images/Ruby Sassy.png">"...you've deleted all the spambots trying to get you to model t-shirts or try new makeup brands..." <img src="./images/Ruby Angry.png"> "...you've ALSO deleted all the emails from those weirdos who figured out your email address..." <img src="./images/Ruby Shocked.png">"...and I've missed *Wednesday Night Ignition*, but that's okay, I have a VPN, I can just watch the replay..." <img src="./images/Ruby Neutral.png">"Man, I hope nobody hears me talking to myself, I've been doing this since I was a little kid. Being an only child does that to you." <img src="./images/Ruby Neutral.png">"Alright, I'm out of here. Ugh, it's gonna be weird walking by that machine the girls found. What if it, like...comes to life or knows my name or something?" <img src="./images/Ruby Shocked.png"> "Woof, *that's* a rational thought, Ruby. Time to get some sleep." <img src="./images/Ruby Neutral.png">"...hang on, is someone in there?" <img src="./images/Ruby Angry.png">"Hey! Are you supposed to be in here? What the-" That surprise was the last thing Ruby Robinson would remember for at least the next few hours. [[Uh oh!->Episode 11 Preview]] (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2)<br> =><= EPISODE 11: THE WITCH FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE [[Ah, geez!]] (unless: (track: 'theme', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'theme', 'loop', true) (track: 'theme', 'play') ]<br> *A day or two later...* <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">"Ugh...girls, have we felt *busier* than usual lately, or am I just sleepy?" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"buddy, I'm always sleepy, but you're right, there's been *way* more monsters lately" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">"I don't know why Kaz keeps having *us* check out these sightings! I keep telling you, we should find a way to charge people for our services!" <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">"It's not just us doing it, Bunny! Every Expander in the city has been out there, hauling butt around the city!" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"You're right, though, these last monsters have been way...*meaner* than usual. Like they're actually here to wreck stuff and hurt people, not just...find snacks." <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">"You're just jealous that the babies still like me better." <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">"That last one set you on fire!" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">"Out of *love*, Wyatt! A love you couldn't understand!" From amidst the chaos of the city came local reporter Brandt Brondtner, looking to get a hot scoop from the girls for his news team back at the desk. [[Let Bunny talk to the reporter.]] [[Let Wyatt talk to the reporter.]] [[Let Naomi talk to the reporter.]] [[Let Mobo talk to the reporter.]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> “That’s right, Tom, I’m standing here with the city’s favorite four magical girls, and I’m sure we all just have one question on our mind:" "where are all these new monsters coming from, and why are they acting like this?” the reporter asked while thrusting his microphone directly towards the girls. Bunny pushed her way to the front of the group with Charlie in tow, snatching the microphone out of the reporter’s hand. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“Alright, you know what?!" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">"You’ve all been such turds to the poor monster babies in this city for so long, that maybe it’s okay if a bunch of jerks get stepped on!" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">"‘Cause Bunny Jones isn’t always gonna be here to clean up your mess, jerks!" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">"So you all gotta learn to be *nicer* to these poor babies, and maybe if eating your car or stepping on your grandma is what will make then happy, then *you* just gotta *deal with it!*" <img src="./images/Charlie.png">“Yeah! Also, give us all your money, losers!” (charlie) <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">"Uhhh...the opinions of Bunny Jones do not reflect those of the rest of the team, and..." <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"hey mobo don't look directly into the camera" <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">"Wow! This thing has eyes like I do!" “Thanks, girls! Another loud, unhinged answer on par with what we’ve come to expect from these youngsters who have stolen our collective hearts,” replied the reporter. [[Let’s keep moving!]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> “That’s right, Tom, I’m standing here with the city’s favorite four magical girls, and I’m sure we all just have one question on our mind:" "where are all these new monsters coming from, and why are they acting like this?” he asked while thrusting his microphone directly towards the girls. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">"You're up, Oh Captain My Captain." <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">"Uhhhhhhhh..." <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Well...you can rest assured that...these monster sightings are...a concern for all of us, and we understand the inconvenience they pose to the citizens of Detroitica." <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">"Believe us, we're having a hard time too!" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"We were actually trying to take an elevator up to investigate a monster sighting in an apartment building downtown, but the monster cut the power to the building and we were briefly stuck in the elevator!" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"One of us kept threatening to pee in the corner unless we found a way out!" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"don't rat me out, Wyatt" <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">"Uhhh...so anyway, the uhhh...situation is in hand..." <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">"...and the Institute is putting all of its resources into finding the reason behind these attacks?" “Thanks, girls! Another rambling, unhinged answer on par with what we’ve come to expect from these youngsters who have stolen our collective hearts,” replied the reporter. [[Let’s keep moving!]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> “That’s right, Tom, I’m standing here with the city’s favorite four magical girls, and I’m sure we all just have one question on our mind:" "where are all these new monsters coming from, and why are they acting like this?” he asked while thrusting his microphone directly towards the girls. Already frozen in place due to her dislike of being on the other side of the camera, the camera person quickly chose Naomi as the best possible authority to answer this question. <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"uhhh" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"they come from... <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"...your mom's house" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"gotta go" <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">"Wow, I've never seen her run like that." “Thanks, girls! Another brief, unhinged answer on par with what we’ve come to expect from these youngsters who have stolen our collective hearts,” replied the reporter. [[Let’s keep moving!]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> “That’s right, Tom, I’m standing here with the city’s favorite four magical girls, and I’m sure we all just have one question on our mind:" "where are all these new monsters coming from, and why are they acting like this?” he asked while thrusting his microphone directly towards the girls. The camera person naturally found himself pointing the camera directly at Mobo, due to her impressive height, and the fact she’s typically much easier to find than the other girls. <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">“Oh! I don’t know!” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">"..." <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">"Am I still on camera? Hi everyone!" “Thanks, girls! Another brief, unhinged answer on par with what we’ve come to expect from these youngsters who have stolen our collective hearts,” replied the reporter. [[Let’s keep moving!]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“That dude had a point, we have *no idea* where all these monsters are coming from!" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"And I don’t know how many more of them we can keep shuffling off to Belle Isle! I’m glad we’re headed to see Kaz about it.” As they entered the office, Kaz greeted the girls with a rare look of seriousness on his face. “Girls, I don’t quite know how to begin with this, but…well, we’re in a worse pickle than usual. The Professor’s machine has vanished, and I haven’t been able to get ahold of Ruby or Diana since we were all together, trying to figure the machine out," he began with a grave tone to his voice. <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“Really? That’s not like them at all, you think they’d be here helping out just like everyone else!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"why are you talking like you know her" <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">"That's not the point!" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Maybe we should all try to talk out what could’ve happened?” The old researchers’ gleam returned to Kaz’s eyes. “It certainly couldn’t hurt, and you’re all going to be as aware of the facts as I am! “Let’s start from the beginning”, he explained, straightening his tie. “The machine was stolen from inside the Institute, correct?" "Nobody saw it after we all left the room that day, and there weren’t any doors left open, just one nearby window was ajar. So, we can assume that the machine had to be taken by…” [[Someone who’s really strong?]] [[Someone with access to the building?]] [[Naomi?]] (unless: (track: 'finding', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'finding', 'loop', true) (track: 'finding', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">“Okay, hear me out. What if they were like…*hella* strong? Like they just picked it up and moved it?” “An insightful suggestion,” began Kaz, “but I’m not sure if it bears fruit." "There weren’t any signs of visible damage or anything being disturbed, and almost all of the doors were closed, sans one window.” <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“Man!” What about... [[Someone with access to the building?]] [[Naomi?]] (unless: (track: 'finding', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'finding', 'loop', true) (track: 'finding', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Charlie.png">“Hang on a second." <img src="./images/Charlie.png">“It had to at least be someone who could get into and out of the building like normal, right?" <img src="./images/Charlie.png">"I do that all the time, there’s a little chip in my bowtie that opens doors for me when I sneak off to another room to take a nap or whatever.” <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">“Dang, Charlie! Look at you helping!” <img src="./images/Charlie.png">“I just don’t want anyone getting into my secret stash, is all." Kaz nodded in agreement. “It’s true. While we might not want to consider it, whoever took the machine would’ve had to get into the building unopposed, or would’ve even been in the building already.” “So, knowing that the machine was stolen by someone who could freely come and go within the building, and there were no visible signs of damage when the machine was taken, the person who took it must…” [[...have Expander powers of some kind?]] [[...know how to use a door?]] [[...be, like, SUPER strong!]] (unless: (track: 'finding', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'finding', 'loop', true) (track: 'finding', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“I bet it was Naomi! Look at her! Who knows what she’s capable of! I bet she doesn’t even have an alibi!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“you totally know where I was last night, remember?" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"I was at your house because I was borrowing some of your dad’s tools so I could build my model kits, and then I stuck around to eat your leftovers and use your bathroom" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“Wait, were you *still at my house* while I was *asleep*? And you *ate my leftovers*?!" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"girl's gotta eat sometime, Jones" What about... [[Someone who’s really strong?]] [[Someone with access to the building?]] (unless: (track: 'finding', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'finding', 'loop', true) (track: 'finding', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">“Wait! So you know how some people can fly, like me? What if they flew it out of the door? Or what if they…made the machine fly out the door? Or both?!” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Mobo, that’s…actually a super good point." <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Whoever took it clearly knew how to levitate themselves or the machine right out that open window, because there’s no physical signs of it having gone anywhere.” “Excellent!” said Kaz with a tinge of his usual excitement. “So let’s go over what we know:" "the person could come and go anywhere in the Institute without suspicion, they clearly had the ability to maneuver the machine out of the building with powers of some kind, and, perhaps the most difficult, would’ve been one of the last people to see Ruby at this point, if not also having seen the rest of us," he concluded. "So it must have been…” [[...Kaz?]] [[...us?]] [[...Diana?]] (unless: (track: 'finding', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'finding', 'loop', true) (track: 'finding', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“alright so uhhh I guess it was someone who knows how to use a door, right?” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“Oh, come on! That could be ANYONE!” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Well, maybe except Mobo. Mobo, do you know how doors work?” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Sorta!" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"cool, good to know Mobo didn't do it" <img src="./images/Mobo Determined.png">"Phew! I was worried!" [[...have Expander powers of some kind?]] [[...be, like, SUPER strong!]] (unless: (track: 'finding', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'finding', 'loop', true) (track: 'finding', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“You guys, I’m serious! Whoever did this needed to be seriously *JACKED AND SHREDDED*!” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">“This is exactly how you talk about actors and actresses you like." <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"yeah, it's why we don't go over to your house for movie night anymore" “I appreciate your enthusiasm, Wyatt,” Kaz began patiently, “but I’m still not convinced it was moved…physically? Although…” as he trailed off. What about someone who might... [[...have Expander powers of some kind?]] [[...know how to use a door?]] (unless: (track: 'finding', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'finding', 'loop', true) (track: 'finding', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“Was it YOU, Kaz?! Is this whole thing an inside job?!" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">"You have to tell us because I asked, that’s the law!” Kaz, taken aback, chuckled softly. “Bunny, I’m…flattered you find me capable of such conspiracy, but truth be told I can barely get through a board game without giggling about the secrets I need to keep." "Were I involved in this theft, you all could’ve guessed from the outset simply due to my lack of a poker face!” he concluded with a gentle smile. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Alright, Kaz...I know what most of those words mean, and I believe you." <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">*"For now.”* What if it was... [[...us?]] [[...Diana?]] (unless: (track: 'finding', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'finding', 'loop', true) (track: 'finding', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">“Oh my gosh, girls! We have powers! We can go into buildings! Did we do this?!” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“Holy crap, Mobo! You’re right! Who KNOWS what we’re capable of?" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">"Me especially, with my remarkable skills and stunning good looks!” <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">“Girls, I love the enthusiasm, but…wouldn’t we remember doing this?” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“wyatt, I’m not gonna remember this sentence by the time I’m done saying it, who knows what else I don't remember" “Girls…” started Kaz with a tone usually saved for explaining concepts to grade schoolers, “I promise, it could not have been you.” [[...Kaz?]] [[...Diana?]] (unless: (track: 'finding', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'finding', 'loop', true) (track: 'finding', 'play') ](set:$serpentDodge to 0) <br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">“Oh, god…you don’t think it could be Diana, could you…? I mean, she’s got like force-field-floaty powers, she can come and go at the Institute as she pleases, and she’s definitely able to get close to Ruby, so…” Kaz, in a moment of somber reflection, could do nothing but take a long drink of black tea to collect his thoughts. “I don’t like thinking about it either, but out of everyone who was there, it’s the only thing that makes sense," he says , looking down into his mug of tea. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Yeah, I dunno, she’s always been kind of a dildo, but even this feels like a lot. Besides, do we have any idea where she could’ve gone?” “Well, I’ve been working on that,” replied Kaz, his spirits lifting slightly. “I’ve been having the Johns triangulate the recent monster sightings, as well as the recent increases in retrotronic energy that have been afflicting the city.” “According to this printout,” he continued, producing a shockingly old-fashioned dot matrix report from deep within the piles of paperwork atop his desk. He gestured at a column on the report. “It looks like the strongest concentration of monster sightings have been coming from somewhere to the northwest, not far from Harbor Crossing Mall." <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Wait a second, the mall! Didn’t Ruby say she and the Midnight saw a bunch of weird monsters there not long ago?" <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">“Yeah! And one of them mentioned the name of the mean lady who tried to kill us at the professor’s house!” <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">“Girlies, saddle up! It sounds like we’re about to have a little *mall madness!*” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“Oh come on, wait a second, we don’t even know what’s - *hey!*” Inspired by Wyatt’s enthusiasm, Mobo had snatched the rest of the girls up and had launched herself out of a nearby window in the direction of the mall. They were well over the horizon before Kaz could finish telling the girls to be careful, and that he’d be sending backup as soon as he could. [[Guess we’re off to the mall!]] (unless: (track: 'finding', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'finding', 'loop', true) (track: 'finding', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“MOBO, I’M GONNA KILL YOU! AND THEN I’M GONNA KILL BIGMOUTH THE DOG OVER THERE!" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">"WE DON’T EVEN KNOW WHAT’S AT THE MALL, AND IT’S PROBABLY HUGE AND DANGEROUS!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“uhhh looks like we’re totally about to find out what’s over at the mall, because what the heck is that” As the girls got closer to Harbor Crossing, in the sky above the mall lurked a lengthy purple serpent, its eyes glowing red with maliciousness, swooping endlessly back and forth, forming an infinity symbol with its slender body. <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">“Uh oh! I don’t think he’s gonna want us getting any closer, girls!” Right on cue, the winged serpent detected the girls’ approach, and dramatically swooped forward with his front arms outstretched beneath him! (link:"Fly over the monster!")[(set: $serpentDodge to it +1)(goto:"Serpent first attack success passage")] [[Fly underneath the monster!->Serpent first attack dodge failure passage]] [[Fire a laser at the monster!->Serpent first attack laser failure passage]] (link:"Try to distract the monster!")[(set: $serpentDodge to it +1)(goto:"Serpent first attack distraction success passage")] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> With a moment of snap judgment, Mobo dives fast and low beneath the serpent, thrusters ablaze… (t8n:"rumble")+(t8n-delay:1.5s)[…unfortunately passing a little too close to the serpent, allowing it to *slash* at the girls with his claws. ] (t8n:"fade")+(t8n-delay:2s)[No lasting damage was done to Mobo’s robotic frame, but the impact caused them to spiral off course in the wrong direction, putting them further away from their intended destination. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png"> "Mobo, stop doing that, I'm gonna be sick!" { (link-goto: "The serpent returns!", (either: "Serpent fang attack passage", "Serpent forward attack passage", "Serpent loop attack passage",)) } ] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> With a moment of snap judgment, Mobo tightens her grip around the girls and extends one hand to release a MID-AIR MONSTER-SCARING MOBO BUSTER… …at exactly the wrong moment. (t8n:"rumble")+(t8n-delay:1.5s)[The force of the laser leaving her hand in mid-flight, as well as the imbalance of her trying to carry her three friends, sends her spiraling off course in the wrong direction, putting them further away from their intended destination.] (t8n:"fade")+(t8n-delay:2s)[<img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">"Mobo, stop doing that, I'm gonna be sick!" { (link-goto: "The serpent returns!", (either: "Serpent fang attack passage", "Serpent forward attack passage", "Serpent loop attack passage",)) }] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> With a moment of snap judgment, Mobo swooped high into the air, thrusters ablaze and the girls held tightly in her grasp… …causing the winged serpent to pass harmlessly underneath her, before turning around enraged as it begins to realize what happened. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Fancy flying, Mobo! But they’re coming back!” (set:$serpentDodge to it+1) { (link-goto: "The serpent returns!", (either: "Serpent fang attack passage", "Serpent forward attack passage", "Serpent loop attack passage",)) } (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Wait! Mobo! See if they want one of these!” As Wyatt accessed her subspace pocket, a small purple *poof* summoned into her hands one of the fluffy brown dinner rolls they were all looking forward to, back in Aldorna’s dimension. Wyatt smashed the roll into the empty beam emitter in Mobo’s free hand, as though she were stuffing a potato into the business end of a PVC pipe. <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“MID-AIR MOBO SNACK BUSTER!” As the now-crispy dinner roll launched itself out of Mobo’s hand-blaster, her aim was true, landing the dinner roll right in the serpent’s mouth. The impact of the roll caused the monster to pause briefly, while inhaling the roll with a satisfied gulp. <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Hey! I think they liked it!” This was true, albeit briefly, as the serpent then roared loudly and continued its pursuit of the girls. <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">“Oh no! Maybe we just made them hungrier!” (set:$serpentDodge to it+1) { (link-goto: "The serpent returns!", (either: "Serpent fang attack passage", "Serpent forward attack passage", "Serpent loop attack passage",)) } (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> The serpent arched his back, rearing his form high in front of the sunset, with his jaws open wide and his fangs bared in an aggressive posture! [[Fly over the monster!->Serpent fang attack flight failure passage]] (link:"Fly underneath the monster!")[(set: $serpentDodge to it +1)(goto:"Serpent fang attack success passage")] [[Fire a laser at the monster!->Serpent fang attack laser failure passage]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> Returning to its position in front of the girls, the monster dramatically swooped forward with his front arms outstretched beneath him! (link:"Fly over the monster!")[(set: $serpentDodge to it +1)(goto:"Serpent forward attack success passage")] [[Fly underneath the monster!->Serpent forward attack dodge failure passage]] [[Fire a laser at the monster!->Serpent forward attack laser failure passage]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> Finally close enough to the girls, the serpent lengthens his slender frame into a perfect circle from its head to its tail and begins constricting around the girls in mid-air! <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“Any ideas, Mobo? We’re all about to be a lot flatter if this thing keeps squeezing like this!” [[Fly over the monster!->Serpent loop attack flight failure passage]] [[Fly underneath the monster!->Serpent loop attack underneath failure passage]] (link:"Fire a laser at the monster!")[(set: $serpentDodge to it +1)(goto:"Serpent loop attack success passage")] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> Mobo, holding the girls closer to her in preparation for the serpent’s attack, engaged her thrusters and launched herself high into the air… (t8n:"rumble")+(t8n-delay:1.5s)[…unfortunately placing her at exactly the right height for the monster’s jaws to *clamp* tightly around the girls. ] (t8n:"fade")+(t8n-delay:2s)[The engulfing darkness only lasted for a moment, as Mobo found herself using her raw, mechanical strength to lift the monster’s jaw open from within. <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">“Oops! Sorry, girls! Everyone grab on!” Following her instructions, the girls all clung back tightly around Mobo before she launched them out of the serpent’s mouth, causing it to smash its jaws together in disappointment. { (link-goto: "The serpent returns!", (either: "Serpent fang attack passage", "Serpent forward attack passage", "Serpent loop attack passage",)) }] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> With a moment of snap judgment, Mobo tightens her grip around the girls and extends one hand to fire a... "MID-AIR MONSTER-SCARING MOBO BUSTER!" …at exactly the wrong moment. (t8n:"rumble")+(t8n-delay:1.5s)[The force of the laser leaving her hand in mid-flight, as well as the imbalance of her trying to carry her three friends, sends her *spiraling* off course in the wrong direction.] (t8n:"fade")+(t8n-delay:2s)[The girls found themselves further away from their intended destination, and Bunny was left with something of a stomach ache due to the speed with which they spun. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">"Mobo, stop doing that, I'm gonna be sick!" { (link-goto: "The serpent returns!", (either: "Serpent fang attack passage", "Serpent forward attack passage", "Serpent loop attack passage",)) } ] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> Engaging her thrusters, Mobo clutched the girls close to her and pulled off a dramatic dive deep underneath the monster’s current position, leaving a trail of color, fire, and smoke in her wake. As the monster snapped at the air above them, the girls heard the hollow *crunch* of the monster’s jaw, and sighed in relief that they weren’t right where they used to be! (set:$serpentDodge to it+1) { (if: $serpentDodge >= 3)[[[We gotta get out of here!->Final serpent battle passage]]](else:)[(link-goto: "The serpent returns!", (either: "Serpent fang attack passage", "Serpent forward attack passage", "Serpent loop attack passage",)) ]} (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">“Girls, I gotta be honest, I’m running out of ideas!” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">“And I’m not sure how much more flying I can handle, before you all see how much popcorn I’ve eaten today!" <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">“I don’t know why you think you’re going to barf! Mobo, you're flying GREAT right now! Like, better than usual!" <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Thanks! Also, I haven’t been flying for a few minutes!” Out of shock and confusion, the girls looked around before noticing what Mobo was referring to. At some point after Mobo’s previous dodge, the girls’ old friend Trandorah, the plastic-eating bird kaiju, had swooped in to collect the girls in mid-air! <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Cry.png">“TRANDORAH! My baby! My precious angel love! The only thing I care about in the world!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“uhhh does anyone hear, like, a ‘woosh-woosh’ and a ‘pew-pew’?” The girls, sans Bunny who couldn’t see much through her tears, looked up at the noises Naomi attempted to describe. The source turned out to be a beat-up and aged helicopter, from which the girls could see Professor Kaznowski at the controls, wearing an aged green trench coat. Leaning out of the open side door was Miss Ibanez, blasting away at the serpent with a bulky laser tube. Beside her, strapped in safely, sat the transformed Expander forms of Phoebe and Emmy. As Kaz’s laser blasts got the serpent’s attention, Trandorah took the opportunity to descend in an empty part of the mall’s parking lot. This was a more difficult task than it might’ve been normally, due the hordes of colorful, multi-limbed, and frequently horrific monsters that have been streaming out of the doors of the mall into the parking lot. [[Into the fray!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> With a moment of snap judgment, Mobo dives fast and low beneath the serpent, thrusters ablaze… (t8n:"rumble")+(t8n-delay:1.5s)[…unfortunately passing a little too close to the serpent, allowing it to *slash* at the girls with his claws.] (t8n:"fade")+(t8n-delay:2s)[No lasting damage was done to Mobo’s robotic frame, but the impact caused them to spiral off course in the wrong direction, putting them further away from their intended destination. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">"Mobo, stop doing that, I'm gonna be sick!" { (link-goto: "The serpent returns!", (either: "Serpent fang attack passage", "Serpent forward attack passage", "Serpent loop attack passage",)) } ] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> With a moment of snap judgment, Mobo tightens her grip around the girls and extends one hand to release a MID-AIR MONSTER-SCARING MOBO BUSTER… …at exactly the wrong moment. (t8n:"rumble")+(t8n-delay:1.5s)[The force of the laser leaving her hand in mid-flight, as well as the imbalance of her trying to carry her three friends, sends her *spiraling* off course in the wrong direction.] (t8n:"fade")+(t8n-delay:2s)[The girls found themselves further away from their intended destination, and Bunny was left with something of a stomach ache due to the speed with which they spun. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">"Mobo, stop doing that, I'm gonna be sick!" { (link-goto: "The serpent returns!", (either: "Serpent fang attack passage", "Serpent forward attack passage", "Serpent loop attack passage",)) } ] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> With a moment of snap judgment, Mobo swooped high into the air, thrusters ablaze and the girls held tightly in her grasp… …causing the winged serpent to pass harmlessly underneath her, turning around enraged as it begins to realize what happened. (set:$serpentDodge to it+1) { (if: $serpentDodge >= 3)[[[We gotta get out of here!->Final serpent battle passage]]](else:)[(link-goto: "The serpent returns!", (either: "Serpent fang attack passage", "Serpent forward attack passage", "Serpent loop attack passage",)) ]} (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">“Everybody hang on!” Following these instructions, Mobo engaged her thrusters. With a brightly colored flash and a trail of smoke, Mobo clutches closely onto her friends and rockets directly upwards into the sky… (t8n:"rumble")+(t8n-delay:1.5s)[…a move that, unfortunately, was predicted by the serpent, who finished closing around the girls before Mobo could reach any appreciable distance away from it.] (t8n:"fade")+(t8n-delay:2s)[<img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">“OOF! Sorry girls-!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“haha dang, all my organs are in different places now” { (link-goto: "The serpent returns!", (either: "Serpent fang attack passage", "Serpent forward attack passage", "Serpent loop attack passage",)) } ] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">“Everybody hang on!” Following these instructions, Mobo engaged her thrusters. With a brightly colored flash and a trail of smoke, Mobo clutches closely onto her friends and begins pivoting downwards to duck underneath the creature’s grasp… (t8n:"rumble")+(t8n-delay:1.5s)[…a move that, unfortunately, was predicted by the serpent, who finished closing around the girls before Mobo could reach any appreciable distance away from it.] (t8n:"fade")+(t8n-delay:2s)[<img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">“OOF! Sorry girls-!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“haha dang all my organs are in different places now” { (link-goto: "The serpent returns!", (either: "Serpent fang attack passage", "Serpent forward attack passage", "Serpent loop attack passage",)) }] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Okay, everybody! Uhh…don’t look or get burned!” Confused by Mobo’s command, the girls closed their eyes and tried to turn away, as Mobo attempts to wiggle one of her arms into place. <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“CLOSE-UP GRASP-RELEASING MOBO BUSTER!” With this cry, she let loose a wiggly stream of colorful particles from her hands in any direction she could think of, in an attempt to get the monster to release its impending grasp… …and it had the desired effect, clumsily colliding with the serpent in a few places and causing enough injury to dissuade it from its current task of trying to crush the girls. (set:$serpentDodge to it+1) { (if: $serpentDodge >= 3)[[[We gotta get out of here!->Final serpent battle passage]]](else:)[(link-goto: "The serpent returns!", (either: "Serpent fang attack passage", "Serpent forward attack passage", "Serpent loop attack passage",)) ]} (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> Behind the girls came the sounds of far-off vehicles, accompanied by a lot of shouting. In front of the girls was a teeming horde of skeletons. Moving, and very well-armed, skeletons, who were completely blocking the path between the girls and the mall. <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“cool, it looks like the scary posters from the back of the music store just came to life" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">*"NOTHING ABOUT THIS IS COOL, NAOMI!"* [[Attack the skeletons with Bunny’s hammer!]] [[Attack the skeletons with Wyatt’s boomerang!]] [[Disarm the skeletons with Naomi’s powers!]] [[Attack the skeletons with Mobo’s blaster!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Charlie.png">“Bunny, you have that huge hammer, don’t you? Stop thinking about what to feed these goons and get smashing!” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">"I don't have any better ideas! WAHHH!" It quickly turned out that Charlie’s advice was sound. The squeaky force of Bunny's hammer carved a path through a large group of nearby skeletons, leaving them too smashed-apart to try to repair themselves, or even continue walking. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“How did you know that would work?!” <img src="./images/Charlie.png">“Come on, everyone knows skeletons are more weak to crushing damage than they would be to piercing damage.” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Geez, there sure are a lot of these jerks, though…hang on, am I getting a phone call right now?” Sure enough, her KATS was ringing. The voice on the other end was surprising, yet familiar. [[Hi, bunny! Look over here!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> Wyatt, glad to have an excuse to use her boomerang again, summoned it out of her subspace pocket with a small poof. With a smooth recoil of her arm, she let it fly…cleanly slicing off the “heads” of a few nearby skeleton warriors! This, sadly…did not quite have the desired effect, as the skeletons continued their march towards the girls, seemingly undeterred by the loss of their skulls. <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“Aw, man! Come on! I was doing SO GOOD!” <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">“...this is kinda awesome-looking, though.” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"right?? that's what I said" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">*"WILL YOU TWO SHUT UP ABOUT THE SKELETONS?!"* [[Attack the skeletons with Bunny’s hammer!]] [[Disarm the skeletons with Naomi’s powers!]] [[Attack the skeletons with Mobo’s blaster!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> Naomi, gently stepping to the front of the group, raised both hands in the air. Surrounded by an unearthly glow, she cast her hands back and forth as though she were conducting some spectral orchestra. Purple energy trailed from her hands like an afterimage in an old photograph while she gestured towards the skeletons. The energy quickly engulfed several of the nearest skeletons, as wavering purple bolts clumsily tore the various maces, swords, and axes from their hands. Naomi then turned to face the opposite direction and repeated her work. Try as she might, however, the number of still-armed skeletons was just too great. <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“girls, I never thought I’d say this, but uhhh this is just *too many skeletons*” [[Attack the skeletons with Bunny’s hammer!]] [[Attack the skeletons with Wyatt’s boomerang!]] [[Attack the skeletons with Mobo’s blaster!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Mobo Determined.png">“That’s it, you bony jerks! ANTI-SPOOKY MOBO BUSTER!” As the rubbery, colorful streams found themselves loosed from Mobo’s hand emitters, they made contact with a few skeletons closest to the girls. These skeletons found themselves at best shattered, and at worst disintegrated, with the remnants of damaged bones clattering against the ground with an almost musical tone. <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Ha ha! That’s gross!” Mobo's joy would prove to be short lived. The skeletons who had been blasted apart to varying degrees by Mobo’s beam began picking up whatever surviving pieces they could manage. Carrying their own parts, they began shambling back towards the girls while carrying their own heads, arms, ribcages, and the like. <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">“Oh no! That’s *even grosser*!” [[Attack the skeletons with Bunny’s hammer!]] [[Attack the skeletons with Wyatt’s boomerang!]] [[Disarm the skeletons with Naomi’s powers!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Bunny...is that your boyfriend over there in the car?" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"Hang on, I'm on the phone with him! But...yes, I think so?" "Hi Bunny! It's me! Isaac! This is the best day of my life!" came the voice from the other end of the line. Isaac had already gotten to spend all day with his team of transforming-mecha pilots (he's trying to get people to call them “Dimension Patrol: Breaker Dynamo”) doing search-and-rescue for people affected by the monster attacks. In the middle of his current mission, his team leader Fender suddenly got a call from the nice old man who ran the Institute. Their mission had suddenly changed, and they all left to go save his girlfriend and her friends from a bunch of monsters at the mall. "I didn't know if you knew what my robot looked like, so I wanted to call and let you know we were here!" he continued over the phone. "Look over here!" Doing as instructed, Bunny looked up just in time to see a small, angular blue hatchback, followed quickly by a rounded silver SUV, a sleek white sports car with search and rescue markings all over it, and a massive yellow fire truck. The blue hatchback smashed through a group of skeletons as though it were a particularly well-aimed bowling ball, before stopping to turn back towards the girls. Instead of continuing to drive forward, the blue hatchback began to unfold itself into a bipedal humanoid form, sporting silver limbs and an unfolded pair of doors on its back that resembled wings more than anything else. The vehicles behind it soon followed suit, converting into variously asymmetrical upright human modes, still consisting of the vehicle parts that made up their previous shapes. Isaac's voice came from over a speaker built into the head of his mech. “Hi bunny!” he shouted cheerfully. “These are my friends! You remember Reinhardt, right?” he asked, gesturing to the large silver robot that was previously an SUV, who waved politely in response. “And that’s Fender and Violet!” he said, pointing to the robots who used to be the fire truck and sports car, respectively. <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">“Is…that your boyfriend? Is he a robot now?” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">*“I have no idea.”* “We’ll take care of these skeleton guys!” the staticy voice continued. “You four just go on your way! Bye! Have a good night!” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Well, uh…you heard the man? I guess?” [[Thanks for the help, Bear’s weird robot friends!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> In the wake of the rampant skeleton destruction brought about by the unexpected appearance of Bear and his teammates, the girls were able to further their approach through the parking lot. This approach was soon halted, however, by a menacing pair of ogres - one orange and one blue. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Hey, didn’t Ruby tell us about these jerks?” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Yeah, but I don’t remember her telling us how ugly and stinky they were!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“huh weird, it looks like they know what those words mean, and now they're upset at us" Naomi’s assessment was correct - the ogres were slowly approaching the girls, arms outstretched menacingly, each clutching large metal morningstars. [[Swordfight the ogres with Wyatt!]] [[Superjump over the ogres with Bunny!]] [[Disarm the ogres with Naomi!]] [[Fire a blast at the ogres with Mobo!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">“Giant ogres with medieval weaponry? Girls, I know I’ve made this mistake before, but let me at these jerks!” Summoning her sword out of subspace, Wyatt tried her best to remember Aldorna’s advice from earlier. Talking herself through it, she took what she hoped was an appropriate swordfighting stance. The ogres approached - - she dodged nimbly under the first blow - - swiftly parried the second blow - -and with a speedy feint and parry, disarms one of the ogres! <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">“Oh - oh my gosh! It worked! I mean…uh…*en garde, dillweed!*” Her brief celebration was nearly cut short by an attack from the still-armed ogre, before a sudden flash sliced the ogre’s morningstar clean in half, lengthwise. Bracing for impact, Wyatt turned just in time to see the ogre’s weapon separate down the middle, before being greeted by a reassuringly familiar voice. “Exactly as I expected of you girls - curious of approach, but courageous of heart.” [[Could it be - ?!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“Alright you jerks, get ready for a little AIR JONESY!” Bunny’s enthusiasm was only matched by the speed with which she jumped. Sadly, the speed with which she jumped was only matched by the speed with which…one of the ogres grabbed Bunny out of the air and tossed her rudely back to the earth. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Cry.png">“Ugh…my butt…” [[Swordfight the ogres with Wyatt!]] [[Disarm the ogres with Naomi!]] [[Fire a blast at the ogres with Mobo!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“ok blue-boy, let’s see how tough you are without your big whoppin’ stick” Naomi raised her hands and let trails of shimmering purple energy attempt to snap the long, spiked stick out of the ogre’s hands. Despite a brief tug of war, she was successful for a moment... ...until the orange one somehow managed to uproot a tall sign from out of the parking lot’s cement base and smack Naomi across the back with it. The impact sent her spiraling into the air like a hastily discarded plush toy. [[Swordfight the ogres with Wyatt!]] [[Superjump over the ogres with Bunny!]] [[Fire a blast at the ogres with Mobo!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">"Oh my gosh! These two are taller than me! That doesn't happen very often!" <img src="./images/Mobo Determined.png"> "Oh well! Sorry, ogres, but we need to get into that mall!" <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“OGRE-SMASHING BEAUTY & TRUTH MOBO BUS-” Her announcement, however, was cut short by the sudden impact of a massive slab of concrete that one of the ogres had managed to rip straight out of the ground and toss directly at her. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"MOBO! Are you okay?!" <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">"Yeah! This isn't the first time something hit me in a parking lot when I wasn't paying attention!" [[Swordfight the ogres with Wyatt!]] [[Superjump over the ogres with Bunny!]] [[Disarm the ogres with Naomi!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">“ALDORNA! I-you-uhhhhh…" <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">"...how’s it hanging?" <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">*"oh my god why did I ask her that?”* <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Oh wow! Wyatt’s heart rate is going back up! It’s because her girlfriend is here! How did you get here, Wyatt’s girlfriend?” Aldorna smiled from underneath her armored mask. “Truth be told, my comrades, I’m…not completely sure. I was wracked with guilt about not being able to thank you for your help previously, and in my travels I encountered a strange light, not unlike the one that took you all from me.” She aims her gaze further in the direction of the still-frozen Wyatt. “Without knowing what it was, I approached it in the hopes that…it would take me back to you.” <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">“...” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“I think what our friend Thirsty the Dog-Woman is trying to say, is that we’re all totally grateful for the help, and you got here just in time” “It seems I have, my fellow wanderers! I know not what your goal may be, but I know that I shan’t let these two ruffians trouble you any longer!” Her speech concluded, she turned towards the ogres, brandishing her sword. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">“Mobo, will you, like…pick up Wyatt? We need to get moving.” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Okay! Thanks, Wyatt’s girlfriend! We love you! But not as much as Wyatt does!” [[Even closer to the mall!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> With Wyatt safely tucked under Mobo’s arm as though she were a lovestruck duffel bag, the girls worked their way through the crowded parking lot. Dodging and weaving through the horde of multidimensional fiends summoned to prevent them reaching Zenlas, they grew ever closer to the doors of the mall. Their approach came to a screeching halt as they drew nearer to the doors leading into the movie theater, due to the appearance of a hard-shelled insectoid beast. The monster stood about the height of the mall, with a pair of massive pinchers that could easily pick up a car, and then just as easily crush it. <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“Ah, GEEZ! Look, bug butt, I’m sorry, but I’m exhausted and we really need to get inside that mall!” In response to being called “bug butt”, the insect took several lumbering steps directly toward the girls. [[Attack the insect with Bunny’s hammer!]] [[Attack the insect with Wyatt’s boomerang!]] [[Distract the insect with Naomi’s powers!]] [[Attack the insect with Mobo’s blaster!]] [[Check your KATS!]] (if:$hasPancakes is true)[[Offer the insect a pancake!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“Alright, if there’s one thing I know about bugs, is that sometimes…*they gotta…get…squashed!*” Winding up and launching into the air with the completion of her sentence, Bunny found herself hurtling through the sky, hammer outstretched. This hope was soon dashed, however, as the insect expertly intercepted Bunny in mid-air with its pincers. It *slammed* her back down to the ground in the same way a larger wrestler would intercept the mid-air attack of their smaller opponent. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"Ugh, this is the thanks I get for all those times I try to take a bug outside..." [[Attack the insect with Wyatt’s boomerang!]] [[Distract the insect with Naomi’s powers!]] [[Attack the insect with Mobo’s blaster!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“Alright, you beefy beetle battler, let’s go play fetch!” Hoping to at least get the insect creature away from the door, Wyatt poofed a boomerang into her hand and let it loose into the sky above the insect. With a surprising quickness, the insect leapt into the air using its powerful hind legs to intercept the boomerang in mid-flight, snapping it in half using its pincers. Having destroyed Wyatt's boomerang, the insect landed directly back on the ground in front of the girls with a powerful thud. <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">“*Maaaaaaaaan!*! I guess I’m glad I got a few more of those.” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“yeah, where do you get all your boomerangs from anyway" [[Attack the insect with Bunny’s hammer!]] [[Distract the insect with Naomi’s powers!]] [[Attack the insect with Mobo’s blaster!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“okay, I’m about sick of this lady just pulling new jerks out of thin air to try to crush us” With that, Naomi raised her hands to create a shimmering purple barricade of energy in mid-air. Seemingly taking this as a challenge, the insectoid dashed forward with its head down to extend its pincers forward, before colliding with the barrier. As the insect reared back to try its approach again, Naomi intercepted it with another barrier. <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“nuh-uh, stinky” This process repeated itself several times as the insect grew more enraged at being unable to stop the small catgirl’s telekinetic onslaught. <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“nope” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">*“whoopsie”* <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“not even a little bit” While it didn’t get the girls any closer to entering the mall, it also had the effect of stopping the insect monster from getting any closer to the girls. [[Suddenly, air support!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">“PATH-CLEARING BUG-BLASTING MOBO BUSTER!” With this cry, Mobo held her hands together and let loose with a familiar stream of squiggling orange and blue particles. In response, the insectoid curled into a massive ball, allowing its hard, chitinous shell to deflect the blast upwards and away from both him and the girls. Off in the distance, they could see it cleanly slice the first few letters off the sign out closer to the highway, which guided visitors to the Harbor Crossing Mall. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Hey, don’t feel bad, Mobo! It wasn’t your fault he had a shell!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“yeah, besides, everyone loves going to the Bor Sing Mall” [[Attack the insect with Bunny’s hammer!]] [[Attack the insect with Wyatt’s boomerang!]] [[Distract the insect with Naomi’s powers!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> *ding! ASSIGNED DESIGNATION: Gagul TRAITS: chitinous armor plating, crushing pincers click!* <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“WHY ARE YOU DOING THAT RIGHT NOW?! WE’RE GONNA GET EATEN ALIVE BY THIS THING!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"some people just don't appreciate art" [[Attack the insect with Bunny’s hammer!]] [[Attack the insect with Wyatt’s boomerang!]] [[Distract the insect with Naomi’s powers!]] [[Attack the insect with Mobo’s blaster!]] (if:$hasPancakes is true)[[Offer the insect a pancake!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Alright, bug-butt, I’m pretty sick of all the jerks outside this mall trying to stop us from getting in. But perhaps I could tempt you with…this?” <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“Oh my god Bunny, are there still pancakes in your purse? How long have those been in there?!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"it looks like that mold is trying to develop into a new life form" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Quit distracting me!” With that, Bunny gently tossed the pancake underhand, up towards the insectoid. It made a collision with the increasingly disinterested insect. The girls all stood and watched while the pancake slowly slid down the creature’s face before getting crushed by its mouth-pincers. [[Suddenly, air support!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> Before the insect could respond further, it (and the girls) were surprised by a sudden clunk! The sound revealed itself to have come from a large metal chair that collided directly with the head of the insectoid, drawing its attention up to the air. <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">“Did…did we do that? Mobo, do you have the power to fire chairs now?!” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“I don’t think so! But imagine how handy that would be when we have guests over!” “Up here, girls!” signaled a bombastic voice from seemingly high in the sky. <img src="./images/Naomi.png"> “oh sick I think that’s Captain Lutomsk” It was indeed! The Captain, Addnine, Kesso, and Zell were all standing onboard the Captain’s ship, waving excitedly to the girls below. “Hey everyone!” shouted Kesso. “Sorry about the chair, but we’re still out of ammunit-” he continued, before Zell replied with a loud “YOU’RE NOT SUPPOSED TO TELL PEOPLE THAT!” accompanied by a swift bonk to the head. “Addnine suggested we follow a familiar-looking portal back to see if we could catch up with our new friends, and it seems we arrived just in time!” continued Lutomsk with his typical bravado. “We’ll take care of this cretin, you girls just get where you need to go! FIRE AT WILL!” On his command, a barrage of plates, furniture, and small unwanted personal items rained down on the insect, causing varying degrees of injury and annoyance. Seizing the opportunity, the girls dashed into the awaiting doors of the mall. <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">“Thanks, bird-guy! We owe you one!” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Sorry about all your furniture and stuff!” <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“Alright, girls…we ready for this? <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">“No.” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“no” <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">“I don’t know!” <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“Sigh. Yeah, me neither, I guess, but…we’re already here, right? Let’s go be heroes!” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Or die horribly!” [[Finally, into the mall!->Episode 12 Preview]] (unless: (track: 'lutomsk', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'lutomsk', 'loop', true) (track: 'lutomsk', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“dang, you know, i’ve been here a ton of times for midnight launches or whatever, but this seems real…spooky, by mall standards” What few lights were on flickered in and out intermittently, and the hastily-abandoned stores all lay bare with an unnerving stillness, gates still up and purchases dropped wherever they landed. Befitting the largely flat, circular nature of the mall’s design, two hallways stretched out before the girls, each one of them ending with an unnatural glow far off in the distance. [[Take the left path.->Mall left path first passage]] [[Take the right path.->Mall right path first passage]] (unless: (track: 'mall', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'mall', 'loop', true) (track: 'mall', 'play') ]<br> Leading away from the movie theater to the left, the girls crept cautiously down a long, curved hallway. Normally familiar-looking storefronts like the music store, the Coney Island restaurant, and the expensive watch shop offered nothing other than a silence that the mall rarely ever knew, even after operating hours. Ahead of the girls lay the entrance to the food court, where an ominous light shone even brighter, as well as a continuation of the hallway. [[Continue down the hallway.->Mall right path second passage]] [[Enter the food court.->Mall food court, first passage]] (unless: (track: 'mall', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'mall', 'loop', true) (track: 'mall', 'play') ]<br> Leading away from the movie theater to the right, the girls crept cautiously down a long, curved hallway. Normally familiar-looking storefronts like a garish cell phone kiosk, the camping & outdoor store, and the upscale clothing boutique where Wyatt’s father insisted on taking her back-to-school shopping felt strange and eerie in the stillness. Each offered nothing other than a silence that the mall rarely ever knew, even after operating hours. Ahead of the girls lay the entrance to the food court, where an ominous light shone even brighter, as well as a continuation of the hallway. [[Continue down the hallway.->Mall left path second passage]] [[Enter the food court.->Mall food court, first passage]] (unless: (track: 'mall', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'mall', 'loop', true) (track: 'mall', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“I can’t believe I’m admitting I’m scared of the food court, but…maybe let’s check out the rest of the mall before we rush into anything?” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Yeah, good call, we should give any other scary stuff in the mall a chance to kill and eat us, first.” Passing the food court, the girls saw even more abandoned storefronts like a garish cell phone kiosk, the camping & outdoor store, and the upscale clothing boutique where Wyatt’s father insisted on taking her back-to-school shopping. Each offered nothing other than a silence that the mall rarely ever knew, even after operating hours. Behind the girls was the entrance to the food court, where an ominous light shone even brighter, and the movie theater where they entered the mall awaited them to the front. [[Head back to the movie theater.->Movie theater return passage]] [[Enter the food court.->Mall food court, first passage]] [[Head back to the previous hallway.->Mall left path first passage]] (unless: (track: 'mall', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'mall', 'loop', true) (track: 'mall', 'play') ]<br> “...for the millionth time, NO!” a shrill voice from within the food court shouted in irritation. “You can’t call your little friends out here to save the day until I’m done using this infernal device!” “Ugh, FINE”, whined a familiar-sounding voice in protest, “but you remember our deal!” More quietly, the first voice grumbled “how could I FORGET, you keep BRINGING IT UP!” in response. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Is…that Diana? Talking to the gross witch lady who tried to kill us at the house on the water?” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png"> “Oh! And I think I see our friend Ruby!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“great, we're all in one place, so it'll be easier for her to kill all of us now" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“So what do we do? And by that, I mean *what can we do to not get annihilated by a magic butthole from another dimension?*” [[Listen in on Diana and Zenlas talking.]] [[Check on Ruby.]] [[Look at the machine.]] [[Scan Zenlas with your KATS.]] (unless: (track: 'mall', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'mall', 'loop', true) (track: 'mall', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“I can’t believe I’m admitting I’m scared of the food court, but…maybe let’s check out the rest of the mall before we rush into anything?” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Yeah, good call, we should give any other scary stuff in the mall a chance to kill and eat us, first.” Passing the food court, the girls passed abandoned storefronts like the music store, the Coney Island, and the expensive watch shop. Each offered nothing other than a silence that the mall rarely ever knew, even after operating hours. Behind the girls was the entrance to the food court, where an ominous light shone even brighter, and the movie theater where they entered the mall awaited them to the front. [[Head back to the movie theater.->Movie theater return passage]] [[Enter the food court.->Mall food court, first passage]] [[Head back to the previous hallway.->Mall right path first passage]] (unless: (track: 'mall', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'mall', 'loop', true) (track: 'mall', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Boy, this is great! It’s like we get to go for a walk around the mall by ourselves, just like all the old people that are here before anything even opens!” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Do you go to the mall a lot, Mobo? I guess I don’t know what a robot does for fun.” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Yeah! Kaz takes me here sometimes in the morning when he goes for a walk!" <img src="./images/Mobo Determined.png">"If I’m good, he buys me chocolate at the Colorado Chocolate Outlet, the place with the big stuffed bear in the window!” <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">“Once, I got in trouble for trying to take the bear out of the window!” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">“Aw, that’s okay, Mobo, we’ve all thought about doing that.” [[Take the left path.->Mall left path first passage]] [[Take the right path.->Mall right path first passage]] (unless: (track: 'mall', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'mall', 'loop', true) (track: 'mall', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">"Hi everyone! Mobo here!" <img src="./images/Mobo Determined.png">"We finally got into the mall, and it's pretty dark and scary! Seems like we'll be gearing up for a final boss or something soon!" <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">"At least that's what Naomi calls it! I don't like games with boss fights, because they're too stressful!" <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">"I'd rather be, like, a small deer in a sweater who runs a bed & breakfast or something!" <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">"Anyway, bye!" [[Episode 12 START!]] (unless: (track: 'credits', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'credits', 'loop', true) (track: 'credits', 'play') ]<br> =><= EPISODE 12: THE DESCENT [[Here we go!->Finally, into the mall!]] (unless: (track: 'theme', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'theme', 'loop', true) (track: 'theme', 'play') ]<br> “Listen, if there’s one thing my dad taught me, it’s that you can never let people forget when you make an agreement!” Diana continued huffily. “Your father is a senator, his entire job is to accept whatever bribes or promises come his way!” hissed Zenlas. “Now stop talking so much, I’m trying to use the synchronizer, or whatever that cursed professor called it before he used it to trap me here!” “I don’t know why you’re re-hashing your lore with me, I’ve gotten your sob story plenty of times!” replied Diana sharply, through gritted teeth. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Wow, sounds like we have a pretty classic “two villains who hate each other” situation here, is there a way we could take advantage of that?” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“literally none of us are clever enough to exploit this, no" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">“My whole plan was to tell Diana she’s a selfish dillweed who just sold out humanity, including me...so maybe it will make her feel bad to know how beautiful and smart I am before she kills us?" [[Check on Ruby.]] [[Look at the machine.]] [[Scan Zenlas with your KATS.]] (unless: (track: 'mall', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'mall', 'loop', true) (track: 'mall', 'play') ]<br> Hastily tied up to one of those ubiquitous (and uncomfortable) white metal food court chairs by ropes and extension cables still sporting the price tags from the sporting goods store, was a beat-up looking Ruby Robinson. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“PSST! Hey, Ruby! Can you hear us?” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Rubella? Rubicon? Rubinicus?” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“roooooooobs” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Hi Ruby! It’s us! The girls you kind of know!” <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“SHH, jeez Mobo, don’t you have a volume option?!” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“No!” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Alright, girls, Ruby's out cold so she can't hear us, and we gotta be careful about using our indoor voices so we don’t get spotted." <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"What do we do now?" [[Listen in on Diana and Zenlas talking.]] [[Look at the machine.]] [[Scan Zenlas with your KATS.]] (unless: (track: 'mall', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'mall', 'loop', true) (track: 'mall', 'play') ]<br> (set: $unpluggedDistricts to 0) <img src="./images/Charlie.png">“Focus, girls! Isn’t that the, uh…what was it called? The Somethingizer?” Charlie was right - in the center of the food court, being furiously tinkered with by a clueless Zenlas, was the Hyperpoint Synchronizer from the Professor’s house. The center glowed with the same purple energy it emanated when Mobo came in contact with it previously. Stretching off in several directions from its center were several large, tangled-up power cables. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Hey, my dad uses cables kinda like that to power his food truck! She probably stole those from the camping store! Why are they hooked up to the machine?” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Maybe they’re trying to power it?” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Right, maybe she had to find some other way to turn the thing on because they don’t have their own Mobo? Maybe she’s going to summon something even weirder!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“finally, biblically-accurate mobo, fresh out of the portal" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Girls, I think I got a plan! If we can go disconnect all those cables, we can at least stop her from summoning anything else!” (set:$district1Boss to false)(set:$district2Boss to false)(set:$district3Boss to false)(set:$district4Boss to false) <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">“Great, then she can just kill us herself, the old-fashioned way." [[Go back to the mall to look around!]] (unless: (track: 'mall', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'mall', 'loop', true) (track: 'mall', 'play') ]<br> *ding! ASSIGNED DESIGNATION: ZENLAS NO FURTHER INFORMATION AVAILABLE.* <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"ooh, that's definitely an omen" [[Listen in on Diana and Zenlas talking.]] [[Check on Ruby.]] [[Look at the machine.]] (unless: (track: 'mall', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'mall', 'loop', true) (track: 'mall', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Alright, so if we just figure out where those cables are plugged into, we can go chop ‘em up! I can’t wait to get chopping!” As the girls returned to the corridors of the mall, they looked to either side and saw they were near District 1 and District 4, thanks to the mall’s “district” naming convention for each of its hallways. [[Head to District 1.]] [[Head to District 4.]] (unless: (track: 'mall', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'mall', 'loop', true) (track: 'mall', 'play') ]<br> The girls enter District 1. As they walk through the hallways, they notice a shoe store, an electronics store that sells music and movies, and a Coney Island restaurant. [[Check out the shoe store.]][ (if: $district1Boss is false)[ [[Check out the electronics store.]]\ ](else-if: $district1Boss is true)[ Power cable disconnected! ] ][[Check out the Coney Island.]] [[Head to District 2.]] (unless: (track: 'mall', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'mall', 'loop', true) (track: 'mall', 'play') ]<br> Approaching the final district in the mall’s circular layout, District 4, the girls encountered the alternative clothing store Hot Looks, the Tropical Cafe themed restaurant, and the Bath House, an affordable perfume and candle store. [[Head to Hot Looks.]] (if: $district4Boss is false)[ [[Head to Tropical Cafe.]]\ ](else-if: $district4Boss is true)[ Power cable disconnected! ] [[Head to the Bath House.]] [[Head to District 1.]] (unless: (track: 'mall', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'mall', 'loop', true) (track: 'mall', 'play') ]<br> The girls peer into the athletic shoe store, filled with shelves of running gear, casual wear, and a surprising number of bucket hats. At the front of the store hangs a poster of Ruby Robinson, wearing some of the store’s gear while pretending to run. <img src="./images/Charlie.png">“Anything?” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Nope! Nothing other than, well, shoes. How funny would it be if we met, like…some kind of shoe-kaiju?” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“oh my gosh that would be hilarious" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"and we could probably sell it to some sneakerhead for a ton of money unless Bunny wanted to adopt it” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“I wouldn’t adopt it…but I’d be real picky about who we sold it to, like when you adopt out a rescue dog or something.” [ (if: $district1Boss is false)[ [[Check out the electronics store.]]\ ](else-if: $district1Boss is true)[ Power cable disconnected! ] ][[Check out the Coney Island.]] [[Head to District 2.]] (unless: (track: 'mall', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'mall', 'loop', true) (track: 'mall', 'play') ]<br> The girls enter Media Time, a big-box electronics store dealing in TVs, movies, music, and the occasional overpriced video game. <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“heck yeah, I’m here all the time, you girls know how important physical media is these days? so much stuff gets taken off streaming services, and -" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Yeah yeah yeah, Naomi, we’re all super impressed with your Blu-ray collection. You girls see anything?” As the girls peered through the strange glow emanating from the electronics store, they found their target: a large power cable headed into the backroom of the store! <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“hey uhhh does someone hear something? like...stomping and TV static?" <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">"That's what I usually sound like! But this isn't me!" As they approached the cable, they suddenly found themselves approached by a shambling humanoid form, with a flat-screen TV for a head, and a slightly larger TV for a torso! It's horrible, tentacled limbs were made from the tangled cables from a series of Blu-ray drives, cable modems, and high-end stereo equipment, and seemed to reach out towards the girls. <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">“Wow! That’s *definitely* not me!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“it looks like someone’s living room threw up, and then came to life and turned evil” [[Attack the TV monster with Wyatt’s sword!]] [[Attack the TV monster with Bunny’s hammer!]] [[Attack the TV monster with Naomi’s telekinetics!]] [[Attack the TV monster with Mobo’s beams!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">“Girls…I haven’t eaten anything since we left the Institute, and I am *dying*. Does anyone know how to use a deep fryer?” <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">“I could figure it out, I’ve seen my dad use one! He only gets burned a few times a year!” <img src="./images/Charlie.png">“Say no more, I’ll see where they stash the hot dogs.” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“can someone make me and Mobo some fries and a milkshake” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“I can also just drink chocolate syrup, if that’s easier!” [[Check out the shoe store.]][ (if: $district1Boss is false)[ [[Check out the electronics store.]]\ ](else-if: $district1Boss is true)[ Power cable disconnected! ] ][[Head to District 2.]] (unless: (track: 'mall', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'mall', 'loop', true) (track: 'mall', 'play') ]<br> The girls walk through District 2, passing an expensive watch store, a small locally-owned coffee stand, and Brick-O-Land, a large store/attraction for fans of the Brick-o building toys. [[Head to the expensive watch store.]] [[Head to the coffee shop.]] (if:$district2Boss is false)[ [[Head to Brick-O-Land.]]\ ](else-if: $district2Boss is true)[ Power cable disconnected! ] [[Head to District 3.]] (unless: (track: 'mall', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'mall', 'loop', true) (track: 'mall', 'play') ](set: $district1Boss to true) <br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">“Alright girls, someone better call the cable company, because it looks like we’re about to *disconnect our service!*” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png"><img src="./images/Naomi.png">“ughhhhhhhh” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Yaaaaaaay!” Wyatt lunged forward, summoning her sword as she moved. The monster attempted to smash downwards from the sky with a crude flail made from cables and an entry-level record player hastily grabbed from a nearby shelf, which Wyatt was able to dodge underneath. Remembering some of Aldorna’s sword pointers, Wyatt sliced cleanly upwards, severing the cables making up the ‘arm’ of the creature. The monster simply looked around with its ominous TV head, stunned by Wyatt’s sudden grace. She promptly took advantage of this pause by severing its remaining cable limbs with her sword. As the monster’s head-monitor flickered into and out of whatever could be considered “consciousness”, Wyatt strode purposefully over to the monster and smashed through its screen with the heel of her sword. <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">“Looks like it's the end of your…*broadcast day.*” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png"><img src="./images/Naomi.png">“ughhhhhhhh” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Yaaaaaaay!” As the commotion in the store came to an end, suddenly there was a loud POP! from the backroom as the lights stopped their flickering. Charlie emerged, a large extension cable in his mouth that he then spat onto the ground. <img src="./images/Charlie.png">“Unplugged the thing, girls! Let’s get moving!” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“Couldn’t you have done that, like…ten minutes ago when we were fighting the monster?!” (set: $unpluggedDistricts to it + 1) <img src="./images/Charlie.png">“No time to talk! I think the thing I unplugged it from is gonna explode!" The girls barely crossed the threshold before an explosion from the store's backroom sent flaming movies and t-shirts through the sky around them. (if: $unpluggedDistricts is < 4)[ [[Head to District 2.]] [[Head to District 4.]] ](else-if:$unpluggedDistricts is >= 4)[ [[Get back to the food court!]] ] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> With a scream of rage and confusion, Bunny leapt forth towards the mobile, tangled mass of cables, hammer in hand. The heartbreaking sound of a TV screen shattering was all the feedback the girls needed to know she hit her target. However, as Bunny landed semi-gracefully from her attack, the girls’ delight all changed to dismay as the monster quickly slithered out a series of cables from around its body to grab a new, undamaged TV off a display. Clumsily, the monster affixed it into place where its old head used to be, as its arm-cables rapidly retracted back to their source. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“Ugh, we’re gonna be here ALL NIGHT if they keep doing that!” [[Attack the TV monster with Wyatt’s sword!]] [[Attack the TV monster with Naomi’s telekinetics!]] [[Attack the TV monster with Mobo’s beams!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“ha ha, *yoink*” With that mild proclamation, Naomi raises a hand to create her familiar purple sheen. The monster approached, wildly swinging a small record player from the end of one of its long cable tendrils in the fashion of a bludgeon. Naomi intercepts the attack using a bolt of psychic energy, and crudely removes the record-flail from straight out of the monster’s grasp. <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“sick” Her joy was short-lived, as the monster’s cables lashed out to grab a stack of seasons of various TV shows, from back when those all came in overly-large DVD packaging. The cables slithered backwards towards their source, forming another spare ‘hand’ for the monster at the end of what could be called an arm. <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“still sick, but...less so” [[Attack the TV monster with Wyatt’s sword!]] [[Attack the TV monster with Bunny’s hammer!]] [[Attack the TV monster with Mobo’s beams!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">“Helping! MOVIE-MELTING MOBO BUSTER!” Sticking her arms straight out in front of her with her hands touching in a triangle, Mobo’s rubbery orange and blue particle beam flew out from her emitters. The beams found their target, center-of-mass, directly through the large flatscreen TV forming the monster’s chest. Dismayed, the monster looked down at its own singed, charred torso in dismay, while the smell of fried electronics and burning plastic filled the air. <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Ha ha, it smells bad! And now the sprinklers are activating!” Unfazed by the sudden downpour of water, the monster used its slithering tendrils of power cables and HDMI hookups to grab a replacement television from a nearby display and hastily cram it back into the spot where its previous torso lay. <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Ha ha! Gross!” [[Attack the TV monster with Wyatt’s sword!]] [[Attack the TV monster with Bunny’s hammer!]] [[Attack the TV monster with Naomi’s telekinetics!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> Creeping back around the opening to the food court, the girls could hear Zenlas and Diana loudly bickering back and forth. “And you’re CERTAIN you plugged EVERYTHING in correctly, earthling?!” cried Zenlas. In a huff, Diana replied “Uh, yeah, *space witch*, I’ve *plugged things in* before." "There’s no reason why this stupid thing should’ve shut off unless…unless someone unplugged it...” she ended with an increasingly suspicious look in her eye. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“That’s our cue! They’re gonna figure out we’re here soon, what do we do?” [[Attack Zenlas!]] [[Attack Diana!]] [[Go check on Ruby!]] (unless: (track: 'mall', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'mall', 'loop', true) (track: 'mall', 'play') ]<br> Upon approaching Lume, an expensive brand of watches based out of Michigan, Bunny saw a familiar pink banner in the window. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Cry.png">“Oh my gosh! They have the Lilly doll collaborations here! Did you guys have Lilly dolls growing up? Look how cute these are!” <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">“Heck yeah I had Lilly dolls, the rollerblading one was my favorite!" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Dang, these are super nice, for how...shockingly pink they are.” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Cry.png">“Ugh, I’m sad I’ll never be able to afford one, this place only sells watches for like a *million dollars*.” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“bunny we’re alone inside a mall full of monsters and your superpower involves having a hammer, nobody would suspect a thing” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"Why didn't I think of that?!" <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">*“GIRLS, WE ARE NOT STEALING EXPENSIVE WATCHES FROM THE MALL!”* <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“how come you’re always stopping me from committing retail fraud” [[Head to the coffee shop.]] (if:$district2Boss is false)[ [[Head to Brick-O-Land.]]\ ](else-if: $district2Boss is true)[ Power cable disconnected! ] [[Head to District 3.]] (unless: (track: 'mall', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'mall', 'loop', true) (track: 'mall', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Huh, Grandma Jean’s Coffee. Never heard of it, is that local?” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“yeah, they moved in after the big chain store closed" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"which is weird, because that’s the reverse of how that usually goes" As the girls talked, Charlie emerged from the half-closed gate leading into the coffee shop. <img src="./images/Charlie.png">“Didn’t see any big power cables or whatever, but I yoinked this bag of biscotti.” [[Head to the expensive watch store.]] (if:$district2Boss is false)[ [[Head to Brick-O-Land.]]\ ](else-if: $district2Boss is true)[ Power cable disconnected! ] [[Head to District 3.]] (unless: (track: 'mall', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'mall', 'loop', true) (track: 'mall', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Naomi, you’re probably super into Brick-Os, right? Since you’re into model kits and all?” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“you’d think so, but Mobo is actually the Brick-O lady here" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"whenever Wyatt or I get a new kit we just give them to her to do it, she’s like a machine” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“That’s probably because she IS a machine.” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“I like the Space Patrol ones the best! Oh, and the pirate ships!” Entering the store, the girls passed a number of colorful shelves lined with Brick-O kits, both original creations and the more expensive ones licensed from across popular culture. Sure enough, there was a large black power cable snaking across a nearby wall, ending at a fusebox located just within the entrance to the backroom. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Alright, sick, let’s just unplug this and - OW! HEY!” Wyatt suddenly found herself beset upon by a colorful brick airplane, seemingly moving around the store under its own power. The clattering of plastic and rumbling of shelves accompanied the sudden formation of several of the other Brick-O kits, all animating themselves to life and taking whatever form they could think of, whether intended by the original designers or otherwise. <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“would you believe I used to have dreams about this happening” The Brick-O forms quickly began surrounding the girls and attacking in whatever way their hastily-assembled bodies would allow, whether by flying into them, driving into them, or (most upsettingly) removing bricks from their own bodies to hurl at them. [[Have Wyatt attack the Brick-Os with her sword!]] [[Have Bunny attack the Brick-Os with her hammer!]] [[Have Naomi attack the Brick-Os with her telekinesis!]] [[Have Mobo attack the Brick-Os with her lasers!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> Entering District 3, around the other side of the food court, the girls saw a particularly upscale clothing store, a large outdoor/sporting goods store, and a poorly-lit cell phone kiosk in the middle of the hallway. (if: $district3Boss is false)[ [[Head to the clothing store.]]\ ](else-if: $district3Boss is true)[ Power cable disconnected! ] [[Head to the sporting goods store.]] [[Head to the cell phone kiosk.]] [[Head to District 4.]] (unless: (track: 'mall', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'mall', 'loop', true) (track: 'mall', 'play') ]<br> Summoning a sword into one hand and a boomerang into the other, Wyatt dives into the fray. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">*"GLEAMING EDGE!"* Her sword quickly found a target in a Brick-O replica of a vintage Hack-Man arcade machine that had been launching bricks one by one out of where the coin slot would be. All it succeeded in doing was dislodging a few bricks from the corner of the machine before sending it tumbling to the ground where it spun in place, still launching bricks. Frustrated, she then let loose with her boomerang behind her into the sky. <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">"Ughhhh! *BOOMERANG STORM*!" Sadly, the Brick-O jet fighter she was attempting to attack with her boomerang proved too agile, as the boomerang missed its targed and *pinged* harmlessly off an exposed pipe in the ceiling. <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">“Either there’s…like…a billion of these things, or I’m…not as good at this as I thought…or both, but…this totally sucks.” [[Have Bunny attack the Brick-Os with her hammer!]] [[Have Naomi attack the Brick-Os with her telekinesis!]] [[Have Mobo attack the Brick-Os with her lasers!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“Ugh, my dingus brother would LOVE this! YAHH!” Spinning towards a small series of plastic knights in gleaming black armor, Bunny brought her hammer down. The collision of hammer and Brick-O made a deeply satisfying clattering of plastic across the hard, unwashed tile floors. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“See, girls, that’s how you - <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">*"OW! Which one of you turds threw that?!”* Bunny’s cry was prompted by the tossing of a large red shield, thrown by a large collection of superhero themed Brick-Os atop a nearby shelf. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“There’s just no END to these crapsacks, is there?!” [[Have Wyatt attack the Brick-Os with her sword!]] [[Have Naomi attack the Brick-Os with her telekinesis!]] [[Have Mobo attack the Brick-Os with her lasers!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ](set: $district2Boss to true) <br> <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“alright, I ain’t as good at putting them together, but let’s see how good I can take them apart” Naomi took a position in the center of the store and raised her hands slightly over her head, each glowing with purple energy. The energy crackled from her hands and zipped over to a nearby group of dinosaur-themed Brick-Os which were quickly approaching her, mouths wide open. The dinosaurs exploded into a pile of bricks, quickly scattering far enough across the store for them not to be able to reform again. Turning to a group of small pirate vessels, she then cast her hands in the air until they too exploded into a shower of colorful bricks. This process was repeated across each one of the animated Brick-Os, from the race cars chasing Mobo around to the small colorful superheroes attacking Bunny. Eventually, the store was a much calmer place with a thick layer of multicolored plastic building blocks across the floor. <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“yoink” (set:$unpluggedDistricts to it +1) With that, Naomi unplugged the power cable from the store’s fusebox. The lights gradually returned to their original brightness, and the in-store TVs came back to life, incessantly playing an endlessly cheerful tune and looping commercials for various Brick-O products. <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"what's that humming sound...?" Before they could realize what was happening, a small explosion from the front door pushed the girls back out through the front door, covered in un-assembled Brick-Os. (if: $unpluggedDistricts is < 4)[ [[Head to District 3.]] [[Head to District 4.]] ](else-if:$unpluggedDistricts is >= 4)[ [[Get back to the food court!]] ] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“TOY-SMASHING MOBO BUSTER!” Letting loose with an orange stream from her hands, Mobo took aim at a collection of race cars driving across the floor. The beams made direct contact with each of them, reducing them to smoldering piles of their component bricks. <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Ha ha! Yay!” Animated by some unnatural force, the bricks found themselves reconstituting into several smaller vehicles, each of them clumsily assembled out of mismatched parts with no concern for aesthetics. Reassembled by invisible forces, the vehicles began racing across the floor towards Mobo. <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">“Oh no!” [[Have Wyatt attack the Brick-Os with her sword!]] [[Have Bunny attack the Brick-Os with her hammer!]] [[Have Naomi attack the Brick-Os with her telekinesis!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> The girls approach Martin Brothers, a fancy clothing store dotted with mannequins and displays showing off upstyle clothing including sweaters, neckties, jackets, and dresses. A lengthy black power cable led across the floor of the store into a large power supply underneath the cash registers. <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“you okay, Wyatt?” <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“Yeah, sorry. I always just feel weird coming in here, my dad likes to take me back-to-school shopping here and it just feels too…fancy, you know?" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Makes me feel bad getting them dirty, like I always do." <img src="./images/Charlie.png">“Well, here, let’s just go disconnect that cable and…” <img src="./images/Charlie.png">“...did you hear something?” The girls turned around, scanning the room for motion and activity, but finding none. <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“uhhhh are those mannequins closer than they were a second ago?” The girls then attempted to take another step forward. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Yeah, either the store is getting smaller, or those mannequins are trying to surround us, and neither of those are good.” <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">“I’ve heard of aggressive sales people before, but this is *ridiculous!*” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png"><img src="./images/Naomi.png">“ughhhhh” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Yaaaaay!” [[Have Wyatt attack the mannequins with her sword!]] [[Have Bunny attack the mannequins with her hammer!]] [[Have Naomi attack the mannequins with her telekinesis!]] [[Have Mobo attack the mannequins with her lasers!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> The girls approach Salmon World, a large sporting goods store with several displays including fish tanks, taxidermied animals, and expensive tent displays. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Does this store make anyone else…kinda sad?” <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“Yeah, I love being outside and crap, but I could go without the stuffed raccoons on the walls." <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Mobo, do you remember when you tried to free the fish in the aquariums back there?” <img src="./images/Mobo Determined.png">“They just looked so sad!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“probably for the best you got caught before you could go in there, though, I dunno if it’s a good idea for you to be underwater” (if: $district3Boss is false)[ [[Head to the clothing store.]]\ ](else-if: $district3Boss is true)[ Power cable disconnected! ] [[Head to the cell phone kiosk.]] [[Head to District 4.]] (unless: (track: 'mall', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'mall', 'loop', true) (track: 'mall', 'play') ]<br> The girls approach the cell phone kiosk. Alongside the outside of the stand sat several non-working display phones, as well as hangers full of colorful phone cases, none of which looked...particularly authentic. <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“hey Bunny, look over here by this bootleg Ruby phone case - isn’t that your boyfriend?” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Cry.png">“WHAT?! Oh my gosh it is! My little bear is famous!” <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“Okay, bootleg Ruby merch I get, but how the heck is your bear already so famous that HE gets knock-off stuff before we do?” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">“Green isn’t a good color on you, Wyatt.” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“What do you mean, my outfit is mostly…OH. Oh.” <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">*“Shut up.”* (if: $district3Boss is false)[ [[Head to the clothing store.]]\ ](else-if: $district3Boss is true)[ Power cable disconnected! ] [[Head to the sporting goods store.]] [[Head to District 4.]] (unless: (track: 'mall', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'mall', 'loop', true) (track: 'mall', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">“Sorry, pals, but I think these looks are a little //last season//!” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png"><img src="./images/Naomi.png">“ughhhhh” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Yaaaay!” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">*"GLEAMING BLADE!"* Diving forward, sword in hand, Wyatt cleanly swiped the left arm off a nearby mannequin. <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">“Quick, Wyatt! Say something funny again!” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Oh! Uhhhh…” In the time it took Wyatt to think of another pun, the mannequin that she had previously dis-armed (which would’ve been a great pun for her to use) had bent over to pick its own arm back up, and was approaching Wyatt to continue the fight. <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">“AHH! Gross! Weird! Gross and weird!” [[Have Bunny attack the mannequins with her hammer!]] [[Have Naomi attack the mannequins with her telekinesis!]] [[Have Mobo attack the mannequins with her lasers!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“Okay, I've seen an awful lot of things I hate today, but mannequins are //way// too far!” Clutching her hammer in her hand, Bunny began spinning around in place like a top, smashing various limbs and torsos off of the mannequins surround her, sending a whirling storm of plastic body parts in every direction. Panting and dizzy, she briefly took a knee to survey the destruction she wrought. Instead of a triumphant glance over the battlefield, however, she was instead faced with the sight of each one of the mannequins she’d dismantled slowly clawing, crawling, or otherwise inching their way back to her. Making this sight all the more disarming was the fact that most of the things crawling towards here were disconnected plastic arms, or a pair of legs wearing expensive chinos. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Cry.png">“I...you...they..." <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">"..." <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"oh my gosh, Bunny, I love how many new swear words you're making up right now, but you should stop to take a breath" [[Have Wyatt attack the mannequins with her sword!]] [[Have Naomi attack the mannequins with her telekinesis!]] [[Have Mobo attack the mannequins with her lasers!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“starting to feel pretty bad for all the survival horror protags I’ve seen this happen to” Naomi turned to the nearest mannequin, her hands already glowing with telekinetic powers, and quickly removed the left arm with a hollow plastic *pop!* sound. Raising the arm into the air just above the mannequin’s head, she then quickly raised and lowered the arm over and over again to bonk the mannequin on its dented plastic head. <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“stop hitting yourself, stop hitting yourself, stop hitting yourself, stop -” Two things interrupted her amusement at this sight: the mannequin’s body falling over after losing its head, and then the mannequin standing right back up, despite its lack of head and left arm. <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“oh, weird” [[Have Wyatt attack the mannequins with her sword!]] [[Have Bunny attack the mannequins with her hammer!]] [[Have Mobo attack the mannequins with her lasers!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ](set: $district3Boss to true) <br> <img src="./images/Mobo Determined.png">“Girls! I had an idea! Everyone duck!” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Don’t have to tell us twice, Little Miss Death-Ray! Heads down, girls!” Heeding Mobo’s advice, the girls ducked down, holding whatever debris they could over their heads as a shield. Mobo, confirming the girls would be okay, hopped up onto the ornate wooden counter in the center of the store where the cash registers sat. <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“SPIRAL JUSTICE! MOBO BUSTER!” Balancing on one foot and placing her hands out in front of her, Mobo unleashed a bright orange and blue laser stream from her hands. Using the force of the stream as a guide, she then pivoted in place in a circle, like some kind of lawn sprinkler of destruction, until her sweeping beam had melted and demolished the crowd of mannequins surrounding her. <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Yay!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“dang Mobo that was some fancy shooting” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Should we, like…leave a note or something? I don’t want someone to get yelled at by their district manager because we accidentally set fire to like a million dollars’ worth of fancy sweaters.” <img src="./images/Charlie.png">“Nah, these stores have insurance, they can just write it off.” (set:$unpluggedDistricts to it +1) <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“what does that mean” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Anyway, let's go unplug the power cable before it inevitably explodes or something." (if: $unpluggedDistricts is < 4)[ [[Head to District 4.]] [[Head to District 1.]] ](else-if:$unpluggedDistricts is >= 4)[ [[Get back to the food court!]] ] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> The girls approach Hot Looks, a clothing store offering alternative looks, as well as a selection of toys and merchandise from several popular bands, movies, video games, and cartoons. <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“holy beans, Wyatt look at that spooky little thing in the window” <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">“Oh my gosh, girl, you would look great in that!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“you don’t think it’s like too…revealing?” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Naomi…it’s a huge sweater with skulls all over it.” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">“I think you’re gonna look fine as heck, girl, but you gotta…uh…wear what you’re comfortable with!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“yeah I dunno, I’m not really here to be…perceived" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"maybe they got like a huge jacket to go over it, so you can't see me as well" (if: $district4Boss is false)[ [[Head to Tropical Cafe.]]\ ](else-if: $district4Boss is true)[ Power cable disconnected! ] [[Head to the Bath House.]] [[Head to District 1.]] (unless: (track: 'mall', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'mall', 'loop', true) (track: 'mall', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Charlie.png">“Hey, look, I think there’s a power cable going into that…jungle restaurant?” <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“You’re just saying that because you wanna steal some fries -" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">" - oh, wait, look, the cable is right there!" The girls cross the threshold of the Tropical Cafe, a rainforest-themed restaurant full of faux-Amazonian decor, stuffed animal souvenirs, and a menu with more vegetarian offerings than you might expect. The four girls made their way through the strangely nostalgic and maze-like interior, dodging fake vines and taking a moment to enjoy the plastic waterfall mounted in the center of the dining area. Eventually making their way through the restaurant, they found the end of the cable, plugged into a large outlet behind the bar near the soda fountain. In a deep slumber, right in front of the bar, lay a beautiful, crystalline tortoise, just big enough to stop them from making their way around to unplug the cable. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Cry.png">*“THEY'RE SO CUTE OH MY GOSH”* <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“eww, you can see they were trying to eat the fake leaves” [[Have Wyatt approach the tortoise!]] [[Have Bunny approach the tortoise!]] [[Have Naomi approach the tortoise!]] [[Have Mobo approach the tortoise!]] (if: $hasPancakes is true)[[Offer the tortoise a pancake?]] (unless: (track: 'mall', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'mall', 'loop', true) (track: 'mall', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">“Alright, so I know Wyatt is gonna yell at us if we, like, steal, anything, but do you girls wanna go in there and maybe just smell some stuff? Mobo! I know you like a good smell!” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“I like the ones that smell like “ideas”! Like “Saturday Morning Cartoons”, or “Summer’s End”!” Moments pass as the girls spend precious time in a monster-infested shopping mall checking out their favorite candles, body sprays, and air fresheners before reconvening outside. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png"> “Alright, girls, we gotta focus, and…" <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">"...Naomi, is that you?!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“yeah, I didn’t wanna smell like thrift store and Cheese Crunchies anymore, so I put some perfume on” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“How many of them are you wearing, like twelve?!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“yeah why” <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">“I can detect a few of these! Ooh, one of them is “Flannel Shirt”! And this one must be…”Starry Twilight”!” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“What does that even smell like?” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“it smells great, just like I do right now” [[Head to Hot Looks.]] (if: $district4Boss is false)[ [[Head to Tropical Cafe.]]\ ](else-if: $district4Boss is true)[ Power cable disconnected! ] [[Head to District 1.]] (unless: (track: 'mall', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'mall', 'loop', true) (track: 'mall', 'play') ]<br> Wyatt, sword in hand, hunched over to try to make herself seem less of a threat, somehow, as she approached the tortoise. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Alright, big sleepy, I hate to wake you up but we’re here on Official Magical Girl Business, so I’m gonna need you to…” The tortoise showed no signs of being awake, nor any particular interest in moving. <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“...gonna need you to…MOVE…YOUR…BUTT!” Putting her back into it, Wyatt leaned in vain up against the tortoise. It didn’t take long for the tortoise to decide it was tired of Wyatt’s prodding, before gripping her in its jaws (with a surprising gentleness) and hurtling her across the restaurant, back towards the girls (without any of the aforementioned gentleness). <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">“Hey girls…I don’t think he’s going anywhere.” [[Have Bunny approach the tortoise!]] [[Have Naomi approach the tortoise!]] [[Have Mobo approach the tortoise!]] (unless: (track: 'mall', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'mall', 'loop', true) (track: 'mall', 'play') ](set:$district4Boss to true) <br> <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Hey there, little sleepy buddy!” Bunny put on her best “new babysitter” voice, cooing as she approached the sleeping tortoise in front of the serving area, its crystalline body shimmering in the intermittent light of the restaurant. In response, the tortoise looked up at Bunny and grumbled slightly, in the way anyone would when four girls with superpowers kept interrupting their sleep. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“I know! I bet you’re just hungry, right?” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“NAOMI, WYATT, GO INTO THE KITCHEN AND GET ME A SALAD OR SOMETHING!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“how come we gotta do it” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">“Because I’M staying here with this beautiful angel-baby, and Mobo wouldn’t know what a salad was if you blasted her with some kind of photon-salad torpedo!” Unable to argue that last point, Wyatt and Naomi dashed off to grab a few bags of salad mix from the cooler in the kitchen. Bunny held a few leaves in her hand and offered it to the tortoise, whos reaction slowly changed from suspicion to hunger. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“That’s right! Pretty good, huh? Now how about you come on over this way!” With that, she began leaving a small trail of kale and lettuce for the tortoise to follow, leading him closer to the store’s entrance - and, most importantly, away from the power cable. Charlie hopped down from his vantage point atop the bar and disconnected the power cable with a labored chomp. (set:$unpluggedDistricts to it +1) <img src="./images/Charlie.png">“Hey, it looks like someone left their tips back here before they took off, I’m gonna - “ <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“CHARLIE, DO NOT STEAL TIPS FROM THE WAIT STAFF!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"uhhh the thing is humming again, we should leave before it explodes" The girls, with the tortoise safely carried out by Mobo, left just before an explosion from behind the bar sent frozen appetizers everywhere. <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">"*Why* does that keep happening?!" (if: $unpluggedDistricts is < 4)[ [[Head to District 3.]] [[Head to District 1.]] ](else-if:$unpluggedDistricts is >= 4)[ [[Get back to the food court!]] ] (unless: (track: 'mall', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'mall', 'loop', true) (track: 'mall', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“uh…hey there, friend, you…uh…” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“you maybe wanna…” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“...you wanna get out of the way for a second or something? we gotta uhhhh go back there” <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“Naomi! You’re talking too softly, they can’t even hear you! Just use your powers to float them away or something!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“there is no way I’m doing that, can you imagine how rude that would be? to wake someone up by whipping them around the room with telekinetics?!” [[Have Wyatt approach the tortoise!]] [[Have Bunny approach the tortoise!]] [[Have Mobo approach the tortoise!]] (unless: (track: 'mall', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'mall', 'loop', true) (track: 'mall', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“EXCUSE ME! Hello! Will you wake up and move please? EXCUSE ME!” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Mobo, we know you’re excited, but maybe don’t yell at the -” The warning came slightly too late before the tortoise’s powerful crystalline jaws snapped close around Mobo, lifting her into the air and tossing her across the room. Her robot weight pulled her down fairly quickly, and she landed head-first and upside down in a nearby potted plant. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Oh geez, Naomi, will you -” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“already on it” <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">“Ptoo! Ha ha! Now I know what dirt tastes like!” [[Have Wyatt approach the tortoise!]] [[Have Bunny approach the tortoise!]] [[Have Naomi approach the tortoise!]] (unless: (track: 'mall', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'mall', 'loop', true) (track: 'mall', 'play') ]<br> Bunny put on her best “meeting a dog for the first time” voice as she approached the sleeping tortoise kaiju. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">“That’s right, sleepy little baby! I bet I got something right here for you…” <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“Oh my GOD, Bunny, do NOT try to offer that tortoise a pancake! We're trying to be NICE to it!" <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">"And also, those have been in your purse for SEVERAL WEEKS!" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“They’re still good! They’re still in their plastic bag, and stuff like this stays fresh forever these days! Give it a smell, see?” <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">*“BUNNY JONES, DO NOT MAKE ME SMELL YOUR MOLDY BAG OF PANCAKES”* <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“also don’t make the kaiju eat them, that feels wrong somehow” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">“Fine, whatever, but you don’t know what you’re missing!” [[Have Wyatt approach the tortoise!]] [[Have Bunny approach the tortoise!]] [[Have Naomi approach the tortoise!]] [[Have Mobo approach the tortoise!]] (unless: (track: 'mall', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'mall', 'loop', true) (track: 'mall', 'play') ](set:$attackedZenlasDianaFirst to true) <br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">“That’s right! We’re…uh…Team 64, and we’re your WORST NIGHTMARE!” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Yeah! And we’re EACH OTHER’S worst nightmare, too!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“I like to think I’m *everyone’s* nightmare” Their pre-battle quips completed, the girls rushed at Zenlas out of sheer instinct, without too much of a plan. “Oh, NO YOU DON’T, you little cretins! I should’ve done this a long time ago, back at that cursed professor’s house!” cried Zenlas. As she shouted, she raised her hands to let loose a torrent of swirling energy that was dark enough to the point of absorbing the light around it. The energy caught the girls off guard, and sent them flying clear across the food court to right back where they started, although much more singed and crispy for their efforts. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">“Great plan, Fearless Leader.” <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">“Shut…*cough cough*...shut up.” [[Attack Diana!]] [[Go check on Ruby!]] (unless: (track: 'mall', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'mall', 'loop', true) (track: 'mall', 'play') ](set:$attackedZenlasDianaFirst to true) <br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“Diana! I don’t know if I’m more mad or disappointed! And this is how I’m choosing to deal with it! *GLEAMING BLADE!*" Wyatt lunged at Diana, sword in hand. Diana, upon seeing this, made a face like she just smelled something unpleasant, before expertly parrying all of Wyatt’s attacks with quickly-summoned force-fields projected just over her hands. Two hands over her head, Diana deflected Wyatt's sword as though she were blocking strikes in a martial arts competition. Wyatt then found herself blasted backwards towards the girls by an invisible force projected by Diana, which resulted in the girls all lying in an injured heap near the doors where they entered the food court. “*Down,* puppy girl.” said Diana with a smug look on her face. “The *grown-ups* are still talking.” [[Attack Zenlas!]] [[Go check on Ruby!]] (unless: (track: 'mall', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'mall', 'loop', true) (track: 'mall', 'play') ]<br> Creeping clumsily across the food court, over to the largely-ignored side of the room where Ruby was still tied to a chair, the girls attempted to get her attention. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“PSST! Ruby! Hey! We’re here to save you!” <img src="./images/Ruby Shocked.png">“Wha…ugggh, hey, uhhhhh…” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Wyatt. My name is Wyatt. We’ve only met like twice, that’s okay!” <img src="./images/Ruby Neutral.png">“Yeah, sorry, (text-colour:"white")[[Wylie]], I think I’m still kinda sleeping it off." <img src="./images/Ruby Angry.png">"Is Diana still alive and evil?” <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“Yeah, she’s over there, trying to help that witch-lady in the gross outfit summon a bunch of jerks from another dimension.” (if:$attackedZenlasDianaFirst is true)[Diana and Zenlas stood some distance away, watching the whole scene with amusement. “Well, Diana?” Zenlas asked. “Aren’t you going to take advantage of your foes’ weakness and strike them all down at once? This is one of those things I’ve been trying to teach you.” The idea seemed to take Diana aback. “I mean…kill them? I thought you said we could just give Ruby back when the whole thing done as, like, an example…or something…” ] <img src="./images/Ruby Sassy.png">“...and she wanted me stuck here to watch the whole thing? Yeesh, what a narcissist." <img src="./images/Ruby Neutral.png">"Oh, hey, you’re Bunny Jones, right? Glad you’re all still alive.” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“For now, I guess! Anyone got any ideas?!” [[Attack Zenlas!->Zenlas attack passage 2]] [[Attack Diana!->Diana attack passage 2]] [[Try to distract Zenlas!]] [[Try to distract Diana!]] (unless: (track: 'mall', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'mall', 'loop', true) (track: 'mall', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">“That’s right! We’re…uh…Team 64, and we’re your WORST NIGHTMARE!” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Yeah! And we’re EACH OTHER’S worst nightmare, too!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“I like to think I’m *everyone’s* nightmare” Their pre-battle quips completed, the girls rushed at Zenlas out of sheer instinct, without too much of a plan. “Oh, NO YOU DON’T, you little cretins! I should’ve done this a long time ago, back at that cursed professor’s house!” cried Zenlas. As she shouted, she raised her hands to let loose a torrent of swirling energy that was dark enough to the point of absorbing the light around it. The energy caught the girls off guard, and sent them flying clear across the food court to right back where they started, although much more singed and crispy for their efforts. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">“Great plan, Fearless Leader.” <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">“Shut…*cough cough*...shut up.” [[Attack Diana!->Diana attack passage 2]] [[Try to distract Zenlas!]] [[Try to distract Diana!]] (unless: (track: 'mall', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'mall', 'loop', true) (track: 'mall', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“Diana! I don’t know if I’m more mad or disappointed! And this is how I’m choosing to deal with it! *GLEAMING BLADE!*" Wyatt lunged at Diana, sword in hand. Diana, upon seeing this, made a face like she just smelled something unpleasant, before expertly parrying all of Wyatt’s attacks with quickly-summoned force-fields projected just over her hands. Two hands over her head, Diana deflected Wyatt's sword as though she were blocking strikes in a martial arts competition. Wyatt then found herself blasted backwards towards the girls by an invisible force projected by Diana, which resulted in the girls all lying in an injured heap near the doors where they entered the food court. “*Down,* puppy girl.” said Diana with a smug look on her face. “The *grown-ups* are still talking.” [[Attack Zenlas!->Zenlas attack passage 2]] [[Try to distract Zenlas!]] [[Try to distract Diana!]] (unless: (track: 'mall', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'mall', 'loop', true) (track: 'mall', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">“So…Zenlas, what’s your whole deal? And why are you dressed like someone my mom would’ve gone to the club with back when she was like 20?” Zenlas snickered. “I see we’re resorting to the old “get the villain to talk about herself to reveal her plan”. I suppose I don’t mind being seen as the villain here.” “Back on my homeworld, I was a brilliant tactician and trusted advisor to perhaps the most ruthless empress we’d ever known, before I was overthrown due to a series of machinations I kicked myself for not anticipating." "When I was banished to your planet to try and recover my armies, I was cast into the space between dimensions by that accursed Professor and his friend in the trench coat, the one without the beard." "And now I’m back, I’m raising my army, and I *fully intend* to leave your world a withered husk on my way out.” “Also, for what it’s worth, I was considered very beautiful in my homeworld," she finished with a sneer. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">“And where was that? Planet Buttcrack? You look like someone’s least-favorite stepmom!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“on one hand I don’t believe in beauty standards, but on the other hand it’s super funny that my friend just said *buttcrack*” Zenlas merely frowned in response. [[Attack Zenlas!->Zenlas attack passage 2]] [[Attack Diana!->Diana attack passage 2]] [[Try to distract Diana!]] (unless: (track: 'mall', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'mall', 'loop', true) (track: 'mall', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“You know, Diana, I have to say I’m the most disappointed in //you//.” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">“Yeah! At least half of us in this group would’ve picked you as our second favorite member of Shimmering Midnight!” Diana’s typically smooth features contorted into a wounded frown. “Second favorite? Let me guess, Little Miss Blue Hair over there is your first choice?” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Why wouldn’t she be? She’s strong as heck, and have you ever looked at her? Hubba hubba!” In response, Diana let out an inhuman shout, and angrily knocked an abandoned tray full of french fries off a nearby table. “Of COURSE she’s your favorite!” she cried in response. “She’s EVERYONE’S favorite!” Seeing an opportunity, Wyatt tried to sneak behind Ruby to loosen her ropes. <img src="./images/Ruby Shocked.png">"Are...are you chewing through my ropes?" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"I didn't want to use my sword because I was worried I'd cut your hands off! Now *shut up!*" [[Keep talking, Diana…]] (unless: (track: 'mall', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'mall', 'loop', true) (track: 'mall', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Wyatt.” <img src="./images/Ruby Neutral.png">“What?” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“It’s Wyatt.” <img src="./images/Ruby Neutral.png">“Yeah, Wyatt. What did I say?” <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">“I…forget it.” [[Go check on Ruby!]] (unless: (track: 'mall', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'mall', 'loop', true) (track: 'mall', 'play') ]<br> “She’s gorgeous, she’s powerful, she’s talented, she’s great at meeting fans!", Diana cried. "She’s everything I was supposed to be before her stepdad and his stupid tech company bought her way onto our team! MY team!” Diana barely paused to breathe during her tirade, her voice somewhere between a hoarse scream and an anguished cry. “We all had to play nice when old man Kaz was around because he was too easily-distracted to notice what was going on!" "But then, suddenly, Ruby was the only one on TV, Ruby was the only one getting the sponsorships and media appearances, and Ruby was the only one everyone could talk about!" "I bet you don’t even know the names of the other two girls on our team, do you?” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">"I...uh..." <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"wow, dang, yeah, no idea, we only know Ruby" Ruby remained seated so Wyatt could finish clumsily chewing through her restraints, but she could no longer remain silent. <img src="./images/Ruby Angry.png">“Hang on, Diana. You think I WANTED it to be like this?” [[Hear what Ruby has to say!]] (unless: (track: 'mall', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'mall', 'loop', true) (track: 'mall', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Ruby Neutral.png">“My parents have been treating me like some kind of child actress since my powers developed! I wanted to grow up to be, like, a gymnast or an ice skater or something!” <img src="./images/Ruby Angry.png">“But since I HAVE these powers, and there wasn’t a lot I could do about it, I at least wanted to know I was helping people!" <img src="./images/Ruby Neutral.png">"And that’s what the Shimmering Midnight did! We HELPED people!” <img src="./images/Ruby Neutral.png">“How many strangers’ lives have we saved?" <img src="./images/Ruby Neutral.png">"How many kids’ lives did we make better just by taking a picture with them, or signing something when they came up to us when we were trying to eat lunch? How many -” “Yes, Ruby,” Diana interjected, “I was there, and I remember all of them. And that’s all I ever wanted to do, too!" She continued. "I didn’t enjoy finding out I had powers, and I *certainly* didn’t like risking my life as often as I did, but it made me special!" "It was the first thing that ever made me feel special, like I actually made a difference, instead of my family’s money making a difference!” As Diana shouted this, she pounded both of her fists on a nearby overturned table. <img src="./images/Ruby Sassy.png">“Poor little rich girl, sounds like you had it real tough too. Then why did you shack up with Shoulderpads, here?” [[Keep chewing a little longer, Wyatt!]] (unless: (track: 'ruby', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'ruby', 'loop', true) (track: 'ruby', 'play') ] <br> Diana sighed heavily and slumped her head, as though weighed down by the things she was about to admit. “I heard Zenlas talking to those two ogres we fought here about how long she’d been trapped in this dimension, and how she needs to finish raising her army, and yadda yadda yadda.” “So I had an idea: " "If I helped her find this machine she was talking about, she had to stage a big monster attack that she lets me, (text-colour:"white")[[Jennifer, and Hannah]] stop so we look like heroes and maybe get you…kicked off the team or something." "That’s why they’re not here, because they’re hiding somewhere safe until I give them the signal," she finished with a sigh. <img src="./images/Ruby Sassy.png">“Really? And you absolutely trust her that she’s just going to take her monsters and scram, and let you look like a big ol’ hero?” This caught Diana off guard more than the rest of the conversation did, and she turned to Zenlas for confirmation. “You…you WERE going to shut the machine off when you left, right?” “Of course I was, dear,” Zenlas began. “Of course, I was going to do it after I killed you and your stupid friends to make sure you couldn’t actually interfere with my plans." "And I can tell by that stupid look on your face that you’re about to remind me we had a deal." "Need I remind you that the deal required this *blasted machine* to work properly?” she asked with an oddly satisfied look on her face. Diana anxiously looked back and forth between Zenlas and Ruby, begging for an answer - or, better yet, an escape from the hole she’s dug. In response, Ruby slowly stood up from the chair, revealing that Wyatt had finished chewing through the ropes, a fact highlighted by poor Wyatt trying to pick plastic ties out of her teeth. <img src="./images/Ruby Angry.png">“I’m sorry, Diana. But it isn’t a zero-sum game. Other people can be special without making you less special, and the important things you do aren’t invalidated by the fact someone else did something important." <img src="./images/Ruby Sassy.png">"And you *certainly* didn’t need to sell out humanity to make sure someone was impressed with you.” Teary-eyed, Diana turned back towards Zenlas, who replied with a particularly callous tone. “If the two of you are *quite* done, it’s only fair for me to let you know that the deal is now off.” With that, she leveled a blast of black energy at Diana, who was immediately propelled through the front counter of a nearby restaurant, leaving nothing but smoking rubble. [[Diana?!]] (unless: (track: 'ruby', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'ruby', 'loop', true) (track: 'ruby', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Ruby Shocked.png">“DIANA! Oh my god!” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“Holy -!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“daaaaaaang” Zenlas turned to the girls, clearly unfazed by what she’s done. “I apologize for my brusqueness, but I’ve really been on your horrid little backwater mudball far too long." "So, if any other foolish mortals desire *oblivion*, I encourage and welcome their efforts.” With that, she began to glow with a blinding white light, cackling all the while. Her physical form slowly began to dissolve and fade away before reconstituting in the sky as a nearly imperceptible, swirling void. Seemingly alive, the void crackled with energy and seemingly sported two large eyes and hands, although calling any part of her new appearance “humanoid” would’ve been incredibly generous. In place of any further threats or banter, a deeply inhuman laugh rang out that seemed to come simultaneously from both deep inside the energy void, and deep inside the girls’ subconscious. <img src="./images/Charlie.png">”Well, girls, it was nice knowing you.” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“Yeah, I kinda figured you guys would get me killed someday, but I figured it would be more of a “dumb accident” and not because of an “interdimensional monster beyond all comprehension”.” <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“Well, we gotta do SOMETHING, right?! Hyper Princess Lightphase wouldn’t go down without a fight, and neither will we!” [[Attack the void with Wyatt!->Zenlas first attack failure passage]] [[Attack the void with Bunny!->Zenlas first attack failure passage]] [[Attack the void with Naomi!->Zenlas first attack failure passage]] [[Attack the void with Mobo!->Zenlas first attack failure passage]] (unless: (track: 'zenlas', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'zenlas', 'loop', true) (track: 'zenlas', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Mobo Determined.png">"Oh! THAT'S the name of the two other girls! I get it now!" "I am TRYING to TALK right now, loud robot one!" replied Diana. <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">"Eep!" (link-goto: "Go back.", (history:)'s last) (unless: (track: 'ruby', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'ruby', 'loop', true) (track: 'ruby', 'play') ]<br> The girls, lacking any better idea about what to do, rushed at Zenlas with their various weaponry and abilities at the ready. This approach was met by the same inhuman cackling from before, as two loosely-concentrated streams of whirling black energy met the girls halfway. The bolts wracked each of their bodies with a sensation somewhere between being electrocuted and being set aflame, and yet worse than either, somehow. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“That…SUCKED.” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“owwwwie” <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">“Okay, okay, I know we’re all…*rampaging women of action,* but…it looks like we’re gonna have to think our way out of this one. Anyone got an idea?” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“apologize and pray for a quick end?” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Wait! Remember when we fought that weird sphere jerk at the Professor’s house?" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"And how, when we couldn’t find him, we used the machine to just blast him into some other dimension? What if we did that for this lady, too?” <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">“Bunny, you’re a GENIUS!” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">“I know. I’m also America’s Sweetheart, and probably the hottest one on this team too.” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“but the machine is still unplugged, which is a huge bummer” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“No worries! There’s gotta be some other way to power it! We could…” [[...just go plug everything back in?]] [[...get Mobo over there?]] [[...find an alternative power source?]] (unless: (track: 'zenlas', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'zenlas', 'loop', true) (track: 'zenlas', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“I know! We could just go back to each one of the stores to plug the machine back in!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“that would be great, except all of those stores blew up, and they were full of monsters anyway" <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“You’re right! Maybe we should apologize to them, too!” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“I am NOT apologizing to a room full of mannequins that came to life. They know what they did!” [[...get Mobo over there?]] [[...find an alternative power source?]] (unless: (track: 'zenlas', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'zenlas', 'loop', true) (track: 'zenlas', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“HANG ON! The last time we used the machine at all, it wasn’t plugged into anything, remember? It only turned on because Mobo went over to it!" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"So if we can get Mobo over there without Zenlas stopping her, she can fire the machine back up and send Zenlas off to somewhere she can’t bother anyone!” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“Isn’t that gonna get US sucked into another dimension too?! You know, like it did //the last time we tried this?!"// <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“I mean…maybe! But it’s better than letting this lady destroy Earth after we die here in a mall food court, right?” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“...” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“...” <img src="./images/Charlie.png">“...” <img src="./images/Mobo Determined.png">“I’ll do it!” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png"> “That’s right! Now let’s just keep Zenlas distracted long enough for Mobo to get over to the machine!” [[Better than no plan at all!]] (unless: (track: 'zenlas', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'zenlas', 'loop', true) (track: 'zenlas', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Girls, hear me out!” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“You all see that carousel over there, right?" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"What we’re gonna do is have Mobo start pushing it around in a circle, and then we tie a giant belt around it, made out of shirts tied together from some store..." <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"...and then we have Naomi connect the belt to the machine with her powers, so all the static electricity it creates brings the machine to life and sucks Zenlas right into it!” <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">“That…that can’t possibly work…right?” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“I don’t know enough about either electricity or carousels to say for sure” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“I wanna go on the carousel!” [[...just go plug everything back in?]] [[...get Mobo over there?]] (unless: (track: 'zenlas', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'zenlas', 'loop', true) (track: 'zenlas', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Girls, if we all die here, I want you to know I still think you’re all giant turds.” <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">“Wouldn’t have it any other way! Team 64, let’s do this!” The girls take up positions directly in front of Zenlas, weapons and powers at the ready, while Mobo tried her best to stay out of sight off to the side, making her way to the machine without trying to draw much attention to herself. <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">"Ha ha! I'm too darn big to be sneaking around like this!" Zenlas, her attention focused on the girls in front of her, raised her right hand high into the air above her, gathering more of her dark energy for her first attack! [[Attack the hand with Wyatt’s sword!->Zenlas fight failure passage]] [[Attack the hand with Bunny’s superjump!->Zenlas fight failure passage]] [[Attack the hand with Naomi’s telekinetics!->Zenlas fight failure passage]] [[Attack the hand with…Ruby’s bow and arrow?!]] (unless: (track: 'zenlas', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'zenlas', 'loop', true) (track: 'zenlas', 'play') ]<br> The dark energy in the food court overpowered the girls, despite their best efforts. Mysterious forces beyond all human comprehension launched the girls clear across the food court, resulting in hurts all over, but mostly to their pride. <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“Okay…we got it this time!” [[Let’s give it another try!->Zenlas fight start-over passage]] (unless: (track: 'zenlas', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'zenlas', 'loop', true) (track: 'zenlas', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Ruby Angry.png">“CELESTIAL ARROW!” Before any of the girls could act, a gleaming, golden arrow loosed from somewhere behind them, a long tail of yellow light trailing from behind it. The arrow’s aim was true, piercing the raised hand of Zenlas, provoking a scream from deep inside of her that sounded somewhere between a collapsing star and a catastrophic engine failure. In surprise and delight, the girls looked around for the source of the arrow. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“RUBY! Oh my gosh, you beautiful genius!” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Ruby, you gotta get outta here and get some help or something! We got a plan!” <img src="./images/Ruby Neutral.png">“Girls, you came all this way and helped someone you barely know, I’m not just gonna let you fight some *black hole she-beast* by yourselves!” <img src="./images/Ruby Angry.png">“Now, we know she can get hurt, and if something can get hurt, it means we can hurt it more." <img src="./images/Ruby Neutral.png">"Wylie! Nancy! Get back into position before she tries something else!” <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">"Wait, I thought your names were Wyatt and Naomi!" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"No time, Mobo! Let's go, girls!" [[Continue the fight!->Zenlas second fight passage]] (unless: (track: 'zenlas', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'zenlas', 'loop', true) (track: 'zenlas', 'play') ]<br> The girls take up positions directly in front of Zenlas, weapons and powers at the ready, while Mobo tried her best to stay out of sight off to the side. Zenlas, her attention focused on the girls in front of her, raised her right hand high into the air above her, gathering more of her dark energy for her first attack! [[Attack the hand with Wyatt’s sword!->Zenlas fight failure passage]] [[Attack the hand with Bunny’s superjump!->Zenlas fight failure passage]] [[Attack the hand with Naomi’s telekinetics!->Zenlas fight failure passage]] [[Attack the hand with…Ruby’s bow and arrow?!]] (unless: (track: 'zenlas', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'zenlas', 'loop', true) (track: 'zenlas', 'play') ]<br> Raging, cursing, and completely unable to remove Ruby’s piercing celestial arrow from the palm of her right hand, Zenlas lowers her left hand and swipes vertically at the girls, attempting to claw them away from her while she struggles with the arrow! <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">“Girls, look out! Someone’s trying to get a little //hands-on!//” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png"><img src="./images/Naomi.png">"ughhhhhh" <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">"Yaaaaaaay!" [[Attack the hand with Wyatt’s sword!]] [[Attack the hand with Bunny’s hammer!->Zenlas fight failure passage]] [[Attack the hand with Naomi’s telekinetics!->Zenlas fight failure passage]] [[Attack the other hand with Ruby’s bow & arrow!->Zenlas fight failure passage]] (unless: (track: 'zenlas', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'zenlas', 'loop', true) (track: 'zenlas', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“No you DON’T, Little Miss Grabby-Hands!” Wyatt drove her sword upwards directly in front of her, skewering straight through Zenlas’ palm. A stream of swirling dark matter leaked out from either side of the sword. Wyatt nearly got lifted into the air by the hilt of her own sword before letting go, as the wounded hand carried the sword back up into the sky. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Maaaaaan, I’ve had that thing forever! Oh well, I’m sure I got SOMETHING else in here!” [[Continue the fight!->Zenlas third fight passage]] (unless: (track: 'zenlas', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'zenlas', 'loop', true) (track: 'zenlas', 'play') ]<br> Unable to use her hands for physical attacks or energy blasts any more, Zenlas reeled back in pain. Her eyes glowed deeper than before, although to describe the energy coming from them as “light” would be inaccurate. Several wispy, nearly imperceptible beams emerged from the center of her current form, surrounding a number of chairs, tables, and other debris from the center of the food court The beams came into a crude, humanoid form that began shambling towards the girls, its arms outstretched. <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“ugh, I never thought I’d get bored of spooky powers animating everyday objects, but this lady needs to learn a different song” [[Attack the chair monster with Wyatt’s powers!->Zenlas fight failure passage]] [[Attack the chair monster with Bunny’s hammer!->Zenlas fight failure passage]] [[Attack the chair monster with Naomi’s telekinesis!]] [[Attack the chair monster with Ruby’s bow & arrow!->Zenlas fight failure passage]] (unless: (track: 'zenlas', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'zenlas', 'loop', true) (track: 'zenlas', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“girls, stay here” Grunting in frustration, Naomi cast one hand nonchalantly behind her to create a barrier around the remaining girls. The barrier appeared just in time for an angrily-tossed chair to ping harmlessly off of the crackling wall of psychic energy. <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“alright, Chairface, time for you…*to take a seat*” <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">“GET 'EM, Naomi! THAT’S how you sass a villain!” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">"Don't encourage her! It's bad enough when you do it!" An unnatural purple glow shone from behind the thick lenses of Naomi’s glasses, as she rose slightly into the air on a swirling void of energy. The void eventually enveloped her body and emanated out through her hands. Piece-by-piece, the energy clumsily and forcefully ripped the chair-chimera apart, throwing the pieces directly into Zenlas’ ever-moving vortex for both insult and injury. Eventually, there were no chairs or tables left to throw, and Naomi collapsed to the ground in a heap as the energy dispersed. <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">“NAOMI! That was SO COOL, when did you learn how to do that?!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“I’ve been uhh practicing it in my backyard for a few months" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"I don’t know what to call it, and if I do it too long it makes my tummy hurty” [[Continue the fight!->Zenlas fourth fight passage]] (unless: (track: 'zenlas', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'zenlas', 'loop', true) (track: 'zenlas', 'play') ]<br> Clearly, the last few minutes had taken their toll on Zenjo. Wounded from the constant sword strikes, arrow piercings, and hastily-thrown chairs, Zenjo’s whirling energy form seemed to shrink in size and slump backwards pathetically towards the machine. At the base of the machine, just behind Zenlas’ current position, Mobo jumped up and down waving frantically to get the girls’ attention. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Mobo’s in place! We just need one final smash to push her closer to the machine to make sure it works!” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">"Good thing, too, because I am SICK of this LADY'S NONSENSE!" [[Attack Zenlas directly with Wyatt’s powers!->Zenlas fight failure passage]] [[Attack Zenlas directly with Bunny’s hammer!]] [[Attack Zenlas directly with Naomi’s telekinesis!->Zenlas fight failure passage]] [[Attack Zenlas directly with Ruby’s bow & arrow!->Zenlas fight failure passage]] (unless: (track: 'zenlas', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'zenlas', 'loop', true) (track: 'zenlas', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“Alright, girls, I’m pretty SICK of jerks like this trying to ruin everything!” <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">“Heck yeah, Bunny! Oooh, try to call out an attack name when you do it!” Bunny leapt towards Zenlas with all the strength she could muster, hammer clutched tightly in hand. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“BUNNY…” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">"uhhhh..." <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“...KAPOW!” With that, she swung her hammer upwards in a perfect underhanded croquet swing, sending Zenlas screaming end-over-end towards Mobo and the machine. Unsure of what the future might hold, Mobo saluted her three best friends in the world and their blue-haired new friend, and gripped tightly onto the side of the machine. Just like last time, the machine roared to life, sending a sudden and violent gust of wind both away from the center of the portal, and then directly back towards it, carrying debris and refuse in its wake. Zenlas, stunned from her defeat at the hands of these uncoordinated young women, was unable to fight against the force of the portal. Clawing and grabbing onto whatever surface she could, the last thing she could do was curse her opponents with the strongest words she could think of in her mother tongue. Sadly, the effect of her curses were lost on our heroes. Wordlessly, she disappeared into the swirling vortex over the machine, headed towards a place none of the girls would ever know - or, perhaps more fittingly, a place between places. [[We did it, girls!]] (unless: (track: 'theme', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'theme', 'loop', true) (track: 'theme', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"alright Wyatt, you got any more inspirational Hyper Princess quotes for us?" <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">"I, uhhh...kinda don't. But I think that's okay!" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Because while I'm sure Princess Lightphase would be okay sacrificing herself to save the lives of everyone in her hometown, I...I'm also totally okay with it. As Wyatt." <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">"And if you girls aren't, now's your chance to take off, but I'm gonna stay here to make sure Mobo can pull this off." <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“Even if I love all of you - which I MIGHT - I am going to be, SO, SO MAD if I die here. *WHICH I MIGHT!*" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">"But I also can't let you jerks die here without me to make fun of you for it, so...I'm in." <img src="./images/Ruby Shocked.png">“What are you talking about?! Are we gonna die?!” Mobo, her eyes clenched tightly shut in case of the worst, releases her grip from the machine… …and with a surprising, pleasant stillness, the machine slowly rumbled itself to sleep as the vortex swirled itself closed. <img src="./images/Charlie.png">“Uhh, I think we’re all still alive and well, girls” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png"> “We - we ARE! We’re ALIVE! And we’re in our own dimension!” <img src="./images/Ruby Shocked.png">“Girls, what are you TALKING about? Why were we gonna die?! Why were we going to another dimension?!” <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">“Uh…we’ll tell you in a second. Hey, Mobo, come on over! We saved the friggin’ day!” Mobo, surrounded by an unfamiliar pink shine, chose to stay close to the machine. <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">“Hang on a second, girls! I think I remembered the thing I have to do!” [[The…what?->Episode 13 Preview]] (unless: (track: 'girls', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'girls', 'loop', true) (track: 'girls', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">“Sorry, girls! I gotta go! I remembered the thing I have to do!” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“MOBO, I SWEAR, IF YOU’RE GONNA TRY TO SACRIFICE YOURSELF TO SAVE THE UNIVERSE OR SOMETHING, I WILL BE *SO MAD!*” <img src="./images/Mobo Determined.png">“I’ll be right back!" <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">"Okay, bye!" [[Epilogue START!]] (unless: (track: 'credits', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'credits', 'loop', true) (track: 'credits', 'play') ]<br> =><= EPILOGUE: THE THING MOBO HAS TO DO [[Mobo, come back!]] (unless: (track: 'theme', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'theme', 'loop', true) (track: 'theme', 'play') ]<br> With a stride far more purposeful than any of the girls had ever seen from their mechanical friend, Mobo quickly crossed back over towards the Hyperpoint Synchronizer. <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">“Mobo! Just…know we love you!” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Ha ha! Of course I do!” And with that, she clapped her hands together as though she were a gymnast applying chalk before arching back dramatically, her arms outstretched above her head. Her hands planted on a small handle on the side of the machine with a dramatic, metallic *clang*. <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“I can’t watch!” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">“Me neither! Either Mobo’s gonna die, or something even worse is gonna come out of there and kill all of us!” <img src="./images/Ruby Shocked.png">“What are you talking about?! Why is Mobo gonna die?!” A moment passes; perhaps the longest one in the girls' brief lives. The next thing any of them saw was a brilliant pink flash emanating outwards from the machine, almost like a wave cresting around them. [[Meanwhile, outside the mall…]] (unless: (track: 'mobo', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'mobo', 'loop', true) (track: 'mobo', 'play') ]<br> The pink energy wave created from the machine passed through the solid walls of the mall as though they simply weren’t there, and continued extending outwards through the city of Detroit. As the various friends outside the mall saw the wave approaching, many of them sought cover or at least tried to grab and protect their friends and loved ones. The wave, however, simply passed over them as though they weren’t there either. The same could not be said for Zenlas’ summoned minions. Each of her troops simply vanished with a brilliant, multi-colored flash upon connecting with the wave, presumably back to wherever they came from. Out of a combination of concern for those around him, as well as his natural scientific curiosity bubbling to the surface, Kaz was the first one to look up as the wave passed over. After watching Zenlas’ armies and minions return to whatever sulfuric depths they were summoned from, he was then suddenly faced with another, equally surprising sight: that of a massive, translucent humanoid shape suddenly emerging like a massive beam of light from the center of the mall, roughly where the food court was. Lacking any real detail to speak of, and made from the same glimmery, iridescent pink energy that the wave was made from, the shape bore a surprising resemblance to everyone’s old friend Mobo. The resemblance was concerned when the shape opened its mouth to speak in the same familiar robotic, feminine tones that Mobo typically does. <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">“Uhh…hi, everyone!” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“My name is Mobo!" <img src="./images/Mobo Determined.png">"Now listen up, you big ol’ universe! I don’t know who you are, but I’m coming to meet you!” With that, the Mobo-shape then raised her arms in an awkward, halting way that looked like she knew she had to do this, but wasn’t fully certain as to why. [[Meanwhile, all over the city…]] (unless: (track: 'mobo', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'mobo', 'loop', true) (track: 'mobo', 'play') ]<br> Seemingly on cue with Mobo’s arm-raising, a series of portals opened up all over Detroitica, similar to the swirling purple vortex frequently created by the machine. These new portals were tethered to nothing, and appeared with no regard for when or where they appeared. As the portals opened, several figures began to emerge from each one. Instead of the typical rampaging kaiju, however, these figures took all shapes and sizes. Some were humanoid, some were robotic, some animalistic, and many were various combinations of the three. Each of them wore colorful outfits and equally varied hair colors and skin tones (when they even had skin, as in the case of many of the robots). These figures looked around their new surroundings with a degree of polite curiosity and bemusement, some of them choosing to go back through the portal willingly to grab their companions to show them around (or just stay home, in some cases). The rest chose to stay in Detroitica to see if anything fun was going on. Some floated, some teleported, some walked on treads or legs, some were animals that spoke like humans, some were humans with the traits of animals. Some were imperceptible, some couldn’t help but be perceived. One thing was common amongst all of the visitors, however: even by Detroitica standards, each one of them was unique in their own way, and each one of them suddenly found themselves very welcomed by this strange new city. [[Meanwhile, the girls’ friends…]] (unless: (track: 'mobo', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'mobo', 'loop', true) (track: 'mobo', 'play') ]<br> Trandorah, the clear plastic avian kaiju that Bunny had insisted on befriending, sat dutifully on a lamppost in the mall’s parking lot. For the first time in a while, Trandorah felt...pride, specifically by having helped the loud, weird girls that helped Trandorah find a food source in this new land. A portal opened nearby, and the sight made Trandorah’s heart grow: two much smaller plastic bird-creatures, similar in construction to Trandorah but differing in color, emerged from the portal. The red one took a seat to Trandorah’s right, and the yellow one took a seat to Trandorah’s left, before the three of them all began excitedly nuzzling and squawking in a way that could only imply familial bonds. (align:"=><=")+(box:"X=")[---] Professor Kaznowski approached a nearby portal with his typical curiosity, emboldened by the friendly forms that had begun emerging all around them. A humanoid form began emerging from the center of the vortex. Kaz kept his laser tube close at hand, stepping protectively in front of the nearby Phoebe and Emmy as the shape drew closer. The figure came into the light, revealing a friendly face with a bushy beard, wearing a well-worn leather messenger bag, and one of those flat hats that all old men decide they love wearing eventually. For the first time in a very long time, Kaznowski couldn’t believe what he was seeing and didn’t know what to say. Fortunately, a sudden cry from Emmy said everything he could’ve hoped to. “Grampa?!” (align:"=><=")+(box:"X=")[---] Miss Ibanez finally felt secure enough to sling her laser tube back over her shoulder, emerging from her vantage point on the deck of the helicopter. Walking towards the Professor’s location, she felt a sudden warmth from the presence of Captain Lutomsk. He approached with his wings folded behind him, clutching a heavily-dented frying pan in one hand and wearing a mischievous but respectful facial expression. “Anyone who can handle a particle accelerator with your sort of rare grace is worth celebrating." "I should...*thank you* for assisting us during this sortie," Lutomsk began, his booming, theatrical voice downplayed slightly for the sake of conversation. Ibanez looked up into the surprisingly humanoid and chiseled features of this strange, but charming bird man. “Thanks. You handled yourself pretty well out there too. I haven’t seen anyone fight with kitchen implements like that since I worked at that pizza place over in New Center.” Lutomsk’s beak formed into a sly grin. “Once we’re all done here, it would be my pleasure to take you out for whatever passes for a drink around here.” Ibanez smiled in response. “I know just the place, it isn’t far from the Institute. I hear it’s full of grembunnies, though.” Zell and Kesso could only sigh and bury their faces in exasperation. (align:"=><=")+(box:"X=")[---] Aboard their mechs, Isaac and Reinhardt, having been interrupted from a spirited game of “keep-away” using the head of one of Trandorah’s skeleton minions, took a look around the parking lot. “Man,” starts Isaac, “this has been like…the coolest day ever, right?” Reinhardt could merely nod his mecha’s head in agreement. [[Meanwhile, back inside the mall…]] (unless: (track: 'mobo', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'mobo', 'loop', true) (track: 'mobo', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Ruby Shocked.png">“Diana! Diana, you’re alive, right? PLEASE be alive!” A moment passed, before Diana’s voice sounded out from inside the rubble. “I’m alive, I’m just lying here, hoping you’ll think I’ve died so I don’t have to talk to anyone," she said with a combination of injury and shame. <img src="./images/Ruby Sassy.png">“Come on, stupid. Sure, this is the new *dumbest* thing I’ve seen you ever do, but that’s what friends are for, right?” With that, Ruby extended a hand to Diana, who accepted the help with a mixture of hesitation and gratitude. As she did this, a familiar voice called out to the girls. <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“GIRLS! Hey! It’s me! Your friend Mobo! Remember Mobo?” Alternatingly screaming and sobbing with relief, the girls dashed over to gather around Mobo in the world’s most awkward group hug. <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">“Mobo! You’re alive! Where did you go?!” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Cry.png">“What was that pink light we saw?” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“why are you so...warm” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png"> “You girls gotta come outside with me! A bunch of really cool stuff happened!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“good call, I’m gonna be pretty sick of the mall for a little while” <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">“Man…a friend of ours saved a whole dimension, we stopped an ancient evil, AND we got to hang out at the mall after hours!" <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">"Pretty glad you joined up now, right Bunny?” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">“...” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“...yeah, *whatever*.” [[Let's see what's happening outside!]] (unless: (track: 'mobo', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'mobo', 'loop', true) (track: 'mobo', 'play') ]<br> Weary from the evening’s events, the girls made their way back out of the mall. <img src="./images/Ruby Neutral.png">“Wow, so you’re really the Witchcat, huh? I used to use your website to download books and programs and stuff I needed for class all the time. <img src="./images/Ruby Shocked.png">“Uhh…not that I condone software piracy, or anything.” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“the witchcat does not judge, she simply watches” The girls emerged through the front door of the mall into a gentle, warming sunset, illuminating the entire parking lot in gentle shades of red and gold. A massive crowd had formed around the mall, composed of both their friends who had come to help, and a large collection of onlookers who may or may not have had any idea what was going on. Kaz, Miss Ibanez, and Captain Lutomsk were the first to emerge through the crowd, dashing up to the girls with concern. “My heavens, girls! Are you alright? What in the world happened in there?” Kaz asked. <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Hi Kaz! That was me up there!” “Indeed it was,” replied Kaz with a chuckle. “I have many questions about all of that, but first let’s get you all somewhere safe.” Isaac was the next to run up to the girls, dramatically ejecting from the pilot seat of his mech. “Bunny!” he shouted with a mixture of concern and delight, “are you okay? Did you see how many skeletons I ran over!” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">“I did! Now COME HERE, you absolute hunk!” Wyatt looked around the crowd anxiously, spotting a familiar length of long blue hair, and waving to it frantically. <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">“Hey! Aldorna! Uh…pretty good, huh? You should’ve seen all the cool stuff I did with my sword!” <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">“...well, okay, I managed to //lose// my sword, but…” Aldorna smiled warmly. “Every warrior loses their weapons sometimes. What’s most important is that //I// didn't lose //you//.” This statement was followed up by Aldorna planting a massive kiss on Wyatt’s cheek, a move that seemed to surprise both of them equally. <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">“...” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“what Sleepy the Dog-Girl here is trying to say, is that she loves you too, and she appreciates your help” [[Is that the reporter guy?]] (unless: (track: 'epilogue', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'epilogue', 'loop', true) (track: 'epilogue', 'play') ]<br> His hair back in place and his tie straightened for the first time in what felt like at least a day, ace reporter Brandt Brondtner fought his way through the crowd. “That’s right, I’m standing here with these four young women who have just saved countless lives in our city!" "It seems that Ruby Robinson of the Shimmering Midnight is here with them - Ruby, do you have any words for the viewers at home?” Ruby, with Diana still in tow under her arm, was briefly caught in wide-eyed surprise before regaining her composure and putting her “interview voice” on. <img src="./images/Ruby Neutral.png">“*ahem* - Brandt, I just want to say that, not only does this city owe a great debt to these four, I personally owe them my life." <img src="./images/Ruby Neutral.png">"Without their quick thinking and inventiveness, I certainly wouldn’t be here talking to you right now, and in fact I don’t know if any of us would even *be here*.” Brandt quickly jerked the microphone away. “It sounds like the city of Detroitica might just have a new favorite magical girl squadron to call their own! Who can we thank for these heroic actions?” <img src="./images/Ruby Neutral.png">“Well, Brandt, these are my friends…uh…” <img src="./images/Ruby Shocked.png">“...girls, what’s your team called, anyway?” <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">“OH NO! Girls, we never picked a name! Uhhhhhh…” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Wyatt’s Raiders!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“children of the retrotron” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Blazing Steel Angels!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“the hounds of love” <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png"> “The Wyatt Experience, featuring Bunny Jones!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“naomi by nature” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Shimmering Midnight!” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">“Mobo, no…” The discussion continued as the girls wandered off into the morning sun. [[The end!]] (unless: (track: 'epilogue', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'epilogue', 'loop', true) (track: 'epilogue', 'play') ]=><= <br> <img src="./images/Bunny Kapow Title screen.png"> Written by Timothy David Character designs by Jeff Sorley @aspleniastudios Pixel art and headshots by Tharkka @tharkka Interior art by Will Taylor @taylredgrave Windows 9x header by @user12720127301998 (DeviantArt) Font created by The Old School PC Font Resource Music by Timothy David Chiptunes by Timothy David, composed using Nardom.gen *Dedicated to my wife, the real Bunny Jones, without whom none of this would've been possible.* <==> <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">"Thanks so much for playing our game! It was really nice meeting you!" <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">"Maybe we'll see you again sometime!" <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">"Okay, bye!" =><= <img src="./images/fizzy bear banner small.png"> (unless: (track: 'credits', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'credits', 'loop', true) (track: 'credits', 'play') ]<br> Through a combination of surprise and instinct, Bunny found herself gripping Max’s leash and the bag of groceries, and trying to jump out of the way of the kaiju. Moments later, she found herself safe and sound, far out of the range of the kaiju. She was, in fact, farther away than she expected. To her surprise, she had somehow jumped directly up into the branches of a nearby tree, which was certainly higher than she had ever jumped before. <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Angry.png">“How the heck am I up here?! How did Max get up here?!” Max was gently draped over a few nearby branches, next to the grocery bag, panting and smiling peacefully. Below them, the stone griffon pawed and leapt upwards towards the top of the tree to no avail, in a way not unlike when you hold a treat high above your pet’s head. <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Angry.png">“Oh, COME ON! Go bug someone else for a while! My mom is gonna kill me if I’m not home soon!” [[Suddenly, the heroes arrive!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Angry.png">“Alright, uh…little stone-bird, maybe…DON’T EAT ME AND MY DOG!” With that, Bunny tried grabbing Max’s leash and quickly throwing herself to one side, an action matched by the monster. Bunny then tried dodging to the opposite side, causing the monster to mirror her movements again. <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Neutral.png">“Are they…trying to play with me? This is what Max does when I’m holding a ball…” [[Jump out of the way!]] [[Try to run away from the monster!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Sassy.png">“Listen, pal, I really need to get home with these groceries, so, uhh…BYEEEEE!” Hoping she conveyed her polite intentions to the monster, Bunny then took off with a bolt towards the exit of the dog park, Max’s leash tight in hand. <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Angry.png">“Is…is this thing following me? Do they think I’m taking them for a walk too?” The stone griffon, in its excitement, began chasing Bunny in circles around the perimeter of the park, alongside the fence. <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Cry.png">"No! NO! That's a bad...uh...stone-baby! BAD!" [[Jump out of the way!]] [[Dodge around the monster!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Ruby Angry.png">“Alright girls, spread out! Jennifer! Hannah! You two go scare the monster away from the tree!” At that moment, a quartet of similarly-dressed girls in skirted outfits not unlike that of figure skaters (and all of which seemingly sporting *matching wolf ears and tails?*) had arrived on the scene. The blonde one with the red-and-gray outfit smirked at the blue-haired girl barking orders. “Oh Ruby,” she began sarcastically, “we do so love when you’re a girlboss.” <img src="./images/Ruby Sassy.png">“...and since YOU’RE so good with people, Diana, you can use your force-fields to protect the civilians. Now get going, and keep everyone here safe! And I mean EVERYONE - you know I'm a dog person!" <img src="./images/Ruby Shocked.png">"Uh...literally and figuratively!" A flurry of lights and catchphrases came from the girls in the black-and-purple and blue-and-yellow uniforms, getting the stone griffon’s attention. The blue-haired one stepped forward and began spinning her arms into the air. <img src="./images/Ruby Angry.png">“CELESTIAL ARROWS!” As her cry finished, a lustrous golden bow and arrow seemed to form out of pure light into her hands, from which she let lose a similarly glimmering arrow of sheer energy. It collided with the stone griffon, causing a mild explosion of light which seemed to do little more than make it angry. <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Neutral.png">“I have no idea who THESE weirdos are, but at least they got its attention so I can leave!” <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Sassy.png">"...now how am I going to get down?" [[Try to yell at the monster to distract it!]] [[Toss some of your food down at the monster!]] (unless: (track: 'ruby', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'ruby', 'loop', true) (track: 'ruby', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Angry.png">“EXCUSE ME! EXCUSE ME!” <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Angry.png">“DON’T YOU HAVE ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL YOUNG WOMAN YOU COULD BOTHER WITH YOUR BIG STINKY MONSTER NONSENSE?!” <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Cry.png"> “Because SOME OF US have MOMS who are EXPECTING US HOME with FANCY CHEESE!” <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Angry.png">“YOU GOT THAT, DILLWEED?!” Hearing Bunny's raspy cries, both the monster and the blue-haired woman stopped what they were doing and looked up into the tree in confusion. [[Toss some of your food down at the monster!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Cry.png">“Oh well, little cave-aged gouda…maybe I’ll see you on the other side.” Her tearful goodbyes completed, Bunny unwrapped the gouda cheese from its cellophane housing, whistled sharply to get the monster’s attention, and then tossed the cheese in the opposite direction with all of her might. Because few living creatures can truly resist cheese, the monster’s marble form loudly and purposefully stomped down the street after it, where it was pursued by three of the wolf-girls. The blue-haired girl remained behind, offering help as Bunny awkwardly made her way back down the tree before pulling out a decidedly old-looking flip phone and waving it around the area. <img src="./images/Ruby Neutral.png">“You did pretty good up there. How did you know it was hungry?” <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Sassy.png">“Oh, well…this same thing happened to me once a few years ago when a goose stole my sub during a picnic." <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Neutral.png">"I was mad, but I knew the goose was just hungry, so I thought maybe the same thing applied to…whatever that was.” <img src="./images/Ruby Neutral.png">“Hmm. Clever AND a good jumper. Perfect Expander material. Maybe you could help us.” The blue-haired girl handed Bunny a small business card with the contact information of the Kaznowski Institute printed on one side, before signing a few autographs for onlookers and leaving in a large, red sports car. [[Bunny arrives at the Institute!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> After her parents spoke to representatives from the Institute (and being quickly swayed by the idea that it would pay for Bunny to attend her dream school, the Culinary Institute of Michigan), they offered to drive her there to see what it was all about. Approaching the front door, she was greeted by an athletic-looking woman with tan skin, bright orange hair, *long rabbit ears*, and a very professional-looking blue business suit whose nametag simply red "M. Ibanez, SCT." Bunny knew this was her last chance to bail on this whole weird thing before this lady tried to make her travel through time to fight evil, or something... [[...but she gathered her courage and went ahead with it anyway!]] [[...and she decided this whole thing was too weird, and she turned around.]] (unless: (track: 'institute', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'institute', 'loop', true) (track: 'institute', 'play') ]<br> “Ah, a spirited beginning!” Kaz replied with delight while clapping his hands together. “You’re here because we’ve identified you as someone who may be able to contribute to our ongoing research here at the Institute, both in our investigations of the monsters that appear throughout the city, as well as the powers you’ve displayed!” <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Angry.png">“Powers?! Who said anything about me having //powers//? I might grill a mean cheese, but…” Kaz was briefly taken aback. “Oh! I apologize! Ruby told me of your, uh…sudden jump into the branches of a tree, as well as your empathy towards the poor monster’s needs.” We have reason to believe you’re what we refer to as an Expander. Expanders are any human who has been exposed to a certain type of experimental particle we refer to as “Retrotrons”, who then begin displaying…” <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Sassy.png">“...” Ah! My apologies, that’s…typically where I begin to lose people during my introductions.” Professor Kaznowski paused and thought for a moment. “Perhaps meeting some of your potential fellow researchers might help explain things better?” <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Neutral.png">“Yeah, *whatever*.” [[Ask Kaz what they do here.]] [[Great, now I gotta meet MORE people?]] (unless: (track: 'institute', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'institute', 'loop', true) (track: 'institute', 'play') ]<br> “Well, without getting too far into the weeds, the Kaznowski Institute is devoted to the research of, and occasional defense from, the presumed extradimensional creatures that appear all over Detroitica!" "This includes both understanding the powers that our residents tend to develop, as well as the nature of the monsters themselves,” began Kaz cheerfully from his desk. “These monster sightings have been ramping up in intensity for the past few years, and as a result our institute has begun to redouble our efforts by bringing on more staff, as well as developing new technologies to help understand and defend ourselves from these creatures." "But we can’t do it all without the help of people like you, who have developed certain talents and skills!” <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Sassy.png">"..." He paused and thought for a moment. “Perhaps meeting some of your potential fellow researchers might help explain things better?” “Yeah, *whatever*.” [[Ask Kaz why you’re here.]] [[Great, now I gotta meet MORE people?]] (unless: (track: 'institute', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'institute', 'loop', true) (track: 'institute', 'play') ]<br> EPISODE 2 PREVIEW <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Hi! I’m Mobo! You haven’t met me yet, but you will soon! I love getting to meet people!” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Bunny sure seems confused about what we do here, doesn’t she? But that’s okay! I get confused a lot too!” <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">“By things like weird birds, or news coverage of local elections!” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Okay, bye!” [[Episode 2 START!->Great, now I gotta MEET people?]] (unless: (track: 'credits', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'credits', 'loop', true) (track: 'credits', 'play') ]<br>(set: $testKats to 0) Entering the engineering room at the girls’ insistence, Bunny saw Kaz and two dorky-looking older guys; one with short blonde hair and a turtleneck, the other with long black hair and matching beard in an ill-fitting blazer. “Right on time, Miss Jones!” began Kaz cheerfully. “This is John L. and John R., and they’re here to give you your KATS!” <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Sassy.png">“I’m sorry, is this a flip phone?” “Technically,” began the one of the Johns with the short blonde hair and the thin, reedy voice, “but it’s been completely repurposed for our needs!” “Still has the same crappy camera though,” interjected the other John with a much smoother voice. Kaz stepped forward. “This device allows you to harness what we refer to as Retrotrons, a mysterious particle that we believe is connected to both the creation of your powers, as well as to the various monsters that appear in our city. It also lets you track and transmit monster data back to and from our databases!” <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Neutral.png">“Expander?” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“That’s us! It’s why we have such cool powers! Now quit talking to the nerds and fire it up!” [[Scan something with your KATS.]] [[Activate your KATS to transform for the first time!]] (unless: (track: 'institute', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'institute', 'loop', true) (track: 'institute', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Neutral.png">“Hmm…what about YOU, chonks?” <img src="./images/Charlie.png">“It’s Charlie.” Bunny pointed her KATS at the small tabby as though it were a TV remote. Before long, a small *ding!* sounded from the device and the display changed. *ASSIGNED DESIGNATION: Charlie M. Dancefloor TRAITS: sleepy, hungry, business-minded* <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Neutral.png">“How does it know all that?” Kaz attempted to explain how it can get certain readings off a creature’s biological makeup, as well as the collection of retrotron particles surrounding it, but a lot of it went over Bunny’s head. <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Neutral.png">“Hang on, can this just check anyone who has the whatever-trons?” ding! *ASSIGNED DESIGNATION: Wyatt TRAITS: subspace manipulation for item storage, physical durability* ding! *ASSIGNED DESIGNATION: Naomi TRAITS: telekinetic, awkward* ding! *ASSIGNED DESIGNATION: Mobo TRAITS: energy weaponry, aerial mobility, fueled by sugar* [[Activate your KATS to transform for the first time!]] (unless: (track: 'institute', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'institute', 'loop', true) (track: 'institute', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Neutral.png">"Alright, if you dorks are gonna use a cell phone from middle school to turn me into some kinda monster-fighting space witch, let's get this over with." <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Cry.png">"But I want you all to know that my parents will be *so sad* if this thing kills me." With a brushed-aside hesitancy, Bunny flipped the phone open and pressed the center button on the keypad. Upon being pressed, the device's display read "REGISTRATION SUCCESSFUL!" before turning a bright white and releasing several brightly-colored streams of energy that found themselves wrapping around Bunny, temporarily obscuring the world to her. <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"you know Wyatt, Monster-Fighting Space Witches would be a great team name" <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">"Oh my gosh you guys! Do you think she'll get the animal ears too? What kind of animal is she gonna be? I bet she's gonna be a bunny or something!" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"of *course* she's gonna be a bunny Mobo what the heck else would she be" <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">"NAOMI! You know how excited she gets about this part, leave the girl alone." Eventually, the lights subsided and retreated back into the phone. Bunny's first reaction was to make sure her body was still intact and that she hadn't suddenly grown eye-stalks or something.' “I look…” [[...awesome!]] [[...ridiculous!]] (unless: (track: 'institute', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'institute', 'loop', true) (track: 'institute', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"...awesome! I look like some kind of beautiful pink nightmare <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">"Am I holding a *hammer*? These boots are *great*! I'm gonna go out there and just start hammering whatever turds start bothering me! BAM! BAM!" Post-transformation, Bunny found herself wearing the clothes she was wearing previously had changed to a much brighter magenta color palette, as well as clunkier boots more suited for working in the garden than fighting monsters. She had also sprouted a pair of bunny ears at some point. <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">“Oh my gosh, this is *exactly* the energy we need! We just need to think of a good transformation call-out for you, that way you’ll be more marketable when everyone starts hearing about Team 64!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"just don't hammer me, though, I'm too soft and little" <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">"YAY! NEW FRIEND! What a great day we're having!" Kaz, beaming with pride, approached the girls. "I'm thrilled to see you all getting on so well! What do you say I buy everyone lunch to celebrate?" [[I do like lunch...]] (unless: (track: 'institute', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'institute', 'loop', true) (track: 'institute', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">"...ridiculous! I'm some kind of pink nightmare! Am I holding a *hammer*? Who gave me BUNNY EARS? (text-colour:"white")[[I get enough jokes about my name as it is!]] Ugh, I should've known that this whole thing was gonna make me look like some kinda CLOWNBABY!" Post-transformation, Bunny found herself wearing the clothes she was wearing previously had changed to a much brighter magenta color palette, as well as clunkier boots more suited for working in the garden than fighting monsters. She had also sprouted a pair of bunny ears at some point. <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">"Aww, come on, you look AWESOME! And, sure, nobody particularly enjoys their first transformation, but once you get used to it you don't even notice what you look like! Besides, you got a whole big hammer now, that's pretty cool, right?" <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">"YAY! She got the bunny ears, Naomi! Look! Bunny ears!" Mobo ran over to give Bunny's ears a brief jiggling that Bunny, surprisingly, couldn't really detect. Naomi, refraining from joining in, gave a silent thumbs-up from where she was standing. Kaz approached the girls. "I know this has been a lot to think about today, so how about I treat everyone to lunch while you think it over?" [[I do like lunch...]] (unless: (track: 'institute', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'institute', 'loop', true) (track: 'institute', 'play') ]<br> Bunny approached the small woman with the large mouse ears and waved gently. She wore a bright orange sweater with a light jacket tied around her shoulders, and returned the smile with a wave. In a befittingly high-pitched voice, the young woman introduced herself. “My name is Moushley! I’m CHEESED TO MEET YOU!” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Cry.png"> *”Oh my god Moushley you are the BEST PART OF THIS STUPID NERD BUILDING”* (link-goto: "Go back.", (history:)'s last) (unless: (track: 'institute', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'institute', 'loop', true) (track: 'institute', 'play') ]<br> True to its name, Bunny quickly found that Fries, And Nothin' But! sold exactly that: French fries (and tater tots, which the owner was quick to point out totally still counted, as they were made of potatoes). Perusing the menu, Bunny ordered a plate of loaded fries with bacon from the excitable, small man named Jet behind the counter who seemed to have the furry head of a cartoon warthog, and his cook whose name seemed to be "Schjimmy" and only communicated by giving a thumbs up and declaring "Hey!" [[Eating lunch with the ladies!]] (unless: (track: 'institute', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'institute', 'loop', true) (track: 'institute', 'play') ]<br> “Yeah! Ruby! I *uhhh* totally remembered that! Great to see you!” <img src="./images/Ruby Neutral.png">“Likewise. I just wanted to come over and say that I know how…*overwhelming* things can be here when you’re new, so if there’s anything I can do to help, just let me know!” <img src="./images/Ruby Shocked.png">“...although maybe don’t let me know *tonight*, because I have some stuff I wanted to do in *Harvest Village*...” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">“Oh! *Harvest Village*! I love that game!” “RUBY,” loudly interjected Diana, the blonde one. “If you’re DONE exchanging farming tips with the new weirdo and her little burnout friends, might I remind you that we have places to be? SOME of us weren’t famous before we joined the Institute, and we have reputations to keep!” <img src="./images/Ruby Sassy.png"> “Diana, are you ever *off*? No need to be mean to the new girl.” “She is right, though, we do have to scram. Bye, Bunny! Bye, uh…Bunny’s friends!” <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png">“...” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“What’s your deal all of a sudden?” <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">“So you just…*know* Ruby Robinson?” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">“Who?” <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“RUBY! The girl you were just talking to! She’s like the most famous magical girl in town!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“yeah, and she doesn’t remember how we blew up a parade once, so that’s good” [[What a day!]] (unless: (track: 'ruby', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'ruby', 'loop', true) (track: 'ruby', 'play') ]<br> Bunny turns to the other two girls, in the blue and black outfits respectively, and points vigorously. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">“Alright, what’s *your* deal?” The curly-haired one just turned away, awkwardly, as though she was lost in thought, and the purple-haired one tried to maintain eye contact with Bunny while clearing her throat. Neither of them said much of anything, and Bunny got the distinct impression they seemingly weren’t allowed to talk to her without permission. <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png"> "Yeah, *whatever*." [[Talk to Ruby.]] [[Talk to the blonde one.]] (unless: (track: 'ruby', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'ruby', 'loop', true) (track: 'ruby', 'play') ]<br> EPISODE 3 PREVIEW <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Hi everyone! Mobo here!” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“It was nice getting to know everybody at the Institute, right?” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Pretty soon, we’re gonna meet our first real monster! Wyatt is gonna be really excited, but maybe not the rest of us!” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“We’re gonna run all over town trying to find it!” <img src="./images/Mobo Determined.png">“I hope it isn’t anywhere scary! Monsters should only appear in nice places, like parks or libraries, so they’re easier to find!” <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">“Wait, no they shouldn’t! Monsters should only go live in big scary castles on the edge of town so they can’t bother anyone! Or, like...the bottom of the ocean!" <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Okay, bye!” [[Episode 3, START!->Sheesh, what a day!]] (unless: (track: 'credits', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'credits', 'loop', true) (track: 'credits', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png"> “That’s right, good people of Detroitica! Have you seen a MONSTER recently? We’re the gals you need to know!” The girls found themselves standing in the middle of Campus Martius, a popular plaza downtown offering a beautiful park directly in the center, surrounded on all sides by local businesses. Crowds of people on foot, bike, and hoverboard worked across the sidewalks, while colorful, angular electric cars gently buzzed through the loop of streets surrounding them. <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Neutral.png">“Why are we handing out fliers?” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Because people need to know they can rely on the Institute to keep their city safe from monsters!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“also Wyatt wants everyone to know who we are” <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png"> “No! Maybe! Listen, I know this isn’t the most glamorous start to our careers, but every magical girl team has a rough patch at the beginning! Remember Hyper Princess Lightphase?” <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Neutral.png">“Like…the show from when we were kids?” <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png">“Yes, “the show from when we were kids”, and before you ask, *it changed my life*.” <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Sassy.png">“Yeah, *whatever*.” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Hi everyone! Tell us about your monsters! Wyatt told me not to tell you that we’re the girls who blew up the parade last year!” [[Later, after the girls have run out of fliers…]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Angry.png"> “Wyatt, this sucks! All of our fliers have wound up on the sidewalk or the trash, and I’m sick of walking around talking to strangers! Whose idea was this?” <img src="./images/Charlie.png">”I always told her that marketing was important. But I also haven’t eaten in like two hours, so I’m ready to move on with my day.” <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png">“Girls, come on! Our big break is gonna come someday! We just gotta be in the right place for a monster sighting, and…and…” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“oh like we were at the parade” As the girls discussed their situation, they heard a few people talking amongst themselves. “Oh my gosh, that wifi outage was ridiculous, wasn’t it?” one of them asked, to which the other replied “And what was up with all that crazy flashing from down the hall? I thought there was a fire or something!” <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png"> “Wifi outage? Flashing lights? Are you thinking what I’m thinking, girls?!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“another understaffed IT department?” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Well…yes." <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"But also, a MONSTER SIGHTING! This could be our big break! Let’s hit the bricks and start asking around! Everyone TRANSFORM!” Shimmering lights and crackling energy begins to gather around the girls as Wyatt, Mobo, and Naomi hold their KATS high into the air, swinging their arms around in a clearly practiced fashion. <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Steel Vanguard, WYATT!” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“psychic soldier Naomi” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Mobo!” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">“I’m not doing this.” [[Fine, whatever, let’s look for a monster!]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> Wyatt turns excitedly to the girls, with her hands on her hips, from which hung an ornate green scabbard. "Alright girls! Where do we start?" Looking around Campus Martius, the girls identified a few points of interest around the plaza to serve as a starting point in their investigation: [[The fancy restaurant at the back of the plaza.]] [[The coffeeshop to the south.]] [[The office building to the north.]] [[The convenience store to the east.]] [[The arcade to the east, across the street.]] (set:$talkReceptionist to false) (set:$seenArcadeMonster to false) (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Now where, girls?" [[The fancy restaurant at the back of the plaza.]] [[The coffeeshop to the south.]] [[The office building to the north.]] [[The convenience store to the east.]] [[The arcade to the east, across the street.]] (unless: (track: 'walking city', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'walking city', 'loop', true) (track: 'walking city', 'play') ]<br> *ding! ASSIGNED DESIGNATION: Analar TRAITS: electrical manipulation, network manipulation click!* <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png">“Naomi, did you just take a picture of them?” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“yeah, I’ve been trying to get in the habit of taking more pictures of the monsters we meet, gonna sell em to a museum or something one day when we’re famous” <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png"> “Whatever. How did this thing know what the monster’s name was?” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“it just kinda…assigns a random alphanumeric string to each entry. which is why a lot of them are sorta nonsense, but the monsters seem to respond to them anyway” <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">“Like a cat! Cats don't care what their name is!" <img src="./images/Charlie.png">"It's true." [[The fancy restaurant at the back of the plaza.]] [[The coffeeshop to the south.]] [[The office building to the north.]] [[The convenience store to the east.]] [[The arcade to the east, across the street.]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> *ding! ASSIGNED DESIGNATION: Trandorah TRAITS: internal petroleum/chemical consumption, rapid flight speeds click!* <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“ahhh, beautiful" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"I used to have some models made out of see-through plastic that kinda looked like Trandorah, but they were all…uh…regrettably brittle” [[Have Wyatt approach the monster.]] [[Have Bunny superjump to talk to the monster.]] [[Have Naomi set up a barrier.]] [[Have Mobo fly up to the monster.]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Hi everyone! Mobo here!” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Sounds like we’re going to meet a ton more monsters in this one! That sounds fun!” <img src="./images/Mobo Determined.png">“Well, Bunny won’t think it’s very fun! But that’s okay, Wyatt told me that “she’ll get used to it soon”, and that her mom told her “getting used to the things in your life is an important part of growing up"!” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Growing up sounds hard! But exciting!" <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">"I can’t wait until I have to file taxes and worry if the weather is good enough to mow the lawn!” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Okay, bye!” [[Episode 5 START!->Glad that's over with!]] (unless: (track: 'credits', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'credits', 'loop', true) (track: 'credits', 'play') ]<br> *ding! ASSIGNED DESIGNATION: Atarax TRAITS: strength, durability, sensitive to outside stimulation click!* <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“I’m going to call this one “scenes from a wrecked-up frozen food section” " [[Go look around the store?]] [[Try to attack them!]] [[Try to go talk to them!]] (if:$ataraxSoundProblem is true)[[I think I figured out their problem!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju2', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju2', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju2', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">”HEY MOBO! SINCE YOU’RE ABLE TO TURN YOUR EARS OFF, CAN YOU, LIKE…GO OVER THERE AND LOOK AROUND?” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">"Sure!" Activating her sound attenuators, Mobo strolled merilly, but purposefully, further into the park. Upon her arrival, she was greeted by a lot of hastily-abandoned food and personal belongings, all seemingly converging around one spot: a stage for performers during the festival, seemingly set up for local musicians and/or dance troupes. On this stage currently stood five roughly human-sized kaiju that Mobo happily took pictures of using her internal camera to send back to the girls. These kaiju included an orange bipedal pterodactyl, a one-eyed blue slug, a skeleton (that still had eyeballs), a bipedal cat covered in spikes, and a winged chunk of floating crystal with no face or limbs to be seen. Each of them wore boldly-patterned matching jackets, and they seemed to be trying in vain to perform music of some kind on a bevy of seemingly homemade instruments. [[Stay there to enjoy the music!]] [[Go turn the sound off and try to talk to them!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju2', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju2', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju2', 'play') ]<br> *ding! ASSIGNED DESIGNATIONS: Ebor, Ranga, Dantoram, Ulant, & Ahrea TRAITS: sound wave generation click!* <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"this counts as concert photography, right? tiny art galleries LOVE concert photography" <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"ooh, or if they ever get famous, maybe this will get me into the Lost Media Wiki for having the only pictures of their first show" [[Talk to the volunteer.]] [[Get Mobo’s attention!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju2', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju2', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju2', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Hi everyone! Mobo here!” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“You’re gonna be playing as us again! And this time, we get to go to a super fancy house right on the water!” <img src="./images/Mobo Determined.png">“But we don’t have any time to hang out on the river! Instead, we have to figure out why some weird monster has been lurking around this old guy’s house!” <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">“Which is good, because I don’t know what would happen if I ever went into the water!” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Okay, bye!” [[Episode 7 START!->What was all that about??]] (unless: (track: 'credits', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'credits', 'loop', true) (track: 'credits', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Ruby Neutral.png">“Hey everyone, it’s your girl Ruby R. here.” <img src="./images/Ruby Neutral.png">“Someone reported some creepy monsters showing up at Harbor Crossing Mall, and I took it *personally*. <img src="./images/Ruby Angry.png">"I’ve been going to that mall since I was a kid! It’s some of the nicest memories I have of hanging out with my mom, in fact!” <img src="./images/Ruby Shocked.png">“...why did I tell you that?” <img src="./images/Ruby Neutral.png">“Anyway, it sounds like we’re gonna have to handle this one a little differently than how the Team 64 girls handle things. I mean, I’m not walking around with a purse full of pancakes. <img src="./images/Ruby Sassy.png">"Or so I heard.” <img src="./images/Ruby Neutral.png">“Alright, see you later.” [[Episode 6 START!->Can’t win every breakfast, I guess…]] (unless: (track: 'credits', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'credits', 'loop', true) (track: 'credits', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Hi everyone! Mobo here!” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“I have no idea where we are! And I’m really sorry that I accidentally turned the machine on!” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“This is like when I tried to melt a candy bar in the microwave to make s’mores, but I didn’t take the tin foil off!” <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">“Except much worse, because that didn’t open a portal to another dimension!” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Okay, bye!” [[Episode 8 START!]] (unless: (track: 'credits', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'credits', 'loop', true) (track: 'credits', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Hi everyone! Mobo here!” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“We get to meet another monster soon! I wonder what they’ll be like!” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“We also get to go to a convention! I’m so excited!” <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">“Bunny told me I can never go to a convention, because I’m “pretty and have pink hair” which means “all the gross weirdos will flock to me like moths to a beautiful pink flame”!” <img src="./images/Mobo Determined.png">“But she calls Wyatt and Naomi gross weirdos all the time too, and I love them! So now I don’t know WHAT to think!” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Okay, bye!” [[Episode 4 START!->That's a darn good question...]] (unless: (track: 'credits', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'credits', 'loop', true) (track: 'credits', 'play') ]<br> *ding! ASSIGNED DESIGNATION: Geranter TRAITS: temperature and electric manipulation, rapid evolution & growth click!* <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“aww, look, I got Bunny and Mobo in the picture too, they look like two graceful birds” <img src="./images/Naomi.png">“well, they look like one small bird being carried by another, much longer one, but you get it” [[...ask if the monster is hungry?]] [[...ask if the monster is tired?]] [[...ask if the monster is mad at the Expeditionary Force?]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju2', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju2', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju2', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Hi everyone! Mobo here!” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“That was fun, right? I’m sorry Wyatt is so sad about her girlfriend, but it’s nice to be back in the world we came from!” <img src="./images/Mobo Determined.png">“Maybe someone smarter than me can explain what the heck just happened!” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Or not! I still had a good time!” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Okay, bye!” [[Episode 10 START!->Pheebs??]] (unless: (track: 'credits', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'credits', 'loop', true) (track: 'credits', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Hi everyone! Mobo here!” <img src="./images/Mobo Determined.png">“Looks like something scary is gonna happen! The big portal-thing is missing, and we gotta figure out where it went!” <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png"> “I wish we could find it somewhere close! And that maybe whoever took it will give it back without being mean!" <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“I once made a wish and Bunny told me something I can’t repeat because it had swear words in it, but then I told her that a dream is a wish your heart makes, and she apologized, kind of!” <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">“Okay, bye!” [[Episode 11 START!->Uh oh!]] (unless: (track: 'credits', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'credits', 'loop', true) (track: 'credits', 'play') ]<br> =><= EPISODE 8: THE HYPERPOINTS [[Mobo, what did you get us into?!->Where the heck are we going?!]] (unless: (track: 'theme', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'theme', 'loop', true) (track: 'theme', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Angry.png"> Bunny Depowered Angry <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Cry.png"> Bunny Depowered Cry <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Sassy.png"> Bunny Depowered Sassy <img src="./images/Bunny Depowered Neutral.png"> Bunny Depowered Neutral] (t8n:"fade")+(t8n-delay:1s)[<img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png"> Bunny Powered Angry <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Cry.png"> Bunny Powered Cry <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png"> Bunny Powered Sassy <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png"> Bunny Powered Neutral] (t8n:"fade")+(t8n-delay:2s)[<img src="./images/Charlie.png"> Charlie] (t8n:"fade")+(t8n-delay:3s)[<img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png"> Mobo Neutral <img src="./images/Mobo Determined.png"> Mobo Determined <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png"> Mobo Shocked] (t8n:"fade")+(t8n-delay:4s)[<img src="./images/Naomi.png"> Naomi] (t8n:"fade")+(t8n-delay:5s)[<img src="./images/Ruby Neutral.png"> Ruby Neutral <img src="./images/Ruby Sassy.png"> Ruby Sassy <img src="./images/Ruby Shocked.png"> Ruby Shocked <img src="./images/Ruby Angry.png"> Ruby Angry] (t8n:"fade")+(t8n-delay:6s)[<img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png"> Wyatt Neutral <img src="./images/Wyatt Smug.png"> Wyatt Smug <img src="./images/Wyatt Angry.png"> Wyatt Angry <img src="./images/Wyatt Shocked.png"> Wyatt Shocked] theme: ./music/bunny kapow theme fade out.mp3 credits: ./music/bunny kapow credits theme.mp3 epilogue: ./music/bunny kapow epilogue theme loop experiment.mp3 mobo: ./music/mobo mystery theme loop.mp3 aldorna: ./music/aldorna theme loop.mp3 asking: ./music/asking questions about the machine chapter loop.mp3 bear: ./music/bear theme loop.mp3 diana: ./music/diana zenlas final confrontation loop.mp3 finding: ./music/finding out if diana is evil.mp3 girls: ./music/new girls theme loop.mp3 institute: ./music/institute theme loop.mp3 kaiju1: ./music/kaiju boss fight 1 theme loop.mp3 kaiju2: ./music/kaiju boss fight 2 theme loop.mp3 lutomsk: ./music/lutomsk theme loop.mp3 mall: ./music/spooky mall theme loop.mp3 other: ./music/other dimensions walking around theme loop.mp3 professor: ./music/searching the professors house loop.mp3 ruby: ./music/ruby theme loop.mp3 ultraman: ./music/ultraman theme loop.mp3 walking city: ./music/walking around city and convention theme loop.mp3 walking2: ./music/walking around theme 2 loop.mp3 walking3: ./music/walking around theme 3 loop.mp3 zenlas: ./music/zenlas fight theme loop.mp3<br> In the corner of whatever room it’s in, a TV finishes playing a commercial and begins another. A blue-haired woman with wolf-like ears appears on the screen. <img src="./images/Ruby Neutral.png">“Hi! I’m Ruby Robinson, here on behalf of the Kaznowski Institute.” <img src="./images/Ruby Neutral.png">“Have you ever had an up-close encounter with one of the many monstrous visitors that find their way to Detroitica? Maybe you’ve started to develop strange, inexplicable powers? Maybe you just want to learn more about the forces that make our world what it is? Heck, maybe you just want to help clean up after one of these monster sightings?” <img src="./images/Ruby Neutral.png">“If so, the Kaznowski Institute wants you! We’re looking for interested new researchers of any age or experience level to help us document the powers and monster sightings that make our city such an…interesting place to live. And you don’t even have to have superpowers! You just need to be curious about the world around you.” <img src="./images/Ruby Neutral.png">"Does this sound like you? Then contact us today!” As the Institute’s contact information displays on screen, read by a deep-voiced narrator, the commercial comes to a close. <img src="./images/Ruby Shocked.png">“Can I go now? I have a concert to go to tonight.” (link-repeat: 'GAME START!')[(track: 'theme', 'play')(goto: 'Start')] <br> <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">"Let me talk to them!" <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">"Hi, new friend! Uhhh...could you not eat a bunch of stuff and wreck up the place, maybe? Please?" In return, the bird creature looked at her thoughtfully, and seemed to briefly sniff at Mobo before suddenly attempting to snap at her with his long, sharpened beak. <img src="./images/Mobo Shocked.png">"EEK!" Out of surprise and instinct, Mobo accidentally fired a blast from her hand-laser before suddenly realizing what she was doing. As the blast connected with the monster, the area in which he was struck briefly glowed a bright red before turning back to its usual translucent blue, and the area was filled with the smell of glowing plastic. The monster then let out one high-pitched squawk of distaste at Mobo, who was in the middle of apologizing profusely, and then took flight on its unnatural-looking wings. [[Oh. Well, I guess that's fine, then!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]<br> <img src="./images/Naomi.png">"hey Wyatt, do you remember when we had to take that field trip to that really stinky place near the freeway, to show us what happens to plastic bottles when we recycle them?" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Oh my god that place smelled *so* bad, but I think you're onto something!" <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Bunny, you seem to get along well with him, how do you think we can get him over there?" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Neutral.png">"We could probably just use these toys to lead him to the recycling plant!" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Sassy.png"> "Sometimes I do that with my dog, where I leave a little trail of treats around the house, and I just sit there and watch him follow it." <img src="./images/Wyatt Neutral.png">"Great, that's the best idea we've had so far!! Now how do we start luring him there with the toys?" As Wyatt finished her question, the girls all heard the distinctive *woosh* of Mobo's personal thrusters firing up. <img src="./images/Mobo Neutral.png">"Don't worry, girls! Mobo is on the case!" <img src="./images/Bunny Powered Angry.png">"Mobo, I am VERY worried, and - *AHHHHHH!*" [[And there they go!]] (unless: (track: 'kaiju1', 'isplaying'))[ (group: 'playing', 'stop', 2) (track: 'kaiju1', 'loop', true) (track: 'kaiju1', 'play') ]