"Its here! I can't believe it's finally here!" Kimiko exclaimed loudly as raced to tear open the crates littering the Great Hall. Everyone had come running when they heard her shouting and ended up falling flat on their faces when they tripped over the packaging. "Oops. Sorry about that guys."
"Kimiko what is all this stuff? Did you buy out a an computer company?" Stacey demanded.
"No! This is a gift from my dad! His company has been working on a new VR technology for the Goo Zombies game line and decided to send me the prototype to test. Not only can this equipment make you feel like you're really in the game, it also can be programmed for other games and simulations. Just think! We can even use this device to train once I hook it all up!"
"Isn't this equipment going to be a major drain on the power bill?" Dagwood wondered.
"Where exactly are we supposed to set this up anyways? We can't keep it in the Great Hall it would be an eye sore," Callie remarked.
Two hours later everyone's back hurt from carrying the pieces of equipment to the spare storeroom and clearing it out for the VR equipment. It took them another hour just to set up everything and not blow the wiring in the Temple. During the time Kimiko couldn't stop going on and on about the VR equipment. Finally to shut her up Omi asked what VR was.
"VR is short for Virtual Reality. It's an artificial world based inside the computer. By using this equipment you can transform your movements in the real world to the virtual world. It's really exciting come on put this stuff on and I'll show you!" Kimiko told him as she strapped on the boots, gauntlets, chest plate, and helmet. "Hurry up Omi, I want to kick your butt in cyberspace."
"Ha no one can defeat me in the real world or the virtual world. Match off!" Omi told her as he put on the equipment and stepped onto the dais. Above them the screen lit up showing what was going on in the game as Jack monitored the control panel.
On the display screen the monks watched as Omi and Kimiko battled hoards of zombies in a creepy mansion. Each of them was dressed in cool body armor and had a baseball cap and squirt gun they could use to destroy the zombies.
"Try to keep up Omi. I bet you two weeks of chores I can get high score!" Kimiko called out as she liquefied two more zombies. Spying a health icon in the air she jumped onto a chandelier and swung into it gaining five hundred life points.
"Your on! No way will I loose to a mere girl. Wudai Neptune Water! Huh why aren't my Wudai powers working? Ah keep away from me!" Omi squealed like a girl as he took off running.
"I guess someone forgot to mention to Omi only your movements transfer to cyber space not our powers," Stacey remarked.
"That dawg is in serious trouble yo. Kimiko is going to whip his butt and serve it on a silver platter," Jermaine said.
"I can't wait until we get a chance to try this baby out. You think Kimiko's dad will pay us for the testing?" Clay wondered.
"Who knows, but I doubt you last long in cyber world. With your ferocious appetite anyone could defeat you in a simulation by conjuring a rib eye steak," Callie giggled.
"Would you pipe down? I'm trying to watch this over here!" Lu snapped.
On screen Omi had just lost his last life points and the game was ending. Kimiko was already doing a victory dance as she removed her gear. "Oh yeah whose rad, whose bad, whose never been had! Oh yeah I kicked your butt Omi! You have to do my chores for two weeks!"
"Good job Kimiko. I think we owe your dad big thanks for sending this prototype. Once we get the bugs out of it we can use it to practice our new moves against our enemies safely. Until then I guess we should get back to regular old training right Master Fung?" Raimundo asked
"Very wise Raimundo. Kimiko, I know that you are proud of your new toy and I have no doubt it will help us in the future, but right now we need to stick to reality. Remember the mirage only last as long as one allows it. Chase, Chakra, could you train the Wudai Warriors today? I need to review some skills with our Shoku warriors. Once there done dismiss them to do their chores. Come along Raimundo, Lu, Crystal we have some work to do," Master Fung said.
Kimiko was disappointed that she didn't get more time with her VR and was frustrated throughout practice. Chase and Chakra were demonstrating how do to combo martial arts attacks, but she wasn't paying attention. All she could think about was how unfair it was that Raimundo, Lu, and Crystal didn't have to do extra practice.
"Kimiko please pay attention! Now remember an orbital kick work's better when the taller person swings the shorter person. Jack will you please swing Kimiko into the target?" Chakra asked.
"No problem. Don't worry Kimiko I won't drop you. Here we go!" Jack said clasping his girlfriend's hands tightly. He swung her hard and fast into the stationary Jackbot and was pleased when it was destroyed.
"Very good Jack. Your skills have improved greatly. You might be making Shoku rank any day now. Why don't the nine of you go do your chores now? Raimundo, Lu, and Crystal will join you as soon as Master Fung is done with their lesson," Chase told them.
"Yeah Fung is teaching them how to travel short distances using their elements. Pretty soon you won't be needing little old me to travel. Wah!" Dojo started to cry.
"Oh that's not true Dojo. Will always need your help to travel and who else can sense our Shen Gong Wu?" Omi tried to council him with little success.
Fifteen minutes later in the laundry room Kimiko was ranting to the girls about how she was feeling. "I can't believe how this day is turning out! I mean my dad's new VR system was suppose to help us train and Master Fung doesn't even want to use it! Then during training Chase has to comment that Jack will make Shoku before me? That's insane! Oh I can't believe Lu and Crystal aren't here helping us with the laundry just because they're Shoku!"
"Careful Kimiko or your going to burn our clothes! Sounds to me like your jealous of Lu and Crystal. What brought this on?" Auara asked as she sorted the lights from the dark.
"I don't know. Ever since we came back from the Pokemon World I guess I've been on edge. Seeing Raimundo and Lu using their new Shoku abilities to merge attacks, throw up temporary shields, and even heal was so cool. Their excellent leaders and have great skills. I'm not denying Crystal should be one after everything she did in that world. I guess I just want a piece of the action."
"Is that the real reason you asked your dad to send the prototype here? You thought that if you could beat everyone in simulations you would prove yourself worthy of being Shoku?" Stacey asked as she took the laundry out of the dryer.
"I guess so. I mean I really did want to try out the new VR system. It's just so cool fighting in VR. It reminds me of that time I showdown against Pandabubba for the Zing Zang Bone. Ever since that showdown I wanted to get that feeling again."
"Sounds like you have an obsession. Just remember that the cyber world can be addictive. If you spend too much time there you'll forget how to live in the real world. Believe me I know. Back home in the community we had a few people who went on a dream walk and they liked it so much they stayed in a trance for days. It took forever to get them out," Callie explained as she folded the clothes into different piles.
"Don't worry I don't plan to become addicted. I'll just spend a few more hours practicing later tonight and I'll be ready for training. Come on lets deliver the laundry."
Later that night Kimiko was having trouble sleeping. All she could think about was how cool it would be to become Shoku and how here father's present was wasting space in the storage room. He had sent it to her to test and that's what she was going to do. Changing into her robes she slipped out of the bedrooms and crept towards the storage room softly.
"I'll show them. My VR equipment can help us and it will help me make Shoku. Okay let's run Goo Zombies Infinity level six and then I'll tryout one of the simulations. Here it goes!"
Kimiko found herself in the midst of a giant cemetery with lots of decay grave markers, mausoleums, and even open graves. Clutching her squirt gun tightly she cautiously made her way through the necropolis on the look out for any signs of trouble.
Suddenly a ten-foot tall zombie burst out of the mausoleum in front of her and started spitting acid at her. Quickly she back flipped out of the way and then fired her squirt gun. She managed to melt a leg, but the creature kept coming and he wasn't alone. Even more zombies were rising from their graves coming after.
"This isn't good. I don't have enough ammo to take them all out and if I touch them I'll lose all my health. There's got to be something I can do. Hmm hey zombie breath come and get me!" Kimiko shouted as she started hopping graving stones and hurling her cap at them. She managed to destroy some of the weaker zombies, but the stronger ones kept coming.
"Come on can't you move any faster! Oh way to slow! Is that the best acid shot you have? You who I'm over here! Come on that's right a little further and yes! So glad you can drop in! I love to stay and chat, but I have things to do. Hiyah! Bye bye!" Kimiko waved as the fallen obelisk buried the zombie hoard in the grave earning her a ton of bonus points. "Oh yeah I am good! I've had enough of playing games. Time to try out the simulation. Computer switch over to Kimiko Training Program Alpha One. Giver player one access to simulated fire based powers."
Her surroundings instantly transformed to the training grounds outside the Temple. Her robes replaced her body armor and weapons. Flicking her wrist she smiled as simulated fire danced across her fingertips. "This is going to be good. Okay let's try this out. Ember!" Kimiko said flicking twirling her fingertips. The sparks of fire cascade from her fingertips and burned through the training targets with ease.
"Sweet. Okay now let's try something a bit harder," she said turning to the obstacle course. Taking a deep breath she ran the gauntlet using all her skill to climb up the walls, get through the moat, and when it came to the swinging blades of death she used her Flame Wheel attack to spin through with ease. "This simulation rocks! I can't believe how realistic everything is. I can't wait to tell Papa. Okay let's try running one more battle simulation and then I'll call it a night. Computer, run Kimiko Training Program Alpha Two and allow player one access to weapons and Shen Gong Wu."
The training grounds disappeared, but instead of being replaced by a field with an enemy she found herself in a red lined space. No weapons or Shen Gong Wu appeared and she felt a strange tingle go through her body. When she tried to access her simulated powers nothing happened. "What the heck is going on? Is this some kind of bug in the program? Computer disengage simulation and exit. Disengage and exit! Why can't I exit?"
"Because your in my world now. Hello Kimiko long time no see. Surprised to see me or does a cat has your tongue?" Katnappe laughed as she materlized into existence.
"Katnappe! What are you doing here and how did you get into my VR world?"
"Please do you think you're the only one who can hack a computer system? I'm not just another pretty face like my supermodel mom. My daddy designs computer programs for the government. Speaking of my parents they would be the reason I'm about to permanently delete you."
"What does that mean? I don't even know your parents!"
"Maybe so, but its because of your friends that my parents are sending me to reform school! Yeah, my parents finally noticed I was skipping school and trying to take over the world. Because of that they've taken the keys to my condo, impounded all my precious babies, and took my costume away. First thing tomorrow I'm being shipped off to school to learn to be nice. Well I won't stand for it! Since I can't take my revenge on the Royal Heylin Family I'll settle for eliminating you. After all you're my rival aren't you? Now let's play a little game shall we?" Katnappe grinned. "Computer run program Katnappe One and give player two full powers and discontinue the simulated fire power to player one. Now that I've made the playing field uneven let's play!
Katnappe grinned and leapt into the air with great skill and grace. A brilliant flash engulfed her and when she landed on top of Kimiko she was a powerful leopard. Ignoring Kimiko's struggles she drew back a paw and then slashed her across the shoulder tearing the clothing and leaving deep gash oozing with blood.
Kimiko let out a scream. The pain she felt was real! Ignoring the throbbing she used her legs to push off the transformed Katnappe and sprang to her feet. "I don't care if you have powers and hacked my system. I'm still going to kick your butt! Panther Pounce!" she called out as she pounced on top of the cat and started scratching furiously.
Katnappe would have no of that and detransformed. The two rivals glared at each other with rage. Within seconds they were in the fight for their lives. Kimiko used every ounce of training she received to try and knock out Katnappe hoping that would end the simulation, but Katnappe was to quick and fast thanks to her cat powers. She would gleefully leap out of the way and then land another attack on Kimiko weakening her.
"I'm surprised you've lasted this long in my world Kimiko. But right now it's time to box you in and send you to the vet for euthanasia. Computer cage player one!"
Kimiko suddenly found herself caged inside five glowing rings, which started to shrink. She struggled to free herself, but any action she took only made them shrink faster. As the rings closed in on her she wonder what her friends would think when they found her body the next morning hanging lifeless in the simulator.
At the moment the monks and Dojo along with Master Fung, Chase, and Chakra were trying to figure out how to safely free Kimiko without causing damage. They had been alerted to the problem when Kimiko's Soul Pendent started heating up the place forcing them to investigate.
"It's no good! Katnappe use a Trojan Horse virus to gain access to the system meaning she disguised her program as one as Kimiko's so she could gain remote access. I've tried everything to end the simulation, but she has a recursive algorithm running blocking any attempts I make to get her out!" Jack growled in frustration.
"Can't we use the Denshi Bunny to get in there and put an end to this fight?" Lu questioned.
"Yo we have no idea what would happen if we did that! Kimiko's brain could be presently lost in cyber world if we did that. What I saw it happen on a TV show once dawg."
"Either way it's to dangerous to attempt. We have no idea what the consequences will be. Kimiko must find her inner fire and break free from this illusion. It's the only way she'll be free," Chakra said as she gazed at the screen as the rings tighten their grip around the young girl nearly chocking her to death.
Kimiko was losing consciences as the rings tighten their grasp around her cutting off her flow of oxygen. She knew rationally that she was drawing in air in the real world, but the simulation was so realistic it had triggered a psychosomatic response causing her to react as she would if this was real. The last thing she saw before she blacked out was Katnappe gloating over her fallen body.
The lose of consciences triggered certain memories, memories that didn't belong to her, but the people and creatures she had honorably chosen to keep alive inside her. The first memory hit her with such force she nearly went into a coma that's how powerful it was.
She screamed again and again in frustration. How could she the Titan of Fire, the Lord of Fire Island, the symbol of the Kanto Pokemon League, Moltres be caught by a mere human? This imprisonment was unbearable and so was sharing a room with Zapdos.
She let out another screech and tried to use her firepower to break free once more. Suddenly a young human boy and his fellow Pokemon started to attack her prison intent on freeing her. She smiled gratefully knowing that nothing would keep her fire contained.
The second memory surfaced and Kimiko found herself lost in the memory of her Ancient ancestor Agni. The memory playing was one of training session between Agni and Master Ryo.
Agni was trying to keep her cool, but was struggling. She hated confinement of any kind and being trapped inside a box was starting to give her claustrophobia. "Focus Agni, find your inner fire and let it burn," she whispered taking a few deep breaths.
"Nothing can tame the fire except great discipline. I control the fire and nothing can stop me from using it including Master Ryo. Flaming Phoenix!" Agni cried as she was engulfed in a fiery bird shape. Flapping her wings she burned through her prison and took to the sky enjoying the sweet taste of freedom.
When she landed she looked up respectfully at Master Ryo. "Very good Agni. You learned to control your emotions and keep your cool. By taming the fire inside you unlocked your inner fire and proved that only you can tame the fire within. Never let anyone tell you differently," Master Ryo told his student.
"Thank you Master Ryo, I won't forget your words of wisdom," Agni told him smiling.
Slowly Kimiko felt herself climbing back to consciences. She struggled to find her inner fire and to prove nothing could hold her back. Flames rippled across her body causing Katnappe and everyone in the real world to jump back as a massive fireball engulfed her.
"What in the name of Shiva is going on?" Stacey exclaimed.
"I think Kimiko's found her inner fire!" Auara replied enthusiastically.
"It's about time she took control. Katnappe doesn't stand a chance!" Callie said.
Katnappe was staring in disbelief as Kimiko used her firepowers to melt the rings and free herself. As she stepped free of the wreck a Phoenix flew around her transforming her into a Shoku warrior complete with new flame hair bands. "Your finished Katnappe. I've finally broken free of the mirage and am back in control of my reality."
"Not if I can help it! Computer run program Katnappe Kitty Coral! Kitties attack!" Katnappe commanded as hoards of cats materialized. Letting out a yowl they darted towards Kimiko ready to shred her.
Kimiko waited until they were nearly on top of her before she activated her powers and used her firepower to fly high into the air. The trail of fire she left in wake destroyed the programmed kitties. "Nice try Katnappe, but there's no way you can beat me. I hope you enjoy reform skill because my firewall is about to make sure you stay there! Shoku Inferno Mars Fire!" A wall of flames surrounded her body and with a flick of her wrist the wall turned into a tornado that swept up Katnappe deleting her from the program and freeing Kimiko.
"Kimiko! I was so worried about you!" Jack said hugging her.
"You did it girlfriend you beat Katnappe once and for all. Look's like you got you wish. Congratulations Kimiko," Crystal said.
"It was most impressive how you handled the situation. You show the markings of a true warrior," Chase said.
"As a Dragon of Fire myself I'm very proud of you Kimiko."
"Thank you everyone, but I think Master Fung was right. I can't let the cyber world control my life. I need to live in the real world. At least I can tell my daddy that his game is almost free of bugs."
"I'm glad you feel that way Kimiko, but we can still use this device to train. As for right now it's late and I suggest we all get some sleep. Tomorrow your training increases," Master Fung told her kindly as everyone headed to bed happy, healthy, and knowing they had one less enemy to deal with.
