Virtual Insanity!
To Haretrigger: Hey there Haretrigger! Nice to hear from you again! Yeah, Hi-Tech is following a long line of Joe inventors. I agree with you, they should hand out disclaimers and waivers to anyone who agrees to help Airtight or Hi-Tech. Virus would be in his element in virtual reality. I'm trying to establish him as a supervillain in his own right. I think he could pull it off. Enjoy the new chapter!
To RogueFanKC: Hey there Rogue! Yeah, Virus doesn't quit, man. He really doesn't know when to give it up. And you know, I guess Hi-Tech knew what he was in for when he agreed to join the Joes. Don't worry. Virus will get what's coming to him. Enjoy the new chapter, and I can hardly wait for the new chapter of "X Kat: The Mutant Squadron"!
To Metal Dragoon: Hey there Metal Dragoon! Nice to hear from you again! I read the new chapter of "Take the Long Way Home", and I loved it! Kid Razor rocked in the chapter! You based Biker on Beelzemon, didn't you? It was really great! I also read "The Greatest Weapon". It was awesome! Maybe I can have Decoy or Scratch make a guest appearance somewhere. Actually, I do have someone in mind already for the test subject, heh heh. I do agree with you, Firestorm in the virtual world would be scary, yet safer. It's a lot easier to handle Firestorm driving a virtual Firerunner than a real life one. Enjoy the new chapter, and I can hardly wait for the next chapter of "Take The Long Way Home"!
To Aaron: Hey there Aaron! Nice to hear from you again! I'm glad you liked the last chapter. Yeah, I thought some Virus/Cobra Commander banter would be good for some laughs. Cobra Commander doesn't have a lot of choice when it comes to being in that tank. I'm glad you liked the last chapter, with all its insanity. I love Super Mario Brothers, too. Who will be the test subject? Find out next! Enjoy the new chapter!
To Sparky Genocide: Hey there Sparky Genocide! Actually, I have plans for CC in the future, yes I do. Enjoy the new chapter!
To todd fan: Hey there, todd fan! I read the new chapters of "X-Men: Evolution, the Musical" and I loved them! Poor Remy, Scott, and Alex. I'm glad you liked the last chapter! Enjoy the new chapter, and I can't wait for new chapters of "X-Men: Evolution, the Musical", "Slugs and Snails", "Little Shop of Mutants", and "Random Tales of the Magic Roundabout"!
To Red Witch: Hey there Red! I read the new chapter of "Valor, Venom, and Other Stuff", and "Memories Are Made of This", and I loved them! Poor Scott and Jean! I think I may know what to do now! Enjoy the new chapter, and I can hardly wait for new chapters of "Valor, Venom, and Other Stuff", and "Memories Are Made of This!"
To Raliena: Hey there, Rae! I'm glad you liked the last chapter. Actually, I think reptiles are higher on the evolutionary scale than amphibians, but don't tell Toad that. Enjoy the new chapter!
Disclaimer: "DRAGO!" - Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa, Rocky IV (A great movie!)
Chapter 4: Sneak Attack!
Hi-Tech's lab, Malibu Base
"No way!" Hardcase roared. Malibu Base's third-in-command was being strapped into Hi-Tech's Virtual Sabotage Chair. He was being strapped in by Hi-Tech and Vorona. "No way! I am not doing this! I am not going to be some guinea pig for some screwy virtual reality experiment!"
"I do not believe you have much choice." Vorona explained to Hardcase as she continued strapping the Green Beret in. "Besides, it was either you or me." Hardcase glared at the blonde Czech.
"Ever heard of taking one for the team?"
"I have taken plenty in my time." Vorona shook her head. "I don't need to take any more for the team at this point."
"You are so supportive." Hardcase grumbled.
"Oh, relax Hardcase!" Hi-Tech grinned as he strapped Hardcase in. "I tested it on myself, and nothing went wrong. Besides, the chances of anything going wrong are next to none." Hardcase's face started to pale.
Knowing a Joe invention, the chances are certain. "W-w-well…what could happen if something went wrong?" Hardcase asked with some fright in his voice. Hi-Tech shrugged.
"Well…" Hi-Tech scrunched his face in thought. "Most likely, you'll get a nasty shock." He replied nonchalantly. Hardcase's face paled more. "If the worst comes to worst, in the absolute worst-case scenario, your mind will end up trapped in virtual reality somehow, leaving your body in a barely alive coma-like state. You shouldn't worry about that, though. That only happens to villains and characters no one likes in comic books." Hardcase's face became very taut, his eyes widened, and his face turned a very pale white. Vorona groaned. Hi-Tech looked up at Hardcase's face. "Dude, you seriously need to learn to relax, my friend." Hardcase only squeaked. Hi-Tech shook his head. Rahne walked in.
"Hardcase, ye look like a ghost!" The mutant werewolf blinked. "Are ye alright?"
"Meep."
"Man, he needs to relax. He worries too much." Hi-Tech chuckled. "Okay, I'm going to run some final checks on this thing. I never like taking chances."
"I liked you better when you were merely fixing laptops, Hi-Tech." Vorona shook her head. "If I may be honest with you…"
"Go ahead. Compliment me on my awesomeness." Hi-Tech snickered.
"I started worrying about you when you decided to take a page from that Joe Airtight and start inventing." Vorona shook her head.
"Actually Daina, I didn't invent virtual reality. It's been around for years, for usage in combat and flight simulations and in video games. I'm just giving it a real usage in combat." Hi-Tech explained.
"Nick's Arcade has a couple of those games. One of them is a fun helicopter game." Rahne smiled. Vorona chuckled and mussed up Rahne's hair. "Hey!"
"Anyway, I ran some checks, and it looks good." Hi-Tech nodded. "Let's do it." With a grin, Hi-Tech activated the Virtual Sabotage Chair. A computer-generated version of Hardcase appeared on the screen.
In the virtual world
"Hey…" Hardcase looked around. "Well…" He lifted up a leg and started shaking his foot. "This is new…"
"How you doing?" Hi-Tech's voice was heard. "You feel alright?"
"I feel a little weird, but fine." Hardcase answered. "It's funny. I feel like I'm in a video game or something."
"That would be so neat to be in a video game." Rahne's voice was heard.
"Aren't they developing a video game starring you West Coast Misfits?" Vorona's voice piped up.
"Yeah. I saw some of the prototype. It looks awesome! It's like Street Fighter meets Legend of Zelda." Hi-Tech grinned. "Hey…what's that?"
"What?" Hardcase turned around. He saw a familiar face grinning. "You!"
"That's right, human." Virus grinned. "The Virus has come to infect YOU!" He cackled as he waved his hand. Tendrils of liquid metal erupted from the ground around Hardcase and they formed a cage.
"Hi-Tech! Pull Hardcase out!" Vorona exclaimed. Hi-Tech, in a panicky manner, tapped away at his keyboard.
"I can't!" Hi-Tech exclaimed. "The little snotbag blocked me out!"
"You bloody think that I wouldn't be prepared for that?" Virus smirked. "I got one of you…now all I need to bloody do is catch the lot of you, and then, you're mine."
Well, well, well! Looks like our heroes are in trouble! What insanity will happen next? How can Virus catch the rest of the Malibu Joes and the West Coast Misfits? Can they stop him? Find out in the next chapter! Suggestions needed badly!