I don't quite know what's changed in the last while, but I've hit a very nice stride with my writing where I'm consistently putting out content for a variety of stories at a time. I think its cause I'm not bothering to try and stop thinking about other ones at the same time for once, cause God only knows how many worlds and fics I've brainstormed over the years but never put to the printed word.
But you aren't here to listen to me, just some regularly scheduled violence research and compelling examples of story-telling. So let's get going.
Chapter 6: An Enemy To Fight
OR
We Got Birds to Shoot Down, and A Snickering Dog. This is Definitely Duck Hunt.
After a quick bus ride and gathering of parental permission, Geo was, for the first time in what would be around a year and a half, setting foot on AMAKEN grounds.
AMAKEN, in its current iteration, was one of Netopia's premier satellite monitoring and launch sites, while also serving as a hub specifically for scientists to monitor Wave-point interactions between everything from common cell phones to black holes. These experiments in action also tended to make great attractions for school trips, so the more benign ones went onto display in a small pseudo-museum on the properties first floor, which helped give the station a bit of padding for other future projects.
The ways AMAKEN currently kept the lights on while preforming rocket science weren't the prime reason Geo had come out that day though...no, his eyes were to the sky, utterly entranced as he saw Wave roads of every shape and color connecting the surrounding satellite dishes and command towers, Mr. Hertz moving every which way like a hive in motion. it was the first time that Geo had actually realized, that this truly was a Wave WORLD, living and breathing and filled with beings just slightly to the left and up of his own.
It was crazy to think all of something like this could be missed by the very people who'd dedicated their lives to understanding Wave technology...and incredibly exciting for a young boy who was already desperate to dive further in to this strange and wonderful world above.
"We should have come here sooner..." The words came out as a murmur from Geo's mouth, head still high as he walked forward, thankfully not walking into anyone else in his distracted state, as it was the middle of the day, well before lunch.
Mega, however, had no problem hearing it with his keen senses, the sound oozing a layer of smugness.
"What'd I tell ya kid. You gotta really see and get in touch with a place to know it. I didn't expect it to be a Wave Hub like this, but that just means we gotta enjoy it more. Places like this are rife with potential." Mega spoke from the Transfer.
'Good or bad...'
Geo nodded in agreement, then brought his gaze back down to earth. With a faked stretch of his shoulders and rolling of his neck, he checked to see if there was anyone nearby.
Seeing just one man sleepily chewing on a bagel as he read a newspaper, Geo nodded again, before ducking behind the 'Star' Sign. A quick flash and falling beam, he was once again in the Wave World, the grin on his face one he'd barely believe himself capable of making and a readiness to check every odd and end from this new perspective.
The first thing Geo noted as he jumped across the tops of rockets and the points of the radars, was the differences in virus. Mettena were still a staple, as were Cannonbase, but there were also new faces in the fray.
In no particular order, they were ZapAces, Peekaboos, Wibbledees in various amounts.
ZapAces were yellow, floating viruses consisting only of a head and two arms ending in sharpened spikes. They were created from vast amounts of energy, electrical or otherwise, being exposed to high EM environments, of which AMAKEN definitely counted. Battle wise, they attempted to skewer their foe when in close quarters and send homing projectiles made of electricity at mid-range by touching the same tips together to create a reaction. Best taken care of from long-range, just before the tips are moved apart, as interruptions cause the energy to backlash. Taking them down created Thunder Ball 1, Plasma Gun 1, and Paralyze Plus.
Next up were Peekaboos, grey and black ghost-esce viruses that covered their faces with massive mitten-like hands. They come about in areas where information was handled in large quantities, where they would then act as a blindspot for transmissions, slowing down the network and even outright deleting conversation. Their main tactics consisted of skirting around the battlefield waiting for possible openings, before, when finding one, would reveal their face with a massive tongue to physically slap whatever was in their way, or shoot a laser from their eyes that would blind and deafen whatever was hit by it. During this same timeframe, however, any attack to the unprotected face could cause devastating damage. It was actually kind of comical, a Stun Knuckle to the face actually pounded its face into itself for a few seconds before breaking apart. Taking them down Ghost Pulse 1, and Invisible. The latter was incredibly useful, so the Peekaboos would be suffering a culling soon.
Last up were the Wibbledees, jelly and balloon-like viruses that came from overused vending and coffee machines, primarily from their heating or cooling devices. Still, they did their best to crash into any and every surface, trying to cover whatever opponent they were fighting with their gelatinous body to crush them or, failing that, send the excess 'water' inside them forward in a crashing wave. While they were mid-jump was the best time to attack, as any kind of sharp edge would, ironically, pop them like the balloon's they looked like. They left behind Wide Wave 1's, Barrier 1, and Gel Body, which was an odd program remnant from the Net-Navi era that Geo was sure could be used for something eventually. Maybe if his freezer ever broke down, or a collector who wanted one.
Even without the virus assaults now and again though, there were other hazards to be aware of as well. To start with, Geo actually had to get used to maintaining his form a few feet above the actual Waveroad as the surface level was all but conveyer belts of information and Hertz Carrier carting around different programs and orders. If he touched any part of it for more than a moment, then he'd be swept right with it like a leaf in the river.
Beyond the paths themselves was also the issue of where they actually led. While it was incredible to see the inside of a receiver, it was also mildly disconcerting to almost be accidently beamed into space through a passing by transmission.
Still, even with the possible dangers, it was a wonderful day full of opportunities and new experiences. The Mr. Hertz going around also seemed to be shockingly willing to unload work onto him in exchange for random data fragments they held on to for some reason, ranging from running select transmissions between towers to getting rid of an unusually large ZapAce that was in the gift shop desk. The second one was actually an accident, but the Mr. Hertz still insisted on shoving 10,000 Zenny into his account.
Geo even got a sneak peak into the new exhibit they would be setting up for the next six months, a chamber emptied of all air to practice emergency situations in space environments, as well as find out how different materials and plants grow in the different conditions and simulated planets. Incredibly fascinating stuff, but not nearly as fascinating as the 'black hole' generator in the side room being put together.
Honestly, the instant they heard those words together, Mega looked torn between bolting and running in to break it immediately, which Geo was absolutely behind. Then they entered the Wave Comp and were, thankfully, dissuaded from that specific attempt at violence.
"Oh, no, we'd never do something as insane as generate an ACTUAL blackhole anywhere within Earth orbit, let alone in a place we let civilians access!" The Mr. Hertz living in the Comp cheerfully laughed, looking specifically customized compared to his regular brethren. Where a normal Hertz was blue, this one was a solid Black, broken up only by a solid gold band around his torso, and the same material making up his facial features. He also had, floated slightly behind him, two slightly translucent and yellow tipped 'wings' that seemed more like three-pronged hands. He also seemed to be bolted to the floor, fitting into his own special groove.
"No no no! Instead of that, we simulate the effect with a graphic design to simulate what a black hole looks like through our state of the art Wave Motion designer above me! Then, while it runs, I create a small gravity well to show how items are drawn and compressed into a critical mass in the center! In fact, once the exhibit is ready, people will be able to buy coins to throw in to see them crushed into pre-selected shapes! Science is amazing! So please don't destroy me!" The Hertz continued in its same cheery voice, even as both of them breathed a slight sigh of relief that the planet wasn't going to be crushed by a blackhole anytime in the future.*
In any case, it was a wonderful trip that earned more than 50 times what Geo paid in bus fare, a large increase to his Card selection, and a variety of programs of varying usefulness. There would definitely be more trips to Amaken in the future.
Given the exhaustion that generally came from life-threatening battles and constant exploration alongside occasional employment, it was also easy for the both of them to miss the blue flash of light Geo caught from the corner of his eye as a simple blur from staring at the Wave Worlds too long.
It was a good day.
*Well, I wouldn't get too far ahead of yourselves.
END OF CHAPTER
And there we go, with some foreshadowing and casual conversation alongside some possible sidequests. I also have written more about viruses from the Starforce series than the actual wikis, which is really kind of sad. I also wonder how many will connect what that Mr. Hertz looks like. Ah, I love my life. Cheers all, and as always I love the chat that ensures.
