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Harry, cut the ship: tell her what to do, instead of being vague and annoying!
I told you I don't know the path… make me repeat that one more time and I will add you-
Not even a darn hint?! We know that accessing the documents is useless… so, what else do you know?!
Mirii's eyes squeezed a bit, as she was hovering above the line of words. On the left, a vertical list of various files and icons.
I know I should had gone to another city… or working for a software company and getting paid with the big money.
"… I can access the execution software." The Squid slid towards the computer icon. "From there, I might manage to write down the command input that"
Her eyes squeezed, as she moaned.
"Mr. Harry." Her head rose. "I must ask you a question."
If it's related to videogames, I reject it.
"No…" Mirii sighed, as her head shook slowly. "… can I type in a software?"
You can't. You have to rely on Kyle, if you want to type anything.
Why you want to type?
Probably because she wants to leave a sign in this computer! Tee hee hee!
Mirii's eyelids lowered to the middle.
"… my reason is simple." She sighed for a moment. "I want to access the execution software and order the command input"
Bingo! That way we can shut down the computer! How I didn't thought of that?! I'm feeling like a dumbass for not guessing something this simple!
The Squid resumed its slide, reaching the top of the computer icon and hovering her tentacle on it.
… actually… Harry, can she access inside the execution software?
Another square appeared, exposing an hard disk drive icon, a CD-ROM one and a wrench together with a screwdriver on its side.
Yes, she can.
Eh eh! So much for being an Informatiocolic…
Shut up, Kyle.
Mirii hovered her tentacle on the hard disk drive icon, entering inside the next white square, showing its own list of files and applications.
"I just can't swallow the fact I cannot explore those documents more…" Her tentacle went above a line of words. "I would had learned some crucial information… nnnnggghh!"
Her eyes squeezed for a brief moment, now facing a different list: she dived rapidly, scrolling through all sorts of names and files.
"Yes, I can recognize all those files…" She slowed down, carefully looking at the icons. "Let's see… … found it!"
Her tentacle went over a small square, together with the name " ". Suddenly, darkness creeped in. A white word saying 'c:' appeared on the top-left side.
To be fair, this is not the path for ending this mode… but we don't care about it.
I doooo care! Tee hee!
Your laughs are so weird, Penny…
Letters were appearing near the ''… Mirii was staring at the forming word, as her tentacles folded.
There! Now the computer should go off…
The whole scenery changed into a plain blue, with several dots circling together and a phrase reading 'Shutting the system down…".
PON!
Her eyes expanded, as a text flashed in a brief second.
"NO!" She moved backwards a bit.
What the squid?!
What's that, Kyle?!
Harry! The computer isn't turning off at all!
Ship! SHIP! I… … sigh… I forgot…
You… you forgot something?!
Yes… it's true you can complete this mode in various ways, but that's only true with the newest versions!
"Th-this version isn't new…?" Mirii swallowed silently.
If you found that text, then no. At first, this mode had a cheating-detecting system, which would teleport the bad players inside an obstacle course filled with traps. They took it off since the course is as buggy as shell… not to mention, they wanted to make the game easier and filling it with key hints throughout the desktop.
Her sight caught a dim appearance of a vast green platform located below, filled with lines and greyish squares.
"So, I was supposed to find hints…" She turned around, seeing tall blocks and small sparkles occasionally appearing on their corners, either moving down the edge or flashing multiple times on a spot before shutting down.
You can forget the payment! You made things even worse for us, Harry!
That's why I should quit gambling like that! Grrrr…!
"Hmpf!" Mirii grimaced a bit. "What happens if I complete this course?"
It counts as completing the mode, actually… but it's a hard task! If you lose, you will return back to the square one… and if you want to reach the Desktop, you must wait for several hours.
"Who came up with such inconsiderate punishment?!" She frowned, as puffs of smoke blasted from her sides.
The same idiots who took it off in the later versions… but that's going to be it from me. I will close the call now.
We haven't finished yet, Harry!
Look, I cannot pretend receiving the triple payment anymore… thus, I have no reason to keep this call up. I told you everything you needed to know, anyway… so, good luck with this.
Harry, don't you-darn it!
Mirii shook her head slowly.
"… I don't need that fool, in order to beat such childish playground." Her eyes closed. "Let me prove how perfection will help me achieve my goals." Opening back her eyes, she advanced calmly.
I swear, this is the last time I will call that idiot down! He was such a butt today, I don't even want to see him ever again!
Me too! Sooo meanie!
… as for you, Penny…
Her eyes grew a bit.
"Kelly! Why are you talking?!"
H-hey! Wh-why are you touching my forehead?!
… no, you are fine.
Wh-what's it?!
You are acting so weird, Penny… I-I just can't get around that! In fact, I can't even recognize your face that much!
Bu-but I'm Penny…!
I mean, your face is the same and all… but you are making the cutest smile I have ever seen! After all those years I know you, it surprises me to no end!
Mirii lowered her head for a moment… before resuming her movement forward.
Ah… tee hee hee! This is my cute side, actually! I kept it hidden, since I smile only in front of kind Squids…
The Squid slid upwards, as she immediately went back down.
K-kind…? Me?
"Gah!" She almost touched the platform. "There is a force pushing me down!"
What force?
Oh, he sure 'explained' everything needed… urgh! Can you slide forward?
"Yes." Mirii nodded, advancing at normal pace. "I thought I could avoid the majority of those electronic fields…"
A sparkle came from a line, as she gasped and immediately flipped backwards.
"Curses!" She growled. "Luckily I used my high reflexes to avoid taking damage from this obstacle…"
Uh… I thought the sparkle scared ya.
Ih ih ih! Mirii made such a face too!
Mirii?
The Squid's face went paler.
… who?
You said Mirii, Penny. Is this the customer's name?
"No… noooooo!" Her tentacles went near her eyes, pushing towards them with strength.
Ehm… … ih ih ih, Mirii…!
Wh-why are you grinning like that, now…?
Mirii is just the conclusion of my small laugh! I go like Ih ih ih! Tee hee hee! Mi-rii! Get it? Ih ih ih! Mi-rii!
A vein popped out from Mirii's head, as she was growling intensively but silently…
Ih ih ih, Mirii?
Mi-rii! You have to divide the first i with the r! Not Mirii… but Mi-rii!
Several veins were now spreading all over her forehead.
"Kkkeeeeellllyyyyy…" Her eyes squeezed a bit.
Mi-rii…? Like this?
Bravo! Exactly like that!
Ok! So… what did you said before?
I said… ih ih ih, Mi-rii! Made such a face too!
Uh, I don't know about that, Penny… I mean, it sounds like an unique way to laugh and all… but isn't this a bit impractical?
It's absolutely not impractical in the slightest!
Huh… I didn't thought your imagination would reach such level. You sure are finding several ways to surprise me today!
Is that a bad thing…?
At all! Keep doing that: I'm getting very intrigued by this side of yours…!
Ooooh, really? Tee hee hee…! I will keep doing it for you, then!
Mirii sighed, focusing back on the flashing sparkle.
"… perhaps I should move around it?" She began sliding to the right side.
Frrrrr…!
A small piece of the sparkle bounced away, hitting Mirii's back.
"Gah!" Her sight shook, as she immediately sprinted away. "I was underprepared for such trick!"
Yeah, I couldn't see that one coming neither…
Did you got hurt?!
… what kind of question is that? I know you have some basic knowledge on videogames!
W-well… I-I had the feeling that it truly hurt her… I-I mean, what if she got hit for real?!
I can't even imagine how that would be possible.
"… huh…" Her tentacle was massaging her back. "… I do feel a small pain on the back…"
Her head rose.
"No matter: I'm almost out of this machine… I have no reason to back away, now!" She snorted.