Chapter 5: The Console Wars 7th Generation has begun
We're now in the planning floor of Noire's magnificent skyscraper, and I feel ever so proud and privileged to be here, as here I and my allies will know exactly what we're dealing with, and what we will do in response to their attack. This pleases me as I want to do my bit to ensure our eventual triumph, and being here will ensure I contribute greatly to the cause and help Lastation win its war. Furthermore, it shows how much I am to be trusted and the bond that we have, and makes me think that it's more probable that we are related then.
There are tables which are basically massive touch screens that have finger print recognition. They show battle plans as well as something to show holograms, and various computer screens which provide plenty of detail. The place is very big and futuristic looking, I like how there is so much information at our fingertips here, and we even have satellites views of our metropolis right now including outside by a significant extent. This pleases me very much as information is power, and I've no doubt that the intelligence of Lastation has helped to ensure its survival and it thriving so magnificently.
A few generals are present along with General Carville himself. The generals are all dressed in black military uniforms, which consist of a jacket with gold buttons, and gold shoulder pads with gold tassels. They also wear black tuxedo trousers and shiny shoes as well as black gloves. On their chest are various ribbons and a few medals as well. Carville is dressed in the same attire though his build is quite large, and unlike the others he has no hair what so ever apart from a moustache the width of his mouth.
After acknowledging our presence, Noire is the first to speak. I notice everyone smiling at her, confident that despite the attack we will repel it with much success.
"OK how bad is the situation Ben?" She asks rather calmly, maintaining her friendly tone and her body language reinforces her voice as well.
Oh yeah I remember Ben being Carville's first name now after hearing Miss Lastation say that.
"According to our computers we have got 100,000 infantry advancing towards PS3 City, and a few of our guards stationed there, along with Lara have been hit by a predator missile. Unfortunately Lara is seriously injured while the guards are all dead." Ben replies calmly, despite the situation which I admire very much.
I notice how he talks in a distinctive accent, though because I don't seem to have any way of knowing where I came from. I don't know where the accent is from.
Noire appears shocked, bewildered, but also upset to hear that Lara Croft has been injured badly, and for a few of her troops to have been lost.
"This doesn't make any sense, I did expect them to attack but not like this where they just attack with infantry despite launching a predator missile at us. They've been like this since the start. Please get Vert online. Also I want someone to bring Lara here so she can be healed, and preserve the guard's body, so that we can resurrect them when we have the technology. I hope Lara is alright, we'll need to see her." Noire requests politely trying to maintain composure despite the attack, and bewilderment of the situation.
"Will do." Ben responds maintaining the same tone.
Vert then appears on the monitor, I notice she's in her HDD outfit. I also notice her eyes are purple with a power symbol in them, and that her green hair is very long, in fact the length of her back, and it appears to be tied in a pony-tail. Her hair also covers her fringe in messy bangs and also goes down to her shoulders at the front. She also has two strands of hair that stick out and fall to the side like spider's legs. I do notice her womanhood being quite huge, though I think they're too big.
Like Miss Lastation, she wears a plug suit though hers is white and the design is different. Her suit covers all of her neck and her upper chest, but it only covers the upper half of her womanhood leaving a good portion of the bottom, and the entire inner sides of her cleavage exposed. The top part of her suit consists of a green pattern with bits of grey, and the occasional black. The rest of her suit covers only her very lower region, and perhaps a bit more on the sides of her waist, leaving her stomach and tummy completely exposed, the equivalent of what a bikini bottom would cover.
She also wears like Noire, shoulder length gloves, though these are white with black on her elbows and her gauntlets appear to cover more of her lower arm. They also consist of a ring around each of her wrists. I remember she wears boots that reach her upper thighs, though those are a white and grey design I believe.
Despite having an appearance like that, I just don't find her attractive at all compared to Noire. Perhaps it's because I dislike Vert's outfit, or perhaps I think her womanhood is too big and it's stupid that she gets the biggest ones.
Perhaps it could be because I don't really know of many if not any good qualities she has compared to the bad ones. Or it could be loyalty that makes it so that to me, no one is more attractive than the sexiest goddess in the world: Noire. Though it's probably how right now she is someone against us, which I like how I hate the idea of finding an enemy attractive, as I know how that can cloud one's judgement. Yeah that makes sense considering I thought Lara and Coco were attractive and cool respectively. Then again it's probably that I prefer Miss Lastation's beauty a lot more and her costumes, to the Leanbox CPU's.
Funnily enough I notice next to Vert, the word written in red that said Vert. I find that to be such a contrast to the word Noire being in green. Yep, my HUD confirms Vert to be hostile and yep, we're at war with her right now, goddess and CPU against goddess and CPU. Lastation vs. Leanbox. It's strange as I do recall there being a console war, though it's simply a competition of who can sell the most between the PlayStations and the Xboxes, and this happened over generations and from what I can remember hasn't stopped. There was a big rivalry over who was better of the two.
I guess with me being a fan of the PlayStations, and Noire being friendly and most benevolent, this makes us the good guys in this fight, but if I'm honest, I never hated the Xboxes nor the people who supported them. To me they're just rivals, competition whom I respected, and we need healthy respectful competition to improve. Which makes it rather unfortunate to be fighting them for no reason, and I guess Noire feels the same way as I do.
And yet despite being the one we must face right now, something tells me there's more to this. I have a feeling that Neptune may have had something to do with this, considering her being the sort to do it and fleeing long before this point. My gut feeling for sure though is that Vert may not be the main villain we have to deal with, and I do believe that there is more to the Vert we see before us than what I know right now. Perhaps she's not actually a villain and she's just this way due to unfortunate circumstances.
As if on cue after thinking for a short while it, is then that the green CPU speaks to us.
"Yeah Lady Green Heart here." She speaks without sympathy, irritated with our summoning of her.
"What's going on over there Vert?" Noire replies with deep concern, trying to understand what's going on.
"Why Lady Black Heart what on earth do you mean?" Vert now has a smug grin on her face after speaking with much sarcasm in her voice.
"Vert I have um….you're throwing every infantry unit near here you got, Vert? Why can't we be at peace you maniac!? I had hoped that with the 6th generation being over you'd stop fighting us, especially since you declared war as soon as you and your nation showed up." Noire spoke with concern and frustration because of what the Leanbox CPU is doing right now.
Vert gets angry and leans close to the screen.
"Listen very carefully. I'm not your girl Lady Black Heart who will be told what to do, who to have peace with who. We Leanboxes have our history to consider." She speaks quite menacingly.
Noire is getting more annoyed, but she's also worried after hearing Vert being like this. I can completely understand the frustration, as we are being forced to fight once again for what appears to be another generation, instead of living in peace together. It's too bad that words seem to mean nothing to this CPU of Leanbox. Again though, is this the Leanbox CPU's genuine doing.
"I don't give a credit about you doing this for history, you call them off! Vert… YOU CALL THEM OFF!" Noire speaks out of desperation, trying so hard to get Vert to listen even resorting to yelling at the green haired CPU.
But then she realises, that all she can do is to perhaps warn Vert that it will do her no good.
"You know we'll retaliate." Noire calmly warns, while shaking her head in disapproval of the Leanbox CPU's antics.
"Like you did in the last console war?" Vert replies sarcastically looking ever so smug.
Vert chuckles loudly and manically for a short while, but out of the blue we hear a strange noise. I can't describe it, but I know it to be mind control because I heard it before in a game which I think is called Red Alert 2.
It is then I notice Noire pulling out her left arm distinctively, only to uncoil very quickly. By the time her left arm is completely uncoiled, she snaps her fingers in quite the theatrical manner. What this does is she's able to switch the power in the room off. Excellent as now the mind controlling has stopped. Ah I now remember the significance of it; it's like the finger snap that she does when she's done her Infinite Slash to cause lots of damage, after her most deadly attack in the series. Interesting how that awesome and stylish move causes massive damage in the series, while here it does something significant too but it switches the power off. I think I'll call it the finger snap of doom, since I like the maneuverer
Because of there not being any windows, you'd think it would be dark, pitch black. But apparently my sun glasses have different optics, and I'm guessing this applies to Noire and no doubt to Uni as well. I currently have magnetic vision on for some reason, as all the people show up in black. I wonder if it's black anyway or black to indicate Lastation forces.
I see with this vision, Noire snap her fingers again, which causes the power to come back on and my vision switches back to normal. I'd love to know how she can do that. My guess is she's managed to use Lastation technology, so she can switch things off at the snap of her finger, a very useful ability especially since what would have happened had she not been able to do that. It is now that I remember from the series that she can also cause serious damage to multiple enemies by her finger snapping rather than one at a time, along with her Infinite Slash in general, and in fact does a combo of hits that reaches double figures. I wonder what else she uses that finger snap for besides switching big things on and off.
I'm extremely pleased she's been able to cut and then restore the power, it needed to be done to prevent the brain washing attack, I just hope we've stopped it in time who knows what would have happened had it not been for that awesome ability.
My CPU nervously looks around at all of us and so do I, as well as the rest of us. I notice everyone still has their names written next to them in green, which means they're still friendly but what if the brain washing has corrupted this?
"Is everyone alright?" Noire asks us all while looking around, her voice showing much care and concern.
Everyone says yes. I don't feel any different, but would I know any different if I was affected? That's what worries me; I just hope I'm actually OK. I need to think of a method, there is one but then Noire begins to speak. Maybe she's thought of the same idea as me, showing that great minds think alike.
"OK just to let you know everyone, as you may all know friendly fire is impossible. Therefore I'm going to do a test based on this knowledge. I am hoping that if we cannot kill each other or any one of our troops outside, then we're not brain washed. I will attempt to shoot everyone in the leg just once, in case anyone happens to be brainwashed. If you do get shot, don't worry, you'll receive our finest medical treatment immediately and be completed recovered without pain or injury really quickly.
I will also try and help you break the brain washing, but if I can't, then you'll be put into a coma before it is broken. I'm so sorry I have to do this everyone but I have to be sure." Noire explains as calmly as she can, doing her absolute best to reassure us all, despite the stress from this situation.
I notice Noire looking increasingly upset especially when she spoke, getting closer and closer to crying, despite her managing to hold them back. She un-holsters her G Con 45 as calmly as she can, knowing that she has a job to do, she shoots the generals one by one in the leg but no bullets come out. No blood comes out of their legs; it's as if the gun is not loaded. And they all sigh and smile in relief that they've not been shot.
Noire looks even more upset when she faces me. She's ever so close to breaking to tears, but she manages to keep cool, and she doesn't actually cry. She's trying to calm down with her breathing. She fires her gun at my leg with her eyes closed, but again I just hear the trigger, no bullets. She turns to face Uni. I can really tell the idea of losing me or her sister to mind control bothers her so much. It must be crippling the idea of being forced to put one or both of us in a coma, while finding a method for curing us. It must be heart breaking to say the very least.
Despite all this going through Miss Lastation's mind, she dutifully aims at Uni's leg, while closing her eyes in an attempt to remember Uni as she is. But fortunately no bullets come out. I breathe a big sigh of relief along with Uni and Noire, only for half a dozen Lastation soldiers to burst in as if on cue. They all shoot at us, but no bullets come out, not a single one. When they realise that no one is affected by mind control, from there being no blood or any bullets fired as a result of the friendly fire rule in this universe, which proves so useful to avoid deadly and tragic friendly fire, they immediately stop shooting and give our leader a salute.
"Thank goddess you're not converted, it's fortunate we could hear that noise from outside. Are you alright Lastation CPUs?" One of the guards ask us sounding so relieved in his voice.
By now Noire is now even calmer and now quite happy, relieved to know she hasn't lost me or Uni, as any sign which said that she was about to cry has now vanished completely.
"Thanks a lot for coming immediately and performing the friendly fire test. Yeah we're fine, they're gonna have to do better than that to take us down. Go to the rally point we'll catch up. Black I want you to take control of our forces in PS3 City; maybe we can ultimately win this war with you in charge now." Noire speaks with her usual confidence now, and her body language shows her usual smile and friendliness, along with determination and pride in her nation, and belief that we can and will win.
"Me? I'm not sure I can…." I speak with hesitation, concerned because of my skills being unknown at this point, although had it not been for that, I would have taken up that task with pleasure.
But it is then like with the car I go on automatic again. As for some reason I now know what to do with regards taking charge of this situation. I am pleased this has happened for who knows what would have happened if I ended up being a bad leader. No doubt that's why Noire has requested me to take this role up, as I would be more than qualified.
"Guys? How many troops do we have?" I ask with no hesitation, my voice now oozing confidence, and determination to get this battle done.
Noire replies. By this point me and Noire are just talking in the same confident and calm tone, though it's just me asking questions with Noire answering.
"About 1000 soldiers Black."
"Any air support?"
"No."
"Artillery?"
"No."
"Tanks?"
"No."
"Robots?"
"No."
"Civilians?"
"Yeah we have about 2000 of them in the sector concerned here, but they have all agreed to fight to the death. The rest of them have been evacuated to other cities away from here."
"What about any special forces?"
"Well Parasoul is bringing in some Black Egrets, so I don't know when they'll come. We have a few Bandicoots right now too, led by Crash."
Ah I now remember Crash the main character of the Crash Bandicoot series, I even remember his appearance of being an orange creature with large green eyes, with a long noise with a black ovoid tip on the end, and wears leather fingerless gloves, blue jean shorts and red trainers, and he usually smiles a lot.
Afterwards Uni then adds a comment:
"Peacock will be arriving as well." She adds speaking calmly and confidently.
Ah, those names sound familiar. It's not long before I realise why, as now I remember Parasoul and Peacock being from a fighting game called Skullgirls, which I liked as it was quite different. I knew them to be characters I really like. I do remember their voices sounding familiar, uh dammit if it weren't for this blooming amnesia I'd know why that's the case!
"We do have mini gun emplacements, as well as anti-tank rifles along the balconies in Sunny and Nameco. I must say though that the guns only have enough range to hit the Leanbox troops, when they enter PS3 City." Noire explains to us maintaining the same tone.
I reckon Nameco must mean Namco. I now remember Namco being a significant company that makes games for Sony, and I know that Sunny means Sony. I think I may remember seeing those two skyscrapers near the main gate, they're very good places as we can attack them before they get in range, plus which there's the advantage of height and the contrast in formations between our army and their army.
"Very good. Do we have an armoury nearby?" I ask calmly, eager to know all we can in terms of what we have to deal with what's incoming.
"Yeah my armoury is downstairs." Uni nods while answering me and smiling with confidence, no doubt confidence that I'll be impressed which I'm sure I will be.
"OK. I want those troops at the wall and the civilians at the top floor. Defensive positions let's go, Uni, Noire, I wanna go to the armoury right now. I want to see what weapons and equipment we have." I order calmly, and with friendly passion to motivate the people into action, and winning this fight.
With those commands we head back to the lift to the armoury. I find it rather unusual and yet novel that I'm taking charge now, despite Noire being the CPU, leader. But I'm pleased that I seem to know what I'm doing, and I like how I attempt to use logic and strategy to achieve our goal. I then notice my CPU looking amazed at me from her face and body language.
"What a coincidence that's what I would have suggested." She speaks with lots and lots of pride.
"Great minds think alike. But if I'm giving the same orders as you would, why do you want me in charge?" I ask her with much curiosity in my voice.
Noire notices my puzzled look from this situation, so she gives me a response.
"To be honest with you, I wonder if it may have something to do with who you are. When I was leading Lastation against Leanbox despite doing my absolute best, covering all the angles, I couldn't defeat Leanbox. What's worse is that I don't know why that is the case.
I mean I managed to win against Planeptune with great ease, and I managed to avoid any conflict with Lowee, or even inflicting casualties by means of deception and deterrents. But I just don't know why despite being a good leader, why I can't beat Leanbox? I don't get it at all. Perhaps there's some special reason behind this.
Black I know you are my equal, but you're new here and you're not from here, and I have reason to believe that maybe Leanbox has gotten outside help. I do firmly believe though that if we're to win this we need to be led by someone from the outside, someone like you, even if you are my equal." Noire explains though sounding concerned at times, perhaps through stress of what goes on. Not least of which her not knowing what really is going on. I don't blame her for that though, in fact I wonder if the possibility of me being the main character here may have something to do with it, considering the success they have in video games.
One thing is for sure though; I too am really baffled with all of this. Lowee declaring war on their former ally, only for it to be that there hasn't been any actual conflict? Leanbox steam rolling through Lastation for no reason, as far as invasion or actual succeeding in invading goes, considering how they're at the doorstep of the metropolis we're in? It does make me think with regards the theory of Leanbox getting outside help.
If I am in a gaming universe, and if Leanbox is a very powerful opponent, then it probably means that as Noire said that they have outside help in what I like to call the "player". Yes maybe the "player" has indeed something to do with it, the idea that the player always wins despite who the antagonists and the protagonists are, and it's probable that there is a "player", a gamer on the Leanbox side, and I'm the gamer for the Lastation side. Though does this Leanbox gamer actually exist and if so who is it? But then I realise that if that's the case, why are they attacking with just infantry? Or it could be this "player" wants a pure infantry battle? Furthermore is there one for Lowee and Planeptune and if so where are they considering the circumstances. It makes no sense to me at all.
"It's worth a shot I got to admit considering the abilities I had are coming back to me, it makes no sense though. I mean you losing to Leanbox for no reason? Leanbox attacking with only infantry? Maybe Leanbox has an equivalent to me in order to achieve that, or at least some outside help, or maybe even someone pulling the strings." I say in response to her, while thinking aloud.
I'm still puzzled as to the actual reason because I'm just guessing here, there's no evidence to back it up apart from events. Noire then gives me the sort of smile as if to say everything will be fine.
"I'm not sure either, but don't worry though. I mean the worst you can do is just lose, and we are closer and closer to being on the verge of defeat anyway, considering the attacks against us, and we're merely trying to hold them back. Besides if we're to die, we can die together." She speaks in a tone that suggests she's trying to make the most out of the situation, and remain optimistic.
I notice how she was also flirting quite a bit; she then even gives me a brief hug and a kiss as well to fuel her optimism and determination not to give up. What a kind and amazing CPU I have to be with. Perhaps she enjoys my company and I do wonder whether there is more to Noire, than being an ideal CPU with which I serve. Perhaps I would know if I had more memories of my past, but I'm sure they'll come over time.
It is then that Uni makes a comment intending to increase morale of us all, which we appreciate very much.
"That won't happen we will win. I can feel it." She speaks with pride smiling with optimism, and her body language reinforcing what she says, as she inspires people just like her older sister.
Note: Readers please listen to Army of Two Lock and Load while reading this.
By now, we're in the armoury which is called Uni's armoury. It pleases me for there to be one in Uni's honour, and it does show how much the CPU Candidate of Lastation means to her sister to have one. It makes sense as I remember her having all different sorts of fire arms. I wonder what ones are there, and how many of them do I recognise?
The room is gigantic and well lit up, with a royal blue ceiling. It is split into various areas full of shelves that are all stacked high full of fire arms, with signs indicating what is there. There are: Snipers, Shotguns, Sub Machine Guns, Assault Rifles, Light Machine Guns, Heavy Machine Guns, Launchers, Pistols, Machine Pistols and all sorts of Miscellaneous from different knives, grenades, explosive devices, tactical devices. There's just all sorts of weaponry there.
I'm ever so breathless, as I see all the weapons on the shelves heavily customised, and there's just plenty of variety even from each class and they all look futuristic and new, as well as well-maintained as if they've just come from the assembly line. Seeing all these guns and how I now remember being a great fan of guns, it really gets my adrenaline pumping and fills me with excitement to know which guns I'll get to use. I know quite a lot about weaponry from the games I have played such as the name, the type of weaponry, the ammo count. I know that I would also know the nation the gun was made from, had it not been for the amnesia that I have right now. It's ever so great to get a chance to use these weapons as from what I've already seen of Lastation so far, I know they'll be very reliable, and very good weapons.
I have to say, while I expected there to be an armoury in her skyscraper due to the need for quick access to them and her living here, I never imagined for there to be so many weapons here and for them to be as advanced as they are. It makes me wonder how advanced the Leanbox weapons are, and if the weaponry of theirs is inferior, why are we in this position concerning the war. The armoury of Uni's is such a massive place, and it's so wonderful for there to be such a high choice of weapons, even from the same class considering the different situations a soldier can find themselves in.
"OK take any weapons you can, don't worry these weapons are extra light." Noire speaks with much enthusiasm, as she's in just as much awe of this place as we are, a testament to how awesome, this place is.
So Noire heads to the Heavy Machine Guns, Uni goes to the Snipers and I go for Assault Rifles. If I'm honest I expected them to head to their respective destinations, considering how I remember the guns Uni used from the series. As I look in the Assault Rifle section looking at the different rifles, I notice a distinctive rifle that I recognise from Black Ops 2. The assault rifle has a black colour scheme with a familiar scope, and a long handle at the front which curves and joins the gun itself. The area where a soldier would grip the gun with their trigger hand appears to be made of rubber which is probably there to make the gun more ergonomic.
My HUD informs me that it's an M8A1 assault rifle. It tells me of it's very high accuracy, great range, it's good rate of fire, as well as the option to change from single shot, 4 fire burst or auto and how it's a very reliable and very light weapon.
I pick up the rifle and I notice it comes with an ACOG scope, dual mags, heartbeat sensor, select fire and grenade launcher. I notice in my HUD at the bottom right the numbers 100/1900.
OK assault rifles are good all round weapons, environment is urban and my G Con 45 will do for a side arm, as it's a powerful one shot hand gun, even if no doubt because I just got it, the fire rate will be slow as is the reload time, but will improve the more I use it. Yeah I'm happy with my load out, just need a few grenades and flash bangs now or more if I can carry more.
As if on cue, I see Uni return with a heavily customised Barrett 50cal, which is a large semi-automatic powerful sniper rifle as well as a fairly small see through riot shield, some Semtex or sticky grenades, some flash bangs and a couple of Uzis that are sub machine guns held with one hand. It's funny how I remember one of Uni's original weapons being a Barrett 50cal considering how I remember that to be one of her weapons from the actual series, and it's novel for her to be carrying Uzis as well, not least of which dual wielding ones similar to her hair style consisting of two large ringlets.
I then see Noire return as well, with a mini gun which includes a riot shield attached around the gun of significant size. In fact this shield is slightly bigger than her body. She also has an AA12 which is an automatic shotgun and a small riot shield on her back. She also has some Semtex grenades and flash bangs as well. She looks so badass with those big guns; I remember how large their weapons were when they transformed. I know how powerful these weapons are as well, it must be pretty cool to have such devastating weapons like that. To top it all off, she stands there holding the weapons with pride, even flirting with them. Noire then takes the riot shield off her back and gives it to me smiling.
"This riot shield can be extended to match the size of your body, it's very light and is explosive proof as well as bullet proof and is also see through." Noire explains to me with the same pride in her voice that she usually has.
I manage to hold the riot shield with my left arm, and the rifle in my right hand. The weapons aren't heavy at all as Noire said; in fact I can feel the weapons but not the weight of them. It's like carrying feathers, which means I won't be fatigued from carrying heavy equipment. Not only that but I feel comfortable wielding them. They're very ergonomic indeed; I certainly think I can use these weapons rather effectively.
"Here are some Semtex grenades and flash bangs as well." Noire says casually handing them over.
After being given them, I then holster them in an easy to reach place, I even mime doing it just so I know I've done it right.
"One more thing Black, the 3 of us have loads of health. In fact a lot more than those Leanbox soldiers and we probably make a juggernaut look weak. I think we may have 100,000hp each? Let's Do This!" Noire announces with pride and passion along with a massive determination to succeed in our fight against Leanbox.
We all cheer with her, even chanting the names of me, Noire and Uni and of Lastation, as we then head towards the lift, with the nice view of the pleasant city that we will be defending to the best of our ability, against the enemy army.
I would have expected to feel nervous, nervous about dying, and nervous about being incompetent. But with Noire and Uni, I feel confident and competent that we can and will repel their attack, as my actions do suggest I know what I'm doing. In fact I feel as though I'm on automatic. I just hope that I can help in winning the battle as the odds do not look good at all.