Scene 1, Week 5: 20 QuestionsIn which the saucy wench scores one, decisions hand in the balance, and Leandr's identity is revealed...
Scene 1, Week 5: 20 Questions<Lerris Puppet> 2 weeks in a row? Published 2 weeks in a row?! Holy Light Humans! And we have entries! The infernal nether regions have frozen over. Which means Lerris is trapped in-- Hello Keda.
<Keda Puppet> Have I missed anything?
<Lerris Puppet> Nah. Just a shameless spot gag.
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Not So Cold Cave .... Still Night.
Lerris is seated in the all too-familiar plain wooden chair. Before him float the apparitions of What Yet May Be, Pidedis, and Leandr, all looking expectant, awaiting his choice.
<Hunter Lerris> What do I want?
Want... want...... want....... want........
<Hunter Lerris> ::glances over the three:: Is it you?
You.. you.... you...... you..........
<Hunter Lerris> Why now?
Now.... now...... now........ now...........
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<Keda Puppet> What an echo!
Echo... echo... echo....
<Lerris Puppet> How long can he drag this on and on?
And on... and on..... and on..... and on.... and on.... and on....
<Keda Puppet> I hate being the comic relief.
Relief.... relief.....
<Keda Puppet> Shut up!!!
...............
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Not So Cold Cave .... Yes, Still Night.
<Hunter Lerris> It seems so.... Data Node-ish.
<Leander, Pidedis, What Yet May Be> (unison) And what of it? Why do you hate the Data Nodes so much?
<Hunter Lerris> Preparing defiance.act1...... defiance.act2...... Executing..... ::sticks out tongue:: You didn't ask nicely!
What Yet May Be tilts her head and taps her foot.
Pidedis pokes Lerris and kicks his shin.
Leandr ruffles Lerris' hair.
<Hunter Lerris> Don't do that! I give up! You win! The Data Nodes made me part of them, and I narrowly escaped. Even now I can hear their song..... Oh. Wait. I'm confusing myself with Captain Picard and the Borg again*#. Sorry about that, Pidedis.
*# Pidedis told me that watching that much Star Trek: The Next Generation was bad for me............
<Pidedis> Huh?
<Hunter Lerris> The Star Trek mix up.
<Pidedis> Oh. Yeah. I'd forgotten. I forgive you.
<Leandr> Perhaps you need time to remember your experiences. We will return. Keep our offer in mind, though.
All three disappear.
<Hunter Lerris> Wonder when they learned to do that....
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Scene 2 Week 5
19 Answers
Not So Cold Cave... Look, morning's taking its sweet time, 'kay?
Lerris is seated, alone. A scream is heard in the distance.
<Hunter Lerris> That's bad. Um.. Why I hate Data Nodes.... Sounds like a 3rd grade essay. 'Data Nodes are bad. They are mean and should all die. The assim-- assimilite--- assimilate helpless NetMonsters. They are arrogant. They help Shade. He is a meanie and should die too. And---'
<Leandr> Surely you have a better reason than that.
<Hunter Lerris> Don't sneak up on me like that!!!!
<Pidedis> You mean like this? ::giggles::
<Hunter Lerris> Yes!
<What Yet May Be> But it's so fun....
<Hunter Lerris> Ahhh!!! Don't do that.
<Leandr> As you were saying............
<Hunter Lerris> Uh.... (mumbling) Man, its a good thing the NMRC doesn't require SATs. I always freeze up on essay questions. (normal voice) They tip lousy?
<Leandr> ::eyebrows raise:: Really.... I shall have to remember that.
<Hunter Lerris> (mumbling) She bought that? (normal voice) I once had friends. I didn't need them, but I had them. Then I had none.
<Leandr> Did they go away?
<Hunter Lerris> No. The Data Nodes got them. I don't know their serial numbers.
<What Yet May Be> How sad.
<Pidedis> ::tear forms in her eye:: Poor Lerris. Then you were all alone.
<Hunter Lerris> Alright, that's it. Who are you, Leandr, and who are these fakes?
<Leandr> What?
<Hunter Lerris> This isn't Pidedis, and is one over here is not What Yet May Be.
<Leandr> How do you know? They may have... changed since you last saw them. It's been a while.
<Hunter Lerris> I know. So let's end this little charade and get to business.
<Leandr> As you wish.... ::snaps her fingers sadly::
Pidedis and What Yet May Be vanish with a sad expression on their faces.
<Hunter Lerris> What do you want? What's all this 'merge' stuff about anyway?
<Leandr> You wouldn't listen if I told you. I wouldn't get past the first sentence before one of your outburst. ::looks downcast::
<Hunter Lerris> You have a point there. You seem to know me rather well. Why are you doing this?
<Leandr> I... Oh, why do you make this so hard?!
<Hunter Lerris> Huh? ::looks confused::
<Leandr> Oh! I could look at that confused face forever.^*
^* This is getting weird again......
<Hunter Lerris> Uh...... ::continues to look confused::
<Leandr> Don't ever change! ::throws her arms around Lerris::
<Hunter Lerris> ::every muscle in his body tenses::
<Leandr> ::waits for the muscles to relax::
<Hunter Lerris> Um... ::relaxes:: What's going on here?
<Leandr> Oh! It's just like they said! Kiss me, Lerris!
<Hunter Lerris> ::tenses up again:: That's---
<Leandr> No!! I hoped it wasn't true! ::releases Lerris and turns her back to him:: Why? Why? Why is it sick? Tell me that, Lerris.
<Hunter Lerris> Well, a Hunter and a Netmonster......
. <Leandr> That's what they always say; the bigots. If Fate has cursed me to be a Netmonster, why can you not accept that and accept me as I am?
<Hunter Lerris> Who said anything about accepting?
<Leandr> Don't you understand?
<Hunter Lerris> Not really.
<Leandr> Oh, bless you for that! I shall love you forever.
<Hunter Lerris> ::falls off his chair::
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<Lerris Puppet> Leandr and Lerris, sittin' in a---
<Keda Puppet> SHUT UP!!! KYIIIIIII!!!! ::mauls Lerris Puppet::
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<Leandr> Why can't it be, Lerris?
<Hunter Lerris> Because it can't. It's that simple.
<Leandr> How am I different from any of your other Netmonsters?
<Hunter Lerris> Well, for starters, I don't know you that well and... Exactly what did you mean by that? What quirky little insinuation was that?
<Leandr> Well, you have a relationship with certain--
<Hunter Lerris> Don't say that!! Don't ever say that. There is no relationship between me and any of them. Not even a professional relationship.
<Leandr> ::bursts in to tears, but then pauses and looks up:: You know, when you lie, your left eyebrow twitches slightly.
<Hunter Lerris> ::feels his twitching left eyebrow:: Oh Sith. ::passes out::
<Leandr> I think I killed him........
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<Keda Puppet> ::finishes dismembering the Lerris puppet:: Bet some of you wish you could do that to the real Lerris, eh? :::examines wooden Lerris remains:: Made in Data Node , USA ? That's really weird. Would explain why he gets on my nerves so much......
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<Leandr> Wake up.... Hey, Lerris! Wake up.... ::pauses, as if remembering something:: Ah... Yes. BREAKFAST!!!!
<Hunter Lerris> Wha? I'm up! Where? Where's breakfast?
<Leandr> ::giggles:: I thought she was kidding!
<Hunter Lerris> Ah. So you've talked with Pidedis. Where is she right now?
<Leandr> She doesn't matter right now. It's just you and me, and the time--
LA-773496 dances around urgently in Lerris' scarf, making clinking sounds.
<Hunter Lerris> Finally got too cold out there, eh?
<Leandr> Oh, go away! Go away you blasted little---
A Data Node come crashing through the wall of the cave.
<Leandr> No! Why are you here? This isn't in the plan or our agreement!
<Data Node> Scanning Perimeter... **Rogue Data Node detected** Transferring power to Security Node GA-449700....
<Leandr> Don't do this! I'm sorry I failed! The Oracle was too strong!
<GA-449700> We can not allow weakness.
<Leandr> I am not weak. I have attained power far beyond yours.
<GA-449700> You failed to assimilate the Oracle Leandr^. You are weak and of no use to us.
^ Is that even possible? I'm so confused!!!!
GA-449700 attacks Leandr with Demon Grapple...
Leandr's extremely weak against this attack!! 57 damage!!
Leandr uses Beta Experiment...
368 damage!!
Leandr wins the battle!
<Leandr> This was not in the agreement. It was decided I should be left alone, for the possibility of infiltrating the NMRC when it is rebuilt.
<Data Node> Beginning forced shut down of rogue Data Node.....
<Leandr> ::staggers:: Raising shields.....
<Data Node> Beginning shield deactivation.... Complete. Continuing forced shut down......
<Leandr> Choose now, Lerris! ::snaps her fingers to make Lerris' staffblade appear::
<Hunter Lerris> ::stares at the staffblade::
<Data Node> Scanning Perimeter.... **Intruder Detected** Intruder identified as.... Hunter Lerris.
<Hunter Lerris> What, you didn't notice me before?
<Leandr> Run Lerris!
<Data Node> Forced shut down in 9.... 8...
<Leandr> Goodbye Lerris.
<Data Node> 6....5....
<Leandr> It could have been--
<Hunter Lerris> ::screams in frustration and hurls the staffblade at the Data Node:: I'm not going to lose another one!
<Data Node> 3..2... **Error- Power Sphere shattered** Retreating.......
<Leandr> ::snaps her fingers to return the staff blade and falls to the ground::
<Hunter Lerris> Leandr?
A sound akin to air rushing into a vacuum is heard. Voices begin to murmur among the cave walls.
<Voice 1> I can't believe-
<Voice 2> It's so cold in--
<Voice 3> Where's the camp? Surely--
<Voice 4> Lerris! Burn you, where---
The voices meld together into a roaring din.
<Hunter Lerris> Leandr? ::kneels over her and checks for a pulse:: Do Netmonsters even have a pulse????
<Voice 5> Hey! That scarf looks like Lerris'!
Lerris looks up to see Netmonsters clustered at the opening where LA-773496 was standing.
<Joc> Lerris! Where are we? And who is that Light Human on the floor?
<Hunter Lerris> Who are you, Leandr?
<Leandr> Before me, there was nothing. Then came the interference. And from the interference sprung the digital snows, and I was the crystal of ice at it's center. And with me, the winter dies.
<Hunter Lerris> Who are you?
<Leandr> The last snowflake on the wind.
<Hunter Lerris> Who are you, burn it!
<Leandr> I'm glad I shall die with your face as the last thing I see. It could have been very, very nice.
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<Keda> ::looks at the lifeless Keda puppet and the body parts of the Lerris puppet strewn across the floor:: That's odd. Anybody feel like telling me what's going on?
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Not So Cold Cave .... Morning.
The snow is melting and the icy walls are dripping. Netmonsters part solemnly. Pidedis is carried in, scorched and bleeding.
<Hunter Lerris> Light! What happened to you, Pidedis???
Pidedis struggles to mouth some words, but no sound issues forth.
<Hunter Lerris> Look, don't talk. It was Leandr, right? ::walks up to Pidedis:: She was an Oracle once. I checked. I think the Data Nodes attempted to assimilate her and the two ended up merged and confused. It's just such a confused mess. What did she do to you and why?
<What Yet May Be> What did she do to you , Lerris? All we've seen is her dead body and you in the same room.
<Hunter Lerris> (harshly) Later.
<Ice Fish> I think it's something quite racy and interesting. Perhaps a PG-13+ story.
Berokuko attacked Ice Fish with Blazing Embers...
Ice Fish is extremely weak against the attack!! 343 damage!!
<Berokuko> What? He was asking for it.
<Hunter Lerris> Thanks Berokuko. I'm in no mood for cheap shots right now. I've got my gear, so why don't we run the lottery?
Element: Thunder
Combo: Horse-Ghost-Fish
Level: 99
<Hunter Lerris> No winners. ::looks depressed:: Looks like this was a no-win issue for all of us.
<What Yet May Be> But we're all back together....
<Hunter Lerris> (silence)
<What Yet May Be> (stiffly) I see.
<Hunter Lerris> Let's move out! I don't want to stay in this cave a minute longer.
<Joc> Hey Lerris, what's this crystal over here with your scarf on it?
<Hunter Lerris> What? A Knowledge crystal**? Where'd LA-773496 go?
** A crystal used to power up your champion, which is won by defeating an Oracle.
<Joc> LA-773496?
<Hunter Lerris> Wait a sec.... LA-773496 was a Security Node... Leandr's, I'll bet.... And her Knowledge crystal, too? ::acquires a dark look:: Bring it with. We'll figure this mess out later.
The long line of Netmonsters marches out of the cave.... to find themselves overlooking the camp they once knew.
<Hunter Lerris> So I never went anywhere. I was on top of the camp the whole time. Weird.
Pidedis motions Lerris over. Lerris runs over to see what she wants.
<Hunter Lerris> Ye--- ::is cut off by Pidedis' kiss::
<Pidedis> ::smiles enigmatically:: Now I have. Yes. Score one for the saucy wench.
What's Lerris going to do now?
What's up with Leandr's Knowledge crystal?
What was up with that kiss from Pidedis?
Does Lerris regret his decision?
What more can happen to the poor NetMonster Lottery page?
The answer to these exciting and intriguing questions next edition of NML !!!
