>tier-two
summoning completed
>transporting
data packets
>analyzing
boundary
>analyzing
tri-existence quotient
>analyzing
>pondering
>wondering
>thinking
>hoping
If black is actually a
non-color, then…no…
Okay, then if darkness
is the absence of light, then…no…that won’t do…
If I can still see in
spite of all these shadows, then there must be…no…that’s no good either.
Urgh. It’s no good.
All of it’s no good! It doesn’t
matter what I try to come up with; every time I think up an answer, nothing
happens! I’m running out of more than
just options here -- it’s starting to look like I don’t have a single weapon to
cut my way out of here.
Man. Talk about a kick in the teeth…what was the
point in even getting this N64 controller and using it to beat Majora’s Mask if
it’s proven completely useless since then?
Was my victory just dumb luck?
Was Majora’s Mask really just as tough as a Goomba? Or maybe…
Yeah, I guess that’s
the case. I may be able to use logic --
or Hyper-Logic -- to beat an enemy, but it’s no use against a target that can’t
argue back. It’s like trying to reason
with a brick wall.
And if that’s the case,
then I guess I really am stuck here. How
long have I been here? Days? Weeks?
Months, even? Wait -- does time
even pass in this world? Is there even a
world to begin with? Is there even a
space to speak of?
…Guess that’s another
strike against using Hyper-Logic. If I
can’t understand what’s going on, I can’t even begin to fight back.
Damn it! Just what am I supposed to do? At this rate, things are starting to look --
Yo.
How ya holdin’ up there?
What the…?!
Harley? What are you --?!
Oh, so ya know who I am. Great.
Saves me a lotta time -- good to know that I don’t have to waste time goin’
on and on to explain myself. “Why aren’t
ya wearin’ a shirt, Harley?” Or “Don’t
ya have any shame, Harley?” And so on.
Uh…yeah.
(Wow. I never expected him to sound so much like Patrick Seitz.)
…Well?
What’re ya waitin’ for?
What do you mean?
Ya know.
This is the part where ya go “Oh, Harley! I’m so glad to see ya!” And then ya get down on your hands and knees
and start kissin’ my boots, or whatever it is you do to celebrate comin’ face
to face with a real hero.
I’m sorry, what?
Damn, you’re bad at this. Don’t ya know how it works? The hero shows up outta the blue, ready and
waitin’ to save a damsel in distress -- that’s you right now -- and you’re so happy
to see me that ya can’t help but get a little excited. Ya clap your hands and go “My hero!” or “What
a hunk!” or “Bear my children, you hunk of a man you!”
Please don’t try to
sound like a woman. It’s…very
uncomforting.
Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know that ya were the one with any chance
of gettin’ outta here alive on your own.
Guess I’ll just ride on outta here and --
No, wait! If you’re here to save me, then go on
ahead! I don’t mind at all! You just do whatever you need to do, and I
won’t make a peep! And…uh…hey, hold on a
second. How did you get in here
exactly? I mean, I had to get stabbed to
wind up here.
…Though, come to think
of it, I faced off with Majora’s Mask while I was here. So did it get killed too? Is this some kind of virtual,
alternate-reality afterlife?
Beats the hell outta me. All I know is that I was ridin’ around, and
then the next thing I know I’m flung through some crazy-ass light tunnel to end
up here.
So you were pulled from
your world into this space, huh? Well, I
can tell you this much, Harley: it wasn’t because of me that you’re here. Not directly, at least; someone’s been acting
on my “behalf” while I’ve been stuck in here.
I would have figured that FX was the only one who could even begin to
step into the virtual space, and even that would be a stretch. But I guess in the end, my theory was
right. Someone is pulling you guys from
your worlds into this one -- which means that in addition to you, Tony and Beat
are walking around and acting on the message I left them. I just hope that I know them well enough to
have predicted their next move…
Slow down there, bud. Who’s this Tony and Beat you’re goin’ on
about? And what’s an FX?
How do I put
this…? Okay. Have you ever seen that movie --?
Look at me, and then look at you. Do you think we have anything in common?
Uhhhhh…how about a
strong sense of justice?
I wouldn’t get smart with me. I’ve been known to bust open a few heads
every now and then.
Right then. I’ll just try to give you the simplest
explanation I can.
Basically, you’re one
of my creations. You’re the tenth in
line -- the tenth of a slew of heroes, each one the lead character in his or
her respective world, and each one carrying an idea or virtue within you that
not only grants you more power beyond you absurd skill sets, but weaves through
and changes each of your respective stories.
While you each have your own separate domains, each one sealed off from
the last spatially and canonically, collectively you all form a special unit --
the end result of years of daydreaming and stringing together one absurd story
sequence after the next.
I even came up with a
name for you all. You’re the Axis Ten.
The Axis Ten, huh?
Well, it was going to
be Team Cross-Up at one point -- and maybe it will be. The last thing I want to do is put the image
of the Axis Powers in people’s heads when talking about a group of heroes. Or maybe I’ll just call you “The Guys” and
leave it at that. I don’t know; I’ll
have to mull over it for a while longer.
So me and my world are all things that came
outta your head?
Pretty much.
And in a way, I don’t exist, and I never
existed until right now?
Well, that’s one way to
think of it.
And the same thing goes for nine other
people and nine other worlds?
Well, technically it’s
ten other people, but Tony and Beat are a special case.
So I’m just an imaginary friend that’s come
to life, huh…?
I wouldn’t call you an
imaginary friend…but then again, I guess they’re not so dissimilar, are
they?
Uh…well…I guess I
should apologize to you. And FX, and
Tony and Beat, and all the rest. If I
had known that I’d ever be meeting you guys in person -- well, some of you -- I
would have kept all of you under wraps.
Maybe never even created you; I mean, who am I to play god with lives
like this, especially making them struggle and suffer as much as I intend? In a way, doesn’t that make me a
monster? Doesn’t that make me the worst
kind of being imaginable?
The hell’re you talkin’ about? Do I look like I give two hog asses about where I came
from, or whether I’m real or not? All I
wanted was a straight answer, and ya gave me one. I don’t need a philosophy lesson or ramblin’
on and on about God and life and all that.
It doesn’t matter where I was, or where I
will be. What’s important is that I’m
here. And By the looks of things, I’m here to save you.
Harley…
I like keepin’ things simple. But I guess ya know that already, don’t ya?
I guess so. But even the most straightforward thinking
isn’t going to be much use here; I’ve been trying to get out of this null-space
for a while now, and I haven’t had even the slightest bit of luck.
No surprises there. That’s because you suck. Look at you -- big head and no muscles? A brainiac like you doesn’t stand a chance.
The weak should sit back, relax, and leave
the heavy lifting to the strong. That’s
how a real hero does it, right?
Well, that’s true in
some cases, but not this one. How do you
plan on getting us out of here? It’s not
like you can strangle a dimension.
The way I see it, we’ve gotta work
together. I’ve got the power…but I need
YOU to bring it outta me.
The power…you mean your
spirit? Well, I guess it’s possible,
but…honestly, I have no clue of how to harness it in a way that could get us
out of here. The problem is that we’re
stuck in this dimension; the solution isn’t going to come down to talking our
way out.
Got any better ideas?
Not right now.
Then if we’re gettin’ outta here, we’d
better start goin’ on the attack. I
figure there’s a real dirty son of a bitch out there who’s just BEGGIN’ for a
beat down, and I plan on showin’ him the spirit of givin’ -- if ya catch my
drift.
Okay, so…what, you want
to do a little interview? That’s pretty
much what I’ve been doing up to this point.
It sounds silly, I know, but our visitor has been showing up week after
week just for the chance to get in on the action. I guess the dialogues bring out the best in
each character, whether they’re here or not.
But enough
rambling. I don’t have high
expectations, but I’d rather try something instead of nothing.
So what should I say first?
Actually, I think it’d
be best if I start things out. There’s,
uh, something I need to explain first.
Like what?
I remember once a long
time ago, my brother told me that you can’t have a good story unless you’ve
made at least a hundred twenty five changes.
I don’t know how accurate that statistic is -- probably not very -- but
the intent is there, and the lesson is obvious.
The original version and intent with a story is never going to hold out
a hundred percent in the end. I speak
from experience.
I’m not saying this to
try and prove what a pretty little snowflake I am. I’m saying this because in terms of characters,
you’re probably the one who got the biggest overhaul.
Why do I suddenly feel like putting you in
a headlock?
Now, before you get
violent on me, just hear me out. The
plan was to make you a dark character -- or at the very least, a character in a
darker world than my standard fare. But
that doesn’t mean you were necessarily terrible…at least, not
conceptually. You were younger. You were colder. You were more determined, and had a pretty
marked no-nonsense style.
You were a nineteen-year-old by the name of
Siy Sieghall -- one of the Investigators, a group of peacekeepers that
protected your districts from threats within and without. And more recently, you protected it from
invading ANGELs -- Artificial Neo-Genetic Enforcement Lifeforms -- who wrecked
Earth, and are out to do the same to Investigator -- and human --
territory. Along the way, Siy develops
some fierce rivalries, watches as his world and his organization crumbles, and
eventually learns that he’s not all that he seems.
Yep, he’s an ANGEL
too. Surprise!
Did I at least look cool?
…Define “cool.”
All right you. C’mere a minute. Let me show ya how to do a good headlock.
Hey, hey! Now let’s just calm down -- I mean, I’m
almost positive that your story’s a lot better than it’d ever be if it was
spearheaded by Siy. Looking back, Siy
was pretty generic -- just your typical ultra-skilled, ultra-cool fighter with
a dark past and no tolerance for anything resembling social etiquette. It’s boring.
It lacks dynamism. It creates one
missed opportunity after another.
The problem with Siy
was that he was a character designed to be cool -- at least, how I understood
coolness at the time. I was still riding
high as a diehard Kingdom Hearts 2
fan and took the lessons therein as gospel. So you were a lot more, shall we say, svelte
in form -- younger, sleeker, and improbably-costumed. Sword-slinging, angst-carrying, and at one
point you were going to turn into a literal angel…or at least Squeenix’s
boosh-boosh-boosh angel wings and laser swords idea of angels.
But ya snapped out of it. And I gotta say, I’m thankful for that.
So am I. I’m not saying that characters like Siy or
the clichés we expect from Squeenix are automatically terrible. It’s just that in the years since dreaming
you up, I’ve opened my mind to new possibilities. There are lots of ways to make a character
cool, not just by having them -- for lack of a better phrase -- “superficially
cool.” Maybe you could make them cool by
way of their motivations or actions.
Maybe you can make them cool by way of their triumphs, and their ability
to beat or outsmart powerful foes. Maybe
they’re just hilarious, or endearing, or something that makes a reader go
“wow!” Some magical element that makes
the whole character and the story worthwhile.
In a sense, I was internalizing the “spirit” well before I started this
whole Spirit Showdown.
In your case, I found
the right combination of elements to give you something different -- something
special. Something that’d make you
worthwhile and entertaining, but at the same time keep the essence that appeals
to and remains true to me.
So what did ya have in mind?
The first step was
obvious. Back then, you weren’t a
man. And now you are.
Well, hell, I can see that.
Yeah. But there was something else. Once upon a time, your spirit would have been
something along the lines of “justice” -- a drive for righteous living and the
punishment of villains that was both your greatest strength and a crippling
weakness. Nowadays, things are a little
bit different. Your spirit is now…
HOPE!
The snow that drifts to
the earth glistens in the light, shining a way to brighter days! The cold, unflinching ice buries the past and
brings an end to all sorrow, unfailing in its all-encompassing, all-inspiring
wintry assault!
You all right there? ‘Cause for a second, it sounded like ya just
puked a whole bunch of nonsense.
It’s what I do. And I haven’t done it in a while, so there’s
that.
Well, I guess I can’t blame ya. Take it from me -- there’s nothin’ like doin’
a little yellin’ every now and then.
Sometimes, a man’s just gotta shout, ya know?
Yeah, I follow
you. I mean, when I’m in the shower I --
Whoa, whoa.
Doesn’t count if you’re in the shower.
Ya gotta do it where a whole lotta people will see ya -- let ‘em know
who ya are, and that you’re there to make some real noise. Better if ya do it somewhere that’ll get you
in real trouble. Like a funeral.
(Social graces are not
your forte, are they?)
I’ll…have to keep that
in mind. But anyway, I guess we should
switch topics. You were redesigned from
the ground up to be a tough guy -- a walking, talking tank full of testosterone
that blasted through streets and mountains with rocket boosters and fired power
chords. But in the end, all that doesn’t
matter unless you have a world worth exploring, right? You need a way to show off your strength and
skills.
Oh ho, I get it. So that’s why all the action in my world goes
down in space, right?
Pretty much. Though “space station” is probably more
accurate…unfortunately, it’s not a very good one.
Uh…sorry about that.
Pfft.
Whatever. It’s like they say --
the essence of drama is conflict.
So you’re okay with it?
As okay as I’m gonna be. I’ll manage; it’s just kind of a bitch move
to make so many other people suffer just so you can get your rocks off tryin’
to impress people with a story.
Look, I --
Forget it.
What’s done is done; no sense in cryin’ over stuff like that. Just think -- maybe it’s better if things
aren’t all sparkles and sunshine. Maybe
it’s better for people to go through rough patches, so the brighter days are
even brighter. Or, hell, maybe that’s
what I’m around for.
I’m supposed to be the hero, right? So I guess it’s up to me to make the world a
better place. Know what I mean?
Heh. I never expected you to be this
straightforward.
That a problem?
Not at all. Just something worth noting, I guess.
Say, Harley. Do you know exactly how your world got to be
the way it was? You know, the history,
the backstory, and all that?
Can’t say I do. I’d rather leave the history lessons to the
brainiacs.
Well, I guess that’s
where I come in, then.
Once upon a time, the
world you lived in would have been an all right place to live. Maybe better than the current Earth,
considering that you’re from several centuries in the future, and one would
think you’d have technology that makes normal life a breeze. And for a while, that was the case.
Technology -- and humanity itself -- started to evolve. By and large, people became harder, better,
faster, stronger -- they gained the new potential that could transform their world.
Unfortunately, some
people…or should I say, a lot of people…started to abuse that potential. They started wreaking havoc at their leisure,
plundering and pilfering as much as they could carry. Fortunately, there was one man who used his
power for good -- the one who people just started calling “the hero.” With sword and shield in hand, the hero and
his six comrades, along with dozens of supporters clinging to his cause, worked
for years on end to bring peace and justice to the globe. And for a while, that was enough. Year after year after year passed, and in
spite of unavoidable losses -- in spite of those six comrades going their
separate ways, and forgoing the fight for justice -- the hero soldiered on
without complaint. Without worry. All with a smile forever plastered across his
face.
But one day, there was
a calamity -- a natural disaster that tore through one of the world’s most
prominent cities, and the miles of coast beside it. The people hoped that, just like before, the
hero would come to save them.
But he didn’t. The hero vanished from the world.
What, did he get too old?
That’s a real
possibility. But no one knows for sure
what happened to him. He just vanished
one day, and left the peacekeeping detail to his less-powerful but
more-numerous allies. But even then, it
wasn’t enough; internal power struggles combined with resurgences in
super-powered violence and rioting led to a whole new era of chaos -- one that
lasted for years on end. Decades, even.
And then the hero
returned. But he wasn’t the same as he
was before; nobody knew for sure what happened to him or what was different,
but it became more obvious by the day that something had changed in him. He certainly gave them a lot of evidence to
work with -- namely by slaughtering troublemakers and pedestrians alike with
large swaths of violence and destruction.
So yeah, not exactly the most reassuring stuff.
No kidding.
It wasn’t just the hero
that got more violent, though; he brought with him plenty of allies that
carried out his whims. Powerful allies
-- allies that looked normal enough, but like the hero himself there was
something off about them. But no one
could stop them. Ignoring the fact that
they made themselves untouchable by law, they were too powerful, and too
numerous to stop. So they just kept
going, and going, and going, keeping the peace by any means necessary…and
before long, “peace” and “justice” had very different definitions than the
norm.
But then again, the
norms had changed. The hero and his
allies took over the world -- and before long, “justice” in the eyes of the
populace became a synonym for “havoc on a global scale.”
So that’s how it all went down, huh?
More or less. But you know what happened next. Right?
How old do you think I am? How the hell am I supposed to know what
happened?
(You could try cracking
open a book, for one.)
Humanity was
desperate. Pushed to the edge. The world that they had ruined by their own
hands had now been ruined -- and far more so -- by the hero and his
forces…better known as “The Justiciars.”
Eventually, the populace came to a rash decision, and did the only thing
they could.
They built a space
station and blasted off.
Ohhhh.
Now it’s all startin’ to come together.
Yeah. The problem was that the space station they
built was nowhere near ready for production, let alone launch. But the Justiciars discovered their plans
early, and a small section of the populace had to make do with a prototype. By some miracle, it worked -- but just
barely. Huge chunks of it -- entire
sections of the space-faring ark -- peeled off, sending hundreds of people to
their doom. The thrusters malfunctioned,
and the fuel tanks ran on empty not long after abandoning Earth. It wasn’t long before humanity…or what
remained of it, at least…was left drifting through space in their new
home. In a verifiable lifeboat that
threatened to fall apart at any moment.
But it held up. And it did so for a couple of centuries,
thanks to the efforts of Earth’s escapees.
What was originally a death trap eventually became a stable -- or stable
enough -- environment. Make no mistake,
the threat of the space station -- or colony, if you prefer -- going up in
flames or falling apart like a jigsaw puzzle tossed up in the air is always a
real possibility. But the human race
isn’t so fragile that they’ll let that happen anytime soon.
I’ve been mentioning
that people have evolved; granted, they haven’t grown an extra arm or gills,
but they do have some unique abilities. In
addition to enhanced physical capabilities -- stronger, faster, tougher, and
living longer -- each person carries with them the ability to summon and
instantly conjure a specific machine, one that’s as much a part of them as
their blood or skin. Said machine --
better known as their “Rig” -- is automatically and regularly superior to
virtually any machine a factory can put out.
And in addition, there are plenty of other unique uses, abilities, and
secrets each person’s Rig contains.
But the most practical
use of a Rig is to have its owner go to work with it. Essentially, the type of work a Rig is suited
for helps define their social standing -- a sort of caste system, if you will. Those with Rigs best applied to construction
or factory work are immediately organized into that group…and more often than
not, shuffled into a lower-class standing.
The same applies to those whose Rigs can do maintenance on the colony;
in fact, for a lot of people that’s all they’re allowed to do or think
about. Those with Rigs that allow them
to summon cars and bikes and such can become racers, while those who command
buses become…well, bus drivers. As for
the upper class? Well, incidentally,
their Rigs run the gamut -- but they’re so good at getting those with more
powerful Rigs, like tanks or artillery, to fight on their behalf. So in a sense, even though your story is
probably the farthest in the future, the society and technology at work is
eerily akin to the middle ages…at least if Henry Ford had been kicking around
at the time.
And that’s where I come in, right?
That’s right. At its core -- or at the outset, at least --
your story’s a pretty simple one. You
start off at the bottom of the colony, and fight your way to the top. And as you know, I mean that in a literal
sense.
So I’m guessin’ you know how I got this
scar on my chest, right?
All a part of a scheme
to take full control over the colony -- with your old rival Tyrant dealing what
should have been a killing blow. It
wasn’t, thankfully, but he and his superiors didn’t want to take any
chances. So they scooped up your
half-dead body and dumped you into the lowest depths of the colony. Or more appropriately, the closest to hell
you could possibly get: The Pit.
That’s where the lowest of the low go. It’s a junkyard that goes on for miles and
miles -- and most of the junk is made outta the Rigs of the dead. No law, no order, no rules; if ya wanna live,
ya gotta fight. That’s all that matters.
And for about a year, that was all that mattered to me. But then one day, I hear this voice,
right? And it turns out there’s this
little fat kid callin’ out to me. Says
he wants to form some kinda contract -- and if I do the fightin’, he and his
family are gonna give me some serious rewards...oh, and help me get outta The
Pit. But whatever -- I don’t give a crap
about rewards, just as long as I get back to Ride and tear up that bastard
Tyrant.
Oh, right, Ride. You really care about her, don’t you?
Why wouldn’t I? She’s my wife -- or at least she was supposed
to be before that mess happened.
And it’s been over a
year since you’ve seen her. I guess
you’re itching to make it back to the top of the space station to see her and
make sure she’s okay, right?
She’ll be fine. She’s almost as tough as me. But yeah, I wouldn’t mind seein’ her again --
and lendin’ a hand if I have to. Know
what I mean?
I do. Luckily, you don’t have to worry too much;
Ride’s doing a lot better than you might expect. And once you find her -- and what she’s been
doing -- you might be in for a surprise.
I doubt that.
Well, I guess you know
her a little better than I do. But in
any case, you have your mission: go from the bottom of the station to the top,
taking down any rivals that come your way.
But while your journey is -- or starts out as -- a rip-roarin’ road
trip, there’s a lot more to it than that.
For starters, you’re not the only one out to make it topside; whoever
manages to fight their way upward can take the throne for themselves; in other
words, the man or woman who takes down all competitors is the one slated to
rule over the entire colony.
Oh yeah.
I think I remember Scooter sayin’ that a while back. Wasn’t really payin’ attention, though.
You probably should
have. The political structure and
societal well-being of the colony is going to be decided by…wait, Scooter?
Yeah.
Ya know, the little fat kid.
That’s not his name,
you know. It’s --
Looks like a Scooter, acts like a Scooter,
so I’ll call him Scooter. Gotta give the
kid credit, though -- he got closer to The Pit than most high-class pansies
ever would. Plus he brought me my pet
pig, so I can’t say I got any ill will towards him. Makes me glad I’m takin’ him with me on my
trip so his parents don’t try and backstab me somewhere down the road.
A man’s gotta watch his back, you know.
Harley, do you ever
think that you’re…you know, oversimplifying things?
You’re kiddin’, right? If anything, I make things too complicated.
Look, I’m not trying to
play the contrarian here. I’m only
saying this because your adventure’s bound to get rougher than just a little
road trip. Ignoring the fact that you’ll
be going up against road warriors with insane skills, there are still a lot of
problems you’ll have to face. Invading
creatures well beyond rhyme or reason.
The crumbling, failing machinery of the colony. Ghosts from the past that choose to bring
newfound havoc to your dilapidated world.
And on top of all of that, before you can get your happy ending you’ll
have to face off with one of -- if not THE most powerful villain I’ve ever
created.
What I’m getting at
here is that even if you’ve got confidence, it’ll only get you so far. You’ll have to be wary of the circumstances,
and the people around you. You’ll have
to bear responsibility, and accept whatever consequences your actions may
have. You may be a hero, but between
your dissolving world and your ferocious enemies, you’re bound to get your
heart broken in two.
…And?
And what?
And I’m supposed to be scared by all
that? What, are ya tryin’ to make me
break down and cry? Please. I’m aimin’ for the top, kid -- and as long as
I keep on rollin’, I’m bound to get there.
Know what I mean?
Look at it this way. You wouldn’t have made me, or my world, or my
story if you weren’t plannin’ on makin’ it a wild-ass adventure, right? Somethin’ worth getting’ excited about. Makin’ people everywhere whoop and
holler. The kinda thing that’d make a
guy sad to see go -- and bring a grown man to tears once he sees that happy
ending. Am I wrong, or am I right?
Well, you’re not a
hundred percent wrong, but…
But nothin’. I’ll thrash my way through anythin’ that gets
in my way. As your character -- as a
hero, and as a man -- you wouldn’t have me any other way, would ya?
(I know he’s taking
this seriously, but…even if I wrote a hundred percent happy ending for Harley’s
story, would it make a difference? What
if his world is one that genuinely exists now, somewhere out there in reality? If that’s the case, then isn’t there a pretty
good chance that he’ll lose because of all the trouble he’ll face? What if he’s in danger of dying at any moment
-- not just making it further because the plot says so?
It’s one thing to aim
for the top, but what’ll he do if he finds out that his road trip is just the
first third -- and easiest part -- of his journey?)
Yo.
Don’t zone out on me here. We’ve
still got work to do.
I guess you’re
right.
So what’s the next step? Do we fight it out? ‘Cause I’m pretty sure we both know how
that’ll turn out.
You don’t have to tell
me twice. I mean, you’re pretty much an
even deadlier version of Street Fighter
III’s Alex.
…What’s a Street Fighter?
You really do live in a
horrific world, don’t you?
Okay, let me try and
explain from a different angle. You’re
the last member of my so-called “Tech Trio” -- one of three characters who
prioritize special moves and abilities while forgoing speed. Though in your case, you have an emphasis on
power just as much as technique, maybe more.
Generally speaking, your game plan is to get in close to your opponent
and hassle them with some powerful strikes and punishing grapples. Wrestling moves that are sure to ruin any
opponent’s day, and make them afraid to let you get near.
Yeah, that sounds about right. But it’s good to hear it from someone
else.
If that was all there
was to you, it’d be enough for concern, but not fear. But things start to get crazy when you make
use of your powers. I know this is
pretty obvious, but you’re a little bit different from other people throughout
the colony. You’re part of a rare breed
-- you have multiple Rigs instead of
just one.
By default, you’ve got
that shovel you can summon and swing around at will -- not exactly impressive,
but with your natural strength -- vaguely superhuman strength, I should add --
even a dingy-looking shovel can be a serious threat. But you’ve got plenty more Rigs at your
disposal. And while not all of them are
what I’d consider conventional weaponry, they’ve all got their uses. Your three mainstays are a pair of ice axes
for speedy strikes, a wrist-mounted pile driver for an extreme offense, and a
tow cable to reel enemies in. And of
course, any one of your Rigs -- with the shovel as an exception -- can be
charged with elemental attributes. So
you can freeze with the ice axes, explode with the pile driver, or magnetize
with the tow cable. There are plenty
more examples, but…
Whoa there, kid. Aren’t you forgettin’ somethin’?
Oh, that’s right. You
can call on your motorcycle, too -- so I guess that can help compensate for
your lack of mobility a little bit. And
while mounted battles are a possibility, I wouldn’t say that pulling out your
bike whenever you feel like it is always a good idea. The option’s there, but you have a better
tool at your disposal.
Part of the reason why
you can use multiple Rigs is because of your special ability, one that’s even
rarer amongst the populace: Tech-Copy.
If you manage to weaken your opponent and get your hands on his Rig, you
can create and use your own version of it.
While your creations are a bit more fragile -- and can never be used
again if broken -- thanks to that ability your tool set is virtually
limitless. That is, as long as you keep
winning fights.
So the takeaway here is that I’ve got a
badass bike. Got it.
What? No, not at all.
Oh, right.
I’m unbeatable. THAT’S what’s
important.
Harley, you’re seriously misinterpreting --
Jeez, you’re starting to sound a lot like
Scooter. Am I gonna have to sit on ya
for an hour?
That’s child cruelty!
Look, Harley. I know you’re confident -- and with good
reason -- but you have to be very careful. Pride is Ocelot V’s territory, not yours; get
too overconfident, and I can guarantee you that you’re in for a rough patch.
…I don’t know who Ocelot V is, but he
sounds like a hoot. Call him over; I
wouldn’t mind seein’ which one of us is tougher.
You’re missing the
point. It’s not always about muscles or
toughness; if you’re in one of my stories, you’d better be ready to have every
facet of your life and your persona examined and tested. We’re talking about threats that are internal
and external. We’re talking serious,
world-ending stuff -- the kind of thing that makes you wonder if you really are
going to get your happy ending. Don’t
assume that just because we’re talking here that you’re guaranteed to be
reunited with Ride.
Is that right?
Yeah, that’s
right. I hate to be the one to tell you
all this, but --
Now when did I ever say that me gettin’ my
happy ending was guaranteed?
I would’ve figured that
it was implied, but…
Look.
I don’t need anyone tellin’ me how rough life can get. My original Rig was a damn shovel -- that
automatically put me on the bottom rung of society. I’ve been kicked down by the upper class more
times than I can count. I’ve been forced
to work through weather that’d freeze a normal man’s head off. I thank my lucky stars every day that a girl
like Ride could ever get with a commoner like me -- but all that ended up
gettin’ taken away, just ‘cause some bigwigs didn’t want me gettin’ too close
to her or a chance to take over the colony.
And wouldn’t ya know it, I end up goin’ to the lowest of the lows, and
end up fightin’ just for the right to even breathe down in The Pit.
But you know what I always told
myself? Day after day, night after
night, no matter where I was or what I was doin’, I always said “Things’ll get
better.” And I believed it, too. I just kept diggin’, and workin, and fightin’
until I was the kinda man I wanted to be -- the kinda man that can take charge,
and take control. And now I am. And now I’m gonna keep on fightin’. Can’t stop, won’t stop. Not till I’m at the top, and this whole damn
world knows who I am.
(That’s a pretty unique
rationale. Makes me wonder if his theme
song is even remotely fitting at this point…)
So in the end, it’s all
about feeding your own ego?
Heh.
Yeah, I guess so. But if feedin’
my ego means changin’ the world, then that’s all right with me.
You said it yourself, didn’t ya? I’m a rare breed. A special case. So it’s up to me to put this power of mine to
good use. I’ve got all I need to become
a real force of nature in my world -- no, a legend. And in the end, isn’t becomin’ a legend somethin’
that any man should aim for? Just think
about it; whoever makes a name for themselves can be somethin’ more than just a
man. They’re someone that’ll inspire
people all over. Men, women, children,
geezers -- all of ‘em get someone to look up to, and try to be. Someone to try and pass up. If they’re tryin’ to get better, then maybe
they’ll make their world better, too -- none o’ this doom and gloom crap
that’ll try and convince them that there’s no point in tryin’.
It starts with me. But where it ends…well, I don’t have a
clue. But I’ll tell you what -- I’d bet
my bike that if I do my job right, even a legend like me’s gonna look pretty
flimsy. Know what I mean?
Your way of thought is
really something else…I don’t think I could ever understand it.
Even though you’re the one that made me?
Just because I made you
doesn’t mean I know everything about you, or everything you’ll do. The fact that we’re even having this
conversation is proof of that.
But when ya get down to it, we’re not all
that different, are we? You made my
world and all the others for a reason; it wasn’t just because you wanted to
make your characters suffer. It’s ‘cause
you’re out to do the same thing as me.
You’re aimin’ for the top, too. You’re out to become a legend, and get others
to get off their asses and do the same.
Yeah, ya got no shot at ever beatin’ me -- or the average six-year-old
-- in a fight, but I’m guessin’ that with that head o’ yours, ya can do some
real good if ya get the chance.
You think so?
How else’re ya gonna feed that ego?
I dunno. Win a gaming tournament?
Don’t get smart with me. The last guy who did that got his head rammed
through a half-dozen concrete walls.
I wish I could say I
was joking, but…well, I’m not. You see
the situation we’re in, right? How are
we supposed to get out of here? Logic
doesn’t work, and unless you have some kind of dimensional rift-creating Rig,
we’re stuck.
Figure somethin’ out. That’s why you’re here, right?
I’m here because I
screwed up, not because I want to be here.
And if Cross-Up can’t bail me out, then I’m starting to think there’s
really no way to escape. I hate to say
it, but this might be the end for me.
Cross-Up, huh? Is that the name of somethin’ important?
Of course it is. It’s the name of my blog -- and it’s
something I’ve put a whole year and hundreds of thousands of words into. Not to mention that I’m pretty sure it’s
starting to gain sentience for one reason or another -- probably because of the
thought energy I’ve been pouring into it.
If it’s that important to you, don’t ya
think it’d be better if you tried harder?
I don’t think I could
try any harder than I am now.
Don’t give me that crap. If there’s somethin’ important out there to
you, then it’s your job to hold it as close as ya can -- especially if it’s
somethin’, or SOMEONE that’s alive and well.
This Cross-Up thing is your girl.
She’s countin’ on ya to save her, and save everyone and everything
that’s important to her. So stop
whinin’, get off your ass, and do somethin’ productive!
Like what? I already told you that we’re out of options;
there’s no point in trying something that won’t work. Meanwhile, while we’re bashing our heads
against the non-walls here, that intruder’s gonna tear apart the blog, the
internet, and reality itself.
So fix it.
You’re the one responsible, right?
Then man up and do what needs to be done.
Like what?
Don’t you think that if I could write my way out of here, I…I…
Huh?
What’s with you all of a sudden?
Harley? I think I have an idea. But things might get a little messy…
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