Suburban Surfing

Upon opening the map, Seafoam found that it wasn't simply a site-map of the local ACDC area, but rather a catalogue of the peculiar and strange adventure that the group of metools had been on, the many distant places they had wandered, and the frightening and sometimes baffling trials they had overcome on their trek. Each little mark on the map seemed to contain the idea of a place, and a log of script beside, though it was all in unintelligible viral garble, to Seafoam. Even so, it seemed as though the little trio of mets had been wandering for a long time before they had happened upon Seafoam on their way back home. It felt almost like... if she tried, she might be able to experience some of the other legs of their journey, if she connected with the code of the map itself...

Before she could reach any kind of decision on this score, the navi was forced to tuck the thought away for later as a crackling electric ring sizzled across the space of her peripheral and gave her just enough time to jump back from the stunning blast before it hit her. The trio of metools were beginning to wander away with enthusiastic waves and happy 'meeps', now that they were in their home territory – though she could probably still catch up with them if she wanted to say more... but first, Seafoam would have to deal with some far less friendly viral entities in the small stretch of wooded greenery she'd wandered into while glancing at the map. Not far from her, a wide-eyed bunny virus hopped back and forth, trying to line up another shot while the metal prongs of its ears crackled with fresh sparks. The surrounding space had a few trees, and a number of low bushes making cover for one... no two shrubby viruses that peeked out from the ground cover with similarly aggressive intent.

-=Woodland Critters =-
BunnyBunny (Bunny)

Bunny viruses move by hopping. They are adept at jumping, and can reach higher terrain or hop onto objects with ease. They are also very good at dodging, and are treated as having Haste (+10%) for Evasion purposes only at all times. Omega Bunny has double Haste (+20%). These effects cannot be removed except by Glitch. They attack by launching a ZapRing from their ears.

Area: ACDC, SciLab, Electown, Dentech

HP: 50
Attack Damage/Effect: 10 Elec + Stun1
Attack Accuracy: A
Attack Description: Hops around randomly before lining up a shot and firing.
Element: Elec
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): ZapRing1, Zenny
Special: Slightly better dodges.: 50Hp [Normal][About a movement ahead of Seafoam and to her right]
ShrubbyShrubby (Shrubby)

Shrubby viruses take cover when they are not attacking. Shrubby viruses teleport from behind cover when attacking, but never at any other time. If there is nothing on the field to use as cover against an enemy, and the only other viruses on the field are Shrubbies or viruses that cannot provide cover against attacks, they will stop attacking and attempt to flee starting next turn. Later versions of the Shrubby virus carry rockcube chip data, and will use that to make new cover when none is available.

Area: ACDC, Okuden Valley, Dentech

HP: 50
Attack Damage/Effect: 10 Wood + Ground Attack + Attack Target Pair
Attack Accuracy: C
Attack Description: Rolls a 10 HP log at opponent. The log is 2 panels wide, and can cross broken or missing terrain if only one of the two panels it crosses is broken or missing. This attack can hit up to two side-by-side targets, and can stop direct incoming attacks, but is stopped by objects.
Element: Wood
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): RollingLog1, Zenny
Special: If the Ring Log falls into Sea Terrain, it will remain there and float as a 10 HP Wood Element object that covers two panels.
Special: If the Ring Log strikes an object, it will remain there as a 10 HP Wood Element object that covers 2 panels.
Special: If the Ring Log crosses a Lava Panel, it will burst into flame. A: 50Hp [Grass][Behind Shrub A, Ahead and left of Seafoam by a short distance]
ShrubbyShrubby (Shrubby)

Shrubby viruses take cover when they are not attacking. Shrubby viruses teleport from behind cover when attacking, but never at any other time. If there is nothing on the field to use as cover against an enemy, and the only other viruses on the field are Shrubbies or viruses that cannot provide cover against attacks, they will stop attacking and attempt to flee starting next turn. Later versions of the Shrubby virus carry rockcube chip data, and will use that to make new cover when none is available.

Area: ACDC, Okuden Valley, Dentech

HP: 50
Attack Damage/Effect: 10 Wood + Ground Attack + Attack Target Pair
Attack Accuracy: C
Attack Description: Rolls a 10 HP log at opponent. The log is 2 panels wide, and can cross broken or missing terrain if only one of the two panels it crosses is broken or missing. This attack can hit up to two side-by-side targets, and can stop direct incoming attacks, but is stopped by objects.
Element: Wood
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): RollingLog1, Zenny
Special: If the Ring Log falls into Sea Terrain, it will remain there and float as a 10 HP Wood Element object that covers two panels.
Special: If the Ring Log strikes an object, it will remain there as a 10 HP Wood Element object that covers 2 panels.
Special: If the Ring Log crosses a Lava Panel, it will burst into flame. B: 50Hp [Grass][Behind Shrub B, Behind and left of Seafoam by a short distance]

-=ACDC Ranger =-
Seafoam.Exe: 110Hp [Normal]

-=Wooded Outskirts =-
60% Normal

• No effects.

Most of the area
40% Grass

• Wood Elementals get +5 HP/action.
• Fire attacks: +100% Source Damage, change terrain hit to Soil.
• PanelShot: Imbue Wood.

Much to the side to Seafoam's Left

-=Objects=-
Narrow Tree A: 40Hp [WoodBody] Directly left of Seafoam
Narrow Tree B: 40Hp [WoodBody] Forward and right of Seafoam, near the Bunny
Shrub A: 20Hp [WoodBody] Ahead and left of Seafoam by a short distance
Shrub B: 20Hp [WoodBody] Behind and left of Seafoam by a short distance
GMD: 15Hp [Glittering faintly in the branches of Narrow Tree A]

-=Battle 2, Start!=-

Seafoam turned, tucking away the map into storage as she did so. Almost lazily, she swung one of her arms, forward, sending a wave rushing across the panels towards the virus that had fired at her. "Carol, send me a ShockWave and a Shotgun." Though Seafoam was speaking calmly, it was clear that Bunny's attack had put a rest to any attempts at resolving things peacefully.

"Chips sent."

Readjusting her aim, Seafoam thrust out her other hand in a palm strike towards the panel in front of her. The results were immediate, a shockwave appearing on the panel and blasting forward towards one of the viruses taking cover behind a shrub. The other such virus was no luckier: the blunderbuss that had appeared in Seafoam's hands after she unleashed the shockwave was discharged towards it.

For the moment, Seafoam focused on moving to avoid any retaliatory attacks. Mostly, this consisted of being ready to sidestep incoming projectiles before they reached her.

Seafoam returned fire at the aggressive Bunny while she requested her chips, but just as the virus' own ring attack had missed her initially, so Sefoam's retaliatory wave wasn't swift enough to prevent the Bunny hopping out of the way before it was hit.

The chips arrived moments later and her shockwave thundered across the ground, tearing up the bush that one of the shrubby viruses was hiding behind and battering the creature itself as it passed. In startled hast,e the virus drew itself up and spat a wide rolling log of wood towards Seafoam, covering its trail as it then dashed away to hide behind one of the narrow trees instead. The log missed its target, halting with a dull thud against a different tree while Seafoam herself was forced to dodge away from another shocking electrical ring launched from the bunny's ears.

Her shotgun blast managed to rip apart the second bush and eliminate the Second shrubby as well, just before it could teleport out to attack her, leaving just two targets on the field arrayed against her.

-=Woodland Critters =-
BunnyBunny (Bunny)

Bunny viruses move by hopping. They are adept at jumping, and can reach higher terrain or hop onto objects with ease. They are also very good at dodging, and are treated as having Haste (+10%) for Evasion purposes only at all times. Omega Bunny has double Haste (+20%). These effects cannot be removed except by Glitch. They attack by launching a ZapRing from their ears.

Area: ACDC, SciLab, Electown, Dentech

HP: 50
Attack Damage/Effect: 10 Elec + Stun1
Attack Accuracy: A
Attack Description: Hops around randomly before lining up a shot and firing.
Element: Elec
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): ZapRing1, Zenny
Special: Slightly better dodges.: 50Hp [Normal][About a movement ahead of Seafoam directly ahead]
ShrubbyShrubby (Shrubby)

Shrubby viruses take cover when they are not attacking. Shrubby viruses teleport from behind cover when attacking, but never at any other time. If there is nothing on the field to use as cover against an enemy, and the only other viruses on the field are Shrubbies or viruses that cannot provide cover against attacks, they will stop attacking and attempt to flee starting next turn. Later versions of the Shrubby virus carry rockcube chip data, and will use that to make new cover when none is available.

Area: ACDC, Okuden Valley, Dentech

HP: 50
Attack Damage/Effect: 10 Wood + Ground Attack + Attack Target Pair
Attack Accuracy: C
Attack Description: Rolls a 10 HP log at opponent. The log is 2 panels wide, and can cross broken or missing terrain if only one of the two panels it crosses is broken or missing. This attack can hit up to two side-by-side targets, and can stop direct incoming attacks, but is stopped by objects.
Element: Wood
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): RollingLog1, Zenny
Special: If the Ring Log falls into Sea Terrain, it will remain there and float as a 10 HP Wood Element object that covers two panels.
Special: If the Ring Log strikes an object, it will remain there as a 10 HP Wood Element object that covers 2 panels.
Special: If the Ring Log crosses a Lava Panel, it will burst into flame. A: 10Hp [Grass][Behind Narrow Tree A]
ShrubbyShrubby (Shrubby)

Shrubby viruses take cover when they are not attacking. Shrubby viruses teleport from behind cover when attacking, but never at any other time. If there is nothing on the field to use as cover against an enemy, and the only other viruses on the field are Shrubbies or viruses that cannot provide cover against attacks, they will stop attacking and attempt to flee starting next turn. Later versions of the Shrubby virus carry rockcube chip data, and will use that to make new cover when none is available.

Area: ACDC, Okuden Valley, Dentech

HP: 50
Attack Damage/Effect: 10 Wood + Ground Attack + Attack Target Pair
Attack Accuracy: C
Attack Description: Rolls a 10 HP log at opponent. The log is 2 panels wide, and can cross broken or missing terrain if only one of the two panels it crosses is broken or missing. This attack can hit up to two side-by-side targets, and can stop direct incoming attacks, but is stopped by objects.
Element: Wood
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): RollingLog1, Zenny
Special: If the Ring Log falls into Sea Terrain, it will remain there and float as a 10 HP Wood Element object that covers two panels.
Special: If the Ring Log strikes an object, it will remain there as a 10 HP Wood Element object that covers 2 panels.
Special: If the Ring Log crosses a Lava Panel, it will burst into flame. B: DELETED

-=ACDC Ranger =-
Seafoam.Exe: 110Hp [Normal]

-=Wooded Outskirts =-
60% Normal

• No effects.

Most of the area
40% Grass

• Wood Elementals get +5 HP/action.
• Fire attacks: +100% Source Damage, change terrain hit to Soil.
• PanelShot: Imbue Wood.

Much to the side to Seafoam's Left

-=Objects=-
Narrow Tree A: 40Hp [WoodBody] Directly left of Seafoam
Narrow Tree B: 40Hp [WoodBody] Forward and right of Seafoam, near the Bunny
Shrub A: DELETED
Shrub B: DELETED
GMD: 15Hp [Glittering faintly in the branches of Narrow Tree A]

Seafoam ignored the Shrub in favor of the irritatingly evasive electrical virus. Fortunately, her netop wasn't sitting idle, having picked a chip to follow up with, "Cannon, battlechip in."

"Thanks Carol." Even as she responded, the netnavi was raising the cannon to point at the dangerously high voltage rabbit. Leaping sideways to throw off any more incoming projectiles and dropping to one knee, Seafoam pressed her thumb to the touchhole. The roar of gunpowder as the cannon went off in a cloud of smoke was invigorating, but Seafoam was already moving again.

Circling the remaining Shrubby and its cover so that she had a clear shot at it, Seafoam threw a harpoon at the cowering virus.

The netnavi wasn't finished. A stomp sent a wave of blue outward from her foot as the terrain was converted to water. A moment passed, and the aqua-element navi disappeared beneath the water.

((Bump))

Picking her moment carefully, Seafoam first evaded the next attack from her counter-element foe then took the shot a moment later before it could respond. No misses this time as her cannon shot pinned the irksome virus and put an end to its threat. The lingering shrubby was only moments behind, warping out from its cover position to belch another wide log in Seafoam's general direction, but the navi was already moving to circumvent the poorly-aimed attack. Her quick retaliatory harpoon might not have had too much power, but it was just the right amount to ensure that that particular shrubby wouldn't be bothering any more ACDC civilians.

Still in the flow of combat, Seafoam sent out a wave of energy to convert a large amount of the surrounding panels to sea that she could work with, taking preemptive cover, but after a few moments she'd confirm that her own attacks had all landed true, leaving no more hostiles for her to worry about for now.

By the time the navi surfaced again, she'd be able to see that the remaining logs thrown by the shrubby bobbed neatly in the water while, in keeping with the oddities of net physics, the trees remained upright and standing on the water's surface, somehow. The moment of peace would give Seafoam a chance to retrieve the glittering crystal still safely lodged in one of the tree's branches, if shew anted to – chances were the network's auto-recovery code would have reverted her panel changes by the time she was finished collecting it.

-=Woodland Critters =-
BunnyBunny (Bunny)

Bunny viruses move by hopping. They are adept at jumping, and can reach higher terrain or hop onto objects with ease. They are also very good at dodging, and are treated as having Haste (+10%) for Evasion purposes only at all times. Omega Bunny has double Haste (+20%). These effects cannot be removed except by Glitch. They attack by launching a ZapRing from their ears.

Area: ACDC, SciLab, Electown, Dentech

HP: 50
Attack Damage/Effect: 10 Elec + Stun1
Attack Accuracy: A
Attack Description: Hops around randomly before lining up a shot and firing.
Element: Elec
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): ZapRing1, Zenny
Special: Slightly better dodges.: DELETED
ShrubbyShrubby (Shrubby)

Shrubby viruses take cover when they are not attacking. Shrubby viruses teleport from behind cover when attacking, but never at any other time. If there is nothing on the field to use as cover against an enemy, and the only other viruses on the field are Shrubbies or viruses that cannot provide cover against attacks, they will stop attacking and attempt to flee starting next turn. Later versions of the Shrubby virus carry rockcube chip data, and will use that to make new cover when none is available.

Area: ACDC, Okuden Valley, Dentech

HP: 50
Attack Damage/Effect: 10 Wood + Ground Attack + Attack Target Pair
Attack Accuracy: C
Attack Description: Rolls a 10 HP log at opponent. The log is 2 panels wide, and can cross broken or missing terrain if only one of the two panels it crosses is broken or missing. This attack can hit up to two side-by-side targets, and can stop direct incoming attacks, but is stopped by objects.
Element: Wood
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): RollingLog1, Zenny
Special: If the Ring Log falls into Sea Terrain, it will remain there and float as a 10 HP Wood Element object that covers two panels.
Special: If the Ring Log strikes an object, it will remain there as a 10 HP Wood Element object that covers 2 panels.
Special: If the Ring Log crosses a Lava Panel, it will burst into flame. A: DELETED (Ping!)
ShrubbyShrubby (Shrubby)

Shrubby viruses take cover when they are not attacking. Shrubby viruses teleport from behind cover when attacking, but never at any other time. If there is nothing on the field to use as cover against an enemy, and the only other viruses on the field are Shrubbies or viruses that cannot provide cover against attacks, they will stop attacking and attempt to flee starting next turn. Later versions of the Shrubby virus carry rockcube chip data, and will use that to make new cover when none is available.

Area: ACDC, Okuden Valley, Dentech

HP: 50
Attack Damage/Effect: 10 Wood + Ground Attack + Attack Target Pair
Attack Accuracy: C
Attack Description: Rolls a 10 HP log at opponent. The log is 2 panels wide, and can cross broken or missing terrain if only one of the two panels it crosses is broken or missing. This attack can hit up to two side-by-side targets, and can stop direct incoming attacks, but is stopped by objects.
Element: Wood
Possible Rewards (Per Virus): RollingLog1, Zenny
Special: If the Ring Log falls into Sea Terrain, it will remain there and float as a 10 HP Wood Element object that covers two panels.
Special: If the Ring Log strikes an object, it will remain there as a 10 HP Wood Element object that covers 2 panels.
Special: If the Ring Log crosses a Lava Panel, it will burst into flame. B: DELETED

-=ACDC Ranger =-
Seafoam.Exe: 110Hp [Normal]

-=Wooded Outskirts =-
100% Sea

• Fire Elementals lose 10 HP/action standing, 20 HP/action submerged. Other Non-Aqua Elementals lose 5 HP/action submerged. Nullified for Aqua Elementals.
• Ice attacks: 50% Freeze1 chance, Changes terrain hit to Ice.
• Terrain changes between Sea and Onsen do not inflict damage upon submerged entities, nor do they eject submerged entities to the surface.
• Elec attacks: +100% Source Damage.
• PanelShot: Imbue Aqua.

-=Objects=-
Narrow Tree A: 40Hp [WoodBody] Directly left of Seafoam
Narrow Tree B: 40Hp [WoodBody] Forward and right of Seafoam
Shrub A: DELETED
Shrub B: DELETED
GMD: 15Hp [Glittering faintly in the branches of Narrow Tree A]

-=Battle 2, Victory!=-
Spoils: 600z, RollingLog1Damage: 50 + Ground Attack + Wide Attack (2) + Double Attack
Accuracy: C
Description: Rolls a log at enemies. Can hit up to two enemies at once per log.
Duration: Up to 2 uses before the end of the turn.
Element: Wood
Special: Double Attack: After spending an action to attack with this chip, you may choose to spend a second action and attack with it again before the end of the turn.
Note: This chip used to be known as RingLog1
Trader Rank: D

Open GMD?

"...Huh." Seafoam had to admit that she hadn't expected that last volley to end the fighting.

Ducking back under the water, the netnavi swam over to the logs, resurfacing to collect the data from the battle. Climbing to sit on the panel with her lower legs immersed, she examined the duo's rewards.

((2670z -> 3270z))
(( RollingLog1Damage: 50 + Ground Attack + Wide Attack (2) + Double Attack
Accuracy: C
Description: Rolls a log at enemies. Can hit up to two enemies at once per log.
Duration: Up to 2 uses before the end of the turn.
Element: Wood
Special: Double Attack: After spending an action to attack with this chip, you may choose to spend a second action and attack with it again before the end of the turn.
Note: This chip used to be known as RingLog1
Trader Rank: D GET))

Tucking the zenny and chip into storage, Seafoam pulled her feet out of the water and stood up. Looking around, she spotted the mystery data and jogged toward it, climbing the tree up until she reached the Octahedron.

She didn't hesitate, poking at the data with her index finger to decode it into an extra reward.
((Open GMD))

Sure enough, after a few moments of decoding and recompiling, the crystal opened up to present Seafoam with an additional chip for her troubles.

((GMD: FanHP: 100
Properties: Anchored
Object Damage: 100 + Impact
Damage Method: Telekinesis
Status Effect: Fan Effect + To-All-Clause (Enemies)
Accuracy: S
Description: Creates a VacuumFan to pull enemies closer and reduce their evasion.
Duration: 3 turns or until destroyed.
Element: Null
Special: Wind Type: This chip counts as Wind Type for the purposes of Wind triggered effects, such as traps and terrain.
Trader Rank: D))

Seafoam grabbed the chip without comment, already pulling the map back out for another look. While the text was unreadable, that shouldn't stop her from at least trying to analyze the data contained within. The new chip was quietly uploaded back to her PET unexamined, this map was much more interesting.

Holding the map in both hands, Seafoam...wasn't sure where to start. She hadn't exactly tried analyzing anything before, leaving her with little idea of how one actually analyzed objects...now that she thought of it, it couldn't be that different from examining a battlechip, could it?

So that was where she started, closing her eyes and focusing on the sense that took in information about new battlechips that had been left behind by defeated viruses or extracted from mystery data.

((GET: FanHP: 100
Properties: Anchored
Object Damage: 100 + Impact
Damage Method: Telekinesis
Status Effect: Fan Effect + To-All-Clause (Enemies)
Accuracy: S
Description: Creates a VacuumFan to pull enemies closer and reduce their evasion.
Duration: 3 turns or until destroyed.
Element: Null
Special: Wind Type: This chip counts as Wind Type for the purposes of Wind triggered effects, such as traps and terrain.
Trader Rank: D, Folder Chips 8 -> 9))
((Attempt to connect to the map.))

As she focused on the map, eyes closed, Seafoam felt almost like she could hear the roll and crash of waves, and the scent of salty brine. The ground seemed to lurch underneath for for a moment, and as her eyes snapped open to catch her balance, the inquisitive navi found herself on what looked like the deck of a small raft, crudely cobbled together with a shallow keel and low guard rails all around. Tall waves dwarfed the tiny raft, lifting and dropping it again while a black storm rumbled and cracked overhead. Huddled in the centre of the raft, a familiar-looking trio of metools hid under their helmets, bopped around like beans in a basket while the storm battered at them. Far off, a rocky cliffside was just visible off the bow of the raft and its single-mast sail was straining in the storm winds as it tugged the tiny craft gradually towards the land.

Shapes moved in between the dark waves, and the raft seemed to be taking on water; one of the trio had begun attempting to bail water, while another fought to keep the sail straight, but they each ended up ducking for cover beneath their helmets again any time the raft lurched badly. It seemed like it might make land, just... or it might not, and that was without dealing with whatever danger lurked in the waters.

For a moment or two, Seafoam was aware of the sense of this being some kind of memory or vision, but then the sense faded and the world around her began to feel and seem real in every way that mattered... though it didn't seem as though the trio of metools cold see her or were aware of her presence in their unfolding story. The question was, what seemed more important for Seafoam to do in this moment?