San Angeles - Western Mall District

The usual onslaught of noise pollution assaults you as you enter this district. The same multi level highways decorate the area, with buildings towering above the ground. Yawn. However, there are structures here not found in other places of the city, namely the GigaMalls. These massive cube-like structures are -titanic- in size and contain thousands of stores and restaurants and even woodland parks within. A self contained technological ecosystem in itself. The GigaMalls here are known for having anything and everything you could ever want bad enough to spend the kind of money they charge for it here.

Contents: Contents:

Bowie [Skinner] [MH]

Le Snooter

East <E>: San Angeles - Business District

Northeast <NE>: San Angeles - Northern Residential

South <S>: San Angeles - Western Residential

West <W>: San Angeles - Wharf District

North <N>: Teleportation Area--San Angeles

Bowie

The man before you is neither extremely tall nor extremely short, standing at a little under six feet (180 cm), and of a medium build. His features have a Native American cast to them, with bronze-toned skin, high, flat cheekbones and a straight nose, his eyes a dark shade of brown. He wears his raven black hair not quite halfway down his back, gathering it into a ponytail with a black ribbon.

Judging by his clothes, his preferred colors must be brown and blue. He wears a tan western-style button down shirt with flap pockets, tucked into a pair of comfortably broken in blue jeans. His typically oversized feet are shod in slightly scuffed brown leather cowboy boots that match the belt cinched around his waist. A second belt circles his hips, from which hangs a pair of holstered pistols and a sheathed long knife. A long brown leather duster and gray cowboy hat protect him from scorching sun and torrential rain alike.

(http://www.spitfire.net/foxfire/bowie001.jpg)

[OOC] Bowie says, "Add a large bandaid to my right cheek, as far as the desc goes."

Bowie walks along one of the higher floors of the GigaMall, heading in the direction of one of the mega-large bookstores. It's been a while since he's stocked up on books, and they're having an "End of the World Sale," so what better time to go?

And, by the random coincidence that is a most useful plot-advancing device, the teen known as Saigama Inuwashi is walking right out of said bookstore, nose only figuratively stuck in a book about Japanese mythology. He is definitely absorbed in the reading of this book, ignoring everybody who passes by. "<...the Tengu are...the sons of Susa-Wo-No, god of storms... yes, I know this already,>" he says softly, speaking his native Japanese. Bowie seems to be, well, out of sight as of yet.

Pirate Man arrives from the Teleportation Area--San Angeles.

Pirate Man has arrived.

Bowie doesn't speak Japanese, aside from the smattering of words he's picked up while living in Neo-Tokyo. So whatever the boy may be mumbling remains a secret. He's paying attention to his surroundings, which is why he manages to sidestep out of the way of a couple of young kids chasing after each other...right into the path of Saigama.

Of course, as if doomed by fate (which he probably is), Sai runs smack into Bowie. Taken completely unaware, the book leaps up into the teen's face. Stupid book! Sai-Tengu is jolted out of his trance-like bookworm-ish state, and is...not happy about it. He removes the book from his face and rubs his nose, ruefully. "Hey, baka! Watch where you're..." Blinkblink. "...uh...hey, wait..."

Bowie staggers back a step as he runs into (or is run into by) the teen, and looks suitably embarassed by the collision. "Sorry 'bout that," he apologizes. "Didn't see ya...y'all right?" A pause, then a flash of recognition. "Hey, yer one a Kali's friends, arentcha?"

Saigama-Tengu blinks, folding the book up as he peers at Bowie. "Yeah, I'm fine...gomen. This was just so, um, interesting." (And useless.)o. <Why not ask the SOURCE? Why do you NEED TO KNOW if YOU are IT?> Dogged by the voices in his head, Sai is temporarily distracted, but the mention of the name 'Kali' immediately brings him back to reality. "Kali? Yeah, 'course... you're... uh..." He briefly closes his eyes and stows the book, snapping the fingers on his other hand as if it'll help him remember. He snaps a few times then points at Bowie. "Bowie. It's Bowie, right?" Ha! He hasn't forgotten, of course. Nor is he secretly plotting your demise. Oh no, of course not.

Bowie smiles, still slightly sheepish. Normally he's better at avoiding other pedestrians than this. "Yep. An yer Sai, right? Fancy meetin ya here."

Sai-Tengu nods, buttoning the flap of his messenger bag closed. "Yeah...fancy that..." He gives a sort of half-smile, mentally sizing Bowie up. (I'm taller... I'm /certainly/ better looking...)o. <...for the love of Wily, don't kid yourself.> He seems to notice Bowie's sheepishness and decides there's no harm in commenting. "Hey, 's no problem, really. No harm done..."

Bowie's appearance certainly isn't being helped by the band-aid on his right cheek. Maybe he runs into things more often than he's willing to admit. Noting the book, and where they are, the Texan draws the obvious conclusion. "Takin advantage a the sale?"

Sai grins. "Uh, yeah, of course....nothing like quality literature, heh...heh..." He idly scratches his head, searching for something to say. Secretly, he finds this all very dull... "...you too, huh?"

Bowie nods. He's not one for idle chatter, himself, but he's been trying to make an effort at getting to know Kalinka's friends better. The fact that at least some of her friends have turned out to be Robot Masters in disguise have nothing to do with it. Really. "Need t'add t'mah collection, meybe do a little early Christmas shopping."

Sai-Tengu isn't normally, either. Smack talk seems to suit him better, if his radio escapades are any evidence. <Dum de dum dum... you know you're just wasting your time. And ohohoho.../somebody/ is just green with envy, aren't they?> Inwardly he cringes, knowing it's all very true. Heck yeah, he's jealous... But he perks. Because being perky is expected of him, sort of. "Really? What kinda stuff do ya read?" His speech, filled with the half-slurred words of your average teen, is seemingly balanced out by his accent, which is mildly Japanese. In case you were wondering.

"Little a this, little a that," says Bowie. "Finished readin some a Mark Twain, lookin fer another author."

Hey...believe or not, Tengu happens to be a fan of 'ancient' literature. "Oh, yeah? Mark Twain?" (Samuel Clements,)o. he thinks, referencing an entry in his memory. Which, strangely, fails to register properly... What comes up is not a list of titles but garbled letters, numbers, and static... "...yeah, huh... well...let me think, what can I recommend..." (Think, dammit, think... what's going ON? Akuma? Akuma?)o. <What IS it, you PEON? Go back to your incessant babbling with the Hunter. I don't care.> Well, great... he can't remember just what it was that Twain wrote, so he names an author off of the top of his head. "Ever heard of...uh, Frank Herbert?"

Bowie shakes his head. The name doesn't sound remotely familiar, and there's nothing by that author on his bookshelf. "Don't thank so...whut's he written?"

Sai's eyes almost flutter as he tries to remember. (Frank Herbert.)o. Pause. (Frank Herbert. FRANK FREAKING HERBERT, DAMN YOU...)o. Nothing but garbage comes up in his memory reference... "Ah...uh...um... I can't remember. Something about some desert or something. And, uh...spice..." He places a hand on his head. "I can't remember what it was called, just what it was about..." He seems mildly disturbed by this... Panic is just starting to creep into his mind.

Bowie reaches up under his hat to scratch an imaginary itch. "Sand an spice, huh? He wrote about the Middle East, or Asia?" Apparently science fiction hasn't occured to him. "Don't wurry 'bout it," he adds with a reassuring smile, noticing that Sai seems to be bothered by this bout of forgetfulness. "Mah memory's not the best either. Ah can always look him up,"

Sai just keeps his hand on his head, squinting. "No, it was like...some other planet or something... God, why can't I remember, I read it just the other day... eh, well... yah..." (What the hell is wrong with me?)o.

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Tengu Man sounds vaguely troubled. "...rrgh..."

"Too much on yer mind?" Bowie asks. Teenagers always seem to have a lot to think about, at least in his experience. That, or not thinking enough.

"Something like that, yeah..." Understatement of the century, folks! Sai-Tengu looks at Bowie for a moment, curiously... then *WHAM*, a lance of pain sends a shock to his system, and his vision-feed momentarily flashes. He winces, drawing back... "...mmph... I must be...getting a migraine or something..."

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Tengu Man transmits, "...agh..."

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Knight Man transmits, "<yawn> I thinketh Tengu Man is broken."

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Tengu Man transmits, "...I'm not /broken/, I'm /fine/..."

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Tengu Man doesn't sound convinced, of course.

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Knight Man transmits, "Then stoppeth moaning like a dying man..."

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Tengu Man transmits, "I was /not/-- ..."

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Plant Man transmits, "Tengu, what's going on?"

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Knight Man transmits, "Of courseth not, everyone who is fine goes 'ugh' and 'argh'"

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Tengu Man transmits, "I just..." Pause. "I'm fine, I'm fine..."

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Plant Man transmits, "Uh-huh . . what's going on, Tengu?"

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Tengu Man tries changing the subject, apparently. "What book is Frank Herbert famous for writing?"

Bowie frowns slightly in concern. "Ah thank thare's a drugstore back that way," he says, hitching a thumb back in the direction he came. "Thay should have some asperin..."

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Plant Man transmits, "Dune, at a wild guess, and don't change the subject."

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Knight Man transmits, "I believeth it is called 'Tengu Man is a cretin and is horrible at acting', or something. Out with it pointy nose."

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Tengu Man transmits, "...Dune...dammit! I read the freaking book last week and that title doesn't even ring a bell..."

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Plant Man transmits, " . . Tengu, spit out what's going on before I come track you down to annoy it out of you."

Sai-Tengu nods, heaving a ragged sigh. "I'm fine, I think...thank you, uh, Bowie..." Of course, he's distracted by the fact that, hey! Now it seems like everybody knows something's up with him now... and that makes him paranoid.

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Tengu Man transmits, "I... I can't remember what books Mark Twain or Frank Herbert wrote, even though I've read all of them. And..."

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Tengu Man transmits, "...my head hurts."

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Knight Man transmits, "That's becauseth it tis so empty. So art thou going to tell us what is really going on? Or art thou just annoying us for no reason?"

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Tengu Man seems a tad distant now... "No, really..."

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Alpha XO Elec Man transmits, "Y'know what I wanna do?"

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Plant Man transmits, " . . Tengu, could you report to the Biosphere, please?"

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Tengu Man transmits, "...why?"

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Plant Man transmits, "I'd like to do something about that headache of yours."

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Tengu Man transmits, "...um..."

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Alpha XO Elec Man transmits, "Ooo, I've gotta see this."

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Knight Man transmits, "Sword Man, please ordereth thine squadmate to stop making a fool of himself?"

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Plant Man transmits, "Tengu . . can you even remember the way back to the base?"

Bowie says "All right..." Yep, typical teenage behavior, trying to act strong and all that. No connections that there's something wrong with the boy. Not yet.

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Tengu Man suddenly sounds normal. And annoyed. "Duh!"

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Plant Man transmits, "Mmm-hmm. Was having my doubts for a few moments."

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Knight Man transmits, "Perhaps he needs to be-eth pummeled back to normal?"

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Tengu Man transmits, "...shut up, Knight."

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Knight Man transmits, "Why don't ye shutteth me up needlenose?"

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Theta Squad CO Sword Man transmits, "....what is going on here?"

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Plant Man transmits, " . . . aoew, bad archaic english. Bleah."

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Tengu Man transmits, "What's your damn problem, Knight Man?"

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Knight Man transmits, "Thine squadmate tis acting like a fool Sword Man."

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Tengu Man transmits, "ARGH."

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Knight Man transmits, "So tempermental..."

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Theta Squad CO Sword Man transmits, "Sir Tengu? What is your side of this accusation?"

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Plant Man transmits, "Have you been talking with Miss Tron again, Knight?"

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Tengu Man transmits, "He's being a dumbaft for no reason! I didn't do /anything/!"

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Knight Man transmits, "After yesterday's spat, thankfully no. What of it?"

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Theta Squad CO Sword Man transmits, "Hrm....Sir Plant. You seem to have been listening for longer than I have. WHat is your assesment of the situation?"

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Alpha XO Elec Man sighs. "Silly brothers. Why can't you get along like me and Gutsy?"

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Plant Man transmits, "That Knight's being easily riled, and Tengu's being a bit . . ah, secretive, but nothing out of the norm."

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Plant Man transmits, "And Knight, you seem especially irritable, right now."

Sai-Tengu merely nods at Bowie, and starts to walk in the direction he pointed in earlier. "Thanks, again...uhh, nice talking to you, Bowie. I gotta head back home, might as well pick up some of that aspirin..." RETREAT, RETREAT!

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Alpha XO Elec Man transmits, "Knight's always easily riled! Maybe Tron made him Paladin Man again..."

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Plant Man transmits, "After the last set of insults? He'd likely end up Shield Maiden."

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Knight Man transmits, "Plant Man, talketh to me about being irritable AFTER that blasted Starhaven is gone. And Elec Man, I shalt be forced to puteth mine mace through thine head if ye mentioneth that name again..."

Your desc has been changed to 'Armor'.

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Knight Man transmits, "OR that one Plant Man."

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Alpha XO Elec Man snickering.

[Radio] You send Plant Man a direct message: "I'm coming. Or whatever. *mutter*"

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Theta Squad CO Sword Man sighs. "If you wish to bicker for the time being, do it in person, and stop risking compromising this channel with your prattle."

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Plant Man chuckles.

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Tengu Man transmits, "I didn't start it, for the record."

Plant Man sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: "Thank you."

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Knight Man transmits, "For the record, ye did, with that moaning like a dead man."

You enter the Biosphere - Skull Fortress.

Biosphere - Skull Fortress

Lush greenery fills the biosphere, myraid climates carefully reproduced to optimize the growth of the plants here. A careful hand has been played in the design of the sphere, and it's paid off beautifully. From the minaiture desert area to the swamp section, all that grows is large and very healthy. Even the sentry-plants that lurk on the sides of the meandering pathways through the greenery, the pathways that lead to the various points of intrest, such as the mini-labs or various Robot Master's homes. Ocaisionally, one of the three robo-felines appear from the greenery, or are visible while napping.

Contents: Contents:

Elec Man [Normal] [RM] Plant Man [Normal] [RM]

Snake Man's Den Toad Man's Swamp <TMS>

Tomahawk Man's Land <TML> Plant Man's Treehouse <PMT>

Linked Archway <S>: Atrium - Skull Fortress

Southeast <SE>: Secure Dome - Skull Fortress

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Plant Man transmits, "No, he did not. You did, by taking afront at it."

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Tengu Man transmits, "Yeah."

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Tengu Man adds a muted, "Dumbaft."

Plant Man is in one of the small labs off the main biosphere path. At least his location is rather obvious, given the amount of begging the ferns nearby are doing for treats.

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Knight Man transmits, "Bah... taketh it how ye will. But don't expecteth me to react at all the next time ye acteth like that Tengu Man, when thou will likely really be dying..."

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Tengu Man transmits, "Oh, come /on/."

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Tengu Man transmits, "You have to hit me first, Maceboy."

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Knight Man transmits, "One hit shalt be all I need to swateth a fly like thineself"

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Tengu Man transmits, "Uhhh, yeah. Right."

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Theta Squad CO Sword Man transmits, "ENOUGH. If both of thee wish to continue this, take thyselves to the training room and continue it within."

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Plant Man transmits, "That would have to be after I've taken a look at Tengu."

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Tengu Man is now definitely angered. "Unfortunately, I don't have time to play with you, buckethead."

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Knight Man transmits, "Oh ho? Because ye have to go cowereth with Plant Man in the biosphere? Go ahead."

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Tengu Man transmits, "Plant /asked/ me. You think I'm here because I wanted to have 'tea'? Get out."

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Knight Man transmits, "Feh, whatevereth ye wish to telleth thineself Tengu Man"

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Theta Squad CO Sword Man barks "ENOUGH!"

Tengu is taking his sweet time, oh yes. He's just gotten in from San An and speaking with Bowie, and now...this. Just /after/ he was thinking he was gonna be fine, another spear of pain destroys his calm. He slams a hand into his forehead as he enters the Biosphere, cringing inwardly. His vision flashes again, revealing static instead of the normal landscape of the Biosphere. "AH! Shimatta!" Tengu swears, wincing...

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Plant Man transmits, "Shut /up/, Knight."

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Tengu Man is suddenly silenced by some unseen force. Then he swears. "Chikushou!"

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Knight Man transmits, "Sword Boy, stuff it. And Plant Man, don't forgeteth who is thine superior. Now excuseth me whilst I go worketh out some aggressions in the Training room.."

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Tengu Man growls. "Don't diss Sword like that, buckethead."

Someone is tailing Tengu with surprising silence. But just who is it?

Plant Man looks up at the swearing, or more accurately, at the sudden silence at Tengu's cry. Making his way down the pathway with a frown, it doesn't take long before he spots Tengu. "Tengu? What happened?" Swatting a following fern out of his way, he steps closer.

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Theta Squad CO Sword Man transmits, "Hrmph. Perhaps Lady Bonne's idea of a rebuilding of thee wouldst not be such an a horrible idea, if only to stifle thy overbearing nature a small iota."

Tengu Man is just standing there, one large hand holding his forehead. "...rrrngh..." He gives his head a firm shake and then takes a deep breath. "It's...okay...just a headache." He takes a moment to refocus his thought and, above all, try not to break down into a sobbing wreck. He wasn't doing well before -- now he's terribly worried there's something wrong with him. It's well-founded, too, after all, his jets do have a tendency to fail without warning.

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Plant Man transmits, "Mmm . . might make him worse, unless we disable his voice as well . ."

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Knight Man transmits, "Listeneth, Sir Dorksalot, mine business with that wench is mine alone. Thou canst speak of it after thou too has suffered a humiliation at her hands."

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Tengu Man is...growling. Again. "...Knight. Shut. UP."

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Alpha XO Elec Man transmits, "Oh, can it with the corny insults. They just don't work with that kooky speech."

Plant Man shakes his head, and without a word, steps behind Tengu. Placing a hand on either of the taller RM's shoulders, he begins gently pushing him towards the first lab. "Not just a headache, I'm thinking. Although the idiot on the radio can provoke headaches, this seems a lot worse."

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Knight Man transmits, "Oh I don't even careth about you anymore Tengu Man, why art thee still on this conversation?"

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Tengu Man transmits, "It's a free channel, you moron."

Elec Man slips into the Biosphere quietly, following Tengu. He hides behind some random foliage, keeping an eye on the goings-on. Why? He's nosy.

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Plant Man transmits, "Knight, just shut your rusty trap before I spot-weld it shut when you're asleep."

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Knight Man transmits, "Don't maketh me assign thee to guard duty in the permiter of Skull Fortress Plant Man."

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Theta Squad CO Sword Man sighs audibly and clicks his radio off for now.

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Knight Man transmits, "I just know how much thou loves the cold."

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Alpha XO Elec Man transmits, "Do that for no good reason, Knight, and I'll volt you up."

...somebody...is touching him. Tengu snaps open an eye as he is pushed, peering through a crack in his fingers. Now his pseudo-paranoia is out in force... And this new development threatens to send him into a rage. Why? Because he's just that paranoid. "...aaaah, shounetsujigoku!" he spits. <Burning hell!> "Where are you /taking/ me?!"

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Plant Man transmits, "Yeah yeah yeah, what, that'd be the fifth time this month?"

Plant Man rolls his eyes slightly, stopping on the pushing when Tengu panics. "Don't blow a gasket, I just want to do a basic check, make sure it's not something stupid like some of your wiring short-circuiting. Nothing major, and in mini-lab A5, which is designed for lightweight checks."

Tengu's one open eye flutters briefly. "...but I don't want to..." he protests meekly. The WilyDemon briefly sighs, almost sounding like he's going to hyperventilate. He searches for something to comfort him, something, anything...and finds it, too, an entry of garbled gibberish. "....chi...kushou...!"

Plant Man makes a soft shh-ing sound, shifting from pushing to pulling after stepping in front of Tengu. A bit more dangerous, but necessary, it seems. "Shh-shh . . . Calm down . . calm down . . would it be at all like you to have a panic attack, hmm?"

It might not be like him, but that apparently that isn't stopping him from having one. "...I- I guess..." he says, voice ragged. And he is still breathing pretty quickly... He must really be that worried. There's also the fact that Akuma, the other half of his now-split and very much corrupted personality, is completely silent when he would normally be providing Sai-Tengu with a /reason/ to break down. This, apparently, is reason for panic. He allows himself to be pulled this time, just dropping his hands and keeping his eyelids shut...

Elec Man continues to lurk behind that foliage. Lurking lurking lurking. There's really not much to do when you're lurking.

Plant Man continues to lead Tengu down to the lab, murmuring quietly to his sibling as they go. "I guess it's not like you either . . have you seen what Aqua's been up to of late? Starting to make /me/ looks sane and sensible by comparison." And further nonsense, kicking the door to the mini-lab open with a heel once they reach it. Leading Tengu inside, he finally stops the other master in front of a very low-backed chair. "Feel like sitting down now?"

Elec Man scurries along, trying to follow them to the mini-lab. Having no idea what the biosphere's like, he may encounter some interesting things along the way.

Things such as Freddy The Fern. The eyeless thing snaps several mouths towards Elec, growling as it reaches for him with its fronds.

"Oh God, Aqua..." mutters Tengu. Evidently not a good subject. He still allows himself to be lead into the lab, though the mere fact that he's in HERE -- a place where somebody could get inside his head -- frightens him and stokes his paranoia... Reluctantly, he swallows that fear and sits in the chair, eyes momentarily open in order to not fall on his butt trying to sit in it without looking. Plant might notice that the normal cobalt-blue of his eyes has seemingly...paled? Instead, they're now a more neutral powder-blue color... But they're not open long, before Tengu clamps them shut and *grabs* the arms of the chair...

Plant Man frowns at the change in eyecolor . . very, odd, and very unusual. Rarely seen in /any/ of his siblings. Lips firming into a thin line, it moves off to one of the cabinets, pulling out a small computer and wiring. "All right, I'm going to see what your systems self-diagnosis says, okay?" Without waiting for a response, he begins checking over one of Tengu's forearms. "Let's see . . "

Elec Man grunts as the fern starts chomping at him. "Gah! Damn plants..." He tries flinging a few small bolts of blue electricity at the thing, hoping to stun it."

Indignant, Freddy pulls back its singed fronds, growling.

Elec Man continues on, muttering to himself to have that removed.

SYSTEMS STATUS: NOMINAL

ENGINES STATUS: STANDBY ENERGY RESERVES: 80% ENERGY USE: NOMINAL--NONCOMBAT

ARMOR STRESS: NOMINAL WEAPONS SYSTEMS: NOMINAL--STANDBY FUNCTIONING AT: COMPROMISED EFFICIENCY

Tengu just does his best to sit in the chair and not freak out. He seems for all purposes to be functioning normally...

Ooh, look -- a red light!

PAIN RECEPTORS: WARNING! OVERLOAD!

SYSTEM STRESS: WARNING! OVERLOAD!

Plant Man nods to himself as the list scrolls by on the small computer now that it's plugged into Tengu's system, still frowning. That last makes the frown deepen, and typing away, requests further information. And then the warning pops up. Glancing over at Tengu, Plant's worry shows clearly. He's no expert on what's needed to clean out programming.

Elec Man gets closer to the minilab. If there's windows, he can almost see what's going on. If there aren't any... well, crap.

"Holy Wily," says Tengu simply. "...that's bad, isn't it." He's calmed down a little now...the pain is intermittent and irregular, and right now he's feeling a little...lightheaded. His eyes are wide open now, still that strange shade of powder blue...oh wait. Hey look -- it seems to be deepening, almost all the way back to cobalt, as Tengu speaks. If any logs of past activity are called up, one can find from reports on one incident in Hokkaido that something like this (the eye-thing) has happened to Tengu before. No explanation is offered -- it's merely a side note in a larger report that mostly details Tengu's fight with Blues and the damage afterward... Hmm...

Plant Man frowns at the information provided, chewing on his lower lip as he searches through the information. " . . . bad, and inconclusive as to /what's/ causing it." Glancing over at Tengu, he notices the darkening eye color. "Did you know when the pain's apparently at it's worse, your eyes start bleaching?"

Elec Man gets a little closer to the mini-lab now. As his player has no idea whether the door is open, he doesn't know if he hears anything.

Tengu merely blinks in response. "What? What about my eyes?" He is evidently clueless... In an effort to remedy the situation, he again searches his memory banks, trying to think of similar situations... And, to his surprise, he finds that after certain periods of time under extreme stress, there are simply...gaps in his memory. A low, cackling laugh starts up in his head, however -- the laugh of Akuma-Tengu. <Ooh, we figured it out! Sooooomebody has a tendency to go insane and kill people! HAHAHHAHA!> Tengu winces again... oh, notgoodnotgoodnotgood...

Plant Man reaches out, placing a hand under Tengu's chin to tilt his head. Wanting a better look at his eyes. " . . Tengu, what's going on in there? There's records that /every/ time you're under a great deal of stress, your eye color is shifted to nearly white."

Tengu seems to shrink away from Plant's touch, to the point where instinctively, his nose juts out another inch. Possibly poking Plant. His eyes are wide, and he seems almost...frightened. His eyes have returned to their normal cobalt, with no sign that they were ever any other color. "I...don't know what you're talking about, Plant...don't... Don't touch me!" His voice nearly elevates to a shriek at that last comment. No touch! He's very, very...scared, paranoid, confused, worried...all these negative emotions at once are really wreaking havoc on his mind. And Akuma isn't helping any. <Baka! Don't let him find out!> (AAAAAAARGH!)o.

Plant Man winces as that sharp nose pokes his hand, but only worry shows in his expression. "Tengu . . . what's wrong? I can't tell if you don't tell me." That wouldn't keep him from making a good guess, though. Tengu's fear of touch is /frightening/, with the level of effect it's having on his behavior.

Elec Man carefully, carefully, carefully peeks into the door of the minilab.

Oops, sorry about that... Tengu's nose stays at its current length, and now he's just...staring in near-horror or, perhaps, psychosis, at the worried Plant. There are so many things running through his mind at the moment -- his disturbing memory gaps...Hokkaido and its casualties, caused mostly by him... Kalinka and Akuma's vow to kill her in most violent ways... It's all very, very nerve-racking... Tengu has resumed his quick breathing, and he briefly slumps forward, hanging his head for a moment. For a moment. Then, he jerks back up, staring Plant in the face. His eyes are crazed. "I just don't KNOW! AAAAAARGH!" he yells... Elec isn't noticed. Lucky him.

Elec Man blinks, and mutters under his breath. "What the hell...?"

"Please, Tengu . . let me help. Describe it to me, please. Even the smallest detail may help . . . I don't /know/ what happens in your head, after all. Just what it does to the rest of you."

Plant's eyes never waver from Tengu's face, soaking in what little expression that can be told from the eyes alone. The behavior is . . odd, to say the least. And it seems some battle is being waged inside that spikey-nosed cranium.

He's a tad...surprised, really, that Plant just sits there and lets him yell in his face like that. At least, he is in some backward portion of his mind. The rest of him is fully focused on his own inner battle. He slumps forward again, ripping his hands from their iron-grip on the arms of the chair. His nose retracts with a metal-on-metal grinding noise, and he rests his head in his hands...looking like he'd be sobbing if he had tear ducts.

"...I just don't know...I just don't know... I can't tell you..." He's descended into half-mumbled, cracking sobs... this continues for a moment before he finally says something coherent. "I've KILLED people! ...am I supposed to DO THAT?" he sobs, back shaking... He looks up briefly -- apparently this is part of it, but not /all/. He fixes his gaze on Plant again and -- surprise! His eyes have shifted to an even lighter shade of robin's-egg-blue... Jinkies?

Elec Man blinks.

Plant Man murmurs, "We're warriors. We're supposed to fight, yes . . . but if you mean the slaughter of those not involved . . that's up to your own morals." He's fairly unfazed by the yelling, but then, a medic gets much practice in letting the cries of those in pain roll off of his/her/its back.

Tengu continues to just hold his head in his hands. He asked for forgiveness, or, even better, punishment, and got philosophy in return. Woo doggy. He swallows, deep in contemplation. Well, maybe not that deep... His eyes continue to fade, little by little as his resolve and willpower fades to the urge to give in to the Demon Within. A completely random thought pops into his head as he sits there, attempting to get the voices in his head to shut up, and he goes with it. "Are you still mad at me for what I did to your floor?" he asks meekly of Plant. O-kay then...

Plant Man raises an eyebrow at that. "Getting mad at you for ripping up the floor would be as about as useful as getting mad at Metal for liking cookies /just/ that much . . . I was furious for a while, but by now . . " He shrugs. "Seeing Snake panic trying to get out of one of my dresses was enough to take care of most of the anger."

Oooh! He's so thrilled...or he would be... In his near-deluded state the thought of Snake, being humiliated thoroughly, entertains him. Greatly. A laugh begins to take the place of his now-gone sobs...an amused cackle, typical of Tengu...except for the fact that it keeps rising in tone and doesn't stop. He's starting to sound a little crazy, yes. Evidently he's not over this yet... And so he laughs. Akuma-Tengu is starting to get an edge over Saigama-Tengu, and so his darker side is most certainly coming out to play...

The laughter . . . panic, or hysteria? Either way, Plant only lets it go on a little further before he does something. Regardless of the damage he's likely going to get from this . . . he slaps Tengu. Hard. "TENGU!" Sharp, a barked command.

Shadow Man arrives from the Secure Dome - Skull Fortress.

Shadow Man has arrived.

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Tengu Man transmits, "Hahahaha--OW."

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Tengu Man transmits, "OW! HAHAHAHA!"

"Hahahaha....HAHAHAHA...haaahaaahahahah!" *THWACK!* "OW! HAhaha....haha..." Tengu's cackling continues, though muted. It had /some/ effect, at least, but he hasn't stopped. "...hehehahahaha...what, Plant? WHAT? Mmmhhehehe..." Yes. He's losing it -- and it might be a good idea to turn off his radio...

Plant Man scowls, and slaps Tengu again. This time the motion includes a brief spat of typing at the computer. Tengu can probably feel the sensation of the program reaching into his systems. And shuts down his radio, locking it out of his control. "/Tengu/. Get yourself under control!"

[Radio: (A) Disney-Masters] Tengu Man transmits, "Haha-OW! O-- *click*"

And suddenly it all stops. The laughing stops abruptly, and Tengu just sort of sits there, a little off his chair -- after all, Plant's no wimp, right? He sits, very quiet, face stinging. "...I'm sorry," he says quietly... once again the eyes go cobalt...so strange, that. He focuses on the pain -- something that, yes, he can understand! Pain is pain. Pain means exactly what it means. There's nothing to interpret or speculate on. It simply is.

"I'm sorry," he offers again. "I think I haven't quite recovered from that thing. That Victoria thing. I used up a sh**load of my engine reserves trying to stop that g**damn shard from hitting all the little humans, and all I have to show for it is ooooh, a RFer doesn't hate me. Oh, so rewarding..." He's a little sarcastic, this time around -- is he better now? He sounds it, perhaps...

Plant Man isn't a wimp, but compared to about 2/3rds of the Masters, it's not that high up on the combat chart . . . oddly enough, he's stronger when being a boy than when he's being a girl. "Tengu, you haven't recovered from that /fight with Blues/." He replies grimly, reaching over to link more of the small computer into Tengu's system. "On the other fight, yeah, not many would say anything. But what you did . . that's something /I/ can admire, at least."

Shadow Man has left.

Tengu blinks quietly, cheek still stinging slightly... He holds on to that feeling -- one of the /only/ clear things in his mind right now. He blinks as Plant comments on his fight with Blues. He blinks as Plant...compliments him. Wow. "What? Really?" He tilts his head at Plant, a very birdlike motion... "You really do?" Hmm! <Oh, don't listen to /that/ pathetic excuse for a brother! That..vegetable has no idea--> (Hey, Akuma? Shut it.)o.

Furthermore, Tengu peers at the further hook-ups, concerned. Now those...those make him nervous...

Plant Man replies calmly as he finishes with the additional hookups. He noticed the nerves, yes he did. "Yes, I really do. Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to get a mind-numbingly detailed record of what's been happening . . . more detailed than the previous scan." After a bit, he leans back on his haunches, looking up at Tengu thoughtfully. "Why are you nervous?"

"Because you're...in my head," answers Tengu, as if explaining it to a child. "That makes me nervous. Really, really, REALLY nervous." Because there are things in there that would get him in trouble faster than you can say 'owie' three times...backward! Not the least of which is the fact of Tengu's affection for Kalinka. Hoo boy... He swallows. "Awright, so...what are you gonna do? I'd prefer that you *ask* before you just go do it."

Plant Man sighs, rubbing a hand over his face, not initializing the program just yet. "It's a higher level of the scan I just did . . only checking your physical body, stress levels in response to outward stimuli . . I don't have access to your mind, Tengu. Only Da can gain access if you don't want me in there."

Tengu sighs, again gripping the arms of his chair. He sits back and tries to relax. "Oh. Okay... how long is this goin' back? Just an hour or two?" He keeps in mind the fact that only Wily will be able to get into his head. Very comforting, and at the same time, not. The reason for his asking about the time is that he could very well provide some data that would, well, give a lot more helpful information. Secretly, Saigama-Tengu wants his secret to be exposed. He wants to be fixed, he wants to be normal again, but primarily, he wants Akuma to shut the hell up. One thing he doesn't realize is that he'll go back to being Tengu-Tengu...while Akuma, does, and fights it. There go stress levels...

Plant Man continues to type even after the program's initialized. Making notes as the information begins pouring. "Longer than an hour . . I'm going as far back as I can. . . And Tengu, /anything/ I see in your visual records will not go beyond me, if you're worried about that."

Tengu Man remains sitting back, sighing and thinking. Does he really want to go through with this? Really-really? (...yes.)o. <NO! NO! NONONONONO!> "Okay... promi--" He halts as Akuma-Tengu again tries to push Saigama-Tengu over the edge. Tengu suddenly turns in the chair and reaches out to try and grab Plant. Any part will do. He glares at him if he can, and then speaks. "Do it, Plant, do it before I change my mind..."

You miss Plant Man with your Grasp attack.

Plant Man barely manages to avoid the grab, catching only a flicker of the motion as warning. His eyes go wide, turning quickly to stare at Tengu. Fingers move faster than Plant's mind can, to some degree . . the program's altered to get all the information in one huge dump, rather than slowly. Painful, most likely.

Tengu's grasp falls short as whooooa nelly, there goes EVERYTHING, flashing before his eyes. Every memory, everything...each one painful. It's like he's having his mind ripped from his brain. As a result his grasping hand falls as if dead, to *thump* lightly against the chair. Tengu, however, does not follow suit, as he's managed to hold himself up. His eyes are locked into a death-glare out into space... oh, he'd /so/ be screaming if he were not...occupied.

Plant Man does /not like/ having to do this. Nervously, he chews on his lower lip, Replacing disk after disk of data as the computer both hardcopies and sends the information into the biosphere's computer system.

Tengu Man continues to just sort of hang there, in the air supported by his other arm. He is locked into that position, rigid and twitchy. Twitchity twitch twitch...