Code: ASSIMILATE

Kuori looked at Dan, or Zaneko, then Masquerade, then Creame. Creame was kind of easy to recongize after seeing her in battle, using only sweets and a fork to fight. Masquerade was slightly more difficult, but he was the only person Kuori could find in her memory bank that would ever cary a mask like that, or wear anything that flashy. She sighed hearing Dan's question and looked at him with emotionless eyes.

"I am a guy, at least in real life. I guess I changed much more drastically when I came here." Kuori explained, "Although I do apologize for firing at you, but I could not identify you as anything, then my A.I. immediatly marked you as a high-threat virus. And as for why we came here, I do not know. But we are in the Eternal Dream Testing Facility, where after the tests DSoED was 'left for dead', so to speak."

A dark, depressing cloud hang over Dan and he drew circles in the puddle that was previously horn. "You recognized Creame, you remembered Masq-Kun, but not the fuzzy one. No, he's a high-threat virus. Life is so unfair. Especially to fuzzies." he sniffed. Then he thought about what Kuori said.
"What's this DSoED thing?" he asked, still sulking, but curious.

Despite the serious situation, Creame giggled. "Oh, everything is okay, Fuzzy-guy. You're not dead or anything, are you? And your ears are so cute~" unable to resist the twitching in her fingertips, Creame reached up and gave Zaneko a friendly scratch behind his animal-like ear.

"So," she started, taking a bite of yet another strawberry. It doesn't surprise me much that Windy-tan is a girl, but how do you know all this stuff? And why are you an android... No, are we all like this, anyway?"

Dan cheered up somewhat. He couldn't help it, the scratching felt so good. His tail twitched with pleasure."Ah, little to the left," he murmured. But he had been thinking about what happened. "Maybe it's a mass hallucination," he suggested. "A virus in the forum code that caused a the blinking eye thing.

"I read about seizures caused by strobe lights, what if this just a case the lights causing us to fall into a coma, but trapping our collective consciousnesses in an alternate virtual reality, leaving our bodies to rot in the absence of the control of our higher thought pattern!?" He stopped suddenly, taking a deep breath, sinking back into his near depressed state. "Sorry, too much science fiction weekly. Don't take my rant seriously."

"There is no time to explain, we must go." Kuori said, "DSoED may not last mcuh longer. Come with me if you want to live!"

Kuori ran to the leftmost door and opened it, she didn't care if they followed or not, she couldn't waste another moment on these people if she wanted to protect DSoED. Traversing a wide empty hallway, Kuori soon arrived at a room with tables and computers. Another door stood at the other side of the room, but as Kuori walked halfway across the room, three spider-like creatures jumped down from the ceiling. They all had the same strange-looking eye symbol.

File 0-2
Location: Eternal Dream Testing Facility; Labratory
Objective: Route Enemy
Defeat: Party is defeated

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) A
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) B
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) (A) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) C
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) (K) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) D
( ) ( ) (L) ( ) ( ) ( ) (B) ( ) ( ) E
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) F
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) G
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) H
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) I
-1---2---3---4---5---6---7---8---9

Kuori (Android)

HP: 30
ENG: 100
ATK: 5
DEF: 3
INT: 5
SPR: 3
Movement: 3

Legs (Laser Spyder)

HP: 25
MP: 30
ATK: 5
DEF: 6
INT: 7
SPR: 3
Movement: 3

Beam (Laser Spyder)

HP: 25
MP: 30
ATK: 5
DEF: 6
INT: 7
SPR: 3
Movement: 3

Arachnid (Hacker Spyder)

HP: 35
MP: 30
ATK: 7
DEF: 6
INT: 3
SPR: 3
Movement: 3

You may start in row H-I

Aelita starts at H7!

Aelita blinked and suddenly, she realised it was done and back again. She raised her hands in a fighting stance, reminding herself to be of more help this time. The Mana around her shifting to a Lavender color. A voice in her mind spoke gently.

"Aelita. Your Power has been slightly upgraded. While you aren't much stronger, the mana you wield may confuse your foes. This may disappear as you progress. Remember this. While it may lose its added effects, you will always grow stronger."

She merely nodded, knowing that the boost would help her imensely.

Dan starts at H3

"What ever it is," Dan smiled, "It's turning out to be very fun." He was enjoying himself. He had gotten over his depression and was looking forward to the battle. And If it led to finding out just why they where here, even better.

[ Creame starts at H6 ]

"Hrmmm..." Creame groaned. "I hate fighting... But if I have to..." She trailed off, tapping her lower lip with her eating utensil. "...Anyway, let's just finish this real fast..."

File 0-2
Location: Eternal Dream Testing Facility; Labratory
Objective: Route Enemy
Defeat: Party is defeated

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) A
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) B
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) (A) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) C
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) (K) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) D
( ) ( ) (L) ( ) ( ) ( ) (B) ( ) ( ) E
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) F
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) G
( ) ( ) (D) ( ) ( ) (C) (A) ( ) ( ) H
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) (M) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) I
-1---2---3---4---5---6---7---8---9

Kuori (Android)

HP: 30
ENG: 100
ATK: 5
DEF: 3
INT: 5
SPR: 3
Movement: 3

Aelita (Coordinator)

HP: 25
MP: 30
ATK: 1
DEF: 4
INT: 5
SPR: 5
Movement: 2

Masquerade (Spirit Blade)

HP: 30
MP: 20
ATK: 7
DEF: 4
INT: 3
SPR: 3
Movement: 4

Dan (Zaber Fang)

HP: 25
MP: 70
ATK: 7
DEF: 4
INT: 2
SPR: 2
Movement: 4

Creame (Pastry Savvy)

HP: 20
MP: 40
ATK: 2
DEF: 3
INT: 5
SPR: 4
Movement: 2

Legs (Laser Spyder)

HP: 25
MP: 30
ATK: 5
DEF: 6
INT: 7
SPR: 3
Movement: 3

Beam (Laser Spyder)

HP: 25
MP: 30
ATK: 5
DEF: 6
INT: 7
SPR: 3
Movement: 3

Arachnid (Hacker Spyder)

HP: 35
MP: 30
ATK: 7
DEF: 6
INT: 3
SPR: 3
Movement: 3

Player Phase 1

Aelita
Hp: 25/25
Mp: 30/30
Atk: 1
Def: 4
Int: 5
Spr: 5

Aelita attacks Beam!
(Damage: 100% Int/Effect: Confuse 50%/Element: --)

Aelita acted quickly, an orb of Lavender Mana appearing at her side. She then threw it straight at the monster. The orb struck dead on. She then burst from her position, shooting for a nearby spot.

Aelita moves to I8!

Aelita
Hp: 25/25
Mp: 30/30
Atk: 1
Def: 4
Int: 5
Spr: 5

Dan smiled. Bugs with the weird eyes. What do you do with bugs? You squish them of course. With as much power as necessary. And boy did he have power. Not only that, he had a new move to test out. After the last battle, he had leveled up, true to role-play form. He stiffened his left hand, fingers curled as gathered his mana, watching pleased as sparks of it clumped together into a silvery star. He clenched his fist and rapidly fired off four punches , four silvery stars trailing shining tails hurling at the bug.

Dan uses Comet Impact[-15 MP][MP: 55/70] on Legs! Four hits! 9 dmg each!
Dan moves to F1.

[ Creame moves to F6 ]

Ah... Spiders? First blobs, now bugs... what next? Summoning her strawberries with a sigh, she released her attack on the nearest monster. What she really needed was a giant boot for squishing, not tasty, exploding strawberries. Although, you could never go wrong with pastries...

[ Creame uses Strawberry Explode! on Beam ]

((I thought I replied to this already. Ah, well. x_x))

Kuori uses Electrocute on Arachnid
ENG: 75/100

Kuori wasted no time to grab the spider virus on the head and send an electric shock throughout its body. The fact that these viruses are here must mean DSoED was in danger, and she had no time to waste. With that Kuori quickly jumped back and ran toward the rest of the group in an attempt to avoid retaliation.

Kuori moves to cell G-5
--------------------------
Legs takes 12 damage
HP: 13/25

Beam takes 6 damage
HP: 19/25

Beam is Confused

Arachnid takes 9 damage
HP: 26/35

A bond is formed between Masquerade and Beam

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) A
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) B
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) (A) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) C
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) D
( ) ( ) (L) ( ) ( ) ( ) (B) ( ) ( ) E
(D) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) (C) ( ) ( ) ( ) F
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) (K) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) G
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) (A) ( ) ( ) H
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) (M) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) I
-1---2---3---4---5---6---7---8---9

Enemy Phase

Legs uses Twin Laser on Dan
MP: 21/30

Dan takes 6 damage per hit, 2 hits
HP: 8/20

The laser spider turned to the cat creature that attacked it, and fired two consecutive red beams from its arms, much like the beams fired by the slimes earlier.

Legs waits
-----------------------------
Beam is Confused

Beam moves to cell E-5

The second laser spider crawled toward the robot girl, but before it reached her its strange-looking eye glowed for a moment and out came a purple ray that swept through the robot girl and struck the man behind it as well. But as the man was struck, a hole appeared in the body of Beam the exact same place the ray had hit the man.

Beam uses Death Beam on column 5. Kuori and Masquerade are hit

Kuori takes 7 damage
HP: 23/30

Masquerade takes 7 damage
HP: 23/30

Beam takes 7 damage
HP: 12/25

Beam is Confused for 2 more turns
----------------------------
Arachnid moves to cell F-5

The spider that looked slightly different from the other two scurried over in front of Kuori and opened its mouth. It quickly bit down on the android's arm as a virus entered the opening from the bite and began to destroy Kuori's memory and any data it could find.

Arachnid uses Data Break on Kuori
MP: 21/30

Kuori takes 15 damage
HP: 8/30

Kuori's S-Ability: Overdrive activates

Kuori is granted Haste

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) A
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) B
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) C
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) D
( ) ( ) (L) ( ) (B) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) E
(D) ( ) ( ) ( ) (A) (C) ( ) ( ) ( ) F
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) (K) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) G
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) (A) ( ) ( ) H
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) (M) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) I
-1---2---3---4---5---6---7---8---9

Player Phase 2

Aelita
Hp: 25/25
Mp: 30/30
Atk: 1
Def: 4
Int: 5
Spr: 5

Aelita moves to F7!

Aelita moved once more, mana orbs flooding to her hands. She seemed exhausted even though she had done nothing to wear herself out. But nevertheless she attacked, the orbs making direct contact with the enemy. With any luck confusion would take effect.

Aelita attacks Arachnid!
(Damage: 100% Int/Effect: Confusion 50%/Element: --)

Aelita
Hp: 25/25
Mp: 30/30
Atk: 1
Def: 4
Int: 5
Spr: 5

"That's it," Dan hissed. "I'm officially applying for a spot on the endangered species list." He hastily brushed and plucked charred and smoking strands of fur from his chest. "Everyone here has something against the fuzzy one." He rapidly fired off another volley of attacks.

Dan uses Comet Impact[-15 MP][MP: 40/70] on Legs! Four hits! 9 dmg each!
Dan moves to C2.

Kuori restores ENG
ENG: 100/100

Kuori uses Electrocute on Arachnid
ENG: 75/100

Kuori uses Electrocute on Arachnid
ENG: 50/100

Kuori stared at the wound on her arm, it was much like a brown recluse bite but she couldn't do anything about it. Plus, one more bite from that spider and she would be nothing but scrap metal. Trying her best to ignore the pain, Kuori grabbed the spider on the head and lifted it up, sending a multitude of shocks to its body.

Kuori moves to cell I-6

Kuori moves to cell I-9
--------------------------
Legs takes 12 damage
HP: 1/25

Arachnid takes 20 damage
HP: 6/35

Arachnid is Confused

The bond between Masquerade and Beam transformed

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) A
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) B
( ) (D) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) C
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) D
( ) ( ) (L) ( ) (B) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) E
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) (A) (C) (A) ( ) ( ) F
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) G
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) H
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) (M) ( ) ( ) ( ) (K) I
-1---2---3---4---5---6---7---8---9

Enemy Phase

Legs uses Finishing: Sweeping Beam

Kuori takes 7 damage
HP: 1/30

Masquerade takes 7 damage
HP: 16/30

Beam takes 7 damage
HP: 5/25

Dan takes 7 damage
HP: 6/25

Aelita takes 7 damage
HP: 18/25

Creame takes 7 damage
HP: 13/20

Legs waits
-----------------------------
Beam is Confused

Beam moves to cell E-4

Beam attacks Legs

Legs takes 1 damage
HP: 0/25

Legs Perfect Kill

Beam is Confused for 1 more turn
-----------------------------
Arachnid is Confused

Arachnid moves to cell F-4

Arachnid attacks Beam

Beam takes 8 damage
HP: -3/25

Beam K.O.

Masquerade restores 4 HP
HP: 20/30

The bond between Masquerade and Beam is severed

Arachnid is Confused for 2 more turns

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) A
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) B
( ) (D) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) C
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) D
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) E
( ) ( ) ( ) (A) ( ) (C) (A) ( ) ( ) F
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) G
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) H
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) (M) ( ) ( ) ( ) (K) I
-1---2---3---4---5---6---7---8---9

Player Phase 3

Spoiler:

Shaking out of her halfway daze after getting hit, Creame was surprised to see that another person had joined the fight that would end soon. Oops... Oh well... might as well hit that bug thing with one last hit... she thought regrettably, pointing her fork at the spider-like creature and shaking her head. Okay... I should spend less time daydreaming and more time trying to kill these things... Jeez...

[ Creame uses Strawberry Expload! on Arachnid ]
MP: 22/40

Aelita
Hp: 25/25
Mp: 30/30
Atk: 1
Def: 4
Int: 5
Spr: 5

The girl who appeared. She knew her. But she didn't know her. But who was she, herself? She knew the girl, but never met her. There was no way they had a relationship. Who were they? Who were they really? The girl was someone. And so was she, herself. But who were they? What was their identity? Were they someone else? A pain shot through Aelita's head. Clutching her forehead with one hand, she threw a mana ball at the remaining enemy. She got the feeling she knew everyone here on a more personal level. More pains shot through her head. She fell to her knees, her head in her hands.

Aelita attacks Arachnid!
(Damage: 100% Int/Effect: Confusion 50%/Element: --)

Aelita
Hp: 25/25
Mp: 30/30
Atk: 1
Def: 4
Int: 5
Spr: 5

Kuori restores ENG
ENG: 70/100

Kuori waits
--------------------------
CErani arrives at cell H-3

HP: 20
MP: 20
ATK: 7
DEF: 5
INT: 1
SPR: 2
Movement: 3

Cerani is too far away

Arachnid takes 7 damage
HP: -1/35

( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) A
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) B
( ) (D) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) C
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) D
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) E
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) (C) (A) ( ) ( ) F
( ) ( ) ( ) (M) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) G
( ) ( ) (E) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) H
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) (K) I
-1---2---3---4---5---6---7---8---9

Victory!

Party obtains 160 Gold

EXP:

Laser Spyder K.O. x1: +2
Laser Spyder PERFECT KILL x1: +4
Hacker Spyder K.O. x1: +2
No Player Character K.O.: +2
No Finishings used: +3
No Items used: +2
Player Phase less than 10: +2
--------------------------------
Total: 17

Creame
EXP: 4/10 -> 21/10
Level Up!
3 Stat Points and 1 Skill Point gained
Next Level: 11/10
Level Up!
3 Stat Points and 1 Skill Point gained
Next Level: 1/16

Masquerade
EXP: 4/10 -> 21/10
Level Up!
3 Stat Points and 1 Skill Point gained
Next Level: 11/10
Level Up!
3 Stat Points and 1 Skill Point gained
Next Level: 1/16

Dan
EXP: 4/10 -> 21/10
Level Up!
3 Stat Points and 1 Skill Point gained
Next Level: 11/10
Level Up!
3 Stat Points and 1 Skill Point gained
Next Level: 1/16

Aelita
EXP: 4/10 -> 21/10
Level Up!
3 Stat Points and 1 Skill Point gained
Next Level: 11/10
Level Up!
3 Stat Points and 1 Skill Point gained
Next Level: 1/16

Kuori
EXP: 4/10 -> 21/10
Level Up!
3 Stat Points and 1 Skill Point gained
Next Level: 11/10
Level Up!
3 Stat Points and 1 Skill Point gained
Next Level: 1/16

Cerani
EXP: 0/10 -> 17/10
Level Up!
3 Stat Points and 1 Skill Point gained
Next Level: 7/10

OoC: Introductions, conversations, etc...the profiles for the mini-boss will be up shortly...ara...~

She screamed. Her head was in so much pain. Her mind wouldn't leave the fact that she knew the people. Who was she really. Who were they? It was all too much to proccess. It was all too much for her. She screamed. Her body limp and weak lying on the floor. She had no control over what happened. She was left to scream and cry.

'
"WHO ARE YOU!"

She had to be knocked out. It would be the only way to get her mind off of it. It would be the only way to save her before she died from the pain.