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 Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2005 1:45 pm
It didn't start out as a challenging day, really. The two weeks had been a trial-run week for the program. Flashcharge had had quite some fun with it, had tried to destroy a thing or two, but the super's way of bending the rules had proven to be a help for once. The next time, things worked out well. Jim was quite proud of the program and his programers, and had even done the unmentionable.
He'd asked Charles if he could introduce it to the little supers, something which Jim never cared to do. The man was dressed casually today, and smiled a little stiffly at the young one as he explained the program.
"... so in conclusion, what you need to do is to just stand there in the simulation room. We will start up the program for you. It will all feel and look real, but you don't have to worry. We have safety protocols online so you can not get hurt. This will serve as a training excersise as well as something fun for you to do. Your main goal is to extract all candy from the 'monsters'." Jim moved his fingers simultaniously in the so called quote movements to show he didn't mean real monsters and winked. "You can do this by destroying them. Don't worry, they are not real, you have to keep in mind that they are robots and don't feel pain. Remember to try to make your way to the castle." he nodded and turned to check a few statistics. Satisfied, he turned back to the child.
"So, lets get started then." he couldn't surpress his grin as he watched the child enter the room. He smiled rather nervously. He had spent so much time on this, he could only hope the children would find this amusing. Looking at a few graphs and numbers on a small screen, his gaze turned back through the glass window to peer at the child. Jim pressed in a small button to activate the intercom and bent over to speak in a small microphone. "Ready? Here you go!" He pressed in another button to activate a pre-set sequence of commands to activate the program and suddenly the environment in the simulation room changed.
You find yourself in an open space in the middle of a thick and dark forest. The light of the full moon illuminates the open place, making it seem as if it is bathed in silver. The trees are closely knit together; finding a path through them to reach your goal will not be easy. When you look around, you see nothing but trees though on the horizon high mountains tower over the forest, as if cradling it in their arms. Before you, you watch the forest cover an entire mountain, with a big castle proudly sheltered by it. You are currently a hundred feet or so away from the foot of the mountain, but the trees block your gaze so it does not give you a completely clear view.
The atmosphere does not feel that scary, but it gives you a certain alertness. Though the forest is dark, it is definitly not dead. There is rustling everywhere and it is obviously packed with dozens of different life forms. Somewhere behind you, you hear a pack of wolves howling and to your right an owl hoots. A small gust of wind rustles the leaves and gives you a small chill.
It is time to get started!
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Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2005 1:00 pm
Erol took in the scenary around him, rather spooky to say the least. He looked to his left and then his right, gadging his next move. What was he suppose to get out of this? Why bring him here? He sighed a sheen of sweat slowly dribbling down from his forehead as he took a few timid steps forward.
Looking up he could see shreams of light beaming down from the moon though the canopy of trees blocked most of the light making it some what hard to see. Digging into his pocket, Erol pulled out some bubblegum and plopped it in his mouth. "Alright then..." he muttered as he began to walk chewing his gun idly.
"Lets do this." He fisted one hand catching it with his other hand as a wry grin etched across his face; despite his inner fear. He kept his pace slow and deliberate looking around ever so often when a noise sailed on the wind toward him.
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Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2005 2:36 pm
Jim watched the boy make his way through the thick forest; he seemed to be quite nervous. Excellent. Grinning excitedly, he pushed in a button to activate the first challenge.
A high pitched giggle suddenly rang through the forest. It did not seem to come from a particular direction, but rather, it seemed to come from everywhere, as if it were the forest itself.
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Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2005 3:02 pm
Erol was quick to shift around turning in all directions at the sound of the giggle. He squinted his eyes to see far in the distance but switched his direction when the giggle seemed to dance right behind him; and again when the giggle came from another direction. His fear only seemed to trigger the usual unconscious use of his powers as a slight wave of energy left him to hit a tree in the distance; the ground rumbling slightly in warning of another blast.
"W-who's there?" he called growing nervous by the minute. Erol didn't like it when things didn't go his way. Right now he was getting scared and that only allowed him to fall into his security blanket that was his powers. He rushed to a tree standing against it as he looked on all three directions and occasionally behind the tree. "Come out!" he shouted getting both annoyed and jumpy.
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Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2005 7:03 am
A small patch of darkness suddenly formed itself in the boy's eyesight. It seemed to be growing larger and larger, drawing more darkness in it while emanating a cold chill until, eventually, it started to take a shape. As the shape stretched and moved, it began to take on color until it was done.
What was now standing there was a clown...?
It unleashed another high pitched giggle as it reached unnaturally deep in its pocket and pulled out a fistful of worms. "Candy?" It suddenly roared and laughed, revealing a sharp line of razorsharp teeth in its mouth. And with a mighty toss, it swung the worms towards Erol. As they approached, the worms itself seemed to be alive too, each sporting small lines of razorsharp teeth and black, beady, evil eyes.
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Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2005 9:02 am
Erol's fear grew with each passing moment the darkness danced in front of him. When it began to take a form, he braced himself a slight rumble of warning from his out of control powers. "Who are you?" He called noting the darkness finally gain color and soon its shape formed a clown.
Erol face faulted glaring in annoyance rather than fear. "A clown? Are you seriously trying to scare me with a clown?" He spoke to no one, the giggle from earlier emitted from the creature and Erol had to surpress a giggle of his own. "Oh come on!" He said sarcastically spinning around to look about at the powers that be.
Engaging the clown he turned his attentions to it to find it digging in its pocket. Pulling out the worms he laughed. Course now he hadn't gotten a good look at them. His laugh however dimmed at the sight of the razor teeth the clown had. I do not want to get bitten by that thing. He backed up into the tree once more.
Soon he found himself faced to flying face with a handful of worms; matching the clown's expression. "Get back!" He shrieked raising his hand as a burst wave left him slamming into the worms causing them to fall to the floor wiggling animatedly. He was quick to stomp on them emphasising his disgust between each stomp. "Nasty. Little. Buggers. Ah!" Once finished he looked up at the clown stepping back as he wasn't sure what the thing would do now.
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Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2005 9:36 am
The clown stomped his foot angrily and folded his arms. The painted smile on the face turned into a painted pout as it started to whine in that unnatural high pitched voice.
The clown reached his entire arm into a pocket on his chest and pulled out several empty balloons. He started huffing and puffing and blowing the balloon until it swelled to the size of Erol. Grinning that line of razorsharp teeth again, the clown let out another one of his giggles as it blew out. The balloon started to move on its own towards Erol, hands gripping out from the inside, as if a human was inside, trying to claw his way out.
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Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2005 7:29 pm
Alright, this was officially creepy. "What the hell?" Erol balked unable to move back anymore he slide from the tree to make distance between himself and the strange balloon creature.
Whatever was trying to get loose he was not about to sit here and watch. Looking up through angry eyes he glared at the clown growing tired of the fear he was feeling. He could only think back to Akila's disappointment. "No...I won't be weak!" He shouted and was quick to let out a burst of energy aiming to the ground underneath the clown.
Shaking it up he rushed forward swinging wildly at first but eventually he got into a better rhythme. "You freak!"
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Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2005 4:14 am
With a despairing wail, the clown exploded into countless specks of darkness which seemed to form itself into brightly colored small pieces of... candy? Candy was landing everywhere, the entire clown seemed to have been made out of candy and it kept on raining down. It wasn't long before everything was covered in all different sorts of candy when it suddenly stopped and a large wolf stepped out of the trees. It spoke in a low, rumbling voice. "Collect all the candy you want and then continue on your way. We will be waiting for you." It smiled. A horrifyingly wide smile, revealing the same scary pointy teeth the clown had had. It let out a growl and narrowed its eyes before launching itself at the wary child in front of it.
It soared over Erol's head, landed smoothly past the child and fled into the forest. Leaving behind an eery silence. And lots of candy.
-x-x-x-x-x-
It was at this point that Jim was starting to look concerned. He checked a few statistics and exchanged a look with his asistent. He couldn't remember programming this, maybe she had...?
He frowned slightly as he watched the program unfold. This wasn't appropriate for ten year olds. Maybe things would correct itself as they went along.
Oh, how wrong he was...
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Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2005 2:01 pm
Erol blinked as the clown brust into candy, for a moment he was stuck where he was until the candy continued to rain down. In glee, he rushed to pick up handfuls of the candy shoving it in his pockets.
It was then the wolf showed himself talking rather animatedly. "Uh..?" Erol couldn't bring out coherent words to save his life and ducked when the wolf leaped at him. Daring a peek he watched to find the animal land behind him and rush off in the distance.
Standing to his feet, Erol dropped what candy was in his hands and followed after the beast his curiosity more than any candy could do to distract him. Somehow in the back of his mind he felt this game was becoming more interesting by the minute.
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Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2005 2:50 pm
The forest shimmered around Erol, before changing, closing itself completely and blocking Erol's path towards the wolf. Instead, another path formed, to lead up to the castle. It was a wider path then what the boy had to follow before but just as dark. The moon was shining even brighter then before, illuminating the entire path in silver light.
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Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2005 1:01 pm
Erol was cautious in following the wolf this time around, it wouldnt' do to get caught up in something he couldn't handle but he would see what was up ahead. The candy long time forgotten he made his way with short easy steps. Looking about him for any dangers that may be upon the illuminated path.
As he walked it seemed the path continued on for hours but eventually he came across a clearing and before him the castle stood, glowing in the illuminating light of the moon. "Wow." he exclaimed looking upon the castle with the wonder of a child. After all he was only ten and despite his trying to be grown-up he couldn't help but laspe into his child like state once more.
He ventured to walk closer coming up upon the draw bridge of the castle, however the bridge was still up and he could not cross the mowt into the castle as it were.
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