CRYPTOSMASHER ONLINE

Username:	Password:
Forgot your password?	Remember Me

Halloween 2K9
LOGIN: Dr. Arcade
PASSWORD: *****************

REM: Two year hiatus. Ultra Crew Institute is still in business, baby.

OLD NEWS: Too much to list for now

NEW NEWS: See previous entry. Also Halloween 2009. Miranda Halloween Costumes to follow:

HALLOWEEN OF YEARS PAST:
2003
Neil - Robin (Teen Titans)
Bunnie - Starfire (Teen Titans)
Violet - Raven (Teen Titans)
Rotor - Cyborg (Teen Titans)
Pit - Beast Boy (Teen Titans)
Jon - Vegeta (Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT)

2004
Neil - Viewtiful Joe (Viewtiful Joe, Viewtiful Joe 2)
Bunnie - Rogue (X-Men)
Violet - Mitzi Mozzarella (Rock-Afire Explosion)
Jon - Vash the Stampede (Trigun)
Lupe - Gaia the Spirit of the Earth (Captain Planet)
Scott - Inuyasha (Inuyasha)
Samus Aran - Jody Summer (F-Zero X, F-Zero AX/GX)
Pit - Spiral Pegasus (Mega Man X5)
Prince Laslo - Thomas Anderson/Neo (the Matrix, the Matrix Reloaded, the Matrix Revolutions)
Callista Brighton - Daphne Blake (Scooby-Doo)

2005
Neil - Elec Man (Mega Man)
Bunnie - Snake-Eyes (G.I. Joe Sigma Six)
Violet - 2-D (Gorillaz)
Violet's Genetic Clone - Noodle (Gorillaz)
Al Dente - Russel Hobbe (Gorillaz)
Laslo - Murdoc Nicols (Gorillaz)
Jon Talbain - Alphonse Elrick (Full-Metal Alchemist)
William Talbain - Edward Elrick (Full-Metal Alchemist)
Sally - Izumi (Full-Metal Alchemist)
Gadget Hackwrench - Winrey (Full-Metal Alchemist)
Lupe Lycans - Mari McCabe AKA Vixen (Justice League Unlimited)
Scott - Inuyasha (Inuyasha)
Iris - Kikio (Inuyasha)
Pit - Treble Booster Bass (Mega Man 8)
Usagi Yojimbo - Bucky O'Hare (Bucky O'Hare)

2006
Neil "G.E.K.W." - 'Weird Al' Yankovic
Bunnie Rabbot - Rukia Kuchika (Bleach)
Princess Violet Tokugawa - Ultraviolet
Princess Violet Clone #8 - Aeon Flux
Jon Talbain - Father Abel Nightroad (Trinity Blood)
William Talbain - Renton Thurston (Eureka Seven)
Felicia the Catwoman - Sister Esther Blanchett
Samus Aran - Eureka Seven (Eureka Seven)
Princess Sally Acorn - XLR8 (Ben 10)
Lupe Lycans - Flora (Winx Club)
Callista Brighton - Tess Darett (Pole Position)
Gadget Hackwrench - Princess Romell (Voltron)
Mitzi Mozzarella - Princess Allura (Voltron)
Dook Larue - Commander Keith Akira Kogane (Voltron)
Beach Bear - Lance Charles McClaine (Voltron)
Fatz Geronimo - "Hunk" Garrett (Voltron)
Rolfe DeWolfe - Sven Holgersson (Voltron)
Earl Schmerle - Darell "Pidge" Stoker (Voltron)
Billy Bob Brockali - Coran (Voltron)
Speedy Cervichi - Torr (Mighty Orbots)
Guido Anchovi - Bort (Mighty Orbots)
Polly Ester - Bo (Mighty Orbots)
Francine Tabbyworth - Boo (Mighty Orbots)
General Catton - Crunch (Mighty Orbots)
Rotor Walrus - Whiz (Kidd Video)
Tails - Captain Super Fox (his favorite comic book character)
Antoine D'Cooliette - Ishigo Kurasaki (Bleach)
Maverick Hunter Alia - Susan Storm (Fantastic Four)
Maverick Hunter Iris - Lady Kikio (Inuyasha)
Prince Laslo - Nolan Bushnell (former Atari founder)

2007
Neil - Uriyu Ishida (Bleach)
Bunnie Rabbot - Saya Otonoshi (Blood +)
Princess Violet - Luna Platz (Mega Man Star Force)
Princess Violet Clone 2 - Yumi Ishiyama (Code Lyoko)
Princess Violet Clone 3 - Aelita Stone/Hopper (Code Lyoko)
Prince Laslo - Jeremie Belpois (Code Lyoko)
Jon Talbain - Hagi (Blood +)
William Talbain - Riku Otonoshi (Blood +)
Gadget Hackwrench - Dr. Nozomi Weaver (Trauma Center: Second Opinion)
Mitzi Mozzarella - Orihime Inoue (Bleach)
Samus Aran - Major Matoku Kusanagi (Ghost in the Shell)
Princess Sally - Triplicate Girl (Legion of Superheroes)
Lupe Lycans - Phantom Girl (Legion of Superheroes)
Antoine D'Cooliette - Lightning Lad (Legion of Superheroes)
Scott O'Conner - N/A* *(Tek Plot)
Miles Prowler - Ali Baba (Sonic and the Secret Rings)
Knuckles the Echidna - Sinbad (Sonic and the Secret Rings)
Rotor Walrus - Bud Bison (Mega Man Star Force)
Callista Brighton - Saturn Girl (Legion of Superheroes)
Simon Belmont - Bo-Bobo Bo Bo-Bobo
Kid Icarus - Ben Tennyson (Ben 10)
Cousin Ambrosia - Gwen Tennysonn (Ben 10)
Uncle Methusalus - Max "Grandpa" Tennyson (Ben 10)
Iris Thorne - Lady Kikio (InuYasha)
Mega Man X - Optimus Prime (TransFormers)
Zero - Jazz (TransFormers)
Axl - Bumblebee (TransFormers)
Cream the Rabbit - Ninja Roll (Mega Man Powered Up)
Emperor Fred - Peter Griffin (Family Guy)
Empress Frieda - Lois Griffin (Family Guy)
Big Al Dente - Strong Sad (Homestar Runner)
Flora - Marzipan (Homestar Runner)
Speedy - James (Pokemon)
Polly - Jessie (Pokemon)
Francine - Cassidy (Pokemon)
Guido - Butch (Pokemon)
Felicia the Catwoman - Selena Kyle/Catwoman (the Bat-Man)
Usagi Yojimbo - Goemon Ishikawa XIII (Lupin the Third)
Hojicha - a Metool (Mega Man)
Bancha - a Geemer (Metroid)
Kukicha - an Elebit (Elebits)

2008 (Post-Reboot)
Volt - Lelouch Lamperouge (Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion)
Bunnie - Balsa (Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit)
Violet - Techna (The Winx Club)
Pit - Benjamin Tennyson (Ben 10 : Alien Force)
Cousin Ambrosia - Gwen Tennyson (Ben 10: Alien Force)
Demigod Adonis - Kevin Levin (Ben 10: Alien Force)
Jon - L (Death Note)

2009 (Post Reboot)
Volt - Dr. Egon Spengler (Ghosbusters the Video Game)
Bunnie - Lexi Bunny (Loonatics Unleashed)
Violet - Commanderette Zircon (Spaceballs: the Animated Series)
Jon - Vince Noir (The Mighty Boosh)
Pit - Zack Saturday (The Secret Saturdays)
Gadget - Kase aka Kamen Rider Syren (Kamen Rider: Dragon Knight)
Mitzi - Jodi Yanarella (Titan Maximum)
Sally and RVG-Gamma - Cyber Six and Data Nine (Cyber Six)
Lupe - Nix (Nix's Quest)
Drew - Kamina (Gurren Lagaan)
Nikita - Tenaya 7 (Power Rangers: RPM)
Cousin Ambrosia - Asoka Tano (Star Wars: Clone Wars)
Demigod Adonis - General Anakin Skywalker (Star Wars: Clone Wars)
Uncle Methusalus - General Obi-Wan Kenobi (Star Wars: Clone Wars)
Megami - Katana (Batman: the Brave and the Bold)
Empress Frieda - Molotov Cocktease (The Venture Bros.)
Al Dente - Guts Man's Ass (Mega Man/Youtube viral video)

ULTRA CREW INSTITUTE (UCI) Trivia:
Coming Soon

Current Music: "Plug Electric (Plug Man) - Mega Man 9, III

Halloween 2K7
LOGIN: Dr. Arcade
PASSWORD: *****************

REM: Ultra Crew is ready for Halloween (Mr. Meyers need not show his masked face......nor his hatchet. :P)

OLD NEWS: Bought a second Wii-mote, Sim City DS, Mega Man Star Force: Pegasus. Bought and watched TMNT on DVD. Captain N the Game Master anniversary 9.9.07

NEW NEWS: Bought Mega Man ZX Advent and Mega Man Star Force: Leo. Bought TransFormers (2007) on DVD and watched while enjoying popcorn and Mountain Dew Live Wire. Had to work on Beggar's Night but bought a couple bags of candy (for self) anyway. Ultra Crew Halloween in Miranda. Details to follow:

OTHER STUFF: Miranda RP Halloween 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 Ultra Crew costumes:

2003
Neil - Robin (Teen Titans)
Bunnie - Starfire (Teen Titans)
Violet - Raven (Teen Titans)
Rotor - Cyborg (Teen Titans)
Pit - Beast Boy (Teen Titans)
Jon - Vegeta (Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT)

2004
Neil - Viewtiful Joe (Viewtiful Joe, Viewtiful Joe 2)
Bunnie - Rogue (X-Men)
Violet - Mitzi Mozzarella (Rock-Afire Explosion)
Jon - Vash the Stampede (Trigun)
Lupe - Gaia the Spirit of the Earth (Captain Planet)
Scott - Inuyasha (Inuyasha)
Samus Aran - Jody Summer (F-Zero X, F-Zero AX/GX)
Pit - Spiral Pegasus (Mega Man X5)
Prince Laslo - Thomas Anderson/Neo (the Matrix, the Matrix Reloaded, the Matrix Revolutions)
Callista Brighton - Daphne Blake (Scooby-Doo)

2005
Neil - Elec Man (Mega Man)
Bunnie - Snake-Eyes (G.I. Joe Sigma Six)
Violet - 2-D (Gorillaz)
Violet's Genetic Clone - Noodle (Gorillaz)
Al Dente - Russel Hobbe (Gorillaz)
Laslo - Murdoc Nicols (Gorillaz)
Jon Talbain - Alphonse Elrick (Full-Metal Alchemist)
William Talbain - Edward Elrick (Full-Metal Alchemist)
Sally - Izumi (Full-Metal Alchemist)
Gadget Hackwrench - Winrey (Full-Metal Alchemist)
Lupe Lycans - Mari McCabe AKA Vixen (Justice League Unlimited)
Scott - Inuyasha (Inuyasha)
Iris - Kikio (Inuyasha)
Pit - Treble Booster Bass (Mega Man 8)
Usagi Yojimbo - Bucky O'Hare (Bucky O'Hare)

2006
Neil "G.E.K.W." - 'Weird Al' Yankovic
Bunnie Rabbot - Rukia Kuchika (Bleach)
Princess Violet Tokugawa - Ultraviolet
Princess Violet Clone #8 - Aeon Flux
Jon Talbain - Father Abel Nightroad (Trinity Blood)
William Talbain - Renton Thurston (Eureka Seven)
Felicia the Catwoman - Sister Esther Blanchett
Samus Aran - Eureka Seven (Eureka Seven)
Princess Sally Acorn - XLR8 (Ben 10)
Lupe Lycans - Flora (Winx Club)
Callista Brighton - Tess Darett (Pole Position)
Gadget Hackwrench - Princess Romell (Voltron)
Mitzi Mozzarella - Princess Allura (Voltron)
Dook Larue - Commander Keith Akira Kogane (Voltron)
Beach Bear - Lance Charles McClaine (Voltron)
Fatz Geronimo - "Hunk" Garrett (Voltron)
Rolfe DeWolfe - Sven Holgersson (Voltron)
Earl Schmerle - Darell "Pidge" Stoker (Voltron)
Billy Bob Brockali - Coran (Voltron)
Speedy Cervichi - Torr (Mighty Orbots)
Guido Anchovi - Bort (Mighty Orbots)
Polly Ester - Bo (Mighty Orbots)
Francine Tabbyworth - Boo (Mighty Orbots)
General Catton - Crunch (Mighty Orbots)
Rotor Walrus - Whiz (Kidd Video)
Tails - Captain Super Fox (his favorite comic book character)
Antoine D'Cooliette - Ishigo Kurasaki (Bleach)
Maverick Hunter Alia - Susan Storm (Fantastic Four)
Maverick Hunter Iris - Lady Kikio (Inuyasha)
Prince Laslo - Nolan Bushnell (former Atari founder)

2007
Neil - Uriyu Ishida (Bleach)
Bunnie Rabbot - Saya Otonoshi (Blood +)
Princess Violet - Luna Platz (Mega Man Star Force)
Princess Violet Clone 2 - Yumi Ishiyama (Code Lyoko)
Princess Violet Clone 3 - Aelita Stone/Hopper (Code Lyoko)
Prince Laslo - Jeremie Belpois (Code Lyoko)
Jon Talbain - Hagi (Blood +)
William Talbain - Riku Otonoshi (Blood +)
Gadget Hackwrench - Dr. Nozomi Weaver (Trauma Center: Second Opinion)
Mitzi Mozzarella - Orihime Inoue (Bleach)
Samus Aran - Major Matoku Kusanagi (Ghost in the Shell)
Princess Sally - Triplicate Girl (Legion of Superheroes)
Lupe Lycans - Phantom Girl (Legion of Superheroes)
Antoine D'Cooliette - Lightning Lad (Legion of Superheroes)
Scott O'Conner - N/A*   *(Tek Plot)
Miles Prowler - Ali Baba (Sonic and the Secret Rings)
Knuckles the Echidna - Sinbad (Sonic and the Secret Rings)
Rotor Walrus - Bud Bison (Mega Man Star Force)
Callista Brighton - Saturn Girl (Legion of Superheroes)
Simon Belmont - Bo-Bobo Bo Bo-Bobo
Kid Icarus - Ben Tennyson (Ben 10)
Cousin Ambrosia - Gwen Tennysonn (Ben 10)
Uncle Methusalus - Max "Grandpa" Tennyson (Ben 10)
Iris Thorne - Lady Kikio (InuYasha)
Mega Man X - Optimus Prime (TransFormers)
Zero - Jazz (TransFormers)
Axl - Bumblebee (TransFormers)
Cream the Rabbit - Ninja Roll (Mega Man Powered Up)
Emperor Fred - Peter Griffin (Family Guy)
Empress Frieda - Lois Griffin (Family Guy)
Big Al Dente - Strong Sad (Homestar Runner)
Flora - Marzipan (Homestar Runner)
Speedy - James (Pokemon)
Polly - Jessie (Pokemon)
Francine - Cassidy (Pokemon)
Guido - Butch (Pokemon)
Felicia the Catwoman - Selena Kyle/Catwoman (the Bat-Man)
Usagi Yojimbo - Goemon Ishikawa XIII (Lupin the Third)
Hojicha - a Metool (Mega Man)
Bancha - a Geemer (Metroid)
Kukicha - an Elebit (Elebits)

Ultra Crew Selection of the Day:

    "What's this? It looks like some data has been downloaded from an outside source....it's called 'CM'...whatever that means."
"Fancy a butchering?" Violet gestured to the portal. "Only if I get to use my good blade." Zero mused with a sadistic grin as he held up his saber. "Let's get in there and see if someone's in dire need of a buttwhuppin'." Violet entered the shaft of cyan light and Zero followed.
When the light cleared...
    "......"
    Zero couldn't find the words. "What. The. Harddrive?!?" Violet managed to stammer as she looked around at the almost technicolor diarama-ish room. The floor and ceiling was made up of sickly bright aquamarine steel girders and staggered overlapping metal rectangular panels of the same color. Two large boulders of the same color formed a walkway from the almost garage-door like gate sealing the room off. The walls were silvery gray sheet metal with square indentations in a cross-hatch matrix pattern. It looked like something out of a cartoon. Or a ancient video game. "Everything's gone 8-bit!!! What the flying floppy disk are we doing in THIS place?!?" "You KNOW where we are?" Zero looked at the rabbit. And that's when their foe appeared. And Violet's jaw just dropped. "You've got to be freakin' kidding me!"
    Their opponent quite easily matched the surroundings. Technicolor red boots, gloves and waist armor. His head was the same metallic technicolor red with googly eyes in a comical but angry scowl. His simple mouth pulled into a frown. And he wore a plain white, almost spandex-ish body suit. And there were the cutters on his head--two half-circle blades joined by a hinge. Like a silver, eye-less Pac-Man that snapped open and shut.
    But what made Violet absolutely freak out was that their opponent didn't look normal. No.   He was not a 3-dimensional humanoid machine like Zero. He was more like an animated cardboard cutout. And when he changed direction, he sort of "flipped over" rather then rotated. And most of all...he wasn't curved at all. He was like a stack of 2-D blocks, crudely forming an image...complete with a blocky black outline around his edges. "Cut Man." Violet wrinkled her nose but retained her dumbfounded look.
    Cut Man immediately went on the attack, running back and forth and jumping in an overly obvious pattern, one which Violet and Zero easily dodged. And yet the both of them were too awestruck by the absurdity of the situation to attack.
        Finally Violet spoke. "You know, this is sad beyond words. There isn't even an artificial intelligence here. It's just...a flippin' sprite of a wuss who should still be in that demented doctor's recycling bin!"
        Zero attempted to grab the Rolling Cutter out of the air. The blade passed through his hand and returned to Cut Man. "......."
Zero's life meter registered a point of damage. "Huh. Wasn't even sharp."
    "You know...I'm getting bored watching this. May I?" "What's stopping you?"
With that Violet amassed a full charge of chi into the Dark Spear and remembering the technique of Bamboo Pandamonium...

- Zero and Princess Violet, Mega Man X8: Paradise Lost - Princess Violet Version

Current Mood: energetic
Current Music: "Waterfall Ruins - Argoyle & Ugoyle the Shisaroids, Mega Man ZX Advent

Happy Birthday, Lisa!
LOGIN: Dr. Arcade
PASSWORD: *****************

REM: My soul-mate is a year older.

OLD NEWS: 2-week vacation in the form of a massive road trip to Montana.

NEW NEWS: Bought a second Wii-mote, Sim City DS, Mega Man Star Force: Pegasus. Bought and watched TMNT on DVD.

And a shout-out to Lisa Fitzwater, once known here as Luna_LG. Happy birthday, soul-mate! =^__^=

ULTRA CREW SELECTION OF THE DAY:
"Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! Why don't you just give up now and get it over with?" Vile taunted. "The world as you know it? Mavericks? Kiss it all goodbye! Mayhem, doom, and destruction! That's what we were built for!"
    "We're better equipped this time, Vile. So spare us the speeches and come get some." Bunnie thundered, looking like her last nerve had been stepped on. "Looks like the heat's taking its toll. Losing your nerve, Bunnie?"
"You seem to have enough to spare, ambushing like this again." Bunnie looked unphased. "We stopped you before and we can do it again." X challenged. And so it was on.
    "You can't escape!" Vile hovered and pelted the pair with blasts from his shoulder cannon. X and Bunnie counterattacked imediately.
At first it seemed like a standoff, both sides taking damage.   At least until...
"I think you need a timeout, hothead! Why don't you chill for a while!" Bunnie fired up the Drift Diamond and smashed Vile with a direct hit.
"AUGGGH!!!" Vile froze solid and dropped like a rock. The ice shattered upon impact and Vile was up again. "You haven't learned anything, Vile." X said. "Same bag of tricks from last time." Bunnie frowned as she set Vile up for another Drift Diamond shot. A couple more convinced Vile to retreat. "Come on. We're almost there. I can feel it..." Bunnie started as she swayed a little and stumbled into X's arms. "Bunnie!" She braced her fall. "The heat is too much. I must take you back to--"
"No. The mission is too important. I'll just have to take the heat for a bit longer." Bunnie stood up again. "Don't let me give up now." She looked at X with pleading eyes. "Okay...but if you fall unconscious, I will have to send you back." X warned. "I will not lose consciousness." Bunnie walked out of the unlocked door and into the hallway beyond. After a short ways the hall emptied back out into the main tunnel shaft.

- Bunnie, X, and Vile -- Mega Man X8: Paradise Lost - Bunnie Rabbot Version

Current Mood: thoughtful
Current Music: "Gemini Spark Stage" (Garbage Computer) - Mega Man Star Force

Be It Ever So Humble...
LOGIN: Dr. Arcade
PASSWORD: *****************

REM: ...there is no place like home.

OLD NEWS: Bought Super Paper Mario and Sonic the Secret Rings. As of Monday, I will be out of town with dad on a two-week vacation--a road trip to Montana. All U.C. Activities on hold.

NEW NEWS: Two weeks later, I return from a grand adventure. All U.C. Activities resumed. Details of vacation to follow:

SUMMER VACATION:

Week 1

Sunday 5th: Preparations for trip. Bought supplies. Invested in a good digital camera and a 2GB SD card. Packed the truck. Attended dad's graduation ceremony, having completed his internship at the International House of Prayer.

Monday 6th: Shutdown of all laboratory systems, final preparations, departed home for a lengthy road trip. Took some scenic shots with digital camera as practice. Crashed at a hotel in Albert Lea, MN.

Tuesday 7th: Lunch at Al's Oasis in Chamberlain, SD and enjoyed a 100% buffalo burger. Traveled through Bad Lands National Park. Massive thunderstorm en route to Mount Rushmore--weather cleared up upon arrival. Many pictures of the monument. Drove to Crazy Horse. Spent rest of the day at the museum and watched the laser show. Attempted to get reservations at a hotel in Rapid City--poorly-planned timing due huge annual Sturgis biker convention--which meant no vacancies for at least a 150 mile radius. Somewhere around 10,000 motorcycles clogged the entire town, especially around Wall Drug. Drove as far as Moorcroft and then past Gillette. Finally pulled into a Rest Area around 2 AM and slept in the truck. Missed our stop at Devil's Tower and drove on at first light.   Swore we'd see it on the way back home.

Wednesday 8th: Little Bighorn National Park. Saw the Custer Battlefield and the presentations. Decided not to repeat the mistake of Tuesday and secured a motel room once we arrived at Red Lodge. Enjoyed pizza for lunch and then burgers for dinner at the Red Lodge Pizza Co. Not much else to report.

Thursday 9th: Drove through Bear Tooth Pass. Many, many photo opportunities. Went to Cook City, MT to explore the town including the Mary Blain Art Studio. Lunch and dinner at the Log Cabin Cafe in Silvergate, MT. Spent the night in one of two cabin rooms next to the cafe, dubbed "Kay" and "Ceil". (We stayed in Kay.).

Friday 10th: Breakfast at the Log Cabin Cafe. Decided to skip the drive to Jackson Hole. Instead drove to Cody. From there we went to Yellowstone. Arrived late Friday. Stayed in a cabin near Mammoth Lodge. Took the Bandit Trail Park Tour at 6:45. Crashed for the night once we got back.

Saturday 11th: Entire day spent exploring Yellowstone National Park.   Breakfast at the diner and grill. Most number of photo opportunities--over 181. Visited Old Faithful, various geysers, hot springs, sulfur ponds, thermal gardens, waterfalls, the Continental Divide, many pictures of forest fires, and countless pictures of the mountains. Countless buffalo/bison. Saw just about every form of wildlife native to the park save for a bear. Dinner at the restaurant. Bison steaks were quite excellent. Called it a day.

Week 2:

Sunday 12th: Breakfast at the restaurant. Departed Yellowstone to Glacier National Park. Long drive. Got a room at a park hotel around Babb, outside of the park for the next couple of days and crashed for the night.

Monday 13th: Spent all day at Glacier National Park. Stop and go photos of the various park sights. Boat tour of McDonald Lake. Many wild life photo opportunities. Called it a night and watched TV.

Tuesday 14th: Drove around Glacier Park. Hung out at Lake McDonald Lodge. Short 2 hour bus tour of Glacier National Park. Departed Glacier National Park in Browning, MT. Stayed the night in a motel.

Wednesday 15th: Arrived at Great Falls, MY. Full day at Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Interpretive Center. Dropped in on dad's cousin, Tom, and his wife, Sharon. Once again stayed in a motel.

Thursday 16th: Began the trip home. Long drive to Rapid City, SD. Stayed in a motel, (having made reservations as to avoid the SNAFU of Tuesday of the previous week. :P On a personal note, dad and I (Well...me more so) have learned to severely dislike motorcycles no thanks to Sturgis. ).

Friday 17th: Long drive to Kansas City, MI. Return to Al's Oasis for a Buffalo Burger along the way. Another stay at a hotel.   Finished the vacation at Devil's Tower. Many photo opportunities.

Saturday 18th: Drive from Kansas City, Missouri to Palmyra--a town close to Hannibal, MI. Dropped in on some old friends of the family, visited their daughters and their kids, stayed the night.

Today: Breakfast then departed Palmyra, Missouri toward home. Seven and one half hour drive to home. Dinner at Longhorn upon arrival at Kettering city limits. Arrived home, unpacked, restored power to laboratory and brought all CRYPTOSMASHER activites up before 8pm. Downloaded Metroid for V.C. Checked out the Metroid Prime 3 preview. Awaiting Super Metroid to become available for download. Have about 760 total photos to index, organize, back up to CD ROM, and get prints of.

ULTRA CREW SELECTION OF THE DAY:
"There it is! That's the abandoned generator. Huh? Oh no! It looks like it's broken down from years of disuse. Maybe if you tried to jump start it with a shock..."
    "Jumpstart it with a shock?! Gahh! How are we supposed to do that? I told you we should have taken Man-O-War instead of Mantis! Then if he had some electrical weapon we could use it on the generator!" Axl snapped. "Hey...I didn't know." Mitzi took a step back, feeling a little scared by the outburst. "Maybe we can try something else to jumpstart it." She offered. "Like what?"
    Mitzi thought for a moment then it came to her.   She morphed the Green Beams back into the Green Pom-Poms. "What good are those? They're not even useful as stun-guns and--" Mitzi gave the generator a good double-whack as her pom-poms lit up with blinding neon green light and crackling green electricity. Suddenly the generator's armature turned over suddenly then quickly stalled out. Mitzi gave it another good smack with the pom-poms, the crackling arcs snaking into the coils and causing the coils to spin again, this time for a slightly longer time.
    And one good simutlaneous bash with both was all that was needed to kickstart the machine, sending its inner workings into a perpetual spin. Electricity coursed through its system of wiring and in moments the whole room lit up as the light panels suddenly blazed to life.
    "It worked!" Mitzi cheered. "..." Axl couldn't find the words.

- Mitzi Mozzarella and Axl, Mega Man X8: Paradise Lost - Mitzi Mozzarella version

Current Mood: rejuvenated
Current Music: "Transport Train" - Diaburn the Gazelloid, Rockman ZX Advent

Summer Vacation
LOGIN: Dr. Arcade
PASSWORD: *****************

REM: Going offline for two weeks.

OLD NEWS: Setsubun (Japanese, February 3rd), Groundhog's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Girl's Festival (Japanese, March 3rd) April Fools, Easter, Boy's Day (Japanese, May 5th), Father's Day, Garfield the Cat's 29th Birthday, MP3 total now up to 2,433. Purchased a pair of 4GB memory cards for PSP 1.50 and
PSP 3.50; storage and battery life no longer an issue. Now have 32 classic and various NES, SNES, Genesis, T-16, and N-64 games purchased and stored on Wii system memory. Bought Elebits, TMNT, and TransFormers the Game for Nintendo Wii--have conquered all three. Three days off work. July the 4th. Saw TransFormers and Live Free or Die Hard.

NEW NEWS: Bought Super Paper Mario and Sonic the Secret Rings. As of Monday, I will be out of town with dad on a two-week vacation--a road trip to Montana. As such all Ultra Crew activities are on hold until I return.
This concludes CRYPTOSMASHER ONLINE's broadcast day until Saturday, August 18th at the earliest.

ULTRA CREW SELECTION OF THE DAY:
    "It's all over!" Sigma grabbed X by the neck and squeezed. "Wallow in despair and hopelessness! The plan to destroy the world you so love is finally coming to fruition! I shed no tears for you and your kind! Ha ha ha ha ha! It will all be over soon!"
    "Even if you were behind the Jakob Project... I won't give up until I've put a stop to your evil scheme!" X strugged to speak. Sigma twisted his face into a horrid, sadistic grin and prepared for the final blow. Suddenly a massive explosion rocked the black metal behemoth, forcing X out of his grasp. "What...? YOU?!"
    X landed roughly and shook his head, waiting for his vision to rebuffer.
As it did X could make out rabbit-ish features and a white karate uniform with a pink one-piece swimsuit barely visible under the jacket. The face became clearer and X could make out a warm smile. "Bunnie!" He exclaimed in relief.
    "But what about Vile?" X inquired. Bunnie smirked in reply then drew her index finger across her neck.    X nodded in approval, giving a thumbs up in reply. And Sigma was absolutely livid.
"To borrow a quote...are you ready for round two?" Bunnie inquired, mouth twisted into a smug grin.

- Mega Man X, Bunnie Rabbot and Belial Sigma - Mega Man X8: Paradise Lost - Bunnie Rabbot Version

Current Mood: excited
Current Music: "Rockman X3 Arranged Medley" by PHOENIX Project

Freedom is the right of all sentient beings
LOGIN: Dr. Arcade
PASSWORD: *****************

REM: More than meets the eye/Yippie-kaiyay, motherf***er! And yes, I'm still alive. Woo, it's been a long time since my last update.

Old News: Thanksgiving, Happy 29th Birthday to me, Christmas, New Years, mastered Elite Beat Agents and Trauma Center: Under the Knife for DS, monthly technology runs, unlocked Proto Man in Mega Man Powered Up, bought Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess for GCN and completed it within a week. Bought Nintendo Wii, Trauma Center: Second Opinion and Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.

New News: Setsubun (Japanese, February 3rd), Groundhog's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Girl's Festival (Japanese, March 3rd) April Fools, Easter, Boy's Day (Japanese, May 5th), Father's Day, Garfield the Cat's 29th Birthday, MP3 total now up to 2,433. Purchased a pair of 4GB memory cards for PSP 1.50 and
PSP 3.50; storage and battery life no longer an issue. Now have 28 classic and various NES, SNES, Genesis, T-16, and N-64 games purchased and stored on Wii system memory.

Bought Elebits, TMNT, and TransFormers the Game for Nintendo Wii--have made ample progress in each.

Enjoying 3 days off work. Yesterday goofed off, played games, and enjoyed pizza.

Today: Fourth of July. Went with dad to see a double feature at the Cinema De Lux--TransFormers and
Live Free or Die Hard. Ate dinner at Mimi's Cafe. Details to follow.

TransFormers: Michael Bay and Steven Spielburg collaborate to bring this summer's blockbuster based on the 80's cartoon/comic book and toy line. We were promised an extravaganza; And I can honestly say...the movie did NOT disappoint. Running 2 hours, 24 minutes and carrying a PG-13 rating, TransFormers does every bit of justice to the story of a civil war between two races of sentient automatons from another planet continuing on the planet of Earth. With huge eye-candy CG and an old as time formula of good vs. evil, TF earns its 3 stars out of 4 quite easily. Featuring Peter Cullen back in the role of Optimus Prime, TransFormers fans will not be disappointed. There is no shortage of action and a good share of witty moments and humor lacing this amazing action comedy (Read 'mostly action'). There are references made to the 1986 movie and moments which will make you say "Yeah, the spirit of G1 is alive and well. Overhauled for the 00's but recognizable to the fanbase." And newbies will find plenty to like about the movie. The human-robot cast balance each other well, neither taking away from the other; there's character behind those metal frames.
Transformers purists will recognize the names of Bumblebee, Jazz, Ratchet, and Ironhide as well as Starscream, Frenzy, Devastator, and Scorponok among newcomers like Blackout and Barricade. And Megatron is there in all his evil glory, voiced by Hugo Weaving. And of course there are a few surprises as well including a X-Box 360 being accidently brought to life by the Allspark cube. (^^;;;).
Action, adventure, a little comedy, a little boy-meets-girl chemistry, one underdog Camero (With an airfreshner bearing the moniker, "Bee-otch"), a chihuahua with a cast on its paw, an awkward talk from the Witwicky parents with their son while his would-be girlfriend is hiding under his bed and 30-foot robots are trying to be stealthy, hiding (with great difficulty) outside his house (while unintentionally destroying his dad's prize backyard lawn), and one Decepticon, Frenzy, taking a crap-load of abuse, there's a little something for everybody and lots of that classic robots in disguise spirit to boot. So what are you waiting for? Go see the movie, darnit!!!

Live Free or Die Hard: While TransFormers was easily everything I had hoped for, Die Hard 4 is pretty much everything I had been expecting. Guns, techno-terrorism, one pissed off burnt out NYPD cop whose daughter is disowning him, a weak-in-the knees hacker, a helicopter being taken down with a police cruiser, and a hell of of a lot of chaos as the hackers can only describe as a "Fire Sale" (Everything must go.).   From the moment John McClaine is asked to bring in a lowly computer hacker, he's shot at and nearly blown up by a PC rigged with C4 which eventually leads to an ensuing chase to catch up to the bad guys. What ensues is a cyber-terrorist scheme to bring the country to its knees in a three-fold "Fire Sale"--cripple national-wide transportation, then national-wide communication, and finally national-wide utilities all laced with creepy video images including Presidential speeches spliced together in a threatening message as well as a horrific image of the White House being blown sky high after a series of cryptic, unnerving messages (which would even creep the Riddler out)--all to cover the ULTIMATE heist. Detective John McClaine sets out to kick everyone one of the bastards' asses as well and rescue his daughter whom is of course being held hostage. If we've seen it in the first three, we've pretty much seen it here, albeit more 00's-friendly. Bruce Willis spares no expense at his familiar gritty, tough guy act laced with some well-timed one liners accentuated by a dose of fists and bullets. Who else could take out an F-35 fighter jet while wrangling with an 18-wheeler on a collapsing highway while he's being shot at with vulcans and missiles? Carrying an appropriate Fourth of July theme, fans of the series will not be disappointed but will likely not be impressed. Two stars out of four seems about right. Go see if you want the action. Don't go if you want new territory.

-Dr. Arcade

Ultra Crew Selection of the Day:

    Someone WAS waiting at the top. "Vile." Zero narrowed his eyes. "These meeting are getting a little old and rehashed." Violet crossed her arms as she watched the green reploid hover above the edge of the tower. He quickly jetted over with a cackle.

    "Don't you guys ever get tired of the whole "justice" thing?" He questioned. "Don't you ever get tired of being Sigma's lap dog?" Zero countered, unphased.   "The Orbital Elevator...the energy, the space minerals, the rocket data... The route to space - the thing that's allowed this world to survive this long - is ours! How can you take this world seriously when it's all about to end?" Vile continued, brushing aside the comment.

"Hmmph. I think I'll take care of you before I go after your boss." Zero challenged. "Pencil me in for a meeting with his supreme ugliness, too. I have to tell him what I think of his hostile takeover. Don't feel too bad about getting the pink slip, Vile...we'll be sure to make sure he joins you, okay?"   Violet gave her spear the most impressive spin yet, drawing it to the left then the right while in rotation before gripping it tightly. She meant business.

- Mega Man X8: Paradise Lost - Princess Violet Version

Current Mood: Patriotic
Current Music: "The Touch" (TransFormers the Movie 1986) by Stan Bush

Wii would like to play...
LOGIN: Dr. Arcade
PASSWORD: *****************

REM: Processor check: Hollywood = OK Broadway = OK Network check: wireless router found = Connection OK.

RE: The revolution has begun/Operation Overdrive is underway. (Also it's been ages since I last updated my LJ. I'm long overdue so I'll make this one a good one.)

Old News: Fairmont High celebrates Homecoming. Went to Alumni Night on Friday, October 13th. Marched once again with the Fairmont Firebirds Alumni Marching Band. Stayed the whole night. We won the game 26 to 0. Halloween night tonight and got the night off work. Passed out candy and enjoyed what was left over. Spent the rest of the night in cyberspace.

New News: Thanksgiving Day spent at the family of Dad's closest friend. I celebrated my 29th birthday at Bullwinkle's Bistro with a full slab of ribs and Trauma Center and Elite Beat Agents, both for DS. Special services in rememberance of Mom.

Christmas celebrated in the usual tradition at Uncle Tim's (Dad's side of the family) and later Uncle Fred's (Mom's side of the family). Got CastleVania: Portrait of Ruin, some blank CD's, much-needed clothing, a USB 1 GB MP3 player, and some other lite stuff; a relatively modest if not small Christmas compared to previous years. Completed Portrait of Ruin before the New Year.

Celebrated the New Year with sparkling grape juice and the usual dropping of the ball on TV. Work, play, eat, and sleep for most of January. Winter arrived late. Mastered Trauma Center after repeated attempts at the Tetri scenarios.

Went technology shopping in January for Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess for Gamecube, an external power kit (AC adaptor and car adaptor) for my DS Lite, a pair of X2 Battery replacements for my PSP 1.5 and PSP 3.11. Downloaded enough arranged doujin Rockman tracks and other music to bring the grand total up to 2,360. More work and play. Conquered Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess within a week of its purchase.

Unlocked Proto Man in Mega Man Powered Up--true enough he's ungodly powerful although his Proto Shield doesn't work quite like it did in Mega Man 7--if a shot hits you from the front, it deflects the shot but it's knocked out of Proto Man's hand and he has to pick it up again otherwise it gets left behind for the remainder of the stage. Storywise, it seems Proto Man doesn't like Dr. Light much--it seems he carries a grudge over being an unfinished robot was replaced by his younger helper robot "brother". He's no fan of Dr. Wily's either for creating the "Sniper Joe" robots and the Copy Robot clone. Stoic, no-nonsense, and confident, Proto Man definitely has the "older brother" voice.

Hard work, determination, refusal to give up, coupled with a borderline disappointing Christmas pays off: today I bought a Wii, Trauma Center: Second Opinion, and Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. I will of course have to wait a bit until I pay off the credit card bill before I start investing in Wii points and downloading virtual console games. But all the trouble leading up to today is by far worth it and then some.

Life is good. ^__^

Ultra Crew Spotlight: Still none yet.

Current Mood: ecstatic
Current Music: "Metal Man Metal Blade Rock Style" by Phoenix Project

Halloween
LOGIN: Dr. Arcade
PASSWORD: *****************

REM: "Vampires, werewolves, and ghosts, oh my!"

RE: Celebrating the Festival of Samhain

OLD NEWS: Fairmont Hight Class of 96' Reunion, Lisa Fitzwater (luna-lg)'s birthday, bought and watched Ultraviolet and The Wizard on DVD.

NEW NEWS: Fairmont High celebrates Homecoming. Went to Alumni Night on Friday, October 13th. Marched once again with the Fairmont Firebirds Alumni Marching Band. Stayed the whole night. We won the game 26 to 0. Halloween night tonight and got the night off work. Passed out candy and enjoyed what was left over. Spent the rest of the night in cyberspace.

OTHER STUFF: Miranda RP Halloween 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006 Ultra Crew costumes:

2003
Neil - Robin (Teen Titans)
Bunnie - Starfire (Teen Titans)
Violet - Raven (Teen Titans)
Rotor - Cyborg (Teen Titans)
Pit - Beast Boy (Teen Titans)
Jon - Vegeta (Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT)

2004
Neil - Viewtiful Joe (Viewtiful Joe, Viewtiful Joe 2)
Bunnie - Rogue (X-Men)
Violet - Mitzi Mozzarella (Rock-Afire Explosion)
Jon - Vash the Stampede (Trigun)
Lupe - Gaia the Spirit of the Earth (Captain Planet)
Scott - Inuyasha (Inuyasha)
Samus Aran - Jody Summer (F-Zero X, F-Zero AX/GX)
Pit - Spiral Pegasus (Mega Man X5)
Prince Laslo - Thomas Anderson/Neo (the Matrix, the Matrix Reloaded, the Matrix Revolutions)
Callista Brighton - Daphne Blake (Scooby-Doo)

2005
Neil - Elec Man (Mega Man)
Bunnie - Snake-Eyes (G.I. Joe Sigma Six)
Violet - 2-D (Gorillaz)
Violet's Genetic Clone - Noodle (Gorillaz)
Al Dente - Russel Hobbe (Gorillaz)
Laslo - Murdoc Nicols (Gorillaz)
Jon Talbain - Alphonse Elrick (Full-Metal Alchemist)
William Talbain - Edward Elrick (Full-Metal Alchemist)
Sally - Izumi (Full-Metal Alchemist)
Gadget Hackwrench - Winrey (Full-Metal Alchemist)
Lupe Lycans - Mari McCabe AKA Vixen (Justice League Unlimited)
Scott - Inuyasha (Inuyasha)
Iris - Kikio (Inuyasha)
Pit - Treble Booster Bass (Mega Man 8)
Usagi Yojimbo - Bucky O'Hare (Bucky O'Hare)

2006
Neil "G.E.K.W." - 'Weird Al' Yankovic
Bunnie Rabbot - Rukia Kuchika (Bleach)
Princess Violet Tokugawa - Ultraviolet
Princess Violet Clone #8 - Aeon Flux
Jon Talbain - Father Abel Nightroad (Trinity Blood)
William Talbain - Renton Thurston (Eureka Seven)
Felicia the Catwoman - Sister Esther Blanchett
Samus Aran - Eureka Seven (Eureka Seven)
Princess Sally Acorn - XLR8 (Ben 10)
Lupe Lycans - Flora (Winx Club)
Callista Brighton - Tess Darett (Pole Position)
Gadget Hackwrench - Princess Romell (Voltron)
Mitzi Mozzarella - Princess Allura (Voltron)
Dook Larue - Commander Keith Akira Kogane (Voltron)
Beach Bear - Lance Charles McClaine (Voltron)
Fatz Geronimo - "Hunk" Garrett (Voltron)
Rolfe DeWolfe - Sven Holgersson (Voltron)
Earl Schmerle - Darell "Pidge" Stoker (Voltron)
Billy Bob Brockali - Coran (Voltron)
Speedy Cervichi - Torr (Mighty Orbots)
Guido Anchovi - Bort (Mighty Orbots)
Polly Ester - Bo (Mighty Orbots)
Francine Tabbyworth - Boo (Mighty Orbots)
General Catton - Crunch (Mighty Orbots)
Rotor Walrus - Whiz (Kidd Video)
Tails - Captain Super Fox (his favorite comic book character)
Antoine D'Cooliette - Ishigo Kurasaki (Bleach)
Maverick Hunter Alia - Susan Storm (Fantastic Four)
Maverick Hunter Iris - Lady Kikio (Inuyasha)
Prince Laslo - Nolan Bushnell (former Atari founder)

ULTRA CREW SPOTLIGHT: None for today.

Current Mood: hyper
Current Music: "White & Nerdy" by Weird Al Yankovic

Remember the Warp
LOGIN: Dr. Arcade
PASSWORD: *****************

REM: "I love the Power Glove. It's so bad."

RE: Happy Birthday, Lisa M. Fitzwater

OLD NEWS: Nintendo DS Lite. Rockman ZX soundtrack. Paid Vacaction 3: The Sequel to Paid Vacation 2 (:p).

NEW NEWS: Friday, August 25th began the Fairmont Class of 96' ten-year reunion. Started day off as normal. Enjoyed a quick pizza party at Marion's Pizza before the Fairmont Firebirds vs. Alter Knights football game. Football game started at 7:00 PM. Had dinner after first quarter. Fairmont lost, 0 to 33. Went to Harrigan's pub after the game and met with a large portion of the class of 96. Several old friends were there (If you're reading this, you know who you are. ^_^) and we caught up on old times.
Saturday, August 26, finished out the trip down memory lane. At 1PM, went on a tour of the newly-remodeled alma mater. Having seen how great the school looks compared to when construction began during my junior year, I have to say I'm envious of the new generation of students. At 5PM, I went to the Class Reunion at IUE Local 755. For the next seven hours I enjoyed food, drink, a live band and catching up with so many of my old friends and classmates. There was of course games and dancing and a look into the 10-year Time Capsule. We also took the time to remember some who had passed away. (;_;) When all was said and done, I spent a good seven hours reacquainting myself with a generation that had long since gone their seperate ways. I don't have any immediate plans on going to another renunion any time soon (within the next 15 or more years)...but I hope this is not the last time I see any of my old friends.

In other news I'd like to wish luna-lg (Lisa Fitzwater) a happy birthday. ^o^ *hugs and kisses*

And on still another note, I'd like to point out that today "The Wizard" releases on DVD. Classic Fred Savage movie featuring the Video Armageddon tournament that introduced us to the beta version Super Mario Bros. 3 ("Get the star!!!") Also featured several other popular NES and arcade games from Double Dragon to Mega Man 2 to Contra to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1 to Metroid to Simon's Quest to Adventure of Link. Yes. Classic. Video. Game. Nostalgia.

ULTRA CREW SPOTLIGHT: The Samurai Pizza Cats (Team B).

General Catton, Meowsma O'Tool, Spritz T. Cat, and Bat Cat.

Full name: General Catten
Race: Edoropian, cat
Age: Middleaged. Really.
Eyes: black
Hair: unknown, dark brown fur
Height: 4'11"
Weight: Heavyweight Sumo
Element: None
Preferred weapon(s): Twin Mortar Cannons, Samurai Blaster Armor

Full name: Meowsma O'Tool
Race: Edoropian, cat
Age: Unknown.
Eyes: Brown eyes
Hair: brown hair, brown fur
Height: 4'0"
Weight: Unknown
Element: None.
Preferred weapon(s): Elbow Saws, Shoulder Drills, Samurai Tornado Attack, Samurai Ground Armor.

Full name: Spritz The Cat
Race: Edoropian, cat
Age: Unknown.
Eyes: Blue
Hair: black, brown fur
Height: 4'0"
Weight: Unknown
Element: Water
Preferred weapon(s): Water Cannons, Samurai Scuba Armor

Full name: Bat Cat
Race: Edoropia
Age: Unknown.
Eyes: Hazel
Hair: Blond, brown fur
Height: 4'4"
Weight: Unknown
Element: Wind.
Preferred weapon(s): Helicoptor Rotors, Wind Attacks, Flying, Samurai Winged Coptor Armor

BIOGRAPHY: The Pizza Cats have been long-standing allies and official members of Ultra Crew since their first meeting during their first season (a cross-over which mysteriously vanished from the series after the phrase "production budget cuts" had been uttered at the executives' meeting...). Often relying on their unique mix of cybertechno armor and Shogun-crafted weapons, flashy special effects, one-liners and pop culture references, and of course mediocre agents and dumb luck, the Pizza Cats always triumph over evil and make their deliveries on time. Each of them brings a unique skill and flavor to the team. The B-Team specialize in the different forms of transportation (and firepower where applicable).

ORIGIN: While no official documentation is available detailing the origin of the Samurai Pizza Cats fighting force and pizza delivery franchises nor any detailing the origins of its individual members, it is understood that Big Al Dente enlisted and funded the services of the cats at the beginning of season one and has relied on their help in thwarting Prime Minister Seymore Cheese's unconventional if not weird attempts at overthrowing the government with his unruly tactics and secret Yakuza organization originally made up of the Ninja Crows and his seemingly unending supply of ridiculously-designed superrobots. Each of the B-Team has his own Pizza Cat franchise in seperate corners of Little Tokyo and can be launched to whever the Pizza Cats are in their own unique variations of the Six-Shooter launcher cannon (ie: giant blowdrier, etc.).
Recent years have provided the B-Team with unique vehicals of their own to match their armor and backpack weaponry.

PROFILES:
General Catten: The leader and master of firepower of the Samurai Pizza Cats' fighting force Backup Team. A military general, sumo, and part-time interior decorator, Catten is on hand when the Pizza Cats need blasting power and lots of it. His backpack mortar cannons can fire explosive cannon balls, lasers blasts, and can even shoot off fireworks. Nowadays, Catten finds himself being called to Miranda City to do extensive repairs and cleanup after the city has suffered a major attack. General Catten's big and bold and runs a tight ship. Speedy has yet to get back to him on negotiating a raise for him and the other B-Team. The General has the size, strength, and artilliary to back up his militant talk. A demolitions expert and artilliary master, Catten loves to make noise and enjoys being commissioned to demolished condemned buildings or blast away rugged terrain for construction projects...or just plain blow stuff up when there's nothing else to do.

Meowsma O'Tool: The terrain expert of the fighting force of backup Pizza Cats, Meowsma is a man...er...cat of the land. His armor is built for tunneling underground and he sports buzzsaws and drills as his tools of the trade. Like his partners, Meowsma now spends his days cleaning up the messes left by major battles in Miranda City. The city saves a fortune on quick repairs by hiring Meowsma and company. A down-to-earth cat of the land, Meowsma's confident and good at improvising (he once managed to trick a superrobot into falling down a big pit he dug by taunting it with funny faces and slapping his butt with his tail); using his Tornado Twister special attack to scatter evil forces every which way. Meowsma will often pop up in town by burrowing up out of the ground when and where you least expect him. His team mates consider him an all-around straightman with a lot of rarely seen hidden talent.

Spritz T. Cat: Spritz is a scuba-diving marine specializing in all things aquatic. Able to do amazing things with water cannons, Spritz rules the element of water quite well. Like the rest of his crew, Spritz lately finds himself rebuilding Miranda City after major battles. Courageous and quick on his feet, Spritz will dare to go where no one else will tread (Once he escaped a Ninja Crow jail cell by diving into the toilet and swiming through the sewer system.) Using such quick thinking tricks as posing as a grandfather clock, Spritz is cleaver and creative when the situation demands. As a water-master, Spritz will use the system of hoses in his tail armor to draw in water from any convinient source and use it to drive his awesome high-pressure double arm cannon water blasters. He sometimes carries a deck of trick cards with emit tiny water geysers for show. Spritz is an avid card player and loves a good poker game. He will often enter town by shooting up through a sudden water geyser from any convinient water source--usually the Miranda Square fountain.

Bat Cat: Bat Cat, the flighty daredevil of the skies, is the Pizza Cat B-Teams own air enforcer. The master of flight, Bat Cat is quick to take his battles to the air with some wind and rotor attacks to spare. Bat Cat, besides being a novice magician is also the team's own tongue-twister champion. Bat Cat can often be found with his partners, rebuilding Miranda City after a major attack. A bit of a surfer bum at heart and always seeking excitment and challenge, Bat Cat is known to get bored when things are just a little took calm and quiet and will openly complain when he's stuck with a tedious, mundain, or otherwise grueling/unpleasant task. Bat Cat loves the open skies and has been known to be a hot shot while airborn. His main backpack helicoptor rotor is outfited with a high beam searchlight for night missions. Bat Cat is attracted to good times, wild parties, and all-around adventure like iron to a magnet.

Relationships:
-Francine Tabbyworth: In their first season, before Fran was added to the Pizza Cat fighting force, Francine would often call upon one or more of the Pizza Cat B-Team when the Deep Dish Trio were in over their heads and tails. They were unfortunately stuck with the task of rebuilding and cleaning the main pizza emporium after the boobytrapped giftbox Speedy threw to the ground turned out to be a bomb during the Walky-Talky robot incident.

-The Rude Noise: Counterpart to the B-Team in almost every way, these four mercenary rock band criminal crows each carried powerful weapons, bad attitude, and the ability to combine their collective special effects into a deadly Crowbot superrobot which proved to be as much a match for the B-Team as the main team (especially with their solar power being cut off by the Sunblock Sixteen).

-Big Al Dente: The Pizza Cats' contact and often the one to chew them out when they screw up...unless Violet gets to them first. As he once put it "Those guys are the DIRTIEST fighters I've ever seen...........maybe I can get them to work for me..." Al had more interaction with them when the spinoff series started piling up. He currently owes Spritz a lot of money, having made the mistake of accepting a poker challenge...

-Princess Violet: Often the source of many of their headaches, the Pizza Cats often find themselves coming to her aid...even if it's only to deliver the Royal Munchies. In later series her involvement as an ally has grown stronger. It could be because of her demands to get more screen time and improve her image...
Fortunately they never really got the buisness from Violet. At least not in the first couple of seasons.
Violet now keeps the four of them on speed-dial in Miranda when the square has been demolished in a major attack or mishap--they are thus called in to do record-speed rebuilds of said Miranda Square.

-Guru Lou: Cranky old hermit who takes credit for technology, wisdom and guidance that the Pizza Cats
for some unexplained reason credit him for in the first place. When he's not in a bad mood, he's often inventing gear that flops tremendously or running up Al's credit card bill on MSD-laden food and drink. Like the main team, the B-Team for unknown reasons hold him in undeserved high regard. Guru Lou is glad he sees them a lot less often than that blasted A-Team quartet!

-The Brothers Arcade: When Guru Lou fell flat during the running of Pizza Cats Nitrous, the Neo Arcadians stepped in to upgrade their armor, weapons, and gear. Their appearances pretty much broke the bank on the production's woefully sorry budget, but were what ultimately bailed them out of what could have been a spinoff series canceled at its pilot episode. Like the main team, the B-Team's weapons, gear, and vehicals have received continual upgrades and redesigns thans to Odie and his staff.

Current Mood: relaxed
Current Music: "Super Mario Bros. 3" - Super Smash Bros. Melee

LOGIN: Dr. Arcade
PASSWORD: *****************

REM: Vacation Station: the Sequel

RE: Ten-Year Time Warp (Fairmont High Class of 96' Reunion)

OLD NEWS: Max Media Kit with 4 Gigabyte Harddrive and Moon Shell application to run multimedia. New Super Marios Bros., Teen Titans, and Rampage: Total Destruction. Father's Day, Fourth of July, work and play.

NEW NEWS: Upgraded to Nintendo Dual Screen Lite. Downloaded the Rockman ZX soundtrack. Final paid vacation of the year begins today. No travel plans. Fairmont High Class of 1996 Reunion looms ahead on Friday and Saturday. I plan on attending the pizza party, football game, and tour of the remodeled campus.

ULTRA CREW SPOTLIGHT: The Samurai Pizza Cats (Team A).

Speedy Cerviche, Guido Anchovy, Polly Ester, and Francine Tabbyworth

Full name: Speedy Cerviche (Pronouced Sir-VEE-chee)
Race: Edoropian, cat
Age: Presumed to be late 20's to early 30's.
Eyes: blue
Hair: light brown fur, blond hair
Height: 3'0"
Weight: 90 lbs.
Element: Light
Preferred weapon(s): Ginzu Sword, Stars of Ginzu
Family/close relations: Uncle Irving (works on nuclear reactors)

Full name: Guido Anchovy
Race: Edoropian, cat
Age: late 20's to early 30’s.
Eyes: light brown
Hair: dark brown fur, black hair
Height: 4'0"
Weight: Lies about it and his physique to impress the ladies
Element: Ice
Preferred weapon(s): Samurai Sunspot Umbrella, Samurai Sword, Kunai Daggers
Family/close relations: Unknown

Full name: Polly Ester
Race: Edoropian, cat
Age: Believed to be Late 20's to early 30’s.
Eyes: blue
Hair: white fur, candy apple red hair
Height: 3'6"
Weight: Ask and you die
Element: Fire
Preferred weapon(s): $10 Manicure (claws), Samurai Passion Rod (flute), Love Bombs, Heart Darts
Family/close relations: Unknown

Full name: Francine Tabbyworth
Race: Edoropian, cat
Age: Old enough to lie about it and young enough to consider herself forever available
Eyes: periwinkle
Hair: blond
Height: 2'10"
Weight: I KNOW you did not just go there!
Element: Electricity
Preferred weapon(s): Samurai War Fans, Spark Plug Bombs, Cam Shaft Staff
Family/close relations: Unknown

BIOGRAPHY: The Pizza Cats have been long-standing allies and official members of Ultra Crew since their first meeting during their first season (a cross-over which mysteriously vanished from the series after the phrase "production budget cuts" had been uttered at the executives' meeting...). Often relying on their unique mix of cybertechno armor and Shogun-crafted weapons, flashy special effects, one-liners and pop culture references, and of course mediocre agents and dumb luck, the Pizza Cats always triumph over evil and make their deliveries on time. Each of them brings a unique skill and flavor to the team.

ORIGIN: While no official documentation is available detailing the origin of the Samurai Pizza Cats fighting force and pizza delivery franchises nor any detailing the origins of its individual members, it is understood that Big Al Dente enlisted and funded the services of the cats at the beginning of season one and has relied on their help in thwarting Prime Minister Seymore Cheese's unconventional if not weird attempts at overthrowing the government with his unruly tactics and secret Yakuza organization originally made up of the Ninja Crows and his seemingly unending supply of ridiculously-designed superrobots.

PROFILES:
Speedy: Standing a mere 3 feet, Speedy hails from a proud Italian heratage and is a noted fanatic about hiegene. He has an impressive comic book collection and has seen Top Gun more times than his friends can keep track of. Speedy is always competing with Guido for the love and attention of local tea shop owner, Lucille Lambert. Their fights often end with her getting upset and losing control of the missile launchers she hides in her hairdo. Often earning the contempt of Polly for goofing off, saying the wrong thing, being distracted by Lucille, or being late to work, Speedy has often ended up cleaning the Pizza Emporium's bathrooms as punishment or gotten the business end of Polly's pots and pans. Speedy has had a rivalry with former crooked crow, Bad Bird and now has friendly(?) competition with him and his Ninja Crow franchise pizzaria (at least until they get that $%@# corporate merger off the ground!). Speedy often uses his famous Cat Slash as a finishing move on the numerous robots that Seymore "The Big Cheese" Cheese sics on Little Tokyo. Speedy's main weapon is his Shogun-crafted Ginzu Sword--the sheath houses a second sword which when paired with its mate can be used to summon Speedy's trademark Cat Slash crescent beam. Past series have given him such gear as the light sword and teleport armor as well as the Surge Scorcher Nitrous stockcar and nitrous armor with piston rockets.

Guido: Cool and calculating Guido Anchovy is Speedy's best friend and friendly(?) rival competing for the affections of Lucille Lambert. Guido is a total flirt with the ladies and uses more pickup lines in a week than most people use in a lifetime. He often earns the contempt of fellow coworker, Polly Ester from the misdeliveries he makes as a result of being distracted by pretty girls. Guido, when he's not being a lecherous ladies man, is usually lax and laid back and takes things in stride. Often vain and narcissist, Guido aways tries to look his best, whether he's trying to impress women or just trying to pad his heroic reputation. Sporting a fluid and flashy repetoir of moves, Guido held his own in Samurai High. He's proficient with a katana or his trademark Samurai Sunspot Umbrella and often uses kunai daggers as a projectile weapon.
Guido has commanded gear over the course of the Pizza Cat spinoff series as the Magnet Compressor, Hologram Armor, and the Passion Pursuer nitrous stockcar and nitrous armor with liquid-nitrogen powered radiator jetspray.

Polly: When the Pizza Cats need raw power and lots of it, they turn to this pick of the litter. Polly is mad, bad, and goes absolutely crazy if you cross her wrong. With her super strength, sharp claws, and viscious temper, Polly wastes no time kicking the crap out of bad guys and keeping her coworkers in line. A dedicated worker who takes her job seriously, Polly is quite impressive any way you slice her. While Speedy is considered the leader of the Pizza Cats, there's no argueing that Polly is boss when it comes to running the pizzaria. Polly is ungodly strong, even by cartoon standards. So strong that she's able to knock down buildings and crush boulders several times her own size. Her weapons of choice are her very sharp, finely manicured claws, Heart Dart projectiles, and generic katana. Polly's weapons and gear have ranged from the Fusion Armor with Vacuum Laser to the Turbo Screamer nitrous stockcar and nitrous armor with Love Burner torches.

Francine: Francine is the smallest and youngest of the cats (but lots of luck getting you to tell her real age) and the most recently added to the Samurai Pizza Cats fighting force. She runs the cash register and tallies the bills as well as handles everyone's paychecks. Francine's ambition is to marry a cute young millionaire and live out the rest of her life in luxury. Francine completed her samurai training at the beginning of Pizza Cats Nitrous and was the final cat to receive her Nitrous Armor and Nitro Vehicle, the Gale Rider. Fran isn't afraid to get her hands dirty and when her coworkers are being idiots she can be as intimidating as Polly when it comes to getting them back in line. While, Polly and Guido add fire and ice to the team with Speedy adding flair and leadership, Francine keeps the team respectable, adding cuteness and innocence to the mix. Francine besides having typing skills and the ability to run the cash register blindfolded has a full repetoir of samurai fighting moves and special effects. She is new to using chi but has proven quite promising with her move the Arrow of Courage which allows her to channel lightning through her Samurai War Fans and shoot it out, forming a ring of electrified stars around her opponent which quickly shrink inward before going supercritical and exploding outward. Her weaponry has changed the most over the continuing Pizza Cat series, ranging from her Spark Plug Bombs and Cam Shaft Staff to her more recent Star Bow and Star Arrows and Light Tonfas and Star Disks. She also commanded the nitrous armor with Ignition Coil lightning beam and the Gale Rider nitrous stockcar.

Relationships:
-Lucille Lambert: the owner and proprieter of Lucille's Tea Shop has always been a faithful ally to the Pizza Cats and is often caught up in a love triangle between Speedy and Guido. She's been a friend to Polly since their Pointless Sisters days and she continues to support them...even if her emotions get the best of her, resulting in unintentional demolition courtessy of her missile system.

-The Crow formerly known as Bad Bird: The former commanding officer of the Ninja Crows became a powerful enemy to the cats when Seymore Cheese cured an ailing tribal elder and leader Jerry Attrick. It wasn't until the Comet Caper when his loyalties became clear during his final battle with Speedy. Ultimately he and Speedy together saved Little Tokyo from the comet at the cost of the Supreme Catatonic. Speedy got him a job at a Ninja Crows pizzaria across the street and the two of them would become friendly (usually) rivals and competitors until the paperwork would go through for corporate unification, merging their franchises under one business.

-Carla Robinson: Bad Bird's love interest ever since their youth back in their village. She's a friend to both Pizza Cats and Ninja Crows and many times the one who keeps them both civil and respectable, keeping old rivalries from rekindling.

-Big Al Dente: The Pizza Cats' contact and often the one to chew them out when they screw up...unless Violet gets to them first. As he once put it "Those guys are the DIRTIEST fighters I've ever seen...........maybe I can get them to work for me..."

-Princess Violet: Often the source of many of their headaches, the Pizza Cats often find themselves coming to her aid...even if it's only to deliver the Royal Munchies. In later series her involvement as an ally has grown stronger. It could be because of her demands to get more screen time and improve her image...

- The Pizza Cat B-Team: These four lesser-known Pizza Cats are each a master of a different terrain/tactic and are often called in when the cats are getting their tails handed to them on a platter.

-Guru Lou: Cranky old hermit who takes credit for technology, wisdom and guidance that the Pizza Cats
for some unexplained reason credit him for in the first place. When he's not in a bad mood, he's often inventing gear that flops tremendously or running up Al's credit card bill on MSD-laden food and drink.

-The Brothers Arcade: When Guru Lou fell flat during the running of Pizza Cats Nitrous, the Neo Arcadians stepped in to upgrade their armor, weapons, and gear. Their appearances pretty much broke the bank on the production's woefully sorry budget, but were what ultimately bailed them out of what could have been a spinoff series canceled at its pilot episode.

Current Mood: nostalgic
Current Music: "Area K - Lava Zone" - Rockman ZX soundtrack

Father's Day
LOGIN: Dr. Arcade
PASSWORD: *****************

REM: Vacation Station.

RE: Day of the Dad.

OLD NEWS: Metroid Prime Hunters, Tetris DS, First paid vacation of the year, trip to Bowling Green followed by Gatlinburg.

NEW NEWS: Ordered Datel's Max Media Player kit with 4GB HDD harddrive for Nintendo DS. Loaded no less than 1,016 of my favorite mp3s, my entire NSF library, and a cross section of my photos/pictures and my text documents including the Complete 2005 Miranda RP Timeline (written and ported from my laptop). Bought New Super Mario Bros. and conquered it before the night was over. Bought and conquered Teen Titans for Gamecube and bought Rampage: Total Destruction for Gamecube--went on a full day's Rampage-a-thon, conquering Rampage (original arcade port), Rampage: World Tour (arcade port), and Rampage Total Destruction before the night was over--my thumbs paid a dear price. (>_<)
Enjoyed a week of the house to myself while Dad was out of town in Mississipi for a mission trip with
the Alpha Program group. Father's Day--bought dad a nice card and some nifty mini books. Went to a Dayton Dragon's game and watched our team win (BOO-YAH!) 6 to 1. Went to dinner at Bullwinkle's Bistro with Dad, big little-brother and his wife and enjoyed a gooood slab of ribs.

ULTRA CREW SPOTLIGHT: Space Hunter, Samus Aran

Samus Aran

TECHNICAL
Full name: Samus Aran
Race: Human with traces of chozo and metroid DNA
Age: Unknown.
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Blond
Height: 7'0"
Weight: Unknown
Element: None.
Preferred weapon(s): Power Suit -- Power Beam, Wave Beam, Ice Beam, Wide Beam (Spazer), Plasma Beam, Light Beam, Dark Beam, Annhilator Beam, Missiles, Super Missiles, Bombs, Power Bombs, Screw Attack, Grapple Beam, etc.
Family/close relations:
Theme Songs:
''Premonition of Fell Purpose'' (Title) - Metroid
''So It Begins'' (Prologue) - Super Metroid
''Data Load/Reload'' - Super Metroid
''Brinstar'' - Metroid
Quotes:
''A Space Hunter doesn't NEED a weapon! A Space Hunter IS a weapon!''
''I intend to leave a happy Space Hunter with a lot less ammo.''

BIOGRAPHY: Ultra Crew's one-woman army secret weapon and severely badass bounty hunter of space. Samus is a hardcore, bringer of destruction to the most vile and lethal monsters of the universe. Sporting her cybernetic Power Suit, Samus knows how to kick ass and take names. Samus has a legendary reputation almost in league with Mario, often outshining her former N-Team comrades.

ORIGIN: Born on space colony, K-2L, Samus' life wast torn to shreds when Space Pirates led by Ridley attacked and destroyed it, killing all the humans living there, including Samus' parents. In the aftermath, little Samus was found by the race of nomadic bird-like aliens known as the chozo. They brought her to their homeworld, raising her and training her, prophecizing the day of her return.

Samus after coming of age was given the Power Suit and allowed to leave the nest so to speak to find her destiny. As such she became a Space Hunter--the most fiercesome breed of bounty hunter known to mankind, performing freelance jobs until she was recruited by the Galactic Federation.

Samus was assigned to many tasks until she finally answered the call to Garfield's N-Team Division and joined up to seek a new challenge and for the opportunity to get revenge on the Space Pirates.

Samus' so-called Zero Mission took place in cooperation with the N-Team, in which the energy-sucking lifeform, "Metroid", was stolen by the Space Pirates of Zebes to be bred and harnessed by their plasmatic computer, Mother Brain. Samus led a full-scale search and destroy mission to eradicate the Metroids, the two Zebesian Generals, Ridley and Kraid, and shut down the Mother Brain. Her escape was cut short when the survivors shot down her gunship, forcing her to infiltrate their mother ship without the aid of her Power Suit. Destroying Mecha-Ridley, Samus escaped the ship, stealing a Space Pirate drone ship. She was honored as a hero and commended for her efforts.

Samus' next adventure took her to a derilict space frigate which turned out to be a Space Pirate laboratory, experimenting with an unknown mutagen. During her escape from the self-destructing ship, Samus' Power Suit was damaged and she was forced to arrive on planet Tallon IV, unaware of her prophecized return. Already too late to save her former second home, Samus learned of the Phazon Meteor and the Space Pirates' efforts to harness its power as well as the fate of the Chozo caregivers. Samus fought her way across the planet, finding the 12 artificates to unlock the dimensional gate leading to Metroid Prime. Samus escaped Tallon IV, not realizing a new enemy had been created from Metroid Prime's remains.

The next adventure for Samus brought her to Aether where her ship crash landed. She stumbled upon the remains of a Federation ship and crew as well as a whole new enemy she had never encountered before. And she also came face to face with her most dangerous opponent yet--Dark Samus. Fighting her way across the planet, Samus fullfilled the wishes of the surviving Luminoth and restored balance to the planet, traveling between Aether and Dark Aether, and returning the life energy to its rightful place. Her adventure led her to the Ing Emperor and a final battle against Dark Samus. Returning to Aether, Samus managed to save a civilization and return home.

News of Metroid activity brought Samus to the planet where the Metroid was discovered, known as planet SR-388. Samus orders were to exterminate the last survivors of this aggressive predator. However it was soon discovered the Metroids were evolving and becoming more dangerous. Samus' mission took her to the very core of the planet where she did battle with the Metroid Queen. Escaping, Samus was followed by a Bantee Metroid hatchling which mistook her for its mother.

Samus arrived at Space Colony Ceres and turned the hatchling over to its scientists to be studied. After leaving, Samus received an SOS from Ceres and quickly doubled back to find it in ruins and Ridley alive and well. Samus battled Ridley but he escaped with the Metroid hatchling, having set a bomb. Leaving quickly, Samus rushed to Zebes for a showdown with the Space Pirates, elimating their forces, collecting weapons, and destroying their generals. The mission met with a shocking turn of events as Samus discovered the Metroid Hatchling had been subjected to massive levels of Beta Radiation, causing it to grow exponentially in size. Samus' mission took her straight in the core of New Tourian where she did battle again with the Mother Brain until it transformed and depleted Samus of her strength. As it set her up for the death blow, the Metroid Hatchling attacked the Mother Brain and transfered her energy to Samus, granting her a new power. In the end the Metroid sacrificed itself only for Samus to avenge its death by completely destroying the Mother Brain and escaping an exploding Zebes.

Samus next mission took her back to SR-388 where she was attacked by a new life form. During her return to the BSL space lab, Samus lost consciousness and her ship drifted into an asteroid belt. Her escape pod jetisoned her in time to be recovered and transported to BSL. The creature known as "X" had multiplied within her body and was quickly spreading, threatening to kill her. The medical staff cut away large parts of her Power Suit, racing to stop the infestation but had no way to safely remove it from Samus' nervous system. When all hope seemed lost, someone found a cure--a serum derived from a cell culture from the last metroid. The antidote was prepared and injected and Samus emerged as something different. Samus' new mission was to investigate the sudden spread of X throughout BSL, but would quickly take an unexpected twist when she discovered a metroid cloning operation aboad the station. Furthermore she was being actively hunted by a dangerous new enemy--herself--or rather the SA-X, an X mimicking her body and weapons at full strength. Samus quickly learned of the plot of the Federation to capture the SA-X to be used for military application as well as the Metroid research data to be used for "peaceful" application (as well as the means to keep the X controlled.). Seeing no other options, Samus sent BSL Space Station on a collision course with Planet SR-388, barely able to escape after battling an Omega Metroid. Samus escaped the planetary explosion but she and her ship's onboard computer would be hel accountable for the Federation's huge loss.

Samus managed to come out unscathed in the end thanks to some strong pull from Garfield Arcade and the Omniversal Council. Samus every so often comes to Miranda when she feels the need to do some butt-kicking.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES: Trained to fight by the Chozo and givena Chozo blood transfusion, Samus, from the time she could walk displayed an uncanny nack for battle. They raised her to be a protector and a prophecy was made of her return to the home they had established on Tallon IV at the brink of its destruction from the "two plagues".

WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT: Samus' power suit was crafted from a modified chozo exoskeleton and gives her great firepower, mobility, strength, and life support on inhospitable terrain. It is equipped with a Power Beam arm cannon and expansion for several technologies of Chozo and Luminoth origin. Samus has also commanded many gunships commissioned to her by the Galactic Federation.

RELATIONSHIPS
-Dr. Garfield Powerhouse Arcade: Garfield gives Samus a lot of freedom when assigning her to missions and that's just the way Samus likes it; Samus never liked to take orders and it often shows. They respect each other greatly.

-Professor Odie Megabyte Arcade: Samus often provide him with a memory dumps from her scan visor system of the lore and research from her missions, continually updating the Ultra Crew's database of xenomorphic lifeforms, civilizations, alien cultures, and chronicals of her adventures.

-Dr. Nermal Stephanie Gamepro: Samus often considers Nermal's medical support unnecessary and rarely listens to her friendly doctor's advice. It tends to get on Nermal's nerves how Samus relies on her Power Suit's protection and her quickened regenerative abilities than medical attention. Nermal often gets upset how Samus, without thought, skips her checkups and ignores her health advice.

-Sgt. Arlene Williams Pinball: Samus and Arlene tend to butt heads over darn near anything. Samus, being one who doesn't like following orders, finds Arlene to be a thorn in her side at times.

-Kevin "Captain N" Keene: Samus was considered a lone wolf until her chance meeting with the Game Master of Video Land. At the peak of the League of Darkness' power and the climax of Video Land's seven-year war, the Arcade Brothers had commissioned the N-Team Division Ultra Crew but proved to be a losing battle until they decided to follow the Prophecy of Captain N as a last resort. The heroes of various video worlds had been gathered together save for Samus Aran, whom had yet to answer the call to arms. When Kevin was chosen as the Game Master and leader of the N-Team, he was transported to Video Land by way of the Ultimate Warp Zone (presumeably from one of the many Earths of the Time-Space Continuum) and provided with the Zapper and Power Pad which Odie had invented. Samus joined the N-Team late in the war against Mother Brain, quickly impressed by Kevin's knowledge and skills. It was believed Samus was scornful and jealous of Princess Lana as the princess had quite a crush on the chosen Game Master. This love triangle often tested loyalties within the N-Team up until its decommissioning.

-Commander Pit ''Kid Icarus'': Samus' first partner and "tenderfooted rookie". When the first met, Samus was more than underwhelmed by Pit's size and stature as well as choice of weapons.

-Mega Man: This omniwonder robot was one of Samus' fellow team mates during the N-Team division Ultra Crew days. At first Samus treated as more of a machine than a person but Mega Man like most of the N-Team earned her respect.

-Simon Belmont: Vampire hunter and holy man, Simon generally tended to irk Samus' nerves. She considered him a simple-minded barbarian while he considered her an ill-mannered, irreverant knight. And oddly enough there were sparks of very short-lived romance between the two...which always seemed to end with heated arguements.

-Galactic Chairman Keaton: This alien diplomat serves as liason between Samus and the Galactic Council. He's the closest thing Samus has to a boss.

-Detective Hardy: Bumbling desk job detective with the Galactic Federation and target of Chairman Keaton's criticism. Spends his time gorging himself on donuts.

-Chozo Elder "Old Bird": The tribal shaman and who raised Samus most of her life.

-Adam Malcovich: Samus' first C.O. He gave her the nickname "Lady".

-A.D.A.M.: The collective mind and memories of Adam Malcovich uploaded to the main computer of Samus' current gun ship.

-Etechoons: A trio of green, monkey-like alien lifeforms Samus rescued on her return to Zebes. Samus learned how to Triangle Jump up long vertical shafts by watching their behavior

-Dachora: An ostrich-like alien bird creature Samus rescued on her return to Zebes. Samus learned how to harness the Vertical Shine Spark of her Speed Booster by watching its behavior.

-The Hatchling 2.0: A metroid cloned from a DNA sequence researched by Hyperion Musaria

Current Mood: happy
Current Music: "Made in USA (Ken Stage)" by Sixto Sounds

Easter
LOGIN: Dr. Arcade
PASSWORD: *****************

REM: A little vacation time is good for the soul. (But the internet withdrawl is murder. XD)

RE: Rabbit Day Revolutions

OLD NEWS: Mega Man: Powered Up for PSP arrived Thursday. Conquered in easy and normal modes. Unlocked all 8 robot masters and Mega Man C (with charge-shot and slide move). Downloaded Roll (as playable character) from Capcom's server via PSP Wi-Fi (MMWEB).

NEW NEWS: Bought Metroid Prime Hunters and Tetris DS (Both wi-fi enabled! ^o^). Fooled around a little in adventure mode in Metroid Prime Hunters for a bit before seriously tackling the game. Conquered the game on Thursday, April 13th with 53% complete (missed a lot of scans) and 100% of the equipment. Conquered the game again later on, this time taking the steps to unlock the final boss battle and the Omega Cannon to earn the good ending and unlock the rest of the movie clips and the sound and music test. Learned to become proficient at global wi-fi multiplayer. Now have 5 friends and 11 rivals. Overall I like MPH. There are a lot of really impressive movies to unlock, limitless potential with up to four player global wireless matches, and a slew of new hunters in addition to Nintendo's one-woman army. Six new weapons at your disposal in addition to your power beam, missiles, and morph ball (and bombs). Instant classic all the way.

As for Tetris DS, it's equally enjoyable, taking the classic Tetris game but adding old-school 8-bit NES motifs, sounds, and style. Veterans will recognize familiar chip-tunes remixed with drum and bass as well as a couple direct track rips from Balloon Fight and Ice Climber. Plus you'll see a lot of recreations of levels being "played out" as well as sprites, backgrounds, and animations from Super Mario Bros., Legend of Zelda, Metroid, Balloon Fighter, Yoshi's Cookie, Ice Climber, Duck Hunt, Excitebike, etc. The game itself has been tweaked to include a shadow piece (so you can tell where a piece is going to land as it's dropping before it actually lands), instant drop (press up), and infinite spin/slide (which you'll either love if you have low or no patience for challenge or you'll hate if you're a Tetris purist).

There are six different modes from traditional Marathon (AKA Tetris mode A), Mission (make lines according to the prompts you're given before your Heart Containers empty out), Catch (move and rotate a single block to catch Tetriminos and fit them together in a unique twist to make 4x4 Tetriminos cores while dodging Metroids), Touch (slide and rotate Tetrinos pieces with the stylus to clear them with no time limit or conditions.), Puzzle (a Yoshi's Cookie twist which you pick the right pieces in the right order to completely clear all the lines, leaving not even one square behind.), and Push (which it's you against your opponent (CPU in 1-player mode), trying to clearn lines to "push" the stack of lines into your opponents field in a fierce tug-of-war with a Tetris twist). In addition to the six modes, there's the multiplayer mode via wireless player or global wi-fi. With the wi-fi mode, you can connect to the Tetris DS server and host or join in a game with your friends or let the server chose a random Tetris DS player in 2-player or three random Tetris players in a 4-player match. I've won about four 4P matches and maybe about 2 one-on-one matches so far.

Managed to conquer the goal of 200 lines in Marathon and unlock all the music tracks.

Downloaded more old-style building packs as well as the first of Roll's alternate costumes in Mega Man Powered Up.

Went out for breakfast with dad, my brother and and his wife and her parents. Enjoyed some Easter candy. Worked.

OTHER: First paid vacation of the year. Brief overview of week of April 2nd to Aprial 8th:

Sunday: Stayed home and goofed off. Played video games and watched Adult Swim.
Monday: Dad and I hit the road to Bowling Green, Kentucky. Visited the National Corvette Museum. Stayed the night in a hotel. Made reservations at a hotel in Gatlinburg.
Tuesday: Bad luck hit us en route to Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The water pump on the truck went out ten minutes on the high way. Called AAA and waited an hour and a half for a tow-truck to take us to a garage. Spent nearly the rest of the day waiting for the truck to be repaired. Ate at Famous Dave's Legendary BBQ Rib Pit. Arrived at hotel, enjoyed some desert, and crashed for the night.
Wednesday: Enjoyed a continental breakfast. Took the tram (cable car) up to the mountain tops and browsed around the arcade/mall. Visited a bear habitat. Came back down and toured Downtown. Visited the Superstar Cars museum--a museum of cars from the movies and TV including: Herbie the Love Bug, the General Lee, the Ectomobile, the Delorean, K.I.T.T., the T-1000 police cycle, the Stormtracker from Twister, the JP sports utility vehical from Jurassic Park, the Bandit's Trans-Am, the Beach Boys' convertable, one of Elvis' cars, the Johnny Cab from Total Recall, the Flintmobile from the Flintstones movies, "Christine" the pure evil 58' Chevy, the Batmobile (from the first movie), xXx's car, Barney Fife's police cycle and police cruiser, the Munsters' Dragula, James Bond's car from Goldeneye, "My Mother the Car", a street rod from The Fast and the Furious, Cole Trickle's Nascar from Days of Thunder and "Elenor" from Gone in 60 Seconds. Afterwards went to Ripley's Believe it or Not museum, followed by The Guiness Book of World Records museum. Got lunch and walked around some more. Went back to the hotel room and watched a little TV before getting dinner. Went back to the hotel and finished the night watching M*A*S*H* reruns and tinkering around with my laptop.
Thursday: More of a Wednesday Revisited. Retraced some territory from Wednesday, and this time remembered to bring the camera and get pictures. (Who knows when we'll get those developed. Our Disney World pictures are still sitting around here, waiting for us to get prints.). Lunch and dinner same as before. More M*A*S*H* reruns and more time with the laptop. Tried to get an access point for my PSP and DS, but the hotel login page wouldn't let me connect. Managed to get connections, briefly in certain spots downtown but not long enough to play a serious game or browse more than a couple of my favorite sites.
Friday: Checked out, returned home. Enjoyed the rest of the day on day online.
Saturday: Nonstop cartoons and video games all day. Perfect way to close the week.

ULTRA CREW SPOTLIGHT: Mitzi
Full name: Mitzi Mozzarella
Race: Anthropomorphic Mouse
Age: Unknown.
Eyes: Green
Hair: Blond
Height 5"9'
Weight: Unknown
Element: None.
Preferred weapon(s): Artifact of unknown origin. Grants her weaponry not unlike the Green Lantern.
Twin Sister: Mini Mozzarella
Paternal Grandmother: Mary Jo "Jo"
Maternal Grandmother: "Mimmie"
Maternal Grandfather: "Papa"
Theme Songs: "Venus", "Fire", "When Will I Be Loved?", "The End of the World" all performed by Mitzi herself with backup from the Rock-Afire Explosion.

BIOGRAPHY: From her performance in her school production of “Oklahoma”, Mitzi was said to be destined for success in the spotlight. She began singing professionally at the tender age of 11. During her “vaudeville days”, Mitzi toured various cities with an all-girl band known as the Cheesettes. Mitzi befriended high school captain of the cheerleader team, Nermal Stephanie Gamepro, Dottie Dog, and Helen Henny. During her junior high through high school years, Mitzi’s sister, Mini Mozzarella joined up with the short-lived rock and roll band, “Wolf Pack 5”.

After a mere 12 shows, the group reformed under the new name the “Rock-aFire Explosion” and was booked as the primary show for a series of theme “Showbiz” pizza restaurants, hiring Mitzi as their new female vocalist. Mitzi’s career took off some two years after the Rock-aFire Explosion formed and continued for a good decade before the pizza restaurant chain was bought out. Afterwards, Mitzi moved to Neon City in Neo Arcadia and built her home at 328 Electric Avenue—the site of a former Showbiz Pizza. She joined a new band and got back in touch with Nermal Gamepro very recently.

A year ago Mitzi first visited Miranda only to be completely overwhelmed by (and terrified of) the typical chaos of the city. She has since joined up with the Ultra Crew reserves and is training to be a fifth slot UC. Mitzi shows signs of potential as an Ultra Crew rookie but she has a long way to go. And she has to learn how to put up with the near cult-like following that Rock-Afire Explosion fangirl Princess Violet seems to have for her.

As a newly-inducted UC, Mitzi is wet behind the ears and a little timid, but she's willing to put forth her courage when the situation calls for her to be strong. She realizes her powers and abilities are weak and undeveloped. This makes Mitzi that much more determined to carry her weight, earn people's trust and respect, and find her place in this new world.

ORIGIN: Mitzi Mozzarella was born to a loving family. She and her sister, Mini grew up pursuing careers in the spotlight. Mini got her start with rock n' roll band, Wolf Pack 5, as the main act for Showbiz Pizza Place. Everyone expected them both to make the leap into dazzling singing careers at the same time. Suprisingly Mini entered the spotlight first while Mitzi looked on, waiting for her chance. During that time she dated future pizza icon, Chuck E. Cheese. She was eventually dumped in favor of her high school friend and fellow cheerleader, Helen Henny. She officially broke up with Chuck E. Cheese with a lot of angry words and a kick to the crotch. Mitzi tries not to think about it.

Mini was signed on as a late replacement for Queenie T. Fox (the T. stands for "the") and her time in the startlight lasted 12 shows until Mitzi was signed as her replacement for the Rock-Afire Explosion retrofit. Mini never went back to the spotlight while Mitzi's career stayed mediocre for a year or two before it took off like a rocket. Mitzi enjoyed almost a decade of fame, performing renditions of "Venus", "Girls Just Want to Have Fun", "Desparado", "Tomorrow", "When You Wish Upon A Star", "Fire", "When Will I Be Loved", "Secrets That You Keep", "I Saw the Signs", "No More Words", and "Our Lips Are Sealed" among countless other songs. It is believed Mitzi developed a romance with RAE drummer, Dook Larue during the run of the Rock-Afire Explosion.

At the end of her career with the Rock-Afire Explosion, Mitzi and friends went through a wardrobe and image change for "New Rock-aFire" (which Mitzi is still trying to forget to this day). As Mitzi recalls: "That time in the spotlight in that god-awful black and metallic magenta whore dress and boots was the most painful experience of my life." With the end of "New Rock-Afire Explosion" and the later low-success "Rock-Afire Kids", Mitzi moved to Neon City not far from Neo Arcadia City and had a home built out of a closed Showbiz Pizza Place. From there she joined the band, Toxic Audio and continued her singing career. She every so often reflects on the last moments of the Rock-Afire Explosion before the "corporate unification" which transformed Showbiz Pizza Place into her ex-boyfriend's namesake.

Recently Mitzi finally answered fanmail from one Princess Violet Usako Tokugawa and paid a visit to Miranda. Upon arrive she was bombarded by an assortment of crazyness considered the norm in Miranda. During a battle which Neil was temporarily down, Mitzi in a moment of fear picked up his dropped XBTOCLC's and fired them at the enemy. Needless to say the experience scared her out of her wits. She returned to Neo Arcadia to recover a bit but once she got over it, she considered joining Ultra Crew. For the last year she has been training with a mystical artifact with mysterious morphing powers. She is still very much a rookie and has a long way to go to get a grip on controlling her new powers.

As of February 1st, 2006 of the Mirandian calender, Mitzi has since returned to Miranda after a month of final preparations on Neo Arcadia's and Miranda's end. Mitzi was welcomed into Neil's fifth slot and (re)introduced to the people of Miranda during calmer, more peaceful times. She has spent the month, getting acquainted with the people, places, customs, and history of VGWorld. Mitzi has seen her first few actual battles and taken part in her first missions. While no problems have arrisen, Mitzi has had some difficulty seeking employment; she lived off of the last of her Toxic Audio royalties and UC pettycash. Toward the end of February, Mitzi finally landed a job at Hestia's restaurant. She rides her favorite green bicycle to work and back. Out of habit dating back to her childhood, Mitzi always rides in bare feet, carrying her footwear in her bike basket.

Mitzi has taken great interest in the town square's fountain and will often be seen relaxing her feet in its healing waters. She'll often spend time with the local rabites of town, including Wrench, Snowball, Marie, Hojicha, Kukicha, Bancha, etc. While she doesn't own any rabites of her own, Mitzi absolutely adores them. Mitzi likes everyone she's met so far, though Kerge frightens her a little.

In between her free time and her time at Hestia's, Mitzi continues her training at Bunnie's dojo and at the UC Game Lab's holosimulator lab.

Mitzi owns and operates Generation 1 NetNavi, StarMan.EXE and Generation 2 NetNavi, RainbowUnicorn.EXE.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES: Mitzi’s voice is by far her greatest ability and it shows. Those who have heard her sing can easily tell why Violet is so obsessed with her. As far as abilities go, Mitzi is actually quite intelligent and athletic. She possesses a heightened degree of quickness, agility, and flexibility. Mitzi is learning gymnastics and martial arts through Kim Kazama.

WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT: Mitzi is training with various weapons but shows the most potential with a recently acquired artifact of unknown origin which has similar powers as the rings worn by members of the Green Lantern Corps. Mitzi normally keeps it in the form of a pair of green bows she wears in her hair. In battle, she transforms them into whatever weapon or ability she needs.

RELATIONSHIPS:
-Dr. Nermal Stephanie Gamepro: Nermal's high school friend and fellow team mate on the cheerleader squad.

-Dotty Dog: Another fellow high school friend and member of the cheerleading squad. Dottie grew up to be a successful news hound. She's now an anchorwoman on Channel 256 News in Neo Arcadia City.

-Charles Entertainment "Chuck E." Cheese: Mitzi's ex-boyfriend and icon of the largest theme pizza restaurant and arcade chain in the Omniverse. Mitzi kicked him in the crotch after he dumped her for Helen and pretty much considers him a jerk to this day.

-Helen Henny: A fellow high school friend. Helen and Mitzi drifted apart over the years when their careers see-sawed. Their friendship ended on a sour note when Helen started chasing after Mitzi's ex-boyfriend, Chuck E. Cheese and her career took off with so-called "Corporate Unification" in which Showbiz Pizza Place was bought out and converted into the CEC pizza franchises. Mitzi has not spoken to Helen since.

-William Robert "Billy Bob" Brockali: The happy, hip, and hammy hillbilly leader of the Rock-aFire Explosion hailing from the Neo Arcadia equilvalent of Tenessee. Kinda of a naive guy with a big heart. He was always good to Mitzi.

-Looney Bird: Billy Bob's loyal sidekick, "technoid", and noted inventor of the gasoline alternative (and beverage) "Gasohol"/"Goofy Gas" made from refined corn squeezin's. Mitzi would ask him for advice off stage and on occasion would be victim of his pranks involving spiking the pizzas with Gasohol. Drunken hilarity often ensued.

-Fatz Geronimo: The big and bold gorilla keyboardist of the Rock-aFire Explosion with personality to spare from Neo Arcadian Louisianna. Mitzi often kept his occasional womanizing and ego-flexing in check by reminding him of his steady girlfriend, Ezmerelda Jones. But all in all he was a perfect gentleman to Mitzi.

-Dook Larue: The dimwitted doggone-good drummer of the Rock-aFire Explosion hailing from the Neo Arcadian New Orleans. Despite him often coming across as 'not the sharpest tool in the shed', Dook has an absolutely fabulous singing voice. In fact, Dook has commanded a fan-following almost as strong as Mitzi's during the RAE's golden decade. Rumors say he and Mitzi may have shared a behind-the-scenes romance. On stage, Mitzi often tried to give him every chance to prove himself but he'd often make a fool of himslef. It is believed that they are both dating now days.

-Beach Bear: The laid-back polar bear electric guitarist. A surfer bum with a carefree, easy-going outlook on life. He and Mitzi sometimes got into ad-libbed jokes and snappy banter on stage. One time he succeeded in grossing her out during a trivia skit when she couldn't think of a trivia question to ask and he brought up the amount of saliva the mouth generates in a day (Over one quart!). It was hard not to have fun when Beach Bear was around.

-Rolfe DeWolfe: He tended to pick on Mitzi as often as anyone else in the band. Fortunately Earl was always around to shut him up. Besides being the RAE's master of ceremonies, Rolfe also took care of publicity and the band's paperwork and financial affairs.

-Earl Schmerle: Rolfe's right-hand mind and cagey agent for the RAE. Grouchy and antisocial, Earl made Rolfe the target of nearly all of his verbal abuse...not like he didn't deserve it. Earl was fairly indifferent to Mitzi but wouldn't show any special treatment to her or any of the cast. If he felt like ranting everyone got the business end of it.

Current Mood: relaxed
Current Music: "Ancient Tetris" - Tetris DS

St. Patrick's Day
LOGIN: Dr. Arcade
PASSWORD: *****************

REM: 20XX. Humans and robots live together in utopia. Mad scientist steals robots to conquer world. Helper robot becomes fighting machine to defeat mad scientist and save the world. And so the tale begins...

Re: Green is the new green.

Old News: Mega Man X Collection for PS2 and GCN. PSP 1.50 (upgrade to 2.60 to play UMD's, downgrade back to 1.50 for NES, SNES, and Genesis rom emulation.) Mega Man: Maverick Hunter X for PSP--conquered, mastered, and reviewed in previous entry.

New News: Mega Man: Powered Up for PSP arrived Thursday. Conquered in easy and normal modes. Unlocked all 8 robot masters and Mega Man C (with charge-shot and slide move). Downloaded Roll (as playable character) from Capcom's server via PSP Wi-Fi (MMWEB). Review to follow.

Other: Breakdown and review of Mega Man: Powered Up

Overview: In 1987, right around October, Capcom releases the sleeper hit, Mega Man, for the Nintendo Entertainment System. A typical save-the-world-from-a-mad-scientist platformer featuring a stage select, the power to gain weapons from defeated bosses, and unlimited continues. In the years that follow, the Mega Man original series gains seven official sequels, five Game Boy games "based upon" the original series, a soccer game, a racing game, and cameo roles and appearances in later games (ie: Marvel vs. Capcom, Pocket Fighter, Cannon Spike, etc.). This year, Keiji Inafune embarked on a project to reinvent his vision for the Playstation Portable handheld system. Sporting a "super-deformed", "chibi-look", cel-shaded, cartoonish 2-D models with rich, vibrant, pastel backdrops and set to reorchastrated versions of the original MM1 soundtrack, Mega Man Powered Up does with Mega Man what Wind Waker did with Link. Adding new splash in both visual and audio, MMPU takes a unique approach to giving fan service.

Graphics: For those of you who've played the demo of MMPU included in Mega Man: Maverick Hunter X, you'll know to expect a whole new look for a lot of familar characters. The kiddie-cartoonish yet futuristic look and feel of Mega's techno-centric world seem to change everything you thought you knew about the Blue Bomber with just one look. And yet they still retain the influence of Astro Boy, reminding us that Mega Man is after all, a modern day Pinnochio trying to find his place in the world. Thus, in contrast to the darker, grimmer, and stoic techno-future of X, the colors are bright and and rainbowy. Once you get used to the new look, you start to identify a lot of familiar faces.

The characters themselves all sport the really small, disporportionate bodies with the uber-big heads. Yeah. Even the baddest of the bad look "soooo cuuuuuute". Lighthearted but still retaining that sense of comic book and anime influence without becoming something that would make a Teletubby vomit.

The backgrounds and foregrounds are all new but retain enough of their NES-inspired influence to make you say "Yeah, that's Cut Man's stage." but sport a lot more animation and detail. From the articulated, moving, hydraulic power shovels in Guts Man's mining level to the cyber-dance of the electronic light and display of Elec Man's power plant, there's quite an upgrade to old territory.

Whether you play Old Style or New Style also affects the graphics. In old style, the graphics themselves are the new MMPU look even though the maps--objects, enemy placement, and scrolling--are almost totally identical to their NES counterparts (The fourth Wily Stage takes a different approach to the boss rush, for example). However in old style the camera is zoomed out and the sides of the screen are narrowed down to match the configuration of the NES' resolution. Thus characters are smaller and you see less of the action just like in the old days. In new style, the camera zooms in so you can see details and movement more closely. Plus with the wide screen configuration you see more of what's coming up and what you've passed.

Lighting and effects are also present but in a much lesser extent than MM:MHX. MMPU has its share of objects that glow or blink or have chasing lights as well as light and shadow effects where they belong to give a tinge of depth to an otherwise 2-D world. Even in old style, the new polish seems to stand out a little more.

Animation: Let's face it. The animation is what makes the new chibi look work. Friend and foe bend, flex, twist, turn, and move smoother and with more style than ever before. And Capcom has dotted all their I's and crossed all their T's with how everything moves and reacts. From Mega Man's walk and jump to the SPLAT of a Robot Master hitting the wall as a puddle of color in the tried-and-true cartoon style before falling to the floor in a heap, there's no shortage of lighthearted humor. But MMPU isn't all just about making the characters rubbery. It does its part to remind you, these aren't just cartoon characters, they're ROBOT cartoon characters. Fallen robot masters spark before exploding. The intro stage boss, "Proto Eye" (a giant, iron version of a Big Eye) hisses steam from its vents and clanks around as it tries to squash you and zap you with its eye shots. You'll even recognize the boss' familar "stage chosen" dances (if not with a little more zing) once you've picked a stage.

Sound: Let's talk sound effects, before I delve into voices and music. If you're going to have a futuristic, cartoony robot adventure game, you've got to have the ear candies to pull it off. Capcom did not disappoint here. Mega Man's jump-and-land sounds like you'd expect it to (especially if you've played Mega Man 8.). All the weapons have clearer, updated interpretations of their NES predecessors. From the crystally chime of the Ice Slasher to the whoosh of the Fire Storm, MMPU does justice to old school audio. And yes, it's all done in delightful stereophonic sound, shifting from speaker to speaker according to character and enemy placements on screen.

Voices: Where do I begin? Oh yeah. Ocean. The group that's been voicing the Mega Man games since Command Mission. They're back and they're giving spark and personality to add to the fan service experience of MMPU. In fact let me break it down like this:

Mega Man: Sounds like a kid but a NORMAL kid. Not like that crap they pulled in Mega Man 8. Something about his voice makes me think "He's a mamma's boy".
Roll: Sweet but no-nonsense. She's smart and pretty and her voice pulls it off believeably.
Dr. Light: Probably the same voice actor as his Maverick Hunter X counterpart, but done brighter and more cheerful.
Dr. Wily: This was a surprise, honestly. He has the kind of scratchy, sneering voice I'd expect from an old witch, but masculine enough that you can tell Wily's a he and old but fiery. In short, he pulls off the villain pretty well with the kind of arrogance and wit you'd expect from a cartoon villain.
Cut Man: Also sounds like a kid. And Mega Man's 'lil brother' at that. Pretty much buying into Dr. Wily's crap about Mega Man being the evil robot, Cut Man sets out to "stop Mr. Mega Man and make him good again". A basic persona for a basic robot.
Guts Man: Sounds like a gruff construction worker foreman if not slightly Southern. Maybe even a little macho. ("This is no place for little boys! Only MEN work here!") To me, Guts Man's VA portrays him smarter than you'd think he'd be with the beefy upper body and slack, underslung jaw. Guts Man is pretty much more worried about "getting fired" than the fact that the work he's doing is helping Dr. Wily conquer the world.
Ice Man: Sounds by far the youngest and cutest of the bunch. A good little kid who tries to be responsible and grown up by playing soldier...but still just a kid. He seems kinda torn between his worries and thoughts as a kid and his desire to act grown up as an 'army guy'. It's hard for me to hate him.
Bomb Man: Dr. Wily describes him as having a "party-centric" attitude with explosives. And frankly, I think he's right on the money. Bomb Man doesn't really take the fact that he wields a rather destructive weapon seriously. His VA portrays him as kind of the elementary school bully on a power trip with unlimited bomb-producing and throwing capacity. And yet there's almost a dynamic flair to him that makes me smile.
Fire Man: Tarnation! Light gave Fire Man a Texan accent and a justice-speech complex! Fire Man has all the rustic, hot-tempered charm of a Texas Barbecue and the flamethrowers to match. Seriously. This guy is probably the most stereotyped of the group with Elec Man running a close second. Which is probably why he makes me laugh every time he talks (even when he's trying to incinerate me while shouting "Fi-aarrrrrr!" and "Berrrrrn!" and "It's tam t' bern th' trayash!"
Elec Man: "ENERGIZE!!!" OMG! XD My favorite robot master is a NARCISSIST! Witty, full of charm, and quite showy, Elec Man's VA gives the megavolt terror a taste of James from Team Rocket while at the same time letting you know he's full of himself and overconfident. And yes...he even hits on Roll if you play as Roll. Normally characters that have a big ego make me want to vomit. But Elec Man somehow pulls it off with style and some dignity.
Oil Man: I really didn't know what to expect. His original character design (before the recolor) attracted racial controversy like a magnet. Quite honestly, Oil Man uses a lot of slick talk and makes me think...this guy's a big show-off with a warped sense of humor to his informal speech. He uses a couple of oil-related puns and at the same, the closest match I can come to him is Rev Runner from Loonatics Unleashed...only without talking at a lightspeed blurr.
Time Man: His sour expression accurately conveys his stoic attitude. Time Man is a robot of few words but all of them serious and very clock-watcher type. The kind of personality that lets you know this guy values order and is very precise in perceiving time. He lets Mega Man know he's arrived 0.3 seconds early, in fact.
Yellow Devil: Angry and malevolent. Thundering and intimidating. Yeah. He's all that. So how do you take a giant yellow blob cyclops this seriously...oh wait...his attacks are deadlier than ever and trap you in the center of the room with very little space to jump his flying pieces. Yeah, that'd do it.
CWU-01P: You might remember him as the third stage bubble boss in Old Style mode. He's the second stage guardian now. Mechanical, base-level intelligence. "Intruder detectect. Intruders are bad. Must eliminate. Eliminate." That about says it all.
Copy Robot: Mega Man clone is just like Mega Man. Only he's evil. He lectures Mega Man about it being unfair to take the arms (weapons) of those he's defeated...they turns right around and says that because he's taken all of Mega Man's abilities and copied weapons, that makes him the biggest cheat of all. He's a d**k. :P

Narrator: Nothing much to say. He narrates the prologue before the intro stage. Nuff' said.

Music: Capcom did well on the soundtrack of Mega Man Maverick Hunter X. But here, where things are a little more lighthearted...they took a few liberties I can't say I approve of. So let me break it down:

Cut Man Stage: While the overall feel of the reorchestrated Cut Man theme balances...it's the deliberately wrong notes in the first part of the theme that make me cringe. It features a techno-y effect reminiscent of Mega Man Aniversary Collection (PS2 version)'s Dust Man stage remix. The melody is played out on a xylophone while set to some accompanying strings, brass, and atmosphere effects with a simple drumline. The wrong notes may add a more kiddy-like effect but to a seasoned veteran like myself...it's like a brief taste of Castor oil.
Guts Man Stage: Again more wrong notes. Why, Capcom? Anyway...beyond that...the song starts out with a drum and bass buildup leading into synth brass and synth strings. There's some really weird, additional synth for effects. The song repeats this time with a jazz organ lead that goes into some wild improvisions. It's...different...and yet the same.
Ice Man Stage: In its NES days, Ice Man's stage was my least favorite. And yet I can't deny how much better it sounds now. With crystally chimes and well-balanced synth piano set on top of a subtle atmosphere, short sinewave and steel string guitar chromatics, Ice Man's theme is one well polished block of goodness. In short...it gave me chills. But in a good way.
Bomb Man Stage: Thank goodness, another song they didn't butcher. Bomb Man's stage has a "heavy" and "industrial" feel to it. Its percussion really sells it with auditorium-echo claps while set to a pizzicato string-pluck melody that trades off with some subtle synth horn.
Fire Man Stage: Oh, lord, shoot me now. These wrong notes are killing me. Fire Man's stage has a wonkey dot-dot effect (probably to hint at the weird accompanying effects of the original NES theme that buzzed in with the percussion. The melody is done in in synth guitar and trades off with a synthesizer with electronic piano accompanying. I could probably consider this my least favorite with Guts Man a close second.
Elec Man Stage: Oh HELL yeah! >:D Now that's what I'm talking about! All the notes are correct and it sounds GREAT! Synth calliope melody with an steely electric guitar accompaniment that becomes the melody in the second part. And capped off with some good basic drums and atmosphere for effect. My favorite MM1 track got even better!
Time Man Stage: An original track. Ambient and clever. It starts out with a tick-tock tick-tock perscussion and goes into a rather subtle ballad. Chimes, strings, a little brass, and atmosphere. I got no complaints. It really made me think "time".
Oil Man Stage: The other original track. To be honest, in spots it felt more like a Sonic CD track than a Mega Man track. I keep trying to place it as an unused version of Tidal Tempest or Oil Ocean from Sonic 2 (Kind of a stretch,, really). Lot of pitch-bend synth, synth vox, some light strings and some brief bongo drums.
Others of mention: The first and second Wily Stage theme has some great reorchestration worthy of mention. With strong brass, strings, and atmosphere, this one's a real winner. True to the original (with a little extra light intro to lead it off). The third and final Wily Stage theme is perfectly ominous with voices oohs, choir chorus, driving piano accompaniment and everything that gives you that sense of impending doom. The boss battle remix is less repetative and goes into a beat break with techno-beat triplets after its sything melody. The Wily Castle guardian music takes that tried and true Yellow Devil/Copy Robot/CWU-01P them and gives it some basic synth instrumentation. No real suprises but a well-done arragement. You'll recognize new takes on the Stage Select, Boss Chosen, and victory thems as well as a beautiful arrangement of the end credits sequence.

Control: Mega Man doesn't always stop on a dime plus his disproportioned size may be confusing, so it may be more difficult at first to get the hang of controlling him. But he runs, jumps, climbs, and shoots pretty much as well as he did on his predecessor games. Mega Man and the other robot masters and Roll all handle pretty similarly and behave at least partly within reason according to size and weight.

Challenge: Mega Man Powered UP ranges from pretty easy to ungodly unfair. While you should have no trouble beating any of the stages save for the Yellow Devil (on any difficulty) on easy mode, normal mode is a lot harder, and I'm presuming Hard Mode is pretty much Hell on earth. As for the 100 challenges, some are tutorial easy while others get beyond unfair--one such Mega Man challege requires you to avoid armies of Octo Batteries while you have 1 unit of life and all your weapons are disabled, while another requires you to cross a level almost entirely made of spikes with nothing but walking plunger-activated time bombs to get you there and one unit of life (but at least your Mega Buster works). I'm sure someone's managed to complete them all an unlock Proto Man. In that event, I salute you whoever is skilled enough to do so.

Fan Service/Extras: How can Capcom top themselves with the fan service that was Maverick Hunter X? How about being able to unlock and play as not 2, not three, but TWELVE characters? The list includes: Mega Man, Mega Man C (with charge shot and slide), Cut Man, Ice Man, Elec Man, Fire Man, Guts Man, Bomb Man, Time Man, Oil Man, Roll, and Proto Man! Mega Man C is unlocked once you completely every stage on Normal difficulty. To unlock any of the robot masters, you need to defeat them in any difficulty setting with just your Mega Buster. To get Roll, you must download her off of MMWeb via your PSP's wireless connection. Connect to MMWeb on the US Capcom server and look for her under the title "Roll Refuses to Lose" under Specials. As for Proto Man, I have yet to unlock him, as you need to complete all 100 challenges to do so. And let me tell you...those challenges can get BRUTAL!

Overall: Yeah, Mega Man Powered UP is all that. It does have more obvious weaknesses than Mega Man Maverick Hunter X. Of these is occasional moments of slowdown and times of loading (in odd splots like opening your weapon menu). Also the butchered music and the ungodly challenge in sports weight it down. However I'm overall very pleased with the final result. Mega Man Powered Up is extremely playable and has lots of old and new school content as well as the level design (which I may try out some day when I'm bored), a hell of a lot of fan service, remixed graphics and sound as well as unusual but great voice acting courtessy of the Ocean Group. Mega Man Powered Up is quite a trip down memory lane with plenty of surprises to keep old and new gamers entertained.

Ultra Crew Database: Currently unavailable. Try again next entry.

Current Mood: accomplished
Current Music: "Wings of Wax" - Elec Man Stage, Mega Man Powered Up

Valentines Day
LOGIN: Dr. Arcade
PASSWORD: *****************

REM: Happy Valentines Day, Lisa Fitzwater.

Re: Cupid Reloaded. Coming to a February 14th, every year.

Old News: Work. More work. And pure holiday-grade, armaggedon-class, we-got-slaughtered work the day before Christmas Eve. Got a laptop computer from brother that didn't work; got it functioning and running Nesticle, Genecyst, FCEU, Gens, SNES9X for Windows, ZSNES, NO$GB, and Visual Boy Advance after about 12 to 14 driver downloads including a universal CD ROM virtual device driver and about 3 backup CD ROMs from my PC. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day came and went. Celebrated the New Year humbly with a bottle of sparkling pear cider and the annual New Year ball-drop. Christmas with the family.

New News: Got Mega Man X Collection for Gamecube and Playstation Portable. Spent a week mastering each game. The emulation was impressive and well-executed with not a moment of slow-down or flicker. Both versions were more identical than I was expecting given the inequality of the PS2 and GCN Mega Man Anniversary Collection versions. Bonus content was sorely lacking if not insulting. Music tracks already accessable in X3 (ported from the Saturn/PSX/PC version) became available, hints on how to access the Hadouken, Shoryuken, and Zero's Beam Saber became unlocked, and production sketch art opened up after conquering certain games (Not to be cruel, but the art was about the only bonus content actually worth anything.) And yes, the never-before-released Mega Man Battle and Chase also unlocked after completing the first three games. As a collection MMXC is fabulous and tried and true to the originals (save for cutting the voice acting from X6). But if you're looking for kudos and props for being a loyal Mega Maniac for almost 20 years, don't look here; you will not be seeing any fan service. Still, Capcom at least took the time to make the collection when they weren't obligated to. That at least deserves our thanks. MMXC is a fabulous collection. Just not the next Super Mario Allstars. (Though I'd put it a LOT higher up than Ninja Gaiden Trilogy).

Invested in a PlayStation Portable (PSP) version 1.50. Downloaded both the 1.50 downgrader and the 2.60 upgrader to use alternatively. Bought a 128 MB Max Memory Stick and a 512 MB Memory Stick Pro Duo. Loaded homebrew emulation courtessy of KXPloit and my favorite NES, SNES, and Genesis roms onto the 512 MB MSPD as well as some of my favorite artwork and 96 of my favorite mp3's. Used the other memory stick for the downgrader and some more mp3's. Used the 32 MB card that came with the PSP to hold the upgrader and to use for web browser and game save data. Bought Mega Man: Maverick Hunter X for PSP. Conquered as X same day. Conquered as Vile later on in the week. Breakdown and review to follow.

Other: Breakdown and review of Mega Man: Maverick Hunter X

Overview: In 1993, after six games on the NES, Capcom released Mega Man X for the Super Nintendo Entertainment system. Thirteen years later, Keiji Inafune takes a chance to reinvent his original vision. Capcom releases Mega Man: Maverick Hunter X for the PSP, based on Mega Man X. Sporting a new Mega Man X8-ish 2 1/2 D side-scrolling graphical facelift, completely remixed and reorchestrated sound and music, voice acting from the Ocean group, an unlockable Vile mode to play as X's deadly arch-rival, Vile, and the unlockable 25-minute anime "Day of Sigma" video, Maverick Hunter X takes what was good and makes it better. In short this game is pure fan-service for the true Mega Man fans and hopefully it's just the beginning of what will be needed to quell the dissatisfaction of Mega Man X Collection's bonus content shortcomings. If Keiji Inafune keeps on this path for the series X1-X6, we may finally be able to forget the bitter stench of Mega Man X4's god-awful voice acting among other shortcomings of the X5 and X6.

Graphics: If you're familiar with Mega Man X8 and have a keen eye for detail, you'll easily recognize familiar territory and also notice it's been cranked up. Flat backgrounds and the dark and grungy color schemes are a thing of the past. Capcom takes 2-D as far as it can likely go, giving you the total parallex experience. Backgrounds mesh into the forgrounds seemlessly. Old territory sports brand new shine and polish. There's overlapping forgrounds such as the cables holding up the floating platforms, trees and roots--slightly out of focus for effect--which obstruct your view in Chameleon's stage for brief moments. It's everything about the Mega Man X game but amped way up. Little details such as the underside of a floor as you're climbing a ladder disappearing with the persective while the top side becomes visable when you reach the top. New yet familiar animated backgrounds such as the moving, turning, spinning, sparking, glowing machinery in Spark Mandrill's stage and the jets taking off and landing in Storm Eagle's airport add effect and depth to the stages. In short, the stages actually look like what they're supposed to be whether a frozen missile base or a reconnaisance base in the forest rather than the tech-ish yet generic robot master labyrinths of the 8-bit days. The characters cast shadows and lighting effects. Plus there's quite a bit of eye candy and dazzling light shows for effect (I like what they did with the boss chosen screen.)

Animation: Sprites? I don't think so. This game uses 3-D models, fabulously rendered in anime style and motion. From the more recognizable form of Mega Man X to the impressive final boss, everything moves, twists, and interacts fluidly and with style. Maverick Masters show personality and style. Launch Octopus' familiar "tentacle-down-to-you" remains intact (though it doesn't really fit the personality of his voice acting) for example. The characters are far more detailed and are rendered and shaded quite impressively according to light sources and level of light or darkness. Mega Man X, back in the day had animation impressive for that era. Maverick Hunter X easily one-ups the original with style.

Sound: Listening for explosions? You got em. MHX delivers more than its fair share of bangs and booms and whistles and bells. Veterans will recognize old sound effects with new feel such as the familiar 1-UP that's lasted since MM1, the blips of filling your sub-tanks, and others. And plenty of sounds were lifted from X4-X8 such as the charge-up of the X-Buster, the menu selection and lock-in effects, and still others. And the weapons all have updated sounds as expected.

Music: Keiji Inafune, in a G4 interview once described the meaning behind "Rockman" to be derived from rock-and-roll as opposed to the stone-type of rock. Next to blasting and blowing stuff up, the Rockman games are all about good music. I think that's what he had in mind when creating MHX. A lot of old tunes with new attitude. Capcom has taken the Mega Man X soundtrack to a new level. I must say it works well for some...others, not so well. Hands down, Spark Mandrill's electromagnetic power plant still has my all-time favorite music track and now it's even better. Better guitars, some new synth, kickin' bass, and improved percussion as well as a little electronic touch for effect. Here's a rundown of some others:
"Central Highway": That familiar highway stage theme remains true with better instrumentation (and an instance of techno voice for effect) If you liked this track on the SNES, you won't be disappointed.
"Subterranean Base": Remember Launch Octopus' underwater area? In all honesty, this track has jumped to my second favorite Mega Man X track thanks to some reinstrumentation, some creative electro-techno accompaniment and interesting extra effects which give it a funky aquatic flair.
"Fortress Tower": Boomerang Kuwanger's (Originally just Boomer Kuwanger) stage unfortunately had to be knocked down a point or two to make room for Octopus' theme in my favorite's list. The instrumentation for the intro of the track is...creative. And different. I'm not sure if it really works. I miss the orchestra hits which really sold the original version. But in all honesty, they've done justice to "Fortress Tower" with some better accompanying guitar and improved synth melody. The original track was fleshed out with brass and some light strings. Still, the remix doesn't disappoint.
"New Type Airport": Storm Eagle's stage. Easily tied with Kuwanger's if not better than. The guitar work is great and the brass really sells this version. In all honesty I expected it to be almost completely guitar mix. Capcom suprised me by even extending the track to include a solo synth section before the refrain after the first pass. The moog bass fits pretty well without becoming obnoxiously synthetic and the drum work is quite good. Kudos to you, Capcom sound staff!
"Recon Base Ruins": I have to be honest, I don't think this version of Sting Chameleon's stage is as good as the original. And that's because of one reason over all others: the piano accompaniment. Moreso the dissonant chords that are played out behind a driving electric guitar melody. The drumwork is great and the additional effects keep it cyber-rock and I do like the synth. But the piano chords...just leave a bad taste in my mouth. Sorry, Capcom. You could have done better.
"Energy Mine Ruins": I remember the Armored Armadillo stage being an overly flashy brass mix of high-speed jazz-rock on the Super NES. But I still liked it. I've heard Alph Lyla's even jazzier, upbeat rendition "Get Through the Dark". So how does MHX's mine stage hold up? Pretty well. It's no longer overly flashy and splashy brassy (god, my wording sucks), but more mellowed out without losing any of its speed. It gains cyber-warp techno effects which you either love or hate (Sucker for electronic effects? Guilty as charged. ^^;;;) being driven mostly by synth and good drums, leaning closer to Alpha Lyla's work but without the saxophones, guitar and big brass. Modest without being mediorcre.
"Abandoned Missile Base": I will state right off the bat that Chill Penguin's theme has never been my favorite MMX track.   However, Capcom's definitely improved upon Chill Penguin's territory. Much better crystaline chimes, horn, synth, and synth-strings. And good percussion and digital extended effects for flavor. Good job, Capcom sound team.
"Prototype Weapons Plant": Flame Mammoth's theme started on the SNES MMX as solid guitar and synth with good drums. And in MHX it STAYS solid guitar and synth with good drums. It's just the way we remember it but it sounds better. No changes here aside from better sound quality and instruments. This one's a winner and it absolutely delivers.
"Electromagnetic Power Plant": My personal favorite. The song which made electricity bitchin' cool. And Capcom's made it absolutely kick ass this time around. The first improvement is the overdriven guitar is even better quality. It drives the melody on home. The accompanying distortion guitar is subtler and is usually buried underneath the melody. But it's there and it's doin' its job. The electric slap bass keeps the song moving and the drums just hammer it on home. And yes...there's cyber-electro extended effects and synth for spice and flavor. This is the pinnacle (in my opinion) of Capcom's efforts, but that's just my opinion. Have a listen for yourself.

Other music:
Sigma Palace stages: The first Sigma stage is really well-done and adds more to what we've heard before with choir and better brass and strings with additional effects and guitarwork. I like what they did here. Sigma Stage 2 stays traditional to the original but with a slightly more theatrical flavor. Guitar work, synth and strings plus good drum work hit a homerun. Sigma Stage 3 remains faithful if not even creepier than the original. Sigma Stage 4's however was completely torn down and rebuilt into something different, but nothing to lose sleep over, being the last stage and extremely short. You probaly won't notice it much or care. (I didn't in the latter case).

Vile musics: Granted, Vile is a world apart in style and attitude compared to X and his music shows. Which brings me to my biggest gripe of all: Out of all of the stages that Vile goes through, all of them but his three Sigma Palace levels have the SAME music. And while it is hardcore punk metal, it tends to overdo it--the sudden octave-jumping high-pitch guitar squeels are REALLY annoying after a while. And there are a lot of instances of it. Besides this main theme, Vile also has his own Stage Select and Stage Selected themes, also heavily remixed death metal style. Granted, X's stage select theme has some of the same guitar squeels but it's more noticeable in Vile's music.

Voice Acting: Let's face it. Capcom screwed X and friends over bigtime in Mega Man X4 and it took them four more games to get it right. I don't know where they found the Ocean group, but one word says it all: KEEPER. Maverick Hunter X delivers a great game which goes the extra mile and gives voices to the characters. If you've played the games from X7 on up, you know what X sounds like. By now, his V.A. has gotten the part down pat and he does it believeably. While I can't say the voice chosen for Vile fits the character when comparing Vile to his counterpart from the 1996 Mega Man cartoon by Ruby Spears (Episode: Mega X), I have to say they could do far worse. Zero has gotten closer to home in recent games. He sounds pretty much like he did in X8 which works pretty well. Sigma sounds about like we expect him to as do all the Maverick Masters...well save for Launch Octopus

Chill Penguin: Very penguin-like and annoying like we'd expect him to sound. To me he comes across as the kind of guy you'd want to slug because he's always shooting his mouth off. Penguin's brain circuits were designed to be "flexable" which has earned him a reputation for being "warped". He's not very popular among his troops. Penguin is also on very bad terms with Flame Mammoth because he believes in brains over brawn while Mammoth prefers to open a can of shut-the-Hell-up grade whoopass; hold the thought and common sense.
Storm Eagle: Mellow and cool-headed. Similar to Zero. Kinda laid back. His V.A. really fits. Storm Eagle is the Maverick that's easiest to respect. He chose to join Sigma for his own reasons but honestly doesn't have anything against X or Vile. In truth Eagle is a lot stronger than he was in Mega Man X on SNES.
Flame Mammoth: Big, dull, dimwitted, and bullysome. In truth I think he sounds kinda dimmer than Mandrill, though the manual says Spark Mandrill isn't "the sharpest tool in the shed". Mammoth is easy to hate simply because he looks down on everyone weaker than himself. Even his own troops don't respect him.
Spark Mandrill: Doesn't like to think. Doesn't have the Russian accent he had in the cartoon (Mega X). Not very smart but at least speaks cognatively .; He doesn't like to think but he believes Sigma is right and feels that he and X will find the answer in battle. If anything he shows both loyalty and honesty. Still one of my favorite mavericks. Oh, and his Dash Punch now adds a LITERALLY meaning to the last five letters of his name...
Armored Armadillo: Strict and gruff but by-the-book. As Vile says, all Armadillo does is follow orders (Armadillo in turn has no respect for Vile who does as he pleases and disobeys orders). He was given "strict orders" to engage X (or anyone else) if they showed up. Armadillo's VA seems to fit the part. I kinda pegged Armadillo as a rule-follower from the beginning and he's voiced professionally. His pattern's become more complex this time around.
Launch Octopus: Okay, this is a bit of a...weird suprise. Launch Octopus, the maverick that taunts you with the 'tentacles down', pretty much sounds nothing like I expect him to. He sounds like a fruity...Monty Pythonish...self-proclaimed artist (I mean..."art-teest") of Underwater Combat. Apparently he feels his skills as an underwater combat artist have gone unnoticed until Sigma took notice. Snooty, stuckup, and narcissist, Launch Octopus leaves me wondering when he utters the dying phrase "Even my explosion is beautiful...!" He's still a bastard when he uses his Energy Drain.
Boomerang Kuwanger: I've always belived Kuwanger was the smart one, and MHX proves it. Not only that he's apparently an "old friend" of X's from the 17th Unit (So was Spark Mandrill apparently). Kuwanger is guided entirely by logic and reason. His decision to turn Maverick wasn't personal--he just saw Sigma's rebellion as the most logical path to take. A brilliant master of analyzing and processing data, Kuwanger also boasts the ninja-like skills we've seen from his Super NES self. His V.A. fits the part pretty well.
Sting Chameleon: This guy's crazy. And I mean "nyaaah-nyaaah" crazy. I just want to tell him to act his damn age, truthfully. :P
Chameleon's crafty and underhanded and likes to stoop to flashy style and tricks to win. He apparently had no choice but to turn Maverick when he challenged Sigma..and lost...badly. I really didn't know what to expect him to sound like, but I guess his V.A. fits as well as any other.
Unnamed Navigator: Eh. Pretty much what we'd expect from a reploid who had this job before Iris and Alia. Don't worry. She won't give any annoying hints during the stages like in X5 and X6. You'll only hear from her in Day of Sigma and the first dialogue after touching down in Central Highway.
Dr. Cain: Old and decrepit but in better health than Thomas Light at the time of his message. Apparently Capcom decided to write him out of the series early on. He's dead by the time the game actually starts. Watch Day of Sigma to see him on more life-support than I thought was humanly possible. I almost mistook him for Crystal Snail! XD
Dr. Light: The Santa Claus lookalike sounds juuust about right. By the time X is completed, it's fairly obvious he's on his death bed. Poor guy. Maybe in sequels they'll show more memories of him and maybe delve a little more into the events around the start of the X project? It would be nice to know what became of Light and Wily's creations before the big gap between X being sealed away and Cain creating the first reploid based on X's design. Meh...wishful thinking.
Sigma: Make no mistake. From the beginning we can see this guy, is intelligent and cool-headed and hides his hidden agenda very well. He starts out easy to respect. He's stone cold serious and experienced and has planned everything out extremely carefully. Even right up to Zero's detective skills ultimately finding him out. His V.A. delivers a great performance.

Control: The game DOES play exactly like its SNES big brother. It responds and it performs the same, and in some cases better. You already know the control scheme, and Capcom was even nice enough to keep the control setup in the option screen so you can remap the buttons as you see fit. It does seem a little harder to do the dash-jump and much harder to use the dash-jump from walls now, making it impossible to climb up to the hadouken ledge if you miss your jump from the mine trolley. But it's not something I'll lose sleep over. Whether you use the analog stick or the D-pad, it handles nicely and Mega Man X and Vile both respond well.

Layout: Overall the game is a solid 80-90 percent the same as it was. Purists will notice changes to areas. Capsule locations are slightly amended. Or rather what's in them and how to access them. You still find the capsules in the same location in Eagle, Chameleon, and Mammoth's stage. But you'll find Penguin's sooner--it's on the right side, behind three breakable blocks (you need the foot parts) in the wall as you start your climb up the zig-zag. The foot parts are now in Mammoth's stage (You won't need the head or foot parts to climb up), the armor is in Eagle's stage, the arms are in Chameleon's and the head is in Penguin's. When you get to Sigma's stage you'll notice things are REALLY remixed. The first level remains the same as the original right up to where you make the climb up the side of the fortress with all the hover platforms. Instead it goes into an underwater section where you rematch the submarine mini boss, some sawblade seahorses, and Octopus himself. It procedes upward into a maze of enemies from Kuwanger's area and follows up with Kuwanger himself and returns to the familiar just before Bosspider. Stage 2 is even more remixed with large sections of Armadillo's stage, Eagle's stage, and Mandrill's stage remixed for your displeasure as well as the section cut from Stage 1 (yes the hover platforms). And finally it empties out into a battle with a better animated Rangda-Bangda. Stage 3 is waaaay different, looking more like a mansion complete with banners depicting the Sigma logo. Rematches with Chameleon and Mammoth await you...oh. And did I forget to mention? If you thought I forgot about the fight with Vile, I didn't. It was just moved to this area. And yes, it plays out almost the same as it did in Mega Man X (except Zero is no longer trapped in a cage and you won't have to fight Vile while he's in his damn ride armor. Make it through all that to finish off the D-Rex and it's off to the final stage which remains the same (what can you really do with a short stretch of vertical elevator shaft?)

Fanservice/Extras: First and formost. Better graphics. Better animation. Better sound. Everything's just better. So how do you go beyond that? How about unlocking Vile?

Vile
Vile plays completely different than X. For one thing, he has no less than three weapons useable at a time--arm, shoulder, and leg part. The first consisting of either a vulcan-type, missile-type, or rocket-punch, the shoulder being a ballistic device of some type, and the latter being a flamethrower or grenade weapon. All of Vile's weapons have limitless ammo but there's a catch--they have a firing limit. Each one uses up a different amount of firing capacity--when the meter empties, the weapon stops firing for a moment before the gauge refills ala the Jet Adaptor in Mega Man 6. Vile has so many different weapons total, it's almost insulting how he loses to X and Zero.
However as the game starts out, Vile is limited by which of his weapons he can assign, because they use a system similar to Regular Memory in the Battle Network Games--you can only assign a weapons scheme that uses less or equal to the maximum onboard weapon capcity Vile's system can handle. As you conquer stages, you capacity builds, letting you assign better weapons to your shoulder, arm, and legs. There are also two extra weapons slots for a body part and a special part which grants you better defense and running speed later on in addition to the arm, leg, and shoulder slots. I do have to raise my eyebrow over Capcom's choices for naming Vile's different weapons. You'll be treated to such gizmos as "Spoiled Brat", "Cherry Blast", "Zip-Zapper", "Lost Lamb", "Popcorn Demon", "Go-Getter Right", "Egoistic Pill", "Quick Homesick", "Deadstar Hug", "Peace Out Roller", and "Bumpity Boom" Generally you'll find the game more difficult as Vile. This is especially true when you fight X AND Zero in a two-on-one tag team fight to the finish. Zero's not too difficult but X is a total bastard simply because of his use of the Rolling Shield. It takes a lot to break it. And you'll still be fighing against homing torpedoes and storm tornados. And when you defeat Zero, X becomes an even bigger bastard, firing up to four max-charge Buster Shots in a row. Ouch.

Hadouken: Did anyone else see this one coming? They left it in the game, PLUS gave Dr. Light new Ryu costume artwork. And yes, X does say "Hadouken" while performing it, unlike Mega Man X Collection.

The Day of Sigma: A video game and a 25 minute anime video, showing the prelude to the first Maverick War. How cool is that?
Synopsis: It's an ordinary day for the Maverick Hunters in 21XX. A large mechaniloid has attacked the city and Commander Sigma and troops from the 17th Battalion and 13th Polar (Chill Penguin) Battalion. At the same time a flying transport is overhead Abel City, with X aboard about to air drop to the attack site. Sigma orders his men to move and and they engage the mechaniloid as X arrives on scene with style. During the battle, one of the hunters is grabbed. X hestates to shoot while the mechaniloid is shielding itself. In the confusion, Sigma ends the battle, slicing the machine's generator. In the end the hunter loses an arm but more casualties are averted. Sigma has a quick word with X before everyone returns to base. At the base, X and Zero arrive to see Vile in restraints, being led to the detention center for disobeying orders. Investigation into the mechnaloids traces a hacker to an area in Abel City. X and Zero do some investigating while Sigma speaks with Dr. Cain about the current situation and X's hidden potential. The investigation turns up a lot of dead reploids and the hacking data completely cleaned out.
On their return to base, X and Zero are contacted by HQ an informed Vile has escaped. As another mechaniloid attacks the city, the signal is traced to a missile base. X and Zero arrive to find Sigma. Without warning he attacks Zero and dares X to stop him by shooting him, but destrying Zero. X hesitates again and Sigma immobilizes him, forcing him to disarm. Sigma gloats and launches the missiles, critically injuring X who has a flashback to the last days of his creation an the words of his creator. In a surge of unknown power, X grabs Sigma by the face and inflicts nasty scars before his power systems shut down. When Zero awakens, Sigma is gone and X's systems have shut down. Later, Sigma watches as the city is destroyed and taunts X to come after him. Fade out.

Mega Man: Powered Up (Demo): Legend of Zelda had Wind Waker. Mega Man has Powered Up. Once you get past the super-deformed chibi art style, you'll discover it's actually a pretty playable game quite true to the original. Well animated, albeit overly technicolor, but still a good effort at reinvented the series according to Inafune's vision. The voices are childlike without becoming X4-ish (god awful), the sounds are right about on target. The demo itself features "new school" and "old school." Both have the same look. New School zooms in on the action and adds voice acting and hints at an expanded layout (Those extra ladders are SOOO tempting!!!) as well as a reorchestrated Cut Man stage music. Old school zooms out and keeps the Cut Man level for the most part exactly the way it was on NES save for the new graphics and sound effects. They even have the NES PCM track lifted from the Mega Man 1 game.

Overall: If I have to swallow my pride and remember that this IS a PSP game, then let me just say, Sony didn't screw up. And yes, I do consider it a necessary evil to invest in the PSP if I'm going to pursue the Maverick Hunter X and Powered Up series. But as far as the game goes, Maverick Hunter X delivers everything I've ever hoped for. This IS fan service. Capcom is listening to us. And as much as it burns me up that I'm going to have to wait another five years to see the series though from MHX to MHX6 (if Capcom does go ahead with the sequels and include all the fan content we were promised) and MMPU to MMPU 6, I still have to thank Capcom and Inafune for going though with the projects. Maverick Hunter X really is a fabulous "remake plus". Great graphics. Great sound. Great voice acting. Great music. Great storyline. And great fan service. Let the story be retold...the right way, this time.

ULTRA CREW DATABASE: Personal Data
Name: Neil Coleman the Gold Electric Karate Werewolf
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 170 lbs.
Age: 35
Fields of Study: electronic engineering, mechanics, metallurgy, architecture, industrial chemistry
Favorite colors: green and gold
Favorite sounds: 60 Hz AC hum, the wail of a saxophone
Favorite flavors: blueberry, lime, chocolate, mustard (yes, MUSTARD)
Favorite attire: karate gi and sandals with lab coat
Favorite TV programs: anything sci-fi or anime
Favorite movies: My Science Project, Explorers, Tron, Underworld
Favorite Book: "Clan of the Cave Bear"
Collects: vacuum tubes, science kits, classic video games, transforming action figures, Samurai Pizza Cat episodes (courtessy of Speedy)
Favorite Music: 80's rock, anything saxophone.
Employed at: Neil's Electronics Shop
Position in Ultra Crew: Team Leader and head engineer.
Other Responsibilities: Assists at the Institute for Future Technology, creates exhibits for the Miranda Technology Museum, in charge of city
   electrical system maintenance
Favorite drink: Turbo Cola
Likes: Electronics, pinball, video games, anime, music, a good steak, technology, nostalgia
Dislikes: Politics, noisy and chaotic conversations, the smell of blood, alcoholic beverages, narcissist/egocentric/arrogant people
Fears: stinging insects.
Embarassing Secret: Is responsible for at least 2 city-wide power failures in Miranda involving a New Year's shimmer ball drop.
Favorite Passion: Holding a TV antenna up and getting struck by lightning in the middle of some of Miranda's most violent thunderstorms.
Is Glad: He wasn't assigned to CastleVania
Wishes: His brother would stop spending so much time doing karaoke.

Current Mood: good
Current Music: "Dirty Harry" by the Gorillaz

Christmas
LOGIN: Dr. Arcade
PASSWORD: *****************

REM: "Merry Christmas to all..."

Re: ..and to all a good night.

OLD NEWS: Family Vacation 3.0+, details to follow. Spent 9.5 days in Orlando. Over a week of fun spent at (in order) the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Universal Studios, the Animal Kingdom, Kenedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, MGM Studios, and Downtown Disney. It couldn't have gone better.

NEW NEWS: Work as usual. We got absolutely armageddoned on the 23rd of this month. Apparently we've set new sales records for the last decade or so.

My brother gave me his old laptop. A Toshiba Tecra 8000 with Pentium II processor, 128 MB RAM, a 1GB harddrive (which now has less than 25 NB left.), one USB port, a CD ROM drive and an external floppy disk drive (That's right. EXTERNAL.) and Windows 98......and it didn't work. After a heap of downloads from DriverGuide.com, I finally got it working again plus I got WinAmp (really old version), Wingroove, Nesticle, FCE Ultra, Genecyst, Gens, SNES9X, ZSNES, NO$GB, and Visual Boy Advance to work on them. The NetGear wireless adaptor doesn't work and there seems to be a problem with the drivers for it.   But beyond that with the USB game pad from my PC, I have a pretty decent portable gaming station (Its battery doesn't last for schnikees but still...all things considering it's pretty darn great.)

Christmas Eve was yesterday. Woke up, enjoyed a Saturday morning of cartoons. Got lunch at Longhorn steak house. Went back home. Enjoyed some more of the day and got dressed for church. Went to 5:00 mass with dad. Afterward went to Uncle Tim and Aunt Jackie's (Dad's side of the family) and had dinner (roast beef, chips, pretzils, and cheese potatoes). Enjoyed 3 Molly Hogans (orange juice, lemonaide, vanilla, eggs, sugar, and Sprite soda) and cookies. Afterword briefly visited Mom's grave at David Cemetary. It was a sad Christmas without her. :( From there we went to Aunt Lawanda and Uncle Fred's. (Mom's side of the family.) Exchanged some gifts, enjoyed some treats, and watched Uncle Fred install a new USB combination printer, scanner, and fax machine on his computer.

Christmas Day today. Opened presents late night the night before. Got Metroid Prime Pinball DS, Sonic Rush DS, Viewtiful Joe Red Hot Rumble GCN, Shadow the Hedgehog GCN, artwork book (with full scripts) of A New Hope, Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi, a couple DVD's, some bluejeans (Only had two pair til now), and some other minor stuff...and one seriously badass stereo system with 3-disk changer, MP3 compatable, subwoofers, and other whistles and bells. Went to the Bergmans' house (my brother's wife, Amy's family). Had Christmas dinner (ham, potatoes, mac n' cheese, etc.). Exchanged more Christmas presents. Got the DVD's of Short Circuit, Men in Black 1 & 2, Underworld, and others.

ULTRA CREW SPOTLIGHT: Callista Brighton
TECHNICAL
Full name: Dr. Callista Penelope Brighton
Race: human, psychic
Age: unknown
Eyes: blue
Hair: red, styled into a Princess Toadstool do'.
Height: 6'9"
Weight: Won't tell.
Element: None
Preferred weapon(s): Psionics, psi dagger, twin handguns
Family/close relations: UNKNOWN
Theme Songs:
"She Blinded Me With Science" performed by the Rock-aFire Explosion
"Strain Your Brain" performed by the Rock-aFire Explosion

BIOGRAPHY: A human scientist from Neo Arcadia, Callista Brighton is considered the most powerful psychic in recorded Neo Arcadia and Uptopius history. A woman without a past (or so she's believed until recent memories, clues, and items have surfaced), Callie ponders her existance and wonders who she really is. Outside of Miranda, Callie dwells in her secret underground laboratory (and home) on the outskirts of Neo Arcadia City. It is modified to block her powerful psionic aura and keeps out the prying psionic abilities of other psychic minds. Callista is reknown among the Immediate Ultra Crew for taming the powerful Mewtwo. It is believed they met during one of Mewtwo's ventures to the city shortly after Team Rocket leader Giovanni's failed attempt to recapture the genetically engineered super pokemon on Mewtwo's secret island. This island was also home to enhanced clones of several pokemon created by Mewtwo before his epic battle with Mew (now in the care of Garfield Arcade). Callie does not consider herself a pokemon trainer but she does research them in her spare time.

ORIGIN: Dr. Callista Penelope Brighton has no memories prior to her college years which she can confirm are real with certainty. She has occasional flashes and sparks of bits and images from the past.
Callista, being a doctor, is pascifist by nature but understands she sometimes has to fight for a better tomorrow.
What little Callista knows about her past suggests that she was a Russian experiment in inducing psionic powers in humans for the purpose of creating deadlier secret intelligence agents.

Callie every so often has a reoccuring nightmare of her psychic powers going supercritical while giving an unknown lecture on evolution, causing her to undergo a lycanthropy of sorts. The dream goes on to beast Callie running to her laboratory only for it to explode violently upon her entry. Nermal has run test after test on Callista and found no such genetic data which could trigger such a transformation and found no concrete evidence that suggests this dream is a valid memory. Bunnie can neither confirm this dream is a vision of the future but suspects it may be an image implanted in her mysterious past.

Callista is warm and friendly to everyone she knows and seems almost compelled to be a caregiver; as if something in her is telling her she has to atone for something in her past. Callista Brighton will often be seen painting portraits or landscapes or playing her violin in Miranda Square. Often Mewtwo will be out of his Master Ball and accompanying Callie in the square or in battle.

Callista owns and operates generation 1 NetNavi, Brightman.EXE and generation 2 NetNavi, LaserRabbit.EXE

SKILLS AND ABILITIES: Callista has many diverse talents besides her ability to use all of the different forms of psionic abilities from telepathy to telekinesis. As a doctor and scientist Callie's specialty is neurology and the mechanics of the humanoid brain but excells at other sciences as well. Callista plays the violin and is quite good at painting in acryllic and oil paints on canvas and also experiments as a cullinary artist in the kitchen (Mewtwo will often taste-test her creations.). She rare if ever shows that she is a good dancer and singer. Callie is also quite the speed reader. While Callista has been known to use fists and feet in battle, she is no martial artist.

WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT: Callista of course carries a Master Ball for carrying Mewtwo. She also has a specialized dagger which can focus her psionic powers into attacks as well as a pair of handguns believed to be from her past life.

RELATIONSHIPS
-Dr. Garfield Powerhouse Arcade: Garfield keeps the very Mew which Mewtwo fought under his care.

-Professor Odie Megabyte Arcade: Odie knows Callista from her college days and holds her in high regard. He's one of the few people who know the location of Callie's secret lab and more importantly one of the few people who are actually allowed access to it. As a scientist, Odie shares a professional and scientific relationship with Callista.

-Dr. Nermal Stephanie Gamepro M.D.: Nermal is one of the few people who are allowed access to Callie's secret lab. She and Nermal are very good friends. Callie entrusts Nermal with physical examinations, tests, and medical support. Nermal is doing everything she can to help unravel the secrets that Callie herself has yet to uncover about herself.

-Grand Master Kimiko ''Shin'' Kazama: Callie may not be a martial artist but Kim is a great help to her with her advice on meditation and honing and conditioning the mind. Kim and Callie often meditate together.

-Master Bunnie Mae Rabbot: Bunnie's psi abilities are nowhere near as powerful as Callista's but she's psychic enough to hold her own. Bunnie and Callista exchange advice and wisdom.

ULTRA CREW SNEAK PEAK OF THE DAY:
    "You must not stand in the way of our - MY master's ideal!" Yeti growled. "Avalanche Yeti, what is Sigma trying to do?"
"My master no longer considers your world to be ideal. We intend to fix things." He replied. "It's too late, X. You and youre puny Maverick Hunters have lost."

    The icy maverick moved through the snow surprisingly fast, jumping over the team and landing behind them. As soon as he reached the corner of the room he jumped and spread his hands out, firing off a storm of ice crystals with the speed of a Gatling Gun. The shards dug deep into the metal walls and became buried in the deep snow. The maverick dashed around with the ease of a snow plow with jet engines while continueing to pop up and firing.

    It was hard for X to move in the snow and even harder for Bunnie who was numb as it was and fighting the effects of hypothermia. "Hey, X. You want to wager that iced-up armor of his is fairly conductive?" She managed to say, forcing her teeth to stop chattering.
"Let's find out." X took aim just as Yeti shushed to a stop from a dash. ZAAAAP!!! "Graaaaarrrrrgghhh!!!! The metal giant spasmed as he attempted a jump, only to be caught right in the path of the Thunder Dancer. The voltage coursed through the ice and the metal, sending a jolt down every one of his systems. He dropped like a rock into the snow, landing flat on his back. The electricity coursed through him, lighting him up with a bright glow as the energy continued to play merry Hell with his circuits. Bunnie immediately followed up the electric jolt with another Thunder Dancer as soon as the crackles of electricity subsided. Incensed, Avalanche Yeti took it up a level. He dove into the snow bank. "A retreat?" X questioned. "Not likely."

    Bunnie's comment was confirmed as the metal yeti burst up out of the snow with a spiraling uppercut. "Crystal Flash!!!" He just missed X's jaw and dove underground again, tunneling under the snow once more. Bunnie closed her eyes and waited...then squated down on all fours moments before the giant's fist come up from under her.
"!!!!" X gasped as Bunnie squated down, riding the metal machine's knuckles as it launched into the air. Bunnie then sprung off of the metal being's knuckles and flipped upside down, pointing her buster straight down.
ZAAAAP!!! Yeti fried again, landing in the snow bank. The heat from the voltage melted an Avalanche Yeti impression where he landed in a belly flop. He recovered and dove underground. "We're not gonna fall for the same attack again." Bunnie narrowed her eyes. "Hmm?"

Suddenly Avalanche Yeti burst up from the snow. "Drift Diamond!"
Bunnie gasped as she whirled and saw it. Ice crystals encircled the beast in a frosty shield as he came at her.
And then everything stopped as Bunnie felt intense cold...and then...nothing. She had been frozen solid in a shell of ice.
"Bunnie!" X darted toward her. He barely dodged the charging Yeti but soon realized he, himself hadn't gotten past unscathed. The Drift Diamond had frozen his right arm! Not letting that stop him, X managed to reach Bunnie. Straining with all his effort he smashed his ice-covered arm into Bunnie's icy prison, cracking the ice. He smashed again, until enough of it had shattered for Bunnie to wrench herself free.

    Bunnie shivvered violently but continued to fight off the severe cold. "Is th-that all you g-got?" She taunted and cybermorphed to the Fourth Armor. Bunnie fully charged the Thunder Dancer at the same time X got his arm defrosted.
X quickly followed suit and charged up the Thunder Dancer.

    "Double Thunder Dancer Attack!" Both charged forth and released the streams of lightning, electrocuting the metal beast with twice the punishment.   A couple more jolts down the road and Avalanche Yet was ready to take it up a level. The vents on his back started spewing massive rushes of icy fog. "What's he up to now?"

    "Above us!" Bunnie dove for cover as a giant snowflake drifted down from above. It was at least the size of Avalanche Yeti himself and its edge was sharp as a razor. The snowflake cut through the snow, landing between X and Bunnie, narrowly missing theem.
"Keep firing!" X commanded, sending off more Thunder Dancers. Bunnie followed his lead, discharging the electric attack in tandem with the Maverick Hunter. Finally it came down to a Team Up Attack. "Team Up Attack! Go!" The gold computer code poured down and spun around like some kind of cyber summoning circle and runes in the midst of a rain of digital programming.

   And following the explosion, the room fell silent again. "We'll be taking this, thank you." Bunnie copied the Drift Diamond and X did the same.

-Bunnie Rabbot, Mega Man X, and Avalanche Yeti - Mega Man X8: Paradise Lost, Bunnie Rabbot version

Current Mood: cheerful
Current Music: "Shock Therapy" - Spark Mandrill Stage, Irregular Hunter X

MAIN DIAGNOSTICS COMPLETE
SYSTEM ONLINE
.
.
.
ARCADE INDUSTRIES CRYPTOSMASHER NETWORK REBOOTING
.
.
.

Connection reestablished.
NintendoNet, SegaDyne, SonyCom, and MicroTech uplinks restored.
Resuming all Ultra Crew operations, projects, and data logs.

LOGIN: Dr. Arcade
PASSWORD: *****************

REM: "Welcome home, Dr. Arcade."

Re: Return from Vacation 3.0+ & Happy 28th Birthday to me.

OLD NEWS: Family Vacation--We're all going to Florida...to Disneyworld. After 20 years, we're finally going back. It won't be the same without Mom. But my brother's wife, Amy, is going in her place so we'll at least be going as a family. As of 6pm, November 11th, 2005, we will be out of town and Florida bound. During our vacation we will be going to Disneyworld, Universal Studios, and Cape Canaveral.Leaving for Orlando, Florida. Mega Man Battle Network 5 DS: Double Team for NDS arrived earlier in the week. Have barely had time to look it over.

NEW NEWS: Family Vacation 3.0+, details to follow. Spent 9.5 days in Orlando. Over a week of fun spent at (in order) the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Universal Studios, the Animal Kingdom, Kenedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, MGM Studios, and Downtown Disney. It couldn't have gone better. As such I will be giving a detailed summary of the week and a half below.

OTHER: Orlando Vacation Debriefing. (Or 10 days in ten paragraphs or less.)

November 11th, Friday Night: Started Cryptosmasher Online shutdown proceedures at 3:00. Entire system completely offline before 4. Completed packing and made final preparations and drove to Dayton International Airport. Went through security and boarded the flight to Atlanta, Georgia. Transfered at Atlanta to Orlando, Florida. Arrived late night at the Disney Pop Century Resort. Barely had time to browse over the timeline cases on the wall containing a collection of memorabilia from the last 5 decades. (They had a Sega Dreamcast, Game Boy (original), Pokemon cards, and Pink and Blue Mighty Morphin Power Rangers figures in the one of the 90's cases.) Checked into our room in the 50's section of the resort. Put away our stuff and crashed for the night.

November 12th, Saturday: Woke up, showered, dressed. Went to the Everything Pop[ular] shop and cafe. Had chocolate chip pancakes, bacon, and a Coke. Don't remember what Dad had for breakfast. Took the bus to the Magic Kingdom. Entered the gates and found ourselves on Main Street, USA. Briefly caught the performance of Cinderellabration in front of the Cinderella Enchanted Castle on our way to Tomorrowland. First thing we did at Tomorrowland was ride Space Mountain. Wild ride, but honestly I remember it being a lot more intense 20 years ago. Eh. Time raises our expectations. (Or makes fools of us all). Spent the rest of the day walking around the park and riding rides, and taking in the sights. While waiting in lines, I occupied myself with Megaman Battle Network 5 DS: Double Team and played the Hell out of both versions. Caught the 3-D Mickey's PhilharMagic show in Fantasyland. Checked out the Hall of Presidents at Liberty Square. Mosied on down to Frontierland to ride Big Thundermountain Railroad and Splash Mountain. Later on we watched the Country Bear Jamboree animatronic Christmas show. Had burgers and fries for dinner. Took the Train to Toon Town and walked the rest of the way back to Main Street, USA. Watched the Spectral Magic Parade (of lights and display) at 9 pm. An hour later watched the Wishes fireworks display over the Cindarella Enchanted Castle. Went back to our room, watched a little TV and crashed for the night.

November 13th, Sunday: Same routine as Saturday morning. Took a little more effort to wake up. I'm not used to waking up early on Sundays. Took the bus to Epcot (FYI, E.P.C.O.T. stands for Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow, according to the late Walter Elias Disney, or so said the promo film during our trip from the airport to Pop Century, Friday Night.). and checked out all things science that were educational and entertaining. We only got to do about half of Epcot before Dad was too wore out and it was already late. Started at Leave a Legacy and browsed the nameplate scuptures of families who had visited before and...left a legacy. Our first stop was the Spaceship Earth by the "giant golfball" Epcot Sphere (as my brother put it.)--boarded the vehicle and witnessed the "milestones in communications vital to man's survival, from Cro-Magnon cave paintings to electronic space communications". Went to the Universe of Energy Attraction. Apparently they did some updating since I was there last, since the video commentary was now presented and narrated by Elen Digenerous and Bill Nye the Science Guy. Fortunately the animatronic dinos were unchanged since the last time I was there. My brother, his wife Amy, and myself then went to Mission: SPACE to check out the interactive simulator which pitted two teams consisting of a "pilot", "engineer", "navigator", and "commander" against each other to safely land a rocket on Mars. Out of the three of us that went only one of us actually liked it. (Guilty as charged. Sorry, bro. Sorry, Amy.) After extended delays we finally went on the Test Track attraction where we experienced the world of rigorous automobile testing. A lot of crash test dummies and displays on what parts of a car are put through before they're given a PASS on their inspection while we waited in line followed by a thrilling ride around the track during simulated conditions of braking, manuevering, ABS, and road tests. (Family favorite!) Checked out a few hands-on exhibits in Innovations, experienced Imagination! (Starring that mischievious dragon, Figment.) and experienced the senses as only the imagination could present them. Went with Dad on Soarin' and experienced a virtual IMAX style experience of what it's like to fly over California on a hang-glider. Also toured a modernized greenhouse in Living With the Land and learned about the future of hydroponics. Left for Pop Century and ate at the cafe and called it a day early.

November 14th, Monday: While Brian and Amy did their thing, Dad and I went on our own trip to Universal Studios and toured the first of two parks: Universal Studios. Once at Universal, out of curiosity, I checked out Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast. What can I say but it didn't kill me. And the 3-D wasn't too bad. (Though, personally I'm more of a Dexter's Laboratory kind of guy. But y'know Dex is Cartoon Network's brainchild. Ah well.). Dad and I then went from Production Central to New York where we experienced Twister...Ride It Out. We stepped into one of the most action packed movies of all time as a swirling F5 touched down and proceeded to tear apart the famous Drive-In scene from the movie. I got a bit wet and the explosion caught me by suprise. Went on the Revenge of the Mummy indoor rollercoaster attraction before heading to San Francisco/Amity so Dad and I could catch Beetlejuice's Graveyard Revue. B.J. and four of the Universal Studios monsters rock out to some good old rock n' roll with some moments of humor and grossness in between. Went to the Earthquake attraction. Dad managed to coax me into volunteer for the audience participation during the weather special effects demonstration before the ride. Boarded a subway train and watched as all Hell broke loose once the "8.3 Earthquake" hit and pretty much destroyed the underground station set before the station flooded and the tanker exploded...then the entire scene reset and drained just as we exited. Went back to New York so Dad could catch the Blues Bros. show on Delancy Street. Jake and Elwood arrived on scene with the "refurbished" squad car they used to promote their big show in the movie and exited in style. Ate lunch at Richter's Burger Co. Walked around a bit more until went full circle to Hollywood (somehow skilling World Expo). Went to the Terminator 2: 3-D Battle Across Time. Experienced the thrill of the TERMINATOR in a futuristic mix of live action, special effects and 3-D film. Plenty of T2:JD moments and lots of suprises. (Though technically, it's non-canonical since the show takes us to SkyNet's central core (guarded by the T-1,000,000), while Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines shows us that SkyNet had no central core and existed everywhere in the internet. But y'know. It was pretty damn good, considering.) After some more walking and checking out the classic cars at Mel's Drive-In cafe and the Van Helsing exhibits at the Universal Horror Make-Up Show, we headed back to World Expo and rode Back To The Future The Ride (I've waited a long time to experience BttF!) and finished off with MEN IN BLACK: Alien Attack. Went back to Pop Century and later joined up with Brian and Amy at Downtown Disney where we ate at the Rain Forest Cafe. Went back to Pop Century, Dad hit the hay early while I caught the season finale of Power Rangers: SPD (Curiosity compelled.). Called it a night and recharged my NDS.

November 15th, Tuesday: Morning routine--rince, lather, repeat. The Animal Kingdom. Lots of opportunities to see wildlife. There was an amazing giant tree in the center of it all with countless animals carved into its trunk. Started in Discovery Island and walked the Discovery Island Trails. Saw Galapagos tortoises, nemurs, and cotton-top tamarins. Went to Africa, next, and went on the Kilimanjaro Safari. Saw giraffes, gazelles, elephants, rhinos, lions, wildebeasts, and others. Took the train to Rafiki's Planet Watch. Saw alot of insects and snakes at the conservation station and briefly looked at the petting zoo. Amy and Brian pretty much agreed it was a waste of time. Went back to Africa and walked our way to Asia where the highlight of the day took us to the Maharaja Jungle Trek where we saw bats, komodo dragons, tapirs, and lots of tigers (And got a lot of great photos.). Ended off in DinoLand USA which was the equivalent of say...Hana-BarberaLand at King's Island...way too much kid stuff. Went back to Discovery Island only long enough to close our day with A Bug's Life: It's Tough to Be A Bug! 3-D show. Went back to Pop Century. Ate. Crashed.

November 16th, Wednesday: The big day: Kenedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral. If you haven't been following along, then let me reiterate--wake, shower/shave/sh**. Dress. Breakfast. Bus. And off to...Cape Canaveral. The bus trip here took us past some gators. But enough about that. Needless to say security was a little tighter and of course involved metal detectors. Our trip took us on a 2 1/2 hour tour of the facility including a look at sections of the Space Station under contruction, a tour of Launch Site B, and an up close look at the Saturn V as we as a history of the Apollo program. Watched several different films including an IMAX presentation narrated by Tom Hanks on the moon landing. Got an up-close look at a mach-up of the Space Shuttle Orbiter and the actual Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs) and External Fuel Tanks (The former decommissioned after so many uses.). Got photos taken with an astronaut in full space suit.
Day ended on a high note but we were all exhausted when we hit the hay.

November 17th, Thursday: Our movie experience continues with MGM Studios where by far most of the coolest stuff took place. Dad and I went on ahead and caught part of the Indianna Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular. "Indy and Marion" need extras on the set for this live show featuring pulse-pounding action and adventure" as the promo put it. It did not disappoint. It was so good all four of us saw it again before Dad went on back to Pop Century around 5pm while the three of us continued on >: ) Anyway...it featured three legendary reenactments of scenes from Raiders of the Lost Ark--from the opening scenes including the booby-trapped temple and giant rolling boulder, the big brawl and chase and truck explosion in Cairo, and the escape from the enemy airport (featuring Indy's fight with the muscle-bound mechanic which ended with the brute getting chopped up in the airplane propeller.). Dad and I continued on to Star Tours where we took a "Starspeeder" flight simulator bound for the Moon of Endor...only the inexperienced robot pilot makes a slight miscalculation that lands us in a battlezone with a final trek down the trench of the Death Star. Continuing onward, led us to Muppet Vision 3-D which landed us in the familiar theater of the Muppet Show as Kermet and company show off Muppet Labs' latest developments in 3-D technology while trying to put on their big show. While my brother and Amy went to the Who Wants to Be A Millionaire--Play It! attraction, Dad and I went to the Sounds Dangerous--Starring Drew Carey show at the ABC Sound Studio. While waiting around for Amy and Brian to join up with us again, I got to see and get photos of Power Rangers from each of the last five Power Rangers series--Time Force Pink, Wild Force Lunar Wolf, Ninja Storm Samurai Green, Dino Thunder White, and Space Patrol Delta Red. (I know someone who's going to get a kick out of thoses photos once I get them scanned in.) Once the four of us all met back together we chcked out the Lights, Motors, Action Extreme Stun Show. All you need to know is lots of fast car and motorcycle chases (forwards AND backwards), crashing threw windows, a stuntman getting lit on fire, some explosions, some ramp jumping and more. Hell, yeah! While Brian and Amy road the Rock n' Roller Coaster (featuring Aerosmith), I went on the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. We (sans Dad) ended our day at the Hollywood Hills Ampitheater where we watched Fantasmic!--the live show combined with lasers, animation projected on fountain sprays, some wild pyrotechnics and more as we peek inside Sorceror Mickey's dreams while he battles a culmination of the darkest of Disney's evil villains including the Wicked Queen, Malificent, Cruella DeVille, Jafar, Scar, Hades, and Ursula all at once. Plus a tribute to several of Disney's animated movies as well as live appearances from hero and villain alike. In short...a damn good show.

November 18th, Friday: If the vacation were to have a "weakest link" this would have been it. Adventure Island had its moments but it didn't quite live up to the hype. Started in Marvel Super Hero Land.I passed up the Incredible Hulk rollercoaster from the start (Terrified of looping/corkscrewing rollercoasters) and started off with the much tamer Storm Force Acceletron (I used to make my brother barf-level sick on those centrifugal force rides! XD) and worked my way up to the 3-D interactive Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man ride. I liked it so much I rode it twice in a row. Dad and I next headed to Toon Lagoon and walked our way through the comic strip themed midway. That's about where we made the mistake of riding Popeye and Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barge...and getting absolutely soaked on the equivalent of Kings Islands' White Water Canyon--circular raft on an innertube and a LOT of water. I suppose it probably should have tipped us off when we saw the huge cluster of towel and clothes shops around the exit...but we had to learn the hard way. Onward to Jurassic Park, we rode the Jurassic Park River Adventure...twice. And we got wet...again. At the Lost Continent we watched the Eighth Voyage of Sindbad stunt show and then went on the Poseidon's Fury. Stopped by a metal-worker shop and got a mini medallion--on once side a wolf on the other lightning (suits me well, no?) We then cut through Seuss Landing *shudder* and called it a day. Went back to MGM for dinner reservations at the 50's Prime Time Cafe--great food and a TV playing B/W reruns at your table in a restaurant themed to look like mom's kitchen back in the 50's. Just be sure to mind your manners or your waitress will let you know you're in trouble and punish you for it...really. The guy across from us ended up having to stand up and sing "I'm a Little Teapot" for having his elbows on the table. Oh yeah...and clean your plate too, if you don't want to get yelled at. ^^;;;

November 19th, Saturday: One day before my birthday. So we celebrated a little early. It was back to Epcot to finish off with our world tour which included Canada (this one goes out to you, Shyna! ~_^), the United Kingdom, France, Morocco, Japan (featuring the Made in Japan--Tin Toys (350 pieces on loan to Epcot)), the American Adventure (featuring drummers and fifes out front and the American Adventure hosted by animatronic Mark Twain and Ben Franklin and others.), Italy, Germany, China, Norway, and finishing off with Mexico. As a birthday dinner, we had dinner at the elegant Portobello Yatch Club in Downtown Disney, where I enjoyed the best damn filet mignon I can honestly say I've ever had.

November 20th, Sunday (Today): Packing began pretty early. All preparations were and we were out of resort by noon. The bus took us back to the airport where we went through security and boarded a 1 hour and 45 minute flight back to Dayton, Ohio. Came home, dropped our gear, went to eat at Bob Evan's then officially called our vacation ended.

Overall: A perfect vacation. All thanks to the person who is most responsible for making it possible...thanks, Mom. I only wish you hadn't passed on so you could have shared in the great gift you gave us, your family. If this isn't solid proof that wishes and dreams do come true...I don't know what is.

ULTRA CREW SPOTLIGHT: Gadget Hackwrench

TECHNICAL
Full name: Gadget Hackwrench
Race: mouse, Capcom Worlder
Age: Unknown
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Blond
Height: 5" (on Capcom World), 5'0" (offworld)
Weight: Unknown
Element: None.
Preferred weapon(s): Whatever she can built from rubber bands, penciles, fishing line, mini magnets, washers, and discarded bits and pieces.
Family/close relations: Geegaw Hackwrench (father) - deceased
Theme Song: Chip & Dale's Rescue Rangers theme song

BIOGRAPHY: Bright and optimistic Gadget is a brilliant inventor but tends to get a little airheaded with when she's talking. Her inventions don't always work right, but she's amazing with jerryrigging gizmos and gear from common household objects. A female mouse MacGyver, Gadget has shared many of her scientific theories and findings with Professor Odie Arcade and taught him to piece togther surprisingly impressive tech on the fly (Sorry, Zipper. XD). While not officially listed as part of the Ultra Crew Extended Team or Ultra Crew reserves, Gadget often finds herself on the fifth slot roster. Usually she fills in when no UC reserves are available to Neil's team in Miranda.

ORIGIN: Gadget led a happy childhood with her father, Geegaw up until he passed away. Since then she lived on her own with her inventions to keep her occupied. One day, Monterrey Jack, Geegaw's old and dear friend, shows up at her doorstep with two chipmunks in tow. And thus started the adventure that would only lead to more adventures. Joining forces with Chip, Dale, Zipper, and Monterrey Jack, Gadget and company formed a detective team called the Rescue Rangers. Taking the cases which go mostly unnoticed by the towering humans of their pocket realm, the Rescue Rangers always lent a hand to those who needed it most.

On her home world, Gadget and her friends are barely the size of an action figure, standing a mere five inches. Outside of Capcom World, where the dimensional physics are different, Gadget and friends stand an average 5 foot or so.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES: A brillian inventor and a student of science. Gadget builds makeshift technology. They're a great help to the Rescue Rangers (when they actually work).

WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT: Gadget doesn't have any one device or gizmo that stands out more so than the others. Some of her inventions include her Magnet Backpack, Suction-Cup Harpoon Crossbow, Gyromobile, and other noteworthy tools and vehicles.

RELATIONSHIPS:
-Chip: The serious, adventurous one of the inseperable chipmunk pair. Chip is an aspiring young detective and a bold leader. He has his eyes set on Gadget and dreams of winning her heart.

-Dale: The goofoff, free-spirited member of the inseperable chipmunk pair. Dale is always getting into trouble. A slacker who likes having fun, Dale also has a crush on Gadget...which leads to rivalries with his best friend.

-Monterrey Jack: A husky, outback mouse with strength and personality to spare. He's like a father figure to Gadget. If he has but one weakness it's any type of cheese. He loves it so much he's often distracted to the point of making a scene. When there's cheese around, Monterrey is attracted to it like a magnet and often loses all awareness of what's around him, falling into a trance-like state.

-Zipper the Fly: A scrappy, fiesty, and spunky lil' fly who does his best to pull his weight.

-Professor Odie Megabyte Arcade: Odie actually met her in a library on a visit to Capcom World. He happened to notice a small mouse standing on an open book. At first he thought nothing of it until he saw her climb down and turn the page with some difficulty. It was an interesting meeting as Odie was human-sized and Gadget fit in the palm of his hand. Odie was fascinated by her brilliant mind and extended and invitation to Neo Arcadia. When she came to Neo Arcadia she was puzzled by how she was human-sized. In time the two of them exchanged a lot of scientific theory. Odie learned how to Macgyver makeshift technology on the fly thanks to Gadget.

ULTRA CREW SNEAK PEAK OF THE DAY:
Deeper, and deeper, and deeper still. The volcano continuing further and further underground, with no apparent end. X and Bunnie kept fighting on. Bunnie's vision began to blur. "No...don't do it, Bunnie...don't do it." She blinked, and shook her head. She could feel dizziness set in. Her hearing seemed to fade in an out as well as she fought to stay awake. She swayed a little and felt herself falling backward toward the abyss. "It...can't...end...like...this..." She thought as her eyes grew heavy.

        Bunnie could see the tunnel spin around her and the platform slip away. She could only guess she was falling toward the magma below. She shut her eyes, letting everything fade to black...
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!?" A familiar voice screamed. Bunnie looked around...there was nothing but darkness. Darkness save for a spotlight shining down upon Bunnie from above. Princess Violet emerged from the darkness and stepped into the light. Bunnie blinked a couple times. Violet marched right up to Bunnie and gave her a good hard slap across the face. "Get up and fight, damn you."
"......" Bunnie was speechless. "If you don't you're going to burn. And when you're done burning you're going to burn in Hell! Now get back in there and fight. You're too good to little heat stop you." Vi stepped back into the shadows.

        Bunnie awoke with a start. "!!!" She looked up to see X grabbing her wrist. "Give me your other hand."
"..." Bunnie quickly reached out with her other hand and was quickly hauled up. "Bunnie...don't scare me like that again. You almost--"
"I know. I almost lost myself. I almost perished. It won't happen again." Bunnie stood up. Realizing their situation, she concluded the platform had ascended several feet, negating a portion of their progress. "Come on. I've cost us enough time and progress." She grabbed his hand and pulled him off the platform to the next one in sequence. "We can still make it. But we have to make up for lost time."
"Huh...?" X blinked. "She's...different somehow...it's like her determination is even stronger than before." X thought. Quickly, the two raced down the rising platforms and blew past the crates and enemies like they were standing still. Before long they landed on a small stretch of platforms.   As soon as they got to the center one, it started descending.

-Mega Man X, Bunnie Rabbot, and Princess Violet - Mega Man X8: Paradise Lost, Bunnie Version

Current Mood: rejuvenated
Current Music: "Supercar" by Max Coveri

Vacation 3.0 PLUS
LOGIN: Dr. Arcade
PASSWORD: *****************

Re: I'm going to Disneyland! (No, seriously.)

Old News: Bought Megaman Zero 4, conquered it. Worked on a holiday. (Meh. :P) Enjoying the remnants of candy my dad passed out during
Beggar's Night. Conquered Sonic CD with all seven Time Stones on Sonic Gems Collection.

New News: Family Vacation--We're all going to Florida...to Disneyworld. After 20 years, we're finally going back. It won't be the same without Mom. But my brother's wife, Amy, is going in her place so we'll at least be going as a family. As of 6pm, November 11th, 2005, we will be out of town and Florida bound. During our vacation we will be going to Disneyworld, Universal Studios, and Cape Canaveral.

In accordance to the extended vacation protocol of Ultra Crew rules an reg, CRYPTOSMASHER ONLINE is to be put into sleep mode and all projects and logging programs are to be suspended until my return. Until November 20th (My birthday, by the way. I turn 28.), I will be OFFLINE.

Ultra Crew Spotlight: Iris

TECHNICAL
Full name: Lieutenant Iris Cecilia Thorne
Race: Reploid (native to Capcom World)
Age: N/A (appears to be early 20's due to body reconstructs)
Eyes: Aqua
Hair: Light brown
Height: 6'8"
Weight: Well over 400 lbs. It is severely reduced by nearly 75% due to a modified Gravity Belt.
Element: Various
Preferred weapon(s): Twin I-Busters (variable intensity plasma cannons with Variable Weapons System), I-Saber (standard issue light saber), Mini Enigma 1.21 Gigawatt Particle Cannon Laser, various ride armors, ride chaser hoverbike.
Brother - Colonel Corsan Thorne (deceased, recently revived as her NetNavi, Colonel.EXE)
Sister: "Maverick" Kris Thorne (living)
Commanding Officer - Commander Mega Man X
Relations: Lieutenant Zero (ex-boyfriend)
Friends: Jaimas Van Burace, Brooke Canciaris, Jacob "Mouse" Lavitz, Ultra Crew, Shyna Nera Shyna 2
Theme Song 1: "Reluctant Battle" - Battle With Iris, Mega Man X4
Theme Song 2: "The World is Not Enough" by Garbage
Quote:
"Forgive me, Zero!"
"Stay with me, brother."
"Okay...I'll do it."
"I'm a Maverick Hunter!"
"The next one of you maverick scum that ticks me off is getting a taste of this beam saber and one pissed off brunette!"
"I've done terrible things...unforgiveable things. I have to make up for them somehow."
"Yes sir, Commander X."
"Your ass is mine, Vile mk 3!"
"It's just you...me...your skid plate...and this 1.21 Gigawatt Particle Cannon Laser!"
"Let's go shopping, Brooke!"
"Say one more word, Zero, and people really will think you're a woman..." *ignites Beam Saber*
"Good job, Axl. Now, let's hand him his skid plate on a platter!"

BIOGRAPHY
Lieutenant Iris is currently a UH rank Hunter for th 17th Unit Maverick Hunters under the command of Commander X and serves as an elite member of Ultra Crew. Iris began as a very proper English reploid with strong emotions, opinions, and reservations about life, love, and duty. Battle experience has toughened her up somewhat and contact with Jaimas Van Buerace, Princess Violet, and Jon Talbain has made her more "Americanized". Iris has picked up her fair share of good and bad habits--among those that stand out are her border-line recklessness when piloting her Land Chaser hovercycle (especially parking, which she learned from Jaimas of course), her tendancy to swear when ticked off (she has Vi to thank for that habit.) and tends to get a little reckless on the job as violence, unlike Commander X, does not bother her as it once did. The nights she's not busy at MHHQ, Iris spends in civilian attire in Miranda or helps with Ultra Crew operations where applicable.

ORIGIN
Originally the only surviving factory-specification Aillis model series data analyst reploids. Iris was designed after a legendary warrior from the distant past. Shortly after the activation of her sister, Kris--a modified Aillis model--Iris and Corsan were shipped to Repliforce moments before the factory was destroyed in a bizzare explosion. As her first assignment, Iris was transferred to Maverick Hunter to gain experience as a data analyst, where under Commander X and Lieutenant Zero's supervision she was assigned her first task as a "spotter" data analyst during the infamous "Soul Erasure" incident.

Shortly thereafter she returned to Repliforce to carry on her duties along side her brother, the Colonel. During the chaos leading up the the fourth Maverick War, Iris was captured by Vile MK3 and brought to the Mavericks where she was infected with a dormant Maverick Virus. As their puppet, Iris boarded the Sky Lagoon, assisting Magma Dragoon in the ensuing destruction. Unable to escape in time, Iris survived the crash only to be immediately attacked by a dragon mechaniloid. She was rescued by Lieutenant Zero who with Commander X's help destroyed the mechaniloid. An unsuspecting Iris assisted double-agent, Double the "rookie hunter" in the Maverick's sabotage of both Maverick Hunter and Repliforce.

Serving her role, the Maverick Virus intensified in strength, playing upon her weaknesses as she struggled to keep the peace between Zero and her brother. Unfortunately the war took its toll and the inevitable battle cost Colonel Corsan Thorne his life at the hands of Zero which provided the spark to send Iris over the edge and complete the Maverick Virus infestation. As a final act as the Maverick's puppet, Iris fought Zero in a death match, using a powerful orb to augment her abilities as she suited up in a deadly mech. She was defeated. Her systems, failing, she begged Zero to run away with her to a place where only reploids exist only to be refused and reminded that such a place was a fantasy world.. Her main systems, shut down, leaving an anguished Zero to believe her death was at hand.

Shortly there after, the brothers Arcade, orchestrating a massive Ultra Crew operation happened to find Iris as X and Zero were confronting the General. They brought her back to the Game Lab where Odie completed her repairs and purged her system of the virus before the system failure became terminal. As a penance, a heart-broken and spirit-broken Iris served as a nurse in Nermal Gamepro's medbay for the next few years until she was discovered by Brooke and Jaimas. After pulling a few strings they managed to get her back into the Maverick Hunters, this time training her to be an active hunter. Over the next few years Iris honed her skills to eventually become a UH Ran Hunter, with a reputation rivalling both X and Zero. She has been assigned as X's secondary partner in battle. Recently she has been enlisted to help with the training of a new Hunter rookie named "Axl".

Iris owns and operates Generation 1 NetNavi, Colonel.EXE, which was created from the DNA soul of her deceased brother, Corsan Thorne, former Colonel of the Repliforce.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Iris was originally a data analyst working for Maverick Hunter. (This job is now performed by Alia.) Iris has been thoroughly trained in combat by Brooke and Jaimas and has gained an unfathomble amount of experience. Her marksmanship with her I-Busters and her skill with her Beam Sabers has been honed to perfection. Iris has mastered a number of elements which she can channel into her saber and attacks. Of these known are ice, electricity, fire and earth to some extent. Iris has a number of skills and techniques, many of them copied from Zero and X, others of her own design. Iris has even gone so far to learn light magic spells! When she's not battling, Iris has a talent for the piano and the harpsichord.

WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT
Like most of the balttle-equipped reploids, Iris' weapons are built-in. Each arm houses an I-Buster variable intensity plasma cannon equipped with a Variable Weapons System similar to X's and Axl's which allows her to copy the weapons system of any fallen Maverick Master. An energy amplifier was added by Alia long along to allow her to charge weapons much as X can when he is wearing one of the ancient armors created by the late Dr. Light. Iris carries a standard issue beam saber modified similarly to Lieutenant Zero's. Any other weapons she carries are usually prototypes invented by Alia and Douglass. Her favorite is her 1.21 Gigawatt Particle Cannon Laser commonly called "Mini Enigma" which was based on the ancient Enigma Particle Cannon fired during the fifth Maverick War. Also Iris sports a number of ride armors invented by Douglass. Some of them include the "White Phoenix", the "Black Dog", the "Rabbit", the "Chimera", the "Raiden", the "Spyder", the "Frog", the "Kangeroo", and the "Hawk" (Some of which Commander X himself has used.) These mechs support weaponry ranging from missiles to miniguns to bare fists. Iris also owns and pilots the latest version of the standard issue Maverick Hunter Ride Chaser hovercycles (with her own modifications). The Ride Chaser is equipped with Turbo Boost and a standard issue Buster Cannon (mk 7.0)

RELATIONSHIPS
-Jaimas Van Buerace : From her early Maverick Hunter days Iris has shared a special relationship with an alternate Jaimas Van Burace counterpart to the one native to VGWorld. They've dated quite often and have shared a strong romance. Jaimas has pulled strings to get a lot of upgrades for Iris, some of them experimental prototypes, so she can become more human like--which Iris is eternally grateful for. Iris, in turn has been there for Jaimas through thick and thin and has worked her ass off to carry her weight and earn her position in Maverick Hunter. When duty calls, Iris would do anything for Jaimas, and more than likely the reverse is true.

-Brooke Canciaris : She's become a dear friend to Iris, having been there for her during her training as a Maverick Hunter. Brooke is sometimes like an older sister to Iris and she always seems to know when is the perfect time to declare a shopping spree at the mall. Besides her personal relationship, Brooke shares a profession relationship with Iris, having coordinated cooperative efforts between Miranda and Maverick Hunter. Brooke has fought along side Iris on many a mission.

-General Signas: Iris' commanding officer and the acting general of Maverick Hunter Unit 17. Iris holds the highest level of military respect for him and is quick to follow his orders to the letter.

-Alia: She took over Iris' job as data analyst at Maverick Hunter some time before the fifth Maverick War. Alia develops more advanced AI programs and handles the task of "spotter" for her fellow hunters while they're on the frontlines, transmitting vital data on terrain, enemies, Maverick Master bosses, rescued reploids, assimilated weapons, and other important info. Also she assists Maverick Hunter engineer, Douglass with weapons development and Maverick Hunter medic, Lifesaver with reploid repairs/upgrades. She's personally handled many of Iris' upgrades and reconstructs. Iris and Alia have grown pretty close over the last two wars. Alia is a caring young woman who is headstrong and competant in many fields of study. She is very obediant and will follow her orders without question.

-Douglass: The enthusiastic engineer who handles Maverick Hunter's technical equipment and weapons development. He can be a good source of comic relief in the midst of all the seriousness that goes on within Maverick Hunter. He makes his fair share of mistakes, however Iris has to admit she doesn't know where Maverick Hunter would be without him. She has to respect someone who can make her laugh so effortlessly and admires his determination to pull his weight around Maverick Hunter.

-Lifesaver: The very serious, sometimes cynical doctor figure of Maverick Hunter, speciallizing in the repair and maintenance of reploids' internal and external systems. Lifesaver always tells it like it is and often comes off as cold and suspicious of people. Upon learning of the nature of the "Zero Virus" and its effect on Zero, he has come to trust Zero less and less. He seems to show a lot of scorn to even veteran hunters but he does his job. Iris feels uncomfortable around Lifesaver but when push comes to shove she'd trust him with her life. Lifesaver has not forgotten Iris' maverick past as Sigma's unwitting servant and it's often obvious that he has yet to forgive her for them.

-Commander "Megaman" X: Iris' superior and leader of the 17th unit Maverick Hunters. Iris is often partnered with him when Lieutenant Zero is unavailable. Iris like nearly everyone looks up to the legendary X. Commander X seems like a natural war machine in battle but has a strong inner conflict with violence which Iris can't help but respect. However Iris chooses to battle more readily than the Commander, having been hardened by battle and the loss of her brother and of course Ultra Crew missions.

-Lieutenant Zero: Leader of the 000 Class Maverick Hunters and serves as Commander X's partner in battle when Iris is unavailable. He was Iris' original love interest and vice versa. When Sigma had made Iris his unsuspecting puppet, tensions grew between Zero and Iris' brother which led to a deadly duel which Zero walked away from. This provided the spark for Iris to turn against Zero and uphold what she believed was her duty. It was inevitable they would fight to the death. Iris nearly died in Zero's arms. After being revived by the Arcades and reintroduced into society, Iris felt it best if she ended her relation with Zero. For a time there was a period of jealous competition between Zero and Jaimas until Iris finally set the record straight for both of them. She broke of with Zero and there have been no (official) hard feelings since then.

-Axl: Defected from the infamous vigilante organization, the "Red Alert Syndicate", Axl is a kid with unusually keen battle skill and powers like no other reploid. His "Copy Shot" allows him to mimic other reploids' appearance, memories, and abilities, but only those his own size. He's essentially a rookie who was taken under Zero's wing and has proven himself time and time again to be a great hunter. Iris trades off with Zero when partnering up with Axl. Axl sees her as a big sister--half of the time he looks up to her, half of the time he thinks she's a nagging mother. Iris tries to treat him as an equal and as an adult but often realizes she is a little overly-protective at times.

-Layer: One of the new navigators of Maverick Hunter, Layer is softspoken and shy. Zero has become her love interest. Needless to say there's quite a lot whispered behind Layer and Iris' backs about their love triangle with Zero. In all honesty Iris and Layer are good friends.

-Pallette: Another of the new Maverick Hunter navigators. Pallette is fiesty and spunky. She's always pressuring Iris to kiss and tell. Kind of flakey and hot-tempered, Pallette just can't resist gossip.

-Ultra Crew: Neil's always on hand to step in whenever Douglass or Lifesaver are unavailable to do repairwork on Iris. Bunnie respects Iris' fighting ability and will often hold training sessions at Maverick Hunter for Iris to hone her fighting skills and find inner balance. She will also accompany Iris and Brooke to the shopping mall on their shopping sprees. Violet is on hand to troubleshoot any software problems that Iris may experience with her A.I. core or any other software glitches she might experience. She'll also accompany Brooke, Bunnie, and Iris to their shopping sprees. Garfield Arcade was the first to find stumble upon a badly damaged Iris aboard the Final Weapon during the Repliforce War. Believing strongly in giving people every opportunity for redemption, Garfield decided to bring her back to Neo Arcadia to give her a second chance. He personally saw to it that Iris was cleared of any war crimes and cleared up any red tape with the remnants of the Repliforce and the version 5 Maverick Hunters. Odie Arcade was the second on the scene and the one to diagnose Iris as well as oversee her repairs and the purging of her system of any viral entities. Odie also saw to the monitoring of Iris' performance over the next six months as a med bay nurse.

-"Maverick" Kris: Reports of an Iris-look-alike puzzled Maverick Hunter for a time. Eventually Iris tracked this mysterious pirate copy to a rooftop where they did battle. It wasn't long before the truth would be revealed and Iris would discover her long-lost sister--the modifed Aillis unit which had survived the factory explosion. Some compare Kris to Iris as they compare Bunnette to Bunnie. Nevertheless, Iris is glad to at least have one surviving family member.

-SilverTails the Replifox: A reploid counterpart to Miles Prower (or Miles Prowler if you go by the Ultra Crew's dimensional counterpart to "Tails Prime"--the one true Miles Prower.) who considers Tails his lil' bro. He and Kris were married and are now part of Iris' family.

-Velaska "M.H.": Velaska was somewhat of a bitter rival to Iris for a time and made Iris the brunt of much physical and verbal abuse until Iris finally ended it with a showdown. Both kicked each other's ass pretty hard but when the battle ended, a barely half-functional Iris stood victorious as she had left MH with a gaping hole through her head. Neither spoke of this incident afterward. Iris and MH have avoided each other ever since but since then no longer resent each other. MH continues her usual FLCL antics which at absolute most makes Iris roll her eyes in disbelief. Iris has had some minor adjustments to her tollerance protocols which makes it a little easier to endure whatever craziness MH instigates. Iris has to admit even she has some kind of envy for someone as powerful as MH and does honestly believe MH ultimately does have good intentions...somehow.

-Berkana: Berkana crossed Iris' path twice in her life. The first was during the infamous "Soul Erasure" incident. The second time was during a second Soul Erasure incident which drew Iris out with the "erasure" of her sister, Kris. Berkana always seemed to maintain a smugness which always irritated Iris. Berkana lured Iris and her friends into various traps, playing her games with them as she worked toward her master plan with her new partner and personal interest, Nostra. While Berkana never truely made her intentions clear, nor made it clear whose side she was truely on, there was an unseen respect she and Iris shared up until Berkana's death.

-Nostra: Iris considered him an enemy more unpredictable and dangerous than Sigma and his actions as the incident progressed seemed to confirm it. Nostra went so far as to use the mother of all electromagnets to strongarm Iris into giving him information he desired. Nostra was left to his fate, buried in his collapsing underground lab with an unexpected swarm of deadly enemies.

Ultra Crew Sneak Peak of the Day:
    "Do you realize the ore we mind here is used in space development?!" Trilobyte hollered. "Sigma...he must be behind this!" X reasoned. "What does he want with these minerals?!" X demanded. "My master... New world... Space resources... Even a decaying pile of scrap like you can guess with that many hints, no?" Trilobyte sneered. "........." X fell silent.
"The end of your old world has come!"
    "You know, it may seem obvious, but please. I'd like you to pick my brain a bit. I'm keenly interested. So humor me and explain." Bunnie cocked her head. "Why should I bother to tell you my master's plan when you won't be around long enough to see it come to fruitation!" Trilobyte replied.
    Earthrock Trilobyte draw back and pitched something at the duo. Looked like an energy projectile but it was leaving strange rings behind it. Bunnie ducked it and X jumped. The pulse hit the wall...and richocheted off, striking X in the back!"
"Aghh!" X yelped as he dropped. "My Bound Laser will make short work of you!" the insect reploid taunted as he continued to stand there and fire projectiles. "I'm not impressed. Saw it before when I was tangling with Gemini Man and his Gemini Laser." Bunnie smirked as she dodged the attacks and fired back. The blast clinked up against something hard before it could hit. "A barrier!" Bunnie thought. "Useless!!!" Trilobyte laughed, amused by the feeble attempt.
    "Any ideas, Bunnie?" "He's gonna be a tough nut to crack--" Bunnie started. She broke off in midsentance then smirked. "I know that look. Do you have a plan?" He asked. "Just one." Bunnie switched to the Squeeze Bomb.
"Ohhhh." X caught on, recalling how the crystal barrier shattered in Troia Base.
Bunnie launched the weapon, opening up a quantum singularity. The gravity well swallowed up the insect and quickly crushed his armor to bits and sucked it in. "Aaaaaahhhh!!!" He cried out, injured.
"Stupid!!!" He shouted as a pair of orange spires of energon crystal shot up out of the wall in front of and behind Bunnie. They wobbled a little and tipped, both threatening to fall on to of her. Bunnie jumped up as they shattered. By this time X was back in the game.
    Trilobyte launched another Bound Laser. But X was quick to react and countered with a Squeeze Bomb. THe laser was quickly sucked up into the attack as it floated toward the insect reploid. "GAAAH!" The Maverick tumbled as he was knocked over and crushed. "Crystal Wall!" He triggered more collumns of orange energon and caused them to tip over toward X. Only to be caught in Bunnie's next Squeeze Bomb. "Graaah!" He lit up with a fiery aura and began firing more Bound Lasers in waves and triggered even faster Crystal Walls. He scurried after Bunnie on all fours, forcing her to jump him and nail him again.
"After tangling with Antonion, this guy's refereshingly easier." X noted. "Don't jinx it, Commander." Bunnie advised.
By this time he was down to critical life. His fiery aura flared up again.
    And suddenly the room was filled with the light purple energon pillars from the earlier room and they were flying back and forth pretty fast.
"When am I going to stop underestimating my opponent?" X growled as he jumped, climbed, dropped from and weaved through the cascade of crystal walls. Bunnie followed suit getting close enough for another Crystal Wall. Finally Trilobyte was on his last legs.
"Shall we?" "Let's."
    "Team Up Attack! Go!" The gold computer code poured down and spun around like some kind of cyber summoning circle and runes in the midst of a rain of digital programming.
    In moments the burned out shell was all that remained. "In the name of the Maverick Hunters, we confiscate your weapon." Bunnie spoke as she and X stood over the remains.

-Mega Man X, Bunnie Rabbot, Earthrock Trilobyte - Mega Man X8: Paradise Lost, Bunnie Rabbot Version

Current Mood: excited
Current Music: "Somewhere Out There" by the Rock-Afire Explosion

Halloween
LOGIN: Dr. Arcade
PASSWORD: *****************

Re: Celebrating the festival of Samhain (and feasting on the candy leftover from Beggar's Night.)

Old News: Bought a Neo Flash Slim Loader III, 512 MB Flash Card, and Magic Key 2.1 development kit. Recently acquired two custom-burned DVD's of some classic 80's cartoons, mostly consisiting
of Voltron. Alumni Night. Went back to Fairmont High, marched again with Firebird Pride with the 2005 Fairmont Alumni Band for Homecoming 2005. (Our team lost the football game 31 to 10 but meh. I came to
march and play my sax.)

New News: Bought Megaman Zero 4, made it to the second Ragnarok Stage after defeating Kraft. Worked on a holiday. (Meh. :P) Enjoying the remnants of candy my dad passed out during
Beggar's Night.

Ultra Crew Spotlight: Scott AKA the Kabuki Quantum Fighter
Kabuki Quantum Fighter

** TECHNICAL **
Full name: Colonel Scott O'Conner "Kabuki Quantum Fighter"
Race: Human/Digital Being
Age: 25
Eyes: Blue (human), glowing red almost neon-like (KQF)
Hair: Blond (human), scarlet red almost neon-like (KQF)
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 190
Element: unknown
Preferred weapon(s): Hair Whip, Microchip Shuriken, Plasma Bolt, Triple Shot, Remote Bolos, Quantum Bombs "Digital Dynamite"
Family: unknown
Ancestors: Danjuro (great-great-grandfather), a reknowned kabuki actor
Friends: Ultra Crew
Theme Song 1:"U.S.B. MindLink" - Kabuki Quantum Fighter Stage 1 (OverClocked Remix)
Theme Song 2:"Take the Red Pill" - Kabuki Quantum Fighter Remix (VGMix)

BIOGRAPHY
Scott is currently an active U.C. member, occasionally stepping into the fifth U.C. slot of Neil's team. Often having his doubts about dropping out of retirement, Scott can't help but feel outdated as the technology which drives him and his powers is over a decade old--fairly ancient by modern electronic standards. Also he can't help but notice how newer, sometimes younger and better trained and equipped heroes and heroines there are in recent times which make him seem "old school".

Nevertheless, Scott won't back down from a challenge and will accept whatever mission he is handed. He'll often muster up the determination to prove that he's "still got it" and will rely upon his unique ability as a digital being to tread where many cannot--including the recent cursed towns where the undead dwell and death is imminant to most living beings; these towns being the result of the Lethal Six's use of the Requiem spell from the infamous book known as the Codex. Scott is rarely seen in his human form as he has grown accustomed to being a digital being and has learned to embrace his ancient heritage forged by his great-great-grandfather. Not so surprising he has a Personal Terminal like all Miranda Ultra Crew and has chosen CyberPeacock.exe and YamatoMan.exe as his G2 and G1 NetNAVI's, respectively. Scott is also proud that he is about the only one who can exist in the cyberworld with his NetNAVI's. Scott is single but has been on a date with Mina.

ORIGIN
On a distant video world which prided itself on its vastly superior military defense systems, technology, and intelligence, the year was 2056 when someone or something broke into the main defense computer, thus blocking access to the backup system. It was quickly realized if the program controlling all global nuclear weapons systems was altered, the entire planet could be reduced to a pile of cinders in a matter of moments. Unable to avoid conflict, a desperate plan was conceived to counter the malicious hacking--from the inside of the computer network.

The new digital image transfer system, in development seemed to be the last hope of all mankind. It was a process that would allow a human mind to be converted into raw binary data and downloaded, making it possible for one to travel easily inside computer circuits. However it was a process that was completely untested; the question remained if a human mind were transformed into raw data, what form will it take when reassembled inside the computer? What changes to the human psyche could the procedure cause? The man chosen for this dangerous mission was Colonel Scott O'Conner.

Well-trained in body and spirit, and knowledgeable in computer hardware and software, he was the ideal choice for the journey to save his country...his civilization...his entire world. The process was a success as Scott found himself in an unexpected form--a kabuki character. With help from the command central tech support, Scott was given access to an amazing spectrum of weapons deriving their power from the energy of the computer environment. Thus Scott O'Conner became Kabuki Quantum Fighter. Scott fought his way through six areas of the main computer network, eventually tracing the source of the viral infection to the defense satellite, "Hyperion" (No relation to Hyperion Musaria) Infiltrating the main core, Scott battled the very alien computer virus core, self-destructing the Hyperion satellite and returning control to the military computer backup system. Miraculously he survived, escaping the Hyperion networks microseconds before its destruction. His mind was returned to his body and he was hailed as a hero.

Within 13 years the incident became nearly forgotten however the Image Transfer System as well as the Kabuki Quantum Fighter project continued to be funded. During this time, the Command Central Research and Development laboratories discovered a way for Scott to summon his kabuki form in the real world. Due to this technology being highly Top Secret, Scott is unable to reveal any information about the process or
theories behind his newfound ability to exist as Kabuki Quantum Fighter in the real world. While he was unofficially decommissioned as a weapon against future alien virus attacks, Scott was allowed to be transfered to the Ultra Crew where he remained inactive for these 13 years until recently Scott decided to come out of "retirement" where his services became available as the occasional random fifth member of Neil's Miranda division Extended Ultra Crew.

Scott owns and operates YamatoMan.EXE and CyberPeacock.EXE. Scott is proud that he is able to exist in the real world with his friends and in the cyber world with his NetNavi's.

WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT
Besides his ability to transform to and from his digital Kabuki form, Scott possess a number of energy weapons in both real world and cyber world granted to him by the Command Central R & D tech support. These include his famous Hair Whip, Microchip Shuriken, Plasma Bolt, Triple Shot, Remote Bolos, Digital Dynamite Bombs.

Scott is able to use his long, waist-length, scarlet mane of hair as a powerful bladelike whip which strikes at short range but packs a whallop.

His ability to store virtual microchips in both arms gives him a projectile weapon as he can launch them from his palms as low-potentcy microchip shurikens.

Summoning larger masses of digital energy, Scott can compress the energy of several microchips into a
powerful fireball of electromagnetic plasma energy for a Plasma Bolt.

Using a similiar method, Scott can shatter this bolt into three less powerful shots which travel in three directions for a triple shot.

Siphoning large scale energy from his digital psyche, Scott is able to supercompress them into dynamite sticks which explode with concussive, slightly incindiary force causing heavy damage.

And finally, Scott can
channel his energy into microchips and will them into a small swarm of homing bolo projectiles which relentlessly smack his opponent, causing mild but repetitive damage.

RELATIONSHIPS
-Ultra Crew:Scott's friends and companions. The Arcade Brothers kept him from being decomissioned when his government was cutting back on military spending.

-Mina Scellanta: A local half-vampire. She and Scott dated once.

-Vidian Scellanta: Neil's granddaughter and local werewolf who likes to cook. She and Scott have dated once.

-Commander Pit ''Kid Icarus'': Pit and Scott are friends from the old school Ultra Crew days when the N-Team division U.C. was still in commision.

-Stuffman: The Hero of Funk himself. Scott likes working with him.

Other stuff: Miranda RP Halloween 2003, 2004, and 2005 Ultra Crew costumes:

2003
Neil - Robin (Teen Titans)
Bunnie - Starfire (Teen Titans)
Violet - Raven (Teen Titans)
Rotor - Cyborg (Teen Titans)
Pit - Beast Boy (Teen Titans)
Jon - Vegeta (Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT)

2004
Neil - Viewtiful Joe (Viewtiful Joe, Viewtiful Joe 2)
Bunnie - Rogue (X-Men)
Violet - Mitzi Mozzarella (Rock-Afire Explosion)
Jon - Vash the Stampede (Trigun)
Lupe - Gaia the Spirit of the Earth (Captain Planet)
Scott - Inuyasha (Inuyasha)
Samus Aran - Jody Summer (F-Zero X, F-Zero AX/GX)
Pit - Spiral Pegasus (Mega Man X5)
Prince Laslo - Thomas Anderson/Neo (the Matrix, the Matrix Reloaded, the Matrix Revolutions)
Callista Brighton - Daphne Blake (Scooby-Doo)

2005
Neil - Elec Man (Mega Man)
Bunnie - Snake-Eyes (G.I. Joe Sigma Six)
Violet - 2-D (Gorillaz)
Violet's Genetic Clone - Noodle (Gorillaz)
Al Dente - Russel Hobbe (Gorillaz)
Laslo - Murdoc Nicols (Gorillaz)
Jon Talbain - Alphonse Elrick (Full-Metal Alchemist)
William Talbain - Edward Elrick (Full-Metal Alchemist)
Sally - Izumi (Full-Metal Alchemist)
Gadget Hackwrench - Winrey (Full-Metal Alchemist)
Lupe Lycans - Mari McCabe AKA Vixen (Justice League Unlimited)
Scott - Inuyasha (Inuyasha)
Iris - Kikio (Inuyasha)
Pit - Treble Booster Bass (Mega Man 8)
Usagi Yojimbo - Bucky O'Hare (Bucky O'Hare)

Ultra Crew Selection of the Day:
"Huh?! I'm picking up a transmission!" Alia gasped as the monitor turned red and paneled like honeycomb. From each hexagon a silhouette image of Sima appeared before the whole image changed revealing none other than Sigma himself.
"!!!!!!" X's eyes widened.

"Sigma!!!" He gasped.
"Long time no see, X." Sigma grinned deviously.
"You just don't know when to quit, do you?!" X shouted filled with indignation.
"Don't worry, X. It'll all be over soon and we'll never have to meet again." Sigma ignored X's angry exclaimation. "All the primative space development of your world now belongs to me!" He went on.
"What? Space?" Zero interjected.

"That's right. Our future lies in the sky!" Sigma acknowledged. "Your old world has outlived its usefulness!" The evil maverick added.
"Maverick scum! What's your scheme this time?!" X demanded.

"Scheme? This is providence. I'm merely ushering in evolution along its natural path!" Sigma replied, unphased.
"Evolution?" Axl questioned.
The transmission ended.

"So Sigma was really after the Jakob Project all along?" X inquired. "If you stop to think about it, it makes a lot of sense." Alia repsonded. "Space development and the emergence of new generation reploids aren't unrelated."

"So. He's causing these new generation reploids to go Maverick, huh?" Zero frowned. "We can't let him get away with this."
"Sigma's transmission was disrupted by the orbit of the satellite." Alia explained. "This is lucky. The elevator is still functional. So we can use it to get to him." She pointed out.

"Then the choice is clear. We must climb Jakob's Ladder to the heavens above." Bunnie spoke. "Alia. Teleport us there as soon as possible."
"Roger."
"Prepare yourself, X. This is the beginning of the end." Bunnie finished chi healing and joined him by his side at the transport platform.

-Mega Man X, Zero, Axl, Alia, Bunnie Rabbot, Sigma - Mega Man X8: Paradise Lost, Bunnie Version

Current Mood: hyper
Current Music: "Celebration" by the Rock-Afire Explosion

Alumni Night Again
LOGIN: Dr. Arcade
PASSWORD: *****************

Re: Homecoming 2005--back to the band

Old News: Lisa Marie Fitzwater's 22nd. Rock-a-Palooza 2005

New News: Bought a Neo Flash Slim Loader III, 512 MB Flash Card, and Magic Key 2.1 development kit. Recently acquired two custom-burned DVD's of some classic 80's cartoons, mostly consisiting of Voltron. Alumni Night. Went back to Fairmont High, marched again with Firebird Pride with the 2005 Fairmont Alumni Band for Homecoming 2005. (Our team lost the football game 31 to 10 but meh. I came to march and play my sax.)

Ultra Crew Spotlight: Kid Icarus/Pit

Full name: Commander Pit "Kid Icarus" of the Icarus Army
Race: Archangel/High Angel
Age: Immortal (appears 13 in child form, 25 in adult form)
Eyes: olive green
Hair: brown (fire-orange when using fire arrows)
Height: 4'0" in child form, 6'0" in adult form
Weight: 90 lbs in child form, 180 in adult form.
Element: Holy/Light
Preferred weapon(s): Bow of Judgement, Light Arrow, Fire Arrow, Big Hammer
Family/close relations: family- unknown
Other: Zeus, King of all Gods and Goddess Palutenta, Ultra Crew
Theme Song: "Angel Land National Anthem" - Kid Icarus Title theme

BIOGRAPHY
Pit is an active Ultra Crew member, refusing to ''retire" with the rest of the "obscure" Ultra Crew when the N-Team was decommissioned. He resides in Angel Land but comes to Miranda, curled up atop his favorite flying cloud. Pit is usually a bright, happy young cherub and yet he is surprisingly responsible for his apparent age. Pit, being very emotional can get fairly depressed when the team mood is dismal and he often turns to Bunnie, Shyna and Myrna, or Camilla to cheer him up. While Pit has lived for an immeasureable amount of time he still does not understand the ways of mortals despite his strenous efforts to learn the customs and behaviors and of course understand their meaning. If anything Pit has an extremely pure innocence...if not naevity about him that persists even in his true form. Pit has always placed duty before almost everything else so he has had little or no experience with dealing with people of the opposite gender and is often puzzled yet intrigued by many aspects of women. (One time he asked Brooke why she has "a butt on her chest" which got him more than his fair share of awkward looks, blushings, and anime sweatdrops.) Fortunately he has recently been enlightned in these matters by Elazareth, Camilla, and others who know how to take the most sensitive approach to introducing Pit to the birds and the bees. Pit has found a way around Medusa's curse, ultimately discovering the ability to shapeshift to and from his true self at will. In his fully grown adult form Pit is extremely handsome--so much so that he has no idea how incredibly handsome he really is; which is why he feels awkward and apprehensive whenever he gets those "looks" from NEARLY every female in town. Pit has found a friend in young Miles "Tails" Prowler. While Mario and Sonic continue to be semi-friendly rivals, Pit and Tails hit it off pretty well, enjoying much of the same games and activities. Lately Pit has been dating Camilla and feels he may have found a girlfriend. Pit recently dressed as Teen Titan, Beast Boy (aka Changeling) using powers Palutena gave him temporarily to shapeshift.

ORIGIN
Pit rose through the ranks of the Icarus Army, becoming its Commander. He was personally chosen to be the personal guardian to Goddess Palutena as his loyalty has never ever diminished. For generations, Pit has watched man come and go while the gods remained virtually unchanged. Eons passed and Angel Land remained a happy place where the Gods and man lived together in peace. Palutena loved all beings, immortal and mortal alike and made her best efforts to ensure their happiness. However Palutena's twin sister, the Goddess Medusa found amusement in man's suffering as she used her powers to dry up crops, spread disease and famine, and incur the forces of nature to tear down what the humans worked so painstakingly to build up. Outraged, Palutena finally punished her sister for her evil deeds by transforming her into a hideous snake-haired, one-eyed beast and banishing her to the Underworld, hoping that she would be ultimatedly exiled to Tarterus for her wickedness.

Instead, Medusa, consumed with rage and vengeance made powerful allies and struck treasonous bargains in the Underworld where she rose to power and plotted to conquer all of Angel Land. When her forces were strong enough, she led the most terrible monsters, demons, and beasts from the depths of the Underworld and laid siege to the Overworld and the Sky, eventually conquered the Chamber of the Gods. The Icarus Army centurions were turned to stone, the Gods were subdued with horrid curses, and Palutena herself was imprisoned as Medusa planned to drain her life force to restore herself to her former glory that she may amass enough power to overthrow even Zeus, king of all the Gods. With Zeus' daughter, Palutena held hostage, Zeus could do very little to stop the advance of Medusa. Pit, loyal to the end opposed Medusa but to no avail. As a special punishment for his defiance, Medusa placed a curse on Pit, transforming him into a mere child and cast him to the darkest dungeon prison of the Underworld to be tortured for the rest of time. With hope slowly dwindling away, Palutena made a desperate choice and sent the very last of her strength and power to Pit in the form of an enchanted bow and a neverending supply of arrows. With a final message, Palutena was able to beg Pit to find the Three Sacred Treasures--the most powerful and holy of all the Gods' treasures which she had magically sealed making them useless to Medusa; for only Pit would be worthy to harness their great power and save his world. Angered that she was unable to break the seals, Medusa scattered the three treasures, sending them to her three Generals of the Labyrinths of the Underworld, the Overworld, and the Sky Palace.

Understanding what he had to do, Pit was able to use his cleverness and experience to escape his prison and thwart the guards of the nearly abandoned depths of the Underworld and fought his way through endless levels of torment as he accended the Underworld, blazed a trail through the Overworld, and climbed his way to the very peak of Mount Olympus where he ascended the hazards of the sky. All the while, he braved the horrors of the Labyrinths and their Guardians, destroying each one and retrieving each of the Three Treasures until he was able to enter the Temple of the Gods and use the Three Sacred Treasures to fly his way to Medusa's lair where he did battle and prevailed, striking down the traitorous goddess and freeing Palutena and the people of Angel Land. Palutena was able to restore him to his true self but only temporarily as Medusa's curse was empowered with the absolute darkest and cruelest of evil which remained after her demise. Alas, even Zeus could do nothing to prolong the effect of Palutena's magic kiss. Undaunted, Pit continued his duties, refusing to let his size diminish his abilities or the respect he commanded.

Peace remained for a time until the Goddess Palutena became troubled by reoccuring nightmares. Deeply distraught, Palutena summoned a Soothsayer to interpret her dream. What he revealed confirmed her darkest fears: Angel Land was about to be attacked by demons led by King Orcus. With only one choice, she immediately summoned for her personal guardian Pit. Upon his entry into her chambers, Pit was asked to have a seat--a liberty almost NEVER given by a god or goddess. Revealing what the Soothsayer had told her, Palutena asked for Pit to save his people once again...however he was not powerful enough to do so and the evil that he was facing would overwhelm him even while wearing the Three Sacred Treasures unless...Pit were to gain enough holy power through training to supercharge himself and the Three Treasures. And to do so he would have to brave the three realms of Angel Land once again. To ensure his success, Palutena sealed each of the Three Sacred Treasures and sent them to the three most deadly monsters that guarded three Labyrinths. By defeating each one, Pit would receive tremendous amounts of holy power which would bring him closer to being a match for Orcus.

With each enemy he took town his holy energy increased which ultimately earned him a little help from Zeus himself; the King of All Gods upgraded his arrows every time Pit reached a certain energy quota. Fighting his way past each realm in the Underworld, Overworld, and Sky Palace, Pit conquered each guardian and retrieved all three treasures. Palutena was able to unlock all three, allowing Pit to equip himself with them upon his return to Palutena's chambers. And no sooner had he done so, a great earthquake shook the entire world from Underworld to the Realm of the Gods as Orcus made his entrance and turned Palutena to stone. With no other options, Pit pursued his enemy and did battle, eventually conquering mighty Orcus...only to come face to face with Orcus' true form--a towering, fire-spewing demon nightmare beyond even the mightiest of the Gods in power and skill. The battle to end all battles ensued until finally Orcus fell dead and Pit emerged victorious which broke the spell on Palutena. Pit was congratulated for his efforts and hailed as a hero for the second time.

Soon afterward he sought a new challenge and found it when he joined the N-Team division of the Ultra Crew. Initially he was partnered up with Samus Aran. While Samus was underwhelmed by her Pit's physical appearance and crude weapons, Pit eventually earned even her respect. Pit was later partnered up with Mega Man. While he considered Samus a "centurion" since he had seen her without her armor on, Pit had NEVER seen a robot before and was initially scared out of his wits. (Especially when Dr. Light detached some of Mega Man's limbs to be maintenanced. Needless to say he really freaked out when he walked in when he saw Mega Man stripped down to his skeletal frame and vital systems for a complete tune-up and upgrade.) In the time that followed, Pit and Mega Man became the best of friends and excellent partners in battle. After N-Team disbanded, Pit hung around the reserves, seeking ANY challenge that even remotely came up while he kept in contact with his former partners. But eventually it began to bore Pit. As time when on, it became very clear that while Pit, Samus, Mega Man, and the other Extended Ultra Crew started at about the same place, everyone else seemed to be acquiring more recognition and were having more adventures. Pit began to feel forgotten as his friends rose to fame and fortune.

He felt further depressed when he was passed up to compete in the Super SMASH Bros. tournaments. Even though he like many other "forgotten" got his own trophy in the Super Smash Bros. Museum and the Neo Arcadia City Museum of Superheroes, it was a very small consolation for his efforts during his two adventures through Hell and back as well as his services in Ultra Crew. Opportunity came to Pit unexpectedly as Neil's Miranda U.C. Team was commissioned. With nothing to lose, Pit signed on with the Miranda Ultra Crew Reserves in the hopes that he would be available to serve as Neil's fifth member.

Pit owns and operates Generation 1 NetNavi, AirMan.EXE and Generation 2 NetNavi, StormEagle.EXE. AirMan and StormEagle do NOT get along well and get into frequent arguements which Pit often has to squelch.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Pit is a dead-eye shot as an archer, his arrows seldom missing their targets and he is able to hoist obscenely huge mallets known as Big Hammers (despite the overwhelming size and weight difference). Pit has tried without success to learn martial arts and the techniques of meditation and decides to stick with his bow and various types up arrows.

WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT
Pit carries around his trusty Bow of Judgement and limitless supply of arrows. He also carries Big Hammers, upgradeable to Gold Hammers or Holy Crystal Hammers. Pit also carries a Protective Crystal. In times of great need, Pit can summon the Three Sacred Treasures--the Pegasus Wings, the Mirror Shield/Helm, and the Light Arrow. The Pegasus Wings grant him flying ability beyond even the highest of angels, the Mirror Shield and Helm are polished to a flawless shine that deflect and repel some of the strongest attacks known to man, and the Light Arrow is a weapon forged of pure light which launches like a laser beam and pierces like one too. Pit is recently able to charge his attacks with holy energy, his most powerful attack being his Holy Supercritical-charged Light Arrow. Also Pit has a supply of "unique" arrows made by the wise Arrowmaker of Mount Olympus (some of which range from unique to completely bizzare. Of these include his sewing machine arrow, buzzsaw arrow, clipper arrows, pepperoni pizza arrow, supergrow formula arrow, and tightrope arrow. He even has a fist arrow which pounds itself against the wall or floor when he needs to vent his frustrations!)

RELATIONSHIPS
-Goddess Palutena: The one who appointed him as her personal guardian. She trusts Pit with her life and her people's lives and while she tries to abide by the conduct of the Gods and Goddesses, she can't help but show him a little special treatment now and then to show she cares. Pit has nothing but the highest respect for her and considers it sin to think of her in any other way besides the Princess of Angel Land and thus carries on his duties without question or thought. His loyalty to her continues even today.

-Zeus: Palutena's father puts his trust in Pit and charges him with the protection and service to his daughter. As intimidating in size, stature, and physical as Zeus is, he's a fairly gentle ruler of his kind...at least until someone makes him REALLY angry. You do NOT want to see him REALLY angry...

-Shopkeeper: During Pit's battles on Angel Land, this honest citizen of the Overworld made efforts to assist Pit all the way, selling him power items at a fair price.

-Black Marketeer: A rather unscrupulous swindler who employs winged goblins and crows to actually steal people's stuff and sell them back to them at unfair prices. While he helped Pit during his struggles, the Black Marketeer was out to make a profit first; often selling back his own stolen weapons at ripoff prices.

-The Nurse: A kind young woman living in the labyrinths who had the power to remove the Eggplant Wizard's curse from Pit whenever he was transformed into an eggplant.

-The Crow: The keeper of the Sacred Hotsprings which heal Pit's lifeforce when he is badly injured.

-Don: A mysterious man who would provide Pit with hints and secrets to give him an edge during his journey back to Angel Land.

-Eggplant Wizard: A vengeful but comical villain who cowardishly allies with Pit's enemies out of fear. His magic wand creates enchanted eggplants which will transform Pit into a defenseless walking eggplant. In this form Pit is unable to use any of his weapons and has no defense.

-Uranos: A demigod who betrayed Palutena, creating copies of himself to use against Pit.

-Collin: Once a trusted ally of Pit and a loyal centurion in the Icarus Army. Medusa's magic infested him with a parasite worm that made him her zombie slave.

-Samus Aran: Pit's first partner and famous/infamous bounty hunter known across the galaxy. Samus looked upon Pit with scorn and discontent, having initially underestimated his abilities (She felt like she was BABYSITTING the kid at first.) It wasn't easy but Pit earned her respect, taking a lot of criticism for being a "small, inexperienced rookie". Samus, despite having a lot of freedom to make her own rules during missions, felt too tied down and never felt much like a team player, left the N-Team for a while to seek her own bounty but remained part of Ultra Crew. She and Pit keep in touch.

-Mega Man: Pit wasn't sure what to make of Mega Man at first but was quickly scared out of his wits when he saw Mega Man actually detach his arms, legs and head for maintenance! Despite being afraid of Mega Man at first, the two grew to be very close friends and both agreed that they were the best partners for each other. Pit kept in touch with Mega Man beyond the decommisioning of the N-Team.

-Simon Belmont: Simon, being very much a holy man by trade was at first reluctant to make eyecontact with Pit and would have moments where he'd throw himself before Pit and bow on hands and knees, as he felt himself unworthy to gaze upon the holyness of an angel. After Simon was finally convinced to be less formal around Pit, he continued to hold him in the highest reverence which was an unusual experience for Pit as he had never been "worshipped" as a "messenger of the almighty God" before. Needless to say Simon was always more than happy to lend his aid to Pit in battle.

-Mario: Mario and Pit worked pretty well together and were pretty good friends. When the N-Team was disbanded, Pit and Mario drifted apart as Mario was quickly caught up in his meteoric rise to fame. Pit often doubts Mario still remebers who he is.

-Luigi: That "other plumber" can relate to how Pit feels after being shadowed in his brother's fame for so long. They remain friends to this day.

-Link: Link tended to make fun of Pit, often saying he looked like he had fairy wings. It was a trying experience for Pit as he had never been "ripped on" before. Over time Pit began to understand that it was common behavior for males to "rip on" each other, realizing that it wasn't meant to be hurtful...it just came with the territory. Which suited Pit fine as he would often "rip on" Link's elfen ears.

-Kabuki Quantum Fighter: Scott and Pit often sympathize with each other about feeling outdated, outcast, or just plain ignored when compared to the Ultra Crew "legends". Somehow they always draw strength from each other and manage to keep going on no matter how much they feel out of touch with the "modern" world. Ironic for Scott seeing as how he was created with technology...although his technology is over a decade old which is antique in electronic years.

-Miles ''Tails'' Prowler: Pit and Tails hit it off pretty well when they first met and remain good friends to this day.

-Camilla: One of Alex's children. She and Pit have been dating. Camilla loves it when Pit gives her horns a massage and he in turn loves it when she rubs his wings.

-Shyna and Myrna Garlande: Shyna and daughter absolutely adore Pit! He gives them so much hope and light and they both love his harp music dearly. They make Pit feel so wanted when he feels overlooked.

-Ultra Crew: Pit has accepted the Ultra Crew--immediate and extended--as his own family.

-Brooke Canciaris: Pit is intrigued by Brooke and other beings like her as Angel Land does not half fiends (full-blooded or half-breed), succubi, or other similar creatures. He considers her a dear friend.

-Jacob "Mouse" Lavitz: Mouse also intrigues Pit as he has ironically seen few shapeshifters (besides Neil and Jon) outside of the Overworld of Angel Land.

-Elazarath: Pit sometimes considers Elazareth a mother-figure and holds her in high regard. She seems to be able to talk to Pit about anything that's on his mind...especially when it's about members of the opposite sex.

-Velaska: Pit is often...perplexed by this strange character. While seraphs exist in Angel Land he's never actually met one until he met M.H. Pit frequently asks if all seraphs are like her. Like everyone else he's a target to MH's cartoonish antics.

-Karigan: She was once a seraph but claims to be human despite the unnature circuitry covering parts of her. Pit is honestly very scared of her but musters up the courage to confront her whenever she puts him on the spot. Despite being a high angel, Kari doesn't really care and will openly mock Zeus in Pit's presence.

-Karia Vasquez: Pit always tries to support Karia. No matter how sad or self-doubting she is, Pit will do his absolute best to cheer her up.

-Karia Kazushige: Pit tries to be friendly to her like everyone.

Ultra Crew Selection of the Day:
Something was moving around in the darkness. X and Bunnie both her the unmistakeable heavy sound of something kicking off a wall then kicking off another wall before landing. Thought it was very dark, they could making out the definite form of their target.

"Hey! What's a Maverick Hunter doing here?" Dark Mantis asked. His voice was low and gritty. And he had a real tough guy essence about him.

"Dark Mantis, you've gone Maverick! I'm putting an end to your weapons production."
"You've gotta be kidding me. We new generation reploids can't GO maverick." Mantis shot back. "Then why are you making weapons?!" X demanded. "Huh. Even if I explained it, an old style reploid like you wouldn't understand." Mantis scoffed.

"Try us." Bunnie challenged. "You've got a lot of guts asking questions you're not meant to get answers to." Mantis eyed Bunnie curiously. "You look pretty strong, though. Why don't we put that to the test?"

"And why should we go down that path?" "Because you ninjas have something so lacking in this world. Something called 'honor'."
Bunnie raised an eyebrow. "Yes. So it would seem. Very well then....we'll do this your way. Do not forget. We gave you the chance to surrender peacefully." Bunnie said as she drew her Shinobi Katanas.

Dark Mantis shuffled around a bit, advancing and backing off like a boxer, measuring up his opponent. He seemed to be waiting for the moment. Then without warning he struck. Instead of going for Bunnie, he pounced on X and sunk his metal fangs in. "He's...draining...my...power!"
"That was low! What happened to honor?" Bunnie growled. "I never said I had any, now did I?"
Bunnie leaped forward and slashed with both katanas, forcing Mantis to drop X. Mantis quickly blocked with the hook scythes on his arms.

Bunnie watched out of the corner of her eye to make sure X was okay. X got to his feet. But in that instant that was all that Mantis needed to overpower Bunnie and slash. Bunnie dodged her head to the side. A moment later a drop of blood formed and ran down her cheek.
"What do you know? Your blood's as red as a human's." Mantis gloated. Suddenly somthing slammed into him from behind. An X-Buster Shot! Dark Mantis whirled to see X clinging to the top of the wall, X-Buster pointed. Ignoring Bunnie he turned to his other attacker. "Revenge is easy to justify when you watch your friends get hurt, isn't it, X?" Mantis narrowed his eyes. "Shut up!" X charged up again.

Mantis suddenly energized one of his hook scythes and swung it forward. "Scared?" He asked as the Shadow Runner left the blade and homed in on X where it swarmed him and cut deeply. "You should be!" Mantis followed up. X dropped to the floor with a sickening crunch. It was hard to tell what damaged him more. The impact or the dark damage he received. "That weapon! It must have the power of Dark Matter!"
"Right again, X."

"Ah!!! I can barely see him." X growled as he fought off the disorientation. The room was so dark he could barely see Bunnie, too. It almost seemed like the room was getting darker. And all the while it seemed like Dark Mantis was getting more powerful.
"Bunnie, I don't think we can trust our senses on this one this time. I'd advise against closing your eyes and taking the Zen approach."

"I think you're right, X. Therefore if we cannot adapt to it..." Bunnie cycled through her weapons. "We change the environment to adapt to us!"
She pointed her Giga X-Buster straight up and fired a Shining Ray, exploding it in midair right in the middle of Dark Mantis' jump!

"GAAAAAAAH!!! SO BRIGHT!!!" Mantis fell to the floor with a steely crash. Not only had the Shining Ray caused massive damage to him but it also lit up the entire room! They could easily see the massive turning armature and connecting axle. of the giant machinery on the sides of the room. "Well. Now we know his weakness." Bunnie cracked her knuckles. "Would it be dishonorable of us to take advantage of that weakness, Bunnie?" X glared at the fallen Maverick. "In this case? No. I'd say it just about makes the odds evened out."

"That's a matter of opinion." Mantis got to his feet as the room went dark again. Then he erupted in a fiery aura just like Optic Sunflower and Bamboo Pandamonium. He started jumping between the walls rapidly. "What's he doing, Bunnie?" "I don't know, X."
Suddenly he stopped and landed and launched something from his arm sickles. "This is fun!" He cackled. Suddenly something black came raining down upon X and Bunnie. "How do you like my Black Arrows?"

"I think I'm going to send a letter of complaint." Bunnie narrowed her eyes and charged up the Shining Ray, letting fly with not one but THREE exploding bursts of fireworks. Mantis immediately took unfathomable damage. X immediately followed up Bunnie's attack with his own charged up Shining Ray. Mantis grabbed Bunnie from behind and sunk his fangs in. "Does it hurt?" He taunted. Bunnie did the splits, dropping in an instant and quickly manuevering into position to sweep his legs out from under him then pounded him with a Shining Ray, aiming it straight at him. "You tell me!" She said, ignoring the bleeding for the moment. She got some distance and summoning the full power of her chi, managed to chi-heal enough to stop the bleeding. X quickly counterattacked Mantis' attack on Bunnie with another Shining Ray. This time he was critically damaged. And he was furious. "I'LL RIP YOU APART!" He jumped up from the center of the room and dug out what could only be described as a giant polearm spear with a viscious blade of ominously glowing neon purple dark matter. The blade had to be a ridiculously huge 16 feet long and it was coming down on Bunnie and X fast! The duo dashed out of the way only for Mantis to reverse direction and slash from the other way. Doubling back the other way, they quickly dashed away.

"This dude's asking for it now!" Bunnie gritted her teeth. "Then let's give it to him!"
"Team Up Attack! Go!" The gold computer code poured down and spun around like some kind of cyber summoning circle and runes in the midst of a rain of digital programming.
"No! I can't believe it!!!" Dark Mantis' scream was swallowed up in the explosion. And when it cleared another giant rare metal dropped down for X to collect.

-Mega Man X, Bunnie Rabbot, and Dark Mantis - Mega Man X8: Paradise Lost - Bunnie Rabbot Version

Current Mood: nostalgic
Current Music: "She Blinded Me With Science" by the Rock-Afire Explosion

Happy Birthday, Lisa
LOGIN: Dr. Arcade
PASSWORD: *****************

Re: Lisa's b-day & Rock-A-Palooza 2005

Old News: Saw the Dukes of Hazard Movie. Loved it. I am now officially full-time at Kroger which means full benefits and upgraded seniority. Went to see Willie Nelson in concert in Columbus as a very late Father's Day gift for dad. Upgraded to full-time employee at Kroger Supermarket and now have full benefits. Saw War of the Worlds.

New News: Lisa Marie Fitzwater's 22nd today. Happy birthday, Li-chan. =^O^= Yesterday kicked off the third annual Rock-A-Palooza hosted by Showbiz Pizza.com

Ultra Crew Spotlight: Princess Sally

Age (UCM/WA): 18
Age (CNRPG): 16
Age (MWU): 16
Age (Miranda RP): 23

Height: (UCM/WA): 4'0"
Height (CNRPG): 4'0"
Height: (MWU): 4'0"
Height (Miranda RP): 4'9"

Full name: Princess Sally Alecia Acorn
Race: Mobian, chipmunk/squirrel hybrid
Age: 23
Eyes: True blue
Hair: tuscan red hair, sienna brown fur
Height: 4'9"
Weight: unknown
Element: none
Preferred weapon(s): D.A.W.N. utility watch (various weapons), N.I.C.O.L.E. pocket computer (laser), and pure speed (Overdrive Sandals)
Special attacks: Lightspeed Dash, Delta Jump, Sonic Spindash, Sonic Tornado
Father: King Maximillian Acorn (banished to the Zone of Silence)
Mother: Queen Acorn (name unknown, terminally ill/kept in cryogenic stasis--location unknown)
Brother: Prince Elias (living)
Theme Song 1: "Speed of Light" by Joe Satrianni
Theme Song 2: "Turbo Lover" by Judas Priest

BIOGRAPHY

Sally is founder of the Freedom Fighters and is the rightful heir to the throne of Mobotropolis, the original capital city of the planet of Mobius. Sally carries an arduous task as the heart and soul of the Freedom Fighter network. To continue her efforts for a peaceful tomorrow, she has followed Bunnie's path and joined the Ultra Crew. Sally now fills in the fifth slot of Neil's Ultra Crew. Sally is ever hopeful that one day she will find a way to free her father from the zone of silence.

ORIGIN

Sally was born into the Acorn family and led a fairly good life as its young princess. Her life was carefree and her only concerns were learning her royal duties and putting up with her incorrigible friend, Sonic the Hedgehog. Julian Kintobor alias "Ivo Robotnik" turned her whole world upsidedown. The first of a long string of pain and suffering began with the banishment of her father, King Maximillian Acorn, to another dimension known as the Zone of Silence. The members of the Royal Court and the population of Mobotropolis was then rounded up, imprisoned then sentanced to the dreaded Roboticizer. Sally, in the company of Sonic, fled to the Royal Daycare where they met up with the other children, Antoine D'Cooliette, Rotor "Boomer" Walrus, and the recently born Miles "Tails" Prowler. At the same time, her brother, Prince Elias was taken underground by the Royal Secret Service headed by Geoffry St. John where he remained safe until he was able to reunite with Sally years later. Time was not on their side as Robotnik's invasion began shortly afterward. During this short calm between the storms, Bunnie Mae Rabbot (who would not only become Sally's lady-in-waiting but would also become her best friend) would arrive on the doorstep of the Daycare and link up with the other children. Faced with no other options, their nanny, Rosey took them through the secret underground passage to the secluded Knothole, deep in the Great Forest.

Upon arriving to Knothole, young Sally Acorn begged Rosey to never ever leave Knothole and to this day Rosey has kept her promise. For the next ten years, Sally has taken on most of the responsibility of uniting the surviving rebels of Mobius under one village. As the rightful princess of Mobotropolis, Sally has made it her mission in life to see to Robotnik's downfall and she has turned to Sonic and the other Freedom Fighters time and time again for support. For these ten to eleven years worth of battling, Sally and her Freedom Fighters have been victorious without major incident until Robotnik was nearly successful with his capture of the Freedom Fighters. Sally was in line to be roboticized but Bunnie deliberately provoked Robotnik into making her the first victim. At that point Dr. Arcade and his Ultra Crew burst into the core room and begun fighting back Robotnik's forces. While Odie was hacking the robotnicizer, Garfield freed Sally and the others. Sally was first to react when the Robotropolis emergency lighting kicked after the lightning bolt fried most of the main Robotropolis power grid, pulling Bunnie's semi-conscious body from the destroyed Robotnicizer. She personally made sure Bunnie regained her senses during the escape and was closest to her when Robotnik's ship crash landed on her. Sonic was first to start digging through the debris, but Sally was the one to recover Bunnie's body. Even after Bunnie's recovery from her surgery and bionic eye and ear replacements, Sally stayed close to Bunnie up until she ventured to Little Tokyo for further training (the very day Bunnie met Violet).

Sally augmented her already natural gymnastic ability with martial arts she picked up from Bunnie while watching her train in her dojo during the years. After Bunnie's great adventure with Violet on Little Tokyo, Sally made the decision to repay the ones who had saved their lives and joined the Ultra Crew. Sally had always held her own when opposing Dr. Robotnik all those years, there was one thing that troubled Sally until she and Odie put their heads together and developed the Overdrive Sandals. Now Sally was able to not only run at speeds beyond Mach 10, she could also make sure Sonic couldn't avoid her lectures.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Sally is extremely intelligent and organized. Lately she's let Sonic rub off on her a little so with her Overdrive Sandals, she's blindingly fast, too. Sally tries to plan ahead whenever she takes action. Besides being a strong leader and coordinator, Sally has a working knowledge of physics and computers. Also, Sally is very agile, having natural gymnastic and acrobatic ability.

WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT

Sally's primary weapons include her Digital Accessory Wristwatch Navigation utility (DAWN) and Networked Index Computer Holographic Operator Library Element (NICHOLE) pocket computer. DAWN contains a mini-shuriken launcher, ultrasonic cannon, grappling hook, tazer, Personal Exploration Terminal (PET) wireless internet uplink, GPS tracking system, auto-mapping unit, and other necessary tools. NICHOLE contains a self-contained Artificial Intelligence, a jack-in port, a laser, hologram generator, micro web-cam, PET maintenancing utilities, and miscellaneous hardware and applications. Sally's defense however comes in the form of a reflect jacket created by Odie. Besides being bulletproof, most forms of laser weapons will be reflected upon impact. And finally to suppliment her mobility, Sally's Overdrive Sandals replace the knee-high boots she's worn for several years. The Overdrive Sandals have variable speed up to mach ten as well as antigravity jets (with deployable wings), electromagnets, xenon lights, smoke screen and oil slick options.

RELATIONSHIPS

-Sonic the Hedgehog: Sonic and Sally have shared a love-hate relationship. When they're not driving each other crazy, they're sharing tender moments as boyfriend and girlfriend. Aside from being Sally's most trusted friend and fellow Freedom Fighter, he is the leader of the Freedom Fighters.

-Bunnie Mae Rabbot: Sally's lady-in-waiting and best friend for some time. Bunnie has trained Sally in martial arts and has been her anchor in a long series of battles. Sally was the first to welcome Bunnie into the Freedom Fighters all those years ago and she continues to support her as a fellow Extended U.C. Bunnie is also Sally's personal hairdresser as well as favorite person to share gossip with. No matter what hardships they have, they've made a vow to endure them together.

-Miles ''Tails'' Prowler: Young Miles was born during the prelude of Julian Kintobor's Coup de Tat. In fact, Tails' father was one of the first victims of robobiticization...the very day Tails was born in fact. With the roboticization of Tails' mother during the coup, the orphaned Tails remained in Sonic and Sally's care to this day. Growing up, Tails was a big help to her "Aunt Sally" and continued to grow in speed, smarts, and usefulness. It wasn't long before he was creating plans of his own to help his family fight Robotnik. If Sally is the heart and soul of the team, Tails is the team spirit and source of joy, optimism, and innocence. While Sonic is of course his real-life hero, Tails has had many heroes of the years ranging from Captain Super Fox to the Power Rangers. When he's not helping his friends, Tails is playing video games on his Game Boy Advance SP.

-Antoine D'Cooliette: This lovestruck, hopeless romantic French Coyote is son of General D'Cooliette the leader of the Mobotropolis army. Antoine has always had a crush on Sally since their childhood. While he tries to hide it (unsuccessfully) through duty he pretty much comes off a lovestruck brown-noser. Losing his father to roboticization was a devastating blow to him and when he isn't tripping over his own feet or embarassing himself, he does truely share Sally's pain. Some have speculated there's chemistry between him and Bunnie Rabbot. Usually they share a similar relationship as Rogue and Gambit of the X-Men. Antoine is supposed to be a military genius but rarely shows any sign of miltary prowess.

-Rotor "Boomer" Walrus: A true-blue friend to Sally for as long as she can remember. Rotor's always been a science nerd and has always been proud of it. Usually one to shy away from the action, Rotor prefers the comfort of a nice, stuffy laboratory worshop. As the Freedom Fighters' techological genius, Rotor is constantly inventing new things.

-Dulcie the Dragon: It's unclear where and when Dulcie and Sally met but they've been strong allies in a long-standing war with Robotnik. Dulcie is among the last of the remaining free dragons and a "Protector" dragon with "the Powers"--namely the ability to breath fire and ice. Sally and Dulcie are good friends though Sally could do without Dulcie's terrible crash-landings. Dulcie's just a big kid at heart. (Pretty evident after she crash-lands and blurts out "I'm fine mommyyyyy...")

-Lupe Ayla Lycans: Sally's always felt in her heart that there was another like her...another who shared her pains and perils. She's always longed for someone who truely understood her. It was destiny that she should meet Lupe Lycans--a young princess like herself who also lost her father and considered Robotnik her enemy. Robotnik laid siege to Lupe's village and drove her and the nine remaining wolves into hiding in the caves of the Great Unknown. Lupe's "Wolf Pack Freedom Fighters" was the first group that Sally sought out when forming alliances during the construction of Robotnik's "Doomsday Machine". Over time Lupe become the closest friend Sally's ever had and today she remains Sally's closest friend and ally. Lupe was inducted into the Extended Ultra Crew through Sally as a way of saying thanks.

-Knuckles the Echidna: Knuckles met Sally years ago before Robotnik took over. King Acorn and Princess Sally made a diplomatic excursion to Angel Island. Entrusting Sally to stay out of trouble, Maximillian went ahead to conduct his business with the Echidna Elders. While waiting for her father to return, Sally met with a similar encounter with Knuckles that Bunnie had when she first met Violet. A short fight and an exchange of apologies and Sally and Knux realized how similar their lives were what with Sally having her royal responsibilities ahead of herself while Knuckles was had similar duties as well as the protection of the Master Emerald. It would not be the last meeting they'd have together. Knuckles is rarely a team player and has been known to be tricked into doing Dr. Robotnik's dirty work. Despite these shortcomings, Knuckles is an unlikely hero who has his own style. In fact Knuckles has actually refused Garfield Arcade's offers to join Ultra Crew.

-The Ultra Crew: Sally's other family has given her a life to cherish forever. If Garfield Arcade and the Immediate Ultra Crew hadn't come to the rescue, Sally and the Freedom Fighters would have been doomed and the likelyhood is that Bunnie wouldn't have survived the lightning bolt. Garfield has made it his vow to one day help Sally overthrow Robotnik forever then help rebuild her world.

-Princess Violet: Vi and Sally have a number of things common. They're both royalty and they both know their way around computers. Violet has Sally's eternal thanks for being there for Bunnie when she was all alone in Little Tokyo, training for her next black belt degree rank.

-The People of Miranda: No one particularly stands out as nearly everyone is friend to Sally. Though her Overdriven entrances can be a bit inconvinient at times as the tail winds she kicks up are immeasurable plus the flame trails she leaves behind are also a bit of a problem. Nevertheless Sally is by far the fastest U.C. available to Neil's group save for Sonic himself.

Ultra Crew Sneak Peak of the Day:

They followed the twisting path until they took a left turn at another corner. Up ahead was a doorway.
Without hesitation they entered. The room seemed empty as they ran ahead to the door in front but then someone teleported in that made X almost jump.

"Vile! Where have you taken Lumine?! Do you plan to hinder the Jakob Project?" "Reunited after all this time apart and all you do is bombard me with questions? Don't worry about our little Lumine. We're taking great care of him. Heheheheh. The Orbital Elevator is too important to us to hurt the one who operates it!" "Don't you know what you're doing?!? The Jakob Project is an important joint venture between the humans and Reploids!" "Chill out, X. Let's enjoy this little reunion, okay?"

Bunnie stepped forward. "Reunion? Interesting word you have for an ambush, Vile." Bunnie narrowed her eyes. "Heheheheh...Rabbot. I guess you're not as honorable as you say you are...butting into business between X and me." Vile taunted. "Empty words from a maverick with an even emptier soul. Anyone can plainly see this concerns more than just your petty grudge againt Mega Man X. You and your master are still up to your same old song and dance, trying to destroy the Earth. Your disgust for the humans and reploids who reject your crusade sickens me." "Oh really? You're not even human! Why simpathize with a race that's clearly more inferior than you?" Vile stared Bunnie down. "Superiority and inferiority aren't the issue. The issue is that all intelligent life has the right to survive. And you are a monster for helping your master usher in an age that dictates who has that right."

"If you want a piece of me...be my guest, long ears." Vile crossed his arms and hovered.
"You can't escape!!!!" Vile shouted as he flew around and started firing waves of three-way spread shots from his shoulder cannon. "Ha-ha-ha!" He taunted as X and Bunnie ran and dodged his assault. "He has the high ground! He's got the advantage!" X hollered. "No, he does not!" Bunnie selected the Shining Ray. She fired the shot upward where it exploded into an eight-way burst of sparking fireworks. The weapon barely looked like it was doing damage. "Kuso!" She gritted her teeth and ran for cover while X took over, counterattacking with his X-Buster.

Bunnie executed a cartwheel, avoiding the oncoming fire, jumped and ran along the wall, dodging Vile's shots as he flew after her. Suddenly X popped right up in front of Vile and pounded him with a Green Spinner at near point blank. The explosion hurled them in opposite directions. Vile slammed into the opposite wall. X smashed into the wall and dropped to the floor. "Still playing for keeps, X? You take things way too seriously." Vile cackled. "Grrrr!!!" X slammed his fist into the ground before getting to his feet. "Awww...did I make you angry?"
KABOOM! Bunnie's stood tall as she held onto her smoking Giga X-Buster barrel. "No. Me." Bunnie replied coldly.

Vile skidded across the ground, face first, then rolled over and tried to counter attack before he caught the business end of another Green Spinner. "Graaah!" Vile growled as she strugged to regain his balance. His body sparked. "Damn you both..." He cursed.
The damage was more extensive than he thought. He hurled himself at Bunnie attempting to kamikaze her. But Bunnie saw his telegraph a mile away and dodged to the side, slamming her Giga X-Buster into the back of his head without firing. Vile face-planted again before getting Bunnie's heel planted on the back of his neck. And it sure didn't feel like the bottom of a sandal. Bunnie had cybermorphed her legs into the Giga Armor air dash boots. "Do you yield?" "I won't be beaten by the likes of you."

"We don't have time for your games, Vile. Step aside and let us pass."
"I don't think so!" Vile stood up, forcing Bunnie off him. "Go back to Sigma in defeat!" X beamed in the Neutral Armor and the parts for the Icarus X-Buster and Icarus Foot Parts. X charged up his weapon as high as it would go and let fly with a solid stream of white and blue plasma laser energy, pouring it on Vile with the force of a mighty rushing river! Vile went back, back, back and smashed into the wall where he was pressed up against it for a good few seconds before the X-Buster beam ceased. Vile lay plastered into the impression he made in the wall, smoking and sparking for a bit. "Did I do it?" He asked.

"No." Bunnie replied. And not a moment to soon for Vile pulled himself out of the impression and staggered a bit before taking to the air again. He hovered for a bit then teleported out. "He'll be back." Bunnie added. "And we'll be ready for him." X acknowledged.

-Commander Mega Man X, Bunnie Mae Rabbot, and Vile--Mega Man X8: Paradise Lost - Bunnie Version

Current Mood: cheerful
Current Music: "Happy Birthday Medley" by the Rock-aFire Explosion