[Mr. Game & Watch]

The plains of the Sector X Meteorite Field were quiet, the sands being whipped up by the wind and as a tumbleweed bounced by the empty graveyard of ships. Tumbleweeds may not exist on Earth, but they were indeed a native plant to Li. Though, considering that Game & Watch’s double was about to enter the scene, there was no doubt that the quietness was soon coming to an end. The clone of the Hero of the Life Sphere began to loudly beep and squeal throughout the lands, trying to attract as much attention to its self as possible.

The reasoning behind this choice in location was this was the last spot where Black Shadow had been spotted, and the last place where Mr. Game & Watch was seen by him as well. Besides the Celebration of Life of course, but attracting the guy towards the Life Sphere was not a good idea. The Blue Falcon was tucked away in between the gap of two wrecked ships, waiting for the appearance of the spandex wearing big bad.

Fortunately they didn’t have to wait long. A group of infected began to rise from their resting place and sauntered toward the decoy. They immediately got hold of the little two-dimensional figure and began beating him until the Black Bull finally appeared in the distance. Considering how fast the craft could move it arrived on the scene in no time. A quick leap out of his vehicle and Black Shadow kneed the little guy in the gut and threw him over his shoulder, proceeding to hop back into his battle cruiser. Needless to say, it was a good thing it wasn’t the real Game & Watch, unless someone held a huge grudge against the guy and wanted to see him be beaten to a pulp. In which case, you’re welcome.

The F-Zero racer swiftly swerved back around and speeded back from whence it came. The Blue Falcon finally took action, Captain Falcon reserving himself from shouting PAUNCH as he burst out from his hiding space. It was a good thing that Tails had upgraded the machine to a silent engine, but it seemed rather unnecessary with how loud the roar of the Black Bull’s motor was. The race was on at this point, Captain Falcon tailgating Black Shadow from a decent distance away. It was unlikely that the bull dressed evil doer would see them past his own dust clouds.

The two vehicles traveled a very long distance in a very short amount of time, but it was as E Gadd had feared; they were heading toward the Essence Extraction Point. It has been rumored that this area was the origin point of the Starvia, a point in which no one had entered before. Although, they were quite a bit of ways away from the mysterious light and so far there was no structure in sight. At least there wasn’t a building or anything. Perhaps it was invisible?

All that was thrown out of the way as the Black Bull continued to rage on ahead, the ground ahead of it seeming to shift. Soon the ground up ahead raised, revealing a large sort of metal garage, patches of grass lining the top of it. So it would seem their base was underground. No wonder it hadn’t been spotted before…

The F-Zero racer parked itself nicely within its fitted cubby space. The platform that the black racer stopped upon began to lower, like an elevator. The doors of the garage began to close up, so it was about time for Captain Falcon to PAUNCH it. The silent engine began to pump faster than ever before, racing to meet the deadline that the door was providing them. The little cruiser slipped by the doors as they came shut, flying through the air of the elevator shaft and crashing against the door to the first floor. Captain Falcon turned to his crewmates giving a huge grin and putting his two thumbs up, no doubt elbowing somebody in the process.

Considering the size of the elevator shaft, the ledge of the first floor door was large enough for them to walk around on with careful footing. The door of the racer popped open, the first figure to leap out being Lilligant. Shade was probably somewhere, the little plant creature couldn’t even tell where her master was. The plant peered over the side of the ledge, watching the battle cruiser still going further down. It looked like the shaft went on forever, and she could only notice a few doors. One immediately below them, then another one much further down, and potentially another one at the bottom where it looks like Black Shadow was headed. If the place had a bottom anyway. It seemed like he was heading to the center of the planet.

[Coolshaymin]

Tails was next to jump out of the car. Too bad there was nothing he could do about that cramped space. Oh well, that part was behind them for the moment. Tails observed the area in thought of where they should go. On one hand, Black Shadow may be going to the same place the Heroes were left. If that was true, there was no telling if any of the other doors lead there. These people really needed some signs. On the other hand, he could be going to a seperate room and following him could be risky. Then again, looking around without a clue of where to go could be just as risky if not riskier. They all had invisibility devices, but was now the time to use them? Didn't really help none of them have recorded experience in stealth operations. Following Black Shadow seemed like the easiest method they have to finding them, but it not being surefired did not help.

[PolarStarQuote]

"..." If sheik wasn't wearing a mask, one could clearly tell absolute and utter fear was played among her face. It was moments like these that made her feel like she was a a young child version of zelda just discovering the world. The fastest thing sheik would get on back in hyrule was the occasional ride on Epona with link. With the insane speed of the blue falcon, Sheik was close to ripping off the handle she was holding onto for dear life. It didn't help sheik was sitting next to a man with muscles the size of bricks that only smiled with a grin that said "Lets go faster" only made sheik turn ghostly white. When they finally stopped, sheik was close to passing out from fear alone.



Sheik was then suddenly woken up by a direct hit in the face by Captain Falcon's thumbs up elbow. Sheik was close to yelling out "Ah!" In fear, but kept her mouth shut as she just looked around like time had finally returned to normal. She felt like she was about to give captain falcon a hyrule sized scolding, but she was more focused on getting away from the speeding mad man. She followed the lilligant, clinging to the wall and still trying to calm her stomachs nausia from F-zero speed.



She slid down the wall, making silent slow movements down the wall and looking over the corner. She whispered to the rest of her team. "Ok, what are we gonna do first."

[Cielmira]

One good thing about them all jammed into the speeder was the buffering for the crash: it was rather impossible for anyone to get but a light jostle. The captain's driving was admirable to say the least. This entrance could have been a lot worse considering the manner in which it occurred.

Krexix was the last to exit, likely due to the spiny things jutting out from his back. Admittedly it took the large bipedal beast a moment to adjust his equilibrium before stepping out. His first act being him falling down a shaft would be very unfortunate. A claw securely clenched into a ridge on the wall to ensure steady footing on the ledge the oerix took a moment to adjust the utility belt carrying the items he brought with him: the poison shroom and an x-bomb.

There was still some uncertainty in his mind about being assigned to the stealth crew. Krexix was and would be continuing to make a conscious effort to keep his steps light despite his bulk. This was the first high stakes mission and he wasn't going to be the one to screw the pooch. As for Sheik's question... Krexix leaned forward to look down the shaft. It seemed the obvious answer was, "Climb down."

[Mr. Game & Watch]

The pistons of the elevator continued to echo through the shaft as the foursome continued to deduct their next move. Captain Falcon was excluded since he was supposed to be the getaway driver. The thought of having to cram the other three into his craft already gave him a premature cramped feeling, but overall he supposed that was going to have to be the way it is. Either way, all he had to do was wait for them to get back, so he kicked his feet up over his dashboard and leaned back. Captain Falcon was one of the few that could relax while within the base of a mortal enemy. Well, what else was there to do? Cower in fear? Maybe he could disassemble parts of the craft to make room so Sheik’s butt wasn’t in his face while he was trying to drive. Although, that man did have a very nice butt.

The Lilligant continued to analyze the surroundings, not sure where to go. It seemed to be that the collective group thought it better to go down rather than inspect the area that the door behind them led to. Seemed like a better idea, why would they leave their captives on the floor closest to the surface? Lilligant was just a simple Pokemon though, so in terms of anything she could barely add anything to the collective group… mostly because she couldn’t say anything besides her own name.

It appeared that Shade had decided this too as a Pokeball flew at the plant creature and absorbed it. Soon afterwards Volcarona ascended from below the ledge that the team was standing upon. The fire moth turned her back to the group, allowing those without the ability to fly to hop on so that they may descend to the lower levels of the underground lair.

[Coolshaymin]

Tails listened to Krexix and Sheik and thought for a second. "Yeah, most likely they left their captives as deep in their base as possible..." Tails said, honestly hating that that was most likely the case. Tails then notice Liligant disappear and then a Volcorona take its place, looking around for the source but found none. That was some neat invisibility trick of Shade's... though it brings question why he is using his Pokemon if he can make himself completely undetectable... Well, might be best not to question the guy that can freely make himself unseeable. Tails deducted most likely what Shade was trying to say... "Okay, you two ride Volcorona down, it'll be faster. I'll use my tails since slowing my descent won't be very tiring and to avoid overburdening it," Tails said as he jumped and spun his tails and descended alongside the Fire Deity Bug. Tails figured to give Volcorona a little bit of a break since Krexix probably weighs a lot, though Sheik's weight can't be that bad... Despite Tails probably being the lightest one here.

[PolarStarQuote]

Sheik looked at krexix and felt herself growing white again. If it wasnt falcon's speed demon driving skills and the elbow hit she had just received, it was the fact she was also extremely close to a alien that was ready to tear and shred prey apart. Sheik couldn't even release her light squeak of fear before quickly just listening to tails, grabbing onto volcarona's back to get to the lower levels safely. In any normal case, she would just use her recovery to get there quickly but at the moment, she still felt disoriented from the blue falcon, so just a nice calm ride on a sun god would be alot better.

[Cielmira]

The exchange of pokemon invoked Krexix to turn his head upward in an attempt to spot their master. He spotted nothing and was left with just contemplating the concept of these strong gifted creatures allowing themselves to be put in such a role. Dropping his attention back down onto the large moth the oerix grumbled. Surely this giant fire bug couldn't carry him. While it's size was commendable typically what allowed beasts to fly didn't lend well to being able to carry things larger and bulkier than themselves. Krexix still towered over the thing.

Figuring no one else seemed to have a problem with this and lending his trust to one of these extraordinary pokemon might enlighten him further to what they were capable of. If his density proved overbearing for Volcarona he would have no trouble taking to climbing, or helping ease his weight with his own wings. Admittedly he'd never attempted to climb a distance this seemingly endless before.

Krexix broke from his contemplation to take a hard look at the fluttering sun pokemon. How was he to attach himself so as to let it carry him? He was taller than it and it had no limbs... With Sheik on its back there wasn't really a conceivable way he could let this bug bear him. The oerix snorted as he came to a final decision: climbing it is. Carefully he turned himself around, checking the position of the immediate landing for the floor below them, then began to descend using one of the rails that held the platform Black Shadow used.

Str Check: E7bJ3_Cwp_1d20+31d20+3

[Mr. Game & Watch]

(str check: sfTD40zYp_1d20-2)

It would appear that either the moth or Shade himself has misjudged the apparent weight of Sheik. That or they shouldn’t have trusted a frail moth as a pack mule, luckily Krexix decided against riding Volcarona, otherwise the creature might’ve collapsed from the mere weight of the persons on her back. It was a struggle, but the fire bug was at least able to bring Sheik to the second floor’s door, meeting up with the pirate alien in the same amount of time that it took him to climb to the floor below. There was another large silver elevator door in front of them. It was difficult to tell if it was the destination that they were looking for, but it was probably a better chance than the first floor. The next floor was quite a ways below them, so it might seem more tempting to enter this area. The sun deity certainly didn’t seem capable of making the descent down there with a person in tow.

The elevating platform finally came to a halt as the floor at the absolute bottom of the mighty chasm opened its door and lit the area for a brief period of time. The monstrous ride of Black Shadow’s roared once more as it lightly entered the next room over. With that, the door shut once more, leaving the group in silence at last.
1d20-2

[Coolshaymin]

Well, it was either this door or bottom, but he was worried about what would happen if Volcarona lost her strength. Good thing Tails did not try to carry anyone, with Volcarona's reaction, they may of just plummeted. Tails wasn't really sure if the bug was stronger than him or not, but he doubted he was stronger... Despite lifting Sonic and Knuckles, but that was nothing compared to who Cream, Charmy and Rouge has lifted. Either way, their safest bet at the moment was this door, so Tails approached it to check it out. "We'll check this floor first," Tails said quietly.

[PolarStarQuote]

Sheik looked at the poor Volcarona, somewhat feeling bad for using it as her way down. She quickly stepped off of volcarona, giving it a small pet of appreciation for its help as she then pushed herself against the walls, sticking closely to the shadows. She still felt nauseous from the ride here, but at this point it had worn off. She was feeling more nervous with the fact of where she was. The essence extraction point. The most dangerous place in this planet, and yet, here she was...



Sheik was snapped back to reality by tail's voice. Sheik nodded. "I suppose that's only obvious..." Sheik whispered, sidling closer to the door, putting her hand gently against it before giving it a push. Until she realized, that door's don't exactly push open anymore. She just backed away, lucky that her mask was covering the embarrassed face she was having at the moment from mistaking the elevator door to something from olden days of hyrule.

[Cielmira]

Krexix inwardly mused about the struggling insect dropping Sheik off on the floor landing, though a grin showed on his dark face. The idea of what would have happened had he chosen differently flashed across his mind as he secured himself in the shaft and watched Sheik attempt to open the door. It was an amusing display.

Bunkering: 4ZiG33ZYp_1d20+3                     Str: p_1d20+3

"Move," the oerix spoke briskly as he climbed his way over giving little care if both Tails and Sheik had time to move aside or not. He secured himself once again so he wouldn't fall off while he attempted to open the way for the group. Krexix wrenched his claws in between the sliding metal doors and began pulling them apart. This focus left him with little attention to pay to the disappearing target below them.1d20+3·1d20+3

[Mr. Game & Watch]

The team chose the second out of the four visible floors, Krexix driving his mighty claws into the gap in between the titanic elevator door. It was a mighty feat considering the size of the elevator shaft and the door itself, but with the perseverance of the Oerix he was able to force the sliding metal slabs out of the way. What was revealed was a long hallway, the walls looking to be made from the alloys of old Lylat space crafts much like the Life Sphere’s residential houses. It was mostly the texture and look of them that gave it away. The ceiling was rather tall, every member of the group would easily fit through, and in fact someone could ride on another’s shoulders and still be clear to make it through. It was somewhat narrow though not terribly.

The most notable aspect of the area revealed to them was something at the end of the decently lengthy hall. The hall led to a much larger room, one that they could only see a slight fraction of from where they were standing. It looked no different than a larger version of the hall besides a rather large mechanism in the center of the room. There were visible guard rails in front of the gigantic black and wire-covered machine.

The machine itself was rather odd in appearance, kind of like the equivalent to a machine’s heart. There were red lights radiating off of the thing, dying the room itself in a slight red tint. It was truly a peculiar sight and even the designated tech-head on the team would have a difficult time figuring out what it is since it seemed too alien. A closer examination may prove to be helpful in figuring out what it was, but the question was would they want to know what it is?

The Volcarona retreated into her ball after finally being relieved of duty. In her place came out Bisharp to hold the door open. He nodded his head towards Krexix, signaling him to go in ahead.

[Coolshaymin]

... Well, forcefully opening doors is not very stealthy... Then again, Krexix was the muscle of this Stealth Team... Which muscle and stealth rarely go together if a guess is to be taken but no one seemed to take immediate attention. The only real site to see was some overly complex machine. Tails could not even come up with a reasonable guess of what it would be from this distance... Well, with the door forced, they had to act quick and the machine may provide some clues or something. Not like forcing a door left much room to turn back.

Tails walked forward into the hall as quietly as he could, aiming to get a closer look at the machine. In the very least it could be valuable information... or a trap... but hopefully it did not come to such cliches. A more in depth look may bring some hint to the machine's purpose, which may be useful... and as the last paragraph made clear, forcing the door did not leave much other options.

[PolarStarQuote]

As much as sheik would hate to, she just proceeded through with no objections. She would just have to hope to Din, Farore and especially Nayru that no one would come and see the torn open door. Sheik just followed along, looking around half in wonder and half in fear of the overly futuristic world before her.



Sheik stepped into the ending room, and stayed on guard, pulling her sheikah needle from her supply and keeping it on guard. "What...is that thing?" she whispered to her comrade's....er, well Tails rather. The pokemon couldn't speak, and krexix kind of scared her. So, tails would have to do. And seeing him go ahead up to the machine to see what it was, she figured she was waiting for answers. She went ahead and followed tails to the machine, with no better thing to do.