The Shmod Forum

Aarikku · Last edited by Aarikku on Mon Dec 08, 2008 3:02 am; edited 1 time in total

Chapter Seven

“You sure?” Martin asked a voice in his cell phone. “Okay, but why? …I see. Yeah, yeah. Wait – what? He did? Seriously?” He put his forehead in his hand and sighed. “And we work for this guy? Okay, I’ll get them. Jesus.” Exasperated, Martin clicked his cell phone closed and checked his watch. It was just after noon. Somehow, we’re still on time. He looked over at the tables. Kyle, Luke and Linlan were finished eating and were trying to fix Luke’s deck. A table away, Kevin, Cassandra and Ferali were still eating. And a table further was Zywen, eating silently.

And so, the future of the game – heck, the future of all of Shmod – lies with these kids. Martin considered sullenly.

==

Tyson finished his trek to Ace’s studio and knocked. “Ah, hello.” Said Ace, looking up from a stack of cards. He was sitting on the far side of a small table; an empty chair on the other side.

“Hey.” Tyson greeted, sitting opposite him. “What are these?”

“My latest creation. Or rather, a remake of my old creations.” Ace explained, shuffling the stack. “It’s what I’ll be using to help you test Chains of Atlantis.”

“So… what, just with the cards, or…?” Tyson began.

“No, we’ll need the S-R’s. Omega Ninth Dragon can’t kill you without them, now can it?”

“Point.” Tyson activated his S-R and fiddled with the deck editor to add Chains of Atlantis as Ace rolled the table and chairs to the side of the room.

“Shall we?” Asked Ace, activating his own S-R.

“We shall.” Tyson and Ace drew their first hands. I have no choice. I can’t let Noble Dragon be beaten by Chimera of Fate.

“You can begin. Remember, this game’s about playing Omega, not beating me.”

“Got it.” Tyson drew. “I charge Burning Tiger, and tap it for Noble Wyrm, guarding.” (GRD: 1000)

“Let’s get you your first Noble Dragon.” Ace began his turn. “I’ll charge Gunner Droid, and tap it for Security Chief Cassandra!”

“Wait, what?” Tyson asked, his dark mood instantly replaced with confusion as Cassandra appeared from the card, dressed in an orange-and-black uniform and holding a gun. (STK: 1800)

“Y’see, I had designed these wonderful BlastBlaze crew cards.” Ace explained. “A starship and its crew. But I’m no good at drawing people, and I can’t keep using Kim for every humanoid. So I randomly picked a few of the contest winners and drew them instead.”

“Sweet! Am I one of them?”

“No. Sorry. Cassandra – attack!” Ace ordered, and Cassandra fired a bolt of light at Noble Wyrm. The lesser dragon screeched and exploded.

“And, of course, I get to snag Noble Dragon from my deck to my hand.” Tyson did so. Ace ended his turn with a hand gesture. “I draw, and charge Living Lunch. Next, I’ll tap two for Cave Nest, and search a second Noble Dragon to my hand.” He looked at his hand. “Well, I’m done.”

“I’ll charge Flying Sword.” Ace decided. “And I tap both Mana for Chief Engineer Kevin (1600) and Pilot Ferali (1700)!” Two more of Tyson’s friends emerged from cards beside Cassandra, and drew futuristic weapons.

“And you didn’t make a me.” Tyson shook his head.

“Stop complaining. Anyway, as long as Cassandra’s in play, you can’t take control of my Crew cards, or their Starship… which I have yet to draw.” Ace looked at his hand. “Well, I attack!”

“Hey!” Tyson protested, as three lasers struck him. (Tyson: 7) “What ever happened to testing Omega Ninth Dragon?”

“I got bored. I figured you’d have a Sigma Dragon by now. Your move.”

“You want a Sigma Dragon?” Tyson drew. “I’ll show you a Sigma Dragon.”

==

Martin cleared his throat, as the last of his tour group finished eating. “Ladies and gentlemen, we have a change of plans.” He announced. “Our vice-C.E.O., on behalf of our currently-vacationing actual C.E.O., wants to talk to you. Supposedly, it’s important.” There were confused murmurs among the group. “Afterwards, we’ll find Tyson and continue. This way, folks.” Martin motioned to a hallway leading out of Subway.

As they walked, Kevin asked, “What’s this about?”

“One stupid bet.” Martin said dully, as they approached a fancy, wooden door. The door opened, and there stood a tall man with a moustache. “Meet our Vice-C.E.O., Trevor Watson.”

“I’m glad you could come.” Trevor said, speaking with a deep voice. “Please, sit down.” He motioned towards a large couch and a few chairs in front of a desk. Everyone except Martin managed a seat. Trevor took a deep breath. “The Shmod Company needs your help.” This got their attention. Trevor paused. Martin took this opportunity to – invisibly to Trevor – hold up a large sketchpad with a picture of a pointing hand on it.

“Why?” Luke asked.

“I’ll start at the beginning. Our C.E.O.’s been trying to merge Shmod Co. with the HoloMagic company – the company that made the S-R’s.” Trevor explained. (Martin flipped to a picture of two buildings) “Now there were some disagreements…” (Martin flipped to a picture of two stick figures yelling) “About who should run the merged company.” (Flip. A picture of one crowned stick figure, and one crying one) “After many meetings, our C.E.O. offered an idea.” (Flip. A stick figure with a lightbulb over his head) “The two C.E.O.s would play one game from HoloMagic and one game from Shmod Co.” (Flip. Four stick figures; two playing a video game, and two playing cards) “The winner of the two games runs the combined company. Our C.E.O. lost the first game, so we have to win this to make the new company a shared enterprise. Any questions?”

“Yeah. Why risk the entire company on a game?” Kyle raised his hand.

“We… have no idea.” Trevor shrugged. (Flip. A question mark)

“How does this involve us again?” Zywen wondered aloud.

“The question I was hoping for!” Trevor smiled. “Well, our C.E.O.’s on vacation, so he proposed a different challenge than the usual one-on-one Shmod game.” (Flip. A stick figure sunbathing at a beach) “Instead, each company would find up to eight people and those people would battle each other.” (Flip. Eight stick figures staring down another eight stick figures) “When all of one team is defeated, that company loses.” (Flip. Eight stick figures standing on a pile of eight other stick figures) “And, that’s pretty much it.” (Martin put down the sketchpad) “The big cheese wants each team to have eight of these.” Trevor reached behind his desk and pulled up eight small coins, each with an S on them. “When you’re defeated, the other person gets your coins.” Trevor read from a note on the table. “I think it should be coin without the ‘s’, but whatever. C.E.O. asks you all to play on Shmod’s behalf. So, what do you say?”

“Yes.” Was the unanimous reply.

==

At the same time, Tyson and Ace continued their game. “I’ll draw!” Tyson said, after telling Ace to expect a Sigma Dragon. “I’ll charge Hell Mulligan – and tap it for Fusion Technique!”

“Ah, you had the third Noble Dragon in your hand.” Ace smiled.

“That’s right. Fusion time!” The three dragons twisted from card holograms in front of him, quickly becoming the triple-headed version. “Sigma Dragon!” (5500)

“Very nice.”

“It is. In fact, the only thing better than one Sigma Dragon…” Tyson pressed a card. “Is two. Go! Re-Fusion!”

“Whoa!” Ace covered his eyes, as light and fire erupted from Tyson’s side of his studio.

“Sigma Dragon number two!” Tyson pointed at the holograms of his friends, as the dragons roared. “I’ll attack Ferali and Kevin!” A giant fireball blasted from each dragon, incinerating the futuristic versions of his friends. (Ace: 8) “How’s that for a Sigma Dragon? You’re up.”

“It is twice what I expected.” Ace drew. “I’ll charge Phasor Cannon. I’ll tap two for Captain Taro (1400) and one for Prophet Daze Libra (1500) – both guarding.” An orange-haired, goateed man and a green alien woman appeared. “I’ll also switch Cassandra to guard mode.”

“Works for me.” Tyson looked at his cards. “I’ll charge Heir Dragonling – and attack. Let’s see, which to pick?” He shrugged. “Ladies first.” A fireball incinerated Cassandra, and a second destroyed Daze.

“That it?” Ace asked. Tyson nodded. “Alas. My go. I’ll charge Mulligan… and tap two for The BlastBlaze 2.0 (2300)!” A bright red starship hovered above the card, seemingly very off-scale, as Captain Taro was just a little shorter than it. “Originally, the BlastBlaze needed monsters to equip to it. But recently, it occurred to me – boosting the big monster isn’t worth dealing less damage! So this new version just gains 300 STK for every Crew card I control.”

“2600 versus two Sigma Dragons?” Tyson raised an eyebrow.

“Absolutely. I tap two for two of these – Neutron Torpedo! Now, instead of attacking, my Starship instantly destroys a monster. With two, it’s ‘good-bye’ to both your Sigma Dragons!” Two green lights burst from the ship. Each one struck a Sigma Dragon, destroying both. “Now, I switch Captain Taro to offensive mode, and activate its effect. Once, when I control The BlastBlaze, I can play another BlastBlaze Crew from my deck. I’ll pick First-Officer Leric!” (1400)

“Leric?” Tyson wondered, but saw that his suspicions were correct as a uniformed version of the orange hologram appeared.

“Leric gives The BlastBlaze immunity to Traps.” Ace explained. “Now! Taro and Leric! Attack!” His crew drew laser pistols and shot two more life out of Tyson. (Tyson: 5) “Your move. And try to play Omega. I’m getting bored again.”

“I’ll see what I can do.” Tyson drew. “That’ll work. I play Fantasy Fusion!” More light and fire erupted before Tyson, eventually forming into a third Sigma Dragon. I’m close! Tyson thought, smiling. “I attack!”

“Wait – while The BlastBlaze is in play, you can’t attack its Crew.”

“I was going to attack the ship anyway. Go!” Tyson commanded. The dragon complied, and a burst of fire caused a massive explosion, which engulfed the ship. (Ace: 7) “Your move, Ace.”

“Fine.” Ace drew, saddened by the loss of his ship. “I’ll charge a spare First-Officer Leric, and tap two for Re-Forge! Now, by sending the Gunner Droid I tapped to the Graveyard, I can summon – ”

“The BlastBlaze.” Tyson hung his head.

“Precisely!” Ace agreed, as the ship appeared once again. “And now, I tap one for Heroic Sacrifice! Here’s how it works – I tribute one monster, and then I can play monsters of the same category from my Graveyard equal to its Level plus one. So, I tribute the Level Two Captain Taro, and get to play Cassandra, Kevin and Ferali from my Graveyard.”

“Cheeeeaap.” Tyson moaned.

“Perhaps.” Ace shrugged. “I’ll tap my last two Mana for Weak Point. And let’s let Leric do what he does best!” Leric jumped into the sky, and delivered a flaming punch to the Sigma symbol of Sigma Dragon, who was instantly destroyed. “And next, I attack you with The BlastBlaze, Ferali, Cassandra and Kevin!” A barrage of lasers flew from Tyson’s futuristic adversaries. (Tyson: 1) “I’ll let you live so you can play Omega.”

“Just barely live!” Tyson protested, and drew – The Chains of Atlantis! “Perfect.” He whispered. “I charge Cloudrunner, and tap two for… Re-Fusion!”

“Just as I hoped!” Ace said happily. The usual lightshow shone from Tyson’s field, and nine giant pillars of fire signalled the rise of the strongest creature.

“Come forth! Omega Ninth Dragon!” Tyson cried over the roar of the fire. Finally, the enormous dragon appeared from the light. Its four wings flapped a cyclone, and its three tails swung wildly. Its eyes widened with frenzy. Why… does it do that?

Ace was laughing. “You’ve done it! Now activate my card! Learn to control this beast.”

Tyson nodded. “I tap two to play Chains of Atlantis!” The room seemed to shake as golden chains flew from the ground. The shackles on the end of the links grasped Omega’s two arms, four legs and nine necks. The dragon screamed in fury; letting loose fire from all of its jaws.

“You’ve done it!” Ace repeated, still laughing. “You’ve mastered Omega Ninth Dragon! Now, activate Omega’s effect – which I’m sure you’ve never done yet.”

That’s true. Tyson looked at his creature. The raging beast thrashed about, but the chains would not yield. You had this coming, Noble Dragon. “I attack all of your monsters! Omega – go!” The dragon grunted in protest with a few heads, screeched with others, but a few heads finally did Tyson’s bidding. And all of them pointed the right way. The BlastBlaze, Cassandra, Ferali, Kevin and Leric were all completely destroyed by golden fire. (Ace: 2)

“Well done.” Ace drew. “I leave this game to you. I tap one for Silver Robot in offense! Now strike down my robots. You’ve earned it. Omega Ninth Dragon is truly yours.”

Tyson drew, as the dragon continued to thrash. But at what cost? If I have to do… that… to my partner, I’d rather lose a few games. “What have I done?” Tyson gasped.

“Eh?” Ace turned his head to a side, confused.

“I tap one for Whirlwind!” Tyson decided. “I’m sorry!” The chains exploded into tiny, gold bits.

“You… you’d give up power like this?” Ace demanded. “All because a hologram of your dragon looks unhappy?”

“I’m not giving up power. I’m leaving it to trust.” Tyson replied. The dragon had stopped its rage, and its frenzied expression had given way to a new emotion. Calm respect. “I trust you, Omega Ninth Dragon.”

“It’s a hologram of a trading card!” Ace shouted. “It’s not attacking you because it doesn’t like you! It attacks you because of a programming glitch!”

“I disagree! Omega Ninth Dragon – attack all of Ace’s robots!” The dragon roared, and pointed all of its heads at Ace. All of them looked furious.

“Uh oh.” Said Ace. Fire blasted from each head of the dragon; each fireball completely overriding Ace’s Silver Robot. “This is… impossible!” Ace protested, as his S-R showed his life dropping. “Another glitch?” The life counter dropped past 0. –1, -5, -20. “That doesn’t even make sense!” –30. -113. –342. “Okay, I get it. No need to go to – ” –486. ERROR. The game ended; the holograms faded.

“Here.” Tyson passed Ace back the Chains of Atlantis. “I don’t think I’ll need them.”

Ace shook his head as Tyson left. Damn fickle technology.

Card of the Chapter is The BlastBlaze (new version)

_________________

The Decktype Guide

Naardaas · Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 9:08 pm Post subject:

This new Blastblaze carc would be great - if we couldn't see the phrase "Stardock Games". Other than that, I like. Although I would have preferred an actual reading of the effect of Chains of Atlantis, after so much anticipation.
_________________
The seal on my existence is broken. My great dragon has arrived as pinnacle strength. And I have the last thing I need to exact revenge on those who banished me. I have the power over chaos, over life and death. The power of Drahondes.

Aarikku · Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 9:09 pm Post subject:

It has to be there, considering I didn't draw it. Chains of Atlantis doesn't really HAVE an effect, unless you want it to be "Omega Ninth Dragon won't kill you."

What did you think of the chapter?
_________________

The Decktype Guide

Naardaas · Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 9:17 pm Post subject:

Well, I did like the use of the Blastblaze crew, Tyson not being completely emo over losing, and the battles were pretty good. I might think Mertin woulda been annoying in life, but I digress. A pretty good piece of work.
_________________
The seal on my existence is broken. My great dragon has arrived as pinnacle strength. And I have the last thing I need to exact revenge on those who banished me. I have the power over chaos, over life and death. The power of Drahondes.

Aarikku · Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 9:18 pm Post subject:

Thanks.

_________________

The Decktype Guide