Post by Quantum Leap Ranger on Jul 20, 2022 19:35:27 GMT -5
From Kaitlin's POV:
When we think of superheroes, the first thing that comes to mind would involve the fancy costumes coupled along with an arsenal of high tech gadgets necessary to thwart off crime. For one thing, they may even possess a supernatural ability no ordinary human can perform; whether they have inherited genetic powers from their family bloodline or from a freak accident that left them in critical condition. It's one notable trope when it came to reading comic book origin stories. At least that's what the child in me was led to believe. The definition of a superhero is so broad it can be summarized in a single definition - a larger than life being with the urge to contribute to lend support for a better cause.
I'll be honest. Seeing how Tyler's absence made me realize how traumatizing it was not only for Ryan, but how it has an effect on everyone that knew him. I, for one am no exception. Putting my investigative skills to the test, I've spent a little digging behind the mystery of Tyler Steele's 'death', and the events that may have transpired leading into his untimely fate. As a journalist, it can be quite the responsibility juggling from my day job to defending the city from a vile force invading our turf. My experience in self defense may be somewhat limited compared to my teammates. But don't underestimate my undying will to succeed. If there's one thing I've learned since becoming a Trooper, being a hero is not all fun and games. It also comes with a risk that nearly jeopardized the wellness of my health. I tell you one thing though; I had to learn that the hard way.
Action ensued along the heavenly skies of the Earth. An aerial assault vehicle came plowing through a fleet of flight vehicles locking aim on their target. Inside the cockpit, the VR Troopers adjust to their environment all of while maintaining control of operations.
"Being inside this battle fleet is surreal to see. But man it's a pain to steer," Ryan nitpicked. Another fighter jet fired back at them causing the Sky Base to rumble.
"These ships are firing at us like crazy," Kaitlin said, observing activity as displayed on their radar. "It seems like the A.I managed to look into our strategy."
"It's time to go all in on the assault. Hang tight, you guys," J.B warned to his team. Resorting to desperate measures, a push of a button would send multiple laser beams firing directly at the jets.
"Great work there, J.B," Kaitlin complimented with high regard.
"Looks like we're not done yet," said Ryan, taking notice of more flight vehicles being deployed.
"Let's go ahead and kick it up a notch," Upon J.B's command, the trio keyed in the coordinates, triggering a mechanism that created a force field around their Sky Base. Each attempted blast deflected back at them, destroying the airships as a result of their own doing.
"Amazing," Ryan mumbled as he was impressed by the turnabout. Incoming jets continue to lay the assault. The strength of their force field would continue to negate sustainable damages to the ship. As much as proved beneficial to the Troopers, staying on defense could only do so much to maintain advantage in the battle. The Troopers fought back with another set of laser missiles that took out their opposing targets.
"So far so good," J.B said. It appeared that the momentum seemed to be on their side. The more fleets came the higher the risk it came of being dismantled by the Troopers' vehicular artillery.
"I never thought in my life I'd ever pilot an air craft. This is surreal," Ryan remarked. Multiple laser missiles targeted them but like before, the force field was able to cancel out the blasts.
"The magnetic field is a defensive mechanism that can only guard the Sky Base for a period of time. You can destroy those battle fleets by deploying your laser rockets," Professor Hart advised.
"Laser rockets engage!" J.B exclaimed. With a push of a button, rockets torpedoed the battle fleets that flew in their direction.
Just before they could celebrate, a huge laser blast fired out of nowhere, rocking the Sky Base to its core.
"What in the world was that?" Kaitlin wondered. As the action reached its tipping point, the fun didn't stop there. The Troopers observed yet another disturbance coming from their radar.
"This isn't good. They're coming in every direction." Ryan mentioned feeling overwhelmed by a horde of fighter jets accompanied by a massive aerial ship. More laser missiles fired, allowing for them to weaken the force field.
"At this rate, our defense systems will be completely depleted," J.B said. An emergency alarm signaled red throughout the cockpit to indicate the danger they were in.
"Incoming," Kaitlin shouted the instant that the enemy jet used its glider to sustain damage on their base.
"We're already losing control as it is. There has to be another way out of this," Ryan prayed in hopes a miracle would turn their circumstances around.
"Troopers, deploy the VR Jet Cruiser from the artillery unit," the professor instructed. A graphic of the aforementioned flight vehicle would be featured on their monitor.
"Uh, the Jet Cruiser is only compatible for one pilot," said Kaitlin.
"We don't have much of a choice. One of us has to operate it," Ryan mentioned for the record. It was there in which J.B rose up to volunteer.
"Count me in. You two do what you can to fend off those air ships. I'll go and get the engines running while we're at it," he proposed.
"We'll do what we can, J.B." Kaitlin reassured to him. Nodding his head, J.B got up from his seat while proceeding his way over to the back of the base.
"Initiating Jet Cruiser sequence, now," Professor Hart said, keying data on his dashboard to grant J.B access to the machine.
As he hopped inside, he switched on the engines, taking his time to get accustomed to the control mechanics. While behind the wheel, J.B deployed the Jet Cruiser out into the flight zone. The heat was on. One after the other, the Silver Samurai Trooper blasted numerous laser beams at the enemy, dismantling every fighter jet in his path. Some of their rival fleets even looked to fire back on the assault. However, the constant evasion based on J.B's piloting bought him the time he needed to destroy them.
Ryan and Kaitlin spent the duration co-piloting the Sky Base, utilizing the ship's artillery power available. By initiating the sequence, it all capped off with another round up of missiles firing back. Such excessive force would result in the potential destruction of the enemy's armada of air ships.
"Way to go, Troopers!" Professor Hart congratulated them on their efforts. They arrived back in the lab after completing their training simulation. "That was a tight spot you were in but somehow you've managed to pull through."
By removing their headsets, the trio sat up from the chair while taking this moment to reflect on their performance.
"I don't know if I'd go that far. We had a hard time dealing with those fighter jets piling up at us," Kaitlin commented.
"Being under pressure is inevitable. This is a way of preparing yourself in the event that you three are trapped in a dire situation," the professor stated.
"I've never piloted a flight vehicle up until now. After what Air Stryker did when he ambushed us, it's a good thing we have those machines up and running," Ryan said, feeling relieved with the extended weaponry in their arsenal.
Professor Hart observed the replay from the flight simulation. When it finished playing, Horatio provided his insight on their performance.
"I just finished evaluating the action. Seeing as how the Jet Cruiser fly through the enemy ships without taking damage, there seems to be a bug error on my part," he analyzed based on the footage from earlier.
"You have a point. It caught me by surprise the way I took them out with ease," J.B replied.
"I'll re-assess the program to ensure they run smoothly the next time. Between my lectures and Tyler's absence, we never got around to fix the bugs," Horatio assured the Troopers. The professor underwent troubleshooting as he pulled out the component from the VR machine.
"Professor, you don't mind if I lend a helping hand?" J.B offered additional support.
"I appreciate the offer but I can take it from here," Horatio declined politely.
"I know he tends to be preoccupied with work but he could use a rest once in awhile," said Ryan, standing alongside with his teammates.
Meanwhile, Kaitlin folded her arms, feeling cold feet based on the simulation from earlier.
"You did pretty well back there, Kaitlin. We'll try again next time," J.B reassured while providing good intentions.
"You're right," she affirmed. Suddenly, she overheard a ring tone coming from her purse. Kaitlin pulled out her phone to respond to the incoming call.
Hello, oh hey Woody…..I'm doing great…..You have an assignment for me?...Yeah that's wonderful…..I'm at a friend's house just finishing up some errands…..I'll let you know when I'm on the way…..Thanks again…Chow…
As their line disconnected, Kaitlin hung up her phone as she slid it back into her purse.
"It's my boss. I better get over to the Chronicle," she informed her teammates.
"Ryan and I are going to stop by Michael's house. We could definitely utilize some free time from Trooper action," J.B said.
"I could certainly use a break. But when it comes to working at a newspaper, it's right here and now," Kaitlin commented.
"Hey I feel you," J.B empathized. "Just remember those breathing exercises we learned from the dojo, and you should be fine."
Kaitlin nodded. She took a mini breather to alleviate the overwhelming gravity weighing her mind. All of a sudden, Ryan squeezed in on the conversation in progress. "Hey guys, you don't mind if I butt in?"
"I just got a phone call from my boss. I was already heading out on my way," Kaitlin informed him.
"Something tells me you've got a big story on your hands," Ryan said.
"Yet I didn't bother to ask him what that story happens to be," Kaitlin sighed. Grabbing her coat by the coat hanger, Kaitlin buttoned her brown fur coat while on her way out of the lab.
"I better get going guys. Traffic is going to be a pain if I don't get out sooner," she said.
"Have a good day at work, Kate." Ryan wished her the best. After exchanging a hug with both him and J.B, Kaitlin proceeded to exit the laboratory.
"Have a good one, Professor," she said, waving him goodbye.
"Take care, Kaitlin," he responded, waving his hand back at her.
"Hmm what was that all about?" Ryan asked.
"She's been having a rough day. The thought of confronting Grimlord and his minions has been looming in her mind as of late," J.B commented.
"From what I've seen from her in combat, she's not anywhere bad as she makes herself out to be. I don't get it," Ryan said, puzzled by the journalist's mood.
"Kaitlin's has a lot going on right now. She seems terrified more so than just plain frustrated," J.B pointed out. "With Grimlord around, the Mutant Empire is going to send out every one of their minions to destroy us. Having a lack of confidence will only undermine our chances of stopping the Mutant Empire.
"That didn't stop you from resigning as leader," Ryan added.
"I may have had my insecurities, but the bottom line is we need to get our heads into the game if we're going to stop them from laying waste on our world," J.B elaborated. While sensing the pulsation of his phone coming from his pocket, he noticed a text message displayed on his screen.
Hey J.B, r u coming?
J.B took a second to type out his reply.
Should be arriving soon, stay put.
"That was Mike texting. We better head over to the car," J.B said, putting away his phone back inside his jean pocket.
"I'm still amped and ready to kick your ass in b-ball," Ryan spoke enthusiastically.
"You had me last time. Don't forget Mike on the court makes this a 3 way, which means you only have a 75% chance of winning the rematch," J.B replied in an attempt to back up his claim.
"May the best win," said Ryan. To that end, both friends shook hands as a sign of mutual sportsmanship.
It's been another week at the office for the employees at Ziktor Industries. Some workers paced back and forth in between various sectors of the building. Others preceded their day faxing in phone calls or keying in data from their desktop computers. By the mailing center, collated documents were being processed from a copy machine. As the day progressed, it became evident they were far behind in completing their latest projects on hand. There would be no sign of the work day slowing down.
For every busy employee in the facility, one person in particular had a personal agenda. As the founding father or in other words, chairman of Ziktor Industries Karl Ziktor leaned back on his chair, examining activity through the use of hidden cameras distributed throughout Crossworld City. Saddled with the responsibility of managing and structuring of his organization, his deranged outlook on life has raised eyebrows among citizens and global figures in the media. Evidenced by the cold and calculated expression gloating from his eyes, Ziktor's intense dislike towards the VR Troopers felt as though a chip had been implanted in his head.
Fortunately, all of that personal hostility came to a halt. Standing by the doorway, Juliet arrived by his office with a stack of papers unloaded on his desk.
"Mister Ziktor, apologies for the delay. Here are the documents you requested," she said.
"It's very appreciative of you, Juliet," he thanked her with apathy on his part.
"Have you been staring at these surveillance footage all of this time?" Juliet asked.
"You never know whatever is going on in these mean streets of Crossworld," Ziktor replied.
"I know it has been difficult for you lately. But sheer bitterness will only jeopardize your physical health," she said out of concern for her boss. "Whatever power that the orb possesses, it's clearly affecting your behavior."
Ziktor cleared his throat upon responding. "You don't need to worry. As far as how that match went down, we were really close to obtaining all three of the Troopers' Virtualizers."
Juliet expressed sympathy towards the president. "Combax gave it all he had in that battle. None of us could have expected him to fall short in that match. The Silver Samurai somehow found a way to make a comeback and next thing you know, he was out and down."
"All we needed was the titanium Virtualizer and the VR Troopers would be out of our misery," said Ziktor, trying his best to maintain his humility.
"Just like they say in all of those war hero movies, 'we'll live to fight another day'.' That is something we should take into account in everyday life," Juliet reassured, pulling out some words of wisdom to uplift the chairman. "Let's be thankful you didn't destroy Combax as much as how bad you annihilated him."
"He may have been a dominant force but his incompetence was what got the better of him," Ziktor commented much to Juliet's chagrin.
"It's been a long day. How about I give you a bottle of water to help clear your throat?" She offered.
"That will do," Ziktor nodded. Juliet headed out of his office to grab him some beverage to consume. Just upon her exit, Strickland arrived from the door while approaching Ziktor.
"Karl, you needed to see the disc?" He asked.
"Absolutely, let me go ahead and get my video player booted," Ziktor said. Strickland handed the disc over to Ziktor prior to inserting. Footage of the Troopers' encounter with the Skugs was displayed on screen the night they did battle inside the wreckage of the now deconstructed Steele Labs. Ziktor and Strickland observed the action as it unfolded, studying their every move. Playing up their strengths and weaknesses would be the essential key to not only better understanding their enemies, but to devise an effective strategy that would put them in their place. It was then where they spotted the timestamp in which Kaitlin had been trapped underneath by a large bookshelf.
"The Red Sheriff Trooper seemed to have had a hard time pulling through. Never mind the fact this isn't the only case she's been at her most vulnerable," he continued.
"What do you mean?" Strickland asked him.
"Keep scrolling," Ziktor insisted. Holding the remote, Strickland hit the forward button to 64x speed which brought them over to the Troopers' encounter with Combax. In their initial encounter, Kaitlin delivered every ounce of fiber she had against the soldier built robot. Despite her courageous performance, the constant beatings she sustained were lethal to bear.
Ziktor sneered. The more he looked into the replay it became apparent which Trooper is next on his target list.
"It looks like we've found ourselves a weak link," he said the minute the footage reached its conclusion. "I appreciate the disc you sent to me. Let me address something to the rest of our fellow mutant friends."
"That settles it," Strickland asserted prior to exiting the office. Juliet re-entered thereafter to supply Ziktor with a bottle of water.
"Here you go sir," she said. Ziktor took a sip from the bottle before closing the lid with the cap. Secluded in solitude, he laid his hand on the orb, enchanting a ritual that would transfer him over into the Virtual Dungeon.
Forces of Darkness empower me. Take me back to my Virtual Reality!
Traces of dark matter gushed throughout his body. Subsequently, Ziktor made the successful transformation into his alter ego Grimlord.
Hail Grimlord, Master of the Virtual World!
"I have a special favor for you, Colonel Icebot. I've been hoping to get into contact but it appears they haven't gotten my response," said Grimlord.
"What kind of favor do you have in mind?" Icebot replied.
Grimlord projected footage of an electric themed robot comprised of cable-like arms with its body built like a blue landmine.
"This fellow companion nearly caused a blackout in this dungeon. But he has potential alright. Send out Electrobot at this time," Grimlord instructed him.
"Affirmative," Icebot complied. To that end, he keyed in the coordinates from the console board, opening a door hatch that Electrobot came out of.
"Who dares to disturb me?"
"It's a pleasure to have you here with us. I know it's been far too long since you've been in battle and I thought you could do a bit of a battery charge, if you know what I mean," said Grimlord.
"Energy is the main course meal I need," Electrobot admitted. "What is it you have in mind?"
The instant that question was asked, a glimpse of the Crossworld Chronicle building is shown on screen.
"If energy is the meal you need, now is your chance. That newspaper organization has been out to get Karl Ziktor in every sense imaginable. How about you get started by absorbing all the electricity from that building while you're at it?" Grimlord suggested to him.
"Anything to please you, master," Electrobot said, complying with his demand.
"Skugs," Grimlord ordered. The gold headed foot soldiers emerged from a crowd of mutants to formally confront with their ruler.
"There is one favor I ask of you. For the past few weeks, I've been observing some activity regarding the Steele Family," Grimlord continued. "Track down his son and retrieve the journal he so possesses. It is my duty to ensure no one discovers the truth behind Tyler Steele's disappearance."
"Count on me, Grimlord," said Electrobot. To make up for their lack of verbal talk, the Skugs bowed to their leader and ruler of the Virtual World he so happens to conquer.
Electrobot and the Skugs exited from the throne room to carry out their respective objectives. In the meantime, Grimlord triggered the remote control, cutting into a shot of Kaitlin Star making her entrance inside the Crossworld Chronicle.
"You may have gone out your way to belittle Karl Ziktor for the corrupt bastard he is. By the time this all simmers down, you'll have no choice but to find work elsewhere," he mumbled.
Just got back home from a mile long jog, R u sure they ask me to schedule a sit down interview?
Kaitlin responded, texting her back with a straightforward answer.
They're wondering if they'd reach out to u with a number before they can proceed
It took Rebecca a little while for her to retort. Kaitlin pulled up the screen once again to go through her response.
…Almost a month already; these employees don't realize how stressful it is for a widow to have her privacy.
Kaitlin paused for a moment to re-organize her thoughts. She factored in the pressure surrounding the excessive media coverage on the widow of Tyler Steele. With each passing day has made life complicated for Crossworld City's police commissioner. Coupled along with her role as the Red Sheriff Trooper, it didn't help so much she'd been unable to sit back for at least a minute to remain at ease. Condensed in a few words, she reassessed the madness unfolding in front of her.
i'll see what I can do
Very shortly, Rebecca concluded the conversation to much satisfaction.
K
Kaitlin shut off the screen, placing her phone back inside her purse. Her face drenched in sweat as a result of her riding through busy traffic on a freeway. Work was already off to a rough start.
Kaitlin stood by the chief editor's office, knocking on the door to which her boss awaits. Woody opened to find the journalist standing in front of him.
"Ah. just the person I've been looking for. Your article on the unfortunate demise of Steele Labs has been a trending topic throughout Social Media," he said. While getting herself situated, Kaitlin approached him by his desk to provide him with an update on the latest assignment.
"That's great," Kaitlin rejoiced.
"My thoughts exactly," Woody concurred, tagging along with the celebration.
"I was looking forward to the meeting with Tyler. I really wanted to try out the body armor he and his team had worked on," she said, feeling disappointed in the wake of Steele Labs' demise.
"If it upsets you on a personal level, I'll be more than willing to withdraw you from the story," Woody suggested.
"No, I mean that's not necessary," Kaitlin begged to differ. "Trying to investigate what happened prior to the breach may indicate what caused all of this madness, and whether there may be a suspect responsible for setting off the fire. There must be something I'm missing."
"What have you gotten so far on our lead on Strickland?" Woody asked her.
"Ever since the VR machine fiasco, he's been very silent about it. I'm just relieved my head hadn't been fried," Kaitlin shuddered to reflect on her experience at the gaming expo.
"Likewise," Woody sympathized. "Unfortunately, that doesn't excuse the lack of progress we're making." The chief editor made his grievances known based on the current situation.
"I'm doing all I can, Woody," she said. Revealing her I-Pad, she used her finger to scroll through the menu that contained her entry of blogs. "From what I can gather, Ziktor Industries have yet to issue a statement. Strickland Gaming, on the other hand, is a gaming company responsible for developing the hardware in the first place yet even they're falling on the same boat."
Despite the strenuous weight on her shoulders, she stood her ground with elegance in their discussion.
"Have you had a chance to interview any one of their employees?" He asked on the surface to provide effective communication with his coworker.
"You mean Ziktor Industries or Strickland Gaming?" Kaitlin looked to clear up potential confusion with the two companies.
"Is Sam still in the area?" Woody solicited with another question.
"He has a shareholders meeting going on so he's out of the picture. I tried to contact Ziktor but he hardly responds to his emails let alone his phone calls. My best bet is to reach out with the Chief Brand Officer of Ziktor Industries," Kaitlin offered him a suggestion.
"Sounds like a plan. Just be sure to give them a word as soon as possible. I want a report by the end of next week," Woody instructed. As her eyes wandered, Kaitlin observed her surroundings in Woody's office before stumbling into a collage of the Metal Fighters nailed on his bulletin.
"You can't seem to get enough about them," Kaitlin commented on the visuals.
"The world could use more heroes. The fact they went out of their way to rescue the commissioner displayed vast courage doing what they did," said Woody, taking appreciation over his fondness of the three armored heroes. In the midst of all this, it was there in which Kaitlin suffered a bit of a migraine.
"Are you sure you're feeling alright?" He wondered just before she started her assignment.
"It's a minor headache. I have a prescription medicine in my bag to alleviate the pain," Kaitlin reassured her boss.
"Taking care of your health should be a top priority. Bare that in mind," Woody addressed his concerns over his employee's well being. Since that day, Kaitlin began to experience some residual side effects pertaining to the malfunctioning of the video game hardware.
"Have you had a chance to speak with Rebecca of the CCPD?" Kaitlin mentioned based on the text she received by the police commissioner.
"I've been busy with all of this paper work I haven't had a chance to follow through," Woody sighed. "I'll go ahead and give her a call. I have a conference meeting to attend soon so it's imperative we get a move on," Woody insisted.
Nodding her head, Kaitlin exited from Woody's office. All seemed like a typical workday for the young accomplished journalist; At least within the confines of the newsroom.
A drone continued to observe Kaitlin outside from the windowpane of her workplace. Since the declaration of war involving the rivalry between the VR Troopers and the Mutant Empire, both factions have looked to up one over the other. Grimlord's prying on Tyler Steele's accomplices has stirred personal vendetta in attempt to not only destroy everything he helped built; More importantly, the people he holds dear to his heart. Such a heinous tactic would play a key factor to defeat the metal armored heroes in resuming his campaign for world domination.
Ryan, J.B, and Michael spent the duration of their afternoon playing basketball at the park. The game was evenly matched with all three giving it their best. J.B dribbled, circling along the court to find room for him to shoot. Ryan and Michael played as guards in an effort to block the shot. However, J.B's elevation outmatched their speed, giving him the opening he needed to dunk the ball into the hoop.
"Man you really outsmart me with that move. You have to teach me that," Michael complimented him based from his uncle's outstanding performance.
"It all boils down to having good eye coordination and high elevation to make that jump shot," said J.B.
"Your uncle right here was part of the same high school team that helped them win the regionals. Believe me, when he's at his A game, he comes off like a natural athlete." Ryan panted, coming off the heels of an intense yet friendly competition.
"Alright, who's up for another game?" J.B wondered.
"I'd love to but I could sure use a water break," Michael said admittedly exhausted.
"Fair enough, let's rest up," J.B compromised. The trio headed over to the bench to replenish their energy from the game. In Crossworld City, the humidity was prevalent with temperatures estimating roughly around the high 70s or the low 80s. Due to its location along the pacific coast, the chances of receiving wintry weather were very minimal.
Unfortunately, their moment of relaxation would not last long. A group of reporters dressed in business suits arrived on the blacktop to confront the three of them.
"Excuse me, are you Ryan Steele?" They brought them to their attention.
"I am Ryan Steele, who are you?" He asked out of curiosity.
"We're column journalists over at the Chronicle. We would like to ask you a few questions regarding an incident that went down at the Crossworld Café. Based from our report indicates just so happens you were involved," they stated.
"Long story short, an employee working there was attacked by a burglar and I stood up to them even if it meant suffering some minor bruises," Ryan said to put it into simple words.
"I see," they jotted notes down on their pad, absorbing the information they so desire. "Do you remember what the burglar looked like? Could you give us a brief description?"
"All I can recall is he was cos-playing as Decimator from the Metal Fighters series. He was a white armored android with a cape that went bat shit insane. It's like he was gunning out to get me for some random reason," Ryan answered.
"Hmm I see." The reporter lost their train of thought. "Onto another topic if you don't mind. In light of all the events surrounding your father recently, we were wondering if they happen to have left something valuable behind."
Upon listening to that question, this didn't sit well with the Trooper.
"No, not that I'm aware of," Ryan said, hiding the fact he had obtained his father's journal.
"Ryan looks pretty nervous over there," Michael observed from a close distance.
Without a verbal response, J.B had a clear suspicion of something peculiar. Those worries couldn't be farther from the truth. Ryan took a glimpse at their uniform to notice the designing of an unusual company logo that captured his attention.
"It didn't occur to me until now. I have a friend that works for the Chronicle, and that logo hasn't been used since she was an intern. You're not employed there at all," he stated. That very instant the reporters realized their cover had been blown.
"Guys what's going on?" Michael remained oblivious based on the scenario that transpired. The reporters positioned themselves like trained soldiers, making an instantaneous transformation into Skugs.
"Michael, find cover. Ryan and I will take it from here," J.B ordered. Without question, Michael proceeded out of the battlefield which allowed the duo to combat against some of Grimlord's assailants.
Ryan and J.B started off on the defensive side of things, blocking and dodging every attack by the Skugs. When appropriate, they reversed their enemies' punches with a hip toss, landing hard on their backs. Additional backups arrived as they swarmed around them. They would continue to take out each soldier that threatened to harm them, sending a handful of soldiers flying against the chain linked fence. The remaining Skugs rallied up on the court in an effort to isolate Ryan and J.B from one another. Just when it appeared they had the advantage, it was only so much their bodies could handle. It became evident in which the Skugs wore out the Troopers with a combination of stiff jabs to their chest.
"There's too many of them," Ryan shouted, clutching onto the injured wound.
Michael peered behind the fence, terrified to see the two men in a tight predicament. Looking at his surroundings, Michael snuck his way back inside the court to retrieve the basketball. He glanced at the ball for one bit before throwing it to the back head of one of the foot soldiers.
"Uh oh," Michael gulped. The Skug turned around, creeping up on the boy like a wolf stalking its prey. As the situation grew from bad to worse, the last thing to pop up in J.B's mind would see his nephew on the brink of peril.
"No!" In a cry for help, this instant ignited a fire within the young African-American. Utilizing every fiber from his body, J.B freed himself from the Skugs crowding him. Bouncing back from the momentum, he struck back with a leap kick onto its chest, causing for them to lose their balance. This resulted in the two Skugs to disintegrate the instant they collided.
With a minor assist from his nephew, J.B nodded in gesture. With that batch taken care of, he proceeded to help out Ryan as further soldiers charged at him. J.B elbowed one of the Skugs from the back of its head, giving Ryan the opening he needed to fend off the rest.
"Thanks J.B. I've had enough of these guys," he said. The boys would arrive on the rebound. Putting their combat skills to the test, they relied on a series of double team moves to finish the job at hand.
It seemed the momentum leaned in favor of Ryan and J.B. The remaining Skugs emerged from the top of the fence, preparing to make their descent.
"Guys," Michael cried. When the foot soldiers took flight, the Troopers took notice, thrusting out their legs with a sidekick to their torso. The Skugs crumpled on top of one another and, like the rest of its teammates, fragmenting out of thin air.
"Whew, that was more than enough of a workout I should say," Ryan panted.
"We really owe you one, Mike. They sure weren't messing around," J.B thanked him.
"Hey, it's what happens when we have each others' backs, no pun intended," said Michael, retrieving the basketball from the court.
"We'd be better off than to call it a day. Between the game and fighting off the Skugs, I'm beyond exhausted," J.B insisted.
"We should contact the professor to let us know of anything that Grimlord may be up to," Ryan encouraged.
"Who's this 'professor' you're talking about?" Michael asked, oblivious to the context surrounding the situation.
"Um, we were just talking about that professor that was on the news? You know, the person that worked with my father," Ryan responded, trying his best to keep a straight face.
"Oh that's right I remember now," Michael said.
"Listen, the sun is about to go down pretty soon. Let's grab everything from the court and head over to the car," J.B insisted.
"What he said bro," Ryan concurred. While preparing to leave, the boys approached the porch to gather their belongings. Michael followed J.B to his car whereas Ryan fell behind for a bit to contact Professor Hart with a text message. He caught up with the two by the parking lot to load their stuff inside the car.
"All set J.B," Michael informed his uncle.
"Alright kiddo let's get into the car," said J.B, watching his nephew enter through the backseat.
"Hey listen I sent a text to the professor. So far he hasn't responded," Ryan provided with an update.
"That's fine. Once we drop off Michael, we'll have a chance to follow through to him," J.B reassured.
"Aye eye captain," Ryan said in a witty manner. With their equipment loaded, the two friends hopped inside the vehicle as they rode off from the parking lot.
"Ah, this is it. Those Troopers won't have any clue what will hit them when I'm reenergized!" He mumbled arrogantly. Electrobot extended his cable arms, attaching them with the power module. Channeling with all of his might, electricity would be drained out from the device sending a surge flowing throughout his body. This sequence resembled to a blood transfusion in which stimulated the human anatomy. The impact surrounding this energy transfer would result in a surge that disrupted the power in the building.
Meanwhile, prior to exiting, Woody gathered office supplies from his desk. His conference meeting was just around the corner and tardiness would be the last thing to pop up on his mind.
With her camera equipped, Kaitlin walked out from her cubicle ready to carry out her assignment. She swallowed one tablet from her pill bottle to lessen the pain from her head. Just when it appeared to be another work day, parlor tricks began to capture the attention of everyone in the building. The lights flickered from the ceiling appearing as though the power had been tampered with.
"What the hell," she cursed. The superstition alone raised skepticism from all the journalists on the floor.
"This can't be right. I had an electrician install a new switchboard recently." Woody stood beside Kaitlin evenly confused as to what went down. Somewhere lurking in-between a crowd of other employees, out came a pair of them sported in a green uniform carrying a tool box.
"Woody, why not ask him?" Kaitlin insisted, directing Woody over to one. The electricians realized this while power walking off from the newsroom. Woody followed alongside Kaitlin to inquire on the sudden disruption going on in their workplace. When they arrived at the site of the electrical room, they stood by the doorway, unlocking the knob using the appropriate key required to gain access.
"Excuse us, we don't mean to interrupt. Do you know what's been going on with the power around here," said Kaitlin.
"We are double checking to ensure the transformers are in working condition," they replied. Kaitlin observed the room to spot an unusual gold cape sticking out from under their pants. It became apparent something fishy was going on.
"Please give us a straight answer. That's all we need," Woody encouraged. With minimal eye contact, this indicated caution in which Kaitlin couldn't ignore.
"Woody, watch out," Warning her boss, the technician intended to throw a wrench towards them. Fortunately, they evaded the attack.
"Hey, what gives," A disgruntled Woody left him wondering the physicality displayed. The electricians lined up together while revealing themselves as Skugs.
"What the-," The Crossworld Chronicle's chief editor stood in fear of what he had just witnessed.
"Stand back, Woody. These aren't your normal sideshow freaks," she warned him. Kaitlin pulled out all the stops needed to put a stop to their terror. Putting her Karate skills to the test, she did everything she could to maintain control of the fight. One after the other, Kaitlin started off having the upper hand in combat. A leg sweep wiped them down on the floor preceded by a front kick on the enemy's chest. Another one of its kind grabbed her from behind. Not for long, she countered with a back elbow to the jaw followed up with a hip toss onto the ground.
Elsewhere, more Skugs enclosed Woody, backing himself into a corner of no escape. Using the environment around him, he grabbed onto a nearby floor mop, wiping it onto their faceless gold heads. He swung the mop at them, knocking them back onto the tiled floors. Another came charging, giving Woody enough awareness to repeat the same tactic against them. Before his mind could process, additional foot soldiers jumped him from the back.
"Woody!" Kaitlin exclaimed, trying her damndest to rescue her supervisor on time. She threw one of the soldiers against the electric dashboard, sending a shock throughout its body that rendered it out cold. When attempting to avenge their teammate, Kaitlin threw them directly at one another, causing them to fragment.
The other batch of Skugs grabbed a hold of Woody, doing his best to fight out of their clutches. He soon notices a symbol on a door behind him indicating the janitor's closet. Woody extended out his hand, reaching the door knob for it to open up a Porto closet filled with chemical bottles, a wet floor sign as well as a mop bucket accompanied by another dry mop. Charging with full force, he tackled a Skug back first onto the chemical dispenser, causing gushes of chemicals to spill all over its body. His comrade would soon seek to avenge his fellow teammate. Woody shoved the bucket towards the other Skug, causing him to tumble into the said bucket filled with contaminated water.
"Now that's what I call a good plan," he said cockily. The celebration did not last when an unseen enemy wrapped its cable arms to bind Woody in a tightrope.
"Woody," Kaitlin noticed but this diversion allowed for the Skugs to restrain her in the most desperate of times. Emerging from the electrical room, a well built robot with its body resembling to that of a microchip confronted the two civilians.
"I guess they didn't tell you who would be responsible for this kind of mess," he snickered. "I suppose it never occurred to you I happened to be a lean, mean machine absorbing electricity, which is why folks refer to me as Electrobot." With a formal introduction, the terrifying creature made its presence known to two of the Chronicle's employees.
"Let him go," Kaitlin cried out.
"You expect me to follow your orders? I haven't felt this much alive in quite a long time," said Electrobot energized than ever. "Let's say that Ziktor isn't too keen with what the news outlets have to say about him."
Woody wailed while remaining entangled in the arms of Grimlord's follower. Kaitlin used all of her might in an attempt to free herself from the overpowering Skugs. She panicked in horror to witness what the creature had in store for her supervisor.
"As for you Mister Chief Editor, I think it's time to say your prayers because you won't be seeing the light much longer." Electrobot cackled, leaving Woody stunned by what's to happen. Putting his special ability to good use, the vile robot utilized its cable arms once again, sending out a massive jolt of electricity that stunned the chief to no end. Kaitlin screamed out Woody's name as she experienced the worst case scenario unfolded up close.
Electrobot released him from his captivity, leaving his body motionless when it was said and done.
"He may have put up a fight with these Skugs. But even he is no match against me." The robot spoken with no remorse based on action alone.
Notwithstanding her plea not to harm Woody, this incident incensed Kaitlin even further. Channeling her anger, she stomped on a Skug's foot followed up by a kick to the rest of its teammates. Freed from their clutches, Kaitlin struck into her fighting pose to which the battle resumed.
"You'll pay for that," Kaitlin shouted. She performed a Hiza Geri Knee Strike onto the Skug's head preceded by a crescent kick to its chin. As one of them lost their balance, she shoved the other against its partner, resulting in the remaining foot soldiers to dissolve from the ground.
"Woody!" She cried while rushing to his aid. Kaitlin directed her focus back at Electrobot, her eyes fuming in flames. She reached underneath her collar, pulling out her Virtualizer.
Trooper Transform
Raising the pendant from above, a glowing trace of red energy began enveloping her body. Clad in armor, Kaitlin made an instantaneous transformation into the Red Sheriff Trooper.
"You'll be sorry for what you did just now," she grunted.
"Try your luck," Electrobot said with audaciousness. Kaitlin started out on offense, swinging right hook after hook. He dodged each one that approached him before binding her with his cable wires. Paralyzed on the spot, he slung Kaitlin hard against the wall.
In spite of the damage she's taken, the Trooper pulled herself up from the floor. She leapt above the ground to land a diving kick to its chest. She went out of her way to weaken him with additional shin kicks followed up with a sidekick to the gut of Electrobot. While selling the blow, the creature staggered as he experienced difficulty in maintaining his balance. Leaving minimal scratches, the formidable robot cackled hysterically.
"The power coming from your kick is laughably tame. Is that the best you can do?" Such derogatory got under Kaitlin's skin. After failed cracks at physical combat, it became clear it would take more to put the vile robot in its misery.
Settling less on trash talk, Kaitlin summoned her laser pistol, firing numerous shots at her foe. Electrobot deflected every last one using its signature cable arms. No matter how many attempts, neither blast would faze him.
Kaitlin performed a somersault over Electrobot. In mid air she blasted away on repeat, resulting in the robot to fall onto one knee.
"Had enough?" She taunted him. For as much fortitude, it only came back to bite her in the rear. The robot retaliated with a single magnetic bolt that sent electricity throughout Kaitlin's VR suit. The impact displayed by its immense power sent sparks erupting from her body armor.
"If you thought you could undermine me, think again," said Electrobot. Standing tall in the midst of their duel, he stared down at the Trooper in laughter.
Through her helmet, Kaitlin initiated the menu's transmitter feature from to contact backup.
"Professor," she spoke softly.
"Even with your efforts, it's still no match compared to what I'm about to do to you," Electrobot observed the Red Sheriff Trooper who crouched as far from her foe as possible. Just when she drew near the rails, the robot placed its foot on top of her back further injuring Kaitlin.
"Your time is up. Into the bottomless pit of reality you go." Just seconds as Electrobot prepared to deliver another lightning blast, sudden laser beams fired from behind him.
"Ugh who dares interrupt my moment?" He spoke in a disgruntled manner.
"You're not taking out one of our teammates, not by a long shot," said Ryan, lowering his pistol.
"If I could, I would destroy you right this instant. But since I am willing to savor my fully charged energy, I shall live to fight another day." Electrobot activated a power module holstered around him, initiating a sequence that transported him out of the building.
"Kaitlin," J.B cried out over concern for his comrade's condition. "We better get her back to the lab. Her suit could use some repairs."
"Sure thing," Ryan complied. A barely conscious Kaitlin pointed her finger at Woody who remained critically wounded.
Ryan tended over to her friend's supervisor for support. "You're going to be alright."
When we think of superheroes, the first thing that comes to mind would involve the fancy costumes coupled along with an arsenal of high tech gadgets necessary to thwart off crime. For one thing, they may even possess a supernatural ability no ordinary human can perform; whether they have inherited genetic powers from their family bloodline or from a freak accident that left them in critical condition. It's one notable trope when it came to reading comic book origin stories. At least that's what the child in me was led to believe. The definition of a superhero is so broad it can be summarized in a single definition - a larger than life being with the urge to contribute to lend support for a better cause.
I'll be honest. Seeing how Tyler's absence made me realize how traumatizing it was not only for Ryan, but how it has an effect on everyone that knew him. I, for one am no exception. Putting my investigative skills to the test, I've spent a little digging behind the mystery of Tyler Steele's 'death', and the events that may have transpired leading into his untimely fate. As a journalist, it can be quite the responsibility juggling from my day job to defending the city from a vile force invading our turf. My experience in self defense may be somewhat limited compared to my teammates. But don't underestimate my undying will to succeed. If there's one thing I've learned since becoming a Trooper, being a hero is not all fun and games. It also comes with a risk that nearly jeopardized the wellness of my health. I tell you one thing though; I had to learn that the hard way.
~Season 1, Episode 3:
Shock to the System~
Action ensued along the heavenly skies of the Earth. An aerial assault vehicle came plowing through a fleet of flight vehicles locking aim on their target. Inside the cockpit, the VR Troopers adjust to their environment all of while maintaining control of operations.
"Being inside this battle fleet is surreal to see. But man it's a pain to steer," Ryan nitpicked. Another fighter jet fired back at them causing the Sky Base to rumble.
"These ships are firing at us like crazy," Kaitlin said, observing activity as displayed on their radar. "It seems like the A.I managed to look into our strategy."
"It's time to go all in on the assault. Hang tight, you guys," J.B warned to his team. Resorting to desperate measures, a push of a button would send multiple laser beams firing directly at the jets.
"Great work there, J.B," Kaitlin complimented with high regard.
"Looks like we're not done yet," said Ryan, taking notice of more flight vehicles being deployed.
"Let's go ahead and kick it up a notch," Upon J.B's command, the trio keyed in the coordinates, triggering a mechanism that created a force field around their Sky Base. Each attempted blast deflected back at them, destroying the airships as a result of their own doing.
"Amazing," Ryan mumbled as he was impressed by the turnabout. Incoming jets continue to lay the assault. The strength of their force field would continue to negate sustainable damages to the ship. As much as proved beneficial to the Troopers, staying on defense could only do so much to maintain advantage in the battle. The Troopers fought back with another set of laser missiles that took out their opposing targets.
"So far so good," J.B said. It appeared that the momentum seemed to be on their side. The more fleets came the higher the risk it came of being dismantled by the Troopers' vehicular artillery.
"I never thought in my life I'd ever pilot an air craft. This is surreal," Ryan remarked. Multiple laser missiles targeted them but like before, the force field was able to cancel out the blasts.
"The magnetic field is a defensive mechanism that can only guard the Sky Base for a period of time. You can destroy those battle fleets by deploying your laser rockets," Professor Hart advised.
"Laser rockets engage!" J.B exclaimed. With a push of a button, rockets torpedoed the battle fleets that flew in their direction.
Just before they could celebrate, a huge laser blast fired out of nowhere, rocking the Sky Base to its core.
"What in the world was that?" Kaitlin wondered. As the action reached its tipping point, the fun didn't stop there. The Troopers observed yet another disturbance coming from their radar.
"This isn't good. They're coming in every direction." Ryan mentioned feeling overwhelmed by a horde of fighter jets accompanied by a massive aerial ship. More laser missiles fired, allowing for them to weaken the force field.
"At this rate, our defense systems will be completely depleted," J.B said. An emergency alarm signaled red throughout the cockpit to indicate the danger they were in.
"Incoming," Kaitlin shouted the instant that the enemy jet used its glider to sustain damage on their base.
"We're already losing control as it is. There has to be another way out of this," Ryan prayed in hopes a miracle would turn their circumstances around.
"Troopers, deploy the VR Jet Cruiser from the artillery unit," the professor instructed. A graphic of the aforementioned flight vehicle would be featured on their monitor.
"Uh, the Jet Cruiser is only compatible for one pilot," said Kaitlin.
"We don't have much of a choice. One of us has to operate it," Ryan mentioned for the record. It was there in which J.B rose up to volunteer.
"Count me in. You two do what you can to fend off those air ships. I'll go and get the engines running while we're at it," he proposed.
"We'll do what we can, J.B." Kaitlin reassured to him. Nodding his head, J.B got up from his seat while proceeding his way over to the back of the base.
"Initiating Jet Cruiser sequence, now," Professor Hart said, keying data on his dashboard to grant J.B access to the machine.
As he hopped inside, he switched on the engines, taking his time to get accustomed to the control mechanics. While behind the wheel, J.B deployed the Jet Cruiser out into the flight zone. The heat was on. One after the other, the Silver Samurai Trooper blasted numerous laser beams at the enemy, dismantling every fighter jet in his path. Some of their rival fleets even looked to fire back on the assault. However, the constant evasion based on J.B's piloting bought him the time he needed to destroy them.
Ryan and Kaitlin spent the duration co-piloting the Sky Base, utilizing the ship's artillery power available. By initiating the sequence, it all capped off with another round up of missiles firing back. Such excessive force would result in the potential destruction of the enemy's armada of air ships.
"Way to go, Troopers!" Professor Hart congratulated them on their efforts. They arrived back in the lab after completing their training simulation. "That was a tight spot you were in but somehow you've managed to pull through."
By removing their headsets, the trio sat up from the chair while taking this moment to reflect on their performance.
"I don't know if I'd go that far. We had a hard time dealing with those fighter jets piling up at us," Kaitlin commented.
"Being under pressure is inevitable. This is a way of preparing yourself in the event that you three are trapped in a dire situation," the professor stated.
"I've never piloted a flight vehicle up until now. After what Air Stryker did when he ambushed us, it's a good thing we have those machines up and running," Ryan said, feeling relieved with the extended weaponry in their arsenal.
Professor Hart observed the replay from the flight simulation. When it finished playing, Horatio provided his insight on their performance.
"I just finished evaluating the action. Seeing as how the Jet Cruiser fly through the enemy ships without taking damage, there seems to be a bug error on my part," he analyzed based on the footage from earlier.
"You have a point. It caught me by surprise the way I took them out with ease," J.B replied.
"I'll re-assess the program to ensure they run smoothly the next time. Between my lectures and Tyler's absence, we never got around to fix the bugs," Horatio assured the Troopers. The professor underwent troubleshooting as he pulled out the component from the VR machine.
"Professor, you don't mind if I lend a helping hand?" J.B offered additional support.
"I appreciate the offer but I can take it from here," Horatio declined politely.
"I know he tends to be preoccupied with work but he could use a rest once in awhile," said Ryan, standing alongside with his teammates.
Meanwhile, Kaitlin folded her arms, feeling cold feet based on the simulation from earlier.
"You did pretty well back there, Kaitlin. We'll try again next time," J.B reassured while providing good intentions.
"You're right," she affirmed. Suddenly, she overheard a ring tone coming from her purse. Kaitlin pulled out her phone to respond to the incoming call.
Hello, oh hey Woody…..I'm doing great…..You have an assignment for me?...Yeah that's wonderful…..I'm at a friend's house just finishing up some errands…..I'll let you know when I'm on the way…..Thanks again…Chow…
As their line disconnected, Kaitlin hung up her phone as she slid it back into her purse.
"It's my boss. I better get over to the Chronicle," she informed her teammates.
"Ryan and I are going to stop by Michael's house. We could definitely utilize some free time from Trooper action," J.B said.
"I could certainly use a break. But when it comes to working at a newspaper, it's right here and now," Kaitlin commented.
"Hey I feel you," J.B empathized. "Just remember those breathing exercises we learned from the dojo, and you should be fine."
Kaitlin nodded. She took a mini breather to alleviate the overwhelming gravity weighing her mind. All of a sudden, Ryan squeezed in on the conversation in progress. "Hey guys, you don't mind if I butt in?"
"I just got a phone call from my boss. I was already heading out on my way," Kaitlin informed him.
"Something tells me you've got a big story on your hands," Ryan said.
"Yet I didn't bother to ask him what that story happens to be," Kaitlin sighed. Grabbing her coat by the coat hanger, Kaitlin buttoned her brown fur coat while on her way out of the lab.
"I better get going guys. Traffic is going to be a pain if I don't get out sooner," she said.
"Have a good day at work, Kate." Ryan wished her the best. After exchanging a hug with both him and J.B, Kaitlin proceeded to exit the laboratory.
"Have a good one, Professor," she said, waving him goodbye.
"Take care, Kaitlin," he responded, waving his hand back at her.
"Hmm what was that all about?" Ryan asked.
"She's been having a rough day. The thought of confronting Grimlord and his minions has been looming in her mind as of late," J.B commented.
"From what I've seen from her in combat, she's not anywhere bad as she makes herself out to be. I don't get it," Ryan said, puzzled by the journalist's mood.
"Kaitlin's has a lot going on right now. She seems terrified more so than just plain frustrated," J.B pointed out. "With Grimlord around, the Mutant Empire is going to send out every one of their minions to destroy us. Having a lack of confidence will only undermine our chances of stopping the Mutant Empire.
"That didn't stop you from resigning as leader," Ryan added.
"I may have had my insecurities, but the bottom line is we need to get our heads into the game if we're going to stop them from laying waste on our world," J.B elaborated. While sensing the pulsation of his phone coming from his pocket, he noticed a text message displayed on his screen.
Hey J.B, r u coming?
J.B took a second to type out his reply.
Should be arriving soon, stay put.
"That was Mike texting. We better head over to the car," J.B said, putting away his phone back inside his jean pocket.
"I'm still amped and ready to kick your ass in b-ball," Ryan spoke enthusiastically.
"You had me last time. Don't forget Mike on the court makes this a 3 way, which means you only have a 75% chance of winning the rematch," J.B replied in an attempt to back up his claim.
"May the best win," said Ryan. To that end, both friends shook hands as a sign of mutual sportsmanship.
***
It's been another week at the office for the employees at Ziktor Industries. Some workers paced back and forth in between various sectors of the building. Others preceded their day faxing in phone calls or keying in data from their desktop computers. By the mailing center, collated documents were being processed from a copy machine. As the day progressed, it became evident they were far behind in completing their latest projects on hand. There would be no sign of the work day slowing down.
For every busy employee in the facility, one person in particular had a personal agenda. As the founding father or in other words, chairman of Ziktor Industries Karl Ziktor leaned back on his chair, examining activity through the use of hidden cameras distributed throughout Crossworld City. Saddled with the responsibility of managing and structuring of his organization, his deranged outlook on life has raised eyebrows among citizens and global figures in the media. Evidenced by the cold and calculated expression gloating from his eyes, Ziktor's intense dislike towards the VR Troopers felt as though a chip had been implanted in his head.
Fortunately, all of that personal hostility came to a halt. Standing by the doorway, Juliet arrived by his office with a stack of papers unloaded on his desk.
"Mister Ziktor, apologies for the delay. Here are the documents you requested," she said.
"It's very appreciative of you, Juliet," he thanked her with apathy on his part.
"Have you been staring at these surveillance footage all of this time?" Juliet asked.
"You never know whatever is going on in these mean streets of Crossworld," Ziktor replied.
"I know it has been difficult for you lately. But sheer bitterness will only jeopardize your physical health," she said out of concern for her boss. "Whatever power that the orb possesses, it's clearly affecting your behavior."
Ziktor cleared his throat upon responding. "You don't need to worry. As far as how that match went down, we were really close to obtaining all three of the Troopers' Virtualizers."
Juliet expressed sympathy towards the president. "Combax gave it all he had in that battle. None of us could have expected him to fall short in that match. The Silver Samurai somehow found a way to make a comeback and next thing you know, he was out and down."
"All we needed was the titanium Virtualizer and the VR Troopers would be out of our misery," said Ziktor, trying his best to maintain his humility.
"Just like they say in all of those war hero movies, 'we'll live to fight another day'.' That is something we should take into account in everyday life," Juliet reassured, pulling out some words of wisdom to uplift the chairman. "Let's be thankful you didn't destroy Combax as much as how bad you annihilated him."
"He may have been a dominant force but his incompetence was what got the better of him," Ziktor commented much to Juliet's chagrin.
"It's been a long day. How about I give you a bottle of water to help clear your throat?" She offered.
"That will do," Ziktor nodded. Juliet headed out of his office to grab him some beverage to consume. Just upon her exit, Strickland arrived from the door while approaching Ziktor.
"Karl, you needed to see the disc?" He asked.
"Absolutely, let me go ahead and get my video player booted," Ziktor said. Strickland handed the disc over to Ziktor prior to inserting. Footage of the Troopers' encounter with the Skugs was displayed on screen the night they did battle inside the wreckage of the now deconstructed Steele Labs. Ziktor and Strickland observed the action as it unfolded, studying their every move. Playing up their strengths and weaknesses would be the essential key to not only better understanding their enemies, but to devise an effective strategy that would put them in their place. It was then where they spotted the timestamp in which Kaitlin had been trapped underneath by a large bookshelf.
"The Red Sheriff Trooper seemed to have had a hard time pulling through. Never mind the fact this isn't the only case she's been at her most vulnerable," he continued.
"What do you mean?" Strickland asked him.
"Keep scrolling," Ziktor insisted. Holding the remote, Strickland hit the forward button to 64x speed which brought them over to the Troopers' encounter with Combax. In their initial encounter, Kaitlin delivered every ounce of fiber she had against the soldier built robot. Despite her courageous performance, the constant beatings she sustained were lethal to bear.
Ziktor sneered. The more he looked into the replay it became apparent which Trooper is next on his target list.
"It looks like we've found ourselves a weak link," he said the minute the footage reached its conclusion. "I appreciate the disc you sent to me. Let me address something to the rest of our fellow mutant friends."
"That settles it," Strickland asserted prior to exiting the office. Juliet re-entered thereafter to supply Ziktor with a bottle of water.
"Here you go sir," she said. Ziktor took a sip from the bottle before closing the lid with the cap. Secluded in solitude, he laid his hand on the orb, enchanting a ritual that would transfer him over into the Virtual Dungeon.
Forces of Darkness empower me. Take me back to my Virtual Reality!
Traces of dark matter gushed throughout his body. Subsequently, Ziktor made the successful transformation into his alter ego Grimlord.
Hail Grimlord, Master of the Virtual World!
"I have a special favor for you, Colonel Icebot. I've been hoping to get into contact but it appears they haven't gotten my response," said Grimlord.
"What kind of favor do you have in mind?" Icebot replied.
Grimlord projected footage of an electric themed robot comprised of cable-like arms with its body built like a blue landmine.
"This fellow companion nearly caused a blackout in this dungeon. But he has potential alright. Send out Electrobot at this time," Grimlord instructed him.
"Affirmative," Icebot complied. To that end, he keyed in the coordinates from the console board, opening a door hatch that Electrobot came out of.
"Who dares to disturb me?"
"It's a pleasure to have you here with us. I know it's been far too long since you've been in battle and I thought you could do a bit of a battery charge, if you know what I mean," said Grimlord.
"Energy is the main course meal I need," Electrobot admitted. "What is it you have in mind?"
The instant that question was asked, a glimpse of the Crossworld Chronicle building is shown on screen.
"If energy is the meal you need, now is your chance. That newspaper organization has been out to get Karl Ziktor in every sense imaginable. How about you get started by absorbing all the electricity from that building while you're at it?" Grimlord suggested to him.
"Anything to please you, master," Electrobot said, complying with his demand.
"Skugs," Grimlord ordered. The gold headed foot soldiers emerged from a crowd of mutants to formally confront with their ruler.
"There is one favor I ask of you. For the past few weeks, I've been observing some activity regarding the Steele Family," Grimlord continued. "Track down his son and retrieve the journal he so possesses. It is my duty to ensure no one discovers the truth behind Tyler Steele's disappearance."
"Count on me, Grimlord," said Electrobot. To make up for their lack of verbal talk, the Skugs bowed to their leader and ruler of the Virtual World he so happens to conquer.
Electrobot and the Skugs exited from the throne room to carry out their respective objectives. In the meantime, Grimlord triggered the remote control, cutting into a shot of Kaitlin Star making her entrance inside the Crossworld Chronicle.
"You may have gone out your way to belittle Karl Ziktor for the corrupt bastard he is. By the time this all simmers down, you'll have no choice but to find work elsewhere," he mumbled.
***
Kaitlin stepped out of the elevator to arrive on the floor of the digital newsroom. While on her way over to her cubicle, she could feel the vibration of her cell phone coming from her red purse. After retrieving it, she took a glimpse at a text message from Ryan's mother Rebecca.Just got back home from a mile long jog, R u sure they ask me to schedule a sit down interview?
Kaitlin responded, texting her back with a straightforward answer.
They're wondering if they'd reach out to u with a number before they can proceed
It took Rebecca a little while for her to retort. Kaitlin pulled up the screen once again to go through her response.
…Almost a month already; these employees don't realize how stressful it is for a widow to have her privacy.
Kaitlin paused for a moment to re-organize her thoughts. She factored in the pressure surrounding the excessive media coverage on the widow of Tyler Steele. With each passing day has made life complicated for Crossworld City's police commissioner. Coupled along with her role as the Red Sheriff Trooper, it didn't help so much she'd been unable to sit back for at least a minute to remain at ease. Condensed in a few words, she reassessed the madness unfolding in front of her.
i'll see what I can do
Very shortly, Rebecca concluded the conversation to much satisfaction.
K
Kaitlin shut off the screen, placing her phone back inside her purse. Her face drenched in sweat as a result of her riding through busy traffic on a freeway. Work was already off to a rough start.
Kaitlin stood by the chief editor's office, knocking on the door to which her boss awaits. Woody opened to find the journalist standing in front of him.
"Ah. just the person I've been looking for. Your article on the unfortunate demise of Steele Labs has been a trending topic throughout Social Media," he said. While getting herself situated, Kaitlin approached him by his desk to provide him with an update on the latest assignment.
"That's great," Kaitlin rejoiced.
"My thoughts exactly," Woody concurred, tagging along with the celebration.
"I was looking forward to the meeting with Tyler. I really wanted to try out the body armor he and his team had worked on," she said, feeling disappointed in the wake of Steele Labs' demise.
"If it upsets you on a personal level, I'll be more than willing to withdraw you from the story," Woody suggested.
"No, I mean that's not necessary," Kaitlin begged to differ. "Trying to investigate what happened prior to the breach may indicate what caused all of this madness, and whether there may be a suspect responsible for setting off the fire. There must be something I'm missing."
"What have you gotten so far on our lead on Strickland?" Woody asked her.
"Ever since the VR machine fiasco, he's been very silent about it. I'm just relieved my head hadn't been fried," Kaitlin shuddered to reflect on her experience at the gaming expo.
"Likewise," Woody sympathized. "Unfortunately, that doesn't excuse the lack of progress we're making." The chief editor made his grievances known based on the current situation.
"I'm doing all I can, Woody," she said. Revealing her I-Pad, she used her finger to scroll through the menu that contained her entry of blogs. "From what I can gather, Ziktor Industries have yet to issue a statement. Strickland Gaming, on the other hand, is a gaming company responsible for developing the hardware in the first place yet even they're falling on the same boat."
Despite the strenuous weight on her shoulders, she stood her ground with elegance in their discussion.
"Have you had a chance to interview any one of their employees?" He asked on the surface to provide effective communication with his coworker.
"You mean Ziktor Industries or Strickland Gaming?" Kaitlin looked to clear up potential confusion with the two companies.
"Is Sam still in the area?" Woody solicited with another question.
"He has a shareholders meeting going on so he's out of the picture. I tried to contact Ziktor but he hardly responds to his emails let alone his phone calls. My best bet is to reach out with the Chief Brand Officer of Ziktor Industries," Kaitlin offered him a suggestion.
"Sounds like a plan. Just be sure to give them a word as soon as possible. I want a report by the end of next week," Woody instructed. As her eyes wandered, Kaitlin observed her surroundings in Woody's office before stumbling into a collage of the Metal Fighters nailed on his bulletin.
"You can't seem to get enough about them," Kaitlin commented on the visuals.
"The world could use more heroes. The fact they went out of their way to rescue the commissioner displayed vast courage doing what they did," said Woody, taking appreciation over his fondness of the three armored heroes. In the midst of all this, it was there in which Kaitlin suffered a bit of a migraine.
"Are you sure you're feeling alright?" He wondered just before she started her assignment.
"It's a minor headache. I have a prescription medicine in my bag to alleviate the pain," Kaitlin reassured her boss.
"Taking care of your health should be a top priority. Bare that in mind," Woody addressed his concerns over his employee's well being. Since that day, Kaitlin began to experience some residual side effects pertaining to the malfunctioning of the video game hardware.
"Have you had a chance to speak with Rebecca of the CCPD?" Kaitlin mentioned based on the text she received by the police commissioner.
"I've been busy with all of this paper work I haven't had a chance to follow through," Woody sighed. "I'll go ahead and give her a call. I have a conference meeting to attend soon so it's imperative we get a move on," Woody insisted.
Nodding her head, Kaitlin exited from Woody's office. All seemed like a typical workday for the young accomplished journalist; At least within the confines of the newsroom.
A drone continued to observe Kaitlin outside from the windowpane of her workplace. Since the declaration of war involving the rivalry between the VR Troopers and the Mutant Empire, both factions have looked to up one over the other. Grimlord's prying on Tyler Steele's accomplices has stirred personal vendetta in attempt to not only destroy everything he helped built; More importantly, the people he holds dear to his heart. Such a heinous tactic would play a key factor to defeat the metal armored heroes in resuming his campaign for world domination.
***
"Man you really outsmart me with that move. You have to teach me that," Michael complimented him based from his uncle's outstanding performance.
"It all boils down to having good eye coordination and high elevation to make that jump shot," said J.B.
"Your uncle right here was part of the same high school team that helped them win the regionals. Believe me, when he's at his A game, he comes off like a natural athlete." Ryan panted, coming off the heels of an intense yet friendly competition.
"Alright, who's up for another game?" J.B wondered.
"I'd love to but I could sure use a water break," Michael said admittedly exhausted.
"Fair enough, let's rest up," J.B compromised. The trio headed over to the bench to replenish their energy from the game. In Crossworld City, the humidity was prevalent with temperatures estimating roughly around the high 70s or the low 80s. Due to its location along the pacific coast, the chances of receiving wintry weather were very minimal.
Unfortunately, their moment of relaxation would not last long. A group of reporters dressed in business suits arrived on the blacktop to confront the three of them.
"Excuse me, are you Ryan Steele?" They brought them to their attention.
"I am Ryan Steele, who are you?" He asked out of curiosity.
"We're column journalists over at the Chronicle. We would like to ask you a few questions regarding an incident that went down at the Crossworld Café. Based from our report indicates just so happens you were involved," they stated.
"Long story short, an employee working there was attacked by a burglar and I stood up to them even if it meant suffering some minor bruises," Ryan said to put it into simple words.
"I see," they jotted notes down on their pad, absorbing the information they so desire. "Do you remember what the burglar looked like? Could you give us a brief description?"
"All I can recall is he was cos-playing as Decimator from the Metal Fighters series. He was a white armored android with a cape that went bat shit insane. It's like he was gunning out to get me for some random reason," Ryan answered.
"Hmm I see." The reporter lost their train of thought. "Onto another topic if you don't mind. In light of all the events surrounding your father recently, we were wondering if they happen to have left something valuable behind."
Upon listening to that question, this didn't sit well with the Trooper.
"No, not that I'm aware of," Ryan said, hiding the fact he had obtained his father's journal.
"Ryan looks pretty nervous over there," Michael observed from a close distance.
Without a verbal response, J.B had a clear suspicion of something peculiar. Those worries couldn't be farther from the truth. Ryan took a glimpse at their uniform to notice the designing of an unusual company logo that captured his attention.
"It didn't occur to me until now. I have a friend that works for the Chronicle, and that logo hasn't been used since she was an intern. You're not employed there at all," he stated. That very instant the reporters realized their cover had been blown.
"Guys what's going on?" Michael remained oblivious based on the scenario that transpired. The reporters positioned themselves like trained soldiers, making an instantaneous transformation into Skugs.
"Michael, find cover. Ryan and I will take it from here," J.B ordered. Without question, Michael proceeded out of the battlefield which allowed the duo to combat against some of Grimlord's assailants.
Ryan and J.B started off on the defensive side of things, blocking and dodging every attack by the Skugs. When appropriate, they reversed their enemies' punches with a hip toss, landing hard on their backs. Additional backups arrived as they swarmed around them. They would continue to take out each soldier that threatened to harm them, sending a handful of soldiers flying against the chain linked fence. The remaining Skugs rallied up on the court in an effort to isolate Ryan and J.B from one another. Just when it appeared they had the advantage, it was only so much their bodies could handle. It became evident in which the Skugs wore out the Troopers with a combination of stiff jabs to their chest.
"There's too many of them," Ryan shouted, clutching onto the injured wound.
Michael peered behind the fence, terrified to see the two men in a tight predicament. Looking at his surroundings, Michael snuck his way back inside the court to retrieve the basketball. He glanced at the ball for one bit before throwing it to the back head of one of the foot soldiers.
"Uh oh," Michael gulped. The Skug turned around, creeping up on the boy like a wolf stalking its prey. As the situation grew from bad to worse, the last thing to pop up in J.B's mind would see his nephew on the brink of peril.
"No!" In a cry for help, this instant ignited a fire within the young African-American. Utilizing every fiber from his body, J.B freed himself from the Skugs crowding him. Bouncing back from the momentum, he struck back with a leap kick onto its chest, causing for them to lose their balance. This resulted in the two Skugs to disintegrate the instant they collided.
With a minor assist from his nephew, J.B nodded in gesture. With that batch taken care of, he proceeded to help out Ryan as further soldiers charged at him. J.B elbowed one of the Skugs from the back of its head, giving Ryan the opening he needed to fend off the rest.
"Thanks J.B. I've had enough of these guys," he said. The boys would arrive on the rebound. Putting their combat skills to the test, they relied on a series of double team moves to finish the job at hand.
It seemed the momentum leaned in favor of Ryan and J.B. The remaining Skugs emerged from the top of the fence, preparing to make their descent.
"Guys," Michael cried. When the foot soldiers took flight, the Troopers took notice, thrusting out their legs with a sidekick to their torso. The Skugs crumpled on top of one another and, like the rest of its teammates, fragmenting out of thin air.
"Whew, that was more than enough of a workout I should say," Ryan panted.
"We really owe you one, Mike. They sure weren't messing around," J.B thanked him.
"Hey, it's what happens when we have each others' backs, no pun intended," said Michael, retrieving the basketball from the court.
"We'd be better off than to call it a day. Between the game and fighting off the Skugs, I'm beyond exhausted," J.B insisted.
"We should contact the professor to let us know of anything that Grimlord may be up to," Ryan encouraged.
"Who's this 'professor' you're talking about?" Michael asked, oblivious to the context surrounding the situation.
"Um, we were just talking about that professor that was on the news? You know, the person that worked with my father," Ryan responded, trying his best to keep a straight face.
"Oh that's right I remember now," Michael said.
"Listen, the sun is about to go down pretty soon. Let's grab everything from the court and head over to the car," J.B insisted.
"What he said bro," Ryan concurred. While preparing to leave, the boys approached the porch to gather their belongings. Michael followed J.B to his car whereas Ryan fell behind for a bit to contact Professor Hart with a text message. He caught up with the two by the parking lot to load their stuff inside the car.
"All set J.B," Michael informed his uncle.
"Alright kiddo let's get into the car," said J.B, watching his nephew enter through the backseat.
"Hey listen I sent a text to the professor. So far he hasn't responded," Ryan provided with an update.
"That's fine. Once we drop off Michael, we'll have a chance to follow through to him," J.B reassured.
"Aye eye captain," Ryan said in a witty manner. With their equipment loaded, the two friends hopped inside the vehicle as they rode off from the parking lot.
***
Having infiltrated the Chronicle HQ, Electrobot arrived inside of the electrical room unit, a hub which serves to furnish power for equipment. In an attempt to recharge, this procedure laid the foundation of maximizing his full potential in combat."Ah, this is it. Those Troopers won't have any clue what will hit them when I'm reenergized!" He mumbled arrogantly. Electrobot extended his cable arms, attaching them with the power module. Channeling with all of his might, electricity would be drained out from the device sending a surge flowing throughout his body. This sequence resembled to a blood transfusion in which stimulated the human anatomy. The impact surrounding this energy transfer would result in a surge that disrupted the power in the building.
Meanwhile, prior to exiting, Woody gathered office supplies from his desk. His conference meeting was just around the corner and tardiness would be the last thing to pop up on his mind.
With her camera equipped, Kaitlin walked out from her cubicle ready to carry out her assignment. She swallowed one tablet from her pill bottle to lessen the pain from her head. Just when it appeared to be another work day, parlor tricks began to capture the attention of everyone in the building. The lights flickered from the ceiling appearing as though the power had been tampered with.
"What the hell," she cursed. The superstition alone raised skepticism from all the journalists on the floor.
"This can't be right. I had an electrician install a new switchboard recently." Woody stood beside Kaitlin evenly confused as to what went down. Somewhere lurking in-between a crowd of other employees, out came a pair of them sported in a green uniform carrying a tool box.
"Woody, why not ask him?" Kaitlin insisted, directing Woody over to one. The electricians realized this while power walking off from the newsroom. Woody followed alongside Kaitlin to inquire on the sudden disruption going on in their workplace. When they arrived at the site of the electrical room, they stood by the doorway, unlocking the knob using the appropriate key required to gain access.
"Excuse us, we don't mean to interrupt. Do you know what's been going on with the power around here," said Kaitlin.
"We are double checking to ensure the transformers are in working condition," they replied. Kaitlin observed the room to spot an unusual gold cape sticking out from under their pants. It became apparent something fishy was going on.
"Please give us a straight answer. That's all we need," Woody encouraged. With minimal eye contact, this indicated caution in which Kaitlin couldn't ignore.
"Woody, watch out," Warning her boss, the technician intended to throw a wrench towards them. Fortunately, they evaded the attack.
"Hey, what gives," A disgruntled Woody left him wondering the physicality displayed. The electricians lined up together while revealing themselves as Skugs.
"What the-," The Crossworld Chronicle's chief editor stood in fear of what he had just witnessed.
"Stand back, Woody. These aren't your normal sideshow freaks," she warned him. Kaitlin pulled out all the stops needed to put a stop to their terror. Putting her Karate skills to the test, she did everything she could to maintain control of the fight. One after the other, Kaitlin started off having the upper hand in combat. A leg sweep wiped them down on the floor preceded by a front kick on the enemy's chest. Another one of its kind grabbed her from behind. Not for long, she countered with a back elbow to the jaw followed up with a hip toss onto the ground.
Elsewhere, more Skugs enclosed Woody, backing himself into a corner of no escape. Using the environment around him, he grabbed onto a nearby floor mop, wiping it onto their faceless gold heads. He swung the mop at them, knocking them back onto the tiled floors. Another came charging, giving Woody enough awareness to repeat the same tactic against them. Before his mind could process, additional foot soldiers jumped him from the back.
"Woody!" Kaitlin exclaimed, trying her damndest to rescue her supervisor on time. She threw one of the soldiers against the electric dashboard, sending a shock throughout its body that rendered it out cold. When attempting to avenge their teammate, Kaitlin threw them directly at one another, causing them to fragment.
The other batch of Skugs grabbed a hold of Woody, doing his best to fight out of their clutches. He soon notices a symbol on a door behind him indicating the janitor's closet. Woody extended out his hand, reaching the door knob for it to open up a Porto closet filled with chemical bottles, a wet floor sign as well as a mop bucket accompanied by another dry mop. Charging with full force, he tackled a Skug back first onto the chemical dispenser, causing gushes of chemicals to spill all over its body. His comrade would soon seek to avenge his fellow teammate. Woody shoved the bucket towards the other Skug, causing him to tumble into the said bucket filled with contaminated water.
"Now that's what I call a good plan," he said cockily. The celebration did not last when an unseen enemy wrapped its cable arms to bind Woody in a tightrope.
"Woody," Kaitlin noticed but this diversion allowed for the Skugs to restrain her in the most desperate of times. Emerging from the electrical room, a well built robot with its body resembling to that of a microchip confronted the two civilians.
"I guess they didn't tell you who would be responsible for this kind of mess," he snickered. "I suppose it never occurred to you I happened to be a lean, mean machine absorbing electricity, which is why folks refer to me as Electrobot." With a formal introduction, the terrifying creature made its presence known to two of the Chronicle's employees.
"Let him go," Kaitlin cried out.
"You expect me to follow your orders? I haven't felt this much alive in quite a long time," said Electrobot energized than ever. "Let's say that Ziktor isn't too keen with what the news outlets have to say about him."
Woody wailed while remaining entangled in the arms of Grimlord's follower. Kaitlin used all of her might in an attempt to free herself from the overpowering Skugs. She panicked in horror to witness what the creature had in store for her supervisor.
"As for you Mister Chief Editor, I think it's time to say your prayers because you won't be seeing the light much longer." Electrobot cackled, leaving Woody stunned by what's to happen. Putting his special ability to good use, the vile robot utilized its cable arms once again, sending out a massive jolt of electricity that stunned the chief to no end. Kaitlin screamed out Woody's name as she experienced the worst case scenario unfolded up close.
Electrobot released him from his captivity, leaving his body motionless when it was said and done.
"He may have put up a fight with these Skugs. But even he is no match against me." The robot spoken with no remorse based on action alone.
Notwithstanding her plea not to harm Woody, this incident incensed Kaitlin even further. Channeling her anger, she stomped on a Skug's foot followed up by a kick to the rest of its teammates. Freed from their clutches, Kaitlin struck into her fighting pose to which the battle resumed.
"You'll pay for that," Kaitlin shouted. She performed a Hiza Geri Knee Strike onto the Skug's head preceded by a crescent kick to its chin. As one of them lost their balance, she shoved the other against its partner, resulting in the remaining foot soldiers to dissolve from the ground.
"Woody!" She cried while rushing to his aid. Kaitlin directed her focus back at Electrobot, her eyes fuming in flames. She reached underneath her collar, pulling out her Virtualizer.
Trooper Transform
Raising the pendant from above, a glowing trace of red energy began enveloping her body. Clad in armor, Kaitlin made an instantaneous transformation into the Red Sheriff Trooper.
"You'll be sorry for what you did just now," she grunted.
"Try your luck," Electrobot said with audaciousness. Kaitlin started out on offense, swinging right hook after hook. He dodged each one that approached him before binding her with his cable wires. Paralyzed on the spot, he slung Kaitlin hard against the wall.
In spite of the damage she's taken, the Trooper pulled herself up from the floor. She leapt above the ground to land a diving kick to its chest. She went out of her way to weaken him with additional shin kicks followed up with a sidekick to the gut of Electrobot. While selling the blow, the creature staggered as he experienced difficulty in maintaining his balance. Leaving minimal scratches, the formidable robot cackled hysterically.
"The power coming from your kick is laughably tame. Is that the best you can do?" Such derogatory got under Kaitlin's skin. After failed cracks at physical combat, it became clear it would take more to put the vile robot in its misery.
Settling less on trash talk, Kaitlin summoned her laser pistol, firing numerous shots at her foe. Electrobot deflected every last one using its signature cable arms. No matter how many attempts, neither blast would faze him.
Kaitlin performed a somersault over Electrobot. In mid air she blasted away on repeat, resulting in the robot to fall onto one knee.
"Had enough?" She taunted him. For as much fortitude, it only came back to bite her in the rear. The robot retaliated with a single magnetic bolt that sent electricity throughout Kaitlin's VR suit. The impact displayed by its immense power sent sparks erupting from her body armor.
"If you thought you could undermine me, think again," said Electrobot. Standing tall in the midst of their duel, he stared down at the Trooper in laughter.
Through her helmet, Kaitlin initiated the menu's transmitter feature from to contact backup.
"Professor," she spoke softly.
"Even with your efforts, it's still no match compared to what I'm about to do to you," Electrobot observed the Red Sheriff Trooper who crouched as far from her foe as possible. Just when she drew near the rails, the robot placed its foot on top of her back further injuring Kaitlin.
"Your time is up. Into the bottomless pit of reality you go." Just seconds as Electrobot prepared to deliver another lightning blast, sudden laser beams fired from behind him.
"Ugh who dares interrupt my moment?" He spoke in a disgruntled manner.
"You're not taking out one of our teammates, not by a long shot," said Ryan, lowering his pistol.
"If I could, I would destroy you right this instant. But since I am willing to savor my fully charged energy, I shall live to fight another day." Electrobot activated a power module holstered around him, initiating a sequence that transported him out of the building.
"Kaitlin," J.B cried out over concern for his comrade's condition. "We better get her back to the lab. Her suit could use some repairs."
"Sure thing," Ryan complied. A barely conscious Kaitlin pointed her finger at Woody who remained critically wounded.
Ryan tended over to her friend's supervisor for support. "You're going to be alright."