Part 71: Raiden Tales: External Gazer (Chapter 10) - Tactical Sequence Breaking Action

Raiden Tales: External Gazer (Chapter 10) - Tactical Sequence Breaking Action


Jack and Rosemary's Theme


Okay. This one is rather self-explanatory. And strangely familiar. Raiden must destroy 13 targets within two minutes.




The only problem is that the targets are a football field away and weave in and out of tight passages around the course. Coupled with the fact that sniping controls kind of blow chunks due to being absurdly sensitive along with the gimmick of Raiden needing to pop anti-depressants every few seconds to prevent his hands from shaking due to severe alcohol abuse and you've got a recipe for disaster.


Still, there's no penalty for doing poorly. Just as long as Raiden completes the trial before the time limit runs up, we're still good to go.



Rose and I were taking a walk in the park early one afternoon. The sunlight filtered down through the treetops. We walked to a pond and sat down on a bench. As I put my arm around Rose, somebody jumped out of the pond with an odd squeal.



It was Vamp! Pulling out a knife, he threw it directly at us. Protecting Rose with my body, I drew my gun and shot down the knife. I continued firing. A bullet struck Vamp between the eyes, knocking him to the ground. But groaning slightly, he stood back up again. I heard Rose's trembling voice.

"I don't believe it.... How...?"
*licks blood with freakishly long tongue* "I died once already, I can't die twice."
*nods* "Well, I guess it can't be helped, then."

Squealing again, Vamp lunged toward the pond. Landing directly on the ponds's surface, he ran across while yelling:

"Your mission this time is to take out all enemies and get to the goal!"
"Go, NOW!"



My vision darkened. Just then, I thought I heard someone calling me from far away. For some reason, the voice seemed very familiar.

"Snake! Get out of VR! Turn it off! Exit!"




Four people patrol a box sorting facility in the Big Shell. A price must be paid for the atrocity of package handling that was the Cardboard Box Maze of Galuade.


That price must be... paid... in...


BLOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!!


More boxes for the Box God!



Rose and I were watching a monster movie in her bedroom. Suddenly, the screen filled with static.

"Is it broken?"

When I got up from the bed, the static-filled television screen began to speak.



"Raiden, are you receiving? We're still here."
"The La-li-lu-le-lo?!"
"Raiden. You want to know who we are, don't you?"

I jumped from the bed in surprise. The La-li-lu-le-lo let out something approximating a laugh.

"Heh, heh, heh. As you already know, we're not what you'd call -- human. But you know what? Toilets get all kinds of stains: dried urine, yellow stains, water stains.... They need constant cleaning. Don't you agree?"
"What are you talking about?!"

Just then, I heard another voice from the radio, in spite of it being turned off.



"Raiden, are you receiving? We're still here."
"Ta-ti-tu-te-to! Jack! It's the Ta-ti-tu-te-to!"
"Heh, heh, heh. We have some advice for you about those yellow stains. First, lay some toilet paper over the stain. Then sprinkle on the detergent. Let it sit for a few minutes, and then scrub hard... with the paper."
"What the--?!"

As soon as the words left my mouth, the answering machine began to speak.



"Raiden, are you receiving? We're still here."
"I-ro-ha-ni-ho-he-to?! Oh, no, Jack! What should we do?!"

Rose held on to my arm. I held her as she trembled.

"Make sure to pay attention to the rim, inside the toilet. The urine sprays onto it."



The La-li-lu-le-lo jumped in.

"Wear rubber gloves, and use a sponge or a piece of cloth to rub dirty spots you can't reach with a brush."
"It wouldn't be a bad idea to use an old toothbrush."
"Don't forget to wipe the outside of the toilet or the floor, either. If you leave any urine stains behind, it'll smell later."
"What in the hell does this have to do with who you are?!"
"NOTHING!!!"

I was floored.

"Uh, so... what's your point, then?"
"Heh, heh, heh.... Our point is very simple."
"This time..."
"...your..."
"...mission is..."
"...to get to the goal without being discovered."
"Good luck!"



My vision darkened. Just then, I thought I heard someone calling me from far away. For some reason, the voice seemed very familiar.

"Snake! Get out of VR! Turn it off! Exit!"






Okie dokie. Raiden now has a large map of tight corridors filled with guards, noisy floors, wet panels, and pitfalls leading to the digital abyss.


While Raiden is not allowed to make eye contact with any of the guards (that is a HIGHLY rude gesture towards the digital people of the realm) he is free to cartwheel over their persons, just so long as he quickly leaves them be to ponder the turn of events in peace.


Fanciful judo kicks off fictional railings into imaginary space is also permitted. Though highly frowned upon during weekends and Jewish holidays.


Third place is always the one you least suspect in a murder.










































































Jack and Rosemary's Theme



"Jack! Earth to Jack!"

Rose leaned over the table. She cocked her head and looked into my eyes.

"What's wrong? You looked out of it."

I gently stroked Rose's hair.

"Uh... I was enchanted by your eternal beauty."
"Very funny, Jack."

Rose became as bashful as a little girl.

"I'm being serious."
*touches hand* "Do you remember what day tomorrow is?"
"What, March 21st?"
"Yeah."
"Of course. It's the luckiest day of my entire life. The day I met you."
"Wrong!"
"...Really?"
*puffs out cheeks* "Yep."
"I'm sorry. I think of how lucky I am to have met you every day, so I always think of the anniversary as being right around the corner."
"That doesn't exactly make sense, but I'm happy to hear it anyway,"
*smiles* "By the way, your mission this time is to defuse all bombs. Good luck."



My vision darkened. Just then, I thought I heard someone calling me from far away. For some reason, the voice seemed very familiar.

"Snake! Get out of VR! Turn it off! Exit!"




It seems some joker has planted five bombs in the break room of a tanker and it's up to Raiden to defuse the situation. Har-har-har!


But first things first, there are a couple of lazy sentries hanging out listening to inappropriate tribal beats on the stair case. That just won't do for any sort of stealthy sneaking.


Huh... You know, looking at it now...that is an awfully big backpa--