Inside the game

(Ravager!? How... How is this possible!?)

A triangular head with a single eye in the shape of a V. A body shaped like a fat man made of steel. On it's left arms a Tower Shield able to cover 80% of it's body, on it's right arm a compact laser rifle with no scope, and on it's waist a basic laser sword painted in red.

Yes, it's name was Ravager II, the robot most used by mob characters from Terra Empire in his favorite game from his past life.

(WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!?)

(Why the hell are you screaming? Yes, they are Ravagers! Second generation, actually. So what's the big problem with that? Now, can you let me down, untie me and take this dirty cloth from my mouth?)

Answering to his sudden burst, the girl on his shoulder.

Slap!

(Kyaaa!!! I-I am sorry, master! I promise I will stay quiet! So please stop hitting my butt!)

After considering that he was half way to the garage and he would need to wait the children no matter what, Mark slowed down his pace and decided to get rid of the many questions on his mind.

(Well, maybe now is the best time to do this... Okay, let's start with introductions. I am Marcos Bosano, but you can call me Mark, who are you?)

(...Since when did puppets have a name?)

Slap!

(Answer my question!)

Feeling her butt burning, the girl held back her tears and decided to cooperate.

(Pu-I mean, M-Marcos...I am called Eve Deathbringer, daugh-)

Before she could continue Mark burst out laughing.

"Hahahahahaha! Deathbringer? Seriously!? What kind of second grade syndrome father did you have to give you such a name!? Wait, wasn't that the name of the villainess?"

Eve's face turned bright red in shame and little tears started escaping from her eyes.

(Stop laughing at my name! And what do you mean villainess? You are the one who is bad! Hitting my butt until it's red and swollen...)

"Oh, sorry... How come I don't remember you having such a cute face?... No, it's actually possible, in the game she always wore a mask, so I have no idea how her real face looked like..."

Hearing Mark calling her cute, Eve turned extra red and her thoughts became incoherent.

(C-c-cute? Who are you ca-ca-calling cute? Ye-esh of course I'm cute! Daddy's daughter is the best in the world! Now bow down to my cuteness and became my slave!)

(So you are weak to prises hmm? I will take note on that. Anyway, you know, you would be a lot cuter if you behaved more humbly...such a waste!)

(Sh-sh-shut up! You are the waste! Your whole family are made of wastes! And what the hell is this "game" deal? You keep repeating it again and again but your thoughts make no sense!)

Hearing her question, Mark was taken aback.

"You...don't know what a game is? You know, Blade & Mount, Duty Calling, Tetris?"

(Never heard such words on my life. Why, is there a problem?)

(What kind of life did you live to never have played a single game!? Did you live in a cave or something!?)

(How rude! Of course not! I have lived all my life here! Not in some kind of cave like a caveman!)

(Mark, sorry to ruin your fun but I think I just found the item you call a time bomb.)

(Time bomb!? Wait! Time bomb!!!!! A mob base where they set the time bomb, the first appearance of Eve, the third mission of the game just after the protagonist joined the rebels side! We are at Bio Spring Fortress!!!)

Eve eyes opened wide in surprise and she could not hold back her question.

(How do you know the codename of this space station!? This name should be off limits to anyone below my daddy!! Who the hell are you!?)

Mark completely ignored her outburst and speed up his pace.

(We got no time to lose! Everybody run to the garage as fast as you can! We got to get out of here before this whole place blow up! While in the game Eve somehow survived the explosion, I wouldn't bet my luck on that!)

Echo and all numbers answered in a single voice.

(Yes, Mark!)

(Wait, no, stop shacking! I can already walk! My leg is not hurting anymore! I-I-I can even run! Anything! I will do anything just let me down for a bit! Please! If you don't... I will... bbblllaaarrrggghhhh!!!!)

--//--

(People would call me crazy for thinking I am inside a game, but all evidences point to this, so how can I deny? Instead it's the best if I just accept it and use this on my favor! First let's see if that space ship that appears in the game is also here!)

Running to the Garage with Eve on his shoulder, Mark arrived panting and put Eve on the floor only to see her crying face and the strip of clothes that was covering her mouth stained in vomit.

(I hate you! I will never forgive you! Even on the day I die I will curse you to death!)

"Eh...oh...hmm....sorry..."

The rest as the numbers and Echo arrived shortly after and surrounded him.

"Hey guys, this is-"

"We know. We heard everything."

Hearing that, Mark who was feeling a bit guilty for his way of handling the girl turned bright red. Being born without this mind reading ability in his past life, he often forgot that whatever he was thinking was being heard by the comrades around him.

(I need to find a way to control this, or else I will die of shame if I ever need to relieve myself and broadcast the act to the whole crew....)

(What do you mean?)

"Nothing!!! All right, I will skip pleasantries. There should be a big space ship below this place, but the path is blocked by rubble, making it impossible to get there."

(If it is impossible, how will we get there?)

"In the game at least it's impossible, but here we are free to use our creativity to clear the path! That's why we are going to use the Racangers over there to clear the way! Anyone here knows how to pilot a ISCA? If yes, rise your hand!"

...No one rose their hands.

(Well, that was expected...what do we do now?...)

(What kind of absurd question are you asking!? You puppets were made to adapt to any vehicle! Even if you don't know how to pilot them, you body remember as it was written in your genes!)

"As a thank you for the information I will save you a slap, but call us puppets again and my hand wont be mercifull!"

(Hiii!!! I am sorry!!!)

"Then, let's try and see what we can do! Number 2 to 10, let the kids down and go grab a Ravager to yourselves!"

Being a young man who loved giant robots himself, Mark also ran toward on of the ISCAs and started climbing it.

(What are you doing, you monkeys! Press the green button on the platform!)

Hearing Eve's annoying mental voice on his head, Mark and the rest followed her instructions, pressing the button on the platform. Contrary to Mark's expectation the platform didn't rise or formed some kind of stairs, instead it lowered the Ravager until it was low enough for them to climb the cockpit.

"What now, milady?"

(Huh, it seems like even hateful monkeys like you can show some manners when you want.)

"If you prefer I can show you my hand instead..."

(No! No more! Sorry! I will be good! Really! I will cooperate!)

"Then..."

(Just press your hand against the cockpit and say open, it will open up for you.)

Mark did as instructed and the cockpit opened as expected.

(Simpler than I thought!)

(Of course it is! Ravager II's main concept is simplicity! It's made so that anyone can pilot it with just a little bit of training! It's equipped with a collection of semi-automated systems that will turn the complicated into simple by reading the intention of the pilot through the brainwave reader inside the helmet. It also has and upgraded version of the Ravager laser rifle and laser sword, dealing 20% more damage. It's batery life was extended to 30 hours and there are now 2 free slots for extra modules to adapt to the pilot's needs!)

(I never expected the game's bitchy villain to be such a robot nerd...)

Eve's face turned bright red again and she defended herself.

(Shut up! Who are you calling a nerd!? You are expected to learn a thing or two when you live here all your life!)

(So you are against me calling you a nerd but has no problem with me calling you a bitchy villain?)

(I don't even know what that means!)

For the first time, Mark honestly felt bad for her.

(Sorry, I won't say it again.)

The two were talking through the mental connection but Mark hadn't stopped moving and was already testing how to move the ISCA around.

(Good, it seems like we can really do it! Okay guys, follow me! Number 9 and 10, take the kids and Eve in your arms. All other numbers, take a Ravager and follow us!)

(Mark, why don't we take some of those fighters?)

(It's a pity but we don't have time, anything but ISCAs will take too long to load on the ship.)

(Wait! No! Stay away! Please no! Don't! I can walk! I can run! Stop!!! I will vomit again!!!!!!!!!!)

--//--

Exiting the small vehicles garage, Mark and the others walked down the ramp that led to the space launchers and after crossing the launchers arrived at the entrance of a special garage made specially for Spaceships but before they could enter, they noticed the path had been blocked by rubble.

(Wow Mark, you were right! They really blocked this place!)

(I know, now help me move this things!)

(Mark, if they went through this trouble, why didn't they just blew up or steal the spaceship?)

Before Mark could answer, Eve interjected.

(Because the spaceship is protected by a force field and only I can open it.)

(Eh, really!?)

(Eh!? Wasn't this why you captured me!?)

(No, actually I just wanted information on what was going on and you were the only live source I found that could communicate with us.)

(The way you describe me sounds horrible! ...So that's the only reason you came to save me?)

(...Maybe? But anyway, it turned out that you are really knowledgeable of things here, it has helped us a lot and for that I am really thankful to you.)

(Oh ho ho ho ho! Yes! Bow down in submission over my superior knowledge!)

(...)

(Hey! Don't ignore me!)

(Mark, please concentrate, we get out! There is only 10 minutes left!)

(WHAT!? Why didn't you say this earlier!? Fast, people! Move! Move! Move!)

Working as fast as they could, in just three minutes the ISCAs were able to clean the rubble.

(Great! What now? Eve, how do we turn the shield's off?)

(As long as I am close enough to the ship, it will automatically turn off!)

As he heard that, Number 9 brough up Eve closer to the shield using the Ravager's hand, and as soon as she got close to it, the shield opened a hole big enough for the Ravagers to walk in.

(Come on, people! Get in!)

Mark, Echo and the numbers ran through the shield's hole and once everybody got in Number 9 followed inside with Eve on his hand.

(How do we open the door?)

(The personnel doors outside are the same as the ISCA cockpit, as for the ones for ISCAs, they will recognize the ISCA's signature once you are close enough and open it automatically. The only problem is the ship's command center, for it to open we will need an elite credentials card.)

(And you tell me this only now!?)

(Hiii!!! I am sorry! Please don't slap my butt!)

Echo who had been quiet up until now rose his hand and showed a card.

(Hey Eve, is this the card?)

(It's Mistress Eve to you!)

(Shut up and just answer him!)

(If I shut up how can I answer him?... Fine! It is! How did you get it!? Even I don't have one!!!)

(A dead scientist had it. I found it while making the back chairs for the kids and decided to keep since it looked shinny.)

(Hahahah, so we are saved because Echo likes shinny things. Great! Now keep moving! We have almost no time left!)

Entering through the ship's ISCA door, Mark and the others got off the Ravagers in the ship's garage and ran to the command center. Reaching there every number took a post and they started the ship's engine.

(How long do we have now?)

(A little bit over one minute.)

(Fuck! We won't make it out in time! Those doors take years to open! ...Wait, isn't this an Archangel Spaceship!?)

(How did you know!? This is a secret I only know because I overheard father talking with the fat cap man in black!)

(Fat cap man in black? You mean general...what was his name? Fuck that, we got no time! Just find the controls for the bow cannon and let's make a escape route for ourselves!)

Number four who was in the pilot seat immediately called out.

(Mark! I think it's here. But it's all red and it does nothing when I press it. It must be locked!)

(Locked!? Fuck! What now!? Think! Think! What is missing! In the game it looks so easy! It just show the ship's captain giving the order and the ship shoots it out!)

(That's it! Mark, fast, let's try it out!)

(Echo, this is stupid! Do you really think-)

(We got no time!!!!)

"God damn it! All right!"

Mark got up from his seat like the cinematic in the game, pointed forward with his right hand and screamed out loud!

"Archangel! Shoot the bow cannon!"

A second of silence followed, making Mark's face turn red from shame and by the time he was starting to regret his action number four spoke out loud for the first time in his life.

"The button turned green! I'm shooting it!"

"GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO~~!"

BOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The ship's front cannon suddenly shot out a huge energy beam bigger than the ship itself.

(How the hell is the beam so big!? Argh! My eyes!!!)

Everybody closed their eyes due to the sheer intensity of the beam's light and when their vision came back all the wall in front of them had vanished, forming a burning hole on it's place.

Falling back on his seat, Mark gave the next commands.

"Perfect! Archangel! Max speed ahead! Number four, get us out of here!"

The ship started moving and little by little it started accelerating.

"10 seconds now!"

"Go! Go! Go!"

"7, 6, 5..."

(God damn it! This was embarrassing!)

"Turn on the shields! maximum output!"

(You say that, but I can see a smile creeping out of your face! Admit it! You actually liked it!)

"4, 3, 2..."

(Yeah, I have to admit I actually like slapping someone else's butt with my hand.)

"Shields Online!"

(Hiiiii~~!!! No! I'm sorry! I was just kidding! I was just kidding!!! Keep your hands away from me!)

And just as the ship arrived the last meters of their newly made tunnel...

(No more excuses! Once we are out of here, my hand and your ass got a date scheduled!)

"1, Brace for impact!"

(NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO~~~~~~!!!!)

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

--//--

[Game Encyclopedia]

Archangel (Prototype)

The first prototype of the Whale Spaceship Archangel, and one of the five only WSA ever built. Destroyed during the Bio Spring Fortress collapse, it was never used in battle.

It could be differentiated from the final version due to it's low energy reserves and excessively wasteful prototype bow cannon, which were both revised and improved on it's final version.

[Status]

HP 1200

EP 300

STR 0

DEF 60

SPD 10

MOV 3

[Equipment]

WPN 1: Prototype Bow Cannon - 600 beam damage, RNG 1-20, Acc 100%, Hits all targets in a straight line, EP 150.

WPN 2: Archangel Main Cannon - 250 Physical damage, RNG 2-5, Acc 80%, Ammo 8.

WPN 3: Close range laser barrage - 50 beam damage, RNG 1-2, Acc 70%, Attacks all enemies in range twice, EP 10.

WPN 4: Twin Missiles - 100 physical damage, RNG 2-7, Acc 90%, Ammo 12, Attacks twice the same target.

Extra Modules:

Anti-Beam Barrier (Reduces bean damage received by half, if the resulting damage is lower than 20, it does no damage.),

High Grade Carrier Bay (Can store and maintain up to 100 I.S.C.A.s or F.S.P.)