The Queen in Her Domain | Action - Hero's Duty

[bugbytes]

[It had been a long day for the Queen of the Cy-Bugs and her mechanical army, Hero's Duty had been bustling with action and players from start to close. They had certainly earned every quarter that had been put into the machine.

Unlike most of the other Cy-Bugs, she was aware that their game had somehow been transported elsewhere, she had heard the chatter among the Space Marines as they tried to sort the situation out. 

It didn't matter which arcade the Queen resided at, be it Litwak's or this new, bigger place, either way, one day it would belong to her and her descendants, it was just a matter of time. In fact, she probably preferred the larger one, there'd be more space for her children to claim.

Because of the Hivemind, she was aware of the Sugar Rush Incident that had happened while this console was plugged in at Litwak's and she had learned a thing or two from it.

But, for now, she was going to rest. The players had been better than normal today and she had ended up falling off of the top of the Tower quite a few times today.]

Comments

what am I doing. I hope this is ok!

[rhythmiku]

[...she was just going to drop off some party invitations for the heroes. HOW DID SHE GET HERE?!

Clutching a stack of papers to her chest, she looks up at the queen and just... tries to hide somewhere.]

It's perfectly fine! <3

[bugbytes]

[The Space Marines had been quite efficient at their work today, they had eliminated nearly all of the hatched Cy-Bugs. Without their screeches and battle cries, the game often was eerily silent.

She'd have her work cut out for her tonight with preparing the swarm for another day of battle, with making more eggs and hatching the ones that already existed in her Tower.

The only ones who go to the top of the Tower are the Space Marines and the First-Person Shooter. No one else. This game isn't receptive to guests and those that do visit never enter the Tower.

So, she's curious about Miku's presence. She's never met someone from another game before and frankly, she's a lot different than anyone the Queen's ever encountered.

Even in her backstory, the scientists and civilians didn't resemble Miku too much and she looks so tiny in comparison to the Space Marines.

While Miku might make a nice meal, it'd no doubt cause more trouble than it was worth. Slaughtering people outside of their game would only make the Space Marines watch her closer and put an end to her plans more quickly.

Besides, she might have a use for this girl after all.

The Queen tilts her head and gives Miku what she hopes is a curious and friendly trill.]

[rhythmiku]

[It works both ways - because of how closed off it is, Miku doesn't really know anything about this game either. All she knows is that she's in a creepy lair with what is probably the final boss of this game. Who has definitely spotted her. It's enough to send a chill up her spine, although... that noise she made? She's not sure what to make of it. And she's not attacking, either.

With much hesitation, Miku gets up from her hiding spot. There must be something she can do. Maybe she can understand her.]

Um... hello?

[bugbytes]

[The Queen can understand human speech, however, she can only speak in Cy-Bug, which is mainly a series of buzzes and clicks and other noises.

She watches as Miku comes back into view and greets her. The Queen takes a moment to think over her next actions.

She wants to win over Miku, but considering that she's a giant robot bug, that's going to be a little difficult. She runs through her memory banks, trying to find something that could help.

Upon first glance, some people have thought freshly-hatched Cy-Bugs were cute, so the Queen is going to mimic them as best she can.

She increases the brightness in her four eye optics and hunkers down a little in the front, leaving her abdomen sticking up in the air. The effect she desires is something reminiscent of a playful puppy, but it could come off as a predator preparing to pounce instead.

The Queen then gives a single high-pitched chirp in response to Miku's greeting. She's doing her best to play nicely with her new toy.]

[rhythmiku]

[It can be pretty hard to read body language that isn't 'human', so Miku is still rather unsure about all of this. But she's also the type who befriends everyone, so she'll... cautiously come a bit closer. And talk to her like she's a puppy since that's how she's acting anyway.]

What's that? You want to play?

[bugbytes]

[Before the Cy-Bugs were a military experiment gone terribly wrong, they were designed as toys for children that would grow and change with their owners.

As the first Cy-Bug ever created and the only one made by human hands, the Queen has fragments of this programming still left in her code. The scientists weren't sure of what all of the original programming could be used, so bits and pieces were removed as they became useless to the Cy-Bugs' new purpose as weapons.

However, she doesn't know anything of play, just that it was her original function and that humans liked it.

So, for now, she'll go along with Miku and masquerade as the toy she should have been.

The Queen gives a quick nod to Miku and waggles a bit, the little ones would do this sometimes if they wanted something.]

[rhythmiku]

[Miku chuckles a bit at the waggle. Okay, maybe she is pretty good at being cute.]

Okay, well, what should we play?

[Tag? No, that would be terrifying. Hide and seek? Probably impossible... but, wait, if she can trill and chirp then- why not try something like her own game?]

Singalong? ♪ Do, re, mi~ ♪

[bugbytes]

[Now that was a good question, the only "games" the Queen knows involve hunting and violence, she'd rather Miku stay alive, if only because it'd be more trouble for her if the girl ended up dead.

Hide and seek wouldn't be as difficult as she thinks, there's plenty of places to hide in all 99 levels of the Tower, the problem comes in that there's live Cy-Bugs lurking there and they don't have as much restraint as the Queen does.

At the mention of a singalong, the Queen tilts her head and listens to Miku. When she stops, the Queen takes her turn, analyzing the tones and repeating them in chirps.]

[rhythmiku]

Nice! You can sing after all!

[And Miku's favor is gained. That was easy.]

Okay, try this melody...

[She sings a line from the chorus of a creepy song she knows.]

♪ Circle you, circle you~ ♪

[bugbytes]

[This is the most enjoyment and stimulation the Queen's gotten in a long time, however, she's making sure to not lose herself in it. She's still a Queen and a commander and she has her priorities. This musical interlude is only a small step in her plans.

She easily repeats the line in her own chirps, it's a rather fitting one, if this was during gameplay, Miku'd be circled by a swarm of hungry bugs.]

[rhythmiku]

[There's a reason why it's the song that came to mind. This place, and the Queen, are still eerie. But hey, what's wrong with using a song that fits? The space marines will love it. Totally.

She continues.]

♪ Who surrounds you everywhere? ♪

[-It'd be good if hungry bugs didn't circle her though. Maybe Miku had better start considering how to get out of here while she plays with the Queen. ... Ack, she's got nothing. Playing along is the only option for now, isn't it?]

[bugbytes]

[The Queen sing-chirps in response, mimicking Miku's tone in her own way. While it's fairly simple, it's still nice to do something mentally that isn't related to commanding her army and making plans. It gets dull in the quiet times between games and after the arcade is closed.

Miku is safe, the Queen has no intention of harming her and she'll make sure that her descendants have been Commanded to not attack.

The Queen has a place for Miku in her plans, but she has to wait until the time is right to give it to her.]

[rhythmiku]

[If only Miku could read bug minds. She'll just have to worry a little while longer. Although she's having fun too, despite that, and the longer she is not eaten the more confident she is in their budding friendship.]

Good, now all together!

[Miku intends to sing it as a duet now, the way it was intended. After that, she'll have considered it taught.]

[bugbytes]

[The Queen follows Miku's lead, having stored the previous musical patterns in her database. She analyzes the way she's singing and chirps along to match her speed.

She's a quick learner and loves a good challenge, so she's enjoying this rare break from violence.]

[rhythmiku]

[well in that case, this can go on until the Queen knows the whole song and can sing it together with Miku! It is a weird cover that only tells half the story in either language, but damned if it isn't (terrifyingly) endearing.]

[one_dynamite_gal]

[And just like that. She can sniff out a cy-bug as if it were a fresh baked pie.

Something wasn't right, she knew something wasn't right. Had the beacon not been lit? Tamora loaded her rifle and got going to the tower.]

Filthy cybugs... I know you're here.

[it was another sense she possessed in her code. She could just sense them. Sense.... the mama.]

YOU DON'T KNOW HOW EXCITED I AM TO SEE A CALHOUN

[bugbytes]

[The Beacon had been lit, but as the final boss, the Queen posessed a few advantages the regular Cy-Bugs didn't have.

For starters, she regenerated every game with all of her memories intact. Even though she can't speak English, she's essentially a normal character. Secondly, her scripted death at the hands of the First-Person Shooter involved her tumbling off the top of the Tower, sending her smashing to the harsh landscape 99 stories below. If the gamer didn't reach her rooftop, which they didn't always manage to do, her children did their jobs well, then she would fly to her doom into the shining Beacon, but as soon as it faded out, she would reappear back in the center of the rooftop, so that she could get back to work replenishing the game's supply of Cy-Bugs.

She knew Calhoun well, they had quite a bit of history together.

After all, she had sent a certain gift to the Sergeant's first wedding.

Calhoun's rage towards the Cy-Bugs extended even after gameplay, so the Queen knew that the Sergeant wasn't going to play nicely.

The Queen crouches down, preparing for the approaching conflict. Even if Calhoun blasted her into smithereens, she could avenge a few of her children before being forced to regenerate.]

THE MAMA BUG LOOKS LIKE THE QUEEN FROM ALIENS. OMG I LOVE HER

[one_dynamite_gal]

[Yeah... the mother. She was the problem. If it weren't for HER then there would BE no more disgusting Cy-bugs. She'd sen enough damage at the hands of her kind. She'd sworn herself to a life of ridding them of theirs. Except Cy-bugs had an uncanny sort of immortality. Their mother was as much of a character as the Sergeant and unfortunately her belly was always full of eggs. As long as she lived... Tamora's war against Cy-bugs would never end. Or rather her war against A Cy-bug and her hideous offspring. She wouldn't dignify them with the term babies.

As soon as she lay eyes on the bug, her eyes narrowed. She was ready to fire but she went ahead and snapped the safety on and off again loudly, proclaiming her preparedness.]

OMG I KNOW, RIGHT? SHE'S AWESOME!

[bugbytes]

[The Sergeant does her job well, thanks to the efforts of her and her team of Space Marines, only once has one of her children escaped the oppressive confines of Hero's Duty, and that was only due to the intereference of an outsider. However, that same outsider had brought doom to her descendants and new general in Sugar Rush.

Even though their efforts had been thwarted, it was not for nothing, for she had learned more about what was out there beyond her violent and scary game. One didn't get much news and information when the rest of your gamemates rather shoot first and talk later.

The Queen has several eggs ready to be laid, however it would be a waste of time to place them down until several hours later in the night, since her children grow quickly and the Space Marines shoot just as fast. If she didn't save them for later, there wouldn't be any targets for the first game in the morning. While she's not thrilled about her lot in life, it keeps her in a home and alive. If she refused to lay eggs at all, the game would be unplugged, taking her with it.

In response to Calhoun's declaration of war, the Queen hisses threateningly. She's trapped up on top of the Tower, there's not really anywhere for her to go, except to the levels below. She is capable of flight, but her large size would make an easy target for the Space Marines scattered below.

She'd rather not fight with Calhoun and get a painful Game Over, but if the Sergeant insists on it, she's gonna get the fight she obviously wants.]

SO AWESOME. PERFECT FOIL FOR CALHOUN TOO. RIPLEY AND HER HAVE A LOT IN COMMON

[one_dynamite_gal]

[Her men had learned to shoot first and ask questions never. Tamora had learned to stop asking things like "Why" and "how".

It was a blemish on her personal record, in her own eyes if not in reality, that a Cy-bug had escaped her game. And now it had knowledge of another game. She figured the queen now thirsted for tastes of the rest of the games in the power strip.

One could argue her role in this, that without the mother bug, there would be no Hero's Duty and no Sergeant Calhoun and... no Felix. No... no Felix...

This was a stupid train of thought. Of course there were Cy-bugs. She just took her job seriously. Tamora didn't waste time on petty daydreams like that. And what did the Cy-bug expect, that the good Sergeant would just shrug and leave the tower now? Did she EVER back out of anything she thought might contain even a piece of a cybug? Especially since she knew that mama would be laying eggs tonight, she HAD to off her as fast as possible.

She aimed her rifle and fired a few shots into the dark.]

THEY REALLY DO! COMES WITH THE TERRITORY OF BEING AWESOME SPACE LADIES

[bugbytes]

[The good Sergeant was right about the Queen's tastes. She was aiming high, for her goals were to make the entire arcade her and her children's territory. She was aware of the dangers that lurked in Sugar Rush for her descendants, so, perhaps, next time, they'd start somewhere different, somewhere without a Beacon.

It was a shame, though. She had sensed all the different, delicious tastes of Sugar Rush through the Hivemind, along with all the memories of food eaten by the false King that had unwittingly become her general.

The Queen hungered for freedom and for conquest. She had been designed as a machine of war and she wanted to take up the mantle of command for something more than a neverending game of battle with the Space Marines.

She knows she's simultaneously the most important character and the most expendable one in Hero's Duty. The Space Marines would not let her escape to freedom if the game was to be unplugged, so if she didn't play her part, she would die. If she did play her part, then she and her children died a thousand Game Overs again and again, day in and day out. Every single day death and failure was her mantle, even if her army defeated the First-Person Shooter, the Space Marines activated the Beacon that ensured their victory. No matter what, she was in a lose-lose situation.

The Queen didn't expect the Sergeant to leave, it was their destiny to forever be locked in combat. The Queen had slaughtered one Calhoun had loved, Calhoun destroyed countless numbers of the Queen's children. They each had a score with each other that would never be settled. There was too much bad blood between them and both were too stubborn to back down.

Her four green eyes shine through the darkness as Calhoun fired at her. The Queen wasted no time in screeching out a battle cry and charging rapidly at the Sergeant.

While Calhoun has her instincts and her helmet radar to track the Queen, the Queen's domain is darkness and she is constantly cloaked in it. Her size betrays her speed, if she desires, she can be quick and exceedingly deadly.

However, the same could be said of the Sergeant.]

SHE SHOULD SEE THIS MOVIE.....WHY ARE WE STILL YELLING?

[one_dynamite_gal]

[You know... normally this is where you might start to feel sympathy for the villain. Some empathy for their horrid plight, understanding why they do what they do. Desperation, loneliness, misery.

Tamora had exactly zero of those things. The Cy-bug was a disgusting creature with no humanity and they had to be destroyed. Every one she saw did not leave her sight alive. Not after Brad... oh no. Bad thought, bad thought. Don't go there, Tammy...

Nevermind, it was too late. She got to thinking about the ruined wedding and Brad disappearing into the Cy-bug's mouth only to reappear in it's contorted face...

And she opened fire again, aiming at those green lit eyes. Cy-bugs were fast, faster than most things she'd ever faced. And the queen had to have learned by now that she was too.

With a hoarse cry she fired a whole magazine in the area in front of the mama bug, aiming for where she thought she was going to be rather than where she was.]

YES, YES SHE DOES. ...BECAUSE IT'S EXCITING?

[bugbytes]

[The Queen does what she does because she's programmed to do it. And that's meant in more that one way. The coding the programmers bestowed upon her gave her part in the game and the backstory they gave her was of that of a mechanical, self-replicating, monster. You can't mess with the program and the Queen didn't really want to. The only changes she'd make to things would make things easier for her goals.

The only understanding the Queen has of humans is of war. She picked up some knowledge when she devoured the computers, but, that didn't really include human matters. She doesn't have sympathy or understanding for her adversaries, just that they need to be destroyed. The scientists wanted a robot to use for military functions, and they got it even better than expected.

The Queen had gone above and beyond her programming and she had made modifications to it by eating devices around the lab, and that's why her and Calhoun are here today. If she had behaved, the scientists would have used her and the rest of the Cy-Bugs in battles deemed by the highest bidders. However, the Queen had taken things into her own claws and started her own war.

She remembered Calhoun's wedding almost as well as the Sergeant did, though her memories started at the end of things. Unfortunately, since Brad wasn't a fully-implemented character, the Queen's knowledge of him is limited.

The Queen's hide is thick and she can take a lot more damage than any other Cy-Bug. It takes at least 3 people, including the gamer controlling the First-Person Shooter, to even think about defeating her. However, Calhoun is one of the few, aside from a good gamer, that can really do a good amount of damage to her.

Most of Calhoun's shots hit their mark and the Queen screeches in pain. She decides to change her tactic a bit, raising up on her hind legs and reaching out her left middle claw to strike at the Sergeant.]

GOOD LORD I HAVE RETURNED WITH REAL INTERNET

[one_dynamite_gal]

<sub>[ooc: I meant to announce that before but I kind of forgot. I had a ghost net signal that was not very reliable up until yesterday. I didn't mean to drop you I am so sorry! /throws self on the floor before the court]

Oh don't start applying a will and a conscience to the CY-BUGS now. They were heartless lifeless eating machines whose only goal was to make more disgusting world-destroying cy-bugs. It made her want to wretch. Hmph. YOU having a change of heart after a change of code? Never.

And don't.... don't waste yourself with any sob story. She knew the reports, she'd read them countless times over after Brad was...

Anyway. Yes, shooting. Firing... She jumped back in an attempt to avoid that claw. You won't get her just yet. She loved that screeching though. Every time she heard it she soothed just a bit more inside over Brad's death.

Let's have a few more rounds to that exposed belly, eh Queen? Sound good? Sounds good.</sub>

HUZZAH! WELCOME BACK!

[bugbytes]

[[OOC: No worries at all, I'm glad you've got Internet now and I'm glad you're back! ^_^]]

[The Queen roars out in pain as Calhoun's shots find their mark and she calls off her attack, lowering herself to the ground without slashing out. The Sergeant wasn't in her striking range, anyway.

She suddenly changes tactics and scuttles backwards quickly, her new plan was better executed at a further range.

Once she's in position, the Queen raises up slightly and fires three bursts of yellow energy blasts right at Calhoun. They're not terribly strong, a single shot from Calhoun's gun can eliminate them, so if she's quick, she can destroy them all without getting a single scratch.]