The Eclipser Scramble

"Okay, I think we lost those ladies," Dacos said as he and Maika ran up the balcony stairs.

"Well, maybe if I didn't have to wait for your telekinetic butt to come out of the restroom, they wouldn't have recognized me, you buffoon!" Maika shouted.

"Don't pin this on me, Colonel! When I gotta go, I squat where I want! How was I supposed to know that Dr. Niang would recognize you? At least I was able to launch a toilet at her to buy us time! You're welcome!"

"Ugh! You're a moron. You have no concept of being world-centered! Our stealthy escape is jeopardized because of your self-centeredness of going to a freakin bathroom!"

"Now don't start giving me another one of Fanghui's Kneapexist lectures! I never understood a thing!"

"You have no IQ. No IQ! You know that?"

"You calling me stupid?"

When the two villains were near the door to the roof, they spotted Isrina jumping on a wall to launch herself at them, kicking Dacos. The psychic agent recoiled on Maika, sending both flying out of the roof door. Maika slid facedown as Dacos landed on her back before rolling to the side.

"Idiot!" Maika slapped the agent.

"Ouch! Really?" Dacos scratched his head. "Stop blaming everything on me!"

As the two scoundrels stood up, Isrina cartwheeled towards them from the stairs. The two quickly jumped away before Isrina could stomp them with her foot, making a crack on the rooftop. Maika drew her Shin-Kaminari blade, activating the handle surrounded by a circular needle to reveal a thin needle sword. In response, Isrina drew her UICA laser-edged sword, pressing a button to activate the metal blade. Dacos then placed his hands on the ground to summon a large rock in the air, launching it at Isrina. Isrina backflipped away while the colonel jumped away from the rock's rampage.

"Agent Dacos!" Maika yelled. "What the hell is wrong with you? Can't you aim well?"

"Uhh, sorry, Colonel! I, uh -oof!"

Isrina kicked Dacos in the face. She then pinned him down with a volley of punches. Dacos opened his hand to send Isrina flying with an air blast. The psychic agent lifted his hands upwards to wrap up the rooftop's fence into a large horn, sending it to attack Isrina. Isrina spun to her right dodging the projectile before landing.

"What are you here for?" Isrina demanded as she faced the two villains.

"Ah, my old nemesis. That's none of your concern," Maika launched a spinning star of needles from her blade at Isrina.

Isrina deflected the star back with her blade as Dacos faced his palms to summon a gust of wind towards her. She found herself forced in the air towards Maika's direction. Maika attempted to slash her at the right moment, but Isrina blocked the attack and jumped away from Daco's cyclone.

"This takes me back to our chase many years ago. You remember, don't you, Dr. Niang?" Maika chuckled. "The Desert Cardinal who defended her son in a backpack. You're still as ferocious as ever, red birdie. How's your, little chickadee?"

Isrina didn't say a word. It already aggravated her enough to see the Shin-Kaminari Colonel Maika of the Global Federation of World Justice once again. Along with General Hernamidos and the mysterious droid named Zentroid Crucifyzoa, Maika pursued the Niangs and the remnants of the Arabian Separatists throughout Europe. Isrina still hated those times. Why did she and the survivors have to run alone to protect her "little chickadee" while the European governments did nothing to help them?

As the questions stormed through her mind, she glared at the two villains, clutching her sword. Dacos charged towards Isrina, blasting charges of air from his palms. Isrina approached the psychic agent, making speedy dodges from the blasts. Maika lunged at Isrina, clashing blades as the two clenched their teeth. While the two exchanged their sword techniques, Dacos summoned a pipe from the rooftop, spinning it in the air. The pipe then darted towards Isrina. Isrina elbowed Maika to duck from the pipe, continuing to attack Maika afterward. However, the pipe boomeranged back at her again. She didn't notice the pipe until spotting General Saitori holding the pipe behind her. The general then threw the pipe at the psychic agent like a spear. Agent Dacos stopped the pipe in midair, held it, and swung it around him like a staff.

"Better watch yourself, Desert Cardinal!" Saitori drew her metal sword with a teal laser edge.

"Saitori!" Isrina stepped on Maika's foot before kicking her off. "Thanks for the help."

"Just like old times! I feel a bit younger already!"

"But, Saitori! I am an old frog!"

As Dacos charged at Saitori with his pipe staff, out of the doors was President Cecilius landing in front of Dacos and stopping the attack with his blade edged with gray plasma. The UICA president cut the pipe in two, making Dacos retreat next to Maika. Cecilius then stood by Saitori and Isrina.

"Showtime's over, Maika!" Cecilius pointed his blade at the colonel. "I warned you to leave us alone!"

"Been a long time, old man," Maika spat out. "I just couldn't help myself."

Dacos faced his hands at the three, launching a psychic wind at them. The three recoiled on the floor while Dacos made his two pipe staff pieces levitate. The pipe pieces merged to become one, floating beside Dacos and Maika as they faced the three. Dacos bent the air in front of him to make a transparent staff made of heavily dense air. A legendary brawl between Isrina, Saitori, Cecilius, and Maika, Dacos, and the floating staff ensued. After five minutes of endless acrobatics and clashing blades, the booming vibration of a helicopter could be felt.

"About time," Maika grinned, blocking Isrina's blade.

A blue helicopter flew in front of the brawl, blasting spinning air around. Isrina, Saitori, and Cecilius covered their faces with their elbows before seeing the helicopter hover behind Dacos and Maika. Out of the side doors stood a black, rabbit-eared siganus crusader droid preparing its sleek, glowing rifle.

"Fire!" Maika pointed her blade at her enemies.

As the droid obeyed the colonel's command, the three UICA members struggled to block the laser rounds with their laser-rounded blades. Dacos turned his air staff into a spear, launching it along with his floating pipe staff at the UICA president. However, Isrina charged at the psychic agent, slicing down the two projectiles, before kicking Dacos in the stomach.

Cecilius took the opportunity to charge at the colonel, but Maika jumped away from him onto the chopper beside the droid. Meanwhile, Dacos was being kicked around by Isrina.

"Ugh," Maika turned to another siganus crusader droid. "Save the agent."

The other droid jumped off the helicopter without question, charging towards Isrina with oppressive fire. While Isrina backflipped away from the droid's attack, Dacos swiftly jumped onto the chopper, almost falling out. The firing droid then pulled him in. President Cecilius slashed at the droid on the rooftop, but it skillfully backflipped its way up onto the helicopter.

"It's been a real blast!" Maika shouted at the three UICA members. "Oh, Desert Cardinal! Tell your precious little chickadee that I say hi!"

Isrina clenched her teeth while the booming blades of the helicopter vibrated air at her and the others, making them cover their faces.

***

"Haha!" Dacos laughed as the blue chopper slowly turned away. "So long, suckers! America can't save you now! You're all so screwed!"

The telekinetic agent stuck his hands and tongue out, making noises.

"What do you think you're doing, you dingbat?" Maika slapped Dacos in the helicopter.

"Ouch! Really?" The psychic agent brushed his shoulder.

"Don't you ever take anything seriously? I had to send a droid out to save your stupid butt from the Desert Cardinal! If that droid was destroyed, those UICA cronies will use it as evidence!"

"Uh," Dacos picked his ear. "Sorry, Colonel. What was that?"

"This is the last time I ever work with you, Agent Dacos!" Maika spat at Dacos as the chopper flew away from the WARBLER Center.

"Technically, it was your first?"

"Congratulations. You can count. Now just shut up."

***

"No," Isrina deactivated her blade with the others. "We lost Maika, again."

"Dammit!" Saitori stammered. "If only she didn't have that psycho man and a whole chopper full of droids, I could've slugged her!"

"Calm yourselves, ladies," Cecilius said. "Let's not worry about Maika now. But we have more pressing matters to deal with."

"Right. Whatever Maika placed in the internet core," Saitori scratched her head. "Dorian and Niode are checking it out, but we can't contact them since none of our devices work."

"Oh no," Isrina attempted to call Shien with her phone. "My phone's just giving me a scrambled picture. We won't be able to make contact with the players! My little chickadee…"

"Dr. Niang," Cecilius placed his hand on her shoulder. "I am sure Shien is fine for now. However, we need to find a way to stop whatever Maika inserted into our core. We must check with Ms. Cazeium and Mr. Shuruuko."

The three ran down the stairs from the rooftop.

"But now that the Federation has declared us to be villains," Saitori suggested. "How can we announce the truth? Now that all UICA products are down?"

"Yes, that's another issue," Cecilius said. "I can't even contact President Forroway."

As the three continued to look for Dorian and Niode, they looked out a window to see the streets full of protest. Some of the people were holding signs full of either anti-UICA or pro Kneapexist pictures. A number of them were also carrying their unconscious loved ones with their visors stuck in the Syanic Earth.

"Down with the UICA!"

"Save us, Fanghui!"

"China will save us!"

"You did this to my family!"

"Screw you, UICA! Where are my children?"

"Oh my god," Isrina placed her hand on her mouth as the people began to angrily throw bottles at buildings around them. "How will we ever tell them the truth now?"

Cecilius couldn't bear to watch the people in chaos, swinging posters of the Chinese Kneapexist Party's symbol, the five stars of China over a minotaur's skull. He walked forward to place his head on the wall, trying to absorb everything that's happening.

"President?" Saitori asked. "Are you okay?"

"Ugh, not really," Cecilius slowly stood back up. "But all we can do is find a way to stop the Cybertrap, and find another way to let the people know the truth."

"Guys!" The three spotted Dorian shouting from a hallway with Niode behind her.

"Ah! Ms. Cazeium," Cecilius greeted. "I apologize your time interning today had to come to this."

"No worries, President," Dorian popped her computer up. "I just thought I could use my brains to help out."

"It's chaos out there!" Niode panicked, flailing his hands out. "People are already rioting all over the place waving those Chinese Kneapexist symbols! What in blazes-"

"Calm yourself, Mr. Shuruuko," The UICA president interrupted. "We will figure this out. Ms. Cazeium, could you describe the problem?"

"Yes, I plugged into the core, safely extracting a virus sample. I then analyzed the digital substance with my laptop."

"Wait, your computer works?" Saitori pointed out.

"Uh, yeah. My computer isn't a UICA product. My parents gave me this laptop for Christmas when I was ten. I've been customizing it for quite some time."

"Then that means," Saitori gasped. "The only way to communicate with each other would be to use non-UICA devices!"

"Okay. We solved that issue," Cecilius gestured. "And what did you find in the core?"

"Well," Dorian began as she typed on her computer. "I don't know how to describe it, but it's some sort of scrambling barrier virus."

"What do you mean scramble?" Niode raised an eyebrow as the group walked together into the round room of the Syanic Earth crew.

"I believe the reason none of the UICA electronic products work is due to the scramble frequencies emitting from the virus present in the core."

"That would explain the scrambling from my phone," Isrina said as the Syanic Earth crew bumbled around the room anxiously to find possible solutions against the Cybertrap.

"Hmm, but how does that trap the players?" Niode asked.

"I hypothesize that the scrambling frequencies additionally serve as a program barrier," Dorian spoke as she showed the group her laptop.

Her computer revealed a tab of an extracted sample of the virus, showing black and white scrambling patterns of wavelengths.

"Thus, if this is a program barrier," Dorian adjusted her glasses. "I would make an educated inference that the barrier was meant to block the players' capabilities to log out."

"I see," Cecilius placed his hand on his chin. "But how could they have bypassed the firewalls?"

"I noticed that the virus originated from a rogue file named, Eclipser Scramble."

"Okay?"

"I assume Maika inserted the file to appear as a friendly maintenance file, and once past the firewalls, it opened to release the devastating malware."

"A trojan," Saitori noted. "So how do we stop the Eclipser Scramble?"

"Uh, I am uncertain if I have all the answers, but I am kinda theorizing that since this virus is a program, only another program can have any hope of countering it in any method."

"I guess that makes sense," Niode sat on a chair. "Can we do that?"

"Um, it's possible. However, the program file size of the virus is so vast that we would need a counter-program of equal or greater size and complexity. We would need more devices to connect with my laptop for more power so my computer doesn't overheat and explode. Otherwise, that's not going to work out very well."

"Damn," Isrina sat on the edge of a desk with a scrambled UICA computer. "But can we do anything?"

The group sat themselves down for a few minutes as Dorian continued to observe the sample of the Eclipser Scramble. Isrina began shedding a few tears, thinking about Shien.

"My… my little chickadee," Isrina sobbed. "Please be safe."

"Dr. Niang," Saitori hugged her. "We will find a way to save your son and the other players. I am sure we will figure something out of this mess."

"I work so hard… so hard to train him, and… and prepare him for the world… for anything. But… but now the Federation has… has locked him up… Why is this happening?"

"Dr. Niang," Cecilius sat next to Isrina. "We will do all we can to help those players including your son. I promise. Okay?"

Isrina nodded as Saitori gave her a napkin to blow her nose.

"I may have an idea!" Dorian suddenly stood up.

"Let's hear it," Cecilius stood up.

"Of course!" Dorian walked back and forth. "If you can't beat it, you have to be it!"

The others blankly stared at her.

"What do you mean?" Saitori asked.

"We got to think like the virus!" Dorian proposed.

"Eh, what?" Niode blinked a few times.

"Okay, guys. Please bear with me. This is going to sound crazy."

"Well, I am open to any crazy ideas at this point," Cecilius looked out the window to see the amoebic riot devour the streets.

"Kay, kiddos. Class is in session," Dorian began. "Remember how in calculus, you learned about the anatomy of wavelengths like frequency and amplitude?"

"No! Not Calculus!" Niode ruffled his fiery-shaped hair. "I hate calculus!"

"Easy, Mr. Shuruuko. I am not asking you to do a math problem. But you all notice that the Eclipser Scramble presents wavelengths of scrambling frequencies at relatively low amplitudes?"

Dorian showed her laptop to the group, pointing at the wave amplitudes fluctuating up and down from a straight horizontal line.

"Alright," Cecilius observed. "I believe I understand what you're saying so far."

"Good. I was thinking that we can make a large synthetic amplitude per period to briefly bypass the scrambling function to inject small programs into the Syanic Earth at a time."

Niode made a loud snore, falling asleep during Dorian's lecture. As Isrina cleared up her tears, Dorian lightly kicked his leg.

"Are you sleeping, Mr. Shuruuko?" Dorian snapped.

"Oh, uh. I was listening while sleeping!" Niode woke up. "You… you were proposing to uh… needle small programs via artificial amplitudes, correct?"

"That's right!" Cecilius cupped his fist on his other hand. "We can communicate with the players and make a program to bring them home!"

"Um, well," Dorian lifted a finger. "It won't be that easy. Remember, the program size traveling via synthetic amplitude has to be very small as simple command programs to fragmented instructions or sentences. Anything larger than that would get scrambled by the virus."

"So can we tell the truth to them?"

"We potentially could, but as I said, our message would need to be very simplistic or fragmented. Also, the sentences have to be coded with encrypted frequencies so the Eclipser Scramble doesn't clobber our counter programs. The problem is that people may be unable to receive or understand coded messages."

"The androids!" Niode snapped his finger. "The NPC droids can interpret coded frequencies, which is how they sense danger!"

"That's it," Cecilius said. "At least they would be able to get the messages. But we still need to make a counter-program to help the players escape. Ms. Cazeium, you said the programs have to be a simple command?"

"Yes," Dorian nodded. "Or like a simple programmed instruction for the game to read without getting scrambled during the injection."

"Like ending the virus?" Isrina asked.

"No, the game itself is infected. It cannot take a direct command on its own."

"Having the players trigger something?" Niode asked. "A trigger effect that stops the virus and frees everyone?"

"Sending a message so the players know what to trigger is possible since the command is not fully directed to the game."

"Have them beat a boss?"

"Can't be too specific. Needs to be vaguer to bypass the Eclipser Scramble."

"A random one?"

"The game in its infected state won't be able to make any choices."

"Have them beat the entire game," Cecilius proposed.

Everyone looked at him with pale faces, knowing that beating all the three enemy factions and their corresponding super bosses in the Syanic Earth has never been done before.

"It's the only way," Dorian agreed. "We can get started, but I would need to send small packages through the scramble barrier per 12 to 24 hour time periods to prevent my laptop from getting fried or recognized by the virus."

"It will be tough to do," Saitori said. "But we gotta."

"Well, it's about time those players began to pay attention to fighting the actual enemies we put so much effort into making!" Niode laughed.

"Don't say that!" Dorian elbowed him.

"Ms. Cazeium," Cecilius placed his hand on Dorian's shoulder. "You are a genius. Thank you."

"Of course, but I would need all of your help to begin. I will need more non-UICA electronic products for more power to create synthetic amplitudes."

"We will then do what we can to assist you, Ms. Cazeium," Cecilius nodded.

"I think we have some old electronic products in our stash," Saitori said. "We used those as blueprints to make our products. I can fetch those when needed."

"Excellent. I will ask Captain Arius to see if he can provide us time along with the other officer forces. Is he here?"

"Yes! Downstairs with Magnus and the other officers," Isrina pointed out.

"Good. I will tell him to set up the defenses we can muster at the American borders with the other commanders. That should give us time."

"But our weapons aren't fully tested or prepared for such combat yet!" Niode exclaimed. "The Shin-Kaminari have a droid army that we don't fully understand! This is crazy! What's wrong with this world! I never signed up to freakin-"

"Mr. Shuruuko, calm yourself. I understand your worries, but we need our prototype military to buy us time to progress with Dorian's plan. After all, Forroway always thought we have what it takes to make a stand against the Federation."

"Question," Saitori said. "If we send the androids the instructions, who would lead the players? I don't know if the androids themselves can handle news from reality."

"Hmm," Cecilius thought for a moment. "Are there any UICA members who can lead the players in the game?"

"Last time I remembered," Dorian pointed out. "I did see a few UICA members currently in the game before the Cybertrap. However, Mivangeline Shuruuko was the only one with any leadership skills as a commander in training."

"My… my daughter?" Niode gasped before restlessly walking forwards and backward. "She's in there? No, no! How did I miss that? Mivange!"

"I… I am so sorry, Mr. Shuruuko," Cecilius spoke. "But remember, we will use Dorian's plan to get your daughter and the others out. However, your daughter's time to lead has come."

"But she's not ready! She hasn't even finished her training!"

"There's a time for everything. And now, her time has come to step up. She's the only one who can lead the players in beating the game after we inject the counter program directive."

Niode crossed his arms, upset with the fact that the fate of the players rested on his daughter.

"Niode," Isrina placed her arm around him. "She won't be alone. The androids will help her too! And I am sure other players like my son will be willing to help her as well."

"Eh, sure, I guess," Niode grumbled, still concerned if his daughter would be up to the task.

"We all gotta work together," Cecilius advised. "Even amid a coming invasion, we're gonna help those players break free from the Cybertrap."

Niode lifted his head as everyone nodded.

"Oh no!" Isrina worried. "With an invasion coming, how can I get my little chickadee to a safer place?"

"Crap. That goes for my daughter as well, um," Niode snapped his fingers, thinking hard for about half a minute. "Ah! I can drive one of our prototype geococcoid runners at the back garage opposite the riot to get both my daughter and your son! Maybe, I can get Rahim to help as well since he and I are neighbors!"

"Are you sure that's wise?" Saitori asked. "I know the runner should be fast, but what if you get caught in the middle of the invasion?"

"I mean, come on. Rahim always anticipated that the Federation would come to America. He fought alongside you guys during the Niang Chronicles! Rahim has those creepy blade things that shred droids to pieces along with his swinging shotgun!" Niode swung his arms around. "His experience along with his super cool arsenal would also be advantageous if we ever hope to stand against the Federation."

Niode then turned to the UICA president.

"President," He cleared his throat. "I would love to stay to help, but I want to help our kids. Permission to leave?"

"Hmm," Cecilius thought. "It may be reckless, but... Well, Ms. Cazeium. How many people do you need to adequately assist you?"

"At best, just two would be more than enough to help me get the right appliances to boost my laptop's power to develop the amplitudes."

"Then," Isrina chimed in. "May I go with Mr. Shuruuko?

Cecilius nodded to Isrina.

"Of course," The UICA president said. "Permission granted, Mr. Shuruuko."

"Thank you, President Cecilius!" Isrina and Niode spoke at the same time.

"Of course, stay safe, you two."

As the two ran out of the circular room, Cecilius stood with Dorian and Saitori.

"And I will have to get Arius to buy us as much time as possible," The UICA president reminded himself as he walked down the stairs to find the officer forces.

"Okay, Dorian," Saitori scratched her hair. "Where shall we start?"

"Alrighty," Dorian cleared her throat. "Let's start at the device storage you were talking about."