AKUDAMA test DRIVE

Welcome to the test drive for

akudamax! Events and locations used in this test drive meme are unique to the meme.
They represent the game in spirit but are not considered game canon. Please enjoy!

ARRIVE
In the blink of an eye, you are somewhere you weren't supposed to be - unless by sheer coincidence you happened to be wandering the streets of Dotonbori. Regardless, you're in cyberpunk land now, and your crimes are beamed all over the city to warn its citizens of your presence. They call you by a strange title. You are avoided. Fortunately, a lot of the places here are self-automated, so you shouldn't have too much trouble gathering information from robots - as long as those robots aren't police robots. You'll have a little time to bump into others in the same situation first, but eventually they'll try to round you up.... best to decide if you're going to hide, run or fight.

THRIVE
Somehow, you've managed to avoid capture long enough to slip out of the laser eyes of the law - and you've wound up in another part of the city with fewer warnings of your presence. This is Shinsaibashi, an enormous shopping district. The vast array of establishments provide a good opportunity for procuring a disguise, or other useful goods. If nothing else, it's a little bit of peace to regroup.... or to rob some rich people before they find you again. Very few people carry cash, so you might wind up 'borrowing' a seal if you go that route. But I mean, they're calling you a criminal anyway, right? What's a few more crimes?

CONNIVE
While living large in Shinsaibashi and trying to figure out what's going on, you've wound up with a group of your fellow Akudama inside of the underground shopping mall, Crysta Nagahori, which seemingly lined the sides of a subway... but currently it is dark and abandoned. A bit spooky, but it seemed like a good idea at the time. Suddenly, though, decrepit hologram projectors flicker to life, showing strange cartoon stick puppets of a pink bunny and a blue shark just bouncing about. The image occasionally glitches because of the faulty technology, making them look even creepier. And worse, they begin to talk - and being children's cartoon characters this sounds exactly as patronizing as you'd imagine.

"Hey Sharkie!"
"Yeah, Bunny?"
"These new X-Class Akudama are making way too much of a fuss, aren't they!"
"You said it, buddy! Just look at all these teeeeeeerrible things they did in the past week or so!"

A photo slides up from the bottom, with a funny sound effect, as it floats behind the little puppets who flip around to make horrified expressions. Several others follow from different sides, as if stacking up. The photos are of all of the X-Classes doing crimes in Kansai. Some of them, you might remember, if you actually did some crimes. Others not so much. The photos also make a point of showing off the flashy abilities they may have.

"I've seen a lot of things, Bunny, but organized Akudama? I didn't even think they were smart enough for that!"
"Well, you're not too bright yourself, Sharkie... ANYWAY, it's a big problem, so it needs big guns! We're still rebuilding after the Executioners turned out to be such bad ol' meanies, after all. Here's what the cops have to say!"
"Oh, I know! They said... ANY Akudama who kills one of these X-Classes will immediately get a full pardon for being on the side of justice now!"
"Of course, that includes the X-Classes themselves. It's possible that SOME of them are just here by mistake, even if they're mostly part of a big conspiracy! This is their chance to prove that to everyone! Yaaay!"
"But... don't they get some other kind of prize for doing that too?"
"You're right! They'll also get a whole basket of fruit!"
"WHOA! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MUCH THAT WOULD COST!? NOW THAT'S LUXURY!!"
"Anyway, this offer only lasts a week, before we really get serious."

Bunny's voice deepens as it comes menacingly closer to the screen with its face in a dark shadow at that last part. Then it immediately bounces back and holds hands with Shark. Together, they bow.

"That's it for now! We're looking forward to the redemption arcs! Buh bye!"

Well... this is an awkward time to be in a place with a bunch of other X-Classes, isn't it?? What will you make of these freaks?

SURVIVE
a) It's been a while since the announcement, and whether you left the mall or not... now, you feel like you're being watched. Suddenly, you catch a glimpse of a laser. The person hunting you is the Super S-Class Akudama 'Sniper' - but if he has his way, he won't be called that for long. You'd better take cover and figure out where he is, FAST. Just getting away from him probably won't be enough.

b) Maybe killing isn't a big deal to you. Maybe you're hungry and that fruit looked really good. Maybe you just want to get the target off your own back. But for whatever reason... you've decided to go for the pardon. This too, you decide, is a form of survival. Now, how will you try to get another X-Class alone to go for the kill?

STRIVE
The week is almost over, but you've finally found what you need to move forward.

a) You have been approached by a talking cat, who upon further assessment is a hologram. The cat says he snuck in to advise you, since the plan went wrong. It turns out there really was a conspiracy - the mysterious person operating this cat offered a huge reward, enough that you agreed to come to this world and help him overthrow the government. It was memory loss the whole time... Now it's time to reach out to your apparent co-conspirators and figure out how you feel about being in yet another recycled Kodaka plot device.

b) Way to go, you managed to off someone, and now you've been invited to a special chamber to receive your fruit basket - and probably more importantly, your pardon. Others who did the same thing are with you. 3 Holographic Noh masks surround your lot, floating in golden rays and looking very grandiose. They are pleased with your work. So pleased, in fact, they've decided to hire you to do this sort of thing full time. Work for them, and with your abilities you could even be treated like superheroes.... As they drone on, you begin to feel strange, unnatural bliss, and see strange colors and lights. They must not trust you that much, if they're trying to brainwash you. It's not easy to resist, though. You'll have to work together to fight off the effects.

CONTRIVE
The wild card epilogue option! This test story is all fake anyway. Why don't you decide how it ends?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[She's almost hesitant to leave the bike. If anything else happens, she's sure she couldn't get away without it, and she's not entirely sure if this new place is safe.

But motorcycles weren't made with little girls in mind, as it didn't take long for Debbie to feel uncomfortable sitting on the vehicle, so she does move eventually.

She makes no comment about Jake's giant man paws. Any comfort is appreciated as she tries her best to stifle her own tears.]

That's...that's not gonna be the last time, is it? People are gonna keep trying to kill us, aren't they?

_{[He flinched.

It actually hurt to see that what he'd wrought caused this to happen. But now wasn't the time for regrets.]}

...If it isn't, I'll make sure nothing happens to you or the other kids.

I had a little brother. I won't fail you like I did him.

[That...actually surprises her a little bit. Not the first part, but that he had a little brother. Had.

Huh.]

Thank you.

I'm...I'm sorry about your brother. I know what it's like. Losing a sibling.

[She's still not entirely sure what sororicide is, but at this point? Others can probably put a few pieces together.]

...I'm sorry too.

_{[He sat back on his bike's seat, unconsciously rocking back and forth.]}

[She nods and joins him in sitting, but chooses the ground instead. She didn't pay for these pants, so she doesn't mind the dirt.

Her gaze sticks to the direction they had come from. A question is on her mind.]

Do you think the others got out okay?

_{[His head lifted as he came back down to Earth.]}

They- _{[He had to pick his words carefully. After all, what'd happen if they found out it was him who planted the dynamite? Deliberately picking places where he thought no one would go?]} We'll find out when we get back. But... we'll just have to hope.

Edited 2021-07-31 23:55 (UTC)

[Another small nod and a whispered "okay." She keeps staring in the direction of the explosions. Thinking about things.

She didn't usually wear boys clothing. Even with the occasional hand me down, with Beverly that just meant more clothing meant for girls for Debbie. Simple as that, really.

But girls clothing had terrible pockets. She'd seen the difference between her own and Steven's or Curtis' clothes. Get a good pair of pants, and you could stick an entire arm in a pocket. A lot more useful when you had things to hide-especially in Debbie's case now.

She was able to pocket about three knives from that shop before the guy behind the counter got too suspicious of her and she had to run off. And after that stuff? Explosions and uncertainty of whether or not she would live? She had no intention of ever giving them back.

She sighs as she rests her head on her knees, holding them close to herself. Sometimes, it's best to just stay silent.]

TDM

AKUDAMA test DRIVE

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