trailstherobotfox

The Echo across the cloudy skies was loud and deafening. The sharp cracks of energy rippled from the heavens. The craft slumped lower in the sky as it drifted closer to the abandoned battlefield below.  The dugouts and trenches nearly painted the underside of the ship as its pilot fought the pull of gravity.
The pilot eventually relented, and his ship crashed in an opening of the trenches with an earthshattering thud.       Smoke bellowed from the capsule, as the figure scrambled to his feet out of the wreckage.  His hands sunken into the mud as he climbed above the trench into No man’s land.
The Smuggler squinted his eyes across the desolate ruins he had landed in. He had to get away.   He slid back down into the hole where his ship had crashed and removed a data bank from his cargo hold.  He climbed back up to spot a lone figure standing on the horizon.   Most of him was in shadow, the smuggler could only make out the man’s poncho and flat brimmed hat.  But that was all he really needed to know to understand that “He” was coming.
The smuggler darted down the trench while the Man with no name followed from above the network of tunnels. Stomping though the waterlogged routes, he tried to get away from the specter that was haunting him from a distance.
He continued to run, this time not looking back at his pursuer.  When he did finally turn back around, the man was gone.    The Smuggler smiled as he seemingly got away with his prize.    

That is until his pursuer spoke behind him.
“Arch Stanton.” The name of the Smuggler who had stolen the data bank from him.  The man’s hair blended into his brown Stetson with his beard unkempt and thick.
“No! You don’t understand, I was on my way to return it to you.” He pleaded as the Man with no name cornered him. The man flipped his poncho over his shoulder and put his hand on his belt.
“Give it back, Stanton. That’s all I want.”  Arch went for his gun knowing that the man knew the truth.  He had his gun, but the other man had blown a hole in his chest already with his.  
Arch crumbled to his knees. As the man walked over and put his hand on his shoulder.
“I’m Sorry.”    Those was the last words Arch would ever hear as he fell forward and died.
The Man picked up the fallen data bank out of the mud before digging a grave for his fallen foe.
He returned to his ship miles away. Kicking the mud off his boots as he boarded. Reinserting the databank into the main computer, the hologram projectors came back on with the image of a anthropomorphic fox with a disc on his back.
“Welcome home Trails.” The man said smiling as he took off his poncho to show a tattered blue jacket and stained shirt underneath.
“It’s good to be home, Author….”

It's been a hot minute since I wrote anything. I just thought I would come on here and try to give you an Update to where I've been all this time.

I started a new job at The Ark Encounter In Williamstown Ky and I have been working more there than I ever have before.  The past three days have worn me down so much that was crying with tears of joy when I saw that I was off for the weekend.   Its been a great time working for them however, this doesn't help me in the writing department. Heck, I haven't been much help either.  I might post something to try and warm myself back up to Author standerds but I just wanted to check in. To see if anyone actually is still here.

See you later 

So, It's official. I am old.  Its hard to believe that I have been alive for more than two decades.  And its only going to get better! (Or Worse)   Anyway. I wanted to check in with my heavily neglected Deviant art account.  
I makes me worried that I haven't been creating a lot lately.....MAYBE ITS MY UNCOMFORTABLE DESK CHAIR!  Or maybe not. Really, I think its just me being lazy.  I have had a lot on my mind.

Anyway, I'll try and write some more, I got this wonderful idea to rewrite the Inspector Gadget Movies.  I loved those growing up and its just the kind of passion project I need.

Later Man

Project Dolphin


The controller felt like the warm hands of a loved one, I held it dearly with both hands. The shape was instantly recognized by my hands and conformed to it long waited return. I haven’t played this in years.  And every day since the last time I pressed the power button, I calls to me in my dreams every night.  Its alien comfort embraces me in an unearthly ambience that only a younger version of me listened with an addiction.  
On some cold nights in my small bedroom that I shared with my younger brother, I would get up late at night, close the door to our room and sat down on the floor in front of my box television and pressed the power button.
And there in the dead of night, with my blanket enveloping me in a heavenly shroud of warmth and confront I saw the logo come together on the screen.  Nintendo GameCube.   I open the lid and chose whatever adventure awaited us.  
I had grown up since then, High school Graduate, College bound and working a job for the majority of my days, I have defiantly changed. Only recently have I opened the wooden trunk that I stored my valued processions and found my lost love.  I checked to see if all the cords were still there and to my delight they were.
I eagerly sprang to my bedroom TV and wired the outdated hardware.  Each move had been done on nearly every single TV my Relatives or family had come to own. I finally finished with the simple and quick task, when I realize that I had lost the controller. My heart sank, knowing that wouldn’t be able to do much without it.   I chose to start the system anyway to see if it still works even without the necessary component.
The startup jingle played to reach a black screen; the game crashed.
“I guess, the dust got to it before I did.”
I tried again with my air cleaner, removed the thick layer of the suffocating dust from the fan.  I tried it again. The Cube started up and arrived at the menu for the system itself.  The transparent cube bounced peacefully on screen against a black background. I looked back into the wooden crate and I found my old memory card.  Plugging that in as well really started to come back to me.  But it made a weird noise when I did.    The system fan sounded like I moaned with pleasure. I disregarded it and forgot.
Apparently, My Nostalgia had blinded me to the fact, The GameCube’s power cord had tripped the already struggling circuit breaker and all the lights in the apartment went out.  
I swore very loud after I tripped down on the bed posts to reach some kind of flashlight or even a decorative candle or something.  It was dark as dark could be. Until I saw a light reflecting in the window. It allowed me to find where my feet were and got me upright.  
When I finally saw where the light was coming from, I couldn’t believe it.  I tried the light switch in the others rooms to make sure the power was really out and it was.
So why was the GameCube still on?
The orange slice LED was the prime light source, shining brighter than it ever had before. The small cube sat there, the controller ports watched me like the eyes of a friend. I carefully moved around to get a better look at the console. The small lid opened with a hiss. Where once was the disc tray was no a dark and black hole inside the cherished device.
I then feel backwards when I discovered a hand come out of the machine. This as any other normal would send me flying to the roof in fear but in the dark, wouldn’t be able to navigate out of here fast enough if it wanted to give chase.
"Take my hand." she whispered.
I didn't know what to do, usually when something comes out of somewhere impossible asking for your hand, it isn't a good thing.  But that NEVER happens, well, until then that is.
"Come on! I can't keep this up." she pleaded as her hand became frantic for mine, then it disappeared back into the hole.
I had a feeling of Remembrance. She sounded familiar, like a long forgotten friend. I hesitantly moved my wrist nearby and leaned over the hole to get a better look.
"That's IT!" she yelled as she stretched her whole arm out of the machine and grabbed my by my collar. She certainly was a lot stronger than me, considering that she yanked me into the cube in one foul swoop.   I heard the disc lid close behind me, sealing me away inside.

The next thing I felt was me falling.  Just plain falling into an abyss of darkness. I could see myself fine however which made things even more confusing. Then more lights shone through the tunnel walls.  I started to approach another hole to a chamber.   I braced myself for the rough landing but something gently caught me and set me upright on my feet.   Its manor was tender and firm.
Still in shock, I managed to take a look around, still unsure of where I was exactly.  The room like the inside of a pumpkin, but in a shade of the deepest, richest blue I could imagine.  In the center of the room was a terminal of some sort. It stood proudly on its own level.
"It's about time. I thought I wasn't going to be able to get you in here." she said, finally revealing herself.   Her Purple hair and light blue eyes stuck me as she walked into the light. Her attire sort of bonded with her skin leaving no noticeable gap in-between. Her tan skin was fine and clean. She looked around 20, about two years older than I am, but her smile.  
She looked familiar and her presence did as well, then noticed what her clothes looked like.  She wore a GameCube as her chest.  My mind was going nuts trying to make sense of it all.
"I was afraid that you lost My Memory Card. I couldn't see myself not remembering you. Kyle"
"Wait, you're...No, You Can't be."
"I am. I been waiting for today, for a long time.  A chance to finally talk."
"But you’re the GameCube. How is that possible?"
"Well, (touching fingers together nervously) When a mommy computer and daddy computer love each other very much they....."
"Stop it , that’s not what I mean."
"Aren't all Video Game Consoles like this? How do you think they connect to the internet?  Surfing the Web?  It isn’t some kind of search engine, its literally my butt on a surf board in an ocean of YouTube videos and Deviant art posts."
"You don't connect to the Internet."
"I do it for fun. The cat videos are gnarly."
I watched her pretend to surf in place when she jumped up to the control station.
“Right, you probably want to know where you are, right?  Only if you promise not to freak the freak out. Ok, I’ve been around for the last 15 years of your life so I should know how excited you get.”
By the way she set it up, I didn’t think I wanted to know, But the curiosity nearly ate me up.
“You are inside me.  Technically speaking, the Cube shell, but then again I am sort of the shell so yeah.” she looked worried that this would get me scared for my life.  She really tried to make it less of a Morality thing.
"Yep, I sort figured that one out when YOU DRAGGED ME INSIDE A BOX!"
"YEAH, WELL; WHY DID YOU LEAVE ME IN ONE?"

I became quiet for moment or two.  It was obvious she was crying by the tears on her face. I did abandon her, didn't I?  Everyone kept on telling me to grow up and they kept on making newer Video Games and she sort of fell behind.   She sniffed up her tears and turned back around.
"When I was with you Kyle, I didn't feel outdated.  If I made you happy, then I accomplished my purpose. I remembered how lonely you were. The last friends you tried to make chased you out of their yard.  At the time, I belonged to your older Cousins, until they dropped me off on your doorstep on Christmas Morning.   I thought you were too young to play with me and the unfortunate luck of being your babysitter, but as I watched you grow,  I grew with you.  We both helped each other.  It was me and you against everyone else and their fancy top of the line Video games."
I hugged her.
"I'm sorry. I'm so very sorry.  We both know how it is.  Sometimes things get in the way." he wiped a tear off her face.
" Do you remember the first thing I said to you when we first met? I said as I unwrapped the paper that you were the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.  I meant it.  I meant everything single Victory and defeat we shared at the hands of the Bad guys, at every beaten level and all the time we spent, doing nothing at all."
We sat down and confessed what we had did since we had parted ways 5 years ago.  She told me about doing all the things we liked to do by herself. Then it was my turn, when I began my spiel on College and the field I majored in.
“What is Electronic Engineering?”
“Well, you know how Manufactures hardwire computers and appliances together and then program them with a new Operating System.  That’s what I’m going to do. I got that from you. And the Other systems I have played.”
She gave a look that she was going to regret asking me.  
“What other games did you play?”
God, why did she have to ask that question? Out of all the questions, she had to ask. It’s like your ex asking you about all the other girlfriends you had.
“Well, you know of the Wii, then I played that for a while, then The N64, my brother got an Xbox 360 for Christmas. And recently….”
“Well?”
I knew she wasn’t going to like what I would say next. She had been at odds with this machine since she was made.  An honestly deep rivalry that spanned my section of The Console Wars.
“The PlayStation 2”
SMACK! Her hand skimmed across my face.
“OW!  If it makes you feel any better, The PlayStation One kept on breaking down on me. I had to trick someone into buying that piece of crap.”
“You really saved your butt on that one.  But I’m still mad. And I’m sure you had so much fun on them didn’t you. High quality graphics, internet gimmicks and wonders of technology. Yeah, you couldn’t resist could you?” She crossed her arms.  I was sure she didn’t want to hear another word.  
“And they all had one problem.”
I was able to turn her around.
“They weren’t you.”
She had frozen, then looked down in shame. “I’m sorry for hitting you.” She rubbed the part of my face were the red hand mark was still stinging.
“How is your Brother and Sister anyway?”
“They’re fine, he’s a freshmen in High school now, and she helps him while studying for her senior courses.  They have changed too.  She wants to be an Investigator and he’s still deciding.”
She looked at me and then watched as the elevator fell to the platform.  She walked me over and placed me on it.  
“It would be selfish of me to keep you here, Morning is coming.  Just don’t forget about me ok?”  She said as I tried to get off the rising floor but it had already left the room she was in.
The next thing I knew I was back at home, sitting on my bed as the disc lid closed shut by the TV. The good thing was that it was morning.  I had to been in there all night.  The Cube looked degraded in the morning sun and I saw how the color faded from not receiving attention.
I went down the stairs to the kitchen and made a beeline for the refrigerator.  While I was in there I checked the time.  10:56 am.   In twenty minutes, I had to submit my application for a local video game store.   So, I got cleaned up from the sleepless night i had and got to my car which was waiting for me in the garage.  
The entire drive to hopefully my future job, I continuously thought about her.    I didn't have the resources to upgrade or even restore her properly.  My words meant nothing the minute I left.     That killed me most of all.
The store was lovingly labeled 'Dolphin games'.  It was an odd name for an odd man.  My potential boss. Mister Honeda.  A wise old programmer from gaming’s past.  Although he really put me though the ringer that first time I met him.
"You tell me a  launch title for Nintendo Entertainment System."
"Uh, Gryomite?"
"What was Nintendo 64's project name? Hmm?"
"Ultra 64. Look I came for the...." the crazy old man interrupted me once more.
"What Game system you enjoy most?" he crossed his arms and awaited my answer.   It was a no brainer. My answer was finally one that I knew was right.
"GameCube."
The shop clerk smiled.  
"Finally, someone with class.  Usually, nowadays guys come in here telling me, Xbox or PlayStation or even Game Gear. But you have to be the first one to ever pass my little test."
"Wait, what happened to your Won ton accent a few seconds ago?"
"One, that’s racist. And Two I don't Care; Ha ha ha. People come in, seeking Sensei Honeda, No?  So I just put on an act to get them not to ask too many questions.  Enough about me.  Tell me about you, Kyle Preston."
"How do you know my name?"
"I have a little bird when I comes to finding the right employee.  She phoned ahead of you."
"Who did?"
“I have to tell you something.  I was the lead programmer for Project Dolphin at Nintendo.   I remember very clearly writing most of the code while someone else did the other.”
I became frustrated about how he tiptoed around answers, before I realized who he really was.
“You created the GameCube?”
“Of course, I was just as sad as you were to see it go.  Not that it matters nowadays, everyone’s into faster computers, better graphics and more cheap thrills than quality performance.”
The older man walked back behind the counter holding a VHS tape.  The magic marker lettering spelled down the side of the tape on masking tape. He put the home movie away on the shelf before turning around.  He bent down to the storage space below the counter.  
“So what was the job actually?”  I had no idea what he was going to push me into but it was evitable none the less.
“I needed someone to do inventory and sales. But also something else.  Something far more interesting,   I’m sure you know of the Console Fighters Championship yes?”
“A bit but isn’t that the event where they pit Video game systems against one another.”

“That’s right.  In my time, they used to bicker on the internet on numerous websites but they never had a ‘written in stone’ answer.  So they had decided upon using modern robotics to emulate the Technical hardware and pit it against the other and thus Console fighting was born. Then as time moved on, people found more practical uses for consoles instead them getting torn to bits in the ring.”
“So how does this involve me?”
“I need someone to sponsor in a match. I’m getting too old for this sort of thing and I needed someone who was just a passionate about this as I am, not only you will be my operator for Dreamy. I need you as my apprentice.”
I could tell you one thing, the gray of his hair hid how quick he was. He was more than he presented himself to be.

“Who’s Dreamy?”
“Coming Mister Hon-EDA!!!!” a youthfully cry came from the clumsy robot as they tumbled down the stairs from the floor above.  Each step made her spout ‘Ouch’ before she smacked the wall head-on.
He turned away in embarrassment.  “That’s Dreamy.”
She sat up on the base off the stairwell checking her arms and the head sized hole she left in the wood paneled wall.
“Sorry sir.” She said unknowing of her ability to make hearts melt with a sheer innocent look.
“Dreamy, this is Kyle.  He’s going to working with us.”
“YAY!” Her two white ponytails flopped as she nearly tackled him. Her bubbly mentality got the best of her sometimes but it was totally excusable….sometimes.
“Dreamy!” Mister Honeda called as she jumped up and stood at attention.  
“Yes sir.” She said trying to maintain the urge to hold me down and drown me in a sea of questions. She was a bit shorter than I was, but still was cute as can be.
“You made a Robot out of a Dreamcast?”
“Yes, my skills have not in full use but I still do a bit of tinkering nowadays. Dreamy here is my assistant and Healthcare provider.”
She jumped in the conversation abruptly.
“That’s right! I monitor Mister Honeda’s, blood pressure, cardiovascular signs and pulse.  Plus I can give shocks!” she grabbed my shoulders and yelled “Clear!”
I couldn’t really describe the pain I felt at this very second and I STILL CAN’T.   I lost all control of muscles and collapsed in a lump on the floor.  Even after a half an hour after regaining mouth control, to my dismay, other body parts were unresponsive.
“Suarry sir.”

Elsewhere…..
Chairman Joseph Stall returned back to his home after scoping out his rivals for the next tortument.
“Is it ready?”
“Yes sir, The Fighter is waiting for your approval.”
“Good, see to it that she is ready. I shall make sure that this new PlayStation will be our greatest Triumph.”


To be continued?

I just saw the season finale trailer for the season 10 and sweet Jesus I am hyped up. It is 2 in the morning and I cannot sleep at all.

I blame Steven Moffett