Episode 6: Roll Ruler

One small step for Choco; One giant leap for Mint-kind

Mint and Choco are in a spacecraft, which is launched into space. Mint pilots the ship towards several floating orbs, which glow upon impact when Mint bumps them. She is play some kind of space pinball game and it is making her dizzy. She heads towards an asteroid which she destroys with laser cannons. After avoiding disaster, alarms go off as Mint is heading towards a black hole. All attempts to escape it, is no use and Mint is sucked into the back hole and receives a game over. Everything except the spacecraft fades away and Mint exits the ship. Rio approaches her and welcomes her back. The ship also disappears to reveal that Mint and Rio are in the holographic theatre.

He has made a good first impression

Rio tells Mint that there are other levels including an extra level which can be played with Linda as the terminal. Rio then gets a phone call just as Rina comes up to them. Rina tells Rio that the owner has figured out the people who were responsible in manipulating Linda. In Howard’s office, Mr. Howard shows the group the person responsible. Cartia Goltschmitt is on the screen. Tiffany explains that she is a casino owner who uses her influence through games and she is the one who alter Linda. Mr. Howard corrects Tiffany as Cartia had someone else alter Linda and that person would be Rio’s next opponent. Cartia has challenged Mr. Howard for his resort in a gate battle with Rio. He adds that there is an unwritten rule that all gate battles must be accepted and cannot be refused. Tiffany demands that this is a good reason not to accept the challenge as Cartia had manipulated Linda. Even so, Mr. Howard tells them that a gate battle attracts attention so good publicity, which also means the fate of his resort rests on Rio. He also tells them that Cartia sent him a message telling him that Rio’s opponent is called Jack. Wanting to know Jack’s identity, Anya suggests asking Linda. However, Linda’s date has been altered, so she won’t be any use, but nevertheless the group is determined to find out who Jack is.

How can you lose!

Later, Mint talks to Choco that she would investigate Jack; she then gets on a lift with a young boy. She meets with Linda and hands her a drawing pad and a pencil to draw this Jack. Linda remembers and draws a picture, however it is a bad drawing but Mint then recognises the picture as the man she saw earlier after her space game. Mint follows him, taking notes of his ability. He loses badly in a game of Blackjack, Craps and the slot machines. Mint comments that Rio will have no problem of beating him as he loses a game of paper-rock-scissors to Anya dressed in the prawn outfit (He produces paper, with Anya only able to give scissors due to the claw hands). Meanwhile, Rina is with Rio talking about the upcoming gate battle. Rina suggests that Rio does not accept the challenge; heeding the warning of Tiffany. Rio then gets a call and answers it, but the caller hangs up after a few seconds. She then realises the time and leaves the bar. Rina and Rio head up to Rio’s room, upon opening the door she is shocked to find the portrait of Misery. Rina goes to get security, but Rio stops her and asks her to stay. In Rio’s room, Rina suggests that Cartia had place Misery’s portrait there to make Rio lose focus in the gate battle. Rina tells Rio that she would protect her, returning the favour when they were younger.

Evil air! Bad air! Naughty Air!

Meanwhile, Mint is following the man in the shopping mall; she hides around the corner and then continues to proceed. However, around the corner she bumps into the young boy again and complains that he is in the way of following the man. However, the man is coming back and Mint panics. Quickly she grabs his hand and she pretends to be looking in the shop window. The young boy then tells her that the man has passed her and she quickly follows him, telling the young boy that this is grown up stuff; young boy notes that she is a kid too. She follows him to an outside observation, where he is swinging his sword asking for milk, cheese and yoghurt. He then collapses; moments later he is stretcher away; revealing that he suffered from oxygen deficiency from all that running around. Mint comments that Rio will have no problems against him, when suddenly a gust wind blows Choco out of Mint’s hands. Choco is then blown over the railing, Mint watches in horror as Choco bounces away over the side. However, Choco stops and then floats back up into over Mint; she turns round to see the young boy, who saved Choco using telekinesis. She takes back Choco and wonders if it was magic he used. He tells her that it is not for kids, which makes her angry. She tells him her name and asks for his as he walks away. However, she is interrupted by two adult figures who tell the young boy it is time. One calls him Jack, which makes Mint realise that the young boy is called Jack.

In space no one can hear you scream; but maybe giggles

Rio is sitting at a blackjack table, when Jack sits next to her. Rio tells him he is too young to play, while Tiffany tells him that she would treat him to something. He tells them that he is here for the gate battle and produces a gate card. Rio just realises, when Cartia appears behind her and tells her that he is her opponent; Jack Mighty and the game that they would be playing is Space pinball. The winner is the person with the most points after the allotted time. Rio accepts the challenge just as Mint comes racing over, out of breath. Rio is getting changed into her spacesuit and is told by Rina not to go easy on him as Mint had saw Jack do some amazing things, Rio tells her she would be careful. Meanwhile, Jack is changing when there is a knock at the door. It is Mint, who thanks him for saving Choco earlier. She then asks him if he plans to use his magic against Rio. He tells her it is not magic but Mighty Power. She stills insists it is against the rules. Jack then asks about the man Mint was following. She tells him, it was Carlos Tanaka, a former dealer. Jack tells her that he made Linda remember a different face to protect his identity. He tells her his family disposed of bombs, but he didn’t like it so ran away. Cartia took him in off the streets but just uses him for his powers. He plans to win as Cartia promised his freedom.

Maybe they like Fish & Ships

Everyone is gathered to watch the gate battle as Linda initializes the holographic theatre. Jack and Rio enter their spacecraft and Linda begins the game. Both Rio and Jack build up points, bumping each target with them evenly matched. Linda then begins phase 2; introducing asteroids to the game. Rio uses evasive manoeuvres and lasers to evade the asteroids. However, Rina points out that Jack is using his telekinesis to move the asteroids away. Linda begins phase 3 and introduces mechanical sharks. Rio avoids the sharks by shooting them, Jack follows suit but misses one and it bumps into him, causing him to be swarmed by several sharks. Anya suggests that Rio uses this chance to win. However, Rio turns around and shoots the swarm of sharks, freeing Jack. Mint comments that Rio is stupid, but is told by Tiffany that she wants to enjoy the game and make it fair. Jack sees an opening and blasts out the swarm. Rio is then chased by the sharks, Jack chases after her and shoots out one of her engines. Mint calls it unfair but Tiffany tells her that it is not against the rules. Rio is now heading towards a black hole and struggles to escape as Jack continues to build up points. He tells Rio that he will win, which she replies that she is just getting started.

Is that catsuit legal?

Rio exits her spacecraft and transforms her clothing into a catsuit and jumps from point buoy to point buoy (they look like one so I just call them that). She jumps to Jack’s spacecraft and block his view of the asteroid and he hits it. Rio then jumps on to passing shark and rides it, bumping each passing point buoy, building up points. With one minute to go, Jack continues to also build up points but he is just marginally behind. Linda calls time and Rio wins, with Jack dishearten he lost. While the group is happy over Rio’s victory, Carlos runs round the corner and bumps into Linda, knocking her head off. This causes a large Linda head to appear in the game and announces setting the game into phase 4, everything becomes red and flaming comets are introduced. This causes the viewing glass to break and Mint is sucked into the theatre. Mint calls Rio for help and Rio races to her but a comet is about to hit her when it is stopped by Jack. He tells Rio he will hold off the comet while Rio solves the problem. Rio enters the large Linda head and shuts down the game. Jack gives Rio the gate card after his defeat, Mint thanks him and asks him to close his eyes. Nervously he does so and Mint gives him a kiss, from Choco. He tells her it is her bear and Mint replies that they are too young, which makes everybody laugh.

Ok so another gate battle and I thought this one would be bad battle and I consider that she may lose as well. However you can feel sorry for Jack, given his situation. Also what the hell was Mint doing following Carlos, even though Mr. Howard suggested that Linda is no use, I guess you can’t get through to young kids these days. However, more annoying was this Carlos guy. I mean what the hell is he doing besides being an absolute nitwit? Frankly I think this guy kind of spoilt the episode a little, but I suppose he has to be there, it also questions how good security is in a casino of this popularity. I kind of jump to do this one as I only done Index recently so I thought I put something else just to spread it out a bit. However the peace and quiet has gone as I now have a week and a half of hell of utter disturbances every minute. The blogs may become slow, but I try my best to get them out on time, without resorting to anger and shouting.