Hard Reset/Transcript

[A few gunshots as the scene goes through a silent building. A door opens as it shows Tari sneaking through inside the place. A few moments later some people dressed in hi-tech gear show up with their guns as they search for something or someone. After searching for a while one of them notices the sound as they check. They see Tari as she tries to move away as they shoot and give chase. Tari runs as she then hides behind a wall as she sees a metal pipe she can use. The two gunners then go to where Tari is as Tari sneak attacks one as she swipes at one with a crowbar two times as she wheel kicks them. The other one aim their gun as Tari ducks as they were about to shoot but then gets shot by a bullet and gets demolished. Tari turns around to see that it was Belle who took the shot against the gunner. They both smile at each other as it then says “TASCorp wins” as it shows the portraits of Belle and Tari. It cuts to Tari who was warped going back to her senses.]

Announcer: And it’s another victory for TASCorp! What a performance from this top tier team and especially their superstar captain Belle Fontiere! [Belle walks over as she nods Tari to come to as she celebrates in the light as Tari also comes as well.] Aw and here’s Tari, the superstar rookie that’s captured all our hearts. [The crowd cheers wildly as they root for TASCorp.] And why wouldn’t she? We’ve never seen someone start their Meta Runner career with a 6 month win streak! And she hasn’t even joined the main lineup yet! [Belle takes Tari with her as she and Tari wave at the cheering crowd.] Give it up for these ladies folks! I am guessing they are going to do a lot of celebrating tonight!

[Theme Song Plays]

[The scene cuts to Tari and Belle in the car with Lucks as he is on the comms.]

Lucks: Yes. Yes. Of course. Well when we scouted Tari she was just running with some- random gutter team. But as soon as I saw her I knew she had a gift and at TASCorp we are all about nurturing the gifted.

[Tari flashbacks to a training scene with Lucks as she gets game over.

Lucks: AGAIN!

The flashback ends.]

Lucks: Quote that in your article would you? Wonderful~ And yes after thee early retirement of two of our previous members.

[A flashback to the explosion at the lab with Sheridan and Lucinia occurs along with Lucks angrily shooting Masa’s arm of occurs as the flashbacks end.]

Lucks: TASCorp is excited to finally introduce a new main lineup at the show match two weeks from now. Well it’s an open secret at this point but yes Tari will indeed be joining. Of course!~ It’s an open invitation to all major news outlets to cover this big day for both her and TASCorp. Okay. Hope to see you there. Thank you, bye bye.~ [Lucks turns off comms as his smile turns into a stern frown as he goes through his tablet.] Your last play was sloppy, you still hesitate on your movements. I expect you to improve on this before the show match.

Tari: Yes sir…

[The scene cuts back into TASCorp as it shows a lot of people practicing playing games. Lucks is walking with Tari with a Guard escorting her along with Belle.]

Lucks: The press junkets will start soon, you will be given a list of talking points. You will memorize them beforehand.

Tari: Yes sir…

Male Runner at TASCorp: Please- I’ve got nowhere else to go. Just give me one more chance. [A TAScientist drags him away.] Nooooooooo!

Lucks: And you are going to get your accuracy rating up beyond 98%.

Tari: Yes sir…

[Lucks sends Tari to her room.]

Lucks: Training starts at 7 tomorrow. Be there on time.

Tari: [Turns to Lucks] I wanna see him. It’s been weeks since the last time you let me see him. A-And our deal was that I would work for you so long he’s safe. But how do I know he’s safe if you never let me g-

[Lucks raises his hand up to stop Tari as he sighs as he presses a few buttons to display something on the monitor. It shows Theo in a cage throwing his coconut at the wall.]

Tari: Theo?

Theo: Tari? [He turns around.] TARI! [He jumps towards the screen but the wall makes him faceplant.]

Tari: [gasps] Are you okay?

Theo: I am fine! Are you okay?! What’s been going on with you?! Too many questions Theo! Get it together!

Tari: Theo! Theo! It’s alright! Calm down. Deep breaths. [Theo calms down and takes a deep breath.] There we go. Have they been treating you alright?

Theo: Yeah, I am just bored. All I have is the Elder Tomato to talk to. And I realize he actually only has one story.

Elder Tomato: But the banana gods were tricked by the papaya people and all of fruitopia was squashed to a pulp. [Theo was mimicking saying the lines as he then pockets the Elder Tomato.]

Theo: I miss Sofia, Lamar, and Masa.

Tari: Me too. But I am sure we will see them again.

Theo: Wait really?! You promise?!

Tari: Oh uh- [She looks over at Lucks.] Well - uh- I am to entirely- [She looks at Theo.] Yeah, I promise.

[The screen turns off with Theo smiling as Tari stands up a bit angry at Lucks.]

Lucks: You have an early training session tomorrow. Don’t be late.

Tari: [Gets depressed and sits back down.] Yes sir…

[Lucks walks away as Belle looks at her as she then walks off as the door closes. Tari sighs as she just sits there.]

[The scene cuts to the backstreets as Lamar’s car is parked there as Lamar and Sofia get out of the car as they go to the backstreets.]

Lamar: You sure we are going to find him here Sofia? I mean this is the low tier. This place is literally rock bottom.

Sofia: Well Lamar we also didn’t think he abandoned us at the arena but I guess Masa’s just full of surprises.

[They walk through the back alleys as some bot boys are fighting.]

Bot-Boy 1: You you dare to approach me?

Bot-Boy 2: Oh! So you are a fighter? Fight?

Bot-Boy 1: No I want to fight.

Bot-Boy 2: You are like a bad selling console. No game!

Bot-Boy 1: I am going to input this knife right up your output!

[The bot boys fight as Lamar and Sofia keep on walking.]

Lamar: Man, Masa, what did you get yourself into?

[They keep on walking as it cuts to a few more scenes where it finally cuts into a random gamer playing against a familiar hooded figure. They are playing the game War Tech Fighters as the hooded figure is having the upper hand as the hooded figure playing the more simplistic controller wins.]

Male Gamer: I know you’re cheating Corp Runner!

[A few coins drop onto the table.]

???(Masa): Who’s next?

[Lamar walks up.]

Lamar: I’ll verse you. Been a while man, you still remember us?

[Masa just walks away as Lamar and Sofia follow.]

Sofia: Masa, wait. HEY! You know we were really worried about you! You just disappear after that mess at the arena and we have to rely on Internet rumors to track you down. We are MD-5 Masa, we’re supposed to be a team.

Masa: We’re finished Sofia! There is no more MD-5 Lucks won. We had one shot and we threw it away.

Sofia: Ah not necessarily. Our plan at the arena wasn’t a tooootal disaster. We may still have one teensy little chance left.

Lamar: Yeah and if you hadn’t been so edgy and ditched us we could have told you all this earlier.

Sofia: See before Lucks wiped my laptop I managed to make a backup of the server on my phone.

Masa: What? Well what are we waiting for. If we have the server then let’s release it. We can ruin Lucks right now.

Sofia: I- didn’t say I had the server. I said it’s on my phone. And right now my phone is with someone else.

Masa: Who?

Sofia: Welllll-

[The scene cuts to the photo and Belle and Lucinia hugging each other as Belle is typing on the computer to debug the phone.]

Belle: Come on…This time-

[Belle tries to crack the code but she fails as it was too hard for her.

Sofia’s Voice: Uh oh! Someone needs a time out!

Belle: UGH! For the love of-! [She turns off the computer.] Sofia! Ugh! This is what we meant when we said you are too smart sometimes. [She walks around a bit as she then sighs.] What am I even doing Lucinia? I don’t even know what I expect to find in this stupid thing. [Pockets the phone as a certain bubblegum princess comes in.] Ugh! For the last time Evelyn! KNOCK before you bust into my room.

Evelyn: Belle- Does Lucks hate me?

Belle: [Sighs] Seeing as he is about to bring you into the main lineup. I would doubt it. [She takes a seat in the couch.]

Evelyn: THEN WHY DOESN’T HE GIVE ME EXHIBITION MATCHES LIKE HE DOES FOR THAT BLUE HAIRED SCIENCE EXPERIMENT?! Belle be honest would you rather play with me or her?

Belle: ….You…I guess. Look I don’t like having her around anymore than you do. But Lucks went through a lot of effort to get Tari. It’s natural he would want to show off his prize.

Evelyn: Well maybe they will get lucky maybe she will abandon the team like Lucinia.

Belle: [Gets agitated] HEY! Lucinia didn’t abandon us! She’s just- gone.

Evelyn: Oh-kay- Why?

Belle: That’s what I’d like to know.

Evelyn: Well I can see Lucks out. I know how close you are to Lucinia. I shouldn’t have brought it up. I will just leave for now. [Evelyn then skips her way out of Belle’s room.]

[Belle takes out the phone as she takes a seat at the other couch as Tari and Belle look like they are side by side.]

Tari & Belle: I will figure something out, I promise.

[Episode End]