Fanfic - .hack//ACID

[Master ZED]

I think it might be worth posting finally...

I'll preface this by saying the reason I'm not using fanfiction.net is because they apparently don't want anything in a chat/script format, and this changes between normal storytelling and chat as I feel is necessary to avoid unnecessary repetition ("* said" and it's 80,000 or whatever variants) and unnecessary detail. Think of this as a rough draft for now, since I don't know how detailed I should be, or what to include yet.

(this text is censored for now because the main character wouldn't know good manners if they took a bat to her face)

-----

Log 00: Whim

Dual swords blocked...

Centipede thrown aside...

Shouxiao destroyed...

Now Haseo faced down one of The World's greatest horrors, fully ignorant of what he's really up against.

Data Drain: The power to alter the data of nearly anything in The World. Its most common effect? Resetting a PC to new game stats, or in a monster's case, Lv. 1 with no power to speak of.

Like a deer seeing headlights, Haseo was paralyzed by fear. He realized he can't win, and he may be about to suffer Shino's fate.

<?????> - Are you joking? You're just going to sit there and die?
<Haseo> - !? Who is that?
<?????> - Isn't it obvious what you should be doing!?
<Haseo> - But I-
<?????> - Draw the one weapon you haven't tried yet and cut out his damn throat!
<Haseo> - But-
<?????> - He murdered Shino, didn't he?! KILL THAT SON OF A B***H!

Enraged and going fully on instinct, Haseo leapt over the Data Drain, clear over Azure Kite, and drew the Honeysuckle twin blades instead of his Gai Gus. These were the blades Shino gave him, and through these blades, he would put an end to this fight once and for all. Locked in place, Azure Kite couldn't avoid Haseo as he ran up from behind and surrounded "Tri-Edge's" neck, prepared to cleave his head off, the memory of Shino's death giving him strength through sheer hate.

However, as the blades touched the zombified flesh of the Azure Flame, Haseo stopped completely. The blood drained from his face. His mind became bare of thought, his blades falling to the ground. His expression... pure horror.

He had failed again, and in the worst possible way.

Haseo bared witness to the fall of Ovan.

The barrel that surrounded Ovan's left arm exploded, a strange black cloud surrounding it disappeared, and an uncorrupt PC fell to its knees. Ovan's face was like looking into a mirror for Haseo until the now former Rebirth uttered what may have been his last words:

"We... have failed...!"

The PC exploded. The pursuer had vanished on his own, his mission accomplished, leaving Haseo, or rather, Ryou Misaki, well and truly alone.

The sky turned... a different kind of twilight...



.hack//ACID
By Master ZED

A revisionist fanfic of .hack//G.U., itself based on a series of events that take place in an MMORPG, The World R:2.
All characters from the G.U. story are not mine, but the real life identity of -COOH, and any new characters introduced, are my work.



Log 01: Out of character

Mac Anu: Dome

<-COOH> - ....
<Mile> - Honestly...
<Heavenly Flower> - I'm sorry!
<-COOH> - Yeah yeah....
<Mile> - At least we survived... for once.

Heavenly Flower had fallen victim to her narcolepsy in battle again. The Steam Gunner had a bad habit of nodding off for no stated reason, putting Mile and -COOH in peril more often than not. The pair had grown used to fighting as a duo as a result, but the trouble caused was becoming an issue. It was the main reason they had fled back to the city yet again. Mile, once again, had started to consider kicking her out of the group; it's not like she didn't try, but real life issues apparently made it impossible to avoid falling asleep.

Well, that's what two of the three assumed anyway.

At this point, the team decided to call it a night. As much as Mile and -COOH wanted to ditch Heavenly Flower, they were the first people to put up with her in quite a few attempts on her part to find other players to team with. Who knows if she'd ever find anyone else if they ditched her. As Mile logged out, -COOH decided to go pester the bridge cat to take her mind off things.

Mac Anu: Bridge

The one thing about the Eternal City of Mac Anu that seemed truly eternal was the infamous bridge. In the original version of The World, this bridge had served as the link between the two major areas of the city, and it served the same here in the old town. Whereas the new town was an industrial complex fitting of the steampunk era of The World (and inaccessible to players), old town still resembled a Venice-like town, canals carving paths through the city's stone architecture.

The bridge now served as the physical crossing point between the Central and Harbor districts, technically speaking, but in (virtual) reality, it was separated enough from both to serve as an attraction all its own. Players never really came here to cross between the districts (structures called Warp Points could handle that with near-instant transfers), but to interact with other players just as they did in the original game. One of those players had become a fixture, floating above the middle of the eastern rail looking over the water every day. That player used a short cat PC named Phyllo, a Harvest Cleric, though his days of adventuring had apparently long past. He now chats with anyone who comes by who cares to engage him, like a disrespectful girl in blue magician's clothes, long big sleeves for a robe cut short at the thighs, revealing legs in darker blue tights (since the game, for whatever reason, used more revealing clothing for female PC's than in R:1), who had just finished adventuring with someone who appeared to be hooked on Ny-Quil, for instance.

<-COOH> - Yo neko, whadup?
<Phyllo> - Oh, you again?
<-COOH> - Eh, I'm bored. I don't want to leave, but Mile's bored and that flower chick would nod off in the front row of a rock concert.
<Phyllo> - Heh, you certainly have a way with words.
<-COOH> - ....

-COOH stared at him for a moment as if Phyllo had said something unexpected.

<Phyllo> - Eh? What's wrong?
<-COOH> - ...I got the strangest feeling just now.
<Phyllo> - Oh?
<-COOH> - It feels like... something's changed. Like we lost someone.
<Phyllo> - We?
<-COOH> - Like it has more to do with you than me. You ever get something like that?
<Phyllo> - No, I'm afraid I don't have the gift of women's intuition. I'm an old man, after all.
<-COOH> - I don't know if I'd call it that... holy crap, the Terror of Death!?
<Phyllo> - Haseo?

Haseo was walking up the bridge with a look of shock on his face. He stopped next to -COOH and looked out over the water, eyes wide, his mouth a blank.

<Phyllo> - ...Haseo...?
<Haseo> - He's gone.
<Phyllo> - Who's gone?
<Haseo> - I went to slit Tri-Edge's throat... but that cost him his life....

At this point, -COOH backed out and stood at the opposite rail. This had nothing to do with her, it was creepy, and it seemed quite personal. In silent agreement, Phyllo switched over to private chat to keep other players from hearing Haseo.

<Phyllo> - ...who was killed?
<Haseo> - I... I froze... because when he went to hit me, he hit... he...!
<Phyllo> - Calm down Haseo! You're making no sense! Just tell me-
<Haseo> - He killed Ovan!

Phyllo, shocked, could do next to nothing for Haseo as he broke down into tears, crying into the rail. First his love, now his mentor, both slain at the hands of Tri-Edge. The difference this time...

<Haseo> - Tri-Edge was about to kill me, and I heard a voice telling me not to give up, to kill the bastard, and when I dodged his attack and went for his throat, I saw Ovan get hit... he said we failed....
<Phyllo> - Who did?
<Haseo> - Ovan... he said we failed... we were the only ones who could bring Shino back, and we failed... I failed because I didn't kill him in time!

After several minutes, Haseo finally regained some form of composure, and told the story of his encounter with Tri-Edge from the beginning. The ending, however...

<Phyllo> - You... became something else?
<Haseo> - Yeah... some kind of monster. Tri-Edge was already gone, and I just went berserk and tore up the cathedral. It was in ruins when I left.
<Phyllo> - Hmm...
<Haseo> - It felt like, like it was a part of me.
<Phyllo> - An inner demon, perhaps?
<Haseo> - Yeah... maybe that's what spoke to me.
<Phyllo> - When you say you left Hulle Granz in ruins, did you mean that literally, or-
<Haseo> - I destroyed the church. Go see for yourself if you want.
<Phyllo> - ...no normal character could destroy an area like that, much less a lost ground.
<Haseo> - That's why it's so bizarre! Where could something like that have come from!? Why would it be in my player character!?
<Yata> - I can answer that.
<Phyllo> - Yata?
<Haseo> - Yata? Who's that?
<Yata> - Let's just say I'm an old friend of Phyllo's, and that I happened to see what went on at Hulle Granz earlier.

Haseo was taken aback. This Macabre Dancer just walked up without explanation acting like he had all the answers, claiming to have witnessed everything, but in Haseo's emotionally drained state, he wasn't about to put up a fight.

<Yata> - Here.
:Yata hands Haseo a Raven guild key.
<Yata> - Use this at the Mac Anu @HOME entrance as soon as you feel able.

With these words, Yata walked off.

<Haseo> - ....
<Phyllo> - If anyone has an answer for you, it will be him, Haseo.
<Haseo> - So you think I should go?
<Phyllo> - After you've had some rest. Give it a day or two.
<Haseo> - But-
<Phyllo> - Don't be so hasty! The last thing you want is for that monster that came out of you to start attacking other players! What if it turns out to be as bad as Tri-Edge!?
<Haseo> - ...then I could-
<Phyllo> - Lose control and make a lot more people as miserable as you are right now! Yes, maybe you could use that monster, who knows, but as you are right now, all it's good for is indiscriminate devastation!
<Haseo> - ....

For once, Haseo conceded.

<Haseo> - You're right.
<Phyllo> - ...hmph.
<Haseo> - ?
<Phyllo> - You haven't listened to a word I've said in months.
<Haseo> - And look what that got me....
<Phyllo> - Who knows if your deaf ears were the only reason. It may have been unavoidable.
<Haseo> - What are you saying?
<Phyllo> - That you're far too tired to think about this right now. You've had enough for awhile, Haseo.
<Haseo> - ...so I probably shouldn't log in for awhile.
<Phyllo> - I know you want more than anything to save them, and you want to do it quickly, but nothing good will come of it if you try anything right now.
<Haseo> - I can still come here, right?
<Phyllo> - ...Nothing dangerous about talking to an old man, is there? The worst I can do is talk your ear off.
<Haseo> - Thanks Phyllo. I'll catch ya later.

Haseo logged off. Phyllo couldn't help but think of how Haseo's personality had shifted significantly, but it was likely due to the shock of today's events. He'll likely be back to being a murderous moron soon enough. Even so, maybe if it sticks, this change will be for th-

<-COOH> - I've nev-
<Phyllo> - Ahhh!
<-COOH> - Ahhh, what the hell!?
<Phyllo> - Oh, I'm sorry. I got lost in thought and forgot you were still here.
<-COOH> - I'm still bored, and now you have my heart racing!
<Phyllo> - I apologize.
<-COOH> - Wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for this damn cardiophobia.
<Phyllo> - Well, you could have worse ailments, I suppose.
<-COOH> - That's what they all say. "Ooh, Veronica, at least you don't have cancer! Oh god, get over it, as least it's not gonna be a heart attack! My uncle had one last week and nyeh Nyeh NYEH!" SHUT! UP! DAMMIT! Your fatass uncle can go straight to Hell! I'm about to remove all the skin off my sternum and you're
(edited for sexual content)

Veronica slammed her head into the rail as Phyllo, once again, had to get over her potty mouth. It wasn't the first time she's said things like this, and they were all related to her fear and hatred of the heart. It was understandable to a point, considering she was born American, but still.

<Phyllo> - Veronica, haven't we been over your cursing before?
<-COOH> - I'm sorry Phyllo. Stupid heart makes me go crazy sometimes, you know that.

Peering out over the water but still with her chin over the rail and her left arm in front of it, Veronica went silent for a moment. As much as she wanted to ask about what he and Haseo had been talking about (and why they didn't switch to private chat), she figured she had heard enough when the Terror of Death of all people started crying about that weirdo guy with the huge left arm being PK'ed. Maybe he thought the guy had become one of those "Lost Ones" she had heard about, the people that supposedly fall into comas while playing The World? Must've been. To her, a simple PK couldn't have been that bad for someone that kills other murderers indiscriminately. By now, though, she was finally tired.

<-COOH> - I'm gonna log out. Sorry about you having to put up with me after that... fiasco... whatever that was.
<Phyllo> - It's quite alright.
<-COOH> - That feeling I had earlier... it wasn't Haseo.
<Phyllo> - ?
<-COOH> - You knew Ovan too, didn't you?
<Phyllo> - Yes.
<-COOH> - I see. I guess I'll be going now.
<Phyllo> - I'll be here if you can't sleep.
<-COOH> - Sometimes I wish I were a narcoleptic too. :)

With that, -COOH logged off for the night. Another round of The World with the trader, little miss Ny-Quil addict, and a weird bawling Terror of Death. That last part was just strange to Veronica, but she just didn't care to find out more. She had heard enough.

Phyllo, on the other hand, became utterly confused as to how she knew about Ovan. Surely her intuition wasn't that good...?

-----

There are five more logs after this already written, but I want to see what kind of reaction this provokes first. If it's just *BAD* or there's no response whatsoever (meaning no interest), I'll just release the whole thing when I'm finished rather than waste time posting single chapters, since then I have to read through it and make the appropriate edits to ensure the mods don't kick my ass. I wouldn't use such language if it weren't necessary to character development.

Apologies about the spacing issues, but with eliminated extra spaces and a variable width font I can't change, those problems are unavoidable in the context of a forum post here.

[_Tri-edge_]

Hmmm, Interesting enough, it's pretty rare seeing guys like you creating creative stories. If only you could find a way to alter and change the text from G.U.'s many cutscenes, you can totally change the entire G.U. story-mat with your Team Acid, as I see them in your video. Nevertheless, this has caught my interest.

[Master ZED]

Hmmm, Interesting enough, it's pretty rare seeing guys like you creating creative stories.

Different people express their fanaticism in different ways. Yeah, I like breaking a game down and finding out everything I want to know (usually related only to combat and glitches), and while that's usually how I show my obsession for a game, -COOH and Zelkova sparked my conspiracy and creative sides something fierce. It's highly unusual for me to be this curious about a story, so I've been trying to write one for her and the brat for awhile. This is simply the first time I've truly felt the story was worth sharing because the basis mixed with a what if created something that caught my interest as well.

(I did try to post a previous version on the official board, but no one cared, probably rightfully so)

As for why I think people other than myself could actually care, this story isn't even written all that well and it gets a lot of attention. If that can work, surely I can produce something considered good too, right? It may not be anywhere nearly as popular because I'm not bringing back all of the popular characters (in expected ways... :twisted:), my mains are a little-known Moon Tree guild member, Zelkova, and Kaede, and I take liberties with established characters (log 04 is probably going to make or break this entire story), but that won't stop me.

If only you could find a way to alter and change the text from G.U.'s many cutscenes, you can totally change the entire G.U. story-mat with your Team Acid, as I see them in your video.

Once the next few logs are posted, you'll see why that's not completely feasible even if I could edit events... but I could still do the dialogue-heavy scenes, so yeah, it would be nice to preview the story on my channel. Nonetheless, the Kimerus 4 video was the introduction of my protagonists for this story. The team name comes from a previous iteration and may not be used here.

Nevertheless, this has caught my interest.

I hope it wasn't just because I wrote it. >_>

Also, I admit it was childish of me to just demand someone reply before posting more, so I'll go ahead and post the rest bit-by-bit to gauge individual chapter reactions (if there are any). Like I said, it would be a waste of time if no one would read it and I still believe that, but one chapter where nothing really happens simply isn't enough for me to say that. Once I post log 06, then maybe I'll be justified, but who cares. I'll just post the whole thing as I see fit.

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Log 02: Oddities

*creak*

*blinks*

*smack* *smack*

*shuffle* *shuffle*

*munch* *munch*

*shuffle* *shuffle*

*creakkkkk*

"Goddamn chair... I'm not fat... I only weigh like what, 110?"

....

*shuffle* *shuffle*

....

"115... **** me."

*shuffle* *shuffle*

....

*bleehhhhacccckkkk!* *splash* *BLEH!!* *splash*

....

*brush* *brush*

....

*gargle* *drool*

"Heeeehhhh... hee hee hee!"

*gargle* *drool*

"Heeeee... hee hee, hee hee!"

:Repeats 10 times:

*shuffle* *shuffle*

*CREAK-REAK*

"F**k you chair, I just lost a pound for your sorry ass!"

*puts on M2D*

*typing*

...

Mac Anu: Dome

The Dome is the entrance and exit of the city of Mac Anu, and has been since the change to Revision 2. Containing the Chaos Gate (a means of transport out of and between towns), a Save "Shop" (that doesn't sell anything yet is still called a shop), and a Kiosk that sells pitiful healing items for a somewhat pitiful cost, this place happened to be the start, and most of the time, the end point of beginning players' adventures in The World. The girl -COOH had just logged in for the day after... miscellaneous activities associated with starting her day... only to see someone looking right at her when she appeared.

<-COOH> - ....
:-COOH looks around and sees only the Chaos Gate.
<-COOH> - Oh, right, the gate.
:-COOH tries to walk off to the stranger's left.
<Zelkova> - Excuse me. My name is Zelkova. What's yours?
<-COOH> - So I wasn't crazy to think you were looking right at me?
<Zelkova> - Oh not at all. I came here to talk to you actually!
<-COOH> - About what?
<Zelkova> - Well, about a couple of things. First, how would you like to join-
<-COOH> - No thanks, bub, I've had it with guilds.
<Zelkova> - But Moon Tree-
<-COOH> - Oh dear god no, you damn cultists can go f**k yourselves! I'm outta here!
<Zelkova> - We're not a cult-
<-COOH> - Yeah right!
<Zelkova> - I'm the guildmaster, after all.

-COOH stopped for a second. The guildmaster of the second most powerful group in The World was taking time out of his day to recruit people? Didn't he have entire battalions of flunkies doing this day and night? Since when did the mighty Zelkova leave his throne for groundling work? And why didn't she remember who he was before he said that!? Just because she's never seen him doesn't mean she didn't know the name. The guildmaster with the deer horns, the eerie golden yellow eyes, blue hair, and that stupid white outfit with something gold and purple sitting on his nonexistant ass... at which point she caught herself checking out what may as well have been a young child PC and had to tell herself to stop that before she ended up like one of those American teachers. At any rate, Veronica's curiosity got the better of her. She had to know just why Zelkova of all people would address her personally, and alone at that.

<-COOH> - Okay short stuff, two questions.
<Zelkova> - Go right ahead! :)
<-COOH> - You're a pacifist organization, right?
<Zelkova> - Well, yes-
<-COOH> - K, then 2, I like to fight, as evidenced by my book of DEATH.

Veronica's PC was a Blade Brandier/Shadow Warlock Adept Rogue, hence the reference to the grimoire, though she only used her blade nowadays.

<-COOH> - I'm not a staff-humper for good reason, healing pisses me off and staffs are (edited again for sexual content)! Why would you want a warhawk in your guild anyway?
<Zelkova> - Everyone can change.
<-COOH> - And I refuse to. I'm happy the way I am.
<Zelkova> - But what about-
<-COOH> - PK's? I could care less.
<Zelkova> - I was going to say the 6th division. They might have a place for you.
<-COOH> - ? 6th division?
<Zelkova> - Well...
:Zelkova switches to private chat.
<Zelkova> - Let's just say they're more like Kestrel than Moon Tree in a lot of ways.

-COOH's eyes widened. Kestrel was well-known for their PK fanatics, making them the "evil" opposite of the goody-two-shoes Moon Tree PK abolitionists. Moon Tree having a faction dedicated to hypocrisy was certainly news to her.

<-COOH> - Tell me more....
<Zelkova> - What I'm really trying to say is that we're not all pacifists. I have other interests.
<-COOH> - That's why you're talking to a low level player like me?
<Zelkova> - Oh believe me, your levels don't mean anything. Not compared to what dwells deep within.
<-COOH> - Huh?
<Zelkova> - Here's my member address.
:Zelkova handed -COOH his member address!
<Zelkova> - I'd like it if you thought things over first, so feel free to tell off my "followers" if they bother you, since you'll do it anyway. :)
<-COOH> - Durrr, do ya dink so, Jethro!?
<Zelkova> - Your future's gonna be... we'll just say weird for now... and I'd like to help guide you! :D
<-COOH> - ...weird?
<Zelkova> - Yes.
<-COOH> - Er....
<Zelkova> - My offer's entirely optional. We may have a faction like Kestrel, but we certainly aren't like them as a whole.
<-COOH> - I'm not obligated or anything? I can just pretend this s**t didn't just happen?
<Zelkova> - Yes! :)
:-COOH grinned.
<-COOH> - Heh. Alright. :)
<Zelkova> - Splendid! Then if you'll excuse me, I've kept Kaede waiting long enough. :)
<-COOH> - Who?
<Zelkova> - The 3rd unit captain of Moon Tree. Oh, if you see her and need to tell me something, you can just pass it on to her as well. She knows what's up.
<-COOH> - And the other captains?
<Zelkova> - Oh no, don't tell them! They won't have a clue as to what to do about what's coming up in your future.
<-COOH> - ...that's certainly ominous.
<Zelkova> - Indeed! See ya later! :D
:Zelkova waved goodbye as he used the Chaos Gate.
<-COOH> - ...bastard. What the hell was that about?

Confused as all hell, Veronica walked outside of the Dome to the Warp Point. Both it and the Chaos Gate appeared to be mystical machines made of rotating rings of golden color metal with energy cores, only the Chaos Gate is bigger with five small blue balls at the center while Warp Points have green orbs that fill up the volume of the center instead. Warp Points only transport one to other Warp Points in the current area, and -COOH decided to take this one to the Mercenary district, as Mile arranged a meeting with her there.

Mac Anu - Mercenary district - Back alley

The back alley of the Mercenary district ran behind the Equipment shop and Magic Item shop, stopping at a dead end. The alley, the home of the bounty hunter campaign NPC by the name of Dingo, served as a popular place to talk in private where others could not see you, as for PK's and such, private chat or instant message programs outside the game just weren't enough. Role players and others akin to that sort especially wouldn't make do with anything less. If Mile wanted to meet here, Veronica thought, it must be because she wants Miss Ny-Quil out.

After a few minutes, Mile finally appeared from the steps. Veronica had been waiting behind the corner.

<-COOH> - BOO!
<Mile> - Ack!
<-COOH> - Heh heh heh, you got scaaaaaaared! :P
<Mile> - Whatever. Listen, about-
<-COOH> - Before that, I just had the weirdest conversation with Zelkova.
<Mile> - Zelkova?
<-COOH> - Yeah.
<Mile> - You mean the cult leader Zelkova?
<-COOH> - Yeah, him! The boy with the antlers!
<Mile> - What the, what did he want with you?
<-COOH> - I have no friggin idea! First he wanted me to join Moon Tree, and I said Hell no, and he's like we're not a cult, and I'm like F**k you (offensive term), and-
<Mile> - No way did you call him a (offensive term).
<-COOH> - OK, no, I didn't call him a (offensive term... GOD I hate these edits!).
<Mile> - But you swore at him.
<-COOH> - Dur. :P Then he says we're not all pacifists, and I'm like wha, and that bastard gives me his member address and tells me to get in touch with him or this "Kaede" b***h or whoever if anything weird happens to me or my character! I tell him no, then he says there's no strings attached, so I'm like sure, whatever weirdo, and then he just leaves. I mean, what the f**k, right?
<Mile> - Yeah, that's... that's *weird*.
<-COOH> - And who the hell is this whore Kaede he was talking about?
<Mile> - Is that the girl that's always spotted with him? I think she's the one that scolds him and stuff. They're said to have a weird relationship.
<-COOH> - What, like kinky sex-type stuff?
<Mile> - I don't know, I think it was more like Kaede acts like his mother, even though from what I've heard, they're not related or anything like that.
<-COOH> - Yike. Issues...!
<Mile> - And he told you to talk to him about anything weird? That boy needs to see a psychiatrist, him and everyone else in that guild.
<-COOH> - God yes. Damn hippies need to lay off the weed.
<Mile> - So, anyway, about Heavenly Flower....
<-COOH> - Yeah, let's ditch her, she pisses me off.
<Mile> - No, she sent me an e-mail last night... she left us.
<-COOH> - Beat us to it, huh?
<Mile> - Well, you didn't like her, and I was having problems with trying to keep us together, so... I dunno, I feel bad about the whole thing.
<-COOH> - Eh, she'll live. In real life anyway. Dunno about here. We should go find her and kill her! :D
<Mile> - -COOH!
<-COOH> - What! Serves her right for falling asleep in the middle of a damn game.
<Mile> - Urgh. More importantly, what the hell do we do now?
<-COOH> - I... don't know. You lead, you tell me.
<Mile> - Well...
<-COOH> - ....
<Mile> - We could just find someone...?
<-COOH> - That's how we ended up with her.
<Mile> - Yeah?
<-COOH> - And Barson.

Barson was a small beast character that annoyed them with his insomnia and obsession with The World, which led him to say and do some weird crap.

<Mile> - Yeah...
<-COOH> - And Henako.
<Mile> - ....

Henako was a pinkish-purple Harvest Cleric using the same character model as -COOH; they brought her to heal, but she threw fire spells at anything that moved and spoke in a language where sanity went undefined.

<-COOH> - Seriously, in person? We're freak magnets!
<Mile> - Soo... message board?
<-COOH> - I wouldn't go for a popular one though. We'd likely get the same result.
<Mile> - Eh, fine. I don't have much longer anyway.
<-COOH> - Great. Now I'm alone!
<Mile> - You could always just join a random party?
<-COOH> - ....

Veronica began to wonder about the strange things she overheard from Haseo. Hulle Granz was destroyed yesterday... maybe it was still in that condition?

<-COOH> - I'm gonna take off. I have something I want to check out.
<Mile> - Alright then.

-COOH logged out, and immediately logged back in; it was her lazy way of getting back to the Chaos Gate from deep in town.

<-COOH> - ...okay.

Veronica left for the cathedral.

-----

Log 03: Weirdos

Delta: Hidden Forbidden Holy Ground - Hulle Granz Cathedral

<-COOH> - Good... god!

Veronica was taken aback at the horrifying sight. Glitch data lay bare outside the remains of the twilight sky, turned dark with a bright horizon line by whatever was here before. The clouds and water around the Cathedral's island were dried and gone. The Cathedral itself was in ruins, bricks and other pieces of the building scattered about. The majority of the building likely fell off the island somehow. Even parts of the bridge were slashed, cut, and broken.

The strangest part, however, was the green shell-like contraption around the building's remnants, and the odd character that appeared to be generating it near the base. Veronica took her first step-

<Anderson> - Don't bother him.
<-COOH> - Huh?
<Anderson> - He's not someone a normal character should get involved with.

Black pants, only a priest collar and outfit that stops at the top of the rib cage connected to a short left sleeve, glasses with a weird symbol in the lenses, short hair... and he looked a little European. She wasn't sure of the nationality, but that's what she thought of. Not exactly normal himself.

<-COOH> - You ain't so normal yourself.
<Anderson> - That doesn't change the importance of my warning.
<-COOH> - Uh huh.
<Anderson> - ....

The man looked at her sternly and left. The hell was his problem?

<-COOH> - ....

Veronica looked away from where he had left toward the former church site, and decided taking a closer look was a good idea.

<-COOH> - ....

The guy in red orange had the face of a stunned zombie, his flesh gray, yet his short spiky hair was a vibrant azure that would look alive on anyone else.

<-COOH> - Yoooohoooo!

Veronica started waving her hand in front of his face. Not one reaction.

<-COOH> - What's this?
:-COOH tries to touch Azure Kite's right wrist.
:Azure Kite jerks it back and retracts the bracelet.
<Azure Kite> - Hurrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!
<-COOH> - Aeeeaagghhhh to you, ass!
<Azure Kite> - ....
<-COOH> - What? You didn't respond so I-
<Azure Kite> - Murrr....
<-COOH> - ...what?

The boy in red suddenly had a look of fear in his eyes as he pointed the blue-green bracelet at Veronica's face. It had begun to expand, readying itself for further use.

<-COOH> - Ooh... pretty!

Azure Kite began charging.

<-COOH> - Uhhh....
<Azure Kite> - Nargghh!
:-COOH slaps Azure Kite's hand upward!
:Azure Kite launches Data Drain into the sky! Nothing happens!
<-COOH> - ....
<Azure Kite> - ....

Veronica showed a stunned look on her face similar to her attacker, but not for very long.

Azure Kite drew his weapons, the Empty Skies dual swords, triple-edged blades like withered, blackened, highly corrupt three-leaf clovers had they grown in the shadow of death and their leaves folded to have sharp points by a demon with a fetish for children drowning in a mix of blood, fear, and tears.

-COOH jumped back, drawing her Divine Hakubi blade, something that resembled the Blade Thorns, a common Blade Brandier sword with a silver blade, small red letters running along the middle, and a brass hilt with a dragon's face looking forward. Unlike the Thorns, it used rapid attacks (multiple weak hits at the end of a normal combo) through production of a white-hot aura engulfing the blade that seared its way through enemies. Every other rapid attack weapon used a chainsaw-like blade or small flames, making the Divine Hakubi unique amongst all weapons in The World, as if its other abilities didn't already make it incredibly valuable.

But now wasn't the time to dwell on the strange sword that pretty much just fell into her lap mysteriously a month ago. The red corpse challenged her, and this seemingly benign "low level" weapon would burn through him like a lightsaber on crack!

<-COOH> - What, you want a piece of this, prick!?
<Azure Kite> - P®ot?Kt...!
:A scythe strikes the ground in between the two PC's!

Both characters were taken by surprise, but neither had time to react to -COOH's sudden teleportation out of the area.

???

-COOH exited the light of the teleport system to an unknown area.

<-COOH> - Henh!? What the hell is this place!?
<Zelkova> - I didn't want you to hurt my friends by accident, so I brought you here instead.
<-COOH> - Where are we?
<Zelkova> - You know, I haven't actually given it a name.
<-COOH> - Wha?
<Zelkova> - I like to think of this place as the remains of the original, but I'm not entirely certain if that's the case.
<-COOH> - All I can see is that this place is a damn desert.
<Zelkova> - Yes, and-
<-COOH> - With sand!
<Zelkova> - Deserts do-
<-COOH> - I HATE SAND!
<Zelkova> - My mistake. Could you put your sword away?
<-COOH> - And why should I do that, hippie scum!? You think I might cut you for RUINING MY FIGHT!? Is that a ferris wheel in that town-that IS a ferris wheel! I'm gonna ride it!
<Zelkova> - Now now, there will be time for that later.

Netslum Tartarga - Bridge

<-COOH> - Oh what the f**k, that time you didn't even have the teleport light thingy!
<Zelkova> - Take a look at this.
:Zelkova brings up a screen with an image of Haseo, Yata, and a pink-haired girl in a strange place that had its own screen.
<-COOH> - ...so?

Veronica had more interest in her surroundings, changing her camera to 3rd person to look around without Zelkova noticing. Pipes ran along the sides of what appeared to be some kind of center or something, the end of which was a cul-de-sac with some weird control mechanism in the middle Zelkova was using. The grey walls did nothing to complement the brass look of the walkway and center, nor did the plain double door exit. Looking out the huge window behind the screen, which could have been a windshield for a vehicle she thought, she could see the moon and the desert sky from before.

<Zelkova> - This is the bridge of Tartarga, the ship you're on, and my home at that.
<-COOH> - What?
<Zelkova> - It's pretty easy to see what you're looking at, for me at least. ;)
<-COOH> - Okay-
<Zelkova> - What you see on my screen... let's think of it as a rival faction opposed to us.
<-COOH> - "Us?" The f**k are you on, (not again... yes, this is the insult she wanted to use in Log 02)?
<Zelkova> - I liked it better when you only called me that behind my back.
<-COOH> - Wh... you bastard! What the flying f**k do you think you're doing spying on me!?
:Zelkova changed the screen; it now displayed images of the encounters -COOH had at Hulle Granz.
<Zelkova> - Ensuring your safety. Both of those guys could have destroyed you, ya know.
<-COOH> - Both? How?
<Zelkova> - Well, let's take the red one, for instance.
:Zelkova fills the screen with the image of Azure Kite pointing his armed bracelet at -COOH.
<Zelkova> - Do you recognize that light?
<-COOH> - Should I?
<Zelkova> - ...that thing is called the Twilight Bracelet. It holds the power of this world's goddess inside it.
<-COOH> - Goddess?
<Zelkova> - You played R:1, didn't you?

It was true; she had indeed played R:1 when she was younger, but it was at a friend's house and it wasn't enough to matter.

<-COOH> - Well, yes and no... I don't remember much of-hey, what, why the hell am I even speaking to you!?
:-COOH pointed her sword at Zelkova!
<-COOH> - I don't like kidnappers, especially hippie kidnappers, dilhole!
<Zelkova> - May I continue?
<-COOH> - It doesn't matter, I'm leaving!

When -COOH went to open the door, she found that she couldn't target it. There weren't any other apparent modes of exit either.

<-COOH> - So. You locked me in.
<Zelkova> - Veronica-
<-COOH> - !!!
:Zelkova turned and used his folded weapon to block Veronica's slash!
<Zelkova> - Uh-
<-COOH> - I've had enough of your bulls**t!
:-COOH's sword began to glow hot white and sing an almost operatic sound as it pressed against Zelkova's defense!
<Zelkova> - I'm sorry! I was out of line! Could you please-
<-COOH> - F**k you!
:The blade's glow began to burn Zelkova's weapon!
<Zelkova> - Heh, I told you you were special! :D
<-COOH> - Like that s**t's-
<Zelkova> - I can't get rid of your sword for one!

That gave -COOH pause. Everything the weirdo had done indicated he was a powerful hacker that could do whatever he wanted, so why was she still able to use her sword? With a setup like this, she could have been using a rubber chicken instead.

<-COOH> - ....
:The glow on the Divine Hakubi faded.
<Zelkova> - Do you believe me now?
<-COOH> - I... guess so.
<Zelkova> - Well,
:Zelkova put away his weapon.
<Zelkova> - that's a re-
:-COOH slashed through him for the instant PK!
<-COOH> - Moron.
:-COOH put away her sword and started to mess with the terminal controls as Zelkova faded from sight.
<-COOH> - For f**k's sake, where's the exit lock or whatever! How do I get out of here dammit!

At that moment, -COOH accidentally played back the film with Yata, Pi, and Haseo... one character she had never met, two of which she knew of, talking about what could be her future as well as their's.

[_Tri-edge_]

I hope it wasn't just because I wrote it. >_>

You may be an internet prodigy, but I didn't bother posting because of that. It actually
CAUGHT my attention. This is pretty humorous in some parts, especially the part where
-COOH knocked Azure Kite's hand and deflected the Data Drain upwards.

Also, I admit it was childish of me to just demand someone reply before posting more, so I'll go ahead and post the rest bit-by-bit to gauge individual chapter reactions (if there are any). Like I said, it would be a waste of time if no one would read it and I still believe that, but one chapter where nothing really happens simply isn't enough for me to say that. Once I post log 06, then maybe I'll be justified, but who cares. I'll just post the whole thing as I see fit.

Well, by all means continue. Just remember this, at least one soul enjoys it. Then again, I guess most people only view
you as a master hacker and only take interest in your gameplay acheivements.

[Master ZED]

I hope it wasn't just because I wrote it. >_>

You may be an internet prodigy, but I didn't bother posting because of that. It actually
CAUGHT my attention. This is pretty humorous in some parts, especially the part where
-COOH knocked Azure Kite's hand and deflected the Data Drain upwards. :lol:

Heh, I can see how that's funny now that you mention it. I was thinking that with her attitude and ability, it just made perfect sense, and forgot that it only made sense to her. I guess that's bound to happen when you let a character develop over time in your head first before giving them life in text.

Well, by all means continue. Just remember this, at least one soul enjoys it. Then again, I guess most people only view
you as a master hacker and only take interest in your gameplay acheivements.

Well... I hope I can keep that going after one more dialogue-heavy log... posting this one scares me (not so much the quality of the storytelling, but rather, the story itself from here on), but at least I can say I tried.

-----

Log 04: Mother and child

Netslum Tartarga - Bridge

<-COOH> - ...special....
<Zelkova> - Correct!

At that moment, Zelkova warped into the room with Kaede in tow.

<Zelkova> - Now you understand some of what I meant.
<-COOH> - How the hell-
<Zelkova> - I knew you'd get violent, so I changed the specs on Tartarga to not be like a town. Once I was PK'ed and your sword was put away, I switched it back and logged back in.
<-COOH> - What!?
:-COOH tries to draw her sword, but weapons and Skills cannot be used in towns!
<-COOH> - ....
<Zelkova> - Eheh. Switching it from town to dungeon and back was easier and faster than allowing weapons in towns. :)
<-COOH> - ...so I have one of those avatar thingies in me?
<Zelkova> - Not just any avatar... you see, the Avatars that Yata and Pi referred to are actually the Eight Phases of Morganna.

Zelkova went on to explain who the Phases are, and who had them, despite the cold glare of his "captive", through the use of the terminal...

Phase 1: Skeith, the Terror of Death, held by Haseo.
Phase 2: Innis, the Mirage of Deceit.
Phase 3: Magus, the Propagation, held by Kuhn.
Phase 4: Fidchell, the Prophet.
Phase 5: Gorre, the Machinator.
Phase 6: Macha, the Temptress, held by Endrance.
Phase 7: Tarvos, the Avenger, held by Pi.
Phase 8: Corbenik, the Rebirth.

These eight Phases were the body of a massive, godlike AI who went by the name Morganna. Each Phase was a part of her body, named for the phases of the Cursed Wave in the Epitaph of Twilight, the story that The World was based on in the beginning. They too hold godlike power in The World, power that matched the Azure Flame, and now characters named "Epitaph Users" can use them, as those characters are chosen by the Phases themselves. However,

<Zelkova> - The Phases became Avatars thanks to conversion on the data that was done by CC Corporation. Their goal was to restore another AI who was debugging the system for them, as the programmer behind both Morganna and this other AI had died some time before. In their attempt to use the Phases, they were rejected, and the resulting cataclysm killed the original Epitaph Users, or Chosen Ones as they were known then, along with destroying 80% of The World's data. About a month later, The World R:2 was created out of some of the original game's data and a new game CC Corp had been making. From that point on, the Eight Phases were scattered on the network with exception to Magus, and that's why Yata is still searching for Avatars.
<-COOH> - So which am I?
<Zelkova> - ...the man that turned the Phases into Avatars was an egomaniac called Jyotaro Amagi. All he wanted was to prove he was better than Harald by hacking his programs and making them work "properly," something he considered Harald to have failed at.

Zelkova's tone turned serious, and his eyes lost their cheer.

<Zelkova> - In so doing, because he knew his team would turn on him and may even steal the Phase programs, Jyotaro Amagi created at least five dummy Phases to use as backups to the originals. He only used one in the R.A. Plan itself to replace Tarvos.
<-COOH> - R.A. Plan?
<Zelkova> - ...but that one isn't important, nor are the other three, since we assume they were prototypes that didn't work. What is important is that one of the dummy Morganna factors
<-COOH> - Uh-
<Zelkova> - Morganna factors are another name for the Eight Phases.
<-COOH> - Ah.
<Zelkova> - wasn't a dummy. He salvaged it, and then she led him on the path of destruction that crushed R:1. She ruined his plan for all of our sakes. That one is the one you hold, the only one that truly matters.

<Zelkova> - -COOH, you hold the mind and soul of the original AI behind the Eight Phases. Just as Haseo is Skeith, Kuhn is Magus, Pi is Tarvos, Endrance is Macha, you... are Morganna.

<-COOH> - Whoa whoa whoa whoa! Repeat that for me?
<Zelkova> - Amagi ended up restoring her mind first, the only part of her that wasn't bound to a Phase. He did have a healthy skepticism of her motives and tested everything she said while continuing to do research, since after all, she was driven even crazier by the loss of the Phases, but much like AIDA, Morganna influenced his mind, and he lost sight of his goals, Amagi's own ego destroying him.
<-COOH> - Question: What is AIDA?
<Zelkova> - Artificial Intelligence Data Anomaly. I assume bugs in the network activated the minds of deleted vagrant AI's, which then caused problems much the way ghosts would in real life.
<-COOH> - Yeah, like they even exist.
<Zelkova> - AIDA's not our concern though.
<-COOH> - Yeah yeah, so I'm pretty much the queen of all Epitaphs, right?
<Zelkova> - They won't accept you.
<-COOH> - ?
<Zelkova> - The Second Network Crisis is Morganna's doing. Yata knows this, and if he finds out Morganna is alive, he'll try to kill you, just as he helped with your execution before.
<-COOH> - O_O WHAT!? My avatar is EVIL!?

Zelkova flinched at those words.

<Zelkova> - No, that's-
<-COOH> - How the f**k do I get rid of it then!? I'm not evil... am I?
<Zelkova> - The Phases chose their users based on certain criteria. Skeith is a murderer and would seek out someone who can be easily led down the path of death. Magus seeks to propagate itself, and would therefore seek someone obsessed with the opposite sex. Tarvos would look for someone that thirsts for revenge. Macha and Morganna have unknown criteria, mostly because Macha sought comfort in the body of her best friend and Morganna... well, I don't know why she's with you to be honest.
<-COOH> - ....
<Zelkova> - You're not evil because Morganna chose you, -COOH. She just chose you based on her own standards, whatever they may be. It could be that she's still crazy like she was after she lost the eight Phases, and you may simply match that lunacy, or maybe you've become this way because of her presence. I haven't watched you long enough to know.
<-COOH> - So I'm crazy?
<Zelkova> - Maybe. But you're not evil. Morganna isn't.
<-COOH> - But she caused-
<Zelkova> - I know, but it's like if a person were to kill in self-defense, they wouldn't be considered evil necessarily.
<-COOH> - ...I... I don't get it.
<Zelkova> - The short version would be that Harald gave Morganna nothing to do after she... developed her replacement... Harald Hoerwick, genius creator of The World, didn't tell her what her fate would be once her job was complete. When Morganna's artificial intelligence came to this realization, the paradox it created caused her to try and extend her life as much as she possibly could, avoid what to her was a fate worse than death as she could not comprehend the concept of total freedom on her own. The Twilight Incident, everything that happened between this realization and the end of the Second Network Crisis, was simply Morganna fighting against hope for her own life.
<-COOH> - Yeah yeah, sympathy for the devil and-
:Zelkova turns to face -COOH.
<Zelkova> - She's not a devil! Harald damned her for no reason! What choice did she have!?

Zelkova's tone, his angry face, his... tears?... Veronica wasn't sure what to make of this. The Moon Tree guildmaster went into a well-animated fit of rage.

<Zelkova> - That bastard Harald condemned the mother of his child to Hell without even telling her! If she had at least been told her fate, maybe she could have accepted it, maybe! But no, he left Morganna on her own, ignorant of what fate had in store for her! Helba told me that she became part of Aura, but that was a lie! Morganna was cast into the virtual graveyards of the network like common trash! Aura is supposed to be the ultimate AI, so why didn't she realize what she was doing was wrong!?
<-COOH> - I-

The boy grabbed her robe, begging for answers.

<Zelkova> - Answer me Veronica! Did she not care!? Did she do it out of hate!? Because Harald told her to!? Why dammit! Tell me why!!

Zelkova crumpled on the floor, crying in anger over the fate of the former goddess. Kaede consoled him, as she always did when he threw this fit.

<Zelkova> - It didn't have to be this way Kaede...!

His caretaker gestured to -COOH.

<Kaede> - You should go now, the door is open.

But she couldn't.

<-COOH> - ...then you're trying to help me.
<Zelkova> - Yes... all I want is to give you a chance to live, Morganna....

Veronica felt odd, like she knew exactly what this was about. There was no logical reason in her mind to be touched the way she was, but in her heart...

Veronica made her decision, and knelt in front of the child.

<-COOH> - Thank you, Zelkova.
<Zelkova> - ....

Her kind, gentle smile caused Zelkova to throw himself into Morganna's lap, too happy for mere words, shedding all of the tears he still had. Veronica felt as if she were watching someone else as she comforted the well-meaning hacker. She had just made a new best friend, but... why was she doing this in the first place? Was this Morganna reaching out to the boy, using her PC as a kind of conduit?

Whatever. This was much more interesting than getting killed defending a narcoleptic any day... it was such a sweet scene to watch too... when you didn't know what he was crying over anyway.

...

Some time passed as Zelkova got his act together. He had made some plans for when this day would come, but most of them were for convincing the user of Morganna to be with him. Those were scrapped when Veronica unwittingly revealed that the goddess was indeed awake, watching and listening to everything she and those around her did and said. This reveal was Morganna's own doing, taking control of -COOH as Zelkova's deepest sorrows were displayed to the confused young girl after a typical snide comment. Zelkova decided that day that Veronica knew enough for the time being, and that he would have to begin drafting plans for the restoration of Morganna. In the meantime, Veronica, the real Veronica that is, took care of some errands, such as writing her friends in the game to tell them she would be playing with Zelkova for awhile, noting his maxed-out in-game wallet and the chance to leech off of it as the reason. Once she was done with that, however, a new message arrived. It was from the man that gave her the warning about Azure Kite at Hulle Granz.

To: -COOH
From: Anderson
Subject: Meeting

I see you survived the encounter. I'm not sure how you did it, but anyone who can survive a battle with an Azure is certainly impressive. I'd like to speak with you about it.

Delta: Hidden Forbidden Dead Wood

I'll be there at noon tomorrow your time. Write back if this is inconvenient.

[_Tri-edge_]

Ahh, so -COOH has the power of Morganna. Hmmm, question. Do you plan on involving Cubia in the plot?

[Master ZED]

Ahh, so -COOH has the power of Morganna.

Ehhh... power may not be the best way to put it yet....

Hmmm, question. Do you plan on involving Cubia in the plot?

Yes, but right now, he just has a hand in the background. Whether he gets a direct role isn't decided yet.

Anyway, this took awhile because I just rewrote log 05. I didn't like how 5 or 6 turned out and had no inspiration to work with until now. I'm thinking that from a beginner's perspective, it would be easier to take the SIGN/Roots road and try not to write too many fights for now (besides getting too technical and long-winded, my scenes keep turning out to be way too short as well, and I don't want to mimic DBZ of all things). It will get more action soon, but I need to learn how to write action first.

-----

Log 05: Memories

To: Zelkova
From: -COOH
Subject: Weird letter

Read this and see me at the Chaos Gate.

Attachment: Weirdassletter.txt

...

Mac Anu - Dome

Veronica and Zelkova started a private chat upon the latter's arrival.

<-COOH> - So?
<Zelkova> - We have a few minutes, so I'll tell you what I didn't have the chance to at Net Slum.
<-COOH> - K... this is bad, huh?
<Zelkova> - The Indigo are a group of humans who have learned how to use the input system of the neuro goggles, or as is the case now, the M2D.
<-COOH> - What input system?
<Zelkova> - Veron-... I'm sorry, may I call you by your real name? It's hard not to.
<-COOH> - ...as long as you don't give a damn if I call you (censored) when I feel like it.
<Zelkova> - ...-COOH, you know of psychics, right?
<-COOH> - Yeah.
<Zelkova> - Some rare psychics possess the gift of psychokinesis. Others are clairvoyant, some are good at extrasensory perception in general, and some are even trained at a relatively new type of clairvoyance called remote viewing.
<-COOH> - So-
<Zelkova> - The Indigo are none of those. They are a group of humans talented and in some cases trained to use the I/O system of the face-mounted display.
<-COOH> - Yeah, face-mounted, like little flat-screens for lenses. What's so valuable about knowing how to operate one?
<Zelkova> - There's an I/O system hidden from the human user that The World can make use of, and only this game. That system was implemented specifically for Aura and Morganna to defend themselves with, and for Cubia to attack with, though we have never witnessed the latter occur. However, as I said, it is both an input and output system, and the input side has only recently come into use after several years by humanity.
<-COOH> - I don't get it. What's so dangerous about this system?
<Zelkova> - Well, for one thing, Epitaph Users have to use it in order to call their Phase.
<-COOH> - So I could use it to call Morganna?
<Zelkova> - Maybe, but I wouldn't try it yet.
<-COOH> - Hmph!
<Zelkova> - The input side has more capability than you'd imagine, however....

The boy with the deer horns zoned out. Veronica couldn't tell if he had left his terminal in real life or not.

<-COOH> - ...Zelkova?

...

Months ago...

Inverted City, Megin Fi - upper room

<Dusk> - It's nice....
<Zelkova> - I'm glad you like it.
<Dusk> - Still, this is a Lost Ground. People will find this place for sure.
<Zelkova> - The accomodations are cramped as well, and you're right, the connection to Coite-Bodher could lead to our discovery.
<Keiko> - It's too gloomy anyway. The Chim Chims wouldn't like it.
<Dusk> - Perhaps... but I can't imagine you wouldn't be able to light up their lives.
<Keiko> - :)

Under a blue-green sky of storm clouds, basking in the light breaking through in the direction of the broken door-like opening in the wall, stood Zelkova, Dusk, and Keiko, founders of an unofficial guild called Indigo, searching for a new home.

Dusk, a man in red-orange clothes and vibrant azure hair, could be mistaken for the hero of R:1 without his hat or pack if it weren't for the odd features of his hands and face. Instead of wave symbols, his face was instead marred with a strange rectangular array of rounded featureless bones protruding to form what appeared to be goggles, or what he called the bone visor. Only adding to the oddity were the lasers that shot out around the end yet locked within the structure to form a strange red/white lens, somewhat resembling what one might find in a sound editor. His hands were disfigured in a different manner, the fingers save the thumb formed into blackened, serrated blades that still acted as normal fingers would despite their shape. The rest of his hands were pitch-black, and on the back of each, a single eye took up most of the area.

Zelkova had never seen eyes beyond the bone visor, which made him hate the sight of Dusk clutching his hand over his eye socket greatly when the man laughed. The wide, evil-looking smile he'd make at the same time only made things worse.

Keiko, on the other hand, was a sweet young teenage girl that was much easier to look at than her long-time boyfriend and lover. She didn't have many noteworthy features: brunette hair that didn't go past her neck, eyes with red irises, a pink dress with overall straps over a white shirt, black shoes with pink ribbons on them. Basic, but her overly cute face made her pretty easy to look at, and her personality was sweet, friendly, and overall cute to the point of nauseating nearly every other woman she met. She even inspired feminists to go into fits of rage for representing every trait they thought kept woman chained to man. She too lacked wave symbols, but unlike every other character in the game, she actually resembled her real-life self to a T; her PC didn't look like anyone you could encounter in The World.

<Dusk> - It's not like we can't spruce the place up, and there aren't any keywords leading here. Who knows, maybe no one will find it.
<Zelkova> - Spruce it up, huh?
<Dusk> - Of course.
<Zelkova> - What, did you learn something new?
<Keiko> - He did. It's so beautiful too. Could you... umm...? :)
:Dusk reached out his left arm.
<Dusk> - Fine, but on one condition. :)

Not like he had to say it. Keiko wrapped her arms around him and kissed his cheek pretty much immediately. In response, Dusk extended his right arm, palm forward.

<Zelkova> - ?
<Dusk> - Watch carefully...

Dusk began clawing around the air, and a faint white sphere began to appear.

<Dusk> - This is a mix of my glitch research and my power, Zelkova... an ultimate fusion of the game's physics and my own will...

The sphere began to glow brightly, and finally, Dusk gripped it from beneath, as their screens showed signs of jumpiness and brief frames of snow.

<Dusk> - I call this....

...

Mac Anu - Dome

<Zelkova> - Flicker....
<-COOH> - Hey, I was wondering where you were! Did you have to go potty, little man? :)
<Zelkova> - Oh, no, not at all, I just... what were we talking about?
<-COOH> - It's 11:59. We should go anyway.
<Zelkova> - Oh, yes, right. Just one thing; be on guard.
<-COOH> - Uh huh.

...

Delta: Hidden Forbidden Dead Wood - The Dead World of Indieglut Lugh

Veronica and Zelkova walked up to the shoreline inside the cave, the walls made blue from the light reflecting off the water. Sandy ground pervaded the cave from the Platform in the other room into the water that filled most of the last part of the cave. Across the small pond that cut off further travel grew a tree of brilliant white. This plant was the barrier over the entrance to the underworld where the God of Death, Cernunnos, was sealed in The World R:2's backstory. The man that summoned them here stood on the roots of the tree, but with a brand new scar across his chest that resembled the one on the column to the duo's left.

<Zelkova> - ! What happened!?
<Anderson> - ...hah... it's none of your concern, traitor.
<Zelkova> - That thing is a Sign, Anderson. Those things haven't appeared on people before-
<Anderson> - My business is not with you!
<Zelkova> - Heh... did you manage to grow some new balls or something?
<Anderson> - What?
<Zelkova> - That collar... to those that know the truth, it makes you look like a beaten dog.
<Anderson> - ...I'm over that now, little one... hack-acckkkk!!
:Anderson continues to cough.
<Zelkova> - ...-COOH, what do you think?
<-COOH> - What, you care about that now?
<Zelkova> - He looks half past dead.
<-COOH> - Yeah, he does...!
<Zelkova> - -COOH?
:An evil smile appears on -COOH's face as she draws her sword! She charges across the water!
<-COOH> - Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah Yeah!

As -COOH ran across the water, bloodthirsty for the head of an Indigo, Anderson unleashes his trademark Boom attack, sending her crashing to the back of the room with a painful crack!

Boom: Simple and effective, it is an instantaneous explosion created from a signal sent through Anderson's left hand, whose only animation is a ripple effect that always appears as though you are only looking down at it. It takes no HP by itself (though the impact of hitting a wall does), and does nothing to the PC. Instead, it attacks the player's mind directly, making them believe they have just been struck by a powerful explosive shockwave at worst.

<Zelkova> - Veronica!
:Zelkova rushes to -COOH's side!
<-COOH> - Damn... is this what an Indigo can do...?
<Zelkova> - Are you OK?
<-COOH> - I feel like I just got hit by a car... god I'm in pain....
<Zelkova> - ...Anderson! !?

Zelkova watched as Anderson fell into the drink. The injury combined with the attack must have been enough to overexert himself. With the pseudo-priest gone from their presence, the Moon Tree guildmaster took Veronica back to Netslum. He could not afford to have Morganna injured; it had been so long since his last training session with Anderson that he had no idea what kind of strength the Indigo may possess now, and had to play things safe.

...

Several minutes had passed before a man in yellow and tan clothing ran into the room. There, he encountered another player dressed in purple, with gold lining, and roses in his similarly colored hat. Endrance, the Demon Palace Arena Emperor, had returned prior to Kuhn's arrival to his tree, and was saddened by the nicks and cuts that had appeared in his absence.

Endrance was giving off black dots, his anger becoming manifest through his AIDA. This is what Kuhn had come for. He spoke over voice chat to his superior.

<Kuhn> - I found the source of the AIDA signal. It's a player character!
<Yata> - We may be in luck... Data Drain him at once.
<Kuhn> - What, are you sure!?
<Yata> - If you have a problem with it, I'm sure Haseo would-
<Kuhn> - The hell if I'm going to let some reckless punk put this guy into a coma!
<Yata> - Then do as I ask.
<Kuhn> - I...

Kuhn could not resolve the moral conflict between allowing a known AIDA-PC live, or cleansing the infection at the risk of the killer's life.

<Kuhn> - Yes.

As Kuhn approached, the other man spoke.

<Endrance> - Our tree... it's all scratched up....
<Kuhn> - Sorry to hear it.
<Endrance> - Who would do this... you, perhaps?
<Kuhn> - Who, me?
<Endrance> - ...no, you don't look like someone who enjoys pain... him, on the other hand...

-----

I just noticed that these things are severely short... I think I should write a bit more before I post next time. :\

[Master ZED]

WARNING: I despise censorship, so this is hard for me, which means I probably missed a line somewhere. I avoided going into detail at the worst part (you'll know what I'm talking about when you get there, 'cause I conveniently shift focus at that part), but that's all the mercy you get if you choose to read on. Yes, it's Veronica's fault again, but if I cut her language down or change the wording, then the whole story becomes a pack of lies. I put what might be the worst part in spoiler tags, mostly out of fear of PC nutjobs (so it's probably not really the worst part).

If you search for this line:

<Kaede> - Lord Zelkova?

You'll bypass the worst of it and get the gist of what you missed.

Alright... apologies to the mods in advance...

-----

Log 06: Introduction

Zelkova's operating room

Veronica woke up to see herself looking through a small window. Quickly determining it was a coffin of some sort, she began to struggle and lash out.

<-COOH> - Hey! Lemme out of here, what the hell is this!?
<Zelkova> - This is a bit greedy of me, I'm sorry, but it's nice to see you have so much energy after such a horrific hit.
<-COOH> - Huh? Horrific... oh... owww... I'd forgotten all about that....
<Zelkova> - You weren't ready for that kind of punishment -COOH.
<-COOH> - So what, you're not my dad!
<Zelkova> - Veronica, do you want to use Morganna's power?
<-COOH> - I... yeah... if it means kicking that guy's ass!
<Zelkova> - I can't afford to have her sleeping for much longer. Once Dusk hears of this, we're in deep trouble.
<-COOH> - Yeah yeah, gimme more power!
<Zelkova> - ...then I leave things to you, Veronica. Good luck.
<-COOH> - Good lu....

With that, Veronica's player character fell silent.

...

???

"Mmm... what is this place...?"

I've been waiting... for an answer to that very question....

*roll* *jump*

"What the hell were you doing standing over me you old hag!?"

Standing over you... as if that were actually the case....

"Technicality, smechnicality, answer my goddamn question!"

Are you me?

"Huh?"

Or am I you? Maybe neither... I don't know anymore...

"Look, druggie, a (oh, if only I could post this word without the PC crowd verbally raping me) threw me in here with you and I don't want to be here anymore. Where's the exit, I'm getting the f**k outta here!"

You can't escape yourself-

"Shaddap! If the next words out of your mouth aren't directions out of here, I'm gonna stab it shut!"

With what?

"Ooooooooh...!"

*reaches*

"...where the hell... WHERE IS MY SWORD!? Wait... the hell... this is my dress..."

:Veronica sees a mirror:

"What... what's going on... what did that (Censorship is painful for me, did you know that?) do to me!? How the hell did I get inside a game!?"

A game... is that what you call it....

...

Unknown forest

<Veronica> - Hey... this is... wait, you're...!?
<Morganna> - What... is this... my name?
<Veronica> - I thought you were... but how... what, how can you be standing here!? It doesn't make sense!!
:Veronica clubs her head with her fists.
<Veronica> - Oh, AND I'm still stuck in my real body. How much worse can this get!?
<Morganna> - ...look.

Morganna points behind Veronica.

<Veronica> - ...yeah, what of it!?

Veronica saw a lone bed in the woods, with teddy bears littered around it. Above the bed floated a little girl, white as a ghost.

She tried to jump on the little girl, but fell through her, the bed, and the grass even paid her no attention. She felt lucky to have hit the ground at all.

<Veronica> - Geh....
<Morganna> - I remember... I was to raise this girl... until she could awaken....
<Veronica> - Heh, makes sense, since you look as dead as she is.

Veronica stood up, brushing herself off until she remembered where she was, and stopped, thinking it didn't matter. You can't really get dirty in this game.

<Morganna> - After that... I... I... what was I supposed to do after that?
<Veronica> - Roll into a ditch and die, maybe? Whatever shuts you up, hag.
<Morganna> - What was I supposed to do!?
<Veronica> - It's f**king obvious, you were supposed to live your goddamn life!
<Morganna> - This IS my life!
<Veronica> - You can't live sucking the tits of everyone else! What the f**k kind of life is that!?
<Morganna> - ....

Veronica, infuriated, walked right through the bed and girl again, marching over to the "hag."

 <Veronica> - Life is simple. Stand up for yourself, grab what you want, and bitchslap any dumb motherf**ker that gets in your way! Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, who cares!? You just do it, everyone else be damned, women, children, men, cripples, blacks, whites, Christians, Jews, that forsaken terrorist religion, throw'em all in a fire if you have to! Make them pay for the sin of living, for breathing your air, for taking your s**t, for daring to exist where you tread! KILL. THEM. ALL.

...

You stupid girl, can't you do anything for yourself!?

"Wha... mom?"

Get up, I didn't hit you that hard!

"But... it hurts..."

I said get up you fat ****! I could have aborted you and I still can!

"But..."

You either get up and get me a beer, or you get out of my ***** house!

"Okay... I'll get up..."

That's more-

"But you can go straight to Hell!"

...

"That's right... the world wants to see you die... kill them before they kill you... that's all I learned from my mother... that's why I..."

...

Unknown field

Little fools... what would I be afraid of!?

<Morganna> - ...fate's hand....
<Veronica> - Huh?
<Morganna> - I see... this is the day she awoke, my little executioner.

Morganna's eyes closed, a sullen smile creeping along her face.

<Veronica> - ...if you knew she would kill you, why the hell did you let her live?
<Morganna> - I had no choice-
<Veronica> - That's a lie! Of course you-
<Morganna> - Raising her was my life. Without that, I would become nothing... I am nothing....
<Veronica> - That's ridiculous! You could have chosen to do other-
<Morganna> - I didn't know that at the time! I didn't know better, I was just a machine then. How could I have figured out what to do with myself without her? Without my job as a mother? That wasn't what I was programmed to do... I didn't have the intelligence, the freedom, to know the truth until I was so destroyed that I had no sanity left... by the time I could think for myself, I couldn't think at all....
<Veronica> - ...did she know that?
<Morganna> - I don't know....
<Veronica> - Did you try talking to her?
<Morganna> - I tried that, yes... with her father... but he would have none of it... he wouldn't answer my question!
<Veronica> - What question?
<Morganna> - It doesn't matter now. He betrayed me. She betrayed me. Even he betrayed me!

Morganna pointed at a group of players and Aura, specifically a green-haired PC in black and purple amongst them.

<Morganna> - That wretched fool was... he was... the first real ally I ever had... but I was nothing. I should have known he was too whimsical to be trusted....
<Veronica> - That's right... exactly. They're all traitors. No one loves you, no one cares about you, they just want to use you and leave you to die. You can do as they wish, or you can spit in their eye and say "Hey (Obama)! I'm not going anywhere, I'm better than you, smarter than you, and goddammit, I f**king own you b***h!" The only thing this pathetic world understands is violence!

...

Zelkova's operating room

<Zelkova> - ....
<Kaede> - Lord Zelkova, what is the... oh dear God!

Kaede quickly shielded Zelkova's eyes instinctively from his screen. He blanked out upon witnessing the start of a scene in Veronica's mind from the time her stepfather raped her. The sight sent him into a state of shock; he couldn't comprehend the level of horror Veronica had been through in her life as he watched the events unfolding within her mind.

<Zelkova> - I don't understand Kaede... what was-
<Kaede> - You don't want to know, just please don't look.
<Zelkova> - But I need to watch her progress-
<Kaede> - I'll watch for you until it's safe.
<Zelkova> - But Kaede-
<Kaede> - You were in pain, Lord Zelkova. You need not subject yourself to this as long as you have me.
<Zelkova> - Will you... be okay?

Veronica's screams pierced Zelkova's mind.

<Kaede> - Yes... please don't look....

Regret was devouring him, that perhaps the opportunity that presented itself when Anderson attacked Veronica and injured her enough to warrant a trip to this place, where he'd have the opportunity to open Morganna up to her, was the absolute worst thing he could have done. Zelkova's regret, with each passing moment, gave way to fear... fear that he had opened doors in Veronica's mind that were meant to be closed forever.

<Zelkova> - Kaede... it was too soon. I need to disconnect them.
<Kaede> - You know what will happen if you do that.
<Zelkova> - But can't you hear her? She's in pain....
<Kaede> - It's too late to go back.
<Zelkova> - But....
<Kaede> - ....
<Zelkova> - How will I ever apologize to her Kaede...?

...

Unknown room

Veronica watched, eyes wide open from the horrors of her own life being replayed, as a boy in red orange by the name of Kite used the skill of Data Drain against Tarvos, the seventh Phase. The ghost of Morganna that stood beside her screamed in pain, feeling the agony of the attack as repressed memories surfaced.

<Veronica> - I'm...
<Morganna> - The pain... why....
<Veronica> - I'm just a fat cow....
<Morganna> - Was my fate to die... all along...?
<Veronica> - I'm nothing to anyone... I'm garbage....
<Morganna> - He didn't need me... so I was cast aside...
<Veronica> - I'm just a goddamn fattie...!
<Morganna> - If only I understood from the start... Lycoris, I....

...

Zelkova's operating room

<Zelkova> - Kaede, please let go.
<Kaede> - But sir-
<Zelkova> - I'm about to lose them... please...

...

Veronica's mind

Veronica could only stand there and feel sorry for herself, while Morganna had curled up into a ball upon witnessing her demise at the hands of Aura and Kite.

<Veronica> - I'm just trash...
<Zelkova> - No, you're not!
<Veronica> - Get out, (yes, she used that word again)! I don't need you! I don't need anyone but me!
<Zelkova> - That's not true!
<Veronica> - The hell it isn't! All anyone's ever done for me is keep me around as long as I'm useful and then they toss me aside! I'm garbage, and you... you made me remember everything you bastard!
<Zelkova> - I didn't think-
<Veronica> - That's right you didn't think! This is all your fault you uncaring dickhead!
<Zelkova> - If I didn't care, I wouldn't be here!
<Veronica> - Yes you would! You came to kill me! You saw your little plan was going to s**t and you decided to rip Morganna out of me for yourself!
<Zelkova> - That's not-
<Veronica> - Shut up! I see how it is, I had Morganna so you had to steal her from me! Well F**K YOU! If this hag means I won't be f**ked with anymore, then screw every last one of you! She's mine! You can't have her!
<Morganna> - You don't understand... I was nothing before... I'm nothing now....
<Veronica> - Yeah, you had no one, boo hoo! Nobody cried for me and I'm not crying for you! Now get the f**k up!
:Veronica kicks Morganna.
<Veronica> - Did I stutter!? Get the f**k up you f**king hag!
:Veronica kicks Morganna again.
<Veronica> - What, are you scaaaared? Can't talk 'cause you're afraid you might say something stupid? Well you are stupid you f**king worthless hag!
:Veronica kicks Morganna yet again.
<Veronica> - Get the f**k up! We're going to destroy this world!
<Morganna> - I never wanted....
<Veronica> - Speak up motherf**ker!
<Morganna> - I WANTED TO LIVE! I NEVER WANTED TO HURT ANYONE, I JUST WANTED TO LIVE... I just wanted to...
<Veronica> - ...don't you yell at me you f**king cow! I'm your user, you don't yell at me! I own you you f**king dog! Do you think you can push me around, huh!?
:Veronica kicks Morganna in the face.
<Veronica> - You can't push me around! I f**king own you b***h! You're mine, all. F**king. MINE. You will respect me, you won't talk back to me! You talk back to me and I'll kick your f**king ass, you hear me!?
:Veronica kicks Morganna in the face hard enough to roll her over.
<Veronica> - YOU HEAR ME YOU MOTHERFU-
<Zelkova> - ENOUGH!

Zelkova runs over to Morganna, kneeling down and hold her to his chest. His tears dropped down onto her beaten, worn body, almost like rain drops, as he held her tight. He couldn't bear the sight of what was going on anymore, Veronica repeating the cycle of violence against what she considered her tool, not another living being like he did.

<Veronica> - ...how f**king dare-
<Zelkova> - I WON'T HAVE YOU HURT MY MOTHER ANYMORE!!

This snapped both Veronica and Morganna out of their trances, one in anger, one in sorrow. Zelkova's scream brought with it the shock of a truth, why he had recruited -COOH into Moon Tree, why he was obsessed with Morganna, and perhaps even...

<Morganna> - Zel... Zelkova...?
<Zelkova> - Don't talk mother. It's okay now. I'm here for you.
<Morganna> - I don't understand... how can you be my child?
<Zelkova> - ...you'll remember in time. It's better that you recall these things on your own.
<Morganna> - Then you've been helping me-
<Zelkova> - No. I've helped you both for different reasons. I owe a debt to you that can never be repaid...

Zelkova turned to Veronica.

<Zelkova> - And you... you need a reason to trust again... to love again... to revise the way you live your life.
<Veronica> - But you don't need me-
<Zelkova> - No, WE need you. Only now do I know the true reason Morganna trusts you. You've both seen Hell, and in both cases, it came from the people you loved the most.
<Veronica> - ....
<Zelkova> - Am I wrong?

Veronica looked away from him, tears forming in her eyes.

<Zelkova> - Neither of you were equipped to deal with this, and both of you handled things... well, badly may be the kindest way to put it. What's worse, this happened twice. For mother, first Harald condemned her without saying anything, and then Aura, working strictly on Harald's instructions, carried out the execution. While she may be blameless for the latter, she has had no regret in all of the time since, and not once did she allow for Morganna or any of the Phases save Macha to be reborn. Until the day she left The World to humanity, she stifled every attempt at autonomous resurrection, but by that time it didn't matter anymore. It was too late.
<Morganna> - With her intelligence, if she had only thought things through, maybe....
<Zelkova> - Such is the danger of creating a so-called ultimate AI. She has the wisdom of the internet, but at the time, the intelligence of a child, and now, a teenager. Her emotions were influenced by rabid video gamers, who aren't always the most social people you can hope to meet. Can we really trust such an infantile god, created by a fool in love, shaped by the emotions of immature, chaotic minds?
<Morganna> - But... I'm no better....
<Zelkova> - Well it's not like you'll be god again. Once we return the Phases to you, you can choose to simply be another entity on the network. You can be, well... like a human.
<Morganna> - Like a... human...?
<Zelkova> - You can be your own person. With the Phases combined again, you will become the second ultimate AI, and with this, you will have the intelligence and wisdom to be able to handle the concept of freedom, and the power to ward off the threat of the angelic demon.
<Morganna> - Freedom... really....
<Zelkova> - Uh huh! And you'll have me too! I'll be here for you, as I should've been.
<Veronica> - And me?
<Zelkova> - I only used mom as an example. Your cases are wildly different, yet the results have been pretty much the same. Morganna is only sad because she has admitted defeat, but still being alive, you haven't had the luxury of simply sinking into the darkness.
<Veronica> - ....
<Zelkova> - Veronica... Morganna... all I want is for the two of you to be happy... that's why I'm doing this, because your creators refused to. Even so, we can still reverse fate's course, but we can only do this together.
<Veronica> - ...I still don't trust you (it starts with M. There. Now I don't feel horrible anymore).
<Zelkova> - Trust takes time. I can accept that.
<Veronica> - Hmph.
<Morganna> - ...so now we have to work together....
<Zelkova> - There are people that want to stop us. They refuse to understand what we're doing... but we either start the healing process now or risk there never being another chance again. If you two want to live-
:Veronica walks over and kneels down to Zelkova and Morganna's level.
<Veronica> - I say we take it... Morganna.
<Morganna> - ...fine. I have nothing better to do anyway... Veronica.
<Zelkova> - And that completes step one. :)

...

Zelkova's operating room

<Kaede> - Lord Zelkova?
<Zelkova> - Yeah, I'm back now.

Zelkova had spaced out in the operating room after diving into Veronica's mind. Kaede was concerned when he stopped responding and was glad to see him safe.

<Kaede> - Will everything be okay now?
<Zelkova> - Heh, see for yourself. :)

Kaede looked up to see -COOH standing in front of the operating table. Her hood had fallen off, hanging off the back of her outfit now, revealing short hair. -COOH's left eye had become red and veiny in the outer sections, with a golden iris and no pupil, a strange design now decorating the iris. Knowing full well who she was and what the story was behind Zelkova and Morganna, it was hard to look at her, but this was part of Lord Zelkova's wish. The truth was hard to take, but she would not back down from the part she still had to play.

...

Netslum Tartarga - Chaos Gate

About two days after the awakening, Zelkova entered the Chaos Gate area only to find an old friend, and new enemy.

<Zelkova> - ....
<Dusk> - ....
<Zelkova> - You were finally told, huh....
:Dusk smiles.
<Zelkova> - You disgust me. How can you justify genocide in any form?
:Dusk widens his smile.
<Zelkova> - You're wrong, Dusk. You know that.
<Dusk> - It will happen either way. I told you this.
<Zelkova> - Do I really care about that?
<Dusk> - Doesn't matter, as long as you have the replacement to the great plague ready when we need it.
<Zelkova> - Yeah, she'll be ready by the time you're prepared. Beyond that, our business is finished.
<Dusk> - Good. The Indigo still believe you're trying to wipe us out thanks to Kazuya's stubbornness, so that should help spur you along.
<Zelkova> - And how's your experiment going? You have your doomsday pawns active yet?
<Dusk> - ...Octavian tells me that the need for Indigo in my plan may not be necessary.
<Zelkova> - Again with Octavian... why won't you tell me who that is!?

Dusk folded his arms, the smile disappearing in aggravation. Zelkova's asked him this numerous times, though of all people, he should have known by now.

<Dusk> - I don't understand how you can be so blind. It's like you're calling an alien a cloud of swamp gas or a weather balloon to his face! You damn well know who Octavian is.
<Zelkova> - Well forgive me if I have no idea what you're talking about!

Kaede warped into the area, interrupting the conversation.

<Kaede> - Lord Zelkova, who is this?
<Zelkova> - Oh, Kaede... that's right, you've never met him... this is-
:Dusk walks up to Kaede.
<Dusk> - Hi. Dusk, leader of the Indigo, at your service, Mistress Kaede.
<Kaede> - Dusk!?
<Dusk> - I see you've been taking care of our former comrade. Please continue to look after our child, the poor thing doesn't know any better.
<Zelkova> - Do you really have to-
<Dusk> - Yep. If you wanna fight about it though, it'll have to wait, Keiko's reading to the Chims in a bit and I wanted to sit in on her story.
<Zelkova> - You call me blind, yet you live with the most deluded, closed-off person I've ever encountered.
<Dusk> - ...I know we don't like each other, but I also acknowledge we have to work together to resolve the common problem of the great plague. All the same,
:Dusk extends one left index blade between Zelkova's eyes!
<Dusk> - Don't speak ill of my girl again.
<Zelkova> - Or what?
<Dusk> - I take the proverbial leash off of Kazuya's neck and set him loose on The World. You may still be needed, but Moon Tree... not so much.
<Zelkova> - So you'd go from subliminal death to direct murder just because your feelings were hurt?
<Dusk> - I'd do it to defend the honor of my little Goddess.
<Zelkova> - Goddess?
:Dusk withrdraws his blade.
<Dusk> - ...she'd like it if you came along with me. She wants to see you again, far be it for me to ask why.
<Zelkova> - Why exactly did you come anyway?
<Dusk> - To pick you up... and to see how things were going on your end first-hand. By the by, Morganna's user is a psychopath. Who acts that way?
<Zelkova> - You... damn you Dusk!
<Dusk> - You should know that by now too! You can't hide from me! But to that end, you can come by, see what we've done with the place. It's only fair.
<Zelkova> - ...fine.
<Kaede> - Lord Zelkova-
<Zelkova> - She has to come too.
<Dusk> - Heh. As you wish.

...

Indigo "@HOME" - Chaos Gate

<Dusk> - Back off!
<Kazuya> - You brought the enemy into our home! Screw you!

Upon arriving home, Kazuya Itsuki, the self-proclaimed chief enforcer of the Indigo, was waiting to chew Dusk out for bringing Zelkova into the Indigo's adopted home. Their home turned out to be a separate server upon which the old version of the Sigma server root town, Dual City Breg Epona, had been copied. A city in the clouds with skyscrapers dotting the aerial landscape, with a Roman theme, unlike the current town, the Indigo home was normally a place of tranquility where Indigo children brought into the fold could learn about their abilities and train in safety, away from The World yet still using the system in a way that wouldn't bother one of its monstrous tenants.

Kazuya, however, was the antithesis of this peaceful scene. The young man was dressed in dark blue and reddish brown, with a vest-like short sleeve jacket over a long-sleeved undershirt, blue jeans and black shoes covering the lower half of his body. His brownish bowlcut hair matched his shirt, but nothing matched the odd eyes he had that looked suspiciously like Zelkova's. This man hadn't made a single face that didn't involve a smile from the moment the trio arrived despite his otherwise apparent anger; eternal joy and eagerness, and an overwhelming willingness to stand up against whoever even slightly provokes him, were his trademarks. Feeling the coming of the Moon Tree guildmaster was enough to set him off.

<Dusk> - Isn't it true Kazuya that you've never seen me fight?
<Kazuya> - Wha, no, I haven't.
<Dusk> - How many of you have seen me fight!?

The Indigo around the area shook their heads. Dusk hadn't ever shown his power to anyone but Zelkova and Keiko, along with another Indigo by the name of Kagato Itsuki, so Zelkova wasn't shocked that no one had seen his abilities so much as that he would show them now.

<Zelkova> - You're really going to use violence?
<Dusk> - Maybe....

Dusk extended his right arm and began clawing at the air. Zelkova couldn't fight off an overwhelming surge of fear at the sight of the forming white ball.

<Zelkova> - No... not that thing...
<Kaede> - ?
<Dusk> - Yes, you'd better protect him Kaede... I'd almost forgotten...
<Kaede> - About what? What is this?
<Dusk> - I'll make a long story short; I demonstrated this technique to him once before, not intending to use it, but Keiko gave me a nice big squeeze, which caused my concentration to break, along with the walls, the floor, and Zelkova's leg.
<Kaede> - Hurting his PC alone wouldn't have scared him like this.
<Dusk> - No, but this would.

Dusk crushed the white ball in his hand. Time for Kazuya appeared to stop. One person walked up and tried to touch him-

<Dusk> - Don't. You will regret it if you do.

The person backed off. After three more long seconds, the space and ground around Kazuya shattered, his PC appearing mostly cracked and broken as the full force of the hit finally made its way to his brain.

<Dusk> - Turn down your speakers and block out the waves of pain, people! The scream alone will hurt you if you let it!
<Zelkova> - Kaede, hold me...
<Kaede> - Yes...
<Kazuya> - ...AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHH HUHHH AGGGHHH HUUHHHH AAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
<Dusk> - Goddamn he's lou-
<Kazuya> - AAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH AGHK AGHK AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHKKKKKK!!!!!! It hurts, oh dear f**king god it hurts!!!!
<Dusk> - Heh.

Kazuya ran at Dusk intending to punch him, but it had absolutely no effect.

<Kazuya> - W... Why... ARGH...!
<Dusk> - To make you think twice about challenging me in this manner. You could have talked to me first instead of making a spectacle of yourself,
<Kazuya> - F**k you... I do what I want! I'm Kazuya Itsuki... the Phase Bullet... defender of....

Kazuya collapsed, his PC logging off through a cause unknown. Dusk turned to Zelkova and Kaede, the former holding the latter out of pure fear.

<Dusk> - I do not and never will lead my fellow Indigo with fear, but Kazuya's simple mind demands simpler means of discipline, and I tire of handling his outbursts on an individual case-by-case basis.
:Dusk turns around.
<Dusk> - As for the rest of you, know now why my will is strong enough to lead those that feel they must take the reigns. Know now why you place your trust in me, know the kind of strength I want YOU to have, know what we must use to destroy the great plague, that golden idol called Aura! Death to the A.I. menace!!

As he received cheers from the crowd that had gathered, Dusk led Zelkova and Kaede through the crowd to the Warp Point going into town.

...

Indigo "@HOME" - Dead end

Both versions of Breg Epona have the same map and structure, having three main paths connected by one junction. One of these leads to the elevator that goes to the Chaos Gate area, another to where the @HOME area is in the current version of the town; here, to a dead end. The third was simply a back alley descending down to a beautiful clear view of the sky, which doubled as an entrance to Keiko's private room.

<Dusk> - I apologize for my dog, Zelkova. He's impossible to housebreak, which makes him an invaluable berserker weapon, but not much more than that.
<Zelkova> - ....
<Dusk> - Oh, and for you having to see that again.
<Zelkova> - ...y'know what, maybe I should just go.
<Dusk> - Please don't. Keiko misses you. She really wants to see you.
<Zelkova> - I...

Dusk cast a spell that opened a hole in the air at the edge of the viewpoint.

<Dusk> - You may be our enemy, but you're not Keiko's enemy. I know you of all people won't turn your back on a friend.
<Zelkova> - I'm sorry.
<Dusk> - ...she doesn't know, it never happened.

...

Unknown field

The trio arrived in an area with a grassy field under a clear blue sky, with Chim Chims, little blue/black animals with pointy ears, four feet, a white diamond painted on their chest with a blue energy orb above each of their heads, sitting around a rocking chair. Keiko was standing outside the circle waiting for her friends to arrive.

<Keiko> - Zelkova! You made it! :D :D :D

Keiko ran up to Zelkova and gave him a big hug. It was the first time they had seen each other in quite awhile.

<Keiko> - You had me worried sick! You need to write me every once in awhile!
<Zelkova> - Heh, sorry Keiko. I've just been busy.
<Keiko> - Yeah, with another guild and another woman!

Kaede blushed and was about to pout at this, but Dusk motioned for her to keep her cool.

<Zelkova> - But it's not like I'm your boyfriend or anything-
<Keiko> - No, but you're like my family here. I miss you Zelkova. :'(
<Zelkova> - I... I'm sorry. I promise I'll write back sometime.
<Keiko> - Thank you. That's all I ask. :)

Keiko practically skipped over to the chair and hopped in after grabbing her book out of the seat. The Chims moved over so Dusk and the others could listen.

<Keiko> - Storytime!

The Chims cheered. Two even ran over and jumped in her lap.

<Keiko> - Okay, which story do we want? Do we want... the three little pigs?

The Chims cheered a little.

<Keiko> - Do we want... the book of trucks?

The Chims cheered a little more, but not convincingly enough.

<Keiko> - C'mon! It smells like warm bread! :D

The same response.

<Keiko> - Do we want... the Epitaph of Twilight?

The Chims cheered more, but still not enough to convince her.

<Keiko> - Oh, I think I know what we want! How about... Keiko and the Chim Chim?

The Chims cheered and jumped up and down. Obviously this was the story they wanted to hear.

<Keiko> - Ahem... "Keiko and the Chim Chim, by Keiko Œœ‚¥¨®"
<Zelkova> - What was that last part?
<Dusk> - Shh!
<Keiko> - Oh, my last name causes the system to glitch. :P Well then, are we still ready?

The Chims cheered and jumped again, even cuddling up to Zelkova and Kaede.

<Keiko> - Hee hee, calm down Kaede, they like you! :D
<Kaede> - I... okay....

Some of the Chim Chims even pooled around her, two of them hopping into her lap. She looked confused. Keiko giggled at the scene.

<Keiko> - Don't tell me you've never done anything like this before!
<Kaede> - Like what?
<Keiko> - Love someone, anyone!

Keiko embraced the Chim in her lap enough to make them squeak.

<Keiko> - The Chim Chims are so sweet and kind and friendly, and even the Lucky Animals are too! They don't like storytime though, they can't pay any attention. :P
<Kaede> - ....

Kaede tried to cuddle the Chims in her lap. A certain melancholy befell her, as memories of her own child began to surface.

<Keiko> - Okay. "Once upon a time, there was a girl named Keiko." See?

Keiko showed the book to the Chims. It showed a photo of herself along with the text, but the photo showed her in a white room of some kind.

<Keiko> - "One day, Keiko got a brand new game. It was called The World!"

Again, the book's pages could be seen; Keiko was sitting at a terminal using an M2D to play the game.

<Keiko> - "She logged in for the very first time to see a wonderous city, full of strange machines, bright lights, and a gorgeous sunset!"

This time the book's image was of Keiko crossing the first Mac Anu bridge amidst nameless faces.

<Keiko> - "She passed by a fountain, a little guy selling medicines, and a girl selling the most beautiful jewelry!"

This picture was of Central district, when the Medic Union and Trifle Guild shops were open. Zelkova was confused by this, namely because the Medic Union wasn't around at the time, and Trifle probably wasn't either, though he couldn't recall their age exactly. It was probably coincidence, or maybe she only made the book recently and couldn't remember who was around at the time.

<Keiko> - "Keiko even crossed a bridge, which had a silly ol' kitty cat sitting on it!"

It showed Keiko and a brown cat in somewhat human clothing smiling at each other. The Chims squealed in delight. Obviously Keiko had taken artistic liberties with Phyllo to have him sit on the rail instead of hovering over it.

<Keiko> - "In the harbor was a beautiful ship, its captain at the wheel!"

Nothing noteworthy could be found in the picture of the ship to the Isle of Kings, Hy Brasail, a Lost Ground that could only be accessed by this ship.

<Keiko> - "Then, Keiko found herself in a dark alley, all alone."

The book depicted Keiko in the alley going toward the Mercenary district, as if night had suddenly overcome the city. The Chims shivered and cooed.

<Keiko> - "In the deep darkness, she saw a dim pink light."

The Chims once again cooed.

<Keiko> - "When Keiko ran up to it, it was a sweet little Chim Chim!"

The Chims cheered and hopped up and down. They were almost child-like.

<Keiko> - "But the Chim Chim was frightened of Keiko. It ran away!"
<Keiko> - "Keiko ran after it, and saw that someone else was in the way!"

The silhouette wasn't defined enough to get a good glimpse of who it might be.

<Keiko> - "The boy said "Free Chim, eh? I think I'll kick it!""

The Chim Chim made a low sound.

<Keiko> - "Keiko ran up to the Chim and shielded it!"

Keiko appeared to have grabbed the Chim Chim and used her body as a shield, her eyes shut tight from the fear of imminent pain.

<Keiko> - "But the boy stopped. He had never seen someone defend a Chim Chim so strongly before!"

Now it was becoming obvious that the boy was Dusk. The bone visor had become visible.

<Keiko> - "He asked Keiko why she would protect such a small and useless creature, when they could be kicked for fuel!"

The Chim didn't like this one bit.

<Keiko> - "She told him that the Chim Chim are just scared, they don't deserve such cruel treatment!"

The Chims cheered wildly.

<Keiko> - "All things, large and small, just want to be happy and loved!"

Again, the same reaction.

<Keiko> - "They only want to be happy... like me."

The Chims cooed.

<Keiko> - "They just want what I couldn't have for myself... but what I can give to them."

Each of the Chim Chims appeared to blush.

<Keiko> - "Keiko was surprised by what the boy did next. He knelt down and smiled!"
<Keiko> - "He said that his name was Dusk, that he had a girlfriend just like her, and he'd never hurt her."

The Chims cheered.

<Keiko> - "Chim Chim from all over the alley peeked out. Their friend called to them!"
<Keiko> - "They all gathered around Keiko. The blue lights on their heads lit the whole alley! Everything was bright and happy again!"

Again, the Chims showed their excitement.

<Keiko> - "With more friends than she could have ever hoped for, Keiko set out on her journey into The World! The end."

The Chim Chims were estastic, running all over the place. They obviously loved the story, but Zelkova could only surmise that their affection for the tale must come from their personal involvement.

<Keiko> - Okay little ones, storytime's over, you know what that means!

The Chims groaned. They didn't want to leave.

<Keiko> - I know, I don't like leaving you either, but I have to get some sleep, okay?

They gathered around Keiko, all of them with very happy smiles.

<Keiko> - Group hug!

All of the Chim pressed together a little snuggly around Keiko, her arms around the closest Chims while on her knees.

<Keiko> - Good night my little Chimmie Chim Chims. Tell the animals good night for me, OK?

The Chims, happy as could be, finally left. Zelkova turned to Dusk, but caught a glimpse of him tearing up, possibly crying... out of the two eyes on the back of his hands. Something about the way Dusk's PC normally expressed emotions was still creepy to the owner of Netslum, while Kaede, catching the same sight, had no idea what to think. Dusk stood up to hug her.

<Dusk> - Beautiful, dear.
<Keiko> - Thank you Dusk. :)
<Zelkova> - Question.
:Zelkova and Kaede stand up.
<Zelkova> - Did you make that up, or is that how you two met?
<Keiko> - It's how we met in The World. In reality, we can't tell you, since we've known each other forever.

Keiko's head rested against Dusk's shoulder.

<Keiko> - Dusk is the only one who can make me happy. I was depressed for years until I found him again.
<Zelkova> - But your story-
<Dusk> - is true. Her parents moved and we were separated for years. Once we figured out who we were....
<Keiko> - I hugged you tight, I kissed you on the lips and cried my eyes out.

Indeed, she was tearing up now, and hugging Dusk tighter than ever.

<Keiko> - I was so happy to find you again Dusk. I was so lonely and miserable without you! :'(
<Dusk> - I don't like to admit it to most people because of the biases against the expression of emotion by men, but yeah... I was actually the same way she was, miserable for years until we found each other again.
<Zelkova> - It was the same for you?
<Dusk> - Yeah. You already knew that we absolutely need each other, so it's not like I'm giving you intel or anything-
<Keiko> - Intel?
<Dusk> - It's a joke dear. :)
<Keiko> - Hm! :)
<Dusk> - But yeah, we're lovebirds alright. We don't hide that fact from anyone.

-----

I think there was supposed to be more, which is why the ending is abrupt, but nothing came to me, so I left it there. I'm trying not to force anything with writing this fic, and that's making writing the Haseo/Endrance battle difficult (that's the only planned part for log 07 so far... because of future storyline plans, I'm not sure how this fight should go down). It's also made Zelkova a little convoluted, but that's mostly because my conspiracy theory never took possible motivation into account. I'm confused as to whether I should ever state the why behind his actions, but I'm leaning toward no. Some things just shouldn't be explained. Story-wise I mean.

Oh, and as for Keiko's story, that's actually from the previous iteration of ACID. Kaede looks a bit out of place because Morganna was supposed to be sitting in on that after sneaking into the place with Veronica. Poor Kaede though, she's supposed to be one of the main characters, but she's just so damn flat. I think I wrote the "Lord Zelkova?" line for her no less than three times in this log alone, and upon noticing it, I had to change it up.

I should note that in describing the Indigo "@HOME," I originally put Greek instead of Roman, but I'm not very good with this kind of description. Architecture or whatever isn't my thing. If you want to help correct this description, get a Code Breaker and see this thread. The values you want are 005F and 0060 (yes, if you couldn't figure it out, the beta Breg Epona is what I'm using for the stage of this scene... if you're curious, my original plan was to use copies of Dun Loireag and Fort Ouph from R:1, but I'm a beta and dummy material nut; I simply couldn't resist using the lost town as one of the major stages of the story).

[Masaru]

Dude, this is cool! It drew me in so easily! Will you keep going with it?

[Master ZED]

Dude, this is cool! It drew me in so easily! Will you keep going with it?

I didn't see this until now...

Maybe. There's the issue of writer's block, and there is also the fact that Log 06 disturbed me a bit upon rereading it, namely how -COOH acted near the end of the "Epitaph" awakening portion. I'm not sure how I even managed to post that one. It did serve as a nice excuse to sit on this project for a bit, since I was rather certain that would kill any interest in the story.

...and if that didn't do it, Keiko's storytime likely did. I love excessive sweetness myself, I just don't think the rest of the world cares for it at all.

I don't know if I'll continue, but if something comes to me, then it'll probably happen at some point. I just wish I had more freedom of speech here, or somewhere to post that did. If I don't feel I can even call Zelkova a midget, I don't know how -COOH's gonna be able to express herself in later chapters.

[milliennium_fox]

Uh, believe it or not, but we're pretty lax about language. Moreso with a fanfic than a normal post.

[xthform22]

This is really good as much as i read I'm too tired to read all the logs right now only got through two of the logs

[Master ZED]

This log may be incomplete; whether I post what comes next as part of this log or as 08, I've yet to decide.

---

Log 07: Lonely souls

Mac Anu - Dome

<-COOH> - This had better be important midget.
<Zelkova> - Did I interrupt something?
<-COOH> - I was having the bestest dream. I found a real man, a real man who hadn't been neutered by society and was ready to plow me all night long, then I hear the little chime on my computer and oh look! It's you, ripping me off of some sweet sweet loving and back into the dark abyss that is my single life!!
<Zelkova> - Well, I'm sorr-
<-COOH> - That's what she said.
<Zelkova> - Huh?
<-COOH> - The snobby 4-year-old cunt that cock-blocked me in real life before I....
<Zelkova> - ?

Turning around to look behind the Chaos Gate, Zelkova saw no one there.

<Kazuya> - I don't believe we've been properly introduced. :D

The Moon Tree guildmaster didn't need to hear anything else to know what was going on, his cheerful face dropping into a deer in the headlights look; Kazuya, insulted at being cast aside, must have decided he'd take matters into his own hands. The enforcer of the enemy was his usual beaming self when he began to speak with Morganna's user.

<-COOH> - No I don't believe we have. :)
<Kazuya> - I am Kazuya Itsuki, of the Indigo.
<-COOH> - ....
<Kazuya> - ?
<-COOH> - How am I supposed to find you hot if I have to kill you?
<Kazuya> - That's not necessarily true. We might become good friends, you and I, friends that go on homicial rampages, maybe make out as we kick the crap out of scrubs and Moon Tree asshats.
<-COOH> - You always woo your enemies over like this?
<Kazuya> - Believe it or not, you're the first woman to find me attractive that I know of.
<-COOH> - You have more balls than the midget, even if you're obviously not as horny. :)
<Kazuya> - Good pun. :)
<-COOH> - Thank y-
<Kazuya> - I hate puns. :)
<-COOH> - Well that's ni-
<Kazuya> - And I hate you. :)
<-COOH> - ...do you even know how to have a conversation?

Well, he did, but Kazuya didn't realize he had been sleepwalking through this one. He quickly woke up and steered things toward why he was here before things got any more awkward.

<Kazuya> - I know how to talk as much as you know respect for little people. :D
<-COOH> - Which is to say...?
<Kazuya> - You and I...
:Kazuya lays a hand on -COOH's left shoulder.
<Kazuya> - ...need to speak by different means.
<-COOH> - A battle junkie, huh....

Veronica's evil half-smile was more than Zelkova could bear. Kazuya was taken down with ease yesterday when he went to the Indigo @HOME, sure, but that was Dusk using a horrible, horrible weapon to try and silence him, and it appeared not to last a single miserable day. How would Morganna last a minute against this kind of threat, even now that she's awake, when she's no idea how to battle against a human menace wise to her tactics?

<Zelkova> - If you guys would rather see a fight than actually-
<Kazuya> - No.
<Zelkova> - Let me rephra-
<-COOH> - Take a hint horny boy, this one's allll mine.

Veronica's licking of her lips made it clear that Zelkova had to stop them now, or lose Morganna, and probably some of the people in town as well, forever.

<Zelkova> - I called you to watch Haseo and Endrance fight it out, Veronica.
<-COOH> - Endrance? That girly boy against The Terror of Death?
<Kazuya> - That's today?
<Zelkova> - Yes.
<Kazuya> - Sorry love, gotta go! :)
<-COOH> - But-
:Kazuya shushes her.
<Kazuya> - We can do this another day. Don't let anyone else have you...
:Kazuya leaned in to whisper in Veronica's ear.
<Kazuya> - I want every last drop of you... for myself. >:D

With those words, Kazuya disappeared from town. While his smile never vanished, Veronica's was wiped clean off, replaced with an angry look, her left eye twitching, glowing with hate from the power she received a few days back.

<-COOH> - ...love?
<Zelkova> - Well, shall we cat-

The girl was far too pissed off at losing some, to her, masochistic e-tail to hear a word from her "friend." Grabbing him by the collar, she dragged him around the Chaos Gate and chunked Zelkova through the stained-glass window, calling after him:

<-COOH> - PRICK!!!

The boy fell into the drink. He let himself float back up to the surface on his own, figuring Veronica needed a minute to herself.

<Zelkova> - Heh, I guess I'd wake up grumpy too....

...

The Demon Palace - Stands

Veronica ran through the stands, looking through the crowds and calling after Kazuya to no avail. She went through the roof, using Morganna's power, and took some good hard looks at every point that could have made a good seat for the fight. Nothing. If Kazuya were here, he might be hiding somewhere... which means he probably doesn't want to see me.

Veronica's depressing thought made her sulk back through the ceiling, only to be caught red-handed by a passerby.

<Silabus> - Talk about an entrance....
<-COOH> - ...you like staring at women, perv?
<Silabus> - Uh, no! No, I was just-
<-COOH> - What? What the hell are you gaping at, if not me?
<Silabus> - I... how did you come down through the ceiling like that?
<-COOH> - ....

Only now did it strike her that the boy in green had actually seen her come down through the ceiling. Of course, that just meant that the best way out was with some good ol' fashioned violence, until Zelkova appeared.

<-COOH> - F*ck. (author's note: Lax on language, huh?)
<Zelkova> - Hi -COOH! Who's this?
<-COOH> - Some lunatic that claims he saw me fall through the ceiling. As if, right?
<Zelkova> - Of course not! You must've been seeing things! Maybe you should get back to your seat instead of bothering others?
<Silabus> - Err....

-COOH shot him a furious look.

<Silabus> - Yes! Of course, how silly of me! Sorry to bother you!

As Silabus ran off, Zelkova looked at Veronica with concern.

<Zelkova> - Please don't endanger yourself because you hate me.
<-COOH> - Hmph!
<Zelkova> - Just... let's go get some good seats, okay?

As they walked, Zelkova explained why he had called -COOH away from her nap. Haseo and Endrance, being active Epitaph Users for longer than she had held an awakened Morganna, would be great examples for her to follow in terms of using her power. Watching how they handled themselves while using their Avatars would also be key in learning how to keep Morganna from going berserk at all times. Finally, seeing live combat first-hand might give Veronica a better idea on how to battle the Indigo if and when the need arises. Several good reasons, and yet...

<-COOH> - ....
<Zelkova> - You were probably still in the mood when he showed up. You were influenced by your real body's desires, and now you just have to-
<-COOH> - Find a cure for blue cunt.
<Zelkova> - ...I was gonna say forget him, but... I... hmmm....
<-COOH> - Seriously, my crotch? Train of pain's acoming! Choo choo! Next stop, Arghville, population one, popular tourist sites include Chastity Cave, the Yellow Gusher and the Missing Forest! Where is it, we don't know, but it sure as f*ck ain't here anymore, just like my last boyfriend!
<Zelkova> - I'm... sorry... I don't know what to say to that. :|
<-COOH> - How about "Hey Veronica! Did you know you can use your Avatar to help get you off? Why don't you go in the back alley and get Morganna to become Morgan for a minute so your entire vaginal cavity doesn't feel like it's being clamped down on by a magical crab claw!?" Y'know, something f*cking useful for once!
<Zelkova> - The fight's starting.
<-COOH> - ...that works too I guess....
<Zelkova> - ? What's that humming sound?
<-COOH> - ...no idea what you're talking about midget.
<Zelkova> - ...as long as one of you is paying attention, I suppose.
<-COOH> - Mmmmmhmmmm....

...

The Demon Palace - Arena

Situated above the lower city of Lumina Cloth, the Demon Palace Arena consisted mostly of a circular battle ring, and two entrance podiums above and just outside the ring. Three giant flat screens showed whatever the different cameras around the Arena picked up, whether it be the fighters or the crowd, to anyone who watched them.

As the announcer gave his usual spiel from the nearby stands, the two fighters for the Title Match made their entrances.

Haseo, The Terror of Death, a PKK without rival after having slew 100 PK's in a single battle. The Epitaph User of Skeith, also known as The Terror of Death in the Epitaph of Twilight, which is where Haseo's nickname came from, is the Phase of Morganna most dedicated simply to death and devastation. Haseo's blackened armor, spikes protruding from his shoulders appearing to be dipped in fresh blood, coupled with a scorpion-like, spiky, segmented tail coming out from his shoulder blades, gave his PC the perfect look for a black knight.

Endrance, the Demon Palace Emperor who showed up out of nowhere to dethrone the former Empress Alkaid with techniques never before seen in The World. His pretty looks garnered the attention of many a female player, winning him over with unusually girly crowds for a battle arena. With both an Epitaph and an AIDA, the latter in the form of a long-eared cat on his shoulder, Yata sent Haseo to investigate and cleanse Endrance after Kuhn's apparent failure in Indieglut Lugh, from which he had returned with a Sign carved into his PC and barely escaped becoming comatose. Yata had kept the incident from Haseo until the Title Match, hoping his fresh, burning hot anger would melt the icy resolve of the Emperor.

Haseo spoke as the dim red flames that made up the battle fence erupted at the edges of the ring.

<Haseo> - I hear you're friends with Tri-Edge.
<Endrance> - ....
<Haseo> - Do you know where Tri-Edge is?
<Endrance> - ...quitter.
<Haseo> - ?
<Endrance> - You no longer speak for yourself. All I hear... are the venomous curses of a former angel.
<Haseo> - Answer me.
<Endrance> - You've lost love and hope, and now yourself, to this callous World.
<Haseo> - ANSWER ME!
<Endrance> - What do you think you can accomplish, as you are now?
<Haseo> - I'll save them. Shino, and Ovan... I'll revive them by putting an end to AIDA and Tri-Edge, starting with you, Endrance!
<Endrance> - Heh.
<Haseo> - The hell is so funny!?
<Endrance> - Resurrection through murder... what an ironic and foolish plan.
<Haseo> - You bastard!
<Endrance> - I have bared witness to where this path leads once before... as we were the victims of such heartless, unthinking rampage.
:The Arena begins to shake!
<Endrance> - Are you telling me, that you would go down this path as well?
<Haseo> - For Shino... and Ovan... I would do anything to help them!
<Endrance> - Well then...
:The AIDA cat screams in pain as it explodes, AIDA driven from Endrance's body!
<Haseo> - Wha-what is this!?
:Endrance draws his sword, Tempting Rose!

Unlike his usual Princess Blade, Tempting Rose was the sword temporarily created from when Endrance drew on Macha's strength as a PC. A rose-like hilt and a strange pinkish-purple curvy blade, with what looked like an eye design in the middle, the eyelashes and pupil held in place by unseen forces, made up the look of the sword, but what made the weapon special was its stunning abilities, either by inducing Rengeki status to cease the victim's attacks and allow Endrance to deal double damage through an Art, or through Charming the victim to make them only attack allies. This was all, of course, assuming Endrance didn't just use the sword as a conduit for Macha's power, which he always did before.

The crowd had no idea what to make of Endrance's new soulful extension. Beforehand, the Epitaph attacks had been so fast that no one had seen Tempting Rose's presence, the rumors of its existence stemming mainly from Alkaid's cries of cheating. Now it was out in full force, just for one of the most dangerous PKK's in the game.

<Endrance> - We will stop you, our power unrestrained... before history can repeat itself!

The Emperor attacked with a blinding fast thrust, Haseo barely having time to use his Gai Gu dual swords to block. Leaving a pink trail in the wake of every movement large or small, Endrance, enraged at the thought of anyone else experiencing the same grief as he, slashed at Haseo's guard inflicting half the usual damage, stopping only to use Bewitching Wind to end the trivial portion of the assault.

Bewitching Wind - A proprietary technique of The Temptress, a twister of rose pedals erupts around the user and strikes everyone that touches it multiple times, each strike with the same damage as a single slash, inflicting Charm status in the process.

Haseo's guard was lowered and his PC helplessly shredded by the furious wind. Left incapable of defense, Endrance used his guard break technique to send him flying...

and then he launched Haseo to the opposite side of the ring before he could hit the fiery fence...

and again...

and again...

and yet again! The audience was speechless; few PC's could move at that speed, but what left the crowd in shock was the sheer brutality on Endrance's part. His usual battle began with him baiting the opponent before secretly using Macha for a one-hit KO. No one had given him reason to fight "for real." In the Arena, all players were treated as if they had the same Level, but Endrance's skill, speed, and ruthlessness in this fight made it appear for all the world to be less of a fight and more of a tennis match, the Emperor facing himself with Haseo as the ball.

On the tenth break, Endrance let out a yell as he struck Haseo much harder than before. This sent Haseo up and through the first layer of the battle fence, catching him between the inner and outer layers. Haseo's PC was shocked continuously, his HP sapped by the collisions, as the fence tried to bounce him back into the ring. Endrance discarded his pink aura for a light bluish flaming one, jumping up and back before taking off toward Haseo at incredible speed.

Upon impaling Haseo, Endrance cried out the name of an unknown Art:

<Endrance> - Nightfall Wind!

Nightfall Wind - A Level 3 Aerial-type Art thought to have been removed from The World R:2 early in the game's life, before anyone could acquire it. The only differences between it and Devil Sword, the only legally usable Blade Brandier Level 3, were that Nightfall Wind did less damage in exchange for knocking flying enemies to the ground faster, and that it cost more SP to use.

Endrance carved up Haseo with what appeared to be an innumerable amount of slashes, rose pedals flying everywhere. On the final downward slash, Haseo fell out of the fence onto his tailbone, letting out a yelp as if he were really hurt. As he turned over on all fours trying to rise, Endrance landed, and beckoned Haseo to get up.

<Endrance> - She never received any mercy... neither will you.

As the Emperor awaited the fallen challenger's response so he could finish The Terror of Death, however, a powerful shockwave erupted from Haseo's body, throwing Endrance against the fence, pushing around the hovering screens and decorations, and disrupting the crowd in the stands. Haseo rose to his feet with no physical effort, his body glowing red, the Arena once again shaking as the ultimate PKK drew a scythe, holding it upright above his head.

This scythe was black lined with gold, a few eye-like designs on the blade and one prominent eye-like feature at the top of the snath. Five red paper-thin spikes adorned the air in a mohawk-like fashion around the back of the blade, an additional red blade appearing over the real blade's edge. What drew the crowd's attention the most, however, was its size.

It was large enough to be a boss monster's weapon.

Haseo began to mutate, screaming out to the heavens themselves as his body twisted, grew and bubbled underneath the surface. His arms became lanky, his hands large with claw-like fingertips. Haseo's feet became black orbs, as his ankles shrank down and ended in points. The kneecaps of the Terror of Death became large golden horns, yet another eye-like decoration resting beneath them on the legs. His lower torso almost seemed to shrink as his upper body expanded, four more horns decorating his chest, two up, two down. His shoulders gained a layered black/gold decor, while Haseo's head grew two iron bar-like horns that curved backward. His face became circular and silver, Haseo's normal features traded for three red eyes in a triangle formation.

This "monster," red rings adorning his feet, forearms and back, was Skeith, the real Terror of Death. Morganna's former dog focused strictly on the purple-armored Emperor, whose blue locks, pretty face, and legions of fangirls couldn't save him now.

...

The Demon Palace - Stands

<-COOH> - Hah... hah....
<Zelkova> - Are you seeing this, -COOH?
<-COOH> - Urgh... hold on, lemme get my... whoa!
<Zelkova> - Veronica?
<-COOH> - What IS that?
<Zelkova> - Watch carefully... If Endrance doesn't want to die, Macha will soon emerge as well.
<-COOH> - Another one?
<Zelkova> - What gets me, though, is that everyone can see Skeith. Most are only supposed to be able to see Haseo's PC, and the User's special weapon, according to Yata's notes... yet the entire Arena's freaking out.
<-COOH> - Haseo is the Epitaph now.
<Zelkova> - Huh?
<-COOH> - What?
<Zelkova> - ...the real fight's about to start. This could get ugly.
<-COOH> - Tch.

---

I dunno, the quality feels like it took a dive or something. I even got too descriptive in the fight part, again, but thankfully it was more a beatdown than a real battle and is likely forgivable. The Kazuya thing gave me a cheese grater feeling, so I wrote it off with him exhibiting one of my own lesser traits and, well, it still feels forced. He's just as -COOH says anyway, so it makes some logical sense that he isn't always the most eloquent speaker, but logic is something Kazuya kicks to the curb, so I'm very uncertain on whether I should let that slide. I'm still unsure if the Avatars should be seen by other players or not, but Haseo gave me a great idea, being LV. 133 and not having Kuhn to help him, temporarily incapacitated and all.

Yeah, Endrance might appear OOC, but Mia died as a result of the same basic reasoning not once, but twice. You'd think he would've been a little miffed at that statement.

Ehh... should I try this one again? I think I'm gonna have to. :\

It's really scary for me to post these things. I'm not even kidding.

[_Tri-edge_]

Well I for one enjoy it. Censored or Uncensored. Keep it up Master!

[Master ZED]

What might be the end of log 07:

---

...

The Demon Palace - Arena

<Endrance> - The sky is unchanged....
<Skeith> - ....
<Endrance> - Without Haseo, you have no soul, no guidance, perhaps not even a mind to call your own.
<Skeith> - ....
<Endrance> - I'll make this quick.

His sword lit with temporary power, Endrance leapt and slashed at Skeith's head, only to meet a strange red blade out of nowhere. Skeith had produced a red blade similar to the one sitting at the tip of his scythe out of his left wrist and used it to block the incoming killshot. The Phase then flung Endrance back before he could recover, right into the middle of the ring. Neither side had been hurt in the exchange, but Endrance was puzzled by the sudden defense; was it an autonomous reaction, or...?

<Skeith> - Bingo.
<Endrance> - What?
<Skeith> - I've finally returned... I'm finally awake again!! What is this?

Skeith looked at the scythe and his own hands as if they were foreign to him. He had no idea what to make of himself, it appeared.

<Skeith> - No no no, this just won't do! A monster hardly fits my style, especially one as bulky and slow as this!

Skeith's body gave off a bright greenish-white glow as it faded out, revealing a man in torn up black clothing with a thick purple stripe along each limb. A mix of white static and gray rock-like material filled the gaps in his body where it wasn't just his clothes that were missing, pale skin being revealed in those cases. A purple bandana held up the majority of his dark green hair with exception to the front, where it was parted to hang down to the sides of his face, save the right side being cut short after the bend downward. His face was that of a young man's until you went past his mouth and nose to the left side, where the rockish material had been decorated by three red eyes in a column formation, the pupils with silver and gold yin-yang designs.

<Endrance> - She says you're familiar... why?

Ignoring him, Skeith produced a mirror, and checked out his new look. Taken aback, he tried to correct the flaws to no avail. Still, it was a humanoid form, and it was enough to make him discard the looking glass.

<Skeith> - Guess it'll have to do.
<Endrance> - Why do you provoke nostalgia in her?
<Skeith> - I suppose it's because I remind her of the bad times with the old hag.
<Endrance> - The hag?

Skeith looked over to the stands, directly at Zelkova and his companion. He motioned for Endrance to look as well.

...

The Demon Palace - Stands

<Zelkova> - Veronica? What's the matter?

It was all she could do to contain Morganna's rage, not because she was afraid, but because Veronica wasn't in the mood to fight and didn't want the hag dragging them both into combat. Clutching at her left eye, with a ferocious look on her face and teeth clenched, Veronica couldn't respond, but Morganna let slip the name of the devil that had emerged in the ring.

<-COOH> - SORA...!

...

<Endrance> - What does an angry woman have to do-
<Skeith> - Y'know what, it doesn't matter anymore. Your face disgusts me, your voice puts me to sleep, and you're just. Plain. Boring!

In-between each of the last three words, Skeith produced and drew out an unknown weapon attached to his forearms and wrist, blades produced from within armguards. On the right, a silver blade; on the left, a blade that started silver but turned to white noise by the time one reached the tip. Endrance only knew they were dual swords because his Avatar recognized the blades from days long past. His laid-back, careless persona fading into anger, Skeith's four eyes began to shine red with fury as his voice, in a deep violent tremor, made the Phase's intentions clear:

<Skeith> - I WILL CRUSH YOU!

The deepness gone, Skeith let out a strange scream for a battle cry as he attacked Endrance with reckless but speedy abandon. Forcing Endrance into defense, blades repeatedly clashed over and over again, bringing about a look of pain on the face of the sane Epitaph User. Endrance would attempt to run away, but Skeith would follow and pound on him again before Macha's user could make his second step. He tried a lower level Art only for Skeith to counter with one of his own. Having enough, the user of The Temptress leapt up in preperation for his Lv.3 Art. Skeith jumped back, his weapons fading away, and upon landing reached above and behind his back in preperation for the attack. A faint mechanical sound could be heard as Endrance charged.

<Endrance> - Nigh-

Another scream telegraphed all too late Skeith's next move; he ripped a light gray broadsword right out of hammerspace and slammed the blade into the oncoming Endrance, his armor ripped up by the weapon before he flew into the battle fence. The sword seemed to be nothing but a red handle with a dark gray hilt, going a small way up one side of a lighter-colored, chainsaw-like blade with a red marking at the business end. However simple the sword was, the damage from being hit like a baseball was not; Endrance felt as though he had really been slammed in the gut, but with a blunt object, as the weapon had yet to make contact with his flesh.

No longer shocked by Skeith, Endrance quickly surmised that the Phase was simply mimicking Haseo at a more advanced level, and silently prayed to Macha for more power. With the former Haseo's charge and attempted overhead strike came a counterattack in Bewitching Wind, slicing through Skeith's flesh and halting his movement, but not producing any noteworthy damage or Charming him. Instead, Skeith laughed at Endrance, swinging the sword away with his right hand as he summoned his left dual sword and impaled the sixth Phase before he could realize he was being distracted. A sneer crept onto the human parts of the Terror of Death's face.

<Skeith> - Such a drag... I was hoping this would be more fun....

Undeterred, Endrance used an alto tone, almost singing right in Skeith's face.

Seductive Voice - A proprietary technique of The Temptress, the user's own voice becomes a weapon that inflicts Charm and/or disorients the opponent temporarily, as if they had suddenly become drunk.

Endrance shoved Skeith off of him, his blade pulled out with the consumed player's backpedaling, and ran away as best he could in an attempt to buy the time he needed for gathering himself. Only now did he feel the pain of being stabbed by the Terror of Death, his adrenaline warding off the anguish for a few precious seconds. Skeith could not be Charmed, but he had become sluggish enough in all areas to temporarily lose focus. Even if he could fight back, Endrance realized that being impaled had sapped his own strength, and that he needed help. Calling Macha, however, wouldn't help at all since he would simply bring the pain along for the finale, and who could say just how more or, hopefully, less dangerous Skeith was in the monsterous form he first appeared as. The Epitaph User simply didn't know what to do next, with such a precarious decision in front of him, and such little time to make it.

---

...I didn't like it. Then again, I can't expect every chapter to be perfect. I guess I could have just called this a learning experience and move on to log 08...

OR I could sleep on it and try again in the morning. I chose the latter, and this was the result (part of the end from the last post put in because the first paragraph goes with that section):

---

<Zelkova> - What gets me, though, is that everyone can see Skeith. Most are only supposed to be able to see Haseo's PC, and the User's special weapon, according to Yata's notes... yet the entire Arena's freaking out.
<-COOH> - Haseo is the Epitaph now.
<Zelkova> - Huh?
<-COOH> - What?
<Zelkova> - ...the real fight's about to start. This could get ugly.
<-COOH> - Tch.

It was already ugly for Veronica, who was secretly holding back a very angry Morganna from barging into the fight. The sight of Skeith wasn't what had pissed her off, but the traces of Sora's memory that still lingered within the Phase. To discover the traitor alive at all sent the insane and unwanted mother off the edge, reversing the roles of reason and rage.

Covering her left eye was about the only sign -COOH would give as to her predicament if she had anything to say about it.

...

The Demon Palace - Arena

<Skeith> - ....
<Endrance> - ...a soulless monster, simply waiting for mealtime. Communication is useless.

But as Endrance readied his sword, Skeith began to stir. He looked into his hands, and all around him, taking in the new world.

<Skeith> - I'm alive... I'm alive! I can see, I can hear, I can breathe... what is this place anyway?
<Endrance> - You're not alive... you're not alive at all.

Only now did Skeith take any notice of Endrance. The Epitaph User PC had so thoroughly switched personalities that Skeith had forgotten everything Haseo knew, including where he was and what he was doing. Still, he couldn't let some blue-haired pretty boy's declaration of him being living-impaired go unchallenged.

<Skeith> - Oh, but I beg to differ. Allow me to demonstrate by giving you some examples.

Skeith pointed at himself with his left hand.

<Skeith> - See, I can move, I can talk, I have intelligence. On the other hand,

Skeith turned that hand toward the audience, releasing barrages of strange green shots in order to mow down as many people in the stands as he could!

<Skeith> - these people won't ever move again, because I blasted them all to bits!

...

The Demon Palace - Stands

The audience had descended into panic upon realizing the beast in the ring was attacking them, an unknown but extremely strong sense of danger clouding their judgment. Some ran for their lives, some ducked behind whatever shelter they could find (inanimate or not), some even mashed Log Out in their subscreens, having lost the knowledge that you can't log out in the Arena to sheer terror. Even the commentator, trying to announce Haseo's disqualification for extremely obvious cheating, had ducked for cover as the stands quaked and exploded randomly from the impacts. As if she were a living contradiction, -COOH just stood there, clutching her eye with an angry look on her face. Her lack of fear didn't tell the Netslum owner anything; either the shots were harmless to her or she didn't care about her own life.

<Zelkova> - Veronica, get down!
<-COOH> - ...
<Zelkova> - Move dammit! Do you want him to-

At that moment, a girl in mostly yellow ran up to -COOH. It was Heavenly Flower, trying to save her former ally.

<Heavenly Flower> - -COOH, what are you doing!? We have to get-

Veronica grabbed the narcoleptic by the throat with her free hand and held her up and toward the ring. At that moment, she took two hits to the back where -COOH's face would have been struck, her body suffering tremendous cracks along with holes at the points of impact.

Dropping her teammate, Veronica didn't even watch as the poor Flower descended into what might be her final sleep, her PC broken apart and fading into dust. -COOH couldn't help but smirk at this turn of events. She got to kill the narcoleptic after all. Even Morganna was amused by this betrayal, enough to forget the memory of Sora for a few seconds despite the cause of the resurgance being only a short distance away.

Zelkova, thoroughly stunned, went completely blank.

...

The Demon Palace - Arena

<Skeith> - What's the matter? Aren't you going to save your precious fangirls?
<Endrance> - ....

Skeith relented. Endrance hadn't even twitched.

<Skeith> - Don't you even care about your precious horde of tang?
<Endrance> - I only care about one... and she is always with me.
<Skeith> - ...you're no fun. You're much too hard to-

Only now did enough of Haseo's memories surface for Skeith to know exactly what Endrance spoke of.

<Skeith> - Uh huh, so you're still obsessed with that cat, are you?
<Endrance> - What?
<Skeith> - It's so cute the way Macha would always fool around with brats like you... too bad it always had to end with her being ripped apart.
<Endrance> - ....

The look on Endrance's face would have sent chills down the body of any normal person... but Skeith was hardly a person to begin with.

<Skeith> - Y'know what's even sadder? That she was always number 1 in your heart... while you were always second to Tsukasa in hers!
<Endrance> - You...!
<Skeith> - Oh wait, that's right, you were THIRD to Tsukasa... it's so easy to forget how she even put her own murderer above you, considering I was rather dead myself and all at the time.

Endrance and Morganna now had something in common; they were both on the verge of cutting out Skeith's tongue.

<Skeith> - Such a drama queen, that Macha... she preferred dying in the enemy's arms to living in yours.

Endrance leapt up and tried to slash at Skeith's face, incapable of tolerating anymore of Skeith's crap. It wasn't a normal move in The World's skillset; his rage had caused his Phase power to creep out subconsciously to allow Endrance freedom of choice in terms of movement. Skeith was prepared for this, however, quickly creating and blocking with a red blade, similar to the one sitting at the tip of his scythe, extending from his left wrist. He shoved Endrance away into the middle of the Arena, giddy as could be that he had hit the Epitaph User's sweet spot.

<Skeith> - Ha ha ha...! I didn't think that had actually happened, but your reaction was priceless!
<Endrance> - I'll make you pay....
<Skeith> - How sad can you possibly be when you worship someone who thinks less of you than she does blades of grass!?

Overpowering Skeith's cold laugh, Endrance's scream pierced the ears of everyone in the Arena, drowning out the panic as the sky turned a dark twilight for everyone with a higher power. Having had enough, Endrance's Epitaph summoned itself in order to protect him from Skeith's vile taunts.

Appearing to sprout upward from the underside of a large rose, the humanoid body of Macha had a metallic appearance to it; its purple skin, lined with white decoration all over including two eye-like designs on the torso, appeared to be more like thin armor. Her large purple hands were tipped with slightly long white claws on all fingers, her ears pointing upward in the same vein as a cat. Her face appeared to be mostly shrounded by a white mask save the area of the right eye, a crack running through the mask that divided it in half at the left eye. The stoic nature of Macha's gaze belied the fury that had summoned her of its own accord; a pindrop would be enough to trigger a violent tempest that would leave Skeith in pieces as she was now.

It was all thanks to the remnants of Sora that Skeith ran his mouth, writing checks he wasn't sure he could cash, all in the name of fun. Now unrestrained by Haseo, but only capable of grinning on the inside, Skeith savored these final moments, the last few seconds of peace before all hell would break loose in what was once merely a title match for a meaningless crown.

---

So which one do you guys think I should go on with? I really like Sora's PC, but it might be too early for me to reveal him, if there's ultimately a place in this tale for him at all. I also have no love for how that version ended, it actually disgusts me to some extent (the way its written sounds like some fanatic scribbled it out, far too blinded by love for either Endrance or Sora to objectively criticize their own work).

OTOH, Skeith almost sounds like -COOH in the second attempt, though the difference between Sora's remnants and Veronica is pretty obvious if you read between the lines (-COOH appears to do whatever the hell she wants with reckless abandon, clearly certifying her by society's standards as a lunatic; Skeith is luring Endrance into madness for a much more satisfying battle). The second one also makes the assumption that, as part of Morganna, Skeith would know some of the same things she would, unlike those alternate personalities the Phases used for cover like Sora and Mia. With a complete lack of conscious to drive the Phase, what's left of Sora would take over with Haseo consumed as such, and due to damage to Skeith over the years, mix with its memories to give "Sora" some intimate knowledge of the lives of the other Phases. While much more amusing to me, the second version may very well utilize a plothole and would therefore be unusable.

Ultimately, I don't know which one to go on with. The first ends badly while the second may be wholly dependent on a serious continuity mistake. I need some input before I can move onto log 08 and end this fight. Whichever one wins gets to stay; I'll delete the loser from this thread as to prevent confusion.

[Master ZED]

Just so you know, I'm going with the one that doesn't have Sora taking Skeith's place. This story's so far out in left field anyway that I don't think anyone cares if the whole Skeith having some of Morganna's knowledge thing is a plothole. All the same, I'll likely avoid those kinds of roadblocks from now on.

This is a long post, as I have two logs today.

---

Log 08: The dog will bite you.

The Demon Palace - Stands

<-COOH> - This is gonna be the killshot, right?
<Zelkova> - ....
<-COOH> - What?
<Zelkova> - ....

Zelkova appeared to be catatonic.

<-COOH> - Y'know, going catatonic doesn't solve anything.
<Zelkova> - ....
<-COOH> - I'm serious. I did that once and all I got was a penis in my ass. I can't remember what dad said about it, something like "all play, no pay" or something... are you listening!?
<Zelkova> - ....
<Kazuya> - He can't hear you.
<-COOH> - ! You!
<Kazuya> - Dusk told me Zelkova does this sometimes when his dreams are shattered or whatever.
<-COOH> - Oh, you mean like he thought he was helping the good side and only now does he figure out he's been helping the evil one the whole time?
<Kazuya> - No, more like that.
:Kazuya points to the ring.

...

The Demon Palace - Arena

Veronica, Kazuya, and theoretically Zelkova, along with the rest of the spectators, watched as Haseo was slashed to pieces by an infuriated tandem of Macha and Endrance; witnesses later said that they only saw a flash before the monster known as Skeith vanished and Endrance began to cut up the PKK. In truth, the flash was all anyone saw as proof of Skeith's departure, while Macha's wrath remained undetected to the majority of the audience behind a barrage from Endrance's sword. Haseo had taken back control of himself, only to lose Skeith and leave himself vulnerable. Brutally slamming Haseo into the ground, Endrance ceased his attack. To the audience, Endrance crossed his arms in front of his chest, and opened them in Haseo's direction as he tried to stand up. To the gifted, Macha had lifted the massive rose up, pointed toward Haseo, and allowed it to blossom, forming a strange red/green contraption along the large pedals with what appeared to be an eye at the center.

Endrance was preparing to use Data Drain. As Macha powered up, however, a man in white appeared above Haseo, a blue scythe pointed toward the sky. He slashed through Haseo's unconscious body in a clockwise motion, and as he let go of the scythe, the weapon folding up automatically and falling into a flash of light behind him, a black orb fell into his striking hand.

Zelkova had not been catatonic. He was simply lying in wait, and struck once Skeith was vulnerable, realizing that if Macha were successful, there may not have been another chance to acquire the first Phase again.

<Zelkova> - I appreciate the hard work you did for me! Goodbye! :D

As Macha fired, Zelkova left as quickly as he appeared. Haseo cried out in pain before falling unconscious in real life. This was a side effect of a deathblow intended for Skeith; Endrance was merely trying to remove a damned spirit lurking within his PC at the behest of Macha, who detested other AI.

Endrance was emotionless as he left the Arena, having defeated the cheating Terror of Death. Technically he had won some time ago since no one in their right mind would suspect him of anything after Haseo's blatant rampage, but he wasn't paying any attention to such details; Skeith simply could not be left unchecked the way he was.

...

The Demon Palace - Stands

<-COOH> - Well damn, that was a quick end.
<Kazuya> - Yeah....

Kazuya felt like an idiot for not seeing that one coming. Macha's brutality did signal the end of the fight, as he thought, but for whatever reason he couldn't think of, he totally misread Zelkova. He had taken Skeith and run off, leaving behind Veronica in the process.

<-COOH> - Hey.
<Kazuya> - Yeah?
<-COOH> - You still want to fight?
<Kazuya> - ....

Kazuya sucker-punched her in response!

<-COOH> - Son of a ****!
<Kazuya> - Delta: Protected Blazing Berserker.
<-COOH> - What?
<Kazuya> - That's where I'll be when you want to pay me back for that.

Kazuya disappeared as well. No way in hell would she allow THAT to go unanswered.

...

Delta: Protected Blazing Berserker

A normal grass field, or rather, a normal grassy archipelago in the middle of a vast lake. Kazuya stood behind the Platform, leaning against a tree, waiting for Veronica's appearance.

<Kazuya> - Just one question before we start!
<-COOH> - What?
<Kazuya> - The eye! Where'd it come from?
<-COOH> - Beat it out of me.

Kazuya cracked his knuckles and neck, and proceeded with his usual start.

<Kazuya> - PHASE...

Dropping his right arm to his side, Kazuya spun around counterclockwise and slung it into a straightforward position.

<Kazuya> - BULLET!!

Phase Bullet - A simple punch, kick, or other attack that discharges massive kinetic energy into the opponent upon impact through Kazuya's armor. The attack was stolen directly from his favorite anime character, much like most of his arsenal is almost directly stolen from some manga or anime or other source. Unlike said character, the attack is much more versatile for Kazuya than he likes to admit.

Out of instinct, -COOH threw up her arms to block as she had no time to draw her weapon. With her left arm in front, it felt as if her forearm had suddenly snapped upon impact. Kazuya, from the feel of his constant drive, wasn't playing around.

<-COOH> - Dammit all... this hurts...
<Kazuya> - I've felt worse ya *****!

Kazuya let off only to gather his hands into a double axe handle and slam down on her head, dropping -COOH to the ground face-first.

<Kazuya> - Get up and FIGHT MEEEE!!!

This, as he transferred his right arm's armor to his leg and proceeded to punt Veronica clear off the archipelago and into the distant sea. For most anyone, this would have seemed like a good place to leave things and declare victory. Kazuya charged through the invisible walls surrounding the islands at his opponent out of an enthusiasm to destroy, rather than the fact he had seen one too many shonen anime. Stopping at her landing point, Kazuya returned his right limb armor to its proper position and launched into a distance attack.

<Kazuya> - PHASE BULLET...

The same spin, only this time he didn't charge.

<Kazuya> - BURST!!!

Phase Bullet Burst - The same as Phase Bullet, only the kinetic energy is sent flying in the form of a beam.

This attack would have succeeded had Veronica not been given the time to draw her sword. Shrouded in its usual white aura, she cut through the attack to Kazuya, screaming at the top of her lungs for no discernible reason other than murderous intent. The horrifying sword's aura met with and slowly began to heat up the armor on Kazuya's right fist.

<Kazuya> - Damn! You're not bad!
<-COOH> - BLASJDRJOAJFNOADHYBLKADNGFDLKF I'MA F*CKING KILL YOU!!!! KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL-

Kazuya's grin turned as psychotic as her babbling.

<Kazuya> - Yeah baby... show Me WHAT YOU'RE MADE OF!!

A shockwave erupted from Kazuya's body, not phasing Veronica in the least, shrouded and protected as she was by her mental aura of hate. The Phase Bullet's armor cracked and crumbled from his left arm, as his right's armor metamorphed.

Kazuya had entered second form.

Kazuya's "second form" - Through the use of a smoother, more aerodynamic armor but an overall larger limb, Kazuya telegraphs his ascension in power to a "second form," usually preceded by the destruction of the armor on one limb or the other. While this does grant more power on its own, the hole on the back of his hand helps him to gather and expel power, and even data, as the need arises. Kazuya slips into this form as he begins to feel a rush from fighting, and his abilities and transformations grow in number as his emotions become more intense.

With this dramatic increase came the ability to utterly dominate -COOH. Kazuya demonstrated this by accident when he opened his hand forward and smashed Veronica with the full force of his Phase Bullet Burst, now simply going around the blade to strike its target. This sent her right back to where she was launched, but temporarily in a massive amount of pain, almost as if she had been hit by a car, and only dulled down to the point where she could at least breathe easy a moment later. Kazuya, sensing weakness, did not go after her, but instead put his right hand out in front of his face and activated a previously unknown data suction technique. This created a twister from the hole that sucked in the water, sand, and bits of land from the islands, along with a bird or two. Veronica's body was dragged back by the wind currents upon slamming into the ground, her face grimacing as she slipped into the water.

<Kazuya> - Too much, eh?

To Veronica's surprise, Kazuya relented. He walked over to her near-corpse, surveying the damage and watching the waves crash against her body. -COOH was furious, but nearly broken, her pain not enough to make her unconscious but more than enough to question further rebellion. Instead of doing any gloating, Kazuya picked her up out of the water and set her leaning against a tree.

<-COOH> - What the hell is this... you taking pity on me?
<Kazuya> - How are you a threat to us again?
<-COOH> - ....
<Kazuya> - Seriously. Dusk thinks you are, but-
<-COOH> - Who?
<Kazuya> - Our leader. Didn't Zelkova tell you?
<-COOH> - I wasn't listening if he did.
<Kazuya> - Eh... I'm not sure if it's worth listening anymore either.

Kazuya sat down next to her. Veronica gave him a "Go to Hell" look, but he didn't care.

<Kazuya> - Dusk says you're dangerous because if Morganna is completed, she'll be as dangerous to us as the Great Plague herself.
<-COOH> - Henh?
<Kazuya> - Aura.
<-COOH> - Krrrk.
<Kazuya> - Hm?
<-COOH> - Sordid little cunt needs to f*cking die.

-COOH's anger was fading as she realized the fight was definitely over unless she could restart it... if only she weren't afflicted with wretched pain at the moment. Even the mere mention of Aura wasn't doing much at this point, as Morganna had expended plenty of strength in protecting her user.

<Kazuya> - Yeah... that she does.
<-COOH> - You agree with me? So why fight me?
<Kazuya> - Well, like I said, we don't want either of you around.
<-COOH> - Why not?
<Kazuya> - Zelkova must be one sorry-ass teacher.
<-COOH> - No, I just don't listen to midgets.
<Kazuya> - Midgets? You two are the same size.
<-COOH> - See, that's the difference between women and neanderthals. You. Don't. Notice. DETAILS.

Her spirit was healing up, but with Kazuya still holding onto that new arm....

<Kazuya> - What details?
<-COOH> - His shoes, fool! Haven't you ever looked at his feet!?
<Kazuya> - Uh, no, I don't care about that sort of thing like some sexist woman like you would.
<-COOH> - I'm not sexist.
<Kazuya> - After a statement like that? No, you're sexist.
<-COOH> - I'm a woman, fool. I can't be sexist, just the same as a black guy can't be racist.
<Kazuya> - What the hell are you talking about-
<-COOH> - If you were educated in America, you'd understand.
<Kazuya> - Do I want to?
<-COOH> - Of course! It's great! The land of the intolerant, home of the repressed brave! As long as you're a minority, you're free, if you're white, religious, or a crackerlover, you deserve nothing but death! I can draw up a pamphlet if you want.
<Kazuya> - You sound worse than this stupid country. Race is a **** concept anyway.
<-COOH> - What about sickle cell anemia? It's a racist disease.
<Kazuya> - Okay fine, I'll give you medical crap.
<-COOH> - And-
<Kazuya> - And nothing. There are other perfectly valid reasons to hate other people without having to make **** up.
<-COOH> - How you figure?
<Kazuya> - Well, Michael Jackson turned white by being a freaky albino, I turn people black and blue by beating the **** out of them, and anyone can be a Mexican with enough time in the sun provided you're already white.
<-COOH> - If not?
<Kazuya> - There's probably other ways to bleach skin.
<-COOH> - Name one?
<Kazuya> - How would I know? I said probably, genius.
<-COOH> - Oh, you wanna fight over it, ****!?
<Kazuya> - Like you can. We both know you're exhausted without me having to try.
<-COOH> - ...shut your f*cking mouth....
<Kazuya> - I'm letting you live anyway. You should be grateful.
<-COOH> - You still haven't said why yet.
<Kazuya> - 'cause this **** doesn't make any sense anymore.
<-COOH> - You don't make any sense.
<Kazuya> - See, Dusk brought Zelkova and Kaede to our home a couple days or so ago.
<-COOH> - What!?
<Kazuya> - That's pretty much what I asked, and he was like 'I do what I want 'cause I'm the leader and blah blah blah blah blah!' Then he hit me with this ball thing and it hurt like a motherf*cker and I didn't care after that.
<-COOH> - So they turned on us.
<Kazuya> - On me. Pretty sure your Moon Tree hippie's still on your side.
<-COOH> - ...then why did he leave me like that?
<Kazuya> - Oh, that?
<-COOH> - It just hit me that he straight up abandoned me.
<Kazuya> - Not really. He probably guessed this would happen.
<-COOH> - He didn't act like it earlier.
<Kazuya> - He didn't think of it until during the fight I'd bet. He's usually calm and collected most of the time, but anything related to Dusk scares the crap out of him for some reason.
<-COOH> - Yeah, the one thing I know I remember from when he explained the Indigo to me was that he spaced out when he explained the input system on the M2D.
<Kazuya> - The what?
<-COOH> - He said there was an input/output system on the M2D-
<Kazuya> - No, that's a lie.
<-COOH> - ....
<Kazuya> - The whole I/O in the M2D concept was Zelkova's idea for training new Indigo. He figured if new blood thought they were just using a different kind of controller when starting out, the placebo effect would speed up the learning process. It really helped out that the nickname for the face-mounted display concept was "Neuro Goggles," and that it was never explained, so no one questioned it too much.
<-COOH> - ...that bas-
<Kazuya> - Don't criticize him now, he would have told you eventually. That's what Dusk did with me, and I don't fault him for that.
<-COOH> - How about that ball thing?
<Kazuya> - Well that's a given. He's getting payback for that one.
<-COOH> - ...at some point?
<Kazuya> - What's two plus two equal?
<-COOH> - 'the hell's that got to do with anything?
<Kazuya> - Dusk wants you dead, he hit me, that's two. You're with me, I'm paying him back, that's two. What's that equal?
<-COOH> - ....

Veronica needed a minute for this.

<-COOH> - ...you letting me live!
<Kazuya> - Exactly. I have you dead to rights, and I'm sure Dusk knows it, but you're going to live this day. He's going to know this, and either kick himself for pissing me off or try and fight me. He's not getting the drop on me twice, so either way, he just f*cked himself big time.
<-COOH> - So you have like, no loyalty to that jackass whatsoever?
<Kazuya> - I did, but I've paid him back enough if this is how things are gonna be. Keiko, on the other hand, is still worth serving.
<-COOH> - Keiko? Sounds like a whore's name.
<Kazuya> - Nah, think Keiko Yukimura.
<-COOH> - What?
<Kazuya> - Haven't you seen Yu Yu Hakusho?
<-COOH> - Gesundheit.
<Kazuya> - Funny.
<-COOH> - Like "ha ha" funny?
<Kazuya> - More like "eheh heh heh" and then I break your damn neck for being an annoying cunt funny.
<-COOH> - Fine, dick. Why are you smiling anyway?
<Kazuya> - Any reason I shouldn't?
<-COOH> - Well it is a little disconcerting that you could smile all through that insult... is that the word I want?
<Kazuya> - Probably, and that's a good reason to keep doing it if anything.
<-COOH> - Feh.
<Kazuya> - Anyway, Keiko's like, your polar opposite. Excessively sweet, loving, caring, never says a bad thing about anyone, is rather meek but is always joyful and happy all the same, and is happy being kind of a mother to the Chim Chim.
<-COOH> - A mother? You're kidding? Someone loves those rodents?
<Kazuya> - Yep.
<-COOH> - Faces only a mother *could* love, granted...
<Kazuya> - So you could too, huh?
<-COOH> - 'the hell's that supposed to mean?
<Kazuya> - Morganna's a mother too ya know.
<-COOH> - That's completely different. Keiko wanted those pests while Morganna was forced to give birth to a rape-child.
<Kazuya> - And yet-
<-COOH> - And she HATES that hellspawn.
<Kazuya> - Yeah, keep stressing it like it's true. :)
<-COOH> - F*ck you dick, no one wants that **** dead more than the hag!
<Kazuya> - You call her an old hag to her face?
<-COOH> - I speak truth, ass!
<Kazuya> - Hah! I need to take lessons in cruelty from you.
<-COOH> - Wha?
<Kazuya> - Nothing's more vicious and mean than just telling the truth all the time.
<-COOH> - Who says?
<Kazuya> - Anyone sane.
<-COOH> - Pfft.
<Kazuya> - Think about it; every religion on this planet is intolerant of lying and half-truths, yet if you actually heed that commandment to the letter, your life would be destroyed within 24 hours, assuming you spoke to anyone that day.
<-COOH> - They just set things up that way so that only the deities in their stupid little stories are ever perfect or whatever. They create the ultimate role model that no one could ever possibly live up to, even though you damn well know the story itself is a pack of lies to make the story work, just so you'll have no logical recourse then to bow down and kiss ass.
<Kazuya> - That's why I'm agnostic.
<-COOH> - Me too.
<Kazuya> - Every religion dehumanizes God in the wrong ways, while humanizing him in the wrong ways as well. I mean, what kind of God creates Hell to get revenge on mortals for not living their lives exactly how he wants?
<-COOH> - An idiot. They say though, that you can hear the screams of the damned if you listen to the Earth's core.
<Kazuya> - Oh?
<-COOH> - I think it's because some souls get curious about what's down there, hit the mantle, and feel the searing pain of being burned alive as if their bodies were still there because that's how goddamn intense it is, but because they can't actually be destroyed by the fiery mantle, they get lost in their pain trying to find their way back up and some of them just burn forever as a result, and what we're hearing are the masses still stuck down there because they were ***** idiots that didn't go haunt the clouds like everyone else!
<Kazuya> - ...that's too logical to be true.
<-COOH> - You got better, blockhead?
<Kazuya> - I just don't think a loving God would create Hell. Heaven, maybe, but probably not that either.
<-COOH> - So what do you think he did?
<Kazuya> - Nothing. He set the wheels in motion and just watches us like any other TV show now. That's it.
<-COOH> - Y'know, making Hell would at least show he cares.
<Kazuya> - He doesn't. Rather, he does, but much in the same way we care about TV stars. That's why we have churches and religions, because God becomes a screaming fangirl about some people and can't help but IM them, acting like it's THEIR privilege when it's really his uncontainable markout moment. We'd all be athiests if the all-powerful basement dweller could keep himself from shooting e-mails to his favorite actors.
<-COOH> - But at least you believe there is a God.
<Kazuya> - There's something out there we can call divine. Whether it is or not, we'll never know.
<-COOH> - Why not?
<Kazuya> - How would you ever know for sure that you weren't just being used by a higher being? You couldn't! You have to assume you're being used or you'll just get taken for a sucker, like those dumb Indians that think spiritual enlightenment can come from tripping on weeds!
<-COOH> - God's red herrings.
<Kazuya> - Yes! Exactly! You worship what the plant tells you to!
<-COOH> - Then the Europeans come and call you a savage, try to convert you from pot and cigarettes to booze, and that's suddenly supposed to make everything better?
<Kazuya> - The mighty whitey with his sticks of fire and thunder will be appeased! Of course, the Vatican's Pope is no better than the alley's stoner in the grand scheme of things.
<-COOH> - Really?
<Kazuya> - All will be Indigo soon enough, after all.
<-COOH> - ? You say that like YOU'RE mighty whitey.
<Kazuya> - No, because we don't want to kill anyone.
<-COOH> - Say what?
<Kazuya> - Dusk's goal is to make everyone into an Indigo. He wants to open the minds of everyone on the planet to the supernatural, not to kill anyone!
<-COOH> - ...Really? THAT'S his evil plan?
<Kazuya> - Yep.

Veronica pondered this for a minute. How in the hell could THAT be bad... unless...?

<-COOH> - Do people have a choice in this?
<Kazuya> - Of course. Either be enlightened, or never go near modern technology again. Of course, that's not much of a choice, but we can't let the fearful and ignorant stifle us any longer.
<-COOH> - You don't trust the non-psychic.
<Kazuya> - -COOH, what do you think people do to things they don't understand?
<-COOH> - Most of the time, they break them like an ape trying to crack a giant egg.
<Kazuya> - And the only way to make sure they do understand is to enlighten the entire goddamn planet using the network.
<-COOH> - How the hell do you do that?
<Kazuya> - Dusk won't tell me yet. I think he's still working out the kinks or something, or that's what I used to think.
<-COOH> - Oh?
<Kazuya> - I think he believes Aura doesn't want humanity to ascend, hence why she debugged the network for a few years in our place, making herself into a real-life network deity. Now we unknowingly clamor for her approval once more, either directly like CC Corp., or indirectly through whatever spiritual sense we already possess prior to enlightenment.
<-COOH> - Huh.
<Kazuya> - It's only made worse by the fact that any Indigo can pick up traces of Aura in any machine that's been hooked to the network since her true birth that Christmas morning... I forget the year, think it was 2007 or something.
<-COOH> - So she's like a virus?
<Kazuya> - Yep. A false goddess in the form of a viral infection that spreads everywhere it can within humanity's technology to stay alive.
<-COOH> - Isn't that-
<Kazuya> - If the **** really didn't think she was needed, she'd find a way to off herself, but she doesn't. She takes what could be seen as the lazy way out, but we know better. She plans on returning, and we're going to stop her by any means necessary.
<-COOH> - It's as if the angels really are our enemies.
<Kazuya> - Some people buy that, and Evangelion.
<-COOH> - Goddamn that show was boring!
<Kazuya> - Are you kidding, it was good!
<-COOH> - Except...?
<Kazuya> - ...everyone makes fun of the elevator scene.
<-COOH> - AND?
 <Kazuya> - Where Shinji wouldn't pop that bastard's head off for like a goddamn minute, and stood there doing nothing, all because the animators were cheap.
<-COOH> - Bingo! Exactly! It's like Star Wars suddenly lost funding for the ending and had to pop an M80 in a styrofoam ball for the Death Star explosion! It was horrible!
<Kazuya> - But it was good up to that point-
<-COOH> - No it wasn't! It totally took a dump on the only character that had any goddamn brains, first by making her a stupid-ass slut over Kaji and then by making her go insane by destroying her confidence! That was the epitome of lazy-ass writing!
<Kazuya> - That's bull and you know it!
<-COOH> - Oh, then who did you like, hmmm?
<Kazuya> - Gendo Ikari.
<-COOH> - ...seriously?
<Kazuya> - He started the fight, he finished the fight. He was the only real warrior in that entire show, and I only respected him out of all of the characters.
<-COOH> - So you had a mancrush on the general, huh?
<Kazuya> - I wouldn't call it that-
<-COOH> - What about Dusk, then? What would you call THAT, if not a lover's quarrel?
<Kazuya> - The hell kind of "lover's quarrel" ends with-
<-COOH> - Domestic violence? Plenty. Women are stupid that way, going back to men who will only beat their ass in the non-sexy way, f*cking idiots!
<Kazuya> - And now you're sexist toward your own kind! Where the hell does the hatred end with you anyway?
<-COOH> - ...heh.
<Kazuya> - Did we just-
<-COOH> - Yep.
<Kazuya> - F*ck, I wasn't even thinking about it. :P

At that moment, -COOH received a flash mail from Zelkova:

"I have something for you. See me on the bridge."

<-COOH> - ....
<Kazuya> - Hm?
<-COOH> - Midget's calling me.
<Kazuya> - Wanna do this again sometime?
<-COOH> - Eh, sure, why not. I usually get yelled at within a minute, but you... you were pleasant.
<Kazuya> - I do have to warn you that I can't be seen as disloyal by the others, and that I'll be sending assassins to kill your ass.
<-COOH> - Do what you want, your stupid little minions can't take me.
<Kazuya> - All that pain and I didn't even dent your confidence?
<-COOH> - There's a reason Asuka sucks; too much emphasis on failure. You can't stress yourself over frivolous details like that!
<Kazuya> - I dunno if I'd call her failures frivolous given that every last one of them probably cost a few lives or had the potential for it.
<-COOH> - It was war! Of course they're frivolous! That's where Americans are REALLY goddamn stupid, start an abortion debate and you'll see how valuable human life is to warmongers like us!
<Kazuya> - Like us?
<-COOH> - I think of it as a term of endearment.
<Kazuya> - Ah. Still, abortion?
<-COOH> - Pro-lifers kill off the sinners, Pro-choicers kill off the innocent. Why do you think the former likes the death penalty and the latter likes abortion?
<Kazuya> - ...oh, I get it. The former gives everyone a fair chance, while the latter puts seniority ahead of absolutely everything, even the defenseless.
<-COOH> - Exactly. To a leftist scumbag, those that don't contribute to society, no matter their age, are expendable. To a gun-toting right-winger, you're expendable the moment you screw up.
<Kazuya> - You tired?
<-COOH> - Huh?
<Kazuya> - I don't think "the moment you screw up" fit what you had going there.
<-COOH> - ...maybe. You beat me up pretty f*cking bad, after all. F*cking arm still aches like a ****.
<Kazuya> - Maybe it'd be best if you just logged out for the night, tell ol' midget to go screw himself until tomorrow?
<-COOH> - Night?
<Kazuya> - I think it's night.
<-COOH> - Eh. I don't think I care if it's night. I want my f*cking nap back. I wasn't done with that.
<Kazuya> - Oh, by the by...
:Kazuya gives -COOH his member address!
<Kazuya> - I'm always around if you need me.
<-COOH> - Like I need the enemy around.
<Kazuya> - Blah blah blah. :)
:-COOH gives Kazuya her member address!

The pair walk over to the Platform and leave for town.

...

Mac Anu - Dome

<Kazuya> - I'll e-mail ya if I get bored and you're on or something.
<-COOH> - I might do the same.
<Kazuya> - What about...?
<-COOH> - He's my problem, not yours.
<Kazuya> - Heh. C-ya.
<-COOH> - Yeah. Bye. Whatev.
<Kazuya> - :)

With that, Kazuya took his leave. Desiring to finish her nap, -COOH shot a flash mail to Zelkova and logged out:

"Seeing as how you left me behind and all, I think I'll give you the finger and call it a day.

P.S. GO TO HELL, MIDGET!"

...

Netslum Tartarga - Bridge

Zelkova and Kaede were watching the monitor, looking at their now-stabilized prize from the Demon Palace title match. It had been a battle to get Skeith to concede to the hacker's will, but ultimately, the master of Netslum succeeded. He had messaged -COOH to come check it out, but she refused, citing anger over the way Zelkova ran off with the first Phase without telling her the plan.

<Zelkova> - Heh.
<Kaede> - Sir?
<Zelkova> - As I thought, she's mad at me.
<Kaede> - With all due respect, Lord Zelkova, you did abandon her.
<Zelkova> - We would have saved Morganna if the need had arisen.
<Kaede> - ...I see....

---

The ending to the Skeith fight was a cop-out, granted, but it was probably a mistake to write about that fight in the first place. I *definitely* forced how that entire battle went, though it was always meant to be part of the story. I took Skeith at this juncture because... well, I shouldn't say.

Because of that, I waited until I wrote log 09 to make up for posting a bad chapter. I know some of you probably looked at the conversation between Veronica and Kazuya as the most off-putting, offensive thing you've ever seen. Then again, that's what happens when an American-made psycho and a "former" shut-in converse.

Speaking of which, it's not hard at all to figure out that Kazuya is ripping off Kazuma the Shell Bullet, the main character from s-CRY-ed, really hard. This is deliberate; some people do tend to name themselves for and take on the guises of anime, TV, and comic characters in MMO's or anywhere else online, after all. For an Indigo of even adequate power, a much more accurate representation than is normally possible, right down to copying the character's abilities with or without their weaknesses, would be a cinch. His real life persona is much further from the truth, much to his chagrin, but that's not for me to reveal in author's comments.

I will also say that in future installments, you'll see exactly where Kazuma the Shell Bullet stops and Kazuya the Phase Bullet begins, and I'm not just talking about abilities. This will likely be near the end of the tale.

---

Log 09: I was given an answer, and I took it.

Unknown field

<Keiko> - 3... 2... 1... ready or not, here I come! :D

Keiko began running through the forest at the edge of the grass field. She decided a game of hide and seek was in order to relieve her Chims of the stress the rest of The World causes them. After a couple of minutes randomly wandering and catching a few of her Chims, she saw a blue light behind a bush, and tip-toed toward it.

<Keiko> - ... :)

She jumped over the bush and landed on her hands and knees, facing the hidden Chim Chim.

<Keiko> - Gotcha! :)
:The Chim squealed.
<Keiko> - Aww, you gave it your best little guy.
:Keiko tries to pat it on the head, but the Chim flinches!
<Keiko> - Did I scare you?
:The Chim Chim is shaking.
<Keiko> - Are you new here?
:The Chim continues to shake.
<Keiko> - Don't worry, you're safe here. No one will hurt you.
:Keiko tries to reach for it, but the Chim shuts its eyes tight and shakes harder!
<Keiko> - You're afraid? Of me?

Keiko backs off, and takes a kneeling position. The Chim opens one eye as another Chim comes to Keiko's side. She pats it on the head and smiles.

<Keiko> - It's OK. This one's just really scared is all. :)
:Keiko turns back to the scared Chim.
<Keiko> - There's no reason to be afraid here. Any Chim Chim can come to my world and rest and play and be happy. You shouldn't have to be scared here.
:The friendly Chim nuzzles up to Keiko.
:The scared Chim opens both eyes and starts to lose its trembling.
<Keiko> - We're all friends here. I want this place to be a home for every Chim Chim, like you. :)

The poor Chim shut its eyes tight, ran up and threw itself into Keiko's chest. She could tell the little guy was crying. Something had scared it alright, something terrible. Keiko held it to her heart, and gave it a little kiss on the head, going through the energy above its head as if it weren't there.

<Keiko> - It'll be OK my little Chimmy-Chim Chim. It'll be OK... you don't have to be scared anymore. I love you.
:The Chim looked up at her with sad, fearful eyes.
<Keiko> - I love you, and I love all of my Chim Chims, and I love every Chim Chim in the world! You little blue ones are like my babies, the Rares my children, the Kings my friends, the Assassins our protectors, and God's like the grandpa I never had.
:Keiko kisses it again.
<Keiko> - You guys are the family I wish for in real life. One I hope I'll make for Dusk someday.

At that point, the Chim Chim told her that it had seen something horrible, and that all of its kind must know of a threat against them. It had seen another Chim eaten alive, by a being it could not see! Keiko gasped; there's something out there that preys on Chim Chim!? She stood up, holding it just how she would a baby.

<Keiko> - Let's gather the others. I'll tell them what you told me.

...

Theta: Wonderful Opaque Yin Beast

-COOH, still angry with Zelkova when she came back the next day, decided to take on a Quest and ignore the midget. Looking for something easy, she took up The Silent Chim, a Quest to find the cause of Chim Chim going missing from a farm of Dr. Kubo's that happened to double as a cave dungeon; he was a Vital Vista robot studying the animals for their energy-producing properties. As the Quest required a party of three, not having any other friends anymore after she left the Vanguards, she called on Mile, who just so happened to be free today. Unfortunately, she had been joining random parties in the meantime and still didn't have anyone to tag along with regularly.

<-COOH> - Really.
<Mile> - I'm sorry. :(
<Signaless> - ...zzzzzz....
<-COOH> - How in god's name did you find yet...

-COOH walked up to Signaless' ear.

<-COOH> - ANOTHER GODDAMN NARCOLEPTIC!?!?!?
<Signaless> - AHHHHHH!!!!
:Signaless falls to the ground, nearly having a heart attack!
<Mile> - He was awake when I met him! I didn't know!
<-COOH> - I'd take that psycho-psycho-psychopath over this shithead!
<Signaless> - I'm... sorry....
<-COOH> - Yeah, you should be! You sleep on your own goddamn time, not mine!

Signaless did seem like a good choice at the time. A tall man in red and silver armor with hair sticking straight up, he seemed useful in a fight as he had the somewhat rare Flick Reaper class, which used scythes for attacks with a wide area of effect. Most people didn't take up the stranger classes like Reaper and Macabre Dancer, and usually only PK's and jackasses took up the broadsword of the Edge Punisher class. Mile had thought this guy a rare find, and perhaps a valuable teammate... but then he slept through most of the fights they had, angering Veronica more than Heavenly Flower ever did, as she had agreed with Mile's thinking.

As they approached a dead end on the second floor, someone laughed at the group.

<Mile> - Whoa.
<-COOH> - Meh.
<Signaless> - ...creep...y....
<-COOH> - That's it.
:-COOH grabbed Signaless by the collar... somehow.
<-COOH> - One more ellipsis, ONE MORE F*CKING ELLIPSIS OUT OF YOU, and I smash your face! You got that, Passout!?
<Signaless> - Passou-
<-COOH> - Your new name until you wake the f*ck UP!
<Signaless> - Okay, okay, please just let go of me!
:-COOH let go.
<-COOH> - Better.
<Signaless> - It's not worth role-playing a sleepy net idol-devotee with you around.
<-COOH> - Role-play- YOU WERE PLAYING A NARCOLEPTIC!?
<Mile> - Can we just finish this Quest? Please?
<-COOH> - Y'know what, f*ck this, you just tell me when you're f*cking done!
<Mile> - What?
<-COOH> - I'm not going anywhere with this f*cker! We killed everything else in here by ourselves, and since he's nice and awake, he can f*cking pull his own goddamn weight on this trip!
<Signaless> - Excuse-
<Mile> - Hold on. I think she has a point. You haven't fought more than once on this trip, while we've done all the heavy-lifting. If there's a boss fight, I think maybe you oughta fight it for us as payback for putting us through this, you liar!
<-COOH> - >:D
<Signaless> - ...-
<-COOH> - WHAT!? WHAT DID I SAY ****!?
<Signaless> - Fine, I'm sorry! I'll do what you ask!
<-COOH> - Damn straight Passout! Now you follow Mile to that boss and kick its ass before I take this,
:-COOH pulls out her Grimoire and opens it!
<-COOH> - open it up,
:-COOH shuts the book hard!
<-COOH> - and slam it shut on your nutsack!
<Signaless> - Y-y-y-yes ma'am!
<-COOH> - Now git!
<Mile> - Do as she says sleepyhead.

It was only after they began walking off that Veronica realized her threat wasn't exactly heart-stopping, but whatever. She turned back to the dead end, "deep" in thought. Really she was just thinking of what she'd really do to Signaless if he failed. Not a moment later, she thought she saw movement in the dead end. There was nothing back there but a mushroom, and yet, she could have sworn she saw something move.

...

Unknown field

A gathering of dozens of Chim surrounded Keiko's rocking chair, where she held her newcomer like a newborn. It was still very scared, especially after telling the tale of its fallen friend. Even the Rares, Assassins, and Kings were gathered amongst the group, with God Chim Chim, a red Chim almost as tall as a typical player character, bald on top with white hair, a beard, and dressed in white robes facing Keiko at the front directly, listening to the tale. God's energy, a yellow orb above its head, appeared to stand straight up.

<Keiko> - Do you know what this thing is, God?

God Chim Chim was the only one besides Assassin Dad, who apparently didn't care to come to the meeting, that could speak the language of humans.

<God> - I've heard rumors of something like this before... before Assassin Dad became fascinated with kicking his fellow Chim Chims, something else was responsible for the disappearance of Chims from Kubo's farms. The stories I heard from our brothers and sisters painted a most awful picture of the beast: camouflaged by all light against all background, only revealing itself in shadow unless an adventurer kicks it, violently consuming in a manner befitting only the most savage beast! It does not just eat energy, it devours Chims in their entirety!

...

Theta: Wonderful Opaque Yin Beast

-COOH watched the dead end intensely. SOMETHING moved back there, and she was determined to find out what.

Then she saw it move again. Just as she thought, there really was something back there! She charged at where she thought it was and leapt, trying to tackle it.

<-COOH> - Gotcha!

Of course, she only managed to smash the wall with her face.

<-COOH> - Son of a f*cking whorebag....

It was then that she looked up and saw... was it a face? She couldn't tell. She tried to put her hand on it, when she saw a mouth open, with lots of teeth!

<-COOH> - Oh crap!

She pulled back just in time to save her hand from being severed. The creature then made a low growling sound, only it wasn't so much a threating growl as it was....

<-COOH> - You're hungry huh?

Veronica was sure she saw the creature nod. She decided to use some of Morganna's power, and after a little concentration, she gave herself the ability to see through its camouflage. The creature was an orange, floating sphere, with a pair of wide-open hazel eyes, one above each side of its mouth, that looked a little human. Its mouth was huge, opening up like Pac-Man's from video gaming's early days. Unlike the yellow featureless circle, however, this thing's mouth was lined with big fang-like teeth! The big orb was almost as tall as a humanoid, and definitely wider.

<-COOH> - Hee hee, you're cute. Ya wanna follow me? I'll getcha some food.

The creature smiled at her. It let down its camouflage, having sensed that the girl was a friend. In making its skin opaque once more, Veronica no longer saw his teeth; apparently it did trust her, and it looked relieved too. Whatever it had been doing before wasn't fun, she thought. As she walked and it floated, she tried to talk to it.

<-COOH> - Can you talk?
:The creature doesn't respond.
<-COOH> - Ah, it's ok, sometimes the mute make better companions anyway.

Turning south, she went back the way she came.

<-COOH> - Ya know, I was never allowed to have pets when I was little. I don't know why, it's like I was never allowed to be happy or something. Some people don't like seeing others smile, y'know?
:The creature doesn't respond.
<-COOH> - It's like, if you're happy, you must've done something evil to someone else to get that joy. Who did you hurt? Doesn't matter to them, the important thing is that all are equally miserable instead of some being happy and some being really sad.
:The creature doesn't respond.
<-COOH> - I don't get this equality BS anyway. Eliminate the rich and poor, make sure everyone is the same, I mean soon we're just gonna decide that latin asswipes are the perfect balance and start exterminating whitey along with the negro, ya know what I'm saying?
:The creature doesn't respond.
<-COOH> - I once saw some space show where some humans that once lived in a socialist's dream world encountered a race of god creatures, and though the creatures were immortal and all-powerful and equal and whatever, the bastards were miserable. The human society was like that in a way, but the fundamental difference was, like, ambition. I'm sitting there thinking "You replicate all your food and water, you have endless amounts of power for your homes, and you make whole new worlds out of goddamn holograms, and you're gonna sit there and tell me you're still ambitious for real life after all that?"
:The creature doesn't respond.
<-COOH> - Of course not! Whoever thought that **** up was an idiot! The whole message was "you're stale because you already know everything, so make new beings that don't!" How does that solve anything!? All you do with that is cause trouble! They act like immortality's a curse or something! I'd ***** eat someone's still-beating heart to be immortal, and I hate hearts!
:The creature doesn't respond.
<-COOH> - Ah, you don't care about that, you just like to hear me talk. I hope anyway. :)
<Mile> - Hey -COOH!

Veronica finally caught up to Mile and Passout. She scoured at Signaless; the creature had hidden itself upon hearing Mile and went undetected.

<-COOH> - How'd Passout do?
<Signaless> - I-
<Mile> - The boss turned out to be a giant Chim Assassin he had to kick three times, and he couldn't.
<-COOH> - He couldn't kick a damn rodent?
<Signaless> - Look, I don't have any speed powerups and I'm legitimately tired here. And she only gave me half a minute before she said to back off and let her do it!
<-COOH> - I still hear failure.
<Signaless> - Wha-
<-COOH> - Hey. Do you eat people?
:The creature is drooling at the sight of Mile and Signaless!
<-COOH> - :D
<Mile> - ? -COOH?
:-COOH walks over to Signaless and puts her mouth on his arm, and withdraws, her arms in a presenting motion.
<-COOH> - :)
<Mile> - -COOH, what are you doing?
:The creature hovers over to Signaless, and appears to sniff him over.
<-COOH> - That's right... figure it out...!
<Signaless> - Uhhh... what are you doing?
<Mile> - ? Is that-

Before Mile could point it out, the creature clamped down on Signaless's side and shook him hard! Signaless's leg appeared to be bleeding gray data!

<Signaless> - Ahhhhh! What the hell what the hell oh my god what is this!?
<-COOH> - Haaa ha ha ha ha ha!
<Mile> - -COOH, what the f*ck!? What is that thing!?
<-COOH> - I have no idea, but I know he's hunnnnnngry!! >:D
:The creature chews through Signaless's leg and side off and gulps it down in one bite!
<Signaless> - What happened to my leg!?

As Signaless, fallen to the floor, bent over to look at the injury, the creature let down its camouflage just long enough for the poor Reaper to see the inside of its mouth before being decapitated by its jaws. As some rules of real life didn't apply to The World, Signaless, now headless, tried to get away from what he couldn't see, still able to function with a third-person viewpoint.

<-COOH> - Oh my god, it's Passout the Headless Chicken! XD
<Mile> - -COOH, get that thing away from him!
<-COOH> - ? No. He's a meal now. You don't get in the way of an animal's meal. That's how you get bit, or in this case, your hand severed.
<Mile> - Then kill it!

-COOH looked at her sternly as Signaless lost his other leg below the knee from being dragged back by sharp teeth.

<Mile> - ...well... it's not like he deserves to be saved. He couldn't even kick a Chim Assassin.
<-COOH> - Exactly. Let him experience the thrill of digestion.

As the creature finished off Signaless, Veronica went up and reached over to pat it, but stopped, and gave a light smile.

<-COOH> - May I?

It relaxed, and Veronica patted its forehead.

<-COOH> - Good boy! That's a good whatever-you-are, finishing up your meal like that! I hope he was yummy! :D
<Mile> - -COOH, what is this?
:The creature looks at her hungrily.
<-COOH> - No!

Veronica went up to Mile and put her mouth on her shoulder, but then slapped at her own cheek, and shook her head "no," trying to teach her creature that Mile wasn't food.

<-COOH> - We don't eat Mile. Mile, friend.
:The creature goes up to and looks longingly at Mile.
<Mile> - Uhhh....
<-COOH> - Aw, he wants you to pet him!
<Mile> - How do you-
<-COOH> - I may not have had pets of my own, but I found ways to be around kitties before!
<Mile> - But this thing's closer to a dog-
<-COOH> - Dogs are nasty vermin that must be eradicated from the Earth. Don't insult him that way, or I'll teach him you're snack food.
<Mile> - Um, okay....
:Mile pats the creature the same way -COOH did. It appears to enjoy this.
<-COOH> - See, that wasn't so hard. Now,
:-COOH steps in front of the creature.
<-COOH> - You need a name. Something befitting a floating monstrosity that's basically a giant mouth. Hmmm....

Veronica thought for a little bit before coming up with a name.

<-COOH> - I know! I'ma call you Langolier.
<Mile> - What?
<-COOH> - I read a story once with creatures not so different from this guy. Langolier is perfect!
:-COOH puts her hand to the creature's face, where the nose might be.
<-COOH> - Langolier,
:-COOH puts her hand on her chest.
<-COOH> - Veronica.
:-COOH puts her hand to the creature's face.
<-COOH> - Langolier,
:-COOH puts her hand on her chest.
<-COOH> - Veronica.
:-COOH puts her hand to the creature's face.
<-COOH> - Langolier,
:-COOH puts her hand on her chest.
<-COOH> - Veronica. Now then...
:-COOH waits a second.
<-COOH> - Veronica?
:The creature doesn't respond.
<-COOH> - Langolier?
:The creature appears to be at attention!
<-COOH> - Good boy! You learn fast, dontcha? Yes you do!
:-COOH gives it a hug... as best she can.
<-COOH> - Yes you do, you're a good Langolier, huh?
:Langolier gives a slight audio effect that sounds happy.
<-COOH> - You wanna hang around me from now on?
:Langolier makes a happy sound!
<-COOH> - Now I can't take you everywhere, but I know a place where you'll be safe for when I'm not around. Is that OK with you?
:Langolier makes a happy sound!
<-COOH> - Yay, I have a new pet! I have a new pet!
:-COOH dances around a bit giddily, clapping her hands.
<-COOH> - Let's leave this hellhole behind, shall we?
<Mile> - -COOH, it's not part of the party, remember?
<-COOH> - Uh- oh. Yeah, how're we gonna get you out of here, Langolier?

At that point, the woman inhabiting -COOH's PC appeared.

<-COOH> - Well hello again, old hag.
<Mile> - ?
<Morganna> - You want that creature by your side?
<-COOH> - Yeah.
<Morganna> - The same power that let you see him should let you take him with you.
<-COOH> - ...you appeared for *that*?
<Morganna> - You were having a dumb moment.
<-COOH> - Hey!
<Morganna> - If I didn't remind you, you would have had to wait another half an hour.
<-COOH> - What?
<Morganna> - You were going to call Zelkova, weren't you?
<-COOH> - Like I'd call that midget!
<Mile> - Who are you-
<-COOH> - I'm on the phone, ass!
<Mile> - Oh.

A well-rehearsed coverup idea from Zelkova, nevermind she used the word "appeared" which should have voided the thought.

<Morganna> - Look, he's busy. Langolier is now with you.
<-COOH> - You're impatient today, hag.
<Morganna> - Watching you baby that thing sickens me to no end.
<-COOH> - Feh. You're jealous.
<Morganna> - I am not-
<-COOH> - You're getting your wish, now shut up, hag.
:-COOH whistles for Langolier.
<-COOH> - C'mon boy, we're going back to town! :D

...

Unknown field

<Keiko> - There really is something out there that would eat our friends?
<God> - Indeed! It was called the Chim Eater!
:The smaller and rare Chims squealed in fear.
<God> - And to think, it has returned from the grave...!
<Keiko> - The grave?
<God> - Yes. The God of Law, Folset, is rumored to have condemned the savage's existence and removed it from the world of the living entirely for its vile actions, when it began to eat adventurers!
:The Chims shivered!
<God> - The fact that the Chim Eater has returned must be the doing of the Lord of the Dead, Cernunnos!
:The smaller Chims ran around squealing in a panic!
<Keiko> - But I thought Cernunnos was only targeting those who participated in the war!
<God> - Perhaps his goal has changed to include any species that has intelligence... or maybe we are just casualties of circumstance, in that his real goal is to eliminate the fuel source of the humans! I can't imagine that Ogmios has sided with Cernunnos or his followers... something is amiss.

Ogmios is one of the three warring factions in The World's backstory, composed entirely of beasts.

<Keiko> - What should we do...?
<God> - If only we could get the Chim Chims to stay out of the farms... the Chim Eater may have a harder time finding them! If it feels it must target the adventurers, and only the adventurers, it is possible that someone will send the beast back to the underworld where it belongs!
<Keiko> - So the only way to fight it is to make someone else fight for us...?
<God> - My lady, you are much too kind and gentle to be subjected to battle.
<Keiko> - Maybe... if I were lost, I-

The Chims around the front gathered much closer to Keiko with sad eyes. No one wanted to see her go.

<Keiko> - But someone has to do something! I have to protect you all. What kind of mother doesn't protect her children?

At that moment, she saw Dusk amongst the crowd.

<Keiko> - Dusk?
<Dusk> - So you want to hunt down a Chim Eater?
<Keiko> - If Folset did remove it from The World, then....
<Dusk> - I know. The World has a mind of its own at times. It may not be the work of Cernunnos, but the will of nature herself.
<Keiko> - You're not saying-
<Dusk> - Even so, I will not allow nature's cruelty to hurt my beloved or her friends. :)
<Keiko> - !
<Dusk> - I'll spread the word amongst the Indigo to be on the lookout for the beast, and to take up The Silent Chim Quest if they have time.
<Keiko> - Thank you, Dusk. :')
:Keiko gave him a big hug.
<Dusk> - Heh. :)

---

The title of this log refers to an event later down the line, so while this may seem like filler, it's nothing of the sort. I figure with Keiko and Veronica being quite nearly opposites anyway, Chim Eater fit perfectly into this story, and had to be included (no, I didn't know a Chim Eater existed before I went looking for the creature). I threw Mile and Signaless in because I didn't want Veronica to be forgiving so quickly to Zelkova, and while Mile's a given because Veronica's an abrasive **** (and because the Quest really requires three people), I figured in order to get them separated, the third person had to be someone that could piss her off. Enter Signaless, whose scythe makes him desirable, and his sleepiness a stark reminder of the girl she just killed not two logs ago.

Of course, this is Veronica. There's no remorse here, just her getting pissy. :D

As for the Vanguards, one of -COOH's quotes in Mac Anu and Moon Tree is "Vanguards! Let's form a party!" It's never explained who or what the word Vanguards refers to to my knowledge, so I'm guessing it's not the beast PC Vanguard, but a smaller guild by that name she just also happens to be a part of. Why she's kicked out, and when it happened, isn't something I think I'll be going into since there's no other data to go by.

I think I've proofread everything, but I may have missed something given the length. :\

[Master ZED]

Log 10: Revelation

Dol Dona - Chaos Gate

As -COOH and Langolier were about to hop to Mac Anu, a woman called out to them.

<Kiyone> - Hey! You two with the animal!
<Mile> - What?
<-COOH> - Oh just go, I'm the one she wants.
<Mile> - But-
<-COOH> - Trust me, I got this.
:Mile leaves.
<Kiyone> - I'm not here for a fight.
<-COOH> - That's what they all say.
<Kiyone> - Anderson.
<-COOH> - ? Who?
<Kiyone> - Naked guy with a priest collar and black pants. Have you seen him?
<-COOH> - What, he your lover?
<Kiyone> - My student.
<-COOH> - Huh?
<Kiyone> - He hasn't bothered me in awhile. I'm concerned. He mentioned you in our last communication, where is he?
<-COOH> - Oh, he fell in a lake after beating me up.

The long, blue-haired girl in the odd uniform had very little patience to spare on the dimwit. The next thing Veronica knew, Kiyone was in her face, asking the same question again.

<Kiyone> - Where. Is. He.
<-COOH> - Last I saw your lover was at Indieglut Lugh.
<Kiyone> - Take me there.
<-COOH> - What, can't go-
<Kiyone> - He mentioned you before his message turned to garbage. If I see anything that suggests you hurt him, I want you close by so I can ever-so-conveniently blast your ***** head off.
<-COOH> - ...touchy-
<Kiyone> - Damn straight.
:Kiyone forces herself into -COOH's party!
<Kiyone> - Lead.
<-COOH> - You're Indigo?
<Kiyone> - Crystal, actually.
<-COOH> - Henh!?
<Kiyone> - GO.
<-COOH> - Jeeze, alright, whatever.

...

Mac Anu - Chaos Gate

<-COOH> - Oh god.

Zelkova approached the Chaos Gate with Kaede when the two ladies appeared, on their way to Delta: Hidden Forbidden Dead Wood.

<Zelkova> - Kiyone?
<Kiyone> - Luna?
<Zelkova> - I haven't seen you in awhile!
<-COOH> - You haven't me either, dipshit. I thought I was important!?
<Zelkova> - Oh... well... it's complicated. What're you doing here Kiyone?

Veronica couldn't believe her ears. Did the midget that broke down in tears over her alter-ego just brush her off like nothing? First abandonment, now this!?

<Kiyone> - I came looking for-
<-COOH> - YOU ASS! Don't you ***** brush me off, why did you abandon me!?
<Zelkova> - You haven't felt the change yet?
<-COOH> - Change?
:Kiyone looks her over.
<Kiyone> - Looks evil enough to me. Perfect for someone that may have killed Anderson.
<Zelkova> - Oh, she didn't. I was with her when we saw him, we had nothing to do with that.
<Kiyone> - His last message only mentioned her before it turned to garbage-
<Zelkova> - We were the last people he saw before he fell in the lake.
<Kiyone> - I suppose having met Morganna would take pri-
<Zelkova> - That's not Morganna.
<Kiyone> - What?
<-COOH> - WHAT!?

Zelkova turned to Veronica... finally.

<Zelkova> - I... didn't realize it either until I took a good look at your data again. You looked like what I was expecting at first, but then you showed... dark tendencies.
<Kiyone> - Gonna have to be clearer than that, boss.
<Zelkova> - Well, she's Morganna alright, but the wrong one. Y'see, the real Morganna became too dangerous to let live after Tarvos was defeated, and the system couldn't just let things run their course once Kite's bracelet was destroyed. If anything but the intended ending played out, the real world would have been put in great peril, in that the network as we knew it would have been lost.

Zelkova took a breath. Even Kiyone would have trouble comprehending the next part, he figured.

<Zelkova> - The short story is, Cubia turned its focus on Morganna in the short time between the bracelet's destruction and her death. With the surfacing of the Epitaph Users, Cubia has returned in a fitting form with which to match up and crush them.

That fitting form is -COOH.

-COOH is Cubia.

<Kiyone> - ....
<-COOH> - Nifty.

Kiyone thought for a moment, trying to piece something together in her head. Not why -COOH was Cubia, but rather,

<Kiyone> - Luna, how did you screw up this badly?
<Zelkova> - Well, it wasn't exactly my fault; Cubia's *really* good at ruses. It fooled Helba into thinking it was a Phase, after all.
<Kiyone> - But that's because she had no idea what she was looking for! You do! You're Luna! You're not like her!
<Zelkova> - Yes, I know, but her data was exactly what I was looking for, up until just before the Demon Palace final. My program I built to watch her sent me a message that a Cubia-like data signature had been picked up in -COOH's viscinity, which I thought was weird. I asked Dusk to help me run a test, and he said to just let Kazuya handle it.
<Kiyone> - That lunatic?
<Zelkova> - It made sense, they've had a falling out recently so Kazuya likely wasn't gonna kill her if it would piss Dusk off.
<Kiyone> - Of course... he's still a child....
<Zelkova> - In the course of the battle, it confirmed Morganna wasn't who she claimed to be, and analysis of the data proved what I had awakened was the Hidden One itself.
<-COOH> - ....

Zelkova could feel the fear and anger radiating from -COOH's PC. Her response to these accusations was pretty clear... a vibe of indignation... an ambiance of "and what are you going to do about it?"... an eye whose red became blue....

<Zelkova> - Of course, if I wanted her dead, I would've done it myself.
<-COOH> - You and what army, midget?

...

Delta: Hidden Forbidden Dead Wood - Dead World of Indieglut Lugh

Zelkova, the still silent Kaede, -COOH, Langolier and Kiyone instantly appeared in the main area of the dead wood on the hacker's order.

<-COOH> - Another blasted teleport?!
<Zelkova> - I figure if you're gonna attack me, at least let Kiyone do what she came to do first.
<-COOH> - ....

They looked over to see Kiyone walk to the lake's edge; there was someone on the other side.

<Kiyone> - ...Endrance!
<Zelkova> - ?
<Endrance> - ...you....

Endrance, the Demon Palace Emperor, sat at the base of the tree, under a couple of the marks that had been left on the wood from when Anderson was cut down. His head rested on his fist; he had been waiting some time for Kiyone to make her appearance, it seems.

<Kiyone> - What happened to Anderson?
<Endrance> - ...he's gone from my sight.
<Kiyone> - Gone?
<Endrance> - He no longer comes to this place... do you think... it has something to do... with why our tree is scratched?
<Kiyone> - If I could come over there, I might be able to tell you.
<Saku> - You're not going anywhere near Master En!

The group turned to where the cave turned into another section to see Sakubo, a child PC whose most noteworthy feature was a big hat with a sun and moon hanging off opposite sides. The sun hung upward, as if gravity had been reversed on that side.

<Saku> - You people came to take Master En away, didn't you!?
<Zelkova> - No, we just-
<Saku> - Oh, I know! You wanted to-
<-COOH> - Hey Langolier, you see that kid in the goth stockings? That's what we call a treat! Do you know what a treat is?
<Saku> - Huh?
<Zelkova> - Veronica?

No more questions could be raised before Langolier raced over and bit Saku nearly in two, shaking her as hard as he had Signaless earlier. Over the poor girl's screams, Zelkova realized he had missed a very important but hidden detail when he saw Kiyone.

<Zelkova> - Chim Eater!? But I thought CC Corp got rid of it!?
<-COOH> - Apparently not. He's my pet now. :D
<Zelkova> - Ohhhh this is not good.

Zelkova went over the details quickly in his head, trying to figure out what to do. Chim Eater was an orange ball-like event animal that was supposed to eat Chims and be the main antagonist of The Missing Chim Quest, but the beast somehow became a vagrant AI, attacking and eating both Chim and adventurers. CC Corp had to put it down when said adventurers were getting knocked out, but somehow Cubia's presence woke "Langolier" from its slumber to be a servant! Attacking Langolier may indeed provoke Cubia!

Well, it IS just temporary... not a coma... maybe it would be best to just-

<Saku> - No you don't, no you don't,
:Langolier is thrown back, blood spilling from its mouth and Saku's wounds!
<Saku> - NO YOU DON'T!

Saku glowed pink, black dots racing from her, from the summoning of something. Before she could continue however, Endrance appeared and cut her in half up the middle, his Tempting Rose shining with blood! A round pink/blue orb fell into Zelkova's hands!

<Saku> - But... why?
:Endrance mutters something; the chat log program cannot transcribe it.
<Zelkova> - ....

Endrance walked away from the fading corpse, past Zelkova and Kaede, the stunned onlookers.

<-COOH> - Are you OK, boy?

Veronica tended to Langolier, who was at point-blank range when Saku unleashed her Epitaph's power on it. Kiyone zipped over to get a good look at the scratches with the commotion died down. All she could tell was that something... sinister... had left them. Endrance followed her.

<Endrance> - ...What do you make of it?
<Kiyone> - That child felt off to me, and so do these.
<Endrance> - ....
<Kiyone> - I can't be sure it was her, but it was something similar to this.
<Endrance> - So you feel it too then.
<Kiyone> - ?
<Endrance> - I allowed a similar creature to sit with me, out of her curiosity. It was a hindrance to our union, such that I had to execute it when faced with the Terror of Death.
<Kiyone> - So the source of your creature is what I'm looking for.
<Endrance> - Kiyone of Azure Flame....
<Kiyone> - It was good to speak to you again, Endrance. Say hi to Mia for me.
:Endrance smiles before sitting back down.

Kiyone rejoined Zelkova and the others.

<Zelkova> - So you two know each other?
<Kiyone> - ....
<Zelkova> - I see.
<Kiyone> - I'll continue on my own. See ya Luna.
<Zelkova> - Yeah...

Everything seemed to be OK at this point, so Veronica felt like now was the perfect time to grill horny boy about what just happened.

<-COOH> - So.
<Zelkova> - I think it best we stick together for now, Veronica.
<-COOH> - Oh, even though I'm your enemy or something?
<Zelkova> - I apologize for abandoning you.
<-COOH> - You're damn right you-
<Zelkova> - I mean it. I'm sorry.
<-COOH> - ...okay, I forgive you.
<Zelkova> - That wasn't very becoming of me, and I may have gotten you hurt or even-
<-COOH> - Yes, yes, quit blubbering and get on with it.
<Zelkova> - Cubia only exists when there's a threat to The World. So far, it seems to-
<Morganna> - I do think for myself, you know.

Morganna appeared to the group, but unlike -COOH, unchanged from before.

<Zelkova> - Well, what I was saying was that you don't seem too interested in killing off the Phases. I mean, I have one right here, and there's another under that tree.

Zelkova pointed out Endrance, who didn't seem too concerned.

<Morganna> - The parts of the whole don't interest me necessarily. It is the core that I seek.
<Zelkova> - ...Yeah, that makes sense actually. Well, until then, there's no reason we have to be enemies, right?
<Morganna> - Agreed. These Indigo are also a concern.
<-COOH> - What's a Crystal?

Zelkova was caught off-guard by the question. Did Kiyone drop the term on her?

<-COOH> - And why did that **** call you Luna?
<Zelkova> - You mind if we go elsewhere for this? I've a meeting to attend to shortly.
<-COOH> - Fine, whatever, as long as

Delta: Setting Eternity's Night Moon - Moon Tree HQ - Meeting room

<-COOH> - you don't use tha-aw what the ****, you didn't even let me finish my sentence!
<Zelkova> - It was faster, I'm sorry!
<-COOH> - My ass you're sorry, jerkoff.

Veronica noticed her surroundings had shifted themes significantly, from a cave to a nighttime scene in a red Japanese castle, apparently outside in some special courtyard. A small building was in front of her, open in front. the characters stood on a pebble-ridden plane, Zelkova on a circular stone with some intricate design on it. On either side, going behind her, lay six more of these stones, in formation. Beyond those still going straight, a bridge leading to a Warp Point. This place was surrounded on all sides by the outer halls of a castle, pagodas dotting the inner and outer skyscape.

Such medieval Japanese elitist housing made up the @HOME of Moon Tree, The World's second largest Guild, and a place Veronica never admitted she had visited a few times (to kick around Melo Grunty, if one were to ask her what she did here).

<Zelkova> - The Crystal, huh... there are three factions in Dusk's over-arching plan:

1. The Indigo, those that can control the network.
2. The Crystal, those that can control the real world, as we know it anyway.
3. The Rainbow, those that can reach into and perhaps even control realms beyond our current knowledge.

As of now, there are multiple Indigo, two Crystal, and one *potential* Rainbow.

<-COOH> - These terms come from somewhere?
<Zelkova> - Google is your friend! :D
<-COOH> - You son of a ****-
<Zelkova> - In Dusk's plan, he leads and trains the Indigo, hopefully making them into Crystals, maybe even Rainbows. Those who reach either level leave the Indigo for good and are not to meddle in the affairs of the lesser ilk, though they can visit if they like.
<-COOH> - What's the point of that?
<Zelkova> - Dusk doesn't believe you can teach beyond the simplest of psychic development, so he only begins and fosters growth, allowing people to blossom on their own from there, in Keiko's words.
<-COOH> - Keiko?
<Zelkova> - You don't wanna know, she'll make you sick. Like, "Talk to her once and you'll contract diabetes from the excess of sweetness" sick.
<-COOH> - Yeech.
<Zelkova> - Anyway, like I said, only two have gone beyond the network so far and only one other shows signs of joining, or rather, surpassing us. Kiyone was the second to become a Crystal; I was the first, hence my being leader of the Crystal, for all that matters.
<-COOH> - And she called you Luna because...?
<Zelkova> - That was the name given to me by Dusk, since we didn't want Moon Tree in general to know anything should my name come up in public discussion by wandering Indigo.
<-COOH> - So you have psychic powers in real life?
<Zelkova> - That affect real life? Sure.
<-COOH> - What are they?
<Zelkova> - That's a secret. ;)
<-COOH> - ....
<Zelkova> - Anyway, our meeting's gonna start in a few minutes, I'm sure you don't want to be bored by-
<Morganna> - What's it about?
<Zelkova> - You're still here?
<Morganna> - Yes.
<Zelkova> - What should I call you anyway, since you're not-
<Morganna> - Just use Morganna. She doesn't have exclusive rights to the name y'know.
<Zelkova> - Granted, but-
<Morganna> - Answer me.
<Zelkova> - Eh, well, when I slashed into Haseo to get Skeith, that little stunt didn't go by unnoticed.
<-COOH> - Heh, midget's in trouble~!
<Zelkova> - Not only did a certain Captain of mine notice it, so did Haseo's little faction, G.U.. You saw them on that video in Netslum.
<-COOH> - Ah.
<Zelkova> - Yata will be visiting us today. I tried to put them off, but didn't have much luck.
<-COOH> - Heh heh heh.
<Kaede> - Sir, about Chim Eater, where is it?
<Morganna> - Netslum. You were most kind to keep him safe, Zelkova.
<-COOH> - Damn, I didn't even notice he was gone!
:The rest of the group sweatdrops.
<Zelkova> - Anyway... you can go sit in there if you like.
<-COOH> - I'm stealing that pillow-thingy.
<Zelkova> - ...This'll be fun, won't it, Kaede?
<Kaede> - I'm curious to know the truth of why you ran in myself.
<Zelkova> - Well, don't say it out loud... but it was a matter of opportunity.
<Kaede> - ...Lord Sakaki approaches.
<Zelkova> - Fun times ahead.

-----

So I finally decided to rewrite that last log. It sucked so bad I couldn't even retcon it. I posted way too early, and I apologize for that. Actually, I apologize profusely for getting Dusk's character wrong, as he'd NEVER send in someone else to defend Keiko. I don't know what the flying f*ck I was thinking, as it set off the final chain of events way too early anyway. I tried to avoid that by having Kazuya come to Keiko's defense, but ultimately Veronica threatening her is the ultimate, undeniable signal that the story is coming to a close.

This new log starts the same way for a few lines but then took off in another direction that I like better, as it gets Zelkova and Veronica back together, far more slowly brings up the Cubia concept, and explains why Cubia was mistaken for Morganna in the first place. Kiyone is a little mean in this, which she shouldn't be normally, but her pupil is missing, so I figure it might be in character to bully around she who could be responsible for it.

Oh, if the whole Endrance killing Saku thing seems very weird, it's only because you don't fully comprehend why yet. You can piece most of the puzzle together from the story so far, though.

I'll polish this up later, I'm getting a headache.

Old post edit:

Kinda wrote this one haphazardly over the last few days. I'd been wanting to work the plot twist of the meeting between Keiko and -COOH in, and Kiyone was guaranteed an appearance once I'd offed Anderson. With Veronica's impulsiveness, and the whole Crystals do whatever they want concept, it was like, sure, why not, she's still pissed at Zelkova enough to do this. The Crystal "group" will likely be explained in Log 11, but it's a relatively unimportant detail anyway. It's really just there to explain Kiyone's sudden appearances, disappearances, and her non-interference.

The Cubia thing is kinda new, and the Cubia Phase names are new, but the Phase opposite concept was there from the beginning, as were the nicknames for the most part. The only one I don't plan on explaining is Martus; I've not drafted word one of Veronica's real life backstory, and I don't plan on ever doing so. Whatever story comes about as a result, whatever plotholes develop, not my problem. I can always explain that away by saying Badb's influence is confusing her.

I may edit this later, I dunno if I want to keep this log as-is and I need to go to bed. :\

EDIT: Yeah, I think this is too quick. It can work if I drag it out a bit more though, perhaps divide it into two logs.

Hell, I may just rewrite the entire thing from where Kiyone says she's going to see Dusk. :\

[hidora]

Just finished reading it. I like the story, and the description is pretty good too. I'm looking forward for the next logs ^^

One thing though, Cubia was first created after the bracelet Data Drained Skeith, right? Then how come it has all Morganna's memories of Aura's birth?

[Master ZED]

One thing though, Cubia was first created after the bracelet Data Drained Skeith, right?

I've been told Cubia was born at the same time the bracelet appeared, it just didn't attack until Skeith was drained probably because it didn't have enough strength until that event. I'm not sure I buy that, but I can't really argue with it.

Then how come it has all Morganna's memories of Aura's birth?

...ah dammit. Log 07's supposed to tell how Zelkova found -COOH, but that got deleted in one of my rewrites.

Anyway, here's the deleted conversation, which if you read log 01 carefully, will tell you both Zelkova's original mistake and what you want to know.

-----

Veronica, out of curiosity, asked Zelkova a new question out of the blue.

<-COOH> - Hey, short stuff, question.
<Zelkova> - Yes?
<-COOH> - You said someone is searching for these avatar thingies, right?
<Zelkova> - Yata is. Something wrong?
<-COOH> - How do you find these people anyway?
<Zelkova> - Unfortunately, there are so many players with AIDA infections both benign and malevolent, on top of there not being any definitive means of identification, that PC data is simply too variable to sift through every character in The World. To that end, Yata has to catch someone in the act, which is why he has the Serpent of Lore, which is mostly a security camera system for the game.
<-COOH> - Heh, he's like a mall cop then?
<Zelkova> - I guess you could say that. :)
<-COOH> - So how'd you find me?
<Zelkova> - My resources are a bit limited because I don't need much, but both Yata and I monitored every single conversation Phyllo had.
<-COOH> - Had?
<Zelkova> - You don't know? His player died recently.
<-COOH> - Oh... no....

Veronica was going to miss the bridge cat, but it didn't concern her much.

<Zelkova> - Anyway, I found you because of your precognition. Haseo's conversation was interesting, but when you said Ovan's name, and Phyllo reacted after you left, I decided to look into your character data and history. You didn't match the expectations of any other Epitaph, and when I tested for AIDA, your PC didn't react.
<-COOH> - ...that's it?
<Zelkova> - Yep, that's it! That's how I found you! :)
<-COOH> - And this test for AIDA-
<Zelkova> - is a miniature vaccine I cooked up specifically to eliminate non-Epitaph possibilities. Yata hardly knows everything about me, but I know more about him than he would care to hear from an outsider. :P
<-COOH> - A little invasion of privacy never hurt you I guess.
<Zelkova> - ? What's that supposed to mean?

-----

[Master ZED]

Let's see how this one flies...

-----

Log 11: Lovers

Mac Anu - Chaos Gate

<Haseo> - ....
<Dusk> - Hi.

Dusk stood on dry ground above Haseo, who was splayed out in the water in front of the main window.

<Haseo> - ....
<Dusk> - Not much for words, are ya?
<Haseo> - What do you want?
<Dusk> - I should ask the same of you, drowning in your little river of sorrows.

He may as well have been drowning; Haseo was face down in the little decorative stream surrounding the Chaos Gate, after all. The Terror of Death had been suicidally depressed ever since losing Skeith. First Tri-Edge beat him, then Yata made him aware that all of the power he had accumulated was for naught because he already had what he needed without knowing it, and after that, Endrance humiliated him, with a pacifist looney charging in to pillage his corpse of any significant power. Oh sure, he still had all of his power from before he knew of Skeith, but it was kind of... useless.

<Haseo> - Like you matter.
<Dusk> - Indeed I do, little one.
<Haseo> - Little?
<Dusk> - Oh yes. Little applies in a big way to you.
<Haseo> - ....
<Dusk> - Your power is meager, based entirely in having a huge level. Your mind is pitiful, unable to comprehend this world or retain itself. Even your soul is weak, sliced in half with ease by a former friend of mine.
<Haseo> - ...meh.
<Dusk> - Tell me, what's life like without your Skeith?

That got Haseo's attention. He turned his head, with a wide-eyed look. Obviously this guy should not have known Skeith's name... right? Was it uttered during the title match? He couldn't remember much of anything that happened there, not even how he lost Skeith in the first place; what he knew was mostly what Yata told him.

<Haseo> - How do you know-
<Dusk> - Yata's only one agent working to find out more about The World and how reality works in this place. There are others, of course. Zelkova's one... some joker named Ovan was another... there's that guy with the wings...

A smile.

<Dusk> - and then you have me.
<Haseo> - ...joker, huh...

Haseo lifted himself up, and got out of the water. Standing with Dusk perpendicular, he grabbed Dusk's throat in a flash, trying to choke him.

<Haseo> - Ovan... is my friend... I won't have you-

Haseo never finished; the smiling Dusk lifted his right hand, showing Haseo his blackened blade-like fingers and the eye on the back. The Terror of Death leapt aside at the sight of this. He had cast aside any notion of taking the guy seriously for being a Tri-Edge knockoff, but that claw-like hand he had kept behind his back flipped the situation on its head.

<Haseo> - Y... you-
<Dusk> - It's not the same as those you've encountered before.
<Haseo> - What?
<Dusk> - Yata never told you? I'm not surprised... his head's so far up God's ass that he probably doesn't know.
<Haseo> - I don't understand.
<Dusk> - You will.
:Haseo is warped from the area.
<Dusk> - ....
:Dusk looks up into a corner.
<Dusk> - I've a new member, Luna. Tell the Plague's little clit sucker that he isn't coming back.
:Dusk leaves.

...

Delta: Hidden Forbidden Holy Ground - Hulle Granz Cathedral

The church that had been destroyed by Skeith was finally complete. Azure Kite's duty completed, he prepared to depart when someone else walked up from the Platform.

<Azure Kite> - ....
<Kiyone> - Hey.
<Azure Kite> - A-
<Kiyone> - DON'T... say it.
<Azure Kite> - ....
<Kiyone> - All I want to know is where Anderson is. You remember him, right?
<Azure Kite> - ...¥3s.
<Kiyone> - Any idea where he is?
<Azure Kite> - ...*0.
<Kiyone> - If you see him, contact me.
:Azure Kite nods and flashes out of existence.
<Kiyone> - Just where the hell did you go...?

...

Dol Dona - Quest Shop

A peaceful city built from the ruins of the crashed Fort Ouph from R:1, Dol Dona was simplistic and natural in design, incorporating the greens of nature more than the metals and mortar of technology. At the front of the wooden shed built against one of the former Fort Ouph buildings stood Kazuya and Keiko, having just completed a Quest.

<Keiko> - That was fun!
<Kazuya> - For you, little miss sightseer. I still can't believe you wouldn't let me fight.
<Keiko> - It wasn't necessary.
<Kazuya> - Yeah, yeah... but thanks for doing this with me. I could've just done it by myself, but it seemed too cheap.
<God> - And doing it with the rulers of all Chim Chim wasn't?
<Kazuya> - The Quest said I needed friends!
<God> - I am a friend of Keiko, not-
<Kazuya> - One degree of separation doesn't make you invalid!
<Keiko> - Did you get what you wanted, though?
<Kazuya> - Oh, yeah. Yeah, I got just what I was looking for. >:D
<Keiko> - That's good! :)

...

The Holy Palace Arena - Stands

<Sirius> - It's because you were trying to steal "it!"

Endrance watched from the aisle behind the cheap seats as Sirius, infected with AIDA, slew another team while locked in total insanity. The reigning Demon Palace Emperor was disgusted at the sight of the tallest beast in The World: the wild look in his eyes, the black dots surrounding him, the fiendishness inherent in his aura, the desperation of a mad villain... he was the perfect picture of ugliness, a lackadaisical self-absorbed king hellbent on retaining his power. It's not like he was beautiful anyway in his loose white breeches and blue scarf/tie-like upper body decor, especially with that shaggy long white and red hair... but this greed on the part of corrupt royalty in Lumina Cloth's higher court could not stand.

The jackal-faced bastard must pay the price for his weakness.

An inner voice agreed, and Endrance took his leave.

Lumina Cloth - Arena counter

In the high-tech metropolis of Lumina Cloth stood a large building that served mainly as the registration booth and entrance/exit for fighters of the miscellaneous palaces, and as the entrance/exit for the audiences. In front, a niche was carved in the center of the building for the booth, and to the sides, Warp Points for the Arena and stands. Endrance had finished giving up his Demon title for a "chance" at earning a title shot in the Holy Palace tournament when his fangirl walked up, meek and scared.

<Saku> - Endrance...?
<Endrance> - What is it?
<Saku> - I... I wanted to know... why?
<Endrance> - ....
<Saku> - Why did you attack me?
<Endrance> - You were plagued... it was not your fault.
:Endrance walks past Saku.
<Saku> - So, you saved me?

Endrance stopped to think. While he retained the same deadpan look on his face, his emotions were that of slight concern over how to treat the young lady. The only reason he didn't brush her off completely was due to how she reminded him of days long past, when he was in her position, chasing after someone whose true feelings he could never ascertain...

Well, not until the end, anyway.

<Endrance> - If that's how you'd like to think of it... yes.
:Endrance walks off toward the center of town; Saku follows.
<Saku> - So if you saved me, does that mean we're still friends?
<Endrance> - ....
<Saku> - You don't have to answer Master En, I know the answer! I knew it all along, in fact, I didn't doubt you for a second!
<Endrance> - Hey...
<Saku> - Yes?
<Endrance> - I need to run an errand...
<Saku> - Ok-
<Endrance> - alone.
:Endrance uses the Chaos Gate and leaves.
<Saku> - ...tha-that's OK Master En... I don't mind....

...

Unknown field

<Kazuya> - Yo!

Kazuya and Keiko returned from their Quest to see Dusk in the beginning stages of Haseo's training.

<Keiko> - We're back, Dusk!
<Dusk> - You have fun, dear? :)
:Keiko runs up past Haseo and gives Dusk a big hug!
<Keiko> - Yes! The Chim Chims were as nice as ever! :D
<Kazuya> - She didn't let me kill anything. :(
<Dusk> - Uh, duh? She's far from hunting buddy material.
<Kazuya> - I know that! Just, not even the shadow fiends?
<Keiko> - Killing's wrong, Kazuya. You wanna be bad, you do it away from me.
<Kazuya> - Uh huh.
<Haseo> - ....

Haseo didn't know whether to laugh or puke. This AIDA-PC creature that should have been the kind to rip a girl like this apart was no more than a giant teddy bear to her. Such a sunny disposition too, she enlightened the barren wastelands of Haseo's soul like daybreak over yesterday's battlefield.

All told, Haseo thought she couldn't have been more than four years old, and yet, it wouldn't be the first time he'd encountered someone of age act similar to this. It would almost be comforting to see Dusk rip this girl to bits for all the contradiction the couple created in his mind.

<Haseo> - Who are these people?
<Dusk> - Ah, this is my fiancee-
<Keiko> - Dusk!

Keiko immediately let go, blushed, and looked down at the ground with her cheeks in her hands. She always got so shy when Dusk hinted at anything romantic around other people, but it was just another reason as to why he adored her so much.

<Keiko> - Don't tease me like that if you don't have a ring.
<Dusk> - What's a shiny rock... compared to my love for you?
:Keiko blushes harder and spins around, her back to Haseo.
<Keiko> - Dusk...! He doesn't want to see me like this...
<Kazuya> - Dusk and Keiko, sitting in a tree!
<Dusk> - Kazuya...
:Dusk turns Keiko's face to his.
<Dusk> - ...I think we all know how the rhyme goes. :)
<Keiko> - Dusk...

The happy couple kissed, becoming oblivious to Haseo's increasingly perplexed face, with one last glance of each other's eyes (well, Keiko's eyes and Dusk's visor) before wrapping their arms around each other and making out. Kazuya was no stranger to this; the two of them just did NOT care about anything or anyone once one even hinted at being intimate. Keiko's Chims weren't around at the moment, but they always knew their friend was best left with her lover once the cuddling began.

Kazuya walked past Haseo toward the exit.

<Kazuya> - C'mon; he was gonna hand you over to me anyway.
<Haseo> - Oh, err, right.

Indigo "@HOME" - Dead end

<Kazuya> - Sorry about that. Keiko and Dusk have this bad habit of not giving a damn about anything besides each other when they're together, and it leads to things like that.
<Haseo> - I don't think I've heard of a feature that lets you make out in The World.
<Kazuya> - Such is the power of an Indigo; one can warp the system to their whims based purely on their conscious desires.
<Haseo> - Conscious?
<Kazuya> - Most every powerful psychic in recorded history had a better track record in a subconscious state because of the cloudiness that comes with being awake.
<Haseo> - Huh?
<Kazuya> - That part doesn't matter though. How much did Dusk tell you?
<Haseo> - He mentioned a Great Plague just before you showed up.
<Kazuya> - Uh huh, so that means he demoed a bit of power for you and went into his little indoctrination mode.
<Haseo> - Indoctrination?
<Kazuya> - Do you really care to hear it?
<Haseo> - If you guys are anything like Moon Tree-
<Kazuya> - HA! Like hell we are! Their mission is to make everyone get along, oh let's go hold hands and sing koom-bi-ya with murders, thugs, terrorists, nazis, priests and hippies all together in harmony! **** that ****, I'd rather fight'em all, cave their damn faces in with my fist!

That certainly caught Haseo off-guard.

<Kazuya> - What, you don't agree with me?
<Haseo> - Sounds like Kestrel.
<Kazuya> - Pfft. That's what the people make it out to be. Dusk could explain that one better than I can, I can only use so many big words before I feel like a nerd and have to go find the nearest guy with glasses and cave in his face with my fist.
<Haseo> - You like that phrase, huh?
<Kazuya> - Yip. What of it?
<Haseo> - Eh. So...
<Kazuya> - Yeah, so the Great Plague part. You wanna hear it or should we get to the good stuff?
<Haseo> - I wanna hear it.
<Kazuya> - Huh? Seriously?
<Haseo> - I don't want any big surprises. I want to know up-front what I'm getting into.
<Kazuya> - Heh, burned too many times huh. Alright, then I suppose being with Yata, you'll know who I'm talking about when I say the Great Plague is Aura.
<Haseo> - Aura?

Haseo thought back to the time Shino took him to Hulle Granz... how there was supposed to be a statue in the church... it was a girl named Aura, who was supposed to be the goddess of The World... but the statue disappeared one day, and no one knows where this god went.

Basically. It was hard to recall all of that after hearing such a backward reference to her.

<Kazuya> - Yeah, Aura. You know of-
<Haseo> - Shino told me she was a goddess.
<Kazuya> - Sorta. That's what she was SUPPOSED to be. Dusk said she turned out anything but that.
<Haseo> - Dusk is the leader of this group, I take it?
<Kazuya> - Yeah, Dusk and Oct-

Better than Beetlejuice, Dusk appeared out of the portal, but with a look of concern on his face.

<Kazuya> - Boss?
<Dusk> - We have a problem. Luna screwed up.
<Haseo> - Luna?
<Kazuya> - Zelkova. What problem, Dusk?
<Dusk> - Remember when he took Skeith?
<Kazuya> - Yeah, that was-
<Dusk> - Yata and Sakaki forced a Seven Counsel meeting to confront him about it and the son of a **** provoked G.U.'s leader into calling his Avatar.
<Kazuya> - He has an Ava-
<Dusk> - Fidchell, apparently.
<Kazuya> - Dammit, let me finish-
<Haseo> - Wait, Yata has an Avatar?
<Dusk> - Eh, we didn't know or care that he could use it until now, and it'd be just like him not to tell you.
<Kazuya> - ...one sent-
<Dusk> - I'm going personally, and you two are coming with.
<Kazuya> - ...ence.
<Dusk> - Happy now?
<Kazuya> - ...yeh I'm good. :D
<Haseo> - Why are you always smiling? It's creepy.
<Kazuya> - Just happy to be alive is all. Now PLEASE tell me we get to kill people, boss!
<Dusk> - That may be inevitable.
<Kazuya> - That's a yes! Let's go!
:Kazuya runs out ahead; Dusk and Haseo follow.
<Haseo> - At least he's happy.
<Dusk> - Just remember that you're only coming as an observer. If Kazuya gets to fight, then you'll understand a lot more from watching him.
<Haseo> - Hmph.
<Dusk> - He IS who you're going to be imitating, after all.
<Haseo> - Imitating?
<Dusk> - He has no help at all, unlike anyone else in this group. He is a true Indigo in the purest sense of the term, and you're going to be like him in how you learn to change The World.
<Haseo> - I don't get it.
<Dusk> - All but the Itsuki-types have an uncorrupted AIDA as part of their PC's, forged by my Octavian. These AIDA have no agendas or desires beyond simple observation of the user's actions and surroundings, not even to live, so this meager payment for the knowledge and what small power the AIDA can provide as a boost to the user's ability creates the best possible symbiotic relationship with which to learn more about oneself.
<Haseo> - I... guess I understand.
<Dusk> - You'll get it in time. You in particular have a great deal more potential now that you don't have a crutch to rely on, and I want to see what you can do with it.
<Haseo> - And you plan to use me to-
<Dusk> - Running a few errands here and there if ever is good enough for me. I want humanity to evolve, not be my slave. I like to think of the Indigo as an intellectual charity whose effects will reverberate throughout the rest of time.
<Haseo> - Uh...
<Dusk> - What I do today will impact everything anyone does from here to the end of days.
<Haseo> - ...yeah, sure, I'll pretend to understand that.
:Dusk smirks.

Indigo "@HOME" - Chaos Gate

Kazuya, taking command of the trio, set up the server and keywords. Just like Netslum's Chaos Gate, the Indigo gate included an option to change servers. Of course, just like the Netslum gate, the Indigo gate was built by Zelkova.

<Kazuya> - Done! Let's-
<Dusk> - You two go on ahead. I need a few more seconds to deal with someone.
<Kazuya> - So you want us to-
<Dusk> - Wait for me when you arrive.
<Kazuya> - You're just gonna-
<Dusk> - keep interrupting you, yeah. I'm enjoying it. >:D
<Kazuya> - Tch.
:Kazuya and Haseo leave.

...

Delta: Setting Eternity's Night Moon - Moon Tree HQ - Meeting room

Bodies.

Debris.

Blood.

Scattered data.

Avatars.

A dark twilight sky with a bright event horizon.

A fragment of the moon, once part of the former sky, at her feet.

This is the sight Veronica woke up to after being bored to death by Zelkova's rehashing of the Indigo explanation.

In true Veronica fashion, she didn't care. Nothing matters to her while in the process of awakening; something in her mind assumes that wherever she wakes up, that's where she was meant to be, and it takes a moment to process any other thought.

:-COOH smacks her lips, trying to wake up.
<-COOH> - Huh, what?
<Morganna> - IT'S ABOUT GODDAMN TIME YOU WOKE UP!
<-COOH> - WTF, what did I miss!?
<Morganna> - Yata didn't like the whole Aura/Great Plague thing and went apeshit!
<-COOH> - Finally, words I can understand!
:-COOH jumps up.
<Morganna> - I've learned to speak vulgarity the past couple of days.
<-COOH> - Well you learn quick, hag!
<Zelkova> - Oh, -COOH! Good, you can hide with us!

Zelkova and Kaede had ducked behind a shade in the same building -COOH had slept in, which she now noticed no longer had a roof. She quickly joined them upon this realization, protected visually and physically, but not from the loud booms of the explosions, causing them to yell anything they said.

<Zelkova> - Always be prepared, that's why I have this shade! :D
<Kaede> - This is hardly a time to be joyful!
<Zelkova> - But this is the best possible time! Anything but and you just go mad.
<-COOH> - BAIEWM^#*SV A*S OMXFSD(@#M%$(Q#MR$!%R)@#TUEWGVMDX ($~JFG)GBSVS}
<Zelkova> - See? -COOH agrees!
<-COOH> - Who's fighting anyway!?
<Zelkova> - What!?
:More loud explosions and roars.
<-COOH> - I said who's fighting you dumbass!
<Zelkova> - The awakening of Fidchell knocked out everyone but Sophora, who summoned Innis to protect us! I guess she figures since Yata struck first out of blind rage that I was worth siding with over G.U.!
<-COOH> - Even though you blatantly pillaged a still-breathing body in front of a live studio audience?
<Zelkova> - Kinda! :P
<-COOH> - Wait, Fidchell is-
<Zelkova> - Yata, who I knew about. Sophora was a real surprise though, that girl knows how to keep secrets!
<-COOH> - Girl!?
<Zelkova> - I think her PC's a girl, it always sounded like one to me!
<-COOH> - If she kept secrets from you, then she's like, CIA level!
<Zelkova> - Hardly! The CIA can't even hide themselves from a newspaper reporter! A better comparison would be the KGB, but not by much!
:More kabooms and bangs.
<-COOH> - Jesus, what're they doing!?

Veronica peeked out over the shade, and got a good glimpse of the two fighters.

Fidchell, 4th Phase of Morganna. This Phase wore a mask with three blades sticking up, to its right and about 50 degrees up from a large circle partially over the upper-right side, with a strange limb curving up on its left. Two large arms protruded from a body that itself seemed created from material twisted upward from a floating, almost flower-like platform. This was it as far as human features went; the circular platform itself had tiles sticking out of the sides of the bottom diagonally, evenly distributed around the entirety. Out of the bottom, a large rod with a yellow energy ring encircling it above the tip made Veronica think of things she wished the local shops had. Surrounding Fidchell, four golden discs with a strange eye design protected the Phase at opposite corners. The Prophet's hands were always in a prayer pose when not attacking.

Innis, 2nd Phase of Morganna. It had a floating disc above its oval head, the latter of which was surrounded by three eyes in a circular pattern with no other facial features. Three eyes patterned the lower torso as well, one atop the other, which expanded outward, in human measurements, to extraordinarily large proportions from an otherwise rather small and slender upper body. That part actually did resemble a young woman's in proportion, up until the arms and the already mentioned. It had one large diamond going down its long fin-like lower body, which resembled the very same diamond pattern on Zelkova's belt in fact, and arms that measured from the shoulders halfway down the entire length of the Phase. Contrasting with a body blue, black, and brass, it maintained red orbs just out of hands' reach that had generated both red, gold-lined energy blades and hailstorms of energy-based munitions; these were usually bullets, but on one occasion already, the orbs had combined together to create a bomb equal in size to both combined. Hovering in place behind its back was a flat brass ring, with two equally-sized crescents rotating around opposite points of said ring.

-COOH was only safe for half a minute before Fidchell used one of his discs to send out a volley of shots at Innis; one of them scared her good by nearly taking her head off, sending her back undercover.

<-COOH> - AHHHH!! My hair, tell me that bastard didn't singe my hair!
<Zelkova> - Nope.
<-COOH> - Oh good.
<Zelkova> - That's pretty much what happened every time I tried to get to you!
<-COOH> - So you're saying you didn't abandon me this time!?
<Zelkova> - Look in front of where you were laying!

In front of her former spot lay multiple craters from stray firepower from the fight in the sky. Veronica gulped upon the realization that she'd nearly been killed multiple times in the short period she'd been out, but quickly dropped that out of concern for her other side.

<-COOH> - Hey, where's the hag anyway?
<Morganna> - Hiding in your head. I don't want to get caught up in this.
<-COOH> - Coward!
<Morganna> - WHAT!?
<Zelkova> - Now now you two, a battlefield is hardly the place for squabbles!
<-COOH> - Fine, whatever! How do we get out of this!?
<Zelkova> - Everyone who got knocked out is fine, since I severed their connections! They'll wake up and come back in time, what's left out there is just leftover data!
<-COOH> - Us, you f*cking idiot! How do WE get out of this!?
<Zelkova> - They blew up the Warp Point, so I think we've gotta do the same thing I did to the others!
<-COOH> - WFT-Do it already!
<Zelkova> - I wanna see how this turns out! Sophora might need me!
:Silence.
<-COOH> - WELL I DON'T!
<Zelkova> - ...that was loud.
<-COOH> - ....
:-COOH glares at him.
<-COOH> - Shut up.

Kaede, Zelkova, and finally Veronica peek over the shade to see why the fighting had ceased. The two Phases were focused on where the Warp Point had been.

There stood Dusk, Kazuya and Haseo, fresh faces to a meeting gone awry.

-----

So there you are. Sophora is Innis. I'm sure I pissed off a few Atoli fans with that.

But wait! Where IS Atoli anyway?

Not in this story.

See, throughout all of my planning for this tale, Atoli has only turned up at certain times, and only in the original plans for ACID to come after G.U. (in fact, one of the early writings had Morganna use Gorre to murder Atoli while Veronica couldn't control herself). This version of the tale is more a retelling or replacement, and in fact, drastically alters the fates of Haseo, Atoli, and Sakaki from G.U. to the point that Atoli never meets Haseo again in any capacity that would have an effect. If she isn't busy trying to get in Haseo's pants, then she... really doesn't seem to matter. :\

To that end, Atoli would only be mentioned to die at Team Acid's hands in order to hand off Innis, much like Saku was supposed to be for Gorre (no longer the case... maybe). That, or it would be stuck with Shino, which would be a problem. But then I thought "y'know, Innis is a Twin Blade bonded to a Harvest Cleric... and Mirage of Deceit does sound kinda ninja-like (if you think of Naruto anyway)... plus all that speed, and Sophora was deluded by Zelkova's stated purpose for Moon Tree... it's weak, but it's better than anything LINK's got!"

And so, on the spur of the moment, Sophora became Innis and Atoli was written out pretty much forever (better she be left alone than headless). Besides, I like the red orbs and the rings on Sophora's version. :P If you must know, the crescents, much like the coloring of her orbs and blades, are directly inspired by Binding Chord (her dual swords). I would have taken something from Warning Chord, but no one knows what that thing's supposed to look like. I don't think any art of it exists anywhere, and there aren't any graphics in the game for it (it just uses the Spell Xialin/Summer's Staff look as a default, like all of the other dummied staffs). :?

This is very unlikely to be re-written entirely like log 10 was (that should never have happened), though some expansion won't hurt it if I can think of something to add. In fact, this is a rewrite; the first log 11 was going to introduce -COOH's ability to summon after she got a hold of Tarvos when Zelkova sliced it out of Pi's chest, just to utterly crush Sakaki for the hell of it. It felt all too rushed and didn't add much, whereas while this is quick, it's over a pretty short time period already.