Today: September 17th, 2014

Theta Root Town: Dun Lorieg

10:00 pm

Shay surveyed the craggy cliffs of Dun Lorieg, his personal favorite Root Town. Hours passed while he stalked the town, waiting for his next client, whose name was "Blathnat".

Shay's only weapon in this game other than a smart wit was his ego. He held his appearance in high regard, only second to his fame. He most treasured the northern style of clothing his character wore, the frosty white cap and regal white clothing. The only part of his online being that had any color to it was the pale peach of his skin, and the powdery blue hair and eyes the gave him a cold and calculating presence.

With a wide grin spread across his face, Shay paced over to the Grunty Farm, where his iron clad transport idled. He observed the somewhat pig-like creature while it grazed; only stopping to check the Chaos Gate for any new arrivals.

Soon after, the familiar rings of golden light formed a cylinder near the large blue Chaos Gate, revealing a player wielding an exotic staff. The character was very anxious as he darted around the gate, but not straying to far from the gold-rimmed portal. His bobbing white hair was dulled only by the crimson eyes that searched frantically for an unknown objective. After a few minutes, Shay decided to check the name floating above the player's head, finding his awaited client. He strode purposefully across the decrepit bridges connecting the separate cliffs of Dun Lorieg.

Had this entire scenario not been part of the gaming experience of "Fragment", Shay would have been much more cautious crossing the planks.

The moment Shay arrived on the same cliff as Blathnat, the other character turned his head

defensively toward him. The both watched the other for a few moments as Blathnat read Shay's name. The tension disappeared from Blathnat's face when he realized that this was the man he was about to employ.

"You are Setanta, the player-killer, yes?" inquired Blathnat with a light Austrian accent.

Shay's anger tore him apart. "It's pronounced SHAY-DAN-TA'! Learn some Celtic mythology, will ya!" He stood in place, panting from his brief rant.

The two were both silent for a moment before Shay dared to bring up the topic the initiated the meeting. "What's this job you want me to do?"

"Ah, yes…that." Responded the calm Blathnat. "We had best go to the edge of town to discuss that matter."

The two crossed over the bridges interspersed throughout the Root Town, and arrived at the Grunty Farm at the edge of town without uttering a single syllable. "This is a well established farm. Is that your Grunty there, the armored one?" opened Blathnat, more than ready for conversation.

"Yes, that's him. I've had him since I joined the game when they were still debugging the system." Shay said, "I've come to call him Connla."

"Pleased to meet you, Connla." Blathnat smiled at the docile creature of code and programming.

"Now, to our business" Shay began.

"Yes, I need you to kill an adversary of mine."

Shay continued, "As you read on the boards, you will need to be a little more generous with information and gold if you want me to carry out this assassination."

"I was just getting started by stating the obvious. Bad habit, I'm fraid. Sorry." Blathnat paused. "Now, this fellow has been on my blacklist' a while now. His username is Culann, and his level is around 48. I've arranged a meeting with him on the field Dog-Dancing Malevolent Tri-Pansy' in this server, 5:00 pm tomorrow." he paused again, "How much would it cost for you to axe' him under the circumstances?" Blathnat waited for Shay's answer.

"Hmm…I would say about 500,000 gold and a level three longarm weapon." said Shay, with no intention to haggle.

Blathnat sighed, but paid hi the gold and told him, "I can give you the spear after the completion of your job."

Shay hastily agreed, sleep tugging at his eyelids. The real person behind his movements got up from his computer chair and watched as the screen turned black.

Next Day: September 18th, 2014

Theta Root Town: Dun Lorieg

7:00am

Shay was back in his cozy hangout, the Grunty Farm of Dun Lorieg. Although this time he was accompanied by someone other than a client. This time, a close friend by the name of Rostam was sitting on a boulder protruding from the meager patches of grass. His creamy white parka was strewn about him, making him seem much friendlier than he was actually feeling. He was quite discontent for a simple reason; Shay had not quit player-killing yet.

Rostam couldn't allow the silence between him and his comrade continue. "Why haven't you quit PK-ing yet? It's only a matter of time before the Crimson Knights or Administrators catch on. Come on buddy. Quit while you are ahead." Rostam attempted to keep his long-time acquaintance from being deleted.

"Rostam, I'm fully aware of what will happen if I'm caught. My character data will be apprehended and deleted and I won't be allowed to play any file for the next six months. We've gone through this a thousand times. I can't quit yet, Rostam. I've already got a new job that I'll be starting at five o'clock tonight." Shay explained, "This is the only way I'll ever get strong enough to join the Cobalt Knights."

Rostam was shocked by Shay admitting his motivation for his in-game lifestyle. "That's why?" He got up from his rock, dark tresses of hair flying because of his irritated alarm. "All you want is to join that group of aristocrats? The group that serves as a country club in the game?" he sat back down on his boulder and sighed, "Please tell me there is more to what you are doing than that."

"There isn't. All I want is to feel accepted here, be acknowledged as a high-level character. Should there be more to my desires? And why should I have to justify them to you, anyway?"

"I don't know you anymore, Shay. You're not the same person I traversed dungeons with in the beginning." With that, Rostam was hidden behind the rings of light as he logged out.

He left Shay alone on the drafty cliffs, staring at Rostam's forgotten spear beside the boulder.

Same Day: September 18th, 2014

Theta Server: Dog-Dancing Malevolent Tri-Pansy

5:00 pm

Shay arrived on the grassy clearing bordered by distant mountains. The rings of light that

delivered him to the area disappeared, and he immediately saw a three-person party defending

themselves from a vicious monster.