I don't own .Hack or anything related to it except for my own charactersNow that that's out of the way on with the fic.

Chapter 1

Bleak Omens

Atop a high tower a lone figure looked out over the desert landscape. A savage wind began to blow bringing with it the desert sand but the figure did not recoil from the driving dust. Instead continued to look out as if waiting from something just over the horizon.

"Something is coming. A lost fragment from long ago. One that should have been destroyed now it may destroy The World." The figure paused momentarily. "There is but one hope I can only hope that he can be found in time for I fear that there is nothing even I can do to stop this beast once his rampage begins."

Another wind blew and when it passed the figure was gone as though no one had ever been there.

In the office of the Cyber Conncet Corp. Danial had just arrived and was greeted by the stern face of his direct superior who was holding up her wristwatch and tapping on its face indicating that, at least in her eyes, he was late. He apologized even though he knew he wasn't late but he also knew it was best not to cross her.

He was force to pass her computer terminal on the way to his own. On the screen were the profiles for four known hackers and what looked like a document she'd written herself most likely pertaining to the net slums. She had long said she would find the net slums even if she had to tear The World apart to do it. And there was no doubt in his mind that she would to it if given the chance.

Meanwhile in the false reality of The World a lone Wavemaster strode through a deep dungeon. There wasn't a monster in sight. They were supposed to be here but she wasn't. This area was supposed to be sealed but she had easily broken through and now found herself in the deepest part of the dungeon standing before the Gott statue ready to claim her prize.

"Easy." She said tapping the top of the chest with her staff.

As it opened a noise behind her made her jerk around ready to defend herself if need be. After a few moments she gathered the contents of the chest and decided it would be best to leave quickly.

As she gathered the last of the treasure a man rounded the corner and saw her.

"Hey! What are you doing down here!" He cried.

"Just leaving." She replied withdrawing a Sprite Ocarina from her pouch.

It only took a few notes before the magic to effect and whisked her to the surface. Once on the surface she took a deep breath and sighed. "That was too close."

She knew that with the increased administrative presence since The Twilight she wouldn't stand a chance if she went back to town. Alexandra decided the best place for her to do was hide out in the net slums until the heat was off. She would have to move quickly since the Helba Key could only be used at the Chaos Gate she would have to return to town briefly.

Briefly was all anyone needed to capture her and if a Helba Key fell into administrative hands the Net Slums would fall and she would not have that on her conscience.

She gated out and returned to Dun Loriag, the Theta server root town. Without stopping she withdrew the Helba Key from her pouch and held it up to the gate. Its surface rippled like a pebble thrown into water then she was carried away from the heights of Dun Loriag to the Net Slums.

It truly lived up to its name. It was never much to look at but it was the only safe haven a player like her had. The residents were as mismatched as the town itself. The town constructed of old data and the people made to resemble anything they wished.

Alexandra collapsed in the shadow of one of the buildings. As she sat she saw Mia in the distance followed by her constant companion Elk. Weather by her choice or his she didn't know but she did know that he was guilty of no crime other than associating with hackers. He was no hacker she doubted he had any programming skill at all but Mia trusted him and that was good enough for her.

She shut her eyes and laid her chin on her chest. This was the only place she would allow herself this luxury any other place she would've never let her guard down. She had no idea how long she had remained in this position be fore she heard someone call her name.

She turned towards the source of the call grabbing her staff off the ground. Her eyes met a Heavy Blade her massive sword sheathed on her back whom she recognized immediately as her friend Jena.

Jena wrapped Alexandra in a heavy embrace nearly knocking the two to the ground. Alexandra pushed her away and holding her at arms length asked. "What was that about?"

"I had heard rumors in town about you I thought you had been caught!"

"Almost but somebody did see me so I'm going to have to lay low here until the heat's off."

"I'm just glad your all right!" Jena trying to hug her again.

In another part of The World far from the Net Slums a warrior fights his spear slicing through the air and rain. With a mighty thrust he pierced the chest of a Goblin Night it slumped forward on impact he jerked his spear back and the Goblin fell to the ground before disappearing into nothingness.

Blaze ran his fingers through his flame red hair that was matted to his head from thedriving rain in which he had been fighting.

"Almost too easy."

After scanning the area around him and determining that there was no further monster threat here he began running towards the dungeon entrance. He arrived at the stone structure. The entrance flanked by twin torches. Blaze brandished his spear and pressed on into the depths.

Just inside the first room he stopped and reached into his pouch, leaning his spear on his shoulder, and withdrew a small orb. It flared brightly for a moment and then was gone replaced by a group of faeries who scattered in different directions yielding a detailed map of the floor.

Noting the most direct path to the lower floors he continued on spear drawn and ready to fight.

Blaze reached the third and final level of the dungeon fairly uneventfully what he had encountered was nothing he couldn't handle. His map showed the Gott statue in the next room. Then suddenly his map vanished showing only the room he was in.

"That's weird. But the statue's in the next room so I guess I don't really need it."

He continued on despite his slight unease and gathered the treasure that was to be had at the foot of the statue.

"That's odd." Danial said trying to compensate for the sudden slow down of his terminal. And judging from the sudden din that had erupted around him he wasn't the only one feeling the effect.

He entered some quick commands and was presented with a list of all the tasks running on the network.

"Data upload? There's not supposed to be an upload today. Is there?" He said searching through his desk drawers. He found what he was looking for in a red folder marked maintenance and upload schedule. Running his finger down the page for that day he discovered that he was right.

He seized the phone and dialed his friend Edward in the data upload center.

After ringing a few times he heard Edward's voice on the other side of the line saying. "Data upload center."

"Ed. It's Dan. Are you guys uploading something without telling anybody?"

"You know I wouldn't do that. In fact we're reading a remote upload but we can't trace it down."

"Can you at least tell what's being uploaded?"

"Nah. The data's encrypted. We won't be able to tell what it is until it's uploaded at least and even then there's no guarantee."

"All right Ed. I'll see what I can find out."

Danial set the phone back on its base and began drumming his fingers on the desk uncertain of what to do next. He had his suspicions but without proof is was only his word against hers and there was no doubt in his mind how that would end. All he could do was wait until the upload was complete and then it may be too late to stop her.