1Ok, the names are wrong, I know they are. If you go past them, you can guess who I'm trying to say. I haven't seen past episode 6 of Roots, so things are probably messed up there too.

The boy fell to the ground.

"Geez, you didn't have to be so hard on him . . ." A girl said. She appeared to be in her teens, her most distinguishing features were her hair and eyes, her midriff shirt wrapped in a few belts, and her short skirt, all a bright pink.

"Oh yeah, Mika?" Her partner said. His clothes were plain, a oversized shirt and black pants with drooping belts. Around his neck and arms were a few chain cuffs. "How would you have handled it?"

"Well, Kaoru, I–" Mika was interrupted by him.

"Sorry, I have to go, it's kinda urgent." He logged out quickly, and she was angry.

She pulled off her headset, and walked out of her workspace, into the one next to her. A teen sat there, and she pulled off his headset.

"Kira, I swear–!!" She growled, holding it out of his reach as he attempted to grab it. "You could at least wait a little while before you leave."

"Alright, alright. I'll warn you next time. Is that alright with you, then, Sara? But right now I have important business to handle." Kira grabbed the headset, and put it on his head. She huffed, then left his workspace beck to hers.

She was twenty, working at CC Corp. She was paid to play the world, and occasionally fixing and observing the bugs that others had missed. Along with that, she was to observe the habits and preferences of the players overall, and find out what it was that they preferred to do in 'The World'.

She put back on her headset, and had her character move back into town. Her client was in Mac Anu, so she transported there.

"Um . . . was your job successful?" A meek girl asked, approaching Mika. She nodded, and the small girl continued. "What happened to the other guy?"

"Oh, him. HE chickened out." Mika smiled at her. "If you need anything else, make sure you have the money and call me."

She walked off, heading to the town square. Straight ahead was a guild shop, Shop Acorn, and a few friends of hers worked there. At least while she was in town she would visit them.

"Hey Silibus, Gasbard." She said, waving at them. She approached their shop. "Do you guys have anything to sell today?"

They shook their heads. "Sorry, we just sold out."

She sighed. "Oh well." As she was just about to say something, she noticed a character with blue hair walking toward the alchemy district. His character was obviously hacked, the big thing on his right arm would be hard to miss.

"Sorry, guys." She said. "Something just came up."

Both smiled and laughed. "It's Ok. You're always so busy nowadays."

She smiled at them. "Yeah, sorry about that." She began to chase after the hacker, although he was already out of sight. A thought hit her. "Oh yeah. Be careful. CC Corp made it so that PKers can PK in town. You guys should be careful." They both nodded, and waved goodbye.

As she arrived in Alchemy district, she noticed that the blue haired guy was nowhere to be seen. Her pay would probably be docked for that.

She walked toward the fountain. At least there news was always buzzing, and characters were often to dumb to keep their private conversations quiet.

"Hay, leave us alone!!" A cat-looking girl yelled at a woman. Mika investigated. Apparently a woman named Ender was picking on two newbie players, Haseo and Tabby. Tabby was the cat girl, and Haseo this emo-looking Adept Rogue. As Ender was about to attack, Mika rushed in, and blocked the hit, using a counterattack to send Ender flying.

"Hey, you two ok?" Mika asked, glancing back at the two shocked newbies.

"Wooow." Tabby whispered. "She's as good as Teacher." Tabby shook her head. "Yeah, we're fine, but ever since CC Corp changed the game's settings, this woman wont stop picking on us."

I told them it was a bad idea. But do they listen? Noooooo. "So she keeps picking on you?" Mika thought for a second. "Oh, now I remember. You're the person he talks about."

"Who?" Ender growled.

"You're guild master, duh. Hmm . . . guess I'll have to talk to him." she said, sighing. "Oh well," she turned to Tabby and Haseo. "You two gotta come. I guess we're gonna have to stop these useless brawls."

Ender led them to the guild headquarters. Inside was the PC of her friend Kenji.

To: Kaoru

SO this was your urgent business? You look like you're sitting around to me, you fat lion-thing.

To: Mika

Spare the insults. I received some news on this hacker. There's something about him.

"Hey!" Tabby said, waving her hand in front of Mika's face. "I thought you were going to talk to the guy."

"I was. Ever hear of instant mail? Right now we're having a private conversation." Mika growled.

"If you're conversation's private, then why did you drag us around?" Haseo murmured.

"Watch it. If you want to get PKed by this chick, then leave. But if you do, I don't guarantee you're safety from me, 'cause I don't like people wasting my time."

"Come on, Haseo. Let's just see what happens." Tabby said, pulling on his arm.

Mika sighed and shook her head.

To: Kaoru

So, who is this hacker?

TO: Mika

His name's Ovan. Ask your friends, they know him.

Mika stiffened. She knew the name, she knew everything about him, except his appearance. Well, up until now. It meant she had little time.

"Hey, Tabby?" Mika asked, turning. Tabby's ears raised, "Do you know a guy named Ovan?"

"Yup, sure do! He's the founder of the Twilight Brigade." Tabby replied happily.

"Tall guy? Right arm in this case thing?" Tabby nodded. "I see. . ."

"I don't get how asking about Ovan helps anything." Haseo muttered.

"It helps a lot." Mika sighed, then faced the PC of Kira's. "Can you keep Ender form attacking them? I mean, with the new rules and everything, and them only newbs, don't you think that's kinda unfair?"

"Fine, but you owe me."

MIka and the others left the guild, only to run into Ovan, this girl named Shino, and a weird looking guy named Sakisaka.

"We've been looking for you two." Shino said, worry disappearing slowly form her voice.

"Sorry that I stole your guild members I just–" Mika began, but she was interrupted by Tabby.

"Oh, Teacher!" Tabby said to Sakisaka. "You remember that mean PK named Ender, right? Well, she almost got Haseo and me, but this girl saved us! She's as good of a fighter as you are!"

"Oh really?" Sakisaka said, not really paying attention.

"Well, thank you for keeping these two from being PKed." Ovan said, his voice calm and somewhat soothing.

"It's my pleasure." Mika smiled. She knew here next statement would cause her trouble, but she would die of curiosity if she didn't get her question answered. "Hey, is your arm . . . a quest item or a hack?"

He only smiled. "You know, you're the first one to ask that, I think." Shino said.

"Oh, I have an eye for these things, you know." Mika said, trying to have them shrug off her question. His forced smile was enough of an answer.

Tabby giggled. "You should work for CC Corp. Those guys are good at that kind of thing."

"Yeah. I suppose they are." Mika said. She was becoming uneasy around the group. Didn't anyone else know the cruelty in Ovan's smile? Or was it only her imagination? "Oh!" She pretended to act surprised. "Sorry, I just realized I have something to do. I'll see you guys later!!" She logged out, and accessed her email.

To: Kaoru

Sender: Mika

Subject: You're right.

There's something about the guy. I met him today, he's . . . . enigmatic. Which brings me to another topic. I need to talk to you. In the game. Please contact me when you get this.

Sara sighed after she finished typing. The time was coming much faster than she anticipated, but she still had work to do.

But siting around would gain her nothing. She logged back in, only to be run into by Gasbard seconds later.

"Mika!" He cried. "You gotta come quick! It's Kuhn! He's in trouble!!"

"In trouble? Where?" MIka said, trying to calm Gasbard down.

"In our home." Mika and Gasbard ran to the home, Mika prepared for the worst.

She walked in, and Kuhn was on the floor, doubled over. "Kuhn, are you ok?"

He only cried, he looked like he was going to melt into yellow goo any moment.

"Let me guess . . ." she said, "A girl dumped you again." Silibus and Gasbard nodded, and Kuhn sat up quickly and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"I don't get why she didn't like me!!" He bawled.

"Maybe because you swoon for every girl you see." Mika sighed. "That would tick anyone off."

"Do you not like me?" Kuhn said, looking up at her.

"Kuhn . . . you're insane, you know that? You know I don't like you even close to that much. Now get a hold of yourself." Mika growled.

"Geez, Mika. You don't need to be so harsh on him." Silibus said. "I mean, he just got dumped."

"I'm not gonna treat him like a kid. He's been dumped many a time before, now's not that different. I made a mistake by babying him the first time."

Kuhn stood up, suddenly somber. "I guess I cant fool you, can I?"

"No, you cant. You forgot that I'm psychic."

"Psycho?"

"No–!" Before Mika could object, she received an instant message.

To: Mika

Just got your message. Where do you want to meet?

To: Kaoru

Meet me in Dark Painful Secret. There's no monsters there, and we should be able to talk freely.

To: Mika

Kinda dark, don't you think? But if you want to go there, I'll be sure to oblige. Next room form the warp point, as usual. But I'm gonna be a bit late. Cam you wait for me there?

She sighed. "Sorry guys, I gotta go. Something just came up." She began to run out the door.

"Wait!" Kuhn said. "We forgot to ask you something!" But she was gone before he could finish his sentence.

"Aww . . ." Gasbard whined.

"Don't worry. I'll follow her and ask her myself." Kuhn smiled, then ran off to the Dome area. She was already gone, but he knew where she'd be, since it was her "quiet area".

But no one could access the warp points. Was it a temporary bug? Kuhn's only concern was that if no one could get in, that also meant that no one could get out.

It was quiet, as it usually was. Mika wandered around, looking for some form of entertainment to pass the time. No one could really come into the area, unless she gave them the words, since this was where administrators and the CC Corp normally meant for meetings. Besides that function, it was just extra data.

She heard footsteps behind her, and a familiar voice echoed through the empty halls.

"I figured you were special." it said.

She turned. It was Ovan. "How . . ." she whispered. "Did you get in? Only . . ."

"Only CC Corp members can get in, right?" He smiled. "But you forget, I'm a hacker."

"Of course. A hacker with a data anomaly in his arm. Am I correct?" She took his silence as a "yes".

"How did you know?" He said, his voice becoming harsher. "No one should know." It was not Ovan speaking these words, but the anomaly inside him. It had taken control.

"You're right." She said, picking her words carefully. "No one should know. Yet I do. I'm different."

His eyes were becoming darker, the blue being surrounded by a black. He was still there, but it would be easier to be taken over by it in this state. She would have to be even more careful.

"I . . . know everything. Everything you've done, Ovan. Even about your sister." He stepped closer, and she slowly eased backwards. She was trapped by walls, and she wouldn't be able to escape. "And the AIDA. What you've done. What you're planning on doing. I know it."

"And . . . how do you know this?" He whispered, confused. She was cornered, no sliver of luck would be able to save her if she made a mistake. But it was too soon, still too soon.

"I know almost everything about The World. About it's memories, of everything. I don't know how, but I do. And I want to help you, Ovan."

Kuhn was tired. He sat by the warp point, hoping that there would be some trace of someone entering or leaving. But ten minutes was long enough.

He stood up, ready to leave, when he noticed a friend of Mika's walking by. Was his name Kira? It didn't matter.

But he was able to warp in, and Kuhn followed soon after. At least then he would be able to talk to Mika.

Ovan was gone, he disappeared right after she said her words. Maybe she had influenced him. Kaoru warped in, and approached her with a smile.

"You wanted to talk?" He asked, practically skipping to her.

"Yeah . . ." She was half-way lost in her own thoughts, but Kaoru's odd behavior snapped her out of it. "Why are you so happy?"

"I got a promotion!" He yelled.

"A promotion, huh? Does that mean you're leaving our area?"

"Nope. But I get my own guild. And this cool place called 'The Serpent of Lore'" he added a dramatic effect to the name.

"You're such a child."

"I am not! I'm seventeen, an adolescent, not a kid. And you're just about as childish as I am. We're only three years away!"

"Yeah, yeah. So, you got a new place. To research the data anomalies, I bet."

"It's no fun when you know everything. You spoil the surprise."

"Believe me, a surprise would be fun once in a while." Mika sighed, slightly depressed.

He smiled and laughed. "Well, I gotta get a new character, and I'm already juggling three. What do you think I should do?"

"Get rid of that one that's a dorky lion. You know, the one who controls that clan."

"Aww .. . I kinda liked that one." He complained.

"Yeah, I know, but you gotta keep this character, and it's best if you keep a position in Moon Tree, they're upper class compared to yours."

"Good point. So, what should I name him?"

She closed her eyes and leaned against the wall. "Yata."

"Yata?"

"Yeah, Yata. It's got a nice ring to it. Master Yata. That's what you'll be called."

"A premonition of yours?" He asked, eyebrow raised. She nodded. He leaned next to her. "So what was the urgent news?"

She sighed. "I'm leaving the game."

"Like–quitting?"

"I guess you could call it that. I'm . . . well . . . something is going to happen that will make me unable to log into (or out of) the World. When that happens, I need you to do some favors for me."

"When? What?"

"I don't know. Sometime soon, I suppose. I'll tell you then."

"So you call me all the way here, just to tell me something bad's gonna happen, and you need me?"

"Yup."

Kaoru glared at her evilly. But she just smiled sweetly.

"Well," she said, still smiling, "I gotta go, it's almost dinner time." She logged out.

"Yeah, yeah." He joined her.

The only one left in the room was Kuhn. They hadn't noticed him, and he was hurt that Mika couldn't rely on him for something so important. He would have to talk to her, the next time she logged in.

Sara sighed and leaned back. It was a long day, much longer than normal.

"MIKA!!! Ohhh! I hate that woman!!" She heard a voice yell from across the room, probably form one of the cubicles.

It was hard not to respond to something like that, especially since she'd been called that all day. No one really knew who anyone else was in the World, it was kind of like a private diary, you wouldn't know who it was unless they told you or you were good at snooping.

Kira knocked on her door. "May I come in?" Before she answered he came in, holding a bag in his hand.

"Sure. But you know, You were supposed to wait until I gave you an answer."

"Aww, I knew you were gonna say "yes", so I saved you the breath." He tossed her the bag. "Hope you like turkey sandwiches."

"What, and no drink?" She teased. He threw a soda at her, and she caught it easily, opened it up, and sipped on it.

Kira grabbed a chair form the spare closet in her work area. "So, did I surprise you?"

"Yeah. You surprised me. I actually thought I'd have to pay for dinner." She said sarcastically.

He laughed. "You don't leave here much, do you?"

"Nope, here's my home."

"Family troubles?"

He had tried to start this conversation before, and it always ended the same. "Sort of. But it's behind me."

He didn't ask anymore. He didn't need to. There wouldn't be any way to get any more information than that.

Someone leaned against the doorframe. "On your left you can see a pair of lovebirds having a quarrel." It was Refia, the person behind the PC Ender, and the one yelling earlier.

"We're not lovebirds, you old hag." Kira said, biting into his sandwich.

"I'm not old!" she protested. "I've just been having troubles."

"Mika again?"

"Yeah." She sighed, and rested against the doorframe. "I try to follow orders, and every time that girl interferes. She's making it tough on me. I mean, I know she's a hired PK, but no one could hate me that much."

"Probably doesn't hate you." Sara said. "Maybe she just doesn't approve of your methods."

"I guess . . ." She scratched her head. "Well, I gotta get to work, I'll see you two later." She walked off, back into her cubby.

"I'm gonna log back in."Mika said. "You." She pointed at Kira, who had long since devoured his sandwich. "O-U-T"

"I gotcha." He said, standing up. "See you later. I'm going back on, you?" She nodded, and logged on.

She transported to Mac Anu. She was envious of those who had bikes; she didn't only because she thought it was a lame idea. She kicked herself multiple times for that one. But she ran to Shop Acorn, maybe they had some items to sell.

Gasbard greeted her as he greeted everyone else: with a huge smile. "Hey Mika, Kuhn was going to ask you something. Did he?"

Mika shook her head. "No,, I didn't see him at all. I guess I must have missed him." She shrugged, he wasn't even logged in. "I guess I'll have to ask him later about it. Anyway, do you guys have anything to sell?"

"Sorry, Mika, people just keep taking more items than we can restock." Silibus said, approaching them.

"Hey, it's ok. Speaking of which, there's something I have to tell you."

"Hey, you're not leaving the game, are you?" Gasbard asked, almost in tears.

"No, no." Mika didn't want to leave on a bad note, so she would just say what she had to say. "It's about . . . me."

"About you? Don't you think that's . . . well . . . you know . . ." Silibus began, unsure of what words to say.

"It's ok, I'm not gonna tell you that much. But it's important."

"Well, we have the time. We can close shop for a little while, cant we?" Silibus asked Gasbard, who nodded. "Then we can head to the back alley in the Mercenary."

They walked over to the Mercenary area, and past the NPC responsible for the PK quests, and sat at the edge of the path. Mika inhaled deeply, then began her story.

"I work for CC Corp, and one of my jobs is to examine what players like most. Originally, before I knew you guys, I figured I would set my character at a high level, and work as a hired PK. But then I met you guys, but I kept up my job, killing both PK and PKK, even normal players. But it wasn't right, so I thought I'd pay back a little by buying items form you guys and giving them to newbs, and helping them out. I just . . . dint want to tell you because I was afraid you guys would hate me, especially since you don't approve of PKs."

Both were silent for a moment, and Mika sighed sadly. I guess I will leave on a bad note then. She stood up, and began to leave, when the both of them hugged her.

"We're glad you decided to tell us." Silibus said when she looked at the two in shock.

"Yeah. Friends shouldn't hide secrets from each other!" Gasbard exclaimed.

"Man, you two are unpredictable." Mika sighed, and scratched her head.

"Oh yeah, we wanted to ask you something." Silibus said, when the three of them heard a 'ping'.

TO: Mika

So you know everything about Ovan, huh? Then we need to talk. I'll meet you in the same place that we talked before. Dark Painful Secret. I believe it's appropriate for the occasion. Bring with you whoever you'd like.

The message went untagged, but she knew who it was from. Her time was out. "Damn . . ." she whispered, trying to hold back tears. He was taunting her.

"Sorry, Silibus. But I gotta go, it's kinda urgent." She said apologetically.

"It's ok. It's kinda late anyway. We'll ask you tomorrow." They both logged out.

She slowly walked to the Dome area. The streets were pretty much empty now, most people would be asleep. As she opened the doors to the Chaos Gate, she noticed Kaoru standing in front of her.

"Where do you think you're going?" He asked teasingly.

"I'm going somewhere." She said, glaring at him.

"And where is somewhere?" He grinned.

They heard the door slam open behind them. "There you are, Mika!" Kuhn exclaimed. "I've been looking for you!"

"Are you going to talk to me about what you overheard?" She asked, her voice cold.

"Erk! You knew?" He asked, caught slightly off balance.

" I know everything about the game. It's that simple." Her voice was becoming colder, only because she wanted the two of them to go away.

"Mika, dammit! Where are you going? Why are you acting like this? Is this about what we talked about?" Kaoru asked, angry.

"Yeha, it is. After this point . . . I wont come back to the game."

"You wont, or you cant?"

" . . ." she paused, unsure of what she could say.

"Then don't go. You don't have to." Kuhn said.

"I do. If I don't, then he'll come after you, or everyone else. At least I'll be able to stall it." Tears began to fall freely down her cheeks. "I don't want you two to follow me, understand?" She turned quickly, and warped away.

"So she's really gonna do it . . ." Kaoru muttered.

"Will she ever be back?" Kuhn asked hopefully.

"I dunno. She never told me." He thought for a moment. "I'm gonna go after her. In case something happens."

"Let me come with you." Kuhn pleaded.

"No. If I don't come back in a day, call CC Corp. Ask for Refia, tell her you're a friend of mine, and she'll listen to you. Tell her what happened, and she'll do whatever she needs to."

Kuhn was silent for a moment. "Fine, I'll stay here."

Mika walked down the path that she had walked earlier in the day. In the room was Ovan, his irises red and the rest black, AIDA was completely in control of him.

"You didn't bring anyone with you." He said cooly.

"Don't you worry. I wont run. I know my fate." His arm extended, and shot something at her. But it only went through her, and she remained unfazed. It angered him.

"What makes you so different form the others?" He walked toward her. He stopped immediately, and a smile spread wide across his face.

Mika turned quickly, and saw Kaoru. "You idiot! I told you to stay behind!"

In the meantime Ovan inched closer, until he was only inches form her. "I know what will make you weaker. All I have to do is break you apart."

Mika stood silently, and dropped to her knees. "You . . . can't . . . not in front of . . ."

"I thought you knew your fate?" Ovan said, pleased. He grabbed her hair, and the room changed suddenly.

Instead of ancient halls, there now was a room. It was a simple room, one expected mostly of a teenager. In the middle was a computer, and across from it was a bed. A teenage boy walked into the room, behind him was Sara, perhaps ten years younger, and a girl who seemed to be the same age as the boy.

"Come on, Sara. You know you want to play again." He pried. "You too, Mina."

"But every time I do, something weird happens." Sara complained.

It was quickly obvious that he was inside of Mika's memories, but she was no where to be seen. Ovan appeared as a spirit, his hand on Mika's shoulder.

"You remember this, don't you Mika?" he asked. "When things began to change, am I right?"

She nodded numbly, it seemed like it wasn't her anymore.

They now appeared in the game, but it wasn't R:2, ti was the original. They were in one of the old dungeons, and Kaoru could only tell that it was Mika because her costume and her name were similar. By doing so he could tell who the others were. The boy's PC was Kenji, and the girls PC retained her original name.

"Which way should we go?" He asked Mika.

But Mina protested. "I just used a fairy's orb. That way's the treasure!!" She pointed in the direction that the map showed.

"Yeah, but Mika's normally right. So which way should we go?"

"We should leave." She said shyly. "There's something not right about this place."

"No way! We worked so hard to get down here, and now you're just going back? I cant believe this!" Mina yelled, and Mika hid behind Kenji.

"Sorry, but we should listen." Kenji said, and patted Mika's head. "She's gifted in this game."

Ovan smiled, he was already breaking Mika. It wouldn't be long before she was vulnerable. "What happened after that?"

"He broke up with Mina, she didn't like the fact that I was right. Whenever we left those dungeons like that, we heard stories that someone was put into a coma by a bug. It made her even angrier." Mika sighed. "Then she came back a few years later."

They were back into the room, Sara about 15, playing with the boy.

"Yoshi! Your girlfriend's over! I'm sending her up!" A mother's voice rang throughout the hallways, and the two took their headsets off.

"Damn." Yoshi said , "Why do the two of them think that we're together? Geez." He stood up out of his chair, ready to send the girl back.

"Is it my fault that you two aren't together anymore?" Sara asked, looking up at him.

"No. You know how my parents are. They would love to find a flaw in you, and hate you because they cant." HE sighed. "Not to mention that the girl I used to go out with is nuts."

The door slammed open, and Mina walked in. She held an arm behind her back.

"Tell, me Yoshi, why is it that you don't like me?" she asked.

"See?" he said, glancing at Sara, "I told you. Mina, I don't like you. You tried to find ways to torture Sara, and when you dint, you tried to get my parents involved."

"Do you love her more than me?" Mina asked.

"Well, duh." He said, smiling.

"No, please don't." Mika begged, large tears rolling down her cheeks. "Please . . ."

But Ovan only smiled, and the memory continued.

Mina pulled out a knife. "We could have been happy together. I know that your parents love me more than that demon child!"

Yoshi backed slowly. "No need to resort to violence. Nobody wants to die today."

"Oh, but I got permission from your parents. They'll cover it up, and all I have to do is take her out." Mina pointed her knife at Sara, and Sara got up quickly.

"Sara, run!!" Yoshi yelled, holding Mina back. Sara ran toward the door, but it was shut and locked, and there was no escape.

Mina broke free, and trapped Sara in a corner. Sara put her arms up in order to defend herself, her wrists out, not realizing that it made it easier for Mina. She slashed downward, and Sara closed her eyes.

But she wasn't hit, instead it was Yoshi. A large gash extended from above his left eyebrow down to mid cheek, and was bleeding profusely.

Sara quickly grabbed a blanket that was on the bed, and placed it on the wound. She cried, continuing to say, "Hold on, please hold on."

And as she said this, he kept saying, "I'm ok. It's just a little scratch."

His parents rushed into the room, and pushed Sara away. Mina was in shock, so the father took the knife and threatened Sara with it.

"It's all your fault, you bitch!" He growled, but Yoshi stopped him.

"It's your fault." He said coldly, but then passed out.

His father picked him out and carried him outside, but his mother stayed behind. "It is your fault. From now on, you are forbidden form seeing him, and we are leaving. You may keep the house." She grinned evilly, and left the room.

Mina had snapped out of it. "You got what you deserved."

The area turned back to normal, Ovan still stood behind Mika, who was crying.

"He became blind in his right eye, his life never to be normal again. And it was all your fault." Ovan said.

"I'm so sorry, Yoshi." Mika whispered over and over again. Ovan had accomplished his task. He grabbed out his blade, and let his arm loose. Before Kaoru could prevent it, she was on the floor, PKed.