Chapter 9: Children of Chiron

On the next day James and I meet again at the arena. Doug and Elvira aren't with us because they're out to gain some scores. That reminds me, "Hey James how many scores do you have?"

"Over 300,000."

"Shit do you just go out and kill Gaminators everyday?!"

"Well you have to understand Mark. In Game Over Prison you have no choice but to fight to survive. It's great that Necro was able to set our weapons to send the Gaminators back home, but before everyone including me was uncomfortable killing each other until we had to get it through our heads we don't have a choice. Hell some of them find it great to kill one another."

"So I've noticed."

"Anyway you're ready?"

"Yeah."

We geared up and summon our weapons. "Remember you have to defeat me to prove you can handle yourself."

"Right."

Once he attack first my training began.

... (Doug's Narrative)

Elvira and I were looking around the game arenas to see which ones we can enter. We never liked fighting on our own. So we're always looking for games that include tag teams. Also for some reason Dean feels much more comfortable when he's fighting with her too. I wonder if those two have a special connection or something?

"Hey we've haven't tried this one yet!" said Elvira excitedly as she point at the name on the list of gaming arenas. I've read the name out loud, "Gravity Battle?"

"Yeah, this one takes place in space! We can pretty much float around while fighting the other players. Come on they only allow four teams to play, let's hurry!"

She grabbed my hand as we rushed to sign up. Once we got in it didn't took long to have the game to start. We geared up, summon our weapons, and took our place. Just when I was getting pumped up to fight, Dean was waking up. I said to him in my mind, "Oh no come on Dean. Let me have this battle."

"What happens if you just hesitate?" he asked.

"I'll won't! So step off!"

"... Tell you what. Let's work together in this battle. This will probably help us trust each other more."

"How am I sure you won't just take over?"

"Because I have a feeling Elvira will have a word with me."

I looked at her quite shock to hear him say that. I said to him, "I thought you weren't afraid of anything? Isn't that why you took the name as the Apathetic Critic?"

"I choose who and what to care about. Elvira sure left a big impact on the both of us when she first came into our lives. Hell can you believe that I nearly almost killed her once just so I can protect you?"

"That's right. That's was when you thought she was a Virus trying to capture us. Now look at us, fighting alongside with her."

She noticed us looking at her as she asked, "Doing okay, Doug? Huh?" I guess she finally saw our eyes. It's weird, I remember one time Dean and I were talking to each other while in the bathroom. I looked at the mirror and saw that our eye colors were mixed. It gave off that aqua green kind of glow. If I'm right, this is the first time she's seen us awake together.

I smiled at her as I said, "Yeah, we're doing fine."

"..." she just smiled and laugh as she said, "About time you two get along. Now let's go kick some ass!"

"GAMINATORS GEAR UP!" shouted the announcer as the arena finally changed into a space setting with all these platforms floating around us. Once the countdown started, we were ready to get into the fight.

... (Necro's Narrative)

I walked along the maze's walls of the passing. I looked at each name of who we've set free, and who we were too late to save. I come by here often to keep reminding myself that even though we came here to save them. I know we can't save them all. Every now and then I have to face the fact no matter how hard I try. I can't bring everyone back from the dead.

"I think you're just trying too hard." said my Virus-Self, Macabre, "Just because you were known back in the good ole days to save people on the verge on death. Doesn't mean you have the power to save anyone. So what, not like any of these Gaminators matter. They have no problem killing each other."

"They're forced to battle each other to live, Macabre. When it comes down to survival everyone show's their true colors."

"So what's the problem? You've set the weapons to just release them from the Matrix."

"Because It's easy to hack into weapons that are designed for prisoners only. I know that once Brooke's birthday arrives, they will be executed by Ryan's army of the Virus society."

"Ahhh I get it."

Suddenly I came across my path a woman with long purple and blue hair. I looked at her uniform and see that she belongs to the Enigma Letha Division. She was standing in front of a particular name plate of the maze's wall. Wait, she looks awfully familiar. I walked up to her and see tears softly crawling down her cheeks. She looked at me and said while wiping her tears away, "Can I help you?"

"Are you crying for the dead?" I asked.

"A friend of mine died yesterday. Are you here to visit someone you lost too?"

"... No one here is close to me. I come here to give my condolences. What's your name?"

"Tiff, yours?"

"I'm Necro. Wait, now I remember you."

"Well lookie here!" said a blonde male walking towards us with two others. They're from the Flamel Shona Division. "Two fine looking women just waiting to be loved."

"Keep walking." I said.

"Oh don't be like that baby. We just want to have some fun don't you know how to have fun?"

"If you don't back away kindly I will have no problem terminating you three."

"What?! At you serious bitch?"

"You should be grateful I'm giving you choice."

"It sounds more like a challenge."

He hit his gem to gear up and summon up a sword.

"IHasCupQuake." I said to Tiff, "Please take cover and let me handle this." I didn't bother to gear up nor summon my weapon. I'm going to teach these youngsters a lesson.

... (Brooke's Narrative)

While I was designing the decorations for the huge room I've set up. Albert decided to visit me. He smiled cheerfully as he said, "Hello, Brooke. Need any assistance?"

"Define assistance?" I said.

"Oh come now, are you still sore I had to bring you back into Standby."

"Well you could've eased up. It's not everyday I have a hand go right through my stomach."

"You didn't give me much of a choice. You didn't make it easy."

"No shit. I was this close to gain Mark's Chiron Code. This fucking close you jackass!"

I throw a chair at him and he simply caught it as he place it back down. "If you'd had given me a few minutes I've would've have more power than Necro and Ryan combined."

"Is power all you want?" He walked closer to me as he place a hand on my left shoulder and the other hand gently placed on my right cheek, "Isn't there something else?"

"Please, we both know what you want. I'm nobody's puppet."

I shrug him off as I continue to work on my decorations. "Well there's that, but I was thinking more as an assistant."

I couldn't help but chuckle lightly at the thought. "I get it," I said, "You're from Gotham right? You want me to be Harley to your Joker? Your Riddle to your Riddler?"

"Harley is intelligent but blinded by love which does lowers her IQ. Now Riddle, she's really quite the treat. I would love to see what makes her tic, as much as you."

He suddenly summon his twin swords. "Are you challenging me, Albert?"

"Of course."

"(Sigh), How annoying."

The moment I summon up my own dual swords our blades collide creating vicious sparks.

... (Mark's Narrative)

I dodge James's attack and block a bullet with my sword. He performed a ability to fire thousands of red bullets at once. There's no way to glitch, but my Chiron ability kicked in to create a barrier to protect me. "Nice try!" James said as he swung his weapon which conjure up a large red blade that broke through my barrier. I Glitch to get out of harm's way.

I Glitch again to get close so I can attack. He countered it as he flip me over and slam my head against the ground. It took me a moment to get back up but only because I had to get out of the way from being hit again. When he attack with his gun-blade I blocked it and finally hit him with a headbutt. I didn't give him a chance to recover as I continued to hit him with my fist and the hilt of my sword. Just because this is a fight we can't just draw blood from each other.

When I toss in a kick he blocked it and hit me in the face with his elbow. When I felt like I was going to fall something caught me. I looked behind me but no one was there. That's odd, it felt like someone actually catch me from falling. Was it just all in my head?

All of a sudden when James attack me again I've picked up the speed to swept him off the ground. I lunge my sword at him but I made it stop at his throat. Once we both catch our breaths I asked him, "So, have I won?"

"Alright, alright," He said as he gave in, "You've actually gotten better than yesterday." I helped him up and he asked me, "So where did all that strength come from? Did your Chiron code just finally kicked in?"

"I guess. I really don't know what came over me."

"Well let's take a break. You wanna meet up with Doug and Elvira?"

"Yeah. Maybe they'll get a kick out of it that I've beaten you."

"Oh whatever. You've only won because of the Chiron Code."

We deactivate our armor and let our weapons disappear so we can rest for a minute.

... (Doug's Narrative)

I dodge from the attack of a huge hammer the male Ventus Tempesta wields. He was wickedly fast to dodge my bullets as I tried to keep up with him so I can avoid getting hit by his hammer. He spin it around his body and extend the hammer at full speed to hit me. I jumped up to land on another platform to dodge it. I fired my bullets at him from the upside down angle. He got one in the shoulder but his partner from the Aqua Scylla Division arrive in time to block the rest with his razor sharp shield.

"DAMMIT HENRY! YOU COULDN'T COME IN SOONER?!" Shouted the hammer wielder.

"WELL EXCUSE ME FOR SAVING YOUR LIFE!" said Henry as he throw his shield at me.

It was coming so fast I couldn't dodge or block it, but thankfully my partner Elvira jumped in time to send it back straight at them. The Ventus Tempesta actually used his own partner as a shield so Henry could die by his own weapon. I know he'll wake up back in reality, but that's just beyond cruel of his partner. They were suppose to work together!

"Then make him pay!" said Dean.

I launch myself at him and fired my rounds. He got a few in the chest once Henry turned into code so he won't used him as a shield anymore. I then kicked him down and put a bullet into his head.

"LOOK OUT!" Shouted Elvira as she grab me and jump to get us out of harm's way. It was a magic attack sent by an Enigma Letha female. Once he landed onto another platform Elvira explained the plan, "I'm going to attack first to get her attention on me. Then you come in to finish her off, got it?"

"Got it."

She launched herself at her and performed attack magic. "LIGHTNING STRAIN!" she shouted as she swung her spear which conjure up a huge sharp wave of lightning. When the Enigma Letha tried to block it with her scepter that created a purple barrier, it was my cue to deliver the finishing move.

Elvira's magic attack broke through the barrier, and when I needed a boost Elvira grab my hand to throw me at her. I shot the scepter out of her hand and pulled the trigger when the gun was against her forehead. What I didn't see coming was a male Flamel Shona coming straight at me with his sword. Neither Dean nor I had the time to react quickly enough to dodge. Until all of a sudden someone pushed me out of the way.

When I turn back to see that it might've been Elvira that done it, but no one was even there. The Flamel Shona strike at nothing. "The fuck just happened?" said Dean.

"You're asking me?!" I said.

Finally the game was over was Elvira finished the Flamel Shona off. Once we were on ground level again I've felt a little sick. All that jumping and floating around in space kind of took it out of me. "Whoa, Doug!" said Elvira as she help me from falling to the ground, "Are you okay?"

"I feel a little dizzy. I didn't think fighting in space would be fun but nauseating at the same time."

"Well come on let's collect our Scores then you can rest."

We did just that as we sat down inside a cafe restaurant. She got me some water so I can re-hydrate. She asked me, "Are you sure you're feeling okay? You look like you've experienced something freaky."

"I think I have, Elvira. I thought I was done for when I couldn't get away from that Flamel Shona guy. But something pushed me out of the way."

"What? Come on, you're high."

"I'm serious, Elvira! Something pushed me so I wouldn't get killed!"

"Alright, calm down. I believe you man. Whatever it was I'm grateful for it because you're not hurt. Or else I wouldn't get to do this."

All of a sudden she gave me a noogie. "Elvira! come on knock it off!"

"I won't until you say it!"

"Say what?!"

"Don't say it." said Dean... Is this a thing these two share?

"Come on Dean, say it!"

"Never!" said Dean.

"Say I am your best friend in the world!"

"I'll never say it!"

"What on earth are you two doing?" said James who just arrive with Mark.

"James please get her to let go." I begged.

"Tch, alright alright." said Elvira as she finally let go, "So who won?

"I did finally." said Mark, "So where's Necro?"

"She's probably back in the Aqua Scylla Division. She'll probably turn up soon."

... (Necro's Narrative)

His other two friends were knocked out, but I left the Flamel Shona standing while paralyzed. "Sucks doesn't it?" I said, "Being so weak and can't do a thing to protect yourself and others. Can't help but try to get stronger but you know it's almost impossible. It's hard and it get's to the point where you're driven insane... I know the feeling, young man. But your problem is that you have no respect whatsoever. You don't care who get's hurt or who dies. So let me show you what death feels like for all those poor souls you've killed."

I place my hands upon his head, and gave him a taste what death feels like. I showed him what dying alone feels like. How someone can die in extreme pain, quickly and slow. I even showed him the beauty of death. To have someone there to comfort you until you draw your last breath. Even though the Flamel Shona began to cry I couldn't leave out the most horrific deaths.

Suddenly I stopped when I've felt a hand placed on my shoulder. I look to see who but there was no one by me. I completely forgotten that IHasCupQuake was still here. "Please stop." she said. I didn't realize I was scaring her. I let the boy go from his paralyzed state as he drop to his knees and continue to cry.

"Let's go then." I said, "I can walk you back to your Division."

... (Brooke's Narrative)

"SHADOW WING!" A black wing sprouted from my back as it attack Albert. He tried to block it with his twin swords but my wing broke through cut him across the torso and sending him crashing into a wall. "Had enough?" I said.

When his black blood was flowing out of his wound it suddenly took life and went after me. I tried blocking it with my wing but it wrapped itself around it and yank me towards him. "Idiot." I switch my sword to hit his gem with the hilt. I said, "You know that move would've killed you right?"

"I know." he said, "But then I wouldn't be able to do this."

He grabbed the back of my head and kiss me. Shock by this action I let my wing disappear and push myself away from him. "What the hell man?!" I said as I wipe my lips.

"Aww, I was loving that wing." he said while laughing, "It really suits your name, RavenHollow."

"Uh huh, so what the hell are you? I've never seen a Hybrid Virus control his own blood before."

"That's because he has a substitute version of the Chiron Code I created." said Vanitas as he entered the room, "I'm guessing you two are getting along?"

"Hilarious. Why on earth did you create a substitute version of the Chiron Code?"

"You know perfectly well what The Organization is capable of. Once we obtain the power of Egypt you don't think the other societies won't try to terminate us? That's why Albert here is one of my most successful host for the Shezmu Code. Others who tried to merge with it died but his code was stable. Soon I need to find more capable Viruses to handle the Shezmu Code."

"Well that makes sense why he's able to control his blood." Since Shezmu is an Egyptian god that drinks blood.

"By the way have you felt that spike going on in the Matrix?"

"Spike? What are you talking about?"

"Something has been interacting with our sacrifices. I couldn't trace what it was since it only pop up a few times like a blip."

"Could it be the Glitches?"

"Maybe but I'm not too sure. I want you to do me a favor. You already know Mark don't you?"

"Of course, until you had him stop me from obtaining his Chiron Code."

"There's a reason why I had to stop you."

He toss me a black and red flash drive as I caught it in my hand. "A Puppet Code?" I said.

"Trust me, you'll like where I'm going with this. See it has the entertainment for the party."

Well this should be good. "So wait, you're allowing me to see Mark?"

"Yes, I'm allowing you to do whatever you want with him. Just make sure you inject the flash drive into his system."

"Ookie dookie."

I walked out to be on my merry way to Markiplier.