Author Comment: I want to thanks FollowerOfAnhamirak for giving some of his times to check this chapters for any mistakes. I greatly appreciate his help and I hope the story is more enjoyable.


Code Yellow Accepted.

Codemasters moving from Passive to Active actions in Perim.

Objective: -Figure out why a creature reached Chaotic.

-Assure the safety of the Chaotic Players, if they still come.

-Usage of violence is only acceptable if the creatures attack first.

-Protect the heart of Chaotic at all cost.

Note: Any player coded in Chaotic will have their code restored if they wish so.

-Report in any evolution of the situation when it occurs to the Administrators.


Chapter 27: Negotiation And Investigation

The Mipedian king waited for the negotiation to begin. He knew the first thing he needed to do was explain that the children weren't hostages. What with everything that happened in such a short amount of time, he couldn't blame them for that assumption but he needed to diffuse the situation quickly. Those armed pieces of battlegear could act at the slightest provocation.

The four teenagers were nervous. They wondered what would happen next.

"How could the Telebracers even bring him here?" Kaz whispered quietly to the others.

"I don't know. It can't do that. It shouldn't do that." Tom replied quietly.

"I never saw any battlegear that could pull that off." Peyton said.

"It would need coordinates first and there are none for Chaotic." Sarah added.

"I can hear you." said Theb-Saar gently, causing them to gasp, "As I said, I'll explain everything later," Theb-Saar arms crossed when he saw the next guest, "and that includes your friends. Just stay long enough and you will figure it out."

The Codemaster came. He wore a white robe with a blue collar and a long mask of the same color as his robe covering his face, the blue parts of the mask marking his eyes and mouth. His voice was measured and direct as he spoke, "I came here to negotiate the safety of the children."

"As I said, they are not hostages." The king politely replied as his face turned as blank as the mask of the Codemaster.

"Codemaster Crellan." Tom whispered.

"So, your name is Codemaster Crellan?" The blue humanoid reptile said calmly.

"Indeed Theb-Saar. However, from what I'm seeing, you are holding those children hostages. They haven't left yet." He replied sharply. Crellan observed their gaze nervously. It wasn't just at the creature they gazed, but also the defense system of Chaotic.

"Appearance often hides what is going on at first sight."

"Enough with your bullshit Theb-Saar!" A Codemaster yelled through the mic interrupting the both of them.

"Hotekk! Stay away from the mic and let Crellan handle this!" they heard the sound of something dropping before the mic was turned off.

Crellan sighed as he put his hand on his forehead.

"I see your colleagues are listening." the creature said with a small smirk on his face, "That must be your Mudeenu, am I correct?"

"Indeed." Glancing at the children again Codemaster Crellan said "I do notice the children are nervous with our weaponry right now, and I think perhaps it would be better to conduct negotiations without them." He raised his head in one of the weapons direction and ordered, "Lower the weapons Hotekk. We won't need them for now."

After a few seconds, the gatling guns on the machine disappeared and hands replaced them.

"Tom. Take your friends and evacuate." Ordered Codemaster Crellan.

"Peyton, if you and your friends want to know what's going on, just go over there," interjected Theb-Saar, pointing at another table, "It's better to see it for yourself than asking me about it later."

"Do not listen to him. You have to evacuate now." The Codemaster said tersely.

The four players stood up and talked to each other, debating what they should do.

"You can't be considering that option!" The Codemaster snapped, trying to convince them to leave. It was too dangerous for them to remain with things as they were. Who knew if any more hostile creatures would arrive. He couldn't let them get coded when he could do anything about it. Yet, despite that, he had no power to force them to do anything.

Instead of leaving, the humans walked towards the table and hesitated before sitting down on the chairs and settling to watch from a safe distance.

His blue eyes shined brightly at the Mipedian, "You-." He stopped himself and calmed down, he couldn't let his emotions take over during such a delicate situation.

"They would ask questions later on anyway. Letting them stay is better than risking them ask other creatures who might attack them, if they ask it the wrong way." He thought about it, "Or push the others tribes to react and come here faster."

The Codemaster nodded, he had to agree with that, "Let's move the negotiation to something else then, as they aren't hostages."

"Agreed."

"First of all, I want to know why you even wanted to come here. Chaotic has nothing to offer that could satisfy you. If it is battlegear," said Codemaster Crellan, beginning by attempting to dissuade any possible interest of Theb-Saar's in weaponry, gesturing at the machines, "Those only functions here. You cannot transport them elsewhere. Also, the only who ones who can control them are out of your reach."

"Chaotic itself isn't that interesting in my eyes. However, there is one thing that makes it far more important than anything else." The king replied.

"What is it?" Crellan was prepared for anything the king might throw at him.

"It is the place that will allow creatures to reach the goal of all the tribes. Chaotic is but a way station to reach it. The world where the humans come from. The Cothica."

"This place won't lead you to the Cothica." Replied Codemaster Crellan, stunned.

Theb-Saar let out a confident smile, "On the contrary, we found enough interesting artifacts saying otherwise that showed us the way. Tablets telling us about the Messenger of the Cothica, a human from your world that brought salvation to Perim more than 2,000 solans ago."

The answer made Crellan shut his mouth. He observed the king desperately for a hint of a lie. Anything on the king's scales, in his eyes or the tail to help him see some point to argue. There was no opening to counter the creature however. Saying no wasn't a good enough answer. Behind his mask his face paled as he drew up blank. He had no idea how to counter something based on belief. Not only that, it seemed that the creature had already made some research that supported it.

The blue creature changed the subject, "If you fear an invasion of Chaotic, know that I only have one set of Telebracers with this location… for now."

"Impossible," said Crellan, shaking his head, "your battlegear isn't capable of bringing any creatures from Perim to Chaotic. We already made sure of it."

"This one has been improved and can bring me here. We've tested it already a few times. We had no problems despite a few minor incidents." The Mipedian revealed.

As the two continued their discussion, the group of Chaotic players watching them thought back to the few incidents they witnessed in the past. The strange bumping or tripping that shouldn't happen….there had been an invisible Mipedian they realised.

Codemaster Crellan made sure to remember that. The only possible way that any creature could enter this place would be if something from Chaotic had ended up in the hands of a creature. They all would have to look into the human known as the Messenger of the Cothica. Glancing at Tom he also realized he had to figure out how the Telebracers had brought a creature here as well as other things he couldn't think right now.

"No matter what you say Crellan, my tribe will be the one to reach the Cothica first. Even now the other tribes are also trying to come here you know." warned Theb-Saar.

Crellan had so much more to say, but there was nothing he could do and yet he couldn't give up right now.


Watching the situation silently, Codemaster Imthor, a tall man wearing a silver robe, golden gauntlets and a helmet of the same color with spikes on it, frowned. He saw the problem for what it was when Theb-Saar had revealed why he came here. It would only be a matter of time till more creatures came here.

They had to figure out how he did it. His green eyes went to the other Codemasters, "I'll begin the investigation right now."

"Of what?" Hotekk asked.

"How Theb-Saar came here, because others will come. You know the other tribes have spies everywhere. They might figure out he used the Telebracers to reach Chaotic." He replied as he let Hotekk think over the situation.

"That was obvious Hotekk." another Codemaster commented dismissively.

"I wanted to know, so I won't be in the way," the Codemaster in question replied seriously as he gazed at the others, "because all of this might be the end of us if we can't stop this."

The others nodded quietly as they observed the negotiation.


Imthor was already reviewing the footage of everything the robots and the micro cameras recorded in Chaotic. It was the only lead they had. He hoped that there was a clue as to how this had happened.

Those records weren't accessible until now. The respect of the player's privacy was important. Some Codemasters like Hotekk might have used it to counter play the other players, which would have been totally unfair. As such those records only became available in case of emergency when a Code Yellow was activated. In such an event though they obtained the power to ignore the privacy of the players for a greater cause.

He focused on the four Chaotic Players still present, sitting at a table and listening to the negotiation. Theb-Saar had wanted them to stay and there might be a reason for that.

Those four had probably gone into uncharted territory and caused this mess. The problem was to find when and how. He needed proof and recordings before confronting them. They wouldn't spill the beans if they believed they would be in trouble. They had broken no laws or the Codemasters would have been aware of it.

Searching he found a promising piece of footage. It was when Kazdan showed the cards of the previous generation of Chaotic game. It wasn't criminal, but those cards had caught their interest. He also found a few pieces of footage where Tom Major talked about almost being captured by the M'arrillians and brought up that they believed they came from the Cothica.

"So, they aren't responsible, from what I'm seeing." Codemaster Imthor commented. He shouldn't take that as face value though as he studied more of the recorded files involving them.

As he found more and more details about it, the more he noticed their interest in Kaizeph, wondering about who the Messenger of the Cothica was. Those questions accumulated when Kazdan's mother entered into the picture and told them that she knew who he was. It then was shown she had convinced him to become a Chaotic Player to help give them answers.

Imthor gasped when the man, known as the Messenger of the Cothica appeared. He told them some explanations in private. He frowned as he realised that this man might be the source of everything. Even so, it didn't make sense that he came to Perim before he was a player. There was nothing about it. He had just recently arrived here So many questions were on his mind and there were many answers he needed to get.

He decided to confront the teenagers right now, "I have to find out about Alexandre Desjardins and this mess he caused." Said Imthor, speeding up his pacing, going straight to the Port Court.

When he entered, the negotiation continued, but he ignored those and went straight to the four teenagers. He stopped near them, glaring, and ordered, "I have many questions to ask you right now and you will answer me. It's an emergency and I won't allow any lies!" As he spoke he gazed at Crellan and nodded.

"W-what is it Codemaster Imthor? W-we didn't cause this." Kaz replied nervously, rubbing his hands.

"I know, but you know the man who made this mess. Alexandre Desjardins. The man is a friend of your mother's, right?"

"Y-yeah."

"How do you know that?" Asked Sarah, her face suspicious.

"That isn't important. I suspect that this man is the cause of this problem and I have to know what you did with him. I know you went to Kaizeph yesterday. Tell me what happened there." Imthor ordered.

"You are spying on us!" Yelled out Sarah in outrage, eyes blazing.

"I did so to figure out how a creature came to Chaotic. We only have authorization to see those files when we face a possible invasion of Perim! Now, do you want more of them to come here or not?" The Codemaster had little patience for anything standing in his way of answers.

Kaz gulped, and said nervously, "We s-should probably tell him everything."

His best friend nodded and looked at Sarah, "We'll ask about this another time."

"Now's not the time Sarah. Imthor ain't in a good mood." Peyton told her.

Sarah sighed and crossed her arms, "We've been spied all along." She said, looking as if searching for cameras, and sighed.

With that the group proceeded to tell him everything that had happened in Kaizeph and what was going on in Perim that might be linked to it.

As they told Codemaster Imthor everything Sarahl thought more about it and put two and two together. "That's why Theb-Saar was friendly with you Peyton!" exclaimed Sarah, making realisation strike the others.

Peyton wondered if it was the case, as he gazed at the blue Mipedian, "And why the Danian queen…?"

"I forgot about that." Sarah sighed.

"What do you mean?" Imthor asked as he crossed his arms. They had to explain and the Codemaster frowned, "They were planning this for a while." Remarked Imthor as he nodded when Tom brought up speaking with Maxxor.

When the Chaotic Players began to speak about Alexandre with, they hesitated.

"He might be the source of it. You have to answer me now." Said Codemaster Imthor.

"We-" Kaz said, but hesitated. He said nothing and instead looked at his friends. What was the best decision? He looked at his best friend, wondering what to do.

Peyton suggested, "Guys. We should spill it. I don't want Chaotic to be over forever."

That convinced them. If the creatures came here, then it would mean that they were interested in taking control of Chaotic or more.

Kaz remembered his nightmare and decided he did not want that to come true, "Yeah."

"Codemaster. Alexandre did nothing wrong. We know as much as he told us and the tablets the creatures and he left behind." Tom said as he looked into the Codemaster green eyes, "He didn't tell them how to come to Chaotic."

"I know. There were no alerts about him saying any secrets." Admitted Imthor.

"Then I have to explain the rest." Said a voice behind them. Turning around again they saw Alexandre walking to stand near the Codemaster.

"Alexandre!" the four of them exclaimed.

The man looked at the Mipedian and then at Codemaster Imthor, "I guess it's about why Theb-Saar is here?"

"Indeed. I want to know everything you did since you came here." Demanded Imthor.

"When I obtained my code or when I went to Kaizeph?" Asked Alexandre bluntly.

"W-what?" Codemaster Imthor replied. He didn't understand what's going on.

The man played with his gray hair as he thought how to explain his first time, "I went to Perim during the first Generation of the card game, when I was a teenager, two decades ago. It was by accident of course."

"There weren't any scanners or codes back then. Chaotic is only a few years old." Codemaster Imthor pointed out.

"I didn't have a code back then. I was reported as missing." Alexandre began to explain to the best of his ability.


The others were listening to him as he told Imthor his story.

"How is that possible? We have no records of such a thing!" Grunted Hotekk in disbelief.

"Then this incident must have been isolated and never reported to the authorities. If they don't know about it, we wouldn't either." A Codemaster replied.

"We have to send this to the administrators right now!"

"Alexandre Desjardins. His father is the one whose theories focus on the existence of other worlds. Though he couldn't have known about Perim then."

"He is the one who made those discoveries in Antarctica."

"And that man invented the scanners for the experience. Though the original has been destroyed by Alexandre it seems."

"None of this explained how they managed to come here."

"Because he has nothing to do with that part. Imthor is certain of this. I believe he just gave the creatures the motivation. Once they got interested in the humans, they were asking the questions about where they came from. With what they found in Kaizeph… the answer they came up with was the Cothica."

"No one knows what the Cothica is." Snapped Hotekk.

"We have to convince them that Earth isn't the Cothica."

"Theb-Saar is convinced it is the case and that Chaotic us just the halfway point."

"We need to figure out many things, for the safety of us all."

"So many things."


With everything Imthor learned, he concluded that it was the combination of many factors that pushed the Mipedians to try and reach Chaotic, "Once things calm down, you will follow me to the other Codemasters."

"Okay." Alexandre replied.

"You're not going to ban him are you?" Tom asked defensively.

"No. We need to collect as much information as possible on the matter if we want to know how to deal with it." Codemaster Imthor replied honestly.

That reassured them.

The Codemaster reached a conclusion then. They all had to focus all of their attention on the Telebracers. Alexandre Desjardins was only the motivation that pushed them to come here. According to Tom Majors, it was only a matter of time. Everything was happening so fast.

It was too late to try and figure out how to change the sight of a Chaotic Player getting coded. They had to know how a Telebracer worked to bring a creature in Chaotic.

Codemaster Crellan and Theb-Saar were concluding their long negotiations.

"So, you agree on these terms?" Crellan asked, showing signs of exhaustion in his voice.

"I have no problem with these terms," the blue Mipedian concluded, also showing some signs of exhaustion.

The two came towards the group.

"What happened?" Sarah wondered.

"Messenger Of The Cothica. It is an honor to finally meet you," the king nodded at the man.

Alexandre sighed, "Just call me Alexandre and I'm not the Messenger Of The Cothica. I told your ancestors that."

"Still being modest, as our ancestors spoke about you." Theb-Saar chuckled.

He rolled his eyes and said nothing else. He did have a small smile of amusement.

"How did it go?" Imthor asked the other one.

"As best as I possibly could." Codemaster Crellan gazed at the players, "I will officially put everything on the scanners of every Chaotic Players once he is gone, but an arrangement has been made with the Mipedians."

"What is it?" Kaz asked before the others.

"Any creatures who come to Chaotic are strictly forbidden to fight or injure anyone here. That includes the other tribes if they come here. As the first," said Theb-Saar, letting out a small grin while his red eyes shined a little brighter, "I spoke in the name of all Perim."

They knew he obviously took advantage of that.

"So, it is safe for anyone to continue their day to day life… even if it will be permanently disturbed. Once the other tribes come, the number of creatures of each tribe must be either equal in number or just having one more than the others. As for the Mipedians, they are forbidden to turn invisible in Chaotic and Danians to try and use a parasite on anyone. That is the short version of course." The Codemaster added.

It felt like the negotiation favored the side of the creatures, mostly.

"The few invisibles that came before me were just testing the Telebracers, which have the coordinates to Chaotic. It was also a reconnaissance before I decided to show myself." Theb-Saar explained. He bowed to the group, "Now that everything has been concluded and written." He showed a piece of paper with the official signatures of the Codemaster and the Mipedian King, "I shall leave. Expect another Mipedian to pay a visit tomorrow."

Sarah stood up, "Wait!" she ordered.

The creature turned around and saw the accusatory eyes of the female human. He wondered if he wronged her somehow.

"With everything going on. We have to know why you became friends with Peyton!" she spoke in the name of her friends who agreed. Peyton made no comment when she asked with an accusing tone, "Was it just so you can reach the 'Cothica'? Because-."

"Rest assured. It isn't the main reason. Just another one that brought attention to my friend sooner rather than later." The blue lizard smiled, "Peyton has a great reputation among my tribe."

That didn't convince her at all.

"We can talk more later on Peyton. I know I said I'll answer everything, but the Codemaster wants me to leave sooner rather than later." Said Theb-Saar as walked away and crossed his battlegear.

"Hey!"

The creature teleported outside of Chaotic.

"Come with me Alexandre Desjardins."

"Sure" Alexandre followed the Codemaster.

Crellan came to them and said, "You should port out for today. This must have tired all of you."

"Y-yeah." Sarah admitted.

"That was a lot." Agreed Tom.

The others nodded and they went to port out.

The Codemaster said, "Do not talk about this to anyone. We might ask you more questions since you know as much as Alexandre. And do not forget, we are here to make sure you are all safe. Even if we have to keep a close eye on anyone from now on."

"Thanks Codemaster Crellan." Tom replied.

"One last thing. Expect your government to keep an eye on you, as you are friends with Alexandre." He concluded before the humans ported out.


On Earth, Kaz and his best friend were eating their lunch together at the cafeteria as they talked about their tests. Suddenly, their scanner beeped.

"Already?" The black-haired boy wondered suspiciously.

He did the same and when he got the memories of his Code. He looked at his friend quietly.

"What the hell is going on?" he asked.

They then got a message on their scanner, telling them the new rules in Chaotic, how it happened and what to expect from now on.

"I don't like this Tom. It's going to happen like my nightmare." Kaz whispered.

Tom nodded negatively, "They can't just reach the Earth… Right?"

The two were uncertain and wondered if they should port in tomorrow.


AC: This is the end of this chapter.

Next: The Empty Port Court.

The presence of a creature made humans uneasy to come back. Many didn't port in and those did were under the gaze of Mudeenu.

Tom and his friends wondered what should their next action be.