By Sargent Snarky
Disclaimer: The only things I own are copies of the games, the anime and the manga of .hack… Oh, and I downloaded the trailer for the new game. And I stole Kite's hat. Otherwise, I own nothing in the way of .hack / franchise…
Kite: No 'heartening' quote this time?
Me: Nope. Couldn't think of one to fit…
Kite: Hmm… So… When are we getting to the part where –is cut off by my hand clamping over his mouth-
Me: Shush! Don't give it away…
Kite: -bites my hand-
Me: ow! -lets go- That hurt!
Kite: -makes face- Ick.. You taste like soap…
Me: Hello.. I just took a shower!
Kite: blech… so that's why it tastes familiar. Ew… I swear that's the same soap you shoved down my mouth when I called you a sadistic bitch.
Me: Same soap, different bar. And don't make me do it again.
Kite: -wrinkles nose- Dear god, no!
Me: -grins- Muahah! I have an effective way of threatening you!
Kite: x.x –sigh-
Piros: -wanders in, searching for someone- He of fair eyes! Hello? He of fair eyes!
Kite: O.O! -hides behind me-
Me: He's over here, Piros.
Piros: He of fair eyes! I request your assistance…
Kite: -whines to me- now look what you've done! Evil… you are EVIL!
Me: -shrugs-
Piros: -goes on about something or other-
Kite: -sends out a flash mail to someone- Oh please be online!
Piros: And so… He of fair eyes, will you accompany me to… -is cut off-
Sora: Boing! –has done the cutting off-
Piros: -falls dead on the ground-
Kite: -gives Sora a hug- Thank you! 3
Sora: … O.o Umm.. Could you let go?
Kite: - lets go – Uh.. sorry.. It's just…
Sora; -waves hand- whatever… Well, now we're even! So long! I'm off to go find and pester BT and Crim…
Kite: -waves- bye!
Me: He owed you a favor?
Kite: Yeah…
Me: For what?
Kite: Mm… For buying him ice cream..
Me: Wha-!
Tsukasa: Kite and I were in the park…
Me: -breaks in- doing what?
Kite: Studying for exams…
Me: Suuuure you were..
Tsukasa: We were! Anyway, we were in the park studying when Mimiru wandered by with this kid tagging along and pestering her. She saw us and got Sora to go bother us.. Soo… Kite came up with the bright idea of buying the little dork ice cream to bribe him into leaving us alone.
Me: Oh. But how does he owe you a favor?
Kite: Because he didn't leave us alone, and instead said he pay me back later…
Natsume: Hey! How come you've never gotten me any ice cream?
(me: what the? How does she keep appearing like that? )
Kite: Because… You don't live anywhere remotely near where I live.
Natsume: Well… Sora doesn't either.
Tsukasa: Actually, he does.
Natsume. -.- Shut up.
Piros: -has logged back in- He of Fair Eyes! There is a vicious player killer on the loose!
Kite: O.O! Gaaah! -runs away-
Me: Well… Sorry guys, but I really have to get back to writing up your story…
Natsume: Eh.. You just want to get away from Piros…
Me: Yeah.
Natsume: -clings- I'm coming with you! That guy is seriously gay… and he creeps me out!
Me: gah! Let go! -tries to pry Natsume off-
Tsukasa: -laughs-
Me: -glares at Tsukasa-
(Meanwhile, in the background, it is possible to see Kite desperately fleeing from Piros.)
Part III – Prisoner
( Third Person P.O.V. – Omega Server, The World )
The hacker paused beside Kite for a few tense seconds while the program finished loading. Then, she rested her staff upon Kite. Ah, that staff… A useful catalyst for other modulations and program uploads into The World. The rings upon it flickered, a physical sign that it was uploading, which Helba had built into the staff's own programming.
Helba, sitting in her personal 'Bat-cave' and looking at several monitors at once, noticed a sudden surge in data not of her making. While the program finished its uploading, she examined the charts, frowning in puzzlement. Her eyes happened to stray to the monitor still displaying Morganna's open message, and then those eyes widened in shock as she put two and two together.
"Oh, damn it," she hissed, both in her basement and in The World.
Blackrose turned to look at Helba, whose avatar had suddenly frozen, then cursed, and now stared at Kite with an expression of unpleasant surprise, anger, and horror. "What? What is it?" demanded Blackrose anxiously.
Helba seemed to snap back to herself, then. "She hasn't been trying to delete him."
"What?" asked Balmung, frowning. "Who?"
"Morganna… When the bracelet started to delete itself , Aura's protections kept him from being completely deleted, and therefore kept the data bug within him from being deleted," said Helba.
"So…?" prompted Blackrose when the hacker paused. "Isn't the data bug trying to delete him?"
Helba shook her head. "No. The data bug is a virus program run and controlled by Morganna herself."
Balmung gasped. "You don't mean…"
"I'm afraid so," she muttered, morosely. "And in just bolstering Aura's barriers, I have given the enemy the perfect tool with nearly impregnable armor. She must merely be trying to infect Kite's mind, now. It's only a matter of time…"
Understanding now, too, graced Blackrose, and she stared down at Kite. "You mean, he'll become like those weird data bug monsters?"
"Yes and no," said the hacker. "He'll become more like one of the phases, and every bit as dangerous. Perhaps, he may become even more so, for although he will be controlled by an AI, she will still have access to his intelligence."
"But… we have to be able to do something? Right?" queried Blackrose, desperate.
"Surely you built a back-gate into your program," said Balmung with more confidence than he felt.
Helba did not answer right away, for Kite moaned softly, stirring and twitching. His eyelids fluttered a few times, before settling once again closed. It was only once his ragged, shallow breathing had continued undisturbed for a minute that the hacker spoke.
"I did," she began, hesitantly. "In a way…"
"In a way?" Balmung arched an eyebrow. "You're a goddamn hacker, woman. Just enter the program and dismantle it."
Helba let out a hiss of annoyance. This showing of her feelings was most uncharacteristic of her, but – truth be told – she was rather fond of the persevering, warm-hearted 'little boy' that was Kite. And, she was quite worried about him at this moment.
She rounded upon Balmung, snapping, "Do you want to save Kite, or do you want to strand him and all the others in comas until they die?"
"I want to save Kite," said Balmung. "But, dismantling a program of protection around Kite ought to help in this situation, right?"
"If Morganna hadn't gone ahead and warped the barrier with which my program was intertwined, then yes! It would help," she replied, angrily. "But the way she's distorted the original programming has caused it to become as bound to and connected with Kite's data as that damn bracelet!"
"Then why not extract it?"
"Damn it! If you know so much about The World's bloody programming, then you go ahead and cleanse Kite of the data bug, and the warped programming."
Balmung had nothing to say to that. He looked properly chagrined, but at the same time petulant and unwilling to admit defeat. Blackrose released an exasperated sigh.
"Would you two knock it the hell off?" she enjoined. "Your arguing is getting us no where! Now then," she continued once the two were looking at her. "We need to find a way to save Kite." Her voice dropped. "We just have to." Tears blurred her garnet eyes as she looked back at the data flecked body of Kite.
( Kite's P.O.V. )
Sleeping. I am sleeping.
But in my slumber, a voice whispers gently to me, supplicating… but for what? And, why me? Why won't it leave me alone, and let me sleep?
I try to ignore this voice, but it only becomes more persistent. What does it want? I cannot hear it, and I wish that, if it was going to speak, it would talk louder.
I have no energy with which to ask this, but somehow it seems to read my mind. It speaks up, clearly as if the speaker was right next to me. No, all around me.
"As long as you walk by my side…"
It is a woman's voice. Familiar, but I do not remember it. It sends shivers down my spine, and I automatically associate pain and fear with that voice, though I do not remember why.
"I shall be your friend…"
I don't trust the voice. Not at all. But, why? She sounds nice. She sounds pleasant. However, I know, somehow, that she is anything but.
"And I shall guard you…"
From what?
"And I shall guide you…"
Guide me where? Why?
"Please let yourself walk with me…"
"Let yourself join me."
I wonder why my instinct screams not to trust her. She sounds so kind… like she'd really want to help. Yet, I cannot bring myself to accept her. I attempt to drag out the trace memories of this voice, but trying… it hurts. Why? Why does it hurt?
The voice beseeches me, again. Sluggishly, and with great effort – for I feel as though I have been bound tightly by something, encased in a thick gel with barely room to move even my lungs unless I press out upon it – I speak to the voice.
"No," I whisper, and my voice surprises me; it is the quavering, hoarse, barely there voice of one on death's edge. It is only now that I become aware of the breath rattling in my lungs.
"I will not join you," I continue after the pause. "I can not… I do not know why… But, you and I… are enemies…"
She seems somewhat taken aback, but I can feel her annoyance. Still, she continues in a soft, cajoling voice: "But we do not have to be. We can be friends, you and I, allies."
"Please just let me sleep."
I feel her irritation again, but with it is a strange glint of pleasure. Is she happy I am tired? Or, is it something else?
"I am not the one who stole your energy. But, I can give you new energy." She is dogged. "Then, your constant weariness would be no more."
I am very tempted to say yes just to get her to shut up, regardless of whether what she says is true. Something within me, however, revolts at that idea. And so, I wind up forcing myself to exert the effort to say, once again, "No."
Her tone grows harder as her exasperation begins to surface. "Are you so sure?"
I don't even bother to reply, but drift back into the darkness. Or, at least I try to. Her voice, now quite cold, brings me back.
"You dare refuse such a generous offer?"
I make a feeble grunt that sounds something like a 'yeah.'
Her anger and irritation makes whatever surrounds me all the thicker, and simply breathing becomes even more difficult. I wonder if she means to suffocate me with her malice. The way the substance thickens, this seems all too likely, though I'm pretty sure it isn't true.
"You fool!" she snaps, derisive and scornful. "Why deny me? I hold your life! I can restore you, or destroy you! And you dare refuse my generous offers of restoration in exchange for mutually beneficial service?"
Mustering the effort to confirm what she just said just isn't worth it. However, it is almost tempting to point out that if she holds my life, why didn't say that to begin with? But, my body is not up to the task of producing the words, and my mind is not up to the task of discerning her intents, whatever they are. All I know is that I do not wish to ally with her.
"Very well," she hisses. "You have been warned. When you plea for mercy, for a choice, for an end… remember that what follows is your own fault. Awake, O fool! Awake, and have not your rest! Have not your energy, nor your strength… You will do my bidding whether by your will or not."
My eyes are suddenly wide open, and I see the eight creatures around me. I become unbearably aware of my body as the feeling of the utter agony lacing my veins, my bones, my nerves, returns. Yet, I cannot cry out. My face twists into a silent scream of torment. Inside, I can feel things… changing… Something… entwining itself and spreading.
But, this is not all of it… The eight creatures are still there, staring with hungry expressions (the ones with faces anyway). I hear their silent laughter to see my suffering, their silent delight. The first one, Skeith, moves forward as the thing within me slows its burrowing. However, before Skeith can do whatever it's going to do, a rumbling fills the air, and the eight things seem irked, and disturbed. They quickly back away from me, turning towards one end of the island.
The pain disappears, but I cannot drop into peaceful oblivion, though I wish I could. Instead, I close my eyes, trying to block out everything, or at least everything around me. I succeed for a minute or two, but then some other will compels me to follow the gazes of the eight and see what rumbles. And what is it that sprouts in the distance? It's like a great bush or tree with endless branching roots, and a face like a skull. It's just… too hard to describe, but I somehow remember its name. Cubia.
Cubia makes an inarticulate cry, and blue lightening bursts from many of its branches, though I do not know why, or what it aims at. Me, perhaps? Since everything else seems to have a vendetta against me… And I vaguely remember fighting this creature.
But… no. The lightening never strikes me, though it thunders all around me. Is it… protecting me? No, it can't be! Is it protecting what's inside of me, then?
Tendrils of confusion permeate my thoughts… But then, a tendril of lightening strikes me… and the world around me fades to white… then black…
And then, I see a distant point of light. Somehow, I begin to move toward it… Reaching for the light… reaching for the surface…
( Third Person P.O.V. – Omega Server, The World )
Though, hours earlier when just Blackrose and Balmung had kept their vigil with Kite, the room had seemed large and bare, it now seemed crowded; many of Kite's friends had come to check on him, and to offer what help they could, even if it was only to offer support for other players. Not all of Kite's friends were there, due to one reason or another, but a fair number were present. Helba and Lios, too, were there, huddled with Wiseman, Piros, and Balmung in a corner next to where Kite lay.
The five of them were the most knowledgeable of the solemn group in terms of computer programming. Helba was among the best of the hackers. Lios was a system administrator for The World, and thus was required to have a decent grounding in manipulating the programming of this program. Wiseman knew the ins and outs of a great many things, including a theoretical understanding of an A.I., plus he had a contact list second only to Helba's and a good head for strategizing. Piros was a computer game programmer by trade, though he didn't work for the C.C. corporation. Balmung had an excellent knowledge of the mechanics of a computer and an understanding of programs and their make-up. The group was discussing how best to deal with the data corruption within Kite's data without permanently rendering Kite in a coma, yet still effectively freeing him and restoring old character data.
Meanwhile, Gardenia, and Moonstone stood next to each other, leaning against the wall. Both were silent, and comfortable with that silence. Elk was curled into a ball in a corner on the far side of the room from Kite, looking miserably depressed, confused, and agitated. Sanjuro, Nuke, and Rachel stood together in the middle of the room, talking in low voices. Marlo stood apart, glaring at Natsume as she attempted to make a little conversation with him; she tended to jabber when nervous, or worried.
Terajima Ryoko and Blackrose, however, both sat on the ground next to the cot-thing upon which Kite lay. Ryoko sat next to his feet, arms wrapped around her knees as she stared at him with a mournful expression. Blackrose sat next to his chest, her knees, too, pulled up to her own chest, but one hand holding Kite's limp hand. Neither girl said a thing, and neither seemed to show any animosity to the other now, though they were often unfriendly with each other. They were too worried about Kite to bother with their rivalry.
Suddenly, Kite stirred, and a very brief pause in the low murmuring noise occurred as a few turned to look at him. Most of the players expected for him to mutter something and return to his queer sleep. (He'd stirred several times already in the past hour, either saying something incoherent, or moaning softly.) Little did they know this time was different.
The twin blade's cerulean eyes flickered open, not glazed and unseeing, but weary, confused, and showing signs of actually seeing. Neither Blackrose nor Ryoko was able to say anything for a long moment. Instead, they just stared, torn between relief at his awakening and concern for the fact his body was still covered in data patches, and that he still seemed extremely weak, among other things. Kite's blue eyes stared at the ceiling for a moment before letting his eyes travel slowly around the room. They first settled upon Blackrose, meeting her garnet eyes staring at him.
For a moment, they were blank and did not seem to know her. Then, tentative recognition flickered within, and Kite's lips twitched in a half-hearted attempt at a smile. After a moment, the eyes roved elsewhere, the same cycle of puzzlement followed by at least more recognition, if not recollection, though he made no more tries at smiling. Still, great bewilderment remained in his eyes.
"Kite," said Blackrose once she trusted herself enough to speak. He didn't respond. "Kite!" she repeated. "What happened? How are you feeling?"
Kite shook his head weakly. He then made an attempt to sit up, but fell back upon the pallet with a slight groan. Elk looked up and saw Kite was awake. Moonstone, Gardenia, Marlo, and Natsume noticed, too. As Kite lifted a data patched hand to his head, Sanjuro, Nuke, and Rachel broke off their conversation. The other five were too deep in their discussion at the moment, and didn't notice just yet.
"Wh-where am I?" Kite asked, voice low and tremulous. His breath still rattled in his lungs, and he seemed to be striving to remember something. "Who…? Who am I?"
A/N
Not as long as the last chapter, but that seemed a good cut-off…
Thanks to Twilight for beta-ing and editing this chapter!
Well… I can't think of anything I really need to explain with this chapter that won't be explained later… Yeah I realize that there's a bit of inconsistency ( or at least I think there's some inconsistency) with the other chapters, but that's because I've changed my mind a little bit on a few things.
To mah Reviewers: First of all… wow! I never thought I'd get so many reviews in one go… You guys have made my day!
Shara: Maybe.. –shifty eyes- Hehe.. Umm… Well… For me, it's more that G.U. reminds me of my evil version of Kite in Fragments of a Shattered Mirror. Thanks!
AngelYoshi: Hehe… Wel.. Um.. Kite deserved it.. –shifty eyes- Well, I've never wanted to shove a bar of soap in my own older brother's mouth.. But I have wanted to shove one down the throat of some classmates… No, I don't mean to make this story particularly long in terms of chapter numbers, but I do intend to have long chapters. This chapter isn't as long… Kite: I did not deserve that! -spits out more soap bubbles-
Shiner: Thanks! Thanks a lot! I hope you like this chapter, too… Personally, I don't like this chapter much, but.. that's just me…
Demondog17: Yes! I have continued… Thanks! I don't intend to stop writing this until its finished…
Zero Tribal: Muahhaa.. Suspense! -cackle- Eh… Well… I hope you liked this chapter… Merph..
Ranma-tomoe: Glad I've intrigued so many people! Well, I'm keeping everything canon up until the battle with Macha, so… Tsukasa wouldn't still be stuck in the World. She would have logged out over six months previously… But Sora.. now, he'd still be in a coma…
Minako: I'm glad you like my story. You'll see what Kite is going to do... Muahahaha...