.HACKEVA

Author's notes: I REALLY need to update more often, don't I? Eh, I guess I'm just not a serious fic writer… well, I have an excuse… lots and lots of schoolwork! I haven't even been painting my 40k army up! Grrr….

Anyhoo, I'm too damn lazy to write a disclaimer, maybe I should kidnap my old muse again. That's what he is for, after all….

CHAPTER FIVE: REALITY IN A VIRTUAL WORLD

A light 'thump' signalled to Misato that at least one of her charges were home, and had dropped his or her bag on the floor. Judging by the lack of noise, she predicted that it was Shinji. Sure enough, a few seconds later the young man appeared in the doorway of her room.

"Hey Misato, have you got the results from our synch test from last week?"

Misato mentally slapped her forehead. Even though the threat of the angels had passed, the pilots were still required to perform synch tests once a month. And the results of the last one were sitting on her desk at NERV.

"Sorry Shinji, I kinda… forgot them. I'll have them tomorrow, promise!"

Shinji rolled his eyes, knowing full well it would be at least another week before he saw them. Not that he really cared that much, it was always Asuka who was eager to brag about her piloting abilities.

"Yeah, ok Misato. I think I'll go on the net for a while."

The Woman looked at Shinji's retreating form with a tinge of sadness. He had been spending most of his spare time playing that game, and Asuka was no different.

Why don't they spend any time with me anymore? Misato thought. We haven't done anything for months! This needs to change…

As Shadow appeared next to the Teriax gate, a set of red eyes regarded him.

"You are late."

The warrior blinked in surprise, and looked at his clock. 7:01.

"Hey, only by a minute." As soon as he made the excuse, he knew it really wouldn't matter what he said. This girl is just like Rei.

However, he grinned at her. "Stickler for deadlines, eh?"

The girl gave him a cool, unsettling stare. After an uncomfortable moment, he decided to try to break the ice.

"Ok, I'll make it up to you sometime. Now, you ready to go kill something?"

Blue Oni's eyebrows arched ever so slightly. Shadow again got the impression that This Wavemaster did not always need words to communicate. However, she graced him with a verbal answer.

"Of course. Do you have a specific dungeon in mind?"

After a moment of thought, he replied with the age-old answer that men have used since the dawn of time: "No, not really. Any suggestions?"

Blue Oni's eyes seemed to sparkle with barely-contained anticipation.

"Perhaps a dungeon in the Fire Wastes area?"

Shadow grinned. This Wavemaster certainly was not afraid to battle difficult monsters. But then again, neither was he.

"After you, madam." He indicated the swirling incandescence of the gate behind him.

As the two players warped away, their destination was noted by a figure sitting on the edge of the fountain in the main square of Teriax.

In a darkened room on the outskirts of Tokyo 3, a computer screen threw a silhouette of a person against the opposite wall. Over the man's eyes, a set of virtual-reality goggles hid his identity as he typed furiously at the keyboard in front of him. As if the jumbled lines of computer code were a map showing the location of a treasure chest, he smiled.

The sharp hiss of a blade being drawn was the only indication to Blue Oni that the warrior across the room from her was ready. As if by a predetermined interval, they both attacked their opponent at once. A blast of icy cold air took the serpentine wyrm off guard, and moments later two small bolts smashed into its chest. Recovering from its surprise, the small dragon-class creature let loose a stream of fire at what seemed to be the weaker target, only for a shield of energy to block it. Another bolt impacted on the monsters hide, followed by an expertly wielded blade, decapitating it. As the Wyrm faded to nothing, Blue Oni turned to her companion.

"Why did you wait to use your power slash attack? It would have destroyed the target without needing to waste your crossbow bolts."

Shadow had his permanent grin still in place. "Just wanted to test you out, Wavemaster."

Blue Oni narrowed her eyes slightly. "Then it would have been easier for you just to challenge me to a dual." She brought up her staff into a fighting poise.

Shadow chuckled. "No, no point in that. This is supposed to be just a social trip, and I'm not much of a power gamer anyway."

The blue-robed woman did not look impressed. Shadow just rolled his eyes at her.

"Relax, Blue. Or would you prefer me to call you Oni?"

She smiled lightly at his constant humour. "Blue would be fine, Shadow."

Shadow looked troubled. "I never said you could call me that, Blue."

A look of confusion blanketed her face "But you do not have a second name…"

Shadow laughed again. "I'm kidding, Blue. You need to get out more."

Author's notes: MWAHAHA! Don't you just love suspense? Who are these hackers, and who is interested in the movements of our heroes? (Note: term 'heroes' used loosely.)

These questions may (or may not) be answered in the next chapter! (means that I am 'winging the entire story).