.HACK/EVA
Well, I said I might do it, and here I am. Actually, I have just finished chapter 4 of 'And They Shall Know No Fear', so I'm right in the writing mood! Now there's a point. Does anyone write huge amounts in a short amount of time and then do nothing for a while (like me), or are most people steadier?
Anyway, on with the show, ladies and gentlemen (And Muses. My old one didn't really fit into either category…)
CHAPTER SIX: IT'S A GOOD DAY TO DIE
Shadow quietly slid another clip of crossbow bolts into place and flicked the arming lever. Satisfied, he clipped the weapon to his belt, and continued down the dungeon. Neither he nor his companion had said a word in five minutes; Blue Oni seemed to be more comfortable with silence.
Nevertheless, he tried to break the ice a little. "Having fun, Blue?"
"This is most enjoyable, Shadow. I enjoy your company."
"Would you like to do this more often?"
As the Wavemaster considered this, Shadow hoped he hadn't pushed the point too far.
"Yes, I would."
Grinning, Shadow opened his mouth, but was halted by a sound behind them. He whirled, grabbing his repeater crossbow-pistol and training it down the corridor.
Nothing.
Another sound, this time closer. It had a slight ringing quality to it, much like metal striking stone. Silently flattening himself against a pillar, he looked over at his companion. She too was in hiding across the hallway, her staff at the ready.
'Clink' this time, the sound was right next to them. Twisting away from his hiding place, Shadow found himself aiming straight at another player. Worse yet, it was a player he remembered.
"Well met, warrior." The sweetness in the spear-woman's voice was laced with venom.
Keeping his weapon trained on her, Shadow took a few steps back slowly, to put him further out of reach.
"What do you want?"
Smirking, she raised her weapon in a fighting stance. "My treasure."
"Well, sorry, but I don't have it anymore."
She glared, but the young woman obviously had learned her lesson from last time, and kept her eye on the weapon pointed at her.
"Then whatever you sold it for, give me the money!"
"Sorry again," continued Shadow, trying to hide the mirth in his voice, "I gave it away."
"You… You did WHAT?" her voice was incredulous. "You gave away a Mithril rod? Do you know how much they are worth?"
Shadow simply smiled and shrugged. "Oh, money isn't all that important to me."
"Is this what you are looking for?"
Shadow looked over his shoulder at Blue Oni. She had walked out of her hiding place, and help the Mithril rod up before her. "Shadow gave it to me as a token of friendship. So if you want it," she said, still in a monotone, "You'll need to take it from my dead body." Raising her staff in a battle position, she stood firm in the middle of the corridor.
Shadow stepped aside. This was a personal challenge, so he could not interfere. The redhead stalked towards the Wavemaster.
"In that case….DIE!" she screamed, lunging at he opponent. As the point of her weapon arced towards her opponent's heart, she felt triumphant.
Until the Wavemaster completely disappeared.
The spear continued on its course, taking her off-balance. Before she could recover, a blast of energy hit her from behind, and sent her sprawling across the flagstones.
Rolling to her feet, she looked for her opponent. All she could see was the slightly surprised warrior standing a short distance away. Spinning several times on the spot, there was no evidence of the Wavemaster.
"WHERE ARE YOU?" she screamed, the sound echoing off the stone walls.
"Here." A soft voice said, right behind her, right before a bolt of lightning tore through her chest.
As the body fell to the ground, Blue Oni heard the sound of clapping. Shadow walked over, a wide grin plastered on his face.
"Nicely done."
"I am drained." She admitted, reaching into her cloak for an energy potion. Uncorking it and imbibing the pale blue liquid, she straightened her cloak and continued down the corridor.
"We should be close to the treasure."
Smiling ruefully, Shadow took one last look at the corpse before it faded, and hurried to catch up.
Striding down the corridor, Azrael stared resolutely towards his prize. This, perhaps, was the reason he did not notice the black-clad shape leaning against the wall until it spoke.
"You're late."
The tall Wavemaster frowned at the younger player. While the twinblade was good, there was no doubt about it; his hacking skills were sub-par when compared to Azrael's own.
"I was held up. System administration has been looking at me more closely than they should. You wouldn't have anything to do with that would you, Aida?"
The younger player growled. The older hacker was more thorough than he had expected.
"How did you know my other identity, Azrael?"
The Wavemaster chuckled.
"When you get to my age, there are two kinds of people in the industry of collecting information: those who look properly and cover their tracks, and those who get caught. I am in the former category."
"Well, use my web-name, Azrael. I don't use your real name."
"Probably because you don't know it."
The younger man's eyes narrowed. He hated working with the old Wavemaster, but it was necessary. Azrael was possibly the only hacker in the world he knew of that had the ability, and the willingness, to pull off the job they needed to do.
"Anyway, Lets get this over and done with, before the Crimson Knights decide to break up this little party."
Azrael simply laughed. "I wouldn't worry about them, Darkbane. This whole map is warded to deal with they, or anyone else for that matter, should those pesky lapdogs of the administration decide to try and stop us."
Walking to the centre of the room, he planted his staff in the centre of the room, and closed his eyes. Lines of code sprung from the outstretched fingers of his other hand, spiralling downwards. Where they touched the earth, flashes of light illuminated pulsed, illuminating the dark chamber.
Darkbane watched on in awe as the Wavemaster unleashed the full force of his magic, warping the very fabric of the world. The entire room was awash with power, so much that the young hacker had to back into the corridor leading out, quickly implementing a shield hack. Even so, the primal fury of the magical power battered at his defences, bolts of energy powerful enough to flay any normal character exploding on his shield.
As sudden as it had started, the storm of raw power stilled, the chamber plunging into darkness once more. Hesitantly creeping forward, Darkbane saw the Azrael lying on the floor, his crimson robes splayed out around him like some cruel parody of an angel's wings.
As he approached, the Wavemaster stirred, and slowly pulled himself up. Clenched in his hand was a golden amulet, a small green gem set in its centre.
"Is that…"? Darkbane cautiously began.
"Yeah, that's it. The Charm of Time."
The younger hacker grinned. "One part down, one to go."
Azrael nodded. "I've done my part, all you need to do is find the other piece. I couldn't unlock the Rod of Light to any particular location, but I've tracked it to somewhere in Teriax city. Trust me, it will be well guarded, as the wards of protection were too difficult for even myself to break."
Darkbane nodded. "I'll start looking tomorrow night."
With that, the two hackers disappeared, leaving the vault quiet and dark.
"So, next time tomorrow, Blue?"
Blue Oni nodded at her new friend, and smiled slightly. "Yes, I would enjoy that, Shadow."
As the warrior started towards the gate, he distinctly heard her say "And do not be late next time, Shadow."
Turning and laughing, he waved, and logged out.
Woot! And there we are, folks! Another small chapter, I know, but I'm not a big chapter writer. I'll try and get his posted ASAP, at the same time as 'And They Shall Know No Fear' (now why couldn't have I chosen a shorter name? Oh well!), so everyone can enjoy a new chapter for both of my stories at the same time!