Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon or .Hack n.n!
Me: -Avoids clubs from angry people- Okay, well, I'm back! With my first chapter since uh... November... oh... my... -Throws arms down in defeat- I'm soorrrrrryyyy!
Shane: ... You're so cruel! Forgetting about lil' ol' me...
Me: Shut it. In any case, this story is second on my list of priorities at the moment, because I want to finish my Fruits Basket fiction first, as soon as possible. Then I'll finish this one (hopefully), then, I'm hoping to either finish my Naruto one or start a S-Cry-Ed fanfiction. Gee... how exciting, eh?
But, seriously, I'm sorry for not updating sooner. If I HAD to use an excuse, it would probably that I got stuck on what to do at Viridian Forest... (I always do...), so I put it off, then I put it off again, then I finally got around to writing it, then I put it off (half way done) again... but now it's finished! It's not very long, but I'm trying to add the tension o.o;
Also, I didn't use any new characters this chapter, because it was hard enough to write as it is... but the next few characters that I add in will have pleasant surprises n.n! -Shifty eyes at Balmung-
Balmung: ... Why're you looking at me?
Me: Anywho, enjoy this chapter!
Balmung: HEY! WHAT'D I MISS!
Chapter Seven: Unwanted Encounter
"Give you report, Balmung of the Azure Sky." The CC Corporation boomed, causing a certain silver haired player to jump.
Balmung turned slowly, looking in the direction that the voice was coming from. "My report… heh… well… were you wanting it on paper or…?"
"Do not play games with us, Balmung of the Azure Sky. We want your report now."
"Alright, alright." Balmung muttered, now plucking feathers from his wings, "The virus is completely oblivious to its role in this whole project, and has teamed up with – as far as I know – two other people, a boy and a girl. There are, however, two characters that worry me. My old assistant, Kai, and his partner Uen, are both administrators in the game. Needless-to-say, Kai picked us up almost instantly. I'm sure that Uen's just along for the ride."
"… That traitor." The CC Corp. said after a small silence, "We need to shut them down as well. Stay quiet for a while, Balmung of the Azure Sky – we'll jump at them when they least expect it."
Balmung sighed. And here I thought I might get a chance to play The World…
Maybe and Tomar walked in silence, ignoring the chatter that Danny and Shane were cooking up, most of it laughter as they told each other what they'd done at school the past few days that had been funny, and talking about all their school friends. Of course, Tomar had no interest in school, either that or he didn't go, he'd never tell them which. Maybe was just her usual self. Today, however, she turned to look at Tomar, considered him for a minute, and tugged on the base of his shirt.
Tomar grunted and looked down. "Yeah?"
"I hate you."
Maybe then ran to the middle of Danny and Shane, grabbing the base of Shane's shirt, leaving Tomar completely bewildered.
"Look! I can see Pewter!" Shane called, stepping up out of Viridian Forest, and pointing towards the tower of buildings that were just visible over the hill. "But it looks like we have to hike this first…"
"Oh well." Danny said, smiling happily, and tugging at Shane's arm to follow her. All four of them walked in that direction, but only Maybe noticed the blue haired figure in the furthest tree.
Now, now… The figure thought, a small smirk appearing on his face, We can't have you going there…
"Kyaaaa! Danny! Look out!" Shane screamed, pushing Danny out of the way of a randomly misplaced Fire-blast. "Oh my… god…"
All eyes turned towards where a huge bird, made entirely of fire, was hovering downwards, further and further toward the ground. Tomar swore, Maybe clung tighter to Shane, and Danny looked like she was about to cry. Shane was equally terrified.
"T-That's a Moltres!" Danny realised, scrambling to her feet, and dashing in the direction where there was undergrowth, the other three hastily followed.
But, it appeared that the Moltres wasn't going to give up so easily. It flew behind them, sending all different kinds of Fire Attacks in their direction, sending them further and further back into the forest – that was until Shane tripped over a root, and noticed a large grey building.
It was a huge rectangular building, a slate grey in colour, with a few broken windows and a single door. Weeds grew uncontrollably around the base, and it had a rather creepy feel to it. However, the four weren't too concerned about that at that very moment. Shane dashed forward, wrenched open the door – he was too terrified to be surprised that it was unlocked – and the others followed, slamming the door behind them.
Nobody noticed when the Moltres shattered into a billion pieces of data, and when the figure leapt from a tree surrounding the building and into one of the broken windows.
"This place sure is creepy…" Shane muttered, fumbling around in the dark for a light switch. He found it, but only after tripping over roots that had grown in the floor. "It's times like this I'm glad that this is virtual reality…"
The lights flickered on, sending a buzzing sound through the entire building. Shane identified it as ventilation. Still, the light illuminated the large one roomed building, which had computers from one end to the next, all worn and none of them turned on.
"Do you think it's been abandoned?" Danny asked, Shane shrugged. Tomar and Maybe didn't say anything, however, Maybe felt less than safe.
"It's really creepy, isn't it?" Danny continued, moving back towards Tomar. Seeing as he was a moderator, he would probably be the safest bet.
They all jumped when what sounded like a trash can fell over in the far corner, and moved closer together as a group when they heard a loud; "Spheeee!"
"I-I'm going to go see what it is." Shane gulped, moving slowly in that direction, jumping back a bit when he noticed the shadow looming from under the meshed can.
"Spheee!"
"Ack!" Shane jumped back again, before moving the trashcan from whatever it was. "… Eh?"
A Spheal, yes you heard me right, had gotten itself trapped under the trashcan. It blinked, and looked towards Shane, then rolled in his direction, knocking him flat and nuzzling his chin in what Shane thought of as thanks.
"Why would a Spheal be around here?" Danny asked, looking at Tomar.
"It's probably a bug."
"Well, thanks for that in…" She was about to say 'info', but it wasn't Tomar who had spoken. He was looking towards a familiar blue haired man, who had leant against the stairs. Danny identified him as Uen, but it appeared he'd had a… personality make over?
Uen smiled all-to-sweetly, brushing the spare pieces of data away from his trousers. "Welcome to the Bug Extermination building."
"Bug… extermination… what?" Shane stuttered, stepping backwards slowly. Uen simply arched his eyebrows.
"I told you. Bug Extermination Building. It's where bugs -" he paused, looking at Maybe, "- are monitored until teams can be dispatched to get rid of them from our system."
Shane was about to continue, but Danny spoke up. "Well then, why isn't anybody here?"
"That's simple." Uen replied, moving closer, "It's Sunday. No human being would work on a Sunday."
"… Then why are you here?"
Uen grinned, now only inches away from Danny's face, "Because I'm playing the game today. But, just because I'm playing doesn't mean I have lost my administrating privileges. So, in short, the bug staff are around, you just don't notice them. Other people, like for example… that bored traitor over there," Uen pointed at Tomar who rounded back at Uen with a glare, "work on Sunday's because they have school to attend during the week. But, putting that aside, I believe that bugs need to be eradicated, don't you?"
Shane blinked, grabbing the Spheal into a hug – which was harder than it looked – and backed further away from Uen. "It didn't do anything to you!"
"But, my dear Pokemon Virtual user; that is a bug. Bugs have no use on the system!"
The group paused; there eyes following Uen's hand movement, as he reached into his shorts, pulling out a sharp object…
The group turned and ran, as fast as their feet could carry them – Tomar being the one who yanked open the door.
Everybody was far to terrified to notice that it wasn't the Spheal that Uen was aiming at, nor did they notice that the single kunai that Uen threw narrowly flew past the back of Maybe's head.
"… Damn. I missed."
"Few…" Shane sighed, slumping down in the grass under a tree, the furthest away that their feet would carry them – or rather, Maybe's feet. She was small, after all.
"Looks like we got away." Danny breathed, sinking down next to Shane, "I'm glad."
"Yeah." Shane agreed, before looking around, "You okay Maybe?"
Maybe nodded silently, looking around the area quietly.
Shane held the Spheal up above his head, looking at it, as it looked at him. "Hrm…"
"What're you thinking about?" Danny asked quietly, tilting her head back.
"I've decided!" He shouted finally, ignoring the sudden jolt of energy from the Spheal, "I'm going to catch this Spheal!"
"…"
So, one handedly – and ignoring Danny's surprised look – Shane rummaged through his bag and pulled out a single Pokeball. "I doubt it'll be this easy, but here it goes…" and he tapped the Spheal with the ball.
The Spheal went inside of the Pokeball with a blinding light, before it squirmed around on Shane's hand for a moment before falling silent. "… Wow… That Spheal really is a bug… Oh well… Look! Danny! I did it!"
"Yay!" Danny cheered.
"Look, Maybe!" Shane grinned, shoving the Pokeball in front of Maybe's face.
"…"
He then proceeded to shove the Pokeball into Eevee's face as well, before turning to look for Tomar. "Tomar – look! Huh?"
Both he and Danny paused. Tomar wasn't there. There was a long silence before Shane asked; "Hey… where did Tomar go?"
"Huh? What do you mean?" Tomar screamed into his Pokegear, storming down the path heading back to where the Bug Extermination Building was located. "I don't want to help Kai and Uen!"