.hack//Morganna's Revenge
By Helbaworshipper
Chapter 6
S Server Zone: Trapped Betrayed Nothingness (Inside Cubia)
Everybody stared at the large, white opening in front of them. It was hard to decide whether or not to pass through. Would it lead to another trap? Would it lead to the exit, or perhaps even a powerful beast? In the end, walking through to the unknown was the only option, so they strolled along, hoping that it wasn't a trap. BlackRose was the first to realize they had walked into more trouble.
"Kite, we are back where we started!" She yelled, alerting the eyes to see a bright ball of fire heading into them. The megeiddo flame attack, one of Cubia's abilities. It was then, at that moment that Helba made her dramatic appearance, wasting no time in critiscizing them all before warping.
L Server Zone: Pulsating Worst Core (Net Slum)
"Thanks a lot Helba." BT sighed in defeat. She knew that she owed the hacker for that narrow escape. It was Helba that didn't look very happy. It was as if something was on her ever-calculating mind.
"It would seem that Aura has brought you all a gift." She directed their eyes to a structure she had just created. It wasn't very complex, but it did the job. Subaru was the first to enter the building, searching for their prize. The building contained one room only, where two beds resided. One laid a wavemaster she didn't recognize. The blue robes and the red accents were confusing to her. The next figure caused her eyes to water..
"Tsukasa!" She ran, embracing the boy, who was not ready for that kind of impact. Tsukasa had only awaken minutes ago. "What happened to you?" Everyone else appeared to be watching.
"Elk! Wake up!" Kite was shaking his body haphazardly, being held back a little by BlackRose. She couldn't couldn't really tell him to stop, considering that she had done the same thing yesterday. The sky was beginning to darken outside.
"For right now, those who log out from here should rest. I believe that there will be no way to know what happened, until I further my investigation. So, for all of you who still have other business elsewhere, finish it and then go to rest.
In the real world...
Hospital signs, with red blinkers flashed on and off in the distance as she made her way accross the parking lot. The visits to this hospital had become less daily. She knew that if she did not make the much-needed trip, it would be something she would regret. She would feel as if she were abandoning her friend. Elk's player had already been sent to the ER with a high fever, which was one reason she was there. Her mandatory hospital slippers patted on the floor as she strolled down the halls. She stopped at one door and, before she turned the knob, she gazed through the window first, sighing. She saw the burning red face of the unconscious young boy. Elk's player had a fever of over one-hundred and five degrees, and it had been cotinuous. The doctors were able to get it down to 100, but there was no more they could do."This will be hard to get done, especially with one person."
She sighed again and continued down the hall, turning towards a different room. This time, she hesitated, but opened the door slowly. A woman, close to the age of thirty, was lying on a hospital bed, hooked to machines that were hooked to bigger ones. Piles of gifts sorrounded the room, unopened from months and months ago. "Tania..." Her voice faltered, placing a hand on the young woman's. "Where are you? I promise, I'll find you..." She sat down in the chair beside the bed, placing the gifts people from the office had sent her, and place more in the croweded corner. "I promise you'll wake up again."
The next morning, L Server Zone: Pulsating Worst Core (Net Slum)
Hours had passed since the event that happened, everyone had assembled, more later than the chosen time. Tsukasa had logged in first, sitting beside the bed that Elk was on. Arriving last, was the notorious hacker, Helba. She merey gave her associates the same excuse that the queen of England would use. A queen is never late, nor is she early. Everyone merely arrives early. "I see that it is I who is late." Helba laughed, chuckling in the usual demeanor. She sat, hovered in the air somewhat apart from everyone else. This morning, she seemed rather off. Today, of all days. Why was she so down? Nobody knew. "Elk's condition hasn't changed, but it seems she planned that."
"What do you mean? What happened to him!?" Tsukasa's dim face molded into that of a terrified one. Was Elk just tired? Could it be worse than we had thought?
"The dagger. The one that was plunged into young Elk's spine was something of a link. She had conjured it in hopes to subdue him. Her attempts were tragically successful. I'm afraid that if you pull out that thin blade, it will not be enough to revive him. The only way, I have surmised, that we can assure his recovery is, to destroy the source of the dagger."
"Elk is... In a co--?" Kirte tuned at the dreadful though, and looked down. Please, do not make my assumptions true.
"To our advantage, she has not made him one of the lost ones. Yet. I believe that if we are prompt, then that sort of situation can be easilly avoided."
D Server Zone: Sleeping Child's Fate
"My plan will soon take full fruition. Tsukasa is lost, but what do I care? To be defeated, I have to be found, and Tsukasa will do that much for me. I will reset the area I'm located to as well. Let's go back to the beginning." A young woman, clad in robes, dormantly sat on a tree stump, gazing blankly up into the nigth's sky.
L Server Zone: Pulsating Worst Core (Net Slum)
Tsukasa still sat beside Elk. He was thinking of what he could have done to stop this horrible fate. "Morganna. I promise you'll pay for what you did to Elk." He then stood up, going to where the others were waiting. The others were all gathered into a circle, conversing through one another, each giving ideas on what the next phaes of the strategy would be.
"Are you ready, Tsukasa?" Subaru looked at him, a calm look on her face. He nodded, about to warp out with everyone else, when a light began to glow brightly. The beautiful, silky-pale face rose once more from the land of white. He purple dress waved in slow motion as she hovered above the players.
"Wait and heed my words." Her eyes were fixated on Kite as she spoke, her face full of determination. "The light causes a shadow to appear. In order to kill that shadow, the light must also be destroyed." Kite didn't look like he comprehended what she was saying, but she knew it would serve him well. She then floated away, disappearing in a flash of red flame. Perhaps she was still there, hiding maybe?
wvw
Aura cingerly clutched the dagger, which had moved to Elk's side during her intervention. It was halfway lodged. Had it plunged any further, he would surely become one of the lost ones. She tried to pull the blade but, despite her efforts, it would not dislodge. She felt powerless now, and let her hands fall. She turned to the only person left, who was apparently watching her. Aura's mind was racing with sorrow. She gazed into the red visor of the Queen of the Dark. "Helba."
"Aura? What are you thinking?" She was monitering as much as she could. She didn't wish to bail her comrades out of another narrow escape. Just because of their weakness, did not mean that they had to rely on her.
"If his mind were open, I could save him and let the dagger slide right out by itself. However, his mind was closed manually from the its affect. He must now open it himself."
"Little Girl, you know so much, yet you are so very frail. You can do so little with that power. I am sure that, because of your inability to do so, he will find his way out sooner than you think."
D Server Zone: Mysterious Sleeping Deathtrap
Gating in from all corners of the area, the chosen ones arrived. They were freshly stocked, healthy, and angry. Tsukasa glared at Cubia, who was now in a more vulnerable state. They hesitated, but began attacking the core with physical and magical attacks. The wavemasters stuck to healing, while the others vigorously assaulted the large beast. This battle was far from over.