Yes! Chapter 4! Awsome-ness, cause it's finally done. Again, sorry for the massive delay on the posting of these chapters, but come on. Look at their size, and besides that, I still have all these activities going on as said in my profile. (Yes, this includes school. College waits for no one). Oh, and I'll say it right now: Yes, I took the idea of the ISL from BlastosX4. It was actually somewhat similar to what I had originally planned, but his just works entirely well all around. I elaborated on a few points for my own sake, but it is still entirely his idea. Thanks to you Blastos for inadvertantly helping! (Again, I might add...)
Chapter 4- The Beginning of a Journey
Grey Fox now was looking at the woman secretary of the hunter's guild, the one who had sent for Sheik and him alike. Sheik and Grey Fox were supposed to be training for battle, and in fact were on their way to do so when they both received an urgent message. It instructed them both to come to the hunter's guild as soon as possible, which they did.
"Hello sirs. I see you received the message we sent. I am glad. Now then, being as you're hunters, a client by the name of Zidd has asked us to have hunters partake in a mission for him. I've reviewed both of your guild video, and I was hoping you might go. "
At that time a holographic computer screen came up after her typing in a few keys. It listed the client's name, Zidd, the quest, and the reward. The quest area stated from him said "Please find a hunter and bring him back. He went down to Ragol for a quest."
"I realize that you have little actual combat experience, but there is another that will aid you. He will be teaching you how to handle yourselves should you accept. Do you?" finished the secretary.
Sheik grinned, and Grey Fox would've, at her saying "little actual combat experience." But none the less, Grey Fox thought this may turn out better than his original plan. This way he would be able to see what was really going on sooner than he had anticipated. He nodded, and then Sheik did too.
"Wonderful. Then please wait, while we notify the client of your acceptance." she said, and then started typing away again.
Sheik and Grey Fox both moved over to the center area where the structure was, anticipating a long wait. However, it was only a few seconds later when a man appeared. The man was dressed in bright orange pants, with blue boots. The boots had a purple strip going across the top of them. He wore a purple vest, two blue straps going down the sides near his shoulders. Underneath the vest was a long sleeved white shirt. Around his wrists were purple and blue bands. On his somewhat aged head was an orange cap, a purple band going around it from his forehead. His look was somewhat of a man in his forties, yet he conveyed somewhat of worry, though he tried to stay looking as formal as possible.
"Are you Sheik and Grey Fox?" They both nodded, and he continued, "I'm Zidd. I asked a young hunger, Ash, to do some research on Ragol. He's supposed to be done with the job by now but he hasn't returned. Perhaps he got himself into some trouble...So I want to ask you to go to Ragol and rescue him. Not by yourself. Please go with that hunter over there. First of all, can you bring him here? I'll talk to you later."
Sheik and Grey Fox turned around, and saw past the small column in the center the hunter that Zidd was talking about. He was about the same height as Grey Fox, and looked strikingly similar, save where Grey Fox was red, the other was purple, his Section I.D. marker was a blue color, and he seemed by far a more battle scarred veteran, having a much duller luster than Grey Fox, and even a few small dents and scratches. Sheik recognized him to be the one who had been speaking to the hunters before the test. The android turned to view Sheik and Grey Fox both, his eyes looking between them.
"Are you Sheik and Grey Fox?" he said with a bit of hesitation before continuing, "Hmm...It's the first time I've had a partner, much less two. Zidd asked me to do this job first. Unexpectedly, he told me I'd have to work with someone else, much less two...I had to say YES, as he is my client...So then, shall we be going?"
The android stepped in between the two, moving over to Zidd without even really giving them or the mission a second thought. Grey Fox and Sheik both stood there, unsure whether to follow or not. But figuring it best to not keep them waiting, they stepped forward, and lined up next to Kireek in front of Zidd, who spoke again.
"Hello again Grey Fox, Sheik. He's Kireek, your third team member for the mission. He's a HUcast much like yourself Grey Fox. He's a pro. Perhaps you can learn a lot from him. Kireek, I know you're unhappy, but I need two hunters for this. The guild requested that I use your abilities to train a couple of hunters. Sorry, but it is a good idea with your skills. Anyhow, one of you has to retrieve the data disk that I asked Ash to get. Another is to help Ash if he is injured. Other than what the hunter's guild requested, this has nothing to do with business. This is my personal agenda, so I feel safer if there are more working on it too. Ash is my cousin. I don't want to lose him. Please understand."
Kireek stayed silent for a few moments, most likely debating what he was to do with working with two other hunters. Obviously he was in opposition to it. Both Sheik and Grey Fox knew it.
Finally, Kireek said, "I have no choice."
Sheik had already left during this time and moved to where the teleporter. The massive door was much of what someone would think to see in a cargo area, as it looked large enough to fit a tank through. A golden yellow color on the bottom and a slightly green metallic color on the top, the door slid upward into a larger upper section, which then receded into the ceiling of the teleporter room. In front of Sheik sat a large circular platform encircled by blue half-walls. The teleporter was much like that of the Hunter's Guild's, save on a much larger scale.
The footsteps of Grey Fox and Kireek soon followed behind him, and without looking back, Sheik calmly stepped into the teleporter, and soon followed Grey Fox and Sheik. With it's activation, the three began their journey on Ragol.
The three phased into a world of lush vegetation and peace. The teleporter had taken them to a small enclave in what was the residential district of Pioneer 1. Small wall of rock raised around them with grasses and mosses growing rather well, likely fed by the small stream that flowed gently down the right side of the enclave. A few small plants and ferns grew on the ground to, one in particular that looked to be filled with some sort of liquid, and had a couple of luminous insects floating above it. Truly it was a prime example of tranquility.
Sheik's mag gave off a beep, of which he knew to be confusion, and agreed, "I know. Where is everyone? There are no signs of anything happening here at all, other than those small lamps in the wall and a couple of crates. No buildings, no bodies...nothing."
Both Kireek and Fox turned to give Sheik an odd look, "Talking to your shoulder-floater Sheik?" Fox said a bit sarcastically.
"This 'shoulder-floater' is more intelligent than you give them credit for Fox. Try to treat yours kindly, and it will do the same to you. You may yet come to find it a truly worthy partner."
"Ehem," Kireek interrupted, "If we can continue please?"
Sheik nodded and started forward down the obvious path. It yet again showed that people had been here, but were not now. If that was not enough to convince Sheik, the laser fence they ran into next was. In much of the fashion of the teleporters, there was an area near the bottom that seemed to energize the beams to start and flow upward toward the top of the two poles. Currently the color was blue, and from Sheik remembered, that ment it was unlocked. Sheik stepped forward into the room and gave a look around. This room was far more open and circular, with several ferns and such growing. To their right again was a small stream, likely the one that fed the one they had seen at the entrance.
What caught Sheik's eye however was the large figures around the room, which Sheik's targeting reticle told him to be Boomas. Sharp claws decorated tan-furred feet and hands, which extended up the muscular limbs to about halfway. There, it turned a dark brown color through the rest of it's body. A large head took up a good percentage of it's body and came out to the front almost in a point, a proportional mouth filled with teeth to match. Pink eyes turned to look at the new intruders, and they let out a roar.
Kireek spoke up as all of them readied their weapons, Sheik a rifle, Fox a Saber, and Kireek a large scythe, of which glowed an purple color on the blade, "Here come the wild animals of Ragol. Attack when you get the chance and don't let them surround you!"
Sheik and Fox did not need another invitation. Immediately afterward Sheik raised his gun and took aim, while Fox took a battle stance with the saber.
"You to go ahead then. I want to see what you can do," said Kireek, whom held his scythe to the side without worry.
Sheik hesitated a moment as the creatures started an approach, "Wait, hold on a minute. Ferocious they may look, but not everything one sees is what is."
Fox stood still at that point and hesitated. By this time, both creatures had turned their attention on him. Within only a few feet away, both made massive swipes at Fox that could've easily dismembered someone without armor, but Fox, in anticipation, flipped backward just in time to miss the blows.
"Anymore brilliant ideas from the think tank?" Fox said as he charged forward.
Now that the intention of violence showed easily, Sheik, in a speed almost unhuman (thanks to the targeting reticle on his eye), Sheik aimed his rifle and fired on the creature nearest to Fox. The shot singed a smouldering hole through the creature's fur and into the creature's flesh, which caused the creature to jerk slightly and grunt in pain. Fox's strike was unhesitant as the saber sliced downward through the air, which cut a large gash across it's chest; next came a thrust forward through the creature's head, enough for the blade to come out on the other side, and Fox ripped it upward and out of the creature's head as it let out a dying roar and fell to the ground, oddly dissolving into a small pool of red blood.
Without much time to contemplate what exactly was going on, Sheik turned and fired two more times at the other creature, two clean holes appearing through the creature's head to make it drop over dead in the same fashion.
Sheik turned around to see another sneaking up behind their partner Kireek, and from the distance it was, Sheik could not even yell a warning before it attacked. When it seemed that Kireek would be hit, he simply stepped to his right calmly, gracefully, and by far carelessly, then with one hand he swung the massive scythe in the direction of the creature. For a moment it seemed like Kireek had missed, but when the creature's upper half separated from it's lower half and slid to the ground, it became obvious that Kireek had not missed.
"You two aren't done yet," he said as he pointed behind them.
With their lack of focus, Sheik and Fox both did not notice the new opponents that had snuck in. Green fur covered most of the body, but in a couple small areas such as the legs formed rough patches of teal skin, almost like plating. Sheik got a close look at this when the Savage Wolf tackled him to the ground. The creature growled as it tried to get at Sheik's throat with it's sharp teeth, held back only by Sheik's hands. In a surprise to even Sheik, the small mag companion immediately flew forward and collided with the wolf's face, which stunned it enough to allow Sheik to get in a foot to kick it up into the air. Even as it flew upward from the force of Sheik's kick, Sheik had raised the rifle and taken aim, and as soon as the lock came, Sheik let of three shots, the first two hitting the torso and the third hitting the head. Sheik next rolled out of the way quickly before the creature's dead body landed on him.
Sheik slowly climbed to his feet and looked to Fox, whom was walking back from the melting body of the other wolf. Both then moved over to where Kireek was standing, whom clapped his hands in somewhat of a cocky manner.
"Bravo, but you must be careful. Even if you defeat one group, another one may be hiding near you. Watch your radar. Prepare yourself for battle so you don't get surrounded."
Sheik nodded in acknowledgement to the veteran and gave a scan around the room. Large brown doors blocked two paths, each with an odd symbol illuminated on it. They were an obvious code to the matching switches that sat on the ground in front of those doors. The three moved directly straight to the door opposite from where they had entered the room. Fox, whom reached the door first, pressed the switch. A second later, the orange beam of electricity above the brown door disappeared, a loud mechanical click sounded, and the two sides of the door slid left and right to their corresponding parts of the wall.
As they continued on their walk, Kireek continued his talking, "Something else you may want to know. Sometimes you must defeat all of the hostile forces in the area in order for the door to unlock. I believe it is mostly for a security method. From what I've seen too, I need not say much about teamwork to you two, but if you ever must come to a time where you must work alone, you should pay careful attention to your radar."
Again Sheik and Grey Fox kept silent; Fox did so out of annoyance because he thought he knew well how to fight, but Sheik did so with the nature of a student. This android was obviously more experienced than the both of them, as he easily felled the creatures in one hit even when it had snuck up on him.
The next area opened up into a large room that expanded quite a distance in front of them. Visible in front of them was a large tree that seemed to stand out from the surroundings, and separate two paths leading to two doors ahead of them. The one to the left was narrow and in shadow due to the large tree, and the one on the right was past a small stream that extended the distance of the room, the origin being to the direct right of them. What Sheik found more important though was signs of people in this room. Ahead of them to the left, apparently crashed into a wall as judged by one of the marks in the ground and wall, was a type of motorized bike as found on Pioneer 2. Other than that, there were several crates to the right of them.
More notable than even those however was the odd buzzing sound that Sheik heard coming from the sky. He looked up in time to see a something far more than he may have expected. In the air above him was something of a plant with animal properties. Three green, thick legs protruded from a circular top and seemed to be several small plant stems all tied into one. From the circular top hung down a rather large purple sack, about one and a half times the height of Sheik. More notable than that was how it flew. On several surfaces of the plant were attached several purple insects that looked much like mosquitos, only enlarged so that one was about half the size of Sheik's torso. Judging from the large stingers on the ends of their face, Sheik doubted they were coming in to play.
After the thud of the landing on the ground, all of the smaller insects flew up and inside of the container, most likely for protection. After another jolt from the odd plant sac, several of the insects flew back out in a cloud of purple smoke, and not surprisingly flew toward the intruders of their domain.
Sheik raised the rifle immediately and fired at the nearest insect, now identified as a Mothmant, of which shattered to pieces after being hit by the photon bullet, "Fox, go for the Monest; the hive."
Fox sprung forward only moments after instructed to do so. Two of the insects dropped down to intercept the one charging at their hive. Fox easily dispatched one with a swipe of his Saber, and the second was shot from the air. Now next to the hive, of which ejected another bug, Fox immediately swung his sword in a horizontal arc, making a rather large gash in it's side, and more so, severing one of the support legs to the hive. It fell down on the sac first and then over on the side that now lacked a support. Obviously now, the creature sensed even more of a threat, and thus ejected two more instead of one. Fox concentrated on the hive though. His next strike came from a vertical slash downward with the saber, then an impalement of the hive in the sac, then finally a diagonal slash of a low degree through the sac.
Fox stood from the sac as a red-orange fluid shot out from the very gash he had made and it soon went motionless. Fox gave a look back to the other two in time to see other creatures had found their way behind the others. These ones were much like the Boomas from before, save they were tan in fur, slightly taller, and instead of a round head, theirs came up to a point on top.
Sheik saw the yellow dot on his radar (via the targeting reticle) just in time to quickly dive forward and roll into a crouch, and from this crouch he took aim and fired several once into it's head. Oddly enough, this only did limited damage, so he fired twice more before felling the creature. Sheik turned his gaze to see how Kireek did, but it was not really a surprise for Sheik when he saw Kireek standing exactly has he had been before, only now with a dead body behind him.
Kireek's attention turned toward Sheik finally, "Did you notice they were harder to kill? Certian enemies will often be like that and have more resistance to damage. Also, arms and protectors have attributes. Learn to link up the attributes to the enemy types. Certain weapons will do more damage against certain creatures. Techniques also have attributes. Learn the attributes if you want to survive."
Another roar came from the direction of Fox, and the two looked in time to see him dodge a swipe from the claw of a third creature, of which Sheik now identified as a Gobooma. Fox slashed once horizontally, only getting a singe across it's chest and arm, but he would not have time to strike again because the creature was already turning. Not really wanting to see Fox downed on his first mission (as it would probably hurt his pride more than his health), Sheik raised his rifle and fired into the creature's spinal column for a deathblow.
If Fox had the ability of facial expression, Sheik imagined that it would've showed annoyance as the two walked over to him.
"What's wrong Fox? Is it hard to hit them?" Kireek asked with just a hint of arrogance.
Fox answered back in much of the same tone, "Nope, not a problem."
"Ha! Alright then, it's okay as long as you aren't a liability. As for you Sheik, there are special abilities that you are able to access that we are not as androids, and the reverse is the true too. Take for instance, you are able to cast techniques, were as we ar-"
Sheik interrupted by holding his hand back for a moment, then throwing it forward, and from it came a large fireball that flew to a nearby wall and sizzled out in a puff of black smoke. Kireek continued after a short pause from seeing such.
"Well, not bad I suppose. Maybe yet you are aware of some things. I don't have techniques though, so I'm at a bit of a disadvantage to aid you. It is kind of envious though you know? Well, don't let that go to your head though," Kireek stopped and turned his attention to Fox, "and you Fox. You have the ability to see traps, much like myself, and besides that, we can also lay them as well. I'm not sure if you have been fitted with the ability to use them or not, but your model seems rather new, so I would assume so. That being so, you are more than likely equipped with a regeneration system. It will repair damage you take during battle, but don't rely on it too much. Most systems are slow and inefficient for regeneration during battle."
"I think I see him on radar," Fox mildly interrupted, "the target is currently northeast of our position."
Sheik nodded and started in a run toward the door behind Grey Fox, and followed by Kireek, of whom continued to speak.
"You two should also know that you have an ISL: an Inventory Status Link. This is a special system developed so that Hunters can keep multiple weapons on a standby accessability without having to carry them all openly. It is usually controlled via a small arm panel, or as part of the outfit and ID holder, and can be manipulated manually, or in some cases as forces, mentally."
"So it allows the ability to move as if one only carried with them the weapon they held?" Sheik asked with curiosity.
"Correct. The items are shrank into small boxes, of which I'm sure you've seen by now. When putting them in the ISL, these boxes are shrank even further and placed within your armor and other close-by areas. This is so that the ISL can store items and access them easily versus having to go to the bank all of the time and access them there."
The room opened up into a narrow area at first, rock walls on either side. After it curved to the right though, it opened up into a room about half the width of the one they had came from, and far more oval in shape. Another large tree grew atop the right wall, giving shade to a large portion near a locked door.
Sheik pondered for a moment why it was locked and then noticed the yellow creatures on the ground. They looked very much penguin like, in that they had wings that looked they could not support flight of long distance. Their yellow fur covered most of their body, save about the chest area, which came down from a white oval and extended to their underside. Compared to a penguin, they were shorter, rounder, had small one-taloned claws on the tips of their wings, two antenna protruding from their beak in about a meter of height, and a tail.
Upon sight of the three, the small birds stood from the ground and started to waddle towards them on taloned feet. Sheik suddenly found himself having second guesses again about whether they were violent or not. This creature hardly had the look of dangerous.
As if Fox had read Sheik's mind, he spoke up, "Sheik, sometimes the most dangerous things are concealed with a facade. Do not let them deceive you."
If that was not enough, Sheik could simply relate to the fact that everything that had directly approached them so far had been hostile. Likely, this was no exception. That being so, Sheik raised his rifle and fired on the nearest one. The shot hit it in the stomach and it twitched and chirped in a bit of pain, but from the obvious relentless approach after the shot, it was definitely hostile. Sheik fired twice more, another shot hitting it's stomach and the third hitting it's head.
Fox and Kireek had downed two other of the birds as well. Sheik gave them a glance and then looked back down towards the birds.
"Why... why is everything hostile? I doubt every single creature on the planet Ragol was hostile. Pioneer 1 would have surely set up defenses otherwise. At that, where is everyone? This was supposed to be the residential district, but there is not a single house in sight? What happened here?"
Sheik decided it best to hold his train of thought until there was more time. For now, they had a boy to find, and according to Sheik's radar, he was just in the next room. Sheik started on a run to the door, being followed closely behind by Grey Fox and Kireek. The first thing Sheik's eye caught was the blue saber weapon, a brand, protruding from a small enclave in the rock on the right side. The room extended toward what seemed a dead end, another part of the small stream moving perpendicular to the way they faced, and near the end of the room. On the other side of it lay a small shining object, another of the wrecked hover bikes, and a couple more crates.
"Wh...who is it?" asked a somewhat weak voice from the enclave.
Sheik moved forward and knelt down next to the hunter. It was a boy, obviously young. Orannge and yellow armor extended much of his torso, and over his arms was a thinner armor material with the color black. He had brown, matted hair because of a combination of dirt and blood. His wounds were not entirely serious, but he may have suffered a knock or two to the head; enough to knock him unconscious and give him one heck of a headache.
"Are you injured?" Sheik asked while examining him.
"N-no...Uhh..I don't know who you guys are, but be careful...They're...still hiding around here."
Sheik nodded and turned to Fox, "Fox, you and Kireek go after the object sought. I'm more than willing to bet it's the shining object over there. Our young friend here probably dropped it while trying to escape. Kireek, I'm sure you know well enough to be careful of ambush, but Fox, keep your guard up."
Fox nodded, turned, and started to walk down the path toward the object. His right hand tensed around the Saber, and he brought his left hand around to grip the hilt of the weapon. From his slow advance, he took a couple of steps across the river, then knelt down to grab the data disk.
"Fox! Stay down!" Sheik's voice rang out from behind.
It was not only a moment afterward that he felt a photon bullet fly only inches above him, and hit a dog that happened to be ready to ambush from bushes on top of the rock wall. It died with a roar, but it also summoned up several other of it's companions. One in particular, a blue one named Barberous Wolf, came at Fox. Fox sprung into the air barely high enough to dodge the tackle, and with his fall he brought his saber down through the creatures neck, then ripped it out from the head.
Unexpectedly, all of the surrounding Savage Wolves howled. Sheik realized then something about the obvious nature to the creatures.
"Of course, it's just like military strategy. Eliminate the leader, demoralize the enemy and make them easier to defeat."
Sheik wasted no time in swiveling his aim around again to fire on a second wolf, Kireek and Fox going after a third. The shot flew down the room and directly into the creature's eye, making it drop directly on the spot. The other one was downed just as fast by the two hunters.
By this time, the boy had clambered to his feet. Sheik turned to face him again, soon joined by Fox and Kireek.
"breath Thank you," the boy said with relief.
Kireek spoke up afterward, "Zidd sent us Ash. We are to get you back safely."
The boy blinked for a moment at hearing the name, "Wha...? Zidd?" after the name sank in, he suddenly looked more annoyed, "Now I know why you guys are here... He always treats me like a kid... I completed the quest, but suddenly, they attacked me here. Monsters appeared and I dropped the disk. I couldn't do anything. sigh How vexing! I appreciate that you guys came to save me, but I-"
"Relax young one," Fox spoke up, "We all make mistakes, and likewise, we all must get help sometimes in our lives. It is why we work to get better"
The boy seemed to soak up these words as if Fox was a wise old sage. About this time as well, Kireek came over to the small group and spoke to them, specifically to Sheik and Fox.
"I'll take this boy with me. You deliver the disk to the client, then we can finish the job. Sheik...and you, Fox, train yourself. Become much stronger to impress me... Ha ha ha..."
Fox actually gave his own small laugh and gave Kireek a nod. Ash moved over to Kireek, of whom held out a small box accessed from his ISL. After activation, a small white light in the form of a ball spread out around his feet. From there, it changed into several smaller balls of red-orange light that circled around his feet, and several small beams of light shot up a small distance from these. In the center of this was something of a distortion that one might expect from seeing infrared rays (think highway on a hot day, the weird shimmering one is able to see in the distance).
Fox turned to Sheik, of whom was eyeing something, "Sheik, are you coming?"
"Perhaps later," Sheik responded in the usual monotonic voice, "there is yet something I wish to look at more."
Fox shrugged, and moved to the portal which Kireek and Ash had just gone up, and activated it via his own system, which caused the small beams of light to grow and envelop him entirely.
After appearing back on Pioneer 2 next to the bank, Fox wasted no time in going to the Hunter's Guild. Ash passed him on the way out as well.
"Hey kid!" Fox spoke to him, which caused him to turn around and face Fox, "Good luck to you."
Ash nodded and smiled, "Thanks, I'll keep practicing."
Fox then turned back around and entered the guild. Zidd gave him a wave over his way, and Fox moved to speak with him.
"Kireek left already after receiving the Meseta," Zidd said, "Phew... I have never seen such an intimidating android. It was like that android was built for battle."
"Questionable, but it also is an idea of myself too. Maybe..." Fox thought to himself while he handed Zidd the disk.
"Ah, this must be the disk that I asked Ash to find. Thanks. Ash is enduring the pain since he won't go see a doctor. You and your other partner can get your reward at the Hunter's Guild when ready. Thank you."
Fox gave a nod, and looked out the window to the Hunter's Guild. It was not too bad for a first time out he supposed, but his gut told him that things would get more complicated soon...
"Ah, testing, testing... cough I'm Rico, Rico Tyrell. I'm a hunger. This capsule is for anyone who has come here looking for me. I hope this helps you. I don't know who you are, but you must know that there is something unusual about Ragol. This is important. Pay attention to everything around you if you want to survive."
Sheik eyed the small hologram as it fizzled out and turned back into the small light beam protruding from the orange capsule on the ground. It was obvious whom it was left by, and more importantly, it was left recently. That only ment that Rico could not be entirely far. More than that, it ment she was alive. If she was alive and Sheik could find her, maybe she could give them some answers as to what happened. Sheik slowly stood, and turned away from the capsule.
"Rico... Stay safe and alive out here..."
Light footsteps carried Sheik away from the first sign of Rico, and continued him on his exploration of a world that obviously had more to it than met the eye...
Okay, this is a good time to address a few things. First, I'm well aware that I didn't follow the exact format of the game on this. Understand though that doing so is just not my style. Believe me when I say that if I did, you would be more bored with my story. I'm not good at following such to exact details, nor do I really have the desire to unless I deem it necessary, so don't ask me to. Second thing, some of the readers out there have been asking me to include their characters in the story. I'm going to say this once for everyone: If I approach you and ask you for your permission to use them, only then do I have plans to use them. Otherwise, I may just be considering it, or I may not even want to do it at all. All I can say is try not to get your hopes up, but don't disreguard it at the same time. Finally, I realize that having the same characters in these chapters may seem a bit monotonous. Well guess what? My next chapter will feature entirely new characters! Not only that, you will probably see quite a bit more deviation from the normal PSO storyline. I happen to be looking forward to writing this now because I can be more original, so my speed is more likely to increase in writing this. Still, have patience, and until next chapter... )