Chapter 2

First Conflict

The alley ways that cut through the town of beginnings were congested with all manner of hordes which thronged about the cobble stones. Nate attempted at best to decipher what the true meanings of the various conversations could mean, but err his inability to comprehend the language of the orient proved a great downfall in that area.

Ikari then had them come to a stop and pronounced, "Hang on I'm going to ask around and see if anyone has come across one of my friends."

Nate assented with a nod and decided to perch himself against a pillar and watched his newfound comrade commute and reason with fellow bystanders. He found it unique to hear Ikari naturally slip into his native tongue and utter sounds and syllables that could only be perceived and understood by those who shared the same office of dialect.

He then set his assiduity on a group of younger looking men roughly eighteen to twenty years old who were huddled against a wall. He found it an odd spectacle seeing how they were all facing inwards, then noticed a smaller being was in the midst of them.

He appeared to be no older than 13 years of age and was in a position of passiveness for he seemed to be in a form of conflict with the elder ones who towered over him

The younger was trembling while the eldest of the men seemed to be intimidating him by means of yelling and shouting. Nate squinted and was beginning to feel a stir of animosity within his veins.

Naturally this breech in tranquility which should prevail in polite society caused many a head to be turned and witness the altercation. Ikari then approached his foreign comrade and stated with a breeze of hope, "Hey Atari, I met some guys who want to join our guild and know where one of my friends are…!"

Nate neither welcomed nor rejected the news. His brows were as cold steel traps locked into the angles of disapproval.

"Hey did you hear me?" inquired Ikari with a flutter of hesitation.

Flaring his nostrils, Nate asked, "Those guys…what's their problem?"

Ikari turned and began to listen in, then after a session of eve dropping he was able to account the source of this commotion, "It appears the one being targeted is a beta player."

"What's wrong with being a beta? They're just guys who try the game out before the release."

Ikari tuned once more to the words being exchanged and answered, "Beta's know most of the game's secrets; weapons, bosses, items and so forth. I'm guessing they asked him to join their guild but he refused, now they're accusing him of holding out on the good stuff and that he wants it all for himself."

Nate's lips scrunched and his body positioned changed to the manner of a guard dog deciphering if it should pounce or bark. Ikari noticed this surge of malice brewing within the man and asked subtlety, "Well shall we go then?"

Nate, without ever taking his solemn face off the boys replied, "Hold up I want to make sure this kid gets out alright."

"Is it really our problem?" replied Ikari with an innocent inquiry.

Suddenly, the persecuted individual made an attempt to depart and break free of the human barricade. When he had done so the three boys took hold of him and threw him back into the wall they had him cornered against.

Nate broke his poise and began to advance towards the hoodlums and muttered, "That's it."

Ikari sputtered while protesting, "Whoa hold on, you can't just…!"

The three brutes still would not let up on their emotional and mental tortures on the lad they had indentured in there little cartel. They berated him with their yells and insults until an anomaly disrupted the engagement. The worst of these offenses was the physical withholding of the young teen's departure.

The shadow of a stranger overtook the sunlight within their field of vision. The ring leader turned and saw Nate standing close with his hands on his hips who then pointed in the direction he felt for them to depart and stated, "Leave him alone."

This caused more confusion than anything seeing how the words he spoke were not entirely deciphered. Nate then waived Ikari to come over who had reluctantly done so.

Our foreigner then demanded of his oriental counterpart to translate, "Tell them to stop being a bunch of pricks and let the kid go."

Ikari took a big gulp then explained the stipulation requested. The ring leader's eyes widened with absolute disgust and amazement. He began walking up on Nate with his arms out and began to issue threats. This was answered with Nate unfolding his arms and meeting the man's advance which caused him to shrink away slightly. For Nathan's physique was superior in this case.

The ring leader muttered something and spat at the foreigner's boots. Nate turned and inquired for a translation.

"He said basically, 'what gives you the right?' and that it's none of your business, I which I agree with by the way! Also he said that he isn't afraid to take you on."

"I don't want to fight them, I want them to leave the kid alone."

Ikari translated the desire. The reaction was that of the ring leader advancing on the foreigner with an unforgiving stride while voicing objections. Nate's attitude altered as he perceived the advance as a physical threat. The young brute went to push the man who rapidly perry'd the intrusive hands away and countered him with a hard shove.

The ring leader stumbled back and had his transit concluded by a collision with his two other cohorts. HIs friends went to enact revenge but were refuted by their leader who wished for the opportunity to satisfy his impudent desires for reprisal.

Ikari then informed, "Well now you've done it. He wants to reclaim his honor, but I'm sure you've figured that out."

An eyebrow lifted as Nate inquired, "Can players get hurt by other players?"

"Not in a safe zone, and remember no one can feel pain."

Taking a step back, Nate then requested of Ikari, "Tell him to give me his best shot, it'll be his last."

Hesitantly, Ikari had done so. Once the words escaped his lips, the ring leader and the other two began to laugh as though they were excited that the foreigner had taken his challenge.

The leader then rushed for him with his hands cocked at the ready and delivered a swing.

Suddenly, Nate ducked under to avoid the strike, wrapped his arm around the individual's torso and swung him around ninety degrees before landing him on his rear and sliding his arms around his neck making a tight sleeper hold in a half nelson.

Leaning him over, Nate whispered, "Go to sleep, go to sleep."

After a fit of kicks and scrambles the Nate released him knowing that no matter how tightly he squeezed it would avail nothing. It was a demonstration of skill, not a maneuver of victory.

One of the other teens rushed in to aid his friend and attempted to take advantage of Nate's position (for he was haunched over) unclasped his sword and went for an overhead strike.

The foreigner caught the threat soon enough and shot towards his enemy hitting his body against his waist with his arm wrapped under the leg, thne lifted him up and brought him straight into the ground.

While on his back the opponent made a wild swing for his enemy swiftly in which Nate leaned back to avoid the blade, caught the arm and twisted him over onto his stomach then forced him into an arm bar to rob him of freedom of movement.

Nate's free hand dropped to his rear flank, as if to retrieve something that was not there. Notably an odd force of habit.

The ring leader had recovered and joined forces with his remaining friend in which they both drew their weapons and swung for him. Nate narrowly dodged one but the second would have found it's mark if not for an interception. Ikari shielded the blow with his own sword and chose to join the fight.

To the surprise of the boisterous combatants, Ikari was quite formidable against the two as he engaged both of them with unanticipated speed, accuracy and aggression. They received lesion upon lesion from the single dueler with all their attempts to thwart him ineffective as they were pathetic.

Ikari had form, control, discipline in the arts of swordplay which found the two brutes on the ground shielding themselves from the blows.

Nate on the other hand when having his enemy subdued, simply pulled out his sword and plunged it deep through the back of his opponent's neck.

There was an odd hush at the end of it all; the conflict was over.

Nate arose and implied of his friend, "Ask them if they would like to take this outside of the safety zone."

The words were then translated in which the response was a hasty departure from the scene by the three aggressors. Nate then turned to address the young victim and gave him a thumbs up as to signify if all was well with him.

The mistreated individual returned the same gesture and walked away with a few backward glances being exchanged during the receding process.

Satisfied with the outcome Nate reunited with Ikari before suddenly being followed by a small horde of excited observers, many of them young faces and all clamoring for something.

"What do they want?" asked Nate who was becoming very agitated.

"They want to form a guild with us." returned Ikari who was equally perturbed.

Nate put his hands out to address and telegraph his disapproval and said back to his friend, "No, they don't, they want body guards. Plus, they're too young, these are kids. You want to form a strong guild you need people who know how to be professional."

"Yeah, yeah I don't feel like forming a guild with them either." grunted Ikari as he thought out what to say to them.

He then addressed the small crowd in their native tongue and they all dispersed eventually, each having a sour complexion of disappointment painted on their now only left them with a few others who were the ones who originally wished to form the guild.

The two players assumed a position to appear as though they were at ease, when in reality they were timid. For when two parties clash the one that is victorious is the one to be either respected or feared.

"Nate,' started Ikari to begin the formal ceremony of introductions, 'this is Shimigami and Raiden."

Ikari then went to do likewise for his counterpart in which all that could be understood on the foreigner's end was, 'Nate' and 'Atari.'

The greetings among them was warm enough, as Nate shook their hands he asked, "What does Raiden and Simgamora mean?"

"Shimigami,' corrected Ikari, 'Raiden is the name of a god of thunder while Shimigami means 'Death Spirit.'"

Nate saluted his head and said to them, "Nice to meet you, your names are more badass than mine."

Confused, the two looked towards Ikari with eyes that begged for a translation in which they were answered in Japanese, "He says he's happy he's to meet you."

A few more words were spoken among the linguistically inclined in which a plan was quickly dispatched to head for the next town to were the target players, whom Ikari sought could be found.

A few more words were spoken among the linguistically inclined in which a plan was quickly dispatched to head for the next town to were the target players, whom Ikari sought could be found.

The commute to the town's boundaries consisted of Raiden and Shimigami in the lead engaging in their own conversation, with Nate following and simply observing without much to addition to bring. Ikari was in tow who seemed to be in a rather contemplative state.

"Something on your mind?" asked the foreigner of his companion.

Ikari looked upon him astutely and said, "You're military aren't you?"

Nate was quick to ward that assumption off, "What makes you say that?"

"You're attitude, you're build, you're stance, the way you carry yourself."

"Could mean a lot of things." came Nate's refute.

"Plus you like picking fights."

He then sighed, "What that back there? Three grown men taking liberties with a kid half their sizes, that's bullshit!"

"And you took those guys to the ground pretty easily."

With a shrug the foreigner stated, "I was on my Jr. High and High-school wrestling team and played football my sophomore year."

Maintaining the persistence Ikari then pointed out, "And you're in Japan for the second time? What resume involving school sports involves business travels to the pacific?"

With an attitude of mundane defeat Nate said, "Fine, yes I'm military."

Ikari then connected more dots, "You're in Okinawa aren't you?"

"Yes I'm currently on base there."

With more confidence and feeling more at liberty to express himself at will, Ikari continued, "No wonder you had issues with the locals, don't get me wrong, we love having foreigners but don't care much for Marines."

Nate was becoming more unsettled, "I'm not a Marine, I'm in the Navy."

Ikari giggled, "Don't both sailors and marines still get drunk and rip up the place?"

Nate's brow furled like a storm cloud that crests over a hill and began walking ahead to put distance between them. Ikari was amused and continued his taunting, "Oh c'mon you can tell me. Squids and Jarheads do a great job downing liquor and chasing skirt. It's nothing to be embarrassed about, it's probably the funnest way to serve your country."

Nate suddenly turned about on his heal and stopped Ikari with a hand to his chest and sternly glared, "I'm a SEAL. "

Slightly stunned at what he perceived to be a bit of harmless fun, Ikari cooly stated, "Hey don't get so touchy, I'm just messing with you."

"Look I'm sorry about what I said before, but don't blame me for that other stuff. I never hurt anyone…..well not the ones who didn't deserve it."

"I think you're overreacting."

Nate cooled himself, "Sorry, it's just Okinawa was were I was going to be for only a few weeks before getting shipped state side but now with this game, I don't know when I'm going home, and to top that, they might get their tech guys to take the nerve gear off and it'll kill me! So not only am I stuck in a death game and can't communicate to anyone while not knowing when I'm going to see my family again, there's also the reality that any day could be my last if the Navy decides to try something stupid. I'm just very stressed out right now."

Ikari became more assertive and reassured, "Ok, I'll stop. But we should probably catch up."

Nate looked back and saw that a sizable gap had developed between them and the other two who had now noticed their absence. They quickly reunited with them and continued walking.

Taking a visual account of the fields of green Ikari then said, "Hey we good?"

Nate inclined his head, "Water under the bridge…."

The four of them continued to make their way through the vast terrain and rolling hills. Raiden and Shimigami were still having their own talk while the two behind held their peace. After a rough estimate of fifteen minutes Nate finally spoke.

"Those were some fancy moves you pulled back there too."

Ikari rubbed the back of his neck, "Oh that? Well it won't surprise anyone to know that I study Kendo."

Nate nodded with subtle humor, "I could use that out hear."

Ikari dinted his brow, "Aren't you like some super delta, special forces guy?"

"First off, Delta is not the same as SEAL. Second, sword play isn't exactly what you'd say I master in. Sure I learned simple hand to hand and knife combat but obviously I specialize in firearms."

Ikari suddenly put his face towards his comrade and asked carefully, "Did you ever have to shoot anyone?"

"Oh yeah." came the nonchalant reply.

"Did you kill them?"

Nate looked upon him with a more inquisitive gaze, "Do you really want to know?"

Ikari bit his lower lip then decided not to push that aspect and asked, "Have you ever been shot?"

Nate seemed neither annoyed nor in any mood to divulge those details and answered in an attitude of the like by simply stating, "Have you ever been hit while doing Kendo?"

An unusual sensation could be felt in Ikari's bosom as he contemplated Nate's true meaning. In which he was answered, "Yes Ikari I have been in firefights. I have been shot at and I have returned fire, it's how war goes in every case. And to answer your question if I have ever killed anyone, well I wasn't trained to miss or not to aim for vital areas. Just like in Kendo, you hit where it counts right?"

Ikari scrunched his lips, "Fair enough, it's just I've never really met anyone who has done that stuff before, I find it interesting. I'm sorry if I'm bugging you I'm sure you get asked that kind of stuff a lot."

"I'm not bothered by it by any means and I do get asked a lot about it, it's just…."

"Just what?"

He let out a bit of disgruntled sigh before answering, "The last operation I was apart of didn't end so well."

"What happened."

"I got shot."

There was an odd chuckle that came from his mouth afterward in which Ikari began to ponder more furiously, for there was yet another set of inquiries that blazed in his mind, "Wait you wouldn't have been sent to Okinawa unless you were deployed somewhere close. Were you in Korea's demilitarized zone?"

"I can't tell you that." said Nate stiffly.

Ikari was suddenly carried off in his own thinkings, "I heard stuff about it like how the North was invading via service tunnels that led underneath while they were setting up SCUD missiles to launch towards the south. It was so bad that even our JSDF got involved. Was all that stuff true? Didn't the U.S send some of there own troops to support?"

Nate kept his facial expressions at an even tone and said, "I cannot confirm or deny whether or not the North Korean army attempted an invasion of the south."

"But you were there?"

"I never said if I was or wasn't."

Before Ikari could fuel his curiosity more, Raiden suddenly made a loud vocalization of alarm that put every man on alert. The ground in which they stood began to spawn multiple beams of light all around them. The small little guild just found themselves surrounded by wolves and were swiftly overrun without warning.