1Author note : everything in italic format is what is happening outside the game.

every thing underlined is memory sequence.

(Everything in parenthesis is thoughts. Kinda like a thought bubble )

Chapter 3

Meeting at the Cathedral

Colnel had been waiting at the cathedral from the Mac Anu server. He had been waiting there for about 5 minutes. He sigh to himself and then walked around. He sit down near the alter and close his eyes "This was your favorite spot...I remember when this was just a game. How long has it been?" He sigh softly closing his eyes

"Colnel!" Siren had shouted loudly. "Are you paying attention to me?" She say as she moved her hair from her face.

"Ah...heh...sorry I kinda fell asleep." He look to the side kinda embarrassed. "Its not that I'm bored or anything just I can actually relax around you. There isn't many people I can do that with so its comforting."

"Oh its fine...besides its pretty late already...or early...I don't know what you would call it right now" she giggle a bit and then brought her hand to his head and pulled him to lay down using her lap as a pillow. "Anyways I was saying I like this place a lot cause this is where we first met. Well first place we talked as well." She look down at him

"I remember..." he look at her with his jade green gaze "It was a good thing I had saw you talking with him in the root town."

"I was really naive to people in the game. I should have been killed but you saved me." She blush a bit "This place was also when you told me you figured out who I was. And you told me who you were."

"Yeah...To think it was cause of this game we actually bega-" He was interrupted as his lips met Sirens

Siren pull her head back slowly and then smile "Don't ever change okay?"

"Heh...Well you changed me to how I am now. You kinda brought back who I used to be. I don't think I ever want to be that same guy that al-"

Colnel opened his eyes as he heard the door of the cathedral open. "So you managed to come?" Colnel get up and turn "I was starting to think you guys wouldn't...show?" His eyes would widen

"Hellooooo Colnel!" The familiar voice called out as Rio would step inside "You know how many people I had to ask in Mac Anu to find you?" Her blue eyes focused on him "I asked everyone in town. I finally found someone that said you usually came here with a girl or meet that girl" she walk and sit down on the bench he was sitting on. She put her arms on top of the back of the bench resting them there

"Rio? " He look at her and then shake his head. "What are you doing here?"

Rio smiled and then brought her right hand to her face as if she was to tell him a secret "To spy on that girl you are supposed to meet here" She smile and then put her loose cloth wrapped hand on the bench again "I have to see if I can approve of this girl Since she will most likely be partying with us right?"

Colnel looked to the side and then shook his head. Normally Rio would have been right. However with Siren a victim it be a long while.

"What happened? You okay?" she saw as Colnel's expression changed "Colnel?"

Colnel sigh softly "You wont be meeting her. At least not yet. You heard of those comatose victims?"

Rio nodded "Yeah I have. Its been happening over here in Asia. Though I don't know anyone personally effected by it."

Colnel looked at her and then sat down by her "Well I thought it was all a role play thing. I was wrong cause she became a victim. I couldn't do anything to help her. She tried protecting me and thats how she became a victim. Her name is Siren."

Rio looked at him "That's Horrible...How did it happen?"

Colnel shook his head "I've been asked not to talk about it. I'm sorry."

Rio nodded and then sighed a bit "I'm sorry about that. If I can help you at all just let me know okay?"

Colnel shook his head "It be to dangerous. I don't want something happening to you."

Rio frowned a bit "Come on Colnel. I'm a big girl. I can take care of myself."

"Come on Colnel. I'm a big girl I know how to take care of myself." Siren smiled a bit."Though I don't mind being helped by you."

Rio would poke Colnel "Colnel?"

Colnel shake his head "Ah sorry...just remembering something is all...Sorry."

Rio sigh a bit and then shrug "Just let me know if I can help. I want to help you out. You helped me out already I like to return the favor somehow."

Colnel give a slight smile "Okay...I'll try to let you know what I can. I don't want to risk you being banned or something"

Rio nod a bit. "So Colnel why did you come here again?"

Colnel look a bit surprised "That's right. I told some people to meet me here."

She tilt her head "Oh? Well I can keep you company if you like. I mean what else am I going to do? This game isn't too fun to play by yourself." She yawn a bit "Heh you jerk I still haven't recovered from that night of bringing my level up. Though I did manage to take a long nap."

Colnel laugh a bit " Don't you have class tomorrow?"

Rio nodded a bit "Yeah but I think im just going to skip today. I haven't skipped a day yet."

Colnel nod a bit "So then what days do you go to school?"

Rio put her find to her chin and look up "let me think... I go to school Monday Tuesday and Wednesday in your time zone."

Colnel looked at her a bit surprised "Really? So then you don't go all week?"

Rio shook her head "Nope. Hehe college is hard enough already."

Colnel nodded a bit "Oh a college student. Makes sense now."

Rio nod "Yep. So Colnel what do yo-" she was interrupted by yelling outside "What was that?

Colnel look at her and then invited her to his party "Lets go check"

Rio nodded and accepted the invite as they both ran to the door and opened it

"Stupid wavemaster die!" A long arm dressed in a loose black hakama with gold trim on it. He had a long sleeve shirt and a vest on both unbuttoned showing off his well defined muscles. The long sleeve shirt was white and loose. The best black with the same golden trim as his hakama. His hair was short and red. Combed back. Over his left blue eye a scar came across it going to the right stopping at his nose. He keep thrusting his lance

"What did I do to you?! There isn't a reason for you to be fighting me!" A wavemaster would shout back at him. The wave master was dressed in normal robes that were a dark purple accented with black trim. His cap was black at the top that transitions to purple as it comes down to the end. He had dark blue hair that matched his eye color. A green triangle painted on both sides of his face.

"This is starting to piss me off!" The long arm yell as he then thrusts hard as it caught the wavemaster's side.

The wavemaster drop to his knees holding his side "Damn it...that took out a big chunk of my health." He look up as another thrust would come at him. "No!"

Colnel would be in front of him as he parried the blow to the side. "You know...nothing pisses me off more then a player killer..."

"Well well if it isn't Colnel. You bastard!" He pull his lance back and put the butt of it on the ground "How many times you plan on stopping me from having my fun?"

Rio would rush to the wavemaster's side "hey don't go dying on me." she close her eyes "Repth!" she cast a healing spell repeatedly till he was healed.

The wavemaster looked at Rio "Heh...thanks I appreciate it."

"Hmm...Alastor...its been a while" Colnel point his sword at the long arm

"You know...I heard you got penalized..." He smirk "thats why you been around Mac Anu. To hid from us play killers."

"If you think you can fight me and win then by all means try it. Just remember...how many times you have been humiliated by my blade."

Alastor point at his eye "Ill never forget this. Now die!" He thrust his lance at Colnel repeatedly

Colnel would dodge the deadly attacks and parry some. He yell out to Rio "Hey get him inside! I don't want you guys getting hurt!"

Rio shake her head "No I got to help heal you in case!"

Alastor would smirk and then rush at Rio moving past Colnel He would smirk "Heh Three for one!? I'll be known as the best for killing two people and Colnel!" He put all the force in to his thrust.

Colnel's eyes would widen as he rush as fast as he could and dropped to one knee. His eyes wincing. His right forearm completely pierced. " Heh...got you!" Colnel push the lance from the point out of his arm and then slice across Alastor's chest. He be breathing heavy as he looked at his arm. It surged with pain. (Damn it...why can I feel it in my arm in real life too...) He stare at his arm "Oh no..." He see the bracelet accessory Balmung gave him had shattered from the impact of the lance "Everyone get out of here! Run away!!!"

Alastor would struggle to get up. "Heh...think that could kill me?!" He hold his chest the blood coming through his fingers "Well!!" He thrust his lance again as it pierced Colnel's arm above his elbow.

Colnel would yell out in pain and then grip his sword with his left hand "You idiot!" he swing his sword cutting the lance in half as he pulled the piece from his arm and threw it down (I didn't feel that one...I took damage but no pain..." He touch his arm and looked at it as it started to glow "No!" He look at Rio and the wavemaster "Run! Or I'll kill you myself!"

Rio looked at Colnel and walked to him her hand glowing for the healing spell.

The wavemaster got up and then held Rio back "Its okay. I can heal him faster" He walked to him and the cast a heal spell on Colnel fixing his arm. "Listen we cant run. We can help you fight him. Im Gun Castor. Gun for short"

Colnel shake his head "You don't understand. I don't need help against him its for your own safety!"

Rio had invited Gun to the party and a third party member had joined "Come on Gun lets help him"

Colnel's eyes would widen "No don't join up! " He try to disband the party as quick as he could but the command became invalid "what?" He look around as a rift opened up in the sky and a knight carrying a scythe with corrupted data appeared "Not now!"

Alastor would look at Colnel confused and then saw the Knight appeared "What the hell!? That...that...that's a data bug I'm out of here " He quickly log out from the field.

Colnel would hold his sword up (we don't have data drain...damn it...) "Rio...Gun...I want you to leave...now!"

Rio shake her head "No! I won't abandon you!" She pull out her daggers.

Gun looked at the knight "Infinite health? I assume you are Colnel and she is Rio. I've heard your names enough today I wont forget them. I can take care of all the healing. Just leave it to me"

Colnel looked at them "Damn it. This is what put Siren in to a Coma! I don't want that to happen to anyone else!" He quickly be hit from behind with the scythe and flew about five feet. He turn around looking at the knight. "Damn..it...that really hurt!" (Data bugs can really hurt me? Then...what about when I got stabbed in the arm? Why did I feel it? No focus you got to protect them) He hold his sword up feeling refreshed suddenly "Huh?" he look at gun seeing him casting healing spells

Gun give a thumbs up "Told you! Now fight!"

Rio would rush behind Colnel. Colnel would slash at the knight. Rio leaping from behind him attacking. The knight would swing its scythe at both of them. They dodge it and continue the attack.

Gun would close his eyes as a magic circle appeared beneath him. He then raise his staff casting a paralyze spell. It was successful as the monster came to a halt.

Colnel could see Rio's onslaught on the monster. She was using everything he had taught her. He narrows his eyes "got to hold out till kite and Balmung come. I hope they come..." Colnel would jump up in to the air and come across the armor as it split in two. It then pull its self back together without a scratch

Rio's eyes would widen "That didn't kill it?!"

Colnel keep attacking "It wont die unless Kite comes!"

Gun's eyes would widen "You know kite?" He cast a heal spell on the party

Rio looked at Colnel and then kept attacking "I didn't know you knew someone so famous!"

Colnel would take out warriors blood and use it on himself to boost his attack "Yeah...sadly I do! But they aren't here. I don't know how long we can keep fighting." His eyes widen a bit and he dropped to the ground holding his right arm where the mark was "Damn it hurts!"

Rio rushed to Colnel's side. Gun getting there just as quick "Colnel! What happened? Are you okay? Colnel?" Rio would keep talking to him.

The knight broke free of its paralyzed state and then start stepping forward. Three tentacles would rise form its body as they all came to sharp points.

Colnel see the monster and then got up quickly "look out guys!" He run at the knight. His whole right arm glowing white as he swung his sword. The monster fly back and a lout explosive sound came from the impact.

The monster would struggle to get up. It rise slowly but looked normal now. Its hp dropped to 1 as it was now visible.

Colnel be on the floor gasping for air as his magic points and hp dropped to one.

Rio looked at Colnel and jumped ahead of him stabbing the creature finishing it off.

Gun would Run to Colnel healing his lost strength.

Rio would walk back to Colnel kneeling by him "You okay?"

Colnel's expression be blank and then he snap out of it "Yeah...I'm fine. Just tired.."

The footsteps of two people running could be heard. Kite and Balmung running as fast as they could. Balmung would leap in the air his wings carrying him faster "Colnel! you know what you just did?"

Kite made it to them a few seconds after "How did you beat a data bug without data drain?!"

Balmung look at Rio and Gun "Lets move inside...I'll help Colnel." Balmung help Colnel to his feet and then looked at his arm "It broke?"

Colnel nodded and then sighed "Sorry.."

Balmung saw the group head inside and then he pulled out the same accessory putting it on Colnel's arm "Here...it will hide your pressense lets go" he help Colnel to the cathedral.

Colnel would tell Balmung and Kite what had happened. As kite and Balmung told Rio and Gun what was going on.

Gun held his head "This is all too much."

Balmung sighed "Sadly its real...So That player killer fled.. That is good though. We don't have to worry about him."

Kite looked at Colnel "That arm...its dangerous. To take you and it down to 1 hp a piece...and leave you stunned like that. At least you can fight data bugs though"

Rio shook her head "I want to help...I can't just stand by and watch as one of my friends is put in to something like that."

Gun sighed a bit and nodded "Even though I just met you guys. I owe Colnel. He didn't let that player killer beat me. I want to help to."

Balmung looked at Kite and nodded. "Well if you guys want to help...I'll tell the administrators to leave you two alone."

The group would exchange member addresses and Balmung sighed "Ill be sending you all messages of everything. Colnel as for the cure to comatose victims and that message you sent me. The message is untraceable. No address like that exists. We got our messages back. The comatose victims. We are getting more leads. We are looking in to them. Hopefully our leads aren't just false. We need to get going Keep you guard up. If we are being watched a moment of weakness may be what they are waiting for." He look at kite "You guys take care..." Balmung would leave the field.

Kite looked at them "I'm glad you guys are here to help. I hope after all this we can at least play this together without having that worry of what's happening" He smile and then logged out.

Gun sigh a bit "My plans are wrecked for today. So I'm going to bed. I'll see you around" he move the dark blue hair from his face and then vanish

Rio looked at Colnel "You leaving?"

Colnel shook his head "In a bit...Hey...thanks..."

Rio look at him "For what?"

He sigh "Making me realize I'm not doing this on my own."

Rio smiled "Heh don't worry about it."

Colnel look at her "Alastor...I fought him. That is how I met Siren."

Rio nodded "I see."

Colnel nodded "Ill tell you the story...when we meet again. How bout here tomorrow?"

Rio nodded "Okay...I like to hear it." she smile "well Im going to go. You should rest to Colnel. Especially if you can feel the pain."

Colnel smiled a bit "Okay. Ill see you tomorrow then."

Rio nodded and then left the field.

Colnel would look up at the ceiling "See Siren. I haven't changed yet" He smile and then logged out..