Evangelion Versus Angels Online

Chapter Three

"Free me / I'll free you

Free us from this world

We don't belong here

It was a mistake imprisoning our souls

Can you free me

And free me from this world"

-Explorers - Muse, 2012

~Job~

I'm still having nightmares. About two months ago, back when Langley and I were still fighting together, we participated in the worst military clusterfuck I've ever seen to that point in the war to defeat Aincrad. The Divine Dragon Alliance, the most powerful guild at the time, grouped with the Aincrad Liberation Front, the largest guild even to this day, to take on Floor Twenty-Five. From the reports, we knew that the boss on that floor was a huge step up in power and evolving tactics from the last one. The DDA insisted, over the ARMY's counter, that we charge in, defeat it quickly using hit-and-run tactics and move on. It had worked with other boss fights, but Langley disagreed. She and I, amongst a few other players, weren't associated with either guild. We worked with them because they were fighting on the front lines. I thought that I'd see our old party members, Kirito and Asuna, on the front, but that proved to be wishful thinking when I learned that the Knights of the Blood Oath, of which Asuna the Flash was vice-commander, were only planning to join the front when they got their numbers and levels high enough. They became the strongest guild on the front after all the crap that happened back then. I never found out where Kirito went. I still don't know.

"You know damn well that this boss is way more powerful than the others," Langley argued. "It wiped out the recon party that you idiots sent up at it!"

The DDA's representative for the floor, a man in his early twenties called Palmer, told her "So has every boss one floor up from the last! What's so different this time, Baron Langley?" People were calling Langley the Red Baron by then for her masterful use of the two-handed sword in only one hand. Though, most of her success was from sneaking and surprise attack, but only one really knew that side of her... she could be devious, but only when she's around a party she trusts. At least, I think that's what it is.

She answered "Haven't you actually read the reports? With the front lines spread throughout Aincrad in a vain effort to clear floors and gather powerful items, we are at a critical low for an attack!" Langley paused, letting the words sink in. She was right too. We were spread too thin to attack at Floor Twenty-Five, but the DDA was pushing for it. They wanted the last attack bonus for the quarter mark boss. A rare GM announcement had been spewing something or other about a special drop all month. Fools. "Most important of all is the opposition force. The boss on twenty-five has at least a hundred familiars to keep us busy, if not more." She paused again, trying to gain the upper hand by shocking Palmer and his Allied Knights. "Many players died to bring us this information."

I needn't go into more detail. I agreed with Langley if only because she and I partied together. I thought differently, and it cost me. That foolhardy attack lost the DDA half their membership and crippled the ARMY. Even now, the ARMY is recruiting members to replace those lost. But one good thing came of it. We killed the Floor Twenty-Five boss and I got another piece of 'last attack' gear: The Final Decision, a dagger that does full sword damage and can be used in tandem with other weapons without a penalty. I rather like my new blade.

5 _June_2023

Floor 35, Aincrad

"So, Job," Agil said on seeing the shorter ranger come through the front door of Agile Agil's Speedy Shop, "what brings you to my humble shop?" Being in what many in Aincrad call a dive probably isn't good for the secretive reputation I built up, but I need something from Agil.

He opened another chain of his weapon shops on Floor Thirty-Five. He has one every five floors, except for the first floor, where he owns half the business in the Town of Beginning. 'Buy low and sell low' my happy trigger finger. Thief sells for all the traffic will bear and still asks more. The one I'm in mostly stocks items to make a player move or attack faster, as should be implied by the name.

"I'm here for information." That was mostly true. I really need appraisal of an item. Sort of...

"You'd be better off finding the Rat. I'm not an informant and my contacts tend to hate me for sharing their stats and secrets with players on lower floors."

I know that. You should really learn to keep your mouth shut about stats... I know I don't want anyone knowing what I can do. But... I need a different type of information. "I'm looking for any information of this, I though you'd be able to appraise it." I pulled out a crystalline object from my inventory.

"I'll see what I can do, but no guarantees." He looked over the object for a minute or so before saying "All the information I know is that it's called the Link to Tellus Prime, and that," he whistles, "only ten were made and distributed in the game."

I was shocked to know I've somehow gotten an item this rare. "But what does it do?"

"That I don't know," the insanely tall weapons merchant said. "Why don't you try it out and see?"

"Because I don't want to waste what ever it does on a test." I really don't. For all I know, it summons a secret boss or turns into a rare drop or something. I need more information. "Do you know of anyone who might know what it does?"

Agil thought on this a few moments. "I might know one person, but he has a knack for putting he nose where it doesn't belong."

"Not the Rat, right?" I was tired of paying her for intel. But damned if she wasn't always right. Now if I could only figure out what the whiskers are for... I'd be a rich man; reward's a Mega-Col to keep it quiet.

"No, not the Rat. This one might charge more, but he knows all about items like this. Call it a hobby."

Sounds like a hacker who gets the specs off the world's admin terminals. My kind of person. "Then who is it?"

"Calls himself Irate. Member of the Knights of Cydonia guild based out of Floor Nineteen."

What kind of person would call himself Irate? "Irate, was it?"

"Yeah. I'd be careful around that one. Rumor has it he's never lost a fight and he might talk your ear off."

"I appreciate the warning. But I don't was to fight, just buy information."

Same Day - 19:22

I used the public teleport gate to get to Floor Nineteen, the city of Harkonan. It was a fairly large place compared to the floors around it. Seventeen was a collection of villages surrounding a mountain. Twenty-Two is a bunch of forests and rivers all connected to the near by town. I rather like Twenty-Two, kinda' wish I could afford to live there. But Nineteen reminded me of a large town in the rural parts of Japan. God... I can't even bring myself to call it home anymore. It's only been... what's the date?

You're kidding me. It's the fifth already? I really wish I could find Langley. She blocked the trace that people can usually do on people on their friend's list. I guess the fact that I'm still on hers is a good thing. She isn't dead. Nor has she cut all ties with me. I hope. She is the kind to forget those things until something brings her attention to it.

There are a lot of things I want.

I was directed to a tavern on the outskirts of Harkonan by players who are familiar with Irate. That I say familiar is something... he mostly keeps to himself, even within the same guild. The guild headquarters is a fairly nice looking place for the city vibe that this large town puts out. It's a tall building, probably five stories. The outer decoration looks like something out of the fantasy genre. Not surprising, given the game we're all playing.

I knocked on the front door. "Hello? Is anyone here?"

I heard a light soprano voice behind the door call out "please, come in."
Pushing the door open, I was greeted by a young woman, short and thin, with light green hair. "Welcome to the guild HQ of the Knights of Cydonia. How may I help you today?"

"I'm looking for an information merchant called-"

The woman cut me off. "You're here for Irate." She sighed. "He's out doing gods-knows-what for the guild, he says." The peaceful demeanor was gone and replaced with a sarcasm born from irritation at the man called Irate. Unsurprising really. "If you want, I can offer you a place to stay while you wait. He might be a couple days though."

I'm not really strapped for time... I did want to find Langley before tomorrow though... oh well. "What do accommodations cost?"

She answered immediately. "If you're willing to share, nothing. If not, private rooms are fifty Col a night. Anything fancy like food also costs extra."

"You have quite the establishments here," I said curtly, but not quite sarcastically.

"We pride ourselves on being a stopping point for front line players. Beds, food, entertainment and information. That's the Knights of Cydonia." She was rather proud of their Martian background, wasn't she? I can respect that. Doubt any one of them will be taken alive if they're all like her.

"So... how about a private room with dinner tonight and breakfast in the morning?"

"It'll come to seventy-five Col. I'll need half up front-"

I stopped her talking by tossing a leather pouch at her. "There's a hundred, call the last twenty-five a gift from Job to the Knights of Cydonia." The pouch actually had five hundred inside, but no one really notices the difference in currency when not actually looking at it. I appreciate that she took me at face value about what was in the pouch. Now I don't have to fake embarrassment when she tries to return the extra.

6_June_2023

The next morning, I woke up to a knock at the door and the same soft voice asking "may I come in?"

I quickly answered yes, allowing her entrance the system wouldn't otherwise allow without me directly turning the knob on the door. Picking myself up out of bed, the young woman, whose name I shamefully forgot to ask last night, turned around suddenly. "What's wrong?" She didn't turn, but I noticed that she was slightly red in the cheek she couldn't turn all the way from me. Ahh... that's it. "Please stay there for a moment." I hopped up out of bed shirtless, but basically clothed, and opened my menu. My selection was the armor I gained defeating the boss on Floor Ten: Duster of the Mountain Peak. It's a white long coat with a cut up the back middle and more pockets than I'd ever need. It was worn over a more modest selection of a white skin suit used normally for hunting in the snowy wild. Honestly, if I'm going to be trapped in a game where death is the only option, I like to have the advantage of not looking like a target. I mean... who would mistake a odd bit of the landscape of Aincrad for a player.

"You can turn around now, I've dressed."

She slowly turned back around. I noticed now that she was carrying a tray of breakfast foods. I suppose this is what I paid for last night. Didn't realize it came with a delivery from such a beauty.

"I've brought you your breakfast. I'll leave it here." She placed the food on the coffee table across the room by a couch.

"There's so much food," I said, "perhaps you haven't eaten yet?"

She stopped in the door frame. "Perhaps... I'll stay for a bite- if I'm welcome." That was surprisingly easy. I usually have to offer more accommodations to not have to eat a meal alone. I hate eating alone.

We ate silently together. There was no way that I'd be able to eat all the food she brought up here, and packing it would only last a couple hours outside an immobile storage container like an icebox. At least, that's how I rationalized it to myself. When we were done, she asked to be excused, to which I answered there was no need to ask, that I had been the one to ask in the first place for her to stay. Before she left, I asked "do you think Irate-san will be back today?"

"I really don't know. If he does come here, you'll be first to know."

"I see." I took one last sip of tea and stood up. "I'll be going into town for a couple hours. If I Irate-san arrives, will you please ask him to wait?"

She hesitated just a bit before saying. "Of course." She left.

Shit. I forgot to ask her name again. Shameful.

Floor Nineteen isn't the largest place to trade, but it does rival the market Agil took over on Floor One. It sort of reminds me of a vast, indoor shopping arcade. With the exception of the humidity this time of the year, it's a shoppers paradise. I was looking for some basic supplies... I promise.

"What do you mean 'ammunition?'" One shop owner said mockingly when I asked about more crossbow bolts. "Ain't no such thing in all of Aincrad," he said, reminding me of those old American movies about the nineteen-fifties. Or was it the eighteen-fifties... never could tell with the Americans.

I pulled my crossbow, a heavily self-modified beginners' weapon the I got in the Town of Beginnings, and put it in the shop keeper's face. "This."

He looked the weapon over, probably appraising the craftsmanship. "You're looking for parts for a custom weapon? How stupid are you?"

Asshole. No one calls me stupid. No one... well. "What do you mean custom? I know I've modified it, but I got this in the Town of Beginnings as a freshman item."

"It has a craftsman's tag, but not one I've ever seen. Here, I'll show you."

The shop owner pulled up a shared window in his menu to show me the tag left by the person who made this weapon. A craft tag is usually a small circle with some design in the middle. This was a circle atop a smallish rectangle, both blood red but separate, with a cruciform sword in the middle pointing down, as if stabbing the symbol.

"Is there any more information on it?"

"Nothing that I can see, and my appraisal skill is over nine hundred." I must have looked perturbed... and dangerous... as the shop keeper said hastily "Either it's original creator kept his name secret from the system, or somehow got a hold of a GM account to erase his credentials. I'd not show this to many people."

"That include yourself?"
"No. Don't show it to game NPCs or anyone shady. This is what I do."

I tucked the weapon away, ready to use at a moments' notice, but imperceptible except for those with maxed out sight and tossed the shop keeper a large sum of money in small coins. I think he knows what that means. I digress... In other words, not more than ten people total in Aincrad should ever see this item up close like that. Not that many get the chance. "Got it." I turned to walk away. "Oi, owner, do you know how to make one of these?" I tossed him one of the last dozen bolts I have left.

"You need a weapons crafter to make anything like this. It looks similar to how swords are crafted from ingots. Try asking on Floor Thirty about a young woman by the name of Lizbeth. She's still training, but I hear she's the best at making high powered blades. Maybe she can help you."

"Thanks."

Walking away, I heard a chime in the distance. In the center of town, there is an enormous clock tower housing a bell that can be heard a floor above and a floor below in the flying castle Aincrad. Each level is unique and are supposed to be separate. The damn clock is game breaking; has to be. Chime, chime. It's two in the afternoon. Irate must be back by now. I returned to the guild HQ of the Knights of Cydonia to find a short, thin man hanging around the front. I couldn't see his face behind a thin mask, but this may be who I'm looking for.

He turned to face me. "You da' one been lookin' for me?"

I was surprised at his accent and voice. It was the strangest combination of harsh drawl and light, male soprano. "I am. I'm looking for information."

"Yeah," he asked, again, in that odd mode of speech.

"Can we speak somewhere a little less... here?" I didn't want to pull this item out again without being locked in somewhere private and away from prying eyes and open ears.

"Sure. Where've ya' got in?" Almost missed that.

"How about there," I pointed to the center of town, at the loudest, game breaking, clock tower I've ever seen.

"Got'cha." He started to walk away. I quickly sped up to match pace.

Same Day - 16:52

It was about two-thirty when we were at the top of the tower and away from people. "I've had this for a while now," I materialized the Link to Tellus Prime item from my inventory. It resembles a crystal made of lapis lazuli and obsidian all mixed into a single, swirling object.

Irate watched as I spun the item in my hand. "May I?" His speech changed a little. More formal now. I handed him the crystal and watched as he examined it using his HUD. "Mind if I play with this a little?"

"What do you mean?"

"You'd be better off not knowing the specifics, but I have certain privileges in this game that I take advantage of to try to help people. Yes or no?" Where had that rough soprano voice gone? I though it sounded off, but I didn't think that Irate was... well... I have no proof, but he's sounding more and more like an admin. I don't really think... or do I?

"Sure, do what you need to. I just want to know what its is."

Nothing happened for a while. He messed with his HUD, something I could never see, while I twiddled my thumbs and checked the perimeter for other players. My perception isn't the best, but not many can hide from me without almost perfect hiding skills. I just couldn't shake the feeling that someone's watching. But if I can't see them...

"I've got it." Irate sounded almost sad when he said that.

"What is it?" My question is simple. It's the sum total of the thought I've put into equipment thus far.

"It's an Easter Egg," he said.

What? What the hell does he mean by that? "Care to elaborate?"

"Not really, but I will anyway. I do expect a slight bonus though. This is something special indeed." That was chancy. What would he have done if I were a PKer?

"Fine. An extra five thousand if it turns out to be something worthwhile. Payment on delivery." Way I see it, my terms are fair. Heh... catch me acting like this a year ago. Act more like a man, she used to tell me. But the last time we were together... she almost looked afraid.

"Deal," Irate said, pulling me out of my reminiscence. "Never tell anyone you don't trust about this-"

"That include you," I added quickly, reminding the man in my employee that his life might count on not screwing me.

"Yes. But I'm in this for the money, not the paltry day this thing'll give ya'."

"And," I urged him on.

"This item, the Link to Tellus Prime... Break down the name, kid."

What is there to break down? It's some sort of connection to... Tellus sounds Latin... Tellus... Terra? All right... Earth. Prime? One. Connection to Earth One?

"The item description, something well hidden, reads 'Instant one use item. Be instantly logged out for the duration of eighty-six thousand four hundred seconds. Reminder: Do not remove or attempt to un-power NervGear.'"

My mouth hung open. It was at this moment that something unexpected happened. I don't know if there is a god in this world or the one I used to live it, but it must have been listening today. I saw a silhouette on the drooping sun and Irate ducked in fear.

"Shinji?"

~Langley~

I just stood there in amazement. I didn't really think that sneaking up here was going to lead anywhere. But there he is. I guess working on that skill with the guild paid off.

"Shinji?"

It wasn't a question to ask his identity, but just my way of rationalizing that this was happening. I actually found him, and not a moment too late. It's already most of the way through the sixth of June.

"Langley," he said, turning away from the other man he was standing with. "Is that you?"

Doesn't he recognize me? Of course not, dummy, he just asked by name. I guess I've changed as much as he has. When we parted ways, he was afraid to wear that white coat or use the name he gained with it. I never wore this bloody long coat until I joined the guild. Then no one could not call me the Red Baron; or Baroness. It's like that garish name they gave Job: the White Death. I think they took the sniper thing a little too far, but what can you say about them?

"Of course it's me, fool." That was a little too icy for how I wanted to say it. Erg... I finally find him and all I do is berate him like this...

He just sort of stood there. "I... I see. So... how have you been?"

How have I been? For one, I haven't seen you in almost two months, idiot. I... was almost on you every day for the last week, but you always seemed to get away by just a few meters, a couple seconds. "Well enough. You?"

The other player he was with just sort of stood there, seeming to give us time to chat. Job said "About the same." I could tell it was a lie. He's never been at ease in his life. Maybe he's been looking for me, but then... I turned off the search function on my beacon. He'd never be able to find me that way. Maybe he spend his time asking around or, I can't help but remember his actions on Floor Sixteen, beating information out of top ranked players.

"Who's this," I said after a moment of silence between us. I don't really care, but I suppose it's best to have as much information as possible here. Jeze... I even want information from him?

"This is Irate-san," he said almost instantly. It seems he still trusts me after... well... after what happened on Floor Twenty-Five. "I've been working with him for a little while to figure out a few item descriptions." He smiled as he said the words. He hardly ever smiled when he and I were fighting through the first quarter of Aincrad.

I wonder... is he just happier without me around? It could be that I'm back... I don't even want to think that I have no impact.

"I see... Pleasure to meet you, Irate-san." I extended my hand, rather than bow. I much prefer this as a formal greeting to what was expected of me in mother's country of birth. Not that I disliked Japan; just some of the customs were odd to me. Mother brought me up in a fairly well-to-do house, and only the staff bowed, even if you begged for informality.

To his credit, Irate took my hand and shook firmly. It was a nice reminder of home. "The pleasure is all mine, oh-mighty Red Baron Langley."

I suppose that stupid nickname would come back to get me sooner or later. It had to be my damn coat... and I guess my hair didn't help the name much. And yes, bright red is my natural colour. Unlike some of the other players (and I suppose people on the other side), I don't feel the need to bleach my hair to get a better shade.

"Dearest Job," I decided to poke a little fun at stupid-Shinji for his quest, "me-thinks thy naive knows too much. Shall I surrender a lesson a la Langley?"

Job looked... less like Job and more like Shinji for a moment. He quickly readjusted his mask. He seemed to take on a number of masks for different situations over the last several months. But his 'Shinji' mask is mine. "Baron Langley," he seems to be playing along, "I doth believe in a renewed chance in this life. This man, a mere vassal, shall live."

"Hey," Irate said. "Who are you calling a vassal," he droned out in an odd drawl I hadn't noticed before.

This could be more fun than I thought. "Nay! Stand and reveal thy self at once!"

Job quickly responded with "Long live the king!"

"Doth a specter appear before me," I asked mockingly, trying to remember my Hamlet as well as I could.

"Nay. A simple protector of the weak and SAO's finest."

Never could refuse a chance to pick up his ego a little. Frankly, he's always needed it; as long as I've known Shinji, he always needed someone who wasn't male to boost him up a little. "The mighty Job. Seven of the great beasts of Aincrad fall to you. But are you up to seven more? Or more after that?" It was rhetorical. I followed up with "But of course! Nothing, no monster too large or mighty. The Abaddon and the Count of Vampires, to you they fell. Here he comes to save the day!"

Maybe I went a little overboard. But it only caught up with me when he lowered his head and said "Thank you, Langley." His mask fell off a second time.

But he recovered quickly and said "Irate-san, I think we're done here."

Irate stood there, waiting.

"What do you want in return for your services," Job insisted. I suppose Irate and Job had finished as I revealed myself. Though... I couldn't hear the conclusion of that business from my hiding place. I would have to ask later.

He just stood there. What was up with him? Maybe his connection faltered? No. That would mean... at this second...

But after a few seconds, he shook his head and asked "What were you saying?"

I was going to ask what just happened when Job interrupted my first syllable. "You broke communication for a moment. What happened?"

This was a mask I wasn't familiar with. I don't like it. I've never seen him this serious before. But... what's the feeling I'm having. It reminds me of how he used to be when we were little. He used to be so cold towards me. The only person he would open up to was his father, and that stopped around the time we got into our last year of middle school. I wonder what brought on the shift. Knowing him, it was more than a hormonal thing. It had to go deeper.

"I don't know. It felt like I was paralyzed, but I wasn't getting any sensory input from this avatar," Irate said, his face twisting in puzzlement.

"Interesting. I've seen this before." Another mask? It was similar to the old Shinji, but more calculating. The way he said the words, like he had Irate under a microscope.

It could have been me, but I could have sworn that Irate-san twitched at Job saying he'd seen the phenomenon before.

Job turned to me and said "remember back when this all started?" I shook my head. "Nearly every player within a few days of the death game being announced went offline for several hours. It caught my by surprise, you just collapsing in the middle of the field outside the third village on Floor One."

Job's face contorted, probably in remembering the horror on his face and the drained, white cheeks as he watched Langley fall to her knees and, finally, on to her face, for no apparent reason.

"And I remember waking up to you sleeping," I said, myself recalling when I woke back up, Job seemed to have just fallen to the same thing.

When I shook him back then, and he didn't wake up, I went out into the tavern to gather information. What I learned about what was happening to him and what had happened to me was... disconcerting to say the least. Apparently, the monster who trapped us all here gave each player a short reprieve to get transferred to a proper hospital. How kind.

"I think the same think just happened again to you, Irate-san." He sounded... less sure then he did only a moment ago. I couldn't keep track of his shifts in personality. Was he always like this, or didn't I care to notice?

"Did it," Irate asked, bemused at the prospect.

What's going through his head?

"I think we should-" Job started to talk as Irate vanished in a game-effect usually reserved for NPC spawning and player teleports. He was gone in a flurry of light and cubes.

I could only stand there, mouth agape at the empty space before us.

Job, on the other hand, immediately pulled up his menu terminal and began typing. "Access what's left of the-" Not that I could hear what he was saying, half of it was muttering. "-be done with game masters account-" Or for that matter, something about controlling the GM accounts... Just what is going on here?

"Oi! Job!" I tried to get his attention, but he was engrossed in the terminal and still mumbling to himself half recognizable code. "Stupid-Shinji!" It was a shrill sound that only a certain, angry half-German/half-Japanese girl could produce. Luckily, I fit the bill quite well. That did it. Job jumped a meter in the air, hit his head on the ceiling of the clock tower and lost ten hit points for his trouble.

"Glad I got your attention," I said triumphantly. "About time you paid a little attention..." I trailed off as soon as the words formed in my mouth. It wasn't about him paying attention to me. It was about me paying attention to him.

"I'm sorry, Asuka." And he used my name. Make me feel worse about all this, why don't you... We've been here about two thirds of a year and the idea that the players once had names on the other side has all but vanished. Even I stopped thinking of SAO as a game eventually. It's life. Life or die. Same as it's always been, but with more monsters and weapons and blood coloured coats.

Idiot. Don't apologize to me. "It's fine," was all I could say... and it sounded cold. "But... what happened to Irate-san?"

I nearly made him forget about his current mission. That terminal was still up and buzzing away trying to do... something for Job that would help Irate. "The computer is working on the path his data took so we can track him."

The computer? Machines are impossible in Aincrad. The IPEA has been trying for as long as I've been part of them. "What do you mean 'computer?' No matter how high player skills are, creating complex machines isn't something SAO allows."

"I never said I made it," was all he said on the topic. I took that as 'If you don't want to get in trouble for knowing, don't ask. Please.'

"Fine," I finally said. "But... well..."

He stood there, clearly not knowing what I was trying to say. He should totally know, it is today!

"I wanted to wish you a happy birthday, Shinji." There. I said it. Was that all it took? Two months of being pissed at him and all I wanted was to say that? I guess that's enough. I suppose now isn't the time, but we never really had any 'timing' between us to speak of.

He still stood there. Even as his computer bleeped in our ears, he only stood there. I thought, if only for a second, that he was disconnected. But when I waved my hand over his eyes, they tracked perfectly. So what was up?

"Asuka..." He said, sounding a little out of breath. "You... Thank you."

Thank you? It's something I hadn't really heard in Aincrad. It's as if everyone forgot manners when we were all abducted into this castle. I guess he said it all the time (along with 'I'm sorry' and 'It was my fault') when we partied together, but I never really noticed before now.

That might be why I didn't expect what happened next.

~Author's Notes~

I really dislike using Author's Notes in a fan fiction. I think they take away from the fiction a little too much. Though, I do have a few things to say. First off, I would like to thank the wonderful people reading and reviewing my latest attempt at a crossover. You have been what's keeping me writing (well... you and the voice of a certain writing teacher from my university in my head (damn you...)). Second, I'm reposting this (chapter three) as a longer chapter. The original was... well I think it sucked compared to the first two chapters, so I took what I had, added in what I was writing as chapter four, and changed perspective (and hopefully voice) to liven up the party (which, despite the bad pun, will be coming back fairly soon). Lastly, I'm going to be jumping around in the time line a little, as the medium that SAO was written in gives me a little freedom in what parts I write and post first. I'll keep posting the date with them so it stays not-confusing. This just means that if I post the next chapter, which is looking like part of the end game, I can still go back and fill in more parts of the story without breaking myself or what I tried to set up.

Thanks for reading, and as always, enjoy.