Evangelion Versus Angels Online

Chapter Nine

"From somewhere, back in my youth, heard Prof say, Manuel, when faced with a problem you do not understand, do any part of it you do understand, then look at it again. He had been teaching me something he himself did not understand very well -something in maths- but had taught me something far more important, a basic principle. Knew at once what to do first."

-Manuel Garcia O'Kelly Davis, 2076

Thinking back, nothing went the way I expected. But, then, when do expectations meet with reality in a fashion benefiting the people dreaming them up? Even now, I remember my expectations from twenty fourteen. To this day, I believe it was love at first sight.

Must have been eight or nine. Father had grilled me on proper manners for his foreign visitors: remember honorifics – in German. Bow properly. Don't repeat any word that I don't understand without asking about it. Father knew Doctor Soryu well. And, as the trains run on time, Doctor Kyoko Tyler Soryu came in, a litany of swears and angry, universal gestures abound.

"God-damned, mother-fucking, useless bastards born from donkey piss," she yelled in barely understandable German as she and her daughter left the train, luggage in tow.

Father answered in a calm, familiar tongue. "Kyoko, it's been too long. How have you been?"

Still in a huff, Soryu answered quite loudly, "Pissed off," in Japanese.

Father and Soryu spoke for several minutes while I peeked out from behind him. Then, I took notice of someone doing much the same from behind Doctor Soryu. She was wearing somewhat heavy clothing for the weather, and a tan hat hiding her long, vivid red hair. She poked her head out just long enough for me to see her face. I'm not sure if she noticed me, but she was stunning.

From the national train station in Kyoto, you can see most of the historical spots in the city. The girl, only three centimeters shorter than my own short stature, slowly walked over to the observation platform. I followed behind, tentatively and awkwardly, paying little more than a glance at our respective parents. There, I simply stood near her as she stared out over Kyoto, noting the hundreds of years old buildings and monuments.

Just as I opened my mouth to speak, she began to speak quickly – in German. "My God, this place is so large. I can't even see the end of the village." She turned to me. Still speaking the unknown language, "how far away is that," she asked, pointing at the sliver of Nijo Castle we could see from here. It was hidden by buildings and landscape. When I couldn't seem to speak, she said, "didn't you hear me? How far-" And it dawned on her – that I, quite literally, could not understand her. She made the switch, shakily. "How's this? Japanese?"

I answered, slowly, unsure if she could understand the fast tongue. "Yes. Uh... I didn't catch what you asked before."

She frowned. "Ugg... mother was insistent. Need to learn more."

Her grammar wasn't much, but she was surely intelligent to comprehend even that much of the complicated language. I wondered if she understood the Kanji.

"We can go there," she asked, or perhaps stated. I couldn't tell, given her unfamiliarity with the language.

"If father says we can," I replied, dependent on my father's answer to a visit to the local sights.

"Asuka," the older woman said, voice accented nearly out of my understanding. The name sounded similar to one I had heard on television, but slightly different. Different use of the syllables, I suppose. Then she was again speaking in German to the girl – to Asuka. "Gather your things, we are going to the hotel."

Asuka turned to me. "Mother says we're going. Will you be around with your father?"

I didn't quite catch on. "If father brings me."

"Mama, can Mr. Gendo come with us," Asuka said quickly. The only word I could make out in her native tongue was mama.

Soryu seemed to think on this a moment; probably sizing me up, seeing as, in retrospect, her interest in father coming along was my coming along.

"After we've settled down, dear," Soryu answered in German. Father leaned down to translate for me. He told me that we could see the two again soon.

Asuka cheered. "Thank you, mama." She turned to me and spoke in hesitant Japanese, "See you later."

"Of course," I answered in a moment of clarity of mind; feeling slightly older than I was at the time.

It was just later that evening we met again and I learned that Asuka's mother, who seemed to have an endless string of names sandwiched between the two she used, was being brought on to the staff at father's lab in the coming spring. Up until then, I hadn't been able to get close to people as friends. But this would mark a turning point – and and end of night lying alone without a thought of my own or of others.

Then, it came crashing down after seven years. It wasn't anything she did; or that's what I told myself after the fact. I think it was a long time coming. Her mother's work had come to an end due to an ever-increasing demand for money for other projects and she wasn't adapting to high school in Japan very well. Primary and Junior-High went well for the two of us. Hell, we'd been dating since grade seven. But the stress and the people finally got to her.

"I don't want to talk about this," she screeched as the fake wood that made up the television unit broke under the extra strain of being hit. I could see the wood split and rushed over, only to get a fisted hand to the stomach for the trouble of pushing her out of the way. And... it went from there. She ran out, striking the only other person in shouting distance, Doctor Eli Vance, a co-worker of our parents. I took a hit to the head from a falling decoration and ended up buried in a hundred kilograms of fake wood and electronics.

Unpleasant.

30_October_2024 – 03:31

We have fairly nice accommodations on Floor Fifty-Five. Two bedrooms, large living space and looks nice inside and out. Though, all the accommodation in the world couldn't keep me from leaping out of bed screaming this morning. I was having such a nice dream too... but it turned quickly. What was it about again? Screw it. Dreams don't mean much in the long term, I think.

The door burst open and I stared, bleary-eyed, at Asuka standing there panting. It seems I woke her up. "What," she demanded. "What's happening!?"

I just stared.

"Another one," she asked, frowning, but not leaving.

I nodded.

"Old one or new one," referring to one of several concurrent nightmares I've been having for a year or so now, and the occasional new play preformed on the stage of my mind. Though, in general, they were things I thought I had long-forgotten.

"Old," I said simply. I was numb from the... was it a memory, or something I came up with on my own?

"I see."

I had told Asuka about the old ones as they began to repeat themselves. As I tried to leave out details leading to the memory part of the nightmares, she put the pieces together. Three of them are based on memories of her. And another four on scattered memories of mother and father. Asuka took slight offense at the one of when we met, but understood the nightmares based on my remembrance of our break up and subsequent year, not of the earlier, less committal memories. Ah, the innocence of childhood, I mused. But when it came to the others, she tried to understand, but eventually gave up in frustration around the time I did.

"Want a shoulder," she asked, sitting down next to me in the small bed.

"No," I replied slowly. I just didn't want anything at the moment.

She pulled my head down onto her shoulder regardless of my answer. It was soft – comfortable. "Well, you don't know what you want anymore," she justified.

"I guess so," I conceded.

10:20

After that, the night went more quietly. While Asuka and I were together again, we never did much about it. Sleeping in the same room was more of a comfort in this world that had, for a long time, wronged us, rather than an intimate encounter. We slept well together.

That morning, we were to meet with some friends from Granzam to get ready for a Halloween special boss.

"Well, there's no information about it," I overheard in the cafe.

"I know that, but I still want it," came another voice.

"Sendix said his guild's planning a fight."

"You want something no one knows anything about?"

"It's worth millions!"

"I heard it brings people back to life."

"The Army's gonna' move in and take it."

The rumor-mill never ends. I can't stand all the gossip about the special drop. The four of us -Asuka, Kirito, Asuna and myself, as per usual for out get-togethers- sat around a small, circular table with coffees and cakes to nosh on.

"So what's your plan then," Asuka exclaimed somewhat peevishly as Kirito explained that her plan -a full frontal assault- wasn't likely to work.

"I don't have a specific one," he offered.

"Then what's the difference between my plan and your lack of one!"

"Perhaps, more of a dual attack," Asuna offered in opposition to the direct method.

Asuka calmed slightly. While dual-faceted attacks weren't uncommon, assaults from the front were the most useful against AI monsters. But then, larger and stronger enemies were tougher and needed something more pronounced in the planning stage.

"How about some bolts," Kirito said, directing his comment at my ranged ability.

"Ammo isn't a problem," I said, offering something that wouldn't bind me to actually doing anything. I'll fight when I can't avoid it, but going after the special boss is bound to get us talked about; and getting talked about is bound to lead people to us that want what we have.

"Then how about..." Kirito outlined an attack where I draw the aggression of the special boss and the sword-wielders in our little group move in relative safety to hit. My safety is less than guaranteed, but then, when is it ever safe in Aincrad.

"It's not a bad plan," Asuka said slowly, "but I don't like how we're leaving Shin- Job out to dry. It doesn't sit well with me."

"Even if I promise his safety," Kirito asked.

"How do you plan to do that?"

Kirito launched into a... captivating tale of the Floor 74 boss battle. It was wonderful. Earlier that day, the day they cleared 74, Kirito and Asuna had been mapping the area around the boss chamber, something that needs to be done by a scouting party. They happened to volunteer for the Knights of the Blood Oath guild to scout while they were level-grinding. Kirito was accosted by a near-unto-death group from the Aincrad Liberation Force, a guild dedicated to clearing the hundred levels of Aincrad as swiftly as possible to save everyone. They were doing about as well as everyone else, if that gives any indication of their power. Their squadron leader, a colonel called Cobert, demanded their mapping information. Kirito surrendered it, allowing the Army, as they were known, to copy it. Map data, while valuable, isn't worth much with another group already nearly as far as you've gone. If he'd gotten back to the town to sell it, he might have made a few dozen Col on it at the most.

Barely an hour later, they had met up with Kirito's friends in Fuurinkazan, just by chance. He described the screams from the boss room as 'the wailing of the damned,' and rushed in with Kiein's people to find several members of the Army on the ground in the chamber and three dead – one, their leader, just as he entered. Asuna piped in, telling us the part Kirito would muddle or leave out. He rushed in -ignoring the fact the she ran in first- blocked the boss by himself and used something no one had ever seen before.

"What was it," I asked, bringing myself out of the tale for a moment to react.

"Dual Blades."

Kirito explained the technical aspects of the unique skill while Asuna went in for the more poetic version of the battle. She outlined a very one-sided fight between The Gleam Eyes, that floor's boss, and Kirito. He started with the longsword he's known for, the Elucidator. Told Asuna and Klein that he needed a few seconds to change equipment and pulled his second sword, another longsword called Dark Repulser, to fill an empty hand.

"I lost the hit counter, it was changing so quickly," Asuna said, commenting on how fast Kirito's Starburst Stream combo attack moved and the amount of hits he got in. Kirito offered a number in the high twenties, but couldn't say if the extra hits were part of the skill or extras he managed to get.

The conversation went on, Kirito and Asuna filling in parts of the tale the other left out, offering not-quite promises of protection in the upcoming battle with the unknown special boss. Shinji was appeased; Asuka was... not happy, but accepting.

I don't know about other players, but the four of us should have formed our own guild. We party together enough, and we bridge the gaps between our groups. Asuna is our ticket into the Knights of the Blood Oath. Asuka, with some restraint, is the group's access to the IPEA, who offer assistance when they can. Kirito and I were the link to solo players, the few of us left. It wasn't well know, but the solos are the best players. Period. The average level in KOB went up by more than fifteen when Kirito joined. And my level was only two below his, but with a totally different character build. Asuka and Asuna were about ten levels under us, but only because they weren't training-nuts like we are. I can only think of three other players who could match us. And I want them on out side. So, I sent some private messages.

The first message was met with an unexplained and foreseen no. Suppose if I really want his help, I'll have to go through Klein. After all, if being the leader of a guild meant anything, it was following the orders given. My second message made it back with a hesitant yes. I don't blame Roland for not wanting to fight an unknown boss. He's not cowardly, but he has a responsibility to his guild not to die. Last thing I'd want to do to his group -or wife- is separate them from one another. The last message came back with a definite yes. It would seem that Tabris meant it when he said he'd do anything for me. It's not as creepy as it sounds, but Asuka says otherwise.

"He freaks me out," she exclaimed the moment I brought up the message.

"I don't see why," I defended.

"He was clearly coming on to you."

At this, Kirito and Asuna's interest peaked. They oohed and aahed over the revelation. I just leaned back in my chair, trying to salvage what little dignity I can from her worries. It's not my fault if someone's hitting on me; but rather, it is my problem if Asuka thinks so. How bothersome.

Asuka shot back with, "it's not like Shinji did anything!"

"Doesn't sound like a big deal," Asuna said.

"I agree," I put in flat-faced and monotone, trying not to flush a darker shade of red at Asuka's accusation about Tabris.

"He's a creeper! I just don't like the way he looks at you. It's not normal!" As always, Asuka with her lack of tact. Maybe that's part of why I love her. Or maybe it's the charm that no one else can see. Or maybe it's just that she'll be honest with me when no one else will.

"Don't talk like that," Asuna put in. Yeah... the charm others can't see.

"I can't help it," Asuka said. "He just rubs me the wrong way."

"You'd rather he rubs Job," Kirito said with a smirk. Asuka flushed bright red. We all, save Asuka, shared a laugh before she came down off her rant on the half-German and half-Japanese morals she was brought up on. Can't even blame her.

"If you'd rather he not come-" I tried to appease after a few minutes.

"No, no," Asuka said. "He'll be useful to beat this special boss."

Useful. I don't like it when Asuka speaks like that, but it's just how she is. Pragmatism over propriety. He doesn't like Tabris, but she's willing to work with him when we need a little extra power.

"All right. I'll let him know where we're going, which is?"

Asuka answered immediately, "Floor 50. The Halloween boss is going to show up in the Hallowed Grounds near the southern edge of the castle."

"Floor 50," I muttered. "Got it. Are he heading there now, or are we spending the night here?"

"Now. I want to be waiting there when the boss shows up, not caught unawares and against other guilds. The prize is ours!"

Kirito just looked on as Asuna covered her mouth to suppress a mirthless chuckle. Apparently my dead friends think I may be under the whip here. I grinned at them, not to try to dissuade them from making assumptions, but rather to confuse them slightly. I grinned wider when it worked, setting in a cycle of my own amusement.

32_October_2024 – 23:49

It's almost time. We met up with Tabris half a day or so ago, to Asuka's discomfort. He came up out of nowhere with a hug for me and a grin and a handshake for Asuka – even that was probably more than she wanted to associate with him. Kirito bowed shallowly, prompting Asuna and Tabris to do the same. It seems he's not unfamiliar with several forms of greeting, though, I was less than OK with his greeting for me, given Asuka's misgivings. Maybe I'll see it coming next time and put my hand out or bow or something.

We spent the next several hours going over strategy. Asuna and Asuka are paired for maximum speed and close-quarters-combat ability. The two of them can get in and out quickly for small, but repeated damage counters. Kirito goes in alone to attack with his Dual Blades ability; and Tabris follows his attacks up with his assist damage. It was obvious to me that he still scared Kirito. Ever since the Floor 35 fight, every time the two are together, Kirito speaks to Tabris through me. While everyone eventually decided that the player-killing scum deserved death, at the time, Kirito was appalled and ashamed that his attack was used as a starting point to execute the man in such a... horrible way. Most hold that the Black Iron Prison is a better place for killers, but then no one thinks about what's going to happen to them when the game ends. Will they leave SAO as normal people, or will they continue to kill in the real world? Time will tell.

That aside, I'll be taking up my normal post as sniper. Ammunition hasn't been a problem since I met that blacksmith working with the Cydonia guild Asuka and I saved a while back. She said she owed me for not letting her guild go bankrupt, and all I needed to do was bring materials for her to change into bolts and -to my surprise- arrows. Bolts are enough like bullets that they do similar damage in this world. But arrows have special damage counters. Inflammatory attributes, liquids and super-sharp – which is about what it sounds like. I prefer normal arrows over special ones, but super-sharps are useful against heavily armored or powerful mobs – and even people, if the situation calls for it.

"Ten minutes to go," Kirito announced to no one in particular. We were painfully aware one of the toughest battles so far was about to begin. This place really is hallowed ground. It was designed to look like a graveyard out of an old, Britannian horror movie.

"No contacts yet," Asuka offered, still scanning the area for enemies. It's surprising no other groups had shown up yet.

The little we know about the boss is that it will arrive, hold for about ten seconds while its name comes up and health bars fill – just like all bosses in Aincrad. Other than that, the five of us are ready for nearly everything except an admin suddenly deciding we'd look better as fluttering polygons.

"White Death and Black Swordsman, you are surrounded. Surrender now," came a loud, authoritative voice.

From my perch in the brush, I looked out over at least ten players all brandishing similar weapons and gear, but I wasn't sure what guild they were from. No one made a move. I swore inwardly, cursing myself for pressing my luck with that admin comment.

"Again, the White Death, player Job; and the Black Swordsman, player Kirito are to surrender to the Divine Dragon Alliance at once. Failure to surrender will result in your deaths and the deaths of any players who choose to defend you. You have ninety seconds to reply."

Ninety seconds. That sure was generous of them. What the hell is going on. I received a message from Asuka. Don't surrender. Asuna and I are circling around to the left flank. He and Kirito are moving to the right. Don't move until we attack.

I sent a reply. Numbers?

Asuna replied for her. Around 30. Maybe more.

Crap. More than thirty enemies. Sixty seconds to prepare. If I can pick them off from a distance, maybe the others can get away. My message rang out again. And don't you even think about trying to take them all on yourself, idiot.

That was Asuka. But then, who else would call me an idiot for that plan? I know it was stupid to try to take them all, but I don't like being the only ranged character. I'd rather be on the ground fighting with them, rather than hanging back and playing death-from-above.

With the timer under twenty seconds, I climbed up the least dead tree I could find to get a better vantage point. Then, "You are out of time. Do you surrender?"

Nothing.

"Prepare to die," the apparent leaver yelled out. He called out orders to his people and they charged into the graveyard. It seems we have to do this the hard way.

I suddenly got one last message before the fight began for real. If you take off a beast's head, it flails around, needlessly.

Tabris sent that one. He and Asuka should really get along better, they're so much alike. What he was telling me was... distasteful. He wanted me to kill the leader – or at least the one calling for our deaths. He thinks that would put an end to the battle before it really got to us. But... I just can't kill like that. Kirito once came to me a night we were all together. The normally stoic Black Swordsman who caused such fear in other players broke down in tears. Why? The Knights of the Blood Oath, back in August, set out on a campaign to wipe out the Laughing Coffin guild. Normally, this wouldn't matter, but by then Kirito had been inducted into the KoB after losing a duel with their leader, Heathcliff. Out of thirty remaining members of Laughing Coffin, Kirito killed two during the battle, plus one some months before that who had infiltrated the KoB and made an attempt on his and Asuna's lives. He felt sorrow for the lives he ended. It would have broken him without us around to be with. Maybe I'm being melodramatic, but I was sworn to secrecy, especially when dealing with Asuna and Asuka. He didn't want them to know. My killings – they still eat away at me. But, I get along knowing that it was self-defense; or perhaps self-deception.

But this time, I shot straight. Not a killing shot, but something almost as effective. Poisoned arrows. A trick I picked up from the Laughing Coffin in the early days of Sword Art Online. But this poison doesn't kill. And my arrows don't shoot at only one target. It's a simple but super-effective combination attack using shotgun mode and arrows filled with a potion that paralyzed players for roughly forty minutes. Almost fool-proof. Then...

Midnight.

From the far-off town on the center-most floor in Aincrad, the bell-tower was chiming a terrifying cloister-bell. Ga-Gong. Ga-Gong. Ga-Gong. Ga-Gong. I turned from my prey to see the special boss materialize.

I could hear the clash of blades below, but all I could manage to do at the moment was mindlessly change out my poison arrows, useless on boss mobs, for my most damaging variants. The arrow clicked in the heavily modified chamber as the boss came to live. It manifested as three human-looking women, each sitting atop their own broom.

The Sanderson Sisters

HP: 60 000 (20 000 x 3)

Well, shit. The three witches started circling around, each acting as a separate mob, it seemed. Nothing for it, I thought to myself, and fired. Four hundred damage to one of them in one hit – sneak-attack critical hit. This is going to take a while, I mused as I set another arrow into place.

Back outside the graveyard the rest of my group beat away at the entire force of the Divine Dragon Alliance. I still don't know what happened. They announced a change in leadership in the forum hall on Floor One a month or so back, but haven't made a peep since then. I guess this is what a new boss means. Then again, what's five dead players versus the chance to get a great item from a secret boss? That's how they must be thinking. The five of us... we're just in the way of the DDA. But, that doesn't mean they can bowl us over like we're nothing. We are five of the top ten players all gathered into one group. We're not a guild, but we come damn close.

The paralyzing arrows took care of the majority of the first wave of fighters, thirty-five in all. The second wave was the rest of their guild, totaling out at one hundred twenty-eight players ranging between level forty and seventy-five. Our group average is ninety. Between the five of us, Shinji took his share of fighters out before running to take care of the main fight. Even then, the others were doing all they could not to kill anyone, despite fighting a massive, newly christened Orange guild.

"Asuna, circle around," Kirito bellowed. He was preparing a pincer to slash limbs from his attackers. They would be put out of the fight, but the dismembered players wouldn't incur permanent damage. Use a potion, which are abundant, and the limb comes right back. He figured it was a humane way to put an end to this fight and go to help Shinji – or rather, Job.

Asuna came around and the two plowed into the horde of Divine Dragons. With a scream, they took down nine members and came about to pass again. One attacker even surrendered. He just didn't want to fight the Black Swordsman, let alone the Flash. Up and ran, tossing his weapons at the pair so they landed just a meter from them. Kirito and Asuna looked at each other a moment and laughed.

"How many more do you think'll do that," Asuna said through her amusement.

"Not sure. All of them," Kirito said, more as a mocking question than a statement – hopeful even.

Their mockery is interrupted by a massive war-call across the field. Asuna turned to see what remained of their attackers moving away from their location.

"What are they up to," she asked rhetorically.

"Not sure," Kirito responded. "Nothing good," as he took off after them. If it's a retreat, let them go. If they're moving the attack or trying to regroup, finish them off.

They ran after the quick-paced army until they came across Asuka in a high tree, who they only noticed because she showed up on their HUD as a friendly.

"Oi, Langley," Kirito called out.

She looked down. "Yeah?"

"See anything up there? What's the enemy doing?"

"Not sure," she answered honestly. They didn't seem to be doing anything of use. "They're just running around. Friggin' chickens."

"Any sign of Tabris," Asuna said.

"None. That freak either ran off or died," Asuka said in a huff before leaping down.

"You don't know?"

"How should I," Asuka demanded. He had taken off in the middle of the fight, citing his kill count at slightly higher than his share of the fight. Asuka was glad to see him gone. "Bastard tore off before I could ask questions. Fool. Even dropped out of the party. I can't see him on the HUD."

"Nothing to do about it then," Kirito said. "High time we went to help Job, eh?"

"Agreed," Asuka said.

They arrived in the battle zone to find... nothing. No sign that Shinji had been fighting, no special boss and no markers.

"Job," Asuna said sorrowfully.

"If he'd been killed, there would be a counter left behind. He'd also be gone from our displays," Asuka said, referring to her head-up display which showed three other players aside herself. "I'll search the map."

1_November_2024 – 03:29

"All right, I'm here. What's going on," I asked the white-haired teenager in front of me.

He stared me down for a moment. I found myself trying to break his gaze and failing. "I wanted to speak to you without the others around. I get the feeling that Miss. Soryu doesn't trust me very much."

You can say that again, I thought to myself. It would be rude to say that out loud, so I forwent the mention. "I see," I said simply. Not quite agreeing, but not brushing off his trouble. "So what is it you wanted to talk about?" Wait a second...

"Something slightly taboo in this world."

There's that odd feeling again. Like back when I was still getting my bearing on the world. Like when that weird thing approached me with information about mother and father. I... it's like deja-vu, but different. Like I know what he's going to say before he even speaks. I don't understand this feeling. "I can only think of two, and you've already crossed one." And he had. In Aincrad, our society is built on a few things. First, beating the final boss. Second, surviving until then. And third, being good to each other. Sounds cliché, but trust me, that last one falls to two rules: don't kill and don't talk about the outside world. It just ends up sending people, some anyway, into suicidal depression. The one Tabris already cross was murder. But then, so had I and other solo players I trust. It's a nearly inescapable stigma of this so-called game.

"You could say, it has something to do with the other one. I wanted to talk about Earth."

What about... wait. "Tabris-"

"Kaoru," he said quickly. "Nagisa Kaoru. My name."

"Nagisa," I repeated slowly.

"I am number four," he offered.

"Four?"

"As you are number one, and Miss. Soryu is number three; and Miss Akagi, I'm not sure if you've met her recently, is number two. But then, you already knew about the others, didn't you?" He grinned widely. The Cheshire Cat would be hard-pressed to match.

What... I know? What do I know? What the hell are you talking about Kaoru?

"Confused," he asked.

"Of course I am."

"Then allow me to clear up your mind," he said. "This may hurt, but then, when doesn't it?"

I was going to object, but my vision went black and my HUD flashed something I feared above all else.

YOU ARE

DEAD

6_November_2024

"I said I don't know!" The voice was shrill and worn from nearly a week of saying the same thing. "I told you ten thousand times, I don't know where Job or Tabris are!" It was an old answer, but some people can't take the answer.

"My dear," Prof said in that well-known, school teacher voice which left no room for argument, "I understand you filed a report, and I believe every word, but you made no mention of young Shinji after you were separated on the night of the thirty-first. Is that all you have?"

"Of course that's all I have," she nearly screamed back at him.

"Then, you are to investigate."

"Investigate what? We don't have anything!"

Professor Fuyutsuki sat in the plush chair behind his desk and buried his face in his hands. "We do what we can."

"What the hell does that mean!"

"It means that until we have proof of his demise, we march on." Shifting gears, "has anyone found another Link yet?"

Asuka was silent a long moment. "Not to my knowledge. If we had, you'd be the first to hear about it."

"Indeed," Prof agreed. "Has anyone made a trip to the Monument of Life? His name would be there if he was killed."

"I'll go," she offered instantly.

"That's unnecessary-"

"I'll go," Asuka said more forcefully.

Prof stared her down, not wanting to fight over this. "Fine. Make the trip. But I want a full report on your findings inside two days."

"Understood." Asuka turned to leave.

"Langley," Prof said, "let Anchor know stage seven is moving forward. She'll know what I mean and forward it to the appropriate members."

"Got it, boss."

To her word, Asuka stopped off before leaving to deliver Prof's message. Anchor looked slightly shocked, but regained her friendly front before Asuka caught on. "I see. The membership will be alerted immediately."

"Hey, Anchor."

"Yes, Baron Langley?"

"What exactly is stage seven?"

"I cannot say," she said quickly. "If the commander hasn't told you, then I cannot either."

A hint. One of Prof's projects. "All right, then. I guess I'll ask Prof about it next time I'm in. See you later."

"Farewell."

God damn it. God damn it! I knew he was fucked in the head, but I never thought it would go this far. To think... no. He'd dead too. But how?

Incoming Message - Langley to Prof

Found his name on the stone – crossed out. Time of death is 0333 on the first. Death: player-kill, Tabris.

Message Ends

1_November_2024 – 03:33

My muscles ache. What... have to get up. Up. Up, god-damnit. All right, that's an inch. What's all the beeping?

From down the hall, half a dozen nurses and a doctor came charging into the room to find me on my own two feet, holding myself up with a rolling cart used for IV medication.

"Where is he," I demanded of these medical personnel. "Where is Kaoru Nagisa!"