Chapter Eight - Revelations In War Part One

Dark Territory Ishkahn's Citadel

"Ready to head out?" Kirito asked his comrades; After receiving a nod from the five remaining integrity knights he traveled to the dark territory with. Deep down Kirito was legitimately worried about Alice who was still in sick bay but the hero in him couldn't stand idly by while Vecta was out there and his friends were in danger and do nothing. The black swordsman kept telling himself he'd check on Alice as soon as the mission was over and that she was strong enough to overcome whatever was ailing her or so he thought.

As the party was heading out the door Mylee and Mary came running into the foyer at a full sprint to catch the group before they headed out into battle.

"Excuse us Kirito we need to see you for a minute." The two women panted out as they caught their breath causing the black swordsman to raise a brow; "is it important because we're heading out to confront Vecta?" Kirito responded confused about just what was going on.

"I would think so it's about Alice." Mary asserted causing Kirito's eyes to gloss over. "Did something happen to her? did she pass?" Were just a few things going through Kirito's mind as he turned to Fanatio.

"You lead the others and start searching for Vecta; I'll catch up as soon as I can." Kirito ordered the purple knight who acknowledged with a nod as her Eydis, Renly,Tiese and,Ronye walked out the door to begin the trek to the rebel territory; while Kirito followed Mary and Mylee down the long corridor and down the stairs the silence being defining as the two woman would not let on what was going on in accordance with Alice's wishes. before long the trio eventually came to a large oak door with a red cross on it which Mary quietly pushed open to reveal Alice who was sitting up in bed with tears rolling down her face.

Kirito bolted in and approached Alice as Mary and Mylee closed the door behind him leaving the two alone.

"Alice what's going on are you alright?" Kirito asked with concern. "You may want to sit down Kirito." Alice stated quietly while looking down and to the left fidgeting with the blanket as she felt Kirito take a seat on the side of the bed in confusion and concern.

"Kirito I'm... I'm... Pregnant." Alice quietly muttered her face turning fire engine red as the words escaped her lips.

The phrase hit the black swordsman like a freight train as the program unknowingly installed and being used on him and Alice activated once again causing the two to once again enter their trance like state...

With Ryoken's program once again active Kirito scooted over closer to Alice as he wrapped his arms around her as the Priestess of light nuzzled her head into the black swordsman;
"We're going to be parents Kirito-Kun Alice exclaimed as she once again began to cry."

"It's wonderful news my queen Kirito said as he rested his head on Alice's the two enjoying their moment as Kirito asked Alice curiously; "when will our little one grace is with her presence?"

"With our worlds accelerated time it could be anytime my love." Alice reminded Kirito before kissing her lover who anxiously returned her gesture.

Meanwhile with the Integrity Knight's:

We're approaching the rebel territory now Fanatio called out to her Knight's. The adrenaline pumping in everyone as they knew this would be a tough fight after all they struggled mightily against Vecta and his forces the last time they fought and that was when they had better numbers than they do now. However the group was confident they could still rescue their comrades as they came up to the ridge overlooking Vecta's new headquarters where they saw a sight no one was expecting down below were thousands no hundreds of thousands of mechanical soldiers and strange creatures none of the knights had ever seen before.

"What the hell is this?" Renly exclaimed unsure of just what they were looking at but Eydis not wanting to loose their element of surprise just shot out an attack in hopes of gauging just what they were up against... BIG MISTAKE as the sky in front of them lit up with red lights firing from the army of creatures below right at their position the blasts disintegrating the smaller boulders in front of them as the knights ducked down low behind a larger rock formation that was withstanding the assault in order to figure out their next move.

"Vecta has grown even stronger Fanatio told her comrades as she tried to think of a plan only to be interrupted by a female voice echoing behind them; "That isn't Vecta it's something far worse." The confused group of knights then turned around only to be temporarily blinded by a bright white light out of which five new knights emerged each decked out in a different color armor. First was a Pink armored knight followed by a Black armored Knight then a brown, purple, and, orange. Fanatio and company were taken aback these strangers were dressed in integrity knight armor but none of them had ever seen these knights before the only thing running through Fanatio's mind was; "what trickery is this?"

Trying to defuse the situation the Pink knight walked to Fanatio with her hands up to show she wasn't there to fight our hero's while the Black and Orange ones on her flanks ran to either side of the group without one word being spoken and began tossing canisters down at the army opposing them below causing multiple explosions to go off and destroying over a dozen enemies at a time.

As this was going on the Pink knight introduced herself to Fanatio;

"My name is Aelieta and me and my friends were sent here from the real world to assist you in your fight..."

"Against Vecta? Are you friends of Kirito's?" Fanatio asked her mind not knowing what to make of the situation as Aelieta spoke again.

"We know of Kirito but we don't know him per-say and who or rather what you are fighting is not Vecta!"

Aelieta's revelation causing confusion among the knights as Fanatio muttered; "What is going on?"

What you are fighting is a malevolent Multi-agent that was created by scientists in the real world it's name is XANA and now it has only one goal to take over your world and ours we were sent here by your creators to help you stop it since we fought it and destroyed it before.

The strangers words were stunning to the group led by Fanatio; who didn't know what to make of it all they knew was that these strangers were making a dent in the number of enemies they were facing and since backup was a long way away they'd take any help they could get to rescue there friends. The Integrity Knight then extended her hand out to Aelieta who was quick to shake it cementing the new alliance that now could get to work on facing their common enemy.

"William... Odd... You two got a better look than us; what are we up against?"
Aelieta asked her comrades William responding first; hundreds of crabs backed up by dozens of tarantulas...

"Backed up by at least a thousand droids like the ones in Siberia..." Odd added causing a chill to go done the pink haired knights spine this was bad they were heavily outnumbered and in order to even get close to XANA we'll have to punch through the cannon fodder. Aelieta thought to herself before turning to the integrity Knights;

"In order to destroy these monsters you'll have to hit the targets on them." Aelieta explained as she drew a picture in the dirt to show their new allies what they have to hit to kill their enemy.

The knights all nodded in understanding as Fanatio ordered her team; "Battle stations integrity knights; assist our new friends take out as many as you can!"

"Yes ma'am" the group responded before drawing their weapons and began hurling death down at the mass of enemies below them. At least for now unlike there comrades before them they held the advantage of having the high ground and they were going to exploit it as long as they can. "Hopefully we can rescue them." The knight commander muttered unaware that her friends were killed awhile ago.

To Be Continued: