USS Wilson, Dive Chamber:
"Gentlemen," one of the guards saluted Captain Burke and Lieutenant Preston as they entered. They approached the two beds, the VR helmets nearly resembles the infamous NerveGear helmets that trapped 10,000 players. Thankfully, Thomas and the Air Force had these helmets modified and refitted to military safety and functionality standards. This also including those reserved for Thomas Anderson, Colonel Rogers, and the Howler Platoon when the time comes.
"We'll be doing another dive into the target game, private," Chris said, "ensure that no one outside of the operation disturbs us."
"Got it, Captain." One of the guards acknowledged.
The Ranger captain then pointed to one of the Air Force technicians monitoring the operation. "Connection to Helios?"
"Connection is secured. Sir. No one will tap into our communications." The technicians said. "You have secure connection to CIC as before."
"Very well," Chris acknowledged. He nodded to Preston, "let's move out." Preston was already laying on the bed and placing the VR helmet on his head.
"Waiting on you, Captain." Chris went over to his side. Taking off his cap, he picked up the helmet. He regarded it with a hint of disdain before sitting down and putting it on. With a sigh, he commanded, "Link Start!"
Alfheim, Swilvane, Sylph Territory:
Chris, now Revere, opened his eyes as his avatar flashed into existence. He finds himself at one of the Inns in Swilvane.
"Jackhammer?" He called out. There was no reply. "Jackhammer? Report status." Revere looked around the inn, but found no sign of his comrade. It was then, there was a knock on the door. Revere headed towards the door, opens it, and sees Jackhammer.
"Revere.." Jackhammer said. "Finally found you. They didn't respawn us in the same room." He explains.
"Funny," Revere shook his head as he stepped out.
"Despite the setback, we won't let it hinder us." Jack reassured him. "Now, let's head on out, cap."
The two went down to the bar and looked around at the crowd. Sylph players are in conversation with each other. Mostly talking about the quests they've made through Alfheim to clashing with the Salamander faction.
"So far, nothing new here." Jackhammer whispered. Or try to whisper over the crowd.
"The last thing we need is to be caught up in their wargames," Revere said, "we've got a real war to finish."
"Right, let's get out of here." Jackhammer and Revere made their way through the crowd and out through the front door. The streets are live with activity.
"Crud," Revere grunted, "it's a whole festival..."
"Relax." Jackhammer hushed. "We blend right on. No one will tell the difference."
"We should just get out of here, Jack," Revere warned, "stay on me."
"Lead the way, cap." Jack said. Revere carefully picked his way through the crowd of cheering, bantering, and chatting Sylphs, careful not to make eye contact with them.
"So far, so good." Jack muttered.
"Just don't let your guard down," Revere reminded.
"Don't worry." Jack reminded him. However, the two were suddenly overtaken by a parade of excited Sylphs marching in the streets. Revere found himself being pushed back along with the crowd.
"Ugh!" Revere struggled against the throng of people. Thanks to his super soldier strength, he was able to push through to the other side. "Never did like huge public crowds..." he muttered. "Jack..." he began, but then realized that Jackhammer was not with him. "Jack?" Revere looked around and then saw that Jackhammer was unable to break away as the parade continued on with him in the throng. "Oh great," Revere shook his head as he took off after the parade. "Jack!"
Jack tried to break away from the parade. But the crowd of players have prevented him from doing so. He turned to spot Revere, but he's nowhere to be seen. He thought he heard his name being called. But couldn't pinpoint the source over the cheering crowd.
"Not good." He muttered to himself as he found himself being pushed through the market.
Leafa leaves the potion shop after making purchases.
"Let's see," Leafa took inventory of her stuff. She's got healing potions, which she will need to help Kirito and the other Spriggans. She was not entirely sure, but she felt that she needed to help Kirito's band more than help with the Sylph's own wars against the Salamanders at the moment.
Early today at Kawagoe North Junior High School in the real world. She turned down the hunting quest from Shinichi Nagata, aka Recon. Shinichi seemed to have a crush on her... but Suguha just did not feel the same way. During school, she couldn't help but think about the Spriggan player, Lexar. She could not shake the thoughts of his charm, personality... His toned posture. She could tell that, underneath the Spriggan clothing and armor. Lexar's form is muscular, toned, and even quite attractive.
Leafa's face bloomed cherry red from the image of Lexar. She suddenly let out a slight giggle. But blushes heavily when she realized that someone could hear her.
"What's so funny there?"
"N-Nothing." Leafa denied. Someone already heard her. Then she darted away before one of the players could reply. As she ran, she looked at the parade of Sylphs heading towards the Wind Tower.
"Jack!"
She glanced towards a tall Sylph chasing the parade. To her, the tall Sylph player looked familiar. However, she didn't have time to mull over her thoughts and headed towards the Lily of the Valley Pavilion. The Inn that Kirito and his group are staying at the previous night.
"Gotta hurry- ow!" She felt herself crashing into somebody in the crowd. She didn't even pay attention to her surrounding when she hurried.
"Whoa!" Leafa felt herself losing balance and started to fall backwards. Then, she felt a firm hand grabbing her wrist and pulled her forward.
"Ah!" Leafa felt herself pressed into a strong, hard male chest. She could smell the aroma of manly-scented soaps coating his clothing and neck. She breathed in without thinking.
"You alright?" A familiar voice is heard. Leafa looked up, and glanced into Lexar's dark eyes. She found herself lost in the moment as the gaze of this attractive male Spriggan had her in a trance.
"Oh... Hi Leafa," Lexar greeted with her name and smiled. His teeth sparkled in the Alfheim sunlight.
"Hi, Lexar.." Leafa greeted in return. Her cheeks flustered by the sound of his voice and the sight of his grin. Neither of them noticed Leafa's chest pressed against him.
"Hey Lexar, wait up!" A voice called out. Both Lexar and Leafa turned to see Codex running towards them. Kirito, Rex, and Strea followed after.
"Hey guys." Lexar waved. Kirito looked at Lexar holding Leafa in his arms. The Spriggan player cracked a smile across his face. Lexar felt like a cold bucket had been dumped on his, and Leafa realized the same too. Both Lexar and Leafa looked at each other, and their faces bloomed a deep shade of red when they realized what has happened and let go.
"Well, about time you showed up," Leafa huffed as she crossed her arms.
"We were looking for you." Codex explained.
"What happened exactly?" Kirito asked, curious about the display of affection he and his friends witnessed a moment ago.
"I was about to come for you guys," Leafa pouted.
"Really?" Rex grinned. "Looks like you and Lexar were getting equated with each other."
Lexar coughed hard. His face still blooming red. Leafa glared at Rex.
"Well..." Lexar was about to respond when...
"I tripped and he caught me." Leafa cut in.
"Yeah," Lexar recovered, "just helped her up!" Kirito and Rex glanced at each other, then back at the still-blushing Lexar and Leafa.
"Okay then." Kirito shrugged. Suddenly, Strea rushed her and held her in a tight hug.
"Nice to see you again!"
"Oof," Leafa exhaled sharply, "Strea, you are crushing me. Please?"
"Oh... Sorry." Strea giggled as she released Leafa from her hug.
"Anyways," Leafa breathed, "I got us some supplies for the long trip to survive to the World Tree. But I think I saw one of those tall Sylphs from the other night."
"Really? Where?" Codex asked.
"He was heading to the Wind Tower, at the center of Swilvane." Leafa pointed towards the tall structures that looms over Swilvane.
Revere stopped as the rowdy crowd mingled in front of the Windy Tower. He still struggled to see his missing Lieutenant in the throng.
'I don't see him anywhere.' Revere thought. He then tapped on his small ear piece again. "Jackhammer, this is Revere, what's your ten-twenty?"
"Revere..." Jackhammer responded. "I'm thirty feet away. Heading towards what appears to be very large towers at the town's center..."
"Let's see..." Revere tapped on his status window to look at the zoomed in map of Swilvane. "Are we looking at the Windy Towers?"
"I believe so.." Jack replied. "I'm trying to... Trying to get out of the crowd here.." He strained on the other end. "I'm being shoved inside the tower. I can see the elevator in the middle of the room."
"Jack, maintain position at the base of the towers," Revere ordered, "I'll come get you."
"Ten-four, Captain, I-" There were pause on Jack's radio, a moment passed before Jack said. "Hang on, I'm seeing something.."
"What's wrong?"
"It appears that someone is getting into an argument up here.. I'm gonna see if I can get a closer look.." A few seconds went boy. "Oh great. It's that leader again. He's harassing the black-dressed players again."
"Jack, we've been over this," Revere raised his voice slightly as he started fast walking towards Jackhammer's position.
"I'm sorry, they need help again.." Jack replied before the transmission was cut.
"Hey Kirito. Is that a new sword I see slung on you back?" Lexar pointed out the sword that Kirito sports. It was larger and taller than himself.
"Why, yes it is, Lexar." Kirito smiled. "I got this at the shop a few minutes ago. It's called the Black Iron Great Sword." Kirito drew his sword to let his friends look at it. The Spriggan boys and Strea were in awe of Kirito's new sword.
"That sword really suits you." Rex commented.
"Definitely you," Codex grinned in approval.
"Indeed..." Lexar smiled. "Too bad you only got one sword."
Leafa glanced at Lexar, confused by his statement.
"I mean... There's only one sword you've bought. Right?" He asks. Kirito grinned devilishly.
"But I'm sure that you'll find one during our side-quests." Lexar then turned to Leafa. "By the way, some of our friends have heard about ALO and have gotten the game."
"Really?" Leafa blinked in wonder.
"Yep." Lexar nodded. "They're out leveling up. We'll met them later on."
"Neat... We should be heading to the wind tower." Leafa pointed to the tall structures up ahead. "Come on." Together, Leafa, Kirito, and their friends made their way to the Wind Tower at the center of town.
"Man, it's very crowded here." Codex remarked.
Strea's eyes gleamed with wonder. "So many people!"
"Is there a festival going on?" Rex asked. Nearly got knocked down by one of the on-goers. Lexar looked, and saw a certain tall Sylph being pushed along.
"Looks like our strange visitors have gotten caught up in the crowd." He chuckled.
Kirito turned to Leafa. "Got a question: Why are we being brought here?"
"Well.." Leafa put her hands on her hips. "When traveling long distances, it's best if you start at a higher altitude. That's what the wind tower his here for." She explained.
"Oh..." Kirito sighed. "That makes sense."
Leafa then guilds everyone inside. They see various other Sylphs inside. Probably deciding where they're heading for the day. It was peaceful for the boys compared to the crowd outside.
"Come on slowpokes." Leafa giggles as she started dragging both Kirito and Lexar to the elevator located in the middle of the room. Rex, Codes, and Strea followed. Little did they know that they were being followed.
"Leafa" A voice called out. The five of them turned around to see five heavily armored Sylphs approaching them. Leafa signed in annoyance.
"Oh, hello Sigurd."
"Step away from these strangers, now," Sigurd demanded in a menacing tone. "Do you have any idea how much that's going to upset the other party members? Especially since you're leaving?" He added.
"You said it wouldn't be a problem if I joined only when I had the time." Leafa defended, she took a step forward. "You also said that I could quit whenever I wanted."
"Yes, I know what I said. But you've been with us for a while now. Everyone knows you. If you leave us, it's gonna damage the reputation of the party!" Sigurd raised his voice. This caught the attention of several onlookers. Leafa grunted under her breath. Kirito watched as her former leader is trying to hold her back. It was then Lexar took a step forward.
"You know. A leader of any group treat other party members like family. You, on the other hand, treat yours like items."
Sigurd glared at the Spriggan player. "What did you just say?" He growled. Lexar walked over to Sigurd to glare back at him eye to eye.
"You are just a pretend leader and bully, Sigurd," Lexar was very direct, "you treat your party like subjects to lord over to compensate for your lack of real manliness."
Sigurd's arm darted for the hilt of his sword. "You son of a..." He cut himself off. "You Spriggans think you can waltz in here and take what you want."
"For your information," Lexar huffed, "we politely asked Leafa for help, and she accepted..."
"What!" The Sylph second-in-command was shocked at the sudden turn of events. "Leafa! You're abandoning us to be a renegade like him?! Like his friends?!" His tone suddenly became aggressive.
"Yes, I am!" She answered. "And I'm not coming back! Ever!"
It was all it took for Sigurd to unsheathed his own sword. "You and your friends are gonna pay for this, Spriggan!" Kirito knew that he, and his friends weren't allowed to fight back, because the game didn't allow for races to be killed within their own cities.
"We should leave, now!" Codex suggested. Before anyone could move. A similar tall Sylph player stepped in the middle between Sigurd and Lexar.
"I thought I told you they didn't mean any harm." The male player's stern voice spoke. Kirito, Leafa and the others see that it was Jackhammer. As the name appeared in the avatar ID.
"Drop your weapon this instant, hotshot," Jackhammer warned. He had his own saber drawn.
"You!" Sigurd growled. "How dare you intervene with our discussion!"
"Five armed men attacking five children is hardly a discussion." Jackhammer retorted. "And since you didn't take my warning seriously, I'm gonna have to teach you a lesson."
"You!"
"Last chance," Jackhammer brandished his blade, "back off."
"No one order me to how I handle my party. Not even you!" Sigurd then charged at Jackhammer with his sword.
"Bring it 'soldier'!" Jackhammer swung hard. The two swords clashed with one another. Kirito, Lexar, Leafa, Codex, Rex, and Strea watched on as the two Sylphs clashed with one another. Jackhammer was no expert swordsman, but his years of battle-sharpened reflexes allowed him to keep pace with Sigurd. During the fight, the sword was knocked out of Jack's hands.
"Tch!" Jack clenched his teeth as he jumped back.
"You're nothing without your sword, scum!" Sigurd grinned as he prepares for another attack. Jack however, just popped his knuckles and positions himself in a fighting stance. Kirito notices that he isn't backing down with or without his sword. Sigurd rushed Jack again and swung his sword. Jack dodges the sword's swing by ducking underneath. He slams his fist into Sigurd's jaw-line.
"Gakk!" Sigurd stumbled back. Jack then delivered a roundhouse kick that sent Sigurd flying back. The crowd gasped as Sigurd hit the ground hard. Even Kirito was shocked by Jack's speed and counter-attack.
"Don't just stand there! Get him!" Sigurd ordered his armed guards. The four suddenly rushed Jack, who evaded several of their attacks. However, one of the Sylph goons managed to get behind him with a sword. He was about to slash his back...
"Seriously!" There was a loud clang as the sword met a shield. The Sylph goon was met by an incensed and intense-looking Revere with a round shield in his left arm and saber in his right hand. The Ranger captain pushed back and bashed the Sylph hard in the chest. "Do you always have to get into every brawl under the sun, Jack?"
Everyone gasped as Revere joined the fight as he stood back-to-back with Jackhammer.
"I had it under control." Jackhammer replied. He picks up his sword and readies himself agains Sigurd and the four goons.
"Yeah," Revere snarked, "old you against five guys solo? I'm darned as your Captain if I let these jackals beat you up, soldier." He suddenly blurred as he rushed another Sylph and disarmed him with a sword strike, before bashing him repeatedly with his shield. 'Gotta thank the Colonel for teaching me baton and shield tactics.'
Two other Sylphs tried to rush Revere, only for him to jump up and kick them both in the faces. Sigurd then grabbed the captain from behind, only for Revere to use his superior super reflexes and strength to throw him hard against one of his men.
Jackhammer picked up one of the goons and threw him towards Revere, who met his face with a shield bash, knocking him out. He spots another one armed with a spear. He parries and grabs the spear before knocking him down with a sweeping kick. The two Revere threw had their hands glow as they readied magic attacks. Revere was faster with a shield throw as the disk bounced off one and hit the other. The two Sylphs fell to the ground. The first tried to get back up, only for Revere to thrust down with his sword, stabbing through the chest. The Sylph struggled to remove the sword from his chest. But, his health bar reached zero and his disintegrated into emerald flames.
Leafa and the other Sylphs gasped at the blue-on-blue kill. Even Kirito, Lexar, and the other Spriggan players were in shock. They knew that other races couldn't defend themselves in towns within their territory. But a race attacking one another. It was different. The second Sylph yelled a curse when he ran his own spear at Revere. In one swift twist, Revere dodged, slashed the spear in half with his sword, and held the player in a headchoke. A sudden crack was heard as Revere effortlessly twisted with his left arm. The player fell limp and dead. He too disintegrated into emerald flames.
Jack spots Sigurd getting up and was about to slash Revere while his back was turn. He thrusted upward and blocked Sigurd's sword attacks. Then slammed his fist into his wrist, bending the arm outward. Sigurd dropped his sword and clutched his wrist. Jack jabs a stomp-kick into one of his kneecaps, bending his leg back and forcing him onto the floor. Then he got behind, grabbed Sigurd's arm. He slams his knee into the elbow, bending the arm outward and dislocating the arm completely. Sigurd screamed in pain. His head was then met with Revere's hard knee, which instantly broke his neck. His body went limp and fell to the floor which turned into green flame.
Sigurd's two remaining teammates got up just in time to see Revere having killed two of their friends and Sigurd without hesitation.
Jack grinned. "Unless you want my friend here to break something, you two scram!" The two goons scattered away. However, the two soldier Sylphs now found themselves at the center of a stunned crowd. Revere hissed as he whispered, "we should get out of here now."
"Perhaps head up this tower?" Jack whispered back. "There's no on in right now. So, if we're gonna escape. Now's the chance." Revere slapped his hand on his subordinate's arm as he dragged him hurriedly towards the tower when...
"Hey! Wait!" A voice called out. Both Jackhammer and Revere turned to see a Spriggan player running up towards them.
"That's..." Revere recognized the Spriggan as one of the players from last night...
"Lexar..." Jackhammer finished. The Spriggan player, Lexar, caught up with them.
"That was amazing..." Lexar said. "Thanks for sticking up to him." The female Sylph player also ran up towards them.
"Not many players can go toe-to-toe with Sigurd and his party like that." Leafa looked at the two players suspiciously.
"Well," Revere decided to be polite, "you're all welcome. My friend here saw that you were all in trouble, and I could not let him or civilians get hurt." He then glared slightly at Jackhammer, silently mouthing, 'you and your heart.' He then faced Lexar again. "Now if you will excuse us, we have something to attend to."
"Is it about getting to the World Tree?" Lexar asked.
"That's... classified," Revere retorted, but then grunted... he sounded too professional.
"We're trying to get our way to the top too." He continued. "If... If you want. We could tag along?"
"Not possible," the Ranger captain tried to tell Lexar off, "Jackhammer and I already have people waiting for us."
"So do we..." Lexar replied. "In fact, which is why we're here at the wind tower."
"You don't need to tag along with us to use the tower," Revere pointed out. "Listen, we have a job to do, and we are wasting time here..."
"I know... But, we're hoping that if we can get more to join our company. We could speed-run through the Grand Quest." He explained. "But if you want to head your separate way... I won't keep you."
"Thank you," Revere said. He nodded to Jack, and the two were about to walk when...
"Revere... Perhaps we should consider of tagging along with them." Jack whispered.
"They are civilians, Lieutenant," Revere asserted, "and we don't simply enlist civilians in combat missions."
"I know... But they're set to getting to the Top of the World Tree..." Jack countered. "Plus, we just saved them twice. So, at least we should make it up to them..."
"Your bleeding heart is getting us into enough trouble as is..."
Suddenly, a group of Sylphs drew their swords and pointed them at the two soldiers in disguise. Revere grunted as he held up his sword and shield. "You see what happens when you don't follow my orders!?"
"I know.. So, are we gonna tag along with them or not?" Jackhammer whispered. His sword drawn as well.
"Renegades!" One of the hostile Sylphs hissed.
"Who do you think you are?"
The two soldiers were slowly backed away from the tower as some of the more militant Sylphs in the crowd shouted at them. Revere found their escape situation to be deteriorating... Then, they see Lexar, Leafa and the other players boarding the elevator.
"Your call, Captain, but I doubt that we will get another chance..."
"Darn you, Jack," Revere muttered as he barreled through several militants with his shield. He knocked and slashed with superhuman speed as Jack covered from behind.
"Come on!" Lexar called while waving his arm. Gesturing to follow them. "You wanna get to the top? Hurry up!" Several of the mob got in front of the elevator entrance. Storing his sword, Revere bashed with his shield and threw the rioters aside like a raging tornado. One of the big Sylphs grabbed, only for Revere to backhand him and send him flying into his accomplices. Revere dragged Jack in by the arm, and both Rangers were in. The moment they reached inside, the entrance closed on the rioters. It was then that Kirito and Lexar got a closer look at the two rogue Sylph soldiers. Silence filled the atmosphere.
It was Jack who broke the silence by saying, "thanks for waiting for us."
"No problem." Lexar smiled. "I knew you'd come around."
"Not that we had any other choice," Revere said, "we just became renegades saving you kids, and our mission just became that much harder now."
"You mean the Grand Quest?" The female Gnome player asked.
Revere looked the Gnome hard in the eyes. "Yes..." he muttered. "I suppose we should get to know each others' names then..."
"Allow me to introduce myself." Lexar smiled. "I'm Lexar. This is Kirito, Leafa, Codex, Rex, and Strea."
"Revere," the Ranger introduced himself, "and my reckless subordinate here." He gave Jack a steely look. "Jackhammer."
"Nice to meet you all." Jack smiled.
Kirito got a closer look at Revere's avatar and his eyes widened. "Wait... aren't you... dead?"
"Kirito?" Lexar looked at his friend, very confused. Then to Revere. Now this got Revere confused as heck, but the pounding outside the elevator precluded a response.
Leafa quickly went to the elevator controls and pressed a button. "We're still at the bottom floor." She says as the elevator started to ascend to the top. Kirito came face to face with Revere.
"What's going on?" Leafa whispered to Lexar.
"I don't..." Lexar was about to say, only to look closer at Revere, and his own eyes widened. "Revere?" Internally, Revere... Chris was confused. How did these two recognize his tag? He was now at the center of attention. "I don't know what you two are talking about."
"You sure?" Lexar asked. "I mean..."
"It can't be though," Kirito gasped, "you were in SAO... Asuna and I saw you die!"
"SAO?" It suddenly began to click in the Ranger captain's mind... 'Taylor...'
"You... knew my brother..." Revere let slip in his surprise as repressed emotions came back.
"Brother?" Lexar asked. Revere suddenly pinned Kirito against the side of the elevator with one hand. "You know my brother because you were in SAO, weren't you!?"
Kirito was taken by surprise of Revere's sudden insertion. "Y-Yes." He said. Leafa, however, turned to Kirito the moment the name "Asuna" reached her ears.
"K-Kazuto!?" Leafa cupped her mouth in shock. Kirito likewise stared at Leafa in shock.
"S-Suguha?" Leafa almost fell back. Strea and Lexar caught the female Sylph as she stumbled.
"Leafa?" Lexar asked.
"What did we stumble into?" Rex asked Codex.
ALfheim, Neutral Territory ~ On top of the world tree:
Asuna laid down on her king-sized bed back at the birdcage. Her black cape and boots dematerialized the moment she lay across the bed. She still wore her Hydra outfit, but she in her bare feet as well as in bare hands. Her mind processed of what she had learned. Hydra was well established in many areas of government, industry, and powerful associations across modern Japan. If anything, while America and Europe had been roiled in the subsequent civil wars and purges, Hydra rebuilt itself quietly in Japan, and even the rest of East Asia. Hydra also forged an alliance with another organization called the Templar of the Fourth Turning. Originated from the former terrorist group called the Watch Dogs. They remained hidden as the Second American Civil War broke out and fled across the Pacific. They were a radical anti-Inhuman and social revolutionary group, but Sugou boasted to her that while it appeared that they were in partnership, they were in fact nothing but pawns of the surviving Hydra loyalists in America. The Templars were 'useful idiots'.
Her thoughts were interrupted as the false fairy king Oberon, unfortunately, was lying next to her. And ogling over Asuna's features and caressing her.
"So... How you like it so far, my queen?" Sugou/Oberon asked. His hand stroking her long hair. Asuna managed to steel herself from Sugou's touches. She imagined that it's Kirito touching her.
"I have learned so much today," Asuna pretended to smile. So far, she managed to see the entirety of the corridors that honey-combed through the Top of the World Tree. Although impressed by modernized the facility was, she still managed to memorize the locations of the corridors. She even managed to get a glance at the door that leads to the Laboratory. While they had not gone in, she shuddered at what went on in there with the minds of the 299 other players. Other than that, she had memorized the entirety of the corridors.
Sugou grinned. "As you can see, Hydra can be wounded, but never destroyed so easily," he demurred, "and even if the Americans did find out, without SHIELD and the old Avengers, there is little they can do to stop us."
"That's right." Asuna smiled. However, deep down. She prayed that Kirito and his friends reach to her in time. Until then, she has to buy herself, Kirito, and his friends more time. "So what happens next, after you've finished your experiment?"
"Well, after my experiments are completed. It'll spread throughout the VR users and other electronic devices. Such as cellphones, tablets, and laptops. Whenever they're the old versions or whatever that Anderson Tech company produces." Sugou smiled. His fingers stroking her cheek. "After that, Hydra will rule the world."
"So everyone would be a loyal citizen of the New Order," Asuna said in a sultry tone.
Sugou smiled while cupping her cheek. "Yes. And you and I will rule them as king and queen."
"My my, getting ahead of ourselves, aren't we?"
"Hehe... Nothing wrong with that. Is it, dear?"
"Yeah, but there is still much to be done..."
"Not to worry, Mistress Titania.." He grinned. "It'll all be taken care of..." There was suddenly an alert on Oberon's watch. He groaned and tapped it.
"What is it, this time?" He clicked on his watch.
"Your Excellency," A Hydra operative reported, "there has been an incident in Sylph territory. We think that those two mysterious players showed up again, and they fought and killed three other Sylph avatars in their own safe zone."
"You got the video feed?" Sugou asked.
"Bringing it up now." An aerial stream recording showed up on a screen installed in the birdcage. It shows one of the Sylph leaders, Sigurd, about to attack the Spriggan players when two tall Sylph players fighting them. The Sylph with the sword and round shield moved in a blur with superior strength and shield-throwing skills, while the more buff one moved like a seasoned bar brawler. The shield-wielding Sylph was especially aggressive though, as he impaled one guy, broke another's neck, and broke Sigurd's face and neck with his knee. Asuna watched the whole fight that took place below in ALO. Inside, she was amazed by the fighting skills the Sylph players showed. Especially since she spotted the Spriggans in the corner. She deduced that Kirito is one of those players.
"Wait, zoom on on those black ones," Asuna commanded. The imaged zoomed in on the Spriggan players, and one Gnome player. She looked over and saw that Oberon was frowning deeply at the sight of Kirito.
'Looks like Kirito would be protected after all..' Asuna thought to herself. She forced herself to not smile, fearing that Oberon would noticed her reaction.
"It would appear that our two problems have met up after all," Asuna pretended to sound amused.
"It seems that way..." Sugou pondered the two buff Sylphs. "Those two there..." he zoomed in on the two Sylphs who were then shown to be barreling through the rioters to the Wind Tower, "they seem to have skills and strengths not common to most players..."
"So it seems..." Asuna agreed. Keeping up with Sugou. "Perhaps they're body builders or on steroids?"
"Maybe..." the Hydra commander stroke his chin, "but they seem a rather coordinated to just be brawlers."
"Whatever the case it, they're just two. So, they shouldn't be a problem.." Asuna smirked.
"Still," Oberon then tapped on his watch and a ringtone was heard.
"Hello," Asuna recognized Jack Rollin's voice.
"Send some of your men into the Sylph city of Swilvane," he ordered, "it seems we have some pest control to do."
"I'll be done sir." Rollins replied. "Rollins out." Asuna pursed her lips, afraid of the threat the ex-STRIKE agents posed. She knew from her little tour that these people were heavily armed and well-trained, amd would not hesitate to stalk and kill any who stood in their way, virtual reality or real life.
The video feed is cut from the screen.
"That takes care of them." Sugou smiled as he turned his attention away from the screen. "Now... Where were we?"
"So... now that I'm Hydra," Asuna posed the question, "would it be possible for me to wake up early in real life so that... I can help?"
"Hmmmm... You could if you want to.." Sugou answered. "However, it'll take a while until you make a full recovery. After all, you've been under the NerveGear for over two years."
"Also..." He added. "Like you said, there's so much to do. It's best that we continue our work here before we head on out into the real world. It would also draw suspicion if you woke up all of a sudden with all the others still logged in. Hydra is increasing in strength, but our plans are at a delicate stage."
"A fair point." Asuna agreed. Realizing that Sugou won't allow her to log out from her NerveGear willingly. With no other choice, she'll have to accept it.
"And besides..." He stroked her face. "I was hoping we could have our celebration here... Once Hydra rules the world that is..."
"What do you... have in mind?" Asuna tried to not be afraid of what she dreaded.
"You know... Our little honeymoon..." He smiled. "After all, we'll be husband and wife, as well as king and queen of the new world order."
Asuna felt her heart stop beating. She knew what was waiting in store for her. Despite her plans to play hard-to-get with him and having him putting it off. Deep down, she knew that she'll have to plant a kiss to him. If she doesn't, he'll suspect something.
"Sure.." Asuna stiffen herself. "After all... Like you said, husband and wife." Asuna made a peck to his cheek. Deep down, she's screaming at herself. But she managed to steel her nerves. "But..." Asuna quickly added, "I want to do it properly in real life first..."
"Sure thing... My queen..."
"After all," Asuna nodded towards the surface below, "your security issue?"
"Right... Of course.." He chuckled. "It's just a small matter that'll be dealt with..."
"And I would like to be left to study what I can about our organization," Asuna said truthfully.
"Alright then..." He sits back up and opened his window. "I am increasing your security clearance..." Asuna smiled happily, acting gleeful for Sugou. It was one of the few things under him that she was happy for.
"Thank you, my King Oberon." Asuna smiled.
"And feel free to stroll about, and throw your weight with those who need... more incentive," Oberon said his smirk alluding to a certain humbled security chief.
"I'll do my best.." She replied.
'And hopefully find some help,' Asuna thought to herself, 'Kirito and I will really need it.' It was a low chance, but she hoped she could find someone within her family's company that was somehow not Hydra.
"Now, I must attend other affairs.." He gets up from the bed.
"Aww... I was enjoying your company.." Asuna let a mock pout. Acting like she's missing him already.
Sugou chuckled before replying. "Don't worry, my dear Titania. It won't be long, I'll be back before you know it."
"Don't be too hasty, okay?" The chestnut vixen winked.
"I won't, Titania..." Sugou leans down and kissed Asuna's cheek.
Asuna gently pushed him away. "Now be on your way, dear."
"Bye, dear." Sugou/Oberon turned away and headed towards the door. Within several seconds, he left the cage and was out of sight. Asuna suddenly collapsed and began crying.
'What have I done?' She thought to herself. She curled up with her knees and rocked herself back and forth. Part of her wanted to think this was a dream. That she'll wake up at any moment and find herself in the hospital room with Kirito sitting by her side. However, after being trapped in the cage for two months, what had transpired, how she kissed the creature on the cheek and the return kiss he made to her. It was too much for her.
'I'm sorry, Kirito. I'm so sorry.' Tears streamed down her face like a flood. She fingered the dagger in her belt. Her hands were still shaking from her actions. She knew she had to play along. But the growing empty pit in her stomach told her otherwise.
'If I could shove this dagger into that black heart of his...' She felt the rage coursing through her veins. Despite that he's allowing her memories, and her soul be left unaltered. She felt that she's being played by him. Allowing him to touch her like she's his doll.
'But... I have to stay strong... oh, Kirito... please make it up here alive...' She lets go of the dagger's hilt and continued to hold herself. She sobbed softly into her knees, trying to compose herself.
SMACK!
Kirito hit a tree with a bright red palm print to his face.
"Ow!" Kirito exclaimed, rubbing his face.
"Kirito, you alright?" Lexar lands next to his friend. Both Kirito and Leafa have reached to their destination before everyone else. When he saw Kirito slamming against the tree, he flew over and helped him up to his feet. However, an enraged Leafa pushed Lexar aside and delivered more smacks to Kirito's face. He put his hands up across his face, to protect himself from Leafa's slap attacks.
"You jerk! You heartless, selfish jerk!" Leafa was screaming. Her slaps became more aggressive.
"Stop it this instant, young lady!" Leafa was suddenly grabbed by Revere. Despite her struggles, Revere's superior strength held her.
"Let go of me!" Leafa screamed.
"Leafa! Please calm down!" Lexar tried to reason with her. He never seen anyone lose their temper like that. Not even in SAO.
"Sorry kiddo," Jackhammer shrugged, "my captain here is much stronger. You won't get away from him."
Strea and Yui then went up to her as Revere held her. Followed by Rex and Codex.
"You're really Kirito's sister?" Rex asked.
"Yes!" Leafa replied. Still trying to pull herself away from Revere's grip.
"But why hit your own brother, Leafa?" Lexar asked.
"Because... Because he never told me he logged on ALO!" Leafa replied. Finally giving up on freeing herself.
Revere gave her a look of incredulous disbelief. "That is very immature."
"I have to agree with Revere. That's no way to act." Jackhammer added. Also giving her a look of disbelief.
"Besides," Revere lectured, "your brother just survived two years of being stuck in a death game, and apparently is trying to find another survivor he was close to." He then looked to Kirito. "Am I correct?"
"Yes..." Kirito nodded, finally putting his arms down. "You're correct.." Kirito then gave an earnest look to Leafa. "I'm sorry if I didn't tell you about myself, Sugu. If I had known you logged in ALO. I would've said something."
"When did that ever stop you from going into SAO?" Leafa retorted, "you hardly talked to me ever since your tenth birthday, Kazuto! You left me and Mom in real life to worry ourselves sick for you!"
Lexar looked at Kirito. "Is that true?"
Kirito was stunned into silence, and a quiet expression of guilt slipped onto his face.
"And you come back to life, and you continue to be a stranger in our house," Leafa said with tears streaming down her eyes, "you're even more different than when you were trapped two years ago..."
"Even mom told me what happened on your tenth birthday during our visits!" She continued.
"What do you mean?" Kirito asked.
"She told me that you found out about your parents' death! She told me that we're not siblings! But cousins!" She tearfully confessed. "You stopped being my brother when you found out and pushed me away!"
Everyone remained silent as Leafa continued.
"That's also why you quit Kendo and immersed yourself in playing video games and building computers! When you returned from SAO, I thought you've given me a chance to rebuild our relationship! But you cast me aside like an afterthought! You should've remained a jerk to me! That way I wouldn't allow myself to be heartbroken for the second time!"
"Sugu..."
"Shut up!" Angry tears continued to spill from her eyes and disappear they dripped away from her chin as she sobbed.
"Are you done?" Revere asked. Leafa remained silent. Now Kirito and Lexar's attention turned to Revere himself.
"So..." Kirito began, "I think we can establish that you are not the Revere we knew..."
"I would agree." Lexar added. "Otherwise, anyone who died in SAO would still be alive. I know it's dumb to think about it. But, I'm assuming that the Revere we saw in SAO was your twin brother."
Revere grimaced... these two figured him out. "So you two did know him."
"Yes... We did." Lexar answered. "But what are you doing here?"
Kirito then remembered something about the last Revere and his companion. "Wait... they made allusions to having some sort of military background."
Rex turned to Kirito. "Really?"
"Their tactics, their foreign accents, and their helping to form Blood Oath into the disciplined paramilitary organization it became, could only come from years of warfighting forged in the real world." He then looked straight at Revere, "and that same Revere often talked about having an older brother in the US Army that he looked up to."
"I thought one of the soldiers of the Blood Oath sounded familiar." Codex added. "I only met him a few times."
"That... was my best friend..." Revere said, "and my late brother's team leader in the Navy..." Revere let Leafa down as he walked up to the two boys.
"So he's your twin brother." Lexar surmised. "I'm... I'm sorry.."
Revere looked like some old wounds had been torn open. "He was... and I think of Taylor everyday."
"Captain..." Jack patted him on the shoulder sympathetically, "it wasn't your fault."
Revere spun around with anger in his eyes. "If I had never wanted to try out VR, they would have still lived!" His clenched his teeth as he held back some of his more raw emotions. "If only I had killed that man..." he muttered to himself.
"Kayaba.." Lexar finished.
"The last Revere and your friend saved me and Asuna when our guild was ambushed," Kirito said...
"He's right." Lexar added. "I was there when Laughing Coffin attacked us. But thanks for your brother, and your friend. We lived and finally brought that guild down for good."
Revere pursed his lips hard as he kept it in. "Yeah... yeah that sounds like what Kyle would have done." However, the name 'Asuna' caught his attention.
"Wait," he asked, "did you two mention someone named, Asuna?"
"Asuna..." Jackhammer realized, "isn't that the girl... of course it is!"
"Yes I did." Kirito answered. "But how do you two know her name?"
Jackhammer looked to Revere. "It's best that we tell them... Now that they've deduced your twin brother..."
"But..." Revere was about to refuse, but then seeing the pleading look in Kirito's eyes, he sighed.
"I take it that she is your friend..."
"She's more than a friend..." Kirito answered. "...To me, she's the whole universe to me, she's my girlfriend.."
"That's right," Lexar grinned a bit, "she has him wrapped around her finger."
"She's my mommy, and the best one ever!" Yui suddenly chirped up in her fairy form.
"Wait? Mommy?" Jackhammer looked at Revere, then at the little fairy, then back to Kirito. "Did you two..." His voice trailed off.
"Mommy?" Leafa questioned the little fairy. Her eyes then widened in disbelief and she yelled, "Kazuto!"
"Wait a minute!" Kirito waved his hands up in defense. "I can explain!"
"And that would make her my mom of course," Strea also blurted out, "adopted, but still!" She giggled.
Both Jackhammer and Revere did a double-take of the female Gnome player's words. How could she be their daughter? The girl with lavender hair is the same age as Kirito and his friends.
"What are you going on about, kid!?" Jack questioned.
"Well... We are adopted.." Strea began.
"Like Strea said," Yui beamed, "we are adopted!" Jack and Revere looked at each other, then at the Fairy and Gnome girl. Unsure how to respond to their claims.
"So..." Jack said, changing the subject. "You and Asuna found each other?"
"Yes, we did." Kirito answered. Letting out a small smile.
"Believe me. I've seen them together on quests." Rex commented. "It's funny that, even in a death game, it didn't stop those two from finding each other.."
"Don't forget that most of us found love in SAO." Codex pointed out. He turned to Strea, who smiled.
Revere then shook his head. "I'm afraid I have terrible news for all of you."
The smile faded away from Kirito's face. "Why? Did something happen to her?" Panic could be heard in his voice.
"No," Jack quickly responded, "she's alright as far as we know..."
Revere suddenly cut in, "I'm afraid that your girl... has turned traitor."
"Turned traitor? How?" Kirito demanded. Everyone, including Jackhammer, turned their attention towards Revere.
"There is just no other way to put it," Revere then tapped on his status window. He projected the image of Asuna that he had been given in the briefing. "We suspect that while she was being held in captivity, she's gotten in with some really bad people."
Everyone looked at the image of Asuna being displayed in the window's menu. While her appearance remained the same, her outfit is different.
"A wardrobe change?" Rex shrugged. "That's your proof?"
"There's no way Asuna would turn traitor on us." Lexar defended.
"Listen... I guess there is just no dancing around it." Revere urged, "look at what's on her collar." Kirito zoomed in. He, Lexar, and the others took a close look at the collar Revere pointed out. They see a human skull and tentacles is seen on the necklace collar.
"Hydra?" Kirito was in shock.
"Hydra?!" Jack himself was blindsided.
"Impossible.." Lexar retorted. "Hydra died when Project Insight was exposed and SHIELD fell."
"So many of us thought," Revere commented, "but it turns out that Alexander Pierce was only the leader of a faction of Hydra... there has been one growing in Japan this whole time."
"Whoa! Wait a minute!" Codex interjected. "You're saying that Hydra survived and has been growing this whole time?"
"Yes," Revere said, "and I'm afraid that if the one called Asuna has turned... you all are in serious danger."
"We don't really know that.." Lexar said.
"Listen to me," Revere took Lexar by the shoulders, "if someone can hold her up there and turn her to Hydra, then that same person would likely control this game as well!"
"Hold it, hold it, hold it," Codex was going nuts, "you're telling me that we got out of a death game, only to put ourselves in one that is controlled by Hydra!?"
"C-controlled by Hydra?" Leafa collapsed to the ground on her rear, her world collapsing around her with the revelations.
"I hate to admit it.." Revere lamented. "But yes..."
"So what are you saying? That we should just cut and run?" Lexar asked.
"If you guys know what you are doing," Revere answered, "and by now, that brawl of ours back in town would have drawn the attention of the moderators. If those moderators are Hydra themselves, they will alert security to investigate."
"Whatever the case, we're not abandoning Asuna or the other 299 players." Lexar stated. "We don't really know if she's turned traitor or not. But if what you said is true, we're not gonna leave them at the mercy of Hydra."
"Noble sentiment, Lexar," the Sylph soldier said, "but you guys just might die for that if you do not let me and Jack handle this. Hydra will kill anyone who stands in their way, and if they connect you guys with the brawl in town and tie you to us, we will all be screwed."
"No. This is our mission too." Lexar argued. "We've started this mission to rescue Asuna and the rest of the 300 players from the man who is running this game. And we're aiming to finish it. Kirito saved my life back in SAO. I owe him for his actions."
Kirito gazed up towards Revere. "Lexar's right. I came here for Asuna, and nothing will stand in my way, not Kayaba, not Hydra, and not even you and the US Army."
"And besides, we've faced far worse challenges while trapped in SAO. Ranging from clearing floor bosses to Laughing Coffin."
"And Hydra tried to take over the world with weapons of mass destruction, satellite-guided Helicarriers and illegally-modified human experiments," Revere pointed out.
"I'm sorry, but our mission still stands." Lexar countered. "We're getting Asuna and the trapped players out. Whenever if you approve it or not."
"Lexar's right." Rex agreed. "You could either talk it over or duel it out. We don't care.."
As the two argued, Yui and Strea suddenly perked up. "Daddy," Yui alerted, "we have unknown players nearby!"
"Unknowns?" Kirito asked as several bushes were ruffled.
Revere drew his sword and shield. He was not taking any chances. "You in the bushes, show yourselves!"
The bushes continued to be ruffled. Until a player stumbled out and tripping. Falling face first into the ground. Everyone watched as the player sat up and spat grass from his mouth. Leafa recognize the player as a Salamander. However, this Salamander isn't hostile to any of the players. Kirito looks at the Salamander player. This one looked peculiar.
"Hey, Kirito!" The player called out in a friendly manner.
Kirito's eyes widen. "Klein?" He blurted out. Revere suddenly thrust his sword, the tip only inches from cutting Klein on the nose.
"Why were you following us?"
"F-Following you?" Klein was confused and backed away from Revere's sword. "We were told to meet Kirito and the others right here in the forest."
"I don't trust anyone or anything right now," Revere warned.
"Easy, we're not a threat." Klein raised his hands up.
"He's right." Lexar stepped in. "I told him and our friends to meet us right here once they leveled up." Revere lowered his sword. Jack then walked up to Klein and helped him up.
"You said that your friends are close by?" He asked.
"Yeah?" Klein responded as he got a good look at the two newcomers. His eyes then widened as he saw the younger of the two. "Revere! You're alive!"
"I'm surprised that you didn't recognize me!" He laughed. He went up to give Revere a hi-five.
"I don't," Revere replied bluntly.
"Really? I haven't seen you since..." Revere looked annoyed as Klein seemed to rub him the wrong way, but Jack intervened. "He's not your Revere."
"He's not?" Klein looked at the buff Sylph player.
"I'm his brother."
"Oh..." The smile faded from him. He turned to Kirito. "Is he?" Kirito nodded.
Out of the bushes, more players came out, seven male Salamanders, a male Sylph, two female Leprechauns, two female Cait Siths, A female Spriggan, and a male Cait Sith.
"Hey everyone!" Kirito greeted.
"Hey Kirito!" The second Salamander player, Spade, fist-bumped Kirito.
"Good to see you made it," Kirito grinned with relief.
"How large is this party of yours, Kirito?" Revere asked, causing Spade to look and widen his eyes.
"REVERE!? BUT HOW!?" Spade fell over in shock.
Lisbeth, the female Leprechaun, spoke up. "Revere?"
"It can't be," Mace said, "Kirito and Asuna said that you were dead!"
"I've heard of you.." Sleek spoke up. "But I've heard that..."
It was then Jack cut them off. "It's not the Revere that you know. It's his brother.."
"Different Revere," the Sylph in question affirmed Jack's answer. Silence fell on the small group.
Revere glanced sideways towards Jack. "I'm starting to regret letting Fury's techies give me this log in."
Lexar overheard him. "Fury?"
"Nothing," Revere quickly deflected, "it's just that more people recognize me than I like."
Lexar glanced at Kirito then back at Revere. "Okay then." He turned back to Spade. "How did it go?"
"Oh man, it was amazing." Spade said with ecstatic enthusiasm. "We've leveled up faster than we imagined."
"And we can fly!" Sleek laughed as he showed off his wings. "You were right about the joystick to help us fly." Sleek uses the joystick device to hover a few feet above the ground. Silica likewise came alongside Sleek giggling.
"Pretty soon, we won't need the joystick to help us fly." She added. Sleek took her hand, smiling.
Revere shook his head at the size and variety of the group. "You know Kirito and Lexar, the larger a group we have, the more likely we'll be detected," he commented, "my subordinate and I are under orders to conduct reconnaissance without raising too many alarms."
"Okay, then. So we'll be splitting off while you do recon on the World Tree?" Lexar asked.
"Actually sir if I may," Jack spoke up.
"What is it?" Revere asked.
"Judging how the game will only let us enter the World Tree gates located at the city of Alne." He suggested. "I figured we should check out the city."
"Right, then that's where we are going," the captain nodded.
"Um... Revere, I think you and Jack should know this," Kirito said as a game announcement notice popped up on the status windows. Revere glanced over to Kirito's, and grimaced... the game moderators had apparently obtained pictures of him and Jackhammer, and were posting them all over the internal game news.
"Two renegade Sylph players were spotted reeking havoc in the town of Swilvane." The text reads. Both Jack and Revere see the very large amount on the bounty was at 2 million Yrd for both. Along with several rare items such as armor, swords, shields. As well as skill perks such as very high jumps, duel-wield skills, marksman. Etc.
Klein whistled loudly. "Talk about a large bounty."
"You said it, Klein." Dale commented.
"I just don't understand why anyone would look down on each other." Spade interjected with disgust.
"Well..." Jack had to admit it, "they're on to us."
Everyone looked to the two Sylphs in question. "You're referring to your mission, right?"
"I'm at a loss," Rain shook her head. Her boyfriend Haze was also very confused. "Can someone tell me what is going on?"
Kirito and Lexar were about to explain when Revere's com buzzed. Revere checked it, and saw that it was his mission command.
"Helios, this is Revere," he responded.
"Revere, this is Helios one. What's your mission status? We're getting reports of a game announcement and bounty being set on two players with your avatar profiles."
Revere had to answer frankly. "I think RECT has detected our presence, and are now responding to have players come after us."
"How far are you on the mission?" Helios asked.
"We're..." Revere surveyed the forest they were in and saw the World Tree in the distance. "Stand by, Command." He then pointed to Leafa. "Young lady, what are we looking at for distance and time?"
"For the Grand Quest?" She asked. She managed to recollect herself after learning the truth about Hydra. "L-Like I said. We gotta enter the city of Alne, which is located at the base of the World Tree. From there, you enter the World Tree gate, which is located on the other side of the city."
"And time to target?"
"We have to fight the Guardians in order to push through." She continued. "With luck, we could get to the top before we know it. But we don't really know for sure since no one has taken the Grand Quest."
"But if you had to guess, how long?" Revere insisted, "this is a matter of life and death."
"If... If we get more players to join us." The female Sylph surmised. "I would say... Maybe thirty to forty-five minutes?"
Revere then unmuted Helios. "Command, we are looking at thirty to an hour plus before we reach the target."
"Affirmative Revere. Once you secure an outpost close to the World Tree, we'll deploy the Howlers." Helios replied.
"Roger," Revere acknowledged.
"And... will you explain the numerous signatures within your proximity?"
Revere sighed, "well, Jack decided to enlist some company, Helios."
"Do they know about your mission?"
"No... In fact, they're on a similar mission."
Klein was flabbergasted. "Wait, are you guys military!?" Jack, looked at Klein and nodded.
"We've met up with a group of Sword Art Online survivors who are also concerned about the hostages inside the target location," Revere explained, "please advise."
There was a pause on the other end. "Stand by, Captain."
As the call muted, Revere was suddenly swamped by the other members of Kirito's party. Jack was swamped too.
"Dude, you guys are in military? That's awesome!" Mace exclaimed.
"I knew that you two were military.. Especially Americans.." Rex concluded. Jack and Revere made a double-take on one of the male Spriggan players.
"How did..." The little fairy flew up to them.
"Strea and I did a scan of your statuses and speech patterns last night." Yui said.
"So, you were listening to our conversation last night." Revere frowned.
"Yes... We didn't mean to.. You sat next to us and couldn't help but overhear you two..." Codex apologized.
"And besides..." He added. "Lexar was the one who deduced that you two are from the military.." Revere just shook his head.
It was then, Philia, the female Spriggan, asked the two military Sylphs. "Why are you guys here? I thought America were on a non-interventionist policy." She pointed out.
"Well..." Jack tried to answer. But before he could. Revere receives another call from Helios.
"Revere do you copy?"
"Go for Revere," the Sylph captain replied.
"Get the player IDs of all the signatures with you and onto our secure channels," Helios ordered, "Bald Eagle and Shadow Bear wish to speak with them."
"Roger that Helios, Revere out." He then nodded to Jackhammer. "Get their player IDs pronto, our colonel... and the director... wants to talk to them."
"On it." Jackhammer opens his window and begins scanning the IDs of Kirito and Lexar.
"What are you doing?" Kirito asked.
"I'm scanning your avatar IDs, that way you get clearance to speak with our superiors." Jack answered. "This shouldn't take long."
"Let's go," Revere ordered as he scanned Strea and Yui, "everyone else will be briefed as well." Pretty soon. Jackhammer and Revere has scanned everyone in Kirito's guild.
"Think we should move to a secure location?" Rex asked. "You know, in case someone is watching us?"
"Not to worry. Our top technician has giving us the ability to use a cloaking software for us." Jack reassured him. "Once you're scanned. The cloaking ability will kick in and no one will hear or see us for a time being."
"Jack and I will be keeping our eyes out for anyone following us, while you're all on the line with Bald Eagle and Shadow Bear," Revere said, "and that should be about..." There were ringtones all around. "Now." Kirito, Lexar, and everyone received notifications in their personal messages boxes. They opened it and see it's the link to a video feed. They all click on it and the video link is established. Lexar and the other Americans among the group nearly fell over... As on the video display before them, are none other than Steve Rogers, and Nick Fury. Steve Rogers was smiling and sporting a US Army uniform with a Ranger tab and a colonel's insignia. Nick Fury let out a small smirk and was sporting his black outfit with a matching trench coat. And an eye patch over his left eye.
"Hello, everyone," the former Captain America greeted.
"H-Hello, C-Captain America..." Lexar stammered. He couldn't believe what he is seeing. The actually Captain Steve Rogers, the Captain America.
"It's Colonel America, actually." Rogers clarified.
"Oh... Sorry, Colonel America." Lexar said sheepishly.
"Haven't been a captain for seven years," Rogers jested back.
"That... That's when the Second Civil War began..." Lexar surmised.
"Well, actually a little after all that dust settled," Steve corrected, "I was asked to help rebuild America's army, so I accepted the commission."
"Oh... Okay then."
"As much as I like to enjoy a couple of fans fawning over Rogers." Fury interjected. "But mind if we start the discussion?"
Fury then focused on Kirito. "So, you and your friends have started your rescue mission regarding the 300 players from SAO. Am I correct?"
"Uh... yes," Kirito replied, still a little stunned.
"Anything else on your solo mission?" He asks.
"Uh... not really, other than encountering two of your men by chance."
"What do you know about your solo mission?" Fury asks. Kirito and Lexar looked to each other.
Finally, Kirito answered. "We started this mission to rescue Asuna and the other 299 players from the creator of this game. Alfheim Online."
"Sugou Nobuyuki," Fury named him, "and what do you know of him?"
The name alone invoked bitter anger for Kirito. But he managed to calm himself down and answer. "All I know that he has something to do with the 300 players. And..." He hesitated for a moment. "..And he's talked her parents into arranging a marriage to her next week."
"I see..." Fury then dropped it, "and I assume that you don't know that he is a wanted war criminal back in the States, and is now a suspected Hydra leader?"
Kirito did a double take on the war criminal part. "Well, we recently found out that he's the leader of the new Hydra... But, was he a war criminal from the States?"
"Under an alias," Colonel Rogers said as he tapped to share a screen. It showed a younger Nobuyuki in a military uniform. "Barnas Shinsei..." Lexar and the other Americans gasped.
"Wait... The Barnas Shinsei... The man who conducted inhuman experiments on prisoners and captives." Spade interjected. "He earned his nasty reputation throughout the western US from Portland, Oregon to Montrose, Colorado." Kirito and the other Japanese were stunned again...
"So... Not only he's the suspected leader of Hydra based in Japan. But he's a war criminal from the Second American Civil War?" Kirito concluded.
"That's... that's heavy," Philia gasped.
"Very heavy." Klein added. Leafa seemed ready to faint. Lexar rushed to her side and held her.
"Leafa..." He pulls Leafa into a comfort hug. "It's alright Leafa. Just take deep breaths."
"Wait a minute," Lisbeth crossed her arms sternly, "you're telling us that we are not only up against a war criminal, but an old terrorist group from World War II!?"
"That is correct, Lisbeth.." Rogers answered. "And we have reason to believe that the experiments that he performed in the war, may also be tied to Hydra's previous super soldier and brainwashing programs."
"Is that why he's holding 300 players captive?" Mace asked.
"We don't have proof, but given his past history, it would most certainly seem the case."
"Then, we need to get up to the World Tree." Silica stated. "We can't have that done to our friend, Asuna, and the other 299 players."
Revere grunted and shook his head. "I'm sorry everyone, but Asuna has joined Hydra." Everyone's attention then turned to Revere.
"What?" Lisbeth said in shock.
"That can't be!" Klein gasped, "I know she's tough and all, but she is no terrorist!"
"I hate to say it.. But it's true.." Revere lamented.
It was then, everyone hears a third voice from the other end. "Is that Revere? Hold on! Let me patch in!" The third video display shows a man in his mid-thirties with short, brown hair. And he sports a US Air Force technician uniform.
Lexar, and the other Americans were stunned as they recognized him as Thomas Anderson.
"Iron Patriot..." Lexar gasped.
"Yes, it's me. Iron Patriot.." Thomas turned his attention towards Revere. "First of all, you don't really know that she's gone full traitor. You're just assuming the worst. And second, did you forget what Colonel Rogers told you about rescuing the hostages? Even if they seem to have turned traitor? We've been over this before. So why are you relapsing to it?"
"She might have been brainwashed," Revere said, "I'm just telling them to be ready for anything."
It was then Yui spoke up. "I can sense Mommy from here..."
Rogers, Fury, and Thomas turned their attention to the little AI child as she continues. "I can detect her signature and brainwaves... And none of the brainwaves signal traitorous."
"I concur with my sister's assessment," Strea added, "as Mental Health Counselling Programs, we are programmed to detect changes in brainwave activity, and none of them coming off of Mom indicate any tampering or treachery."
Everyone remained silent. While both Yui and Strea referred Asuna as mom. Rogers, Fury, and Thomas dropped it and focused on their statements.
"And both of you are certain of that?" Rogers asked. "Not accusing you of lying or anything. We just wanna make sure."
"We're AI's whose purpose is to read brainwaves," Yui got very defensive, "and yes, there is no way Mommy is a traitor!"
It was then Kirito spoke up. "I vouch for these two."
"Same here." Lexar added.
Revere looked a bit bewildered, and then seemed to soften. "If so, then there may still be hope yet for her."
"We're not giving up on her." Lexar stated. "I know for a fact that both Colonel Rogers and Captain Anderson never gave up when the United Nations passed the Sokovia Accords back in 2016. And how Anderson stood his ground, even when the US government conspired to assassinate John Campbell and his father. They stood up for what they believe is right. Which is why I've taken inspiration from them. During our times being trapped in SAO. And what we're doing now." He turned to Rogers, Fury, and Thomas. "Kirito has given so much while we were trapped in SAO. He gave us hope that we fight another day. So that we can, one day, clear SAO. And we did. And now, we're fighting for both him and Asuna. And even though that the truth of Nobuyuki being both a war criminal and the leader of Hydra is out. We're not gonna let that make us throw in the towel. We're always gonna be there for them... Until the end of the line..."
That brought a smile to Rogers' face, while Revere was a bit surprised to hear those words from someone other than the Colonel. "That's what he tells me and my men."
"He's right, you know." Thomas then said.
"And same here," Jackhammer interjected, "I'm following you where you go, Captain." Everyone turned to Revere again. Waiting for an answer.
"Very well," Revere concurred, "but all of you will have to follow me very closely. Now that Jackhammer and I have bounties on us, we can expect Hydra to come at us with force."
He then turned to Fury. "Director, are you sure that their IP addresses will be secured? The last thing I want is for some Hydra goons to find where they eat and sleep."
"Captain Anderson will take care of that." Fury turned to Anderson. "Right?"
"Don't worry, Fury. There's nothing that my computer/electronic skills won't do." Thomas smiled. "I'm already on it.."
"Good..." Revere said. He then faced the group directly, "however, because this indeed is a military operation, you will all have to follow the orders of military personnel, including myself and Jackhammer."
"You got it, Cap." Lexar saluted. However, it was a serious salute.
"I can't promise that it will be easy," Revere warned, "but you'll all be in the hands of one of the best units in the United States Army."
"Thank you very much.." Kirito bowed to Revere and Jackhammer.
"No problem, kid." Jackhammer smiled. "You look out for each other. And we do the same."
"...And done." Thomas said. "The IP addresses of Kirito and his friends are secured. Nothing will hack into their accounts now."
"Roger that, Doc," Revere said, "now... any progress with breaking their cybersecurity?"
"Not yet. But, I got a surprise waiting for them if they try to break into our cybersecurity.."
"Excuse me," Sleek asked, "but what is it exactly?"
"And what unit of the Army are you guys part of," Mace added.
"Well, let's just say that if they try. They'll get blocked because they didn't say the magic word." Thomas smiled.
"That's..." Revere was about to rebuff, but then seeing that Rogers was on the line, decided that it was pointless to do so. "75th Ranger Regiment, 3rd Battalion, 7th Platoon aka Howler Platoon."
"Wait... You guys are the Howler Platoon?" Spade asked
"Yep, the Rangers that lead other Rangers," Jack boasted.
"What's this Howler Platoon?" Haze wondered aloud.
"I don't think I've heard of such a unit either," Codex added, "they must be a new addition."
Spade turned to both Haze and Codex. "The Howler Platoon is part of the US Army Rangers. They were added during and after the Second Civil War."
"And composed mainly of veterans from the war," Lexar added. "Many of their top commanders are either seasoned Rangers drawn in from other units, or some who have returned from retirement."
"Plus..." He continued. "I'm sure that the Howler Platoon took the name from the Howling Commandoes from World War II. As a successor."
"You know your military history," Rogers remarked, "you must be US Forces Japan, or related to someone stationed there."
"My father's in the navy." Lexar explained. "Been living in Japan since 2015."
"So you're an American as well," Revere realized, "I should have known that you and your friends understood English..."
"Don't forget Mace, Sleek, Codex, and Spade." Lexar added.
"Well, it's on us not knowing," Jack admitted.
Lexar chuckles. "I guess this means that we forged an alliance with the Howlers."
"It's kind of a stretch, if you think about it," Kirito told his friend.
"True," He admitted. "But, at least we have increased our numbers and our chances."
"With an enemy as determined as Hydra is," Fury remarked, "you will need every weapon and advantage you can get."
"Weapon, as in Modern Weapons?" Lexar asked.
"That too, among other things..." Steve inputted, "but those are still only tools, and those tools are as good as the man or woman wielding them."
"Understood, Colonel." Lexar agreed.
"No truer words have been spoken." A voice is heard. Kirito and Lexar turned to see Agil. Who also appeared from the bushes.
"Agil." Kirito bumped fists with his friend.
"Identify yourself," Revere suddenly got defensive.
"Andrew Gilbert Mills." The male Gnome player spoke. "But everyone calls me Agil."
"Scan him, Jack," Revere ordered, "and Helios, run a background on him."
"Acknowledged, Revere." Helios replied. Jack scans Agil's avatar.
"Don't do anything funny," Jack reminded.
"I wouldn't dream of it." Agil smirked.
"Nothing suspect in his profile, he's clean," Helios reported back.
Revere hummed in relief. He then faced Agil. "How much did you hear?"
"I just got here in time to hear about Lexar mentioned about the Howler Platoon."
"Is there anyone else with you?"
"Nope. Just managed to get myself another copy of the ALO game." He explains.
However, Helios suddenly crackled back onto the frequency. "Revere, Jackhammer, be advised, you've got several bogeys inbound on your position!"
"Darn it," Revere glared at Agil, "you've been tailed!"
"Who followed Agil?" Mace asked. Now he started to tense up.
"I think we know..." Sleek shuddered. "We've came across a Salamander group not too long ago. He goes by the name Eugene."
Leafa grimaced, "oh no... not him now..."
Lexar approached Sleek. "How did you cross paths with him?"
"While we were leveling up. Haze and I managed to convince some of the Sylph and Cait Sith players to forge an alliance with each other."
"And?"
"Klein, Mace, and Spade managed to spy on one of the Salamander leaders, General Eugene."
"And that's not all..." Haze said. "We've getting word that one of the Sylph leaders, who goes by the name Sigurd, has been meeting with Eugene."
"Sigurd? The guy that tried to attack us in Swilvane? That Sigurd?" Codex said.
"Who else?" Leafa sounded exasperated, "and I think they're wanting to cash in on the bounty!"
"We'll be at a severe disadvantage if we're surrounded," Jackhammer said, "Helios, can you advise on a retreat or defense strategy!?"
"How far out are the bogies approaching?" Lexar asked.
"You've got three minutes tops," Helios advised.
"Then we have time," Revere said, "Colonel, we've got to go now."
"Affirmative, Jackhammer. Be careful. Bald Eagle, and Shadow Bear out."
As the secure line cut, Revere asked Leafa, "find us the fastest way to safety, we need to be out of sight ASAP."
"Don't worry. I know a quickest way where we can lose them." Leafa activated her wings. "Everyone, follow me!"
"Lead the way!" Lexar followed close behind her. Kirito followed suit, then Rex, Codex, and Strea and Yui. Soon, everyone followed Leafa through the forest as quickly as they could.