Ah crap. Sorry guys. I knew this weeks chapter would be late, but I never expected it to be THIS late.
Basically, I had orientation for college on Monday, so updating then was out. I meant to update the next day, but things kind of slipped by. I'd love to say I will put a stop to this, but to be honest, I don't know if I can. I go off to college soon and I have no idea how things are going to play out. All I can promise is that I will do everything in my power short of failing a class to at least get a chapter out the week it's supposed to. I'm sorry that that's the best I can offer, but my hands are kind of tied here.
ROLL STORY!688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxAR5bKN1Vk
Alex caught up to Sharpslefae outside the Capital. She was making her way down the stairs and into the throng of people outside.688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3jRQelE1g
“Hey, Qilin’s going to be alright, right? I mean, he should just be able to create a new account.”
Sharpslefae sighed. “Not without risking legal action. Getting banned from Rune is different from being banned from other MMOs. They don’t just ban your account, they ban your IP as well. You can get the IP unbanned, but only if you can prove it is a public network. Any other way, and the Developers can throw some serious charges against you.”
“Can’t you just go in and remove him from the ban list?”
She shook her head. “Not even the Developers have that kind of power. There’s a way change to change it, but to do so would require access to the Core.”
“So he and Janus are stuck?” Alex asked.
Sharpslefae sniffed. “Yeah, they’re stuck.”
The massive wooden doors behind them swung open on their own accord, and a trail of blue bubbles flew past them as Croe faded into view. “That was way too close,” he said. “I almost got caught when the bubbles began appearing.”
“What’re they doing in there?” Alex asked.
“Oh, just thanking the Hackers for helping them by increasing their levels and giving them piles of gold and rare items,” Croe said sarcastically. “Not like they need it or anything.”
Sharpslefae groaned. “That’s just perfect,” she said. “We played right into their hands. We knew they’d try to stop us, but we had no idea they would play it so that they ended up becoming the heroes.”
“Certainly no thanks to you,” The elf said snidely to Alex and Croe. “You two and Janus did nothing to stop them. I didn’t even see you until the fighting started, and Janus was the one who started it.”
“Aaron, stop it,” Sharpslefae commanded. “They did everything they could to stop the Hackers. We wouldn’t have even had the chance we did had they not been working tirelessly to kick hackers out of the Capital. So show them some respect. It’s the least they deserve.”
Aaron the Elf grunted and walked off, his cloak flapping in the breeze.
Sharpslefae sighed. “I’m sorry for bringing you two into this. GN, I never thought you were lying; at least, not after you explained yourself. If you hadn’t attacked Aratorious, you might’ve gotten more people to follow you once they saw what you could do. That’s one of the reasons I chose you. I could’ve picked anyone to do the job, but the reason I chose you, Croe and Janus was because I hoped that the job would’ve been enough to earn you some respect among the Coders. I guess it wasn’t enough, was it. All I ended up doing was getting Janus and Qilin banned.”
Croe reached up from his short stature and put a hand on her shoulder. She couldn’t have felt it, but seemed to react to it nonetheless. “It wasn’t your fault,” he said. “Who knew that the Hackers would turn the tables on us like that? You did all that you could, and no one can fault you for that.”
Sharpsefae nodded. “Thanks Croe” she said. She reached into her pocket and brought out the spellstone she had outbid Croe on and handed it to him. “Even though we didn’t succeed, I think you earned this.”
Croe held the stone in his hands, staring at it in wonder. “Thanks Sharps” he said.
She nodded. “Stay safe.” She said. “With a move like the one we just pulled, the Hackers might decide to attack further.”
She strode silently down the stairs and disappeared into the throng of people at the Capital’s steps.
They barely got a moments rest before Miles strode up to them. In his weakened state, he barely stood above Ginganinja.
“What the hell were you people thinking?” he roared.
“We were following a plan that actually might’ve worked if you hadn’t taken Qilin’s opportunity.” Croe countered.
“I had to do something,” Miles said. “I owe it to BA and everyone the Hackers have hurt.”
“Miles, I get that you want to stop the Hackers, but you’re letting this get out of control.” Croe said. “If you don’t stop this, you’re going to end up in some serious trouble.”
Miles threw a punch at Croe who easily dodged the weak attack. “I mean, look at you now! Your drive for vengeance has only made it even harder for you to carry it out!”
“Shut up! Just shut the hell up!” Miles cried. “All of you. You know nothing about what it feels like to lose someone that close to you. To watch everything that they stood for slowly fall apart until it is barely recognizable. To want to do something but be completely powerless to stop it.”
“Excuse me?”
Croe and Miles turned to Alex, who up until now had been silent.
“Do you mean to tell me that you have the balls to act like I don’t know how you feel without knowing what I’ve been through?”
“I don’t care what it’s been like for you to be an introvert,” Miles snarled. “Whatever bullying you’ve gone through, it’s nothing like what I-”
“I wasn’t talking about what Janus has told you.” Alex said, cutting him off angrily. “What Janus told you is old news. Recently, I’ve been going through stuff that’s been ten times worse.”
Miles let out a hollow laugh. “And once more, we learn that the Almighty Ginganinja has been keeping even more secrets from the rest of us. The rest of us have been pretty open, but it’s you who’s been keeping quiet and giving us nothing but vague hints and clues!”
“Fine, you want to know my life story, here it is!” Alex shouted. He ripped off his mask, baring his face to the world. “My name is Homer Alexander Samson Jr.” he said. “My father is Homer Samson Sr., the CEO of Samson Aviation Industries. He has never been the kind of father who was there that often, but he has been missing for over a GODDAMN YEAR! And to make matters worse, the board of directors are going to remove my family from his position as soon as he is legally dead. And once that happens, we get cut off from them and they take the house and most of my father’s fortune. Which means I am going to have to be separated from my own twin sister!” He pushed Miles, who stumbled backwards. “So don’t you DARE act like I don’t know what you’re going through, Milesoftheblades. Out of all the people in this game, I think I understand the most!”
No one in the group spoke for the longest time. The silence was so thick, it was almost tangible. Croe eventually spoke up. “GN, Alex. I, I don’t know what to say. I, I had no idea.”
“Well now you do.” Alex said. “You know my story. What do you have to say about it Miles?”
Miles crossed his arms. “Alright. I’m sorry for being insensitive and thinking you knew nothing. Happy?”
“Gonna be quite honest, no not really.” Alex said. “You’re not getting what I’m coming at. I’m in a very similar boat to you, and yet you don’t see me running around and trying to hurt people who’ve hurt me.”
“Well if you don’t make them pay, how the hell are you supposed to stop them from screwing you over again and again? Do you want that board to break you and your family up?”
Alex moved very close to Miles. “I’ll forgive that insult just this once,” He said in a low voice. “Do not make the mistake again. I care very deeply for my family, possibly even more than you do for BA. I’ve got a line however, and I cannot, will not, cross it. Because if I do, I’m no better than the people I’m trying to punish.”
“Are you comparing me to Bearzerker and Master Saru?” Miles asked, his voice barely containing his rage. “The people who torture and maim others, for fun?” In the background, Alex saw Croe pull out his scythe in case things got ugly.
“If you go through with what you have planned, then you won’t just be on par with Bearzerker and Saru, you will be even worse.” Alex replied. “Unlike you, they aren’t hunting someone down so they can hurt them not only through the game, but in real life as well.”
“They have been hurting us in real life. They put, my friend, into a coma for a month!” Miles hissed at him.
“And that automatically gives you permission to hurt them back?” Alex asked. “Tell me, if this Professor BA was here right now, what do you think he would say? How do you think he would feel?”
Miles began to answer, but stopped himself. Then his head dropped down and he said in a defeated voice, “He would tell me to stop. Just like he did when he left.”
“Then why the hell haven't you been following him?” Alex asked.
Behind them, the capitol’s doors burst open and the Hackers streamed out. Unlike the procession that had preceded them, they were laughing and as happy as could be. As they walked by, they saw Miles and laughed at him and called out.
“Thanks for the help!”
“Not so tough now without your big boy sword huh?”
“We couldn’t have done it without you!”
Thankfully, most of them left after a few moments. Two however, remained.
“It would appear that the mighty tree is nothing but kindling thanks to the masters of the land,” Master Saru said philosophically.
Croe sliced at him, but Bearzerker grabbed his arm and twisted it to try and put him in submission. Being nothing more than animated straw, it did little more than knock the scythe out of Croe’s hand. Croe lashed out in retaliation, striking him four times in quick succession. Bearzerker merely laughed and twisted him around, putting him in a choke hold. “Now” he said, “let’s see where that core of yours is located.”
“Unless you want to hear a single decibel for a really long time, I’d suggest you let him go.” Alex said. Ginganinja had his sword out and it was glowing with the viral aura for the world to see. Realizing what was going on, the rest of the players still gathered around the Capitol began to scatter.
Bearzerker sighed and activated the powerup as well. “Y’now kid, I really hope by now that you've realized that we can’t hear the noise as long as we have the power active as well, right?”
“True,” Alex conceded. “But I can still pummel you two until it does. So once more, let my friend go.”
Bearzerker contemplated Alex for a moment. “You really think that you can beat the two of us together?” he asked. “You were barely able to defeat us with all three of your friends. And now, one is banned, one is a level one noob with strength whatsoever, and the one is about to have his head ripped off if you don’t turn that powerup off right now before some stupid Developer sees it!”
“Good. Let them see it.” Alex taunted. “Then maybe this nightmare will end.”
“James, turn it off now!” Saru commanded. “You know the rules. And for God’s sake, let the strawhead go.”
Bearzerker growled, but let Croe go. Croe scooped up his scythe and moved a safe distance away.
“What do you want?” Alex asked, deactivating the virus. “Don’t you think you’ve been enough of dicks today?”
“As it happens, we aren’t even here to gloat. We wouldn’t’ve even fought had this idiot not attacked,” Master Saru said, gesturing at Croe.
“Then what do you want?” Alex asked.
“We were supposed to deliver a message to Qilin. Since he got banned and lizzy has run off, we figured we could give it to you three.” Master Saru answered.
“Whatever the message is, I don’t want to hear it, and I doubt any Coder would as well,” Croe said fiercely.
“Ah, but that is where you are wrong,” Master Saru remarked. “The message comes from our leader himself. You of all people should be interested in what he has to say. You and him are old friends after all.”
“What are you talking about?” Croe asked. “I’ve never even met him, much less been his friend.”
“I forget the details,” Master Saru said. “Something about a big quest you two worked on ages ago.”
Croe’s fist clenched and he began trembling with rage. “Tell me, what exactly is Arachnoid’s message?”
Bearzerker cleared his throat as he unfolded a paper in real life. “To the leader or representative of the Coders. Because of you screwing with our work, it’s taken us longer than we expected to achieve what we set out to do two years ago. But despite these setbacks, we’ve at long last managed to bring an end to our little operation. We need only one more thing, and you have access to it. I am prepared to sit down with your leader and discuss how we might achieve access as well. I am prepared to offer anything we have in order to get it. We are even willing to end our attacks on your group and remove the programs attached to our accounts. In return, you give us what we want and agree to no longer attack us due to our past differences.”
Alex was rocked. This was big. Even bigger than the Q&A announcement. The Hackers were actually offering an end to the civil war!
“We know that you don’t like us, and some of you,” he looked at Miles in particular, “would like nothing more than to see us behind bars. But all that we’re asking is that you give our message to the Coders.”
“No.”
Croe stood his full four and a half feet, staring up at the two Hackers. “I may no longer be with the Coders, but I can tell you that there isn’t a single one of them that would negotiate with you. Not now, not ever.”
Bearzerker laughed. “You stupid little kid. Are you that brainwashed by Qilin to think that every single Coder is 100% behind him?”
“What are you talking about?” Croe said incredulously. “The Coders would never work with you!”
“Are you truly that ignorant?” Master Saru asked. “How do you think we always knew when you were attacking? How we always seemed to be ready to fight you; how we knew exactly where your weak points were. Every battle, every raid, every scouting party. You think the Coders are completely behind your Qilin and Sharps? They’d turn on them in an instant if we asked them to.”
“And as for those that do give their ‘loyalty’ to Qilin, how many of them do you think wouldn’t hear our offer and jump at the chance to end this?” Bearzerker added. “Face it kid; you’re outmatched, outgunned, and outmaneuvered. If you won’t give our message to the Coders,” he unsheathed his claws, “we’ll just have to find someone that wi-”
Master Saru tumbled into Bearzerker, who stumbled to remain balanced. As he did, Master Saru disintegrated until nothing was left. Before the dust even hit the ground, a loud squelch came from behind Bearzerker and he to fell. Behind them, Silent Stealth stood, daggers dripping with blood.
“Will actually listen to that mierda,” he finished, shaking his daggers clean.
“What are you doing here?” Croe asked.
Silent Stealth looked at him. “A fine way to thank your rescuer, scarecrow. I regret to see that this other idiota, has rubbed off on you.” He said, gesturing at Miles. “However, if you must know, when I heard the meeting took a turn for the worse, I rushed to help. I regret being too slow to save the Iron man, and the face changer.”
Croe sighed. “Sorry, I’m just really stressed and confused. With Qilin gone, a lot of Coders are going to jump ship. And as much as I’d hate to admit it, those two could be telling the truth.”
“Do not trouble yourself with who is working with whom.” Silent Stealth told him. “What you should worry of is what is to happen to the resistancia. Without the iron man, I fear that the war against the Hackers may be lost.”
“Maybe, maybe not.” Alex mused. An idea was forming in his head. The way Bearzerker and Master Saru had tried to get him to turn off the powerup had seemed almost frantic. “I don’t know about you guys, but the instant we showed that we had no proof to show the Dev’s they seemed to brush us off” he said, activating the virus once more. “But what if we had proof to show them?”688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdJybiRQqV
Croe reacted with shock. Even Silent Stealth seemed surprised and taken aback by the suggestion.
“Alex, you can’t do this!” Croe shouted.
“And why not?” Alex countered. “It makes perfect sense. If I show them what it does, there’s no way they can deny it.”
“But you’ll be banned!” Croe argued.
Alex shrugged. “Then I’ll be banned. But at least the Hackers will be banned with me. Then maybe Rune can go back to that time you always talked about, Miles.”
“Do you honestly think that the Developers will listen to you?” Croe asked. “If you didn’t notice, they weren’t exactly willing to listen to reason back there.”
“I agree with the idiota.” Silent Stealth offered. “You were drawn into this by accidente. There is no reason for you to suffer the consequences.”
“Guys, I appreciate the thoughts,” Alex said, “But my mind’s made up. I’m not about to let others suffer just for my personal enjoyment.”
He turned and made his way back towards the doors. He was stopped however by a restraining hand put on his shoulder.
“Listen to me boy; trying to get those pea brained Cro-Magnons to listen to you is nigh on impossible.” Silent Stealth said in a deadly serious tone. “I have been trying for longer than the Coders have. They are more likely to ban you on the spot than to listen to what you have to say.”
“And how would you know that?” Alex asked.
Silent Stealth began to answer when he suddenly stopped himself. Then he lowered his head and sighed. “I guess the charade’s up.” He said in a distinctly British accent. “I am Dr. Helling. I helped develop the Hacker’s virus.”
ns 15.158.61.20da2
