“S-!”
Before he could finish, an alert flashed up on his screen, indicating he had been muted.
“Dude, seriously. Don’t say my name. The internet is great for being anonymous. I’d like to keep it that way.”
Alex tried to say something else, but his microphone was still not working. Janus noticed it.
“I’ll unmute you if you agree to call me Janus here. Nod if you agree.”
Alex nodded and the warning went away.
“Dude, I can’t believe it! What are you doing here?”
Janus shrugged sheepishly. “Well, as you know, I like computers. That’s why I got a job at the Coffeenet. I’d been playing for a few weeks when I was contacted by Qilin asking if I’d join up. I said yes and put my programming knowledge to good use.” He turned to Qilin who was still holding Ginganinja by his neck. “Qilin, Ginganinja has his two people. Let him go.”
Qilin frowned, but released Alex. Whoever held the lasso gave a sharp tug that caused Ginganinja to stumble before letting it drop.
Alex moved around Qilin and gave Janus a high-five. “It’s great to see you. I owe you one.”
Janus nodded. “So, you want to take on the hackers.”
Alex nodded. “Yeah; although, I don’t think that will happen now.” He motioned at Qilin. “Tin-can here thinks that it’s too dangerous.”
Janus seemed to frown and turned to Qilin. “Dude, we do dangerous things all the time. Danger like our middle name. What made this thing more risky than any other time?”
“Other times we did not have a Virus carrier walk right into our base.” Qilin said. “You two may’ve vouched for him, but I’m not entirely certain he’s innocent. And even if he is, who’s to say that he isn’t bugged. For all we know, he could be transmitting this conversation and location right now!” He shook his head. “For the good of our organization, I can’t take that kind of risk. We’re going into lockdown. You know what that means.”
Alex scowled. “Fine. I came here to offer my help but it seems you don’t want it. I’m doing this thing no matter what. I just hoped I wouldn't have to do it alone.”
“The hell you are.” Miles said. “You go in there alone, you’re just asking to get your sorry ass killed.”
Alex turned to him. “And how exactly do you expect to stop me? Last time we fought, my ‘sorry ass’ beat yours!”
A few players chuckled, but Miles ignored them.
“What I mean is, I’m going with you.”
Alex raised his eyebrows in surprise. “What ever happened to ‘you’re crazy and you’re going to get yourself hurt’?”
“Oh believe me, I still think that this plan is going to crash and burn,” he said. “But even if it does, I might have an opportunity to take on Bearzerker and Saru. God knows this guy doesn’t give me much to work with.” he gestured in Qilin’s direction. “The only reason I found them last time was by accident!”
Qilin glared at Miles. “I do what is best for the Coders. I don’t want anyone to get hurt.”
“Wake up Qilin. We’re in a war. People get hurt. That’s practically the definition of a war! In the past month, we’ve had three attacks canceled, and only a handful of raids to make up for it. That’s not going to beat the Hackers.”
Alex thought for a moment. Truth be told, he was actually excited about the prospect of having Miles with him. He seemed like a capable fighter and not the kind of person who would stab him in the back without a good reason.
“Okay, you’re in. Great speech by the way,” he added. Alex then turned to Janus. “You coming as well?”
Janus shrugged. “Sure. Sounds great.”
“Not a chance,” Qilin said. “You of all people are going nowhere.”
“Really,” Janus turned to him. “And what makes you think that you can stop me?”
Qilin gave him a long look before muttering “fine” and backing off.
Alex turned to the crowd. “Anyone else want to come?”
The crowd shuffled nervously and Alex feared no one else would decide to come.
Then an animated scarecrow pushed his way to the front. He was short with a wire thin frame made slightly bulkier due to the large, old overcoat he wore. A battered, pointed hat rested on his head. He carried no weapons other than a worn short scythe in his hand.
“Croe,” Qilin sighed, “don’t do this. Miles and Janus are strong warriors. They can hold their own. You on the other hand, well, in the months you’ve spent with us; you still haven’t mastered your weapon.”
“C’mon Qilin, give me a break. There’s nothing wrong with my scythe.” To emphasize this, he waved it around. Everyone, including Qilin, ducked.
“Seriously guys, its fin-”
Orange fire spurted from the blade of the scythe and flew off in an arc. The crowd ducked even further.
The scarecrow, Croe, shrugged sheepishly. “Okay, so I have difficulty from time to time. That’s not my fault! It only works properly in conjunction with the other scythe.”
“Kid, do us all a favor and don't even start,” Miles groaned. “That pity story got old real quick.”
“Wait, what?” Alex inquired. “What pity story.”
“He claims he went on a quest with another player when he first started out.” Miles explained. “Apparently there was supposed to be an amazing treasure at the end of the quest- including a one-of-a-kind set of scythes. Apparently he had a deal with the other guy where he got to keep the scythes, and the other guy got the rest of the treasure. When they came to the quests end, the guy took all the treasure, and the other scythe. He grabbed that scythe,” he guestured at Croe’s weapon, “and fought him. Apparently the other guy got spooked and ran.”
“It was the only time the scythe worked properly.” Croe said mournfully.
“Kid, that thing hasn’t ever worked properly,” the obnoxious elf said. “It’s just some farming tool you put a weak enchantment on. That little thing wouldn’t even scratch my leather armor.”
“If it’s so weak, why did I accidentally vaporize Qilin once?”
The elf laughed. “The animation looks like a rusting spell. You literally turned Qilin into rust, that’s why!”
“Dude, seriously; back off,” Alex said.
The elf put his hand up in mock fear. “Or what, hacker? You’ll put me in a coma like your friends did to BA?”
“I’m getting pretty tired of you calling me a hacker,” Alex said as he started towards him, but Miles and Janus held him back.
“Easy GN.” Miles said. “Attack him, and the crowd will tear you to bits. Although,” he turned to the elf, “that last comment was uncalled for.”
“Miles, I suggest you be quiet as well. Your loyalties have been called into question enough today for bringing this hacker here. I propose we kill them, and then ban them for good.”
The crowd murmured in approval.
“Enough.” Qilin boomed. “Ginganinja, take Croe if you want. Just get out of here.”
Alex nodded and turned to Croe. “If you want in, you can come,” he said.
“Yeah!” Croe whooped.
“Crap.” Miles groaned.
“Yes, go on with your little group, pussy.” The elf said. “None of them amount to anything. You’d be doing us a favor.”
Alex made another rush. This time he broke free of Miles and Janus. He conjured another viral ball and launched himself at the elf.
“GN, no!” Miles yelled, but it was too late. Alex had already collided and was attacking the elf with every fiber of his being. The elf in question screamed every time his fist connected.
“Fuck,” punch “you,” punch “and,” kick “your,” slam “high and mighty,” kick “attitude!”
Finally, with the combined effort of Miles, Janus, and Qilin, they managed to separate the two.
“Do you see what I mean?” The elf shouted. “He just attacked me! He used viral energy on me! This character is without a doubt a hacker.” He turned to Qilin. “Sir, I demand that you ban this player at once!”
Qilin glared at Alex. “Go. Now. That little stunt of yours just cost you entry into our bases. If I ever see you here again, I will ban you, and I will make sure you never set foot on another MMO again.” He looked at the other three. “The same goes for you, if you decide to follow him.”
Janus and Miles let go of Alex. He turned to face them and Croe. “I can’t let you guys lose your membership of the coders because of me. I’m calling it off.”
Miles shook his head and turned to Qilin. “Qilin, are you really going to do this to him? Maybe GN shouldn’t’ve attacked him, but that doesn’t mean that he wasn’t asking for it.”
“So you are standing by your commitment to help him?” Qilin asked. The elf smirked at this.
“He’d have every right to call me a world class douche if I didn’t.” Miles replied.
Janus stepped forward. “Unlike any of you, GN and I have actually met and are great friends in real life.” he sighed. “As much as I like the Coders, they aren’t worth the friendship I have with him.” He turned to Croe. “You want to come to Croe?”
Croe seemed to think for a moment. “Well, it sure as heck beats dealing with him,” he said, motioning to the elf, who was still smirking.
Alex looked at them. Three people; two of which he had never met in real life. Three people were willing to risk their well-being to take part in a four man attack to take on what was apparently the most defended area in the game. They had to love this game a lot.
Alex walked back the way he’d come and the others followed suit.
“Goodbye losers!” The elf said. “I suppose we can send out a patrol to pick up what’s left of you!”
“He sure seems full of himself,” Alex muttered.
“He always is,” Janus replied. “As best as I can figure, he’s some rich kid with no social skills other than snobbery.”
“You think he’s right?” Croe asked.
“Only one way to find out.” Miles said, grabbing a ladder rung and hoisting himself upwards.791Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0cr5jSExRI
