File Segment 1: Overture to the Twilight
Time: About six months prior to the events of .hack//GU.
Morrigu Barrow is a famous area within the online game “The World R:2”, a game with worldwide fame and over 12 million players. Unlike most fields, this “Lost Ground” holds no monsters, but only a unique area of amazing beauty and detail. The field centers around a wall that towers to the heavens- and, according to the game’s back-story, blocks off the path that leads to the heavens. Players can wander around a small patch of grass that adjoins the wall, but since they can’t do much else, the place is frequently abandoned.
However, on this particular day in the year 2017, anyone seized with a desire to visit the Wall would have found three characters already there; a young man and two young girls were chasing each other around in a game of tag. Eventually, the three collapsed into the grass, panting and smiling broadly, and lay quietly for a while.
“Hey, Haruko?” The older of the two girls raised her head and spoke.
The young man stretched and yawned. “Yeah, Henako-chan? What’s up?”
As he glanced across at the young girl lying next to him, she gave him an odd grin. “Did you hear that latest rumor, Haruko?”
Haruko raised an eyebrow. “Rumor? This is ‘The World’, Henako-chan. There are as many rumors out there as there are cherry blossoms in Kyoto in springtime.”
Henako giggled. “Yeah, but that’s why you have me around, right? No, Nuada and I checked this one out thoroughly. Even Encephalon got interested in this.”
Haruko shrugged. “Everything interests Encephalon-san and ‘him’, whatever he means by that. So, what’s the rumor this time? Did someone else get stuck here and unable to logout?”
The third member of their party, a young child in white, shivered. “Don’t remind me. But no, I would have sensed something like that.”
Henako shook her head. “No, but it is an echo of the past. There have been a lot of reports lately, of a powerful PK that nobody can defeat.”
Haruko shrugged. “So what? It’s probably just some new kid trying to make the Blacklist. There’s got to be something more to it than that.”
Henako nodded. “Two things more, actually. First, this PK is a Twin Blade who wields a weapon like nothing anybody else has ever seen. He’s called Tri-Edge for a reason.” Haruko sat straight up. “Ah, it seems even an airhead like you has heard of him. So then, you know. They say that those who are killed by him never return to ‘The World’, and their real-life selves fall into a coma.”
Haruko slumped, one hand against his head. “Again… I’d hoped this one was just that: a rumor. Have you…”
Henako nodded. “I’ve already set Nuada and Encephalon onto the case, checking reports of attacks against the real-life player collapses. It’s tough work, especially since C.C. Corp has upgraded its security servers, but…” She hesitated. “We’ve confirmed one case already. But you’re not going to like this.”
Haruko looked up. “Who is it?”
Henako shook her head, refusing to meet his eyes. “It’s Shino. She was attacked two weeks ago, and she hasn’t come back since. And I know her in real life, so I was able to confirm. A coma, of unknown origin.”
Haruko slammed a fist into the dirt by his feet. “Shino-chan… no… Curse you, Morganna! How long are you going to keep tormenting everyone like this?”
Henako tugged a lock of the young girl’s blonde hair. “Hey, kiddo. Do you know anything about this? If it’s Morganna again, then we’ve got some real problems on our hands.”
The girl looked up at her. “Maybe, but I’m not sure. Do you have a description?”
Henako blinked. “Well, yeah, actually. For some reason, Tri-Edge generally kills only one member of a party, then leaves. The other two get away- that’s why this rumor could even get started. So we do have a pretty good idea. This is actually the most bizarre thing about this rumor; those who remember the days of R:1 swear that he looks almost exactly like Kite!”
Haruko stared at her. “Kite? As in Kite-sama, the famous dot hacker? Besides Shugo-kun, who hasn’t played in months, who would dare use his character?” He glanced over at the youngest girl, and stopped short at the look on her face. “Zefie-chan? What’s wrong?”
Zefie shook her head violently, trembling. “I don’t believe it. I didn’t think even Morganna was capable of something this horrible…” She looked up at the two seated next to her. “I was worried about this. You see, about a month before you two first met me, my mom created a defensive program, just in case. Morganna was getting restless, and since the Twilight Guardians didn’t exist yet, she was getting worried about our safety. She modeled him after Kite: looks, abilities, everything. She changed a few things, and had to give him his own AI personality, but otherwise it was the same old Kite. But, Mom had to send him off unfinished, because she sensed something…” She shook her head. “Morganna must have taken control of him, corrupted his data, and then set him to attack innocent people. I…” She broke off, sobbing.
Haruko smiled sadly and put a hand on her shoulder. “Hey, easy now. Don’t go blaming yourself for what’s Morganna’s fault. If he’s fallen under her control, we’ll just have to stop him, that’s all.”
Henako shrugged. “Well, ‘take a number’, as you Americans say.” Haruko gave her a look of mock fury. “Easy, I’m just kidding. But seriously, I think you should leave it to Haseo. You know how he felt about Shino.”
Haruko nodded. “Right. And it makes sense. As strong as Akiko-kun and I are, Haseo-dono is even stronger. He would have a better chance of stopping him.”
Zefie shook her head. “Except for one thing. You, Haseo, and Akiko are all strong fighters, that’s true. But Azure Kite… I mean Tri-Edge…”
Haruko sat straight up. “That’s right, that’s right! Whenever Aura-sama is involved, game parameters go straight out the window! So that means…”
Zefie nodded. “That means that even the three of you together likely could not hope to bring him down. It’s all well and good to try to let Haseo get his revenge, but at this rate, he will only end up getting defeated as well.”
Henako shrugged. “So, we’ll just have to exceed the usual parameters too. You can help with that, right kiddo?” Zefie nodded. “That’s good. Because, Tri-Edge isn’t the only thing that’s going haywire in ‘The World’ right now. I was hacking into Yata’s files yesterday- you know, that admin that Ovan’s friends with- and I noticed an entry on something called ‘AIDA’. That’s the provisional name that C.C. Corp has given these bizarre events.”
Haruko nodded. “Short for ‘Artificially Intelligent Data Anomaly’, right? So there are more of these things?”
Henako frowned. “You remember that weird monster that attacked us a month ago? The one that wouldn’t take any damage until you pulled out that weird ability and blasted it? That was a listed attack. With a note- ‘Anomaly repelled by unknown forces. Suggest special attention.’”
Zefie giggled, and then turned to Haruko. “It’ll be all up to you, I guess. You’ll have to find a way to fully awaken your ‘power’. But even without it, are you willing to fight?”
Haruko tightened his grip on his twin blades. “Absolutely.”
Henako grinned, twirling her staff. “Of course, silly! We always knew when we started this guild we’d have to deal with weird stuff.”
Haruko chuckled. “Well, it’s a good thing you like weird stuff, then, eh Henako-chan?”
Zefie nodded. “I knew you would say that, Haruko. So, to help you fight…” She extended her arm and placed on Haruko’s wrist. “Mommy left this in my care. She said, ‘You’ll know when the time is right, and who the right person is to give it to.’ Don’t forget the legacy this item bears, Haruko. But, I guess I don’t need to remind someone like you, right? You nerdy gaijin.”
Haruko stared as a golden bracelet shimmered into existence around his wrist. “The Twilight Bracelet…” he breathed. “It is certainly fitting that we use it to fight Tri-Edge, who was based on Kite-sama, its first wielder. But am I…?”
Henako laughed. “Worthy, unworthy, who cares? It looks good on you, so that’s all that matters!”
Zefie gave him a wide grin. “She’s right- who cares? I’m giving it to you now. You’ll need to have someone with Data Drain on your side if you’re going to go up against AIDA.”
Haruko sighed. “Well, then, that’s settled. And so begins our silent war against AIDA. I’m kind of glad, actually. This time I can actually do something, instead of just watching others fight.” He turned to Zefie and grinned sheepishly. “Sorry, Zefie-chan, I know we were just starting to have fun, but I’d better get going.”
Zefie giggled. “It’s fine. We can play some other time.”
Haruko nodded. “All right, let’s go, Henako-chan.” The two raised their weapons, and vanished in a stream of blue light. A blue sphere rushed from each player to the nearby platform. Flying along the currents of power, they soon arrived at the Root Town, Mac Anu. Haruko stepped away from the Chaos Gate and sighed. “So, it begins. We’d better call a guild meeting. The others will have to be informed…”
Henako frowned. “Yeah, but here’s one now who maybe shouldn’t be informed, if you catch my drift.”
Haruko followed her pointing finger, his eyes widening. “Oh… Wait here; I’ll go talk to him.”
Henako shrugged. “Actually, I have to log out now. There’s a case I’ve been letting sit for too long now.”
Haruko raised an eyebrow. “You and your paranormal phenomena. When are you going to learn that the real world doesn’t have parameters you can exceed?”
Henako gave him a manic grin. “Ah, but how do you know the real world isn’t a game too? Haven’t you seen The Matrix?” She grinned as she raised her staff. “Nobody except you believed in Zefie until you found her, but she exists.” Blue light began to shower around her. As she faded, she laughed. “So why should ghosts be any different?”
Haruko snickered as she faded from sight. He sent a quick message to follow her across the ether. You know, there’s a reason when I introduce you, all I say is that you’re, well, Henako-chan. Keep an eye on Shino-chan for me, okay? He turned and walked over to the young player. “Hey, Haseo-dono!” He eyed Haseo’s new outfit. Heavy leather, embellished with bronze in several places, encircled him. A high collar obscured the lower parts of his face, but Haruko could tell that Haseo was grinning somewhat smugly. Haruko laughed. “Don’t tell me I missed the Job Extensions again.”
Haseo shook his head. “Well, no, actually. They’ll be going on for a few days still. Plenty of time- assuming someone like you can make it to level twenty by then.”
Haruko gave him an amused look. “What do you take me for? I was level twenty when you were still in grade school.” He blinked. “Come to think of it, I was still in grade school in those days. Anyway, I’m already level 27, so no worries there. So anyway, what did you pick up?”
Haseo grinned, and with a flash of light, an enormous chainsword appeared in his hands. “Edge Punisher. I can use broadswords now. Pretty cool, huh?”
Haruko grinned. “Well, Akiko-kun will be very happy to hear that. I’m going for Blade Brandier, myself.”
Haseo laughed. “What is it with you and weak weapons, anyway?”
Haruko shrugged. “Well, an Adept Rogue can be either fast or strong, but not both. Even you, Haseo-dono; you wield those twin blades as a power weapon, whereas I wield them for speed.”
Haseo smirked. “Yes, but remind me again who’s brought in more bounties?”
Haruko grinned, and then sighed. “Listen… I heard about Shino-chan. I’m sorry.”
Haseo ground his teeth so fiercely that Haruko could hear it. “When I find Tri-Edge… I’m going to grind him into the dust. I am going to PK him so hard he feels it in real life. He’ll feel everything Shino felt when he did that to her.” He stared at Haruko, a wild look in his eye. “I could hear her. She was screaming when he used that ability on her. And now she won’t wake up…”
Haruko looked Haseo directly in the eye. “Haseo-dono, listen to what I have to say. I know how you feel. Shino-chan was my friend too. But don’t let thoughts of revenge blind you. Tri-Edge… Zefie-chan told me some things about him. He’s not-“
Haseo cut him off. “I don’t care what that little girl you play with says. What would she know about Tri-Edge, anyway? And I’m not even going to waste the breath it would take to yell at you about her, and how weird it is that you hang around with little kids.”
Haruko blinked. “I think you just wasted more time telling me you weren’t going to yell than actually yelling, ya know?”
A tic appeared on Haseo’s forehead. “I’m serious, Haruko! Stop kidding around!”
Haruko grinned. “Now that would be impossible.” His face grew serious. “As impossible as it would be for either of us to defeat Tri-Edge as we are now.” Haseo glared at him, but Haruko looked calmly back. “Shino-chan is not the only one who’s fallen to him. Henako-chan already dug up a list of incidents involving just this one anomaly. Even someone like Ovan could lose out to him.”
Haseo raised an eyebrow. “You still don’t like Ovan, huh? He’s my friend, I trust him. But, maybe you’re right. I couldn’t do a thing to help Shino. I’m not nearly strong enough.”
Haruko shook his head. “No. He’s outside the game’s parameters. Nobody can ever be as strong as he is. Unless…” He shook his head. “A power lies within you, Haseo-dono. Learn to use that power, understand it, and even Tri-Edge will fall. But…” He sighed. “I’m sorry, but if I find Tri-Edge first I’m going to end it right then and there. Otherwise, more of our friends are just going to get hurt.”
Haseo raised an eyebrow. “You’re going to defeat him?”
Haruko grinned. “Yeah. I’ve got a ‘power’ of my own. Come on, then, Haseo-dono. Let’s have us a little race. First one to Tri-Edge gets to take revenge for both of us. Agreed?” He extended his hand.
Haseo frowned and looked away. “Sorry, Haruko. But that is one game I really don’t feel like playing.” He turned away, towards the Chaos Gate.
Haruko put a hand on his shoulder. “Wait a minute, Haseo-dono. I count you as one of my friends- and a real friend, not just someone I exchanged member addresses with. Don’t be reckless. And make sure you strengthen your mind as well, because if Tri-Edge does defeat you, it will take all your strength and will to avoid joining Shino-chan.”
Haseo nodded, then gently shrugged off the hand and walked towards the Chaos Gate. “Thanks. I’ll see you around sometime, maybe.”
Haruko watched him as he raised his twin blades and vanished. “Be careful, Haseo-dono,” he muttered. He spun on his heel. “Now, to get that extension, before I miss it again,” he said calmly.
Sakura_Healer in Training Community Member 
|
|
