Post by Hayate on Aug 2, 2007 8:28:14 GMT -5
~ Eternal City of Mac Anu; April 25, 2037 ~
*…Glaive LeGable…*
Usa-chan: Hehehe…
Hayate: …
Izumi: …
Coolidge: …
Neon: …
Orion: …
Usa-chan: Hehehe…
Coolidge: …Okay. I give up.
Usa-chan: Come on, guess!
Hayate: Uh… Lord Partizan?
Usa-chan: WRONG!
Izumi: …Tribal Grappler?
Usa-chan: WRONG!
Neon: Oh, wait! I know! It’s Epsilon Defender!
Usa-chan: WRONG!
Coolidge: Goddammit, Usa-chan, would you just tell us already!?
Usa-chan: Okay, fine! It’s--
Orion: Edge Punisher, right?
Usa-chan: How’d you know?!?
Orion: …Just lucky, I guess.
All: (…Yeah, right…)
Orion: *ahem* …Okay, now that the Job Extension quest has passed, it’s time to resume our search for the .hack//Arms. You’ll all be heading to S Hidden Forbidden Delusions.
Hayate: The 18th Lost Ground…
Coolidge: Okay. Let’s get going before that Hanabi girl figures out what we’re up to.
Usa-chan: GLAIVE LEGABLE, MOVE OUT!!!!!
All: …
Usa-chan: …Sorry. Got caught up in the moment again.
*…Mac Anu Dome…*
Ayliori: …Hmm? Oh, good. You’re here.
Hayate: Hmm? Uh… Ayliori, right?
Ayliori: Yup!
Neon: So, you’re Ayliori. Izumi told us about you. It’s a pleasure. I’m Neon.
Usa-chan: I’m Chibi-Usa! You can call me Usa-chan!
Ayliori: It’s nice to meet you both.
Izumi: Did you need us for something, Ayliori?
Ayliori: Well, you see…
*eventually…*
Coolidge: …So, you were asked by your cousin to find the weapon that lies at the new Lost Ground?
Ayliori: Yes.
Neon: And you want us to come along since you’re afraid there might be monsters?
Ayliori: Yes! Exactly!
Hayate: Uh, guys? Sidebar.
*Hayate separates the group from Ayliori to talk in private*
Hayate: What if the weapon at the new Lost Ground is a .hack//Arm?
Izumi: Hmm… That is a problem.
Usa-chan: Why don’t we just tell Ayliori the truth?
Neon: Usa-chan! You know we can’t do that! If word got out about the .hack//Arms, every player in The World will be after them!
Usa-chan: Right… Sorry…
Coolidge: Okay, how about this? We tell her that there probably isn’t a weapon there, and she’ll get out of our hair.
Izumi: I think that might be best.
Neon: Heh. That’s a surprise. Coolidge actually comes up with a good plan.
Coolidge: Watch it, blondie!
Hayate: …Uh, Ayliori?
Ayliori: Yes?
Hayate: Uh… You see… I’m not really sure there is a weapon at this Lost Ground.
Izumi: Y-Yeah. I think your cousin might’ve been misinformed… Hehehe…
Ayliori: Oh? But…he told me that…
Coolidge: Hey, don’t blame your cousin. A lot of rumors circulate about there being weapons hidden in Lost Grounds. You know, secret passages, hidden rooms, etc…
Ayliori: Secret passages…? Hidden rooms…? *gasp* THAT’S IT!!!
Neon: W-What’s it?
Ayliori: Maybe the weapon is in a hidden chamber at the new Lost Ground!
*Hayate, Izumi, Neon, and Chibi-Usa all glare angrily at Coolidge*
Coolidge: Uh… Oops?
*S Hidden Forbidden Delusions ~ Enchanted City Naval Monte*
*Hayate and the others are greeted by a gigantic city reminiscent of Kingdom Hearts 2’s “The World That Never Was”*
Coolidge: DAMN!!!! This place is huge!!!! It could be its own Root Town!!!!
Usa-chan: Tell me about it!! How are we supposed to search all this!?
Ayliori: “You can do anything if you really try!” My mother tells me that all the time! Let’s go!
Neon: *sigh* Well… Let’s get started…
*the group walks through the winding alleyways, hoping to find something*
Izumi: Hey… Have you noticed that there isn’t a single Aura Sphere here?
Usa-chan: Yeah… Creepy… Usually there’d be at least a cluster or two…
Hayate: Hmm…
*after walking a considerable distance, the group finds themselves back at the entrance of the city*
Coolidge: What the!? Did we just go around in a complete circle!?
Izumi: This must be the city’s defense mechanism to keep out trespassers.
Ayliori: So, what do we do?
Hayate: I have an idea.
*Hayate draws his blade and approaches a wall; he slashes at the wall, leaving a giant H-shaped scar*
Hayate: We leave these scars in the walls as we walk. If we come across one on our way, we walk in the opposite direction.
Neon: Uh… That’s not a bad idea, Hayate, but… Why an “H”?
Hayate: “H” for Hayate! It was my idea, of course!
All: …
Hayate: Okay, then! Let’s go! Onward and upward! *marches off*
Coolidge: …Tell me again why we let that guy join our guild…
Izumi: …Just let it go, Coolidge…
*using Hayate’s navigation system, the group eventually finds themselves in the heart of the city, where they find a dried-out water fountain*
Ayliori: A fountain… You think this is where the weapon is?
Neon: I don’t think so. That’d be way too easy.
*Izumi walks up to the fountain and kneels down at its side, where she sees a faded-out inscription*
Izumi: “…All becomes one, one becomes all…” …What could that mean?
Usa-chan: You think it has anything to do with these buttons?
*at the edge of the fountain, Chibi-Usa finds 5 strange buttons all around the fountain*
Hayate: Hmm…
Neon: …All becomes one…one becomes all… *gasp* I got it! I think we have to press the buttons at the same time!
*the members of the group all position themselves in front of the buttons*
Neon: (…I sure hope I’m right…) Ready?
Hayate: Ready!
Izumi: Ready!
Coolidge: Ready!
Usa-chan: Ready!
Neon: Alright! On the count of three… One! Two!! THREE!!!
*the group presses all the buttons at the same time; a mechanism from underneath the fountain triggers*
Hayate: …
Izumi: …
Coolidge: …
Neon: …
Usa-chan: …
Ayliori: …
*suddenly, Neon senses the ground under his feet moving*
Neon: Uh-oh! MOVE!!!
*the group (except Hayate) moves away from the fountain*
Hayate: Huh!? W-What’s going on!?
*from where the group once stood, trapdoors open up in the ground; Hayate falls through one of the trapdoors*
Hayate: YAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!
Izumi: Hayate!
Coolidge: Man, that guy’s a damn trouble magnet!
Neon: I know you guys are worried, but I think we should keep moving. Who knows how many other traps this place has? Maybe we’ll run into Hayate on the way.
Ayliori: Yeah, I agree with Neon.
Izumi: (…Hayate…) …Alright. Let’s go then.
*meanwhile…*
Hayate: …Ohhh… Major déjà-vu… Where am I now?
*as Hayate stands up, he notices a Twin Blade dual sword positioned right next to his neck*
: …Drop your weapon…
Hayate: *gulp* *draws blade and drops on the ground*
: Are you an Assault Ace?
Hayate: N-No, I’m a Brandier…
: Hmm… Very well… Now turn around slowly…
*Hayate slowly turns to meet the face of a silver-haired 'Omniweapon'*
: Who are you!? What’s your business here!?
Hayate: …Wait… You look familiar… Have we met before?
: I don’t memorize a lot of faces…
Hayate: … *gasp* Hey, wait! You’re Haseo, aren’t you?
Haseo: Answer my question!! What’s your business here?!?
Hayate: *gulp* I-I was just looking for the .ha-- …I was looking for something.
Haseo: The .hack//Arm?
Hayate: Y-You know about them?
Haseo: Tch! Of course I know about them! But why are you looking for it?
Hayate: It’s for my guildmaster. I’m a member of Glaive LeGable.
Haseo: Glaive LeGable? …I understand now… *puts dual sword away*
Hayate: So… How’d you end up here?
Haseo: The same way you did.
Hayate: Oh. Hehehe…
Haseo: *eye twitch*
Hayate: *gulp* Uh… S-So, how do we get out?
Haseo: If I knew that, I wouldn’t be in here, would I?
Hayate: (Hmph! Sorry I asked!) *BEEP, BEEP!* …Hmm? Hey, a short mail.
Haseo: Short mail? You mean there are others here with you?
Hayate: Yeah, my friends. Let’s see… “Hayate, if you get this mail, please let me know if you’re alright. ~ Izumi.”
Haseo: Izumi?
Hayate: She’s a friend of mine. We’re in the same guild.
Haseo: Yeah, yeah, spare me the details.
Hayate: (…)
*meanwhile…*
Izumi: …
Coolidge: Would you relax, Izumi? You can’t expect a reply for your short mail 5 seconds after you send it.
Izumi: …
Coolidge: *sigh* I give up…
Izumi: … *BEEP, BEEP!* *gasp* A short mail!
Ayliori: What’s it say?
Izumi: …It’s from Hayate! He’s alright!
Coolidge: Hehehe… The power of love conquers all…
Neon: *elbows Coolidge* Shhh!
Izumi: He’s says he’s trapped in a dark chamber with Haseo.
Usa-chan: *gasp* Did you say Haseo!? As in “Haseo of the Black Flame”!? He’s the coolest system mod ever!!! Ask him if he can get me an autograph!!!
All: …
*meanwhile…*
Hayate: *BEEP, BEEP!* …They said that they’ll try to locate the mechanism that keeps this room locked.
Haseo: Well, I hope they’ll be quick about it…
Hayate: …Huh? There’s something else…
Haseo: What?
Hayate: Another friend of mine wants your autograph…
Haseo: …
*eventually, Izumi, Coolidge, Neon, Chibi-Usa, and Ayliori enter a very spacious hallway; they find themselves on a bridge that overlooks a deep pit*
Usa-chan: Whoa… That’s a long way down…
Neon: Hey, take a look at that!
*parallel to the bridge Izumi and the others are on is another bridge; on one side of the bridge is a large cube-like structure that looks reminiscent to a cage*
Coolidge: You think anyone’s inside?
Izumi: Hmm…
*Izumi walks forward on the bridge by a short distance until she comes across a large block; on the top of the block is a thick metal chain which leads from the block to the ceiling to the cage on the other bridge*
Izumi: …Guys, help me push this!
*the group pushes the block over the edge of the bridge, causing the cage on the other bridge to lift into the air*
Hayate: …What’s that rumbling!?
*just then, Hayate and Haseo see the cage on top of them lift into the air*
Haseo: What the hell…?
Hayate: …Huh?
*across from him, Hayate sees Izumi and the others on the other bridge*
Hayate: Izumi!
Izumi: Hayate! You’re alright!
Usa-chan: *deep gasp* It’s Ha… Ha… HASEO OF THE BLACK FLAME!!!
Haseo: …Oh, here we go…
Usa-chan: HAYATE!!! COULD YOU GET ME HIS AUTOGRAPH?!?!?!? PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE!!!!!!
Hayate: Uh…
Haseo: …If I give her one, will she shut up?
Hayate: …Most likely.
Haseo: *sigh* I’m getting too old for this job…
Izumi: *shouting* Hayate! Cross the bridge on your end and we’ll see you on the other side, okay?
Hayate: *shouting* Okay, got it!
*the groups begin to cross their respective bridges; all of a sudden, Coolidge triggers a trap under his foot and a gigantic cylindrical pillar drops onto the bridge and starts to roll towards the groups*
Coolidge: Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me!!!
All: RUN!!!!!
*the groups dash for the exit at full speed, with the rolling pillars right behind them*
Usa-chan: *panting* We’re…not…gonna…make it!!!
Izumi: Oh, yes we are! Speed Talisman!
*Izumi uses a Speed Talisman on the party, causing them to run faster; they reach the exit before Hayate and Haseo*
Hayate: *panting* I don’t suppose…you have a Speed Talisman on you…do you!?
Haseo: *panting* No…I don’t!!
Hayate: *panting* I was…afraid of that!!
*Izumi and the others run over to the opening Hayate and Haseo were running towards*
Coolidge: Come on! You’re almost there!
*all of a sudden, Hayate trips and falls over*
Izumi: *gasp* Hayate!
*just then, Haseo stops running and points the palm of his hand towards the pillar*
Haseo: LEI ZAS!!!
*Haseo shoots forth a giant beam of light that blasts a hole through the side of the pillar; as the pillar rolls forward, Hayate and Haseo avoid the pillar by squeezing inside the opening on the ground where the pillar couldn’t touch them; seconds later, the pillar crashes into the wall*
Neon: Hayate!
Ayliori: Haseo!
Usa-chan: D-Do you see them!?
Coolidge: …Tch…
Izumi: (…Please…)
: LEI ZAS!!!
*another laser blast blows the pillar to bits and Haseo and Hayate walk out of the rubble*
All: They’re okay!!!
Hayate: …Did you have to wait until now to do that?!?
Haseo: It wasn’t necessary at the time. But because you tripped and fell on your ass, I had to risk it.
Hayate: … (…I’m really beginning to dislike this guy…)
*moving on, the group finds the very center of the city, a brightly-lit chamber; at the middle of the chamber was a thin blade jutting out from a stone pedestal*
Ayliori: *gasp* There it is! Sanjuro’s Katana!
Hayate: What do we do now?
Izumi: We have to get that weapon away from her somehow. …Uh, Ayliori?
*Ayliori runs up to the katana and pulls it out of the pedestal*
Ayliori: Wow… This is a strong weapon…
Coolidge: Hey, Ayliori--
Haseo: Shhh! …There’s someone else here.
Neon: Huh? Where?
*suddenly, Kyuzo steps out of the shadows to confront the group*
Kyuzo: Hi there!
All: Kyuzo!
Usa-chan: What do you want!?
*Ayliori runs up to Kyuzo and gives him Sanjuro’s Katana*
Ayliori: Here you go, Kyu-chan!
Kyuzo: Nice work, Ayliori…
All: KYU-CHAN?!?
Ayliori: Yeah. Kyuzo’s my cousin.
All: HE’S YOUR COUSIN?!?!?
Ayliori: Uh… Yeah. Why?
Kyuzo: Hehehe… Thanks a lot for finding the .hack//Arm for me, Glaive LeGable!
Hayate: Kyuzo!!! Tricking your own cousin into finding a weapon for you?!? How low are you?!?
Kyuzo: …You still don’t get it, do you, kid…? Don’t you remember what I said!? That’s the way it is in this world! Survival of the fittest! Every man for himself!
Neon: But to manipulate your own cousin…
Kyuzo: Family relations have nothing to do with it! If you don’t try to shove your way to the top, you’ll always come out on bottom!
Haseo: *draws bayonet* By my power as a Knight of the Epitaph, I order you to drop that weapon!
Kyuzo: Heh… You must be joking… Like I’m giving this baby up! *takes out Smokescreen* Well, can’t say it hasn’t been fun! Later! *uses Smokescreen*
*Haseo fires his bayonet several times into the smoke, but Kyuzo had already vanished*
Haseo: Tch! Damn! …He got away.
Coolidge: Great… Just great… That’s Samurai 7 – 3, Glaive LeGable – nothing!
Ayliori: … (Kyu-chan… It can’t be…)
*later, back at Mac Anu…*
Hayate: …
Izumi: …
Coolidge: …
Neon: …
Usa-chan: …
Ayliori: …Well… Thank you for your help… *gates out*
Izumi: I can’t help but feel sorry for Ayliori…
Neon: Her own cousin used her to further his own ends… It’s disgraceful…
Usa-chan: *humming happily*
Hayate: …What are you so cheery about?
Usa-chan: I got Haseo’s autograph!!! Hehehe…
All: …
~ Next Time on Infected! ~
Batsu: I challenge you to a steam bike race!
~*~*~*~
Hayate: This looks like Hulle Granz, but it feels…different…
~*~*~*~
Hayate: …
Gardenia: …Do you have a problem with me!?
Hayate: Uh… N-No! Of course not! Hehehe…
Gardenia: …
~*~*~*~
Helba: Hmm… I’ve never seen a character design like yours before.
~*~*~*~
EB: …Great Scott…
12th Phase: Timeless Tribulations, Part 1!
*…Glaive LeGable…*
Usa-chan: Hehehe…
Hayate: …
Izumi: …
Coolidge: …
Neon: …
Orion: …
Usa-chan: Hehehe…
Coolidge: …Okay. I give up.
Usa-chan: Come on, guess!
Hayate: Uh… Lord Partizan?
Usa-chan: WRONG!
Izumi: …Tribal Grappler?
Usa-chan: WRONG!
Neon: Oh, wait! I know! It’s Epsilon Defender!
Usa-chan: WRONG!
Coolidge: Goddammit, Usa-chan, would you just tell us already!?
Usa-chan: Okay, fine! It’s--
Orion: Edge Punisher, right?
Usa-chan: How’d you know?!?
Orion: …Just lucky, I guess.
All: (…Yeah, right…)
Orion: *ahem* …Okay, now that the Job Extension quest has passed, it’s time to resume our search for the .hack//Arms. You’ll all be heading to S Hidden Forbidden Delusions.
Hayate: The 18th Lost Ground…
Coolidge: Okay. Let’s get going before that Hanabi girl figures out what we’re up to.
Usa-chan: GLAIVE LEGABLE, MOVE OUT!!!!!
All: …
Usa-chan: …Sorry. Got caught up in the moment again.
*…Mac Anu Dome…*
Ayliori: …Hmm? Oh, good. You’re here.
Hayate: Hmm? Uh… Ayliori, right?
Ayliori: Yup!
Neon: So, you’re Ayliori. Izumi told us about you. It’s a pleasure. I’m Neon.
Usa-chan: I’m Chibi-Usa! You can call me Usa-chan!
Ayliori: It’s nice to meet you both.
Izumi: Did you need us for something, Ayliori?
Ayliori: Well, you see…
*eventually…*
Coolidge: …So, you were asked by your cousin to find the weapon that lies at the new Lost Ground?
Ayliori: Yes.
Neon: And you want us to come along since you’re afraid there might be monsters?
Ayliori: Yes! Exactly!
Hayate: Uh, guys? Sidebar.
*Hayate separates the group from Ayliori to talk in private*
Hayate: What if the weapon at the new Lost Ground is a .hack//Arm?
Izumi: Hmm… That is a problem.
Usa-chan: Why don’t we just tell Ayliori the truth?
Neon: Usa-chan! You know we can’t do that! If word got out about the .hack//Arms, every player in The World will be after them!
Usa-chan: Right… Sorry…
Coolidge: Okay, how about this? We tell her that there probably isn’t a weapon there, and she’ll get out of our hair.
Izumi: I think that might be best.
Neon: Heh. That’s a surprise. Coolidge actually comes up with a good plan.
Coolidge: Watch it, blondie!
Hayate: …Uh, Ayliori?
Ayliori: Yes?
Hayate: Uh… You see… I’m not really sure there is a weapon at this Lost Ground.
Izumi: Y-Yeah. I think your cousin might’ve been misinformed… Hehehe…
Ayliori: Oh? But…he told me that…
Coolidge: Hey, don’t blame your cousin. A lot of rumors circulate about there being weapons hidden in Lost Grounds. You know, secret passages, hidden rooms, etc…
Ayliori: Secret passages…? Hidden rooms…? *gasp* THAT’S IT!!!
Neon: W-What’s it?
Ayliori: Maybe the weapon is in a hidden chamber at the new Lost Ground!
*Hayate, Izumi, Neon, and Chibi-Usa all glare angrily at Coolidge*
Coolidge: Uh… Oops?
*S Hidden Forbidden Delusions ~ Enchanted City Naval Monte*
*Hayate and the others are greeted by a gigantic city reminiscent of Kingdom Hearts 2’s “The World That Never Was”*
Coolidge: DAMN!!!! This place is huge!!!! It could be its own Root Town!!!!
Usa-chan: Tell me about it!! How are we supposed to search all this!?
Ayliori: “You can do anything if you really try!” My mother tells me that all the time! Let’s go!
Neon: *sigh* Well… Let’s get started…
*the group walks through the winding alleyways, hoping to find something*
Izumi: Hey… Have you noticed that there isn’t a single Aura Sphere here?
Usa-chan: Yeah… Creepy… Usually there’d be at least a cluster or two…
Hayate: Hmm…
*after walking a considerable distance, the group finds themselves back at the entrance of the city*
Coolidge: What the!? Did we just go around in a complete circle!?
Izumi: This must be the city’s defense mechanism to keep out trespassers.
Ayliori: So, what do we do?
Hayate: I have an idea.
*Hayate draws his blade and approaches a wall; he slashes at the wall, leaving a giant H-shaped scar*
Hayate: We leave these scars in the walls as we walk. If we come across one on our way, we walk in the opposite direction.
Neon: Uh… That’s not a bad idea, Hayate, but… Why an “H”?
Hayate: “H” for Hayate! It was my idea, of course!
All: …
Hayate: Okay, then! Let’s go! Onward and upward! *marches off*
Coolidge: …Tell me again why we let that guy join our guild…
Izumi: …Just let it go, Coolidge…
*using Hayate’s navigation system, the group eventually finds themselves in the heart of the city, where they find a dried-out water fountain*
Ayliori: A fountain… You think this is where the weapon is?
Neon: I don’t think so. That’d be way too easy.
*Izumi walks up to the fountain and kneels down at its side, where she sees a faded-out inscription*
Izumi: “…All becomes one, one becomes all…” …What could that mean?
Usa-chan: You think it has anything to do with these buttons?
*at the edge of the fountain, Chibi-Usa finds 5 strange buttons all around the fountain*
Hayate: Hmm…
Neon: …All becomes one…one becomes all… *gasp* I got it! I think we have to press the buttons at the same time!
*the members of the group all position themselves in front of the buttons*
Neon: (…I sure hope I’m right…) Ready?
Hayate: Ready!
Izumi: Ready!
Coolidge: Ready!
Usa-chan: Ready!
Neon: Alright! On the count of three… One! Two!! THREE!!!
*the group presses all the buttons at the same time; a mechanism from underneath the fountain triggers*
Hayate: …
Izumi: …
Coolidge: …
Neon: …
Usa-chan: …
Ayliori: …
*suddenly, Neon senses the ground under his feet moving*
Neon: Uh-oh! MOVE!!!
*the group (except Hayate) moves away from the fountain*
Hayate: Huh!? W-What’s going on!?
*from where the group once stood, trapdoors open up in the ground; Hayate falls through one of the trapdoors*
Hayate: YAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!
Izumi: Hayate!
Coolidge: Man, that guy’s a damn trouble magnet!
Neon: I know you guys are worried, but I think we should keep moving. Who knows how many other traps this place has? Maybe we’ll run into Hayate on the way.
Ayliori: Yeah, I agree with Neon.
Izumi: (…Hayate…) …Alright. Let’s go then.
*meanwhile…*
Hayate: …Ohhh… Major déjà-vu… Where am I now?
*as Hayate stands up, he notices a Twin Blade dual sword positioned right next to his neck*
: …Drop your weapon…Hayate: *gulp* *draws blade and drops on the ground*
: Are you an Assault Ace?Hayate: N-No, I’m a Brandier…
: Hmm… Very well… Now turn around slowly…*Hayate slowly turns to meet the face of a silver-haired 'Omniweapon'*
: Who are you!? What’s your business here!?Hayate: …Wait… You look familiar… Have we met before?
: I don’t memorize a lot of faces…Hayate: … *gasp* Hey, wait! You’re Haseo, aren’t you?
Haseo: Answer my question!! What’s your business here?!?
Hayate: *gulp* I-I was just looking for the .ha-- …I was looking for something.
Haseo: The .hack//Arm?
Hayate: Y-You know about them?
Haseo: Tch! Of course I know about them! But why are you looking for it?
Hayate: It’s for my guildmaster. I’m a member of Glaive LeGable.
Haseo: Glaive LeGable? …I understand now… *puts dual sword away*
Hayate: So… How’d you end up here?
Haseo: The same way you did.
Hayate: Oh. Hehehe…
Haseo: *eye twitch*
Hayate: *gulp* Uh… S-So, how do we get out?
Haseo: If I knew that, I wouldn’t be in here, would I?
Hayate: (Hmph! Sorry I asked!) *BEEP, BEEP!* …Hmm? Hey, a short mail.
Haseo: Short mail? You mean there are others here with you?
Hayate: Yeah, my friends. Let’s see… “Hayate, if you get this mail, please let me know if you’re alright. ~ Izumi.”
Haseo: Izumi?
Hayate: She’s a friend of mine. We’re in the same guild.
Haseo: Yeah, yeah, spare me the details.
Hayate: (…)
*meanwhile…*
Izumi: …
Coolidge: Would you relax, Izumi? You can’t expect a reply for your short mail 5 seconds after you send it.
Izumi: …
Coolidge: *sigh* I give up…
Izumi: … *BEEP, BEEP!* *gasp* A short mail!
Ayliori: What’s it say?
Izumi: …It’s from Hayate! He’s alright!
Coolidge: Hehehe… The power of love conquers all…
Neon: *elbows Coolidge* Shhh!
Izumi: He’s says he’s trapped in a dark chamber with Haseo.
Usa-chan: *gasp* Did you say Haseo!? As in “Haseo of the Black Flame”!? He’s the coolest system mod ever!!! Ask him if he can get me an autograph!!!
All: …
*meanwhile…*
Hayate: *BEEP, BEEP!* …They said that they’ll try to locate the mechanism that keeps this room locked.
Haseo: Well, I hope they’ll be quick about it…
Hayate: …Huh? There’s something else…
Haseo: What?
Hayate: Another friend of mine wants your autograph…
Haseo: …
*eventually, Izumi, Coolidge, Neon, Chibi-Usa, and Ayliori enter a very spacious hallway; they find themselves on a bridge that overlooks a deep pit*
Usa-chan: Whoa… That’s a long way down…
Neon: Hey, take a look at that!
*parallel to the bridge Izumi and the others are on is another bridge; on one side of the bridge is a large cube-like structure that looks reminiscent to a cage*
Coolidge: You think anyone’s inside?
Izumi: Hmm…
*Izumi walks forward on the bridge by a short distance until she comes across a large block; on the top of the block is a thick metal chain which leads from the block to the ceiling to the cage on the other bridge*
Izumi: …Guys, help me push this!
*the group pushes the block over the edge of the bridge, causing the cage on the other bridge to lift into the air*
Hayate: …What’s that rumbling!?
*just then, Hayate and Haseo see the cage on top of them lift into the air*
Haseo: What the hell…?
Hayate: …Huh?
*across from him, Hayate sees Izumi and the others on the other bridge*
Hayate: Izumi!
Izumi: Hayate! You’re alright!
Usa-chan: *deep gasp* It’s Ha… Ha… HASEO OF THE BLACK FLAME!!!
Haseo: …Oh, here we go…
Usa-chan: HAYATE!!! COULD YOU GET ME HIS AUTOGRAPH?!?!?!? PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE!!!!!!
Hayate: Uh…
Haseo: …If I give her one, will she shut up?
Hayate: …Most likely.
Haseo: *sigh* I’m getting too old for this job…
Izumi: *shouting* Hayate! Cross the bridge on your end and we’ll see you on the other side, okay?
Hayate: *shouting* Okay, got it!
*the groups begin to cross their respective bridges; all of a sudden, Coolidge triggers a trap under his foot and a gigantic cylindrical pillar drops onto the bridge and starts to roll towards the groups*
Coolidge: Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me!!!
All: RUN!!!!!
*the groups dash for the exit at full speed, with the rolling pillars right behind them*
Usa-chan: *panting* We’re…not…gonna…make it!!!
Izumi: Oh, yes we are! Speed Talisman!
*Izumi uses a Speed Talisman on the party, causing them to run faster; they reach the exit before Hayate and Haseo*
Hayate: *panting* I don’t suppose…you have a Speed Talisman on you…do you!?
Haseo: *panting* No…I don’t!!
Hayate: *panting* I was…afraid of that!!
*Izumi and the others run over to the opening Hayate and Haseo were running towards*
Coolidge: Come on! You’re almost there!
*all of a sudden, Hayate trips and falls over*
Izumi: *gasp* Hayate!
*just then, Haseo stops running and points the palm of his hand towards the pillar*
Haseo: LEI ZAS!!!
*Haseo shoots forth a giant beam of light that blasts a hole through the side of the pillar; as the pillar rolls forward, Hayate and Haseo avoid the pillar by squeezing inside the opening on the ground where the pillar couldn’t touch them; seconds later, the pillar crashes into the wall*
Neon: Hayate!
Ayliori: Haseo!
Usa-chan: D-Do you see them!?
Coolidge: …Tch…
Izumi: (…Please…)
: LEI ZAS!!!*another laser blast blows the pillar to bits and Haseo and Hayate walk out of the rubble*
All: They’re okay!!!
Hayate: …Did you have to wait until now to do that?!?
Haseo: It wasn’t necessary at the time. But because you tripped and fell on your ass, I had to risk it.
Hayate: … (…I’m really beginning to dislike this guy…)
*moving on, the group finds the very center of the city, a brightly-lit chamber; at the middle of the chamber was a thin blade jutting out from a stone pedestal*
Ayliori: *gasp* There it is! Sanjuro’s Katana!
Hayate: What do we do now?
Izumi: We have to get that weapon away from her somehow. …Uh, Ayliori?
*Ayliori runs up to the katana and pulls it out of the pedestal*
Ayliori: Wow… This is a strong weapon…
Coolidge: Hey, Ayliori--
Haseo: Shhh! …There’s someone else here.
Neon: Huh? Where?
*suddenly, Kyuzo steps out of the shadows to confront the group*
Kyuzo: Hi there!
All: Kyuzo!
Usa-chan: What do you want!?
*Ayliori runs up to Kyuzo and gives him Sanjuro’s Katana*
Ayliori: Here you go, Kyu-chan!
Kyuzo: Nice work, Ayliori…
All: KYU-CHAN?!?
Ayliori: Yeah. Kyuzo’s my cousin.
All: HE’S YOUR COUSIN?!?!?
Ayliori: Uh… Yeah. Why?
Kyuzo: Hehehe… Thanks a lot for finding the .hack//Arm for me, Glaive LeGable!
Hayate: Kyuzo!!! Tricking your own cousin into finding a weapon for you?!? How low are you?!?
Kyuzo: …You still don’t get it, do you, kid…? Don’t you remember what I said!? That’s the way it is in this world! Survival of the fittest! Every man for himself!
Neon: But to manipulate your own cousin…
Kyuzo: Family relations have nothing to do with it! If you don’t try to shove your way to the top, you’ll always come out on bottom!
Haseo: *draws bayonet* By my power as a Knight of the Epitaph, I order you to drop that weapon!
Kyuzo: Heh… You must be joking… Like I’m giving this baby up! *takes out Smokescreen* Well, can’t say it hasn’t been fun! Later! *uses Smokescreen*
*Haseo fires his bayonet several times into the smoke, but Kyuzo had already vanished*
Haseo: Tch! Damn! …He got away.
Coolidge: Great… Just great… That’s Samurai 7 – 3, Glaive LeGable – nothing!
Ayliori: … (Kyu-chan… It can’t be…)
*later, back at Mac Anu…*
Hayate: …
Izumi: …
Coolidge: …
Neon: …
Usa-chan: …
Ayliori: …Well… Thank you for your help… *gates out*
Izumi: I can’t help but feel sorry for Ayliori…
Neon: Her own cousin used her to further his own ends… It’s disgraceful…
Usa-chan: *humming happily*
Hayate: …What are you so cheery about?
Usa-chan: I got Haseo’s autograph!!! Hehehe…
All: …
~ Next Time on Infected! ~
Batsu: I challenge you to a steam bike race!
~*~*~*~
Hayate: This looks like Hulle Granz, but it feels…different…
~*~*~*~
Hayate: …
Gardenia: …Do you have a problem with me!?
Hayate: Uh… N-No! Of course not! Hehehe…
Gardenia: …
~*~*~*~
Helba: Hmm… I’ve never seen a character design like yours before.
~*~*~*~
EB: …Great Scott…
12th Phase: Timeless Tribulations, Part 1!
