Post by Hayate on Nov 17, 2007 13:18:05 GMT -5
~ Backtop City Megin Fi; June 2, 2037 ~
Boy PC: Damn… Nothing over here… Anything on your end, Cedric?
Cedric: Nope. Nothin’. What about you, Lilly?
Lilly: No, I haven’t found anything.
Boy PC: Dammit! Treasure hunting’s been really slow lately!
Cedric: Ah, don’t let it get you down, Tyson. Let’s just try another Lost Ground. Maybe Vorpis Alph?
Tyson: Yeah, okay…
Lilly: Aah!
Tyson/Cedric: Lilly!
*Tyson and Cedric run over to where Lilly was once standing*
Cedric: Lilly, where are you!?
Lilly: Down here!
Tyson: Hmm?
*Tyson and Cedric look down and notice Lilly standing at the bottom of a secret chamber*
Cedric: How’d you get down there?
Lilly: I dunno! One minute I was looking underneath this weird rock, and the next I’m in here!
Tyson: …You mean, this rock?
*just then, the entrance to the chamber closes, trapping Lilly inside*
Lilly: AAAHHH!!!
Cedric: Tyson!!
Tyson: Oops!
*Tyson lifts the rock again, opening the chamber entrance*
Lilly: Don’t do that!
Tyson: Hehehe… Sorry.
*Tyson and Cedric join Lilly inside the chamber and walk through a long rocky corridor*
Lilly: Where do you think this leads?
Tyson: What else? Treasure, of course!
Cedric: Do you think about treasure all the time, Tyson?
Tyson: …Yes.
Cedric/Lilly: *sigh*
*at the end of the corridor, the group enters an underground volcano*
All: WHOA!!!!!
Cedric: I didn’t think a place like this existed!
Lilly: After today, nothing in this game will surprise me anymore.
Tyson: Hey, look at that!
*Tyson turns the group’s attention to a tiny piece of land surrounded by magma; on top of the landmass was a grimoire*
Tyson: Sweet! Treasure!
Lilly: Okay, great… There’s just one problem… How are we supposed to get to it?
Tyson: Hmm…
*just then, a loud growl echoes throughout the volcano*
Cedric: W-What was that!?
*a gigantic creature emerges from the magma and roars loudly at the group*
All: AAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!! MONSTER!!!!!!
*just before the creature could devour the group alive, they gate out, and the creature chomps down on the platform they were standing on; realizing that the players were gone, the creature dives back into the magma; meanwhile, a shadowy figure is seen standing on a platform opposite of where the three players came in*
: Worry not, my pet… Our guests of honor will arrive soon…
*…Mac Anu, Mercenary District…*
*Hayate is seen walking towards the @home entrance…*
Hayate: *whistles happily* …Hmm?
*…when he sees a small group of players gathered around; distracted, he walks over and addresses one of the players*
Hayate: Hey, what’s going on?
Boy PC: *turns to Hayate* Didn’t you hear? Some players discovered a secret chamber underneath Megin Fi!
Hayate: Megin Fi?
Boy PC: Yup! Apparently, it looks like a gigantic volcano!
Hayate: Hmm…
*Hayate pushes himself towards the front of the crowd, where he notices three frantic-looking players*
Tyson: So, there we were: in the very mouth of an underground volcano!
Cedric: It must’ve been at least 2 miles wide!
Lilly: And that’s when we noticed a grimoire sitting on a tiny landmass in the middle of the lava!
Tyson: No bridge, no floating platform, nothing! There was nothing between us and the weapon but red and black molten jelly!
Cedric: And while we were contemplating how to reach the grimoire, “IT” appeared before us!!!
Girl PC: “It”? What’s “it”?
All: THE BEAST!!!
Crowd: *gasp*
Lilly: This great behemoth emerges from below the lava and bears its giant fangs at us!
Boy PC: What’d you do!?
Tyson: We did what any expert treasure hunter guild would do…
Cedric: WE HIGHTAILED IT OUT OF THERE!!!!!
Crowd: …
Girl PC: You ran!? How lame!
Boy PC: I bet that story wasn’t even true!
Tyson: Don’t believe us, eh…? Well, how about…*points at Lilly* …THIS?!?!?
*Lilly holds up her hand and shows to the crowd a large hole in her glove where magma from the creature had splashed onto; the skin underneath her glove was even starting to break apart*
Lilly: You see!? Because of that monster, my PC’s starting to disappear!
Crowd: Whoa…
Hayate: …
*…Glaive LeGable @home…*
Orion: A highly active volcano… A mysterious grimoire… And a monster that can destroy PC data… You’ve done well to bring this to our attention, Hayate.
Hayate: Well, it wasn’t exactly something I could just ignore.
Coolidge: Well… *stands up* …I guess this means another .hack//Arm search, huh? I’ll be waiting outside.
Orion: Not so fast, Coolidge.
Coolidge: Hmm?
Orion: This will be no ordinary .hack//Arm search. We’re facing something we know almost nothing about. We’ll require all the manpower we can muster.
Hayate: I’ll try to contact Hanabi.
Izumi: And I’ll send e-mails to Kaga and Tsukiyomi.
Orion: Good. You’d best prepare yourselves well, my friends. This may very well be our most dangerous mission together as Glaive LeGable.
Neon: Heh. Like that’s different from any other mission.
Miharu: Haha. Got that right.
*…Samurai 7 @home…*
Claire: GAH!!! I don’t believe this! A .hack//Arm is out there ripe for the picking, and Kyuzo’s nowhere to be found! Where the hell is he?!?
Haruhi: Calm down, Claire. I’m sure Master Kyuzo’s on his way here as we speak.
Claire: …You said that three times already, Haruhi…
Haruhi: …I did? I hadn’t realized.
Claire: *groan*
Piros VIII: Worry not, comrades! I shall venture out and seek out our beloved guildmaster! I shall not rest until I do! PIROS VIII, AWAY!!!!! *dashes outside*
Jack: If we’re lucky, he’ll find a brain that works…
Samekh: *playing cello*
*just then, the @home entrance creaks open*
Samekh: Back so soon, Piros?
*Kyuzo walks in holding Piros by his collar; as he walks in, he drops Piros onto the floor*
Piros VIII: Hehehe… I found Kyuzo.
Haruhi: *bows* Welcome home, Master Kyuzo.
Kyuzo: *smirk* Thanks, doll!
Claire: It’s about time you got here! We going after that .hack//Arm or what?
Kyuzo: Naturally, my dear Claire. Saddle up, kiddies – it’s .hack//Arm hunting season!
*one hour later, in the Mac Anu Dome…*
Orion: Thank you for coming on such short notice, you three. I realize you must’ve had previous engagements.
Hanabi: Nah, not really! I was bored!
Kaga: And Tsukiyomi and I just came back from completing a quest.
Coolidge: By “quest”, you mean “date”, right? Hehehe…
Tsukiyomi: *blush* S-Shut up already, Coolidge!
All: *laughing*
Tsukiyomi: …
*…Backtop City Megin Fi…*
Orion: Alright. Hayate said that the players who uncovered the underground volcano mentioned a “secret passage that opened by moving a strange-looking rock”. Spread out and search for that rock.
All: Yes, sir!
*Orion, Hayate, Izumi, Neon, Chibi-Usa, Coolidge, Miharu, Hanabi, Kaga, and Tsukiyomi spread out around Megin Fi and begin examining the environment; five minutes later…*
Orion: Did you find anything?
Hayate/Izumi: Nothing over here!
Neon/Usa-chan: Or over here!
Coolidge: Bupkes!
Miharu: Which is Coolidge-talk for “nothing”!
Hanabi: What was this damn rock even look like!?
Tsukiyomi: *sigh* There’s nothing here…
Kaga: Hmm… *finds a rock that looks different from the others* Hello… What have we here? *moves rock*
*Tsukiyomi falls through the trap door*
Tsukiyomi: Aah!
All: Tsukiyomi!
*the group runs over and looks down at Tsukiyomi in the secret chamber*
Kaga: Are you alright?
Tsukiyomi: *sarcastically* Oh, I’m just dandy! Some skulls and bones broke my fall!
All: …Yup, she’s fine…
*the group joins Tsukiyomi inside the chamber and walk through the long corridor*
Usa-chan: This place gives me the creeps…
Coolidge: Every place we go to that’s dark gives you the creeps, Usa-chan!
Usa-chan: That’s not true! Right, Neo-niichan!?
Neon: …It’s true, Usa-chan…
Usa-chan: *crosses arms* Hmph! Meanies!
*at the end of the corridor, the group enters the underground volcano*
All: WOW!!!!!
Hayate: What do you know? There really is a volcano underneath Megin Fi!
Hanabi: Phew! Talk about interactive! This place is so hot, I can feel the heat through my controller!
Miharu: So…where’s the .hack//Arm?
All: *looking around*
Tsukiyomi: …Hey, guys, what’s that?
* Tsukiyomi turns the group’s attention to the lava-surrounded piece of land with the grimoire resting on top of it*
Kaga: Looks like…a grimoire of some kind?
Orion: That must be the .hack//Arm! We’ve found it!
Miharu: Well, that was quick. I’m almost disappointed.
Neon: Okay, great, so we found the .hack//Arm. Just one problem… How do we reach it?
All: Hmm…
Usa-chan: …Uh, guys? Why don’t I--?
Izumi: Maybe we could cast a bunch of ice spells to freeze the lava and make an artificial bridge?
Kaga: No, judging from the activity of the lava, the frozen magma wouldn’t hold for very long.
Usa-chan: Guys, I have an idea--!
Coolidge: Maybe cast a wind spell underneath the .hack//Arm and bring it over to us while floating on the wind?
Hanabi: The thing’s too far for us to reach with a wind spell.
Usa-chan: *sigh* Never mind, I’ll handle it.
*Chibi-Usa walks a few steps ahead of the group*
Tsukiyomi: Usa-chan?
Hayate: What are you doing?
*Usa-chan clicks her heels together and begins to hover in midair*
All: …Ohhhh! Why didn’t I think of that?
Usa-chan: (Maybe ‘cuz you’re all freakin’ idiots…)
*Chibi-Usa floats over to the landmass and picks up the grimoire*
Usa-chan: I got it!
All: Whoo! Alright, Usa-chan!
Usa-chan: Hehehe…
: Much congratulations, Glaive LeGable.
Miharu: That voice…!
*on the platform opposite of where Glaive LeGable was standing, the members of Samurai 7 step out of the shadows*
All: KYUZO!!!
Kyuzo: Greetings!
Hayate: What do you want now!?
Kyuzo: Oh, come now. I just came to congratulate you on finding another .hack//Arm.
Coolidge: Heh! No one likes a sore loser, Kyuzo!
Kyuzo: Tch! You underestimate me. You know very well that, if I wanted that .hack//Arm, I’d have gotten a hold of it a long time ago.
Orion: What…?
Kyuzo: Let’s play a little game, Glaive LeGable! You have the treasure -- now let’s see if you can escape with it alive! *snaps fingers*
*the creature emerges from the magma and roars loudly at the group*
All: THE CREATURE!!!!!
Orion: No… That’s no ordinary monster… That’s a Data Bug!!!
All: Data Bug!?
Neon: How the hell can Kyuzo control a Data Bug!?
Kyuzo: I’m a master hacker! What’d you expect!?
*the Data Bug turns to look at Chibi-Usa and bears its teeth*
Data Bug: *roar*
Usa-chan: …
Orion: Usa-chan, get out of there!!!
*Usa-chan nervously clicks her heels together and begins to hover; she begins to float back to the others; the Data Bug flies at her, intending to devour her*
Data Bug: *loud roar*
Usa-chan: AAAAAHHHHH!!!!!
All: USA-CHAN!!!
*as Usa-chan reaches the platform, the Data Bug just barely grazes her left leg; the Data Bug sinks back into the lava and Chibi-Usa notices the skin on her leg was slowly breaking apart*
Izumi: Oh, no…
Miharu: What do we do?
Orion: We need to get the .hack//Arm, destroy that Data Bug, and get out of here.
Hayate: *looks around* …Where’s the .hack//Arm, Usa-chan?
Usa-chan: *points to the lava* Over…there…
*the .hack//Arm is shown slowly sinking into the lava*
Tsukiyomi: Uh-oh! We’d better act fast or else we’ll lose it forever!
Neon: I’m all over it!
*Neon runs over to the edge of the platform and reaches for the .hack//Arm*
Neon: Come on… Come on… Almost got it…
Kaga: …Huh?
*Kaga notices bubbling from underneath the lava*
Kaga: *gasp* Neon, get away from there!
Neon: Huh!?
*the Data Bug roars as it emerges from the lava*
Neon: *looks up at the Data Bug* …Uh-oh…
Data Bug: *loud roar*
*the Data Bug lunges its teeth at Neon*
Neon: AAAAAHHHHH!!!!!
*almost everyone shields their eyes at the Data Bug eats Neon alive*
Usa-chan: NEO-NIICHAN!!!!![/i][/b]
Izumi: …Oh, my god…
Miharu: *falls to knees* …He’s… He’s gone…
Kyuzo: *yawn* Okay, I’m bored. Piros, make yourself useful and go get the .hack//Arm.
Piros VIII: W-What!? Me!? But what about the Data Bug!?
Kyuzo: The Data Bug’s under my control, you idiot! It won’t attack you unless I tell it to!
Piros VIII: *gulp* If you s-say so… *runs around to the other side of the platform*
Claire: …You’re gonna have the Data Bug eat him, aren’t you?
Kyuzo: Now, “Claire-bear”, what kind of friend would I be if I did that…?
*while Piros runs around the platform, he sees the Data Bug lunge its teeth at him…*
Piros VIII: AAAAAHHHHH!!!!!
*…but it clenches its teeth just a few inches away from Piros’ head*
Piros VIII: … *sigh* …THAT WASN’T FUNNY!!!
Jack: It was for us! Hahahahaha!
Hayate: Grrrr… Damn that Kyuzo… Damn him to hell!
Orion: Forget about him, Hayate. If we don’t get the .hack//Arm right now, we’ll all be--
Hayate: Forget about him!? FORGET ABOUT HIM?!? That sick bastard just killed Neon, and you want me to forget about him?!?
*just then, the Data Bug turns to face the others and roars*
Tsukiyomi: What do we do now?
Hanabi: Now… *draws blade sword* …we fight!
*the Data Bug lunges its teeth at Hanabi; Hanabi jumps to the side just as the Data Bug’s teeth connect with the platform; Hanabi jumps onto the Data Bug’s head and thrusts her blade into its skull*
Data Bug: *pained roar*
Hanabi: Yeah! You liked that, didn’t you!?
Tsukiyomi: Hmph! Well, I’m in! *draws dual swords*
Hayate: …I guess we don’t have a choice, do we? *draws Flamberge and Vorpal Blade* Izumi, you stay with Usa-chan!
Usa-chan: *wraps arms around legs* Neo-niichan… Neo-niichan… Neo-niichan…
Izumi: *kneels down next to Chibi-Usa* Usa-chan…
Hayate: Orion, you get the .hack//Arm! The rest of us will hold the Data Bug off for as long as possible!
Orion: Understood!
Coolidge: Aw, yeah! *draws dual pistols* It’s do or die, baby!
*meanwhile, on the other side of the volcano…*
Claire: Hahaha! Look at them trying to do battle against the Data Bug! It’s hilarious!
Jack: They’re like little insects trying to topple an elephant!
Haruhi: …Indeed.
Kyuzo: Well, I tried to warn ‘em. In this world, it’s all about survival of the fittest.
All: …
Kyuzo: …Dammit, what’s taking Piros so long!?
*meanwhile, at the base of the platform, Piros tries to grab the .hack//Arm out of the lava*
Piros VIII: I’ve…almost…got it…
: Hey.
Piros VIII: *gasp, gulp*
*Piros turns to face Orion holding a Partizan lance*
Orion: …What are you doing?
Piros VIII: Um… S-Stretching? Hehehe…
Orion: …Goodbye.
*with one attack, Orion ends Piros’ life; he then looks over at the .hack//Arm, which was almost completely swallowed by the lava*
Orion: Damn. I don’t have a lot of time left.
*on the platform, Hayate and the others, short of breath, gaze at the Data Bug, who roars angrily at them*
Coolidge: Dammit! What’s this thing’s health point – infinite!?
Hayate: There’s no way we can win like this…
*the Data Bug lunges its teeth at the group again…*
Izumi: SCATTER!!!
*…and bites into the platform again; this time, the platform becomes so warped, it collapses, causing everyone except Hayate and Izumi to fall into the lava*
Samekh: *sigh* They never stood a chance…
*Izumi dangles over the lava pit with Hayate holding her up by her hand*
Hayate: Hang on, Izumi!
Izumi: H-Hayate!
Hayate: Don’t worry! I won’t let you fall!
*little by little, Izumi’s hand begins to slip through Hayate’s fingers*
Hayate: Come on…!
Izumi: I c-can’t hold on for much longer!
Hayate: D-Dammit! Orion, I need some help over here!
*Hayate looks over at Orion, who was trying to reach the .hack//Arm*
Hayate: Orion! I said I need some help!
Orion: *gazing intently at the .hack//Arm* …So beautiful…
Hayate: Orion!? Orion, can’t you hear me!?
Orion: …I’m…almost…there…
Hayate: ORION!!!!!
*just then, Izumi’s hand completely slips through Hayate’s fingers, and she plummets down*
Izumi: HAYATE!!!
Hayate: IZUMI!!!
*the Data Bug positions itself underneath Izumi and opens its jaws; Izumi falls into the Data Bug’s mouth and is eaten alive*
Hayate: …Izumi, no… This can’t be happening… IIIIIZUUUUUMIIIII!!!!!
TO BE CONTINUED…
~ Next Time, on the Season Finale of Infected! ~
Hayate: ARE THE .HACK//ARMS MORE IMPORTANT TO YOU THAN YOUR FRIENDS?!?!?
Orion: …H-Hayate…!
~*~*~*~
Kyuzo: …So… You are also one of the “Chosen”…
~*~*~*~
Ovan: 13%… 19%… 26%… It’s already at 40%!
Haseo: No…! Why is this happening now!?
~*~*~*~
Hayate: *tosses @home Guest Key to the ground* I quit!
~*~*~*~
Haseo: Player Character #F362009. Username – Hayate.
Endrance: The 5th “Chosen”. Codename – The Machinator.
Ovan: We need to have a little talk.
Hayate: …
~*~*~*~
Izumi: I trust you… Orion…
26th Phase: The Edge of Existence, Part 2![/color]
Boy PC: Damn… Nothing over here… Anything on your end, Cedric?
Cedric: Nope. Nothin’. What about you, Lilly?
Lilly: No, I haven’t found anything.
Boy PC: Dammit! Treasure hunting’s been really slow lately!
Cedric: Ah, don’t let it get you down, Tyson. Let’s just try another Lost Ground. Maybe Vorpis Alph?
Tyson: Yeah, okay…
Lilly: Aah!
Tyson/Cedric: Lilly!
*Tyson and Cedric run over to where Lilly was once standing*
Cedric: Lilly, where are you!?
Lilly: Down here!
Tyson: Hmm?
*Tyson and Cedric look down and notice Lilly standing at the bottom of a secret chamber*
Cedric: How’d you get down there?
Lilly: I dunno! One minute I was looking underneath this weird rock, and the next I’m in here!
Tyson: …You mean, this rock?
*just then, the entrance to the chamber closes, trapping Lilly inside*
Lilly: AAAHHH!!!
Cedric: Tyson!!
Tyson: Oops!
*Tyson lifts the rock again, opening the chamber entrance*
Lilly: Don’t do that!
Tyson: Hehehe… Sorry.
*Tyson and Cedric join Lilly inside the chamber and walk through a long rocky corridor*
Lilly: Where do you think this leads?
Tyson: What else? Treasure, of course!
Cedric: Do you think about treasure all the time, Tyson?
Tyson: …Yes.
Cedric/Lilly: *sigh*
*at the end of the corridor, the group enters an underground volcano*
All: WHOA!!!!!
Cedric: I didn’t think a place like this existed!
Lilly: After today, nothing in this game will surprise me anymore.
Tyson: Hey, look at that!
*Tyson turns the group’s attention to a tiny piece of land surrounded by magma; on top of the landmass was a grimoire*
Tyson: Sweet! Treasure!
Lilly: Okay, great… There’s just one problem… How are we supposed to get to it?
Tyson: Hmm…
*just then, a loud growl echoes throughout the volcano*
Cedric: W-What was that!?
*a gigantic creature emerges from the magma and roars loudly at the group*
All: AAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!! MONSTER!!!!!!
*just before the creature could devour the group alive, they gate out, and the creature chomps down on the platform they were standing on; realizing that the players were gone, the creature dives back into the magma; meanwhile, a shadowy figure is seen standing on a platform opposite of where the three players came in*
: Worry not, my pet… Our guests of honor will arrive soon…*…Mac Anu, Mercenary District…*
*Hayate is seen walking towards the @home entrance…*
Hayate: *whistles happily* …Hmm?
*…when he sees a small group of players gathered around; distracted, he walks over and addresses one of the players*
Hayate: Hey, what’s going on?
Boy PC: *turns to Hayate* Didn’t you hear? Some players discovered a secret chamber underneath Megin Fi!
Hayate: Megin Fi?
Boy PC: Yup! Apparently, it looks like a gigantic volcano!
Hayate: Hmm…
*Hayate pushes himself towards the front of the crowd, where he notices three frantic-looking players*
Tyson: So, there we were: in the very mouth of an underground volcano!
Cedric: It must’ve been at least 2 miles wide!
Lilly: And that’s when we noticed a grimoire sitting on a tiny landmass in the middle of the lava!
Tyson: No bridge, no floating platform, nothing! There was nothing between us and the weapon but red and black molten jelly!
Cedric: And while we were contemplating how to reach the grimoire, “IT” appeared before us!!!
Girl PC: “It”? What’s “it”?
All: THE BEAST!!!
Crowd: *gasp*
Lilly: This great behemoth emerges from below the lava and bears its giant fangs at us!
Boy PC: What’d you do!?
Tyson: We did what any expert treasure hunter guild would do…
Cedric: WE HIGHTAILED IT OUT OF THERE!!!!!
Crowd: …
Girl PC: You ran!? How lame!
Boy PC: I bet that story wasn’t even true!
Tyson: Don’t believe us, eh…? Well, how about…*points at Lilly* …THIS?!?!?
*Lilly holds up her hand and shows to the crowd a large hole in her glove where magma from the creature had splashed onto; the skin underneath her glove was even starting to break apart*
Lilly: You see!? Because of that monster, my PC’s starting to disappear!
Crowd: Whoa…
Hayate: …
*…Glaive LeGable @home…*
Orion: A highly active volcano… A mysterious grimoire… And a monster that can destroy PC data… You’ve done well to bring this to our attention, Hayate.
Hayate: Well, it wasn’t exactly something I could just ignore.
Coolidge: Well… *stands up* …I guess this means another .hack//Arm search, huh? I’ll be waiting outside.
Orion: Not so fast, Coolidge.
Coolidge: Hmm?
Orion: This will be no ordinary .hack//Arm search. We’re facing something we know almost nothing about. We’ll require all the manpower we can muster.
Hayate: I’ll try to contact Hanabi.
Izumi: And I’ll send e-mails to Kaga and Tsukiyomi.
Orion: Good. You’d best prepare yourselves well, my friends. This may very well be our most dangerous mission together as Glaive LeGable.
Neon: Heh. Like that’s different from any other mission.
Miharu: Haha. Got that right.
*…Samurai 7 @home…*
Claire: GAH!!! I don’t believe this! A .hack//Arm is out there ripe for the picking, and Kyuzo’s nowhere to be found! Where the hell is he?!?
Haruhi: Calm down, Claire. I’m sure Master Kyuzo’s on his way here as we speak.
Claire: …You said that three times already, Haruhi…
Haruhi: …I did? I hadn’t realized.
Claire: *groan*
Piros VIII: Worry not, comrades! I shall venture out and seek out our beloved guildmaster! I shall not rest until I do! PIROS VIII, AWAY!!!!! *dashes outside*
Jack: If we’re lucky, he’ll find a brain that works…
Samekh: *playing cello*
*just then, the @home entrance creaks open*
Samekh: Back so soon, Piros?
*Kyuzo walks in holding Piros by his collar; as he walks in, he drops Piros onto the floor*
Piros VIII: Hehehe… I found Kyuzo.
Haruhi: *bows* Welcome home, Master Kyuzo.
Kyuzo: *smirk* Thanks, doll!
Claire: It’s about time you got here! We going after that .hack//Arm or what?
Kyuzo: Naturally, my dear Claire. Saddle up, kiddies – it’s .hack//Arm hunting season!
*one hour later, in the Mac Anu Dome…*
Orion: Thank you for coming on such short notice, you three. I realize you must’ve had previous engagements.
Hanabi: Nah, not really! I was bored!
Kaga: And Tsukiyomi and I just came back from completing a quest.
Coolidge: By “quest”, you mean “date”, right? Hehehe…
Tsukiyomi: *blush* S-Shut up already, Coolidge!
All: *laughing*
Tsukiyomi: …
*…Backtop City Megin Fi…*
Orion: Alright. Hayate said that the players who uncovered the underground volcano mentioned a “secret passage that opened by moving a strange-looking rock”. Spread out and search for that rock.
All: Yes, sir!
*Orion, Hayate, Izumi, Neon, Chibi-Usa, Coolidge, Miharu, Hanabi, Kaga, and Tsukiyomi spread out around Megin Fi and begin examining the environment; five minutes later…*
Orion: Did you find anything?
Hayate/Izumi: Nothing over here!
Neon/Usa-chan: Or over here!
Coolidge: Bupkes!
Miharu: Which is Coolidge-talk for “nothing”!
Hanabi: What was this damn rock even look like!?
Tsukiyomi: *sigh* There’s nothing here…
Kaga: Hmm… *finds a rock that looks different from the others* Hello… What have we here? *moves rock*
*Tsukiyomi falls through the trap door*
Tsukiyomi: Aah!
All: Tsukiyomi!
*the group runs over and looks down at Tsukiyomi in the secret chamber*
Kaga: Are you alright?
Tsukiyomi: *sarcastically* Oh, I’m just dandy! Some skulls and bones broke my fall!
All: …Yup, she’s fine…
*the group joins Tsukiyomi inside the chamber and walk through the long corridor*
Usa-chan: This place gives me the creeps…
Coolidge: Every place we go to that’s dark gives you the creeps, Usa-chan!
Usa-chan: That’s not true! Right, Neo-niichan!?
Neon: …It’s true, Usa-chan…
Usa-chan: *crosses arms* Hmph! Meanies!
*at the end of the corridor, the group enters the underground volcano*
All: WOW!!!!!
Hayate: What do you know? There really is a volcano underneath Megin Fi!
Hanabi: Phew! Talk about interactive! This place is so hot, I can feel the heat through my controller!
Miharu: So…where’s the .hack//Arm?
All: *looking around*
Tsukiyomi: …Hey, guys, what’s that?
* Tsukiyomi turns the group’s attention to the lava-surrounded piece of land with the grimoire resting on top of it*
Kaga: Looks like…a grimoire of some kind?
Orion: That must be the .hack//Arm! We’ve found it!
Miharu: Well, that was quick. I’m almost disappointed.
Neon: Okay, great, so we found the .hack//Arm. Just one problem… How do we reach it?
All: Hmm…
Usa-chan: …Uh, guys? Why don’t I--?
Izumi: Maybe we could cast a bunch of ice spells to freeze the lava and make an artificial bridge?
Kaga: No, judging from the activity of the lava, the frozen magma wouldn’t hold for very long.
Usa-chan: Guys, I have an idea--!
Coolidge: Maybe cast a wind spell underneath the .hack//Arm and bring it over to us while floating on the wind?
Hanabi: The thing’s too far for us to reach with a wind spell.
Usa-chan: *sigh* Never mind, I’ll handle it.
*Chibi-Usa walks a few steps ahead of the group*
Tsukiyomi: Usa-chan?
Hayate: What are you doing?
*Usa-chan clicks her heels together and begins to hover in midair*
All: …Ohhhh! Why didn’t I think of that?
Usa-chan: (Maybe ‘cuz you’re all freakin’ idiots…)
*Chibi-Usa floats over to the landmass and picks up the grimoire*
Usa-chan: I got it!
All: Whoo! Alright, Usa-chan!
Usa-chan: Hehehe…
: Much congratulations, Glaive LeGable.Miharu: That voice…!
*on the platform opposite of where Glaive LeGable was standing, the members of Samurai 7 step out of the shadows*
All: KYUZO!!!
Kyuzo: Greetings!
Hayate: What do you want now!?
Kyuzo: Oh, come now. I just came to congratulate you on finding another .hack//Arm.
Coolidge: Heh! No one likes a sore loser, Kyuzo!
Kyuzo: Tch! You underestimate me. You know very well that, if I wanted that .hack//Arm, I’d have gotten a hold of it a long time ago.
Orion: What…?
Kyuzo: Let’s play a little game, Glaive LeGable! You have the treasure -- now let’s see if you can escape with it alive! *snaps fingers*
*the creature emerges from the magma and roars loudly at the group*
All: THE CREATURE!!!!!
Orion: No… That’s no ordinary monster… That’s a Data Bug!!!
All: Data Bug!?
Neon: How the hell can Kyuzo control a Data Bug!?
Kyuzo: I’m a master hacker! What’d you expect!?
*the Data Bug turns to look at Chibi-Usa and bears its teeth*
Data Bug: *roar*
Usa-chan: …
Orion: Usa-chan, get out of there!!!
*Usa-chan nervously clicks her heels together and begins to hover; she begins to float back to the others; the Data Bug flies at her, intending to devour her*
Data Bug: *loud roar*
Usa-chan: AAAAAHHHHH!!!!!
All: USA-CHAN!!!
*as Usa-chan reaches the platform, the Data Bug just barely grazes her left leg; the Data Bug sinks back into the lava and Chibi-Usa notices the skin on her leg was slowly breaking apart*
Izumi: Oh, no…
Miharu: What do we do?
Orion: We need to get the .hack//Arm, destroy that Data Bug, and get out of here.
Hayate: *looks around* …Where’s the .hack//Arm, Usa-chan?
Usa-chan: *points to the lava* Over…there…
*the .hack//Arm is shown slowly sinking into the lava*
Tsukiyomi: Uh-oh! We’d better act fast or else we’ll lose it forever!
Neon: I’m all over it!
*Neon runs over to the edge of the platform and reaches for the .hack//Arm*
Neon: Come on… Come on… Almost got it…
Kaga: …Huh?
*Kaga notices bubbling from underneath the lava*
Kaga: *gasp* Neon, get away from there!
Neon: Huh!?
*the Data Bug roars as it emerges from the lava*
Neon: *looks up at the Data Bug* …Uh-oh…
Data Bug: *loud roar*
*the Data Bug lunges its teeth at Neon*
Neon: AAAAAHHHHH!!!!!
*almost everyone shields their eyes at the Data Bug eats Neon alive*
Usa-chan: NEO-NIICHAN!!!!![/i][/b]
Izumi: …Oh, my god…
Miharu: *falls to knees* …He’s… He’s gone…
Kyuzo: *yawn* Okay, I’m bored. Piros, make yourself useful and go get the .hack//Arm.
Piros VIII: W-What!? Me!? But what about the Data Bug!?
Kyuzo: The Data Bug’s under my control, you idiot! It won’t attack you unless I tell it to!
Piros VIII: *gulp* If you s-say so… *runs around to the other side of the platform*
Claire: …You’re gonna have the Data Bug eat him, aren’t you?
Kyuzo: Now, “Claire-bear”, what kind of friend would I be if I did that…?
*while Piros runs around the platform, he sees the Data Bug lunge its teeth at him…*
Piros VIII: AAAAAHHHHH!!!!!
*…but it clenches its teeth just a few inches away from Piros’ head*
Piros VIII: … *sigh* …THAT WASN’T FUNNY!!!
Jack: It was for us! Hahahahaha!
Hayate: Grrrr… Damn that Kyuzo… Damn him to hell!
Orion: Forget about him, Hayate. If we don’t get the .hack//Arm right now, we’ll all be--
Hayate: Forget about him!? FORGET ABOUT HIM?!? That sick bastard just killed Neon, and you want me to forget about him?!?
*just then, the Data Bug turns to face the others and roars*
Tsukiyomi: What do we do now?
Hanabi: Now… *draws blade sword* …we fight!
*the Data Bug lunges its teeth at Hanabi; Hanabi jumps to the side just as the Data Bug’s teeth connect with the platform; Hanabi jumps onto the Data Bug’s head and thrusts her blade into its skull*
Data Bug: *pained roar*
Hanabi: Yeah! You liked that, didn’t you!?
Tsukiyomi: Hmph! Well, I’m in! *draws dual swords*
Hayate: …I guess we don’t have a choice, do we? *draws Flamberge and Vorpal Blade* Izumi, you stay with Usa-chan!
Usa-chan: *wraps arms around legs* Neo-niichan… Neo-niichan… Neo-niichan…
Izumi: *kneels down next to Chibi-Usa* Usa-chan…
Hayate: Orion, you get the .hack//Arm! The rest of us will hold the Data Bug off for as long as possible!
Orion: Understood!
Coolidge: Aw, yeah! *draws dual pistols* It’s do or die, baby!
*meanwhile, on the other side of the volcano…*
Claire: Hahaha! Look at them trying to do battle against the Data Bug! It’s hilarious!
Jack: They’re like little insects trying to topple an elephant!
Haruhi: …Indeed.
Kyuzo: Well, I tried to warn ‘em. In this world, it’s all about survival of the fittest.
All: …
Kyuzo: …Dammit, what’s taking Piros so long!?
*meanwhile, at the base of the platform, Piros tries to grab the .hack//Arm out of the lava*
Piros VIII: I’ve…almost…got it…
: Hey.Piros VIII: *gasp, gulp*
*Piros turns to face Orion holding a Partizan lance*
Orion: …What are you doing?
Piros VIII: Um… S-Stretching? Hehehe…
Orion: …Goodbye.
*with one attack, Orion ends Piros’ life; he then looks over at the .hack//Arm, which was almost completely swallowed by the lava*
Orion: Damn. I don’t have a lot of time left.
*on the platform, Hayate and the others, short of breath, gaze at the Data Bug, who roars angrily at them*
Coolidge: Dammit! What’s this thing’s health point – infinite!?
Hayate: There’s no way we can win like this…
*the Data Bug lunges its teeth at the group again…*
Izumi: SCATTER!!!
*…and bites into the platform again; this time, the platform becomes so warped, it collapses, causing everyone except Hayate and Izumi to fall into the lava*
Samekh: *sigh* They never stood a chance…
*Izumi dangles over the lava pit with Hayate holding her up by her hand*
Hayate: Hang on, Izumi!
Izumi: H-Hayate!
Hayate: Don’t worry! I won’t let you fall!
*little by little, Izumi’s hand begins to slip through Hayate’s fingers*
Hayate: Come on…!
Izumi: I c-can’t hold on for much longer!
Hayate: D-Dammit! Orion, I need some help over here!
*Hayate looks over at Orion, who was trying to reach the .hack//Arm*
Hayate: Orion! I said I need some help!
Orion: *gazing intently at the .hack//Arm* …So beautiful…
Hayate: Orion!? Orion, can’t you hear me!?
Orion: …I’m…almost…there…
Hayate: ORION!!!!!
*just then, Izumi’s hand completely slips through Hayate’s fingers, and she plummets down*
Izumi: HAYATE!!!
Hayate: IZUMI!!!
*the Data Bug positions itself underneath Izumi and opens its jaws; Izumi falls into the Data Bug’s mouth and is eaten alive*
Hayate: …Izumi, no… This can’t be happening… IIIIIZUUUUUMIIIII!!!!!
TO BE CONTINUED…
~ Next Time, on the Season Finale of Infected! ~
Hayate: ARE THE .HACK//ARMS MORE IMPORTANT TO YOU THAN YOUR FRIENDS?!?!?
Orion: …H-Hayate…!
~*~*~*~
Kyuzo: …So… You are also one of the “Chosen”…
~*~*~*~
Ovan: 13%… 19%… 26%… It’s already at 40%!
Haseo: No…! Why is this happening now!?
~*~*~*~
Hayate: *tosses @home Guest Key to the ground* I quit!
~*~*~*~
Haseo: Player Character #F362009. Username – Hayate.
Endrance: The 5th “Chosen”. Codename – The Machinator.
Ovan: We need to have a little talk.
Hayate: …
~*~*~*~
Izumi: I trust you… Orion…
26th Phase: The Edge of Existence, Part 2![/color]
