[IC Board] All the World's a Game - Season II

[Kristia]

Yakumo estate

After hearing the fox´s plan, Mara was debating if it was either a good idea or a real clusterfuck "You know how crazy this thing sounds? one wrong move and bam, no more you and I will have to deal with an emotionally dead and physically almost invincible lucario, and Im not kidding with this" she spoke seriously

"I know the risk of these things the moment I decided to keep that virus in me" Renamon said in a calm tone even though of what she had planned

"If and I remark IF D-reaper gets free, I´ll personally deal with her or do everything I can to send her to the deepest parts of hell" Nera discussed also in a calm tone

Mara otheerwise was getting desperate but took a deep breath and calmed down "Sometimes I wonder how you two would gladly acept death if it comes, heck I know that the skeleton would play chess with Renamon just for her messed and calm temper. Do you really are prepared for it?" she asked the duo

"I´ll accept my fate when it comes, but that will be in a long time when my own fire persihes with its last breath" the fox said with determination in her eyes

[SUSTIC]

Kawashiro House - Kappa Village - Gensokyo

"Relax... do not be afraid. I'm not here to bring harm... only a warning..." The shadowy man said as he stepped forward. Revealing a man with spiky white hair, wearing a black cloak outlined with dark red. Around his collar was... a strange series of gold chains and locks. On top of that, but the strangest thing about this man was... his mask. He was wearing a stone mask that even though it had two holes for the eyes. Only one was visible... the other... there was nothing... just pitch blackness. The man took out a few small dice sized blue cubes, then he proceeded to tosses the cubes into the air as he just stared at Mitori, and Max.

There was an unnatural aura to him... something that made Max feel unsafe... there was just something... creepy about him.

The stranger just continued to stare at the kappa, and young boy. Then he opened his mouth. "The Red Atlamillia... it's in danger... protect it... a bad man is after it, and that's all I can tell you right now. Protect it with your life kid... kukuku..." He chuckled as he turned to Mitori.

Almost within the blink of an eye, and without seemingly making a single movement he was right in front of Mitori. "As for you... protect the kid... for in this world he needs the protection..." This mysterious man said as he just as fast as he appeared... just kind of vanished... like he wasn't even there...

A few seconds after he vanished Max suddenly collapsed... he fell unconscious as he fell face first onto the cold, hard ground in front of him...

[S121]

The Inventory

When John heard what Koishi said, he wanted to help, but again, he knew that an army of Characters could take care of it. Besides, he had many other things to do, such as save Annie from a terrible fate and kill The Auditor. He just didn't have enough time to help, but at least he knew that somebody was taking care of the incident. After a split second, John's train of thought ended and he turned his attention over to Koishi's question.

"We're here because we need someone to fill in a role for a battler. We're trying to save a girl from a terrible fate, but to do that, we need to assemble a team. The only thing that's left for us is the support role.", John explained to Koishi.







Outside Reactor Labs - Sector 4 - Prometheus Labs - London | Dawn

As Jack walked off with Eve, Dr. Neuman turned over to Chung and answered his question.

"I'm going to go back into the reactor lab. I was working on a little something, a special little project. It's almost done, and once it's completed, Prometheus Labs will be a much safer place.", Dr. Neuman said to Chung.


Meanwhile, Jack didn't say a single word to Eve as they walked through the hall. All he was focused on at this point was for his suit to get fixed before he got in trouble with Dr. Halsey. Dr. Halsey may have been a frail old woman, but not even Jack dared to get on her bad side. In a sense, angering Halsey was the equivalent of angering a parent. Just the thought of encountering her was enough to put Jack slightly on edge, making him keep his guard up, even if it wasn't apparent that Jack felt that way. Every once in a while, Jack would look over to Eve, just to make sure she was still following.









Outside Prometheus Labs - London | Dawn

"I'm not paid to make assumptions, I'm paid to do my job.", Daniel calmly said as he lead Volgin inside The Labs.




Sector 2 - Prometheus Labs - London | Dawn

After Daniel and Volgin entered the security sector of Prometheus Labs, Daniel escorted Volgin to one of the various smaller rooms and opened the door. If Volgin looked inside, he would have seen that the room looked much like an interrogation room, only more refined, mainly due to how it looked like it came from a work of science-fiction.

"Until we can fully trust you, negotiations will be held in a secure location. This ensures the absolute safety of The Labs.", Daniel calmly explained as he motioned towards the the room.

[Koishi]

The Inventory

---

"Support role, huh?" Koishi rubbed her chin and then her face brightened. "I know just the person. Though she'll probably hate missing the battle over in California. Have to do some serious convincing with her. Come, you'll see who it is." Koishi said, as she walked with haste down one of the hallways.

[WriggleRid3r]

Kawashiro House - Kappa Village - Gensokyo

---

"Creep." Mitori frowned as the shade disappeared, leaving nothing to trace. "Max, do you know thi-"

"Max!" Mitori rushed to grab Max as he fell unconscious, hitting the ground.

"What's wrong-" A voice asked from the doorway. It was Nitori, answering the distress call from Mitori not long ago. Nitori was in her tight black sleeveless and denim shorts: an attire she prefers while working on machines. Her face and toned arms and legs were covered in sweat. She seemed indifferent until she noticed Max, unconscious and in the hands of Mitori. "Oh dear."

"Dammit, call Suichi. She should be able to detect what's wrong with Max." Mitori barked, referring to the local Kappa doctor.

"She's out on a vacation." Nitori denounced and took Max from Mitori's hands. "I'll go to Eientei. Eirin-san should be in."

"I'll go with you too." Mitori said.

"No, you stay here." Nitori denounced once again as she took a dark brown leather jacket and slung it over Max's shoulders.

"No, you. I'm not putting him in any more danger." Mitori protested. She thought of what the shade said: protect Max, for he needs protection in this world.

"Make sure Zero is untouched." Nitori ignored her sister. "ADAM!"

[SUSTIC]

Kawashiro House - Kappa Village - Gensokyo


As Max laid there passed out, the gold pendant with the large red gem in the middle began to kind of... glow a bit.

"No... mom... don't... don't go... don't leave me..." Max muttered in his sleep as grabbed a hold of the brown jacket Nitori slung over his shoulders. It was more like he was actually sound asleep than anything... It was also like he was having a... nightmare about his mother...

[WriggleRid3r]

Eientei - Gensokyo

---

Nitori soon arrived at Eientei, a large manor smack dab in the middle of the Bamboo Forest of the Lost. Nitori has been here once or twice, but that was only for business... And so was this.

"Who's there?" A familiar voice called as the door opened. Reisen. Clad in her usual school uniform-like attire. Reisen looked up and down Nitori and asked, "Ah, Nitori-san. How can I help you?"

"Is Eirin-san there?" Nitori asked.

"She is sleeping." Reisen answered and tried to close the door. "Now, if you'll excuse me..."

"Wait!" Nitori protested, and Reisen held the door. "Please. Our guest has fallen unconscious and I need to know why. The residential doctor in Kappa Village is out so-"

Reisen opened the door. "Come in," she said. "But I assure you she wouldn't like the fact that you interrupt her rest."

[Zekai]

Japan - Gensokyo: Hakugyokurou - Nighttime - Dec. 24

Youmu was tending to the garden as normal when she sensed that something has entered Hakugyokurou. "What's this feeling?" She asks herself. She then stopped what she was doing and went to where the feeling is coming from. Under one of the cherry blossom trees was a silver haired male sitting there unconscious. "Oh, someone is unconscious. Better take him back to the house." Youmu said then she lifted him up and brought him back to the house.

10 minutes later

The male flashed opened his eyes and quickly sat up, panting hard. "What the hell just happened?" He asks himself ashe places his right hand over his face. "Oh, you're up. That's good." Youmu said. He looks over and sees a short, silver haired girl in green clothes. "Who are you?" He asks. "Youmu Konpaku." Youmu introduced herself. He then looks around. "Where the hell am I? Is this an @Home?" He asks. "Hakugyokurou in Gensokyo and what's an @Home?" Youmu asks. He looks at her weirdly. The tea pot starts whistling. "Tea's ready, please sit tight." Youmu said and then went to get the tea. "Hakugyokurou? Gensokyo? Are they new servers for The World? What a second, I'm veiwing this place directly. Am I in another AIDA server? No, it can't be, Ovan erased AIDA so how is this possible?" He thought. Youmu returned with some tea. "Please drink up." She said offering some tea. "Ok but answer me a few questions. First, what server are we on and why am I here?" He asks Youmu.

"I don't know what a server is and as for why you're here, I found you unconscious in the garden and brought you here. Now answer my question, who are you and how did you get here?" Youmu answered and asked in response. "I'm Haseo and I was out doing a Quest with some friends and next thing I know, I'm here." Haseo said and then took some tea. Youmu thought for a minute. "You must be a Character." Youmu said and then sipped some tea. "Of course I'm a character. I am a PC after all." Haseo said as he slams his tea down. "That's not what I meant." Youmu said placing her tea down. Haseo looks at her. "A Character refers to a game character appearing in the real world. I'm a Character as well and there's been many other Characters that has appeared." Youmu explained.

"If that's the case then my friends might be here too..... WAIT! THE REAL WORLD?!" Haseo asks shocked as he caught on to what Youmu said. "Yes, this is the real world. Areas and other things from different games has appeared in the real world. Take this place for example, Hakugyokurou is the netherworld for Gensokyo but yet we are in Japan." Youmu said sipping her tea. "So I wonder what my real self is doing then?" Haseo asks himself. A white ball with a tail flies past Haseo. Haseo grabs the tail with his left hand. "EHHH!!" Youmu screeched. "PLEASE LET GO!" Youmu said in pain. Haseo let go of the tail and Youmu's composer returns to normal. "That's my spirit. Please don't grab it again." Youmu said as her voice returned to normal as well.

Haseo opens the menu which only he can see. He then opens the "Party" menu to see if his friends are "online". "Looks like no one is on. Skeith, can you feel if the other Epitaphs are in the real world?" Haseo asked. Youmu is confused by what Haseo just said. "I don't feel the other Epitaphs." A deep male voice comes from inside Haseo. "I see but damn it, where the hell can they be at?" Haseo asks himself. "Excuse me Haseo but who are you talking to?" Youmu asks. "My Epitaph. A fragment of special data that's in me." Haseo said. Haseo then went through his "Equipment", "Skills", "Awakening" and other menus to see if he still had everything.

"Looks like my gear and skills are still there and I can still use Awakening." Haseo said to himself softly. "Haseo, if you like, I can escort you out of here so you can go find your friends." Youmu said finishing her tea. Haseo closes the menu. "Thanks, the quicker I leave, the better." Haseo said as he stood. "Alright, then follow me." Youmu said and Haseo followed. The walk outside and Haseo sees all the cherry blossom trees. "This place would look like a good Area for an event." Haseo said as he continues to follow Youmu. They then proceeded down the many stairs. Haseo notices that it's night out and there's snow. "What day and time is it?" Haseo asks. "8:58 pm. Dec. 24th." Youmu answered.

"So it's Christmas Eve. That means I was out for a week." Haseo said. "Or maybe when you fell through, it placed you a week ahead of your time." Youmu said as they continue walking down the many stairs. "That's a possibility. If AIDA is involved that is." Haseo said and then thought. They finally reached the bottom of the stairs. Youmu the grabbed a sword and swung it upwards and opened a portal. "This will take you out of Hakugyokurou. I hope you find your friends." Youmu said as she turns around. "Thanks for the help and the info." Haseo said as he walks towards the portal. Youmu bows a bit. "Good luck." Youmu says. Haseo nods and walks through the portal and then the portal closes.

(I had to restart this because my laptop restarted on me.)

[WriggleRid3r]

Eientei - Gensokyo

---

"Eirin-sama." Reisen knocked on the wooden door leading to Eirin's bedroom. A thump was heard, then a sloppy walk, and then the door opened, revealing Eirin in her sleepwear.

"I was sleeping, Reisen." Eirin frowned as she noticed that she had visitors. She quickly grabbed a white shirt hanging on a wall and wore it over her loosely, having trouble due to the lack of an arm. "Good evening, Nitori-san. How can I help you?"

Spoiler: I guess this is a good image for the occassion. Just in case though...

"Eirin-san, a guest of mine has fallen ill." Nitori lifted her arm up to show Eirin Max's unconscious body.

"He is not sick, he has just fallen unconscious." Eirin observed within the single second she saw Max. "Bring him over, I'll take a quick look."

[SUSTIC]

Eientei - Gensokyo

Max who was still unconscious kept muttering seemingly random stuff... about his mother... He began to shake his head as he rested in Nitori's arms. He was in a cold sweat as he was seemingly going into a panic...



Max's Mind

Max was in an empty field... of roses, tulips, and a wide assortment of other flowers... Things though looked awfully dark... The sky was a dark bloody red... black clouds lined the sky... and the only other person there was his... mother. Max kept trying to reach out to his mother, trying to reach her... but every attempt was futile... It was like Max was going nowhere. No matter how much Max ran his mother was always a set distance away from him. "Mom! Don't leave me again! Please!!!" He cried out... however she couldn't hear him... in fact he couldn't even hear himself. Max continued to try and reach his dear mother as things around him grew darker and darker. The gold medallion embedded with a large red gem in the center start to become... dull... the red gem on his Atlamillia began to lose it's luster. Slowly the entire field of flowers began to fade, and soon his mother disappeared into the black empty void as well. Max soon found himself floating alone in this black empty void.

Suddenly out of nowhere a series of gold chains began to wrap around Max as he began to struggle. The chains were far to strong for him though as every time he tried to break free the chains grew tighter, and tighter. Once his entire body was wrapped in these chains 3 golden locks came and secured itself onto the chains constricting Max's body. Finally Max fell into unconsciousness in his own dream as a single large glowing yellow eye appeared behind Max... staring down at him... A dark sinister laugh reverberated throughout the endless black void...


Eientei - Gensokyo

In the real world Max's body began to tense up, as though something was wrapping around him, constricting him. It was like Max was beginning to struggle against something...

[WriggleRid3r]

Eientei - Gensokyo

---

"Hmm?" Eirin looked over from her desk to find Max's struggle. She moved over to feel Max's head. No fever, which means it wasn't flu that sickened him. But he was under diaphoresis, or cold sweating.

"Could it be low sugar level in his blood?" Eirin hypothesized hypoglycemia, prepared a quick endorphin shot with added sucrose, and injected it in Max's arm by a syringe.

[S121]

The Inventory

John was happy to hear that Koishi knew someone that could help and was curious about who the person was. From what Koishi said, she was eager to fight in California, but hopefully the battle ahead would be enough to satisfy her. After a second, John did as he said and followed Koishi, looking back and speaking to Reimu and Jason before following.

"Let's go.", John calmly said to Jason and Reimu as he followed Koishi.

[Koishi]

The Inventory

---

Koishi led them down to what appeared to be a large docking port, various types of space and naval ships lined up with docks, facing toward very large portals, which were the way to transport them here.

"You may remember seeing this ship once or twice." Koishi said. Up ahead was a very large naval ship decorated in mostly red and white. Many things had been added on, however, as various cannons of sorts stuck out as turrets, and a flamethrower looking weapon stuck out at the bottom. On the side of the ship, in white paint was the simple word 'Borealis'.

"You guys up there?" Koishi called out. In response, looking over the railing was Marisa Kirisame. "Yeah, what's it to ya? We're busy preparing here."

"Some things have changed. Just get everyone down here, can't you?" Koishi asked, her one a little annoyed, but with a tinge of sadness.

"Ugh, fine. Everyone, get over here!" Marisa called out, getting away from the railing and from view.

[S121]

The Inventory

John knew this ship looked familiar, and after seeing the name of the ship on the side of it, he knew exactly what ship this was. Unlike the time he saw it during the Devourer Incident, he noticed that the ship had more weapons than before. Just before John could examine the new weapons on the ship, he heard Koishi shout out to the people up top in a tone of slight annoyance and sadness. Just before, she was happy, so this was a somewhat stark contrast to how she was acting before. After Marisa disappeared back into the ship, John turned over to Koishi and decided to ask her about it.

"Is everything alright?", John calmly asked Koishi.

[Koishi]

The Inventory

---

Koishi sighed and looked to John. "It's fine, it's just.. I hate bossing people around like this, but since i'm the new owner here, it's expected of me." Koishi said. "Why should I be even saying this, you probably don't even care."