.hack//SIGN Fan Fiction / .hack//LIMINALITY Fan Fiction / .hack//Legend Of Twilight Bracelet Fan Fiction ❯ Episode Three: .hack//Liberty ❯ Voices ( Chapter 8 )

Book Two- Voices

 

Chapter Eight- The First Annual Net Slum Dothackers Conference, version 2- The World

 

Sircosgi gated over to Net Slum. Aura flew over at him.

“I had heard you had fallen ill.” She said as she gave him a hug.

“I got better. It took a while.” He said, a smile on his face. “What's this meeting about?” Aura looked at him, straight-faced.

“You'll see in a second.” Helba gated in. Sircosgi walked over to her.

“Ah, young Jeremie?” She said.

“Thanks, Helba, for listening to my friend.”

“Well, when the message is `Dan is going to die, the knights have him, shut down this place, send help, he's panicking, I am Jas's boyfriend,' so on and so forth, there isn't much I can do. I heard about what they did to you. Hell, I saw it from the videotapes. You are one tough nut to crack. You didn't crack though. Now do you see why we chose you?” Sircosgi nodded. “So, is living with Bear fun?” Sircosgi nodded.

“Certainly. He wants me as his understudy.” Helba laughed.

“He likes you. How nice.” Sircosgi nodded.

“Vanessa and I have also decided to permanently change our names to the ones you gave us. But, mine has a little tweak. I am Jeremie Sircosgi Ardiwin Claude.” Helba laughed.

Bear logged in. “Ah, Bear. How much money did CC Corps spend on your expenditure?”

“Not enough.” He said. Helba smiled.

“Revenge is fun.” Badger said. Tsukasa nodded.

“I got a pair of new shoes.” She said. “Revenge is profitable, too!” Helba laughed.

“Well, get to the meeting spot.” Helba slammed her staff into the ground, sounding the gavel strike file. The circle grew silent. Helba motioned Sircosgi and Badger to the center. There was a breath of relief from around the circle.

Sircosgi, on a hunch, walked over to Ouka and whispered something. She gave him an item. He thanked her and walked back to his spot as Helba spoke.

“As you can see, they are alive. For all of those who saw the videotapes, remember what happened. Now you see why I chose, oh, how was it phrased- CHILDREN- to be dothackers.” She glared at Crim and Ginkan at that. They looked at the floor in guilt. “They have extreme perseverance. Sircosgi here almost died, as most of you know.” Helba's face turned grim. “He got his retribution.” He smiled. “Now, onto business. Sircosgi, have you deciphered anymore of the Epitaph?”

“Only the part where it says that I can never return home.”

“WHAT?” Subaru shouted. “You can't go back home?” Sircosgi shook his head.

“Our parents have already had a funeral for us. Dan and Vanessa are dead. Jeremie and Emily, however, are live and kicking.” Helba smiled.

“Are you prepared to leave your past life behind?” Shugo asked.

“Family, school et al.” Sircosgi said in a sad voice.

“I could never leave my brother!” Rena said.

“For the good of everyone, sacrifice must be made. It is as the law of Equivalent Exchange states: mankind without sacrifice. To obtain, an item of equal value must be offered up.” Sircosgi sighed. “We have gained much, and we have lost much. In order to assure we gain a New World,” Badger then interrupted.

“We must lose an old one.” She said.

“That is incorrect!” Kamui said. “You can gain without sacrifice.” Sircosgi laughed.

“Ultimately, someone pays the price. Where do you get the clothes you wear? Who do you think makes them?” Sircosgi chuckled again. “It comes from a cartoon, the law, but it is still valid.”

“I refuse to listen to such lies.” Ginkan stood.

“SILVER KNIGHT!” Badger cried. He stopped. Badger was pointing her finger at him. “You will sit down and shut up, or face the consequences. You remember what it's like to be deleted.”

“She's threatening me. Besides, this child speaks of a law from a cartoon. I know. I saw it in the video store! Ladies and gentlemen, this is not a cartoon!” Ginkan proclaimed. No one replied. Sircosgi pointed Badger's finger down.

“Pardons, m'dear.” He looked at Ginkan. “Power without Justice is meaningless. Justice without power is also meaningless.” He looked at Ginkan. “Many believe that to be a lie. Guess what: it isn't. You said that quote yourself. This is known as an absolute truth. Try to go against it, and you will fall. Equivalent Exchange is an absolute truth. Try to go against it, and you will fail. Call it fate, pre-destination, or anything else if you wish.

“Gravity exists. Try to refute it. You can't. Just because you can't see it doesn't mean it isn't existent. However, you must have undeniable proof, and have tests run to prove it. Newton did, and Equivalent Exchange has. Playing this game expends calories. That's an Equivalent Exchange. Don't you see? In order to save The World, we had to lose our little sphere of a world.” He then glared at Ginkan.

“You will, however, sit down and be quiet, just like you were told. I will not stand up for you again. In fact,” he pointed the Valhalberd at Ginkan's face, “I may even delete you myself.” Sircosgi's face was devoid of emotion. “This may be a game, but I am through playing around. I have lost too much to be usurped by people who refuse to follow me. Like it or not, WE are the new dothackers. WE are the only two properly equipped, besides Helba probably, to save The World. If you want to give it a try, go ahead. Just don't expect to find us supporting you in your endeavors.

“Here's a piece of advice for the TWO of you- if you are not with us, you are against us. We will exterminate any threat with extreme prejudice. Look what happened with the Knights! You don't want to get on my bad side. The knights did, and they paid the price. Then again, so did we. Or, rather, so did I.” He put Badger's finger back up and turned his back on the two. Helba entered the inner circle.

“Which is why we are here. The Knight's know you're logged into The World. They are launching the biggest effort to capture you two, an effort unrivaled EVEN by the one against Tsukasa.”

“We feel honored to be so dangerous.” Badger said.

“Now, all of us will be accompanying you.”

“Except for me.” Aura said.

“Except for you.” Helba said. “I will be going. I will destroy anyone who gets in my berth. Anyone.”

“I will delete anyone who gets in my way.” Badger said, grasping her wrist.

“I get the bitch. And Hagarensi, if he shows up.” Sircosgi said, referring to Celeste. Crim and Ginkan then entered the ring.

“We have something we'd like to say.” Ginkan said.

“We were foolish to assume that you were too young to lead.” Crim said. “I know I wasn't the best of leaders for the Crimson Knights. That's why I quit. I was afraid that a leader as YOUNG as you would cause problems, like I did.” Crim smiled. “From what I have now learned and seen, you two are most capable.” He bowed. “I pledge my life to you.” Ginkan did the same, yet added some more words.

“You said it rightfully about Power and Justice. You could have allowed her to wipe me out just then, or you could have obliterated me. You have the power. Yet, you also have a righteous cause, coupled with that of justice. I respect that. I apologize for my words, and I pray you can forgive a fool like me, even though I know what you went through to be present here today.

Sircosgi took his halberd and tapped the two on the shoulder.

“We accept your pledge. Rise, and stand, for now, we go to war. Everyone, depart to Mac Anu on the double. Remember, Celeste is mine.” Sircosgi said as he raised his arm to gate over. Helba raised her arm.

“Wait.” She looked at everyone. “Use extreme prejudice. These are the Knights that almost killed Sircosgi here. These Knights almost undid everything we've fought for. Now, we are all soldiers. We are the Judge, Jury, and Executioner. Every one of these Knights, whether they were directly involved, are fair game. Thus, if anyone sees someone they know, think of this. Sircosgi here was raped. Constantly. They are the ones who did it. Let your anger fuel you, and you will become more powerful than any amount of Knights. If you need help, call. If you die, come back here. If we win, we win. If we lose, we all die. So, we will win.” Everyone cheered. Sircosgi held the halberd up.

“Fanatics, gate over!” Everyone gated over, leaving Aura floating in Net Slum. She smiled.

“Fight well.” She said, mainly to herself. She then began checking the other servers for problems.

“What's this?” She looked into it. “This can't be good.”