.hack//SIGN Fan Fiction / .hack//LIMINALITY Fan Fiction / .hack//Legend Of Twilight Bracelet Fan Fiction ❯ Episode Three: .hack//Liberty ❯ Disregard ( Chapter 17 )

Chapter Seventeen- Disregard- The World

 

Sircosgi motioned Badger over.

“You understand the risks involved in this?” He asked. Badger nodded. “Very well.”

“Who were you talking to earlier?” Badger asked.

“Helba.”

“I see. What was it about?”

“Let's say that I got her to scan the area for suspicious data.”

“And?”

“Just a regular player, waiting in the front pew.”

“I see.” Badger said. “Any information on the character?”

“Nothing too conspicuous. Just a newer player.” He said.

“Wonder what she wants.” The two walked into the church and strode purposefully to the front pew. Sitting there was a girl heavy axe. She was praying.

“What do you want?” Sircosgi asked. The girl looked at him.

“Silly child.” The voice sounded familiar.

“Celeste?” Badger asked. The girl nodded.

“I go by Bridgett nowadays.”

“What do you want, fool?” Sircosgi asked again.

“Many things, actually. I want my knights back, I want my skin back, I want my rank and title back, and I want my life back to normal.”

“Fat chance of that happening.” Badger said, impatiently. Sircosgi just waved his hand at Badger.

“Let's hear her out. However, let me tell HER what I want.” He looked at Bridgett. “You made the call for the two of us to be abducted?” She nodded her head. “Okay, well, here's what I want back.” He smiled. “I want my family and friends back, I want my school back, I want my house back, I want my LIFE back, I want my body to be restored again, and I want the memories I have to be gone.” He looked at her. “I also want world peace, here and in the real world. Guess what? We all don't get what we wish for.” He laughed. “You're pathetic. Reduced to playing as a weak character, you struggle to realize that you have no power left. You are dying, and you look at where you could have been, even though you don't realize that death is imminent. Yet, I don't pity you. You don't deserve it. You don't deserve anything.” He turned his back on her. Badger looked at him.

“Was that too hard?” She asked.

“I want you dead.” Bridgett said, quietly.

“Excuse me?” Sircosgi asked.

“You ripped me of title, fame, and followers. You even ripped me of my own character. You left me a powerless character. So, if I kill you, I may regain all my power. Luckily, I made a new ally.” She motioned her hand, and a black and white axe appeared.

“Looks like a follower of Death.” Badger said, taking a step backwards.

“You're not the one I'm after.” Bridgett said to Badger. “He's the one.” She stood up. Sircosgi grabbed two of his axes.

“Wanna Jack with the Ripper?” He asked, his eyes turning red.

“I already have.” Bridgett said, charging to Sircosgi. Badger backed away from the fight, only to find a hand cover her mouth.

“Be quiet.” Casper said. Badger's eyes opened in fear as her screams were muffled as she was dragged to the loft.

 

Sircosgi dodged the attack that Bridgett made.

“You must have garnered high stats from your boss.”

“Among other things. Ray of Doom!” She cried out, pointing her axe at Sircosgi, who countered by drawing the Valhalberd and casting Death Ray. The two magics reflected each other, sending them to demolish pews, lights, and one window. Sircosgi's face was partially lit by the light.

“Your eyes!” Bridgett said. “They're red.”

“Yes. I know.” Sircosgi said in a grating voice. “I am currently in The World.”

“What?” Bridgett exclaimed. “You haven't been coma induced by us yet!” She paused to think. “Inconceivable.”

“Not really.” Sircosgi said, who had switched weapons during that time. Bridgett looked up to see two swords flying at her. She dove to the ground, only to find other weapons flying at her. Sircosgi laughed.

“Fight like a man!” Bridgett exclaimed. Sircosgi motioned her over.

“I would hate for the Bearer of Light's name to be tarnished by fighting in an unfair way, especially if it's tarnished by a hypocritical low-life with no future of their own.” Sircosgi said, intending for Bridgett to get mad, charge at him, and make a potential mistake.

She did. As she was rushing him, she failed to see the halberd that had been stuck, at a horizontal angle, around the level of her mid-shin. She hit it and fell over, five feet away from Sircosgi. Her weapon slid from her grasp as she caught herself with her hands. Sircosgi picked it up.

“Thanks.” He looked at her again. “I now dismiss you from all rights, responsibilities, and other crap. In other words, Bridgett,” his face had no emotion, “say goodbye.” He equipped the Valhalberd and pointed it at her forehead. Bridgett just smiled as she rolled to her side and equipped an axe of similar type.

She laughed.

“You didn't think that I had learned from my last encounter with you?”

“Nope.” He merely gave her a roundhouse kick to the jaw, which caused him to drop the Valhalberd. She spun around, yet regained her balance and swung out with her axe, slicing Sircosgi on the stomach. He groaned as he stumbled backwards a few steps, waiting for Bridgett to make an offensive. She merely swung at the Valhalberd, causing it to break in half.

“Now THAT nuisance is gone.” She looked at Sircosgi, who's face was in fury.

He equipped two swords just before she charged at him. He was able to parry her attacks, yet still managed to get a hit on his forearm. He then laughed.

“Enough playing around.” He rolled behind her and swung. She blocked with her axe and laughed.

“Now what?” He merely spun around her and ran her through with the other sword. She gasped. “Ah, shit.” She collapsed to the floor. Sircosgi took a few steps backwards.

Bridgett laughed as she took both hands on the hilt and pulled it out of her. She threw it aside and looked at Sircosgi.

“You can't beat me.”

“I already have.” Sircosgi said, walking away.

“What?” She began to run at him. Five steps into her run, she gasped and clutched her heart. “What the hell did you do?”

“Modified weapon.” Sircosgi said, holding the sword aloft. “Contains the spell Death Ray. One use only.” He said as the sword disintegrated. Bridgett laughed again.

“Even so, I still win.” She said as she faded away to nothing.

“How's that?” He asked, slightly panicking. `Something's not right. Wait, where's-`

“HELP!” Badger cried from the loft. He looked up to see Casper holding her hostage. He groaned.

“Ah, merde.”

 

It was then that Badger got her second best idea of the day. She had both hands free, and her mouth was free for the time being. She pointed at the floor beneath her and cried out “Deletion!” As she and Casper fell to the ground floor, she smiled as she thought she had outsmarted Death itself.

She was, in fact, incredibly wrong.

The two hit an invisible data-constructed platform ten feet from the floor. Badger tried to roll off, but found it had edges. She stood up and tried to climb out. Casper looked at her in disdain.

“You didn't think I had already thought of this occurring? Fool.” She then looked at Sircosgi. “I open the rights of parley.”

“Name your request.” Sircosgi said, rattling off a message to every dothacker to assemble on the spot. Casper laughed.

“That won't work. This area has been placed under a data net. Nothing goes in or out until I remove it.”

“Name your request.” Sircosgi repeated.

“It's either the books or the life of your girlfriend.” Sircosgi sighed.

“I thought so. In that case, I readily offer-“

“No, don't do it!” Badger said softly.

“The life of Badger.” Sircosgi said at the same time as Badger, who merely looked on in shock.

“That's not the way it works.” She said. “You start with the books, then I say no, then you say that it's me.”

“So? I just skipped a step. Or, maybe two.” Sircosgi said. Casper looked on, slightly in shock.

“You so readily offer the life of another, your girlfriend at that?”

“We're just friends.” Sircosgi said. Casper laughed.

“I see. Parley is complete.” The box began to rise.

 

Badger then got the best idea of her day.

She looked at Sircosgi, who merely nodded when she motioned with her finger, pointed at herself.

“Delete.” She said, tears streaming down her face. The beam, instead of being black and white, was blood red. She began to scream as she was ripped, limb from limb, internally. Casper and her box continued to ascend, her looking on in anger and shock. Badger stopped screaming, her throat gone. The last visible remain of her was her face, and she was smiling, smiling in her knowledge that she would not serve any purpose for raising Death. Casper looked at Sircosgi.

“YOU LIED!” She accused.

“I said that the life of Badger was the price, and it has been taken. The price is paid. You never specified that she would go with you.” Sircosgi said, his voice very constricted. “Ryo, we need help.” He said, as if to no one. Casper looked at him. “TETELESTI! PAID IN FULL!” He declared.

“You have no idea what you have done.” She said before disappearing, raising the data net.

Sircosgi sighed as he walked out of the church, unshed tears in his eyes. He looked at the sky in deep contemplation. So deep he failed to see one thing.

A canyon, or more precisely, a void of data had formed far underneath the bridge connecting the church with the incoming gate spot. From deep within that void of data, Casper appeared.

 

“Master, it is complete. Badger has fallen, and the void has formed in conjunction with the Epitaph of Ragnarok. With the final ceremony, you will be able to pass into The World.” A disembodied voice rumbled.

“Excellent.” The voice laughed.

 

End of book two