.hack//SIGN Fan Fiction / .hack//LIMINALITY Fan Fiction / .hack//Legend Of Twilight Bracelet Fan Fiction ❯ Episode Three: .hack//Liberty ❯ Dark Poetry ( Chapter 18 )

Book Three- Ragnarok

 

Chapter Eighteen- Dark Poetry- The Real World

 

Two days passed since the loss of Emily. Ryo had called the hospital, and had her transported immediately to the nearest facility. The next day she had a comatic nightmare. Jeremie sighed at that.

“It can only mean one thing,” he had said. “Death is nigh.” Later that day, Helba had contacted him, giving him the necessary knowledge he needed. The void at the church. He had known it would play a significant part in the story.

He sighed as he sat on his balcony. He had been there for the better part of the two days, sitting, thinking, hoping. With Death on the move, he might be able to save The World. But, then again, he would have to go at it without any of his friends. He sighed again as he put his head on his hands. There was a knock on the door. He just waved a hand, not caring who it was. A few seconds later he felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked sideways to see Tsukasa.

“Hey.” He merely said, gazing back to the lake. Tsukasa pulled a chair next to him and sat down.

“You doing okay?” She asked. He nodded.

“I'm just- I don't know- overwhelmed.” He said. “I knew this was going to happen, I just didn't think it was going to end up being suicide.”

“You should expect the unexpected. I thought that was a lesson learned long ago.” Tsukasa said.

“Some lessons take longer to learn that just the initial teaching.”

“Cryptic, yet understandable. True, sometimes it takes longer to understand a meaning in a lesson. However, you should have expected that this was a possibility.”

“I just assumed-“

“And there we are. Never assume. You can conjecture, but never assume.”

“Didn't know I was going to get a lecture.” Jeremie said.

“Not a lecture,” Tsukasa said as she stood up, “but a lesson.” She patted him on his back. “If you are going to do what you say you are, then get to it now. It's getting later and later, and pouting does nothing. Take it from me.” She walked inside. Jeremie just sighed.

“Nothing is ever easy.” He said as he stood up.

 

He was going to do something that would help the fight. He ventured into the town earlier that day with one sole purpose in mind: he needed a Wiccan. Seeing as how the books were written in Satani, a Wiccan should be able to read it. With luck, he was able to find one in a café devoted to poetry. Her name was Jeanne. She had given a piece on stage, which was incredibly dark, and was walking outside when Jeremie offered to buy her a drink. She accepted.

“So,” Jeremie asked in French, “what religion are you?” He asked. She merely pulled out her necklace, a pentagram. Inwardly, Jeremie rejoiced. “Well,” he continued, “I have three books that my friend found on-line. They're written in Satani. I would be honored if you would translate them.”

“How long are they?” She asked.

“I don't know.” Jeremie said. “I didn't check.” Jeanne nodded.

“I would be the one honored. However, for what purpose do you need them?” Jeremie stiffened.

“If you grant me the privilege of escorting you wherever you need to go to gather materials, and the honor of returning to my house, I will explain everything there.” He glanced around. “It's a personal matter.”

“I see. I accept. We'll need to stop at my house to get my dictionary, then at my friends to get her Book of Counted Shadows.” Jeremie nodded. “Let's get going.” Jeremie smiled.

“I may need to use the computer at your house for a second.” He said.

“But of course you are welcome.”

 

At Jeanne's house Jeremie sat down at the computer and took his watch off. He flipped it so he could look at the back, and find the opening for the USB cord. Finding it, he plugged it into her computer. Her screen immediately showed him the message board. He smiled as he typed.

“Ryo, run background check on Jeanne Giolanie. She lives in the same town as us. Have it done in one hour at the latest. Bringing her to the house. Be prepared.- Jeremie.” He unplugged his watch and found Jeanne glancing away.

“It's okay to look.” He said.

“What was that?” She asked.

“My watch.” Jeremie said as he pushed the USB back inside the watch. As he was putting it on, it beeped. He clicked the buttons down to read the message.

“OK.” Was all that was written. Jeanne looked over Sircosgi's shoulder.

“What was that?”

“My watch.” He said, releasing the buttons to return to the normal display. She looked at him.

“Secrets indeed. I have what I need. To my friends.” She said. Jeremie followed.

 

Half an hour later they were inside Jeremie's office. Ryo and Tsukasa were seated against one wall. Jeremie was seated behind his desk, with Jeanne on the other side. In three places in his office were monitors, so everyone could see what was happening on the computer. Jeremie walked over to Ryo and motioned him and Tsukasa onto his balcony.

“What is the report on her?” He asked. Ryo smiled.

“Nothing of any interest. Most trouble she's gotten into was in tenth grade, in her art class.”

“What did she do?”

“Ah, well, she painted some stuff that dealt with the Occult. She was reprimanded. Nothing else, really.”

“And can we trust her?” Tsukasa asked.

“I have no doubts in my mind.”

“Agreed.” Jeremie said. “Well, to clue her into what's up.” The three walked back in to an extremely agitated Jeanne.

“When are you going to tell me what the hell's happening?” She asked. Jeremie walked over to his bookshelf and pulled down a book.

“Extend your left hand on this book and raise your right in the air.”

“I refuse to swear on the Bible.”

“This isn't a Bible.” He flipped it so she could read the title.

“Anthem?”

“Yes. It's one of the books that I love. I must ask you to either swear on this, or the book you brought.”

“I'll swear on this. However, do you have any Tarot cards?”

“Yes. Why?”

“Bring me the Major Arcana.” Jeremie did so. Jeanne looked through them and took out four cards.

“I am withdrawing four cards. Starting with me, we will draw. I will explain what they are for in a second. I draw.” She pulled out a card, and motioned to Ryo, who drew a card. Tsukasa went third, leaving Jeremie with the last card. “And now we reveal.” The all flipped the cards.

Jeanne had drawn the Devil.

Ryo had drawn Temperance.

Tsukasa had drawn the Magician.

Jeremie just looked at his card, slightly in disbelief.

“What did you get?” Jeanne asked, out of curiosity. Jeremie just flipped his card.

He had drawn the Sun, the card of light. Ryo and Tsukasa did a double take.

“Bearer of Light indeed.” Tsukasa said. Jeremie then went over to the deck and drew two cards. He looked at it and laughed softly.

“What?” Jeanne asked. Jeremie just re-shuffled the deck, with the cards included, and said nothing. “Okay. Well, now we do what is called a blood oath. I want everyone to nick their index finger and place their finger on the card. If done correctly, it should leave a fingerprint in your own blood.” They did so. “We are all bonded by this sacred oath.”

“Now it is your turn.” Jeremie said. “I want you to swear upon this book that what you learn in this room never departs your mouth. In fact, after this, you don't remember knowing us.”

“Why? Are you guys some kind of criminals?” Jeremie laughed.

“Swear.”

“I duly swear upon this book that I will abide by these rules.” Jeremie removed his book and set it on the table.

“Ryo, if you please?”

 

“So, let me get this straight,” Jeanne said after getting an explanation. “You guys are known as Dot-Hackers?” She pronounced the word slowly.

“Yep.” Tsukasa said.

“And you have the duty of protecting the virtual world?”

“Correct.” Ryo said, smiling.

“And you guys are fighting a virus that can kill, three of your friends are in a coma from this, and it looks like the only hope may be in what is contained within these books?”

“Pretty much.” Jeremie said.

“Okay. So, even if I don't believe this, what happens now?”

“Well, simple. Either you help us or you don't. You can't tell anyone anything because of your oaths.” Jeremie said. “If you help, hundreds of lives can be saved. If you don't-“

“They'll die. Or, so you say.” Jeanne said. Jeremie groaned.

“Here.” He gave her a picture.

“What is this?” She asked.

“A picture of my old family. I kept it in my wallet, behind the one of Vanes- Emily.” He sighed. “I can never see any of them again. The other boy is Jas- he's in a coma.” He pulled out another picture, this time of the Fearsome Foursome. “These are all my friends, ALL of them are comatose. She,” he indicated Emily, “also lost her family, like me. She was the last to fall.” He looked at Jeanne. “On the behalf of my friends, me, and all the Dothackers, we ask- no, we beg you to help.” A tear went down his cheek. Ryo turned to get a tissue; Tsukasa was in tears. “We have come so far, lost so much. These books are the final pieces of the puzzle. If we can understand what is written inside-“

“We can emerge the victor.” Ryo finished.

“Will you ever be able to let them know-“ Jeanne asked Jeremie.

“It would be too painful.”

“I still don't believe you about CC Corps and the USA teaming up on you.” Jeanne said, skeptically. “And it sounds just like the Inquisition what you claimed to happen.” Jeremie laughed hollowly as he pulled off his shirt.

“I didn't put these on myself.” He said, indicating his scars. Jeanne gaped. “They were put there by a man who did several other unmentionable things. Ask these two. They saw the tapes. They can give you a copy, if you would like. The point stands- you are either going to play an intricate part in saving The World, or you will be the reason countless people will die.” He said.

“That's too much of a burden.” Jeanne said.

“Preaching to the choir.” Jeremie said. “We're Dothackers. We deal with situations like this all the time.” He smiled. “Decide now.” Jeanne sat there for a second, thinking. She then smiled.

“I want to go down as a Dothacker, alongside you guys. If I am going to help steer the boat, I might as well go down with the ship.” Ryo laughed.

“What think you, Helba.”

“I think it's possible.” Helba said from the computer speaker. Jeanne jumped.

“Who is that?” She nearly shrieked.

“Oh. We forgot to say that we were on microphone the whole time, didn't we?” Jeremie asked. The others nodded. “Sorry. That's Helba. She's the hacker.”

“Right.”

“Well, little boy, I think it's possible that she could become a Dothacker. Do you have a character within The World?”

“Yeah. Fullisan. I'm a Twin Blade.”

“I give you, Jeanne and Fullisan, the title of Honorary Dothacker. Now, get to work.” Helba said sharply. Jeanne laughed.

“I like her.”

“We all do. Now, the book's contents are all on this computer. We'll leave you to your own devices. Take as long as you need.” Tsukasa said, Ryo nodding.

“If you need anything, just push this button.” Jeremie pointed at the call button on one of the computers. “We'll come and see what you need. Thanks.” He said as he left. Jeanne opened the first book.

“Okay, now if I use the verb's present tense in the sentence, it means-“ her voice trailed off as she began to tear through the books.