.hack//SIGN Fan Fiction / .hack//LIMINALITY Fan Fiction / .hack//Legend Of Twilight Bracelet Fan Fiction ❯ Episode Three: .hack//Liberty ❯ Liberty ( Chapter 23 )

Chapter twenty-three- Liberty- The World/ Real World

 

The clap of thunder ceased. It had encompassed the entire World, yet not destroyed any other fields than the one that the Fearsome Foursome and Casper were on. Yet, when it ceased, there were almost two hundred extra people in the root towns. This, of course, caused mass confusion amongst all involved.

Yet, the five didn't return to any root town.

They returned to Net Slum, where the other Dothackers awaited them.

“It's happened.” Helba reported. “He's won the final battle!” The Dothackers gave a cheer.

Five gate-in rings appeared.

“It's them!” Rena exclaimed. Four people remained standing, but one fell to the floor. Helba rushed over to the figure.

“SIRCOSGI!” She exclaimed. “What did he do?” She opened his eyelids to see his red eyes.

“He gave his life force to save us all.” Badger said, morosely. Pai coughed.

“How am I still in The World, yet not at a terminal?”

“When you log out, you will be returned to your body. Now, a few things.”

“A- Dan and Vanessa are dead. These two are Emily and Jeremie. Just go on that for a while.”

“B- Jeremie is badly hurt, both here and in the real world. Ryo, transport him to the nearest hospital. Tell them to check for internal wounds or bleeding.”

“Why? What happened?” Tsukasa asked.

“Many of the wounds he received during the fight affected him in the real world. Now, he didn't get ran through by a sword, but it can cause minor cuts, bruises, and internal damage. He placed himself into one of those meditations again in order to kill Death.”

“But how?”

“He said something like Ragnarok, and then something like shitsm.” Pai input.

“Ah. The books of the Horsemen.” BT said. “Those are the Horsemen's actual spells. He must have used them.” She smiled. “Good style.” She and Tsukasa logged off to help Ryo. Pai and Joker looked at each other.

“It's time we went home. Emily, when Dan- I mean Jeremie awakens, let us know. We'll arrange a meeting time.”

“Agreed.” The three logged out and went back to their own bodies. Helba waved her hand in a dismissive fashion, ending the meeting. She merely watched over Sircosgi's body.

 

Jeremie's eyes snapped open.

“VICTORY!” He shouted, sitting up. Many of the wires that connected him to various machines snapped in half, or were ripped off of his body. Several nurses ran into the room.

“Monsieur, you must relax!” They said in rapid, panicky French. Jeremie nodded.

“Get me my family, immediately.”

“Visiting hours-“

“Damn that! I demand them, or I won't stop!” He began to sing raucously, waking several other patients up. The nurses waved their hands in frustration.

“Silence. Fine.” Jeremie smiled at their retreating backs.

“Can I get something to eat as well?” The nurses glared at him. He merely took a deep breath.

“Yes, of course!” they said, running out of the room.

 

Ryo, Tsukasa and Emily rushed into the room ten minutes later.

“So, Mister Loud and Annoying,” Tsukasa said, mockingly, “what did you need us for?” Jeremie laughed.

“I just needed to see your face to remember how much better mine is.” He looked around them. “Do I have to sing for supper?” A nurse rushed off to get his forgotten food.

“Wow, you're certainly a little rude.” Emily said.

“Well, I'm still trying to figure out where I am and how I got here.”

“Hospital, Hyper Meditation, and an Ambulance.”

“Okay. Well, I guess I won, because you're here,” he pointed at Emily, “and I'm not dead.” He smiled. “I like being alive.” He then turned professional. “I need a cell phone. Free long distance, if that's okay.” Ryo whipped his out, and Sircosgi dialed a number from a piece of paper he had in his wallet that was on his bedside table.

“Calling a friend.” He waited for a few seconds. “Hello? Ah, yes. This is Jeremie Sircosgi Ardiwin Claude. Well, just letting you know, Ms. Smarty-Pants!” He laughed, then was silent for a few seconds. “You know I can't control myself! It's just how gorgeous you are, it makes me want to flirt with you forever and ever.” Another pause in which his food was delivered, along with a case of Cokes. “I love you too!”

“Who is he talking to?” Ryo asked.

“I don't know!” Emily exclaimed.

“Better be hot.” Tsukasa grumbled. Jeremie laughed.

“Are you sure? Okay!” He flipped the phone over to speakerphone.

“Hello Ryo.” Helba's voice came over the speaker.

“HELBA?” The three cried out. Jeremie and Dan laughed.

“Yeah. Well, we had to dialogue before we could make sure that this call isn't being tapped, traced, or otherwise before we talk business.” Jeremie explained. “Helba, where are the books?”

“They are here in Net Slum.”

“Good. Tomorrow I will return. I will need your assistance to do a final project.”

“Sounds good. Noon your time?”

“Yeah. Tell Jas and Morgan.”

“Will do. Emily is coming?”

“Yes. But only you and us four, I'll explain later tonight. Or, this morning,” he looked at the clock, finding it to be midnight. “Until then.”

“See ya round.” There was a click. Jeremie hung the phone up and handed it back to Ryo, who was still flabbergasted.

“How do you know Helba's cell? She won't tell anyone- she's a cyber-criminal!”

“Long story short, we're good friends.”

“I see.” Emily said. Jeremie checked under the sheets.

“I'll be out in a second. Girls, could you wait outside? Ryo, I need some help getting up: my side hurts.”

“Okay.” The girls went outside, leaving Jeremie to get up. He was wearing boxers, yet he didn't want anyone to feel uncomfortable.

“Did you bring anything for me?” Jeremie asked. Ryo handed him a bag. “Most excellent.” He looked in the bag. “I can work with this.” He changed into a black outfit, and donned his red cloak. He put his cokes in the bag, and walked towards the door. Two nurses came in.

“You get back in that bed, young man!”

“You must stay for at least another day!” Jeremie laughed.

“I am fine- I will be leaving now.”

“I think not!”

“I'll sing.”

“Your health is more important than our comfort.”

“Trust me, I'm fine.” The nurses looked at each other.

“Just a small physical?”

“Fine. But my clothes STAY on!”

 

Twenty minutes later Jeremie was discharged, and the nurses were dumbfounded.

“He woke from a coma in less than a week, and he is leaving the same day.” One of them said as Jeremie was at the door. He turned around to face the entire nursing staff.

“Thanks.” He took a deep breath. The nurses winced.

“So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, au revoir!” He sang in a clear, beautiful baritone. The nurses relaxed and clapped as he walked out of the room.

Jeremie looked at his chest after he wrote Helba a letter.

“No stitches. Score.” He took a long, scalding hot bath, before retiring to bed. Like it or not, he was still tired.

 

He woke up at ten that morning. He stretched and grabbed his side.

“Wakey Wakey!” He heard someone say. When he focused his vision he saw Ryo.

“Hey old man. What's up?”

“Just making sure you're fine.” He looked closer at Jeremie. “You really are a special kind of man.”

“I guess.” Jeremie said, standing up. “When I do what I do today, it will end our existence as the current Dothackers, and we will officially join the ranks of you who saved The World.” Jeremie laughed. “Is it really over?” Ryo nodded. “Just making sure.”

“You know,” Ryo said, “I think it could be possible for you two to return home.”

“You think?” Jeremie thought for a second. “I don't. Both of us have changed so much, well, I have at least. Maybe not so much Emily. I couldn't return; I wouldn't be the same person.”

“I expected you to say as much. Emily has decided to return home AS Vanessa. We think that it would probably help. She could give your family closure by telling a talk of woe and death. We'll even release the part of the tape where you're tortured.”

“I see. And what happens with me now that this ordeal is over?”

“Well, we can't exactly abandon you, a fellow Dothacker.” Ryo said thoughtfully. “Let me think about that, and you do as well. We can discuss that later.” Jeremie stretched his arms out.

“It hurts, my left arm. I'm not so sure about my right arm. I'm sure it would if I could feel.” He sighed. “I should get dressed and go downstairs.” He put on a pair of loose pants and a large shirt. “It hurts if they are tight. It's hard to move.”

“I see.” Ryo said. “Shall we?”

“Yes.” The two walked downstairs.

 

“Jeremie!” Emily exclaimed.

“Emily, or is it Vanessa now?” Jeremie asked, smiling.

“You heard, and it's Vanessa now. Excellent! I hope you won't mind.”

“Why would I? You're capable of making your own decisions. It isn't like we're married or anything! Hell, we're not even dating.”

“True. But, I want to make sure you're cool with it.”

“Like ice.” He said as he poured a drink for himself. “In one hour I would like for you to report to Net Slum.”

“Will Do!” Vanessa said.

 

Sircosgi and Badger gated into Net Slum. There they met Joker and Pai.

“Explain.” Pai declared. “I wake up and Mom and Dad say that Dan is, well,” his voice choked up, “dead.”

“Along with Vanessa. We visited your graves.”

“Thanks.” Badger said. “Well, Sircosgi, why don't you explain.”

“First off, you must swear that you will never repeat what I am about to say.”

“Agreed.”

“Okay.” Pai said.

“Okay. Well, when you,” he pointed at Joker, “fell to Chaos there was a lot of other things going on…”

 

An hour later, with Helba and Aura aiding them, they managed through the entire story. Joker looked at the two in awe.

“Tortured?”

“Well, only him.” Badger admitted.

“You can do ALL that? And you wiped out Celeste?”

“Yeah.” Sircosgi said bashfully.

“Why can't you come home with Vanessa?”

“Because I am different. It isn't anything noticeable, but I just can't return to that life. I have transcended what I once was. Besides, it would just cause too many problems.” He sighed. “By the way, Mr. Ides is ACTUALLY a good guy. Helba actually didn't blackmail him; he did it out of his own accord. Your resident doctor turned us two in. Helba got him back though.” Sircosgi added with a smirk.

“Bye bye bank account.” Badger sang. Everyone laughed.

“Seriously, though, it's just I have been through so much, and I just can't. I have already given up my past life. Hell, I've almost died twice now!” He laughed again. “Besides, it would just be too hard on me to resume my old life. I've got some ideas of what I'll do, don't worry about me. And don't worry, we can still hang out, just only here.” He sighed. “Onto business. Helba, do we still have our gifts?”

“They remain until you want to return them.” She said. “Except you, of course. Your skin can't revert.”

“Well, everyone warp over to the cathedral.” The four did so, Helba leading the way.

 

At the church there was one man who was quite shocked to see five people just gate into the middle of the church. He was even surprised when one of them floated. He then looked closer at who they were.

“Holy shit, it's the guys that fought that freak… um… Death!” He rattled off a few e-mails, and soon they had a sizeable crowd. Sircosgi groaned.

“Let's do this. Everyone grab the books in this order- Joker: Conquest, Pai: Chaos, Badger: Injustice, and I get Death, and take one to each corner. The importance of the order is that you used your gift on those Horsemen.”

“Sircosgi, did you copy the text of the last one for Jeanne to translate?” Badger asked.

“You bet. Now,” he said to everyone, “contained within these books are the balances to the evils that we killed. We are placing each of them within a statue, each of which are precisely aligned with the compass points. Now, these statues will not only serve as decoration, but they will protect the books from the hands of those who wish to repeat the past events. They will fight back, and they will notify us of what is happening. So, my advice, don't mess with them.” He looked at the others. “Place them on the floor.” Four sets of books hit the floor. Sircosgi motioned the others back to where Helba stood.

“Now?” She asked.

“Now.” He confirmed. Helba waved her wand in a circle. Immediately four statues formed on top of the books, hiding them from view. Each statue took the form of who had placed the book in the corner.

“Very good,” a voice said. Sircosgi whipped his head around to see a group of people dressed in formal robes.

“Who are you?” Sircosgi asked.

“I am the current System Admin.” The woman in the front said, causing Sircosgi to draw his blood halberd. “They're my support staff. And don't fear me. I am here on peace.”

“I don't trust you.”

“I have reviewed the entire issue, left to me from my predecessor, who retired two days ago. I find you to be the most honorable, for standing for what is right, no matter what. I have called off all searches, and told the good old USA to cut their losses, or else we will pull all funding from their economy. Needless to say, it worked.” She laughed. “However, I am here on one duty.

“I wish to honor you in the only way I find appropriate. If you could please kneel?” The four did so. “No. Not you. Everyone BUT you, and the illegal character I am ignoring for the time being,” she said, with a laugh. With much coordination, everyone was kneeling around the five.

“Here, we honor the four who stood, and against all odds, saved us all, restored balance to The World, saved a corrupted corporation, beat the most powerful military nation at their own game, and did even more than I can begin to say. Thus, I declare you, Pai, to be the Knight of Hope. Joker, I declare you to be the Maiden of Trust. You, Badger, are the Lady of Power. And last, and most certainly not least, I declare you, Sircosgi Ardiwin, in addition to your King of Light and Hero of Ragnarok titles, to be the King of Might, Life, and Trust. You are hereby the Fearsome Foursome, the Descendents of Ragnarok!” The four looked as four bracelets were presented to them, amongst tumultuous applause, each with the twilight symbol on one side, and their title on the other. “With these titles, you are hereby granted power to assign your own team of Knights, if you so choose.” Pai looked at the group.

“Don't count me in.” Sircosgi said.

“Party Pooper.” Joker said.

“Hey! I won't do it either! We're the two that wiped out the previous Knights!” Badger said, laughing. Pai and Joker stepped forward.

“We take on the role of Leaders of the Knights of Eternal Sapphire.” Everyone applauded again. Sircosgi looked at everyone.

“We would like to thank you for this honor.” He bowed. “However, I must go now. Remember my warning, anyone who thinks they can handle this virus: you will perish, whether by us, or by the Horsemen themselves. They killed their own agents, just so they could gain The World. So, in this case, no one was safe. If I had failed, all of you would have died, along with us. However, I, along with the others, never gave up. It was difficult, with the ransoms, the Knights, and the other troubles we faced. Yet we prevailed.

“Just because it was life we fought for didn't make it easy to do. Just, just remember this- even if it is a difficult battle, don't give up, for the fruits you reap at the end will justify it all. All of us lost our lives almost; I came close a number of times. Yet, I didn't give up, because I wasn't just fighting for the glory- I was fighting for you all. Thus, I close with this- sometimes the right thing to do isn't always the easiest. So, never give up on the fight for what is true, right, and noble.” He bowed again. “I leave you with those words. I must leave now. Guys?” The others bowed and they warped back over to Net Slum, leaving the at first bewildered group cheering. The System Admin smiled.

“They truly are the Descendents of Ragnarok. Dothackers, and the saviors of us all.” She walked out of the church, only to have her support staff buffet her with questions.

“We had Helba in arms reach- what a success it would have been to capture the elusive hacker!”

“I will hear none of that. Helba risked her life to save us all, just like the others. There is no price on a life, so we owe her a tremendous amount. Just ignore her. Besides, we have bigger things to worry about than a HACKER WHO JUST HELPED SAVE OUR ASSES!” Her support staff withered.

“Yes ma'am.” She smiled.

“Good. Now, I want a report on-“ her voice trailed off as she walked away.

 

Sircosgi looked at Pai and Joker.

“Guys, I know that we'll never meet in the flesh again, but know this- I love you two. Honestly. Just, just make sure you don't openly mention the fact that I am alive to Mom and Dad, or anyone else for the matter. Jas, are you guys being compensated for my loss?”

“Yeah. They're giving us a pretty large hunk of change. You should die more often.” Everyone laughed.

“And if they try to take mine away, I'll say it's for suffering.” Badger said, laughing. Sircosgi looked at them.

“I have to go now. You guys know how to reach me. Stay in touch.” He bowed and logged off. The three looked at each other.

“He really has changed.” Pai finally said.

“It comes with leading.” Joker said.

“Among other things. Let me tell you of how he suffered at the hands of CC Corps. But, we'll wait until we're back together again. I must pack. You will see me within a week. I'll bring pictures of Jeremie- well, Dan to you.”

“We'll be waiting for you.” Joker said. “I should go as well.”

“Yeah. Same here.” Pai said. The three nodded before logging off.

 

Back in America, a young lady put down a book and opened a photo album. She then pulled out a picture and smiled. It was of a younger picture of her, along with a boy. A single tear went down the face of Elizabeth as she looked at her only picture of Dan.

“Thanks. Again.”

 

The End.