Anything in italics is action text, which means that something's either happening of someone or a setting is being described.

Person: Text is the format I use to show that a character is saying something

Chapter 12: Recovery for Lecithin

Flashes of areas of destruction throughout the city. The walls of the city are completely crashed down in some areas, many buildings lie in rubble, and bodies litter the floor. A full view of the city shows the extent of the damage as smoke rises from the city.

The Militia are heading the recovery effort. A group of them are digging through a patch of rubble.

Militiaman: It was right around here! Keep looking!

Under a pile of rubble, they see Graider. He is bloody and burnt, his armor blown to pieces. They work together and pull Graider from the rubble.

Militiaman: General Graider! Are you alright?

Graider: Well, I'm still alive, though it feels like all my energy has been drained. Did we lose?

Militiaman: Looks like it.

A group of Militiamen carry Rook away across from them on a stretcher.

Militiaman: Well, there goes Rook. He took a beating pretty bad as well. I don't think they're going to even be able to reattach his arm.

Katherine walks onto the scene, looking at the active work of the Militia around her.

Katherine: My oh my, everyone sure is busy here today. Did I miss something?

Militiaman: Didn't you notice anything! There was an entire battle between a group of assholes and the Militia!

Katherine: Did we win?

Militiaman: Does it look like we won?!

A wall gives way behind them and falls to the ground on this cue.

Katherine: Guess not...too bad I napped through all of it, looked like fun.

Militiaman: (Sweat-drop): How the hell can you sleep through all that?

Katherine: Where's Mr. Rook?

Militiaman: I just saw him get carried away a few seconds ago. Probably off to the medical ward with the rest of them.

Katherine: Mr. Rook was injured!? Why didn't you say so sooner!?

She runs off in hurry.

Graider walks weakly around the scene.

Militiaman: General Graider, you shouldn't be moving in this state! It will slow your recovery!

Graider: I'm fine. How's the recovery effort going?

Militiaman: We're trying to gather as many survivors as we can. There were a lot of non-Militia caught in the cross-fire and we're giving them medical priority.

The crater that Oscar was knocked into. A Militiaman pulls him out.

Militiaman: We have a live one here!

A Militiaman is extending fire from his fingertips to melt the ice Iricryo is trapped in.

Militiaman: This one is also alive! He'll be in need of cold-cures once I get him out.

Tile picks himself from the ground with the help of a Militiaman. Rent runs up to him.

Rent: Tile, you're alive!

Tile: Uh, yeah...I guess...where's the boss?

Rent: Bane...his character was very brutally killed.

Title: The boss is dead? Then...what should we do now?

Rent: Well, we can go work for that High Council group that just kicked our ass. I mean, our equipment and plans are screwed right now, we got nothing to lose.

Tile: Works for me.

Graider looks over at them as the two walk away. He frowns.

Graider: I think I'm more worried about this than anything else.

Militiaman: Huh?

Graider: All this really was for the High Council was a recruitment drive. And a pretty damn impressive one. I'm afraid of how many people may get the same idea as those two from all of this.

Militiaman: I'll admit I've heard a lot of chatter around from people considering it, even from members of the Militia.

A voice from behind them speaks.

Voice: Well then, if this group is really going to be as powerful as we all think they are, then maybe we better consider creating a truce with this group, to avoid any future situations.

They turn around and see Mayor Willix standing right behind him. A title flashes under him reading, "Willix, Mayor of Lecithin.

Graider glares at him angrily.

Graider: And where were you during the whole attack? Hiding?

Willix: Should I have risked myself? What ever would have become of my city should I been killed in battle?

Graider: Well take a look at your city now! It couldn't have gotten much worse!

Willix: This damage is only temporary, a city with as much traffic as Lecithin will recover in no time. After all, this is where players go to get quests. People will begin to rebuild immediately if it means making their questing easier. And they'll need my direction to do so. Besides, I'm appointed to this position for my ability to think and lead, not fight.

Graider: Don't forget the Militia are the ones who make those appointments. And we expect a lot from the appointed mayors.

Willix: I assure you, my work load was already overwhelming before this incident, and will only grow because of it. I have no time for combat.

Graider: Well just remember, when this game begins to die down and the number of players dwindle, you too will have to fight like any other player for that prize. You can only hide behind the protection of this title for so long.

Willix: I am well aware. Now about those negotiations...

Graider: A truce with the High Council would only confirm that we are afraid of them and would be as good as handing them the game.

Willix: Only if you play the truce fairly, of course.

Graider: I assume you have some underhanded plot in mind?

Willix: It's the kind of things I think of that got me appointed in the first place, isn't it? Who would guess that the noble leader of the Militia, who claims to always fight for honor and with fairness, would work with such schemes.

Graider: The end justifies the means. Balance must be maintained in this game if all players are going to be allowed their fair chance at victory. Look, whatever you have planned, I don't want to know anything about it, but I give control of handling the High Council as long as it ends with the overall in game balance in mind.

Willix: Of course.

Graider: While your working on that, I'll see to it that the Militia here is reinforced from the other cities to make up for the casualties, and there's a lot of work I need to get done to maintain the Militia's power after all this. Excuse me.

Graider walks off with a Militia escort.

Willix: The end justifies the means, Graider? Is that how you get to sleep at night? Why don't you just admit you want that prize money as much as everyone else, and it scares you that someone may gain a more powerful following than you, ruining your chances. You can act noble all you want, but your just as greedy as everyone else, you just don't know it.

Oscar and Iricryo are both in a outside emergency medical station, surrounded by wounded players and Militia. Iricryo is covered in blankets and Oscar's body is bandaged up.

Oscar: Wow, we really lost bad, didn't we?

Iricryo: It's all your fault! I knew it was a bad idea from the start!

Oscar: But you're the one who decided to follow!

Iricryo: That's not the point! We could have been killed! Then what? No chance at the prize, that's what! I'm done hanging out with you!

Oscar: But what about our work?

Iricryo: Do you really think they'll be able to tell the damage we caused chasing Melanie in the mist of the destruction of the city? It would be impossible. And not like they can keep tabs on us now, anyway. They don't have nearly the resources. If they do try to keep us working we can easily skip town.

Oscar: You use the word "we" a lot considering you're done hanging with me.

Iricryo: Ah! I only meant...we were in similar situations so I might as well describe it like that! I still have no desire to continue any kind of companionship with you!

Oscar: Yeah, whatever. You can do what you want. I'm actually glad that everything happened like it did.

Iricryo: What? Why the hell would you be glad!?

Oscar: Because...well, I honestly had no idea what I was going to do with myself when I was set free and on my own way. I knew I wanted to journey and explore everything this game had to offer for as long as my character survives, but I had no real goal. And now, a goal is set for me.

Iricryo: And what would that be?

Oscar: I have to get back at that guy who punched my face in, that's what!

A flash of Ryan behind him.

Iricryo: You're crazy...you want to go after that crazy group? Do you want to die that bad?

Oscar: Well, not right now, but I want to train and get strong and catch up to them, so that I can eventually get that guy back! That's my goal!

Iricryo: Well, good luck with that.

Iricryo rises, dropping his blankets, and turns to walk away.

Iricryo: Unlike you, I have the intention to...live...for as long as I possibly can in this game. And that means I have to avoid teaming up with nut-jobs like you. But I do wish you the best of luck.

A voice calls out to him.

Voice: Oh, come on, I'm sure there's some way to convince you to stay.

He turns and sees Melanie standing right next to him, uncomfortably close after appearing out of nowhere. He falls backwards.

Iricryo: You! What do you want, thief?

Oscar: Oh, hey Melanie. How's it been?

Iricryo: (Sweat-drop) I don't know if you remember, but she's not a friend.

Melanie: Oh, but I want to be. I couldn't help but overhear you conversation, and I also would like to teach a select member of the High Council a lesson.

Iricryo: Aren't there stronger people you could be teaming up with than Oscar?

Melanie: But none nearly as entertaining. And your pretty strong yourself, you know? I'm sure I've got something that could interest a rare hunter like yourself to continue to journey with us.

Iricryo: Nope! Not going to happen! Nothing! My life is more important than any rare item! I won't! I can't!

A minute later.

Iricryo is crying, holding a bunch of rare items, mumbling about how is greed is going to be the end of him. Melanie and Oscar are talking.

Oscar: So who are you after?

Melanie: That crazy one who was cutting people up with his claws. I was after a particularly rare, only-one-existent item when that psychopath kills my mark and obliterates his body so bad that all items on him are useless. I grabbed these from him to try to make up for it, but turns out they're junk.

She pulls out William's claws and drops them on the ground.

Melanie: I had been tracking that particular mark for over a week and had several run-ins with him already. If I had gotten that item, I would have been one of the wealthiest players in the game. I won't let that rest easy.

Oscar: Makes sense. Well I'm willing to take whatever help I can get right now, these High Council guys are tough. We should get to training right away if we ever want to catch up!

He gets up eagerly and dashes off.

Melanie: Wait! Do you even know where you're going!?

She runs after him.

Iricryo: Damn it all!

He shoves the rare items under his cloak and follows after them.