Chapter 17: The Spidersilks Attack!

There is activity throughout Lecithin. Militia are running around, getting ready for something. Rook is talking to Willix as Willix is giving orders. Rook is still missing his left arm.

Rook: So we’re not going to do anything about this?

Willix: I don’t know if you’ve noticed, Rook, though I’d assume you must have if you’re even half-awake as you speak, but we’re very busy here.

Rook: Well we wouldn’t be if you didn’t stupidly decide to have this meeting with the High Council.

Willix: We need to put ourselves on friendly terms with them. Continued confrontations between the High Council and the Militia would ultimately lead to the end of both organizations, and everyone knows it, and neither side wants that.

Rook: If you’re so sure of that, why are you putting everyone on such high alert?

Willix: A safety precaution, not necessarily from the High Council, but having so many powerful people in one place often creates a power-keg of tension, and we need to be ready to handle it if that keg ignites.

Rook: I still don’t understand why we think it’s a good idea to ally ourselves with them. By doing this we’re giving them free roam to whatever they please and build up their empire’s power without limit, pretty soon they’ll have the power to topple all the Militia with little effort. At that point what makes you think they would stick to our alliance?

Willix: This has already been approved by Graider, so just respect the concept that those of us at the top are there because we know what we’re doing.

Rook: If you do, why are we completely ignoring this Spidersilk situation?

Willix: It is outside our area of jurisdiction. We already sent one patrol to take a look at it, and they never returned, so we can only assume a large force would be needed to control that area. And after the High Council’s attack, we just don’t have the forces to spare. We already gave out warning for people to avoid the Drywood area, that’s all we can do for now.

Rook: The Militia is supposed to be here to help protect the balance in the game and to make things fair for everyone, and we’re just going to let these people lore players to their death using unfair means and traps-

Willix: The Militia must also be concerned about maintaining its own presence of power. We only exist because players allow us to exist, not just because they want us around, but because they consider us to powerful to do anything about it right now. Not a single player in this game thinks for a second that the Militia is going to be around forever, and every single one wants to end the Militia, to allow them that better chance at winning this game. After the attack by the High Council, players may view us as weak and thus ready to be toppled. We must project utmost power at this time. That’s why there will be no Militia patrolling, being posted at, or going to do anything outside the major cities right now. We will concentrate our power to show how strong we are. If we don’t, it could mean the beginning of the end for us.

Rook: The Militia is going to fall one day either way, or disband when there are few enough player that we’re no longer needed. And I would gladly watch the Militia begin to fall if it means they fell doing what they formed to do. The Militia is not just a powerhouse that you can ride, protecting you until the end of the game!

Willix: It is far too early in the game to begin talking like that, Rook, far too early. If you are so concerned about those bandits, why not go down there yourself, if you’re so noble. Just do it without the Militia’s backing.

Rook: I think I just might do that.

He walks away from Willix angrily. Willix just smiles arrogantly.

Willix: Well, that’s the last I’ll see of him. So smart and yet so stupid.

Rido stands only a few feet from where Sarah and Oscar are taking cover. He takes a few steps towards them. Oscar stares at him strangely.

Rido: What’s wrong? I assure you, I am not just another trap. I am a Spidersilk, in the flesh!

Oscar: What? Oh, no. I’m just a little curious about why you’re walking all hunched over like that. Do you think it is cool or something?

Guki laughs as he slowly approaches.

Guki: I think he does, that’s what I’ve always assumed.

Rido: Shut up Guki!

Rido and Guki begin to have a small argument, Guki laughing at everything Rido says. Sarah looks over at Oscar.

Sarah: Well looks like we succeeded in getting everyone’s attention. You ready to really make a scene now?

Oscar: Are you kidding!? I’ve been waiting for this part forever!

Sarah: I’ll get the tall one, you get the one who thinks walking around like Gollum is cool.

Rido: Well you know spiked shoulder pads isn’t exactly the fashion statement of the century!

Guki: Yeah well-

Just as he’s responding, he suddenly has to dodge out of the way to avoid a fireball to the face.

Guki: Oh, it seems like they’re ready to play. Guess they were bored and-

He has to jump backwards to avoid spikes rising out of the ground.

Guki: Not even letting me finish my taunts? You are no fun.

Rido: It’s that mage bitch! I’ll handle her!

He dashes forward at her, only to be blindsided by a punch in the face by Oscar.

Oscar: Sorry, buddy. You’re mine!

Rido: You … you’ll pay for that!

Sniper: What are those idiots doing? I can’t shoot them if I’m going to be risking hitting one of our own. God damnit, why aren’t they in their positions!

Melanie and Iricryo move carefully between buildings. They look up at the Sniper tower, now only a small, flat and coverless run from where they are now.

Iricryo: Do you think they have the sniper distracted enough for us to make our move?

Iricryo: Melanie?

Melanie: We’re being followed.

Iricryo: What? By who?

Melanie: I don’t know, but as a thief you’re used to the signs of pursuit. And someone has definitely been following close behind us for a while now.

Iricryo look around them closely as well. He sees no one, but hears the slight sound of movement.

Iricryo: Someone’s close…but I don’t see anything.

He puts one hand on his rapier inside his robe. Melanie clutches at her dagger in its holster. She looks for some sign of a person, and notices something strange about the buildings.

Melanie: Iricryo, do you see that?

She points at the shadow of one of the buildings. It is facing left, while all the other shadows face right.

Iricryo: Well, that’s not normal. Some kind of illusion?

Melanie looks at close detail on all of the building around them.

Melanie: I think it’s more than just a simple illusion. Look around, there are slight inconsistencies everywhere. I think we’ve been caught inside an entire illusion realm. Don’t trust anything you see around you.

Iricryo: A high-end illusion is still just an illusion. I have something for that right here.

He reaches into his robes and pulls out a pair of sunglasses.

Iricryo: Reality-Finder Shades! Just one of my favorite rare-items!

Something pulls the sunglasses from his hands and they begin to float away from him.

Iricryo: H-hey! Come back here!

The float high up in the sky. A man appears holding them. He is dark and built, wearing Jamaican Rastafarian clothing. He has long dreadlocks and a messy beard stubble. He looks at the sunglasses with some amusement as he floats high in the air.

Man: Wow, we caught us a couple of rich ones this time. I didn’t think I’d see anyone with these.

Iricryo: Hey, careful with those! They are expensive!

The man smiles and crushes them in his hand. Iricryo flips out.

Iricryo: What?! How could you do that?! Do you know how much I went through to get those?! Who the hell do you think you are?!

Lars: Relax, mon. I’m Lars, and as your more intelligent female friend pointed out, you are trapped in an illusion, mine. You’re not going to have much longer to worry about material possessions.

Melanie: Got any more brilliant ideas?

Iricryo: Like you can come up with anything better?

Melanie: As a matter of fact, I can. This illusion can only extend as far as his power permits. If we make a run for it in one straight direction, we can get out of this illusion and fight him on a fair plane. Come on!

She makes a dash forward, and Iricryo follows after her close behind.

Lars (voice): Where are you going, mon? Think you can get out that way?

Iricryo: Shut up! Illusion or not, you can’t catch me with my newest rare pair of shoes, the Boots of Escaping!

His boots glow and he dashes forward.

Iricryo: I’ll make sure to beat his ass before he can finish you Melanie!

Melanie: Slow down, you idiot!

Iricryo: Huh, why-

He slams into an invisible wall. He falls slowly onto his back, his face bleeding profusely.

Lars (voice): Hah, did you actually think I would leave all the walls where they actually really are? What would be the fun of that, mon.

Melanie comes to a stop and turns at the wall that Iricryo crashed into.

Melanie: Don’t worry, Iricryo, I’ll beat his ass before he can finish you off.

Melanie: (in-thought) I’ve got to find the end to this illusion somewhere, and when I do, this dagger is going in that guy’s throat.

Rido is staring with a face of extreme anger at Oscar, rubbing a sore spot on his face.

Oscar: What’s wrong, afraid of getting hit again?

Rido: What?! Do you honestly think that just cause you were able to sucker-punch me once that you are fast enough to hit me again?!

Oscar: Sucker-punch nothing! I hit you, fair and square! Not my fault if you weren’t paying attention!

Rido: It was a sucker-punch! And I’ll prove it, you won’t hit me once this entire fight!

Oscar: Ha! We’ll see about that!

He rushes at Rido. Rido bursts up from his crouched position, leaping hundreds of feet into the air, far above the battlefield.

Oscar: What the-? … Superman?

Rido: You see, the true power of my stance, the power of the Crouched Jumping Stance!

Rido: Watch and learn!

He curls himself into a ball and drops out of the sky at an incredible speed!

Rido: Rido’s Special! Aerial Bomber!

Oscar jumps out of the way the best he can, but Rido impacts close to him. There is a massive explosion, and Oscar is sent flying backward and upside down. He grabs the ground with one of his hands, and back-flips back to his feet.

Oscar: Damn, that was close. I got to watch out for that.

Rido jumps out of the hole created by his attack.

Rido: That wasn’t even a fully charged one. Watch the true power of the distance I can get!

He launches into the air again.

Sarah looks over at their fight.

Sarah: Damn, I hope Oscar can handle himself over there.

Guki: What’s wrong? Feeling less confident than you were a few moments ago?

Sarah: Just trying to gamble with myself how long it will take me to beat you. I give you less than a minute.

Guki: Why is it that players are always so overconfident. Then they meet us and start begging for their lives, making deals and pleading for us to not eliminate their characters.

He stares at her coldly, as if he recognized her.

Guki: Sound familiar?

A quick flash of each of the pairs in combat in one scene, Oscar and Rido, Sarah and Guki, and Melanie/Iricryo and Lars.