Yehveshi Minor

[Kail]

Out of the middle of nowhere sat a massive structure arrayed with a multitude of mini domes that made it looks like the structure was bubbling from a distance. Setting down on one of the several landing pads outside, Kyle lead Dizzy outside the shuttle and into the complex. Inside it was bright and massive.

 

Going to the receptionist, Kyle informed her he was looking for the Kail party. He showed her his ID for verification and she then handed him a keycard. Thanking her, Kyle walked with Dizzy hand-in-hand as they made their way to the "elevator." While it was shaped like an elevator, it was more like a high speed, mini tram that could take them to any location inside the complex with relative ease. Swiping the card he receive through an activation device, the "elevator" registered it. Closing its doors, it had them at the correct location in a few seconds.

 

As they doors slowly openned once again, with his arm around Dizzy, Kyle stepped out. He was almost immediately met by his brother.

 

"Dude, where've you been? It's already started. Does Disra have a suit?"

 

Kyle's eyes widened. That was what he had forgotten when he had spoken with the receptionist.

 

"Dude, that's what brothers are for. I got you covered. Take her over to the changing room. I'll meet you inside, bro."

 

Quickly, Kyle caught the suit as Titus tossed it to him and handed it to Dizzy, "See the room that says 'Ladies' go ahead and run in there and change. Put your clothes in one of the lockers."

 

Running into the "Mens" room, Kyle quickly undressed and threw his stuff in a locker. Meeting Dizzy back outside, Kyle took her hand and they walked through the doors into the staging area.

 

A computer voice could be heard in the dimly light room with the only light coming from the green computer console in front of them, "Random selection activated. Select your character."

 

Kyle frowned, "That means we have to pick a name. We won't get any bios on the characters until after we enter the game. How about you pick for us both. It will make it more fun that way."

 

The holoprojected screen in front of them read:

 

Selection Choices:

 

Ladies:

 

Rina Tie

 

Jazmin Rue

 

Sandra Lei

 

Jewel Qwinn

 

 

 

Men:

 

Dru Wrine

 

Simon Leet

 

Titis Rue

 

Jason Kailios

[Dizzy]

She felt awestruck as she walked with Kyle through to the elevator. She was amazed at how quickly they arrived at the location. The enthusiastic greeting from his brother had her amused again, and meeting Kyle's eyes, Diz smiled, speaking to Titus as she looked back at him as she was handed the suit. She followed instructions, going into the ladies room and changing into the skin tight suit. It didn't bother her that she was wearing something that was revealing of her body shape, having worn very revealing clothing many times before. She had lost the feelings of being self conscious long ago, even if she felt out of place here. She was free and that was all that mattered.

 

Quickly she rejoined Kyle, slipping her hand back into his waiting one as they made their way into the staging area. While she was still unsure of what was happening, she trusted Kyle. So this would be her first game. She was kind of looking forward to it now, seeing how enthusiastic everyone else was. When Kyle asked her to choose for them she looked at the selections.

 

"I think... Jazmin Rue for me... and... Titis Rue for you?" she was uncertain as she looked at him, then whispered, "what would you have picked if you were choosing for us?"

[Kail]

Kyle grinned, "I don't know. That's why I had you pick."

 

Registering everything in the interface, Kyle turned to Dizzy, "Alright. Once we enter those chambers we will be transported inside the world. You will find your bio inside. Read it before exiting. Once you exit you will have to take on the role of your character. The droid characters will react to you in terms of the game world and have no consciousness of our world at all. As for visuals, the contacts will portray you, me, the other players, and the droids as their characters."

 

Hitting a few buttons, Kyle finished, "That's about it. See you on the other side, Mrs. Rue."

 

Entering his pod, the doors closed behind him. He would be in the game world soon.

 

((I actually did predetermine the parts for each choice before see what you picked to keep it realistic. That being the case, I can see what Dizzy was thinking... but that isn't how it is unfortunately...

 

BIO:

 

Jazmin Rue. She is in her mid twenties, has short, dark red hair, and usual wears red clothes. Having had four brothers growing up, she is more of less a tomboy. She is a knight in Queen Qwinn's army. She is in her older brother's division. Titus Rue is currently planning an attack on a rebel castle fortress outside the great Seton forest. The world is a fantasy medievil style world. They were standard suits of metal armor and use swords, shields, and bows as the main source of combat.))

[Dizzy]

(( I nearly picked Rina Tie instead but went Jazmin coz of my niece - I'd picked Kyle's out first... ))

 

Dizzy stepped into the pod as Kyle stepped into his, her confusion still evident in her demeanor. She read the bio, wondering how she would be portrayed when she stepped through the door. The only 'acting' she'd ever done was hiding her emotions from the pirates. So she was to be older than what she currently was, wearing red, red hair and had brothers. How am I going to be able to act out something I've never known?

 

Dizzy had no idea how she was going to go with this. The only fighting she'd done was when they took out the Pirates. Her experiences had been limited to that. She almost laughed when she read that "Titus" was "Jazmin's" brother. She just hoped that the others involved in this didn't give her a hard time because this was the first time she'd ever done anything like this. She was nervous and alittle scared. Swallowing that and taking a deep breath, she stepped out of the pod and into the 'new' world.

[Kail]

"Titus" had got his bio and was ready to go. This should be interesting. He found it surprising how the entire "play" revolved around the taking of this single castle fortress.

 

Arriving first, Kyle stepped out of the pod into his tent. Leaving the tent, he want to look for his officers.

 

Suddenly, an officer ran up to him, "Sir, we've just gotten word that Queen Qwinn's caravan has been attacked! She has been taken hostage!"

 

"What?! Uh... we need to get her back! Any information on where the kidnappers are?"

 

"Last we heard they were taking the path across Eldon Canyon towards the rebel fortress."

 

"So they are trying to come in the backway. We need to cut them off. Grab me a few men and some horses. You've got two minutes, officer."

[Dizzy]

The world that Dizzy stepped into was so totally foreign to her that at first she just stood there looking about her in amazement. There were tents, horses, soldiers everywhere. Looking downwards, she was amazed that she was "wearing" metal armour, and had a sword at her side. Looking at the reflection of the shield that was in front of her, she saw a bow strapped across her back with it's arrows strapped beside it, her flame red hair the most startling sight to her as it shone and reflected the sun's glory. She looked so totally different.

 

"Jazmin, new orders have come in"

 

"Huh? Oh... ahh... Lead the way."

 

'Jazmin' turned to face the one who spoke, feeling bewildered. It was another 'soldier' that came up to her. Mentally shrugging her shoulders, she headed off following this soldier to where the orders were to be given out.

[Kail]

"Your sister and our finest men, sir," the officer said returning.

 

"Sister?" Kyle questioned.

 

"Yes, Jazmin Rue. Your sister."

 

Kyle tried hard to contain the laughter. What irony. His love was now his sister. He couldn't necessarily make out with his sister. Well, he could but the AI would probably go bonkers. Unless, of course, adaptive storyline was on.

 

Glancing over at the only lady in front of him, Kyle stared at Jazmin. She looked nothing like Dizzy. Even her face was different. She was still beautiful, but she was no Disra K'lar. Then again, he probably didn't look anything like Kyle Kail either. So they were play full immersion with random pick as well. He couldn't help but wonder if they didn't have adaptive storyline on, too. His brother must be up to something, Kyle figured. He just wasn't sure what.

 

"Alright everyone, the queen has been kidnapped. We need to cut off the kidnappers before they reach the castle. The quickest way will bring us within about 500 ft of the castle. It could be dangerous and I imagine they might have archers. Therefore, be careful. With that in mind, let's saddle up and move out."

 

Mounting his horse, Titus surveyed his group and then look at Dizzy, "You ready, Jaz? This might get a little crazy, but if you stay close to me you should be alright."

[Dizzy]

Diz looked at the man that the soldier had led her to, hearing him refer to her as 'his sister'. Titus? He looked nothing at all like Kyle, Diz staring at him for a moment, noticing him almost laughing too. If she didn't know from the bio that this was Titus Rue, she'd not realise at all that it was Kyle. This man looked handsome, but not in the way that attracted Diz to Kyle. It was infact, difficult for her to believe it was Kyle beneath the exterior looks. While she'd seen some of the differences of herself, she didn't even realise that she looked far different to what she normally did also.

 

She looked at 'Titus' as he began to speak, noting that even his voice didn't sound like Kyle's. 'Jazmin' followed them to the horses, standing beside her horse while the others mounted up. She looked at the creature, resting her hand on its neck. In her mind remembering a memory...

 

A tall handsome man with dark hair was sitting on a palomino stallion. He smiled down at her, holding his arms out to her,

 

"Want a ride Disra?"

 

"Yes Daddy"

 

She held her arms upwards, her father reaching down to help her up, seating her in front of him on the giant horse as he took her for a ride around the farm...

 

She found herself swallowing suddenly, moisture appearing in the corners of her eyes which she quickly hid against the neck of the chestnut mount as she collected herself. She'd never ridden a horse by herself before. The only times she'd been on one had been with her father when he'd taken her for rides so many years ago. Suddenly this game wasn't as exciting as it had been before. She'd watched the others mount up, now stepping back to look at the riding gear. She slipped her booted foot into the stirrup and swung her leg over, seating herself in the saddle. Inwardly she was pleased with herself for managing that on the first attempt, though her outward appearance was very schooled.

 

She took up the reigns, looking at the others to see how they were holding them, having no idea how to ride at all.

 

"A little crazy? Umm. I really don't know about this..."

 

She looked nervous now. In truth she was scared of falling off, petrified of it. Coupled with the memory of her father, Dizzy wasn't looking forward to this experience any longer. She held all that inside though, seeing that 'Titus' was raring to go.

[Kail]

Of course, another one of the beauties of the game was the headband. Set to whatever chosen settting, it did or didn't present the player with any needed handicap. For someone like Dizzy who hadn't done much horseriding before, the program imbedded a general cognizance of how to do needed things in the player's subconsciousness as they arose.

 

Kyle grinned as he thought about how weird and ever unnaturally well he was able to do certain things for the first time on "beginner mode." Time and time again, he would somehow manage to do things that only a more experienced person should have been able to. It was very cool, but at the same time it was pretty crazy.

 

No emotion registered on Jazmin's face as she reached the horse, mounted it, and was ready to go. It was time to move.

 

"Yeeohhh!"

 

Galloping into the dense forest, the group of nine knights headed out to cut off the queen's kidnappers. Outside of the rhythmic pounding of the horses' hooves, the forest was peaceful. As the group neared the castle they veered right, blazing a trail within 500 ft of the castle's side.

 

Suddenly, Kyle had a very funny feeling. He motioned for this men to veer off in another direction, but it was too late. All of the sudden, arrows rained from the nearby bushes and brush. Kyle's ears rang as he heard the arrows whizz by his head. Almost immediately, a few of the knights in the company were picked off. Motioning to rally the remaining soldiers, they made a plus sign formation with Jazmin in the center. They need to protect her.

 

Just to her right, Kyle glanced at Jazmin in the panic. At first, a glint of something caught his eye. She had a neckless and at the end there was a symbol. It was somewhat familiar. He just couldn't get a good enough look to place it as it bounced up and down with the gallop of the horse. Then it hit him. She can use magi.

 

Yelling over the ambient noises, Kyle directed Jazmin, "Use your magi. Throw fire at the enemy archers as we approach them on the left. I'll take care of those to the right."

 

Pulling out his bow and arrow, Kyle quickly unloaded and reloaded one arrow after another on the enemy archers as they neared. They were almost out of the pass. They only had less than 100 ft to go. As Kyle reached for his final arrow, he suddenly experience a keen burning sensation below his armpit. Looking down their was an arrow sticking out of his side. Kyle was tempted to just yank it out, but he knew that would just increase the bleeding. He would have to rough it for now.

 

All in all, they had made great time taking the shortcut and should be in a great position to cut off the kidnappers before they reached the castle walls. It wasn't like it hadn't come at a price, though. Their group of nine was now only seven and three of that seven, Titus included, had arrows hinged somewhere on their bodies in the cavities that their chainmail armor didn't protect them very well.

 

Trying not to show the pain, Kyle looked over at Jazmin, "You alright?"

[Dizzy]

Dizzy was amazed that she could ride as the mount she was on galloped off with the rest of the group. That she knew exactly what to do had her feeling so surprised, not that it showed on her face. What did show on her face was the enjoyment she had of riding that fast.

 

As the group was ambushed, Diz took evasive action along with the others. Hearing Titis yelling out to use magi, she was puzzled at what he meant. What is magi? It seemed though that the headband 'told' her exactly what to do, for she found her hands rising, trusting the mount she was on not to dislodge her as she began weaving a spell. Fireballs appeared and were directed at the archers, creating a wall of heat as the forest around them caught alight. She had drawn her bow and arrow after the spells had been cast, sending her own sailing towards the enemy as she attempted to evade their arrows.

 

Several times she heard and felt the jolt as arrows hit her armor, though didn't penetrate enough to pierce skin. Then too, she was in the center of the men of their group. Once through the shortcut, they regrouped, 'Jazmin' finding that she had been very lucky indeed to come through unscathed. One of the arrows had almost penetrated her armor. Looking around she noticed that three of the others, including Titis, had arrows lodged in their bodies.

 

Looking down, she was drawn to open the saddlebag on her mount, finding that she had various vials and poultices within and 'knowing' that they were for first aid. She nudged her mount over towards Titis first.

 

"I'll have to take a look at that. We can't have you passing out on us. Here, take this for the pain and bite down on this strap of leather while I see to the arrow."

 

She knew they didn't have much time and that she had to work quickly. If she pulled the arrow out now, he would bleed out, even with her magi to aid her. For now she would have to snap the arrow off so they could continue. He'd have to be seen to as soon as they got back. She did have something in her bag of tricks that would keep him functioning and alert, though it wouldn't last forever. There was enough in the vial to hopefully get him through this mission.

 

Getting one of the others to hold him still, she cast another spell, weakening the arrow where she wished to snap it off, seeing it get to a point where she only had to bend it slightly to break it off. Very quickly she wrapped a bandage around the wound site, making sure that the arrow wouldn't move too much. Hopefully it would get him through until he could receive treatment.

 

Moving onto the other two she found she had to do the same, snapping off the arrows and giving each a vial to get them through the mission, wrapping the wound sites with poultice and bandage.

 

"We'll need to move quickly now. What I've done isn't going to last for long. You all need treatment I cannot provide out here."

[Kail]

Kyle grinned. That was why they had taken her along. It would seem his sister had a few tricks up her sleeve. She must have been one of "God's blessed."

 

Thanking Jazmin, Titus rallied his men and directed them forward, following the expected route the kidnappers had taken. However, after some time, Kyle order the group to stop. It obvious the kidnappers hadn't taken this way. There was only one logical explanation. His brother must have been in charge of the kidnappers.

 

"Is there any other way to reach the castle and still bypass our forces?"

 

His officers paused for a few seconds to think.

 

Suddenly one replied, "They could have gone through the valley of Gianeed. But they would be crazy to try that. The rock giants there are impervious to all kinds of magi and the sword."

 

Kyle paused for a second. They had played in this world before. There was something that countered the golums. He was sure of it.

 

"Wait. What about that one sword? Isn't there a sword that can counter them?"

 

The officer thought for a second, "Wait! You're right! The sword of Gianeed. It was made of a special metal from the mountain itself. But how would he have gotten it? It has been lost for years."

 

Cheater! You little cheater!

 

Turning his horse, Titus asked, "Do you think we can still cut them off before they reach the castle?"

 

"Well, if they went that way I imagine the rock giants would have slowed them down quite a bit. If we leave now we might make it."

 

"Then, let's do this!"

 

Changing direction, the group headed towards the valley.

 

As they were on his way, Kyle road up beside Dizzy, "Hey, Jaz. Just so you know, use your magi wisely. You only have so much before you get really tired and become 'too tired' to use anymore. It recharges overtime but still. I just thought you might want to know that. Nice work back there by the way."

 

As they neared the valley exit, Kyle could see a shining gold sword flailing in the air. As they approached, he now saw a wily young hotshot fighting off one rock giant after another as another lady drove the carriage through the pass.

 

The queen must be in the carriage.

 

Dismounting and tying his horse to a nearby tree, Kyle moved towards the group.

 

"Diz...eh... Jaz. Do you think you can yank the wheel of that carriage for me?"

[Dizzy]

She'd been wondering why she'd felt abit fatigued. As they rode along again, she snatched something else out of the saddlebag, munching away on the piece of jerky as they went along. By the time they reached their destination she was feeling more herself again. Seeing the 'rock giants', Diz looked on very much surprised at what this world had. Giving a shake of her head, she refocused on what 'Titis' was saying.

 

"I can try."

 

She dismounted her horse, walking beside him as they looked on at the battle below. She waited until the carriage was a 'safe' distance from the rock giants before beginning to murmur strange words that she didn't understand. They obviously worked though as she focused directly on the left wheel of the carriage. She pointed her fingers first, rotating it as if to imitate the undoing of a screw, repeating the process a few times as the wheel began to wobble.

[Kail]

Suddenly Titus and Jazmin were knocked backwards to the ground as if they had been hit by an extremely strong gust of wind. Titus winced as he looked up, trying to find his helmet. As the carriage made it up the final leg of the hill, the woman driving it hopped off.

 

What level of magi is she?!

 

The woman stared at the group blocking her pathway, as Kyle helped Dizzy to her feet.

 

The woman's chilling voice echoed from a distance, "I will give you one chance to leave. Leave now or face my wrath."

 

Kyle resolve wavered a little as he stood his ground, "We aren't going anywhere without the Queen. Release her!"

 

The woman laughed, "Fine. We'll do it the hard way."

 

Waving her hands in a weird motion, the soldiers suddenly felt their bandages unwrap. Before they could even respond, both the bandages and the arrow tips were lying on the ground next to them. Kyle fell to his knees from the pain. He was now bleeding. The other two wounded soldiers had similar reactions as the pain overwhelmed them. Turning, Kyle watched as his second-in-command, who had taken several arrows in various locations, faded away before his eyes. They were now down to six soldiers.

 

That witch!

 

Even as she approached with the wily young man close behind, Kyle could tell that her attack had taken a lot out of her. Still, she was so powerful. Who was she?

 

Ignoring the pain, Kyle rose to his feel slowly. However, before he could even reach a standing position he was forced back to one knee.

 

Reaching for Dizzy, he said, "Jaz, help me up."

[Dizzy]

Anger like she'd never felt before took control of Dizzy as she advanced upon the witch. She drew her sword and held a tailsman in her hand. She was so angry that sparks almost flew from her eyes.

 

"We'll do it the hard way alright. Your death at my hands. You will beg me for mercy by the time I finish with you!"

 

She began murmuring a new spell, the tailsman in her hand glowing as much as the fire in her eyes. The other woman might not have known fear before, but the sight of righteous wrath upon her made her back up a step. The man freezing in his location.

 

"You dare harm my family... you dare harm the Queen. You will know what pain is. I suggest you back off before you pay with your life for I will only offer mercy once."

 

She felt as if her whole body tingled with unreleased power. It hurt her to ignore Titis's plea for her to help him up, but she felt it would come down to her and the other woman and this time she would win. She straightened up her baring, stepping ever closer to the two feinds. She would not back down and she would make the other break her spell on Titus and beg her for mercy.

[Kail]

The woman was very shocked at Jazmin's advance. So much so that the other man with her had to whisper to her to remind her who she was.

 

Suddenly, her demeanor changed.

 

Matching Dizzy's power, the two clashed in a whirlwind of energy.

 

The lady smirked, "I may have over extended myself just a little, but you now have a choice. You can fight me and just bearly overwhelm me, or you can use what power you have left to save your brother's life."

 

She broke into an evil laugh as she threw even more energy at Dizzy.

 

"Which will it be, my dear?"

 

Kyle paused, finally realizing who she was. She had to be the Lady of Gianeed. It would explain why she was so powerful and also how this wily young man, who must have been his brother, had managed to obtain the sword so seemly easily. Ironically, the sword was her weakness. The holder of the sword was immune to her magi as long as that person possessed it.

 

Kyle frowned, mad at himself. It would now be his fault if the Queen reached the castle. Dizzy would have to make a hard choice. If only he had protected himself better. Forcing himself to his feet, Kyle tried to look as strong as possible. He didn't want Dizzy to sacrifice their opportunity to defeat the fiends for him. The pain was tearing his mind apart as he continued to stand. How bad was that injury? How much blood had he lost? He realized that he was starting to feel woozy now. That wasn't a good sign.

[Dizzy]

Her fury grew as she stared down the other woman.

 

"You asked for it. I'm not backing down for no one."

 

She advanced again, tailsman wrapped around her wrist as her hands formed a two handed grip on the sword. She didn't however use magic, she launched herself very quickly and skillfully at the young man with the witch, slicing his sword arm off. and standing over him with her blade to his throat as he fell to the ground.

 

"You now have a choice. Back down or I'll finish him first and you'll follow."

 

She kicked the sword, still with the hand attached to the handle, over towards Titus.

[Kail]

The sword blurring into several different swords as he watched it near him. Stopping at his feet, Kyle could see that Dizzy hadn't backed down. His strong stand had worked. He could hold it no longer, though. With a small puddle of blood former as his feet, Kyle fell to his knees and then face down on the hard, brown dirt. A little blood trickled from his lips.

 

Laying unconscious on the ground, Kail was spent and on the verge of death. Gathering around him, his soldiers glanced sorrowfully at their fallen leader.

 

Meanwhile, the wily young man stared angrily at Jazmin.

 

"My arm! Fix my arm!" he screamed at the woman with him.

 

Dismayed, she used her most of the rest of her energy to fix his arm.

 

As the wily young man backed away a little, the exhausted lady pointed back at Titus angry that her plan wasn't working so far, "You fool! Your brother is as good as dead. If you don't save him he will die. His death is on your head. You have one last chance to save him, what will it be?"

 

Using the last bits of her magi energy to materialize swords for both her and the young man, the lady panted. Having a new weapon, her partner swung it around a little. For an accomplished swordsman, it was quite a blow to his ego that she had removed his arm so easily. He would see to it this time that it didn't happen again. Anger consumed him as he stared down the woman, waiting for her to make her move.

[Dizzy]

While the other was working on fixing the young man's arm, weaking herself, Dizzy struck at her, having conserved her own magi. She knew Titus had fallen to the ground, so had to finish this quickly.

 

"Guards, attack them now!"

 

Jazmin ordered them as she threw a fireball at both the witch and the young man she had just healed. She then pulled out two strange balls from within her armor, stepping back towards Titus as the guards now advanced upon the two. She glanced down, seeing the blood pooling around him. Her anger burned brighter, green eyes flashing at the witch as she now threw the two orbs, one at her and one at her companion. Small explosions knocked them both backwards, followed by smoke clouding up around them.

 

Jazmin used the last of her magi to strengthen Titus as she helped him up, whistling for the horses. Two trotted up, Jaz dragging Titus up onto her mount, quickly leaping up on it's back as well and kicking the horse into action. She led the other horse down to the carriage, yelling for the queen to quickly get onto the other horse, there was no time to waste as the others of the guard wouldn't keep the two side tracked for long. One look at Titus, and at Jazmin's expression and dignity went out the window.

 

"I apologise Your Majesty but we must make haste if we are to get you away."

 

With the queen mounted on the other horse, Jaz spurred her's again, the other following closely behind her. She brought an instrument to her lips, sounding it out for the other guards to retreat if they couldn't subdue the other two.

[Kail]

Everything happened so fast, Kyle's brother was caught off guard again. He was getting tired off this. Disra was much too good. He needed to do something.

 

Meanwhile, the lady continued to lay on the ground after Disra's final attack. She was completely sapped. As the three knights left charged the two rebels, Kyle's brother was more focused on on Disra's actions. She was making off with the queen.

 

Engaging the knights, he quickly slashed down the first offender. However, taking on two at once was challenging. Worst of all, she was getting away. Finding an openning, the man broke into a full run as he sheathed his sword and reached for his bow and arrow. Not wearing the full armor the knights were gave him an advantage. Lining up his shot, he pegged the queen's horse with several arrows as it toppled, sending the enchanted queen tumbling in the dust that was left in the wake of the incident. All the while, the queen just continued to lay there in a stooper.

 

Wanting to make sure he had made his message loud and clear, he then reloaded and fired two more arrows, one for Dizzy and the other aimed at Kyle. All the while, the knights charged as fast as they possibly could to come up on him from behind.

[Dizzy]

As the arrows knocked the queen's horse from beneath her, sending her flying, Jaz wheeled her horse around to face the enemy, narrowly being missed by the arrow that whizzed by her ear. Titus lay across the front of her horse, still not with it at all. She had to think quickly. She had tired with the spell to revive Titus, though she wasn't that exhausted that she couldn't move. She still had her own bow and arrow. She placed the horse between the enemy and the queen, leaping off and racing towards him on foot. She drew out another exploding ball from the armor, her last one.

 

The anger in her bearing was obvious, she was furious and she'd had enough of this stupid so called game. The strength she drew on was internal now. She had no idea that the young scutter was Kyle's brother, didn't know who it was, only that she was going to end this one way or another or die trying. She had truly had enough. Her blade was unsheathed as she approached him, held in her off hand while the explosive was in her right.

 

"I've had a gut full of you. This ends NOW!"

 

Her voice held all the pain, the anger and distrust that she felt towards everyone except for Kyle and the desperation she had to be free and stay that way. She'd had such a hard life, and for this to be called "fun" was anything but for her, being that she had only just escaped the Pirates that had held her for so long.

 

"Do you know what I did to the last man that faced me?"

 

Her eyes looked down his body, resting at his groin. Her blade swaying in front of her now.

[Kail]

As she ran at him from a distance, the wily young man took expert aim as he fired a volley of arrows at her. While she was able to knock a few away and dodge a few others, three landed, one in her stomach between the chest plate and the hip plate, one in her off wrist, the last one right above her collarbone.

 

Dropping his bow and arrow, the man unsheathed his sword. He knew that she was too drained to use any more magi. It would now be a battle of swords and he had the advantage there. Really, in all fairness her rage excited him. He had never seen anyone take the game so seriously. This was awesome. There was only one explanation. She had to be Disra for sure. So that must have meant Kyle was Titus. If so, the figured she must have been beyond ticked. Her fury was amazing, though. He could see why Kyle liked her. She had some spirit.

 

Meeting her incoming strike, the two engaged. However, he could tell that she was exhausted and wounded by his arrows as well. Most of all, she wasn't as experience in sword dueling. Letting her pound way and wear herself out, Titus continued to block until he saw an openning. Taking it, he locked swords and then whipped the weapon out of her hands. Landing a few feet away sticking straight out of the ground, Titus grinned.

 

But suddenly, his smiled faded as blood trickled out of his mouth and a sword poked out of his stomach.

 

"Good game," he mumbled as he fell to the ground dead.

 

It was the knights. In all the excitement, Titus had completely forgot about the fact that they were running up from behind him.

 

Having dealt with the kidnapper, one of the knights motioned Dizzy, "Hurry. Get Lord Rue the hermit along the red stone road. We will take the Lady captive and insure that the Queen gets back to camp. You both need to be treated as soon as possible. There is no time to waste. You won't make it to the camp in time. We can only pray that you reach the hermit in time. Take this road until you reach the first right. Take it and follow it all the way until you come to a small hut. There you should find the hermit. Please hurry!"

[Dizzy]

The adrenaline that had been keeping her going, seeped from her as the blood from the three wounds did. She'd had enough of all of this, so much so that she'd never ever do it again. The way she now felt, she figured she wouldn't have to. As her sword was flung from her, she prepared herself for the inevitable death blow, actually longing for escape from the pain, from the hurt. Diz glared at him, so much gone in her emotions that even she hadn't seen the others approaching. All thoughts of this being a game were no where in her mind. To her this all seemed to real... had become real as the gaming devices tricked her mind. She didn't know if he'd realised that all her blows had been aimed at slicing his manhood from his body, all her swings being lowly aimed.

 

As he fell to the ground dead, it didn't even sink in what he said about it being a good game. She was only relieved that someone had killed him. As the other knights gave her instructions and handed her back her sword, Diz stumbled, coughing up blood as she looked at the arrows that petruded from her own body. She felt so exhausted. She waved them away, ever so slowly making her way over to the horse, 'Titis' still lying over the horse.

 

The arrow that had hit her wrist had peirced right through, sticking out either side, the pain so intense that she no longer had use of her left hand. She couldn't grab hold of either of the other two arrows to snap them off as she'd done for the others. She attempted to climb into the saddle, falling to the ground instead, weeping now from the pain as her fall drove the arrow in her abdomen deeper. It took an age to gather the strength to rise to her feet again, having grabbed hold of the stirrup to pull herself to her feet.

 

Slowly she began to move, staggering as she led the horse in the direction the knights said to follow. One foot in front of the other, left, right, left, right. Her feet were dragging along the ground, pain in every step she made. The horse seemed to prick it's ears up as it plodded alongside of her. Diz could go no further though... falling to the ground just after they'd taken the first right. The horse kept going along the road in the direction of the hut as Diz let out another cry having landed in such a way that she drove the other arrow straight through so it pierced out the other side of her shoulder blade. Sweet oblivion claimed her as darkness closed in.

[Kail]

And as Dizzy slowly slipped out of consciousness and towards a sure death an old cloaked man approached. Using some powerful magi unlike anything anyone had seen before, the man sustained Dizzy's life with his shear will power as he evaporated the arrows.

 

Kail woke up coughing as he turned to look around. They were inside a humble wooden abode in some kind of makeshift hammock beds. Seeing Dizzy beside him, he noticed that her complection looked pretty bad. As he stared at her longing to somehow help her, the old man entered.

 

"She's a fine wife, Kyle. I like her very much. Quite the spirited one if I was to ever say so myself."

 

Kyle stared at the old hermit who looked nothing like his father, "Dad? Is that you? What are you doing here?!"

 

"Titus mentioned that you two were coming. I didn't want to miss all the fun."

 

Kyle frowned, "Fun? Dad! This is crazy! The difficulty level is way too high. This war movie is made for warriors, not escaped slaves! Are you people crazy?!"

 

Valtros shook his head, "There is nothing to worry about. I'm a powerful hermit in this game. I've saved you both. She will be fine."

 

"Dad, that's not the point. The point is that we should have done something more that Dizzy would like. Not this craziness!"

 

Valtros laughed, "Don't blame me. Talk to your brother. It was his friend's idea to see what she was made of."

 

"What! So this was some test to see what she was made of? You've got to be kidding me."

 

"Nope. That was part of the idea."

 

Kyle reached over placing his hand on his forehead as he began rubbing his temples.

 

Valtros continued, "Don't worry, though. She was amazing. She is untrained, true. A champion nonetheless. I'd been honored to have her as a daughter-in-law. Your kids will be strong warriors, worthy of the Kail name."

 

"Woah, woah, woah. Don't you think you're jumping a little ahead of yourself. No one said anything about marriage."

 

"No, but you are staying in the same room. I imagine you are married then. You know that by old Valtrosian law you become married the day you have relations with someone of the opposite sex. Or are you trying to tell me that that hasn't happened?"

 

Kyle was really getting uncomfortable with where this conversation was going, "Wow. Is there like no privacy around here? No! We haven't done anything like that. A little kissing, yes, but nothing more. Ok. God. Lay off why don't you!"

 

Valtros raised an eyebrow, "Interesting. So you have yet to be married. So does that mean that you plan on having the traditional wedding first rather than the old Valtrosian law wedding?"

 

"Dad. Listen really carefully. We are not getting married. At least not any time soon. Or at least not yet. We haven't even talked about it. We are just very close friends. Like girlfriend and boyfriend. Nothing more, nothing less. Ok? That's all we are. Two people madly in love hoping it will last."

 

"Well, I suggest you two discuss marriage considering the possibilities that might present themselves."

 

Kyle sighed. He had given up. Maybe if he dropped the subject the conversation would finally end. He would just be silent for now and wait for Dizzy to stir. Glancing over, he wondered if Dizzy had been awake enough to hear any of the conversation or if she was still completely unconscious.

 

Asking about Dizzy, Kyle questioned, "Are you sure she is going to be ok?"

 

Valtros smiled, "She'll be fine. I suggest you two hurry back to the camp, though. Duke Kane has heard that the Queen was rescued by now and probably assumes you two are dead. I'm sure he will move on your camp soon if he hasn't already."

[Dizzy]

The blackness that so totally engulfed her was filled with nightmares. Visions of burning houses, of one young girl watching on as first her father, her mother and her sister were killed in front of her. The visions shifted, the Pirate Boss looming over her his hand raised as he beat her for being insubordinate, to beat the defiant spirit from her. The young orange twi'lek girl holding her as she bathed some of her wounds, putting a cold pack on her blackened eyes. Nothing to marr her looks, but made her bloodied and battered all the same. Again it shifted, this time Dizzy holding and comforting Reena as their roles were reversed. The first time the twi'lek girl had been raped and beaten. Visions floated across Dizzy's battered mind, each one a horrid memory of what had happened to her all through her captivity.

 

She groaned, beginning to toss and turn as she struggled to get away from the pirate boss the final time, after she'd sliced him and he'd dived on top of her to recapture her. Physically she began to move, fighting off the invisible assailant again as the memory played over in her mind...

 

She woke with a start, crying out in fear with her vision slow to clear through the pain that she still felt. She felt like she'd been beaten all over again and looked around for the Pirate's that she was sure would be standing over her. Diz gasped, not recognising either the old hermit or even 'Titus' to begin with as she pushed herself away from both, horror in her eyes, shrinking as far away from both of them as she could get on the small bunk.

 

"Get away from me!"

 

That she was frightened was obvious, the girl not currently recalling that she was in the game, still wrapped up in her nightmares back in the Pirate's den.

[Kail]

Kail watched Dizzy's frightened expression. Woman always seemed to have a sixth sense about these kind of things and even he didn't feel comfortable. There was something wrong. His dad asking him a lot of personal questions in the presense of someone else even if she was unconscious, the way he asked the questions, and then there was the whole game situation.

 

He had actually fainted out of pain and exhaustion. Usually he played these kind of games at normal level. The suit might disable certain body parts as things occured or give some pain... but nothing to the extent of real life. That was something like military playing level. He couldn't imagine his brother choosing that, especially when he knew that girls were going to be play.

 

And what about his "father." It was surprising to find his dad here, but it was ever more surprising that he would pick a mage character. That wasn't his dad's style. He could see him picking a king or even the leader or the rebels or a knight, but not a magi user. His dead was more into raw skill and strength, not a superpowered cheat machine mage.

 

There was something wrong. Something was very wrong. He didn't like this situation anymore.

 

Turning to the hermit, Kyle querried, "Dad, remember that phrase you always tell me? 'To be a man it takes more than muscles, it takes heart and a sharp wit'?"

 

"Uh... what about it?"

 

Kyle paused and turned, "Follow my lead. I got a good idea on what we need to do to calm Dizzy down."

 

Reaching down for a broom that was lying on the floor, Kyle crept towards Dizzy with his father right behind him. Suddenly, Kyle whipped around blasting the hermit upside the head. The man immediately fell to the ground unconscious.

 

Kyle stared spitfully at the incapacitated man,"He didn't say that. He strongly disagreed with that statement because he said your heart and brain are muscles, too!"

 

Then turning to Dizzy and raising out his hand, Kyle spoke warmly, "Dizzy. It's me. Kyle. I know it doesn't look like me, but it's a long story. All I need you to know is that I love you and I won't hurt you, but we need to leave now. Please, honey. Give me your hand."

[Dizzy]

Dizzy's gaze darted around close to her, looking for something to grab, something to use to defend herself as pushed herself away from the two men in the hut. Not finding anything close enough she pulled up the bedding, wanting extra padding if she was going to get beaten. She tried to control her breathing, needing to calm down to think properly, she needed to escape. The pain from her injuries she felt still, the throbbing in her shoulder, her wrist, her abdomen. She brought her hand up so she could see the healed flesh... expecting to see a mass of blood but finding the flesh pink where the wound entry had been.

 

She heard her name spoken on the younger man's lips, then saw how he clobbered the other man and approach her. Her eyes showed her fear, though something inside her told her she could trust this man. She finally recognised his voice...

 

"Kyle?"

 

Dizzy almost wept, still feeling like her eyes were playing tricks on her. Very slowly she began to comprehend that she was in this game, that they were both in this game, that was why she didn't recognise him. She stretched her hand out hesitantly at first, though her sob caught in her throat when he told her he loved her.

 

"Oh Kyle... please... get me out of here... I... don't like this... please..."

 

She was more than ready to go. Dizzy found she could move easier than she thought. While she still felt the pain, she could move through it. She looked down to see her shoulder, her abdomen, finding both wounds closed over as well. Whoever that was that Kyle knocked out, he had healed them.

 

"How do we get out of here? How do we make it stop?"

[Kail]

Overwhelmingly relieved, Kyle pulled Dizzy to him and kissed her tenderly on the lips.

 

Then embracing her with his head on her shoulder, Kyle informed her, "It's not normally like this. Something is terribly wrong. We got to find my brother. Do you know where he is?"

 

As Kyle finished he was already leading Dizzy out the door.

 

Looking around he cursed, "Damn it! Where are our horses?! I guess he wasn't planning on us going anywhere."

 

Removing all the remaining armor he was wearing, Kyle was left with only a fencing style skinsuit.

 

Motioning to Dizzy, Kyle commented, "Come on. We're going to have to go this by foot for as long as possible. After that... I don't know..."

[Dizzy]

The kiss reassured Dizzy like nothing else had. With her eyes still deceiving her because of the game, it was only his voice and his kiss that she believed truely that she was with Kyle.

 

"I can tell you one thing... this is a first and a last Kyle... I'm not going to do this again..."

 

As he asked about his brother Dizzy had a look on her face that showed how hard she was thinking about it.

 

"He wasn't the one who injured us was he? The guards killed him I think... before he got me... The instructions the guards gave me to get here was to follow the road and turn right so I guess if we backtrack we'll find that area where he was..."

 

Dizzy was already out of her armor being where her injuries had been.

 

"How do we get out of this? Is there an exit or something?"

[Kail]

"He was killed? Hmmm... knowing him, players probably revert to one of the left-over playable character options. Dang it! He could be anyone now. He needs to know what's going on. I think we could all be in danger. There are two exits. One is inside the castle. The other is on the far end behind where my soldiers are positioned. Follow me."

 

The two ran, backtracing their steps. When they finally reached the original area of the battle, it was obvious their horses were gone. The carriage and its horses, however, were still sitting where they had left it.

 

"Come on," Kyle yelled as he rushed over to the carriage.

 

It had been pulled by two horses, just enough for each of them to have their own. Unstrapping the horses, Kyle mounted his and helped Dizzy up on hers. After everything was set, the two galloped in the direction of the knight camp. Taking the long way, they steered clear of the castle this time.

 

Finally reaching the far exit, Kyle gasped as he looked down the hill below. The "cave" exit was being guarded by a good fifty soldiers.

 

"What's going on here?! Diz, stay here. I'll go down and see what's wrong. They are my soldiers, after all."

 

Dismounting and walking down the hill, Titus was quickly stopped by the captain of the company.

 

"Halt! No one is allowed beyond this point."

 

"By whose authority?!"

 

"The Duke's!"

 

"I'm the head of the military here! I order you to let me pass."

 

"I'm sorry, sir. The Duke's orders overrule your own."

 

Titus cursed as he turned to leave.

 

What the hell is going on here!?

 

Reaching Dizzy, Kyle give her a helpless shrug.

 

"The Duke ordered them to let no one pass, I guess. I can't overrule him and we can't fight off 50 soldiers by ourselves. The only other thing I can think of doing is ordering the attack on the castle and trying to find the exit point there. I don't know. What do you think?"

[Dizzy]

"Do we have any chance of changing what we look like too? Incase someone is after us?"

 

She backtracked with Kyle to the camp, looking on as he explained where the other exit's were supposed to be. When he said for her to stay there while he went down to see what was going on, she added,

 

"Be careful. They're supposed to be your soldiers... Titis"

 

Using the strange name again seemed appropriate as they again 'joined' the game. She dismounted her horse, tying it next to the other and hunched down to look down the hill. Her hand went to the pendant she had around her neck, fingering it all the while as she watched as he spoke to them and then returned to her side.

 

"Do you have any idea who is behind this? What sort of magic do you think I can perform with this? I'd never even heard of magic before now. I don't suppose there'd be something to make them turn a blind eye to us?"

 

She thought about what he said regarding the castle. Whoever it was...

 

"You don't think the Pirates have followed us? They can't be this desperate to get us could they? Who can we trust? Surely there's some fail safe thing to stop the game??"

 

If the Pirates had somehow followed them or found out where they had gone, Dizzy was petrified about them coming after her again. Sure the 'Boss' was dead, along with his second, but there were plenty of others that weren't on the base at the time that would just as easily step in to take over. It was a life she never wanted to return to. She didn't want to live her life being hunted.

 

"Is there a way to contact your Father? Or to get help?"

 

She had no idea what skills she was supposed to have with this character, wasn't used to the game at all.