The Glitch V: Taste of Fear (Episode 1)

[frigidmagi]

"What's de-rezzed mean?" Jeremy asked.

[LadyTevar]

Lizbet stared in surprise at Jeremy, then shook her head sadly. "You -are- a Noob, aren't you..." As the daughter of Those From the Real World Lizbet could give a more ... human ... explanation. "De-rezzed. Lost of Resolution, of Substance. Like a giant eraser comes outta nowhere and leaves only blank paper behind."

[Charon]

Liz might have been the daughter of two people from the real world. But she'd also spent her entire life in the game world and it showed in her description. "For the new among us. It means you die. Horribly."

Matt studied the map again, scratching his chin. "It's a good thought, but at the same time it's incredibly dangerous. We don't know exactly whats in there and one wrong step leads to immediate and painful death."

"The Shadow Don got us involved in this right? He's got plenty of contacts and might be able to give us some more information. He's the one that got us all involved in this, and he has just as much interest as we do in making certain the Cannibal goes down."

[Dark Silver]

Lenore, Poe's "assistant", in a truth her glorified self title for what she really was - his secretary, sat at her desk, having witnessed the same thing anyone else within the entirety of the Crystal City who was anywhere near a television had just seen, she was shocked. Not enough that she wasn't still observant to her surrondings and her duties, but any who looked at her face could tell she was green around the gills, and was just barely managing to keep it together.

It was why, when the hand offered her a black and silver handkerchief, and the deep voice which spoke softly, "Now now....such sights should not be witnessed by one as lovely as you. Please, take a moment to compose yourself, before announcing my presence.."

Lenore blinked several times, and yelped for only a moment in surprise, the door had not opened, there was only one way in or out of the "client lobby" where her desk was. Yet, someone was here - right in front of her!

Lenore's brown eyes, as they were, were near waist level with the standing man, dressed as he was in somber black. The material looked to be luxuriant - almost looking like finest Tandarian Silk, but was obviously of some heavier make. His sense of fashion was definatly not Crystal City Chiche - he dressed as if he was from in the past, and the stiching and design work in the cloth almost made it seem Hyrulian.

Slowly, her gaze lifted to the man's face, and try as she might, she could not see the features, she only had the faintest hint of cold blue eyes, looking out from beneath the black fedora pulled down over the face, what skin she could see was tanned and supple. She had the vaguest hint that if she could discern his face, he'd be handsome. He was already obviously well built, but he was also tall, perhaps taller than even the mangled man who had went into her bosses office earlier.

"Who ar..." she began to ask, but was cut off by a single black gloved finger against her lips.

"Tell Mr Poe, That the Man in Black comes calling.."

Lenore nodded, slowly rising from her chair, and walking to the door, clearing her throat before opening it. The door was wide open, just as Matt finished his line, and Lenore cleared her throat, "Boss....There's someone here to see you..."

Before Poe could reply, the man stepped up behind Lenore, looming for a mere moment, before appearing infront of her, a black gloved hand rmoving the fedora, revealing the very human face - hollow slightly sunken cheekbones, hawkish nose piercing ice colored eyes tinged with veins of red and blue in the iris, and tanned, nearly weathered looking skin. His hair was jet black, and slicked back, falling in a near tail behind his head. He seemed to pulse and ooze authority and power, and there were few men in Old town which could do so.

"I understand," he spoke, his voice deep, the tone soft, but each word spoken was so very clearly understood, "that you wanted to see me Berserker...be careful what you wish for..."

[Charon]

Matt had glanced with a raised eyebrow as Lenore poked her head in and then burst out laughing when the Shadow Don came through the door. Unlike many here, Matt had stood in the presence of gods, and helped to kill more than one. Whoever the Shadow Don was, he was good, but Matt had never had much worry over authority.

He smiled at the man and chuckled again as he shook his head. It seemed he would have been approximately as concerned for his well-being if Bambi had pranced through the doorway. "My my, you are good. I'll admit, better than I gave you credit for. The Berserker is dead though, and even you better hope he stays that way." Matt's smile became slightly more predatory as he examined the man more closely. Noting little details about the man. "I assume you saw the show? Good reason to think you might be a target. Or maybe one of the old ascended?" Matt scratched his chin, still working out the details in his head. Then he shook his head again, leaving the musing to later. "So I want to make a deal with the devil, you have resources and you have people. What do you know?"

[Dark Silver]

"I tried making a deal with you some years ago....when you first showed back up in Old Town, Berserker. You turned me down then....what was the phrase, 'I'll work with you when the Nine Hells freeze over..', if I recall it approximately correct."

The Don, for his part, remained where he was, hands clasped behind his back. He didn't so much move, beyond what was necessary, and in Matt and Jack, the face's vaguest details seemed to tug faintly at their memories, a nagging itch in the back of their minds.

"Yes, I "saw the show", as you so aptly put it. And he used generalities enough that it could be near anyone who is the "Dark One". There are many who vie for the title...myself not withstanding." Those lips curled into a somewhat feral smile, "I prefer to keep my pseudonyms down to a manageable number. I have had far to many already"

Measured steps took the man who called himself the Shadow Don to one of the few windows overlooking the Old Town streets, hands still clasped behind his back. In the harsh neon-glow that spilled through the window blinds, the suit looked less like leather armor, and more and more like a expensive, professionally tailored, is classic cut suit. On the right hand, two triangles appeared, even through the thick leather gloves, the glowing red triangle, and to the bottom and left of that, it's apex touching the bottom left corner of the red triangle, a glowing blue one.

"As for the Older Ascended....your little party was amongst the first. The Riders were eliminated, almost to a man by your Party, only one was left, and he fought at your side for a time, before he to, disappeared in his own way. The ones who came after you...well....they are all so very weaker than your compatriots. Well, almost all of them...a few remain exceptional in their abilities to wield their power."

The voice was even, and despite the softness of it, so very clearly heard by all in the room, it's tone never wavered, and it never once held any derogatory toning - it was as if, almost, he was speaking to a old friend who had to be caught up on things. "So very few of us Ascended manage to realize out true Potential, and the Path that is laid out for all of us."

"I can tell you this though....this..creature, this Cannibal, is a monster. The likes which few of us, even you and the Alchemist who have fought against the Glitch itself, are ready to fight him. At least the Glitch and it's followers followed some archiac code of honor - despite their depravities. This Cannibal follows none. everything is fair game, and he's willing to debase us all, it would seem, to obtain his goals."

[LadyTevar]

The Triangles of Power and Wisdom shown on his hand, something which LizBet noted but did not mention immediately. She, for once, had fallen into more Courtly manners, listening without speaking, observing while looking merely interested. They were skills taught to her by Zelda and Peach, who held their kingdoms by more than the power of their Heroes.

Sometimes, you learned more by being inconspicious than being overt.

[Agent Fisher]

Jack kept his eyes on the Don. Something about him was nagging his mind. The feeling that you know something but can't remember.

"So, why us? Surely you have your own minions to order around."

[Charon]

"I tried making a deal with you some years ago....when you first showed back up in Old Town, Berserker. You turned me down then....what was the phrase, 'I'll work with you when the Nine Hells freeze over..', if I recall it approximately correct."

The Don, for his part, remained where he was, hands clasped behind his back. He didn't so much move, beyond what was necessary, and in Matt and Jack, the face's vaguest details seemed to tug faintly at their memories, a nagging itch in the back of their minds.

Matt smiled, it was almost surprisingly friendly. "And then I threatened to kill you if you ever showed up unwelcome again. But things change, that was a few years ago. When I'd just come back to life."

If Matt seemed to remember the Don at all, it did not show. Most of his memories from the post-war era were fuzzy at best, completely missing at worst.

"Yes, I "saw the show", as you so aptly put it. And he used generalities enough that it could be near anyone who is the "Dark One". There are many who vie for the title...myself not withstanding." Those lips curled into a somewhat feral smile, "I prefer to keep my pseudonyms down to a manageable number. I have had far to many already"

Measured steps took the man who called himself the Shadow Don to one of the few windows overlooking the Old Town streets, hands still clasped behind his back. In the harsh neon-glow that spilled through the window blinds, the suit looked less like leather armor, and more and more like a expensive, professionally tailored, is classic cut suit. On the right hand, two triangles appeared, even through the thick leather gloves, the glowing red triangle, and to the bottom and left of that, it's apex touching the bottom left corner of the red triangle, a glowing blue one.

"As for the Older Ascended....your little party was amongst the first. The Riders were eliminated, almost to a man by your Party, only one was left, and he fought at your side for a time, before he to, disappeared in his own way. The ones who came after you...well....they are all so very weaker than your compatriots. Well, almost all of them...a few remain exceptional in their abilities to wield their power."

The voice was even, and despite the softness of it, so very clearly heard by all in the room, it's tone never wavered, and it never once held any derogatory toning - it was as if, almost, he was speaking to a old friend who had to be caught up on things. "So very few of us Ascended manage to realize out true Potential, and the Path that is laid out for all of us."

"I can tell you this though....this..creature, this Cannibal, is a monster. The likes which few of us, even you and the Alchemist who have fought against the Glitch itself, are ready to fight him. At least the Glitch and it's followers followed some archiac code of honor - despite their depravities. This Cannibal follows none. everything is fair game, and he's willing to debase us all, it would seem, to obtain his goals."

Matt chuckled then. "You're right. There are plenty of Dark Ones, and almost all of them are posers and pathetic wimps. You? You're ascended. If I had to guess, an old one at that. Just after the war? Plus you've got quite a bit of clout that a lot of the seedier people, and maybe some of the rich types will recognize."

Matt leaned against the wall and crossed his arms. "If it's ascended he's going after, we've got most of the prime targets here in this room." He was quiet for a second and his brow furrowed in worry. "If I was looking to stir up as much panic as I could, I know who I would go after. Al's still a big name. He was during the war, and unlike Jack and I, he's still a big name. Very involved. Everybody knows his name. After that I would go after the Berserker, but I'm supposed to be dead."

Matt shook his head. "But I'm just postulating and guessing again. He might not be after ascended at all. But like I said, it's what I would do." The idea that this Cannibal did not have any recognizable code of honor or civility didn't seem to truly bother Matt. But considering who he had once been it wasn't hard to think that he had quite a lot of experience with that sort of thing.

[LadyTevar]

After Al....?

"Dad? He'd go after Dad?"

[Dark Silver]

"If," the Don interjected after the young girl spoke up, "He thinks he'd have anything to gain from it."

The Man calling himself the Shadow Don turned on his heel, the fine black leather shoe caught the light as he did so, and he brought his hands before him, clasped together at the waist, the right hand bearing the two illuminated Marks of the Triforce set in the fore, where it could be seen.

"What reason do you think he'd going after Ascended, any of you? The girl he just killed wasn't Ascended, I know her, she was from Hyrule, one of the Immigrants who managed to find themselves a home, here in My city."

The man flashed a slight smile at Jack, the smile becoming a bit more of a smirk towards it's end, "Why don't I put my minions on it? You've always been one to go straight to the point...you've never changed from that lowly Town Guard you played at being. You assume, first, that I even have minions. Next you assume even if I did, that I didn't already try that. Or that I would leave such delicate matters such as this, to a group that would follow me for money and power, with no sense of the danger and necessity, or Honor, that this thing be done properly."

The Don looked for a moment, and walked towards the closest uninhabited chair, right behind Poe's desk. He seemed to smile to himself at a private joke, as he sat in the chair, settling into it as the chair creaked with his weight, and he leaned back, feet propped on the desktop.

"No Decimus....This must be done in the Old Ways. The ones who do this must be willing to work to the ends, of their own free will, must be willing to forge ahead and do what must be done, out of a sense of certainty. The Cannibal was right in one way, in his little monologue. This hasn't had a use for Heroes in quiet a while. They have squandered their power, either trying to lie low, or getting involved in the running of this world. The Brothers, The Master Chief, Link, Kirby, Cloud, Vash all of them has their own things to deal with in their own Kingdoms around. The Crystal City has no heroes of it's own - they are to occupied to pay attention to this place. And if he is going to play the role of the Villain, not even the fine men and robots of the Crystal City Police Department, are going to be able to stop him."

"Heroes, are required. I can't go out and do this thing myself, I'm to busy keeping Old Town in one piece to go and hunt this monster. So I need trustworthy agents who can do it. Even my power, can only do so much."

"Though, I think you should know...the Council, in their...infinite wisdom," the sneer was evident in the Don's voice when he spoke of the Council, if not in his demeanor," has decided they will be making a Show of Force, and holding a press conference later this afternoon. It should be a grand spectacle....I'd defiantly be there to check it out, if I was you lot..."

[LadyTevar]

LizBet watched the ShadowDon carefully as he walked around, listening to what he said. Unfortunately, he was right about the Heroes: they had all left to deal with their own Kingdoms, their own Politics. OldTowne had been left on its own... which was why LizBet had considered it the best place to start her own little adventures and quests.

Suddenly, Lizbet had to wonder how many of those little 'fetch-quests' and run-ins with local gangs had been set up by the ShadowDon, so he could judge her worth.
Her teenaged mind gave her the answer -- probably all of them, if he was looking for heros for OldTowne. After all, she WAS the FirstChylde, first born of the new Ascended. Who better to start out as hero of the downtrodden of OldTowne, once her home? It was such a archetypical storythread, it had to be the answer.

"Though, I think you should know...the Council, in their...infinite wisdom," the sneer was evident in the Don's voice when he spoke of the Council, if not in his demeanor," has decided they will be making a Show of Force, and holding a press conference later this afternoon. It should be a grand spectacle....I'd defiantly be there to check it out, if I was you lot..."

"Which is what the Cannibal wants," Lizbet replied, as this was something Poe and Matt had brought up earlier. "A big fat target where he can stand up and make them look like fools." She looked over to Uncle Jack and Matt, then to Poe and Jeremy. "We were discussing a plan...."

[SirNitram]

"If we know where he is, we should be there. When he shows his face, we can hit hard." A musing for a moment. "I'll be limited if it's crowded, though."

[Charon]

"Plenty to gain. Al's still a hero to the people around here who's sorry ass has gotten stuck in politics for too long. If the Cannibal is looking to-" Matt stopped and looked at Liz suddenly. Almost as though his mind finally realized she was there. "Well, like you said. If." He paused again. "The girl was normal, to show what he does. The imagination is a worse offender than reality. Show what he does to the girl, let us imagine what he'll do to the more famous targets." Matt scratched his head, his mind all jumbled up in thoughts. Too many thoughts.

Matt came to a screeching halt and looked suddenly at the Don when he spoke of Decimus though. It was as though a lightning flash had hit just beside him, leaving all of his hair standing on end. His eyes narrowed on the Don as though he were trying to peer into the man's soul. Then he started dropping names and Matt shook his head. "Master Chief is dead, and Cloud is dead. I killed him myself. Cloud isn't a good name to drop when referring to heroes anyway."

There was a glint of a very old anger that showed in Matt's eye as he looked at the don. Years had muffled it and suffocated it nearly to death. But Matt had never been known to be one that forgot treacheries.

"The Council's doing the only thing they know how to do. Try to show they still have some semblance of control over this city." Matt smiled then, as though considering some deed that was hilarious in his own mind. "It'll be good to be there. Keep things, civil," the smile turned into a mischievous grin. "Be good to see Thog and Leandra again. Right Jack?" Matt glanced back at Jack, but even then he'd kept the Don in the corner of his eye.

[frigidmagi]

"Couldn't hurt. Still you think he's bold enough for full frontal attack? Doesn't seem quite his style..." Jeremy said.

[Charon]

"Hard to say. Don't know anything about him. He doesn't seem the type. But there are other reasons to go to that meeting." Matt's smile hadn't faded away. "The Don is right. Need to show the world that this place has some real heroes still."

[Agent Fisher]

Jack listened to his words, a serious expression set on his face. He bristled at the comment of haven't changing. He thought he had grown alot since those days. "You don't stirke me as the type ot leave something to a group that could turn on you in an instant." He said.


And then he froze. Decimus. Few knew that name, even fewer knew what it represented. He stayed silent, looking too Matt.

"Yeah, good to see those two again. Been awhile since I saw them yesterday." He said.

[LadyTevar]

LizBet's head jerked to Uncle Jack. "You saw them yesterday?!"

It was almost as good as an admission she'd been 'missing' from home for a little longer than that.

[Dark Silver]

Ah, the brashness of youth. Always expect them to bring something to attention.

The Don almost allowed himself a smile, but kept the same look on his face that he had when he first entered. This portion of the game was nearly finished with, the heroes had the needed information, they were deciding on a course to follow...and he had given them impetus for their work. And the Berserker had paid him in kind for use of Jack's former identity...

The pain of hearing the name had been quelled moments after it was said. Old wounds take a long time to heal, even for him.

And a brief glance to Matthew gave him the feeling that the Berserker was well on his way to figuring out who he was. Given enough time, he'd possibly remember....

When they had become distracted by by Lizbeth's outburst, he didn't rise from Poe's deskchair, he didn't disappear in a flash - one moment he was there, and next, he was gone. In his place, sitting on the desk, was a chest, which looked to be made of dark ironwood - a rare wood only found on one planet in the Digi-verse, a planet Matthew and Jack were intimately familiar with - Zion. The chest itself was inlaid with wrought silver and darkened gold depicting scenes of a great battle along it's lid.

Attached to the lid of the Ironwood Chest, was a simple note, done in elegant scripture:

It's dangerous to go alone.
Take this.

[Charon]

Matt glanced over at the chest and frowned deeply. Picking up the chest, Matt slowly lifted the top to peer inside.

[SirNitram]

"Gear? Intel? Or at least a Guardsman's Prayer Book?" Malkamar rumbled, regarding the chest.

Shadowmourne, on the other hard, let out a discordant hiss at the chest, apparently sensing there was a small possibility of a weapon to replace it within. It was angry, and this was alot coming from a battleaxe.

[Dark Silver]

The lid of the black ironwood chest opened soundlessly, not even a creaking of the hinges to denote movement. The wood and metal inlays felt warm against Matthew's hand, and when it opened, the lid fell back as silently as it opened.

Within, there was no warming glow. The interior was lined with purple velvet, cushioned and luxuriant. Resting upon the velvet cushion, sat several items, waiting to be claimed.

The first was a set of blocks, a "?" emblazoned upon each one, bound together for the time being, but it looked easy to break one of the set of nine off.

Next to the boxes, was a bag, simple leather, tied shut with a draw string.

Sitting next to the bag, was a notebook, inside sketches of weapons and locations, careful notes jotted next to each - within the center of the book was a map, hand drawn in intricate detail, marking locations with numbers and symbols. The map was of Old Town, and a large portion of the markings were centered around the Scar.

Two other items lay within the box, one a golden flute like whistle, gleaming slightly in the harsh light of Poe's office, and next to that, a suit of black armor, atop a blacker cloak - a twin, ancient longswords lay across the armor, just below the helm in a "X" pattern. The armor was intricately detailed, kingfisher and rose and symbols of honor were embossed on the breastplate, gauntlets and greives. The Helm looked patterned after a dragon. Though well repaired, the visible marks of a great battle and damage which could have well killed the wearer were still visible - six great slashes of metal slightly newer in coloration from the armor which it made whole.

The items all within the chest looked to be arranged perfectly, though small to be of any true use as they lay within their container, the chest itself was far to small to hold full sized versions....at first glance. Should they be removed, the items would turn to their full size.

[Agent Fisher]

Jack peered into the chest. He hadn't seen one of those since the war. His eyes traced over the powerblocks, the notebook and map. He picked up the notebook and map, looking through it, noting where the locations where marked, frowning a pattern to the sites, the knowledge of it hovering just beyond his grasp.

And then he noticed it for the first time. Zion Armor. High Quality, belonging to a high level player for sure. It had seen som-

"No fucking way." He said. "What is that doing in here?" He asked, reaching down to pick up the helm. "I think he should leave this armor at the door when we go visit Al and Leandra." He said, looking at Matt.

[LadyTevar]

Lizbet leaned over to see the items, noting what they were, although she didn't get a good look at the notebook before Uncle Jack grabbed it. "PowerUps, a travel whistle," she named the items, then looked at the helm Uncle Jack lifted. "Is it... the Berserker Armor?"

[Charon]

Matt looked closer at the armor. It looked familiar but he couldn't quite place it until he got a better look. "No, it's-" He suddenly stopped.

"Son of a bitch. Should've seen it sooner..." He muttered low to himself before shaking his head. "No, it's Zion armor. I think the Shadow Don is trying to show how much he knows about Jack and me." He glanced to the map. "I think we might get more use out of that thing, personally. But all these will be useful."