Week #:14

Being week 3 of Wyran's Cycle

In which the Past starts catching up...

Scene 1, Week 11:
Lost and Found
NMRC Camp, Search Engine Sea, Sandy Plateau, Lerris' tent; Morning.
<Pidedis> Where in the name of Odin is Lerris? I'm used to him disappearing in the middle of the night, but he's always back by morning. Where could he have gone?
<Joc> Maybe he went beef hunting. You know he likes roast beef.

<Pidedis> There aren't any cows by the sea.

<Joc> Sea cows......

<Dir> Besides, you can find anything on the Net. Especially here.

<Pidedis> Is that why we're here? I wonder what it is that he's looking for........

<Joc> Maybe some mustard.

<Dir and Pidedis> ...... ::anime sweatdrop::
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Search Engine Sea, Windy Valley; Morning.

<KB-794332> You're sure the target is coming?

<Hunter Lerris> Yes. Don't trouble yourself with the details.

<KB-794332> But we've been waiting here for hours.

<Hunter Lerris> Let's go over the plan one more time then. What's the plan.......?

<KB-794332> I thought you said not to sweat the details!

<Hunter Lerris> Those aren't the details. They're the plan.

<KB-794332> Whatever. We wait here (point A on the diagram that you swallowed after insisting I memorize the plan). Target arrives from the East, at an acceleration of 20 m/s, while train B leaves Tokyo at an acceleration of 97 m/s, making one stop of 5 minutes to let passengers in and out at Kyoto. They will never meet, because after target appears, I am to disable the target, not, repeat not, I really mean it KB-794332, you'd better get this right, doing any damage to target. You will then intercept target at point C, terminating mission as soon as target is defeated. Those were your exact words, sir, excepting pronouns.

<Hunter Lerris> Err. Yeah. Exactly. Did I really say that stuff about trains?

<KB-794332> Yes, sir. Every word of it.

<Hunter Lerris> Ah. Carry on.

<KB-794332> ::anime sweatdrop:: Sir, are you sure you've had enough sleep in the last--

<Hunter Lerris> Target sighted! Bearing. That way! ::points east::

<KB-794332> ::anime sweatdrop:: Preparing for battle sir.

<Data Node> Scanning perimeter **Intruder detected** Intruder recognized as.. Hunter Lerris. Beginning assimilation of Internet army Transferring power to Security Node AF-439721

<Hunter Lerris> Initiate Plan.. Er.... What was it called?

<KB-794332> Initiating The Plan.

KB-794332 attacks AF-439721 with Dreamscape!
AF-439721 is asleep!
AF-439721 isn't waking up..

<Hunter Lerris> Strike with thine own hand. ::charges the Data Node with staffblade::

<Data Node> Security Node defeated. Powering up shields.

<Hunter Lerris> ::punches in a shield combination hastily:: Not this time! ::stabs Data Node with staff blade::

<Data Node> .....

<KB-794332> Confirm defeat of target.

<Hunter Lerris> Termination confirmed.

<KB-794332> If I may say so sir, that was very terrifying. How did you know the shield combination? Have you and this Data Node met before?

<Hunter Lerris> You might say that. And I have knowledgeable friends.

<KB-794332> I see. What was the trophy in its cargo bay?

<Hunter Lerris> Doesn't matter. I already have my prize. Take AF-439721 back to camp and get her a meal and a tent.

<KB-794332> Yes sir. Ill meet you back at camp. (muttering) Her?

<Hunter Lerris> ::waits for KB-794332 to leave before turning back to the Data Node:: So.. That's the first, eh? ::pauses:: BURN YOU!!!! ::kicks at the deceased Data Node:: You took it all away from me! I haven't lived; not in the past few years. You took them all, flame you! How could you? And you're the only one. I've feared that you and your kind would come, and take it all again. But its never happened. What makes you so special? Why? WHY? What did I ever do? You virus-ridden, poorly coded scrap of Pascal! If you can hear me, tell your friends I'm coming. You took mine. Now its time to return the favor. Viva la NMRC.
************************************************

Scene 2 Week 9:
Forgotten Music
NMRC Camp, Search Engine Sea , Sandy Plateau , Lerris tent; Morning.

<Pidedis> Lerris! Where have you been? The sun's been up for hours! I've been here since early. Really early. And don't think I don't know about the marshmallows!

<Hunter Lerris> I had work to do. Today's a free day. Let everybody know. I'm going to get some rest now, so make sure the Commons tent has late breakfast for me.

<Pidedis> Free day? Woah. Something big happened, didn't it? Was it another boss? We usually get a day off after a major boss raid.

<Hunter Lerris> I'll tell you later.

<Pidedis> Free day for everybody? Even the kitchen staff?

<Hunter Lerris> Yeah. Have them leave out "make your own breakfast" stuff. Cereal, etc. ::yawns:: Look, I'm pretty tired, so I'll talk to you later. ::crawls into his tent and into bed::

<What Yet May Be> What's Lerris doing going back to bed? Its well into the morning already! I'll fix him. ::rolls up her sleeves::

<Pidedis> Wait! Lerris says it's a free day.

<What Yet May Be> What? Since when?

<Pidedis> 30 seconds ago.

<What Yet May Be> What's the occasion?

<Pidedis> Don't know. Something last night. Looks like he hasn't slept at all.

<What Yet May Be> Curiouser and curiouser....
**************************************************
NMRC Camp, Search Engine Sea, Sandy Plateau, Commons Tent; late Morning.

<Pidedis> So... What have you got?

<Joc> You know, this isn't my idea of a great way to spend a free day.

<Pidedis> Well.. It's not like we can play any pranks on Lerris. He's still asleep.

<Joc> Yeah, but I could be working on my tan. Or sorting my dried frog collection.

<Pidedis> Dried frogs? That's just weird. So... What have you got?

<Joc> Well, I have 3 species of tree frog, several European bullfrogs, 1 toad (got in there by accident), a wood frog, and the pride of my collection is a poison dart frog from the Amazon.

<Pidedis> I meant information. What were you able to find out?

<Joc> Oh. Well.. There's a new Security Node hanging around. Freshly in. Nobody knows where from. Hasn't started talking yet. Scuttlebutt is that beef prices are going down, and that might be the source of our free day. A bunch of Mechs down in left bloc think that the new Security Node is a spy planted by the Data Nodes. Certain circles in Central think that this is the anniversary of the death of one of Lerris old flames, hence the holiday. Berokuko hears that What Yet May Be's been gone for the better part of the morning and thinks she and Lerris might be patching it up. Some Mage in Ops thinks that this is all because of a secret note from What Yet May Be and that she and Lerris are having a torrid relationship. And some Rockman down on the beach thinks the air is getting to Lerris and he's lost his mind.

<Pidedis> Woah. Sounds like you've been busy.

<Joc> Fairly. You owe me for this one.

<Pidedis> Alright, alright. Go play with your dried toads or something.

<Joc> Frogs. You still owe me.

<Pidedis> Whatever. Hey Lerris! Good morning! Sit over here!

<Hunter Lerris> ::walks over, quite disheveled in appearance:: Morning Pidedis. I feel a lot better after catching a few hours. Have I missed much?

<Pidedis> Nah. Shade and a few bosses and Nodes dropped by for a kegger, General PhantomOpera came by with a check for a few years back pay, and Joc became a werewolf. Oh, and What Yet May Be married an Oracle. It's been a slow morning.

<Hunter Lerris> Glad to hear it. Any sign of the new Security Node?

<Pidedis> So it's true?

<Hunter Lerris> ::nods:: Was up late fighting Data Nodes.

<Pidedis> How'd it go?

<Hunter Lerris> One Node, one defeat.

<Pidedis> Anything to add to the trophy tent?

<Hunter Lerris> .. I was a little overzealous. The Node's down on the beach, and I forgot to take the trophy out of the cargo bay. Whoops.

<Pidedis> Wanna go down there and get it?

<Hunter Lerris> Actually, I've got other stuff I need to do. Would you mind getting it or sending somebody else to?

<Pidedis> (with a little disappointment) Sure. I'll go down and get it.

<Hunter Lerris> Thanks a lot.
********************************************************
NMRC Camp, Search Engine Sea, Sandy Plateau; Afternoon.

<KB-794332> Any progress?

<Hunter Lerris> Maybe a little bit, but it's too soon to tell.

<KB-794332> How long before it talks?

<Hunter Lerris> She. It might take a while. She's been a Security Node for quite some time.

<KB-794332> So was I, but I didn't take this long.

<Hunter Lerris> Trust me. It's been a long time.

<KB-794332> I see. Permission to be dismissed?

<Hunter Lerris> This is informal. You don't need permission. ::sighs at the look on KB-794332's face:: Dismissed.

KB-794332 leaves.

<Hunter Lerris> ::turns to AF-439721:: That was KB-794332. He was the one who helped me save you, remember? You wouldn't know him. In fact, you won't know anyone around here.

<AF-439721> Where's Pietr?

<Hunter Lerris> Welcome back, Wyran. I haven't found Pietr yet. He got converted, like everyone else. Does KB-794332 remind you of Pietr?

<AF-439721> Not at all. How long?

<Hunter Lerris> Years. Let me count. ::counts on his fingers:: 5 years.

<AF-439721> How did you find me?

<Hunter Lerris> I listened to the whispers of What Yet May Be.

<AF-439721> What? You've lost me there.

<Hunter Lerris> My Champion. My new one, at least. ::shrugs:: She talks in her sleep. Mildly prophetic.

<AF-439721> What Yet May Be?

<Hunter Lerris> ::nods:: That's not her real name. She is What Yet May Be as you are What May Have Been. What Once Was. Many things have changed.

<AF-439721> Really?

<Hunter Lerris> Indeed. Shade's still around, no worries about that. The worlds a much larger place now. Can you see all that browser traffic?

<AF-439721> There is quite a bit of it.

<Hunter Lerris> It's a slow day out there.

<AF-439721> That much has changed?

<Hunter Lerris> Yes. I run an article now. It's called Netmonster Lottery. Never thought of me as the responsible type, eh?

<AF-439721> Never in a million years.

<Hunter Lerris> Many things have changed.

<Wyran> Lerris?

<Hunter Lerris> Yes?

<Wyran> Have we?
*********************************************


Element: Thunder
Combo: Mage-Ghost-Bird
Level: 32

<Hunter Lerris> I guess it's comforting that some things don't change. See you all next week.
*********************************************

Can Wyran be turned back from a Security Node?
What effect will Wyran's return have on Pidedis and What Yet May Be?
Is there room in Lerris heart?
Does Lerris have a heart?
What has befallen the other marshmallows?
The answer to these exciting and intriguing questions next edition of NML !!!