Captive heart: A Meta Meggy story

Friendly Fire (S2: Ep7)

Tari was surrounded from all sides, trying to find a way to get out but to no avail. Meggy, Masa and Lamar saw it all from afar.

Meggy: Guys, she's surrounded! I don't know we can get her outta here!

Masa: Me and Lamar will cut off re-enforcements, you keep Tari safe and supply cover fire!

Meggy: But-

Masa: We'll handle ourselves, get going!

Nodding, Meggy moved her character across the rooftop as she got to a vantage point. Tari made her first attack, slicing down a swordsman, so she made hers and shot down 2 others. She threw down some lines that took out a bunch, allowing Tari a chance to hide inside the building.

Meggy tried to look through the window, but heard a crack around the back as Tari was launched through a wall.

She was facing down a brute, Spear wielders on either side. In a quick shot, she killed one of them as Meggy pulled the other and swapped places with him as the other guy was crushed by the brute.

Meggy put an arrow through the head of a nearby archer as Tari leapt on top of the brute, ending its life with a stab wound in the head.

Meggy leapt down from the roof as she came face to face with Meggy in virtual form.

Tari: Whew...Thanks Meggy.

She simply clicked a button and gave Meggy a nod. Suddenly, she turned her head.

Following her gaze, She and Tari saw Evelyn glaring down at them before calmly walking away.

Tari: Uh oh...I don't know what she's about to do...but it can't be good.

Meggy's blood ran cold. Had they just been caught?

Tari: I-Ill follow her, You regroup with Lamar and Masa!

Although reluctant, she agreed and ran off. Tari was more capable of fighting in this game, but one hit from Evelyn would give her a game over.

As she was trying to find Masa and Lamar in the game, her comnlink buzzed.

Lamar: Guys, Lucks is looking around like someone spit on his designer shoes. I think he's onto us.

Masa: It's okay, we planned for this. Sophia, Meggy, ready for operation damsel in distress?

Sophia: Yep!

Meggy: Told you I hated that name, but...yeah.

Lucks was about to walk off the stage when Meggy looked from afar, knowing Sophia was trying to call him. Thankfully, he did. Finding a hiding spot in the game, she tuned into the call.

Sophia: This is tech support. Having a bit of a cyber problem?

Lucks: Sophia...are you out of your mind!? I told you what would happen if-

Meggy: Oh, shut up for once Lucks!

The gasp she heard from Lucks over the end was priceless, as was Sophia's laugh.

Lucks: Wh-what is this?

Meggy: Just a call from yet another runner whose left for a better life.

Lucks: Meggy!? What are you doing with those criminals!? After your parents died, TASCORP gave you everything-!

Meggy: Except therapy, friends, love and a family. You seem to be lacking in a few of those! But my life isn't close to being ruined, I'm here to make a deal.

Lucks: Hmmm...very well, name your prize.

Meggy: Give us Tari and her little Game buddy and leave us alone, then we might just leave your company alone.

Lucks: How about a counter proposal? Come back to us, be part of TASCORP again. Give up your friends and I promise they won't be locked up.

Meggy: Wow, you really are crazy, aren't you? I'm not going back Lucks. And you are the one in danger here. Sophia, mind taking over again?

Sophia: Sure Meggy!

Meggy got back to the game, letting Sophia distract Lucks and keep him on stage as she got her character moving and regrouped with Masa and Lucks.

By the time they found Tari, It was clear Evelyn had figured out their plan, the two of them fighting in a spinning bladed dance of death.

Lamar: Masa, Tari's duelling Evelyn! Do we jump in?

Meggy: We can't, Evelyn will slice us to pieces!

Masa: Meggy's right, Tari's doing exactly what she needs to do: Keeping Evelyn busy.

Lamar: Okay, so what are we doing?

Masa: We're dealing with everyone else...

Meggy tilted the camera, spotting a large group of enemies with more on the way. She grinned as her character readied her bow.

Lamar: Alright. I'll go high. Masa, you go low.

Masa: Got it. Meggy-

Meggy: Time to die!!!

With a wild laugh, Meggy throwing down some mines and arrows while cackling.

Lamar: That girl is crazy!

Masa: But it's an improvement from playing with Theo.

Lamar: Meh, touché.

...

With their battle covers blown, the three of them held nothing back as they fought off as many enemies as they could.

Masa took out another 2 enemies as Lamar came in and saved his life by shooting a third. The last one tried to run, but Meggy's sharp shooting took him out.

But suddenly, Tari leapt down nearby.

Tari: GUYS, ABOVE YOU!

Meggy barley turned around in time. Without even having a chance to move, she saw Evelyn about to give her a game over-

(SHING!)

When Masa shoved her out of the way and took her place.

Meggy: Masa!

Tari: Masa!

Evelyn drew her sword from Masa's KO'd body as she turned around to stare down Meggy and Lamar. They readied their bows and shot at her in defence.

Lamar's shot was cut apart, but Meggy's got lucky and hit her in the shoulder. The hit gave just enough time for Tari to use her grapple and pull them up.

Evelyn: You can't protect them forever!

Evelyn ran off into the virtual city, leaving the three alone with Masa's defeated character as Meggy started to panic.

Tari: Masa...

Lamar: Im sorry man...

Meggy: Masa, why!? You didn't have to do that!

Masa: It's okay, consider it a thank you for listening to me back in the low tier.

Meggy gulped nervously, feeling guilty.

Masa: Besides, we're almost at the end. You two just need to watch out for Tari.

Lamar: What are you gonna do?

Masa: Get ready for when this is all over...

Meggy gripped the arm on her chair in fear. Not just for Tari...but for all of them.

How were they gonna get out of this?

To be continued...