<<Gun Gale Online>>

Chapter 1 part 1

Author's Note:

Sorry for the slow build up. I will try hard to type a longer one next time.

             I stared dubiously at the girl. Is she Rosette’s new companion?! Then where did Andrew go? The dumpster? My eyebrows puckered as I exhaled heavily. “Who is she? Your new partner? Then where is Andrew?” I interrogated.

            “No, no, no!” Rosette waved her hands wildly. “My companion is the same Andrew. But he is YOUR partner!” she pushed the girl towards where I was sitting. Wait, she’s a boy?!

            “This person is a boy?!” I hissed in surprise. No way! But it is impossible to have an avatar of the opposite gender! Unless… a thought suddenly hit me. “Model M9180…?” I whispered under my breath, still in deep thought.

            “Y-yeah…” the person replied sheepishly in a rather husky voice, adding to the evidence that he is a guy although a girl can sound like that as well.

            “Nah! Who cares about gender!” Rosette hopped in between us, shattering the awkward atmosphere. “He is a sniper and you’re close-combat!” she exclaimed. “Bam! A perfect team!” she slammed on the counter to create a deafening sound effect and spilling her beer in the process.

            She has become more hyped for some apparent reason… I ogled at her actions with big eyes.

            “Come on! Create a request!” she pulled my right hand up and tried to make me call my menu, which did not work. “Eh?!”

            “Another player cannot make one open the menu. Security reasons,” I explained monotonously.

            “Oh…” she nodded her head in understanding.

            The door of the pub was the opened again. Hm… not quite of ‘opened’… it is more like bashed open.

            “Mob four has infiltrated the village!” A scrawny man yelled desperately. “At the west gate!”

            “What?!” the three of us said simultaneously.

            “How about those five that went to clear the mob?” I called as I leapt off my seat.

            “Missing!” Came the reply.

            “Crap…” the boy beside me muttered, cold sweat gathered at his brow.

            “Come on! Lets go!” Rosette sprinted out of the door with her right hand on the AR-15 on her back. Nodding in agreement, the boy followed quickly. I frowned at those two reckless friends of mine before shaking my head and running after them.

            The entire village was in chaos. NPCs, lower level players and friendly monsters were tearing away from the enemy – the knights. Those cruel metal beings slashed their way through with their gleaming metal swords, which are now stained with blood. Urgh… I tiptoed in an attempt to get a clear view of the situation. But, in vain. People barged past me, knocking me from side to side.

            “Excuse me! Sorry! Let me pass!” I feebly struggled against the tide.

            At that moment, a bloodcurdling scream rang in my ears. Who? That was the first question that entered my mind. My gaze then fell upon a young boy on the ground at the mouth of an alley getting trampled on. I clenched my teeth in frustration as I tried to make my way to the poor girl. Fortunately, a king hearted man stopped to push the boy into the alley, out from under the people’s feet.

            “Hayate! Here!” Someone called me. I caught sight of a pink haired girl at a small alley entrance waving frantically at me. It was Rosette. My legs propelled me forward towards her.

            “What?!” I panted. “What… what is the state?” Another scream rose above the hysteria.

            “Bad! I lose sight of Haruka and Andrew!” she cried. “Haruka was severely injured when I last saw him!” Who is Haruka? The girlish boy maybe?

            “And where did you last see him?!” I shouted, trying to get my message across but the screams kept drowning my voice.

            “At the front lines, I think!”

            “But he is a sniper! How can he be at the front lines!?” I hissed in anxiety. “Stay here!” I gestured to her and sped off as the crowd thinned. It did not take me long to reach the front lines. However, it seems that I have reached a second to late.

            Another player was cut down in front of me. Crimson pearls dotted the surroundings. The metal under the coat of red gleamed evilly, as though mocking my loss. The victim’s eyes were wide with shock and his mouth was open in a silent scream. I was late. Time achingly resumed and the crimson drops splattered on my face. No. Life is precious. My right hand reached for my sword and my left for my Five-seveN. That bastard’s going to pay. 

Author's Note:

Yes, yes, I know the 'special' avatar model number is not M9180 and it is M9000, but I had to tweak GGO's game play a little to match my story line. Constructive comments are welcome and flames will be used to light my cousin's birthday cake.