Cyber Wars: Chapter 5, "Are we there yet?"
 

OOC: Last one was getting quite full, so I thought I would open up another thread, and of course, thanks to Wolf, I now have many more surprises in store for you guys. [/evil (but still Sally-like) laugh]



Monk covered his ears as he heard a very loud ringing in his ears. "Oh my dear God! What just happened!" Me fell to the ground and roll around a bit, the ringing still going on in his ears.

Myth winced for a moment but then comtinued his posture, "Ah... I see they are getting desprite. Interesting..." He grinned, "And I see they are almost there... I'm surprised they made it this far. Too bad it will be for not."

"Getting desprite? What?"

"That ringing? That was a sonic granade, used to make soldiers deaf and dumb for a moment, however we have been trained to fight even with out senses."

"We?" Monk asked, finally gaining strength to pick his head up.

"Yes... You... me... and..."



The soldiers shook off the blast, and continued to charge foward. They went more cautiously now. Charging in and started to fire, both on the Wraith and Wolf, but for some reason left Jade alone. It was as if they didn't even see her. Monk was standing at the end of the hallway, next to a door on the left, "Jade! Forget them! Come in here!!" He opened it, walked in, but left the door open so the Jade could easily walk in.



OOC: (Writer's Commentary) These are super trained soldiers. I don't know how that kind of granade works, but I wanted to add a little flavor to this, already flavorful, gumbo. (Can't ya tell it's dinner time?)

After: Suck! I just realized that we skipped an entire chapter, in case no one has noticed before this post. I got confused... but what else is new, huh? Ignore the "6" and just pretend there is a "5".

Please?

Jade cautiously walked in, her rifle still raised and at the ready. "Ok Monk, what's up? I want to go home don't you? Don't you want to get away from here? So let's just finish the mission and get out of this nightmare ok?" Jade held her hand out to Monk, hoping that he was sane enough not to break it off.

The door shut off Jade from the outside world and left her alone with Monk in the room. "You're right... I do want this mission over with." He took a few steps towards her, the hair falling in his face, covering more of it. However, a grin could be found forming, "You have fallen into my trap..."




Monk opened his eyes wide, then looked at Myth with scorn. "Leave her alone! This is between me and you!"

"You got boring. All you do is prey on your knees and try to keep things intact for your friends, so now... I'm giving you a choice."

"A choice?"

Myth sighed, "Must you repeat everything I say? Yes, a choice! In fact... let's get Jade into this conversation." He closed his eyes then opened them after a second, "There... now she can hear everything we say, and if she chooses, she can contirbute."

Monk took a second to let this soak in, "Go on..."

"I am now preoccupied, this is your chance to strike me down, therefore, taking away all your problems, but you can't do that, you'll kill all your friends... You get up and attack me, your mind will shatter like cold glass. However... you do nothing, I just might kill Jade. You couldn't let that happen... could you?"

Monk forced himself to stand, "How dare you..."

"I have done nothing... yet. It is up to you. The mission and all your friends, or the girl. It's in your hands now..." Myth shrugged.

What? This is unfair! How dare he make me choose between the two. I care for them both! I can't choose... "Ahh!" He grabbed his head as he fell to his knees again, the building shaking violently. "What... do I do?"



Monk reached up in the air as a pistol materialized, then fell into his hand. In the blink of the eye, he shot the gun from Jade's hands and leveled it to her head. "You're move... Monk..." He looked Jade directly in the eyes, "Any suggestions?"

The color drained from Jade's face. She felt so stupid for falling into Myth's trap, but whatelse could she do? She needed to save Monk. "Monk, you remember when I said that I wouldn't leave anyone behind? I still stick to my word. Shoot me, and save yourself and the others. I'll let you know right now that dying wasn't exactly on my list of things to do today, but I know that the greater good must be saved. So, do what you have to do so you can finally be at peace." Jade let her arms fall to her sides and stood there waiting for Monk.

OOC: Total corniness, but someone's gotta say it.

Monk shook at what she just said. Be at peace? How can I ever be at peace knowing that I shot you... and I did nothing about it. I couldn't live with myself! The entire building started to shake softly, I couldn't do it... I know I couldn't... it would weigh on me too much...

"Bull shit!" Myth shouted at him. "Seeing all your friends die would pain you more than anything!"

The building started to shake a little harder, "Of course... I know..."

"Then admit it!"

"Admit... what?"

"You know damn well... what. Fine... I'll speed up the process..."



Monk lowered the gun to Jade's knees and took one of them out, completely cutting off any use of it.



Monk shot his head up and screamed at the site. "You bastard!" He lunged himself at Myth and rolled a bit on the ground with him, the building now finding its foundation, but the lights went from white to red. A deep red. "You leave her out of this!! She has nothing to do with this! They shouldn't even be here...!"

"Be here? It was there choice!" Myth shouted, pushing Monk off of him, "If anything, you were the one who didn't want to come, remember?" Monk had no answer. "That's right... not only can you not defeat me with fists, the battle with words will also be mine!"

Monk clenched his fist, "Who said I would lost in a fight!?" He tossed a right hook at Myth, which he was able to dodge, very easily.

"Fool... I know what you are going to do. I live in your mind. You have no chance against me!"

Monk considered this then fell to his knees again panting, "I... I lose?"

"Just like all the other times... Failure..."

Nothing happened. Everything was quiet, for Monk had nothing to say, nothing to do, but finally admit defeat. "I admit it... I lose..." He looked up at Myth again, "But only this battle! My friends will win this war!" He raised himself one more time and threw a barrage of fists at him, none of them hitting. I know I will lose, but I have to concintrate... If I distract him enough, while keeping my mind focused... it will cost me deerly, but at least my friends will be able to get their job done.

Oh Jade... forgive me... "I'm... I'm not going to be able to go home. Jade, get the info you need, and get out of here... I'm trying my best, but I don't know how long I really have. Please... just go!"



The Monk in front of Jade dissappeared as his gun dropped to the floor, the door unlocking itself.

"Go Jade..."

Wolf looked around at an empty room. Well...shit...and where did Jade go?

Wolf went back into the hallway, and a bullet tore through his left shoulder as the revived super soldiers started firing.

Wolf shouted in pain as he ducked back into the room, bullets nearly tearing the door off its hinges All right...kid gloves are off. Wolf pulled out his PDAP with his good arm, and called in 4 .45 clips of cookie cutter rounds, as well as AP rounds for his uzi. he loaded up the guns, and dove out into the hallway. The explosive cookie cutter rounds blew through the super soldiers as if they were made of cardboard. Their armor is rendered useless by the AP rounds.

Wolf also saw Wraith stabbing his way through the soldiers, but Wolf is sure this is a fight they cannot win. The soldiers just keep coming.

Suddenly, a door opened to Wolf's left. He dove in through the door as bullets perforate the place he just stood.

He looked around the room. There is an empty gun on the floor, and a small trail of blood leading from the floor to Jade's leg. Jade manages to push the door shut as bullets ricochet off it.

"What the hell happened?" Wolf asked.

Jade told him.

"So...he just wants us to leave? We can't just do that...can we? I mean...we have to help him...somehow. If we could just find Myth and stop him..."

Oh, who are you kidding? Wolf thought You couldn't stop Myth if you tried. He'd break you neck 5 times before you hit the ground. Still, there's always a chance...

"Maybe I can reach him by radio." Wolf said to Jade.

Wolf grabbed his PDAP again, keyed his radio freq to Monk...and hoped he recieved it.

"Monk...listen up and listen good. We're still inside the building. I know what you told Jade, but we can't allow that. You have to somehow get us to you. Maybe we can do something to get you out alive."

Or die trying.

Monk landed on the ground with a thud, blood flowing out of his mouth. After recieving the message from Wolf, he shouted into it, "I am! I told her, as I'm going to tell you, get the heck out of here! Either find the room and get the info, or just leave all together! I don't care... Please!"

"No... I'll help them out..." Myth smiled, and closed his eyes.



"Shit!" One of the soldiers, "Retreat! Get out of here!" At the command, the troops all left and returned to doors on either side of the hallway. A click could be heard at the very end of the hallway, to the last door on the right.

Myth came through the loud speaker, "There... you want it, you got it. I promise you, no tricks. It's all in there. I also hope you enjoy the show I have prepared for you. I didn't get the chance to make some popcorn for you all, but please... enjoy the show anyway. It won't be long."

"Inside you will find a table, and several file cabinets along the wall. There you will find all the information you want on Monk, or Fake here, as you want. They are in order of age, the oldest being first. Also, you will find a large window, where you will see something interesting. Let's just say, what you will see, Monk will never see. However, Monk will be right in front of you."

Wolf's radio went dead. He turned to Jade

"Well, although I hate to admit it, he is beyond our help. I say we get what we came for, and hope he can defeat Myth."

Wolf extends his right arm to Jade. "Come on, I'll help you get to the brainwaves."

"Yea... guess we should go and get them." Jade accepted Wolf's hand on stood up, pain jolting through her leg. She smiled weakly, "you know that's the second time he shot me, I ought to start charging him for target practice." Slowly they made their way into the room, and Jade tried not to think abut leaving Monk behind.

Wolf dragged Jade into the room Myth had unlocked. "Okay, you download the data...I'm going to go investigate this window." Wolf said to her as he set her down in front of Monk's files.

Wolf walked over to the window and looked down. What he saw was basically Monk's "Fear Room". Monk was lying on the floor, bleeding, with Myth towering over him.

Wraith enters after them and puts his weapons away, then leans heavily against a wall and takes a few long breaths, favoring a few cuts and bruises. He then looks over at Jade and thinks for a moment, then pushes himself off and walks over to her. "Want me to help you with anything?"

OOC: [Deep breath]

Myth looked up at the window and eyed Wolf looking down. His voice was heard, but his lips did not move. "Ah... I see you made it? Like the view? Now... sit back, relax... and enjoy the show."

Myth looked down at Monk, but this time his lips were moving. "Now... as you are well aware, we are in the room of fears. I have you shown you two gret fears in your life, have I not?"

"Two?" Monk struggled up to his feet.

"Yes... two. One, is standing right in front of you." He spread his arms out to prove his point. "But I don't know why. I mean, what have I done? Urged you into killing a few people?"

"You made me try to kill my friends!"

Myth shrugged, "Minor note. It's not all that important." He let his arms sink to his sides again. "The second, is standing all around you. All the people you have killed over the years."

"I didn't kill them! You did!!"

"You don't follow well, do you? I have no body. I have no say in what you do. It is all up to you."

"No! You took me over, you took control of my body functions! I had no say at all!"

Myth shrugged, "All right... so I had a little say. But... then why were you able to fight me off ealier?" Monk gritted his teeth. "That's right... you tried."

"I try all the time! I was lucky to beat you those other times!"

"Right... I guess that's true..." Myth said, with obvious sarcasm.

"What is that supposed to mean!?"

"I mean... you wanted to kill."

"What?"

"You wanted to kill those people. Admit it."

"Never! I never want to take another life! It is wrong!"

A gunshot was heard as a man screamed and hit the floor behind Monk. "That was your first. I remember it clearly. In fact... if I remember correctly, it was your Master from back in the monestary."

"LIER!" Monk pointed his finger at Myth, "Take that back!"

"What? The death of him, there isn't much I can do. It's not like I can recreate the dead."

Monk dropped his head and balled his hands. "Take... This is all a fake! It's not real!" Another shot was heard as another body fell to the ground. Then another. Then another three. Then the shots seem to come like an automatic, bodies hitting the floor rapidly. "No..." Monk picked his head up and spun around slowly, watching as the bodies his the floor, blood either coming out of their chest or head because of the shot. As the bodies landed on the floor, the pool of blood flowed its way to Monk. It surrounded him until soon, he was standing on a little island of floor, the bodies still hitting the floor. "No! I didn't do this!!" Monk shouted out through tears. "I didn't!" He dropped to his knees, his hands falling into the pool. After a moment, he relaxed back and watched the blood as it dripped down on his wrists and onto the ground. He looked under him and saw that the pool had reached him, his knees were now submerged in the red liquid.

"Please... make it stop!" He shook his hands free of the blood as best he could, but it just stayed there. There wasn't anything he could do. The blood looked like it was about to fly off, but it just retreated back to his hands. "No... Off! It wasn't me! I didn't do it! Get it off! I do not have any blood on my hands!!" He shivered as he let his hands go and dropped them into the pool with a splash. "No... I didn't..."

"Stop with the... I didn't crap!" Myth houted over him. "It was you! The blood that covers your hands now is ust a small portion! If we were to simulate a comparison, this entire room would be brimming with blood! There would be more blood here than in any of the oceans! Stop with the lies, Monk!"

"No... I'm not lying! I've never have taken a life. I've never!" The blood made its way up to his hips. "I've never killed anyone!" It raised up to the center of his chest. "Not me!" His head was nearly in it. "No! NOO!!" He cried out, the blood finally getting around his head.

That's when a hand came through, and grabbed Monk by the neck. With ease, Myth lifted him out of the pool, now completly gone. It was just him, Myth, and the white walls and floor. "Relax... you're right. It's only an illusion." He tossed Monk aside and continued to stare foward. "See, you're fine!" He took a deep breath, and then showed a smile. "Actually... I think its time we see... you true fears."

Monk slowly arched his hed at Myth, "My... true fears?"

"Yes... You think Me and the bodies were the worst? Hell no. Not even close. Not... even..." as he walked away and disappeared from sight.

"Myth! Myth! Come back here!" Monk stood up and look frantically around, "Where are you!? Come back you coward!" As he turned completly around, he saw two people standing there. He stood up and rushed over to them. One was Male, the other, Female, he could tell by the hair. "Hello?" As he got closer, the figures took shape. He saw the backs of two people. He knew them almost instantly. "Wolf? Jade!?"



To the patrons watching, all they saw was Monk running in place, making no distance what so ever, until the two figures mentioned came into view, and Monk made his way to them. Before that though, they saw everything.

OCC: [/Deep breath] And to think, this is only half. No one take control of these characters. React, but let me borrow them for a sec. Actually, Me and Wolf already did out part, and Jade has a small, but very important part in the next scene. Ok... I have to eat now. Hopefully I'll be able to finish this tonight. Until then all!

OOC: Sorry for the double, but it had to be done, I had a limit. Stupid limit. Anyway... here is the end of the scene. [deep breath]

"I thought I told you two to leave!" Upon seeing them, Monk completely forgot that he was in his room of fears, and instantly felt calm upon seeing his two friends, but something was strange. They didn't move, or react, or anything. They just... stood there. Monk grabbed Wolf's shoulder, "Wolf? You okay?"

Wolf shrugged his friend off. "Leave me alone..."

"Huh? What's wrong?"

Wolf turned around, glaring at Monk. "What's wrong? You shot Jade...AGAIN, I've been repeatedly shot and shot at, you've twice jeopardized the lives of your fellow teammates, and since I'm not sure who you really are anymore, I'm not sure I can trust you!"

"Wolf... I've always been Monk. What's there to trust? I am me! You are you! What's gotten into you!?"

"Besides yet another bullet...I'm not sure. All I can tell you right now is that this alter-ego of yours has made some stirring accusations...and maybe I'm starting to wonder if some of them are true."

Monk just stared at Wolf, dumbfounded, "What? You... You believe him! I've been you're friend for God knows how long, and now you take the word of a liar? How... Why?"

"...because when you keep getting led into traps it's hard to trust the one responsible. I'm finding it hard to belive that a supposed master of Zen would be unable to prevent an evil entity from controlling his mind unwillingly."

Monk didn't know what to say. He just continued to look at Wolf, tears started to form in his eyes, "I don't get it..."

"Neither do I...and that's what's making this difficult."

Monk put a hand on Wolf's shoulder, "Please... you have to believe me! I don't know what's going on! Help me!"

Wolf brought his .45 up to Monk's head. "You want help? Here it is, a one-way ticket cure for insanity!"

Monk looked down the barrel of the gun. He also took a step back, "You... you wouldn't... would you? Please... What happened to you?"

Wolf's gun hand wavered slightly, "The truth hit me...that's what happened!"

"The truth!? What truth!? That I'm a fake? That's a lie! I am Monk! Why do you question me?"

"Because you question yourself! How can I trust someone who can't explain his own existence?!"

"I... I don't know... I can't answer that. But you have to believe me... I can't help it! He takes control!" Monk lowered his face in front of Wolf's to try and dig his point in deeper.

"And yet you can't stop him? Hard to believe."

"It's true! You saw what they did to me!" The tears came more steady now, "You... you saw the pain... and tourture they put me through! And for what? So that I would lose my friends in the long run?"

"Maybe, maybe not. Or maybe they just wanted a sleeper agent that would know damn well what he was doing."

"Sleeper agent!? The torture I went through was for them? How dare you! HOW DARE YOU!"

"How dare I indeed. This has gone on long enough. I want you to get the hell away from us. Far away...and don't plan on me asking for you to return." and with that, Wolf spun around and walked away.

"Wolf! Wait! Don't go! Don't leave me!!" Monk went to follow him.

He stopped as Wolf looked over his shoulder and flipped him off, without wavering on his steps, "Stay the hell away from us!" and he walked into nothingness.

Monk fought back the tears, then shifted his eyes toward Jade's back. "Jade? You have to believe me... I... don't know... Please... show compassion." She didn't move, or speak, or anything. "Please! Say something! Anything!! I beg you!" Still no response. "Jade!" He reached out and grabbed her shoulder, forcing her to turn to look at him. He didn't know it, and didn't mean to, but he was screaming at her, "Damn it Jade, speak to me! Why will you not say anything! Where is all the words you always use to repremand me? Where is the vote of confidence? Where is it! WHERE!?"

Jade just looked deep into his eyes at first with a look of shame, then one of anger. She brought her hand up, and slapped Monk right across the face, dropping him to his knees. His eyes, wide open, he rubbed the spot with his hand. He looked up at Jade with the tears now running down his face. Without saying a word, she too turned around and followed Wolf into nothingness. Monk sat there for several minutes, then dropped his hands to the ground looking to the floor, watching the tears hit the floor with a splash. No... they...

"They what? This place is a lie? You heard it right from the horse's mouth. They came back to help you, finally realized who you were, and decidedto just tell you their true feelings. Face it Monk... you're alone."

Monk didn't know what to say. He couldn't think of anything to say. The truth was right there in front of him. He could feel his heart slow, black started to surround him. His arms grew weak until they finally gave way and he landed on the ground. It's not true... I... am... Monk...

"No... I'm... not... I'm... ... a... ... ... failure..." He closed his eyes, and let strain finally get the best of him. To everyone though, it looked like he had finally passed to the other side. Even he thought that he was done.

Myth looked up into the room that the trio was in, "There... I have just gotten rid of one problem." The lights feel silent in the room, leaving them in total darkness, save the light from the room Myth was in. "And it will be too dark to make your way back. Face it. You have lost. All of you!" Myth at first smiled, then shuddered slightly, then let out with an outburst of laughter.

OCC: [/Deep breath]

Wolf stared aghast at the fake vision he had just seen. That is not me...Monk has to realize that....

He watched as everything went dark. "Well...shit" he muttered to nobody in particular.

"...you've lost! All of you!"

"Bullshit!" Wolf yelled at Myth. He drew his Uzi, aimed it at the window, and fired. The bullets bounced off. He expended the entire clip without making a dent.

Myth laughed "Waste of metal, Wolf, your luck's run out."

Wolf gave Myth the finger "Don't count me out yet, asshole!"

Wolf discarded the empty gun as he turned from the window. "Jade, what's the status on the brainwave download, and can you upload any Night Vision goggles into here?"

OOC: Aw man I had such a cool idea for the Fear Room! Can I still use it?

BIC: Jade was leaning on Wraith and looked up at Wolf. "Almost done, and here are the goggles." She limped over to the window. "Shit, this was my good leg, oh...my...god." Jade had been inspecting her wound, but had just gotten a glimpse of the window. Seeing herself slap Monk made her cringe. Tears started to uncontrollably stream down her face. "We have to help him, he needs to know that it wasn't us. Wolf we need to get there. I don't care about me, he needs us." Jade wanted to pound on the glass, to try and get through to Monk. But all she could do was stare and let her tears soak her tank top.

ooc: am I still a threat?

OOC: Well...JADGuy...the thing is we are trapped by a malevolent alter-ego who wants to imprison us inside Monk's mind for all eternity. Coyote, on the other hand, has a bomb that isn't due to go off for another 60-70 hours. So right now...he's a secondary threat. So to keep youself amused, I'd suggest keeping us up to date on the Agent's attempts to navigate the labrynth you mentioned earlier. Don't worry, we'll be coming soon (I think...). Anyways...I believe Andy is supposed to be looking for clues...but he hasn't posted in a while.

OOC: Yea I havent been able to speak with Andy for a while. I'm sorry about the lack of attention JAD, if you want I can take control of Andy's guys for a bit.

OOC: Time to think, and the "Brillant" plan! (Wolf will get it)

Myth looked up and just laughed at the feeble attemps of Wolf, "Yes... let your anger out on the window. It was definatily it's fault that your friend here was too weak for his own truth. No wonder he lived such a lie. It was easier for him to live. Pathetic." He looked at Monk's limp body, "Hell... he didn't even know his own damn name." He shook his head, "A pity. I guess that means we'll never know for sure." He looked back up, "However... you are all still alive, so I need to change that." He turned and started for a wall, but paused. "Oh yeah, about those night vision goggles you wanted, don't bother. This is any old normal darkness. No... This is the darkness of death. No light will be able to get though, you will not see a thing. However, I will. Not only do I know this place by heart, I can light the rooms as I please, also being a resident of this brain. So do me the favor of staying there and making my job of killing you all easier." And he got to the wall, reached out for a doorknob, pulled it open, then closed it behind him. Monk was now... alone.

While it seemed he was dead, he was clinging on to memories. He refused to give up the fight. He lived out any of the memories he could recall. Childhood, battles, lectures, anything that came to mind. But soon, one memory stood out. Possible the worst memeory that he had in his mind. In the room, a TV appeared on the table, turned itself on, and showed the following images:



Monk could remember it like it was yesterday. The gun in his hand, the feeling of triumph, of victory. He looked on as Jade had her hands up, a nervous yet brave look on her face.

He never felt so alive.

He never felt so powerless before in his life.

The feeling of killing her was causing his heart to dance in its cage.

The feeling of killer her sank his heart so low, he could not feel it beat anymore.

He sweat with the sweat of an eager child.

He sweat with the sweat of a failing patient.

The world was in his hands.

The world was soon out of his control.

He knew there wasn't anything he could do, and yet, he was making the choice of shooting her. He was in a paradox of emotions. Joy, pleasure, fear, sorrow, anger, remorse. He felt it all in the moment. Until he could feel his finger recieve it's command. "Fire."

Something happened, and he could feel the trigger being pushed down. He tried his best to fight it, but it was too late. He couldn't do anything. He lifted his battle to the arm, and caused it to move, ever so slightly to the side, but just enough to miss Jade's heart. Enough... to save her.



The TV went dead, just as Jade fell to the ground, blood falling from her body. After a minute of snow, the TV vanished from sight.

Monk's eyes shot open. He had done it. He had once fought Myth, and won. He started to shake, as the lights started to dim back up to life. Monk forced his weak body to comply with his orders. He forced his hands to place themselves on the ground. He then command to have his arms lift him off the ground. He then had his legs cut under him and place them flat on the ground. He stood upright and looked around. It was dark, not because the light ws dim, but because his body was weak, it was already giving way under his weight.

He never felt weak in his life.

He felt like he was the strongest man in the universe.

Jade shuddered at the images of her getting shot replayed on the screen. All this time, she was thinking about how to help Monk wake up from his depression. Suddenly her eyes widnened, "I've got it!" She tapped her PDA and downloaded a pad and a pen. She began scribbling on it while Wolf looked on puzzled. "These are his memories right? Well we have to remind him of the good ones too. I'd download this usually, but I don't want Myth screwing with it. Ok, done." Jade brought the pad to one of the cabinets labeled "Monk's Memories" and placed it in there. "Please, let this work. I'm at a loss if it doesn't."

Wraith scratches his head and looks around in a confounded manner with one hand on his hip. "I think I forgot at what point this went from odd to wierd..."

"So how are our friends reacting to our musical selection."

"Well They're running out of bullets from trying to shoot the speakers."

"Brittany Spears will do that. Did you know she caused World War III single handedly?"

"Interesting. I guess that's why you had the labyrinth sound proofed."

"Damn straight."

Monk looked around frantically. He had just found some new found energy, but it wasn't helping him very much. He still felt weak from the strain, his brain splitting at the seams. He had one good memory, but that was it. Everything else... was a lie. He had done one good thing in his life, and that was it.

But something struck him. It felt like his mind had been ripped open, then forced shut in an instant. Then things just started to.. appear. Memories.

The one time where everyone was in the training hall, and Monk had said something stupid. It made everyone laugh, but it just bonded everyone together. He couldn't remember what he said, but it wasn't important, they knew he was human.

Or for the first meeting. It was obvious that he would be one of the last there, him and his forgetful memory. He could see the glances from the group as he stumbled into the room. He put on that silly grin that he always put on when that happened.

Or the time he impressed everyone with his martial arts. He offered to train them, but they all refused. They all trusted their firearms to their fists.

Or the time this... or the time that... Or anytime! He was filled with so many memories that he had placed on the back burner. It was Myth who brought up everything that was bad, and now it was his friends that were bringing him back.

Jade... Was the only thing he was thinking of. He knew she was still locked in his mind, and that Myth was out to get her, and the rest of the team. He knew that Myth would do anything to kill them, even if it meant to destroy Monk's mind. He wouldn't allow it, but still, the strain. The people that he had killed, the images of his friends walking away from him, they were starting to reappear. He grabbed his head, and wanted to scream. Falling to his knees, he opened his mouth, but no noise came out.



Jade looked down as he fell and scribbled something else on the pad, and quickly threw it in the cabinent.



This time Monk did let out his scream. His mind was ripped open again, then closed. That pain was more unbarable then the strain. He wished they would stop doing that. His hands were down on the ground as he tried to inhale as much air as he could. He wanted it to end...

"I want out."

"I'm sorry Monk, but I can't let you go just yet." Jade had said to him, softly. No matter how Monk felt, she was always behind him. "By the way, don't worry about the bunker. I know that it wasn't you back there, and it's not the first time I've been shot."

Monk smiled for the first time for a long time after that. It was her cool head that made Monk so comfortable. He finally felt at ease, since even he did not know when. He relaxed in his spot, and his body shifted to the back of his legs. He was now kneeling upright. Jade? Why do you want to help me so?

"I can now... ask her." He stood up and looked around for an exit. His body felt alive, he felt like he could take on the entire world. Using his keen eyesight, he spotted a faint distorsion on the wall. Running towards it, he reached it, grabbed it, twisted it, and found that when he pushed on it, it was a door! He founf his way out! He had made it through the room of fears, and finally made his way to the outside. He now knew what he had to do.

"Myth!? Where are you!? I am no longer afraid of you! Show yourself so that we may finish this!"

A slow, taunting clap could be heard from the room ahead of him. "You did it. I can't believe it. You actually did it. You were able to put your lies aside, and find the truth." Myth showed himself at the end of the hallway, in the monestary. "However... you're truth, may vanish." He held up a single folder. Opening it, he read for a moment, "I can see why..."

"Why? Why what?" Monk glared at Myth.

Myth reached into the folder and pulled out a picture of Jade, "Her... I can see why."

Monk opened his eyes wide. "No! What do you intend to do with that?"



The laybrinth that was Monk's mind had vanished, and the door leading out for the trio would bring them to the room that Monk and Myth now stood. The lights had come back to full strength.

Wraith was the first out the door when he heard the lock click, throwing it open and storming out to meet with Monk when he left the room of fears. However, instead of finding himself in the hallway, where he'd expected to be, he sees Monk and Myth staring each other down in some monastery-type setting. He glances over the walls and decor before bringing his eyes back down to the two of them. He notices something in Myth's hands...a large picture. He squints and focuses, then sees that it's a picture of Jade.

He stands straight and says, "Ohhh...that can't be good..."

Then something occurs to him and he looks at Jade, then chuckles with a smirk on his face.

(( I'm actually thinking of a scene from DS9's "Trials and Tribble-ations"...

Bashir: "I'd love to get back to the station and see your face when you find out that I never existed!"
O'Brien: *pauses for a moment, then chuckles and looks at Julian* ))

Wolf looked back through the window.

"I'll be damned. It worked, Jade. He's not at full strength, but he's starting to believe again." Wolf said grinning.

Then Myth returned, this time brandishing Jade's photo.

What the hell does he want with...oh no.

"Jade, we have to get down there, now!" Wolf shouted, even though Jade was standing next to him. "I think Myth's going to try and remove Monk's memory of you...which would kill you since you're still in his mind."

A door leading to where Monk and Myth stared each other down suddenly appeared, and the lights went up full blast. Looks like Monk's back in action

"Okay...here's the plan. Wraith, you grab the folder and that photo. Do your ghost thing if you have to. Under no circumstances must Myth shred those documents. I'll hang back here with Jade...she isn't going to be able to walk with the state her knee is in, and Myth might go after her if he can't destroy that folder."

Wolf retrieved his Uzi, loaded it, and then loaded his .45s. "I think Monk can handle his own alter-ego this time...but a little help never hurt anyone. Let's give whatever support we can to him."

He held out his right hand to Jade "Come on, let's make sure he remembers Myth hasn't killed you yet."

Damn. "Right."

He steps forward and stalks towards Myth, keeping his gait as confident as he can. "You know you're desperate, Myth, when you have to resort to tricks and mind games to save your own ass."

He takes out a knife and twirls it around his fingers fancifully. "Coward." But a damn smart one...

He tosses the knife in the air, then catches and pockets it all in one smooth motion, still walking towards Myth.

Wolf, with Jade leaning on his right shoulder, watched from the doorway as Wraith kept walking towards Myth.

That's right Wraith, keep him confused. He doesn't really know who you are yet..and that makes you his worst possible enemy...

Wolf looked over at Monk, his friend's face displaying a mixed emotion of confusion and anger...but mostly anger.

well...second worst enemy.

Myth looked at the ghost coming towards him. "You want it? Go and fetch!" And he tossed it over his shoulder, scattering the papers everywhere. Monk began to have a confused look on his face, but soon shook it off and looked directly at Myth.

"What say we end this... right now?"

"Give the word... and it's done."

"Word. Let's fight."

Myth nodded and assumed a fighting stance. After a moment of internal thinking, he settled down again. "You know what, not here. Meet me in my room. I promise... no tricks." With that, he walked over to the door opened it and walked in.

Monk watched as he went in. After, he turned to the three and nearly command, "Get out of here. I don't know how long this battle will take, but I know it will take time. You all have more important thigs to worry about than my sanity. If you are all smart... you will leave my mind." Monk smiled and closed his eyes. Behind the group, the folder sorted itself out, the papers going into it, then the entire folder itself going under the door to Monk's memories and into its original home. "See... I have everything under control." He took a deep breath and took a step towards his destination when he turned to Jade, smiled, and took one relaxing deep breath. "I'm sorry..." He turned and walked into the room, the door closing, and then locking itself behind him.



OOC: I was scolded at because there was too much info, and too many things I was trying to do. All right... I pass the torch to the others now, my time is done...



For now... [/dundundun!]

Wolf stared at the locked door for a second...then grinned. "I think he's going to be okay."

He saw his comrade's confused expressions. "I'm serious. He'll be okay. Now that he's remembered what he's fighting for, and what he believes in...I know that Myth doesn't stand a chance. The best thing for us to do is to get out of here, and hold position in the basement until Monk gets back. After all, only he can defeat his own fears."

Wolf offered his right hand to Jade again. "Come on...let's leave before they start putting holes in the walls."

Jade was relieved that Myth had decided not to erase her from Monk's memory. She knew that Monk would be allright now, but she wasn't so sure about herself and the others. Taking Wolf's hand she surveyed the area. "Well we dodged that bullet," she glanced at her leg, "well kinda. But I'm open to suggestions on how to get out of here. There's only one door leading out, and I'm sure it's crawling with uber guards. We're all tired, I'm injured, and we can't destroy the building. Any ideas?"

OOC: Yes...I do want to blatanly rip off Metal Gear Solid right about now.

BIC: Wolf looked at his still bleeding left shoulder. "Well, I'm also up for not getting shot anymore today. I'm surprised I didn't get gangrene or something. Obviously, we have to outwit the uberguards with stealth. Anyway we could get some big cardboard boxes?"

His comrades shot him an odd glance "What? Never played Metal Gear Solid before?"

He paused, then continued his explaination.

"I'm hoping that the uberguards, while having extra powerful hearing...are blind as bats. We could hide in the boxes and sneak around. I mean...who's gonna suspect a box? And to distract some of them, we could throw empty clips, knock on the walls, basically anything that would keep their attention away from us. And if they do find us, we could just slit their throats with a knife, or a katana...or shoot them with a tranq pistol if you're not into spilling buckets of blood on the floors, walls, and ceiling." Wolf grinned slightly.

"Crazy...dangerous...utterly insane...and Brilliant!"

(( And I'll spoof those Guiness commercials. :D ))

Wraith crosses his arms and puts his chin in his hand. "But...where're we gonna get three cardboard boxes?"

OOC: Oh ok, I'll indulge you

BIC: "Let's just say that this crazy idea actually works and we manage to find some boxes. What then? It's a corridor, and I doubt that the guards won't notice three cardboard boxes wandering through. But, it's all we've got right now, so let's start searching."

OOC: We can definitely use the box idea, the story is way too angsty. We need some humor for sure. If not, we can think of something else. In other news: I'm giving Andy two more days, if he doesn't post then, I'm taking over. I talked to him last week and he said he's "try to get around to it," but I'm not waiting around for him.

OOC: Thanks...but now I wonder how a brain would store things in boxes...

BIC:Wolf thought. "There are a few rooms we haven't explored here. One of them could contain boxes for reasons that we may never understand...you know...repressed memory storage...or forgotten memories. Anyway...I say we try this door."

Wolf pointed to a door marked Forgotten Memories stored in really nice cardboard boxes for easy transport for reasons we will never really understand.

OOC: If that was too much of a cop-out...let me know.

(( lol xD ))

"How...convenient..." Wraith says, then goes to the door and opens it. At first, everything's dark, but his hand soon finds a light switch on the wall and a small room with many, many cardboard boxes reveals itself. He looks around and then steps in, exclaiming, "Dibs on this one!"

OOC: GET OUT OF MY BRAIN!! On a lighter note... Can I be the gaurds? I want to be the morons! I can do a very good idiot if you want too. I mean, sinjce I'm gonna be busy with Myth, so I won't have much posting potential, I call bad guys!

Wolf walked in. "Like I said. This plan should be bulletproof. Since the boxes are labeled as forgotten memories...the guards might think their just being reshuffled...or something. As long as they don't see us moving around...they won't suspect a thing."

Wolf pulls a box over his head and crouches down so that he can't be seen under it. "See? Bulletproof!"

He crept out of the room, still mostly obscured under the box, and looking through a hole in the front to he could see what was in front of him.

He turned around to Wraith and Jade "I'll lead the way." Then he turned and started creeping down the hall.

OOC: By all means MC, be the guards and enjoy.

BIC: "We are so gonna get shot again." Jade crouched down, albeit a little painfully on her bad leg, and pulled a box over her. "If we die Wolf, I'm holding you responsible!"

A guard, (How about we call him Bill) Was sitting outside of Monk's doorway. He got the radio that a group of people had run their way into the place, and were currently in this room, and to watch out out for any changes. However, he could feel the 20 hour shift coming to haunt him, and sleep coming on to him. But no... He would not... fall...

"Zzz... Zzz..."

Wolf moved silently under the box as he crept down the hallway, Jade and Wraith following close behind. He noticed a guard only 10 feet away, and was about to draw his tranq pistol, when he noticed the guard was asleep.

Stupid Guard He thought as he slowly crept past the sleeping soldier and closer to the exit.

That's when the music began it's hard rock part, jolting the man awake. He looked around and swung his gun around, not remembering that his music was on. After a moment, the drums and vocals came into the picture. He smiled and relaxed back on the wall. Watching as a box, concealing what was obviously hiding a person, made its way down the hallway.

"Anything?" A voice came through.

The gaurd went into his back pocket, pulled out a radio, then pulled of his ear pieces, "No sir. Just a box." He looked over, "Make that two... moving boxes..."

"All right... stay alert."

"Yes sir." He put the radio back in his pocket, the ear pieces back in and closed his eyes, bobbing his head to the beat.

After a second of bobbing, his eyes opened slowly and towards the boxes, now there being three. He gave them a strange look, then gasped. He pulled out his radio just as his CO came on, "Moving boxes!?"

"Enemy sighted!" and with that, he approached them carefully, gun drawn.

Wolf heard the guard approaching the boxes. Damn it, we've been spotted.... His mind raced. If these were wooden or metal boxes, I could just hit him with one...but they're cardboard...so I'll need to improvise.

Wolf grabbed his PDAP and hit a quick text message to Wraith

"Wraith, there is a guard coming up behind us. Deal with him quietly and take out his radio."

Wolf hit "send"

Wraith gets the message and scowls. He doesn't even bother with a reply, he just goes straight into ghost form and floats through the floor.

Behind him, the guard gets closer and stops, looking at and then prodding his empty box. The guard keeps getting nosier and nosier, finally about to throw the box off, when Wraith comes through the floor behind him and goes solid, knife in hand, not making a sound...

The soldier fell to the ground, but the radio was still talking, "Report! Where are you!?" After a moment pause, there was a static sound, then the voice coming through.

"We have a situation. Send more gaurds to the area."

Several steps could be heard coming from the stairs as more men filed into the cramped hallway, each looking around. No one suspected the three boxes in the middle of everything to be a suspect.

One of the gaurds walked up to the downed man. He kicked him softly, then pulled out his radio. "Man down..." He took a look around the hallway, "But no sight of the enemy."

"Report back to your posts. Everyone... stay alert!"

A handful of men climbed their way up the stairs, except for one, which took the position where the original guy was standing at, put on some music, and started jamming.

The dead body flickered, then disappeared.

Wolf relaxed as the guards left, but was mad that they had replaced the guard Wraith had killed.

Very well...plan B Wolf thought. he quietly took out the M9 tranq pistol. He slowly got out from under his box, careful not to alert the guard. He lined up the gun with the soldier's neck, and pulled the trigger

The suppressed pistol coughed as it spat out a tranq dart that hit the guard square in the neck. The guard went to slap at his neck...but then slowly fell to the floor as the powerful tranquilizers inside the dart knocked him unconscious.

We've probably got a couple minutes before they start asking the guard why he hasn't reported in Wolf thought as he got back under the box, and started moving again. He used his PDAP to signal Jade and Wraith to follow.

Wraith follows...but stops for a moment to retrieve the guard's radio. He uses his PDAP to tell Wolf that if he gets an opening and they ask, he'll try to fake the guard's voice and hopefully throw them off temporarily.

It was peaceful for a length of time, as they made their way up the stairs. What they saw through the holes provided was a large room, two desks in the center , creating a sort of figure 8. Two gaurds were stationed there. They were awake, and alert, but bored out of their mind.

"Man... this is a pain huh?"

"You can say that again. What did the boss say to look for? Boxes?"

"Who would be dumb enough to travel in boxes?"

"I know, it doesn't seem very smart at all, but of course, most people aren't, but we are!"

"Yeah. Well... keep your eyes open for those killer boxes." He said in a sarcastic spooky voice.

Wolf navigate the figure 8, always staying behind the guards. He moved up silently behind the guards, who were still joking about killer boxes.

In one swift motion he threw the box off of himself, brought his katana up and cut the left guard across the neck, killing him instantly. Before the other guard could react, Wolf had leveled the M9 at his head. "Move and I shoot." Wolf said.

"Who are you?" the guard asked nervously as he put his hands up.

"I'm the killer box." Wolf said as he fired a tranq into the guard's head, knocking him out instantly.

Wolf got back under the box, pocketed the guard's radios and kept moving. So far...so good. he thought. He sent the all clear signal to his comrades.

OOC: No! This will not die until we have killed Mastermind. You hear me!

The gaurds fell to the ground after the tranq fight Wolf had just put on. That's when the radio kicked on one of the downed gaurds. "Report! We heard some noise down there. What's going on?"

Wraith grabs the radio quickly and calmly says, imitating the guard's voice, "It was nothing, sir. My partner fell over the damn chair."

OOC: Actually, I think we only need to rip off MGS until we escape...but whatever.

BIC: Wolf texts Wraith and Jade.

"They'll be tracing that call if they don't buy it, keep moving."

Wolf grabs his confiscated radio and imitates the other guard's voice. "Yeah, I thought I heard something but it turned out to be one of the computers. I went to turn it off, and I didn't see the chair. Why the hell are there chairs in this room anyway? Nobody works here."

"Sorry for the inturruption. Keep up the good work." The voice came out the other end.

That's when the other radio turned on, the one from the downed gaurd from downstairs. "Report. What is your status?"

OOC: G'ah sorry about not posting, I was getting my other rp up.

BIC: Jade was trying to move as stealthily as possible while ignoring the severe pain in her leg. She hears the other radio go off and grabs it. She thrusts it at Wolf. "I'm a girl, they'll see right through my voice. You talk while I hack into their communications grid and make a looped recording of an all clear report. Everytime we down a guard and the radio goes off, I'll just use that and it'll sound like a real guard." She sat down under her box and began to work. It wasn't a particularly complex system, but she wanted to be careful about covering her tracks. While she was deleting some code, she stumbled across some interesting info. Hmmm....security codes, I'll keep these for later When she finished, she signaled Wolf and Wraith.

Just before Wolf got Jade's signal he heard the Guard Commander asking one of the downed guards for a status report.

"Everything's fine, situation normal." he said into his confiscated radio.

"Are you sure? You are late with you're status report."

"Uh, I was dealing with a slight weapons malfunction, but everything's fine now. How are you?"

"Something doesn't sound right, I'm sending an attack squad to investigate."

"Uh..." Wolf stammered. "Negative, we have toxic gas leaking from the security systems, I have to lock down the area. Do not approach."

"Who is this?!" the commander demanded. "What is your service number."

Wolf shot the radio with his .45

Boring conversation anyway.

"Jade, you're too late! We're gonna have company!" Wolf scrambled under a desk, drew his other .45, and armed it

Things are about to go from bad to worse.

OOC: Yes, I ripped off Star Wars. And yes, this seems odd, but MC43 ran an idea by me and I'm setting things up for him.

"Dammit."

Wraith quickly tosses his box off and flips over a desk, then kneels down behind it and readies any and all weapons he has...this includes a few knives, a pistol, and a confiscated submachine gun. Finally he puts his knives back and arms his guns; pistol in his left and held up, submachine gun in his right and aimed at the door.

"Why does nothing go our way?" Jade said to no one in particular as she sat behind another table and reloaded her automatic rifle. She then tore off some of her shirt that was over her tank top and wrapped her leg. She was beginning to feel light headed from the blood loss, but she shook her head and toughed it out."She aimed at the door as she turned to Wolf. "If we don't make it through this, it was nice knowing you."She then turned to Wraith. "Uh, yea..."

OOC: Crap we totally forgot about J2 and Beowolf. Wolf can you fill me in on what was happening with them? Next post will be me taking over for Andy so JAD can continue on.

The doorknob turned for a moment, but to no avail to open the door. "Sir! It's locked!"

"Locked!? Well... break it down, moron!"

"Yes sir!" After a moment, the door started to pound in and out.

A door opened, but it wasn't by force, and it wasn't the one they were staring at, ut before they could get a view, the locked portal was broken and a flashbang had made its way into the room. Through the brightness that was the others eyes, several footsteps were heard filing into the room, each looking around.

"Sir! There!"

There was a momentary pause, "You're kidding, right? He couldn't be who we're looking for..."

Another voice popped up, "It looks like he is having trouble standing up..."

Then there was a fourth, "Heh... he had the shit beaten out of him, that's for sure."

"Ah..." A gruff voice came out, it was obviously the man leading this group. "Bring me back to the days of training camp... all the hell I was put through.."

"Hell?" A weak voice came through the white. "You say you have been in hell?" The voice sounded familiar, but too vauge for an accurate guess, "You haven't seen hell... I have been in hell! I have been trained in hell! A hell masked to be heaven, you have no right to say such things..."

"Are you kiddin me? I was brought up in a dictatorship.. We were beaten three times a day... Right after breakfast, lunch and dinner!" Gruffy came through proud.

"Beaten..." The weak voice laughed, "Beaten!?" His laughing soon got out of control. "I was killed! Several times before I was dismissed... and freed. To me... you have been brought up alongside a mother... a woman who has just given birth to child."

"What are you saying!?" Gruff spat back.

"Yeah! You don't know what hell is!"

"Sir... awaiting orders!"

"I say we take him down!"

"All right men! Aim... ready... huh?" but it was too late. a snap of a neck could be heard.

"Fire! Get him!" another one shouted out. Only then did the bullets ever leave the chamber of their guns, but even that was futile. For another bone crunching hit was heard, then two screams. Two of the soldiers had shot each other.

The weak voice came back through, "For those who have died here.. I am sorry. For the two I have saved... may you NEVER... go through the hell I have..." A step was heard, "I will get him..." Another, "He will fall to me..." step, "He... will... die! Where are you Mastermind!?"

The footsteps themselves were strange. They weren't rubber hitting the floor, it was flesh. The owner of the weak voice was barefooted. Also, as the light soon dissapated into normal focus, they could see a red bandana and purple pants, no shirt on his back.

He had done it, but his mission was not yet over as he stumbled his way through the broken down door.

Wolf heard the entire thing. He stood up from cover, and saw his friend stumble through the doorway. Behind Monk lay the bodies of enemy soldiers.

Wolf holstered his pistols.

"All clear!" he said to Jade and Wraith. "It's just Monk."

Monk dropped to one knee. Wolf managed to steady him. His friend looked like he had been worked over by the LAPD.

"Are you all right?" Wolf asked "What the hell happened? Where's Myth?"

***

Beowulf and J2 had reached Mastermind's Core Network. at the gate were two tanks, a Hum-Vee, and at least 20 soldiers

Beowulf looked at the gate, then at his partner. "As soon as we breach the gate, there will be troops all over the place gunning for us. I'll draw their fire. You plant the bomb, and then we get the hell out before it explodes."

The wolf avatar hefted a rocket launcher. "Let's do this" he targeted the nearest tank and fired. As the tank exploded in a ball of flame, the enemies went on full alert.

Monk had his head down, obviously too tired to keep it up. "Myth... was just a myth..." His head shook as he tried to pick it up, "However... he must pay..." He "pushed" Wolf aside, if a light nudge could be considered a push, and slowly got onto his feet, "I will kill him... for what he has done to me!" He took a step foward, "Don't think I won't! He has killed me many times over! He... will... pay!"

Wolf grabbed his friend's shoulder lightly, keeping him from walking off.

"You aren't going anywhere in your current condition." he said. "I know you are pissed about what Mastermind did to you, and I know I have no idea what it was like to be put through that, but we are still in this building, and you've just been through hell and back. Right now, we need to get out of here. I'm injured," Wolf pointed to his shoulder "And Jade's lost a lot of blood. You also look like crap, if I didn't mention it already. Once you recover, then you can kill Mastermind to your heart's content."

As long as you understand there's going to be a line there... Wolf thought.

OOC: I was waiting on the others... but since Wolf persisted...

Monk glared up at his friend, "I can take on the WHOLE WORLD, if I wanted to! Bring him on!" He struggled to his feet once more, "I'll kill him... I'll..." He calmed down after a moment, then looked at his feet. "I have to... relax. I have to... heal..." He let pain get the better of him as he fell on one knee, "Must... protect the others." He could feel his body fading from his control, everything getting darker. Not the death dark, just a really tired, want to sleep dark.

ooc: but before you can kill mastermind you have to either kill me or get me to move against mastermind.

OOC: Sorry, I just wanted the RP to survive.

BIC: Wolf watched as Monk passed out.
"Well...I guess we can go then."

Wolf slung Monk over his right shoulder and started walking back towards the hallway that would take them back to the lobby of the building.

"Let's hurry...I've got a bad feeling that something or someone is coming for us..." Wolf said.

I hope it isn't the Agents. he thought.

well it will be a chapter in an escher picture. http://www.designserver.nl/cursus/ht...art/escher.jpg

OOC: In the interest of making things interesting and keeping the RP alive...

BIC: Wolf reached the lobby, it was all clear. He looked back, Jade and Wraith were right behind him.

He set Monk down next to his comrades. "I'll scout out ahead, make sure it's all clear."

As he walked up to the door that led out of the building, he thought Finally, it's over.

He thought wrong

Just as he was about to open the door it flew off its hinges and nearly hit him in the head. As it was, Wolf took a glancing blow on his injured shoulder. As he yelled in pain and fell backwards, he saw what had smashed the door off.

Two figures dressed in business suits, one of which Ed recognized as Agent Smith.

Oh crap...it's him

Mr. MacKenzie, we meet again! Only this time...you have no escape. Smith sneered at Wolf.

Wolf struggled to his feet, drew his Uzi, and pointed it at the two Agents. "Don't count on it." Wolf said, sneering back.

Wolf turned towards Jade, still holding back at the basement entrance. "Jade, you and Wraith get Monk out of here, I'll hold them off as long as I can." he said

Then Wolf opened fire on the agents, even though he knew the Agents could dodge them. He ran for the reception desk while he wasted ammo as Smith and the other agent drew their Desert Eagles, and turned their attention to Wolf.

Wolf dove behind the desk as the first rounds of return fire flew.

I hope Jade and Wraith get Monk out soon...this is going to be over real quick even if I'm careful. he thought as he drew his Colt .45s, waiting to at least try and fire a shot they couldn't dodge.

OOC: Hope this isn't too out there.

OOC: G'ah! This will not die!

BIC: Jade stared wide eyed at the Agents and then at Wolf. Was he serious? Even if both her and Monk weren't injured, they'd never outrun the Agents, she'd seen how fast they move. She grabbed a grenade off of her belt and pulled the pin. She then threw the grenade while grabbing Wolf out from behind the desk. They began running as the explosion rocked the building. "Screw saving teh building, we gotta get out of here and I told you I'm not leaving anyone behind!" She opened her pda and patched into Control. "Control, this is Jade!" "Jade what in the hell did you do? You were told not to damage the building!" "General, there are Agents here, we need an immediate logout. The building is unimportant! We have the files." "Ok stand by for logout in thirty seconds." The Agents emerged from the debris unscathed just to see the team dissappear.
--------------------------------
Jade and the rest of the team appeared inside the control room. As soon as they emerged, medics rushed up to them. Before Jade and the others were wheeled away to the hospital wing, she gave the files to the General. "Jade, you and your team are to be commended for a job well done. This information is invaluable to our cause." "Thank you General, once we're all patched up we'll head to your office for debriefing." "Well, there's a little problem with that." "What do you mean?" "We haven't been able to contact Andy's team. We fear desertion or worse, so you'll have to head up that mission as well." "You can't be serious! Most of us are full of bullet holes and Monk is severely injured. You can't have us go on another mission right after this one." "I'm afraid it's our only choice." Jade couldn't take it anymore. She got out of her stretcher and punched the Commander in the jaw. Blood spurted out from his mouth and nose. Two guards held her back from hurting him any further. She struggled against them. "You can't do this! We've suffered enough!" The Commander got up, wiped his nose and spat on the ground. "This...will be noted in your record Colonel, and I expect you in my office when you are healed, or you will face a court marshal!" He stalked away in a huff and Jade struggled some more before finally sitting in the stretcher. Real professional Jade...

OOC: Just wanted to get the story moving again

OOC: Well...our sudden logout ruined an idea of mine (MC43 knows what I'm talking about)...but I can still include it...just later in the RP.

BIC: Wolf watched Jade lose control on the General, but he understood how she felt. We almost all got killed there...and now he wants us to go find Andy's team. Frankly, I don't think that bastard would ever do the same for us...but it looks like we don't get a choice.

Wolf waited patiently while the doctors tended to the RW trauma from his CW bullet wound.

---

Back in his quarters, Wolf absent mindedly tugged at the bandage over his wounded left shoulder. Smith. he thought. He obvioulsy wants me dead...but worst of all...he knows about who I once was. If I ever want to stop him...I'l have to be able to learn to fight better. Guns are almost useless...the only choice left is for me to learn martial arts skills beyond the basic Kenpo they taught us at West Point. Unfortunately, Monk is out of action for now. However...

He rememberd that Beowulf, as a military AI, who had shared data with other military AIs, would most likely have picked up marital arts training from the Far-East AI constructs.

Plus, his greater speed and strength would make him almost like the Agents...so I'd be able to practice better. Wolf reasoned. He activated his computer and tried to locate his AI compadre, but all he got was an away message.

"Wolf, J2 and I are on a classified mission deep into Mastermind territory. Be back soon."

Wolf shrugged. Well...hope he succeeds.

***

OOC: And now the continuing adventures of J2 and Beowulf.
BIC: Beowulf and J2 had reached the objective after slogging their way through a batallion of Mastermind's elite guard. Beowulf stood guard while J2 planted the explosive on the main server terminals and set the detonation timer for 3 minutes

"Let's get moving" Beowulf said as he led the way back towards the exit of Mastermind's territory.

Just as the two AIs reached the exit of Mastermind's central core. Two AIs in business suits blocked their way. They were Agent Smith and Agent Jackson.

I'm sorry, this is a dead end. Smith said with a sly grin.

"I don't think so." Beowulf said as he raised his M16 and opened fire. Smith and Jackson dodged the shots as if they were moving through molasses.

Foolish gambit, Beowulf. Looks like your time has run out. Jackson said as he and Smith started to approach the AIs, guns drawn.

OOC: Well...they had to go somewhere!

OOC: Death can wait!

Monk could only hear and feel the heat of the explosion. He forced his eyes open in time to see it, blinked once, and found himself back in the real world. Out of the Hell that was his mind. He tossed his head side to side as he saw his friends all torn up and battered. He also had a pounding headache, almost if a bomb was set off, but it wasn't anything he couldn't fight.

Fight... He forced his eyes to look upon Jade, slumping in her stretcher. She fought for me. She stayed there for me... "Jade..." He muttered with all the strength he could muster, which wasn't much. All he could really do was gurgle in his mouth. "J..." He could feel the darkness fading over him again, but he couldn't sleep, right now. No... just a few minutes... just... a... few... His eyes closed eyes once last time, not being able to force them open.

"J... Jade..."

Wraith, in defiance of the medics, stands next to Monk and places a hand on his shoulder. "Hey, dude...you all right?"

A nurse grabs him by his arm just then. "Sir, you really need t--"

He throws her hand off and snaps back at her, "I told you, it's nothing! I'm not even hurt, go tend to them!"

Then he looks back at Monk and looks to see if he's responded, while she looks nervously between Wraith and a doctor indecisively.

"Colonel, we have imputted the nanos with your specifications, and they are performing them as we speak." "Excellent, at least now I won't get shot up and won't be able to move." Jade looked at her legs. There were nanos entrering both bullet holes carrying small strings of metal filaments with them They then would lace her nerves and muscles with the filaments as well as microchips. "I'm not exactly sure what you're doing Colonel." "Well, I'm making my legs part technology. I'll be much more agile, my legs will be stronger and if I get shot again, I'll still be able to function." "Are you certain it's safe?" "As safe as I can get it. Once the tech is installed, they'll adapt and adjust to my body. Ah, they're done." The dermal regenrator was turned off and Jade carefully bent her legs. She didn't feel any pain, so she got up. "Hmm...feels fine to me." "You shouldn't be moving around Ma'am." "Well, I need to check on the rest of my team, but I'll come back if anything feels wierd." With that, Jade left and walked down the hall to Monk's recovery room. She knocked on the door waiting for him to tell her to come in.
------
J2 turned to Beowolf. "Any ideas? Cause all I got is one." She then turned to the Agents and charged in. She attacked with a flurry of punches and kicks, but most were blocked. She then flipped away from Smith and skidded next to Beowolf. "Well now I'm fresh outta ideas."

Wolf decided that rather than wait for Beowulf to return, he'd check up on Monk, see how he was handling things now. He got up and headed towards Monk's hospital room.

***

Beowulf thought 2:00 left on the bomb...maybe.... He turned to J2. "We only need to hold out for 2 minutes. If we can survive till the bomb goes off, then their programs will crash and be knocked out."

Beowulf stared down the Agents. "Hope you think you can take us out." he said as he started charging at Smith.

Smith opened fire with his Desert Eagle. Beowulf moved fast. he dodged two shots before Smith's pistol clicked empty.

Damn...forgot to reload... Smith said just as Beowulf caught him in the face with a flying kick. Smith rolled to his feet and countered with a right hook that Beowulf barely managed to block. He managed to evad Jackson's roundhouse kick...and the battle began in full swing as he threw two jabs to the second Agent's chest. All the while, Beowulf counted down the seconds in his head.

He could feel a reassuraing hand come upon his shoulder. He wanted to open his eyes and see who it was... but his body just wouldn't follow his commands. He could feel himself drifting off into space.

It was a while until Monk could once again feel control come over his body. He moved his arm, just a sliver. His leg, just an inch. He twist his head over so slightly. Everything was forced. That's when he heard the knock as his door. "Huh? Hello? Who is it?"

"It's Jade." Came the voice from the other side.

Monk's eyes shot open. It hurt, but they were now open. "Ja... C'mon in... please..." He said, through weak lips. Taking advantage of open eyes, he saw that he was now in another hospital room. Man... I think I've spent more time in this room than I have at my monestary.

Wolf had turned the corner in time to see Jade enter Monk's room. He stopped. I'll let her talk to him alone. It's a good bet that Monk will not be fully recovered yet, and talking to more than 1 person at once will probably be to tiring for him.

Jade walked into the room. Monk had been hooked up to all sorts of tubes and machinery and seeing him like that almost amde her cringe. "I know that you might not be up for a talk, but that never stopped me before. I wanted to see how you're doing. Do you want to talk about what happened? I know it must have been agonizing for you."

"Agonizing can't begin to describe what it was like..." He took several deep breaths. It was hard pushing out words for some reason, but he wanted to try anyway, despite the fact he couldn't feel half of his body. At first he smiled, "No... that has never stopped you before. It has actually gotten us into many troubles before." He chuckled. He looked down to her legs, particually her knee, "Hey... I don't think that's very fair. How come you get to walk again... and I'm stuck here with all this wires and hoses attached to me, huh? It's Agonizing!" He smile soon faded into a stright mouth, then to a frown. The truth had struck him once again.

"It was awful... Everything I learned in there... Everything I thought I knew was a lie... I... I don't know how to react to that. I don't know what to feel anymore!" He could now feel something swell up in his eyes.

"The fact that I'm not a Monk... That I have killed many innocent people before... That there was a personality living inside my head that was taking control of me, no... suggesting that I do all those awful things. He was right, I did everything... He had no control over my body." The tears started to fall, "I had full control... I enjoyed killing so much, it was... awful the feelings I had. And you!" He forced eye contact, "When I had the gun in my hand, you in front of me, the feelings... were unbareable!" He killed eye contact by dropping his head, "That was me! I was the one who shot you! I pulled that damn trigger! I forced all that pain onto you... and I don't know how to forgive you... I don't know how to forgive any of you..."

He took another deep breath. "I'm... so sorry. I'm sorry that you all had to witness that. You all had to go through that. You shouldn't have to. It was all my fault. I shouldn't have gone. I was the cause of all that trouble!" He sniffed and paused, "No... Someone needed to go. So I should have, by myself. None of you should have been there, to be put through what I have been put through! It's not fair!" He forced his knees up to his chest, and surrounded his head with his hands. "None of you should have felt, or seen what has happened to me. I am embarassed, and ashamed of what I am. I'm surprised you are so compassionate towards me."

Me? What am I? Who am I? Is there no one on this earth that can answer that question? Is there no one in a greater power that can answer my question? Is there no one anywhere that can answer!? WHO!? Who will tell me who I am!?" He looked up at Jade, ready to shout out all the feelings, when he noticed something. He wasn't sure what it was at first, but there was something. You... Why are you helping me? Why have you been such a good friend to me. I have betrayed you twice, and still you stand by my side...

"Jade..." He dropped his head again. "There's... there's something I need to ask you." There was a very long pause before words started to come out again. "Why?" He looked up, "Why? Why have you been there for me? Why are you here now? Why do you insist to be my ally and friend, even though you now know my history, and maybe my future?"

He took one more breath, and cut her off from answering. "But first... I have one more thing I need to tell you." He took a deep breath, then paused. Then took another one, "Do you remember, when he took the file of you. There was a reason he did that. He told me during our battle. Wolf was wrong. You were not going to die, simply because you were in my brain, you would have not been harmed at all, but I would have been put through a hell worse than I already have. I would have... forgotten... you..." He tiled his head just so the tops of his eyes could see her. "My memories would have been erased, and I would have lost you, in a worse way than death." Another load of oxygen was brought in. "I would have lost you... and I couldn't have had that happen. I don't know why he dropped the folder when he did, but I thank God he did." He now moved his head to the full upright position. "I've... fallen for you Jade."

He dropped his head once more. "I have said a lot, and I do not know what you are thinking. I have said what I wanted to say. Now I pass it unto you. If you leave this room, I will not be offended. If you never speak to me again, no grudge will be held. If you were to pull the plug on me right now... I would be forever in your debt. The choice is now yours. What is it you decide?"

Wraith stands back, silent. (( Yes, he actually is in the room. ;-; )) After hearing all of what Monk said, he isn't quite sure what to think or say. He hardly knows the guy -- heck, he just met him a few hours ago -- and yet still, he feels that after what they've all been through, they're now connected somehow. He looks between him and her, unsure of what to do and just staring blankly, standing back in the shadows.

Jade didn't know what to say really. His words had hit her like a ton of bricks. She had never really confronted her feelings at all, she had always pushed them to the side because of her work. She was forced into becoming a hardened soldier, not bothering to think about the people, only the mission when she was dispatched. She looked away from Monk for a second, trying to collect her thoughts. "I...I'm not sure exactly what to say. When I first met you and the others, I thought only of trying to get to know you because maybe we'd work better as a team. I pushed all of my emotions aside in favor of being your commander. But that's not what I wanted. I was only fooling myself into thinking that I wouldn't have to feel anything towards you ro the others. But, when we were in the building and I was shot the first time, I understood that you were bring controlled. It could have happened to the best of us. That's why I forgave you. Then, I realized that there was something deeper inside of you. You wanted out so quickly that I knew you didn't want to face yourself in the end for fear of what you might find out. But I wanted to know...about you. I couldn't imagine what it was like to not know about your past. I was just as curious as you were I think..."

She paused for a second, trying to find the right words. She felt awkward standing there, her silver hair falling around her face. Brushing i away, she sat down next to his bed.

"When we were inside your mind and you were seeing yourself shooting me, I almost lost it. I thought that it might have been my fault that you were going through all of that pain. If I hadn't made friends with you...if I didn't have...feelings for you, then maybe you shooting me wouldn't have weighed so heavy on your soul. I'm sorry for that. I wanted to help you because...well...I don't even know. Maybe it's because I'm nice, maybe it's because I feel bad, maybe its because..." She looked him in the eye, "maybe it's because I've fallen for you too, but I wanted to help you." There, it was all out in the open, and for once, Jade felt good about her decision to tell him. She took him hand into hers, "you're going to be ok."

Monk smiled at the words spoken from her mouth. As soon as their hands connected, he could feel a new energy flow through him. His entire body was now fully funtional, although still painful to move. The words were still hard to find, but not hard to force out anymore. His heart had come from the slow pulse to a beating race... All this, because of her kind words.

Help me... I am me. There is someone on this earth that may be able to answer my questions. There is a greater power watching over me. You... you have helped me for the same reasons I shot you.

His eyes shot open, and he pulled his hand away, looking towards the floor opposite her. "No... I had control back there. Those were my own decisions! I do not deserve you! I do not deserve any kind of compassion from anyone. Especially someone as special as you." He forced his head to look at her face, "Someone who was so willing to help a wretched soul such as myself. Someone so... twisted and confusing such as I. Sadistic and murderous are the only adjectives that can be used to describe the soul that now lays within my heart. If it had been before, there would be no trouble, but the soul, the Monk you know does not exist. He never did! The entire thing was a story. A beautiful, well thought out story that would please anyone, everyone, epsecially myself. You have been brainwashed of the true soul living within this body, this heart." He placed his hand on his chest, where he could feel his heart slow back down to a crawl.

"I do not deserve such a pure-of-heart such as yourself. You fight for others, so that they might not know oppression. I fight for the enjoyment of killing. You defend the weak and the low, because you have pity on them. I attack the weak and the low, for I have no pity towards anyone. Only those that have already fallen to gun, my fist, whatever instrument that was used to rip the life out of the poor soul, simply because they were to weak to stand up against me." He could feel his body fading once more as he slumped down in the bed, looking at the wall, "You deserve better. Not the soul that is currently inhabiting this body. This one is... black, cursed, not fit for any human emotion." He could feel his eyelids become heavy, lead shades that would soon cover his eyes.

"I'm just sorry... I'm not really the man you think you know..."

Jade's hand came down with unnatural force. The slap was quick but left a red welt on Monk's face. "Stop beating yourself up for the things that you couldn't control! Snap out of it! Yes, you did some horrible things in your past, but what's done is done. Your past is of no concern to me anymore. Why do you think I've never told anyone about my past? Because it doens't matter. You can't change the past, only the future. Stop feeling sorry for yourself and actually live for once. All your life you've been trying to connect to your past, and when you do you find out it's not what you expected. So what? Shit happens and then we move on. Everyone here has some sort of thing they regret doing one time or another in their pasts. But we don't let it get to us. We focus on the fact that we can prevent it from happening again. Being in your mind and defeating Myst proved that whatever you did in the past won't happen again. You're stronger now, so stop wallowing in self pity and be happy for once!" Jade's face was flushed as she almost yelled at Monk. "And another thing: I think I know what I deserve, so if I say it's you then it's you!"

Jade stopped and blinked. "Wow, I do sound like a commanding bitch when I yell. Guess Andy was right all this time..."

Monk snapped his eyes open as he could feel a slap of reality hit him. "Literally," He said, slowing moving his eyes to the now angered Jade. But she had every right, in fact, she was right. He was too connected to the past, and the truth of it really hurt him. But the past is the past, and that can never change, but the future is the future, and that can change. It will change! Monk sat himself up and took both of Jade's hands, "You... You're right! Everything that you have spoken is truth. I was too connected, but it wasn't the connection that I wanted. But I am still me. I am still Monk! I can change, I have changed! For the better!! Oh Jade... I..." His smile faded as a serious look came upon his face. His eyes were making direct contact with Jade's as he leaned in a little closer. Something was forcing him. He tried his best to pull back, but some force was pushing him, nay, pulling him towards her.