Invasion Countdown

Everyone in the bistro gasped to see Fanghui's face on the screen.

"Splendid," Enshiron frowned. "So nice to see that lovely face of China."

Overseer Amitonyx of the Shin-Kaminari stood behind Fanghui beside SANDRA, the Machine Queen. Jin Feilong watched Fanghui on the opposite side with General Hernamidos, head of the Reaper Squad secret police. Elysia clenched her fist as she saw the Federation officers who persecuted her race.

"Elysia?" Phoenicia asked. "Is something the matter?"

"Oh, no," Elysia held back her past from her new friends.

"Judging by your trembling hands, I strongly doubt that."

"Look, I'm fine, okay?"

"Citizens of the so-called land of freedom," Fanghui announced. "I bring forth this emergency announcement across the world with the dire news that requires the world's attention. As some of you may have noticed, the UICA's MMORPG, Syanic Earth: Year 3225 has been severely compromised."

"Millions of unfortunate players have been trapped inside with little hope of returning to the real world due to this World Cybertrap. Also, all current UICA electronic products have been mysteriously disabled. We all understand you and your fellow families are just as puzzled as the rest of us. However, it's time for us to wake the hell up!"

The bistro went silent as Fanghui's voice shook the heavens.

"The brainless President Forroway has always demanded that I be put on trial, but now, I demand it's time that Cecilius and the UICA be put on trial instead! They tell you that they build for the better good, but what about now? Look! They have ensnared your friends and family! They're using this opportunity to weaken and conquer society with their small yet advanced military. Will you stand for this evil?"

"What the heck?" Shien grabbed his hair in confusion.

"Look at Forroway, so compassionate enough to let protests and mobs flood their cities with fire and blood. He's so incompetent that he trusts the UICA, letting them plan their sinister shadow games behind your back. Will you stand for this?"

"The Federation will certainly not stand for the incompetence of Democracy as the innocent are exploited in the UICA's twisted game! I promise you, as the Supreme Herald of the Global Federation of World Justice, we will take action! In immediate response to this rising evil in the West, our necessary invasion of the Americas is in motion!"

"Wait, did he say, invasion?" Ritom exclaimed.

"Oh, no," Shien worried. "That would mean..."

The crowd in front of the Arcane Phalange cheered as they saluted.

"Hail, Fanghui! Hail, Fanghui!"

"I promised that a necessary invasion would take place, didn't I, foolish politicians full of talk and no action?" Fanghui asked. "Unlike President Forroway, I keep my promises as I take immediate action against threats to world justice! The UICA will be judged for their crimes against you. The Grand Federation is coming to help you! We will find a way to bring your loved ones back from the demonic grasp of the UICA. You have my word, justice will be served!"

As the crowd cheered with deafening applause, Fanghui walked aside for SANDRA to speak. Elysia gnashed her teeth at the Machine Queen's dark hair, agent sunglasses, and pastoral robes.

"Rejoice, o ye faithful!" The Machine Queen preached. "The grand invasion is nigh! The UICA shall bleed! Hallelujah!"

"Grrrr! Just shut up!" Elysia threw her masala chai cup at the center television. "I hate you! Go to hell!"

As the TV cracked and short-circuited with the mixture of the tea, the bistro was silent to see Elysia's sudden fury. She turned to the players and her new friends to see everyone fear her moment of fit. Shien and Enshiron were dead silent as Ritom and Naivern huddled together, looking at Elysia. Even Phoenicia was backing away from her.

Oh, no! Elysia thought. My new friends are afraid of me! What was I thinking? What should I do? People are seeing me as a monster again!

"E-Elysia?" Phoenicia asked.

"You okay?" Shien also questioned.

Elysia looked around to see the other players hiding from her. She placed her hands on her cheeks as her past with the Waxing Sickle flashed in her mind. Elysia helped them rebel against the Federation, killing their targets and stealing supplies. She didn't mind when the Waxing Sickle leaders ordered her to accomplish their tasks for Vulpi rights. That was until they forced her to... do it. The eyes of the players twinkled with fear, reminding her of the eyes of those two crying kids.

Maybe I am a monster. I don't deserve to be with these friends. Nobody will understand me. I can't be forgiven for all I have done!

Elysia ran out of the bistro.

"Wait! Elysia!" Enshiron shouted.

Shien rushed out. "I'll get her!"

"I'm coming too!" Phoenicia ran with him.

The players in the bistro bustled with confusion, uncertain whether to worry about the Kneapexist invasion first or the fact they were stuck in a game.

"Oh, no! What will happen to us?"

"Is the UICA responsible?"

"Will the Federation save us?"

"Dude, please tell me I didn't just hear all that," Naivern grimaced.

Enshiron shook his head. "Unfortunately, we all did, my loud maiden."

"I don't get it! How could the UICA let this happen?" Ritom crossed his arms.

"Would the UICA ever do such a thing?" Naivern asked.

"It can't be! My brother wouldn't allow it!"

"Perhaps Magnus would know? Your brother may provide us better answers from a fellow UICA member's perspective," Enshiron twitched his Vulpi ears.

"Good idea," Ritom scrolled through his menu, selecting his older brother's contact profile. "Trust me guys. The UICA can't be behind this! I refuse to believe that!"

***

Sitting by the Tyrminal Lake, Elysia sat alone. Instead of booming with cybernetic music and dances, the players boomed with panic, arguing about the UICA's accountability.

Elysia paid no attention to the city chaos but replayed her past as a Waxing Sickle member. They ambushed Federation forces to steal their equipment and supplies. The Waxing Sickle leader, Tastidios, would order Elysia and other rogues to assassinate Federation agents. He told her that they did everything for Vulpi rights or so she thought.

She remembered helping her old friends raid the mansion of a wealthy Federation agent. They separated the man from his wife and two kids. The wife was killed while the kids were beaten onto their knees before Elysia. Tastidios and her friends demanded she put them out of their misery.

***

"Miss?" A voice asked. "Are you okay?"

Elysia looked to see the big mohawk player that kicked Ritom out.

"Okay?" Elysia stammered with hot tears. "Do I look okay to you?"

"No, ma'am. That's why I wanted to see if I could help you."

"Help, huh? Does it look like I asked?"

"Woah, take it easy, miss. I just-"

"Shut up, human! Go away!"

"Okay! Jeez!" The man walked away.

As the mohawk player ran off, he bumped into Shien and Phoenicia.

"Hi!" Shien exclaimed. "Ruddigus, was it?

"Hey, you remember!" The mohawk player fist-bumped with Shien. "What brings you two here to the lake?"

"We were looking for a Vulpi named Elysia," Phoenicia told him.

"Does it happen to be that crying Vulpi girl over there?" Ruddigus pointed to the weeping Elysia.

"Yes!" Shien confirmed.

"I tried to talk to her, but she told me to scram. I just wasn't sure what to do. Not sure if I said anything wrong or such."

"I'm certain it's not you," Phoenicia assured. "We will check with her. Thank you."

"Of course. Can you guys believe that this stuff is happening? The fact that we can't log out?"

"I know," Shien sighed. "I don't understand either."

"Eh? Sunny boy?" An old man's voice shouted from a distance. "Where are you? I heard a darn ruckus happened when I was shopping."

"Oh! There's that old-timer. He doesn't know about this yet. I got to fill him in," Ruddigus left.

"I can never be forgiven," Elysia knelt. "All the people I drove away to escape myself. My new friends are afraid of me."

"Maybe for a bit," She heard Shien's voice. "Until we understand you!"

Elysia saw Shien sitting next to her. "Where did you come from?"

"We wanted to provide emotional support to someone in need," Phoenicia sat with them.

"Leave me alone," Elysia demanded.

"Nope! We want to help you. Phoenicia told me she sensed something was troubling you. Don't you want to talk about what's been bothering you?"

"I don't need help!"

"Analyzing your current state, that's an illogical statement," Phoenicia pat Elysia's shoulder.

"I don't care! Go away!"

Elysia punched Phoenicia, but her hand ached when it collided with Phoenicia's armored skin.

"Ouch! That hurt!" Elysia cried.

Phoenicia massaged the Vulpi girl's hurting hand. "That too was an illogical impulse."

Elysia scrambled away from the android but Shien held her down.

"Nope!" Shien pouted.

"Why are you two still here? Let me be! I should be alone!"

"Nope!"

"What's wrong with you? Aren't you afraid of me?"

"Nope!"

"But you don't understand, I'm a monster."

"Nope!"

"You guys don't know what I've been through!"

"Nope!"

"I killed them!"

"What?"

Elysia sobbed. "I killed those two human kids! I didn't want to, but I did so I would be accepted!"

Shien took a moment to think. Phoenicia stroked Elysia's shoulder, but Elysia swatted her hand away.

"Scared of me now? Will you two just let me be?" Elysia hissed.

"Maybe," Shien adjusted his caidercoat. "But do you think running away from your past will change what you have done? Nope. Perhaps it's time to put right where you did wrong. And will we leave? Nope."

Phoenicia placed her arm around Elysia. The Vulpi girl tried to break free, but Phoenicia's arm was too tough.

"You guys are idiots, you know that?"

"Nope," Shien shook his head.

"Are you just going to say nope to everything I say?"

"Nope."

"Screwballs."

"Nope."

She covered her face, puzzled by the two's persistence to stay with her.

"Here," Shien offered Elysia a handkerchief. "Take it."

"Seriously, why are you two here?" She asked. "And, why are you all making sure I don't escape?"

"Because we wish to comprehend your frustrations," Phoenicia blinked her cybernetic green eyes. "Shien told me that a logical step in dealing with your worries is to talk to people you trust like your friends."

Shien then wiped her tears with the handkerchief. "This is what friends are for, Elysia. You are our friend. Please let us help you."

"Even though I only met you guys for a couple of hours?" Elysia felt Phoenicia rubbing her back.

"Yes! What? There are rules to be considered a friend? That's dumb."

As Elysia wiped her face with the handkerchief, Shien gave her a sudden hug.

The Vulpi girl wept, wrapping her arms around her. "I'm so sorry. I don't deserve friends like you."

"Friends are friends. Love and friendship shouldn't have any cost."

"I wholeheartedly concur," Phoenicia nodded.

"You guys still accept me despite what I did at Enshiron's?" She asked.

"Of course, we would still accept you," Shien smiled.

"You won't ask me to do..."

"Hmm?"

"My old friends threatened to kill me if I didn't obey them. You all won't make me do something like what I did?"

"Elysia, of course not. We're not loyalty freaks like whoever your old friends were."

Elysia squeezed the two in tears, realizing her new friends wouldn't demand her loyalty like the Waxing Sickle.

"Thank you, I never had friends like you all."

"We're happy to have you as a friend," Shien sat upright. "If you're comfortable, tell us about your previous friends and about what you did. We want to help you the best we can."

Elysia took a deep breath. "Have you guys heard of the Waxing Sickle?"