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Post by Neku Sakuraba on Oct 15, 2011 10:15:31 GMT -5
I sat at the counter in Veil, drinking soda that had been brought me by one of the waiters. Strangely, Lea didn't seem to be here today - which worried me, because I knew he never took a day off. Halfers don't get sick very often, either.
I'd finished off my glass, and was about to order another one, when Lea walked in, wearing everyday clothes, grabbed my arm, and dragged me from where I sat.
"Whoah! Hey, Lea, what the hell are you doing?!" I yelped, trying to keep from falling over. He looked back at me, and I could tell immediately that something was wrong. He shook his head.
He dragged me back to the backroom, which is reserved for Network members and large birthday parties.
"I need you to call your Contacts," he told me. "I need you to send a Code Beta."
I stared at him like he'd lost his mind.
Code Beta is the Network's second-highest alert level, second only to Alpha, which signals widespread invasion. When Beta is sent out, it means, "Call all available Otherborn. Anyone you can get ahold of. And have them all call any Otherborn they know of that the Network hasn't gotten to."
"Lea, are you nuts?" I asked. "What's going on?"
He clenched a fist.
"Ifrit."
One word, but my eyes widened.
"You mean...."
"Yeah. He's found me - and he wants me, and the city, for himself." He started to pace. "He sent a demon through to find me. And I get the feeling that he didn't know I would be where I was - because I didn't know I would be where I was. Which means that he's been sending them out to actively look for me."
He turned, glared at me.
"He's been sending his pawns out to die. Which means..."
"The knights come next," I said simply, and Lea nodded. "Then, the Crossings..."
He nodded again, and I sighed.
Pulling my cell out of my pocket, I sent out a text. It said simply -
Calling all Contacts.
Code Beta.
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Post by Shiki on Oct 15, 2011 10:48:26 GMT -5
Shiki was at her apartment, keeping herself occupied. She was putting some books away that she'd been reading when she heard her phone ring. She put the books down on the floor and walked over to the table where she had put her phone. Neku's name flashed on the screen, and she curiously raised an eyebrow.
"Neku?" She mumbled to herself as she flipped open her phone to read the text message.
Calling all Contacts.
Code Beta.
Shiki gasped and her eyes widened. Code Beta; not good. She snapped her phone shut and ran over to her desk, throwing herself into the chair. She went into full Contact mode, typing away at her computer. She sent out an e-mail to all her charges.
Code Beta!
This is an alert from the Network! Call any Otherborn you know. I'll keep you posted.
Short and simple; she had no idea what was going on. She grabbed her phone and sent Neku a text.
Where are you?
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Post by Neku Sakuraba on Oct 15, 2011 11:05:27 GMT -5
I looked at my phone.
"Damn, she's quick," I said aloud.
Backroom of Veil. Meeting's in three hours, pass the word, I texted back.
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Post by Lea on Oct 15, 2011 11:06:57 GMT -5
"She's good," Lea said, watching the surprise on Neku's face when his Contact responded right away. "I can see why H-man picked her for the job."
Not many people had what it took to be Watchers, even Contacts.
"You gonna think about promoting her to Coordinator?"
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Post by Shiki on Oct 15, 2011 11:12:21 GMT -5
Shiki looked at the message and replied back.
On it.
She set to work sending out another e-mail.
Meet at the Backroom of Veil in three hours. Bring any Otherborn you know.
As soon as the message was sent she was out the door and heading for Veil. Not before she made a quick stop though. It was her fault for not getting Namine's number when she had the chance. She raced over to her place and knocked on the door.
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Post by Sora Shimomura on Oct 15, 2011 11:31:56 GMT -5
Sora, who had been keeping an eye on Shiki during her rather...worrysome statement in the hospital raised an eyebrow as she ran out of her apartment.
Where is she running off to? Sora thought, following her to some house at the edge of the street.
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Post by Shiki on Oct 15, 2011 11:43:12 GMT -5
Shiki shifted her weight impatiently from one foot to the other. Damn, she really wanted to get down to Veil...
She turned her head and noticed Sora out of the corner of her eye. What's he doing here? She waved to him anyway, figuring she better let him know what was going on.
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Post by Sora Shimomura on Oct 15, 2011 11:47:10 GMT -5
Sora grimaced that she noticed him, shrugging he walked over to her anyway. May as well make it seem like they just ran into each other, again.
"Hey cowgirl," he said, "saw you running in a hurry, where's the fire?"
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Post by Shiki on Oct 15, 2011 11:52:46 GMT -5
Normally she would've rolled her eyes and made a sarcastic comment, but she was too anxious to do so right now. She lowered her voice so no one else could hear her.
"Something bad is going on. Neku sent me a message; I'm heading over to Veil after I get Namine. It has to do with the Otherborn."
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Post by Sora Shimomura on Oct 15, 2011 11:54:34 GMT -5
Sora raised an eyebrow, though inside he was relieved she wasn't out doing anything stupid...er, well, the stupid thing he thought she was gonna do.
"Let me see the message."
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Post by Shiki on Oct 15, 2011 11:58:30 GMT -5
She pulled out her phone and scrolled down to Neku's first message.
Calling all Contacts.
Code Beta.
Shiki handed him the phone, her expression grim. She doubted he knew what it meant, but whatever.
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Post by Sora Shimomura on Oct 15, 2011 12:09:04 GMT -5
Sora looked at the message...and actually started to laugh, it started as a chuckle and then it expanded to a laugh.
"Code Beta?! You actually have a Code Beta?" he laughed, "I hate to see Code Alpha or Code Epsilon even!"
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Post by Shiki on Oct 15, 2011 12:18:18 GMT -5
Shiki gave him a weird look as he started to laugh. "Geez, what was in your coffee today?"
This time she rolled her eyes. "I don't get texts like that everyday, so something must be up. I wish Neku would've told me a little more, that way I at least have some idea of what's going on."
Yeah she was a little annoyed, but it was normal for her. She got like this whenever messages were sent out for stuff that had to do with her job. She tapped her foot. She was so getting her number this time.
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Post by Sora Shimomura on Oct 15, 2011 12:21:00 GMT -5
Sora stopped laughing, "Sorry, I keep forgetting you guys are a group..."
He looked at the phone in her hand and suddenly had a mischievous idea.
"Well since I have your phone and all...lets see what else is on it," he chuckled, turning his back on her and pretending to sift through her inbox.
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Post by Shiki on Oct 15, 2011 12:27:08 GMT -5
Shiki's eyes widened. "Hey! No!" She tried to grab her phone back.
The only thing embarrasing in there were the constant texts she'd gotten from Mr. H, checking up on her. They were teasing; he knew her well enough to know what embarrassed her.
But still, no one needed to know he was constanly asking how she was. Shiki found herself laughing though as she threatened Sora. "Give me back my damn phone!" Maybe she did need to relax for a moment.
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