Opening their eyes, Kaveman and Connor found themselves in a narrow green-bricked room. Connor looked at Kaveman, curiously.

"Command Control," he said. "But I don't hear anything. Do you?"

Connor shook her head, puzzled. Kaveman hit the secret door next to them, expecting to see a backpack in the hidden nook, but it was empty!

"This ain't right..." he said. He pulled the chaingun in front of him, as Connor leveled her shotgun.

Kaveman hit the door to the area and it slid upwards. They stepped out, ready for anything.

The huge entry hall seemed empty!

Connor lowered her weapon, looking at Kaveman, perplexed. "What gives?" she said.

"I'm not sure..." Kaveman said quietly. He took her arm and led her to the nearest corridor in front of them. Proceeding cautiously, they crept up the hallway and peeked into a two-story command room. No enemies, no noise.

"This is way wrong," Kaveman whispered. Then they heard footfalls and what sounded like muffled conversation coming from a corridor on the far-left side of the room.

Shadowing the wall, they made their way over to the upward hallway, still hearing voices.

Proceeding quietly, they followed the sounds up to the next landing, peering into a big circular room in front of them.

There was a solitary room situated in the middle of the area, containing four sliding doors and a small moat of ooze. Kaveman caught a glimpse of another person just disappearing into one of four corridors leading out of the room, this one just across the right side of the chamber. Connor was peering over his shoulder.

"Was that another person?" she whispered.

"Yeah." Kaveman answered, turning and looking at her. "And I think I recognized him..."

"Huh?" Connor whispered, shocked, "Who was it?" Kaveman trotted over to the hallway,

following the echoed conversation. Connor was right behind him. He stopped at the entry, glancing back at her momentarily.

"COLE!!!" he yelled down the corridor. There was immediate silence. Connor looked at

Kaveman, incredulous.

She opened her mouth to say something, but Kaveman shushed her.

"Yeah??" came the reply, sounding uncertain. "Who's there??"

Kaveman stepped cautiously into the hallway, "It's me, Ka..." he started, but a sudden shotgun blast from the left caught him in mid-sentence just as he turned that direction, knocking him right off his feet!

"NO!!!!" Connor yelled, rushing over to him.

Cole and CG stood in the next room off to the left, looking stunned. Cole immediately lowered the shotgun.

"Damn!" CG exclaimed, cuffing Cole on the head, "You killed Kaveman, you idiot!!" CG rushed over to help Connor.

Cole, looking horrified as he realized what had happened, rushed over too.

Connor bent over Kaveman's still form, and started unbuckling the blue armor covering his chest. There was a huge black powderburn in the center of it, right over his heart. CG started checking Kaveman's arms and legs, looking for injury. There was none visible.

Throwing the armor open, Connor expected to see massive injury to his torso. His shirt was untouched! She sat back with a great sigh of relief.

"He's not hurt?" Cole asked, peering over Connor's shoulder.

She felt Kaveman's chest for a pulse. It was there, nice and strong. "He's just out, I think."

Now, certain that Kaveman wasn't seriously injured, Connor felt her blood pressure start to rise as she sensed Cole standing near her. She whipped around, glaring at him.

"What the hell were you thinking, you stupid shithead?!" she yelled at him. Cole took a step back from her, shocked. He looked like he'd been struck.

Kaveman started to stir, and Connor and CG gently sat him up, as he groaned and slowly opened his eyes.

"What hit me?..." he muttered, rubbing the back of his head gingerly. Connor helped him slide his pack off his back and positioned it to cushion his head, urging him to lie back and rest.

"Anything hurt?" CG asked. Kaveman moaned, starting to realize what had just happened.

"I feel like I got hit by a truck. ...Who shot me?" Kaveman said, wincing at the pounding in his head. He had a good knot where he'd connected with the floor.

Cole stepped out from several paces behind Connor, looking at the ground.

"I'm really sorry..." he murmured, embarrassed. He glanced at the angry glares from Connor and CG, swallowing hard. Kaveman, realizing now just who had tried to take him out, started to jump up with a roar, furious. He was gonna get that little fucker!...

Connor and CG grabbed his arms and dragged him back, practically sitting on him to get him to stay down.

"FUCK YOU, Cole," Kaveman yelled, "you knew I wasn't an enemy!!"

Cole stammered, "I...I guess I just panicked," he said, having scurried off a safe distance when Kaveman had started coming after him. He approached cautiously, not being able to meet Kaveman's eyes. "I wasn't sure what to expect!!"

Kaveman sat up, shrugging off CG and Connor, still angry. "Did you really think an enemy is gonna know your fucking name??" Cole turned away quickly and scampered off. Connor struggled somewhat as she pushed Kaveman back down, fighting his resistance. He unwillingly complied, still yelling after Cole as CG got up and went after him.

Connor bent close to Kaveman, wondering if she should be taking such a risk, he was still quite riled...

"Aren't you glad I made you wear the blue armor?" she whispered in his ear. He whipped around quickly. Connor shied away, just in case he took a swing at her.

Realizing why she'd flinched, Kaveman reconsidered and sighed heavily, finally laying back, trying to regain his composure. He looked at her, barely starting to calm down.

She handed him a water bottle and urged him to drink. "I thought you were gonna hit me." she said.

Kaveman took a deep swig, glancing in the direction Cole had gone. He wiped his mouth on his sleeve, still furious.

"You have nothing to fear from me," he said. "but you watch… That little fucker's gonna be nothing but trouble…"

After a while, CG found Cole and persuaded him to come back, threatening bodily harm if he protested. They rejoined Connor and Kaveman, CG wielding an additional chaingun and pack.

Sitting together, the four of them proceeded to assess their situation.

"So, you two were playing Deathmatch when you got pulled in here?" Kaveman, sitting up now, asked CG and Cole.

"Yeah," Cole said, still eying Kaveman warily, and ready to jump to his feet, still expecting to be throttled. "We ended up on this level, right where we were in real life, and we caught up to each other and have been wandering around since yesterday."

CG looked perplexed. "How did you two get in here?" he asked Kaveman and Connor.

"We've been playing the game." Connor explained. "Each time we hit an exit, we go into the next consecutive level."

Cole looked at her. "Have you seen any more people? How many levels have you guys been through?"

"This is the third." Kaveman said. He carefully avoided looking at Cole. "We started out in Nuclear Plant. No enemies, just us." He turned his gaze to Connor.

"What about the Toxin Refinery?" CG asked.

Connor indicated that Kaveman should continue.

"We weren't so lucky there." Kaveman said, still looking at her, but now a little more intently.

Suddenly, he changed the subject. "Are you feeling ok??" he asked her, seemingly concerned.

She looked surprised. "What do you mean?" she asked, guardedly. Cole and CG looked at her closely.

"Yeh," CG said, "you look really pale all of a sudden."

Kaveman felt her arm. It was cold. He reached out and touched her cheek with the back of his hand. It was too cool.

"What?" she insisted, looking at them.

"How do you feel?" Kaveman asked, looking at her seriously.

"Tired, cold, hungry...So what's new?" she replied.

"You feel dizzy at all?" Cole asked, "You look like you're going to pass out."

Connor looked surprised. "No!" she exclaimed, starting to feel claustrophobic under the intense scrutiny. "I feel alright, just look after yourselves..."

"Maybe you should lie down for a while." Kaveman said. "You did lose a lot of blood, I still don't think you're completely recovered." Connor shrugged him off and got to her feet.

Stepping away a few paces, she leaned against the wall, looking at them. "Cut it out, you guys." she said. "Yeah, I feel like shit, but there's nothing we can do about it, so we just have to make the best of it."

Kaveman started to get up, but Connor held out her hand, motioning him to stop. He sat back down. "If you're worried about me, I'm flattered, but I fully intent to hold up my end of the bargain, here, alright?"

"Lost blood?" CG said, "What are you talking about? You mean those are bloodstains?" he asked, indicating the dark patches on Connor's and Kaveman's clothes. Kaveman motioned Connor back, and, reluctantly, she came and sat down next to him, leaning on him. He put his arm around her shoulders, companionably.

"Yeah, and most of it's her's." he said.

"When we exited the Nuclear Plant and found ourselves in Toxin Refinery," Kaveman said, continuing, "we also found out that it was just like the real game, including some nasty surprises."

"Real enemies?" Cole asked.

"Yeah," Kaveman said. "we almost didn't make it out of there."

CG and Cole had tons of questions, so Kaveman told them everything he and Connor had gone through up to now. As he related their adventures, Connor scooted a bit and lay down, using Kaveman's outstretched leg as a headrest. CG and Cole listened, enraptured, looking somewhat shocked as they considered what might lay ahead for them all.

"Now," Kaveman concluded, wondering if Connor had fallen asleep; her eyes were closed. "if only we had some food. I think we'd all feel better, especially you..." He glanced at Connor. She opened her eyes and nodded in reluctant agreement. Kaveman grinned. So much for being asleep.. "Have you two found any?" he asked.

"No." Cole said. "Actually, we haven't even gotten the rocket launcher yet. All that stuff that's supposed to be with it in that hidden room... Maybe there's food down there too."

As they all got to their feet and geared up, Connor picked up the rocket launcher and reached for her shotgun, but Kaveman came up to her and took the launcher from her. He slung it over his back.

She looked at him, expectantly.

"Why didn't you tell me the truth?" he asked. "You know you can trust me... If I'd have known you were still hurt..."

She smiled at him. "I didn't lie... I feel good enough to go on, I really do."

Kaveman scowled, but Connor turned to go, walking away.

"Still..." Kaveman called after her, but Connor shook her head, ending the discussion. "Ok, ok..." he grumbled, catching up to her.

The four headed back out into the large circular chamber and cut over to the next corridor on the right, where there was a radiation suit lying on the ground. Kaveman picked it up and examined it.

"Do you think it'll really work?" Connor asked.

"Only one way to find out." Kaveman said, "I'll try it." CG stepped up and took the suit from Kaveman.

"No, Bro.." CG said, "you two have been through enough already. I'll do it. I could use some adventure." They grinned at each other and Kaveman clapped him on the back.

"Ok," he said, "but be careful."

They all walked down a few steps into the corridor, turning into a connecting room that led onto a chamber with a row of steel barrels filled with toxic slime. There was a river of ooze cutting the room in two sections.

CG pulled on the suit.

"Load everything you can on the elevator," Cole said, trying to explain, "then you gotta jump on it right af...."

CG cut him off. "I know...I know...I remember, ok??"

Cole backed off, scowling.

"We'll wait for you under the soul sphere." Kaveman said, concern on his face. "Take care."

CG nodded, then jumped down into the river of slime.

Kaveman, Connor and Cole held their breaths, waiting to see what would happen.

CG stood still in the noxious flow, but felt no discomfort. He gave them a thumbs up and sloshed through the slime, disappearing under an embankment and out of their sight.

The remaining three hurried out into a connecting hallway that led to the main entry hall. They skidded into the open area. There was a soul sphere in a nook right above them, too high to reach.

They could hear movement in the hidden room, which was right on the other side of the wall, windowed by the sphere nook.

"CG....YOU OK?" Kaveman called up to the open window. Connor and Cole looked at each other, then at Kaveman, anxiously.

"Yeah!" CG called back. "There's a lot more stuff in here than there should be. No rocket

launcher, but wait till you see!... I'm workin on it."

A few minutes later, Kaveman, Connor and Cole heard the elevator on the other side of the wall rise, and looking up, they saw CG grinning at them from above. "Toss it... " Kaveman said, preparing to catch whatever came down.

"Heads up!" CG called, tossing down a weapon. Kaveman caught it deftly and took a look. He laughed in amazement. Now this was a weapon to be reckoned with...

"A plasma gun!" Cole said, looking at the weapon almost hungrily.

"Oh no," Kaveman said, admonishingly. "you're too fucking trigger happy, Ain't no way I'm giving this to you..."

Cole's face fell, and he looked at the ground in embarrassment.

"That's mine." CG called down. They all looked up at him. "Cole, you can have my chaingun. And Kaveman, give Connor yours, because I have something I think you'll like even better."

Kaveman put the plasma gun down and looked up in time to catch a massive machine that CG dropped down to him.

Kaveman let out a gasp. A BFG9000! This was the grand-daddy of all the weapons available in the actual game. One blast from its deadly barrel would immediately drop all the enemies in a room...

"Oh yeah..." Kaveman sighed, raising his eyebrows and looking over at Connor.

"Hey, Connor," CG called from above, "you better back away slow, you're the only female here, and I know Kaveman's got a woody after touching that monster." He laughed heartily.

Cole grinned and Connor laughed, seeing Kaveman turn a rich shade of crimson.

"Shut up!" Kaveman shouted at CG.

"Hey," Connor said, "If it's anything like last night, I'm not gonna complain…"

"Huh??" CG exclaimed, and Cole whipped around to look at her. Kaveman shook his head, looking down to conceal his grin.

"Shit..." CG said, not knowing how to retort. He quickly went back to work, dropping ammo and medikits down to Cole, who kept glancing suspiciously at Kaveman and Connor.

Connor came up behind Kaveman, throwing her arm around his neck affectionately. He leaned back against her.

"You shouldn't have said that." he whispered. She growled slightly, watching Cole and CG, who were both still throwing glances at them.

"I'm sorry if I embarassed you." she whispered.

"You didn't. I trust CG, but I don't know what goes on in Cole's twisted mind..."

"I'm not worried about him. I bet I could easily take him out. But that pissed me off… After all we've been through, I'm not gonna let either one of them rib you." she said.

Releasing him, they walked over together and started helping Cole sort through the various supplies.

There were four backpacks and two of them were stuffed with MRE's. Cole looked at the

packages, trying to figure them out. "What are they?" he asked.

"MRE's..." Kaveman said.

"Yeah," Connor continued, "Meals Ready to Eat. Standard rations...Haven't you read Tom

Clancy?"

CG had clambered down from above after unloading everything, and he came over to them and picked up one of the aluminum pouches, opening it. Looking inside, he grimaced. "Ewww. Looks appetizing..."

"I don't care," Kaveman said, opening up several more and laying them out, as they all sat down on the ground together. "we gotta keep our strength up. Especially you..." he said, looking at Connor. She shrugged her shoulders in submission.

"Dig in everybody." Cole said, unhappily.

After eating whatever seemed palatable, Cole, Kaveman, CG and Connor discussed their next gameplan while sorting out supplies and stocking their packs. They were in good shape with a BFG9000, plasma gun, two chainguns, two shotguns, and a rocket launcher.

They were all carrying revolvers, and they had plenty of ammo for all weapons, food, water and medical supplies. The soul sphere and invisibility orb were tucked away, and the radiation suit had virtually no wear and tear.

By this time, it seemed like late afternoon. It had been late morning when Kaveman and Connor had left the last area and come into this one, so it was reasonable to expect that by the time the four headed into the next level, the time frame would correspond. No one really wanted to try and deal with Phobos Lab at night, so they decided to stay in this empty area until morning.

"At least we don't have to worry about getting ambushed." CG said.

"Yeah..." Kaveman muttered, "unless Cole decides to walk in his sleep..." CG laughed, as Cole, sitting on a wall nearby, threw CG a dirty look, stealing a glance at Kaveman.

Kaveman was staring him down, and Connor, who had been piling all the supplies together, straightened up and watched the silent interplay between them.

...This is gonna be a really looong night... she thought to herself.

Hours later, they were all bored. The sky overhead in the huge entry room was pitch black, but no stars could be seen. CG, Cole, Kaveman and Connor had moved farther into the compound, into a maze beyond the blue door.

In the actual game, the maze walls stretched to the ceiling, but here, they were only about chest high. Kaveman, sitting on one of the maze walls, was checking out the BFG, studying its parts, fairly itchin' to try it out. Connor was leaning back, cross-legged, against the base of another wall, watching him.

CG was lying down out of sight in another part of the maze close by, using his pack to rest his head. He was examining one of the MRE's with a somewhat disgusted look on his face.

Cole was sitting in another cubicle, still wondering if what Connor had implied about herself and Kaveman was really true.

After a few hours, Kaveman and Connor, peering over various walls until they located Cole and CG, who were fast asleep by this time, wondered what to do next.

"You tired?" Kaveman asked. Connor shrugged her shoulders.

"No..." she said. "but we should probably try to sleep. There's nothing else to do around here."

Kaveman nodded, looking kind of wistful. Connor knew what he was thinking.

"Yeah," she smiled. "I kinda wanna get back to fraggin' enemies too, but you gotta admit it would be a bad idea at night..."

Kaveman shrugged, sighing. "I know..."

He looked around them. "Where are you gonna bed down?" he asked her. She looked around, trying to make up her mind. Frankly, it all looked about the same... Downright Uncomfortable...

"Right here I guess." She grabbed her pack, which was leaning against the wall, and started to lay down.

"You wanna stay here, or find a space by yourself?" she asked him, stretching out on her back, yawning. "There's enough room if you wanna stay." She patted the ground next to her. Kaveman thought a moment.

"Aww.." he said, shrugging. "I guess I'll take the spot on the other side of this wall. It'd give the guys more ideas if they find us together." Connor grinned.

"Ok," she said. "if you say so." Kaveman grabbed his pack and climbed over the wall, dropping over to the other side. He leaned over, looking at her.

"Don't hesitate to call me however if you need me, got it?" He looked quite serious. She was a little surprised.

"Yeah..." she said, "...sure..." He nodded at her and then proceeded to lie down, getting settled.

Connor rolled over on her side, falling asleep eventually.

Kaveman, however, who wasn't the least bit tired, lay silently, ...waiting. He wasn't sure exactly what he was waiting for, but some part of his instinct was keeping his adrenaline on high.

He knew better than to ignore it.

A long hour later, he was rewarded for his vigilance. He could hear someone start to stir. He closed his eyes, pretending to be asleep, but sleep was the last thing on his mind.

He heard someone walking around, the steps halting, indicating stealth. He knew when the still-unknown someone came and peered in on him, trying to determine whether he was really asleep.

Kaveman lay very still.

Apparently he was convincing, because the person walked away, quietly. Kaveman opened his eyes slightly, seeing Cole's head and shoulders, turned away from him, now standing in Connor's cubicle, looking down on her. He crouched down, dropping out of Kaveman's sight.

Kaveman silently got to his feet, staying low so Cole wouldn't spot him, listening carefully. He heard Connor stir. Taking the chance, Kaveman peered carefully over the wall.

Cole was kneeling down next to Connor, looking at her as she slept.

"Leave her alone, Cole..." Kaveman said, standing up.

Cole jumped back with a quick gasp, startled at having been caught. Connor, hearing them, suddenly opened her eyes and seeing Cole leaning over her, jumped to her feet, backing away.

"What's going on??" she demanded, climbing quickly over the wall and moving slightly behind Kaveman. Kaveman narrowed his eyes as he confronted Cole.

Cole, not knowing what to do, tried to think of some excuse, but none materialized for him. He just stood there, looking like a rat in a trap.

Kaveman crossed his arms patiently, waiting for an explanation.

"I...I..." Cole stammered, "I was just seeing if she was alright! I... thought I heard a noise, and I thought it was her, and just wanted to make sure she wasn't having a bad dream or something!..." CG stood up now, a few feet away, wondering sleepily what the hell was going on.

Kaveman started to climb over the wall, slowly, keeping his eyes locked on Cole, who started backing away, hands spread in front of him as if to ward Kaveman off. He backed into a wall, making himself jump, as he started scooting sideways to get around it.

Kaveman, over the wall now and slowly advancing, was starting to enjoy this...

"Yeah, Cole..." he said, starting to grin wickedly. "I bet you were trying to see if she was ok..." Connor and CG stood in their places as if frozen, mesmerized by the scene unfolding before them.

Cole was out in the clear now, starting to back down a long walkway, still trying to apologize.

"Really, Kaveman, ...I wasn't gonna do anything! ...I...I ...I was just curious, that's all, ...I...

Cole spun around and took off running as Kaveman, who had still been steadily approaching, his expression changing slowly to anger, suddenly lunged at him.

Kaveman took off after Cole, chasing him out a side path leading to the yellow door.

Connor and CG scrambled over walls, hurridly trying to catch up, wanting to see what would happen. Scooting around a bend, they both almost crashed into Kaveman, who had stopped short just past the turn, laughing devilishly as Cole scurried under the yellow door as it slid upwards, and continued running...

"Will someone please tell me what the hell is going on??" CG demanded, totally perplexed.

Connor just shook her head.

"Never mind, CG, I'm still not sure myself..." She turned around and headed back into the maze. CG looked at Kaveman, expectantly, but Kaveman couldn't help cracking up again, slapping CG on the shoulder and heading back after Connor.

Cole was long gone...

CG just stood there for a minute. Then, shrugging his shoulders and shaking his head, he trudged back in after Kaveman and Connor, not sure if he even wanted to know...

The rest of the night was relatively peaceful. Connor, definitely not wanting to be alone, settled down against Kaveman, but it was a long time before she was able to fall into a light sleep. CG, back in his spot, was asleep again practically as soon as he laid his head down on his pack. Kaveman slept well, knowing Connor would wake him if there was any more trouble. Cole didn't show his face again until the morning...

Kaveman didn't say a word as Cole came in to collect his gear. They were all awake now, getting ready to wash up and eat something before entering the next level. Kaveman was again sitting on a wall, watching as Connor and CG, a little ways off, joked with each other, trying to get one or the other to eat something disgusting out of the MRE's.

Cole came over to him, cautiously. "I know it may have looked bad, Kaveman," Cole said, "but you know I wouldn't have done anything... I just ...well... I was curious. That's all." Kaveman narrowed his eyes.

"What exactly were you curious about, Cole?" Kaveman demanded, glaring at him.

Cole looked down at his feet. "Well, you know... whether what Connor said about you two in the last level was really true... Did you guys really... well, you know..." He looked up at Kaveman.

"That's none of your fucking business." Kaveman answered.

Cole looked at him, hesitantly.

"What was it like??"

Kaveman had had enough of this whole conversation. Well aware that if he didn't get away from Cole, he was gonna hit him, he jumped off the wall as Cole quickly stepped aside, letting him pass.

"Leave her alone. That's all I'm gonna say about this, and I don't wanna hear anymore..." He stepped close to Cole suddenly, staring down at him, warningly.

"...Understand??"

Cole squirmed and swallowed, nervously.

"Perfectly..." Cole whispered, hoarsely.

It was finally time to head for the exit and proceed to the next level. Cole carried a chaingun, and slung one of the shotguns over his shoulder. Connor pulled on the rocket launcher and shotgun, slinging the other chaingun in front.

Kaveman had his hands full with the BFG, which was just as heavy as it looked. CG held the plasma gun, then slung it over his shoulder and took the chaingun from Connor.

"I got this for now, you'll get it back when we run into trouble, ok?"

"Thanks CG." Connor said, smiling gratefully.

Cole was irritated. "Hey, no fair," he said, "I'm loaded down too." Kaveman came up to Cole, looking down at him, menacingly.

"You got a problem?" Kaveman said.

Cole backed down immediately. "No." he said, looking pissed.

All four carried backpacks and had ammo belts around their armor. Kaveman put his hand on Connor's shoulder. "How do you feel?" he inquired.

She smiled at him. "Pretty good! ...Let's go."

They headed to the exit without further incident.

Standing in the exit room, Cole and CG looked to Kaveman.

"We don't know what'll happen if you exit separately," he said, motioning to Connor, "so we've been holding hands to stay together."

"Ok" CG said. Cole nodded in agreement.

Kaveman took Connor's hand and she reluctantly took Cole's. CG looked at Cole's outstretched hand in amusement.

"Naw, man, I can't. It's too weird."

Kaveman groaned in exasperation.

"Aw, come on, just grab his shoulder then!" he said. CG nodded and hesitantly, grasped Cole's shoulder. Cole gave him a sidelong glance, and Connor couldn't help cracking up.

Kaveman shook his head and hit the switch.

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