.hack//Crimson Mirage

Log-in Five <start>

	“Rai Kruz!!” 
	The bolts of lightning fell from the dark sky and struck the Phantom King. 
	Nekoda blocked one of the Halloween’s attacks. “Seluwen, hit it again!”
	The Wavemaster nodded and raised her staff in the air again. “Rai Kruz!” She spun the staff expertly above her head and snapped it down to her side. The lighning bolts struck the Phantom King again and sent it falling in a cloud of data. 
	The Twin-blade jumped away from the pumpkin-headed monster. “Good!”
	The Halloween swung its arms around and claws rose from the cracked ground under Nekoda’s feet. “Aie!!” the Twin-blade cried, stumbling backwards.
	“Thunder Coil!”
	The Halloween disappeared. Nekoda and Seluwen looked at where the monster had just been standing. 
	Ruby-Moon grinned and waved one of her fan-like blades. “Yo.”
	Nekoda pushed herself to her feet – brushing away Seluwen’s hands as the Wavemaster tried to perform Repth. The Twin-Blade stomped over to her twin sister. “Just where have you been?!” Nekoda demanded, balling her hands into fits and resting them on her hips.
	Ruby looked around nervously. “I was in the middle of another task… There were these codes I found and I just had to try them out… You understand, right, Nekoda?”
	The younger sister sighed and rolled her eyes. “Hacking, Ruby?! You were hacking?! I thought I told you to stop!”
	The Twin-blade’s shoulders dropped and she ran a hand back through her short red hair. “Nekoda… You know that I live to be a hacker. Telling me to stop isn’t going to make me stop.”
	Nekoda was about to spat back a response when Seluwen stepped in. “Well, you’re here now, right? Just join the party and we’ll go back to striving to be the top.” The Wavemaster sent a Flash-mail to Ruby.
	Accepting the party invitation, Ruby-Moon smirked. “What do you mean striving to be the top?”
	Her twin’s face broke into a smile. “That’s better, Ruby,” Nekoda said with a laugh.
	Seluwen joined in on the laughter. “Then how about we go back to maintaining our position on the top?”
	“Much better,” Ruby replied with a grin. She closed both of her fan-shaped blades and slid them into the sheaths on her belt. “Let’s go.”
	The three young women began to amble towards the nearest dungeon. The field was like something after a volcano erupted. Black, solidified magma provided space to walk over a pool of still bubbling lava. Bursts of steam spewed from the ground in random intervals. 
	Ruby was using one of her blades as a way to cool her face off. “Where is this damn dungeon, Lu?”
	The Wavemaster shrugged. “It should be around here somewhere…” Her blue eyes scanned over the map that she produced. 
	“Ah, and just what do we have here?”
	The three members of Crimson Mirage slowly turned around – only to be faced with Antony, Ayame, and Kuume. 
	“If it isn’t Nitidus Vallum,” Nekoda announced dully.
	“Greetings, Crimson Mirage!” Antony exclaimed with a hint of sarcasam. “What a pleasure.”
	“The pleasure’s all ours…” Ruby replied dryly. “What brings you here?”
	“The same reason you’re here,” the short, Twin-blade – Ayame – replied curtly. “To level up and become stronger!” Her bubble-gum pink pigtails bounced as the little girl’s sim took a step forward, brandishing one of her blades. 
	Kuume leaned forward, using her pole as support. “Of course, by our standards, I think you got a while to go.” Her lips curved into a smirk and her silver eyes glittered with laughter. 
	Ruby opened her mouth to retort, but – much to her dismay – Seluwen was faster with her bitter reply. 
	“You're nothing more than a slut... Hell! No wonder you're levels are so high. You probably bribed your way to those levels!” she spat.
	Nekoda closed her eyes and grinned nervously, a small bead of sweat rolling down the side of her face. She latched onto one of Seluwen’s arms and pulled her back. “Lu…” she warned with a short, uneasy giggle. 
	Kuume took a step back. “Nani yo?!” she shouted, offended. Her silver eyes narrowed dangerously. Kuume grasped her pole and whipped it out towards Seluwen. “Watch your tongue, brat!”
	Antony rolled his eyes. “Ayame, keep a better restrain on your sister’s outbursts…” he grumbled. 
	The little girl’s bright blue eyes glared up at Antony. “It’s not my fault.”
	The Heavy Axeman stepped forward, placing a hand on Kuume’s shoulder. “Let me handle this…” he ordered. His gold eyes stared listlessly at Ruby – the young woman with her face in her hands and shaking her head slowly. “Ruby-Moon, Nitidus Vallum would like to challenge Crimson Mirage to a battle to decide who really is stronger.”
	“We accept!!” Seluwen shouted, bouncing up and down and trying to pull her arm away from Nekoda. “Lemme at ‘um! Lemme at ‘um!”
	“I was asking your leader, girl,” the young man replied darkly.
	“We accept,” Ruby replied wearily. “Whoever wins gets bragging rights. Anything else?” She was feeling a little crabby from the heat and Seluwen’s hyper-activeness. 
	“No curing spells or items – including Remedies and Antidotes,” Antony decided. 
	Ruby pursed her lips. “Fine.”
	“Draw your weapons!” Ayame cried happily. She gripped the hilts of her ice-pick like blades in her hands.
	Ruby opened both of her blades – the small bells at hanging off the red and black strings jingling. “Who do I get to fight?”
	“Me,” Antony responded curtly. He ran one hand back through his rust colored hair – fox ears twitching. “Ayame, Kuume: each of you take one.”
	“I got the loud-mouthed brat,” Kuume announced, glaring at Seluwen. 
	“Looks like that leaves the two of us,” Ayame stated cheerfully to Nekoda. “Twin-Blade versus Twin-Blade!” Her pink hair bounced as she walked towards her opponent. 
	The moment Nekoda let go of Seluwen’s arm, the Wavemaster was off stomping towards the Long-Arm. 
	Ruby and Antony remained still as their companions broke off into two small groups. “Ready?” the young man asked, hefting his axe over one shoulder.
	“Ready as I’ll ever be,” Ruby remarked dryly, smirking. She snapped her blades into a defensive position. 
	Antony pushed off the balls of his feet, sprinting towards Ruby. “Interesting blades you have there,” he commented wryly. “They don’t look very strong.”
	Ruby crossed her blades over her head and dropped to one knee, catching Antony’s axe right below the blade. She grinned cunningly. 
	He arched an eyebrow. “Seems I underestimated them.”
	“More than you know.” Ruby twisted to the side, swinging one leg at Antony’s knees. 
	The Heavy Axeman jumped backwards, swinging his blade in a downwards slant. “How did you get them?”
	“Oh, you know,” Ruby said casually. She rose to her feet. “A little tweaking here… A little tweaking there… And poof! The Springs of Mist give you a one-of-a-kind item!”
	Antony arched his eyebrow again. “You’re a hacker?”
	“I guess you can call me that,” she noted wryly. “I prefer to call myself a… persuasive player… Something like that.”
	He scoffed. “Hackers don’t need to give themselves poetic titles. Maj Lei!”
	Ruby stumbled backwards as the spell struck her. She coughed into her hand. A dull head-ache pounded in the back of her head. “Damn you,” she muttered, coughing again. 
	Antony smirked. He produced a scroll and began the spell that would activate it. 
	Ruby recognized the scroll and drew out one of her own. 
	At the same time, the two cast a Silence spell on each other. 
	Antony smirked again. His lips formed the words ‘Smart thinking’. 
	Grinning, Ruby dashed forward. 
	The young man used his axe to deflect her blades. Antony twisted his blade around and knocked a weapon on of her hand. 
	Pouting, Ruby dropped to the ground and rolled to the side.
	Antony swung his axe down and hit blade bit into Ruby’s leg. 
	The Twin-Blade’s mouth opened in a silent scream. She clawed at the ground – the other blade falling from her hand. 
	“Ruby!!” Nekoda shouted, ignoring her fight with Ayame. 
	Her opponent dropped her guard as well. “Aya!! Antony!!”
	Kuume whipped around at her sister’s surprised shout. “Antony! Yamero!!”
	Seluwen was about to bash Kuume over the head when the Long-Arm’s back was turned, but she froze in mid attack when she saw Ruby on the ground – surprising real looking tears streaking down her cheeks – with Antony towering over her with his blade in both hands. 
	“We win.” Antony swung his blade down and Nekoda screamed. 
	The sound of steel on steel ended Nekoda’s scream and sparks showered down on Ruby’s terrified face. 
	Audra stood over Ruby, using his staff to stop Antony’s axe. “Just what in the Hell do you think you’re trying to pull, Antony of Nitidus Vallum?!” Audra demanded harshly, pushing against his staff and sending the Heavy-Axeman stumbling backwards. 
	A young woman with long blonde hair tied up in a loop before it dropped down into pigtails appeared next to Audra, one hand on her hip and the other holding the hilt of her long sword. “Tsk tsk... Haven’t you read the news lately?” She arched a delicate eyebrow quizzically. 
	A Twin-Blade with black hair and brown eyes appeared behind Ruby. He helped her to her feet – supporting her with one arm. “Repth,” he said softly and handed her a Remedy.
	Ruby took it gratefully and pulled out the stopper with her teeth. Spitting it out, the young woman put the bottle to her lips and tilted her head back – drinking the contents quickly.   
	Nekoda and Seluwen hurried over to Ruby’s side – but a silver-haired Blade Master stopped them. 
	“What do you think you’re doing, jerk?!” Nekoda shouted, pounding against the Blade Master’s arm. “That’s my sister! She’s injured!”
	Audra turned away from Antony and stared at Seluwen. “I still don’t trust you behind me…” 
	The Wavemaster grinned. “But you seem to trust me enough in RL, Audra.”
	The young man shook his head. “RL and VR are different worlds, Seluwen. It would be wise of you not to confuse them again.”
	Ruby stepped away from the Twin-Blade’s support and limped towards Audra. “They’re becoming much closer than you think,” she hissed.
	Audra returned her stare calmly. “Cyrus, will you please escort Nekoda and Seluwen of Crimson Mirage back to the Root Town? Elaine, take Kuume and Ayame of Nitidus Vallum with you.”
	The silver-haired and the blonde Blade Masters bowed once and gated out – taking the four young women with them. 
	Audra turned to the Twin-Blade that had helped Ruby. “Raven, will you please send a message to Zoë? I wish to speak to her when she has the time.”
	“Of course, Lord Audra,” Raven replied with a bow. His sim gated out and left Audra, Ruby, and Antony alone on the Field.
	Ruby collapsed against a stone, one hand clutching her leg. Her gold eyes narrowed dangerously as she glared at Antony. 
	“Will someone please tell me what either one of you were planning?!” Audra shouted, breaking the uncomfortable silence between 
	“We were just trying to find out who was stronger,” Ruby replied stiffly. 
	“Obviously…” The Wavemaster’s red-ringed silver eyes traveled to Antony. “Do you have any idea what could have happened to Ruby-Moon if you had KOed her sim?”
	Antony didn’t respond. He regarded the administrator in front of him with an odd expression.
	“Do you?!” Audra repeated angrily. 
	“Her data would have been forced to go back to the point where she last saved – and all the items and XP she gained would need to be achieved again,” Antony replied mechanically, as if he was a student being drilled for a lesson. 
	Audra shook his head. “You really haven’t been reading the news, have you?” The young man slowly approached the Heavy Axeman. “You KO a person’s sim, you kill their player.”
	Antony scoffed. “Yeah right,” he said casually. The Heavy Axeman glanced over Audra’s shoulder to where Ruby was trying to maintain a calm composure, clutching her leg with a trembling hand. 
	Her lower lip was quivering and her eyes were squeezed shut. 
	Antony returned his gaze to Audra. “I won’t believe it…”
	“Check the Board or the News once in a while, Antony of Nitidus Vallum.” Audra leaned back. 
	Cyrus suddenly appeared at Audra’s side. “The two members of Crimson Mirage have logged off, Lord Audra. The Twin-Blade Nekoda demands to hear from her sister ASAP.”
	“Very well, then.” Audra turned away from Antony. “Cyrus, please escort Antony to the Root Town – and make sure to thank Kuume and Ayame for their patience. 
	The Blade Master turned his hard red eyes on Antony. Grasping the Heavy Axeman on the upper arm, Cyrus got ready to gate out. 
	“Ruby-Moon!” Antony shouted, gaining the Twin-Blade’s attention. “From here forward, Nitidus Vallum declares ourselves rivals to Crimson Mirage!”
	“The feeling in mutual, I assure you,” Ruby grumbled.
	As soon as Cyrus and Antony gated out, it was only Audra and Ruby left.
	The Wavemaster knelt down in front of Ruby. “Let me see your leg,” he instructed softly. 
	A soft whimper escaped Ruby’s lips as she moved her hand away from her leg. “It’s bleeding,” the young woman whispered with a shaky breath. 
	Audra’s eyes widened in horror to notice that she was right. “My God…” He quickly tore off a part of his cloak. The young man hesitated for a moment, then pulled out a Potion and poured the contents onto the cloth. “I don’t know how well this will work… but…” He wrapped the make-shift bandage around her leg with tender care. 
	Ruby tried to stand up, but her leg wouldn’t support her weight. She fell forward into Audra’s chest – her fingers grasping onto his clothes to keep her from falling some more. 
	Audra’s arms quickly extended to help her – one arm going to her waist and the other grabbing onto her elbow. 
	The two stood frozen, billows of steam erupting around them.
	Ruby acted first, pushing away from Audra with a mighty shove of her arms, shouting, “Sleazy jerk!!” The young woman fell down – landing hard on her butt. 
	Audra moved forward to help her up, but Ruby’s sim disappeared without even gating out. 

~*~

	Séad stumbled over to the single large oak tree in the middle of the Field – the boughs slowly rocking back and forth with the simulated breeze. The Long-Arm gasped in pain as she lowered herself onto the ground at the base of the three. 
	Even if there wasn’t a scar on her thigh, she could still feel the pain. 
	“So, I see you got my mail.”
	Séad looked up to see Leo walking towards her. She forced a smile on her face and nodded. 
	Leo looked concerned as he lied down next to where she was sitting. “Is something wrong?”
	She shook her head, smiling again. “No… not really.”
	“Tell me,” he said casually, looking at Séad out of the corner of his green eyes. “I can tell something’s bothering you.”
	Séad arched an eyebrow. “How can you tell? I just met you like… two days ago…”
	“I’m a people person,” Leo stated, folding his arms behind his head and closing his eyes. 
	The young woman giggled and looked away from him. “Well, I guess I’m just worried about The World.”
	“This world or the real world?” Leo asked – as if to clarify. 
	“This one.” Séad looked back at Leo to find the young man staring at her. “I’m worried about how close it’s linked to RL… I mean, with those player deaths and everything…”
	Leo nodded in understanding, his storm-grey hair falling into his face. “Yeah, it’s pretty frightening… Because like… at any moment our characters can get KOed and we’ll be dead.”
	Séad carefully eased herself onto the ground next to Leo, staring up at the boughs dancing in time to the haunting Field Theme. “But I like it here… on this Field.” She turned her head to the side and smiled at Leo. “It’s so calm and peaceful… and you feel like you can just forget everything while you lay here and look at the stars.”
	Leo’s lips curved into a smile. “Yeah… You’re right…” 
	The young woman closed her eyes and was silent for a while.
	The Heavy-Blade sat up and leaned back on one arm. “You know… You’re pretty, nice, strong…” Leo said randomly, watching Séad as she opened her eyes and stared at him quizzically. 
	“What’s that supposed to mean?” she asked, flustered. 
	“I was just wondering why I’ve never seen or heard of your character before on the board or from any one else…” Leo leaned back on both arm, grinning. 
	Séad shook her head and sighed. “Unlike you, I’m not a people person.” She returned her green eyes to Leo’s face. “I didn’t want to make a name for myself and have people staring at me wherever I go.”
	Leo’s eyes briefly traveled the length of Séad’s sim. “No offense – and not to sound like a pervert or anything – but I think people would probably already give you lot’s of stares.”
	Her jaw dropped and she started laughing in disbelief at what he had just said. “Well, excuse my choice of fashion.”
	The young man shook his head quickly – his grey hair fluttering around his face. “That’s not what I was saying. You look good in that – really. It’s very flattering.”
	Séad reached up with one hand and slapped Leo across the cheek. She kept her fingers pressed against his face. “That was a perverted compliment, Leo.”
	Leo was laughing, one arm half-raised in a meager attempt to defend himself. “But it was a compliment all the same, Séad.” He used his half-raised arm to push Séad’s hand away. 
	The young woman giggled and let her arm fall down onto her chest. “You’re a very interesting person, Leo, very interesting.” 
	“Why, thank you Séad,” he replied graciously. “Hold on…” Leo’s sim froze for a moment. 
	The Long Arm waited patiently until it started moving again. “What is it?”
	The young man shook his head and pushed himself to his feet. “One of my friend’s wants to talk… So I’ll need to visit her.” Leo was about to gate out, but he turned back around and looked down at where Séad was laying on the ground. 
	Séad arched an eyebrow. “What?”
	He laughed and shook his head. “Nothin’.” Leo leaned over and plucked Séad’s had from her chest. “I’ll see you around,” he said, kissing her hand. 
	Grinning at Séad’s shocked expression, Leo’s sim gated out. 
	Séad was left staring with wide eyes at where Leo’s sim had been a moment before. “You certainly are a very interesting person,” she said to herself quietly. 
	The young woman used her weapon to ease herself to her feet. She gated out and saved her game in the Root Town. Séad logged out then logged back in as Ruby-Moon. 
	There was a message in her In-Box Audra’s friend, Jonathan. He wanted to meet her in a Field and talk to her – no fighting. 
	Ruby didn’t really trust him, but she followed the Key Words to the Field.
	Jonathan’s sim stood tapping its foot impatiently. “So nice of you to finally show, Ruby-Moon.”
	“Sorry, Jonathan,” Ruby mumbled. “I was busy with something else.” She leaned back against the base of a giant windmill – then jumped up as an item chanted, “Mandragora!”
	The yellow-eyes Heavy-Blade scoffed. “I’m sure you were. Now, I just wanted to let you know: Audra has a soft spot for you – he’s just going easy on you. But the rest of us in Immortal Adversity are too partial about you little sim killing tricks…”
	“Excuse me? My sim killing tricks? I didn’t do it on purpose.”
	Jonathan rolled his eyes. “Neither of us can prove our claims at the moment, but soon IA will have enough evidence to point the finger at you.” His yellow eyes traveled down to where Audra’s bandage was still tied around her thigh. “Is there a reason why that is there?”
	“Is there a reason why you were looking at my thigh in the first place?” Ruby asked defensively. 
	He shrugged. “It caught my attention, that’s all.”
	Ruby sneered. She could feel the beginning of a headache in the back of her skull. It seemed that Antony’s Maj Lei was still taking effect – even after the Remedy. “If that’s all you have to say, I think I’ll be going now. I’m not feeling to well.”
	“One last thing: Watch your back.”
	The Twin-Blade stared at Jonathan with wide eyes, wondering if he was giving her a warning or a threat. 
	“I’ll keep that in mind…” she replied slowly. Raising her right fist, Ruby gated out.

~*~

	“Hey, Carrie? Can I come in?” Roxs stood by the partially opened bathroom door.
	“Sure,” her sister replied.
	Roxs pushed open the door and looked at her sister with a pitying expression. 
	Carrie looked up from where she was sitting on the counter and cleaning the cut on her leg. She glared at her twin over the rim of her half-frame glasses. “Don’t give me that look, Roxs.” 
	The young woman sighed and tucked a strand of her silver-black hair behind her ear. “I don’t like seeing you hurt like this…” 
	Carrie rolled her eyes. “Please, Roxs… I’ll be okay.”
	Roxs sat down on the edge of the bathtub. “You don’t want to go to the doctor or anything?” 
	Throwing the used cotton swab into the trashcan, Carrie pointed at a box on top of the toilet. “Can you hand me the bandages?” As Roxs opened the box and searched for the bandages, Carrie said, “I can take care of myself. Besides, it isn’t that bad…”
	“You’ve got to be kiddin’ me… ‘Not that bad’, Carrie?” Roxs asked in disbelief. “Antony’s axe freakin’ sliced your leg!” She handed her sister the pads and gauze wrap.
	Carrie began to press the pads against her thigh – a long gash running from her knee to a little below her hip. “He only managed a shallow slice, if you didn’t notice. Other than that, I just can’t wear anything tight-fitting until it heals… probably just skirts and dresses…”
	Roxs shook her head and rose to her feet. “It’s your leg, Carrie… I’ll leave it up to you.”
	Carrie was silent as her twin walked out of the bathroom – closing the door behind her. 
	Once Roxs had left, Carrie continued to bandage up her leg – maintaining a straight face as she did so. As soon as she finished, Carrie cleaned up her mess and swung her legs off the counter. 
	She eased herself down onto her good leg and limped out of the bathroom. “Roxs, do we still have that crutch from when you broke your leg last year?” Carrie called, slipping into her room and pulling on a long skirt. 
	“Lemme check…” Roxs called back. The younger sister hummed to herself as she opened her closet. “No… no… Oh my gawd… how long has that been in there?! Yech… No… Oh wait!” she proclaimed cheerfully. “Here it is!” 
	Carrie sat down on the edge of her bed and listened to her sister tittering to herself about the mess in her closet. 
	There was a muffled crash from the room across the hall, and Roxs shouted, “Eep! My closet is attacking me!” 
	Carrie shook her head and laughed at her sister as Roxs stomped victoriously into her room, brandishing the crutch like a trophy. 
	“Found it!” she proclaimed happily. 
	Her twin watched her antics with a smile on her face. “Thanks, Roxs. Now, how about I help you on that math homework you’ve been having problems on?”

~*~

	“How’s your leg, Carrie?” Aaron asked as the two of them walked down the hall towards the locker room. 
	“It hurts,” she replied stiffly. Carrie looked up at Aaron – his messy blonde hair blocking his eyes from her gaze. “Thanks for... helping me out yesterday,” Carrie mumbled softly. 
	Aaron looked down at Carrie with a surprised expression – as if shocked by the fact that she even said anything nice to him at all. He gave a crooked grin and ran a hand back through his hair. “You’re quite welcome,” Aaron said. 
	Carrie was about to speak again when she heard Leya hailing them “Carrie! Oh, and Aaron too!” 
	The young woman was bouncing down the hall, dragging a stumbling Roxs behind her. Leya’s light brown hair was a mess – as if she had been sleeping in her class. 
	“Hey, Leya…” Aaron and Carrie muttered at the same time. 
	There was an awkward silence between the four people – Aaron and Carrie looking away from each other and Leya grinning stupidly. 
	Carrie coughed politely. “I’m going to head out onto the black-top. I’ll see you guys out there in a few, okay?”
	“Sure!” Leya chimed happily. “So, Aaron? How are you today?” she asked happily. Her grip shifted from Roxs’ arm to Aaron’s.
	Carrie and her sister exchanged eye rolls before Carrie hobbled away with her one crutch. 
	Once Carrie reached the place where rows of numbers were painted in white on the black asphalt, Carrie began to look around for her teacher. 
	“Yo, Carrie! What’s up with the crutch?” 
	The young woman looked over her shoulder. “Oh, hey Max!” Carrie called cheerfully, her hair falling off her shoulder as she tilted her head to the side and grinned. “The crutch? I just go hurt… a big cut all the way down my thigh…”
	Max whistled. “Damn, really? What happened?” 
	Carrie opened her mouth and tried to search for an answer to give him. Luckily, she was saved by her teacher as he came stomping up to Carrie and Max. 
	“Miss Carrie? Why are you not dressed for PE?” he demanded, his hands folding over his chest. 
	“Oh, this is for you,” Carrie said hurriedly, reaching into her backpack and drawing out one of her binders. “I hurt my leg really badly yesterday.” She handed a note to her PE teacher. 
	Carrie gripped the edge of her binder as she held the letter out. Since Carrie and Roxs didn’t live with their parents, Carrie had become rather good at forging letters. 
	Mr. Ryles pursed his lips and took the letter. His eyes glanced over the page, then he refolded the note and slipped it into his clipboard. “Fine then. Please take your seat, Miss Carrie.”
	The young woman nodded and put her binder back into her backpack. She hobbled over to where her number was.
	After a few minutes, Roxs plopped down onto her number behind her twin sister. “Leya wouldn’t stop talking in the locker room…” she mumbled between gritted teeth. 
	“About?”
	Leya and Aaron passed in front of the class, talking animatedly. Leya was hanging off of Aaron’s arm and – at the moment – giggling flirtatiously. 
	Carrie’s upper lip twitched slightly. “That’s… disturbing…” 
	Roxs laughed nervously. “Tell me about it…”
	Mr. Ryles stood in front of the class. “Alright, after stretches I’m going to put you in teams. We’re going to be playing hockey. Now up for stretches! Would the student leaders please come to the front of the class to conduct the stretches?”
	There was a mixed reaction from the class as they rose slowly to their feet. 
	Carrie stepped out of the ranks of the students and approached the teacher. 
	Mr. Ryles handed her the clipboard. “Miss Carrie, I need to run to the office to get something. Would you mine instructing the students as to what teams they are in?”
	“Uh… sure, I guess…” Carrie replied, taking the clipboard from the teacher. 
	“Thanks.” He cast one more glance to make sure the students were doing what they were supposed to do, then turned and jogged towards the main school building. 
	Soon, the student leaders petered on the stretches and began to look around for Mr. Ryles. Noticing that the teacher wasn’t there, everyone decided that they would just rest and talk. 
	“Uhm, hey!” Carrie called from the front of the class. “Class, listen up!” 
	Aaron appeared next to Carrie. “Hey! She said listen up!”
	The class immediately silenced as the senior took command. 
	He grinned down at her. “All yours.” 
	“… Thanks…” Carrie looked down at the clipboard. “Alright, I’m going to read off your teams!”
	As Carrie read off the teams, Aaron stood beside her – an ominous presence silencing the rest of the class. 
	Leya looked on rather glumly as Carrie read the teams… Mainly because she wasn’t on Aaron’s team. 
	Carrie, however, was on Aaron’s team – along with her friend Max. Leya and Roxs were on different teams altogether. After reading the team rosters and announcing who was playing who, Carrie looked up at the class. “Now, split up into your separate teams and get ready to play!”
	Leya bounced over to Aaron. “Too bad we’re not on the same team… We don’t even get to play each other today,” she said with a pout. 
	Aaron grinned nonchalantly as the rest of his team began to loosely cluster around him. “Don’t worry about it. We’ll get to play soon.”
	
Log-in Five </end>