//------------------------------// // Episode 94 - Unwelcomed Silence // Story: EQG: Sword Art Online - Aincrad // by Mindrop //------------------------------// Floor 73 September 18 - Year 2 The blue cleared from Backbreaker's vision as she materialized onto the teleport plaza in a snowed out, brick and mortar city. She stepped off it to allow her party to follow, the packed snow crunching under her heavy boots as she walked. The entire Floor was rock, snow, and ice. Unlike Floor 55, it was just cold enough to keep the snow from melting, but not so cold it had a player shaking in their armor. Still, they were armed with warm cloaks or overcoats to shield them until it came time to do battle. Bladescape’s party was off to the side, waiting. Backbreaker stepped over to her and her party formed up on her. Backbreaker had Lobelia, Thunderborne, Lessa, and Knightstar, and Kiefer. Bladescape’s party was comprised of Doombunny, AFCK, Diemond, Joltron, and Astro. “You are here early,” Lightning Flash Asuna said, as she exited the inn to check on who had teleported to the city. Despite the warmer temperatures of this floor, she shivered a bit. Her armor was not fitting for this weather, and she needed to wear a coat. “The meeting isn’t planned for an hour from now.” Backbreaker nodded to her party and they began to walk towards the Inn. “We were already on the move when we got notice of the Field Boss meetin'. We weren't aware of another Field Boss on the Floor. Yesterday was supposed t'be it. I'm assumin' y'all'll be goin' over that. We can’t be the only confused ones.” “You are not,” Asuna replied. “But come on in, buy a hot drink, and wait it out. We didn’t know until a few hours ago either. That is why there are so many of us here. We were on the move as well.” The sound of a player teleporting onto the plaza made Backbreaker look instinctively. It was Kirito. He jumped off the platform, without any cold weather gear on, and made a beeline for Bladescape. Backbreaker couldn’t hear what they said, but the seven of them immediately began to walk north, out of town. “What is he doing with them?” Asuna asked snidely. It was an odd reaction after the two of them had been finally getting along once again. “No idea,” Backbreaker stated. “So, he is not here for the meeting, but he is heading off with her?” That tone Backbreaker immediately recognized was the disgust of jealousy. Backbreaker didn’t push anything, despite the absolute disrespect of Bladescape. It didn’t matter. Any female player would have earned “her” from Asuna at the moment. Asuna whipped around and headed inside, trying to not storm off. Backbreaker looked at her party. Thunderborne just shrugged while the others kept blank faces. They had already been given RedCon orders. Bladescape was doing another segment of her Quest, and this time she could bring friends. Despite being in RedCon, the field boss meeting forced a change. They gathered who they could, but half the parties were unreachable in dungeons. Bladescape's quest meant she was after the special dragon on this Floor, Fucanglong the Crystal Dragon. She was the third of the Five Great Dragons of Aincrad. Bladescape was going after her for an unknown quest item, but also to retrieve her crystal head. Kirito’s involvement was unexpected and never explained, but it held the same orders from Bladescape, “Shut up, don’t speak a word, and don’t react to anything." Their goals were need to know, and apparently Kirito was on that list. Most of the guild didn’t know about Bladescape hunting the dragon heads. Only the original Wondercolts and the Council knew for sure. Some probably suspected, but knew better than to pry. The military structure allowed them to keep the others out of the loop, while they still functioned 100% on point with the necessary orders. Two parties were level grinding and another two were clearing a dungeon on a lower Floor for Col and XP. The Wondercolts were not as cozy as they once were, but it wasn’t bad. Everyone got along, and everyone felt heard. Plenty members attended the open guild meetings, which was a very nice contrast to the old Wondercolts. There were plenty of other reasons to love the new Wondercolts over the old one. They sat at a table and each of them ordered a mug of hot cider to sip on while they waited. Eighteen KOB members were present in the inn, waiting for the start of the meeting. Most had mugs of cider or empty bowls in front of them. Asuna was slumped, angrily, in a corner chair. Backbreaker looked at each of her party members. Knightstar gave a slight nod, but they were holding to their orders. Backbreaker had no rising trepidations of their ability to stay quiet. They understood what was at stake. Backbreaker had never questioned Bladescape’s choice in her dragon hunting party. Doombunny was the only choice Backbreaker didn’t understand. It was true that she had helped kill the King Black Dragon, and then was brought to the Elvarg battle where she was critical, but it was something more than that. Otherwise, the party made sense. She was getting the best she could while still allowing the Wondercolts to operate a very efficient party structure, capable of doing almost anything, even clearing a Boss Labyrinth. The inn began to fill up before Fuurinkazan showed up. They came directly over to the Wondercolts' table. Klein was obviously looking for Bladescape. He never got a chance to ask as Asuna called the meeting to order and they all gathered around the center table. "North of here is a village similar to this one named Rothaga. The KOB was heading north this morning to get to a dungeon. When we arrived, we found the town in a frenzy. The dragon that lives in the lone mountain in the northwest quadrant of the Floor attacked them, again. They asked for our help, triggering a quest marker. The KOB has hunted a few dragons before, but this one is named. Its name is Fucanglong the Crystal Dragon." Backbreaker knew that her heart stopped and that her immediate reaction was to hold her breath. She forced her body to resume normal behavior as Asuna continued. The Wondercolts had no idea Fucanglong was a Field Boss, or at least was being called one. Backbreaker only knew that the assault on the dragon was prearranged by Bladescape, by at least 3 days. The fact that their party was in the meeting to kill the dragon for a quest was completely unrelated and unplanned. Backbreaker immediately wanted to do the "honest" thing and tell them not to fight, but if she did she would compromise Bladescape's hunt. She was not going to compromise it. She had complete confidence in Bladescape and Kirito. If they failed, Backbreaker would take her party out and make sure they scored the final attack, even if she had to snipe it. But she was confident that they would not have to. "We need to secure the north," Asuna stated firmly. "We will make our plan, all go and trigger the quest, and then kill the dragon." Asuna's plan gave Bladescape time to get the job done. They had already been waiting over an hour. The others would have begun the battle by now. The plan was complex. They were relying on a large number of shields with several key tank positions to take the breath attacks. The KOB's Squad A would be playing the role of the Forwards, with Squad B being a Damage Dealing unit. Squad C was going to be their tank unit. Backbreaker knew her role. She was almost certain what Asuna was going to ask. Lessa's and Knightstar's positions were also predictable. What surprised Backbreaker and gave her hope was that Kiefer, Thunderborne, and Lobelia would make up the second Damage Dealer Unit. That gave them an ample chance to score the last attack if they needed it. Backbreaker's expression had stayed the same stoic pose as she usually held during strategy meetings. She let herself plan in her head only, leaving her face a blank canvas for the others to try and read. She would not let Bladescape down. The longer the meeting went, the higher the chance they would succeed before the raid party began to march out. And it had already taken 45 minutes to get as far as they had. Most of the players, including Backbreaker and her party, had not hunted dragons. The dragons were certainly no match for members of the Assault Team, but they provided a poor return on the time and risk it took to kill a single one. It wasn't profitable on all fronts - Col, XP, or Items - for them to be hunted for any regular activity. That inexperience made for a lot of questions. They wanted to make sure that they knew what it was like to fight a dragon before they went head-to-head with a dragon that was also a Field Boss. A message popped up in Backbreaker's vision. She pulled it up and opened it. It was from Bladescape. All it said was "done." Backbreaker turned to her party and looked each of them in the eye. They gave the slightest nod in understanding. They all went back to silently waiting, knowing the celebration would come later. "How does that look for a plan?" Asuna asked. It was directed at Backbreaker. "It's a mighty fine plan," Backbreaker said. Asuna didn't let her continue. "Then I want you leading Squad C." "No," Backbreaker said plainly. "Excuse me?" Asuna immediately fired back. Backbreaker ignored the interruption and stayed as even keeled as possible. "Because Fut's-Lung is dead." It was a plain statement, not a declaration. "What!" Asuna exclaimed. Everyone was whispering back and forth. "Wait! Is that why you are here with a team and not Bladescape Kaisho? Is that why Kirito went with her instead of here?" "Yup," Backbreaker said with a nod. "But we didn't know it had another quest connected to Fut's-Lung. We didn't know when the meetin' was called that it was for the dragon." "Why didn't you tell us!" Asuna pressed, loudly in her anger. "Are you Wondercolts not supposed to be the generous, kind, friendship guild? You give away map data! Yet you let us waste our time?" "It wasn't a waste," Backbreaker replied calmly. "Up until a minute er'so before you asked me to lead the tanks, the dragon was alive. If they failed, we would've marched on the dragon as you planned." "I feel betrayed," Asuna stammered. "You still deceived us, over what!" "Can't tell you," Backbreaker replied, staying emotionless. "Can't or won't?" Asuna growled. "Won't," Backbreaker said stepping forward to the table. She slipped her hammer off its hook and set it down on the table with a heavy thud. "The Kaisho had business with the dragon." Asuna didn't heed the warning of the warhammer. "I think it matters! Especially when you waste our time." "Like I said, up until you finished plannin' it was alive." "But you are Wonde-" Backbreaker slammed her fist onto the table, shutting up Asuna so she could finish. Now she was losing her cool. "We are Wondercolts! But after all we give, all we do, well I figure that gives us a few times to not let y'all know what we're up to. Our guild has internal business and it's none of your concern. I'm not sorry y'all feel like I wasted your time. I was gunna march out of here with y'all if they failed. But they didn't. End of story." "It wasn't internal!" Asuna yelled back. "I saw Kirito leave with them. Which means he is wrapped up into it as well." "Still internal," Backbreaker said, not budging. "Then why did you need him?" "As I understand it, but I am not kept in the loop, Bladescape Kaisho had the dragon targeted for her multi-floor solo quest she's been workin' on. This was a moment she could take a support party with her, so she did. Who she chooses and what they know is none of our concern. I doubt the others understand what is goin' on, outside it bein' a quest. She keeps it quiet for reasons I can’t explain." Asuna growled, her knuckles turning white as she gripped the table in her anger. Backbreaker decided to be honest about one thing. "Kirito had no idea that the meetin' here today was for that dragon. We had no idea. We knew a field boss meetin' had been called, but that was all. We are not even at that village! Would it have made a difference for our actions? No. They had to kill her." "Six against a field boss?" Klein asked, actually daring to speak up. He was very confused about the seemingly double standard they were facing. "Seven," Backbreaker corrected him. "It was seven. I know that look, Klein. I don't think I can convince y'all that I'm not lyin'. We had business with that dragon spannin' a good while now." "Seriously, what could be so valuable-" "Nothing that concerns you!" Backbreaker said, interrupted Klein and once again banging on the table. " Bladescape Kaisho wouldn't risk the success of the Assault Team and all our lives to knowingly hoard somethin' too important or critical. And I assure you, as our Issa, that I would never let the Wondercolts hoard, hide, or exclude resources from any other players without a darn good reason. "Be angry if you want, but think of all we've done for the players, and then think about all the things y'all've never seen or heard about. We have a right to a few secrets and a right to make a run at any flag mob we want without askin' permission. We didn't know the dragon was a Field Boss. We don't ask for anythin', but we will assert our right to fairly take what we need to keep us up at the top, without jeopardizin' our collective success. Whatever that may mean. "And from what I understand, that quest that's had Bladescape Kaisho wrapped up for weeks now is more important to us all than mere fame or fun." Backbreaker grabbed her hammer off the table, expertly slapped it on the hook on her belt without looking, and then walked out with her head held high. The others followed her, silently, but with heads also held high. Klein rushed out after them. "What gives!" he asked when he caught up to them at the teleport plaza. "You guys are never like this. I'm not sure what is going on, but it's a change and I don't want to lose you over something stupid that I could have helped out with." "That's appreciated Klein," Backbreaker replied. "I'll make sure to tell Blade so she can add a mark to the things you say that aren't dumb." Klein rolled his eyes at the joke. He was being serious, so Backbreaker leveled with him. "Look, I think Kirito and Bladescape are after two different, difficult, quests. They've been helpin' each other out, but I'm not in on it. I'm certain whatever they were doin' it involved his quest too. But they're keepin' it quiet for multiple reasons. That's as far as I can tell y'all. And Bladescape will be even more aloof about it than Kirito." The others hopped up onto the teleport plaza and departed. "Bladescape and her team have probably teleported back to our Headquarters. I need to go there too now that the Field Boss has been beat. We have to plan our strategy for the next few days." Backbreaker hopped up onto the plaza. She called out "Thorn Island" and lost sight of Klein as the blue teleport light filled her vision and she moved across Aincrad in an instant.   Bladescape (SS): Lvl 99 – Two-Handed Sword – Search – Weapon Defense – Leather Armor – First Aid – Battle Regeneration – Sprint – Acrobatics – Blade Throwing – Extended Weight Carry - Greatsword - Rend  Thunderborne (RBD): Lvl 89 – Rapier – Sprint – Acrobatics – Armor Pierce – First Aid – Battle Regeneration – Leather Armor – Weapon Defense – Extended Weight Carry – Search - Martial Arts  Backbreaker (AJ): Lvl 93 – Heavy Shield – One-Handed War Hammer – Extended Weight Carry – Heavy Metal Armor – First Aid – Battle Regeneration – Fishing – Search – Martial Arts – Acrobatics - Sprint - Rend  AFCK(PP): Lvl 88 – Two-Handed Axe – Parry – Cooking – Weapon Defense – Martial Arts – First Aid – Battle Regeneration – Light Metal Armor – Thrown Weapon – Musical Instrument - Rend  Diemond (R): Lvl 88 – Heavy Shield – Mace – First Aid – Battle Regeneration – Heavy Metal Armor – Tailoring – Light Metal Armor Forging – Heavy Metal Armor Forging – Jewelry Making – Extended Weight Carry - Rend  Doombunny (FS): Lvl 94 – One-Handed Dagger – First Aid – Hide – Search – Listening – Battle Regeneration – Fighting Spirit –  Familiar Communication (Colorra) – Drug Mixing – Reveal -- Fencing -  Sprint - Armor Pierce  Astro (PS): Lvl 89 – Two-Handed Spear - Purchase Negotiation – Armor Pierce – Acrobatics – First Aid – Light Metal Armor – Battle Regeneration – Weapon Defense – Parry – Extended Wight Carry - Search  Kiefer: Lvl 89 – One-Handed Curved Blade – Parry – Weapon Defense – First Aid – Battle Regeneration – Light Metal Armor – Slash Weapon Forging – Katana – Martial Arts - Search - Armor Pierce - Sprint  Lessa: Lvl 86 – One-Handed Sword – Shield – Light Metal Armor – First Aid – Battle Regeneration – Equipment Repair – Metal Equipment Repairing – Armor Pierce – Search - Acrobatics - Wood Carving  Joltron: Lvl 88 – One handed Axe – Heavy Shield – Heavy Metal Armor – First Aid – Battle Regeneration – Metal Refining – Cooking – One Handed Weapon Creation – Two Handed Weapon Creation – Extended Weight Carry - Acrobatics  Knightstar (TS): Lvl 83 – One-Handed Sword – Shield – Equipment Appraisal – Parry – First Aid – Battle Regeneration – Light Metal Armor – Search – Armor Pierce - Purchase Negotiation - Sale Negotiation