At the present, Tenshi was in a difficult situation. The shadows from Polygraph_Jazz’s ability had deposited her in a drab prison cell, composed of uneven stone on all but one side, which was in turn blocked off by imposing steel bars. There was only one entrance, a locked gate set in the bars, but it proved impervious to Tenshi's tinkering.
As soon as she had been deposited in the room, she had made a thorough examination of the cell, but she had only succeeded in reinforcing the fact that there was no chance of her escaping on her own. Further, a precursory glance at her menu was enough to tell her that she was unable to use her skills, abilities, or even basic BRYZ functions.
Unable to even access her browser, she slumped back against a corner of the room and tried again and again to connect with her clones, or to send a message to any of her contacts.
After her captors had let her send the screened email to her party, she had immediately tried to send a second message, but it had only returned an error that it could not connect. Left with no other choice, Tenshi began systematically trying every backdoor method she could think of to send out a message. Meticulousness was her strong suit, after all.
And then without any warning, there was another girl in the cell.
Tenshi turned in mild surprise to regard her new visitor. The girl in turn got to her feet and stretched lazily. Glancing around the barren cell, she immediately noticed Tenshi and turned to size up her new cellmate. By Tenshi’s estimate, she appeared to be in her early teens, maybe 13 or 14. Thin and lithe but on the shorter side, this served to accentuate her long copper-red ponytail, which reached well down to her waist.
Around her head, she wore a reddish headband with a flame design on it, and her eyes were a piercing, deep jade. For clothes, she wore only a pair of loose, baggy pants tied off at the bottoms, and a simple chest-wrap of white bandages. A black belt adorned her waist, and she wore nothing but straw sandals on her feet, foregoing socks.
“So, you got nabbed too, didja?” she asked finally, her voice nasal and child-like.
“It would seem so,” Tenshi acknowledged, rising and offering her hand to the girl. “My name is Tenshi.”
“Tenshy, eh?” the girl responded, ignoring the hand and plunking herself down on the ground next to her. “Weird name. Mine’s Riley. Nice t’ meetcha, I guess.”
“How long have you been here?” Tenshi asked, seating herself next to the girl.
“Hmm, dunno how long exactly,” Riley confessed. “I only just logged back in now, but they got me earlier today while I was out hunting monsters with Walt.” She paused and turned to look at Tenshi. “That’s my brother, by the way. Walter’s his name, but I just call him Walt.”
Tenshi nodded in response.
“You’re kinda quiet, ain’tcha?” she asked, sizing Tenshi up and down. Before Tenshi could respond, she had already launched into a new question. “So, found a way outta this place yet? Anyone coming to rescue you? Got enough t’ buy your way out? What’s the story? Spill, girl.”
“I could not find a method of escape, no,” Tenshi replied. “Also, while I do have acquaintances who may attempt my rescue, I have doubts to their probability of success. Further, I doubt that they possess enough to barter for my emancipation.”
“You use some pretty fancy words,” Riley complained. “But in short, you’re stuck here too, right? That’s rough.” She kicked her feet against the stone floor in frustration. “Agggh, this is so lame! There’s no way my kid brother’s gonna pay off these bandits. He’s barely got a red cent to his name!” She slammed a small fist into her palm. “If I ever get my hands on those turd-burglars what kidnapped me, I’m gonna knock their heads together, believe you me!”
In spite of herself, Tenshi smiled a little at the ferocity of her small companion. Leaning back against the stone wall, she was interrupted by a sudden yowl of protest. Sitting forward again, she saw a familiar form dart out from behind her hair.
“Oh,” she muttered. “Cat, you were there?”
The eponymous animal flicked its tail back and forth, shooting her a disapproving glare.
“Woah, ya brought a kitty!” Riley exclaimed, lunging towards Cat, who backpedaled ungraciously, hissing in protest. Not to be dissuaded, Riley scampered forward, trying to box the cat into the corner of the cell.
“I believe he is displeased by your actions,” Tenshi cautioned.
“Naw, he’s just playing hard-to-get.” Riley laughed. “’Sides, if you managed to sneak your cat in here, we’re as good as rescued!”
“Come again?” Tenshi asked, confused.
“Watch ‘n learn!” Riley grinned, exposing a pair of pointed canines. Turning back to her task, she pointed to the cat, then to the exit, then to Tenshi with large, over-exaggerated gestures. “Good kitty, run and get help for Tenshy and I, m'kay? Help, got it? Good kitty, nice kitty…”
Suddenly, the sound of a door swinging open broke the atmosphere.
Riley scampered backwards in surprise, Cat bolted for the cell bars, and Tenshi stood up, hands open and at the ready.
From somewhere around the corner, an ominous figure in a flowing, hooded purple robe with gold trim emerged, turning to face the two imprisoned girls. However, at that very moment, Cat managed to squeeze through the bars and dashed between the stranger’s legs, causing him to stumble on his feet.
“Woah-ho-ho!” he exclaimed, examining the fleeing feline. “Well that’s odd, I don’t think that was one of mine…”
As if suddenly becoming aware of himself again, the man turned to face the two girls, a calm smile visible beneath the hood, even if his eyes weren’t.
“Well, my apologies for the rough treatment,” the man started, rubbing the back of his head apologetically. “Believe me, if it weren’t for multiple escape attempts, we wouldn’t have to resort to such drastic measures.” He gestured to the cell surrounding them.
“Aw, stuff it, fugly!” Riley yelled, slamming her fists against the cell bars, causing the cloaked figure to retreat half a pace. “Whaddaya want with me, huh? I already told ya, there’s no way in Sam Hill my kid brother or me are gonna be able to pay up!”
“Which is indeed unfortunate.” The man nodded apologetically. “Sadly, you must look at this from my perspective. If we release everyone who had no money, every captive we took would claim similar circumstances.”
“Yeah, but…” Riley pouted.
“Come now, I’m not a monster, honest.” The man gave a friendly smile. “We’re not doing this out of malice or anything. As soon as we finish up our operations here, we’ll free anyone who couldn’t pay the ransom. Until then, I suggest you make yourselves comfortable. The cell is quite secure, as you have no doubt already discovered.”
“All this, and to what end?” Tenshi asked, walking closer to the bars. “You claimed to bear us no ill will, yet you detain us here and demand money of our friends. Even if you truly wish us no harm, I cannot guarantee any of us are inclined to the same disposition.”
The man spread his palms dismissively. “It's as you say, really. I won’t claim to be a good man, but among bad men, I’d say I’m quite the gentleman. It’s simply this: thanks to this wondrous new world, we actually have a chance to live exciting, different lives than the usual monotonous, orderly ones we suffer through day by day. In the real world I’m a model citizen, loving uncle, and a good boss. I simply thought it might be fun to play at being a villain for once. You’ve done it too, right? Going the evil route in an RPG just to see what it’s like?” The man shrugged, an apologetic expression on his face “Although, I may just be too nice to play a decent villain after all.”
“Still to answer your question,” he continued. “What do I get out of this? A little fun at your expense I suppose, a little extra in-game money to strengthen my guild, and most importantly, a moment in the spotlight!” The man rubbed his hands together, quivering with excitement. “I’ve already seen the articles and posts detailing our whole scheme surfacing in town and on the net. The Chief’s idea of setting up next to the starter town was pure gold. We’re something of an internet sensation now! We have so many applicants all across the globe, our Chief's been run ragged trying to supervise our new branches.”
“That is the only reason for all this?” Tenshi asked. “A moment of internet fame was worth troubling dozens of adventurers? Such a petty…” Tenshi was suddenly cut short by an unexpected *click*, precursing a voice that seemed to emanate from right next to her.
“Tenshi… Where are you?” Isaac voice rung out.
Tenshi paused. “Isaac? Is that you?” she questioned, tentatively.
“Errr, who is she talking to?” the hooded man asked nervously, turning to Riley.
“Dunno, fugly. Maybe she got tired a’ listening to your baloney,” Riley spat, turning to look at Tenshi curiously.
“Tenshi?!” Isaac’s voice sounded equally surprised. “Wh... Where are you? And how are you communicating with me like this?”
“I could not venture to guess,” Tenshi replied. “However, in light of my skills and abilities being blocked, I would hazard that this is an ability of yours instead. Did you say or do anything that might activate a Sub-Ability?”
“Actually, I might have,” Isaac admitted. “Wait, was that what that clicking sound was?”
Meanwhile, Riley was poking around Tenshi, listening intently for something.
“Who’re ya even talkin’ to?” she asked finally. “I can’t hear nothin’.”
“Curious,” Tenshi returned.
“Hmm? What is?” Isaac asked.
“It would appear that others cannot hear you,” Tenshi returned. “Is it the same on your end?”
There was a short pause. “Yeah, it doesn’t sound like any of the others hear you,” Isaac replied. “They just think I’m talking to myself like a wierdo.”
Meanwhile, the man in the cloak was fidgeting nervously, looking at Tenshi. “Um… you aren’t actually contacting someone else, are you?” he asked. “Polygraph_Jazz assured me he made the cell completely ability-dampening. You shouldn’t be able to reach anybody else through any means.”
“Listen Tenshi,” Isaac continued. “Is there any way for you to tell if you’re in the castle right now? We’re planning a rescue, but I’d rather be sure you’re actually inside the castle before we risk our necks storming it.”
“That sounds dangerous and frankly quite foolish,” Tenshi admonished. “However, yes, I did check the map on my menu. I am most certainly inside the castle, somewhere in the north-east section of it, underground.”
“Um… er… ah…” The robed man fretted to himself. “Well… even if she’s faking it, I really should call Chief, just in case.” After fussing back and forth between the cell and the doorway, the man finally took off into the hallway he had come from, slamming the door behind him.
“Hey hey, are you actually talking t’ someone right now, or were ya just faking to get that muckraker to scram?” Riley prodded, investigating Tenshi.
“We may not have much time,” Tenshi warned Isaac, shooing Riley away. “Our captor just went to fetch somebody he refers to as “Chief”. If they were able to cancel our powers inside our cell, they may be able to sever whatever connection this is.”
“Got it,” Isaac affirmed. “Look, as long as you’re in the castle, that’s all the matters. I’ve got a plan, make sure you’re ready to leave. We’ll start everything at 11:00 sharp, with luck we’ll be in and out within the hour.”
“Be careful,” Tenshi cautioned. “I was unable to discern how many bandits inhabit this area. I will try to downplay our communications to avoid the bandits being on alert, but be on guard in case they do not buy it.”
“Sure thing, Tenshi,” Isaac replied.
Then there was silence.
Tenshi sighed inaudibly, and turned to listen for the returning captor.
“Hey Tenshi?” Isaac’s voice rang out again.
“Was there something else?” she inquired.
“Sorry we didn’t notice you earlier,” Isaac apologized. “We should’ve picked up on it the minute you got kidnapped. We’re supposed to be a team and all, but I really let you down.”
“Apology accepted,” Tenshi returned. “Now get going, and be safe.”
“Roger!” Isaac replied, then there was silence again.
“What happened?” Riley asked, looking at Tenshi.
“Nothing,” Tenshi replied, seating herself back in her corner. “Why do you ask?”
“You’re smiling, silly!” Riley shot back, grinning and sitting down next to her again.
*******
Isaac waited, then tentatively tried again. “Tenshi? Hello?”
Silence.
Satisfied that whatever effect had allowed the two to communicate had ended, Isaac turned and walked back to his teammates.
“What happened?” Charles asked, eyeing Isaac curiously. “You just up and started talking to yourself outta nowhere.”
“I’ll tell you about it later,” Isaac returned, grinning. “Listen guys, form up around me. Here’s the plan.”
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