EPT
A Blog Novel Series by Seeker
Graphics by shiroiusagi
Table of Contents
Other
The Delay (read after Ch. 11)The Comeback (read after The Delay)
Special New Year Chapter
Chapter 15
As the afternoon sun was about to set, the gates to TL’s headquarters opened up and six figures walked in through them. The vast and beautiful sights of TL’s landscape greeted them as the gates slowly closed behind them. With a brisk pace, all six of them began walking down the silver stone pathway towards TL’s main entrance.
GMARSHAL: Sorry that it took so long for us to get here. But I guarantee that the whole trip will have been worth it the minute you guys step foot inside TL headquarters.
STUCHIU: GM’s right. Nothing will ever bear that first sight you get when you enter into TL for the very first time. It’s chaotic as crap with so many people bustling about everywhere, but since you know that all that work is dedicated to the world of eSports, it is the most glorious thing in the world.
GMarshal and stuchiu both turned around at the same time and gave a prideful smile to the four new recruits for TeamLiquid. Destructicon, Soularion, banjoetheredskin, and XXTN may have been feeling very nervous, but they were equally as excited. and itching to start their first day of work. The indication as to just how excited all four were feeling was evident as all four of them began talking simultaneously.
SOULARION: If the inside of the building is even better than this outside view then I’ll probably shit my pants.
BANJOETHEREDSKIN: Holy crap, look at the size of the TL horse statue!
XXTN: Wow… This is so much better than anything I could have imagined…
DESTRUCTICON: Open the doors already, I want to see inside!
As the four continued to convey their impatience, both GMarshal and stuchiu laughed to one another as they took the final steps to the gigantic double door entrance to the TL headquarters building.
GMARSHAL: Did you remember to let Plexa know you wouldn’t be at the writers’ meeting?
STUCHIU: Yeah, he knows. Although it’s kind of weird that he hasn’t sent me any updates since we talked this morning. I still have no idea what the meeting was even about.
GMARSHAL: Well, time to find out.
Standing in front of the card reader, GMarshal reached into his pocket, took out his key card, and swiped it across the system.
KEY CARD RECOGNIZED
USER: GMarshal
STATUS: Men in Red
POSITION: Moderator / Assistant Operations Overseer
OFFICE LOCATION: Mafia
ACCESS GRANTED
As the doors opened up, the new recruits were all eagerly anticipating what was to be seen in just a couple of seconds. However, as the doors opened up completely, instantly, all six could tell that something was seriously wrong. The hallways that were supposed to be bustling with all kinds of TL staff people running about were completely empty. Papers were strewn about all across the floors and the entire first floor was deserted.
DESTRUCTICON: Umm… So… Where is everyone?
SOULARION: Yeah, didn’t you say that the first floor was the busiest floor?
GMARSHAL: (slowly walking ahead of the group) Yeah… It’s supposed to be… Where the hell is everyone?
STUCHIU: This is really strange… (checks his watch) There’s still one hour to go before dinner break, and we’re not on a holiday or vacation so no one has an excuse to leave…
XXTN: Is there some kind of staff meeting going on maybe?
GMARSHAL: I doubt it. I didn’t get any notifications on my phone.
STUCHIU: Hmmm… Perhaps there was some sort of emergency evacuation…
BANJOETHEREDSKIN: Uhhh… What? Are we in danger or something?
GMARSHAL: Nah, I’m sure everything is fine-
Suddenly, a loud gunshot was heard from above them. GMarshal and stuchiu simultaneously looked at each other, then instantly both went for their guns, cocked it back, and pointed it towards the direction in which the bullet sound had come from.
DESTRUCTICON: THE FUCK?! You guys have guns?!
GMARSHAL: I’m going ahead. stu, cover me!
STUCHIU: I got you. Be careful though.
Slowly and steadily, both GMarshal and stuchiu began climbing the stairs one step at a time. GMarshal lead the way while stuchiu constantly kept checking all corners and doorways. The new staff recruits followed along but the joyous atmosphere had instantly diminished.
BANJOETHEREDSKIN: Yeah so this may be the wrong time to ask this but… Do we get guns too?
STUCHIU: No. MiR and TL Strategy are allowed guns for protection purposes. And only very recently did MiB get this privilege handed down to them.
SOULARION: Why uh… Why do you guys even need guns?
GMARSHAL: Purely for precaution reasons. Heh… Who would have thought the day would actually come where I had to draw my gun…
STUCHIU: You as excited as I am?
GMARSHAL: (turns around and smiles at stuchiu) Calm down. We don’t shoot unless absolutely necessary remember?
STUCHIU: I know. But you got to admit, the adrenaline gets to you whether you like or not.
XXTN: Uhhh… Should we keep following you guys?
GMARSHAL: As of right now, we have no idea what’s going on, so yes, you will stay with us until we can properly assess the situation. But as soon as we can get you to safety, the better it will be.
Right as those words left GMarshal’s mouth, he turned the corner and stopped dead in his tracks. The hallways leading to the conference rooms were a complete mess. There was debris everywhere and it was very evident that an explosion had taken place. Without waiting a second longer, GMarshal turned around immediately and faced stuchiu.
GMARSHAL: Something’s definitely going on here. And even though I want to progress forward, I think it’s more important that we follow protocol and retreat to a safe zone for now.
STUCHIU: The hell? Dude, look at this place! What if our peers are in danger?! We need to do something, we can’t just duck and cover for safety!
GMARSHAL: stu listen to me! I want to know what’s going on just as badly as you do, but we need to think of our new recruits first and foremost! If anything happens to them, it will be our responsibility. I’m making a call. We retreat, now!
STUCHIU: You… We… Ugh! Fine…
GMARSHAL: I know you’re frustrated, I am too. Let’s head to Disneyland. We need to meet up with TL Strategy if possible and figure out what our next course of action is going to be.
STUCHIU: …Yeah… Okay, let’s go. (turns to face the others) Follow us. We’re going back.
DESTRUCTICON: Umm… I’m sorry, did you just say that we’re going to Disneyland?
GMARSHAL: We’ll explain on the way. There are a lot of inside TL jokes and sayings you’re going to need to learn if you want to keep up. (strides forward to get ahead of the group again) Heh… Guys, welcome to TL… What a welcome…
Inside R1CH’s office, Heyoka was busy hacking away at the multiple keyboards that were in front of him. Just as he was putting the finishing touches on to the TL main system, an email notification popped out in front of him. Filled with curiosity, Heyoka decided to open the email.
From: Seeker
To: TL Admins
Subject: Heyoka
If you are reading this, you have no time to lose. Arrest Heyoka immediately. He is currently under S’ control. He is A G E N T Z E R O
As soon as Heyoka read the contents of the email, he quickly started furiously clicking away at the multiple keyboards in order to try to delete it. Unfortunately, the function to unlocking the email’s security system and exposing it to deletion was highly encrypted, and nothing he was doing was working. Just as Heyoka was about to try to inject the email with a virus to see if it would kill it, a loud beeping noise was heard and Heyoka spun around to see R1CH walk in.
R1CH: What the hell? Heyoka, why are you in my office?
HEYOKA: …
R1CH: What’s going on here-
Suddenly, R1CH noticed Seeker’s email on the giant screen above his computers. After reading what was written on the email, his eyes grew wide, his heart started pumping rapidly, and he began to slowly reach behind for his gun.
R1CH: Heyoka… You want to explain what the hell this email is talking about?
HEYOKA: …
R1CH: …Heyoka?
Without saying anything, Heyoka instantly reached for his gun, and shot it at R1CH’s direction. R1CH was too quick for Heyoka however and ducked out of the bullet’s way. He then barrel rolled over to behind his desk and fired at Heyoka. Heyoka predicted that R1CH would fire at him so he jumped out of the way as fast he could, and took cover behind R1CH’s other desk.
R1CH: (yelling) So, this is how it’s going to be?!
HEYOKA: (yelling) Looks like it!
R1CH: No explanation of any kind then? You’re just going to try to kill me Agent Zero?!
HEYOKA: Sorry R1CH, I’m on a tight schedule right now, and I can’t afford to waste time talking to you.
R1CH: Fine, have it your way. But just so you know, if I end up crippling you for life, you brought it on yourself!
HEYOKA: (chuckling out loud) Cripple me? I would love to see the scrawny TL techie try to do that. Impressive aim with that first shot, I’ll give you that!
R1CH: Oh, have you already forgotten the end results of our training?
With one swift motion, R1CH took out his phone, input a code, and the monitor that was showing Seeker’s email was replaced with a classified document that showed:
TL ADMIN MARKSMANSHIP RESULTS:
1. Heyoka – 4.8/5.0
1. R1CH – 4.8/5.0
3. Nazgul – 4.7/5.0
3. Plexa – 4.7/5.0
5. Waxangel – 4.6/5.0
HEYOKA: (glancing at the monitor) Oh yeah… Very true… Heh, this should be fun!
R1CH: Indeed. I apologize in advance!
HEYOKA: Apology accepted. After all, dead men can’t talk so it’s best you say it all now while you’re still breathing.
The bullet had just barely missed Nazgul. He had felt that something was wrong so he dodged out of the bullet’s direction just in the nick of time. Had he waited a millisecond longer, the bullet would have pierced his heart. The bullet had missed Nazgul, but it had hit a wine glass right behind him. Upon impact, the glass had shattered and shards flew out in all directions. The right side of Nazgul’s face had been cut by the shards and now trickles of blood were pouring down his cheek.
NAZGUL: …Did you… Did you just shoot me?
PLEXA: …
NAZGUL: …Plexa… I’ll give you five seconds to tell me that it was an accident and to apologize…
PLEXA: …
NAZGUL: PLEXA!
PLEXA: …Seeker told me everything. You… Cold… Heartless… BASTARD! WHAT YOU DID TO WAFFLES IS UNFORGIVABLE!
NAZGUL: For the love of God, let me fucking explain!
PLEXA: Explain?! EXPLAIN?! YOU HAD THREE FUCKING YEARS TO EXPLAIN! YOU WAITED TOO LONG, CAUSE I DON’T WANT TO HEAR IT ANYMORE!
NAZGUL: Plexa, calm down, I don’t know what Seeker told you but-
PLEXA: He said you let Waffles die so that Project HerO could come in effect.
NAZGUL: …
PLEXA: Was he wrong?
NAZGUL: …
PLEXA: YES OR NO?! IT’S NOT THAT HARD OF A QUESTION NAZGUL!
NAZGUL: …It was… So much more complicated than that… You have no idea… What happened that day…
PLEXA: I’ll tell you what happened that day. You betrayed me. And no matter what you say, that fact will never change. Nazgul… I thought you were my friend…
NAZGUL: Plexa… Please… Put the gun down…
PLEXA: …
NAZGUL: Plexa… Please… Just put the gun down so we can talk about this…
Plexa remained completely speechless. The gun continued to remain pointed right at Nazgul. As much as he did not want to, realizing that there was no other option left, Nazgul pulled out his gun, and pointed it right at Plexa.
NAZGUL: Put.. It down… Now…
PLEXA: …
NAZGUL: Plexa… PUT THE FUCKING GUN DOWN!
In a split second, Nazgul and Plexa both ducked left as their guns went off simultaneously. Nazgul and Plexa both landed on the ground, and rolled off in their respective directions and took position behind Nazgul’s many bookcases. With daggers in their eyes, both admins stared right at one another through the small openings between the books. Nazgul could see rage and hatred just burning up inside of Plexa. It was no use talking to him, what he feared the most had come to be true.
R1CH vs Heyoka and Plexa vs Nazgul had officially begun.
End of Chapter
