A Blog Novel Series by Seeker
Graphics by shiroiusagi
Table of Contents
Chapter 7
In the room right across from 113, lichter was heavily breathing and clutching his stomach as he knelt behind the doorway. He was feeling disgusted within every inch of himself for doing what he did to DLO, but he knew that he had no choice. Sacrifices had to be made in order to fulfill his mission. A mission that was taking place that S was not aware of.
24 HOURS AGO
A0: …I need an answer. Are you in or not?
LICHTER: I’m not sure… There are so many things that could go wrong.
A0: Trust me, I’ve worked this thing out from A to Z. As long as you just follow the plan, we’ll be fine.
LICHTER: (sighs) Alright let’s say I’m in. Go over it one more time.
A0: You’ll proceed with phase two exactly as S has planned. You’ll do everything just like you’ve been instructed to do. But you have to intentionally mess up without giving away any suspicions. Leave behind as many clues as you possibly can. Try to screw up but don’t actually jeopardize the operation itself.
LICHTER: Okay. So you want me to make sure everything comes back to me.
A0: Exactly. During your conversation with Chapa, even if he consents to letting you in on the details regarding project HerO, knock him out anyways. TL recovering an unconscious body gives us a higher chance of phase two screwing up. Also, when you’re in the Liquipedia Command Center main coordination room, try to stay there for as long as possible. I’ve reconfigured all the security footage to play back on the main computer. So when salle walks over to A3 and A3 starts to panic and shut off his monitor, that’s when you should finally leave the room.
LICHTER: Got it.
A0: This is the most important part. Don’t actually get caught. If you’re ever on the verge of being found out, then create some sort of diversion and pin all the attention somewhere else. If possible, try to frame a TL staff member and put yourself in the clear.
LICHTER: Huh… That may be easier said than done.
A0: Of course it is. This whole entire operation is a gigantic risk. But it’s a risk that has to be taken. Deep down inside, you know it’s for the greater good.
LICHTER: What exactly is the point here though? Why do you want S to think that I’m a screw-up?
A0: Once S feels that you have become a liability, he will most likely order the rest of the agents to kill you. When that happens, then the mission begins to fall apart.
LICHTER: How so?
A0: S has spent years planning this thing. But the minute he throws in a new task with no preparations whatsoever, something is bound to go wrong. Once things start going downhill, he’ll either have to scrap the whole thing or keep going at the risk of exposing himself. Either way, S will be finished when this is all over.
LICHTER: …But why do you want to betray S?
A0: Because he’s an imbecile. He’s a stubborn moron who doesn’t deserve to be a leader. His vision is too narrow. He only cares about getting revenge on Nazgul by destroying Team Liquid. But I don’t want to destroy Team Liquid. I want to control it.
LICHTER: Alright. I understand.
A0: Good. I’ll keep tabs on you throughout this whole thing. If ever I feel that you’re in danger, I’ll let you know right away.
LICHTER: One more thing. If S orders the agents to kill me, how will I stay alive?
A0: Don’t worry about that. Just leave that part to me.
LICHTER: Just leave it up to you? Are you serious? …You are asking an awful lot from me. There is no guarantee that your Coup d'état will even work.
A0: I know I am. But you said it yourself that you’re in. If you want to back out then go ahead. But just know that I will personally kill you myself in that case.
LICHTER: What?! ... You wouldn’t dare…
A0: (evil smile) Would you like to find out?
LICHTER: …Fine! Fine! I’m in!
A0: Good. Everything begins tomorrow. Best of luck.
ZEALOUSLY: Are you sure it’s lichter?
KADAVERBB: Positive. It took me a long time to get this information but its 100% accurate. lichter is A2.
ZEALOUSLY: Damn… I can’t believe this.
KADAVERBB: I didn’t want to believe it either. But unfortunately, this is the truth.
ZEALOUSLY: Alright. What do you want me to do?
KADAVERBB: I don’t know all the details yet so I can’t tell you exactly what is going on but all I know is that there is some kind of plot to get lichter into the Head of SC2 position.
ZEALOUSLY: Head of SC2? That’s not possible. Wax is in charge of SC2 writers.
KADVAERBB: Exactly. So I know for sure that this plan involves taking down Wax somehow. I just don’t know how yet.
ZEALOUSLY: So stop lichter at all costs from getting this position?
KADAVERBB: Exactly. Apparently they’re undergoing phase one of a multi-phase operation. As long as you can prevent lichter from getting the Editor in Chief position, they’ll never be able to progress forward after phase one.
ZEALOUSLY: Alright. I’ll do my best. Where are you right now?
KADAVERBB: It’s better if I don’t say. If this call gets traced by them then I’m putting myself and you in danger. I’ll just contact you later tomorrow.
ZEALOUSLY: Okay. Good luck.
KADAVERBB: Same to you.
END CALL
WAXANGEL: Hey Plexa. Can we talk for a second?
PLEXA: Sure. What’s up?
WAXANGEL: It’s not really anything major. I just wanted to see if you wanted to help me out with the upcoming Blizzcon projects.
PLEXA: Oh really? I thought you were going to take care of that with your crew.
WAXANGEL: I was but there’s been a small change of plans. I have to go somewhere so I just want to make sure someone can take over in case I don’t make it back in time.
PLEXA: Huh… Alright, sure, I can help out.
WAXANGEL: Great. Here take this file (hands the file over) but please remember not to read any of the papers or watch the disc unless you’re alone.
PLEXA: Unless I’m alone? …Why?
WAXANGEL: Just trust me on this. By the way, do you have anyone who can… Err… Help you with this project?
PLEXA: Hmm? Yeah, I have several people I can work with on this.
WAXANGEL: No. Not several people, just one. One person you really trust.
PLEXA: Oh? Well… I guess I trust stuchiu. He’s helped me out on a lot of things and he’s really reliable.
WAXANGEL: Okay, great. So have stuchiu help you with this once you’ve… Seen everything,
PLEXA: …Okay, anything else?
WAXANGEL: No… I think that’s it… Just… Don’t forget to check out that file.
PLEXA: Don’t worry about it. I’ll take care of it.
WAXANGEL: Thanks Plexa… (reaches his hand out) Thanks for everything…
PLEXA: …(shakes his hand) Sure… You’re welcome Wax.
SMIX: …I don’t really know what to say. I was just running through inventory like usual and I found out that several of the items were missing.
R1CH: Are you kidding me? Do you know what could happen if those products got into the hands of the wrong people?
SMIX: I am aware. But trust me, I alerted you both as soon as I found out.
NAZGUL: Hmm… This is definitely a troublesome situation. There is a good chance that we may not be able to hide this much longer.
R1CH: No, there will be too many repercussions if word got out. We need to track down these items ASAP and figure out what the hell is going on.
SMIX: This may only be a theory but… Perhaps someone inside TL stole them?
NAZGUL: It’s not something I would like to consider as a possibility but we would be putting ourselves in danger if we excluded it altogether. Therefore, yes, we may have to consider the chance that someone on TL may have had something to do with this.
R1CH: Damn… What now?...
NAZGUL: Do everything you can to track them down R1CH. Find out as much info as possible and get back to me.
SMIX: I’ll run through inventory again and double check everything. If we’re missing anything else, I’ll notify you right away.
NAZGUL: Good. Thank you Smix. (turns to leave)
R1CH: Hey Nazgul.
NAZGUL: Hmm?
R1CH: Do we tell Plexa?
NAZGUL: No… We don’t tell Plexa… At least, not yet…
PRESENT TIME
PLEXA: I need you to keep him locked up in Disneyland cell block C for now. I’ll question him once everything has settled down on my end.
TEOITA: Understood. Let’s go pPingu.
As Teoita dragged pPingu out of the medical facility, Plexa watched pPingu with stern eyes. He now understood that whatever was going on right now inside of TL had been planned out for a long time now. Even though he had more questions than answers, he knew that he had to get down to the bottom of everything as fast as possible. As he told himself to get a grip and keep his head on tight, Plexa turned around and headed back into room 113 to check up on DLO’s status.
PLEXA: How is he?
SMIX: I have no idea. All of his readings are completely unstable right now. He should be dead but… he’s not… And I can’t even tell you why that is so.
PLEXA: I see… So there’s nothing you can do for him?
SMIX: I’m already running all known tests on the blood sample I took from him. I haven’t had any matches found yet so… And I can’t even try to stabilize him or anything since I have no idea what pPingu injected him with.
PLEXA: Injected?
SMIX: Yeah. You can see a hole in the IV drip bag. I knew immediately that the color and fluency was off. There’s definitely some sort of substance running through DLO’s body right now. Until I find out what it is though, I can’t even attempt to treat him since I’ll run the risk of killing him even faster if something goes wrong.
PLEXA: …Damn… Any idea what happened to lichter?
SMIX: Your guess is as good as mine. I swear he was in here the last time I checked up on him.
PLEXA: When was that?
SMIX: It was pretty recent. Maybe somewhere about fifteen minutes ago?
PLEXA: (sighs) Okay. What about-
Suddenly, a loud beeping came from the computer system that was inside room 113. Smix quickly ran over and started rapidly checking things out on the monitor. All of a sudden, Plexa noticed that Smix had stopped dead in her tracks and was standing still like a statue. There was no movement nor sound coming from Smix. Plexa knew immediately that something was wrong.
PLEXA: Smix? Are you okay? What’s going on?
SMIX: …
PLEXA: Smix? What the hell is going on? Tell me!
Without saying a single word, Smix slowly reached for the phone, picked it up, and started dialing. After a couple of seconds the other party picked up and Smix began talking in a very slow and dazed manner.
SMIX: Hi… I have no idea how this is even possible but… I need to treat DLO for specimen Zerg 4… Yes… I understand… Yes, Plexa’s here… Okay… Are you sure you want to do this?... Roger… I will take care of it.
As soon as she hung up the phone, Smix quickly ran over to the medicine shelf next to the bed and opened up the very bottom drawer. After shuffling around for a couple seconds, Plexa suddenly heard a small clicking noise. Smix then got up and headed over to DLO with a small syringe in her hand. After she injected the fluid into DLO’s veins, she dropped the empty syringe right there where she was standing, and started shaking uncontrollably.
PLEXA: (running over to Smix) Is everything alright? What just happened? What is specimen Zerg 4?
SMIX: …
PLEXA: Damn it Smix, I am getting tired of the constant silence! Start talking, now!
SMIX: …You need to go to Nazgul’s office…
PLEXA: What?
SMIX: You need to go Nazgul’s office… Now…
PLEXA: What are you talking about? Why?
SMIX: Please… Just go… They’ll explain everything…
PLEXA: They?
SMIX: Please… Just go… I can’t say anything else…
PLEXA: I’m not going anywhere Smix. I need to know if DLO’s going to be alright.
SMIX: DLO will be fine. There is nothing you can do for him here. Please go now…
PLEXA: Smix what is going o-
SMIX: PLEXA JUST GO! PLEASE JUST GO! I CAN’T… I can’t… I…
Feeling confused more than ever, Plexa slowly began to back away from Smix and started to head out the door. Right as he opened the door and was about to head out, Smix called his name again in a very shaky voice.
SMIX: Plexa…
PLEXA: (turns to face Smix) What?
SMIX: Please don’t hate me… Or think any less of me… Or any less of us… When you find out…
As soon as those words left Smix’s mouth, a tear began to fall down from her left eye and run down her cheek. Unable to be in that room any longer, Plexa exited the room as quickly as possible and slammed the door shut. As he stood there clutching the door handle, Plexa suddenly realized that he couldn’t breathe properly. As he took a moment to try to catch his breath, he began to think back to all the events that had occurred that day. He knew that all of this was insane and that he wouldn’t be able to handle much more. But realizing that he had no other choice, he slowly got up and began walking out of the medical facility and towards Nazgul’s office, fully aware of the fact that the surprises of that day were far from over.
End of Chapter