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 17
SALLE: I’m not sure… Even if lichter did somehow get into our systems, why wouldn’t the records keep track of it? None of the systems say that anyone logged in his key card this morning.
NOVEMBERSTORM: Hmm… Do you think someone in Liquipedia could have done it?
SALLE: Not possible. You have to have direct access to the systems to do something like that. It can’t be done from outside. So unless it was someone from… from… the inside… (suddenly stops talking)
NOVEMBERSTORM: salle? You okay?
SALLE: (suddenly getting up from his chair) I’m sorry Nov… I… I have to go talk to someone. I’ll see you later.
Without saying another word, salle quickly left the main coordination room as NovemberstOrm just stood there, confused and curious as to what was going on.
I have to go talk to someone. I’ll see you later.
INCOMING CALL: SALLE
KADAVERBB: Hello?
SALLE: It’s me. Are you alone?
KADAVERBB: Of course I’m alone. I’m on a rescue mission in the middle of freaking nowhere. How the hell could I not be alone?
SALLE: …I was just asking geez…
KADAVERBB: Sorry. I have a short temper right now because locating Wax has been a real bitch. Every time I get close, something new always pops up and I end up having to start over from scratch.
SALLE: Seriously?
KADAVERBB: Yeah. S did a really good job of hiding his tracks. I’m getting worried that I won’t be able to get there in time. Anyways, what’s up?
SALLE: I’ve been checking things out in the main coordination room up till now when I ran across something.
KADAVERBB: What is it?
SALLE: Remember how you told me that there’s a traitor among us?
KADAVERBB: Yeah.
SALLE: I think it’s pPingu.
KADAVERBB: pPingu?! Are you sure?
SALLE: Positive. Earlier, someone accessed our systems and ran our programs through an external server. I tried to track down who it was but all the history had been erased. Only Liquipedia staff has access to delete history, and there was only one person assigned to work the CC this morning.
KADAVERBB: And that was pPingu.
SALLE: Exactly. So now what should I do?
KADAVERBB: You’re going to have to do whatever it takes to track down the information that pPingu sent to S. We need to find out what was leaked and if we can recover any of it if possible.
SALLE: Alright. I’ll see what I can do. In the meantime, I’ll alert the admins and tell them to arrest pPingu.
KADAVERBB: NO DON’T!
SALLE: What? Why?
KADAVERBB: Because right now S thinks his operation is going smoothly without any hitches. I need him to keep thinking that. If we arrest pPingu right now, then S may call the whole thing off. If that happens, our one chance of capturing him goes down the drain. I’m sorry salle, but for now, just keep all this information to yourself.
SALLE: Damn… Well, I don’t like it but I see your point. I’ll keep quiet for now… But what happens if keeping quiet comes back to bite us in the ass later?
KADAVERBB: That’s a risk I’m afraid we have to be willing to take. If we’re going to stop S, then we have to let him continue to think that we’re clueless and have no idea what is going on.
SALLE: Shit… How did things turn out this way…?
KADAVERBB: That’s what I’m trying to get to the bottom of right now. I got to go. Keep me posted on anything else.
SALLE: Alright. Stay safe.
KADAVERBB: I will. Oh, before I forget, did pPingu have an accomplice?
SALLE: An accomplice?
KADAVERBB: Yeah. Did he allow anyone else to enter the CC?
SALLE: Hmmm… Let me check the security cameras.
KADAVERBB: Waste of time. pPingu wouldn’t be stupid enough to forget about security cameras.
SALLE: And you’re underestimating me if you think those are the cameras that I’m talking about.
KADAVERBB: Hmm? What do you mean?
SALLE: I was always afraid of the possibility that someone on Liquipedia staff would betray us and hijack the security system. And it’s highly likely since a good portion of them have access to the servers. So, with R1CH’s permission, I was able to install a secret secondary security system that only he and I have access to. There are cameras installed in the CC right now that not even Nazgul is aware of.
KADAVERBB: Are you serious? That was really smart of you to do that. Damn!
SALLE: Yup. Looks like I made the right call on that one. Now let’s see here… Yeah, just as I thought, there’s pPingu… And he’s opening the door for… What the… LICHTER?! I’m sure of it, that’s lichter!
KADAVERBB: (sighs) I was afraid of that…
SALLE: What do you mean? Did you know about this?
KADAVERBB: Yeah, I knew. It wasn’t easy but I finally managed to find out the identity of one of S’ agents. lichter’s codename is A2.
SALLE: …I can’t believe this!
KADAVERBB: Believe it. This is precisely why I instructed Zealously to do everything he can to make sure lichter didn’t get power over the SC2 writers.
SALLE: And?
KADAVERBB: It didn’t work out as well as I’d hoped. lichter didn’t get Wax’s position but he was still promoted to red status. He’s obtained a lot of new authority over TL, and that means that it’s going to be much more difficult for us to apprehend him now.
SALLE: Holy shit… Are you kidding me?
KADAVERBB: Nope. That’s why my next course of action is to- What the hell?!
SALLE: What? Are you okay?
KADAVERBB: I just heard several gun shots go off. They came from not too far from where I’m at. I got to go. I think I see a building up ahead. If I’m lucky, this is the building that I’ve been searching for, which means that Wax is being held there.
SALLE: Okay. Good luck. And be careful!
KADAVERBB: You too. Remember, don’t reveal any of this to anyone. We don’t know who we can trust at this point.
SALLE: I understand. Call me as soon as you find out anything else.
KADAVERBB: I will. Bye.
END CALL
Plexa stared down at the bed and instantly froze. He could not believe what he was seeing. Smix was also speechless right next to him. pPingu slowly turned his head over to see what was going on. When he saw the body that was lying on the bed, his eyes got wide and his heart started pumping rapidly. It was not lichter that was lying on the bed. It was DarkLordOlli.
PLEXA: …Wha-… (slowly turns towards pPingu) W-where the hell is lichter?
pPingu: (in a shocked voice) …I …I don’t know…
Where the hell is lichter?
Within the medical facility, inside room 113, lichter was being treated for his stab wound by Smix. Suddenly, Smix’s phone gave off a noise that notified her of a visitor at the entrance. She quickly left lichter’s room to see who was at the door. As soon as the door shut behind her, lichter opened his eyes. He sat up on his bed, lifted the covers and checked out his wound. lichter smiled to himself as he reflected upon just how well he had played off the situation that had arisen. Just in case he would have to stab himself and get himself out of a sticky situation, lichter had consumed the point defense drone serum, which is why he virtually felt no pain after he stabbed himself.
Just as he was about to get out of bed and contact S, lichter noticed his phone had a message on it. He clicked on the message and read the contents:
A2 has become a liability. Eliminate at once.
Once again, lichter smiled to himself. What S did not realize was that he had inputted a new number into A1’s phone under the name A10. So when S thought he was contacting all the other agents but him with A1’s phone, he also ended up sending the message to A10, who did not actually exist. So lichter received the message on his phone and now he knew that S had ordered all the other agents to kill him.
LICHTER: I knew you would do this S. You have a history of eliminating agents who fail you. So I planned ahead because I anticipated something like this.
However, even though lichter now knew what was going on, there was still the problem that there was now a hit out for him. Just as he was pondering his next move, lichter suddenly heard a knock at his door. Quickly, lichter leapt back into bed. He knew Smix wouldn’t be knocking on the door, which meant whoever was at the door was looking specifically for him. The doorknob slowly turned, and lichter heard the door open and someone walk in. He knew he only had one shot to do this right. If someone had come to kill him, he would get them before they could get him. Right as lichter prepared to jump out of bed and kill his attacker, he heard a familiar voice.
DARKLORDOLLI: Oh damn lichter… I never thought I’d see you lying down in a medical bed like this…
LICHTER: Don’t worry DLO, I’m fine.
DARKLORDOLLI: DAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!! (jumps back) W-what the hell?!
LICHTER: Hah, yeah, I’m fine as you can see.
DARKLORDOLLI: How is that possible?! I heard you got stabbed in the gut!
LICHTER: Yeah, you heard right. But it’s cool. (gets up from the bed) What are you doing here?
DARKLORDOLLI: What do you mean? I heard you got stabbed so I came to check up on you.
LICHTER: Oh, that. Yeah, well, thanks for checking up on me, but like I said earlier, I’m completely fine.
DARKLORDOLLI: Yeah I can see that… How the hell is that possible?
LICHTER: It’s a secret. But don’t worry because I’ll let you in on it someday.
DARKLORDOLLI: A… A secret? What? I’m confused…
LICHTER: I’d love to explain everything to you but I don’t have the time right now. DLO, I need your help.
DARKLORDOLLI: Need my help? Why, what’s going on?
LICHTER: I think my life is in danger right now.
DARKLORDOLLI: What? Does this have something to do with the stabbing incident?
LICHTER: Well… Kind of… You see, the thing is-
Before lichter could finish his sentence, he suddenly heard an object flying through the air. Next thing he knew, DLO was slumped down on the ground with a dart sticking out of his neck.
LICHTER: …The fuck? (looks up)
NOVEMBERSTORM: Yo. I hope I made it in time.
LICHTER: Nov?! What are you doing here?!
NOVEMBERSTORM: You don’t have much time so I’ll cut it short. Heyoka sent me.
LICHTER: Heyoka sent you?
NOVEMBERSTORM: Yeah. He told me there was some crisis going on and that I should help you get out of here as soon as possible.
LICHTER: Wait… You brought DLO with you?
NOVEMBERSTORM: Yeah. Heyoka told me to knock him out so you could switch places with him.
LICHTER: Oh… I see…
It didn’t take long for lichter to figure out what Heyoka was planning. Heyoka must have found out that S had ordered all the agents to kill him. So he sent NovemberstOrm to help him switch his place with DLO while Nov was working under the false pretense that DLO would be fine. But lichter knew…. He knew that DLO was the sacrifice and that he would be killed in his stead.
LICHTER: Listen… Nov… I appreciate you helping me out here but I’m not so sure I can go through with switching my place with DLO.
NOVEMBERSTORM: Hmm? Why not?
LICHTER: Because he-
Suddenly, lichter froze in his tracks. He heard rapid footsteps coming down from the hallway.
NOVEMBERSTORM: Oh shit! That’s probably pPingu.
LICHTER: pPingu?! Are you sure?
NOVEMBERSTORM: Yeah. I was distracting Smix up at the front so DLO could sneak in here and check up on you. I lied and told him that we were just visiting to see how you were doing. While I was talking to Smix, I saw a figure approaching the medical center out of the corner of my eye. I quickly excused myself and said I had to go to the bathroom. Smix opened the door and from where I was hiding, I saw pPingu was here.
LICHTER: I see… How much did Heyoka tell you?
NOVEMBERSTORM: To be honest, not much. Quite frankly, I’m not even sure what’s going on here. The only thing Heyoka told me was to high tail it out of there if pPingu or Teoita showed up. Why is that?
lichter did not respond immediately. He knew that Heyoka was taking advantage of Nov right now. Unfortunately, he was running out of time so he had to make a decision. He didn’t want to sacrifice a friend in his place, but lichter had a goal he needed to accomplish, and he couldn’t afford to get himself killed right now.
LICHTER: Alright, I’ll explain everything to you later. For now, let’s hurry up and put DLO on my bed.
NOVEMBERSTORM: Okay. Err… Nothing dangerous is going to happen to him right?
lichter chose not to answer. In one swift motion, both he and Nov had lifted DLO off the ground and on the bed where lichter had previously lain. The footsteps were really close now. Realizing that he had no time left, lichter quickly adjust the covers so that DLO’s face couldn’t be seen and then headed for the door to his room.
LICHTER: Thanks for everything Nov. I’ll see you later.
NOVEMBERSTORM: See me later? Aren’t you going to leave?
LICHTER: No. I still have something I need to do here. Get out of here while you can.
NOVEMBERSTORM: I don’t understand…
LICHTER: And I don’t have time to explain. Bye for now.
Without saying another word, lichter quickly ran out of his room and went into the room right across. More confused than ever, Nov also left lichter’s room and left the medical facility out the backway entrance. Once he made sure that Nov had left through the window, lichter crouched out of the way, pressed his ear right up against the door and patiently waited for pPingu to arrive.
LICHTER: Sorry S… I’m afraid I can’t die yet. Mainly because I’m going to do whatever it takes to make sure you die before I ever do…
HEYOKA: How’d it go?
NOVEMBERSTORM: I don’t think it went well at all. What if he dies? …Are you sure I did the right-
HEYOKA: Yeah you did fine. And don’t worry. He won’t die.
NOVEMBERSTORM: Are you sure? I feel like I did something wrong here…
HEYOKA: Trust me you did everything that you were supposed to do. Anyways I have some stuff I need to take care of. Are you going to be okay?
NOVEMBERSTORM: Yeah I’ll be fine. I want to check up on him frequently though, make sure he’s okay and everything.
HEYOKA: Go ahead. You’re a good friend.
NOVEMBERSTORM: Thanks. Let me know if you need me for anything else. (walks away)
As NovemberstOrm walked away, Heyoka smiled to himself.
HEYOKA: You really are a good friend… You’re a good kid, you’re nice, you’re naïve, you’re stupid, and you’re gullible… You are perfect for my mission. Thanks Nov.
INCOMING CALL: HEYOKA
ZEALOUSLY: Hello?
HEYOKA: Kadaver called me and explained everything. How are you doing?
ZEALOUSLY: Not so good. As long as they think I’m the one responsible for what happened to Chapa and lichter, I have to stay hidden.
HEYOKA: I know. Don’t worry though because I’m taking care of everything from over here.
ZEALOUSLY: Really?
HEYOKA: Yeah. You’ll be out soon. Just hang tight for now.
ZEALOUSLY: That’s so great. Thanks a bunch Heyoka.
HEYOKA: In return however, I’m going to need you to do something for me.
ZEALOUSLY: Absolutely, whatever you want.
HEYOKA: Excellent.
END CALL
In return however, I’m going to need you to do something for me.
Within KadaverBB’s office, Zealously was impatiently pacing back and forth for almost the hundredth time. Right as he was about to pick up the phone and call Heyoka, he heard a knock on the door.
ZEALOUSLY: (suddenly alert) Who’s there?!
HEYOKA: It’s me. Let me in.
ZEALOUSLY: Are you alone?
HEYOKA: Yeah. You’re safe now.
Slowly, Zealously opened the door, made sure Heyoka was alone, and then opened the door all the way to let him in.
HEYOKA: Alright. We don’t have much time so I’m going to make this quick. I was able to cause a distraction so the search for you is off right now.
ZEALOUSLY: For real? Oh damn… (sigh of relief) Thank you so much Heyoka…
HEYOKA: Mmm… Don’t thank me yet. If you may recall, I said you would have to do something for me in exchange for me getting you out of this bind.
ZEALOUSLY: It doesn’t matter. Whatever you need, I’ll do it.
HEOKYA: Okay, good. I’m glad to hear that. I need you to kill R1CH.
ZEALOUSLY: ...Huh?
HEYOKA: Well, you don’t necessarily need to kill him. Just keep him busy and preoccupied in conference room Jinro while I do my thing. But of course, if he tries to retaliate or escape, you have my permission to gun him down.
ZEALOUSLY: …You want me to… THE FUCK?!
HEYOKA: I really don’t have time to explain so I’ll try to make this is as simple as possible. I recently found out that R1CH is a secret agent working for S. He betrayed TL and has been giving S all kinds of access into TL’s systems.
ZEALOUSLY: Wha… Are you serious?!
HEYOKA: Yes, of course I’m serious. That is why it’s important that you keep R1CH inside conference room Jinro at all costs. I’m going to go ahead and disable all of R1CH’s computers and override his access so we can shut out S completely from our systems.
ZEALOUSLY: Oh my gosh… This is unbelievable…
HEYOKA: Well, it’s time to believe it. (hands Zealously a gun) Take this and make sure no one leaves conference room Jinro. If R1CH questions you and demands to know why you’re doing this, just tell him that NovemberstOrm is a traitor and that you are trying to keep him from leaving.
ZEALOUSLY: What? I’m supposed to tell him that NovemberstOrm is a traitor?
HEYOKA: Yeah, I’ll get into that a little later. For now, just take care of R1CH.
ZEALOUSLY: Get into it later… WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?! Are you telling me that Nov has something to do with this as well?
HEYOKA: Zeal, TL has been severely compromised. You just can’t trust anyone right now.
ZEALOUSLY: …This has got to be some sort of dream…
HEYOKA: It’s not. This is reality. Now hurry up and get going. We seriously don’t have any time left to be talking about this.
ZEALOUSLY: …Okay… I really can’t believe what you’re telling me right now but… The only guy I can trust right now is you so…
Without another word, Zealously cocked back his gun, and headed off towards conference room Jinro. Heyoka watched as Zealously slowly disappeared from his sights.
HEYOKA: (laughs to himself) Yup… The only guy you can trust is me… How ironic is that?
With that, Heyoka walked off in the direction towards the Liquipedia command center. He only needed one more person to convert to his side for his plan to be complete. Everything was coming together for Heyoka. Nothing and no one could stop him…
Or so he thought…
End of Chapter
