Once Dead Round 3 Part 1

Once Dead Round 3 Vs Toren, Jaya, Caspian, and Spinner

Past Experiences Part 1-Giving Hope


Eclipse tossed and turned in his sleep. Memories of his death suddenly hitting him full-force as well as the events from the Paradox tournament. Every time, he hears the heartless laughter of that witch and soon shot up in a sudden coughing fit. He felt feverish so he decided to get an ice pack as well as some tea with honey and lemon in it for his cough.

*What’s wrong with me all of a sudden…?* He thought as his fever subsided and the tea did its magic. *Why are those memories suddenly appearing? Did something happen outside?*

Just before he had the chance to look, he noticed his pendant was flashing red, signalling something was wrong. He activated the screens and gasped!

<WARNING!: Infected with unknown virus!>

That what was flashing on the main screen. He inwardly cursed as he deactivated it and put his pendant around his neck. No wonder why he didn’t feel well and the past is haunting him!

He also figured he wasn’t the only one.

“Hey Eclipse…” New Moon suddenly said, breaking out of his thoughts, “look at that.”

He noticed all three of the programs were looking out the window so he looked and saw that once again the environment changed. Unlike last time where it seemed happy and romantic, this time it was more sinister and there was a large alien ship crashed near the lake. There were also mutated creatures, no doubt a result from the potion pollutants from the lake.

He didn’t have time to ponder as he also saw soldiers taking some of his neighbours to the Administration building for, no doubt, quarantine considering the situation, and some were about to come to his door. Quickly grabbing his Spellblade and a convenient backpack from the closet the programs hid in to suppress their glow, he dashed out the back.

“Oi Eclipse!” he suddenly heard Barlow  after running for a while and saw him motioning to hide in a dumpster, and wasted no time to jump in so his friend could close the lid. “Stay quiet lad…”

He held his breath as he felt the dwarf move the dumpster a ways before it stopped and he heard the gruff voice. “It’s alright now, yeh can come out. It’s safe.”

As he was opening the lid, he faintly heard Illi complain, “For goodness’ sake Barlow, why must you bring a dumpster in here?”

He soon jumped down to answer the question. “Oh.”

“I couldn’t leave him out there,” Barlow explained as Eclipse let out the other three. “I have this feelin’ he could help us greatly in findin’ a cure from past experience.”

“What do you mean?” she asked as Eclipse turned to her with a serious look on his face, ignoring her new look and the past incident.

“Not long before my death in the Paradox tournament,” he soon began explaining, “Para trapped many of us in the tunnels of this alien planet, releasing a virus into the air that screwed around with our minds, keeping us from seeing who’s friend or who’s foe among other effects. This virus is small compared to that…it also explains part of Noia’s condition from the last series of events here.”

Barlow shuddered as he remembered that crazy lad.

“I promise you, I’ll help in any way to try to stop this virus…And I’m not failing a second time.”

When he made that promise, his eyes flashed in determination. Illi nods. “Very well. The mission I have for you is a dangerous one. I need a large sample from the alien inside the ship. Don’t worry about killing it; Deadberry already had done the honours. With that sample I hope to make a cure. Be wary though; my sister is gathering others to keep under quarantine at the administration building and no doubt she recruited others to stop you. Evade them at all costs and get me that sample. And try to hurry; time is of the essence.”

He nods before leaving, taking orders like this was not unknown to him considering his past life. But as he entered the forest to make a plan, he thought of those who were stuck in quarantine. Was Veronica among them? If she was, she needed a word of hope. They all do.

“Moonlight?” He soon said, catching the attention of the mint green program. “Do you still have your programming that tried to keep Nacht in check?”

“Yes I do,” he said with a nod and soon caught on what Eclipse was asking. “I do believe it may keep the virus weakened but unlike Nacht it’s biological so it won’t last as long. About two hours at most.”

“That’s plenty of time. I’m going to the administration building to see if I can give some hope to those stuck in there. While I’m away, you three try to figure out a plan to get in the ship, get the sample, and get out without being caught by the soldiers or whoever else is on Eli’s side. Let alone the creatures. Understood?”

They all nod as Moonlight prepared for the switch. Eclipse soon disappeared but in his place, wearing the kimono and bearing angel wings was Moonlight. Eclipse soon reappeared in his own ghost-like form but unlike the other three he had no wings and was glowing crimson. Nodding to them in trust he soon flew off.

It was tricky for him to fly past the guards without them seeing him but thankfully lady luck was on his side and he found the rooftop vents were open so he slipped inside. He travelled through for a good few minutes until he heard some very familiar cursing and followed the sound to a vent that was somehow open and was over the cafeteria. He saw it was Veronica trying to chew out a couple of guards that were restraining her and keep her from leaving. He waited until they left to float inside, seeing her sit down in a corner.

“Hey Veronica,” he said gently, surprising her.

“How the f*** did you get in here?!” she snapped in confusion.

“Lady luck left some vents open but I can’t stay for long. I heard about the virus and everything from Illi. I agreed to help get her a sample to get a cure made.”

She scoffed before having a slight coughing fit. Looking around Eclipse saw a water bottle on one of the tables so he brought it to her. “Here, drink.”

She took a sip but was surprised on his sudden kindness. “Why the hell are you being so nice to me? I thought you hated my guts.”

“There is a time to hate and a time to show mercy and when mercy is shown, mercy is given,” Eclipse said wisely. “It’s one of the many things my father told me after everything back in the Paradox Tournament. Besides I have some experience in this kind of situation. Before I died I was infected with a virus that messed around with my mind, erasing some memories and made it hard to tell who was friend or who was foe. It wore off when I became like this. It also explained part of Noia’s condition from the last hotel.”

“Oh I remember that little s***…he kept ringing my bell.”

“And he kept calling me Toyota so we’re both in the same boat,” he said with a smirk and that got a small grin out of her. “Anyway from my experience I made a vow to help with this cure and end this virus. The symptoms are small compared to Para’s so there’s nothing to worry about for now. Just don’t lose hope or else everything is truly lost. I know it sounds easier said than done but please at least try.”

Veronica was still unsure until he saw the determination and signs of promise in his eyes. “Alright…I’ll try.”

He smiled until he heard footsteps. “I have to go but don’t worry. There’ll be a cure before you know it. Just be patient and have hope.”

She nods and he floated up into the vents just before a couple of guards came in with another victim of the virus. One of the guards noticed the open vent so he closed it, not noticing the crimson glow that disappeared inside.

Eclipse wasted no time to get back to the camp, to find Barlow there. “Illi asked me to drop off some stuff for your sample collectin’ and she says good luck.”

Eclipse nods and he looked to the other three before saying. “Let’s go. Our mission has begun.”

To be continued…