An Error Has Occurred! A sequel to Revenge of the Banned

[Horsefan1023 (Seal)]

*looks up chica*

Aw, thanks Marie!  I discovered that I was very close to being done with the chapter, so I just finished it up.  I nearly forgot how fun it was to write.  >.<

[KitsuneMarie]

Just for saying that, you are an English teacher's dream come true.

[Horsefan1023 (Seal)]

Haha, I'm glad!  I've always wanted to make Ms. Klein's day.   

[Gumby]

You sure get a lot of feedback on your fanfics, lucky...

[Blocky97]

Youre totally gellin

[Gaz]

Awesome new part!

[Horsefan1023 (Seal)]

...

*looks at chapter I'm posting right now*

*smiles*

Chapter Eight--Probably the Shortest and Most OMG Chapter You Have Ever Read

   "Aloth, why don't you escort our guest to her room?  I'm sure she's dying to lay down for a while," Said Queen, smiling evilly at Terenia, who was handcuffed and gagged.
   Aloth s****ed, then pushed Terenia through the hallways of the Banned's new home.  (Author's Note:  The bleeped out word is s n i g g e r e d)
   Terenia had been interrogated about life on RAF.  The only info she gave away was that life was peaceful now.  She said nothing about the patrols, the scars, or the changes in RAFlife.  She made it sound like everyone was exactly the same.  She even lied that estrid had been promoted to mod because Claire was dead.  (Author's Note:  For now, I'm keeping the staff as Richard, Goom, Russell, and Mike, and formerly Claire, because I said that Richard wanted to honor her memory by not apointing new staff, and besides, why would he appoint new staff while the RAFians are scattered everywhere?)  So, all in all, in Terenia's version, it was like everyone was peaceful and had gotten over Claire's death.
   Though they didn't believe her, the Banned just smiled and nodded.  And now she was being shown to her room--or probably more accurate her cell.
   Aloth gave her one last push, then said "Stay there."  He began a long and complicated process to unlock the cell door.  Terenia looked between the bars.  There was someone else in the cell, though the person's face was hidden in shadows.  Could it possibly be Cloaky?
   Aloth, before he opened the door, turned to Jessi, undid her gag, and took off her handcuffs.  Then he punched in one more code, pushed open the door, and almost literally threw Teach inside.
   Terenia hid the floor with a thump and skidded a few feet.  She heard footsteps, and her cellmate helped her to her feet, saying, "Up you come, Terenia.  Are you okay?"
   Terenia was about to answer when she saw her cellmate's face.  At once her mouth fell open with shock, and she nearly fell over.  This...but how?  "Wha...but...you're...you're dead!"  Said Terenia, her mind going blank with surprise.
   "I am?"  Said Claire.

[A ghost you know]

Oh. My. Freaking. Goodness!

This is quite a chapter! I don't recall the last time a book chapter gave me such a jolt...
Great work! I can't wait for more!

[spoiler=Technological mutterings /w/ a potential plot spoiler]
So, we have a couple of possibilities here.
#1 (preferred): Terenia ended up in an alternate (parallel) universe where Claire was still alive. Given some of the others' destinations, as well as Claire's surprised reaction to the news of her "death", I wouldn't be too surprised if this was the case.
#2 (nasty possibilities): the nanovirus has the ability to alter... the very fabric of spacetime? Or perhaps worse? I don't want to even think about what could happen if this is the case.

I don't think there is a logical third scenario, but I could be wrong.
[/spoiler]


(Just a thought: I've read RotB, so I know the background. I doubt there are many who haven't read it, but you might want to link to it on the first page, just in case someone hasn't. This chapter's effect is totally dependent on the reader having read RotB first)

[Gaz]

WOW! That was surprising! 

[Horsefan1023 (Seal)]

Chapter Nine--A Little Explaining That People Have to Do

   "Alright, you've got some explaining to do, Claire!"  Said Terenia once she could form a coherent sentance.
   "Explain what?  You're the one who's saying I'm dead!"  Said Claire, who was almost as confused as Terenia.
   "Horsie and Cloaky both swore you were dead!"  She said.  When Claire still looked confused, Terenia sighed and launched into her story.
   "After the battle, Cloaky chased Dagger as she ran from you and Horsie chased Cloaky as you were chasing Dagger.  You know that."
   "Right."  Said Claire.
   "Then the horde came up the hill and attacked."
   "Right."
   "And you shielded Horsie."
   "Right."
   "Then numbers overwhelmed you."
   "Eh...sorta right.  But go on.  I'll tell my version later."
   "Horsie and Cloaky both lost sight of you here.  There was pure chaos going on now.  When Queen called the horde back, the people left you.  Horsie crawled over to you and said you had no heartbeat."
   "Um, wrong."
   "Then another wave came charging up the hill--retreating--and Horsie lost sight of you again."
   "Right...?"
   "When the people cleared away, you were gone, and there was a heap of ashes where you used to be."
   "Okay," said Claire, holding up her hands.  "Time for the real version.  Up to the part where the numbers overwhelmed me was right.  So I get separated from Horsie, and get beaten to the ground.  I'm doing good at first, then one sneaks up from behind and conks me on the head with God knows what.  So I'm on the ground, and they're all beating the crap out of me when suddenly Queen calls and they all leave.  I'm barely conscious when Horsie crawls over and starts feeling for a heartbeat.  She must have missed it, because she wasn't there for long before the second wave come charging up.  I hear Aloth yelling, then some people are suddenly carting me away.  The heap of ashes must have been the plants I landed on because when I fell on the ground I was kind of on fire.  Then they beat me unconscious and I end up here, where I've been for, like, a year.  So THAT'S why you didn't look for me...you thought I was dead!"
   Terenia stared in silence.  After a few seconds, she said "This is...kind of sad.  We all were mourning and crying, Richard gave a whole speech in your honor, we all donated some money to buy you a grave, Richard and the other mods decided not to replace you to honor your memory, and it turns out that's all pointless because Horsie made a mistake."
   "That's very sad."  Agreed Claire.  "Would you rather me be dead and it all to have a point?"
   "No!"  Said Terenia vehemently.  "I was just saying that it's sad."


   It was raining.
   Shanker turned on his back and gave a feeble croaking laugh of joy, openining his mouth and letting the fall into it, soaking his parched and dying body with water.  He had never been happier.
   Shanker had woken up a few days ago in the middle of the ocean--no longer a vampire.  After the green stuff had flown his way, he had immediately woken due to the fact that he was several feet underwater.  Kicking his way to the surface, Shanker had assessed his situation.  No food, no water, no land in sight, and no idea where the heck he was.  He had remained alive by floating and treading water until he found a piece of driftwood.  It was fairly large, enough for him to lay on with room to spare.  Unfortunately, with no food or water, that wasn't much of a difference.  As the sun beat down cruelly, Shanker had slowly began to thirst and starve to death.  And he might have been going insane from boredom too.
   But now it was raining, and this water was clean and fresh--no trace of the salt he had grown to hate.  The only problem he had now was lack of food.
   After a while, Shanker was still enjoying the feeling of the rain on his face, even though he felt like he was going to explode from drinking so much water.  He closed his eyes blissfully, enjoying the silence, except for the rain pitter-pattering on the water.
   SPLOOOOSH!
   Shanker sat straight up, and gripped the driftwood as a wave sloshed up from...something.  He examined the water, and saw three dark shapes approaching fast...
   "M-mom!  Where are we?"  Exclaimed a young, frightened voice. 
   "Don't worry Shadow, we'll be okay.  I just teleported us to the first place I could think of.  We'll make a plan."  This voice was kind and gentle, with a reasurring note in it.
   "Can you make a plan fast?"  Said a delightfully familiar voice.  "I'm soaked!"
   "Jess?"  Croaked Shanker, his voice hoarse from thirst and unuse.  The three figures bobbing about in the water turned to face him.  Two were cloaked--God knew how they were staying afloat with all that fabric--but one was clearly Jess.
   "Shanker!"  She exclaimed, swimming over to his piece of driftwood.  He scooted over so that she could sit on it as well.  "What the hell are you doing all the way out here?"
   "You tell me," he said hoarsly.  "Just mindin' my own business when suddenly some green stuff comes shooting at me and after some really weird stuff I see, I'm here.  How did you get here?  And who are those people?"
   "My name is Faith," said the older cloaked person.  She pointed at the piece of wood, and it suddenly elongated, making room for them all comfortably to sit.  She helped the smaller person up on the wood, finally climbing on herself.  "I'm Cloaky's sister.  This is--"
   "I'm Shadow!"  Interrupted the smaller one in a bright, cheerful voice, apparently unaffected from her dunking.  "I'm Cloaky's niece!  It's nice to meet you!"
   "Er, you too."  Said Shanker cautiously. 
   "Why don't we catch up in a more comfortable place?"  Said Faith.  "Where would you like to go?"
   "Back to RAF!"  Said Shanker and Jess in unison.
   "I want to see what happened," said Jess.
   "Very well."  Said Faith.  "Shadow, hang on.  No--don't jump on my shoulders!  Here, take my hand.  Alright, Jess, Shanker, you ready?  Hold on tight."
   With a slight twirl of cloak, they all vanished, leaving nothing behind but a piece of wood.

   Captain Tyler was on the phone.
   "Mortar.  Mor-tar!"  He said exasperatedly.  "You know, you stick bricks together with it.  How much?  Well, how am I supposed to know?  Just send enought to build a really big building!  No, I don't want to rent some robots!  Just send the mortOOF!"
   All the breath was suddenly squished out of Tyer as fell to the ground under the weight of some wet people.  The phone clattered out of his hand, and he reached for it.  Once he grabbed it, he said "Don't do anything!  I'll call you back!"  Once he hung up, he said "Alright, whoever you are, get off of me!"
   "Captain Tyler!"  Exclaimed a familiar voice, and as the weight got off of him, hands pulled him up.  "I'm so sorry for squishing you!"
   "Jess Girl?"  Said Tyler in disbelief.  "You're back!  And you're wet!"
   "Yes I am!"  Said Jess cheefully.  "And, uh, I went for a little swim.  I don't like it either."
   "Quit complaining," said another familiar, yet croaky voice.  "I was out there for days.  Soaked 24/7!  I hate salt now."
   "Shanker, you're back too!"  Said Tyler, thumping his friend on the back.  To his surprise, this caused Shanker to fall onto his hands and knees. 
   "Careful, buddy," He said, pulling himself back up.  "I've not had any food for days, I'm a little...unstable."
   "Oh."  Said Tyler.  "No food for days?  Why?  Where were you?"
   "The middle of the ocean."
   "What?!"
   "You tell me!  I have no idea."
   "Who are these people?"  Said Tyler, staring at Faith and Shadow.
   "They're Cloaky's sister and neice, Faith and Shadow," explained Jess.  "I showed up right by their home, and when Dagger showed up and attacked, Faith accidentally teleported us right into the middle of the ocean, where we found Shanker."
   "Oh.  Nice to meet you," he said to them with a slight nod.  Shadow was looking around in awe at the now slightly organized looking piles of rubble.  "Well, come on," continued Tyler.  "This is some good news for a change!  We can cross you off the Missings list."  He began walking away.  Shanker and Jess glanced at each other.
   "Missings?" Said Shanker.
   "It's the people who are right here at RAF," said Jess sarcastically.  "Those are the missings.  Come on."

   "All right, let's review this one more time."  Said Richard, holding a pen above a long list of names.  "The main missing members are Steph, demos, Este, Gaz, Horsie, Think, Shanker, Jess, Taiyoh--hey!"
   Richard looked up indignantly as someone snatched the pen out of his hand, uncapping it and firmly crossing out the names "Shanker" and "Jess" on the list.  The Admin's face broke into a wide smile as he recognized the holder of the pen. 
   "Shanker!  You're back!"  His smile vanished and was replaced by a concerned frown.  "My goodness.  You look awful."
   "Thanks a bundle," Shanker croaked sarcastically.
   "You know what I mean," said Richard.  "What happened?"
   "I ended up in the middle of the ocean."  Explained Shanker again.  "I barely survived long enough for it to rain, but then luckily Jess found me."
   "Jess?  Where is she?"
   "Right here, Richard!"  Said Jess cheefully.  "I was better off than Shanker here.  I ended up right outside the house of Cloaky's sister and neice.  Richard, meet Faith and Shadow."
   "I've heard lots about you, nice to meet you Mr. Richard!"  Said Shadow with her usual candor, grabbing Richard's hand and shaking it enthusiastically. 
   With a slight chuckle, Richard said "It's nice to meet you too, Shadow.  Ah, and you must be Faith, nice to meet you."
   "Nice to meet you too, Richard."  Said Faith evenly, shaking his hand in a much more gentle manner than Shadow's yanking.
   "So I find a piece of driftwood and--hey!"  Began Shanker, but ended with the protest because of the pen being yanked from his hand.
   "We can cross Steph, demos, Think, Alic, Taiyoh, and CANADA off the list!"  Said Stephquiem happily, scratching out said names.
   "Steph!"  Cried a voice.  Everyone turned to see Aluminator (Author's Note: His name is probably different, I'm just keeping it as Aluminator for now.) sprinting around the piles of brick and board before glomping Steph with much enthusiasm.  "You're back!"
   She laughed.  "Lumy!  I missed you!"  She held him at arms length, surveying him up and down.  "You look fine."  She declared.  "You must have stayed here."
   "I did," confirmed Lumy, examining Steph.  "And you look hungry, tired, and wet.  I'm guessing you were out in some meadow?"
   "I was," confirmed Steph with a smile.  "It wasn't that bad, I just need a meal and a nap."
   Lumy pointed to a tent nearby.  "That's the eating area since RAF was destroyed.  Tocade is cooking dinner, I'll tell her she'll have to cook for eight more than she thought."  Then he looked over at Cloaky's relatives.  "Or will it be ten more?"
   "Eight more," said Faith.  "Supplies must be relatively low.  We'll eat at our place.  If you'd like, we could help with the repairs.  And get other people who are willing to help."
   "Would you?"  Said Richard, his gratefulness completely obvious in his voice.  "That would be appreciated more than you can imagine."
   Faith surveyed the rubble and the rather bedraggled groups around it.  "Oh, Richard," she said softly.  "I think I can imagine.

   Mercy spat on his hand and held it out to the leader of the Fannysmackers.  Said leader, Pig, (Author's Note: Whoever gets that reference gets free cookies.) spat on his own hand and they firmly shook. 
   "A nice pretty castle place, eh," said Pig, watching Mercy through narrowed eyes.
   "S'what Queen said," confirmed Mercy.
   "Just remember, Mercy," growled Pig, thrusting his finger into Mercy's face.  "The Fannysmackers ain't gonna take no orders from the Smackers.  This deal to take over this DAF place," Mercy sighed at his inaccuracy. "is only a not- forever deal.  After we get our share of the plunder, we're out and we'll be ready to kick your asses anytime."
   "Get your filthy finger out o' my face," snarled Mercy, grabbing Pig's finger.  "And I know it's a temporary deal.  Oh, and trust me.  Once this is over and you come over to where we Smackers are ruling a nice big castle, we'll be ready," he sharply bent back Pig's finger, smiling at the snap of bone and the howl of pain from Pig.  "for anything you throw at us.  Now let's get a move on.  Queen is expecting me."
   Nursing his injured finger and pride, Pig followed Mercy, scowling.  Mercy smiled, obviously pleased.  He lead the way over to a building with tall, grand doors, standing out among the drab, dreary city.  He knocked on it.  "Who is it?"  Came the high, cold voice. 
   "It's Mercy, Your Majesty," said Mercy.  "I've brought the hostages and the Fannysmacker's leader."
   "Ah, come in, come in.  Don't bring the hostages just yet.  Let me talk to the...Fanysmacker's leader."
   Yorick opened the door (it nearly hit Pig in the head) and gestured silently for them to come in.  Mercy led Pig down the hallway.  It was an off-white color on the inside, with a contrastingly plush red carpet on the floor, leading up to Queen on her throne.  She surveyed Pig disdainfully with bloodshot eyes.
   "This is the mighty leader of the Fannysmackers?"  She said.  "You are Pig?"
   "Yeh, I'm Pig, Yer Highness...of...Maj esty?"  He said.
   She glared down at him.  "How big is your gang, Pig?"
   "Big, yer highness.  Maybe fifty people.  'Course we don't all work together.  I split it into groups, but I rule all.  I get the elite group, Fox get the--"
   "Shut up!"  She hissed.  "I don't care!  All I wanted to know was how big your force was.  You don't have to ramble on and on about pointless nonsense.  Mercy!  I tire of this idiot!  Take him away and bring the hostages."
   Mercy gave a sharp salute, then grabbed Pig's arm and dragged him off.  After a few minutes, he returned with a few of his gang surriounding the hostages.  The gang forced their prisoners to their knees in front of Queen.
   "How are you enjoying the fireproof gloves, Estelore?"  Said Queen silkily.  "And Gaz.  I've half a mind to make you walk the plank!  Ahahahaha!"
   Gaz and Este stared in fury up at Queen.  Just the other day, Julia had suddenly burst in thet house with the Smackers at her back.  They had quickly subdued everyone.  Emma wasn't in find fighting condition, Este was unprepared--they forced the gloves on her before she could react--Gaz was unarmed, and Horsie had only just regained full consciousness for a prolonged period of time the last day.  They had been marched off--Este managing to put Horsie in a wheelchair and wheel her along, as both of Horsie's legs were broken--and dumped in a dingy cell for a few days.  Now they were here, handcuffed.  Horsie was handcuffed to her wheelchair, one of Mercy's gang was wheeling her.
   "Eh," said Queen distastefully, surveying Emma.  "I don't need her.  Julia, do with her what you want." 
   Julia shot her grandmother a look of pure hatred.  "I don't want anything to do with her!"  She spat.  "I spent my whole life with her because my parents dumped me here, and I had to live with all her stupidity and whatnot.  Have someone else deal with her!"
   "I'll dispose of her, Your Majesty."  Said Yorick, stepping forward.  He grabbed Emma's arm and pulled her out the door, ignoring the older woman's planative cry of, "But...Julia!  No!  Wait!"
   "As for you three," Queen leaned forward and glared pure hatred at the RAFians.  "You will all be taken out of the Internet and will join Terenia and Claire in their cell."
   All three RAFians stared.  "Cl-Claire?"  Stammered Horsie.  "Claire is alive?"
   "Well, duh," said Queen contemptuously.  "Where did you think she was?"
   All her prisoners could do was stare at each other in awe.  Queen shrugged.
   "Aloth, take them away."
   Gaz's and Este's minds were racing, trying desperately to think of a plan while absorbing the shock of the fact that Claire was alive.  However, one person was cool and collected.
   Horsie knew exactly what she was doing.
   Though she was not a seal, she retained her powers.  She was still hydro and cryokinetic.  She would mainly need ice and not water for this. 
   As soon as they were far enough away from Queen's hall, Horsie closed her eyes and concentrated.  Suddenly, a block of ice surrounded Aloth and Mercy's goon that was pushing her wheelchair, freezing them completely still.
   Gaz and Este stared around, then their eyes landed on Horsie.  "Woah!," whispered Gaz.  "Seal...you can..."
   "Yeah," she said.  She then thinned the ice on Mercy's minion, created another ice chunk, and once the ice around him was completely gone, she dropped the ice chunk on his head, knocking him out cold.
   "It's hard to do without moving my hands--and in my current condition," she panted.  "But feasible.  Now, search him, he has the keys for all of our handcuffs, unlock me and then I'll get you out of there."
   Luckily, Gaz and Este's hands had been handcuffed in front of them, so when Gaz knelt down to rummage in his pockets it was very easy--and she could see what she was doing.  When she found the keys, she unlocked one of Horsie's handcuffs, a little awkward with her own handcuffs on.
   "Thanks," said Horsie, taking the keys with her free hand and unlocking the other handcuff.  After flexing her arms and hands a little to get the stiffness out of them, she grabbed Gaz's handcuffs and carefully twiddled the key in the lock.  After Gaz's came off, she turned herself around and unlocked Este's handcuffs.
   "Alright, let's go," said the former star, grabbing the handle's to the younger RAFian's wheelchair, and pushing her along. 
   "What about Aloth?"  Said Gaz as they rounded the corner. 
   "What about him?"  Said Horsie, shooting a tiny ball of water through the air, as if she was testing out her powers.
   "Won't he suffocate?"
   "Nah," said Horsie, closing her hand and making the water disappear.  "I left a small gap, so he can breathe.  By the time they find him, he'll just have some frostbite.  And besides, wouldn't it be better if I killed him?"
   Horsie abruptly stopped talking and looked down at her hands.  She had changed since her kidnapping and changed even more since her beating.  "I'm sorry," she said quietly.  "I...just...I..."
   Este slowly stopped and Gaz put one hand on her young friend's shoulder.  "It's okay," she said quietly.  "I understand."
   Horsie put her head in her hands, sheilding her face from view.  "Let's go," she muttered without looking up.  Este and Gaz began walking once more.   

   Yorick pulled Emma roughly outside, then pushed her into an alleyway.  Once they were out of view, he gently pulled her deeper into the alley.  He grabbed some keys from his belt, and undid her handcuffs.  She stared at him.  "I thought you were going to kill me," she said.
   "No," muttered Yorick, putting her handcuffs in his belt.  "You're innocent.  It's the RAFians who we hate.  Now get out of here.  Go to RAF.  Tell them that Horsie, Gaz, and Este have been captured.  They'll escape--they forgot about Horsie's powers--but with half the gangs in the city on Queen's side, they'll be recaptured.  Tell them that Claire is alive.  You know how to get out of the city.  Avoid 53rd street--that's where the Smackers have set up base.  Leave using the east exit, then keep going straight east.  Take these," he thrust some binnoculars into the stunned grandmother's hand.  "Keep checking.  Once you see a big pile of rubble, head towards that.  Move quickly, and try to avoid everyone else.  You don't know who is on Queen's side."
   Emma tipped her head to one side.  "Yorick, you're making a mistake," she said softly.  "You don't belong with Queen."
   "The RAFians have wronged us, " he said without much conviction.  "They're not innocent.  Now go, hurry up."
   As Emma left, the image of Horsie getting beat up, and her dying on the ground flashed through his mind.  "But even they're okay..." he whispered.  Hanging his head, Yorick headed back inside.

The reason that Claire is alive is revealed, and slowly the news starts to spread!

Things are looking okay for the RAFians--they're getting home, escaping from Queen, and even some of the Banned start to have uncertainties about what they're doing.

[A ghost you know]

Yay, another update! 

*reads the new chapter*

 

Wow, there's some cool surprises in here! Great work!
[spoiler]It looks like Yorick isn't a bad sort of guy after all. In fact, I daresay he's only in this because Queen is making him do it.
Perhaps he could be induced to come back to the light side?[/spoiler]

[Terenia]

Fabulous chapter as always seal!

[Gaz]

Awesome! These are always such fun to read! 

[Horsefan1023 (Seal)]

The great thing is, it's extremely fun and satisfying to write...

[Gumby]

Tell me about it.