Altaica limped painfully through the overgrowth at the base of the mountain, gasping and wheezing. She could still feel it; she could still
feel the Thundranium pulling her strength down into the very ground she walked and burning her lungs through the air that she breathed. She hadn't
thought the effects of Thundranium could be this bad...she hadn't thought
she would feel them so intensely...she hadn't thought...


She hadn't thought that players could be affected this way.


Computer games...they had energy meters. If the character got week, the meter went down...the character got slow...the character might die...but

the player, the player could always restart.



Not in this game.


In this game, she had felt the effects of Thundranium before she had even
gotten close enough to the mountain range to think of a way over it. It hadn't been too uncomfortable...more like an itch that she couldn't quite
scratch. An itch on the inside of her skin instead of on the outside. The
feeling had increased ever so slightly, but steadily as she searched for a
way into Darkside. There was no using the underground tunnel...she had approched near the border of the Forest of Mists, tendrils of ground fog
licking at her ankles and rising up to greet her as she moved steadily toward the mountain range. In minutes she had been completely blind, stumbling awakwardly around obstacles, eventually managing to veer off in
an Easternly direction and find her way back out of the thick mist.

Undaunted, she had prowled the base of the hills, looking for a small patch
of land...a tiny pass, perhaps...where the effects of the Thundranium were
not so strong. She managed to find a narrow passage where the substance was, at best, an annoyance and decided that it would have to do. She wasn't
about to spend the entire game wandering around the base of a mountain range. Besides, hadn't Bast said that they would experience pain and discomfort on a much lower scale than an actual person would? If the stone
sides provided any protection at all, she should have no trouble crossing
over to the other side. She wouldn't enjoy it, but it would be a small price to pay.


But if this mind-numbing stupor was a low-grade version of what a true Thunderian might experience, Altaica the bounty hunter would certainly have
died in passage. As it was, Altaica the player was putting every ounce of
strength into simply moving one foot in front of the other as she could feel her character's stats slowly drain away to zero.

Suddenly, Altaica was very afraid of having her character die.


She willed herself to go on. She was still too close to the Thundranium.
She couldn't stop this close to a substance so lethal. The woods were dangerous enough and death would have no trouble finding her if it chose to
do so...she did not need to extend an invitation.


"Please," she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible in the unnatural stillness of the dark wood. "Please...just a little more. Just
far enough to...to..."


A rustling in the woods nearly brought the Thunderian woman to tears. *Fuck, not now,* she thought desperately. *Not now...I was so close.* She
paused a moment, panting heavily, her lungs shrieking as though she were
inhaling shards of glass. "Not without a fight, you bastard," she managed
to whisper, drawing her pistol and turning drunkenly to face the approaching intruder.


Catching sight of a tallish shadow in the wood, humanoid by the look of it,
she took careful aim, hands trembling as both weakened arms strove to steady the weapon. "Stop...stop where you are," she growled softly.

There came from the bush a sound like a sharp exhalation of breath and Altaica knew immediately that she was dealing with an Ice Lunatak. *Chilla!* she cursed herself mentally as she leapt back, adreneline supplying her with a strength she did not know she had. Still, she was too
sick to fight and her left arm screamed in pain as the moisture in the air
around it froze solid, encasing it in ice.


Gathering the last of her strength about her, Altaica gritted her teeth against the pain and took aim, firing at the shadowy attacker even as she
leapt forward to finish the job she had started. Faint and on the verge of
a blackout, Altaica's shot went wide as the intruder veered right in her
attack stopping suddenly when the two of them were close enough to make their features visible.


"You're not a Thundercat!" exclaimed the Ice Lunatak with some surprise.


"You're not Chilla..." whispered Altaica as her vision faded as she crumpled to the forest floor.

*********************

Demonprist stared up and up and up...eyes huge and gleaming with unnatural
light. The Eleven Lord, Kith, gaped in a way that might have been comical
had he not already begun to recover, muscles tensing in anticipation of a
fight or flight.


"WOW!" exclaimed Demonprist breaking into a sunny grin.

Kith cursed softly in an Elven tongue as he noticed Mumm-ra's scowl deepen

with something like disgust. He tried to call Earth and Air energies...his
two strongest elements...to him as discreetly as possible though he doubted
that his current magic talent was much of a match for Mumm-ra's.

"Wow," repeated Demonprist a little more sedately. "It's you, isn't it? It's really you! I mean...Mumm-ra the Everliving! I mean...*the* Mumm-ra
the Everliving! I mean...WOOHOO! IT'S MUMM-RA!" shrieked Demonprist, making
a sudden leap toward her idol. The mage fell back a couple of steps, but
was obviously unprepared for the player's enthusiasm as she succeeded in
flinging her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. The warrior snarled and glared at Kith as Demonprist chanted "There is a God...There is a God...There is a God..."

"I don't know her," said the Elven mage.

"You dare?" growled Mumm-ra as he brought his attention back to Demonprist.


"Whoops...not the touchy-feely type, right?" grinned Demonprist somewhat
sheepishly as she slithered down to the ground. "It's just...it's so cool
to finally see you in person! Mummy! Whatever! We're here to help you kick
some Thundercat ass," the player went on before she could be interrupted by
her host who seemed less impressed by the minute. "This is Kith...he's an
Elven mage...and I'm..."

"I know what you are," said Mumm-ra darkly.

"Great! Then we all know each other and fancy descriptions aren't necessary," the Avatar plowed on gamely, knowing she was babbling, but too
filled with nervous excitement to stop. "Of course I'm sure you could use a
name. I'm called Demonprist. I want to work for you...with you. You know...those Mutants really suck as servants...you need someone like me!
And I can do this really cool thing with my sword..."

"ENOUGH!" roared Mumm-ra, grabbing the female player by the neck with such
speed that she was unable to move out of the way. Kith gasped, scrambling
back, and prepared the spell that would likely be his last. At least he would go down fighting. But the undead mage paid little attention to him.


"Enough!" growled Mumm-ra again, lifting Demonprist up to look her in the
eye. "This is *my* pyramid, girl, and *I* will tell you when to speak! And
now, all I want to know from you is how you managed to entire my domain and
why I shouldn't burn you to a cinder right now!"

"Air..." wheezed Demonprist, trying to pull at the warrior's iron grip. Her
pale skin was turning distinctly blue around the lips and her eyes mirrored
v something very like fear. "Need...air...answer..."

The floor of the pyramid began to vibrate and ripple. The sudden movement
of the stone beneath his feet threw Mumm-ra off-balance and his hold on the
female player loosened. Sensing her chance, Demonprist made a rapid change
from human to viper and slipped easily from the mage's grasp with a few simple contortions. She hit the floor awkwardly, but she quickly coiled and
uncoiled, putting herself to rights. Then she quickly slipped away, hugging
the stone of the twisting floor until she was sure she was out of arm's reach. "Thanks, Kith," she managed to gasp as she regained her human form.

"You owe me," snorted the Elf before the floor rose up in onyx tentacles

which wrapped themselves around him, binding his hands and gagging his mouth to prevent any further spellcasting.

Scenes from the River of Despair flashed through the Elven lord's mind and
he feared for a moment that he might be strangled or suffocated by the writhing stone, but he quickly realized that the spell was only meant to
restrain, not kill, and he breathed a mental sigh of relief. The predicament was not a comfortable one, but Mumm-ra did not seem anxious to
do away with him...not yet. Thus reassured, the Elf allowed some of his curiosity to surface.

"What the hell was that for?" yelled Demonprist, affronted. "He wasn't trying to attack you, just make you let me go! Geez! We came here to *serve* you!"

Mumm-ra glared at the Elf, but was not interested in pressing the attack.
The youth was troublesome, but he could think on his feet. He turned his
burning gaze back to Demonprist once again. "Enough!" he repeated harshly
v and the female Avatar stopped talking with the audible *click* of a clenching jaw. "If I had wanted to kill you, you would both be dead right

now. I have decided to let you live...don't make me change my mind. Now answer me quickly, girl...why are you here?"

"To serve you, Mighty Mumm-ra," said Demonprist stiffly, coming to attention. Her eyes narrowed with a faint rebelliousness. "And to learn the
ways of magic that we might be strong enough to defeat your enemies."

"And how did you get into my pyramid," persisted the mummy.

"You used foreign magic to seal your pyramid. Kith figured out how do cancel the spell."

"Did he now?" said Mumm-ra in a tone that was part mockery and part interest. "He is clever indeed. I could use such a one. And what have *you*
to offer me, girl?"

Demonprist lifted her chin proudly to look into Mumm-ra's eyes. "I have the
power of an Avatar," she said with supreme self-confidence.

"I detest Avatars."

Those three words might as well have been a physical blow. Demonprist fought to keep any sign that her heart was being torn apart from surfacing.
Her knees felt weak and her throat was tight, but she managed, somehow, to
pour all of her strength into her spine, keeping herself proudly upright.
"I wanted a form powerful enough to be of use to you," she said quietly.

"Form and aspect, I suppose you mean," Mumm-ra sneered. "You *are* a metamorph, are you not? And a viper at that..."

"Yes," said Demonprist stiffly.

The Everliving warrior stood in silence a moment, the scowl never leaving
his features while he pondered the situation. Finally, he raised a hand and
released Kith from his prison of stone. "And you," he inquired. "Do you agree with what she says?"

"Ye-es," said Kith hesitantly, rubbing the feeling back into his wrists. "I
came mostly to learn magic for my own purposes, but if servitude is the price of your teachings, I'll pay it gladly. I truely did not mean for my
last spell to seem like an attack...I only wished to get your attention."

"It was an...interesting interpretation of the Moving Earth spell," admitted Mumm-ra.

"Th-thank you," said Kith, bowing slightly to hide his surprise. He did not
know what consequence his spell would bring, but praise was far from what
he had expected. "I developed it myself."

Mumm-ra stood silently once again, the tension mounting as he mused over
his options. "Very well," he said finally, "I suppose that you may stay. It
is true that the Mutants and Lunataks have been less than effective," the
mage said bitterly, "and new allies are in order. But know that I will be
watching you both...at every moment...for the barest sign of treachery. Nothing escapes the knowledge of Mumm-ra!" He paused to let the implied threat of his words sink in. "You...Kith, is it?...might be interested to
know that I have acquired quite a library of magical literature which might
be of use to you. I will periodically allow you to borrow volumes to further your powers on your own if you wish...once we've arranged the terms
of your apprenticeship, of course. And you, Viper," he addressed Demonprist, "will stay away from my vaults." The Avatar opened her mouth to
protest, but was cut off by a wave of the undead warrior's hand. "I have
gathered my materials for millenia...I do not want them destroyed, scattered, or even singed. You will do as you are told, when you are told
to do it and *if* you obediance impresses me, I *may* allow you to train
further, is that clear?"

"I don't have any mummy hang-ups and I won't mess up your toys," sulked Demonprist.

"Because I will see to it that you are not able to do so. Is that clear?"
repeated the mage with growing impatience.

"Yes, Mumm-ra," said Demonprist dully. "I will obey. I only wished to please you."

"Then next time, choose your form more carefully," snorted the Everliving
warrior. "I will show you to your chambers. I daresay they will not be overly pleasant but you will survive," chuckled Mumm-ra, amused by the prospect of two mortal pupils living in the darkness of his tomb.

Falling into step behind the evil priest, Kith matched stride with his traveling companion. "You know," he prodded, "if you give me your staff I
might just sneak some spells out to you. It's not like you're going to need
it."

"Piss off, Kith."

"Okay, but the offer stands. I don't think you're going to have much luck
otherwise..."

"Oh, I'll show him," whispered Demonprist fiercely. "Don't you worry about that. He'll be begging my forgiveness by the time I show him what I can do
for him."

*Right after I kill Bast,* she added silently to herself.

*********************

When Altaica's eyes fluttered open, the sky was dark and studded with stars. What she could see of it, anyway. She moaned softly as she tried to
sit up, her head woolly with the after effects of Thundranium exposure. She
panicked for a moment - the last thing she remembered was warding off unconsciousness in an area where the weakening element could still be felt
quite strongly - but she relaxed when she realized that she was safely away
from Darkside's borders.

Then she remembered the Ice Lunatak.

"Have a pleasant nap?"

Altaica looked sharply to her right where her night vision could clearly
see her attacker/saviour, an Ice Lunatak of about six feet in height with
long silvery hair. "You're a player, aren't you?"

"Melissa," replied the woman, offering the tiger her hand and a sly smile.
"I should probably have done away with you...less competition and all...but
I just got here and I'm more curious than evil right now."

"I could say the same to you except I don't think I was in any condition to
do away with anyone," said Altaica wryly. "I *am* a bounty hunter of sorts...although I specialize in tigers."

"Ah yes...you're Altaica then," laughed Melissa. "Well you can repay your
debt to me by telling me everything you know about the game. I just sort of
stumbled into these woods and had been wandering around aimlessly until I
bumped into you."

"Bast didn't come to explain things to you," asked Altaica, puzzled.

"No, was she supposed to?" Melissa sounded a bit concerned.

"Well, she came to my group last night, but we've divided up since then."

"Groups...I guess she only came to those who signed on at the right time,"
said the Lunatak, relaxing visibly. "Although I didn't think I was a full
day late...only about a half hour or so."

Altaica laughed. "Game time is *really* fast," she informed Melissa, explaining how to access the date and time. She also described the other
functions of the computer including the free-floating map before cautioning
the Lunatak against dying.

"Well, I don't intend to die if I don't have to," Melissa assured her. "Are
you sure Bast didn't mention an actual goal to this game? Some kind of storyline?"

"She just said to pick a side and win," shrugged Altaica. "Whatever that
means. I just decided 'to hell with it'. I'm going to do whatever I feel

like doing. Right now I was on my way to Skytomb to see if I could get a

ship made. I feel naked without one. Besides, they're much better for catching and storing my prey."

"Your striped prey?" grinned Melissa.

"My striped prey," agreed Altaica happily.

The Ice Lunatak paused as though considering something. "Well," she said
finally," it's obvious that I'm on my way to Skytomb to and it so happens
that I design ships...more specifically, ships' engines. If you want, we
can travel together. As much as it might be out of character to admit it, a
Thunderian and Lunatak team probably has a wider range of useful talents.
And it's not like you're an average Thunderian anyway. But I'm not waiting
around if you don't feel up to traveling. I sat here while you recovered
and I'm in a hurry to get moving."

Altaica considered this. "Other than feeling a little muzzy in the brain,
I'm okay. Thanks to you, of course. I have no problem traveling now if you
don't mind the company. Besides, I'm pretty sure there are game rules that
I've forgotten that will come to me later," she added slyly.

"Like descriptons of the other people in your 'group' in case they try to
attack us Lunataks?" prompted Melissa.

"That's a distinct possibility," said Altaica noncommittedly.

"And it should be even more distinct as we travel along," suggested the Lunatak, hoisting her pack onto her shoulders. "I understand Thunderians
have excellent night vision."

"We do at that," grinned Altaica, picking up her own pack. She moved a little more slowly than the Lunatak, but that only gave Melissa time to prepare and light one of the makeshift torches she had prepared while Altaica slept. "Let me begin by telling you about Axecat," the tiger began

as she and her traveling companion set off across Darkside.

*********************