FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Prologue.

Story Idea: World of Warcraft and Ready Player One based - Dystopian future in which the earth is slowly dying. Years prior to this, at the launch of the popular MMO World of Warcraft, the sudden jump in technological funding of the era led to the creation of the MASICK, the Mind And Sensory Information Connector Kit.

The MASICK head enclosure rig included a laser focus grid array, which beamed images right onto user's retinas. This would completely immerse a user in a world of unimaginable properties. The rest of the rig was a simple, rectangular, 10 by 10 room of which most of the floor was really an omnidirectional treadmill. Several parts of its walls and ceiling were designed for, or hid, multiple machines allowing the rig to simulate a variety of effects to the user in the room.

Rain, Snow, Ice, Water; whether the calm water of a pond or the raging crashes of the ocean in the middle of a storm. Any weather, windy, stormy, sunny, cloudy, hell even acid rain, was accurately and easily simulated.

Any sensation of warmth, with temperature controls and walls of heaters or air conditioners capable of producing the most sweltering desert heat or the most glacial chills. It could make you feel like you were on Saturn's moon, that one that's made of ice? Yeah that one, it could make you feel like you're dipped in the somehow unfrozen waters under its surface, and yet, bring you to the brink of death without actually killing you.

It's a world of magic, dragons, knights, assassins, kings and queens and monsters bent on ruling the world or turning it into just another monster. You feel every weapon, every strike or injury, but never die from what is done, because it is not real...That's the world it drops you into, completely immerses you in to the point that you forget...it's just a game…

Till you forget that you're actually just...a player...that the only reason you somehow, heroically, magically always find your way through the maze of the underworld to resurrect yourself is just...cause you hit the respawn button after making your way back to your corpse…

You didn't fight your way through the Loa of Death's traps and machinations to get your soul back to your body, no... you just walked to it, tapped the respawn button on the UI, and got up and went about your merry way. You're not a hero...you're not such a big important character in the fate of the world, and you're not the only one with the most powerful artifacts of your time in that world. There's many other players, playing different roles, in many different areas...on different sides, different races, different cultures and maybe different planets…

You're just a person, in a large box, your mind plugged in and expanded so far beyond you, that you honestly believe you're that character and that the world it's giving you is in fact, real.

Something like this was not cheap. Some of the materials that were created through the breakthrough that was the MASICK were quickly entirely used up...There were only so many MASICK rigs that could be made, the large majority of which were quickly sold and bought out in shady market deals by incredably rich people, cheap political tactics, assassintions and murder. All to try and take a rig from someone or manage to have enough to buy one.

However, five rigs had went up for Lottery Winners, free to those who entered and were randomly selected. Over 3.3 billion people entered that lottery, nearly the entirety of Earth wanted their chance to get into the new idea being worked on to save the planet and didn't have the means to get one. You also entered...and you won…

You and those four other very lucky people were taken deep underground, and you each stepped off at different times, were shown around the facility that would be watching over your every need for the next many years, and then shown to your new MASICK, the technicians strapped you in, after insisting you strip nude, which you did reluctantly. The smooth and shiny silver body suit that you now wore fitted over it like a second skin, hugging it on all sides and all along your skin. They even pulled it up over your head, burying your hair into it. They then started to explain while they pulled down and strapped the headgear onto you, feeling the band glasp around your skull.

As you were in the world, as per your agreement with the company, your mind energy would be used by the facility to be turned into a form of different, very plentiful, energy, which the world aboveground would be using to power the now massive cities on the ground and the ones in the air. The creative imagination of the human mind would be the new salvation for mankind's faltering planet!

They fixed the helmet on tight, told you to have fun, and left. For a moment, you were left in darkness, until a small white blip appeared in your vision provided by the laser grid in the helmet. It grew and filled your vision until it made you close your eyes, and then suddenly, you heard soft music and opened them.

In front of you, was a peice of paper, which asked you to fill out information on what race, sex, class, and general backstory you wanted to give your character. You grinned and began to eagerly fill it out. When you finished selecting what you wanted, you followed the directions on the sheet and dropped it into a receptacle bin of some kind, just as the directions told you to. The bin began to shake and glowed bright. You tried to stare as long as possible to see what it was doing, but it made you have to close your eyes once more once it grew too brightly.

And Thus, you were dropped into the world of Azeroth…

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Chapter 1.

At first, the simulated world in front of you was too obvious to completely immerse yourself in. Sure it was really detailed and you could feel that breeze of the light ocean air flowing around you as you were standing on a beach, soft waves crashing the shore to your left. But that was something simulated by the walls around you! That wasn't real…

You eventually tested this world's...this rigs...functionality. you reached down, bending over as you do. Your arms and hands are both masculine and lined with solid, sinewy muscles.., simulated by the lazer immersion headgear around you, which is lined with micro stereos to simulate that soft crashing of the wave to your left and the gentle, soft hymns of people singing that only you can hear over the sound of nature around you…

Bending over, you notice your stomach and body, nicely toned amazing body...four pack abs that are just at that point you like them...so perfect...exactly how you imagined it would be…

You barely notice your hand touch the sandy beach in front of you...you can feel every grain...every single grain...they roll between the soft palms of your hands and fall back to the ground as you study it. It's so soft and grainy...so...pleasant and serene…

You look up and to your left, and notice now that it's the late evening… the sun is setting on the horizon of the beach, soft orange hues floating along the calm ocean water, making it sparkle beautifully all along your field of vision…

No! You tell yourself sternly, snapping your head away and squeezing your eyes shut. You were going to go into this remembering that it's just a game! You weren't going to starve yourself and not get out to get food or use the restroom...this...amazingness...wasn't worth your life…You suddenly feel ill and sick, as if you had just woken up from nearly drowning.

You pull your head back up and open your eyes, staring out at the glistening waters once more. You are curious...could this thing really...make an entire world so real? You stand shakily and walked out towards the water, hand reached out, still muscular and smooth skinned. You stumble towards the water and collapse just at the lip of the crashing waves…

When the next crash fades over the sands, you dip your hand into the water and gasped. It's wet! It's slightly colder than you, but its actual water! The wave slides away from your hand, leaving a small puddle of its salty liquid in your palm. You stare at it...as it shimmers and glows in your palm showing you a brief moment of your reflection, of your chiselled, bearded face…

Thousands of memories flash through your mind suddenly, memories of a life lived as a farm hand, who got the chance to go on a vacation to a tropical locale with their family, and then...disaster. Their ship was attacked by Horde gunships and they were tossed to the sea, floating on driftwood for what felt like a week before being tossed to shore by the merciful waters. And now you are here...on strange lands and...suddenly...oh so very thirsty!

You know you shouldn't drink sea water, but you're so thirsty...you bring the palm of your hand up to your lips and dip it into your mouth. You quickly manage a brief swallow before the burning in your throat makes you gag and spit up the rest.

“He-Hey Mon! Don't be drinkin' da sea waters! Unless ya be wanting to go see Bwonsomdi so soon?!"

You look quickly to your right at the voice, only barely whispered by the micro stereos in the helmet but effectively making it sound like they're exactly where they are, and what they are. It's a Troll, of what clan you aren't sure, but its making it's way quickly toward you, a spear in hand and wearing a jingling set of tribal gear.

He sneers over the thick white tucks jutting from the corners of his mouth. “That's right Mon. Just relax for a moment. I have no want to hurt ya'know."

You look into the Troll's big orange eyes and you manage to sputter, “Who-Who are you?"

“I be known as Ri'ki, Human...What be your name?"

Your name? What was it...you...was it Timo or Riko or...Your head hangs as it gives a momentary throb, palm clapping your forehead and clearing the sudden fog.

“Liki…" You mumbled, the name just coming to you… “It's Liki…"

Ri'ki grins slightly still and gives a happy chortle. “What a coincidence of that! Our names be near the same…" He fixes you with that happy look and, clapping the spear behind himself, offers you his other hand to help you stand.

You stare at the hand suspiciously...You've heard stories of Trolls and all about the Horde Darkspear clan…

“Are you Darkspear?" You ask hoarsely, staring up into the Troll's eyes again.

His smile fades slightly, but he takes only a moment to shake his head, “Naw Mon...Zandalar…"

You had no idea what clan that was, but it wasn't Darkspear so that was good enough for you. You reach out and take the Trolls offered three fingered hand, which grips tightly around you and pulls up to your feet.

You wobble a bit, shakey and unsettled, but it's fading slowly. Ri'ki keeps his grip on your bare arm. You can feel the slight slimeiness to his smooth skin as he helps you steady yourself, before letting go. He continues to hold his spear behind him in a gesture of friendliness, and you stand before him, wearing nothing but the last remaining taters of your leather pants, barely concealing your modesty.

You both stare for a few minutes more before you finally come to that realization. You're naked! You quickly try to search for more to cover yourself with, but there is nothing around you but more beach, trees, rocks, ocean, and the Troll, who is now grinning widely at you as you try to cover yourself.

“Ya be needing some help there." He gestures slightly with his hand while chuckling.

You blush, hands at your crotch and glare at him in awkward outrage.

He laughs again at your glare, and you grow more red before he manages to wave off the situation. “Relax Mon! Ain't got nothing I've never seen before. Come on! I'll help ya get back to your people…"

He turns and begins to walk away, and for a moment you stand still to try and take in the situation. He offers you help...but what might he expect to get out of it? Probably just a reward from the Alliance for saving an Alliance citizen. Cash it in and go about their way…

You walk forward, still a little shaky but able to keep your pace as you follow the Troll along the sandy shores, eventually noticing the city ports of the great gold kingdom sparkling above you.

For a moment you slow and come to a stand, gawking at the amazing glistening city looming over the lush jungle of the island. Ri'ki senses you stop and turns to look at you, grinning as he realizes what's got you stunned and gives you a moment to soak in the vast Zandalari Empire.

He eventually calls you, snapping you from that reverie. “Hey Liki. Come on, stick wit' me and no one here will bother you, I promise…"

You nod and shakily step along the sands and feel the ground under your bare feet shift to the hard stone of the Zandalari port.

Ri'ki tells you that he'll take you to his Master who will help you get back onto Alliance shores, takes you to a sparkling building covered in gems and shiny artifacts. There, and older Troll, after Ri'ki explains that you had washed up on shore, takes you to a small room. He tells you he'll need a few days to set up a ride for you home, and that you're to stay in that room, alone, until then. He states he'll bring you food and drink regularly however, so you don't fight against it that much. He also brings you a set of simple clothes mean for adolescent Trolls, but manage to fit your human form.

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A few hours later, you are staring out the window of the second floor, watching as now, it's the full moon shining light onto the ocean, sparkling it with white stars of its own, with the real stars twinkling in the clear night sky.

What was it you had been doing before the attack on your ship? Something had been on the ship the Horde had wanted...something secret that was being towed under the guise of a cruise ship to a tropical island somewhere just off the Eastern Kingdoms...that much you figured out from the shouting that you had heard Alliance soldiers saying when the attack began, before you got washed out to sea by stray cannonballs tearing up the ship. You were lucky to be alive...who knows who else survived…

The sudden remembrance that your family had been there with you hits you and you shake in fear...did they survive…?

Chances are they didn't. You realize you were really...really lucky…and sadness hangs over you as you wonder what you do…?

Well...you'd always wanted to join SI:7, but your folks had always been against you leaving for a military career of any kind. Perhaps...if you were now alone in the world...now is your chance. Besides, you didn't want to mope in sadness about them being dead. You needed something to focus on, a goal...and perhaps, SI:7 would become a new type of family for you?

Could that even be possible? Your gut tells you no. A group like SI:7 was professional and strong...getting that close to your comrades...probably wasn't likely. But either way! It was a goal, and that's what you needed, and you felt like you could achieve it. And you had an idea how to do so.

Over the next few days you spent waiting for the older Troll to get you a ship ride home to the Alliance, you used every minute and moment you could staring out the window, memorizing the flow of the port...what ships were hauling, what they were using or doing. You didn't know who the Zandalari tripe might be allied too, they may have remained more neutral in the general Horde Vs Alliance split of the world. But If they leaned toward Horde, perhaps you could bargain with SI:7 to train you in exchange for your info on their movements. Or, if the Zandalari favoured Alliance, as a reinforcement that the Trolls weren't dealing with the Horde under the Alliance's nose. Either way, it'd help them out and you could try your hand at joining them with the info.

When you finally receive the okay to leave, Ri'ki appears again to lead you down to your boat home. He shackles your hands together, telling you it's a measure to hide you from any prying eyes. The ship captain knows you're not really a prisoner or slave and where to leave you, stating they will do it in the dead of night.

And indeed, a day and a half into the trip, the captain releases your hands and drops you off at the shoreline of a small town on the edge of a forest, leaving without another word. You quickly find out where you are and eventually, manage to find an Alliance official who you convince of your info and gives you a griffon to Stormwind.

You arrive in the main city hub of the Alliance within hours, the griffon setting you down at a nesting area within the shiny city walls. As you step down and shake yourself clean, two Soldiers approach you. “You are Liki?"

You nod. “Yes, I'm Liki."

“We have orders to escort you to SI:7 Headquarters."

You nod again. “I'm ready."

The soldiers escort you, one on each side of you. They are nearly the same person, but with just enough slight differences of their chin and face that you can see them as different. They take you through the city and you take in the sights around you. You'd never been to the Alliance capital before, even though you had lived so close to it on your farmhouse.

You see Night Elves and Dwarves and Humans scattered everywhere. Interacting and trading goods. Occasionally, when you manage to see them through the seas of legs on the city streets, you see Gnomes. You've always liked Gnomes. They're smart and their inventions were genius. Your Farm was above the tunnel that had been dug for the Railway between Stormwind and Ironforge. You swore you could feel the ground rumble whenever the high speed train would pass under your home. It was something your parents despised, blaming it for 'tainting' the ground with radiation when there were bad crops. But you were a lonely kid, and the idea of the invention and the marvel it was awed you.

After several minutes of walking with the two guards leading you, you leave the main area of the city and enter into the more residential side of Stormwind, crossing a mote of clear, pristine water you could see the bottom of the channel...you stop briefly on the top of the bridge to look at your reflection in the water. You're broad, well built and toned from growing up as a farmer...you were built for quickness and speed but you were still well muscled and could probably hit hard. You believed you were made to be a rogue…

The two knights realize you stopped when they reach the other end of the bridge and call back at you. “Excuse me! Please keep up!"

You snap out of your thoughts, and look over to the soldiers and stutter bashfully, “Y-yes! Sorry I'm coming!" And you step into a run to rejoin them.

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You are lead through the old streets. The older, rustier and more rugged part of Stormwind. You had heard a few tales of this section of the city from travellers before. You had to agree to what they told you. The buildings of Old Town were rusted slightly red, covered in vines, and while the air did not stink, the area reeked of that seedy smell...you could just feel it.

You were kept safe though, keeping with the knights and keeping your wits about you. You thought you could feel eyes on you, but looking around the ground you didn't -think- you saw anything…

The knights bring you up to a large, manor like building, one part of it jutting up over a tree which seemed to actually dig into the top floor just a bit.

They stopped at the door and turn towards you as you follow close behind them. “This, is the Headquarters of SI:7"

You twitched your head at him, visibly confused. What? This? This was the headquarters of SI:7? No way. You look the building up and down again. It was so small and...unassuming! You thought it would be grand and impressive to look at!

You realize that would have never been the case. An organization in charge of gathering information would never have their headquarters out in the open like this. But at the same time...the best place to hide would be out in the open...this had to be a front, you realized. It wasn't the -real- headquarters…You suddenly pause, your heart dropping.

You realize you were dealing with an organization who knew what they were doing…would they even want your information? They probably already had a spy in Zandalar gathering exactly what you did...they probably already knew anything you could tell them, and probably already knew you had washed up on the shore even! You were suddenly frozen...realizing your dream was pointless...you'd be laughed out in disgrace and left penniless and alone on the streets!

The Knight opened the door and he waved you in. “Master Shaw will see you inside, please do not keep him waiting."

You jump as you're snapped from your thoughts once more, thinking you've heard that name...whispered but not well known. You shake the thought clear and gulp, making a determined face as you stamp up the way and enter the building.

It's dark inside, there are small flickers of light within, small candles lighting up the room, but the light shining in from the outside makes it hard to see due to the contrast. You squint to try and see clearer and call out. “H-hello?"

Suddenly the door behind you shuts violently. WHAMP! You jump and spin around, but the sudden loss of light has your eyes trying to adjust too quickly and you can't make out the shadow that fleets about in the dancing shadows of your vision.

“Welcome!" A gruff and dark like voice growls out behind you. You turn and there's suddenly someone sitting at a wooden table. Three candles, one on the table and two around him just barely showing his frame, eyes glowing in the light. You can just make out the stern brow as he studies you in the darkness far easier than you can study him.

“I'm told you may have some important information for us."

You manage to nod shakily, and walk forward into the darkness to come closer to the man.

“Yes. I've just spent the last two days in the Zandalar Empire. I wanted to trade that information for a request of mine."

The person, who you guess at this point was the 'Master Shaw' the knight had said earlier, leaned forward into the light of the candle. “That would depend on the quality of your information." He made a motion with his hand, which was covered in dark leather armor, beckoning you closer.

You slowly approach more, entering into the light of the candle and you reach out to put your hands on the table. Suddenly, there's an arm around your neck. You seize up and hiss in surprise, arching your back as you feel something blunt get pressed up against your side.

“Easy there Karsen…" Shaw said with a slight grin. I stare down at him in surprise while trying to remain frozen.

He smiles at me. “Sorry, my security is a little uptight…"

You realize something, it gives you a surge or calm and roll your eyes before Shaw can go on. “Oh please" I say, “You're probably not even the real Shaw. SI:7 wouldn't be this plain and dry, this is just a front and you're just a double. You probably take his shape through magical means or otherwise, just in case I turn out to be a Horde spy or assassin who is also magically cloaked."

The arm around you suddenly releases you. The shadowy person who grabbed you slaps your shoulder and chuckles loudly. “I like this one, that's spunk." He seems to be talking to multiple people, but there's no one else here...right? You try to turn quickly, but the hand leaves your shoulder and when you turn, there's no one there. Your eyes are now more adjusted to the amount of the light the three candles provide, but...you still see no one else…

“You've got a good head on your shoulder there kid…" Shaw praised, making you turn back around to face him. “You can poke through an illusion pretty easily, even though it's not entirely the illusion being cast here…I admire that. So...tell me what information this is you have."

“I'd like to state what my request is for it first." I say eagerly.

His eyes narrow, and I feel a chill in my heart, though he whispers. “Okay, state them…"

I let go of a breath I didn't realize I was holding and speak. “I want to request that I be given the opportunity to take the training...to be an SI:7 operative."

Shaw's narrowed gaze remains. “You wish to be trained and join us…?"

I nodded, taking a big breath before launching into a rush of words. “Look...I know what you're already thinking...whatever information some nobody like me has for you is probably worthless...but…" I fall silent, an ache in my heart. “I've...I've nothing else to lose…"

Shaw continues to study you, and you feel those many eyes on you again as they study you as well. Eventually Master Shaw leans forward, hands clasped together. “What do you mean?"

I take a shuddering breath. “I was lost to the sea for nearly a week I think…my entire family was with me and I don't know if they survived, and I have no way to try and find them...I've always wanted to serve the Alliance growing up and I'd heard some of the...probably exaggerated tales and feats that SI:7 can do and that was how I wanted to serve."

“You want to see if SI:7 can help you find them? Your family I mean?" Shaw asks.

I pause at the question, but shake my head, “No...my family, as much as I loved them, were simple farmer folk, they would never have wanted me to do this, they always refuted any mention I ever made of wanting to leave and join the military. I'm going forward as if they are gone...and I need goals to strive to in order to keep going forward. This is my first goal. Perhaps I may find my family alive some time in the future." I shrug and shake my head again. “But by the time I do, I'll be too deep into my military career by then to even think of leaving it."

There was a moment of quiet as Shaw leaned back, eyes still clasped in front of his face. “Interesting...I'll consider your request, now tell me the information you have, that I may judge if your request is worth it."

I nodded again, gulping once more as I launched into an explanation of my time on the ship, the attack of the horde, and my waking up on the shore of the Zandalri Empire. Shaw listened silently, and unmoving, while I recounted everything I could remember. Any large numbers of Trolls going onto ships...any particular interesting cargo, whatever shape or size that seemed important. I went through all of it.

By the end of it, Shaw said “I have just one question from everything that you told me" he said while holding up one finger.

I nodded eagerly. “Yes? Anything."

He fixed me with the sternest gaze ever. “Do you recall anything...bright...from the battle between your ship and the Horde gunships?"

I blinked...trying to understand the questions, and responded slowly. “Well...um...it was in the middle of the night...it was cloudy so it wasn't very bright. The Horde ship attacked from the darkness. The only flashes I saw were those of its cannons…"

Shaw slumped, sighing deeply. “A pity…"

I narrowed my eyes. “Does that have something to do with what the Alliance soldiers had been guarding?"

Shaw's eyes widened as he glared at me. “How did you hear of that?"

I gulped. “I-I heard it from the knights on the ship. They had been yelling to 'Protect the artifact!' or something like that…"

Shaw growled out and he pinched the bridge of his nose, “Reminder to Shade...please see over increase to discipline over using proper CODES for assignments…"

“Yes sir…" someone answered softly in the darkness, but I didn't pay no mind to the other voice, leaning in a bit while I asked what was nagging at me.

“What was it that had been on the boat with us? That was just a ship going to some tropical island? Right? Full of people looking to have a good time...for fuck's sake there were even Horde species on it! Why did the Horde attack-"

“It was a front." Shaw interrupts me, his gaze instantly shutting me up.

I sit back as he continues, “That ship was carrying a very important artifact, codenamed “The Spark of Beginnings". It is a bright, white orb full of pure energy. It's glow shines and occasionally seems to flash brightly while small explosions happen inside the orb...I had hoped you would have seen it."

“I see…" I answered carefully, and shake my head. “I'm sorry, but I can't say I did, if it was on the boat...it probably is at the bottom of the ocean by now…"

“That is more than likely…" Shaw agreed, and then he cursed and grit his teeth. “Blasted Horde dogs! Garrosh is paranoid and prideful!"

I tilt my head. “Garrosh? Sir?"

“The second in command, chieftain of the Horde's army. I don't know how he found out about the artifact, but despite how we know next to nothing about how to even begin to use that thing as a weapon, he'd rather keep it out of our hands than let anyone get a hold of it." He seemed to ramble, and someone from the shadows coughed loudly, making him stop.

“Sorry…" Shaw said, taking a deep breath. “Lost my cool a bit there…"

I nodded, and after a moment of silence gently pressed. “So…?" I asked carefully, giving him a questioning look.

He nodded in understanding. “I'll see to you getting assigned a mentor and getting some lessons. I hope you're ready for a rough life…"

“Yes sir." I agreed. I felt more than ready and eager to go.

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Pain...Silence...I had never been more wrong...

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“Liki…" Shaw said softly while I entered the light from the shadows around him and kneeled, clad in dark, purple colored armor and wearing a black bandana that concealed everything below the eyes. My hair now black and pulled back in a very fine, short cut. I kneel, putting my hand on my knee and lower my head to the floor. My body was far more adult, more heavy and strong. That four pack had probably become a firm six.

“Yes, Master Shaw?" I asked while staring at the ground.

The Master now in front of me, was -the- actual Shaw. I never learned if that Shaw back that day had been real or not, but eventually, I had been taken into the closer secrets of the organization and been introduced to the real thing.

“Your assignment…" The Master Rogue stated silently. He didn't even look up from what he was writing as he handed it to me, showing off that masterful dexterity that he could multitask like that. I also did not look up, lifting one arm to grasp the scroll being handed to me and standing up while accepting the scroll, before leaping back into the darkness as Shaw called for the next operative.

Glasping my scroll, I weaved my way through the rowed crowd of shadow agents hiding in the darkness. All but invisible to the untrained eye. I had quickly learned that the techniques involved with the rogues of SI:7 had never been what they first appeared. Instead it involved the use of magic to conceal yourself from those around you. This magic was powered by the will of the person. It was a well taught first lesson that was taught to me. “Your will is your ability to will those around you dismiss you...to ignore you...you are a shadow to them...an entity of silence. A phantom…"

I left the true headquarters, and just outside, in the still darkness of the cave I pulled my bag over my shoulder and dug into it. The opening of the pouch opened to a magical space, where I could sore several times more things than the bag could physically hold. I could reach in and take out whatever I had there just by thinking of it. Embersilk bags. The cloth was magically infused to open to this void space, where objects placed within would shrink. When pulled out, it would rapidly fill out to its full size.

I grasped a pulled at smooth stone within the bag, pulling it out, and it rapidly filled out in my hand. The swirling pattern of green paint glowed as I began to channel my energy through the smooth rock, and after a few more seconds, I was suddenly standing in front of my home instead of in a dank cave.

“Ah! Liki. Welcome back." A person said just after I appeared in front of him, leaning over the railing which overlooked where I had set my Hearthstone, just outside my front door. It was the late evening. The sun hung over the horizon just like it had over the sea that day...but the big city walls of Stormwind's Old Town hid the magnificent view from me.

“Evening Rail." I said back, giving a small wave to my neighbor. “Staying out of trouble?" I felt safe, so I relaxed and greeted Rail readily. It was important to just act normal. You could be being watched at any time...

“You know better." Rail said back, which made me chuckle and grin at him.

“Be careful. I'll have to report you…"

“You wouldn't. You enjoy my potions too much!" He gruffed back at me “Have a mission there?" He asked, while nodding his head at the scroll in my hand.

“Hmm...yeah." I held up the scroll.

“Didn't you just get home from one?"

I sighed, dropping my head. “Yeah…" It had been a really tiring mission too...

“Well...uh...I hope you at least get -some- rest."

I smirked, looking up at Rail and reassuring him. “I will, that's what I'm doing now, I won't read this till later…" Of course, that was a lie. I had to read it right away...missions couldn't just be ignored, in fact the scroll would incinerate itself in six hours if not opened, and also in thirty minutes after being opened.

“All right." Rail said softly while he clapped the railing, “I'll let you rest then for tonight, if you're still around tomorrow I'll bring you some fun potions to try…" He grinned widely at me. “I made one that turns your hair into fire…doesn't burn ya at all, look like a giant candle, pretty fun to scare people with." He waved his arms in the air “HELP I'M ON FIRE!!!"

I laughed, smiling widely, happy in my heart that I could at least -pretend- to live a normal life. “I'd really like that. Please do come by anytime tomorrow night."

“Righto." Rail gave a wave of his head, and walked a few steps away to enter his own home.

I looked down at the scroll in my hand while walking up to my door, hoping to any Titan listening that this mission wouldn't have me leaving immediately.

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Three hours later, after eating, showering and performing a general inspection of himself, Liki was sitting in the frame of the highest window of his home, wearing nothing but a torn, blood stained white shirt and bloodied tan pants. The larger, heavier armor was resting against the wall at the side of my room. I was looking over the edges of the city to see the edge of the sea and the sparkling flashes, a small bottle of Dwarven ale in my hand. Every so often, there was a brilliant flash of light that flashed from the sea, and I would drink from the bottle. Liki had made it a game of sorts a long time ago to try and keep up the tempo of the flashes, nearly always passing out. It helped me sleep...

I found that I could only see the flash nowhere else but here, close to my window in the city. I would spend hours gazing at the water where it shone, blinking on and off.

Something called to me about it, but I didn't know what. All I knew was that looking out onto the sea like this was calming...Liki enjoyed its beauty and shine in any kind of light. But I didn't like when the sea would rage, waves crashing angrily to the shore...and hiding that sparking light from his view…

Suddenly, there was a brief “SNAP!" noise beside him, and I looked down to the left lazily, mind abuzz with the slight stupor the alcohol was causing. Liki looked down at the floor of his bedroom, where the scroll detailing his mission was starting to catch fire. It's thirty minute timer had expired.

I snarled in anger and threw the bottle at the scroll as it lit up. The glass shattered, and what little remaining beer splashed from it. The fire didn't even react to the ale like it should, the magical fire could not be extinguished or even sparked to grow faster. In moments, the scroll was nothing but a pile of ash. I slumped against my window and looked back out to the sea, eyes locking onto that shining light.

They were doing it again...they were asking too much of him...he was exhausted, that last mission had pushed him hard...too hard. He hadn't had a decent break for over a year. It was mission after mission. It was as if...the higher ups were preparing for something.

But...at least this mission seemed it would be something somewhat relaxing. An undercover operation, in a neutral city-state called Gilneas. The city had long since walled itself off from the rest of the world, trying to avoid the troubles and concerns of the rest of Azeroth. He was to infiltrate and integrate into the city and begin gathering as much information he could about the King of the city state, who had denied the Alliance allegiance so long ago, and what kind of state his nation was in. The Alliance wanted to know if Gilneas was desperate for any kind of resource or what the general resource situation was in Gilneas, that they might offer assistance in the future when it became more serious, to try and get them to ally with the Alliance.

That certainly was easier than the last few issues he'd been through. Defeating fire lords deep underground...travelling through space in portals to destroyed, demon infested worlds, defeating Illidan...surviving the undead curses of the Lich King and seeing him defeated...what always started as simple missions led to more and more and more complicated things, until he was fighting blue dragons who blamed mortals for disturbing the magical balance of the world, or facing down Horde leaders, daring them to try and mess with him and his companions....he was tired…

Was this really what he had thought being an SI:7 Operative was going to be like…?