Apoclypta

by Seymour Copius
- do not use without the author's permission.
- inspired by the art of Unoriginal.



"Apoclypta?" The Asian woman asks looking over various screenshots of a mysterious character. They are all from different angles but still share two things in common, their location and the distance. Not one screenshot was even remotely close enough to get a good ID of the character model. The woman, around 25 years of age, removes her wire framed glasses and rubs her brow for a moment hoping that the confusion will leave as to why she was asked to come in to look at these. After a moment, she places the glasses back over her eyes and looks through the list of screenshots once more. "And what am I doing with these?"

This question is obviously directed toward the older man in behind her. A bit on the pudgy side and with just a thin wreath of hair on his light skinned head, he leans in to look over the womans shoulder to get a better view. Of course it's not something he needs, as he's already aware of what is on each screenshot.

"You're the captain of the debug team, aren't you?" He asks as the woman looks over her shoulder up at him knowing for certain just what he's getting at. "We've been having complaints about this character. A lot of characters have seen her attack and kill other characters with a single strike."

"And in an advanced center like the ruined city of Kaymore where only the higher level characters traverse, this comes as odd." She adds finishing his statement as she looks back toward the computer screen. "So you want me to go in and confront her? Find out what's making her so powerful?"

"Exactly."

"Can't you just PM (private message) her? Find out what's going on that way? Threaten her with the suspension of her account?"

The older man stands back up more erect rubbing the top of his head for a moment before letting out a deep breath. Sara, as she was known on this plane, looked concerned with what news would have her boss looking so distraught.

"We tried. Apparently, this character doesn't have an account. At least none that we can pinpoint."

"What do you mean? How is that possible? Unless she's a NPC (non player character) put in there by some hacker."

"There's no evidence of that. Usually those hacked characters show some sign they were hacked. But this one shows nothing. She's obviously a PC (player character) but she emits the signal of an NPC."

"Right. But I still don't understand why I'm here. Can't you get my team in on it? I'm still on vacation."

The older man nods a little. This is a bad sign for Sara, as she knows that the only time he nods like this is when he has something else to say. She turns in her swivel chair to catch a better glimpse of him standing there looking more distraught then before.

"What is it? What's wrong? What's wrong...with my team?"

"Every one of them we sent in were all Pked. (Player Killed) So we had no choice but to call for you. It's very important that this character be deleted from the game. Have you read the forums? People are talking about quitting the game because of her. Even those brave few who mouth off about conquering the 'impossible quest' are too afraid to have their characters killed. And I know that it doesn't sound like much, players being killed happens all the time in this game. But the way she does it, well, no character has ever returned to the game. Their character was deleted from our files and everything about them. Their account, information, everything. Gone. Just like that. Like they never signed up in the first place."

"Except that their money is still in the payment account."

The older man shakes his head at the apparent joke made by Sara who was trying to lighten the mood. She knew it was a stupid joke, but had to take the chance. Though soon she learned that it isn't the joke that has her superior upset, just the fact that it reminds him of something else.

"Nope. That's gone too."

"What?" Sara yells out jumping out of her chair not willing to believe that something like that is even possible. "How is that even possible?"

"We don't know. But we're beyond caring right now. We just need that character deleted. And as the captain of the debug team, you seem the only one who can do it. So? Will you?"

Sara doesn't have to think about it. She quickly sits back down in her chair and turns it back toward the monitor grabbing hold of the head mount. Head mount would be a bit too much as it actually looks like a bigger set of headphones with a display that is shoved down over the eyes. Before clipping it down, Sara removes her glasses and places them to the side by her keyboard. Shaking her head, Sara adjusts a couple of knobs on the side of the display to get a clearer picture.

"My girlfriends not going to like being kept waiting."

"Then just in and out. Then you can go back to her."

Sara giggles a little as she opens up the login center. "I'm not worried about keeping her waiting. I know she'll still be there as I left her. Naked, and tied to the bed." Sara smiles a little knowing that her supervisor is going envious with the thought. It's a game she clearly loves to play with him as he walks off leaving her to her business.

Saras' finger taps gently on the keyboard looking over her various lists of characters. As the captain of the debug team she was given a list of characters to choose from for her various assignments. Most of them required for her to get in close to a hacker so she would have to look their race. But since this was a quick in and out, and in the middle of a dangerous area, it didn't really matter which race she played. But after a few moments of thinking, she picked her personal favorite; A level 98 female ranger elf. One that had never let her down as she opened the characters account and began the process of joining the world. Before her loading process began she was shown a screen reserved only to those members of the debug team. A location list of the various warp points in the game. Sara knew where she was going and quickly brought it up. The ruined city of Kaymore came up on the screen and after a double click; she was in the final loading process.

Sara takes a few deep breaths as she waits for the process to end. Her mind is currently on two things right now; her girlfriend tied naked to the bed waiting upon her return to be freed and Apoclypta. She doesn't know what kind of character model she is, but she's going to delete her and save the game she loves so much.

Finally the loading process is over and her character is transported to the gates just outside of Kaymore. Already Sara can sense that something is wrong. Pulling out her crystal blade, she looks around. Not a creature in sight as she steps into the city. Usually such a high level place would have creatures galore all over the place. That's what made this place so popular among the higher levels and those brave few who wished to use this place as a level advancer. She doesn't see any of those as she steps between the ruined buildings and remnants of what used to be fences. There was a story about why this place looked that way, but even though she knew it Sara at the moment didn't really care. All she wanted to do was restore its former glory.

After a few moments of careful walking, Sara halted her violet haired elf against a wall to peer over around the corner. Her right hand griped the hilt of her blade tightly as she took a few more breaths then turned to look around the corner.

Nothing.

Sara seemed partially relieved as the rest of her showed frustration as to having to keep looking for her. Sara was careful not to allow her half-metal armor to make any noise as she crept between buildings. Finally there came a sense of satisfaction as she began to hear noises coming off in the distance. Overjoyed, Sara rushes over toward the sounds forgetting that she too was starting to make some of her own. She caught herself moments after letting herself slap against a wall. Judging by the sound of things the voices were coming from the other side. Sara scales the wall still gripping the leather hilt ready to swing at that little bitch that was taking her time away. Time she could be spending now caressing the smooth bosom of her girlfriend on her vacation. Sara shakes her head clear of those thoughts as she readies to jump back into the game.

She was mere seconds from looking over the corner when she noticed a part of her shadow suddenly appear on a wall just ahead from her. Looking over in the other direction, Sara came face to face with Apoclypta. Two white orbs flashed in her palms as she looked toward her with soulless ambition. Like she didn't care what she was about to do with Sara's character.

Suddenly, and without warning, Sara could feel something penetrate her body from behind. Apoclypta jumped into action sending one of the glowing orbs in front of her catching Sara's assassin in their own chest. An instant PK Sara thinks, as she looks to the other orb in Apoclypta's hand unsure of what its use will be but afraid of what it might be.

She could sense herself fading as the pain from the arrow coursed through her. Soon she was falling into the arms of Apoclypta who began dragging her to the other side of the wall.

Sara awoke moments later no longer feeling the pain of the arrow. Though looking down she noticed that it was still there, and so was Apoclypta who glared down at her from her position. As Sara's elf defiantly glared back, another woman came toward her dressed in a long black robe that almost dragged over the ground had it not've cut itself off at the back of her feet. Clearly a human raced character; the woman walks toward the injured elf rubbing her cheek with a cold hand. Then, without a word, she tends to the arrow. Within moments, Sara can feel herself replenished as all hit points were restored. Though after feeling that, she notices something odd about the situation.

"How are you...how? You can't be healing me without the cost of MP (magic points) or even HP! (Hit points) And as far as I can tell, there isn't an item that allows you to heal a character completely without the cost of something! Are you a hacker? Did you put that...bug in this game?"

The woman pressed a finger against the question filled elfs lips allowing her black bangs to hang over her shoulders. Her bleach blonde hair stayed over her back as she rose back up looking down upon the formerly injured elf.

"Yes, I'm a hacker. And yes I put in Apoclypta."

"That's against the terms of service you signed! I am hereby suspending your acc-"

"You can try, young elf, but your attempt at deleting anything of mine right now would be futile. Because I am no longer out of this game. There is nothing out there tying me in here."

"What?" Sara looks up at the woman astonished at what she is hearing. Although her astonishment turns to confusion within a matter of moments. "Huh?"

The woman giggles a little in response as she again kneels down in front of her placing a hand on the metal covered shoulder of her new visitor. "Let me show you."

Sara's screen suddenly goes white with the sudden flash, but within a matter of moments things return back to normal. Her sight is returned but she feels no different than she did before the flash happened.

She takes a moment to look around, but spotting nothing out o place, she looks back to the woman who now stands above her. Even their positions haven't changed Sara muses to herself as the woman takes a step back looking a little pleased with her efforts.

"I hope you don't mind but I am quite partial to elves."

This comes as slightly confusing to Sara who looks over toward Apoclypta who again shows no real emotion. She just stands there looking down at the kneeling visitor not saying a word. But that's when she notices her hair. Her dark brown hair swirling in her face as she looks between the woman and Apoclypta. The next thing she does is raise her hands and feels her face for a moment.

"No..." Sara whispers out to herself at first. But then begins to grow louder. "No, no, no." Sara turns her attention to the woman who had done this to her. "What did you do?!"

"You needed an example of what I was talking about. You did ask for one."

"I didn't mean a literal example. Change...change me back!"

Sara, not the elf but Sara, was kneeling down in front of the woman now begging to be turned back to her characters design.

"Your class is still elf, all I did was play around with the physical features. Save the ears, I kinda like those."

Sara lightly rubs her fingers along the pointed tips of her ears quivering her lips over the fact that she was just transported, literally, into the game.

"How? How are you doing this?" Sara practically screams out.

"Just a little hacker tool. That's all you need to know...filly."

And just like that, Sara could feel a number of sensations suddenly enter her body. Her former half-armor plated suit was exchanged for a black leather one that hid nothing but what was meant to be hidden.

Her feet felt heavy suddenly, as with each attempt to lift her feet was a harsh struggle. She tried to look over her shoulder at what was keeping her feet weighted down, but couldn't as her head couldn't even turn around. A posture collar had been affixed to her entire neck stopping any head movement. Even her arms were binded in a cross over fashion behind her back forcing her bare 33C chest out more. Sara then realizes that it's her body in the game as well, not just her facial features. Her elf has been erased and in its place is Sara.

She tries to scream out something but suddenly feels the cold metal bit in her mouth slide in from nowhere. Attached to the harness over her head, Sara tries to shake it out but because of the posture collar, she can't move an inch above the neck. All she can do is whine out and look up at the woman sympathetically. She doesn't return the kindness as instead she walks over patting her head a couple times.

That little pat seems to initiate more painful sensations in her body as rings suddenly form on Sara's naked body. One nose, two nipple, and even one in her clit. Then a sharp pain courses through her mouth as a stud suddenly pierces its way through her tongue. Again she tries to scream but all that comes out is a high pitched whiny. The woman claps her hands together in delight at the sight.

"This is great. A new walking advertisement."

The transformation isn't over yet as Sara can feel something penetrate her from behind. Sliding its way through her anal region, Sara lets out a low moan as her tail adjusts itself into her.

"Yes, there, finished."

Sara breathes hard covering her new bit in dribbling saliva. She glares up at the woman knowing that any noise she makes would only bring her more pleasure. Therefore, she opts to remain silent.

"Now, I'm sure you're just begging me mentally for an answer to your earlier questions, and since I have nothing but time I guess I can answer them. To everyone outside of this game you are nothing now more than a piece of undeletable code. Really, that's all the characters here are. Bits of code that can be easily rewritten given the proper tools. And that's what your code has been, rewritten to suit you more to my liking. Sara of the Crystal, Captain of the debug team at my mercy. There's the why as far as you're concerned. You have no idea how many hackers have been trying to do something like this to you. But don't worry, I won't sell you off to any of them. As a matter of fact, you're going to bring them to me so I can delete them myself. I will not only be goddess to those who I've slain, but to everyone who walks through this world."

Sara eyes over toward Apoclypta for a moment wondering just where she fits into all of this. Of course she knows that she too is nothing but code designed to do the bidding of this blonde and black haired woman, but why design her like that? Then it hit her; she was the bait that brought in characters. Her design and costume was more than enough to get any other character interested in learning more. From the lowliest of the pervy characters to the highest of hardcore game fanatics who knew everything about this game. They all wanted to know more about her. And now their characters were gone, deleted. But the one thing Sara didn't fully understand was why. Her look toward the woman asked that every question.

"Yes, I can tell you want to know everything, don't you? Well if you must know, I was brought into this game the same way you were. Through some kind of hacker tool by an even greater hacker than myself. He was the only one to get past my slavegirl here and to me. He brought me into this game and then left me. Left me alone with so many questions that could never go asked. I haven't seen him since, but I know he's out there and I will find him. After I do a little reprogramming to this games file system. If I am to live in this world the rest of my life, then I will have it to my liking. I will have it equal the real world in not only effects, but to allow the feel of a crisp breeze, to feel the heat from the rising sun. Hearing just simply isn't enough. And I know how to do it, but before I can, I must have complete control of this game. Those you used to work with my leave the system to me. The only way to accomplish that is to remove the players. Enough so the game must be canceled. Then, when the defense is all gone, I will go in and redesign this game to my liking. So you need to attract the hackers so I can remove the competition."

Sara doesn't respond in any fashion. Instead, she remains perfectly still looking up at the woman who is just moments from proclaiming herself her mistress. Sara realizes that the only thing blocking that is her willingness to obey.

"You realize that you are a part of this game as well, don't you? Soon you will feel the way I do. You will long for the breeze to scratch at your face, the warm sun on your flesh, everything."

Sara has to admit she knows of no way out of the game and knows also that the woman won't just let her go. She had made such a name for herself as a bug huntress that to let her go would be crazy. So, with no more reluctancy, she accepted her new position of slave with a bow of the upper portion of her body and gave the woman a role as her mistress. She smiled at this as she reached out to her new ponygirl.

"Good, but a lesson in obedience is something I'm afraid you'll need to learn. Perhaps two years of soulless duty will give you a sense of who is in charge."

Her lip quivered as she watched her mistress' hand reach over her head. Planting it on the harness, Sara could feel her consciousness slip away as the hand was slowly brought up. In its place was a crystal horn, which would be used as a defensive in case things would get rough for her. Her eyes, lost of all color, turned bright white.

"Now, in two years." The mistress looked into her glowing palm where a bright yellow orb danced around. She clenches her fist tightly allowing the orb to merge into her hand before opening it again. "Now filly, why don't you go and wait outside the gate?"

Sara rose up to her feet and pranced her way out of the area toward the entrance of the city. It was in her new character design to walk as such and even if her consciousness were still around, it wouldn't matter in the least.

"Sara? Sara?!" The supervisor practically screamed into Sara's face whilst shaking her around in her chair trying to wake her from her permanent slumber. Shaking and screaming for her to wake up, the supervisor was clearly more distraught than before.

~Two years, one month later~

Sara runs up a hill as fast she can trying to get up to the grassy top. The wind blowing gently through her hair causing her to smile. Her eyes, now back with their original color, looked around at the brightly colored scene of a heavy forest all around her. Looking down the hill, she notices both her mistress and Apoclypta chasing after her both giggling at the fun they were having. Sara's smile turns into a giggle as well as the duo comes ever closer to their little filly. All three of them, having not aged due to the fact that they are now nothing more than bits of code, quiet down as they gaze toward the rising sun.

Sara chomps down on her metal bit a couple of times, the sense of eating having left her along with all other motives of surviving the moment she literally entered the game. Looking toward her mistress, Sara sends a coy smile about the plans for the day ahead. Apoclypta was the first to return the smile having caught it first. The mistress' eyes are still locked onto the sun as she feels the warmth caress her body much like it had the day before and the day before that. Yet it was still a novelty to all three of them to feel the warmth early each morning and throughout the day. Looking toward each subject, the mistress gives a nod and begins down the hill with both Apoclypta and Sara close behind.

The day was sure to be filled with adventure; it was only a matter of starting them.