Pink Star and Icy Rose were walking back from the cafeteria, chatting with one another.

Suddenly they heard a vicious scream. As if some specter of hatred and vengeance was expressing its undying rage at all who still drew breath.

The two girls exchanged glances.

And ran towards a certain room.

 

Once they arrived…

 

Chronolock was sitting at the computer, her face twisted in ways it never should. Her hand gripped her mouse so hard it had begun to crack. Voidspeaker stood behind her. He had one hand stretched out towards his girlfriend…with one foot turned towards the door. He was leaning back and forth between Chronolock and the door, his face curled up in deep thought.

On Chronolock’s screen…the word ‘Defeat’ was written in big, red letters.

 

“I’ve blocked him in every way I could. I’ve reported him for cheating, repeatedly.”

 

“Y-Yeah…um, Chrono, w-why don’t we get something to eat…”

 

“SO WHY IS THIS JERK NSLICE-00P IN EVERY! SINGLE! MATCH!”

 

Pink Star and Icy Rose looked at one another before both sighing.

 

Just a game.

 

That is…until Chronolock received a private message.

 

Taunting Answer: Because this player is your nemesis, Chronolock.

 

Chronolock froze. Voidspeaker leaned over her shoulder and jumped. Pink Star and Icy Rose tip-toed over to see what was going on…and gasped.

 

“...who is this? Do you know them?”

 

"...no. I don't."

 

Pink Star and Icy Rose began glancing around the room, their hands starting to glow. Voidspeaker gulped.

 

“…s-should you answer?”

 

Chronolock’s eyes narrowed at the screen.

 

Who are you?

 

And then they waited. Only a few moments later, a reply arrived.

 

Challenging Offer: If you’d like to find out, meet me at these coordinates.

 

Chronolock stood up.

 

“W-what are you doing, Chrono?”

 

“I’m going.”

 

“You’re going?! Didn’t your mom ever tell you not to meet strangers from the internet?!”

 

“I wasn’t a hero back then.”

 

Voidspeaker sighed as Chronolock walked past him. He fell in behind her.

 

“You’re coming?”

 

“Duh! You think I’m going to let you go alone in this situation?! If you’re going, I’m coming with you.”

 

Chronolock fell silent and continued on. After a bit, she whispered.

 

“…thanks.”

 

Icy Rose watched them go before turning to Pink Star. Pink had her eyes closed and her fingers plugging her ears.

 

“I’m not listening. I don’t hear anything. There’s no flirting here.”

 

Icy Rose sighed and tapped the girl’s shoulder. Pink remained still for a moment, before dropping her hands and sighing deeply.

 

“Yeah, we should go too. Can you call Wonder, Rose?”

 

“…sure.”

 

---

 

A secluded park, empty around this time of the night. Chronolock and Voidspeaker stood under a streetlamp. Chronolock stood as still as a statue, eyes facing forward. Voidspeaker was glancing around every which way, twitching at every noise.

Meanwhile, Wonder Knight, Pink Star, and Icy Rose hid in a bush nearby.

 

“Mind telling me what we’re doing here?”

 

“Chronolock’s meeting someone from her game.”

 

“…and why are we here for that?”

 

“What, you have a date or something?”

 

“…”

 

“…”

 

“…”

 

“…forget I asked. Because the person from the game that she doesn't know in real life messaged her. And referred to her as Chronolock. And replied to the conversation we were having in the room at that exact time.”

 

“…I mean, it could be a hacker? Chrono can handle herself, and Void’s with her.”

 

“That’s the second reason.”

 

“Oh?”

 

“If it’s just a hacker…then we need to save them from Chrono.”

 

“Oh come on, she wouldn’t…”

 

Wonder thought back to all his memories of Chronolock in her gamer mode.

 

“…got it. L-Let’s keep watch.”

 

“I’m glad you understand.”

 

Just then the group heard rustling. The bushes ahead of Chronolock and Voidspeaker began to shuffle.

A foot emerged from the bush.

The branches parted as the person stepped into view.

Aurora Legion’s jaw dropped.

 

A very familiar warbot stepped out into the light.

 

“Greeting: This unit is glad you could make it. It is nice to meet…”

 

Chronolock raised her fists as Voidspeaker began to chant. In the bushes, Pink Star began to chant as the temperature dropped around Icy Rose. Wonder Knight tensed his muscles, ready to leap out at a moment’s notice.

Chronolock glared at the machine.

 

“So this is another Nemesis ambush? I should have known.”

 

The warbot raised its hands….

...and held them up in a gesture of surrender.

Aurora Legion froze.

 

“Clarification: Nemesis is not present, this unit is alone.”

 

“Yeah, like we’d believe that, bro!”

 

“…what do you want, machine?”

 

The warbot’s helmet began to slide to the side...

All of Aurora Legion gasped.

There…was a sleeping girl, yellow lights dancing around her human eye.

 

“Desperate Request: Nemesis requires rescue by Aurora Legion. You are our only hope.”

 

Voidspeaker’s jaw dropped.

 

“YOU’RE A GIRL?!”

 

Silence hung in the air for a moment.

 

“…Statement: This unit’s organic components are currently on standby and no response to this situation was previously recorded. Cross-referencing situation with Internet to determine response. Analysis Results: Appropriate response to surprised proclamation of this unit’s gender tentatively determined as: ‘indignant rage and non-lethal violence.’ Please confirm.”

 

“Void.”

 

“I-I mean, s-she’s human?! I thought she was a robot!”

 

Chronolock held her head.

 

“It’s too late for that.”

 

“Oh come on! You thought so too, didn’t you?!”

 

“But I didn’t blurt it out.”

 

“Repeated Query: Please confirm if response is appropriate.”

 

“Confirmed.”

 

Voidspeaker shook his head with all his might.

 

“Not confirmed! Definitely not confirmed!”

 

“...Conclusion: As this unit is currently requesting Aurora Legion assistance, non-lethal violence calculated as counter-productive. Restricting response to ‘indignant rage’. Indignant Sarcasm: This unit thanks Voidspeaker for his observation. This unit never noticed she was a girl. You jerk.”

 

“Oh come on! I’m sorry, ok! I was just surprised!”

 

“Pointed Query: Why was Voidspeaker surprised at this unit’s gender?”

 

“B-Because…”

 

Chronolock sighed.

 

“Enough. Ok then, miss…?”

 

“Introduction: This unit is designated NSLICE-00P, colloquial designation: Elise.”

 

Chronolock’s eye twitched slightly at the mention of the hated username.

 

“Ok then…Elise. Why are you coming to us of all people for help? We aren’t exactly friends.”

 

“Response: This unit will now display motivating events.”

 

As she spoke, Elise’s robotic eye began to glow, projecting a screen in the air.

The strong man with the greatsword filled one, clutching his head as he dropped to the floor.

Another showed the magic girl rolling on the floor in her room, screaming.

Another screen showed what they figured was the shinobi girl’s face as she lifted a gun with a trembling hand, tears filling her eyes.

They could hear her sob as yellow light danced around her head.

 

“I…can’t…stop…”

 

“Rhetorical Question: Because Aurora Legion is designated as ‘heroes.’ And calling heroes is the appropriate response when one is in trouble, correct?”

 

Voidspeaker opened his mouth and lifted a finger…then furrowed his brow…then closed his mouth while lowering his hand.

Elise turned to glance at the bushes to the side.

 

“Observation: This unit speculates Chronolock and Voidspeaker will need to discuss with concealed members of Aurora Legion. This unit will withdraw for now. Please return to these coordinates if Aurora Legion decides to assist.”

 

She turned back and locked eyes with Chronolock.

 

“...Sincere Request: This unit’s friends are in danger…and pain. This unit cannot rescue them alone. Please help…my…friends.”

 

With that, a puff of smoke covered Elise…and she was gone. The rest of Aurora Legion stepped out from the bushes and joined the pair staring out into the night. After a long moment of silence, one of them finally spoke.

 

“So what are we going to do?”

 

Voidspeaker shrugged.

 

“I mean, we shouldn’t do anything, right? Or rather, shouldn’t we let the ILS know about this?”

 

Wonder Knight just stared at him.

 

“Dude…”

 

“What?! It’s Nemesis, bro! How many times have they attacked us?! And like, isn’t this thing only affecting villains?! That proves it!”

 

“...didn’t you see that ninja girl?”

 

“...I did.”

 

“Do you really think they deserve that?”

 

“...I mean…they’re our enemies…right?”

 

Pink Star furrowed her brow, resting a finger on her chin.

 

“I’m not so sure…”

 

“What do you mean you’re not sure?! They attacked us! Multiple times! Kept us from stopping villains more than once! What’s more to know?”

 

“Yeah but they never hurt us.”

 

“...are you serious?”

 

“I mean, they didn’t truly hurt us. Nemesis has had many chances to seriously harm, or even kill us. They never did. So…are they really that bad? Do they deserve…whatever this is?”

 

It was then that Wonder Knight stepped forward.

 

“...it doesn’t matter.”

 

The whole group turned to face him.

 

“I don’t know what’s going on. I don’t know how Nemesis is involved in all this. What I do know is that people are in trouble, in pain, and asking us for help.”

 

He glanced around at each member of the team.

 

“...Nemesis are not exactly good people and have caused us a lot of trouble. But that doesn’t matter. We’re heroes. We help people in need. We don’t ask what kind of people they are before we save them.”

 

Wonder Knight clenched his hands into fists.

 

“So I’m going to do something. I don’t know if I’m going to go as far as helping them, but I’m at least going to figure out what’s going on. I couldn’t call myself a hero if I didn’t do that much.”

 

Pink Star stared at him for a second before crossing her arms and puffing her cheeks.

 

“...you stop that.”

 

“Hm? Did you say something Pink?”

 

She shook her head and took a step forward.

 

“I said I agree. No harm in checking things out, right?”

 

Icy Rose took a step forward, nodding as well.

 

“...I always thought, a hero doesn’t just fight the villains. They rise above them, they resist violence without falling to the same level. So I’m in too.”

 

Chronolock heaved a sigh and elbowed Voidspeaker.

 

“Come on.”

 

Voidspeaker threw his hands up in the air.

 

“Fine! Let’s go team up with the villains, why don’t we?!”

 

“Aren’t you the cultist channeling the power of ancient dark gods bringing inexorable doom?”

 

“Oh come on!”