***End Flashback***
Jay and Atery moved at a slow pace toward Undershadow's hideout. Jay knew something was up, but remained silent, waiting for Atery to initiate the conversation.
Finally, Atery spoke. "We don't really need to talk to Undershadow, I needed to speak with you."
Jay had guessed as much.
Atery continued, "See, I don't think everyone that we've surrounded ourselves with are actually sided with us."
Jay finally spoke. "What do you mean? Undershadow is helping Scyne??"
Atery shook his head. "This has nothing at all to do with Scyne."
Now Jay was confused. Scyne was the central enemy here, and the only one who could release the program and pass word.
Atery kept talking. "See, a couple of years ago, someone came to me and asked for the pass word. I was forced to give them something- so I gave them a fake."
Jay wasn't quite sure what was going on. "Who came to you?"
"Zert. Or, at least, his character was named Zert."
"You think the Zert we know now is an imposter?"
"I think the Zert that is here at the moment may have more evil purposes than we know as of yet."
Jay was believing the story less and less. "Zert is a hero, not a villain. I've heard all the stories..."
"I've lived them." Atery shot back.
Jay shrugged. "I just don't see how Zert could possibly come back to do us harm, unless it wasn't really Zert to begin with."
Atery sighed. "Well, you know the staff he is trying to get you to repair?"
Jay nodded, bracing himself for what Atery was about to say.
"It was never broken. It was put in the museum in Varrock for safe keeping."
Jay was more mystified than ever. "So... some guy, possibly Zert, recruited me to help him repair something that was never broken?"
Atery nodded. "I guess that's one way to put it, but for now, all we can do..."
As Atery neared the end of his sentence, Jay felt himself fade away....
18-Aug-2006 20:22:39