“Strangely enough my kin never thought about death and what could lie behind those gates. Strangely because death seems to be a constant companion in our lives. We live forever in our world, not aging, not meant by nature to die. And yet death is a steady part of our life. Have you ever thought of what might happen to the one who dies impaled on your sword? Have you ever thought what happens if it will be you one day who is impaled on his enemies blade? No? A pity… some drowussu believe that they will unite with Sharess once they die, fighting alongside her against the eternal darkness. Some idiots believe dead would become demons who seek to possess a body again. But truth is far worse… I see it… I can show you… But do you dare to open your eyes?”
-Naal´Suul Val´Beldrobbaen

Chapter 1
Typical Morning (subject to re-titling ninja )

"What the hell?!" her yell rang through the apartment, bringing her two companions running. "What is it," the taller half-elf queried, looking around the room. The dark elf looked up from her computer and pointed to the screen. "This two-bit hack, is trying to hack into MY defenses!"

She burst out into laughter, then continued, "You wanna watch something funny?" the half-elf rolled her eyes and leaned back, crossing her arms, "how funny are you thinking, Vanya?" Vanyas' smile grew as she turned back to her computer and leaned a little to the right, to switch on her second monitor. "Well, Bogart might appreciate it, but I don't think it's up your alley, Sasha."

Sasha shook her 'razzle dazzled' raspberry locks and rolled her eyes again as she walked towards the door, "I’ll never understand you drow. Finding payback so funny. Well, have fun, I’m going to practice." she closed the door behind her as she left.

Bogart spoke up, "so how bad you going to do him?" Vanyas' grin returned, "Watch and see."

She motioned for him to pull up a chair, and typed for a moment. The right hand screen illuminated. "This is what he sees and does." text on the screen moved by slowly, "damn he's slow. I’ve seen molasses move faster. Hmmm," she read the text, "looks like he's stumped by my firewall. That’s good, I was wondering if I should work on that a little. Ok, let's see what he can do."

She leaned back and cracked her knuckles, then opened a folder on the main screen. "Viruses, Vanya?" she nodded, "I’ve been saving this one for a rainy day. Watch," she opened the file and scanned over it quickly, nodding as she read, "good. Good. Good. Umm hmm. Ok. It’s set and ready." she closed the file, and right clicked on it in the folder. Then sent it to the other hacker. A message opened on the right hand screen.

The moving text stopped, and the mouse moved a fraction, as Bogart leaned forward to see what it said. He read it out loud, "'hiya twerp! So ya know, you've been found out. Here’s a little surprise for you, hope you don't get too 'tied up'! V.' what the hell is that, Vanya?" he asked as the cursor clicked the ok button.

Vanya grinned as a charmed violet spider popped up and started making a web on the screen. "All that for nothing," he questioned, sounding depressed. "Oh just a little pet I picked up and altered. Right now it's eating away at his files. Don’t fret, Bogart, my dear. Right now, this twerp is going into a panic. Trying to escape out, alt f4, alt tab, control alt delete, and even a manual power down. He can even unplug it, but it doesn't matter. He’s too late. He got trapped." she smiled as the screen went black, and then reached over to turn it off. "His hard drive just got wiped clean," she said giggling.

Bogart picked a piece of lint off his shirt, "well, that was no fun. Had it overheated on him, or spammed it into shutting down or even meltdown, that would have been hilarious. But just wiping it?" he yawned.

She leaned back and motioned to the computer, "think you could do better?"

He smiled and stood, resting a finely shaped hand on her shoulder, "only giving you inspiration, my dear. Ah, I’ve meant to ask, how my page fares. Any new hits?" she nodded and in a burst of typing, loaded his page. "Looks like the 'silent info' blog I added got a few new hits and your page counter went up with it." she hit f5 to refresh. "Wha? You got two more comments. 'Website... causes people to do things.' and there is a link...." she looked up at him. "Should we?"

He nodded, "we better, as the good samaritans we are. Anyways, sounds like Sasha doesn't need us, she's practicing her music. We’d only get in her way." she nodded in return and clicked the link, "yea, her and her music. At least she's good at it. Ya better have a seat, who knows what will happen." he sat down as she leaned over to flick on the second monitor. "Going to fix it while we are here?" she nodded once, "if I can."

The page loaded and she started looking over it. "Hmm, it seems like an animal rights site, promoting the destruction of testing facilities, but...." "But what?" Bogart asked. "But something doesn't seem right. It’s not that straightforward. Hmmm. let me see." she changed the link and pulled up what looked like a jumble of words and letters. Taking a breath, she scanned over it. "How the hell...." she murmured.

"What?" Bogart perked up, "don't leave me in the dark here, this is a jumble to me." she nodded and opened another window, pulling it into the second screen and going back to the original web page. Scrolling down she pointed. "Right here, starts a charm spell." he blinked, "but how?" "It would seem... wow, they were good." she paused and collected her thoughts.

"Ok, I’ll try to explain it. I remember hearing somewhere that spells require being said, and sometimes have hand motions to go with them," Vanya glanced at him to see if he followed and continued at his nod, "ok, well, they put both on this site." she noted his blank look and pointed to the screen. "Here, look at the pointer. It’s a hand in constant motion, flickering through the movement for a spell. The motioning part, right?" at his nod, she went on, "and if we raise the volume," she turned the speakers up, "we can hear a voice." his eyes went wide as he whispered, "the spoken." she nodded with a pleased smile, "good! Now you get it."

He leaned forward, "so... can you fix it?" she thought, "I’m not sure. I’d have to study it for a bit to figure it out, and they wouldn't leave it unlocked for just anyone to look at and fiddle with." she closed her eyes and leaned back, rubbing her hands over her eyes. "Argh, I may have to call in a favor for this one. There’s only one person I can think of who could help me straighten this out. Minnisotra." he cringed, "does it have to be her? There isn't anyone else?" Vanya shook her head. "No one I can think of. You want escape time?" he paused. "No... I just get annoyed at telling her I’m not interested, that I have someone already." she patted his hand, "there, there, dear, I won't let her at you," she grinned, pulling her cell phone across the table.

Dialing in a number, she waited for the ringer to go. It was picked up on the second ring. "Hiya, Minnisotra, it's me... yea, I know I still owe you from last time... no, I’m not calling so you can collect... I’m sorry.......... umm, I hate to interrupt your tirade, but I’ve got a live one for you... yea... oh it's a good one... somantic and verbal... online... of course I’m sure! I read the coding myself... yea, you'd think they wouldn't leave it wide open, that's why I wanted to get a second opinion... I think that rash of vandalisms on the factories was caused by it... uh huh, I’m looking at it now...yup... you online? I’ll IM it to you... good... yea, this is it... still there?... ouch, what happened?... bloody bastards, and after all you did for them... yea, I feel your pain... okay, you got it?... are you reading code, or the page itself?...ummmhmmmm I told you... that's what my thought is... doesn't it start right at the forward thinking part?... good, so I’m not crazy... can you use the web monkey?... you have to redo the whole thing?... ah, ok, just reverse it then?... should I let you go to do it?... okay, IM me if all goes well... yea, I’ll be online... nope, I was thinking about getting lunch with Bogart... no, I know he's not your type, but why do you lead him on so?... hahaha, I see, ok... yup, I’ll talk to you later... bye."

As she hung up the phone, Bogart prodded her. "Verdict?" Vanya nodded, "she's looking into it now. I’ve got to link her to the back page, and then we can get lunch. If you like?" Bogart nodded as she copied the link to the coding over and sent it to Minnisotra. "Ok, let us see how Sasha fares. And then grab lunch."

"Oh, one last thing... can you trace that 'silent blog' post, or was it completely anonymous?" Vanya thought, "hmmm, dunno, I can check right fast." she loaded up his site again. "There was another post, same topic, same author, this time with e-mail address. Want me to reply to him?" Bogart nodded.

Vanya copied the email address over, and sent a quick message thanking the user for the information, and saying that someone was looking into it. "Ok, lunch time!" Vanya stretched as she rose from her chair.

bogart waas still for a moment. "what?" he shook his head. "i don't see how you do it." vanya tipped her head. "how i do what?" he looked at her as he replied, "how you know so much after so little time over here. how you seemed to just get it. or how you met people like us. i just don't understand it all."

vanya laughed. "well, it took time. you know how it went, you did the same. i still don't see how you can serve yourself on a platter for so many people to get at you." he laughed. "does that make us even then?" he questioned. she shrugged with a smile, "in new times, people learn new ways. i don't remember where i read that from, but it fits to me. we aren't from here. the veil made sure of that. but you know, i don't mind. all this," she waved at her computers, "all of it makes sense to me. like it was meant to be. like i wasn't supposed to be born a blood thirsty killer, like i was in the old world." he was nodding. "that, i think i understand. though, a little still comes out, what with viruses and all." vanya blushed. "l-lunch time right? lets get sasha."

bogart raised an eyebrow as she hurried out the door, then rose to follow her. "at least sasha has been getting better with her music. i was starting to miss the soothing notes of home." vanya laughed, "but if you asked a non-drow what they hear, it would be likened to a cat caturwauling, or a wolf baying at the moon. either creepy or scary. at least she changed the lyrics. those were bothering me. teaching her enough to sing a few words, in drow, seemed to work out better then in plain elven or common." bogart nodded.

"but does she really seem to need us like before?" he asked softly. vanya paused and looked back at him, "i think it should be 'does she need us, or do we need her?' somehow, our little family is together still, even after all these years, even across the racial barrier," she held up her hand before he could interrupt, "and personally, i'm not going to question it." her serious expression softened a little, as she added, "i feel more now then i did before, bogart. not just the blood-thirsty, must kill everything, that was the definition of who i was before. my eyes... and heart... have opened to everything. i truely feel things like never before." she looked back towards where the music was coming from, "and i think she had a hand in it, helping me along when i faultered."

he stepped forward and rested his hand on her shoulder. "somehow, i think i can even understand that. she helped the both of us progress out of the 'killer age', and into the 'caring age'. and all it took were her gorgeous green eyes in that big teary way." vanya laughed softly, "don't let her hear you say that. she'll use those eyes on you to force you to agree with her lunch choice." he groaned, "today is her day, isn't it?" vanya simply nodded. he dropped his head, raising his free hand to cover his face, "why did we ever agree to take turns?" vanya chuckled and patted his hand on her shoulder affectionately, "now, now. let us get this over with. better to grin and bear it. anyways, next week, it's my turn." she finished with a grin. he groaned again, falling over to lean on her. "not the spiders web again!" she just laughed and wrapped an arm around his waist, then opened the door with her other hand.

at first they only heard the music drifting through the house. it was a haunting melody that was soon accompanied by lyrics that were spoken softly, but in a deep husky tone. "Vendui', abbil. L'alurl abbil zhah dosstan. khaless nau uss mzild taga dosstan. kyone aluve'." vanya repeated what was being sung, "i greet you, comrad. the best trusted friend is yourself. trust no one more than yourself. carefully i leave you." bogart sighed, "truely, she is getting better. it makes me so honglath to listen to her sing." "it also makes you calmly slip into our native tongue without realizing it." bogart snapped to attention, "did i really?" she nodded. he cursed and slumped back down.

the music died off and vanya called out to sasha, "bravo girl! you brought bogart to tears!" sasha smiled, "do you know how difficult it is to preform without you guys here to correct me?" she flipped a curl out of her face. "it's near impossible! i need your input!" "well, right now, what we all need is lunch." sasha gasped and looked at her wrist, "my gosh, i didn't know it was that late! no wonder bogart is laid out helpless on your shoulder! dying from hunger, eh, bogart?" she prodded him in jest. he groaned and buried his face in vanyas neck. vanya rolled her eyes. "now, now. have you picked a place yet, sasha?" she nodded. "there's a new place a few blocks over. it boasts quietly that it caters to all elves. and that it has a drow cook and a high elf cook in the same kitchen." sasha had a smug look on her face as she looked at bogart. he glanced at her with a questioning look. "i haven't heard anything about this new place. my network should have told me before you found out." sasha grinned as his phone beeped. "betcha that's your late network." he raised an eyebrow as he answered his phone. "yea?.......... s**t.......... thanks...... bye." he looked at sasha, then dejectedly at vanya. "she was right. my network is late." sasha giggled. "how long have they been open," he asked looking back to her. "oh, since about last week or so. I spotted them on the last trip through that neighborhood. had one of the guys check it out for me. that drummer, svet. he's cute. too bad he's got a shitty voice." both vanya and bogart rolled their eyes.


Anything red is author note. Is using the occasional profane word ok? That's mostly how one character reacts to things.... gonk And I'll work on capitalization later ninja As well as learning to use the 'enter + tab' keys to make new paragraphs.

Otherwise, what do you think? ^_^