Chapter 23: "AutoArchive"

I feel a huge, huge burden lifted off my shoulders. On Friday night, I was dead tired with a half-cooked TU Treasure Hunt to prepare for Saturday, an MPH "Malaysian Anecdotes" freelance from 95 Percent (and trust me, it really is a FREElance), and a design job for my sister's company which had been going on for months, with unfavourable response on their side. To make things worse, I left in the office a magazine I'd bought for scanning images, meaning I couldn't work on my sister's job over the weekend.
But praise the Lord! The treasure hunt came off pretty well, much better than it would've if the rain hadn't made us cancel it in April. See, I told you He knew what He was doing.
The MPH project turned out to be a big worry over nothing after all, as it was a one-off thing that did indeed add a great piece to my portfolio. And leaving the magazine in office made sure I didn't waste time TRYING to do two things at the same time, as I'm always apt to. Gonna be working hard on it tonight, instead!
So once again, praise the Lord!

Archiver crept up to us like a cat ready to pounce, his arms shimmering blue. "You must understand. There is only one permissible outcome."
"Watch out for his hands. Delete is our only way out." U Cut himself again.
"Huh? What? Hey!" I hated it when he spoke in riddles! I didn't even know what this Archive spell would do.
"You cannot fool me twice," Archiver hissed. "The moment you Paste yourself, I shall finish you off."
"As for you, Garrick," he turned his bloodshot eyes at me. "Be removed from Blogspot...FOREVER!"
I watched in amazement as his two hands split themselves into dozens other hands. They encircled my head, reaching for me and backing away repeatedly.
"Be on your toes. One of the hands will reach for you, Delete it as quickly as you can." U's voice whispered to me. He was beside me after all!
"What happens if he Archives me?"
"You get removed to the past, or something like that. It's bad, period."
Suddenly one of the hands came for my left. I caught it quick enough and shot a Delete ray at it. The other hands flew back into Archiver, who was clutching his right hand in pain.
"Not fast enough," U reappeared. "You were too busy expecting me to strike, weren't you?"
"Indeed I was," he winced. "I now know that I need to do the extraordinary, if I shall defeat you."
Archiver clasped his hands so tightly that he made them bleed on purpose. The blood glowed blue and covered his entire body.
"All the unspeakable powers I have ever beheld," he stepped forward, hands still clasped. "Lie in these two hands."
"What's that?" I nudged U.
"Beats me. But if you ask me, I'd guess it's a more dangerous version of Archive."
"Indeed," Archiver rasped. "Today, you shall fall prey to AutoArchive."

Chapter 22: "Archive"

Heh, more topsy-turvy days at work. Found myself with enough time to comb through the entire Starcraft trilogy on Wikipedia, but - due to a still inexplicable last-minute complication - had to stay back till 12.30am last night to rework a campaign.
Anyway, have you guys played the absolutely hilarious Zidane headbutt game? Go check it out, it's my little contribution to brighten your day! Oh, and this as well...

Ah. The crown prince of the Rebellion. It has been a while.
U spat. "Another of your dirty tricks, Ivan? Tricking Garrick to Climax City where you can finish him off easily on your own terms."
"You speak too much," Archiver picked himself up, bloodshot eyes burning into U. "Let me shut you up for good."
Speak for yourself, old man. I am not done speaking to my former Antagonist yet.
"How pitiful," U declared boldly. "The ruler of Blogspot refuses to fight his Chosen One fairly. The Writer we defeated was wicked to the bone, but at least he had an ounce of pride."
The shadows burned slightly brighter, then dimmed again. Archiver. Ki...I mean, destroy them both. And find me the girl.
"Two at once? How you flatter me, my Lord." he grinned. "It shall be done."
Hm. We shall see.
The stifling darkness lifted itself from the hall, presumably to show He had departed.
"You, and you," Archiver pointed at us one by one, as if counting heads. "Against poor old me. I pray that I shall survive this battle."
"Careful," I whispered to U. "I fought him for a while just now. He had some power that prevented me from attacking him."
"Archive."
"Huh?"
"He Archived himself. Shifted his physical self into the past. Then quickly unArchived to attack you. I've heard of it before."
We froze momentarily. "That's it. He's Saving the scene."
"Apparently you know all my tricks." Archiver said. "But still you shall perish!"
U leapt forward and swung his sword at him. Archiver caught it easily in one hand, and raised the other. As he was about to bring it down to U's head, U Cut himself.
Seeing Archiver caught by surprise, I sensed a chance. I went for him, Shifting slightly, and aimed my staff at his head.
At the precise moment he turned to block, U reappeared at his feet. A split second of confusion later, Archiver fell to our attacks.
"Way to go!" U picked up his sword and slapped me on the back.
"Wait. He's going to Load the scene."
Right away, I couldn't move. But half a second later everything went back to normal. Only that this time, nothing changed. We still stood where we were.
"He won't dare. Not after what happened the other time. If he lets us go again, someone won't be too pleased."
"Clever. Very clever." Archiver stroked the blood on his lips. "I do believe I have never been in a battle which I cannot Load."
"It is time for the old dog to show you a new trick." he forced a blue glow from his hands, spreading to the arms.
"He Archived himself again?"
"Not that simple." U swallowed. "He's trying to Archive us as well."

Chapter 21: "Kill"

Had a rather difficult week in office. I can't thank God enough for Friday, but...sigh, I hate the thought that Monday is just two days away. Will it ever end?!
As is becoming more frequent lately, I took another looong trip down memory lane last night. It lasted till 4am this time. And I don't think I've ever felt older when I woke up the next morning-slash-afternoon.
Nostalgia. What a big word.

Darn. Now Archiver was going to fight me instead.
"It has been nice knowing you, child," he said. "But the day dictates that you exist no more."
He exhaled noisily. "Your move first."
I peered to the sides and back of the hall. The shadows, growing in number each passing minute, hid any escape routes from my sight.
I had to fight him.
"Well then," The staff U gave me appeared in my hands. "Here I come!"
I charged at him. He watched calmly, not flinching a muscle. Just before I reached him with my staff...
"Shift!"
Yes! He would've never expected that. I soared higher this time, almost twenty feet. I checked again. Still he stood there.
"YAHHH!" I shot for his head like a rocket.
And he never moved at all.
The staff swung at the back of his head. And went through it.
"Heh." he smirked. "Fool."
Before I had time to react, his fist swiped my cheek. I tumbled to the ground, metallic taste of blood on my lips.
"Another of your tricks, huh?" I spat.
"A trick, you say? How rude of you."
He strode over to me. "And now." His left arm raised and emitted a blue glow. "Your story shall end."
No, Archiver. His voice floated over our heads. I said KILL him.
"K...kill him?"
Yes. Destroy him. Annihilate him. Not "write him out of the story" like some feeble predecessors would do.
"But, my Lord, he remains a part of Blogspot history. The futures need to hear of his story."
What history? The only history that exists, as far as I am concerned, is that of my coming to power. And the only future is that of my staying in power. Now kill him, I said.
Archiver looked at me and trembled. "I...I cannot. It goes against my nature."
Pow! His unseen hand smacked Archiver to the ground. Sigh. Must I do everything myself?
Give me a body, old man.
"Y-Yes, my Lord."
Archiver clasped his hands together and held them out at the voice. The dark shadows swirled from the corners, pressing collectively into a ball. A faint reddish ray started streaking through the center of the ball.
Ah. Sure feels good to be one of you lesser beings again.
Suddenly Archiver cried out and fell. The ball fizzed for a moment before disappearing with a soft pop.
WHAT?
A distinct form shaped next to Archiver. Lifting his sword, he stared at me with mock anxiety. "You're not dead yet, are you?"
"U?"