<div class="floatright">(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/744/21289895508_9dc4ffab99.jpg)</div>Now she had something of a choice; she could admit her identity and possibly gain attention, or pass it off.  And, sadly, that last part would just make things worse, in her opinion.<br/><br/>Glancing up at Artemis, she smiled as Artemis allowed that the other girl could join them.  Rising, she turned to face the bold stranger, who was really coming across as more bravado-out-of-necessity than actually trying to be scary.  "Deathshadow, isn't it?"  She started...only to be interrupted by Moonlights rather strong and utterly surprising hug.<br/><br/>Blushing, Hoshino hugged back, a little awkwardly as she hadn't grown up in an exactly touch-friendly environment, and then stepped in front of both Moonlight and Artemis.  "I've seen your scores, Deathshadow.  I looked them up in the Beta test phase, as well as when I started playing."  She looked down at her hands and then looked up at the antagonistic young woman.  Girl, really, she couldn't be older than seventeen.  Cute, but worried.  Afraid and trying to hide it.  Which was just normal behavior, really.  "But your scores don't matter when the creator of the game hijacks the game.  Those nerds over there aren't having any luck...and that's not a good thing.  It might be safer, because if they had gotten too close...they could have<em>died</em>.  It's not a game anymore.  If the maker of the game, Kayaba Akihiko says that we could die if we die in the game or someone tries to remove the-"<br/><br/>There was a loud yell, and the sound of sparks and the smell of ozone and burning, not too far away.  Hoshino grabbed her wakizashi and turned, and then watched as a broad shouldered, srong man was electrocuted by nothing at all; his body flashed black and white, and the screams of the people near him were awful.  But the worst part was the<em>smell</em>.<br/><br/><strong>As I said, removal of the Nerve Gear is strictly forbidden...</strong><br/><br/>"...what kind of monster makes the<em>smells</em>realistic," Hoshino whispered, stepping back and reaching for Sara's hand, gripping it tightly.  What was even more strange was the fact that the body didn't vanish or disappear.  Even in death, he remained logged in for the time being.  "I don't think I need to prove anything, Deathshadow..." Hoshino finished softly.