A New Session [working title]

by [X-Pro]Skeith

Book 1: Skaia's Call

Chapter 1: The Beginning of the End

Michael awoke suddenly, lying in his bed, mildly disoriented. It was morning and the sunlight was drifting in through the slits in the blinds of his window. It seemed like a normal morning, but it wasn't the scenery that was bothering Michael; it was the dream that he just had. It was hazy, as the dream was fading as he returned to the waking world, but he recalled being in a strange world the likes of which he had never seen before. It was a world shrouded in total darkness and everything, including the streets and buildings, was a deep shade of purple. He remembered being in a tower, looking out over the world. He wondered briefly about what it was or what it could mean, but he quickly shook off the dream and went to get dressed for the day. He donned his favorite pair of jeans and one of his trademark black dragon t-shirts. He quickly slipped on his black tennis shoes and took a look at himself in the mirror. He was a rather heavy set individual, but he also had a large build and was tall. He tried to do something with his dark blonde hair, but its poofiness and curliness would not yield, so he gave up and walked to his computer. It was time to see what his friends were up to today.

He quickly opened his Internet Relay Chat, also known as IRC, client and logged in to the private server that he and his friends ran as Skeith. It seems he was the first one to be awake this morning. No surprise considering that he had woken up early because of that dream. He figured his friends would be along soon because today was an exciting day. Today they would receive their copies of SBURB, a new game that they had been invited to beta test. Very few people were invited to the beta, so it was particularly exciting. Sure enough, after about ten minutes, his friends began to appear online on the IRC server. His friends logged in as follows: Xavi as ScytheX, Kevin as Xeni, Tash as paandesoul, and Blair as Chocola. They exchanged good mornings and talked excitedly about the game. None of them had received it yet, but apparently it came with two versions: a client version and a server version. They would received both versions as both were necessary for successful gameplay.

Skeith: Have any of you had any strange dreams lately?

Xeni: No, I haven't even been dreaming lately. That I can recall anyway.

paandesoul: Same here.

ScytheX: Nope.

Chocola: I have.

Chocola: I was in a very bright a beautiful place. Everything seemed to be made of or colored gold.

Chocola: The sky was cloudy, but some of the clouds had pictures in them.

ScytheX: Like the clouds looked like something else? That's not so unusual.

Chocola: No, the pictures were of events. I'm not sure what they were

exactly, but I do remember seeing us in them.

Xeni: Wow, that is weird.

Skeith: The place you described sounded similar to the place in my dream. But there were no cloud or bright light where I was. It was dark and everything was a very deep purple. And there were definitely no clouds.

paandesoul: *shrug* Maybe they were just dreams.

ScytheX: Yeah! I'm sure that's it, lol. So, strange dreams aside, our games should be arriving soon!

Michael felt that there was more to this than that, but he decided that it would be best not to dwell on it or press the matter, so he continued to chat with his friends until they all left for lunch.

Chapter 2: The Game Begins

A package arrived at his house while he was eating. It was SBURB! Just then he received a private message from ScytheX.

ScytheX: Hey! My copy just arrived!

Skeith: Great! So did mine! Let's load it up and play.

ScytheX: Sure. I'll set up as the server and you connect as a client.

Skeith: Alright, sounds good. Let's get to it.

Michael proceeded to load up his client version of the game. When it was done, he connected to Xavi's server version. Nothing really seemed to happen for him though.

ScytheX: Hey, I can see you and your whole house!

Skeith: Well, that's a bit weird, but let's roll with it. Let's see what this game can do!

As he said that, Michael heard a breaking sound coming from his bathroom. He quickly ran to look and saw that the entire bathtub and the floor to which it was attached had been lifted into the air by some sort of giant green arrow!

Skeith: Xavi, WTF are you doing?

ScytheX: IDK I'M SO SORRY! I DIDN'T MEAN TO DAMAGE ANYTHING! LET ME PUT IT BACK!

The green arrow moved it back towards the spot and then seemed to let go of it. The tub dropped making a loud crashing noise. It did not go back into its original place.

Skeith: Well, I guess that's just permanent…

ScytheX: Sorry!

Skeith: Well, let's try something else. What else is there?

ScytheX: Well, There's a variety of items that I can deploy here from the

menu. Maybe we should try one of those?

Skeith: Sounds good to me. Bring them all out.

The green arrow began moving again. Suddenly, a giant Alchemiter appeared and was placed in the middle of his living room.

Skeith: The hell is this thing?

ScytheX: It's called an Alchemiter. I think it makes other things.

Skeith: From what?

ScytheX: … Um… I'm not exactly sure.

Skeith: Goddamnit, Xavi.

Skeith: Just deploy more things and we'll figure it out as we go.

Next, a massive cruxtruder appeared. Xavi placed it in the corner of the living room, not far from the alchemiter. Directly next to it, he placed the totem lathe. Michael watched as these bizarre machines began to occupy his living room. He still didn't have a single clue as to what any of them were supposed to do.

Skeith: Please tell me there is a purpose to this…

ScytheX: Hey! I'm trying here! That totem lathe thing seems to make stuff from an item called "cruxite" which is produced by that other big machine, the cruxtruder.

Skeith: Well, I certainly see that it's producing tons of cruxite right now. Look at it go. So much cruxite. Wow.

ScytheX: Michael, you ass, it's not turned on! Go press that switch over there and it'll start up.

Skeith: lol Alright

Michael walked over to the cruxtruder and pressed the button that Xavi had indicated. The cruxtruder sprang to life. Its lid opened and a kernelsprite and a cylinder of green cruxite appeared. A green countdown also appeared on the crutruder. It read 15:00 and began counting down.

Skeith: Well, I guess this is cruxite. IDK what this other thing is though. And what's up with this countdown?

ScytheX: Yeah that's cruxite. I think that other thing is something called a "kernelsprite" according to the game. You can "prototype" it by throwing items into it. But you can only do it twice, so pick carefully! As for that countdown, well, tbh, I haven't got a clue.

Skeith: Well, I guess we'll just wing it then. There a card slot here on the totem lathe, so I guess it needs a punchcard. I'll go look around the house for one and think about what to prototype this kernelsprite with.

ScytheX: Yeah! Sounds good, but, um… hurry? That countdown gives me a bad feeling.

Skeith: Yeah, yeah, I'll hurry up.

Michael began searching through his house for a card to use in the alchemiter. He had finally went into his bedroom, the cluttered mess that it was. Sword, daggers, knives, throwing stars, and other such weaponry were on display throughout the room. He also had wall scrolls and posters from various animes and video games as well as some with just cool designs or optical illusions. The floor of his room was littered with various items, most of it clothing. He rummaged around his room for a short while before he found his laptop. He thought for a moment and smiled before throwing his laptop into the kernelsprite that had been following him. The kernelsprite immediately absorbed the laptop and its imaged changed into that of his laptop. He looked at the floor where his laptop had been and noticed a punchcard. He quickly retrieved it, but as he was turning to return to the totem lathe, he heard an explosion. He looked outside his window and noticed that the sky was red. He looked up and saw meteors raining from the sky.

Skeith: XAVI! Holy shit!

ScytheX: Huh? What is it? I was trying to play a client version with Tash while you were busy. It seems I can run both! Anyway what's up?

Skeith: THERE ARE METEORS FALLING FROM THE SKY! They're destroying everything!

ScytheX: WHAT?! Crap, I wonder… Do you think it has something to do with that countdown?

Skeith: It must. It must be a countdown to when a meteor strikes this location. That is to say, it's how long I have left to complete whatever objective that this card completes! But I only have 2 minutes left!

ScytheX: You better hurry! Wait... If that's the case, I only have 5 minutes before the meteors arrive here! I gotta go!

Skeith: Wait, Xavi!

Skeith: Damnit…

Michael ran to the totem lathe and placed the piece of green cruxite on it. He quickly inserted the punchcard and the machine began to carve a cruxite dowel for him. The countdown had dropped to fifty seconds now. He placed the cruxite dowel on the alchemiter and activated it. A bright light appeared and when it vanished, there was a large green bookshelf with green books. A large book fell from the shelf, landing in front of Michael. He retrieved it and leafed through it, hoping for some sort of help, but the pages were all blank. The timer had dropped to ten seconds. Explosions could be heard in greater frequency and there were screams. The smell of smoke was beginning to waft its way to his nose. Out of frustration and desperation, Michael ripped the pages from the book. Suddenly, everything was engulfed in blinding white light and then it faded. There was only silence afterward. The screaming, the explosions, and the smell of fire and smoke had all vanished. Michael didn't notice, but his kernelsprite separated into three parts. Two of those went flying off silently in opposite directions, landing in their receptacles on Derse and Prospit. Michael never noticed this as he walked to the giant glass door in his living room and looked outside to see a world which he had never seen before.

Chapter 3: The Winds of Fate Are Blowing

Xavi was panicking a little bit. He had just finished talking to Michael about what was apparently his imminent demise. His countdown had reached two minutes from its original twelve minute start. The tall, tan-skinned 21-year old ran through his house, trying to find the punchcard that he needed. Xavi was wearing jeans, a purple shirt with light blue stripes, and an unbuttoned black sweater that bore two thick white stripes on the left arm. His yellow converse made little noise as he ran through the house. His kernelsprite zipped along silently behind him, easily keeping pace with the young man. As Xavi ran through the kitchen, he clumsily ran into a bowl of vegetables that had been left on the table. Xavi tripped and fell. As he fell, he saw one of the leeks from the bowl fly towards his kernelsprite and land on it. It immediately prototyped the leek and transformed as such.

ScytheX: Oh you have got to be kidding me…

paandesoul: What?! WHAT HAPPENED?! XAVI DID YOU DIE?!

ScytheX: No, but my kernelsprite just got prototyped by a leek…

paandesoul: WAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH?

paandesoul: LOL you're kernelsprite's a leek!

ScytheX: Not helping, Tash!

paandesoul: Sorry! You better hurry up, btw. You only have 2 minutes left.

ScytheX: WHAT?!

paandesoul: Good luck! :D

Xavi lept to his feet and started running again. As he was moving through the living room, he noticed something on the table. It was the punch card! Of course he overlooked it fifty times while running around the house, but it didn't matter now. He snatched the card and quickly shoved it into the totem lathe which proceeded to carve a blue cruxite dowel for him. He moved to place it on the alchemiter and then messaged Tash.

ScytheX: Hey, I'm good. You should really hurry and get your session going! Mike and I already have meteors coming at us, so it can't be too much longer before they come at you as well!

paandesoul: Yeah, I know. Kevin has already started the process to bring me over. I'm about to try and prototype my kernelsprite and find the punch card.

ScytheX: Ok. Good luck! Hopefully I'll see you wherever this crazy ass game is taking us!

paandesoul: Yeah, you too. TTYL.

Xavi looked over at the alchemiter and noticed that a giant blue whack-a-mole game had appeared. He also realized that the countdown had dropped to thirty seconds. Quickly, he grabbed the mallet and waited for the first mole to appear. The middle mole shot upwards and Xavi immediately slammed the mallet onto its head. The entire whack-a-mole game and the mallet itself shattered. Xavi and his house were engulfed in a brilliant white light. As quickly as it came, the light was gone and there was calm, a reprieve from the falling meteors that had been assaulting the area around his home. He noticed that his vision seemed hazier, but it wasn't because of something that was wrong with him. He walked towards one of the open windows and looked at the strange new world in which he had arrived.

Chapter 4: Life Departs From the Planet

Tash looked away from her phone where she had been talking to Xavi and saw that Kevin had finished placing the alchemiter, totem lathe, and cruxtruder.

paandesoul: Hey, thanks! Everything's good to go!

Xeni: Yeah, but you should hurry. Time is already short, so you probably don't have much left.

paandesoul: I know. But don't worry about me. I'll handle getting there. Go get yourself there, too. Blair's probably waiting to get you started!

Xeni: Yeah, you're right. I'll PM her and see if she's ready. Neither of us will have very much time considering how much has already been lost.

paandesoul: All the more reason to get moving! Now go!

Xeni: Alright, Alright! I'm going! Good luck!

paandesoul: You too. Be careful

Putting her phone away, Tash breathed deeply and then activated the cruxtruder. Just as she thought, there was not much time left. She had nine minutes to find the punchcard and escape. She could hear distant explosions. The meteors must already be here and they must be close. She began running through her house, searching every nook and cranny. Her black dress with white stripes and her short black hair swayed from side to side as she ran through the house and her black boots created loud footsteps as she continued. Tash was also wearing a black hooded vest and black leggings.

When she arrived at her room, she saw her violin. On a whim, she tossed it into the kernelsprite which immediately took on the form of a violin. This made her happy for some reason. She continued her search and finally found her punchcard as she was digging through all of the stuff in her room. With only a few minutes to go, she grabbed the card and ran to the totem lathe. She placed the red cruxite on the totem lathe and insert the punch card. It immediately began sculpting her cruxite dowel. Once it was finished, she place it on the alchemiter and activated it. With a flash of light and energy, a large red case of red string instruments appeared. There was one particular violin which seemed to call to Tash. She removed it from the case and placed it in position and began to play it. The violin released a screeching sound as the bow severed its strings. Tash was shocked by the sudden breaking of the strings, but she did not have any time to be surprised as she and her house were engulfed in a white light. When it faded, there was silence. The explosions and the red sky were gone. Tash approached the windows of her house so that she could see this strange new world in which she found herself.

Chapter 5: Time Stops For No One

Kevin closed his message to Tash and went to open a new message to Blair only to realize that she had already been trying to contact him

Chocola: Kevin! We need to start you now and try to get you in!

Chocola: Like pretty soon, time's running out.

Chocola: Kevin?

Chocola: Kevin where are you?!

Xeni: Hey, sorry! I was helping Tash get started!

Chocola: Finally! It's ok, but we have to get started now. My server is already set up, so you just need to connect as a client.

Xeni: Alright, I'm connecting now.

Xeni: Done.

Chocola: Awesome. I'll start deploying the devices now.

On queue, the green arrow appeared and began placing the alchemiter, totem lathe, and cruxtruder in Kevin's living room. It was moving fast, but it was precise and careful in its placement. Kevin quickly activated the cruxtruder. The countdown indicated six minutes.

Xeni: I have 6 minutes.

Chocola: Well fuck. That means we're almost out of time. I need to contact

Michael and have him bring me in. Will you be fine on your own?

Xeni: Yeah, I've got this. Go.

Chocola: Alright, good luck.

Kevin closed the message and begin his search for the punchcard. He walked by a full length mirror on the wall and took a moment to stop and look at himself. No need to enter the game without looking great. He was wearing a white dress shirt with rolled up sleeves and a grey vest complete with a thin black tie, all slim fit to fit his body type. He adjusted his white belt that adorned his black skinny jeans and took a brief glance at his hi-top black sneakers before fixing his jet black hair. Now certain that he looked awesome, the 21-year old asian resumed his search, briefly fiddling with the two wristbands on his left wrist, one white and one black, on his way through the house. He realized that his kernelsprite was following him. He saw his favorite teapot sitting on the table and tossed it at the kernelsprite. It immediately become the image of a giant teapot. He smiled at this. When he looked back down at the table, he realized that the punchcard had been underneath the teapot. He quickly grabbed it and ran back to his living room.

When he arrived in the living room, he inserted the punch card into the totem lathe and it began to carve a red cruxite dowel for him. When it was done, he took the red cruxite dowel and placed it on the alchemiter. He noted that he only had a minute left on his countdown. When he looked back at the alchemiter, a red McLaren car had appeared. He was not fully sure what to do with this, but he only had twenty seconds left to figure it out, so he got into the car. The engine immediately came on. He went to press the gas pedal and the car took off, slamming into a wall. Upon collision with the wall, the car shattered into many pieces and kevin landed with a gentle bump on the floor. There was a brilliant flash of light as the countdown reached its final few seconds, but it soon faded. Then there was silence. Kevin scrambled to his feet, not sure what had just happened to him. He looked around, trying to get his bearings. His house looked fine, but what was outside his windows seemed strange. He walked towards them to get a better look of the strange new world in which he had arrived.

Chapter 6: Space Travels

Blair knew that she was nearly out of time. She quickly opened up a new message with Michael.

Chocola: Michael! Hey, I need you to bring me into the game!

Skeith: Huh? Oh right, I do! Sorry. Was distracted by this place.

Skeith: It's so strange but awesome and cool at the same time.

Chocola: That's great and all, but if we don't hurry, I'm going to be killed by a giant meteor.

Skeith: Right. Sorry. I'll set up the stuff you need.

The green arrow appeared and began to quickly place the alchemiter, totem lathe, and cruxtruder throughout Blair's living room. Blair wasted no time activating the cruxtruder. She saw the countdown gave her only three minutes to complete everything.

Chocola: Well that's just great.

Skeith: What? What happened?

Chocola: I have 3 minutes.

Skeith: Damn. That's not long. Get going! I'm sure you can do it. Good luck

Chocola: Thanks…

Blair sighed and turned to look at the rest of her house. Her shoulder length blonde hair flowed as she turned. She adjusted the sleeves of her large cream colored sweater and then started running through the house, her dark tan skirt moving with her as she ran. Her knee high brown leather boots made loud footsteps as she ran. She noticed that her kernelsprite was following her and she remembered that it needed to be prototyped. She had arrived in her room and looked for something to use as a prototyping. She became flustered because she couldn't decide and she knew time was growing short. She abruptly grabbed her cute meowchi plushie and hurdled it into her kernelsprite which immediately took on the form of a large meowchi plushie. She stopped for a moment, dazzled by the cuteness, but she quickly recovered and began rummaging through her room in search of the punchcard.

She could hear the explosions and screams; they were even closer now. She knew she was nearly out of time. Finally, she saw the punch card sticking out of one of her bags. She retrieved it and sprinted back to the totem lathe. She glanced at the cruxtruder and saw that she only had fifty seconds remaining. She grabbed the black cruxite dowel that the totem lathe had made for her and used it on the alchemiter. The alchemiter produced a beautiful black porcelain doll. Blair was at a complete loss of what to do with the doll. She picked up the doll and began frantically pacing around the room. She only had twenty seconds left. Just then, a nearby meteor strike rocked her house and made a loud noise. Blair was startled by the noise and sudden rocking of her house and slipped of the alchemiter. The black doll fell from her hand as she flailed her arms in a vain attempt to grab something and regain her balance. The doll shattered and Blair saw a bright flash of white light before she fell unconscious as her head hit the floor.

End of Book 1