Sora's Arcology
Visitor's Entrance
Gary strolled casually into the huge triangular hall that made the Visitor's Entrance of the Arcology.
The many benches were packed with those waiting to get approval to enter the Arcology proper, while three desks situated between turnstiles barred that access until the approval came through. Before each of them was a long queue of people waiting to make their application to enter.
He headed right past them all, slotted a card into the machine that operated the turnstile, and continued right on in without needing to go through the whole process, retrieving the card on the other side. It had been a small matter to get in touch with someone that worked in the Arcology's Registry office, obtaining a long-term pass for a small fee.
His apparent eminence earned him some hard looks, but this was standard fare for him. Either people envied him or paid him little attention. Money bought many things, but appeasing the masses... not even a vast fund could achieve that.
No fee could obtain the information he needed from outside either, not without alerting those inside. The plans Aaron and Tom would need were no doubt kept under guard, putting it out of reach for now. Unless the plan he'd come up with went as it should. And there was no reason why it shouldn't. It made perfect sense.
That was, two plans. The second would hopefully get him in to see the youthful Grandmaster, if not also locate the Keyblade itself. But that was the secondary objective for now, and in either case he had a backup plan that would handle it just as easily.
"Eighteenth floor," he told the elevator as he stepped in. The location of the nearest branch of the Records Offices. Ordinarily, he'd have to go through the Registry to obtain what he needed, but his contact had already handled that for him.
In moments the elevator had arrived. With about two hundred floors to the Arcology, it was hardly a surprise that they had been engineered to cater to both short and long distances between floors in as little time as possible, while retaining the safety of their slower counterparts.
Records Offices in the past had frequently covered entire floors, but with the introduction of the digital network inside, all kinds of places had found that they needed much less space by taking advantage of it. Thus the local office was but a small branch, with only a handful of desks behind the reception.
"Can I help you?" the receptionist on duty asked with the kind of false smile that anyone who hates working with people gives.
"I've had some information on order," Gary replied, picking out the paperwork that would get him what he needed. He made some show of checking it over, then handed it to her.
"Are you a member?" she asked suspiciously after only a moment's glance.
"No. But I was told that wouldn't matter."
"I'm afraid this will take some time then," she told him, this time with fake sincerity. "Please, take a seat and be patient."
He knew the delay would happen. It gave him a chance to put his other plan in place. Just as his contact had told him, a computer pad with access to the Arcology's internal networks had conveniently been left nearby. The receptionist didn't appear to notice his use of it.
Though it had been left logged in with member access, his access was still restricted. It would be no easy matter to locate the information he needed even with this. The first order of business would be to find out about the Grandmaster's Keyblade.
A short search led him to the main database, which denied him access to the entries on any Keyblade. The next result was more productive however, taking him to the educational database for the schools inside the Arcology. While it lacked the detail of the main database, it still held relevant information.
The schools still appeared to dedicate time every so often to teaching something about the current Grandmaster, or one of his staff. Thanks to this and the educational database, he was easily able to determine what he needed to know – the Grandmaster's Keyblade was always in his office, except when he was using it. Since he took fewer trips outside of the Arcology lately, this meant their best chance of taking it was to get it directly from the office.
The question now was, how to get there? The information the receptionist should be able to handle half of that. A structure this size would undoubtedly have a maze of ducts, for climate control, cooling and extraction systems and other uses besides. It was hardly something that was suspicious to ask for, not given his cover of duct cleaners. It didn't matter what kind, his cover was that he dealt with all kinds. A small team consisting of himself, Aaron and Tom.
Officially, they were some of the best cleaners ever despite the team's small size. Unofficially, they were also some of the best thieves that had ever existed. No matter what world, what item, they could get it somehow.
He and Aaron would make use of the plans he'd soon get hold of to plan their route through. He'd keep a copy on him just in case, but Aaron probably wouldn't need them. He'd memorize several routes through and numerous back routes to get them out again. Tom was the thief of the outfit, the one who'd actually bag the Keyblade. JJ had provided Tom with a specially made bag that would, he claimed, prevent the Grandmaster from being able to summon it. All they had to do was get Tom to the Grandmaster's office and let him do his cat burglar act.
"I don't suppose you can give me an estimate of how long?" he asked the receptionist, setting the pad down. He wasn't meant to be using it at all being a guest, but who'd know?
"It's hard to say," she replied. "Sometimes the system is a little slow, sometimes these things get sent a little higher up for some additional authorisation. You'll just have to be patient."
Patience. Something he had in abundance. Time would only be important when the time came to get out and afterwards. If the Grandmaster discovered what they were up to before they were ready, it was hard to say how he'd react. His best guess was badly, since they would have stolen his Keyblade. Better to be certain they could do what they wanted than run the risk of asking him only to have him stop them.
Flashback
Dark Meridian
Four years ago
JJ stood on the beach of the Dark Meridian where the water played around his shoes, the light of the moon reflected on its surface to end at the same point he stood. He had guided the apprentices of Ansem the Wise carefully through Xehanort, and it would not be long before the first of them finally gave in and found their way here. He had high hopes that Xehanort himself would be that first one.
Sure enough, a tall man that resembled Xehanort appeared just up be beach from him, wearing a similar coat to JJ's own. Master Xehanort, the previous persona behind the name, had designed his own coat on JJ's after their first encounter just before he had turned the boy Ventus over to the tutelage of Master Eraqus, though the reasons were unknown. JJ didn't mind – it was none of his concern.
"JJ?" the newcomer asked, approaching. "Where is this place?"
"A world within the Realm of Darkness," JJ answered, not turning from his gaze toward the moon. "You were brought here when you gave yourself to the darkness, Ansem."
"Ansem... is that still my name? What have I become..."
"You know what you have become. I explained it to you in depth before you did this. If you seek to distinguish yourself from who you were, perhaps your past may give you a clue."
The newcomer thought for a time, then mused to himself. "I remember something... about a blade in the shape of a cross... perhaps... yes. I shall become known as Xemnas."
"Then go forth, Xemnas. Lead the other apprentices of Ansem the Wise to follow your lead."
"And do what?"
"Chase Kingdom Hearts. Find a way to reach it, and if you cannot reach it, replicate it. You will find a way. But first you will need a new home, a new place to begin your work." JJ held out one hand between himself and the newly named Xemnas. "Follow this corridor," he told him. "It will take you to the World that Never Was. I have created it specifically for you, and it will continue to exist for as long as I will it to."
"I presume you will assist me in this?"
"No. I have... other affairs to attend to, though I may show up to lend a hand if I grow tiresome with the worlds I visit. Do not mention me to others, Xemnas. I prefer to choose
who knows about me. Now go."
Xemnas nodded, glanced up to the moon above, then headed into the corridor.
Sora's Arcology
18th floor Records Office
"Your information has come in sir," the receptionist told Gary, beckoning for him to come over. "It seems you've been given special dispensation to remove these documents for private use only. Try not to misuse them."
"As if I'd do a thing like that," he chuckled, giving them a cursory glance. "I don't suppose you happen to know if I could get in to see the Grandmaster, by any chance?"
"The Grandmaster is a busy man, with many demands on his time. I hardly think he can fit one insignificant visitor into his schedule," she told him haughtily.
"What schedule?" a young voice said from the doorway. Young, but it appeared used to command. "The last time anyone tried to write me a schedule, the Muren Collective showed up to cause trouble."
The speaker was just a bit taller than him, with spiky brown hair and clear blue eyes. Though his expression suggested he was mildly displeased, his face remained kind and gentle. Gary recognised him immediately – this was undoubtedly Sora, and as his eyes flicked to Sora's wrist he saw the confirmation. His name in ornate Gothic lettering, above a stylized design of Artefact Arcology, and beneath that a symbol identical to the Kingdom Crown he kept on a chain around his neck.
"Grandmaster!" the receptionist faltered. "I uh, I didn't see you there!"
"Yeah, that still happens a lot," Sora admitted. "I can't be bothered to let people know when I'm going to turn up, so I surprise people when I show up like this. Anyway, did I hear someone suggest they wanted to see me?"
"That's me," Gary told him. "It's not exactly anything pressing as such, just one of my various side projects to pass the time between jobs."
"I know that feeling," Sora laughed. "Only I try and find side projects so I don't have to do my real job so much. You wouldn't believe how much people still pass up to me, and neither my Advisors or the Council seem to help filter out much these days."
"The burdens of commands," he replied knowingly. "Ones I don't share in, fortunately. Anyway, I'm doing a bit of research into Keyblades," he told Sora, making this up as he went along. "Specifically the Kingdom Keys, except no one seems to want to let me examine them. All I want is just a few minutes to have a look at one of them, maybe see if I can tell anything about them I didn't already know, but do you think I can get close to one?"
"They don't tend to get out much these days, I'll grant," Sora nodded. "Mickey keeps his one safe in case it's ever needed, and doesn't like anyone knowing he's got it. My brother travels around so much it's almost impossible to track him down, and mine is usually here with me. Why don't you come up to my office with me? You can have a look at mine."
"But Grandmaster, he's just a visitor," the receptionist protested. "Visitors are forbidden on the top floors-" she broke off under a harsh glance from Sora.
"I'm the Grandmaster in these parts, and if I say he can come up to see it, then he can come up to see it. Don't try to tell me I can't take him up there just because he's a visitor."
"O-of course Grandmaster," the receptionist stammered, quailing back in case Sora decided to punish her in some way.
But Sora just shook his head and sighed, beckoning for Gary to follow.
