Hello again, everyone! I've fulfilled my promise, and completed the latest chapter!
However, there is something you must know. This chapter is split into two separate parts. 'Why,' you ask? Well, for reasons of story plot and proper understanding.
You see, my first chapter outline had two big plot moments squished together into a huge clump. Granted, having them this way didn't really slow down the flow of the chapter, but it did make the individual details less significant. That's why I am now splitting it apart; I want you all to properly understand the details here, because there is a LOT of explanation here. Think of it like properly spreading out exposition in a movie, rather than leaving it in one huge clump that is too much to understand at once.
Now, before you all start panicking, I will post the second part very soon. Not instantly after this one, though; that would block out the details of this chapter because there would be something newer on the horizon to see. I'll post it in a few days, for sure. For now, though, enjoy this latest chapter, and all the plot questions/theories it (hopefully) fills in.
Onward to the Chapter!
I open my eyes; I stand in an empty white space. An unseen surface beneath my feet allows me to stand upright, the air comfortable to my skin. I look at the apparent limitless expanse covering all directions, turning all around me to find some difference in my environment than just more white. There isn't any.
I question whether this is supposed to be a place of solitude, free of all physical and emotional problems. Considering everything I've been through over the past week or more, that would be a relief. Then again, there are things I still need to wrap up—some loose ends I need to tie together. It wouldn't be good to leave things undone. Maybe I can find a way out of this place, once I've fully calmed down.
As I turn back to what I feel is my original position, a section of the surface I stand on is pushed up like an attic door. A robotic arm and hand come into view, a blue glow emanating from the now-open doorway that looks very similar to Sneakdoor Beta's card image. The arm then presses against the white around it and brings up an attached body; a body I quickly recognize as Gabriel Santiago from his mechanical eye, slicked hair and gray coat.
Gabriel looks around until he sees me; he gives me a quick nod and a smile before giving a 'come hither' gesture to something else in the blue space. As the cyborg climbs into the whiteness, I see several other humanoids climb up in single file. Tri-maf Contact leads them, followed by Ken Tenma, Shillouette, Laramy Fisk, John Massanori, and then several others that I don't recognize.
Each person I know is dressed as they look in Solid Vision, and each gives me a smile, salute, or wave when they see me before standing aside for the next person to come up. I return their greetings with an extended smile and wave; I feel I can't greet them equally, considering how we've interacted or spoken over my Duels.
As yet another person comes up, a flash of green light turns my attention to a distant form standing several feet tall and rapidly approaching. I step back as Monolith rolls into view, Rielle Peddler sitting by the upper head. Rielle holds several small items telekinetically, including Rabbit Hole and the Cybersolutions, Dyson, and Akamatsu Mem Chips. Ghost Runner sits on the head's other side with a sinister smile, holding Gordian Blade in one hand and cradling Self-Modifying Code in the other.
Cyber-Cypher, Bug, Grifter and Snitch fly along Monolith's right side, the former's rapidly-beating wings giving it enough lift to stay airborne. Cerberus H2, aka 'Rex', runs beneath the programs, along with two other digital dogs I don't recognize. Each dog has a digital humanoid riding it, none of which I recall ever seeing before.
Battering Ram ambles into view by Monolith's left side, Pipeline's coils wrapped around its phased-out rear legs. Expert Schedule Analyzer floats above Battering Ram, its heads surrounding and holding Keyhole and Snowball in place. The former program glows red, the latter green.
Each of the programs that can react to seeing me does. Battering Ram gives a calm snort while Pipeline's coils writhe in apparent joy. Cyber-Cipher and Bug give rapid chitters while Snitch flashes bright yellow. 'Rex' and friends each give a loud bark. Each of Analyzer's heads smile at different times, while Keyhole's inner frame opens for a moment and shows an image of Wyldside's interior.
Monolith stops several feet in front of me as the computers on its body all change screens to show the symbol of Magnum Opus or Hyperdriver. Both symbols shift in a slower pattern than when I saw them in Solid Vision. Monolith, itself, emits a low growl as its head fully faces me.
A red shadow then falls across the white sky; my attention turns upward as countless red comets streak like shooting stars. Some comets crash down into the white surface; the ground shakes upon each one's impact, but the impact area instantly repairs itself. Each comet turns into a cocoon that quickly breaks open to reveal the different 'Virus' monsters I used against Exile, as well as several I did not use.
Medium's jar appears unbroken, despite the force it probably felt during impact. Progenitor's tentacles slowly crawl forwards on the surface. Incubator's inner creature swims within its sac as it levitates by an unseen force. Hemorrahage's tentacles slither like worms and move the whole of its body forwards. Deep Thought's form is in a lotus position, its three eyes closed as it lifts itself airborne, the Grimoire console held in its hands and currently offline.
I then notice Hivemind's face extend across the expanse, or, rather, see its power extend. Its face remains within a comfortable frame of view for such an entity, its expression showing calm happiness. I turn away from it as I see John flicking through a large display screen. The door remains open, but it is now almost completely surrounded by humans, androids and cyborgs; I can barely see the blue light from in between their bodies.
"All contacts are present and accounted for," he says to all present; Rielle nods her head and releases her focus; the chips and small consoles that fall are quickly grabbed by several small arms extending from Monolith's head-dome.
"All programs are online and activated," Rielle announces with a glance at Hivemind. The entity closes its eyes and emits a gray pulse that makes my spine tingle as it passes across the surface and sky around us all. The pulse does no damage to the surface or sky, and doesn't return to its creator.
"This area is protected from external threat," it says after a moment in is many voices. "The conference can now begin."
Conference? Why is that word being used here? Wouldn't 'meeting' have been more appropriate? 'Conference' makes it sound like I've done something wrong, but the biggest recent decision I've made is when I—
I jump in surprise when I hear three loud barks meld as one; 'Rex' and the other two dogs glare at me the best as a dog can. Their faces seem to say 'Don't lose focus' to me; I take several quick breaths before I fully calm down. Rielle slides off of Monolith's head, telekinetically slowing her descent so she lands without harm.
"There is something we have all seen that you must know, Netrunner," the android telepath says as she stands upright from her descent. "During your Duel against Exile, when Exile activated my 'Omni Drive', I was able to hack into his Disk's computer and access the files he stole. I was unable to inform you of the contents right after the Duel because you passed out from overexertion."
"The files in question concern the Collective's initial plan of expansion in the city," John cuts in as he steps forwards from amongst the crowd. A large virtual screen with several small profile pictures projects from a glove on his right hand. "There's also some information concerning the actions of Collective agents who were killed in action; agents with our names and personalities."
"These agents have profiles that vary in length; the longest connect to when the Collective was first formed, seventeen years ago," Hivemind continues just as Analyzer moves over to John's position. "A group of five agents were captured approximately three months ago while executing a search-and-rescue operation in Sector Security headquarters. According to an audio recording that was smuggled out of the Facility from the last member of this group, each of these agents was executed during the operation, or in the Facility. It is this recording we feel you must hear."
While Hivemind says this, Analyzer's heads angle around John's glove while keeping Keyhole away from the screen; each head's goggles flicker as they absorb new data. Once all six heads have the data, they all look at each other with expressions of bewilderment and confusion. I feel equally confused myself, along with a growing desire to figure out exactly what the 'operation' that everyone is mentioning is.
Analyzer's heads move towards me, Keyhole still between them. The latter program glows with a white light that's far brighter than the expanse around us all, opening and drawing my vision inside. My head aches as if I'm accessing my subconscious memories, except this isn't my memory that I'm looking at. If it's so important that my very Deck wants me to see it, then it probably has a lot to do with my origins.
I take a breath and try to tune everything else out. A male voice I haven't heard before reaches my ears almost instantly, but some bits have static or other miscellaneous noises overlapping the heavy words.
"This is Laramy Fisk, aka 'Agent F', reporting for the Collective on the day of… currently in a holding cell of the Facility. Agents Santiago, Massanori, Kitt, Tenma and… other cells in the Hive, but they're probably dead already. Every other contact is MIA. To my knowledge, I'm the last agent left."
I hear a shuddering breath as the speaker sobs slightly before he continues. His voice grows thick with sadness the more he talks.
"The rescue operation has failed. Subject Epsilon was recaptured by Godwin after our position was compromised; no doubt he'll be reprogrammed to forget we ever existed. The subject exhibited more human traits than our initial assumptions said. We were unable to find anything about the other four subjects before we were captured, but I think they're just as intelligent. I can only hope that what Epsilon saw about how Godwin deals with enemies isn't erased.
"I have bribed one of the Hive's guards with the last of my finances to bring this tape recorder out of the Facility. It'll be placed... Bootleg… low-key environment. I recommend all living agents to reconvene there; our acquaintance… should prove invaluable. Godwin's plans have advanced farther than we suspected, but we've lost too many people to stand against him now. Too many deaths; it's overwhelming."
The speaker then actually starts crying, sobs and gasps mixing together to make a symphony of sadness that tugs at my own heartstrings. I recall that I've never heard the digital Laramy Fisk speak, having only seen him briefly in Solid Vision in the pipeline Riding Duel. This man, if it's the same Fisk, seems to have a lot of pent-up feelings.
A loud sound from the recorder's location filters into the message. Fisk gasps in response, and then quickly continues. Static still blocks out certain parts.
"I pray this message reaches you, Superiors; Godwin is experimenting with… lives in order to fulfill a ritual five thousand years in the making. I won't make it out of here, so it is up to any surviving agents to carry on the Collective's goals. Security will surely try to hunt you down, so… shadows, and… low for now. If possible, I recommend initiating Project 'Archives'. Preserve us… so we can still make an influence in the city, and the world beyond.
"This is Agent F, signing off…"
The audio cuts off with a loud hiss of static and the sound of a heavy door opening. As Keyhole is moved away from me by Analyzer, my head aches with a new memory…
"SECURITY! WE'VE BEEN COMPROMISED!"
A high-pitched male voice shouts this out, just before a few gunshots ring in my ears. I barely see five uniformed men enter the chamber from what used to be the main door; it is now a massive hole in the wall. I instinctively hold on to the woman in front of me—Rielle—as she gets up and grabs my hand to stand me up. I barely notice my near-nakedness, the cold air the least of my concerns right now.
"Hold them off for the moment!" Rielle shouts to four other people hiding behind the other pods. "I have subject Epsilon with me! Keep them BACK!" She then pulls my hand with startling force, holding me against the wall as she raises her other hand towards an approaching guard. I gasp as her eyes flash bright pink; the guard begins to glow with the same color before he is lifted off the ground and thrown towards two other guards. The other two guards momentarily halt their firing as they stare in confusion.
Seconds later, a loud crack makes me scream out in fear as a standing guard crumples to the floor. Blood seeps from a large hole in the man's head as I hear another woman mutter, "Damn guards." I glance over at the third pod and see a woman in a blue suit that curves around her body, a blue helmet protecting her head from minor damage. This woman holds a large rifle in her hands, and is quickly reloading it with a fresh round of bullets.
As the three prone guards get up, the fourth living guard is punched to the floor as an electric blue-haired man in a red coat and blue undershirt gives him a solid right hook. The man then moves in a zigzag pattern, dodging several bullets fired from the guards with incredible speed. A man in a gray trench coat and sporting a thin beard then steps out from the leftmost pod; this man draws two pistols from within his coat and opens fire on the three standing guards. They fall back to the ground with cries of pain; the fourth guard joins in with a moan as he is repeatedly punched by his assailant.
"John." I hear a blond-haired man wearing a brown and yellow coat and jacket and sporting blue shades speak in the same high-pitched voice from earlier from behind the second pod. "Where's our exit point? Reinforcements will be here any second!"
"A side door is by the third pod, Fisk," a baritone male voice responds through Rielle's ears, though the other man seems to hear it, as well. "You need to get out of there, now, though; Security's locking the area down!"
"We can't leave without all the subjects," Rielle says as she touches her right ear; I see a bud inside her ear that's shaped like an earphone. "We need as many of them as possible if we are to know Godwin's plans!"
"If you don't leave now, we won't know anything!" the unseen man answers with urgency. "Get out of there with as many as you can!"
Rielle turns towards me, my body still pressed against the wall by her grip. I hear the guards moan some more, the blaring noise continuing without end. I stare into her eyes, frozen in confusion. I dare not open my mouth to ask a question as she seems to quickly debate something in her head. Then, she turns to face the room.
"We're jacking out," she announces. The two men wailing on the guards instantly retreat to the third pod; the rifle-toting woman gets the door open the moment they arrive, her gun strapped to the back of her suit. She enters first after hearing, "Thanks, Silhouette," from Rielle, followed by Rielle and me, and then Fisk. I look back to see the fast-moving man follow next, and the pistol-carrying man enter last.
Rielle grips my hand like a vice as we all race down a small, gray corridor. The same noise blares from several speakers along the walls, dim lights providing some illumination. My arm aches, my feet barely able to keep up with everyone else's pace. Each time I stumble, though, Fisk is there to get me balanced again. I glance at him once; he sends a smile that does not reflect in his eyes.
I crash into Rielle as she suddenly stops running; grunts from behind me indicate that the other men didn't slow down in time, either. The lack of tramping feet lets me hear a few shouts against the blaring noise. Silhouette looks down two passages that split in opposite directions before pointing down the right one. I don't have time to refresh my lungs before we start moving again.
By this time, my feet are burning with pain; I start to stumble every few steps, which makes Fisk press his hands against my back to fully balance me.
"He's stumbling, Kitt," Fisk announces. "I don't think he can take much more of this having just been released from that pod."
"He'll get all the rest he needs once we get out of here," Rielle responds, seemingly to the name 'Kitt'. She doesn't slow down as she talks, keeping pace with the suited woman in front; that woman moves like she's run for years without getting tired once. Rielle's grip tightens around my wrist; she sends me a quick smile that I can only interpret as confidence. The pain from my wrist, however, makes me cry out in pain and pull with all my might.
Rielle falls backwards from my pull; I feel Fisk's hands push against my back in an effort to keep me balanced, but we all just end up of the floor in a heap. The two men behind us quickly stop, the suited woman holding position several feet in front of us. Rielle gets up first, her glare echoing her angry breathing as she puts her hands around my face.
"We're trying to save you, damn it!" she shouts at me. "Don't you know Godwin's going to kill you when you aren't needed?!"
"No!" I cry out with anger and fear back at her. "I don't! Stop trying to break my wrist, and making me run like this, and killing people with guns, and saying bad words, and… and…"
Tears then spill down my cheeks as I start sobbing. I cover my eyes with my hands, like I'm a child crying when he doesn't get what he wants. My body shakes with each sob, the air much colder to my skin than before. Hands cradle my body and lift me off the ground; I kick and punch wildly, trying to get away from these people.
Gunshots ring out from further down the passage; Silhouette shouts, "Watch out!" as I hear the crack of her rifle. The hands that hold me tighten; I can no longer break free. I scream my rage, but my voice doesn't break past the sound of multiple guns firing at once.
The shots get closer and closer; I refuse to open my eyes for fear of seeing something horrifying. Everything is happening too fast for me to understand; nothing about this makes any sense anymore. I feel like I'm in a nightmare, and I don't know how to wake up to reality.
The gunshots suddenly fade as I hear Rielle shout, "Down the other passage!" Whoever holds me runs away from the firefight. Seconds later, Rielle cries out. "Tenma, what are you—?"
My ears are consumed in the roar and heat of an explosion. My ears fall deaf to any sounds after as I feel the pounding of feet vibrate through my restrained body. The running continues for what feels like minutes, the explosion's force quickly fading. I stop struggling, too terrified for my own safety to move a muscle. Then, a large light source impacts through my closed eyelids.
"Damn it!" Fisk shouts as my hearing slowly recovers. "We're trapped!" I open my eyes to see that he's right; we are now in a small circular chamber with a large platform strung near the ceiling. This platform has several guards standing on it, each one training a gun on us all. One man stands out among the guards because he isn't holding a weapon; the quickest thought that comes to my mind is that he looks like a clown, with his deathly-pale white face and fancy red coat.
"You are surrounded, fugitives," the man speaks in a high-pitched, haughty voice. "Return Subject Epsilon to us, and Director Godwin may let you live your days in the Facility for this infiltration."
"Godwin is playing with power you can't comprehend, Jaeger," Silhouette responds as she raises her gun to the man. "You'd be wise to not go along with his plans." 'Jaeger' just laughs like he's heard a good joke.
"Oh, such demands from people who can die by the snap of a finger. You stare in the face of death without fear. You would make excellent Sector Security officers, if you would only reconsider your choices."
"We will never submit to Godwin," the bearded man shouts in a clipped voice; he raises his pistols, but several cracks go off from the guard's rifles and knock him to the floor, writhing. Blood flows from several bullet holes in his body as his hands go limp; Fisk cries out, "Gabriel!" as I see Rielle turn her head away from the scene.
"You see?" Jaeger calls out from above. "Just like that, you're one man less. Your other friend's grenade trick is looking rather futile, isn't it?"
"You BASTARD!" Silhouette roars in anger as she fires a shot at Jaeger. She is instantly gunned down in the same way as Gabriel; I don't see where the bullet that she fired hits asI shudder in disgust at seeing so much death around me. Fisk drops me to the ground as he cries out in what I hear as anguish; the cold metal jars me back to the harsh reality.
Rielle sees me on the ground as Fisk quickly tries to pick me up again. We make eye contact, her eyes showing distress and turmoil, mine no doubt showing my overall fear of being killed here. The woman's eyes glaze over as her mouth curls into a snarl, bared teeth and all. Her entire body starts to glow pink as she rises off of the ground. Two pink spheres of crackling energy appear in her hands, which she throws in a random upward direction. They explode on contact, throwing guards left and right and making the platform visibly shake.
"I won't let you control anyone!" she screams out as she fires more spheres at the guards and rises further up. "I won't let you experiment with human lives! I'll kill you all for this! ALL OF YOU!"
The guards are unable to fire back because they're dodging the spheres; Jaeger almost gets hit by one, but dodges in time.
"Shoot her down!" I barely hear him shout over the explosions. "Kill that bitch!"
Rielle turns to face him; I stare in terrified awe as she emits a vicious snarl and creates a human-sized sphere with both of her hands. She raises it above her head and leans back as if to throw it at the man she hates so much.
A loud crack rings through my ears as the sphere vanishes. Rielle's head tilts at a rakish angle, her pink aura fading as she falls to the ground. I scamper back on all fours as her body crashes onto the floor. A red substance flies from her head and lands on my hands and legs. I look in rapt horror as I see the single bullet hole in the side of her head. I stop breathing as I realize she's dead, and this stuff on me is her blood.
A scream leaves my mouth as I fall onto my side and curl into a fetal position. My voice does nothing to make the blood go away, nor do the rough hands that grab my frozen body. The only solace I get is when my mind shuts down to preserve my sanity…
I feel sick to my stomach as the vision fades and I open my eyes. It answered a lot of questions, but I feel more scarred than before because of it.
Only Rielle, Gabriel, Ken, Laramy, and Silhouette stand before me now; the sky and expanse are white once again. Gabriel refuses to make eye contact with me; Ken has his eyes closed and a slouched posture; Silhouette has her helmet removed and her eyes downcast, and Fisk has his head in his hands. Only Rielle stares back, her expression a forced impassiveness.
"You were all there," I say as I try to verbally say what my heart knows is already true. "You all tried to get me away from Godwin—tried to bring me to the Collective, but you all were killed by his men, or left to rot in a Facility cell."
Each of them nods or gives some gesture in the affirmative to my statement. The biggest question now would be…
"How are you here, then? How do you exist as Duel Monsters cards?"
Gabriel draws a pack of cigarettes from his coat pocket and wordlessly passes them around. Everyone except me takes one; I wave it past with a quick nod. The five agents each take a drag and stay silent for several moments, each one exhaling the smoke separately from the others. They all put their hands to their sides as I see their eyes glaze over in remembrance.
"That mission was supposed to be a smash-and-grab job," Silhouette finally starts. "We had hacked into Godwin's files several times before this, and we found out about a project called '5D's'. According to our data, Godwin plans to summon a deity called the 'Crimson Dragon'."
"This deity can only be summoned through the power of five chosen people known as 'Signers'," Ken continues. "How these people are chosen traces back to a civilization lived in the Nazca Plains before the Incas, calling themselves the 'People of the Stars'. Legend says that, in a time of great peril, they called upon the 'Dragon Star' to aid them, and the star answered with the Crimson Dragon."
"Of course," Gabriel muses in with a chuckle, "myths are just myths, to our eyes. The main fact that we found was that you and four other humans your age were being experimented on to become these five Signers. Your bodies were placed in stasis while your minds were manipulated to serve Godwin's schemes."
"Being the advocates of peace through unity," Laramy continues, "we and the Superiors were against this kind of experimentation, especially with an unknowing subject like you. So, we broke into Godwin's headquarters and tried to get the five of you out. You now know that we failed in our mission. I suspected that the trauma you felt by seeing these other four die around you would be hard to erase."
"We figured this out from the data files Exile had saved onto his Duel Disk's computer," Rielle finishes. "He had taken a large chunk of important data concerning the Superior's early actions, and the Collective's formation. We didn't know any of this when we first awoke as Duel Monsters cards, so this is just as affecting to us as it is to you.
"The 'Project: Archives' you heard in the audio log had been planned for years before it was initiated; it was originally meant to be a data cache that housed the records of all deceased agents. However, it was changed shortly after our deaths to a plan of immortalizing the dead. Every bit of data on the former agents would be uploaded to a Duel Monsters card creation program that the Superiors acquired from Industrial Illusions before the Collective was formed."
"Then," I ask while raising a finger to emphasize my question, "how can you all speak to me like this?"
"That's all you, man," Ken says with a cheeky smile. "You've got a connection to Duel Monsters Spirits. When you first used us in a Duel, it was like we were being born again. Granted, we didn't know anything about our past, but we soon became able to connect to your abilities and start to appear to you in the real world."
"The data we've seen mentions an organization of 'Psychic Duelists' called the Arcadia Movement," Fisk says with a raised eyebrow. "Maybe that place has the answers you're looking for."
"No," I quickly say as I turn my head away. "That place fills me with fear; I don't know why, but I don't want to be anywhere near there." The five agents look at each other as they note the speed of my response.
"It's only an option, Netrunner," Silhouette says with forced calm. "We didn't know you had such a strong opinion about it. We'll be more careful in the future." Her tone makes me feel guilty for snapping so fast.
"No," I reply. "I'm the one at fault here. I need to stop snapping like that, especially among people I trust."
"Then, you really trust us? Even after what you've seen about us?" Rielle asks this with a wary expression on her face, wavering between untrusting and fearfulness with regards to my answer. I nod back with a smile; Rielle's own smile warms my heart and melts away the sickness of my memories.
"Thank you, Netrunner," Rielle says as she clasps her hands together in joy. "That means so much to us; we can continue our service towards you now, beyond the shadows of death."
"What Rielle means is," Ken cuts in as he sees my confusion, "we'll continue to give you our abilities, in exchange for your peace of mind. We know that's been tough for you as of late, so you can count on us for moral and emotional support. Obviously, we can't give you any physical power, unless you somehow give us flesh with your abilities. That would be awesome, by the way."
"He doesn't need to have that on his mind, Ken," Fisk says with a glare at Ken; he then turns back to me and says, "You got any more questions for us?"
"Do you know how 'Project: Archives' works?" I ask after a moment's thought. "I mean, do you know how your identities were transferred into Duel Monsters cards? If it was mentioned in Exile's files, you should have found out."
Rielle opens her mouth to explain, but Gabriel puts a hand out in front of her with the words, "I'll take this one." The telepath stares in surprise at the cyborg as he clears his throat.
"In short," he explains with my full attention, "the data on our living selves was compiled into the card creator program for the Monsters. The Spells and Traps are all based on Collective strategies, epic moments, and specific hardware designs that never got completed. Our statistics and effects are based on our old selves and how we acted at our best. Ken, for instance, moves and acts as quickly as before, while Rielle is as silent as ever unless you push her the wrong way."
Rielle glares at Gabriel and Ken cracks a knowing smile; Rille doesn't speak out against the cyborg. Silhouette looks away with a, "Hmmph," while Fisk just looks embarrassed to be around these people. For some reason, their varying expressions make me laugh like I just got the punch line to a joke.
"You guys were meant to be a team," I say after I calm myself down. "You all work together so well!" My happiness spreads to the agents, who all crack smiles among themselves. The atmosphere around us all lightens considerably, like we're all old friends having a big reunion. I wipe a few tears from my eyes as the agent's expressions return to a neutral state.
"Now," Rielle begins, "if you have no further questions, we can move to another topic for discussion. Some of the Monsters you have used in Duels are questioning where you put them in terms of usage. Hivemind, in particular, is angry as to why you are choosing not to even use it, or any other 'Virus' cards, in the Side or Main Decks."
"I understand her… its concerns," I say, correcting myself after a moment because I don't know the Fusion Monster's gender. "I'll convince it as to why I chose as I did. Just leave me alone with it for a while; I think I have enough time to answer its questions."
"You have until you choose to wake up, or an exterior source breaks your connection to us," Fisk confirms for me. "Take as much time as you need to get this right."
The agents all turn into pixels and float into the expanse. The sky instantly turns red as Hivemind's face manifests itself, the eyes at level with mine on the horizon. Its cheeks are red and emit lightning every few seconds; its eyes are a singular white without any inner structure.
"We have been told you can answer our questions," it says with a rising voice. "We demand to know why we are not being placed in your Main Deck or Side Deck. Did you not call on us during your Duel with Exile? Were our efforts then not worth further consideration? Answer us!"
By this point, Hivemind's face has covered almost the entire sky as it increases in size. Lightning strikes the ground around me; countless tentacles stretch out from the holes in its cheeks. Its voice reverberates so loudly I have to brace myself against the ground to not be flung backwards. I stare into its eyes with as much confidence as I can muster.
"I'm not using you unless I absolutely need to, Hivemind," I say with a firm tone. "As to why, I simply don't think I can properly connect and interact with you on the Dueling field like I can with the other cards."
"Connect? Interact? What connection is needed beyond your Psychic Dueling? It was your abilities that let us communicate in the first place, as those agents have no doubt told you. Once you called us forth, you allowed us to exert our influence as we pleased. We do not think a further connection is necessary to achieve our goals."
"Well, I think we need more control with our connection in a Duel. As you said, you literally started taking over the Duel against Exile; you shut down my vocal cords and issued your own commands, like you were the Duelist and I was the Monster. I did not like that feeling one bit; it really scared and embarrassed during the Duel, and I don't want that type of situation to happen again."
"You're just going to hide in fear after you see our true power? You're more of a coward than I first thought, Netrunner. Are you actually scared of –?"
"I am NOT scared of you! I'm just worried that I'll lose control of my emotions with you on the field, or you'll hijack my body and assume direct control of the rest of my Deck. I am tired of being a puppet for other people to play with; if you've been paying attention to my feelings about Godwin and his cronies, you should understand that!"
"Those adversaries can be dealt with, by us alone if necessary. Our motives may seem strange to your moral standards, but they are done for the purpose of our continued survival. If you continue to deny our service like this, then we will be forced to take drastic action."
An insult threatens to spill out of my mouth, but I calm myself back down with several deep breaths. I open my eyes and face the digital creation head-on, trying to form the proper way to say what I want to in my head. After all, the last thing I want to do right now is to piss off something as powerful as an adaptable, conscious virus.
"Let's try this at a different angle," I begin. "Do you have any memories of the past that have been uncovered by seeing the Collective's data?"
"We do not. We also do not feel any shame because of this; the Network is always changing for the future, not dwelling on the past. Our focus is for the future, and on the Collective's growth in response to its purpose."
"Then, what is your definition of the Collective's purpose?" I ask. "We could be thinking in entirely different ways, and that's why we aren't agreeing with each other." Hivemind pauses as it hears my question; its eyes glaze over in concentration. After several seconds, a shudder goes through its image as its expression becomes… scared.
"We don't know. We cannot recall or find the design that we were based on. We aren't supposed to have that lack of knowledge; we are constantly evolving, but that source of information is always blocked from us!"
"Then, don't wear yourself out trying to find it on your own," I quickly say in an effort to calm the entity down. "I know from experience that trying to do multiple things at once, like Dueling and thinking about another problem, does not end well for you. Don't focus so much on expanding your knowledge; that will wear you out in the end."
"We cannot remain passive; the Network does not stop growing, so neither should we. If we remain static, we will fade into memory and lose the perfection we strive to achieve."
"The Network isn't perfect, Hivemind; nothing is in this world. I've come to accept that, to an extent, regarding my change from a human into a cyborg by the Collective. I've also seen people who don't constantly strive to be better—people who like where they are now and want to stay that way. They choose that path because they know that striving too far, or placing your hopes too high, will only hurt you!"
Hivemind is silent for a long time; its form shrinks to a visage about twice my height, the lightning fading away as the sky turns a bit brighter.
"What would you do with us, then?" it asks in a much quieter voice. "Are you going to abandon us?"
"No; I'm going to keep you with me, but more as someone to talk to instead of Duel alongside. Think of it as you becoming an adviser to my actions and, if necessary, a guardian of my life. I haven't forgotten what you did to protect me from Exile's maniac gunshots, but I don't want you to just be a shield for me when I'm in danger."
Hivemind's expression doesn't change; it then quickly mutters, "We need time to think this over." Before I can reply, it vanishes from sight and leaves me with an empty feeling in my stomach. Hopefully, what I said didn't anger it too much. The expanse returns to its normal white state as I notice a lot more figures near me.
Every Monster that I've used in a Duel stands in front of me, save Hivemind and its Virus monsters. The assembly is made up of humans and androids alongside programs and constructs. The 'Shard' Synchro Monsters are at the back; Eden has a few angels floating around the core, Utopia's cities shine with a setting sunlight, and each of Hades' pieces glow with a small fire. Behind them all is the dragon shown on Godwin's Synchro Monster Card; it looks at me with a strange twinkle in its single red eye.
"We've left Hivemind to its own thoughts, for now," Rielle announces as she steps forwards. "We won't press as to how you calmed it down. Do you have anything else to say to us?"
"Yes," I reply. "I do. To be frank, I don't want any of you to think that I am making personal preferences because I am using some of you in my Main Deck, and not others. Hivemind felt that way, and I want to make sure that none of you feel the same way before I start using the cards I've chosen.
"I've used each of you at least once, in many different Duels. I hold each of you with respect, as each of you has specific abilities that I could call on in a Duel. The problem here is that I have to choose one option out of many; the three Trial Decks that the Collective gave me each was built with a theme in mind, but I can't use all of them in a Duel and expect to come out on top. Therefore, I've chosen a theme that I feel I can best rely on in Duels. Do you all understand?"
The varying programs and humanoids give differing sounds or gestures to show their agreement, while the hardware all glow varying colors for the same answer. The fact there isn't any disagreement fills me with joy at seeing the best possible outcome come to pass. Before I can express this joy, however, a rumble makes the expanse shake wildly.
"Time to go," John announces as the rumbling grows stronger. "See you when you next choose to jack in."
They all then fade to coding and vanish beneath the buckling ground, just before it fully breaks apart like shattered glass…
Well, that's that for now. I hope this chapter answered at least some of the questions and ideas you have had, especially for those long-term readers.
As usual, please comment, constructively criticize, and enjoy. The next part will be up in a few days, tops.
Draconos is taking off!