Chapter 26: Waking up again?

"If someone you care for is fighting against you, would you fight back? Can you even fight back?"

-Chapter 26-

POV: Zero

...Now rebooting system. Full Body Scan active. No damaged systems detected. No damage detected. Note: Unusual power scale detected. User might suffer after effects for a short period of time. Reactivating is now in process. 100% systems are now online. User is now reactivating. System... start!

"...Ahhh..." I moan, grabbing my head. Random code streams in front of my vision, and I reach up, waving at them, as if I could wipe them away.

I sit up, in the warm, comfortable, soft, bed... Argh, I must be really sleepy.

"You're up?" I hear a familiar voice besides me. I turn, and find Shadow sitting down in a wooden chair, arms, and legs crossed, eyes closed.

"...Shadow. W-what happened?" I ask weakly.

She smiles, looking at me, "Well, I'm impressed. Even though you guys unexpectedly fought a forwards Empire scout station, you handled it really well."

I then remembered what happened, with Mitch... no, Revenge, and those Empire soldiers. They ambushed us! "Is everyone alright?" I ask quickly. I hope that they're okay-

"They're fine. All of them were unharmed. In fact, they were proving themselves on the battlefield. A team with me and I saw all of that, as we were rushing in to help."

"...How did you know we were being attacked?"

"We were following you guys the whole way. I know that your radar has a limit on it, so we were about 300 meters away from you. Glad to see that we arrived in time, but...damn it!" She suddenly shouts in frustration, slamming her fist into her other hand, "I wish we just checked first! We should have sent a more experienced team-"

"Don't worry. What's past is in the past. Anyway, is everyone all right?"

"...No one's hurt... but still, I should have known-"

"Shadow. You can't predict the future."

"..."

She's being really harsh on herself...

"Shadow. There is a time when a baby bird has to fly. No one know when that might be, but it happens unexpectedly, and that's when the bird has to learn on the go."

"...First off, when did you ever became a philosopher?"

"It was the first thing in my head, because there's a bird on the windowsill." I pointed.
"...Hmm?" She turns around, to see a red bird hoping about on the windowsill, before the bird takes off.

"...We're underground right now... anyway, second off, did you just compared yourself to a baby bird?"

"...Well, at the very least, no one was hurt." Completely trying to avoid the question as a pattern of words kept repeating in my head, "Changing the topic, changing the topic!"

"And we completely stopped that Empire advance group. That's good!" I try to relax, lying back down, when someone popped into my head. "Wait... what about Via?"

"...I was...getting to that," She sighs, "...Via is... well...it's hard to explain."

I begin to try to get up, removing my sheets, only for Shadow to put her hand on my chest. "Woah! Don't even try to get up! I don't know what sort of damage or effect you got from that battle."

"I don't care about that, Shadow! I need to see Via, to know if she's alright! If not, at the very least, what I can do to help!"

"...I know, but... I already tried talking to her, but she just withdrawn herself from the world... it's impossible to talk to her right now."

I quickly look at one of my hacks."...Got her." I mutter.
"...Huh?" She asks.

"If you're not going to tell me where she is, I'm going to find her myself." I start to get up again, but Shadow pushes me down back. "Shadow, come on!"

"Look, I am going to tell you where she is, but right now, I need you to explain that." She points at my left hand.

"...What do you-" I ponder, looking down, when I see it.

A red gem in the back of my hand.

"...Gaaah! When did this get here!" I cry out, waving my hand in the air, as if I could shake it off.

"It appeared after your... power surge wore off. That was a power surge, right?" She asks me tentatively.

"...I'm not really sure myself. I just wanted to protect Via from her brother, before anyone could hurt her..." Was it my imagination, but did Shadow looked a little sad when I said that?

I continue talking anyway, "...So Anna gave me that hack... but, it felt... different."

"...Really? How was it different?"

"...I don't know... like it was connecting me with something much deeper."
"What you were connecting to would be your power core." Anna pips up, appearing from the red gem in my hand."

"...When could you-" I begin to ask.

"This gem, sort of, also acts as a pretty good working holographic projector. But anyway, about your power core."
"What about it?" Shadow asks.

"So, I wasn't satisfied with what your system was telling me earlier on. I mean, a living being with the ability to generate power with no negative effects, no setbacks, nor any problems whatsoever, well...it seemed impossible. So, I began to test your power a little deeper, and it revealed this."
Her form was replaced with a red block shining from the gem.

"This is your true power source." She continues. "It's something called a Core Block. Apparently, this is the Redstonian Core Block."

Shadow gapes at the hologram, shocked. She mutters, "I heard of this kind of thing before..."

"You do?" I ask.

"Only in legends. I didn't even believed that it existed. But the Redstonian Core Block is supposed to be the source of this world."

"Source?"

"The source of this world, the place where it sprang from; built around this block at its center."

"...Why do I have it?"

"I have no idea," Shadow replies, turning to the window, "but this Core Block is where Notch stored the 'Source Code'. While there are other worlds, this Block represents the dreams which Notch used to create this world in particular. It also supposed to have some sort of unimaginable power."

"...That seems overkill..." I mutter

"It is basically what your systems rely on as power." Anna continues, "...But, it also relies on what you can do."
"What do you mean?"

"I mean that there is a limit to how much power you can handle. Remember your power meter? Your power meter actually shows your limit of the amount of power you can handle, not your actual power. Think of it as more of your stamina bar, alright? Also, the fact that your power increases due to any strong emotions means that this Core Block responds to your emotions, increasing in strength. But, the thing is, there are so many power limiters place around this Core Block that it's ridiculous. I only removed the first limiter, and look how much stronger you got!"

"...Then why put a ten second limit onto my hack?"

"Because you can't handle it. You passed out after using the Overload hack, and if you tried to use the hack any longer, your body might've died, consumed by the Core Block's power."

"...Wait, What!" Shadow shouts. "Zero!" She turns, staring sharply straight at me.

"U-Um-w-what?" I stammer, her eyes fiercely burning.

"Don't ever risk your life like that!"

"...Eeeh! Wait, I didn't know, alright! I had no idea that it might've killed me!"

"Still, Anna, why didn't you tell Zero about the danger!"

"-W-What! I didn't have enough time to tell Zero that it might've killed him! He was rushing headfirst into battle after all!"

"...Still, next time, make sure that Zero acts more carefully, alright?" She requests, sighing.

"...Shadow," I couldn't help but wonder, "...Why are you worrying?"
She looks straight at me, completely serious, "Because, you might be the turning point of this war."

Oh...

"And, because I care about you guys, alright?"

...

"Now, come on, let's go find Via, alright?"

Shadow does really care about her trainees, doesn't she...

"Right." I reply.

At the top of the Governmental Center was some sort of black shadow. At the very least, it seemed like that to most people.

But to Shadow and me, we both knew that 'shadow' was our friend...

"Via." I spoke softly.

Her black-feathered wings were covering the rest of her body, acting as a shield from the outside world. The only thing I could really see clearly was her face.

Shadow and me were both standing on the roof, and Via was crouched down, in a small ball. Since Via wasn't talking to Shadow, it was up to me.

"..."

"...Via, come on-"

"Leave me alone..." I hear a moan from her.

"...Fine, I won't talk to you. I'm just going to sit next to you, alright?" And before she could respond, I settle down, my legs hanging off the edge, and I lean backwards against a wall.

"...I don't want anyone around me, Zero..."

"Why not?"

"...Because..."

After a long pause, I ask, "How are you feeling?"

"What did I just say?"

"...I know, but... I need to know how you're feeling."

She laughs weakly, "Oh, I'm fine, apart from the fact that my own brother tried to kill me. Oh, and," She begins sobbing, "Tortured me as well!"

"Via. I'm... I'm sorry-

"It's not your fault, Zero."

Another long pause.

"...I'm sorry about asking about this, but... I need to know something. It seemed like you looked up to your brother, before he..."

"...Killed my parents. I know. But... before, it was like he had no kind of self-control... like someone was using a remote to move my brother's... Mitch's body. At the very least, that's was what I hoped, that my brother wasn't doing it willingly, because no one I have seen, not even my brother, ever had that blank look... except for the labs of the Empire."

"...But now-"
"But now, it seems like he's working willingly... damn it, he's fighting for them!" She screams in frustration, "He's wants to fight for those damn people, to capture, to kill! And... He freaking enjoys it!"

"Via-"
"He loves it, Zero! I've seen his face, while he was about to stab me, his own sister, and he wasn't just smiling, he was taunting me, laughing, even torturing me with the same device I had to suffer for a month! The worse month I ever had in my entire life!"

"...I can't even imagine what happened to you in that month... but, you're still alive, right?"

"Alive? If this is my life... then... I want death. I could just jump off this building and leave everything, all my pain, and suffering behind. I know I should respawn, but... there's always that chance that it doesn't work. That I would die permanently. Or, that the Empire messes up, and kills me-"

"...Argh, Via, stop talking like that!" I shout angrily, turning to her, "Don't even think about dying!"

"...It... Really seems like the only option-"
"It's not! Do you really think that death is a option for any of us? We can't die, we just respawn, but in the Empire's hands!"

She just stares ahead, barely any expression on her face. Her eyes were dimmed, almost all of her willpower gone.
"...Alright, I can't take anymore of this," I say softly, and I get up and leap at Via. She lifts her wings quickly to see me falling at her.

"Wait- Ah!" She shouts in shock as we both collapse in a heap on the ground, me at the bottom, and her above me.

"..."

"...What are you doing?"

"Giving you a hug," I respond, my arms around her.

"...Why?" She asks slowly.

"Because you need one."

"...Okay..." She replies, wrapping her wings around us.

"There's still hope, alright. Your brother may still be under control. You still remember, don't you? That it was your brother, not you, that killed your parents."

"Of course I remember that-"
"Then, that means that your brother, was fed a false memory. He said that it was your fault when it wasn't, when he was the one who... did that. So that means that he can still be saved. That we can open his eyes to the truth. So please... don't give up just yet."

"...But... I don't even know anymore... I am sure that it was him... but... was it really my fault-"
"Don't even think about that! Why would the Empire give you that kind of memory, of him killing your parents, and then letting you go! What happened that night wasn't a false memory, it's not even Mitch's fault, but it was the Empire!"

"..." Silence.

And then, a voice, small, but hopeful, "I believe you. I have to..."

I smile in the dark, "So... don't give in so easily. Come on, you're Via! You endured so many things, that you are one of the most powerful, and scary, girls that I know."

A moment of silence... and then...

"...You know, after this, I'm going to push you off the roof." She says softly.

I smile. It's good to see Via, slowly, but surely getting herself back. "I'm fine with that."

After some time, we both stand up. I notice that Via still had red eyes from crying.

"You are all right... right?" I ask carefully.

"...Zero."

"Yeah?"

"...Don't think that I'm healed yet. I'm not even sure what to think about my brother anymore. I'm not even sure if I can fight him."

"Then I would fight him for you."

"...I just want my brother back... so I'm not sure how to think about that..."

"...Oh..." I look to the side, confused. Did... did what I said even help?

"But... thanks."
"For?" I ask, glancing at her.

She smiles, "For giving me hope."

Shadow walks over, and suddenly hugs Via, tightly. "I'm glad to see that you're yourself again."

"W-What's with... all the- hugging... you guys!" She chokes out.

As Shadow let her go, I couldn't help but begin to laugh. And that started a laughing chain, friends among friends, all of us enjoying a moment.

Of course, that couldn't last forever.

My system suddenly beeps, words appearing on my HUD, "Warning, Projectile detected."

Projectile?

I quickly spin around, to find-

I grab the arrow coming straight at my head, snatching it out of the air.

"...We're under attack!" I shout in alarm, and Via and Shadow look at the arrow, suddenly serious.

"How did an assassin get into the faction?" Shadow says in alarm.

"I don't know! What matters is where did that arrow come from?" Via cries out.

Throughout this conversation, Anna and me were running through calculations, estimating on where the arrow came from, until-

"I got the assassin's location. Via, stay here with Shadow in case there's more."
"Oh, hang on, you are not leaving us-"

"Hack: Speed!"

_! As I accelerate from zero meter per second to fifty in a moment, the air itself splits apart, creating a slipstream behind me.

I just catch what Shadow was saying behind me as I run.

"...Behind..."

My vision changes, the location of hundreds of people running through my eyes before I finally see a unknown entity around the firing point.

"There!" I think, as I leap across from building to building, jumping across an entire street. Through my real eyes, I see a cloaked figure, holding a bow, nocking another arrow.

"You can't run!" I shout before summoning my sword and swinging down, attacking from above.

They jump backwards, dropping the bow. My momentum sends my sword into the ground, slicing the bow in two.

"Grr," I growl, as they flip in the air silently, reaching for something on their back.

I bring my sword upwards, to attack, but then something flies at me. I quickly reach for it with my left hand, slowing my perception of time, and in slow-motion, I find an axe flipping around and around, slowly flying at me.

"You're not killing me that easily!" I charge, and grab the axe at the right moment. With the axe in my left hand, I stab with my sword-

They jump backwards again!

"Hey! Stop running away!" I shout, charging forwards. Whoever this assassin is, they're getting really annoying...

They already had another axe, probably from their back, axe up and already in front of them.

We charge at each other.

Both of us kept on fighting against each other in this deadly dance, each of us both defending and attacking, trying to reach into some sort of opening...

There!

"Hah!" I shout in triumph, hooking my new axe into their axe, pulling hard.

They let go of it, turning around and running away.

"Oh no you don't," I mutter, quickly turning on my speed hack, and immediately pulling on their cloak, hard.

"Ah!" A girl's scream echoed into the air.

"So, she's female..." Anna comments.

"Not really important..." I think back as she falls backwards.

I stand above her, quickly holding her down. As she struggles around, her green eyes were wide with panic.

"Let me go!" She cries out.

"I don't think so. You just tried to kill me, remember?"

"Look, you just got in the way, so can't you just let go of a grudge?"

"As if I would forgive you that easily. You were targeting one of my friends, weren't you?"

"...Depends on who you call a friend."

"Who sent you?"

"Isn't it obvious?"

"...The Empire."

"Ding, ding, ding! Correct!" she mockingly mutters.

"So, I guess you wanted to try to kill one of us, so that you could get information when they respawn in The Empire."

"Wow... you're really smart," she sarcastically mutters, again, rolling her eyes.

"You have some nerve to be cheeky now."

"Well, I can't exactly escape now, and there's no point being afraid. I failed in my mission."

I suddenly feel someone hand on my shoulder.

"So, you caught her," Shadow comments in my ear, "Nice job-"

"But next time don't leave us behind like that!" Via shouts, smacking me in my head.

"Ow! Hey, what the heck!" I yell, holding my head.

"We both don't like being left behind, you know," Shadow calmly says.

"You didn't have to hit me, Via..."

"Well, you running ahead, telling us to stay behind implies that we girls can't take care of ourselves!" Via shouts, her eyes turning magenta, sparking with anger.

"I didn't implied anything like that! I was just worried about you two!"

"And you didn't think that we can take care of ourselves!"

While me and Via were...quarreling... Shadow kneels down next to the assassin.

"You were trying to kill one of us...so you're from The Empire."

"What does it look like?" She laughs.

"I wonder how you got in here in the first place...Ah well, we will find out soon..."

"As if I would tell you anything."

"You're awfully calm for someone who was captured by the enemy."

"Anyway, you blasphemous rebel are just going to kill me. You can't get anything from me in the first place."

"Nope. We're not going to kill you."

"...Wait, what!?"

"We're not going to kill you, because you know exactly where our base is. If we kill you, you just respawn. So," Shadow smiles, "We're just going to keep you here."

"Wait, you can't just-"

"Yes, we can. This isn't personal. It's just for our faction's safety."

"..."

Meanwhile...

"Look, Via, I'm sorry, alright?"

"...Fine. I still owe you for helping me... before."

"So...are we good?"

She smiles, "Okay... but, just one more thing."

"Yeah?"

"Turn around for a sec."

"Alright..." I say, turning around.

And I feel her hands on my back.

...Wait...

"...You know, after this, I'm going to push you off the roof."

Oh no-

And true to her word, Via pushes me off the roof.

"See yah!" She cries out cheerfully.

"Aaaaahhh!" I yell in shock, before crashing into some hay bales on the ground.

...Wait...hay?

"Neigh!"

...Oh come on-

And the horse in front of me kicks me across the street, into the store on the other side.

AN: DID YOU GUYS SEE THE ADVERTISEMENTS FOR THE MICROSOFT HOLOLENS! IT IS EPIC!

You know, I can't even believe that Microsoft was planning this far with Minecraft...

Still, it's a new way to play, right?

Anyway... Sorry about not updating in forever... I didn't have enough time to work on this.

Looking for quicker ways to create chapters.

Also, working on other projects.

Anyway, see you guys next time!

To all those who haven't seen their characters yet:

They are in. I'm just planning to bring them into the stories at a specific point. Be patient.