Fractured - Chapter 1
Asuna would not be happy with me for putting myself into this situation but my curiosity always won out. A few hours ago, I was instructed to find this particular set of caves, and to follow a map that led me deep within its caverns. I had been at it for over an hour, twisting and turning, the darkness only being illuminated by my cellphone flashlight. I was lucky that part was even working, I'd lost reception miles ago. It was dank and cold and the deeper I got; I could see my breath puffing as I walked along. I wandered if I should have told Asuna, or anyone for that matter, where I was off to. They'd be worried about me for sure, but I figured I'd be back by nightfall. I came to a quick stop as I heard what sounded like the hum of electricity. But to hear something like that, deep inside a cave? What was going on here?
I continued on, following the noise until it led me into a specific cavern. I shone my light around, its beam reflecting off a large singular glass tube near the opposite wall. I approached it slowly, noticing a giant coil that spouted from the top, sparking with green-ish electricity. Along one side I saw a rolling table with different medical instruments and monitors. Along the other, it looked like an STL unit, monitor, and bed.
Moving in closer to the tube, my gray eyes grew wide. I was staring up at the one person I thought I'd never see again. He was immersed inside, a pale green light illuminating the murky liquid. There was a breathing apparatus attached over his nose and mouth, his flaxen hair drifting slowly. Multiple wires and cords were attached to him, mostly along his hairline, chest, and arms. He wore a white short sleeved v-necked shirt and long shorts. Although his eyes were closed, I knew they were the color of emeralds. I was shocked as I whispered, "Eugeo?"
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Earlier that same morning…
My phone broke the silence of the night with the quick chirp of a text going off. I opened my eyes wearily, shifted onto my side, and reached over to the nightstand where my phone rested. I was careful to do it quietly and make subtle movements. I didn't want to wake my girlfriend, who was asleep next to me. I glanced at the text, all traces of sleep vanishing from me, and I bolted up immediately.
"Huh, what's going on, Kirito?" Asuna yawned. "Everything okay?"
"I'm sorry Asuna, but I have to go."
Asuna looked over at the clock. "Now? At 3:17AM?"
"It's…well…complicated. I'll give you the details later," I quickly shrugged out of my nightclothes and changed into a black tee-shirt and pants. Grabbing my jacket, I was about to leave when Asuna reached out to take hold of my arm.
"Seriously, is everything alright? You know you can talk to me," her hazel-colored brows knit in concern. She reached her other hand up to my cheek, cupping it softly. "I've been really worried about you."
"I'm fine, really," I forced a small smile then leaned into her for a quick kiss. "Look, I'll be back by nightfall, and we can talk then."
Asuna sighed. "Fine, but you owe me," she placed her hands on her hips.
My brain was already trying to sort through that text I received as I headed down the stairs and out the door to my parked motorcycle. It'd be a long ride, but I couldn't wait another minute.
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"Judging by your reaction, Kirito, I'd say my team did a damn good job with your friend here," said a familiar voice. "Just think of it, the first real AI, but this time, it's made of flesh and bone just like a real human being." Overhead lights flicked on revealing something to the effect of a underground laboratory.
"Kikuouka?" I could hear him approach, but my eyes never left my friend.
"After the whole Underworld situation, and how we brought Alice out into the real world, it opened up all sorts of new possibilities for AIs. As to your friend here, we knew he broke the seal of the right eye first. You always had that kind of effect on people, Kirito." He placed his hand on my shoulder. "So, we recreated him in the real world using your memories of him from the Underworld."
My jaw dropped. I had no idea any of this was possible. The text he'd sent me only contained the map to get here and the words You will want to see this.
"You have to admit, the two of you could practically be twins," he chuckled. "It's uncanny, really…"
"He was my best friend," I could feel myself getting choked up. Clearing my throat, I gazed around the room. "What is all this?"
"It's where we're going to change the world," chimed in another man.
"We're getting there, Higa," Kikuoka replied. "But not quite yet."
"I know, I know," Higa sighed, then headed over to the STL unit.
"I thought RATH had disbanded," I eyed Kikuoka.
"Well, it did, but that's not going to stop me," he smiled slyly. "Although we were able to give a physical body to your friend here, his soul itself, well…"
"I am aware exactly what happened to his soul," I replied bitterly.
"Are you now?" Kikuoka replied, lifting a brow.
"What exactly are you saying?" I replied slowly.
"Walk with me, Kirito," Kikuoka turned and started walking across the cavern. He approached a panel in the far side wall and a keypad opened. After entering in a special pin, another larger panel opened.
"Fluctlights," I gasped.
"Yes, it was what we could save before the government took the main cube from us. Now, most of these are inactive, but there's this one…." He reached inside to pull out what looked like a rather damaged cube. It was sparking and flickering, barely.
I took note of the ID attached to it. "…"
"Kikuoka turned to Higa. "Do you have the unit operational?"
"Yup, all booted up and ready to roll," Higa replied with a thumbs up.
"Good. In order to make this work, we're going to need you, Kirito, to dive in and get Eugeo's soul. Now, we can't get a pinpoint on him so you're going to have to find him on your own. But there is a catch."
"Whatever it is, I'm doing it," I replied quickly, already getting into the STL unit.
"Wait, this is important," Kikouka stopped the STL unit from closing. "While diving you will be connected to Eugeo via your memories. While you're in the Underworld, all your memories of what happened previously and currently will be implanting themselves into the real world Eugeo's mind. Basically, you'll be preparing him for when the soul itself can enter his body. But, if something were to go wrong and that connection is breached..."
I hesitated for only an instant. Then, I looked squarely at Kikuoka and said, "I assume you have precautions in place so that doesn't happen?"
"Of course. Only you, Higa, and I know of our little experiment here. If this is to be successful, it'll change everything. AIs and humans can live together as one. But it all starts here, with your friend."
"Let's do this then," I slipped fully into the STL unit. The STL was activated by Higa, though this time I felt nodes attach themselves along my forehead. They were identical to those I'd seen on Eugeo. Assuming those were for the memory transfer, I drifted off to sleep.
"You didn't tell him everything," Higa frowned.
"You're right, I didn't," replied Kikuoka, cryptically.
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Underworld…
"Come on Eugeo, you can beat this!" a young girl with long orange hair was hovering over the broken body of the man she'd had a crush on all her life. A soft glow was emanating from her hands, lit with sacred arts. Eugeo stirred slightly. Selka sighed in relief. "Thank the goddesses."
Lesser Integrity Knights had brought him back three days ago, with no explanation as to how or what had happened. All she knew was he seriously injured and needed attention immediately. She had quickly prepared a place in the church in which to start healing him. He'd been laid onto a bed, his armory clothes shred from his lean body. He was covered in sweat, grime, and blood. A giant cut slashed across his middle had practically bisected him. Selka sprang into action and refused to leave Eugeo's side for even a minute. Sister Azalia was ordering other sacred arts clerics to assist as well.
"Selka, please, you must rest," Sister Azalia entered the room with fresh blankets. "I will look after him."
"But Sister…" Selka started.
"Not another word. He is on the mend now, and so should you."
"Alright," Selka relented. "Please take care of him," she pleaded the older woman.
"Of course. Now, go," Sister Azalia gently guided her from the room. She closed the door behind her and turned to face the young wood cutter from their village. Or rather, the swordsman as he was now. It was amazing that he could survive such an ordeal. In fact, it was impossible.
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Eugeo and Alice stood at large, red gates. They opened slowly revealing a soft, gentle light. This was it, as both of their souls were ready to cross over. Eugeo felt terrible leaving Kirito to finish off the Administrator. He would gladly jump back into battle beside his best friend, but fate had other plans.
He gently took Alice's hand, as they entered the gate. "Ladies first," he bowed to the young girl. This was the Alice he knew from the past, the feisty 11-year-old girl from their village, her soul trapped like this after being forced into the Synthesis Ritual. He was 19 now, taking a killing blow against the ultimate evil.
"I suppose it's time to go," Alice said, stepping through the gates. Her soul began to fade, turning into golden flecks as it drifted towards the sky. She was trying to be brave, but her blue eyes widened in anxiety.
"Don't worry Alice, I'll be with you," Eugeo went to enter the gates, but was immediately blocked. He tried again, and a third time. "A barrier?" he questioned. He looked towards Alice, her soul nearly gone.
"Goodbye, Eugeo," she whispered softly. Then her face contorted into a wicked grin. In a completely different voice, one Eugeo knew too well, said, "I'll see you again."
"What?" Eugeo took a step back.
Suddenly, where he had been bisected began to glow red, pain filling him. He put one hand out against the barrier to steady himself. Blood began to pool around his waist, dripping down his lower body. The other hand he put to his stomach; it was drenched in blood in seconds. It was like he was reliving his death all over again. But this time, he was alone and it was terrifying. He could barely hear the laughter of the one who had killed him as he slipped into blackness.
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I awoke in the top floor of the Central Cathedral, the former location of the Administrator's lair. This was the new location of the Star King, which was me. I had played a pretty big role in the defeat of Vecta, another real-worlder, who was intent on destroying the Underworld and taking the souls of these people for himself. I have to admit, he was pretty damn strong, and without Eugeo's help, I don't think I would've been able to beat him. The Underworld survived its Stress Test, and we even managed to bring the Human Realm and Dark Territory to a somewhat steady truce. Politics weren't exactly my specialty, but things were running smoothly, at least for now.
I looked around the room. Although it had been updated and remodeled, I could still see our fight with the Administrator, and where Alice, Eugeo, and I had fought the Sword Golem, then the woman herself. It was the place my best friend had died. I tried to be strong for him, but when all was said and done, I broke down and grieved as I never had before. I'd only told my sister, Sugu, about Eugeo. After that, it was just too painful. Eugeo and I shared a connection I'd never had. We'd been through so much together on our journey in the Underworld. He would always tell me how glad he was to have met me, but I was equally glad to have met him. I was still in shock that he survived, but as to how and why, I had no idea. At this point, I didn't really care. My best friend was alive, and I was going to find him and bring him back to the real world with me.
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"Where am I?" Eugeo muttered, blinking the sleep from his eyes. He slowly rose up onto his elbows.
"Eugeo! You're awake!"
"Selka? Did you heal me?"
The young girl looked exhausted. "I used as much of my healing arts as possible. Unfortunately, alone they weren't enough, so I had help from the other Sisters here. We worked in shifts nonstop over the past few days. Many times, you were pretty close to…" her breath caught as she couldn't finish the last part of her thought.
"Thank you," Eugeo replied softly. Unfortunately, this wasn't the first time he'd been in this type of situation. "Selka?"
"Yes?"
"Is Kirito here too?"
"I'm sorry, we've haven't seen him for a while," she replied. "It's hard to get the Star King to come way out here these days," she said sheepishly.
"Star King?" Eugeo was confused.
"You don't know? Maybe you have a concussion," Selka frowned. "I'll be right back with some fresh water and a clean rag." She headed out of the room.
Eugeo fell back into bed. He put one hand against his forehead. "How long was I out? How did I survive that battle? I was pretty sure that wound inflicted by the pontifex was fatal." His eyes drifted down. Taking a deep breath, he pulled the sheet up and looked at where he'd been bisected. A deep, heavy scar now encircled his waste. It was an angry wound, red and raw. Currently it was a dull throb, but nothing compared to the headache he was suddenly experiencing. He rolled onto his side, his hands clasping the sides of his head. "What is this pain?" he hissed.
"Eugeo, I'm back," Selka returned to the room, which was now below freezing. She could see her breaths coming out in puffs. The water in her bucket had frozen solid. "Why..is..it..so..cold?" she stammered out.
Eugeo glanced at Selka. His eyes had changed color to an icy hue, his pupils narrowing into slits. Icy blue vines had sprung from the floor encircling the young girl's wrists. The floorboards snapping like twigs in the process.
Sharp thorns bit into Selka's soft flesh. "Ahh!" she screamed, her bucket dropping and shattering on the floor.
"System Call, generate thermal element. Heat Arrow!" Sister Azalia called from the doorway. Fiery arrows shot across the room, hitting the icy vines with a loud sizzle. They weathered, releasing Selka, but once again went after the girl, catching her ankle, and she dropped to the floor with a thud. The vines continued to wrap themselves around her leg, more thorns tearing across her legs.
Eugeo turned his gaze onto the older woman, then rose from the bed. Without saying anything, more vines erupted from the floor to encircle Sister Azalia. They snapped tight, trapping the woman's arms at her sides. They then began to squeeze ever so slowly, like a snake coiling around its prey. She struggled as more and more vines encircled her.
"Eugeo, please, you don't want to hurt us," Selka cried.
Eugeo only stared at the two struggling females, his eyes cold and hard.
Suddenly, sentries from Rulid rushed inside. They held swords at the ready, and they surrounded Eugeo in a half circle.
"Be ready for an attack," the lead sentry called out. The other men readied their weapons and adjusted their stances. Before anyone could move, Eugeo staggered on his feet. He looked around, his eyes wide and back to their normal green hue. With that, the icy vines shriveled, cracked, and fell to the floor, and the temperature of the room began to rise. He saw Sister Azalia on her knees, her breathing labored as she tried to catch her breath and Selka, who was on the floor, shivering, with nasty welts and cuts around her wrists and legs. Wet, broken wood was scattered everywhere and three sentries had their swords pointed at him.
"What happened?" Eugeo was taken aback from the scene before him.
"Hands out in front of you," snapped the lead sentry. "Now!" Before Eugeo could protest, the other two sentries held his arms out, and cold manacles were placed around his wrists.
"You're going to our jail, until the Village Elder decides what to do with you." With that, two other guards grabbed Eugeo's upper arms and pulled him out of the church.
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I was headed downstairs when suddenly I was hit with a pounding headache. I put one hand out to steady myself against the wall, while the other went to my forehead. "Gah! This hurts like a son of a…" I muttered to myself.
"Kirito!" I heard a familiar voice call out.
"I'm fine, just need a second here," I took deep breaths, then took a glance at who was coming up the stairs. It was my page, or rather, was my page. Her name was Ronye. She looked at me with large, worried, blue eyes. The intense headache seemed to subside. What was that all about? Ronye continued to stare at me, with a hint of, was that, fear? "What?" I responded with raised eyebrows.
She just shook her head. "Um, nothing, it's nothing," Ronye replied, then quickly changed the topic. "How can I be of assistance?"
"I need to ready a carriage," I told her, already moving again.
"S..Sure," Ronie replied. She was a bit hesitant, but she quickly fell into step behind me. She was acting rather strange, even for her. But how I was to know that she'd seen my eyes turn gold, my pupils narrowed into black slits, if only for an instant.
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"The system has started to scan both Kirito and Eugeo's brain waves and is now syncing them," reported Higa. He was staring at a small laptop which was next to the STL bed. "All levels and systems seemed normal, minus a sharp spike that happened a few seconds ago. Should we be concerned?"
"Odd," Kikuoka murmured. "Once they sync up, the memories can start being linked, correct?"
"Yes, that's right," said Higa.
Kikuoka headed over to the cube cluster. He'd removed Eugeo's fluctlight, and was now studying it very carefully. It was heavily damaged, and the memory transfer was important because that part of the cube no longer functioned on its own.
"Kikuoka," Higa began, "do you think they'll be any….," he seemed to be searching for the right word, "…residual effects to either boy with something like this?" A ping went off and Higa turned back to his screen. The two different wave lengths had converged on each other and were now a single wave. But there seemed to be a strange anomaly that flickered ever so slightly.
"Start the transfer," said Kikuoka.
His thoughts were interrupted by the shrill ringing from Kirito's cellphone. This was the third time in the past hour. He dropped the phone to the ground, and crushed it with his shoe. "Sorry, Asuna, your call cannot be completed at this time."
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Asuna grew worried as once again, her call went straight to voicemail, and then the call dropped completely. "Kirito, where are you?" she paced around her room. She sent a quick text to each of her friends asking them to meet her at their virtual cabin on the 22nd floor in Aincrad.
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"Star King Kirito, so good to see you've returned," Leina bowed towards me, her long brown ponytail swaying.
"Such formalities are really not necessary," I told her, embarrassed.
"Of course, Kirito," Leina leaned in for a hug. "As glad as I am to see you, I'm sure you're here to investigate what's been happening."
"Happening?" I inquired.
"You haven't heard? Well, come with me, we were just about to have a meeting with the Integrity Knights." I followed her into the grand meeting hall on the 1st floor of the cathedral.
"This has to be addressed immediately!" a lovely woman in purple armor, Fanatio, slammed her fist down.
"Get me updated," I demanded. I slid into a chair around the circular table in the center of the room.
"Reports are coming in from all over the Underworld. People are going missing," Fanatio explained.
"What kinds of people?" I asked.
Deusobert, an older man in red armor, replied. "We've had accounts of anyone with a commoner status to those of high-ranking nobles. Even creatures from the Dark Territory are not safe."
"Hmm….Kikuoka never mentioned there was a problem in the Underworld," I thought to myself. "Probably conveniently slipped his mind," I rolled my eyes. "Okay. We'll send out Knights to investigate and gather information all across the Underworld," I said. "We'll need reports on who has been taken and see what common factors link them together. Fanatio, write up the decree that covers this and have your lesser knights sent out."
"Of course," she bowed her head. "What will you do, Star King?"
"I'm having a carriage made ready. I will also go out and see what I can learn."
Moments later, I was seated in a carriage with Ronye by my side. She sidled up rather close to me and whispered, "Kirito, what do you think is causing the disappearances? Some kind of monster?" She seemed to be just as nervous about the situation as the other people in the village. Mostly because the Taboo Index clearly forbid anyone to commit such an act. I couldn't help but wonder myself.
"Whatever it is, we'll figure it out," I replied determinedly.
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Sister Azalia wrapped Selka into a warm embrace, after healing arts had been to applied to them both. "Are you alright, child?"
"I'm fine, really," Selka replied, a bit shaken. "But…why did he attack us?"
"I don't know," Sister Azalia replied. She'd known Eugeo practically his whole life and not once had he reacted like that.
"What do you think father will do to him?" Selka whispered.
"If he had attacked only me, that would be something else. But to go after the Village Elder's daughter…" she trailed off.
Selka's eyes narrowed. "Well, whatever happened, I know he didn't do it on purpose. He's not like that." "At least, he wasn't before…," she added worriedly to herself.
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Eugeo sat in a jailed room, his hands balled into fists. He was frustrated that no one would talk to him or tell him what exactly had happened back there. The manacles he wore were tight and they clinked as he shifted on the floor. A sentry was just outside his cell door keeping watch. A heavy thud was heard and the sentry fell to the floor, unconscious.
"Good help is so hard to find these days," a woman sighed dramatically. A hooded figure stepped in front of Eugeo's bars. "You're a naughty boy," she tsked at Eugeo.
"Pontifex?" Eugeo was shocked. "You're supposed to be dead."
"So are you, I believe." Eugeo narrowed his eyes, a flash of icy blue flickering. "Ahh, yes, I was wondering where that went," the Pontifex ghosted through the bars.
Eugeo tried to scoot back, but he had nowhere to go. The Pontifex leaned in closer, studying the young swordsman. She reached up to stroke his cheek, her fingers sliding through the flaxen colored hair by his ears.
"Where what went?" Eugeo questioned. Before he could ask anything more, the woman in front of him was slowly starting to fade away.
The Pontifex looked down at herself. "Oh bother," she pouted. "This will not do. I cannot keep this up for any longer than a few minutes. At least for the time being." She rose to her feet, turning to leave.
"Wait! Why did you kill me, then save me?"
"Kill you, yes. But save you? Silly boy, that wasn't me. But remind me to thank whoever it was that did. They know a special soul when they see one. Like me." With that, she gave him a wink and disappeared.
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Gasupht was extremely upset. He paced back and forth inside the village hall trying to figure out what to do. Of all people to do such things, he would've never expected it to be Eugeo. An attack on their church, the lead Sister, and worse, his youngest daughter? But something had changed in him when he befriended that black haired boy. That Lost Child of Vecta, Kirito, was it? If he hadn't interfered then Eugeo would be still be working on cutting down that impossible tree and none of this would've happened.
He'd heard rumors about Eugeo and Kirito being involved in the death of the Pontifex and upsetting their entire world in the process. So when the Lesser Integrity Knights had brought Eugeo back from Centoria, he wasn't too keen on the idea. To harbor a criminal? It was bad enough his eldest daughter, Alice, was also a criminal for crossing into the Dark Territory. Two criminals in the same town? None of this reflected well on him, his reputation, or the village. He'd already bribed the guards who had taken Eugeo into custody. Thus, the incident at the church was kept quiet for now.
His thoughts were broken into when a sentry reported, "Sir, Orrick is here to see you."
"Very well, send him in."
"Village Elder, I've heard a rumor. It was from a rather insightful woman," Orrick began. He was a short, and rather stout elderly man.
Gasupht's face paled.
"Do not worry, I do not care to spoil the reputation of our village. But I believe I have a solution to your problem. In fact, this solution will benefit us both."
"I'm listening," Gasupht leaned in closely. The other man whispered into his ear what he had in mind. It sounded truly horrible, but what other choice did he have?
End Chapter 1