.hack/Polarized/Past's.Glimpse
by
Chad 'Graeystone' Harger
XXXXX
After I cool down enough, I buy the body suit accessory. I practice with it for the next couple of days. By the end of the week Annrika and Piotr contact me. They have important news and want to see Unknown and I right away.
I walk down Mac Anu's street feeling like a drunk. I'm still not used to the body suit. At least I'm not stumbling around like I was a few days ago.
I see Piotr waiting outside of Annrika's apartment. "Hi, what's up?" I say halfheartedly. The loss of Net Slum is still affecting me.
"Not a good week comrade Chase," says Piotr. He looks like I feel.
"It hasn't been for any of us. Ever hear of Net Slum?" I ask.
"Ouka mentioned it a few times," says Piotr. "It's a secret area only a select few know of. Some say Helba created it."
"I was there," I say. "It's gone now. Kite destroyed it."
"Come inside. We discuss with Annrika and her friend," says Piotr.
We go into Annrika's apartment. She is there with Unknown and another player. My first thought is Charus but it isn't him. While this Wavemaster is old he doesn't have the evil face like Charus does.
"Hello Chase," says Annrika. "This is Wiseman. The best source of information in The World."
I take his hand and shake it. "Good to meet you."
Wiseman looks me over and nods. "Annrika told me the situation. Normally I am not so loose with information. If things are as you claim then there is little time for games."
"We all have information we need to share. I will go first," says Piotr. He sits down and sighs. "When we last met I gave hints that I had influence in real world. What I'm about to say can never be repeated to anyone. Don't want to ruin fun of The World. I started to play because I was gamer before politician. My real life name is Nikolai Shernov and am Russian Senator."
Annrika and I look at each other. "You're a politician?" we say with disbelief.
"Da," says Piotr. "You'd be surprised how many politicians play The World."
"You used your influence to try to get something done about Kite and The World," says Wiseman.
"No one would listen. They said it was hypocritical of me to try to get the game shut down while I was active player," says Piotr. "Others said I finally lost it and was starving for attention. I talked to Russian Vice President of CC Corp's branch in Moscow. He said I didn't have authority to demand anything. He also gave the line that everything was under control."
Wiseman laughs and says, "The day CC Corp is ever in control of The World is the day pigs can fly."
"We, alone," says Unknown. I agree with her.
"My news is even more disturbing," says Annrika in a fearful voice. "When I was talking to Wiseman about what's going on he mentioned what happened in the past. About how people were going into comas and the affects the game had on the real world a few years ago. I think the mystery of The World goes even further back in time. Even before Fragment. We don't know if it has anything to do with Kite but it's worth a shot." I suddenly feel cold all over. It has nothing to do with what Kite did to me when I first met him.
"What is the link?" asks Piotr. His words seem so far away. A dizzy spell hits me. I sit down on the floor before I fall.
"What were the two worst computer viruses known to man?" Wiseman asks. My eyes widen as something wells up inside of me.
"Deadly Flash, Pluto's Kiss," says Unknown. My breathing becomes heavy and labored.
"Pluto Kiss I can see," says Piotr. "Deadly Flash, people died. There were no comas." My eyes widen with horror.
"Deadly Flash did cause one coma victim," says Annrika. "Because of the deaths and people passing out, the coma victim has been overlooked and forgotten." I clench my teeth so hard I feel they're about to break.
Piotr asks, "Can we find person?" Anger wells up inside me.
"I can ask Helba to try," says Wiseman. "I don't know if there's a link."
I look at them. "Oh, there's a link and you don't have to look very far for the coma victim," I say with barely controlled anger. "You're looking at him."
They look at me with surprise. No wonder given the mood that's taken over me. Annrika puts a hand on my shoulder. "Chase, its you?"
I slap her hand away from me. "Don't touch me!" I yell.
I run out of her apartment. I know what I have to do now as the buried memories return. Seeing my parents collapse. The hollow look in their eyes as their lifeless bodies stared at me. No wonder I forgot. At that age any child would bury the memory because they're too horrible.
At the Chaos Gate I use the random command as the areas appear. I find the kind of area I'm looking for. A wood area with few Magic Portals and plenty of background. With the mood I'm in, it's the roaming monsters that'd better watch out. As I teleport to the area I come up with a plan to draw Aura to me. Then when she appears I'm going to Data Drain her right out of existence.
XXXXX
The monsters come right at me and I attack in kind. "Aura!" I scream at the top of my lungs not caring if I'm heard in Tokyo. "Aura!" I indiscriminately attack everything that comes near me. "Where are you Aura?" I scream with fury.
A dog type monster gets a fortunate shot in. I raise my right arm. "Data Drain!" I yell. The monster is turned into a little puppy. "You see that Aura! That's what I'm going to do to you!" I press the attack slaughtering the monsters. "If you think I'm going to just take out monsters to get your attention then you're kidding yourself!"
After I kill the roaming monsters I then make my point. I use the Bracelet on a rock formation. Sure enough it works. "See that Aura! That's what I'm going to start doing to The World! Monsters, players, the background, everything!"
I tear the area apart. I slaughter the monsters and data drain various parts of the ground and sky. The holes I leave behind are filled with actual game data. The annoying part of mind sees the data as real but I don't care.
When I'm done there is no Aura. "If that's the way you want to do this then fine! I'll go somewhere else. Maybe I'll return to root town and data drain the Chaos Gate! Wonder what kind of damage that'll do!"
I go to logout when the music changes. Aura and Zelphie appear before me. I point the bracelet right at Aura's head. "You murderer!" I yell.
Zelphie move in front of Aura. "Hey, don't call her that," she says.
"Its true," I say. I look straight at Aura. "Was it worth it? The death and fear you caused?" I tap my forehead. "What did you do to me!" I scream.
"What're you talking about Chase?" asks Zelphie. "My mother never harmed anyone."
I laugh and it's a sickening sound. "Aura never told you. About how she caused every computer monitor to cause flash colors. The colors were so fast it affected people to the point of causing them to pass out." The Bracelet glows red with fire. "Seven people died! Two of which were my parents!"
"You're lying!" yells Zelphie. "I'm going to turn you into the ugliest Grunty ever!"
"That's enough Zelphie," says Aura with pain and regret.
Zelphie looks at her mom. Aura's head is turned in shame. "Its written on her face," I mutter.
Shock slowly appears on Zelphie's face as the truth dawns on her. "M-mom?" she asks seeing her mother as a stranger.
I get a very nasty idea and in the mood I'm in it's a good idea. "You took my parents Aura. Eye for an eye sounds good right about now," I say. "At least you'll be able to make a new daughter."
"W-wait," says Zelphie with fear.
I point the Bracelet at Zelphie. I know vengeance won't bring back my parents. I know I'll probably feel miserable for a long time afterwards. At this point I just don't care. The body suits for skills are voice activated. Since the Bracelet's power falls under a skill all I have to do is say the words.
"Comrade Chase, that's enough!" says Piotr from behind. He and Unknown run up to me.
"Go away," I say.
"Don't make me do something we'll both regret," growls Piotr.
"In case you've forgotten threats made by a player's role has no affect on me," I say. "Oh and by the way, you can blame Aura for messing up my mind."
"Chase, don't, revenge, terrible, price," says Unknown in a soft voice.
"Already thought about it and I don't care," I say. "So far no one has given me a good reason not to Data Drain Aura."
"One, reason, fine," says Unknown. She leans to my ear and whispers, "Parents, not, approve."
The words cut through my anger and hate. She's right. From what I remember of them they would never have approved. As the anger and thoughts of revenge fade away another thought comes to me. I know I didn't tell any of them about my parents. They didn't even know I was the coma victim until I told them. Piotr and Unknown couldn't have been here that long and what Unknown said about my parents was too personal. "How do you know?"
"Headset, visor, lift, turn, around," says Unknown.
My mouth falls open as do as she says. Aunt Miko is standing in the doorway to my room. She is wearing a body suit and headset with the visor raised up. Now I know why she had Unknown hug Chase when I told her about myself. I haven't seen her this sad since my parent's funeral. "Wow, so you're the Unknown," is all I can say.
"It's a long story Chad," she says to me. She comes into my room. "Can't you let this go for both our sakes?"
"You two ok?" I hear Piotr ask.
"Fine, one, minute," says Aunt Miko in a monotone voice. She gives me a clear-cut warning look not to blow her identity. She only uses that look when I'm about to do something that would get me grounded for a very long time. I get the hint and turn down the send volume so Piotr can't hear us.
"Aunt Miko, she killed my parents and has to pay," I say firmly.
"If she was the cause then you've forgotten one thing. She killed my brother and best friend so I do have a say in this," says Aunt Miko.
"Then we'll both be vindicated," I say.
"Your father may have been more traditional than I am but I'll tell you this much. When it comes to matters of avenging crimes against family it will be on my say so and not yours. I am still the eldest in this family and don't you ever forget it," says Aunt Miko firmly. "We will only take revenge if I choose to and right now I choose not to."
"You said yourself you were never that big on tradition so it doesn't really matter," I reply.
Aunt Miko nods. I got her and she knows it. She thinks for a few moments. "You said you can't be affected by fictional things, right?"
"That's what I said."
"Then explain to me how a piece of fiction like Aura can cause such a reaction," she says.
I never thought about it. I was so wrapped up in anger and hate I couldn't think of anything else. "Give me a minute," I say. I lower the visor and look at Aura and Zelphie who are still here. I look at them intently waiting for the annoying part of my mind to do its thing. What I'm shown is shocking. I take a step back.
"Chase, you ok?" asks Piotr.
I lift the visor. My aunt is still I my room. "Go back to your computer and I'll explain in the game," I say.
I know my aunt is ready when she has Unknown say, "Here."
I lower the visor, raise the send volume and start to speak. "Piotr, aun-,er, Unknown, its Aura. She's real," I say to them.
"She, AI," says Unknown.
I shake my head no. "This goes beyond an AI. When I looked at Mia who's an AI, there, was a . . .fuzziness if you will. She was real but there was the computerized aspect I suppose that caused the fuzziness. But Aura and Zelphie, the fuzziness is barely there. I might as well be seeing them as I would someone on the street in the real world."
"Are you saying they're real human?" says Piotr slowly.
"I guess I am. As real as you or I in real life," I say.
"Incredible," says Unknown.
"The goal has been reached," says Aura.
"Mommy, are you saying we did it?" asks Zelphie.
"Yes but it is too late," says Aura with sadness.
"What's too late?" asks Piotr.
"He comes," says Aura.
With that the background music stops. We all know what means as the whole area goes white. "About time appear," hisses Kite's voice. He appears behind Aura and Zelphie.
"Aura, Zelphie, run!" yells Unknown. For some reason they don't.
We charge Kite. He raises his hand and we freeze in our tracks. "Paralysis!" growls Piotr.
"No, visual, affect, something else. Froze, controls," says Unknown.
Aura turns to face Kite. "You can have me but leave Zelphie."
"Never," says Kite. "Arc Drain!"
"No!" I scream as Kite uses his Bracelet on them. She and Zelphie explode into six red spheres. They try to fly away but Kite draws them into him with his power.
Kite laughs maniacally. Impossible as it may seem he's gone even more insane. "Soon goal achieved!" He turns to his attention us. "First, pleasure."
"Damn," growls Piotr. "What do we do?"
I have no idea. We could turn off our computers but that'll leave our character data at risk. I know what'll happen if we stay online. "Piotr, we do what we did when Kite attacked the Werewolves." I look at Unknown. "Take your headset off. That way your mind will be protected against Data Drain."
"You, sure?" asks Unknown.
"It's the only way," I say. "Afterwards we'll have to find some other way to take Kite out."
"Data Drain!"
It isn't Kite who says it and it isn't us who gets nailed by the Bracelet. Instead of one set of beams there are two. Kite yells in pain and steps back. Smoke rises from his stomach. His body leaks energy as his power repairs the damage. At least I know he can be hurt.
Kite looks around the area and inhales. "You!"
I manage to get the camera to pan in the direction Kite is looking. "You've got to be kidding!" I say.
A female Heavy Blade and a pair of female Wavemasters who could be twins stand in front of one of Helba's special portals. I can understand Kite's surprise because I feel the same way. With them are two Twin Blades who look like me.
One of the Twin Blades looks at Kite with bemused look on his face. "I know imitation is the sincerest form of flattery but in this case I think I'll pass. Mistral, Mireille, go help those three recover. Use the special healing scrolls Helba gave you. Rena you'll be their backup."
"Ok," says the one Wavemaster.
"Shugo, move to the other side of this joker and we'll keep him trapped until the others are freed."
"Got it Kite," says Shugo.
"Did you hear that?" asks Piotr. "If that's the real Kite then who have we been fighting?"
"I don't know but the moment I'm freed someone is dead, no questions asked," I say.
"Agreed," says Unknown.
"Hold on," says Mistral. I turn down the receive volume. Talk about nails on the chalkboard.
They use the scrolls and we're free. My right hand goes up. "Data Drain him now!"
We use Data Drain. Kite or whatever this thing really is brings his arm up. The ground rises up and acts as a shield. "Insignificant," he hisses. He raises his right arm.
"You may have absorbed the most powerful people in The World but you still don't know what'll happen if two Data Drain beams strike each other," I say.
"Stalemate, again," he says in anger. He turns to leave.
"Wait," says the real Kite. "Just who are you?"
The fake Kite turns to us. He laughs and says, "Might as well. No longer need to hide truth." To everyone's surprise he blows us a kiss. "Name . . .Pluto!"
To be continued . . .