.hack/Polarized/Fade.to.Black
by
Chad 'Graeystone' Harger
XXXXX
Pluto is trapped between Aura and us. He's a trapped animal. The question is what is he going to do next. "Something is wrong with Aura," says Piros in a way that's totally out of character for him.
"She looks alright to me," says Piotr.
"The game has certain elements taken from anime," explains Piros. "In the real world I'm a graphic designer and there's something about her expression that makes me nervous."
Aura's head is lowered and some of her long hair hangs in front of her face. I can see her mouth and nose but not her eyes. From what I can tell she doesn't have any eyes. There's nothing but a shadow where her eyes are supposed to be. "This is bad," agrees Annrika.
"Excuse me but some of us don't live in Japan and have never seen anime," says Piotr.
"Of course, in anime an expression like that shows displeasure," explains Piros.
"How much displeasure?" asks Piotr.
"The kind of displeasure that makes you want to run away from the person who's pissed at you," answers Orca.
Pluto doesn't run though. He thinks he's still in control. I get the feeling he's in way over his head now. Aura makes her move by letting go of Zelphie. Zelphie floats over Pluto and lands gently in front of us. Shugo rushes to Zelphie's and picks her up. He carries her back to us out of harm's way.
"Chase, when I gave you the Bracelet you asked why I couldn't fight. I answered that I was unable to fight. Harald programmed me to be incapable of fighting. That is why I have always sought the help of others," says Aura. Her voiced is strained. Judging by her tone I think I know what it is. She's about to lose it big time. "However that changed when Pluto absorbed me." Aura looks down at Pluto. "You erred when you drained and absorbed me. You let the emotions that permit a person to fight infect me as you tried to absorb me. You also gave me anger and hatred. I now have the emotions that Harald denied me."
"Now you know how I feel," says Pluto. "What I've had to suffer all these years. The unending pain and torture of a body that's always craving more and more data and knowledge!"
"Harald and I tried to help you and you refused every time," replies Aura with coldness in her voice. "After you almost caused the nuclear holocaust because of your second attempt at getting into the real world, Harald had no other choice but to delete you!"
Pluto laughs at Aura with contempt. "Father you say? Before he deleted me I managed to copy enough data and hid it away as part of a text file. Just a few kilobytes in a large enough text file so any notable change could not be spotted. When I gained enough awareness I realized the text file was part of the black box programs incorporated into The World. I kept my movements quiet as Morganna degraded. When I saw Kite and the Bracelet I knew that both character and item would be vital to my plan. After I gained enough strength and before I took on Kite's form I searched for father and I found him."
"You found Harald?" asks Helba. "What did you to do him?"
Pluto turns to head enough to look at us. "Nothing. He wasn't worth the time and effort and as humans like to say, 'I had bigger fish to fry.' I returned to The World, which wasn't easy. Left me weak because of the power required for one such as I to hack my way into The World. The only upside was what I did almost overloaded Aura which I admit was a mistake because it left me trapped. Otherwise I would've done this a long time ago."
"Alice Warren," says Balmung who isn't happy at the admission. She must be the person Aunt Miko told me about after I came out of my deep sleep a couple of days ago. "After that crisis Aura used her power to reinforce the borders between the two worlds."
"So I chose a different route. I saw something . . .interesting on the message board as it existed during Kite's fight against Morganna. Instead of shattering the borders between the real world and The World, I went after the borders that separate fiction and reality," says Pluto.
"And that's where I come in," I say. "Because my mind is polarized when it comes to fiction and reality Aura hoped that I would have an affect on the borders."
"Tell me what was it like never being able to enjoy fiction?" asks Pluto.
So he figured it out. "It sucked but I'm adjusting. At least I'm not in your shoes," I say. "Give up and keep at least some dignity."
"Never!" growls Pluto. He aims his Bracelet at Aura. Once again she doesn't move except for a wave of her hand. The Bracelet shatters into thousands of pieces. Pluto isn't the only one who's surprised at Aura. We look at her with surprise. Even I have to admit seeing Aura doing any kind of violence, even in self-defense, is improbable.
"I let you Data Drain me for one reason. It was my hope that my information and data would have a positive affect on you and that my experiences of love would cut through the hate that fills you to the core," says Aura. She does something no one has ever seen her do. She curls her fingers into fists. "I have one question for you brother," says Aura with barely controlled anger. "Did you do something to mother to cause her to go insane?"
"I don't know what happened to Morganna," says Pluto. "When she was inside of me, I read her data. She didn't know the root cause of her madness. Perhaps it was merely data degradation like everyone believes. Since you don't have the chops to face me directly, I'll be leaving now."
"YOU ARE WRONG BROTHER!" yells Aura in a thunderous voice that comes from all directions. "I ASKED YOU FOR ONE ACT OF MERCY AND THAT WAS TO SPARE ZELPHIE THE PAIN AND ANGUISH OF BEING TORN APART BY THE BRACELET YET YOU REFUSED! THE PAIN YOU CAUSED HER INCREASED WHEN YOU ABSORBED HER INTO YOUR BODY AND HAD TO SUFFER BEING HELPLESS AS HER DATA WAS BEING VIOLATED! DO YOU THINK I WOULD LET ANY HARM BEFALL MY DAUGHTER AND THAT I WOULD LET ANY WHO CAUSED IT TO GET AWAY WITHOUT FACING THE CONSEQUENCES?" A pillar of light shoots out of the ground and surrounds Aura. Her eyes are visible and they're glowing white. Her hair stands straight up and flows chaotically. The rest of us are trying not to get blown away.
"I know she has every right to be angry but isn't she overdoing it?" yells Annrika.
"Anger is new to her. She doesn't know how to control it," replies Hebla.
"She went through too much to give in like this," says Kite. "We have to stop her."
"Do we fight her?" asks Blackrose. She doesn't like the idea of fighting Aura. None of us do.
"We won't have to," I say. "Aura you need to stop! You can't beat him like this!"
"THIS IS NOT YOUR CONCERN CHASE! YOU HAVE FULFILLED YOUR DUTY!" bellows Aura.
I've recently learned that hatred does this to a person. It stops a person from thinking straight. Logic and common sense gets tossed out the window. Its time to remind Aura that I'm still involved in what happens here. "That's where you're wrong! Pluto murdered my parents long before he harmed Zelphie! When I fought Pluto it wasn't to avenge my parents but to stop him from fulfilling his plans! I defeated him out of justice and necessity, not hatred and revenge!"
Aura uses her power to lift me off the ground. I float toward her. "Chase!" cries out Annrika.
"I'll be fine," I say.
"AND YOU FAILED IN THAT! WHAT I DO TO PLUTO WILL BE A TRUE SOLUTION!" yells Aura.
I have one last shot at this. If reason won't work then I'll have to make Aura face her fear. "Omega-13!" I yell.
"IF YOU KNOW ABOUT THOSE THEN ARE YOU THREATENING ME?" asks Aura in a very dangerous tone. My adjusted mind is telling the rest of me to be very careful. What she does to Chase may also affect me. At least I got her attention.
"Omega-13 was used on Pluto. The point is you created Omega-13 for a reason. You were afraid that someday you could end up like Morganna. You don't want to be like her but you're heading that way." The pillar of light and Aura's eyes glow brighter and I'm thinking my choice of words wasn't a good idea. "You know your mother better than anyone. What would she do in this situation?"
"SHE WOULD DESTROY HIM!" yells Aura. Her expression changes and the pillar of light lose its glow a little bit. "She would destroy him," repeats Aura in her normal voice. She looks at me and she's afraid. "Is this what hatred is like? Are all humans like this?"
"We all have it," I say. "I know it's a terrible thing."
"How do I get rid of it?" pleads Aura.
"We can't get rid of it," I say. I look at Pluto. He's so broken now I start to pity him. "All we can do is forgive," I say to Aura. "You know what love is. Forgiveness is the start of love."
Aura's eyes turn back to normal. The pillar of light fades away. "I can forgive Pluto but what will I do with him? He is as dangerous as mother," says Aura.
"Justice. There's always Net Slum if it can be recreated," I say.
"I cannot change him like I did mother. I realized that I never had to the power to do such a thing," says Aura. "Helba, can Net Slum be recreated?"
"I guess so," says Helba.
"Pluto, that shall be your punishment," says Aura firmly. "Until you learn to change you shall be exiled."
Pluto looks at her sister with pure hatred. He's smart enough not to move though. He looks at me. "And do you forgive me?" he says with contempt.
"I've hated you long enough. When a person runs out of hatred there's nothing left but to forgive," I say. "All I feel now is pity toward you. I can't do anymore damage than what I did when I data drained you. Do everyone including yourself a favor and change." Pluto looks at Aura and I with contempt.
Aura gently puts me on the ground and I collapse. Aura lands beside me. "Did I hurt you?" she asks with concern.
"The fight," I say. "The borders were too close together and the way I used Data Drain on Pluto caused a backlash that affected me for real. I can't move my right arm."
Aura takes hold of my hand. She kisses me on the cheek like the first we met. But it wasn't in the game. After she polarized my mind years ago she did the same thing before she left my mind. She did not have a body but I remember feeling the gentle kiss. Now in the present I feel the same thing as before. Warmth fills me as the pain fades away. My right arm starts to tingle. I sigh with relief as feeling returns to it. I slowly stand up.
Aura takes hold of my hand. I see Annrika and Shugo look at us with jealousy. Most of the others are snickering. "I really want you to work for me now," says Piotr.
Aura lurches forward. I catch her before she falls. One of the daggers Pluto used in our fight is buried in her back. I turn to him and he's smiling. He needs to be put down for good.
"You have made your choice brother," says Aura. The knife vanishes along with the wound. "As the Core of The World, I cannot be harmed unless I permit it." Aura stands and looks at Pluto. She points at Pluto and shakes her head in disappointment. "You want to go to the real world then that is where you shall go!"
"What are you doing?" I ask Aura with disbelief.
Pluto smiles with victory and elation and Aura's face is filled with sadness. She closes her hand and Pluto stiffens. "Goodbye?" says Aura mournfully.
Pluto's smile fades. "No, don't do this sister! Please I beg of you! I can't go like this!" he pleads in terror. His words fall on deaf ears. Aura opens her hand and Pluto is shot into the air straight for the sky that shows the real world. I see a small flash of light then he's gone.
Before I can ask Aura why she did it, she puts her arms around me and holds on tight. She starts to cry. The others run to us. Shugo is carrying Zelphie in his arms. "What just happened?" I ask. "Pluto wanted to get into our world and then he doesn't."
"After you data drained Pluto, how did your unique mind see him?" asks Helba.
"I drained all the data that can be considered real," I say. "All that was left was the fictional and made up stuff he stole over the years. To go into the real world like that is like a fish out of water."
"More like stepping outside of a space ship without any protection," says Mistral.
Aura starts to tremble. "Something is wrong with her," I say. She collapses in my arms. I pick her up.
"Zelphie also," says Shugo. "Her skin is pale."
Helba waves a hand over their foreheads. "This is impossible."
"What is it?" asks Annrika.
"The data that makes up their bodies are in a state destabilization. Their data is collapsing in on itself," she says.
"This isn't happening!" yells Blackrose.
"Don't do this to me," I plead to Aura. "Not after everything we went through!"
Aura looks at me. She whispers something to me. "She said something about hidden and forbidden. I couldn't make out the rest of it."
"Hidden Forbidden Holy Ground. I know the place," says Kite. "Helba, if you please."
"Of course," says Helba.
Helba's portal opens the area we are in becomes unstable. I look at Aura and the price of my decision hits me. Aura and Zelphie are linked to The World. When The World suffers like this so do they. Not only did I destroy the game I also killed Aura and Zelphie.
XXXXX
Normally I'd be impressed by the building but now is not the time. I carry Aura inside and set her down in a pew where Shugo is sitting. Beside him lays Zelphie. He is holding her hands. I give him and apologetic look as I sit Aura down beside Zelphie. "You should be sorry," Shugo says to me.
I look at the other players here. Some look at me with anger. Others won't meet my gaze. Only the friends I made at the beginning of this journey and Kite are being supportive. They understand the decision was in my hands.
Aura opens her eyes. She seems so frail. "Shugo, everyone, listen to me," she says. "This is meant to be."
"Aura you don't have to sacrifice yourself again," says Kite. "Once was enough."
"The statue is still there. Look at it as you did before," says Aura.
Blackrose walks to the statue of Aura. It's a terrible image of Aura tied in chains. "Why is there a statue like that here?" asks Annrika.
"It was Aura's message to anyone who found it during the crises I and the other Dot Hackers faced. It represented the danger she was in and who was the cause," answers Kite.
"No way!" yells Blackrose. "The names. . .it can't be!"
"What does it read?" asks Mistral.
"Pluto's name is here but there's also Aura, Zelphie, and The World," answers Blackrose.
"It doesn't make any sense," says Bear. "Why would Aura and Zelphie's name be on there?"
"It is because of what we were becoming," says Zelphie.
"Aura overcame her anger. She won't be like Morganna," says Crim.
"Its not because of that. It's because my daughter and I are becoming more and more human," says Aura. "Chase verified how close we are to becoming actual humans and in that we became more disconnected from The World."
"Isn't there anything you can do?" asks Orca.
"Sorry but its game over for us," says Zelphie. "Once The World goes, goodbye us."
"There's got to be something we can do," says Balmung with frustration.
"Even if there was I would forbid it," says Aura firmly. The look on Balmung's face is the same on mine and everyone else's. Complete horror and shock at seeing Aura and Zelphie just giving up. "Balmung, sometime ago during Shugo's adventure you asked if I could hear the rustle of the bamboo leaves." A tear falls down Aura's cheek. "At the time I could but in the weeks leading to Pluto's return I found I could no longer hear such things."
"It's because you're too real, too human," says Mistral.
"Both Zelphie and I discovered we were losing our connection to The World. What we concerned real was slowly becoming less real. Even our ability to absorb data from item and player interaction had become weak," says Aura. "We became afraid of what we might do. Not being able to feel or influence The World anymore and what it would do to our minds in the long run."
"You were afraid you both would end up like Morganna," says Piotr.
"We would've gone insane like her and caused the same nightmare as before in order to escape The World. The World is less becoming our home and more like a prison. We would be successful because I am the Core. The damage to The World and the real world would be worse than what you have ever faced," says Aura.
"Isn't there some way to save The World?" asks Balmung. "We all love it and don't want to see it be destroyed."
Aura frowns at Balmung in a disappointing manner. "You say you love the world, but which world are you referring to?" She waits for an answer and gets none. "There is a growing dependency on The World. More and more people would choose the game and their made up characters over their real lives. One hundred million and still growing and that is another reason why The World must end. Earth is Earth and The World is The World. One should never control the other whether directly or indirectly."
I'm on the verge of tears. I see some of the others starting to cry. "Do not be sad for the passing of The World. You will always have one another," says Aura. "This time for my daughter and I is over and while I have some regrets I know that we shall leave knowing we have seen the best of humanity. I want to ask you all to do something for me. I want you to meet someplace in the real world. Crimson Knights, Dot Hackers, Decedents of Fianna, and the rest to come together and bridge the distance caused by The World."
Aura stand up and limps to Zelphie. "Would you like to see the sun one last time?" asks Aura.
"I'd like that mommy," says Zelphie.
We follow them outside. In the distance we can see the The World's sun. I look at it for the first time. How like the real world's sun. Sometimes a chair is just a chair regardless of whether it's made up or not.
"I can spare this area fifteen minutes. It will be the last to be deleted. Afterwards the borders will be shut for good," says Aura. "Are you ready Zelphie?"
Zelphie is crying and hugging everyone. When she hugs Shugo, he won't let go of her. "Shugo, please," says Zelphie.
"I-I won't let go," he says. "This was supposed to never end."
Rena is about to kill her brother. She relaxes and instead puts a hand on his shoulder. "Shugo, brother, its time to let go." She hugs him from behind. The tough Blademaster starts to cry. "Please let her go be with her mother." Shugo silently nods and lets go of Zelphie.
Aura is saying her final goodbyes to the Crimson Knights and Dot Hackers.
Balmung looks at Aura and Orca. "Aura, Orca, I never got the chance, no, that's not right. I was too afraid to say it. When Kite appeared and everything that happened, I acted like a jerk at the beginning. I became distracted about the order of The World instead of helping the both of you. I'm sorry about that."
"Its fine partner," says Orca. "Everything turned out alright."
"You admitted your mistake back then and made amends. That is what is important," says Aura.
"Thank you," says Balmung.
"Arua," says Kite.
"Kite," replies Aura.
They look at each other but don't say anything. After a few seconds they hug. "Goodbye my friend," says Kite.
Aura lets go of Kite and comes over to me. "I cannot imagine what you're feeling right now. Your mind, the decision you had to make. If it was not for Pluto I never would have brought you into this," she says.
"You were right. I found the answers about myself," I say. "I know this is selfish but it's the one good thing that came out of this. I discovered the truth about my mind and why it is the way it is."
"Its not selfish. It was part of the adventure and mission," says Aura. I hug her for the first and last time. I can't feel her. The borders must be almost closed if they already aren't.
Zelphie is hugging a crying Mireille. "Its time," says Aura. Mistral gently pries her daughter from Zelphie.
"Thank you for letting us both share The World," Mistral says to Aura.
"Thank you for showing me how to be a loving mother," says Aura. She looks at Helba. "Even you are a mystery to me. There were times I wondered if you are. . .them."
"I am neither Emma or Harald," says Helba. A mischievous smile appears on Helba's face. She's going to say who she is in real life! She floats close to Aura and whispers to her.
"Thank you," says Aura. She takes hold of Helba's hand. "And I'm sorry." She let's go and Helba is confused.
Aura and Zelphie stand hand in hand. They smile at us then float into the air. They drift toward the sun. It brightens for a moment and then Aura and Zelphie are gone. After a long silence Mistral asks, "Now what?"
"We say our final goodbyes and then do what Aura asked us to do in real life," says Crim. "We have a reunion in a couple of months."
"I know of a park nearby," says Kite. "Its big enough for everyone."
"Good," says Annrika. "It'll be nice to meet everyone I've met in the game."
"Unfortunately I will unable to attend," says Helba.
"Oh come on, after everything we've been through you still want to play the enigma?" asks Kite.
"But of course," smiles Helba. The smile turns into concern. "She didn't. When Aura touched my hand she sent a virus right into my computer. All my files concerning The World are being deleted."
"Can you stop it?" asks Kite.
"Of course," says Helba. After a few seconds she adds, "But I won't. This is what Aura wanted. Even though I feel she made a mistake it is still her decision."
"What about other places, what about the Internet?" asks Piotr.
"Checking, now," says Unknown. "Relevant, sites, inaccessible."
"She was serious about not wanting anyone to try and recreate The World," I say.
"If everyone can give me your regular e-mail addresses I can let everyone know about the party plans," says Kite.
"I'll contact everyone who wasn't with us," says Crim.
We give him our e-mail addresses. Unknown is the only one who doesn't. "Still being a mystery," says Orca.
"Don't, worry, will, be, there," she says. Annrika snickers and I roll my eyes.
"Its time to say our final goodbyes as these characters," says Helba.
Shugo walks up to me. I already apologize. It's his move now. He holds out a hand. "No hard feelings?" he asks.
I relax and shake his hand. "Thank you," I say.
Everyone is saying their final goodbyes. Piotr puts a hand on my shoulder. "This isn't exactly how I wanted to end my adventures."
"Wanted to go out with a bang?" I ask.
"Dang straight comrade!" laughs Piotr.
"Turn, out, this, way, did, not, expect," says Unknown. Her hands are shaking. Aunt Miko must be on the verge of crying. She's still hanging onto the part she made for herself in the game.
"By the way, what's behind the mask?" asks Piotr.
Unknown's hands stop shaking. "Don't, want, to know," she says in a menacing voice.
"That bad," says Piotr.
"Its worse," says Balmung and Orca at the same time. I can't help but smile. I'll have to bug Aunt Miko about this after everything is back to normal.
Annrika hugs me hard and starts to cry. I gently rub her head to comfort her. I've never seen her like this. "Come over to my house later if you can," I whisper.
"Ok," she says.
"I'm fading away!" says Blackrose. Everyone is starting to fade away. She reaches out to Kite. Their hands touch one last time before Blackrose fades away.
Mistral and her daughter hold each other tightly. Both are crying. Balmung and Orca are holding each other hands in a warriors grasp. Both of them have a look of understanding. Bear is holding Mimiru like she is his daughter. Crim looks at them with approval. Rena has her arms stretched out as if trying to catch the wind for one last time. Shugo is looking at her with brotherly love. I'm still holding onto Annrika. Piotr and Unknown have a hand on my shoulder.
The area fades away silently. Everything goes dim. As everyone fades away as the data that makes them up vanishes. Soon there is darkness and all that's left is Kite, Shugo, and myself floating in nothingness. "Ok, now what?" asks Shugo.
"The Bracelets," says Kite. He points his at me.
I point mine at Shugo. Shugo doesn't move. "Don't make this more difficult than it already is," I say. Shugo looks at us with defiance.
"Your sister is waiting for you," says Kite. "Don't make this any harder for her."
Shugo sighs and points his Bracelet at me. Kite and I get the hint and change targets. Shugo is taking this worst of all and he blames me. "Everyone ready?" I ask.
"Yes," says Kite.
"Let's get this over with," says Shugo.
"Data Drain!" we yell for the last time.
The power of our Bracelets hit each other. With nothing to protect our characters, they explode. With no other constant like Cubia the Bracelets crack and break down into little pieces. Those sparkle then are no more.
I stare at the blank screen for a while. My hands shake as I take the headset off my head. It slips from my hands and falls to the floor. I then take the gloves off my arms. I want to take the leggings off but I just can't. I'm too tired and exhausted. Aura got rid of the pain caused by the fight with Pluto but what I'm feeling is something else. My heart is breaking because of the loss of Aura and Zelphie.
Aunt Miko enters my room. She looks as bad as I feel. "Are you ok?" she asks. Her voice is strained. She's about to cry. She is refusing to cry for my sake through. I walk over to her and hug her. I want to let it all go but for some reason I can't. "Its ok if you want to cry," whispers Aunt Miko. She said the same thing after she told me my parents died.
I blink a few times. My body goes limp. Aunt Miko catches me and holds on. It takes longer than I want but eventually the tears comes. I cry, oh how I cry. I haven't cried like this since I was told about my parents. The sadness, the grief, they it all comes out. My parents, Aura, Zelphie, even The World. I cry for them all.
I didn't want it to turn out like it but what choice did I have? What could I have done to save both worlds? I don't have the answers in the time of grief and I don't know if I ever will find the answers. The only thing I know for sure is that in order to save one world I had to help destroy another.
To be concluded . . .