Click to Enter Chapter Two

12-09-2034 - Newest Trends in the Gaming Industry

One title, people! One title is all you need to have. If you're not part of the newest, hottest, fastest growing Online game out there then you better get in quickly or be left behind. Tales of the Meiji is the top selling game of the year, nearly the only selling game of the year. Only within its depths can you truly be the warrior you were meant to be. Tales of the Meiji allows you to plug-in and wander around the beautifully rendered VR world of Meiji era Japan. The character construct menu allows you enough choice to nearly guarantee that your character will be the only one like it out there, and when we say there we mean THERE. The game's current adventuring area spans from Kyoto to Tokyo with plans to expand further. With Online software becoming easier to buy no self-respecting gamer has any excuse to leave this one on the shelves. Come immerse yourself in an era of peaceful turmoil. Fight Yakuza, Police, and wandering swordsmen. Protect towns and villages or join in on the pillaging. Get a strong enough gathering of players around you and create your own gang. JP Enterprises has out done themselves with this fine asset to every gamer's shelf.





Misao was humming to herself as she led the way through long hallways in dire need of new wallpaper. It seemed what her father had said was true, no matter what type of technology was to be found on the outside, the government wasn't one for updating the inside of their own National Security building. She glanced back once to make sure her new partners were keeping up and smiled when she saw Kenshin's sword. So the rumors she had heard about him and that weapon were true. It went wherever he did. Misao shrugged happily and pushed the down button for the elevator.

The trio arrived safely and quietly at the second basement floor, a locked floor unless you had clearance, which Misao did. She cheerfully waved at the sleepy looking guard in his chair outside a pair of glass doors. He grinned and pressed the proper buttons. The glass doors quietly opened gaining them entrance into what seemed to Kenshin and Sano to be another world entirely.

A short hallway was papered with a variety of large sheets decorated with tiny scribbles and equations. Casting shadows from above were thick bundles of wires strung haphazardly with what looked suspiciously like duct tape. The hallway soon opened up into a wide room with only movable screens scattered randomly throughout. The warehouse style floor was littered with wires snaking every which way as they traversed from the ceiling to the wall to the curious looking machines that were set up everywhere.

Misao immediately bounced over to a trio of machines that looked more like a set of dentist chairs than anything high tech. "Now I know you might not think these look really safe," she said as she began checking some of the wire connections. "But these are some of the best plug-in modules available. One of the Techs from my department built them himself from parts he requisitioned after a big bust. As soon as we heard that the bust was electronic equipment we filed our papers. With a bit of red tape cutting and a few favors, our department was able to cash in on most of the stash taken."

"Does that mean they're illegal?" Sano scratched his head and watched as Misao began adjusting the sizing on the chairs. He could tell she was making one longer to accommodate him.

"Not exactly," Misao laughed. "They're just not considered street legal if you want it in black and white. You'll be getting a much better connection with these plug-ins than you would with any bought from a store." She motioned Sano over to the chair she'd been working on. "Have a seat, I'll explain as I hook you up."

Kenshin was hard pressed to keep his laughter in as he watched Sano's face change from amusement to wonder to abject terror. His partner's mistrust of all things mechanical was a set law in the NSA's books. It had taken Kenshin weeks to get Sano to understand that his new pager was much more useful when not being thrown across the office.

"Me? You want me to go first?" Sano's eyes darted around doing their best to not land on the chair.

Misao nodded and walked over to him. She lowered her voice and began speaking in a soothing tone. "Allow me to explain what's going to happen while I check the straps."

"Straps?!"

She laughed and grabbed his arm. "The straps are there more for your security than anything. While plugged in you will not have the ability to activate your physical body, these straps," she lifted a thick one that ended with a silver buckle. "Are there to make sure you do not fall off the chair. They are not to hold you down and never let you up." She maneuvered him gently into the seat and lifted the other side of the hip strap. "Now watch, I'm not even going to tighten these up. They're just going to sit loosely right here, the same at your ankles and at your wrists."

Sano's eye began twitching as Misao disappeared behind him. "What're you doing now?" Kenshin shared a smile with her as she began explaining the headset to him. "I'm adjusting the actual plug-in now. It's just a tangle of wires with three legs jutting out. Do you feel where I'm pressing? Right there at the top of your spine is the easiest access for what we call a remote plug- in. Contrary to its name it doesn't 'plug in' at all. It attaches with a bit of adhesive, that's the wet stuff you feel, don't worry. Right now it's within millimeters of your spine where millions and millions of bits of energy and information are running up and down. As soon as Himura and I are ready it's going to begin controlling this great big river of information, and that's all there is to it. Just sit back and relax, clear your mind for right now, do you hear the music?"

Misao continued speaking in soft words as she wrapped the arms of the plug-in around his face. Tiny plugs blocked his ears and soft cups covered his eyes. She watched carefully as his breathing slowed. With great care she taped two small wires to his upper torso, one on his neck right off of the pulse and one just inside his shirt collar near the top of his lungs. She stepped back and grinned as his pulse and breathing rate began showing on a screen right above his head. She turned to Kenshin still smiling. "Are you going to be as much trouble?"

He shook his head and stepped over to the second chair. "I understand how it works, and I know I'm in good hands, but I do have some questions."

"Shoot."

"What about security? Who is allowed in here once we 'plug-in'?"

Misao nodded her head several times. "No one is really. We normally allow those with proper clearance of course, but with a switch of a button I can make it so that no one will be allowed in no matter what the clearance, except for one person." Misao took a deep breath and began working on Kenshin's straps. "His name is Aoshi, Shinomori Aoshi. He's the Head Tech of my department and the original creator of these plug-ins. He is allowed access without question, but he knows when it's best to bother and when it's not. He's a thoughtful guy, really quiet." She laughed quietly and pushed his shoulders down. "Actually, if he does come in while we're Online, I wouldn't be surprised if he plugged in and found us. I think he has a crush on me."

Kenshin kept quiet but noted the twinkle in her eye and the soft smile playing on her lips. Maybe it wasn't just the tech that had the crush. He took a deep breath as he felt the cool liquid adhesive mark a circle at the back of the neck. As with Sano Misao continued talking while she was working on him.

"I do this all the time, you know; introduce new people to the Online. Whenever there's a high level cabinet member who needs to understand a bit about it or even if they're just looking for some fun I'm the one they call on. Some of them like to question me the entire time. A common one I hear is the origin of the word Plug-in when it's actually not some wire sticking into you. I never really tell them that the best of the best in the Online world actually are connected that way. There's a surgical procedure one can go through, but it's pretty expensive. I know a few people who've done it and they rave about the quality of the visuals and reaction times."

Kenshin did his best to continue listening but his hearing was impeded when Misao gave a gentle push to his ear plugs. All he could hear was a soft sound as if he was near the sea shore. He closed his eyes in anticipation of the cups that would cover them and did his best to relax. The last thing he remembered before opening his eyes was the fell of Misao's fingers unbuttoning his shirt to attach the heart monitor.

She sighed as Kenshin's pulse and breathing rate began silently blipping on his screen. She'd been trained in voice hypnosis as soon as the department found that inquiring people would actually request her to help them plug- in. She hated using it on people who had no idea what she was doing, but she was sneaky, like a ninja! She laughed aloud and made her way to the third chair after placing thin blankets over the two relaxed agents. Her head turned as she heard the entrance doors open. "Aoshi," she called out. "I'm going Online with my new partners. Will you tuck me in?"

The tall Head Tech walked over with his normal impassive face. He glanced quickly at the two occupied chairs then focused on Misao as she began strapping herself down. "You should try the new chair. It's better suited to your abilities."

She shrugged and lay back as he walked over and began working on the straps she couldn't do herself. "I'll do that sometime when I'm not leading newbies around." She closed her eyes as she felt his fingers searching through her hair. "I'm in your hands, Aoshi-Sama," she whispered as he found the small metal rivet near the base of her skull. She shivered at the odd sensation of the wire entering but soon lost herself to the virtual world she inhabited most of the time now.

Sano's eyes opened to pastels. Pale grey clouds littered a sketchy blue sky. The entire scene above him looked to be drawn by a kindergartner. He watched in stupefied amazement as two black colored V's began flying across the sky.

"It's really something, isn't it?"

Sano pivoted around to see his partner standing behind him looking completely normal in the drawn world around him except he was wearing black instead of the blue and grey he'd been in just a bit ago. "Kenshin," Sano began but found his voice to be a bit higher than normal. He let his eyes do the talking instead and sighed when his partner got the message. Kenshin walked over and patted his shoulder.

"It's just an image, Sano. Let's go find Misao."

"No need."

The two friends turned to the source of the voice and gaped. The happy agent with the long braid looked more like a child now than the slightly older version they had just met. Instead of her skirt and blousy top she was now wearing what looked to be a cross between a kimono and a ninja outfit, just as short but not as tight. Her braid swung at its same length to just below her waist, and her eyes seemed a brighter shade of aqua.

"Like the outfit? I knew you would." She spun around for them and laughed loudly as they were finally able to control their expressions. "It's my automatic image. You two look kinda different yourselves, and look Himura, you still have your sword!" Misao laughed strangely then quieted down. She'd never seen the construct program do that before. "Wow, normally you have to think about accessories like that before they're added. That piece must really be a part of you, Himura." Her eyes turned to Sano and blinked several times. "And you! You completely changed clothes!"

Sano looked down at what he was wearing and nearly jumped. "This is my karate outfit, except different, it's all white without the black hems, and what's with these bandages tied around my waist?" He spun around in an attempt to see behind him showing his back to the other two. Kenshin had already seen him from behind so he wasn't surprised, but Misao shrieked.

"Oh my gosh! You've got a detailed outfit first time in. You know, I think you should be questioning the 'evil' kanji on your back more than you should the bandages wrapped around your waist." She took several steps and closed the gap between them. "But don't worry about it, let me give you the welcoming spiel." Kenshin nodded and Sano shrugged as soon as he was facing her again. "Welcome to the Online world," she began. "You are currently being held in what we refer to as a construct, your own personal jumping platform from which to access the virtual world you are about to enter. Please allow me to inform you of some rules." Kenshin and Sano nodded.

"Rule one: Do not get separated form your guide, which is me." Misao paused to frown at them.

"Rule two: This is all fake, electric impulses generated from a HUGE computer and sent directly to your brain through the plugin that I glued to you, capiche? In other words, It's not real."

"Rule three: If you do get separated don't worry, I can find you anywhere."

"Rule four: It's a no holds barred contest in the images people place upon themselves here in the Online. Many surfers go all out in making sure that they stand out. Some will have blue skin, some will have odd hair, some will look like cartoon characters. It all depends on what that person decides they want to look like." She paused in thought. "You can change your appearance if you'd like. We're at the place to do it."

Kenshin shook his head. He was comfortable in his clothes even if they were black. Sano just shrugged. Misao nodded and continued.

"While we're on the subject of changing things; everything you will be seeing is generated by a computer program, a very elaborate computer program. You cannot change everything though you will have the ability to 'think' things out of thin air. For the most part it will be like walking around in the real world except you can hold a whole lot more in your pockets. No need for a purse or wallet, should you choose to shop the program running the store will automatically recognize you."

"We're just here for an introduction to this Online thing," Sano said slowly. "We're not going shopping."

Misao shrugged. "Do you want to check out the game while we're here, or is this just a bit of reconnaissance? We can set up your characters and everything if you'd like. Maybe even start a tour."

"Tour?"

Sea-green eyes turned to Kenshin. "It's their way of building levels in the game. You go on a 'tour' of Meiji Japan. They've got a good sized map set up with randomly generating gangs in the cities and tons of toughs hiding in the forest. There is a storyline that you can follow, but most players just ignore it and go off on their own. Sometimes they die sometimes they don't."

"Die?" Sano choked and peered sideways at Kenshin. "Che, is this really a game we're talking about?"

"Well, you know that whole 'dying' part is the main reason we're here."

"But why us," Sano questioned loudly. "We've never done any of this technical stuff, just fight a bunch of guys with my fists and his sword."

"Maybe that's the exact reason they want you two. You both know how to fight on the game's terms and if there's a rumble, inside Tales is where it will probably be." Kenshin nodded sagely in agreement and took a step forward. "We should probably get going. If I remember correctly we're on a time limit, aren't we?"

Misao dropped her head as she sighed. "Yeah, we haven't been able to requisition a tank yet." She raised her chin and her fist. "But we will get that tank! Someday I will be able to stay Online longer than three hours at a time."

Sano's eyes were wide as they traveled back and forth between his two companions. "What are you talking about?"

"We'll explain while we walk," Misao pointed to her left where a door appeared. "We were talking about time limits. Right now we're strapped to chairs in a room underneath the NSA's headquarters. We're allowed Online for three hours at a time only due to our bodies' need to eat, defecate, survive."

"I... I could die?! You've strapped me to a chair and I could die there?"

"Sano, it's alright," Kenshin began speaking in a soothing voice. "We'll be woken up in three hours automatically. The system throws us out if we don't have the proper registry to stay longer. You can't die."

"How do you know that? I thought you didn't know anything about this Online thing at all!"

Kenshin shrugged. "It was in the report."

Misao nodded. "You're quite safe, Sanosuke. I've been running around in the Online for four years now. I know all the ins and outs. I'll protect you." The disbelief she saw in Sano's eyes made her laugh. "Come on, it's just a quick jaunt down Main Street to the game platform. From there we jump to the servers that actually hold 'Tales of the Meiji'. Follow me!" Her braid swung as she twirled and skipped through the dark opening.

Sano turned to Kenshin. "Do we trust her?"

"Sano, she's another agent just like us, and all of this is just a computer program, like your shooting games." Kenshin patted his tall friend on the shoulder. "I'm actually kind of curious. I always wanted to be a samurai when I was a kid. Supposedly this game can give me that experience, what little I'm missing of it from Shishou's training." As he stepped forward with a smile Sano reluctantly followed.

"This is going to turn out bad," Sano muttered. "We're probably gonna wake up in a sewer somewhere without our organs or something, I just know it."

The two walked side by side through the odd opening and into the darkened street beyond.

To be Continued



Author's notes: Whew! This one was a long one. Next chapter due out soon! And Wow!! I got alot of reviews for that last chapter, too!! Whoopee JML: Thank you for your knowledge. That error has been fixed and yeah, JNSA is Japan National Security thingie dooder thingy, or something like that. I dont' know what they call it over there.

Marstanuki: Here you go! Fast, ne?

Jaded: Spelling mistakes? Where!! I checked it! I did i did i did!! And I am considering changing it to Matrix, but I'm gonna have to handle that later in the story.

D: just you wait.. I have big plans for chapter 3

MP: Ssssshhh.. you weren't supposed to know that.

Kenta Divina: Thankyou! I will.

Gemini16: Heeeeereee's Aoshi!! I'm gonna mess with him and Misao a bit though.

Cevgar: Umm.. I'm still working on that, the Battousai thing. As for Lain, I've never seen it all just two episodes so I can credit it but I don't really know how much of it I'm using. I really seem to be basing this more on the Matrix than anything, except without the power wielding robots.

J.Liha: here's your update. I'm glad you're enjoying it.

Mae: hehe.. I'm gonna try opening every chapter with a little computery tidbit thingie and I really don't know all that much. My boyfriend just got over the last virus I accidentally downloaded onto his school laptop *sigh* It really wasn't my fault

C-Chan: is there really all that much technical mum.. well I guess there is. I'll work on it! and you haven't seen the matrix?? YOU MUST GO SEE NOW!! NOW!! go find a blockbuster!

Disclaimer: At the bottom right where the fact that I don't own Rurouni Kenshin leaves my heart. Oh, and I don't own The Matrix either.

AUTHOR'S SECOND NOTES............ Well.. this was an easy chapter to edit. I'm rather pleased with it. Hmm.. Let's see how much editing I can do in one night!