Author Comment: I want to thank my Beta-reader FollowerOfAnhamirak for his time on this chapter. I hope you enjoyed it.
Michel was greatly annoyed by Crellan. He wondered why the Codemaster had to speak up like that. He gazed at the guests. Silence from them. Their minds are obviously still processing them. Maybe not for the first time. Michel sighed as he crossed his arms, "That was something I would have brought up after they signed the papers."
Annette came in and saw the five looking at the large cubes in their protective cases, "Looks like one of them spoke up."
"Director. Why are they here?" Codemaster Crellan asked once again.
"They're… the Codemasters." Kaz whispered at the realization that they were computers. He wondered how everything was even possible anymore. They were also in Chaotic, but in physical form. He always thought they were wearing costumes for some purpose. He adjusted his glasses and said it again, trying to recover from that discovery.
"Director?"
"They are here because we are going to explain a lot of what is going on here." The man replied, "And maybe avoid wasting resources on watching them."
"Oh… T-that's good- for them." The Codemaster replied.
"And other stuff. Because Joseph gave us a reason to do it." Annette nodded with a small smile as she brought the paper, "I guess you have no choice now but to sign it. You better read everything."
The five grabbed the paper and carefully read everything. Cassandra looked at hers and said, "Wait until I'm finished before doing anything." She continued to read.
It simply stated that anything concerning the organization and what was going on in Chaotic and Perim was to remain a secret. That they shouldn't say anything or they would get arrested. It was also said that they wouldn't be under observation all the time. The last thing was that they could accept, if proposed, to help the organization. It was clearly added that they couldn't be forced into this. It was only voluntary.
Cassandra checked once again to see if there was anything suspicious or implied. None of that was found. She signed it, "I won't say anything."
The teenagers also signed, seeing nothing malicious either.
"What's going on here?" Another Codemaster said when they signed.
The Codemasters were all watching the five outsiders.
"Well. Isn't it great!" Hotekk complained.
"Enough Hotekk." Michel warned him.
"Fine," the Codemaster pouted.
"I suppose we should begin everything with the Codemasters." Annette suggested.
Tom nodded, "Y-yeah. None of it is making sense now." He looked back at Codemaster Crellan's true form. A really big computer.
Chapter 54: The Organization
Sarah was the first one who spoke up, "Okay. How can they be Codemasters in Chaotic when they are here? Looking like this!"
"That's not that easy to explain." Crellan replied.
Michel sighed, "I'll be the one who answers the question here Crellan."
"As you wish." The Codemaster replied.
"Ha!" Hotekk let out a short laugh before he quieted down.
The man gazed at the loud Codemaster before looking at the group, "The man who created the Codemasters is also the same who made the scanners. Joseph Desjardins."
"He made them so differently?" Peyton asked.
"I can't explain the details. Joseph is the best for that." The Director replied before he continued, "As for your question Sarah, how are they here and in Chaotic?" he searched for the best words to explain everything clearly.
Annette raised her shoulders, "That's something really that is really complicated to do."
"Allow me to explain, if you don't mind." Imthor suggested.
"Proceed." The Director replied.
The Codemaster began, "The reason why we can be here while doing everything in Chaotic is pretty much the same as you. Our form as Codemasters in Chaotic are our codes, just like what you have when you go there. However, there are a few differences."
"Like what compu-bro?" Peyton asked.
"Com- Nevermind." Codemaster Imthor let a sigh out of the speakers, "Father Joseph created us with an extremely powerful CPU and many other elements that would bore you to death just to explain. Imagine the most powerful computer these days with the smallest size possible. Then make it bigger. The power within us increased a lot. Our system has been carefully handcrafted by our father to-"
"You are glorifying father a little too much Imthor." another Codemaster warned him.
"Sorry. In other words, we are powerful enough to handle many things at the same time. Right now, I am talking with you while having a Chaotic Match against Kazdan without any problem." Imthor resumed.
"W-what… I have a Chaotic match against you right now?" Kaz suddenly remembered he had a Codemaster match, but the fact that he was having the match as he was speaking with Imthor felt unreal.
"Yes. Compared to you, us and our Code are the same individual through and through. We don't need to port out of Chaotic to get the memories."
"I heard we have a younger sibling in Antarctica." a Codemaster commented.
It was extremely hard to believe that. Kaz would only be certain when his Chaotic self would port out.
Codemaster Imthor added, "I'll send a message to your Chaotic self after the match."
"That's pretty much it," Michel concluded.
"Any questions." Annette asked before they went to something else.
"This is really like a movie here." Sarah commented loudly.
"Way too much. I mean, super powerful AI in here that are at two places at the same time." Tom added.
"This is so wacko." Peyton concluded.
"It isn't! Imthor told you that we are here and we have code in Chaotic. We are not like you, separate entities until the memories merge!" Hotekk snapped before huffing as he went silent.
"They have a pretty big human attitude." Cassandra noted.
"That's Joseph for you. No one knows how he pulled that off." Annette concluded.
"If there is nothing else, we move to the next thing." The director declared. He stopped up and added, "You are probably wondering what our intentions are with the creatures of Perim."
They knew it was about Project Harmony but given everything they had to pretend they didn't know.
"Sure." Kaz nodded, hoping he sounded convincing.
"You have been watching them and me for a long time, so of course we have many questions." Cassandra said, crossing her arms.
The director nodded and tapped his fingers, "I have a few problems with telling you everything about it, but it's in our best interest to say everything," he began to explain what was their purpose, "Our purpose should be obvious now that creatures reached Chaotic. They want to reach the Earth, believing it is the Cothica. It is not."
"Not from everything we found so far. Maybe it is for them, like if we found a place, we believe is heaven when it's not." Annette added.
"Anyway, back on track. We know the creatures coming here is inevitable. If they search everywhere in Chaotic, they will come here," Michel crossed his fingers, "After this, it can end up many ways, but in general, it can either be… acceptable or terrible."
Sarah carefully thought of her reply, "What do you mean?"
"We either manage to avoid confrontation with the creatures and maybe negotiate something peacefully or we end up in war against them. We don't know how much our weapons work against them, how it would escalate or how it would end." The director said, "Our group is here to make sure and maximize the chance that everything will be peaceful. That's why you can go to Perim with codes. We cannot put civilians in danger, so the codes were a requirement to begin Project Harmony."
"P-Project Harmony?" Peyton said, trying to sound a little confused and curious.
The man wasn't watching him and didn't comment if it was fake or not, "It's pretty much what I explained. Anyway, this is pretty much what we want to do. In short, avoid a war with Perim and maybe achieve some kind of peace between us and the tribes. Because I heavily doubt the tribes won't end up fighting each other." he gazed at them.
"R-That's radical dude." Peyton gulped. They knew what the project was in detail, but that made it crystal clear. The director didn't want war and maybe the higher ups in the government didn't either.
"As for you five…and Alexandre who isn't here, your relationship with the creatures is a way to achieve that goal. If you are friends with creatures, they won't see us as something to get rid of. That we can understand each other." Explained Annette as she stood by the side of the director and smiled. She added a few more details about what they already knew about the project. Once it was done, the woman put her hands behind her back.
"And our purpose is to make sure we have time to succeed in the mission," Codemaster Imthor said.
"All of this should never leave this place. It cannot go in public. Who knows what would happen if some players believe what you said? They might put the entire plan in danger. This is why you mustn't say anything." The director warned them.
"We won't!" The five of them replied.
Annette smiled, "I believe you. You should too Michel." Annette said as she turned towards him.
The director nodded, "Their are a few minor things to say for today and then we will release you. The extra detail will be for another day though. We can't let your parents wait for too long." The director walked towards the exit.
"It was nice to truly meet you face to face Tom." Codemaster Crellan said as the group began to leave.
The boy nodded before he followed his friends and Kaz's mother. Annette followed close behind them.
The group returned to the cars. There was one for Sarah and Peyton. The other one for Tom, Kaz and Cassandra.
Sarah pointed at them and said, "You better make sure that you don't say anything, because I won't either." She then sighed, "I really don't want anyone in trouble."
"Chill out Sarah. We won't. We don't want to get more into this mess." Peyton replied as he tapped her back.
"I promise I won't say anything." Tom declared.
"Me neither." Kaz replied.
"I'll make sure they won't." Kaz's mother added as she put her hands on the shoulder of the two boys. She let out a small kind smile, that hid a promise of punishment if anyone tried.
One of the men near the car said, "If you have more to say, take your time."
Annette nodded, "You've been through a lot. Next time, we will send you a message in advance to explain the rest." She turned towards Cassandra, "And maybe to propose you something as you are in the know."
The woman wondered what she meant, but asked no questions.
Meanwhile, the four teenagers talked together about what they saw. It was pretty much saying what they had been through.
"It's not as bad as I feared." Kaz said as he sighed in relief.
"You're right. We are lucky." Sarah admitted, crossing her arms.
"Let's chill out tomorrow dudes. I mean, we know where we live." Peyton said.
"We can take the bus once." Tom suggested.
"Or maybe when I get my license," Kaz added.
"You're about to drive like a big dude?" Peyton asked.
"Yeah. He would pass the test soon to get his permit," Cassandra nodded.
"So, I can help mom with the groceries first, as we agreed." Kaz told them, mostly to avoid trouble.
The mother and the son knew what the true motivation was, but quietly decided to never mention it.
"Anyway, let's go home. I think we will talk more about this another time." Kaz's mother replied as she took out her scanner and got her code back.
The others did the same as they entered in the cars.
As they returned home, it was quiet all the way back. Some of their fears had subsided. They knew they were under a contract to say nothing, but Cassandra had made sure there wasn't anything hidden in it. None of them wanted to say anything about it in the very beginning, so keeping that secret was easy.
At the end of the day, Tom returned home and nodded to his mother.
"What were you doing with Kaz?" His mother asked as he entered the kitchen.
"We were studying for the exams. They are coming soon." Tom replied.
"Just be careful with the exams. Don't study too much or it will be pointless." His mother suggested.
"I will mom." Tom answered before going to his chamber. He felt bad to lie to his mom, but it was for the best. He made the promise and she wouldn't believe him anyway.
His scanner suddenly rang. The boy went and grabbed it. He wondered who was calling and when he did, he saw the face of Codemaster Crellan.
"W-what?"
"Sorry to call you right now Tom, but since you know my true nature. There have been a few things I wanted to talk with you for a long time." The Codemaster replied.
AC: This is the end of this chapter.
Next: A Codemaster Dream.
Crellan communicated with Tom as he wanted to know more about the boy. Eventually, Tom wanted to know why he was curious about him and was told the dream of Crellan.
Next chapter will give some details about Tom's family that will be important later on.