Disclaimer: I don't own SAO, belongs to Reki Kawahara, A-1 Pictures and Bandai Namco Ent.
SAO: Fatal Bullet – Dissonance of the Core
Chapter 1 – My Very Own AI
AN! – Remember to vote in the poll on my profile for Kaito's "harem" members before reading this, if you're a fan of my Infinite Stratos story be on the lookout for that poll too! Thanks Again! :)
Last time, out hero Kaito joined his long-time friend Kureha as she invited him to join her in the virtual world of GGO, there he met a few interesting characters; Itsuki, a rather friendly and mysterious player, and just now he's met Kirito and Asuna. This where we pick up our story…
"What do you mean, too late?" Kureha asked the black-clad swordsman as Kaito and the girl stood up.
"It seems that your friend here, found the Arfa-sys we've been looking for, THIS was the rare item in this competition." Kirito answered the girl.
"EHH!? This girl is the rare item!?" Kureha exclaimed in disbelief. "Oi, what's the meaning if this? I told you what's yours is mine. Arfa-sys your also under me." Kureha both let out her anger at her friend and directed her attention to the girl.
"Restoration at 50% Remaining at standby." Was the girl's only response in a rather robotic tone.
"Wait, this girl can't possibly be a player if she's an item, then she's…?" Kaito began to piece together the real nature of the mysterious girl in front of them.
"Yep, she's an advanced AI in this game, Arfa-sys units are AI that assist players in everything from item management and finances. But this one is the new model that came with the update. She's what known as a Type-X unit." Kirito began to explain.
"I see, then that must mean that she can perform othe functions older models can't, and if she came with this Gold Rush update I've heard about than is that the reason she called me Master?" Kaito reasoned as everyone listened.
"That's seems to be on the spot, you sure know your stuff. Have you played other VRMMOs?" Kirito asked.
"No, this is his first one, believe it or not. Oh yeah, my name's Kureha, one day I hope to be one of the strongest player's in GGO and be remembered."
"That's a great goal. The name's Kirito and this is Asuna, my 'partner'." He added a slight emphasis on the word 'partner'.
"Oi, Kirito…" Asuna grumbled.
"Ah, sorry I guess I'm in that friendly mood even though this is a competition." Kirito scratched the back of his head as realized he was becoming very lax.
"What's your name?" Kirito asked. "My… name is Kaito" He replied.
"Well, I've got to say to be a newbie and the first thing you do is join a tournament and get am ultra-rare item like that Type-X is quite something." Kirito complimented.
"Oh, that's not even the half of it, but if we ever see each othe again I'll tell you the rest." Kaito answered scratching his cheek in embarrassment.
Suddenly the Arfa-sys spoke up again, "Restoration at 90%... 95%... 100%. Master, I'm fully operational and ready to assist you." She replied this time in a more cheerful way.
"Huh, your much more cheerful now than before?" Kaito inquired. "Yes, that's because my systems weren't fully operational, yet so my personality parameters were set up yet." The Type-X responded.
"I see that makes sense I guess. Oh, did you happen to hear my friend from earlier?" Kaito asked the white-haired AI.
"Oh, yes Master if I remember my system has registered her as your superior." The Arfa-sys replied.
Kaito deadpanned at the girl stunned it remembered all of that. Then the AI girl got a look on her face as if she just realized something.
"Oh, master you need yo give me a name, remember though only you can call me this name and no else, but make sure its nothing weird or I'll explode." The girl asked of her new master.
"Name, huh? I think I may already have one…" Kaito said as he closed his eyes in thought for a few seconds, "Your name will be… Yuzuki, I've decided." Kaito decided on the name of his new partner.
"Thank you, master I'll cherish this name for all time, thank you!" Yuzuki replied with a smile on her face.
"Well then, I think we can agree this little pow-wow has been going on for a while and the tournament is about to end, so let's go our separate ways here and meet up again later." Kirito said as everyone noticed the timer was about to run out.
"Yeah, I think I've had plenty of fun now." Kaito replied as he thought the same.
"Besides, with all we've won we'll be able to get Yui something nice after this." Asuna suggested to Kirito.
"Well then we'll be going. Bye-bye Kureha, Kaito, Arfa-sys." Asuna replied as she waved goodbye. The pair walked off leaving the three others in the room.
"Oh master, I forgot to tell you about something as a Type-X I have the one-time ability to create an item or weapon for you, so allow to do so." Yuzuki said as she closed her eyes and concentrated.
After a few seconds, a rather peculiar gun-crossbow hybrid appeared in the hands of the android.
"Here you are master, I call it the Ultimate Fiber Gun, but that's rather long so it's the UFG for short. It's a special, unimplemented item that I've made for you master. I hope you like it!" Yuzuki replied with a large smile on her face.
"Un-implemented this makes this thing priceless, it kind of reminds me of the optical guns, but it obviously has a secondary feature." Kaito looked at the gun in his hands.
"With something like that, the tactics of GGO could change forever. Kaito you've got some broken and OP, are you the God of Luck in disguise?" Kureha teased her friend.
"Ha, Kureha. From how it looks it seems to be a grapple gun of sorts, and I'm sure I could use it to attack enemies with it, if my gun isn't my first option." Kaito began to deduce the items true functions.
"Yes, master that's one of tits features, the other function is that it can force flying-type enemies to the floor. With that set time you can use the UFG to steal certain items from the enemy. This can only be used on flying-types unfortunately." Yuzuki finished explaining the UFG's functions.
Suddenly an announcement was heard overhead…
"Attention all players the tournament has now ended, all EXP and item drops collected will be retained and rewards for rankings will be given after the tournament, thank you to everyone who participated." A computerized voice said as you, Kureha and Yuzuki were surrounded by white light and teleported out of the dungeon.
Governor's Office Lobby
The three were standing together as they teleported back to the Governor's Lobby, the three-started walking to the exit when they caught sight of Itsuki and decided to say hello.
"Oh, it seems you survived. Unlike me, after you beat that boss the next room we came upon had a lot of enemies appear a more of our party was taken out." Itsuki said explaining what happened after they separated.
"Well at least you and Taipan made it out alive, so you should be proud, if I had to guess you guys were probably high in the rankings." Kaito tried to cheer up his fellow GGO player.
"Well al things considered… Hm, who's that behind you?" Itsuki inquired of the girl behind beside Kaito.
"Oh, that rare item everyone was talking about was this girl here, she's a rare Arfa-sys Type-X, apparently on a few of them are left in this world." Kaito explained.
"I see, you truly do have quite the luck like Kureha said.' He replied in astonishment.
"I wouldn't say that…" Kaito replied embarrassed once again for the luck he seemed to have.
"But don't think I believe its only luck you have some skills, you've obviously bee n the type to plan out things unlike rushing into them." Itsuki replied with a genuine smile on his face.
"Well, we must be going, we have visit the other members of our squadron, Alphard see you again soon hopefully." Itsuki finished as he and Taipan walked off.
"Oh yeah, Kaito we should go visit your new apartment in the center of town. Let's go!" Kureha said as the three walked out of the lobby and onto the escalator outside and went down the apartment building in front of them.
"Come on we can use the back-door to get in." Kureha said as they walked in and saw the elevator doors and Kureha quickly thought, "Kaito do you know which floor your room is on?"
"Oh yeah its… Floor 10." Kaito answered as looked through his profile to find his room floor.
Kureha pressed the button and they reached the floor rather quickly, walking down the hall they saw the name plate on the door which read KAITO and Kaito touched the door as it opened revealing a rather spacious room.
In the center were four chairs with a long coffee table in the center and a TV at the front.; on the right a bookshelf with barely anything on it, but a box and a few books.; on the left were two terminals a blue one and a green one with three orange boxes in between the two. I the left-hand corner was a rather small, but normal looking bed.
"Oh perhaps, I should tell the terminals over there are about. The green one is a terminal you use to find quests and buy weapons and gadgets that you need if you don't go to the shop in Glocken. The blue one is your personal console, here you can save you character parameters, skill sets, gadget sets, you name it." Kureha explained as she showed Kaito how to operate the two.
"I live a few floors up from here its not bigger than yours, but its nothing compared to Kirito and Asuna's, I've never been inside but I've seen their room plate." Kureha told her friend.
"Oh, yeah I'm sure they've gotten back, we should go see." As Kaito said that he received a message.
"Oh, master its seems it's from Kirito and he's inviting us to their room." Yuzuki informed the two.
"How can you…? Oh, since you're my permanent AI you must access to everything I see?" Kaito came to realize.
"Yes, master I can see when you've received PMs and duel requests." Yuzuki answered.
"We'll we better get going then wouldn't want to upset our new friends." Kureha replied as the three of them got back on the elevator going to the 15th floor.
Walking down the hall, they came upon the room they were looking for before the door opened Kaito spotted the plate on the door had KIRITO & ASUNA on it.
'If both are on the door like that then…' Kaito came to the realization in his head but decided not to say anything.
Walking in Kaito saw a rather a large group of people in the room many of them females and only 3 males in the room; a rather tall, dark-skinned man, another tall man in a red and gold jacket, and Kirito standing over near two tables near the other end of the room.
Kirito replied to the visitors, "Oh the honored guests have finally arrived, come on over. I want to introduce you to everyone."
The three walked over and Kaito suddenly found many pairs of eyes om him. Kirito replied first to ease the tension, "Well everyone I'd like to meet Kaito, Kureha and his Arfa-sys partner. She has a name, but she prefers to only let Kaito say her name." Kirito introduced the trio to the crowd before them.
A little girl in a red and gold jacket approached Kureha and said, "Arfa-sys you look so beautiful, I hope I be just as pretty as you."
"Eh, actually I'm not the Arfa-sys." Kureha realized the girl was talking to about her and not Yuzuki.
"The girl next to Kureha here in the purple suit is my partner, this is my Arfa-sys." Kaito fixed the misunderstanding.
"Oh, I'm sorry, my name is Silica by the way, um… Kureha if you don't mind could you be friend? Not many girls play GGO so having another friend would be nice." Silica asked the pink player.
"Of course!" Kureha replied as Kaito was still being barraged by questions; "I heard you were able to dodge Asuna's bullet, how did you do that?" One girl in a teal-green suit asked. "Oh, yeah I see you have a rather unusual pistol there in front of you what is it?" Another girl with long blonde hair asked at the same time.
"Well, I wouldn't say dodged I was so busy looking at Yuzuki, I must not have been paying attention, next thing I knew I saw Kirito rushing me." Kaito explained. "As for this, this was made by Yuzuki as well, its called the UFG, it looks like an optical gun, but really it's a movement support system." Kaito began to explain the item.
"A movement support system?! No item like that has ever existed!? Hey… do you think maybe you could be willing to sell it?" The tall man Agil Kaito heard form Kirito, asked.
"Agil, I won't let you hassle another newbie out of their hard-earned winnings." A pink haired girl with a rather bulky headset spoke up against Agil. Lisbeth, it was if Kaito heard Kirito right. This was the girl Kaito thought of speaking to but with the setting it was possible.
'Another time then…' Kaito thought to himself.
"Well since were friends now, I was thinking…" Agil now was scratching his head in embarrassment.
In the chaos, Kirito called out, "Hey, Kaito could you come out and join me on the deck outside?"
Kaito nodded and walked to the door leading outside to a large deck outside that overlooked a large portion of the Glocken base station and Center street.
"I know my friend can be quite the loud bunch, but they mean well trust me. I really did this because I wanted to speak to you one-on-one and ask you a few things." Kirito said with a rather longing look on his face.
"Go ahead, shoot." Kaito replied curious what the boy was going to ask. "When we first met, why did you move to protect that AI?" Kirito inquired with his arms crossed.
Kaito adopted the same position and closed his eyes thinking of his answer, "I guess it was just that instinct I had in me, she was seemingly defenseless and guess the big teddy bear I am I protected her."
"That seems like you, not trying to make nay assumptions about you." Kirito replied not trying to bring up anything uncomfortable.
"I think finding that AI was almost something you were destined to find, I think you two will find a lot out of each other." Kirito gave his opinion about the bond between Yuzuki and Kaito.
"Besides, I can guess IRL you were probably the type that did things by themselves, huh?" Kirito asked. "Ha, yeah that changed though when I met Kureha, after an 'accident' she was all I had I knew then that I never really cherished much and she kind of opened my eyes to that." Kaito replied while looking out to sky above him.
"I see, I won't pry, but I hope one day you can tell me, I was like that too. Until I met everyone, and they changed me for the better." Kirito too replied to his own experiences.
"One last thing and this one is what I really want your opinion on? Kirito asked with a rather longing, but inquisitive look to him. Kaito walked beside him as he listened.
Both looking out to the street below Kirito began by saying, "There is one thing I'd like to ask you. What do you think is the difference between VR and reality? Some say that VR is just an imitation of reality. But I don't think so. I mean, were living right here and now. We have the power to go anywhere in this huge world. Isn't that exciting?" Kirito finished his little speech, Kaito had his head down, thinking deeply to himself and how to respond.
"I think in some way it can be both ways. This is in truth a simulation of reality, but at the same time we realize that everything here is only an imitation despite the advancement. With things like SAO and the incident in ALO make's think of the long term of VR and to be honest it quite literally scares me." Kaito began to explain his own beliefs and Kirito looked at him with a sad look, but Kaito continued and Kirito was surprised at it…
"Don't get me wrong coming here is the most amazing experience I could ask for, its done so much for me in just the few hours I've been here. It really is exciting, but some part of me deep down just hopes this can be a fun experience for all, so I really don't hate it, but I have a few concerns is all." Kaito finished as he looked at Kirito.
"I guess that is a respectable view, but I guess we can agree to disagree on some things. But we still believe in thing though…" Kirito put out his hand toward Kaito and said, "With that, welcome to world of VR."
Kaito took the hand and the two shared a handshake. A ding could be heard, and Kirito checked his messages, "Looks like Asuna is back with Yui and she brought Yuuki along with her, you should meet her, you two would hit it off." Kirito implored.
"It's okay, I'm gonna enjoy this view for a little bit I'll be in soon I promise." Kaito answered. "Alright, see ya." Kirito walked off back inside, out of sight.
As soon as Kirito left a ding could be heard from Kaito's messages.
One New Message
Opening the menu, Kaito looked to see that the recipient went by 'Director' and Kaito perked up suddenly and opened the message…
Sender: Director
Subject: Initial Contact
It would seem your dive into the virtual world was successful, K. I hope your faring well. Remember though you still have a job to do.
Be on the lookout for suspicious activity and possible tampering of internal systems. We don't want another incident like in SAO. Also, the matter of the ALO incident codenamed; "Ragnarock: Seven" has been finished and the investigation has been ended due to the incident being stopped in-game. The professor agreed to time-away from VR for the time being.
Don't forget your mission, we can't allow another SAO to happen again we're counting on you. I'll be reporting to the General about this.
Director, out.
Kaito closed the message and looked out to the world around him and could only now feel goosebumps as he knew something could happen, he just had to be ready for when that moment came.
He walked back inside, removing that thought for now.
AN#1 – Welcome to the first official chapter of Fatal Bullet – Dissonance of the Core, I hope you guys are enjoying this series so far.
Unlike the game, I gave my character a sort of differing opinion of Kirito's ideals. Another sort of Truth vs Ideal thing if you will, like in Pokémon Black and White. If you have your own opinions on this topic leave it in a review.
I know I skipped over some material, but I'll make it up in the next chapter I promise! :)
AN#2 – Kaito has received this rather formal message who could Kaito be working for? You try and tell me, think you figure out the director's identity? Here's some clues…
· This person is based off a real life official in our world and is currently in a high position of power
· Based of the in-universe timeline this official would still be in office, if he/she were not asked to resign.
· The title of 'General' is not what'd you would think immediately of.
Those are your clues, good luck sleuths!
AN#3 – Remember to Favorite, Follow and Review. I wouldn't be here without you guys! :)
AN#4 – Don't forget about the poll of my profile after today I'll be switching again to the Infinite Stratos one so make your choices before then.