Konnichiwa again! I'm updating early, just like I said! I bought .hack/legend of the twilight volume 3 last weekend, and so, I am inspired. This fic will be taking a few twists and turns down a bumpy road. Please stay with me for the ride! Kansha for all your support! X
Chapter 11: A game within a game?
"What's this? An event?" The World is a game with the ability to surprise you nearly every time you log in. Max and I have been playing for a while now. We've levelled up, travelled though endless dungeons, made friends, although I'm not sure how much I trust them…
And still, there's so much to learn. Many things to uncover. That's the thing with these online RPGs though. Is there really an end? Will Max and I ever solve this puzzle? Up until now I've felt so determined. Why am I having doubts now?
"Yes! I can't believe it! There are events every so often here where you can win rare items and stuff!" Max points up at a big screen t.v. It's in one hour. We should go, it might be fun!"
"You…like events?" A girl's voice asks from behind me.
"I don't know. I've never been to one."
"Hi! My name's Max. And this is Kai." I realise just how sick I am of everyone we meet knowing my real name. I had totally forgotten the nickname business.
"Nice to meet you. I'm from the Canadian server. Going to check out the event? I am!" Oh great, this kid's a loud-mouthed tomboy. I ignore her and check out the event's keywords 'Delta Lovely Flower Meadow.' Those keywords must have specially created for the event.
"Yeah. I'm gonna send my online friends a message so we can all meet up!"
"Great, have an awesome time. I might see you there! May the best 'man' win!" The girl disappears without even giving her name. But that's what it's like here. Just like real life. You pass someone in the street. You might say 'hi' or 'good morning', but it's all just a friendly gesture. It doesn't really mean anything.
"Kai, I'll get in touch with Rei and Tyson. Can you pick up Kukki for me?"
"What? Why?"
"He's coming with us. Hurry up, I'll wait for you here." So Max gets ready to type some e-mails and I set off to face my in-game enemy. The Grunty.
"…"
"Right Pig. You're coming with me. Not by my choice, but for Max. No funny business now." I didn't think I'd be reduced to this. But, to my surprise, Kukki comes out of his pen and follows me obediently. "Good. You're learning fast, Grunty. I'm the boss here! …Ouch!" Stupid pig, biting me. Ugly, stupid animal.
"Kai! I'm glad you're back. Tyson is already at the event and Rei says he'll come here as soon as he shakes off Pink Rose."
"That annoying girl with pink hair and that terrible outfit?"
"Yeah. They're childhood pals. Hello Kukki! Have you been a good Grunty for Kai? I bet you have…" How can Max fondle that creature?
"Kai, Max. I am truly sorry for not being with you for a long time." Rei teleports in unexpectedly, bowing his head.
"Rei! We missed you!" Speak for yourself, Max…
"I have been…busy. Pink Rose has been bugging me. She just came back from her holiday and has been dying to play in The World with me ever since!"
"Well, what have you found out, Rei?" I ask, narrowing my eyes.
"What?"
"Don't act all innocent with me. I can see through your disguise." Rei looks shocked at my words. I have been suspicious of him for a while now.
"Kai? I…"
"What do you know? Who's your boss? Are you one of the people responsible for all the data corruption?"
"Kai!" Max grabs my shoulders. "Are you accusing Rei of being a liar? He's not one of the bad guys! Leave him alone!"
"Max, I know what I'm doing, so shut up and listen!" You'd think I'd take lessons in being harsh. It comes naturally.
"Kai. I understand that it might seem odd, me leaving you so suddenly. But I have nothing to do with the bugged system. Those loose Vagrant A.I's…Oops…"
"What? What the hell are they?"
"Alright. I have some explaining to do…" Rei sits down.
"Err, can it wait?" Max asks suddenly.
"Why? We're so close to getting another piece of the puzzle."
"The event starts in seven minutes. We can talk to Rei afterwards." Max grabs my left arm and Rei's right one and pulls us to the chaos gate where he enters the keywords.
"…Gomen…Sumimasen…I really am sorry." Rei mutters. Max seems disappointed in Rei and upset because he didn't believe our little kitty boy wavemaster would know important information and keep it from us.
"Look. Let's not go all sulky and sad to this event." I don't like being the voice of optimism. That's Max's job. But it's my fault everyone's feeling sorry and down. "Besides, it is meant to be something enjoyable, isn't it? A game inside a game…"
"Yeah. You're right. Rei, you have a lot of explaining to do. But, for now, let's have fun at the event…Thanks Kai…"
"It's nothing." But I'm lying. I actually feel better myself for cheering up the atmosphere. Go me!
The area hosting the event is a big flower meadow. Surprise, surprise. There's a big poster describing what to do, so, naturally, when we arrive we go to read it.
'To all contestants,
This event is a quest to find a 'mysterious being'. In doing so, you will win a chest containing rare items. The clues available to you are:
"White as snow, speaks words that shouldn't be spoken, an existence forbidden."
Report to the message board if you find such a thing, giving the area and time it was discovered.
Good luck,
Administrator Valkov.'
"What?" That's that guy. Tala, of all people…
"Hey, what a strange challenge…" Max says, reading the clues over and over. "I don't get it…" He sighs, but doesn't want to give up, sitting down on the floor and muttering to himself.
"Oh no." Rei starts shaking his head. "This means trouble…"
"What's up, Rei?"
"Look, I may have hidden things from you before, but I'm going to be 100 percent honest with this. This game isn't just a game. CC Corp are hiding an operation under the event's name. What they are searching for, must be…"
"Rei? Come on, tell us!" Max jumps up and down excitedly.
"Vagrant A.I's. What I mentioned before. They are pieces of data…bugs in the system…"
"You mean, like NPC's?" Max asks, standing up to join us.
"What's one of them?" I haven't a clue what those letters stand for…
"NPC…non-playable character. Like a Grunty for example." Kukki squeals in Max's arms. He's been silent for a while. "And, no, a Vagrant A.I isn't the same as a NPC. They cause crashes in the computer main frame. They have a strong will of their own. I'm…not sure what creates them. But I do know there's a group of hunters who call themselves 'The Shojiki Knights'. Their job is to track down and eliminate the bugs."
"…Are you one of them, Rei?" I ask, frowning at him. "Care to explain how you know so much, then?" I say nastily when I receive no answer.
"I aren't one of the knights. Believe me. I aren't a Vagrant A.I hunter, but they do interest me…" Rei scratches behind his left ear and the bells on his hat jingle. "Anyway. This event will make all the users playing search for a loose bug. I bet on my life that the knights are out there too. Probably searching the…"
"The what?"
"Nothing, Max. Nothing important." Rei attempts a smile. "I don't think this 'game' is a good idea. If I were you, I wouldn't get involved. Don't trust CC Corp. That's all I can say…"
Funny, that. When we talked to Tala not long ago, he told us not to trust anybody. Now Rei says not to trust CC Corp. Who to trust? I don't really think either of them are telling the whole truth. Everyone is hiding secrets from each other. I don't like it. The World isn't a straightforward game. There's more pathways to follow and secrets to discover than I could ever imagine.
"Max and I are going to look for 'the mysterious being'." I say aloud, slightly triumphantly. "And we'll find it!"
"Kai?" Max looks confused then grins, punching the sky. "Yeah!"
"So…we're looking for a Vagrant A.I, probably a white ghostly figure, that looks different…out of place in this game, if that's at all possible!"
"Oh! Oh! And the clue says it 'speaks words that shouldn't be said', so maybe it's knowledgeable, or has keywords that should not be accessible to players!"
"Good, good." Max and I think hard. My brain feels like a runaway train. "It could have strange powers…"
"Awesome idea Kai! And…err, it might, it might…!" Max suddenly has a brainwave. I should have brought a video camera. This doesn't happen much…
"Of-course! Aura!" Max and Kukki both squeal in delightment, my blonde friend jumping up and down. I notice Rei freeze. His eyes express shock.
"I…I…enjoy the event. I have to…you see…I'll see you later. Bye…" He teleports out of the area. Max is too happy to notice. My suspicions are once again confirmed that Rei knows a lot about the situation.
"Well, it seems like we have a goal to achieve, Maxie."
"W…what?"
"You know, finding that 'bug' as Rei put it."
"Do you think it is Aura? Oh, where's Rei?" I shake my head. Max still manages to surprise me. It should be a crime to be that dense.
"I don't know who this Aura character is, but I do know that starting from now we're going to have one wild adventure."
"So, where do we look first?" Max asks. "I wish we knew where to begin…"
And with that, Max's amulet starts flashing, filling my vision with bright light. I float gracefully in this nothingness for a few seconds, and then we arrive at a new destination…
XOXOXOXOXOXO
"Master. The Twilight Hackers suspect that the mysterious being from the event is Aura. I have my doubts, but this is CC Corp. They could never control Aura…"
"Yes, Rei. I'd like you to stay close to these boys. They may find the clues we need."
"Okay Sir."
"Also, let them choose whose side they take…"
"What?"
"There are more than two sides to choose from Rei."
"I know, but…"
"Let's see if friendship can pull them through the tasks ahead. Now, Rei, do you have the report on the current position of 'The Shojiki Knights'?"
"Yes Sir. The Wasteland."
"Typical. Searching off-limited areas to users. Smart, but predictable. Only hackers and bugs go there. If the Vagrant is there, it'll be caught and destroyed. The Knight Brigade can surely handle this."
"Depends on how good they are…Only a fool can be traced."
"Ah, so we meet again, Helba…"
XOXOXOXOXOXO
"There's a record amount of players attempting to win this event…" A red-haired boy smiled. "A brilliant idea, if I say so myself. CC Corp does control The World. This'll show everyone who doubts us. Little problems such as the Vagrant A.I's should not be allowed to ruin this game for everyone. That is why CC Corp works so hard to keep The World in order…"
"Muttering to yourself again, Valkov?"
"Sir?"
"You really do love this game."
"Hai. Very much."
"I have a job for you."
"Okay. What is it?"
"I want you to get in touch with Kenneth the Great."
"Second in Command of 'The Shojiki Knights'? Why?"
"We need to know if they know anything about Aura. Her return is imminent."
"? I…I…" Shocked, the boy stood up.
"I know. CC Corp didn't believe it at first. Now get to work. You are getting behind with your paperwork again. Need I remind you how important it is that you complete it? Do not let your love of this game get you behind on your busy schedule. I will expect all of this to be done by noon tomorrow."
"Sayonara, Sir…Great, more work…" Sighing, the Administrator picked up one of his files, leaving the other on the table, and went to door. He would e-mail the group of 'bug hunters' once he reached the mainframe system. The lights were turned off, and darkness filled a silent room. A quiet room where some unanswered questions had some recently discovered answers…
TBC
Ooooh! The suspense…! Anyway, hope this chappy satisfies those of you who want a bit of complexity. Am I confusing anyone yet?
There might not be another update for a while, but hopefully you won't have to wait as long as you have done. I love reading reviews (hint, hint), so don't forget to click the purple button below!
Till next time then,
Byezies!
Minako Angel out xxx
(aka. Tenshi Minako).
(A:N\ I know there hasn't been much action recently and my fic seems to be plodding along, but I am trying. If anyone has any ideas how to help me make my story more interesting plz put them in a review. Or, do you like the story as it is…?)