This chapter and the following are a continuation of the last. I didn't think too much of action for this, more dialogue and exposition I guess. Both of which I have trouble with. Just as well, this chapter ended up deleted from my laptop no less than 3 times, and writers block for someone who doesn't see their self as a serious writer sucks.
Also, to answer my first review (yay!) by fight scene, I'm guessing a chapter or 2 long drawn out duel? I've no clue myself. However, you can bet I'm going to put some serious thought into how it will unfold.
Chapter 5
The back-alleys of Esper city is where most of the "interesting" players meet, such as the various crackers who will gladly give you what you need if the price is right. And it was thanks to these players that the game is slowly decaying. I mean, yeah I'm a thief, but that's only to support my clan and the rookies looking to actually compete. That aside, I stood before a very shady 'associate' of Kamichi, hidden underneath a hooded cloak with only a digital grin as any visible feature. "Hello Nogitsune" he rasped "it's been a while. Almost 6 months" a dark chuckle slipped out from the chesire smile, one that would make any person's feet go cold.
"So it has" Trying to keep my composure is always hard dealing with these creepy players, "I need you to do a comprehensive scan on some stuff for me" I hesitated before holding out the storage unit I ripped from hound the day before, waiting for the hacker before me accept it.
"Is that all, little fox. What could bother you, oh great thief and navigator, about such idle items to force you to come to me, the greatest hacker Aracadia?" I don't bother to respond to his taunt, I already knew his game. I kept my cool, and explained the events of yesterday's duel to him. His grin turned to a line, most likely to think over what I had told him. The equipment pack was plucked from my hand and contained within a transparent box that turned it over in every angle possible. Aracadia's grin returned full force and he chuckled once again.
"How very intriguing. It would seem that these items have been corrupted with some sort of Trojan program" his focus on the box shifted a little and he began to laugh a deep, bone chilling laugh. "How VERY intriguing, it's sentient." I stared at him, waiting for the inevitable drawn out explanation. "All of the previous player's data has been copied into his items. And from that data it would seem that he was somehow infected with a living virus. I believe that the figure you saw through your detect unit was the virus trying to take out the object that was threatening it's existence at the time.
"Dear boy you have stumbled across a most interesting subject. To think it is possible to not only create a virus, but actually inject it into a player, and even have it affect the player on a mental level" his sudden glee made this chat unsettling, but the bit about a living virus was more than strange. He continued "while the data is still buried in these weapons, it would seem any trace of an actual virus has vanished. It might have been debugged all on it's own. Ooooor..." I motioned for him to continue "the virus hopped onto a new body."
"I'm really confused here Aracadia. For starters, how can a program, a bunch of lines of code, be alive? How can you just tell? I don't understand any of this" I hated how just jumped to conclusions. Half of this is so contrived. "Well, Nogitsune, this bunch of lines of code has been popping up recently. Rumors have been going around. About the black boxes from the original system. Most of them around the old system's zerone program" he had dropped his tone, his invisible eyes probably locked on mine. "Nogitsune your in serious danger if it involves the past system. These rumors, they're about players dieing from inside and outside at the same time."
"What does this have to do with that virus?"
"If it is inside you, then you might be connected to a black box. I'll dig into the old archives, of the war room records. There were stories of some VERY unethical things, before this game was a game."
"What is the zerone program?"
"The Zerone Program was supposedly a series of tests in order to directly sync with a network. Direct syncing to your brain. They say the previous company used prisoners for various test. The idea of a complete connection to a computer system was really pushing it, eh?" He was starting to lighten up, which put me at ease strangely. "The stories range from minor injuries and some busted computers all the way to all the test subjects either dead or vegetables. Again, these are all old rumors." He shook his head and then looked in my general direction, his grin coming back with full force. "You should stay outside for a while. I'll contact you if I find anything. The virus contained in your player character shouldn't act up as long as you're logged off."
"What do you want as payment now? Last time you had me steal some gear off an Admin, and I was barely able to lose him in the forest" believe it or not, I was starting to believe this twisted prick. He made it seem as though he already knew about most of this. Who's to say he isn't just making it up to get something really good out of me though.
"I think this gear from bl00dhound should suffice. Real money weapons that have had their stats tampered with is always a nice reward" Aracadia nodded to me before turning away, heading for the street. "Our business is done here. for now anyway" he called back, waving a hand back toward me before vanishing in the crowd of players.
Outside... Didn't I join S4 League because of the real world? I wonder what my dad would have done if he was in a similar position. Maybe my mom would know... What's the point in wondering about these things, they're both gone, and I can handle my life better than either one could. I sigh, a somber mood falling upon me, and I leave the cyber city and remove the visors. My eyes struggle to adjust, the sun having set while I was playing again. The silence, the dark room, and my strained eyes stung me. I struggled to my bed and crawled in, not even bothering to shower or change. 'Why did you join S4 if you were perfectly fine alone' a voice says in my head. 'Being alone isn't something new to you. You know very well about that. In fact, when was the last time someone called you by your real name? do you even remember?'
And thats the end of another chapter. I still though the 2nd 'draft' was the best one. That aside, again this chapter is more for advancing the story as well as giving a lil background for our protagonist. so please read and review.