Fan-Fiction: Pax Dystopia: An Islanders' View Day 2

Day 2

The journey was deliberately slow. Agent Tasha had been directing the bus driver to take the routes where there were more likely to be masses of people, but after around an hour everybody noticed that the initial din of chaotic behavior had dropped significantly. The vast majority of people that they had come across frantically charged towards the bus, waving Ren Wear glasses in outstretched hands, but there were a few extremely scared locals who had the good fortune to lock themselves in their homes.

While Tri-blade projected an energy shield between the houses and the marauders, Agent Tasha scampered towards the residents and quickly ushered them to the bus. It was no small feat for Tri-blade to retreat to the bus without getting overrun or risking harm to the bus itself.

As they continued their journey, Tri-blade periodically tried to call his allies, his leaguemates, and the other St. Lucia-based heroes. No responses. Could they all have been overrun? Has the BADGE communications network been disabled? He put the negative fears aside as they approached a gas station to refuel.

"They're unconscious," remarked Agent Tasha as she stepped out. Tri-blade cautiously went inside the gas station with her to get the pump activated while the driver grabbed the pump. Three people - each wearing Ren Tech glasses, laid on the floor. The woman behind the counter - an employee, was gripping the glasses tightly, as if resisting them being placed on her until she collapsed.

"What do we do?" asked Agent Tasha.

"I'm not sure," replied Tri-blade. "I'd rather get Director Nova's advice before anything... but one thing's for sure.

He looked at the bus outside. The bus was nearly jam-packed with worried passengers.

"We're going to need another vehicle soon."

-

Their final destination - the capital city of Castries - had both a seaport and airport in close vicinity. Tri-blade, who was now in a separate bus driven by one of the Lucians they rescued, called out to Agent Tasha in the lead vehicle. They had driven throughout the night, and most people were running on pure adrenaline at this point. The sun rose on a quiet landscape, with only the chirping of birds to be heard.

The two buses pulled over next to each other. Passengers slowly exited to stretch their legs and share their stories with each other, while the two drivers, Tri-blade, and Agent Tasha surveyed the scene.

"Nothing's moving at all," remarked the first driver.

Agent Tasha added, "Probably a good thing where the airport's concerned. Glad no planes have been in the air during all this."

"I would ordinarily say we should try to fortify in case we have another surge," said Tri-blade, "on the other hand we have to consider if we're isolated from the world in general." He scratched his chin in frustration.

"Let's go to the airport, but carefully. Our first priority has to be keeping these guys safe. Second priority is reaching BADGE... or anybody. If our comms are out, maybe the computers or radios there will be of help.

"Any objections?"

The others shook their heads, and after a quick conversation with those gathered around the buses, they made their way to the airport, their spirits lightened, and their hope boosted.

Three hours later, and the group was just finalizing their fortification of the airport main hall, when the comms of Agent Tasha buzzed.

"Oh my god, it's BADGE..." she muttered to herself in disbelief. She tried to keep her composure as she answered the call.

"Agent Tasha, St. Lucia, Castries, check."

"Good to hear you," came the calm voice of Gar. The others, on hearing the well-known voice of Gargoyle, started muttering sounds of gratitude. "We haven't been able to reach most of our field agents so far."

"How about the other leagues?" Agent Tasha asked, motioning Tri-blade to approach.

"Even fewer," he said sadly. "Of all hero groups only Ice Ray Academy has evaded the swarm."

"Gar, this is Tri-blade," Tri-blade called out, "What about the senior BADGE officials - Nova, Chase, Justin, EB?"

"Chase has fallen, as has Justin. Nova too, but we haven't located him. EB, he's still with us. Strange Quark and him are teleporting all over the place trying to locate people. Right now, we don't have a full strategy on any of this."

"Stay strong, big fella. Unfortunately, I don't know what to do with the people with the RenWear. Does BADGE have a position?"

"Not yet, Tri-blade. Until we know for sure where Nova is, EB may be the senior person to advise..."

"Oh..." said Tri-blade and Agent Tasha in unison.

"Wish I could advise myself," said Gar sheepishly.

"You're doing great, Gar. We'll wait and analyze on this end. If Quark contacts you, can you ask him to pop over?"

"You got it, Tri," said Gar, his voice slightly more cheerful.

"We're just glad to hear from others. It's been a day," said Tri-blade.

"Ditto!" cried Agent Tasha.

"I have to reach out to the next set of Agents now, so stay safe," said Gar.

They said their good-byes, then Tri-blade pulled Agent Tasha aside.

"We're not alone and that's the best news we've heard so far. Next steps, keep our crew hydrated, find some food and get at least a little bit of rest. We have a lot to plan for if we're going to help everybody else on this island."

Agent Tasha nodded, concealing her worry for the moment.

[Tri-blade] [ID: 10879]

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Sentinel bonus for August and Call for Avatar Submissions

Now that we have established Heroes, Villains and Renegades as our new name, we need to create new avatar items for the "Villains" and "Renegades" factions.

Because it is important to us to involve our community, we want to include our valued players in some of the things like this. We see a lot of art submitted and thought it would be a great idea to throw this out there.

It's not a race or contest, but players that submit useable things will be granted mps for doing so. The first 3 approved submissions will receive 100 mps for each, then an additional 50 for every additional approved submission.

NO PROFANITY, NO ADULT CONTENT! This game has younger players, so please folks, be respectful to that, and your fellow player's children too.

(Weird and funny ideas like Super Ducks and Supervillain Quackheads are most welcome.)

Please use the Sentinel to submit under the "Contests and Entries".



Of course, the usual editorial bonus for reviews, commentaries, game guides, gear talk, fan-fiction, and origin stories still applies.

Post your entries to the Sentinel page as per usual.

REWARDS:

PLATINUM: 7 Strange Fiction cards (only reserved for EXCEPTIONAL submissions)

GOLD: 5 Strange Fiction cards

SILVER: 3 to 4 Strange Fiction cards

BRONZE: 1 to 2 Strange Fiction cards

These rewards go out after the end of each month and are IN ADDITION to the usual Sentinel rewards from Daniel Andrade for published entries.

Here are the categories/prompts:

Category One:
REVIEWS/COMMENTARIES of ad hoc and regular events, including fan-fiction role play, etc.

Category Two:
GAME GUIDES, GEAR TALK, and other editorials about game mechanics.

Category OPEN:
What is your origin story? How did you end up in the Heroes Rising universe?
(And any other Fan-Fiction.)

REMINDER:

Post your submissions to the Sentinel page as usual for Categories One and Two. To enter the OPEN CATEGORY post your entries to the with the following in the title: "AUGUST CONTEST" and the title of your entry. Please also add a link to your entry in the Sentinel page so that we can monitor all entries.

Yours Quackily,
SQ

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Fan-Fiction: Pax Dystopia: An Islanders' View Tryangle

Day 1

It was the sort of hot and humid day where anybody with the freedom to do so, was either at the beach or in an air-conditioned building. However, for many people in the open-air market at Gros Islet, selling fresh produce and freshly caught fish was a necessity of life. Vendors called out to every man, woman, and child walking in the vicinity - claiming to have the best apples, mangoes or guava from the entire Caribbean.

"We got bananas, fresh as the morn!" called out an elderly lady, gesturing at a group of teenagers, all of whom were wearing grey jackets and wore large knapsacks. This unusual combination of clothing was capped by each of them wearing RenWear glasses.

Suddenly, the group of teenagers burst into a run. Their faces were blank, although their mouths were slightly gaped. The vendors and their prospective customers were too stunned to even run, and the first scream only began when the elderly lady was tackled to the ground by one assailant. The woman no sooner had struck the ground when a set of arms affixed another set of Ren Wear glasses to her head.

The commotion grew from there, as people began to run, dropping their purchases. However, they were soon surrounded by another group of people, this one of varying ages. They each wore Ren Wear glasses.

"STOP!" called a voice. The vendors and customers turned to face the source of the booming voice, but the Ren Wear-wearing people ignored the call, instead running towards the market.

"Ah dang it," muttered Agent Tasha, a diminutive woman in her early 30s and a third-year field officer of BADGE. She pulled out her comm. "TRI! Need you, now!"

"Less than a minute, Tash," was the reply.

Agent Tasha opened another channel on her comm. "Agent Tasha to BADGE HQ! We have -" Static was on the other end. "Dang it," she muttered. "Something's interfering on the global BADGE channel or something."

Agent Tasha pulled out her batons, and activated the low-level electric shocks. She didn't have time to wait, and charged at the assailants as they drove other people to the ground. She successfully struck three young men in succession, knocking them down. A woman screamed, then suddenly went silent as a set of Ren Wear glasses was placed on her face.

The woman quickly rose to her feet, then made a beeline towards a stunned Agent Tasha.

"Um,... what?" whispered Agent Tasha as she backed away, momentarily forgetting her batons.

A large mass crashed into her side, knocking her down. She lost control of her batons, and suddenly a man was straddling her chest. She moved to strike, but her arms were pinned down by the woman. Her head twisted left, only to see another person reach out with a set of Ren Wear glasses.

"I. Don't. Think. So," called a nearby voice. The weight on Tasha's chest was yanked off, as the hero named Tri-blade appeared. He shoved away the woman pinning Tasha's arms down, then helped Tasha to her feet. She quickly located and grabbed her batons, and stood back-to-back with her friend.

"What are we going to do?" asked Agent Tasha, concern in her voice.

"Right now, defend anybody not yet wearing those devices," replied Tri-blade stoically. He pointed at the crowd at the market. "Bad news, that number of people is dropping by the instant. We need a safe zone, away from anybody wearing the Ren Tech!"

Agent Tasha held her head in her hands. "That's the schools out, the hospital, the supermarket..."

"We'll have to make our own, then," said Tri-blade. He shouted to anyone within earshot, "Follow me!" He raised one of his mystical daggers and shot a burst of energy from it. They shuffled quickly towards a bus parked nearby, no passengers onboard and the driver sitting at the wheel, bewildered at the scene.

"Driver, you wearing Ren Tech?" asked Agent Tasha.

"No way, gal. Thing ugly and duncy," the driver sneered.

"Good enough, driver." She stepped in and took the seat opposite the driver. "BADGE will take care of your fare today."

"Sounds good to me. Where to?"

"Drive through the town. We gathering anybody in need of protection, then we get out of here."

Tri-blade dashed towards the bus door, holding the hand of a young girl. He helped her in, then stepped in the doorway.

"Let's go, driver," he commanded. As the bus slowly made its way forward, Tri-blade shouted again, "Everyone! Come with me!"

"... if you want to live," he thought sadly.

[Tri-blade] [ID: 10879]

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Announcement from the Developer

We here at Cat Castle Games LLC would like to take a brief moment out from our day to thank our truly wonderful group of players. Without all of you, there would be none of us. We know it, and we appreciate all of you!

Over the next 30-60 days we will be working tirelessly to make your player experience better by streamline some of the more difficult things as a new HVR player, as well adding some really cool new things for our older players.

This will begin with our not so evil, but absolute genius up in the Cat Castle to start redesigning the way players are set when first entering the game. Less to try and figure out, more of the things that makes this game so fun, beating the hell out of opponents!

We understand Heroes, Villains and Renegades can be very difficult for new players for sure; So, while that is going on, we will also finally start adding content to our You Tube channel posting links with tutorials, tip and tricks and game updates from some of the longest and most successful players!

We are currently implementing new "Death Blows" that will activate at the end of battles. Decapitations, Lighting strikes turning your opponents into ashes, and the fun is just getting started!

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Heroes Rising Fiction: Pax Dystopia Part 21 Finale

 Pixels formed the clouds in the sky. Giant square holes appeared in the landscape. The world was crumbling around everyone, and they cheered it on. This reality was about to vanish and they would finally return to the world where life truly mattered.

“I’m all out of faces to punch!” Fleagle yelled as he smiled with his canine fangs.

Arx ran over and looked around at the gathered citizens and heroes. Victorious people filled the streets of London, and Arx saw no Gamer G clones.

“We should be awake if he’s gone.” Arx said while clicking on his comm. “BADGE. What’s going on?”

“We have reports of Gamer G’s remaining duplicates are making a last stand in Montana, in the United States. He’s still dangerous. We have to take him out. Chase is leading the charge against the last of his clones. Be ready. Once he goes down, we aren’t sure how this will end.”

“I just want it to end,” Arx said, then clicked the comm again, “Justin... you sound odd. Is something wrong?”

Justin spent a long moment before he answered. “Nothing you should worry about. Just take him out.”

“On it.” Arx led the people from London on a flight across the world. Their enhanced bodies let them experience life as only morphonic humans get to in the real world.

***

In the real world, Nova threw open the doors of the computer lab and raced through the building. He came face to face with The Oracle.

“What is the emergency?”

The Oracle said, “The Awakening is upon us, but there is a problem.”

“What sort of problem?”

The Oracle closed his eyes. “I hear a voice calling to you. They wish to speak with you. One that cannot leave the world of the program.”

Nova frowned, “Who?”

“One who you have known and lost. Krystal.”

Nova’s blood ran cold as he heard that. “But she is just a figment of Alex’s imagination.”

“She wishes to speak with you. I cannot tell you anything more. Come close.” The Oracle held up his hand.

Nova pushed his palm against the Oracle’s semi-mechanical palm, and Nova’s mind entered the program.

Moments before:

Alex walked through his home in the mountains. Pixelated mountains and gaping holes in the firmament marred the gorgeous vista outside. The world was falling apart, but not as deeply as it was inside him. Each step was harder than the last, the weight in his heart so great that he struggled to breathe.

Speaking his wife’s name, his voice rasped so low he had to say it a second time. “Krystal?”

She called out, “Come, I am with her.”

Alex took in a hard breath and controlled himself. He couldn’t let himself fall apart just yet. He had to spend at least a moment with his baby in here. The walk from the living room into the bedroom was unbearable. He found Krystal holding their baby in her arms, rocking side to side. When Krystal looked up at him, he saw the same anguish on her face as his own.

“What can we do?” She asked.

Alex approached her, his mouth unable to form words as he looked at his baby. Tears fell down from his eyes and he gulped back sobs that fought to break free. Finally, he whispered, “I tried everything. Drocha made certain this would be our punishment for defying him.”

“My baby.” Krystal held their baby closer and cried.

Alex held the both of them in his arms and put his face on her shoulder, weeping as he felt his heart throbbing. “I can’t leave this place knowing I will wake and she will not. I just can’t. I want to stay here, even if I die.”

“Don’t say that. The world needs you.” Krystal sobbed.

He said, “She is my world.”

Krystal said, “She is our world, and we are hers.”

Alex looked down at his child’s sleeping face. His tears fell on her cheeks and her eyes opened. She smiled at them.

“Her last sight will be her loving parents.” Krystal said.

Alex put his hand on his baby’s forehead. “I will avenge this. He…“ Something felt different. “Wait... this... this can’t be.”

“What is it?”

Alex closed his eyes and connected himself to the code of this program again. His arm turned translucent and pixelated as he held his daughter’s head. “She... she is awake.”

“What?” Krystal’s voices simmered in hope.

Alex looked down at the twinkling eyes of his daughter. “The program... it no longer has her.”

Krystal smiled with even more tears in her eyes. “She’ll live? How is this possible?”

Alex looked into his wife’s watery eyes. “It’s us. I was wrong. I thought the babies had to be told of the real world. That’s not the case. Their world isn’t cities, streets, and cars... it’s mom and dad, its parents or guardians who love them. The program feeds the mind a fake world, but it can’t replicate love. We are the answer. Oh, god! WE ARE THE ANSWER!” Alex become as excited now as he was distraught just a moment ago.

Krystal asked, “What do you mean?”

Alex put his arms around her, with their baby between them. He placed his forehead against Krystal’s and said, “We have to think of how much we love our daughter, and I will send that through the program to all who are still attached. I will free them of this fake world by sharing the love in our hearts for our child.”

“What do I do?” Krystal asked.

“Just think of how much you love our baby. Every good, hopeful, loving thought.”

They both closed their eyes, and each smiled as the memories of their baby flooded into their minds. That joy, compassion, gentleness, and love in them surged through the system against the entire network. Both glowed a golden hue while their bodies pixelated.

***

Justin watched the world falling apart. The sky was literally fracturing and crashing to the ground across the planet. People vanished one by one as they woke in reality. Billions of little lights blinked out from this false world and returned home.

With one last look at the fake world, Justin gasped a harsh breath and opened his eyes. He could hear groaning and coughing. A man rushed around with the aid of robots.

“We have another waking up. Administer the glycenolic injection.” Dr. Parson called out.

Justin sluggishly moved his arm, but the tubes that were attached restrained it.

“Oh, good. We have another waking over here.” The white-haired doctor looked down at him. “Agent Justin. Good to have you back with us. Stay still. Your body is going to be pretty weak right now. We’re going to help.”

A robot pushed a hypospray into his arm and gave him a dose of medication.

Justin tried to speak, but his mouth was too weak. He wanted to tell them about the babies. But his heart swelled as he heard what was impossible, a baby crying.

The doctor looked up, “Oh, good. Nurse 42, go check the sensors on the natal unit.”

Justin did not know what to think, how it was possible the baby lived. But he was beyond joy to hear that infant crying.

***

Nova looked around an endless void of darkness.

“Krystal!” His voice carried for miles as a distant echo.

“Director Nova.” Alex spoke from behind him.

Nova turned around to find his friend standing next to his wife. “Alex, Krystal? What is going on? Is this the virtual world?”

“In a way. Only this remains. Soon, this will be gone forever.” Alex said.

“What happened? Why aren’t you out with the others?”

Alex said, “I can’t leave. I connected myself deep within the program’s coding so that I could save the babies of this world. I sacrificed myself for my daughter and all our children. It was not a hard choice, really. But that means my daughter no longer has a mother or father in the real world.”

Nova said, “I will ensure your daughter receives care. I promise.”

Alex smiled. “I knew you would say that. Just... let her know how much her mother and father love her.”

Nova shook his head. “No. I’ll make sure you can tell her that. This is far from over.”

“All I care about is that she is safe.”

Nova stuck out his hand, which was grasped by Alex, “You were a damn fine member of BADGE and I will fight to get you out of here.”

“Thanks. There is one more thing.” Alex said, “I was in the program. I know some of what Drocha has in mind. His algorithm he created with our minds, it was for something big. He means to recreate Legion, crafting new champions out of the stolen people now incubating in those damn spheres. But, there is more. He means to create the Malevolence, but I don’t know what that means.”

Nova grimly answered, “I do. It is not good.”

The darkness grew so that it became hard to see Alex or Krystal.

“It is time.” Alex said.

Krystal leaned forward and motioned for Nova to get closer. She whispered into his ear just as the darkness consumed them.

Nova opened his eyes with his hand still attached to The Oracle.

The Oracle asked, “Did you get the message?”

Nova nodded, “I did. We have hope, but we also face a terrible trial. We may not be ready for what is coming.”

TO BE CONTINUED...

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EVENTS FOR JULY AND NEW COMPETITION

 

The HVR birthday celebrations for June are over, but a new month begins! July brings new events, beginning with a new seasonal ops, crime spree days, and a week-long Hero Olympiads.

This month, we are giving out ADDITIONAL STRANGE FICTION CARDS for Sentinel editorials, live updates, and reviews on all UP-COMING EVENTS such as the Olympiads, as well as tips and tricks on playing HVR. Advice on any aspect of gameplay, including introductory information for new players are most welcome. Depending on the length and quality of your submissions, up to 5 bonus Strange Fiction cards will be awarded in ADDITION to the usual Sentinel bonus rewards.

For example, you write an exceptional guide for new players introducing them to the game. This earns you 7 Strange Fiction cards (platinum reward) plus another 5 cards (as it's a game guide), given out at the end of the month in addition to the Sentinel rewards from Daniel Andrade for published submissions.

Of course, the usual editorial bonus for reviews, commentaries, game guides, gear talk, fan-fiction, and origin stories applies.

Post your entries to the Sentinel page as per usual.

REWARDS:

PLATINUM: 7 Strange Fiction cards (only reserved for EXCEPTIONAL submissions)

GOLD: 5 Strange Fiction cards

SILVER: 3 to 4 Strange Fiction cards

BRONZE: 1 to 2 Strange Fiction cards

These rewards go out after the end of each month and are IN ADDITION to the usual Sentinel rewards from Daniel Andrade for published entries.

Here are the categories/prompts:

Category One:
REVIEWS/COMMENTARIES of ad hoc and regular events, including fan-fiction role play, etc.

Category Two:
GAME GUIDES, GEAR TALK, and other editorials about game mechanics.

Category OPEN:
What is your origin story? How did you end up in the Heroes Rising universe?
(And any other Fan-Fiction.)

REMINDER:
Post your submissions to the Sentinel page as usual for Categories One and Two. To enter the OPEN CATEGORY post your entries to the Fan-Fiction forum with the following in the title: "JULY CONTEST" and the title of your entry. Please also add a link to your entry in the Sentinel page so that we can monitor all entries.

Yours Quackily,
SQ

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Heroes Rising Fiction: Pax Dystopia Part 20

 “Throw me!” A gray-haired nursing home resident yelled with glee at Master Muscle.

The powerfully built man guffawed, seized the frail woman, and hurled her upwards.

Holding her fist forward, she blasted clean through two Gamer G’s that were coming down to attack. With a well-executed somersault in the air, she kicked another Gamer G in the head and shoved him all the way to the ground. Upon impact, he exploded in a cloud of digitization.

“You just got OWNED!” she yelled.

A Gamer G darted toward her and grabbed her by the arm, dragging her across the ground toward a brick wall. Dartfoot dashed by, skewering Gamer G with a fence post and saving the woman from being flattened into the bricks.

“You okay?” Dartfoot asked, while setting her up on her feet.

“Never better, sweet cheeks. Haven’t moved like this since Reagan was in office.”

A shower of energy blasts scoured the surrounding ground. One hit Dartfoot and he went down. The woman grabbed a rock and threw it with all her enhanced strength. She nailed one Gamer G, but ten more were approaching fast.

Master Muscle rushed over, carrying the awning of a carport. Covering Dartfoot and the old woman, Master Muscle called into his comm, “Hey, BADGE, Atlanta could use some help. We’re overwhelmed!”

“Hold your position, sending help!”

A portal opened, and Chase came running out with five BADGE training bots. She threw her stars and cleared two Gamer G’s in one shot. The robots zoomed up and distracted the others.

“Care to join us?” Chase asked.

Master Muscle smiled and grabbed a street lamp and broke it free of its concrete base. “Batter up!” He started swinging, going after the Gamer.

Chase threw a star and hit one gamer, but three more were rushing toward her. She had just turned around when the car port awning suddenly flipped over and crashed into the ground, slapping the Gamer G’s like unwanted flies. The old woman smiled and said, “I hate mosquito season in the south.”

Nova had just finished setting up the bio-aid unit in the parking lot of the high school when his comm beeped in a strange tone. Robots placed infants and toddlers among towels and blankets, each with a large Ren Wear on their heads. Nova activated the bio energy field and to keep the small bodies alive longer.

Satisfied with his work, Nova clicked his comm. “Nova here.”

The Oracle spoke to him, “Nova of BADGE, the war has begun.”

Nova asked, “What do you mean?”

“Billions of minds have awoken. I sense them. I protect them with the new code. Alex Fae Murphy has tapped into the base code and is giving the humans a fighting chance. Drocha's plans are interrupted.”

Nova smiled, but then lost that as he said, “Your tone is not pleased. What is wrong?”

“You are perceptive, Nova of BADGE. Not all minds are free.”

“What? How?”

The Oracle said, “Minds of the infants are meek and gentle. They do not understand the world as we do. They cannot see through the falsehood.”

Nova looked around him. Many of the children at his feet were infants. “What can we do?”

“Hope, Nova of BADGE. Alex Fae Murphy is a wise and clever hero. Our trust is in him.”

Justin watched a screen among many in Operations. All the others had various views of the combat on earth. There was a running total of Gamer G's defeated, and unfortunately the number of people who he had taken out. Fortunately, the enhanced strength and vitality of the regular people has kept the fatalities down considerably.

Yet Justin wasn't watching the monitor with the combat totals. Before him was a calculation of the data processing into the system. It had not changed at all.

Leaving his place at the front, he walked up the short steps to Nova's office. There was still something in him that fought against him opening this door. It wasn't respect for the office. Nova did not restrict any officers from entering. Something planted in him by Gamer G made him hurt to open this door. With great determination, Justin pressed the button, and the door opened.

Instantly, he was met by a blinding light. Alex stood in the middle of the room, his body bisected by lines of data that came out of the air and then returned into the nothingness. This was the source of this simulation, the arteries through which this blood flowed.

“Please tell me you have something?” Justin asked.

“I’m trying. I can't find the answer.” Alex's voice strained with the effort he put into this.

A cackling laugh echoed around them. Drocha's visage appeared in the room. “You’re a powerful person, Alex. But magic can only do so much. You cannot stop this. I will take your child and all the children of this planet. Your war will succeed. I'm sure of that. However, it shall be a pyrrhic victory.”

Justin sneered at him. “You don't think your little puppet will win?”

“Don't you see? This was my alternate plan. Knowing Gamer's ploy had little chance of success, this was my backup. When Gamer G is annihilated, the program ends. Your people wake… except the babies. You will wake to a world of death. If you stop and let him survive, even just one of his fighters, everyone dies in a short matter of time. You can't succeed. I win.”

Justin came close to the giant glowing green face of Drocha. “We will stop you.”

Drocha's smile slowly grew, the expression turning from wicked to utterly vicious. “And just how will you stop me? Your only weapon is this little magic hero. Sorry to burst you bubble, Justin, but I’m fully versed in his magic. You see, I have his wife to study, and she is so much stronger than him.” He laughed, a sound that grew and grew until it was a deafening roar.

Alex screamed out magical words and the data around him burst apart and ripped the holographic image of Drocha into digital shreds. He fell to his hands and knees, wheezing. “That bastard!”

“Don't let him get to you. He’s just stalling. Get back in the system and stop this. Free our children.”

Alex looked up with pitiful eyes. “He's right. I just don't have what it takes. I can see them, feel them, touch their minds, but I can't wake them. If Krystal were here, she might know something I don't. She was so much more powerful than me.”

“There has to be a way.”

Alex whispered, “I'm not Krystal. Even if she were here, I don't know what could break the infant’s belief that this is the real world.”

The station rattled and made a strange noise. A loud beeping came from the operations room. Justin ran in, with Alex following behind him.

Chase was on the main screen. “Justin, we are getting close to finishing the last of Gamer G.”

“Stop!” Justin said.

“What?”

“I want the last of Gamer G held and not destroyed.”

“But we have to end the program.”

Justin was about to say something when Alex pulled him aside. “No. You can't do this.”

“Your baby is going to die,” Justin stated emphatically.

“They all die if we die, they all die if we live. It is a dark, terrible choice and it will always be remembered as the worst moment in human history. But we can't let the entire human race die. We will make Drocha pay dearly for this.”

Justin had tears in his eyes as he listened to this. Turning back to the screen, he said, “Finish him, all of him.”

“Understood.” Chase answered, slightly confounded. The screen went blank.

Justin said, “I never knew truly the pain of this job until it was on my shoulders alone. God, I wish Nova were here, making this decision, not me.”

Alex took a moment to catch his own breath as his body fought deep sorrow. “I… I'm going down to… to see my baby… one last time.”

“Go. And… I’m so sorry.”

Alex created a portal and wiped his eyes before he stepped through.

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Heroes Rising Fiction: Pax Dystopia part 19

 Dragonborn ran with members of the League he had been connected to after graduation from t

he BADGE program. All were new, but well-trained, heroes. The confused people of Neo Utopia were now far more scared than happy. Reality had sunk in for them. This was a fake world. However, there were fewer answers and many questions. To complicate matters, a hoard of identical-faced enemies filled the skies. Millions of Gamer G’s were descending from space. 

“Did Justin give us any info?” GeoGal asked Dragonborn as they stopped in the middle of a street.

He looked up and shook his head. “You heard everything, just like me. All we know is that Gamer G is going to try to kill everyone, and we have to stop him.”

“But there are so many!” The Block said as he stopped and transformed his fists into stone blocks.

Just then, a team of black and white gangsters approached them with a short, brawny man in the lead. “Sounds like we got us another catastrophe on our hands. I hate being a good guy, but looks like we gotta work together.”

“Rutkowski?” Dragonborn exclaimed, sure he had learned that this person was classified as a villain.

He cocked his fedora and looked up at Dragonborn. “Don’t look at me like that, kid. I aint a softy, but I don’t like anyone play’n tricks on me. This here world is fake and that fat nerd is com’n to kill me. My boys and I are gonna make him wish he’d stayed in bed.”

Dragonborn said, “Glad for any help, but we don’t have manpower for this. There are literally millions of him.”

“Sheesh,” Steelfist muttered. “I can’t punch that many mugs.”

Peyton approached, his pistol ready, “We’re gonna need help. And I have the right phone number.” He pulled out his BADGE comm unit. “Private Eye Peyton to Justin, come in.”

Justin’s voice came through clearly. “Peyton, we don’t have time for this.”

“We don’t have much time either, bud. We got like ten minutes before Gamer G’s overpower this planet.”

“Tell the citizens they can fight too.”

Rutkowski scoffed, “Seriously!”

“Yes, seriously. This fake world empowers everyone. Every man, woman, and child are capable of super powers right now. USE THEM.”

Rutkowski yanked the comm out of Peyton’s hand. “I don’t like no one yell’n at me. We don’t got 8 billion phone numbers. Get the word out or we all die, capeesh?” 

Justin said, “Don’t worry. We have a plan. And, it should go live… now.”

All the screens around the town, from televisions in electronics stores to screens at bus terminals, all went live with Arx’s shining smile. He wore his costume from his recent blockbuster movies. 

“Citizens of the world, this is Arx, your favorite superhero. Now, it is time for you to be heroes. This world isn’t real. You know that now. What you do not know is that if we don’t free ourselves, our actual bodies will perish in the real world. We may know this is fake, but we are bound here while Gamer G is still here. His defeat will send us home. This world has enhanced us, mentally and physically. Fight back. Join BADGE, the Ranger Squads, and all local and national militaries. This world will survive. Do not let it fall. Stand and fight!”

“They’re almost here!” Belcher scream as she pointed to the skies.

The heroes and gangsters readied themselves as the approaching villains appeared as a swarm of locust on the winds. Dragonborn smiled while he watched all the civilians around him take up awkward fighting stances. Some held pipes and bars, others were balling up their fists. 

Peyton called out, “Citizens, be ready. Let us heroes take the charge, but be ready to fight. There will be plenty of targets.”

“ ‘Us heroes’, you’re just a gumshoe.” Rutkowski snorted at that, always pestering his rival.

Peyton smiled. “And you are just a two-bit gangster. Now, let’s kick some ass.”

With exchanges smiles, they bellowed a battle cry and charged the approaching enemy. Heroes, gangsters, and one bold gumshoe led the civilians of New Utopia into the first unified human army.

Moments before;

Arx looked at Justin through the main monitor of operations. He was currently in his dressing room. “What happened? Where are we?”

Justin said, “It is a long story. Gamer G and Drocha trapped the human race in a virtual world to harvest our brains.”

“Wow, that sounds like a cheesy zombie movie.” 

Justin said, “It is terribly real. We need you to do something vitally important.”

“Anything.”

Alex, who was still partially digitized, said, “Gamer G is attacking the human race in a matter of minutes. People are all as strong as a class 3 Strength hero. They can take a lot of hits and can deliver powerful punches.”

“You mean every human is now a super human?”

Justin said, “Precisely. While in this simulation, they are. And they need to be. Billions of Gamer G’s are on their way to kill the human race.”

“What can I do?”

Justin said, “I have the BADGE system set to emit a signal to all screens on earth. You, being a beloved, famous actor, are trustworthy. Tell them to fight. Give them the marching order to save themselves.”

“Me? You are the commander of BADGE. They trust you.”

“No one has more credibility than a popular actor.” Justin said. “We need you to do this. We don’t have time to discuss this. Stay on this line and in a moment, when you see the signal, address the world. Make it short and sweet. Time is running out.”

“I will take care of this.”

Chase said, “We have an incoming signal from the emergency line to Peyton.”

“What does he want?” Justin clicked on his comm.

Alex approached Chase. “We should get down there. They are going to need all the help they can get.”

Chase asked, “Can you enhance us? I’d love to be ten times stronger, faster, and able to throw thousands of ninja stars.”

Alex smiled. “Giving all the humans the same tweak of strength and resilience is easy. Adjusting heroes would take time, which we don’t have.”

They both paused when they heard Arx go live and give his little speech. Once it was over, Chase asked Justin, “How much longer before the attack?”

“Just a moment. We need to get down there.”

Alex summoned a portal and then froze with wide eyes. “What? But this can’t…”

Justin looked at him. “What’s the matter?”

Alex was staring past them. “I can see my wife.” 

They looked, but did not perceive the ghostly image of Krystal standing near them. She said, “Alex, my love… Drocha still has our baby… all our babies.”

Alex’s hand shook at the portal evaporated. “No.”

“What is it?” Chase held him.

Alex whispered, “That two percent of mental processing that is still active… it’s the babies. They didn’t wake up.” 

Continue the Story

Heroes Rising Fiction: Pax Dystopia Part 18

 Gamer, with his little control screen still floating next to him, directed Justin to the center of the floor in Operations. Drocha hovered nearby as a disembodied head with the smile of a snake across his face.

“This is what is going to happen,” Drocha stated. “You are going to access the Code Black comm channel that accesses all communications devices across the planet. Every human will hear you make a special announcement.”

“What would that be?” Justin’s tone was deadpan, not betraying the sinking feeling in him.

“You located Nova, but a code must be solved to save him. Nova has a special place in the hearts of humanity. They will do anything for their beloved leader of BADGE.”

“But we don’t have any idea where Nova is.”

Drocha laughed, “That’s not the point. A complex calculation will appear on the screen. Everyone will see it. Their enhanced mental faculties will trigger and they will begin processing the answer to the question. The calculation will drive their minds to the breaking point. In doing so, the computer algorithm will process their collective mental power and finally finish the task.”

Gamer asked, “Are you sure it is ready?”

“We are so close, this will accelerate the last portion to completion. It will be finished.”

Justin asked, “What then? You kill every human on Earth?”

“Of course not. I promised to free you, and I never promise what I won’t deliver.”

Justin let a sarcastic snort out as he said, “For someone as brilliant as you, that is not a clever ruse. You will let me go, and the others, but only so we can watch 8 billion people perish slowly as their bodies give up.”

Drocha said, “Think of it this way, it will give you and your little team time to try and save them.”

“I won’t help you.” Justin said.

“Fine, don’t speak. All we need is your fingerprint.” Drocha bellowed, “Gamer! Finish this!”

Justin plead, “Gamer, I know you have not been a very… good person in the past. But, for god’s sake, why help this man eradicate the human population? You can’t possibly be willing to commit this level of global genocide.”

Gamer grabbed Justin’s arm. His strength was far greater in here than in the real world. “I am a highly intelligent man. You people consider me some fat slob and worthless gamer. But, I am much more than that. Drocha will kill off humanity one way or another. This game is over. Only by helping him can I survive. I will be an integral member of Legion, recreated as a god among insects. I will level up in ways no human ever has.”

Justin said, “What did he do to you? You aren’t this heartless.”

Gamer thrust Justin’s hand against the screen. His hand hitting the screen gave the command. Across the world, screens lit up with the emergency call. The sound of this unique alarm would wake even those who were asleep right now. Normally, only dire global situations warranted this. They didn’t realize how dire the situation truly was.

For a moment, an image of EB race across Justin’s mind. It was like watching a short video of the happy little bunny hiding eggs around the Arboretum last year. Then it went away.

“What was that?” Justin whispered and then looked up.

The screen held the calculation. People watching this would be waiting for the announcement, but now were looking at a series of numbers and letters in an extremely complicated problem. Even Justin’s mind started trying to process this. He had to fight to take control back.

“It’s too late.” Justin whispered.

Gamer gleefully changed the monitors to show the streets of the cities with people holding their heads, some on their knees. Everywhere they looked, people were in a state of confusion.

“Have you so little humanity you felt nothing?” Justin asked Gamer.

“I enjoy winning. I picked the winner. That’s all that matters to me.”

“What is this!?” Drocha bellowed.

Gamer trembled, “Uh, something wrong, my lord?”

“The processing is dropping. It is down thirty percent....forty....sixty... this is not possible! It should be skyrocketing!”

Justin looked at the screen again. People were looking at each other with shock and awkward glances. They felt the ground, the trees, and each other like they were unsure of things. A sense of hope rose in him as goosebumps prickled across his body.

“Could it be?” He said.

“WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!” Drocha screamed.

Gamer looked at his floating holographic monitor. “The data processing is almost zero. It’s as if everyone woke up.”

Chase said, “They just did.”

“You!” Gamer yelled, “You should be dead!”

“Guess I had an extra life. Hope you have one.” She threw a star at him. It stuck in his arm and he screeched.

Justin grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him in with a fist in his face. A blinding punch sent the nerd reeling until he fell against a wall.

Drocha seethed, “This is not possible.”

The door of Nova’s office opened, and Alex stepped out. His body was slightly glowing with what looked like pixelated parts. “One memory, that’s all it took. A memory that would shock their minds back into reality.”

Justin said, “EB. You gave them the image of EB. I saw it.”

“Yes. I had to think of someone they all knew, they all would remember. EB is the most famous face of all of BADGE. Children and adults know him, every country, every language, everyone.”

“My code, my program. You bastardized it!” Gamer whined.

Justin ignored Gamer and looked at Drocha. “It’s over. You lost. Tell me what this was truly all about.”

Drocha gave Justin an icy stare. “It seems to me that you and EVERYONE ELSE, is still in the program. You will not stop me so easily. I didn’t get the algorithm finished, but I got enough. I can still eradicate humanity. This world will be my new base, my new home of Legion, and no pesky human infestation will get in my way.”

“You can’t kill us in here any longer.” Chase said.

Drocha’s head backed away from them, “Oh, you think so. The kill code might not work, but if you die in here, the shock to your system will be lethal.” He turned to Gamer G, “Destroy the human race, execute the Final Boss plan.” Drocha’s face vanished.

Gamer laughed with maniacal joy. “YEEES! THIS IS GONNA BE SO AWESOME!!! MEGA GAMER G.” He stood and accessed the holo screen.

“Stop him!” Justin yelled as he lunged for Gamer.

With a swish of his hand across the screen, Gamer vanished as well.

“What did he do?” Justin looked at the ground.

Alex pointed at the monitors. “What is that?”

They watched as thousands of versions of Gamer appeared above the earth, darting toward the ground.

Chase watched a sensor monitor. “There are tens of thousands of him and they are going to kill everyone.”

Justin said, “Even if they don’t, as long as we’re stuck in here, our actual bodies will die.” He looked over at Alex. “Did this Oracle tell you what we do next? How we free ourselves from the program now that we are awake?”

Alex said, “Gamer G holds us all in place. He tied our existence in here to him. There is still a two percent processing in the algorithm, probably because everyone is still connected. Even awake in here, we are stuck while he remains. We have to stop him.”

“How?” Chase said.

Alex said, “The Oracle said the human race must become the antivirus. Everyone here in this simulation is enhanced, stronger and faster than they are in the real world. I think we need to use that.”

Justin said, “Sounds like we have a plan. Alex, go home. Get to work.” He clicked his comm, “Agent Justin to all who can hear me. We are in a code black situation. I have special orders for all heroes of BADGE. It’s time to launch a global counter offense. And we can’t be exclusive. Every man and woman on the street needs to help. Humanity must fight to survive.”

Continue the Story

Heroes Rising Fiction: Pax Dystopia Part 17

 Nova’s comm unit activated. “Parson to Director Nova, please come in.”

Nova finished situating a young man on the ground before the medical bot attached the bio equipment. He clicked his comm. “Nova here.”

“Sir, we have a problem. One of your people... is dead.”

Nova felt his blood run cold. Every face of those he worked with ran through his mind. “Who?”

“Mark Boswell. Heart attack.”

Nova closed his eyes and took in a slow breath. “Is there anything we can do to prevent any other heart attacks?”

“I have all the medical bots activating heart monitoring systems. If we were able to know when they would happen, we might intercede like we did with Agent Alex. But there is no way to know when it will happen, if it happens.”

“You’re doing your best, and I’m grateful for all your work. Do what you can.”

“I will.” The comm channel ended.

After a moment of calm, Nova let out a bitter scream at the sky.

Jonas Albert, one of the students, said, “Mr. Nova, is something wrong?”

Nova shook as he said, “I feel so useless. In my long life, I have never felt so helpless. My friends are going to die. The world is on the brink of extinction and... I’m utterly useless!”

“I’m sorry, sir, I...” Nova’s outburst shook the college student.

“Sorry, son, I didn’t mean to rattle you.” Nova calmed down and put on a more professional face. “It’s hard being in my role. The weight of the world lands on me often. This time, I don’t know if I can hold it.”

“It’s okay to scream once in a while. Just means you still care.” Jonas said and then excused himself to get back to work.

Nova clicked his comm, “Nova to all commanders, the situation is getting worse.”

Justin controlled his response to Gamer G’s question. “The Janitor? Oh, you mean Mark. Well, it was just routine...”

“Cut the crap, Justin. I know something is up. The same time he had a meeting with you, the system registered a dip in the processing.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Justin was desperately hoping Gamer would buy his oblivious act.

Gamer flicked his hand in the air, and a holographic screen appeared. It was translucent, so Justin could see through it, watching the information in reverse. Millions of numbers ran by so fast that it was impossible to read them. Gamer said, “Eight billion hearts, eight billion lives at my fingertip. I can end them one by one until you tell me the truth.”

“The truth?”

Gamer tapped the screen and a code of numbers turned red and then vanished. “One down.”

“STOP!” Justin cried out. “Don’t kill anyone. They’re innocent.”

“Then tell me the truth.”

Justin put his hands behind his back and looked down. He clicked the emergency comm channel and then answered, “Yes, it wasn’t a normal conference. I know the truth. This world isn’t real and somehow you’re harvesting all the human minds for a program. I honestly don’t know the details behind your scheme.”

Gamer said, “Now that wasn’t so difficult. However, it complicates this. How did that janitor know? What are you planning? What is your scheme to stop me? I know you have one.”

“I don’t have one.”

Gamer flicked the screen. “That’s two.”

Justin grabbed Gamer’s arm. He yanked Gamer forward and growled, “I will beat the last breath out of your body if you keep doing this!”

Gamer laughed in the face of Justin’s aggression. “I don’t have to touch the screen. That was just for dramatics. All I have to do is think… like this.” A number on the screen flashed red and then faded.

“Stop!” Justin shoved him away. “I don’t have any plan. I haven’t figured one out yet!”

“Good, now you’re begging. Now, tell me what you have up your sleeve?”

“I don’t have a plan.”

“Oh, I’m not that dumb. I’ve played every game there is. I know how this works. You got your lackey’s in on this. Wait, you just went to the ATLAS room and met with Chase... she’s the one planning, isn’t she?”

“No. She isn’t.”

Gamer chortled and typed in a code on the screen. It turned red and vanished. “Not anymore.”

“Chase!”

“Who else?”

Justin trembled in rage. “She was the only one.”

“I don’t believe you.”

Justin squared his jaw and glared at Gamer. “I don’t have to convince you of anything. Go ahead, keep killing people. Kill me. This system of yours needs brains. Kill everyone off and make it worthless.”

A holographic face appeared right next to Gamer. Drocha smiled at Justin, “You have the conviction of Nova.”

“I have never had a greater compliment.” Justin retorted.

Gamer said, “Let me kill him. We can sort this out...”

“Enough.” Drocha declared. “Agent Justin is correct. If you kill more people, then our little plan becomes harder. It is so close.”

Gamer sneered at Justin, “One less won’t hurt that much.”

Drocha looked at Justin, “No. He knows and we can’t be certain who else is aware. This program’s greatest flaw is its most powerful feature. Too much autonomy for the people inside, so they feel it is real. But, once they know it is false, then our plan becomes far too difficult.”

Gamer said, “I can kill all the BADGE staff. I’m sure that’s it.”

Drocha said, “No, they have changed our plan. We must change this game, return it to our control. It is time for our last move. Justin’s aid will be paramount.”

“I won’t work for you.” Justin said.

“Of course you will. Obedience is your only hope for survival. If you obey,” Drocha replied, “I promise I will set you and the others free from this program, and you will wake up in the real world.”

“What would you need with me?” Justin asked.

“The final reaping, of course.”

Dr. Henderson and Alex listened to this through the emergency comm channel. They could hear everything said, though the voices were distant. When Justin quietly clicked off his comm, they were in silent shock.

“Is... Chase still alive?” Dr. Henderson asked.

Alex said, “I don’t know. I...”

Chase walked into the lab. “I didn’t feel a thing.” She smiled and patted her chest.

Dr. Henderson let out a heavy sigh of relief and Alex almost hugged her, but Chase stopped him.

Chase said, “We don’t have time to drag this out. They know Justin is aware, and now seeing Alex or me will alert them to something. We have to stop them.”

Dr. Henderson said, “I don’t see how.” She smiled. “It might be prudent to let them finish their plan. I know it isn’t optimal, but it could be the only way. Let them get what they want and then they will set everyone free.”

“We can’t trust them,” Chase said. “I once thought like a villain. I know how to play with words and lie convincingly. Drocha isn’t a straight liar, but he will manipulate words. We still have to fix this ourselves. Waking the world is our only chance.”

Alex said, “The moment we warn people of the situation, we risk Gamer killing them before they get the chance to accept the truth.”

“It’s a no-win situation.” Dr. Henderson lamented.

Chase said, “I don’t believe in no-win situations. If Nova has taught me anything, it is to find an answer, even if there isn’t one.”

“We can’t invent an answer.” Alex said.

Dr. Henderson stood and walked over to another computer. “Wait, you said that the only connection from the real world into this is through the Ren Wear attached to everyone.”

“Yes.”

She was looking up the information in their computers about Ren Wear. “It directly connects to their brains, controlling their thoughts to create this world.”

“More than controlling them, harvesting them. Everyone is exceptionally smart because of the way it is tapping the intelligence.” Alex said.

Chase asked, “What are you looking at?”

“An idea. We might not need to convince them, just trigger something in them.”

Alex smiled. “Please tell me you have found that elusive answer?”

“Let’s just say I have an idea.”

Chase asked, “What is this final reaping?”

Dr. Henderson answered as she ran calculations, “In the Bible, it is the end of time when all are judged.”

Alex said, “End of days... not a good sign.”

“It just means we have to do something quick,” Chase said.

Dr. Henderson looked over several three-dimensional schematics of the human brain, including one that displayed the connection of the Ren Wear. She asked, “Chase, what was the catalyst that opened your eyes to the reality of our situation?”

“When I thought about Gar, my father, EB. Memories flooded my mind that shook me.”

Alex said, “It was the same for me. I recalled things that weren’t in this reality. I also recalled the fact that my wife was locked in a Renn Tech sphere. Then there was a statue of Gargoyle in my home... things like that.”

Dr. Henderson said, “It was the same for me. I recalled being attacked. A moment of clarity hit me when I saw my assistant attack me. That reality shocked my mind into understanding and suddenly I knew this was fake.”

Alex asked, “Why are you talking about this?”

Dr. Henderson held her hand up to the screen, showing them a blindingly complicated set of calculations around a diagram of a brain. “This is our answer.”

“What answer?” Chase asked.

“I have a plan, a dangerous plan that involves no slight risk.” She looked at Alex. “You are our last hope.”

Continue the Story

Heroes Rising Fiction: Pax Dystopia Part 16

 Lights flickered on in the dark, cavernous room that once held the ATLAS teams HQ. There would be a thin layer of dust over everything if the environmental systems hadn’t continued to keep the place clean. The computers were still dormant, which gave the room an eeriness as all the screens were dark.

Chase and Dr. Henderson met Justin, with Alex in disguise, right behind them.

“Mark, what are you doing here?” Dr. Henderson asked.

Chase said, “If this is a farewell party, it is small.”

Alex closed the doors and locked them using a magic spell. By using the spell, his disguise faded, and he looked as himself once more.

“Alex? What on earth are you doing here?” Dr. Henderson asked. “Was that you I met earlier?”

“I’m afraid so.”

“Justin,” Chase said, “What’s going on?”

Justin circled the room with hesitation in his breath. “I’m not sure how to approach this. I wish I had more time to figure out how to say this.”

Dr. Henderson said, “Is something wrong? Don’t tell me you found Nova...” the inference was that Nova had perished.

Justin shook his head. “No... well, in a way, yes, we found Nova. But, the situation is far worse than any of us realized. This world, this reality, is all fake. We’re currently trapped in a simulation.” He laid it out and looked at them to gauge their reaction.

Chase shook her head. “No, that can’t be true. This place feels too real.”

“I thought the same thing. But Alex escaped the program and found Nova in the real world, fighting to preserve our lives as we are slowly dying.”

“I’m as healthy as ever.” Dr. Henderson protested. “I checked my vitals this morning, and I was doing fine. Except this darned hunger issue, and...”

Alex asked, “Doctor, tell me what would happen if someone put a human body into a virtual reality situation without providing any medical attention to the physical body while inside?”

“Exhaustion, hunger, thirst,” she admitted.

“Nova has a doctor on the station who is helping. He has our bodies hooked up to support. But, you know that bio-support systems aren’t permanent replacement for proper living.” Alex said this to the doctor, knowing she was the logical person to deduce the situation.

“If this is true, what could do this to us?”

Alex said, “They forced the Ren Wear on us and trapped us in this simulation.”

Dr. Henderson held her head as she groaned, “Oh, I feel funny. I... wait, I remember. Someone attacked me. I… I can see cadet Timothy. He should be in bed… wait… I know… he is attacking me.” She looked up at Justin. “I have this dream of screaming for help, but no one helps me. It’s the same dream each night. It isn’t a dream. Oh, god. It was real.”

“No, this is all a joke or something.” Chase shook her head and walked toward the door.

Justin approached her. “Chase, you can’t tell me you don’t feel something isn’t right. That you’re missing something important in your life.”

“What are you talking about?”

Alex approached, but Justin held up his hand to stop him. “Chase, who is your father?”

Chase paused, “My father is... oh, uh... I don’t... seem to remember his name.”

Justin then said, “Who cares for you more than you will admit? Who has saved your life at the risk of his repeatedly?”

“I don’t know.”

“Made of stone, talks funny, acts like a kid some days. Loves you.”

Chase held her head. “I know. I’ve seen him in my dreams, but I don’t know his name. There is a smile, and a hand held out to me. He… I know him, I just can’t… remember… wait…” she held the wall as she whispered, “Gargoyle.”

“Gar is your best friend and has the biggest crush on you.” Justin said.

She looked back at Justin, “I remember, Santa is my father... EB is the pest I adore having around. How did I forget them?”

Alex said, “It is a long, terrible story. The problem we have now is that the entire world is trapped in this simulation.”

Justin added, “And it is being controlled by Gamer G.”

“Gamer G, but he is our ally.” Dr. Henderson said.

“No, he is not. He is the reason for this. He is working for Drocha to harvest the brains of every living soul on this planet. And, in due time, everyone will die, including us, if we don’t put a stop to this.”

Chase said, “Fine, we go punch that nerd in the nose and force him to let us go.”

“Easier said than done.” Alex pointed out.

Justin said, “Gamer G controls this simulation. He can kill anyone with a stroke of his finger. If you die here, your body has heart failure in the real world. Those still completely trapped by this. You, Dr. Henderson, Alex, and myself are currently protected.”

“What do you mean?” Dr. Henderson asked.

Alex explained the situation more now that they understood the reality.

“Oh dear,” Dr. Henderson retorted to the information, “Then, our mission is to wake up eight billion people?”

“Something like that. We have to wrest control of this simulation away from Gamer G so we can revive the world before it’s too late.” Justin said.

Chase asked, “What do we do right now?”

Justin said, “Act normal. Gamer G cannot realize we are free of the program’s control. Time moves quicker here, so we can consider our next move.”

Dr. Henderson said, “I don’t care how much faster time moves here. We need to save these people sooner than later. Too many lives are on the line.”

Alex said, “True, but Gamer still has the kill switch under his control. He might not be able to kill us, but that doesn’t stop him from killing anyone else.”

Justin gave out orders. “Doctor, go back to the labs and consider options. Alex, go with her and tell her every detail of your experiences. Chase, head down to the planet and get in touch with Arx and other BADGE people. Do your best to convince them of the truth. Be discreet. If anyone asks, you’re just continuing the search for Nova. I’ll keep Gamer G busy in Operations so he remains unaware. Everyone clear?”

They all nodded. Alex put on his disguise again, this time taking on the image of a robotic nurse that normally works with Dr. Henderson.

Justin collected himself and considered how he would keep Gamer G. busy for the time being. Hopefully, Gamer has not figured out anything is amiss yet. Looking back over the past three years in this program, Justin felt like he was looking back at a dream. He had to sort out what happened here from reality. He didn’t want to tip his hand by referencing something that he shouldn’t know in here.

“Operations.” Justin stated, and the lift moved quickly toward the command level of the station.

“I’ll give him a commission, say it has to do with the dwindling staff levels. He’s always wanted to have a rank in BADGE. This way, he can be a giddy nerd playing out his superhero fantasies while we disrupt his plans.” Justin chuckled at the brilliance of this idea. Though, his humor faded as he admitted, “god I wish Nova were here.”

The doors opened, and he found the Operations center lacking anyone outside of the robots. Gamer G was nowhere to be found.

“10915, where is Gamer G.?”

“Gamer G is currently in Operations, office N.”

“I see.” Justin walked down to the front of the room and stood before the monitors as he normally would. It made him sick to see this fabricated paradise spread out on the screens before him. The world was slowly dying and all he could do from here was to see the people go about their placated lives in this fake reality.

“Justin, we have a problem.” Chase came through his comm.

He clicked the unit. “What is it?”

“I just found Mark Boswell... he’s dead.”

“What?” Justin walked to a more secluded corner and whispered into the comm, “Are you sure?”

“I was looking for a shuttle to head for earth and I found his body by the maintenance section of the docking bay. Could he have starved to death in the real world?”

“I don’t think so. Alex said that everyone on the station was currently being cared for by a small medical staff. Wait...” Justin felt an icy chill in his stomach, “Alex was using Mark’s face to disguise himself. If Gamer G went asking questions...”

“We have a problem.” Chase answered.

Gamer G. spoke from behind Justin, “Anything wrong?”

Justin jumped and turned. “Gamer... uh... you startled me.” He clicked off his comm.

Gamer said, “How was your little conference with the janitor?”

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Heroes Rising Fiction: Pax Dystopia part 15

 “My head feels funny,” Justin squeezed the bridge of his nose. “What’s wrong with me?”

Alex said, “My guess is that you're free of the complete hold of the program and now The Oracle’s program is affecting you. That also means the pumped-up endorphins won’t reach you.”

Justin closed his eyes and took in a few deep breaths. “I understand. I can feel it. This place… it isn’t real. How is this so clear to me now?”

“The Oracle’s program frees your mind from their control. Now, you can think for yourself.”

“The Oracle?” Justin asked.

“The Avatar of Tech has bonded with a college professor and calls himself The Oracle now. He’s the reason we have a chance.”

Justin looked around, and then his eyes widened. “Krystal, Gargoyle, EB... how did I forget about them?”

“Glad to see your mind is back. The program prevented you from remembering anyone outside this program. We recalled him because of Nova’s brief connection. But he’s in the real world waiting for us to move.”

“How did I not see this? It is so fake. How long have we been in here?” Justin struggled with the reality of his situation.

“Just a few days. The program makes time move faster for us in here.” Alex sat in a chair beside Justin. “I need you to focus. We may not have much time to get your bearings.”

Justin shook his head. “Gamer G did this to us?”

“Yes.”

“I’m going to punch that fat nerd right in the...”

“No!” Alex held Justin back from launching into an attack. “Gamer G is currently far more dangerous than you realize. He can kill anyone in this program with a flick of his finger.”

“But you aren’t dead?”

Alex said, “I was protected, and so are you.”

“How are we protected?”

Alex said, “Very complicated computer stuff. Basically, a group of super sophisticated computer students and The Oracle have created a program that allows people to be parted from all the control of this world. Once a person accepts this isn’t reality, their bond to the computer is severed enough for The Oracle’s influence to help them. However, we have to take down Gamer G to end this simulation once and for all.”

Justin got the message, “Which means we have to wake up everyone and take away his leverage.”

“That’s about it. Oh, and taking him down will probably not be so easy. We’ll have to do it in this world, which means we are facing a computer geek inside his own program. However, taking him down is crucial. Gamer G’s connection binds us here. Even if we wake everyone up, they will still be stuck in this program.”

“Great, any other fantastic news?”

“If we don’t stop him in time, people die in the real world of starvation or thirst.”

Justin put his head down for a moment. Then, with steely resolve, he stood up. “Okay, here is what we are going to do right now. You said time moves faster in here,”

“Yes, not sure how fast. But we’ve experienced three years in just a few days.”

“Good. That will give us time inside the simulation. Gamer can not see you, or this all falls apart. I need you to leave here and get Chase and Dr. Henderson into the ATLAS conference room. I will be there shortly. Once we have them on our side, we will plan our next move. I will keep Gamer G occupied and make sure he is blissfully unaware of what is happening.”

“Good luck with that.” Alex said.

“How much control of this world do we have?” Justin asked.

Alex thought about what the Avatar told him, only now fully understanding it. “It seems this simulation is painstakingly real, to a fault. Everything about this place works like the real world. Our computers, weapons, powers, everything. This was their way of making it so real we would never question it. But it also means that while inside here, we have as much control over the situation as we would in the real world.”

“Good. So, first we convince our people and then fix this.”

Alex laughed.

“Why are you laughing?” Justin asked.

“Oh, it’s just that is exactly what Nova told me to do. Wake you up and then we would wake the command staff up. You really are thinking more and more like Director Nova.”

“That’s the greatest compliment of my life,” Justin said. “Now, let’s move. You go out the back way and head down the service chute. I’ll be in Operations. Have Chase contact me when you’re ready in the ATLAS Command center.”

“Understood.”

Justin walked back into Operations. He contained his attitude and projected the most professional look he could muster. Everything felt new, strange, and fake. It was like he had just woken up from a long dream and was still seeing the images in his mind. Yet, that dream was ongoing, and he had to maintain it is real for the one person who could destroy so many.

“Where is Gamer G?” Justin asked the robots at the front of the room.

Gamer G. exited Nova’s office with a computer tablet in his hand. “I’m right here.”

Justin cleared his throat and took his place at the front of the room. “Anything happen while I was in conference?”

For a moment Gamer G seemed ready to say something, but simply shook his head. “Nothing important. Just... looking into something.”

“Anything I should know?” Justin asked.

“No. Nothing that important.”

“With how dull things have been around here, something new might be interesting.” Justin played this as cool as he could. He sensed that Gamer G had something valid to worry about, and that worried Justin.

“Fine, if you must know, I’m looking for anything odd. You know. Everything is so great right now, just checking to see if something strange happened here or there.”

Justin knew this was far deeper than Gamer was letting on, but Justin kept himself calm. “I see. Use any resource you need. What kind of oddity would you be looking for? Criminal activity?”

“No, no, nothing like that. Let me worry about it. You just... keep staring at that screen and wait for Nova to show up or something.” Gamer G. sat down at one of the computer stations without a robot controlling it. He ran through the sensor system.

Justin remembered how irritating Gamer G could be around him, acting like he was a member of BADGE. If Justin didn’t keep calling him out for that, he might give himself away. “Uh, Gamer, be sure you don’t delve into any of the secure files while you’re in our system. It will alert me to that.”

“Don’t worry. I’m not poking around you internet search history.” Gamer snickered.

Justin considered what he would do next. “Okay. 10915, do a full sensor sweep for Nova again, this time use the arcane analytical sensors. And run the sweep continuously for two hours, note any variation that might indicate unusual magical activity.” This was a complete waste of time. But, it was a logical action.

“Scanning.” 10915 stated.

Justin’s wrist comm beeped. It was a signal from Chase.

“What’s that?” Gamer asked, not looking up from his work.

Justin said, “Just a message from Chase. She has an idea. I’ll be down in the ATLAS area, using their systems to scan for signs of Nova.”

“We used ATLAS weeks ago, found nothing,” Gamer stated dismissively.

“I know. But I had a few ideas I wanted to try. What else do I have to do?”

“It’s your time to waste.”

Justin said, “74075, you have the Operations. Gamer, keep an eye on things.”

“Whatever.” Gamer had his nose stuffed into the computer terminal.

Justin stepped into the lift and pressed the button to leave. The door shut, and he sped away.

Gamer G looked over the sensor readings he had run. He checked all the data over and over.

“This doesn’t make sense. I notice a discrepancy in Alex’s execution, but a similar one is also present here. That can’t be. What could cause that? Is it a code error from the removal of Alex?” He ran the numbers by. On the tablet, he was looking over the data from Drocha.

“This is two distinct data variances. Another data loss just occurred. This can’t be right. Wait... the timing of this one.” He pressed a button on the console, “Computer, what is the current location of Mark Boswell?”

“Mark Boswell is currently in Docking Bay 4.”

“Thank you.” Gamer got up and stepped into the lift. “Docking Bay 4 please.”

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