Alterlife V: A Suspenseful VR Thriller, page 1
ALTERLIFE V
MATT MOSS
CONTENTS
1. Parabellum
2. No Rest
3. Reconnaissance
4. Ghost Stories
5. Necessary Items
6. Leaving Metropia
7. The Vulture
8. Bones
9. Darksand Island
10. A Call From High Garden
11. Jungle To Jungle
12. Turning Up The Heat
13. Metal Head
14. Phone A Friend
15. Cat Scratch Fever
16. The Bitter Sting
17. Under Siege
18. Teamwork Makes The Dream Work
19. Ghosts In The Darkness
20. Last Toast With Jenny
21. A Day On The Town
22. The Final Boss
JOURNAL ENTRY DECEMBER 31st, 2044
THANK YOU
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If you want peace, prepare for war.
1
PARABELLUM
Run.
Never mind the awkward stares.
Through the underworld of Veritas, my body gently pulses with a red hue.
Murderer.
Killer.
I’m flagged by the server and am now the most wanted man on the Asia server.
The Protobots and the albino priests will be looking for me, along with the Yakuza, the Triads, and every other player who’s looking to make a name for themselves by capturing Ace the Great.
Not going to happen. I’m too powerful for them.
Oh, really? Did you already forget about how those Protobots had you stunned and rendered on the floor? You were crying like a little bitch and unable to do anything about it.
I won’t get caught off guard next time. I’ll just use Force Push again. Or Jump. Or any of Ace’s other skills. They won’t stand a chance now that I’ve got my powers back.
Check your mana bar.
It’s empty.
It was a one-time thing. There’s no mana on this server. Deakins gave you just enough to perform one Force Push.
Apparently it doesn’t regenerate, either.
Shit.
At least I still have my stats. Saduke never took them from me—probably because I’m not from this server. Those stats will make me undefeatable.
Only if you can somehow avoid getting shocked by the bots. If you can’t deal with that, you’re a dead man.
Right. I’ll have to figure out a way to deal with them. There’s got to be a way to counter their attacks.
A group of people appear to be walking in the same direction as me. No doubt curious as to what’s going on with the server, they seek counsel from Guy, their leader, and, like me, are on their way to meet him. They make a path for me as I run past.
Text: Ace!
Text: We’re with you, Ace the Great!
Text: Whatever you did, you caused quite the stir upstairs in Metropia. I approve!
They all cheer and clap as I make my way through them.
Don’t celebrate yet. The war has just begun.
I stop running and turn around to speak to them. “I’m going to talk to Guy and the others about our next move. Stay tuned because the show is just getting started.” I raise my fist in the air, drawing another cheer from the group.
Text: Let’s give them hell. It’s time to break the system!
Run.
Think.
Don’t think.
It seems to be a cornerstone of human nature to establish a system or set of rules in society. It also seems to be necessary that there are always those who oppose said system and rules. Two sides to each coin. Order and anarchy; and whatever resides in between. Opposing forces with the rulemakers being the ones who are always on the winning side. Fair? Balanced? It doesn’t matter. It’s just the way the world is. Every system on this planet is fighting for power and control in one way or another.
Maybe it’s time for a change.
I reach Guy’s chamber and barge right in.
The group stares in awe at me, standing in the middle of the room.
Master Tuga points at me, laughs out loud and starts spinning in circles with a bottle in hand.
Guy walks up to me. “Ace, are you alright?”
“I’m fine.”
Before anyone else can get a word out, a chilling presence enters the space.
Dressed in his brown cloak, the Ghost in the Wilderness walks into the room behind Tank. Comms slowly raises his hand and, with a dreaded look in his eyes, points at the mysterious stranger. Everyone turns in response.
“Holy fuggin shit! You scared the hell out of me,” Tank says with a hand to his chest, backing away after realizing who it is. He then stammers in fear. “I… mean…uhhh.”
The image of the Ghost flashes.
“A hologram?” Comms notes.
The Ghost speaks, his eyes hidden behind his hood. “Ace, we need to talk. It is of the utmost importance that I speak to you in light of current events. Meet me outside of Metropia at the eastern edge of The Slums, alone.”
Guy turns to me, a puzzled look in his eyes behind his mask. I meet his gaze, then look back to the Ghost. “When?”
“In three days.”
“If it’s so important, why not now?” I ask.
The Ghost folds his hands. “I have other matters that need my attention.” He looks down, as if pondering his next words. “And I have much to think about in preparation for the days to come.”
I nod. “Three days, then. I’ll be there.”
He raises his head again, still hiding his eyes behind the cloak, and looks to everyone in the room. “I must warn you that the floodgates have now been opened and there isn’t much time left. The world as you know it—both here in Alterlife and in the real world—is about to change dramatically. Most of humanity will not survive the coming disaster.”
Freedom speaks. “Impossible. I don’t believe it.”
“Ya man, that’s just fuggin crazy. I mean, what you’re saying is impossible.”
A powerful gust of wind suddenly fills the chamber. The Ghost’s eyes flash like fire, glowing bright and orange as a fierce gale circles around him.
Everyone stands silent and stunned. Everyone except for Master Tuga. He drinks and hiccups with a comfortable grin fixed upon his face, as if he knows who the Ghost is and understands what he’s talking about.
Guy extends a hand towards the Ghost. “If what you say is true, what can we do to stop it?”
The Ghost’s eyes extinguish and grow dim once more, melting into the shadow of the cloak. He ignores Guy’s question and speaks to me. “Three days. Until then, try not to die.” The hologram flickers then disappears, leaving the group standing in stunned confusion.
“You really threw a wrench in the system, Ace,” Nightshade says, touching the tip of one of her knives with a finger.
Freedom steps toward me. “What happened up there? What did you do?”
It wasn’t me. It was Deakins.
“A Gamemaster from my server was programmed into my avatar here, and has been accompanying me this entire time. He somehow found a way to disable the PvP on the server while simultaneously granting me one Force Push—an ability that Ace had on the North America server. I used it to protect myself and, by doing so, killed a group of elites in High Garden.”
Comms steps to me and pushes his glasses up on his nose. “A Gamemaster was able to do that? An artificial intelligence inside of Alterlife went rogue against its own system—is that what you’re telling me?”
“Yes.”
He takes his glasses off and takes a deep breath as he runs his hands through his curly hair in amazement. “This is… incredible. It’s unheard of. Do you know what this means?”
“What?” Tank asks, folding his arms.
Comms throws his arms out in excitement. “It means that A.I. has become self-aware! And that this Gamemaster—or whatever it is—that’s with Ace is on our side, and with his knowledge and powers, we can change the entire system!”
I shake my head. “I’m afraid that won’t be possible.”
Comms turns to me and puts his hands on his hips. “What do you mean it’s not possible? Of course it is. You just said so yourself.”
I wave him off. “You don’t understand. Deakins is gone. It took everything he had to unlock the PvP and he ultimately sacrificed himself in doing so. He’s gone.” I let my head fall unawares, suddenly lost in the thought of losing my friend. I haven’t had time to process it.
It hadn’t really hit me yet.
After a moment of silence, Freedom places a hand on my arm. “I’m sorry, Ace. Sounds like he was a good friend.”
I look into her eyes and fight back the emotion. “He was the best.”
Guy steps towards me and speaks. “His sacrifice will not be in vain. What the two of you have done is revolutionary, and we must capitalize on this moment before they patch the system and turn the PvP off again.”
“What if they don’t want to turn it off?” Nightshade suggests, her question giving everyone pause.
Comms holds a finger up. “She’s right. What if this is what Shakra and the elites wanted the entire time? For some external factor to come in and do something that they couldn’t do?”
Another pause in the conversation as everyone turns to their thoughts.
Are they right? Was I sent here with
Now that’s a thought. Perhaps this was Pete’s plan the entire time.
To what end?
To bring forth the new virus? To cause confusion and chaos. And out of the chaos…
Comes order.
Order out of chaos. Hegelian dialectic. Create the problem, then create the solution.
Son of a bitch...
Guy speaks to the group. “Parabellum—if you want peace, prepare for war. Time will tell what fate holds for us. All we can do is prepare to meet it. The plan remains the same. This is what we’ve been training for. Now that the opportunity has presented itself, we take the war to Shakra and destroy the Source Code.”
Tank scratches his head. “I didn’t think this day would actually come.”
“You thought we were training in the simulator just for fun?” Nightshade asks and slaps him on the arm. “Buck up, buttercup. Get that gun ready.”
Tank nods slowly, a distant look in his eye. “Yeah…”
Freedom speaks. “Look, none of us really thought this day would come. But now it’s here. We’ve got to act, and we’ve got to act fast. Shakra and their goons will be hunting all of us now.”
“Are the seals to Veritas still intact?” Comms asks.
They all look to me for an answer.
Honestly, I can’t remember. Everything happened so fast. “I don’t know. It’s been sort of a blur since High Garden.”
“Shit. If the seals somehow went down, there’s no stopping anyone from coming down here,” Comms notes.
Freedom and Tank take off like a shot and run out of the chamber. Nightshade runs in the opposite direction towards another tunnel.
The group of people I passed earlier arrive a moment later and look to Guy for answers.
I walk away.
“Ace, where are you going?” Guy asks.
I turn back to reply. “I just need some time to think. I’ll be back soon.”
He gives a reluctant nod and I leave them inside the chamber.
I just need some time to think.
I just need a moment alone.
And to take a break from Alterlife.
2
NO REST
Power off.
The NueView goes back onto the desk.
I lean back in the chair and run both hands through my long, oily hair.
Tug at the roots and grind my teeth in annoyance and exhaustion.
Enjoy the ride.
I’m tired of the circus and I want out. Make it stop.
Don’t get me wrong. I’ve still got my senses about me; I know what’s real and what’s not.
It’s all real…
You know what I mean.
I’m getting closer to breaking the Matrix. My mission keeps me grounded in reality. That, and my family.
I stand up and snap my gaze to the door.
My family.
I need to see them. It’s been too long, and with everything going on right now, I will find much-needed strength in them. They are the only reason I continue to press on.
The memory of Deakins flashes inside my mind.
My face quivers and I can’t stop the flood of emotion. Tears fall from my eyes as I’m finally allowed a moment to mourn the loss of my friend.
Not just a friend. You were family as well, Deakins. I’m so sorry for everything that happened. It’s my fault that you’re gone.
It’s because of you that he truly lived. He wouldn’t have had it any other way.
I laugh through the pain.
You’re right.
I look up and stare at the ceiling, smiling in fond remembrance of my friend. “Thanks for the good times, Deakins. I promise that I won’t let you down. Your sacrifice will not be in vain.” I pause, waiting for a reply that I know isn’t coming, while deep down, wishing that it was. I nod after a moment of silence and speak to him once again. “I know you can hear me, and that you’re watching from somewhere.” I look up once again and raise a fist. “Well you just keep watching. I’m about to put on the show of the century and you’re not going to want to miss it.” I solemnly drop my head one last time and wipe my eyes.
Until we meet again.
Having found closure, I stand in front of the mirror and stare at myself. I brush my hair with my hands and straighten my clothes. My body odor is overwhelming and I’m in desperate need of a shower. A haircut and a shave is in order as well. Maybe later. First, I need to see my family.
I unlock the door and swing it open, step out onto the wet grass with my bare feet, and look up into the gray, cloud-filled sky. The bright light of day makes me squint my eyes. The drone hovers overhead, watching my every move.
I wish I could make them go away.
Soon. Once my mission is finished, all of this will go away. I’ll be free. Jenny, Ben, and Carla will be free. We’ll have the life I’ve always wanted for us, and nothing will hold us back anymore. Alterlife will be gone, and with it, our troubles.
My eyes adjust to the light as I reach the back door of the house. I wipe my bare feet on the rug before entering the kitchen. “Jenny? Kids?”
I pass by a greasy skillet on the stove, the eye still hot. Freshly-dirty dishes in the sink. I walk through the hall searching for them. “Anyone home?”
“John?” Jenny calls from upstairs.
I stand at the bottom of the staircase, taking in the sight of my wife and kids coming down to meet me. They’re happy to see me, but their happiness could never match mine. Every time I see them, my heart catches fire and swells a thousand times over.
I take them in my arms and hold them tight.
Take the moment in.
Freeze it.
Make it last.
This is perfection at its finest.
I kiss them all. “It’s so good to see you. How are you all doing?”
Jenny smiles. “We’re good.”
“Daddy, we’re playing Go Fish upstairs. Do you want to play?”
I rub Carla’s head. “Maybe later, sweetie.”
“Dad, the entire world is talking about what you just did in Alterlife,” Ben notes with excitement.
I look at him, puzzled. “What are you talking about? How do you know what I just did?”
“PvP has been disabled on the Asia server. Everyone suspects that Ace had something to do with it, but I know for sure you did. Everyone is freaking out on the forums. You’re a legend!”
It wasn’t me. It was Deakins.
“Legend? I don’t know about that.”
“You’re bigger than Elvis, The Beatles, or anyone else that has ever lived, dad. I’m not kidding. Everyone is talking about what you’ve done in Alterlife. Everyone loves Ace.”
“Everyone?”
Not everyone.
Ben shrugs with a grin. “Well, not everyone. There’s always going to be haters, but hundreds of millions of people are on your side. I think we need to set up a streaming channel for you. Imagine taking all those people on the ride with you. You know I could set it up if you want.”
Unbelievable that so many people are tuned in to Ace’s journey.
I wave him off. “No. No streaming.”
“Why not? It would be…”
“Ben, I said no. I don’t want everyone watching what I’m doing in real time. There’s too much at stake.”
He frowns, but understands. “Okay. Maybe some other time, then.”
I look at Jenny. “How’s everything going?”
She fakes a grin. “Good. Just taking it one day at a time.”
I nod, knowing all too well what she means.
The sound of a vehicle draws my attention, and I go to the door to see a black SUV pulling up in front of the house.
Great. Just who I wanted to see…
“I’ll be back in a minute,” I tell Jenny, then open the front door and step outside as Jim and Pete exit the vehicle. “Can a man not spend a few minutes with his family in peace?”
“Sorry to interrupt, but we need to talk,” Jim says.
