Kazin

  Higher and higher we soar, farther from the falling sky. My heart beats frantically against my chest as Vyvani leads me away from the cataclysmic event unfolding behind. The dark sky folds in on itself, absorbing all in its wake. I lose sight of the man writhing in the midst of the shattered orb as Vyvani speeds away.

  I try to think of what to say, but I can’t think of anything right now. I have so many questions, so many things I need answered; but Vyvani is focused on leading us through cyberspace right now, away from the destruction, so I hold my tongue for the time being.

  She weaves through falling fragments of black sky. At other times, there are obstacles we have to pass—a break in the very fabric of reality, appearing like the cracks of broken glass, or a spiderweb of pixels. They appear before us suddenly, without any warning, impeding our path. The first time I see one, I had no idea what to make of it—but Vyvani knew how to overcome them, and overcome them she did.

  “Vyvani!” I scream.

  She shushes me. “No time, Kaz. Behind!”

  I glance over my shoulder, and the reason for her need of haste hits me in the head like a hammer. The techSpects man has not been swallowed by the destruction—no, he is chasing at full speed, his eyes gleaming of rage and hatred.

  “What can I do!” I call to Vyvani.

  “Nothing,” Vyvani replies. Every so often she casts her hand backwards, after she has solved an obstacle. Whenever she does this, the obstacle appears behind us as if smashing the air, stopping the techSpects man in his tracks, forcing him to overcome the barriers as well.

  “Who is he?” I ask.

  “Tenzo,” Vyvani says. She does not elaborate any further.

  She weaves through the jagged white bits and fragments that protrude from thin air, flying up, and down, side to side. We pass through the area of broken sky and arrive at a vast and empty clearing of darkness, as black as a terminal screen.

  Vyvani falters, then hesitantly flies into the space. As if her movement has triggered a trap, thousands of obstacles reveal themselves in the air like fireworks, one by one. Our ears are filled with a shrieking sound. Lines of unreadable code rush by us in every direction, until even the smallest movement would force us to make contact with them.

  “What do we do?” I ask Vyvani in a panic. “What’s happening? Why is everything caving in on itself?”

  “An encryptionEvent,” Vyvani says, as if observing a natural wonder for the first time. “I had heard of these.”

  “What?” I say in exasperation.

  “If we don’t escape soon, we’ll be trapped in here forever.” Vyvani gives a wry smile. “We’re in the dark web. It’s very unstable.”

  I stare at her in astonishment as she winks at me. She looks back at the obstacles spiderwebbing in front of us, obscuring our view.

  “Don’t worry, Kaz,” she says quietly. “I got this.”

  “How? Don’t lie to me!” I demand.

  Vyvani takes me by the hand and flies towards the traps. I had thought that the lines of code were unavoidable—yet, she is able to find just the right crevices and discover the right timing to dodge every single one of them. Each time I think I am in danger of being hit, Vyvani lurches or tosses me into the air. But she is always in full control. I can barely catch my breath before she is able to twist her way into the center of the web, holding me by the hand.

  “And this, is where the weakness is,” Vyvani says.

  “So you can get us out of here?” I ask excitedly.

  “No,” Vyvani answers. “I’m going to bring this whole damn place down on that bastard’s head.” She turns back to shoot a venomous look at the man named Tenzo. He is still struggling with the latest series of code that Vyvani has sent in his direction.

  She stares deeply into the web stretching all around us. “Unless, of course, I bring it down on us as well. Then we’d both be trapped in here.” She turns to me, and I see a twinkle in her eye. “You’re not fully human either, are you?” she asks.

  “What do you mean?” I say in surprise.

  “Your brain—part of it isn’t organic,” she says smugly.

  The scenes of lights and tools, of when I was lying on the operating table, scream through my mind. As I lurch backwards, Vyvani tightens her grip on me.

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  “Tell you what, Kaz,” she offers. “I really want to screw over that guy there. I’ll get you out of here too, if you let me be your roommate for a while.”

  “I…roommate?” I feel my face wrinkling in confusion.

  She smiles, and her eye glimmers with all the colors again—green, red, black, before returning to soft violet.

  I shake my head. “Whatever, Vyvani. I’m not entirely okay up here”—I zip my finger across my head—“so do what you gotta do. Just, for your information, things have been weird for me these days, like someone is constantly in my thoughts.”

  “Then you’ll have no problem adjusting,” Vyvani says with a grin. She turns back to the web of traps before us. Just as she begins prying around it with her fingers, I begin to feel as if I am losing myself. It is a familiar feeling, one that has been constantly plaguing me these days. I am once again being sucked into the cycle of living someone else’s memories.

  “Vyvani,” I gasp. “I’m…I’m…”

  She turns to me and frowns. “Hold on, Kaz! Just a little longer, and I can trap Tenzo in here forever.”

  I try to form the words in my mind, the best and most concise sequence that will allow Vyvani to understand my intended meaning. But I am losing myself, my thoughts are being clouded, I am being sucked away…

  I look behind us, and through the haze of failing consciousness, I can see Tenzo working his way past the maze, clawing through the webs to reach us.

  “Vyvani…” I whisper.

  She looks to me, then at Tenzo, and grimaces. “You owe me!” she says with a wide, fierce grin.

  And just as I am wrenched into the other person’s world, to live their horrible memories over and over again, to feel immense hatred for the father, another entity floods my mind.

  It is unlike anything I have experienced—it is nothing like the foreign presence that has been attacking me before. This thing—it is not human, it is not machine, it is an omniscient logic that yet has perfect understanding of the schema of the world, to identify any anomaly and predict its existence before it awakens…

  The malignant presence tries to thrust me back into its memories—but then it notices Vyvani, and another, entirely new form of virulence. It reels back in confusion, then attempts to flee from the unwelcome invaders. It releases me from its hold as it does so, flying for its life, leaving behind the entrails of its fear, the dregs of its hatred…

  ...And my eyes snap open. I’m still within the interrogation chamber that Sangsum had imprisoned me in. I am sitting within the experimental VR pod. I roar and power on my bioEnhancements—then nothing. They’ve removed my spinalChip. I am useless. I can see it across from me, atop the holoViewer and keyboard and the computer they were using on me. It is so close within reach, and yet so far. It's half-circle shape pulses silver and white.

  Sangsum throws himself from his own chair. A steel and polycarbonate headpiece clatters across the concrete. He vomits onto the ground. A robotic drone arrives to clean it.

  Sangsum pushes himself onto his feet. With lurching steps, he undoes the leather straps that hold my wrists and pulls me to my feet.

  “What the hell was that, Moyashino!” Sangsum screams. “I implanted you with a chip! Why the hell have you grown stronger!”

  I spit in his face. “Screw you, Sangsum.”

  He throws me to the floor. I land on my face, a crumple of metal limbs and body upon the ground.

  A researcher stands from her station and approaches Sangsum. “Vice President Gato, something strange has happened. Our intranet—”

  “Is mine,” a voice speaks through every available speaker. The chamber trembles at the sound.

  Sangsum whips his gaze around the room, stumbling across the walls. “What’s going on?”

  The researcher returns to her computer and begins typing furiously. She swipes through windows on the holoViewer, stares at the monitor as warning after warning appears endlessly on the screen.

  “I should’ve known it was you, Sangsum,” the voice says mockingly.

  Sangsum’s face twists into confusion. “Vy?”

  At that moment, the drone suddenly swerves and takes flight. The researcher screams as it pummels into her face.

  “The spinalChip!” I yell.

  I know, speaks a voice inside my mind, sending shivers up my spine.

  With its clamps, the drone lifts the spinalChip from its place, flies back to me, pushes it into my neck.

  And I am powerful once again. I bioCharge my legs and lunge at Sangsum. My metal plates spark all through their length—blue, gold, green, red, white. I gather as much strength as I have ever gathered into my arms. I find that I am weakened, devoid of an energyTower for who knows how long—but neither have I used any charge since my capture.

  I let a battle cry tear through my lips. Terror is painted across Sangsum’s face. It is a most satisfying sight if I have ever seen one. I smash my fist into his cheek. I feel the bone crumple beneath, his tongue flaps out of his mouth, and he flies into the opposite wall. He slides to the ground, unconscious.

  As I approach him to end things once and for all, I hear a whimper and a squeak from the researcher as she attempts to make her escape. I gift her with a glare, freezing her in her tracks.

  “We’re done, Sangsum,” I whisper hoarsely. “It’s done now.” I prepare to charge my legs to stomp onto his face. Vengeance, done.

  But then the voice.

  Kazin. Your friends are outside.

  What? I say to it mentally.

  Your friends are outside to save you. They are inside the generator chamber. Out in the courtyard. I can see through the security systems. They are outnumbered. They are dying. They will all die.

  I need to finish this.

  I glare at Sangsum.

  Do you have enough charge left to finish him and deal with the enemies outside?

  Who is there? I begin to weigh my options.

  A crimson-haired man.

  Mugen.

  I rub my temple.

  A girl with sword and shield for her arms.

  Kala.

  I grimace. My options are wearing thin.

  A blonde-haired boy with a limp arm.

  Jin.

  There’s no more question about what I should do; there is no longer any doubt of what the right choice is. I leap across the table in the center of the room, and smash through the exit.

  Is there any way you can help?

  In my mind, I can feel Vyvani smile.

  YES.

  I smash my fists together.

  Let's do this then.

  Appendix

  People

  AKATO, old friend of Kashniro’s and Commissioner of the Handata City Constabulary.

  AKO, captain of Seven Star Mob.

  BAKU, Joryoku, Kargu Clan.

  CHAIRMAN GATO, chairman of Shampai Group and Sangsum Gato’s father.

  CHAIRMAN MORI, chairman and CEO of B.Ridge Corporation.

  CHAIRMAN MUJIMA, chairman and CEO of Vermeta Corporation.

  DAMERA, Yamda clan healer.

  DANBA KANBAR, Vorin’s father.

  GANZAMA, Yamda clan captain.

  GENTO, captain of Seven Star Mob.

  GHOST, a resident of the Underbelly, or as she claims it is called, the Copper Commune.

  HATA ZAKINODO, ex-boss of Yamda clan when Kashniro was a member.

  HAZGAL, Kashniro’s partner, ex-Joryoku, ex-mercenary.

  HEYLA, Kazin’s friend, and friend of Shalla Norix.

  HIRO, former Yamda healer, exiled for unknown reasons.

  INA, front desk worker at Mezi’s VR.

  JERIM NAKIGAMA, VP of Nakigama Banking & Co, friend of Sangsum Gato.

  JIN, captain of Seven Star Mob.

  KALA, Yamda clan captain.

  KENJI, Yamda clan captain.

  KASHNIRO MOYASHINO, Kazin’s dad, famed lieutenant of the Yamda clan, known as “the Gunman.”

  MAYAKO, Kazin’s mother.

  MUGEN, leader of Seven Star Mob.

  MUZGAL, Shora’s personal driver and bodyguard.

  NERA, Hazgal’s wife.

  NORBU HAMADA, Commander of the Yamda clan.

  OLD MAN HAZIKAWA, surrogate, vessel.

  PARKIM SON, a friend of Sangsum and Jerim’s.

  SABINA SON, foremost researcher in the fields of algorithmic biorobotics and cybernetic psychiatry, recently joined the research at the Crystalline Towers; Parkim's mother.

  SANGSUM GATO, heir to Shampai Group.

  SHALLA NORIX, social media star and celebrity.

  SHORA ASANO, Councilor.

  TAIKI, Joryoku, Kargu Clan.

  TANO, Councilor Shora’s intern.

  TENZO, (Ten) Sabina Son’s lead assistant.

  VORIN KANBAR, Vyvani’s companion and son of Danba Kanbar, a Contractor.

  WINZI, a girl in Sangsum’s friend group, on track to become a model after graduation.

  YUKIA, Yamda clan assistant healer.

  Handata City Districts

  ANDAKA DISTRICT, a wealthier district of Handata City.

  BYANZA QUARTER, a nightlife district, base of Kargu clan’s Handata City operations.

  CITY CENTER, the district of government.

  DOCKS, major port district.

  INDATO DISTRICT, affluent area of Handata City, home to many corporate executives.

  KAMA DISTRICT, contested district of Handata City.

  KOBOKO DISTRICT, a nightlife district.

  MINZYU DISTRICT, an upscale part of Handata City, where Kaz goes to school.

  SARO DISTRICT, district where the Yamda clan compound is located.

  SHIRUMO DISTRICT, a nightlife district, where Kaz and his father live.

  TOBASHINTA DISTRICT, a nightlife district, contested by the Kargu, Yamda, and the Seven Star Mob.

  Handata City Places

  CHUNZANTEN HALL, home of Handata City Parliament, located in City Center.

  KENDAKU BRIDGE, bridge stretching across the Hano River, into Indato District.

  KYANDO, nightlife neighborhood, located in Tobashinta District.

  NAMINO, an industrial field, located on the outskirts of Tobashinta District.

  ROYANG, an isolated area in Tobashinta District, controlled by the Seven Star Mob.

  ROYANG SHOPPING CENTER, where the Yamda/Seven Star Mob energyTower is located.

  Corporations

  B.RIDGE CORPORATION, bought out Sakranada Motors in a hostile takeover.

  NAKIGAMA BANKING & CO, banking and financial organization.

  SAKRANADA MOTORS, founded by Handa Sakranada, bought out by B.Ridge Corporation in a hostile takeover. Makes hypercars.

  SHAMPAI GROUP, company that Kashniro had plans to sign a deal with. Heavily involved in nightlife.

  VERMETA CORPORATION, heavily involved in VR.

  Syndicates

  KARGU CLAN, a Joryoku clan from the northern city of Zanaku, making recent forays into Handata City.

  YAMDA CLAN, a Joryoku clan originating in Handata City.

  Other

  SEVEN STAR MOB, a biker gang in the Royang neighborhood of Tobashinta District.

  WHITE TIGER SYNDICATE, a gang in Andaka District.

  Terms

  airShip

  angravSuit, anti-gravity suit

  beamShot, shot discharged by photonBlasters; color changes with amount of kinetic energy and levels of radiation present.

  blastRifle

  breakLock

  crackler, melee weapon utilizing electricity.

  directEn railgun

  encryptionEvent

  energyShield

  energyTower, a tower that emits energy so that bioEnhancements are charged for use.

  estateTower, the preferred style of homes for the elite of Indato, consisting of large, towering cylinders with a megamansion and grounds at the pinnacle.

  flameSword, weapon favored by Joryoku, a hilt with a blade of flame-like energy of color of choice.

  freethink, a principle upheld by Sabina Son and her colleagues, which presses the dangers of a society so governed by algorithms that humans have, without their knowledge, been deprived of free will; freedom from algorithmic determinism.

  hackerCorps

  hoverTram, a tram that is more expensive because it utilizes hoverTech.

  ionBlade, a sword, ion on ion-enforced steel.

  Joryoku, blanket term for crime syndicates operating throughout the countries.

  laserPrinted

  LFF, Legacy Founder Families, families who have founded one of the powerful conglomerates in the country.

  nerveChip, a chip present in all bioEnhanced Joryoku, allowing the neural connection between bioEnhancements and the brain.

  photonBlaster

  scourBot

  spaceYacht

  spinalChip, chip in Kazin’s spine that completes the connection from his nerve endings to his brain, allowing him to control his bioEnhanced limbs.

  strategicalTrooper, (stratTroop, stratTrooper) elite tactical unit of the Constabulary.

  strikeChopper

  walkWheel, allows a kinetic VR user to mimic the movements of real life while connected to a kinetic VR set.