“Yo! Wait up, Momo!’ Alex called out, coming up from behind as the sun was starting to hide behind some clouds.
“Ah, Alex. Good morning” Momo replied.
“You doing okay after yesterday?” he asked, as he and Momo headed over in their school uniforms, which also happened to be eerily identical to Momo’s work uniform. That wasn’t a coincidence though, as the former boss went to school there, and that was why he hired people out of there.
“Yeah, the enemies themselves were not a major issue. One was abnormal, though”.
“Yeah, my dad’s company received a report lately, sightings of strange virus types. Additionally, the amount of bounty hunters and mercenaries has increased lately in the city as well”.
“Bounty Hunters? Net ones?”
“Yeah those too. Thought you might want to know” Alex mentioned.
Momo nodded. “And the exam you had to take?”
“Apparently, in addition to individual ones, there will also be a mandatory school wide one anyways”.
“It feels like a search. Probably searching for people with special gifts connected to Cyberworld”.
“Probably...” Momo muttered, doubting it a bit. He was pretty sure they had ulterior motives, and he was pretty sure Alex was aware of that possibility too. He was just being considerate, and not bringing it up. “Anyways, we should really get ready. The sports festival is coming up, so the sports festival wont be too far behind”.
“That is true….but first is a history test…I really hate history. I think we will be covering the Anti-Fascist movement that started in the early twenty first century, and carried steam all the way to now” Alex mentioned. “As well as the reformation of the United States into the North American Democratic Empire after the war and then unity with Canada and Mexico”.
“I will never understand how one leads an Anti-fascist movement but ends up creating a country with the word Empire in it” Momo joked. He made a smile that looked rather cute, but Alex was used to it. Plus, he wasn’t doing it intentionally.
“Hey!” another voice shouted out as they were getting close to school. The duo turned around, and saw Rel Alma. “Good morning!”
“There you are Rel. You sure ran away quickly”.
[https://pin.it/5AXZooe][https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/651118395751792682/799304667019870248/download_1.jpg]
“She ambushed me...I swear, so many things can be interpreted so wrongly…not to mention her style of examination combined with her airheadedness…”
“Well, you can blame that on the Cyberworld Event. It was meant to connect everything and make it better, but due to concerns about virus activity, in addition to machines and scanners, doctors have to make a visual inspection as well” Alex pointed out, as they arrived at school. Cyrial East Middle School, one of two middle schools in the east district. The other was Gilbert Prep, Middle Division. Started by the Gilbert Foundation that is based in England.
As they were entering though, suddenly Momo tripped and fell to the ground. Alex and Rel barely caught it in the corner of the eye, pixels of a dematerializing object.
“Ohohohoho. Looks like you got a bit dirty there. Well, I am sure we have a spare uniform if you need it” an eighth grade girl, Lila Artello, mentioned as she and two girls often seen with her passed by, wearing the girls uniform, which was really just a skirt instead of pants.
She was also the daughter of the Artello Foundation. She was a rich girl, but she didn’t go the prep school in the same district because the Artello Foundation and the Gilbert Foundation were essentially mortal enemies.
“What a pompous annoying girl” Alex mentioned, helping Momo up. As that was going on though, the flash of a camera went off as a boy passed by. Rylo Larys. “Really Rylo-kun?”
“Come on, you two are dating right?”
“I am a boy!” Momo proclaimed.
“So? You could still be dating” Rylo pointed out.
“Ah, fair…but we are not!”
“Yeah no, me and Momo are just best friends. Seem desperate to find a couple though. Planning on asking them advice on how to ask out Editor-chan?” Alex teased, referring to the editor of the “school” newspaper, although the newspaper club was so good and big at what they did, and did proper serious reporting, that Cyrial East Middle could actually get press passes and were considered legitimate reporters. Most of East District read it or got the online articles, and even neighboring districts would use it. Alex knew that several copies even got as far as Aqua District, so it was popular across the city.
And he also knew that Rylo had a massive crush on his editor, Hanako Sumari.
“Fi-fine, I will let it go for now!” Rylo mentioned, running off.
“I see you fended off Rylo again” another boy said as he came up behind them.
“Ah! Kurobe!” Momo waved, as Kurobe Tanzaki came over to them. But before they could say anymore, the clock gave the bell that let them know it was five minutes till classtime. “ah, we better run!”
“Yeah! Make a break for it!”
At the ringing of the bell, they all took off running.
----------------------------------------
"Mr. Fredrickson" a female employee said, walking up to the large, fat man who was in charge. "We have recieved word from three bounty hunters who are willing to take the job now, along with our capture teams. There are also others on the way, but our Operators center says that they have a plan to draw out Emerald, or potentially others like him".
"Ha...well, I want him caught as soon as possible, so those three will have to do. What is the plan exactly?"
"According to our equipment, there is a NetStorm that will be going over the area in the Cyberworld side. This will likely cause various low-threat and some medium threat viruses to form, and potentially even a high threat. Operations wants to use it as cover. Since we cant be certain what district Emerald lives in currently, the plan is to cause chaos everywhere, and hide our actions. It would also delay the response time of the police and security forces".
"Very well. It sounds fun. Just make sure a high speed transport is ready to take them wherever Emerald appears. But to be safe, create extra chaos in the North, East, and South Districts. Its more likely he lives in areas that are heavily residential after all".
"True. Very well, I will signal them at once to proceed".
Fredrickson watched the large monitor, as his lackeys proceeded to go ahead and begin preparing to enact the plan.
"I wonder if I will get extra lucky, and Emerald is a beautiful girl I can keep all to myself..."
Incidentally, he was an increadibly sleezy and inhumane person.
----------------------------------------
Alex was looking at his phone, intent on looking at the news and what was going on.
[https://pin.it/1cf6mij][https://pin.it/1cf6mij][https://pin.it/7lw05Ws][https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/651118395751792682/796763791069151242/image0.jpg]
"I am so glad we made it in time. I didn't want to get punished again" Momo sighed with relief at the desk next to him, looking as if he was melting into it.
"Yeah...Rokuro-sensei can be quiet harsh, especially with the boys I feel like" Rel mentioned, as he looked over at the other two. "What are you looking at?"
"More information about the latest news" Alex replied. "It looks like things are really getting out of hand. Some outrage and contempt over those born with a stronger affinity or compatibility or whatever you want to call it to the Cyberworld. A few cults as well. More details about the increase in virus activity also".
"Are you sure you shouldn't be in the school newspaper with Rylo-kun? You do well to keep yourself informed".
"Well, actually, the article I am reading is the online version".
"It is there already?" Momo asked as he perked up.
"Yeah, it even talks about Emerald, or Emerald Mage now" Alex said, a slight bit teasingly. Momo pouted a bit, though since he was facing Alex no one saw it.
Alex just mused at that, seeing his expression.
Its a long ways better then the boy I found four years ago...
"Yo, Momo-kun" a female student said as she came over. She had the same hair color as Momo, but it was longer and in a ponytail, and her figure was far more feminine then Momo. She was also wearing a skirt, and glasses. And she was the Class President, Ruri Yamoto.
[https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/651118395751792682/796764981361770506/image0.jpg]
"No" Momo told her right off the bat.
"Ehh? How did you...?"
"You have been trying to get me to do it for a week now! And the answer is still no. I will not play the heroine of your play! Get a girl to do it!"
"But we all thought you would be best! At least try to wear the girl's school uniform for a bit, see if it sparks your inspiration or is comfortable at least?"
"No" Momo said coldy while blushing, his tone more serious. "Never happening".
"You picked the worst time to bring that up. We have an encounter with Lila Artello this morning. Made fun of Momo and said he should do that" Alex told her.
Lila looked irritated as she massaged her temples. "Again? I swear, that girl thinks she can get away with whatever she wants".
"Her dad is friends with the Mayor, and a few council members. We should just be glad that was all she did to Momo" Rel mentioned.
"That doesn't make it right!"
Although Ruri was rather forceful and domineering herself, she was nothing like Lila Artello, who seemed to find enjoyment from making the boys of the school, or even just in general, and especially Momo and small, short boys like him, even more so when they looked like they could be girls. Unfortunately for boys like that, and fortunately for her, a good percentage of boys born on Ravli Island, and Cyrial City especially, seemed to be shorter then the average, while the girls seemed a bit taller. It was influenced by the genetic trends set for hundreds of years by the island's original inhabitants, although some believe the Cyberworld Event is somehow responsible.
But since no one quite understood it fully, while that theory has yet to be proven, it has yet to be denied either. The Cyberworld Event, and the full logic behind how and why, remains a mystery of a science, a theory, or just knowledge that humans have yet to grasp. To many, Cyberworld can appear as if magic itself was created it, but people believe that something happened beyond their current capacity of scientific knowledge could explain, that it is just advanced science masquerading as something "magical".
Still, due to all this, no reason can be given to alleviate some of their concerns and worries, or help them cope with the bullying they have to put up with by people such as Lila Artello. Especially Momo, who looked more like an elementary schooler then a middle schooler.
"Yeah. And since they donated quite a bit of money to the school recently, she has sway with the principle as well" Rylo said as he entered and took a seat in front of Alex. "That said, its not just the girls who want to see Momo play the heroin. A lot of boys want him to as well".
"Am I nothing but entertainment to you all?!" Momo declared, shocked and frsterated.
"Sorry soory....but seriously, please? The Drama club will pay you!"
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"I am not that desperate!"
"Now now, everyone settle down".
The teacher declared that as she walked into the room. Hearing that, Ruri went back to her desk, as did others, as the class began. Lalima Rokuro, the teacher of Middle School Class 1-B. She was an older woman of at least fifty, with greying hair and a serious expression more often. As she was older then twenty, she could not glimpse the Cyberworld or the effects of it so easily, and she could not see or discern how it worked into the modern world.
"You seeing this?" Alex whispered to Momo. Momo simply nodded, noticing the increase of pixil traces coming off some machines. Occasionally, machines, especially networked machines, would occasionally give off a pixel or two. Nothing of major note, but occasionally it did happen sometimes. However, activity would sometimes increase if a virus was going to materialize into the real world. It wasn't all that noticable, but there were a few, especially people like Momo, who could pick up on it easily.
Rylo took out some goggles and put them on his head, placing the lenses over his eyes.
"Particle readings..."
"Its only about 42%".
Momo beat him to the analysis accidentally.
"Yeah, that is right...how did..."
"I am very good at this" Momo muttered.
"Who is talking back there!" Rokuro-sensei shouted, causing them to quickly act as if they were following along and nothing was wrong. 42% was cautionary, but sometimes it happened naturally. Anything below 65% would not manifest anything, and stronger readings would be about 80%. Technically, the percentage could actually exceed 100%, but by that point something had absolutely already happened, and it just might mean additional events will occur.
As the Cyberworld was still a major mystery, the concept of 100% kept changing, and differed depending on who you asked.
"Anyways, as I was saying, this is a new transfer student coming to our school. His name is Tomi Ferli" she said, announcing the new boy. He had black hair and rather noticable glasses, and wasn't much taller then Momo. That said, the girls seemed quite gossip inclined. "There is a desk recently emptied in front of Mokuba-kun. Please take that one".
"Ah, thank you. My name is Tomi Ferli, I hope to get along with everyone!"
As he said that, he went over to the chair.
"Nice to meet you, Tomi-kun" Momo said.
"Ah, thanks".
"Anyways, try to adjust as best you can, but fair warning we have gym class next so you might not want to get too comfortable" Momo said jokingly.
"Ah, right" he said, seemingly nervous a bit.
----------------------------------------
After some class time with Rokuro-sensei, they did in fact end up going to the gym. The building was connected to the school thankfully, so they didn't have to risk going through the worsening weather on the way there, although they were almost certainly going to be outside anyways. They were actually building a new, better, bigger building, but it was not quite done yet. Unless the rain was coming down hard, they didn't stop outside classes for it, especially swim classes. After all, it rained so much on Ravli Island, and especially in Cyrial City, it would have them stuck inside quite a bit. Plus, as their teacher says, "a little water never hurt anyone".
That said, something came to light as they entered the locker room to change.
"Huh? I didn't know this school had also removed gender segregation for it, or at least for gym class?"
Another movement that was started roughly fifty years ago, schools and various facilities who followed the growing belief that children needed healthy exposure and healthy views about their bodies, began making some reforms here and there, and had schools and such introduce bathrooms, changing rooms, showers, and gym classes that had both genders staying together from elementary school to high school. This way, there would be less of a conscious and subconscious division of boys and girls and male and female, aside from the physical aspect, and also made things easier for transgenders and non-binary people as well.
However, right now for their school, until the new gymnasium was finished sometime soon, that was not the case for them.
"Not until the new building is finished, should be any day now. Why?" Rylo asked, as the group made it to their lockers and Momo started to strip. This caused Tomi to get very red and embarrassed as he saw Momo's naked body, and then shocked. Rylo put two and two together. "Um yeah, despite his looks, Momo is a boy".
Momo twitched a little.
"...I thought that was abundently clear".
Alex just laughed it off as he started to get changed too. "Come on, lets just get changed and get out there. Maybe if we get there sooner, we will be finished sooner before it rains".
"I dont actually mind doing gym in the rain. It feels more exhilerating" Rylo told them.
"Thats because you have a weird way to be immune to sickness or such" Momo retorted, as he took out his gym uniform, and frowned. "...someone broke into my locker again".
He said that as he took out the girl's gym uniform. Alex sighed, and immediately opened his locker. He tossed Momo a gym uniform that was clearly too small for Alex, but was a perfect fit for Momo.
"Thanks!"
"That happens regularly?" Tomi asked.
"Mainly for Momo. The class president is actually trying to recruit him to play the heroin in the play".
"Alex, please stop saying that" Momo said, when they heard what sounded like rain hitting outside. "Well, guess its in the rain after all".
Incidentally, the gym uniforms for boys was a white T shirt with blue rims, blue shorts, and a pair of blue gym shoes. For girls, it was a white T shirt with red borders, a red bottom similar to a swimsuit, with a skirt on it for some reason, and red gym shoes.
With all that done, the group headed outside, despite the rain.
This really is like the day I met Momo... Alex thought, hearing the rain pick up some more.
"We are really doing gym class in the rain?" Tomi asked.
"Welcome to Cyrial. If we canceled gym, or went inside, every time it rained, the gym would be too crowded, and we would be inside a lot" Momo answered, as the class assembled outside. However, as they stepped further outside, Momo saw something concerning, and Alex could make it out too.
"Paricle Levels...184%?!"
Momo looked around, but despite the increase in winds, he didn't stop.
"What is it?"
"Where is Javier-Sensei?!" Momo asked, refering to the large, African man who served as their gym teacher. The others looked around, but they didn't see him either, even as the storm started to pick up and the streetlights began to go crazy. Rylo tried to go back to the gym door to get back inside, but no matter what he did the doors would not open, as they had locked themselves. However, it clearly showed the unlocked indicator on the door.
"The doors are malfunctioning!" Rylo shouted, as several other students boy and girl tried to help him pry them open. However, in case of a lockdown or emergency, those doors would seal tight. Of course, there was an emergency way in, but it would need verification from the security booth in the main office.
A teacher could also override it, but their teacher was not there.
"Momo-kun! Dont go out too far!" Ruri warned. Momo turned back, and then saw something dangerous. "What is it?"
"Ruri-chan, behind you!"
Ruri and the others looked back, only to see what appeared to be green and purple rats, with tails that had blades on them. An aggressive but low level virus. Tomi tapped his watch he was wearing, and quickly formed a Firewall Barrier between them, keeping everone from harm.
"Well Tomi-kun, normally you are not supposed to wear accessories to gym class, but I think its safe to say an exception can be made this time" Ruri said jokingly.
"Ah...I was always told to keep it with me in case of an emergency" Tomi mentioned, when a loud noise began to erupt from the nearby shed, and cleaning drones seemed to emerge, going haywire.
Alex quickly ran over to Momo. "We need to get to the school building!"
"There are more virus forms at the front!"
"Then, we just need to get out of here! Contact the police! Come on Momo, this way!"
Alex quickly took Momo's hand, and the two ran off to get help. Or at least, that was the official story. They quickly ducked into an alley though, and headed down a corner to a dead end.
"Alex! I need to find an Access Port!"
"I know. That is why we are here".
Alex took Momo over to a streetlight that was in this dead end alley, and opened up an access panel, revealing an access port.
"Streetlights here were redesigned thirty years ago with the universal access port to help boost wifi signals and provide backups in case power went out or internet relay malfunctioned".
"Alright, thanks" Momo said, looking down. "These dont have my programs in it..."
"Don't worry, I will hold onto them and keep them safe" Alex told him.
"Thanks. Its really annoying they stole the uniform I had put work into".
Momo then slammed his hand onto the access port. "Jack In. Power up!"
And then, Momo's body suddenly digitized, and entered the access port, leaving his gym clothes and shoes behind. Unfortunately, while the power to digitize and physically enter the Internet and the Cyberworld was something his body could do, unless he encoded a special program, his clothes would not go with him. It wasn't too hard, although it did require a bit of money for the material component as well as time to weave the code into the fabric.
Meanwhile, Momo had entered the tunnel which would lead him into the Cyberworld. It was a bit of a hassle since it decreased from his overall capacity a bit, but he re-created the clothes he normally wore to school or work while in the tunnel, in addition to applying the identity concealer and encryptions.
Incidentally, he did have some casual clothes, but during schooldays and workdays him and most others just wore their school uniforms around, at least until they got home. Sometimes on days off too, since a group of students all in school uniforms could get a discount at various places in Cyrial.
As Momo entered the Cyberworld, he saw quite a sight. As if synced with the storm in the real world, there was a datastorm right there, raging across the city. And with it, he could see that the viruses appearing in the real world had already left, but there was still quite a number, including things that appeared to be eating the door controls. There was also a large scale virus that appeared to be producing others, but it didn't come up as too dangerous on a scan. Just because it was bigger, didn't make it stronger.
Momo immediately released Seeker Blasts at them. They were all destroyed as Momo landed on the ground next to the control.
"Access, Grant!"
He then gained access to the door control, and used it to hack the doors and open them. This would let them get inside, and then they could seal it for safety from the inside. He raised a firewall shield as more attacks came at him, protecting him while he held the door open for them, before quickly jumping away.
"Fine then, I will play with you a bit" he said, as two gauntlets appeared on his arms. He activated a program that created a green circular pad at his feet, and then he suddenly jumped up even faster and with more speed and height then ever before, going right at the one creating the viruses. It was probablly originally a virus that locked our or chewed out controls and data unless you let it spread to others, or something like that.
Two spheres of green energy appeared in his hands and he tossed them at the virus, as two green blades came out of the gauntlet. As the orbs crashed into it and decimated its defenses, Momo went for the kill with the blades, taking it out so the numbers would stop increasing.
However, several warning signals came up and Momo quickly dodged as an attack came his way.
"Target Emerald believe to be confirmed. Identity concealer is in place so cant guarentee one hundred percent" someone in jet black armor with red energy lines running through it.
"It has the same percentage as the program that has made some work, and attack pattern looks right. Engaging" another said in what appeared to be some major urban camo hunter attire.
"Will proceed to hunt for capture" a third said, wearing what made him look like some sort of modern day combat ninja.
Given their lack of taste, the greed they seemed to be expressing on their faces, and their weapons, they appeared to be bounty hunters. And he was the target. Several attacks came at him, but he deployed a few green firewall barriers and jumped up, while releasing multiple Seeker Blast attacks. He also loaded in a program that send an energy pulse of sorts at them, loaded with programs to damage them and disrupt their systems.
Given their age, they definently were not in here phyiscally. They had to be using a Dive System, and clearly a specialized one if they were fighting him like this.
"Guess I better take this seriously then" Momo said, as his eyes glowed bright clean. At the same time, green sparks appared to float all around him. He launched them out, and the enemies attempted to evade, but they suddenly turned and tracked them to an even greater degree then Seeker Blasts. He also sent several of them straight up into the air.
He then snapped his figners, and the sparks errupted into highly accelerated speed and tore through them. They managed to dodge and avoid critical damage, but one of them lost their arm on their digital body. Of course, since they body was purely digital software, they did not take any serious injury. This was evidence by the fact there was no blood coming out, but pixelized distortion.
Still, the trio began to bombard him with projectiles, intending to destroy him or at least injure him. It seemed like this was a capture mission.
I wont...I wont go back. And I wont be captured again!
Feeling his resolve, two lines of code appeared around him as he activated a new program.
"Program Start: Worldshape".
As he activated the Program, massive spikes of digital earth emerged from the ground targeting the mercenaries. At the same time, lightning struck from above, and hit the one in the black armor with a direct hit, stunning him. The moment that happeened, Momo super accelerated right to him and kicked him right into the ground, sustaining massive damage as a giant earth spike came out of the ground and pierced him.
"Excessive Damage Detected to Digital Body. Risk of Trauma to Neural Cortex. Force Logout Initiated".
"He is manipulating the terrain itself?!"
"Program: Green Winds of Provenance".
At the same time, a green wind appeared to flow around them.
"Tsk. Is the storm working for him?!"
"Did you think I would just roll over and submit?!" Momo shouted, as he brought down the lightning to reinforce his kick and bring it down upon his target. As such, the second mercenary recieved critical damage as well, and was subject to a Force Logout.
"We need support! Suppressing fire now!"
The final merc called in support, but all there was remaining was a static on the comm line. He checked on their status, and every single one had been taken out.
"You were so concerned about evading and being chased, I guess you didn't notice that I sent several sparks into the air" Momo told him. "From the very beginning, I I knew I had to take them out before I really started going at it. By the time I started changing the terrain, they were all already taken out".
The man felt a chill down his spine.
"Tell your employer this. I will never go back, ever".
And then, Momo plunged his fist through his head, destroying enough of his body to initiate a Force Logout.
"That was...amazing" a boy's voice muttered. Momo turned around, and saw that for some reason, Tomi was right there, watching. Although Momo's identity concealer was perfectly operational and would even disguise his voice, he didn't want to risk his mannerisms or speech or such being used to identify him, and quickly went back and left through the same way he came in, ensuring his path was still encoded and no traceback was in effect. After that, he materialized right in the same dead end alley, completely naked. Alex was there waiting for him, soaking wet from the increase in rain, and holding what appeared to be Momo's soaked clothing.
"Thanks for waiting" Momo said.
"No problem, but...I think we are both going to catch a cold" Alex said, looking at Momo's body. "Huh. Now its practically exactly like when we first met".
"Yeah, I suppose it is" Momo said, as Alex handed him his soaking wet gym clothes. It was tough to put them on again, and very uncomfortable. But he didn't feel like walking around naked in the middle of town. Even if some people in their school would pay to see that. Once they were dressed, they decided to head back. Alex already had a cover story prepared anyways.
But he couldn't get it out of his head now, the day he and Momo first met.
----------------------------------------
"It appears the capture teams have failed. We have reported sightings on Emerald in the East District area, although...we have confirmation that others were also suppressed in other districts, especially in the Central District. We have confirmation of another target of interest, Silver Bullet, who took out multiple targets and even our backup team without ever being spotted, and also sightings of Racer in South District, and White Snow in the Mountain District, among others".
"Ah yes...the others we were investigating. Still, those fools let Emerald Mage slip through their fingers? Annoying. At least we got some good data off it, right?"
"Yes, we confirmed a high level program in Emerald's arsenal, and confirmed more aobut his abilities".
"Well, if he went down easily, we wouldn't be after him I suppose. Still, I will only tolerate so much failure. Get it down, no matter what you have to do".
"Of course sir" the woman said, going off now that she finished her reporting. Still, the man did not look happy.
"If I am too slow, others will come to try and capture them for themselves. I wont share them with anyone. Emerald, and those like him or her, will be mine".
The enemy had not given up yet.