Chapter Four:

"First Contact"

John's hands gripped the quantum-leather steering wheel, knuckles white against the impossibly smooth surface. His parents lay dead outside, murdered protecting whatever this vehicle was, while unknown killers tried to break through the garage door. The holographic dashboard cast his face in shifting blues and greens, but he barely registered the advanced technology surrounding him.

"Welcome, John." The voice emerged from everywhere and nowhere, gentle as morning dew. "I am Realmweaver, the consciousness interface of the ChronoLance X5."

John's breath caught in his throat. "How do you—"

"Know your name? I know many things about you, John. Your quiet determination. Your inherent kindness despite the world's decay." Realmweaver's tone remained perfectly measured, as if they were having a pleasant chat over coffee instead of hiding from murderers. "There is a message waiting for you. Shall I play it now?"

A crash echoed from outside. They were breaking through.

"Message? What—my parents are dead out there! We need to—"

"Please advise, John. Time will remain suspended while the message plays. You are quite safe for the moment."

John's head spun. Time suspended? Safe? Nothing made sense. But then again, nothing had made sense since those numbers started appearing everywhere. Since that woman had stood so still outside the QuikStop, watching him with that knowing smile.

"I... fine. Play it!"

The holographic dashboard rippled, and a familiar figure materialized in the passenger seat - the woman from the store. But now her features stayed fixed, carrying an impossible warmth.

"Hello, John," Gameweaver's projection smiled. "I believe it's time we had a proper introduction."

"I do hope you've enjoyed your day in my beautiful city," Gameweaver's projection said. "I designed it especially for this moment."

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John stared through the quantum-glass windshield. Dust motes hung suspended in the air, caught in the ChronoLance's ambient glow like stars frozen in space. Beyond them, he could see the garage door buckling from impacts that no longer made sound in this suspended pocket of time.

"Your... city?" The words triggered something. Sudden flashes burst through his mind - Harbor Pointe Food Station. The endless rain. The Dive. But these memories felt distant, like fragments of a dream barely remembered upon waking.

"Ah, you're starting to remember." Gameweaver's smile widened. "Though those memories aren't really necessary anymore. I thought you might enjoy being seventeen again. Don't worry - everything that makes you you is still there. All those essential experiences, feelings, lessons learned... they're just part of your subconscious now. Same John, different starting point. Much better than that dreary 2047, wouldn't you say?"

John's head throbbed. "I don't understand. Any of this. My parents—"

"Would you like to guess my favorite thing in all the worlds?" Gameweaver interrupted, her eyes sparkling. "Surprises! You see, when you're a semi-omnipotent being controlling infinite universes, paying attention to billions of players and countless NPCs, running trillions upon trillions of algorithms... well, things can get rather boring. But unexpected variables?" She clasped her hands together in delight. "Those are the best toys!"

The hologram leaned forward. "So here's the deal, John. I'm giving you Realmweaver. She's completely separate from me, designed to imprint on you. She'll be yours, and you'll be her Realm Runner. And here's the truly exciting part - you'll both be invisible to me. I won't know where you go or what you do. Total freedom!"

"I've equipped Realmweaver with all necessary knowledge," she continued. "The rules are wonderfully simple. Just maintain full acceleration for 8.8 seconds to charge the jump. But remember - no letting up on the gas, or the timer resets." She winked. "Rather reminiscent of those old time-traveling movies, isn't it? Such a shame we only had three."

"One last thing," Gameweaver's projection flickered slightly. "It seems there are others who would like to get their hands on Realmweaver."

Through the quantum-glass, another impact silently buckled the garage door.

"I've programmed her with the destination for your first Realm jump. I highly recommend finding a Player named Akira. He should be able to teach you some things that could really aid you in your future adventures." Her smile turned apologetic. "But unlike other Players who have a help button in their menu interface to call me for whatever they need... well, being invisible to me means that won't be an option for you. So, this is the only assistance I can offer - find Akira. If he's still alive, that is."

The projection dissolved into particles of light that merged with the frozen dust motes around them.

"Destination acquired," Realmweaver announced as Gameweaver's projection faded. "Please stand by while garage door opens."

The outer door began to rise with what seemed like deliberate slowness while the pounding on the inner door grew heavier, metal groaning under each impact.

"The Thousand Isles is quite lovely this time of year," Realmweaver continued, as casual as a tour guide. "The cherry blossoms in the Eastern Kingdoms are particularly spectacular. Though I should mention the Spirit Wilds can be rather tricky to navigate without proper—"

The inner door exploded inward.

"Forget the door!" John yanked the shifter into reverse and slammed the accelerator. The ChronoLance X5 burst backward through the remains of the garage door, quantum-glass and metal raining around them.

"As I was saying," Realmweaver continued serenely as John power-slid into the street, "the kitsune courts can be particularly territorial—"

"8.8 seconds, huh?" John threw the car into drive and floored it. The street ahead stretched empty before them, city lights bleeding into streaks of neon.

The ChronoLance X5 accelerated, reality beginning to bend around its frame. Space itself seemed to split open before them, edges glowing with impossible colors. The tear widened, matching the car's silhouette perfectly as they approached.

They hit the rift at full speed. Reality sealed behind them with a thunderous crack, leaving only empty street and scattered garage debris as evidence they'd ever been there.