I’m unconscious at the moment. I’m in the void of my mind covered by nothingness, not white but black. This is my mind; Pitch black darkness. I take the moment to think reflect on the past events.

……Kyousuke--

My thoughts traced to Kyousuke.

He is the most perverted, nice, rude, loyal gentleman I know. I never thought he would do this.

“Huh?”

What is he planning anyway? I suppose the only way to find out is to ask him.

…Ericka.--

Is she all right. I worry for her, a frail-looking girl like that is sure to need me. I need to wake up and rescue her. If I can save anyone, I have to save her

…Kyousuke… I trust you. I know there has to be a reason for this.

I begin to hear voices. The void of my mind is lifting.

I’m waking up.

As I wake up I see white everywhere. I’m surrounded by large human-sized pods in a dome shaped room; There must be it thousands of them . They all were connected to one large supercomputer (or what looks like one) and I saw a tall middle-aged man with messy gray hair in a lab coat.

I try to move

“Ugh”

It seems I am bound. Well, how hospitable, tying up your guests. It looks like I am in one of those pods I was talking about earlier. I see the middle aged man approach me.

“Good evening, boy. I take it you’ve had a good rest?”

“Who are you? Where is Kyousuke and Ericka.”

He answered, looking proud of himself.

“Kyousuke is behind the computer, regretting what he’s done. As for the girl…”

He pointed to the right of me. I turned slowly to the right.

I feeling of relief washed over me, along with confusion.

Ericka was in the pod next to me unconscious. Or at least I hope.

“So I think it’s time to explain to you why you are here, and I promise it’s not for a reason that you think, it’s much more… gra--”

Ignoring him, I yell out to Kyousuke.

“Kyousuke! Get out of here and stop feeling sorry for yourself.”

I saw his arm move from behind the giant computer with flashing screens.

“How could you do this to cute Ericka; ahhh  I wonder what she’ll say about this.”

I was clearly toying with him.

“I thought she was dainty, like a flower! Ha, it seems you know nothing about pursing the beauty she possesses!”

Before he knew it he was standing right in front of the pod I was in with that same grin. This is the Kyousuke I was looking for; Not the one moping behind the computer. But…

“I changed my mind! Ericka is dainty like a flower, But…”

“Ahem,”

The middle aged man seem annoyed, trying to get out attention. Nevertheless, I ignored him.

“I think she is sexy!! When I was face to face with her I felt it!” I felt my temperature rising over the things I was saying.

“Shinji! You finally see the how great the pursuit of beauty is.”

“Yes I do Kyou- buddy”  

We shared a couple of tears over our newfound brotherhood.

Oh my god, I really need to get away from him. Ayumi was right, he is contagious.

“H-Hey guys. Can you pwease stop it.”

I turned to the right and saw that Ericka was still awake. Whoopsie. And that slip of the tongue, ahhh such bliss.

 “Oh, I’m sorry. I couldn’t help it, I noticed you awake so I couldn’t help it.”

“Roses should take a hint from your color.”

I made fun of her blushing.

“So you were just teasing me?”

This scene sounds familiar.

“AHEM!”

I almost forgot that guy was here.

“Sorry to interrupt your romantic comedy here, but I have something to ask of you.”

“I want to know too, Uncle. I don’t want to make a habit of dosing everyone up. What do you want with everyone.”

Kyousuke looked lost.

“So I’ll just get right to it. I take it you’ve played Online games right.”

“Yeaaah?”

 I wondered what he was getting at.

“If there was a way to live within that game and make it the new reality, would you?”

“Come on old man, get to the point”

I agreed with Kyousuke, nodding.

“Well there is a way. I’ve created a digital world within this computer that is self-sustaining, evolves and updates by itself, just like humanity.”

Honestly, this intrigued me but didn’t want to indulge him but my mind couldn’t catch up with my desires and I asked:

“But how is that possible.” 

My eyes were glowing. I really wanted to know. I loved the idea of virtual reality, but turning that world into the new reality really got to me. I suddenly remembered yesterday night with Sho. I was playing Clash of Destinies, I mean really playing it. I just started that same day and I got to level 50. Fighting monsters, leveling, doing quests with Sho. I’d love to do that with the entire world, and my friends. I was enamored with the idea.

You could say nerd rage. Please don’t.

“It is done by a process called Whole brain emulation. It started out as a hypothesis but it turns out it is very possible. All possible by me, of course all over the course of 35 years of perfecting.”

Now you’re just showing off. He sounded self-righteous, but if he did get this done, that would make him one smart man and he would deserve to be.

“Now, time for the explanation. Prepare your brains and hold all questions to the end.”

He glared at us all, turning his head towards Ericka. She nodded frantically. Also, she was rather calm, considering the situation.

“Whole brain emulation is scanning all your brain including its: state, long-term memory, short-term memory and even your sense of self and computerizing it. It even takes record of your DNA and current abilities. However, you must know this: your mind is not copied it is transferred. So---“

“Your body is left behind without its brain to control bodily functions.”

Ericka chimed in, interrupting the middle aged man. Kyousuke and I were surprised. Great job. She got it before me.

“Correct, girl. It seems I’ve underestimated you. And in summary: Your current body dies as it leaves for the new one.”

“And as I was, by transferring the human mind to the computer’s system it could then be transferred again to a body within the New world which I’m calling the Ark.” “The bodies are basically empty shells waiting for a mind to function the body. Once the body is filled with a “mind” the bodies will function like normal.”

“So much work. Was 35 years really enough for this?”

This was a lot to swallow for me. But I want to know why was it necessary for him to get Kyousuke to drug us. Oh, no. I think I understand. It was probably to keep this place hidden from human eyes. A place this huge must be underground though.

“What about memory-wise. I know emulating the entire world must take a lot of memory,Uncle, how are you getting it?”

“Look around you, nephew, it’s all over. Also look below.”

I knew thought that 1 giant computer would not be enough but I thought just one more will do. When I looked down I couldn’t have been more wrong.

There were hundreds, no, maybe even thousands of supercomputers covering this grand white room, and 100 pods per computer to spare.

How did he hide this for so long?

“Well that was the short of it, I’m taking questions young ones!”

One big one that everyone had in mind.

“Why did you create this world? And what’s with these pods?”

Kyousuke and Ericka nodded.

“I’ve created this world originally as an escape for people with diseases, disorders and handicaps. When I transferred people’s “mind” I can remove the causes of disorders caused in the brain and they can enjoy their new lives when I upload it into the ark.

Wait, transferred? Has he done this already? I started to think back on this morning. The news.

“There have still been reportings of kidnappings all over the Kansai region. Nothing much is known about the perpetrators, but the police has said that there would have to be an entire organization of people to do something of this scale.” The reporter went on.

“Over 1—“

No, they were wrong. Not one organization. Just 1 man. But how? He has to have people robbing the people.

I can’t hold this in. It is no coincidence. This was him.

“You look like you have something to say.”

The grey bearded man had a cocky smile on his face.

“You’re apart of those kidnappings aren’t you. The one from the news right? They say you kidnapped over 1 thousand people.”

The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

“Just one thousand people? Are they just now figuring that out this year?”

Did he say “just” one thousand people?  How many people has he kidnapped exactly?

“What do you mean just one thousand? How many people have you kidnapped so far?”

The number…. I just refused to believe.

“One million, two hundred and fifty thousand, eight hundred and twenty eight. I finished this project when I was 20 years old, along with your fathers.”

 1,250,828. All in 35 years. I couldn’t say anything, much less react to what he just said about my father.

It seems Kyousuke and Ericka shared my shock.

“In all the excitement I forgot to introduce myself. I am Delta Hoqas. That is Ho-kwahs, by the way”

“And before you ask there are many technologies and secrets that are hidden within this world underground. Not everyone is in a hurry to share their inventions with the world, me included. Even the people within The Ark don’t know they are in there but I do know that they are enjoying themselves now more than ever.”

“Still speechless? Understandable, a lot of information in a short amount of time. But sorry if I seem rude, but I’m moving on to the question you want answered: Why are we here?”

“U-uh y- yeah.” I was still shaken from the earlier news.

“I was wrong about doing this myself, I have an assistant about your age that has been with Kyousuke and me working on this experiment for about 3 years. He was always a bit… unstable.

“Unstable? What do you mean?”

I was intrigued.

“As a child he never liked humans. He was raised in a warzone around bloodshed and death all over. At the young age of nine he was found on top of a pile of bodies by your father, who was a free mercenary at the time. Your father was searching the warzone for surviving soldiers and he happened upon him and you Shinji.

“I actually forgot he told me he had a kid with him when he found me unconscious. Father did always have a knack for saving people. From everywhere.”

I remember one time he asked mom after coming home from his “trips” to adopt a 22 year old homeless woman from America. It didn’t go very well, because he actually brought her home. Which is illegal… yeah.

“But to my surprise he brought him to my lab, and it looks like he liked working here. He became enamored with The Ark. So I taught him all about it and gave him loads of work to do. He eventually started helping around.”

“So what went wrong?”

Ericka looked intrigued.

“You still alright over there?”

“Yes, I’m just glad I’m learning more about you and your past.”

I can’t see her that well but hearing that made me feel better. But I need to get us moving fast.

“Moving on, Datenshi, which is the young lad’s name transferred his brain into the computer and uploaded into the Ark without my permission, well not that he needed it, he could have volunteered. However in this journal I told him to keep track of, which he failed,he said something about creating his own empire and taking over the world within. I want to keep that world safe.”

“So you’re saying you need me to go after him and convince him otherwise?”

I knew where this was going, but one thing bothered me.

“But we’re tied up, we couldn’t deny you even if we wanted to.”

“Your father once told me, humans only have strength in doing what they want, not doing what they are told. There is greater power in making a decision by one’s own volition than by force. I want you to go fully aware and powerful.”

Yup, that’s father alright, spouting whatever sounds cool from his head. But, I finally get to protect something. A new world even. And It sucks that I won’t be able to see this world again, but…

“I’ll do it!”

I won’t hesitate.

“Shinji no!”

Kyousuke screamed at the glass pod I was contained in. I turned towards Ericka.

Ericka with tears over her pearls. It upset me that she was crying for my sake. She would even cry for someone she just met what feels like 14 hours ago. She really was a pure girl.

“Hey.”

Her tiny lips quivered. I interrupted her thought.

“My story has gotta start somewhere.”

I said that pretty confidently, I hope I looked cool this time.

She started at me, eyes wide open and wiped them dry. Then gave me a big smile. She started to talk.

“I’m going with you!”

“Eri---.”

“I’m going with you!”

She started pouting.

Stubborn I see. I’m sure she knows the consequences, so I said no more.

“Me too, Uncle. I owe him for getting him in this mess. And If I don’t come, Shinji will shack up with Ericka and try to deflower her again.”

Kyousuke was already hooking himself up to the pod.

“Kyousuke… And when was the first time!”

I see Ericka blushing to the side of me.

At least deny it!

“Well everything is ready, Just need to brief you on his location and the ways of The Ark.

1.     Every law is not the same as this society. This is a self-sustaining world, capable of changes and evolution just like this one so I cannot predict what will happen once you get in or what state it’s in.

2.     There are 4 ruling nations and a neutral merchant city with armies and such, or there should be. You should go to each of them for any assistance and guidance for Datenshi’s movements.

3.     There is magic and superhuman strength within, you are given abilities based on personality, abilities, DNA, and potential. You can learn more if you try. You should not have a problem with this Shinji.”

I gave him a glare

“Don’t worry I won’t say.

And…

4.     Take your time honing your abilities there are monsters and other rogues roaming about and they will attack and try to best you. Datenshi will be doing the same.

5.     Live and have fun. That is what this world was intended for. Humanity: Innovated with endless possibilities. This is your new home.

Got it?”

“Right!”

“This is kinda exciting guys”

Ericka looks as though she’s having fun

.

“All right hippie youngstas, I’m gonna put you to sleep or else this will hurt a lot.

“Okay Delta, fire it up.”

I hear gas hissing from the air vents within the pods. Ok you can do this.

“ Hey hwahhhh  Shinji?”

He yawned.

“aaaaaah, What is it?”

I yawn in response.

“Ayumi and Sho are waiting ahead. Just so you know.”

I think I was too drowsy to tell, but I think I was smiling at that fact.

I relax as my body head towards an unfamiliar darkness, speckled with hints of light. I think about my dad.

Hey Dad. I’m not sure if this is what you meant by my own paradise, and I may not get to go back to my normal life but……

I’m ready.

 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Another chapter finished. Idk why but I really like the plot I've made out for this so I'm gonna stick it out to the end so you guys can see it. You know the deal: tell me if you liked it and what. Also tell me what you disliked, no one improves on like alone. I NEED SOME CRITICISM! I'm not a masochist or anything...

Until next chapter.