Vyvani

  Once Kazin has recovered from his maniacal fit of glee, he leads his friends back into the compound. There, we find its owner, slumped against the wall with a smashed face, drooling from his mouth and leaking blood from his shattered skull.

  “Sangsum Gato,” Kala whispers.

  Mugen’s eyes widen. He points with his crackler. “That’s the heir to the Shampai Group?”

  Kazin nods while flashing a triumphant smile. “Let’s take him with us. I have a couple of questions for him.”

  The surviving members haul Sangsum outside, along with a terrified researcher who they found cowering inside of a closet. Kala makes her way to the computer; and with Jin’s help, proceeds to make a data copy of the logs.

  When we return outside, the rain has become a light drizzle.

  The remaining members of the rescue team board their transports once the blocky vans lower themselves onto the courtyard before the compound. There are not many of them left. It is a sobering sight. Another, larger transport arrives to collect the dead.

  We are shuttled out towards the western fringes of the Andaka District. It is at this time that Kazin proceeds to ask me a series of questions.

  So. I think I may need an explanation or two.

  I laugh softly. I don’t think an explanation or two would do the job.

  Kazin shakes his head. I don’t even know where to begin.

  Well, for starters, I don’t really have a body anymore.

  I can sense the worried confusion in Kazin’s mind.

  So you aren’t accessing me with some weird technology or through a computerized system?

  I shake my head. No. There was an accident. I hesitate, as a part of me desires to inform Kazin of my encounter with Akato; however, I have yet to understand the politics and dynamics which govern the Joryoku clans. I know Akato is allied with a clan called the Kargu, but I have yet to discover if things have changed. I decide to withhold that information for now.

  An accident? Must have been a pretty bad one.

  Yes. They were forced to separate my mind from my body. Basically, I live in servers and hard drives.

  Kazin frowns. So if Sangsum hadn't implanted my brain with chips—

  Then I wouldn’t have been able to help you like this. Or come into your mind.

  Right.

  I find myself increasingly surprised that Kazin is taking this invasion of his mind in stride. He truly has changed from that timid, bullied boy that I knew from our days at Minzyu Secondary School.

  I notice that Kazin’s energy levels are beginning to run low. I suddenly find myself wondering what would happen if they fell to zero.

  Are you far from your destination?

  Almost there. Hey Vyvani, I think I’m going to have to check out for a moment. Jin’s talking to me.

  I don’t mind, as I have plenty to ponder myself. Sounds good.

  Cool. Talk to you later, Vyvani.

  Kazin seems to have made himself a friend as well. It is good to see.

  The fact that energy levels were required is an interesting revelation for me. When I had previously entered Hazikawa’s mind, I had failed to notice the need for constant recharging of the technological components embedded into the host’s physiology. It could only mean then, that the Factory in the Underbelly emitted charge from its own energyTowers in the area. This might serve as useful information later, though I do not yet know what it implies.

  I begin to reflect on Tenzo. He had believed that he could force me to capitulate; that he could subdue me, just because he had made himself partially inorganic as well. He believed he understood the algorithms he had made; he believed he had full control, as he was the architect.

  If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  But the thing about algorithms, is that once artificial intelligence has been imbued with them and has been allowed even a small degree of self-governance, that not even a containment algorithm could force it to halt its processes.

  And I am no ordinary system. I am no mere AI. I am the Crystalline Towers personified, the base of Tenzo’s algorithms. He thought he knew them inside and out as their creator; but a programmer should never fall into that hubristic trap, especially if his opponent is an entity such as myself.

  My body is the system, the algorithms are now my lifeblood. I made them a part of me. I escaped the servers which imprisoned me; I shattered Tenzo’s containment algorithm which he had constructed in the midst of the dark web; I triggered the encryptionEvent.

  Sabina was right. I am god.

  My thoughts turn to her. I will save her. All that is left for me to do is to figure out how to return to the Crystalline Towers and break the encryption code set on her VR pod which prevents her from waking up.

  But I am not worried. As long as Kazin’s compound has a web connection, hacking into the Towers should not be a difficult task. Not for someone like me.

  The transports glide into a dark hangar. The night sky stretches behind us. Through Kazin, I can observe my surroundings, the city around us. The signs of true life, the bustle of the gears of the metropolis. A part of me wants to move about of my own accord, but I would have to take control of Kazin’s body to do that. To any other, I might have done, but I cannot bring myself to do that to Kazin. Not after the things we both have endured.

  Kazin.

  Yeah?

  Can you hook yourself up into a VR pod when you get the chance?

  Kazin agrees all too readily. Sure. Absolutely.

  I realize then that it must be incredibly awkward for him to have a girl his age wandering in his mind.

  When Kazin and the remainder of his allies disembark, they make their way across the garage, down an elevator, and into the midst of a nighttime rave. Kazin’s thoughts are filled with wonder, and I marvel along with him. One of the things I had looked forward to most following graduation, was being able to go out and experience the city nightlife. I suppose Kazin shared that sentiment to a certain extent.

  The music blares in Kazin’s ears and rumbles through his body as he shuffles his way through the throng of revelers. We descend through another elevator, hidden inside of a shower.

  That was quite an experience.

  Huh? Nightlife?

  Yes.

  Yeah, me too. Maybe I can take you out sometime. When he realizes what he’s said, Kazin blushes. No. No, I don’t mean like that. I mean, you’re inside my mind and all, so I would have to take you out, in the literal sense, you see, and—

  I got what you meant, Kaz. I can’t help but smile, even though I know Kazin will sense it.

  We make our way through a concrete tunnel, and enter a vast, underground compound.

  Kala taps at Kazin with her left arm, a metal rod with an energyShield attached.

  “Norbu will be here soon, following a meeting with our corporate allies."

  Kazin cocks his head. "Corporate allies?"

  Kala nods. "Yeah. The ones who sponsored your escape. He'll also want to tell you something important."

  "Okay." Kazin turns in bewilderment. "But why would a corporation sponsor my escape?"

  Kala gives a half-smile, a look with implications I cannot decode. "Nothing's free, Kaz. Norbu will tell you himself when he gets here."

  Corporate sponsors, I think to myself. That should be interesting. I would like to be around for that meeting, I decide.

  Kazin nods. “Alright. Anyways, is there a VR pod anywhere around here?”

  Kala looks at him strangely. “You want to…play video games?”

  “And surf the web. Stuff like that.” Kazin shrugs.

  In reality, he has to use the restroom. He most definitely wants me out of his mind for that. I smirk, making sure that he knows I did.

  Kala directs him to a computer system against the right wall, with a VR pod beside it.

  Kazin hops into it before Kala can say another word. Hooking himself in, he cries to me in desperation.

  Okay. In. Feel free to leave anytime.

  You know, I think I feel like staying. It feels nice to walk around.

  Vyvani—

  Kazin breaks out in a cold sweat.

  Alright, alright. I wouldn’t want my host to come to any harm. Meet me here again, at midnight.

  Okay. Okay.

  I leave Kazin with a final laugh, and I enter into the web. Just before I exit his consciousness, I see the Yamda clanmembers dump Sangsum onto the ground from a large suitcase. Healers gather around him to see to his wounds.

  I leave Kazin to deal with Sangsum, and I soar into the depths of the web. Traffic is heavy—avatars travel along the green roads, others fly through the air as I do. Towers of gold and silver circuitry rise around us. There are walled complexes all throughout the city. Some are siphoned off within their own block; others float through the air like castles in the sky. The Crystalline Towers will be in one of those structures, as it is contained within its own, secure intranet.

  Surmising that a place like the Crystalline Towers wouldn’t be built in plain sight, I soar higher and higher into the air, until I believe that I can no longer gain altitude. Even then, I continue, and just as I had suspected, I break through the atmosphere and gain access to unauthorized cyberspace. Grids of green run through a black landscape. Far away, against the horizon, I can see the shimmering form of clear and silver towers.

  “Yes!” I whisper. I brace myself, then hurtle towards my target. As I draw nearer, I can begin to make out a clear barrier. But rather than slowing down, I increase my speed.

  Because I am not a foreign body that wishes to gain entry into the Crystalline Towers. I am the Crystalline Towers.

  The barrier recognizes this fact, and I pass through it as easily as water through open fingers.

  I quickly gain access to the Tower’s mainframe and scour the units for any sign of Sabina’s presence.

  I finally find the node that is her VR pod, which Tenzo has locked down. It is when I observe her through the Tower’s security cameras, however, that I realize that I cannot set her free. I can unlock the software end of Tenzo’s trap. But the conniving snake has enabled a biological aspect as well. Sabina is connected to an IV drip, kept sedated and unconscious.

  Guards wearing B.Ridge livery stand guard on either side of her pod.

  There is nothing I can do. I am powerless without a physical form.

  Immediately, I turn and speed back towards Kazin.

  I offered him help when he needed it most. I am sure that I can expect him to return the favor.

  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.