Skeptical Experience

Timothy perched inside an eccentric magnitude of a room. To the eye, it presented itself as a computerized dimension; cybernetic and uncanny.

He caught and noted the sounds of electronic processing and subtle, digital music, playing in a repetitive pattern, static noises detected around him.

"This is Cyber Refuge? No, this can't be," he peered higher and clamored, "Hey, game master! You're the mastermind behind this Cyber Refuge! Mind explaining where the hell I am and what you want me to do? I thought you promised to bring us to the same location! To how I see it, this isn't our agreement!"

Beeping sounds played around the unique realm and enclosed the domain, "This is the core system to enter Cyber City. You must wait for your epitome to inaugurate your consciousness into its cosmos." The game master's voice befuddled Timothy's interpretation of the world the longer he utilized onerous sentences.

"Analyzing the vessel's vitality... initiating digitalization..." Timothy flickered with his eyes and became shrouded in a technological circle, scanning his body. "Digitalization? Whoa, hold on... this isn't some virtual world is it?" Timothy pondered, bothered and frightened of the possibilities. "Perhaps it is. Perhaps it isn't. However, your body requires analysis to remove and insulate unnecessary bacteria, in case you'll implant cybernetic enchantments to your physique."

"Analysis complete... The vessel is applicable to enter Cyber Refuge. Link your sensibility to the virtual device to connect and rewrite your database by entering through the door before you, no. 892. Your ID; is 1632789. Proceed with caution."

Timothy remained distressed, feeling anxious, but he carefully strolled in front of him and entered the door. Once he accessed it, he got greeted by a unique device that took on the shape of a wristwatch.

"You want me to put this thing on? Why should I? What are you making me do? This better not be some kind of a conspiracy." Timothy kept his guard up in case something went wrong, "Don't be alarmed, Timothy. The device before you is a virtual replica of a phone with a physical body. It's mostly a mark and the "password" for you to enter restricted areas and to not be misguided as a trespasser. It'll create a description and summary of your skills, talents, and characteristics as well as register your ID into the Cyberpedia's database. Everyone within Cyber Refuge must wear one unless they wish to get assaulted. All you need to do is insert your arm into the column before you, and it'll attach itself onto your wrist."

In a burning second, the digital device tightened around Timothy's wrist and followed up by putting him in a hibernating state. Timothy's scleras received a bizarre effect, rearranging his pupils to divulge a close representation of cybernetic enrichment.

In the incoming second, everything darkened. Timothy's eyes slowly popped open. He required to gather a few seconds for his vision to clear and promptly took in the brand new atmosphere.

"Rats... Another headache," He fielded his arms, feeling a comfortable, mushy, and fluffy foam contacting his skin between his fingers.

He sat up, grasped his forehead, and rattled it like leaves, "The last thing I remember is putting on that device. The next second I find myself here..." His view stabilized onto his left arm, perceiving the same device around his wrists. "So, it wasn't a dream, nor imagination. I still don't quite comprehend what this device's all about," He neared his other arm, "Maybe if..." preparing to press buttons, but before he made any progress, a sudden explosion set off, blasting down the walls around him.

The wall pieces, rocks, and shapes chucked themselves through the entire room, scattering on the ground like littering trash. "We breached through the defense lines!" Someone spoke, stepping inside the room with a whole squad of other soldiers, "We're about to infiltrate the main base!"

The people wore strange battle suits, armored with metal, and shielded their eyes with black glasses, holding unusual weaponry in their hands, "And... I officially see myself waking up at the worse time imaginable."

The man took a razor-sharp gander into Timothy's face and without hesitation scoped his pistol into his forehead. "Don't move, or I'll shoot."

Timothy rose to his feet carefully, lifting his arms upward and holding a genuine, stern expression, "If you want to shoot me, go ahead. But I'm warning you, nothing good will happen if you do."

The armed man's hard-nosed pierce revealed no concern. Half of him appeared bitter, but he masked it behind the glasses, "No, I don't think I need to shoot you just yet. Maybe if you explain yourself and describe what you're looking for, we'll let you go."

The man's pupils behind the glasses started circulating like a machine and began an analysis, "ID number: 1632789. Description currently unavailable." The man answered, doubtful and distrustful, "Unavailable data? That's not what I predicted. Who are you?"

Timothy's eyes clamped with a grim face, "I'm..." He slowly faded into barren air, astounding the assailants, "Me..." His body manifested next to the man, pressing his palm onto his chest.

With a dead voice, he whispered, ensuring to sound grave, "Flame Rupture," shaping orange, gleaming flames around his hands that blazed and infused with sweltering heat turning them into the everlasting, cobalt-colored fire.

He shoved his palm further into the man's chest, dragging his body forth like the wind and charging up flames, boosting their temperature and power.

The flames detonated, sending the man's body soaring and carnage through his squad and swallowing them into the inferno. Their bodies amassed and corresponded with painful screams as they heaved into the room and drove through the walls into the dusky, lamenting streets with a blaring sound as they rained down on the roads, the fire dissolving into the starry night.

Timothy's skin met the icy, calming wind, his hair swaying and his clothes rippling while keeping a keen eye on the fallen individuals. "I don't know what's this all about, but breaching the defense lines sure didn't sound "friendly," at all," Timothy stated, abruptly noticing a floating chip in front of him that appeared from the blue particles. "Good job... You got your first clue in figuring out who the infected is, white-haired pirate Timothy. Two more, and you'll have the answer." It was the game master's voice that shut down in a static.

"Hey! Game master! Answer me already! Where are my friends?! You said we'd get sent to the same location!"

Timothy was eager, frustrated, and worried that the game master tricked him, but his next directions were soon provided.

"The device on your wrist should lead you to the designated area. Gather there, and we'll proceed with the next mission. And try not to get into trouble with the Cyberlanders. They're quite "captious" to newcomers and outsiders... if I say so myself."

To be continued...