Stardust

'For the safety of humanity,' a singular thought led onto tomorrow. Stormed into Celle's medical firm building, Cherry stood menacingly.

"What do you want?" asked a middle-aged man behind a large black desk on to which displayed a personal interface. No need for a phone, the screens traveled around the room. To his right, a vague holographic projection of the globe and what appeared to be a station in orbit.

"The Kezal project," adamant on searching for answers, she showed no sign of backing down. As for her father, usually, her whims would have gone unnoticed or else ignored completely.

"What about it?" he asked with a deep commanding voice.

"Tell me all about it," walked up to the desk, she sat intent on knowing more.

"The Kezal project," closing most of the additional windows, a singular screen hovered. "I'll tell you if you want to know that much," paused to gather his thoughts, "-I suppose I must start there. After Hyde Dive was invented, it took a long time for people to understand the basics of the technology. We'd always rely on Celest and his AI. When the war ended, many soldiers lesser fortunate were locked by their government. Reason to why was that the first fighters to ever be virtualized, were severely affected by the coding. Their brain altered to support more of the information. As a by-product, most cognitive function was lost. Unable to function in the real world, they lived a new life in the virtual world. The realm created for war to be waged, an exact copy of the world as it exists now. Always updating and always changing, those fighters led many lives in said dimension. Obviously, some fell in love, others made family, so on a so forth, life continued. Living inside a simulation, the thought of what existed beyond the Hyde Dive was erased for them to lead a simpler life. Skip forward a century, the generations of the prior fighters bred and evolved into sentient beings. Abled to generate thoughts that matched both human and Celestial. Their simulation changed from fake to real, the populous; namely other randomly Generated AI, have feelings, and interact as if another world. To this day, said world, created and governed by Celest, lives. It would all have been well and good; the AI himself said that the secondary world would become as convoluted as the real one. Thus, governments around the world joined forces to ensure their survival. The Kezal project comes into play because of development during recent decades. Remnants of the war; human greed, and lust for power, developed. It was as if watching a show that displayed how our humanity grew to near extinction. Per-request from Celest; in order to protect the world that once saved us; someone had to be chosen. A super-soldier, not necessarily well-built or full of stamina – just an empty shell of a person. One that could have its mind altered to suit Celest's world. The D-games, still played now, was the only option to break a person's psyche. That's why I entrusted you with the duty of finding a good candidate. To save humanity; the humanity that is evolving into belligerent creatures. Bear in mind, that world was the product of war, the product of love shared by the harbingers of death, the product of breeding to a new dimension," glanced over, "-you understand now, that's the Kezal project. A savior sent as a gift from us, the real human-kind."

"What of the 05, what will happen to him?"

"A broken mind, a broken heart, and no intention of living. The perfect host, he'll continue down the path to bring peace. The belligerent leaders are only starting to rise."

"Will he ever return?"

"I have no idea," staring the holographic display, "-maybe, after the mission is accomplished. I don't know-how, or when, though, he's being aided by a sub-engine of Celest's mind. I do wonder," eyes narrowed, "-why is it that my daughter feels so strongly about him returning, are you linked?"

"N-no," she nervously stared the floor, "-Sayer is a good friend. I-I kind of felt guilty."

"There's no need to worry, my dear daughter, he'll be fine, trust me. Especially since time in that world is much faster than on ours. I think one day here equates to one week there," paused, she stared off distantly.

"I have a question," interjected her father, "-I came across a contract for Player One, Sayer Asce. Why would you pay 500,000 Bits?"

"I didn't pay in the end," she smiled, "-I only lied about purchasing him."

"What did he gain, surely… was it anything of value?"

"Not really," relaxed, "-the only condition he had was to have a family member admitted at Celle's laboratory. Since Mother is in charge of it, I figured it to be a good trade."

"Asce, the name does strike me as somewhat familiar. In any case, this contract will be voided. There's no need to keep it for the man won't be returning any time soon. The duty of finding the next Kezal has concluded on a good note," swiped across, "-there's a new venture I wish to explore. The C-sports scene," smiled, "-my dear daughter, I have recently purchased the sports organization known as Stardust. Winners of the older tournaments, Majors. Founded in the year 2409: the owners made strides at conquering the world of gaming. Most notably, winning the first Gian tournament in 2410. After that, they dominated until 2430 where it went down-hill. Management changed, and all the miscommunication that comes with it. Stardust is more renowned as a gaming academy than an organization now. We have purchased everything they own, from rights to land, that will be your next goal."

"Father, what about funds, do we have enough money to start an organization?"

"Listen," he paused, "-I'll deposit 20 million bits in the Stardust's bank account. Do with it as you want; they are still making money by training players. You'll be on your own once more. What I want is Gian's tournament trophy,�� breathing a chuckle, "-who am I kidding. Take as long as you want, make a team, find sponsors, so on and so forth."

"Where's the Stardust academy?"

"In Antis, you will be leaving in two days. Good luck, and have fun," seeing an uninteresting gaze, "-Elle," he called.

"Yes, father?"

"Remember, one day here is a week in the other world. Who knows, the boy known as Asce could return as a C-sport player. Keep on hope, my child, if you cared for him that much, better get to work."

"Yes," she nodded and left. 'Stardust academy, a gaming organization…'

Time continued without much trouble, *click,* opened late at night. The mild-stench of the garbage came like waves. 'W-why am I here?' lonesome, decrepit and woeful, '-did I drive subconsciously?' [Notification: Message from Aunt Dimia]. 'Sayer's SCHD,' held close to her chest, '-I'm sorry for what I did,' leaned against the wall with his SCHD plugged, messages kept on piling one after the other.

*Knock, knock,* harsh, "-Sayer, Sayer, are you there?" Startled by the noise, '-who is it?' lights on, *click,* "-what do you want?" mid-yawn, a handsome looking boy stood with well-combed blond hair.

"Who are you?" he gave a once over to then narrow his eyes.

"I could ask the same?" she refuted.

"I'm Jay, Sayer's childhood friend. I heard from his aunt that he had stopped responding to messages. I came over to check."

[Notification: Message], pinged across the room, his SCHD flashed.

"This isn't right," pushed aside, Jay dashed to the device, "-he would never leave a memento from Elise," glanced back, "-what did you do to him?"

"Calm down," said with a sigh, "-I'm Cherry, Sayer's girlfriend."

"W-what?" the statement knocked him off his feet.

"Y-yes," bright red, "-I'm his girlfriend," said as if to confirm her statement, the face flushed further.

"I heard it the first time," he stood, "-should I be surprised?"

"N-no, I just thought you didn't hear it."

"Well, that's all fair and good, what of him, where's the boyfriend," articulated differently, Jay pronounced the last word as if to mock her. Utter silence, no response with his arms crossed. "I'm waiting…" the leather shoe repeatedly tapped against the floor, impatience grew.

"Sayer isn't in academy city."

"Why is that?" not convinced by her words.

"I got him a new job," a little reluctant, the words painfully rolled off her tongue.

"Whereabouts is this new fabled job?" inquired yet again, he pressed onto the matter further.

"Mantis," escaping her mouth, "-sorry, I meant Antis. He's attending Stardust Academy for Manticore."

"You say you got him a job, where did the Stardust academy come from?"

"Fine, Sayer is staying with me in Antis. I'm in charge of making a pro-team for Stardust Academy. Does that satisfy you?" she sighed.

"Any proof to back that?"

"So cynical," rolling her eyes, a more detailed statement was showed through her SCHD."

"I guess the documents are legitimate. Just strikes me as weird for him to vanish without informing anyone. We never did get along after that whole incident. Whatever, I'll tell his Aunt about the turn of events. Miss Cherry, please take care of him. I don't think one bit that a lady would lie into saying that she was in relation to Sayer. The dude isn't technically normal. I'm sure if the chance to let loose in that game is given – Stardust will climb to the top."

The door shut; a roar of a fancy car drove into the distance. 'Why am I still blushing,' laid onto his futon, '-I d-don't know anymore. I betrayed his trust, and yet, I still have this warmth deep inside, do I like him?' covered head to toe, '-every time someone says his name, my heart seems to skip a beat. I'm the worst person to ever walk this planet. How the hell can I think of loving a man I betrayed,' his scent gave a feeling of peace that soon turns to chaos. "If he comes back, the stain on his mind, father said he'll lose his memories…" stood upright, "-w-why…" tears flowed onto the dirtied floor, "WHY DID IT TURN OUT THIS WAY!"

Far, far away from Academy city, a self-directing pod locked itself to the international space station. Complex with countless solar panels lined on a wing, the station presided as if a guardian angel.

"He's here," said a man via radio. Dressed in space-suit, a team of astronauts with a leaf on their suit, guided the pod to a sealed room with air.

"Kezal," suits off, "-what a pity," said a lady with blond hair, "-so young yet devoid of life."

"Cut the chatter, connect the boy to the mainframe," voiced another with a brown mustache.

"No need to get so grouchy." Cables locked, [International Space Station recognized] displayed across the pod.

[AI Taking Command]

[Celest Sub-AI Uploaded]

[Hyde Link Established]

[Memory Suppression – Active]

[Emotional Suppression – Minimal]

[Initiate Dive] [Approval needed]

"Just press the yes button already," fired the mustached man.

[Authorization Acquired]

[Initiating Kezal Project]

[…]

[…]

[Host Recognized; Estimated Time of Completion: Unknown]

[Hello World…]

Reborn into a sub-world, the eyes opened to a majestically blue-sky. Trees, flowers, bushes, nature allowed to be free. *Error,* from blue to red, everything around changed. Planes flew overhead, stood on a hill, the landscape show was of destruction. A town in utter chaos, gun-fire in the distance, explosions, smoke that seemed to touch the clouds.

"Where am I?" dressed in black, "-what is this?" carefully staring the surrounding, "-why can't I remember anything?"

"That's because you've lost your memories," a 3D figure jumped out a wristwatch. "My name is Cess, I'll be the voice who guides you from today forth."

"O-ok," unimpressed, "-where are we, Cess?"

"Location, Academy City. The starting point of a war that could stand to ruin the world. Your job, 05, is to help in pushing back the IG-4, a resistance group that grew to hate the peace."

"I-is there anything more I should know?"

"Yes, 05, luckily, Academy City is the only place affected by this war. Capturing this continent will be the deciding factor for the war."

"And the countries who are fighting?"

"The Allied Nation of Celltion against IG-4."

"Who am I fighting for?"

"The world," from the wrist, the face appeared on an interface, "-we are here to save the world."

"What about the people?"

"If there's no world, where will the people stay?"

"I understand, Cess, if this is my mission, I will do so."