《Shattered Reality》 Prologue Days passed by with no meaning. I don''t remember a life outside of this place, maybe I had forgotten what it felt like. Here I was trapped in this box, trapped for life. I maybe the last person on earth. I''m stuck in a machine that has me in suspended animation.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. It all happened too quick, too early. I had much more to live and now here I am living day by day in a simulated reality known as Mithrill. It was created by my father for patients in comas. According to him coma patients were still alert, they knew what went around them so he created this machine for them so they could enjoy life even while they''re practically vegetables. LOG 1 Log 1, year 2199, Earth Standard Time. The year was 2199 I lived in sector-47 of Haven one of the last remaining human settlements. Man had lost earth to war. The nuclear fall out of World War 3 in 2050 was drastic, man had to leave for distant planets. That''s when calamity struck again as if we did not have enough problems. The Vanguards are a race of vicious aliens who had made it their mission to wipe out species from existence. The purge, they call it, cleanses the cycle for new life. Bullshit, right? Well where was I, oh yes The Vanguards. They attacked just when the ships were leaving for various planets where we had colonies in. Sadly only one ship survived that day. We were unprepared and caught unawares. The only ship that did survive made its way to a small planet in Alpha Centurion; Altair. Even then we had to face a lot of attacks from those bastards called Vanguards. But life went to being normal and people have got used to life away from earth. It was a normal day for me, I was making my Log diary and my dad is down in the lab tinkering away at God knows what. "Okay, now the button is here and the plasma liquid screen solidifies and then Voila it will be ready. I did everything the instruction manual said and I expect it to be A-Okay. "Well let''s start, shall we ?" Coughing, I started again . "REI MOTOHIRO reporting for duty SIR, hehehehe now that I have had my daily dose of jokes, let''s get down to business. This is log one of the Motohiro clan, acting clan head Rei Motohiro here, leaving something for the new generation. Now, if at any point you feel alone, then see this and you shall always know that we are looking over you from the skies and we are always present in you hearts If my dad''s invention works then there never will be anyone who will go alone. An Artificial Intelligence tech. may become something of the present by your age. Well that''s all from me today this is your former clan head signing out. " I stopped the video ,saved it and sent it to a floating server in a space station roaming Alta?r.The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. I stood up looking at the mirror in front of me, I saw in the mirror a boy who looked like a boy in his late teens the same wavy black hair, square face with a Caesar nose and jaw. Average arms and broad shoulders. And the greenest eyes man could find, an unimaginable anomaly born from an Irish high land maiden with a dream of going out of Europe and a Japanese man looking for inspiration in writing his new novel meet at park at Switzerland , I''ll go into The semantics some time in the future Speaking of other things Thankfully my exercise would make me less prone to high obesity, that was one problem solved in the all the scientific developments they tackled obesity at first. They realised obesity would only pull us down . So our scientists came up with the perfect exercise routine to tackle obesity and thus three fourths of all the ailments were nonexistent. I was gonna tell them about my green eyes in the next log. till then I was going to lounge around but the announcements came and everything went south. "This is an announcement for every citizen of sector-47 Haven, we are being attacked by the Vanguards. Please proceed to the nearest evacuation pods. I repeat the Vanguards are attacking¡­¡­.." The line got cut and I waited a few moments to see if the line would be restored, seeing no hope for new news I ran down to the lab "Dad the Vanguards are attacking we have to evacuate now!" I screamed He looked at me before turning back to the machine " wait a moment Rei I need to finish this machine it''s your only chance." " My last hope, dad what are you talking about we have to go now." I stressed "There! All done come on Rei lie down here." He said " Lie down, dad what are you saying, this is not the time for experiments we have to go now l." I all but screamed. He caught me lightly by the neck looking me eye to eye " Rei do you trust me?" He asked, I nodded " Then lie down, all will be explained." He said Sighing I laid down on the bed of the machine. The machine itself looks more like an MRI scanner. He started typing on the computer pad next to the machine suddenly the machine started shaking heck the ground itself was shaking " Dad what''s happening" I asked not sure what was going on He eyes glassy, he looked at me "goodbye my son ,you are humanities last hope. Remember find Nicole and the others, they will be with you. Together you will start life anew, away from these problems and away from the Vanguards." "And oh before I forget you need to wake up in five years. That should be more than enough time for everything to settle down." I could see the tears falling from his eyes before I could say anything the machine was lowered down and with it me. And that''s all I remember of him now I''m stuck in this place trapped with no means of escape. LOG 2 Log 2190, year 2206 Earth standard time ''Wake up, wake up'' the voice said, I knew what it was. It was the bloody alarm clock that needed to be destroyed. And destroyed it was, smash the sound came as I well, smashed it. I stretched my arms, blinking my eyes I got out of the bed. I looked around ''the same old room the same old place'' I thought to myself "Good morning sir, it''s about time you got up." A voice boomed out " Hey Juiz you seem to be in a good mood" Juiz was my A.I created by my father when more People were left on Haven now well it''s only me. And here I am stuck in Mithrill, the machine that was meant as a last resort for man. But somewhere in my mind I knew I was missing something. A faint thought in the back of my head well who knows and who cares I will live my life here in this simulated reality stuck for all eternity. "So Juiz is there anything on the agenda today?" I asked her "Well you could study a bit more Master Motohiro" she mocked she knew there wasn''t anything left for me to study I had taken to my studies like fish to water heck more like sponge and water. I have been here for more than six years and by now there isn''t a single book I haven''t read from Eliot to Shakespeare I have read them all. "Hardy har har, I''ll see if I can get some firewood it''s getting cold in here." I said, getting out of my room and into the washroom I brushed my teeth washed my face and got out Taking my work shirt and jeans from my cupboard I dressed myself and went back to my room. I got my Mi Pad from the bedside table and fiddled with the controls till the outside world was a forest. That was the power of system in Mithrill named Yggdrasil after the World Tree from Norse Mythology. The science behind Yggdrasil was still a mystery to me and like a kid who got a present on Christmas Mithrill was mine. I was researching in virtual reality and simulated reality, Mithrill was a combination of both. I guess dad had a reason behind it. God knows what that is. Yggdrasil kept changing the outside world so that I knew I was in an augmented reality and not in the real world. I only wish I had someone else to have as company. Shrugging my depressing thoughts off I made my way to the shed. I got my axe out and jogged to the outside. Twirling the axe I walked for quite some time till I reached the middle of the woods. Taking the axe out of its cover I swung the axe in a round blow straight into the tree. "Timber!" I yelled. I ran out of the way as the small tree fell. It wasn''t even taller than ten meters. Once it fell I started chopping it. Once I was done I pulled the axe and slung it over my back. Carrying as much of the wood I could carry back to the house. I opened the door and made myself into the central heating room. I placed the wood into the burner and started the fire. Most of he house is automated but few aspects were still old fashioned. ''Uh'' I sighed wiping the sweat from my brow, nothing like a hard day''s work in the forest now all I have to do is work out in the jump and then I can hit the lab. God knows what Juiz has done To my baby. She may be an A.I but she sure is careless. Wonder if my dad was drunk when he wrote the source code for Juiz. Considering dad it sure would be true. If the Matrix was a needle to a cloth, basically a masterpiece then Yggdrasil was a bull to a mirror Sighing, I hit the gym. Running on the treadmill was something that gave me peace. Bench press and weights were next. By the time I was done I was sweating like a pig and man did I smell like one. "Well Master Motohiro you better how was it humans said ah! Yes ''hit the showers'' before we have to evacuate due to your umm¡­. pre desposition." The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement." You know sometimes I think you''re more of a pain than a boon to me Juiz" I say out loud. "Whatever I''m going to go get a shower." " You do that Master Rei." I sigh ''really!'' Juiz is acting up a lot these days, as if she''s the human and I''m the A.I . I sighed, I seemed to be doing that a lot. Well I know whom to blame. Suddenly I heard the alarm, "Juiz, is that what I think it is?" "Yes sir, I fear the Siths are acting up again. It is up to you to stop them or they may breach Yggdrasil." I gruff "ugh they have some nerve in doing so, well I''m going to take care of it Juiz Hold the fort for me would ya. " Saying this I run down to the garage, switching on the lights, I flip a dial and press the red button on the wall and lo the wall opens in front of me making a new room. This was the weapons and vehicle room that I used to store, well my weapons and vehicles. I get into the room and Push a few buttons on the computer pad next to me. A cylinder came out if the ground and opened with a fizz. There was a Dead Space suit inside which I put on with ease. The first time I put on the suit it took me about one hour just to get ready. I shrugged all the other thoughts and walk over to the weapon holder taking out my trusted Neutrino Blasters I had named Mary and Jane, I strapped them on my waist. Next I take out my Wakizashi and Tanto I had named Itachi and Yuki strapping them to my back I made my way to my bike that was covered under a sheet. I removed the covers and opened the garage doors. getting on the light cycle I sped off towards the sector close to Yggdrasil''s mainframe. "Juiz create a hill for me would you?" "Certainly sir, where exactly would you want one ?" She asked "One near the mainframe gates." I replied and with that I cut the line speeding off towards Sector-Z. The Siths or Simulated Geths were a group of SImulated beings that were born from the power and energy released by Mithrill. They were created by Yggdrasil itself as a way to stop the energy from leaking out into the atmosphere of Altair thus alerting the Vangaurds. The Siths were a fascinating species at first, they just came into being I think that the conditions were just perfect for life. Something my father never thought while creating Mithrill and Yggdrasil. Now the Siths were vicious destroying everything in their path or so Juiz said but I had yet to see proof, but this was Juiz, dad had personally created her so I had to shut my instincts and listen to her as only with her help can I survive. I reached the mainframe in about fifteen minutes ''hmm 220MPH, must be a new record.'' I saw a hill right beside the Gates of The World Tree. I pushed a button on the Light Cycle and it jumped sticking onto the hill surface by about five minutes i was on top of the hill. Getting off the bike I took out my Neutrino Blasters if I had to come out victorious today I had to go all Agent-47 I pushed the button on the blasters extending a screw in front of one and a long muzzle in front of the other joining them with the screw I fished my bike for a scope "Aha!" I called out to particularly no one. Adjusting it on the now sniper rifle blaster I waited , waiting for them to make their move. I did not to wait for long when a scout Sith made his way towards the Arch that would lead them straight to the Mainframe. I took and long breath ''come on you cretins, come right where I want you'' and I waited for it to reach right where I wanted it and I pulled the trigger, a condensed Neutrino blast sped towards it and went right through. Their death was not a beautiful sight they die just like any normal human being and then they fade away out of existence, but alas it had to be done. Then like a dam had been opened they started pouring in. Trigger after trigger they fell, I was used to seeing the blood by now but still no matter what it haunted me. "Juiz, scan the area are there any more?" I asked through my communication links. "Done, I find one more on my scanners after that you should be done." I waited patiently for the last one to show up "where are you, you glorified computer virus." I said to myself for no other reason than to steele myself. I didn''t have to wait long as just then the last Sith came charging to The Mainframe as an idiot. I waited patiently For him to come to me. chair for it '' ''wait foooooor it , and NOW!!!'' saying that I pulled my trigger at Don Quixote , a bullet pushed through his cranium which didn''t take much as brain matter and blood started spilling out. "And Don Quixote XXV dies peacefully."I shouted. "Get it Juiz, Quixote" I asked her "Yes sir I know, you crack the same joke every time you go for hinting duty. Now that you have completed your mission its time to enter a report in your log diary, so chop chop." I got on my bike and sped away at speeds unimaginable towards control tower. Now the control tower is somewhat the opposite of the Mainframe. If one is a huge tree symbolising serenity, the other a huge building looks more like corporate space. This, now this symbolises structure and discipline. I parked near the office tower and made my way inside, I scanned my card at the from and the doors automatically opened. I ran inside got on the lift and made it straight to the CEO''s office. From there I accessed the company entry page and filled in my entry. "Blah blah blah killed Siths came out without a scratch, there, DONE!!!!!" Thinking of going all the way to my home which is at the outskirts of the city I decided to camp in here. I trudged my way to the penthouse, had a bath, got dressed in a simple white T-shirt and tracks. I switched on my communicator and contacted Juiz "Juiz I won''t be home for today so shut down and wait for me." "As you wish, sir it shall be done." She replied I made my way to the bed plopping on it, O fell asleep. LOG 3 Log 2198, Year 2206, Earth Standard Time I had been a week since my last altercation with the Siths, I was chilling at my house and reading a book, I know there are not any books here that I have not read, but still it¡¯s fun reading them again. I was going through some of Aristotle''s works mainly Poetics. I really don''t know why I just remembered that Dad used to love them. I find a kind of peace in them. Sometimes I choke with emotion. Thinking of him, God I miss him, I never knew my mom but still I miss her, she died when I was four. I only know her from Tue photos and that too are gone now. Dad forgot to encode them in here. You see Mithrill is a set reality. You can only change what has been set into Yggdrasil. See what I told you Bull to Mirror, there''s also the fact that I just can''t seem to encode stuff like this in Mithrill, as if there is a block on it. Mithrill is supposed to let us encode anything from memory, but somehow I''m unable to do so. That''s one of the reason I want to get out of here. I decided to use the main lab in the Control Tower to finish my research. I picked myself up from the recliner and stretched for quite some time. I made my way to the lab with one aim in my mind. Get to my lab and get my research notes. I have to finish my work, I can''t stay here anymore, God knows what has happened to my body by now. I know I''m on cryogenic ice but still, I¡¯m living a dream and I need to bloody wake up. I reached my lab, it was a simple one a few beakers here, a few molecular projectors there and finally my pride and joy a prototype of Mithrill. I take my research notes from a safe behind a Van Gogh I had hanged on a wall. I type in the combination ''I still don''t know what made me keep my notes in a safe when I''m the only one here, Oh yeah! So when there''s an accident they don''t turn to charcoal.'' I take out the notes, which seem in good condition, considering the fact I did use them a lot. I place them under my arm and I take my prototype with me. I got out of the house and into the garage. putting all my stuff in the back seat of my car. Dad really resents old technologies but I just love them, So I designed my car in the shape of a Chevy Impala right from scratch. I saw a show on one of those oldie Re-Run Channels and I fell in love with a car on that show. The1967 Impala is just pure badass. Daebak, just, daebak. Well I always wanted to drive my Impala, but somehow I just kept on using my Light Cycle. Well enough of that, I jumped in the driver''s seat, when I remembered that I forgot to open the garage doors. Getting out I pressed the odd shaped button on my left, and lo the doors opened. Getting back into the car I drove towards the Tower, I looked into the rear mirror. It''s been a while I have gotten out of my place. The road is deserted as usual and the background is desolate. If I successfully completed my current venture, I could unlock more secrets that Mithrill hides. Dad may be crazy but a genius none the less. I drove my Impala straight through the field, reminded me of the Australian Plateau, dad must be missing earth. Sand skipped as my wheels drove over them. All the windows were open, I mean come on this car my look cool but you sure as hell don''t fell cool in it. I ran my hand through my hair in an attempt to get it to stay still. My hair was an untamed beast I tell you, and one day it would choke me to hell. The Dean bobble head on the dashboard seemed to be dancing a jig on every hit. I put up the sun visor when the heat became too much for me to bear. I drove towards what looked like a town.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. I see trees and buildings on my left and right. The buildings were odd in shape. They felt more like the Wesley''s ''Burrow''. Bent here and there, odd I tell you. Well, there I was driving for what seemed like a enjoyable lifetime, before I reached the office tower. The office tower was just like a huge Empire State Building but bigger than it by ten times. God knows how it¡¯s standing even in an augmented reality. I drove towards the back of the building where there''s a service lift, or at least to my knowledge. I parked near a dumpster and got out of the car. I opened the shotgun door and took out my notes and prototype. Placing them on the ground I fished into my lab coat pocket taking out a small disc. Pressing a button on it, it expanded floating in front of me. It was one of y many inventions. I called it the Silver Surfboard. Get it after Silver Surfer. Well I put my prototype on it and reached for a button on the side. Pressing it would start the smart sensor and make it copy my footsteps, so I have to watch where I step and how I walk, which will be hard as I''m really careless while walking. Somehow I manage to make my way to the elevator. I press the button and wait, and in no time at all it arrives. I get in carefully with the Board behind me. The elevator moved at a normal pace, that''s the best thing about this elevator, if there is someone in it then it will go at a normal pace but when no one is there it''s faster than a speeding bullet. Well any who, I wait for like a few more minutes before the door opens. And there in front of my eyes lay the best playground a scientist could ask for. It was filled with, heck overflowing with tech. I walked inside opening a glass door which was locked with a finger print scanner, a biometric scanner and a retinalscanner. Now don''t let the Glass fool you, it''s strong enough to withstand a Titan missile, and that''s the most powerful one out there. But at the same time it''s fragile enough to break with a hammer. That''s the beauty of this glass, it''s Semi-Sentient. When the person who''s details are keyed in tries to break the Glass it will break, and then reform, anyone else are happy to try but this baby would not break. I get inside the lab to my right are bio spectrum scanners, two Genetic Splicers and a Genetic recomber. On my right there were computers that were studying the Sith''s core code, much like our Genetic code they too have a core DNA even if somewhat computer based. And many, many beakers, with sedatives, drugs and enhancers. Now if only I get a Sith to test it on. I walk towards am empty table with the Surfboard behind me. I stop in front of it and take Mithrill version 2.0 and place it on the table. I feel winded taking such a long journey; I make my way to the penthouse. I get out of the elevator and I go straight towards the bathroom to get a shower. I strip and get in, washing my whole my body with soap and water. After the shower I put on a robe hanging on a hook to my right. Walking into the bedroom, I change into more appropriate wear. I walk out with dinner on my mind. I first make my way to the main control system that happens to be the Hub of Jared. Jared is one of Dad''s mysteries I solved. Basically he is ''Juiz'' solved and perfected. I flip on switches and fiddle with the controls till a voice greets me. "It''s been some time sir." "It''s good to hear from you again, Jared." I call back "Do you need anything, sir? Or is this a social visit?" He asked back. "This is a work visit I''m, afraid Jared. I''m planning on completing Mithrill 2.0." I said to him. "Gambathe, sir." He encouraged me. With that came silence, I walked towards the kitchen, planning on making Mac and Cheese. I pull out a pack of pasta, boiled it in a steel pot. And at the side melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat; stir in flour, salt, and pepper until smooth, about 5 minutes. Slowly pour milk into butter-flour mixture while continuously stirring until mixture is smooth and bubbling, about 5 minutes. Add Cheddar cheese to milk mixture and stir until cheese is melted, 2 to 4 minutes. I pour some of it in a bowl and take it to the dining room. I take a spoon of it and spit it out at the same speed. It¡¯s official I can¡¯t make common man food. I don¡¯t feel hungry after that and go to sleep. I get on the bed and sleep dreaming of my family and friends not even realising the tribulations I am going to face ahead.