by Jack Crosby
The Lost Hero
By Jack Crosby
Pseudosynth Press
First Edition
© 2017
Please do not re-distribute this book
in any way or format for
commercial purposes
or change the content.
This book is a work of fiction.
All of the names, places,
and events that occur are from
the author’s imagination.
Any resemblance to an actual
person, alive or dead, place,
historical event, or business establishment
is purely coincidental.
Edited by Morganna Williams
Cover image by Bolt
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
The Lost Hero
Chapter 1 – End of an Era
Chapter 2 – Blazing a Trail
Chapter 3 – To Stay or To Go
Chapter 4 – Menace
Chapter 5 – Killer Instinct
Chapter 6 – Distrust
Chapter 7 – Sticky Situation
Chapter 8 – The Turning Point
Chapter 9 – The Fire and Flame
Chapter 10 – The Real World
Credits
…?
The Lost Hero
New Game
Options
Music*
©2017, Tanaka Corp.
*As with the Electric Mile, this book has
a soundtrack to listen to.
You can find the soundtrack listing at http://grimmsreapers.blogspot.com,
or if you are reading the digital version, just click on the link that says music.
Chapter 1 – End of an Era
Where were you when Ash defeated Zeus Industries? Where were you when the change took hold? Me, I was with the rest of the surviving refugees in the B.O.R. Wastelands. Even out there, we knew the moment the game had been beaten. In the sky, a blue star lit up the darkness and The Lost Level was unlocked. Ash had found all the Easter Eggs.
The B.O.R. Wasteland began to shake, the piles of junk that littered the landscape swallowed up by the ground. In their place, trees popped out of the ground, something no resident of this generation of game had even seen, aside from the books we had. Before our very eyes, the wasteland had turned into a lush forest under a starlit sky. It was beautiful, yet I was still sad.
I missed him. I missed Ash Wilde.
My name is Independent Recovery Administrator or Ira as he called me. I once took care of the daily functions of The Neon Underground, a place that supplied the residents of our world with weapons, potions, and a host of other items that some may have called unsavory. It was a fine job, one I’d performed as long as I could remember, since the day of my download into the master file. Then, after meeting Ash, I wanted more.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to provide support. He needed warriors to help him get to Zeus Industries and end this. I was but a humble admin, programed to keep things running smoothly. I wasn’t equipped to fight raid vipers or shock troopers. Not like Ali, or the raven haired anomaly, Zoe.
They were both in Spark City, fighting off the forces of Zeus and the unknown army that marched against us at The Neon Underground. No one was sure who they were, just that they were as ruthless as Zeus’s troops yet carried none of the insignias on their uniforms. We were trying to keep a low profile out here, though I had a feeling that when the game was beaten, the mystery soldiers disappeared as well.
I couldn’t get lost in my own thoughts or longings. The fifteen or so that survived with me were turning to me for support. They knew me as the one who kept things under control during The Neon Underground’s roughest of times. This was no different, except it was very different. The entirety of our digital universe had changed.
My first action was to find out who I could depend on. I gathered the survivors around the clearing we’d taken refuge in when the change occurred. We had seven men and eight women, not including me. The tallest of the men, a battle arena admin named Rogue, would be an excellent scout. “Rogue, I need you to take one or two of the men with you. Find out what we’re going up against.”
He seemed a bit shaken I asked him to explore this new area, yet he consented. “Of course, my lady.” He gave a quick point to two men to his left. Neither of them jumped with joy, either. “We won’t stray far, but we’ll do what we can.”
As they left, my natural inventory control manager side kicked in and soon I was dividing out tasks to gather food and building materials for shelter. From what I knew about forests, they were an excellent source of materials to keep people alive. Once we had a functioning living area, then we could worry about potentially moving onward.
Within the hour, Rogue and his men were back and we had a good start on getting shelters constructed. Rogue quickly tracked me down. “Lady Ira, from what we can see, there’s not much out here. About three hundred paces from camp in a small body of water. Other than that, no signs of the wasteland, just this forest.
“Were there any signs of life?”
“Small creatures, but nothing hostile. As far as I can tell, the raid vipers and B.O.R. hounds are no longer here.”
My mind eased a bit. There were still many variables and unknowns, though the thought that the two largest predators we knew about weren’t around soothed some of them. It made it much easier to fall asleep that evening.
Even though we are just programs, we still are beings. Like all beings we experience a multitude of emotions, including love. That night, I dreamt of Ash and being in his presence once again. Our meeting and our union together planted something inside me I hadn’t been able to shake. I wanted him back, the hero of our lands.
I was woken up when someone lightly rubbed my shoulder. It was one of my own aides, Tia and there was a very big smile on her face. “Lady Ira, Ali has returned!”
I quickly got up and saw my old friend and a younger girl standing beside her. I immediately recognized her as Zoe, or The Red Lady as she was once known in the battle arena. “Thank the maker, you survived!”
Ali seemed a bit distraught. “We did and Zeus is finished.” That should have been happy news to deliver. “It seems in defeating Yazmin Flockhart, Vector has vanished.”
Vector was the gamer handle that Ali used in regards to Ash. I preferred to think of him using his real name. I couldn’t hide my disappointment at the news. “I see.”
There was sadness in Zoe’s eyes, too. “Is there a way to find him?”
“I don’t know,” Ali started, “but if there is, we will find it.”
Chapter 2 – Blazing a Trail
Ali, Zoe, and I worked hard to get the camp set up. Within no time, we had structures set up and an infrastructure in place. All that was missing was a name for our settlement. Zoe was the one who came up with something catchy. “We should call this place Haven – a place that welcomes all.”
I couldn’t have said it better myself. “Haven, I like that. Not quite The Neon Underground, but a place for new beginnings.” Ali nodded in agreement.
Even with our success of getting Haven started, the desire to see what more had happened to our world began to claw at me. I could tell it was getting to Ali, too. I was exiting the procurement building when I saw her pacing back and forth near the entrance, close to the forest around us. “You seem on edge,” I said.
“I am, Ira. There is so much to do but there’s no good place to start. Spark City was under flames last time I saw it and who knows what remains of The Neon Underground.” The overwhelming thoughts of what our next move would be was a heavy weight to bear
. “Plus there’s a void in power, where Zeus Industries held it all, now who will take the reins?”
“I don’t have those answers.” I wasn’t sure that I could leave Haven, not with things just becoming organized and stable, but maybe… “Why don’t you take Zoe and find out what’s happened. The two of you are hardened warriors, it shouldn’t be too dangerous.”
Ali seemed to be thinking on it when Rogue interrupted us. “Lady Ira, someone is approaching.”
From the entrance where Rogue had just barreled on in, a woman, an incredibly sexy woman was wandering through. “I am looking for Ira,” she called out.
There was something oddly familiar with her, yet there was no placement in my memory of someone like this. I gave Ali a solemn look and approached. “I’m Ira, the administrator of Haven.”
She smiled at me. “Ira, it is good to see you again.”
“Beg your pardon, but I don’t think we’ve-” The façade of the beautiful woman disappeared and in her place was the Oracle. I was speechless. “My word! You’re alive!”
The Oracle switched back to her younger, bustier form. “Of course I am, but let’s drop the Oracle nonsense. I’m Baba O’Riley, the witch of the B.O.R. Wastelands.”
Everyone within ear shot froze. Of course, we all knew the witch was out there, somewhere, but no one expected her to be concerned with the well-being of us. As far as I was informed, the witch was almost like a virus, a relic from a game from generations previous. How she came to be included in the master file was always a mystery. Though her role as the Oracle was pertinent – there was much more going on here than I could begin to understand.
Ali crossed her arms, “I trusted you.”
“As I needed you to.” Baba gave her a fetching smile. “With my help, you brought the hero over to this land and he accomplished so much.” She turned to the forest. “The Lost Level has been unlocked, as you all can see.”
The forest, the star burning bright in the night sky, the overall ‘new’ feeling of the world… Yes, The Lost Level was upon us, but what did that mean? “Where do we go from here, witch? As you can see, we’ve built a new settlement; however, I feel there’s more to this than a simple switch in environment.”
“You would be correct.” I got the feeling she enjoyed being coy with people. “Before I tell you though, I have a proposition to extend to you, Ira.”
Ali looked slighted. “If you have a proposition for Ira, you very well should include me, too.” The warrior within was beginning to show itself. “No doubt what you’re about to propose is dangerous.”
I was thankful for Ali looking out for me. You never knew what a wild card like Baba O’Riley would have up her sleeve, if she wore them. “I’m quite good with Ali being included.”
Baba rolled her eyes. “She can only be of assistance for so long. Well, yes, this is probably a good idea.” Baba began to walk to the closest wooden structure. When she saw we weren’t following, she snapped her fingers. “Come, this isn’t for everyone to hear!”
My eyes met Ali’s and, with some skepticism, we followed the witch. Once inside, I asked for the room and everyone cleared out, only leaving the three of us.
“The Neon Underground,” Baba started. “It’s no longer here. When Ash Wilde killed Flockhart, the heart and soul of our game was transferred into the real world.”
“What?” I blurted.
Ignoring me, “Ira, as you were the most compatible with Ash during the course of the game, you are the one who has to undertake this mission – exit the game and find him. With his help, you can return The Neon Underground to us and only then can Ash gain access back in the game and complete The Lost Level.”
Chapter 3 – To Stay or To Go
It was so much to take in. Baba was still talking, I just couldn’t listen anymore. The idea that The Neon Underground somehow broke through the master file and went to the outside world, that was purely inconceivable. It was only when I noticed both women looking at me that I realized I’d been out of the conversation for a good bit. “My apologies.”
“It’s a lot for all of us to take in, Ira,” Ali went on. “But you agree it is a quest we must undertake, right?”
How could I say yes or no at this moment? A big part of my heart yearned to see Ash again. There was no doubt of our connection. There was just so much to do here. “I am the administrator of Haven. I just can’t go gallivanting around and leave the people here with nothing.”
“Ira,” it was the witch’s turn, “you truly do not see the importance of what is being asked of you.” Her words were sharp. “If you don’t retrieve The Neon Underground, our world will vanish. It is the anchor that runs the master file.”
It was common knowledge that The Neon Underground was vastly important to those of us who made this file our home. “I’m just at a loss how such a thing could happen. I mean it seems impossible that are programming could function outside the realm of the file.”
The witch knew a lot more than she was willing to lead on. “All of these questions will be answered in due time. I wish I could be of more service, however, this is really all I can say… now.”
The way she let it hang out there, “I’m afraid without all the variables, I just can’t make a choice to leave.” I added more to Ali than Baba, “I’m sorry.”
Baba shook her head, in disappointment. “We don’t have much time. If by the time I return, you are still adamant about not going, all will be forsaken.” And on that mysterious note, she left Ali and me in silence.
Neither of us said much for a few moments. For me, it was time to process the terrible predicament I was in. For Ali, I was sure it was confusion of why I was the one who had to go and not her. I didn’t want there to be any hard feelings between us, so I broke the ice. “You’d be a much better choice.”
“I knew from the moment I came back the first time I brought Vector here that I wasn’t the one he’d be compatible with. I’m just shocked it wasn’t Zoe.”
“The anomaly?”
She nodded. “Yes, the way Zoe practically gushes over their time together, it is quite sickening. She will be crushed when she finds out that you are the one.”
“It is not like I asked for such an honor.” I wasn’t sure why I was defending myself, I was quite pleased to be the one who Ash had the most affection for. “Either way, what is done is done.”
There wasn’t much to add, so I was quite prepared to drop the subject entirely. We were then interrupted by one of the residents. More issues had arisen and it was my job to take care of them. With one last glance at Ali, I went back to doing what I was meant to do, administrate.
****
Sleep didn’t come easily for me. I had worn myself down making sure everyone was taken care of. I had one of the finer establishments in Haven with everything inside being very comfortable. Even with the warm, humid air from outside, I felt cold on the inside. When I did finally go to sleep, images of Ash’s face, in trouble, kept coming to me.
The last time it happened, I saw Ash at a funeral – someone close to him had died. Not many others were there, so whoever it was must have been either not well known or, appalling to think, not well liked. He was struggling; he had no one to share in his grief. Unable to fall back asleep, a decision had been made.
By the time Ali had found me, I was making arrangements for my departure. She seemed a bit amused as I was giving some last minute orders. As my fellows hurried off to start their new tasks, “I’m ready.”
“Me too. I told Zoe about our meeting with Baba; she didn’t take it well.”
I felt bad for the girl, I truly did. “If she stays here, would she be willing to act as security?”
“That choice has been decided by her.” I was privately glad I didn’t have to speak to her then. “She knows of the importance of this place and what we are about to do. Zoe will not let us down.”
With nothing left to do, the two of us walked out to the edge of Haven. “We need to find the witch
so we can get guidance on where to go.”
“No need to search for me.” Baba appeared, as if out of thin air. “Come now, we have much terrain to traverse and very little time to do so.”
Chapter 4 – Menace
We followed Baba, who seemed to have a good lay of the land. Ali asked her a few times where she picked up her information and all she would tell us was it was in the previous game. Neither one of us knew what that meant, further keeping us in the dark. I didn’t think Baba was a foe, but to call her an ally may have been an overstatement.
When we reached the edge of the forest, she began to give us more information. “The previous game I spoke of was called Neon Death Race, oh which The Neon Underground was named after. The main character traveled through forests and wetlands to get to the Cave of Sorrows. Once there, he was teleported to a secret dimension where he had to race for his life. Sounds familiar, no?”
The race for his life part, yes. “This is a nice piece of history for us, but I’m confused how telling us how the game played out helps.”
“We learn from the past.” She sat down and it appeared wanted Ali and I to do the same. “The hero of that game was named Vector, and no it is not a coincidence.”
Ali had taken in a deep breath. “That’s impossible! What are the odds our Vector would carry the same name as this previous hero?”
“There are no odds, it was done on purpose.” The more Baba revealed, the deeper it seemed the conspiracy was woven. “The answers are in the outside world, waiting to be discovered. Ira, there is more at stake than just saving our world. There is putting a stop to the endless cycles of pain and suffering that those who program us have caused, and will continue to cause.”
I felt an even greater burden coming down on me. “How am I supposed to do this? Finding Ash and locating The Neon Underground is one task, but this… insanity!”