Final Simulation
[CREATOR OF SIMULATION - Osiris] [PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF SIMULATION: N/A]
[FOCUS - Unknown Taken Entity] [SIMULATED LOCATION - Titan - Saturn’s Moon, New Pacific Arcology] [REALITY - Current reality] [TIMELINE - Present]
[PoV: Zen’Ro]
The first thing I feel are the soft vibrations underneath my feet and the rain that’s pelting my body.
I look around, my confusion increasing further.
The sky is dark, covered completely in ominous clouds. I’m standing on what looks like some sort of rig platform in the center of a violent ocean, or...a single rig platform that’s connected to a vast network other platforms. Yet the buildings themselves are in poor condition, as if left for many years in disrepair.
...Where am I?
...
Why...am I alive?
I remember it vividly, how I ended my life with my own blades as a last act of defiance towards the Echo of Oryx. Yet here I am, alive...
But at the same time, I don’t feel his presence in my mind anymore. The silence is almost deafening, yet...also comforting at the same time.
I turn my gaze out to the vast sea, noticing several ancient ships drifting on the waves. Yet all of them are in the same disrepair as the rig I’m standing on, some of them even partially submerged.
Over the constant waves and rain a sudden sound immediately catches my attention however, a distinct sound of a sudden hiss followed by a hum.
And it came from behind me.
I turn around and not far from me I see a white, triangular ‘rift’. The edges ripple and leak off energy, yet it only hangs there for a moment before something steps through it.
A human.
The human is garbed in long robes of dull grays and reds. Along with this are several what seem like gold ornaments on his body - a gold collar, gold bracers that pulse with white bands of energy, and a gold helmet that resembles that of a bird of prey. Wrapped around his face is a piece of cloth, covering all except his eyes and part of his nose.
In his hands however is what also draws my attention. Hovering over an open palm of one of his hands are three cube-like stones that possess a glowing blue carving on each side, and they’re all linked together to form some sort of shape. In his other hand is a...gun, a rifle-like gun made of bronze-like metal as well as possessing many white pulsing cables that run down its frame.
Another entity exits the triangular rift, this one being far...far smaller. The best way to describe it is a small metal sphere with several hovering spikes around its body, its overall size being no larger than one’s hand. In the center of this sphere lays a blue eye, radiating a glow that pierces through the dark atmosphere.
The three cubes hovering over the human’s hands unlink themselves, causing the triangular rift to vanish behind them.
I...have no idea who they are, but I am both suspicious and threatened by them. I have no idea where I am, what their motives are, or why I’m still even alive.
With dread forming in me I draw my blades, the two swords of energy flashing into existence. “Who are you?” I growl, my voice distorted and twisted. “Where am I?”
The small machine(?) floating next to the Human backs up somewhat. “Whoa there, big guy.” A feminine voice speaks from it. “We’re not here to hurt you.” She turns her gaze to the human. “Hey Osiris? You should probably put the gun away, I think it might be scaring him.”
The Human named Osiris glances at the small machine before nodding silently. To my surprise I watch as the weapon vanishes into a stream of white energy, said stream fading into nothingness.
He rests his now free hand behind his back, the other still keeping his gloved palm open as the three cube-like stones hover over it. “We will answer your questions, Taken.” He says calmly, his voice sounding aged. “However we also have questions of our own, so there is no need to have your weapons drawn.”
I stare at them long and hard, trying to find...something. But his posture is relaxed, making my fears slowly turn to only minor doubts. Against my judgement I lower my blades...and let them wink out of existence.
The tiny machine floating near the human lets out an excited squeal. “Osiris, we’re talking to a Taken~!” She says excitedly.
The Human glances at the machine, his eyes narrowing with a twinge of irritation. “Sagira, keep your comments to a minimum.” He mutters lowly before turning back to me, his gaze easing somewhat. “You desire to know who we are, so I shall answer. My name is Osiris, and this...” He gestures to the floating machine with his head. “...is Sagira.”
The machine bobs in the air in greeting. “Pleasure!”
Osiris looks back at me. “We will quell whatever confusions you are experiencing, however...I first will ask you our first question. What is your name?” His eyes narrow somewhat again. “If however you do not have a name, then what shall we address you as?”
This...is very...very confusing. I’ve never talked to a Human before, or at least...from what I can assume from what tatters of memories I possess. “My name...is Zen’Ro, the Defiant Blade.” I respond carefully. I don’t know why I put in my title, since it doesn’t hold any meaning. I quickly shake my head “Call me...Zen’Ro.”
“Zen’Ro? Quite an exotic name.” Sagira comments. “Yet I’m not familiar with it, it seems to follow the same naming similarities as the Cabal...yet not quite.”
“Cabal?” I repeat, feeling my confusion intensify.
“Ignore Sagira’s musings.” Osiris tells me, shaking his head irritably. Yet this only lasts for a brief moment before he continues. “Your next question you asked is where you are, which I will explain to you.” He turns and starts walking towards the edge of the rig platform, Sagira floating right by his head.
I watch him carefully, still unsure of what to make of him. He stops at the very edge, only one step is needed for him to fall off the metal platform and plunge into the depths of the ocean below. “We are currently in the New Pacific Arcology, a floating city located on Titan.” His gaze drifts upwards. “One of the many moons of Saturn.”
With that the clouds slowly begin to clear, revealing the sky that was at first hidden.
And I feel my breath taken away from the sight before me.
Taking up most of the sky is a giant yellow planet, possessing brilliant rings. The sheer spectacle leaves me standing in awe, for I’ve never seen anything quite like it.
Wait...
I feel myself pause again.
“I know what you will ask next.” Osiris continues. “You wish to know how you got here.”
I nod my head silently.
“Before I give you this answer, I must ask you a question in turn.” He looks at me, although his dark green eyes are relaxed...they possess an intensity that belongs to an individual who has seen much during their time. “Where are you from, Zen’Ro? How did you become what you are?” The fingers of his open palm twitch slightly, causing the floating cubes to move slightly. “And...what do you last remember?” He fully turns his body to face me. “These are many questions to ask at once, however...to answer them will help us both understand the situation you are in. By helping me, I can help you.”
The doubt reinforces itself again, being pressed with so many questions putting me on edge. Are they trying to deceive me? To trick me into telling them everything so that they may use it against me?
...
I...doubt that’s the case, seeing how they haven’t shown any sign of hostility. They’re both calm, or at least Osiris is. Sagira seems to be watching me with rapt attention, her small form slowly bobbing up and down.
...
Maybe...they are truly trying to help me?
“I...am from...” I start to respond only to stop, for...I don’t actually remember where I’m from. Whatever land or place I came from is nonexistent in my mind, torn away from when Oryx Took me.
“What planet are you from?” Sagira asks me, specifying in what may be hopes of making it easier to respond. “No need to stress over a specific place.”
Planet...?
In the back of my mind I found something, a name. I immediately snatch it.
“Earth.” I tell them. “I am from Earth.”
“Earth?!” Sagira exclaims with surprise. “So he’s really-”
“Not now, Sagira!” Osiris hisses, his steely eyes glaring at her. The machine ceases her talking, however the blue eye narrows in irritation - this act being made possible by the blue glow of her optic thinning itself.
Osiris looks back at me. “How did you become Taken, Zen’Ro?” He asks me.
...
“I...don’t...remem” I start slowly but stop. Everything before me killing those Pokemon in that town is either empty or in tattered pieces, so I can’t recall what the specifics are. However...at the same time, after the Echo showed me everything of Oryx’s deeds...it gave me the tools to at least fabricate an explanation.
“I...was Taken by...Oryx” I continue. Everything is flowing to me, the information that made me realize how insignificant I was and how useless my agenda to take down the Deep was.
However...at the same time, I no longer need to fight the urge to follow the Sword Logic. I no longer need to combat the Echo’s attempts to lead me, no longer need to fight the Darkness within me.
My mind is clear, tranquil. Now that the Human asked me what happened, I can think about it and remember it all. I can piece things together, figure out what exactly happened to me without the stress.
Soon...I managed to piece it together, with what I’ve been doing in the past along with the visions that the Echo showed me.
“Before Oryx was struck down, he reached out and Took me.” I continue with increasing vigor. “But...because he was slain, I can only assume that the process was incomplete.” I glance at my claws. “It...would explain why I still have part of my will, why I was able to fight him and my urges for so long.” I shake my head slowly. “He created an Echo, one last Echo. However...this Echo was weak, too weak to do anything. I was the sole individual providing him tribute, so...I stabbed myself with my own blades to prevent anymore tribute from flowing. I...believe this left the Echo stranded, with no hope of ever becoming stronger.”
“This...is unbelievable!” Sagira squeals, briefly snapping me from my thoughts. The Ghost quickly notices the glare that Osiris is giving her, in which she quickly backpedals. “Sorry.”
Wait...
...
That vision, the last...final vision. Oryx’s final act...
‘He created a wound and chose to Take one creature from a completely different realm, a different universe.’
Suddenly, I believe I know the reason why this place is so alien and different.
“I am in a different universe, aren’t I?” I ask them suddenly, strangely calm with this realization.
This astonishes Osiris and Sagira, seeing Sagira’s full-body recoil and Osiris’ raised eyebrows.
“I am surprised that you’ve come to this conclusion.” Osiris starts, his voice sounding...impressed? “But seeing what you’ve told us, my answer is...most likely.” He glances at Sagira for a brief moment. “You say you come from a planet called Earth, yet...that is the planet that I also hail from. However your species seem unfamiliar to me, so I shall ask another question.” He crosses his free arm over his chest. “What are you?”
This...I can recall clearly. “I am a Scizor, a Pokemon.” I respond honestly.
“Hmmm...” Sagira shakes her whole body from side to side. “I have absolutely nothing on either of those names, or at least from what I pulled from the Vanguard archives before we were bani-” She catches herself. -before we left.”
Osiris nods his head. “Then it is truly likely that you hail from a different universe, which means that you are indeed currently in a different reality.”
That’s...quite...a realization.
And yet...I’m okay with this, oddly enough.
But that still doesn’t answer one thing that I’m confused about.
“I...should be dead.” I start again. “I stabbed myself with my own blades, destroying my body.” I look at them pleadingly, although my expressionless face is incapable of displaying emotions. “Do....you possibly know why I’m still alive?”
Sagira looks at Osiris questioningly, said Human closing his eyes and shaking his head. He raises his open palm and begins moving the floating cubes with his fingers, turning their sides and connecting them into an odd shape. Upon finishing another triangular rift forms, this time in front of him.
I feel confusion form in me again. “What...are you doing?” I ask.
Neither of them respond however, for they step through the triangular rift...and it disappears after them.
Leaving me stranded...
...
[ENDING SIMULATION...]
...
[VOCALS ONLY]
Sagira: “Can you tell me again on why we didn’t answer him?”
Osiris: “There was no further need to dwell in the simulation, for he answered all of our primary concerns that pertains to his behavior and existence.”
Sagira: “Okay, but that doesn't answer my ques-”
Osiris: “He is a simulation, Sagira. He is merely a manifestation of the Infinite Forest, a copy. He is not the true Zen’Ro.”
Sagira: “But-”
Osiris: “How would he react if we were to bring this information to light?”
Sagira: “Oh...good point. There’s no telling on how he’d react.”
Osiris: “Exactly.”
...
Sagira: “So, seeing how these simulations tend to work... He won’t remember this encounter...?”
Osiris: “Every simulation of Zen’Ro is based off of an existing format of him, anything that transpires within a simulation will not transfer over.”
Sagira: “So essentially...every new simulation of the guy will always have him starting off completely blinding to how things work, not knowing where he is or how he got there.”
Osiris: “Correct.”
Sagira: “Sheesh, kinda feel bad for the guy...even though he’s just a simulation.”
...
Sagira: “So, what now?”
Osiris: “We’ve figured out that Zen’Ro is from an entirely different universe, and I believe that the Vex are interested in him because of this. I have my suspicions, however we must investigate further to fully figure out what the Vex’s plans are.”
Sagira: “Basically start messing with their simulations again and do some tampering that'll definitely anger them. just like what we always do?”
Osiris: “That is one way to put it, but yes.”
Sagira: “Sounds good to me, you just make sure we don’t have another Dendron inci-”
...
Sagira: “Okay, now that was a scary look.”