21:02... I guess I got delayed by the stalker.
The front of CustomVR enters the field of view as the Red Devil turns onto the familiar street. After descending onto the rail track, the ship is rolled into the shop's parking dock facing the now dimly lit store.
Looks like they closed shop already. Let me send Lin a message.
However, before she could reach for Lin's contact, the floodlight for the front of the store turns on and the front door slides open revealing the 158cm Lin in her usual workwear, white long sleeve dress shirt and jean suspenders, a very retro style. After Lin closes the front door, she locks the door and takes a step back.
What's up with her today? Euri couldn't help but wonder. Suddenly, Lin bows a deep bow. A few seconds later, the girl stands up straight and seems to wipe her face. She then makes an about turn and immediately hops onto the hood of the Red Devil. Euri quickly presses the release button causing the hatch to slide open. Just in time for Lin to jump into the passenger seat. Noticing the backpack on the floor, Lin seems to think for a second before an understanding but melancholic smile appears.
"So y-" She begins
"Have you been crying?" Euri quickly interjects. Lin slowly looks up at the remark.
"Mr. Humphrey closed the store."
"I guess he finally went back to his family?" Euri ventures a guess.
"Yea... Hey. Let's go get drunk tonight, my treat." Lin pipes up. Having come to the conclusion that Euri is also packed to go, obviously not expecting to return soon.
"Free alcohol? Please." Euri quickly agrees and sets the destination for Lin's apartment. The ride back was quiet, serene even. Each processing the events of the day. Despite the humourous conclusion to the escape, Euri can't help but feel a strange sense of unease.
-
In the small kitchen of Lin's apartment, Euri sinks into the aerogel sofa as Lin brings over a large clear bottle along with a few small glasses to place on the coffee table.
"It's finally time to break out your treasure eh?" Euri remarks with one corner of her mouth turned up into a mischievous grin.
"Fuck yeah. Not like we're coming back anytime soon." Lin answers enthusiastically before pouring a cup for Euri and herself. "To a future ace pilot!" She continues with a raised glass.
"To a future A-list director." Euri replies with her own. Both girls bring their respective cups to their lips and down it instantly. "That burns! Good wine!"
"I regret not opening this sooner." Lin says as she pours another cup for both. "Oh yea, Euri. Mr. Humphrey left something for us before he closed shop." Lin continues as she reaches into her suspender pockets and pulls out a data card and a little box with intricate engravings.
Saint path? Immortal Road? Holy Law? What's this? Euri instantly recognizes the characters written. When she was little, her father often made her learn this archaic language. While she never understood his reason, he was her idol so she didn't question it. Reigning in her curiosity, she waits for Lin's explanation.
Nothing the curious gaze that flashed on her friend's face, Lin misunderstands it to be about the data card. "That's our inheritance that he left us. I checked it and there's 100,000 credits inside. As for the box, that was left by your father. He entrusted to Mr. Humphrey to pass it to you before we leave for the Academies." Lin finishes.
She picks up the data card and activates it to reveal a small holographic window with the number 100,000 on it. She then pinches her thumb and index finger, brings it up to the window, and separates her fingers. The window splits into two smaller windows with 50,000 in each. Seeing this, Euri holds up her hand ready to catch as Lin flicks one of the windows over to Euri. Immediately, a notification pops up on Euri's HUD.
Credit Acquired: 50,000
Total Credits: 71,223
More than triple what I had. This should be enough for a while. Euri calculates quickly. I can probably afford to take Red Devil to the shop and get a new coat to make it less conspicuous for 100 credits. A credit is equivalent to about 10 Terra Alliance Dollars, however it is a bit more stable and is recognized across the Milky Way.
Having deposited her share as well, Lin holds the box towards Euri, who holds up both hands to receive it. It has a cool feel and not too heavy. Deciding to analyze it later, she puts it into her backpack before picking up another cup of wine. "Alright, enough sad things. Let's drink to our last night in New Vancouver."
"At least we'll still see the sunset over the Pacific." Lin Adds.
"And the sunrise." Euri remarks before downing the second shot with Lin.
The Central Military Academy is an inter-alliance institution built on the sunken Hawaiian islands. Now with only the few volcanoes still peaking out of the water, the rest of the area had been repurposed into a state-of-the-art academy with a population of close to 100,000 students. Ranked third on Earth, the other two being the Atlantic Military Academy ranked second and the first being the Pan-Asian Military Academy ranked first. However this is only indicative of overall rankings. The CMA is ranked first in both mechanical engineering and combat pilot training.
The two friends kept drinking into the night, making small talk, until Lin fell asleep, drooling on the coffee table. Seeing her friend passed out, Euri hobbles over to the linen closet to grab a blanket and drapes it over Lin. She then grabs a cup of water and heads over to the study. Sitting at the small VR workbench, she places the small box into a small circle and presses the "Scan" button. Four small pillars rise out of the table next to the circle and proceed to emit a cyan light screen completely scanning the box. A few seconds later, the small pillars retract back into the tablet. A small window with the words: "Scan_34330706232102" appear above the desk. Euri grabs the small floating box and a familiar ring sounds to the appearance of a similarly familiar notification indicating the reception of the file.
Euri then takes off her thin safety gloves and runs her index finger over the words ไป้. "Xian Dao" She mutters to herself. "What does it mean?"
Suddenly the box begins to glow. Her index finger feels the box warming up before an energy of sorts flows from the box into her. Euri's vision goes dark suddenly. She tries to open her eyes, and as she does so, she sees a vast expanse of darkness, with small bright lights far off in the distance.
Stars... Momentarily distracted by the overwhelming visuals before her, a voice suddenly sounds in the vacuum.
"Euri." With that singular word, Euri breaks out of her drunken stupor. Dad? Dad! Euri's eyes widen into saucers and her pupils contract. She begins looking around, trying to find the origin of the voice. "Euri, I am sorry for leaving you in the way I did. Circumstances outside my control forced me to do so for your safety. However, with the knowledge I passed on to you, assuming you kept working hard as I know you would, you will be able to find me again.
"Listen carefully Euri. Within this box is a pill and a data card. If you decide that you wish to find me, then take the pill before entering the academy and follow the instructions on the data card. However, if you wish to wash your hands of the dangers that come with it, destroy the box. Our family's legacy is very dangerous in the wrong hands. When you activated the box, the little bit of me I left behind woke up and brought you into your mindscape. This is your own world. Even if you decide to not want to follow in my footsteps, use this place to go as far as you can. However, if you should choose to come find me, finish your education and look for your mother on Empyrean..." The familiar voice begins to fade as it finishes its message.
"Wait! Dad!" Euri quickly speaks up, afraid she won't be able to get the question out in time. "Do you know who wants us? I was followed tonight!" She quickly asks.
"... If you are afraid of them, destroy this box, and they'll have no reason to continue pursuit. If you are willing to brave the danger, then get to the academy as soon as possible, and tell the principal the words written here... I must go now Euri. Know that your mother and I love you very much..."
With that, Euri's vision grows dark once more before the lights of the room around her enter her eyes through her eyelids. Opening them slowly, she look at the time: 23:22. Only a minute passed? She wonders.
Suddenly, she can feels a cool breeze on her face. Reaching up with her left hand to touch her cheeks, she realizes they were wet. She had been crying.
Dad... Dad... I will find you dad! Euri promises herself. Suddenly, the city she lives in no longer feels as large as it was. The planet Earth no longer feels as wide as it was. After hearing her father's words, she only had one thought in her mind. No matter how small I am. I will grow. No matter how far I am, I will take the next step. To the end of the road. To the depth of the stars. I will find you.
Euri raises her clenched fist to her heart as she makes this promise once more. She then looks carefully at the dark green box in front her again, this time, there seems to be a seam around the lid that wasn't there before. Carefully, she puts her fingers at the back of the box with her thumbs on the lid and pushes up every so slightly. A fragrant smell permeates the space around her. Surprised, she opens up the box further. As her father has described, there is a round white ball about 1cm in diameter on the left of the box and an older data card from about 20 years ago on the right, both embedded in red soft material. After opening the lid fully, similar material can be seen on the underside of the lid, protecting the contents fully.
Euri reaches first for the pill. And after taking a deep breath, she opens her mouth and places the pill on her tongue. She then takes her cup of water, takes a sip, and swallows the pill. After a few minutes of no reaction, she then takes the data-card, activates it, and grabs the familiar file window to download it into her HUD.
Received: VR Experience
Title: Echoes of the Void
Echoes of the Void? Interesting name, Might as well take a look. Euri stands up as she wonders about what kind of video her father left her. She quickly make her way to the garage and retrieves her VR Headset and makes herself comfortable in the pilot seat. She then takes off her HUD and puts it around her wrist turning it into a watch and finally wears the headset. Without a VR Cabin, she won't be able to have access to all her senses in VR, but she'll be able to watch VR Films at least. Taking a deep breath to calm her rapidly beating heart, the scented interior of the Red Devil calms her down.
"Let's go!" Euri exclaims to pump herself up and presses on the play button on the file before closing her eyes for the night.