Cyberspace; The Ultimus Collection

Chapter 3, A New Beginning, A New Life

Billboards, skyscrapers, holograms, flying cars. Daniel was surrounded by it all. Everything was so futuristic. But the strangeness of that didn't even compare to that of the citizens around him. Amongst the men and women were robots, aliens, monsters, and mutants! What was this strange place Daniel ended up in? In a panic, Daniel shot up off his knees and started to run through the streets. Weaving through cars and people, Daniel frantically rushed through this new world, hoping to run into some answers. Eventually he entered a convenience store on a street corner.

"Hello! Welcome to Stop 'N Shop! The internet's favorite convenience store!" The store clerk said cheerfully. Daniel ran up and threw himself onto the counter in exhaustion and desperation.

"You gotta help me man! I-I don't know where I am! I don't what this i-... wait what did you say?"

"Uhhh, welcome to Stop 'N Shop?" The store clerk answered confused.

"No no no after that."

"The internet's favorite convenience store?"

"The internet... the internet?!" It was if a sudden realization dawned onto Daniel's mind. "I'M IN THE FUCKING INTERNET!?!?"

"Please sir there's no need to shout!" The store clerk was very concerned, backing away slightly.

"Dude you seriously have to help me! I don't belong here! I'm not from here! I'm from the real world!" Daniel became more and more panicked as time went on, as if he felt like his time was running short. The store clerk stammered at this outburst, sweating profusely and pulling at his uniform's collar. Just then a gunshot rang out inside the small convenience store. The two turned their heads towards the main entrance. Standing in the doorway was a tall and muscular man, covered head to toe with a thick armor. A black bandana covered his mouth, and a strange symbol was printed onto the shoulders of the armor. It was of a viper wrapped around a skull, bordered by an inverted triangle. Both Daniel and the store clerk stared at the man, slack jawed and eyes widened.

"Put the money in a bag pipsqueak!" The man demanded, while he raised a shotgun at the store clerk.

"This is the worst day of my life..." Daniel said defeatedly. "I'm going to die here."

"No one is going to die as long as you put the money in a bag!" The man pumped the gun, loading a new shell into the chamber. The store clerk yelped before frantically putting away the register's money into a plastic bag. "That's more like it. Now hurry up! Before the cops get here!"

"Oh I think the cops will be the least of your worries." A voice called out from behind the armed robber.

"Wha?" The robber turned to look at his challenger, but as he did a metal blade whizzed through the air and pierced the man's eye. "GHAAAAA!!!" The robber screamed, dropping his gun and clenching his eye. It was then that Daniel could get a good look at this mysterious hero. He was a man of similar build to the robber, tall and muscular. He was covered completely in a silver knight armor. The visor of his helmet was brought down, so Daniel could not see the hero's face. Around his waist he had many different blades. On one side was a small dagger, and on the other was a series of throwing knives. The man brought his hand behind his back, and pulled out a large broadsword.

"Hm?" The knight looked at the robber's shoulder. "So you are with the Syndicate? You don't look like you have any special powers, augmentations, or mutations. So my guess is that you're just some lowly grunt. Makes sense for a small crime like this." The robber pulled out the knife from his eye.

"Gah! I'll show you what this lowly grunt can do!" The robber then charged at the knight, shouting and screaming. The hero swiftly jabbed the sword into the robber's side. The robber gasped and staggered. The knight withdrew his sword and placed it back into it's hilt. He then grabbed the robber, spun him around, and pinned him against the knight's own body.

"I suggest you stop struggling and come with me quietly." The hero bent down to be close to the robber's ear. "Unless you want to see what a guardian of my caliber can really do." This statement shook the robber, and he immediately relaxed. The man escorted his captive outside of the store, where the policy were waiting to arrest him.

And just like that the incident was over. The store clerk and Daniel were left in extreme shock. While the clerk celebrated his gift at another chance at life, Daniel decided to act on this new determination for answers. Without saying a word Daniel rushed out of the store to catch up with his own knight in shining armor.