Turning Back the Clock

Chapter 4: The Game

The group circles around the massive block of players watching in awe and horror as Kayaba explains the game, its rules, and its consequences. As they reach the front, Riko whispers:

Riko: Hey, Dad. Why did Kayaba have the game kill people?

Inventor: Various historians and history textbooks say and claim different things, but what I do know is that he told Kirito after he beat the game that he forgot why he added that feature and locked the players inside the game in the first place. So if you ask me, he's a madman.

Ui: Ok, Kez. Hand me something like a megaphone.

Kez: Here you go.

Ui: And Gus, give me a lift so everyone can see me once Kayaba's screen turns off above us.

Gus: Ok.

After Kayaba's message ends and the players are in utter shock and fear after what he told them, Gus carries Ui high above the ground.

Ui: Attention, SAO players! We know you are frightened after what Kayaba just said. However, we have a plan to get everyone out of SAO and beat the game without anyone's lives being lost. We will have all details explained later. For now, remain calm, stick together for emotional support, and stay in safe areas like this town. Thank you, and we will get back to you as soon as possible. You may meet us at the plaza fountain tomorrow morning for further instructions.

The players, though still uneasy and frightened, were somewhat relieved to hear that someone had a plan. In the meantime, the players found various houses and other places to stay temporarily.

Ui: Well, that takes care of that. Now let's head back inside and start unpacking.

After heading back inside, the team and the inventor explain to Riko what's next for them.

Inventor: So far, so good. Now, go ahead and unpack.

Ui: Ok. I'm giving each of you an interactive 3D map to Aincrad that you can access at any time. The inventor and I will mark spots on the map as they come up during our mission.

Gus: I brought some more pairs of wings for players to fly around really fast.

Kez: Kiyu and I brought some advanced weaponry for battle.

Ui: I also created several bots that will fly around Aincrad 24/7.

Riko: What are these for?

Kiyu: They were programmed to search any floor for treasonous behavior or groups, according to those listed by Kirito, such as the group that became the "Orange Guild."

Riko: Ahh. I've heard of the Orange Guild. I guess that's a good idea.

Inventor: We will also have access to their cameras back here at the lab. We can also use them to find any players experiencing negative emotions and help them out with something, or rather, someone from inside the game.

Riko: That sounds nice, but isn't this an invasion of people's privacy?

Kez: I suppose so, but you know what they say. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Riko: Well, I guess you're right.

Ui: We can also build more technology, bots and weapons that we've been planning to make for this mission. There is someone from this time period who can assist us with making more, but we'll get to that later.

Riko: Actually, now that you mention it, I might actually have something that can help us, too. I just hope I still have it. .....Yes! I called this the Universal Duplicator. Me and my friends made it a while back in another game back in our time. It can duplicate anything you want it to, whether it'd be tools, bots, or even players.

Ui: That's amazing, Riko!

Kez: Now we can make copies of our tools at light speed. This will make this project so much easier.

Kiyu: Indeed. Thanks, Riko.

Riko: You're welcome.

Ui: You guys go ahead and fiddle with Riko's Universal Duplicator. I'll get started on my contacting tools that we'll use to contact the outside-world.

Riko: The lab?

Ui: No. The people outside of SAO. We're going to use their help so that Kayaba can be arrested, which might help us with this mission.

Inventor: But be quick about it. According to some textbooks, he committed suicide before any authorities could find him or arrest him. I don't know the full story since, well, I wasn't born yet, but you get the picture.

Ui: Yes, sir. I'll start working on it right away.

The group began making much preparations and tools for their journey until nightfall, when they went to sleep in the house that they settled in.