Elysium

39. FAT4LITY

System Administrator:

For a long time Levi couldn't understand why no one answered his messages. Sitting at home, he periodically checked incoming calls and his Elysium account. Silence. As if everyone who was with him at the same time disappeared at once. Mentally, he went over all the options for what had happened. Did all of them get scared? Most likely. Did they betray him? Definitely. Who persuaded them to betray him? Probably it was Hakim. They themselves would be afraid. Levi spent so much time on them. So much time they spent together, both real and virtual. In their group Hakim was the only one who could become potential leader. Smart, strong-willed, talented, he easily gains confidence.

Levi was furious. How could they turn their backs on him when so much had already been done?

He started calling Ada.

"Ada, where are you?" he asked in a trembling voice.

"I'm in Elysium now. If you want to talk, I'll send you an invitation to the chatroom," she replied coldly, which was unusual for her when they were talking in private.

The first thing Levi thought was that there
was someone next to her. Otherwise, she wouldn't have answered so briefly and interrupted the conversation so quickly. Levi put on a choker and connected to simulation.
The moment of transition from reality to the virtual world always seems especially pleasant to him, despite the fact that many users don't feel this moment at all. Levi clearly feels how his body, as if in parts, is disconnected from physical life. He compares this to death and the passage of the soul to heaven. It seems to him that this is exactly what is happening.

When he connects to the server, an invitation from Ada is already waiting for him in his messages. He finds himself in a location that personifies a dark forest at night. Pale moonlight gently descends through the trees and path.

"Levi," Ada calls out to him.

He turns around.

"Why are you here? he asks, frowning.

She emerges from the shadows of the trees, and the moonlight gently illuminates her face.

"You wanted to talk, didn't you?" she replies mechanically.

"What's going on? I don't understand what these formalities are for. Is Hakim up to something? Why everyone ignores me? What the heck? There is an important moment happening right now. Fucking legendary!" Levi exclaims, barely holding back his emotions.

Ada chuckles.

"So what about Hakim?" she asks.

"You know, I noticed envy in him. I understand everything. He cannot stand the fact that all the fame goes to me, as if he doesn't exist. I know that he contributed to our virtual revolution, but who brought everyone together in the first place? Who didn't let you give up? Who inspired faith that our time would come? It was me... All is fair! I knew he was the smartest and most ambitious one. I had to be more careful with him, I shouldn't trust him that much. And if now he lured everyone to his side and decided to become the new leader..."

"Hakim didn't lure anyone, he never wanted to be a leader," another voice says.

The rest of the hackers are revealed from behind the trees. Ada looks at them and then back at Levi, who still doesn't understand what's going on.

"Hakim didn't want to betray you. I didn't want any fame or recognition. He threw out the choker and decided to leave us," Ada nods towards the guys, her gaze is unusually mocking.

After a short pause, Levi starts laughing. Gradually the laughter becomes almost hysterical.

"You? It was you? Ada, can you hear yourself? Who would you lure? You are just a girl! That's funny! You are nothing without me! You couldn't persuade them to betray me, it's just some sort of prank... Where is that Hakim? I know, that you're lying to me," Levi looks around at his former associates again.