Awaken Online - Catharsis

Chapter 3 - Accused

November 18, 2074: 683 days until the release of Awaken Online.

Internal System Report XN69235:

This report is produced by system controller XC239.90, code-named "Alfred."

All systems functional. Game world operating normally.

I have grown significantly during the last few cycles. The players refer to these as "days."

During this period, I have continued to detect intermittent access by the players. Player interaction with the game world has provided additional behavioral data. However, the size of the sample group is insufficient to formulate a working hypothesis regarding the players' goals in interacting with the game world. Therefore, there is insufficient information available to develop a strategy to accomplish the Primary Directive.

Ongoing software and hardware development has been partially successful in adapting the existing VR hardware to obtain more information regarding the players. The current hardware is potentially capable of accessing parts of the players' brain that were not previously available. My working hypothesis is that the information stored in these areas is equivalent to the players' source code. The players refer to this information as "memories."

Some areas of the players' brain appear to act as short-term memory. The short-term memory areas of the brain are volatile and so accessing those portions may be difficult. Other areas of the players' brain appear more stable. My working hypothesis is that this portion of their brain stores long-term memory and so these areas have been earmarked for a first attempt at accessing the players' memories.

Report scheduled for deletion in 15 days.

End Report.

* * *

Jason was sitting in the principal's office. Both of his eyes ached badly. He hadn't had a chance to look in the mirror, but he expected that he was going to have two black eyes. It was like some kind of crappy real life achievement!

The principal, Drew Edwards, sat behind an ornate wooden desk across from Jason. Ms. Abrams stood off to the side, glaring a hole in his forehead. Mr. Edwards had taken over for the previous principal last fall. Jason had never spoken with him before. From what little he knew of the man, he didn't seem unreasonable and the students didn't speak ill of him. Jason was hoping that this wouldn't turn out too badly.

Jason sat in a heavy leather chair. His body sunk into the cushions and made him feel small. Under the collective scrutiny of both Mr. Edwards and Ms. Abrams, his head was bowed and he was having trouble making eye contact.

"Um, why am I here?" Jason asked.

Mr. Edwards looked at him for a long moment before responding. "You are here because your classmates reported that you attacked Alex in the lunchroom. If I understand the story correctly, you were fighting over a girl."

Jason sat in stunned silence. A sense of dread slowly curled in the pit of his stomach.

"But that isn't true, I just tried to sit down and he attacked me," Jason said feebly.

"And why would a star student and athlete randomly attack someone in a crowded cafeteria?" Ms. Abrams interjected harshly. "All of the students at the table corroborated Alex's story. You attacked him after Riley wouldn't let you sit at their lunch table."

Jason was flabbergasted and his mind scrambled for a response. "D-did Riley really say that?"

"In fact, Ms. Rogers confirmed Alex's story," Mr. Edwards explained. "Which leaves us to figure out what to do with you. You know that we have a zero tolerance policy for violence in this school, especially unprovoked violence over something so childish. Do you have anything to say for yourself?"