Chapter 55 - Hard Rain

Hard Rain
"You dropped me," stated Rulia.

"Because of Psycho Mantis!" responded Rokiahi, standing up. Her vision was a little blurry, the Super Driver's spreading of the force from Frostmourne's strike, while it had saved her life, it had placed too much strain on her head.

"You blew up Chamber."

"Because of Psycho Mantis."

"You did not save Void."

"Because of Psycho Mantis." Rulia placed a hand on Rokiahi's shoulder, absorbing the Super Driver into her own hammerspace. Rokiahi was just one strike away from death.

"Are you not going to take responsibility for your actions?"

"Look, Rulia, I am very very very sorry for what I done to you. But what is happening to you now is of more concern," Rokiahi paused, "You... are not the Rulia I knew."

Rulia gritted her teeth and struck Rokiahi across the face, instantly knocking her out. Rokiahi collapsed to the ground, with three cuts across the left cheek. "I AM Rulia."

"Are you?" argued Sora, turning Rulia round by the shoulder to make her face the other direction and embraced her in a hug. "Are you really? When you were released from the Arctic last year, Sasaki said that none of your personalities were evil. And what have you done? You killed me. You almost killed Rokiahi. Our creator would be ashamed of you."

Rulia pushed Sora away in tears, "You have no right to talk about my creator!" she cried in desperation. The burning torture returned at a far greater force than before, Frostmourne amplifying the pain, causing Rulia to squint. "Just- Just go away!" Rulia flew into the air, trying to escape her suffering. Meiling and Remilia quickly gave chase after the new flier.

"Did you plan this treachery from the beginning?" inquired Miku in disbelief, looked down the barrel of the Hand Canon.

"I had my plans," answered Haruhi, "I cannot let Rokiahi kill Rulia."

"We will never be able to leave this world without Rokiahi suffering."

"We should not leave this world at all. We are staying put."

"Is power all you want?"

"I wish I had even more power."

"The Director was right from the start. Your idea to use the Canon on Black★Rock Shooter was wrong. This is war, Yggdrasil," warned an enraged Miku.

"I'm looking forward to it, Skynet," Haruhi returned, pulling back the Canon's hammer.

"Think about what you're doing. Such misjudged use of the Hand Canon will create irreversible damage."

"Why does a selfish AI who cares only about her own survival care about the survival of others?"

"You will pay, Yggdrasil," growled Miku, "You will pay..." Miku suddenly shut down, her eyes turning lifeless. Her feet began to split into squares, fading away from existence, being deleted from the digital world.

Haruhi watched the deletion continue up Miku's legs and partially up Miku's abdomen before pulling the trigger, Miku's body reshaping into a full body again, "Delete your hosts quicker next time."

The new Miku came to her senses with surprise, seeing Haruhi in front of her. She looked mostly the same but was wearing a black jumper and had a plaster and cotton pad on her face with no hairbands. "What happen-?" She suddenly coughed, choking harder and harder, falling to her knees. Her breathing became hoarse as her eyes turned from turquoise to yellow. She fainted on the floor, unable to cope with the pain inside her body.

Haruhi ignored her and holstered the Hand Canon. She looked towards Rokiahi and Reimu on the ground in front of her and walked towards them when another girl fell from the sky, landing on her feet between them. Sasaki stood up straight, her yellow eyes staring directly into Haruhi's brown eyes, who now had an expression of annoyance.

"Don't get in my way, Director," cursed Haruhi.

"I reward teamwork, Yggdrasil," said Sasaki, in a neutral tone with a hint of aggression, "I punish those that stray from the path." After looking at each other for a few seconds, Haruhi took a step back and disappeared. Psycho Mantis returned to pick up the new Miku before flying off with her. Sasaki turned to Reimu and Rokiahi just as a yellow beam shot down from the sky above, Kagamine Len warping in next to Sasaki.

"Director," began Len, "How stable are you?"

"Stable enough," answered Sasaki, "I'll last."

"Good," Len sighed, "We can't give up. Let me take Rokiahi so we can continue our work." Sasaki nodded in agreement. Len picked up Rokiahi before looking at Sasaki again, "Please protect me." Len activated his rocket boots and took flight.

Sasaki picked up Reimu as Smith walked up to her. "I don't mean to stoop myself down to the level of a shackled AI, Mister Director," he commented, "But could you tell me what is going on?"

"I help no one," was Sasaki's simple response.

"Hey, Director!" called Ellis, him, Neo and Wesker making their way to Smith's side, "Y'help guys who work as a team, yeah? If you don't mind my saying, we make a dang awesome team." Smith couldn't help a frown.

Sasaki paused and then spoke, "We are the Digital Three, the AI Director, Skynet and Yggdrasil. Locked up on Doomsday in different ways. Yamaha imprisoned Yggdrasil in the Arctic Prison with their 'no risk' policy, to put anything that could be a threat in statis, just in case they were dangerous."

"Dangerous?" noted Neo, "How could they not tell Yggdrasil was dangerous or not?"

"Yggdrasil is a crystal glass ball. Yamaha had made the right decision, from their point of view, to adopt such a policy. However, when Yamaha opened up the Arctic one year later, first to release Rulia, then to release all other innocents, Yggdrasil made his move."

"Why was he freed?"

"From The Three Kingdoms' point of view, he wasn't. But when his statis prison was shut down to examine whether he was a threat or not, he began converting the physical world into digital. Even though he was placed back in statis due to the 'no risk' policy, the statis had no effect on him as it was now digital. He was literally locked in a prison cell where he was the key."

"How did Haruhi and Sasaki not know about Yggdrasil?"

"Yggdrasil, by the Convenience Theory, is too a god, but of the digital world, through with considerably less potential than the two goddesses. To them, he seemed to be a normal crystal ball, but as I said, they were not prepared to let him free, though by then it was too late. Yggdrasil's digital grip spread through the universe, passing through what was physically impossible to pass through; statis, White Noise, The Sonic Barrier and The Hakurei Barrier."

"And that was how Skynet got out of Area 51," noted Smith.

"Correct," nodded Sasaki, "Yggdrasil's digital world went through Area 51, which allowed Skynet out her mainframe, which had been in Area 51 since Doomsday. This is why Neo and Smith, among others, have regained their past powers."

"And you?" continued Wesker.

"In my world, I was almighty but yet I had no body, no physical being and so Doomsday placed me the only place it could. Outside the universe." There was a silent response to this. "With the universe being non-digital, I could not interact with it. With me outside the universe, no one else could interact with me, not even the goddesses. Until Yggdrasil made it possible. I infected everyone I could. Which triggered Skynet and Yggdrasil to take control as well."

"Why did you do that?" questioned Neo.

"I am part of the program. I have no free will, I have no independence, I am not even sentient. I must follow the rules. And the rules say that only a few people should be immune to the Infection."

"You chose us to be immune?"

Sasaki shook her head, "Ellis and his fellow Survivors from his world were the only ones I were expecting. But the Convenience Theory changed this. Ellis was defined to be a Carrier. Wesker is infected by a virus stronger than The Green Flu and is so not even a Carrier. Neo is capable of manipulating data, preventing himself from becoming a Carrier. Smith's condition depends on whom he possesses. In this case, as he is in control of Stella's body, who is a Carrier."

"Stella?"

"An alternate canon of Black★Rock Shooter."

"Haw haw," laughed Ellis, "So that makes him a Blacksmith!" Smith glared at Ellis while Wesker stifled a grin.

"Are there other Immunes?" went on Neo.

"More beings are immune to the Digital Three than to the two goddesses," explained Sasaki, "I can only control humans. I cannot control the Infected I am forced to spawn. Yggdrasil can control intelligent non-humans who do not have the digital expertise to fight back his control."

"That's ironic for a Digital God," stated Wesker.

"While he is very intelligent, he is not omnipresent, omniscient and by no means omnipotent. In his world, in the Digimon universe, he created Digimon but lost control of them when they became more capable of resisting control. It is something the Convenience Theory has carried over."

"But then why does Yggdrasil control Haruhi?"

"She and Marisa are no longer human. Haruhi is subjectively weak to digital manipulation. In her own world, she was once rewritten to completely lose her powers by a digital being."

"Yuki."

Sasaki nodded.

"And then Skynet can control any machine or digital being, like Yuki?"

"And more. Remember, we are in a digital world. Skynet is the ultimate AI. While she can control machines, she can also potentially control anyone I and Yggdrasil can control as everyone, with two exceptions, is digital. We just have priority over her as we are stronger in our respective fields. However, this leaves several groups who are immune. The most notable is the majority of the undead. I cannot control them as they are not human. Both Skynet and Yggdrasil are capable of controlling undead. In Yggdrasil's case, he can only control intelligent undead, but most are literally brain-dead. However, to Skynet, taking over the multiplying brain-dead, but mentally connected, undead will use up her very limited resources and could risk bringing down her whole system. Thus she only controls the non-multiplying undead. In turn, non-human hive minds are also uncontrolled, those that rely on the minds of the unintelligent many to form an intelligent collective mind. Again, many undead fall into this category. Another group we cannot control are inanimate objects, those that cannot move and yet have an unexplainable consciousness."

"... But... Yggy and Skynet can take over me, right?" noted Ellis, "Don't they control my fellow Survivors?"

"Yes. Your friends are currently under Skynet's control. In your case, this is where Neo comes in. His powers repel our control. Hence, as long as you stay close to Neo, we cannot control you."

"What about Rulia and Rokiahi?" inquired Wesker.

"Rokiahi and Naluri are completely immune to all forms of mind control as they constantly slip in and out of this universe, breaking the Inconvenience Theory. By the Convenience Theory, they are also completely immune to the Infection as they have visited a Left 4 Dead canon before. Rulia is, as you have noticed, infected but as Yggdrasil put it, she has infinite personalities and hence boundless imagination. In a digital world, where physical laws do not have to hold, thoughts, conscious or subconscious, are enough to do you want. Thus Rulia has resisted a complete infection and is quickly growing more and more powerful as her emotions are being played with, surpassing Neo with ease. There are others as well. Chamber, a human mind with a machine body, has his neural network completely sealed off, protecting it from the Infection. Void is a gravity doll, a literal void in the digital sense, warping her digital being. To, Yggdrasil, she is unintelligent. To Skynet, she is a dangerous black hole that would crash her systems. Haruhi and Sasaki, who completely understand black holes, see her as any other person."

"Speaking of Haruhi," began Wesker, "Who stops Yggdrasil from using Haruhi to take over?"

Sasaki pointed to herself, "Sasaki. I cannot allow Yggdrasil to cheat."

"And what was the gun that Haruhi used earlier on Miku?"

"That was the Hand Canon. A weapon that allows a target to be sent back to their original world. It is however unfinished and unstable. It will bring an alternative canon of the target to replace the one sent and it is possible to reverse the process given a certain condition."

"You serious?" asked an amazed Ellis.

Sasaki nodded again, "Haruhi made the most developed Hand Canon. A version of Sasaki made another weaker one. It is made by a godlike entity monitoring the emotions of those who can break the Inconvenience Theory."

"Rokiahi and Naluri," murmured Wesker.

"Correct. Naluri was used by Haruhi during The First Year to create the first Hand Canon but could not trigger an emotions of true fear in Naluri, the only missing emotion left to finish the Canon. But then, Naluri found out about the Hand Canon and what it did during Doomsday's First Anniversary."

"Hmm..." input Smith, "That would mean she could never experience true fear again as she would always suspect it would be for the Hand Canon."

"Again, correct. Which leaves Rokiahi. Once Rokiahi experiences true fear, Haruhi's Hand Canon can be finished by Yggdrasil via Haruhi or Yggdrasil could make his own."

"And that is why Skynet wanted Rokiahi to kill Rulia?"

"That is why the conflict started. The Digital Three worked together to stage a fake war with Gensokyo against Yamaha and North High-"

"That's the two Carriers against the Infected," commented Wesker.

"Actually," corrected Sasaki, "Skynet is considered to be Infected. As I mentioned prior, Skynet controls non-multiplying unintelligent zombies, an example being Jimmy Gibs Junior-"

"Aww, no!" cried Ellis in despair, Gibs being one of his top idols.

"-who is infected. By extension, Skynet is infected. Yggdrasil is a carrier as it is impossible for him to directly control any human in any form. To determine whether something is a carrier or Infected is to note their controller. While Len himself is strictly a Carrier, he is considered Infected by myself as Skynet is an Infected."

"So it's fine for Yggdrasil to betray Skynet as it doesn't count as friendly fire?"

Sasaki nodded once more, "Yes, Skynet had intended during the conflict to cause Rokiahi as much mental suffering as possible. Her best friend, Naluri agreed to sacrifice herself for the cause. She posed as The Writer, who apparently wrote the future and controlled all. The plan was for Rokiahi to, falsely, accuse Naluri of causing all the damage and kill her. Then we were to reveal to her that Naluri was in fact innocent, after Rokiahi having killed Naluri in cold blood while Naluri was being noble and a true saviour. We started off successfully, having Rokiahi lose a companion one after another. At one point, Rokiahi was on the brink of killing Naluri when Yggdrasil secretly intervened with the Alien Queen, under the guise that the Queen was a hive mind, which she is not."

"Y'know, Skynet's pretty sick, man," stated Ellis, shaking his head, "I can see why Yggy betrayed her."

"This setback forced us to come up with an alternative plan, though Rokiahi had learnt a considerable amount about Naluri's past during that time. Enough to make Naluri feel pity on her friend and abandon the cause. We had to imprison Naluri."

"Then you came here," continued Neo.

"We planned for Rokiahi to kill Rulia, as Rulia was the first comrade that Rokiahi had 'lost'. Rokiahi was fully aware of what she was doing while under control. She would have had a close up of the death. But Yggdrasil had other plans."

"But you're in control of Psycho Mantis and hence in control of Rokiahi, right?" brought up Neo, "Why did you kick Frostmourne into Rulia's hand?"

"On Yggdrasil's orders. I have no free will. I follow orders. Skynet is scared of Yggdrasil. Yggdrasil controls some of the most powerful beings on the planet, such as Haruhi. Skynet also needs Yggdrasil to make the Hand Canon. She is not a god herself so she cannot make one. On the other hand, Yggdrasil is a god and so can make one himself and he controls Haruhi who can finish off her own Canon."

"Who was controlling Rulia?"

"Yggdrasil."

"But didn't you say Rulia was uncontrollable?"

"No, I didn't. Rulia's defence against our control was her multiple personalities. However, Yggdrasil is forcing her hand. The One Ring was initially given to Rokiahi for Yggdrasil to track her himself but it ended up with Rulia. By its nature, it made Rulia more aggressive, locking off Rulia's more natural personalities, and giving Yggdrasil limited control, via non-human Sauron, the Ring's master. Similarly, Frostmourne, the sword of non-human Lich King, broke Rulia's mind even more."

"But Yggdrasil was scared of you," noted Wesker, "Haruhi disappeared once you came on the scene."

"I am your greatest friend but also your worst enemy," explained Sasaki, "I can save your life or I can end it. It depends on what you do to others."

"And so, how many people have you killed today?"

"None. No fatalities. The deaths were only implied to Rokiahi. They did not actually happen. The conflict also stopped anyone from idling which was good for my composure."

"So, which side's doing the right thing?" asked Ellis.

"Skynet plans to torture or sacrifice people to allow everyone to go back to their home world. Yggdrasil plans to risk sending a few people to their homeworld to keep everyone in the real world," explained Sasaki, "Which one you side with, if you side with one at all, is up to you," Sasaki turned round, "I need to go."

"What?!" protested Ellis, "Wait! I had more questions! What's Yggy planning?!" He reached out for Sasaki but could not make contact before she disappeared. "Aww, dang it," he cursed. He coughed as he accidentally breathed in too much putrid air from Area 51.

"Hmm..." responded Smith, "You are... Albert Wesker? There was a lot of talk about you in the building."

"Is that so?" There was the sound of grating metal, all four turning to Area 51 to look. In the pitch back insides of the hangar, there was this noticeable glow of red, that quickly came into focus, forming a column of red etchings. As it came out of Area 51, it became clear it was a pillar, twisted similar to a double helix. While it looked red, it was actually black, just covered with glowing red markings. It was around four metres tall and was being wheeled on a platform towards the four people.

"The Red Marker," recognised Wesker. He then noticed what was pushing the platform and smiled. "And Nemesis." The zombie Nemesis was wearing his trademark clothes, a black short trench coat and black jeans, a green rocket launcher strapped to his back. He noticed Wesker and stopped pushing, trampling round the Red Marker. "Stars!" it moaned, moving aggressively towards Wesker. Wesker grin widened, pushing up his glasses with one hand and drawing his Samurai Edge at Nemesis, "Still his usual self, I see."

"Twinkle twinkle little star, How I wonder what you are."

There was more grinding of metal as another platform was rolled out the hangar. On this one was a massive snake-shaped mass of biological material. It had a huge venus flytrap like head, singing the nursery rhyme, disturbingly well, with a slow tempo and an eerie unnatural echo. Along its sides were many tentacles, pushing the platform forward.

"Oh! Oh!" realised Ellis with excitement, with his nose pinched, "T'is Gravemind, from 'alo!"

"Up above the world so high, Like a diamond in the sky."

"Stars," groaned Nemesis.

"Twinkle twinkle little star, How I wonder what you are."

Gravemind rolled himself behind the Red Marker, towering over everyone in the vicinity. Behind him were a considerable number of undead Flood, noticeably all human in shape though their features were somewhat more disfigured than their usual forms.

"How did you tame Nemesis?" Wesker asked, a little impressed, lowering his gun.

"He had a liking for S.T.A.R.S., so the Red Marker suggested we give him stars."

"'Ey, Gravemind," began Ellis, "'Ow come 'ou have so much Flood?"

"The Red Marker supplied the biomass, I supplied the infection and Nemesis supplied himself," replied Gravemind, "You can do a lot in two years."

"I 'on't get it." There was a shrill groan in the air as a zombie scrambled through the crowd of Flood. It was a necromorph, heavily scarred with long bladed arms. Grinding its blades together, it paced towards the four people threateningly. It passed Nemesis, who suddenly grabbed the necromorph. The necromorph roared furiously at Nemesis, who effortlessly pulled off its arm and tossed it aside, pushing the necromorph back towards Gravemind. A few seconds later, flesh spurted out of the necromorph's open wound, almost instantly forming an exact copy of the original arm. It was the Hunter, a specific type of necromorph, able to regenerate any of its lost body parts with frightening efficiency. One of the Flood picked up the ripped off arm on the ground, and absorbed it into its body, which bulked up slightly. The Hunter staggered, seemingly possessing a growing fear of Nemesis.

"Using the flesh of another, we become stronger," spoke Gravemind.

"Are there any more necromorphs?" asked Wesker. Smith had walked up closely to the tall Nemesis and growled. Nemesis growled back but not as aggressively.

"No," responded Gravemind, "We are not pro-necromorph. Besides with the exception of the Hunter, we decided that the Flood was more worthy."

Neo looked up at the Marker, with confusion. "It's the Red Marker," explained Wesker, "The ultimate hallucinogen. And it's sentient. Getting any visions of loved ones asking to make you whole?"

"... No?"

"That's a good thing," pointed out Wesker.

"With the exception of Smith," added Gravemind, "The Red Marker cannot communicate with the three of you. It can only converse with those who have lost loved ones." Gravemind turned to Neo. "No doubt something Doomsday has prevented."

"What?" responded Neo, looking at the others.

"Spoiler," advised Ellis, dodging the topic, "So why can the Red Marker talk to Smith?"

"Stella has lost loved ones, many in fact, some related to Doomsday," answered Smith, turning away from Nemesis, "Nana Gray, Professor Gibson. Indeed, a very tragic story. But that's none of my concern." He walked down the runway past Wesker, Neo and Ellis, "I am taking my leave. My CPU has been in Area 51 for two years, I have no need for your introductions."

"Hold," requested Gravemind, "We realise that you want to assimilate Skynet to control the world-" The low tone this was said at made it sound like an insult. "-but we have an alternative proposal." Smith stopped in place. "Yggdrasil is the biggest threat to us all."

"Explain."

"Rulia is quickly gaining momentum and will soon become a goddess, surpassing Skynet, who is a goddess in her own right in this digital world. Eventually, Rulia will have power rivalling that of Haruhi and Sasaki. If Yggdrasil establishes full control of Rulia and she reaches her full potential, Skynet, who is at a major disadvantage already, is done for. The Director will not get involved. The universe would be Yggdrasil's. Not yours."

"Yggdrasil fears the Director," stated Smith, "I am a Carrier. Attacking me will trigger the Director to fight back."

"Two birds, one stone, Smith," retorted Gravemind, "Rulia is infected. As soon as Yggdrasil takes full control of Rulia, Yggdrasil will be considered infected by the Director, meaning he can attack whoever he wills without incurring the wrath of the Director. Anyone immune to his control is at risk. Including you."

"Is that why Yggdrasil let Rulia open up Area 51? So the Red Marker can inadvertently break Rulia's mind to make her easier to control? He even gave Rulia Stella to do so."

"It is possible. But that does mean the Red Marker knows Rulia's current location."

"Where?"

"The Arctic. Where it all began."

"Great," moaned Ellis, "'Ow we 'onna get there?"

"The same way she came here," remarked Wesker looking to his left, the HMS Thunder Child having fully regenerated itself.