CADE××× POV

Darkness. Pain and darkness. I felt the stab of the creatures claw, my body burning, insides twisting, and a loud scream as my partner, Spritra, was Pulled into my very being... streams of code flashed before my eyes, eyes that had no form, a body with no shape... 

<now you feel my soul... my pain. What your kind did to mine so long ago. But I am not like you, Human. I am merciful. Though in my haste, I did something I cannot take back. For that i am sorry. It's odd, however. I, the black upgrade, last of my kin, can feel you. You and the two others. Yet that feel is wrong, somehow. Broken. And my program attempted to fix that wrong. Your Partner Creatures, they gave themselves to help... they understood... and it worked but... a small comfort. When you awaken, you three lost children... amd discover what I did, know this: Hate me. Rage against me. But do so in the knowledge that... I am Truly sorry. I just... I wanted to go home. It was gone, but you made it again... the new home was rejecting me... i... I suppose I am the monster your kind once accused me of being, now. So be it. If that program you've made is the Goddess of this world, then I shall step into the role of its devil. You may call me...>

A white-hot, searing pain ripped through My mind... then I opened my eyes.

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LEX POV

The sun was bright, as He stood. Glancing down, seeing a flat expanse, feeling the object between his legs, he laughed. He looked around... laying nearby was a little girl, and an unfamiliar Girl of around 17.

"Who?" A thrill shot through him at the Deep Timbre of his voice... "Wait. How am I alive? Why dosent this feel like VR? What... What happened...

The little girl sat up, looked around... then started giggling, After touching her chest.     "They're Real! It's REAL! But how?" She looked around, and met his gaze. "Umm... Lex?"

"Julia. Yes, I'm lex."

"Okay. You look different." She then noticed the other girl. "Who is that?"

"No idea, Kiddo. But you're right. This feels real."

Suddenly, the Girl sat up, Shouting "UMBRIAL!" He watched the girls eyes widen... her hands shot to her face, then her chest, before reacing lower... and her Face paled.

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CADE××× POV

"No... no no no no" my hands did a thorough inspection of my body.

"No no nononononono NO!"

The sweet voice, still deeper than you would expect, buy much higher than before, edging on Sultry Cried out in surprise.

"WHY? ANSWER ME UMBRIAL, YOU VIRUS BASTARD!"

A light flickered... and Aislynn appeared. 

<OH GODS, ITS TRUE! YOU THREE ARE ALIVE!>

"Ais? What do you mean by that? Of course we are. But why can't I summon the Pod menu?"

<BOSS? Is that you?>

"Indeed. But that bastard Umbrial changed my Avatar."

<who? Boss, who is Umbrial?>

"Well. It's that invasive program, obviously."

<the black upgrade? But... it's supposed to be nameless. That's what the CCIA told me.>

"Why are the CCIA involved? Ais, what's going on?"

<well... sit down. Please.>

All three did.

<to put it simply, Boss... you three Died.>

"WHAT?"

<You got the others out, but when the Upgrade Destroyed the Log-our Gate, The pods that were still comnected caught fire... you all Spontaneously Combusted inside the pods. Then the CCIA showed up, amd took over. They've been tracking the Black Upgrade across the networks for decades.>

"So... thats why it dosent feel like VR. Because it's not. This... this is our reality now." Think Yamato, Think. Somethings missing... what are you missing... oh. That's what.

"Aislynn. What of the program. Is it damaged?"

<no. It's changed, significantly, but not actually damaged.>

"And the Log-in Protocols?"

<Intact. OH! THEY ARE STILL FUNCTIONAL. MEANING...>

"That others can log in. This dosent have to end the dream. But that's not my point. What of us? How do we read?"

<Code. But inaccessible. The system detects your brainwaves, but The code they are linked to is unalterable. In fact, the CCIA were attempting a system wipe when we found the Brainwaves... and the code that had been deleted restored itself. Its beyond our control now.>

" I need to speak to the CCIA."

<they are listening. I'll relay their responses.>

"Okay. Can you find a volunteer? Someone to risk a Pod, and logging in?"

<Why?>

"To test a theory. Umbrial dosent seem to want to hurt anyone, what happened with us was an accident... or so he said."

<You talked with the upgrade? When?>

"While I was unconscious. It was interesting. Ais, do you recall what we used as a base for this world?"

<Digital Scraps from the old web. Code Fossils, you called them.>

"Yes. Umbrial is a Living Code Fossil. Apparently, back in the 20th century, the old net formed an ecosystem. Umbrial survived a digital purge, that destroyed his home. A home we Recreated. He... he just wanted to go home. But he'd accumulated so many viruses, so much data over the years, it warped him. That corrupt data is now free In this world. Taking over the monster A.I. we'd made... the Enemy A.I. has gained what you did."

<free will. Shit. That means...>

"Yes. This isn't a simple program anymore, it's a living, breathing world. And the three of us are it's first residents. And Ais?"

<yes boss?>

"He called you this world's new Goddess. So hey, you've been promoted. If you can still run programs here, though... Run Con_Tingency_4-98234."

<but that's not a... oh... it IS a program... wait... YOU MADMAN. YOU WERE PREPARED FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS?>

"For My world becoming real? Yes. Because that was always the plan. Umbrial just accelerated it by a few decades. Being Trapped and my Meatsack being destroyed? Nope, had no idea that would happen."

<Geeze. Just... sigh. Running Program.>

"Okay. Hey kids, repeat after me. STATUS!"

A translucent green box appeared.

[CADENCE YAMATO. AGE: 17. SEX:Female. LV:1. ELEMENTS: Light. Darkness. Race: Digital Lifeform.]

"Wait. That weird static and corrupted text are gone, my name and gender changed, and that's fine... but... SEVEN-FUCKING-TEEN? UMBRIAL, YOU BASTARD! YOU DE-AGED ME!"

<you are more angry you were de-aged than gender-bent?>

"Well, yeah! I'm not even an adult anymore! Do you know how long I cultivated that 'cool uncle' Vibe? Years of practice, down the tube. God, I could use a drink... FUCK! IM TOO YOUNG TO EVEN DRINK NOW!"

<well, look at the bright side, boss. Now, you are functionally immortal.>

My mind began to spiral. "Oh god, will we even age? Oh god, an eternity without booze! Nononononononono. And I'm a girl now, and..." I slapped both cheeks. 

"Snap out if it, idiot. More important things to do. Ais, are they finding a volunteer?"

<yes.>

"Good." I turned The kids. "Well... Greetings, Fellow Kids, I guess... you two doing okay?"

They both assured me they were.