Copyright A.C. Harrison, 2014-2015
A.C. Harrison, Author
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Mental health will drive you crazy...

8/11/2014

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I wanted this to be a happy blog post with updates on my novel, "Jupiter Symphony," but the reported death of Robin Williams has completely thrown my resolve.

As with many people that seem incredibly outgoing and socially well adjusted, Robin Williams suffered from depression, a mental illness no different than any other ailment. What frustrates me the most is the fact that in this country, the good ol' USA, we have marginalized mental health patients, pushing them to the side and filing them under 'crazy'.

Mental health falls under the scope of a person's entire condition. It should never be stigmatized, chastised, or ridiculed. And yet we are faced with countless tales of good people, famous or not, committing suicide or carrying out some other act of violence due to the fact that they never received the treatment they required.

Mental health is a sickness. It is a subversive, sinister, and tricky bastard that is hard to pin down and difficult to beat. It takes a lifetime approach more akin to cancer treatment than mending a broken bone. It takes years of treatment, combining medicine, therapy, and a generous support system. People don't look at mental health in this light, though.

Personally, I think these diseases get generalized into something that you just take a pill for, instead of something that is a lifelong struggle. In many cases the patient may not even realize they have a problem until it is too late. We educate the populace on recognizing the dangers of alcoholism, but not depression or anxiety or bi-polar disorder.

The truth is, the mental health system in our country is abysmal, and that's coming from someone who has had to deal with it directly. If we want to make strides as a nation, we need to realize that people's minds can be just as sick as their bodies, sometimes more so. We can prevent the mass shootings, the suicides, and the self-mutilation, but it's going to take communal effort, which has been becoming very rare as the decades have passed. We can help people through education and care, by using processes that aren't invasive or off-putting.

So I'm drawing my own line in the sand, and I'm going to be doing my part to reach out to those in need, to make sure they recognize the problems they might not see, and to seek professional help when needed. Be understanding and caring in your concern, don't force anything on anyone, and maybe, just maybe, read a book or article on the vagaries of mental health and how it can be treated.

Frankly, I'm sick and tired of waking up to news about good people dying in bad ways. I hope you share the sentiment.

A.C. Harrison
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The biggest news since the last big piece of news you heard, but only until you hear some other piece of big news...

8/4/2014

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It. Is. Done. After 177,166 words, I have finished the final edit of my first novel, "Jupiter Symphony." What does this mean? Well, several things, really.

First off, it means I need to do one more quick scan through to make sure I didn't make any really big "duh" errors, but otherwise the ink is drying and will not change.

Next, I need to tackle formatting and cover art. In these two departments, I am blessed, as I have a volunteer willing to format the beastie. Even better, I am in contact with a graphic designer who is interested in doing the cover work, as well as creating a personal logo for me to use. Did I mention this would mean a new header image on my site to replace the generic and dull one you've been forced to stare at for so long?

So as not to lose focus, in the course of the week I plan on finishing the edits of the short story I wrote, then posting that on my blog so everyone can read that for F-R-E-E, free.

I will also be updating the excerpts that are posted on the "Jupiter Symphony" page, so if you want to see some tantalizing tidbits, you have not long to wait.

Lastly, I humbly ask that if you see something you like on my site, do please tell a friend or family member. Help grow my Twitter base, or give me a like on Facebook. Here, what you see is what you get, and I feel I pour a lot of great effort into making great things so that others can enjoy.

Cheers.

A.C. Harrison
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The Story So Far

7/14/2014

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Tonight I don't have anything special to post. I've taken my short story and pulled out all the edited parts and formatted everything together into a single Word document. I'll be working on doing a final edit, then posting the finished product, most likely the following Monday. I was hoping to do so tonight, but I've been up far too late recently and I need to knock that shit off. Anyway, look forward to a full version in a week's time, followed by some more updated news on "Jupiter Symphony."

A.C. Harrison
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First Set of Edits Done!

7/7/2014

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Zeke floated on waves of searing pain, up and down he bobbed, a terrible burning in his chest. Through a sensation of falling, the pinpoint of light that had dominated his black and white vision had expanded to fill his entire world, a land of perfect white. It was impossible for him to orient himself, so he instead continued to ride the waves of agony. There was no logical progression to time, only the frequency laid out by the terrible throbbing in his chest.
Zeke floated endlessly on waves of searing pain. Up and down he bobbed, a terrible burning in his chest, like fire ants chewing through his torso, burrowing holes and spitting venom. The pinpoint of light that had dominated his black and white vision had expanded to fill his entire world, a land of perfect white. The motion was accompanied by a gut wrenching sensation of falling, making him want to vomit.. It was impossible for him to orient himself, so instead merely continued to ride the waves of agony, gripping onto the pain as his only reference. There was no logical progression to time, only the frequency laid out by the throbbing in his chest.


"It's just a game," he heard himself say. "It's just a game. It can't control you. You control it. It's just a game."
"It's just a game," he heard himself say, his voice distant. "It's just a game. It can't control you. You control it. It's just a game."


Slowly, and with great effort, he pulled the fragments of his consciousness back together, forcing them into a coherent and working structure. Screwing his eyes shut, he breathed deeply, letting the pain bleed out of his chest cavity. When peace finally overcame him, he opened his brown eyes. He found himself on the floor of his apartment, a resident of the empty pizza boxes and soda bottles. From his position flat on his back, he rolled onto his side, from which he saw that his Temporal Rift interface had wound up next to him, dangling down from the wires that ran to his rig. The unit had gone into a standby mode, having lost the input from its master.
Slowly, and with great effort, he pulled the fragments of his consciousness back together, forcing them into a coherent and working structure. Screwing his eyes tightly shut, he breathed deeply, letting the pain bleed out of his chest cavity. When peace finally overcame him, he once again opened his brown eyes. He found himself on the floor of his apartment, a resident among the empty pizza boxes and soda bottles. From his starting position, flat on his back, he gingerly rolled onto his side. His new vantage point let him see that his Temporal Rift interface had wound up next to him, dangling down from the wires that ran to his rig. The unit had gone into a standby mode, having lost the input from its master.


"God dammit," Zeke cursed, sitting up and rubbing the back of his head. "Why didn't I spend time setting up that thing right?"
"God dammit," Zeke cursed, sitting up and rubbing a strange tingling at the back of his head. "Why didn't I spend time setting that up right?"


Then Zeke had a flash of realization that he had dropped from the game just before completing the match of his life, and he had likely forfeited everything he had worked so hard for. He felt that he was going to vomit as a creeping iciness slithered over his arms and legs.
Zeke was then struck by a flash of realization that he had dropped from the game moments before completing the match of his life, and he had likely forfeited everything he had worked so hard for. He felt that he was going to vomit as a creeping iciness slithered over his arms and legs.


"No," he said in disbelief. "No, no, no. I'm not going back down the ladder. No."
"No," he said in disbelief. "No, no, no. I'm not going back down the ladder. I need to get up and out."


Zeke grabbed the dangling interface and stood up, setting the unit on the desk and double checking the connections.
Zeke quickly snatched the dangling interface and stood up, setting the unit on the desk and double checking the connections.


"I need to get back in there," he said. "Maybe I wasn't out that long."
"I can get back in," he lied to himself. "Maybe I wasn't out that long."


Zeke's hands froze as a strange buzzing filled his head, forcing him to blink hard. When he opened his eyes again, a blue light danced across his vision, like a darting insect, dazzling him with bioluminescence.
Zeke's hands froze as a strange buzzing filled his head, forcing him to blink hard. When he opened his eyes again, a blue light danced across his vision, a darting insect, dazzling him with bioluminescence.


"What the hell was that?" Zeke wondered aloud.


Pausing, he suddenly realized how still the world was. Though he lived in the ghetto, he heard none of the usual loud music, the domestic disturbances, the polluted traffic. He didn't even hear his freaky, nyphomaniac neighbor getting plowed by yet another biosculpted meat slab.
Now pausing, he suddenly realized how still the world had become. Though he lived in a poor and rowdy neighborhood, he heard none of the usual loud music, the domestic disturbances, the polluted traffic. He didn't even hear his nyphomaniac neighbor getting plowed by yet another biosculpted meat slab.


Another buzz ran through the back of his skull, but this time he caught himself in the middle of his wince and forced himself to see what was happening. Though it was difficult to focus on, it looked like a command interface had flashed through his vision, but that was impossible.
Another buzz ran through the back of his skull, but this time Zeke caught himself mid-wince and forced himself to look. Though it was difficult to focus his vision, it looked as if a command interface had flashed through his vision, but that wasn't something that should be possible.


"Zeke?" a distant voice came to him, tiny and full of static.


Panicked, Zeke's vision darted around the room.
Panicked by the sudden sound, Zeke's vision darted around the room.


"Who's there? What do you want?" he croaked, fear tightening his throat.


"Zeke, can you hear me?" the voice came through a little more clearly, but was still laced with artifacts, hissing and popping.
"Zeke, can you hear me?" the voice came through a little more clearly, though it remained laced with hissing and popping.


"Tyrin?" Zeke asked, praying this was all some sort of dream.
"Tyrin?" Zeke asked hesitantly, silently praying this had all been some sort of dream.


"Yeah, I can year you, man," Tyrin said, his voice now stronger as Zeke focused on it.
"Yeah, I can year you now," Tyrin said, his voice growing stronger as Zeke focused in on it.


"How?" he asked, now very scared and disoriented.
"How?" he asked, now becoming very scared and disoriented.


"What do you mean, how? You're showing online. You dropped from the match but you're idle in the lobby," Tyrin explained matter-of-factly.


"Okay, you got me, man," Zeke said, trying to laugh. "How did you do it? Holoprojectors? Nanobots? Pretty expensive prank if you ask me."
"Okay, you got me, man," Zeke said, trying to laugh but choking instead. "How did you do it? Holoprojectors? Nanites? Pretty expensive prank if you ask me. Hey, you better not have cost us a real match."


"What prank, man?" Tyrin said. "One minute you're screaming and I swear that somehow you're dying, the next you drop from the match."
"What prank, man?" Tyrin said. "One minute you're screaming to the point that I swear that you're somehow actually dying, the next you drop from the match."


Zeke felt a pang of pain in his chest as he remembered the agony he had suffered, then thought back on the other weird jolts and judders he had experienced while using his bleeding-edge interface.
Zeke felt a phantom pang of pain in his chest as he remembered the agony he had suffered, then thought back on the other weird jolts and judders he had experienced while using his bleeding-edge interface.


"Tyrin, I know this is going to sound crazy, but I don't have my interface on," Zeke said.
"Tyrin," Zeke said, taking a deep breath, "I know this is going to sound crazy, but I don't have my interface on."


"What do you mean? Are you patched in somewhere else?" Tyrin asked.
A pause. "What do you mean? Are you patched in somewhere else?" Tyrin asked.


"No, I'm not patched in at all. I'm standing in the middle of my apartment and somehow I'm still talking to you. Even though my rig is off I can talk to you," Zeke explained, disbelief in his voice.
"No, that's just it. I'm not patched in at all. I'm standing in the middle of my apartment and... and somehow I'm still talking to you, even though my rig is off," Zeke explained, his voice shuddering.


"You're no Neo. What the hell did you do?" his friend questioned him.
"Yeah, right. You're no Neo and I'm not the one actually getting pranked. What the hell is going on?" his friend questioned him.


"Nothing, man! I'm freaking out here, this is crazy," Zeke said.
"Nothing, man! I mean it! I'm freaking out here, this is crazy," Zeke said.


"Okay, calm down. It's probably just some weird psychological effect," Tyrin said, trying to remain steady. "Just walk over to the door of your apartment and open it. Just take a peek outside."
"Okay, okay, just calm down. It's probably just some weird psychological effect," Tyrin said, trying  his level best to remain calm. "Just walk over to the door of your apartment and open it. Just take a peek outside and you'll see everything is fine."


"Peek outside," Zeke said, forcing himself to breath. "Yeah, I'll do that."
"Peek outside," Zeke said, suddenly remembering to breathe. "Yeah, I'll do that."


With leaden feet, Zeke forced himself to walk to the door. The gap of a few strides took over a minute as he continually steadied himself. Reaching out, he placed his hand on the round, metal door knob. The cool surface of the metal, resplendent with its machined texture, startled him.
With leaden feet, Zeke forced himself to walk over to the door. The gap of only a few strides took him over a minute as he continually steadied himself. Reaching out, he placed his hand on the round, metal door knob. The cool surface of the steel, resplendent with its machined texture, startled him.


"This is real," he said. "This has to be real. It is real."


So saying, he flung open the door and screamed.
So saying, he flung open the door. Then, he screamed. [might keep the original line]


"What? What is it?" Tyrin shouted in his ear.


Collapsing to his knees, Zeke looked through the door frame, outside of which was a gray, bleak expanse of emptiness, a world without horizon, devoid of form.
Collapsing to his knees, Zeke looked out the open door, outside of which was a gray, bleak expanse of emptiness, a world without horizon, devoid of form. An empty computer construct.


"It's gone," Zeke sobbed. "No, I'm gone."
"It's gone," Zeke sobbed. "No, that's not right. I'm gone."


"What the hell do you mean, 'gone?'" Tyrin said angrily.
"What the hell do you mean, 'gone?'" Tyrin said, now getting angry.


"I can't get out," Zeke said with finality.


He reached up with his virtual hands and placed them on the sides of his head where an interface unit sat in the real world. He pulled up on the air, hoping that somehow he would emerge into reality. Nothing happened.
Reaching up with his virtual hands, he placed them on the sides of his head where an interface unit sat in the real world. He pulled up on the air, hoping that somehow he would emerge into reality, but nothing happened.


"My brain, my consciousness, it's...gone," he said.
"My brain, my consciousness, it's been disconnected," he said.


"Okay, hold on," Tyrin said. "We can get you out. Let's just get someone over there and unplug you."
"Okay, hold on," Tyrin said, trying to breathe. "We can get you out. Let's just get someone over there and unplug you."


"How?" Zeke said. "If I'm not in my body, what's going to happen when you unplug my rig?"
"How?" Zeke snarled. "If I'm not in my body, what's going to happen when you unplug my rig? My mind, won't know to come back. My soul, if there is one, won't know to reattach itself. I'm fucked, man. Fucked!"


"I don't know, but we have to try," Tyrin said. "I can hop on the maglev and come help. Uh, where do you live again?"
"Hey, chill! I don't know what's going to happen, but we have to try something," Tyrin said. "I can hop on a maglev and come help." Zeke heard Tyrin rooting around on the other side of the line. Then, "Uh, so I don't know where you live."


Zeke shook his head. "Not going to happen. I know neither of us has the cash to get you over here, and I'm not going to risk unplugging."
Zeke shook his head. "Not going to happen. We don't have the cash to get you over here. And I told  you, I'm not going to risk unplugging."


"Okay, someone we game with has to be closer to you," Tyrin suggested. "Someone with their own transport? Maybe?"
"Okay, someone else we game with has to be closer to you," Tyrin grasped at air. "Someone with their own transport? Maybe?"


Zeke couldn't help but chuckle. "I guess I've been an asshole. I don't know anyone who would help. Besides, I told you that I'm not going to disconnect. It's too dangerous."
Zeke couldn't help but chuckle. "Man, I guess I've been an asshole. I don't know anyone who would help me. Besides, I've made my decision: I'm not going to disconnect. It's too dangerous."


"Can't we call the police?" Tyrin said, grasping at anything. "I know it's a long shot, but we have to try."
"Can't we call the police? Fire?" Tyrin said, clawing for anything. "I know it's a long shot, but we have to try."


"Thank you, Tyrin, for sticking with me," Zeke said. "I know I was a pain in the ass, but you're a good friend."
"Dude, we don't have police or fire here, it's a total slum" Zeke said. "Thank you, Tyrin, for sticking with me. I know I was a pain in the ass, but you were always a good friend."


"What the hell are you talking about, Zeke?" his friend said softly.


"Goodbye, Tyrin. Take care of yourself," Zeke said.


"Zeke, no. Zeke, don't--"


It made sense once he gave in. Reaching out as if he had his normal console, he terminated his communications link with Tyrin, then deleted the contact from his records. Walking back to his desk, he sat down in the chair that occupied his reality. He paused, looking at the dark force that was resting silently atop the desk. Reaching out, he snatched up the Temporal Rift interface and donned it. Inside, he saw that the game was already running, waiting for him. A grim, toothless smile crossed Zeke's face, and then he stepped into the game.
It made sense once he gave in. He could use the system now from inside. Reaching out with his mind, he terminated his link with Tyrin, then deleted the contact from his records. Walking back to his desk, he sat down in the chair that occupied his reality. He paused, looking at the dark force that was resting silently atop the desk. With nothing to do, he snatched up the Temporal Rift interface and donned it. Inside, he saw that the game was already running, waiting for him. A grim, toothless smile crossed Zeke's face, and then he stepped into the game.


Time held no meaning for him. Existence was defined by artificial universes that coalesced and collapsed. He died ten thousand deaths, each more painful than the last. Eventually he felt his physical body, the one he had left behind, slipping away from malnourishment, the automated hydration and feeder systems at his desk no longer containing anything of use. He was at his lowest point, trampled and beaten, his life defined by suffering, his physical body wasting away. He tried to picture his real face, his real features, but found that he could not. Putting down the false interface, he stood and moved to the middle of his apartment--the cell inside his mind. With hope extinguished, he prepared to die quietly, sitting cross legged on the floor of the apartment.
Time no longer held meaning for him. Existence was defined by artificial universes that coalesced and collapsed. He died ten thousand deaths, each more painful than the last. Eventually he could feel that his physical body, the husk he had left behind, was slipping away from malnourishment, the automated hydration and feeder systems at his desk having long ago dispensed their last doses. [must remember to mention these earlier; pro gamers and wannabes are ported for this stuff] He was at his lowest point, trampled and beaten, in a life defined by suffering as his physical body wasted away. He tried to picture his real face, his real features, but found that he could not. Stopping to step away from the game, he stood and moved to the middle of his apartment--the cell inside his mind. With all hope extinguished, he prepared to die quietly, sitting cross legged on the dingy floor.


He closed his eyes and surrendered to time, knowing it would not be long before death came to claim him. Without warning, a hard knock came at his door.
Zeke closed his eyes and surrendered to time, knowing it would not be long before death came to claim him. Without warning, a hard knock came at his door.


Thunk thunk.


Zeke's eyes shot open and he jumped to his feet, then froze.
Zeke's eyes shot open and he jumped to his feet, only to freeze.


"I'm going to go crazy before I die," he said, shaking his head.
"Oh, good. I'm going to go crazy before I die," he said, shaking his head.


Getting ready to sit back down, the knock came again.
Preparing to sit back down, the knock came again.


Thunk thunk.


Zeke stopped and stared, his eyes boring holes into the door. Cautiously he crept, moving like prey, until he reached the door. Extending his hand, he rotated the knob and pulled. Bright, piercing white light flooded the room, forcing him to cover his eyes and step back. Into the apartment stepped a man, his face rendered as a blank ball of flesh, defined only by a set of square lens sunglasses.
Zeke stopped and stared, his eyes boring holes into the door. Cautiously, he crept along like hunted prey, moving until he reached the door. Extending his hand, he rotated the knob and pulled. Bright, piercing white light flooded the room, forcing him to cover his eyes and step back. Into the apartment stepped a man, his face rendered as a blank, gray ball of flesh, defined only by a set of square lens sunglasses.


"You are Zeke," the thing said inside his head with a hard, mechanical voice.
"You are Zeke," the thing said, speaking inside his head with a gritty, mechanical tone.


Zeke only nodded.
Zeke could only bring himself to nod.


"Come with me," it ordered.
"Come with me," it ordered, already turning to leave.


"Who are you?" Zeke stammered, finding his voice.
"Who are you?" Zeke stammered, suddenly finding his voice.


"I am a computing unit from the U.S. Government," the thing said. "You stole from us, so we punished you. Now we have come to take you."
"I am an advanced artificial intelligence. I am the property of the United States Government." the thing explained. "One of our security algorithms determined that you illegally possessed a piece of government property and initiated an isolation protocol. In effect, you stole from us, so we punished you. After analyzing your capacities, we have come to take you."


"Take me where?" Zeke said, still backing away.
"Take me where?" Zeke said, backing away.


"We will take your mind to a place where it will be useful. Your body can no longer be saved," it said flatly.
"We will take your mind to a place where it will be of use. Your body can no longer be saved," it said flatly.


Zeke nodded. "And if I don't want to come?"


"You have no choice. This construct is maintained on a government server. It will collapse and your consciousness will be lost."
"You have no choice. This construct is maintained on a government server. If you do not come, it will be deleted and your consciousness will be lost."


"I see," Zeke said. "Then the game?"
"I see," Zeke said. "And the game?"


"A training system."
"Such simulations have been used as training systems for decades," it explained.


"What will my mind be used for?"" Zeke asked with morbid curiosity.
A morbid thought crossed Zeke's conscience. "What will my mind be used for?" he asked.


"Your consciousness can be used for a variety of roles, including combat automatons, surveillance systems, or simple data processing."
"Your consciousness can be used for a variety of roles, including installation in combat automatons, monitoring of surveillance systems, and simple data processing. Your individuality will be compromised."


"I'm a slave," Zeke said.
"So I become a slave," Zeke said. "A drone."


"Weren't you before?"


Zeke closed his eyes and cringed. Surrendering, he stepped forward, the thing leading him out of the door of his apartment. In life he had craved the virtual world. As a slave to it, he had accepted death. Fate, though, had ultimately saddled him with an eternal, digital hell. Exiting the construct, the door shut behind him, leaving behind the dark and fetid remains of his last link to his human existence.
Zeke closed his eyes and cringed. Surrendering, he stepped forward, the AI then leading him out of the door of his apartment. In his life Zeke had craved the virtual world. As a slave to it, he had accepted death. Fate, though, had ultimately saddled him with eternal life. Exiting the construct, the door shut behind him, leaving behind the dark and fetid remains of his last link to his human existence.

Woohoo! Will compile and then comb over again. I think things flow much more rea

A.C. Harrison
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Penultimate Edit

6/30/2014

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Next week I'll be wrapping up the edit of my short story, then will compile and run through again. Hope everyone has enjoyed seeing the process. I know it's not perfect in this blog format. Maybe I'll do a live recording for the future. Please leave me any suggestions you may have.



Bursting onto the roof of the skyscraper, Zeke was greeted by the full noir spectrum of the game, of black spires arching into the heavens above him, lighting scattering between the dark spirits in glimmering flashes. A gust of wind whistled over his skin, every hair on his body feeling the sensation, the fingers of icy tracing patterns on his dark skin. The first fat drop of rain smacked directly onto his forehead and ran down his face in rivulets, mixing with his own sweat before dripping into his open mouth, held there by his stunned expression. Only the arrival of Tyrin jolted him from his moment of universal enlightenment.
Bursting onto the rooftop, Zeke was assaulted by the game's noir image: black spire clouds arching into the heavens above him, bolts of lightning scattering between the dark spirits in glimmering flashes. A gust of wind whistled over his skin, every hair on his body feeling the sensation, the fingers of icy tracing patterns on his dark skin underneath his armor. The first fat drop of rain smacked directly onto his forehead and ran down his face mask in rivulets, slipping inside to mix with his own sweat before dripping into his mouth, held open by his stunned expression. Only the arrival of Tyrin jolted him from his absorbed state, taken by the virtual world.


"If you want my help you need to slow down," Tyrin said. "I don't have your crazy kit."
"If you want my help you need to slow down," Tyrin grumbled. "I don't have your crazy kit."


"I know," Zeke said, apologizing. "I want you to move up with me. Partners?""I know," Zeke said apologetically. "You've been with me since I started playing and I want you to move up with me. Partners?"


"Partners," Tyrin smiled.
Tyrin hesitated, then cracked a smile. "Partners," he said.


"Good," Zeke said, pointing to the rocket launchers that were heaped against the edge of the building. "Then let's get to work. You grab a MANPADS, I'll shoot for ground targets."
"Awesome," Zeke said, then pointed to the rocket launchers that were heaped against the edge of the building. "Let's get to work. You grab a MANPADS, I'll shoot for ground targets."


"You got it," Tyrin said, already moving to pick up one of the anti-aircraft launchers.
"You got it, partner," Tyrin said, already moving to pick up one of the anti-aircraft launchers.


Confidently striding across the concrete roof panels, Zeke snatched up a guided missile launcher and hefted it onto his soldier's muscular frame. Bracing the heavy unit on the edge of the building, he looked down and saw that the friendly armor column had stalled and was being pushed back by the enemy.
Confidently striding across the segmented ceramic roof panels, Zeke snatched up a guided missile launcher and hefted it onto his soldier's muscular frame. Bracing the heavy unit on the edge of the building, he looked down and saw that the friendly armor column had stalled and was being pushed back by the enemy, who was set to clinch the match.


"Perfect shots," Zeke said, seeing the rear armor of the tanks. "More points for us."
"Just in time," Zeke said, looking at the the rear armor on the enemy tanks. "More points for us."


Zeke took aim at the rearmost tank and got a clean tone in his ear, signaling that the missile had locked onto the target. Squeezing the trigger, the launcher erupted, the missile bursting from the tube before diving down into the jungle, following the marker Zeke had painted on the back of the tank. He felt the hot exhaust gas of the missile against his skin and jumped back, startled.
Zeke took aim at the rearmost tank. A clear tone from the launcher sounded in his ear, signaling that the missile had locked onto the target. Squeezing the trigger, the launcher erupted, the missile bursting from the tube before diving down into the concrete and neon jungle, following the marker Zeke had painted on the back of the tank. He felt the hot exhaust gas of the missile against his skin and jumped back, startled.


"Ow," Zeke muttered.
"Ow," Zeke muttered, more from surprise than actual pain.


"What?" Tyrin asked, still scanning the sky for aerial threats.
"What is it?" Tyrin asked, still scanning the sky for aerial threats.


"Nothing," Zeke said. "Just a little bit of a burn."
"Nothing," Zeke shook his head. "Just a little bit of a burn."


Zeke was absorbed with watching the missile, which tracked true, blasting into rear armor of the targeted tank and detonating inside, gutting the vehicle. Zeke's score rolled up by an order of magnitude, matching his destroying the vehicle and killing the crew inside.
Zeke refocused on the missile and saw that it had tracked true, blasting into the rear armor of the targeted tank and detonating inside, gutting the vehicle. Zeke's score rolled up by an order of magnitude, reflecting his destroying the vehicle and killing the crew inside.


As Zeke reloaded, a pair of walkers began to turn, looking for where the new attack was coming from. With a fresh missile in the tube, Zeke set the warhead to cluster mode and aimed at the space between the two tightly packed walkers, then he sent the warhead on its way. Riding a tail of sputtering flame and gray smoke, the missile flew between the two walkers and detonated. Dialed in as the warhead was, the munition blossomed into a sphere of high speed destruction, shrapnel expanding in an outward eruption. Jagged, hypersonic pieces of depleted uranium tore through the ligaments and joints of the walkers, causing the two mechanical creatures to stagger like drunks before crashing to the ground, the crews bailing out.
While Zeke reloaded, a pair of enemy walkers began to turn on their four legs, seeking out the location of this new threat. With a fresh missile in the tube, Zeke set the warhead to cluster mode and aimed at the space between the two tightly packed walkers. He then fired, sending the warhead on its way. Riding a tail of sputtering flame and gray smoke, the missile flew between the two walkers and detonated. With the warhead set to its cluster mode, the munition blossomed into a sphere of high speed destruction, shrapnel expanding outward, causing maximum carnage. Jagged, hypersonic pieces of depleted uranium tore through the ligaments and joints of the walkers, causing the two mechanical creatures to stagger like drunks before crashing to the ground. Zeke kept watching and saw the crews bail out, getting clear just as the vehicles exploded.


"Yeah! Scratch two!" Zeke exclaimed, watching his score leap again."Yeah! Scratch two!" Zeke exclaimed, watching his score leap again.


"That got their attention," Tyrin said, concern edging into his voice. "I've got an attack jet inbound."
"Yeah, well they're starting to catch on," Tyrin said, concern edging into his voice. "I've got an attack jet inbound."


"I'll let you handle it," Zeke said, focusing in on the next target.
"That's all you," Zeke said, focusing in on the next target, trusting Tyrin to chase off the enemy aircraft with his own launcher.


"Ten seconds," Tyrin warned, his voice going up in pitch. "I'm locked on. Firing."


Zeke heard the missile launch, but was too busy looking through the viewfinder of his own launcher to see what was happening. Eager to keep boosting his score, he sighted in on the next tank and locked on. Just before he fired, Tyrin began shouting behind him.
Zeke heard Tyrin's missile launch, but was too consumed with looking through the viewfinder of his own launcher to see what was happening behind him. Eager to keep boosting his score, he sighted in on the next tank and locked on. Just before he fired, Tyrin began shouting behind him.


"Got him. Oh, shit! He's got a friend! Get down!" Zeke's friend exclaimed."Oh, shit! He's got a friend! Get down, now!" Zeke's friend exclaimed.


Pulling his head away form the viewfinder of his launcher, Zeke looked into the swirling sky only to see an attack jet diving out of the sky, a falcon of death. Puffs of smoke erupted from the rocket pods nestled under the wings, followed by the blazing of the nose mounted cannon. Zeke was already moving, sprinting across the roof towards cover, trying to grab Tyrin who was still only beginning to react, despite being the first to see the enemy aircraft.
Pulling his head away form the viewfinder of his launcher, Zeke looked into the swirling sky just in time to see an attack jet diving out of the clouds, a falcon on wings of death. Puffs of smoke erupted from the rocket pods nestled under the wings, followed by the blazing of the nose mounted cannon. Zeke was already moving, sprinting across the roof towards cover, trying to grab Tyrin who was still just beginning to react, despite being the first one to spot the second enemy aircraft.


For a brief moment there was silence. Then the world around Zeke was swallowed up by hell as rockets rained down around him, exploding in ferocious waves, battering his body with heat and concussive force. The ground around him jumped into the sky, throwing him off balance and slamming him to the hard concrete. Jagged chunks of building material stung his skin as the jet's cannon rained down destruction, while chunks of the roof caved in and fell away under the onslaught of the rockets. Fortunately or unfortunately, one of the holes kept tearing, until it became large enough to swallow Zeke and Tyrin, sending them tumbling into the interior of the structure. An overwhelming noise filled Zeke's head, making it impossible to think, while his eyesight juddered and vibrated. He hit the inside of the building like a ton of bricks, then lay very still. Tyrin crashed to the floor beside him, then rolled over and staggered to his feet. His body was a shadow against the dull artificial light that entered from outside, thick, choking dust transforming the pair into wounded silhouettes.
For the briefest of moments there was a profound silence. Then the world around Zeke was swallowed up by hell fire as rockets rained down around him, exploding in ferocious waves, battering his body with heat and concussive force. The ground around him leaped into the sky, throwing him off balance and slamming him to the unforgiving roof. Jagged chunks of building material tore through the air, stinging his skin. As the jet's cannon rained down destruction, whole chunks of the roof caved in and fell away under the rocket onslaught. Fortunately--or unfortunately--one of the holes kept tearing, widening until it became large enough to swallow Zeke and Tyrin, sending them tumbling into the interior of the structure. An overwhelming noise filled Zeke's head, making it impossible to think. His eyesight juddered and vibrated as if thrown in a paint mixer. He hit the inside of the building like a ton of bricks, then lay very still. Tyrin crashed to the floor beside him, then rolled over and staggered to his feet. His body was a shadow against the dull artificial light that filtered in from outside, the thick, choking dust transforming the pair into wounded silhouettes.


"Zeke! Zeke!" Tyrin said, scrambling to his friend. "Zeke, you still in the game?"
"Zeke! Zeke!" Tyrin said, scrambling to his friend, when he heard no response. "Zeke, you still in the game?"


Zeke coughed hard and rolled over, his entire body aching.
Zeke spontaneously coughed hard and rolled over, his entire body one big ache.


"That's not supposed to happen," Zeke said.
"That's not supposed to happen," Zeke said, choking on dust.


"I know what you mean. That jet really did a number on us," Tyrin said.



"No, that's not what I meant," Zeke said, continuing to hack up dust. "I mean I'm in pain."
"No, that's not it," Zeke said, continuing to hack up dust. "I mean I'm in real pain."


"What the hell do you mean you're in pain?" Tyrin said, nervous.
"What the hell do you mean you're in 'real' pain?" Tyrin said, suddenly nervous.


"I mean this thing is too damn real. Going to have to adjust the settings or something," Zeke replied.
"I mean this interface is too damn authentic. Going to have to adjust the settings or something," Zeke replied.


"I'm sure it's all in your head, man," Tyrin said. "Can you move?"


Zeke tested his limbs and found them more or less working, though he could feel stinging lacerations all over his body and his head was pounding.
Zeke tested his limbs and found them to be more or less in working condition, although he could feel stinging lacerations all over his body and his head was filled with an incessant pounding.


"I really should have calibrated this thing better," he said, staggering to his feet. Shaking his head, he got his mind back into the game. "What's our score?""Shit, I really should have calibrated this unit better," he said, staggering to his feet. Shaking his head, he focused on getting his mind back into the game. "Okay, what's our score?"


"Holy shit, we're second and third," Tyrin said, stunned. "Even better, the match is almost over."
"Holy shit, we're hanging on to second and third," Tyrin said, stunned. "Even better, the match is almost over."


"Who's first?" Zeke asked, his edge coming back.
"Wait, who's first?" Zeke asked, his edge coming back.


"Player named 'GolgoXIII,'" Tyrin said. "He's playing as a sniper."
"Player named 'GolgoXIV,'" Tyrin said. "Looks like he's playing as a sniper."


"The GolgoXIII?" Zeke said.
"The GolgoXIV?" Zeke said.



"I don't know. Yes?" Tyrin said, confused.


"Tyrin," Zeke said condescendingly, "Golgo isn't just a player. He's an assassin. If he's in our match we need to take him out. Quick, what's his--"
"Tyrin," Zeke said condescendingly, "Golgo isn't just a normal player, he's an assassin. If he's in our match we need to take him out. Quick, what's his--"


Zeke's question was interrupted when the window glass before him shattered, sending razor sharp pieces spiraling through the air. More dangerous, however, was the sniper's bullet that had destroyed the window. The round smacked Tyrin in the arm, knocking him to the ground.
Before he could finish, Zeke's question was cut off as the window glass before him shattered, sending razor sharp pieces spiraling through the air. Of more pressing concern, however, was the sniper's bullet that had destroyed the window. The round smacked Tyrin in the arm, knocking him to the ground.


"Ah, shit. I'm hit," Tyrin said nonchalantly.


Zeke reflexes jumped to 11 as he focused his eyes out the window and across to where the shot was fired, zeroing in on a dark figure on a balcony across the square. Still feeling unstoppable in his hyper-aware state, Zeke reached back to draw his rifle, his wolf grin starting to return. He knew in that instant that he would take down Golgo, leapfrogging him on the scoreboard and straight into the professional gaming circuit.
Zeke couldn't share his friend's relaxed attitude towards death. His reflexes jumped to 11 as he focused his eyes out the window and across to where the shot had originated, zeroing in on a dark figure perched on a balcony across the square. The sense of invincibility still present, Zeke reached back to draw his rifle, his wolf grin starting to return. He knew in that instant that he would take down Golgo, leapfrogging him on the scoreboard and jumping straight into the professional gaming circuit.


A deep, stabbing pain blossomed from Zeke's right shoulder and he staggered back, his arm going limp as he crashed into the wall, bracing against it to hold himself up. Blood cascaded down his disabled arm as stars swam in his vision, the color bleeding out of the once vibrant world.
Instead, a deep, stabbing pain blossomed in Zeke's right shoulder. He staggered back, his arm going limp as he crashed into the wall behind him, bracing against it to hold himself up. Blood cascaded down his crippled arm and stars swam in his vision, the color bleeding out of the once vibrant world.


"What the fuck? What the fuck?" he heard himself asking.


"Zeke, what's wrong?" Tyrin said, crawling over to him.
"Zeke, what's wrong?" Tyrin said, crawling over to him to avoid getting hit again.


Zeke had made a mistake in bracing himself against the wall, which left him exposed and in Golgo's line of sight. The next round hit Zeke in the chest. He felt the slug pass through his thorax, gliding just under his heart which now beat in an irregular pattern. Warmth bubbled out of his lungs and mouth, even as his limbs became heavy and cold. He slid down the wall to the ground, collapsing over onto his side, his digital blood streaked down the torn wallpaper, a pattern of cherry blossoms now stained in crimson.
Zeke, though, had made a critical mistake in bracing himself against the wall. Rather than hitting the deck, he remained exposed to Golgo's line of sight. A second round hit Zeke, this time in the chest, piercing his armor. He felt the slug pass through his thorax, gliding just under his heart, now beating in an irregular pattern. Warmth bubbled out of his lungs and up into  his mouth, even as his limbs became heavy and cold. He slid down the wall to the ground, collapsing onto his side. His digital blood was streaked down the torn wallpaper, a pattern of cherry blossoms now stained in crimson.


Zeke's tried to draw breath but couldn't, causing him to thrash in panic, but his limbs wouldn't respond.
Zeke's tried to draw breath but couldn't, causing him to thrash in panic, but his limbs barely responded.


"Zeke! Zeke!" Tyrin shouted in his ear, but the voice was far and away. "Zeke! Pull the plug, man! Pull the fucking plug!"


As the world became a pinpoint of light in his eyes, Zeke reached out with his last sliver of consciousness and force quit the game.
As the world shrank to a pinpoint of light, Zeke reached out with his last sliver of consciousness and force quit the game.


A.C. Harrison
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8 Comments

Edits Nearly Done!

6/23/2014

2 Comments

 
Getting into the final leg of this edit. I'll then compile the newly edited version, comb through it again, and post it in its entirety. Same format as before. Original paragraph is in white, edited paragraph in blue underneath. If there's no blue, there's no edit. If you're interested, here are the tunes that are accompanying me tonight.


Zeke's vision was magnified through the advanced optic mounted atop his rifle, feeding him deadly data used to perforate enemy targets. He could now see that across from his building and slightly below him was another building top where several enemy soldiers had setup rocket launchers. They were getting ready to pummel the tanks located below them, which would wipe out the armor division on Zeke's team and make victory nearly impossible.
Zeke's vision, enhanced through the optic mounted atop his rifle, fed him deadly data used to perforate enemy targets. He could see that across from his building and slightly below was another rooftop where several enemy soldiers had setup a series rocket launchers. They were getting ready to pummel the tanks located below them, which would wipe out the armor division on Zeke's team and make victory nearly impossible.


Steadying himself behind the rifle, Zeke calmed his breath, his real breath, feeling the cool, curved steel of the trigger. With a gentle press he sent the first round sailing, the hot lead cracking over the open space in a flash, striking the target like lightning from on high. The imaginary bullet struck the enemy soldier in the head, killing his avatar instantly. Zeke was stunned.
Steadying himself behind the rifle, Zeke calmed his breath, his real breath, and felt the cool, curved titanium of the rifle's trigger. With a gentle press he sent the first round sailing, the hot tungsten core cracking over the open space in a flash, striking the target like lightning from on high. The imaginary bullet struck the enemy soldier in the head, killing his avatar instantly. Zeke blinked, stunning himself with his own shot.


"There's no way you hit him," Tyrin said, amazed. "That's a shot for a sniper, not an assault kit."
"There's no way you actually hit him," Tyrin said with disbelief. "That's the kind of shot for a sniper."


Not bothering to answer, Zeke instead took advantage of the confusion on the enemy building, firing off a string of five shots, each one resulting in a kill, his score slowly tallying up in the bottom left corner of his vision, with bonuses being applied for the ranges he was shooting from. A quick glance showed that Zeke was now at the top of the scoreboard.
Not bothering to answer, Zeke instead took advantage of the confusion and chaos that was starting among the remaining targets. He fired off a string of five shots, each one resulting in a kill, his score slowly tallying up in the corner of his vision, with bonuses being applied for the ranges he was shooting from. A quick glance showed that Zeke was now at the top of the scoreboard.

"God damn," Tyrin said, flabbergasted.


"Still doubting me?" Zeke asked his friend.
"Still want to doubt me?" Zeke asked his friend.


"Say the word and I'll follow," Tyrin laughed.
"Hell no! Just say the word and I'll follow you," Tyrin laughed.


Zeke opened his mouth to reply, but his voice was replaced by a crashing thunderclap which threw both players across the building top. Zeke felt his ears pop from the pressure wave, warm blood trickling down his jawline. Rolling over onto his stomach, Zeke pulled himself to his feet and saw that the segment of roof he and Tyrin had been standing on had been blown apart, a shot being made by one of the walkers down in the square below. Someone had figured out where they were shooting from. His head still buzzing, Zeke reached up tho his ear and his hand came away wet.
Zeke opened his mouth to reply, but his voice was replaced by a crashing thunderclap of an impact, one which threw both players across the building top. Zeke felt his ears pop from the pressure wave, warm blood trickling down his jawline. Rolling over onto his stomach, he jerked himself to his feet and saw that the segment of roof he and Tyrin had been standing on had been blown apart. The shot had been made by one of the walkers down in the square below. Someone had figured out where Zeke was shooting from. His head still buzzing, Zeke reached up under his helmet and felt his ear. Pulling back, his hand came away warm and wet.


"Let's fall back and rejoin the rest of the infantry," Tyrin said, his voice sounding distant.
"I guess the party's over. We can fall back and rejoin the rest of the infantry," Tyrin said, his voice sounding distant.


Zeke still shook his head. "Not if we want to win. We're taking out those tanks."
Zeke still shook his head. "No. We have to keep pushing the score. We're taking out those tanks."


Tyrin could only laugh at the absurdity, his grin audible in his voice. "Hell, I'm in for anything at this point. You're like a force of nature in here."
Tyrin could only laugh at the absurdity, his grin audible in his voice. "Hell, I'm in for anything. You're a force of nature inside here."


"Still good with those AT mines?" Zeke asked.
"I'm glad you spawned as an engineer. Still good with those AT mines?" Zeke asked.


"Yeah, why?" Tyrin replied.


"Because we're going to bump up your score," Zeke said. "We're jumping across the square, and you're going to do damage while we're airborne."
"Because it's time to bump up your score," Zeke said. "We're jumping across the square, and you're going to do some serious damage while we're airborne."


"Okay, I'm not that good," Tyrin huffed.
"I'm okay, but I'm not that good," Tyrin huffed.


"It's okay, I'll tell you when to drop them, just follow my lead," Zeke said, already turning to face the direction he wanted to parachute.
"It's okay, I'll tell you when to drop them. Just follow my lead," Zeke said, already turning to face the direction he wanted to jump.


"This is crazy and I love it," Tyrin said.


"Ready and go!" Zeke said, taking off at a run towards the jagged and smoking lip of the building.
"Ready? Go!" Zeke said, taking off at a run towards the jagged and smoking lip of the building.


He made sure Tyrin was right beside him, timing his run perfectly so that they both pushed off from the building edge simultaneously, beginning the free fall portion of what was about to become an ambitiously violent base jump.
Ensuring Tyrin was right beside him, it was so easy to time his run perfectly to his friends. Striding forward, they pushed off from the building edge simultaneously, beginning the free fall portion of what was about to become an ambitiously violent base jump.


"Read and chute," Zeke commanded, watching Tyrin's hand in perfect clarity so that he deployed his chute at the same time.
"Read...chute," Zeke commanded, watching Tyrin's hand in perfect clarity so that he deployed his parachute at the same time.


Glancing down, Zeke saw they were right over the enemy armor, their shadows flitting over the steel monsters, their thin top armor making him salivate. With the ground already rushing closer, and attention turning to the two very out of place parachutists, Zeke started shouting Tyrin was to drop his mines.
Glancing down, Zeke saw they were right over the enemy armor column, their shadows flitting over the steel monsters, their thin top armor making him salivate. With the ground already rushing closer, and attention turning to the two very out of place parachutists, Zeke started shouting for Tyrin to drop his mines.


"Ready and drop! Ready and drop! Ready and...drop!"
"Get ready and...drop!" he commanded. "Ready, drop! Ready and...drop!"


The cadence filled the air as Zeke judged the timing on each deployment, a small but potent mine leaving Tyrin's hand on each signal. The dense bundles tumbled down and landed almost directly atop their targets, exploding violently based on proximity to enemy units. The hot drafts of air washed over the two players, smoke and fire extending their flight, pushing them higher.
The cadence of his voice filled the air as Zeke judged the timing on each deployment, a small but potent mine leaving Tyrin's hand on each signal. The dense bundles tumbled down and landed directly atop their targets, exploding violently atop the enemy units. The hot drafts of air washed over the two players, smoke and fire extending their flight, pushing them higher.


Zeke and Tyrin hit the ground running, their chutes automatically detaching. They were now in a mad sprint across fifty meters of open air, moving between columns of enemy tanks driven by angry and surprised players. Unable to react in time to the quick moving infantry, the tanks crashed into one another, trying to position themselves for a kill shot. One tank managed to fire his main cannon, only to have another player on the same team intercept the shell, the hull blowing out in roiling flame.
Clearing the updrafts, Zeke and Tyrin plunged down and hit the ground running, their chutes automatically detaching. They now found themselves in a mad dash across fifty meters of open terrain, moving between the enemy tanks driven by angry and surprised players. Unable to react in time to the quick moving infantry, the tanks crashed into one another, their barrels twisting and colliding as they tried to rotate for a kill shot. One tank managed to fire his main cannon, only to have another player on the same team intercept the shell, the hull of his armor blowing out in roiling flame.


Zeke put his shoulder through the glass door of the building, which gave under his weight. With Tyrin following close behind, he began a mad ascent up the structure, knowing he had a collection of rocket launchers waiting for him at the top, laughing the whole way up.
Without looking back, Zeke put his shoulder through the glass door of the target building, which shattered under the impact. With Tyrin following close behind, he began a crazed ascent up the structure, knowing he had a collection of rocket launchers waiting for him at the top and exposed enemy armor at the bottom. Zeke laughed the whole way up.


A.C. Harrison
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2 Comments

Short Story Edits (cont.)

6/16/2014

14 Comments

 
"You'll never guess," Zeke said smugly.


"Hold on, hold on," Tyrin said. Zeke could easily imagine Tyrin pulling back from his game to poke and prod at Zeke's console setup, trying to find out what had happened. "Your throughput jacked like 500%!"
"Yeah, we'll see about that," Tyrin said. Zeke could picture exactly what Tyrin was doing, swapping to his hacking OS to poke and prod at Zeke's rig, looking for a clue as to what happened. "Holy shit, your throughput is jacked like 500%!"


"That's what happens when you score a TR two-two-one," Zeke nearly exploded as he spilled the news to his friend.
"That's what you get when you manage to sneak a TR two-two-one," Zeke's words spilled out of his mouth as he excitedly confessed his new hardware.


"No way you got a Temporal Rift," Tyrin scoffed. "There's an injunction against them. Besides, it's practically stolen military tech."
"No way you got a Temporal Rift," Tyrin scoffed. "That's basically military tech. It's treated like stolen property in civilian hands."


"So?" Zeke said, offended.


"So it's dangerous," his friend replied. "I don't think you have one."
"So it's dangerous," h is friend replied. "But I still don't think you have one. You're risky, but you're not that risky."


"You just can't handle that this is going to bump me over the top," Zeke said. "I'll be pro after this. You're jealous."
"You just can't handle the fact that this is going to put me over the top of the rankings ladder," Zeke said. "I'll be a rich pro after this. You can just keep on being jealous."


"If I believed you had one, which I don't," Tyrin said, "then I might be the tiniest bit jealous. Not enough to override my fear, though."
"If I actually believed you had a TR, which I don't," Tyrin said, "then I might be the tiniest bit jealous. I'd be more spooked than anything, though. You hear stories about those things."


"Quit holding me back, man," Zeke said. Then, "I don't have time to argue in a fucking VR field. Let's switch matches so I can show you."
"C'mon, quit holding me back, man," Zeke said. Then, "That's all just deep web bullshit. Listen, I don't have time to argue with you in a virtual fucking field. Let's switch servers so I can show you first hand."


"Fine," Tyrin relented with a sigh. "Pick a new server and let's go."


Zeke stepped out of the match, his vision pulling away from the stunning map as if he was peeling his nose away from a display it had been mashed against, only instead of the real world filling his vision, he found himself in his virtual console, icons and words floating before him. He reached up a hand and flicked through several servers, finally coming to one that caught his eye.
Zeke stepped out of the match, his vision pulling away from the stunning game map as if he was moving his eyes away from a set of binoculars, the image shrinking but remaining clear, eventually becoming a small icon floating before him. He found himself in his virtual console, icons and words floating before him in the empty space he stood in. Glancing over, he reached up a hand and flicked through the server listings for Warfighter 4, finally coming to one that caught his eye.


"Tyrin, I'm joining a new server now," Zeke announced.
"Tyring, I'm joining a new server now," Zeke announced, not waiting for a reply.


A falling sensation overcame him as he plunged back into the game world, a new map loading and replacing the one he was previously on. He flashed into existence in the middle of downtown Tokyo, the Shimizu Mega-City Pyramid burning in the bay. Zeke could actually smell the roiling smoke, which stung his nostrils and made him cough aloud. A moment later Tyrin materialized next to him. Zeke deployed into the game with the same assault kit, convinced it would give him the firepower he would need. Tyrin's soldier switched over to an engineer kit, equipped with micro-UAVs, mines, and equipment useful for hacking military networks.


A falling sensation overcame him as he plunged back into the game world, a new map loading and replacing the one he had previously been on. He flashed into existence in the middle of downtown Tokyo, the Shimizu Mega-City Pyramid burning in the bay, the licking flames casting long shadows over the waves. Zeke could actually smell the roiling, oily smoke, which stung his nostrils and made him cough aloud.


A moment later, Tyrin materialized next to him. Zeke spawned into the game with his same assault kit, convinced it would give him the firepower he would need. Tyrin's soldier switched over to an engineer kit, equipped with micro-UAVs, mines, and equipment useful for hacking military networks.


"Zeke, tell me you didn't pick a tier two server," he said incredulously.


"The match starts in thirty seconds," Zeke said coolly. "You going to cry about it, or are you going to back me up so I can break into the tier one groups?"
"I did. The match starts in thirty seconds," Zeke said coolly. "You going to cry about it, or are you going to back me up so I can break into the tier one groups?"


"Fine," Tyrin grumbled. "Just don't blame me when you wreck your score and get bounced back to tier five."


"Not going to happen, man. I'm invincible," Zeke said, watching the game timer count down to the start of the match.
"Not going to happen, man. I'm invincible," Zeke said, intensely watching the game timer count down to the start of the match.


"I hope you know most of the guys in here are stimmed to the gills," Tyrin said.
"I hope you know most of the guys in here are stimmed to the gills," Tyrin's voice nagged at the edge of Zeke's focus.


Zeke didn't answer. Instead he saw the timer hit 00:00, then he exploded forward, taking off in a sprint towards Tokyo Tower, but having no intention of remaining on the ground for long.
Zeke didn't bother to answer. Instead, he exploded forward just as the timer hit 00:00, sprinting along the roads towards Tokyo Tower, but having no intention of remaining at ground level for long.


"Where are you going?" Tyrin shouted from behind him, trying to keep up.


"Have to get behind their lines and flank 'em before they can dig in," Zeke said, his mind split between navigating the city and watching the map that floated in his HUD, red enemy markers already being flagged by the attack tiltrotors that now when blasting overhead, their shadows flitting from building to building.
"We have to flank the enemy infantry before they can dig in," Zeke said, his mind split between navigating the city and watching the map that floated in the HUD of his helmet, red enemy markers already being flagged by the friendly attack drones that now went blasting overhead, their shadows flitting from building to building.


The sun was setting before him, already low on the horizon, making it seem as if the skyscrapers before him were on fire, which many of them actually were. In the first sixty seconds of the match, both teams had already launched air assaults, missiles, cannons, and directed energy weapons knocking vehicles out of the sky even while cutting gouges in buildings, flaming debris raining down to the ground to be stamped out by the boots of the infantry that moved forward, backed up in the middle by columns of armor. It was digital warfare, but the emotions were real. Kill or be killed. Survive. Win.The sun was already low on the horizon, making it seem as if the skyscrapers were on fire, many of which actually were. In the first sixty seconds of the match, both teams had already launched air assaults, cruise missiles, artillery, and directed energy weapons, knocking vehicles out of the sky while cutting gouges in buildings. Flaming debris rained down to the ground only to be stamped out by the boots of the infantry that moved down the crowded avenues, backed up by columns of armor. It was digital warfare, but the emotions were real. Kill or be killed. Survive. Win.


Zeke and Tyrin were tiny cogs inside a large machine, but in order to advance in the game they would need to stand out, scoring more than the remaining 90% of the players to secure a pass to a tier one server and opening the gates to professional gaming contracts with major clans and corporations. Zeke could almost smell the sponsorship deals, so close was he to breaking out from his bleak life. Drive by desperation, he charged on, fully intending to emerge victorious, or else to die in the attempt.
Zeke and Tyrin were just tiny cogs inside a large machine, but in order to advance in the game rankings they would need to stand out. Scoring more than the remaining 90% of the players would secure them a pass to a tier one server and open the gates to professional gaming contracts with major clans and corporations. Zeke could almost smell the sponsorship deals, so close was he to breaking out from his bleak existence. Drive by desperation, he charged on, fully intending to emerge victorious, or else to die in the attempt.


Neon lights from hanging signs, each one several stories tall, were reflected in puddles of water on the moist asphalt, rain clouds still looming over the grim totems that rose up into the sky. Zeke's boots splashed through the standing water, turning the reflection into a rainbow kaleidoscope of commerce, karaoke, and pornography. Up ahead he heard armor exchanging fire, the ground rumbling beneath his feet as IFVs and MBTs maneuvered in their own conflict. Seeing an opportunity, he cut down a narrow alley, working his way through a labyrinth of izakaya, the low hanging lanterns brushing against his inflated shoulders as he kept up his manic pace. He had already outstripped the other infantry forces, only Tyrin doggedly remaining with him, following his trail as best he could.
Jutting out from the skyscrapers were massive neon signs, each one several stories tall. Their garish colors were reflected in puddles of water on the moist asphalt, rain clouds looming over the grim totems that rose up into the sky. Zeke's boots splashed through the standing water, turning the reflections into a rainbow kaleidoscope of commerce, karaoke, and pornography. Up ahead, he heard armor exchanging fire, the ground rumbling beneath his feet as IFVs and MBTs maneuvered in conflict. Seeing an opportunity on the map, he cut down a narrow alley, working his way through a labyrinth of izakaya, low hanging paper lanterns brushing against his broad shoulders as he kept up the manic pace. He had already outstripped the rest of the infantry, only Tyrin doggedly remaining with him, following his trail as best he could.


He emerged in a pedestrian square lit almost entirely by a fifty story holoprojector that faithfully disgorged advertisement after advertisement. Though Tokyo was supposedly at war, the game designers had found that interest in the level dropped to nothing if they turned off all the tiny lights that made people interested in the city to begin with. Tokyo without electricity was just a collection of concrete, holding no more interest to anyone than the next pile of rocks. Crossing the square, Zeke entered the building itself, Tyrin catching up to him.
Zeke emerged in a pedestrian square lit almost entirely by a fifty story holoprojector that faithfully disgorged advertisement after advertisement. Though this simulated Tokyo was supposed to be at war, the game designers had found that interest in the level dropped significantly if they turned off all the shiny lights that made people interested in the city to begin with. Tokyo without electricity was just a collection of concrete, holding no more interest to anyone than the next pile of rocks. Crossing the square, Zeke entered the building itself.


"We're way out of position," he said.
"We're way out of position," Tyrin chided, just catching up to him.


"Relax," Zeke countered. "I know what I'm doing. And keep quiet, you'll give away our position."


Swiftly climbing the stairs, his soldier unable to tire, Zeke emerged on the roof of the structure, giving him a view directly across the maglev line and the skyscrapers opposite his position. Below, tanks and walkers exchanged fire in the streets while a pair of fighter aircraft tangled in the sky above. The constant drone of ordinance spread over the city, bouncing off the glass, steel, and concrete, a symphony of destruction. Moving to the edge of the building, Zeke rested the handguard of his rifle on the concrete lip, getting his eyes down behind the optic.
He swiftly crossed the lobby to the stairwell and began climbing, his soldier unable to tire, A few minutes later, Zeke emerged onto the roof of the structure, giving him a view of the city around him. Across his building and directly below was a maglev line, followed by a collection of skyscrapers opposite his position. In the streets on either side of the rail line, tanks and walkers exchanged fire while a pair of fighter aircraft tangled in the sky above. The constant drone of ordinance echoed through the city, bouncing off the glass, steel, and concrete, a symphony of destruction. Moving to the edge of the building, Zeke rested the handguard of his rifle on the concrete lip, then got his eye down behind the optic and looked out across the sky.


"Now what?" Tyrin asked in his ear.


"Now we kill everything before us," Zeke said.
"Now we kill everything before us," Zeke said.




A.C. Harrison
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14 Comments

Back in Business

6/10/2014

4 Comments

 
Once again, apologies for the few weeks delay. The good news is that today I am back to posting edits of my short story, and I think I've found an acceptable way to format it so that it can be done within this blog window. I will have the original text copied in, and any corrections done in a line below in blue, so you will be able to see the original sentence/paragraph followed by the updated one. Please note that not every line has an edit following it. If you have suggestions on how to improve this process, please drop me a line.


Strictly speaking, there was a whole song and dance Zeke was supposed to do to calibrate his unit. He blew through the bare minimum required, tweaking settings on the fly, his body craving "the game" in the same way a junkie needs another fix. He could even see his jitters and his shakes, the feedback from the unit advising him that his wound up state could impact performance. Hey, it was called twitch gaming for a reason.
Zeke glanced at the calibration guide that he was supposed to follow before using his unit, ignoring the whole song and dance route. He blew through the bare minimum required to get his unit functional, tweaking settings on the fly like a true hacker. He needed to get his fix. His body had a craving for gaming in the same way a junkie did. Interestingly, he could even see his digital jitters and shakes, the feedback from his immersion unit advising him that his amped up state could be detrimental to performance. Hey, it was called twitch gaming fro a reason.


Zeke finished with the setup application and bounced back to the home screen of his console. He jumped straight into his gaming system, "Mist," the menu changing over with a flourish of color, sound, and...scent?
No sooner had Zeke finished with the setup application than he bounced back to the home screen of his console. He eagerly jumped into his gaming system, "Mist," the menu changing over with a flourish of color, sound, and...scent?


"They better not have coded in corpse smell," Zeke muttered. Still, he was floored.


How did each new sensation feel more real than, well, reality?
How was it that each new sensation felt more real than, well, reality?


Glancing up at the top of the frame, Zeke saw that Tyrin was online and already in session, playing a ranked game of "Warfighter 4: Beyond Sirius." Reaching out with his hand, he tapped the icon to join the match, his finger dipping into the floating icon, the object rippling over his flesh like space jello. It felt cool to the touch, with a rubbery texture. Zeke saw that the system had even correctly set his skin pigmentation to match his actual flesh, making his virtual hand indistinguishable from the corporeal counterpart.
Glancing up at the status bar that graced the top of his peripheral vision, Zeke saw that his long-time friend Tyrin was online and already in a gaming session, playing a ranked round of "Warfighter 4: Beyond Siris." Reaching out with his hand, Zeke tapped the icon to join the match in progress, his finger dipping into the icon that floated before him, the object rippling over his flesh like space gelatin. The icon had felt cool to the touch, with a rubbery texture. Zeke saw that the system had even correctly set his skin pigmentation to match his actual flesh, making his virtual hand entirely indistinguishable from its corporeal counterpart.

"The added gene sequencing makes such a difference," Zeke mused to himself as he joined Tyrin's match.


The maxed out GPUs in his rig didn't waste a single iota in rendering the level, so that in the blink of an eye Zeke was standing on a high ridge overlooking a cratered battlefield, hulks of destroyed vehicles still burning in the background while immediately before him a new menu floated, letting Zeke pick his soldier load out.
The matrixed GPUs humming along in his rig wasted no time in rendering the level. In the blink of an eye, Zeke was standing on a high ridge overlooking a cratered battlefield, hulks of destroyed vehicles still burning in the background amidst craters dotted with corpses. Directly before Zeke's vision a transparent menu floated, requesting that Zeke pick a soldier load out to play with.


"Zeke, that you?" a voice sounded in Zeke's ears, the game adding a radio effect, making the message sound as if it was coming through a secure channel.
"Zeke, did you just join in?" a voice sounded in his ears, the game adding a radio filter effect, making the message sound as if it was coming through a secure channel. "We really need to turn this match."


"Dude, you can't imagine how much hurt I'm about to bring," Zeke said by way of greeting.
"Tyrin, you can't imagine how much hurt I'm about to bring," Zeke said by way of greeting.


"You wish," Tyrin replied, not believing him. "Grab a scout kit and spawn at delta. There's a squad of rocket troops we need to flank."
"You wish,' Tyrin replied, not believing him. "We'll be lucky to even scrape together a noble defeat. Grab a scout kit and spawn with me at objective delta. There's a squad of rocket troopers we need to flank."


Zeke closed the channel and smirked.


"Tyrin, you have no idea."


Instead of picking the scout kit, built for speed and stealth, Zeke picked an assault kit, one of a myriad number of options in the game's multilayered rock/paper/scissors system. Instead of sneaking around, an assault kit carried heavy weapons and armor to wipe out enemy infantry, other gamers in the case of this ranked match. His kit selected, Zeke spawned in, and almost immediately regretted it.
Instead of doing what Tyrin asked and picking a scout kit, built for speed and stealth, Zeke snagged and assault loadout, one of a myriad number of player options in the game's multilayered rock/paper/scissors system. Instead of sneaking and skulking, an assault kit carried a set of heavy weapons and armor to directly take on enemy infantry, which were played by other gamers in the case of this ranked match. With his kit selected, Zeke spawned in and almost immediately regretted it.


"Whoa!" he cried out in panic, his mind disoriented, his vision swirling. "They weren't joking about calibration."
"Whoah!" he cried out in panic as his mind reeled, his vision swirling and disoriented as he tried to figure out which way was up. "No shit this thing needs calibration."


Clamping down on his runaway panic, he managed to get a grip on himself and stop the drunken spin that his mind was stuck in. Once things wound down, though, Zeke was blown away by what he saw.
Clamping down on his runaway panic, he managed to get a trip on himself and stop the drunken spin that his mind was stuck in. Focusing on the horizon, he was able to let things wind down until he could finally take in the details that surrounded him. What he saw took his breath away.


"Oh my God, it's beautiful," the words slipped out of his mouth involuntarily.
"Oh my God, it's actually beautiful," the words slipped out of his mouth involuntarily. "They were right. The adaptive base code, if you have a rig that can actually use it..."


Everything he saw on the battlefield, what had once been pixels and polygons, was now pure art. From the glint of the sun to the smell of the acrid smoke, his senses were assaulted  by the reality that came with standing in the middle of an alien world. He wanted to just stand there, to focus his eyes on the smallest detail, blades of grass, a strange blue bug, his own body and the strength that surged through it inside his soldier's armor. Not his soldier's armor, his own armor. This was his body now, and it was amazing.
Everything he saw on the battlefield, what had once been jagged pixels and polygons, was now pure art. From the glint of the sun to the smell of the acrid smoke, his senses were assaulted by what reality would be if he was actually standing on a terraformed alien moon. He wanted to remain rooted there, drinking in details, his eyes focusing on the smallest of details. He saw blades of grass, a strange blue bug, his own body reflected in a drop of dew that grasped at its perch despite the chaos around it. Then he felt his body and the strength that surged through it inside his armor. His own armor. This was his own body now, and it was an amazing specimen.


"Man, I can kill everything," he said, grabbing his rifle off his back, amazed at the texture he felt through his fingers and palm.
"Man, I can kill everything," he said gleefully, grabbing his riffle off his back, shocked at the texture he felt through his fingers and palm.


"Zeke, what the fuck, man?!" a voice rang in his ears.
"Zeke, what the fuck, man?!" a familiar voice in a familiar tone rang in his ears.


Turning, Zeke saw Tyrin moving towards him, crouching behind a rock to avoid enemy snipers.


"You were supposed to spawn as a scout!" his friend protested.


Zeke marveled that he could make out the lines of frustration on his friend's face.


"No way, Tyrin," Zeke said. "Time for me to top the boards and move up the circuit!"
"No way, Tyrin," Zeke said. "I'm not playing by the old rules. It's time for me to top the boards and move up to the pro circuit."


"What the hell are you talking about?" Tyrin said, letting Zeke actually see his friend's puzzled face through the visor of his helmet.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Tyrin said. Once again, Zeke was amazed he could actually see the puzzlement on his friend's face through the visor of his helmet.


"Just watch," Zeke said smugly.


Taking off at a dead sprint, Zeke followed the markers Tyrin had laid down to show where the enemy was hiding. Leaving his friend in the dust, Zeke boldly jumped atop a ridge, precariously balancing on its edge as he ran, the sheer drop taking him directly behind the dug in enemy soldiers. As he reached their position, the sun cast a long shadow behind him, which fell ominously over the troops, alerting them to his presence.
Launching off at a flat sprint, Zeke followed the navigational markers Tyrin had already laid down to designate where the enemy was hiding. Leaving his companion in the dust, Zeke boldly jumped atop a ridge of rock, precariously balancing on the its spine as he ran, moving him directly behind the dug in enemy soldiers. As he came upon their position, the sun rose up behind him, casting a long shadow which fell ominously over the enemy troops, alerting them to his presence.


"Too slow," Zeke grinned wolfishly as he vaulted off the tan rock formation, his body flipping through the air as he fell past the multitudinous strata.
"Too slow," Zeke grinned wolfishly as he vaulted off the craggy and wind-swept rock formation, his body flipping through the air as he fell past the multitudinous geological strata.


He landed in a crouch behind a boulder and lobbed a grenade, the weight in his hand a tangible thing, the neural feedback astounding. Timing his moves to match the explosion, he burst from behind the rock as the grenade went off, wiping out two of the enemy soldiers, the points for each kill tallying up in his peripheral vision. He let out a burst from his assault rifle, cutting down two more men, then sprinted forward to viciously descend on the last man who was fitted with a cumbersome rocket launcher and thus was slow to react.
He landed in a neat crouch behind a boulder, at the same time lobbing a grenade, the weight in his hand a tangible thing, the neural feedback astounding. Timing his attack to coincide with the explosion, he burst from behind the rock as the grenade went off, wiping out two of the enemy soldiers. He noted dispassionately the points for each kill tallying up in his peripheral vision. Zeke then raised his assault rifle and let out a burst of fire, cutting down two more men. He then sprinted forward to viciously descend on the last man who was fitted with a cumbersome rocket launcher system and thus was slow to react.


In one fluid motion, Zeke slung his rifle and pulled out an plasma knife, diving forward and tackling the man to the ground. With a single swipe he ended the man's virtual life, chopping the head clean off with his glowing weapon, warm blood splattering up onto his torso and mask so that he had to wipe it away with an armored glove. Standing up, Zeke looked around at the carnage he had wrought, literally out of breath from his actions. It hadn't even been close to a fair fight. His hardware was too slick to even be touched by these noobs.
In one vicious, fluid motion, Zeke let his rifle drop on its sling and pulled out a wicked vibroknife, diving forward and tackling the last man to the ground. With a single swipe of his arm, he ended the soldier's virtual life, chopping the head clean off with his humming edged weapon. Warm blood splattered up onto Zeke's torso and mask, so thick that he had to wipe it away with an armored glove. Standing, Zeke looked around at the carnage he had wrought, literally out of breath from his actions. It hadn't even been close to a fair fight. His hardware was too slick, too smooth to ever be touched by these noobs.


"Holy fucking shit," Tyrin said behind him, only now catching up. "What the hell are you?"

I think this format will have to suffice for now. I'll try to do a double segment to make up for the previous missed weeks. Hope to have it all collaborated into one long piece and then I'd be happy to offer it up for a free download.

A.C. Harrison
Like what you see here? Spread the word and support indie authors! Follow me on Facebook or Twitter.
4 Comments

Programming Resumes

5/30/2014

5 Comments

 
Apologies for the times I haven't updated. I was on vacation all last week, and this week there have been some pressing issues I had to attend to. Updates resume this upcoming Monday.
5 Comments

And the Edits Begin

5/12/2014

3 Comments

 
Yeah, I still have a really hard time getting excited about editing. That being said, I am excited to keep working on this short story project. I'm going to try to do these edits in the same chunks that I wrote the story in, then come back around and do a second set of edits as I have done on my novels. Bit of a learning curve here as I've never done this all publicly before, so I will apologize now. Here we go:

A Fold in the Rift [need a better title]
A short story by A.C. Harrison

"Aw, shit, this is it," Zeke exclaimed, booting open the door to his studio apartment, the heavy electronic lock smacking a fresh hole in the wall, plaster raining down. He ignored the damage, knowing he’d have to repair it before the landlord found out. He could care less at the moment. Right now all that mattered to Zeke "Two Gun" Saad was his need to get wired. Stepping into the darkened room, he tucked the package he was carrying under on arm and then expertly tossed his empty wallet at the old fashioned light switch mounted further inside. The worn leather flapped against the switch, kicking on the single bare bulb that illuminated his tiny abode. Zeke jumped out of his shoes and stepped over scattered pizza boxes, his dingy socks somehow leaving the linoleum cleaner as he slid along the floor. Still under his arm was the cardboard box, sealed up tight with packaging tape and clutched like an infant. He set the box on a small end table that abutted a large, metal desk that was more like the hatch to a nuclear bunker, then he pulled out a dull pen knife, using brute force to slice the tape into ragged strips. Ripping open the box with childhood excitement, he lay eyes on what he had been eagerly working towards for so many months.

Hiding inside the drab and battered exterior of the shipping box was a gleaming case of injection molded plastic decorated in a mottled gray camouflage pattern. Pulling out the plastic container with reverence, Zeke ran a dark skinned hand across the metal placard attached to the front. Engraved on the gleaming black piece were the bold words: TEMPORAL RIFT v2.2.1 [hate this name]. Popping the latch on the front of the case, the hinges swung open on springs to expose a padded interior. Nestled in the middle was a strange apparatus that was composed of large, block-shaped goggles, matching headphones, various wire jacks, and coils of leads that ended in two-way sensor pads.

"Worth every fucking untraceable penny," Zeke grinned from ear to ear. “That fencer didn’t even know what he had.”

Setting the gray polymer unit down atop the case it came in, he turned his attention to his desk where his gaming rig sat. It was an alien computer configuration, devoid of monitor, keyboard, mouse, or speakers. The only thing that vaguely hinted at a functional computer was the flat black aluminum box case sitting under the desk proper, a soft blue glow rising and falling from LEDs embedded inside the box, the cadence of which mimicked relaxed human breathing. Atop the desk was a goggle unit like the one he had just received, but smaller and lacking the sheer quantity of connections and wires. Printed on the side of the elastic headband were faded letters that began "Ocul--" before fading out to nothing, worn from repeated use. On the flat front of the unit was the version number, this unit headset being the fifth iteration of the venerable unit that started the revolutionary trend in that was immersion gaming.

Zeke wasted no time in pulling the plug on his old immersion interface and setting up the new model, a task made difficult by the nervous energy which jumped through his twitching limbs and fingers, making him have to take several stabs at securing all the network connections and neural I/O links. When he was done, he stepped back and admired his work, the immersion set now sitting front and center on his desk, wires trailing off in all directions, the black tendrils of information that would soon push his brain directly into a light speed world of battlefield carnage, starship dogfighting, and alien slaying. Even better, his brain would be completely fooled into believing it was all real.

"Zeke, you should wait until you're not burned out from a day slinging wetware," Zeke told himself. "Yeah, fuck that."

Plopping his ass down in his black, clone leather recliner, Zeke slipped the TEMPORAL [as in the lobe, but I think people are going to mostly focus on time, which is certainly a part of the meaning] unit over his head, then got his hands over their respective motion tracking fields. A plain black filled his vision, completely real to his brain. Manipulating his fingers through airborne, arcane motions, he tapped the initialization icon that hovered in the top right of his field of view. For a brief moment nothing happened, then Zeke felt a sudden pressure at the back of his head, a low pounding as if he had stumbled and cracked his skull on the floor, only in this case it didn't hurt. A strange, icy tendril slithered down his spine, extending out to his limbs before ending in his fingers and toes. The feeling actually terrified him, but ended before he could even react to the sensation. A strange sparking flashed behind his eyes and he thought that he caught a vague whiff of smoke, but then all of the sensations passed and he was left alone inside his head.

At first there was only darkness. Then, Zeke thought, "Let there be light," and there was light. Beautiful, colorful light that danced and sang inside Zeke’s mind, composed entirely of his thoughts and emotions.

"Ho-lee-shiiiiiit," Zeke thought. "Wait until I shove this in Tyrin's face."

Yeah, so... my web editor somehow doesn't support strikethrough. That's annoying, to say the least, as I marked everything up in Word so that people could see the edits. As it stands, I deleted the strikethrough sections and just copied in the updated text. I will need to find a way to have all the notation in the blog so that readers can see the process more clearly.

A.C. Harrison
Like what you see here? Spread the word and support indie authors! Follow me on Facebook or Twitter.
3 Comments
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    A.C. Harrison is the author of "Jupiter Symphony" and is currently editing his second novel, "Unto Persephone."

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