Atlas

Alright so this is my story i'll try to update it until Its finished before the contest is over because I don't plan for it to be a long one. This is my first time in a contest so I hope you like it.

Author's notes: This story is based in a future where the sobot becomes a highly used technology. Sobots are Software Robots that have 14 chromosomes programed into them. In other words, these robots have their own personality. In the story these robots go by the name of Acolytes and are given certain animal forms depending on their owner's personality. Players are able to enter a virtual reality with their acolytes to battle in tournaments with other players.

Summary: Rowan Hunter is a fourteen year-old boy who finally gets enough money to bye his own acolyte. His dream is to enter the tournaments and become the number one acolyte user.

Rating: T

Chapter one: Enter Rowan Hunter!

Rowan ducked out of the way of, yet, another fire ball which ricocheted off the wall behind him sending sparks flying everywhere. Wary of his present danger he pulled his cloak closer to him to use as protection from the sparks.

“Give it up weakling,” his opponent wizard called, “you will never win at this rate. Your magic tokens are used up and I still have a full deck. The advantage is mine for the taking.”

“Can you really be so certain?” asked Rowan a smile forming on his lips, “I have one option left.” His enemy’s eyes widened.

“You don’t mean?” started the enemy wizard, but Rowan cut him off.

“Acolyte, I summon you!” he yelled, raising his arm high in the air for dramatic effect. The air became thick with magic as rays of light traced out a symbol on the ground between Rowan and the enemy wizard.

“What is this?!” stuttered the enemy wizard as the light engulfed the two of them in a blinding display. Then, finally, there was an enormous bang and smoke replaced the light filling the room in its place. For awhile, neither of the wizards could speak as they stared transfixed at the display. Both wondered what creature would take place of the smoke.

Rowan basked in the glory of his summoning. Something that had such an amazing entrance had to be powerful. However, what he saw when the smoke cleared was not what he had hoped.

“This is…” he stuttered not able to find the right words for what he was seeing. The creature he had summoned was Mr. Robin, his eighth grade history teacher, but, this wasn’t the worst of it. For some reason, his teacher was in his underwear.

“It’s time to turn in your homework, Mr. Hunter!” yelled his teacher slapping him on the head.
*______________________________*

“No! Mr. Robin, underwear bad!” Rowan opened his eyes to see a whole class room of his peers laughing at him because of his sudden outburst. None of whom seemed as disturbed as Mr. Robin did…
***

Rowan hung his head as he walked home from the school the following afternoon, too depressed about what had happened earlier to notice the person sneaking up behind him, he was unprepared for what jumped onto his back.

“Hey, Rowan!” yelled Abby, his ten-year old little sister.

“Abby, can’t you see that your brother’s depressed?” he asked barely able to stand because of his sister’s weight.

“Come-on bubba, I thought you’d be excited since you finally have enough money to get an acolyte.” Rowan suddenly perked up at the idea having momentarily forgotten.


“Oh no, I’m late!” he said throwing his sister off his shoulders and sending her tumbling to the ground ungracefully.

“Tell grandma and grandpa that I might be late for dinner!” he yelled back.
*___________________*

The ride over to the Agilysys Gaming Shop was a long and worrisome journey for Rowan. The Agilysys gaming industry had its own building located on the city’s third level, the highest and richest level in the city. It was the only place one could get an acolyte. Fortunately, Rowan lived on the second level, the moderately poor area, which meant the hover trolley ride shouldn’t be too far from where he needed to go. However, even with that fact hanging over his head Rowan still found himself counting down the minutes.

In hope of taking his mind off the time, Rowan looked out the trolley window. The sun was setting over the cluttered buildings on the second level. The sun’s golden light flooded the streets making them look like shimmering rivers of gold. No matter how many times he took a ride up to the top level of the city, he still couldn’t help but feel surprised by the beauty of the sight.

The trolley lurched suddenly, as it left the atmosphere and began to enter the third level. The outside of the trolley seemed to be covered by a black blanket. For a second Rowan felt as if he were weightless before the artificial gravity kicked in slamming everyone back into their seats. A man who had been sitting at the back of the trolley suddenly lurched over and puked into the aisle. It was obviously his first time on a trolley.

Many of the trolley’s passengers grimaced or turned back around in their seats trying to ignore the man’s embarrassment. Rowan tried looking away also but, something about the guy gave a somewhat nostalgic feeling that reminded him of his dad before he died. When Rowan was five his dad had taken him on his first trolley ride to the third level…

“Dad, look!” he said pointing out the stars, barely visible beyond the sun’s rays.

“Ok, I’m looking, I’m looking.” his dad would say, but Rowan knew his dad wasn’t looking at the stars. Rowan knew that because the whole time his dad was looking at him…

Another lurch from the trolley as it entered the station awoke Rowan from his day dream. As he got up from his seat he checked his watch. It was 5:30, only thirty minutes before the shop closed! Rowan hastily shuffled towards the train’s exit. If I just keep moving, he constantly said to himself, checking his watch with every other step. If I can just get off this bus I’ll make it…

Little did he know, prior to his arriving at the station there was a temporary mass power outage pushing all of the third level’s busy worker’s off time in their schedules by four minutes. This meant that everybody as a result would lose four minutes worth of money!

Like ants, the ruthless mass of lawyers, business executives, and Mc Donald’s managers rushed in every direction trying to make their appointments in time. Poor Rowan seemed lost as he was pushed or shoved out of the way at every turn. Never before had he witnessed the third level in such a ruckus!

*_____________________*

Considering what he had been up against, it was remarkable Rowan was able to make it to the game shop two minutes before closing time. The building’s lights were shutting off and the manager had just stepped out of the door and seemed to be stumbling with his keys trying to get the door locked. He was mumbling something about how people were able to make virtual games but, unable to fix the problem of having to use so many keys when Rowan appeared behind him. The manager turned to face him.

“What do you want?” he asked, impatiently.

“Please, I need you to let me in,” Rowan pleaded.

“Sorry, I can’t help you the shop’s closed” he said starting off in the opposite direction.

“What do you mean? It’s only two minutes until it closes. Can’t you do me this one favor?”

“I said it’s closed!” the man yelled, not even bothering to look back.

Lost in his despair, Rowan left the shop entrance in a daze and, dampening his mood even further, artificial clouds covered the sky and it began to rain. Unaware of where he was going he wandered into an area he didn’t recognize.

He seemed to have entered one of the older shopping districts. The third level city was composed of a series of shopping districts, casinos, and small neighborhoods. So, it seemed highly probable that he’d wander into a shopping district he hadn’t noticed before. Not wanting to find his way home at the present time Rowan wandered over to one of the food stands he saw at the other end of the street. The owner noticed him as he approached the shop.

“What’ll ya be have n’ kid?” The owner asked as Rowan took a seat at the bar.

“Two hot dogs sir, one for me and the boy here,” said a man sitting in the seat next to Rowan.

“Is that ok with you?” asked the owner. Rowan nodded his head as he turned his attention to the old man. The man seemed strange enough. He was wearing one of those old brown jackets that one would expect to see in a 21rst century movie.

“My name’s Jack,” said the man holding out his hand for Rowan to shake.

“Rowan,” he replied promptly shaking the man’s hand in return.

“So what’s on your mind kid? You look like you just got run over by a bus.”

“Might as well have,” Rowan replied as he propped his head on his hand, “today has been the worst day imaginable.”

“I see,” Jack replied suddenly taking an interest, “and for what reason is that?” Before Rowan could reply the shop’s bartender returned with two hot dogs. Jack took one and handed the other to Rowan.

“I tried the best I could to get an acolyte but,” Rowan paused and took a bite out of his hot dog before continuing, “maybe I was never meant to get one.” For moment the two of them sat in silence simply enjoying their hot dogs.

“What if I told you I can get you an acolyte?” Jack asked. Jerry, the bartender, looked up suddenly interested in the conversation taking place.

“Look, sir, it’s nice of you to try and cheer me up but making fun of me is-” Rowan started to say but Jack interrupted.

“I’m not making fun of you I’m serious.” Rowan stood up.

“I shouldn’t even be talking to strangers,” he muttered, however; before Rowan could leave the shop the old man sat something on the table that caught his eye. It was a small device that looked somewhat similar to a cell phone. Rowan picked it up to examine. It was slender and it had a wide rectangular screen on it that slid out.

“This is-” he started but Jack interrupted him.

“It’s a memory drive.”

“Yeah, I know it’s used to hold your acolyte’s information. Why are you giving this to me?” Rowan asked placing the drive back on the bar.

“Because,” Jack said gathering up his things, “I know you’re a good kid.” And with that being said the old man left the shop leaving Rowan with the memory drive.

A strange energy seemed to flow through Rowan every time he touched the drive. Ever since he was a kid he wanted to battle in the tournaments with his own acolyte. Acolytes were sobots (software robots) and when given a personality they could become great allies. Their main use was for fighting in digital arenas. And now, after meeting that strange old man he would finally be able to get his chance.

“Hey kid!” yelled the bartender knocking away Rowan’s thoughts “you gonna pay for the check or what?”

“Oh, yea how much is it?”

The bartender paused as if he were thinking it over before he said “Fifty bucks.” Rowan’s jaw dropped.

“How can it be that much for two hot dogs?” Rowan asked incredulously.

“That and all the other stuff that old guy ordered.” The bartender replied.

Chapter two: Upload!

Rowan Hunter was not surprised when he found himself on his way to the third level. He didn’t quite understand why he was taking the long ride up, but then again he didn’t have to. But for some reason he couldn’t shake how the world seemed so surreal.

“Come on brother what’s taking so long? We have to hurry,” yelled his sister from the trolley’s entrance. That’s right, he thought, if I don’t hurry I’ll be late…but for what? For some reason he couldn’t remember. The world seemed to be rushing passed him and before he realized it he was on the trolley. Lizzie Robin, his childhood friend, was sitting next to him. When had she gotten there and where had his sister gone?

“Silly, I’ve been here the whole time and don’t you remember she went to the bathroom?” she replied. Suddenly, Rowan felt dizzy. When had I asked her that? He thought. Could she read his mind? Or maybe he had asked her without realizing it. But Rowan no longer had time to think about that anymore, because suddenly the trolley dipped to the side slamming its passengers into the aisle or against the windows.

“What was that?” somebody yelled voicing exactly what was on everybody’s minds. But before anyone could answer the trolley nose dived suddenly and everyone fell forward as it began its spiraling decent back to earth. All at once, the world began to spin. Rowan gripped tightly to the chair in front of him. A rip began to tear into the trolley’s roof as jagged claws forced their way into the small vehicle. But no one screamed and no sound could be heard. The claws seemed to have torn through more than jus the train, but through time and space all together!

And, suddenly Rowan was alone. The world melted away, emptying him into a white existence that yielded nothing but eternal despair. All that he had once thought to be reality was suddenly wiped away to show its true ugliness and the memories that he once cherished turned transparent and unimportant. Only the bitter memories of his past remained.

The sudden death of his parents, the jealousy he felt every time he saw the other kids walk home from the play ground with their parents. All came back vividly to him now. Or perhaps, he thought, it had never really left. He had always felt it there like a thorn in his heart…

Before he knew it he was on his knees, tears were streaming from his face and the emptiness continued to close in on him. The loneliness, the despair, all seemed to sneak in on him from the shadows. His heart raced, his breathing had become stressed. The pain was swallowing him! He could already feel his spirit, his soul, drifting further and further away like a leaf caught in a river’s current. The world had turned cold and unyielding and the meaning of everything became trivial. Everything was lost to him now, his friends, his loving grand parents, and even his…sister?
“Brother!” came her disembodied yell that rang through his mind and ears.

Suddenly, a new power filed his limbs as he remembered his purpose in the form of his sister’s face and the second chance he had been given when he received the memory drive.

With all his might Rowan resisted the temptation to give up and pulled himself to his feet.

“What are you doing?” grumbled the voice, a cold whispering that seemed to embody the very despair that filled his heart. Rowan turned in a circle looking for its source but he saw nothing in the emptiness.

“What do you want from me?!” he yelled blindly into the abyss but there was no answer. Instead, a pair of bright cat like eyes appeared out of the darkness.

“Can’t you feel it” asked the eyes “the hopelessness, the loneliness?” Suddenly, Rowan began to feel anger burning up inside of him and he dug his nails into his palms.

“I won’t give up I refuse!”
*______________________*

“It’s too late for that, Mr. Hunter, the test is over,” said Mr. Robin as he lifted the papers off of Rowan’s desk. It had been two weeks since Rowan came back from his trip to the third level and his encounter with the old man.

“Wait, I didn’t write anything on it yet!” pleaded Rowan but, the teacher shook his head.

“You should have thought about that before you fell asleep,” he said as he moved over to the next student’s desk.

In the desk next to him a girl by the name of Lizzie Robin, Mr. Robin’s daughter, giggled. Lizzie lived next door to Rowan and his sister and had been Rowan’s best friend since they were three.

“You sure find the right times to fall asleep,” she commented. Rowan sighed.

“I know,” he replied wryly “I had a hard time sleeping because of these dreams I’ve been having.”

“Yea, I noticed,” she said with a smile “you woke me up with all the screaming you did.”

“Well, at least one good thing has happened,” Rowan said with a smile “I got my memory drive.”

“That’s great!” she said returning the smile “Then maybe we can meet each other on the battle field one day? Right, Rosleta?” As Lizzie said this she pulled out her own memory drive which beeped to life at the mention of its name.

“Correct!” replied Rosleta “What kind of acolyte do you have, Master Hunter?”

Before Rowan could answer the school bell rang signaling that it was the end of school. In an instant the class became a jumble of movement as all of the students stuffed their things into their back packs and hurried for the door. Rowan turned back to Lizzie. Should he tell her about his encounter with the strange man and how he still couldn’t get the device to work? Suddenly he got an idea. One that would buy him time so he wouldn’t have to tell her.

“It’s a surprise. You’ll have to wait to see it later in the game,” he said, feeling grateful for his whit.

“Then let’s go,” Lizzie said grabbing him by the arm and tugging towards the door.

“N-now?” he asked “but wait I have to walk Abbey home.”


“Oh please,” she said “you weren’t too worried about her a few days ago. Now come on lets go before the place shuts down!”


*___________________*

A few minutes later, Rowan was taking a familiar seat on the trolley but, this time he wasn’t alone. Lizzie took a seat next to him. For a moment he was reminded of the dream he had in class… Stop that, he thought, that’s not going to happen. It was just a dream. In a desperate attempt to distract himself from his thoughts Rowan pulled his memory drive out from his pocket to examine. The sliding screen was just as blank as it had been when he’d gotten it. There was no sign of life in the small little thing at all.

It was said that an acolyte had the ability to link with its master’s mind and choose its form based off of its master’s personality. Rowan thought back to the dream he had in class. He sighed once more and stuffed the device back into his pocket and looked out the window. Maybe the ride to the third city would be longer than he thought.

The Agilisys building was just as Rowan had remembered it the first time. Compared to the other buildings found on the third level which were normally flat and square. The Agilisys building held an intimidating feel to it because of its indiscreet difference. It was a large dome that stretched high up into the artificial sky, and it had large spires that circulated around the base of its roof.

“You haven’t even seen the best of it,” Lizzie said seemingly reading Rowan’s mind and she started jogging towards the building’s main entrance. Rowan followed, while feeling that he had missed a lot of details when he came to the place prior to this evening.

As the pair started jogging closer to the building they started seeing people. Most of them were employees, identifiable by their grey uniforms. Rowan nodded to them before he and Lizzie walked passed the sliding door entrance of the building.

The inside of the building looked like the waiting room of a doctor’s office. There was a couch, a table, and a desk with a secretary. Rowan noticed that behind the desk there was a shelf display of different memory drives.

With Lizzie in the lead the pair walked over to the secretary’s desk. Stationed at the desk was a short stubby little man with glasses. He was sitting in his chair with a coffee in hand and enjoying a magazine when the two teens stood before him.

“Excuse me um-,” Lizzie leaned closer to read his name tag “Curtis, we’d like to-,”

“Will you be playing the game or purchasing a memory drive?” the man interrupted, not even bothering to look up from his magazine. Rowan and Lizzie exchanged looks.

“Will be playing,” Lizzie replied. Before answering Curtis turned a page in his magazine.

“Take the elevator on the right.”

Rowan hadn’t noticed this at first but at the far end of the waiting room there were two elevators, one to the left and one to the right.

“Why can’t we get on the left elevator?” Rowan found himself asking before he realized it. The clerk looked away from his magazine only long enough to give Rowan an odd look as if to say “Why do you think, moron?”

“Rowan, hurry up lets go!” called Lizzie who was already entering the elevator.

The duo stepped out onto a small slender platform stretched out before an immense cavern that trailed down farther than the eye could see. Along the cavern walls over thousands of pod like structures cork screwing down into the cavern.

“This is…” Rowan started, unable to finish his sentence.

“Yea it is amazing,” said a voice. Rowan and Lizzie both looked up in the direction of the voice to see a man on a small platform hovering down to the edge of the platform. Rowan and Lizzie exchanged looks before they walked over to greet him.

“Hi, my name is Terry,” said the man “I’ll be your mechanic for the day.” Just looking at Terry made Rowan feel at ease. Terry had black hair and dark eyes that constantly seemed to hold a twinkle of excitement, but what was most noticeable was how warm his smile was.

“Nice to meet you I’m Lizzie, and this is Rowan,” she said as she entered the vehicle followed by Rowan.

“Is this your first time going to the game world?” Terry asked as he lowered the platform-like vehicle down into the cavern.

“No, this is my second time but it’s my friends first time,” said Lizzie motioning to Rowan. Terry smiled and nodded as he stopped the hover vehicle at an empty pod. Inside it Rowan could see a leather seat and a helmet monitor that the person using the pod would have to wear.

“Ladies fist,” said Terry motioning for Lizzie to go into the pod.

“See you soon,” Lizzie said waving “goodbye” to Rowan as she stepped into the pod. Terry shut the pod door and started pressing buttons on the control panel next to it.

“What are you doing?” Rowan asked curiously.

“Checking for viruses,” replied Terry without looking away from his work, “because we wouldn’t want anything happening to ya would we?”

Once he finished his search Terry pressed a button on the hover vehicle and they lowered away from Lizzie’s pod deeper into the cavern

“Here’s our stop kid,” said Terry, stopping before an empty pod. Rowan stepped into the pod. It had a leather seat similar to the one he saw in Lizzie’s pod. However, one thing he hadn’t noticed earlier was the memory drive slot on the seat’s arm rest. Rowan sat on the leather seat and found that it was extremely comfortable.

“Are you ready?” asked Terry starring in from the pod’s entrance. Rowan nodded. Giving Rowan one last smile, Terry shut the pod’s door and suddenly, it was dark. For awhile Rowan sat in the dark pod and nothing happened. He was beginning to wonder if Terry had forgotten about him before he heard Terry’s voice come in from a speaker inside the pod.

“Alright kid the game’s ready,” came Terry’s voice “put the helmet on.” Not finding that he had any choice in the matter Rowan complied with his directions and placed the helmet on his head and waited.

“Nothings happening,” replied Rowan, beginning to have second thoughts.

“Did you place the memory drive in its slot?” asked Terry. Rowan remembered the slot he had seen on the arm rest and quickly placed his memory drive into it.

“Alright kid, get ready for the ride of your life.” Terry warned him, un-aware of how true his words would soon be.

The concept is interesting. You just need to flesh out the writing. Tell us more about Rowan: what he looks like, what he likes to do,

hey

hint - this is too long.

if you break it up into parts (example: part 1 of chapter 1), people will be more inclined to read it and critique it for you.

PM if you take my advice, and I'll be happy to read this.

jai