Cyber Hunter

Data is everything, that’s the world we live in now. Reality, material, it all became little more than inconvenience. Everyone escapes to immaterial, to zeros and ones. Reality became too much for them, for the average Joe who just wanted to have a good time. Money, food, crime, pain, even death. The basic things that make life became anathema to what people wanted. Now, they found a way to run from it.

Doctors and scientist developed away to enter the internet, not just your mind but your body and soul. The flesh/data conversion program could digitize a person, map their DNA by scanning the brain for all the electrical signals that pulsed. Using these signals the program copied the energy into datasheets that were then uploaded into the internet. Each person had a special algorithm written for them, helping to map memories and core physical data. There were failures of course, people that couldn’t be digitized completely, who went in as just scattered data and couldn’t be reclaimed. But people were desperate to escape reality, to feel everything properly. Enough time passed for the technology to be completed and half our civilization was living in the net, not wanting to leave it.

This new development drew even more chaos and debate than the cybernetic enhancements program years earlier, and that one was about freewill. It was hard to argue against it though, as no one was forced into this. People could enter a new world where they were free of problems and issues. If they never wanted to come back they didn’t have to, and plenty of others didn’t want to enter it. As long as the servers and systems kept up, they would be immortal in the net. A law passed that if you spent more than fifty percent of your time in the net had two choices. They either stayed permanently or never entered again. You’d think it was a perfect system, but people as ever love to harm each other.

What better way to make a fantasy world than to make monsters in it? That was the point of every video game ever made. Now, they put these beasts into the digital world. Dragons, werewolves, giant spiders, even aliens. There was debate over where these monsters came from, be it dream algorithms that data put together, or specifically made by hackers, but it didn’t matter much outside the net. These monsters were real here, and they killed people. That’s where I come in.

***

“Hey look, the hunter’s here.” Someone called out to me. I was in a digitized town, made to look just like an old suburbia. Plain for the digitized landscape, but people like what they like. This group seemed to just want a normal life without have to worry on bills. I’ve seem much more outlandish stops.

“There was a message.” I said. I always kept things formal and to the point. The man who called me approached but kept his distance. He looked me over, intimidated I’d wager. Most are when they meet a digitized cyborg. Forgot that part. That program I mentioned about cyborgs, it kept me alive. I won’t bore you with the details but I was in an accident. The doctors used me as a test subject, I was just as dead if they didn’t do anything, so it was no loss. Replaced my arms and legs, most of my organs, and part of my brain. I still had flesh and assorted organs, but I was mostly machine. In the net this gave me many advantages, as my digitized body carried over the upgrades.

“Y..yes. We’ve been having some trouble.” He explained. My deadpan look told him to hurry up. “A few of us have been lost, only bits of data that can’t be contained.”

“Do you know the beast that did this?” I asked. The rest was obvious, they wouldn’t need me if there wasn’t something.

“It was a werewolf, we’re sure.” the man stated. I sighed, I did not want to fight a werewolf today. Whoever made them made sure they were authentic.

“I’ll bring the corpse data by tomorrow. How will you be paying?” I asked. The man looked stricken, as if he didn’t think he had to pay. “You have elected to remain here for your life.” He nodded. “Contact the administrator, tell them the situation. If it is easier I will contact them for you.”

“You can’t do that, we don’t have money here!” he snapped at me. This was more common than not, and it wasn’t the persons fault. People thought that once you are in the net, you are free. It was mostly true, you didn’t have anything to worry about. If you elect to remain in for life you had to pay charges for effective maintenance, but it was one time. You were free of money.

“Sir, I don’t exist in the net. I live in the physical world and require payment for my services.” I explained, almost robotic from the constant repetition. “You have credit that can be used, or an administrator payment, or various other methods. The administrator will explain all this. If you refuse to pay, I am sorry to say I will have to leave.”

I stopped to let that sink in. He paused, completely baffled at the concept of payment. This is one of the problems with my work, people don’t want to pay. It’s rare to find those that do, often just people who visit the net and don’t want to risk dying while inside. I was lucky so many preferred to take the risks and remain, I’d be out of a job otherwise. The man rushed off toward what I assumed to be his home. It always astounded me how people still act like they are in the material world. His body may be physically here, but he was still digital and could mentally contact the administrator. It made no odds to me, as long as my payment was sorted.

As I waited I looked around, scanning every part of this place. It was like an old film, peaceful, idyllic even. I saw no children, just adults going about doing what they wanted to do. I could see those mowing lawns, eating dinner, watching television. To them it was just as real as the physical world. For me, it was data. One of my eyes, a cybernetic implant, saw only code. The other saw what they did. If I were of a lessor constitution I’d probably like it here. I wondered how many died to the wolf, how many didn’t accept that it was real.

By the time the man returned most people stopped to look at me, pausing at the issue of my appearance. Hunters were something everyone knew about, seeing me meant there was trouble. Good, they would stay out of my way.

“Hunter, I’ve contacted the administrator.” The man told me, looking well beyond happy now. That was a first. “This community fully paid to live here, so the administration will handle your fee.”

“This could have gone quicker if you told the administrator originally. They do contact us and handle payment automatically that way.” I said. People often forgot that the administration called out for us in the first place. Every bit of data collected went through them, then to us to deal with these issues. We were freelance, cheaper than proper security, and more effective. We were not regimented, we thought abstractly.

With the ringing in my ear informing me the contract had been made I walked off. I had no more need of this man, I had work to do.

***

With my brain being part machine I could cycle information faster than thought, and keep focused on what was in front of me. Now I sat at the edge of town, just in front of the border into the open net. It was designed to look like forest, but whatever beast was inside now had altered its appearance. My mind worked over the pieces I would need to fight the werewolf, sliver tipped blades, sliver platting over the organic parts of my body, wolfs bane. All programs, pure data to augment my abilities. In the real world these would be hard to come by, but in the net it was as easy as waiting for an install.

I looked over my body, a visual scan atop an internal one. Metal arms and legs, bulky metal plates of grey and black. The metal around my knees spiked up to the sides, a cosmetic choice, but they did help deliver powerful knee strikes. I dresses simply, a long grey coat with a black shirt and shorts that covered my still fleshy parts. I wouldn’t call myself handsome, but then again I never delved into such things. I’ve been told I’m good looking, with dark hair and a tall height. Such things matter little to a man mostly made of metal.

“Installation complete.” A mechanical voice sounded in my head. Suddenly silver plates materialized around my neck and over my chest, data bits fusing together in a show of light. The great part of data is that it didn’t need to be heavy plates, it could be skin tight and flexible.

I was ready now, and stepped outside the town. This is where things get interesting. The edge of the town, any town in the net, has a sort of invisible wall. Under normal circumstances beyond the wall is an extension of the town. But now, with a monster waiting, the data shifts to fit. It had more pull, effectively a higher priority in the net. I took my step, the data shinning and shimmering to recognize my presence. Past the wall everything was a blaze of light and electricity. It’s the only way the human mind can cope with the transition. It’s like I’m falling, constant shifts of lightning surrounded me as bits of data fused to form a structure of trees and stone and fog. It lasts only a few seconds, but felt like an eternity as the world was built around me. I let my body float through it, feeling the raw power move around and cover me, recognize my form then put my data in place. The process is simple in computing terms, no different from a loading screen, but the touch of the data is warm. I’m not sure if that is a part of my mind or programing.

I landed softly, one knee on the ground and arms crossed, ready just in case the beast was waiting. Nothing attacked me yet, so I stood. Fog surrounded me, I could barely make out the trees. However this beast was coded, it was very thorough. My cybernetic eye moved to inferred, looking for any heat signature. The one good thing about being this thorough was that it kept to the trope. Any decent programmer could make this fog unbreachable, but this fog was only supposed to block basic sight.

The howl that sounded told me the beast was watching me. I sighed, it was going to be a werewolf. I didn’t like werewolves. The sound was distorted among the trees, I could not pinpoint the direction. Snarling followed, meaning it was close. Why was it so close, monsters like this don’t come this quick. It was particularly aggressive, easier to find but possible harder to fight than normal.

“Come out now, die quickly.” I said, hoping to goad it. A snarl was my response, this time farther away. It was stalking me, but I couldn’t see it. Odd, it should have a heat signature of some sort. The fog got thinner, suddenly there was a flash of heat. My arms shot up instantly, razor teeth chomping down on metal. I was pushed to the ground, thrashed about as claws tried to tear in to him. My metal limbs held tight, my body strong enough not to break. After moments I was thrown with force, my back slamming into a tree and shattering it. The trunk fell, the base where it broke erupting into particles of data before it could settle. I let out a sigh, looking up at what threw me.

Towering over me, dark as night with a giant maw was fear incarnate. Pure heavy muscle, glowing red eyes, the shape of a man with the guise of a wolf. The fog flowed around it like a shroud, its loud snarl more roar than bark. It didn’t wait for me to respond, it lunged again. I rolled to the side, letting it hit the trunk and tear it from the ground. I charged while its jaw sank into the wood, getting onto its back and sinking my fingers into its body. Metal points shot out of my fingertips so I could hold on better. It roared, I punched as hard as I could, my titanium fist sounding as if it was hitting iron.

As I kept punching the monster rose and shook, trying to wrench me loose. Its head turned, jaws snapping like steel traps repeatedly even as its claws reached around. I could feel the claws rake against my limbs and coat, only the armor keeping me from losing blood and skin. I could barely hold on, this monster was stronger than I was, how much I don’t know. All it needed was one good strike and I could die.

“Strength threshold unlock.” I called out, the wires and coils in my arms jolting. Quickly I thrust my arms under its, lifting up as hard as I could. It came off its feet as I leaned back, using all my might to toss the beast as it did me. It roared as its body flew through the air, landing with a crack and rolling to its feet again. The monster thrust its head forward, salivating as its claws went wide. I leaned back into a stance, one arm back one arm forward, and gripped my fists. Instantly blades shot from slits just behind my wrists, glowing silver in the little light.

The wolf charged, swiping at me as dodged to the side. He turned instantly with another swipe, claws scraping against my chest plate. I grabbed hold of its arm and stabbed with my other hand, the silver burning it. It roared and hoisted me into the air, biting for my neck now. It gabbed its jaw, pushing it back before slamming my knee into it. The spikes imbedded into the beast’s body causing the beast to double over in pain for only an instant. I pulled its arm, still stabbed though, and cut across it with my now free hand and kicked the monster in the side. Its limb came off, disintegrating into data bits and it rolled away. It paused then, trying to understand its lost limb. I wouldn’t rush me now, it wasn’t a stupid beast. Instead I rushed forward with a leap, hoping to remove its head quickly. It surprised me by jumping as well, its body hitting mine hard and knocking the wind from my lungs. Mid-air its jaws grabbed my torso, unable to pierce my silver plates, but still able to hold. When we landed it used me like a chew toy, shaking me and slamming me into the ground. It was so frantic I couldn’t move myself. It was gnawing, ignoring the pain the silver caused it, hoping I guessed to turn me.

Finally I locked my armor, made it stiff so it would flail. As the beast swung me my arm acted as a pendulum, blade still extended and cut into its back. It roared in pain once more, stopping its unending thrashing, and I retracted the blade from my other arm. I thrust my palm forward, a small opening appearing. A moment later pure energy fired out, point blank into the wolf’s face. It thundered back, snout singed by energy fire. I could already see the burns healing. I hated werewolves, anything that wasn’t silver damage was going to heal.

The beast seemed ready for another attack though, and swiped at me. I didn’t expect it to act so quickly, nor did I expect it to swipe my legs. I rolled along the ground after I fell, trying to keep my distance. But as I tried to stand I found I couldn’t. One of my legs seized dup, I could see sparks when I looked down.

“Problematic.” I said aloud. Suddenly the wolf rose, at much less of a disadvantage than I. It stalked slowly, moving and watching me carefully. It wasn’t just a beast of savage rage, it was thinking. This wasn’t right. Werewolves were not intelligent, they were pure murderous rampage. I would have to examine this when I returned home.

The beast moved closer, waiting to see what I would do, or what I could do. I needed something fast, something fatal, and something unexpected. Its jaws opened wide, finally seeing that I was vulnerable. It crouched back, ready to leap, red eyes slanted. I kept silent, waiting. Then it jumped, teeth ready to rip out my throat, and I thrust my arm forward. Instantly a blast struck its chest and sent it carrying back to the ground. I wasted no time and pressed the ground with both hands, blasting the ground beneath me and launching myself into the air. As I fell atop the beast I unleashed my blades once more and stabbed down. I struck just under the base of the neck, the wolf calling out in anguish. Without pause I sliced apart, removing the head and silencing the wolf. Instantly its body started to disperse, not flesh but data. I tapped my chest, just over my heart. A slot opened and light shined bright, all the data bits flowing into it.

My body went tense, this was always an odd experience. I had not yet learned how to properly deal with it. It didn’t last long, and I got to experience the world around me change. The electricity flowed, disintegrating every tree and stone. In place there were pine trees and moss covered stones, butterflies and rivers. The lightening covered them, then uncoiled and flew off like serpents. It was not unpleasant to see.

Surrounded by this I could relax, and look over my leg. It was simple enough to repair, a few commands and the slots opened for to examine the wires and bolts.

“Incoming message.” I heard. I allowed it through. My eye put a holographic display before me, easier than just having it inside my head. A woman with tanned skin and dark hair appeared. Most would call her beautiful, perhaps more so than most. I didn’t have such emotions, a perk of a partially computerized brain.

“Emperor, we have a contract.” She told me.

“I am on assignment Admiral.” I explained. “I will need to settle it first.”

“It’s a dragon.” She said, and I could see am arrogant smirk. “I don’t need your help, but I figured you’d like to join in.”

“I need to repair my leg. Werewolf.” I told her, explaining the time I’d need to arrive.

“You’re getting rusty, you should try the new chrome scrub they made.” She said, I sighed. She liked to joke, I didn’t. “We’re on the English server, go fig. I’ll send the contract data now. Think you can be here in ten minutes?”

“Twenty.” I informed. She rose her brow, a challenge. “Fifteen, account for English transfer time.”

“Good, you can see why I’m the best. Commander will be there as well.”

“Large dragon then.” I said, just receiving the data.

I cut out after that, nothing more needed to talk about. I repaired my leg and rushed off to the town. I had a new contract to follow up on. Data was everything, people become in on the net and lived by it. I collected monster data to prove I killed the beasts. Money was made data in this world. I was a cyber-hunter, for me data was paramount. Now, I hunt once more.