The Little Eagles

Japan has been the center of virtual gaming from the past ten years. And with it, it completely changed society at it's core. Gaming industry has taken hold to many households. Normal jobs has withered away by the rampage of virtual currency. The fantasy world of MMORPGs has become the second Earth, a hole of possibilities to exploit. Many seek a hiding place,to escape the fragility of life. To forget about the problems of economy and politics. And it's all thanks to a conglomerate corporation that sought to invent a new form of life and exploit the industry. BETA Industries has conquered the norm of society at large. Developing an ingenious device known as Portal Eye, your own consciousness could travel beyond the threshold of data. One could say that the brain is achieving travel to countless dreams. The device has soared beyond imagining. Many sought opportunities to try video games and escape into a new world. That's what Niko envisioned himself with his sister, but that dream was all sham.

Niko has become a guardian to protect. After his parents died due to his father's dealings with the underworld and failing to pay up in a virtual gaming duel, the shady organization sought him like rats and killed him and his mother in cold blood. His memories continue to haunt him, fearing that one day, he could fall like his father.

Near the Shibuya district, he sprints to his small house, covering himself from the torrential rain. After taking up his slippers and leaving them outside, he calls his sister.

"Hiroko! I'm home."

A joyful sound charges down as a little girl with flowing dark hair embraces his brother.

"You are back!" She smiles as she kisses his brother in the cheek.

"I'm here, Hiroko."

"I saw the match on the TV. You were awesome, Niko."

He makes a small smile and allows Hiroko to guide him at the living room. The small TV box emits the image of the recently game tournament.

"I never thought that the Blood Dragons will be defeated like this, brother. After all, they are the number one gaming team in Japan."

Niko looks away at his embarrassment from winning a failed promised prize and tries to make a smile. A smile that could soothe her for a while.

"They were nothing for us. Did you see Otomo crashed their feeble armies to dust?"

She chuckles. "I did. It was awesome."

He looks at the light bulb at the ceiling and blinks, almost dying from the power supply. His house was no longer the decent household before his parents died. Already, he is losing money from countless bills from the electric company. Money was useless. And soon, power will shut down if he doesn't make a deal with the company for an extension. In the end, his divided prize money could only relief him for at least two weeks. And his job as a librarian was already lowering wages. He must swallow this predicament. He must not falter from his dear sister. He must be strong.

"Hiroko, would you like something to eat? I'll prepare one for you."

"For me? What about you?" She asks, her head tilting with curiosity.

He turns his head to the kitchen. "Don't worry, I'm not that hungry." But he knew his sister could see the false words he was saying. There was a shortage of food in Shibuya.

"But, big brother, we could share a little."

He takes out a pan and cooks, while remaining silent for a while.

His mind started to churn, still drawing a plan of the inevitable escape of his home. He needed to go away from the Slums. Away from the grim reality of his home. Perhaps he could travel to the Metropolitan sector. Perhaps he could find a job and sustain his sister. He will sacrifice his own body to achieve it. But how he could pull this off?

He serves a well cooked chicken with a small batch of mashed potatoes. Hiroko smelled it and she smiles gleefully as she cuts with her knife and fork. Niko could only feel satisfied to see her sister eating.

"Say, Niko, how much did you win at the competition?"

He swallows hard, avoiding to meet her eyes. "Enough for us two."

She remains silent but she lowers her fork and knife and touches his hand. "You can tell me. I don't care how much. The TV said 50,000,000 dollars. Is it true?"

"It is not important. What matters is that we have enough to survive. You and I, we would ascend like the top elitist who rule the Metropolitan sector. No one will stop us, you hear?"

She nods, still unconvinced of his brother.

"Hiroko, do you remember when I told you that we will live in safe and comfortable houses once I gain enough money? Very soon, we will go on a journey together and leave this hole. We will finally be freed from the Slums. Think about it. At long last, I will spend my time with you and take care of you. And I will protect you no matter the cost. I will no longer play virtual gaming."

He convinces himself that he could achieve this. By doing so, he could face the true reality of his world and make amends of his past. A past that haunts him by his father's obsession of gaming. His relentless teachings of strategy and gambling. He wanted Niko to become like the elitist. The rich and powerful. But he didn't pose that objective in his mind. No, he could only reject his father's dream, which in turn cost his parents.

The next day, it was a cold and cloudy morning. Ichigo, Otomo and Juro called Niko to gather on a nearby cafe shop, where Slum kids gather around to buy cheap coffee. But it is also a place to gather to play virtual reality games to gather credits to be used on the shop.

Ichigo spots Niko and waves at him. His friends were gathered on a large table, away from the gaming area. Otomo scratches his thin beard as he smiles and passes a coffee cup to Niko.

"Niko, we have a surprise for you." Ichigo winks as she swipes an envelope to the center of the table.

Niko opens the envelope and reads the contents. His eyes widen with surprise.

"From BETA Industries? No way." Niko laughs nervously.

Juro leans forward. "It's true. The company already delivered letters to us. Dude, we are invited to the company to test a new MMORPG virtual gaming in it's final stages. A world ready to be explored and exploit. They offered us one million dollars in exchange for beta testing the new program."

Ichigo brushes her hair and nods. "BETA Industries has been the top notch of the gaming industry. It's because of our victory at the competition that their eyes are now on our side. This could be our opportunity to pursue our dreams. We could develop our own society."

Niko raises his eyebrow. "What do you mean by that?"

Otomo lays his hands on the table. "It's simple. BETA Industries want us to start a new life inside the virtual game world. A new world where we can develop our own society, our laws, trade, settlements. Imagine the countless opportunities we could do there."

"Otomo is right. Imagine what currency we gain inside the game. We could gain those credits and transfer real money to our accounts. We can survive our daily lives in Japan."

Niko crosses his arms. "You do realize it's a Beta testing game."

"What does it matter? We still going to gain that sweet money of participation. Besides, we only need to stay online during a month for them to gather data."

"A month?" Niko was concerned. He scratches his head, thinking of his sister. Staying for a month in a virtual world wasn't very interesting for him. Perhaps in the past, he would have accepted. But, he promised himself that he would leave gaming and spend his time with his sister.

"What do you say, Niko? We are getting ready to drive over there and experience it ourselves. This is a golden opportunity that we have been waiting for. And we can't forget our esteemed 'Augustus'."

But Niko shook his head. He stares at the cold coffee. "I can't. I promised my sister that I will leave gaming for a while."

They were silent for a moment. "But…the company insisted you have to come. They want our group. They want the Little Eagles, just like old times." Ichigo insisted.

"No. I made up my mind after we won that competition. I won't spend my time on a Beta testing world. I rather do something else. I want to stay with my sister. It's my fault I lost track for time and left Hiroko in the dark. Please understand."

Juro and Ichigo exchanged looks, worried that their last piece of their partnership will fall apart. Otomo rejects and snaps at Niko. The crowd started to whisper.

"You think you could jeopardize the Little Eagles? What about our commitment? Our sacrifices? Have you forgotten we are Slums? We have to ascend like the elitists and win. It's the only way to survive."

"Otomo, please…"

"No. You might be good with your skills as gamer, but this is our life's threads. We made this group for us to survive the Slums. If you won't commit to the Little Eagles, then I_" He stutters. "We remove you from our group."

Niko understood Otomo. A hard headed man, he disliked anyone who rejects their primary goals, especially him. Once, he rejected ten players after joining their group because they were busy with their lives. For him, gaming was his priority. And who can blame him. After all, gaming currency is the new law. The money that it is accepted in the current economy.

"No! Otomo, you are mad!" Ichigo barks at him for banishing Niko.

"We must make a vote." Juro tried to find a solution. Otomo was still furious at Niko, spitting words of disloyalty and betrayer. Their own friends, stand now on the other side of the river. And Niko was let in the cold. Ambition can bring terrible things in life.

"I accept your banishment." Niko stands up and looks at Otomo dead in the eyes. "There's no need to spell foul words in my presence, Horseman." Niko calls him in his old nickname from his past when he made a character with the face of a horse. "My family comes first. Tell BETA Industries to find another player for the Little Eagles."

He glimpse one last time to his old comrades. He remembered the time they met when they participated in a small friendly match with Slum kids, playing chess game in real life. Naturally, Otomo was the Knight. Ichigo was the Queen, and Juro was the bishop. They quickly make friends as they witness Niko and his tactical brilliance defeat the other Slum kids who were more challenging. After they defeated them, they committed to themselves to create a group. And a final commitment for them to never break. To stay together and win matches, so that one day they could live in better, more humane residential districts. A grand dream to find in the Metropolitan district of Tokyo. Thus, Niko chose the name of the group 'The Little Eagles', a name to symbolize their dream of ascending to a better state of life.

His heart pulls heavy in his chest as he retreats from the coffee shop. In his pocket, he retrieves the letter from his house, with the BETA Industries logo. He already read the contents in his house, but was hesitant to throw it away. Perhaps there was opportunity, perhaps he could spend just a month diving in a virtual world from a powerful corporation. Perhaps his dream will have come to full reality, if only he accepted the chance. But his reminding past of his father, drove him to ripped apart the letter into pieces.

There's always another way. And he would sacrifice everything to remain safe and sound with Hiroko.