Wildfire

[FEB 27 2015]

Noah was one of the first people outside of Bon Air to hear about the defeat of stage one, the news had found it's way to a fourum within 12 hours of the event. There had been other instances like this since the first few days of the program, but they had all been revealed as fake or some attempt at a scam. Without fail NERV themselves would step in and address any attempt at forgery directly and in a timely manor.

When Noah read the initial post he was rightfully skeptical, did they even install simulators in juvenile detention centers? He wasn't so sure. Noah kept an eye on the post, looking for some indication from NERV, but none came. This delay was unusual as most of the fakes had been flagged within a few hours, yet still nothing.

Finally a post from NERV on one of their official channels, surely debunking the fake. To Noah's great surprise however, they did the opposite. Someone had truly completed the first stage. Surprise quickly turned to a sinking feeling as Noah got the impression that he was being left behind. Any kind of progress on tampering with or even learning about the simulators was very slow, but he wasn't going to stop now.

[FEB 28 2015]

Jacob's face went white as he read the headline on one of his group members phone.

-FIRST STAGE BEATEN BY JUVY INMATE-

As he read the article Jacob started to get discouraged. He'd been working at this tirelessly since it released and hadn't even managed to perform better than some criminal cooped up in a cell. Harrison, the chubby boy with curly hair holding the phone pocketed it, unlike Jacob he was smiling.

"Somebody finally beat stage one! It's actually possible!"

Jacob looked at the UV reflective stars on the arcade floor

"And it wasn't us."

Harrison noticed Jacob's demeanor and punched him on the shoulder

"Come on dude, one of us has gotta get it... you haven't done your run yet right? Let's go."

Jacob looked up to his taller friend and put on a small smile

"Alright."

The two walked over to the large white egg and got in the short line to take their turn. Jacob thought about how it must feel to be the first person in the country to do something so many others couldn't.

[MAR 1 2015]

Naomi smiled when she heard the news that someone had finally cracked the first stage, this meant it really was possible. She'd expected to struggle because of her general lack of experience with video games, but found it odd that nobody around her seemed to be doing much better. Naomi had been going to her public library to practice every chance she got, and found that her method of visualizing moves was very effective for getting the simulation to do what she wanted. There was still some disconnect in her timing though, which caused her moves to hit too early or too late and lose her the fight without fail.

"I'm almost there, I can feel it"

[MAR 5 2015]

Kara's simple life had changed, she'd suddenly become a celebrity within the facility as people heard what she'd done. Even from the contained environment of Bon Air, the news that someone had triumphed over the first level of the pilot trainer spread like wildfire. It hopped across the wires and everyone was talking about a mysterious juvenile delinquent pilot within a few days.

News crews showed up to Bon Air and were given heartfelt talks about the lengths they go to for rehabilitation, but never access to the famous pilot. When asked Kara had implored the Warden to keep her anonymous, her fame within was already too much, the last thing she wanted was international noteriety. Kara hated the fame, but wouldn't let it stop her from persuing such a life changing opportunity. She took a deep breath in her cell.

This too would pass.