Memory Shard 1.03

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**Memory Shard 1.03** contains the third piece of lore on Prisma Dimensions, Neo Arcadia and the Hyper Scape.

## Story

“One more game?” Ace sent over the private channel.​

“I really shouldn’t. There’s a march tomorrow, and I need to be there early.”​

​“Don’t leave me here by myself.”​

​“What’s in it for me?”​

​“Hrm.” Ace went quiet. “You like okonomiyaki?”​

​“Yeah! My favorite thing I’ve tried!”​

​“I know the best place. My treat.”​

​“What a bribe! You’re a bad influence,” Javi giggled. “OK. One more game…”​

​They stood on the edge of the floating Lobby, the glittering streets of Neo Arcadia spread out like a million stars, a mile below.

He tilted his helmet to look at her. “Play hard or go explore?”​

​“Let’s explore.” She flashed a grin. “Keep it fun.”​

​Ultima Grace’s siren song rang clear: “Contenders, the match is about to begin. Get ready!” ​

​They were automagically transported to their deployment pods – claustrophobic little rockets that launched them down into the city.​

​“Where to?” she asked.​

​“How about the Limelight district?” He put a bright ping marker on the map.​

​“Nah, let’s try somewhere new.” She twisted the controls and angled her pod up. She put new coordinates on the map, marking an unfamiliar destination. Higher altitude than the norm. A tall tower, whose floors floated without supporting walls.

Their pods burst open. There was a moment of free-fall through the haze of the violet sky, before both landed on the precarious ledge. It was a tower open at all sides with a thousand-foot drop to the street below. ​

Ace peered down the center of the hollow structure, looking at the anti-grav bumper that would toss anyone from the ground up to their level in an eyeblink.​

“You know there aren’t any weapons up here,” he said.​

​“Sure. But also no one’s going to expect us up here this early. Wow, look at that.” She pointed to the Line, the industrial district on the horizon. It was lit up with fireworks – players blasting at each other with high-powered weapons.
“Quiet up here. Peaceful,” Ace said.​

​“Kind of a nice change of pace,” Javi said. She sat down, dangling her feet over the edge. “How are things going… out there?” She gestured vaguely, indicating the real world beyond Neo Arcadia.​

​Ace grunted. “Fine.”​

​“That good, huh?”​

​“It’s ok. Just my parents always on my case to help at the business. Do stupid stuff.”​

​“Well,” she said, “you gotta do what’s important. But speaking of important, you should come with me to the climate march tomorrow!”​

​He turned away, tracking a scattershot of explosions far below.​

​“I don’t know if I can. I have lots of chores tomorrow…”​

​“You just want to play more Crown Rush against the weak-face American servers.”​

​His silence confirmed his guilt.​

​“Besides, you owe me for hanging out with you tonight.”​

​“I do?”​

​“Yes!”​

​Nearby, the floating pod carrying Ultimate Grace whizzed through the sky. “Contenders, this district is about to collapse. Better get moving!” Had Grace had winked at her?

The platform they were on started to break up into polygonal shapes. “This was nice while it lasted,” Javi laughed.​

​“Into the mix?” Ace said, pointing down below where ant-sized contenders were fighting it out in bursts of fire and plasma.​

​“Órale! But remember you still owe me okonomiyaki!”​

​With that, Javi did a swan dive down into the fray, leaving Ace to catch up.