Episode 7-Ender's Game (3)

I was in my supposed "home" and I was sitting on my bed. Valentine was comforting me over the loss of my monitor. The character appeared in the body of Abigail Breslin, who was the original actress.

(I don't really care about the monitor though.)

Within the novel, it is stated that the monitor can actually read the thoughts of the person it's implanted in; the novel also states that the authorities have access to the monitor itself. For me, the loss of the monitor was a blessing. Sadly, it came with a caveat. Peter could do anything to me now.

(Let's see... the second chapter of "Ender's Game" began with two disembodied voices talking, and how they liked Ender's way of dealing with Stilson.)

What I did was cruel, and abnormal for a six-year-old child. But the adults who were watching me this entire time actually approved of my method, and compared my actions to Mazer Rackham's.

(They may be thinking, "Ender has the critical thinking skills to deal with tough situations, and he can identify hierarchies, and how to topple them." Also... when I think about it, all of the adults in Ender's life act like Constellations.)

If my memory served well, the military viewed Ender as a potential savior, and would use him as a commander to fight against the Formics: the alien race that tried to conquer Earth. They would train and use Ender, without any regard for his happiness. They would watch over him, and use him as a means to an end. Just like the Constellations of Star Stream.

"Hey, Ender, let's play a game!"

Sadly, my subway train of thought was interrupted. Someone barged into my room. It was my older brother, Peter Wiggin, who was portrayed by Jimmy Pinchak in the original film. The actor seemed younger though; he looked like he was eleven.

(In the actual novel, Peter is four years older than six-year-old Ender....)

[Please respond to properly continue the simulation!]

"What game are you talking about?" I asked with my pubescent voice.

"You know which one. Buggers and astronauts," Peter said sinisterly.

"Do we have to play that game?"

"Yeah. You be the bugger," Peter said.

I sighed out. I read the novel. I knew which game Peter was talking about. He called it "Buggers and Astronauts." I stood up. Peter threw a mask towards me, which resembled an ant's head. He donned an astronaut helmet. The game "Buggers and Astronauts" was a game of pretend, where two people would fight.

It meant that I would have to fight Peter, who was older, stronger, and faster. I lunged towards him. I wasn't Ender Wiggin, who was afraid of his older brother. My name... it was Ethan Nakamura. Peter wasn't my brother, and I was a teenager in the body of a child.

Long story short, I thought I could win this fight. I tried to activate my skills and stigma, but this message appeared:

[All private attributes, skills, and stigmas are unusable in the simulation! Please use your innate talent to clear the hidden scenario!]

This was the last message I saw while standing upright. Next, I was pinned to the floor, while Peter sat on my feeble body.

"I could kill you without anyone knowing, Ender. I could simply lie, and make it seem like an accident. I could crush the air out of your lungs with my knee," he threatened.

I felt Peter's knee dig deeper into my back.

[Constellation "Secretive Plotter" ponders the next step of your plan.]

[Constellation "Savior of Corruption" is interested in the corruption of Character "Peter Wiggin."]

[Members of the Nebula "Black Cloud" wonder if you will kill Peter Wiggin.]

As the breath was being crushed from my small body, I began thinking.

(Is this what Stilson felt? As I killed the character, the boy?)

My own memories and past began to resurface. I remembered the feeling of fear, and unfairness of being beaten by someone stronger. I saw my mother's face, and some of the bullies from my neighborhood.

[Fragment of the 4th Wall is suppressing the negative memories!]

[Fo cu s.....]

All of sudden, the memories began to fade away, as if they were simply erased. I saw the system message. I narrowed my eyes. This message told me one thing: the Fragment of the 4th Wall had access to my own mind. This information was... disturbing. It also showed how powerful Fragment of the 4th Wall was; it could bypass scenario restrictions. The system message said private attributes would be unusable.

"Peter! Stop!"

I heard a female voice. It was Valentine. Peter stepped off of me, and I was finally able to breathe. My two older siblings began bickering. Sadly, it wasn't a normal conversation. I didn't know if the dialogue followed the book entirely, and I didn't care. As someone who read Orson Scott Card's novel, I already knew the contents.

(Valentine states that Peter shouldn't kill me if he wants to become a politician; he can't have something such as human murder be part of his past,) I thought.

I begin hearing Peter's voice again.

"Fine then, but you better keep on watching over him... I'll kill him eventually. When I do, you won't even want to tell the authorities that I did it. How would you betray your own brother?"

The conversation continued. I couldn't help but feel afraid, but I knew Peter wouldn't kill me. If the simulation proceeded correctly, then I would go to battle school, and I would grow up to the age of thirteen without any external issues.

"Haha!! I'm just messing around," Peter said jokingly.

After he said that, Peter left.

(He's probably going to torture some animals,) I thought. (That's actually part of his character.)

Shortly after, our parents came home. I saw what they looked like, but their faces didn't register with me.

(Within the novel, Ender can't relate to his parents at all, and doesn't feel a lot of emotional attachment to them.)

After our parents came home, we had dinner. I went through the regular motions of life. I brushed my teeth, and went to bed. I simply lied there, with my back aimed towards the door. I wanted to go to sleep, but it was hard with all of the system messages coming in.

[Constellation "Secretive Plotter" has sponsored 200 coins to Incarnation "Ethan Nakamura" for the interesting scenario.]

[Constellation "Deity of Sleep and Hypnosis" wonders if Incarnation "Ethan Nakamura" will have nightmares.]

[Constellation "Savior of Corruption" is interested in your scenario.]

(Turn off system messages,) I thought.

After I used that system command, the incoming messages faded away. My mind became foggy, and I was about to sleep, but I heard something. It was the opening and closing of a door.

(It's Peter....)

I heard approaching footsteps. I felt afraid again; I stopped breathing, and I could hear the thumping of my own heart.

"I'm sorry, Ender," Peter whispered. "Y-you're my brother, y'know. I didn't want to hurt you. I love you."

After Peter said that, he left.

(I remember that part of the novel. Ender actually cried after Peter fell asleep.)

I didn't feel like crying though. But... I did feel alone. I was afraid of the simulation.

(Will I have to live my life as Ender Wiggin until the end of the novel? Is this why the reward is a Legendary Fable?)

When I saw the rewards for this hidden dungeon, I knew I had to take it for myself. But... perhaps I made a mistake. Perhaps, the only reason why I would receive a Legendary Fable was this: I would actually have to live the life of Ender Wiggin.

(TWSA came to life. A novel that I read became reality, and I went into a simulation of another novel....)

I laughed inwardly. If anyone saw this, or read about it, they would comment things such as: "That's pretty meta," or "A novel within a novel!!"

I was afraid. I just met George, and I considered him to be a comrade, but in retrospect, we weren't together for too long. Just a few days. Now, I had to part from him. How was he faring in his movie simulation?

[Th ere ' s no po in t in th in ki ng too mu ch.... Just sle ep for now...]

(Fraggy? Is that you?)

[Yep... I ' m th e on ly on e who c an t a lk to y ou...]

(How long will I have to be here?)

[I ma gi ne the w or st poss ib le sc en ario... Con sid er the Ti me Dila tion....]

My blood ran cold.

(Time moves differently here.... This means that time might move faster here, while time outside of the simulation may move normally,) I thought.

Everything made sense now. There was a reason why the reward for this hidden scenario was a Legendary Fable. When it comes to gaining Fables, there are a few requirements. The contents of the Fable itself, and time.

(It is well-known through Star Stream, but older, mythical Fables are much more powerful.... Usually, it's a Fable that has aged overtime, or a Fable that took a long time to acquire....)

It seems that my situation was the latter. If this was the worst possible scenario, then I would have to spend 6-7 years of my life as Ender Wiggin.

[Time Dilation is in effect!]

[All participants of this simulation will become part of the Time Dilation, and will age differently than people outside of the simulation!]

[The scenario is currently inaccessible to viewership by Constellation or Dokkaebi!]

[All Administrator access will be given to the Dokkaebi that broadcasts and owns the Incarnation that has entered the simulation!]

(It seems that Herald can control this hidden scenario now....)

The worst case scenario was confirmed. I would have to live in this novel simulation until I reached the proper end of this story. I was afraid again. What happens if I became absorbed in this story? What happens if I lost my sense of self, and actually think I was the Andrew "Ender" Wiggin?

[Th at w on ' t ha pp en....]

It was Fragment of the 4th Wall. They were speaking to me again.

[Y ou w on 't bec ome a ch ara cter of th is st o r y... I'll pro tect you...]

These little messages danced in front of my eyes. They reassured me. Despite the situation, I was able to smile.

(Thank you.)

I finally went to sleep.