Dylan finished recounting the story with a lost expression on his face as both Rose and Samantha were brought to tears. Dylan had no tears to spare for a past that had long since been experienced. The voice of the pilot came through the speaker telling everyone to put on their seatbelts. They were soon going to descend. Dylan was still lost in thought when Samantha was brought to tears. She profusely apologized to Dylan over and over. Dylan struggled to calm her down but it was eventually Rose who calmed her down. It took a while but she did calm down enough for Dylan to ask why she was apologizing. She answered," It's because it was me whom released that avatar in the interface of the game. I'm the reason why our mother was taken and why she might already be dead."
Samantha fell back to her tears. Dylan gave a sigh and said," Don't worry about that. I knew all about that from the very beginning so you don't have to worry about it."
" What?" Samantha asked," How did you?"
" I put it together on the scene but I couldn't have the heart to talk to you about it so I just put it off," said Dylan with a face of no remorse but warmth in the words.
Samantha heard his words and was about to ask something when Rose asked," What exactly was 'project TS'?"
" It was the AI created titled Tamaki Spearson, AKA a copy of mother, who was supposed to run the entire interface of the game as its god, or something close to that. It is that same AI that is constantly building the universe of Universe Clash. Also the same interface was enforcing the rules set by my parent's team. The team I'm in now is the same team my dad was on and we are still searching for her," Dylan explained.
Everyone on the plane heard this and started to murmur. Dylan ignored this and gave a sigh. He pulled out his card and placed it away and looked out the window. The plane came down for a landing. Rose was about to ask something when Dylan said," It took my mother because if it managed to understand her character's code, it would be able to bring the Digiverse to reality. Time on that is slowly dwindling and we are not sure how much time we have but if it does happen, anyone who has not ever played the game will die. I'm even sure something bad will happen in this launch event but who am I to speak. Let us see what fate has in store for us."
The plane touched the ground as it slowly came to a land. All the while the atmosphere of the plane was no so grim even death would be averted to enter. As soon as the plane stopped, Dylan grabbed his bag and got off, not bothered with waiting for Samantha. He stopped outside and pulled out his phone to check his call log but he could not find the call he received before leaving Japan. He took the chance, though doubtful, and entered his mobile online account of Universe Clash and there it was. The call, everything, was happening in game. So Dylan began connecting the dots when Samantha tapped him on the back. He turned abruptly nearly spooking her and Rose. Apparently she was calling out to him but he was too far gone to even hear her. Dylan realized that everyone on the team was looking at him with worry so he decided to put on his mask. His iconic fake smile that got him through life for five years. Then a party bus stopped in front of them and the door flung open. Dylan did not hesitate and entered the bus immediately. The others were obviously appalled but followed after him. The found him having a drink while on his phone. He was genuinely relaxed so they simply shrugged and entered. Samantha and Rose saw this scene and were not in agreement. Dylan was never one for loud noises and that same Dylan was seated comfortably in a bus with loud music blasting. They sat on either of his sides taking drinks of their own. They watched him carefully but all he did on the drive to the expo was adjust his characters abilities and customization. Nothing was oof on the surface and he was good at hiding his internal affairs.
The bus stopped at New York city Dome. It was already decorated for the event and countless people were entering the event. The sun was already setting but it cast an alluring shadow over the dome. The team got off the bus and security surrounded them instantly. When the crowd finally noticed who had arrived, they tried to swarm him. Especially the girls. Dylan flashed his famous his smile and some of them even passed out. Rose was not going to accept this but what could she do. Dylan turned around and called for her to lend him her arm, all the while holding out his hand like a knight. Jealousy erupted in the crowd when they noticed her. The world already knew Dylan was dating someone but that did not deter them from wanting him. Gold diggers and the heart throbs, he was a whale in a sea of clownfish. Rose fearfully took the hand and found herself locking arms with Dylan. Before she could even recollect herself, Dylan started to walk into the event. Security was being worked to the bone but Dylan moved on. Just so you know, the others were not left alone. They too had a fanbase with a substantial number of dedicated fans. Samantha kept close to Dylan knowing some of her fans, the creeps and weirdos, would try something in that crowd but at least Dylan's fans could keep her safe knowing she was his sister.
In the building, the team was taken to a room in the back where they changed to outfits that promoted their gaming company. The expo itself was yet to be opened to the public but all the gamers were already in. Stalls and gaming sites were littered all over the dome like ants in an anthill. Once all the fifty gamers, minus Samantha, were ready and set for the event, the gates were open for the public and in they came like school children leaving school on summer break. This is where Dylan had a premonition saying all hell will break loose that day.