Space Paranoia (Kingdom Hearts 2) in Gamer's Gaming

The Road So Far…

Sora, Donald, and Goofy have won victories and faced drawbacks in their war against the Heartless and Organization XIII. The last few hours have been no different. The trio faced a drawback when they returned to Twilight Town after some time away to find out that Kairi had arrived there only a short time ago, only to be kidnapped by Axel. Hayner, Pence, and Olette filled Sora in on the details. Saddened though he was, Sora pressed on and, before returning to Hollow Bastion, won the Cerberus Cup in the Underdrome. Sora returned to Hollow Bastion, first returning some of the lost pages to Pooh’s book, jogging Pooh’s memory to add Rabbit and Eeyore back to it, then was told to go find Leon. Inside Hollow Bastion’s castle, the Committee had found Ansem’s computer. On top of probably having information about the Heartless and Nobodies, it may also have information on the dark realm where Riku had last been seen and which Kairi had been dragged into by Axel. The trio also found out that King Mickey was present and accounted for. The trio made their way to the castle, running into Cloud and a girl named Tifa on their way. However, it was Leon who showed them into the room. In his zeal, Sora awoke the Master Control Program of the computer and, after a brief interaction with a small blue creature, the trio was placed “under arrest” by the computer, who digitized them and sucked the trio into the world of the computer. What will happen to the trio inside this digital world? Will it lead them any closer to some of the answers they seek? Only a trip through the computer will tell…

Now…

Sora awoke, laying on the ground, and found himself dressed in an outfit with glowing blue lights. As Sora examined what he was wearing, Donald called out to him. Sora saw Donald and Goofy being marched along by a group of digital Heartless. Sora told them to show those Heartless who was boss, but a man with red lights in his suit appeared beside Sora, casting a stern look down on him. Sora asked who he was. The man said that he was Commander Sark. Sora laughed at what he thought was a Heartless commander, but Sark simply told him to observe. Suddenly, Donald and Goofy starting shaking as if they were being electrocuted as their suit lit up all sorts of colors. Sora quickly said that Sark was the boss. He understood. A short time later, the trio found themselves in some sort of containment room. Sora wondered what kind of world this was. A man behind them said that they were in the mainframe computer system. A computer system for processing data. He explained that this system was a copy of one created by a corporation called ENCOM. The original program had been destroyed, but this copy had been acquired by another User. The new User had customized and updated the program, renaming it “Hollow Bastion OS.” He had used the system for town maintenance and to advance his private research. The man in the room introduced himself as Tron and explained that he was a security program, but now he was under arrest, the same as the trio. Sora, Donald, and Goofy looked baffled. Sora asked if either of them had understood any of what Tron had said. Goofy, as confused as the other two, suggested that maybe they should just introduce themselves. Tron figured that, with their configuration, they must be Users. Sora asked what Users were. Tron didn’t explain, but said that they should get out of there quickly. Who knew what the MCP would do to them? Sora asked what the MCP was. Tron spelled it out for him: the Master Control Program. The MCP controlled the whole system. If they idled here, they could be de-rezzed. Tron walked over to a screen and said that this terminal could have gotten them back to the human world, but the MCP had cut the power fifty microcycles ago. If they could somehow bring the energy core in the Canyon back online, they could power it back up. The problem was, they were stuck in this cell. They weren’t going anywhere unless they could unlock the energy fields. Unlock, eh? Sora drew his Keyblade and attacked the door, drawing out clusters that he used to freeze the lock and open the door to the cell.

As the group made their exit from the holding cell, in another part of the datascape, Sark asked the MCP why he had not simply de-rezzed Tron already. The MCP said that he still hadn’t located the password to the dataspace. Sark asked if he had considered a logic probe. After all, with the MCP’s processing power… The MCP said that it was out of the question. The current environment hampered the processing power needed for such an analysis. Suddenly warning klaxons went off. The MCP dismissed Sark, telling him to stop any remaining anomalies in the system, or else.

Back near the cell, Tron was amazed at Sora’s abilities, figuring he must have some unique functions. Tron offered to go with the trio to the Canyon. He figured they would need someone to interface with the energy core. Outside the cell, the group made their way onto a lighted platform that carried them up into the Canyon area. The group, with Tron’s help, accessed the energy core after finding the correct parts to access it. The energy core lowered into the floor and returned energy to the area! Sora asked if that was all it took. Tron said that it was, but asked if the trio might consider helping him with something. Sora said they would be happy to help. Tron, taken aback, asked if they wanted to know what he wanted first. Donald said that Tron had helped them. Now, it was their turn to return the favor. Tron figured they must be Users. Their actions were totally illogical. Tron suggested that they head back to the pit cell first. The group returned and Tron began working on the terminal. Sora asked what it was Tron wanted them to do. Tron asked if they would find his User. The User could give them the password to access the DTD. DTD was the name that his User had given to the dataspace. Copies of all of the original programs were stored there along with anything that was sensitive or restricted. Goofy asked if there was stuff there about the Heartless or Organization XIII. Tron figured that it was likely. Tron explained that a number of his functions had been appropriated the last time he had taken on the MCP. That was why he needed the password. If he could get inside the DTD, he could access his original backup program and restore all of his functions. Then, he would be able to put this system back to the way it was before the MCP got control and changed everything. That way, the system would be free for Users like them to use as they needed. Goofy asked if the MCP wasn’t one of those programs, as well. Tron admitted that he didn’t know and had no idea who had made it. Sora said that was okay. They would just find Tron’s User and ask him. Sora asked what the User’s name was. Tron seemed surprised that they didn’t know. His User was the user of this system: Ansem the Wise! Startled as they were by that revelation, it was the interference with the terminal behind him that drew Tron’s attention. He checked the terminal and said that it looked as if the MCP was on to them. Tron suggested that they needed to exit the system now. Sora stuttered, not sure how to tell Tron about Ansem, but Donald bumped in and said they would get him the password. The trio disappeared as they stood near the terminal.

Back in the computer room, Leon was doing everything he could to find out what had happened to the trio when, suddenly, he turned to find them being returned from the computer world. Leon asked where they had been and Sora did his best to explain what had happened. After hearing the whole story, Leon figured that meant that Ansem’s research data was off-limits unless they knew the password. But with Ansem defeated, that meant that trying to access the data was a wild goose chase. Suddenly, the group looked to the side and saw that they had been joined by the cute girl from before, Tifa. She figured she might as well take another look around. Sora, Donald, and Goofy chased after her, amazed at her persistence. Sora figured it couldn’t hurt for them to take a look around either. Perhaps the password was in the study. They owed it to Tron to try. Tifa lifted the picture of Ansem off of the wall and behind it, there was something written about the DTD! Tifa, however, had not found any clue to the whereabouts of the person she was searching for, so she walked away. The trio, however, had found something much more important. It was a sketch of the dataspace and it mentioned the Door To Darkness…DTD! But that still left the password to find, according to Leon. A small voice from behind asked if someone had said the Door to Darkness. The group turned to see King Mickey standing in the doorway! The trio called out to His Majesty, but Mickey put a finger to his lips and shut the door back out into the castle. Donald and Goofy both embraced their long lost friend joyously. Sora said long time, no see. Mickey shushed him again, saying that the Organization might be listening. Mickey asked why they had mentioned the Door to Darkness. Goofy explained that they were looking for a password. Mickey didn’t know anything about a password, but then suggested that they might be looking for some kind of code. Mickey said that the Door to Darkness could only be opened by the seven princesses. Leon rolled his eyes and laughed at his own ignorance before heading back toward the computer room. Mickey asked the trio what they were trying to do. Sora explained that, with the password, they could get access to Ansem’s research data. Mickey said that meant they may be able to find out where he was. Sora giggled and told him to stop joking around. They had already defeated Ansem. He knew that. Mickey crossed his arms and said that it would seem he had a lot of explaining to do. Sora said that he had a question first, but Leon had reappeared from the computer room and asked if Tron wasn’t waiting for them to return. The trio looked back and forth from Leon to Mickey. Mickey said that he wasn’t about to go anywhere. If the Heartless attacked, he would be standing there to fight with the rest of them. Mickey suggested that they could talk more after the trio returned from the computer world. First, though, Mickey said that he wanted to give Sora’s clothes some new powers. Mickey unlocked Sora’s Master Form drive! Sora thanked Mickey and said that they would talk when they returned from the computer world. On the path to the computer room, the trio found a new treasure chest. Intrigued, Sora opened it and received the Ukulele Charm, which would allow them to summon that little blue guy, named Stitch, into battle. With a lot more power at hand than the last time they took on Sark, the trio made their way to the main computer and sent themselves back into the computer world to help Tron save the system and find a way to access Ansem’s notes.

The trio arrived back in the datascape in the same place they had left, but with one noticeable difference: Tron was missing! Wondering where he was, Goofy walked up to the terminal. Noticing too late, Sora and Donald could only watch as Goofy touched the terminal and the screen began to flicker with images. Suddenly, all three of them disappeared into another part of the datascape. Goofy claimed that he hadn’t touched anything when the voice of Commander Sark rang out from everywhere, welcoming them to the game grid. Sark explained that they had been chosen to play a few games. Lose, and they would be subject to immediate de-resolution. Win, and…well, nobody ever won. Donald yelled out that they were not gonna play his games. Sark said that they had no choice, so Sora yelled at him to just get on with it. The first challenge was the Light Cycle. Sora had to fight off a host of challengers as he sped along on the light cycle. After a few turns, a purple tank appeared that took a shot at Sora, but Sora managed to dodge and the shot opened up a hole in the wall of the arena. Sora sped along and fought as he took a beating from the other bikes, but finally, he managed to make it through the hole in the wall, sending themselves back to the pit cell. Arriving back, they found Tron laying on the ground. Tron got to his feet, but did not understand why they were there. Sora explained that they had come back to give him the password. Tron asked why they hadn’t just transmitted the data. Donald asked how they were supposed to do that, but Tron collapsed forward, barely caught before he hit the ground by Sora. Sora asked if Tron was okay. Tron said he would be fine as soon as they accessed the DTD. Checking their abilities and inventory, the trio, with Tron joining them, left the Pit Cell and headed out to find the DTD.

As the group ran through the Canyon area, this time, there were all new Heartless out to try and slow their progress. One was called the Strafer and attacked from a distance with lasers. The group managed to reach the Dataspace, however, and access the central terminal. Tron asked them to give him the password. The trio gave him the names of the Seven Princesses of Heart. Tron entered all the names into the terminal and a green light emitted from the terminal. Tron said that they had done it! A voice sounded out, saying that the DTD was switching over from hibernation to active mode. The switch would take some time and the terminal suggested enjoying a game while they waited. Tron, however, panicked as something was up. Sora had no desire to play another game. Tron told them that it was no game. It was the security system’s final security routine and warned the trio to stay focused. Suddenly, Heartless began to appear all over the room. The group fought the Heartless and collected the data clusters that they dropped, using them to freeze the monitors in the area. Once all three of the monitors were frozen, the system completed its routine, allowing Tron to access the system itself. A glow of energy ran into Tron’s body from the terminal. Tron was elated: all of his original functions had been restored! He was as good as new! Suddenly, the alarms in the area began to blare out again as a beam of energy shot towards the platform the group stood on. All four of them managed to dodge, but the voice of the MCP said that finally, it had full access to the DTD. His takeover of the system was now complete! He figured he should have anticipated such a simple password, however. The MCP made some small noises as it found something it thought quite amusing: an emergency destruct program for the town! Tron, however, was having none of that. He accessed the system itself and used the terminal to change the password, locking out the MCP. He figured that would buy them a little time. Sora asked what was going on. Tron explained that the MCP was loading a hostile program into the I/O Tower. Donald asked what they should do. Tron said they needed to protect the User town. Tron suggested that they head to the tower. The group returned back to the Canyon and found a new pathway had opened that led to the I/O Tower area.

In this new area, the group ran into some new Heartless, the Magnum Loader, a speedy Heartless that attacked with the power of its single wheel, and the Devastator, a tank-like Heartless. The group soon made their way into the heart of the I/O Tower and saw a ethereal red fog floating down through the room in a cylindrical formation. Tron said that it must be total chaos outside. Donald said that he thought there was going to be trouble inside, too. The group returned to the tower’s hallway and found a giant digital Heartless floating high above. The MCP called out, saying that it was disappointed in Tron and asked why he insisted on allying himself with these selfish Users. Tron said it was because he wanted to. Something was written into his code that commanded him to do what was right. The MCP asked what command that might be. Tron couldn’t really say for sure. Sora told him that friends helped each other. That was all he needed to now. Suddenly, the floating Heartless blocked off the room and descended, ready for a fight. The Heartless attacked with lasers that swung and cut all over the room. However, Sora was well prepared for the fight. He launched into an attack after donning his Master Form and took out a large chunk of the enemy’s health. After the form wore out, Sora continued to attack and froze the Heartless after collecting enough of the data clusters that it dropped. Sora launched into, first, the limit attack he shared with Tron, followed up a short time after by his limit with Donald. The final attack ended the battle and the group stood victorious.

Back in the next room, Tron thanked the trio for helping him. With all of his functions up and running, he figured he had a chance to take the system control away from the MCP. He figured that it was what his User would want. Nervously, Sora explained that they had not gotten the password from Ansem. They had just sort of found it back in the User world, by accident. And, also, that Ansem had been their enemy. He still was, Sora guessed. Tron, standing up from the terminal he was working at, said that Ansem was also his enemy. The trio was taken aback and asked what Tron meant. Tron explained that Ansem had taken ENCOM’s original system and customized it for his own use. Tron was part of the original system, and Ansem had modified him, too. So that made Ansem his User, but Ansem was also the one who brought back the MCP. The Ansem that Tron first knew would never have done that. Tron apologized for not telling them sooner. Sora said it was okay, but now he was REALLY confused. Tron said that he didn’t understand it either, but that Users like the three of them would be the ones who finally figured it out. They had the ability to take illogical routes and still arrive at the answers that they sought. Tron told them that it was time to go, before the MCP started acting up again. The trio stood in front of the terminal and made ready to return to Hollow Bastion. Tron told them that any data they needed from the DTD could be accessed directly through his User’s terminal. He said he would keep a dedicated access channel open for them. He had changed the password, so they wouldn’t have to worry about the MCP for awhile. Sora was still somewhere back around “access channel.” Tron chuckled and said he knew Sora would ask. It was a very important link between their worlds. It was how they stayed connected. He told them that they, his new friends, were the password. Sora, touched, told Tron to take care. Tron wished them the same and told them to give his best to the Users.

As they returned to the computer room, Sora found himself in possession of a new keyblade, the Photon Debugger. Sora said that was that. Leon, smiling, told him to take a look at the screen. It showed pixilated images of Sora, Donald, and Goofy and said, simply, “Thank You!” Sora spoke softly and told Tron to hang in there. Leon asked where they should start. Sora figured the best thing to do was to access the DTD. Leon started punching buttons on the computer console. He said that Mickey had gone into town to check out the situation and that he would be back soon, so not to worry. Leon stopped when the computer asked for a password. The trio said that it was their names. Leon nodded appreciatively, saying that it was to the point. That had done it. They were in the DTD. Leon stood up and said that he had to go into the town. He had to see what that last shake up had done. Sora asked if he wasn’t going to look at the data first. It hadn’t been easy to get, after all. Leon said that he would be coming right back and suggested that Sora get started on loading the data and copying it down. It was just a few keystrokes. Easy, right? Sora looked completely baffled, however. Leon waved over his shoulder as he exited the room, leaving the trio to it. As they stood in front of the terminal, Donald asked if it had worked. Having no idea what he was doing, Sora told Donald that these things took time. Sora punched a few keys and was amazed that the computer was doing something. Goofy said it seemed like the computer wanted to know what they wanted to know. Sora decided to punch in Riku and Kairi, but the computer returned a data error. Sora slumped. Even the computer didn’t know. Sora wandered away from the terminal, so Goofy took his spot. Donald asked what he was doing. Goofy said he figured he would ask the computer about the Nobodies. It seemed as if the computer had some information, but the computer spoke, saying that the data was corrupted. Goofy tried searching for the Organization, but found again that the data was corrupted. Sora, frustrated, started banging away at the computer until a picture of a blond man with medium length hair and a goatee appeared on the screen. He wore a white lab coat and had a red sash around his neck. Mickey spoke from behind them, saying that it looked like they had gotten things working. The computer ought to tell them all they needed to know. Goofy told Mickey that the computer said that the data inside was all “ker-skuffled.” Sora said all they had gotten was a picture of some guy they didn’t know. Mickey jumped up in surprise. It was Ansem the Wise! Wait, what?!? That isn’t the Ansem we know. Sora asked if Mickey was teasing them again. Donald asked if Mickey had forgotten what Ansem looked like. Mickey was positive that the picture was of Ansem. Sora grabbed Mickey by the arm and dragged him from the room, asking if he could come along with Sora. They walked him back to the study and the picture of Ansem that Tifa had removed from the wall. Sora said that this was Ansem. Mickey realized that he had never finished explaining things earlier. Mickey said that the man in the picture was definitely the one who had tried to take over Kingdom Hearts, the one they had defeated. Mickey said, however, that what they had actually fought was his Heartless. He wasn’t really Ansem. He had just gone around telling everybody that he was. The trio deflated in anger. They had gone through all that trouble just to defeat an impostor? Mickey said he was, indeed, a fake, but one that still needed to be stopped. Goofy was just confused. If he was a fake, what happened to the real Ansem? Mickey said that was exactly what he had been trying to figure out. Ansem the Wise should know all about Organization XIII’s plans and what had been happening to the worlds. Mickey was pretty sure he would give them some help. Mickey said he had come close to finding him, once. Goofy scratched at his noggin and Sora moaned, saying not to tell him that there was more. He was lost enough as it was. Goofy, never failing to amaze me with his ability to understand exactly what was going on, wondered that, if this fake Ansem had become a Heartless, did that mean a Nobody had been created too when that happened? Mickey confirmed his friend’s thought and said that that particular Nobody was the leader of the Organization. The trio was thoroughly stunned. Mickey said that he knew he had met this fake Ansem before, somewhere, and he had seen the leader of the Organization, as well. It kind of felt like being around the same fella. Sora asked where he had met the fake Ansem. Mickey, however, couldn’t remember, but figured that the true Ansem must know the imposter’s true identity. That was why Mickey needed to find him and ask him about it. Sora was upset. It was because of this fake that Riku and Kairi….wait a sec. Sora asked Mickey if he knew where Riku was. Mickey slumped. He apologized, but said that he couldn’t help. Sora asked if he was sure. Mickey simply apologized again. Sora asked if he knew anything about Kairi and said that Organization XIII might have kidnapped her. Mickey snapped around. He apologized and told them that he had forgotten the most important thing in his search for Ansem the Wise: helping others should always come before asking others for help. They were safe and sound and free to choose. So there was no reason that they shouldn’t choose to help their friends. Mickey said that they should look for Riku and Kairi together. Suddenly, a tremor shook the entire castle. Guess something didn’t like that idea, huh? Sora said that the tremor had originated from outside. Mickey said that it looked like they had to start by helping out right here. Mickey ran from the room and the trio followed closely behind, ready to face whatever may come, together…