"How long does she have?" Sinon asked, with a raspy whisper that suggested she had spent the length of the journey to the village crying.

"Around 6 days." said the nun from the Axiom church. "It's a 3 day journey to the mountains, so if you run, you might barely make it there and back in time.."

"I can't fly in that air." said Yuuki, stroking Mikoto's head gently. "The air is dense and flattens my wings."

"Yuuki." said Kirito. "You can stay with Mikoto, I think a party of 3 would get there quicker."

"You really think so?" said Eugeo. "I don't know if we can keep a steady pace if we're doing three at a time.. and if one of us is faster then the other, we might tire the other two in the party right out."

"WHO FREAKING CARES!?" Yuniko roared, slamming her fist down on the bedside table. "Wh-who freaking cares...?"

Yuniko turned her head, and shocked everyone with massive amount of tears that were pouring out of her eyes.

"Y-Yuniko!?" Tempo stammered from where he was sitting atop a shelf, his snail eyes seemed to wiggle a little in shock. "Y-you're crying!!"

"C-cry!? I never cry!" said Yuniko. "Th-those bastards think they can take a master's sist- I mean student!!! THEN I'LL TAKE EM ALL TO HELL!!!"

"Yuniko." said Kirito. "Sorry.. but you can't come.."

"WHAT!?"

"Look at yourself.. you're a wreck!" said Kirito sternly. "Plus whenever you're not Scarlet Rain you can't do a thing to defend yourself!"

"So!? I'll use Symbiont Half form and I'll be good for a few hours!!"

"This is a 3 day journey on which we could get attacked any time." said Kirito. "And both your half and assault forms take time to recharge, I'm sorry, we don't have time to argue, but you're stay-"

"No! She's coming.." said Sinon firmly. She picked up the surprise Yuniko and sat her on her shoulders. "I'll look after her.. I'm a long range type anyways.. as long as I keep my distance, we're safe!"

"Sinon.." Eugeo murmured. "She'll slow you down.. I'm sorry, but.."

"It doesn't matter if she slows me down!!" Sinon pulled a bag to her and zipped it open.. pulling out the Silent Assassin Rifle that had once belonged to the infamous Death Gun. "That's right, the super gun that can fire from a mile away.. if you think anybody will get within a mile of us without getting a smacking to... then get ready.."

"Y-you don't have to.." Yuniko began.

"Just be quiet and accept it when somebody's trying to help you!" Sinon growled. "We've both got a stake in this.. Mikoto's your student and she's my cousin! No, she's more then that, she's a sister to me!! Kirito.. either you take us both, or we go off on our own!!"

Kirito looked like he was half exasperated and yet half in admiration. "Fine.. we don't have time to debate.. come on.. we pack only our weapons, we'll kill what we need to eat along the way."

"I hope that doesn't mean you're considering eating things raw." Eugeo said. "I'm taking the tinderboxes."

"In any case, our steaks are mostly going to be rare." said Kirito. "We only stop when we need to.. we're going to save Mikoto.. whatever the cost."

___________________________

"Tokyo is a bit different then I remember it.."

Mikoto's voice spoke out from the laptop as Haru plugged it into an electrical outlet to charge on a table at an outdoor café.

"Yeah.. maybe it's because you stay in Academy City so long, and it just seems to change on you." said Haru. "When's the last time you visited Tokyo?"

"A long long time ago." said Mikoto. "When I was ten maybe. Most of my life has been in Academy City, and lately I'd visit Kawagoe city to see my friends.. most of them live there now."

"Really?" said Haru. "Then once you're 100 percent charged, we'll get on a train and go.. "

"Won't your parents be worried if you're gone for so long?" said Mikoto.

"My parents could care less about me." said Haru. "Though.. Kuroyukihime Sempai might get worried.. and so would Chiyu and Taku.."

"Kuroyukihime.. the Black Snow Princess.." said Mikoto. "Heh.. sounds like a nicely made VR username."

"Yeah." said Haru. "She prefers to use that over her real name.. say.. I have an idea.. it's kind of silly if all you can do is sit there inside of my computer.. let me try something.. But first we need to buy a Neuro Linker.."

"Neuro Linker?" Mikoto said. "That sounds familiar.. is it a new VR Diving Device?"

"Well.. it's not new exactly." said Haru. "Nearly everybody has one.. maybe Academy City is behind in VR gaming?"

"What kind of games can you get on it?" said Mikoto.

"You don't just get games.. you access the internet, monitor your health, pretty much everything.. " said Haru. "Plus there are many different VR worlds you can access at different servers around the world to interact with people.. you just need a custom Avatar.. I've got a few avatars saved up in case Chiyu's became corrupted.. hold on.. I just need to alter this computer a bit.."

As soon as the laptop's battery was charged, Haru picked it up and went to a nearby electronics store.

Mikoto's vision was limited since the web camera couldn't turn like an eye or anything. But she could see numerous boxes holding Neuro Linkers. "Whoah.. I've.. never seen something so small and handy.. It almost feels like I've been asleep for decades and while I slept, the world just advanced.. B-but that can't be true.. the Soul Translator speeds up the brain's perception by 1000 times.. s-so.. yeah.."

"Don't be scared." said Haru. "No way anybody could survive in a VR world for that long.. I mean.. the survivors from Sword Art Online barely made it 2 years.. it's impossible for you not to be okay somewhere."

"Thanks, that makes me feel better." said Mikoto. "Anyways, can you get ALfheim Online or Gun Gale Online on the Neuro Linker?"

"That's like the most available games on it.." said Haru. "It's amazing how long those games lasted though, I must say.."

"How is it amazing?" Mikoto said. "I mean.. ALO's only been out for about-"

"Oh, how do you like this color?" Haru pointed Mikoto's webcam at the box of the latest Neuro Linker that was colored gold with black highlights.

"I know it's not a really feminine color. "said Haru. "But you kind of sound like a person who prefers something a little more like this.."

"I do like pink, but this looks good too." said Mikoto. "Actually it's the color I wear the most in VRs so it fits. Sure, how about I give you my credit number and then you can use my money to-"

"No.." said Haru. "it's fine, but it's dangerous to give your credit information to other people.. I'll pay for it. Since everyone has one, it won't be too expensive.."

"Are you kidding me?" said Mikoto. "If a Neuro Linker is as amazing as you say it is.. it would have to be way more expensive then a Amusphere."

"Actually, Amusphere's aren't sold anywhere anymore."

"Wow.." Mikoto muttered in surprise. "I have GOT to visit Tokyo some time."

Haru brought the laptop and the newly bought Neuro Linker to another outdoor café and plugged a usb cord from the Neuro Linker to the computer.. he began typing a few commands in. "Okay.. this is going to be a little tricky.. I've never linked somebody to Neuro Linker from another VR device, but I know a basic gist of it.. alright!! I've got your ID.. what do you want your username to be?"

"Railgun is fine." said Mikoto.

Haru nodded and typed it in. "Password? You can change it on your own once I've got you linked.."

"Imagine Breaker, two caps, one space." said Mikoto.

"All right." said Haru. "You've got it.. hold on while I link you in.."

Suddenly, Mikoto felt the environment around her change.. and she was hovering inside a large bedroom with posters of kittens, plushies everywhere, a pink bed, and piled on with throw pillows.

"Nice.." said Mikoto. "But I can't move.."

"You haven't got an avatar yet.. hold on while I upload it." said Haru. "It's going to look like you based on data gathered from your head, and then it will add it's own custom data to it.. so.."

Mikoto could suddenly feel her body.. she stood in the middle of the bedroom now, and looked at herself in the mirror. She looked like herself alright, except she was wearing a long sleeved yellow jacket hoodie with a large hood. The costume had two pointed black tipped ears, and a yellow thunderbolt shaped tail sticking out of her backside.. Mikoto had two red spots on her cheeks that seemed to spark slightly.

"Am I a Pikachu!?" Mikoto said, blinking.

She looked at the television screen in her room where all the Webcam's vision could be seen. "Eh.. wow.. I see you were right.. I look like me.. except.. this.."

"Wow." said Haru, as he looked at Mikoto on his screen. "So that's what you look like Misaka-san.. so now you're free to move around, and when we need to, we can go into the VR cafes to search for information and let you stretch your legs."

"Thank you.." said Mikoto cheerfully walking around and shaking her avatar's legs around. "This feels much better."

Haru smiled. "Okay, I've called a friend who might be able to help along the way, she should be here in about-"

"HAAAARUUUU!!"

"YAAAAGGGHHHHH!!!!" Haru jumped and nearly fell out of his chair. "Ch-Chiyu! Don't scare me like that!"

A girl with hair that looked around the same color as Mikoto's and a cheerful face as well as a hair clip shaped like a cat, smiled. "Come on Haru! I do that like, most days now.. whose this friend that needed our help?"

Haru pointed at the computer screen. "That's her.. this is Mikoto Misaka. Like I said before, she needs to find her friends."

"Well hello Misaka-san!!" the girl waved at the screen. "Haru's already told me a bit of what's going on, I'm Chiyuri Kurashima! It's nice to meet you!"

"It's nice to meet you too Kurashima-san" said Mikoto

"There's something familiar about her.." Chiyu murmured, scratching her chin. "And it's not because she's using my spare Avatar customization.. hmmmm.. you said she was an esper didn't you Haru?"

"She's a Level 5, that's probably why she looks familiar." said Haru. "Anyways.. Chiyu knows plenty of places around Japan, and with the Academy City Monorail, we can maybe search plenty of places. Just tell us where you want to go first.. though, I think we were planning on going to Kawagoe city first right?"

"Well.. most of my friends on a school day would be attending in Academy City." said Mikoto. "And then after a long day, they go to a place call the Dicey Café.. why don't we looking in those places?"

"Good plan!" said Chiyu. "Though before we go, why don't we order some drinks? We're in a café after all.."

"Oh.." Mikoto said, her face falling. "Right..."

"Oh I'm sorry Misaka-san!" said Haru, suddenly realizing why Mikoto looked crestfallen. "Here.."

Haru typed in a few commands.. and on the bedside table of the virtual room, a mug of coffee appeared.

"Would you like cream and sugar Misaka-san?"

"No, it's fine!" said Mikoto, taking the mug. "Just glad that I can move around and drink something.. this Neuro Linker stuff is incredible.."

After Chiyu and Haru finished some coffee of their own, they made their way to the Academy City Monorail in Tokyo station..

Haru would sometimes steal glances at the laptop in his lap as he and Chiyu road the train for a while. It felt odd to know there was somebody inside such an old device. Somebody who looked like she might be middle or high school age, who didn't seem to know what Neuro Linkers were.

Though the laptop was closed, the web camera on the outside cover of the laptop was still on. "Arita-san? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, I guess I've never actually carried around somebody's mind around inside a mobile device before." said Haru.

"Just be careful Haru!" said Chiyu with a wink. "Don't want Kuroyukihime-sempai getting jealous!"

"Wait.. this is our stop!"

At first, everything seemed fine, they managed to get through customs security just fine, and disembarked onto the platform..then as soon as they made their way into the street, Mikoto let out a cry of surprise. "Wh-what is this!!?"

Flying futuristic craft flew through the air.. the Automated Busses now possessed no tires and looked sleeker and bullet-like, and levitated down the streets.

Instead of the usual cylindrical cleaning drones, there were humanoid robots holding vacuums in their stubby hands walking around..

Large mechs marked "Police" on their black and white chests levitated through the streets. and the buildings.. what on Earth!? It looked cleaner, their architectural designs seemed odder, with more geometrical sequences and smarter more stable designs. And there were docking platforms up on the taller floors for the strange flying vehicles.

"Wh-what's wrong Misaka-san?" said Chiyu. "Don't you see stuff like this all the time.. I mean.. it is pretty wild I know.. but you live here.."

"It.. it wasn't like this!!" Mikoto cried out. "I mean.. I know Academy City is 30 years ahead of everyone else.. but.."

"Misaka?" said Chiyu gently. "Academy City is actually 70 years ahead now... it hasn't been 30 years ahead since 2028.."

"Since... 2028..." Mikoto sounded like her entire world had just plummeted around her. "B-but it's year 2026!!! It has to be!!"

"G-give me a moment here!" Chiyu stammered, as if suddenly realizing something. She swiped her hand through the air, which made Haru guess she was searching through the World Net with her Neuro Linker. "Oh goodness.."

"Wh-what?" Haru asked.

"I knew the name sounded familiar." said Chiyu. "40 years ago.. the 3rd ranked Level 5, Mikoto Misaka, aka the Railgun.. disappeared without a trace.. along with several other friends, her cousin, and the number 1 ranked esper Accelerator.. Misaka-san.."

"NO!! That's impossible!! I can't have been asleep for 40 years!!"

"Misaka-san.." said Haru. "It's 2065! And.. wait, Misaka-san is right Chiyu! There's no possible way for somebody to survive fulldiving for that long! Even if they survive on hospital fluids!!"

"Unless." said Chiyu. "Unless she isn't the real Misaka.. maybe Misaka-san, maybe you're an AI emulating the memories of the real Misaka-san.."

"Or.." said Haru. "Or maybe you are the real Misaka! You're just a fluctlight that's been asleep!"

"Fluctlight!?" said Chiyu. "What's that?"

"Misaka-san told me that it's pretty much the soul, the human consciousness put within a virtual world!" said Haru. "Her body might be gone, but her soul is still around! What do you think Misaka-san?"

"I-impossible.. impossible.. impossible.. impossible.. " Mikoto's voice was sounding more and more frantic as it spoke from within the laptop.. impossible impossible im... wait.. m-maybe it's that.. maybe.."

"Misaka-san.." said Chiyu, sounding gentle again. "Calm down.. we'll figure this out.."

"THAT'S IT!!" Mikoto shouted, causing both Chiyu and Haru to jump. "TIME TRAVEL!! If Yuniko did it.. and.. she said she was from 40 years in the.. maybe.. oh my gosh! Yuniko is in this time.."

"Y-Yuniko!?" said Haru. "Do you perhaps know a Yuniko Kozuki!?"

Mikoto stuttered a little. "Y-you know her...? I-I know her.. she's.."

"She's been missing for 3 days!" said Chiyu. "we all play this VR game together.."

"A VR game where she calls herself Scarlet Rain right!?" said Mikoto. "I remember. She told me in there she was called the Red King and stuff... she and Tempo... "

"Where is she?!" said Haru. "Please Misaka-san! We have to know! She's our friend!"

"She is... is.." Mikoto suddenly let out a scream of pain.. "OOOOWWWW!!!"

"Misaka -san!?" Haru flipped open the laptop frantically. "S-somebody's hacking the Neuro Linker.. it's activating all the sensory functions!!! Wh-who would do that!?"

"I would.."

Darkness blew into the sky.. and exploded.. throwing back passerby, and causing others to run away screaming.. as he walked out of the darkness.

"I don't know who or what could have opened that temporal rift and linked your Fluctlight through the portal.." said Krux as he walked through, drawing his black samurai blade. "But.. I can assure you, the scourge of Viros Symbiosis ends here!!, even if I have to slay any ally of yours that gets in my way!!"