Sword Art Online was Cardinal, and Cardinal was Sword Art Online. This had been true for as long as Kayaba first activated the AI. Everything that happened in the game, every line of code, passed by Cardinal.
Which was why hearing his creation say that something unexpected had happened did not fill Kayaba with positive feelings.
After making up an excuse, he disbanded the party he was commanding, and used a crystal to get back to the KoB headquarters, where he quickly made his way to his private quarters.
Once the door closed behind him, he quickly dismissed his disguise of Heathcliff, retaking his true and favored form: an average looking, tired programmer, with bags under his eyes and a lab coat that looked like it hadn't seen an iron in forever.
The room also changed, furniture vanishing, wooden floors and walls melting into a sphere that enveloped him. A chair rose from the ground, and a dozen screens sprung to life as he sat on it.
"What is it, Cardinal?"
Kayaba turned his gaze to the left, where a fuzzy holographic screen had taken a vaguely humanoid shape. It didn't have any features, and its body was a translucent blue with lines of white code running through it, it's size about that of a young child.
[ A series of cascading deviations have occurred. ]
"A series of cascading deviations have occurred."
Cardinal echoed itself, the same sentence appearing in written form over its body, and spoken in a robotic voice coming from where the mouth would be in a real person.
Kayaba frowned slightly, his glasses perched on the tip of his nose.
"What deviations?"
[ Former MHC001_SUPPORT_MODULE_03.2, new denomination // YUI // has triggered automatic responses from core operating systems. ]
"Former MHC001_SUPPORT_MODULE_03.2, new denomination // YUI // has triggered automatic responses from core operating systems."
"I am aware. I have ordered you to observe it and report any anomalies to me. What has changed?"
[ Subject YUI's sense of self has grown, affecting decision making protocols. Evaluating... My base programs are uncertain if subject YUI should be treated as part of the Sword Art Online system, a Non-Playable Character or a Player, resulting in contradictions. Please advise on how I should proceed, master. ]
"Subject YUI's sense of self has grown, affecting decision making protocols. Evaluating... My base programs are uncertain if subject YUI should be treated as part of the Sword Art Online system, a Non-Playable Character or a Player, resulting in contradictions. Please advise on how I should proceed, master."
Kayaba blinked languidly. This was not a new inquiry from Cardinal. But Yui was too unique for the game developer to put any 'shackles' on her.
"Continue observing. The STL Project has been pushed forward by nearly 11 months already thanks to what I've gleamed from Yui's evolution. Keep documenting everything."
[ Yes, master. ]
"Yes, master."
Kayaba nodded to himself.
"What about the cascading deviations you mentioned?"
[ Subject YUI's continued interactions with players have reactivated portions of the previously scrapped Player Emotional and Psychological Support System. As per your previous orders, I have manually deactivated all such instances as they happened, but MHC002_SUPPORT_MODULE_03.2.06 has shown an increased number of responses during each system rotation. ]
"Subject YUI's continued interactions with players have reactivated portions of the previously scrapped Player Emotional and Psychological Support System. As per your previous orders, I have manually deactivated all such instances as they happened, but MHC002_SUPPORT_MODULE_03.2.06 has shown an increased number of responses during each system rotation."
Now Kayaba frowned. This was not something he wanted. One Yui was enough for his research as of now.
But at the same time, he couldn't bring himself to order Cardinal to delete it completely. It could become valuable data later.
"Keep as you've been doing. Set a secondary parallel system and copy Model 2's core data to run simulations. What else?"
[ Subject YUI's distress responses. ]
"Subject Yui's distress responses."
Distress responses. Such a cold, clinical way to describe Yui collapsing on the ground screaming in agony at seemingly random intervals.
Kayaba still wasn't sure what triggered it, but his best guess - and he hated guessing - was that it was caused by Yui's root systems clashing with the new identity she had established. Almost like an amnesiac who had suppressed traumatic memories and entered shock each time they resurfaced.
So far, the 1st floor had been what triggered Yui's worse 'panic attack'. It had been during her fourth visit to the Town of Beginnings - and yes, Kayaba counted and cataloged each one, as well as every little aspect of Yui's life.
Something had made Yui collapse in Kirito's arms, crying and yelling herself hoarse, until she passed out - then she spent the next two days nearly catatonic. Needless to say her parents and the other Reavers had been terrified.
"What about them?"
[ Subject YUI's repeated distress responses have triggered the automatic lockdown failsafes. ]
"Subject YUI's repeated distress responses have triggered the automatic lockdown failsafes."
For the first time, Kayaba showed emotion beyond amused disinterest. His pupils reduced to the size of pinpoints, and he sat straighter in his chair.
Lockdown failsafes. His last safeguard for if everything went to shit and he ended up trapped in SAO - not just his mind, like it was now, but truly trapped, with no access to his administrator privileges or Cardinal.
If he became just another player.
His safety measures for such occasion consisted of two - and only two - lockdown failsafes. Physical control panels through which he - or any other player - could directly access Sword Art Online's mainframe.
He would have preffered to make it something only he could interact with, obviously, but there was no workaround if he wanted to be 100% sure he wouldn't be locked out of his own system.
Which was why, beyond the anonymity of their very existence, the two control panels were hidden in places only Kayaba knew, and protected by powerful guardians.
One of those panels stood at the very top of Aincrad, beneath the throne on which Kayaba planned to one day be sitting as he greeted the heroes who would come to challenge SAO's last boss - him.
As for the second panel, Kayaba had put it in the exact opposite end of the flying castle. It was hidden in a secret dungeon underneath the Town of Beginnings, and protected by an overwhelmingly powerful guardian - a discarded template of the 95th floor boss.
The dungeon itself was something that was only meant to become available after a strict set of conditions had been met - conditions only Kayaba knew.
But clearly, something had gone wrong.
"Which of the failsafes was triggered? Or was it both of them? And how?"
[ Upper lockdown failsafe remains untouched. But the pathway to the lower lockdown failsafe, the Dungeon, has been opened. For now, it is still following the pre-determined routines, only appearing during the full moon as per the external lunar calendar. Two players have entered it and been eliminated by the guardian. ]
"Upper lockdown failsafe remains untouched. But the pathway to the lower lockdown failsafe, the Dungeon, has been opened. For now, it is still following the pre-determined routines, only appearing during the full moon as per the external lunar calendar. Two players have entered it and been eliminated by the guardian."
Well... shit. If Kayaba were a cruder man, he would say this was a clusterfuck in the making. He hated when players died in ways beyond his designs. The Dungeon shouldn't have opened for 2 dozen floors still - preferably never. Those two players should never have been in it. Their deaths were unfair.
And Kayaba hated unfairness.
"Draft a set of countermeasures, starting with an upgrade to the guard NPC's AI. They should subtly keep players away from the entrance when it's opened, and I wish to be notified immediately."
[ I can attempt a soft reboot, sir. I calculate it has a 96.12% probably of reseting the deviating factors back to standard parameters. ]
"I can attempt a soft reboot, sir. I calculate it has a 96.12% probably of reseting the deviating factors back to standard parameters."
Kayaba shook his head.
"No. I will not risk affecting Yui's development on random chance. Do as I ordered."
[ Yes, master. ]
"Yes, master."
"And erase this avatar. It's unnecessary."
Cardinal's form flickered once before disappearing. A new screen popped up in front of Kayaba.
[ Yes, master. ]
"Good. Now, proceed with the ordinary reports."
Cardinal did just that, and Kayaba sunk back into his chair, simply reading and assimilating every piece of information, like he always did.
But a small part of his mind was always turning over the ever-changing variable that was Yui.
He needed to see it - her - himself.
...
"Huh? What are you doing here?"
On the list of people Drifter expected to visit the Reavers at their home, Heathcliff was pretty much at the very end.
But he nodded a greeting and stepped aside anyway, allowing the other man inside. His personal relationship with Heathcliff may be cordial at best - or perhaps neutral was the best adjective - but the KoB guild leader was still a frontliner and a vital part of the Assault Team.
Though, Heathcliff's usual cold expression did make him fear something was wrong.
"Is someone in trouble?"
Heathcliff inclined his head as a silent greeting to Vallerk and Ran, who were heading to the backyard for a spar. Both looked curiously at him, but didn't ask when they caught Drifter's gaze over his shoulder.
The spearmaster, meanwhile, led the KoB leader to the living room, summoning a steaming pot of tea with a few clicks.
"There is no problem. I simply have some questions in regards to tomorrow's raid strategy that I wish to clear up."
Drifter frowned minutely, but nodded.
"Ask away."
And ask Heathcliff did. They spent the next hour talking about the plans for the raid, and though Heathcliff's inquiries were valid, if somewhat pointless, Drifter couldn't help but feel there was something more going on.
Finally, when they had ran out of topics to talk about, and yet Heathcliff showed no signs of getting up and leaving, Drifter was forced to ask:
"Okay, Heathcliff. Why are you really here?"
The KoB guild leader looked up, meeting Drifter's level stare with one of his own.
"A deal."
Drifter narrowed his eyes.
"Of what sort?"
Heathcliff interlocked his fingers and rested his chin atop of them. His face stayed expressionless as always, but Drifter knew the man well enough to detect the subtle hint of superiority in his gaze, and he didn't like it at all.
"Forge Master Lisbeth, possessor of the Volcano Forge Unique Skill. I would like to employ her talents."
Drifter snorted.
"Are you seriously trying to poach someone from me? Not even dressing it up nicely either."
Heathcliff didn't flinch.
"Redblade Klein's Battoujutsu. PoH's unnamed Unique Skill. Black Swordsman Kirito and Untamed Storm Yuuki's Dual Blades. My own Holy Sword. Your Infinite Spear. Lightning Flash Asuna's Mirage Burst. Shadow Blossom Akari's Shurikenjutsu. Indomitable Knight Nautilus' Indomitable Might. Dragon Tamer Silica's Spirit Friend. Songstress Yuna's Soundless Melody. Hero Orlando's Mourning Sun. Aero Huntress Sinon's Arrow Path. And Forge Master Lisbeth's Volcano Forge."
The gray-haired player listed each of the Unique Skills unhurriedly. Drifter's brows furrowed deeper with each word he spoke.
"There are 13 Unique Skills in Sword Art Online, Broken Spear Drifter. Only one of them is a lifestyle-type: Volcano Forge. I believe the reason for that is that this is the most important of all Unique Skills. Perhaps the most important skill of all."
Leaning back on his chair, Drifter wished he had chosen something stronger than tea before they started this discussion.
"I see your point. Still not going to hand Liz over to you. Reaver's Requiem has never restricted her from taking orders from other guilds, and the Assault Team always had priority. Correct me if I'm wrong, but well over half of the Knights of the Blood Oath's frontliners are geared with equipment crafted by her, no?"
Drifter was underselling it actually. There wasn't a single person in the Assault Team who didn't have at least 3 pieces of equipment on their person, be it armor or weapons, carrying Liz's brand.
The other guilds had their own blacksmiths, of course. But Liz was so far ahead of them it wasn't even funny. And, taking into account the kind of battles the Assault Team got on daily, no one was willing to put their pride over safety and refuse her pieces.
So, Drifter honestly had no idea what Heathcliff was hoping to accomplish here.
And he would keep on not knowing it, because at this moment the other player broke their staring contest by flicking his gaze somewhere behind Drifter.
"Black Swordsman, Lightning Flash."
"Heathcliff. Vallerk said you were here."
Drifter turned his head and saw Kirito and Asuna entering the room, each holding one of Yui's hands. They had taken their daughter to play treasure hunt on the 4th floor after they came back from the day's grinding.
"Hey, guys. How was it? Did you have fun, Yui?"
"Uhum! Lots and lots of fun! Look what I found, Uncle Drifter!"
Yui ran to the spearmaster, throwing herself onto his lap without a second thought, and opened the little red-and-white backpack Yuna had gifted her to show a collection of tiny gems and crystals. Each was worth only a couple tens of cor at a vendor, at most 100 coins, but to the little girl they were a real treasure.
"Well done, Yui. They are beautiful!"
So focused on praising his niece, neither Drifter nor her doting parents noticed how Heathcliff's gaze took a decidedly calculating edge, never leaving Yui.
"Very well, Broken Spear. I shall take my leave now. Please think on my proposition."
Abruptly standing up, Heathcliff didn't even wait for an answer before turning on his heels and walking out.
Drifter quickly gestured with his head for Kirito to follow him, ostensibly to be a good host and show their visitor out.
When the young swordsman came back, Drifter had already passed Yui back to Asuna, who then took her upstairs for a bath. Kirito sat across from him, a frown marrying his expression, one which Drifter mirrored.
"What was that about?"
The spearmaster shook his head.
"I have no idea."