"WHAT?!" A girl shrieked and tumbled out of her bed. She scrambled for the clock and found it to be 5 o’clock in the morning. Manic laughter ensued from downstairs. The girl grumbled and cursed under her breath at the prank and sat on the bed. The sudden jolt from her dreams would prevent her from sleeping again, so she sighed and began reading her book again. It was called Earthbound and she loved it so far. She was currently at the part where Jeff had just saved Ness and Paula in the Threed graveyard. She lived in the area formerly known as Threed, now just another section of the metropolis Fourside. She was just getting to the Zombie Paper part when a new voice was heard from downstairs.

"Bianka! Get ready for school…for real this time." The last part of the statement was said in an annoyed voice. Bianka put her book down onto her nightstand and stretched. She turned on her TV and got another shock.

"Hello, I’m Suzanne Hunter, reporting for ENN, Eagleland News Network. I’m here in the outskirts of Runham, at the site of a huge explosion that occurred during the night. The police investigative team has turned up only metal shrapnel. Luckily, no one seems to have been around at the time of the explosion. We’ll have more as it turns up. Back to you in the studio, Tom…"

Bianka sighed in relief. She hated it when people got hurt. She quickly put it behind her and got properly dressed for another boring day of school.

"And the tape comes around this drum and the transistor…no, no, NO! That’s all wrong!" The young man slammed his fists onto his worktable. He sighed angrily and shoved his project to the side. The man grabbed his can of soda and took a long drink. "I don’t know why I can’t figure this out, it’s supposed to be so simple! I mean, it’s technology from over 100 years ago!" The young man grumbled to himself and decided to take a break. He turned on his TV.

"Hello, I’m Suzanne Hunter, reporting for ENN, Eagleland News Network. I’m here in the outskirts of Runham, at the site of a huge explosion that occurred during the night. The police investigative team has turned up only metal shrapnel. Luckily, no one seems to have been around at the time of the explosion. We’ll have more as it turns up. Back to you in the studio, Tom…"

The young man turned off the TV as a knock came to his door. A delivery man stood at his stoop. "Hello, are you Mister…Kenneth Packer?"

The young man gasped. "Yes, yes I am!"

The delivery man handed him a wrapped package and gave him a form. Kenneth placed his thumb onto the pad and it scanned his print. The screen flashed green and the delivery man nodded before turning and leaving. Kenneth slammed his door and ran to his worktable, already tearing the paper to shreds. He set it down, ripped the rest of the wrapping off, and looked at his new book.

"Finally…the VCR manual!" Kenneth began to read the ancient text.

In an ancient country far from Eagleland, where technology has yet to reach, a young boy is coming to age. His father smiles with pride as the boy is given a uniform and sword. The old man giving him the gifts nodded. "You have finally passed your training, Shen. Wear this uniform and weild this katana with honor. The boy bowed.

"Thank you, Master, I shall." He turned from his master to his father and bowed to him as well. The father bowed in return and took his son’s shoulder. "You have finally become a warrior of Gunryaku, my son. You have brought much honor to our family." Shen smiled with pride in his heart.

"Father, I think I want to travel the world. See what has happened to it since Gunryaku closed its gates to it forever." The father blinked at the boy. "But, son, you are but a newly-induced warrior. Could you indeed handle the trip?"

Shen grinned. "Of course I could, Father! I have hope in my heart and am one with my spirit. I know I could do it." The father nodded after a moment. "Then so you shall do. But, you must not tell anyone of our homeland, or our way of life would be ruined forever."

"Yes, Father. I shall leave in the morning." Shen and the father walekd off for their home, the boy hugging his new equipment tightly.

Ein woke up with a start. It was the morning after the incident. He yawned and enjoyed the first few moments before he remembered what had happened. Then it struck him like a lightning bolt. He sighed deeply and dressed. "I’ll have to tell Dad today. I have to do as Jeff told me to do."