Real World...
North American Alliance- Greater New York Conglomerate
Queens District- Jingains Eatery
Ava fidgeted as she waited for her sister to show up. After everything that had happened and everything she had done, she was surprised to see her. She was happy Ailis wanted to see her, but Ava wanted better circumstances than another nuclear attack. It was the running commentary on every news agency around the world. Constant images from Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro constantly bombarded the view screens and TVs. The casualty count was constantly updated as well, and with four million dead and counting, it was the biggest loss of life since World War Three. No one claiming responsibility was adding to the mystique of the group behind it and the fear was ramping up because of it.
The remains of Brazil had turned into a police state, riots in the remaining major cities within South America were ramping up with worries that every city on the continent would be next. Finally after what felt like hours Ailis arrived and sat down across from her. Ava took a moment to study her. She looked healthier then she had been, but also tired. "Before you say anything, I have a couple of things to tell you." Ava promptly said before her sister could.
Ailis frowned but nodded and gestured for Ava to go on. "I am sorry for everything I have done over the last couple of years. I know it doesn't make up for everything, but I am starting to understand what exactly I have done to you and others. I understand I used you and so many others for my own benefit. I understand I hurt you badly. So thank you for coming and letting me see you. I wanted to call and reach out, but with everything that has happened, I was not sure that you would be willing to accept my apology or even listen to me. So thank you." Ava told her sister.
Ailis smiled sadly and tears gathered in the corner of her eyes, but she wiped them away. "I am glad I reached out too you. I am not saying all is forgiven, but with everything happening down south and with BlackRock's leaks...I had to speak to you here before I make my decision."
Ava stared at Ailis, the confusion was evident on her face and it made Ailis laugh. "You always did say following the gaming sites was too nerdy, but you should read exactly what has been leaked. Besides the bombings, these two stories are the most important going on right now. First is that whoever is detonating these nuclear weapons, still have thirty-four nuclear weapons left. It's enough to send humanity to the brink of extinction if we are very, very lucky. Meaning anywhere between one-hundred and two-hundred thousand will survive if they manage to detonate all the weapons. The climate will shift drastically which will kill most if not all crops around the world." Ailis explained.
"Which will lead to famine and more war among the survivors, killing even more people." Ava finished paling at the news. Ailis grabbed her hand squeezing it.
"Yes, but there is some good news depending on your perspective. BlackRock has also leaked that they plan on releasing a Patch that will allow people to upload their consciousness into Fate Online. It takes a minimum of three days with a seventy-five percent chance of success. The only major holdout on approving the patch is the North American Alliance leadership. Every other government supports BlackRock. Either way, they will be releasing the Patch within the next twenty-four hours and I wanted your opinion. I also want to know if you would be making the leap into Fate Online?" Ailis asked as she continued to hold Ava's hand.
The server took that moment to hit their table asking for their orders and giving Ava time too think. Once the server left, Ava met her sisters expecting gaze. "I am sorry that's a lot to take in and with everything I have had going on in-game, it's been distracting."
"What happened to you?" Ailis asked as she sipped her water.
"Well, I got assigned to the Loranan High-Elf family. I started out as Unfriendly within my home nation. It's been...difficult. According to the family Lore, Rebecca Loranan was a Queen and was supplanted by another because the former Dragon King fell in love with someone else. However, due to him not wanting to look bad to the greater High-Elf society, he set the Loranan family up as the bad guys. He then used that as an excuse to assassinate and kill most of the family before they fled the High-Elf homeland. So I have a political shit storm hovering over my head. People that want to kill me to keep everything under wraps. Others that want to know what I have on the Dragon King to use for their own ends, then kill me. Then some just want to use me for their own ends that will probably get me killed. So it has been a long couple of weeks." Ava told her while she chuckled ruefully.
"So, I have had plenty of my own medicine and I will never forget it. What's worse is I cannot get any help on this quest chain. Every part so far has required that I do it alone. However, that's the least I can do after everything I have done." Ava told her as the food arrived.
Ailis smiled and chuckled at Ava's predicament. "Well...that's interesting. Now, please answer my question." Ailis prodded Ava.
Ava continued to eat her food as she considered what her sister had told her. She would look up the information for herself after they were done eating to confirm it, but if she was right..."So I face death by nuclear weapons, famine, and probably another war among whatever survivors. However I can take a chance and possibly live forever within a digital world, but I can also die because the transition is not one-hundred percent fool proof...I will take option B and take a leap of faith with a chance at living as opposed to almost certain death." Ava told her causing Ailis to smile.
"Good, I thought you might take the leap. Your survival instincts are too strong to ignore the chance. Now, what are my chances of getting you to move south into the Empire of Night?" Ailis prompted causing Ava to give her sister a sad smile.
"Once I have completed this quest chain, I will consider it, but I have to finish this up. I have to pay for my choices. I have to try to save the Loranan family if possible. Either way, I will visit and maybe settle down there afterward. Now, let's finish this lunch. I'm starving." Ava told her and for the first time in a while, she saw pride in Ailis's eyes at what Ava had told her.
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North American Alliance- Greater New York Conglomerate
Black Spire- BlackRock HQ
"Are you ready Mr. Mitchels?" asked his press secretary. Anthony looked to make sure his clothing was straight before nodding his head. The secretary ushered him through the door as she headed for the podium. The so-called 'leak' that had come out of BlackRock had blown up in a big way. It was causing massive problems for the President of the North American Alliance and his PR rep urged him to make a statement to the press and public. Now he would be going live before the press and hopefully they would not crucify him and demonize BlackRock for everything they had done to get here.
While the Press Secretary read off the speech that had been made by the PR rep, Anthony studied the room and the people in it. Fear and hope were the two most common emotions he could see on the faces of the various press. Anthony could feel it also, humanity was staring in the face of death, the question would be if they could pull this off and spit in his eye or not. Suddenly he heard his Press Secretary call him for the second time. Anthony gave her an apologetic smile and strode up to the podium. "I am sorry folks, its been an overwhelming few days so I will be taking it slow. I hope none of you mind that?" a resounding chorus of 'no' and 'no problem' was called back.
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"Good. First off, I want to thank you all for coming. I know everyone here is a bit overwhelmed by everything going on in the world currently and I am hoping you all will help me put some stability back into it. So as you are all well aware I don't want any mudslinging or name-calling or blaming of anyone. This is about the steps BlackRock is taking to try and save humanity. If you cannot stay on this subject you will be asked to leave and forced too if you cannot be an adult. Now...who has questions?" Anthony asked and a sea of arms slowly rose above the group of people.
Anthony gave them an encouraging smile and pointed to a man in the back, "You, back row. Brown sports jacket with a blue and red tie. Whats is your question, sir?"
The older man slowly stood and smiled, "Thank you. My biggest question is why? Why did you do this?"
Anthony considered the question before responding, "If you guys look at my history it will be easy to find. For those who do not know it, when I was six most of my family died in the nuclear explosion that destroyed Seattle. I survived the radiation exposure and promised myself that I would do everything in my power to make sure that humanity would survive. That I would try to prevent anyone from facing the reality of having a family wiped out in a blink of an eye. That is what I dedicated the last forty years of my life too. That is why I founded BlackRock and it drove the development of Fate Online and the world of Ithea." Anthony responded before pointing to another reporter.
"We have read all the rumors online. Can we get some cold hard facts? What are our chances of uploading?" the next reporter asked.
"You want blunt and honest, no sugar coating it?' Anthony asked them and they all nodded. 'Ok, there are about forty news reporters and bloggers in here. If all forty of you jumped in, ten of you would not make it and would die. The technology has a seventy-five percent chance at success. If we had more time to perfect it...we might make it better. With everything going on, their is just not enough time though. I apologize, but these are the cold hard facts." Anthony informed them as he pointed to another reporter.
"What are the chances of Fate Online of being hacked?" was the next and probably most important question.
"Zero. Fate Online is a closed system. The governing A.I.'s and supporting A.I.'s have been tested multiple times over the years against military-grade A.I.s with military-grade hardware backing them. None have ever come close to hacking or compromising Fate Online. Ithea is safe in Adam and Eve's hands. If I did not have the confidence and faith in them, I would never launch this tech." Anthony responded before pointing to the next hand that caught his attention.
"Yes, can people upload using a headset or is it only FIVR Capsules?" the Blogger asked.
"FIVR Capsules only. Now for those who cannot afford them or do not have access to them, BlackRock facilities will be opening around the world once Patch Thirteen goes live. If people want to find the nearest site, they can go to the BlackRock web site and look there. I urge people to remain calm, the process takes seventy-two hours to upload a single person, so do not worry if there is a line. We will be processing people as quickly as we can, but I urge everyone to have patience." Anthony responded to the surprised reporters.
"Will that include the North American Alliance cities?" another reporter asked immediately.
"Yes. BlackRock is not forcing anyone to make the jump into Fate Online. We are giving you the option. If you choose not to take the chance, that is entirely up the individual person." Anthony responded and glared at the reporter who shied away. He knew it had been a borderline question.
"What about the Arc's and Project Noah?" another reporter asked.
Anthony smiled at her before holding his hand up to his Press Secretary before she could say anything. "Miss Martinez, I would love to know how you got that information...but I already know. How do you ask those questions while deepthroating the President Miss Martinez?' Anthony asked while he studied her. She quickly paled and tried to sink in her chair. 'Tell me, can I get a quick poll. Who thinks its ethical and completely non-partisan to have sex with your subjects then write about them the next day? By a show of hands please." Not one person raised her hand.
"Well, Miss Martinez video and audio recordings are being released to your news station and all your competitors proving that this is exactly what you do with your so-called 'sources'. I have no idea who recorded them, but I thought it was a responsible thing to do as a citizen to forward them on too the responsible people. I also sent an advanced copy to the president's wife. I believe the last woman he got caught fucking ended up in Antarctica for a year if I am not mistaken." Anthony quipped out.
Suddenly she jumped and Anthony could see her communicator was lighting up. The Security A.I. of the building had intercepted the call and they could answer it if they wanted too. Her eyes bulged and pleaded, but she had started this Anthony thought as he accepted the call for her and it ran through the buildings sound systems allowing everyone to hear it. "Miss Martinez phone, how can I help you today?" Anthony asked as he accepted the call.
"Anthony...Mr. Mitchels I am sorry for Miss. Martinez's actions. Those questions are completely out of line and due to her actions, she obviously is terminated immediately. I don't think even a small-town newspaper will hire her and all her stories will have to be recalled and an apology extended to the greater public. I understand if you wish to hold us responsible." Anthony smiled and chuckled, he knew Anthony had them bent over a barrel.
"Don't worry about it, Bill. You have personally busted my balls a few times over the years and I have never held you or your news station accountable for it. Miss. Martinez crossed the line today trying to cover for her fuckbuddy and trying to discredit what BlackRock is trying to do by bringing up programs that BlackRock has nothing to do with. I would also go so far as to say, those responsible for that program, from its inception, will be releasing information within the next hour and that Miss. Martinez destroyed her career and credibility for nothing. However, it's not surprising the President did something like this, it's not the first time he has gotten caught leaking highly sensitive information while fucking someone that was not his wife.' Anthony replied as he gave one last statement. 'Now I want to thank everyone for their time and consideration, but we are going to be busy for the next couple of days as I am sure you are all aware. I hope you all have a good day and get home safe.' With that, the meeting broke up as the reports and bloggers scrambled to get out of there to finish up one of the hottest new stories going out.