“That seems… ambitious Deebo.”
“Nonsense Yash, think about your worlds transition. What was the part that caused the most problems?”
“Umm… not having enough weapons?”
“What about you two?” Deebo asked looking at Millie and Kore.
“Our world was arid… the beasts swarmed to the only sources of potable water. When the pump systems started going out… lets just say it got ugly.” Kore said, His face paling at the the memory.”
“Our society was very, very advanced technologically. Everything was automated, so when Integration happened and all the sudden systems didn’t work… we lost almost everything right away. We didn’t even have any defenses that weren’t technologically dependent.”
Deebo nodded calmly as everyone analyzed what exactly had gotten wrong. “I have interviewed dozens of people whose worlds transitioned and everyone has mentioned specific problems. After much analysis, Millie and I deduced that one common thread that linked all of them together. “
“People don’t know what affects System Integration has on the world.” Millie added quickly, “This means that even advanced worlds with doomsdays cults preparing for the end of the world are caught off guard. When you squirrel all your supplies away, you aren’t planning on your ammunition suddenly becoming inert or worse, blowing up in your face when you try to use it.”
“I don’t see how that helps us guys.” Kore said with a shoulder shrug, “What are we going to do? Spend our time pre-onset as Doomsday prophets? Would you have listened to anyone telling you what it would be like after system integration? Sane people will lock us up because they will think we are dangerous to ourselves.”
“That’s why we aren’t going to just tell people what it’s like. We are going to show them.” Deebo said with a maniacal look in his eyes.
“I don’t think make a holo-film is going to prepare people for the end of the world D.”
“I never said we were making a holo Yash. The reason we have been waiting so long to make this attempt is because I was in the process of developing one very specific skill.” And, breaking the typical taboo of sharing skills detailed, Deebo sent them his newly created skill.
Skill Name: Shared World (lvl 18)
Description: Allows user to create an incredibly detailed world of their own design. Other individuals can be access this world, with user permission, through the use of a Neural Interface device. When a subject joins the world, their memories are accessed in order to add more depth to the experience. Mana expenditure is shared amongst all active Shared World participants. As the skill grows user will gain more and more control over the direction of the world and what participants experience while in it. At high levels, the user will be able to function in normal activities as they project the Shared World.
“As you can see, I don’t want people to just see what the Onset is like. I want to have them live it.”
“That skill is NUTS Deebo…” Kore said, looking astonished “How long did it take to make that one?”
“The skill itself has been in the creation process for years… it may have initially been intended to be a sophisticated interrogation skill... but that’s neither here nor there. The hardest part was getting the skill to work with a device that wasn’t created with a system skill.”
“Why would that matter?”
“We only get to bring one skill Kore. If the device required a skill to be utilized in its creation then one of you would have had to learn it. And it would have to sync perfectly with my skill. It’s just too many variables if we want to make it work.”
“From reading that skill description it seems like you aren’t able to do anything while you are using it.” Yash pointed out.
“That would be correct. So far, I have been unable to communicate while I am utilizing this particular ability. In fact, I have been unable to do anything so far, including consume calories or water.”
“So… how often are you planning on using this skill?” Kore asked
“I plan to keep Shared World open nonstop for the majority of our time pre-Integration.”
“So you are alright with basically being comatose for 10 years?”
“I will do what needs to be done Kore. Besides, it seems like with frequent use I will gain the ability to function normally while maintaining the skill.”
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“Better question. Why would anyone want to live through this if they don’t have to?” Yashed asked, clearly befuddled by the concept of putting oneself through the horror of a life and death survival situation for no reason.
“Because we are going to make it a game.” Millie added. “This part of the plan was actually pretty crucial in narrowing down our selection of worlds for Another Shot. Let me pull up the choices and then Deebo will explain why these were our best options.” she said as she shared the information directly to the rest of the group.
World: Havas (2 years 1 month 8 days 4 hours 17 minutes until Integration begins)
Brief Description: Havas is inhabited by two seperate intelligent species that have co-evolved in a mutual relationship. World is divided amongst several territories, each with their own lords and vassals. Communication and technology is typically only shared within specific territories where they are developed. Territories tend to be isolationist with very few maintaining close relationships due to geographical and cultural boundaries. People are rarely warlike, instead needing to defend themselves from environmental concerns.
Drill down for more details >
World: Earth (5 years 3 months 3 days 19 hours 24 minutes until Integration begins)
Brief Description: Earth is inhabited by a single intelligent species. The world is divided into several Countries each with their own government. Technology is widespread and communication is worldwide. Countries have mixed views on warfare, some pacifistic while others are expansionist. Complex political maneuvering for power occurs on a regular basis.
Drill down for more details >
World: Amresh (8 years 11 months 14 days 22 hours 43 minutes until Integration begins)
Brief Description: Amresh is inhabited by a single intelligent species. This species has formed a single warlike theocracy that has continued to expand eliminating all other religions and governments it encounters. The theocracy is tough, but relatively fair to its own citizens but ruthless to all others. It now occupies the vast majority of inhabited lands.
Drill down for more details >
After everyone looked over the details Deebo took the lead. “Thoughts everyone?”
“Why these worlds in particular?”
“Good Questions Yash. We choose these three potential options from the dozen or so others for a number of factors. First, all of these Worlds have large populations of intelligent humanoid creatures. This allows us to blend in easily, as we don’t know how the system would react if we went to a world inhabited by non-humanoids. I don’t know about all of you guys, but I’m partial to all my parts.” he waggled his eyebrows at them. “But most importantly they are in the right place of the technology curve. All of these Worlds have conceived of the idea of Virtual Reality, but none have been able to actually create it yet. This means that Shared World will be believable and desirable.”
“Where did you get all this information?” Kore asked “There is no way that Another Shot tells you all of that?”
“You know as well as we do that you can find anything in the System for the right price.” Millie said
“I thought that it was impossible to travel to places until like… well at least for a few years after onset.”
“That is true Yash, at least for the most part if. If you go to a World to early you start losing levels, however once the system first encounters a World it is added to the frontier maps. People who are looking to explore new territories start using observation tools on the Worlds as soon as they popup on the map.”
“I’m more of a point me in the right-direction kind of guy. Why don’t you two just tell me what you think and I will agree with you.”
“Thanks for your thoughtful insight Kore.” Deebo said.
Kore just shrugged his shoulders. “What? it’s the truth”
“Well, Deebo and I had been thinking Earth has the most potential. Havas is a little too soon for us to have a real chance at making an impact. The lack of communication between territories makes it exceptionally more difficult to prepare as well, although they will probably manage fairly well during Onset due to their experience struggling against their local environment.”
“And we don’t really want to deal with a bunch of religious nuts. Which would cross out Amresh… although if we could subvert their religion and…”
“Deebo, be realistic. What are the odds you could rise high enough in a religious hierarchy to affect actual change in less than 10 years?”
“I think that I would have a decent shot” he replied, ignoring the scoffs around him.
“Ok, so Earth looks good. Why not just say that and go for it?” Yash asked
“Well… while most conditions are favorable, it looks like it might be a pretty rough Onset. It seems like they have a three different dimensions that have some overlap. You all know that dimensions like this tend to all maintain a stable connection once the transition begins.”
“What Deebo is trying to say Yash, is that this has a high likelihood of merging three separate dimensions together in a huge cluster. We can sense that the other two dimensions exist, but we don’t have much information on them.”
“Mil is basically saying that the life expectancy there is shit unless some major changes happen.”
“But” Millie interjected, “This is also the highest potential rewards of all three of the Worlds.”
“Fuck it!” Kore said “Might as well go all in. Earth is my vote.”
“I’m with Kore” Yash added
“Well… looks like we are decided then. I thought that there would be a bit more back and forth there but…. Ok. I got my way so I guess I can deal with not making all of my well-reasoned, beautifully articulated arguments.”
The group collectively rolled their eyes at Millie before Kore asked “So when are we going to use Another Shot then?”