Chapter 5- A New World

The Void was timeless as well as endless. It felt like Deebo had been floating forever and that he just entered at the same time. It was both a welcoming embrace and a suffocating grasp on his soul. Suddenly a new screen popped up on his interface.

Approaching dimensional threshold for World: Earth

Earth is not a currently Integrated Realm.

Terminating integrated lifeform trying to enter forbidden zone…

OVERRIDDEN. Item #109883 detected.

Processing…

New Directive…

Removing all Interface related abilities and skills excepting one.

User please select ability or skill to retain. Drill down to make a selection >

When terminate integrated life form appeared in his mind Deebo had reached a level of anxiety that he didn’t existed before. He has been in some pretty harrowing situations before, but having your execution declared in your mind was a whole new level of scary. As soon as the message offered him the choice he quickly selected Shared World from the skill list that presented itself. Once he did, another screen appeared.

Deebo Sunameron Phylmenterus is not a name that has roots in this World. System recommends the adoption of a pseudonym.

Well I guess that was to be expected Deebo thought, What are the odds our naming conventions would have been recognizable. After a moment of hesitation, he decided that he would indeed like a name that seemed like it was from this world. Deebo waited for an opportunity to choose a new name for himself. Time passed until the next screen made it clear that he would have no such choice.

Exiting Integrated Space

Per item #109883

Earth information packet for region #00198 being uploaded.

Remodeling Physical appearance to resemble native humanoids.

New Identity established

Deebo’s mind was flooded with information, and he felt like someone turned his physical body inside out. Finally there was nothing but the void until

Transmitting to final destination.

“Well that sucked!” Millie heard Deebo complain as she blearily regained consciousness. She looked around her to see five other people standing in a cluster in what appeared to be some sort of unkempt park. The individuals surrounding her were recognizable, but they looked distinctly different from when she initiated Another Shot. Instinctively she pulled up her Interface.

Milicent VanGard

Race: Human

Physical

Mental

Spiritual

8

12 (+1)

2

Skills: Quick Learner

Interface manipulation suspended for 5 years 2 months 3 days

She tried to change the way her Interface was structured, only to discover that while she could view her information, she could no longer utilize the Interface in any other way. “Umm guys… Anyone else lose the ability to make changes to their Interface?” she asked the group.

“I’m surprised that we can pull it up at all.” Deebo stated matter-of-factly

“You thought that this might happen and you didn’t say anything?” Kore asked

“I assumed everyone was of the same mindset. We were informed that we would lose all system related benefits excepting one…”

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

“Shit! I never even considered the Interface as a benefit. It just was. Ya know?” Millie looked questioningly over the rest of them.

“Where the heck are we?” Yash asked, voicing the most pertinent question of the moment “and what did the system mean when it said I’m being remodeled”

“I got a few system messages during our transfer about changes, but now is not the time to take stock of our more personal changes. Let’s slow down and deal with the things we can at the moment.” Deebo suggested rationally. “Let’s do a personal inventory and see if we have anything that we can work with.”

“We’re blocked from accessing our inventories… remember…”

“While I appreciate the sarcasm Lota, I meant check our pockets to see if there is anything of value.”

Lota blushed furiously while she and the rest of the group rifled through pockets in search of anything helpful in this new world. As they turned out their pockets a small pile grew in the center of the circle. It contained two of what looked like a primitive wireless communication device and a small pile of paper with peoples faces printed on it.

“What the hell good are these going to do?” Kore asked

Millie opened her mouth to echo his ignorance when something popped into her brain. “Huh, that’s weird!”

“What’s weird Mil?” Yash asked

“I know what this stuff is. These communication devices are called cell phones. Apparently this variety can be used for communication as well as accessing a global information sharing network of sorts.” As she spoke, realization set into the rest of the group that they also new what these items were. “And the paper are what serves as currency here. They are called US dollars, and it seems that we have just over 300 of them.”

“And that gets us?” Kore asked, eyebrows quirked

“It gives us a starting point at least. We have some local currency. I was scared that we would come here with absolutely nothing.”

“Forget the money. The devices are what can really help.” Astonishingly Dexan was the one that cut in. “Now that you mentioned what those cell phones are I am somehow remembering what they do as well. I was never the best with technology so I doubt I am going to find myself a genius on this primitive tech… but we should be able to use it to get the lay of the land. “

“Obviously Deebo gets one.” Millie started “anyone else consider themselves a tech wiz?” Before she even completed her sentence the heads around her were vehemently shaking themselves to the contrary. All except Kores.

“You want to take a stab at figuring this doohickey out Kore?” She asked as she flipped the remaining device at him.

“Hold up!” the older man cut in again. “I am fine with whoever pounding away on that little thingamajig but maybe we should be clear on what we are looking for first.”

“Obviously we are looking for a way to start our spreading our virtual reality to the masses.” Deebo said, a look of incredulity on his face. “Did you miss it in the planning session when we went over the goal.”

“Oh shit.” Dexan shook his head in regret, “When you all said you had done your research and had a plan laid out, I thought that you meant more than step 1 get there, step 2 BE AWESOME.” a rueful chuckle escaped from his mouth. “Did we think of any smaller plans, like where we should setup operations? How about where do we stay in the meantime? How are we going to pay for things?”

“We have 300 US dollars” Yash added helpfully.

“Take a minute and search your mind everyone. The more you think about things in this world, the more they make sense. As I thought about the money situation, I realized that 300 dollars will not take us very far. In fact, it might not even put a roof over our heads. It definitely won’t long term.”

“I was too used to taking orders and that I was going to get a few years off of thinking. Alright, here’s how it's going to go. Deebo, you need to find out where the hell we are using that thing. As soon as you do that, start trying to figure out where we can go to get inside somewhere. A tavern or someplace with food will be ideal. I have no idea how we will fit in here with our current attire… wait, it came to me. We all look idiots, apparently utilitarian jumpsuits are not the attire of choice in this world. Anyways, Kore- you need to see if you can find us some sort of transportation from here to there.”

“They use automobiles as transportation here Dex.” Lota added helpfully “They run on combustion engines.”

“I just want to know how we get one of those automobiles to take us from point A to point B.” Dexan practically growled at her.

Thankfully Deebo hadn’t been idly listening in on the conversation. As the groups frustration was mounting he suddenly interrupted. “This cellphone has something called GPS. It shows us where we are in the world and it links us directly to maps that provide directions based off of real time positioning. It’s actually much more sophisticated than I was anticipating.”

“Quick question before you continue on Deebo. All these spy reports and whatnot you all focused on. When were they from.”

“The majority of our reports came from 15-20 years ago. That was the last time there was an alignment that allowed the scryers to see past the dimensional interference and…”

“Ughh outdated intel and no plan. I tried to keep quiet when I met you all because I didn’t want to be too pushy and try and take command. Especially with the two of you” Dex nodded at Millie and Deebo,” spewing nonsense about an empire. But now I am really regretting not being willing to step on the empresses toes and pitch in some common sense.”

“Empress?” Millie laughed out loud at the thought “I have no intention of being an Empress.”

“Well, if there is going to be an empire there needs to be a ruler…” Mille could practically see the gears whirring in Dexan’s head as he processed her comment. “Then that means… that little weasel…”

“That will be emperor weasel to you, sir.” Deebo snidely remarked. “Look, I get it, it seems like we got caught up to big picture and missed the day to day stuff that we need to get our vision off the ground. I apologize to all of you and promise to be more thoughtful in future endeavors but that doesn’t mean anything right now so please let me give you the details of our location so we can start making plans that do take these considerations into account.”

“You certainly talk fluffy enough to be nobility” Dexan muttered before he said “Well, get on with in then. This weather looks like it might turn to crap any minute and who knows what storms look like here.”

Ahem, ahem. After clearing his voice softly Deebo proceeded to inform the group of what he had discovered. “We are currently in a city called Columbus which is part of the United States of America.” As he spoke, the informational packets implanted in their minds begun to unpack and embed themselves as true, accessible memory. “It is only about a ten minute walk from here to a place where we can sit and eat. I just have to press this button” Deebo mashed the navigate button and began walking with the phone held in front of him “and Voila.”

Everyone took off walking behind him the only noises heard were their feet slapping against the asphalt and Kore’s complaining that he didn’t even get a chance to find them transportation before the Emperor started bossing them around.