BEEP BEEP BEEP

*click*

Grooooan…

Dismissing the alarm, I roll onto my back, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. For a moment, I just lay there, savouring the darkness.

"Lights." I wince and cover my eyes as the bright ceiling light flares to life.

Blinking and letting my eyes adjust, I slide out of bed, shivering as my bare feet touch the cold tiled floor. Pausing for a minute, I shake myself awake and look around the room. The room is simple and plain. Dark grey walls with no windows provide ideal conditions for falling asleep. To my right a dresser sits (also grey, but a lighter shade), embedded into the top of which is a bright holoprojector flashing today's weather report in my face.

I should really disable that. It's not like the higher ups ever set the weather settings to anything other than 24°, sunny with a light breeze. After all, anything exciting like rain or clouds would be too "costly and wasteful".

Waving away the weather report, I stand and allow my bed to fold up into the wall behind me. Hidden on the underside of the bed are long rows of drawers which hold a selection of plain t-shirts, pants and various other clothing items. I pull open a couple drawers and select an outfit for today. Compared to most teenagers and young adults these days, my tastes are oddly old fashioned. Instead of bright glowing outfits and impressive augmentations, I stick with the tried and true. A plain white t-shirt with comfortable pj pants, I won't be going out today after all.

Pulling on the pants, I groggily stumble to the washroom. Navigating my holographic display I bring up this morning's news. The hologram flickers as it transitions from the projector in my room to the one in my washroom, eventually settling on an image of a young newscaster sitting at a desk.

Listening idly, I go through my morning routine.    

"...arks the start of a new era for mankind as the first true virtual reality system and game is finally released to the public. Not much is known about the game yet, but players across the galaxy wait eagerly for it to go live."

I move the image of news reporter with me as I step up to the sink. The fibre optics embedded in the young woman's hair glow a bright green and her nano tattoos are configured to display branches and leaves stretching from her cheek down her neck and around her arm. Her suit and tie glow to match her tattoos and hair. I guess she's going for some sort of weird nature theme today, huh?

"Exactly four months ago, the first sentient non human life reached out to mankind. They offered blueprints for their true VR system, as well as access to their game. All they wanted in return was peace, and our assurance that neither the government nor military would hog the rights to this device, that anyone would be able to play. 

“Nobody knows their reason for this condition, but their consideration for the general populace seems to have gained them a significant following of fans. A few select groups have even been displaying behaviours similar to those of the cults which existed pre catastrophe.

“Since these aliens first came into contact with humans, calling themselves the Erta, news about their offer has spread far and wide across the galaxy. For most, this was a cause for celebration. But companies built to research virtual reality have fallen overnight, as scientists and researchers are fired en masse."

I wince as I splash my face with cold water. "En masse" is an understatement, even lead researchers like myself are out of their job.

“Only a select few elite researchers were left employed. They were tasked to study the True Virtual Reality (TVR) machine and ensure it is safe for humans.

“Now, finally after four months of waiting, these scientists have declared the console and game safe, and those lucky enough to already own the console will be able to start playing tonight.”

Wiping my face with a towel, I brush a lock of curly hair out of my face as I look into the mirror. Reflected back at me is a young adult. Once a child prodigy, now an unemployed, regular man. Pale skin shows a history of long days stuck in the lab, and drooping, blue-green eyes are adorned by dark bags from many sleepless nights. Thin freckled arms grip the edge of the sink, and rich brownish-red hair curls down to just below my ears. 

Shaking my head, I focus my attention back on the news woman as I pull on my t-shirt and exit through my bedroom into the living room.

"...nd with the fulfilment of one of mankind's long time goals, that is to create true VR, one can only wonder what sort of marvels future with the Erta has to offer. Now over to-"

I wave away the hologram, ending the video as I stand admiring my living room. Five months ago, only a month before the Erta arrived, I finally made the decision to move here. Before, I lived with a friend of mine in sector 3-2 of the station. Although it was right in the core of the station, our room was barely large enough for the two of us. So, I moved to sector 12-18, close to the end of the station's 12th branch. Travel times were much longer, but the living quarters out here where much cheaper and larger. Definitely worth not being crammed into the core with billions of other people.

Anyways, back to the living room. Barely furnished (I like to think of it as minimalistic), it doesn't seem all that impressive. A high ceiling, yes, but nothing decorates the smooth grey walls. The only notable feature seemed to be a lone couch and coffee table sitting in the middle of the room, facing the left wall. That would seem a bit weird, a lone couch facing an empty wall, but...

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

I snapped my fingers

(Wait for it)

...

The entire left wall shimmers, where once was the plain grey wall now sits a huge window. From floor to ceiling, the thick glass offers a beautiful view of the stars and a band of the Milky Way outside.

Standing there for a minute, I collect my thoughts as I admired the view.

*growl*

Actually, change of plans. Food before thinking. Food and coffee. Yup that sounds good!

I turn toward the kitchen, stepping around the bar that separates it from the living room I walk up to the far wall. A bright gem-like object flickers to life as I approach, projecting an extensive menu into the air in front of me. Grabbing two mugs from a nearby cabinet I place them both onto the recessed shelf underneath the projector. 

Alright, one coffee and... let's go for strawberry today!

The menu flashes and is replaced by a large smiley face. Underneath it, the notification states: "128 credits have been charged from your account, your order is on its way. Enjoy your meal!"

I sit at the bar as I wait for my breakfast to arrive, spinning gently back and forward in the levitating stool as I let its magnetic prowess keep me afloat.

This is really the only disadvantage with living so far away from the core. Food takes FOREVER to arrive.

Drumming my fingers on the cool countertop, several minutes pass before hidden nozzles above the mugs finally sputter to life.

Into one cup pours rich brown coffee, ordered exactly as I like it. Into the other pours a thick, pink sludge, looking very unappetizing. Grabbing my two mugs, I sit down on the couch to enjoy my breakfast.

I look down into the mug of pink sludge. Even after drinking this stuff my whole life, I don't think I'll ever get used to its disgusting appearance. I close my eyes, tip back my head and let the nutrient-smoothie slide down my throat. Contrary to the smoothie's appearance, it tastes of a pleasant, fresh strawberry flavour (or at least I assume what strawberry tastes like, I've never tried a real one before). Its texture on the other hand...

Billions of people living on a space station doesn't come without problems. Growing enough food for everybody is obviously one of the big ones. Of course, the solution to this problem is nutrient-smoothies. Cheap, lab made meals that give all the nutrients you need without actually having to use real food, coming in flavours from hamburger to pad thai! Real food is only ever served in specialty restaurants to those rich enough to afford it. I myself have only had the privilege to try it twice in my life.  

Setting the empty smoothie mug aside, I grab my mug of coffee and bring it to my lips, savouring my first sip. Coffee was one of the few things that the station farms are always set to grow. After all, people need coffee, and will buy it no matter the price.

Finishing my breakfast, I stand up from the couch and stretch my back with a satisfying crack. Leaving my mugs on the table (I'll clean 'em up later), I move to the final room in my house, the games room. 

This is by far the most furnished room in the apartment. The right wall is entirely covered in posters. These bright splashes of colour in my otherwise grey living quarters depict scenes of fantasy landscapes, apocalyptic cities and alien planets. Foreign creatures and heroes battle and die, giving glimpses of unknown stories and tales. These of course are from any and all of my favourite games.

Against the left wall sits a sleek metal desk, into the top of which is embedded a small holoprojector, which flickers to life as I walk in. Three "screens", arranged in the typical pre catastrophe format prompt me for my login information as I walk past. An antique white board, filled with scientific scribbles from work hangs above the desk, and my specially ordered whiteboard markers sit in a jar amongst the desk’s cluttered surface. Various knick knacks and figurines fill every available inch of space, adding another splash of colour to my apartment. 

I walk past it all, to the far end of the room where a large, sleek, dark metal capsule lies. I rest my hand on the foreign console which was effectively the death of my job. At least my employers were kind enough to give me one of these things before they kicked me out, I know most of the lower level employees didn't get this privilege. But I don't know, maybe it was just their way of saying "you aren't needed anymore", a final kick on my way out. 

I shake the negative thoughts out of my head. This thing has been the dream of humanity for millennia. It was hard to hold too much of a resentment toward it. 

I check the time. 11:02, perfect, just in time for the game's release. With a pump of adrenaline I lower myself into the black, casket like pod. Letting the cold neuro-gel envelop me as I pull the pod's door shut, plunging myself into darkness. I close my eyes and lean my head back. Taking one final breath before letting my consciousness be tugged away.