Weeks later, I found myself on a different continent. I was in Finland, in a somewhat rural area. Oddly, it isn't in a city, but I can understand why- cities are costly.
The taxi I was in rattled along a smooth, paved road, taking us toward a vast building with dimensions similar to a factory's.
It was very, very pretty. The sky was clear, the sun beat down on me, and the grass looked more alive than me. Glancing out the window, the sun reflected off the snow-tipped mountains. I've always wanted to snowboard here. It's a shame it was summer, though. I also doubt I can afford a resort pass this year.
Regardless, I had a conference to get to. It was due to run for 8 hours on two different days.
According to the recruiter I spoke to, this was where the conference would be held. We would be spoken to by a staff member for roughly 6 hours about any relevant information regarding Dissenus—they were slippery about what exactly the game was—something about spoilers, most likely. The last two hours would be spent performing physical testing on the R-NES system—calibration, sensory input controls, and sizing.
The next day, we would spend time on a tutorial for Dissensus (a 6-hour tutorial? Really?) before holding a final meeting to address any concerns. After that, we would be flown home.
It was an eventful weekend, but I'm paid to do it, so I have no complaints. If I wasn't so exhausted, maybe I could do something with my time not working.
The taxi stopped as we pulled into a small roundabout next to a massive set of doors—presumably the front entrance.
I collected myself, collected my favored duffle bag- a grey one I got a long time ago -and hopped out of the taxi.
The building was decorated with banners, showcasing characters with heavy sci-fi military-esque equipment facing the viewer and firing at some unknown target. Many were adorned with neon lights, highlighting specific ridges and details of their weapons and armor.
In contrast with that was the natural look they seemed to go for outside- well-trimmed vines climbed up the walls, and a weeping willow sat in the middle of the roundabout.
Noticeably, I wasn't the first to get here- far from it, despite my earliness. I've had too many negative experiences with traffic to not leave excessively early.
Two people were sitting on a bench- they were of a noticeably different tone than the natives of this country, and they both donned a quiff cut with what were gym clothes.
I'm not judging- I had opted into the same fashion and left my hair down. I could tie it up later. The email I received stated that I shouldn't concern myself with formality and wear comfortable clothing.
My guess is it's for the machines' calibration.
I had gone with an outfit not too dissimilar from m
I decided to introduce myself- it's best to incorporate myself with my fellow testers rather than isolate myself.
"Hello!" I exclaimed, holding a hand in greeting. I started to make my way over.
The duo glanced at each other before raising a hand in turn.
"Ah, hello! Are you another, ah, tester?" one of them said. He had an Indian accent.
Thinking of it, they looked similar to each other. Twins, maybe?
"Yeah, I am. Name's Taylor. You?"
"Hello, Taylor. I am Isaac. This is my brother, Cory. I apologize- I do not speak English well, and my brother speaks less."
They speak better English than I do. I swear, every non-native English speaker I meet speaks the language better than me.
"No worries, man, none at all. Mind if I joined you? I don't know anyone here, so I've decided it's best to socialize some."
"Haha, of course, of course. Come! Take a seat."
"Cool."
Cory's face didn't twitch throughout that conversation—I don't think he even looked at me. Tough crowd.
Regardless, I sat next to the duo.
"So, where you folks from?"
"India. What of you?"
"Oh, I'm from the United States. Colorado, specifically."
"Very interesting! We have considered moving to the US, but our family obligations keep us in India."
"Damn, I'm sorry to hear that."
"Ah, no worries. Such is life."
"So, what did you guys do to earn preference points to get a spot, or did you just luck out on the draw?"
"Haha, we earned some as we are... how do you say... movement artists. We do freerunning."
"Oh! That's cool. I do some martial arts, and tricking is its name. It's rather obscure, and most don't know of it."
"Ah! We know of it. We have a few friends who do it. I love the kicks you guys do; they are very sharp."
"Thanks! I'm also an EMT, which scored me some points."
"Oh, fascinating. We hope to become pilots someday. However, all that stuff is rather expensive. We are hoping to receive a scholarship for it."
"Cool! So do you guys..."
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The conversation continued, and some more people joined us.
Another, Dakarai—apparently from Zimbabwe—joined us, as did an older gentleman, Dylan.
A few others came to the group but left because they did not understand English.
I wonder if this will cause a problem at the conference- they have a diverse audience, and I'm unsure how they'll communicate with all of us.
At 1140- the conference was scheduled to begin at 1200- we 5 decided it was time to walk inside the building. Upon entering, we were met with a reception area and fell into line.
It progressed somewhat fast- all required was a QR code we received via email and our driver's license or another document to prove our identity. They handed us a badge and a pair of glasses that they explained were capable of recording when turned on and would translate all text heard or seen into our preferred language. We could read the text, listen to it via an earbud, or both. It was fascinating- I had seen similar pieces of tech, but to receive one for free? I hoped it wasn't poor quality, but I doubt it based on our treatment so far.
If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
If Kane Corporation doesn't lack something, that something is money. Innovation, too, if the signs plastered all around reception were to be believed.
We collected our badges, documents, and a manual for the glasses and headed further inside.
This time, it was a vast inside amphitheater. There was no one on stage, but I assumed the speaker would be up there by the time the conference was scheduled to begin.
Looking around, I saw what the most diverse group of people heard the most languages I've heard spoken all at once. To top it off, holographic images projected from the ceiling detailing the same characters seen on the outside banners. The only thing connecting everyone was the casual attire and glasses.
"Crazy."
"Oh. It's awe-inspiring. You know, I remember when smartphones were a brand new thing. Now we have these fancy holograms, smartphones..." Zeke, the older gentleman from before, said.
I tuned him out. I decided to get these glasses figured out. I was curious to see how they worked.
I followed the necessary calibration steps- holding my hand up and looking at it with one eye closed, then the other, and looking at various points. Ultimately, all projections aligned perfectly with my vision- which was impressive.
I then looked at the QR code on the back, which the glasses scanned automatically. It prompted me to connect to "Kane Co. Guest WIFI." I selected yes by nodding my head up and down twice.
Fascinating.
I put the earphones next, which connected automatically. Thanks to the noise cancellation feature, the noise was much better—I could finally hear my thoughts again.
I kept fiddling with the settings, connecting the glasses to my phone, and seeing what other functions it had. It came with a flashlight, and I could zoom in on features via a slider on the side of the glasses. It was a fascinating piece of equipment that wasn't too unintuitive.
I wonder why they haven't just sold this- this alone would probably make them a massive profit.
It essentially came with all the functions a phone did.
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A man, short in height but tall in confidence, walked out onto the stage and tapped the microphone several times.
He was of Asian descent, wearing a black-and-white suit and glasses similar to ours but mildly different.
He then adjusted his glasses and tie and pressed a button
Immediately, my glasses notified me of an incoming broadcast from "Kane Co. Speaker."
Accepting to join the broadcast, all ambient noises instantly dimmed around me. After a few seconds, the speaker picked up the microphone and began speaking.
"Testing, testing. If you can hear this, please tap the button to the left of the left lens twice."
I did as told.
"Good, it looks like most of us are accounted for. I will send staff to assist those who further require it."
He cleared his throat once, took a deep breath, and began his speech.
"Welcome, all, to our amphitheater. I am Dr. Kane, founder and current president of Kane Corporations.
"I thank you all for coming today.
"Before we begin, I'd like to review some things. Many, if not all, of you come from different backgrounds. From medical professionals to pilots, from students to soldiers, we seek to incorporate as many outside influences as possible- how fun is a game that provides nothing new?
"You will all be entering a new, dynamic, living world. Each decision you make echoes throughout the world, small or large. Sparing parents may lead to you getting gored- or being saved by their descendants. Each character has a story to tell and actions to take, and all of it will be influenced by you.
"Now then.
"You will be entering the world of Colluctio D2O, a resource full of incredible resources, riches, and danger to accompany it. Human factions vie for their resources and to occupy them. War abounds- conflict is a simple fact, whether between the planet and humanity, or humanity with itself. Blood flows as readily as water- and you should prepare for that.
"You will be using the R-NES device to navigate this world. Many of you like our glasses—they are part of that system. It mixes virtual reality and sensation like no other—many of our testers could not tell the difference between reality and our device. It incorporates tactile suits, which transmit tactile feelings to your body. Sight, smell, feeling, and audio are all simulated near-perfectly. Our systems have been adjusted to be entirely safe, and you can control R-NES functions as you'd like.
"Now, you might've noticed that we have withheld much information about what Dissensus truly is. That is because we do not desire pre-formed notions about Dissensus. We wish that all of your information about Dissensus comes purely from the game itself. All of you should form your path. I see many of you have formed groups of friends—prepare for them to disband. You will make choices that separate you from your team, inevitably. Just as growth and conflict are innate to nature, that exact change and violence are present in Dissensus."
I glanced at Isaac and the group I had formed.
Dr. Kane continued.
"While we understand that "META" strategies may form, now is not the time for METAs.
"Therefore, a non-disclosure agreement will be necessary before you begin the tutorial. This applies to your fellow testers—communication about Dissensus outside the game will remain strictly prohibited until three months after release.
"You are free to disperse knowledge as freely as you'd like—all we ask is that that dispersion remain in-game.
"Finally, the pay we offer you is a baseline—with exceptional achievements, we can provide more benefits and further pay. We ask that you forge a new path that is unique, interesting, and dangerous. Do not disappoint us, and the reward will be great. If you disappoint, we will provide nothing more than what we must.
We thank you all for coming."
Dr. Kane put his microphone down and walked away.
Immediately after he left, another took the phone- this time a woman.
"Hello, all. I am Dr. Kath, a supervisor of the Dissensus development team. I believe I will enjoy working with you all, and I hope you feel the same about me.
"What I am here to do today is go over the details of our contract and answer any questions to the best of my abilities. After that, we will take you to another section of our building, where Dissensus will be calibrated.
"After that, you will be sent to your lodgings, and we expect to see you here at 10:00 AM for the beginning of the Dissensus' tutorial. Tardiness will be inexcusable, except in emergencies.
"Now..."
----------------------------------------
What followed was an extremely lengthy and in-depth summary of benefits and obligations, information on the disciplinary process, and a cascade of questions.
I didn't care for it- a lot of it was legal things I didn't care overly much about. A few things interested me, like being able to move into a corporate-sponsored apartment complex for free, lifetime access to an R-NES machine, and the potential for greater monetary compensation.
Many of these things were contingent on exemplary in-game performance, which I was happy to attempt to provide.
I won't lie- I'm pretty excited about this, even if that conference was incredibly dull.
We were all waiting to be called to perform an initial calibration test. They took 50 candidates at a time, including Isaac and Cory. They looked tired and sweaty, and I wondered why. According to Dr. Kath, it took roughly 30 minutes, and once calibration was finished, we were permitted to leave.
After about 20 minutes, I saw Isaac and Zeke walk out. I was about to greet them when I got a notification in my glasses informing me that I had been called.
A speaker also boomed overhead, announcing, "Taylor Raiz," in case I wasn't wearing my glasses.
I went down through the doors, where two technicians saw me. They had me change into a full-body suit similar to a hooded wetsuit. A pair of earphones were put in my ears, and goggles were slid over my head. It was extremely comfortable and almost weightless—like I was wearing nothing.
A series of harnesses was connected to spots on my suit, attached to the floor and ceiling, and the technicians left the chamber. The chamber was circular and about 6ft in diameter.
A voice crackled into my ear, "Ms. Raiz, can you hear us?"
"Yep," I responded.
"Perfect. We are going to turn on all functions—it will feel slightly disorienting, but rest assured, should you fall, our harness system will catch you. Are you ready?"
"Yep," I responded again.
"Understood. 3... 2... 1... On."
When I heard "On," my goggles flashed to life, displaying a vast, empty space. Half a second later, the scenery was replaced with what appeared to be a dance studio.
"Do you see a dance studio?"
"I do."
"Perfect. Try walking around."
I did as told and realized that the floor beneath me was moving. The harnesses and treadmill-esque floor combined perfectly to make it feel like I was walking.
"Alright, Ms. Raiz. We will have you complete a series of tests. Please put in as much effort as possible to calibrate your abilities perfectly.
"Gotcha."
The scenery changed, and an obstacle course sat before me.
I guess this is why the twins were exhausted.
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After that incredibly long day, I went home, showered, and flopped into bed. It took about five minutes of marveling at the fantastic abilities the N-RES displayed before I fell asleep- jetlag is powerful.
After waking up, eating breakfast, and grooming myself, I was back at Kane Corporate, signing an NDA, and about to step back into the N-RES.
||PROLOGUE END||