He was right, I was amazed the video look incredibly real. If everything looked like that, would I be missing out on exploring the real world? Would there be worlds and places in VR never seen before by others? Could I fly a dragon? Could I fly a plane what sort of VR games, worlds or whatever did I have to choose from?
“Mr. Anderson, you said there were other VRs to choose from? I don’t know if living life in the medieval times is what I would call fun. What sort of other options are there?”
Mr. Anderson puts his tablet back into his suit. From the looks of things Ms. Grey has finished signing and stamping the NDA. She picks it up and hands it back over to her partner.
“Well Alex, there are several options. I take it you are interested in taking part of our research and integrating with the VR then?”
He looks at me with his emotionless straight face. Odd how people can do that, show no emotion, even his voice is a flat dull constant. He could make money putting people to sleep with that voice.
“So far it seems like the best option that I have. I’m still not sure exactly what to expect or really why you are offering me this. What do you guys gain from it?”
“We have been offering this to people like you for a few reasons, and yes, we do benefit from it as well. For one you can expect to live the rest of your days in VR, you won’t age or get sick you may die a lot though. But don’t worry you will always respawn. As for what we get, simply put the VR worlds need a lot of computing power. CID has discovered a way to run their multitude of games by using the human brain as a processor. So, when you upload into VR you will still be you but your brain will also be used to run the VR world for everyone. All the people who agreed to this process have essentially donated their brains to link together and run all the VR worlds.”
“That is not exactly what I thought it would be. What are the long-term effects of having a brain used like that?” I ask hesitantly.
“So far none of the brains show any sort of stress, or issues mentally or physically. They are constantly watched and monitored for any and all anomalies. They will often cycle their workloads so that they each get downtime.”
“So, no chance of going crazy or losing my mind then?”
“No, none at all some of the brains have been going for five years now with no issues.”
Well, what’s the worst that can happen, live my life as a vegetable or go play games in a really convincing fake world and potentially fry my brain. I have only been like this for a maybe an hour and I’m already starting to feel trapped here. How bad could a VR world be compared to this then. Fuck it! I can’t live like this I’d rather take the risk of melting my brain than sitting here rotting anyway.
“I’ll do it Mr. Anderson; how do we start this then?”
Showing some enthusiasm for the first time Mr. Anderson claps his hands together and smiles.
“Excellent! All you need to do is go over this list of worlds and select the one you want to be uploaded to.” Mr. Anderson reaches into the other side of his suit and pulls out a piece of paper. He holds it in front of my eyes to see. On it four entries are listed.
1: Myth and Might Online
2: Divided Stars Online
3: Beasts and Bone Online
4: Mecha Core Online
“I’ve never heard of any of these, how do I know what to pick?”
“That is both an easy and hard question to answer. Each game is different and I’m not one to tell you what you would be interested in. But the first is Myth and Might which was the demo I showed you. It is by far the most popular one, it is swords and magic and mythical creatures. Divided Stars is about starships and intergalactic travel, exploration and space warfare. Beast and Bone is about hunting down and killing or taming giant creatures using swords and such but not really any magic involved. Mecha Core is about giant mobile suits battling each other, fighting armies and taking over land. Something I should mention though, you will be able to cross over into other worlds because of your unique situation. Should you decide you don’t like the world you pick, you can always move to another. Also, if any other games get released you can join those too.”
“What do you mean, like I can have magic and stuff and then go get a spaceship and cast fireballs at space pirates?”
“Essentially yes, but like I said it’s a bit more complex than that. Since you will be living in the VR for a long time, we made sure that people like you have plenty of options and can change up your world.”
The thing I value most is freedom, choice to do as I want to go where I want. Option five I think would cover it the best, but how complex exactly is it? I can see how balancing technology against magic could be a problem.
“Ah I see the confusion on your face Alex maybe I can explain it better. You will select a starting game from the list where you will begin your new life. From there you can go to any of the other worlds that exist, depending on which world you pick first the method varies but you can ultimately use any method from any world to travel. DSO you would travel by starship to the other games, if you picked Myth and Might you would teleport with magic to another game.”
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If anything, his explanation while clearing up the travel part still did not answer everything.
“Could I use equipment from one in the other? Or would I have to start over with a new character, I guess I don’t know much about games to ask it right.”
Mr. Anderson actually smiles at that.
“Since you will be a special case, you will keep the same character and skills or abilities. You will also keep all equipment and gear; we have designed everything to be compatible using our tier system, so it still maintains some balance.”
“I guess the choice is rather simple then, I’m going to go with Divided Stars Online.”
“Good choice Alex, now the hard part what game would you like to have your starting character in?”
That’s a tough one, I really don’t know much about any video games so how do I decide. I want freedom, so I chose to basically play everything. But what gives me the most to explore and see? The most options to live and do what I want?
“Mr. Anderson, what game has the easiest method to travel between games?”
“I don’t know honestly; they are all different and it depends largely on you. But maybe I can make a suggestion. You like to fly right, that’s how you got into this situation in the first place yes? Well Divided Stars has spaceships, fighters, and all sorts of craft available. You could fly again and not just in a dinky little airplane. You could command a carrier, a battleship, or really whatever you want. To make it even better, you will never have to worry about crashing. You will just respawn again and get right back to flying.”
Wow he made a really good point. An entire galaxy to explore and fly through? Untold amounts of different worlds to visit, and many more options for flying available than I’m sure I could dream of. It seems like all this is too good to be true. My choice is made then, I tell myself.
“I choose that then, Divided Stars Online please. So, what’s next then?”
“We are going to head back to headquarters and start the paperwork to begin your transfer and confirm your choices. Until then just rest here, we will be in touch.”
That sounds rather boring, and lengthy how long will I have to be stuck like this I wonder. I must have made a face because for the first time Ms. Grey says something.
“We should be sending someone within a day to come and prep you, then the integration process should only take a few hours.”
“Get some rest, and have a nice evening Alex, see you soon.”
With that they both turn around to leave, Mr. Anderson turns off the white noise device and places it back in his suit and then they are gone.
The next few hours are agonizing, I have nothing to distract my mind for wandering all over the place. I review in my head the moments leading up to the crash. Everything was perfect, glide slope, speed, altitude. If I had only spent less time focused on the things I could control and more on what else was going on around me. I guess there is not too much of a point worrying about it now. I can’t undo what’s already happened.
I must have drifted off to sleep eventually while lost in my thoughts.
A voice pierced my slumbering mind.
“Wake up Mr. Bartholomew, wakey wakey eggs and bacon.” It was a rough voice that gave me the shivers. Like the opposite of nails on a chalk board if you can imagine that.
“It’s time for you to sign the user agreement for Divided Stars Mr. Bartholomew.”
The voice said again.
I open my eyes; everything is all blurry but slowly starts coming into focus.
Standing over me like some sort of carrion crow, is a slender man with messy black hair and a thin pair of glasses sitting on his nose.
“Ah I see you have awoken! Like I said, I am here to present you with the user agreements and the contract for uploading you into VR.”
He waves his hands over two stacks of papers, they must have weighed two or three pounds each. I made no move to read or sign them, being as I could do neither without some assistance. It took a while but eventually Mr. Creepy figured it out. “Oh yes, you can’t move how silly of me. Let me go and get Ms. Grey to help you.”
The creepy man departs from the room, I glance over at the stacks again. Truly how much legal jargon can be in one document? I guess handing over my brain to science must have some legal loops to jump through. Must have sucked for whatever lawyer had to write all that.
The door opens again two familiar faces from before walk in. Mr. Anderson and Ms. Grey, followed by the creepy guy.
“Hello again Alex.” Says Mr. Anderson “How are you feeling today.” He glances down at my paralyzed body.
“I could say I’m alright but we both know that’s not true. If you don’t mind let’s, get this going, please.”
“Right, you are Alex, Ms. Grey if you could please take care of the documents for us again. Unless Alex, you would like me to read it all out for you?”
“I don’t suppose there is a cliff noted version you could read for me?”
“Well, no, but I can give you the basics. You won’t hold CID liable if anything goes wrong, we agree to do our best to keep your brain healthy and active within the VR. We are not responsible for the behavior of other players in the games, and you agree to follow the Code of Conduct while your part of the VR. That being the only real rule is you can’t threaten someone in real life. I really doubt you will be able to do that so it’s not any real concern.”
“That’s a lot of paper just to say that Mr. Anderson, you sure that’s everything?”
“Well, no, Alex but most of it is legalese that takes forever to get to the point. It also goes into more details of what constitutes harm, liability, death, and so on. Rather boring stuff so I would not worry too much.”
While he’s been talking Ms. Grey has begun to sign and stamp the mounds of paperwork.
“So, who, is the creepy guy in the back?” I ask trying to look at the skinny creepy man with the glasses.
“That’s just our VR specialist who initiates the conversion into the game for patients like you. As soon as Ms. Grey is done, he will administer you a concoction of drugs to enable your mind to sleep for 72 hours. This will give your brain the neutral state required before the upload can begin.”
To emphasize the statement the VR specialist pulls out three little syringes and waves them about. I’m trusting this guy with the safe keeping of my brain? Lovely.
“Ah don’t worry Alex; you are in good hands. He may not look like much.” The creepy man shoots Mr. Anderson a dirty look. “But he is the best in the business when it comes to uploading minds into the VR.”
Dr. Cowling, scowls at that but doesn’t say anything in response.
Ms. Grey stands up fully, pocketing her stamp and pen. She picks up each stack of paperwork and carefully places them into a large briefcase. “We are all done here, he is ready for you Dr. Cowling. Please administer your drugs and let’s prep Mr. Bartholomew for transport to the VR upload center.”
Dr. Cowling shuffles over with his syringes. “Good night Mr. Bartholomew, next time you awake you will begin your new life in VR.” He says with a creepy twinkle in his eye.
I feel three simultaneous shots enter into my neck. Instantly the world starts going fuzzy and starts to spin.
“That is if everything goes right.” He says with a cackle.
Great these could be my last moments. I think to myself, and I get to spend them with this creepy guy.