‘I hoped but. Forget it. Terrus…. Terrus…hmm. Familiar. We’ve got all kinds of people from all kinds of places who wash up on this planet. You’re from a planet called Terrus and I’m from a planet called Earth. And we end up with the third lesson which I was trying to teach you before you had a complete breakdown. Not all your fault though, I pushed you too hard. A problem of mine, I push people beyond their limits early on.’ said Mike.

‘Earth? What planet is Earth?’ asked Carissa as her brain tried to catch up with the conversation.

Experiment or not, she would be better served to buy into his words during this place and time rather than fight. At least for now. She would need to verify this with other people.

Liam would have called her naive but he had always appreciated her ability to both imagine and adapt to circumstances. She’d try her best.

‘We’re on another planet. And you expect me to take this at face value? Sorry if I don’t implicitly trust your words after all of your actions. I won’t fight or scream but I need to verify this, to understand it better before I can accept. I was a scientist once and not a trusting one at that. Do you get my point Mike?’ said Carissa.

‘An understandable one but still…the third lesson is that this isn’t your reality. Not your planet, not your plane of existence, not an experiment by a bunch of rich people with nothing better to do then make people suffer. Earth is my home planet, got an ocean much as yours does I imagine. Except for the clone slave batches privately owned by companies. Surprised they never got together and decided to change the name of the planet in the name of capital flows’ said Mike.

‘Earth? Not Terrus?’ Carissa questioned.

‘Both have oceans. Try to imagine something different, there are a bunch of gods. Can you imagine that? Beings of power and ability who get bored one day, a whole load of them who are supposed water or ocean related gods decide to begin flooding planets for the purposes of a game. The winner becomes another god. Or you can get be a runner-up and become a demi-god. Those are real by the way. Dangerous and you need to stay far, far away from them until you get strong enough.’ said Mike.

‘Gods…ocean gods…this is a game? They flooded an entire world for a game?’ asked Carissa.

‘In short yes, they designed it and normally you’d have a tutorial stage and everything but something went wrong. They got bored and all the original players died out or were transformed into demi-gods. In short, they upped the difficulty level. The system which they designed was…altered in some way. I’m not clear on it, I heard all of this from one of the original players. A survivor. This guy survived to a high point in the game but refused to become a demi-god so they sort of left him alone. You might even meet the guy later, he’s immortal. Sort-of. Loves sharks.’ said Mike.

‘No. This is a lie, a fabrication, you’re…’ started Carissa before they were interrupted by the voice of Sherry calling through the doorway.

‘Mike, everyone is back. Did you find out where Carissa is from so I can share it with everyone? She could meet someone from her own reality. They could help her.’ said Sherry.

Mike turned his head back from his chair and shouted back through the doorway.

‘Terrus. She’s from somewhere called Terrus. The name sounds familiar to me so share it around with the others. No, wait. Hold off on that, Carissa needs her own privacy. She can share when fully prepared. None of them listen, they need to listen and understand but none of them do. This one is no different to any others. Carissa. Focus on me. Damn it.’

He refocused his attention on Carissa. Her attention began to break down as she absorbed the words he spoke so casually. The scientist part of her wanted evidence, trial and error but the part of her who had was in the process of being transformed into a new being rejoiced at the news. It felt opportunity.

Against her own will, Carissa’s tongue ran over her sharpened teeth. Hunger ran through her body. She struggled to gain conscious hold over her actions, forcing herself to listen to the spoken words of this man who was either mad, an actor or telling the complete truth to a stranger whom he barely knew.

‘You need to listen to me carefully. This place is real, we’re living in a world flooded by gods who want us to play a game and win. There are supports for players in the device called system but there is another way. You don’t need to play to win. There are gates, ocean gateways which were used to flood the world. Reverse or destroy them and the gods lose their power. Bear in mind that this is only what one of the original players told me. Are you following me? I can call in everyone else if you need to accept this as reality. Or you’re welcome to go out on an inflatable raft with Sherry and find out the truth.’ said Mike.

‘I’m supposed to accept this? You abuse me, restrict me and I’m your guest in a chair next to a moon pool. I appreciate your best efforts but you need to explain more or this conversation is finished.’ replied Carissa.

The wooden structure around them creaked and swayed gently and Mike touched the wooden floor that he was sitting on as he leaned down in his chair. The doorway in which Chas had passed through closed as a door swung shut.

‘A guest without restriction. I think that we’ve been more than reasonable up to this point. Sherry rescued you from the ocean and we’ve invited you here without requesting anything in return. Not even a promise to work for us but an opportunity to put skills to short, the test. Last chance, you shut up and listen or you can stand up from that chair, jump back into that pool and go straight through the bottom of my craft into the open ocean. You’ll survive for a while with your new suit and find another group or not. The only reason that I’ve tolerated you up to now is the fact that we’ve all been there and without a tutorial we’re trying our best to help others to survive. Agree or don’t. Make a decision Carissa.’

Given her circumstances Carissa decided to take the survival decision. This was it, Her new reality then. A drowned world with so-called gods and their own game. She would have to learn how to adapt, to restore herself and become the one object of true beauty she wanted. Her implants and other physical modifications were damaged, the words she had seen in front of her eyes what seemed like days ago made clearer sense.

By using internal enhancements, she was breaking the rules of the game. Using a form of hydro kinesis of her own design with her physical abilities boosted beyond human levels would put her above a large number of other starting players.

The answer to make it fair was simple in her case, she was punished by having them disabled and not being provided basic survival equipment.

From what she had seen of Mike having the ability to control the surrounding wooden structure with his bare hands, magic was a possibility here, which meant that mermaids could be real. The chairs, the ladder, the hole in the floor. All of it obeyed him.

‘Your ability, to control the wood of this ship when you touch it with your hands. Is that magic? An ability of a player in this flooded game world? A water god provided it to you when you prayed? Is that how it works?’ asked Carissa.

‘You know Carissa, when you ask another player for direct information about their abilities you’re going to find a hostile reception. I’d also keep your own close to your chest, having secrets means power in this place. I myself am vaguely aware of the powers of those around me. But my abilities are related to three things, this boat and community, control of the wooden structure and the ability to find more wood to add to it. A god provided the electrical power…in a way.’ said Mike.

‘Driftwood. You can control driftwood. Or you can use it to build.’ said Carissa.

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

She allowed herself to relax a little in the chair.

‘To a degree. Usually, the stuff is so contaminated that it’s not fit to use but in this place the rules are a little different. I’m able to have a steady flow to build and repair as it flows on the oceans towards me, not enough as I’d like but the whims of the gods are fickle. They have all the power unless a player was to eventually join their ranks and change their minds. We’re getting beside the point here. I need you to stop ignoring the system, accept the messages and the slight pull in your mind. The brain...undergoes a few changes when you first arrive here. You lot are far luckier than me and my original crew were though. Less pain.’ said Mike.

With a little concentration Carissa acknowledged the tug on the edge of her mind, she had been fighting against it unconsciously, either out of shock or anger but when she allowed it the familiar words made of water appeared in front of her eyes. The text had changed, barely.

[Player-Candidate Number 5428119402 you have been provided with randomly chosen basic starter equipment.

-Warning: Due to Illegal Body Modification (Disabled) basic starter equipment removed.

-You are status: Player-Candidate

-First Goal: Survive for 7 hours.

-Bonus Goal: Find other Starter Candidates and Survive as a group for 7 hours

-Reward: Basic bone-based weapon, Fishing Line, Bonus Goal: Harpoon with Leash, additional HTS mode enabled for Player-Candidate 5428119402. Carissa. You need to live to meet me. A friend.]

The last portion of the message was odd, given how Mike was looking at her with a thoughtful gaze as her eyes effectively read invisible message to his eyes, she was showing visible physical signs of reading the text. Even if it was only inside her own brain.

‘...Can you read the message? Does it become visible to you? Do I need to find a way to block other people from reading these…system messages from this game of gods?’ questioned Carissa.

Mike shook his head gently; a sad smile came across his face.

‘Carissa, I’ve been here for a long, long time. I’m an old man. Older than you would believe. The game doesn’t change, not in these early stages, there are variations yes but the essentials are the same. I could even read it out mostly word for word. The Ocean Gateway system is a tool of the water gods. There are stages involved, the first is when you click on the floating icon that drags you to this place, it offers opportunity and adventure and most press without thinking. Given that you’ve already located fellow survivors or candidates you’re on a countdown to acquire a bone weapon. Am I close?’

The last part of the message was odd, it addressed her directly and although Mike had been rough and abrupt he hadn’t actively tried to hurt her.

‘Mike, you said that there are variations from this…Ocean Gateway. Does that include personal messages directly to players?’

Frowning, Mike sat back in his wooden seat, relaxed and placed both hands behind his back before clicking his tongue a few times.

‘No. Not unless…. no. I’m not going into that. I’m sorry, I promised answers. I can tell you this, the Drowned gods are varied and choose their own champions, eventually. You’d be surprised at what tricks they can do when inclined, the demi-gods are pure examples of that. Dreams turned reality. Messy though from what I’ve heard. What you most wish for granted reality doesn’t always turn out well. All of them are highly dangerous though, at this point you’d be dead within seconds trying to fight one. I’m getting off track here, personal messages to players are entirely personal. I’d advise not sharing that information with others, not even those you can trust. Yet.’ said Mike.

Carissa frowned. She had seen messages previously but had assumed that it was the work of the suit using an augmented reality overlay on her eyes. Part of an experiment. She hadn’t been wrong; it was just that the experiment was a game by gods. Insane gods of the ocean.

She raised her gaze towards Mike. Willing the suit to retract further, this time it responded flowing back over the surfaces of her skin so it only covered her torso and lower body, her legs and arms were exposed as was her face, nose and hair.

‘I had a dream once. A purpose to become something more beautiful than anything and live a life of total freedom. Do you think that using the magic of the gods it’s possible?’ asked Carissa.

Mike sat back on his chair and rubbed his chin with one hand.

‘Freedom…in this place you need power. Would you like to know where we are presently? I mean the location in this game of the gods, not my own attempt at a refuge for players lacking tutorials.’ Mike said.

Carissa frowned. She ran a hand through her long reddish-hair, not all of her genetic alterations failed given her glossy hair had barely any impact from being soaked in the water or either via the suit.

She recalled that Mike had demanded her to bite her hand.

‘Your hand, it healed. I knew I drew blood with my teeth and it healed almost instantly, the blood never flowed out of here.’ she said.

Mike smiled and held up his hand.

‘Still hurt though. Remember that I told you that we’re mostly human here. I don’t think the ocean gods want pure baseline humans in their game, at least not only them, they like to mix things up a little. Hi, I’m Mike, a genetically modified slave caste from Earth. Designed to operate on the ocean for extended periods of time, don’t get hungry or thirsty, no sunburn and my wounds heal quickly. But a lot of the good stuff was taken out of me, my technological mount was removed along with a few others pieces. The gods don’t want anyone having an easy ride. Believe me, you’re lucky that Sherry picked you up when she did. Some of the encounters in this place are bad, a few of the inhabitants even worse. We need to eat now, that’s enough time chatting.’ said Mike.

Mike held both hands up in an attempt to placate her.

‘All we’re trying to do is give you what the non-existent tutorial should have given you. A stable place to recover, learn how to use a few skills and then you make your choices. In return you offer your support and class abilities to us for a relatively short time.’

Carissa had a puzzled expression on her face as she ran her fingers through her hair. She’d need a comb, a decent one to undo any tangles. The alterations should have stopped it but combing her own hair would relax her.

‘I don’t understand your kindness but I’ll accept your terms. Are you planning on feeding me bloodied water and raw seafood again?’ asked Carissa.

‘Forgive me, but I don’t think I want to keep sitting in your chair of exile. Time to meet the rest of your community.’ she stated with hands on her hips.

She’d had enough questions that hadn’t been answered but they would over time, she’d need to adjust herself to this new reality, this new place. She stood up and made herself over to the closed door.

‘Great, follow me. And give yourself time to adjust, everyone sinks the first time. As long as you remember that I can only offer you support and guidance, danger is going to exist no matter what I want.’ said Mike.

He stood up and squatted down, placing both hands on the ground and both chairs receded back into the wooden driftwood floor. The wooden club on his makeshift belt shifting as his movement.

‘Your sharp teeth. They’re not standard design on Terrus are they? I was altered before I was even grown, you’ve got a similar look as one who was generated. I hope your Master or Mistress didn’t get angry at their loss. I’m going to introduce you to the rest of my community and we’re not going to have any more conflict, are we? At least, not the physical kind. Everyone else has player status unless they’re new born like yourself so my advice is not to get involved.’ said Mike.

Carissa decided not to respond, she had enough to digest in her own thoughts and letting her emotions settle a bit would help her mind clear up. The room itself that she first been dropped into the water was bare in nature, the moon pool in the middle had been large enough to fit far more than her. Perhaps it would give a chance to explore, to research and discover more in this new world from a position of relative safety.

As Mike opened the closed door and stepped through Carissa heard voices up ahead, following him, she heard the voices of Sherry and Chas which she recognised but several others she didn’t.

Putting a bright smile on her face without showing too much of her teeth and ensuring that her hair was flowing behind her she walked to meet the rest of the inhabitants on this floating driftwood boat.