Commander Rilsil sat at the helm of the Dataverse ship Colto, a ship specifically designed to scout and evaluate new worlds. His integrated Augmented Reality goggles flashed a message, and with a simple eye movement, he opened the packet.

Command Sector Base

345.261

Proxima Centauri observation station has identified a new target in the locally named Sol System. Planet Sol III has developed VR technology and has been approved for the introduction of Dhana.

Your orders are to proceed to Sol III, select a reasonable number of test subjects from the local population, and begin the tutorial investigation.

You will be joined by a Harib overseer specialist and a telepathic Qaqa to ensure players finish the tutorial in a reasonable time.

Your job is to ensure the security and comfort of these dignitaries. Remember that new species introductions is the number one priority, and all will be rewarded well once Sol III has completed the tutorial program. You have complete discretion to complete this task as you feel is reasonable.

Coordinates provided: 875.458.266

End Transmission

Once he finished reading the message, he pressed a button on the terminal before him, and the lights came on to full brightness. Rilsil stood on his four legs and stretched.

“Lieutenant, command is yours,” he said and walked out the door.

The lieutenant was a Skallreg, a creature with a large snout and green skin. It slithered up to the helm and draped its snake-like body over the command chair and accepted the order with a silent chuckle.

***

Commander Rilsil, a Wolvine, stood at the door to the passenger embarkation tube, leaning back on kangaroo-like legs. His dark eyes had no sclera, and his slicked-back black hair gave him a foreboding presence. The long, fluffy ears that poked out from the top of his uniform hat softened the look. A whistle blew, and a shuttle thunked as it connected to the side of the scout ship, causing a gentle rocking. Rilsil rolled into the disturbance, then straightened his dark blue space corps uniform. The door slid down and became flush with the deck, and two beings stepped onto the scout ship.

The Qaqa and the Harib were distinct in appearance from most other members of the Galactic Dominion. Qaqa looked like a green-colored ooze and communicated telepathically. The new arrival would monitor the players’ emotions to facilitate a smooth transition and ensure completion of the tutorial in a reasonable time.

Haribs were an octopus-like species with a head that waved on an impossibly thin neck above a mess of appendages. Haribs were the designers of the initial iteration of Dhana, up until the species only referred to as the ‘Overlords’ wrested control from them long ago. Now, Haribs worked as programmers for the Overlords and bought their way into Dhana like everyone else. Only new species and those with extremely high academic scores, within one percent of the population, could enter Dhana for free.

Commander Rilsil bowed.

Greetings, Commander. I am Zurith, the Qaqa said as he established a telepathic connection. I hope that our rooms have been sealed. The ooze shifted almost imperceptibly toward the Harib. My counterpart in this mission thinks very… loudly.

“I have considered both of your physical needs,” Rilsil unthinkingly said, straightening up.

“An odd statement to open with,” the Harib drawled, unaware of the private conversation. Noting their inscrutable reactions, he changed the subject. “I am Moleth, Dhana coder, Level six.”

Rilsil winced inwardly—this faux pas was not a good start, slight as it was. “I am sorry for any perceived rudeness,” Rilsil said. “Welcome to the Colto. What I meant to say was, our staff have prepared the guest quarters for your arrival.”

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Quickly understanding what Commander Rilsil was attempting to do, Zurith telepathically opined. Separate rooms, I hope . This time he was polite enough to open a connection to both Commander Rilsil and Moleth.

“I know my species thinks loudly,” Moleth said, his tentacles flapping across his face. “I have been trying to think quietly all trip. I want this mission to go well.”

“It’s hard to think quiet thoughts,” Rilsil said, his ears flapping with mirth. All species could control their mental “volume”—Haribs were simply far worse at it than others. “Now please, follow me.” He turned and walked to the end of the embarkation tube.

The tube joined into a narrow corridor only wide enough for them to walk single file. The clear metal floors allowed Zurith to glide along without difficulty. There was eventually a break in the silvery walls, and they came to an olive-green door marked with a large yellow number ‘G1’ in the center.

The door slid open, revealing a dimly lit room. There were two more doors on either side, and in the middle of the room was a large table with two Dhana interfaces.

“You will be working together to transition the species of Sol III to members of the Collective. We need as many new players for Dhana as quickly as possible. To facilitate collaboration, you will be sharing this room.”

I have to look at him while working? Zurith privately whined.

Oblivious to his partner’s poor attitude, Moleth gave a cheerful response, “This will be most acceptable.”

Rilsil mentally sighed. “Each of your rooms is electronically sealed off from the room next door and the rest of the ship. The only form of communication is through this transmission box near the door.” He pointed to a small terminal. “If you need sustenance, place an order through the terminal. Entertainment, if desired, can be accessed through the Dhana system.”

Zurith and Moleth both silently picked a room, standing in front of their chosen door. Rilsil walked over to the terminal. “Captain, Commander Rilsil here.”

“Go ahead, Commander,” a deep voice rumbled back.

“The VIPs are settled, we can begin,” Rilsil said.

“Understood,” the voice of the captain said. “Captain out.”

There was a sudden click.

Rilsil turned back to the guests and smiled at them. “We will be underway soon. Do you have a suitable tutorial ready for our test subjects?”

“I’ve gone over the local entertainment transmissions, and I believe that I can craft something suitable,” Moleth said.

“All the data can be accessed via your consoles, and if we intercept more communications, those will be added as well,” Rilsil assured him. With that, he stepped out of the room.

The door slid back into place with a hiss.

***

(Several days later)

Rilsil sat at a small triangular table with Zurith and Moleth in the Dhana projection room. The room was dark, with the known biographical data of their targeted species displayed on the walls.

Rilsil cleared his throat. “As you are both aware, the species inhabiting the system—locally named Sol—has finally reached the Dhana contact level of technology.”

To speed up the conversation, Zurith initiated a three-way telepathic connection.

Our first task is simple—select the first native player for the Dhana tutorial, Moleth commented.

What requirements must be satisfied? Zurith asked. His body shivered nervously, psychic emanations causing ripples over his jelly-like skin.

We need someone that won’t be missed, Rilsil explained, placing his paws together in front of his snout.

Moleth’s tentacles flapped silently. Based on the available data, we need to select test subjects with minimal familial connections. In addition, we should sample from different cultural groups. This world has many countries and cultures.

Then a language pack will need to be added to the players' brains to facilitate communication, Zurith concluded.

Rilsil recoiled in horror. They are culturally and linguistically divided? His own people had been one large pack for the entirety of their history, and many species that entered Dhana were culturally homogenous.

Moleth and Zurith gave a sad assent.

Do any of these ‘countries’, Rilsil asked, have grievances against each other?

Moleth and Zurith again gave a sad assent.

Rilsil facepalmed. We should prevent planetwide tensions from leaking into the game by using a neural block.

I would go even further; they are a martial species characterized by constant warmongering, Moleth interjected. We might want to consider a complete strip of all player memories.

Zurith was unconvinced. This species is in their most peaceful period of history yet. Surely, they cannot be so bad.

Moleth’s large head wobbled on its thin neck. Fine. We can keep memories of skills and abilities, but everything else will get in the way of the tutorial’s success. All other memories must go.

Agreed, Rilsil and Zurith said together.

So, we need to select players from different countries and cultural groups with minimal personal connections, Zurith summarized.

While installing a culture and memory neural block, as well as a universal language patch, Rilsil added.

These players are going to enter Dhana with nothing but the ability to communicate with each other, Moleth commented. That’s a bit harsh.

Rilsil was unconcerned. The players will figure Dhana out eventually.

Hopefully it wouldn’t take them too long.