This is my first take on writing FF.
I would like to apologize beforehand for some spelling and grammar mistakes that you might find in my story (for now and later) since English is not my first language.
But I hope you enjoy it. :D
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Seeing Joe’s sweaty face and hearing him breathe heavily, Loue and especially Jay couldn’t help but sigh.
“I’m going to move Joe over there while you call the teachers. “ Jay calmly said and pointed an empty space at the end of the seemingly endless sea of students.
“Jay, can I move Joe instead?” Loue looked pleadingly at Jay.
Loue is lazy and doesn’t like to do tedious task but one thing he hates more than that, is actually talking to other people, which Jay knows of course.
Jay couldn’t help but let out a smile.
“You love torturing me, don’t you?” Loue glared at Jay as menacingly as he could.
“You can glare at me all day, and I’ll still give you the same task.” Jay replied.
“H-hey, g-guys? I-I ‘m s-still h-here.” Joe said it while tagging the hem of Loue and Jay’s uniform.
Jay looked back at Joe, and then looked again at Loue.
“You call the teachers, and that’s final.” Jay said it with a strong commanding tone on his voice.
Loue finally give up and said:
“Fine, I’ll call them. Just give me a few seconds.”
Jay helped Joe move slowly towards the empty space he had pointed earlier.
Loue on the other hand, stayed there to call for help.
“Help. Basement. ” Loue whispered these two words on his communicator.
“Words are too short and vague. Please make your message longer and clearer.” The female robotic voice replied.
Loue was puzzled. But still, he attempted to pass the same message on his communicator.
But every time he does that, the same female robotic voice can be heard saying the same thing.
“What the heck? How is this po---“ Loue suddenly stop at the middle of his sentence.
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I can feel that something’s not right here, and I’m talking about my communicator.
You see, my communicator is programmed to respond to ‘my’ every command.
And these includes, sending even my short and vague messages.
But right now, it’s not sending it just like it used to.
It’s not a system malfunction; I attest that, because if that’s the case then my communicator would automatically shut down, and it was programmed to do that by its creator.
Now, here’s my speculation.
Just hear me out, okay?
I suspect that someone or somebody tampered my communicator.
Crazy but it’s a plausible idea.
Now the thing is, the only people who can alter the system settings in my communicator is my parents, who knows the password that was provided by *Rayaj.
And maybe some tech whiz *cough* hackers can do that as well, and much better.
But I don’t have a friend like that nor a foe.
Since, my social life is limited only to my friends and families.
You should know that already since I introduced you(though not directly) to 'all' of my friends back in chapter 2.
Now for a foe, I think that I don’t stand out that much in the crowd.
And so let’s discard that thought, shall we?
Now the real question here is who is the person or persons(?) behind this?
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The answer to his question came sooner than he expected.
His communicator suddenly beeped.
“A video file was sent. Scanning the file content… File is safe…Opening the video… Video now loading…” The female robotic voice said.
From the system's course of action, Loue confirmed that his communicator was tampered.
Because normally the system would provide him options to choose: either open or ignore the received file.
But in this case, the system didn’t give him the normal options and instead, it proceeded in opening the file.
Loue resigned to his fate and decided to see the content of the video.
His face that was filled with worry and embarrassment awhile ago drastically change into anger.
He was about to go and charge some heartless idiots, but before he could do that the lights suddenly went off.
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In the midst of total darkness, loud chattering can be heard coming from the students.
“What happened?”
“Can’t you see? It’s a brownout.”
“*laugh* Funny you mention that.”
“The heck! Can a brownout still occur at this age? Its already 2040!”
“Well, we’re living in the Philippines. So, I gotta say that you have to expect the expected.”
Their loud chattering came to an end when they suddenly hear a beep coming from their communicators.
“Speak.” They all said.
“Is this on already? *cough* EVERYONE, PLEASE BEHAVE. THE SHOW’S ABOUT TO START. THIS IS YOUR PRINCIPAL SPEAKING. THANK YOU.” The usual female robotic voice said.
A white light suddenly appeared from an unknown direction.
This light formed into a white screen on the wall.
“Seriously, they still use this somewhat prehistoric technology?”
“You know that it’s from 3 decades ago not millions of years, right?””
“Are they low on budget or something?"
"Is this how they implement the first day of the VR law?”
“Yeah, they should go out with a bang or at least use a hologram.”
“Shush! Be quiet, the show’s about to start.”
A video was then played after that.
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In the video, they saw a man sitting in a chair.
Suddenly, this man stood up and greeted them.
“Good afternoon to all students and teachers of Pridela National High School.
I’m Dahlrete Anton, one of the three co-founders of LAMPANMEJ Corporation and the one leading the design department of the game and also, the capsule pod you’ll be using.
First thing you must know about the capsule pod is that it is very durable.
It can withstand a ton of outside force, perfect if you’re unfortunately buried under the rubbles cause by an earthquake. *laugh*
“---“
The second thing you must know about it, is that if a brownout occurs then you’ll be given 10 minutes to log out in the game.
‘What if you can’t log out after that?’
Though no one blurted out this question, the man seemed to have guess that and said:
What if you can’t log out after 10 minutes?
Well, if you can’t log out in that span of time then,
YOU...
ARE...
DEAD MEAT!!!
Just kidding! Don’t worry you’ll be forced to log out the game.
"---"
Now one more thing, even at this age, floods are still a common occurrence in our country especially in the rainy seasons and that’s why we made our capsule pod waterproof. So that it’ll not be damaged easily.
Now for more information about the ‘game’, here with me is Belriam Cruz.”
Moving near the man, in the video of course, is a woman presumably on her early 30’s.
Then she spoke and said:
“My name is Belriam Cruz. I’m also one of the three co-founders of the LAMPANMEJ Corporation, and the leading programmer of the game that you’ll be playing this afternoon.
Now, I’ll only tell you two things.
First is that, one hour in real life is equivalent to five hours in the game.
And second, is that when your character dies in the game you’ll only be ban for 1 hour in real life.
That’s all.
There’s nothing more I can say regarding to the game, since it’ll ruin the fun.
I will not make you wait any longer because I know that you’re very excited.
So I hope that everybody learns from this game and have fun!!!”
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When the video ended, the lights came back…
Then, the basement’s door slowly opened.
And with all that happening, the students joyously chattered their excitement with one another, except for Loue of course.
Loue, on the other hand, was searching furiously to the person behind the tampering of his communicator.
Suddenly, someone grabbed his shoulder.
He looked back and saw the face of the accomplice (?) of the crime.
Joe’s ears were red and it seems that, Jay has punished him in his stead.
Joe with his head down suddenly faced up Loue.
And at that same time, Jay moved to Loue’s side.
Both of them folded their arms like some parents interrogating their kid who has broken a vase.
"Confess everything.” They both strongly said.
Joe wouldn't budge at first.
He didn't mind being glared by Loue.
Because no matter how menacingly Loue does it, it just come out cute compared to Jay's glare.
Yes, being glared to death by the dev- I mean Jay, made Joe confess.
“Well, your parents ask me to do this. They said they want you to socialize with other people, besides us of course. Your parents told me that they had come up with a plan. And that plan, was to tamper your communicator and change its systems settings. So that you’ll have to speak and interact with other people.” Joe softly said.
‘I thought so, Joe could never think of such an elaborate plan like this.’ Loue thought.
“Please punch me, if that’ll make you feel better.” Joe said it.
Then, he readied himself; closing his eyes and clenching his teeth.
“Joe, that’s pretty much a barbaric way of settling things.”Loue frankly said.
“B-but in the shounen manga that I’ve read before, this is the right way to settle problems with friends. And I assure you, that the characters after the fight became good friends again.” Joe dreamily said.
Loue and Jay looked at Joe with disbelief.
“Don’t tell me. You agreed to this, because you want to experience shounen-like events in your life. Am I right or am I right? ” Jay sarcastically said and glared at Joe.
Joe didn’t answer Jay’s question, but it was evident that he did agree with that kind of reasoning.
‘I should’ve known better.’ Loue thought.
“But you know, I was really surprised on how well you fake your panic attack.”Loue said it while looking at Joe.
“Oh! You thought it was an act?” Joe honestly asked.
‘Wait! It wasn’t?’ Jay and Loue thought as they looked at Joe.
Joe was about to say something to them but suddenly, a group of student appeared and move in between them.
The three of them eventually got separated, as more and more students hurriedly walked their way to the basement.
And that’s because the door is now completely open.
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When they arrive inside, the basement was dark and cold.
As they looked closer in the darkness, they saw some familiar silhouettes moving towards them.
Suddenly, a loud voice could be heard saying:
“Everyone, prepare to be amazed!”
Then, everyone heard a clap and suddenly the whole place was filled with light.
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Seeing the content inside the basement, the students couldn’t help but be dumbfounded.
They saw four lines of large, white, egg-shaped capsule pods inside.
There was like a hundred and more of them in every line.
The students were still in daze.
And they would have remained in that state for a few minutes, if not for the principal.
The principal, using his *VB, said this following sentence:
This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.
“ALL STUDENTS, PLEASE FALL IN LINE ACCORDING TO YOUR YEAR, SECTION AND SURNAME.”
And just from that, the students woke up from daze.
Soon after that, everyone rush towards the line they belong.
Most athlete-built and tall students push their way through the crowd,
while students with petite and scrawny figures tried to crawl away.
There are also others who were too lazy to bother to move around like Loue,
who found convenience in the situation by drifting like plankton amidst the chaotic crowd.
Witnessing this scene, some teachers couldn’t help but facepalm themselves.
Others let out a deep sigh.
The principal, on the other hand, was calmly standing there.
Then, he faced the teachers behind him and said:
“Well, it’s to be expected from them. They’re still kids after all…”
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~A Really Short flashback~
Yesterday the principal and all the teachers agreed to let the students create the lines for themselves, with prior instruction of course.
They want to observe the students’ *attitudes and behaviors as they work on this simple task.
And the implementation day of the VR law was the perfect opportunity for that.
~End of the really short flashback~
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“But if we leave them just like that, they’ll grow up rowdy and disrespectful.
Now as good educators, it’s our job to reinforce in their young minds the moral values and *GMRC they were taught earlier at home.”
After the principal said that, the teachers looked back at the growing chaos and then looked again at the principal.
“This is what you sign up for, right?” The principal asked them.
All the teachers standing around the principal then nod in agreement.
After that, one by one the teachers move from their positions and took over the situation.
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After few minutes finally, all the students were in line.
“Follow me.” said the teachers on the line of students they are facilitating.
The lines of Grade 9 students were first to move.
Following them, were lines of Grade 10 students, Grade 11 and Grade 12.
After that, each student walk towards the capsule pods they’ll be using.
They stayed there, and were told to wait until they received further instructions from their principal.
Their principal, using his *VB again, announced to them that the instructions on operating the capsule pods will be relayed through their communicators.
Beeping sounds could be heard all over the place after the principal’s announcement.
Most of the students, except for someone, eagerly received their most awaited instruction.
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“An audio file was sent. Scanning the file content… File is safe…Opening the file…” The female robotic voice said.
“To open the *Balot pod, just place your communicator in front of the scanner- which is located at the middle of the pod.
Once the pod opens, go inside.
Shown on the right wall is a timer, set 2 hours and 3 minutes.
The set time was based off on Article III of the VR law.
It was stated there, that Grade 9 students and so on will be given 2 hours to play in-game.
Additional 3 minutes are then given for them to log out the game.
The timer will only start, once you're inside the game.
Now, at the middle of the pod is a large comfy bed with a cushy pillow.
Lie down on that bed and stay still while the system conduct a scan on your body.
These scan will automatically register you as a new user.
After that, you can start creating your character.
You must take note, that once you made a character you can’t trade it or make a new one.
So, choose very carefully.
Are the instructions clear?” The female robotic voice said.
“Yes.” said Loue.
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“*sigh* Look at them go.” said the principal as the students, one by one enters their assigned Balot pod.
After a few minutes, he muttered in the air:
“I guess it’s time for me to leave.”
The principal then walked slowly towards the exit.
While on his way, he saw that almost all of the students were inside their assigned pods.
Others were already lying down comfortably in the bed.
So it came to him as a surprise, when he saw a student still standing outside his assigned Balot pod.
He then approached this student.
“Hello there!” The principal said.
The student looked back.
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‘Ack! What’s he doing here?’ Loue thought.
"..."
Remembering that he was called earlier, Loue answered him back.
“H-hi…M-mr. Peloni”
“Mr. Asebal, why are you still here?” asked Mr. Peloni.
“C-communicator. S-settings change. Can’t open.” Loue said those words while pointing his communicator and then, the scanner of the Balot pod.
Mr.Peloni look confused at first.
But then he changed, now he looked serious and was deep in thought on what Loues' word meant.
'I think he's telling me something' Mr. Peloni thought.
Then he suddenly blurted out:
“Aha!”
‘Did he understand what those words mean? Well, I hope he does though. I hate explaining, more so talking to other people.‘ Loue thought.
After that, Mr. Peloni said:
“I see. You were saying that, your communicator’s setting was changed. And because of that the Balot pod’s scanner can’t recognize it, and therefore won’t open.”
Lou nod furiously as a response.
Though Loue look the same outside after hearing that, deep inside he was smiling and was very impressed with Mr. Peloni.
“Okay, just stay here. I’ll just call somebody from the center to fix your communicator.” said Mr.Peloni.
Loue nod again and then looked at Mr. Peloni who’s walking away to call for help.
‘He understood my words, he didn’t ask me to move around *coughs* not yet, and lastly, he said he'll get my communicator fix for FREE!!!
Mr. Peloni, do you want me to talk to you in a complete sentence, because this is how you make me talk in a complete sentence.’ Loue thought.
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Mr. Peloni walked a few meters away from Loue.
After that, he made a call to *Rayaj Center and seek someone to fix Loue’s communicator.
“We are sorry to inform you, Sir. There is no *Comfix available right at this moment. Please try again tomorrow.” The female robotic voice said.
“Okay, I understand.” said Mr. Peloni.
While on his way back to Loue, Mr. Peloni’s communicator suddenly beeped.
“Speak.” He said.
“An audio file was sent. Scanning the file content… File is safe…Open the File?” The female robotic voice asked.
“Open.” said Mr. Pelino.
“Opening the file…” The female robotic voice said.
“Kukuku! Use it now.” The female robotic voice said.
And just from this message, Mr. Peloni understood what the sender meant.
“The pod! ” Mr. Peloni exclaimed.
Mr. Peloni quickly went back to Loue.
“Follow me.” said Mr. Peloni.
“Y-yes, sir.” replied Loue.
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Mr. Peloni and Loue started walking together towards the exit.
When they finally arrived outside, Mr. Peloni looked at Loue and said:
“Mr. Asebal, I’m sorry to inform you that your communicator could not be fix today. It seems that no one is available at this moment to fix it.”
*sigh*‘I finally thought that I could have it fix for FREE.’ Loue sadly thought and lowered his head down.
“But the good news is we still have one more pod left. Although it’s a bit different from the high-tech Balot pod that you’re supposed to use, but a pod is a pod, right?” Mr. Peloni enthusiastically said.
'I don't like the way you speak about it. I can tell that it is really way below the standard of Balot pod. *sigh* Oh well, it’s better to have one than none, right?'
Then, Loue nod.
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Both of them walked again for few minutes and then finally reached an old storage room.
Inside, Loue saw a large, white, bamboo-shaped pod placed horizontally on the floor.
He went near the pod and look at it.
‘It looks weird *sigh* as if I have any choice.’ Loue thought
“H-how do I turn on and open this thing?” Loue asked.
Mr. Peloni was stunned for a moment when he heard Loue asked a question in a complete sentence.
But he immediately regained his composure and answered him back.
“This thing will automatically turn on as well, if you open the cover.” said Mr. Peloni.
“Open, as in open just like the doors 2 decades ago?” Loue honestly asked.
“Yes, just like the old doors back then. Now, pull the cover, enter, lie down and then close again the cover.” said Mr. Peloni.
Loue did as what Mr. Peloni has instructed him, but before he fully closed the cover he asked Mr. Peloni these following questions first:
“Does this pod possess the same properties like the Balot pod? Also about the system, is it the same as what the others use? Now, what about the 2 hour 3 minute set time?”
“Well, just like the Balot pod the *K pod is durable, waterproof, and have 10 minute allowance if a brownout occurs. The system used is the same as others. The only difference is that you’ll be automatically log out of the game if the timer reaches 2. And once you leave, the pod will close and slowly turn itself off.” said Mr. Peloni.
“Also one last thing, close your eyes after you have your full body scan. Now off you go. ”added Mr. Peloni
Before, Loue closed the cover he softly spoke his thanks to Mr. Peloni.
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Loue expected to feel hot inside the pod, instead it was cool and refreshing.
And what he initially thought as a hard cushion on his back, was soft.
Although *K pod is not as big compared to Balot pod, Loue felt very comfortable inside it.
His mind was suddenly pulled back when a bright,red light appeared on his feet.
It passed through his toes, his body and then went over to his head.
‘That must be the 'full body scan thing' Mr. Peloni was talking earlier. So now, all I have to do is close my eyes.’ Loue thought.
Loue closed his eyes...
And then he opened it back slowly and see...
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Author’s Note:
*Rayaj – It is an AI that creates passwords. It was named after its creator Rayaj M. Gidan, the inventor of the first communicator.
*GMRC = Good manners and right conduct
Starting from year 2028, teaching moral values and GMRC are encourage in every Filipino homes.
*Balot pod = LAMPANMEJ corporation's capsule pod.
The design of the pod is based off on balot (boiled egg of developing duck embryo), and is also named after that.
*K/ Kawayan pod = a capsule of unknown origin(as of now).
The design of the pod is based off on kawayan(bamboo), and is also named after that.
*VB= Volume Booster, a device the boost the loudness of a person’s voice. It looks like a choker for girls and necklace for boys.It directly reads the owners brainwaves so that volume can be adjusted easily.
Note: VB are expensive, but the principal, Mr. Peloni, can afford to buy one. :D
*Rayaj Center = A communicator's service center and a shop as well.
*Comfix = (Communicator fixer) Communicator technician.