Present:

"Your guardian and your lawyer is requesting a meeting in strategy room. Since your account has not purchased autopilot feature, please locate yourself out of way and meditate before accepting connections. You can get hurt if someone hurt you in 'Life'. Also, since you have not purchased real memory option, memories of game details will be stored in your gaming device memory. You have option to purchase 1Mb of memory at 1 gold."

CD realised that all the memories and till now will be gone from his mind if he accepted meeting. He thought to system about purchase of 1Mb of memory from his remaining 1.5 gold.

"You have purchased 1Mb of data for real memory. Please remember what you need to transfer to real memory. Think start for memory recording start. "

After finding a corner of yard to 'meditate', CD now spent a few minutes about preparing for what to remember outside the game. Including about student mage and about accident etc. When he finished recording he received error from system

"231Mb of data recorded, please reduce memory amount."

"Is there some kind of option available to reduce sensory information from memory"

System displayed almost countless option in front of CD's view for options.

CD realised his mistake and took charge of options like he used to for his office work.

"Remove smell, touch, taste information. Convert audio information into text format and select my own voice for playing it. Use my voice print from my office account, do not store it in memory data. System message from Vicky Gupta is already in system. send its link for memory play. Convert face of student mage into sketch with distinct features, limiting to size of 200Kb only. convert conversation with student mage and all my written queries into text for play on exit. Introduce 10 minute delay in meeting"

System confirmed and converted data into memory of size 753Kb. After confirmation, CD opened his eyes into an empty room sitting on a chair in front of table. Again, CD was shocked for few seconds about where he was. Then system played Vicky's message. In next few minutes, CD was prepared with all information he had selected as important and gave acceptance to meeting.

In blink of an eye, his brother Vicky and lawyer were there standing in front of him. CD stood up to meet them and was engulfed into hug by Vicky. This was again shocking to CD as Vicky never overtly displayed his emotions. Usually, Vicky even spoke very few words. Just enough as needed.

'OK. So situation is bad. What happened exactly ? Lets start slowly. From beginning. '

"Hey, lets sit". At this moment his eyes fell on the lawyer. Another shock passed through his body, but he schooled his expression within a fraction of second to neutral. As all three took seats, CD took into appearance of Narayan in front of him out of corner of his eyes, all the while keeping a light smile on his face.

Narayan was impeccable in his disguise, if not for CD's his high IQ, he might have missed him as simply a background character. His hair line was receded to bare whole top of his head. Only a small patch of hair was on front side, otherwise hair were present only on side of head. He had a light beard and moustache styled in such a way as to draw attention from his actual face. In perfect lawyer style he was wearing a suit complete with a briefcase and few files in his hand. Made CD wonder if lawyers still used actual papers. But it was clear that Narayan was under disguise.

It won't end well for anyone if a psychopathic spy who do not feel bad while killing a person irrespective of who he/she are, is exposed. Even in virtual room. If he was present with his brother, this means that most probably Narayan must be with Vicky in real life also. Nobody needed disguise for joining virtual conference, you can simply make yourself look like Thanos and still get caught as AI already has your brain print. After all, brain signal algorithm can only be understood by your brain only, and you can't understand anybody else brain signal without AI interpretation. It means, Narayan was in disguise in real world also, with Vicky.

If Narayan was present here then this must be connected to his mobile OS communication initiative. It was a top secret project and nobody other then 4 people were suppose to know about it. Either Narayan was here in official capacity due to project or he was here for something related to project or he was here to warn him about not leaking information to anyone. If this was related to project, it was bad news. There was no way CD will walk out of this alive if something was leaked or went against him. Govt don't usually leave behind witness or loose ends. Best damn killer spy in front of him did not elevated his concerns.

"OK, so ... Vicky start from beginning and do not panic. I am alive and that is all that matters, or rather, let me ask questions, answer exactly what I ask. so.... now . What is my physical condition ?". CD can literally see Vicky going into doctor mode.

"Not good. Your body is crushed on right hand. Right arm and leg are amputated, right lung, kidney were removed. More then half your ribs are removed. You are on ventilator after artificial blood infusion of 6Ltrs over a week. "

something is missing. ventilator and still in game ? I am in for long term, otherwise no need for my brain function concern.

"what about my brain. why I am in VR"

"..... you have a serious head injury. partial damage to multiple nerves. Your bodily function being repaired will take around million euro. Your brain function restoration will take around 10 million euros. Insurance company is trying to weasel out. Mr Anil here will make sure we get payout for repair. It is just matter of time, don't worry. I have already arranged for body repair. Brain damage is to be repaired out of country. It will take a few month for all the arrangement. Hey, don't worry,I am here"

'Yes, I know. you will try everything. Including doing MD again in neuro if no other option is left. That is not I am worried about. I will either recover or not recover. Why is Narayan is here ? If it is something related to my work, I am sure you won't be able to find a neuro surgeon in 10 years, if I don't die due to "complications", that is '

"So, what happened ?"

"An asshole was casing some showroom on Parry street for robbery. We were there on shopping on Saturday. Police says he panicked due to some reason, maybe somebody made him out. He drove his stolen SUV in full speed on footpath. Gugu almost died there, but on last second you pushed him away. You could not escape. Asshole is still not caught yet"

'Parry street ? Kamal gave me one day 30% off coupon on jeweler shop there. So I went there on Saturday. Huh... perfect setup - one day coupon to ensure I go there, No parking on street means I am on foot. He was not casing a showroom, he was waiting there for me. That asshole almost killed my nephew. wait... dont jump to conclusion. wait for information first. Kamal maynot be involved, it might not be a hit on me'

"You took me to your hospital ?". 'No other reason for me to survive if they don't want me to'

"Of course I did. My hospital is biggest in area. Our neuro department is best in whole city. I personally dragged David to OT"

'This is bad, if they think him as hurdle, he will die'

"Hey, why not to Sunrise hospital ? It is near home, will free up you guys from looking after me."

"No point, those asshole are not ready to take your case due to 'complications' also, I am in office 14hrs a day, who can look after you better then me ? don't worry, Minni is fine. Moreover she is getting fat, let her loose some weight". Vicky tried to downplay inconveniences

'levity. She must be tiered to bones'

"Anyway, can I discuss my case with lawyer ? "

"sure. That's why he is here". Vicky made no move. 'Of course he think he is going to be here, I almost never kept anything from him. He can't even think of a reason why I will send him away'

"Alone Vicky. I need to discuss details and other things". Confusion on Vicky's face was clear at first then a few second after he became furious.

"Don't you dare think about will !!! You are not going to die. Don't give up !!"

'huh ?... Oh !! He think I am thinking to write my will because I gave up on living or something ??? Wow !! How bad is my condition?'

"Ha Ha Ha... don't worry, it is not about will or anything else. It is about my job, you know I work on many Govt projects. I need to tie things off and lawyer will have to deal with complications"

Vicky almost deflated with relief on this. He realised that I am not giving up or anything. But then he closed his eyes and took deep breath.

"They gave you retirement on medical ground. Those assholes, all those years you spent on their work and they simply do not want any headache. I have sent a petition to court actually. That is the reason Anil is here. He need your views and consents on many things. I can't even understand half the things in documents. You are the brightest in family, you should read those things"

CD almost laughed at Vicky getting headache from paperwork. 'He read so many medical journals daily for his work'

"Yeah, but still, even if I am not in job, I am bound by many confidentiality agreements. You should wait, I will sent lawyer out for talking later."

Vicky look reluctant but soon CD and Narayan were alone. Both gauging reaction of one and another.

"Healing touch (?)". It was less of statement but more of question. CD had still not given final verdict. It was sarcasm for tying loose ends.

"Got one myself too"

Silence could be heard clearly in room. CD was almost too shocked to think clearly. Never in a million years he thought anybody will try to kill Narayan, not because he was nice guy or anything, but even his boss was afraid of him.

'So, either they were idiots who didn't knew anything about him -- ie. not Govt -- OR they got paid too well to go on almost suicidal mission'

"Govt ? or private ?". For working with Narayan, CD had developed almost single word language. They both understood each other very well. Also, they were in VR. AI may pretend about privacy, but everyone in world understood that all data was being passed via AI. Also, brain pattern signature do not work for AI, after all it was the one who encrypted data with brain pattern.

"PPP". Narayan used a code word they used for corrupt govt working with greedy corporates for profit and bribe. It stood for Public-Private-Partnership. It used to be sarcasm for corrupt practices.

"It wasn't exclusive ?" CD's project was Govt project for bypassing AI module for encryption in mobile phones for encryption. While VR set were created by AI only, normal mobile phones were for private companies to manufacture and sell. So, AI module had to depend on Base OS of mobile phones. CD wrote a parallel OS which worked just like normal OS but insert a buffer in a particular module. this buffer stored all data for snooping. Infect target's mobile with CD's module and even AI encryption can't stop Govt. It was a sealed project and no private firm were into this area.

"Was. someone got impressed. got interested"

'Meaning, some asshole leaked project to some corporate, they decided to steal project and sell back to Govt at very high cost. My final submission would have stopped such deal as my project already do that work. So I was eliminated and so was Narayan for knowing about my project. All remaining alive among 6 are involved. Kamal, I am sure about. He was the one who sent me at location. Asshole !!! I helped him when he failed to deliver after spending 200 millions !!! You won't escape ... you targeted me and my family'

"Anybody got healed ?" CD was curious, who lived and who died.

"Narayan and his family". Narayan said in extremely flat tone.

'So he faked his own death. wait, family ?'

"How ?"

"Very common now a days for gas leak to get sparked by turning light on after returning home. Narayan's phone was at location when it happened. They got confirmed healing from healers."

'Meaning they tracked him via his phone which might be with his wife or maybe kid was playing game on it. Bombed his home to make sure. He survived somehow. Don't think he will kill his family himself'

"Kamal need healing, in my department" . Translation 'Kill that bastard please for me and your family'

"All of your mutual friends do. They are deeply hurt by Narayan's death and your accident."

'They deserve more then death. They deserve worse than death. They deserve eternity of pain. wait. No emotions. Calm down. They were hired by someone. Yes they deserve death and worse, but who hired them ?? Kamal and others will not go themselves to kill me or Narayan. someone hired killers for this job'

"Who rented healer ?"

"I will find out to thank them". Meaning, they are deadman walking.

At this, an image of a zombie flashed through CD's mind, walking without eyes and bleeding all over and stumbling at every step. This sparked an scenario when CD had bluffed his way out of a road rage by pretending to be a psychopath and describing in details how he will make life of other party hell.

"You know Anil, after I saw that movie 'Black', I was always afraid of sensory deprivation. Think about it, even death is better than being blind, mute, deaf and without use of one's hands and legs. I always feared it. Family taking care of you, wasting away not able to say anything to them or hear their words. always in dark. Guess what, I am in that condition now. It is worse than death. People need to sympathise with me to understand my condition"

Narayan looked at CD for a few second before nodding once. He understood CD's message to make life hell for all involved. Best way to do this ? simply attack families. When you die, all your worries goes away. But if you are alive, you have to deal with everything.

"Anyway, thank their family for supporting such great friends. You need to find who hired healer. We must thank them. They may help us in future by healing us again"

Meaning, attack their families, they should share punishment. Families will drag them down. Also find corporation behind this, they will hunt us in future. They need to be eliminated.

"You and Narayan are healed, you are off the table"

"Yes, but till when? benefactors will remember us sooner or later. Better to not meet anyone else". 'so don't contact me again, it might throw suspicion on me'

"Heard you are playing Life. I also play sometimes" . Meaning, I will meet you there sometime.

"Anyway, your department has released you on medical retirement. They will pay for your medical bills till you die. Getting permission for international treatment cost is different ball game all together. You might need to arrange for 10 million euros."

'1 million euro is equal to 100 million in local currency. i.e. 1000 million . That is impossible to earn. Even Govt will not pay for me that much, if they were interested in paying. My investments and properties are around 50 million in local currency. So almost 20 times my current worth. I will drag down my family. Moreover, they will come for me again. Better to live in VR world and let Govt bear my treatment cost for life. Better fake 'Life' then no life'

"Can't do anything about it. I just want to let my brother live in peace without having to carry my burden. 10 million euros is really too much for my family. I can stay in VR on Govt cost"

"Yeah, maybe you will get rich in VR game to afford treatment"

'what ? '

"What ?"

"Remember ? AI use game gold for currency across all the virtual reality segments ? It has conversion rate of 10 euro to a gold. So basically, game's virtual gold is at same value at real gold. There was a plan where our Govt was planning to pay in game gold. but opposition of AI delayed it by 15 yrs"

CD remembered about AI. Initially when it was brought to light, whole world's corporate tried to steal it. But creator decided to die instead. He literally scanned his brain to enhance AI's progress and dealt with a few African warlords for resources. Corporate could not stomach this, they banned AI to pressurise for it to be controlled by them. But by now AI had thinking pattern of its creator. It made many backups and started industrialisation process for these allied African countries. Soon, it became biggest earning corporation. Finally under pressure from public outcry, UN had to sanction AI. It tried to suppress it in many ways. But over the period of time, it had taken over everything in life. Its ability to stimulate brain in time compression literally allow 3X ratio of work hours. Allied countries earned much more money by simply using time compression for office work. Basically, AI's gold was now unofficial international money.

'Shit, Vicky purchased VR game account for me. How much does that cost'

"I will look into it. Any other way to earn 10 million euros ?"

"I might find some funds which can come handy if possible. I will look into it. But it might take a long time. I have to fund my own operations now with.... single person team"

CD gave permission for Vicky joining conference with discussion closed.