“Greetings, Star Explorers!”
There were already hundreds of people in chat watching Orion Starbeard’s stream. More were pouring in by the minute. Chat was spamming the channel with words of support, posting animated emotes, and some good-natured bullying. People were sharing their stories about how Orion had helped them. Others were typing old catch phrases. Many of them were donating or redeeming points to help support the Vtuber. The Talk To Speech bot had to be shut off so as not to drown out the animated Orc on screen.
Everyone wanted to be there. Fans from across the globe, in every time zone, all of them tuning in for this final stream. The word had been out for months. Orion was dying.
In the center of the screen sat an animated pirate Orc avatar, larger than life in both spirit and girth. His avatar’s hide was a seaweed green, with golden eyes and an immaculate beard. The trademark beard was his namesake, flowing with shades of midnight blue and twinkling with glowing constellations.
He addressed the chat, “Welcome to my retirement stream! Tonight I’ll be joined by two of my loyal crew, Lazar Boomslang and Aurelio Ironsides!”
A Lizardman with gleaming burgundy scales slid into view an announced, “I’ve edited a clip compilation of the ‘Seas of Spiritus Saga’ together. We’ll be watching highlights of the adventure tonight.”
“That’s right, Lazar,” Orion smiled at the reptile. “It’s going to be a very chill stream.”
An olive-skinned, beardless dwarf slid up from the bottom of the screen, “Remember: all of tonight’s donations go toward helping with medical bills, so support us if you can.”
Orion side-hugged the dwarf and kissed him on the cheek before addressing the chat, “As always, donations are appreciated but never expected.”
Aurelio turned his face and kissed Orion on the lips. Turning back to the screen he added, “If you can’t support us financially, you can help spread the word!”
Orion nodded, “That’s right. This night is for you, my loyal viewers, to thank you for all the support over the last decade. Especially this past year while updates have been sporadic.”
Lazar spread his arms, “So without further ado, let’s get this party started!”
It was a night to remember! Lazar had prepared the best clips from Orion’s last campaign. It showed the crew of the Deck Puncher as they sailed across the seven seas of Spiritus, an immersive first person augmented reality pirate game. There were epic victories against the monsters of the seas, funny moments, and even a bit of romance. All through it, Lazar played host while Aurelio mostly sat affectionately on Orion’s lap while they watched and responded to chat.
It was over too soon. They’d only gone three hours when Orion started to get too worn out to continue. Lazar wrapped things up, setting up a raid to support another streamer, the chat over two thousand strong at that point. Aurelio hopped up and stood behind Orion’s chair as the tired Orc was brought front and center.
Orion gave a wan smile and addressed his audience one last time, “Thank you all for being here. I wish we could have gotten the rest of the crew here but-” Orion eyes welled up as he shakily continued, “It has been my greatest honor serving as your Captain. I am overwhelmed by this show of support you’ve all shown me. And even thought I’m sailing off ahead of you, just remember that I’ll be watching over you from beyond the stars.”
Lazar shifted the focus to himself as he wrapped up the stream. This allowed Orion and Aurelio to remove their Virtual Reality headsets and slip away quietly. And then it was just Ryan and Enrique, the men behind the masks.
Ryan was pale and gaunt, confined to a wheelchair even in real life. His hair and beard were just starting to come in again, growing back slowly since he had stopped the chemotherapy. He was mostly covered in thick blankets to ward off the chill.
Enrique looked similar to his Vtuber model, though he too looked exhausted from the stream. He’d not been sleeping well, spending as much time with his dying lover as he could before needing to fly home again. When he steered the chair into Ryan’s office, which had been converted into a bedroom, Enrique finally broke down.
Enrique leaned forward and buried his face into Ryan’s shoulder, choking back a sob. Ryan reached up and cupped his damp cheek, trying to comfort his boyfriend. Ryan whispered, “Tonight was amazing. You have no idea how much it means for me.”
Enrique visibly composed himself and started to strip out of the motion capture rig he wore over his clothes. Once he finished taking off his gloves, Enrique walked around to help him do the same. Ryan had opted for simple hand tracking gloves along with his VR visor, but his hands were too shaky to remove them himself.
“Of course, baby.” Enrique smiled through his tears, “It means a lot to me too. I’m just sorry we couldn’t get anyone else to fly out.”
“Mika’s got college finals coming up, R’ath’s got his family, and Reggie’s been working on that big secret project.” Ryan said, “It matters that you’re here. And LeVar.”
“You couldn’t get rid of me if you tried, partner.” Lazar said as he walked in, “You know I’m here for you. How’s our boy?”
Lazar, or LeVar as he was known in real life, was a taller black man with an easy going manner. His lime green hair had been carefully pulled back in a bun so as not to interfere with the VR headset. He started to shuck himself free of the tracking vest.
“Tired but okay.” Ryan replied, “I appreciate you setting all this up.”
“Sure man, what are friends for?” LeVar picked up the discarded harnesses from the floor and winked at Enrique, “Lemme give you two some privacy. I’ve got to start working on edits and posting the stream on Viewtoob.”
Enrique mouthed ‘Thank you’ as LeVar closed the door behind him. He turned to Ryan and glared as he struggled to raise himself out of the wheelchair. Enrique put one of Ryan’s arms around his shoulders and helped him stand.
“I’ve got this,” Ryan protested.
“I know you do,” Enrique consoled him. “I’m not even here.”
The blanket slipped off of Ryan’s lap. He was standing on one foot, his left leg having been amputated just under the knee. Sighing with resignation, Ryan accepted the assistance with good grace. Ryan was so light it didn’t take much effort to get him under the covers. Enrique was about to tuck him in when he started to break down again. He climbed in after Ryan and cried against his chest. Ryan put an arm around Enrique’s trembling shoulders and kissed his forehead.
“I’m sorry,” Orion whispered.
Enrique shook his head and mumbled against his chest, “It’s not your fault.”
No.” Ryan replied gently, “I’m sorry it took me so long to admit my feelings. I’m sorry we didn’t have more time, because of me.”
Enrique sat up and cupped Ryan’s cheeks, kissing him fiercely, “Then stop apologizing and let me be with you now. I could cancel my trip home! I could stay here with you!”
“Babe, you have a life too. I don’t want you to stop living your life because of me.” Orion smiled up with tied eyes and pulled Enrique closer, “Let’s just enjoy the rest of your trip together.” Orion yawned, “Later. I’m sorry I just don’t have the energy right now.”
Enrique kissed him and snuggled back down, pulling the covers over them both.
“Then just sleep,” Enrique murmured. “I’ll be here when you wake up.”
There’s something extremely poignant about flying across the country knowing it’s going to be the last time. Ryan had always been a nervous flier, not really a home with heights. Most of the time he took a sleeping pill and tried to zonk out during the trip while listening to podcasts, especially on long flights like this. This time, however, he felt compelled to look out the window, only sitting back when the feeling of vertigo got too bad. Usually he didn’t even like the window seats, especially over the past year. This time Ryan splurged on first class, so he had plenty of room and was close enough to the bathroom not to be a bother to anyone.
Besides, Ryan didn’t have much use for money after today, he might as well be comfy on the journey. He still wasn’t sure what he was getting into, just that his friend Regina had some far-fetched plan to cure him. Exactly how he wasn’t sure, it’s not like she was a doctor. Regina Douglas was the CEO of Star-Lynx Entertainment, a gaming company on the cutting edge of VR technology. They were experimenting with new techniques to make games more immersive that blurring the lines between virtual and reality. Ryan opened his phone and re-reread the mysterious email she sent him.
Dear Ryan,
I did it! Horizons is in Beta now! You promised if you were still here that you’d beta test for me, and I am holding you to that. I know you’re skeptical, but I really believe it could help. If you’re willing to take a big risk, please reach out. Let me help you, ya big goofus!
-Reggie
She’d been talking about this project for months, but the whole situation seemed crazy. Regina said this procedure could not only potentially help him, but a slew of other people if it was successful. That was what finally got him to agree. Ryan always liked to raise money for different charities, so helping people was a big draw. But when Regina told him to get his affairs in order before flying out, Ryan knew that for better or worse, this was going to be his final destination. So after making arrangements with his business partner LeVar, saying his goodbyes to friends and family, and one last tearful video call with Enrique, Ryan bought a one-way ticket to Michigan.
The flight attendant swung back around offering drinks, snacks and alcohol. As good as a drink sounded to help tamp down the rising dread he felt, keeping a clear head was essential for the next leg of his journey. He didn’t know how badly booze would mess up his cognition but he didn’t want to risk it. He declined refreshments with a polite smile and stared out the window again. This part of the Midwest was never particularly interesting to look at so he closed the window with a sigh. He’d been fighting it, but his body finally started getting too weary to stay awake. He leaned his seat back with a soft grunt, pulled the blanket over his leg more snugly and tipped his cap down over his eyes. He inserted his ear buds and fell asleep listening to his friend's TTRPG podcast.
A voice started to cut through the darkness and slowly Ryan opened his eyes to a concerned looking flight attendant. Ryan was still groggy but pulled his earbuds out and stashed them in the carrying case. Ryan asked, “Sorry, could you repeat that?”
“Are you all right, sir?” the flight attendant repeated.
“Sorry, I’m okay.” Ryan cleared his throat, mouth dry, “Really.”
The flight attendant was visibly relieved, “The Captain is starting his landing procedures. We need you to put your seat in an upright position, sir.”
Ryan adjusted himself, “Of course.” Ryan sat up a bit straighter and moved his chair upright. He closed the tray table and looked around. His blanket had fallen so with a grunt he leaned down to pull it back on his lap. He nodded to his neighbor who gave Ryan a slightly relieved look as well.
Ryan put his earbuds in again and peeked out the window. He could see the Great Lakes in the distance. The scenery started to tip as the plane started its descent and Ryan’s stomach flipped, so the window was closed again. Michigan was not exactly his dream destination. There were plenty of places Ryan wished he could have visited again. Japan, Australia, England, and he’d never gotten out to Ireland which was definitely on the bucket list.
Still, his career had taken him many interesting places so it was hard to have regrets. A life well lived. He was satisfied with whatever happened next.
The plane landed and he waited patiently as they taxied to the terminal. Ryan took his phone off airplane mode and texted Regina that he landed. People started to stand up and file out of the plane. Once everyone left, one of the flight attendants brought over one of the foldable airline wheelchairs and offered to help him into it.
“I’ve got it,” Ryan said as he pulled himself up and weakly shuffled into the seat. “If you could grab my stuff tho, that would be helpful.”
She smiled and retrieved his only luggage, the blanket and a backpack with some spare clothes and some portable video games just in case. While she worked, he scooted himself into a comfortable sitting position in the chair. The blanket and luggage were placed gently in his lap. Ryan took a calming breath to steady his nerves and leaned back, “Okay, let’s do this.”
Ryan stirred again as someone’s voice woke him up. He grumbled, irritated at how low energy he was these days, “Pardon?”
“We’re here, Mr. Starbeard!” the driver repeated cheerfully.
“It’s not-” Ryan began and thought better of it, “Thank you.”
The driver opened the driver’s side door. “I’ll get the chair for you!”
Ryan gathered his things and sat back. No turning back now. He glanced out the window at the Star-Lynx Entertainment building. How many years had it been since his last visit? They had been working on some really experimental stuff, and if the email was to be believed, they’d figured it out. If it was anything like their fully immersive VR games, this would be quite an experience. He was lucky to be selected as a Beta Tester.
The door opened and the driver swung the chair around. Declining the help Ryan shifted into it and pulled the blanket back over his legs. The driver hung the backpack over the chair’s handles and he offered to push Ryan to the entrance.
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Ryan felt that familiar urge to decline but it was hard to say no in the face of such barely contained enthusiasm. Ryan smiled, “If it’s not too much of a bother, sure.”
“Not a bother at all!” The driver exclaimed as she took the handles and turned toward the building, “Actually, I’m a big fan of your work, Mr. Starbeard! I just didn’t want to come off as annoying, I know you probably get swarmed by obsessive fans all the time. I just wanted you to know-”
Ryan looked up as the driver trailed off, “Go on, you’ve been very respectful. I appreciate that.”
“Okay, then. Um…” The driver hesitated, “Back in college I was really struggling for a long time. Felt lost, and I was thinking of dropping out. But your streams really inspired me. Orion Starbeard, Space Orc Captain VTuber. He was my comfort character. You were always so supportive and welcoming to people in your community. And you fostered a safe space for queer kids, which for me was important.”
Ryan closed his eyes, “I always tried.”
“In a lot of ways, you helped me be comfortable with who I am.” The driver continued, “I stayed in school, made friends, met my girlfriend, graduated college and got my dream job here. All because of you.”
“No, that was all you. I can’t possibly take credit for your achievements,” Ryan corrected gently.
“No.” The wheelchair stopped and the driver stepped in front of Ryan, squatting to be eye level with him. “I am only here because of you. Because you told me to keep fighting. Not me, specifically, of course. But I promise, you saved my life.”
Something pulled at Ryan’s memory. He asked, “What’s your name?”
“Willow.” She smiled, “I met you once at Glitchcon a few years back but I was…”
Ryan really looked at her for the first time. She was wearing a warm orange turtleneck, a patterned mid-length brown skirt, cowboy boots, chunky necklaces with a variety of charms and trinkets, and topped with a mop of frizzy auburn hair. Willow looked like everyone’s favorite art teacher. It was the eyes that sparked a memory, the hazel green eyes with a sunspot of copper around the pupils. There had been a lot of changes from the person he met, including the name, but Willow seemed much happier now.
Ryan smiled gently, “You looked different, but I remember you. You told me you wanted to be a VTuber so you could be the person you felt like inside. I recall telling you that you don’t have to hide behind an avatar to be that person. I told you that even if it’s scary…”
Ryan faltered as the rest of the memory slipped away from him.
“You should always be true to yourself. Because if you’re not being you, then who are you?” Willow finished. “It might sound corny to you, but hearing you say it was exactly what I needed to hear at the time. And so here I am. My true self.”
Ryan beamed at Willow, “I am so proud of you.”
Willow’s eyes were bright with unshed tears and she laughed, “Thank you.”
“You are quite welcome.”
“If it’s not too much to ask,” Willow hesitated. “Would it be okay to get a picture with you?”
Ryan smiled, “I don’t mind, if you’re okay with me looking like this.”
“Absolutely!” Willow stood and then crouched back down for a quick selfie, Ryan smiling with double peace signs. She stood back up, admiring the picture. “I’ll treasure this.”
“I hope you haven’t been tiring out our guest, Willow.”
Willow spun and hid her phone behind her back, “I, no…we were just…”
Regina Douglas stood at the foot of the building’s steps. She was a tall black woman in a lipstick red power suit clicked towards them in matching high heels. She wore a yellow blouse that contrasted well with her warm brown skin, and her long salt and pepper hair was pulled back in a sensible bun. The wrinkles around her eyes did nothing to diminish strength radiating from her. She looked like a warrior who didn’t mind getting her hands dirty, but one who was simultaneously late for a PTA meeting. Her stern expression morphed into a bright smile as she stopped in front of Ryan.
Ryan held up a hand, “It’s quite alright, she’s been pleasant company. I appreciate you sending her to pick me up.”
“Send her?” Regina chuckled, “She insisted. I don’t often send one of my lead programmers out to chauffeur guests to my humble gaming company.”
Willow retreated to the back of the wheelchair. Taking the handles again she stammered, “I’m sorry Miss Douglas, I was just heading to you.”
Regina arched an expertly plucked eyebrow, “So I see.”
“Oh, don’t tease her, Silky.” Ryan scolded, “I didn’t expect to see you here. Figured you’d be too busy.”
Regina’s expression softened, “And miss seeing a dear friend? Come here, Orion!”
Regina leaned in for a hug. Ryan sat up to return it as best he could from his seated position. “I’m flattered, but I almost wish you hadn’t. I don’t want people seeing me like this,” Ryan’s voice was tired and tinged with bitterness.
Regina’s smile was brittle. When she spoke, her voice was choked with emotion, “Oh hush, you look great. I’m glad you finally reconsidered my offer.”
Ryan brightened a bit, “Well, I figure I have nothing left to lose. And after all your generosity helping with the medical bills-”
“Ah, ah, none of that.” Regina waggled a finger, “If you’re doing this because you feel obligated, I’ll have Miss Barker here send you right back to the hospital. You provided Millions of dollars worth of free advertising for my games! Besides, if this works, this project will transcend such petty concepts of money!”
Ryan held up his hands in surrender, “Yes, you said as much in your emails. Always trying to change the world for the better.”
Regina clapped her hands excitedly, “And with your help, I may finally succeed! Will succeed, I’m sure of it!” Regina glanced to Willow and smoothed down her suit, “Besides, I’m more the business side of things, it’s brilliant programmers like Miss Barker here that are the real MVP of Star-Lynx.”
Willow blushed, “You hired a good team. I’m just one part of it.”
“Oh, don’t be silly. Your program for procedurally generating biomes was inspiring. I only hire the best.” Regina walked closer, “Ryan, baby, we’re wasting time. Let me get you back to the lab.”
Ryan stiffened. He could actually hear Willow’s grip tighten on the chair’s handles. Regina must have seen something in the woman’s expression, because even she paused and took a diplomatic step back. Regina cleared her throat.
“Actually, why don’t you join us, Miss Barker? You have a better understanding of how all of this works, anyway. Right this way!” Regina turned and led them toward the Star-Lynx entrance.
Touring the facilities was interesting. A lot had changed since his last visit here. He’d been invited to Star-Lynx to test games for the past decade. He’d watched the company grow from a small independent studio to a major competitor in the games market. Of course they’d added a new location about five years ago when they started Regina’s new secret project. He’d seen a very early build of the new game a few years back, and what he saw was impressive, but still laggy and full of bugs.
It was a cool space game with some fantasy inspired themes. It had RPG elements, but with a more skill-based leveling system that enabled you to improve yourself by doing activities to practice said skills. He tried his hand at hacking, firing weapons, and even some crafting, watching his skill level improve. While it felt very much like being in a video game, some aspects were very realistic. One section of the demo had him doing a space walk on the outside of the ship to repair a panel damaged by space rubble. With a giant gas giant behind him as he worked it legit set off his vertigo and he had to lie down for a bit afterward. He could only imagine what kind of improvements they’d made since then.
“Welcome to Cosmic Horizons: Online!” Regina announced proudly as they walked through the halls toward the labs, “It started out with a simple idea. What if we could make games fully immersive? What if we could actually put someone’s consciousness inside a video game? What if they could touch, taste, smell and feel like they are really there? We came close with Seas of Spiritus. Full body VR. We could almost make the brain believe they were inside the game. But I wasn’t satisfied.”
Pushing open some double doors they started passing walls with wide picture windows. Inside were huge computers that looked like something out of a sci-fi show. Blue lights glowed along tubes, and computer screens filled with lines of code being monitored by people in white hazmat suits. One room had a huge orb with lights that looked like the neural pathways of the brain if you just took away all that pesky gray matter. Another window was filled with ominous glowing tubes big enough to hold a person. As he watched, Ryan could swear he saw someone press his hand against the glass from within.
Nervousness started to gnaw at Ryan, “What kind of Frankensteinian shit have you been working on here, Reggie?”
Regina paused and looked around, “What? Oh, you mean this? Impressive isn’t it?”
“It’s ghoulish,” Ryan said.
“Right? It should be a great first dungeon for the tutorial area. Although we’re calling them Vaults to sound more science fiction-y. It sets up a larger recurring storyline later, but the Manti-C.O.R.E. syndicate is just one of the main antagonists in CH:O.” Regina pulled a small remote out of her pocket and hit a button.
What he thought were windows flipped to a new scene. This one of an idyllic forest with massive birch-like trees, if birch trees had orange leaves and blue fruit. Two moons could be seen in the waning sunset light, the lavender sky darkening to a rich plum color. A rabbit-like creature with mossy fur and stick-like antlers bounded past one screen. Another click and they were suddenly underwater. A titanic beast that looked like a cuttlefish with a protruding brain-like forehead swam serenely past, feeding on glowing green krill. It was hard to see but Ryan could just make out some small bipedal creatures swimming along with it, dwarfed by the gentle giant. On the opposite wall an underwater city that looked as if it were constructed out of living coral could be seen in the distance. The scene jumped again and he could see an island floating on a sea of clouds. The swirled pink and blue grass was populated by a city composed entirely of canvas circus tents.
“Holy shit!” Ryan exclaimed, “It all looks so real. This is nothing like the last time I was here.”
Regina smiled and winked at Willow, “Like I said, we’ve hired some extremely talented people.”
Willow said, “Of course, none of this could be possible without Dr. Gardener. His work with neuroscience and mapping the brain is the only way this is even possible.”
“Yes. I just wish he was here to talk more about it. I can’t even begin to explain his work,” Regina added.
“Okay ladies, you’ve kept me in suspense long enough.” Ryan chuckled, “What is this actually about? You sent me a cryptic message about some life changing game and to come out here to what is essentially a mad scientist’s lab, told me to put my affairs in order before flying me out here, and now you’re talking about neuroscience. Why exactly am I here?”
Regina regarded him quietly for a moment, “We are working on full neural integration into a video game. Digital immortality. All the transhumanistic themes you see in the media, we’ve cracked the code. At least, I hope we have. And we want you to be the first one to test it.”
“This is way more than I expected.” Ryan swallowed the lump in his throat, “I thought you were just giving me a chance to check out your new game. Like, one last beautiful dream before the end, y’know.”
Regina squatted down and placed a gentle hand over his. “Sweetheart, I’m not offering you the end. I’m offering you a fresh start.” Regina stood and spread her arms to indicate the screens to either side of them. The scene changed from one fantastical world to another. Each more whimsical and eerily beautiful than the last, “I’m offering you a chance at a new life.”
Ryan felt a wave of emotions wash over him, leaving him with a feeling he hadn’t felt in some time. With a twinge of hope in his voice, he muttered, “Fuck it, what do I have to lose? Show me.”
Regina nodded and smiled at Willow before turning. She led them through the double doors and into a large room filled with computer desks. People bustled around, writing code, fixing glitches and even socializing. Regina was still talking about the project and plans for the future but Ryan’s mind was reeling with the possibilities. Sure he’d seen the science fiction shows, played the games dealing with jacking into a virtual world and living in a new life as a digitized mind on a server somewhere. But it had to be impossible right? And if not, why ask him to test it?
Maybe because he had nothing to lose by trying. He had volunteered after all. And maybe a small part of him really believed it could be true.
“Douglas! There you are! You can’t keep avoiding me.”
A voice cut through Ryan’s contemplation and he looked up at an agitated man with a fit frame, immaculate goatee and glasses with clip-on sunglasses. The look Regina gave him should have vaporized him on the spot but he muscled his way closer, ignorant of the danger.
“Regina, I’ve got to talk to you about my ideas for the in-game store. You keep blocking me on this but selling weapon skins is the best way to make money!” The man said as he stopped in front of them, “If you’re going to kibosh the season pass idea you have to give me something! I’m head of marketing, I need something to, you know…Market!”
“Oh, what’s this? Some kind of make-a-wish foundation thing?” He asked, finally glancing down at Ryan. He leaned in close with a smug smirk, “Little old to be in the program, eh bud?”
Ryan stared him down, “Nice seeing you again, Hassan. Always a pleasure.”
Hassan squinted, then leaned back so fast his sunglasses flipped down as recognition hit, “Ah fuck! I’m sorry Ryan, that wasn’t cool of me. I heard about what happened. How’s the, uh, situation looking?”
Ryan sighed, too tired to fight, “You’re looking at it.”
Regina shot Hassan a ‘I will kill you’ look, “That’s actually why he’s here. He’ll be testing out the new Full Integration feature.”
Hassan brightened up, “Oh shit, no kidding? You finally found a lab rat to test the program out, eh? Do we have his login yet? Never mind, it’ll be the sarcophagus, right? I’ll shoot him an experience boost and some exclusive swag. I am going to hook you up, Ry guy! I’ve got these new NFT exclusive pets I’ve been wanting to try out. Guaranteed to appreciate in value!”
“No!” Regina shouted. The room went silent and everyone looked at her, “No. Hassan I’ve told you, no Non-Fungible Tokens, no season passes and no loot boxes. But I promise I’ll look at your in-game skin store proposal later, okay?”
“Roger that, chief. Message received. I’ll send it to you later.” Hassan turned to Ryan, shooting finger guns at him, “But not before I give you a leg up. We want our new Beta Tester beefy for the game. It takes a bit of fun away from the tutorial but you’ll be exploring the stars before long, you have my personal guarantee!”
Hassan turned and hit the button in his earpiece, picking up a conversation he’d apparently paused to corner Regina and headed off to do whatever slimy tech bros did when they weren’t posturing. Regina started to apologize but was interrupted as Ryan started coughing. It was shallow at first but became more violent until he was breathless. Taking shallow breaths, he held up a shaky hand as Regina and Willow watched him with concern. He was about to speak when another coughing fit overtook him.
“Tour’s over. We’re doing this,” Regina said resolutely.
With unspoken agreement both women picked up the pace, walking with the wheelchair past more offices, then long hallways and past huge rooms filled with servers. Ryan dipped in and out of consciousness until a bump over some thick cables woke him up. He was parked next to what almost looked like an ancient Egyptian sarcophagus if you put a glass dome on the door.
Still coughing, he saw Hassan look up from a standing desk nearby and rush over with what at least looked like genuine concern. Regina pointed at the computer he was working on and said something to him, but her voice sounded distant and muffled. He nodded and went back to quickly finish what he was working on as Willow knelt in front of him, holding a clipboard with paperwork in front of him. She spoke to him, lifting the pen and tapping a blank line. He glanced at the papers and recognized a Non-Disclosure Agreement and waiver that removed liability from Star-Lynx Entertainment.
‘In for a penny,’ Ryan thought as he gripped the pen in shaky fingers. He scribbled his name with practiced skill on every spot Willow pointed to.
Ryan’s vision started to get dark around the edges as he hear Regina, or maybe it was Willow, shout something. A shadow fell over him as Hassan moved over to him and lifted him up as easily as a load of laundry. He was set down inside the sarcophagus with surprising gentleness and the lid closed down over him with a soft hiss.
Lights along the sides of the casket lit up, and large rubbery tendrils started to move up and over him. As warm liquid started to fill the chamber, the tips of the tendrils started to glow and wrap around him. All in all it felt a bit like being under the ocean, warm and safe. He glanced up at the class dome and saw the concerned faces of friends, old and new, watching him. The liquid closed in over his face and as a sense of peace washed over him, Ryan closed his eyes.