“Ok, so let’s go over it one more time, ok?” Lena insisted as she helped Everett get himself hooked to the DIVE system. Everett checked his DIVE suit, making sure all the nodes were properly connected and hooked up to his DIVE unit. After months of pestering and badgering, Lena finally managed to convince him to join her in her favorite game, Infinity Paradox. VR games had become a new way of life for some, using the escapism as a way to enact out fantasies that were both forbidden or otherwise impossible in everyday life.
For Everett, while he played games in his free time, he hadn’t yet committed to playing in full-dive. He ran a streaming channel making and testing weapons, but also spent an inordinate amount of time on his car, modifying it endlessly.
Lena, for her part, had explained that Infinity Paradox had all of these things, which only made Everett want to play it even less, reasoning that there was no point faking what he already did in real life. Lena tried to argue it wasn’t the same thing, and that she could only show him better than she could explain it.
This eventually led to a heated exchange, which led to Lena finally backing off and playing by herself, while Everett continued to work on his stream. It wasn’t until around six months later when they were watching a TV show that Everett was laughing his head off while she was buried in her phone that he finally realized he was losing his best friend.
As it turned out, the game did have a bit of everything he was into and then some. The overarching story, though, was what finally sold him. The Goddess of the planet, Sycen, had nearly destroyed her own work, devastating the people, but she couldn’t bring herself to ruthlessly destroy her own children, and so declared a challenge.
-/|/- Bring your power to bear one last time and meet me where it all began. -\|\-
The game also had a very intense hardcore setup that set it apart from nearly every MMO to date. Namely, they only got three lives. That was it. It was a hard limit. Players were only allowed to die three times, and then they were out of the game permanently, and no amount of money, pull, or influence could change that. Of course, rumors abounded that there was a way to get a fourth life, but if there was, nobody was talking.
Instead of causing a mass exodus, however, it had the opposite effect, leading many into forming communities around the desire to protect their lives at all costs. This led to forming hunting parties, which all but ensured overkill and reduced rewards, but it also meant it was rare for anyone to ever get seriously injured.
Loot drops favored the bold, though, so only the ones who truly braved the world, saw any appreciable gains. These individuals were ostensibly dubbed the Frontier Voyagers.
There was still more to learn, but that was where Everett cut himself off. Anymore, and he’d spoil the whole game before he even got started. The only thing that really mattered to him was Lena’s promise that aside from the wild adventures to be had, the racing circuit was nothing like what he could experience on Earth.
Chancing a moment to take in the sight of his chocolate-skinned lover, he couldn’t help appreciating her well-toned physique, barely tamed curly locks, and shimmering orange holo-tacs.
Much like his own, they were a special set of contacts embedded with an augmented reality overlay. Many were starting to opt for full on prosthetics, but neither of them had made that switch yet.
She was smiling freely as she checked each connection, one by one, and he was reminded of how lucky he was that a woman like that stuck by him, and just wanted to share one of her passions with him.
He absently noticed she smelled of primrose, a favorite scent of his.
“Alright, so it’s going to be a few hours before you log in,” she said, pulling him out of his reverie. “The character creation process doesn’t usually take that long, especially considering that you’re probably going to pick an elf anyway, but I’ve seen you with regular RPG’s and you like to take your sweet auhs time. And with the accelerated time in-game, you’re likely going to be a while.”
Everett had long gotten used to her use of the in-game vernacular. She cursed about as much as he did, but with the game world having its own dialects and cultures, it became easier to cover it up by “speaking like the locals.”
Looking at Lena’s knowing grin, he smiled sheepishly and said, “My gods, you make me sound so one note. Maybe I might surprise you. You ever thought of that?”
“I have, and you have. You’re joining was a huge surprise! But let’s not kid ourselves. You’re team elf gang through and through. And I have a whole library of games downstairs as my receipts.”
“Not my fault they’re cool,” Everett sulked.
“Aw, baby, glad you think so. We can be twins.”
“Woman, you got a whole year’s head start. If I’m your twin, then I’m the most gimpy sibling this side of the universe.”
“Ha. You won’t have to worry about that, otru’fin. I’ve already taken care of that.”
“As long as it’ll get me tearing down a track like a bat out of hell, you’ll have my axe.”
“I’m going to hold you to that.”
“No acknowledgement of the L- I’m going to have to grovel, aren’t I?”
“Glad you understand,” Lena said, lightly tapping his cheek.
Everett shook his head but couldn’t help but smile.
Feeling everything was secure, Lena helped him into his DIVE unit. A hint of worry quickly spread through him as he started to think about what was going to happen next.
“Alright, preparations are a go. So, just remember everything we talked about, ok? You have my character Contact, and you know how to access your Vision and Global. So, you should be able to get ahold of me the moment you log in and I’ll be there the moment you call,” she assured him.
“Yeah. I got it. Am I really going to be ok in this thing? Feels really snug.” Everett said, an edge of nervousness in his voice.
“You’ll be fine. I’ve been doing this going on a year, remember? The DIVE unit regulates your vitals while you’re submerged. The suit works in tandem with the unit, stimulating your muscles to prevent atrophy while it filters out your waste. The fluid in the tank regulates temperature and provides you with a nutrient supplement to keep you alive and healthy. They’re not much different than the DEEP units astronauts and soldiers use for deep space voyages. Only, we’re technically still conscious,” Lena winked.
She gave one final tug on the cables attached to the DIVE unit and Everett’s suit, then nodded her approval. “Oh, and one last thing,” she said before she shut the door. Everett shimmied himself into place, feeling his suit lock itself in before looking at Lena expectantly saying, “Yeah?”
Without warning, she leaned in and kissed him full on the lips and said, “I love you… and thank you. I mean it.”
Then in one smooth motion, she took a step back and shut the door. Without missing a beat, Everett took that as his cue to fix his oxygen mask and goggles to his face as a cool liquid began to fill the chamber. He’d seen Lena go through this process countless times, but now that he was in her position, it honestly made him want to scream.
There was just something about it that bugged him on a primal level. With the goggles on, his vision was completely blocked, leaving his mind to make up all kinds of scenarios in his head while the cold liquid rose rapidly, and oxygen was being continuously pumped into his mask. As he felt along the walls of his pod, he fought down the urge to struggle as the panic set in.
How Lena could so casually subject herself to this defied reason. He wanted out! He wanted to scream, but Lena had already locked the door and probably would’ve just laughed at him considering how many times she’d already done this. Worry would’ve been her last reaction. She would’ve found this hilarious.
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Thinking of that, he took several deep breaths, and started to think of what was coming next instead of what was happening now. A new life. A new world. This was just a synaptic device that surrounded his senses and cut him off from the outside world. It was, in essence, a glorified sensory deprivation tank. He was at home. He was safe. If anything went wrong, the failsafes would kick in and eject him immediately.
But what if it didn’t, he thought to himself. He started to panic again, but the fluorocarbon had already risen past his forehead. He started to thrash about, but could barely make out any kind of sound, as his senses began to dull. Soon, the entire pod was completely filled, and he could no longer feel anything other than the chill embrace of the all-consuming liquid.
Suddenly feeling weightless he thought to himself, Ok, I just realized she said waste... So, I’m literally going to shit myself.
The next thing he saw took his breath away.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Lena watched with happiness in her heart as the fluid quickly filled Everett’s pod. She choked back a laugh when he started to panic. She remembered her first time when she was out in space. With the goggles and mask on, it was easy to lose all sense of time and location with the only sensations being the creeping cold embrace of some creepy green looking liquid spreading all over. Sure, it was disconcerting, but it was also something everyone quickly acclimated to.
She found herself still smiling as he finally settled in and began to relax. She assumed that the boot-up must’ve began, and it was only a matter of time now before he finally came into the world proper.
Taking that as her cue, she stepped back, habitually rubbing against the prosthetic he had built for her with a new sense of fondness for the man who now resided in the tank before her.
With a shake, she turned to leave the room and wasted no time getting herself suited up and ready to go; the process basically second nature to her now. As she got in, she felt her entire body wash over with a joy, flushing her cheeks in a way she hadn’t felt in a long time. But there were so many things she had to get done before finally joined him in-game. She already had a set of weapons and armor and a whole starter kit prepared for him, but now she had an overwhelming desire to update every last piece just to make sure it was perfect.
In less than two minutes, she was suited up and locked in. Once she logged in, she found herself exactly where she left, nestled under her Erzelis Frame, Yemaya.
Lena, who went by Heaven in-game, found herself greeted by the unrepentant light rays of an afternoon sky. There was always a moment of disorientation upon logging in, but it got easier with each successive attempt, like waking from a nap.
Her outward physique wasn’t much of a departure from her real body. The only key differences were her golden irises and pointed ears that stood out from underneath her side parted afro.
She stretched involuntarily, breathing in the elation she brought with her. She wanted to see Everett so badly now, she could only think of what to wear upon meeting him.
Taking a glance down at her body, she quickly switched out her standard adventuring attire for something more free-spirited. She decided on a sleeveless white and gold sundress with a pair of knee-high white combat boots with black soles and a matching armband and bracelet.
Not so coincidentally, they were the same colors of her erzerlis. The only stand out piece was a pair of black goggles that rested snugly against her forehead. Unless she was sleeping, the form-fitting accessory rarely left her head.
The imposing mech was kneeling over her, with her nestled gently atop the palm of its clawed hand, where it had protected her from both detection and the elements while she was logged out.
Covered almost entirely in white-armored plating, Heaven’s erzelis bore inspiration from of a snow-white mix of a lion and a wyvern. Its legs had digitigrade joints and even a prehensile whip-like tail ending in a short blade. Its waist was slim with a broad chest with accents of black and gold that gave it the impression of muscle definition. It was there nestled just above the stomach and partially into the chest area where she was nestled snugly within her cradle.
The cradle acted much like an open cockpit, giving it a 280-degree view for the Rider. In its Drive form, the Rider assumed a seated position, much like riding a 4-wheeler. However, in its Assault form, the Rider was shifted upright, and the cradle compensated accordingly, with the seat remaining firmly between their legs, and their torso held in place by the command rings.
Twin blades were housed in each arm of the Frame, forming the “wings.” A golden pommel rested just above each wrist that flowed into a pair of white gauntlets with black claws. Between its rounded shoulders, were the rear tires of her drive form that were extended to look like a pair of crescent blades. The head and neck bore a resemblance to a cybernetic version of the Egyptian goddess Sekhmet.
With a warm smile, she climbed into its cradle. She held off on starting the boot up cycle, taking a moment to appreciate her surroundings anew. That appreciation was short-lived, however, once she noticed the messages that had been tabbed away within the periphery of her Vision. The tab flashed obnoxiously, silently begging her to give it her attention.
Heaven sighed, a touch of weariness settling into her otherwise ecstatic mood.
She chose to ignore it a little longer. Before her, down below the hilltop was a craggy landscape of tall violet grass broken up by jutting stones and hairline fissures that made up the Hilifincher Valley. There were several large slimes diligently devouring the leftover carrion, being given a wide berth by other scavenging predators looking to score an easy meal. Wick Jackals and Boulder Foxes were plentiful, all standing in stark contrast to the verdant white field of flowers upon which she currently sat.
Seeing nothing else of note, she sighed once more before expanding her Vision, taking in the various messages still waiting for her attention.
From War,
Hey chica. Just sending a status update. The client was real happy with those customs you sent over and asked for a dozen more. He even offered to pay double the original rate. I turned it down, of course.
On the other hand, Happinbern reneged and tried to make off with a load before he met the “fine print.” Needless to say, his territory is now in complete disarray and our client was more than happy to claim a sizable chunk of the new real estate.
I made sure he understood though, that we only take individual requests, so if he wanted his men to get premium gear, they’d have to all individually sign up to get a premium assessment.
Give seven takes that none of his goons get paid like that (^ц^ )
Anyway, he wasn’t too keen on that, so I reminded him that he’s subject to the same fine print that took out Happinbern. I threw in a little incentive to make sure he sticks to his end of the deal, though I give another five takes that he tries to shank us eventually anyway.
Estupido goblin.
All that said, yer dude should be joining the fray on your next login, right? Does he know his lady’s a little merchant of death? Bet he’s probably just as bad as you, haha.
But alright, enough jokes. This is long enough as it is. I’ll have your payment at the usual drop and see ya when you return to the Fraternity, yeah? Cálmate, chica.
Heaven rubbed her chin as a sly smile crossed her lips. Turf wars were a rarity within the domed city. At least they were until her kind arrived. Officially known as the Children of Borag’Niel, they were colloquially dubbed the Synthers due to their synthetic bodies. It was a pejorative of sorts, but not without merit. Upon their arrival on the star, they did what all gamers did and harassed the locals while others took to scouting and testing their strengths and limitations. It didn’t help that they all showed up decked out with a hunk of metal on four wheels that could more than tackle the oversized flora, fauna, and giant mechs that roamed outside the main hub.
The native Tears put a stop to the former’s actions fast and ruthlessly, establishing the power balance that had been upheld ever since. It didn’t end their conflicts with one another, but it went a long way towards establishing that they weren’t going to roll over and take being harassed either.
As it happened, Happinbern was a Tear, as well as a crime lord, who took advantage of the player’s early needs. He rose to prominence by keeping himself abreast of their habits and sensibilities, lest they do to him what they’ve done to the other lords, and mercilessly put two to his head. Greed seemed to have finally gotten the better of him.
Shaking herself of her idle thoughts, Heaven turned to the next message:
From Oraria,
So, today’s the day your little boy toy is gonna be joining the ranks, huh? I hope he’s got what it takes ‘cause I’m definitely going to be grading him with a fine-toothed comb, if you know what I mean XD Striga might approve, but I sure as falsh don’t.
Of course, she didn’t, Heaven thought. Not that she really blamed her. She dismissed it as fast as she read it and skimmed through the rest. Most were congratulations on getting Everett to finally join the game along with some minor reports, which could wait for later. She appreciated the support but was glad to see a new notification pop up from Striga informing her of a contract.
From Striga,
Good tidings to you, Heaven. Hope your time away was well spent. We’ve a bit of a situation. One that could use your expertise. We’ve a contract to capture a Bimblegratia and as it turns out, one should be near where you last logged out. The pay is considerable, and should be a quick smash and grab, if we’re lucky. I can send War or Brigand, but I figured you might want first crack. It’s your call.
Striga
Reward: 622,000 cyn-p
[Accept] [Reject]
Pulling her goggles down, Heaven used its magnification ability to peer further down the hilltop, into the rocky valley. After a moment, she spotted the tell-tale spikes on a chitin-plated bear known as a bimblegratia.
Unfortunately, the armored beast was engaged with a Rider she didn’t recognize.
Taking a quick look around, it became apparent it was the only one in the vicinity and judging by the Rider currently trying his luck at it solo, it was also clear who was going to come out on top.
“Welp, no hard feelings kid,” Heaven said while accepting the contract. “But money calls.”