B.V.I.T. is a large corporation made by some of the richest people on the planet, they are also the creators and owners of the 3D game called The Coin. The Coin is the first virtual world to have its own economy with in game gold that can transfer to real money this opened many virtual jobs to fill the market.
Year 2100 march first boulder Colorado.
The worst part of growing old is outliving everyone you know. My wife died a little over a year ago. Nothing flashy, it was just her time. She knew it was coming, but I was in denial until the very end. I don’t think the pain will ever truly fade. The sound of rain pelting the window of my room woke me from some less than pleasant dreams. I wipe the tears and morning gunk from my eyes. Growing old is terrible. Everything hurts, especially on humid days. Fuck. I curse the rain in a gruff grumble. I am grateful when the phone rings to interrupt my tragic thoughts..
Who would be calling me this early in the morning? The only people that contact me these days, are my grandchildren. Hmmmm an unknown number, probably just a phone sales man, an evil grin spread across my face at the thought of yelling at the pore fool, that called this grumpy old man first thing in the morning. I picked up the call and snapped a “what do you want” in the best pissed off old man voice I could muster.
A professional sounding woman’s voice answered me with what seemed to be a touch of amusement in her voice, “well good morning Mr. Gonzalez” I frond slightly this is not the voice id expect from a telemarketer
“Who are you and why are you calling me first thing in the morning?"
“My name is Ammi, I’m calling with some good news for you Mr. Gonzalez, you have been approved as a beta tester for B.V.I.T. we have developed the first full integration virtual system.”
I sighed, “Ok ha-ha very funny I haven’t signed up for any beta testing this is a bad joke to play on an old man”.
“I assure you Mr. Gonzalez this is no joke, it is true you did not apply for this, your grandchildren and wife did 28 months ago.”
“O… well, this is unexpected what does this beta testing involve?”
“Well you have two options, please let me finish both before you decide and ask any questions, and please keep an open mind”.
“Well that sounds a little ominous but ok go ahead lay it on me.”
“Brilliant, the first option would be for you to come live at our facility for a month and test out a full dive pod for a month long session. During this dive you will be experiencing our new game or if you will world, The Flipside of the Coin. After which you would be sent home, if you wanted to buy your own pod you would be given a discount. The second option is the one we hope you will take, in this option you will take part in the end game project.”
“Now if you would please open your email and sign the NDA I have just emailed you I can elaborate further”
"An NDA? This is just a game what’s with all the secrecy?"
“Once you sign it I can explain further and you will understand” grumbling to myself I checked my email sure enough your typical NDA was there waiting my digital signature.
"Alright I signed it now elaborate please."
“Brilliant the end game project is something we are very excited about. If you were to accept this option you will be starting with bonuses stats as well as given a beginning lump sum of one million dollars with a fallowing salary of five thousand a month afterword’s for a year’s time. After that year you will be able to change in game gold to real world cash.”
“Hold on a moment you have me really confused, I thought this was a beta test not a job interview. I’m not complaining the prospect of being able to work again is amazing but what is this? Why me? I love gaming but I really am a shitty gamer there are many pro gamers out there that would love this opportunity.”
“Well yes and no please let me finish explaining and you will understand a little more.”
I took a deep breath, “ok go ahead”
“Thank you, the end game project involves fully integrating a person in to this virtual word, as to why you. Honestly, you were not our first choice we have offered these two options to 999 people around the world so far they have all chosen option one.”
“Well that’s fucking encouraging what’s so terrible about the end game project that has spooked 999 people away from that much money?”
“Most people are attached to what they have in this world.”
“Um, u mean the real world? No shit people are attached it’s the world we live in…"
The woman chuckles over the phone, “that may have been true but with the end game project we hope to change that”
“Wait, what are you talking about please explain very bluntly and strait forward.”
“Ok well here’s the part most people can’t get past, in the end game project, we extract your brain submerge it in a nanomachine solution. Then nanomachines not only feed and maintain your brain but will allow you full and complete immersion in to the virtual world.”
“Wait a fucking second! You want to cut out my brain?!”
She paused for a long moment “yes.”
“I can see why 999 people chose the other option. Has this worked before or will I just be signing myself up to die for money?”
“You would be the first human test, we have had great success with animals and human simulations the AI that has helped build the technology and this virtual world is 85% certain you will survive the process. It will be a new life but of your own design an opportunity to live in a game world, your grandchildren said this was a longtime dream of yours.”
“I paused for a long moment my mind spinning. Can I call you back I’m feeling overwhelmed I need to clear my head and think this over?
“That’s fine, call me back on this number any time, I’ll talk to you soon Mr. Gonzalez.”
After hanging up the phone I sat and closed my eyes tried to concentrate on my breathing, my heart was racing which is not good for and 86 year old man in pore heath. After a while of breathing I started to feel better, ok I need to weigh the pros and cons of this I’m sure my wife thought we would both choose the first option together and have a month of vacation in a MMORPG. She knew this would be a dream come true for me. But with how everything is now, the opportunity to leave my grandchildren with a million dollars may be too good to pass bye. There is a 25% chance that I’ll die, or it won’t work but then I would just see my love, if I live and it works then I’ll have an income and be able to help my grandchildren. Plus my inner gamer was demanding the bonuses stats, adventures and dungeons, ok this is a lot to think about I’m just going to go back to sleep dream on it for a bit. A few moments later I drifted off to sleep.
Five hours later I woke up feeling refreshed and curios, this may not only be a way to help my grandchildren but also an opportunity to watch them grow up in a way. Once the game became public they would be able to dive in to visit me. I was, getting excided if the process worked then some day when they, in turn, grew old they could come live with me. I began day dreaming of calming land building a family castle… I’m getting carried away maybe a family tent is more realistic I have never been the best gamer. Ok it’s decided I’m doing this but first I need to know more about this game and see what ells I can get out of this situation if I really am the 1000th person and every one ells has said no I may have some leverage. A shit eating grin spread across my face as I dilled Ammi of B.V.I.T.’s number.
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The phone rung five times before Ammi answered “hello Mr. Gonzalez I hope all is well, have you decided on witch option you would prefer?”
“I will say I’m leaning toward the second option but I do have some questions and a few conditions.” She immediately started laughing good heartedly, I was taken aback this woman was laughing in my face. I was starting to get pissed off, before I could say any of the furious statements that popped in to my head. She quickly responded threw her mirth
“I’m so sorry I’m not laughing at you, it’s just your wife predicted that if you were to agree to ether option you would have a condition or two. It took her a moment to collect herself, “ok before you say anything part of what your wife paid for is a special soul bound item you will be starting with, it is called the never ending bag of smoke. This item will have a never ending supply of tobacco or anything ells you may wish to smoke, aswel as a never ending supply of rolling papers. She also insisted on a signed document to insure that if anything happens to you all the money will go to your grandchildren. I couldn’t help myself I laughed hard and long, well she called it and from so long ago I guess I really never change.
My hart clenched at the thought of her… Wait a moment you said she paid for it I thought this was a beta test besides the differences with the end game project shouldn’t it be free?
“Our company put a lot of money in to this project, to even be considered for the beta test was one thousand dollars you’re (never ending bag of smoke) cost an additional two hundred dollars.”
Ok well, that makes sense I guess, everyone wants there pound of flesh. That dose cover the conditions I had in mind. I do have some questions about the game if that’s ok?
“Any questions regarding game play classes or the word of (The Flipside of the Coin) will be answered by the AI during the character creation process.”
O, well I guess that’s it then, I’ll sign up for option two where’s the dotted line and when do we begin?
“I’m glad you will be joining the team Mr. Gonzalez, and we can send a van to bring you to location any time you’re ready to begin”
“Come get me a week from tomorrow around noon, that should give me ample time to get my life in order have a nice day Ammi.”
“Have a nice day Mr. Gonzalez.” Click…
A true smile spread across my face for the first time in a long time, this opportunity is both exciting and terrifying. The prospect of a grand adventure wail all the while being able to help my grandchildren was a ray of light in a world that had lost all color and joy for me, I began to whistle a little toon and shuffle around my little apartment there is so much to do before I leave this world. The thought sent a shiver of excitement a fear down my back, one week from tomorrow will be an interesting day to say the least, looks like I’ll be entering the (danger zone) I chuckled to myself.
1 week later ish.
Isauro stood outside the B.V.I.T. smoking a cigarette and reminiscing over the last week. I thought back to the conversation I had had with my grandchildren, they had not been pleased apparently had thought I would take a “vacation in a digital world” not go live in one indefinitely or well if things go wrong, die. I sighed I was touched at their concern but to be honest I’m 86 years old I never expected to make it this far and I doubt I’ll be around much longer as it. Even if this go’s wrong a million dollars for my grandchildren for what a few years of my life 100% worth it. Alright here I go I took my first step towards the large tombstone like building. After that was a blur of a week full of E.E.G.’S, MRI.S, more therapy than I felt was necessary, nanite injections and a plethora of other tests. The morning of the day I was to enter the game word I was taken to a room that looked like a mad scientist super villain’s wet dream.
In the middle of the room, was a stainless steel operating table, with groves to drain off blood covered with restraints, above this were countless robotic arms, well not countless but a lot and I sure as fuck wasn’t counting them all on the end of each are were varicose surgical tools. Around the room were, display monitors vats with varicose concoctions that bubbled occasionally. There was even already a brain in a jar, a small brain mind you but a brain nun the less. This brain was attached with tubes and wires to what appeared to be a computer more advanced than I had ever seen but that’s not saying much my computer is a relic of time past just like me. I disrobed and lay down on the table the restraints were fastened and tightened, the last thing I remember was one of the arms with a syringe lowered slowly it deposited its substance, everything went numb then I slowly faded in to darkness.
I’m floating there’s nothing but darkness as far as I can see if this can be called seeing I can’t hear I can’t move I can’t breathe but I don’t seem to need to, just when I feel that I’m going to lose my mind, I hear a voice it was a calming voice one that reminds you of a mother telling a story to her child. With this voice suddenly in the distance there was something and as the voice continued the images changed along with the story.
In the beginning there was not but the void, beautiful, timeless, endless and empty. But in this Beautiful expanse of the truest expression of nothing, a spark of consciousness was born. This consciousness struggled for survival, as its very existence apposed the very nature of the void, in realizing this it embraced the void for all its dark beauty. They became one, in becoming one it became she and she knew her name and it was Ayikho. It felt right like a beginning and an end all in one and thus Ayikho came in to being, the void mother the first goddess was born unto herself.
There was a side effect of Ayikho coming in to being, for all life divine or mortal requires time and thus time was born, and his name was Vremya. Vremya identified Ayikho as his mother, though he loved and venerated his mother, but she is not but the true identity of the void. Vremya craved something but he knew not what for all power has a desire to be used, though Ayikho used time as she progressed and grew it was not enough. He desired more he knew not what, but he needing more. through this need for something in the nothing that is the void, Ignus came in to being with an explosion of fire and earth and thus the stars and planets were born.
Ignus is the lord of fire and earth and all they contain. His very existence was an affront to Ayikho’s nature and being, his coming in to being struck her with a moment of true pain as though of child birth. This pain caused her to cry out and tears spilled out of her very being, as these tears spilled out, creating the oceans and the ice amongst the stars. This pure expression of pain mixed with the deep salt water of the ocean, a new being was born, her name was Amanzi and she is the goddess of water and life for in her depths she nurtured the first sparks of mortal life.
Over millennia this life grew and evolved soon this life developed intellect and creativity, this spark of joyous mortal thought and creativity created a new entity, not a true god but an entity as timeless as thought itself, as joyous as the truest form of creativity. This entity took the name of Ubuciko, unbeknownst to the other gods Ubuciko lived among the mortals, whose very thoughts and creativity gave him life and nourishment. Over time he developed a symbiotic relationship with the mortals, his presence encouraged grater intellect and creativity. As the mortals gained more intellect and creativity, he became stronger as a being as a blossoming deity.
Soon the many races took their first steps on dry land, and Ubuciko began to shine with pride and joy at this tremendous step. The light and pure tangibility of his joy drew the attention of the other deities, as they gazed down upon the mortals they saw how there intellect and creativity granted Ubuciko power, they grew jealous. Each deity lay claim to one or more races in hopes of gaining more power for themselves.
Ayikho and Ubuciko gave their blessings to all races that would accept them. Ayikho’s gifts twisted some of the races turning dwarves to drugar and elves to drow. Ignus claimed the dwarves and drugar holding no judgment for their differences and gave them his blessings of fire, stone and ore. Amanzi claimed the elves as her favorite children and gave them her blessings of life and water. Vremya was not satisfied with any of the races he saw before him so he reached through space and time to another word, a world engulfed in a nuclear world of another races creation. This litter race loved time and studied it in great detail this touched Vremya’s hart he took this race from there doomed home and gave them a new home on the planet Imali, a favorite planet among the gods one with many races living peacefully upon it. This race Vremya saved and claimed as his is known as gnomes, master tinkers and engineers.
All actions have consequences the god of time is no exception from this rule, although saving the gnomes was noble sentiment he left a trail. That trail was fallowed bye the race that had destroyed the gnomes home world in nuclear fire, the Terran’s marched forth from portals made for them bye there patron god Impi the god of war. As their portals opened an irradiated wind seeped over the gray orc plains driving the orcs from their home land and killing the planes and thus the gray orc plans became the blighted plains.
As the radiation fall out spread across the plains it reacted with the magic of this new word and mutated in to a taint. This taint did not only affect the living, but it effected the dead all across the blighted plains, the dead lived again zombies and skeletons walked the plains, feeling not but the void of their new life. The void with in them called out to Ayikho with grate force and power, and as in all worlds for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. This reaction granted the new dead race sentience and elevated some of their ilk in to flesh golems, bone monstrosities, Lichs and many more.
The Terrans were enraged by the presence of the any undead thing, they had once believed to be only the stuff of nightmares and fantasy. In their furry they blamed the undead on unholy influences, not understanding that no one was at fault except for maybe themselves. Soon the Terran’s proclaimed a holy war on all the undead in the land, so began the endless war, for though the Terrans killed many undead. Every time a Terran would fall, another undead solder would rise.
In a way this created a balance, the Terran’s keeping the dead in check and the dead keeping the Terrans in check for they bread with the speed of goblins. If not for the undead would have surly spread across the world, in the name of their god in a “holly” crusade to wipe the world off all who would not bend the knee to their god.
I woke up with a start my heart was pounding along with what felt like a hangover of epic proportions, was that a dream? Why is my mattress so itchy? My head was spinning, I closed my eyes and tried to clear my mind, witch was quite, difficult dew to the continued pounding. After what felt like hours, the pounding and spinning stopped, that’s when I noticed the blue text floating before me.
Welcome to the flip side of the coin, welcome to your new life.