I woke up with a start, my heart racing as if it were trying to beat its way out of my chest. I couldn't breathe. I was choking, gasping for air. The stark, disorienting light of the real world shattered my consciousness like a windowpane struck by a rock. I had fallen asleep in the VERTEX system, and the shock of waking up, suddenly ripped from the dreamlike immersion of the hypersleep VR, overwhelmed me.

I was hyperventilating, the world around me blurring as I struggled to make sense of my surroundings. The edges of my vision dimmed, narrowing my focus to a tunnel of pure panic.

"It takes some getting used to, Caveman," Theo's voice interjected with a nasal undertone of condescension. "Please, take your time. Go ahead, all the time you need. Keep coughing, there it is. This is all normal, not terribly long and pathetic at alllll."

His sarcastic commentary cut through the fog of my panic, grounding me just enough to focus. I coughed and wheezed, my breaths gradually deepening as I forced myself to calm down. I looked around and realized what was happening—I was in the ship, not the simulated world of VERTEX.

"What happened?" I asked, still trying to steady my breathing. "Is Maya out too?"

"Who is Maya?" Theo responded, his synthetic voice tinged with genuine curiosity.

Before I could answer, Elyria came rushing over, her expression a mix of concern and confusion. Her eyes were wide, darting around as if expecting something unseen. "Everett! Where are you? I've been waiting in this temple city for you."

"I've been going through the tutorial," I replied, as if the answer was self-evident.

Her face scrunched up, eyebrows knitting together and lips pressing into a thin line, reflecting her confusion. "Well, I thought you would be going through it with me?"

Before I could respond, Theo cut in, his tone exasperated. "This is all very thrilling, but we have a gate to jump, and you have a quest to pick."

"Gate?" I asked at the same moment Elyria asked, "Quest?"

Theo let out an exaggerated sigh, followed by a "Tssk." "Caveman, your lack of knowledge is astounding," he said, his tone dripping with mock disappointment. My face flushed with embarrassment, no matter how hard I tried to stay composed. "We have jumps we must traverse on our way to the country urinal cake you call a planet."

The image of a giant urinal cake hung in space briefly flashed in my mind, but I managed to keep my mouth shut.

Theo continued, clearly enjoying his role as the superior AI. "I will be pulling you out of VERTEX whenever we jump. And before you ask why, we do it to ensure that you do not become confused about which of your realities is the real one."

"Does that really happen?" I asked, incredulous at the thought.

Theo's tone turned slightly more serious, "Yes, Caveman. Continuous immersion in VERTEX, especially during hyperspace jumps, can blur the lines between the virtual world and reality. Long-term, this disorientation can lead to psychological fragmentation—a state where individuals struggle to distinguish their actual memories from simulated experiences."

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

My eyes widened at this. "Seriously, that sounds terrible. "

"Indeed," Theo said, nodding, or at least I imagined he was. "There are documented cases where prolonged exposure to VR systems has caused severe dissociation. This is exacerbated by hyperspace VR. The worst cases end up in a fugue state, constantly shifting between real life and a VERTEX their mind has made up for itself."

I shuddered at the thought. "Fork that, that sounds worse than death."

"Precisely," Theo agreed. "Our system protocols include regular intervals of disconnection from VERTEX to mitigate these risks. The brief period out of VR allows your brain to recalibrate and reassert its grasp on your true surroundings."

Elyria glanced at me then, she looked worried.

Theo continued, clearly in his element now, "Furthermore, hyperspace jumps are complex. They can affect the stability of the VERTEX system and potentially introduce glitches or distortions. By bringing you back to reality during these intervals, we can ensure that VERTEX remains stable and your real-life safety is not compromised."

Theo continued his explanation. "Your next stay in VERTEX will be much longer. Probably a week at minimum," Theo continued, his voice losing some of its sharpness, replaced by a more business-like tone. "Follow the overhead lights to the galley, and I'll show you your quest options."

Elyria and I followed Theo's directions, making our way to the galley. The ship's corridors felt narrow and utilitarian after the sprawling, fantastical landscapes of VERTEX. The contrast made me feel like I was navigating a dreamscape made of metal and wires. As we walked, Elyria's presence beside me was a comfort, her determined steps echoing in the confined space.

We entered the galley, a space that was functional but lacked any real character. It was a room designed purely for utility, with clean lines, polished metal surfaces, and rows of storage compartments. The table in the center was surrounded by chairs bolted to the floor, and a large viewscreen dominated one wall.

I pointed to a chair and gestured for Elyria to sit down, then joined her. As we settled into the utilitarian space of the galley, I spoke aloud to the room, "So, what's the deal with quest options anyway?"

Theo’s voice responded with exaggerated politeness, “I beg your pardon, Caveman?”

I grimaced at his remark but pressed on with my question. “What quest options? I thought we were going back into VERTEX?”

A low, mocking chuckle came from Theo. “I will never call you boring again, Caveman. Your stupidity is constantly surprising me.”

“Be careful, Theo,” I shot back, irritation flaring. “Before I decide your mouth ain't worth the trouble and unplug you.”

Elyria grabbed my hand, her touch calming the growing heat of my temper. “Calm down, Ev,” she said softly.

I took a deep breath, her presence enough to anchor me, and gestured for Theo to continue.

Theo picked up where he left off, his tone shifting to a more serious cadence. “Once you go back into VERTEX, your main questline will start. Well, at least your first main questline. You just need to choose the scale of it and how much oversight you want to have over it.”

“Oversight, like we can pick what happens?” I asked, my curiosity piqued.

“Very good,” Theo responded, his tone smooth but his words carrying a hint of sarcasm that made me wonder if he was genuinely impressed or just messing with me.

I looked at Elyria, seeking her opinion. She shrugged, a playful smile tugging at her lips. “I like surprises.”

Turning back to Theo, I made my decision. “The lady likes surprises. So I guess no oversight. As for scale, let’s make it Epic.”