As ever, the North Pole branch was as white and shiny as ever. The sides of the walls were lined with blue and orange stripes, a contrast to the white that covered the place all around. Along the hallways were many scientists in lab coats moving to and from the area, it was a pretty busy day for them since it was never as lively as this.
After greeting a few friends that walked by, he finally stepped inside the main hall. There stood an android in the shape of a female attendant by the center, just behind a white table. He looked around for a bit, looking for the person he wanted to find, but there were only lab coats passing by. Slumping his shoulders, he walked towards the small feminine android.
“Hello, I have an inquiry about, er...” Anderson trailed off, he was trying to remember the person’s codename when he remembered the events at Vanveiss. “Codename: UNIVERSE. Where is he right now?”
The android processed the request for a few seconds before asking for his credentials. He took out his member card and showed it to the android for scanning.
“Codename: ASKELADD. Rank Satisfactory. Codename: UNIVERSE is currently in testing grounds TG-31” It replied in a mechanical tone.
“Thank you.” He thanked the robot and went on his way to the grounds.
He took right from the main hall to the elevator tubes and took to floor 12 further underground. He stepped inside and waited for the elevator. When he finally reached the floor, he went straight to TG-31. There, he saw Ser Nuive, the SWRC director. The man was strapped to the same white pod he was in before. Connected the to the white pod was a huge screen over the other side of the wall.
When the other scientists saw Anderson walk over, they immediately stopped the test simulation and ushered him in to the room of Ser Nuive. He was an energetic old man who could easily be Anderson’s father. He sported the same white lab coat as the others.
“Anderson, its been a while, how’s your experiment with Sir Mihel?” The old man asked all the while removing his lab coat and hanging it by the table.
“He’s still as sadistic as ever, he doesn’t tone down the pain simulator to manageable levels, he always wants it set to maximum.”
“You already know why, suck it up. Besides, you agreed to it, didn’t you?”
“I know, I just wanted to complain and vent off”
“You’ve always been like that, haven’t you?” Ser Nuive said in a happy tone and rubbed Anderson’s head.
Anderson slapped his hand away and turned his back. “I’m a grown adult, stop doing that” He said in an embarrassed tone. He actually liked the gesture a lot, but there were a bunch of scientists on the other room and he had an image to keep. “At least convince him to stop the ridiculous pain level.” He said before walking off.
As he walked out of the room, he recieved a message from Mihel ordering him to get back to the lab. ‘He sure works fast for an geezer’ he thought and gave a long sigh, he hadn’t even had a good rest yet but orders and orders. In a simple motion, he fixed up his labcoat and walked off to the lift. He wanted to get to the lab as fast as possible and get the new simulation ready. He also wanted to convince the old pervert about the pain levels.
It only took him a few minutes, but he finally found himself inside the professor’s lab. It was still as messy as ever, though what bugged quite a bit was that the room on the other side of the glass now has two white pods. The other was battered up and torn, while the other was brand new. He thought it would be just a new replacement. ‘Why the second server though? Wouldn’t one suffice?’ he thought as he looked over the servers from the corner.
“Mihel, what’s up with the new simulation pod and the new server? A replacement?” Anderson asked, it really did bug him.
“No no, it’ll be an interesting addition, mind you” Mihel replied vaguely with a smile on his face, the smile of a child excited for his new toy.
“I wonder... anyway, is the new personality program finished?” He asked, though other experiment had no need for personality programs, Mihel’s experiment does.
“It is, want me to give you the details while we wait?”
‘wait for what?’ he thought. “Well, whatever, sure. Give me the details.”
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
“As always, you’ll be sent back to Vanveiss for the Simulated World Research Collective. Under the expressed consent of Ser Nuive Codename: Universe. Under Vanveiss, you will be given the name Askeladd, as per your Codename. All of your memories will be blocked, even the memories way before your coming here to the SWRC. This won’t be the same dive as the other failed ones, mind you.
Your personality program will have data concerning your background and personality you will take in Vanveiss. You were the son of an well-respected writer in Vankerns Republic. Due to the death of your father, you were sent to the army under the Riflemen corps. After your extensive training as a riflemen, you were sent to the front lines against the Tribble Empire, but you were quickly dispatched off by one of their Armored Wyrm Cavalry. Under desperation, you were saved by Codename: Alandra.”
“Alandra? Wait, so the reason why you have two simulation pods and two servers is because of that?”
The old man smiled, excited of the fact that he’ll have two samples to work with. “Yes, you will diving with another Lab Sample. From what I know, she was found in about the same state as you, frozen solid. Our team found her in Romania, after the team saved with nothing else do that after the Flash freeze, she agreed to being turned into a Lab Sample. We were thinking of having her on standby until you finish your simulation, but you being such a loser, we will be having in the simulation as soon as both of you are ready.”
The young man gave a sour face, he didn’t like being called a loser, but it was a fact that he was pretty bad in the simulated world.
“With that out of the way, i’ll return to the specifics. Alandra will save you from your desperation to live. But she does so by turning you into an abnormality of Vanveiss. Both of you will start the simulation as Vampires.
Though, you’ll be experiencing the war against the Tribble’s army before Codename: Alandra saves you. In other words, you’ll be experiencing a hell of world of pain” Mihel explained with an amused face.
“WHASDAFS WHY?!”
“You called me, and I quote, Fucking Cunt”
“You’re a respected old man, stop being childish, jesus”
“Haha, no can do, your father already approved of the situation.” The old man said, sticking his tongue out as he showed Anderson the Approval Signature on his tablet. “See?”
Anderson held his head and sat on a free chair beside him. “Ok, fine. Where is this Alandra anyway?” As he asked, the door opened. A group of volunteer workers walked in, escorting the newly arrived Lab Sample.
She had flowing, blonde hair and a really pale face. She looked like a real vampire. It was fitting that her new role in Vanveiss would be vampire too.
“Ah, welcome Codename: Alandra to my lab” Mihel greeted and walked on over to her to examine her build. “So you’re the new Lab Sample, not bad, not bad. You’ll do just fine in Vanveiss. The report didn’t say anything, but what’s your name young lass?”
“Meia” as she answered, she looked around the messy laboratory. It was faint, but she had a disgusted look on her face. Her face also showed a tinge of discomfort when Mihel checked her physique out. If one weren’t used to hiding their emotions, one wouldn’t have realized it, but Anderson knew. ‘Heh, great’ he thought and stood up.
“Nice to meet you Meia, i’m Anderson Nuive. I’ll be your dive partner in Vanveiss.” He said, he looked her straight in the eye and held his distance. He didn’t want to sour his relationship with this person, especially since she would be the one to save him from death in Vanveiss. “The disgusting pervert over there is Professor Mihel Adeson.”
Mihel held out his hand for a handshake. She reluctantly shook his hand. She really did hate personal contact with other people, but she didn’t let this on her face nor her actions. “Anderson, you too, shake her hand”
“I don’t think she’ll like it, so no, I’d rather not.”
“Well, okay, I just hope theboth of you cooperate well inside Vanveiss. I will be blocking both of your memories’ but... oh well.” Mihel shrugged his shoulders and walked on over back to his desk, taking a good look at the tablet.
“Well then, Meia, would you like an explanation of your role in Vanveiss?”
Since this would be Meia’s first dive, she was pretty confused, but she nodded anyway.
“Great, Meia, in Vanveiss, you will taking on the name of Alandra. My team and I will be blocking all your memories concerning Earth. Since you’ve already agreed to being a Lab Sample, you cannot back out now.
In Vanveiss, you were a dauhter of an impovered noble family in Tribble. Due to that, you were sent to Mein Kingdom to learn of different magical abilities but because of an accident in your teenage years in Mein, you were left gravely wounded. In an effort to survive, you made a pact with a Vampiric Spirit, where you given the blessings of vampirism. Because of the discrimination in Mein for the abnormalities of the magical world, you were left with no other option to escape.
Then and there, you lived the life of a vagabond vampire, doing mercenary work all around until you were sent to the battle against Vankerns and Tribble. There, you meet and befriend Askeladd and eventually save his life.
That concludes the befriefing. Now I know I might be rushing things, but I will be strapping both of you to the simulation pods right away.”
“Fine by me” Anderson said and walked on over to the door. “Meia, let’s go”
With nothing else to do, she looks him over and walked behind him to the simulation pods. The group of scientists helped Meia accomodate herself in the new Simulation Pods, as did Anderson.
“Good Luck, both of you.” Mihel said over the radio and pushed a button on the control panel. As he did, the glass covering of the pods closed and released a potent sleeping gas. Effectively putting both of them in REM sleep.
“Everyone, the new Vanveiss simulation will start in 3... 2... 1... 0” As soon the countdown hit zero, he pushed the start button and the multiple screens all around them lit up. A simple message appeared.
“Simulation Start”