(PAN) Terrasphere going global?!

"You mean to tell me that dad sent you this?" Eru asked his brother, who was intently focused on the computer, despite that the snippet of news had long since ended on its screen. "You have been telling him I'm playing this game, haven't you? You know it isn't his business, and he doesn't need to know that I'm playing it. Not that he cares. Maybe he's just jealous because he doesn't ever have time to play video games anymore, like when we were kids."

The words flowed from Eru with disgust and contempt for their father. He knew why he had sent it to Dael. Because Dael would watch it, and tell Eru all about it. Eru sighed, "Thanks, to both of you. Now I feel guilty for playing a game I enjoy. I don't even get why the government is so against it anyway. It's like others have said, it's safe."

Eru stood up, and Dael looked to him with concern. "Are you going to play more?" Dael asked him, and for a moment Eru almost felt bad. This type of news was going to ruin one of his favorite hobbies that he had only just recently found. Eru gave another heavy sigh, and rubbed the back of his neck, before saying, "No, I guess I won't tonight. I suppose I have spent a lot of time in the game. I'm sorry. Do you want to play another game? It's been a while since we've played together."

Dael shrugged, but pulled one of his controllers out for one of their home consoles anyway. "We can try that racing game you hate so much," Dael offered with a jab to his brother with his elbow. Eru chuckled and said, "You're on. Little did you know I've been practicing in secret!"

It had been a long time since Dael and Eru had any sort of bonding moment. It warmed Eru's heart a bit. But at what cost? Would Eru really have to stop enjoying the world of Terrasphere just because his family and the world deemed it unsafe? That never stopped people from doing more dangerous things like drugs. Was Terrasphere becoming a drug? The thought made Eru shiver.

He just needed to focus on his brother and having fun for the moment. He supposed the engineer and the kingdom of Astorea could wait another night or two before he jumped in again. If only for his brother's sake.

 

"Hello. Dad? Yes, yes. I have seen the news." Freya looked at her computer monitor, left hand holding a phone beside her ear while the other effortlessly types on keyboard. "No, nothing dangerous. I don't know why they are making such a big fuss over a game." She reassured her father. Lying might not be the best solution since everyone knows that normally full-diving is heavily restricted and there's already news about people mysteriously dying while connected to the game, even though it's mostly broadcasted in underground networks.

Maybe she shouldn't have told her father about Terrasphere when he came to New York last Christmas. "I know, I can handle myself. Bye, Dad." The blonde ended the call with her father and quickly went back working on her thesis. She had actually written some drafts about Terrasphere and the base of the laws around full-dive technology, only to scrap it after the news about controversial death of an investigator. She certainly feared joining the other victims by digging too deep.

It's been an US-only game for a while, but with the sudden quick spread how is the government going to act now? She pondered for a while, looking at the now-blank monitor. Hope that this won't go into some kind of a global-scale problem or anything alike. It might be nice to have some extra players in the game, if you look from another perspective. Worst case, the UN jumps in and who knows what they will do. There's not much she can do as an illegal user of the service, but hey, who isn't? Everybody she met in Terrasphere is the same. All of them is looking for a way to escape from reality, but still seeking the concept of immersion that Terrasphere can offer.

After spending another thirty minutes of surfing the web non-stop, the pair of green eyes started to feel so tired prompting Freya to finally got off her chair. As she stood up, she felt pain in her back and waist "Ow." Freya exclaimed "Should have invested in a better chair" she complained before finishing the last sip of tea. The blonde then went to her bedroom to dive into Terrasphere once more. At least she could play a full-dive Virtual Reality game while laying on her bed.

 

"I'm home!" Dongxue called out, slipping off her shoes and sliding into the apartment. It was later than she normally got home, but there wasn't anything she could do about that. There was a group presentation in a week and they had only just barely gotten their materials together so their practice sessions ran a bit long. Nothing odd about running a bit late, since it happened every now and then.

Or so she thought.

Dongxue's brow furrowed as she heard raised voices coming from further inside. That was unusual. She didn't often hear her parents having an argument. Concerned, she slowly made her way over to the dining area, hoping that it was nothing too serious.

"-says there are people in the hospital from it!" her dad was saying in Mandarin, pacing as he held a phone up to his ear. Her mother was standing nearby, frowning at her own phone and squinting at something, pulling her reading glasses higher up her face. She looked up when Dongxue entered the scene.

"What's happening?" asked Dongxue, stepping around her father to get closer. Now that it looked like her parents weren't fighting with each other, she calmed down a little, but she was still a bit nervous about what had her dad so agitated.

"You remember Gaofei? You played together when you were a baby," her mother explained. Dongxue nodded, though she had no memory whatsoever. It was usually best to just move along when it came to this kind of conversation. "His mother just called, said he was playing the illegal game. The one on the news, the- shénme, Terra something."

For a brief moment, Dongxue froze. Fortunately, her dad was still on the phone and her mother was digging through the counter to find the newspaper. Trying to get herself under control, Dongxue swallowed and said, "Terrasphere?"

"Yes, that one!" her mom said, looking up. "You know about it?"

"Yeah," she said nervously, "I heard about it. Some of my friends at school talk about it sometimes."

"You tell him to stop playing!" her dad said loudly, and hung up. He looked up to Dongxue and her mom, quickly catching onto the current topic of conversation. "It's bad news," he said, thrusting his phone into his pocket. "The news says the police get the people who play it, and the government is trying to stop it. Stay away from that. I know you- you like to play these kinds of games sometimes, but you stay away from that."

Her VR gear was unobtrusive enough that she could stash it away in some corner of her closet where it wouldn't be discovered. Even if they did find it, she had bought a cheaper model that was more barebones than the usual set, and her parents probably wouldn't recognize it even if they found it. Her mom could only just barely manage the internet and her smartphone, while her dad had a tablet that he only used to save recipes onto for easy access. "Yes, dad," she said. "I will."

Even as the lie was leaving her mouth, she felt awful about it. She didn't really lie to her parents, not this kind of blatant misdirection. The guilt was worse when she knew that they were just worried about her.

But... She couldn't let go of Terrasphere now. So what if people said it was dangerous? Yeah, it hurt, sometimes. Yeah, both players and NPCs within the game sometimes did awful, terrible things. And yeah, she had- she had nightmares some nights, of her skin sloughing off in shriveled layers, of burning bodies in a dark underground room, of a man's body dangling from a noose of vines, of all her failures back to haunt her...

And yet. She couldn't stop. She had to keep playing (had to do better, had to be better, had to make damn well sure that she could deal with the consequences of her mistakes and shortcomings, she had to fix things) and she wasn't about to give up now.

 

It'd been a tough day through and through. One failed job interview after the next did nothing to soothe the blisters of Alphabet's worries (or, as she was known in real life, Katherine Sutton). Day after day of listless searching for something to do in life, at the behest of her distressed parents, and she had come up with no solutions to dig herself out of the hole she had found herself in. Maybe it was time to think of a different way out considering the fact that digging seemed to only exacerbate the problem and find herself deeper in that metaphorical trench. Unfortunately, her only other option at the moment would've been to further her education and she could swear that she had some sort of omniscient soothsaying abilities relating to the prospects of her actually succeeding in a college environment. And, by 'successful prospects', she means the near certainty that she would slowly suffocate under the pressures of secondary education. Thus, Alphabet Chocolate had to break out of the box of society and think about what could only be considered the unimaginable.

At times like these, she wished that her parents would just let her wallow her days in her bedroom with a virtual reality headset on. She was slowly becoming a recluse in a way and defying her parent's wishes would only dash all her hopes of finding one of those underground Deep Dive facilities to catalyze her plans in ditching reality and getting a one-way ticket to the Utopian world of Terrasphere once and for all. That's right, she reminded herself. This was all just a tiny step and soon she could say goodbye to the boring reality that had plagued her all her life. Just a few more steps and Katherine Sutton would be little more than a distant memory in the mind of Alphabet Chocolate: a hero and an adventurer. So, when her mother asked how she was doing from the living room couch, okay was the only thing that Alpha could've plausibly said.

"What're you watching?" Alpha asked as she lifted the miniature coffee pot up to fill two cups. French vanilla flavored with warm milk, honey, and cane sugar. Delish.

She placed the cups on a platter right beside a few diagonally-cut peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Unfortunately, there wasn't as much room on the plate as she would've liked so she had to carry the plate of Oreos separately from the rest of the meal. Luckily enough, she managed to squeeze in a glass of water and a tea infusion bag. Her father was off work a couple of minutes ago and she was certain that he'd be home any minute now (unless he was distracted by that sale going on at the Home Depot that was strategically placed less than a mile away from their complex).

As Alpha walked slowly, careful to make sure not a single drop of liquid was spilled onto the carpeted floor, her mother looked over her shoulder and regarded her carefully. "The Pan-Asian Network. HBO is on commercials right about now and this is the only other decent channel on," she explained as Alpha placed everything down on the coffee table before taking a seat next to her mother. "HBO sucks, mom," it was blunt, precise, and honest. "Just go on Netflix or something."

Her mom shrugged, taking a slow bite out of the peanut butter and jelly sandwich. "There's interesting news, though. Well, I think hearing about your day would be more interesting but you don't seem up to that," she gave Alpha a knowing lift of her eyebrow. Mother instincts, always attuned regardless of how demanding and mean she could be at times. "Some game called Terrasphere. I thought the VRSA would've taken it down by now but I guess not. Since you've been playing games more often than not in your room, I think that you should listen for a bit."

And that got Alpha's interest. At the sudden, unexpected mention of Terrasphere, Alpha tensed up and stared at the television set with wide eyes, the sandwich in her mouth limping sadly. It continued to sag further as Alpha's attention was drawn further away and, by the time the report finished, there were bits of crumbs and jelly stains that would have to be cleaned off from the couch later. Just as newscaster Hotaru Suzuki flickered off the screen, Alpha unfroze. "What?" she mustered out.

All Alpha could hope for was that the server lag wouldn't be to heavy the next time she logged on. And, hopefully, that there wouldn't be too many international gold-farming bots advertising their services on the world market. At least it'll be a bit more hectic and fun.

 

The air was filled with high spirits as the famous idol stood on the rather large stage. The lights beading down, causing the skin to shine, her hair majestically bending down her shoulders and her back. The microphone held in the singer's right hand as her left faced her chest. The natural colored lips parted as the high note rang through the building. The shirt that ended right above her waist line that jagged upwards towards her belly button was form-fitting. The smaller chest that the girl was paired with, showing with the small curve in the v-neck of her shirt. The small jacket that ended halfway between her elbow and wrist was rolled up lightly, revealing three bracelets that adorned her right hand. Matched with her laced and black-buckled choker was a pair of small black finger less gloves. Her shorts were short as they ended, skin separating them from the shirt. Her white belt matched with a bronze buckle. It only set the tone of the concert to one of utter excitement. The expression that dotted the female's face as she continued to sing made her look as if she was truly into her music. The chorus of her song returning as the music finished the build up it had been set upon. Her hips swaying to the music as she expressed who she was in her song. The sounds of the crowd gaining volume as they sung along to the words.. The voices echoing throughout the whole venue, shaking the building with the booming volume. The sweat that glistened on the singer's forehead, showing more glistening to her skin as she continued. The post that thus was supposed to hold the microphone was empty as the microphone stuck in the singer's hand. Her feet moving as she began to once again strut and walk across the stage. Passing and high fiving people as she passed by. The song beginning to wrap up set the last bit of words onto the mouths of the singer, the whole crowd growing silent as it came to a close.

"And I know (I know)
That you're here with... Meeee~"​

With the ending of her words, the music faded until it was nothing. The applause and cheering that erupted through the wave of people set a smile upon the face of the girl who's breathing was so heavy that her chest rose and fall dramatically. The screams filling the venue as the female stood center-stage once more. Lifting a single hand, the sounds died down leaving quiet enough for the female to speak. "Thank you all so much for coming to this concert~❤" The cheering resumed, and the singer waited for it to stop once more before resuming. "Sadly, that was the last song for tonight. I hope to see you all at the next concert and don't forghet to let me know on my social medias what your favorite part was about tonight!" Bringing her right hand up to her lips, the singer blew a kiss at the audience before departing from the stage, heading to the back. Time to get out of this outfit and to have the after party with the lucky few from the audience.. Changing into a more casual outfit, ripped black jeans and a simple mustard yellow crop top, Mia headed for the backroom where she would be meeting her friends and the few fans from the audience.

The doors were opened and Mia headed for the couch, the TV on the news channel.. Her eyes flashed towards the box as the word 'Terrasphere' was mentioned. With a small frown, Mia watched.. Terrasphere went global?! A nervous smile flashed her face as she listened to the rest of the news report. A knock on the door brought her minds away from her thoughts as her hand flashed to click off the TV. She stood up as the doors opened revealing a few people she did not know and one of her friends. The small grin that Mia flashed towards them made one of the unknown females squeal.

The rest of Mia's night seemed to flash by as they relaxed, until she walked through the door after getting home. "How was the concert honey?" Mia's mom seemed only elated to hear about it. "It went well, I must say thought that some people are getting upset that I am only doing them in the state. Maybe I should do a country-wide tour.. The concerts are rare enough that it would be okay, right?" As if to change the subject, her mother began to speak of what had been on the news. "So that game you play has gone viral.. Everyone says it is dangerous. Yet here I am, keeping the secret from the world.." Mia took the opportunity to hug her mom, "I promise I am being safe, mom. No need to worry." The hug seemed to comfort her mom as she dropped the subject and began to heat up leftovers for Mia's dinner while the buzz of excitement from the concert still filled Mia's mind. It seemed that Mia had the best of both worlds. In the real world she sang and did what she loved. Upon entering Terrasphere she was a noble lion, with a heroic mind and a different role in the world.

One thing was for sure. The one thing that Mia had been waiting for all day, besides the concert. (After all, Mia enjoyed when she could produce entertainment for her fans and those who were willing to listen even more than Terrasphere) The one thing being clear and one hundred percent real, as soon as Mia was done eating and socializing with her mother, she would be launching right into Terrasphere and playing as her favorite lion, Ilya.

 

"Aw, who's a good boy?" Louis was welcomed home by his two dogs, as he usually was. He looked over at the couch as he pet both mutts, noticing the bemused look on his fianceé's face. He gave a smirk before interrupting her thoughts. "You look entertained, babe. What's up?" The woman only one year his senior looked over and chuckled. "Dude, they're trying so hard to crack down on people playing TS and it's spreading like wildfire. Look at this."

Walking over, he undid the top button of his shirt and took off his tie. "I could use a laugh, it was a long day at work." Dianne had rewound the live broadcast, and hit play as he sat down. As he listened, he couldn't help but start laughing heartily, especially when there was mention of government officials doing their best to block access. "Even if they manage to block access to it temporarily, this game is huge. I've only logged in ONCE and I know how big this thing is. If they manage to block it, the devs will send out a patch to get around it. They already got around the normal deep-dive restrictions." His betrothed put an arm around his shoulder and leaned into him.

"You still ha-" Louis knew where this was going and cut her off. "Yeah, my VPN is still working." He smiled brightly at her. As he sank a bit in his seat, relaxing for a bit before his next adventure, his phone began to ring. He let out a deep, exasperated sigh, followed by uncomfortable shifting to get into the pants pockets that were a little too tight. That ringtone was all too familiar. He let the phone's accelerometer detect when to answer as he placed it to his ear.

"Hey mom, what's up?" She knew he was an avid gamer, and probably had his finger in this virtual pie as well. He also knew all too well that her only concern was for his well-being. "Yeah, I'm fine. Game's safe, people are being paranoid. I've seen people respawning in game, death doesn't kill you IRL." It was convenient having a parent who understood gamer terms, he mused. "Yeah, I know you won't turn me in. You know Dianne's keeping an eye on me for the first few days while she draws, making sure I don't start foaming at the mouth. We have those emergency cutoffs installed too. Love you too, mom. See you soon." Louis knew he had things pretty good when that was the most concerning call he got. Money was usually tight, which is why the pair of lovebirds were still living with his mom, but she treated them more respectfully, like roommates. Besides, Louis was managing to pay the majority of the rent at this point, and Dianne was saving her small sales of art pieces to put a down payment on a house. As he thought it over, it seemed like a very quaint, quiet existence.

The man looked over at his VR gear. He'd been waiting for full-immersion VR for his whole life. He'd never forgive himself if he didn't take the chance to be an early adopter, and even more if he didn't aim to be the top tank in all of Terrasphere. Without another word between them, he settled back into his lover's embrace as they switched the channel to a speedrun tournament.

 

Unspecified Address, Brooklyn, NYC
​

"They're getting way too cocky," Thom's mother tapped her fingers idly as she watched the announcement pan across the screen. "Openly resisting not just one, but multiple world governments? Running servers across the dark web for simulated world? Something about all of it stinks, Thom. Thom?"

He gripped his fork tightly as the ad came and went, an unreadable expression on his face. His mother's words were drowned by uncertainty, and by anticipation. How would this effect the world of Terrasphere? Would there be an introduction of Player versus Player, where people could immersively murder each other for points? The way they were running the show, it seemed like a feasible notion.

"Thom!" Her voice was much louder and forceful as she slammed her hand down on the table. "This whole epidemic started on our doorstep. Have you seen or heard anything about this game?"

He glanced in her direction for a long moment and considered his words carefully. His mother bad never been fond of his gaming habits, but she tolerated them well enough. Simply proclaiming his love for Terrasphere might offset the balance and ruin that for him.

"Heard of a few kids around the neighborhood possibly getting involved in it," he drawled. Folks come up in the pharmacy and talk all kinds of crap. Who knows what's true about it."

She watched him for any hint of hesitation. In her eyes, he checked out. "Just don't go getting involved with any international incidents," she warned. "I barely have enough to pay the rent this month, let alone bail you out."

"Sure, sure," he waved a hand. "Thanks for dinner, ma. It was good."

Thom pressed the chair back under the kitchen table, his meal left half eaten. A worried look flashed across his mother's face as he ascended the stairs and the door shut tightly behind him. The deadbolt fastened.

Thom placed the Dive Apparatus on his head and flicked the power to the on position.



Kijin flickered to life in a haze of pixels, waiting to live again after his routine transition between the real world and Terrasphere.

"A whole world of competition, is it?" he mused. "I'll just have to get stronger than all of them."

 

Leah sighed as she tapped away at her laptop. She was making progress with her article. Not much, but it was something. She had a decent chunk of her first draft down but she still needed to cut it down by a lot. And there was the issue of not having any visuals to accompany her text, which was a real shame. She'd have to whip up some graphics but the lack of "screenshots" probably would make it look less believable. She'd cross that bridge when she came to it. Visuals later, finishing the text now.

As she worked, she absently checked the news for the day. Nothing going on in her little corner of the world. Something about a local school winning a state-wide competition, whatever. A headline about- About Terrasphere? Brow furrowing, Leah clicked on the article, and watched the accompanying video.

So if she waited a few months, she wouldn't have had to go all the way over to the U.S. to get access to the game? Damn it. What a waste of money and time. With a loud sigh, Leah closed out of the page and turned back to her word processor. The only sound to be found in her cramped little apartment was her fingers tapping on her keyboard.

-Wait. Wait, wait, wait. Access all around the world. That meant that everyone with a VR headset would be able to access the game, if they got their hands on the client. And it wasn't like it was difficult. So... that meant she had a lot more competition.

Scowling, Leah returned to her work with even more furious determination than before. She had to get this done before anyone else could.

 

Gourmet World, a certain VR game.​

Hidden: Another place, At the same time.

"Holy crap! Are you guys seeing the news? It's back! It's back!"


"This isa' bad, very bad..."


"Heh... so the wheel of fate is once more turning us towards the end..."


"Why can't they just like stay quiet and leave us alone?!"


"A damn shame yall, a damn friggen shame.”


"The hell!? Really? What's up with that shit!"


"My ulcer..."


"Remember when those Amercians used to export GOOD THINGS? Ahhh those were the days yes?


“Woah there buddy, one bad apple sure aint all of us. I assure you, they’re just'a much a thorn for you as they are for us, maybe greater, we’re that prickly ol’ cactus’ of a game's neighbor, yeah?”


“Damn straight.”


“Looks like the men are measuring their sausage again…”


“Pfft---"


At a long table -they- sat. The top chefs of gourmet world. Those of whom had been designated as the Bodhisattvas of Flavor. Kitchen Pantheon. El Divines. The Chansons de Comida. They had many, many names. Men and women of all ages, from all walks of life, of countless paths, disciplines and ideals. They were the hard fought champions and maestros of Gourmet World. They had all been called to gather by a single dapper woman. The Lady Dandy---the one repping England, The Queen of English Cooking.


Much like Lawyers in America, English cuisine had a “certain” reputation, only worldwide. Namely---English cooking was said to be downright horrible. And though the first law of Gourmet World dictated that “tastes differ,” representing English Cooking in Gourmet World carried a significant burden. Never the less, she had risen to the top. The cream of the crop if you will. Currently, this woman was stirring the last of her tea with a pursed smile. Her eyes were locked on the television currently playing a 24 hour news cycle. At the moment, a number of personalities and experts were discussing what a Global Terrasphere Crisis could mean.


“(quieter) But why the silver fox’s restaurant? I know she’s good and all considering her origin, but what makes her so special----at any place above us.”


“’I do not fear the man who knows a thousand punches, rather I fear the one who has practiced a single punch a thousand times.’”


“Huh?”


“(smiling). The Queen of English Cooking clawed her way to the top with just a plate of fish and chips. That’s it. She’s never bothered cooking or experimenting with anything else. Think about that for a minute, newbie. Ya get the implication? That single dish is outta this world. I can attest to that. Hell, I strive for it. But hey, don’t feel bad, here’s another saying for you, ‘I was once like you.’”


That was one of many conversations happening around the long table at The Flag, Ms. Silver’s pub-style resturaunt. The greatest place in the world to have a taste of Fish and Chips. The interior had a British Pub flavor to it, with a touch of the nautical besides. It was a nice enough place for a date that you could none the less wear shorts to. It was a place where one could truly unwind. There was zero pretension. With grace, Ms. Silver returned her cup of black tea---one cube of sugar---to its saucer with the vaguest of tinks.


“My friends…”


At that, like a school cafeteria on the verge of a principal's announcement, the little bubbles of noise quieted.


“Manners maketh man.”


There was a smile on Ms. Silver’s face, but even so, the newbie who had just been speaking couldn’t help but swallow. He gulped.


“But miya lady, what canna we do?”


Ms. Silver let out a long breath, it was a sigh… and yet… with her impeccable poise, it merely sounded like the last wind before the rain falls.


“I’m afraid… I don’t have an answer for that… but really… that fake accent…”


“Ah… mucha apologies, but I cannota breaka the character. Outta respect, for my'a inherited title of Bertoli the 19th. Pleasa pardon the spiceniess that really means the respect for the tradizione.”


“Very well… Before I get ahead of myself, and though I may be stating the obvious, the reason I have asked you all here is to say that Terrasphere has resurfaced. Yes, I’m sure all of you were already aware. This isn’t a friendly call concerning something that is out of our hands in the present, but rather, what we must make ready to do concerning the future.”


“It’s that bad Ms. S?”


“I fear that it very well may be.”


“Damn…”


“Now, with all due respect madam, you just said we can do nothing, so what might this possey getting all up to fear mongering accomplish? Ya just said it’s outta our hands. Well, aint it then?”


“Not quite. While I imagine none of us have any political clout out there, in Gourmet World, each of us has our pull. Fear mongering is a good way to put it, yes. The reason for our meeting here today is to come up with some counter measure to prevent it.”


“Is, like, such a thing doable? Just looking at all our faces here, I can already tell we’re on edge. It’d be a lie to say otherwise no?”


“Missy Idol’s got a point, I aint feelin optimistic this time around. Hell it’s like the second coming of a bad dream---and those you’re supposed to forget come mornin’”


Murmors of concerned agreement sprang up at Idol Cake and Texas Style’s statements. Niether was pleased to be right----actually both were very much hoping for Ms. Silver to speak up and prove them wrong. However… Ms. Silver only sighed this time----for real. Everyone quieted looking down.


“Ladies, Gents… comon’ now, didn’t we just agree that fear mongering was pointless? I ain’t sayin let’s stick our heads in the sand, but really now, why not try thinking postive? First time I heard about increased regs, me and my guys started compling a flavor chart for our recipes. If taste got messed with we were figurin we could somehow adjust the ratio of spice. Ya know, enhance the flavor to make up for them dullin everything.”


Lady Silver smiled, “That is a -wonderful- idea. If you don’t mind, if you would be willing to share your data, I’m sure all present would be willing to contribute. With more data, we might make some headway on a flavor bible of sorts.”


“Wouldn’t mention it to brag. I’ll get right on to it after the meeting.”


“Before I get to yapin’ I am ab-so-lutely on board but----”


The news segment playing in the background finished Texas Style’s thought.


“…but really, Professor, what are the costs of leaving such potentially dangerous and exploitable technologies in the hands of the general populace? Are there any current benefits to VR technology in the public sector that would outlay the risks?”


“Only roughly a century ago we had a renewed debate over the roll of the internet in our society and yet----”


TINK TINK TINK. A spoon fell colliding with the rim of its glass bowl like a free-throw circling the rim. All present turned to the head of the table. No, they weren’t looking at Ms. Silver, all eyes had turned in the opposite direction. They were looking at----

“…That won’t happen.” A small girl on the cusp of her teens spoke. She was small even for her age. She looked quite a bit like of child of perhaps eight or so instead. Her blonde and messy wavy hair gave her a bit of a frumpy look, but it was something the old 90’s called shabby chic. A cute girl. This was the first time she had spoken at the table.

Errt. Scooting to the edge of her seat, the young blonde dipped her feet down and pushed out her legs, sliding her chair across the wood floor. With that, the sleepy-looking girl rose.


“Whasa the matter my little princess?”


“Is everything alright dear?”


“What won’t happen darlin?”


“Like, can we get you anything?”


The little blonde shook her head. Turning, she began to leave.


“Hey now honey, what’s the hurry now? Talk to us, we’re a little worried alright?”


“Hungry.”


“In real life? If you’d like something in game that’d go nice after your ice cream, I’m sure this table would love to whip something up for you. How’s that sound?”


She shook her head. “Not real life.” Slowly, she raised her hand and pointed a single dainty finger. She was pointing at the tv. At----


“BREAKING NEWS! The White House Press Secretary has just issued a statement that the U.S. President is preparing to issue an emergency address on the Terrasphere Indicedent. Stay tuned for further details.”


“Terrasphere.” The girl nodded. “Won’t happen.” She shook her head.


“Woah girl you don’t intend----”


“Let her go Soul Stuff.” Ms. Silver smiled looking at the girl. “She originally gathered us like stars in the sky. And would you see us now? Bitter rivals sitting at the same table in a constellation. Yes, there was never any animosity between us, but would you ever have suspected any of us----all of us----becoming friends? Our little princess is stronger than you think.”


The Gourmet Princess smiled at that. Her precious friends were worried about her, cheering her on. Izabel would never let harm come to Gourmet World. Ever.


Waving with a little smile, she logged out. In her trashmail was a rather seedy email. It had arrived roughly one week ago. From the news, Izabel knew that it must certainly be an invitation to Terrapshere. With a determined nod, she downloaded the file without hesitation.

...And so began a long, long upward climb. One, without any visible peak.

All mimsy were the borogoves,
And Brer Rabbit doth come to wander.

Peter Rabbit, Mr. Mcgreggor,
Incarna Velveteen brought to hunger.

Beware the Caerbannog Bunny, friend.
With her sharp teeth that maketh plunder.

For she she has devoured the Antioch, friend.
That grenade of certain wonder.

Madder than the March Hare,
Nom Nom dreams and walks in slumber.​

 

Foomp~ foomp~ foomp~

In a room with a considerable view of Manhatten below, a girl lay in repose like a gloomy Victorian painting.

Foomp~ fooomp~ foomp~

Reclined on a loveseat for two, the girl reposed while firing plastic sticky darts at the large glass window before her. Reloading the magazine of her fancy shooter she rested her hand in her chin and fired.

Ponk!

Striking the back of another dart, her projectile fell to the floor with a tap.

Briefly, subtly, the girl’s eyes widened…

“Oh?! I did it?!”

But the light in her eyes quickly faded.

“But that means…”

Im not sure how it was possible, but the teenage girl sunk even further into the couch.

“…that now I’ve got nothing else to doooo….”

With a sigh the girl’s porcelain hand opened and the dart gun hit the wooden floor as Elsa Tulle, age 16, groannnnnned. If she were to sit up properly in her seat, a TV blaring modern nothing would have been in front of her. She glanced at it out of the corner of her eye and reached for the remote… she then hesitated and reconsidered. She decided that she liked the noise. Rolling back onto her stomach, she then buried her face into the considerably cushioned arm rest that functioned as her pillow and began to rhythmically kick her feet.

Pff pfff pff pff…

It was like a clock, she realized. She then further realized that she hated clocks. Her favorite drama had just ended yesterday, and though she liked the ending, there wouldn’t be anything else to look forward to. At least, for the foreseeable future. Which is to say, until whenever she happened to find something else. If she ever did… Without raising her face, she snatched the remote from her small glass-top coffee table and punched a memorized sequence on the touchpad. The channel, of course, changed.

Cheers filtered through the expensive speakers of the surround sound system, the television itself had a picture that probably looked better than real life. The girl’s head shifted ever so slightly to peek at…

“heh…”

It was an eating competition but it was already ending. She’d missed something that might be interesting. What a pain.

“maybe I’ll just take a nap…”

As she began to drift off, suddenly, she heard a voice. It was a commercial she’d never heard before.

And that was something rare…

Ears perking up like a sleeping cat, gradually, she rolled over onto her side to see.

 

Cyriac Smith blinked at the news, but otherwise didn't seem to react. His father was absently reading a book beside him, and turned a page.

"Best be careful with that newfangled game of yours. You've been spending so much time on it - I hop it isn't this Terrasphere thingamajig." The older ravenette peered over his glasses at his son, who simply nodded.

"Good." And he went back to his book. Cyriac turned the television off and went off to his room - it was a daily ritual of him spending an hour or two with everyone before taking his leave and staying in his room. Initially, it was seen as depression, but now that he had cheered up significantly, his parents were no longer worried.

In his room, Cyriac snapped his VR set on. Sitting at the PC, he began installing the VPN system.

It felt like he was doing drugs, or something. Going against the government because he feels he's got this under control. Still, he'd rather not get caught doing something illegal - if not out of fear of incarceration and/or punishment, then the fact that he'd be causing trouble for his family.

Call him detached, but he was a dutiful son.

"...this is going to lag my game, isn't it?"

 

Hidden: Extra convo

"Man! I was not able to finish the homework yesterday!"

"Me neither! Talk about making us work like slaves right?"

"I completed mine. It was easy if you put your minds into it. Oh wait, you don't have any"

"Ouch! Talk about being harsh! Anyways~ By the way,Did you guys hear about the news?"

"what news?"

"That news! that one! How come you don't know!"

"Don't go around saying things as if we know what you are talking about Monty"
The male got hit on the head by his friend. He pouted and rubbed his head.
"I was talking about the news about that online game! uhh its called Ter..Terry...Terrcircle..uhh"

"You meant Terrasphere right?"
"Ya! Terrasphere! That is what it is called Christopher! Everyone is really scared of it now since it made a global break through or something"

The girl wearing specs sighed as she kept her small notebook down. "Yes. I heard about that. Its not that surprising actually. No one knows much about that game. Naturally people are worried about it. Humans fear the unknown, especially if that unknown thing is man made"

"I'm going to be honest Mandy. I want to join Terrasphere. It sounds so exciting. The thrill wouldn't be playing the game but rather, playing an illegal game" Christopher grinned.
"Do not Chris. I wouldn't want you to get into trouble" Alex said with concern.

"What if...What if! Someone amongst us is playing Terrasphere?! It is suppose to remain a secret so even if one of us was playing, we wouldn't know...Well except for Alex. She's a goody two shoe" Monty teased as he poked the red head.

"Count me out as well. I have no interest in playing an illegal game and getting a black dot on my perfectly clean record" Mandy stated, rolling her eyes.

"Monty and I always spend time playing another game online and we are always on it. We don't have time to spend on another game...then the only one remaining is Hazel! She can do it, especially since she lives alone"

No response. While the friends were walking, the brown haired girl busied herself to watch happy children and parents. "ouiii Hazel!" Monty snapped his fingers in front of her, bringing her back to their current situation. "Sorry. I dozed off. Yes?" She tilted her head as she wondered what they were talking about.

"He was saying how he believed you were linked to Terrasphere" Alex filled the details to the hazel eyed girl. She laughed nervously as she adjusted her crimson scarf. "uhhh...Is Terrasphere a cult?" She inquired

Silence stretched out between the group of friends as they all looked at the book smart, yet clueless girl. The first to break the silence was Christopher.

"Never mind. It was a mistake talking to you about it"
Mandy sighed as she shook her head. "It most certainly is. Little miss perfect with a perfect life would have no reason to get into something shady"
"I know~ Besides, Hazel is always busy studying. I doubt she would have time to play games"
"Honestly. I think you are lucky Hazel. You are smart, hard working and your parents trust you enough to let you live alone. My mom keeps nagging me to be more like you. Its so troublesome" Monty sighed. "Don't say that Monty. I think you are perfect the way you are" Hazel replied with a reassuring smile.

"Ah Hazel~ you are a true angel! Its like you came down from heav-"
Another whack on the head by Mandy. "Stop being so over dramatic. Jeez..What will you do in the future"

"Speaking of the future, What do you guys plan on doing? I call dibs on IT security!"
"ehehe.. I don't know"
"Neurologist"
"I don't know man!"
"Me neither"

"Oh?I expected from Alex and Monty but not you Hazel. Well, you do not have to worry. After all! you are smart and good at speaking so you can get anywhere" Her friends reassured her. "It seems my home has arrived. I'll see you later" Hazel smiled as she waved them goodbye.

She went inside her building, still keeping a smile on her face. "How was school today Hazy?"
"Very good Mrs Annie. How have you been?"
"I'm doing wonderful dear. If you need any help, do not hesitate to ask" The old woman reminded Hazel who chuckled and nodded merrily.

She kept her smile on, until she entered her apartment. The moment she was alone in the room, she let out a sigh. The smile left her lips and was replaced with a more sad look. She was tired of hearing how her life was perfect when in truth, it wasn't. Not to her at least.

Her studio room was almost empty with the exception of the bed, a side table, a closet and study table. The walls were plain and there was no decorative item except for the photo frame that remained beside her bed. It was a photo of her family, when everything was fine and they lived happily.

Another exhausted sigh left her lips as she dropped her bag and went to take a shower. A few minutes later, Hazel was out with a towel around her neck, wearing plain PJ's. She opened the dressed and took out her, no. Her brother's VR gear and wore it, laying down on the bed. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

On reopening. She found herself in the world of Terrasphere. A smile graced the emerald eyed girl as she looked at the beautiful scenery in front of her. "Its better no one knows I do this...After all. This is no longer Hazel..But Aurora"She reassured herself.

​

 

It has started like any other day would have. Except how would one actually know that something like this would happen. Damien laid within his bed, he was too lazy to get up and start the day. His alarm continued to alert him that he had to get up. He grumbled and finally reached his right hand to half smack the thing to shut it up. "Shut up" the English accent voiced spoke although still half asleep. He didn't even want to be up. Though it was because of that man that he was forced to wake up. He bet anything that the Devil wasn't even home still. 'What if he isn't?' There was his little demon, it was already starting up so early in the morning. The little demon as he called the voice was the darker side of him that had been created thanks to all the abuse he had to endure throughout just the twenty four years he had been alive. So maybe not all of those twenty fours years had been that dark sense of abuse. It had just begun when he was eight, he should have been happy that it started as late as it had.

He forced himself out of the bed and to get dress. The red and black collar was something he always had on. Sure, he could take it off-- but he could never leave the house (much less his room) without the thing clamped around his neck. It was the sign that he wasn't free despite living in America. Rudger, the man whom he referred to as the Devil, was already traveling for his business. Though that didn't seemed to stop the man from forcing Damien to work at a local cafe called Dreamland. That was where he was heading that day. Normally he would have done anything but actually leave the house. Sleeping was always good, but when he fully woke up he would connect. Except there was something unexpected when he went down the stairs of the two story house ( a place he had been calling home for a few months now.)There at the kitchen table sat Rudger Campbell, the Devil. So he wasn't really the Devil, but he might as well have been.

His reddish-brown eyes look upon Rudger, quickly looking to see the news on TV. They were talking about Terra. So it was an illegal game, this was interesting news to say the least. He seemed to cover at the base of the steps looking at the news segment even as it ended/ "Damien" Rudger's slightly gruff voice entered his ears. He swallowed and looked at the man whom he had been living (or rather traveling with) since he had been sixteen. He was more or less sold to the guy, his father had thrown his own son under the bus to try to get out of the line of Rudger's rage. "Y...yes sir" he got out . This man was the only man whom he had ever feared, His own father he could at least not get all shaky or pale around him. He could have talked back to him and now that he was older-- he could have done something back to him. Though not with Rudger. With Rudger was feared for a good reason. He didn't know what the man did, but he did business and somehow could have everyone wrapped around his finger. They traveled a lot, like he only stayed in a place as long as business served for him to be there.

"This Terrasphere game, that is the one that you've been playing a lot lately?" What kind of question was that? When did Rudger actually pay attention to what he did and didn't do. Well it made sense in a way. He had to make sure his 'slave' was nice and behave. At least within the game he was safe from the world known as Rudger's World. He didn't have to worry about that fear. He had been allowed to choose how other's saw him. He had made Camus into someone who could easily be hated. Someone who hated people so much and would rather be in the company of animals. It was all because of this man, okay maybe a little had been based on his father. Though he couldn't be likable... he didn't feel like he deserved it at all. So he focused on making his character into someone who was hated-- someone that was like Rudger even. Someone who could manipulate others and use them. He gulped, his colouring had gone slightly paler at Rudger's question. What would come out of this. Would he be told he couldn't return?

'Would it really be that bad? You'll get more pain' There was the little demon that rode shotgun , it had to get into this as well. His reddish-brown eyes would go to look at the other man. If he didn't try to face him, if he didn't then it would turn out bad for him. "Y...yes sir" he was shuttering over his first word. He couldn't help it. He was terrified of this man and he wished he wasn't. What was he going to say? Was he going to tell him he couldn't play it anymore? Would he make strict rules against it? What would he do? His mind was starting to run away with itself the longer there was silence that hung in the air. Finally the man cleared his throat. "You heard it was illegal, correct?" He had stood up and gotten closer to him. What was going to happen now? Would he be hit? Would something else happen to him. He couldn't back down. "I understand that. I did see that." How he could hate people so much , but he could talk as if he held so much respect to this one man.

Rudger had gone to lift his hands and place them upon his shoulder. "You know that illegal things are sometimes needed in the world?" What exactly was happening here? He could only nod. He had parted his lips, but no words could leave his mouth. Rudger had literally made him speechless with those words. Sometimes illegal things were needed in the world-- what exactly did that mean to this. Rudger had removed his hands and stepped back. "You're aware that you could get in trouble if you were under anyone else's household." His mouth felt dry and his tongue felt like sandpaper. He swallowed and forced himself to speak finally. "Of course I'm aware of that. You don't have to tell me about that at all. I... I am grateful for all you do for me." Those words tasted like poison as he said them. Rudger stepped out of the way and allowed him to go pass him. "Also Damien... being a criminal isn't a bad thing." Like that Rudger was leaving him and he was left wondering about what had just happened.

Seriously what exactly had happened? Well at least his time in Terra was safe. He was a criminal, but nothing wrong with it. He was just playing an illegal game, but it was safe. It was a get away from this place. It was much better there. He wished he didn't have to go to work. If he didn't then he would going to plug in right at that moment. He would have to wait to become Camus again. Camus allowed him to be anyone he wished to me. Who would have ever thought he would have wanted to become someone like that. Though the world was weird and the clock was ticking. Ticking away until he enter once more. With the news saying that more servers have opened. That meant more new players would be entering the world of Terrasphere. He looked forward to it actually.

 

Harry was eating cereal as the news played. The rest of his family didn't even blink - there were a lot of VR games, and Harry was raised to be responsible and smart, after all. Only his brother, Reggie, gave him a meaningful look. Reggie tapped his spoon against his bowl of cereal twice - the Riven household's secret code for 'We need to talk alone'.

Harry gave a discreet nod. After breakfast, then...

A few hours later, Harry was in his room, before Reggie came around, closing the door behind him before sighing.

"You going to bail on the game, then?" Reggie was a calculating person - he made sure to put his question out as an actual question, despite sounding more like a leading-on. Harry had to think on his answer, though. He glanced at the VR set lying in front of his computer table, before looking at his brother once more.

"Maybe. Eventually. So far, things aren't so bad in the game...I mean, what's the worst that could happen?"

Reggie snorted. He wasn't in the VR business, but he had a Ph.D. in medicine and a bit of common sense as well. "VR...I'm not sure how this business, works, but the sensations you feel are real because your brain is directly affected by them. The VR set taps into the CNS right at your neck," He tapped the spot for emphasis. "...to make the full-dive thing possible. Anything that messes with a brain is dangerous stuff, Harry. Sensory overload is a thing. It can happen. And a good chunk of all deaths in trauma comes from the shock, not the actual harm."

Reggie sighed as he sat down on a chair, looking at the VR set. He needed to study this thing closely. Harry wasn't someone who did his research much; too carefree and trusting, he believed in his brothers to protect him, and Reggie felt obligated to do just that.

"...just avoid death as best as you could. That's fair enough in games, right? No-death runs and all. And secondly, wear a heart monitor." Reggie didn't have one right now, but he might be able to filch it from the hospital.

"There's a difference between being dead and being anything else. You watched The Princess Bride, right?"

Harry nodded. It was a good movie.

"Yeah, well, there's a world of difference between 'dead' and 'almost dead'. If anything happens, I'm pulling the plug and getting you out. Pretty sure this kind of stuff might have a safe-mode switch..."

And he rambled on, now more technical than rational. And Harry listened. An implicit understanding passed between them.

'You're free to do as you wish, Harry.'
'Don't worry, I got your back.'
'I will fight for your right to be happy.'

More than the wealth and affluence, more than anything else, he was happiest to have a family like this one. Harry rubbed his eyes absently.