He can savor my delicious dance moves while he plans his revenge.
His plasma rifle lies on the floor, free for the taking. I pick it up and check the stats.
Item: Plasma Rifle. 70% charge. Hold charge for two seconds for a power blast.
It has a better charge than the sniper rifle I’m currently using, so I switch them out, leaving my weapon behind for anyone who comes upon it.
A timer counts down at the top of my vision. Three minutes, forty-seven seconds remaining. My team, Team Purple, is down by eight kills to Team Green.
Weapon fire brings me back to the situation at hand. The map in the bottom corner of my vision shows three green dots approaching from the next corner. I turn to run the other way, but two more approach from my rear.
I’m trapped. With enemies on both sides, there is no way I can shoot my way out of this. Five against one, it’s just not possible.
They’re close enough now that I can hear their chat. In a team deathmatch in Spaceworld, players can talk to each other when they are close enough, even if they aren’t on the same team.
“Let’s get this little twerp,” a deep voice booms.
“Yeah, it’s time to show him who’s boss,” says a more high-pitched female.
I’ve had a bit of a target on my back ever since winning the Pangea Online Developer’s Tournament. Overnight fame does that, though. I entered the tournament to win the money for my best friend’s sick mother. A lot of people were sympathetic to my cause. A lot of the hardcore gamers weren’t.
Both groups come to a stop on each side of the tunnel. The barrel of a rifle pokes around the corner up ahead.
If I’m going to die, I might as well take a couple of these bastards with me and give those following my livestream a show.
I switch through my weapons and find my last two sticky grenades.
“Guys,” I say, knowing they can hear me. “You don’t have to do this. We can all still be friends.”
I activate the grenades and attach them to my body.
“I bet you’d like that, wouldn’t you? Get him, team!” the deep voice yells.
The first three turn the corner and I stand there, my hands in the air. They don’t even hesitate to mow me down. Plasma beams fill the corridor, hitting me from both sides. All the while, cruel laughter dances in the air around me. My vision goes red and then instantly, I’m no longer in the tunnel, but watching the match from a bird’s eye view as my opponents huddle around my lifeless corpse, bringing their crotches up and down across my body.
Joke’s on you, fellas. An explosion sends all five bodies crashing against the walls.
A small badge flashes across my vision.
Multi-kill! X5
The camera changes again and I’m looking through the point of view of one of my teammates. We’re only down by four kills now.
“Well done, Esil. I’ll take five kills for one death any day. Now, come on, team. Let’s turn this around,” says Talia. Her voice is crisp, authoritative. I’ve played a few matches with her and she seems like a natural leader. She’s charismatic, friendly, and always pushing her teammates to play better without tearing them down. That’s part of the reason I agreed to join her team for a few games.
“Thanks. They’ve really got it out for me. Maybe we can exploit that and use it to our advantage.”
“Good idea, but first, we need a sacrifice.”
“Put me in, coach,” says Buzz. Buzz is my best friend and part of the reason I’m even here at all. If he hadn’t helped me out during the tournament, I never would have had a chance.
“You sure?” I ask.
“Yeah, why not. I love taunting these turdbags.”
I check through my weapons while Talia gives Buzz the plan. I respawned with the same kit I selected at the beginning of the match. I could have changed it while I was waiting to respawn, but I like the set up. I have my plasma sniper rifle, a pistol, one concussion grenade, and two sticky grenades that stick to the first surface they come into contact with.
In a deathmatch, a character’s stats and items don’t matter, only the kit they select for each game. There is no magic and everyone is on the same playing field. Only skill matters.
I’m an okay shooter with an assault rifle. Not good and not bad, though sometimes my aim goes wide from the recoil. With a sniper rifle, though, I have laser focus.
“So, what’s the plan?” I ask.
“We’re all going to go and hide in the elevator shaft at the end of the hall,” Talia starts. “We’re sending Buzz out into the open. He’s going to shoot off a few rounds and draw them in. Once they surround him, he’s going to pretend he’s talking to you and mention something about the elevator shaft. When they come to kill you, we’ll all be there.”
Before I can even say anything, Buzz is running down the hallway, shooting his rifle at the ceiling.
I follow Talia and the others, seven of us in total, towards the elevator shaft. We crouch as we walk, giving off no indication of our whereabouts on the map. Shooting a weapon reveals a player’s location for five seconds. Running and jumping reveals it for one second.
Voices come across our chat as we walk.
“What the hell is this clown doing?” It’s the same woman from before.
They must be on the level above ours.
“Easy picki—” But the chat cuts off as they chase after Buzz.
“Come and get me, you sweaty ball sacks!” Buzz yells into the chat. They might not hear him yet, but they will soon. He laughs maniacally, and I can hear the whir of his rifle through the chat.
Pretty soon, several dots show up on the map, circling Buzz in every direction. Then, I hear the click of his rifle. It has overheated.
“They’re coming in on me,” he says. “Get ready.” There is a small pause before he speaks again. “Guys, please. Don’t kill me and I’ll tell you where he is.” Another pause. “Okay, just don’t kill me. Promise?” Silence. “He’s hiding in the elevator shaft.” Buzz’s mic goes silent.
We all take our position against the back of the elevator. The dots of our enemies all head in our direction. Once they are in the tunnel, they disappear. It feels like minutes pass as we wait for them to approach, none of us speaking. Thirty seconds ticks down on the match clock. We’re still down four kills. Our opponents could wait this out and win, but I’m counting on their desire to embarrass me on their streams to give us a shot at winning.
“We know you’re in there, Esil.” It’s the same guy I no-scoped. “Why don’t you just come out so we can get this over with?”
My eyes are fixated on the elevator door. Twenty seconds tick down until game over. I don’t wait for them to open it. My fist smashes against the open button and a loud hiss fills the air as the shaft opens.
I pull the trigger before the door fully opens, firing my pistol without aiming at whatever stands on the other side. By the time the doors spread wide apart, several of our opponents are on the ground. Light and sound battle for supremacy for the next few moments. Everyone is yelling and cursing on both sides. I take fire to my shoulder and my vision goes bright red as my health bar falls rapidly. Dropping to the floor, I quickly switch items and toss my grenades in rapid succession. My health bar hovers at five percent and the doors close in front of me.
To my right, Talia leans against the wall, her hand on the close button. A loud explosion rocks from the outside of the elevator as the timer hits zero.
Double Kill!
Team Purple: 45
Team Green: 44
You win!
My teammates cheer as we are transported to a lobby. In the lobby, our kits disappear and we all wear our normal clothes. Several of our teammates form a dance party in a circle, each taking their turn in the spotlight.
Buzz wears his black tunic, dented battle helm, and heavy metal shield emblazoned with the outline of a wolf. He spends most of his time in the Norse fantasy worlds and looks the part. Talia’s armor is not that different from the milita
ry armor we wore in the last match, except hers is solid white. She spends most of her time adventuring through spaceworlds and battling aliens across different planets.
I still wear my green tunic and wolf belt that I bought my first day in the game. I’ve thought about upgrading, but they hold so much sentimental value that I haven’t been able to put them down.
“You down for one more?” asks Talia. “We’ve got a good thing going.”
“I wish I could, but I need to get back to headquarters.”
“Still working on the hush-hush experiment you can’t tell us about?” asks Buzz as he wraps his arm around my shoulder.
“Still am.”
After I won the Developer’s Tournament, Benjamin, the President of Pangea Online, offered me a job as the alpha tester for their new full-immersion programming. If everything is ready to go, today will be my first test run.
I wish I could stay and play with my friends, but I’m also excited for this new opportunity. If full-immersion works out, then there would be no difference between the experience in Pangea and the real world. It could change the world as we know it. Plus, Aleesia will be there. She convinced Benjamin to let her work on the team as part of an internship for her schooling. I haven’t seen much of her in-game recently, so I know she’s been hard at work.
After saying my good-byes, I take the portal to my in-game home. Fenrir, my legendary wolf mount, lies sprawled out on the floor. I run my fingers through his soft black fur and scratch him behind the ears. Taking a seat on the couch, I drift away for a moment.
I’ve come so far from the boy I was several months ago. I moved out of The Boxes and into a nice apartment in Pangea Headquarters, eating fruits and vegetables that I didn’t even know existed. Sometimes it’s hard, knowing that Buzz and Grayson are still living in The Boxes, unable to breathe fresh air or eat food that isn’t processed. If I ever have the chance, I’ll try my best to get them out.
A ding interrupts my thoughts and I notice I have a new notification. It’s from Aleesia.
Esil,
Today’s the big day. Meet us in the lab in an hour. I know I haven’t been able to tell you much, but I’m so excited to finally show you!
Chapter Two
Sunlight momentarily blinds me as I take off my headset. My apartment, located at the Pangea Headquarters campus, has big bay windows that allow me to look out into the world like I have never experienced before. The company moved me out of Civic City because Benjamin said that once the alpha testing actually begins, I’ll need to be close because they could need me at any time, day or night, if there is something to test.
It doesn’t bother me one bit. My new apartment is nicer than the one I had in Civic City, and there is no comparison between it and the box I used to live in with its cramped corners, stale air, and complete loneliness. I set the headset on the table and walk over to the window to crack it open. I can actually open the windows here and let in the fresh air!
After stripping out of my haptic suit and dressing in normal clothes, I make the trek from my apartment to the lab. A few workers nod at me as I pass. A man trims the leaves on a small bush with red berries that I could have never imagined existed a few months ago. In The Boxes, everything was gray and drab with no plant life to speak of. Even though I’ve been here a few weeks, I still haven’t gotten used to the beauty of it all. Several drones zoom through the air, weaving between the trees and birds, delivering packages to the workers inside the headquarters.
The headquarters of Pangea Online Entertainment is immaculate. The mirrored surfaces of all the buildings reflect blue skies and green trees. Things those living in The Boxes have never had the luxury of seeing.
I take my time through the entrance and down the long marble hallways until I come to a stop at the laboratory. The scanner outside reads my handprint and then the hiss of air announces my arrival as the door slides open.
Aleesia and Benjamin stand on the bottom floor, engaged in conversation. Several technicians scurry about, checking settings and making notes on their digital pads.
“Welcome, Esil,” says Benjamin, noticing me as I lean against the railing up above. “Today is the big day. Are you excited?” he asks, teeth flashing in a smile. His blond hair is neatly parted to the side. He wears a dark gray suit with a red pocket square. I’ve never seen the man in anything other than a suit.
“I can’t wait.”
Aleesia climbs the stairs and wraps me in a hug. Her hair brushes against my face and the smell of lavender washes over me. I love the way she smells.
“Just wait. This is going to blow your mind!” Her eyes are wide and full of excitement. She kisses me on the cheek and runs off again. I don’t know how big of a part she can have in all of this since she is still a student, but she’s been here almost every day since she started the job. Still, she is in a position many of her classmates would kill for. I guess that’s a perk of having a father who is a developer.
A large tube filled with a blueish liquid sits in the middle of the room. Several cables and a mask dangle from above it. That’s what I’ll be getting into for my full-immersion gameplay. I’m a little nervous about drowning if something happens while I’m in game, but in addition to all the technicians and scientists who are here to make sure the game works correctly, there is a doctor.
“Alright, come on over here, Esil, and we’ll give you the rundown of today’s events.” Benjamin waves me down to the giant tube.
When he starts talking, a man in a white lab coat starts taking notes.
“Today, we’re trying something that has never been done. Something that has the power to change the way we view the world. This may be the beginning of creating a world that is better than our own. Where anyone, anywhere can be anything they want.” I watch him closely. Is the speech rehearsed or is he just that good?
“For a long time now, Pangea Online has been the best at online entertainment. The time has come for us to not only be the best, but be better. What you’re about to experience is unlike anything the world has ever seen. In your haptic suit, no matter how real the world looked and felt, it was never completely immersive. Sure, you could feel the weight of an axe in your hand, the touch of the fur on your wolf, and see the most minute details in every blade of grass, but you could never smell the way Fenrir’s paws smell like earth, or taste the smooth, cinnamon burn of Fire Whiskey. You could never feel the wind gently blowing against your skin after you crossed a stream or truly experience what these things could add to the world around you. Today, you will.”
Okay, I’m officially hooked.
“And you plan to offer this over all of Pangea?” I ask. That’s no small order.
“In time. As you know, Pangea Online is huge. There are hundreds of gameworlds for users to explore. It will take a while to bring all of them up to the standards of what we hope to achieve. First, we have to perfect the technology. That’s why we have you here. It’s easy to talk about the lofty ambitions. It’s quite another thing entirely to bring them to fruition. Your father knew how hard it was to bring an idea into the world. That’s a passion I still cherish. We’re starting small. One world. Brand new, not available anywhere else in Pangea. We’ve input several quests throughout it, but the programming inside is meant to evolve. It changes as you change. In time, when we introduce more players, it will change again with them. We’re hoping to create a constantly evolving world, so immersive, in both reality and gameplay, that users will never want to leave. And maybe one day, they won’t have to.” A smirk dances at the corners of his mouth. I’m not sure if he meant it that way, but that last sentence sounded ominous.
“What do you mean by that?”
“All in due time. Get ready to strap in.”
The technician leads me up a ladder to a platform behind the giant tube.
“My name’s Marty. I was a big fan of you in the tournament,” he says as he fiddles with several buttons that I assume control the tube. His glasses continuousl
y fall down his nose as he works and he keeps having to adjust them. Freckles cover his face, taking prominence over his alabaster skin.
“Thanks.” I stare at the machine before me. So many switches and buttons. I’m officially an experiment.
“I’m sorry, but I’m going to need you to strip down.”
“What? Like, naked?” Nobody told me I was going to be showing my goods. I mean, Aleesia and I haven’t eve—
“Come on, Esil,” Aleesia’s voice booms from an intercom. “It’s for science. Besides, the water’s warm.”
I can hear the laughter in her voice. How long has she known about this?
I strip down, using my hands to cover myself, while Marty tells me some of the details of what is about to happen.
Across the room, Aleesia and several others work diligently behind a pane of glass.
“The liquid you’re about to submerge into is filled with millions of tiny nanoreceptors. Your body will move as you move inside the game and the density of the liquid will change to correlate with that experience. Tougher tasks make it harder. Easier tasks will do the opposite. The receptors will report feedback on everything you do while you’re in the game. The mask gives you air, but the liquid does most of the work. These two receptors here—,” He points at the two dangly wires that hang next to the mask. “—attach to your temple. That is how we get you in the game.”
He attaches a harness around my chest and shoulders. It also has dozens of receptors designed to give feedback on my vital organs.
“What am I supposed to do once I’m in game?” I ask as he attaches the two receptors to my head.
“Today, just walk around. Try out the game, see what if feels like. Do a little exploring. We’re giving you thirty minutes to start, then you’ll come out and report back to us what you think, where we can improve, things like that. Let’s make sure everything feels right before we leave you in longer.”
That doesn’t sound so hard.
“How do I log out when time is up?”
“We’ll pull you out this first time, but in the future, you should be able to focus on leaving, kind of like when you teleport in other worlds inside Pangea, and it will log you out automatically.”
Pangea Online: The Complete Trilogy Page 25
