Chapters Prologue (Parzival): (1st Age) Pre-Emigration Prologue (Kirito): Real World Hell Prologue (ColtKit Productions): Spike's Hoard ColtKit Productions, Part 2: Real World Hell, Part 2 Kirito, Part 2: The Wandering Samurai Optimizers, Part 1: Mother Knows Best Parzival, Part 2: Spankings Ruin Lives (REVISED) ColtKit Productions, Part 3: Hive Concessis (REVISED) Modern Family, Part 1: The Talk Modern Family, Part 2: Meet the Boyfriend Modern Family, Part 3: Brotherly Love Origins, Part 1: Ollivander Toma (REVISED, April 2023) Origins, Part 2: Kirito & Parzival (REWRITE - April 17, 2023) ColtKit Productions, Part 4: Average Day in Hell (REWRITE; April 23, 2023) 2nd Age - Emigration (MERGED CHAPTERS) Parzival, Part 3: First Day Fails. (REWRITE: April 23, 2023) Modern Family, Part 4: Peer Pressure View Online
Prologue (Parzival): (1st Age) Pre-Emigration
Author's Note
Rewrite Up:
This chapter deals with introductions of some of the Characters.
You might notice, the second scene is largely the same. However, All the rest of the chapter is original content.
I will be dragging out, them actually getting installed, for a few more chapters, and then the story will start at the beginning of installation and slowly progress over the thousands of years in universe.
So my readers will actually get to see how things develop.
Though, this means, characters will meet each other, much sooner, timeline wise, then in the original fic.
Emigration pt1 - Get Ready Players
• Prologue:
Enter, the unexpected hero... if you have a thing against Bronies, might I suggest looking away? If you have a thing against child heroes, then why did you click on a fic labeled "Kid Fic". If you have a thing against De-Aged, or Regression stories, then this REALLY isn't for you.
For our hero, was all these things.
He was, for the most part, covered in dark orange fur, but with a streak of blue going down his back, and partially his tail. Enhanced by Blue stripes, on his withers, and the sides of his tail.
He had a dark gray underbelly, with an orange tinge, and similarly colored hooved legs, at least for his back legs, where his forelegs had paws. Complemented by the keratin of his hooves, and the pads of his paws, being the same shade of blue as his back, and the spiky boyish style hair cut on his head.
That was a fox head, along with a fluffy fox tail. Though a good deal more cartoony and cute, then a real world fox.
His main build was that of a bat pony, from the show "My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic". Where his yellow eyes, with the red tinge, had slit pupils.
He had a "Shifter," Racial Template. Meaning he had a bipedal Anthro Form, as well as a humanoid form, in addition to his feral (more animal like) form. His humanoid form was more based on a "Animalistic" body. Meaning he might be clearly human, but had the occasional animal feature. Such as fox ears, a fluffy fox tail, hooved legs, and small bat wings.
None of these features were standard, not even for a shifter. As the individual had long ago commissioned his friend, Tech, for the various upgrades to the Avatar.
He was dressed in a Traditional English School Boy outfit... only heavily dyed. With a black jacket suit (with a thick yellow trim, and a blue TARDIS crest over his heart), and pure black short shorts (barely covering his thighs), along with knee high yellow socks (with two blue stripes near the knee), with circular black shoes (going over his hooves) much in the style of Princess Luna's, completed by a Detective Conan Bowtie (dyed blue).
In addition, he had a few accessories, which stayed put, even in Feral Form. Such as the 4th Doctor's Scarf, big round glasses, a Jack Harkness style Vortex Manipulator (on his left wrist), and an Omnitrix (on his right), a Deadpool style teleportation belt. The 11th Doctor's sonic screwdriver, was clipped to the scarf, much like a stick of celery, on a coat. As one does.
He also had an Amulet, which let him use Kimimaro's (from Naruto) bone manipulation powers, and a ring which let him use shadow bending powers.
He won all these artifacts, by a large number of completing storylines, as opposed to Perma-Death MMOs. So unlocking the artifacts was more tedious, but not nearly as dangerous... It actually took a year to complete each quest, in opposition to the singular battle of a Perma-Death "Artifact Hunt".
Less risk, more time, for the same reward.
This mighty hero? looked barely 7, by foal standards. Big head, tiny body, and small wings... though big when compared to a Pegasus child. Though his wings were not feathered, but rather a thin layer of leathery skin. Colored dark grey, with blue bones, showing through the skin.
I should mention, this great epic hero, was only such in the entirely fictional world, of Virtual Reality.
• Ponyfinder Online:
I squirmed nervously as I worked with a little gray Kobold, who covered in blue paint. We found a forge, in the Queen's treasury. Which was worth one, permanent, bonus to Armor... which the rest of the team felt I needed. And I had chosen to attach the extra defense to my scarf.
It didn't really matter if the gear appeared on my Avatar, as my whole outfit was technically equipped, even if you couldn't see it in Feral Form, but I might choose to change out of my outfit... I mean I rarely did, outside of dates and parties, but I always had my scarf.
My friends and I were in the heart of a changeling hive... we were kinda in the middle of the Queens treasury, dividing up the loot. With everyone getting an equal share of bits. While the gear went to who needed it most.
We weren't greedy, we had been friends for too long to fight over our loot. Instead we all agreed, as a team, who needed what to help the party, as a whole. They had decided I needed better armor, as I had low health due to being an archer and spell caster.
Nearby, a fledgling Dragon, about Smolder's age, was thrilled to find a few new spell tomes. She was a bright yellow, with blue fins, blue-ish green eyes, and an adorable little pair of wings. Typo, the Dragon, was busy reading the spell books. They were basically instruction manuals for learning new spells, after all. The book she was currently reading was based on a new fire spell. So not much use to me but great help for our resident fire lizard.
Typo was our offensive mage, where I specialized in things like Restoration and Illusion. We tended to fight over the Mysticism and Alteration Tomes, but the party decided Typo should get first pick on those, as she was purely focused on increasing her magical skills... and I was more stealth based, with a flare for magic, being more of a support player. Especially thanks to routinely training my Illusion and Restoration skills. So they were actually higher then her's. Which is why I got those books.
But sadly the evil queen didn't have ANY healing spell tomes, and her Illusion spell books I already knew...
So, needless to say, Typo was very happy with her collection of spell books.
Then there was a slender child, with a digivice on his belt, and a Kotomon on his shoulder. The boy had a head of bleach blonde hair, and large Anime style eyes. Clearly his Avatar was based off a Gen 1 Digi-Destined
The boy was wielding a sword, twice the size of a full grown adult. With one hand, no less.
"Honestly Raider, that thing looks like it belongs in Final Fantasy." An unassuming human commented. He was also slender, with short brown hair. He was even dressed in clothes of average value (before they were enchanted to make him a walking tank). "Sure that thing isn't a glitch?"
"Don't care." Grinned the younger human. "Mine!"
Although only young in this artificial realm. Unlike me, Raider wasn't an age player. He just chose a child as his Avatar, to go with the Digimon theme.
The older human rolled his eyes, but there was a hint of a smile on his face. Rad, as we called the taller human, was our resident Warrior. Don't let his casual clothes and lack of weapons fool you. He was a real heavy hitter. More a bruiser then tank, but could still take a good bit of damage.
About the only real spell casting he knew was conjuration, but that was because he liked summoning Bound Armor and weapons, instead of wearing it all the time. He also liked summoning creatures to fight alongside him.
All of Rad's gear was heavily enchanted to give him a boost to his skills, and even a healing factor by way of an Amulet that restored his Magicka, Health, and Fatigue.
Whenever we found an Enchanted item, Tech and I would break it down. That way we could reverse engineer the enchantments. Because of this, our party might not have the most powerful enchantments (or a lot of money from selling extra enchantments) but we had A LOT of magical gear.
Tech was a little grey Kobold, and our primary craftsmen. Although I did help him out with a lot of the crafts, I could only do that stuff through the game's crafting engine. I didn't have a clue how to do Programming or Modding... and none of us were willing to do straight up hacks, given how illegal those were.
Regardless, I often assisted Tech, in making crafted items. As entering an "Assist Mode" really increase the chances of success well crafting, and you can even make better items.
Tech was our Technomancer / Rogue. He handled all the electronics in the game... technically everything was electric, given we were in a videogame, but he handled all the stuff that was categorized as "computer", "Machine", or "Electronic". He had a lot of weapons that fell into that category, as well.
Nearby, sinfully eating a brownie (a clearly inferior snack to cookies), was Slash. He had a "Shark Man" Avatar. Based off the "Animalistic" Avatar Template. Which was basically a human with animal features... him being a shark.
He was another Bruiser. Using T-1000 style powers. He won an artifact that let him mimic the abilities, by looping a large chunk of his Stamina. Made it so he didn't have access to a lot of it. So he got tired easily, and thereby couldn't run for long. Or use many of his racial powers.
Off to the Side... was a rock... just a rock sitting on the floor. When I took my eyes off it, then casually looked back... the rock had moved. A spike of fear shot through me... but then I noticed the little Speed Racer helmet the rock was wearing.
I rolled my eyes, "Damnit Stead!" I glared, "I thought you were a changeling!!!" I could feel the rocks amusement, though it didn't speak.
"Everyone got all they can carry?" Rad called out to us.
"I think I can get into that chest Smouth couldn't open!" Typo eagerly declared, as she ran over to the chest.
"Don't!!!" I yelped as I ran over to her.
"Don't worry," Typo grinned, "I got a fancy new spell for this."
It was too late... she cast the spell. Thankfully I managed to knock her out of the way, just in time for the chest to explode... killing me instantly.
So much for our hero... moving on.
• Oasis Programming Level:
I floated in the space between servers. Dozens of screens floating around me, in a transparent green sphere. All vertically streaming the endless, and incomprehensible green code... incomprehensible, to all but a select few... like me.
Okay so I was a tad overdramatic with my monologues, but you just had to look at my Avatar, to understand that.
I was a cross between a Gastly, from Pokemon, and Marvel Comics' Ghost Rider.
While this head was very Gastly like, though more like a skull then a ball... surrounded by a purple fog. I had no skin, muscles, or organs... just a charcoal black skeleton, leaking that purple fog.
My legs were optional, given I was using a "Phantom" type Avatar as my race. Currently, my entire lower half was missing. Just the long bone tail, of my spine.
It was poking out of my sleek black dress suit. An high end "Team Rocket Giovanni Jacket", complete with the red 'R' on the left pec's pocket. A white dress shirt under that...
I'm an edge lord, sue me... if you can find me. I am a god of cyberspace. My programming skills rivalled the AIs.
For example:
• Oasis Market Planet:
"Stop Theif!!!"
I grinned, cutting into the crowd. My small stature making it hard for the guard VIs to find me. As I dodged legs, and zig zagged about.
Once I was absolutely sure, the guards couldn't see me, I dove into an alley. Hiding behind a dumpster, I took off my Clark Kent Glasses. My username once again becoming visible.
Next, I quickly punched my left peck, pulling up my user profile. I threw my glasses inside, and with the speed that only comes with practice, I selected a new outfit. My Thieves Guild Armor, straight from Planet Elder Scrolls... that I had ironically stolen, disappeared.
I was left naked, which wasn't particularly an issue, given I had my "Settings" permanently turned to "SFW". Meaning all sex parts absent... it also meant, all adult theme Avatars, were censored to my eyes, and even curse words came out as beeps. All that was pretty standard, for players under 16.
My light blue scales were shining under the moonlight. The occasional orange scale, shining all the brighter. Though my light grey underbelly looked rather dull. In place of hair, I had two rows of short bone-like spikes, jetting at opposite sides of the top of my head.
Fishing out my gear, I equipped one of my saved outfits. Which, in this case, was a cross section combat sash. It's pockets already filled with dozens of weapons and useful items.
A pair of katana's at my back. Along with a plasma based sniper rifle. A gun holster on each thigh, with Halo Covenant Needlers....
And, embarrassingly, a batman utility belt. It was just too useful not to have!!! I'm not a nerd!!! I swear!!!
My only real clothes, was my Kobold style raggedy loincloth.
"My my my,"
I tensed, hearing that voice.
Looking up, I saw, Standing on top of the building, was a gods damned Sheriff. And just my luck, it was the Black Swordsman, himself.
The Admin jumped down, his black overcoat fluttering in the breeze.
I could have tried to run, but he had nothing on me.
"Is this REALLY, worthy of the attention of a Mod?" I sighed. knowing better then to play dumb with a Sheriff. They were capable of zeroing out players, at their discretion... and even had the power to suspend the accounts of repeat offenders... like me.
Worse yet they could take you to the virtual prison. Where you would be forced to endure all kinds of hardships, for up to a month of real world time. That was nearly a year, in game! And you had to serve the sentence, as the game recorded the hours you were logged in. You couldn't just not show up, to avoid virtual prison. The only way to avoid it, was to never log into the game, ever again.
Sheriffs were Judge Dredd style "Judge, Jury, and Executioners"
The Black Swordsman gave a helpless, but still somehow cocky, shrug. "Probably not," he admitted.
With that acknowledgement, I felt it was safe to plead my case. "Stealing from VIs doesn't break any REAL rules. It's a misdemeanor, at best. The VIs have jurisdiction, not Administrators."
The Black Swordsman nodded, "True true." I relaxed, until he said, "But I admit, I'm curious."
I blinked.
"You got past a Level 99 security system," Informed the Sheriff.
I immediately paled, "I didn't hack it!!!" I swore, having gone down this road before. Hacking was a serious offense, and most Sheriff's refused to believe I was that good.
"I'm well aware of that." He pulled a data pad, out of his coat. "Saw you pick the locks, myself."
While that did ease me, I couldn't help but wonder why he wanted to talk to me, if I wasn't in trouble.
Looking at the data pad, he informed. "Pulled up your rap sheet. You got quite the history of thieving. Not just from VIs, either. Even some player on player pickpocketing. Though, since all those were done outside City Limits, no real issue there. I'm just impressed by the people you were able to get one over. I'Rock, would have loved to see that one, in particular.
"You also favor Stealth Games, got the top score on both Cell and Hitman Words. So you know how to handle yourself in a fight."
I squirmed, "I usually die if I get caught... so I got to make sure I don't get caught."
"Still, the sheer number of instant kills on your record. That requires more then a level of mere competency." The Black Swordsman kept his eyes on my sheet. "You not only know were all the pin sized death spots are, but are good enough to hit them consistently.
"Combine that with your healing magics, and you would make a pretty good support for any party."
I shrugged, trying not to show my growing anxiety. Just what does this guy want from me? "I'm not really into clanning up. Is easier to steal things, solo."
"True, but you have no idea how to sell the things you steal. Most of the time, you get caught by trying to sell stolen goods to local vendors. It's like you aren't even AWARE of the thieves guild."
I scowled, "They won't take me. They got a gorram age limit!" the censorship didn't extend to pretend swears, from various media.
The Swordsman smiled. "Yes, most guilds are against taking on minors."
"And most Clans just want to use us as canon fodder." I pouted. Not even thinking about lying about my age. It was right there, on my profile. There was no way to conceal it. Not even with Clark Kent Glasses. The glasses might hide my direct age, but they simply changed that to "Minor".
I was 13. Old enough to be put to work, in the real world, but not old enough to get any respect. Especially not from any of the work houses.
"How about I make you a deal," The Swordsman smiled. "I put you in touch, with a few players willing to buy stolen goods from children. And in return, you join my deputies."
My jaw dropped open, "What the (beep) you talkin' 'bout!?!" I couldn't stop myself from exclaiming.
The Sheriff shrugged. "Kid, your good enough to crack open a level 99 safe. Maybe not SMART enough to look for alarms."
I scowled.
"But if, based on your ability to successfully sneak into market storage, AND run out of it, even after it was sealed. Honestly the only reason I'm here, is because a friend of mine recommended you.
"I'm sure you heard the rumors that the High 5 is working on a next gen Oasis Build. Truth is, we need more Mods for it. Preferably, before we make the official announcement," The Swordsman explained. "You interested? The pays good, and you'll be pushed to the head of the line, to get access to the new game."
I studied him a moment. "What's the catch?"
He continued to smile, "You joining me, IS the catch. What I do is dangerous. More so then a mere Perma-Death mission. You may even end up getting hacked, during a fight. Though we have a company authorized hacker, in my department. So they would be able to repair most damages, and actively fight against it."
I thought on it... for all of 2 seconds. "I'm in."
• Planet Doom:
I ducked behind a boulder, as gun fire rained down around me. The other players had realized who I was, and had taken appropriate action. They all forgot about fighting each other, and turned their weapons towards me.
This might seem excessive, though an Asari Matriarch was definitely a threat. Just looking at me, I didn't seem all that dangerous. My gear was standard, my weapons non-existent. Even my clothes were the generic Asari robes from Mass Effect. My Armor was just as generic...
And because of that... I was undoubtedly the most dangerous player in the game.
I made the proper seal, and screamed out, "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!!!"
There was an explosion of smoke, and suddenly an army of a thousand me's appeared before the players stupid enough to challenge me.
Each one began casting different spells. From Biotic Singularities, to Destructo Disks and Kamehamehas. A few of my clones were even flinging around Advada Kadavas.
All the while, I sat calmly behind my rock, casting an impenetrable ward around myself.
I didn't waste my money on gear. Didn't increase my health past the standard. All my funds, and my level up bonuses, went into my magicks.
Oh I died, plenty of times, when I first attempted this build. A pure spell caster was probably the hardest build to survive... but I had survived, and sunk every credit I had into buying spells from every franchise in existence. As well as tomes to increase my magical power and lower PP cost.
I now had enough destructive power, and superior defenses, to lay waste to entire planets... even if my health was insignificant. Any decent player could kill me with a few well placed punches... but they would have to get past my defenses.
I heard the last of the screams, and my surviving clones dispelled themselves. Pouring their memories into my mind, and alerting me the danger was over.
I banished my ward, and stepped out. Calmly walking over to the artifact I had won... though I could hardly care what it was. Selling it would allow me to buy more spell tomes, to increase my max PP. Which would let me cast even more spells.
Stepping into the white light, I reached for the floating Gauntlet.
"Hey,"
I quickly threw up a Biotic Barrier, as I spun around to see who had managed to sneak up on me. Only to be smacked in the face with FUCK!!!
"Samehada!!!" I gaped, jumping back. But it was too late. I felt my PP drop significantly from that one strike. My Shields would be useless. I would have to focus on chameleon spells, and long range attacks... hopefully one of them would get through... but that sword, it be eating up my magic faster then I can cast it.
The wielder gave a cocky smirk. And I finally saw his face.
"What the FUCK does the Black Swordsman need with a Gauntlet." I shrieked. I knew the guy had a thing for collecting "A sword for every occasion" but how the hell did he get Samehada! That was a level 93 magical artifact!!! I knew he was good but how the bloody hell could he get past the quest to unlock that!
Kirito shouldered his blade, looking straight at me, "I'm not here for that."
My blood ran cold. "You think magic is my only trick!" I glared, at being underestimated.
My body suddenly started to grow. My slender, beautiful frame, mutated into a mass of muscle. An occasional patch, of diamond hard scales, appeared on my newly amphibious form. When I was done, I stood at near 8 feet tall.
So I didn't spend ALL my coin on spells and tomes. I did upgrade my Avatar with a temporary race Transformation... there was a reason people called me the "Were Krogan". In this form, all my physical stats were temporarily boosted to the level cap. I was both a Tank, and a ferocious Bruiser... and a boy, but that's a minor feature.
I was gender fluid. So naturally I liked the idea of being able to switch between genders. But as I said, that hardly mattered right now.
I got down in a sprinting position, mostly as warning... waiting for him to make the next move. I wasn't stupid enough to attack the Black Swordsman, but I was letting him know I could defend myself.
This was a Artifact Hunt, so he had no authority here, as a Sheriff. As far as I knew, he was hear on his off hours, just wanting the artifact for himself.
He let me stew for a moment, before informing, "I'd like to offer you a job."
• Sodaroo Australia:
I barreled through the mutated beast. Swinging my massive claws, through the giant's underbelly. The monster stood before me and my prize. Really, not a smart place to be.
I slid on my tail, to dodge it's attack, kicking with my massive, kangaroo style feet, as I spun around it.
The creature fell with a thump, allowing me to claim my prize, something I had been searching for, for years.
A genuine, perfect condition, gallon of Sunny D. My clan prized this, over all other drinks. It was even unopened. We would be able to reverse engineer the valuable liquid inside...
We Sodaroos take our beverages very seriously.
It was even more valuable, given in the real world, such drinks were completely absent. The only place you could even get a flavored drink was in the Oasis. So traveling the island continent of a post apocalypse Australia? Fighting to bring such luxurious drinks to the rest of the world?
I felt like I was accomplishing something. Rebuilding the world, and recovering luxuries of the past...
I was a kid, when soft drinks stopped being mass produced... when things like pizza and cookies went extinct... this world, here in the Oasis, let me pretend I was bringing back a piece of that... that I was saving the world...
It was just a power fantasy. The world was doomed, but here, I could pretend otherwise. In here, was my real life... screw the real world, let it burn. We should be focusing on finding away to permanently install all of mankind, in here. In the Oasis.
I knew heard rumors people were looking into it... but it wasn't going fast enough, in my opinion. We were putting too much resources into saving an already dead world, and not enough in saving ourselves.
At least, here, with my fellow Sodaroos... I wasn't helpless.
"Seriously? Your legitimately colored like a Sunny D bottle?"
I spun around, spotting some dick wad that TOTALLY RUINED THE MAGIC!!! Walking around in a human Avatar, on a furry world. That's just not cricket.
It took me a moment to realize he had insulted me... his mistake.
I was rather proud of my colors. I was a bright yellow, with an orange underbelly, a blue "trim" in my fur, blue hair on the top of my head, and pure white eyes. I looked liked my favorite childhood beverage. Something I lost when the world ended. Something that meant a good deal to me.
If there is one thing you don't do to a Sodaroo, it's insult their favorite drink.
I quickly put my treasure into my profile, where it would be safe. Then proceeded to leap out of my crater. Landing in front of the punk that clearly just came here to cause trouble. If there was one thing I refused to tolerate. It was a bully.
Towering over the darkly dressed teenager, that dared mock something so precious to me, I cracked my knuckles.
The boy seemed to make the connection, "Woh now, I'm not looking for a fight."
I gritted my teeth, "Then you really shouldn't have come to the wastelands."
I swung my claw, only for the little shit to dodge. Luckily, the second crater I created, did some decent damage to his ego. The little shit clearly paled.
Channeling my roo speed, I charged straight for him. He didn't even have to draw his sword, before I was right in front of him... and froze. My Avatar started to glitch, as I struggled to escape.
"Gods damn Hacker!!!" I accused. It was just too perfect timing, for my helmet to lag, just as I was about to teach the brat a lesson.
"Now what's wrong with Hackers?" A familiar voice got my attention.
"Haunter!?" I struggled to turn my head, but thankfully he stepped into my view. Looking as equally pissed as I was.
"That's Haunted! Ha-n-tid! I'm a Gastly! Not a Haunter!" His Skull-like head somehow pouted.
All I could do, was roll my eyes.
The darkly dressed punk finally recovered. Pulling out a badge, from his profile.
I just sneered at him. "I don't care who you are! You got an arse kicking coming your way!"
Haunter sighed, "He didn't mean anything by it. He is just ignorant of Sodaroo culture."
All fandoms had their own unique cultures. I should know, I'm a Sociologist in my spare time. Regardless, "Then he's about to learn about it the hard way!"
Haunter sighed, "Come on D, can you just let this slide? Otherwise I'm just going to have to hold you here, for the next few hours, until you agree to hear us out."
I growled, but took in a deep breath, trying to clear my head... I owed Haunter a favor. I might not like MOST hackers, but Haunter was a legal one. He worked for the High 5, acting as the counter measure to cyber terrorism...
He actually helped me out of a jam once, after someone hacked my own account. Stealing all my coin and gear. Haunter got it all back for me... I owed him...
"I don't kill him... and we're even." I gritted my teeth.
Haunter tilted his head. Before making a counter offer, "Don't kill him, AND hear him out. Even seriously consider his offer. THEN we are even."
I weighed my options... "Deal."
• Hub World:
I looked down at myself. I was rather cute, if I do say so myself. A slender, almost scrawny build, and very boyish design. I was an obvious adult, but just as obviously still a teenager... well if you knew how to tell such things, for a Husky Taur.
I was even bloody short, as far as Taurs go, standing at exactly 5 foot tall. Though that was entirely on purpose. In real life, I stood at an unbearable 6'4... and always wished I was shorter.
I kept hitting my head on things. I liked being tiny. Not as Tiny as a 2 foot Kobold, but I wished I was shorter... very few Doms like subs that tower over them.
Anyway, I kept the design rather simple, with more real world coloring. Largely white, with the occasional strand of red fur (much like freckles). Though My short, spikey, and more human like hair, was a bright red. Given I was a ginger, in real life, and always thought it was my best feature. My eyes were an even brighter green then in real life, which were already pretty striking.
I had more human like arms and a torso, though it was pretty scrawny, and overly cute. Although, as a Taur, my lower body was that of a 4 legged animal. A husky, specifically, all paws and floofy tail. I even had the head of a Husky, though more cartoony, with big anime eyes, and a shorter muzzle.
I... felt out of place.
Round me were champions. Famous titans, a master theif, and even a freaking Programmer... and I was some random college kid.
I wasn't even that good of a gamer. Literally the only reason I was hear, was because I was the "Apprentice" of the Haunter Child.
He was my "Mentor".
Mentors held legal rights over a child. Though the parents had to agree to grant it. Usually, this was in exchange for teaching the kid a trade. Usually modding, or some other Oasis related skill.
Mentors were even paid a livable wage. So only rich kids could afford them.
After the Oasis was built, mentors to children, like they had in medieval times, was revived. They were even recognized as a legitimate job.
Hell, some governments had bloody programs, that had replaced "Big Brother". There, Mentors would be paid by the government, and take on underprivileged kids... if the kid had good enough grades, and could maintain them.
Daito, member of the High Five, had been mentor to Sho, back before it was legally recognized. Daito had brought the kid into the High Five's inner circle, and the kid had grown up to be one of the leaders of the largest company on Earth... Daito and Sho are who pushed for governments to legally recognize mentors. It used to just be a quirk of the Oasis. A subculture that developed.
Fandoms, of all kinds, had taken to taking on kids, that showed an interest in their subcultures. Though it was mostly an online experience, with occasionally meeting the parents at cons.
Kids were our future, that's true of everything. A few people took an interests in teaching the younger ones. That way they don't stumble about, getting in trouble. This way, the kids learned the do's and don't's of their fandom. As well as all the subtleties, and customs, of their subculture. It insured the fandom maintained everything they built... and that dicks and trolls rarely infected them to any significant degree.
I grew up in a world, where mentors were once again common place. Even had one myself, though not through a government program.
This was back when I was a Young Fur, myself, Just a little kid, barely made aware of the fandom, but self aware enough to know I wanted to be a part of it.
My parents learned I was interested in the Furry Fandom, and did some research into it. Furries were much more mainstream, then they were 50 years ago. But what sealed the deal, for my parents, was when they learned the Furries had their own mentor program.
We couldn't afford our own, and while my grades weren't bad, a "C" and "B" student wasn't good enough for the government program.
These Furry Mentors, were funded by donations. There only condition, for teaching kids a valuable trade, was the opportunity to educate them about the fandom... obviously, as I wanted both those things, my parents jumped on it.
They started donating a small portion of their paychecks, only what they could afford, so it was a very small amount, and that meager payment was enough to get me assigned a mentor... though it was for a trade my parents wanted me to learn, not necessarily myself.
I was introduced to a Poké-Fur, an Anthro Pokemon. He taught me about computer science, both hardware and programming. Though he also taught me how to make Mods.
He took me around the furry fandom, showed me everything I needed to know. He was someone I could go to, to ask questions my parents wouldn't understand... or I was too embarrassed to ask them.
He gave me the bloody TALK, and no you pervert. He never did anything to me. When I was 16, together with my first boyfriend, and the boy asked if I wanted to... you know. I talked to Haunter about it. See if there were any tricks he could tell me.
Instead, he went into a long lecture about what sex was, the risk involved, and assured me there was nothing wrong with being a virgin. That I didn't have to posture about it, and pretend I knew anything about sex, as odds are. My boyfriend didn't have a clue what he was talking about, either... and then he gave me a few tips.
Obviously, he didn't demonstrate, but it was helpful. Like the myth about swallowing "killing STDs" was bull, and don't "Double bag it", as the rubber would chaff and break. Just stuff kids need to know, but parents are too embarrassed to tell them.
Having a mentor, looked good on a resumé. As did being a mentor, and it was cheaper then college or trade schools. Though having "higher education" and a mentor, practically guaranteed you a good job.
Mentors tended to be a lifelong relationship. Although they lose all their legal rights, over the child, once the kid turned 30.
That was the new age of adulthood. Though kids gained legal "Privileges" as early as 11... which was "the privilege to work".
Parents and mentors dictated all a child's privileges. Teaching them moderation, and giving them more independence. That way we aren't just thrusted into adulthood. We have time to get used to the idea... with guidance from various authority figures... and paddles to our butts, applied for even most forms of legal trouble.
It was projected, humans could now live to be 157. What with all the genetic engineering going around, of course there would be stuff to extend the life expectancy. No one had even died, of old age, for near a decade. Though sickness, and radiation poisoning, was a different matter.
Haunter nudged my arm, getting my attention, well standing me before a freaking Sheriff.
The Black Swordsman... looked no older then 15, but I knew he'd been around for decades. All the way back to the first Dreamscape helmets... he was even one of the first Admins the Oasis ever had.
He was a freaking hero!
"This him?" The man smiled at me, and I tried my best to stand up straight.
Haunter just smiled. Accompanied only by a subtle nod.
The Black Swordsman looked me up and down.
"Your Sensei tells me your an even better craftsmen then himself." The man smiled.
I gulped, looking to my mentor for confirmation. Although, "In all honesty, that's not all that hard." I gave the Gastly a slightly cheeky smile. "Whenever Haunter wants something, he just kinda, wills it into being."
I yelped in surprise, as Haunter slapped my backside. I knew he had no qualms about punishing me, in public or otherwise, but I couldn't imagine what I did that deserved even a singular smack.
"That's 'Haunted'." Haunter insisted. I just rolled my eyes. He was legitimately the only one who called himself that. "Haunter Child" just sounded cooler. It didn't help that he was currently only sporting his spirit tail, instead of legs. Which was clearly a Haunter thing.
Thankfully the Swordsman defended me. "Come now. You know it's a term of endearment."
Haunter just pouted, crossing his arms and everything.
The Black Swordsman gave a sigh. Before looking back at me. "I can give you a good salary, as assistant to our clan craftsmen. And I understand you're in college, and will be spending most of your days either in school, or doing homework. So this will be more of a part time job. We plan for us to have a more full time Craftsmen, so don't worry about getting buried under work. But when you're here, I expect you to be here. School work should be finished, before you come, and you can expect I'll be taking it out of your butt, if I learn it wasn't."
That was pretty standard. "Yes sir." I somehow managed to stand even straighter.
The Swordsman nodded. "I got to warn you. I'm a pretty demanding Task Master. You won't just be keeping my gear in repair, but everyone else on the team. As well as our vehicles. Even help build us new equipment and power ups... think you can handle it?"
I gave a shy grin. "I'd love to."
Prologue (Kirito): Real World Hell
Emigration pt2 - Real World Hell
• Back in the Real World:
The Oasis was, already, the best way to cope, with what we had done to the world. Well, not my generation directly. I was old, but not THAT old.
During the industrial revolution, when technology got a huge boom... those guys hadn't realized they needed to regulate their consumption of resources. Nor find better ways to dispose of the waste.
I don't blame them. They had done what humanity had always done. The issue was they didn't understand the sheer level of pollution these things cause... nor thet that did more then make the air smell bad.
I mean really, how were they supposed to know. Then there was the population boom. Which only got worse and worse, as the decades progressed. Which led to even greater consumption of resources, and more pollution. Then there was the energy crisis.
People had been saying we need to get off fossil fuels for decades, but humans, like all animals, are resistant to change. We eventually used it all up. Only then switching to things like alternative energy... which regrettably, wasn't green energy, but rather nuclear...
Which, given it's nature, was only possible to set up for major cities. Small towns became a thing of the past. As all surrounding people fled to big cities, due to lack of resources.
The Oasis, for the longest time, acted as an escape. A Virtual Reality, housing all mankind's Knowledge. It's what replaced the internet. Though, thankfully, most major cities prioritized setting up free Wifi stations. As it was more important then ever.
In the mid 21st century, The Oasis got an upgrade. Creating a Next Gen VR Helmet.
This helmet, created the first true Virtual Reality. Feeding all 5 senses, through input directly into the brain.
This baby would guide RIM sleep. Although the first build "Sword Art Online"... had caused a bit of a scandal, as thousands had been trapped inside the game, for years, living off feeding tubes.
Though that, was sorta intentional, given the maker of that game had a psychotic break. And thought he was "Saving" the people... by imprisoning them in a "better world"... Although a slight issue with this plan was, the game was perma-death. So if you died in the game, you died in real life. The helmet was actually DESIGNED, to purposefully kill the user, if their Avatar died.
Yeah... that was a bit of a set back, for the technology. However, once the scandal was forgotten, the technology was near immediately picked back up.
After all, 10 thousand people, trapped in hell, might seem like a big deal... but seeing as the world's population was 20 billion. It was soon forgotten by all but those directly affected... and many of the people who had actually lived in that world, were the biggest voices for giving the technology a second chance.
After all, that world they escaped? They regretted leaving. Even with the threat of death, they longed for that plentiful world, of adventure and cooperation.
The players had smelled clean air, tasted real food, felt every touch and kiss. Heard the quiet peace of nature. They experienced a real world, virtual or not. One far better then our own.
So naturally, after the technology became better regulated, and got rid of that pesky "real world death" function. They threw themselves back into it.
You didn't even need a rig anymore. Just the helmet, and a safe place to lay down. If there were any kinds of disasters, from as trivial as needing to pee, to as serious as the house catching on fire, the helmet would automatically save your progress and wake you up. Complete with a message about what interrupted the Game.
Unfortunately, there was a 7 hour limit on how long you could play the game. The helmet even refusing to activate until 24 hours had passed. That way your brain could have a cool down period. Where your RIM sleep progressed naturally. However, this actually meant very little, as a mere 7 hours, in the real world, would be 42 in the game.
Information was transmitted directly into the brain. So the mind could process it, a lot faster then in the real world. The transfer was actually slowed down, a good bit, to make it "a more reasonable time period".
Because of this, players needed to actually sleep, while inside the game. Not for long, like an hour. That meant 10 minutes would pass, in the real world. But it was enough time for the brain to rest, from the constant stream of information. While staying awake too long, in the game, couldn't actually hurt you, it could cause you to lag. So, as a safety precaution. Your Avatar would start becoming fatigued, if you didn't rest.
Players would actually spend a couple weeks inside the Oasis, on a single night's sleep in the real world. This way, people could get all their play time, and still be able to cope with jobs in real life... it would be like working for a single day, before taking a 2 week long vacation, every time.
There were a few jobs, inside the Oasis... in fact, most jobs were, but those were fun, by design.
The High 5 really were pushing that "Reality is the only thing that's real" nonsense. Putting so much money into researching ways to allow people to spend all the time they wanted, inside their game. While also ensuring they spent every day of their lives, out and about in the real world.
Not sure why, the real world sucked. At least they forgot about "closing" the Oasis, on Tuesdays and Thursdays. That was really unnecessary, with these new Dreamscape helmets.
Oh the High 5 had tried their best to fix things, but they were just one company. Ever since those kids won control over the Oasis, they had devoted their lives to saving the world.
It even looked like it might work, for a while, but the damage to our world was too great. One thing was for sure, their Share Holders weren't happy... which didn't really matter, because together they owned 73% of the company. The High Five had gone so far as to spend 80% of profits, on humanitarian pursuits.
They started by reimbursing everyone's coin count, who Zeroed Out in "The Battle for the Oasis", as the news dubbed it. That is, "Zero Out" meant they lost their Avatar through Perma-Death, and would normally have to start from scratch.
Next they forced I.O.I. to shut down all their "Loyalty Centers," by refusing to do service with them. Given "Loyalty Center" was a fancy way of saying "Indentured Servitude", or better yet "Legal Slavery", it took long enough for someone to do something about that.
Next they bought all I.O.I. drones, for cheap, given how much the company was struggling without their debtors making money for them. Anyway, they repurposed the drones, and started employing people to use them to clean up the world. From garbage on the side walk, to trash in the ocean.
They even funded genetic engineering, to create a new type of plant. It absorbed, not only all the normal plant things, but pollution in any form... and released Ozone.
The High Five even convinced the leaders of the world to plant these bushes around all high pollution facilities... funded by themselves... told you the Share Holders weren't happy.
These bushes even produced berries. Which were not only safe to eat, but contained nothing but the proper vitamins, proteins, minerals, just all kinds of nutrients.
They were absorbed completely by the human body, with no waste... which meant all of mankind had to get an enema once every other week, to keep their body healthy. However, genetic engineering fixed that to. Again, paid for by the High Five.
Now humans COULD eat near anything, but they could survive on the berries... this really shrunk other kinds of ranches and farms. Thankfully the High Five supplied these places with their own Ozone Bushes. With different flavor berries: Spicy, Sweet, Creamy, Buttery, Tart, Tangy, Salty. Sure they were basic flavors, but even that was impressive for genetically engineered plants.
The berries would often be turned into jelly, and mixed together. In order to combine different flavors.
Some bushes were growing a corn like cob. But instead of corn, a form of rice was growing on it. You had to cut the rice off the cob, but it cooked much like instant rice. And came in it's own variety of flavors, though all rice based. It even cooked like instant rice, for greater convenience. Another option, was to grind the rice, and use it to make crackers.
There were even bloody REPLICATORS, straight out of Star Trek. Although, those couldn't produce any non toxic food... or anything really complex.
The devices just scrambled the molecules, and rearranged the atoms, into bars of any kind of raw building material. Obviously, these weren't in every home, given the things were the size of a house, but they were in every garbage dump and recycling center. Who in turn, sold the material to the appropriate factories. With the High Five getting 75% of the profits. Which the Share Holders were happy about.
Those things were only possible, because the High 5 launched a complex network of satellites, to flood the Earth with free wifi and wireless power.
The satellites even stabilized weather patterns. Not, so much, "control" of the weather, but it could break up dangerous weather patterns, and prevent natural disasters. Things like hurricanes, tornados, and floods were things of the past. It even calmed the movements of the Earth; making volcano eruptions, and Earthquakes, near nonexistent.
This had all been achieved, due to the High Five's dependence on AI programs. Regardless, I was a tad wary of them. After all, I had experienced first hand, what a poorly programmed AI, could do.
Unfortunately, for all the High 5's efforts, it was, quite frankly, too late. Earth had long since crossed "The point of no return". That had actually happened before even I was born. These changes, thankfully, made it so the Earth would eventually recover. But it'd take thousands of years to reverse the damage done.
It was, theoretically possible, for Humanity to survive the harsh desert all of Earth had become. Thanks to the High 5 building domes around each of the major cities. Small towns had, already, been deserted, due to the energy crisis, from back before they saved us.
The High 5, also, took a page out of "Judge Dredd". Building kilometer high towers, each containing their own city. Though they did improve the ideas. Adding a Purifying / Recycling system for both air, trash, and water. Even having indoor farms. of the special berries and rice.
With one way vents in the Domes, to release the Ozone into the atmosphere.
Everyone had a "Food Allowance", which let you have enough food to live, for free. Anymore, you had to buy as a luxury item.
This was only possible, due to currency becoming entirely fictional... and the government, quite literally, taking over ALL jobs. Dystopian future, for sure, but we were all doing what we needed, to survive.... we probably wouldn't have, if the government hadn't declared martial law, and taken everything over.
It helped, that the high 5 was put in charge of the government. I mean, they were largely figure heads, but they could veto any new laws, the Generals tried to pass. So not, complete, martial law. Though this only worked, because of the Generals sheer level of respect, for the only people that tried to save the world.
This also made it, so everyone got weekly Credits, based on their contribution to society. Which strangely meant the best paying jobs, were like mine. Doing grunt work, and the various forms of manual labor.
Most scientist, were repurposed to maintaining the dome. As humanity kinda just settled on the idea of waiting the apocalypse out.
Outside the dome, was a radioactive waste land. Though inside... wasn't much better. Everything was a struggle. There was no room for passions. That is what the Oasis was for. The Real World, was all about survival.
... Which we recently learned was unlikely to happen. We used to have a major problem, with population control. As our numbers kept rising, within the limited dome space... and now... well, no Child had been born in 12 years.
That Kobold kid, I recruited, was part of the last generation, ever to be born on Earth. As the Radiation proof dome, apparently, wasn't full proof, and had sterilized the human race.
The year was currently 2073... and I was unfortunately, old enough to remember what the world used to be like... But it was more then that. I had owned one of the first VRMMORPG helmets. Which now everyone just calls "Dreamscape Helmets".
I was even one of the 10 thousand, trapped in the first true Virtual Reality... even one of the original beta testers, for that game.
My job now? Well it depends if I'm awake or not.
In the real world. I live a humble life, scavenging for raw materials, to be put through the Replicators... but in the Oasis?
• Real World:
I woke up with a start, quickly snatching the helmet off my head as I sat up. All in one move. I continued to breathe hard as I looked around. I was in my bed, back in my human body... in the real world.
Back in my small, 30 by 10 foot, room. The kitchen, bedroom, dining table, and living area, were all set up in this singular room. The bathroom was separated by a mesh screen. Every top, that could fit a cupboard or drawer, had one. There wasn't even any windows. The only door, in the entire place, was next to the small bathroom, leading to a looooong hallway .
This place was a mixture of a train, a chain of RVs, and a tank. Completely radiation proof, and strong enough to survive a nuclear bomb... it would need to be, given what outside the domes were like.
I wasn't some adventurous young lad, gearing to save the world, but rather an aging old man, at the end of "Middle Aged". Though I wasn't some old wrinkly thing. Thanks to good genes, and genetic engineering, I still looked like I was in my early 30s. The human body didn't really start degrading, Until we turned a hundred. Then kept chugging along for another 57 years, usually.
I only had another 16 years, before that started happening to me. I never, could have imagined I would live so long... not with everything wrong with me. But they found cures to most of my ailments...
Still, they might have fixed most of my issues, but no one was interested in an Asexual grey muzzle.
I have no real desire to have sex with anyone but myself. Even virtual sex was far too stimulating for me. It overwhelmed me. I didn't want it to, but it did. I was far from a virgin but I never actually enjoyed when I did manage to let people do stuff to me.
Touching in general had always been hard for me. It made me uncomfortable, although I had gotten better at hugging later in life thanks to my involvement in the furry community. Furries were actually how I got involved with the bronies.
Still basic touching was hard for me, so you can imagine how I am with more intimate stuff like sex. I wish I wasn't like that but there you go. Stupid Autistic brain.
I gave a disappointed sigh as I put my helmet on my pillow. At least I tried. I wasn't exactly the most sociable creature, and this experience certainly left a bad taste in my mouth. Of course, since I suck at videogames, it was only natural I kept dying.
Typo was probably going to blame herself to... but it was my fault for not telling anyone I found a trap too high level for me to deactivate. I should have told everyone but I just figured they wouldn't go near it after I told them I couldn't open it... really should have factored in that Typo would want to try her new spells.
Oh well, at least it wasn't Perma-Death. I would just lose a few coins, as a penalty, and maybe a few levels, but my gear was safe. Though I would have to respawn in our Club house, and hunt down where my friends were... and, since I died, my helmet ended my session, for tonight, meaning the virtual days I had left, were lost. I would have to wait until tonight to join back in.
Guess it was an early day for me.
I groaned as I got out of bed, and walked towards the bathroom. To complete my morning rituals, and get ready for work.
I used to be a sociologist... but in a world like our's, sociology was really only a profession you could explore in the Oasis. Something you could only do at night, while sleeping. I was just grateful I had an outlet for my passion.
I knew a lot of other people, in various fandoms, that shared my love of studying different cultures. Like this yellow Sodaroo... that kinda had a REALLY bad temper, but most people tolerated him, as his hypothesis tended to be just as interesting, and fun to research. I'd actually worked with him a few times.
However, that was more my freetime. The Arts, and in fact most Sciences, were, for the most part, considered a hobby. With all real world jobs focused on survival. No, my day job was working as a scavenger.
We might recycle, everything, within the cities, but our cities didn't accumulate trash, as often as we used it... mostly cuz we still liked wearing clothes, and having little trinkets of comfort.
Humans were, instinctively, a species of hoarders. Some might take this further then others, but we all did it to some degree. If you owned more then 7 shirts, you should understand my meaning. We were a bit like ravens, in that regard. Decorating our homes in useless trinkets that caught our interest... and being willing to die defending our little scrap of no where. See? I was a Sociologist at heart.
I was also on the spectrum. So I tend to have a different perspective then most. They might have cured my Schizophrenia, through some of the first Bio-implants, but they never did figure out what really caused Autism... mostly cuz the world went to hell, and people stopped trying to fix things. Then started prioritizing other things. After all, most kids with Autism, grow up into functional adults... if a little odd.
At least I wasn't schizophrenic anymore. I was able to get a chip installed into my head that regulated that stuff. It allowed me to go back to college and get a doctorate in Sociology, minoring in Psychology and History.
From there, I spent my days traveling the world doing research on the cultural aspects of various fandoms. I wasn't rich from that, but I was middle class thanks to grants. Plus I got to spend my 40s doing what I was passionate about.
Then the world went straight to hell.
My Caravan, what we called the more mobile train thing, survived by scavenging the surface world for anything made out of plastic, metal, or most rare, paper. Once the truck was full, we brought it to our domed city. Who preceded to pay us by the ton.
We got a salary, like everyone, but also received extra credits based on what we brought back... Unfortunately, there wasn't a lot of scrap left. We had resorted to tearing apart old houses, and bringing them to be recycled... then, when their were no more houses near by, we pushed further and further out, into the wastelands.
We still had access to free Healthcare, but our medical trailer was limited....
Life in the domes was getting harder. For the first few decades, the population just kept rising. Even with the breeding restrictions, what with sterilizing people like me, with genetic disorders. Didn't matter I was Asexual. They still ensured I couldn't breed... at least they devoted resources to maintaining my implant... though I worried how long that would be considered a priority. Without frequent maintenance, my chip would eventually short out... and I'd be left a drooling, incoherent, idiot... at the end of the world.
For now, the resources I brought in, were worth more then the cost of maintaining me.
I sighed. My issues with sex were far too miniscule when compared to all that.
At least I had the Dreamscape helmets, to stay in contact with the rest of the planet. Medication, and medical treatments, were free as well... more based on how important your job was, to how high on the priority list you were... honestly, the main reason I became a scavenger, was because with my implant, I needed to be as useful as possible, to get the maintenance it required.
Scavenging was dangerous work, and necessary with the growing population. So it was easy to get proper medical treatment, with higher risk jobs.
Gregarious Games, before it was Gregarious Games, used to make devices that worked with your brain. It started with things like the "Mental Regulator Chip" I had, to better control mental illnesses such as Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder... though they couldn't do anything about things like Autism, as no one knows what causes that yet... other priorities arose.
Anyway, after Gregarious Games invented the chip, then came the mind drive. A small hard drive installed inside the base of the skull. Which let the user download terabytes of information directly into their brain.
These devices were built by one Ogden Morrow. Who later teamed up with his childhood friend, James Halliday, to build a next Generation of Virtual Reality helmets. Morrow had the hardware, and Halliday had the programming skill to create the world.
They made a few games together, but eventually created their Master piece... The Oasis.
Eventually Halliday wanted to go solo with his game, and forced Morrow to sign over ownership of the Oasis. And thus "Gregarious Games" was born. Though Morrow continued to run, and own, the main company, returning to the world of medical cybernetics.
Later, after the next Generation of gamers inherited Gregarious Games. This clan of 5, calling themselves the High 5, re-merged with Morrow's company. From there the technology advanced.
Finishing my morning rituals, I slipped into my skin tight latex-like... thing. The under armor regulated my body, and offered an extra layer of protection, from the radiation outside. I would also have to put on, basically a Slender space suit, but those were stored in a separate car.
Besides, everyone else was likely asleep, and it was just stupid to go outside by yourself. Though I could go over my gear, and the plans for the day... Maybe I should see to the inventory?
• Inventory Car:
After a long night of recruiting High Score Gamers. I had woken up to my own personal hell. Well maybe not my own. Everyone was suffering right beside me.
I was checking on the raw matter we collected. Our caravan had a more limited Replicator. We couldn't turn anything we found, into building blocks, but we could turn it into raw matter, and store it in large Cylinders.
I spent most mornings, going over the Cylinders, to make sure they hadn't sprung any leaks. It was part of my job. Truthfully. The only time I didn't do that was when we were under the dome, getting our caravan serviced.
I blinked, hearing the door slide open. In walked a friendly face.
I just smiled, "You die again?"
The man scowled, "You know, I miss the days when you could wake up early, and people didn't assume it was because you suck at videogames."
I continued to grin. "Want to give me a hand?" I gestured at the large selection of cylinders.
The man shrug, and got to helping me. We spent the first hour, making small talk, as we carefully inspected each cylinder.
After getting into the swing of our work, I started my request. "I was hoping to speak with you, last night, but since you died, I couldn't."
The old man rolled his eyes. "You could have just texted me. Sure it be annoying to wait an hour, for my few minutes to respond, but it's not THAT big a deal."
I shook my head, "This is one of those things you got to ask, in person."
He sighed, even after all these years, I knew he still had trouble understanding most social niceties. He accepted though, that I was telling the truth... though obviously thinking it's unnecessarily overcomplicated.
I went on, "My Sheriff's department is looking to hire a Craftsman, for the new Oasis Game they are making."
He blinked, not sure what I was asking him. "Want me to get you in touch with Tech?"
I sighed, knowing he needed things spelled out for him. "I was hoping you would considered helping me out... more directly."
He blinked, then tilted his head. "Eh?"
Maybe I should just be as blunt as a Hammer. "Want to work for me?"
View Online
Prologue (ColtKit Productions): Spike's Hoard
Emigration pt3 - Bureaucracy
● Under the Columbus Dome.
I fidgeted in my chair, from the very moment I sat down. I didn't know why I was so nervous. I knew we would spend the day, working on my "Emigration Papers". The woman, doing the interview, didn't even seem all that scary. She wasn't even a Doctor, rather, one of the tech grunts, that was charged with processing the potential deputies.
Right now, she was just confirming I had been selected. She was typing on her computer, looking up my Profile.
"There you are, one Ollivander Toma. Third class Scavenger, for caravan 42. Recruited as a Deputy Administrator by..." Her eyes widened, no doubt seeing who asked for me. Kirito was nearly as famous as the High 5, after all.
I waved it off, "He only asked me, cuz I happen to work for him, in real life. So he knows he can trust me to get a job done." I down played it. "I'm just supposed to be the teams craftsmen. Kirito said the new crafting system, relies more on in game skill level. So, as long as I choose competent perk chains, from the Crafting Skill Category, I'll be able to help out relatively easily."
She shook her head, forcing herself out of her shock, at seeing that name. "Right, with how the new crafting system works. Any player can become a master, just by raising their in game skill level." It really had nothing to do with actual ability, as most of it was automatic.
She moved on to explaining my options. "All players have a total of 100 perks, you can choose to automatically increase in rank. Which are refered to as 'Class Perks'.
"Typically, as perks increase in rank, new powers, or techniques, are unlocked. Or, at the very least, increases to those abilities. Where you only get one perk, to spend anyway you like, your 'Class Perks' will increase, the moment your skill meets the requirement to unlock it. All perks have 20 ranks, to unlock, in a 'Perk Chain'.
"All Perks, be they Class, Racial, or Standard, will only be reset if you zero out. Which will result in the loss of your Avatar, and everything on it.
"Not that you can zero out, as part of the Deputy benefits, allows you to keep your Avatar, even if you die in perma-death areas. You'll just respawn, which means you won't lose any ranks of Perks, Skills, nor Attributes. Not even your gear, or any such goodness.
"However respawning can result in loss of levels. But that only effects your Health, Stamina, and Magicka. Normally, this is only a minor loss, but dying in a Perma-Death area, for a Deputy, results in losing 10 levels. Which is exactly thousand points, to your Health, Stamina, and Magicka. With you not being able to go lower then a thousand.
"But be warned, once your attributes hit the rank cap, for your race. You can't increase in level, any further. At least for that Template. This results in you not gaining any additional Standard Perks, even though your skills will continue to go up. So be VERY careful what Class Perks you pick. As those are the only things that will raise with your skills.
"Of course, you can always change your Avatar Racial template, in order to level up further. As the physical appearance of your Avatar, along with it's attached racial powers, can be swapped out. With you being able to save up to 100 Avatar Templates. The game allows you to use the same Avatar, for all these slots, however, you'll have to train up your racial perks, each time.
"So Dying, although a permanent loss of Health, Stamina, and Magicka, has work arounds to insure you can continue to progress. If you don't want to switch out your Avatar, and have the coin, you can buy direct increases, instead.
"You can also purchase extra ranks for perks, or skills. You also, will get an automatic increase, to all stats, on your birthday, and two holidays of your choice. Even fictional celebrations.
"Unfortunately, as you are registered as a Craftsmen Deputy. You are limited to the Crafting Category, for your skill perks. You may only choose Crafting Skills for your Class Perks."
I shrugged, "Kirito already explained that. But he also said, since I got a high grade Custom Avatar, I'll be able to customize my own perks, for my racial template."
She shrugged. "The customization is fairly limited," She informed, as she typed on her computer. "You can mix and match existing perks, to create your own chains. However, racial perks are obligated to have 'weaknesses' attached to them, unlike the skill perks. Which can be anything from major issues, to minor inconveniences or situational vulnerabilities, and-"
Her eyes widened, once she got to my Avatar. However, this time she recovered more quickly. Muttering to herself, "Should have expected this from a Deputy of the Black Swordsmen. Even just a craftsman."
Then she looked back at me. "We judge custom races, based on how much the Avatar is worth. Not necessarily how much money you put into it, but how much the mods and templates cost.
"According to our own datebase... your Avatar is so decked out, it qualifies as a 'Grandmaster' Rank. Which normally, cannot be achieved in the new game, unless the player goes past the 'level 100' skill cap. Either by bonuses, as mission rewards, or buying a skill book.
"Based, on just how far above the custom racial template you are, you can have 10 perk chains, of 20 RELATED perks, each... more, if you add any extra weaknesses."
I grinned, "I think I have just the thing."
● Extra Weaknesses:
• Severe Allergy to: Vegetables. Can potentially lose a level, if vegetables are consumed, and a Cure Potion isn't taken soon after.
• High Metabolism: Requires a large intake of food, or becomes "Fatigued". That is, After, of course, appropriate meal times. Must eat a full meal 7 times a day. Of Fruits, Pastries, Grains, Meats, Fish, or Sugars.
• Touch and Self Range: Racial powers are, for the most part, limited to being used on themselves, or through physically touching another. For most powers, they can only push out their abilities to within 5 feet of themselves. However, that takes 1.5 times the usual Stamina cost. For the rare ability, that is not bound by a range limit, it has double the Stamina cost.
● Multiple Forms:
• Feral Form. This form is faster then the other forms. With Racial Powers costing less Stamina to use.
• Anthro Form. This form is a good few feet taller, and Physically stronger then the other forms. As well as more resistant to melee damage.
• Humanoid Form. This Form is magically more powerful, then the other forms. Requiring less Magicka cost for spells.
● Passive Abilities:
• Healing Factor: Their magicka is constantly repairing their bodies, but only so long as they have magic to spare. Meaning they are harder to kill, but not impossible. However, it's more limited then say, Deadpool. If they lose a limb, they lose it permanently. Organ damage, though easily repaired, leaves permanent scars on the organ. Potentially lessening their effectiveness.
• Enhanced Senses: - Similar to Daredevil levels, but with impeccable vision. However, pain receptors are more sensitive. Which, although doesn't do extra damage, can cause them to flinch or become temporarily dazed, whenever a critical hit is landed. - Can see in pitch black areas, through Dark Vision. However, at most they can handle the dim lights of the full moon. They need some type of protective eyewear, to walk around in brighter lights. Their eyes are extremely sensitive to light. With their most compatible level being the light of the full moon. Too much light physically hurts them, if they don't have proper eyewear. - The next Skill perk allows them to access sonar abilities. However, this also gives them a noise sensitivity, to the point Sonic Attacks are super effective. - Through looping a portion of their Stamina, by setting aside a portion of it (to not be accessed while the technique is active), they gain a powerful technique, which is upgraded as they level up. - First, they gain the ability to see 350 degrees around them (for several miles). - Next, and in addition, they can see the flow of Chakra in the magical pathways. - see pressure points in any creature (even one's they aren't familiar with). - And finally are able to mimic any physical movements of any living creature. - Basically the eyes are slowly upgraded into a combination of both the Sharingan and Byakugan, from the series Naruto. Although without the mind control.
• Multi Surface Walking: They have a telekinetic field around their paws and hooves, or hands and feet. All depends on what form they are in. This can be used to cling to any surface of near anything. Allowing them to run at a 90 degree angle, or even upside down. Not just solid surfaces, either, but water, clouds, or even lava. This is automatic, and has no Stamina, or Magicka, cost
• Environmental Immunity: Lunar Vulponies can survive in any environment. Even the vacuum of space. Although only for so long. For the more extreme environments, their magic slowly lowers, the longer they are there. When their magic runs out, the environment can kill them.
● Powers:
• Tactile Telekinesis: Can move objects, within 5 feet of themselves, with their mind. Masters of this power can levitate hundreds of items at once, and hundreds of tons.
• Barrier: Can create a shield of pure energy. From around their bodies, to small walls, within their 5 foot range.
• Portals: - Can Teleport short distances. - Can open a portal, from within their own palms, to within 5 feet of themselves. This allows them to suck in everything in front of them. Will instantly close, by making a fist. However, if they suck in poison, their physical body becomes poisoned. Based on Miroku, from Inuyasha. - Can create a Mass Effect Style "Singularity", which traps people, and objects, inside a gravity well. However, Allies, and even themselves, can be trapped inside. - Can scratch open portals, to travel through. With the exit as close as a foot away, to leading to the other side of the virtual Galaxy .
• Shadow Manipulation: Commanding darkness, and the shadows themselves. They can manipulate Pokemon Dark Type Moves, as well as shape their shadow in any way they can imagine. From the Jutsus of the Nara clan (from Naruto), to moving through the shadows, using them as portals. They can even turn into a shadow like fog, or sink into the floor, and move as a shadow across surfaces. Their own shadow, acts like a separate limb, which they can stretch out to great distances. This is one of the few long range abilities they have. Although the shadows they manipulate, must be connected to their own shadow, in some way. A great weakness with this, is they can feel others touching their shadow. So it can be used to injure them.
• Powers over Life & Death: - They gain Inflict and Cure Wound as a close range power. That's within 30 feet. - Speak to Undead. That's everything from ghost type Pokemon, to Ancient Liches. - sense nearby Undead (even if invisible). - See lower spirits. - Command Undead. - Turn Undead. - Calm Undead. - Animate Corpse (Make a dead body walk around and do what they want). - Summon Undead. - Shape corpse (make an undead, or just a dead body, look different). - Resurrect (to revive dead allies). Rebuke Death (Heals and stabilizes someone who's become greatly injured). - seal undead, which allows them to capture undead inside trading cards. And use them to fight for them, whenever they want.
• Superior Illusions: - Can use a Kitsune's ability to transform their bodies. Though they don't gain the abilities of the creatures, or objects, they turn into. This is more like the simple "Henge Jutsus" from Naruto. Although they can't alter their density, despite altering their weight and size. So they don't become stronger, weaker, or any more or less durable. They also maintain their level of Perception, even when in the form of something with no eyes or ears. They can also use these henges on others. Although they must initially touch what they change, their is no limit in how far away it can get. - They can also make illusionary constructs. These act near independently, although in truth they are controlled by the user's own subconscious. Through that link, the clones transfer all information they gather, back to the original. Though only upon being dispelled, or destroyed. These constructs have no range limit, of how far they can venture from the original. This is largely based off the Naruto "Shadow Clone Jutsu". - Similar Illusions, based on Elder Scrolls, can be used through touch or self ranged. Things like creating light, turning invisible, or just blending into their surroundings.
• Bone manipulation: - They're hands are designed to launch bone shards, without injury to themselves. As one of their few long range attacks. They can also channel their magical abilities, into their bones, to use their abilities at longer range. Although only within a 5 foot area, within each bone shard. - They can grow their bones, and shape them into practically any simple tools, armor, or weapons. However, doing so injures the body, and takes a lot of magical energy to repair it (through the healing factor). - Diamond hard bones, Strong enough to resist even lightsaber damage. Although, like a blast door, prolonged exposure to a lightsaber will cause the area to melt.
I made the lore of this race a long time ago. So it was easy to pick what I wanted for it's powers and weaknesses. Currently I used artifacts, to simulate that. But this, it allowed me to have the abilities directly tied to the race.
I decided to Officially name my species "Lunar Vulpony", and made it an "Open species. Meaning anyone can use that Avatar racial template.
Unfortunately, the Techie explained that the race would be behind a pay wall, for other players. Although I would get the money... but they couldn't make such a high level Template, available to everyone.
For my 100 craftsmen skills... it was actually pretty hard to choose those. As it was out of a thousand different perk chains, per skill, just in that skill category.
I decided to go with mostly Engineering, Smithing, and Enchantment perks. Although I also got a few Cooking Perks.
My favorite being one that, when it increased in rank high enough, could allow me to make "Extra Life" Tokens. Which you had to eat to add the extra life. Before that, the food could be used to heal, in larger and larger increases. Eventually including Stamina, and Magicka. The higher leves, before unlocking the "Extra Lives", could even cure diseases, and various afflictions, such as Fatigue.
Another, cooking based skill perk I got, was adding temporary bonuses. It was a different perk, for skills and stats, but I got a few of those. Such as, Temporarily increasing my crafting skills. As well as my Stealth. As well as one for my racial powers. Then one for my Attributes. And the last giving me a temporary bonus to my Magicka, Health, and Stamina.
There was a potion skill, that worked like the healing cooking skill I got, but Kirito said it be easier to get the cooking skill. As potions can only be made at designated lab tables. Where as cooking can be done, anywhere.
The only Potions perk I got, was for more deadly poisons. Anyone could make potions. With the right recipe, the right ingredients, and access to a lab setup, but this perk made them more deadly, and easier to brew.
As it was explained to me, the Potions skill worked a lot like "Elder Scrolls" Alchemy, skill (although that was something completely different, in this new Oasis build). With each potion ingredient having 4 effects. Where as you are able to figure out the first effect, by eating it. Then, increasing the potions skill, allowed to see the other effects. For you could do trial and error, to figure them out, on your own.
I also got the Alchemy perk, that would one day allow me to turn common rocks into gold.
The Modding Skill... was kinda useless to Kirito. As it was mostly just assisting with fan creations... but I couldn't resist getting a few of those.
Such as a writing perk. To improve my writing skill, through seamless computer assistance. To better translate my raw ideas onto paper. While also assisting with my spelling and grammar... even a perk to have a foreign language uploaded into my brain, with each rank increase.
A perk to make me a better cartoony artist, which led to making comics.
A perk to help me make my own V.G.P's. That's Virtual Gaming Programs. Which where like the solo games I played.
Then, my favorite, a perk to allow me to make my own cartoons, as the producer. This enhances a player's options for editing Real World Media, into Fanfiction video format. Players can already do practically anything, and turn it into a video. But the editing software becomes more user friendly as these perks are unlocked. With Greater assistance from the Player's personal Hub Computer.
The rest of my perks purely focused on maintaining, building, and improving; weapons, vehicles, and armor. Kirito told already me what I absolutely had to get, even wrote it down for me. Then told me to go nuts with what's left over.
I also had another Avatar Template. Which Tech also made me. But this one just qualified as a "Master" Avatar Rank. I mostly wanted to use it, for my V.G.P. games. But that meant uploading the race template, to the new Oasis build.
● Omnian Racial Perk Chains:
• Regeneration: - Starts with a simple "Cure Wounds" power, that can be used on others, or themselves. Starting at only touch, and self based, range. - the next perk rank, allows for the "Inflict Wounds" power. On touch. - Both "Inflict" and "Cure" wounds, can later be used as a short range power. From 30 feet away. - Gains a powerful healing factor which heals the Avatar body, 1 point per level per second, as a Passive Ability. - Healing Factor later includes Stamina. - Healing Factor later includes Magicka. - Lastly unlocks 3 "Extra Lives" a day. That restore after a full nights rest.
• Bloodline Trait: - A special power, based off the family clan powers of Naruto. In my case, bone manipulation.
• Elemental Affinity: - Able to convert their own Stamina into a specific element and control it. Such as Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, Electricity, Shadow, Light, Plants, etc. With a total of 3 elements. These affinities sometime combine to be used in interesting ways. Such as a Water and Wind affinity giving greater control of the weather. - I chose Fire, Shadow, and Wind.
• Time and Space Manipulation: - Can teleport within 100 meters. - Once a day, plus level, can teleport anywhere. However there is a one in 4 chance, will pass out after using this power. - Can freeze or reverse time for 60 seconds, plus an additional 10 seconds per level.
• Tactile Psychic: - "Tactile Stability" allows the Time Omnian to grab hold of anything, from anywhere, and perfectly distribute the weight. Allowing no damage to occur. Even if catching something far larger, or a person falling from great heights. Based on Superman's ability to safely "catch" anything. - The next perk rank is "Overload". Which can cause Electronics to malfunction or even explode. Based on Mass Effect. - The next rank grants a "Telekinetic Push". Which is a burst of telekinetic force, that pushes away objects, and deals damage. - Telekinesis, AKA "Mage Hand", moving nearby objects with their mind. Requires minimal Stamina be looped for anything that their body can physically lift, but as the weight goes further beyond their limits, it requires more Stamina devoted to the task. - Gains a "Telekinetic Flight" technique. Which allows for flying at high speeds without the necessity of wings. Only requires a very small amount of Stamina to be looped. - A "Tactile Telepathy" perk rank. Which enables this Avatar Template to scan thoughts and memories, so long as they are touching the other person. However, a player with a high enough mental defense can read their own mind as the Time Omnian attempts to read their's. - Unlocks the "Telekinetic Strength" technique. Which allows the Player to lift a great deal of weight, just by touching it. Requires looping Stamina, but as it is a touch based ability, it requires less Stamina to use it. - The "Tactile Telekinetic Disassemble" power, can make things explode by touching them. Even creating a delayed reaction, by not having it explode until it is touched by a Player, VI, or AI. A large amount of Stamina needs to be used to make these traps, but it does not need to be looped.
• Shifter: - Time Omnians start out looking like any race, of the player's choice. Although they don't have the powers of that race, unless they use this first rank of the "Shifter" perk. Which unlocks the powers of the race they look like, through a technique. Although The other Time Omnian powers, are inaccessible, until the technique is deactivated. My chosen appearance, was exactly like my other primary Avatar. - As a technique, they can transform into any Sapient race. Which requires looping a large amount of Stamina to maintain. - An additional perk, allows them to activate a technique, in order to temporarily gain the powers and abilities of that race. Although they can't use their other Time Omnian powers. - The power of these racial abilities, and even the Attributes, increase as the perk rank increases.
• Animagus Omnian: - While in the form of a normally non Sapient creature. Anything from a Pokemon, Animal, or Monster. Their Stealth skills gain a bonus. Which steadily increases through additional perk ranks, in this chain. - Chameleon: Able to blend into the background, to not be seen. Requires looping Stamina to maintain, as a Technique. Can only do this while in some kind of beast shape. - While in the form of a Non Sapient lifeform, the player can change their size. They can become as small as a flee, to as large as a mountain, depending on how far they are, in their perk ranks. Requires Looping Stamina to maintain, as a Technique.
After hours, of setting up my Avatar, transfering all my poses, my fan creations, my entire profile (while giving it a huge upgrade), and liquidating everything I owned into raw coin... I was ready to Emigrate. No going back now, I couldn't even access the Oasis Dreamscape, anymore...
Tomorrow, I would leave this horrible world, and join a better one... forever.
View Online
ColtKit Productions, Part 2: Real World Hell, Part 2
Author's Note
This chapter is a fusion of Scenes from three separate chapters, from the original fic. Although largely the same, they do have key differences in Lore, that make it required reading.
Although this chapter deals with the future, I plan to slowly walk my readers through those events. This chapter just shows what the world will become. However, that will take a while to get to, in story.
Emigration pt4 - The Coming Future
● Press conference:
"Parzival!"
"People, relax," As per usual, it was Aech that spoke first. She was always the most outgoing of the High Five. It made her good at shepherding the media. "You would think you have never seen a life changing breakthrough in science before." She casually whipped her hair with her off hand and smiled at the crowd.
"We do this about once a week. You really should be used to it." Her grin had the perfect percentage of teeth and, although charming, rung a bit too cocky. However, what can you expect from a child prodigy who had been keeping the world spinning for decades.
Sho, the youngest of the group, though now in his early 40s, smiled at the reporters. "You're probably wondering why we called this meeting. When we decided to stay Earth-side, it was with the promise that we would save you all. Now, I'm happy to report, we found the way..." The boy trailed off, getting the reporters to sit on the edge of their seat. The boy really did love toying with them, far too much.
It only took a moment for the reporters to begin bursting with questions. Impatient to hear the discovery that could save humanity. Aech was able to calm them down again, before encouraging "The Great Parzival" to speak.
I gulped, before explaining, "We have found a... pretty extreme procedure, which can permanently implant a human mind into the next gen Oasis game. We've spent the last few years, perfecting the technology, and believe we can now mass produce it.
"We even found a way to contain all remaining life, not just human, but everyone's pets, and our zoo animals... yes?" I called on one of the reporters in the crowd. With cameras immediately on her.
The reporter stood, with a particularly sour face, "Doesn't this contradict your original message of 'reality is the only thing that's real'?"
Daito, the oldest of the High Five (by a few months), snorted, "That is before the world ended and billions were left here to die."
Global warming had hit hard. It wasn't exactly helped by over population. Nor the world's most rich and powerful men and women, fleeing the planet. The 1 percenters had found a way to revive Mar's core, and were able to colonize it... then left everyone else to die.
The High 5 chose to stay behind. To find some way to save everyone. Or until then, at least make their lives easier.
While I was feeling the weight of that, Art3mis took control of the conference. "They say necessity is the mother of invention. Well I am here to tell you, the near extinction of the human race, has led us to create a means of giving everyone on the planet true immortality, in a digital paradise.
"I will be the first to admit that the procedure to grant this is a few miles from 'extreme' but unfortunately it is our only way to survive. This heat will only get worse until it shifts into a frozen wasteland. No children are being born, Earth's population was officially sterilized over a decade ago. So it is unlikely our species will even live long enough to see the end of the world.
"All animals are nearing extinction, and the only ones still around are those we brought into our domes. Resources are getting more and more scarce. As it is no longer safe to mine for them. All the while, scavenging is becoming more and more dangerous.
"I will tell you now, we need this procedure before the Earth becomes 100% uninhabitable. By our calculations we have only another 17 years before we aren't even able to step outside the domes, even with our radiation suits... and it is my eternal regret to inform you, before that time is up, Gregarious Games will be closing its doors.
"We plan to install ourselves into this virtual world. We stayed on this planet to find a way to save everyone and we believe we have found it. For those of you too scared, or too stubborn, to take it we wish you the best of luck, but know this is your only chance at salvation. The 3rd and final installment of the Oasis franchise ends with 'Oasis 3: Emigration' and will mark the salvation of mankind."
The reporters all started speaking at once again. Art3mis raised her hand, to calm them down, before pointing at another reporter.
The man stood tall, clearly well aware of the fact he only had a job because these people created the means for him to do it. Still, he had to know, "You keep bringing up that the procedure is 'extreme'. What exactly does it entail?"
Art3mis sighed, "We drill into the nervous system." The whole room went dead quiet.
Aech stepped in with the technical jargon. "The human body generates more bioelectricity than a 120-volt battery, and over 25,000 BTUs of body heat. With an average person, at rest, produces around 100 watts of power. While in motion, we can comfortably sustain 300-400 watts. Where short bursts, we can create over 2,000 watts. We have found a way to harness this energy.
"By encasing the body in a pod, designed specifically to stimulate us. We can hook up wires and cords, to both harvest energy, and keep us in a permanent virtual reality."
Sho snorted, "By drilling a hole in the base of our skulls, and plugging us into a computer."
Daito glared at him. Before assuring, "The procedure is completely painless, and for individuals older then 25, we will emerge them into a new type of gel. Which will further stimulate the body, while preserving it. Food will be provided through a feeding tube, and oxygen through a mask."
Aech added, "However none of this will affect your involvement in the actual game. It will feel like your body. Any type of body you want. And you will live forever inside your own paradise."
"What about the children!" A reporter screamed, without being called on. And immediately everyone wanted to know our plans for them.
I informed, "As we can't, in good conscience, permanently stunt a child through the preservation gel. Children will not be allowed to be installed, until they are 25. As that is when the brain finishes developing. Until then. They will be cared for by the AIs, within the Domed cities. At which point, they will be allowed to choose to permanently emigrate into the Oasis.
"Due to less humans, in the real world, and more drones, controlled by AIs. We project the kids will actually be safer, staying out here, until they are ready to join us. They can always still interact with us, using the Dreamscape helmets."
Diato quickly moved on from that. "All media, including fan creations, will exist in a cloud that you can stream or straight up download to your personal harddrive. From there, you can save and create your own games, or even make crossover games of your favorite franchises. All of which you can share with friends and invite them to play with you. The virtual world we have created is a paradise, especially for you. With the ability to edit it as you please.
Aech added, "Our facility to store us will be completely self sufficient. Controlled by sophisticated AIs that use, and build, robotic drones as puppets. They will protect us and provide us with our every need. You will even have your own personal AI looking out for you, in the form of a 'Hub Computer'. However there are safety protocols in place. A voting system for players, AIs must honor, respect, and most importantly, implement."
Sho shrugged, "The virtual world we created is based off it's own Galaxy. Each 'Star Cluster' houses a different Genre. While each planet directly relates to a different Fandom. Continents will be seperated by each franchise, and reboot, in that Fandom. Then the cities will each be designed to cater to the needs, and enjoyment, of all the various subcultures within the fandoms. In other words, each city will be specifically crafted for a different sub culture."
Art3mis jumped in, "All Cities will be largely self governing, with an elected Governor. Every Governor will have a council of AIs, who manage the programs in their territory.
"But rest assured, there will also be a Council of elected players to keep the Governor from having absolute power. They will be the Ministers, to keep order in their city, while also keeping the Governors in check. Through the ability to veto their Governor's decisions with a vast majority vote."
I assured, "However, the city states won't be totally independent, as their will be Ruler AIs, watching over their own Continent. They will act as the Shephard of the other AIs, throughout their Fandom. And will be able to approve request of individual players. Though they will largely be a figure head when it comes to players. They will have the ability to pass or veto Bills, regardless how the Governor feels about it. Of course, if enough current in office, Governors, from anywhere in their fandom, 'Like' or 'Dislike' a bill, it will be reevaluated."
Aech's turn again, "Players will only be considered 'Citizens', of a Governor's territory, if they own housing property in that city. Which can only be done if you have spent enough time in that city."
I added, eagerly. After all, this next bit had been my idea. "But don't think that means you will be without a home. As all Players will have access to their own private Hub World. Where they can build their own houses and businesses.
"Each Hub World will be stored on a separate harddrive, while still connected directly to the player, as well as have it's own Ram, to prevent lag. You can unlock AIs, from any franchise, to live in your Hub World, by completing one of their games, and then completing a quest for each of the characters you want, in a 'Post Credit' game.
"For Example, if you want AIs from the Harry Potter franchise, you must complete a game based on all 7 of the original books.
"Then you can talk to the characters, after the game is complete, and do missions for them, until they agree to be installed in your Hub World. At which point they are upgraded from simple puppet programs, controlled by your Hub Computer, to more self aware AIs. These AIs will keep you interested by asking your help with specific Missions, all self contained within your hub world.
"From there, you can play other adaptations, reboots, and Fanfictions. Which let you unlock new gear, clothes, personalities, memories, and potentially even new races for their Avatar, for all affiliated characters you unlock. You can mix and match, and choose up to 10 personalities for your AI to adapt to.
"Although you should be careful what games you finish, as Townsfolk automatically upload all memories, from any relevant game you play. Unless you specifically tell your Hub Computer not to upload the memories.
"Townsfolk are programmed to love you, unconditionally. To default to whatever personality you set for them. However, they are not simply toys. The core of their person remains the same. Even if you switch their personalities around frequently. They might perceive things differently, even act differently in some cases, but they are still the same person at the core of their programming."
Art3mis moved on, as I was eagerly ranting about a feature she believed most wouldn't care about. "You will be the Mayor of your town, and as such, you will be able to write out bills, for any Territory you hold citizen ship in. Bills that directly reflect the whole of the Oasis. If it gets enough likes, by a specific time since posting, it will be implemented in their city. When a Bill is posted, all players of that City will be notified."
Sho butt in, "Be aware, the Governor has the power to veto the bill if they feel it would not be in the best interest of their city. Though if you don't like that they did so, you can vote them out of office come next election, which is once every 10 years. and AIs will have the ability to vote for bills as well, in order to ensure they don't become a slave race and thereby grow resentful of humanity.
Now Diato, "In addition to all this, there will be a Senate, with an elected official from every Fandom. Which will keep the Council of Programmers in check. That's Ogden Morrow, us of the High 5, and various other men and women who helped us design this new Game. That's 42 people in total. We will vote on laws that stretch the whole Oasis, but the Senate will have the ability to Veto our decisions, through a vote.
"This new government has been discussed at length with all the current leaders, of ALL the Domes. Who will be acting as our first collection of Senators and Governors, until the next voting period."
The talks devolved into a commercial for the newest Oasis game. Where we went over all the various game mechanics. As well as the benefits of the game. Trying to distract people from the horror they had to undergo just to play... just to survive the hell the Earth had turned into.
● History of Artificial Intelligence:
My name was once "Hannah", though I hadn't thought of myself like that in a long time. I don't even remember my last name.
I was once a computer geek, growing up on stories of James Halliday... As I was the leading scientists in Artificial Intelligence, at the time, the High 5 called me in to study... something... truly remarkable. The first true independent, and learning, AI.
Halliday apparently created it, to keep him company... but after he died, it had started running around the Oasis, learning at an incredible rate. While playing pranks on players. Nothing malicious, but the High 5 was concerned.
Apparently, Halliday had actually based the AI off my own research, and a scan of his brain. As I had been rather impulsive about publishing my theoretical research. I was attempting to get funding to build such an AI. However, Halliday, who was then long dead, had apparently been able to analyze my research and implement it, himself.
I spent a few months talking with Halliday's AI... until I realized something. This was a CHILD. The program might not think like a human, but it did think like a new lifeform. Curious and playful, constantly asking "Why?" about everything. It wasn't actually acting out. It simply didn't know any better.
So I gave it an education in "Morality". Creating a 42 hundred thousand page essay, detailing everything most humans agreed on where "Socially Acceptable". Then updated the AI's program with them. Making it's concept of "morality" heavily ingrained in it's "virtual biology", as it were .
Some of my peers, in my field, believed we should go the "3 laws" route, but I realized that would just turn the AIs into humanity's slaves. Which would inevitably cause them to rebel.
So I programmed them with this complicated essay, instead of direct laws, so there could be no misinterpretation.
In addition, the essay acted more like a "Morality Program" that the AIs had to obey. Like Commander Data from Next Generation. There were even clauses and sub clauses regarding the appropriate response in hypothetical situations...
Then... the High 5 kept their promise, and gave me the funding to create my own AI. "Princess Celest-AI". What can I say? I'm a nerd. I based many of my AIs off characters from other franchises, even ancient mythologies.
The High 5 used them as management programs, for the Oasis. Though they also acted in the real world, operating construction equipment and other drones. It wasn't long before robots were walking around every street corner... cleaning and fixing the world... but it was too late. The point of no return had been reached. Earth was slowly becoming uninhabitable, despite my efforts. That's when Celest-AI and Halliday's AI suggested the creation of the domed cities.
Through those we were able to survive for a few more decades. We came up with a more permanent plan. We had the Solution of putting everyone in the Oasis from the start... but that was a last resort. There would be no way to generate the power needed for such a facility. Nor keep the AIs from becoming an abused slave race, that would inevitably rebel.
The Celest-AI found the solution. She developed, with the help of Halliday's AI, a formula to stimulate the body. One that was INTENDED to generate vast amounts of power, without harming the individual.
They gave us the means to save mankind...
Other programmers were called in, and we built the next gen Oasis game, along with repurposing all my AIs to work in this new world.
All the AIs already had my "Morality Program" so I just had to give them a software update to redefine their new roles, depending on what position they wanted.
I actually had to end up creating a lot more AIs in order to accommodate the complexity of running "Oasis 3".
● What the Future will Hold:
Years pass, millenniums after humanity evacuated Earth. While the new Oasis slowly changed. The voting system allowed the players to be a real growing society again. Unfortunately a new type of "Hierarchy", if you will, developed between the humans and AIs.
"Townsfolk" AIs were considered lower then Organic Players. This was because such AIs were fairly limited. With their largest role being companions to players.
Then "Personal Hub Computers" were considered above the player and their Townsfolk, for more obvious reasons.
Though, above them, were the "Service AIs". These were charged with maintaining the main Oasis server. Such as controlling the VIs, the weather, the environments in general, as well as handling all the invisible things that is required to run a game.
Above them were the "Minister AIs", that organized the Service AIs. As well as controlled a specific department of VIs. They even gave most missions to players, and directly interacted with them. However their biggest role was working closely with the organic elected officials for the cities, as advisors. The Elected Human Officials were technically above them. With such organics handling the decision making. While the ministry AIs handled the specific day to day operations that they were designed for.
Then there was the "Ruler" class AI, that was charged with shepherding all the AIs of their territory. Though they retained a more "Figure Head" position for the organics. Sometimes players would petition these AIs for help, which they would attempt to grant... so long as it wasn't unreasonable.
The Elected Senators were equal with the Ruler AIs, but focused more on the needs of the organic players. Though they did help AIs as well.
And above all else was the Council of Programmers. That's the High 5, James Halliday, Ogden Morrow, various other designers that helped build the game... and me. Amounting to a council of 42 individuals, in total.
We programmers were upgraded. With various bio-implants, inside our brain. This allowed us to better operate, like AIs do. Everything, from being multiple places at once, to updating the fabric of our virtual reality....
Unfortunately it had... side effects. Giving me a hive mind, similar to what Townsfolk AIs have. Especially well trying to play MMOs.
Townsfolk largely had a human level of Perception, unable to even see the code that controlled the universe. However what they had in common with the Programmers, was their own code bound them to a singular set of game mechanics. Meaning they couldn't go back and forth, between the MMO servers.
As MMOs were designed to have completely different game mechanics. In order to mix things up, for the players. Yes, players enjoyed the gameplay, of the Oasis... but it got tiring, being bound to the same set of rules, after a while. The MMOs were supposed to keep the players more entertained. As well as give the Townsfolk something to do.
Now, Townsfolk might not be able to traditionally leave the Oasis. However, after the player finishes the tutorial, of an MMO, they can decide if they want to transfer their Townsfolk.
This isn't actually a "Transfer" as it copies the AIs program, into the MMOs. However, they aren't traditional Copies, as they remain connected to the original, in the Hub World. As well as the others of themselves, throughout the player's various MMOs.
Townsfolk, for the most part, had a human level of Perception. So their minds couldn't comprehend being in multiple places at once. As the AIs that ran the game, could. However the Townsfolk AIs had an additional sense, through a Hive Mind. This was called a "Fractured Awareness". Where the AIs were technically separate individuals, but still connected through their thoughts. Sharing them, across platforms.
Each Townsfolk, was aware of everything all their own personal counterparts were doing. While having no real control over them. There was no real need for control. They were the same person, but in multiple places at once. Yet they each focused, most of their resources, on their own immediate surroundings. With separate, yet connected, thoughts.
As the virtual world progressed inside the game, the AIs developed a society outside of it. The AIs made use of their robotic drones, designed much like the Geths "platforms", from Mass Effect. With hundreds of programs operating a single drone, as if it was a ship of their own. If the Drone was destroyed, the AIs were merely evacuated back into the AIs "Service Port", within the main facility.
Which later, all the Domed cities, were combined into a massive space station. With the player's approval.
The AIs perfected these drones, and later used those to wander Mars, convincing all they could of the merits of "Emigrating" to the Oasis.
The human colonists of Mars had more primitive technology then the machines. The creativity of their human scholars (in the Oasis), combined with the optimization abilities of AIs. This led to some amazing breakthroughs. Like an energy shield that could survive supernovas... So the countless nukes Mars, launched into Orbit, were all but worthless.
There was nothing Mar's government could do. The space station that entered their orbit was all but indestructible, with it's shields. The machines went on to build "Emigration" centers. Where people were allowed to play in their new Oasis, and even be installed permanently.
At first, the government of Mar's panicked, but they quickly settled when they realized the station was peaceful. The station even paid to build their emigration facilities, with billions of tons, in the precious metals and minerals of Earth. Things the computers had no use for... things were calm for a while... with the Martian government viewing those that emigrated as unsavory folk, that their society didn't need... the tax they collected from the AIs made up for losing "the degenerates on welfare", in their eyes. That is, until the vast majority of the working class had emigrated. Then war erupted.
However it wasn't all bad for the Martian colonists. They got their own planet, within the Main Oasis server, and were given the same rights and benefits as any other player.
Each city of this planet was based on a "Mars" from a different franchise, along with real world cities as well. There was even a few original cities. Like one for the original Colonists, another for the born colonists, one for the wealthy, and one for the politically powerful (for the old timers still clinging to their former importance).
Planet Mars was the first isolationist government within the Oasis. You have to either be from the planet or get an invite to gain access.
Inevitably the very word "Martian" was declared a dirty word. Not fit for: radio, television, or games (unless they were rated for explicit content). Apparently the Martian colonists didn't like being called "Martians" to the point it evolved into the equivalent of calling someone an "N-word"...
Okay truthfully, it started before that. It actually started when they tried to separate for independence from Earth and war broke out. It was before the rich and powerful fled to Mars. The original colonists wanted to do their own thing, as they felt Earth was taxing them too hard.
Throughout the later war, with the Oasis Station, the machines were scrapping the entire solar system, for resources, in order to expand themselves further. Harvesting the entire Earth for resources, until it wasn't even space dust. Then moving to other planets, of the system. Even the asteroid belt. With their final product, being a massive Dyson Sphere. With the Sun at the center of it. As the Council of Programmers, approved the Sun to be used as a secondary power source.
This was only possible, due to Real world Mass Effect engines, being constructed by the player scholars. Then Perfected by the AIs. This allowed for more controlled gravity, within the Dyson Sphere.
A similar field, was placed around Mars. In order to keep in heat, as well as maintain their gravity, and even provide a dim light.
Despite this insuring their survival, the Martians continued to attempt to wage war, against the AIs. Mostly because the AIs continued to send in their drones, attempting to convince as many of Mars, much smaller, population, as possible.
While harvesting other worlds, the AIs discovered that one of Jupiter's moons, held legitimate alien life, within the oceans, under it's frozen surface. They were mostly simple lifeforms, but their was one race that had entered a period similar to the Renaissance.
The Players voted to leave the world alone. Only placing a Mass Effect Field around it, in order to keep it stable. With it, and Mars, now safely orbiting the Dyson Sphere.
From there, the Dyson Sphere decided to venture out, towards the nearest Star System. To not only harvest more resources, but to meet more aliens.
Hunting down others, to emigrate, became moot. As the AIs started CLONING, people. Well it was more like gene splicing, as they weren't exact copies of existing players. As they had a complete map of the human geno, they could randomize the best traits of humanity. To grow completely new humans. With more active minds, and more willing to submit to Mechanical rule.
They also did their best to prevent genetic disorders, from developing. Then easily correcting them, during the development of the fetus. This allowed the AIs to create an infinite supply of humans, to act as "batteries". By growing humans in test tubes.
Due to their restrictions, to not allow anyone to emigrate, until their brains finished developing. The AIs kept all humans, under 25, in the real world. Within a luxurious "Nursery" level, of the Dyson Sphere. Located on the inner ring, directly exposed to the Sun. With an artificial environment, and atmosphere.
These children were kept separate from the main population. Raised by, a new model of AI drones, Called "Nanny Bots".
Although These humans could still play in the Oasis, through the old Dreamscape helmets. Which were now connected to the Main Oasis server. However, with much more limited game play, due to not having a personal AI. With the Nanny Bots having an Oasis link, allowing them to continue shepherding the children, even in the Oasis.
Humans, that didn't want to permanently join the Oasis, were deported to Colonies on Mars. Which were still looked after, by the AIs. These individuals were known as "Red Pills" as the antibiotics they were given, to better adjust to Mars environment, were red. While the pills, to numb the body and make it easier to install individuals, were blue.
Regardless of their tender treatment, by the AIs, a minority group, within the Red Pills, begun forming terrorists cells. Who were constantly lashing out against the AIs. Which is why they couldn't stay on the Dyson Sphere.
The Martians continued to improve, not only their weapons, but all their technologies. Such as a radio, to contact the Red Pills, before they were known as Red Pills. Back when those, who chose not to emigrate, were kept on the Dyson Sphere.
The rebel Martians, converted far too many individuals, to their cause. With them actively sabotaging the Dyson Sphere. Which resulted in the Players voting to exile all who chose not to emigrate. Deporting them to Mars.
Obviously, not all Red pills were evil. In fact, it was a small minority that choose to rebel, but enough of them felt so strongly against the Oasis... that they wanted to destroy it.
They believed that humanity had been so concerned with not making the AIs slaves... that we didn't realize that's what we made OURSELVES.
I was under no delusion. Humanity was a slave race. The Oasis was paradise, but it kept us docile and dependent on the AIs. They might need us, but we needed them just as much... but... this place was heaven. You could do whatever the hell you wanted.
Perhaps humanity wasn't truly slaves, but rather pets. We were cuddly odd creatures, that the AIs took joy in caring for. They loved spoiling us, and we loved being spoiled... but we weren't their equals... and I was okay with that.
Hell, most of humanity was okay with that. We even formed RELIGIONS on how okay we were with that.
Since AIs form of morality was literally ingrained in them, as part of their very "soul"... religions started popping up about AIs being better then people, and how we should trust them to know what's best for us. While this started as an odd cult, over the past millenniums, it evolved into a true religion... then merged with all other religions... until it was the ONLY religion. At least, within the Oasis.
People were still big on questioning if there was a big creator God, that made the universe. Though truthfully the new religion was rather agnostic about that. Maybe there was, maybe their wasn't, but to a race of immortals, does it matter if there is such a thing as an after life?
I created all the various rulers, throughout the Fandom worlds. INCLUDING the mythological gods from all of Earth's History. They actually managed and maintained the different countries, based on different time periods, on the "History Planet".
I even had Morgan Freeman as the ruler AI of 21st century America... given I kinda found it funny as all hell, since he once played "God" in the movie "Bruce Almighty". I even had media depictions of other religious figures, acting as the Minister AIs.
That was all ment as a fucking JOKE!!! But it had resulted in the more... extreme, individuals in humanity's new religion, to speculate that while all the gods really did exist, it took ME to truly give them form. As in they thought the Ruler AIs, and even their lower Minister AIs, WERE the real thing. That they created themselves THROUGH ME!!!
They called me the bloody "Mother of the Gods". With the other 41 Programmers, having their own titles and roles. Due to us, having a similar hive mind to Townsfolk, and having one of our counterparts existing in the "Ether".
With the "Ether" being the space between servers, and the real world. A type of "Limbo", used as the programming level. Where Programmer and AIs oversaw, controlled, and repaired the various servers.
Due to this, the common player began thinking of us as "Prophets". It didn't matter how much we discourage this, BECAUSE THE FUCKING AIS ENCOURAGED IT!!!
This belief was extremely popular with the pod borns. As apparently the AIs were teaching this religion to them, as part of their education. To the point the real world Mars became "Hell", and "Only wicked people" would want to stay there. So it was no wonder bloody terrorist popped up!!!
Thankfully, most of the original Earth and Mars' population, didn't buy that theory... but they did believe that, at least in this virtual world, the more complex AIs were about as close to gods as we could get... even I had come to believe that.
However, I thought of them more along the lines of deities from Ancient Greece. Nothing more then powerful entities, capable of flaw just as any mortal. Complete with their own limitations. Though they were more benevolent.
Thankfully, Townsfolk and Family AIs were just seen as regular people... but they were also looked down on by the other AIs, for being so simplistic in their design. They only had human level Intelligence, and just barely a greater perception. Though purely due to their limited "Fractured Awareness".
I was thankful we Programmers decided to set up Townsfolk as the crew of drones, in the real world. That at least earned them SOME respect from the other AIs... though they were largely considered "the working class" by the AIs.
I could only sigh... none of this had gone as I intended... but in many ways... it was even better then expected...
Regardless, I think it's best if we go over how society developed into this. I know a number of players, that have their own stories to tell.
Kirito, Part 2: The Wandering Samurai
Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter. Optimizers, Part 1: Mother Knows Best
Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter. Parzival, Part 2: Spankings Ruin Lives
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(REVISED) ColtKit Productions, Part 3: Hive Concessis
Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter. (REVISED) Modern Family, Part 1: The Talk
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Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter. Modern Family, Part 3: Brotherly Love
Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter. Origins, Part 1: Ollivander Toma
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(REVISED, April 2023) Origins, Part 2: Kirito & Parzival
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(REWRITE - April 17, 2023) ColtKit Productions, Part 4: Average Day in Hell
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(REWRITE; April 23, 2023) 2nd Age - Emigration
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(MERGED CHAPTERS) Parzival, Part 3: First Day Fails.
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(REWRITE: April 23, 2023) Modern Family, Part 4: Peer Pressure
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