You’re Not Allowed to Die
By
Kip Terrington
The Twenty-Sided Eye Series – Book 1
Copyright
You’re Not Allowed to Die by Kip Terrington
Copyright © 2017 Kip Terrington
Cover Art and Illustrations © 2017 Dr. Emma C.
Edited by William R. Lane and Dr. Emma C.
All Rights Reserved.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of the copyright owner, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright laws.
Disclaimer
This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 - The End
Chapter 2 - The Beginning
Chapter 3 – Migration Set
Chapter 4 - The First
Chapter 5 - Christmas Lights in the Snow
Chapter 6 - Rook
Chapter 7 - Booger Flick
Chapter 8 - Stolen Innocence
Chapter 9 - Finger Guns
Chapter 10 - Disrespect
Chapter 11 – Mementos of the Lost Children
Epilogue
Appendix
Acknowledgements
for her. always her.
Chapter 1 - The End
Conflux Reality.
Time does not exist, only reflections and choices.
The conflux was the great cosmic release valve. Once every millennium, a wave of power swept through the known universe presenting opportunities for those who had prepared. It was not understood why this power buildup occurred, only that it must be harnessed.
“Without a dramatic shift in power, we’re dead anyway. If we choose the man who is interwoven with the machine, we get him and her. I think there’s a possibility that his items might work in a world with true magic,” the elder energy being said to his comrade.
The two small energy beings floated in a lightly tinted blue ball. Their unimposing sphere was small, but not unique. Outside of their little enclosure floated a myriad of other spheres. Virtually every orb that surrounded them was larger and more vibrant in color. This was the assembly representing every ideology, people group, culture, element, and power for the known dimensions. “That is one big ‘maybe.’ Couldn't we just go with one of the stronger magical choices, not some unknown, magicless, old, broken man?” the younger energy being asked.
Looking around the assembly, there were many factions: some large, some small. None of the other factions, however, claimed only two members in their group, as they did. Though the concepts and ideas that these two energy beings represented were ancient, their strength was fading. The elder reassessed their security sphere to confirm the privacy of their conversation. “I understand your reticence. All we have ever done, for as long as I can remember, is make safe choices. But, now we must make up ground, or both of us will cease to exist, as have the others from our faction. Just the idea of oblivion is torturous to me, but those who performed the summoning accorded us with greater strategic license than we have ever been given. We must take this opportunity and accept risk. Otherwise, we might not have a chance. This Champion could bring real change.”
“Or, he could die on the first day. Or, better yet, reject the offer altogether…,” he took a long pause, “But, I trust you. You have my agreement. I am simply scared. He won’t even know it’s real,” the younger energy being said.
“Okay, let’s submit our Champion choice and design his castle.”
“Decision made,” the younger energy being agreed, “Let's do it.” As the energy being uttered these words, the whole of their reality began to reverberate. The gathered assembly nearly lost cohesion. Wave after wave of astral force concussed and battered the conclave. Then, suddenly, all was stilled. A quick glance around the assembly revealed that each faction had their security spheres fully activated. The spectacle before them was an overload of color. It looked as if there were thousands of hot air balloons of various sizes floating about. They all lit up with different colors of fire. Each glowing orb slowly drifted around each other, always keeping a defensible distance.
“What was that? I thought the ripples in the continuum did not appear until all had made their choice!” gasped the younger energy being.
“That violent response was a consequence of our choice. It either means we chose very well or we could not have chosen worse,” whispered the elder energy being.
“Are you sure? That was us?” the younger energy being exclaimed, “Did you experience what I just did? I don't understand.”
“I did. That's how I know it was our choice that led to the astral storm. I had the vision too. The wonderful, or terrible, twenty-sided eye. I could only see the eye. I am not sure if it was an expression of anger or joy. Regardless, we've already made our decision and experienced its consequence. We couldn't change our mind now if we wanted to. Some causalities are set. Let's be about it,” the elder energy being said, as they began designing the castle.
Earth.
Long-Term Immersion Center.
One hour and 27 minutes before the Champion is summoned.
Joe sat uncomfortably in his wheelchair and looked around at all the people in glass pods. Each pod was filled with sensory deprivation fluid. The occupants had neural transmitters affixed to their spines and their temples. Experiencing a game reality, they were oblivious to their real-life surroundings. The Immersion Center was designed to provide its customers with the sensation of youth, vigor, and vitality. This was to be his future: the current gold standard for palliative and hospice care. Old Joe was terminal.
His granddaughter, Amelia, had paid for the whole thing. After purchasing it, she made sure it was non-refundable, and then told him about it. His whole family had known for a while that his time with them was soon coming to an end. They saw the pain he was in. Through tears, but remaining strong, Amelia had informed him that his farewell party had been arranged. He would be entering the pod the day after. Amelia was not above taking things out of his hands. So, Joe, knowing that his time was short, had smiled at his generous granddaughter and received the great gift she had given him. She knew how much he had enjoyed video games. He even worked in the field for a time. She also knew he could never afford something like this: state-of-the-art, long-term, full digital immersion.
Amelia held his hand as he thought back to the party the day before. Joe had been overwhelmed at the outflowing of love he had felt at his farewell party. He had been truly loved, and he had loved in return. It was surreal, knowing that he was going to go into a virtual game and, most likely, would slip away into death during some silly manufactured adventure.
In looking at Joe, it was obvious that old age had ravaged his body. His muscular degeneration was advanced. He could barely speak. His mind was sharp, but his body was failing him. He slept longer and longer each night. His interactions with others left much to be desired, as he was no longer able to communicate effectively. Full digital immersion would slow his body's decline and let him play in a fantasy world like a young man again. So, as the technicians prepared his pod, Joe smiled with trepidation and excitement, almost forgetting his constant pain.
What scenario had his granddaughter chosen? How will it feel to stand up straight again? Will he be able to level up, keep track of his skills, and fall into a role? How will he experience time? What will the world be like? Will it be a space adventure, or will there be elves and magic? What will the interface be like? Will he have to choose a job?
The pod was ready. Amelia let go of his hand, and began climbing up to a high platform, where she could better view his immersion into the tank. There was nothing remarkable about Amelia’s appearance. She was below average height with strawberry blonde hair, worn almost exclusively in a bun. Today, she wore both a no-nonsense pair of shoes as well as a no-nonsense expression, matching the gravity of the situation. Amelia was pragmatic and unrelenting. It was one of the reasons she was so successful, and one of the reasons she appreciated her grandfather's ability to bring levity and joy into most situations. The technicians carefully helped him into the fluid. It was lukewarm, and the viscosity was somewhere between that of water and olive oil. He sat up in the fluid as they attached the neural sensors to his spine and temples. When each one was affixed, he felt a small pinch, and then nothing. The technicians explained that, once he was fully submerged, he would lose consciousness for a moment. This would serve to aid the otherwise uncomfortable transitional moment when the fluid would enter his lungs and provide all the oxygen he would need. Once he regained consciousness, the sensory deprivation unit would promote full acceptance of the digital world and trick his brain into believing it was real. He, of course, would remember that it was not reality. The science surrounding the mind-brain connection had come a long way. Although he would know it was all a virtual game, in almost every respect, it would feel like reality. He remembered as a younger man, over 70 years ago, trying out the video game system “Rift,” put out by Oculus. It had been groundbreaking at the time. If they had known, back then, what was possible, they would have redoubled their efforts in developing neural presence technology.
Amelia stood, waiting on the platform near the technicians, watching to make sure the procedures were completed perfectly. Steven, the head technician, informed her that the immersion pod was ready to be activated, and final good-byes would need to be said. She looked in her grandfather’s eyes and forced out a simple, “Have fun, Grandpa! I love you.”
“I love you too, granddaughter,” Joe smiled, “Good-bye, for now.”
Amelia looked straight at the technician and gave her nod of approval. Turning toward Joe, Steven said, “Good luck,” and immediately, Joe lost consciousness. The technician let Joe’s head drop under the water-like fluid. Joe’s body quickly convulsed once, twice, then a third time, before relaxing into the new environment. The team of technicians confirmed for Amelia that her grandfather’s vitals were stabilized and he would now be going through the start options for his gaming experience and customizing his personal interface. Best of all, they reported, the scans of his nervous system demonstrated that he was no longer feeling the pain and degeneration of old age. The technicians began the process of sealing the pod. It took two men to manually close the hatch; after which, they applied an impermeable gel to the rim. Joe’s elderly body was now suspended in a fully self-contained environment.
As the technicians checked their work, Amelia carefully climbed down the ladder and sat on the lounge chair facing her grandfather's pod. Amelia reached to the side of the chair, and pulled up the holographic screen she had required the company to provide so that she could view her grandfather in his virtual world. Sure enough, she was able to see a vague and featureless male figure, whom she presumed to be Joe, standing in the center of a round cobblestone room. She wondered if he was in a castle. He was standing on his own and smiling: looking at his hands, touching his face, and feeling his biceps. Amelia laughed tears of joy as her grandfather posed in the epic, classic Rocky position: hands raised high above his head. In her younger years, he had forced her to watch those movies, and now, she could not help but smile. She could see what he was feeling and could almost read his mind.
Having finished the seal on the pod, the team of technicians left her there, allowing her to watch as her grandfather went through the menus and learned the game interface. She sat quietly for an hour, watching him interact with the environment. The real life view of his shriveled body floating in the pod contrasted greatly with the image of her grandfather jumping around on the holographic screen. Amelia stared at the once strong body of her grandfather in the pod, and hoped that this had been the right decision. With her eyes focused on her grandfather, she sent up a silent prayer, “Let this be the right thing.” Suddenly, something happened. Something that had nothing to do with the game, the pod, or even the natural universe. In a flash, surrounded by a beautiful multicolored crystal light, his real body disappeared. Amelia shot up and screamed, unable to contain her shock. Where had her grandfather gone? One moment he was there, then in a crazy burst of light, he was gone. The liquid in the pod was noticeably lower, without his frail body displacing it, and eerily swayed from side to side.
Hearing the scream, four technicians ran toward Amelia. “What is it? What’s wrong?” Steven exclaimed. Amelia raised her hand, and pointed at the empty pod. Steven’s eyes followed, and grew wide. “Where did he go?” Steven gasped, as he ran to check the seal. He looked toward the rest of the technicians, “The seal is unbroken. Did one of you come in and remove him?”
“No one else was here, but me! He disappeared right before my eyes. There was a flash of light, then his body was gone,” Amelia broke in, before any of the technicians could respond.
Steven looked at her, and calmly stated, “I'm sure there's a rational explanation for this.”
“Rational explanation? You mean like, I'm seeing things?”
“Hold on, that is not what I said. First things first, let's take a look at the recordings,” Steven said, as he moved toward the closest holographic screen, located on the recently installed lounge chair for their client, Amelia. Stephen froze, as did all the others. The holographic screen was still active, only the figure depicted on it was no longer a nondescript Joe. Instead, Joe’s feeble old body was seen floating in some grand cathedral or ballroom. The image of the old man began to morph before their eyes, becoming visibly younger and growing in muscular physique and vitality.
“That's impossible!” shouted Steven. Having explored the entirety of each virtual game in their catalog, he said, “I know for a fact that that location is nowhere in our database, and this holo screen cannot even come close to supporting this level of detail, size, or scope.”
The hologram, appearing above the screen, had a translucent glow throughout it. Before the flash, it had been the most basic of displays, with a one foot diameter and a monochromatic color scheme. Now, the holographic image expanded the handheld screen to a three foot diameter, displaying the color variation and resolution of a slightly muted, simulated, reality. “Dude, it’s like magic,” one of the technicians muttered under his breath.
Steven shot him a dirty look, and then turned back toward Amelia, “I installed the holographic program myself. It is basic.” He had shifted away from the display, in a clear attempt to ignore the miraculously upgraded holographic screen. “Ma'am, I do not enjoy being made a fool of, and all of the equipment in this room is much too valuable to be involved in any pranks. Or, heaven forbid, any misguided attempt to profit by litigation. I assure you,” he warned, “I have many sensors and video recorders hidden throughout this center, so, no matter how many employees you have involved in your scheme, the truth will come out.”
Suddenly registering Steven’s misplaced accusation, Amelia pulled her eyes away from the miraculous display of her grandfather. Taking a calculated breath, her lips began to tighten and her eyebrows lowered. Carefully and respectfully, she addressed the head technician.
“Steven, we don't know each other. So, I will inform you that I am not a litigious person, nor am I someone who plays silly pranks. Whatever is happening here was no
t of my doing, and I suspect was not of your company's doing either.” Again, she took a deep breath, and continued calmly, “I only care about my grandfather, and I am in no need of more money. I am perfectly willing to sign whatever documentation you wish, stating just that. Only, I will need my own assurance and a guarantee, in writing, that I, or one of my family members, will be allowed to stay by this particular holographic screen indefinitely. I will also need reassurance that this holographic screen will never be taken offline.”
Steven began to object, but Amelia quickly cut him off, “Before you say something you will regret, check your hidden cameras and sensors. I will remain here, under watch of your staff, and touch nothing. Once you have reviewed the footage, and found that I have been completely honest, contact your superiors and have the documents prepared for me to sign.”
Not fully convinced, and seeing her as a threat, Steven took a step toward her and grabbed her wrist. As he began to pull, however, Amelia turned her arm and broke the grip he had on her wrist. Simultaneously, she gripped his wrist, twisting it behind his back with enough force to provide extreme pain without breaking any bones. Then, she pushed him forward and took a step back, creating distance between herself and the four men. With her arms out and her knees slightly bent, she moved into the ready position of someone trained in a mixed martial art. Steven recovered, wincing as he held his wrist, and rolled his sore shoulder joint.
“In order to remove me,” she said, “You will need to break or kill me. Then, I assure you that my family will sue. CHECK THE RECORDINGS! I have already had more than enough excitement for one day!”
Steven held his wrist and considered what to do next. Looking toward his team of technicians, he relented, “Watch her, all of you. No one is allowed to leave for any reason. Watch her, and watch each other. Failure to comply will be punished with all authority I can bring to bear, and my undying enmity.” As Steven left, every one of the technicians took four steps back from Amelia, and correspondingly, she relaxed.
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