A Tale Of Doings

by Philip Quense

  Suddenly the room went pitch black. All around them a video began to play. A deep voice spoke; David’s chest vibrated with the power of the bass tone. “Welcome to the expanded Medieval Storyworld.”

  “Are they increasing the size of Alexoria or adding another nomadic tribe?” David nudged Gayle. Expanding the show would be incredible.

  “Shhh—watch the presentation, David.”

  “You wonder what an expanded world would look like?” the robot asked its audience.

  “Yes!” David’s voice rose a pitch and cracked.

  “Stop acting like a clubber, David.” Gayle stepped on his foot to silence him. “Be professional.”

  “Ouffff.” He grunted as her dark-green heel ground into his soft sports sneaker.

  “Calculating investors, not interns,” she reminded him with a glare. “Lives depend on it.”

  The video narrator’s booming voice filled the room. “Orns wills into creation two entirely new storylines within Medieval Storyworld. The future releases of Storyworld seasons will be split into three categories for viewers to subscribe to: the Kingdom Series; the Slaver Series; the Migrant Series.”

  The drums rolled. David was filled with keen anticipation. His skin tingled, and his palms began to sweat. “So pumped. The club will be soo jealous—an expansion pack.”

  “Our Storyworld dwellers believe they’re from another time period. This revolutionary product has taken thirty years to stock. Seventy-five percent of the people you see have been born into these realities. The only reality they know. Passionate actors have dedicated their lives to shaping this time set.” The video began to show landscapes with rustic homes, hidden caves, deep forest glens, muddled army camps, and soaring castles.

  “What are the expansion packs all about?” David was so excited that he ignored another kick from Gayle’s sharp heels. “What could be better than the existing Kingdom Series?”

  “It is time to expand, and your team at Orns is ready.” A proud, gritty group of people dressed in all sorts of costumes waved out of the screen. David saw a man in farmer’s trousers, a woman in a merchant’s frock, and a guard with a sword. The screen panned away to show a sunset over a massive wall, which David recognized immediately as the capital of Alexoria, the home of the knight Phel.

  “Kingdom Series was and continues to be a huge success. Investors should invest in the expanded series. Viewers know how seriously Orns takes entertainment.” David nodded to himself as he listened. “Let’s speak about dedication to quality. In the next thirty years, we plan to increase the population of the bubble to a stocked rate of eighty-five percent dwellers. The remaining fifteen percent are trained actors who affect history, maintaining the story, keeping it alive and exciting for our viewers.”

  “The Kingdom Series will focus on the capital of Alexoria. The Slaver Series focuses on new visitors to Alexoria. The Migrant Series will follow an uprooted people into an unknown land.”

  “How will I have time to keep up with all the episodes?” A true dilemma.

  “I can’t believe that is your concern,” Gayle and Patrick said simultaneously.

  The expanded Storyworld trailer impressed. David’s engineering geekiness compounded with his creative side as a camera, possibly hidden in a merchant wagon, roamed the rustic byways of Alexoria. He was intrigued by the practicalities and the orchestration that must have gone into designing such a place with hidden cameras and actors wearing cameras.

  Alejandra swept back into the now dimly lit room and said, “Ready for your trip to the Medieval production. You’ll be disguised as a small party of merchants observing a market day.”

  “Marketown is one of the neutral towns in Alexoria,” David explained to Gayle and Patrick. He knew she didn’t follow Storyworld. “I’ll explain on the way,” David said to the confused Patrick. What do human beings do for entertainment? he wondered. He pictured a group of bored people from Tri-Coalition watching paid actors playing sports. Lame and uncultured, he chuckled to himself at their expense.

  “You keep up on your episodes, David-23.” Alejandra was impressed at David’s knowledge. “You’ll want to keep your freedom liquid so you can invest. There are some unbelievable improvements coming to Storyworld next season. Changes are coming!”

  “Tell me more.”

  “Trade secrets, darling. Invest, or wait with the rest of the world,” she teased in a firm voice.

  “Fire me already!” He gave Gayle a look that said, We need to invest in Storyworld.

  “After you tour Medieval Storyworld, you get to see other productions in our entertainment portfolio. Next on the agenda after the taste of Storyworld will be Real World. We are adding a ‘Thrill’ component.”

  “I thought Real World was a Tertain entertainment product,” Gayle said, confused.

  “Orns is partnering with Tertain to make the action more intense in Real World—higher stakes,” the hostess explained. “Your tour will visit a dance party there.”

  David saw another confused expression on Patrick’s face. He whispered discreetly, “Real World is where paying customers can live in another reality.”

  “Create a new identity?” Patrick asked.

  “Kinda. Participants pay for the ability to enter this world and be whoever they want to be. There are all sorts of simulator apparatuses one can buy to enter into the digital world. With hard work and luck, one can build quite an identity in the 3D economy and culture.”

  Alejandra turned to direct a gray-clad Orns assistant, and Gayle joined David and Patrick’s conversation. “For some it is the life they wish they had.”

  “Or the life they think they deserve,” David continued. “Disgustin’ ingrates.”

  “Nonplaying viewers pay to watch their neighbors and coworkers in Real World. Professional actors live in Real World, and a whole city has been created. None of the participants know who the actors are. I’ve coworkers who log on to Real World in all their spare time to watch people and participate remotely until they can enter the world physically after work hours.”

  “Sounds addictive,” Patrick surmised.

  “You have no idea,” Gayle said. “Kids in my training classes try to find bootleg portals so they can start a life in Real World. That sort of behavior is very illegal for upbringing kids. Productive adults only are allowed.”

  “The time period is a retro utopia where technology is basic but living is very clean. Jobs are simple and enjoyable, and most importantly, with a little hard work, you can create a personal life in the city of Real World.”

  Real World footage played on the screen, and one scene showed Uriah sneaking into his neighbor’s house and stealing gems; an offense like that meant a night in Real World prison if caught—the equivalent of an hour of normal time.

  Alejandra joined them and said, “One new feature is that viewers pays for a certain time allotment and can’t leave until the time is up. Makes involvement a commitment. Another added perk is that people spending a lot of time in Real World can take some of their real-world work with them; it feeds multiple addictions. Work everywhere. A great concept.”

  The video came to an end, and the narrator declared with enthusiasm, “Imagination goes anywhere it dreams, unlike real life.”

  Alejandra spoke. “Your Real World tour package includes a party at the very successful beachfront restaurant the Open Sea. The owner has built his house above the restaurant and is renowned for his extravagant parties. We’ll plunge headlong into the thrills of Real World. Maybe some of your friends will be there as well. Paying, of course.”

  “So many people waste their freedoms in there,” David said with a bit of distaste.

  Alejandra explained, “But it’s very cheap to get time in Real World. Affordability breeds addiction.”

  “What if someone gets hurt in Storyworld?” Gayle inquired. “What if a person wants to leave? Escape? I don’t know.” She paused to think of a good explanation. “What if an actor in Medieval land gets stabbed
in a battle or tourney and—and perhaps needs a doctor machine?”

  “Who cares?” David responded like an idiot with his first reaction. Isn’t that what makes it a worthwhile paid subscription? That is what makes it so real. He got glaring reprimands from Gayle and from Patrick, who were starting to conceptually grasp the entertainment concept.

  “Ah, the beauty and the curse.”

  “She doesn’t get out much.” David tried to make light of Gayle’s comment—more glares. “Obviously.” Then he gulped and clamped his mouth shut.

  Their hostess twirled a crystal glass with a red liquid that appeared in her hand. “Life is full of double-edged swords. Pain and art go hand in hand when one ventures down the winding brick road to Orns.” Alejandra smiled. “We have a saying: ‘What happens in Orns doesn’t stay in Orns; it follows you forever.’”

  The group followed her down a long hallway with a mirrored ceiling, their footsteps echoing eerily. “That’s a bit creepy. Does anyone else think they go way too far here? Even for Xchange,” Patrick asked.

  Gayle nodded. “It’s messed up. Your wife could be anywhere in this tangle.”

  Alejandra stopped in front of a blue door and motioned for the group to lean forward. She confessed to them, “In order to provide the highest-quality entertainment, Orns allows pain and death, just as in real life. Anything that happens in Storyworld is final.”

  “Sacrifice is important for true art. There are laws in Alexoria,” David added, trying to justify his callous comments. People could receive care and support within the worlds themselves.

  “Indeed. We build a law-enforcement infrastructure—for example, a ruling class, soldiers, and a monarchy-based court system. Alexoria has a fully functioning monarchy, which maintains the rudimentary justice system. The church is the primary source of health care ministry and spirituality, but we have also introduced the use of herbal remedies, bandaging agents, and magic medicines—all the things that you would expect in an advanced feudal health care system.”

  “That is so far behind what Xchange has at its disposal,” Gayle said, but David kicked her in the leg, giving her a reprimanding look. They needed to go along with all this.

  Alejandra didn’t seem to be bothered and explained, “We’d never taint the bubble with highly sophisticated tech. Our actors, who pass back and forth between our world and Storyworld, receive more intense medical treatment—unless they deserve to die for being stupid, of course.”

  “What about the basic human rights of health and liberty?” Patrick asked.

  “Shut-it.” David glared at him, willing him to keep quiet lest he reveal something that would endanger the mission. “QC’s role here is silence and quality, not ethics.”

  “Oh, I like questions,” Alejandra said as they followed her, “Orns isn’t required to comply with Xchange’s stock employment protection agreements. Health is a perk, not a right at Orns. We at Orns call such policies ‘baby gloves.’ This is the adult world, where adult needs are guaranteed for our consumers. If members of society cannot afford to pay for these pleasures, then they can become a part of the great solution that we offer to others. Such is the wheel of industry.”

  She continued undeterred to her somber listeners. “For example, you two are climbing the corporate ladder and have the unique opportunity to choose how you want to reap from life. He who sows shall reap.”

  Patrick whispered, “That sounds oddly familiar to a religious sermon.”

  “Quiet, or you’ll ruin our chance to find your Tara.” David hushed him.

  “As I was saying,” Alejandra motioned, “your hard work and dedication to freedom and saving now allow a chance to shop and spend as you crave. You could become actors or storytellers or managers or anything you want. That’s the purpose of these behind-the-scenes tours. Your eyes are open to the opportunity! And the advantage you have earned. Advantage is an adventure indeed.” She smiled encouragingly. “Shall we proceed?”

  “Don’t get squeamish now.” Burying her disquiet, Gayle whispered to the others, “There’s a reason we didn’t pick the relationship touring package; it would’ve been worse. We knew what this place was coming here. Time to forge ahead.”

  “A tale of doing.” David added dramatically.

  Curt nods of agreement. “To find Tara and the others like we planned.” Then Gayle said more loudly to their guide, “You say that it’s expanding! Where are all the people coming from?”

  “You see, dear, Orns planned years ago and is finally ready to show them to the market of Xchange. Buying up excess human stock infants for this very purpose. Breed ’em early and often, we say. The people have grown up in these worlds. A thing of beauty—reality entertainment stories.”

  The group walked onto an observation deck that was fifty stories or so above the campus of Orns. Shiny, gaudy buildings, tall walls, and flashing lights composed the campus below them. Beyond the campus was the mountain range, the Orns Spine. “Look through the drone telescopes.” Beyond the mountain range was the land of Alexoria and the estuary that surrounded it. Alejandra opened up a computer display and started typing in commands as the three looked at a map on the balcony display and then through the drone scopes.

  Gayle pried for a further explanation. “If Orns was to acquire fresh human stock, wouldn’t Thrive Upbringing need to raise them? Just like all the stock that the Majors purchase?” None of the Majors was allowed to purchase children. No human-doings other than Self-Purchased free people could have sex and babies. It was known.

  “Gayle, Orns has a special bartering agreement with the Majors. For the purpose of Storyworld, we buy babies and put them in our reality worlds. Plus, after years the bubbles started reproducing organically, and we ceased the rapid purchase of stock. We have highly qualified actors who live in the worlds and sculpt these realities.”

  “What would Orns do if they acquired adult human slaves?” Patrick couldn’t hold his tongue. He was impatient to know about his wife.

  Alejandra ignored his comment this time. Patrick was a bodyguard and not a potential paying customer. She gave no information about other slaves.

  Patrick’s question gave David an idea. David was curious about Medieval Storyworld. “How will Orns keep Kingdom series fresh and exciting with the expansion packs airing?”

  “Good question, David. Orns recently thought up an ingenious way to make Medieval Storyworld more intense and personal, which is also closely tied in with new products that Orns has recently acquired.” This made all three invaders perk up. David thought, Recently acquired—could this be Grandpa Greg’s doing?

  Alejandra said, “The Kingdom Series will integrate with the other two series. And the combination will be a beauty to behold. They will have some thrilling new features. Orns is excited about this initiative.” The group moved toward the Medieval Storyworld shuttle. They rode a quick elevator down to a subterranean level, the elevator humming quietly.

  Alejandra didn’t speak further about the “acquisition” but explained, “After Storyworld and your Real World party, your tour package includes a Battle Games show from Thrill products. We will witness a sports battle.”

  “I remember reading about the birth of the Battle Games. They were a huge success ten years ago when they first aired,” David said. “What was the main reason for their success?”

  “Didn’t Tertain entertainment discontinue all of their team ball sports after the huge success of Orns Battle Games?” Gayle asked.

  Patrick was shocked. “How could anyone get rid of ball sports? Ball sports are the heart of entertainment and pride of many people. Kids and adults alike play sports. Everyone watches their favorite teams!” Then he clamped his jaw closed with a loud click, realizing he was talking about his own civilization. Alejandra ignored him. She had a talent for ignoring servants and guards. Gayle gave him a rueful warning glare.

  “You’re both right. Battle Games was such a success that ball sports as an entertainment competitor was mostly sh
ut down. You see, Orns quickly realized that throwing a ball around for hours on end and watching games with boring objectives had a financial cap. So we encouraged real danger with life-threatening objectives inside obstacle courses that required true skill and courage.” She placed her hand on a digital keypad. A yellow barrier zipped open with a zing. “When a feat requires everything from a human, then the sky is the limit with sports. And so Thrill was invented. If you want safe games with meaningless goals, stupid balls, and safety gear, then you can watch what remains of Tertain Sports, which is only a free late-night product. But Thrill at Orns will change your viewing experience forever. Thrill holds the highest income of any sports entertainment product on the market.”

  “So are ball sports actually gone?” Patrick asked.

  “Tertain still has traditional sports, but they broadcast during the cheaper late-night viewing hours,” Gayle explained.

  “The Irish bar had a game called basketball on the screen when we were there,” David mentioned. He remembered the barman’s odd, quiet, listening face.

  “At Orns we only deal with profitable sports. And you will see Battle Games from Thrill Incorporated up close and personal. Also a worthwhile investment.”

  And so their agenda was set: travel from Medieval Storyworld to Real World to Thrills. But David, Gayle, and Patrick needed to figure out a way to find the lost human beings, especially Tara. David felt the CEO band on his arm. It gave him a sinking feeling to know that he would have to get near a computer and use this band to find the slaves and locate a ship to get out. He thought that if he used the band, it would send a signal to Nnect and the race against time would begin. He needed to secure evidence against Grandpa Greg before that happened.

  The buzzing shuttle zipped along a smooth track that ran underground and connected the campus of Orns to the off-site Storyworld division, which was located in a secret spot near or perhaps under the Orns Spine. The spies followed their guide along the employees-only rail system. They were given metallic identification bands, which they wore around their right wrists. The staff member fastening the bands onto their arms explained, “The human-doing tattoos on your left arms interfere with the Orns security signal. All security bands must be placed on the right arm.”