Lilli gave him a blank look. “Is there a difference?” she asked, sounding curious despite herself. She liked learning about things like this, even if she didn’t want to admit it.
“A rather big one, actually,” Hiro replied. He tapped his finger to his chin. “Think of it this way. In virtual reality, you’re entering an entirely computer-generated world—and all of real life goes away. Which means you can’t physically walk around too much—you’d bump into everything. Or walk off a cliff.” He snorted. “End up spending the rest of your vacation in the emergency room.”
I grimaced, feeling a little sick again as I remembered almost falling off the boat earlier. That would have been a very bad game-over for our adventure before we even really began.
“But with mixed reality, you’re still in the real world to some extent. You can interact with real objects and buildings like these. You can sleep in a real bed. Eat real food. But there’s another layer built on top of reality. A new skin, if you will. Allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the world.” His smile broadened. “Just like real life, only a lot more fun!”
“As fun as food poisoning, if you ask me,” Derek grumbled.
“But how does the computer know where to put things?” I asked, ignoring Derek.
“The entire island is mapped out to the millimeter,” Hiro informed us. “We use GPS coordinates to place our creatures and objects in appropriate spots, according to their profiles. After all, you wouldn’t want to see a fish flying through the air or a butterfly swimming underwater. It would destroy the illusion.”
“Though it would be kind of cool,” I joked.
Hiro smiled. “Let me assure you, Dragon Ops contains plenty of wonders of its own. There is no shortage of ‘cool’ in this world, as you will soon see.”
We reached a small electronic kiosk on the side of the blacksmith’s shop, the technology looking very out of place from the rest of the medieval village. I watched as Hiro pressed a code into the keypad and the machine whirred. A moment later it spit out three pairs of glasses.
Hiro reached down to pull them from the dispenser. They were similar to the ones Uncle Jack had let us try back on the boat, but smaller. More compact. Not much different, on the outside, than regular sunglasses with earbuds. Except for two blinking red sensors imbedded in each side.
“These glasses will serve a few purposes,” Hiro explained, handing a pair to each of us. “They will allow you to see and hear the game world, of course. But more importantly, they send electronic pulses to your brain to synchronize it with the game and make everything appear real. Once you’re in sync, you’ll be able to interact with virtual objects, talk to virtual people, fight virtual monsters.” He made a move, as if he were swinging a make-believe sword. “And your brain won’t be able to tell the difference between the game and real life. Almost as if you were locked in an extended dream.
“There’s even time-compression technology built in,” he added. “To allow visitors to maximize their vacation, and experience more of the game in a shorter period of time. Your mind will believe you’ve been in the game for weeks—when you’ve only been out there for a few days. Again, much like time passes in a dream. This way you don’t waste all your vacation on beginner quests.”
“That’s incredible!” I cried.
I had read about time-compression technology, but I had no idea anyone had a working version. We had a week to spend here—did that mean it would feel like a month once we were inside the game?
“That’s terrifying,” Lilli corrected. “You’re telling me these things reprogram our brains?”
“Only temporarily,” Hiro assured her good-naturedly. “Once the goggles are removed, everything goes back to normal—an instant reboot to reality.” He grinned. “Don’t worry. There have been extensive, long-term studies on both the glasses and the SensSuits. It’s all perfectly safe.”
“That’s what they said about the Titanic,” Lilli muttered.
“What are SensSuits?” I asked, ignoring Miss Doom and Gloom.
Hiro turned to me. “They’re specially constructed bodysuits with microsensors woven into the fabric. The game interacts with these sensors and can recognize when you get hit during a battle and where. Sort of like a very advanced laser tag. The suit will then send signals to your brain, much like the sensors in your goggles, to make it believe the hit really happened.”
“It doesn’t hurt, does it?”
“Absolutely not,” Hiro assured us. “It just feels like a little prickle. As if your foot has fallen asleep. This way the game can feel as real as possible—without actually hurting anyone.”
“Wow!” I couldn’t wait to get suited up. To get into the game. The more I heard about it, the better it sounded.
“So now,” Hiro said, wagging his eyebrows. “Who wants to see the real Dragonshire?”
Not surprisingly, I was the first to volunteer.
With trembling hands, I slid the goggles over my eyes, trying to appear ready for anything, even though I was a little scared. The whole thing about the sensors interacting with your brain—well, that was a bit freaky. And way beyond just wearing VR goggles like I’d done in the past. But Hiro and his team had tested it. They said it was safe. And it had to be, right? Uncle Jack wouldn’t have brought us here if it wasn’t.
The lenses slid over my eyes and I blinked twice, frowning at how blurry and dark everything looked. I could see shadows swimming in front of me, but I couldn’t get anything to come into focus. I squinted and blinked a few more times, trying to adjust my eyes, starting to get a little frustrated.
“Why isn’t this—?” I started to say.
A shadow reached toward me. I felt a slight pressure at my ears, as if someone were pushing the goggles into my head. There was a small stinging sensation, an audible beep, and then everything blinked into focus, as if someone had turned on a light switch.
And the world transformed before my eyes.
There was still a town. The pub, the inn, the blacksmith—all the things we’d already seen. But now they looked completely different. No longer props on a hastily constructed movie set, but rather essential pieces of a living, breathing medieval world, rendered to the tiniest detail.
The dirt roads had transformed into cobblestone streets. The run-down shacks were now thatched-roof cottages with wisps of smoke winding from their chimneys. The once-empty shops were packed with adventuring supplies and weapons. And the bakery on the corner overflowed with baskets of crusty breads and those yummy pink-and-purple unicorn cakes I remembered from the original game. Could I finally taste one for real? And would it taste as sweet as I had always imagined it?
But the unicorn cakes weren’t the coolest thing. Not by a long shot. Instead, it was all the people who had suddenly appeared, bustling around town. Ladies in long-aproned dresses bartering with the local merchants. Men in tunics and leather breeches arguing as they stumbled out of the pub. A few grubby-faced children raced up and down the streets, yelling loudly as they chased what appeared to be a chicken-like beast covered in purple feathers. There were even a couple of knights in full armor, trotting by on snow-white unicorns in the direction of the inn. As they approached, I found myself leaping back to get out of their way, almost knocking Lilli and Derek over in the process.
“Sorry,” I said quickly, holding up my hands in apology as I turned to face them. They were blurry and out of focus, as Derek and Uncle Jack had been on the boat, and it hurt my eyes to look at them. I turned away quickly, feeling a little dizzy.
“So, Ian. What do you think of our little world?”
I looked up at Hiro’s voice, surprised to see him in sharp focus, unlike the rest of our group. Sharp focus and dressed completely differently than he had been before I put on the goggles. No longer in skinny jeans and a T-shirt, he was now wearing a crimson-colored robe with a braid of gold around his waist, and he carried a long wooden staff topped by a wooden knob carved into the head of a
dragon. He even had a long, snow-white beard, as if he were Saruman from Lord of the Rings.
I glanced down at my own outfit, hoping I would be wearing something half as cool. But, it turned out, I was still wearing the SUPER MARIO BROS. 3 T-shirt—with Mario dressed in his raccoon outfit—I’d put on that morning. Weird.
“Sorry,” Hiro said apologetically. “You’ll have to create your character and put on your SensSuit to get the full effect.”
“Oh. Right.” I forced a smile to my face, trying to look casual and cool. Which was not easy, under the circumstances. Everything I was seeing, everything I was hearing, was so crazy real it was hard to wrap my head around. I half wanted to rip off the glasses—to get a quick, healthy dose of reality—but I didn’t want Hiro to think I was a wimp.
Then something struck me. “There’s no smell!”
Hiro nodded. “The eyes and ears are easier to trick than the nose,” he said. “But that’ll change once we’re open to the public. We’ll be piping in smells through special filters placed around the park. Everything from baking bread, to smoke from the forge. Maybe even a little horse manure to keep it real.”
“That’s a little too real, even for me,” Lilli joked. I glanced back at her again, hoping she’d put her goggles on. But there she was, still blurry and goggle-free. Which was super boring. I mean, did she really plan to stay in real-life mode all week?
“Speaking of bread,” Derek broke in. (Also super boring and goggle-free.) “I’m starving. When are we going to eat?”
“Whenever you like,” Hiro replied good-naturedly. “There’s a restaurant at the inn. They’re not fully open, but our cooks are very good. Just tell them what you want and I’m sure they’ll be able to make it.”
“Even pizza?” Derek demanded. “’Cause I could really go for some pizza. Do they have pepperoni? What about sausage? Pineapple?”
I frowned, starting to get annoyed. All this reality talk was messing with my experience. I wanted to explore the town. Experience the awesomeness. I had zero time for pizza.
“Can I just look around a little more?” I pleaded. “I’m really not hungry.”
At first Hiro looked as if he wanted to argue, but then he gave me an understanding smile. “Very well,” he said. “You stay out here while I show your cousin and sister to the restaurant. I’ll come back to collect you when I’m finished.” He wagged a finger at me. “But stay in the town square. No wandering about. Some of the areas are still under construction and off-limits to guests.” He patted me on the back. “But don’t worry. You’ll get a full tour tomorrow with one of our excellent guides, and I promise you’ll get to see everything you want to see and more.”
Excitement stirred in my stomach. He was going to let me keep playing! And alone, too! Without my annoying cousin whining about food. Or my sister being boring. “No problem,” I declared. “I’ll stay right here.”
“Excellent. And let me give you these.” Hiro reached into his pocket and pulled out a pair of white gloves. “I don’t have time to fit you with an entire SensSuit,” he apologized. “You’ll get one later this afternoon. But these gloves will allow you to interact with the game more fully.”
“Awesome. Thanks!” I slid them on my hands.
Hiro smiled again, then gestured for Derek and Lilli to follow him to the inn. I watched them go, then turned back to the town, wondering where I should start.
Clang! I nearly jumped out of my skin at the sudden sound. I turned to find a large, muscular man hammering a sword into shape at the blacksmith’s shop, sparks flying from the forge with each strike to the steel. No, not just a man, I realized after a second look, but an actual troll—with thick ivory tusks protruding from a bulbous red nose, and long, pointed ears with a multitude of piercings. How cool was that?
Also cool? There was a huge wall of weapons at the very back of the shop. Tons of swords, shields, axes, and maces hanging in organized rows. Fascinated, I walked over to get a better look. Would we be assigned weapons like these tomorrow morning before we headed into the game? I could really use an awesome sword for the warrior character I planned to create.
Without thinking, I reached out, pulling a long sword with a ruby-encrusted hilt from the wall, turning it over in my hands. It felt real, heavy even, as if it were actually in my grasp and not just a virtual creation. How was that possible? How was any of this possible?
My stomach twisted uncomfortably. I glanced over at the troll, then back down at the sword. Maybe I did need to take a little break. Just a tiny one. What was it Hiro had called it? Rebooting reality? Yeah, just for a moment. Then I could go back to the game. No one would even have to know.
I reached up, ready to pull the goggles off my eyes…
But there were no goggles.
Huh? I tried again, but still felt nothing there. My heart stuttered in my chest. Where were the goggles? I knew I was wearing goggles—otherwise I wouldn’t be seeing any of this. Unless…
What if the goggles were tricking my brain into thinking there were no goggles?
Okay, this was so messed up.
I tried again, nearly poking myself in the eye. Panic rose inside me and I flailed, dropping the sword. It fell to the ground with a loud clank.
“What was that? Who’s there?”
I looked up, heart now in my throat. The blacksmith troll had left his forge and was now stomping in my direction, an angry scowl slashing across his tusked face.
Uh-oh.
I shrank back in terror as he reached me. He towered over me, his eyes falling to the sword now lying on the ground. His face twisted.
“You thieving rat! You dare try to steal from me?”
I stumbled backward, holding up my hands in surrender. “Look. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—”
“You know what we do to thieves here in Dragonshire?” he growled, ripping another sword from the wall and raising it threateningly in my direction.
“Um…” I squeaked. “You give them a fair trial and a lawyer to plead their case?”
The troll’s mouth curled, revealing a nasty set of blackened teeth. “We make sure they never steal again.”
I cringed, my eyes locked on the sword above me; the troll, ready to strike.
“Um, don’t you think that’s a bit harsh?” I squeaked. “I mean, first offense and all that?”
He lunged at me, his blade singing a high-pitched whine as it bit through the air. I screamed, with barely enough time to duck as it came crashing down, slicing across the space where my head had just been. I threw myself on my hands and knees, crawling desperately toward the back door of the shop, then leapt up and ran down the street. My hands reached for my face, once again feeling for the goggles. I knew they had to be there—even if my brain refused to believe it.
It’s just a game, I told my stupid brain. It’s just a silly game.
From behind me I could hear the troll’s screech of rage, followed by heavy footsteps pounding against the cobblestones. I picked up the pace, zagging left down a narrow alleyway, then crossing a wooden bridge and ducking under a low-hanging gate. My lungs burned in protest—I really wasn’t much of a runner. And I was pretty sure he was gaining on me.
If only I hadn’t dropped the sword in the shop! Maybe I could have tried to fight him. Of course he was probably way too powerful. Merchants like him were usually pretty high level in these types of games—to prevent players from simply massacring them and stealing their wares.
Also, I realized suddenly, I didn’t actually know how to fight with a sword in real life. Or as real as this was, anyway. And I couldn’t just button-mash the guy to death like you did in a regular game when you had no idea how to play.
This game was going to be a lot harder than I thought.…
Totally winded, I pushed on, afraid to look behind me to see if he was still there. Rounding a corner, I dug my heels into the dirt, stopping short.
Uh-oh.
The street I had turne
d down dead-ended a few feet in front of me at a tall wooden fence that was too high to climb. My gaze darted from left to right as I tried to figure out a Plan B. Could I retrace my steps before the troll caught up? Hide somewhere until he gave up and went back to the shop? In desperation, I tried a few doors to nearby houses. But they were all locked.
What to do? What to do?
The troll burst into the alleyway, still brandishing his sword. His eyes lit up as they fell upon me. “There you are, you thieving rat!” he growled, taking a menacing step forward. “You thought you’d get away from me?”
I backed up until I hit the fence. There was nowhere else to go.
“Please!” I begged, frightened tears streaming down my face. “Please don’t kill me! I didn’t mean to steal the sword and—”
The troll lunged at me. I screamed and ducked, instinctively putting my hands over my head.
But it did no good.
His weapon crashed down and everything went black.
YOU HAVE DIED.
Would you like to REVIVE or QUIT?
I stared at the golden words scrolling across my field of vision, cutting through the blackness. My heart was still in my throat and I could barely breathe, never mind understand what they were asking. I blinked a few times, trying to regain my senses.
Then I started to laugh.
Of course. I wasn’t dead for real. This was just a game. I was totally fine—and had been the whole time. There was no real troll. There was no real sword. I had been running around like a Minecraft zombie on a chicken through an empty theme park. My character had died, not me.
Relief washed over me in waves, though I still felt a little faint. Reaching out, I selected REVIVE from the floating menu. The words swirled out of focus, then the blackness retreated and I found myself back in the alleyway. The troll, thankfully, was nowhere to be found. I slid down the fence until I was hugging my knees, needing to feel something solid and real.
Dragon Ops Page 3