Florence stood in the dark with his phone out, looking at the messaging screen with his dad pulled up. He wasn't sure how to take the abrupt news but it was strange for his father to take such an interest in his well being not to mention send such an important message with someone like Terra, his assistant. He sighed as he looked at the new eyesore addition to the den with a heavy heart. How the hell was he supposed to juggle school and a minimum of eight hours in this damn G.I.D. game? In his mind, it didn't make sense why his father was adamant about this game and him playing it, it was another supposedly huge game that only the developers and the beta testers are supposed to know about. The main highlights have been immersive world, unique humanlike AI system that was supposed to be so complex that they are the first game to replicate the human consciousness which was a breakthrough but just why would his father be so invested in this game? He sighs as he shakes his head, looking at the intricate machine with curiosity. The chamber looked to be six-foot minimum high and about four-foot deep, reminding him of an oversized locker just sitting there with tubes and wires sticking out of it in an organized mess. The game was supposed to work with the typical full dive headgear but developers urged players to invest in a full dive port system to get a full experience. Florence sigh as he looks at the time, seeing that it's six forty-five and that means fifteen minutes before the game launches to the public. He thinks back to what Terra told him about his father's message.
"Your father sent me with a message, he wants you to play this G.I.D. for eight hours every day but since it's launch day as well as the weekend he wants you to play for the weekend with breaks of course. That being said the breaks for the weekend are fifteen minutes for breakfast, twenty for lunch, and lastly twenty-five for dinner. You will be given a menu and no spending limit, you'll be able to order while in-game but there is a slight catch. Your progress will be recorded while you play and sent directly to Akio Entertainment, the developers of the game for research. You are apart of a select group that is to be compared statistically. Your father says to not expect any special treatment because of this, in fact, you're just another player. Your data, as well as the video, will be posted on the site and if you do well enough then you will be on the main page. As you know your father expects great things as always but don't feel pressured hun, look at this as an experience not to mention a learning experience! I will swing by once a week to record progress as well as a few other things, I look forward to seeing how you progress hun." Her words stuck with him, why the hell is he doing this to me thought Florence! He is never home, always engrossed in his work when home, and he is so shut off, a brick wall with hearing loss is better company than him and it irks him to his soul. Sure he kept him fed, clothed, alive and he never wanted anything but being cooped up in this under glorified palace was a pain in his ass! It never made any sense to him but what was he to expect, a 17-year-old, mess up and quite normal. If he was a spice he'd be flour, he was that plain, kept to himself and lacked what other people call friends. It wasn't his job to understand as he flipped through the manual one last time before letting out an exasperated sigh. Late to school, near-death experience, an encounter with a scary trouble maker and his house to top it all off. The golden cherry on top of this catastrophe of a bad day was that he was forced to play a game that he had no interest in and his dad was supposed to be gone for who knows how long. That's all he needed, more lonesome nights and now playing video games, terrific to say the least. His watch beeped as he took a deep breath, five minutes until the game launched. He should probably start getting ready. As a withheld sigh escapes his lungs and he begins to undress he stumbles back to his room, opening the door to the rather drab and plain room. There was nothing in there except a bed, bookshelf, a desk, and a dresser. It was boring, just like Florence, a room that was nothing special as the bed was neat. He took a deep breath as he shed his clothes and switched into a pair of pajama pants and a nightshirt, his headache had subsided as he smiles a bit. He kept looking at this as a negative but maybe it was positive, this could be an adventure all his own, maybe make it toward the leader boards or anything, it was an open-ended game full of possibilities where the sky were the limit. After changing clothes he made his way towards the port, opening the door to the pod with a deep breath, his heart gave a dull thud as he looked at the interior, a comfy looking chair sat inside (A selling point of the Exert) He took a seat slowly, getting comfy as he slipped on the extremities and sighed, the port began to hum and boot up, the pod beginning to light up a light violet. The sounds of fans, clicking, and electronics began to fill his ears as his scattered thoughts began to return once more, his heart speeding up as he smirked. He hated this, he hated the idea of it all but at the same time, it continued to tickle his mind. Thoughts of what this world might hold, the world, and the adventures would be quite fun, perhaps he could reinvent himself though it would only be an alter ego held up by a series of ones and zeros. He took one last deep breath before the words spilled out of his mouth, ones that would let him begin his grand adventure in Grandiose Imperiorae Dantilium.
"Initiate Link"