In the year 2222, in a world where technology has become so far advanced that the worries and troubles of the past century would be likened to a baby's cry.

Those issues could be solved in a jiffy. Cancers? Dealing with those in this era was easy peasy lemon squeezy.

Artificial intelligence was everywhere and involved in everything, down to simple domestic tasks like making a cup of coffee or turning off a room's light. Even opening the blinds on a bright morning to let rays of sunshine into the room, that too was automated.

Even the shittiest of slumps had elevators in their rotting buildings. Cars were flying and trains were no longer moving on the grounds, same for vehicles generally.

Humans were well advanced in different spheres of life - science, medicine, politics and so on. There was equal levelling up, the only issue with such development being that mankind was not only getting better at positive growth but the rate of social vices worsened as well. The rate of crimes was over the roof as well as murders and kidnappings.

And it remained so until a few months ago when the conglomerate, Neu-Ron, which was owned by the rich and powerful, Gregory Beckwell announced their latest discovery, one that would change the world.

Neu-Ron was a company that specialised in studying human intelligence and the limits of man's mental capacity using advanced technology. Beckwell was very well interested in seeing how man would remain at the top of the food chain of existence across the entire universe. That was his true goal, to make mankind superior to all things and grant them the ability to survive in any situation or world that they found themselves.

Some years ago, Neu-Ron made a world shocking discovery of another world that supported life in another realm. A world that they called Alderix but not much was known about this world. All that had changed and with Beckwell's resilience, Neu-Ron discovered a way to enter the world of Alderix even for a limited amount of time.

Travelling to Alderix required the use of Neu-Ron's latest invention - their advanced gear called Synapses that allowed one to reach the realm of Alderix but for a brief moment.

Gregory Beckwell wanted more. Earth was no longer enough to support man's existence, not with the ongoing global warming and thawing of ice caps and so on.

Neu-Ron continued to research Alderix for years until some months ago when they managed to hit the jackpot - they found a way to make a man stay longer than usual in Alderix

Beckwell and his team of scientists thought the world of Alderix to be unreal. Their trial trip to the newly discovered realm made them believe that Alderix was a virtual world or something that could be likened to a game simulation.

It was perfect. A utopia; the utopia the human race needed to live.

The perfection in Alderix was the key that drove Beckwell and his company, Neu-Ron to create the Synapses. The Synapses were like keys to the door of Alderix.

....

....

Tophill State. 18th July 2222.

The clouds showered the cities with a downpour that had drivers parking by the roadside and pedestrians taking to their heels to find shade.

Seth hurriedly closed the windows with much struggle against the forceful wind. He drew the curtains over them and moved onto his comfy couch, sitting and taking a thick cloth by his side.

Seth picked up the remote control of the plasma television before him. He shrouded himself with the thick cloth for a blanket and sniffled through his actions. He was cold and found warm comfort in his makeshift blanket.

It has always been cold since the rainy season started in April. The rain showered down and battered the roof of their home but Seth could barely hear the noise with all the windows to the house closed.

He pressed down on the remote and the television came on. It showed a young lady with long black hair and a cherry red gown who was seated with a table in front of her and a few pieces of paper in her hand and some on the table.

"She's hot," he muttered under his breath while shoving a large scoop from his bowl of cereal into his mouth.

Of course, she was hot. When you're dressed like that - cherry red gown on a slender body with a skin as smooth as silk, she should have been a model and not a newscaster - of course, you will be stunning to look at.

Seth watched the newscaster read out the headlines for the news at 7 am. None of the headlines that were read out interested him, at least not until she mentioned the launch of the world's anticipated game.

That was a delight for a weeb like himself. Since October of the previous year that the game was announced, nothing else had been said about it. No one knew if it was still in production or if the entire project had been cancelled and the funds channelled elsewhere.

Seth was surprised when he saw the headlines moving away slowly at the bottom of the television screen.

"So they were still making it."

Seth's reaction to the news was the same for every gamer all over the world. It was good news for them and with the new development, they could earn while doing what they loved best.

"Adam will lose his shit when he hears this."

He looked back and in the direction of a room that seemingly belonged to Adam.

"Yo, Adam! Pull up!"

....

....

"Order for table 36," a man in a black well-fitting suit said as he rushed into a room full of people in white double-breasted jackets and each one had with it a white hat they called the 'toque blanche'.

It was the kitchen of one of the big local restaurants, filled with chefs in their white attires. They skinned meat, rolled dough, sprinkled salt, and poured oil into pans and pots. The room was full of various activities and aromas from the variety of dishes being prepared.

Flames erupted from the surface of a cooking pot following the pouring of wine into it. It was the kitchen of a restaurant.

The smell of raw and cooked food filled the air of the small space. Yet, two of the staff found a way to sneak out for their smoke break.

They made their way through the backdoor and stepped out to have a cloud of smoke for five minutes.

"You should take it, Eve," said one of them to the other.

"I heard they pay a few bucks, not much but it sure will settle a few bills. If I was into games, then I would have gone for it without a second thought."

Eve blew smoke into the air as she thought about what her friend and colleague, Anna, said. She made a point. Eve was broke and needed as much money as she can get no matter how small it may be.

She considered what Anna said and took her time before responding.

"How much are we talking about here, Anna?"

"Girl, it's a lot for people like us."

Anna rushed to her side and hung her slender arms over Eve's shoulder and shoved her smile to Eve's face.

"A thousand bucks."

Eve's ears tingled and she shook her head to relieve the pressure she felt from hearing such an amount.

"A thousand bucks? Just like that?" she wondered.

She was poor as a church mouse and so, a thousand bucks was something only a genie could grant her in this lifetime. Perhaps that genie had come in the form of the Neu-Ron ticket that Anna slipped into her hand.

Eve quenched her burning cigarette immediately, taken by surprise by Anna's revelation.

"What the fuck! Are you joking?"

Eve stood up and looked down at her friend and at the ticket in her hand.

"I'm in."