A shop found just off a strip of a small mall complex, seemed to attract the attention of people of all ages. A sign above the shop read Radiation Inc. founders of New Technology and Games featuring a symbol of a creature escaping a barrel with what looks like green slime oozing out of bullet holes. The shop was packed with a line wrapping around the mall and seemed to call the attention of a group of young adults that were walking from their house to see what the commotion was.
This group of friends is composed of six people. A big redheaded kid who's beard looked like flames in the shine of the warm July weather, and was supporting a small beer belly. He was holding a cup that smelled of alcohol. He was talking to another kid in the group. A tall lanky kid who's walk resembled that of Jar Jar Binks. He was in amusement with the conversation that he was having with the redhead. His face looked smooth like a baby and his demeanor seemed that of a child. His light brown hair appeared to be messy but well maintained. Another kid just behind the other two joining in the conversation thin but well built who's face had a soul patch and hair looking like Shaggy from scooby-doo said "Hey, why don't we wait in line to go in. I want to see what's in there."
The kid behind him in a wheelchair wearing a hat that read 'want a ride' and a black t-shirt that had an image of a cartoon making an obscene gesture, was speaking with a handsome dark skin male that was wearing a nice suit; as though he had just arrived from an interview. Right behind everyone walking slowly was a shy looking kid that was in black sweatpants, a shirt that supported his favorite movie, and black glasses. He had a beard that was untamed. His head was facing the floor, looking up every now and then to make sure he did not accidentally bump into someone. He spoke out to the group " I don't want to go there, it's way too packed."
The group stopped, the kids in the front looked at the shy kid and said "Jay, let's at least look at the front of the store."
Jay nodded and they all moved towards the building. He walked forward taking the kid in the wheelchair "Hey Larry, have you heard about this company?" pointing at the sign.
"Yea," said the kid in the wheelchair, his voice slightly southern. "Why do you ask?"
"Well, I heard that this company was making a new system but it didn't have a release date." Jay replied this time looking happy to see that Larry had some information.
"Yea, it's the Fantasy-sphere. It's said to be the new generation of gaming. I heard it's coming out today. This is most likely why so many people are here. They are probably going to buy the new console."
"I just wish that all these people were gone. I don't like being crowded." Jay sounded a little disappointed this time looking at the line that was wrapped around the building.
A bellowing voice said in a slight irish accent "Oi, you there, move aside I want to look at the store." The red headed kid was pointing at a group of people waiting in line. The line split to allow the red head and the other group of kids to move closer to the store.
Jay reluctantly pressed onward worried that someone might think they were just cutting the line to get in quicker, but to his astonishment not a single person said something to the group, perhaps it was the kid in the wheelchair or maybe because it was a group of decently big and tall people cutting through the group. There was a pause at the front of the store, the building having posters of new games and different types of technology, like a brand new computer that was as small as a thimble, but contained 5 terabytes of memory. Another poster presented glasses with what looked like a 3d picture of someone being projected from the glasses.
The biggest poster on the window took up the majority, It was also the center of attention, a new gaming console. The poster read Fantasy-sphere, ' The gaming system played with your imagination'. An image showed a group of people laying down on comfortable tables wearing black suits that covered the entire body, in the center was a sphere with a person sitting with a helmet that seemed connected to all the other helmets. Above the group of people were twelve satellites all aiming down at them. Just below the image was a price tag.
"WHAT THE FU…" The red headed kid yelled.
"Robert calm down it's probably a mistake." said the tall lanky kid before Robert could finish swearing.
" It's not a mistake Gale…" said Larry taking a closer look at the poster.
" But that's way too much, I mean for a gaming system like that you couldn't really think people would buy it." Said the shortest in the group looking shaggy.
" Will," Larry called the shaggy looking kid's attention. " This company says that blind people can play this gaming system, but not only that Radiation Inc. VP Mark Vale said he could actually walk and jump in the system, and it felt as though he had his legs back." he said while rubbing his own legs.
He, like the rest of the group, was interested. A very deep but cool sounding voice said "So Larry," everyone looked back at the young man wearing a suit. " you're saying that we can actually feel everything in the game system as though it were real life?"
Larry nodded and replied with such enthusiasm that even people who were waiting in line were now paying attention to him. "Yeah man, like you can apparently feel the hot desert and taste the sands of a desert storm. If you're into shooters you can feel a grenade blast and shots that you take. These guys have apparently been working on this system for a few years."
"How does multiplayer work?" Jay is now interested in the new gaming system.
"I'm not sure they have multiplayer but the system contains the console which I believe is the sphere and any game that is preinstalled can be played immediately. Mark Vale said that the system will be able to read the thoughts of all of the people connected to it and create a world based on the imagination of everyone and store it to make an ultimate game that won't be launched until the last system is sold."
They looked at the poster once more and saw that only ten systems per gaming store were not associated with Radiation Inc stores and 20 units to all Radiation stores around the world. There was a limit of 200 thousand systems and each system could hold 12 players.
"You know Radiation Inc has bought out major companies all over the world and they are pretty much taking over any store that creates technology." Everyone looked at Jay surprised he interjected.
Jay pulled his phone out showing a review on Radiation Inc and how it was expanding the world's medical and gaming technology. "It says here that they are also using the Fantasy-Sphere systems to strengthen the bodies of people who have been in serious injuries. " The line had stopped moving to listen to what he had to say. " Also, any physical thing you do in the system will work the muscles out in tiny increments so that the body does not get overworked. This will allow players to play the game and work out at the same time without fatigue." The crowd around the group started gasping in amazement.
He gave his phone to Robert to see all the benefits to the system showing the review on people playing 8 hours a day for a few months in beta testing and how their physical appearance changed slightly, people looking slim and masculine. Robert laughed and said "You know $5,000 for a system like that might be worth it after all." As he looked at the phone screen he saw another interesting fact about the system. "You can play the game and be asleep, it says here."pointing at a phone. "It helps people with insomnia sleep while in game. If this system really helps with these things I would say it's worth the price."
Jay started looking around and noticed that there were plenty of people crowding him now and his breath began to quicken. Robert got between the crowd and Jay and opened up a space for him and the group to leave. Jay asked the group to go back to his place to relax and wait out what seemed to be a never ending line. The group seemed to agree with him knowing he would rather be up early and get to the store the next day hours before opening.
The group arrived at Jay's new house, it had 3 levels to it not including the basement. "Sorry Larry, the house still needs a ramp installed. I'll bring you up. Hey T can you help out?" He turned to look at the young man in the suit.
"Yea, no problem." T replied.
Both Jay and T helped Larry and his wheelchair up the few steps while the others stood by incase there was any trouble. The first floor contained a large living room with what looked like a window but was really a TV that was currently monitoring the outside of the house on camera. Everyone looked at Jay with an expression of confusion.
Jay looked at them and told them that his new job paid well. Everyone wanted to look at the house expecting to see more new crazy devices. He allowed them to look around but the only place off limits was the basement.
"What are you hiding in the basement?" Gale asked jokingly. Jay looked at Gale with a look of a wolf about to attack its prey.
"He's joking, mate," said Will, letting his Irish accent slip.
"No one is allowed down there until I'm finished with it." Said Jay to everyone with a warningful look, but he immediately changed his demeanor opening the fridge door and pulling out beers for everyone except Gale. Gale looked at him as if he didn't mean to offend him. Jay said to Gale " You don't like beer," and Gale smiled as Jay pulled out a nice cinnamon flavored whiskey. "I have something better for you.'' Everyone wanted to join in with Gale and asked for a glass of whiskey before opening their beer. Jay stepped outside for about an hour then returned to join in the games the group was having.
***
It was very early in the morning, the sun still had not peaked out of the sky. Only Jay, Will, And Robert were getting ready trying to wake the others up from their groggy sleep. The next to be ready was Larry who looked like he was having a bad headache. Followed by T who was now rushing down the stairs putting his shirt on. Gale was the only person left to be awakened.
"But I do want to eat the muffernaging." said Gale pushing Robert off him from waking him up.
"Come on Gale we need to get up we wanna check the store out." Robert seemed much more sober and had lost his Irish accent and was picking Gale up.
"NO! NO! NO muffernaging!" Gale now had thrown punches and kicks at Robert to get him off.
"Can someone please help me!" Robert yelled at the door now struggling to restrain Gale from hurting him or himself.
T came rushing in with a bucket of water and dumped it on Gale, who made a weird noise and got up from the bed.
"WHAT WAS THAT FOR!" Gale yelled at T.
"Because you didn't eat the muffernaging." T responded and Robert laughed along with Gale.
"By the way, what's muffernaging?" ask Robert.
Gale looked at him and said "It's like a mushroom pie that gnomes make."
Robert refused to ask Gale any more questions knowing he would end up in a conversation about the dream he had. Gale grabbed his sketchbook and proceeded to draw the world he had envisioned in his dream. Once everyone was ready they left the house assisting Larry down the steps and saw that a group of workers were now by the side entrance of the house speaking with Jay. The sun is now breaking the dark night. Jay walked to the group saying that the ramp should be finished later that evening.
The group made their way to the Radiation Inc Store noticing not one person was up this early trying to get into the store. The group waited about two hours conversing about what the Fantasy-Sphere system would be like. They did not notice people had started to come and wait outside the door with them until an employee started working to unlock the door for the public.
" We are now open," said the employee, faking an enthusiastic voice.
As the group moved into the store Will turned and said faking an enthusiastic voice. " That's the spirit!" Which made the employee smile.
The store looked amazing, everything seemed out of the world, all kinds of laptops that made holograms that could be interacted with gloves. Phones that were disguised as pens, glasses, and other small devices. Some medical equipment was stored behind bullet proof glass including a chamber that was made of glass and beside it was a barrel with liquid that read Healing fluid.
A robot who's only task was to help customers find what they were looking for was sitting near the entrance waiting for customers. "Greeting sir's and or mam's, can I assist you in your endeavors?" The robot called out to the group.
"Yes" called out Gale, looking way too eager to speak with a robot. "We are looking for the Fantasy-Sphere system." The robot motioned everyone to follow it. It stood up from the seat it was taking behind a desk and stood about 7ft tall. Its body looked like it was made of silver and glistened when the lights hit it almost like glitter.
"Right this way!" the robot pointed out.
Once they arrived at their destination the Robot looked at them again and asked "Can I assist you with anything else?" And again Gale spoke to the robot without withholding the excitement in his voice " No thank you!" Gale turned to everyone in the group with a childish smile and said "That was AWESOME."
The row the robot brought them to was empty as they turned to look at it. Only signs that said Fantasy-Sphere systems were sold out were left on the shelves. Everyone looked disappointed but not as disappointed as Larry who really wanted to try out the new system. Larry's eyes started to tear up, he was hoping that he could at least try out the store model but that was sold too.
"If only I wasn't scared. I'm sorry bro." Jay began speaking to Larry.
"It wasn't your fault Jay," said T and Larry agreed.
"Man, how were we supposed to know that they were going to sell out in one day," said Larry.
"I know the price on the system was too expensive ..." Jay said.
"Yea but if you think about it has the capability of helping handicapped people view worlds differently." T interjected.
Later that evening they arrived back to the house to see a finished high tech looking ramp at the side of the house. Puzzled that it looked very expensive they all asked Jay how he could afford that. He just ignored them and asked them to follow him up to the ramp. He asked if they could all gather closer to each other and they did so uncomfortable. Gale took the liberty of sitting on Larry's lap to make more room for everyone else. Larry made an inappropriate joke about Gale being careful where he sits. The group laughed and waited to see what Jay was doing. Jay pulled up what looked like a small detonator button from his pocket and pressed it. The ramp unlocked and descended slowly to what looked like the basement entrance outside.
The group was shocked to look at how high tech the door looked; they proceeded to ask Jay again how he could afford the technology. Yet again, He ignored them and asked them to put their hands on the scanner and enter one at a time. Jay entered first, putting his hand on the scanner. The door announced 'Access granted Jay' and he entered the Pitch black room. Followed by Robert, and the door again announced 'Access granted Robert' and he entered the room as well. This happened until Will, who was the last to join the group, entered. The door shut behind him, everyone now left wondering what in the world is happening. Until Jay announced " System activate!", the lights flickered on, and now clearly realizing why Jay wasn't as sad as the others when they looked at a fully built Fantasy-sphere system.
"Oracle," Jay announced once again, "activate protocol two twenty one." The empty room seemed to change. It was now filled with a bar tv and a stereo system that was playing rock music, on one side, and on the other side was a beautiful long U shaped couch and a drop down Movie theater screen. On one side of the wall the floor lifted up revealing a shelf of gaming systems and on the other side sprung up with every single board and card games.
"Jay, how could you afford this?" Will asked. Finally he answered them.
"I was a beta tester for Radiation Inc." he looked at his friends and said "I wanted to surprise you guys with this so I left last night and bought the Fantasy-Sphere but here's the thing there are hidden features I found out while beta testing. Whatever you do, do not click hard mode, you will be stuck in the game until it's beat." Everyone looked at Jay wanting to know more about the system. "Also, the system will allow you to use your character's stats in any game, meaning your basic skills in one game can transfer over in other games."
Jay was explaining the basic stats that will be in almost every game, he also told them that there were no caps in the stats. "There are more than 91% of beta testers who never got a skill as high as 50 due to the lack of experience in the levels they were playing." He went on to explain that in the Fantasy-Sphere system it's all about what you believe you are capable of doing and not reality. "If you want to climb a tree without using your hands it is possible," he told them explaining that the skills they worked on will affect how it was possible. "Magic spells will allow you to do so but if your agility is high enough you will be able to run on vertical surfaces or even better walk on them."
Everyone was so interested in the system they kept asking about what they could accomplish in the system. Jay explained that the stats the group should focus on should be health, strength, intelligence, agility, and senses. "What is the sense stat do?" asked Larry. The group looked at Jay as though Larry was asking the question that was on their mind. He explained that senses were an ability people tend to lack. It allows a player to detect poisons with smell, taste drinks before drinking, and will give a player at the higher levels of this stat total view of their surroundings allowing them to sense if they are being followed, but he also told them that it wasn't just a defensive skill. It will allow the player to spy on people and make almost undetectable poisons.
***
After a while of explaining the stats and how to effectively play in the new system they all grabbed a set of equipment to start playing. Everyone sat on a comfortable table waiting for Jay to help secure them. He fastened them to the table to make sure they were secured and turned on the system. Once the lights had gone green on the headwear their bodies simultaneously arched upward and slumped back down to a restful position. Jay walked to the bar and said "Oracle, activate protocol safety net." A voice rang out from the room saying "Safety net call within 48 hours." Jay had written a long letter and put the letter with an access card in a folder labeled instructions in the two way mailbox by the high security door.
Jay hopped into the sphere located at the center of the group and said "Fantasy-sphere activate admin panel." The sphere in the center shifted to show all the views of all of his friends in the game. "Fantasy-Spheres give me access to characters." The sphere once again shifted showing him a list of his friends' characters. "Sorry guys but I want you all to be alive until it's done." He started to make sudden changes in the middle of his friend's character creation not allowing them to become females and changing it so their stats were decent at the start. "Fantasy-Sphere activate character model TCM, password Momo." his chest arched outward and he slumped back to his seat.
From the helmet Jay felt like he was being sucked into a tube and being thrown out into the middle of the sky. He was now floating looking around seeing that his friends except one were teleporting. Larry looked intensely at the male and female symbols.
"What's wrong?" Jay asked Larry.
"Man I swear it let me pick a female for a second. I wanted to have huge boobs." Larry replied, and Jay started to laugh. Larry finished his character's looks and teleported away.
Jay was now the only one left in the sky looking at the login and new character menu. He clicked login and instead of teleporting to the start where all the newbies start off he teleported to a dark cave filled with demonic looking creatures whipping what appear to be humans until they stopped screaming in pain. He looked around sensing he was in danger. "Shit!" Jay was staring at a cloaked man who seemed to appear ghostly and his voice muffled but ominously said "You will die for your treachery!" The cloaked man raised his hand and Jay covered his face as a flash of bright white light illuminated the dark demonic cave.