verne_at_close_sight

 The rumbling and gunshots in conjunction with the chaos outside of the mansion disappears as I boot up the headgear with the file that Hisa sent me.

Cacophonies of destruction convert into the chirping of birds from beautiful trees and a bright blue sky with now clouds in sight. From afar, there is a farm house with a shed in its back and a land with vegetables that extends to the horizon.

It seems that I’m more of a spectator of what is happening here. A recording, it seems. Like an omnipresent entity, I have the power to see everything but not interact with the environment nor individuals.

Walking around the plains that I’m in, the farm house in the distance is the only destination worth checking. As I get closer, the screams of joy from the kids resonate with the ambience and create a perfect picture of peacefulness. Playing with a dog, they all are having a blast. From the shed emerges a man. Wait, his face looks familiar.

Reaching the doorstep of the home, neither the kids nor the dog can detect me. Using this capability, I analyse the man’s face. Yes, you are Mr. Flake. The homeless person inside the pod. But here, he reeks happiness. A family man, with everything to be happy.

From inside the house, a feminine voice shouts “Lunch is ready!” As the family members all enter the house, using my omnipresence I sneak into the house to take a closer look. The sight of the most happy family that you could think of is here. Laughter and joy from silly jokes, the father and mother in love and brother and sister that fight with each other but in the end, care for each other.

In a blink, the instant of this peaceful scenario is devoured by a void. A cold, mechanical voice then exclaims. “Welcome, Imperator. Subject Flake prefers to have a repeated scenario rather than completely play it out. His case seems to be the most successful one, considering the others ended up in the same predicaments as their real lives.”

In front of me, three buttons appear.

Terminate simulation Repeat simulation Notes

Now I’m starting to get this. The real Verne Project. Delusion of reality through machinery. Virtual Reality, to be more precise. Forbidden in many places around the world, its development came to an end after many incidents of suicide after experiencing what the subjects described as a ‘perfect world being stripped from them’. Since then, a worldwide convention dictated that it is prohibited to use humans as rat labs for Virtual Reality.

Pressing the ‘Notes’ button, a list with a series of annotations fills my view. Most of the information doesn't seem to be that relevant, until the last section of the text. In it, some conclusions are written out.

From homelessnes to a farmhouse with a loving family, the subject seems to appeal to his fantasy for what he lost in reality. After sexually molesting both of his children, the mother suicided as she was unable to bear with the disgust of marrying a monster. His kids were taken into custody, leading into a depression that he had never experienced before. Resorting to alcohol and drugs, he became homeless as his debts increased each month.

Addicted to cocaine and methamphetamine, the alluring appearance of women in brothels devolved into becoming dependent on female affection through such services. Since then, his broken mind fragmented itself in two: the wholesome homeless person that tries to get better despite his past and the other persona, who liberated the rage and hatred towards humanity by murdering some of the prostitutes he ordered.

Of course, this subject is not worthy of Phantasia. In spite of that, he serves as a perfect test for he is the embodiment of why I do this. Why face the harshness of this world when you can become whatever you want to be if you align with me?

…

I’m at a loss for words. This is Phantasia? The Verne Project isn’t about spaceships but rather, avoiding reality? What the hell is this? And why am I so upset about it? Ughh, just get me out, please.

…

Umm, hello? I would like to quit so… could you show me the button?

…

Okay then. Let’s try something.

“Terminate simulation.” After these words, only one new button appeared.

Live simulation.

By pressing it, my mind went numb. Hundreds and hundreds of the same moment repeating in only a fraction of a second. But, a feeling of plenitude evolved in me. Everything regarding that reality is soothing. A place where you can let go and be truly happy. I certainly find the appeal in this. Maybe I should check it out a few more times to truly get what the Imperator wants…

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In the middle of a storm, the newborn Julian lies in his toddler bed. Crying as the thundering strikes frighten him to the point of almost pissing in his diapers. The room of a hotel is the host of this scenario. A man and a woman are sleeping next to each other, as the rain drops lash against the window of their rented room. The city in which they currently are is unknown.

Amid the cacophony of Julian’s crying and the storm clouds imposing their aura of impending doom, the couple wake up. Annoyed by the noises, they ultimately decide to take on an offer received only hours ago.

“That’s it, I’m reaching my limits. Let’s do it now, Katie.” The man, who's getting dressed in formal clothes, tells the woman to get prepared for whatstocome.

“I knew you wanted to do it too!” Exhilarated by her husband’s proposition, she jumps out of bed and goes to the bathroom to put on makeup.

A few hours later, they find themselves at the doors of the Innsperta Association. During their travels around the world because of their job, the constant intercourse led to an unwanted kid. Fortunately, their employees have a program to raise talented individuals for the future of the world. Thinking that they will be better off without Julian, they give the child to the hands of Innsperta.

Not even looking back at the kid, the first thought in their minds is I wonder how much money they will give us for the baby. He is almost a newborn, so he should cost more!

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“AAHHHHH” With exasperated breathing, my fever dream stops and I wake up to reality.

Sweating inside the headgear and in my hands, I clumsily take out the headset and throw it far away from me. Resting on the floor, I grab my knees with my hands and stay silent for a minute. Tears start to form in the corners of my eyes.

Mom. Dad. Why did you make me worthless?

“Julian! Come out, please!” The ruckus outside makes it almost impossible to hear her, but I miraculously did.

Right. There is a war going outside. I have to get up. For once in my life, I have to get my shit together. I might be worthless, but my mediocrity is not going to drag my loved ones to the pits of sorrow. So, Julian, why don’t you get up and fight? Why is it that all this time, I worked hard to be someone? That’s right, because I’m better, and they should know it.

I’m not drowning now.

Propelling myself with a force field, getting up fast, the hatch opens at the same time as my tears are swepts by my sudden movement. Juliette’s face pops out, with scratches and bleeding from her head, and enters the attic.

“Green is battling mercenaries so he is occupied for now. Me and him are probably going to the castle where the Imperator resides for the first time. Here is the location of the castle.” While activating her augmented glasses, she sends me a file. Receiving it, a map of Britannia is on full display. The castle is not far from here, probably a 6 hour ride to the place. It will be night when I reach there.

But that doesn’t matter now. I get to where she is standing and hug her. It just came from out of my soul.

“Uh-uhm Ju-Julian, what are you doing?” Getting apart from her, her blushed face is barely visible. She also starts to fiddle with her hair.

“It’s just been some time since I last saw you. You are the closest person that I know of that is here… Speaking of which, do you know where Murph is?” Snapping back to reality, she seems concerned too.

“I… don’t know. After you disappeared, he ran out of pills and started to look for Leonard. Since then, I haven’t seen him.”

That is worrying. Very much so. Is he on a personal vendetta? And I can’t help him right now. Probably he will come to his senses. I can’t do anything about it. Juliette doesn’t know the truth about his medication.

“Okay, it doesn’t matter for now. We'll search for him on another occasion. For now, go with Green to the castle.”

“Aye, captain.” Giggling for a bit, she surprised me for her out of character attitude. What in the world was that? Whatever, if she feels like it, then so be it.

“Oh, one last thing.” After saying that, she punches my guts from out of nowhere.

“That is for murdering those innocent people.” Ouch. I think something stronger than that would be more appropriate but oh well.

Now that we have ‘settled’ a ‘plan’, she goes back down. Preparing myself for the last stretch of this madness, I jump into the hatch.