The media storm was like a cyclone surrounding the software development corps, or SDC, and at the center of it was SDC founder, president, and C.E.O, Fitzgerald Jane.
He was young, intelligent, and a self-proclaimed ladies’ man, that was easy on the eyes, whether they be male or female. Everywhere he went his aura shut the area, room and/or building down. He was nice though, and people were often taken aback by his kindness, easy going nature, and inviting personality. Everyone was drawn to him like birds to a tree.
Razzi: Fitz!........ Fitz!........ You got a sec?
“For one razzi, sure, why not, though you all keep asking the same questions, and I’m-ma keep giving the same answers.”
Razzi: Some are saying NFNty-laND four……
“Let me stop you right there, at least get the name right, it’s NFNty-laND to the fourth power, not four.”
Razzi: ………..they are saying NFNty-laND is a conscious intrusion, and dangerous.
“ I don’t know who they are, but as far as it being dangerous, yes, there are risks. Listen, it’s not like we’re holding a sword to elven necks. NFNty-laND is a choice.”
Razzi: Yeah but, with the dedicated fan base from powers 1, 2, and 3…….
“I like what you did there, thank you!”
Razzi: ………….and the main stream explosion of power 3, it’s being speculated that millions, if not billions, are going to be a part of this new version, especially since the new tech developed allows unprecedented realism!
“Still, even so, no one’s forcing people to enter….”
Razzi: ………..Right…………well………you care to comment on the identity of the creator?
“Nope!..............”
Razzi: What about the reports of the Federation taking a keen interest in the story?
“ I haven’t talked to anyone from the Federation, so, no, can’t comment on that either.”
Razzi: So, all the reports surfacing since the initial beta-test, claiming that there might be information in NFNty-laND, that’s not just threatening to the Kingdom of New-Eden’s security but, planetary security as well, are false or inaccurate?
“Imagination is often, if not always, rooted deeply in reality, which also means vice versa. Besides, New-Eden’s, and the planet’s security isn’t my job!”
Razzi: Isn’t it everyone’s job? We all live on this island, and on this planet!
New-Eden was actually big enough to be considered a continent in most regions of the enormous blue planet, but in its region, the landmasses that flanked its left, and right, and covered it’s six, and twelve, along with the water that surrounded it, made it appear to be like a dot in a pond, that pond actually being the Laniakea ocean.
“Well if that’s the case, then withholding history, being held intentionally unaware of the planet we live on, what’s happening on it, and who else is living on it with us, wouldn’t seem like a logical and reasonable course of action now would it? I mean if we’re all going to protect it like you said!”
A flood of paparazzi, or razzi’s as Fitz like to call them, was crashing towards him like a tidal wave!
“No further questions!”
Fitz darted off quickly, well respected enough by the razzi’s, not to be too aggressively chased down. Flashes lite up his backside and left hand thrown in the air signaling his retreat.
Razzi: Thanks for your time Fitz!
The Flood: Fitz!.......... Fitz!.............Fitz!!..............Fitz!............... Fitz!!............... Over here Fitz!!.............. Please, Fitz!!! Just a moment of your time Fitz!!!...............
Razzi: Too late guys, too late!!!
New-Eden Tonight News Show
Guess Anchor One (Older Elven Male): It’s more than just a little up surd, that people of New-Eden believe this utter nonsense. The Federation doesn’t care about some virtual reality game, this is purely a publicity stunt………..
Main Anchor (Young Elven Female): Well, virtual reality is a bit of an understatement, I mean that tech was created thousands of years ago. This is being hailed as something completely different, completely evolutionary; some are going so far as to say that Fitzgerald Jane, the SDC, and this unknown creator have opened up a doorway or a portal, leading to the inner mind!
GA One: Ridiculous! Instead of wasting time, energy and a considerable amount of resources on this nonsense, a game, how bout we open up some portals into space, on to other planets, some where we still haven’t been yet!
MA: You mean somewhere we haven’t conquered, populated and stripped of all its resources?!!
GA One: Well that’s a matter of perspective…………
MA: I bet it is….
GA Two (Middle-Aged Elven female): Haven’t they though? The mind is space! What’s ridiculous is us claiming to be an advanced species, the dominant species on this planet, but we still don’t fully understand the inner mind and what it’s capable of. Everything we do, everything we create, and everything we are starts within the inner mind, to me that’s power, power we don’t fully understand, and have yet to scratch the surface of. What can you do with something that’s infinite? Let me tell you both something, as well as anyone in New-Eden tuned in right now, I’ve never experienced anything like it!
Main Anchor: That’s right, you were a part of the last beta-test!.........
GA Two: Yes! Yes, I was, and it’s absolutely beautiful and absolutely terrifying!
Main Anchor: Terrifying?
Guess Two: Terrifying that something that’s existed as long as mind-kind has, we’re talking billions of years if not more………
Guess One: Billions of years? That’s not the history or perspective of evolution I know!
Guess Two: Your perspective is planetary and limited, mine is universal and infinite! From my perspective, we seeded this planet but we didn’t start here. How has the mind evolved in those billions of years? We’re just now creating the tech to explore it, who else out there in this infinite universe already has or are we the first? A door has been discovered, NFNty-laND and this new tech just opened it!
Main Anchor: ……..And there you have it folks, an impressive take on SDC’s new technology from one of New-Eden’s foremost scientist. Evolution is staring us in the face possibly, and the only question that remains, how many will be a part of it? We’ll be right back aft………….
-Year two thousand ten, 18th day of Scorpio-
NFNty-laND^4 servers launch and mind clinics all across New-Eden open its doors for the first time…….
-24th day of Scorpio-
The Federation of New-Eden openly and widely condemns NFNty-laND^4, and SDC’s new technology, threatening to shut down the servers, and arrest anyone running the mind clinics. Spiking its popularity!
-3rd day of Sagittarius-
The Federation creates and then passes a law, which bans the use of the tech and mind clinics. The clinics close all across New-Eden but prepared for this course of action, reopen simultaneously “underground”, officially becoming a part of the New-Eden RED markets. Spiking its popularity once more! NFNty-laND^4’s user mind in numbers reach over a trillion, with no less than a billion on at all times, connected to the now hidden servers.
-30th day of Sagittarius-
Use of the tech and operating mind clinics is now punishable by death. The federation creates a task force with orders to kill on sight, but deny such actions publically. The SDC shuts down and Fitzgerald Jane goes into hiding, unable to be located because of his vast amount of resources and allies. ……..And then mysteriously almost seemingly overnight every mind clinic disappears along with the technology, the Federation now wants for itself! A billion or more people also go missing but it would be a long while before family, friends, and associates of the missing figure it out!
He’d remembered watching that episode of the show, and also remembered thinking how smart Fitzgerald Jane and the creator were, the publicity stunts were working, and everyone was talking about it. In reality, it didn’t need any though, that scientist was right, and perhaps about more than just her experience. He wondered if she was here too but quickly left that thought as well, returning back to the sight that was beyond something to behold.
“……This World is so beautiful, so vast, and so real. Trees as far as the eye could see, ponds, lakes, rivers, and mountains, scattered around like accessories to those trees wardrobe.”………..
A young man thought deeply and reflected on his current situation, it wasn’t uncommon at this time of day. About a quarter of the sun starred back at him, it’s light hitting the top of the trees as the shadows gave chase towards the horizon.
“…..It looks like the sun is running away from the darkness, and hiding behind the planet. I wonder if we’ll get it right this time.”………….
What had become an escape from a reality of mistakes, and bad choices, was now quite possibly a solution, a chance to make better ones, but did these deep inner thoughts mean he had given up, or did it mean he was willing to accept his new reality? As often as possible, at this exact time of day, his favorite, a young man, quite possibly in his early thirties, but looked a spry young twenty something, pondered this new existence. As the sun’s fire red orange glaze started to retreat from his Nubian melinated skin, its glisten fading from his chest long dreads, and his already resolve of steel, hardened dark brown eyes, a soft familiar voice pulled him , like always, back from within his mind.
“Vinn, we should get back, I’m sure they’re all waiting for us.”
His attention adverted from the surreal landscape, and was now solely focused on her, and how beautiful she was. Her hair, a mixture of jet black, and dark golden brown covered her ears, of which he loved so much, and fell in a pattern of long s like curves so moisture rich and damp like, it hardly looked like she too had dreads. Its length reached downward towards the aromatic grass wrapping its way around her bosom, following her outstretched leg until it curled up over her thigh, almost appearing to glow in the sun’s retreating hue.
Her light brown eyes burned with passion and mesmerized any and all that stood in her gaze. Her ebony brown melinated, skin and body, fit for a goddess, put the finishing touches on the black hole like aura that infatuated Vinn to no end. He could stare at her for hours, he did, and would stare at her for hours, whenever he got the chance. He was amazed at how, even here, every ounce of her essence was captured.
Her gear, chosen only with capacity, protection, and movement in mind, grabbed every curve of her body. His eyes had stopped and gotten stuck, and as he fixated on one particular curve, the wind kicked up, pushing the aroma of the grass away and grabbing her sweet, intoxicating scent, which now fondled his nose, pumped blood to his heart rapidly, amongst other places, and gave his mind countless flashes of memories, all while his eyes now molested that curve. She let out a sly laugh.
“What are you starring at?”
He didn’t answer, instead the tip of his tongue slightly licked his bottom lip, and then helped it up to where his teeth could grab it. He took a deep breath, and his eyes slowly moved up her body until his soul fell deeply into hers. He smirked. She wanted to kiss him. He stood before she got the chance……..
“Perhaps you’re right my queen, though, they can’t start without us, but I suppose we shouldn’t make them wait too long. Just hope they don’t expect us to save them.”
She returned the favor as he stood, caressing every part of his body with her eyes. His six two matched her six, six one perfectly. They were both slim, extremely athletic, and ripped, the results of strict eating habits, and unforgiving training, both necessary to survive until they made it back, if they made it back, if there even was a back. It was terrifying but there was also something adventurous about the unknown. His hand rested on a clip at the front of his well-equipped red vest, that covered a long sleeve black shirt with the sleeves pulled to his elbows as usual. He always wore his favorite gloves that covered his hands and increased his grip but stopped short of his fingers so not to affect the sensitivity of touch. His cargo like pants fit perfectly, so did his combat boots. On his thigh, a pistol, across his chest a semi-automatic plasma rifle and on his back a blade that no one ever wanted unsheathed. She was dressed the same, except she favored dual wielding of both swords and guns. Pistols were on both hips, a smaller lighter machine gun hung across her chest, on her back, two blades formed an x. They didn’t normally carry guns, since they were extremely rare, but decided to get some very expensive target practice in before enjoying the sunset.
They were known as the twin soldiers in this part of the land, and they were fearsome in everything they did, moving as a well-oiled machine, the legend of this small unit had already grown considerably and spread rapidly but by design, no one had really seen anything yet. No one knew who they really were, or how they truly fit in this new existence, perhaps not even they truly knew.
“Don’t be like that, we’re all in this situation together, and it’s going to take more than just you and myself to get out of it.”
She was right as usual, his gaze had returned to the quickly darkening horizon, hers still caressed his godly silhouette. What appeared to be him checking the time on his right wrist, was actually him interacting with the user interface that no smart player traversed the land without, unless they wanted to experiment with what happens after you die. The technology was impressive, and the creator was unknown. This seemed all too familiar to anyone aware of the circumstances surrounding NFNty-laND^4.
“Fast travel!” Were the words he spoke into his wrist.
Within what seemed like only a matter of minutes, a hovercraft appeared in the sky, landed and waited for the pair to board.
“It’s getting quicker.” Her pretty voice exclaimed!
“My queen.”
He replied as he extended out his hand to help her up, pulling her right into a passionate kiss between rifles and lips. She always tasted good, no matter what lips it was he kissed, he thought. More images flashed through his head, as his hand gently touched her face and the other starting at her lower back, made its way through her arch and downward until it rested softly on her bootie, his fingers now caressing that very curve his eyes had molested just a few moments earlier. He increased the pressure with his finger tips and their kiss grew more intense by the second. Had he not called the hovercraft first, they would have never made the meeting. Their intense flirtation, subtle and constant foreplay was also becoming the stuff of legends around the land.
“Hey!.........A voice rang out from the open doors of the hovercraft.
………..Should I pop some popcorn?”
“It depends, do you normally eat popcorn while you watch?”
The sexy and direct undertone in her voice made the pilot jealous he wasn’t Vinn. Her powerful stride as they walked towards him and the hovercraft made it worse.
“Damn, you are one lucky dude!”
Vinn acknowledged that statement, of which he had heard more than a few times already, with his common reply, a reply that seemed to purposely make the person more jealous.
“You have no idea!”
“Where you guys headed? I’m Deck by the way……..
“I’m Kaia, and this is my bodyguard Vinn.”
……...Body guard huh?!” Deck mumbled what many others also had before.
“Sure would love to have that job!”
“What was that?” Her stern but playful tone exclaimed.
“ I said I sure do love my job!” Deck replied back quickly, as his eyes indirectly stared at that same curve as Kaia walked pass. Deck followed, so that he could continue his indirect but not very discreet, check out as he made his way to the flight controls.
“So what are you guys doing way out here? Getting some monster hunting in or something?”
Vinn replied this time.
“No……”
His firm tone and short answer were enough to make Deck realize his indirect stare wasn’t so indirect anymore, though it never was. Deck cleared his throat and refocused on his pilot tasks.
“We were watching the sunset.”
Kaia replied while shaking her head with a sly smirk, and cutting her eyes at Vinn in a suggestive manner. She loved Vinn’s jealousy, and she also loved others, be it male or female, envy. They wanted it but only Vinn could have it.
“ It sure is ‘nice’ to know that despite our current situation, there are people with enough time, and mental fortitude to enjoy a sunset.”
Before either one of them could respond to his playful verbal jab, a message came through the crafts communication link.
“Craft 299, come in…………
Deck replied, almost seeming like a different person.
“Craft 299, go ahead……..
……...299, Due to reported, and increased Skyjacker activity in that area, an alternate route is being advised. Over!”
…..Command, that’s a hard copy, 299 has been advised, over and out!”
“Are the Jackers attacking fast travel crafts as well now Captain Deck?”
“Please, just Deck, Kaia, no need to be so formal, and yes they’re attacking everything they can now, with so many players not traveling too far away from Origin, they seem to be getting desperate.
Go figure, I actually pick this job because it was safe and the pay is good. How cowardly of me right, not wanting to deal with any danger?”
“You make sure people get where they need to go, and you get them there as fast as possible, nothing cowardly about that. I think it’s far braver to know your limitations, there’s a place for everyone and we most often fail because there are people in positions that are not honest enough with themselves and others about what they’re capable of.”
Vinn was right, there was something for everyone in NFNty-laND. One only need to find what that something was. There however was no such thing as safe for any player, while there were many different paths, perhaps infinite ones, they all lead to one destination.
Deck stopped what he was doing, to turn and look at Vinn, who had just spoke knowledge into his soul.
“Man, you got a powerful voice! Wow! I felt that.”
Kaia was again cutting her eyes at Vinn, as she played with her hair and crossed her legs towards him, squeezing. She loved the way he talked to people, never missing a moment to up lift someone and it was needed in this new land they all found themselves trapped and lost.
“So, where to guys?”
“Take us back to Origin.” Vinn replied while Kaia continued to stare at him, slightly bouncing the top of her crossed legs up and down.
“You got it boss, but with the alt route, it’ll take about three hours.”
It normally would have only taken one, but the Skyjackers were indeed making their presence felt to everyone and everything, slowly becoming a problem that would eventually need to be dealt with. Even so, three hours was nothing compared to how long it would take, from this far out of Origin, by land with so much terrain still uncharted and not mapped. A rough estimate would have been about six to ten months.
“How did you get her so fast by the way?” Kaia inquired of Deck.
“They finished the third checkpoint hub; I didn’t have to come all the way from the main hub. Alright, lady and Gents, hang on to your souls, it’s about to get real.”
Kaia and Vinn thought about how pleasant it was to see Decks smile, he really did love his job, and they could tell he was good at it. A female computerized voice rang out through the crafts hull.
“Main doors sealed….
Thrusters at full power…
Flight plan calculated…
Launch imminent……
3…….
2…….
1……..!!”
The wind hummed a deep rhythmic pulse as the thermal and magnetic energy thrusters reached full power. The hovercraft rose steadily as Deck pressed and flipped buttons and switches over his head with one hand, while turning the craft towards their destination with the other. The sound barrier crackled, and boomed from the crafts forward movement, it was there, and gone in an instant.