"The Singularity Corporation emerged as the most powerful institution in the world after the end of the Orbital Wars of the 2040’s. Their fusion plants spread across every continent and linked the nations together again with millions of kilometers of fiber optic cables replacing all the satellites lost after the Kessler X event. The company steadily introduced automation and worked to supply basic necessities to the hardest hit portions of the world. In early 2050, they began their first forays into entertainment and virtual worlds to provide an outlet for the unemployed and the overworked alike."

  From “A History of the Singularity Corporation” by Dr. Tomas Findlay

  Fifteen Days until the launch of New Era of Man Online

  John “Torgon” Hagen sat stiffly in the lobby of the New York headquarters of the Singularity Corporation. Their logo of a pedestal topped with the blackest of black spheres was distinct and tasteful. Glittering displays of advanced technology filled the air. The central display featured a large holographic projection that filled an area of more than 1,000 cubic meters. The projection rolled through a marketing reel for Singularity’s newest creation, a venture into the universe of online worlds.

  “Explore the future of humanity in the upcoming virtual world, New Era of Man Online. Experience untold wonders and breathtaking landscapes.” The display sped across unimaginably vast landscapes filled with terrain of every type known and some fantastically impossible. Forested islands of stone floated in the sky while waterfalls drenched the land below. Dark caves stirred primal fears, and open fields made the heart soar. “Live your life the way you want to. New Era of Man Online features a 6 to 1 time compression. Every hour of your mundane world is six in the world of your dreams. Play in your sleep and awaken refreshed every day having spent two blissful days in a land of freedom and adventure. Achieve impossible goals such as owning your own home. It’s all up to you and it’s coming soon!”

  John considered the advertisement and patiently waited for his escort. His guide soon appeared, a sleek wheeled automaton with a screen at eye level. The screen moved to face him. The speakers played the words written on the screen, “Proceed to Elevator Four, you are expected Mr. Hagen.”

  John shook his head slightly to clear his thoughts and continued to the elevator bank. He resolved to see this through, to not let his doubts overcome his curiosity. The indicated elevator opened as he arrived, and the door closed as soon as he entered. He was quickly on the top floor of the building when the door opened once again, and he stepped into a small waiting area. An actual living breathing human being directed him to an office this time and he paused briefly before entering. John steadied himself and thought “Well it’s not like my entire life trajectory depends on the outcome of this meeting.” He straightened his back, relaxed his shoulders, and walked through the door to face the person inside and his own future.

  John was greeted by a professionally dressed woman as he entered the room. “Hello Mr. Hagen. I am Dr. Eileen Masters. I’ve called you here to discuss the job opportunity of a lifetime.” She shook his hand and directed him to a comfortable seat in the utilitarian office. “I’m sure you’ve guessed that this is related to Singularity’s new virtual world.”

  “I assumed as much Dr. My expertise is in online gaming. I must admit that I’m very curious as to why you are approaching me for this job. My physical condition means that I’m nowhere near capable of being a top player. I have experience, but there are far more fit players that also have experience.”

  “Please, call me Eileen and I hope that I can call you John.” He nodded his head in assent. “For you to understand why we’re approaching you I need to give you some background about the project we’re working on. We’ve developed long term immersion pods that allow people to stay connected to the new virtual worlds indefinitely. In addition, these pods can correct medical issues arising from previously untreatable conditions. My team and I are looking for you to head up the game side of a long-term immersion and medical treatment project.”

  “How long term are we talking about?”

  “Ten years, and before you say anything, that’s ten real years, not subjective years. This project will be taking children with genetic issues, damaged limbs, cancers and other untreatable and potentially unsurvivable conditions and repairing them. The Singularity corporation is paying for the research and providing the materials in exchange for our presence inside their game. They want us to combine our project with research into living long term inside time compressed worlds. When I said this was an opportunity of a lifetime, I meant it. Sixty subjective years, a full lifetime for many people, inside a virtual world where you’ll be responsible for your well-being and the well-being of the people involved in the project.”

  “The good part of the deal is that you get a solid salary, room and board, medical, dental, vision and you’ll even be physically younger at the end of the ten years if our calculations are correct. The pods provide telomere therapy that will functionally reduce your physical age. The salary itself is about four times the industry average for professional gamers. The company is even paying off current debts, so they won’t be an issue during the term of service. Admittedly you’ll be earning one year’s worth of salary for the equivalent of six years that you’re experiencing, but it’s not like you’ll have anything other than discretionary expenses while you’re in the pod.”

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  “The downsides are that once you’re in the pod, you’re in for the full 10 years. If people want to visit you, they’ll have to play the game. You’ll be required to perform certain tasks that are assigned by the game administration, and you will also have to deal with any attempts at outside interference with the project related to the game world.”

  “Let me stop you for a moment Eileen.” John interrupted. “I have pets, I’m not sure I can just commit to abandoning them and never seeing them again. I will also need to know how many people I’ll be dealing with and the depth of support required. Will I have a team? How long will it take me to be physically capable of standing up to the rigors of what’s expected? Are there any known side effects?”

  Dr. Masters waited until John finished speaking and then continued. “You have two pets, a golden retriever and a Norwegian forest cat. We have pods designed for veterinary care that also can link to the game. Your pets will come with you. It’s a major service that Singularity wants to market. It’s also a less expensive alternative to veterinary care once the initial pod costs are covered. We aren’t completely sure, but the medical team believes that pets inside the pod will be essentially immortal and receiving constant care. The information we have so far supports that conclusion, but we haven’t done the years of testing to prove it. Joining us means you can have your pets with you the entire time. It’s important to our project that you are on board.”

  “Why me? I’m not so humble to deny that I was good, very good, but that’s just it, was. Since the accident I’ve been a filthy casual at best.”

  “The head of Singularity made funding for our project contingent on acquiring the services of a few specific individuals, you included. I was told that it’s an additional test although I am not privy to the nature of that specific research. I was also requested but not required to get you to come on board willingly, hence the very generous nature of the offer. You’ll have a small team of noteworthy individuals who are currently out of favor with the major gaming guilds and the corporations backing them”

  John considered for a moment then shrugged. “I would be lying if I said that I had anything better to do. Sixty years is a very daunting commitment though.” John thought it over briefly before shrugging his shoulders, “Screw it. I’m in.” John stood up and offered his hand to Eileen. “Now that I’m on board, would you mind filling me in on the real downsides?”

  Dr. Masters took his hand and shook it firmly. “The real downside is that the entire world is going to want the biggest slice of this pie that they can get. Not just your normal psychopathic gamers, but the real crazy people, the captains of industry. Everyone from the various world governments to the tin foil hat conspiracy crowd are trying to find an in with Singularity since they have complete control of the fusion industry, and I expect that they will see this as their chance. It will be nasty and brutal, and the game will have limited guardrails.”

  “Just promise me one thing. Promise me that we can be good guys, that we aren’t beholden to profits and just have to take care of our people." John straightened, his conviction in his own words changing his posture. “No half measures, no compromises because of investors. I need to know that I’m there to serve the people I’m leading, and I’m not handcuffed on how I respond to problems.”

  "That John, that I can promise you. It’s explicitly part of our mission statement and objectives that our priority is the well-being and happiness of our charges and our group. We are going to have a target on our backs for many reasons, but we won’t have our hands tied and our consciences should be as clean as the world allows. The kids are even being paid while they’re receiving treatment.” She smiled warmly and gestured towards John. “Your beliefs and your past actions in the cutthroat world of gaming are the very reason you were selected for this opportunity.”

  “So, what now? What’s the plan for getting ready to be inside the game for the next decade?” John asked.

  “We currently have a team at your apartment picking up your animals. They entered your premises as soon as you agreed. We’ll fly them and you to our site, get you into a pod, let your body acclimate and wake you up for the launch of the game.” Eileen let the immediacy of the company’s actions sink in for John and continued, “There will be very little apparent time for you during the acclimation period, just vague dreams you won’t remember when you enter the game.”

  “Where exactly will we be?”

  Dr. Masters hedged before answering. “I can’t tell you exactly where you will be. Honestly, I don’t know myself. It’s a secret to everyone. I am allowed to say that because of an ongoing legal dispute that it will not be inside the United States. It’s Singularity policy to never contribute to any political group or judicial group, and that has meant significant resistance to routine approvals in the United States. I can also say that it will be a secure facility that will have better protection than anywhere else in the world. Everyone involved will be taken to a self-contained facility with everything we need for the duration of our stay. I know it’s all very vague, but I also know that you’re too curious for it to matter.”

  John shook his head wryly. “I get the distinct feeling that I’ll be heading to this site as soon as I leave your office.”

  “We both are John. I know it’s a lot to take in, but it’s going to be a bigger adventure for everyone involved than we thought possible.” Eileen breathed out slowly, working to keep her words even and measured. “I’m terrified and excited myself. You and the other gaming experts that the company has hired are going to have to guide the rest of us and help us adapt. We’re going to be living in a different world with different rules, rules that you’re more familiar with. Are you ready to start your new life?”

  John smiled and reached out to shake Dr. Master’s hand again. “I am ready. Let’s do this. Adventure awaits.”