I was watching a Youtube video review on a popular video game when I heard a voice in my head.
"Humans of Earth we the Galaxian''s Protectors of life bearing planets have found that Earth is in danger of irreversible damage. We have found your leaders incapable of fixing this issue, so we have no choice but to digitize all humans into their choice of simulation. You have three days to choose, by that time, we will choose for you if you have not chosen."
I was in shock but also weirdly ecstatic. Ok, not so weirdly. I have dreamed of something like this for a while now, a way to escape my reality. That''s why I failed to notice my phone ringing. I quickly answered the phone and when I did I heard my mom''s voice.
Mom "Alex don''t choose yet we have to talk about it first."
Alex "Uh how do you choose?"
Mom "Were you on the computer?"
Alex "Yes."
Mom "Then look on your computer."
I did just that and I saw it switched to a new website, one with a list of simulations. There was only five: a fantasy one, a sci-fi one, a post-apocalyptic one, a constant vacation one, and an earth one. Needless to say, I wanted to choose the fantasy one. I knew mom might like sci-fi better so I asked her.
Alex "Mom you want to do the sci-fi one, don''t you."
Mom "Yes but this scares me. I don''t want to be by myself... wait, the site changed, why did the site change?"
I looked at the site and saw an update to the world selection and more information. The post-apocalyptic one was changed to a prison world and with a statement that said:
''Due to a new understanding of the human race, we have changed the system. Anyone within the simulation that does anything we deem inhumane will be sent here after a trial made by the system.''
Then I saw a disclaimer at the bottom of the page that said the simulation chosen above is your home simulation and that for those that wish to visit family members may do so through the tourist system.
Alex "Hey mom, it said we can visit one another so I can join fantasy and you and Hyp can join sci-fi."
Mom "Thank god! I thought I might lose you forever."
Alex "No Ma if this wasn\''t the case I would have chosen sci-fi. Well, tell everyone I\''m going into the fantasy world."
Mom "Ok sweetie, I can''t stop you."
Alex "Bye Mom."
Mom "Bye!"
I hung up and clicked on the Fantasy world option. Then my vision went dark. I awoke to feel lighter. Then I remembered, so I looked down at my body and found myself at age 17, my physical prime. I was admiring my new found muscle when I heard a feminine voice.
??? "Are you done admiring yourself or would you like me to clone you so you could continue where this might lead?"
In front of me stood a gorgeous woman made up of circuits and machinery. Gold skin and silver eyes.
Alex "Sorry, I just haven''t had muscle in years. My name is Alex, what''s your name?"
??? "I am Adessa the Admin of the system meant to be your new home. I want to meet every human to help them adjust to the system we have built. You have chosen the fantasy simulation which means you must create a character."
Alex "What if my mom or other family members want to visit me?"
Adessa "All transferred humans will have a personal home space where you can take your original form that others may visit at any time."
Alex "Then ok, this is acceptable, so how do I create a character?"
Adessa "What race or mix of races have you always wanted to be in a fantasy world"
Alex "A half elf half silver dragon from D&D."
Adessa "We can make that happen, though, our System is different than D&D. Keep in mind if you choose to be that, then your EXP gain will be 3x slower than a human''s."
Adessa "Our world does not have stats you can see but you will be able to see your skills and abilities. You can choose one ability to start with. Everything else must be learned through hard work. So what would you like?"
Alex "Synergy* the magic ability to combine two or more things and deconstruct them."
Adessa "Very well enjoy your time in Dromia!"
Alex "Thank you."
A light surrounded me and I found myself in a town. A blue screen appeared in front of me
<table><tbody><tr><td>
Welcome To Drendor the Starting City For Adventurers
We have given you enough starting money to live for a week in an Inn. You will find trainers in any adventuring path you wish to take. To see your skills say ''skills'' for abilities say ''abilities'' they will have a tutorial on how to use them.
Thank you and enjoy your stay.
If you wish to go to your home server you may do so by selecting a home server in the simulation selection screen.
</td></tr></tbody></table>
Alex "skills"
<table><tbody><tr><td> None </td></tr></tbody></table>
Alex "Abilities"
<table><tbody><tr><td> [Ice Breath]
[Dragon Magic]
[Darkvision]
[Low Light Vision]
[Elf Magic]
[Magic Sight]
[Syenergy - unique - can teach others -]
</td></tr></tbody></table>
After Reading a quick tutorial on all my abilities I decided to rent a room in one of the inn\''s before doing something else.
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Hinwyn "Ok sweetie I can''t stop you."
Son "Bye Mom."
Hinwyn "Bye."
God, he''s so impatient. I looked to my husband of many years, he was reading up on the sci-fi world.
Hinwyn "Hon, Alex is already digitized, what should we do?"
Hyp "Well, I think you should call your parents and see what they are doing."
Hinwyn "Ok."
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I contacted my parents they picked up immediately.
Pops "I can''t get a hold of Alex, where is he?"
Hinwyn "Digitized, what will you do?"
Pops "I''m not going. I''m too old to want to live forever."
Hinwyn "I don''t think they will give you a choice dad what about Luna?"
Pops "I don''t know them aliens gave her a different choice after she asked them. You should see a Pokemon simulation going up soon on their stupid notifications. I can''t even finish watching the game!"
Hinwyn "Wow, they created a whole simulation on one girl''s request? I wonder why they didn''t just make a simulation on every franchise instead of mixing all of the same genre''s together?"
Pops "I don''t care! I just want to enjoy what little life I got left. As long as the kids are happy and well-taken care of, I don''t have to worry."
Hinwyn "Ok Dad, see you in three days."
Pops "I''m not gonna be there."
He hung up. God, why does he have to be so stubborn? Here he is given a chance to live with his family forever and he wants death. I looked over to Hyp to see that he finished reading the information.
Hyp "I think we should go for the sci-fi one."
Hinwyn "Ok, let''s go."
We clicked on the digitized sci-fi button and I found myself looking like I was 18 and beside me was my husband looking like when he joined the army. In front of us stood a mechanical woman that had a smile on her face.
Adessa "What is it with humans and the need to check over their body, I will never know."
Hinwyn "It helps us adjust to them when they suddenly change."
Hyp "More importantly, how are we both here?"
Adessa "Why? Would you rather be with your old mate than your current one?"
Hyp "Like I would want to live with her."
Adessa "Well the reason why both of you are here is that the brain scan found that you both are current mates."
Hinwyn "Wait now that my tubes are no longer tied what if I don''t want to have children?"
Adessa "You can find a personal options screen that allows you to turn off certain bodily functions like hunger and waste removal as well as the chance for childbirth."
Hinwyn "Oh thank god!"
Adessa "You''re welcome, though, I prefer goddess."
Hyp "You''re not god."
Adessa "The god of the Christian religion I am not. The goddess of the simulations you find yourself in I am."
Hyp "Well as long as you understand that."
Hinwyn "HYP, you''re being rude."
Adessa "No not at all but I would like to get to the debriefing."
Hinwyn "Go ahead."
Adessa "As you will be living in a universe modeled on your species Sci-fi novels there is information that you need to know instead of having you go to school for things anyone would know we are going to download data packages into your head. This might sound scary but it will not harm you."
Hyp "You won''t brainwash us, right?"
Adessa "If we wanted to do that we would have forced humankind to be exactly like us instead of digitizing you. But it is against our morals to do so."
Hyp "Ok, I guess."
Hinwyn "Wait, what about our dogs?"
Adessa "You will find all your pets in your home simulation waiting for you. I am surprised your son didn''t ask about his dog."
Hinwyn "He is just excited about this is all. He has been desperate for an escape from reality."
Adessa "Yes most humans I have talked to today have been such. Though a majority of humans still have not digitized and some are demanding we leave the human race alone."
Hinwyn "Most humans are not as adaptable as us. To be honest, I would not be here if my children were not already digitized."
Adessa "Yes, your daughter was hard to digitize as she was not healthy. Same with your sons. In all three we have found physical and psychological abnormalities. It was hard to keep their personality intact while fixing these issues."
Hinwyn "You mean they''re cured, have you got rid of mine?"
Adessa "Yes they''re cured and so are you. We care about the human race."
Hinwyn "You know with a little bit of guidance we as a species could have changed."
Adessa "I know young one but the council has decided. Some were for that very idea, I''m sorry."
Hinwyn "It''s ok, as long as I get to live with my family, I''m alright."
Hyp "What about my daughters and their family, are they ok?"
Adessa "I am talking to them now. They have chosen to be on the vacation simulation."
Hinwyn "How nice!"
Adessa "So, would you like to download the data packages now?"
Hyp "Sure."
Hinwyn "Ok."
I felt a slight tingling in my mind as math, science, and languages flowed in my mind. Then she continued speaking.
Adessa "Now you can choose a profession package. What would you like to be?"
Hinwyn "I''d like to be a healer and travel the galaxies."
Hyp "I want to be a droid engineer and starship mechanic."
Adessa "Very well, you will be given a specialized profession package."
More information went into my brain. I now knew how to diagnose and cure people as well as pilot a starship, she then continued.
Adessa "Now do you have a weapon preference?"
Hinwyn "Yes pistols."
Hyp "Rifles."
Adessa "Very well, you will be given information on how to repair and maintain your weapons as well as one weapon apiece."
Hinwyn "Thank you!"
Adessa "You''re welcome young one, now it is time for you to go."
And just like that, our adventure had begun.
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*(I did not create this power. This comes from Blackthorn web novel, here on the Royal Road site. I enjoyed the parts where Scott used this power and was disappointed when it did not have as big of a focus as I had hoped. I did change how it\''s used.)