“Human evolution stopped when we entered the V.C. One could argue that we Blue are the pinnacle of the evolutional pyramid, since we risked our minds to crawl to the next step. Those who didn’t make it were weeded out by the laws of causality. But even limited minds know that an evolutional tree has dead ends. Even we can’t tell if we took a path which is meant to go forward, or if we already doomed ourselves.”

***Outer Rim***

***Antioch***

I arrive in the family’s VR-chamber, a round room which is entirely dedicated to long-term immersion sessions in the V.C. There are ten comfortable beds which are arranged in a circle. Each of them has connection pads for the hands which provide a direct data-link and a power-connection which allows the body to draw all the energy which it needs for sustenance. While in the V.C., the body will automatically shut down and go into hibernation.

At least that’s what should happen if the user took the necessary skills.

Otherwise, the room is completely devoid of furniture.

What surprises me is the large group of people who are seemingly intent on accompanying Jill on this diplomatic mission. All of my wives are present, as well as Jill.

While Fiona looks fairly relaxed, I immediately notice the strange looks which Silith and Lisandra are giving me. There can only be one reason for so much attention, and that means that they have talked to each other and found out that I went a little far when I ‘played’ a trick on Silith.

I sigh.

Women always ‘talk’! I told Silith not to tell Lisandra, but at least I have a plan to defuse the situation. There is no time to brood! I have to take the initiative if I don’t want to get owned for spanking Silith’s perfect… ahem, yeah. I probably shouldn't waste any time.

Stepping forward, I straighten myself and address the group before they can get their momentum going. “Girls! I hope all of you have been informed of the grave situation at hand. For the sake of getting confirmation, and maybe a little help”– I look at Jill– “we will be going to the V.C. and listen in on a discussion between the Blue. Jill offered to take us along.”

Silith tries to say something, but I cut her off.

“And if everything goes according to plan, then we will be back in no time. Hopefully with a reason to celebrate. What do you think of going out after this little adventure? I heard about this wonderful new restaurant out on the space-promenade. Maybe we could leave the children behind and the four of us have a nice evening! I will pay, of course.”

Before the others can react, Fiona raises both hands to cover her mouth. “Is this really happening!? You are taking us out on a date!? Aiiiii! This is so cool! I still have to choose a fitting dress.”

Lisandra looks confused. “What’s a date?” She looks at her sister, but Silith only shrugs in confusion. Silith crosses her arms in front of her chest and faces me in what can only be taken as a challenge. “I have a-”

“Hush!” Fiona steps in and interrupts Silith yet again. “You two poor girls! Don’t say anything you will regret later on.” She turns to face the wall, ruffling her hair. “They don’t even know what a date is! Two decades of living with a guy and we never went out! How could- no. This isn’t Antioch’s fault. He is just as innocent as them. They didn’t grow up among humans. This my fault! I am the adult here!”

She turns back to face the two sisters. “You two will be finally made into real women! Your first date!” She looks at me, a serious expression on her face. “I hope you saw to it that everything will go smoothly. Oh, my! We have to make sure to pretty-up for the occasion!”

I look at Jill, confused. Then I mouth, ‘What did I get myself into?’

The Blue only facepalms without giving me a proper answer, causing me to worry even more about what’s happening here. She turns away and lies down on one of the VR-beds, while Fiona educates Silith and Lisandra on the proper way of things. Apparently, there is an order to relationships between males and females. I stop listening when she starts off on the meaning of colours and flowers.

Did I just dig my own grave? I have to make sure to ask Martin for help before I run face first into a wall.

Ignoring the women, I lie down on a free bed and close my eyes, initiating the connection. When I open them again, I find myself on an empty plane made out of cobblestone. It’s the Buffer Zone in which visitors to the V.C. always appear when they haven’t selected a world to spawn in. Next to me is Jill, who is furiously rubbing on the red stripes which crisscross the back of her hands.

“Stupid system generated items! Whoever came up with the idea should be deleted!”

One by one, Silith, Lisandra and Fiona appear next to us. They stopped their discussion for now, and Silith seems to be content with staying silent while glaring daggers at me. Her attention is distracted when she notices Jill’s attempts at hiding her educational marks by materializing different kinds of gloves.

My wife grins, which draws an accusing stare from Jill.

The Blue finally decides to switch her avatar’s form to a nebulous cloud of swirling energy. “I will load the meeting room now. G.O.D. will do its best to translate what the other Blues are saying, but be aware that there will be communication problems. Some won’t even try to phrase their reasons in ways you can understand. I suggest you let me do all the talking. Only answer a question if a question is directly addressed at you.”

Jill seems to be in a hurry because as soon as she is done talking, the cobblestones fall away beneath us. The blue horizon retreats in some sort of mirror-bending effect, leaving us floating in empty space, starry sky fading into existence all around us.

Lisandra covers her mouth as if she is about to get sick. “I should be used to this relocation shit, but it’s impossible.”

Her dilemma gets solved when a round, obsidian platform appears beneath us and we slowly settle down on firm ground. Other platforms materialize all around us, but they are empty. They arrange themselves in a cloud without a clear order, probably to make it plain that the Blue have no real leader.

As Jill explained it once, they have a democracy in which everyone votes the same. As they are all upgraded minds of immense intellect, they always arrive at the same conclusion, given that their decisions are based on the same information.

It takes a while, but when it’s clear that nothing else will suddenly pop into existence, I turn to face Jill. “What now?”

“Now we wait for the others. At least those who have enough interest in the matter to show up,” Jill answers. A ribbon of energy materializes from her body to point out the empty platforms. “I don’t expect a lot of attendance, but we should wait for at least ten of the others to show up.”

“How many Blue are there in total?” Silith asks.

“A few hundred million failures, who blued-out. A few thousand who are semi-aware of their surroundings. A few hundred who deserve being called a Blue,” Jill recites coolly. “And only one who is as nice and sociable as me,” she finishes cheerily.

“I never understood your fascination with limited minds,” a voice booms through the emptiness and a huge figure appears on a platform next to us. It’s a tall hybrid between a dragon and some kind of snake! Its scales shimmer in colours of red and blue, and there are countless spikes running down its spine.

The Blue’s avatar is as large as all five of us together, but Jill isn’t cowed in the slightest.

“Oh, shut up, Mo! It’s always going to become a gloomy day when I am unlucky enough to encounter your ugly mug!”

The creature draws back its lips, revealing a fiery red tongue and countless rows of spiky teeth. “Jumper Iteration of Latent Legions, it’s indeed a sad occurrence that I had to answer your call. As you know, my time is much more valuable than you could ever be. Sadly, the attached information convinced me that I had to endure the presence of inferior beings.”

“Did he just call Jill, Jumper Iteration of Latent Legions?” Silith whispers from next to me. “Why was I never told that Jill is an abbreviation?”

I didn’t know either.

“Indeed, limited mind. All Blue have meaningful names which describe their state of existence. Jumper Iteration of Latent Legions got her name because she was never able to restrict herself to a single avatar. Jill is notoriously unable to decide on a consistent Iteration of herself, a goal, or even a personality, as she sees all possible Iterations of herself as flawed. Which is quite accurate,” Mo explains with a haughty tone, even looking a little smug. “Though, it seems like she deserves a new name. Thirty seconds have passed and Jill didn’t take a new avatar. That’s a new record.”

Jill returns herself to her demon-shape, probably just to spite Mo, and points a gloved hand at him. “Better than to be called Mainframe Overwrite!”

The dragon-thing rolls its eyes. “Why am I even here? I was exploring a new field of quantum mechanics when you called this meeting. We already wasted two minutes of my time, which is worth more than the entire existence of the mascots which you brought to this meeting. Why are you even trying to return to your roots?”

I really don’t like this guy, and for a moment I consider testing my belt on him. It seems like the Blue, even though they have admin status, are affected by the system. But Jill said to leave the talking to her, and I don’t want to alienate a group which has great influence on the V.C.

“Everything will be explained once we have gathered the minimum amount of interest for a decision, Mo.” Jill turns her attention to us. “Don’t be worried. Mo may seem like an asshole, but he is a real softie on the inside.”

“Your disgusting attempts at being sociable are a sore on my eyes.” Mo’s rant is interrupted by two new arrivals, and then the rows slowly start filling up as Blue after Blue honours us with their presence, filling the platforms with a colourful assortment of avatars.

Lisandra leans over to Fiona and whispers. “If they are all like Mo, then this will be real fun!”