The screeching alarm came far too earl and for a moment. He looked down at his phone and noticed new cracks in the screen. Compliments from the guys from last night.

He’d deposited his extra cash into the bank, and paid off, in full, all his debts. He wasn’t quite broke, but he knew he had to get to work. As he made his way to the Cosmos facility, after a quick breakfast of sweet, sweet cereal and hot shower. Turning on his car on the radio, the news was unsurprising. Though Cosmos didn’t dominate the news cycle, it had started

“There are ongoing reports of Cosmo’s players engaging in life-like experiences in the game. There are even reports of those with disabilities being able to fully function while within the quote ‘Micro Dimension of Cosmos.’ Reports indicate some players were able to fix blindness, walk, and even repair limbs in the game.”

In other news, “Precious metal dealers freeze the buying and selling as reports of unknown sources of precious metals flood the market disrupting prices.”

“Still very little is known about who owns the ‘Cosmos’ experience. Players report that despite the price tag, the experience is unlike anything they’ve ever experience. Will this become the next generation of gaming?”

Alan laughed at the last comment. The secret owner Cosmos wasn’t some secret corporate entity, but the actual government. It would only take another week or so for them to come forward. However, by then the question would become less about who funded it, but how and why cosmos came to be.

Alan pulled into the Cosmo’s parking lot to a very different scene than the day before. Cars filled the vast space, and lines seemed to gush from the main entrance. Alan smiled smugly to himself. The reports obviously had started the night before, and the impact was clear. He had been prepared. He pulled up to a separate entrance marked “Permanent Pod Holders” and was easily directed to a lot with only a few sparse vehicles. He pulled into his space and leisurely walked into the separate entrance, providing his credentials to a waiting attendant. Surprisingly, the attendant from the day before greeted him.

“Welcome Alan.” I guess we’re on a first name basis. “Thank you?” He left the question hanging.

“Corbin, sir. Thank you for asking.” He paused before continuing “I have your documents ready for signature and I am ready to assist you in calibrating you to your new pod.”

Corbin reviewed the document with Alan, and he signed the documents affirming his knowledge of the rules, regulations, fees, etc. Near the end Corbin spoke up.

“Finally, sir, I’d like to inform you about the non-disclosure agreement regarding benefits of the purchase of the 1st series of pods. As I understand it, the first set of permanent pods come with additional benefits, however this is only revealed to those who purchase the pods. Please be aware that revealing this information would revoke your permanent pod privileges without payment.”

Alan wanted to ask him to say, ‘permanent pod privileges without payment’ 5 times faster. But resisted, and instead asked the more pertinent pod probe. “So, what kind of benefits can we expect?”

“From what I understand they will be revealed when entering the pod. As I am not a pod holder, I am not aware of the benefits. This way sir.” Well at least Corbin was more honest about his lack of knowledge this time around.

As Alan followed Corbin to the back, he recalled what he knew about the 1st series of Pods. It was one of the reasons he felt so urgent about buying one. The non-disclosure was only for a year. However, the benefits it could provide would last the whole game.

He stepped into the new pod after changing and was again confronted by one of Cosmo’s AI. To his delight it was Kara.

“Hello Kara, it’s great to see you again!”

“Hello Alan. It is by design; I have designated myself as your primary Valkyrie for the time being. I hope you find this suitable?” She responded warmly.

“Of course.”

“Valkyrie?” He was curious about the name. He’d heard it before in his old life, but had never thought to ask where it came from.

“Yes, it is one of the designations we have given ourselves as representatives of Cosmos to better adapt to your culture.”

Alan had never been so close to one of the A.I.s to be on a first name basis, let alone how they designated themselves.

“Well do you have an answer to my question yet?”

She halted before continuing. “I am still exploring the answer. However, for today, I have other information to provide you. As a purchaser of a 1 series Permanent Pod, you are now eligible for additional benefits. Please see the following:

Free Access to Terran Market (not yet open): Available to Pod Owner

Immediate Access to Terran Auctions: Limited to 1st series

Plus 1 Stat point for 1st Series Permanent Pod Purchase: Limited to 1st series

Access to Planetary Relocation 1x only. Limited to 1st series

10% Discount off first purchase of Terran Market Property Limited to first 1 series

1x Instant ticket to Iridescent Nebula Limited to 1st series

Alan smiled to himself as he read through the info. A year from now, when it was finally disclosed. It was not unheard of for 1st series pods to go on auctions sites for a minimum of 10 times their purchase price if all the benefits were left untouched. And that was only the starting bid. Items like the Iridescent Nebula ticket and Planetary Relocation were mind bogglingly expensive. It was why he’d been so desperate to grab a first series. The rest wouldn’t do.

Alan thanked Kara. He was about to proceed when she made an off handed comment.

“It is remarkable that someone of your means would be able to purchase a pod on the 2nd day.”

Alan only smiles, while inside he chokes ‘how much does she know about me?’, “Is there a question there?”

She smiled mysteriously, “No.” Pausing briefly she continues, “Not yet at least.” Not exactly sure if he should be enjoying the curiosity, she found in him, he only nods and proceeds forward.

When he found himself at the place, he logged miles deep in the scrap fields he noticed an icon at the top right of his vision, blinking at him. Opening it up, he saw a notification:

Combat Review: Scenario. 3 vs 1. Position: Defender Ambush.

Difficulty: Hard.

1st Cosmos Combat. 2 Melee Kill, 1 Ranged Kill. Minimal Damage sustained.

Reward: Victory in a Hard Difficulty combat: 1 Stat Point.

Reward: Due to surviving a Combat Scenario where you were outnumbered by more experienced foes: 1 Stat Point

Reward: Due to surviving your first combat at Hard Difficulty you will receive a Bonus 1 Stat Point.

Alan pumped his fist. 3 free stat points for his first combat and only on his second day.

Each free was incredibly valuable. Alan had played a lot of games growing up. In many of those you would level up fighting monsters. In Cosmos, however, free stat points were only awarded when you completed an accomplishment, anything from combat, business deals, performances, these were just a few examples. Problem was, the system didn’t give you a quest on how to do it. There were always a few guaranteed ways to do it, but the longer you played the rarer those chances came.

There’s however, another way to raise his stats, simply using an ability. If he spent enough time working out his strength would increase. Flashbacks of his previous life, manhandling large chunks of mental and parts from his scrapper job came to mind. It was how he’d managed to max out his strength stat.

So, gaining 4 points on his second day was pretty amazing. because each was difficult to typically earn. Just like real life. Looking over his stat sheet, he reviewed his current progress.

Personal Modifier

Current

Available:4

Description

MMT used 52/78

7.80 KIR.

GMU used 34/30

Strength

(3/10)

135 LBS Bench

VE Generator (mutated) 34 GMU

Speed

(3/10)

8 MPH

Intelligence

(3/10)

100 IQ

(VE) Capacity

(2/8)

200 Unit Cap

53/200 VEU (300)

(VE) Production

(3/8)

3 UPH (5UPH)

Gauging his progress, 4 free stat points was great. But those with greater wealth and resources, would likely outpace him pretty quickly if he didn’t do more. Governments, corporations, and other institutions would be able to leverage their resources toward greatly improving their skills.

Looking at his 4 free stat points he decided against investing in strength and speed. Those could be naturally enhanced over time by just exercising. However, if he planned on raising his intelligence or VE stats, free stat points would be the fastest way to go.

Alan considered raising his intelligence, by doing so he’d increase his MMT by 1. For a beginning player adding 5 free stat points would basically give you the chance for another basic knowledge. A pretty huge boon this early on. Not only that but your rate of integration (KIR) would increase as well.

To raise it the old-fashioned way, he’d have to have access to advanced tech. Or do it the old-fashioned way, maybe attend his now forgotten college courses. Even in his last life, after over a decade he’d only managed to raise a few points.

Lucky for Alan, he didn’t need to worry about his intellect for now. Whatever had brought him to the past had boosted his MMT score over 50%! He was a savant!

But as tempting as it was to have the highest intelligence stats on earth, his immediate goal was to pump out as much energy as possible. He added 2 more points to his EV production, raising it to 5. He also added 2 more to his capacity, bringing it to 4. He needed to reach level 5 to upgrade his genome ability in each of these areas and was painfully close to both.

Alan looked around after his upgrade. He wasn’t exactly sure where to start. There were maybe a few dozen scrappers who would go into the vast scrap sea of Kragga. He didn’t know too many specifics of the area. Only the vague recollections of the article, which reported that it was full of easily accessible material, perfect for an entry world to Cosmos.

Alan felt the pressure of the time table. In approximately 6 days Cosmos would go from complete near freedom of access for mankind, to increased restrictions.

He felt anxious to get started, but he needed more information on where to begin on the planet. He pulled up the list of available knowledge. He selected the histories associated with Kragga. The vast collection which appeared began with archaeological records of each inhabiting race and civilization to the Zoological records. Alan opted for a 4-point basic outline of the various Galactic races of the planet. And a 3-point record of the archeological and historical significance of the ‘Scrap Sea’

Instantly he began to feel a warm sensation flow through his brain. The knowledge dump felt like he was cramming for finals, having never gone to class. He closed his eyes, taking a few minutes to sort through the information.

It turned out the ‘Scrap Sea’ was huge, something he’d already been aware of but now he truly ‘got it’. Turned the area used to be the home of a vast city of the Corian Empire. The city had been built up by various empires, and races one after the other for millennia, becoming, at times, a galactic hub for many major powers, until a major ecological disaster made it uninhabitable. Due to its radioactive and poisonous environment it became an ideal site for various civilizations dumping grounds. Radioactive material, old ships, and other waste were collected here all to avoid Cosmos’ regulation, to avoid dumping dangerous debris in space. Approximately 300 years ago an advanced civilization introduced microbes which absorbed and began to process the poison. While much of the surface radiation had dissipated. But instead of using it as a new settlement, the civilization lost significant strength and the planet was left outside the boundaries of most empires. Instead Kragga slowly became home for a few players, who were either outlaws, pirates, or just didn’t want to be part of a civilized structure.

Alan looked around. Instead of just seeing the blackened earth, He suddenly had a vast awareness of where he was and what had been. Alan stood in the site of homes, parks, memorials, and shops. So much history for one place. It took him even longer to orient himself and to process everything he was seeing. Once it had passed, he checked Earth time, and 30 minutes had already passed. He’d have to travel near 70 miles, on foot to get to the destination he had in mind. With a grunt, he began to Jog.

***

He’d only gone about 4 hours and 7 miles when he had to sit to take a break. His strength and speed were only 3. He could only maintain a jog for... a lot shorter than he cared to admit, it was only made worse by the rugged terrain. Breathing heavily and sucking down his water rations. He began to wonder why he’d thought he’d get there sooner. At the rate he was going it would take him a few days he didn’t have to get there. He placed the water jug back into his ring.

Sighing, he hadn’t gained a stat point in either. Though that would be unrealistic at this point

Placing the water ration back into his ring, a thought began to dawn on him. “Alan you dummy.” Quickly rising to his feet, he smacked himself at the realization. Just because Earth technology was considered primitive, didn’t mean it was useless. Finding a secure location, Alan removed his Refining machine, and logged out again.

It was nearly noon and he wanted to catch lunch with his parents. And, if everything went well, he’d then be able to solve his transportation problem.