Eighteen project reviewers looked down at a table with three nervous project leaders with prying eye’s. The committee chair began his inquest, “Lady and gentleman of this review board, we are here to get some operational information from Project Hope, Tom Gerald, Project leader, Susan Dimietrie, Assistant Project leader and Macky Dewelt, Assistant Project leader.”

The review-board was excited and angry at the same time. It has been year since the review committee had been given permission to get any answers from the Highly Classified Project Hope. A project that has almost brought all the participating country’s to the brink of economic collapse over the years more than once since its conception. Still they knew going into this interview they would barely get anything but vague answers because of its secret classifications.

The Chairmen stated for all to hear, “At all times during this review board we all will maintain operation security. All clearance level information will be maintained how it is. The main concerns for today are as follows. First, what are the real reasons Project hope has decided to remove the highest levels of security enabling it to come to the surface and into the public's view at all? Even if its under a false guise! Secondly, is why the vast increase in budget that for all intense and purposes will cripple the economy of the country’s involved in Project Hope? Lastly, is more of a moral concern for the Projects Game, Destiny Online. From what we understand the game will be extremely violent with just about all human faults and flaws included within the game. Why is the cover Company Terran Bindings pushing for a 16 year old’s to play this game?”

Tom adjusted his microphone in-front of his face, “Mr. Chairmen, Lady’s and Gentlemen of this committee, I will answer the second question which will give you a starting point for the first question.”

Tom looked down at his shaking hands for a few seconds. Then he returned his sad gaze back up to the committee, “It it simple lady’s and gentlemen we are literally buying the time for our species with cold hard cash. Since the founding of this project we have succeeded in buying us time fighting a battle we have been slowly losing. In the past 10 years despite our technological breakthroughs we have lost 28% of food yield world wide do to pollution and water contamination. 36% increase in birth-defects and a huge 52% increase in cancers, respiratory and blood related diseases. Our natural resource have dwindled to the point that almost every major city on the planet has reverted to rolling brown outs. We are almost out of time!”

Committee member 8 asks, “Mr. Gerald if what you say is true then Project Hope has failed! Why sink more funds into a failing project?”

Tom laughed making the committee stir in unease, “Ha, Not even close Sir. At Project Hope’s conception we have far surpassed the lifespan of our impending doom because of the technology we have distributed to all of your country's. It was projected by the year 2000 that the last hundred-million humans would be barely scraping by on our desolate planet. By the year 2025 our planet would have been completely unlivable. So no Sir, if anything Project Hope has far surpassed it’s predicted mandate by over 150%.” Tom glanced over at Susan on his right.

Susan began speaking before another committee member could ask another question, “Lady’s and Gentlemen of this committee. Please take a look at the materials provide for you. I will answer your security questions. First of all, if anything more security has been added. Yes, we will be operating allot closer to the surface to public awareness but we have no choice. As of now with the technology we do have will only give us sustainability for 25 to 40 years from now. That is without further tech advances. We have already outlined to the country's concerned that we will be reacquiring additional security personal. This will greatly decrease our chances of keeping the Project secret but it will also greatly increase our chances to respond to any threats while Project Hope is coming so close to the surface.”

Committee member 3 states, “From some of the reports we already have. The governments of Russia and that of China are already digging into the secrets regarding Destiny Online and that of Terran Bindings Corp. We don’t know why but our operatives are suggesting Russian operatives may be looking for a certain device that has been taken from them?”

“Sir, Russia and the Chinese government has always had an idea we have had a joint project going. They are as far as we can tell from all of your intelligence networks do not have any operational details. They only assume that Project Hope exists. As for Terran Bindings Corp. being under scrutiny is the reason we our requesting further security.” Susan purposing evaded the question about any device. Under no circumstances is the drone Destiny aloud to be talked about except at it’s site. Not even the committee members know about Destiny, only the leaders of their perspective country’s.

committee member 3 asks again, “What about the device?”

Susan responded with her best poker face, “Sir’s project Hope has thousands of devices and files filled with information from just about every country in the world. If it advances our species just a little bit we probably have it. Unless we get more information on exactly what the Kremlin is looking for we really don’t have much to go on.”

The room stayed in silent for a bit until the chairmen asked, “As for our third question lady’s and gentlemen? It may not be the most important to us but moral questions have a bigger baring on the greater population.”

Macky the one designated to take this question and tie everything together because he is the face of Terran Bindings, “Lady’s and Gentleman of the committee allow me to answer this last question. First let me go over why we created Terran Bindings and the VR game Destiny Online. As stated before despite the best minds in the world working on the survival of our species, we are still slowly losing that battle. In order to fix this problem the thousands of the most brilliant minds came up with the idea to allow our whole race to help decide our fate. Thus Destiny Online was created. It began as a simple physic simulation engine but that has been done in the past for our scientist. Destiny Online was created and developed to be the greatest Physics engine ever conceived. However, we didn’t stop their because simply the human computing factor we have available wouldn’t even scratch the surface of what Destiny Online could accomplish. That is where we decided to make it a game where before only a few thousand brilliant minds could work towards our survival but now millions or even billions of minds could. The main reason we will be allowing 16 year old's into this as you say a very X-rated game is simply put some of our greatest minds throughout history had the concepts of our laws of science we use today. We would have lowered the age even further if our study’s didn’t show that anyone younger than 16 years old would have almost no ability of surviving in our virtual world on their own. No the unaware public of the world will for once in it history all work towards a single goal. The survival of our species in the guise of a game.”

***

In a very rare moment for Cyrus the workaholic, had a given himself the day off and was now scanning the TV’s news channels. It has been almost a year since Terran Bindings have announced the virtual Reality Game Destiny Online. Tomorrow will be the launch day and the News was on fire treating the launch as if it were a grand event in history, comparing it to the America independence, The fall of Rome or the horrible act committed in the last days of World War II. The population of the world was more excite about a game, than when Armstrong took his first steps on the moon.

Cyrus couldn’t really give a damn about the game in its entirety. He only wanted to work within the time dilation while expanding his knowledge of engineering, using its world renowned Physics engine. He supposed being able to live in the grater Galaxy might be fun as-well and maybe he was alittle excited about being able to experience zero-g. What little kid didn’t ever have some kind of dream of being an astronaut.

Cyrus heard his brother’s truck coming down the driveway. ‘hmm... He must have skipped football practice’ It’s no wonder Coal did so. He had been annoying the hell out of Cyrus for the past week as the launch date for the game approached. Not to mention two of three full dive capsules were arriving here today. The other one was already being hooked up at Ria’s apartment near here college in Eugene Oregon. ‘Let see the installation department for the capsules said they’d be here around 3 p.m. It’s already three so they should be here soon.’ Good thing Cyrus ordered that first day. Millions will still be waiting a year out for theirs that were on a back order list.

Coal came rushing into the house, “Are they here yet?” Cyrus grimaced looking down at Coals boot and pointedly staring at them.

“Whoops sorry bro. I’ll vacueme Tomorrow,” Coal said returning back out the door to take off his shoes. He yelled from the open doorway, “Well did they come yet?”

The sound of a large diesel truck coming up the gravel driveway answered Coals question. Cyrus stood up from his recliner, “Mite as-well leave you boots on they will be coming in and out anyways.” Cyrus walked out to the front porch towards the arriving truck.

When the truck came to a stop next to Cyrus. Cyrus walked up to the driver side window, “Hey, good-after-noon, follow me around back. I’ll show you where you can excess the basement.” The driver nodded and followed him around back to a basement entrance from outside.

All told it took 2 hours for the installer to set up the capsules and test them. After they were fished Cyrus invite them up stairs where Coal had set out a couple of bears and prime-rib sandwiches for each of them. “Have a seat guys and enjoy a little snack and beer.” The two installers sat down and began to eat and sip on their beers.

“Ah, that hit the spot. Thank you young man for the little treat. It’s been a hectic day,” The older man and driver said after filling himself on the snack.

“Not a problem, however it is good that you showed up when you didn’t. My brother their was about to tear the house apart in excitement,” Cyrus gestured to his brother who was trying and failing to show how much he want to rush down stairs to his Capsule.

The old man laughed, “I can see that. We would have been here sooner but we had to install a special tower their in your town first or your capsules would have been useless. They don’t run on the internet. It will help keep hackers at bay. All the internet access happens at the mainframe so or Corporation can watch for that kind of thing.”

The second installer smiled pulling out a large packet, “Thank you for the lunch we didn’t have any time earlier. Here’s the guide to your capsules and a little bit a knowledge about the game. We suggest you read it but its not required. The capsules is very simple to use and it guides you through everything. When you get to your home space in the virtual would a company rep will guide you through the rest of the set up.”

The old man, “Yeah, again thank you for the meal but we gotta hit the road so we’ll get home to our family for. Good-day Gentleman.”

As the installers left Coal could no longer wait and rushed downstairs. Cyrus laughed at his mad rush, “Hey wait for me. I want both of us to go over the information packets first.”

There was allot of information to go over but most of it was irrelevant to the actual use of the capsule. Most of the information where warnings about certain illness that the game could aggravate. The rest was just brief description about how the capsule would work. Stuff Cyrus and Coal already had already researched.

Cyrus decide he would go first while Coal watched so he would know what to expect. It was rather simple and for the most part painless. When he closed the reinforced lid on the almost horizontal coffin looking capsule the inside lights powered on. It was only briefly claustrophobic until all the fans began wrrr-ing to life. Cyrus could see his brother watching him through the small glass window near his head. As other systems came online, probably scanning his body clamps suddenly griped his right arm spooking him momentarily, until he remembered that he was expecting that along with the needle that jammed into his arm a moment later for the Doxplatelets. It was quickly over as the hum of power began to pick up and buzz with life after his arm was released. A mechanical voice asked, “Do you wish to dive into your home space?”

“Yes,” Cyrus instructed. The world went black briefly. Then all of a sudden he was sitting in a cozy little room with a black leather couch. A TV hung on the wall before it. The room was small and had an off-white tent to it. It didn’t have any lights in it but was still lit almost perfectly.

Cyrus almost jumped when the TV blinked on with a beautiful female face with raven black hair, perfect complexion, small pouty pick lips and soul devouring gray eyes, “Welcome to your home-space Mr. Drugain. My name is Ariel and this is a recorded and interactive program. You are currently in the waiting queue to be helped by me Terran Binding corp. representative. I apologize for the wait. We have a very high volume of customers waiting to be helped. In the mean time we will begin downloading your personal information, including public record, Travel, medical records, college record's, career information and all contact information. This is required by Terran Binding to be able to fully map your brain and customize your virtual reality experience. It is included in our terms and conditions. All information will be completely confidential. I will now stream the terms and condition. Please state I understand when you have read through them to your satisfaction.”

The TV began slowly scrolling through all the legal information for their terms and conditions. It was a very in depth explanation for why they need the information. To Cyrus it still felt a bit wrong but it was information anyone on the internet could probably get. However, he wasn’t going to give them anything they didn’t already have or could get themselves. ‘Fuck,the information age at its finest.’ After reading through it several times to make sure he didn’t miss anything, he shrugged his digital shoulders. ‘guess it can’t be helped.’ Cyrus stated, “I understand the terms and conditions.”

The terms and conditions disappeared and Ariel reappeared, “Please state that you understand and agree to the terms and conditions. If you do not your connection will be terminated and you can apply for reimbursement for the capsules you have purchased.”

Cyrus shrugged again. Their was no helping it, “I understand and agree to the terms and conditions.” He stated.

“excellent, again welcome to your home-space. I will be with you in 18 to 20 minutes. In the mean time we will be downloading your information to our database. It will scroll all collected data on the TV. Please review it and if their is any discrepancy's please tell me when we meet. Goodbye,” Ariel stated and her pretty face was once again disappeared replaced by Cyrus’s scrolling personal information including every single contact he had made in his life. Including some he has completely forgot about. Even the few past brief relationships he had.

Almost 20 minutes later Cyrus was completely shocked by how much information they could get on him. When a woman in her early twenty’s appeared before him. It was Ariel from the TV. It caused Cyrus’s heart jump into his throat. She smiled till Cyrus gathered his wits and finally she introduced herself, “Hello Mr. Drugain, I am Ariel and will be your capsule and game Rep. Unless you would ever prefer to switch to another Rep.” She held out her hand to Cyrus. Still slightly dazed from her instant appearance of and how stunningly appealing she looked in a light blue business skirt and jacket that went just below her ribs covering a purple shirt that clung to her curves.

After a few seconds she coughed bring Cyrus out of his daze. Cyrus jumped to his feet and took her hand in his, “I’m sorry miss. I don’t get away from my work very often and never get to see such a gorgeous woman. I was slightly shocked when you appeared. I thought I would be talking to you over the TV.”

Ariel smiled deepened as her cheeks slightly blushing she eecked, “T...Thank you Mr. Drugain for the compliment.” She wasn’t used men being so forward without them trying to pick her up. It was just simply honest compliment without any innuendo that she could see.

She coughed again trying to hide her blushing cheeks, “Hmm, yes well then lets get started shall we.” Her eye’s went out of focus for a second, “Hah, okay... It looks like you are the sole guardian of Ria and Coal Drugain. Coal is currently in the waiting queue to meet with a representative. Would you like me to add Ria and Coal for me to be their Rep so I can handle your whole family?”

Cyrus shook his, “Coal yes but please give Ria the option. She a grown woman now.”

“Okay, that will be fine. I will put that request into Ria. She has already completed the setup anyways. As for Coal, he has already agreed to the Terms and Conditions. Would you like me to bring him here to your home-space so I could handle both of your setups together?” Ariel asked. The setup doesn’t take long and she could do each quickly by them selves but she didn’t want to stay alone with Cyrus any longer or she might say or do something embarrassing. ‘Like grab that straight fiery red hair and lock my legs around that muscular body. No... Bad Ariel.... Just breath and concentrate...’ Cyrus nodded his consent. Ariel took a deep breath before speaking, “Okay just a moment.”

A few seconds later a startled Coal was standing their mouth agape and practically drooling at Ariel. Cyrus slapped Coal in the back of the head, “Don’t be rude. Close that trap of yours, stand up straight and introduce yourself to the lady.” Coal didn't see his brother their. All his attention was pulled to Ariel so his brother slap came as a big surprise.

Coal immediately straitened, shutting his mouth in the process and holding his hand out in introduction, “Um, sorry miss I wasn’t expecting you. I was expecting an older gentlemen like on the TV in my home-space. My name is Coal, nice to meet you.”

Ariel smiled shaking the younger brothers hand. ‘What is up with the men in this family. Their both well built and handsome. God dang-it so much for me trying to make things less awkward for my self.’ “Nice to meet you as-well Coal. I asked to be the Rep for you family and Mr. Drugain accepted.”

Coal burst out laughing startling Ariel, “Huh hahahaaa... Mr. Drugain... Ha...hahaha.”

Ariel was more shocked when Cyrus smacked Coal in the back of the head so hard it sent Coal sprawling to the floor, “Shut your trap Coal and mind your manners. Sorry Ariel you may call me Cyrus. It does feel slightly unconformable to be called Mr. Drugain.”

‘what the hell??? what the hell?’ He just slap his brother to the floor and calmly just asked me to call him by his first name... What the hell? Now his brothers getting up and apologizing to me like nothing just happened. What the hell?’ “Huh..... Okay no problem Cyrus. Lets get you both quickly set up.” She said as she squeezed her legs together trying to stem the excitement that was their. ‘Fuck, why Cyrus??? Why are you doing this to me? Why the hell am I so turned on by him?’

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