[???’s PoV]

A Robotic is guiding me through the corridors of the evaluation center. Unlike the warm welcome desk and the functional offices I’ve already been through, this side of the facility has a more functional look. It feels a bit like a spaceship, with metallic walls, long led rails for light and sharp angles. Quite a strange design choice in my opinion.

We make it to a large and empty waiting room. This one isn’t as cold as the corridor, there are many posters on the walls, which are still metallic, but painted with soft colors instead of bare. It feels much nicer and I instantly relax a little. In the middle of the room, there are enough seats to accommodate a couple dozen people, armchairs made in some synthetic material that I have no doubt will be quite comfortable should I sit on them. Opposite the entrance, there are three open pods, mounted on a single rail. Guess I’m staring at my house for the upcoming year. An innocent looking bubble filled with technology beyond anything human-made, one that will end up somewhere in a storage facility along with hundreds and thousands of other metallic eggs, each containing a single dreamer.

It would be insanely claustrophobic if it wasn’t so awesome.

The brisk voice of the Robotic suddenly fills the air.

“Your friends Marc and Alix should be done with their assessment within 30 minutes. Please stay within this room, and feel free to address any request my way.”

Sure. Well, it won’t mind if I take a closer look at those pods then.

The Robotic effortlessly follows my advance through the waiting room like a particularly bulky shadow, some silent engine providing hidden wheels the energy to keep up.

As I pass next to them I absentmindedly note that the posters give some information on figures on the safety of the devices and of the Study in general.

The speech pattern on those have the typical, too effective, inhuman feel to them that is characteristic to Knowledgeable speech.

"No adverse effect on the body thanks to regular muscle stimulation and perfect nutritional inputs", "one can expect to walk out of the pod healthier than at the time of entrance".

Not sure if I can really believe that, but ever since they arrived on Earth, the Knowledgeable have proved to be exceptionally trustworthy. If someone can pull a magic virtual reality pod that also preserves health, it’s definitely them.

Well, regardless, going to sleep for over a year is probably more healthy than what I'd end up doing on Earth by myself, so there's a nice win.

The first pod of the row is in front of me now, the ovoid bubble just slightly tilted, so that the head of its passenger ends up about thirty centimeters above its feet. Most of the inside isn’t visible of course, the passenger slot taking perhaps 30% of the pod. A comfy looking little nest full of what must be memory foam, but there are also various tubes slotted in the sides, and a fragile looking contraption of countless gray electrodes linked together by a thin mesh of cooper colored wires. Overall, the pod kinda makes my skin crawl, even with the reassuring messages all over the walls, am I really going to let myself be at the complete mercy of a machine? Well, even more so than usual at least.

I take a deep breath to steady myself.

“Can I try laying in one of those?”

Better face it now than later.

“Yes, of course. It’s safe, the pods are inactive for the time being.”

“Does that mean it isn’t safe when the pods are active?”

“If they were active there could be a very small risk of uplinking you without your friends, but that is not the case. Do not worry, there has not been a single accident of that kind since the opening of the S.T.U.D.Y..”

Oh okay.

Why do machines trying to sound reassuring always have that weird, ominous vibe?

Anyway, I guess I’ll try it.

The Robotic helps me get inside, and it isn't long before I'm in.

...

Well, the foam is quite comfy. It has grooves that adjust smugly to my body, feels great. And my head is supported just right.

- - -

The sound of voices wake me up. It’s Marc, talking with another Robotic.

I sit up awkwardly inside the pod and wave.

“Hey Marc! You got to try one of those, great for power-naps!”

He looks up, and I notice he seems worried. I wonder why. I’ve always thought that his frown doesn’t really fit him, he has the best carefree look I’ve ever seen, with a radiant smile that screams “everything is going to be alright”, but he also worries a lot.

Maybe his negotiations didn’t go very well? I got exactly what I wanted and whatever the unknown context crap is, it seems like a cheap price for an old dream fulfilled.

As long as they deliver of course.

No more damn meds.

“Hey. Uh. Alright? Alix didn’t come by yet, did he? ”

His Robotic answers before I can. Not that I would know, I really fell asleep.

“Your friend Alix is also done with the evaluation, and currently heading this way along with Alexander. They should be here shortly.”

Oh, it’s almost time for the real deal. Just sleeping for one year, everything will be fine.

“Robotic, how long was I in the pod?”

The machine answers instantly while Marc is investigating the pod next to mine, with hints of a frown still on his face.

“24 minutes and 35 seconds.”

“Thanks. So Marc, what’s up with the moody look?”

“Ehm, don’t worry about it, it’s just that Alexander kinda pushed me to accept a modifier called unknown context and I’m still not sure if I really want that.”

Oh, he got that too? Yeah I can certainly see Marc not liking to be missing information.

“Well, what did you get in exchange? I took the same modifier and I think it’s worth it.”

“Access to the game-like system, which is cool of course! But kinda sucks that it’s nerfed right? Maybe I should have just gone for the war zone...”

Wasn’t the system supposed to be a staple on Onvillia? The Robotic told me I would be connected to the system as a matter of fact. Humm… Surely there's something else? Alexander didn't seem like the kind of guy to randomly scam people... Do I tell him right now? Probably not, right? He's already agreed and stuff anyway, it's going to be an headache to deal with and we've already been here for hours...

“Well I also took it, I’m sure it will be fine.”

That’s when Alix walked into the room with Alexander in tow, immediately spotted us, and yelled in what might just be the most excited voice I ever heard.

“HEYYYY! I’M GOING TO HAVE SUUUUPER POWERS!”

Alexander just chuckled a little, while Marc stared blankly in their direction. I can almost see the gears in his head trying to make sense of that statement.

Me? Maybe a bit jealous, not gonna lie. Perhaps I should have been more ambitious…

Alexander speaks up before the situation slips out of control.

“Okay, so you three are all clear for a joint entrance into the S.T.U.D.Y.. You all have the unknown context modifier, as giving it to only one of you wouldn’t make any sense. That might cause some inconveniences but I recommend being philosophical about it and just enjoying your time adventuring the old fashioned way.”

“Wait, hold on, why is Alix getting super powers when we aren't?” says Marc. He turns to me, "You're not getting super powers right?"

"Absolutely not, no super powers here."

Alexander’s tone is steady as he answers.

“Well, the algorithms of the S.T.U.D.Y. provide options based on your character assessment. As you know, your requests are heard and if appropriate, a 'price' is calculated. If you two wish to have superpowers, we can go back and discuss that but such a change will definitely entail additional modifiers.”

Ugh, no way, modifiers with an “s”? What kind of devil bargain did Alix accept to get that superpowers? Unknown context was the only acceptable choice from the list I was offered to choose from…

Marc is silently considering the idea though, he’s doing that strange tic of his with his hands, where he cracks his fingers sideways in front of his mouth. That used to weird me out so much.

“Say Alix, what other modifiers did you pick besides unknown context?”

Alix’s falters a little as I ask that.

“Erm... Just the one, it’s called 'Hunted', but I have a great superpower idea, things will turn out alright, you’ll see!”

I don’t know how Marc managed to end up being best friend with someone like this, but maybe that’s why he tends to worry so easily. I saw that modifier, and I did not like it.

“Alexander, are we all going to be hunted because of this idiot?”

“Hey! I’ll be the one defending us, be careful with what you say.”

I don’t answer, waiting for Alexander’s answer.

“Well, not necessarily, think of it this way : whatever is chasing Alix will be doing so because of the super-power perk. As you don’t have it, you will not have much interest in their eyes.”

That makes some sort of sense. We might be collateral damage but we won’t be targets.

We spend the next twenty minutes discussing things back and forth. In the end, Marc also gave up on superpowers and we’re all ready. The pods are activated by the remaining Robotic (one sneaked away at some point when I wasn’t paying attention) and it’s time to go in.

As I lay back down, the systems automatically activate in a gentle whir of servomotors. All at once, the cold electrodes sneak into my hair to touch my scalp, a needle pricks me in the left arm so sharply I barely feel it and a multi-sensor straps around my right biceps to monitor my vitals. I feel my heart pounding like never before, this is terrifying. At least the pod doors aren’t closing while we’re awake.

Exactly like Alexander described earlier.

“Alright, now is the last chance to change your mind if you want to back off. You are going to fall asleep in a few minutes and you will wake up on planet Onvillia. Of course, we will take care of everything on this side.”

He waits for some time but we don’t answer. We’re doing this, and we're in it together.

“Well then, Alix, Marc, Camille, it’s been a pleasure meeting you. I hope you shall enjoy your time in the S.T.U.D.Y.!”

The pod is powering up slightly more, its hum grows a bit stronger. The vibrations are perfectly absorbed by the foam on which I’m resting but the many tools are rattling just a little.

The anesthetic is acting quickly, my heartbeat has calmed down a lot and I don't feel any anticipation anymore, just some kind of patient relaxation.

I see the pod doors start to slide up a little from the notches in which they were resting.

And then the world is white.