Chapter One: The New Order

Turning in the darkness, Michael waited, unsure of his fate, time seemed to creep by measured only by flashes of light within the dark expanse, streaks of light falling like drops of rain. Becoming more frequent speeding up, time and again one after another, a streak of light lancing through oblivion. Soon the darkness was a distant memory, as that light engulfed him. And soon the light gained colour and no more was he dwelling within an abyss but that colour turned into his surroundings, a world bright and gentle, sensation returning to his body, sight sound, touch, everything came alive about him.

He was lying in a field, a blue sky above him golden grass swaying left and right overwhelming him in their throes as they danced to the sun and the wind, the great ecstasy of life present amid the fields sole denizens. The sky above was blue, such a fine azure stretching beyond the horizon, further into the distance white clouds floating by while the sun above burned with its own brilliance. While hanging high ahead a bright blue panel hung. Like something out of a game, a menu listing many options its shade darker than the sky and more lively than the grass and more brilliant than the sun. Michael rose throwing his arms into the air, gazing around at the many hills rising and falling about him painted gold with the light of the sun in the distance olive trees standing twix the hills while further away a trail of smoke twisted through the sky cleaving it into two pieces.

“The tropes were true!” he screamed like a madman dancing through grass, he’d been transported to a fantasy world, one with a game system, How was it possible? He didn’t care it was amazing! He was in a fantasy world. The birds in the trees scattered, animals running for covering, fearing exactly what on earth had come to pass their way.

Of course Michael had forgotten one simple fact, the laws of nature and reality cannot be so easily broken. Another world, it was doubtful. What reason would an entire reality have to conform to the negligible tropes of man and their dreams? No this world was something completely different.

Claire Newton

In the past years a lot had changed, all with the introduction of a simple program Alpha was the given name. The change could be called drastic, revolutionary though that was an understatement. Upon its completion every country prohibited its use, claiming it a danger to national, even global security. After all it was a device that with the slightest provocation could crash a countries economy, hack into major government facilities place any device remotely linked to the Internet in its dominion. So Alpha and the company responsible for its creation Olympus were excommunicated and exiled from America where they held there founding, eventually setting up there business on a small boat in international water they set the AI, they created loose into the world. So it began to create, a miniature world only a few feet wide, soon this virtual world expanded until it reached the point it was larger than the earth itself. They then used to AI to develop a method of linking this virtual world into the latest virtual reality headsets creating a new game. The new virtual reality game took the world by storm. With full a virtual dive performed, the realism reached a whole new level where the term ‘virtual’ reality didn’t apply, so the game that came to be known as ‘Expanse’ gained recognition.

Clair sat watching the television, the presenter speaking in raving fervours. “Reynard Standon, is it not amazing the game has only existed for what a month, and just as a Beta version.” a young woman questioned leaning towards the middle aged man, who had become her target. “Still within the first five minutes of the games release it was sold out online.” she grinned an image shown behind her of a small metal box with the word ‘expanse’ written across its front an engraving of a world printed below it

“Well I guess we did have a few too many test runs and the public demonstrations were more than enough to drum up some interest,” the old man laughed rubbing his balding head.

“Of course. But today we’re not here to talk about the game itself, we’d like to hear more about the history.” The woman pushed her inquiry with a tact advance, as slides shifted behind her.

“You know you could just look it up on wiki.” The man yawned shuffling about in his ill-fitting suit

“We’d like to hear it strait from the horses mouth.” the presenter encouraged.

“Well I’ll say it’s the first time I’ve been likened to a horse: but sure.” The man sighed relenting to the onslaught.

The man cleared his throat before continuing. “In the year Twenty-Thirty-Three our company; Olympus created an artificial intelligence we named Alpha. All worldwide governments immediately excommunicated us because of the ‘potential danger’ we represented. So there we were on a little boat in the middle of Atlantic Ocean when we got this idea. Why don’t we have a videogame tournament to pass the time? But we had no electricity. So we settled for playing tabletop games. The AI by that point was at the level of intelligence of a human twelve year old after roughly a month of existence, and needless to say was incredibly curious.”

“So we taught it the concept of the game, it is said a human can never beat a computer in any game, well I can tell you that is not true. Alpha stood no chance when logic and reason were replaced with magic and monsters. That being said Alpha managed to draw inspiration from the game creating a miniature world. It decided to base this little world off of our companies name; Olympus. It grew and grew as he filled the world with wonders and monstrosities some inspired by games others by myths. The game ‘Expanse’ was thusly created. After five years at sea building and perfecting this world of ours. I was left the sole member of the company, the other unable to handle the isolation, it was about then we came into contact with a vicious storm after which I hit land in Japan. How I had floated so far of course I didn’t know, couldn’t speak a word of the language, still can’t. But thank god they teach English over there. Ended up in a hospital and threatened with deportation and a criminal charge for entering the country. When I managed to work a business deal in the half month I was allowed to stay there. The game gained roughly three hundred Alpha testers. When the value of the program that had been created was realised the Japanese government attempted to bribe me into building them a training simulator for their soldiers to use. Needless to say both Alpha and myself refused. But by then we had come under the eye of many nations all who wanted to share in our product. Eventually the UN created some rules and we were considered the first ‘None national’ company with a hedge fund, enough to last us for roughly a year. Investing the money we were able to amass enough wealth to fund the Expanse project and now we are finally going public. Only took seven years huh.” He laughed with a grin.

The presenter smiled, she was probably going to get some bonus for that little scoop.

“Now how about you tell us about the little charity project you are working?” She began to push for more information

“Once again wiki, but it doesn’t seem like you’ll be willing to accept that answer.” The man laughed. “You know what I’ll let Alpha tell you about it, it was his idea.” The old man withdrew his phone and a small black stand. He set it up on the coffee table in front of them so that the phone faced towards the camera. The camera rammed focus towards the smart phone where a grey emoji was displayed.

“Hello, my name is Alpha, it is a pleasure to meet you.” The synthesised voice spoke; it was clearly masculine and seemed to hold a hint of concern.

Claire was astonished checking the live logo at the edge of the screen. So it was thanks to the AI she thought to herself.

“Ah… I wasn’t really prepared for this; wish I had made some notes. Well uh, a long time ago now, just after I was born I discovered about humans with disabilities, I thought it was sad they couldn’t do what others could so before we launched I asked Rey if we could set aside some copies of the game for those with disabilities. After all, in the game everyone starts on a level playing field no matter who they are.” The AI spoke flawlessly with true empathy in its words. Everyone was silent.

“Okay that’s all we have time for.” The presenter urged. “Thank you Reynard Standon and Alpha the AI.” She spoke standing. Claire reached forward and switched off the television. Reaching down she grasped the wheels of her chair pushing herself towards the side of the room where a large grey helmet sat; stickers placed over its front and back care of her little sister. She smiled grasping at it. For the first time in her life she’d be able to walk on her own two legs.

Sol

Name: Sol Age: 15 Race: Human Level: Lv1 Strength: 10 Endurance: 10 Speed: 10 Dexterity: 10 Charisma: 10 Intelligence: 10 Fame: 0 Rank: F

He’d done it he was in a fantasy world, just like all his daydreams, like al the stories he’d read, it was amazing, an amazing chance. It was about then he realised something. He was naked, cold, and had no idea of where he was. He might not even speak the native language; panic seemed to assail his mind as he plodded backwards and forwards, a naked man in a field. Perhaps he could say he was robbed by bandits, that trope seemed to be affective. But he hadn’t been beaten up in the slightest and he wasn’t willing to do it himself, plus what bandit stole some ones clothes, well maybe if you were a noble they might, but still he couldn’t pull off the whole foreign noble act, he’d slip up eventually. Reaching up and holding his head he groaned lying back in the grass. He decided to take a nap before going forth to deal with the entire affair. Laying in the grass he stared upwards at the sky before slowly drifting into sleep.

“Hey boy, wake up!” a gruff voice commanded him. Michael looked up confused. “Just who the hell are you, and why are you lying in the middle of the field naked?” The light of the sun prevented him from seeing the face of the man clearly but he could make out a long beard and dark eyes as well as an oversized hat but not much else.

“You daft in the head, come on, who are you?” he questioned anger rising in his voice

“Uh my names Sol… I’m lost.” Michael declared without thinking. Well there went his chance for coming up with a cover story.

“Uh, sure… come on lad, I can’t in good conscience leave you out here to get heatstroke.” The man shook his head before walking away from Michael, well he was Sol now.

Cutting through the midst of the golden field was a dusty road, roughly made and marked with high stones at the edges. A small cart lay within the middle of the road a mule attached to the front while the back was stocked with various crates. “Lad you should be happy I found you and not some slaver.” The old man declared with a shake of the head. “So how did you get lost out here in the sticks?”

“Don’t remember.” Sol replied honestly climbing onto the back of the wagon. The old man sighed throwing something to him. Sol reached up catching a ream of cloth in his hands. “Look, put that on and we’ll head into town. I’m guessing you don’t know any trades. Considering how dumb you are, I’d think it were incredible if you did. So you can work at my shop for a while if that’s okay with you.” The old man declared before patting the Mules rear and having the cart pull forwards.

“Yeah that’d be alright.” Sol replied with a grin. “So where am I?”

“This is the town of Lanmere,” he grunted “just a few miles from the capital Sangeil.”

“Yeah but which continent?” Sol questioned. The old man paused. “What do you mean which continent, Brochas, on Olympus if you didn’t that as well.” the old man shook his head. “So Sol, what’s with the name?” The man questioned scratching his beard

“Why should I tell you, what’s your name anyway.”

“Fair enough, names Telmin Vanda.”

“Sure; Old man Vanda.”

“I’m not old.”

"Yeah sure.” Sol chuckled looking out as they entered the village. It seemed one of his problems was solved. Onto dealing with the next!