Martin, who had been totally silent during this whole exchange, choose that point to speak up.

“Well Mr. Soluto, Mr. Graves, let’s take a trip to your self titled ‘bdsm chairs’, shall we?” Martin said ruefully.

“Think about it this way Ry, at least this time around you’ll get paid for it, instead of the other way around.” Dimitri laughed.

“Besides your stupid ass, within our conversation, I forgot to ask how much we were paid as well as the details of contracts, etc.” I stopped.

“Identical contracts will be drawn up for both of you. You will be paid a daily amount of five thousand dollars.” Dr. Karen said, not missing a step.

I stopped dead in my tracks and grabbed Dimitri incase I passed out from the overwhelming amount of money I could cash in on. My inner child was just overjoyed with counting the vast amounts of stupid and needless shit I would buy just because I could. Dimitri looked at me as if he was having the same acid trip, and couldn’t believe he wasn’t going deaf.

“Wait, I must’ve done partially deaf, did you say five thousand dollars, daily!?” I said, while counting on my fingers like an elementary student.

“Yes, Mr. Soluto, that’s correct. You both will be putting in a tremendous amount of work and data within the game, and you need will need to be compensated for your struggles, work, and experience.” Dr. Karen stated.

There’s that ominous feeling coming back to bite me in the ass once again, but my greed kindly smothered it with a money pillow without warning. To put this in perspective, a gamer with my caliber might get paid five to seven thousand a month, not a day. So danger pay takes a front co-pilot seat like a hot girl in a early 2000’s hip hop music video. Without warning, I hop into the chair and waited to be served, or serviced, or something.

“Well that makes up my mind, bring on the whips, chains, harem litrpg novels, whatever you’d like.” I kindly said.

“Dear god, you’re a whore aren’t you.” Dimitri said, while strapping himself in beside me.

“Uh huh, I don’t see you ‘resisting arrest’ over there. You’re in there like swimwear, sir. You and me together Louise.” I said.

“Excuse me, I consider myself more of a Thelma type of gal thank you very much.”Dimitri replied.

“Well gentlemen as much as Dr. Karen and I love the friendly banter that’s going on, we should really start the presentation.” Martin cut us off.

“Thank you Martin. I will explain everything within the purpose of the game, your roles, contract lengths, and of course questions will be asked at the end I’m sure.” Dr. Karen said.

As she was preparing her presentation, a holographic project displayed a model image of Dimitri and I standing in a copy of our current attire. The detail was well, impressive is the only word that currently comes to mind.

“As you can see, these presentations are, well you. The barbaric rigs, haptic suits and all are missing, this is because like I’ve previously said, they aren’t needed. Dr. Karen finished.

The images changed to something resembling a cross between a bubble and a spider. It has a spherical shape but with legs along its sides. I might be describing it incorrectly, but think about those grade school projects, a balloon with straws on the side, and you’d be almost right on the money. The circuitry wrapped around it’s entire body, like constantly changing pathways, that were very similar to the device used in that old movie Contact. It seemed like parts of it body were in constant internal motion, transforming, shifting, analyzing.

“Here is our nanite, cleverly named Operational Replicational Bionic or ORB for short.” Dr. Karen said.

“You guys really like this naming stuff huh?” I said.

“Yes, anyway. These little creatures will spread to every cell in your body and create a constant feedback loop to our mainframe of your chemical makeup. They will produce data for every cell, every brain synapse, and so on. While you are in Peaks, almost everything you experience within the game will be experienced by your body.”

“Wait, what do you mean by almost everything?” Dimitri asked, concerned.

“Questions at the end please Mr. Graves. There are three important things that might or might not happen to your physical body while you’re within Peaks. First, there of course won’t be any permanent death to your body. Secondly, any damage from monsters of players that you experience in the game won't be transmitted as permanently to your body but the sensation still will be felt, trust me. Lastly, your body might undergo some...changes, while in the game.” Dr Karen, said finishing flatly.

“I guess by your pause, we can ask questions now. What do you mean changes? I’m not trying to become a mutant or something.” I said.

“I mean that the orbs will ‘clean’ your body. In testing, the orbs have cleaned some subjects systems of harmful bacteria, clogged arteries etc.” Dr Karen repiled.

“Why do you seem some nonchalant about that? It’s something that should be yelled beyond the rafters. If these orbs can do these things, why aren’t they in medical technologies and such?” I questioned.

“There’s a lot of company red tape that has to be cut before any of that can be even thought of.” Dr. Karen said quickly.

Something was off about this whole thing but I could tell by her nervous stance and her rapid fire answers that we might get too many straight answers from her at the moment.

“Anyway, you won’t have to be stuck in a rig as each orb has visible circuitry that can sustain your body and requires very little from the outside in terms of sustenance. The human body can only go three days without hydration before dying but with the orbs that limit can be pushed to 10 days.” Dr Karen said proudly.

“How’s that even possible? Your body burns through hydration due to each personals metabolic rate.” I said.

The room went silent.

“Yes, I’m not completely brain dead, carry on.” I said frustrated.

“That’s the point, the orbs would slow down your metabolic levels to acceptable levels, in this way the hydration used would also be slowed down and from this side we of course will provide all nutrients that you’ll need for your contract time restrains.” Dr Karen.

“Define ‘acceptable levels’ for me,” I said.

“I’ll simplify it for you, we’ll keep you alive, you won’t get abducted by aliens, zombies, bob ross, or anyone else. You won’t fall into a coma never to wake up again like a terrible hospital drama show, or anything else ridiculous.” Dr Karen said, clearly agitated.

“Well that’s good enough for me, what about you Dimitri?” I asked, looking to my best friend.

“I have ton’s more questions about the inner workings of everything they might have to wait…” Dimitri said, catching on to Dr. Karen’s growing anger.

“I don’t blame both of you for the millions of questions you might have, however we are professionals, we wouldn’t let anything happen to you. You’ll be within our care for year after all.”

“A year!?” Dimitri and I said in unison.

“Yes, that was going to be my next section of the presentation. A year contract will be required for game. In this way we can study how you adapt to whatever you come across within the game and any other effects that you might experience…” Dr Karen said cryptically.

“Wow, a whole year within the game, that seems, quite long.” I said.

“Yes, it does seem long, but within the same time runs differently. A year here would equate to six months inside PoP. Inside the game you won’t feel the experience and in your mindset and processing it will feel like an entire year for experience sake. This way you won’t feel cheated nor will you feel like this is a elongated process, trust me when I say that.” Dr Karen explained.

“Okay, now that I am properly confused, freaked out, and overall mental tired from all the intelligence being sucked up, what's the next step?” I said sarcastically.

Dr. Karen walked over to our chairs and pushed a blue button on each left side of the chairs and they automatically laid back. Martin came over and placed our arms in the stirrups and the clamps closed over our wrists. At this point, we knew shit just got quite real to say the least.

“Can I have a smoke after this is all done? One of those candy ones, that’ll make it feel real?” I asked, smiling nervously.

“Sure, you can all the candy cigarettes you can handle after this journey I promise you.” Dr Karen replied.

Once we were strapped in, two nurses came into with metal traps with more tools then I could count and most like pronounce as well. I thought we were in too deep and were going to be missing our kidneys tomorrow but the only thing they did were pick up a syringe and turned to Dr. Karen for a signal.

“All of these tools displayed here are for making everything is working at optimal levels. The syringes are how the orbs are placed in your body.” Dr Karen said.

“It looks like you’re about to push some of that good ol’ fashion mercury into us.” I said.

“That’s saline, the reason it’s silver is because of the abundant amount of orbs within. I assure you, there’s no mercury or other toxic substances around at any time. Let's get this started gentlemen, I want you to experience this as soon as possible. Oh, I almost forgotten!” Dr. Karen said in surprise.

She walked over to the nearby desk and pulled out two identical stacks of papers, seemingly our contracts. Once she was in within six feet, our clamps retracted and pens were held out to use for our john hancock's.

“Wait, you were going to inject us with nanites for a year long ‘game’ with some very, very vague explanations, and you’re worried about us signing some contracts?” I said, quite skeptical.

“Of course! Without these signed, this would seem like torture in that so called ‘bdsm chair’ you’re strapped into.” Dr Karen replied.

“Very funny…” I sarcastically said.

“I thought it was funny, but maybe that’s just because I love watching smarter people smashing down big words for you.” Dimitri jabbed.

“Enough of the banter, do either one of you have any other questions?” Martin interrupted.

“Yes. How will our families know what’s happening to us?” I asked seriously.

I really don’t talk to my mother and family too often, too much bad blood. That being said, they are still my family, as demonic are they are, they still might show a little interest in where I’ll be for a whole year.

“We will be notifying them, and they will always have the chance to see your journeys at any time.” Dr. Karen answered.

“Wait, this is going to be televised, publicially?” I asked.

“Not for the first month, but family members of each participant will be allowed 24/7 access to the stream, as well as communication through our mainframe when needed or permitted. I say permitted because the point of this isn’t to talk, but to submerge yourselves in this and raise to the top.” Dr Karen finished.

“Wait, so they’ll be able to see, everything…?” I asked nervously.

“Yes, whenever they are tuning in, you’ll get a notification on your screen, however you have the ability to “black out” at times, so that they will only be seeing a black screen or replays of events.” Dr. Karen answered.

“Well that’s, unsettling...” I said gravely.

“Why? It’s just as if an audience was watching you play another game from their homes or live. It is because you’ll be within the game and can’t control the viewership?” Dr. Karen questioned.

“Well, yes, I can’t control what they see, how they perceive the things they’re viewing.” I responded.

“Control issues eh? Well, that’ll change quite quickly.” Dr. Karen said, with a grin.

“I think it’s a good thing, honestly. Our family can see how we handle things, develop, grow, etc. It might change their perspectives of us and others.” Dimitri said.

Dimitri just said that for my benefit. He knows that my family doesn’t agree with me being a gamer, stating it’s “unproductive” even though I make more than their entire household salary combined. Once brought up, they called me arrogant, undeserving, and lazy. This is when the discussion turned into an argument and I stormed out of the house. It’s been two years, and we still haven’t said a word to each other. I mean the nerve, to talk that way, and call me lazy atop of all things, they’ve got no idea.

“Just speak for yourself, anyway let's get this thing on the road, if we could.” I said, ready to change the subject.

Dr. Karen must have sensed the tension coming off of me because after that she refused to make eye contact. She went through the paperwork with us, giving us the standard ‘NDA Agreement’ basically saying if we said anything, to anyone, all our family, goats, cats, second cousins and hamsters would die, I’m paraphrasing here. Once that was said and done and our papers were signed with our own blood and we basically didn’t ask questions that would take decades to go through, we were ready for the next step.

“I know this sounds entirely too cliche, but you’ll feel a slight prick.” Dr. Karen said.

“I know, he’s sitting right next to me, I just don’t feel him though,” Dimitri said.

Before I had a chance to narrow my eyes, bring down my eyebrows and say something truly vile, our clamps were strapped back on and I felt a sharp painfully focused pain travel deep into my bicep. This pain could only be caused by a big ass needle, I think that’s the scientific name for it.

“Jesus Christ! That hurt like hell!” I said, shaking my restraints.

“And you wonder why we have these restraints, it’s for this exact reaction.” Dr. Karen said.

As I laid there being bandaged up, fuming, Dr. Karen showed no signs of surprise or even alarm. It was almost like she has seen this kind of reaction many times before, or something close to that.

“You might start to feel a little funny, like there is something crawling along your skin. It is just the orbs going to work, doing their jobs nothing to worry about.” Dr. Karen said.

“Oh goodie, it feels like fire ants are having a birthday party on my skin, and you think there’s nothing to worry about!?” I said angrily.

“Yes, this is normal, they are replicating, mapping your body, functions, reactions, synapses, etc, everything we’ve already gone over.” Dr. Karen said, almost bored.

At this point I had to re-evaluate her, she was much more than I had given her credit for, even in my dazed state. I don’t even know when I became dazed, a moment ago my mind was crystal clear and she surely wasn’t dancing in her chair, bending the air around her like an airbender. Right before the world around me collapsed into that dark abyss, I caught the tail end of a couple words uttered by the mysterious doctor.

“Let’s hope these two are strong enough.” Dr. Karen mumbled.