believe. To answer your question, I have entered the VR matrix multiple times.”
“I wish I could experience it,” the General said. He looked like a young boy daydreaming about a far off fantasy world.
“I could arrange it,” Thorn suggested.
“Absolutely not !” the General snapped. “Such a thing would be out of the question. If I were to die, or be harmed, or lost… this world needs me here.”
“Perhaps we can come up with a method for using a headset,” Thorn said.
“You said it’s impossible.”
“I said we can’t do it that way at the present time, General. I agree with you that it would be better if we could use a headset and avoid the complicated process we currently employ. Thanks to you, I now have the funds and resources to work on developing better methods to put a subject into VR.”
“Let me know when you succeed,” the General said. “I want to try it out. This whole idea is fascinating to me, Mr. Thorn, I’d really love to give it a spin.”
“You know,” Thorn said, “I would be willing to let you call me Samson, if you feel this whole ‘General’ and “Mr. Thorn’ name calling is too formal…”
The General made a sour face, but then smiled at Thorn. “I would like that, Mr. Thorn, but I’m afraid our country needs the General more than they do Donovan. The decisions and choices that I must make daily are too much of a burden for a simple man. If I was Donovan during those times, I don’t think I’d still be here. The General is a strong and capable creature. As much as I would like to be Donovan, I must remain the General.”
“I understand,” Thorn said. “I won’t bring it up again.”
“Thank you,” the General said. “Now tell me how things are progressing with our primary project.”
“The new rooms are complete,” Thorn said. “There are enough tables and medical equipment in place to insert one hundred children.”
“And the adult facility?”
“Another hundred can be accommodated,” Thorn confirmed.
“I’m ready to put my best people into VR now, Mr. Thorn.” The General said. “I know the kids are going to take to this like insects to honey. Please begin to work with my soldiers to get them comfortable with the technology as well.”
“Absolutely, General,” Thorn said. “Who would you like me to start with?”
The General answered immediately, “Start with my best and see how their skills translate to the simulation. Start with Cooper. I’ll have him report to you right away.”
===
Cooper lie on the table and breathed calmly. He looked around and cracked the odd joke as technicians and doctors got him prepared for his first trip into virtual reality.
The room was white and well lit. Banks of complex machines and medical equipment surrounded him. An intravenous line was inserted into his arm, and sensor pads were glued to various parts of his body to deliver feedback. They had explained the process to him thoroughly, laughing when he’d nodded and said, “It sounds like a regular old coma to me, kids. I’ve been on that ride a couple of times. I’m happy you’re all confident that you can bring me out of this one.”
He’d met Samson Thorn and been instructed on the objectives for his first experience.
It was go time, and Cooper was excited.
“All right, Cooper, please count backwards from ten. Have fun in there.”
Cooper grinned behind the mask that covered his face and began to count backwards.
Chapter 16
Brandon and his group entered the mess hall. They were laughing and joking with one another as they approached their table, and didn’t notice that it was already occupied until they were standing right at it.
Normally, anyone sitting at this table would get up and move for them. In the Game Facility there was one thing that earned respect more than anything else: rank in the games. Highly ranked players were lords of the facility, and Brandon’s Hand had earned a tremendous amount of
“I wish I could experience it,” the General said. He looked like a young boy daydreaming about a far off fantasy world.
“I could arrange it,” Thorn suggested.
“Absolutely not !” the General snapped. “Such a thing would be out of the question. If I were to die, or be harmed, or lost… this world needs me here.”
“Perhaps we can come up with a method for using a headset,” Thorn said.
“You said it’s impossible.”
“I said we can’t do it that way at the present time, General. I agree with you that it would be better if we could use a headset and avoid the complicated process we currently employ. Thanks to you, I now have the funds and resources to work on developing better methods to put a subject into VR.”
“Let me know when you succeed,” the General said. “I want to try it out. This whole idea is fascinating to me, Mr. Thorn, I’d really love to give it a spin.”
“You know,” Thorn said, “I would be willing to let you call me Samson, if you feel this whole ‘General’ and “Mr. Thorn’ name calling is too formal…”
The General made a sour face, but then smiled at Thorn. “I would like that, Mr. Thorn, but I’m afraid our country needs the General more than they do Donovan. The decisions and choices that I must make daily are too much of a burden for a simple man. If I was Donovan during those times, I don’t think I’d still be here. The General is a strong and capable creature. As much as I would like to be Donovan, I must remain the General.”
“I understand,” Thorn said. “I won’t bring it up again.”
“Thank you,” the General said. “Now tell me how things are progressing with our primary project.”
“The new rooms are complete,” Thorn said. “There are enough tables and medical equipment in place to insert one hundred children.”
“And the adult facility?”
“Another hundred can be accommodated,” Thorn confirmed.
“I’m ready to put my best people into VR now, Mr. Thorn.” The General said. “I know the kids are going to take to this like insects to honey. Please begin to work with my soldiers to get them comfortable with the technology as well.”
“Absolutely, General,” Thorn said. “Who would you like me to start with?”
The General answered immediately, “Start with my best and see how their skills translate to the simulation. Start with Cooper. I’ll have him report to you right away.”
===
Cooper lie on the table and breathed calmly. He looked around and cracked the odd joke as technicians and doctors got him prepared for his first trip into virtual reality.
The room was white and well lit. Banks of complex machines and medical equipment surrounded him. An intravenous line was inserted into his arm, and sensor pads were glued to various parts of his body to deliver feedback. They had explained the process to him thoroughly, laughing when he’d nodded and said, “It sounds like a regular old coma to me, kids. I’ve been on that ride a couple of times. I’m happy you’re all confident that you can bring me out of this one.”
He’d met Samson Thorn and been instructed on the objectives for his first experience.
It was go time, and Cooper was excited.
“All right, Cooper, please count backwards from ten. Have fun in there.”
Cooper grinned behind the mask that covered his face and began to count backwards.
Chapter 16
Brandon and his group entered the mess hall. They were laughing and joking with one another as they approached their table, and didn’t notice that it was already occupied until they were standing right at it.
Normally, anyone sitting at this table would get up and move for them. In the Game Facility there was one thing that earned respect more than anything else: rank in the games. Highly ranked players were lords of the facility, and Brandon’s Hand had earned a tremendous amount of
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