Chapter 2: Chapter 1 : Before The Dive (Pt.1/3)

. . .  lan . . .

"*slams desk* Alan!"

I reacted to the sound and i woke up to my laptop work desk, trying to collect my conscience. "*groans* What's The Matter, Vince?" I clear my eyes with my left fingers.

He point his hands towards the monitor in front of me that is still left on, currently on it's screen-saving mode showing a picture of dark blue sky filled with brimming countless stars.

Guy tilts his head to the left and covers his left ear, trying to hear me clearer. "(annoyed) Hu~h? What's the matter, you sai- You sleeping on the job is the matter!

I'm in need of your assistance, so go on with your work and save the documents"

I recall the first time i know of him. (Jack Vincent, man's a gruff and buff bearded redhead ponytail guy wearing a chocolate polo shirt and dark blue jeans, which turns out to be my co-worker here in the company.

He were assigned as my partner months ago by the higher ups with the job for playtesting, coding and debugging to some extend.

Guy's a loudmouth for my liking but hey, i say a having harsh company is better than having none at all)

I exit the screen-saving mode, type in 'twistedfate' to log in and then continued typing on my unfinished work alongside the other programs and softwares that are open on the sidebar. " *typing noises* Okay okay, calm down now, will you? Just what have i done to make you being so rud- *coughs* (in low-pitched voice) Great, my throats a drought, hang on a sec" I pick up my bottle in the left pocket of my bag and drinks it.

I put it back and continued where i left off. "*gulps* Haah, that does it. Now get away from my sight, can't focus with your macho ass staring"

He furrows his brows. "I wasted a total of 15 seconds just so you can drink your fair share of bottled liquid and tell me to buzz off? You're lucky this big guy here's the one assigned as your 'partner' rather than that four-eyed freak, you know that?

*sighs* I'll be waiting in my desk, so here's hoping you'll make it a short one" He walks toward his workdesk heading to the right, just 10 feets away from my position.

"... Does he not realize he's talking to another four-eyes himself? Hmmph"

Alan Hasani. 25 years old, graduated from an I.T. themed college at 22, currently single and is still a virgin, i have a far-sight problem and live with my family inside a two-storied house around the neighborhood on Wellington after moving in 2 years ago.

I'm your ordinary average company worker, no matter how you look at it even if you work at a famous or professional, established company and my fashion says that for me.

Transparent prescription glasses? Check.

Buzz cut and metal earrings? Check. Company-branded shirt and jeans? Check.

Black-colored socks and leather boots? All-Ace Check for the company's sake of their public image.

So what do i work as, some may ask?

Well, i am a model animator, a tech geek, an enthusiast reader and others but most importantly, a writer.

Having the experience for creating sci-fi and fantasy novel stories and sometimes mixed with politics in it, you can say i am quite talented in the industry.

I had 3 other books finished aside from my best-selling one with the theme of thrilling mysterious mythology. Later on, i managed to gain the Top 10 position 3 times in a row for the last 6 years on the site i wrote these books at, and it was at some point weeks after that i was scouted out by some men in black and was given an invitation to work as a writer by a new-brand game company named 'Altaris Studio.'

Building's a big four-stories, located within New Zealand, Wellington.

The first and second floor are for the development team consists of programmers, animators, designers, writers, playtesters, and others.

Third and fourth is of course for the higher ups and it is comprised of the bosses, directors, executives and the likes of your typical corporate figures.

Every team has their own room, aside from the middle-room in each floor that has their own purposes.

There's a session in a month where all the staff gathers in each middle-room, all in accordance to their own floor.

Here in the second one, we all can pitch our ideas for the game's development.

Me? I pitched some ideas for exploration, side quests, bosses and the endgame enemies.

Some of ours are kept in and others fed off to the trash bin because some of the higher ups got satisfied with the results and it will be if they said so, and there's little to nothing all of us the staffs can do about it.

Here i am on the second floor working on some part of the lore for this game that is a complex MMO FPP-RTS Science-Fantasy RPG, 'Projekt Greyworld'

The name came from the the term 'grey', they are the elements of which is the main random modifier of the game. Whether it's enemy placement and behaviour, buff items, passive skill effects, unknown arsenals, uncharted areas and even the battlefield itself.

How and what do they look like, i do not know as this is an idea pitched by another person in the company who works as the other writer way longer before me and i do not know their identity or any kind of reference for me to notice them, not even their voice or aliases.

Anyways, what i was doing at my laptop before is writing a random encounter involving a corrupted spirit in despair that'll show us a hidden door showing it's way to a dark maze and this could happen anywhere within the game, yada yada~. It took me a while to continue where i left off.

After 2 minutes of typing, i saved my work. "*typing stops* Hey, come here it's done!" I wave my right hand at him, signaling him to come by.

The guy walk towards me and squints his face to check the lines one by one. " *humming* Solid work, have you done the usual?"

I tilt my chair facing towards him. "Saved the document and already have another in backup, what do you take me for? A dumbwad?

Say, do you really need to shout so much just for waking me up just now? Could've just sprinkled some cold water on my face for that matter.

Lucky for us that there's only 4 out of 50 or so people in the room like usual, could've been given a sentence for disturbing the peace inside it by the higher ups. I can only wonder what the security's got on cam.

*sighs* God, you know what? Let me tell you this again.

You Are Such, A man-child at your forties not thinking the more rational, less barbaric way beforehand.

How come i, your junior, is the one giving advices to make you behave like a proper adult should? It's getting pretty silly lately, and the main cause is mostly you . . . " I ranted on his incorrect behavior for the action he did, for seconds countable by fingers.

He holds out his right hand, closing my mouth, signaling me to stop. "Whoahoho~ there hold up with your rambling a sec for me, four-eyes. (mocking) Who do you think you are, thinking you can lecture my behaviour, Me, as your senior~? My mom? Also, i swear if you told her this..."

I shrug my shoulder and look away from him, knowing fully of the consequence if i were to do so. "(mocking) Tell her what? That her son wants to go back to her mama's pouch~?"

He leans his right hand to my desk and closes in to me. " *laughs* (grins) Won't let you off the hook easily again if you try to do it one more time...

That aside, i need you to analyze what's causing some part of the ground inside the 'Chaltra' starting area to deform unnaturally and make these Loads of Massive Spikes out of the ground, trapping the playtesters by it's l and forcefully Dived them out instantly when they set foot on it.

I think you need to recheck the animation for entering the portals that plays out in it, and tell the programmers on odd stuffs.

You know what's at stake here, do you not?"

Remembering what happens to most game studios out there in this dynamic, modern age. "Aside from losing our chance to make a first impression and possibly ruin the company's reputation? Oh Right, there's also us having to regain back our customer's trust, loads of refunds to be handled, and patches to be made post-launch on the first day. There's still lots i can think about, need me say more?"

The guy backs off from me with his eyes widened. "... Tsk. Seriously, the heck is with Alfy being confident that this won't make us worry more and tries to convince the others that it's a 'feature' that acts as a secondary death boundary 'wall'?

Still haven't figured out the reason they hired him in the first place and have us clean up after his fine mess"

Alfred Hayford. Brat's a scruffy long-haired ginger always wearing his favorite bright blue hoodie over the company's branded clothes.

The guy we're talking about is one of the many map designer in this floor and more often than not, he's considered as the 'main pitcher' of the company. By 'main pitcher', i mean that he's the one who states the wildest idea he's got whenever there's a meeting like rotating arena corridors, enchanted firearms and munition, real-time elemental crafts, and the latest portal arsenal i just mentioned. He's not a bad guy per se, it's just that being immersed in his own mind, he always talk what he has in mind whenever he wants it

I weight my head on my right hand facing him on my desk. "Well it's not our place to think on why he's still here and not on there, but there's no point if he has done himself loads of service to the company.

Besides, you saw his idea for the 'portal arsenal'? I'd say it was stellar.

And if you ever try to drag yourself in trouble with him, you gonna spend the night on the debugging department"

The debugging department is the equivalent of doing an all-nighter for a piece of unfinished art for  some national gallery.

It's messy, rough, troublesome, and having a talk with a police while they're checking your transport might be better than this accursed room.

That's what the people that came out of it agreed upon, and Vince is one of them people...Yikes.

I'm just lucky enough not to experience whatever kind of bother it contains within.

His mouth shows a little bit of a forced smile. "I would rather Not, Thank You~!

It's been an experience and since you're the one who said it, i'd do my best to avoid interacting with him as long as i possibly could, what with that guy's attitude. Speaking of the maps, you sure about this stuff ?"

I raises my right eyebrow from hearing that. "Whatever do you mean?"

He gestures from right to left with his hands. "I'm saying that while you increased the frame-per-second ratio with the cost of decreasing the folliages and adding mists to the surroundings, won't it just annoy the players ?"

Returning to the position where i face the monitor again, i type in along. "I like to differ, being fascinated by the unknown is always within our instincts. Especially if it's an unconquered 'grey' forest"

(It's just so happen i have to deal with most of the troublesome tasks. Sheesb, why do i have to do the map design troubleshooting again?)

Right right right, we use the term 'GREY' as the main random modifier of the game. Whether it's enemy placement and behaviour, buff items, passive skill effects, unknown arsenals, uncharted areas and even the battlefield itself.

He sticks all his fingers widened on top of my heas like spider legs. "Right, of course it is. Man what would it be to take a peek inside this head of yours ? I bet there's only the nerdy dweeb and the boorish stuff"

I can't help but be agitated, recolecting an unpleasant memory of the past. "Your mistakes that i had to cover up back in our early months party is still in it. Would you like me to state it Out Loud, Too~ ?" I face him with a wide smile and squinted eyes instilled on my face.

He scratches his back while backing away. "... Sorry"

"You bet. Now go on back to your workplace" I wave my right hand like it's buzzing flies off, shooing him away

The guy walks again to his own seat. (Finally, with this peace of mind, i can continue to do the animation set i've previously worked on one of the main "job" you can acquire for the Main Character. His/Her name is still to be determined)

"Taskmaster", the one job i'm working at currently, is an 'Hard to Learn, Easy to Master' all-rounder job with the slowest growth rate as it requires a lot of experience to be accumulated and the mastery it needed to do the combos.

The one thing that intrigues me however is that you can not learn the common elemental magic like Fire, Earth, Wind and Water as easily like your typical Magician in a fantasy setting.

But in exchange, you are granted the ability to learn rare, ancient and taboo magic like Lightning, Time and Gravity Manipulation more hastily like that of a renowned Wizard.

There are still many more to know but i still haven't decided on the ultimatum yet.

I began on the finishing touch on the HUD for this particular job for an hour.

Health, Stamina, Mana, Nano, Arsenals, Inventory, Buff and Debuffs, Hints and Tips, Visual and Audio ques, and the likes of your typical mix of RPG and Sci-Fi elements on-screen. I had fun doing it, so i guess this is what they meant by having a dream job come true.

*beep beep* Hearing noises coming from near my left hand, i look at my wristwatch. 18.24 P.M.

I look out the windows and before i know it, i might have skipped dinner. (Owh ? It's pretty dark out there, i guess this is where i go to that new place. Maybe i should invite Vinn before he goes straight to the playtesting room tonight)

*knock knock* I feel the desk being knocked twice from my right. "Oy Alan, you there, yet?"

I stretches out when i see him. "Hmm~? Ah. Sure do, what's up?"

"Well, it's almost past 7 p.m, so i thought of taking a break tonight on the new cafe just around corner. You coming?" He shows a thumbs up directing towards the stairs down.

"Guess we had the same idea. I was planning to go there yesterday, but my little brother just have to show up in front of the company's door"

*door opens and closes*. Having done our job, we both packed our work attires and we chat as we walk to the cafe.

Unfortunately, as always, he keeps on about rambling about his kid's nigh perfect scores, my status being unmarried at the age of 25 and lastly about my little brother just yesterday.

Guy walk forwards, facing me backwards. "Ey, don't that mean he acknowledges you?"

I am conflicted by this. "Acknowledges me? Ri~ght, he acknowledges the one who always leave him at daycare and have older bro to pick him up. Pretty sure i didn't do much with him in daily life"

He points me with his right index " *finger snaps* But you must've bring him some pleasant memories, otherwise, why would he just stands for like 10 minutes, fidgeting with his bag?"

(... I'm not so fond of socializing back in my country, but i did know of a moment where we mostfully enjoyed our time having fun on some waterpark. I miss it)

I scratches at my uncut moustache. "... I guess i did. So, what should i do to repay this kind favour of yours, Sir Vincent~?"

His tongue is sticking out, showing a look of disgust. "Blegh, gross! I'm not fond of these bromance moment, man.

Wanna repay this heartful advice from your senior?

Ya better bring him some gifts for waiting all that time standing around"

I maintain myself a poker face. "Oh now it's your turn to be my mom, huh? Pfft. Damned Pedo"

The guy walks up to my right, facing the way we're walking while giving me a light-punch. "Ey man, who you calling a Pedo ? This nice guy just want his kid to greet him from work is all, and having your brother wait for you is no different"

I take his last word sincerely. "... I guess it is. Well, there it is just in sight. The 'Bamboo Forest' Cafe"

This building used to be a rundown DVD-centered shop, but it can't keep up with the modern generation up-to-date.

The logo is written in Latin fonts with green marks like that of a bamboo's outer skin.

People come and go with a satisfied look on their faces from the glass door infront of us, making me want to go inside even more.

I feel a thud on my back, turns out to be Vince patting me. "Hmmph, let's enjoy ourselves to the fullest tonight, aye? But i guess i won't drink tonight so my smell won't make my kid run from me. Besides, i still have some important matter in the company"

I walk towards the cafe's entrance. "Eh. You do what you do best"

(That's a seldom sight. For him to actually reward his kid by not drinking 'The Usual' , i guess here more than just meet the eyes.

When i think of how i have to throw out some habits of mine just to take care of my children, IF i were to have children... Ngh, i'm not sure i can be a dad myself)

Speaking of family, me and my father just happened to be called to this country thanks to his accountant job and my achievements.

My mother works as a math and chemist teacher in one of the high school around town.

My big brother who is 2 years older is out of town on business as a manager of a car company.

My little brother is 7 years old and is still on kindergarten. The reason he is left behind a decade is a result of both me and my big brother becoming independent back in our home country.

And so that is the reason why i'm being wary of any potential bad guys preying on my little brother, not excluding my partner beside me who's still rattling on about him.

(But it's not all dust and ashes, after all, good things doesn't last forever but they stay inside) We walk up towards the glass door, and i silence my thoughts.

*Bell rattles*

. . .

Vincent slurps the insides of his a plastic cup which is coated in brownish white. "Fwahah! And this is why a warm milk coffee's the best! For me, it releases the fatigue on the body after staring sitting still and staring at screen at a prolonged time."

Gently, i shake my ice cup to mix the upper and bottom part inside it. "I still prefer a cold green tea mixed with mint herbs over that. I don't wanna spend my time tonight at the company being insomniac after what you've put up on my drink back then" I fiddle around with the straw inside my old greenish coated cup.

"Yeah yeah. You and your weak body after drinking a cup o' white coffee. You jelly?"

I lift up my left middle towards him. "Shut it, you big musclehead. Anyways, i wanna head back home early, i'll follow up later at the company 2 hours from now on if i'm not busy"

He sways off my hand that showed him the sign just now. "Buy a gift for your lil' bro before that! I recommend a good luck charm or memento and the likes!"

I stand up, carrying my bag and everything else from the company in check. "Yeah yeah whatever, later then"

*Bell rattles*

I walk out of the cafe, with the feeling of being out in the cold. ( *breathes out* A gift, huh? To consider what i'd best buy for my little brother, he really is a family man at heart. *sniffles* Ugh, getting cold these days)

Leaving Vinn behind at the cafe, i went back to the company's underground garage with the plan to take my motorbike to a gift shop at the nearest plaza before going home.

(Will another ant doll do? How about writing tools? Does he paint? Pretty sure drawing is also enticing to him. What about taking him out for a walk with Sara? Maybe have another swim nearby? What about just buying him an ice cream?... Man, just what would it best be?). Scratching my head, i haven't figured what present i may give.

*Buzz, Buzz* I notices my phone buzzing in my pants' left pocket, and looking at the screen turns out is the boss' number calling for me. (Great, another boulder on my shoulder ... Welp, it won't pick itself up)

I press on the call button. "Boss. What's the matter calling me this late tonig-"

"Alan! I need you in my office ALONE as soon as possible tonight, don't keep me waiting!" My ears were blasted, making me turn down the volume by a few ticks.

I see the timer for the phone call just stopped. "Wait! I ... *sigh* a~nd she called it off without a reply" I tap the red button to close my end of the call.

(Great, what's the matter with her just now? She sounds a little excited and more joyful than usual. Hope it doesn't involve me changing to another department).

I quickly go back towards the company, enter the elevator to the 4th floor and walk fast straight to the boss' room, knocking before opening the door. " *knock knock knock* Excuse my intrusion, Boss. It is Alan, you called for my presence?" I peek the room, looking at the woman standing at the far end of the room.

The woman is crossing her arms, while putting a thinking pose. "Ah! Come in, Arl! You're just in time"

Closing the door, i saw her magnificence as the brown dim light around the room shows the beauty of her sitting gallantly looking at the scenery of the town.

In a model look of black office-themed attire, blue heels and semi-transparent black stockings, fine-looking body line and her assets, and her medium-length hairstyle that covers her right eye, anyone would think that it's a no-brainer to propose to her at one point... Is what people would normally think, but unfortunately only to me she's a sometimes a pain to deal with.

Scratching my back, i haven't figured out why i am here in the first place. "Umm... What's the matter, boss?"

The woman struts off around her table and closes in towards me. "Arl! Do you want to be one of the testers?!"

I back off because of how uncomfortably close she is. "Yeah sure do, but not to the extend of debugging and the likes . . . i still haven't heard the matter yet, boss"

"It's nothing urgent really, we've just hired 2 more people talented in your stead so you can rest more easily"

(Hmm, at least a good news from her, once in a while. Now, how about i do the usual again? Hehe)

"... That it, then? Because of how excited you are from call earlier, i thought you needed me for another date so your parents can -"

She closes hear ears with both index fingers. "Nanana, i don't wanna hear it~, i'm still eager for this company afterall. Besides, i can have you for myself"

I faces backwards off her. "Of course you are, with you as a leech"

As intended, she walks to my front as to face me. "Wha-?! How dare you call this lady a leech!"

I reaches my hands out pointing towards the nightly lit city. "Well, if i were to date a girl around here, i'd prefer her to be more ... Charming than you are right now, Sa~ra"

She flails her arms around. "Oh, boohoo, what a surprise~, the man i'm dating with still wants other than me. . . Say, what do you find i'm lacking off?"

"Well, you're a little cold but still cherishes the team that time Alfred's department struggles with the 3D models.

Calculative, but it's not like you're always perfect on your job so that's why i sometimes prepared as to reduce your workload that came from the higher ups

And i know how you differentiate when in And out of the company, and i savor them both.

As far as i know, there'd be someone more better than you but, that's exactly why i don't want to search for someone other than you" My right hand reaches her left shoulder.

She touches it with her right hand. "Mmm... Can't help but be proud when you put it that way. But from the way you talk just then, it's like you were trying to-"

I put my right index infront of her mouth. "Shh~. I never said about wanting to break up, do i boss?"

"...I, guess you didn't... You damned tease..." She holds my right index for a few seconds before putting them away.

I shrug my shoulders off. "Is that so?"

Sara Arson, the moment i got eyes on her on the company i knew she's just the right type for me. She's in her early thirties, has a brown skin, a bit more on the tomboyish side, short haircut and lastly, the one i teases the most in this place.

She's our neighbor with her house facing directly to us. I know this one morning after having a light jog we saw each other in front of another.

We greeted each other and she tells me to come by her house sometimes if possible. I did so by then, where we two just go on playing an aircraft arcade game until it's almost midnight, i still remember how red my ears were after being grounded.

Weeks ago while working on the job, she called me out to go out with her to the park. Expecting it to be a meeting of sort, i reflexively saved my works and gone up to her office immediately, and the moment she sees me she tells me to help her with the luggage. After fitting them to her car, she tells me to sit with her on the car and to leave the bike behind. I was tense, cold sweat all over my hands, after arriving at the site i was ... uh, dumbfounded.

It's just a casual picnic with her talking about the company's work and tips for the workout on the morning and afternoons, how's family and all that. That is, until the very end

"*giggle*" I can't hold out my laughter when i recall a moment from the past.

She furrows her eyebrows. "What're you laughing at?"

"Oh, me? I just can't believe there comes the moment that the one i respect the most gets to be the one i had fun chatting with the most.

Like honestly, i still can't forget how you were dumbstruck back then"

She facepalms with how her face trying to hide the embarassment. "Ugh, who wouldn't? I've prepared all of that stuff just for you to be so accepting? I mean, i said 'Would you go out with me with marriage in mind' and you just reflexively said 'Sure' ? Off all things you can answer, it is 'Sure'?!

I thought the date'll end at least a little bit more sweet.

No wonder i am the way it is right now"

"Welp, who would dare to refuse such proposal from one of a kind gorgeous lady?

Anyway, is me being a tester the only matter?"

She goes back to her desk. "Actually, i will be accompanying you for it" She picks up her bag from behind the desk.

I prepare along while opening the door exiting the room, waiting for her behind me. "Heh...You sure are possesive, boss"

She light-punches my back. "I told you to call me Sara when we're alone, and i'm just being thoughtful is all"

"Alright then, so when will it be?"

She heads outside the room first before me. "Now" She stares me deeply, guilting me with pressure.

I closes the door and walk towards the way down. "... OK then. Need any help before going to the 2nd floor?"

She follows suit and walks alongside me. "Nah i'm fine, we're bringing nothing inside the company anyway"

"You so sure about that?"

Her face looks to the left, showing me her nape. "... Well, seeing as almost everyone is home, while we're going down, would you... um... " She scratches it with her right fingers.

I instantly know what is in her mind by experience. "Sure, just give me your hands"

"Huh?! I haven't said anything yet!" Her face flustered and a little red.

My thoughts said so exactly. "Your body does it for you anyways, so i win"

"Ugh..." She does as i said, with no one to see us inside this building along the way.

(Score 3 out of 1 this week, i can only plan for some payback for that last one someday). We compete with each other and the one who wins the most gets to do the other 'biddings'.

From accompanying to a meeting with her parents, helping me with my jobs, and accounting on the best pitch for the game. (But yeah, it feels... nice. For now, that is.)

Minutes gone by, and we've arrived at the playtesting room at the 2nd floor and when i open the door to the room, us both are greeted with the quiet sounds of the machines as all the attendants in the room are immersed in the Dive-gear they're wearing on their head. (Oh. It's awkward, alright)

You are reading story Yet Another One at novel35.com

These Dive-gears are the pieces of equipment needed for our project.

If Virtual Reality headsets is a medium for the games that one will boot up within their own personal computers, Dive-gears is a little more heavy on the price and requirements it needs to be inatalled and work properly.

From the outside, it may look like we're just sleeping with VR headsets attached ontop of a bunkbed, and that is exactly what is needed before one is able to Dive in.

The 'bunkbed' is of course, the main component of these Dive-gears. Heavy processing workload specialized CPUs, 4x64 DDR5 RAM, Water-cooling technology with the maximum efficience able to put out more than 30 celcius, all this from a trusted and known manufacturing company that 'supports' the project and acts as our main sponsor.

Controllers and other hand-motion tools don't exist for Dive-gears as the project took solely within our conciousness assisted by the 'bunkbed', making those tools obselete.

1 pcs of these Dive-gears costs at least 375 $ U.S Dollars, complete with the 'bunkbed'.

We're not sure about the right pricing for the game but i estimate it'll be above 80 $ when it's In The Gold.

Sara faces me, nodding towards all the slumbering attendants. "Alrighty then, which one of us is "Diving In" first?"

I approach the closest Diver after closing the door. "That'a not a proper question you'd be asking the others, but...I'd say you first, being the boss and all"

"Oh my, if that is what... wait, are you looking for a chance t-"

I put my right index infront of her again. "No, i am not looking for a chance so i can oogle you. Sheesh, it's too late for you to be wary of your body being fondled with in this situation? Should've done that back in your room"

"I always wondered if you're a psyc-"

"You're way too obvious, that's all"

"Fine, fine, you win"

I follow after her, she picks the farthest and empty Dive-gears from the other testers in the room. 'Course she does, these afterall are her own sets, including another 3 closest to it. 4 sets in total.

They're engrained with marking specifically to tell which is the common's and VIPs'.

I just happened to be her appointed guy and so i have the privilege to be directly by the boss herself, so we both straps our Dive-gear simultaneously. (Countdown starts from 15 to 30 seconds and i need to calm my heart for my first time Diving)

I can only see black with few lights seeping in inside the Dive-gear i'm wearing.

[ Booting : 6 % ]

I feel my right hand being gripped tight. (... Damn, why now of all time ?)

[ Booting : 23 % ]

"Ey, i thought you've Dived right in first, Boss?"

"It's Sara"

"... Why're you holding my hand before the dive, Sara?"

"Can i not surprise you before it?"

"*sighs* But of course.

I'll welcome you if you asked for it, is all i'm saying"

"... I hope we get to meet again shortly after"

"No promises, though. So to make it easier, how about some catchphrases and words that'll make it easier for both of us to know each other ?"

"Hmm? I guess your usual one will do. Mine is-"

"You tease?"

". . . Is that ... ugh, so annoying! I bet you're grinning from the sound of it"

"Because you're filled with charms, i have the strength to do so"

[ Booting : 74 % ]

"Well, enough chitchat, i'm just 5 seconds away so let's try our best in there, yeah? "

"I will . . . Arl? Don't die and . . . I lo-"

Something within me just urges me to say the one thing if i were to be said one. "Me too" I tightened my grip on her hands before all my senses, even the sense of touch, came to a halt.

I can only see darkness, before lights starts to seep in at some point. (I get the last one but what's about the earlier one ? 'Don't Die'?) I have mixed feelings about this. And i also noticed how it feels like we'll be away for some time.

Why? 'cause time flows differently in the Dive.

While it's 3-4 weeks in the game, on the outside it's only about 1-2 hours.

That and my intuition telling me something is gonna happen on the outside not far from now on.

(. . . Should've bought a gift for my little brother first)

My conciousness is fading away when my vision disorientates, spiraling onto the center of a dot that enlarges revealing coloured tubes with spinning waves and all kinds of particles.

(Whoa, i'm being sucked in a wormhole of sort. Seeing it directly, i can see why many people still prefer these genres mix-ups even until now. I totally made the right decision on not experimenting with the HUD on that plane... hopefully. Oh, i see light. Can't wait to see what's over yonder)

. . .

. . . It's . . .  dark and . . . cold . . . and yet . . . i had the feeling . . .  that i have . . .  experienced this before . . . not too long. . . ago . . .

... It's beginning to feel warm, and there's some ... light ... fading in... and i'm starting to... get used to this... feeling...

I'm standing on a white blue-ish flat plane with snows falling and it's ever reaching. (This sure feels surreal, but how do i turn down the brightness? It's too white for my preference. Damn, if only there was some kind of guide for this)

Silence commences. (... Just a second away now... Anytime you're ready. . . I know it's loading but does it really want to keep me waiting?)

The sound of 'fwip' came from my behind. " *warps* Greetings, Diver! I, an Autonomous Dive Instructor Unit, will be your guide for this course!"

I faces backwards, and see a flying drone with a big blue core as it's eyes. I am reminded of a similar object akin to this.

I instill my face to put on a diajointed look. (... Okay, why it gotta be that lightbulb copycat? Anyways, can you tell me how many of the Divers are and where they are currently?)

"Sure do know how! All you gotta do is to speak" HUD. Whether it's out loud, whisper, silently or in heart it does not matter, so long as you thought of opening the 'HUD' it will appear before you and Only You. There, will appear options such as Accessabilities Menu, Audio, Visual and World Options, Divers, Command, Debug, Dive Out, and many others for you to check!"

I start to walk around him circling. (OK. What if i need to show my Status like Health, Mana and the likes to someone other than me? Like say, to the other Divers and Quests that requires for it?)

"The same as before, only you need to think or talk of 'Show HUD' and it will be visible to the others, even the non-Divers!"

I stop as i came to realize things. (Wait, i thought it's just the Divers from the gist of it?)

"Not true at all. The Admins decided that the inhabitants are better if they were to have the developed advanced intelligence . Surely you know this the best, Alan Hassani?"

(... If that's what they wanted, i have no say to it. Anyways, i'll try out the stuff you just mentioned.

(HUD) )

A black rectangular message filled with white texts shoeing 'Debug', 'Audio', Accessability', 'Gameplay', 'Visual', 'Command', 'Log(s) and many others but the one i am searching for, is 'Diver(s) .

(Oh yeah, it shows up after i thought of it! Hmm, i like to experiment on something... (HUD)

The message disappears as i thought of it. (He~eh? It closes alright. (HUD - Diver(s) )

The message appeared again but instead of showing all of the previoud texts, it now shows 4 empty collumns with the only texts of 'Diver' above those columns that may suppose be their names.

(Ohohoho, it shows! ... Wait... Hold on a sec, 4 Divers? Guide!)

"Yes, Diver?" The Guide talks from above me.

(Hey. I thought there were at least 10 Diving before me and Sara Dive In this ongoing project?)

It just stays there, with lights flickering in and out.

(... Guess i gotta wait, huh?

You know what, i'll just gonna meddle with something else. (HUD). Let's see...

Show me the latest log of the Divers right now)

With me having said that, what appears before me is a text log. (There's a lot of text here alright, but there's only 2 Divers talking in the chat box before me and Sara) Of all the rambling nonsense about meta, builds and clans, there's a specific part i'm interested in.

(Focus on that one, show me it's content)

# log archive 45

Jackal : Man i'm stuffed, don't wanna go back debugging that damned grey forest again if i could help it.

Damnit, i really wanna go back home after the break tonight but i've been stuck here for . . . how long, again ?

Gaius : 3 hours. That got you down bad?

Jackal : Says the one who's just camping around the site and not even observing the whole thing!

Gaius : You coulda just Dive Out, you know? This is why i'm grossed out by 'immersive' players

Jackal : I'm telling you again and again, the option to Dive Out doestn't appear at the HUD! Here's the Screenshot if you still don't believe me!

Gaius : I've seen this many times now, i'm bored, anyways i'mma Dive Out to continue my writing, later.

... J? You there?

Jackal : Yeah i'm here, what's a matter? Can't Dive Out like you said? Huh, what's this picture?

Gaius : ... I guess we're both stuck, then. Wonder how many days outside until the Admin fix this

Jackal : ... Terrific

My skin shivers after closing it. (... That's... a little worrying. (HUD) )

I start to confirm all of the white texts that are there.

(Hmm, it's still there, so maybe there's something wrong with their gear? Oh well.

(HUD-Dive Out).

. . . HUD, Dive Out . . . Guess i'm done for good, 'cause this isn't funny anymore... Though i did jinxed myself by having said that intuition in my head anyways. If i'm gonna die for real, at least i wanna have Sara by myside before that and live a somewhat balanced slow and fast life... If only she was here with me. I just hope all of those moments aren't fabricated for her parents to see...

This is getting gloomy. Guide, i wonder if i can go have a chat with the other 3 while in this plane?...

Uh, Guide?)

I waited for at least 15 seconds before the it's lights came back to their stationary state again. "*beep beep, beep* Yes, Dear Diver?"

I take upon myself to crouch on the floor or to be exact, squatting because my head starts to shoe stars. (Ngh... Can i go have myself message with the other Divers in this plane? I'm getting lonely with the game's loading the world)

"I am the one who losds the world you're going into and No you cannot chat with the other Divers, as you will need to meet with them directly at least once while in the Dive"

My body start to feel heavy on the upper side. (... Guide. Will i'll be able to encounter you in the Dive?)

"You can find me on one of the 'Unknown Ruins' scattered in the Dive"

I am reminded of a certain character with the nickname and characteristic that suits it well. (Gui . . . I'm tired of that. From now on you'll be called Alk and call me Arl)

It flickers light faster than before for a few second. "... Authorization Override... Success."

I look down and furrows my eyebrows. (... Alk, what'll happen if i die in the Dive? Would i respawn and nothing happens? Would i have to start back from scratch again? Or would my brain overloads, and die for real?)

For some second, it flickers before showing red lights replacing the blues. " *error beeps* This information is not available. Is there anything else?"

(Huh? What do you mean by that? Answer me! What will happen if i die in the Dive?

Will i go back to this plane or standby until a squadmate picks me up and revive me or do we Dive Out?)

"Information Classified"

(Shit! I guess i have to meet with the other 3 regarding that matter . . . Wonder if it's Alfred again, honestly. That doesn't make it any easier so I'll have to look into the others' logs for more information and hopefully it'll make it easier to live while in the Dive.

Alright Alk, how do i Dive In?)

"Say the keyword "Dive On" and-"

(Dive On!)

*woosh* The room starts to shrink little by little, showing a portal towards me.

I sprint and jump right into it. (Later Alk! Whoo!)

My body felt as if it's beeing squeezed as if it were done soe to fit in a little shape. (Ugh, i still can't get used to this feeling after all!)

" (echoes) ... I do not understand this one" I heard Alk talks behind my back, but when i face backwards, the portal is not there.

(Just gotta see what's one the other side ... I wonder who i'll be?)

. . . 

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