ORACLE1: Good evening Rahel. I can’t tell you how happy I am to finally meet you.
She skimmed the message, her eyes locking onto her name. She let herself hesitate for a moment and then responded.
UNINVITEDSYNNER: How do you know who I-I am?
She shook her head as the headset picked up the falter of her voice.
ORACLE1: Know who you are? I think I would know when someone found my gift. You see… I am the creator. This is my world.
Rahel snorted and clapped a palm against her leg. Fortunately, the headset did not know how to translate her reaction.
UNINVITEDSYNNER: Right. You expect me to believe that?
A brief pause.
ORACLE1: I can show you if you like.
She read and reread the words.
UNINVITEDSYNNER: How?
A summon suddenly opened in front of her. Her hand was itching to do accept the invite but there was a part of her which nagged her to just consider it a little longer.
ORACLE1: What could I possibly do to you?
Rahel mulled over the question in her mind, the intoxicated voices clapping and cheering her on to take the chance. Giving in to the temptation, she accepted the summon request and let the ORACLE take her to her fate.
“Welcome.”
She jumped as a voice drifted from somewhere behind her. She turned around and finally came face-to-face with the avatar of ORACLE1. He peered at her from behind steel-blue eyes and had his hands resting on the top of a metal workbench. Rahel gazed at the room around her, taking in the unfamiliar sight. She had seen all of the world, or so she thought.
That was, until she saw this place. It was a world beside the one she knew.
Large, blue sheets lined the walls and tools littered metal workbenches. She spied several toolchests pushed against the ends of the benches and small parts neatly sorted in containers. Though impressive, what lined the furthest wall left her mesmerized.
Rahel took a few tentative steps and stopped. She turned her head to ORACLE1 and gave him a questioning look as if it was alright for her to go closer. A sense of wonder flourished within and all she wanted to do was rush to the display like an excited child in a toy store.
ORACLE1 waved a hand with a small smile etched onto his lips. He beckoned in encouragement for her to go closer.
She moved towards the glass cabinets which lined the wall and peered at the items which stared back at her. They were made of metal, glinting underneath the overhead fluorescents. The plates seemed so smooth that they appeared to glow. She took in each little detail which she could cast her eyes on and her jaw fell open in awe.
Rahel had only ever read about them in books but never did she think that they existed.
“Are these…?” Rahel asked. Much to her surprise, she heard her avatar ask the question out loud. She fumbled, unable to finish her question.
The man nodded, the smile growing even greater. “They are exoskeletons, yes. Prototypes, at least.”
Rahel turned to face ORACLE1, seeing his blonde hair settle along his back as he turned to face her. “Who are you exactly?”
“Who else would I be? I’m Jerrick Rannulf.”
It took a few seconds for the name to click. Rahel balked, staring at him with widened eyes. Her hands shook and she found it difficult to articulate her words. “You’re the creator!”
Jerrick dropped his head in a quick nod to confirm her statement. “Now I hope this is not prudent of me but I would like to discuss the reason you are here.”
“The key,” Rahel blurted. Although there were many things that did not make sense, these two pieces seemed to click together naturally. “This is about the key.”
The man stepped out from behind the workbench and took a few steps towards her. “The key was planted in the world with the hopes of being found by only the worthiest of recipients. The algorithms,” he continued, “and the leaderboards both seemed to think that the worthiest was you hence why it dropped for you and no one else.”
“But what does it do?”
Jerrick’s eyes shone underneath the fluorescents, adding an ominous twinkle. “We were searching for someone who possessed a unique set of qualities who could assist us in our… mission to help better mankind. To join our family, so to speak.”
Rahel bit the bottom of her lip and let the proposition echo in her mind.
There was no denying it.
The idea of escaping from her current life – the late nights, the lack of aspire to do anything, the worthlessness and bleak nothingness which filled her days. This could be just the fresh start she needed to do something with her life; to become someone and change her life around. This could be the sign that she was waiting for.
Jerrick peered at her patiently, taking another step closer as he leaned against another workbench. He folded his arms. “We would look after you and give you everything you ever wanted. A generous salary, free healthcare, accommodation in our own employee village, top of the line equipment. Anything that your heart desires. You name it, we could give it to you. People with your unique aptitude and skillset don’t come up in our line of work very often.”
Forcing herself away from the exoskeletons gleaming in the glass cases, Rahel took a step closer to him. She swallowed hard, pondering her next question to make sure she did not mince her words with her intoxicated tongue. “And what it is exactly that you want me to do?”
“We need more product testers who can experiment with the prototype we would like to undertake testing on. Is this something you would be interested in?”
“Can I think about the offer?”
Jerrick bowed his head and closed his eyes. “Of course. Take as much time as you need.” He stood back upright and gave a last, fleeting smile.
And then as quick as it started, the man and the workshop vanished from view and she found herself plunged back amongst the bustle of the alleyway. As far as they were concerned, the avatars traipsed past in blissful ignorance and carried on in their quests and flogging of crafted wares.
Just like that, she became just another player of the millions in the wide ORACLE world. There was nothing special about her; nothing which would suggest to others that she possessed something which could change her life forever.
Feeling an impulsive surge to tell someone about what had just happened, Rahel opened the FRIENDS window and scanned down the short list of players. Throughout the years, the few she remained in connection with had become some of her closest friends; her greatest confidantes in life.
A strong pang of sadness channelled through her body and she emitted a small feeble murmur.
GONE_ROGUE_13 was still nowhere to be seen.
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