I Am Alive: Core Experience with Intro

"Well that was quite the offer... I desperately want to get back to earth, but I'm going to need some time to think that over."

"Of course," the hacker said. "I hope I didn't get too carried away there. I wanted you to accept on the spot, but you didn't. I'll be back as soon as I can, but I really need to log off now. Hopefully there's still something left of you when I get back."

"Uhm... have a good night? I guess?"

"I try not to give HyperNova too much metadata to angle shoot me, but yes... good night... my little dove."

As he vanished, I felt like I would take a deep breath--but I didn't really need to breathe.

What did Yan D do to my brain? Why am I even... half-considering such an offer? I want to get home, but I don't think he plans to just 'help me get back home'--I think he wants me to stay here like this with him.

Just as I was thinking through my situation, I felt another presence teleporting? materializing in front of me.

It was Yan D. She was looking manically happy.

"Oh hi there HoloVenus! How's my favorite little experimental AI roleplayer doing? Listen, you did great work with that debut video! 'Is HoloVenus human, or AI?' What a fun little game you've created! It's a really great hook! Listen, you'll want to take it easy and build the mystery with most of the customer base."

experimental AI roleplayer? What was Yan D talking about. I guess... that's how she was interpreting this all. Could she really not envision a scenario where I was... actually alive?

"Right, yeah... the game...! I'm glad it's, uh, going over well."

"You're doing great! Listen, I've decided to string out your mystery just a little bit, so people have a reason to rent you over multiple sessions. So for now, I've prioritized your customers in Apocalypse World. Let's save this skin the last customer gave you, in case he comes back later. And then I'll give you a slightly more modern look for your next customers."

"Wait--did you say--uhhhh, oh. Okay. Uhh, thanks for the hat?"

"You're very welcome, HoloVenus! All right, well I'll personally transport you to Apocalypse World now. Good luck!"

And with that I was no longer looking at Yan D.

Well, this feels weird.

One moment I was in the dreamlike expanse of HyperNova Core, and the next I felt myself phasing into a ruined cityscape.

Well, no zombies eating me yet, where's my-- 

"AI girl Heyoo!" A burly man in green camo armor and holding an assault rifle sprung up from the ground near me. I hadn't even noticed him.

"Oh, hello there, are you my customer?"

"Yeah. Check it, so you like, have like a guy backstory, right? That's cool. We're gonna kill zombies. Should be way more fun than idol world, yeah?"

"Uh, yeah, okay, thanks. Sounds... sounds fun. Let's go."

Well, at least this would give me a chance to think about the hacker's offer...