A Real Life Meet (Book 2) (Page 190)

~~~(POV: Scott Autumn)~~~

~~~(Location: Home, Watching TV)~~~

Jess is asleep next to me, and I've got about a day and a half left before I have to get back into The Aeternus Universe. We're in bed, and the TV in my room is giving me all that I need. That being news outside of where I'm at in The Aeternus Universe.

"The Parasite that's been unleashed in The Aeternus Universe has begun to slow due to the efforts of the 500 Guilds joining forces."

The 500 Guilds refers to the best guilds across all VRMMORPGs. Since The Aeternus Universe is now the top dog, everyone has moved to it. Including the top 500 Guilds. They have virtually limitless resources.

There is a code of conduct for the top 500 Guilds. A single rule, if you will.

If a game important to the top 500 Guilds is in a game-over situation, they'll set everything aside and work together. That's the code. It's been like this since the Hellos Online. Hellos Online was a popular VRMMORPG that has great potential.

It was also the first to utilize the gaming pods that everyone is so familiar with today. This was what began the top 500 Guilds. This was before my time. About 12 years before I was born.

Hellos Online had developed a game-over scenario about a year into its life. But the top 500 Guilds weren't interested in helping each other to stop it. In the end, the game ended and was deleted. After that moment, everyone realized how important it is to work together.

Especially if it meant the end of something everyone loved and enjoyed.

"But many Galaxies are refusing to recognize the power of the Players and this great cooperation. There are still so many out in The Aeternus Universe believing The Parasite will come to an end naturally."

That's the scary thing about a game-over scenario. You don't know you're in one until it's too late. If you can see a game-over scenario before it happens, that's the best way to stop it. But every game over that's ever happened was because the games don't tell you.

Same with The Aeternus Universe. It's why there are billions invested in monitoring the state of VRMMORPGs. There are companies out there making obscene amounts of money from just keeping track of information.

"Scott... C'mon... Let's sleep..."

Jess stirs next to me, and I can't help but smile a little.

"Just let me finish this program, and I'll let you cuddle me as much as you want."

She relents, and I continue listening to the news.

"The top 500 Guilds are having a meeting tomorrow in LA. Anyone and everyone are welcome."

That's... New...

That's where we live. It's not uncommon knowledge that California and LA have some of the highest gamer populations in the world. But to make Guilds from all over the world come here. I guess it doesn't matter. There are always some that need to travel.

I'm tempted to go tomorrow.

"It's being held at The Convention Center."

I'll have time to stop by and check it out. It could be one of the only chances I have to meet some of the most important figures in gaming.

I might even be able to help them. I'm doing all I can from inside The Aeternus Universe, but I haven't done anything out here on Earth to help. Sharing some of the things I know could keep The Parasite at bay for longer than it wants to.

The Primeval Inherent wouldn't see it coming, either. It could buy more time that we need to stop it.

But I'm not going to reveal myself to the world. There are better ways to spread information anonymously. All I need is my phone and a secure connection at The Convention Center. With that, I'll be able to deal damage by proxy to The Parasite.

"Alright, that's all for tonight, Ladies and Gentlemen. The meeting at The Convention Center in LA starts at 10:00 AM PST."

With that, I turn off the TV and sink into the bed. Jess immediately wraps herself around me.

"So warm..."

Since I've had this time on my hands, we've been doing things together, like dates. Tomorrow will be the last day we can spend any time together for a good couple of weeks. She might be interested in going.

I'll be sure to ask her when we wake up tomorrow.