The Aeternus Universe Player Base Responds (Page 158)

~~~(POV: Jessica Autumn)~~~

~~~(Location: Watching the Gaming News Channel, Home)~~~

My attention is completely invested in what I'm seeing at the moment. There are recordings and footage of the Parasite breaking through the Quarantine Zone and spreading among the stars. Cera is playing right now, but I'm taking a bit of a break until Lizzy calms down. My friends in the company are saying it's not a good time to be on right now.

It's strange seeing this. There are endless possibilities that can happen in The Aeternus Universe. But this is probably the most drastic and disturbing thing I've ever seen. "Good thing it's just a game..." I couldn't imagine what something like this could do outside the game. I wonder if this Parasite will lead to catastrophic consequences.

I turn up the TV a bit more and listen to what's going on. "Players all across the globe are rallying together to actively combat the Parasite. The developers are remaining silent about the Parasite and its purpose. But many speculate that this will lead to a Game Over scenario. Where The Aeternus Universe will end, and the game will no longer be available." No wonder so many are rallying...

Many have come to depend on The Aeternus Universe for their finances. I didn't know how much money there was to be made in gaming until Scott showed me. "There are also reports that the closest Galaxies to Impyra are already fighting the Parasite. Some are even driving them out or killing the Parasite before it spreads too far." It's probably because people had time...

Being able to prepare for something is important, and all the creatures of The Aeternus Universe saw what was going on. "Many are speculating that even with the Quarantine Break, it'll be impossible to permanently stop the Parasite. Until a cure or solution arrives, only time can be bought..." There has to be a solution somewhere out there.

Scott must be busy doing other things to even really care about any of this. He's already very wealthy from his time playing other games. "He's even sharing all that hard-earned money with me..." I never thought I'd have a life like this in my adult life... Carrying my brother's baby is another rabbit hole entirely... But I'm not alone...

Millions of men and women across the world have selected the Arn Zael race, and they're going through the same things Scott and I are going through. "In other news, there is reportedly going to be a boom in babies born because of The Aeternus Universe and its controversial Arn Zael race." I lift my head as the topic changes, and I see the TV.

The Gaming News channel doesn't report on things like this, but since it's caused by a game, it's being reported on this channel. "As you can see from the graph. There are an estimated 220 million babies on the way. All as a result of incestual relationships, but in truth. None of these people are genetically related anymore." And I'm glad about it.

I've always loved my brother... But I never wanted to confront the possibility that it could be more than sibling love... In a way, I never have to find out. But that's just denial... For girls, the line of love can get a little blurry for us. We feel things differently. I snuggle the cushion more and close my eyes. My hand going further south. "Scott..." I can imagine it even now... It's burned into me...

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

~~~(Location: Genesis Dimension heading towards Primordium Prime, Immortalitas)~~~

I'm never going to get used to the beauty of the Genesis Dimension. It's so much more different than hyperspace. You can see galaxies as you pass through them. The approaching nebulas before leaving them behind. Oceans of bright and beautiful stars. "It's something that you can never forget..." Aurora is next to me. Her little holographic form is sitting cross-legged on the terminal.

I'm glad that we're going back to Primordium Prime. It gives me another chance to finish the mission I have here. I didn't think I'd be back so soon. "Yeah, the colors shift like you... It makes it beautiful..." I'm betting Aurora was designed with this in mind. I look towards her, and she's burying her face in her knees. As if hiding, but I won't bother her. Something important must be on her mind.