The Nirvana Project (prologue)

-

When the technician stepped in, Eustice started

and quickly sat up straight to fix his posture.

He wanted to look alert. Here was a chance

to prove himself, not just escape his cell

for a few hours a day just to play games

on this device that simulated real life

and would teach him valuable life skills.


"I’m Ashley,” she said as she closed the door

behind her. “I’ll be your technician for

the entire time that you are in the program…”


Eustice didn’t know what to say. The program

was part of his release. He had to show

that he was ready to handle himself

once he was on the outside. “Cool,” he said,

hoping to sound somewhat enthusiastic

without sounding too eager to get out.


“Bet you're glad, your time is almost up,"

she said and took a seat off to his side. 

"You're nearly free! This is the final phase

of treatment. It might be a bit of work,

but you've made it to the exciting part!"


Eustice just shrugged and shook his head, not really

sure what to think. When she didn't respond,

he went with the first thing that came to mind:


"I don't know what these next six months

will be like. All I know is that it's training

for the real world and when I get realeased.

But I'm told it's just like real life, if that's

what you want it to be, when you're 'in' it."

He pointed at the unit in her hand,

"That thing there, if that's what a 'Halo' is."


"Oh, I'm sorry," she said and bounced the Halo

on her palm like a tambourine a second. 

"We really should start out with the basics, first.

You've never seen a Halo Crown before.

You've been here for so long you wouldn't know

what one of these are, let alone Nirvana,

which is the operating system it uses.

That’s what we call the world, too. Behind it all

is a highly advanced super computer

that we control and can do anything with.

To start, the Halo scans your neural networks,

before it conveys new experiences

based off of what is stored in your memory.

To do this, Nirvana fills in the gaps

where memories fall short in their projections,

then runs it back for you as stimuli."


Eustice could only stare, while he felt stupid

for his complete lack of understanding.


She didn't notice, but continued on:


"Anyway, I bet you're excited that

you're getting your first look at The Dream World.

You are about to see what everyone

else has gotten to experience daily for years!"


"I know," Eustice replied, "I've heard of it.

People can now do whatever they wish.

They just tell their devices what they want,

and the AI creates that life for them.

I heard it's so realistic you can't

tell it apart from real life? If that's true,

and I do something that I might regret..."


"Don't worry," she said, guessing where he was

about to go with the statement. "It's all

guided. Nothing will happen that's not meant

to happen. But it's all to help you learn

how to take care of yourself once you're out."


Eustice rubbed the back of his head a moment,

but he didn’t know where to start with questions,

he had so many. “I’ll figure it out,”

he said, despite how reluctant he felt.


"I guess that's all you need to know in order

for us to start," she said, held up the Halo,

then smiled and added, "Mind if we get started?'"


 "Sure," Eustice said, leaning in to receive 

the Halo that he had waited so long for.

She placed it on his head, and their eyes met.

Her smile was so completely genuine,

she seemed just as happy as him, he thought.


"Ready to go to sleep?" the technician asked

as she adjusted the 'halo' on his head.

"That's not exactly what it does. It doesn't

put you to sleep, it paralyzes you..."


Before she could explain it any further,

he blurted, "Yes, I'm ready. Send me in!"


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