Alpha Dreamscape

Looking to do something a little different for you lovely people. Here is the beginning of a story where two friends will enter a virtual reality. They will take up the avatars of RPG-type roles in the 'Dreamscape' (One will end up in the avatar of the other gender)

Let me know if you think this will be a good idea (Comment and like)

Alpha Dreamscape

Dodging and weaving between the crowd, Jacob and Sampson see their destination ahead. In the distance is the large colorful and modern Dreamscape building at the end of the block. They are both brimming with excitement as they fight the city crowd to get there.

“Yo, Jacob!” Sampson cries out, ducking and diving between people to get ahead. “Keep up!”

Not wanting to be left behind, Jacob has to work harder to keep up with his much taller friend. Being only five foot five, Jacob has to take an extra step for each one of Sampon’s long strides.

“I see it!” Jacob calls back, pointing up at the promotional Dreamscape banner hanging from the building. “Dude…wait up!”

“Hurry up, Shrimp,” Sampson teasingly shouts back, only turning briefly in the crowd to check on his friend's progress.

No way was Jacob going to let Sampson reach the building first. Jacob was just as much of a reason for them both being invited down to Dreamscape Corp for the Alpha test.

Darting between some more of the crowd, Jacob sees Sampson ahead of him. Reaching out, he can almost grab hold of the worn leather Jacket Sampson was never seen without.

“HAHA!” Sampson cheers, stepping out of the crowd and onto the large marble step of the building. “I get to choose first!”

Wheezing, Jacob struggles to push through the crowd but eventually joins Sampson on the step a little deflated.

“No…fair…,” Jacob coughs, catching his breath as he leans against his friend with one hand. “We can’t all be six foot three like you. “

Sampson chuckles, before teasingly tapping Jacob on the head. “Sucks to be you.”

“Hey…,” Jacob defensively snorts in reply. “You’re just a bean poll!”

“I told you,” Sampson replies with a mischievous grin. “If you wanna be tall like me, you can borrow my sister's heels. They would suit a girly boy like yourself!”

Having heard that recycled joke time and time again, Jacob just reacts with a simple but sour expression, before standing up straight.

“Shall…we knock?” Jacob asks, looking at the large darkened glass entrance door in front of them.

Sampson turns and shrugs. “I don’t know.”

Stepping closer to the large door, they both expect it to automatically open for them. Being the R&D building for a high-tech corp, they’d come to assume that the entire place would be high-tech.

They both stand aimlessly at the door. Nothing happens.

“Umm…,” Sampsons mumbles.

Inpatient, Jacob steps forward and presses on the large glass panel. As the door starts swinging open, Jacob turns to give Sampson a smug grin. “A normal door…?”

“After you,” Sampson says, pointing into the building. “Ladies first.”

“Fine,” Jacob scoffs, gleefully entering the lobby of the building first.

The two boys look around in awe as each step they take echo’s through the marbled tiled lobby. The lobby Is empty—not a single other soul is present After minutes of walking, they reach the small reception counter at the far side of the room.

“Hello…?” Sampson calls out, standing at the unmanned counter.

They both pull confused faces as no one appears or answers them. Jacob looks around nervously and wonders if this is even the place.

“They said come to the front desk…right?” Jacob asks, pulling out his phone to look at the time. “Is this even the right place?”

Leaning over the counter, Sampson looks behind the desk to see no one—not even a single computer or even telephone system. “Weird,” he comments, still laying on the countertop to see behind.

Just as Sampson gets up off the desk, a single loud beep echo’s around the lobby. Both Sampon and Jacob are confused as to where it even came from.

“Well hello!” a computerized voice whurs, as the sound of humming buzzes to life just behind the counter.

Almost as if it appeared from nowhere, a small square drone with twin propellers hovers in the air. Flashing with several colored lights, the drone wafts toward Sampson.

“Whoa,” Sampson says, startled by its sudden appearance and interest in him.

The drone hovers ever closer to his face. Sampson wonders if he should defend himself by batting the odd drone away from his face.

“Seem’s to like you,” Jacob chuckles, as Sampson backs away from it.

“Are you…. Sampson Fisher?” the drone squeals and squeaks.

Giving Jacob a quick but confused glance, Sampson awkwardly smiles and nods in agreement “Yeah…that’s me.”

Making rhythmic beeping noises and cheerful flashes of light, the drone Swifty switches its attention to Jacob. Rushing to hover much lower at Jacob’s eye level, the drone beeps again.

“You must be…..,” the drone’s voice pauses and makes a grinding clunk. “…Jenny Ryans?”

Instantly, Jacob gives Sampson a filthy look. Sampson can only react with a deep belly chuckle.

“No,” Jacob huffs, folding his arms. “My name is Jacob Ryans!”

Sampsons continues to bounce with laughter. “I’d forgotten I’d done that!” Sampson howls. “Yeah…this is Jenny!”

Switching its attention back to Sampson, the lights on the drone all go a deep red color—almost like it’s trying to convey dissatisfaction.

“Lucky Jenny’s physical appearance matches what’s been submitted”. The drone buzzes in disapproval. “Does the Sampson think that incorrect data like this is funny..?”

“Clearly,” Jacob sighs, replying to the drone question.

“It is funny,” Sampson sniggers, playfully pushing Jacob’s shoulder.

Whirling higher into the air, The drone’s lights all go green.

“Very well,” the drone squeaks and hums. “Applicants accepted into the Alpha phase. Please, Sampson Fisher and Jenny Ryans, follow me to the testing facility.”

As the sound of large deadlocks opening echoes through the lobby, a large slab of the wall behind the counter begins to slowly slide open. The drone flashes a beam of light on the floor. “Follow me.”

“It’s Jacob… by the way,” Jacobs angrily corrects, as all three walk around the counter and toward the new bright opening and the long corridor that’s behind.

Sampson beings to quietly giggle in reaction, knowing he’s wound Jacob up with his prank.

“Sorry…,” the drone replies, still flying forward, but spinning one hundred and eighty degrees to shine its light in Jacob's eyes. “I can't correct your profile without permission from the doctor. We will update your correct gender and name at the testing facility.

“You entered my gender as FEMALE!?” Jacob whines, pushing at Sampson as they walk, but finds himself being pushed away by Sampson's superior size.

“Don’t be such a baby,” Sampson replies with a toothy grin. “It’s just a prank bro.”

“Yeah real funny,” Jacob snidely remarks. “Just like that time you entered my name into the cheerleading tryouts and told me it was for the football team.”

The drone buzzes again in disproval, before shining its light in Sampson's face. “This one has an interesting idea of jokes.”

“Tell me about it!” Jacob answers, rubbing his arm as they all approach a single elevator at the end of the corridor. “Was so embarrassing. Of course, the cheerleading girls thought it was a riot.”

“Don’t be such a sour puss,” Sampson laughs again, patting Jacob on the head. “We all saw the pictures of you in the cheerleader's outfit and we all thought you looked cute. Not my fault you couldn’t fend those tiny girlies off.”

Jacob remembers the shame and how the school reacted. He shivers just thinking about it.

They all then stop just in front of the elevator. Sampson goes to press the call button, but the panel to the side is blank.

“Calling elevator,” the drone squeaks with a crackle and a spark.

Watching the elevator's floor display count down, Jacob doesn’t want to even acknowledge Sampson. The tension between the two friends is even enough for the Drone to notice.

“Sampson Fisher,” the drone states, hovering just above him and looking down. “During this Alpha stage, please do not enter information incorrectly as a ‘prank’. That upsets my programming. Please refer to Jenny as the correct gender and name at all times.”

“Yeah yeah,” Sampson dismissively replies. “Seem’s this robot can’t take a joke either.”

“I’m not a robot,” the drone instantly replies, its light going dark red again. “I’m an Artificial Intelligence. Please call me ARC or AI Roaminng Companion.”

Sampson turns to Jacob and gives him a sarcastic look. “Seems Arc here thinks he’s more than just a glorified robot receptionist.”

Arc’s lights flash deep red colors and it beeps. “I’m not a receptionist!” it replies with distortion. “My role is to guide Sampson Fisher and Jenny Ryans through the Alpha process and assist in the Dreamscape.”

“Stop calling me Jenny,” Jacob huffs in exasperation. “No much of an AI if you can’t even get that right!”

As Arc turns to look at Jacob, the lift pings, and the door opens. The elevator is empty.

“Sorry Jenny,” Arc replies with a beep, hovering towards and into the empty elevator, still looking at Jacob. “We will correct your profile once we get to the doctor.”

“Yeah Jenny,” Sampson teases as they both join Arc in the elevator. “Stop being such a woman about it.”

As the doors slowly close, Arc beeps and hums once more. As the elevator begins to move, Arc extends a small arm from its square body and attaches itself to a small opening in the elevator wall.

“Human friendships confuse me,” Arc remarks, whirring and buzzing with thought. “I wonder if the Sampson would be as amused if the proverbial shoes were on the other proverbial foot.”