The ride from Alex's studio apartment to the South Side of Metropolis took roughly 25 minutes.Alex gazed up at the charming two-story house nestled amongst swaying trees and couldn't believe his eyes. This serene property on the rural outskirts of Metropolis finally offered a chance for a new beginning." Alex, it's perfect!" Emma exclaimed, squeezing his hand excitedly. A quaint stone pathway led through lush green grass up to the front porch lined with pots bursting with colorful blossoms. The aged white siding and dark blue shutters gave the place a cozy, homey feel, like visiting a beloved grandparent's house.Emma was delighted at the open and airy space warmed by golden evening light. This place was ages away from the cold sterility of cramped city apartments, this house wrapped its occupants in comfort. It was a rare luxury.Outdoors, Alex spotted a glittering stream marking the far edge of the property. He grinned, picturing lazy summer days resting on its waters. Nestled on
The rich aroma of expertly brewed coffee filled the building as Emma and Alex groaned awake.Entering the quaint kitchen, Alex discovered Nexus by the counter proudly preparing breakfast. “Wow, something smells nice" Alex said as he got down stairs.“Morning Alex. Brush and have a bath before breakfast"“What? Who does that these days? Come on Nexus, just a slice of toast. I'm famished” Alex begged." No, rules are rules. Get yourself clean and you can have breakfast” Nexus replied." Just go take you bath” Emma's voice softly came from behind him "Nexus would not allow you take a bite until you are cleaned up”" Damn robot, I would fry your circuits, loose your bolts and toss your scrap metal into a grinder” Alex said as he rushed back up to have his bath.A hot piping bath after, Alex rushed down refreshed."Wow, Nexus! Everything smells incredible," Emma said, eyeing towers of golden toast and a steaming pot of coffee. "That was pretty fast,” Emma said with a laugh." What? Fast?
The training schedule was slated for two hours every morning but it was completed in less than that.Alex and Emma were eager to know what was stored in Emma's DNA.After refreshing, they headed down to the basement as Nexus had told them earlier.As Alex and Emma descended into the basement the next morning, they froze in astonishment at the entirely transformed space. The shabby arranged equipment from yesterday all had their place and they were grouped. The room was glittering like an ultra-modern laboratory and technology center sleek enough for a mega-corporation's headquarters."Nexus...what did you do down here?" Emma gasped, gaping at the banks of giant monitor screens and expensive-looking equipment arranged into different sections. She noted clear boundaries now delineating a medical research wing, an engineering workshop, a server farm room and even a gaming area with top-of-the-line gaming equipment.Nexus' voice emanated proudly from an intercom system he had installed in
Alex and Emma were shocked at Nexus’s explanation.“How?" they both asked in sync." How would it be easier for your low processing brains to understand?" Nexus mused " in simple terms, Alex has been around you more than anyone, when you were kids, it was easier for anything to have been easily passed across. For example you must have spent far too much time together across the years and have built some kind of trust”" It's more like a Queen Knight relationship, she trusted you and passed part of the code to you” Nexus explained." So you're saying that she transferred part of the code to me and she had no idea she did?” Alex asked" Precisely” Nexus replied "In a nutshell, the code became further broken into three places, so even if Vyus had gotten me, he would have gotten an incomplete map and he would have never gotten to the Ascension System Codex”" Are you saying the code embedded in my DNA split? Like the was transferred? How is that even possible?” Emma asked" That's somethi
“Ahh," sighed Alex as he clutched his chest “I thought we would have to go through the kidnapping process once more".“Deep dive hmmmm, I haven't tried any of this. Can you explain the process?" Emma asked Nexus gestured grandly to the sleek black recliners with elaborate headsets hooked into sophisticated computer systems along the back wall of the basement lounge."Unlike a barbarian I know I would explain the system properly” Nexus said pointing to Alex, "this is Deep Dive - the most advanced and immersive virtual reality gaming and simulation technology in existence," he announced.Stepping closer, Emma and Alex noted the contour-fitting helm wrapped around the user's skull and upper face, studded with sensor pads at key points. An adjustable band secured the unit so it would not shift during use for optimal data capture. Intricate optics dangled in front of the wearer's eyes, ready to convey high resolution projected images. Speakers curved inward toward the ears for multi-dimen
“Ahh," sighed Alex as he clutched his chest “I thought we would have to go through the kidnapping process once more".“Deep dive hmmmm, I haven't tried any of this. Can you explain the process?" Emma asked Nexus gestured grandly to the sleek black recliners with elaborate headsets hooked into sophisticated computer systems along the back wall of the basement lounge."Unlike a barbarian I know I would explain the system properly” Nexus said pointing to Alex, "this is Deep Dive - the most advanced and immersive virtual reality gaming and simulation technology in existence," he announced.Stepping closer, Emma and Alex noted the contour-fitting helm wrapped around the user's skull and upper face, studded with sensor pads at key points. An adjustable band secured the unit so it would not shift during use for optimal data capture. Intricate optics dangled in front of the wearer's eyes, ready to convey high resolution projected images. Speakers curved inward toward the ears for multi-dimen
Alex felt tired of going back and forth with Nexus, but he felt the environment Nexus created at its core was truly wonderful.He felt the aesthetics were truly relaxing. Sinking into one of the chairs, Alex asked “We're here, what next?"" Always rushing into things, but this time, time is of essence” Nexus signaled Emma to take a seat as he also sat down.“I have no idea the way the code was engineered, so we may have only one shot at getting the location, when we fuse, I have no idea how much time we would have so I would need us to be as fast as possible in getting as much data as we can. If we can only access the data once then it would be of benefit to us, we alone would know where the Codex is” Nexus had to let them know the importance of what they were about to do.“Okay," they both replied.Nexus beckoned Alex and Emma towards a sunken pit in the floor, filled with multitudes of cushions. "To truly fuse with my core, we must converge in an act of utmost connectivity - both ph
“Nice," Alex said out loud." What's it?” Emma asked." I was just given a quest from the system” Alex told her and then he turned to Nexus " Was that your doing?”" I have no idea what you are talking about. Why would I issue you a quest?” Nexus mused" You mean you can't see what I'm seeing right now?” Alex asked in confusion " No, j can't access it," Nexus answered.“So who else has access to the Nexus System aside from you?" Alex quizzed." I didn't do it but I suspect it should be the doing of the original System you were integrated with. I only applied my code on it, not overwritten it, so it means its most basic functions still stay. I have told you previously that I have no way of explaining your fusion with the technology and we've got no explanation whatsoever from Dr. Kaia” Nexus exploded him." What does the quest say?” Emma asked.A Dimensional GateConstruct a bridge between worlds to access the hidden No Zone. Your journey to the No Zone seems like an impossible one but