Rooms Page 2

  ***

  The following day, Rad felt better. He’d finally been able to rest, and early in the morning he left his flat and walked a short distance into the Center. He stopped to get something to drink and eat at a small shop called The Lamppost. He opened the door and sat at a small table near the back of the room. He ordered a coffee. It was delicious. He would have to ask his waiter what type of coffee bean it came from. He hadn’t had coffee that smooth, ever.

  As he was enjoying his drink, he overheard two women at the table next to him. It was obvious that the one closest to him had just moved here as well. He listened in.

  “I love to play, too, Miriam. I did it some on N-534, but the number of Rooms there was limited. I just got here last week. What’s it like?”

  Miriam seemed excited to share her knowledge and said, “I think you’re going to love it. We have a huge selection here. I’ll share my favorites with you, but there’s one that I just heard about that seems to be really different.”

  “Tell me.”

  Miriam continued. “Well, I have a friend that’s an elite player, and she told me that it’s supposed to be one of the most dynamic and difficult holographic game Rooms ever designed. She even mentioned that players from other lifeglobes have heard about it and are coming here to play.”

  “What’s it called? Where is it?”

  Miriam went on. “It’s known as the Room. That’s all I know right now, and it’s supposed to be run by a woman who’s being referred to as the Old One. It seems that she designed it and is also the one who steers it. Another thing is that she handpicks her players. I didn’t think much about it when I first heard the rumors, but the gossip has continued. It must be real.”

  Rad continued to listen for a while and was incredibly curious. The Room they were talking about sounded very different than anything he’d ever experienced, and this Old One picks her own players… He couldn’t help himself. He wondered what it would be like to play. ‘Did it have levels? How could this Old One steer a Room on her own? How does she choose her players?’ His mind was racing. He couldn’t help thinking about the possibilities…but then…he stopped himself and thought, ‘Enough! I’m not doing this again – not again.’

  ***

  Rad was finally going back to work. It had been long enough, and he was getting restless. He threw down some food and rushed out the door. As he did, he saw a woman kneeling down to pick something up in the hallway. He recognized her and then remembered that he’d seen her from a distance the day before. Now, he was only a few steps away and couldn’t help but notice that her body was taut and strong underneath the towel that robed her frame, and even if he hadn’t known, it would have been easy to tell that she was a trainer, an habituate. Her muscles, although not as bulky, could probably match his easily in pure tensile strength, and her face looked vibrant and fresh, which, inside a lifeglobe, took tremendous commitment.

  She heard him shut his door and turned to look. Glancing up through her slightly wet strands of tawny hair, she noticed Rad’s slim, strong build, his black hair, and his blue, wide-eyed gaze. She smiled and greeted him. “Good morning.”

  "Morning… I recognize you. I saw you yesterday outside our building. My name’s Rad.”

  “Mine’s Zeer. You’re my neighbor then?”

  “I guess so!” Rad chuckled and then asked, “I wonder if there's anything interesting on the vids today. Have you looked?"

  “I have, but don’t worry, you haven’t missed anything,” she said. “There was just some news about a theft last night and lots of adverts about all the Rooms.”

  “I just moved here. I’ve heard the Rooms’ circuit is pretty unusual.”

  "It is. You’ll have to try it out… Uhh…sorry, but I’d better get back inside. I need to finish getting ready for work.”

  “And I need to get work. See ya around…”

  Rad watched Zeer leave and thought, ‘It would have been nice to talk a bit more.’ There was something unique about her that caught his attention. Of course, she was strong and beautiful. She had a great smile and a sense of humor, but…he’d also noticed something in her mannerisms that made him wonder if she might be an elite Rooms’ player. He was probably just projecting, but if he saw her again, he’d ask.

  ***

  After Rad had finished work that day, he decided that he was going to take the time to tour his new home. The lifeglobe was a massive structure that covered many square kilometers, so he elected to use his new mode of transportation, his speedcycle. He had looked forward to it all day. It would allow him to see more of his new home more quickly as well as get some needed exercise.

  He had ridden it a few times before leaving P-19, but he was still surprised at how light and efficient it was. He even knew some of the history of its development. It was very much like what used to be referred to as a bicycle, only the speedcycle was much more efficient and a great deal faster. It had a computer assisted ride and propulsion system that, as you pedaled, would actually push and accelerate your momentum. The ultra-light v-frame could cut through the air and eliminate most of the air resistance, allowing you to travel at amazing speeds.

  He hopped on and pushed himself, accelerating and cycling as fast as he could. The moving air particles rushed past his ears and created a comfortable sound - one that was foreign to most people living in a lifeglobe, but for him, it made him smile.

  As he pedaled hard, he took a quick look up through the transparent dome above his head and noticed the sky of R-131. It seemed to contain a misty haze. He stopped and looked up. It surprised him. It was the first time he’d seen it. He had heard that it didn’t rain on R-131 but that the planet’s atmosphere did contain a small amount of water that could sometimes be seen as a light mist or cloud hovering above its surface. For some reason, recalling this made him think back to his time on O-244, but he let that thought go almost as quickly as it had come. He needed to move on.

  He climbed back onto his bike and continued. Speed! Concentration! He pounded the pedals. Velocity! Danger!

  He reached the outer rim of one of the many radial arms that extended from the center of the lifeglobe and slowed down. His muscles were hot from the pounding and exertion, but his skin was cool and damp from the air that had brushed over the exposed parts of his body. He was tired, exhilarated, and extremely content. He had no doubt that he would be doing this a lot. He loved it.

  ***

  The next two days would be free-days for Rad. He had finished his second council meeting early that afternoon and was looking forward to his time off, especially now that he felt better. It would be time that belonged to him and no one else.

  He started thinking about what he’d like to do, but then his thoughts returned to Zeer. He had seen her again that morning and asked if she could tell him more about some of the Rooms on R-131. He’d mentioned that he didn’t want to get back into playing the Rooms’ circuit again, but he did enjoy the camaraderie and the fun.

  She told him that she would like to, but not right then; she was busy. Rad understood, and as she walked away, he was sure that he’d heard her whisper something. It didn’t completely register, but it sounded like she had mumbled something about wondering if he had found something. ‘What could she have meant?’ He would have to ask her about it the next time he saw her.

  3

  The Door

  Rad had decided to begin his first free-day evening in a busy and well-known pub that he’d heard about in the Center. It was called The Club and was very much like all the other pubs on R-131, except that many of the best Rooms’ players would gather at that particular pub on free-days or evenings and discuss the latest rage on the market. The other reason that it was unique was because it had a special section in the back that was dedicated specifically to the galactic history of the Rooms.

  As he entered, the place was buzzing with conversation and filled to the brim. Aromas from flavored beer and small plates of tasty dishes filled the air and made h
is mouth water. It had been a long time since he’d been out, and the hectic, vibrant atmosphere lifted his mood and brought back many memories.

  He noticed a few heads turn his way as he walked in. He smiled. The heads turned back and continued their conversations. Rad glanced around for a place to sit and finally noticed one chair that sat empty near the door at a table for three. The two other chairs were taken, so Rad walked over and asked, “Can I sit here? It’s the only free chair that I can see in the whole place.”

  One of the men said, “Sure. My name’s Simon and this is Tal.”

  “My name’s Rad. It’s loud in here, huh!” he hollered. They both smiled and leaned in as Rad sat down.

  Rad hadn’t met either Tal or Simon before that afternoon, but as they talked, ate, and drank some of the local brews, they got to know each other. It wasn’t long before he felt completely comfortable with them.

  Simon was in the middle of an enthusiastic summary of the Rooms on R-131 as he said, "Our lifeglobe is incredible, Rad. It has all of the best Rooms: 'Starpassage,’ ‘Freeball,’ ‘Void,’ ‘6th Dimension.' God, I love it here!"

  Rad smiled. He could already see that Simon was definitely a very passionate person. He’d probably been born that way. His eyes were darting around looking everywhere as he talked, and he was tall, thin, and moved in an easy way. He had an infectious smile and seemed very intelligent. Rad liked him.

  Tal, on the other hand, was an immense brute about two meters tall and obviously an habituate. He seemed much more calm than Simon, almost stoic, but then his lips curled into a slight grin as he said, "You’ll have to excuse, Simon, Rad. He can’t help himself. He’s very excitable."

  Rad gave a short laugh and responded by saying, “No worries, Tal. I’ve been around Rooms’ players enough to know how enthusiastic they are.”

  Simon smiled and said, “Yes, Tal, I do get excited, at least people know I’m alive and not just a big lump of muscle lying about!” He poked Tal in the side as he said it. Tal smiled back unflappably, and they all chuckled.

  “It seems like you two have known each other for a long time. How long have you both been here?”

  Tal answered with, “How long have I known this goofy guy? I think we’ve both been here about five years. Does that sound right, Simon?”

  “Sounds about right.”

  Rad couldn’t help but enjoy the two of them. They were so different, and yet he could tell how well they fit together and how much they liked each other.

  Simon asked, “Rad, are you a player? Would you like to visit a Room tonight?”

  Rad thought for a moment and said, “Well, I’ve dabbled some.” He didn’t want to get into his background, but he wouldn’t mind seeing one of the Rooms that he’d heard so much about. “Sure, I’d love to go if you’re both up for it.”

  “Which one do you think we should go to, Tal? ‘Quad’?”

  Tal said, “I think that would be a good one. Rad?”

  “Sure. I don’t know anything about it, but I’ll follow your lead. Let’s go.”

  After conversing a bit more, they got up to leave. Rad and Tal started walking towards the door. They noticed Simon hesitate. They turned to look at him, and he motioned them to follow him and said, “I’ve just remembered something. There’s one more thing we need to do before we go.”

  Tal shrugged, and he and Rad followed Simon as he walked towards the back of the pub. They had to weave their way through the tables and chairs and squeeze between people, but they finally made it. The bookshelves and walls in this part of the pub were filled with a myriad of pictures, articles, and books. Simon said, “Look at the sign up there, Rad.”

  Rad looked up and noticed what it said: The Galactic History of Rooms. “I’d heard that this pub had something like this, but I had no idea that there would be this much stuff.”

  Simon then escorted Rad over to a particular article that hung in a frame on the wall. He had to pull Rad close and talk loudly for him to hear and said, “Rad, this is our favorite artifact. Everyone that comes to this pub for the first time reads it. It’s an initiation of sorts. It’s nothing big, but it does summarize what the Rooms are and where they came from.”

  Tal moved over next to them and added, “Now I understand, Simon. I’m glad you remembered to bring Rad back here. The article isn’t long, Rad. Go ahead and read it. Then we’ll head out.”

  Rad simply shrugged and said, “Sure,” and began reading.

  Conceived in the bosom of the late twenty-second century, the Rooms evolved from the need for a variety of stimulating types of entertainment for the colonists who had left Earth and inhabited various celestial bodies, the first of which was Earth's moon. Many of the original colonists felt that these Rooms were just a fad. They believed that the discovery of an Earth-like planet would eliminate the need for them. To date, though, no such planet has been discovered, and the Rooms have existed and evolved technologically for over five hundred years. They have become a common sight on almost every settlement in the galaxy and a techno-cultural phenomenon, time-specific to this age. Many believe that the advent of these Rooms brought a uniqueness and sanity to the all too commonplace environments of the lifeglobes.

  The current Rooms now consist of a completely three dimensional, holographic experience controlled by super-computers and nanosensors. The player, or players, if chosen by a Room, can control, to a degree, what happens during a game, and these games have outcomes, which are as varied and real as life itself. They are usually in the Center of the settlements and are extremely popular with the inhabitants.

  The difficulty of each Room depends upon the type of game, the level of the technology, and the sophistication and experience of the individual player. The better the player, the more control they have. The weaker the player, the more the Room plays them. The realism can be frightening at times, and if a player is not prepared or plays a game beyond his or her ability, they could be injured. This happens rarely, though, because upon entering a room, the participants are usually screened to make sure that that particular Room is safe for them. There is still an element of risk, which heightens the allure of the Rooms, the participant’s enthusiasm, and the competitive nature of the players.

  So go out, enjoy yourself, and have fun playing the Rooms on R-131!

  As Rad finished, he laughed and asked about the hand-written message that had been taped to the bottom of the article. “Who wrote that?”

  Simon answered, “Nobody knows, Rad, and no one’s ever taken it off. It’s just become a part of the article. I think we all feel it just works as a good conclusion. What do you think?”

  “I love it!” Rad chuckled.

  Tal added, “Okay, so let’s go out and do what it says!”

  ***

  The three new friends walked up to a set of stark black doors and could see their reflections glaring back at them. There was a vibrant blue light above the doors that they knew was counting and screening participants for anomalies. The Room would allow them in when ready.

  Quad was a multidimensional game that was not only popular for its amazing interface but also because of the way that it adapted to each player. It was run through an extremely powerful and new computer array, and its holographic imagery was amazingly authentic and real.

  Tal tapped both Simon and Rad on the shoulders as he noticed a change in the blue light. The dark door disappeared, and they entered a circular room filled almost to capacity. They were ushered into their seats. Glancing around, Tal and Simon pointed out the number of elite players in the Room. Rad's nerves were beginning to surge. He could sense the excitement. It had been a while since he’d been in a Room, and its pull on his addiction was strong. He felt it and quickly took a deep breath and calmed himself. He would just enjoy the exhilaration of the experience and be an observer tonight. It felt good to be in control.

  They walked forward and sat in floating body-chairs, each with an ordering platform attached. If anything were needed, a person co
uld simply touch a sensor. Whatever was desired would be delivered instantaneously. The room itself was dimly lit and decorated in soft, deep blue colors. It was like a theater-in-the-round, with the Focus, or area of engagement, accented with lighting and placed below the audience in the exact center of everyone's attention.

  A voice asked the crowd to be seated. The lights were dimmed, except for the Focus, and a small but firm humming sound hushed the expectant players and grew in intensity and volume - a slow crescendo that everyone could feel as well as hear.

  All at once the room exploded in a brilliant array of colors and simple but intense and rhythmic music. Rad's body seemed to become part of the experience as he felt a tremor pass through the soles of his feet, through his body, to the top of his head. The Room was beginning to engage and choose its first player.

  It all stopped suddenly as the surroundings turned pitch-black, and a single word, “Quad,” pulsed continuously out of the middle of the darkness. Rad didn't know what was going on in Simon or Tal's mind, but he was shaking from the adrenaline rush.

  As the single word finally diminished and passed into oblivion, a small light grabbed Rad's attention. Then a voice announced, "One has been chosen,” and the glow from the solitary light grew and expanded allowing everyone to see a single figure seated in the Focus. The player stood. The chair glided away. The game began.

  ***

  After his normal six hours of sleep, Rad awoke very slowly and felt exhausted and numb. Even though he’d been an elite player before coming to R-131, it had still been quite a while since his last experience, and sometimes, like this morning, it was very difficult to recover from a night of multisensory immersion, even if you weren’t chosen.

  Quad had been one of the most elaborate Rooms that Rad had ever witnessed. The players who participated directly in the game were superior, and the holographic imagery was remarkable. However, Rad couldn’t shake how he felt.