Chapter 1 Inmate 777 (1/2)
The loud slam of the judge's gavel echoed in the courtroom.”Mr. Phire, you have been found guilty on seven counts of First Degree Murder, 53 counts of First Degree Arson and not paying taxes... ever.For these crimes, I sentence you to life in prison without any possibility of parole.”
The yellow-eyed man stared at the judge without expression.His four-month trial had witnessed countless testimonies of experts and witnesses.During this time, he hadn't uttered a single word.
His dark hair was shaved close to his head, a coldly handsome face that hadn't seen daylight in six months, looked like it had been carved out of ice.Heavy shackles around his wrist, ankles, and waist didn't seem to impede his movement as he followed the Bailiff out of the courtroom.
He sat quietly in the room they had placed him in.His wrist shackles were attached to the heavy-duty table by a steel ring.A copy of today's New York Times sat on the table.July 14, 2125, he wasn't on the Headline for the first time in weeks. Instead, it was a Virtual Reality Company named Gladis that had purchased tens of thousands of non-violent convicts from the U.S. Government.
A tall black woman dressed in a guard's uniform walked in the door.She was someone he recognized, the guard brought him all his meals and would sometimes tell him jokes, even though he never spoke back.
”Hey, Nix.”Glory had been a guard for more than ten years, she loved to give inmates nicknames.The media had dubbed him Phoenix Phire, it seemed to fit.
The man she had called Nix glanced at her, it was all he ever did. Today there was the smallest amount of sadness in her eyes.As someone who been there for months, he knew what was bothering her.”Don't listen to them Glory, that idiot doesn't deserve a fine woman like you.”
Glory's face showed her surprise, her dark, full lips curved in a smile.”So, you do speak.”
”I do.”
”How come you didn't speak to your lawyer or during the trial?”
Nix shrugged, ”the lawyer was a paid patsy, I was never getting off.”
The guard smiled and raised an eyebrow, ”so you didn't kill those seven people?”
”No.I've killed lots of people, but not those ones.”
Glory grabbed a chair and moved it to the other side of the table.She opened her E-pad and sat down while scrolling through the screens.”Want to know where you are going?”
Nix shook his head, ”not really.They'll have to silence me sooner or later anyway.”
Instead of denying it, she nodded in agreement.”I'm going to quit my job here, but I still have enough pull to get you a nice meal.”
”My last supper?”NIx shrugged, ”fried chicken I suppose.Maybe some sex afterward.”
Glory's laughter echoed in his ear as she opened the door.”I”ll see what I can do Nix.”
*******
Glory's thick but strong body grew blurry causing Nix to shake his head suddenly.She was getting dressed already.He looked around for his clothes, his head suddenly feeling heavy.Nix tried to rise up but fell back into the chair.”Drugged?”His last thoughts as he lost consciousness were of her.”Did Glory work for them?No matter, the sex was great.”
*********
Vic pushed the stretcher next to the pod and read the information.”Inmate 943, 10 years, Lifestyle Player in Berentia.”
”Check.”Silas slid Inmate 943 into the life pod and activated the stasis field.”Cya in 10 years.Next”
Vic moved to the next one and stopped.”Why is this guy naked?”
Silas tried not to laugh, he had noticed that one of the prisoners weren't wearing the orange jumpsuit.He grabbed one from the cart and walked toward the inmate.”Give me a hand Vic.”
A few minutes later Vic read the information off.”Inmate 777, 100 years, Lifestyle Player in Colonial.”
”100 years?He must have been a Stock Broker.” Silas slid him in the pod and activated it.”He was the last one?”
Vic nodded and walked toward the elevator.Once they locked this level down, no one would be able to enter.Prisoner retrieval would be done on the first level.Bringing someone up before their time expired, was strictly against corporate policy.”
*********
[System Processing... please stand by.]
Nix found himself in a white room, his body was completely transparent.”What the hell?”
[System Message:Employee 777, you have been hired to work for the Gladis Corporation as a Life Style player for the Colonial Virtual Online Game.Your term of employment is 100 years.]
”One hundred years?F*ck off... Where the hell am I?”
[Character Generation Screen, please choose your looks and gender.]
Nix watched as thousands of different options for hair and skin color scrolled across the screen.”You not hearing me jackass?Open this f*cking thing up!”
[No Character data has been chosen, using players physical characteristics as default.]
[Please choose the Life Skill which best suits you.The following options are currently available.]
[Blacksmith, Carpenter, Cook, Tailor, Alchemist.]
”Tailor.”Nix started to focus on his last memories before passing out. Did Glory switch him with the non-violent felons that Gladis had purchased?
[Please name your character.]
”Nix.”
[Character Generation Complete]
Nix
Strength 10
Endurance 10
Intelligence 25
Dexterity 25
Perception 25
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Cold Resistance 66
Skills: Hunter/Leather Making/ Tailor[100/100/001]
[Are you satisfied with this character?]
”Yes.”
[System Message: Welcome to the Gladis Hub in Colonial.You are bound here and your work station is 777.Please follow the yellow ball.]
A yellow ball of light appeared in front of Nix.It pulsed slightly.”Nix, follow me to your work station.I will answer any questions you may have.”
Nix fingered the silver bracelet around his wrist.”What is this thing?”
”That is your all-purpose heads up display. Tap it with your fingers to activate it.”