Aaron's avatar motioned for me to follow him through. It was unnerving not seeing what was on the other side of the door. I willed myself to follow through. As soon as the door was behind me, I felt my body drifting slightly to one side.
"Walking on this station is harder 'cause everything drifts with the rotation," Aaron said, his voice serious but tinged with excitement. "So just be careful not to fall off the ledges. I mean, it won't kill you, but that will not be fun...and...will take some time to recover from."
"Okay," I replied, trying to steady myself as we left the room and entered a corridor that seemed to lead to another door. And another corridor.
I was about to ask where we were going when Aaron paused at the door and asked, "Ready?"
"Yes," I answered, my heart pounding in anticipation.
He smirked and opened the door in front of me. Stepping out of the corridor, I was immediately struck by a sight that hitched my digital breath. Before me, the interior of an O'Neill cylinder unfolded—a vast, cylindrical space station buzzing with activity. I saw these as ideas in textbooks in school. Alien creatures of various shapes and sizes mixed with humans on the platforms, as far as I could see. Shops displaying bizarre artifacts, eateries emitting strange but enticing aromas, and neon signs in languages I couldn't recognize lined the promenades.
"Whoa..." I breathed, my eyes darting around to take in every detail.
Above me, the horizon curiously curved in on itself, creating a surreal skyline where the station's opposite side was visible, basically upside down to us. The rotation of the cylinder generated a gravity-like effect, with people walking 'upside down' on the far side. The inner surface of the cylinder was a patchwork of urban and natural environments—"skyscrapers" nestled next to lush green parks and small bodies of water reflecting the artificial light sources in the middle of the cylinder that mimicked the natural day-night cycle. It looked like a string of lights for the winter festival.
"Wow, this place is like something out of a dream," I gasped, trying to take in everything around me. Aaron laughed at my reaction and clapped me on the back.
"This isn't the actual best part. Let's hustle," he said, motioning for me to follow him. It was good that he warned me about the drift because I kept walking straight and ended up walking at an angle. Weaving through the bustling cylinder station felt like navigating an otherworldly bazaar or festival market amidst throngs of people. The air buzzed with alien chatter, electronic beeps, and the hum of machinery. As we walked, bright holographic signs hung overhead, advertising goods and services in languages I couldn't recognize.
"Where are we going?" I asked, curiosity piqued.
"Somewhere special. You'll see," Aaron replied, his eyes twinkling with excitement as he glanced at me.
As we approached the hangar, I was struck by its immense scale. Hundreds... no thousands of crafts filled the space, each unique in design. Aaron's pace quickened, his eyes scanning until they settled on his ship. It was sleek, resembling a cross between a fighter jet and something out of a sci-fi comic book he'd given me on the digital reader. Its angular lines and glossy black finish gave it an air of speed and mystery. As we neared it, the ship's door slid open with a hiss, welcoming us aboard.
"Wow," I whispered as we entered the spacious loading bay of Aaron's ship. Somehow, it felt larger on the inside. Storage compartments and hooks for equipment lined the metallic walls, while strips of LED lights cast a futuristic ambiance over the area.
"Pretty cool, huh?" Aaron grinned, beckoning me to follow him through a series of narrow corridors. Each section was marked with symbols and numbers, and the walls were lined with screens displaying ship diagnostics and exterior views.
"Definitely," I agreed, my mind racing with excitement. "I've never seen anything like it."
As we finally reached the cockpit, I was struck by the contrast to the rest of the ship. A large viewport dominated the space, offering a clear view of what lay ahead. Holographic displays and controls filled the area, and the pilot and co-pilot seats were ergonomically designed for maximum comfort.
"Alright, buckle up," Aaron said as we settled into our seats. He initiated the launch sequence, and I couldn't help but feel my heart race in anticipation. The hum of the engines grew louder beneath us, and the hangar doors began to part.
"Here goes nothing," I murmured, gripping the armrests tightly.
"Relax, Eli," Aaron reassured me with a grin. "We're still in a very sophisticated video game. It's perfectly safe. And we're about to see some amazing things."
As the ship eased out of its berth, I felt a slight shudder run through the vessel. The metal walls seemed to reverberate with the power of the engines, adding to the sense of excitement building within me. A canvas of cosmic marvels unfolded before us, revealed by the steadily widening gap between the hangar doors.
"Wow," was all I could manage as my eyes drank in the view. A Jupiter-like planet dominated the vista, its swirling storms and vibrant bands so vivid I almost felt like I could touch them. Orbiting around it were moons of diverse terrains—some cloaked in verdant jungles while others presented a mosaic of ice and craters in various hues. My village's starry nights paled in comparison to this dazzling display of celestial wonders.
"Feels like you're dreaming, doesn't it?" Aaron asked, his voice filled with awe. I nodded, unable to tear my gaze away from the breathtaking scene. Between the gas giant and its satellites, O'Neill cylinders rotated gracefully, reflecting life on distant worlds. Spaceports and stations bustled against the backdrop of the star-filled expanse, making me feel both insignificant and connected to something much grander than myself.
"Yeah...Wow," was all I could manage as we sped off and approached the jungle moon. The sight was like nothing I had ever seen before, and my heart raced with anticipation at the thought of exploring it one day.
"Enjoying the view?" Aaron asked, a playful smirk on his face.
"Absolutely," I replied, unable to tear my eyes away from the lush landscape unfolding below us. The vibrant colors and sheer scale of the wilderness were breathtaking, and I found myself longing to lose myself in the dense foliage.
"Alright, Eli, let's get going," Aaron said, turning back towards the cockpit controls. "We're going to take a quick tour around the moons, but remember, no time to land today."
"Understood," I said, forcing my attention away from the jungle moon and focusing on the other celestial bodies in our vicinity.
"First up, that icy moon over there," Aaron said, pointing to a nearby satellite covered in craters of various shades and colors. As we neared it, the ship's side screens came to life once more, displaying images of treacherous ice caves and stunning frozen landscapes.
The beauty of the ice moon was starkly different from the lush haven we had just left behind, yet it captivated me just as much. I imagined what it would be like to explore those icy caverns, uncovering secrets hidden beneath layers of frost.
Aaron didn't even slow down as we continued our journey, each moon we encountered brought with it a new sense of wonder and excitement. The worlds within this virtual reality were vast and diverse, each one offering a unique adventure to be had.
"Alright, last stop," Aaron announced as we neared the final moon on our tour. This one appeared barren and desolate, with an almost haunting quality to its silent landscape.
"Seems like there's not much to see here," I commented, my curiosity piqued by the stark contrast it presented compared to the other moons we had visited.
"Appearances can be deceiving, Eli," Aaron replied cryptically. "Sometimes the most unassuming places hold the greatest secrets."
I didn't find a way to answer. I focused on the viewport as we approached the baron rotating rock.
"Come on, let me show you something," he said, guiding the ship to land on the moon's surface.
As we touched down, I felt a sense of anticipation building within me. What could possibly be waiting for us on this seemingly lifeless rock?
My eyes were drawn to the vibrant hues of its vast storms and swirling gases of the Jupitar-like planet. It looks so gorgeous compared to where Aaron was flying towards. I felt a twinge of disappointment that he was landing here and not on one of the other gorgeous planets to explore. I could feel the gravity adjust as we got further from the planet's immense gravitational pull. The barren, undeveloped moon got bigger and bigger in the viewport.
"Wow," I breathed, unable to tear my gaze away from the desolate landscape below us. It was also beautiful in its own way. The emptiness of the moon was both haunting and beautiful.
"Pretty incredible, isn't it?" Aaron said with a grin. "Now, let's get suited up. I've got something amazing to show you."
He guided me towards a section of the ship where sleek, virtual space suits hung. At the press of a button, our avatars were instantly clad in the suits. The transformation was seamless.
"Ready to head out?" Aaron asked, his eyes sparkling with excitement. I nodded, anticipation bubbling within me.
We climbed a ladder leading to the roof of the ship, and as we reached the top, the vastness of space opened before us. The sight was breathtaking—countless stars twinkling in the cosmic expanse, far more than I had ever seen from my village. The sheer number and brilliance of these celestial bodies, galaxies, and nebula made me gasp in awe.
"Wow," I whispered again, my voice barely audible. The stars seemed to dance and shimmer, creating a mesmerizing tapestry against the dark void. I felt both insignificant and part of something infinitely grand.
"Yeah," Aaron agreed, his voice soft. "It really makes you realize there's always something bigger to look forward to than your small corner of the world."
For a moment, we stood together in silence, drinking in the awe-inspiring view. I couldn't help but wonder what other secrets this desolate moon held and what new adventures awaited us.
The alarm's shrill beep yanked me from my reverie, and I looked over to see Aaron tapping on a holographic image that floated in front of him. He cursed softly, an apologetic expression on his face.
"Sorry, Eli, we need to move. We've got about five minutes left." His words pulled me back to reality, but part of me clung to the virtual world like a lifeline. I had grown comfortable here, surrounded by wonders far surpassing anything in my village or even the marvels of the city Aaron lived in.
"Alright," I said hesitantly, not wanting to leave this breathtaking place. We moved back into the ship, disrobed from our suits with a push of a button, and headed back to the cockpit. As Aaron maneuvered the ship away from the barren moon and headed back around the colossal, Jupiter-like planet, I found myself captivated by the view outside the viewport. I tried to etch every detail into my memory—the vibrant colors of the planet, the intricate dance of its moons, the distant stars. Each second in this digital cosmos was precious, a treasure I was reluctant to let go of.
"Almost there," Aaron said, guiding the ship expertly back into the station. The magical expanse of space faded behind us, replaced by the grey of the hangar. I felt a sense of loss wash over me, leaving behind the astonishing world I'd just witnessed.
The journey back to the room from where we started our time in the VR world was bittersweet; each step felt heavy, a reluctant return to reality from the breathtaking beauty of the cosmos. The awe-inspiring sights of distant moons and the star-studded expanse lingered in my mind, making the station's corridors seem all the more mundane and constraining.
"Hey," Aaron said, noticing my solemn mood. "It's not goodbye forever. Just for now."
I nodded.
"Trust me, I get it," Aaron said, clapping a hand on my digital shoulder. "But we'll come back. We've got plenty more adventures ahead of us."
Aaron waved, and a familiar door appeared. Aaron guided me through. We were back in the room with a grid on all walls, floor, and ceiling.
"Okay, I'm leaving now; when I'm out of your space, log out. I don't trust the safety systems," Aaron said as he manifested another door and disappeared through it.
I hesitated, my heart heavy with reluctance. The virtual world had stirred something deep inside me, a longing for adventure and freedom beyond the constraints of my village. But I couldn't stay here forever. I couldn't do anything on my own, and I didn't want to inconvenience Aaron any further.
Taking a deep breath, I counted to ten and pressed the bottom button on the panel next to my eyes. The world around me dimmed and vanished, leaving me in darkness. My body sensations trickled back one by one, like water droplets on parched soil. My vision was the last to return, but it didn't feel like my eyes were seeing. It felt... different somehow.
Dimmer.
Duller.
Blander.
When I could finally see again, I was lying on the recliner chair in the large warehouse room where Aaron had first introduced me to the VR world. My limbs tingled with numbness, and I struggled to sit up, my muscles feeling weak and unresponsive.
"Take it easy," Aaron's voice advised from somewhere nearby. "Your body needs a few minutes to adjust."
"Tanks," I mumbled with a numb tongue, blinking rapidly as I tried to make sense of my surroundings. The room seemed smaller and duller than before. Even the air smelled stale compared to the vibrant scents of the virtual environments we'd just left behind.
"Everything feels... different," I confessed, rubbing my eyes. "It's like I'm still seeing the virtual world, even though I know I'm not."
Aaron gave me a knowing smile. "Yeah, that happens sometimes. Don't worry, it'll pass. Your brain just needs a little time to catch up with reality."
I nodded, trying to wrap my head around the concept. The experience had been so immersive, so intense, that it was difficult to believe it had all been an illusion.
"Hey," Aaron said softly, his hand still on my shoulder. "Remember, we'll go back someday. And until then, we've got plenty of real-world adventures ahead of us. Plus, plenty of nondeep dive VR we can do as well."
I didn't respond.
I just tried to keep the tears behind my eyelids.
I wanted to be back on that space station...