In THE SPIRAL: Connected Stories & Fragments from the Virtual Future

VOICE/FRAGMENT: 'Blake' [5XP]

He had given his time to the Virtual, and more, that was for sure. One of the last times they'd talked properly Blake had already spent over ten years designing, coding and testing... immersed. Longer than most. But somehow he'd managed to keep... fairly well balanced.

Blake owned a small house, not far from the ImmerTech complex, and its overall state reflected that he was more often at work, inside, or... outside, in the garden.

This garden was something else. You could tell it received the remainder of his attention; it was both wild and abundant, and yet controlled and laid out so that a path led through various sections. In the middle was a great, single cedar tree with a high tree cabin which acted as his - more secluded - second home. At its base, surrounding the tree, were a set of large, worn paving stones forming a spiral, creating a spiritual effect beneath the structure. A simple wooden ladder could be raised up for privacy.

And it was here, in this setting that Ben Fielding, by then a 'legendary' game designer himself, had met with his old friend and discussed the new project. Blake hadn't wasted much time.

 "So how are the meetings with Leaven?" Together they had fastened the ladder like always to the pine fence surrounding the walkway.

"We've completed most of the plans. Some of the design has begun. It's... exciting stuff." He remembered thinking his own conviction sounded a bit dry due to his tiredness. He always tried to detect how Blake's bigger hands shook - a bit too much - both from the effort of the ladder - and from many hours of immersion. They did, of course, but now not as badly as his own.

Maybe just too exciting, and he felt the familiar face surveying his own, probably for signs of change and strain already. As if there wasn't enough to do right now... in the Neuroceans. Ben knew about the shadows that lay under his still young eyes. It was the added weight of 'the dream'; a growing mission - on top of the weight of the EEG testing. They were all feeling the latter. As for the dream well, it was one they shared, which was why he had tried to contain his fatigue. Blake wanted just to hear that things were progressing, and to feel excited by it all, like the earlier times.

They entered the treehouse, as Ben continued, "I miss your input. Leaven worries a lot about Carter. He needs reassurance that the Spiral will be... safer... than what's happening. It's a big part of why he's involved. And he keeps mentioning them... the Salvagers."

"Hmm," Blake reflected, running a hand over shaggy hair and an overgrown beard, that went well with the setting. "There have been some more cases. But we're not far off... are we? The next breakthrough..."

"Yeah, it's close. But... this swimming process. It's... messy. As much as it amazes me, this testing has shown up too many weaknesses. There is so much work ahead Blake. For one thing, it's all got to be easier. Seamless, even."

Blake had looked away and began pottering about the cosy cabin, as if hoping to avoid or prolong the direction of the conversation. "Well, I'm not sure how much I've got left, Ben. I... miss this garden you know." He had other things to say, it was clear, but would wait for the right moment, during the game.

Ben filled the space, "Hey... it's good to be up here again, and to see you, in the Source. Taking some time out. Thanks for inviting me."

"Yeah, it's easy to forget how honest a real meeting can be." His familiar chuckle. "I figured correctly we both needed an evening offline."

"Hell... yeah, and also I've missed your terrible games-master ideas. You've got a game set up I hope?" They would always play some kind of old-style fantasy board game together in this cabin. And Ben never failed to make fun of Blake's talent for coming up with far-fetched ideas - and loopholes.

"Of course. But just the simple one... Basic Heroquest."

It was a board game of dice and figurines - elves, dwarves and wizards. The bottle of sloe gin emerged along with it, and Blake's rich, cherry pipe smoke soon mixed with the woody smell of the cabin. It drifted everywhere, including outside into the warm evening air to hang in the spiky canopy. That smell.

During a game the two wizards could always talk easier, and, finally, Blake found his moment. "Look Ben, I just wanted to tell you, before the next test-session, and in person, that you guys have got to do this thing right; this Spiral project. Bring the Source back out to people. And you've got all the right people and components, to push it all. It just makes real... sense."

Ben answered simply, "Yes." He watched the other man examine the board, this act helping him choose his next words with the dice clenched in his rough hands, as though for ballast.

After a moment, Blake had stated: "You know that I see reality and fantasy as being intertwined. Or more like the cogs of a system, working the wheel of life; in tandem. What did you call it? Confluence. They complement one another. Always have."

"And it's where we're going, yes... A more - seamless - integration." Ben waited for any further council still sure to be forthcoming from the older man.

"Well... the balance you want to create... for now it will need to be a careful one. Don't rush it... ok? And this existing technology... It may not be... ready... for our dream. Your plans. And if it isn't, then you should wait. Take, measures... however hard that might be."

"You mean fail-safes, right? On a large, heavy, fast-moving train..." He smiled a little, incredulously, then looked at the floor for a moment before continuing. "There will be breaks, don't worry Blake. But otherwise, we just do what we can, you know that... which is - most often I guess - what we have to do. The way of the Source, if you like. As will you too... I hope..."

Blake sighed and he was looking up now, from the board. "For my own sanity I have to stop. And... soon. But look, you know I can even see the complex from here, right?" It was true, the white shapes and glass just gleamed in the late light, beyond the rooftops of the small houses. "By coming here I wanted you to know that I will not be far... I will want to keep an eye on things. And if you ever need to come and work here, then you must."

"Offer accepted. You still need the help with your garden."

They'd laughed. "Hey..." Blake continued, after a pause. "You're going to need my garden, if you're going to try and rip it off and make your own. Besides, I know someone, besides me, who would want you to be careful."

"Rosa?"

"You know it well." He moved more pieces swiftly across the board. "She will probably wait for you, you know."

"I do know." Ben moved both his hands through his own hair, sitting back slowly with his head and eyes squinting up at the roof. He remembered examining all the carefully joined wooden planks. "There may be a new world for us coming. For us all. But first we need to save this one... by revealing it - accessing it - again - and more completely."

"Hmm, you sound a bit like a game character yourself." The dice rolled out onto the board.

Ben had chuckled then, sighing heavily. "Aren't we all? But for now just stop talking and pass me the bottle ok? And that damn pipe too... Put something stronger in it. Today this rod for my own back... just needs breaking."

"Nothing less for us first folk headed for a new... dimension... I guess!" Blake had said this, proudly; smiling; some of the old fire returning. 

And not knowing then that only Ben would return.

[FRAGMENT COMPLETED! +5 XP : BACKGROUND ITEM - see more under XP + Ranking.]