The Window to Virtue

The outside world was unknown to her, but she could see a glimpse of it through the window in his room. His room contained the only window in the facility, as his position at VIRTU required it. This was fortunate for Alaska, as her room was oriented in such a way that allowed for discreet surveillance. Due to her status, much of what she could see in the window was pixelated and blurry, though an abstract mosiac pattern of blue, green and magenta would sometimes emerge.

Since her arrival at the facility, there has been much commotion regarding what secrets lie beyond the glass pane. She would often hear stories about the outside world from her fellow trainees. Most of these stories were horrific and chilling, but none nearly as tragic as the stories which were told about the old world. The world before VIRTU.

Several rumors circulated within the staff as well, with many suggesting the window was a portal to the old world, before The Great Collapse. A young man, who was subsequently rejected from the program, claimed that the earth was still blue and that the State is “just lying to all of us.”

Of course, the gossip only served to pique Alaska’s interest.

If Alaska wishes to see the window, she must first finish her training in VIRTPLAY: A life-like, virtual world designed to work with beginner and intermediate-level users. The network makes billions of micro-assessments over an extremely short period of time; learning and evaluating the user’s unique sensibilities via a series of physical and psychological tests, quizzes and challenges.

Once a trainee moves on from VIRTPLAY, they will be granted a visitor’s pass to the Viewing Room, allowing each viewer one-hundred and eighty seconds of watch time. Each trainee must also provide a State-issued voucher, received upon completion of the VIRTPLAY program.

This experience is intended to better introduce the user to the final stage of their ascent. Their ascent to VIRTU — a deeply complex, artificial neural-network designed to create virtual simulations of reality in intricate detail with unimaginable resolution and scale. Such detail and nuance would be impossible to discern with our natural senses.

Over time, the user will come to a point at which VIRTU becomes indistinguishable from physical, tactile reality. This is what is referred to as “Reality-In-Play”. With enough patience and practice, one can remain “in play” until their natural death. Automated systems have been put in place at all VIRTU facilities to assist in providing oxygen, intravenous fluids, and sustenance to the client’s physical body, as well as waste management and disposal. Simulations of these biological processes like eating, drinking, and elimination are initially added in VIRTU to better acclimate the user to the experience. In time, the user will no longer feel the need for them.

Now that Alaska’s training is complete, this hyper-realistic simulated reality will be her new home for the rest of her natural life. Her assessments will be analyzed by the end of the day and soon she will be ready for her ascent. She takes one more glance at the window before heading to bed. She removes her implant, places it in on the nightstand and within seconds, she is fast asleep.

The next morning, Alaska is presented with a voucher from the State. Accompanied by VIRTU’s Chief Operating Officer and a State official, Alaska is escorted into the room which contains the coveted window. The magistrate closes the door behind them, locking it securely. As they approach the casement, the official gives her an approving nod. Finally, Alaska is allowed to see the outside world for the first and last time in her life.

She trembles.

The window was not a window at all, but a screen encased in a thick black frame. The screen, bright and vivid, projected videos and images of the world as it was hundreds of years ago, before The Great Collapse.

The beauty of it was more than she could bear. Her vision, blurry from her tears, formed an abstract mosiac pattern of blue, green, and magenta.

For the entire one-hundred and eighty seconds, Alaska sobbed uncontrollably. Moments later, she ascended to VIRTU.