The Core: The First Guest

42. The Alpha

"That explanation leaves a lot to be desired," I said as I looked at him intently. "Are you telling me that Haoolla Defender is one life, one death game?"

"Yes, since it is based on the original event in real life. The main difference is that you get to select your race upon entering. There are a lot of alien species that are cataloged and fully playable. Even humans." He said with a smile as he reached over and pinched the skin on his arm.

It was just the smallest things that he did that reminded me that I was speaking to a totally different form of entity.

"So you created this when the games were in their infancy?" I asked as I reached out to take the cube. He offered it to me and let me take it.

"Yes. I was fascinated with observing the games and grew frustrated when the players that I enjoyed watching would end up dying in real life. I created this to act as a mental link so that when you die, you just end up back in this cube, wherever you left it. I took inspiration from a species that had a hive-mind consciousness known simply as the A or the Alpha. It turned out upon intensive study that the A was just one mind linked through radio waves transmitted from brain to brain. Using cr interdimensional transmission technology would allow you to return your mind, upon death, to wherever you left this key physically. I would recommend that you only do so in safe places with a stockpile of cr however."

"So did you ever give this to anyone to use?" I asked as I glanced at Tutor and George. George had a thoughtful look on his face with his right index finger resting on the spot on his cheek that always seemed to be stained. Tutor was giving me an excited double thumbs up.

"No, the games came and went and I never managed to secretly slip it into a grand prize box."

"So in real life, it will be like I am constantly here and there at the same time?" I asked as I wanted to be sure that this wouldn't mess with my mind before I installed it.

"You know... I never thought of that. I had made it to simply run in the background, acting as a copy of all the experiences and thoughts that your "main" you were experiencing. Upon death you would simply blink and be back in the alternate you again. Your question makes me wonder if there would be a way to swap between your "main" mind and the "cube backup". I honestly don't know. I also realize that by giving this to you, I won't be able to take it back once you install it regardless if you tell someone about it. That is something I am fine with." He said as he stepped back and lowered his hands.

"So, how will it work when I am in the game? Won't the other players think I am cheating?" I asked, trying to think up any last questions. I already could see the insane benefits of having this in case I ran into something unexpected while I was exploring deep space. Just so long as it didn't mess up my mind and make me hear voices from my other-selves. I kind of liked the idea of being copied, I just wasn't completely sold about the hive mind part.

"Honestly, I really don't know. The protocols have changed in the game since I wrote the code for the key and blended it with the research from the lead scientist of the Alpha"

"Blended?" I asked. Why was all this making me sound like a guinea pig for Silver's first attempt at making a key? "Also, I am human mentally, won't that make a difference?"

"Look... yes, I am beginning to see flaws in my thinking. It might not be the best option for you to absorb that." He said as he started to rethink his offer.

"Can you at least tell me if you put an on and off switch on it?" I asked as I looked down at the cube and read the description that came with it.

-Alpha hive mind experimental protocol key-