The Spatial Engine

CHAPTER 1

The click-clacking of small plastic buttons being pressed, is the only sound to fill an otherwise silent room. It comes to an abrupt stop a minute later, to a small sigh. A hand runs down a tired face, before pushing back black unkempt hair. There's a groan.

"Fuck, I think I'm getting a migraine."

A thumb and index finger pinch the bridge of a nose, as if the action will somehow help. When it doesn't, they move to rub at the eyes lightly, then move away. The figure of a young man that they belong to, gets up from his seat and makes his way out of the room. He returns a short time later with some water, after taking something for his headache.

Just as he readies to continue his typing, the tune of an electronic jingle catches his attention. He frowns when spotting a notification pop up on one of the double computer screens he's at. Both from it interrupting his work, and from knowing what it's for. He clicks on the 'accept' option and a new window pops up with a video feed.

"Hey Craig," the person on the other end greets.

"What do you want Kevin?"

"Ouch, a bit cold don't you think?"

"I have a really bad headache right now, so if you're not going to tell me what you want, then I'm just going to leave the call now," Craig replies, dryly.

"Alright, alright, geez! I was just checking in with you to see how your progress was going, that's all."

"Well, it was going. Until you interrupted it with a call."

"Oh, uh sorry about that," comes a small laugh, "but I needed to check in on you, since you've been pretty much radio silent all week from me and the others."

"I've just been busy."

"Have you made much progress?"

"I'd say so," there's a small hint of concern that shows on Kevin's face from that response, and Craig sighs, sitting up a bit more straight, "Look, I promise as the lead programmer for this game, everything is moving along, alright? You and the others don't need to worry. The Beta stage will be ready soon."

"Alright," Kevin nods slightly.

"Now if that's all, I'm going to—"

"Oh! There are some assets that I need to send you!" Kevin quickly adds.

"Assets?"

"Yeah, just some new models for a few of the trees and rocks and stuff."

"Okay, just, send them over and I'll see what I can do," Craig sighs. This certainly wasn't the first, nor likely the last time he'd be asked to do this.

"I'll send them right away then."

"Is there anything else?"

"No, I think that's everything. If something else does come up, I'll be sure to message you," Kevin replies, "but please, for the love of god, check your messages every once in a while, would you?"

"I'll make an attempt to."

"Craig."

"I'll check them, alright?" Craig says, growing tired of this conversation, "Now if there isn't anything else, I'm going to end the call."

"Alright," Kevin sighs, "then I'll talk to you later and send the assets over. Bye."

The call ends and Craig gets back to work. About ten minutes later, he receives the assets and gets to work adding them in. However it's more than just some trees and rocks he has to add in. And there's a grumble of frustration he lets out, when twenty new items come up. One of which is a house that he has to figure out where to place on the map.