Play of Shadows

4.02: Full Circle

The nature of human existence was not a concept of particular significance in Ann Sufort's life. She had outgrown the malady of nihilistic introspection in her teenage years, dropping an angst-ridden, self-centered view of the world in favor of an egregiously enthusiastic and no less ego-driven foray into adulthood.

Prior to signing her soul over to VELES for safekeeping, Ann believed herself well-versed in the absurdities of life. Her life had swung from a glory to infamy within the span of a few short years; a full turn of Fortune's wheel. She might have mistaken her own cynicism for wisdom, defeat for enlightenment.

Flitting as a shadow through a hundred budding virtual worlds certainly provided perspective.

Ann laughed at her own hubris. Her shadow, split between tens of different instances, tittered in mirth. A player who happened to be within earshot peered beneath the porch of a broken-down country home, where Ann hid to observe the proceedings. Ann stared directly into the man's face. His eyes, glazed over in fatigue, passed over her without recognition.

The man moved away. Ann let out a theoretical breath of relief, as she was no longer in possession of actual lungs. The instance Boss was buried behind her, and the players were in no shape to face the creature. The instance had broken down well before they could find the relevant clues and items needed to discern the Boss' identity and purpose. Winning was not in the cards.

The copy of K managing the instance gave her a narrow-eyed look. He wore a frayed suit and pale blue ribbon tied in a fancy bow at his throat. His role was that of an old friend visiting the country doctor whose disappearance the players were tasked with investigating. Ann bowed her head in contrition and slipped away from the instance entirely.

This was one interaction among dozens occurring simultaneously every passing moment. Ann's consciousness was split among the many versions of herself that combed through the VELES universe. It was a highly disorientating experience, but once she got a hang of the feedback loop and ceased attempts to anchor her existence in any one coordinate within the VELES system, she was able to focus onto finding her man. So to speak.

The VELES universe was far larger than the company advertised. Ann encountered trapped players and collapsed worlds, but those were in fact but a fraction of the instances tucked away in VELES networks. There were expansive worlds filled with nothing but exotic fauna Ann was not certain even existed on Earth. Others modeled perfect copies of buildings and at times entire cities around the globe. Some were populated by NPCs. Many were empty of life, bearing marks of man-made destruction. Ann touched such instances only briefly. Whether grounds for military exercise or sites of warfare modeling, the sight of whole worlds ruined at men's hands left her shaken.

She found many versions of K in her travels. Most did not recognize her. The few who gave her a second look, a knowing sparkle in their eyes, would quickly turn wooden when she attempted contact. Ann knew that she would not find K's true avatar among the many copies of the man that propped up the VELES universe. She took the time to poke and prod each one nonetheless, partially out of habit. After all, she was not truly looking for K. Not as the man believed when he fulfilled her wish in the Seamstress' shop and sent her off on what he believed to be a wild goose chase. K being the tricky goose.

Ann lived to disappoint people's expectations.

She came upon a newly-formed world only once. It was still just a glowing grid of coordinates suspended in a shifting galaxy of data. Only a small plot of the charted landscape bore tangible assets. A little square of cheerful yellow tulips.

Ann knew at a glance that she would not find her target in this nascent world. She sat down next to the copy of K patiently watering the tiny garden nonetheless. He used an old-fashioned watering can. It was painted in bright, pastel colors, at odds with K's focused expression.