When they got home, Sarah immediately got Maya ready and took her to bed. Petter, on the other hand, was about to head to his room after spending some time in the bathroom when he ran into his mother in the hallway. The light was dim. There was a moment of silence, with only the faint creak of the house's old wood audible. The cheerfulness on Sarah's face from just moments ago was gone, replaced by a thoughtful expression.
Petter approached. "What's wrong, Mom?" he asked, a note of concern in his voice.
Sarah took a deep breath. "I'm going to the company tomorrow," she said.
"Is there a problem?"
"No, sweetie. No problem. Just checking in, following up. You know. I need to review some details of the new project. And... there are a few things I need to discuss with the bank."
Petter noticed the fine line of worry on his mother's face. He could guess where this was heading. "Is it because of the Omni-Chamber?"
Sarah nodded. "That's part of it. Giving that much money in one go... It makes me uneasy. And where will we even put it? Your room isn't that big. Neither is Maya's."
Petter moved closer to his mother, wrapping his arms around her waist. His hands clasped her warm, soft waist. "My beautiful queen," he whispered, "why are you thinking about things like that? Don't you worry at all. We'll do everything in a controlled and timed manner. No one will have any problems. Our focus and our lives will be right here, don't worry."
Sarah placed a hand on her son's shoulder. Her son's confident stance relaxed her, if only a little. "I know, but still..."
Petter, without letting go of her waist, gently started pulling her towards her bedroom door. Sarah matched his steps, smiling faintly. "Are you asking for a dance lesson, sweetie?"
Petter pressed Sarah against the door, lunged forward, and hugged her tightly. A muffled "Ah!" escaped Sarah. "Don't, honey! You'll wrinkle my clothes."
Petter ignored his mother's complaint, hugging her even tighter. "My beautiful mommy, we're not worried about clothes right now." Even as Sarah said, "Don't!" Petter wasn't listening. The woman's back hit the door, and she let out a soft moan. In response, she hugged her son back, and they stayed that way for a moment.
Without letting his mother go, Petter whispered in her ear: "Please don't worry. There are three of us. And life has gifted us to each other. Everything will be resolved, please don't worry."
Sarah, her head on her son's shoulder, took a deep breath. She knew. She had always known. In the old corners of her mind, the face of her deceased husband, Bryan, appeared. He had the same reassuring hugs. "I know, dear. Okay," she said. Then she suddenly struck her left leg rather hard between Petter's legs.
Petter recoiled in shock. "Ah! Mom!" he yelped.
Sarah's smile widened. "I haven't forgotten the price! Now, straight to your room and to sleep! Off you go."
Petter quickly pinched his mother's cheek and messed up her hair in one swift motion. Just as Sarah was about to lift her leg again, Petter had already flown off, heading quickly toward his room. Behind him, his mother's affectionate smile and the silence of the night remained.
The first light of morning filtered through the kitchen window, creating long, golden stripes on the wooden floor. The air was filled with the comforting scent of freshly brewed coffee and toast. Maya sat at the table, staring absently into her cereal bowl, while Petter poured himself a cup of coffee. The house had awoken to a calm morning, as usual. Until a faint tapping sound from the stairs broke the silence and drew everyone's attention.
When Sarah appeared at the top of the stairs, Petter froze, coffee cup in hand. This was not his mother in her usual, comfortable house clothes. This was a powerful, dazzling woman who looked like she had jumped straight off the cover of a fashion magazine. She was wearing a charcoal-gray pencil skirt that elegantly hugged her body, fitting at the waist and ending just below her knees. The skirt's fabric caught the light with every movement, casting silvery shimmers. On top, she wore an ivory-colored silk blouse. The blouse's high, ruffled collar made her neck look swan-like, and the cuffs on her sleeves were adorned with pearl buttons. Her hair was pulled back into a tight but chic bun at the nape of her neck, not a single strand allowed to escape. Her makeup was understated but effective; a thin eyeliner defining her eyes, a light blush on her cheeks, and a bold, matte red lipstick on her lips. The sharp click-clack of her pointed, high-heeled shoes on the stair steps sounded like a declaration of authority and grace.
Petter's jaw dropped. He slowly placed his cup on the counter. "Wow," he whispered. Then, as if examining a work of art, he put his hands under his chin and slowly circled his mother. "Wait a minute, wait a minute... Is the Queen of England visiting the company today? Or did you secretly land a leading role in a Hollywood movie and not tell us?"
Sarah laughed at her son's exaggerated reaction. The serious expression on her face gave way to a warm smile. "Don't overdo it, Petter. It's just an important board meeting."
Maya spoke with a mouth full of cereal. "Mom, why are you so shiny?" This innocent question was more effective than Petter's sarcastic teasing.
Petter stood in front of his mother, blocking her path. Feigning a serious expression, he said, "No, no. This isn't a 'just a meeting' outfit. This is an 'I'm going to take over the world and I'll look amazing doing it' outfit. You have to pay a toll to pass to the coffee machine, madam. The toll is one smile and the secret to this incredible look."
Sarah gently pushed her son aside. "Get out of my way, you silly," she said, but her eyes were sparkling. Her son's attention had both embarrassed and pleased her. As she got her coffee, Petter approached from behind and brushed off her shoulders as if there were an invisible speck of dust. "Perfect. Not a single flaw. Your competitors don't stand a chance."
Sarah took a sip of her coffee. "Aren't you going to the university today? Where do you get all this energy so early in the morning?"
"Well, that's the other bombshell," Petter said, sitting back down at the table. "I'm not going today. After last night's events, I need to clear my head a bit and... research some things."
This answer briefly dissipated the cheerful atmosphere in the room. Sarah's face turned serious again. "I understand," she said. In that moment, they were both thinking about the deep uncertainty and silence created by "The Wanderer." But they didn't want to break the moment.
Just then, the familiar horn of the school bus sounded from outside. Maya instantly shot up from her chair. "My bus is here!" she said, grabbing her bag. After planting a quick kiss on her mother's and brother's cheeks, she ran to the door. Petter and Sarah followed to see her off. Maya waved as she got on the bus. With her colorful clothes and cheerful demeanor, she was like a beacon of hope in this gray and uncertain world.
When they returned inside, Sarah also grabbed her purse and car keys. "I should get going, too," she said.
As she walked toward the door, Petter made one last move. He stepped in front of his mother, suddenly dropped to one knee, and took her hand like a prince. "Your Majesty," he said, his voice grave, "I wish you the best of luck in your victories today. Rule your kingdom wisely."
Sarah burst out laughing at this dramatic gesture. She pulled her hand away and ruffled her son's hair. "You're crazy, Petter. Truly crazy."
As his mother walked to her car, Petter stood at the door, watching her. Before getting in the car, Sarah turned back one last time, smiled, and waved. At that moment, in her charcoal skirt and ivory blouse, she wasn't just a mother or a businesswoman. She was a strong, beautiful woman, standing tall despite everything.
As the house fell silent again, Petter retreated to his room. He turned on his computer. He browsed social media and news sites for a while. Not a single new piece of news about "The Wanderer." This silence was more unnerving than the worst kind of news. Everyone was holding their breath, waiting for the next move.
But the internet's agenda was different. Everyone was talking about OPG. Forums were rife with theories about what the Eden Protocol experience would be like. Just then, a notification popped up in the bottom right corner of Petter's screen. It was a post from OPG's official ChronoFeed account: "Welcome to the future. In 15 minutes. Live."
Petter's heart skipped a beat. What was this? An unplanned, sudden live broadcast. He immediately clicked the notification. The OPG live stream waiting room opened on the screen. In the center, a hyper-realistic 3D model of the Omni-Chamber slowly rotated. The background was a deep space vista of stars and nebulas. In the corner of the screen, a countdown timer ticked down with red digital numbers: 14:59... 14:58...
The chat box on the right side of the screen was flowing like a waterfall. People from all over the world were sending thousands of messages.
@VirtualPioneer: THIS IS IT! IT'S STARTING! HYPE!
@CyberDreamer: PLEASE MORE INFO FOR THE FIRST 10,000!
@Realist_77: Calm down, they're probably just going to post an apology video.
@Chloe_Art: I hope this isn't just a marketing gimmick...
@Kenji_Tanaka_Fan: 日本から応援しています!(Supporting from Japan!)
Petter leaned forward in his chair. He couldn't take his eyes off the screen. His heart was pounding with anticipation. What could this be? A new trailer? A delay announcement? Or... something more? Time seemed to crawl. Every second felt like a minute. The silence of the world outside was in stark contrast to the feverish, noisy anticipation in this digital room.
As the countdown timer hit the last ten seconds, the chat box began to flow at an unreadable speed. Ten... nine... eight... Petter held his breath. Seven... six... five... His fingers were involuntarily drumming a rhythm on the table. Four... three... two... one...
Zero.
The screen went black. A moment of silence. Then, with a futuristic sound effect, the shimmering OPG logo appeared on the screen. As the logo slowly faded, it was replaced by a simple yet elegant studio. In the middle stood a bald man with a relaxed but confident demeanor. He was wearing a simple black t-shirt with a small OPG emblem on the collar. The man's shiny bald head glowed like a beacon under the studio lights. On the giant screen behind him, the OPG and "Eden Protocol" logos were intertwined.
The man looked at the camera with a warm smile. His voice was deep, calm, and reassuring. "Hello, everyone. I'm Marcus Thorne, Chief Experience Officer at Octanos Prime Generations. I want to start by thanking you all for the incredible interest, patience, and passion you've shown over the last few days."
Petter settled deeper into his chair. This man had the air of a cult leader more than a salesman.
Marcus Thorne clasped his hands in front of him and continued. "We know. You have a lot of questions, a lot of concerns, and more importantly, a lot of excitement. Today, I'm here to answer some of those questions and share our vision for the future with you."
An image of a smartphone appeared on the screen behind him. "First of all, I'm proud to announce that the Eden Protocol experience will not be limited to just the Omni-Chamber. As of today, we are releasing the 'OPG Connect' app, which you can download from all app stores."
Animations of the app's interface began to play on the screen. It had a clean, minimalist design. "OPG Connect will be your personal gateway to Eden. You can start creating your character, form guilds with your friends, and access exclusive content detailing the rich history and mythology of Eden before the game even begins. This isn't just a companion app. This is part of the experience."
Petter immediately grabbed his own phone, went to the app store, and searched for "OPG Connect." The app appeared at the very top. He hit the download button.
Marcus began to walk slowly around the studio. "Now, I know, let's get to the main topic on everyone's mind: the Omni-Chamber orders." He had an understanding expression on his face. "Your demand has surpassed even our wildest expectations. Millions of people wanted to be among the first to step into Eden. However, this technology is new. Its production is complex and time-consuming. Therefore, we had to make a decision."
He paused. He created a dramatic silence. The chat box was overflowing with theories and pleas.
"The first wave, the 'Founder's Wave,' will be produced only for the first 10,000 confirmed individuals."
This announcement created a wave of disappointment in the chat box. But Marcus continued. "However, a price was announced for these 10,000 people. And we know, that price is high. It is the price of accessing this revolutionary technology a month before anyone else, of helping us lay the foundations of this new world, and of being a 'Founder'."
The number "$69,999" appeared on the screen behind him. "However," Marcus said, raising his voice, "OPG's mission is not to offer this experience only to a select few. Our mission is to bring Eden to everyone. That's why preparations for our mass production lines are complete. And I am thrilled to announce that the price of the first one million Omni-Chambers after the 'Founder's Wave' will drop to one-fifth of today's price."
The chat box froze. Then, an explosion. Shock, anger, joy... Every kind of emotion was reflected on the screen in text form.
Petter's jaw dropped. $14,000. That... that was an attainable figure. This changed everything.
Marcus smiled, as if he had anticipated these reactions. "Therefore, we have a recommendation for the 10,000 people who received order confirmations: If the special status and early access that come with being a 'Founder' are not vital to you, please defer your confirmation. Wait. In a few months, you will have the same technology at a much more affordable price. We don't want anyone to feel pressured. This is your choice." This was an incredible public relations move. It saved the company from looking like a greedy monopoly and, on the contrary, positioned it as a guide that cared for its customers.
"The OPG Connect app," Marcus continued, changing the subject, "will also be a control center for your Omni-Chamber. You'll be able to track your Chamber's statistical data, check its charge status, and even turn it on and off remotely. You'll even be able to adjust the Chamber's internal ventilation based on the temperature of your room." Stylish animations demonstrating these functions appeared on the screen.
"Our future work includes research on full-body haptic suits, scent-synthesis cartridges, and even dream interface technologies. Eden Protocol is just the beginning. We are redefining the limits of human potential."
When Marcus Thorne finished his speech, the shimmering OPG logo reappeared on the screen, and the broadcast ended.
Petter stared at the screen for a while. He felt like he'd been doused in boiling water. The app he had downloaded gave a "Installation Complete" notification on his phone. His brain was throbbing with the information he had just heard. On one hand, the opportunity to acquire the technology of his dreams, and on the other, the incredible financial and moral complexity that this opportunity brought... Should he defer his decision? Or should he pay that incredible price to be a part of history?
This wasn't just buying a game. This was buying a future. And Petter didn't know which future to choose.
Petter's mind was a hurricane, a chaotic storm of numbers, promises, and impossible choices. Seventy thousand dollars for a one-month head start? Or fourteen thousand dollars for the same tech a few months later? The corporate brilliance of the move was staggering; OPG had managed to create both an ultra-exclusive club and a future accessible market, all while looking generous. The indecision gnawed at him for exactly ten seconds, a silent, internal war raging behind his eyes. Then, a wave of fierce, sudden clarity washed over him.
Are you an idiot? he thought, scolding himself. What is this hesitation? You already placed the order. For you and your sister. You confirmed it. This was for Maya. For her sparkling eyes, her boundless imagination. This was so they could both be explorers in this new age, not spectators. There was no turning back.
The thought cut through the fog in his mind like a knife. The decision was made. Whatever the cost, they were going on this journey.
With this sudden enlightenment, he immediately grabbed his phone. He had to share this incredible news, this madness, with someone. He tried Chloe first, but her line was busy. She was probably in her art studio, sculpting a protest piece against this new state of the world. Then he called Liam. He picked up on the second ring. Liam's face, glowing with excitement, appeared on the screen, his messy room in the background.
"Dude! Did you see it? Did you see the broadcast?!" Liam's voice was fast and energetic, as if he'd just downed three espressos. "These guys are geniuses! They've literally started a revolution and made themselves look like angels while doing it! Dividing the price by five! It's an incredible move!"
Petter laughed. Liam's pure, tech-loving enthusiasm was infectious. "I saw it, Liam. Watched it breathlessly. My brain is officially melted."
"So, what did you do? What did you do?!" Liam asked, leaning closer to the screen. "You deferred your confirmation, right? That's the smart play. Wait a few months and get it for the price of a decent car instead of a down payment on a house..."
Petter leaned back and let a mischievous grin spread across his face. "Nope," he said calmly. "I didn't defer. I confirmed. Two of them."
Liam's image on the screen froze. His eyes slowly widened, his mouth fell open. There was silence for a few seconds. Then, he spelled out, "YOU. ARE. NOT. SERIOUS." "You spent one hundred and forty thousand dollars?! Petter, have you lost your mind?!"
"Maybe I have," Petter said with a shrug. "But think about it, Liam. This is like being one of the first people to buy a personal computer. Like being one of the first to connect to the internet. This is history being written. I wanted to be in it. I wanted Maya to be in it. The money... we'll figure that out later." As he said the words, he was once again reminded of what a blessing the inheritance his father had left them was.
Liam shook his head, a look of awe mixed with disbelief on his face. "You... you're my hero, you know that? While I'm over here trying to save up to buy the mass-produced version in a few months, you're going off to be a 'Founder.' When you get in... God, what are you going to do when you get in? What's the first thing you'll try?"
"I don't know," Petter said honestly. "I'll probably just stand there and look around. Try to understand what this 'more real than reality' thing looks like. Maybe I'll just touch a tree. Or look at the sky. And then... then I'll start thinking about how I can integrate my 'Nar-En' engine in there."
"That's it!" Liam shouted. "You'll create your own world! Your own rules, your own stories... While ordinary mortals like us play in the world OPG created, you'll be your own god!"
Their conversation turned into a fiery brainstorming session about the game's potential mechanics, possible first quests, and what the Omni-Chamber would feel like. Liam wondered how realistic the haptic feedback would be, how the scent generators would work. Petter was more interested in how advanced the AI and NPCs would be. For a moment, they had forgotten the cosmic dread created by "The Wanderer." OPG, with Marcus Thorne's charismatic presentation, had masterfully diverted the world's attention.
Right in the middle of this heated discussion, Petter's phone screen lit up. The call was from an "Unknown Number." Normally, it was a call he would never answer. But today... today, nothing was normal.
"Hold on a sec, Liam," he said, putting the video call on hold and answering the call. "Hello?"
The voice on the phone was clear, calm, and almost inhumanly flawless. There was no hesitation, no hint of emotion. "Good day, Mr. Petter Aksu. I am calling from Octanos Prime Generations, from the order and installation department. I hope I am not disturbing you?"
Petter's throat went dry. "No... no, you're not disturbing me," he stammered. OPG was calling? Now? How was that possible?
"Wonderful," said the voice. "I see that you have confirmed your order for two Omni-Chamber, Founder's Series units. First, allow us to congratulate you on being one of the first to step into Eden. Our specialized installation team is currently in your region. I am calling to determine the most convenient day and time for the installation of the two units you have ordered. Our team is available starting tomorrow. What day would be suitable for you?"
Petter couldn't believe what he was hearing. Tomorrow? Today was Friday. Tomorrow... was Saturday. He had thought he would have to wait weeks, maybe even months, and here OPG was, offering him an appointment for tomorrow. This was an unbelievable level of efficiency. "Tomorrow?" he asked, unable to hide the astonishment in his voice. "You're really available tomorrow?"
"Of course, Mr. Aksu," the voice said in the same calm tone. "Our logistics network is designed to maintain the highest level of customer satisfaction. Is tomorrow, Saturday, convenient for you? We have two options, morning and afternoon."
"Yes... yes, it is," Petter said, still in shock. "Saturday... afternoon would be fine."
"Noted. Your appointment has been scheduled for Saturday at 14:00. Our expert installation team will be at your address at the specified time. We anticipate the installation will take approximately two hours per unit. Our team will require a separate 220-volt grounded outlet for each unit and an area of approximately ten square meters. Do you have any other questions?"
"No... I don't think so. Thank you."
"We thank you, Mr. Aksu. See you in Eden."
The call ended. Petter stood there for a moment, phone in hand. His heart was fluttering in his chest like a bird. Was this real? Tomorrow... Tomorrow, would those futuristic chambers be in his house, in his room?
With trembling fingers, he returned to the video call. Liam's worried face was on the screen. "Dude, are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost. Who was that?"
Petter swallowed. "Liam," he said, his voice still a whisper. "You're not going to believe this."
"Believe what? Spit it out!"
"The call... It was OPG."
Liam's eyes widened again. "What?! What did they say? Is there a problem?"
"No," Petter said, taking a deep breath. "They called for the installation. They're coming tomorrow."
Liam's reaction wasn't silence, but a high-pitched laugh. "You're kidding! No way! They just made the announcement a few hours ago! A package can't even get to the other side of the world by tomorrow, and they're going to deliver a ten-square-meter room?"
"That's what I thought, but it's the truth, Liam. They'll be here tomorrow at two."
Liam put his head in his hands. "This... this company isn't like anything we know, Petter. It's like they're from another dimension, another future. What kind of logistics is this? What kind of production network? It's like... it's like they're teleporting these rooms." This new development fueled their conversation even more. The mystery of OPG went far beyond just being a software company. This was a show of operational power never seen before.
"Tomorrow... You know what you're going to do first, don't you?" Liam said, his voice now filled with pure awe. "As soon as the calibration is done, create a mirror. Look at yourself. Then, create and eat your favorite food. You have to tell me what it tastes like. And then, fly! Just fly! The to-do list is endless!"
Liam's enthusiasm was slowly turning Petter's shock into excitement. Yes, tomorrow was coming. And tomorrow, everything would change. After talking for a while longer, Petter said goodbye to Liam. He needed to gather his thoughts.
When he was alone in his room, the rest of the world seemed to have disappeared. All that global panic, all the speculation... it all felt meaningless. Reality would be knocking on his door tomorrow. He sat down at his computer. The code for his "Nar-En" project was open on the screen. But now when he looked at those codes, he didn't just see a university project. He saw potential, a seed.
AI for visualization... he thought. His mind was suddenly flooded with ideas. What if I can connect my 'Nar-En' engine to Eden's AI? What if I just write a scene as text, and the Omni-Chamber's AI instantly renders that scene photorealistically? Landscapes that change based on the user's emotional state, a sky that changes color with the character's mood... Not just pre-programmed worlds, but worlds created instantly, personally...
He stood up and went to the whiteboard in his room. He grabbed a marker and started drawing diagrams, formulas. His mind was working so fast, his hand couldn't keep up. Lines of code flowed through his mind like a river. This wasn't just about playing a game. This was about creating. It was playing God. And that power would be at his fingertips tomorrow.
He hadn't realized how much time had passed. It was starting to get dark outside, his room sinking into twilight. What broke him out of his trance was a familiar voice from downstairs: "Big bro! I'm home!"
His sister was back from school.
Petter smiled. All those futuristic dreams, those complex codes, suddenly took a backseat. There was only one thing that mattered right now. As he went down the stairs, he saw Maya in the hallway, taking off her backpack. Her school uniform was a bit wrinkled, her hair messy, but her face was shining with its usual energy.
"Welcome home, peanut!" Petter said.
As soon as Maya saw her brother, she ran to him. Petter bent down and picked her up, spinning her around in the air. Maya's cheerful laughter filled the silence of the house. "How was school today?"
"It was so boring," Maya said, hugging her brother's neck. "But in art class, I drew a spaceship! A spaceship with you and me inside!"
Petter's heart warmed. "That's a great idea," he said. "Maybe we'll really have a spaceship soon." As he said it, he thought of the Omni-Chamber.
The next hour was total chaos. They played "the floor is lava" in the living room. The sofas became safe islands, the carpet a boiling volcano. Petter took on the role of a giant monster, trying to catch Maya. The house echoed with Maya's screams and Petter's funny monster growls. They rolled on the carpet, had a pillow fight. In that moment, in that living room, there were no technological revolutions, no global threats. There was only the pure, unfiltered love and joy shared between two siblings.
When they were finally tired, they lay on the floor, panting. Maya rested her head on her brother's chest. "I love you, bro."
"I love you too, my little fish."
By the time Petter sent his sister to her room to do her homework, it was evening. He was just thinking about going to the kitchen to prepare something to eat when his phone rang. It was his mother.
"Sweetie," Sarah's voice sounded a bit tired on the phone. "I'm going to be late tonight."
"Is something wrong, Mom?"
"No, no. It's just that the board meeting ran very long, and I have a pile of files to check afterward. While I'm here, I also want to run those comprehensive security checks on the company's systems that I haven't done in a long time. Just to be safe. You guys make yourselves some sandwiches, okay?"
"Okay, Mom. Don't worry about us. Be careful."
"You too. I love you."
"We love you too."
When he hung up the phone, Petter paused for a moment. His mother would be late. Tonight, he and Maya would be alone. And tomorrow... Tomorrow, the installation team was coming. Life was changing at an incredible speed.