"The winner and CEO of Asaka Tech have collaborated and introduced for viewing pleasure the first-ever application of a Morality Drive." Igna paused for the soundbite while Noyce and Gigna shared confused looks seemingly left out of this info loop.
*Ohs&Awes*
"Yes, the Morality Drive will be the driving force for the players' Morality Meters in the game." A screen opens near Igna's head displaying the twenty Gods and a meter that reads from Lawful Good to Chaotic Evil
*Gasp*
*Bzzt*
*Ohs&Awes*
"Yes, each of these twenty Gods falls somewhere along this alignment chart, each desiring a certain level of morality to be achieved to continue down the paths they desire. While the ten Lesser Gods remain somewhat centered, the ten Celestials lie deeply upon the fringes. This coupled with the new system Pivotal Moments events will set the stage for players in the second round of the game similar to Life's game mechanic of learning skills and technology by players interacting with Ruins or undiscovered civilizations the Pivotal Moments Event will introduce a level of control never seen before and it's all thanks to Asaka Tech Dream Chambers patented ability to run multi-layered AI these players will have the pleasure of interacting with the first ever A-NPC!"
*Ohs&Awes*
"That's right, ladies and gentlemen, the first ever Aware-None Player Characters to be used in an MMORPG giving a higher sense of sentients to all the natural inhabitants of the Island of Zan!" For the viewers at home, the screen cut to a trailer filled with roaring creatures and jump cuts to mock footage of villages turning into cities while the workers of Asaka Tech were stuck staring into the intense wide-eye stare Igna was giving before the feed switched.
"And we're out!" A voice yells from behind the camera.
"Ah thank fuck Larry my head is fucking killing me." Igna blurts breaking character. Noyce relaxes her usual metallic smile slumping into her even more usual unimpressed don't speak to me face before pulling out a compact mirror and checking her makeup.
"Yeah, I bet all that giant head of yours does is hurt trying to hog all the limelight." Gigna murmurs to himself receiving a chuckle from Noyce.
"Yeah well, I'd bet it would hurt less if I didn't have to share it with some two-bit clone just cause the company thought a twin act would boost fucking ratings." Igna spat malice in every word.
"Hey! Don't fucking talk to him like that!" Noyce interrupted snapping the compact mirror shut.
"And you what happened to the nice blonde girl I married who wanted to review games?!" Igna pleaded but it just seemed to offend Noyce.
"I wasn't the one who convinced myself to go Chrome to impress the company!" Noyce screams slamming her fist into the table causing spiderwebbing cracks.
"Whoa, easy Noyce this isn't our set!" Larry screams from behind the camera.
"Do they know they're still on?" Niya whispers to Kharon who's eyes are glued to the screen.
"Nope, it's not sending to the live feed though." He replies without looking away from the screen.
"Should we be watching?" She asks feeling a little embarrassed.
"You should be recording." Alice whispers also watching the screen intently Niya notices everyone's eyes are softly glowing with their recording light feeling left out she joins the chorus of glowing eyes below the screen.
"Oh come off it you fucking love the attention!" Igna accuses crossing his arms and turning away from his wife.
"Come on guys can we not?" Larry asks politely from behind the camera.
"No, no Larry! What's that supposed to mean." Noyce demands as she stares daggers at Igna.
"You better watch it Igna." Gigna warns.
"You wanna know what I mean? I mean the only reason your ratings have skyrocketed is because fans are more curious if you're outfitted with two different Super Succr Nine thousands..." Ignas had dropped a bombshell heavy enough that the only witnesses to this argument including Larry the cameraman gasped. A few moments of Noyce's face being shocked before she quickly regains composure she pulls her mirror out again returning to preening her chrome skin and makeup.
"For the remainder of our stay here at Asaka Towers, I'll be rooming with you Gigna." Noyce states plainly voice stern and fierce.
"Uhh okay, I'll get your bags immediately." Gigna abides quickly shuffling off set towards their rooms.
"What the fuck Noyce you're my wife!?" Igna stammers frustratedly.
"He's your clone Igna I'm both your wives..." Noyce adds before shutting her compact mirror with a satisfying snap and making her way toward the room's leaving Igna to stew. Igna defeatedly rests his aching head in his hands.
"You alright Bob?" A genuinely sincere question rings out from behind the camera.
"Did I go overboard, Larry?" Igna A.K.A Bob ask his loyal cameraman.
"Yeah, a bit bud..." Larry replies solemnly.
"Fuck." Igna chides himself.
"Oh shit!?" Is the last thing heard from the feed before it all cuts. Cheers and applause ring out through the lobby everyone laughing and sharing their favorite bit of the show.
"And imagine could have all been avoided if they just fed us the live edited feed as well." Kharon says with a chuckle.
"Thank God for Larry the cameraman!" Ki screams out causing a chorus of people in the auditorium to sing his praise.
"I can't wait to show Fia this..." Niya admits while scrolling through the footage she caught from the extra uncut end of the show.
"Is that your player?" Ki asks lightly eavesdropping on her mumbling.
"Uh yeah, she'd think this is hilarious." Niya replies with a smile.
"Future reference don't share who your player is with any of the other net runners all it takes is a name for them to fuck you over." Alice warns before a long stretch and yawns. The festivities were rambunctious until an alert sounded causing everyone to scatter out immediately into the corridors and back towards their rooms.
"Game time! the first few months have passed and the biomes have updated all players must have answered the question." Ki gleefully shouted scarfing down the last synth hotdog and yogurt and scurrying towards one of the corridors.
"That's my cue remember you two it's not good for an angel to keep their player waiting." Alice says with a wink before sleepily wandering off with her eyes half open. This made both Kharon and Niya blush.
"Welp I guess..."
"Welp I guess..."
They both stammered out over each other awkwardly.
"Will I see you next break... I mean! You can sit with us if you want?" Kharon manages through shakes and shivers.
"Yeah definitely." Niya replies eagerly this puts the biggest of smiles on Kharon's face before he says his goodbyes and disappears down a corridor. Niya follows suit making her way back to her room she enjoys the buzz of fun still humming in the back of her head she swipes the door panel causing the cold metal to reveal a scene of panic Aisling was in the room frantically running from panel to panel while alerts flashed on every screen.
"Where the hell were you!?" She barked desperately trying to stop whatever was happening. Niya quickly makes her way over to the Netrunner station laying back into the chair and allowing it to dock into several ports running along the back of her neck and spine. A few moments later all the alerts were abated causing Aisling to slump to the floor in relief.
"What happened?" Niya asked running a quick diagnostic of her systems.
"The CEO and winner they found us out or maybe they always knew we would be here." Aisling said Niya could tell some of her ports were damaged as if she had to rip herself free from her connections.
"And Vidar!? How was Fia?" Niya questioned Aisling but she was too out of it to manage a reply.
"The AI it got in my head..." Aisling mumbles before passing out.
"Aisling!? AISLING!?" Niya screams but to no response, she has no choice but to leave Aisling where she was to check on Fia she puts the Dive Visor on and reconnects to the Angel Servers. She feels herself drift away and when she comes to she's in her angel form at the edge of a Swamp in front of her Aisling demonic form is holding the hand of a Vidar who is teetering over the edge of an abyss.
"Do we have a deal Vidar?" The imposter Aisling asks their voice deep and twisted. Vidar looks his angel in the eye and back at the demand keeping him from falling.
"Vidar?" That is all Niya manages before Vidar accepts the devil's deal and the imposter Aisling releases their grip allowing him to fall into the catacombs below.