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PROLOGUE.

A SELF-ISOLATED SOCIETY, living in a virtual reality is one of the many possible solutions to the fermi paradox. If mankind could fully digitalize a brain and make it suitable enough so that one could "live" in a virtual world, we could, theoretically, grant humans the power to live in any desired fantasy using a minimal fraction of the energy we use today.

The outburst of desires from teenagers wanting to physically teleport or "shift" into their favorite fictional universe would no longer be a hopeless daydream. One's hastily written author insert could finally be played out to their very eyes.

Husbandos and waifus, milfs and dilfs would no longer just be pixels trapped on a 2D surface, but instead, realistically portrayed and freely interactive in a way that persuades the brain of their legitimacy.

If such creation were to exist, what more could one wish?

Scientists from all over the world sought this as a challenge, an opportunity to expand their knowledge of biotechnology and competed against one another; all working towards a temporary space for one to cultivate and practice the ideals of happiness.

Ideals that weren't achievable in the environment we're given, whether it be from external stress due to their home/work environment, or from physically restraining incapabilities such as a disability for example.

Years and years of research and experiments funded by the curious minority helped birth the now renowned company, CHEARSKI. A once small corporate private research lab, who were looked down upon and laughed at by many, now finally presents their fruitful result to the judgmental public.

The idea of living in an ideal world is both terrifying and appealing to many. While some were skeptical of the safety behind this never-before-seen technology, others were more than happy to have their once whimsical fantasies become a reality. Both sides, as expected, eventually gave in to the temptation and fell into the tactful trap.

Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on your perspective, many had become "addicted", so to speak, to the limitless achievements one could acquire upon minutes of entering their utopian world.

Not surprisingly, children sought this chance to summon three-legged unicorns, grow sweet cotton candy carrots, do anything and everything that a young creative mind could manifest. 

Others, however, quickly learned how influential this new entertainment would become. Veterans, who had sacrificed their limbs for their country, were finally able to bounce around on their feet and swim across the sea. Chefs too, who had previously lost their sense of taste due to certain circumstances, once again, were able to produce flawless, mouth-watering dishes that could rival those of Gordon Ramsay himself.

CHEARSKI became the new reality. A reality that everyone preferred, a reality that everyone ultimately chose. The once privately-owned company boomed in sales, and rose in power not only economically, but socially and politically as well. The appreciation given to this now empire ranged from 5-star reviews to cults who worshipped the founders so much, they created their own religion dedicating everything to them.

You might ask. Well, how did this small corporation garner so much popularity in such a short period of time?

As many would say, "Try it and you'll believe it."

The experience, to put it blandly, was so much more satisfactory than anyone could have imagined. Some described it as a timeless lucid-dreaming experience, in which one could rewind and replay the moments endlessly yet vividly in their mind no matter how many times they want.

Slowly, this craze over this new world-flipping creation became a new household need. Like the creation of the mobile phone, this luxury soon became a necessity, a staple of many that became so practical, so irresistible that no one could live without it.

This new mind-blowing era of CHEARSKI worshipping and neurological technology entertainment implemented various advancements in all fields of knowledge, even curving the positive slope of mental illness down to a steady negative.

The world felt... happy again.

People on the streets no longer drag their feet on the floor, but instead wave hi's and maybe even exchange a few conversations with strangers at the bus stop. Crime rates decreased, suicidal trends slowed. For many, CHEARSKI was like a gift from above that no one thought they deserved.

While everyone was tooting their horns, expressing their gratitude, thanking the heavens for them to be able to live in a time period where such invention existed, a few underlying groups of people began to, once again, question the legitimacy of this company.

You see, while the company did introduce us to a seemingly attractive solution to real-world problems with a simple band-aid that would temporarily relieve the pain, in the end, this is all temporary.

It was also the lack of warnings and safety precautions too that left the parents worrying. Although it might come as a given since new inventions were bound to have a few sets of flaws and issues here and there, its a matter of how much of a problem the flaws would create that is concerning.

It's history who've that taught us it's the new and unfamiliar products that should be avoided the most, after all.

As far as they know, CHEARSKI had disclosed nothing about their product. How the company came to be, their materials, the concept that helped them create the product.

Nothing.

Even on their official webpage, there wasn't anything written in there that answered those questions.

A large percentage of the average consumers seemed to glance over that fact, it seems.

It's only much later did the consequences really set in and force them to open their eyes.

A few months had passed since the initial launch of the product. Everything was fine and dandy until more and more ominous reviews started popping up.

Many began to confuse the two worlds with one another as the differences between the two were close to none. Collected reports showed that there was a growing trend of countless, numerous similar incidents where people jumped off a building thinking they can T-pose themselves safely onto the ground, forgetting that gravity unfortunately still exists.

Arson and disturbingly kinky murder cases began to occur much more often, rising at a terrifying 450% since the last century. Chaos swallowed the news outlet, spreading the fire to the public and eventually, the government's ears as well.

They found it to be too coincidental for the uprising to align so perfectly to CHEARSKI's rise in sales and hourly usage, so much that petitions and protests began to plague the empty streets of the city.

"You took our children and the future generation's ambition!" They'd scream. "They no longer look forward to future job applications and real-world achievements, this world is doomed to fail!"

With so much support coming from the screen-hoarding addicts, CHEARSKI fortunately was able to evacuate and dust themselves from the horrible "allegations" unscathed. Even though the uproar became a historically important event, it was all quickly swept under the rug.

Within weeks of the protests, the streets became dead silent once again; with there being no more countering arguments against the company ever since.

The timeline of this all occurring contained a suspiciously large amount of holes. How did the company financially support themselves well enough for the expensive experiments? Even if the company had public support, shouldn't have the government implement a policy at the very least regarding the uproar?

The problems that arose came crashing down just as quickly as they had left.

Is that not strange?

Whispers and murmurs of speculation silently ribbon between the crevices of people's homes. Though people became anxious and worried about what was to come, through time, people came to forget.

And forget they did.

Like an old lady's tale unworthy to be told, the history was forgotten.

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