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A Man's Wildest Dreams 1
February 2, 1997

This is a story of a time long in to the future. A time of cyber space, silicon-based computer chips and a time of lost innocence. When those that could afford it and those that would kill to get it would loose their daily worries in a virtual drug known as VR-DEP or Virtual Reality Dream Enhancement Program.

VR-DEP was invented by Dr. Zeus Atraties in 2061.

Dr Atraties was banished from the Great Circle of Scientist in 2057 for methods of research and development that were branded unorthodox by other members of the Circle. Many common people as well did what they had to so I to avoid even mentioning in society. As revenge upon his fellow scientist and to a world that was looking for a simpler way of life, Dr. Atraties created VR-DEP. The actual drug is placed in a tiny silicon micro-chip. The micro-chip is then inserted into a headset which contains slots on either side the temple covering the side of the forehead. This drug would allow people to have all their dreams and wishes seem like a reality, but in truth VR-DEP is very deadly. VR-DEP, like many illegal drugs in the late 20th century, could cause death if the drug is used in overdoes. This is the story of one such

VR-DEP user named Bobby. A CPA from Wilmington, South Carolina whose job stress has motivated him to find ways to relieve the trials and tribulations of everyday life.

Heading home late from work one evening on the skyway, Bobby comes across a strange man wearing a black hat and a long black trench coat. At first, Bobby paid no attention to the strange man in black. It was not until the strange man began mumbling to himself that Bobby began to pay attention to him. The man in black was mumbling something about the great Trojan War that occurred around the seventh century B.C. As Bobby listen more and more intently, he became extremely interested what the man had to say. Suddenly the unknown man stop mumbling and looked up at Bobby, his eyes all aglow with a glassy look to them.

"Do you like the story of which I have said few parts too?"

Bobby looked puzzled, thinking to himself - [should I answer the man or not?] But Bobby's intrigue with the man's brief story telling shunned him away from even thinking of not responding to the strange man.

"Yes I do. I was once a history professor at Troy State University in Alabama, so I have some interest in things of the past."

The strange man seem not to care that Bobby had once been a history professor; only the fact that he alone was interested in the story the man had begun to tell.

As the skyway-tram began to slow for its next scheduled stop, the strange man pulled Bobby by the arm into a lone corner of the compartment.

"How would you like to experience the many aspects of the Trojan War first hand?

How would you like to make things happen the way you want them to happen. To be anyone, be with anyone you wish, do anything you want? I have something hear that will give you the experience of a life time, and it will only cost you two-hundred and fifty credits. Come on man, yas can't beat that kinda price for the ultimate thrill of your life."

Again, it was Bobby's intrigue for the strange man's story that kept him hooked. Stressed out from the work day, Bobby decided to take the man in black up on his offer. Bobby proceeded to pull his CRIDCD (cred~id) or Credit ID Card out of his wallet and gave it to the strange man. The man then scanned his card with a hand held scanner, showing a credit to Bobby's account to the strange man in black for two-hundred and fifty credits. The man then reached into a hidden pocket in side his trench coat and handed a VR-DEP chip and headset to Bobby.

"Have fun like you never had fun before mon, but remember one thing; you's never seen me are heard of me at all. I shall never return to this compartment again, so if you want more, I find you, you don't find me."

With that Bobby departed onto the electric sidewalk leading down to the street believing he would never see the strange man in black again, or would he?

Bobby was so anxious to discover what the strange man in black had given him at such a good price, that he dropped his keys in between the crook of the sidewalk and steps that lead up to his apartment.

When Bobby finally managed to get his keys and get into his apartment, he quickly threw down all his days work and proceeded over to his favorite brown leather couch and issued a verbal command for the lights to be dimmed in the room. He then placed the drug headset on his head and gently inserted the VR-DEP

micro-chip in the left slot over the temple of his forehead. The already dull-colored objects began to disappeared into a black void and then were replaced with lush green tress and a wonderful blue sky.

At first Bobby thought he had been ripped off by the unknown man. This did not seem like some part of the great Trojan War. But soon Bobby realized he was standing outside a great hall, made of huge cinder block-like material molded together with mud and sticks. He noticed that hundreds of people (men, women, children that were too young to be left alone, peasants, and men that seem to be all dressed alike) were entering into this massive structure. Bobby decided to enter the great hall, not realizing that he was dressed the same as the other men in front of him. With in a few minutes (what seem like a few minutes to Bobby was really only a few seconds because of the affect that VR-DEP has on brain and its perception of time.) a young boy entered into the hall and took his place on the stage in front of the crowd. Bobby made a conscious effort to try and not stand too close to the front of the stage so that the man, obviously a leader of the these people, would not called upon him to answer any questions. Bobby then realized who this young boy was.

His history profession had indeed come in handy. Bobby knew this to be Telemakos, son of Odysseus. Telemakos seem to be a bright young boy, but lacked in experience of being a man. Suddenly an old man standing next to Telemakos spoke with great vigor,

`Hear me, Ithakans! Hear what I have to say. No meeting has been held here since our king, Odysseus, left port in the decked ships. Who finds occasion for assembly, now? one of the young men? one of the older lot?'

It was obvious that these words from the old man delighted Telemakos so much that he could not refrain himself from sitting anymore. The young Telemakos stood up and the old man handed him a long wooden staff. This was apparently to symbolize that Telemakos had the floor and everyone had to listen to what he had to say whether they liked it or not.

`No need to wonder any more, Sir, who called this session. The distress is mine. As too our troops returning, I have no news-news to report if I got wind of it-nor do I have public business to propose; only my need, and the trouble of my house-the troubles.'

As Telemakos continued, Bobby realized that he was one of the suitors in this group of people that were being chastise and was bound to be asked questions by somebody presently on the stage. Could he [Bobby] get involved with everything that was going on around him? It was only virtual reality, what harm could there possibly be in it? He was the closest thing that was real in the entire scenario.

[Have a little fun,] he thought to himself.

Then, just by thinking about it, Bobby suddenly became Antinoos - one of the suitors. Bobby looked back to see if the person he once had been was standing in his place, but to his astonishment there was no one standing there. Bobby planed to hold true to his own thoughts affected by the VR-DEP; [have a little fun; twist what you know of the story and tell it the way you want it to be told].

With that Bobby added his personal touch to the story. Instead of the suitors being mad at Telemakos' mother for holding out on them when it came to matters of marriage. . . Instead of asking questions like, why was Telemakos' mother continuing to wait for Odysseus to return home so that the two of them could remain married. Bobby's own personal touch reversed the roles. All other suitors, except for himself, were now arguing over why Telemakos' mother had not returned home from the Trojan War; and why had not Odysseus accepted to marry one of the suitors?

Now, this would make anybody wonder about the kind of

life-style that Bobby might lead. But, one must keep in mind that this is virtual reality and anything can happen the way you wish it to happen.

Bobby (Antinoos) began to fit into his role nicely, allowing himself to become more and more relaxed. He then abruptly interrupted Telemakos just to see if the events could get any more interesting.

"You think you are high and mighty with your talk don't you Telemakos? There's no holding you back is there? You stand there and try to blame us for your father's action when you know darn well it is not out fault, but you and yours, the responsibilities for those actions of your father!"

Confused and unsure of what was just said to him Telemakos replies with a slightly raised voice:

"What strange is this way you speak to me? and pray why in such heavy voice?"

Really enjoying himself in this role, Bobby continued with his slight insults of Telemakos. In a smart toned voice Bobby replies:

"Oh, okay you need me to translate what I just said so that your feeble brain can handle it: `What high and mighty talk, Telemakos! No holding you! . . . You should know the suitors are not to blame - it is your own dear, incomparably cunning [father].' It is your loan responsibility for his actions!"

As Telemakos finally realizes what had been said to him, he refrains from showing any hostile angry towards Bobby. But, it is obvious enough to Bobby that Telemakos is infuriated with him. From these thoughts, Telemakos begins to explain what he intends to do about this problem with Bobby and the other suitors.

Telemakos feels that he cannot make his father do want the suitors want him to do.

This is because of the plain simple fact that Odysseus is his father [remember, the roles in my virtual reality world are reversed.]; he was raised by his father since his mother gave birth to him and soon after went off to war.

Telemakos further express that if none of the suitors agree with what he [Telemakos] has said, then all of you get the hell out of my house and go from which your sorry butts came.

Then, out of no where two eagles swoop down from the rafters of the Great Hall, thrusting and landing themselves on the heads of many of the occupants inside the massive structure.

Many of the people were screaming and trying their best to get out of the Hall. Many of them believed this to be a bad omen for the Ithakans and the further they could get away the omen the better. Then, the warning came to all who were still in the Great Hall:

`Hear me, Ithakans! Hear what I have to say, and may I hope to open suitors eyes to the black wave towering over them. Odysseus' [wife] will not be absent from [her] family long: [she] is already near carrying in [her] a bloody doom for all

these men. . .'

Many of the suitors did not seem to care about the old man's warning that Telemakos' mother would soon return. It was as though the suitors were only fixed on how to get Odysseus to accept her death in battle and to move on with his life.

Finally, after the strange birds had disappeared into thin air, Telemakos again took possession of the long wooden staff and began to speak to all that still remained in the Great Hall. Telemakos agreed that he would only force his father to marry one of the suitors if he [Telemakos] had proof that his mother was truly dead after twenty years.

If he alone found his mother and she had not passed on into the Aleaguen Fields, then he shall return with her and allow his parents to continue there marriage to one another. As to his thoughts about the one-hundred and fifty suitors that seem to seize his house every day, eating his food and drinking his family's wine: if he should find his mother then all the suitors would leave his family's home never to return. With that Telemakos asked for a ship and a small crew to sail it by. Most of the people were quick not to give a positive reply and simply continued to file out of the Great Hall. Then, Bobby tried something that would twist the story so much, something bad was bound to come out of it.

"May I join you and crew on this great journey to find your lost birth woman," trying to speak as to not draw attention to himself to the people that remain in the hall.

"Pray why would such a person set in mind on taking the hand of my widowed father would want to help me on this journey? You are nothing but a suitor. You can do me know good in these matters," Telemakos replied with a smirk expression on his face.

With that, Bobby replied to Telemakos:

"Listen, this is my world. Hear I alone am Zeus; I am Athena; I am Apollo; I am Herra. I do want I want, say what I want to say, and be who the hell I want to be. Therefore, if I say that I want to be on your great journey that will surly be in vane, then I shall be on this ship of yours."

By this time Telemakos was beginning to understand this strange way of speaking Bobby had toward him.

With infuriated anger, Telemakos picked the wooden staff up from the floor and charged toward Bobby like the animal of a raging bull had possessed the spirit of the young boy.

"How dare you speak of me in such tone of voice. I am Telemakos, son of Odysseus. You plan to halt my efforts to find my long lost mother so that you may have good word with my father in the near future. If I shall find my mother, would you kill her to get your way?"

Bobby was somewhat surprised at the emotional state of the young boy.

GO TO: A Man's Wildest Dreams 2 (6)