Chapter 13: Welcome to the Future

As we stepped inside my company's main facility, I watched as Alejandro, Elijah, and Natalia stood in awe. Their eyes darted around, taking in the sleek metallic architecture, the holographic displays, and the robotic assistants moving seamlessly through the halls.

"This... this is unreal," Natalia muttered, her gaze lingering on a drone hovering past. "It's like we just stepped into a sci-fi movie."

"No," I corrected her with a smirk. "This is reality. Welcome to the future."

We continued walking through the corridors as I guided them through various sections of the facility. The drone bay was our first stop, where various types of drones were being designed, assembled, and tested. Some were combat models, armed with precision weaponry, while others were logistical drones for transportation and repair.

Alejandro let out a low whistle. "Damn, boss. With an army of these, you wouldn't even need foot soldiers."

I chuckled. "Drones are efficient, but nothing beats human instinct in battle. Speaking of which, let me show you your quarters."

We arrived at a heavily secured wing where Alejandro and his men would be staying. I led them into a sleek, spacious room equipped with VR cabins—one for each of his soldiers.

"Alejandro, this is your team's training room. Each of these VR cabins is designed to simulate real combat scenarios with high realism. You'll be able to practice tactics, weapons handling, and even full-scale battle simulations. Outside, we have a live training field with actual weapons for you to familiarize yourselves with."

Alejandro examined one of the VR pods, then turned to his men. "Alright, you heard the boss. Time to get inside and start training!"

"Yes, boss!" one of his men said enthusiastically.

Another soldier grinned. "Finally, we get to use those exo-suits and advanced weapons. I can't wait!"

I smirked. "Have fun, but remember—the training programs are designed to push you to your limits."

Leaving Alejandro and his men to explore, I led Elijah and Natalia to the research lab. The moment we entered, their jaws nearly dropped.

"This... is insane," Elijah whispered, eyes darting from the holographic blueprints hovering in midair to the advanced lab stations lining the walls. "This isn't just a lab—it's a technological paradise."

Natalia stepped forward, inspecting a sleek console. "What kind of research is already being conducted here?"

"Anything and everything," I replied. "From energy production to AI development, weaponry, medical advancements, and material sciences. But this—" I gestured toward a set of highly advanced VR cabins, "—is where the real magic happens."

Elijah frowned. "They look like standard VR pods, but... something tells me they aren't."

I grinned. "They're far from standard. Unlike any VR system you've seen before, these allow real-time experimentation and simulation. You can test new materials, design and modify technology, and even conduct chemical and biological experiments—all in a controlled virtual environment that mimics reality almost perfectly. The degree of freedom is something you'll have to experience to understand."

Natalia ran a hand over the sleek exterior of one of the cabins. "A virtual lab that lets us work without risk of failure? This changes everything."

"Exactly. And beyond that—" I pointed to a separate section, "—we have the latest in 3D printing technology, supercomputers, and advanced research tools. Everything you need to push the boundaries of science."

Elijah grinned. "Alright, Time to get to work."

Natalia nodded. "This is going to be fun."

I watched them disappear into their new research station, excitement gleaming in their eyes. Smirking, I turned on my heel and made my way back to the command center. This was just the beginning. We were building something extraordinary—something the world had never seen before.

After ensuring Alejandro, Elijah, and Natalia were settled in, I made my way to the top floor of my company headquarters—my personal quarters. As I stepped onto the balcony, I took a deep breath, gazing at the horizon. The sky was clear, and the ocean stretched endlessly in the distance. A moment of peace before the next steps in my grand plan.

"Jarvis, status update on OASIS," I commanded, my voice steady.

"Sir, the OASIS hub is fully operational and ready for deployment," Jarvis replied instantly.

A smirk formed on my lips. "Good. Now, let's take it a step further. Create a game—one that mimics the vastness of space with as much realism as possible. It should offer players absolute freedom—combat, exploration, base-building, ship crafting, even the ability to form factions and wage wars."

"Acknowledged, sir," Jarvis responded. "Shall I integrate real-time physics and adaptive AI to enhance immersion?"

"Exactly. I want them to experience true interstellar survival and conquest. And one more thing—pay close attention to the players. Their skills, ingenuity, and leadership potential will be invaluable. If they create something groundbreaking, I want the ability to bring their designs into reality."

"A fascinating concept, sir. I will monitor and analyze the most promising individuals for potential recruitment."

"Good. Now, I need some inspiration. Jarvis, list five movies that feature advanced core technologies—technologies we could extract and implement in reality."

"Understood, sir. Here are five movies with groundbreaking technological concepts:

Interstellar (2014) – Advanced space travel, artificial gravity, time dilation, and wormhole navigation.

Elysium (2013) – Advanced medical nanotechnology, orbital habitats, and robotic security forces.

Star Trek (franchise) – Replicators, teleporters, warp drive, and universal translators.

Transformers (2007–2023) – Sentient alien robots with self-repairing nanotech, shape-shifting metal, and AI-driven combat.

Pacific Rim (2013, 2018) – Giant Jaegers piloted by humans via neural drift to battle interdimensional Kaiju monsters.

Alita: Battle Angel (2019) – Cybernetic warriors with nano-enhanced bodies and lost floating city technology.

I nodded, processing the possibilities. "Interesting… We'll start extracting the most useful tech soon. For now, let's focus on launching OASIS."

I leaned against the glass railing of my balcony, the salty breeze rolling in from the coastline as waves crashed rhythmically against the shore. The view was breathtaking, yet my mind was already leagues ahead, focused on the next stage of my plan.

"Jarvis, as much as OASIS is ready, we won't announce it to the world just yet," I said, my tone edged with calculation. "Let the players do that for us. If the game is as immersive as I envision, word will spread naturally. Hype born from experience is far more powerful than any corporate announcement."

"A wise strategy, sir," Jarvis responded smoothly. "Would you like me to initiate subtle viral marketing within gaming communities to accelerate awareness?"

I smirked, my fingers tapping lightly against the railing. "No need. The moment players experience the sheer depth and freedom of this world, they'll do the marketing for us. The excitement will be organic, and that's what makes it unstoppable."

"Acknowledged, sir. Shall we shift our focus toward recruitment, then?"

"Exactly. Aside from the people the President of Ukraine has already sent us, we need to begin selecting individuals who can truly contribute to our future. Skilled minds, innovators, those who aren't bound by conventional thinking."

"Understood, sir. Do you have any specific parameters for selection?"

"We'll start with my home country. But before that—Jarvis, manufacture 1,000 VR-integrated smartwatches. From now on, they'll be known as Holobands. These won't be just ordinary devices; they'll serve as an access key to our systems, personalized to each wearer, non-transferable."

"Noted, sir. Should I incorporate additional security measures?"

"Yes. Ensure that no external force—government, corporation, or hacker—can breach its encryption. If anyone attempts to disassemble or tamper with it, the device should automatically self-destruct, erasing all data and making its components unrecognizable."

"A formidable safeguard, sir. The Holobands will be ready for distribution."

"Good." I turned away from the view, my mind shifting to my next objective. "One more thing—prepare the jet. We're heading back to the Philippines tomorrow. There are… things that need to change there."

"Arrangements are being finalized, sir. Your jet will be prepped and ready for departure at your command."

I exhaled slowly, the weight of what was coming settling in my chest. The pieces were falling into place. Soon, the world would begin to shift—whether they were ready for it or not.