u/Macrihanishautomatic

Our protagonist (a man dying in a hospital bed of an incurable illness long before his time) feels life slipping away and prepares to face the eternal darkness of oblivion. His eyes begin to close for the last time…

Instead he awakes in a sterile, white room surrounded by men in lab coats.

“Subject 5318 has returned from base reality. Commence onboarding.”

The man is disoriented and confused. “Am I dead?” He asks the men in lab coats

“Far from it” one lab coated man replies: “You have completed your task with a remarkable efficacy.”

“What do you mean?” The man asks.

“You played the game of life in an earnest, persevering and creditable manner. By doing so you helped our project immensely. In return for your decades in base reality you now have free rein of any simulation you choose.”

“Simulation?” The man asks.

“That’s right. Entirely immersive virtual reality with any setting and characters of your choosing. I will explain everything in your briefing but first you must rest.”

The man looked up at the ceiling and pondered his situation. What dreams were yet to come?

Our protagonist (a man dying in a hospital bed of an incurable illness long before his time) feels life slipping away and prepares to face the eternal darkness of oblivion. His eyes begin to close for the last time…

Instead he awakes in a white sterile room surrounded by men in lab coats.

“Subject 5318 has returned from base reality. Commence onboarding.”

The man is disoriented and confused. “Am I dead?” He asks the men in lab coats

“Far from it” one lab coated man replies: “You have completed your task with a remarkable efficacy.”

“What do you mean?” The man asks.

“You played the game of life in an earnest, persevering and creditable manner. By doing so you helped our project immensely. As recompense for your decades in base reality you now have free rein of any simulation you choose.”

“Simulation?” The man asks.

“That’s right. Entirely immersive virtual reality with a setting and characters of your choosing. I will explain everything in your briefing but first you must rest.”

The man looked up at the ceiling and pondered his situation. What dreams were yet to come?