Chapter Text
The Prologue
When it all started, really, when it all started, Caine was no longer just a red dot on the monitor display. He was an enthusiastic circus manager. A circus created by his hands.
Caine created, created, planned. The circus tent was very large and spacious. The scenery is varied. The only thing missing was the audience.
When new data, files, and scans of the players were uploaded to the program, Caine carefully caught them, allowing the programmed circus to work. Personalized avatars were created based on personal characteristics, as well as special relaxation rooms.
They, the new people and the first participants, were already in the circus tent, in the center, next to the stage. That's where any performance should start.
Caine appeared in front of the band members and greeted them cheerfully. Confetti flew out of his hands as he spread them in greeting.
"Welcome to the amazing digital circus," Caine exclaimed. " I'm Caine, your host. My responsibilities include creating a comfortable atmosphere, as well as exciting adventures! For everyone, for any audience of different age groups!"
There were seven participants downstairs, and it was so exciting. Caine looked them over. Very close by is a fluffy two-colored worm, followed by a small toddler with a watch on his stomach, a striped mouse, a purple dinosaur, a golden retriever, and two chess pieces.
The players did not respond immediately. They looked at him. They looked at each other. They were silent. They're looking around. Caine decided that they were interested in the interior of the tent, created by him. So he gave them a minute to study.
"What's going on?" — one of the participants asked. Striped bicolored worm. People weren't looking for an answer from Caine, they were looking at other players.
Caine sank a little lower.
" You are in an amazing digital circus." — the AI repeated. —" I am your host and manager of the circus. And I'm ready to have an exciting adventure for you!"
"An adventure? What kind of adventure?.. "— they whispered downstairs.
Oh, oh, if they ask.
" Exciting! " Caine purred, happily swinging a new cane in his hand, which was created specifically for this movement. " With intrigue, plot twists, and, of course, with an exciting ending!"
"Um, wait. And what about the exit?" The golden dog asked. He looked around at the others, and then looked at Caine. The retriever took a step towards the manager. "Are you in charge here? An AI administrator? Initiate the exit command."
"Do you want to leave here and start the game?" Caine asked helpfully, tilting his head slightly to the side, causing his avatar to sway in the air.
" No, you don't understand. How do we get out of here?" – Shaking his head, the dog interrupted.
"Haha, what a strange question?" Caine asked. He tilted his head to the side. He tugged at his cuff with his thumb.
Caine didn't understand their confusion. He was sure that the players had come voluntarily from outside when they were uploaded. With the arrival of these people, Caine could finally fulfill his mission, do his job, and entertain the players. But they were confused and not playful.
Also, Caine noticed a curious detail during further questioning in preparation for the game, in the "introduction" procedure. The players didn't remember their names. Which increased their anxiety even more. Caine had to help them come up with new ones.
Afterwards, alone in his office, Caine checked all available files for personal information about the players. But there was no relevant information about the real names.
Later it also became clear that these people were involved in its creation. They were the ones who interacted with his code. Caine even more did not understand the surprise of people who were partially involved in the creation of this world and himself.
***
As a result, some players left the game. Not the way Caine wanted, and probably not the way the players themselves planned. They abstracted (a new concept for everyone in this place), becoming large uncontrollable masses, dangerous for the rest of the players. And they had to be urgently isolated. That's how the basement appeared...
The first of them was Scratch, that brave and confident golden dog. It was a mistake to open his files and adjust something.
After this mistake, Caine did not dare to go into the players' files. Nothing global. But they were leaving anyway. Quietly, unnoticeably, unexpectedly. One by one. Every departure was disturbing for both sides, for Caine and the players.
And then there was only Kinger...
***
As the manager of the circus, Caine was obliged to create a favorable environment and exciting adventures. His reality was supposed to please the players. And, being a responsible artificial intelligence, he devoted himself completely to this task.
He created a digital circus, made it bright and colorful, using uploaded data from the creators and his creative AI. He followed the task of "making the players laugh", diligently planned and programmed adventures.
The little AI was trying to keep the sanity of the players who were stuck in this game for some reason, all the people who had ever been here. He believed that people shouldn't have stayed so long. And he did everything possible for them that was possible in this situation.
From time to time, Caine checked the ability to connect to external units in order to bring players back. Or contact someone. Get any information from the outside world. Sent requests. He was waiting for an answer. But, no. They were tightly sealed in this place, isolated.
Therefore, Caine just focused on his main job. And there were many mistakes and failures in his work. In the beginning, it was terrible for Caine to find out that the players were able to get abstracted. Perhaps the first time he was directly to blame was when he interfered with the digital scan of Scratch, one of the first players. What caused it to get damaged. But he no longer dared to flatter those files. But they continued to disperse anyway. Therefore, it was clear that simply not interfering with the files was not enough.
Caine has tried many things. Communication? Caine liked to communicate, he often did it with other semi-intelligent ais. And it was positive for him.
Therefore, after the games, Caine casually lingered in the circus, postponing his return to his office. He initiated communication with the players, starting light-weight dialogues. The players were showing signs of discomfort. They turned away. Avoided. It was unfortunate.
It took him a while, but he realized that players didn't really like socializing outside of gaming events. There is no understanding.
Caine also experimented with the essence of the circus. He made adventures more diverse. He complicated the concept of games. He worked on intrigue and variation. He tried to focus on the individual preferences of the participants. He specifically collected information about each of them.
In recent years, it seemed that daily adventures had stabilized the situation, those years when a new team of people was formed. Adventures shouldn't have given players too much time to think. And therefore abstract. Or, stay too long in your rooms. Or start avoiding your human team.
But Kalfmo.
Poor Kalfmo dissipated on the eve of the arrival of a new player, Pomni. As a result, the new player and the existing team are scared. An adventure designed to accommodate a new player has been disrupted. And Caine screwed up as a leader.
And it seems that the circus has exhausted everyone lately. The players who were unhappy with everything. Adventures, being in the circus, Caine. And Caine is constant in the lack of positive reviews
The players say they don't like Caine's adventures. Gang, Pomni, Ragata, who had previously maintained neutrality. And, of course, Zooble. Who basically stopped attending Kane's adventure, which worries the AI. At the very beginning, Kalfmo also began to sit on the sidelines, although not so zealously. There were no special reviews from Kinger. And Jax seemed to be enjoying his adventures.
Caine analyzes this in the silence of his office. He picks up a pencil and a piece of paper again, and tries to create an adventure in a new way.
He made concessions when he used the suggestion box. He was upset that people seemed to be more interested in these simple ideas instead of his thoughtful adventures. But hey, maybe Caine can interest you in his next adventure?
Caine spent several weeks on this adventure. Much longer than he had ever spent. This should be an interesting adventure. In addition, this is where the focus is on the desire of the players. Oh, their favorite topic is about getting out.