Chapter Text
"FUCK!"
Abigail "Abby" Brooks, Aged 25, Pronouns: She/They, is currently sitting in jail cell of a local police station. Reason why is simple, Abby is a bit of thrill seeker, and what thrills them is exploring abandoned buildings, she always found the idea of Urban Exploration interesting, she was the kind of person who would stay up and watch Urban Exploration Videos on YouTube til 3 in the Morning most nights. After a while, they decided to try it out for herself.
During the day she worked her usual 9-5 job working as an Accountant for a Grocery Store Chain, she hated the job, but, put food on the table and pay her rent, something her many previous roommates couldn't do. Once she clocks out at work, they go exploring abandoned buildings, sometimes she films them and uploads to YouTube.
She usually does her best not to slip up, mainly trying her best not to get caught, but, as of now, their luck ran out. Unbeknownst to them, the most recent building she was exploring, a hotel that was set to be demolished to make way for some warehouse or data center or something, she didn't know nor cared. She thought she could get away with sneaking around, but, sadly, they never checked for Security Cameras or any Silent Alarms. The Moment those Sensors picked up her traces, the moment police showed up ready to book'em like Danno.
"I tried everything," said Abby, "Everything, to prevent this from happening, and here I am, IN JAIL! FUCK!"
Abby has made sure to stay safe prior to this. Hell, she even knew the dos and don'ts of urban exploring. Mostly thanks to watching a Cringe Compilation of UrbEx fails, like one that showed you why you really shouldn't mess with Still Water. They thought they were safe, but, forgot that the buyers would put up security measures to stop people like them.
"BROOKS!"
The Shout Caught Abby's Attention.
A Police Officer opened the jail cell door.
"You've been bailed out," said the officer.
Abby was escorted to the front office, where she met the person who bailed her out. Her Mother, Elizabeth Freeman-Brooks.
"The Owner has Declined to Press Charges, so you are free to go," said the Officer, "However they have your name and face on file, so you are now banned from re-entering the property. Understand?"
"Yes, officer," said Abby.
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After the brief chat with the officer, Abby was being driven home by her mom.
"Really, no thank you for bailing you out?" Elizabeth Asked
"I was afraid you'd go into the typical mom speech of 'what kind of moron daughter gets arrested for sneaking around an abandoned building?' or something," said Abby.
"I wasn't going to say that," said Elizabeth, "I was in my Mid-20's once too y'know. And frankly I'd rather have explored abandoned buildings over getting married too young."
"I thought you said you married dad when you were 31?" Abby asked
"Long story short, be happy Vegas Style annulments are as easy as their Marriages," said Elizabeth.
"Oh," said Abby, "now I wish i didn't know that."
"Abigail Brooks," said Elizabeth, "You're 25, there isn't anything wrong with living a little, but, to get arrested-"
"Whatever mom," said Abby, "I think you'll be happy to know my days of Urban Exploration are over."
"Woah," said Elizabeth, "Abby, didn't expect you to jump that quick to that conclusion."
"Prison changes people mom," said Abby, "or at least 2 hours in a holding cell in the city police station. I tried my hardest not to get caught. I tried my freaking hardest to prevent today from happening. Maybe this is a sign I need to give up."
Elizabeth parks the car outside Abby's place.
"Sweetie," said Elizabeth, "I know you're still finding yourself, hell, at least your journey isn't hurting anyone like when your father tried beekeeping in the basement."
"I still have nightmares from that one."
"So do I, however, I want you to know, no matter what you do, You have the full support of Me."
Abby and Elizabeth hug.
"Thanks Mom," said Abby.
"No Problem my little Pom-Pom," said Elizabeth using Abby's Childhood Nickname.
Abby then exits the car and walks up to their appartment.
Elizabeth rolls down her window.
"Wait, why didn't you call your roommate to bail you out?" Elizabeth asked.
"Carol moved out," said Abby, "You Know that Vegas thing you mentioned, she's about to learn that with her boyfriend."
Elizabeth snickers.
"What's so funny?" Abby asked.
"Nothing, just, ironic how your the one who did time in jail while Carol's the real troublemaker," said Elizabeth.
Abby thinks about what her mom said for a second.
"Okay, that is ironic," said Abby snickering.
"I'll tell your father you said hi," said Elizabeth as she drove off.
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A few weeks after her run-in with the law, Abby has been trying to find a new hobby, preferable so they wouldn't end up with a 6 to 7 year sentence.
Abby has tried multiple hobbies, and ended up failing at most of them.
Knitting was a disaster, as whenever they tried to make a sweater she made the neck long enough so that only a giraffe would wear it.
Pottery was a mistake, ended up with clumps of clay on their pants.
And cooking, well, she's lucky the stove in the apartment isn't gas.
She was at her wits end, now they are just shuffling through hobby forums on their tablet for something.
"Farming? No," said Abby, "Crypto? That's a Scam. Spelunking? Too Similar to UrbEx to me. Jesus, trying to find a new hobby sucks."
She scrolls down a little more until an ad popped up.
"What the," said Abby, "Oasis, what the hell is that?"
Abby clicked on the ad, a video started playing with narration.
"Are you tired of boring old reality?"
"Who isn't?" Abby asked.
"Wish you were able to do anything with no consequences?"
"Within Reason," said Abby.
"Do you want to explore a whole new world and meet new people?"
"It'll be nice," said Abby, "even my coworkers are sick of being the only people we see on a semi-daily basis."
"Then join us, in OASIS!"
Two men then appeared on Screen.
"Hello, My Name is Mike Dobby."
"And My Name is Grant Best."
"We are the founders of C&A Interactive," said Mike, "Creators of Oasis."
"Oasis is a digital world where the only limit, is your own imagination," said Grant.
"Did somebody say Imagination?"
Just then a cartoon character that looked like a Giant Pair of Walking Dentures with Eyes in it's Mouth appeared.
"Oops, didn't mean to startle yah! My Name is Caine, a Helpful Ringmaster of Oasis, or as I call it, The Amazing Digital PARADISE!"
"Caine here is our amazing Digital Host," said Mike.
"Caine is an Artificially Intelligent Creation from us here at C&A," said Grant, "But, he's unlike the Ai you seen in Movies or in Chatbots."
"That's right Grant Old Buddy," said Caine, "I have more features than your standard chatbot, as I can create things in matter of Nanoseconds."
Caine snaps fingers, suddenly an Angel Food Cake appeared.
"Angel Food Cake Gentlemen?" Caine Asked.
"Ooh, don't mind if we do," said Grant.
"And you don't have to worry about me going on a killing spree.....you humans already do well at that," said Caine, "Honestly I feel sorry for the real world."
"It's okay Caine," said Mike, "after all, we developed Oasis to be an Escape from the Real World."
"A Virtual World Where Anything can Happen," said Grant, "Where Anyone can Be Anyone!"
"A Simple Mailman can be a International Rock Star," said Mike, "Or a Pizza Delivery Boy can be a Superhero."
"The Limit Truly is Your Imagination," said Caine, "And Imagination is Limitless."
"Exactly Caine," said Grant.
Oasis: Available Now!
"A World where the only limit is your imagination?" Abby asked, "Interesting....."