4 Chapter 1 - So It Begins

Date: 06/12/2015

Location: Car Park, Royal Hospital of London, London, England

Harold exited his car. It wasn't anything too fancy just a black sedan of the Hyundai range and this fit him fine as he never really liked showing off his wealth. Too many unseemly characters in the world.

"Ben, stay with the car for now if I need you I'll call," He said to his driver as he walked to the entrance of the hospital.

"Whatever you say, Boss." Ben replied. Ben, a hulking man in a slightly tight black suit, leaned against the car as told.

Harold slowly walked up to Room 786, Private Ward with a wry expression on his face.

'Of all of the places to find the solution to the problem that's plagued us for generations. And to think that the boy is already on his last leg and could diminish at any time.' he thought as he knocked on the door.

Waiting a couple of seconds, he walked into the room. The sterile smell hit him as he looked toward the bed. On it lay a youth completely still. Covering his face was a Helm with only the pulsing grey light showing any activity in the room.

Harold turned to the nurse who was sat at his bedside. Looking at him with some recognition.

"Mr Hames, How can I help you today?" She asked with a slight shake in her voice. It seemed like she had been crying as her eyes were red and puffy.

"Ah, Maddy, I am just her at Daniel's request. But is he is busy, I can wait." he replied to her.

"Don't worry, Sir. He's been in there for a while and it was just about time for him to come out." Maddy said as she stood and lean over the youth to tap the call button.

"Hi Daniel, Mr Hames is here to see you." She spoke into the mic on the Helm.

"Be right out" A quick response came back.

Soon the whirring of the Helm slowed and the grey light changed to green. After a short moments the black visor on the Helm slid up to reveal the pale faced youth.

"Hello Mr Hames, Sorry about the wait." The youth greeted.

"It's no problem, my boy. Considering the circumstances I would have been happy to wait."

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"Maddy, Could you please tilt up the bed?" Daniel asked as Maddy was removing the Helm from his head.

"Right away" She replied and started to adjust the bed with the control console.

"Please have a seat Mr Hames." Daniel said after his bed had been adjusted.

"Sure and call me Harold." Harold answered.

"Very well, Harold. Would care for a drink? I'm sure we could get you something." Daniel asked.

"There no need, my boy. I have just had breakfast and i just really want to know if you are actually accepting the proposal." Harold replied.

"Yes, I am accepting the proposal but I have a few conditions I would like to iron out from a legal perspective." Daniel said, much to the joy of Harold as his face lit up slightly when he heard this.

"Good, Good. That's great. What ever you need, we are willing to give. We really need this issue resolved." Harold beamed.

"Maddy, would you give us a few minutes in private please." Daniel turned to Maddy as he spoke. Maddy who looked on a little concerned, shook a little before she spoke.

"I'll be right outside Daniel. Mr Hames, please call if anything crops up." She stated in a defeated tone and left the room.

"Ok then. So, I do have a few conditions but don't think they will affect your planned proposal in any way." Daniel started after he confirmed the door had closed.

"Firstly, regarding my condition, I am more that aware that I only have at most a year left before every organ shuts down and I go into necrosis. As such, I decided to settle some affair. I want any and all monetary proceeds from any one of my project with your organisation to be split in a 60:20:20 ratio between Maddy and my two step-siblings. With Maddy being the 60%." Daniel detailed his first condition as he watched the expression on Harold face turn from pensive to solemn.

"I am honestly deeply sorry that the state of technology is as it is and we cannot cure you. I feel we are going to be losing a genius at the level of Einstein before he could theorise his law of relativity theorem. I know that I cannot do much but this has already been done when we found out how much time you had left. I have personally overseen the state of your finances and have made trusts for your siblings amounting to 45% in total. The rest is being stored in a Swiss bank for whenever you need it. But our lawyers draw up a will and make this a legalised action." Harold responded with heavy emotion and regret.

"That's fine. I had come to terms with my condition a long time ago and knew i would not be here for long. If you need a video will please send the lawyers over so that one can be made. Now the next condition I have is about the project relating to the Helm. I have completed the main story line and have also created a team of AI's to control the virtual environment and any further story lines that may crop up. But there is a, let's say Easter egg, of sorts in the game. It's sort of a time capsule that will allow anyone to create there own world and then link it to the current one. And each new world will have this same Easter egg so as to create limitless new worlds. The condition is that I do not want any human intervention unless there is a catastrophic malfunction." He stated his second condition.

"Hmm. That may be possible but we would like to go over the AI protocols and functions." Harold pondered the consequences as he enquired.

"That's great. You can take my Helm. The AI on there is call Pixel. It will be able to help and explain all the functions as it is the main managing AI. Additionally, I have tasked it with creating AI assisted technology for future ventures and my own designs are on the database." Daniel replied.

"That'll do. Are these your only conditions or are there any more?" Harold asked.

"There is one more and it probably can only be done after the first one." Daniel said a bit more nervous than before.

"I want to fake my death before going into this project." He said in a serious voice as he watched Harold jump slightly in surprise.

"Boy, are you sure you want this? This isn't something you can come back from and no one other that me and select few from the organisation will know you are alive." Harold exclaimed.

"I'm sure. I've thought about this for a while and I don't want Maddy to watch me whither away. Plus it will allow me to solely focus on the task at hand and not have to worry about anything." Daniel explained.

"Sigh... If this is what you want we will get it done. I'll have the lawyers here within a week to for the will and other legal issues. And then we should be able to get this done by the end of the month." Harold sighed his response in a deflated manner.

"I'm sorry for any trouble this may cause Harold but this is something I need to do before going with you. Thank you for everything." Daniel said with sincere gratitude.

"It's Ok. I will go and get the ball rolling." He stood up and picked up the Helm of the bed and started to walk towards the door.

"I'll get someone to replace this Helm for you." He said as an after thought as he opened the door and walked out.