*Date: 33,476 - Telula Space Station - Today*
Aris pressed his face against the observation deck's glass, watching ships emerge from the massive portal like metal whales breaching an ocean of stars. The sight never got old. Vessels from a dozen different worlds docked at the sprawling station, their hulls scarred by long journeys through sub-space.
This was his first time leaving Saroa. He'd managed to tag along with the planet's buying committee thanks to his best friend Demir, though he still couldn't believe they'd actually made it off-world.
"Come on, Dad!" Demir's voice carried across the bustling corridor. At sixteen, he already stood as tall as his father, Alison Strovan. The boy's brown hair caught the artificial light as he gestured excitedly. "Just a couple days while you're dealing with your business."
Alison's weathered face twisted into a scowl. "Demir, I said no. It's a wretched game. Mocks everything we stand for."
"It's not that bad." Demir's gleeful eyes sparkled with mischief. "At least there's no AI. You can work with your hands there."
"No." Alison's voice carried the weight of absolute authority. "Take Aris to see other wonders of the universe. This visit isn't for you to wander aimlessly. You're a man now."
Demir's shoulders sagged for exactly three seconds before he brightened again. He bounded toward his grandfather like a puppy who'd spotted a treat.
Ilkay Strovan stood near the viewport, his beard streaked with silver, hands clasped behind his back. As the elected leader of Saroa, he carried himself with quiet authority. The dwarf planet had been home to the Keepers of the True Hand for generations. They'd built their society away from AI, immortal tyrants, and lab-grown lives. Even their robots lacked AGI-level intelligence.
They'd come to the Interplanetary Alliance to buy their faction a new planet. Centuries of producing organic products and careful investment had finally given them enough fortune to afford a world that wouldn't try to kill them with volcanoes, earthquakes, and tsunamis every other week.
"Grandpa!" Demir's voice rang out. "Father won't let me enter Realmforge. Just a couple days. What would be the harm? Let Aris and me go in together."
Ilkay turned from the viewport, his eyes crinkling with amusement. The old man was as authoritarian as any leader needed to be, but soft-hearted when it came to his grandson.
He glanced toward Altos Orvellis, who stood at attention nearby. "Altos, what do you say? Should we let them enter the game while we negotiate?"
The question carried more weight than a suggestion. Altos had recently been promoted to head of security and knew better than to contradict Ilkay's wishes. Even though he'd worked for the Strovans for years, he was grateful for his rise to important ranks.
Ilkay's gaze shifted to thirteen-year-old Aris. The dark-haired boy stood quietly, unlike his father. Aris wasn't following the miltary route or his mother's farming path. He studied hard, aiming to become a bureaucrat like his father's boss like Ilkay.
"Aris," Ilkay said, "you want to enter the game too? What was it called?" He turned to his grandson.
"Realmforge, sir," Aris answered before Demir could speak.
"He's not forcing you to enter, right?" Ilkay's eyes twinkled. "Like when he dragged you into those volcano caves or made you dive near the trenches?"
Those memories seemed crazy in hindsight, but each had given Aris a confidence boost that Demir never quite understood. Demir was a big brother to Aris in every sense. Other than studying, Demir was always there for him.
"No, sir." Aris's voice came out timid. "This game is something we can't access from our world. We can only enter where interdimensional portals exist."
Alison cut in sharply. "Father, it's not a game. It's an abomination. Lab-grown people living in a pocket dimension."
"At least there's no AI or robots," Demir countered. "And their offspring live there too. It's been a thousand years since they started the game. A whole ecosystem emerged. Hundreds of expansions happened."
Ilkay stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Is this the game where they created a moon-sized planet in a pocket universe? Is it still running?"
"Yes, Grandpa!" Demir's excitement bubbled over. "It's not just a game, it's an experience. I entered three years ago when we went to the station in the Large Magellanic Cloud."
"You did what?" Alison's eye twitched.
"It was for three days. You don't have to fear technology this much, Dad. Without it, humanity would be long gone."
Alison's jaw clenched. "That's forbidden tech. I forbid it."
Ilkay raised his hands before Alison could continue. "Ali, we're not bigots. We don't oppose tech because we hate progress. We embrace what's good for us." He paused, considering. "All right. I give my permission. But you'll come out at the end of each day and sleep in your hotel rooms. Altos, assign one of the new guys to check on them. Don't let them fool him."
Demir jumped with glee. They were here for at least a month and could enter the most immersive game humanity had ever invented. Not just a game, but the biggest project after sub-space travel. A moon-sized planet in a pocket dimension filled with real living creatures, real history, and endless adventure.
Realmforge. Where human fantasies became real in every sense.
He grabbed Aris in a bear hug, his giant hands nearly crushing the smaller boy.
After their party moved forward to discuss entry plans, Demir and Aris lingered behind.
"We convinced them," Aris said, "but didn't mention how we'll pay for entry. I heard it's the most expensive entertainment by far."
Demir grinned. "Don't worry about that. I bought two passes for a month. And I have a surprise for you."
"Is it that good? Better than Reality headsets?"
"Even though our planet's tech is old, there's nothing in these three galaxies that comes close to Realmforge's experience."
"Wow."
"Think about it, Aris. They took the two most important discoveries of humanity - matter displacement and energy transformation - and formed a new reality with humanity's tens of thousands of years of fantasies."
"What did you play as before?"
"I always start as a warrior, but this time I want to try wizard or warlock."
"Cool."
They left their planetary diplomatic group and headed directly to the gates of teleportation where they could enter the game of Realmforge.
The future was waiting.