Prisoners of VR

"Why are you sitting there like that, Rohit?" Rohit's parents arrived home after midnight to see him seated at the dining table, still like a statue. His eyes were closed and he seemed to be sleeping at first glance.

Rohit's father casually intended to wake him up and tell him to sleep in his room. When he tried that, Rohit didn't get up. "Is he in Virtual Reality?"

"Dear, is something the matter?" Rohit's other, Anita frowned in distaste upon seeing Rohit's state, "Why's he still playing around? He has school tomorrow."

"Give me a second. I'll bring him back." Rohit's father, Karthik said as he used his guardian rights to enter Rohit's Virtual Space.

"What...the heck? He's not here." Karthik looked around in confusion, failing to detect Rohit. Once he roamed through the Virtual Space, he returned to reality.

Staring at Anita, he expressed his confusion, "He's not in his Virtual Space."

"Is he in a friend's Virtual Space?" Anita muttered as she dialled Ramesh's number. She was aware that Rohit mingled with Ashish, Ramesh, and Varun. She had their numbers.

The ring went on for a couple dozen seconds before ending. No one answered her call. Anita called Ashish and Varun too, unable to connect with any of them. After some thought, she called Ramesh's mother, asking in a hurry, "I'm sorry to disturb you late into the night like this, but do you have any idea what my son, Rohit's been up to? I tried calling Ramesh but am unable to reach him."

"We...don't know." Came a sobbing voice from the other side, "Ramesh went to his room after dinner and became unresponsive after that. We have admitted him to a hospital now. And the doctors said..."

The person on the other side seemed to have collapsed emotionally as there were just sobbing sounds.

Anita's heart rate accelerated at the cries, worriedly looking at Rohit as she muttered, "Impossible!"

Karthik contacted the nearest hospital, perplexed during the wait. A doctor arrived and checked Rohit's condition, muttering after a simple diagnostic, "What was he doing last?"

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"They were playing in Virtual Reality," Anita said. Ramesh had informed his parents that he would be playing in Virtual Reality with Rohit and others. The others too had informed their respective parents. Only Rohit hadn't informed his parents. By talking with the others, Anita managed to figure out what they had been up to in the end.

"His vitals are dropping." The doctor said in a hurry, "It seems his brain has suffered serious damage. We need to admit him to a hospital immediately."

Karthik and Anita rushed Rohit to the hospital where a bunch of scans were performed on him. Medial procedures were enacted to preserve his life, but the moment the doctors stared at Rohit's brain data, they sighed.

One of them stared at Rohit's nervous parents and stated solemnly, "He's brain dead."

"Aaahhh!" Anita screamed like a banshee as she collapsed to the floor in despair. Tears streamed out of her eyes as she pulled her hair. Rohit was her only child, someone she had conceived after a lot of difficulties.

He was the apple of her eye. But now, he was no more. Being brain dead was worse than dying. Because, the patient would have to be connected to life support to barely live on, with no hope of ever recovering. Without life support, none of his organs would ever function.

"Doctor," Karthik barely maintained his cool and pressed the doctor for more information, "Isn't there a possibility to cure even brain dead patients?"

"I have read plenty of articles stating that."

"You see, in all those cases, the patient's brain wasn't entirely dead. So, they could revive it through technology." The doctor sighed, "Had you brought Rohit here a couple of hours earlier, we could have indeed saved him."

"But, once the brain is dead, nothing can be done about it. Rohit's organs have already begun to fail. He was admitted too late. I'm afraid even life support can at most prolong his life for a day."

"Is that it?" Karthik was unable to maintain his cool any longer, "The media stated otherwise! I don't care what you do! It was the medical field that stated they cured even brain dead patients. If you don't save my son, I'll sue the heck out of everyone!"

"I'm sorry to say this sir," The doctor bowed in apology, "But it wasn't our hospital that had made the claim. We aren't equipped to deal with it nor are we experienced in doing so."

"If you aren't satisfied, please contact the GH Director."

"The GH Director?" Karthik stared at the doctor, "Does he know of a way?"

"I can't guarantee anything, but he's an elite of the medical circle." The doctor replied in a hurry, "If there truly exists a way, he should know. I'll fix you an appointment."

"Thank you." Karthik said as he patted Anita, consoling her, "Don't worry, I'll do whatever it takes to save my son."

He stared at the doctor after receiving the appointment, "You can keep my son alive for a day, right?"

"Yes, we'll try our best to prolong it, but that's our optimistic estimate." The doctor replied as he stared at a notification in his Augmented Reality, "I've transferred all the data regarding your son to the GH Director. He's requested your presence now. I advise against delaying his time. He doesn't have more than a minute to spare."

"Got it, I'll be there immediately." Saying so, Karthik closed his eyes and accepted the Virtual Communication invitation. He arrived at a room that resembled a consultation ward.

There was a table in the centre, and placed on opposite sides were chairs. Seated on one end was an old man in his sixties, a man of authority displayed by his very presence itself; Director of Coimbatore Government Hospital, the highest board of medical authority in the city.

"Take a seat," He said and scrolled through a computer screen, looking into Rohit's data, "Do you have money?"

"Pardon?" Karthik was stunned by the question, "I do."

"It's expensive, but there's a way." The GH Director stared at Karthik, "There's a data backup in his uVR Earth. If we obtain it, we can artificially stimulate the patient's brain and partially revive it."

"Since the uVR Earth is an extension of the brain, as long as we make it functional, it won't be perfect, but Rohit will live. Though, it might take a couple of years at the very least before he could return to his usual life."

"Doctor, I don't care how much it costs. I'm ready to do whatever it takes to save my son." Karthik thumped his chest loudly.

"It's not in our hands," The GH Director stated curtly, "No third party can access an uVR Earth, except for one. He's the only person in our country who can do so. You'll have to pay that person enough to make him move for you. Too many bigshots constantly rush to his service with recommendations sponsored by ministers and industrialists. It's a jungle there."

"My son doesn't have much time, so I beg for your help." Karthik bowed wholeheartedly, "Who is this person? Can you help me reach them?"

"I'm afraid my influence isn't strong enough to bring your case to his attention. But you can consider yourself lucky. I heard from my sources that he's currently in our city." The GH Director said.

"Who is he, sir?" Karthik asked in a hurry.

"The Liger," The GH Director stated in all seriousness, "I had personally seen him in action when I visited the Delhi GH in the past. That's how I know he can solve your son's issue."

"The Liger is..." Karthik made an internet search and pulled up an article, muttering, "He's a DOVA Agent?"

"Yeah, he's currently admitted to a hospital. I will talk with the Director there to allow your entry. But as to whether or not you can actually meet the Liger is entirely up to you." Saying so, he got up, intending to send Karthik away, "By the way, putting in a word isn't free, you see."

"Yes, I understand." Karthik instantly transferred a large sum of money to the GH Director, leaving the Virtual Space once the other party was satisfied with the amount.

His eyes shot open in reality as Karthik got up in a hurry. Grabbing his coat, he rushed out of the hospital, motioning for Anita to remain behind.

His car vroomed through the emptier roads and arrived at the hospital where Rahu had been admitted. News articles about him being admitted there were all over the internet, so it wasn't hard to find the name and address of the hospital.

"Damn them!" He cursed upon staring at the crowd of reporters at the hospital's entrance. They had been denied entry. Karthik rushed into the hospital, at least, he intended to, but was stopped at the entrance by security.

"I'm not a reporter!" Karthik shouted as he pointed at his uVR Earth, "Look! It's not green."

"Please state the name of the patient you wish to see." One of the security personnel asked, "Only the relatives of the patients would be permitted inside."

"That..." Karthik couldn't reply. He hadn't expected the situation to be like this. Hence, he hadn't prepared a response. He couldn't lie, since it could be determined instantly. The security personnel were equipped with all the patient data. And through facial recognition, they could immediately determine if the people they interacted with were related to the patients or not.

"Sir, I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to leave." The security confirmed that Karthik wasn't related to any of the patients in the hospital.

"I need to meet the Liger." Karthik said, "Only he can save my son's life."

"Do you have an appointment?" The security asked.

"I have one with the Hospital Director," Karthik stated in a hurry.

The security contacted the director and conversed for a few seconds before allowing his entry, warning as he entered, "Please don't approach anywhere you aren't supposed to. You'll be jailed immediately."

"I understand." Karthik said as he hurried inside, thinking, 'I need to find a way to talk to Rahu.'

His eyes scanned the corridor, noticing men equipped with military uVR Earths walking calmly. Their eyes instantly fell on him since he wasn't related to the patient.

One of them approached him and spoke coldly, "You're not allowed here."