Eden Corporations Virtual Computer Database

[P i x i e * D u s t]

Posted Originally by The "Man"

Virtual Computer Database:

Released in April of 2021, the Virtual Computer Database or V.C.D is the wave of the future. gone are the two dimension days of accessing information, no longer will those looking to surf the net need to sit at their monochromatic computers, simply plugging away at the keyboard. The V.C.D is a 100% totally interactive computer enviroment, in which many of the real world rules apply. The V.C.D is similiar to the Matrix in that respect, although the layout of the world is not as accute. Each user is represented within the V.C.D by an Avatar, a person representation of themeselves in the Digital World as it has quickly been dubbed by users, the term very slang oriented. While connected to the V.C.D the user is completely immersed in the world, gone is what ever establishment that they may have been in, replaced by the black and neon colors of the V.C.D. The user is able to experience certain aspects of the V.C.D thanks to a somewhat limited sense of touch, allowing for shapes, very blatant textures, and pain all to be felt. How this is possible varies, depending on how the user is connecting to the V.C.D whether through one of the V.C.D.E (a Virtual Computure Database Extrapolator) or through an Internal Translation Unit. For 6 months prior to the unvieling of the V.C.D, governments and companies alike had been preparing for the introduction of this program, the Eden Corporation having gained much respect in the world communitee due to its many marvels that have made the world a better place, so when the idea for a new way to access the internet was pitched to the governments, while skeptical they had faith in the Corporation. The V.C.D was a program that had been brewing for nearly four years in the bowels of the Eden Corporation before they even started to talk about releasing it.

How to Access the V.C.D:

There are only two known and legal ways to access the V.C.D. The first is the Virtual Computer Database Extrapolator, a small system that includes a small chest plate, gloves, and a helmet for lack of better words. The gloves are black, light blue lines running across the gloves, stoping at seemingly sporadic points to join with a small square that connects four other lines. Upon the palm and finger tips are blue dots, darker then the lines though brighter as well. Where the gloves would met the wrists there are two small 5 cm in length, 2 cm in width, and a half a centimeter in height. The chest plate, similiar to the shoulder pads of a hockey player though not nearly as bulky and smaller. The piece itself covers up the users shoulders and extends about three inchs down, the front of the chest plate containing a small thin silver piece that spans the pieces width, raised slightly, two sockets on the top facing the users head.. The back and shoulder pads have similiar blue lines, and the blue dots, this time the blue dots appearing on each shoulder and in the middle of the back piece, the very intricate lines spanning the distance between all the pieces. On the isnide of both the chest plate and the gloves in key locations are sensors, and small stimulators. Completing the device is the helmet, black with two wires the connect to the front of the chest plate. Th user adorns the helmet, connecting the cables to the chest plate. Across the front of a the helmet is a semi translucent plastic screen, that upon turning on the system, the on switch located on the right side of the helmet above the ear, displays the initial boot up, and connection status. The other piece of the V.C.D.E is a small adpater that connects to the users computer in a much similiar principle to the wireless keyboards and mouse except that the connector and transmitter are one so the piece is rather small. They then use thier normal computers to connect to the V.C.D.

The other way to connect is by having an Internal Translator Unit implant. The I.T.U is a cybernetic implant that requires the user to have parts of their brains removed, although these parts are the ones that govern the pain and emotion centers, making the patient become more like a machine then a human, and has become a rather heated topic in debates on whether or not it should be band. Seeing as it does remove parts of the patients brain people see it is being unethical, although the government can not do anything as those that get it, are doing so under their own fruition. The I.T.U. houses a low grade A.I. program, one that will never adapt, one that would never learn unless newer information was added to its programming. It is capable of processing the situation and offering what it sees to be the best course of action when dealing with the firelds of knowledge that it holds. ALong with the unit in the head, the patient also gains a small information jack at the base of thier neck near their ears in which the can connect to another computer with the proper connectors and access information from there, transfering information to and from the I.T.U's 1 Terabyte hard drive that they have. The device is able to log into the V.C.D From any where in the world, storing and using energy that it gathers from the host and is able to communicate with the host, via a translucent green text that appears across the users vision. The speed and intelligence of the device depends on its grade, as does the programs that it can use, the program strengths not being able to exceed the quality of the I.T.U. Like any normal computer the I.T.U can have programs and even games installed on it.

V.C.D.E versus I.T.U. whats the difference?:

The V.C.D.E and I.T.U function similiar to each other, though each one has its own qualities. The main difference between them is how they interact with the V.C.D, the I.T.U being faster overall to the V.C.D.E's but at the cost of gray matter. The I.T.U also has other practicle uses, the user being able to recall information that is stored upon the devices hardrive as if they were remembering a fond memory has many applications. The I.T.U also is able to make the V.C.D seem a little more realistic, perhaps even more exuberent then what those with the standard V.C.D.E units. However the V.C.D.E unit does have its benefits in that unlike the I.T.U the user is able to remove the device, and has no real fear of any potential threats of virus' unlike those with the I.T.U as cases have appeared in which the users brain was also somehow infected by a mysterious disease. Those with the V.C.D.E's also keep both the ability to feel pain and emotions as a rather great benefit, and as such the V.C.D.E has been a much more heavy seller then the I.T.U. So in the end it comes down to what you are willing to give up for better effeciency.

Logging on to the V.C.D for the first time:

Once either an V.C.D.E or and I.T.U has been purchased getting ready to connect to the V.C.D is simple, all that is really lef to do is to create both a user account and an Avatar. Creating a user account is foolproof, easier then creating an e-mail account, or even getting a credit card. It is the creation of the Avatar that can be a ver long process or it can be relatively short. In general it takes about half an hour to do a base creation job. The Avatar must be humanoid in shape, requiring two arms and two legs, plus a head. However beyond that it is up to the users imagination. The Avatar is capable of being changed after creation, allowing first time users to redisn their Avatar as they become more accustomed to the V.C.D. The information is displayed across the screen on the helmet of the V.C.D.E or across the users vision for the I.T.U. Once the Avatar is created the user can then connect to the V.C.D and begin to explore the wonders of the "Digital World". Once the user is connected, there is a blink of an eye and then blackness for a second or two..then the Digital World appears, the users body becomming limp as if they were asleep. For the most part the Digital World is a black almost void, however the area in which the Avatars interact with the actual V.C.D is highlited by a glowing neon blue grid, the squares of the grid highlighted with a light green light. Webpages, and the like show up as small navigator windows, that show the same thing on both sides that simply float in the air. The user is able to call the windows over to him so that he may access the information within. The Avatars are also able to create windows in order to run programs of all sorts. The V.c.D is not solely used for the internet, companies now having all their system hooked up to a private section of the V.C.D so that their employee's may access it freely, much like a smaller system with the larger system. These smaller system are not truely apart of the V.C.D but are still connected to them, and should a hacker find out the systems location then it is susceptable to being hacked.

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Interaction in the V.C.D:

Once inside the Virtual Computer Database the Avatar is able to move around within the area, jump, climb all that normal stuff that they are able to do in the real world. The Digital world is very unique in deed, the terrain fluxuates at hourly intervuls, parts of the world raising like building blocks, making the world almost like a large jungle gym. The strength of the Avatar depends on strength of the system accessing it, the physical attributes being two levels lower then the rating of the device allowing them access to the V.C.D. The cheapest and most common V.C.D.E's provide an Avatar with a rating of poor in all the stats, the V.C.D not requiring the persons avatar to be strong, as it as used in every day jobs now. However the weaker the Avatar the more time it takes for the Avatar to get from system to system. Shortly after its release people began using the higher grade systems to create online gangs, these gangs would go around and control turfs much like the gangs on the real world. And as such the creation of the Virtual Computer Database Police was created to help put an end to it. The problem has declined somewhat though it is still a problem. While in the V.C.D Avatars are able to engage in combat, following the same rules as normal combat, however if they take their Endurance or greater in one attack they are disconnected from the V.C.D immediately, their systems not being able to handle the surge of information. Avatars are able to damage each other through direct "physical" damage, or through the aid of other attack programs, or viruses. Everytime an Avatar is damaged, the signal to the device that is allowing it to run the V.C.D is interrupted, sending signal backlash through the system and their host. For each attack that damages the Avatar the host takes 3 levels lower of damage to their minds, as their mind can not take the surge of information all at once. The punishment that this mental feedback places on the subjects mind really has nothing to do with their physical resiliency, but the resilency of their mind. The user can only withstand up to their Pysche rating in mental backlash before falling into a coma, the more mental punishment they take the worse the effects are..and in some cases...even permanent.

I.T.U users have to be extremely careful as they suffer greater risks of permanent damage, the I.T.U being held within their head, and not being directed through another computer. Should the I.T.U aquire a virus the user has to worry greatly, though those willing to go through with the process normally take the proper percautions to prevent such incidents from happening, as cases of computer Virus bleeding over to affect the host physically, degrading their brain, leading to death.

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This rp should help people get a feel for how the V.C.D works.

The blackness that was the waiting period between trying to connect and actually connecting was serene and rather bliss. It allowed for quiet contemplation, a kind of contemplation that only could be found in the brief moments before slumber. The blackness faded, the glowing blue grid appearing around him, the grid being filled out by light translucent green color. The terrain that was in the server that he was currently stood was for the most part level, though there were several sections raised a good 10 feet and higher, much like creepy block cyber trees. A vid window was floating atop of the highest mountain as it were, blocks five feet high surrounded the single 20 footer. If one was to measure the size of the grid they would find that it is a 5 foot square. <b>"Vid Window"</b> A 3 foot wide, 2 foot tall floating window appeared, the side that faces him, displaying the program that he was running, the other side, a dull gray color. He currently was checking his e-mails, though mostly junkmail he was actually expecting mail from one of his contacts, but it was not so. Touching the large X at the top right of the window it winked out of existence...His form began to move, arms thrown behind his back in the classic running style of any anime ninja. Comming upon the first five foot section he jumped into the air, his body flipping into the air, chest pressed to his legs, which remain together in straight, before snapping away from hsi chest as he lands, atop the block but barely, his toes gripping the edge of the block. As he lands his body compresses slightly, knees bending before launching himself back up into the air, another long almost dive like flip as he lands atop the 20 footer, the V.C.D effectively doubling ones jumping range. Landing on the block he holds his hand out, the view screen or Vid Window floating over so that it is in front of him. His current area was part of his turf, and it was an area that was very static, unless he wished it to change that is, this was really his turf, here, he made the rules. He had placed the window atop the large block to make it rather difficult to jump up on as View Windows while useful, and able to be called by the user, ones that are permanently part of the V.C.D can only be called over when within 5 feet of them.

He held the window within his left hand, his right scrolling down the window as he read, this window was actually a link to slashdot, the ultimate nerd news network, he scrolled through the headlines, noting the mention of the anticipation for the product to come from an small but up and comming company called The Cherub Company, the product had not been described though the current hype for it was worth noting on Slashdot so it had to be good. All that The Cherub Company would disclose is that men and women will benefit from it, making their fantasies come true. Such a thing to boast was what the uproar was about but everyone at the company was tight lipped. He was already making a note to keep track of the company, such things always made him curious. Smiling he stepped forward and off of the block, plummeting towards the next level, before flipping once more off the block, this flip more of a Misty flip then anything, before returning to the solid ground. He took a look around before calling forth another Vid Window, this time using it to change his location, he could have walked or ran the distance, but using a window to put the server that you wish to go to is just so much faster. His surroundings melted away as he once again entered the blackness that was known as the loading area...before the world rematerialized. He could see a gathering of other Avatars....other users....interesting this was normally not that travelled of a place. There were five of them, and just one of him, though perhaps they would not notice him. He saw one of the users turn to look at him, nope no such luck, a snicker and a smirk arose from the group. It was then that he realized that they were similiar in motifs, a deep crimson and color for the lower half, but it slowly fades into blackness. He saw them turn to each other, a murmering heard by the lone traveller, though no words made out, upon their back was the classic chinese dragon curling up their backs...they were members of the Lo Kung Heralds, a rather well known gang on the V.C.D...things were going to get intersting. He started to move forward, going about his business as if they were not even there...though whether or not they would leave him alone had yet to be seen.

His steps made no sound, the Lo Kung boys fanning out before slowly advancing on him, putting a good three feet between each member. Five against one hardly fair numbers for them, but they didn't need to know that. <b>-This is our turf punk...so you gots to pay the toll for being here.-</b> There users were probably not using english however one of the lovely features of the V.C.D is that it automatically translate all messages into comprehendable words, much like an universal translator from Star Trek or something like that. Clandestines Avatar was mostly clad in black, though parts of him were a lovely gold color and from the elbow down on each arm the color changes to a polished metal color. The facemask that made up his head was the same color as his eyes, only a single red dot for a perverbal eye. He looked to them, their heads the shape of a gaping dragons maw, his head tilting to the side. <b>"You've got to be kidding me.."</b> His tone was bland, his voice resonating with a metallic sound as if his voice box was some sort of metal can. The thugs started to laugh. <b>- O U fun-e wez gonna have fun wit U -</b> A different thug spoke this time, his voice having a slight hiss to it. <b>-Yeah we're going to kick your fucking ass bitch.-</b> The original pissant spoke up, the thugs now encirlcing him, giving him a radius of 4 feet till he would meet a thug. <b>"Oh I tremble."</b> He continues walking forward, bringing himself in conflict with the rather shitty speller. The thug places its claw like hands on him, dumb move on his part. <B>-Ha! Were U thi..."</b> He gets interrupted by Clandestines right elbow smashing into the things head. <b>[Remarkable Fighting + Strength]</b> The Thug sent tumbling to the floor crumpling up, before fading away, the Thugs <b>[Good]</b> Endurance sending the user into reboot heaven, and giving him a lovely little jolt in the real world. The other thugs stand there speechless for a moment, he just reset one of their thugs with a single blow. <b>-7h47'5 17 Y0u2 601n d0wn!-</B> Another of the thugs that had yet to speak cries out almost sending a shiver down Clandestines spine...oh god....Haxxor...before all for the thugs converge upon him, relying on the mob tatics.

[P i x i e * D u s t]

((Continuation of rp))

Lets see he has four rather pissed off Users trying to dog pile him, sometimes he just wishes that the damn V.C.D Police could just stomp out these so called Cyber gangs, but just like in real life they were as useless as tits on a bull. The V.C.D used to be a real nice place, but people just have to come and fuck it up, like do they just sit around thinking of things that they could fuck up and then go out and try and find said things for much fuckery? He could not say. The four users that were leaping at him snarling and doing everything to be all badass...yeah....two on his left, two on his right, the closer ones 6 feet away, with the farther ones being 9. so he had some room. They all lept at him, trying to drag him down so that they could maul him, however he would deny them such satisfaction. Bending his knees to about a 37 degree angle he sprung into the air like a pogo stick the <b>[Good Fighting + Agility]</b> of the four horsemen as they no doubt say themselves were quickly outmatched, his reactions faster then theirs, jumping into the air with <b>[Remarkable Agility]</b> arms, held at his side, as he began to spin as if he were performing some triple sow cow, even adding flips, now resembling something that a gymnist would preform from the vault.(1) His body easily escaping the clutches of the approaching danger, his body tumbling back to the now clustered pile of bodies, landing on the haxxors neck, well the back there of, both feet planted tightly, the landing worthy of a full 10. A muffed sound of pain before another one bites the dust, soon the first one would be reconnecting...he would have to act fast.(2) His right arm pointing towards the ground he raises it slightly, glancing down at one of thugs that had remained silent, a soft whirl appearing in the air for the briefest of seconds before a bolt of white energy screams into the non existent spine, the bolt interferring with the Users conenction his <b> [Excellent Energy Blast]</b>. Three down, 2 to go, oh how quickly they tumble...maybe they would get the hint to not fuck with him...but he could only hope.

<b>-Leave us alone man, we were just kidding.-</b> The remaining two begin to barter with him, the V.C.D was able of being rather painful, Clandestine wondered how many times they had inflicted pain on others, but he wasn't in the mood for continuing this pointlessness. He hopped off the remaining bodies, allowing them to scramble back up to their feet. <B>-Hey man...you should join our gang...no one could beat us with you!- </b>This was why he liked to be rather secluded, he didn't want people asking him to join this or that. <b>"Whatever...now beat it, before I change my mind."</b> The two Heralds nod, before amscraying, calling up vid windows and then making like a banana and splitting. Though he knew that they would tell others about him, they would be abck to even the score, but he didn't care. He merely strolled on, jumping from block to block, clearing some rather great distances...making it look like childs play...he would keep his eyes peeled for anything unusal on the net, especially any posted bounties....the world of the V.C.D was just as tarnished as the real one...