Act I
Everyone in the People’s Natural Order had a job: gathering or building to create The Machine for their Overseer, Nathan. Once completed, it would permanently shut down the enforced metaverse in the United States. Nathan praised them for their work often. Once the metaverse was gone, the US people would see the light and be grateful to the ones who freed them. The metaverse is darkness, he always said; after all, his wife wouldn’t have died if she didn’t mix up the virtual world and reality.
Their daughter Arora was loyal to the cause and, at twenty, naive for her age, having grown up in their isolated community by the shores of Port Albion, Canada. During one of her regular material-collecting trips, she stumbled upon a meta-headset that introduced her to the metaverse. In secret, she began to explore and quickly found that metaverse, the law of the land since 2028, made sense. Through a blockchain system and purely digital identities, full transparency and accountability in matters of public interest could be achieved. It had been years since her implanted NFT wrist chip connected to the metaverse, but now it paired to the headset, tipping off authorities. That night, Arora was quietly taken from her room by US agents.
Act II
A disoriented Arora woke up to Agent Felix’s company.
“I’m sorry for any confusion, Arora,” he said kindly, “but you’re in a safe place.”
“What do you want with me?” Arora replied, eyeing him suspiciously.
He explained that the People’s Natural Order was misguided; if the metaverse were destroyed, the American people would lose their identities, as all they had was their tokens on the blockchain. Both of her parents, he said, were critical proponents of the creation of the metaverse before Jessica’s accident. In a nation craving honesty, it was a salve that no one could tamper with a transaction after was recorded to a shared ledger.
“What you’re living in is a cult. Join forces with me, and you’ll be a hero.”
“Okay,” she said after a long silence, “but no one gets hurt or arrested.”
“Of course,” he replied, “we’re merely ensuring that no citizen loses their livelihood.”
Arora was returned to Port Albion and claimed she got lost in the woods. Nathan, though relieved to see her safe, was suspicious. Arora got to work supplying information about the cult’s endeavor to Agent Felix. After a week, she provided enough details, and the People’s Natural Order was raided and arrested by the authorities, except for Nathan, who escaped with The Machine. Horrified but scared, Arora accepted an offer from Agent Felix to work with the metaverse task force.
Act III
During a task force surveying trip, Nathan intercepted Arora.
“Let me into the headquarters tonight,” he said, “we need to finish this. It’s your duty. Think of your mother, Arora.”
“I was so stupid to listen to the agent,” she said, “but I don’t know if I’m ready.”
“There’s no choice. The metaverse is darkness, and we are the light.”
They reached the power center that night, and Nathan activated The Machine. Though it worked successfully, a spark turned into a fire and shut off the power, leaving Nathan severely injured. Arora, realizing that only she could continue, took The Machine and escaped the building - she was now the High Overseer of the People’s Natural Order and the only hope for their ideal. Her ideal.
Arora ran out of the building, gathering any members she could find Every member left behind was charged as guilty of metaverse crimes resulting in life in prison since predetermined “if/when…then…” smart metaverse contract conditions were met. Even though this metaverse center was successfully shut down, it was not the only one. Arora and the People’s Natural Order wandered into the unknown, carrying The Machine with them, planning for the day they would use it again.