Saving The Savior

Lynda wakes up from the game, panting.

Bursting into tears, Senator hugs her from the side. “I’m sorry, my dear. I’m sorry. I love you. I love you more than anything in this world.”

“It’s true.” Lynda gasps. “It was all a game.”

“Game’s over now,” Senator says, kissing her on the forehead. “Have no worries, my dear.”

Michele brings her a glass of protein shake.

“Is he my biggest fan?” Lynda asks and chugs the shake.

“No,” Michele responds. “That would be Rajneesh, the software engineer. He bravely entered the game a few minutes ago, just to save you.”

“How about Ryan? Is he real?”

“He is. Incredible, but all real. Over here,” Michele says, pointing to Ryan’s body, lying on the recliner to Lynda’s left.

“That’s Ryan Public!” Lynda exclaims.

“The very same. The hero of the day.”

“He shot me! He shot right at me!”

“I guess love could also go crazy sometimes.”

“Why isn’t he up yet?” Lynda turns her gaze from Ryan to Rajneesh. “When will they exit the game?”

“They, unfortunately, died in the game before exiting it. And when one dies bef—”

“So,” Lynda whimpers. “Are they dead?”

“No, no, no. They’re fine. They’re just reincarnated back into the game. Their reincarnated character, however, has a reset memory.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means that they won’t know they are in the game.”

“Like I didn’t.”

“Luckily you’re saved now, my dear,” Senator says, touching her on the shoulder. Your mother is awaiting you in the hallway.”

“I’m going back in.”

“What?!” Senator squeaks.

“I’m going back in the game. I shall save my savior.”

“My dear. You just got out. You have no idea how much trouble we went through to save you from the game.”

“And you have no idea what a hellish life people have in the game, with all the scores, ratings, and racing to the top. I cannot abandon him to get tormented there. He sacrificed his life for me. Now it’s time for me to sacrifice mine.”

“This is going to be an almost impossible mission,” Michele pleads. “He won’t recognize you. His memory is entirely reset.”

“Not…entirely,” Lynda says. “Deep down I always knew this was just a game. Deep down I always knew I was destined for more. I just needed a reminder.” Inspired by an idea, she asks Michele, “You must have designed the dream, right?”

“It was Ryan’s idea,” Michele responds. “And the credit for designing the cheat code goes to the software engineer.”

“OK. Let’s try that again.”

“Sweetie, I cannot lose you again,” Senator says in a begging voice.

“I’m not just your daughter, dad. I am the daughter of Senator Honestman. I have to… We have to live up to our names.”

With his eyes, Senator eventually expresses partial agreement. “But—”

“Where’s my helmet? Michele, send me next to him?”

“Ah… Which one? We have two lost souls.”

Lynda’s gaze turn to Ryan, and then on Rajneesh, and then on Ryan again. She sighs. “Do I have to choose now?”

“No, it’s fine. I have a random function that Rajneesh has designed. Pseudo-random function to be accurate.”

“All right. Hook me in,” Lynda says and sleeps into the game.

In the middle of the room, President is still lying on the floor, the game helmet on his head. His eyeballs darting about, a sinister smile appears on his face.

The End