There are many virtual worlds running in time with the physical world that most people see. Second Life is the longest continually running virtual world, dating back to the turn of the millennium, and thousands more have come and gone over the centuries. Fantasy, historical, futuristic, and alternate reality worlds are most common, while many enterprising individuals have made fortunes by creating exact virtual copies of physical locations and opening them to the public.
The F-4 Blackhawk was America’s answer to the newly introduced alien technologies of the early twenty-second century. All previous designs were outclassed by the new technologies, relic of conflicts gone and buried. The Blackhawk became America’s symbol to the worlds that we were still a force to be reckoned with. And reckon we did…
Millions of people died building the new golden age. And we started it on the backs of atomic explosions so horrific that no one would use them for the rest of the century. Most of us came home after that, though many stayed in Europe and Japan to build the new peace. The Pax Americana had begun and even through Iron and Bamboo Curtains humanity would seek union for the next century. I sometimes wonder what we would be now if we had succeeded.
I tried peace and quiet after Wars End. I wanted to see if it fit the new me. It didn’t. There will always be a bit of the partier in me. And the Marine I became to fight. And of course the Cowboy that learned to think things through. Although if you accuse me of that to my face I will punch you. Wouldn’t want people to stop underestimating me after all. If they think all I care about is parties, girls, and fistfights, they’ll never see the Cowboy coming for them.
While modern Core Worlds children play in virtual cities, those who lived before The War generally prefer the physical world. Virtual reality is for communication and experimentation, not for living. Few in the older generation recognize the strength of virtual societies and prefer to emphasize the “real” connections of physical addresses and family. It is a true generational divide that can result in explosive arguments between people who consider the “other” world unimportant.