Mindchain

Set in 2077, WARREN RIVERS (mid-20s) is a retro software developer who becomes reclusive after his girlfriend, GRACIE, is murdered in the metaverse. His work has become the focus of his life, cutting out as much social contact as possible, cocooned in his own world. However, his world gets turned upside-down when he is contacted by a metaverse developer, ALICE, who may know who Gracie’s killer is. Warren agrees to take her to see his friend, ROSE, who witnessed Alice's murder. Once Alice has the information she needs, Warren decides to enter the virtual world with her in the pursuit of Gracie’s killer, and his life changes forever. The much-loved metaverse — which runs on a blockchain of its visitor’s minds — is where most of the population spend their free time, meeting friends and new people, drinking in bars, conducting business, gaining new and exciting experiences, and acting out their darkest desires on the virtual Staff. The real world has become devoid of love and is now a place of necessity. People now work in the real world in order to afford shelter and nutrition, but they live their lives in the metaverse. The metaverse has become incredibly real — so much so that the mind believes everything it is experiencing, feeling pain and even inducing organ failure should you encounter a fatal experience, meaning everything is on the line in Warren and Alice’s hunt for Gracie’s killer, DAO, leader of the Hackers. The Chinese state-funded Hackers use the metaverse to gain access to people of interest, intimidating, bribing and even murdering their targets, moving though the Visitors undetected while they unknowingly enjoy their visit. Warren discovers that he possesses particular skills in the metaverse. Skills that will aid him in his battle. The metaverse has rules of physics built into its code, but these rules can be bent by those that know how. Warren has a natural talent for bending these rules — which also makes him a target. When Warren thinks he sees his murdered girlfriend, Gracie, in the metaverse, he starts to question his mind. When she joins them in their quest, he questions reality. Once Dao gains the upper hand in the battle and captures the Developer’s leader, OCTAVIUS, he sends an assassin in the real world to kill Rose. Warren now has a choice to make: stay in the metaverse and try to save Octavius, or leave and try to save Rose in the real world.