The Other Side: Book 1 - Genesis

[Parallax Tales]

A NOTE FROM PARALLAX TALES

Tired of cookie-cutter LitRPG? Craving a deep plot and a well-crafted world? Then get ready to dive into an epic saga that unfolds across 18 books!
This isn't just about numbers and stats - it's a gripping hero's journey filled with trials, intrigue, and discoveries. The first seven chapters will introduce you to the world and characters, and from chapter 8 onwards, you'll feast on a true LitRPG banquet! You'll experience a meticulously designed leveling system, unique skills, and technologies that will captivate any genre enthusiast.
The first book of 18 is waiting for you right now! Dive into 41 chapters of mind-blowing adventures that will hook you from page one!

Let's start:

Chapter 1: The Other Side

The Trader

Hidden on the far side of the Moon, the Trader waited. Long ago, a fleet of automated ships had been dispatched to this sector of the Galaxy in search of intelligent life. They weren't interested in material resources or new territories - the Galaxy operated under an inviolable Law, and even the powerful masters of the fleet didn't dare to enslave young worlds.

But there was one exception.

The Law didn't prohibit making deals and demanding their fulfillment at any cost. So when Earth developed the needed resource, it was time for Trade.

***

Base Interpreter: Classified Meeting

"…the second group consisted of three hundred and fifty individuals," droned a slightly overweight man. "The expedition lasted a month, with a forty-three percent return rate-"

"Victor! For God's sake, stop!" interrupted one of the listeners in an expensive suit. "We know these numbers by heart. Spare us the torture. Just tell us in your own words how the landing went. Your presentation is putting us to sleep."

The speaker looked around the room helplessly. Thirty influential people sat around a polished round table in the small conference room. They had all come here to listen to him. Victor inwardly smirked. No point in fooling himself. These bureaucrats probably couldn't care less about his report. They were here to see the portal firsthand and get the inside scoop.

Someone coughed impatiently. Victor collected himself and continued with more confidence:

"Alright! I'll cut to the chase. The second expedition to the Other Side was more successful than the first. That's because we used equipment co-developed with the Tamedian representative, whom you know by the codename 'Trader'. We tested weapons and protective gear, but most importantly - we harvested the pollen and sent it to the Trader…"

"And the result?" someone called out impatiently.

"It met his requirements!" Victor announced triumphantly.

"So what? We expected that," grumbled the man in the suit. "What's your next move?"

"That's up to you now. The expedition accomplished its mission. I believe we should start training civilians…"

"Civilians? What the hell for? Isn't the military enough?" interjected the military representative.

"The military can't handle this alone. To collect enough pollen, we need to teleport at least twenty million people to the Other Side. Otherwise, we won't be able to purchase the first technology package for a long time. And that's the government's primary objective!"

"How do you plan to convince civilians to do this work?" the general persisted. "By your own admission, less than half of the soldiers from the second expedition returned, and the first one vanished entirely. Civilians won't want to risk their lives like that!"

"We have something compelling to offer them," Victor smirked. "It's not in the report, but the Other Side grants people inexplicable powers."

"What kind of powers?"

"Let me explain…"

 

[Parallax Tales]

Chapter 2: Alex

Alex knew exactly when his life took a dramatic turn. It was tied to his most vivid childhood memory: a camping trip with classmates to one of the few remaining nature preserves. The taste of freedom was intoxicating, and the kids stayed up late around the campfire. After midnight, his friends retreated to their tents, but Alex remained, mesmerized by the dancing flames.

He watched the fire for hours, warming his fingers and listening to the crackling branches until the wood burned down to embers. His teenage worries faded away, replaced by a sense of peace and stillness. At some point, Alex looked up. The starry sky was incredibly bright, as if millions of stars were calling out to him. He physically felt the infinity of space, sensing that he was a part of the Universe, and the Universe was a part of him.

The experience was so profound and different from anything else in his limited life experience that he involuntarily held his breath. Alex couldn't remember how long it lasted – maybe a few minutes, or just a few moments. It existed outside of familiar categories; he felt neither the passage of time nor the usual whirlwind of thoughts – only a sense of vastness, freshness, and weightlessness.

Later, he learned that many people experience something similar in their youth when gazing at a starry sky, but then forget about it. The next day, Alex didn't tell anyone, but he was more thoughtful and quieter than usual. He felt he had touched something very important, something that would change his life.

And so it did – the experience didn't fade or dissolve in his memory. On the contrary, it remained the most significant impression of his youth and shaped his path. Alex decided he wanted to study space. He made a detailed plan outlining what he needed to do, what knowledge and skills to acquire, and which university to attend.

While his peers played virtual games or hung out, Alex studied and completed internships for high school students at a research center. After graduation, he got into his chosen university, made useful connections, and finally, after a few years, received an appointment as a lab assistant at a space base near Jupiter. The station was enormous, housing four thousand people. Nevertheless, it was mainly staffed by established specialists, so Alex had to work hard to secure an invitation.

However, events rarely unfold as people want, and Alex's life took a sharp turn. During the pre-flight medical examination, which should have been a mere formality, he unexpectedly received a devastating diagnosis – Kotler's disease.

This was a very rare and new condition. As it turned out, a recently discovered food preservative caused thalamus dysfunction. The thalamus is the organ responsible for sleep. Simply put, a person would sleep less and less, to the point where they couldn't sleep at all and eventually died from exhaustion.

The preservative was banned, of course, but this happened several years after it had been introduced. No cure had been found, either because it was genuinely complex or due to the small number of affected individuals – only about a thousand people. Renowned doctors were reluctant to study such a rare disease – it promised neither fame nor career advancement.

At this time, humanity was actively exploring space, and leading scientists preferred to focus on more promising fields. As a result, the victims were left alone with their plight. Ordinary sleeping pills didn't work, so they were prescribed strong medications for medically induced sleep, but these drugs were addictive and damaged the psyche, and people still died from exhaustion. Artificial coma helped temporarily but also didn't stop the progression of the terrible disease.

Alex remembered the words of an elderly doctor from the Brain Research Institute, one of the few prominent specialists who dedicated himself to this problem. Rumors suggested that his wife had died from Kotler's disease.

"Young man, I know the situation is critical, but if you give up, the disease will consume you! Depression and despair will only hasten death," the doc sighed. "You must hold on while we search for a cure. Don't lose hope!"

"Can you suggest anything, Doc Johnson?" Alex asked, using the familiar form of address he'd grown accustomed to.

"If things get really tough, you can use medically induced sleep, but it has irreversible consequences. Therefore, it should only be used as a last resort."

"Tell me honestly, is there any progress in the research? Even a hint?" After two years, Alex had become friends with the doc and hoped for candor.

"Alas, we need large-scale studies, and there's no funding for that. All we can do is slow down the disease's progression. But I'm still working. There are avenues we haven't tried yet, and we're exploring them now. And you must hold on until we find a solution. I believe in success."

Alex wasn't going to give up; it wasn't in his nature. For many years, he had yearned to become a space researcher and didn't want to abandon his dream. If he let the disease dictate his life, it would be a defeat. Yes, a catastrophe had occurred, but he was still alive!

Of course, he had to give up the Jupiter trip, but his qualifications and connections helped him secure a position as a probe operator in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. The laboratory was conveniently located at his alma mater. Alex found the work tedious – it was boring to monitor an automated apparatus with a huge response time, but at least through the virtual observation system, he could be where he always wanted to be – in Space.

For his acquaintances, he had to invent an explanation that he needed to gain experience on Earth first before flying into space, and that he could work on his Ph.D. as well… Alex didn't want to talk about his problems; he was generally reluctant to open up to strangers and didn't like complaining: no one except the medical commission members and the doc knew the truth.

Something had to be done about the disease, though. There was no ready solution, and Alex immediately rejected the medication-induced approach. Yes, it provided relief, but it also destroyed willpower and the ability to think clearly. But the young man had no idea what to do and at first just endured. However, his sleep time decreased more and more, and at this rate, he would reach the zero point, when he wouldn't be able to sleep at all, in ten to twelve years. But he was unlikely to last that long, more likely to die from exhaustion.

Alex believed in the doc and hoped for his help, but rationally understood that the chances were slim. Therefore, he decided to become an expert in the field of sleep, to learn how to overcome the consequences of its deficit. He tried many methods. The most promising direction seemed to be attention management and meditation techniques. These had been well-studied in the context of complex system operators. Of course, in the modern world, everything was already automated, but the old developments remained. Similar techniques were also used in some Eastern teachings, in psychology, and in several martial arts. They allowed maintaining attention while relieving internal tension.

The main thing for Alex was effectiveness, which he measured using his personal chip. Such a chip was installed in childhood for every citizen and served simultaneously as a personal computer, identification means, and even a personal doctor. The device could monitor hundreds of indicators, so the patient knew his condition exactly and could evaluate the effectiveness of attention management techniques. However, the chip didn't track brain activity, so Alex turned to the doc. Being a prominent scientist, Doc Johnson didn't put much trust in meditations, but agreed to assist and provided equipment for research. Such voluntary help was encouraged by an increase in the citizen's rating, but the old doctor didn't care about that at all. He simply didn't want to deny the young man such a small thing – it would mean taking away the last hope from a person sentenced to an agonizing death. This could make one give up, and the doc didn't see any particular harm in meditation…

"So, how are the results, Doc Johnson?" Alex removed the sensors and stood up from the chair where he had spent two hours motionless.

"Let's see. Hmm… Brain activity is decreasing, but attention is maintained. Already better than a month ago," the doc swiped away the hologram and looked at the next graph. "The number of theta rhythms is increasing. Not bad at all! Very good, actually! How do you feel?"

"I feel better and more energetic, as if I've slept a little, but then was woken up at the most inappropriate moment. But I'm glad even for this effect. At least it's something. I plan to continue using this exercise."

"Remind me, what's it called?"

"The Path of Emptiness. I found a mention of it in an old handbook on Eastern practices. By the way, it's very similar to the volumetric deconcentration technique for air traffic controllers, just deeper."

"It doesn't matter what it's called, what matters is that it helps."

"You've changed your opinion," Alex laughed. "You didn't believe me when I first came with this idea."

"Yes, I've changed it," the doc admitted. "I've seen many times how a person grasps at straws just to save themselves. And as a result, only makes things worse. But the equipment shows that your brain really rests and recovers during meditation."

"Maybe you should master the Path of Emptiness too?"

"I'm too old for that," Doc Johnson smiled.

"Come on, you're not that old! You'll probably outlive me."

"Don't joke like that. Dark humor is only for doctors. You must believe in success."

"Alright, you've convinced me!"

***

Over the next three years, Alex's sleep decreased to five hours a day. It might seem enough to get rest, but few have faced chronic fatigue over an extended period. Regular sleep deprivation, if not compensated, leads to psychological changes even in the most resilient person.

Alex studied and practiced the volumetric deconcentration technique for four to six hours daily. It was called "volumetric" because it required distributing attention across a space. The original source described it as: "The Path of Emptiness – by training his attention, the warrior becomes one with the space and world around him, his mind calm and unshakeable, he is motionless yet sees everything and is ready for action at any moment, no one can approach him unnoticed." The text suggested that after years of training, one could sense an opponent's actions with closed eyes.

Initially, these exercises were just meditation to halt the disease, but at some point, Alex re-experienced the sense of infinite space, like in his childhood. The more he practiced volumetric deconcentration, the more vivid this feeling became, and the chronic fatigue temporarily receded.

After two years, his sleep reduced to three and a half hours. Alex spent most of his free time mastering the technique. His spatial awareness significantly improved; sometimes, after long meditation, he could sense objects around him. Most importantly, he managed to maintain a relatively normal state and continue working, although he could have easily received disability benefits given his diagnosis.

Alex tried several times to find other practitioners but couldn't locate any in Russia or China, the technique's homeland. He only discovered that there once existed a small school founded by a former Buddhist monk who took the name Donid. He created the Path of Emptiness. Later, Donid left the community, set a goal to "know emptiness," retreated to the mountains, and was never seen again. After the founder's disappearance, the community withered and disbanded, and the description survived only thanks to enthusiastic Chinese historians carefully preserving their traditions.

By the end of the sixth year, Alex fully focused on the technique and unlocking its potential. It's unlikely that even Donid's closest disciples trained so intensively, and it wasn't just about survival. Standing on the threshold of death, he felt his value system changing. The superfluous fell away, the essential remained: connection with loved ones through virtual reality – his parents and two younger sisters lived on the other side of the country, space exploration, even if his role was minor, but most importantly – developing abilities and unlocking the potential inherent in every human.

Alex felt he was gradually distancing himself from society. He wasn't interested in news, didn't hang out in virtual worlds, neglected entertainment, didn't worry about career and money, moreover – he didn't even track his personal citizen rating. If not for his passion for space, he would have lived as a complete recluse. Remote work at the university and virtual communication with colleagues, the doc, and family – that was the extent of his contact with the outside world.

Another three years flew by. Sleep decreased to two hours. Human strength lies in adapting to any conditions, but Alex felt he was balancing on the edge of an abyss. Only a few living people with the same diagnosis remained in the world, and most were in artificial comas. He had to quit work and increase the amount of meditation. Alex didn't want to leave unfinished business and talked to his parents. The conversation was difficult but necessary. He felt he had cut the last threads. The unknown lay ahead.

Within six months, he approached the zero state. Internal tension accumulated and accumulated; sometimes, in moments of remission, Alex realized he was moving in circles, not giving up only because he was used to fighting and no longer remembered how to live otherwise. But with each passing day, he saw less and less meaning in the struggle – it was uneven from the start, and he had already gone further than others. But every time the thought of giving up came, Alex pushed it away. At some point, only this habit helped maintain clarity of consciousness. There were no fears or worries about the future left, only the challenge and… inhuman fatigue. But perseverance had become so ingrained in his soul that it became part of his worldview and way of self-realization.

During these days, the only support was immersion in trance during meditation. But after three months, Alex felt he had reached his limit. Every person has their limit, but usually, people don't know it because they stop much earlier and only reach it in extreme situations. And when they do reach it, they call it a superhuman effort. But "superhuman effort" is a deceptive term. What a person can do is always within their capabilities, it's just that few can engage all their strength: body, mind, and consciousness. A mother lifting a car to save her child, a soldier seeing a bullet flying at him when his perception accelerates to the limit – all this is within human possibilities and usually such a mode is activated at the expense of vital resources.

Alex had reached the limit, and it meant he had exhausted his resource completely. One night, during an exercise, he saw – not felt, but saw! – that this was his last day of maintaining himself, and after that, regression and death would begin. On the threshold of death, Alex felt calm and had no regrets. He knew he had done everything he could and, in a way, had defeated the disease, which gave him strength and pride. The fateful hour arrived when he saw his consciousness beginning to separate and fade. Yet he remained a detached observer – only his attention, developed to its limits, allowed him to catch this process. In the last moment, when his mind had almost faded, all he wanted was to experience the boundlessness of the Universe one more time. However, it was too late, and a moment later, all thoughts and desires disappeared.

Events continued to unfold on their own. Alex was no longer concerned, but he was part of a society where order and accountability were absolute. As his body slowly tilted to the side, the implanted chip sent a signal to the emergency services and to Doc Johnson, as the attending physician. Medics arrived within twenty minutes. The diagnosis was known, so the standard protocol was initiated – the patient was taken to the hospital and placed in a ward with other coma patients. There wasn't enough funding for a full-scale study of the disease, but there were resources to maintain the patients. Alex was asleep, so he didn't know that a week after he was taken away, earthlings discovered they were not alone in the Universe.

***

Several years passed.

=========================

ALEX.LOG:

>> Entry #1

Stargazing changed everything. Who knew a camping trip could set my life's course? Now, as I work with probes in the asteroid belt, I can't help but wonder: what other cosmic surprises await us out there?

---

>> Entry #2

Doc's words echo in my head: "Don't lose hope!" Easy for him to say. But as I dive deeper into the Path of Emptiness, I'm starting to feel… different. Maybe there's more to this meditation stuff than I thought.

---

>> Entry #3

To-Do List:

• Meditate (again)
• Check probe data (yawn)
• Try not to think about sleep
• Remind self: You're in space! (Sort of)
• Ponder: If I master "sensing objects," will I become a Jedi?

 

[Parallax Tales]

Chapter 3: Awakening

Encyclopedia of New Earth - Tamedian Cosmology:

Before contact with the Tamedian civilization, Earth science believed in the heat death of the universe due to entropy. Simply put, when all energy sources were exhausted, life in the universe would cease. However, we were unaware of the existence of the Other Side.

It turns out that every planet inhabited by intelligent beings has a parallel world - the Other Side. Humanity's Other Side is a manifestation of human culture, reflecting the subjective world of our civilization. This is where the energy generated by humans accumulates. We still don't understand where the Other Side is located or whether it's "virtual" or "material," but we can say with certainty - it exists and can be accessed!

The Other Side emerged when humans separated from nature. The moment the first human recognized themselves as separate from Mother Nature and began creating words and concepts, human culture was born, and with it, the Other Side.

Now we know that intelligence didn't appear by chance. Intelligence is a necessary condition for the universe's existence. Humans and other intelligent beings generate energy that accumulates on the Other Side. It's through this energy that the universe grows and expands. This is the purpose of intelligent life.

Philosophers debate this theory, and religious leaders reject it outright. However, many scientists have already sided with the Tamedians. Either way, we'll only know the truth if we fully explore the Other Side…

***

From the "We Are Earthlings" forum discussion:

Serge: Everyone knows we made a deal with the Tamedians. There's a lot of talk about it, but the details still haven't been published. It's unclear why we should rely on rumors and guesses! The government should finally disclose the contents of the agreement with the Tamedians! If you agree, please sign this petition…

Earthling 3567: Serge, don't be dense! It's been known for a while that we'll be extracting resources from the Other Side together. Scientists and military personnel have already been there, and there's been plenty of discussion about it on this forum with links provided. How did you manage to miss that?! Read the pinned post above. Better yet, focus on how to accumulate points for rejuvenation. You'll definitely need a rating of at least 100, if not higher.

Serge: Don't worry about me, my rating is 140 points!

Beauty: Wow! How did you score so many?

Serge: Well, I've been working as a school teacher for over thirty years, I follow the rules, help my students, and always actively participate in community life… that's how I accumulated them.

Earthling 3567: Yeah… I would've accumulated points too if I had a job. Unfortunately, I'm living on welfare! And you don't get points for that. But I still hope the government won't drag its feet on developing the Other Side. I can't wait!

Serge: Earthling, I suggest you apply to be a volunteer, your rating will increase quickly there.

Earthling 3567: I live in the European Confederation, we have so many volunteers here… basically a hundred people for each position. Everyone needs rating points. For now, I'm increasing my education index, which slowly adds points, but it's not much.

Beauty: Rating is sacred! You need to fight for every point, or you'll get lazy and become a freak. My ex-boyfriend fell that low. Now he can't hope for anything beyond food and housing in an anthill, let alone rejuvenation…

***

Alex's awakening was slow. The coma transitioned into a deep sleep, which lingered as a kaleidoscope of vague sensations. But everything comes to an end, and the hazy images dissolved like morning mist under the sun's rays. Alex regained consciousness, and the first thing he felt was peace and inner silence. The tension that had been building for years disappeared. Strangely, the next sensation was of the space around him, followed by hearing, sight, and touch.

Several hours passed unnoticed. Alex lay in a pleasant half-slumber and felt people appearing and disappearing around him, heard distant voices:

"The only one… the others didn't survive."

"Lucky guy, he barely made it. A miracle!"

"Doc Johnson will be thrilled. We should inform him as soon as possible…"

Alex fully came to his senses only the next day, which is when a brief conversation with Dr Johnson took place. The doc congratulated the patient and asked a few standard questions about his well-being. After that, he instructed Alex to rest and left.

The following day, he returned, and the interlocutors moved on to the main topic:

"Doc Johnson, I overheard that I'm the only survivor. What happened to the others?" Alex whispered - his vocal cords were still not working well.

"The coma didn't stop the disease's progression - it only slowed it down. The condition of the others deteriorated, and eventually, they passed away in their sleep… Not the worst way to go, if you think about it," the doc fell silent for a moment.

"Why did I wake up… and why do I feel excellent?"

The doc smiled, but his eyes remained serious. "There's good news and bad news. First, the bad news: your good health is temporary. We've fought the symptoms, but haven't eradicated the disease. The good news is that treatment exists, although you might not like it… Let me tell you everything in order."

Dr Johnson sat down in the chair next to the hospital bed and began to recount the recent events in the world: the contact with the Tamedians, the Other Side, and the technologies that humanity had received…

The conversation dragged on, but Alex didn't interrupt, only listening in amazement. At the end, he asked:

"So, we're now working with aliens together?! They're just freely sharing their knowledge with us?"

"Almost… In fact, we haven't learned that much, and all the technologies are intended only for use on Earth. No space ships or interstellar travel for us. However, we received the most important thing - the method of rejuvenation. It's based on cell control technology. We've already developed new medicines based on it, one of which I tested on you. It was a risky move, but it worked!"

The doc continued to talk about new medical directions with the passion characteristic of any specialist who has gotten to their favorite topic, but Alex could see that he was holding something back, although it was clear that obtaining permission for such an experiment wasn't easy. The young man wasn't a fool and had an idea of how the society he lived in worked.

"Are there other civilizations known to us besides the Tamedians?" he was captivated by the idea of contact with other races.

"There's little information. We haven't even seen the Tamedians in person. We know even less about other races, only that they exist. The Tamedians are sort of our curators now."

"That's a shame," Alex said disappointedly.

"Don't worry! If everything goes as planned, you'll find out for yourself… Firsthand," the doctor smiled at the patient.

"But you said interstellar travel isn't in the cards for us!"

"It isn't! But if you recover, you'll live to see your aliens," the doc laughed.

Alex frowned, "It's too early to talk about that. Doc Johnson, you said there was bad news, and that the treatment might not appeal to me."

"Yes, it's not that simple…"

Dr Johnson explained that after the initial excitement about first contact subsided, it was revealed that the government had made an agreement with the Trader to extract energy powder, colloquially known as pollen. According to the doctor, pollen contains a special type of energy that living beings can use directly without any devices, but he didn't know the details. It was also known that pollen is needed to create new types of materials and medicines, including the rejuvenation treatment.

According to the agreement, humans are obligated to pay the Trader an agreed amount of pollen in exchange for the technologies already received, but the details weren't disclosed. Rumor had it that first, the military was sent to the Other Side, then the first volunteers, and a year later, a mass exploration program was launched. The authorities carefully monitored internet publications. All negative information was deleted, but occasionally news about losses and difficulties slipped through the filter.

As a reward for pollen extraction, a significant increase in citizen rating was promised, which attracted many, because in Alex's world, money meant little. Technological progress and production automation had freed people from the need to worry about daily bread. If a person from the past were to find themselves in modern society, they would be amazed at the number of idlers who didn't need to work for food. However, this would be a mistaken opinion - not many people were required to produce necessary goods and services.

When the way of life changed, officials faced a problem - how to manage the population. To control people, a currency is needed with which society can pay for work that benefits that society. This currency became the citizen rating. It was composed of various indicators, primarily depending on the social significance index. Education, efficiency, social activity, and many other smaller factors were also taken into account. The higher an individual's rating, the higher their position in society. A citizen with a high rating receives a set of benefits unavailable to a person with a low rating, even if the latter has enough money. In general, the role of money has significantly decreased. It was mainly used for access to entertainment. But in any case, citizens with high ratings had an advantage. The era of money was coming to an end.

The rating also affected key areas of life. For example, with a score below thirty points, one couldn't get permission to have a child - this was how overpopulation was controlled and people were selected. The government cultivated conformity and law-abidingness, as only a law-abiding citizen could get a high rating. But the most desirable reward was rejuvenation. The average lifespan of an ordinary person at the time of the Trader's appearance was one hundred and twenty years, with people maintaining clarity of consciousness and good physical shape almost until the end of life, and only at the very end did rapid decline begin. A one-time rejuvenation course allowed life to be extended by fifty years, but only citizens with a rating of one hundred and eighty points or higher had access to it.

As a result, the rating allowed for better control of people than all previous systems combined. Violation of laws led to an automatic decrease in the score: in some regional states, points were deducted even for simple criticism of the government. But most citizens themselves strived to increase their rating. Not out of fear, but because the evaluation system was a clear and understandable life goal and a universal way to earn recognition from others.

Historically, the evaluation system first appeared in large states and then spread to smaller ones. In the mid-21st century, several conflicts broke out, called the Third World War or the "plague war." The main weapon was biological, and the main soldiers were doctors and scientists. It's not known exactly who started the war, but the consequences were obvious - the Earth's population decreased to five billion people and took a long time to recover. This seriously changed the balance of power and people's priorities. A world government emerged that really began to control the activities of regional forces and monitor the balance of interests. Thanks to the emergence of this new force, a unified rating was established for everyone, which led to greater globalization of humanity than all previous attempts. On one hand, this ensured long-term peace, and on the other, it reduced people's ability to control their own destiny. Life became well-fed and predictable, but at the same time boring and monotonous. People from different countries lived the same way, unique differences gradually erased, and with them, creative potential decreased.

The fate of rebels and those who simply disagreed was a low rating and life in "anthills" with a minimum amount of benefits. Enough to survive, but no more than that. However, contrary to selection and forecasts, over time, the number of such people increased. Eventually, a free alternative was created for them - the world of virtual games. Games were an outlet for both marginalized individuals and citizens with high ratings. In the virtual world, one could behave as they pleased: break rules, be rude, insult interlocutors - there were no punishments for this, it was one of the few opportunities to release social tension.

Ways to significantly increase one's rating could be counted on one hand. Either socially significant work, public activity, or dangerous business. For a long time, space research remained the most reliable method of increasing one's score, especially at the beginning of the Solar System's exploration, but over time, more and more highly qualified specialists were required there. Alex got such a job only thanks to his abilities - he published several unique articles on his topic - methods of analyzing asteroid age - and had the highest score in his graduating class. Other ways of sharply increasing one's rating were available to few. Try winning an Olympics, becoming a famous actor, or making a scientific breakthrough! Who is capable of that? Most people increased their rating very slowly, throughout their entire life, which is why the government-announced program for the development of the Other Side became an attractive opportunity for many to improve their lives despite the risk. And who looks at risk when "eternal life" looms ahead, even if only as a promise.

Not only people who had fallen into social ghettos went to the Other Side, but also adventurers - boring and well-fed life seemed meaningless to them, as well as rebels, marginalized individuals, and just the curious. There were also hardcore gamers who thought that the Other Side was just a big game created by someone unknown for their pleasure. And indeed, the rules of that world - interface, levels, monsters - resembled the virtual world in which they had lived for years. The explanation that this was not a game world, but a reflection of humanity, interested them little.

Professional jargon arose by itself: a pollen extractor - a "prospector," an explorer - a "stalker," and gamers - simply "players." On Earth, the rating was tracked by a personal chip, but on the Other Side, no technology worked. Therefore, points were awarded for collected pollen - prospectors handed it over to quartermasters in base camps, and they sent reports to Earth. What did this give? Any prospector could easily raise their rating to sixty-seventy points, with difficulty - to one hundred units, with great difficulty - to one hundred and fifty. But to reach one hundred and eighty points, one had to take risks and work hard. As pollen extraction increased, so did the requirements for the amount collected. To achieve the set goal, luck and a good set of abilities were required, but even with them, one had to hunt monsters for years, and life on the Other Side was dangerous and unpredictable…

Alex didn't feel tired after the long conversation, he was captivated by the prospect of traveling to the mirror world.

"Doc Johnson, so what exactly is the 'Other Side'?"

"No one really understands, although many try to explain," the doc clearly cheered up, "perhaps it's the materialized subjective reality of humanity…"

"Doc, what subjective reality? You're a scientist! There must be a normal explanation for this phenomenon," Alex didn't recognize his old friend, he considered him a very intelligent person, and here was such a convoluted definition.

"Sooner or later, we'll understand this phenomenon, as you called it. Right now, we simply don't know anything about the Other Side. We don't know its size or structure. In fact, prospectors have occupied a small territory and are simply extracting pollen. Consider that research has just begun. The government knows more, but you understand that this information isn't public. And in general, you shouldn't be concerned about the structure of the Other Side, you need to get into the program. That's what you should be thinking about! Don't be deceived by your good health. Your condition will deteriorate, and I won't be able to help you a second time."

"Why?"

"To pull you out of the coma, I used a cell modulator. Just a little bit. This is the same drug used for rejuvenation. Essentially, you've undergone a mini-course. The distribution of the modulator is regulated at the government level. I barely got permission and had to use all my connections. You can't even imagine what it cost me. I said it was needed for research on ways to treat Kotler's disease. It's good that no one checked that you're the only patient. But they won't give me the modulator a second time!"

"Thank you, Doc! I'll never forget this!" Alex sincerely thanked him.

"So why do I need to go there?"

"The influence of the Other Side on the organisms of prospectors is the most popular topic in medicine today. We don't know much, but we've received a lot of confirmation that people transform there and cure many diseases, including those that are incurable on Earth."

"So this is my chance! How much time do I have?"

"We've suppressed the disease, but by my estimates, in six months it will return and start developing, and very quickly. After that, you'll have two to three months before you reach the zero point."

The doc was old, very old, and had been through a lot. One hundred and twenty-five years is a great age even by the standards of the new era! That's why he spoke to the patient without beating around the bush.

"I see. Thank you for your honesty. What should I do?"

Alex hadn't felt fear for a long time. Years of struggle had changed him, he had touched death, survived it, and was no longer afraid, but this didn't mean a dismissive attitude towards life, on the contrary, he valued it more than others.

The doctor told him about the procedure for transfer to the Other Side and advised him to immediately sign a prospector's contract.

"Thank you again, Doc Johnson!" Alex understood that the doc had done significantly more than the relationship between a doctor and a patient implied. The young man suspected that the old doctor saw him more as a son than just a friend or patient.

==============================

ALEX.LOG:

>> Entry #1

Just woke up from a coma and found out I'm the only survivor. Doc Johnson dropped a bombshell - aliens, other worlds, and a chance at rejuvenation. My head's spinning, but I can't shake this feeling of excitement. The Other Side sounds dangerous, but it might be my only shot at beating this disease. Time to sign up and become a "prospector". Who would've thought collecting alien pollen could save my life?

---

>> Entry #2

To-do list:

• Learn more about the Other Side
• Figure out how to increase my citizen rating
• Say goodbye to Earth (for now)
• Pack essentials (what do you even bring to an alien world?)
• Find out if they have Wi-Fi there (kidding… or am I?)

P.S. Note to self: Don't forget to thank Doc Johnson again. That old man might've just saved my life.

---

>> Entry #3

Overheard nurses talking about "the lucky one". That's me, I guess. But luck is relative when you're racing against time. Six months to get to the Other Side and find a cure. No pressure, right? At least now I have a goal - become the best damn pollen collector this side of the universe. Who knows, maybe I'll even meet some aliens along the way. Now that would be a story to tell… if I make it back.

 

[Parallax Tales]

Chapter 4: Boot Camp

Even in the 22nd century, medicine couldn't cure Kotler's disease, but bringing a patient back from a long coma was a piece of cake. A couple of months in the hospital restored Alex to peak physical condition, but it didn't lift his spirits. With each passing minute, he knew the insidious illness was creeping closer.

Alex had submitted his application to the ministry during his rehab. Within an hour, it was reviewed and approved. One of the perks of the rating system was the high efficiency of government agencies. Socially significant work, which included all civil servant activities, significantly boosted one's rating. As a result, bureaucrats worked their butts off, closely monitored by their personal interfaces.

Three days after rehab, Alex wrapped up his earthly affairs and arrived at the prospector training camp. Unfortunately, he couldn't see his parents – his civilian rating had tanked during his coma, making it impossible to buy a ticket across the country. The government frowned upon unscheduled flights, and he couldn't afford to wait for permission. So, the future prospector video-called his parents and sisters, promising them everything would be okay.

At the registration desk, he was greeted by a young-looking woman with a radiant smile and a name tag reading "Roxana". Determining her age was tricky – until fifty, all women looked like beauty queens, and even after that, they didn't change much.

"Good afternoon, Alexander! We've been expecting you!" The girl exuded such friendliness that Alex couldn't help but grin back.

"Hi, Roxana! Call me Alex, and let's drop the formalities."

"Perfect! I'll send you the training program, class schedule, instructor contacts, and directions to your cabin," Roxana flashed a smile and transmitted the data to his personal chip. "If you have any questions, just holler!"

"Thanks. I'll go check out the camp…"

During the years Alex had been in a coma, numerous bases for launching prospectors into the mirror world had sprung up like mushrooms all over the globe. Out of Earth's fifteen billion population, over a hundred and thirty million had visited the Other Side, but only about thirty million worked there regularly. It might not seem like much, but two factors seriously limited this number.

The first was high mortality. About a quarter of newcomers died in the first year. Granted, losses decreased significantly after that, but death always lurked behind the prospectors' backs, often collecting its toll from desperate people hoping for eternal life.

The second factor was even more serious. The Other Side was stuck in the Middle Ages, and no technology more complex than a steam engine worked there. They couldn't recreate electricity, chemical reactions behaved differently or didn't happen at all, and even gunpowder wouldn't explode. As a result, ancient firearms were useless. All the conveniences were, so to speak, out in the yard, while on Earth, even the lowest-ranked marginal could count on a private room with constant internet access and virtual games.

For many ordinary folks, discomfort and deprivation were even worse than the threat to life. In short, the colonization of the new world slowed down due to the lack of warm toilets.

After dealing with the formalities, Alex settled into his room and immediately familiarized himself with the training course. The accelerated program took a month and a half, but even that seemed like an eternity.

"Two months for recovery, another month and a half for training… That leaves me ten weeks before my condition starts to deteriorate," he mentally calculated. "Damn it! I need to level up fast! There's no time to waste."

***

The classes were led by instructors who had reached level one or two. And that was quite an achievement. Typically, if you didn't take too many risks, it took about a year to level up. After that, some prospectors decided they'd had enough of this crap and retrained as instructors. This way, they could live safely and teach the ropes to the new generation of Other Side explorers.

The program included physical exercises, theoretical studies, survival rules, and weapons training. It was the latter that required so much time, and no matter how hard Alex tried, he couldn't negotiate to shorten it even to a month.

The following weeks were a blur of cramming and body aches from constant training. Alex didn't spare himself and pushed to the limit. He decided that since he couldn't shorten the training program, he'd squeeze every last drop out of it. However, most of the time was spent reading and memorizing information, as the chip with all the data would be inaccessible on the Other Side!

He learned a lot: descriptions of Other Side creatures (there were so many that he only had time to study the most common monsters); what you could and couldn't do; how and where to find food; prospectors' abilities, and much more. The most interesting fact was that time in that world flowed 5% faster than on Earth. He also found out that when crossing to the Other Side, people ended up in one of three large locations: the Plains, the Foothills, or the Coast. The most comfortable place was the Plains, and the most terrifying was the Foothills, where powerful monsters roamed. The Coast was famous for its beautiful weather and was considered moderately safe, as long as you didn't venture into the sea. In the water, humans had no chance of surviving an encounter with the deep-sea dwellers.

Usually, prospectors didn't get to choose where they'd end up. Two people sent from the same training camp could arrive at different locations, but when returning to Earth, they invariably landed at their point of departure – another of many mysteries! The Tamedians didn't explain this phenomenon, saying that each civilization had its own Other Side, and how it worked was for humans to figure out themselves.

All knowledge about the Other Side, passed on by the Trader, concerned the extraction of pollen and the production of necessary equipment. First and foremost – protection and weapons, and secondly – the collector container where the energy powder ended up. Without it, a prospector's work was meaningless; even if they found a monster and "persuaded" it to share pollen, they'd lose most of it.

Alex also familiarized himself with a detailed description of what energy powder was and why it was so important. The pollen contained modulated energy, which had no analogs in the material world. The energy was called modulated because it contained information in the form of vibrations that humans couldn't replicate. At the suggestion of one of the researchers, this type of energy was dubbed Entelechy (entelechy – an internal force potentially containing the purpose and final result), and the main value of Entelechy was that prospectors could directly assimilate and use it for their own enhancement.

But it didn't just help humans. Tiny doses of pollen changed any material. Tests showed that modified things emitted a barely noticeable vibration. The very same that distinguished Entelechy from other types of energy. As a result, armor became stronger, weapons sharper, and even powerful monsters fell under the blows of spears and swords made from altered steel.

Before training, Alex signed a contract agreeing to return at least three quarters of an ounce of pollen in exchange for the equipment and training course. This was his debt, which had to be paid off first. Any subsequent harvest could be spent on raising his rating, buying advanced weapons and gear, or on self-enhancement.

The government strictly controlled pollen circulation. The harvest was handed over to quartermasters, and illegal use resulted in fines and a ban on working on the Other Side. But nothing was cracked down on as harshly as attempts to smuggle pollen to Earth. These simple rules were drilled into prospectors from day one of training.

As a weapon, Alex chose a spear - the most popular type of armament among newbies. Training took place in virtual reality and was supplemented by independent practice on dummies. A spear made of modified steel was to be issued before departure, but Alex wasn't entitled to protective gear of similar quality - it was too expensive, as it required more energy powder to manufacture. If you want top-notch armor - buy it with pollen.

Monsters were of particular interest. Some resembled Earth animals, but there were also creatures unlike any familiar being. For example, the shadow cow - the most desirable prey! - was level zero and the size of a regular bovine. But unlike a normal cow, the shadow one consisted not of flesh and blood, but of a dark, homogeneous substance dubbed "protoplasm" by the folks. These monsters posed no threat even to novices. Too bad humans hadn't learned to breed them…

However, what intrigued Alex the most was the interface - every person on the Other Side had an activated window with parameters. Scientists came to an interesting conclusion, claiming that the interface emerged because modern people were used to evaluating themselves in numbers. The explanation was simple - in the material world, every adult has a personal chip that shows a mass of parameters, measures activity, assigns points, calculates ratings… so the Other Side, as a reflection of human culture, adapted to people and their crazy desire to measure their own progress in numbers and percentages.

***

Although illness loomed on the horizon and time was catastrophically short, it flew by quickly. Alex barely had time to blink before the grueling training and cramming came to an end. In a month and a half, you can't truly master much, but they crammed the basics into him. It was time to set off for the new world.

==============================

ALEX.LOG:

>> Entry #1

Just woke up from a coma and found out I'm the only survivor. Doc Johnson dropped a bombshell - aliens, other worlds, and a chance at rejuvenation. My head's spinning, but I've got to admit, the prospect of exploring this "Other Side" is intriguing. Gotta make a decision fast though - looks like my clock is ticking.

---

>> Entry #2

Note to self: Research more about this "pollen" stuff. Seems like it's the key to everything - new tech, medicines, even extending life. But why do I get the feeling there's more to this story? The government's being awfully hush-hush about the details. Time to put my investigative skills to work.

---

>> Entry #3

Sketch: Me standing at the threshold between two worlds. On one side, the familiar Earth with its citizen ratings and predictable life. On the other, the mysterious "Other Side" with its dangers and promises. Doc Johnson's words echo in my mind: "If you recover, you'll live to see your aliens." Challenge accepted, Doc. Let's see what this new world has in store for me.

 

[Parallax Tales]

Chapter 5: The Buffer Zone

The transition chamber was small but memorable. While it seemed ordinary at first glance - just a floor, ceiling, and three walls - the fourth wall was something else entirely. It was alien, as if from another planet. Nothing about it was earthly. Its surface resembled a shifting, oily substance vibrating at a high frequency. If someone stared at its shimmering surface for too long, they'd start to feel dizzy. This fourth wall was called the door, and it led to the Other Side.

A technician wearing protective goggles and a white lab coat pointed at the wall and said, "Listen up, rookie! Hold your breath and step through the portal. On the other side is the Buffer Zone. It'll be dark, but don't freak out. There's nothing dangerous there." The operator spoke in a tired but calm voice, clearly having repeated these instructions many times before.

"Once you're in the Buffer Zone, stretch out your arm and walk straight ahead. Direction doesn't matter, just take a few steps forward. Got it?"

Alex nodded, and the technician continued, "You can breathe there. After walking a bit, you'll feel a slight resistance with your hand. That's the transition veil. Take one more step, and you'll be on the Other Side. Someone will meet you there. Oh, and you might feel dizzy or disoriented, but that's normal. All clear?"

"Yeah!" Alex replied. At the camp, they had drilled the Buffer Zone passage rules into their heads and practiced in simulators, so all future prospectors knew exactly what to do.

"Just remember," the technician persisted, "you can't stay there long. After a few minutes, you'll pass out, and then no one can pull you out. So don't just stand around."

"I know all this. They explained it a hundred times," Alex grumbled.

"It never hurts to review safety procedures," the operator said sternly. "I'm going to leave now, and a green light on the ceiling will turn on. When it does, go. Don't dawdle; the passage only works for ten seconds. If you're late, you'll be fined. They taught you that too, right?"

"They did."

"Then good luck!"

The technician left. Alex adjusted his backpack. Each prospector, in addition to personal belongings and equipment, carried extra cargo to be delivered to the base commander - wherever they ended up. People couldn't just go back and forth as they pleased. While the transition from Earth was relatively cheap, the return trip required valuable pollen, so prospectors were loaded up to the brim. They carried food, construction materials, and other supplies.

Alex had been given energy bars - a coveted cargo for any camp, as the Other Side didn't offer much variety in food. Since this was his first expedition, he was given a backpack weighing "only" about 130 pounds. He wouldn't have to run with it, though. The cargo just needed to be carried through the Buffer Zone, and that was it. Any healthy man could handle that…

The green light came on, and it was Alex's turn to take a step into the unknown. He approached the portal and, without hesitation, stepped through.

The Buffer Zone, sometimes called the twilight zone, greeted him with a gray half-light. Visibility was only about 100 feet, and beyond that, everything blurred as if in a fog. Vague shadows seemed to lurk at the periphery, but they weren't frightening. The wasteland appeared dead and lifeless, like an old room that no one had entered for many, many years.

Despite the warnings, Alex stopped and looked around curiously. The Buffer Zone separated the material world from the Other Side but looked surprisingly dull. Instead of normal earth and grass, there was lifeless, rocky soil. There was nothing interesting here. No one had ever encountered mountains, trees, lakes, rivers, or even a measly hill. At least there was air to breathe.

Closing his eyes, Alex spread his awareness through the space around him, as if meditating. He wanted to feel this place. Unexpectedly, at the periphery, he sensed a Presence. The feeling was weak and unusual - he had never experienced anything like it on Earth! And this was despite his exceptionally developed sense of space; with proper concentration, he could sense people or animals with his eyes closed.

Alex peered in the direction of the Presence but saw nothing - the place where something should have been, according to his calculations, was empty. He decided not to waste time and simply walked forward, arm outstretched as the technician had instructed, but… nothing happened! He was still surrounded by the same gray wasteland and twilight, although according to the instructions, the transition veil should have been somewhere nearby.

Alex waved his arms around - nothing. He walked forward - again, nothing! He didn't know what to do. For humans, both the Buffer Zone and the Other Side were areas of the unknown. After several years, scientists still hadn't figured out how the gray wasteland worked or why it was necessary to always move forward. How, then, could a rookie figure out what to do in a couple of minutes?

"Well, if the mountain won't come to Mohammed…" he muttered, focusing all his attention on the space around him and resolutely striding in the direction of the Presence. It changed its position several times, as if leading him somewhere, but Alex continued his pursuit.

After a few minutes, he began to feel strong dizziness and disorientation, making it difficult to maintain his concentration on the space around him. The sense of the Presence began to blur. He stumbled and thought it was the end, but unexpectedly felt his hand touch something as thin as a spider's web. The veil!

One more step, and Alex crossed over to the Other Side.

=====================================

ALEX.LOG:

>> Entry #1

Just stepped through that freaky portal into the Buffer Zone. Man, what a trip! Felt something weird out there - like a presence watching me. Couldn't see it, but I could sense it. Maybe I'm going crazy, or maybe there's more to this place than they're telling us. Gotta keep my eyes open.

---

>> Entry #2

Note to self: Next time, listen to the tech guy. Almost got lost in that twilight wasteland trying to chase some ghost feeling. Lucky I found the veil in time. Still, can't shake the feeling there's something out there. Maybe I'll ask the old-timers if they've experienced anything similar. For now, let's focus on not getting killed on this side.

---

>> Entry #3

Sketch: A stick figure (me) surrounded by swirling gray mist. Arrows pointing to different directions labeled "???" A question mark hovering above. Caption: "The Buffer Zone - where logic goes to die and instinct takes the wheel. Next time, I'm bringing breadcrumbs.