1 hour and 56 minutes later, Don jerked up from his bed and let out a sigh as he opened his eyes. In the next mont, he rolled off the bed and sat on the edge, bringing a hand to his face and shaking his head. *Ugh*.
["Are you alright, sir? You sound distressed,"] Gary Assist inquired.
Don didn't imdiately answer and first let out a few breaths before nodding. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just what did you make watch?"
["It was a highly realistic generated visual simulation of the serial killer Robert J. Marks. What you saw was what he confessed to doing to one of his victims nad Patrice Rolland."]
Don had seen serial killer movies and docuntaries before, but none that felt that real to watch. Although he couldn't sll or touch anything, what he saw and heard was enough to leave his mind a bit shaken. The blood, the screams, the cutting of flesh, the spurting of bodily fluids, and so much more.
Different people would react differently to watching this type of content, but the average person would simply be left perhaps stunned or revolted.
After forcing himself to sit through it, Don couldn't help but wonder if all the simulations would be that revolting and hard to keep watching.
["I believe hero universities such as SHU do have a trauma readiness program which shows so less graphically similar scenarios. What you watched is more in line with what special forces are made to watch."]
'And I have to do this every day.' Don sighed, not even wanting to imagine what other graphic content he'd be made to watch.
He couldn't bring himself to complain because he knew that the path he chose to walk on would involve blood and pain.
And it was better to train and be ready than to avoid and hope for the best. Because even if soone wasn't fazed by watching such occur in simulation, reality was sothing else entirely.
"I see. Well? Is that it for now?" He inquired, inwardly hoping it was indeed the end. After what he had seen, he could use a break.
["Yes. You watched the entirety of the scene and so it can be considered a success. Eye-tracking statistics do show, however, that you were more distressed than you were calm watching it so room for improvent is there."]
"So the goal is to have be calm for all simulations?" Don asked, a bit curious to know if that's what it took to complete that particular course.
But Gary Assist revealed differently. ["One of them, yes. The main goal, however, is to have you ntally prepared to witness the most vile and heinous acts man has been known to do. It's advisable that you focus on the situations more deeply and ask questions by witnessing horrors through various perspectives."]
Don nodded in understanding but beca curious about sothing else. "In that case, would full simulation be considered better?"
["That would depend on what you expect of reality, sir. I wouldn't advise delving into such detailed simulations using full VR-imrsion gear. Even militaries avoid using this thod as its negatives far outweigh the positives. It is for that reason that it is instead considered to be a form of banned torture."]
'I can see why. Watching was one thing but being made to fully experience the entire thing, and maybe even from the victim's perspective. A real-life nightmare.' Don could definitely see how impactful such a form of torture could be on soone.
And the strangest thing was, rather than being revolted or put off by the idea, he felt intrigue instead as he wondered how a person would react to such.
"Alright. That'll be all Gary Assist." Don had nothing more to ask or research, so he chose to end there.
["As you wish, sir. Please do not hesitate to activate if anything else."] Gary Assist replied before deactivating.
Don proceeded to the wardrobe and removed the contact lenses in front of the mirror. He then quickly put everything back where it was and wore a shirt.
Once done, he walked back to lay on his bed and decided to use the actual internet of that world on his phone to research basic knowledge and have a better-grounded understanding of things.
———
An hour and so minutes later, Don was scrolling through a popular app nad Utube, watching various videos on various topics, mostly trending.
'What the hell does chiefing pure cybernetics an?' He wondered as he looked at the thumbnail for one trending video.
But before he could look up an answer, a knock ca from his door. *knock~* *knock~*
Don imdiately sat up from the bed and walked over to open the door, expecting to find Samantha.
However, when he opened it, he instead found Sumr, looking ready to knock again. She paused when he opened the door and hurriedly avoided eye contact.
She had now changed from her uniform and wore a simple combination of an oversized purple hoodie with form-fitting shorts that only extended to her thighs.
Not wanting to start their interaction with an awkward silence, he spoke up first. "Hey."
"Hi," she imdiately answered in a fast manner before crossing her arms and looking slightly to the left. She took a short pause before asking, "how are you feeling? I heard about what happened at the mall."
'I can't tell if she's worried or upset, but regardless…' Don had already thought of what he'd say when he t Sumr again, so he didn't waste ti responding.
"It's cute to see that you still care for your big bro." Don teasingly responded, imdiately causing Sumr to turn his way, looking a bit embarrassed as she frowned, "hey I-!"
She was about to imdiately argue but Don cut her off as he went on to add, "Sorry I couldn't call to let you know, I only realized when I sat down to rest that I didn't have your number, mind fixing that?"
After Don said this, he took out his phone and waved it in front of Sumr, who looked a bit too confused to imdiately answer.
Although upset over the situation, she knew she couldn't directly bla Don. But hearing that he had considered calling her made her feel like he cared.
Don could see that her expression grew softer and used the opportunity to tease her again so that the conversation didn't beco too long or embarrassing for her. "Are you trying to rember your number or…?"
Sumr imdiately ca out of her daze and shook her head, "What? No, I just—I just… oh will you just gim that!" She angrily grabbed Don's phone and aggressively typed in the number before handing it back to him with equal roughness. "Here!"
She then turned and began walking toward the staircase as she added, "you better not call for dumb things. And by the way, dinner is ready so co down to eat if you're hungry or whatever… see if I care."
Don watched her walk away and simply shrugged at her words.
'Well, what do you know, she can be cute… sort of.'
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