● Just Before installation:


"I see you have a neural implant," The physician was holding a data pad. Likely reading over my medical history. "To treat Schizophrenia."

I groaned, "Don't tell me, that means I don't qualify." Rubbing my temple. Already imagining being left behind, to die in this decaying world. 

"Oh no," The woman quickly shook her head. "We accept everyone. That's kinda the point. A lot of research was done, to insure those with implants, wouldn't be excluded. In fact, most survivors, with implants, were recruited as deputies. Even the programmers were fitted with implants, special for this build of the Oasis."

I gaped, "What about the fracturing issue?"

The woman shrugged. "There are, of course, limitations, but we've learned how to turn those into strengths. You see, your implant, when combined with the neurological manipulations of the Dreamscape helmet, created 5 distinct personalities in your head. Each a true person, given the mixture of cybernetic and organic tissue. 

"They are technically fully self aware AIs, in your head, that manifested through different aspects of your organic brain. So legally, we have to preserve them as fully self aware individuals. Even if they only really exist when you enter the Oasis. 

"Originally, it was believed these multiple individuals, sharing a body... would drive each other insane. So software was developed, to keep the other personalities dormant well the original was awake. Then keep their minds separate, while you slept in the Oasis. 

"This resulted in your counterparts dreaming up memories, while you were awake. They had entire lives, based on the world you saw around you. It was their version of dreaming.

"However, upon further research into the 'Fractured Awareness' implants give. We have found ways for you to better co-exist with your separate personalities. 

"We used that knowledge to create the Hive Mind which each Townsfolk has. As well as the Programmers own fractured awareness. Although, unlike you, both Programmers and Townsfolk, maintain a perfect copy of their Original. As that leads to greater levels of cooperation, and less confusion.

"However, the concept is the same. This way, like the programmers, you can share thoughts between each of your counterparts, hear and see what the others do, and better cope with each other. But it will be up to you when the implant is activated... it may take some time for your counterparts to get used to the idea that they are... well counterparts of you. As most of them are simply born unaware of that, although a minority does know. Unless you want us to tweek their programming a bit-"

"NO!" I snapped, then blushed at the unnecessary force of the word. "Sorry, but no. If they are anything like me, they won't take kindly to being reprogrammed."

The physician nodded.

"So..." I voiced my thoughts. "I'll have like... a hive mind?"

"Essentially yes," The physician nodded. "Although you'll be able to choose which thoughts you broadcast. You'll all be able to see through each others' eyes and hear what they hear. Though not feel what they feel. That was thought a step too far, so the software will continue to shield from that.

"Due to the nature of your personalities, we intend to give you a larger hub world. Where each of your counterparts will have their own island, with your's in the center. 

"Then you can choose which of your Counterparts will get copied into different MMOs... as your cybernetic implant makes it impossible for you to move freely between them. 

"Once you activate your... 'hive mind' implant, as you called it, you won't even be able to move between your Hub World, and the Main Oasis Server. As a copy of each of you is required, to devote your time to such a task. But you can choose when you upload to that. And we took care to insure your Hub version will be able to play VGPs.

I sighed, "As you said... my implant is ment to treat Schizophrenia... I... don't think I can handle having multiple voices in my head again."

"Unfortunately, this is non negotiable," The Physician sighed back. "It is vital to your health. We will wait for your counterparts to get used to the idea. But the longer you go without activating the implant, the greater the risk will be... until you experience a complete system failure. You're implant just can't cope with the new Oasis build. Not without the aid of a Hive Mind.

"Each of your counterparts are a complete individual, requiring their own Profile, and even their own Hub computer. Your Pod will need 6 harddrives, one for each of you. While the machines can easily cope, your organic parts simply can't. The processing power is far too great. You need to at least slightly synchronize your personalities."

"Can't we just share a profile and hub computer?"

"No," the Doc immediately rejected that. "Your counterparts are far too complicated. They are distinct entities from you. Which is why each of you will be given your own billion credit signing bonus, as it's unlikely you all will even want to share the money. Much less agree what to spend it on.

"Think of it as a more connected guild. The different personalities might be a reflection of your subconscious... but they are their own people. Each completely self aware and independent. The Hive mind will better balance that, well keeping you as separate entities."

She proceeded to go into the various benefits of having such a hive mind.

### • 

● In the joint Hub World:
• Pov;
Username: Smart Mouth.
Real Name: Ollivander Toma.
Nickname: The Cookie God.


It had been a week... and I was a little shocked when the Haunter Child called all our counterparts together. Apparently, he got sick of waiting for me to build up the nerve. He explained everything, with our hub computers backing him up... with all of us taking it in different ways.

"What the bloody hell do you mean I'M NOT REAL!!!" Sunny D had snarled.

It had taken another week for everyone to come to terms with being different aspects of the same person... that their memories weren't even real... I can't imagine what that must have been like for them. Aided by their Hub Computer, and the Townsfolk they had already collected, we finally met back together. This time on my island.

Kole looked the most troubled... Although D looked the most angry. Both Metagamer and The Haunted Child already knew. So they spent this week weighing the pros and cons of having a hive mind. Musky the Husky was still coming to terms with the fact he, and his mentor, were the same person. In fact, Haunter deliberately found him.

"So... The Oasis was real," Kole looked for confirmation at Haunter. "And nothing else?" This had been explained to him multiple times. Yet the boy was still having trouble adjusting.

"It was real for you," Was Haunter's explanation. 

Haunter was quickly becoming our leader, despite me being the original. Not that I minded. As he was my ambitious side. My leadership side... My Slytherin side, and that somehow went hand and hand with my goth side.

Regardless, D scoffed, unimpressed.

I then pulled up my profile, and quickly retrieved 5 disk. Walking over to each of my counterparts, and awkwardly handing them one.

"What's this?" D sneered, snatching the disk as I handed him his. I quickly scampered away from my short tempered side. Not ever being able to deal with angry people.

Haunter explained for me, "I gave the Cookie God copies of all your memories."

Before they could get mad, I quickly added. "I didn't look at them. Just converted them into DLC. You can upload the file into any game you want. And then you'll have VIs of your friends and family from the real world."

D scoffed, "You mean the people we 'dreamed up',"

I ignored him, "You even have the option of unlocking them as Original Townsfolk, once the game is complete. Or you can skip all that, and just upload their memories into your existing Townsfolk."

Musky looked down at the Disk in his hand. Before gently hugging it like a Football.

Even D was hesitant to say anything against the gift.

Metagamer gave a sad smile, before reaching out and ruffling my mane. "That was very thoughtful. Thank you," spoke my badass / compassionate side.

"They aren't real," Kole didn't understand the implications. Of course he wouldn't. He was my child / mischievous side. The sneaky little rogue in me. Filled with a Hobbit like innocence.

So I explained, as bluntly as possible. "This way, they will be."

The boy's eyes widened. Then looked down at his treasure with a new found longing.

"Now," Haunter smiled, "Down to business. Our implants are starting to heat up, due to the strain of managing so many personality separately... we need to activate the hive mind, or we will begin seeing the first signs of brain damage."

The others tensed.

"Keeping in mind," Haunter continued. "The only reason Kirito recruited us is because of our potential for a Hive mind, in addition to your skills as players."

"He's got other Deputies." D insisted. "Hell, he recruited an entire police force."

Metagamer shrugged, "I think we should do it. It may take some getting used to, but let's face it. If we don't do this we die. As horrible a notion as it is."

D insisted, "Just unplug us from the pod! We can keep going as we always have! We'll just continue ignoring each other."

Musky the Husky reminded, "The cities will be vacant in like 10 years. When all the kids finish growing. Then they will deactivate the life support in the domes, and whoever doesn't join us will live in caravans."

Haunter added, "Who won't have the necessary tech to maintain our implants."

Sunny D growled, his massive claws squeezing his own head. 

"Let's do it." Kole spoke up, looking down at his gift... clearly just worried, if he didn't agree, it be taken away... I wasn't about to correct his assumption. "We'll be able to understand our AIs better. And can live in multiple games at once. No more, 'not enough hours in the day' crap."

I sighed, "There really is no other option. We can either choose to die now, or live forever. I'm... probably the most hesitant about this. I lived with voices in my head for decades... but the Doctors assured me we will keep our distinct personalities. We will just be able to talk to each other, regardless of the distance. We'll even have a privacy setting, which will keep the others from seeing or hearing what we do. For a few hours, anyway."

### •

● Hive Mind:

"We are Legion." Were the first words which echoed through the corners of our mind. 

We all found ourselves back in our hub bunkers, on our islands. As activating our Hive Mind had required our Pod to reboot... and not everyone shared my sense of humor.

"That's not funny," now D's voice echoed throughout our minds.

"Oh lighten up," I snorted.

"This... isn't as weird as I thought it be," Kole noted. "It really is just like talking... and the hearing / seeing thing is more like background noise, from a bunch of TVs. I know what's going on, but I can choose to tune them out, or focus on one.... why are you wearing a diaper?"

"They're pullups!!!" I snapped.

Haunter explained, "The new implant is supposed to make things as smooth as possible." well ignoring my default clothing.

"I can even keep most of my thoughts to myself," Musky observed. "I have to actively concentrate to think at everyone."

"You're quiet Meta," Haunter noted.

"Nothing to really contribute," She assured. "My boyfriend's been warning me what a Hive Mind is like. So I already had a general idea of what to expect."

"Of course the sexy ass Asari has a boyfriend." D growled.

"That's species-ist!" Musky insisted.

"At least one of us has a boyfriend," I commented. As I started walking around my bunker, into my library.

"What ya doing?" Kole asked me.

"Trying to see how distracting the hive mind is. If I'll be able to focus on other things well talking." I pulled out a book. The ultimate form of concentration.

"Oh! OH!!!" Kole seemed eager. "Get that Shazam comic. We can read it together!!! I wanna see how well that will work."

"Sure." I put my book back, and picked up my Shazam Omnibus. All these books had been transferred with me, from Oasis Dreamscape.

We proceeded to do our own things, while actively thinking at each other. I was surprised how well it worked. Normally I'm pants at multitasking, but I could easily keep up with everyone, while doing my own thing. I think, the additional implants, actually made me better at multitasking.

My mind was even more of a computer then before. So I imagine that played a role in why I was so much better at this... or the fact their was a large port in my brain, which was streaming all information even faster then we could handle it.

At the same time. I could feel less strain on my mind. As we were now aware of what the others were doing.

After we got used to just us, which didn't take long. We sent our copies into the Main Oasis Server. With a warning that our organic parts would only be able to handle 42 copies, total. Which left plenty of room for us to all choose MMOs we could all enjoy, and play together. Even each of us having an MMO, just for ourselves... even if we would all know what is going on there. Still I doubt D would want to play Equestria Online, himself.