Simulation 37

Simulation Report (28/06/2021)
Designation: 37
Commencement Date: 7/06/2021
Distortion: Minimal
Infestation: None
Simulation 37 seems to be by far one of the most successful simulations thus far. As of now, there are no anomalies present and barely any distortions — no even remotely dangerous distortions, at that. The only distortions seem to be the constant rippling of the water, the apparent intangibility of the light sources, and the calming effect that the water has on people in the simulation. However, the lack of available resources and its overall layout nonetheless renders it unable to be inhabited for extended periods of time, and Simulation 37 has so far not been influenced by any updated signals of the simulation's template sent into the Void.
Writer's Notes:
I genuinely believe that simplicity and minimalism are, for whatever reason, the best avenue to creating a distortion- and anomaly-free utopia in the Void; look at how it impacted Simulation 20, for example. We can always work out how to add resources to it later, but I think the first priority should be stability. We don't have a better idea for a possible solution other than creating new simulations, and those are already in the hundreds.
Apologies for the harsh wording, but we should stick to the avenues we have rather than going on yet more wild goose chases and adding to the hell that is now the 'Backrooms'. We're wasting valuable resources here in our own dimension, and soon we won't be able to continue Project Null.
Maybe it's time that we followed the template the Void set us.
Two men walked through a brightly lit metal hallway and stopped at a door simply marked '37'. One of them swiped a card over a sensor on the door and both men heard the 'click' that immediately followed. The one with the card casually opened the door and said to the other man, "After you."
The other man had been promised a high-paying job that would contribute to something revolutionary, so he had expected something very different than what he saw.
"Um... is this what I'm supposed to be contributing to?" asked the man.
The other man chuckled. "I know, it looks like some sort of art piece rather than something intended to change the world. But trust me, there's quite literally more to it than meets the eye."
The new arrival stepped into the room, his shoes tapping softly on neat white tiles. He looked around, confused yet appreciating the artisticness of it all: the tiles, the pools of slightly green water, the precise geometry. A work of art, to be sure, but to what end? Why here, in this top secret facility that almost no one in the world knew about?
The arrival turned to his guide, frowning slightly. "I still don't understand," he said.
The other man nodded. "Well, to put it simply, this room — like hundreds of other rooms in this facility — is a template for a similarly-structured area, only incomprehensibly larger, in another dimension."
The arrival only looked more confused now, so the other man continued.
"See, at first we were just your regular science company, studying stuff like electrons and dark matter. But then we discovered something remarkable: an alternate dimension that we call the Void. Initially, the Void was completely and utterly empty. However, our scientists soon learned that, under the right circumstances, the Void would generate its own environment based on certain stimuli from other dimensions. And so, we began an endeavor known as Project Null to attempt to create our own custom areas within the Void via sending electronic signals containing a blueprint of random places in our own dimension. The end goal was, and still is, to create a perfectly safe and habitable utopia that would, hopefully, greatly help our species thrive.
It was not until after many unsuccessful and seemingly hopeless attempts that we found the right type of environment that would be able to be recreated in the Void — ones tied to humanity's collective subconsciousness. Even now, our best researchers don't have a clue why this is, and they may never will. Regardless, we started constructing our own environments — templates, we call them — whose exact properties can be digitally recorded and then sent via a signal into the Void. I don't know exactly how it works, but that's what we pay the scientists to understand."
The man gave a humurous smile, perhaps as an attempt to ease the mood, but the new arrival was just standing there as confused as ever, wondering if the man talking to him was joking or crazy. The man speaking noticed this and sighed.
"Look," he said, "you're a scientist as well, so you'll understand when I show you proof that the Void does indeed exist. Until then, I just want you to hear the rest of what I have to say."
"And that is?" the arrival asked dubiously.
"As I mentioned, we successfully created many of our own custom environments in the Void, albeit, to varying extents... altered. We call it the distortion, a phenomenon that changes the signal once it enters the Void, ultimately affecting what it will create. It's a real thorn in the company's side, let me tell you; we still haven't figured out a way to completely combat it, only influence it with varying degrees of success.
Anyway, like I said, there are now hundreds of different environments, which we call simulations, in the Void. The first was Simulation Alpha, also known as Simulation 0. Then Simulation 1, 2, and so on. The template we are standing in now is for Simulation 37, one of our more successful ones."
Suddenly, a scientist walked up to the man, who turned to them.
"An anomaly has been discovered in Simulation 37, sir."
"Strange," mused the man, "the readings on that particular simulation were always quite stable."
"That's not all; we picked up a temporary rise of the same energy that has been here ever since our first contact with the Void, right in this room."
The new arrival's guide frowned with worry. "A portal?"
"We don't know yet."
"Alright, let's go," said the guide. He turned to the arrival. "You'll be briefed on everything later."
With that, the new arrival's guide and the scientist began walking towards the room's exit. The other man looked around the poolroom, apprehensive, but then turned and followed the other two.
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Category:Tales