109 An Accident

In the bustling cafeteria of the VR Complex, amidst the hum of conversations and the clatter of utensils, sat a dark haired youth. He constantly made and revised the plans for this afternoon's dungeon raid on his smartwatch. 

Suddenly, his apps closed as the rhythmic chime of an incoming video call echoed through the cafeteria.

Di-bi-duk! Di-bi-duk!

With a quick swipe, a dark haired youth answered the incoming video call, greeted by the familiar sight of his mother. 

Her warm almond-shaped eyes mirrored his own, and her jet black hair framed a face that seemed calm but for the hidden worry in her gaze.

"Saras," her voice trembled slightly, "come to the Hospital. Your father... He had an accident."

The words hung heavy in the air, instantly draining the color from Saras's face. Neel Gayen, his father, was the captain of an interplanetary transport Starship. If he had an accident… Saras did not want to let his thoughts wander down the rabbit hole. 

Stivi, Saras's neighbor and childhood friend, caught the concern etched on his face. Without hesitation, she rose from her seat beside him, her eyes filled with understanding. "What happened?"

Saras's voice was barely a whisper, choked with fear. "My father... I need to go to the hospital."

"Don't worry, and go," Stivi's reassuring words were a balm to his frayed nerves. "I will inform the Guild that you cannot arrive in time for the dungeon raid this afternoon."

Guilds in the 23rd century were not mere associations; they operated as corporations, ruling the Virtual Society. 

The Grandeur Guild, to which Saras and Stivi belonged, was among the top corporate guilds, its members earning salaries akin to those of the esteemed Corporations themselves.

With a nod of gratitude to Stivi, Saras rushed out of the Virtual Reality Center, his heart pounding in his chest. 

The crimson sky of the planet Mars loomed above like an ominous omen, sending his mind through a whirlwind of thoughts and fears. 

Saras ignored the turmoil in his heart as he ran towards the tallest building in the biodome sphere, the Martian Government Hospital, his each step echoed with urgency. 

The sterile scent of disinfectant greeted Saras as he burst through the automatic doors of the Mars General Hospital. He made his way straight to the eighth floor, where the ICU Ward was located.

His mother sat in one of the hard chairs outside the Intensive Care Unit. Her eyes, usually so full of warmth and reassurance, now held a glimmer of fear that sent a shiver down Saras' spine.

"Mom," Saras said, his voice barely above a whisper as he approached her. She looked up, her almond-shaped eyes meeting his, with a mix of relief and anguish.

"Saras," she murmured, standing up to envelop him in a tight embrace. "You are here, just in time." Her voice held a bit of relief. 

"What happened?" Saras asked, pulling away to look at her face, searching for answers.

His mother took a deep breath, steeling herself before speaking. "Your father... His Starship had an accident during landing. It's not too serious, but he's lost a lot of blood."

Saras felt the weight of her words settle heavily in his chest. His father, Captain Neil Gayen, was a seasoned veteran, but even he could not prevent a technical glitch.

She took his hand, leading him towards the doors of the ICU. The steady beep of machines and the faint murmur of medical staff filled the air as they entered the sterile white room.

There, lying on the hospital bed, was his father. 

Captain Neil Gayen, a man with a robust body, looked fragile amidst the sea of wires and tubes that surrounded him. 

Saras felt a lump form in his throat as he approached the bed, his father's pale face illuminated by the soft glow of the monitors.

"How is he now?" Saras asked, his voice tinged with worry.

"He is in a critical condition," his mother replied, her voice trembling slightly. "He needs a blood transfusion, and... they need an O- blood group donor."

"I'll do it." Saras said, not even thinking for a second. 

Hearing him answer without hesitation, his mother's eyes were filled with adoration and pride, for he had not forgotten the values she had raised him with. "Family is everything."

The beeping of the machines seemed to slow as the nurse prepared Saras for the blood transfusion. He felt a prick in his arm as the needle was inserted, a small price to pay to help save his father's life.

His father was a giver, putting everyone else's needs above his own. He also hated receiving others' favors and had passed that same blood to Saras. He wished there was more he could do, more he could give to ensure his father's recovery.

"Maybe it is the blood group," Saras mused idly as the blood flowed from his veins into the IV bag. 

Just then, his smartwatch vibrated on his wrist, interrupting the heavy silence of the room. Saras glanced down to see the Dreamverse ID: Vice Guild Leader of Grandeur Guild, Blue Moon.

He frowned as she was the last person he wanted to hear from. Reluctantly, he switched to his Dreamverse VR persona, 'Samar' and picked up the call. 

"Where are you, Samar? Why have you still not arrived before the dungeon?" The haughty voice of the lady sounded through his earphones, her words grating on his ears.

From the glint in her eyes, Saras knew she had received his message but she had decided to disturb him anyways. 

"I had a family emergency." He answered, trying to remain civil.

"I don't care. I want you here in fifteen minutes." Blue Moon said, with a tone of finality. 

"I really cannot come," Samar said, trying to make her see reason. "I have to stay here to donate blood until the surgery is complete."

His words were in vain and his diplomatic approach failed to convince her. 

"Enough with excuses. If you are not here in fifteen minutes, consider your time in Grandeur Guild over."

Samar was shocked and secretly elated by her threat. He looked her in the eyes and asked, "Do you dare to fire me?"

He was confident that she would not. The Grandeur Guild still needed him to secure the first clear of the Ruins of Rajni dungeon for them. Even the Guild Master would not fire him until then, much less Vice Guild Master. 

However, Blue Moon was a lunatic. He had underestimated the hatred she held for him. 

"Listen you little dipshit! You are a mere R1, the lowest of cannon fodder. Just because you have raided some bosses and won Guild Master's favor, don't think you are a bigshot. I can still fire you. So, I'd better see you in the raiding party or…"

Blue Moon had crossed the line. Combined with his nerves, already frayed from worrying over his father, Samar snapped. 

"Why is the Vice Guild Leader getting so worked up over a mere R1, the lowest of cannon fodder like me? Why don't you start the dungeon raid yourself?" 

Samar asked with a sarcastic smile, leaving Blue Moon fumbling for words. He continued his verbal onslaught before giving her a chance to recover. 

"And when you arrive before the boss and piss out of fear, you should dive into that puddle of piss and drown yourself to death!"

Then Saras hung up the call, breathing heavily, knowing he would definitely be fired after this.