‘MUL’ is an amusing personal growth quest

aimed to inspire readers age 10+

LogLine

Seven troubled teens live in a world overshadowed by a powerful energy vampire. He sucks creative energy from any life forms he encounters on Earth. All that stands between sanity and looming dystopia, is an retired music composer turned cryptopunk. He is persuaded to help the teens co-create a bright new future via the Metaverse hoping it will spill over into the ‘real world’…

SYNOPSIS

When an ancient civilisation on Earth tried to control the weather, they unwittingly set off a chain reaction in the ecosystem. More than half of life was wiped out within a few months. 

The Creators of Earth called upon Krytun a powerful alchemist to help correct the error. Risking life and limb, he journeyed to centre of the Earth and stabilised the planet. Sadly, before Krytun could leave he tripped and fell, damaging his head so severely he was left with no memory of who he once was; the former alchemist was cut off, struggling to survive inside Earth’s core. 

Trying to find sustenance Krytun struggled to the surface, where by chance he found a bird. He grabbed for the bird, it escaped easily looking back at him mockingly, but much to his surprise Krytun discovered he could easily feed on the birds energy just by looking at it. His ability to drain energy from any living being he encountered kept him alive for centuries. Meanwhile humanity suffered the severe negative effects of Krytun, although no one knew he was the cause of all the negativity. Finally the Creators realised what was happening; they had a new problem to solve, The Krytun Affect. 

The Creators implored Mr Zingerman to use his creative know-how to re-infuse humanity with the creative energy that was systematically being stolen, in order to escape a bleak dystopian future. Mr Zingerman, a retired music composer, artist and crypto punk lived like a hermit in his ancient manor house nestled in the suburbs of London. Interacting only in cyberspace and venturing out only to meet with his former band members for an annual get together. He remained blissfully unaffected by the pandemic of fear raging throughout the world. 

In a moment of madness, he reluctantly agreed to come out of retirement to form a plan that may save the day. His plan was to try to enlist seven teenagers, who were teetering right on the edge of the depressed state the adults had already succumbed to. He would create MUL, a world located in the dreamscape where he planned to teach the teens while they slept; hoping to encourage their young minds to evolve and pull them back into balance during their waking life. 

He created his colourful Avatar named Amuso, so he could immerse himself within the heart of MUL. He planned to enlisted members of his former band too, who could inhabit the weird and wonderful Avatars he would create for them. Their mission was to create an uplifting signature tune that would plant the seed of MUL in the teens minds while they were sleeping. Once that was done, they would also help him to mentor the teens while they entered into the dreamscape of MUL.

Once MUL was prepared, Amuso invited the teens to a shared dream, and in this dream they created their own avatars, so they too could immerse within the dreamscape of MUL. Together with Amuso and their mentors, the teens begin the journey that will change their perspectives forever.

As they grow and become more confident during their time in MUL, they even develop their avatars transforming them from flat cartoon illustrations into 3D and then virtual reality within the ever growing Metaverse. 

With enhanced mindsets and new perspectives on Earth they begin to actually affect reality as they become more and more equipped to deal with, and even transform Krytun himself. 

As MUL.world starts to overlap into the Metaverse and eventually the real world, they begin to experience the reality that anything is possible if and when they work together 

Eventually they launch MUL on a blockchain where they reach out to other teens and start building a worldwide community of online resources in the Metaverse as well as having face to face meet ups. They even create a cryptocurrency MULcoin to prove that popularity brings rewards beyond belief!

The only question that remains, Is MUL for ‘real’? 

Mull it over…

MUL

Prologue

We all have dreams at times, but more often than not we don’t remember. How might that change if we knew dreams could contain inspirational messages and relevant information? What if, Modern society were reminded about the importance of dreams? That in ancient cultures dreams were regarded as important messengers, and even the smallest child’s dreams were heard and interpreted with significance to the whole community.

What if a dreamscape virtual world could find a home in the ever growing Metaverse, and what if that world could offer real solutions to real problems on Earth. In a mix of tongue in cheek humour and a twist of magic we follow what could happen if MUL.world could point at solutions to modern day problems and offer up new ways to win in the world by changing minds, hearts and viewpoints in cyberspace. 

Let’s find out what happens when seven troubled teenagers receive an invitation to dream a very special dream on the MUL dreamscape. Even though they don’t know each other before, maybe what happens on MUL doesn’t have to stay on MUL. 

MUL

Chapter 1

a Special Delivery

As night falls, an eerie silence hangs over a London suburb. The houses seem to huddle together under the cold wintry sky, as fine misty rain chills all that it touches . Murky puddles slop down drains and slither along sewers deep underground. Overhead, ranks of broken streetlights struggle to lift the cloak of darkness. Nothing stirs, except for a fleeting shadow, perhaps that of a silent black cat. 

High above the treetops, a sudden rush of bristling energy disturbs the stillness, bringing into view a rainbow of bright lights that whoosh past at lightning speed. Moving together in tight formation, they sharply turn ninety degrees at the same impossible speed. The orbs of light halt abruptly a short distance from a first floor window at number 7 Park Road. 

Without warning, Red breaks ranks and pushes itself through a partially open bedroom window. Finding its way under the brightly coloured blind, the window clicks shut behind it. Once inside, the orb scans the room, before hovering above the bed. A teenage boy is lying on his back fast asleep with his mouth open. He stirs, snorts, and rolls over, kicking his duvet onto the floor.

Meanwhile, outside the other orbs hang motionless in the air, still and silent until the larger violet one moves forward impatiently and perches on the narrow windowsill as if trying to peep in. Violet starts bouncing; up and down, up and down, until carelessly it misses the sill and plummets down. Barely avoiding the rubbish bins, Violet manages to loop back up just as a single musical note rings out from the window, breaking the silence. 

Tring! 

In the same instant a quick burst of red light flashes through any gaps around the window blind. As if waiting for that signal the other orbs dart up into the sky and speed quickly out of sight…  

Arriving at a parade of shops near the town centre, shortly after, Orange approaches a small cafe, 'The Cosmic Soup'. Nudging open the upstairs window, wrestling with the curtains on the way in, the orb disappears inside. A tone higher note sounds out accompanied by flash of orange light.

Yellow speedily leads the others away to a small development of new houses, where it slams on the breaks catching Violet by surprise, it crashes into the line and they break formation like balls on a snooker table. Squeaks, whistles, and grunts are stifled as they scatter out of control. Yellow recovers quickly and styles the accident into an impressive zigzag over a high fence and across the perfectly kept garden below, towards a modern detached house. It glides effortlessly through an open skylight and past a magnificent statue of Ganesh, the Indian Elephant God, who seems to smile majestically with approval. As soon as the yellow flash and musical note are released, the four remaining orbs continue their speedy journey.

As they approach a large semi-detached house Green breaks away, hastily followed by Blue; they zoom along side by side, as if they are on a crash-course for the house. At the very last moment, they separate and zoom up in opposite directions to the top floor entering the neighboring houses at the same moment. Two musical notes escape into the atmosphere, one a split-second before the other, accompanied by a flash of green light from the right side, then blue from the left.

The final duo quickly approach an imposing detached Victorian house close by. Indigo and Violet lights reflect on securely barred windows, protecting the exquisite stained glass panes. Making several passes, they systematically search for a way in. Finally, up on the roof, Indigo manages to squeeze its way down one of the old chimney pots, as Violet rests against the chimneystack humming softly.

Once down the chimney, the damp, sooty orb bowls out of an impressive white marble fireplace and through a large oak door into the hall. It skids across the polished parquet floor and glides over a stunning hand-made Persian rug leaving traces of sooty ash in its wake. Making a tight circle around an impressive mahogany harp causes it to quiver and release delicate musical chords into the air. Undeterred Indigo checks the door of a partially hidden lift beneath an elegant curved staircase but quickly moves towards the foot of the stairs. Bouncing up the stairs, two at a time, the sooty orb leaves smudgy round imprints on the immaculate ivory stair carpets all the way up to the second floor, where it disappears into one of the bedrooms.

Indigo zooms over the stripped wooden floor, passes low over a state-of-the-art computer and sound system causing it to light up. A huge telescope is perched on a tripod pointing skywards from the large bay window. It lands gently on a sporty wheelchair that’s parked up beside the bed. There, unruly blond curls poke out from beneath a disheveled quilt; another teenager is successfully located. 

Back on the roof, as soon as the sound of the sixth musical note reaches Violet it takes off without delay. At top speed Violet returns to where they began at 7 Park Road. It frantically searches for a way in at the back of the house. All the windows are closed so it checks the roof for a skylight or chimney pot, but there’s no way in. Running out of options Violet approaches the front door humming doubtfully at the narrow letterbox. After lifting the flap and backing away, it aims at the door and shoots forwards at full-speed. The flap drops shut just before the orb can pass through the gap. Bouncing off the door with a thud, it bowls over two milk bottles that fall like skittles smashing onto the step below. 

"Oooou!" 

It seems to whisper, as if worried by the sound of breaking glass. After taking a moment or two to reconsider its hasty plan, Violet makes a second more careful attempt to get through the letterbox. It pushes in slowly gaining some ground, but gets stuck halfway; huffing and puffing, it wriggles, thrusts, squeezes and squashes until finally, the frantic orb manages to force itself through the narrow slot, a victory whistle is quickly followed by a much quieter Oooou.

Successfully inside but almost as flat as a pancake, Violet pushes up against the wall as if trying to reshape itself. It clambers up the staircase still pushing against the walls still trying to un-squish itself. Defeated, it falls down several stairs, which triggers a sudden ‘pop’ returning it to a perfect orb shape again. With renewed energy, Violet bounces to the top of the stairs and peeps in through the door marked ‘Jeeni’s Room Keep Out’. Lighting the darkness with it’s soft violet glow it moves into the bedroom slowly and silently. 

In the depths of the bedroom, cosily enveloped in a pink duvet, lies Jeeni, a chubby teenage girl with a pretty face. The remnants of last night’s secret ice cream binge remain on her top lip, like a glistening silver moustache against her brown skin. Breathing heavily as if she’s fast asleep, but one eyelash flickers constantly as if she may wake up at any moment. Violet passes low over Jeeni’s cluttered desk, piled up with old game discs and crumpled sketches. It brushes against the mouse, causing her computer screen to light up and reveal a chat box. Once above the bed Violet hovers and inflates like a balloon, becoming larger and larger until finally it bursts open with a piercing violet flash, liberating the final note on the seven-note scale. 

Tring!

Disturbed by all the kerfuffle Jeeni opens one eye to see tiny violet lights fluttering towards her in mid-air. The lights begin to divide again and again and again until they are so tiny that they form a glowing mist, which encases her. As Jeeni takes in a deep breath, the mist streams in through her nose and up into her brain, its task to invite her to dream…