A Mafia family in grave danger after testifying against a notorious organized crime figure are invited to take part in an experimental government witness protection program where their consciousnesses will be uploaded to a simulated reality.

I don't get it. How does the upload protect them? How does it stop their enemy from wiping out their physical bodies?

Building on Richiev's ?When their consciousness is uploaded into a virtual reality world as part of a new witness protection program, a mafia don must protect his family against the notorious organized crime figure they testified against, who has followed them.?

Or maybe the witness protection? program entails sending them to Mars.? (Which has been colonized for a generation or so. ) Which turns out to be virgin territory for them to get back into the business of doing what they do best -- or worst.

fwiw