Loading Grace Online

Grace Online is the latest VRMMO that stormed the world. Every news, papers and TV-shows were filled with Grace Online content. From montages to roleplay, it was the most realistic fantasy VRMMO game out there. Players could explore dungeons, craft weapons, get a house and even ride a dragon if they wish to. It was brimmed with exciting new gameplay with promises of regular updates.

Bling*

A bell ringed as the door to the VR-Store opened. A teenager with the most obnoxious green t-shirt, brown pants and wearing headphones over his short red wavy hair. His head was shaped like a square with a fairly big nose. His eyes were sharp and his eyebrows were bushy. He had well-built muscles, sure enough to attract women.

"Ayee Jordan! You know I am eighteen now, right? So why don't you give me a game for free? It's my birthday today." Said the teenager as he skimmed through the shelfs looking for a game.

"Yo dude, Reid! The last time I gave you a game was two weeks ago! Two weeks! You get it? Now shoo off before you piss me off even more." Said the man behind the counter.

He had a very long light brown hair, down the neck. He had a well rounded face with a nose of an average size. Eyes were big and round, his eyebrows arched like the shape of a boomerang. He was a bit on the fatty side, you could even see the fat hanging from the jaw. He wore a black Metal T-shirt and some blue jeans.

"Come on man! You have tons of games here! Why don't you share some of them? By the way Jordan, I heard about this new game called Grace Online. Ever heard of it? The one in the news or whatnot. Maybe you can give me that as a gift for my birthday, maybe?"

"Sigh... Man, don't do me like that. I ain't gonna waste my money on your pleasures. How about helping me in the store, I might just make this an exception. How about that, Reid?"

"You sure bro? Oh thank you! I am not gonna let you down Jorda... uh, I mean boss!"

"Well, I don't expect anything out of you, so don't strain yourself to work hard. Go clean the store. The broom is in the stock room."

"Sure boss!" Said Reid while he saluted towards Jordan.

As Reid went behind the counter, he took his last glance at the games on the shelfs and then proceeded to open the door.

Reid couldn't believe what he saw. All of the boxes containing games on the shelfes are gone! The consoles, the computers, the gaming chairs and even all of the figures he loved to purchase. He even got the full set from the game Solid Gear 2140 that launched the year before.

"Jordan! Where did you hide them?" Shouted Reid as he looked back through the door.

"What do you mean? Oh, the stocks? Yeah... uh... hmm..."

"What now Jordan? I haven't finished the collection for Sun Dead X4! You better explain this to me, now!"

"Uh... shit... I am planning this place down. No one even goes to a game store anymore, everyone just buys things from online store that ships it back to their home. I am not earning enough money to sustain this place, sorry Reid."

"...Man, why didn't you tell me this earlier? I would have donated millions to keep this store open! I got this Black Deluxe Creditcard from my birthday gifts and I really do not like to see you like this man. Don't give up, here take this card."

"No, dude. This is just... no. This is your money, I can't let you waste it on something like this."

"Wait, are you gonna search for a job? For real? That's just boring, man. I heard Grace Online is a good way to earn money. Maybe like sell a legendary sword that only I, the greatest blacksmith can create?"

"You? Doing work? Pfft, never seen that before. I might give it a try, I do have enough money to last for a year or two and I am certain that I am more qualified than you to make money from games. I have VR Pod, just one though. Wanna borrow it? You can take it home if you want, I have no need for it right now since I need to make this store ready to be sold. Let's clean this place up first."

"Really? Thanks man! I am gonna call a transport service so that we can move it to my place later but lets focus on cleaning up!"

The store has now been restored to its glorious shine once again. It used to be an internet café where a lot of trash was laying on the ground.

Beep Beep*

The sound of the truck driving with its back into the stores backside where it could pick up the VR Pod. The VR Pod was certainly heavy, especially the older models since it wasn't built with the new technosteel. The worksmen struggled carrying it in, but it was sucessfully in the cargo. Reid hopped onto the back of the truck and waved goodbye to Jordan as they drive towards Reid's chosen location.

It was a garage, not just any garage but the garage that was located in the upper mid class section. The capital Nostos was divided in six different ranks, ranked from lowest to highest: Slumps, Lower Class, Mid Class, Upper Mid Class, Royals class and Supreme class. The three lowest classes was the class that makes up for 80% of the population.

The garage door was opened with the click of a button with a remote control that Reid had in his hand. Workermen picked up the VR Pod and transferred it to the assigned location, which was in the center of the garage. The workermen let out a silent sigh after laying the pod down. They took up a credit scanner, like the ones you can find in stores. Reid took up his card and swiped it. The transaction was done and the workermen went out and drove away. He opened the box and what he saw stunned him.

The pod was shaped like an egg and you could open the glass hatch and lay down in the middle. It was white on the outside and the cushions inside was of a light blue colour.

"Now I have to wire this up and it's not gonna be easy."

After roughly two hours of hard work, it finally works. He put in the game Grace Online, which he got from Jordan as thanks for helping, into the back slot and jumped inside. He couldn't wait to play this game. He pressed the button to the left side and the hatch of glass fell down. A headset was put on him and he started to get neurolinked with the pod by the headset.

Ding Ding*

Welcome player. What game do you wanna play?

There was only one game that I could select infront of me, which was Grace Online. I proceeded to press on it.

"I wonder what I should do?I have never really thought about what class, weapons or whatever. Well, it doesn't matter if it is fun!"

Process initiated.. 2%... 47%... 90%... 99%...

Loading Interrupted

A shrieking sound was heard, just like an eagle diving through the sky. It became intense for each second passing by.

"What the hell is going on?"

Reid was frantically pressing the shutdown button.

"Hey! Shutdown dammit!"

The screen turned black. Then it flashed white and back to black. It became extreme as it flickered and it suddenly stopped after some time.

Virtualization starting...

3...

2...

1...

Jordan was finished moving some boxes up on his white van. He shut the door closed and hopped on to the driver seat. He put his finger on the finger print scanner and the motor starts.

"I wonder how it is going for Reid? Did he set the pod up? He isn't tech savvy enough to be able to setup the pod. I'll just check on him."

He pressed down gas and started to drive hastily. As he neared the Reid's garage, he noticed something peculiar. The door was open.

"This guy... leaving the door open? He's really inviting the robbers to steal his properties. I hope he doesn't mind me checking upon him this late."

He knocked on the door to see if anyone's at home.

"Hello? Don't mind me taking some food from the fridge. Really, I will do that."

As he entered, he saw a pod in the middle of the room.

"He must be in the pod right? Look at all the cables."

He took a closer look through the glass expecting to see him lying there but it was empty.

"I guess he left to sleep in his home first. Does he honestly not know that he can sleep while using the pod? I guess I'll take some food and close the door."

Jordan picked up some frozen pizzas with an almost empty ketchup flask from the fridge. He looked around for the last time checking incase of something but found nothing and went out, closing the door and putting the food on the back if his van. He drove off, down the hill and off he went to his home.