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Welcome Back Fraserx12!

"Thanks," Kenneth whispered as he watched the login screen fade to black.

World Generating...

Slowly, the world sketched itself out before Kenneth's eyes. His heart leaped to his throat as CGI trees in hues of green and blue rose to match the shade of the painted sun peeking above their leaves. All around him, red swatches and edges of blue built up to create the fading night sky. He let his shoulders relax and breathed a sigh of contentment. Finally.

He closed his eyes, allowing the screen to darken a moment. Then he opened them and stared across the expansive world. For five years he'd lost himself in every VR game known to man. No one could do it like Jiminii, though. A rare smile touched his lips and he stretched back.

Then his gaze settled across the grassy hill to the settlement ahead of him. Flags painted blue hung above crumbling walls. A mixed settlement, of course. Right where he'd left off. Kenneth inhaled deeply as he toggled open his inventory. Mixed settlement or not, Grafters weren't fond of full-blooded humans like him. He didn't blame them.

Selecting his pistol, he holstered it. A bit of comfort relaxed his shoulders more. Then he grabbed his map and looked up. He scanned the exterior but picked up no signs of any guards. Not all mixed settlements were welcoming, even if they were intended to be a haven for Grafters and Full-Blood's alike. His stomach churned but he took a deep breath. It's a game, he reminded himself, even if he didn't believe it. Atlas Quest was never just a game. It was his home.

Kenneth glanced down and checked his pistol charge as he walked across the swatch of land to the large settlement. More details, cracks, crevices, colors, generated as he drew nearer. He looked at the gaping gates, though. Nothing lurked in their black shadows. Still, he left a hand resting on his pistol as he entered.

Noise surrounded him, breaking the soft background music. People were yelling, players chatting. He looked around as he entered a small Bazzar filled with NPC's and players. Nametags appeared over almost every other head. Kenneth sucked in a sharp breath and stuck his free hand in his pocket. His elbows pressed to his sides.  

I gotta find a smaller street to sell off this loot, he thought. He still remembered what the value calculator had told him and he shivered at the thought of a loot hunter getting their hands on that. They didn't play fair. They hardly played the game. They didn't deserve to get rich the way they did. His jaw set itself and he scanned the crowds. No one acknowledged his presence and he turned down a quieter side street.

Vendors generated around him. Kenneth walked up to a Grafter dealer, pulling his hands from his pockets as he approached. The NPC's head lifted with a momentary lag.

"You looking to sell something?" The generic line came in a drawl as the old man with wires looped around his arms leaned forward. His green eyes stared into Kenneth. 

Kenneth dipped his head and avoided the man's gaze as he opened his inventory. "Yes, sir. Loot."

The NPC held out his hand. Kenneth pulled the loot box and handed the little blue square to the vendor. The grafter man retreated into his stall and then lifted his head.

"Value calculated at 10,000 coins," he stated, one hand holding the little square. His head cocked some.

Kenneth's eyes were on the 'Accept or Deny' near the bottom of his screen, though. "Accept," he stated. The coins at the top jumped in value. A thin smile touched his lips as he sighed. The loot was safe. He glanced back. Hah. No loot hunter's getting rich off me today. His smile curled a little before it disappeared. "Thank you," he stated and turned around. 

The NPC never responded and Kenneth wandered down the street some. He stopped at the junction and pulled up his map. His lips pursed as he rubbed his chin. "Where do I want to go next? There are some quests in the heart of town. Hm."

"Excuse me."

Kenneth's eyes darted up. He blinked and slowly shifted back a step from the girl now standing inches in front of him. "Um, yes?" 

She stayed where she was. "I know this is out of the blue, but can I ask a favor?"

Kenneth swallowed. He dropped one hand slowly to the pistol holstered. Loot hunters come in all forms. "What favor?" he asked, furrowing his brow mildly.

The girl shifted to her other leg and pointed back over her shoulder. "There's some new quest in this town. I wanted to try it but it needs two players. My buddy abandoned me to play with someone else. You were just standing here, so wanna give it a go?" She smiled, cocking her head.

Kenneth's hand fell away from the pistol and he rubbed at his chin. "Dual Quest? You said it's new?"

She nodded and the coils of wiring that made up her hair bounced around her face. "Yup. I know. It's random," she shrugged with a sheepish smile. Then waved it off, glancing back. "If you don't wanna go it's fine, I'll pick on another unsuspecting stranger." 

With a glance at his map, Kenneth bit his lower lip. She's a total stranger. But she's not a loot hunter or else this "buddy" of her's would've jumped me by now. I mean, I run dual quests with strangers all the time...

A hand appeared, waving in front of his face. Kenneth jumped back.

"Sorry!" the girl said, holding up her hands in surrender. "You looked like maybe you'd lagged. I can move on if you want."

Kenneth shook his head and put away his map. "I'll come. You said it's new, and I'm getting tired of running old stuff."

She clapped her hands together and turned on heel. "Perfect! C'mon then. It won't take long."

"Alright." Kenneth hurried after her into the heart of town. He eventually caught up and fell in step beside her. His eyes trailed to her gamer tag. "Byrd, that's an interesting choice," he said. "Lemme guess, "B-i-r-d" was taken?"

She didn't look up, grinning as they walked through the street. Her head shook slowly, though. "Nope. Byrd's my real name. Unique enough no one else thought of it first, thank goodness." Her eyes then turned up and she squinted. "I take it Fraserx12 isn't your real name."

He shook his head. "Nope."

She nodded. "Fair, I suppose."

"What?" He asked, cocking his head. "Something wrong with it?"

She shook her head and looked forward again. Then she pointed ahead. "Here, that's where we need to go."

Kenneth followed her finger to the rusty cylinder turned bar with noise radiating out of it. There would be so many people. Loud people--the main reason he avoided placed like this in-game. His step faltered briefly, but he sped up to keep up. "In there?" 

She nodded firmly. "Yup. You still wanna do this?" Her avatar's deep brown eyes stared back at him with a furrowed brow. She slowed down. 

He inhaled and exhaled. I said I would. He nodded and lifted his chin. "Yup." 

"Perfect," she said and stepped inside. Her hands rubbed together a little. "It's just what I need to settle the score."

Kenneth cocked an eyebrow but didn't ask as he followed her inside. He scanned around, and his stomach unclenched as he found it emptier than he'd assumed. The noise level was lower too. It must be one of those generated to look busy all the time. He let his shoulders relax and hurried to catch up as Byrd walked right up to the bar.

The bar's NPC, a rusted out droid, hung forward. Kenneth stepped up beside Byrd and eyed the dilapidated bartender.  It rose suddenly and Kenneth jolted in his seat.

"W-What can I d-do for youuu?" The NPC stuttered, the droid's eyes flicking in and out of life. 

Byrd hopped up in a seat. "Have any quests?"

Sitting down beside her, Kenneth watched the droid as it reeled back. He tapped one finger on his leg, waiting with bated breath. 

Eventually, its head rocked back and forth, squealing on hinges. "Indeed!" it stated. "It is not wise to embark on alone, however. You will need a worthy companion. Have you brought one with you?"

Byrd glanced over at Kenneth. He caught her eye, nodding as he lifted one hand. "Right here," he said. 

The droid's eyes brightened. "W-Wonderful," it stated as the same 'Accept or Deny' box appeared. 

Kenneth glanced down. His fingers tingled with excitement and he exhaled deeply. "Accept."