~~~(POV: Justin Xander)~~~

~~~(Location: Apartment, Los Angeles, California)~~~

~~~(Day, Date, Time: Thursday, April 11th, 7:30 PM PST)~~~

~~~(Age: 19 Years)~~~

"Lancer Incorporated's much anticipated virtual reality massively multiplayer online role-playing game is releasing tomorrow at eight AM Pacific Standard Time. There have been no critic reviews because the entire development has been kept secret."

My eyes lift from my phone and to the TV. The gaming news channel has been keeping tabs on this new game. When it was announced three years ago, it wasn't something many people paid attention to.

The release is tomorrow, and the attention it's getting is totally different. While it has everything players love about VRMMORPGs, people look forward to what's been promised. I've played these games all my life, and even I'm excited.

"Aeternitatem Genesis has put a premium on gameplay. Players will not be entirely valued by their classes but by their actions in the game. Or so we've been told."

I chuckle at the skeptical voice of the man reporting. He's not wrong; it's hard to imagine this type of game that diminishes a player's class and takes another route with it.

It's hard to imagine a gameplay function like that in modern gaming.

"How this will look at release tomorrow isn't known. You can be sure I'm using some sick days to be one of the players during day one."

The passion for gaming today has blossomed into an entire financial industry, not just for the best players in the world but for regular people.

I pick up the remote and turn off the TV. Rolling my neck and looking out the window as I do. The sun has fallen on LA, and the city's lights are all that remain. It's hard to imagine that more than 27 million people live here.

It's been an exciting year, and not just for me. My brother and sister have gotten jobs in large guilds. I make money solo and enjoy the lifestyle of solitude.

My two siblings and I are fourth-generation gamers, meaning we're the fourth generation in our family to make money entirely from playing games. Mom and Dad are retired from the hardcore stuff and enjoy a slower pace of play.

"I wonder if they're playing day one..."

Blake and Lillian are playing when it drops, and they'll be busy with their guilds. Our parents might be jumping on, but I'm not entirely sure.

Asking them is always an option, but they'll take that as an offer of wanting to play with them. I love my parents, but I've spent my whole life with them. I'm not really interested in spending much virtual time with them.

Being the youngest of three also means I was the last to leave the proverbial nest, much to the dismay of Mom. On the other hand, Dad is glad to have a quiet house.

Three children always disagreeing or arguing isn't something you want to deal with your whole life.

After some silent contemplation, my thoughts drift to what I plan on doing tomorrow. Playing Aeternitatem Genesis will fill most of my schedule. People will find out how the game works for the first few months.

What the classes are, and what limitations they hold. Quests and the reputation system, it's been heavily implied that reputation and quests are worth far more than anything else.

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At this point, we don't know if there is a ranking system for the value of classes and quests. It's a given in these games that items have ranks, but based on what we've been led to believe, the same can't be said for the other two.

Most of my questions about the game won't be answered until later. Much later. Just getting on the game doesn't mean we'll have the answers to everything.

I can only imagine what Blake and Lillian are up to. Probably stuck in meetings or busy taking orders on what to do tomorrow. They're high-ranking officials in their respective guilds, but they've still got a lot of work on their hands.

Hence my decision to go solo. I don't got a boss to answer to, and I sure as shit don't have noobs to carry.

RING! RING! RING!

My phone's ringtone halts my thoughts about my situation compared to my siblings. I lift it off the cushion next to me and see it's Blake. I'm half tempted to let it ring out and go to voicemail. But it's been a while since my brother called me.

I press the green button and bring the phone up to my ear.

"How about that? I half expected you to not-so-subtly tell me to fuck off by not picking up like you do everyone else. My little brother doesn't have many friends, does he?"

Only my brother would start a conversation by mocking and making fun of me. There is a difference between choosing not to have friends and being unable to make any. Not that he'd know the difference.

"After a greeting like that, I'll be sure to let the next call I get from you go to voicemail."

The condescending tone in my voice does force a small chuckle from the other side of the phone. If there is anything I learned from my older siblings, it's sarcasm and condescension.

Not that those are qualities to brag about.

"Look, I'll cut to the chase. I know you're playing day one, and I want your help before Lil's asks for it first."

Lillian frequently asked for my help in the last game we all played, but in recent times, I've left her hanging more often than not. She's not bad at games; it's just the people she's in charge of are terrible. So she's left picking up the slack.

She has a lot of pride due to being the middle child of our trifecta. It's fun to play on that pride and ego of independence.

Sadly, she's stuck in a contract with her guild for the next three years. Only after her first few months did she regret signing the dotted line.

"Blake, Blakey, Blake. My dear brother. Blake. You know as much as I do that I'm not helping you. Or Lil's. I'll be busy exploring and finding out how things work. Not playing for the sake of some guild I'm not even a part of."

The groan on the other side of the phone is long. It's not long before a short sigh follows it up.

"Fine, be a little shit, and don't help me. Just remember, Mom and Dad will be playing, too. Don't be surprised when they call. You're always their first choice. Thanks to you, I can do as I please."

Yeah, yeah. Keep rubbing it in. Let's just say Blake got away with many late nights and partying when I was younger. My presence allowed my parent's focus to slip from my other siblings, allowing them far more freedom.

"Oh, and one other thing. If you get any information on them. Be sure to send it my way."

THEM!

The infamous THEM!

But in all seriousness, them refers to the guild that's rivaling Blakes. They're in a war, and since I frequently talk with members of other guilds. Both my siblings try to pry information from me.

"Don't I always? If you pay, that is."

Hey, my services aren't cheap. Not even for my family.

"Yeah, don't remind me. You should've seen the information department leader's face when I told him we must pay you for the information. Even though we're family!!"

The slightly raised voice with a mix of condescension makes me smile just a little.

"Don't worry, I'm sure everything will be fine."

The sarcasm is laced and dripping from my voice as I pull the phone away from my ear. I hear Blake still trying to talk, but I hang up the phone and toss it on the cushion beside me.

I love my family more than I could describe, but we're all our own people. We may not help each other when we want to, but we always help each other when needed. I don't know how to describe a family other than that.

Speaking of family, I should let Lil's know before she tries to call me. But I'd rather not risk a minor tantrum about how she's stuck with some severe scrubs. Some situations are pure tommyrot, not even I can tolerate them.

I pity her more than I'd ever say. My hope and prayers are going to her getting out of her contract.

"An entire night of just waiting... Talk about boring... Should I head out somewhere..."

I'm half tempted to take off and have fun tonight before starting the grind tomorrow. While I can't legally get into anywhere that requires you to be over 21, that doesn't mean I don't have other methods.

Drinking or getting drunk isn't my thing, though.

Maybe I should spend some time with my parents. That way, they won't bother me tomorrow.

I know Mom and Dad are up; maybe they'd like to do something.

Blake and Lillian are stuck with the shaft of working for their guilds. I know that much. But Mom would love it if I reached out and planned something tonight.

And knowing her, she'll find a way to drag Dad along, too.