Chapter 2. Legends and Questions..
The area I find myself in now slowly darkens from the white wash from moments ago, just at the edge of my hearing, I hear a Theremin. Ohhh classic, a little obvious for a sci-fi scene but classic none the less. Thankfully it’s not the full-blown theme of a certain trek through the stars, but a soft undertone, that is getting louder… Que the Violins and trumpets. A very nice musical ensemble to begin, my... wait… what is that light… and why is it coming right at me! Off in the distance coming directly at me, and now that I think about it, “Why am I floating?” If I am floating, and an object is moving towards me, but there is no wind. “Crap, I’m falling in a vacuum”
After a couple of minutes, I can start to make out a circular shape, and it’s not a single point of light but multiple points of… I’ll be damned. It’s a galaxy... “And I am falling speeding towards it.” Sucking on my teeth for a second, I ponder the speeds that are involved if that object coming towards me is as large as I think it is... Fast, really Fast… Ludicrous speed, hell I might have even gone plaid. Fortunately, the it looks like it’s a miniature, and by miniature, I mean the size of a football field, as is finally arrives and then rotates to position itself as the “Floor” of my new domain.
Loading of Character Creation Complete
Would you like AI assistance?
Yes / No
An AI assistant? I scratch my chin, for a moment pondering the option I have. On one hand, I don’t know anything about the game, well no one does really, the information on Axis was as follows. “Axis Mundi – The First Seamless Galaxy sci-fi VRMMORPG, Features: Open no instance sandbox galaxy, skill based, level based, class based. Are you ready for the Future of Gaming?” That’s it, just that in gold lettering over a spiral galaxy, that’s all the advertising and information there was, and is for the next 1:20 minutes. “Screw it, I need information” I mentally smash the Yes button dreading what is about to occur.
Generating A.I Assistant
.
.
Complete
Happy Gaming!
“Hello Princess!!” Say a most definitively manly voice from behind me, it’s like John Wayne and James Earl Jones, were genetically spliced together manly.
Raising my eyebrows, I slowly turn around, upon seeing the shining beacon of freedom before me, I freeze and immediately and unconsciously come to attention. I cannot however keep my mouth from dropping.
“What?!” The specter of the past exclaims. “You were expecting some Blonde haired 5 foot nothing bombshell with double d’s Posing and saying ‘Teee Hee’?!” I couldn’t help myself, I fell on the floor attempting to stop the current riot of laughs that are breaking my bearing and atomizing it. For the figure in front of me, dress in Dress Blue Alpha’s, looks like none other than Chesty Puller, still to this day one of the most decorated Marines to have ever graced this earth. To make matters worse, he just did a flawless, Japanese Anime, “cute Girl pose” with his finger over beside his mouth, and one leg lifted and bent back while slightly bending forward.
“Ju… ha… jus... haha... just give… ha... me a moment here.” I say while attempt to scorch the last scene from my memory. Breathing deeply, I manage to compose myself enough to stand and be coherent again. “So how did they come up with you as my assistant?”
“Shit, Son, that’s easy, they just looked at your personal history, social media, and character gaming preferences, and threw all that into some fanglely-wangely procedural generator and BAM, Chesty Rides again” He says while waving around his cigar. Putting it back in the side of his mouth he continues, “Not to mention if they stuck you with one of those ‘women’, Your…” he pauses to look around, “wi…”
“STOP” I yell. “Not another word, I read you loud and clear, no need to go into any more detail.” I say while frantically waving my arms Oh, god he almost ruined everything.
“Now, don’t go getting your panties in a wad, we’re secure. Nothing gets out during Character creation.” He says while trying to placate me.
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Holding up a hand “Still you pause and looked around if you looked through my social media and personal history, you know I am not crazy. You don’t play around with The Force” I look at him square on not budging in my opinion.
Grumbling about nonsense data that makes no real sense in modern science, he nods and agrees by mutual self-preservation to drop the subject and move on.
“Alright Devil Do..
“BeeBoo Boop You’ve got Mail!”
“What in the nine unholy levels of hell is that!” Chesty exclaims while jabbing his cigar at me.
“Seems I have a message” I state blandly
“Impossible, I said we were secure nothing in or out during character creation, that include messages!!” He says while breathing heavily from shouting.
Suppressing a sigh, I open the inevitable.
Hi Babe!
Hope you’re having fun with your new present!
When your done playing with your new friend,
and creating your character, come on out before launch.
I have something to tell you!
Loves
Vannesa
“Well, don’t just stand there yapping, who’s it from?!” Chesty inquires while attempting to look around the small wall of blue in front of me. Slowly I reach over and gesture the screen to flip for public viewing. Chesty grunts once, in thanks and starts to read, his eye narrowing as he gets through it. Still looking at the message he conspicuously glances around. “There’s just no….” He pauses for a moment then straightens “Right then! If your done yapping and carrying on, where were we? Ohh yes. Character Creation!
I quickly close the message, and pay close attention, this is the moment that can make or break a game! I wonder what type of system they are using, will i get to model the character myself? I wonder how they do stats, and levels. Should i do a strengh build, or perhaps a intellegnce build, They probably have some type of Technomancer.. I could always go heavy weapons, love me some mayham and carnage... Ohh a how about a gunner on a ship.. yeah that would cool... Ohh what abo...
“So, what do want to do?” Chesty asks simply.
“Huh?” I respond in an intelligent manner, pretenching I wasn''t just day dreaming of lasers and missles.
Chesty sighs at my superior intellect, “There are over 13 thousand species to choose from in the humanoid category alone, so it is imperative for your future sanity and success that you answer my questions both honestly and completely.”
My mind blanks at the number of choices, Wait, he said for humanoid, so that implies there are non-humanoid playable races as well, not that I would ever choose one, I would never hear the end of it from… “So, what do I want to do? Well I always wanted to go into space.”
Chesty hangs his head again, marveling at my ability to form clear and concise answers. “CONGRADULATIONS!!!!” he shouts suddenly “Dream achieved and realized, now how about telling me what you picture yourself doing in your new reality?”
“Ahhh…” I say, a light bulb going off in my head, “I swear I’m not usually this dense, let see… “What do I want to do. I know I want to travel, and see new sites, and people… and... oh, that’s good he’ll like that. “I want to do the Normal thing, you know Travel to exotic, distant worlds. Meet exciting, unusual People. And Kill Them...”
I watch Chesty as I say the last line closely, I see the slightest uptick in his lips, the start of a grin attempting to break the stoic bearing. What do you know, an AI with a sense of humor? “Tell me” he says slowly to not break his serious demeanor “what would you say, if I said you could join the USMC again.?”
Tilting my head to the side as the question throws me off. “The United States Marine Corps, merged 10 years ago, into the UGMC...”
“Not United States son… United Stars… The elite of the elite, it traces its roots to the cradle of human civilization. Forrestal got it wrong when he said 500 years, he would have been better off saying 5000.” He smiled this time, but not in the funny way I was looking for, it was the way a predator smiles at the world when he knows he is the Apex.
I paused for a moment, thinking it over. That’s very tempting, I didn’t leave the Marine Corps in RL Voluntarily, hell I’d still be serving if that degenerate hippy dippy drunk asshat, hadn’t decided it was a good idea to go joy riding after pounding down a 5th of grand pappy’s home brewed moonshine. Besides, two words… “Space Marine” I say out loud not fully able to keep my enthusiasm in check.
“Hah! I knew I still saw the spark in you boy! Alright now we can start with the skills assessment!” He starts to walk off into the distance and gestures for me to follow. Suddenly he stops “Ohh, Yeah just one more thing! What’s your name son?”
“Uhh… I didn’t choose one yet” I say while furiously thinking of names… can’t use Arthur, I’m not that desperate, anything like shadowhandluke or ImwithStupid are out, need a real name something that will roll off the tongue. “Give me a moment Chesty”
Shrugging he replies “Sure thing, but if you choose something like N00b4unt3r, I’m leaving you here and you can finish this by yourself, I won’t be responsible for the folks of this galaxy having to address you by some ego stroking “call sign”. He finishes with the traditional Air quotes.
“No sir, none of that, could never stand naming schemes like that anyways, not good for business.” I think I’ll go with Daniel for the first name, always like that name. Derringer? “How about Daniel Derringer?”
“Well it’s pronounceable, so I guess it will do. Alright Dan, Step, this way and let’s get your initial assessments started.” He says while turning back around and walking off again.
Hurrying to keep up with his long purposeful strides, I voice “What are the assessments for? Shouldn’t I choose a race before I allocate my stats?”
“You didn’t think it would be so simple as pressing a couple of buttons, and wham bam thank you ma’am. No sir, character creation is like a fine wine, not some two-bit hooker!” He states, the I see him take a deep breath “Now, the next 4 hours… “
I can just hang my head while he describes the hell I am about to go through…