*Virtual Reality Club*

- John, you must come with us. - several guys of extravagant appearance, persuaded the big man. This game is a breakthrough! We've all played the demo and believe me it was amazing! - Rolling his eyes, the main ringleader told them, a guy of twenty years with a hairstyle ala Erokez.

- Sorry Pablo. - a big man, the same age, spread his arms. – You know that I don’t have money to pay for the account. I can barely make ends meet.

- You can play with us from the club! – did not let up punk. – Uncle Greg, will you let John play Unlimited world?

- Get out of here! came a hoarse, low voice from behind the reception desk. Find a job to pay! I won't lend you another cent!

- Well, Uncle Greg! the whole company whined. - You are the best and coolest admin in the city!

While the company of guys was groveling before the administrator, the big man quietly slipped out of the club.

- I knew that they would offer me to go play it. muttered Joe, the big guy. “All because I helped them too much.

John's father was a good broker until he got involved with bad people. A set-up here, a set-up there, an illegal scheme, and now John's father was put in jail. Left alone with his mother, he dropped out of school and got a job. At first, the mother was strong, looking for ways to earn money, but in the end she began to drink. She drank the money John made faster than a jet plane flew a hundred meters.

On his birthday, John received a "gift". His father returned, released on parole. Seeing the situation, he flew into a rage, killing his wife. When John returned from his shift, he saw his bloodied father being led by the police. The father committed suicide in prison, unable to bear what he had done. Since then, he has become an orphan.

And for the third year now, John has been working hard to pay for his living. Ancillary worker, loader, security guard. Whom he just was not for this year. He was gladly accepted, but as soon as it came to money, they tried to deceive him.

For the past few months, he's been working at Uncle Greg's virtual reality club, which has given him a roof over his head. In return, demanding to do whatever he asks. Carrying capsules, adjusting helmets. John didn't complain and worked hard. Greg was pleased with him, so he threw in pocket money. Sometimes even allowed to play for free in the club.

There, John met Pablo's company, who were avid gamers. For days on end they played different games, sometimes going into a deep minus on their club cards. Since they knew John, they used his position as best they could, until Uncle Greg interceded, saying that from now on, John could not use club equipment.

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It was perfect for John! Despite his interest in VR, the virtual games that he visited with Pablo's company were uninteresting and boring for him. Not even that, they were too unrealistic. They lacked a sense of completion.

But the new game "Unlimited world" was different. John knew this. His heart was won by the demo that the company provided for free a month before the opening. World without borders. The realism of this game was an order of magnitude better than any other. Everything was possible here, there were no restrictions in terms of action. If you wanted to hit like that, then you could hit like that. If you needed a "Play Doll", you were helped to strike by AI.

"Perfect game", "Breakthrough in the gaming industry" and many more titles were received even before its opening. But there was also a fly in the ointment. The game was not free-to-play (supported by in-app purchases). I had to pay monthly access to the game. For die-hard fans of the game, the company has released a separate line of helmets and capsules that will allow you to play with an even higher level of immersion.

The cost of all this was enormous. The cost of creating an account is $1,000. The monthly fee is $100. But you still need at least a helmet to play.

- It was great ... But I need to somehow live in reality ... - lowering his head, John wandered to the warehouse, where Uncle Greg had given him a place to stay.

The ringing of the phone brought John back to reality.

- My boy, where have you gone? - Uncle Greg always worried about him, but he never showed it in front of others.

- I'm in the warehouse uncle. John answered cheerfully. - Something happened? Do I need to return?

- No, everything is okay. I could hear Uncle Greg exhaling. “Finish with the fourth capsule settings and bring back the press report.

- OK. I'll finish by evening. John reported as he entered the warehouse.

At work, time flies unnoticed, and thoughts about the bad and unrealizable fade into the background. After finishing with the capsule, John dumped the press report on a USB flash drive and went to Uncle Greg. Not finding Uncle Greg in the administrator's seat, John immediately moved to his office.

- I finished. – opening the door, said John.

Uncle Greg was sitting at an old personal computer and typing something. Hearing John's voice, he finished typing, leaning back in the leather chair he'd had since the club's inception.

- Well done. - Taking the flash drive, Greg did not immediately insert it. Looking at John, he twirled it thoughtfully in his hands. And then suddenly he asked. “You’ve been working for me for six months now, son.

- Yes. John did not understand what this conversation was about.

- I would like to give you a present. - Putting the flash drive on the table, Greg took out a box from under the table. - Today is your birthday? he said semi-questioningly. - This is my gift to you.

In disbelief, he took the box from Uncle Greg's hands. He never celebrated his birthday. And he never told anyone when he had it.

"Thank you..." John managed. - This was unexpected...

- You replaced my lost son. said Uncle Greg suddenly. “You always try your best. And I still could not find a reason to raise your salary. However, consider this gift as a bonus for the year.

- Thank you very much. – without opening, John was pleased to tears, but he restrained himself. “Uncle Greg, you do so much for me.

- Go already ... - the old man muttered. - And then I get upset.

Once again thanking the old man, John went to his room in the warehouse to open the gift. Literally flying all this distance, he closed the room and opened the gift. After tearing off the gift wrapping, John's eyes popped out of their sockets.

It was the exclusive virtual reality helmet for "Unlimited world"...