Chapter 178

Brian had been on a treadmill for the past few hours and was exhausted. He hadn't been running. Just walking. Still, he was tired since he had spent most of his life the past year sitting. The only thing keeping him going was the thought of logging in to VR when he got back to his room.

As he slowly walked back to his room his sweat cooled on to his body and left itchy patches of skin from his evaporated sweat. He absentmindedly scratched at his left arm with his right.

Maybe a shower was in order before he got in to his VR bed. He caught a whiff of himself and updated his prior assessment. A shower was absolutely in order before he went in to VR.

Brian thought about the term 'VR' as he followed a glowing line back to his room.

Plenty of games had been called 'VR' throughout the years. Heck, way back as far as 2020 there had been a video game system with an optional VR headset that you could buy for it. It had cost just as much as the video game system it attached to had cost.

Sure, the headset made you sick often when playing if not zeroed in correctly. Also it had a nasty screen door effect where you could see the dark spots between the pixels. The viewing angle was also pretty narrow and the video itself was a bit fuzzy at times. It had multiple cables running from it to the game system itself. The hand held controls were a bit finicky to use.

In a word it was a mess. That is what most people thought of when one said 'VR.'

Brian just couldn't wrap his head around how far things had come. There was no screen any more – just your brain, a helmet, and a bed. He wasn't too sure what the bed's job was in all of this but after a few minutes of thought he remembered that the tech had insisted that the back of his neck had to make contact with a pad in the bed. That probably had something to do with it.

Essentially though the process was inherently unknowable.

When Brian was little he had found a toy that had belonged to his father when he was a boy. It was made out of metal and weighed more than any of his other toys. It had sharp edges and he had to be careful when playing with it.

It was a robot that you wound up and it would walk forward. That hadn't been the best part for Brian though. The best part from his point of view had been the little see-through plastic window. You could see the gears inside rotating through the little window and if Brian concentrated he could almost work out how the toy worked.

He could follow the rotation of the gears and see how they affected the toy's limbs. Through the little window he was able to learn how the toy did what it did.

None of his other toys were like that. They were all electronic and their insides were sealed away behind thick plastic. There were no see through windows.

Brian felt like VR had reached that point. In the beginning he could sort of understand how VR had worked. There were pixels of light thrust right up against one's face and pictures were shown fast enough to fool the brain in to seeing movement - or to trigger nausea depending on how well the helmet fit at the time.

Scavenger and Eden were still VR but there was no longer any see-through plastic window. Brian couldn't fathom how a helmet and a bed – even if you did have to press your neck against it – would possibly work to provide a VR experience. It made no sense to him, and he couldn't see or even understand any of the working parts.

It might have surprised Brian to know that even those that worked at the Company had difficulties in understanding how Eden was put together, how it worked. The more advanced AI became, the tougher it was to figure out how they did what they did. Or why.

Brian arrived at his door and the line of light on the wall went dark. His door slid open for him and he walked inside.

His room was as he had left it. He walked inside and over to his desk and sat down in front of the computer. It wasn't time for a Scavenger session so there was no point in going over to the gaming bed. He wasn't really tired enough for a nap so there was no reason to lie down on his sleeping bed. All that left was his computer.

He needed to sit more than he needed to shower at the moment. He lowered himself in to the chair and sighed loudly. He wiggled the mouse to get rid of the screensaver – this time it was flying toasters.

His desktop appeared and his eyes slid over the desktop but found his icons missing. There was no Scavenger Forums or Scavenger anything for that matter. His heart pounded. Had they ended the program already?!

But then he noticed that there were new icons. One read simply Beta Forums. One icon was a folder with a book icon on it. Brian double clicked the folder and it opened a new window filled with a list of options.

The Use of Medieval Weaponry – Harold Sliver

Useful Knots – Magnon Ericson

Tracking Humans – George Fitzgerald

Scouts Guide to Tracking – Len Douglas

Arbitrage, a Primer – Beatrice Baker

Encyclopedia of RPG Mechanics Vol 1-3 – Farold & Co.

What Am I? Traditional Riddles – Z. Guido

Cartography Theory & Practice – P. Matheson

Wilderness Survival Bible - Stephen Yorgenbyorsk

Bushcraft 101 (1 of 5) - B. Davidson

U.S. Army Hand-to-Hand Combat – Department of the U.S. Army

The list went on. It was an interesting mini-library perfect for teaching a person things they might need to know in a new fantasy world. Combat, trading, puzzles, survival – it covered a little of everything.

But Scavenger was gone. What did that mean? They hadn't been provided with any information going in to the Scavenger VR world. Yet here was a veritable library that contained more information than any one person could possibly hope to absorb.

Brian stopped and did some quick math in his head. If he set aside an hour or two every day there was no reason that he couldn't work his way through the entire library if he put his mind to it – given enough time of course. The problem was that Brian didn't want to have to do that. He just wanted to play in VR. He would most likely treat the library as a resource for future use rather then as prior preparation before entry.

There was a third icon though that drew Brian's eye. It read, simply, 'Beta Application.'

Brian was about to open the application when his door beeped as the call button lit up. Brian walked over and pressed the button. “Hello?”

“Greetings Brian! Wonderful to speak with you again! How was your workout?” a sexless voice asked over the intercom.

Brian looked up towards the ceiling where the sound was coming from, “Long? Tiring? I'm alive if that is what you're asking,” he replied with a smile.

The voice paused for a beat as if for a smile but as Brian couldn't see them he couldn't be sure.

“Glad to hear it. I assume you are hungry? I can have food brought to your quarters if you would like or you may eat at the cafeteria,” the voice patiently explained.

Brian looked down at his sweat stained clothing and shook his head, “I think here would be best. I still need a shower.”

“Of course! Today's lunch will be chicken cutlets served with rice pilaf and edamame,” the voice said brightly.

Brian pursed his lips. “What is pilaf? Or edamame?”

“Pilaf is a type of rice cooked in a seasoned broth giving it a bold flavor. I've arranged for yours to be cooked with a bit of saffron. I have guessed that you would be unfamiliar with the flavor but would most likely still enjoy it. Is that acceptable?” the voice asked and the tone even managed to sound a little worried towards the end.

Brian shrugged, “I've never had saffron before. Or pilaf. It sounds ok I guess? And the edamame?”

“Edamame is a green bean – a soybean specifically, that has been prepared through boiling in salted water. I believe that you will like them. If you do not I can substitute peas instead. Would you prefer peas?”

Brian shrugged, again, “I don't know but let's stick with the edamame for now. It sounds good. Cooked in salt water huh? I'll give it a try.”

“Excellent! I have sent word to have your meal prepared now and delivered after we have finished speaking, although I project that you will immediately log on to your computer after our conversation.”

Brian wasn't sure how to take that. “Okaaaaay. Well in that case what did you want to talk about?”

“Before I start I would encourage you to remain calm and wait until I have finished my explanations before reacting emotionally.”

Uh-oh, Brian thought to himself but merely nodded in acquiescence.

“The Scavenger program has been shut down,” the voice began.

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

“But I just started playing! I was supposed to meet someone in game!” Brian complained emotionally and immediately.

“I understand that you are upset,” the voice said patiently as it had just warned him to hold off on any emotional reactions. “First off, please know that your efforts here have been extremely helpful and has provided us with valuable data. Our requirements have outgrown the Scavenger program however.”

Brian looked crestfallen. “Am I going back to my apartment now?”

Brian didn't want to go back. He wanted to play. Even if he did have to take a two hour walk after breakfast.

“Not unless you choose to. The decision has been made to take some of the Scavenger program candidates and move them up to our new beta test program.” the voice explained.

Brian's heart skipped a beat. Did she mean what he thought she did? She? He? Brian still wasn't sure which the voice belonged to. Was there a chance he would get to visit Eden after all?

“Second off, you have been chosen to participate in the beta test selection. That means that you are now in the running for the Eden beta test. Those allowed to apply have a link on their computer desktop, you may have even seen it already. It's marked 'Beta Application' and it is the only way to get in the program.” the voice pointed out.

Brian's feet suddenly wanted nothing more than to walk over to his computer. He wanted to click the link right then but stood where he was instead. Brian looked at his feet for a moment, “What happens to those who haven't been chosen to apply?”

“Those not chosen to advance to the next stage will be sent home with our thanks and a lump payment for the time they've spent here,” the voice explained as Brian's stomach grumbled loudly.

It had been a long walk and he was hungry.

“Thirdly,” the voice continued, “by continuing past this point you are agreeing to allow the Company to use you for promotional purposes. Interviews, commercials, even recordings of you playing are what you are agreeing to here. Are you familiar with Jay's Eden?”

Brian laughed, a bark of a laugh, loud and harsh. “Of course! Wait – has there been more episodes released?!”

The voice laughed in reply. “There have but that is not what is important right now,”

Brian thought that it was at least a little important. At least to him.

“What is important however,” the voice stressed, “is that you understand that your experiences can be used just as Jay's have. That will not be the case for the commercial release, but while in the beta program you are agreeing to recording and rebroadcast and so on.”

Brian quickly nodded. Who cared if they recorded him? He didn't care so long as they let him in Eden!

“Your lunch is here. I expect you won't be eating it right away?”

“Oh – are we finished?” Brian asked as if he had somewhere else to be.

The voice laughed as Brian hit a button on the side panel next to the door. The door slid open and he took a covered tray off of a delivery robot. He set the tray on the table next to the computer and the door slid shut behind him.

“Brian?” the voice asked as he got ready to sit down.

“Yes?” Brian answered. What was it now!

“Good luck!” the voice said before it signed off and the call light next to the door went dark.

Brian sat down and stared at his covered tray. It would keep hot for a bit, wouldn't it? He pushed the tray aside and grabbed the computer mouse. He quickly clicked the icon marked Beta Application and a new screen opened up in a browser window.

“Welcome to Eden's Beta Selection Program!” was written in black block letters at the top of the page.

Brian read through the dense paragraphs of contract terms. It was thin on details but Brian didn't care. He just wanted to play. Who read the small print anyway?

The next screen asked him how he would prefer to start the game.

“When you first spawn in Eden you will appear with nothing but light clothing and, if you chose a class before spawning, a starter weapon. Which would you prefer when starting:

Start with clothing / Start with clothing & Class but no weapon / Start with clothing & Class & weapon

Brian thought about the question carefully. He tried to remember how Jay had started out. He'd started with a class already hadn't he? He'd been clothed but his weapon, he'd found that once he was already in Eden. He'd spawned originally with just his clothes and his class.

Brian decided that starting with a class was a good idea. If he'd remembered his Eden lore correctly he'd be able to find new classes once he arrived. They were rare and hard to find but they were out there.

Brian chose 'Start with clothing & Class but no weapon' and the screen progressed to the next page.

He hoped he'd made the right choice.

“You now may roll for your class. Should you not like your results you may then instead pick from the standard array of classes. Please click the roll button to continue,” was written at the top of the page.

Below it was two ten sided die on the left side of the screen and a blank space on the right half. Underneath both was a single button, 'Roll.'

Brian clicked the button excitedly and the dice bounced about on the left side of his screen. The first die stopped and displayed a zero. On the right side of the screen was now a large number 0. Brian looked disappointed. He'd guessed that the lower numbers would be the common classes while the higher numbers would be the more rare options. The only numbers he could roll now were probably single digits. He'd most likely get a number between 1 and 9. The more boring classes.

The second die rattled about the screen and was slowly settling. It looked like it would be a 3. Gods – a THREE. Brian grumbled to himself over his bad luck.

As the die continued to settle however it caught the tip of the first die and flipped. As it came to rest Brian read the number off the top of the die. Zero.

The screen changed to show his final number in huge print across the middle of the screen and animated confetti streamed across its surface. Brian read the number then he read it again.

Brian had been almost correct when he had guessed that with a first die number of zero he'd only get a low final number. RPG dice worked a little differently in one single situation however – a double zero.

A double zero when rolling two ten sided die is not treated as a 0. The lowest number you can technically roll with two ten sided die is a ONE. So a double zero is treated as 100. The highest possible score.

“You have GOT to be kidding me!” Brian yelled excitedly as his screen changed again.

“Please select from the following options, or type in your selection:” was written across the top of the screen. Underneath it were listed a number of options.

“OPTION 1: You may pick from the standard array of classes. You will receive the selected class but will also be guaranteed a class evolution at level 10. (Fighter / Mage / Scout / Healer)”

“OPTION 2: You may pick from an advanced array of classes. You will receive the advanced class and begin at level 1. (Assassin / Bounty Hunter / Portal Lord / High Ranger / Battle Surgeon / Deific Bard)”

“OPTION 3: You may pick from a magical array of rare non-combat classes. You will receive the magical version of the crafting class along with the basic tools needed for that profession. Although the tools will be basic that does not mean they will be non-magical. (Clothier / Armor Smith / Weapon-Master Smith / Fate Reader / Carpenter / Brewer / Farmer / Baker)”

“OPTION 4: You may type in your class of choice and will start at level 1 with no further benefits. Should you type in a class that does not exist or misspell an existing class you will not be provided a second chance to enter a class but will instead be forced to choose from the standard array. (Fighter / Mage / Scout / Healer)”

“Please enter your selection now:” Next to the end of the sentence was a blinking cursor just waiting for his input.

Brian was a bit overwhelmed. Thank god there wasn't a ticking clock. He quickly checked the screen to make sure there wasn't a countdown or anything. WAS there a ticking clock? There wasn't.

Brian had thought it would be fun to try and pick the same things or similar things to what Jay had chosen. Now he was instead presented with an overwhelming opportunity – pick anything!

He could pick Adventurer if he wanted. He knew for a fact that was a real class. He'd start out as a level 1 Adventurer with no weapon or anything other than the clothes on his back.

Or he could pick a standard class and get a class upgrade at level 10. He hadn't even seen anything like that while watching Jay's Eden so wasn't sure how it would work. It sounded powerful though.

If he wanted to fight then option 2 looked impressive. Being an assassin sounded interesting until he thought about what his game play might be like. A lot of murder. Maybe something...less murdery? Bounty Hunter sounded like a fun way to play – but couldn't he just become a bounty hunter once he was in Eden? The other classes sounded amazing and powerful. He'd end up spending a lot of his play time fighting.

Jay hadn't spent all of his time fighting at all though, and he'd been there for weeks. Months? Brian wasn't sure. He thought about how he was planning on making money. He'd want to join the Adventurer's Guild of course, but how? He'd start off broke and the Guild was expensive to join.

He thought about professions. One of the unfulfilled promises of RPGs in the past were professions. Almost all RPGs were combat oriented – professions were just a tacked on side activity. If Brian was reading this right though he could become a weapon-master smith, a magical weapon-smith, and level up his character that way? An entire character focused on weapon smithing? How would that even work?

Brian really wanted to find out. He assumed that just because he would be a weapon-smith that didn't mean he couldn't learn how to fight. Hopefully he'd learn how to fight better than Jay did.

Brian paused and looked at option 2 again. Those were all really powerful classes, combat classes. Brian thought about his playtime in Scavenger. Some of the most fun he'd had was when hiding and sneaking. Maybe he should choose High Ranger instead?

Combat or commerce – which should he choose? He hated having to choose – but you could only start as one class, right?

Weapon-master Smith was the only class that was a Master – a high ranking crafter indeed. Brian decided that would give him the best chance of setting himself up in Eden. After all, it wasn't just a dungeon-running game, it was an entire virtual world, and he'd have to find some way to survive in it. He'd need food. A place to sleep. A room to store his belongings. That all cost money.

Hopefully a Weapon-master Smith would be able to make enough coin to live off of. Brian was starting to get excited. The more he thought about it the more Weapon-master Smith seemed like the best choice.

With shaky hands he selected OPTION 3 and very carefully typed in Weapon-master Smith. He checked twice just to be sure that he had spelled it correctly and placed the hyphen in the right place. Odd that, he thought. Normally the hyphen should be between master and smith, not weapon and master. Brian was too excited to worry about that though, and hit enter without any further thought.

A new screen appeared.

“You have selected Weapon-master Smith! Congratulations! Further information will be provided soon. Please continue to check your desktop for updates!”

That was all. There was no further screens or buttons. Brian grinned. He didn't care. He was happy with his choice. He'd be a magical blacksmith that made weapons. Everyone needed weapons, didn't they? And magical ones at that! He couldn't wait to start working with metal!

If only he had known more about hyphens.