On their way to Vivi University they carpooled to save on travel expenses. They were Kai Arzeil, Marc Rigel, and Tessa Silas. Kai at a height just one inch under six feet his attire was all black, as if attending a no dress code funeral. Sporting a natural near flat top shave, his hair was pitch black with gray eyes adding to the gloomy, yet elegant fashion sense. The three of them were lifetime childhood friends and currently one term away from graduating with Bachelor's degrees.
Weather modulators maintained a forced seventy degree temperature with scheduled rain showers. Traffic was light that morning before rush hour, however with automated traffic systems, rush hour was an antiquated expression for many fast moving cars.
“Hey Marc, was it really necessary to stop by every single bakery store on the way to school?” Kai asked with a worn out expression.
“Yes, you know I didn’t eat any breakfast this morning, blame Tessa.” Marc responded running his fingers through his short brown bowl cut.
“I understand that part... but we visited at least seven stores, five of which I never knew existed.”
Hearing the exchange, Tessa with the figure of a petite schoolgirl and curly light brown hair touching her shoulders, bent over and popped her head to the front of the midsized sedan. Tessa glimpsed back and forth between the two with her jade colored eyes and continued with, “You guys we’re going to be late!”
Kai turned his head, seeing Tessa with an upbeat expression similar to accustomed ‘morning people’ and thought ‘We left three hours early, how are we going to be late?’
Marc ignored the two and continued driving, while fawning over the piece of bread in his lap. “Look this pizza bread, because of its popularity. Most stores sell out instantly. Due to this, we were forced to search all the stores, which was inevitable. In the end we found a store with it in stock and - now I’m happy.”
Trailing on, Tessa tagged along and finished Marc's statement “and - now you're officially picky.”
“No..., I just want what I decide upon from the start. Besides the point, we’re still good on time so stop complaining.” Marc rolled his dark brown eyes.
With a "hmph," Tessa fell back onto her seat.
Kai stared forward at the passing scenery of bio-engineered white grass, marking the entrance into the university grounds as he questioned Marc's logic. ‘That’s completely unreasonable. What's the point of getting that pizza bread, if you're only going to half demolish it by removing toppings you don’t like...’
Kai turned his head and asked, “Tessa, Why did you rush us? We still have two hours before any of our classes.”
Tessa with a rattled stance replied, “Umm...I, I mean we, are going somewhere before class!”
“No we’re not. I’m the one driving and my destination is the student faculties.”, Marc responded with a stern voice.
*PAAAT*... “Owww, What the hell, why'd you hit me?!”
“Because, Marc is driving, it's dangerous if I hit him… Also~”, Tessa whispered in Marc’s ear. “I’ve got Kai hostage what will you do now!”
At a slight shiver Marc replied, “So what, You're on your own bro…” Completely giving Kai the cold shoulder, Kai looked back to see Tessa readying another assault.
‘Wait stop, hit him not me, what the hell!’
Seeing the look in his eyes Tessa paused giving off a threatening glare.
‘So, do I take that as a sign to convince Marc otherwise?’ As if communicating via telepathy Kai turned to Marc.
“Listen man, let's just go where Tessa wants to, we still have a little more than an hour before we need to be parking near our classrooms.
“No, what I decided is final, however regrettable that we will have to wait a while before classes start.”
Upon sensing the darkening aura from behind, Kai urgently gave persuasion attempt number two a go. “If you don’t listen to Tessa I will make for certain that every bakery in a fifty mile radius of you will not have your pizza bread. As well as when you're around, I will start to pull them out of my backpack and either burn, or personally step on them in front of you.”
*Gugk* Marc reacted by visualizing eating stepped on bread, but the burnt bread not so much.
‘Yes, damage dealt, now I'm safe from the wrath of Tessa!’
A response from Marc could be heard as if he had been mentally half wounded. “You wouldn’t dare…” Staring at Kai giving off no sense of guilt or remorse, who would willingly cut off an injured dog's life-support without inquiring the emotions of the owner, he caved in. “... Fine, you and your poker face! Okay, Tess where is it that you want to go?”
At that response Tessa unknowingly hugged Kai from behind his chair while cheering.
“Yea yea, you're welcome…” Contrary to his thoughts ‘Evil witch, how dare you use me in your scheme to achieve your goal, don’t worry I’ll get you back!’
Tessa unbeknownst to these thoughts, pointed and said “Go right at that light and past two lights you'll see a sports bar called Winner's Circle on the left side.”
“OI, we’re not gonna go drinking right before classes, what’s wrong with that head of yours?” After the bewildered response from Marc he glanced at Kai, as if saying you deal with her. Due to him driving and not being able to completely look back at Tessa, however, a back and forth between Tessa and Marc began.
“We aren’t going to get drunk!”
“Then, I thought you didn’t like sports, why are you so interested all of a sudden?”
“I could of just recently gotten into it; you never know geez, let me finish... Along with that we're also going to meet a few friends I met a while back.”
Ignoring the latter half Marc intriguingly asked, “Oh ho, so you like sports now do you… What do you like in particular?”
“... The one with the group of guys in helmets running around… you know where they try to tackle the guy before the weird looking ball is thrown at them.”
“...”
After a brief moment of silence she looked around at both of them with a clueless atmosphere finishing her gaze on Kai who sighed.
“What, am I wrong?”
Both giving her the cold shoulder, Tessa continued bugging them until Kai said, “We’re here… Thank the Lord.”
“Amen,” Marc finished as the guys exited the vehicle with Tessa following behind them.
“What is it? Hey answer me!, You guys are leaving me out, no fair!”
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The lively scene at the newly renovated sports bar had the latest model high definition screens positioned all around giving every angle of the layout a perfect view to watch your favorite teams. At the counter a crowd of people were currently ordering drinks. The current game going on was the one described or attempt to; by Tessa, a college league football game. Cheers could be heard of a touchdown that occurred as Marc found his way over to one of the bartenders.
Kai extensively examined the layout.
‘Wow, look at all these high end TVs and furniture… The amount of money that must of went into this place is insane… And what’s with that crowd, it’s abnormal they’re all gathering around a single bartender.’
‘The bartender looks to be in his mid twenties, however not a student it seems. Hmm, It feels like the people are buying drinks due to the appearance of the bartender...’
‘With dark blue eyes, and blonde hair parted to a side, the shade of a Labrador retriever reaching the end of his neck. He has a complexion of if he steps outside, he’ll get instant sunburn. A complete chick magnet, no wonder the majority of customers ordering drinks are girls.’
About to turn to Tessa that was behind him or so he thought, “Don’t tell me…”
Without being able to finish his sentence Tessa darted to the crowd like ants to sugar.
‘Uh… that makes it not obvious…’ Kai sarcastically thought while looking at the bartender’s shirt with the sports bar logo, “Winner’s Circle.
Kai followed suit and reached his friends. He saw Marc already talking with the bartender, who had stepped to the side away from the crowd. Marc stood at six foot two with an impressive bodybuilder's physique next to Sedric who was slim and better toned. Marc and Sedric looked like two giants compared to everyone else.
Seeing this opportunity Tessa pushed her way farther in and cut into the conversation.
“Marc, I didn’t know you knew the bartender, you should introduce us.” Marc looked down at Tessa whose stature was roughly three inches above five feet, only to almost brush her aside before feeling a strange vibe nearing discomfort and decided against it.
“Yes O~of course these are my two closest friends Tessa and Kai.” With hand gestures Marc introduced them.
“Nice to meet you guys, my name is Sedric and I’m glad to meet friends of Marc’s. He’s been a huge help with the changes around here, giving feedback and opinions on the layout.”
“Waah”, with a short pause Tessa continued “I didn’t take you as an interior design type of person Marc, I thought your major was Physical Therapy.”
Expecting the response Sedric cut in and explained, “No, no my approach to him was for his athletic nature, and that it would be a good idea to get an opinion from someone who enjoys sports in general.”
‘Hmm, thats weird this guy avoided the fact of revealing his last name. It would of been fine if he didn’t mention it, but the slight pause and body language said otherwise.’, Noticing these factors Kai curiously asked “You said your last name was?”
Intentionally stating his question as if it was said and he simply forgot or never heard it, the attention was thrown to Sedric.
“Oh, hmm” looking back and forth between Kai, Marc, and Tessa who with an intense submersion of wanting to know, he cracked and told them.
“My name is Sedric Lexon…” After an awkward silence.
“No way!, you're related to ‘The Kira’?!”, with yells from both Tessa and Marc.
‘This guy… No wonder this place is so ramped up.’ While thinking this Sedric looked over at Kai as if hearing his thoughts.
“Yea, that’s also a reason as to why I’m hesitant about giving out my full name, but seeing as you’re friends of Marc, I think I can come to trust you guys. I’m not only the bartender but the manager of this sports bar.”
At that mention Kai blatantly without any tact said, “Why not just name the bar after your last name, I’m sure you would get a ton more customers.”
“Kai! What's with you, that’s uncalled for!”
Angrily glaring at Kai, Tessa was about to cause a public beat down.
Stopping her was the voice of Sedric, “No, he’s right about the name part; however, I decided that I would work to achieve what it currently looks like now. Through hard work I was able to obtain an identity in the least, apart from having to rely on others, technically speaking of my cousin Kira.”
“Wow, thats so admirable!” Tessa replied while stomping on Kai’s foot.
Letting the yell fade off as if background noise of the bar, Tessa started talking up a storm with the newly introduced Sedric leaving Marc and Kai out.
“Kai, that wasn’t cool, you don’t normally act this way… Did someone eat your favorite food you had stashed away?”
Listening to Marc and instead of replying, Kai moved in closer to Tessa and Sedric.
“I apologize for my behavior, and am actually impressed you were able to achieve something with your own resources.”
Giving off a slight laugh, Sedric responded “No worries, I take pride in that achievement due to being raised by Kira when I was a kid.”
Cutting any possible response from Kai off Tessa stated, “Whoa, so you two must be really close then.”
“Yeah, we talk often… Oh that reminds me, the other day she told me to invite some trusted friends and acquaintances down to her laboratory. Her current project is in its final stages and requires some guinea pigs so to ~.”
“Hell yes!, We will all go.” Tessa without minding her language, holding an eager face, clasped both Sedric’s hands with hers and started to blush.
“Oh, uh... Alright I’ll let Marc know the details as to when and where, since I already have his contact information.”
All of them, as well as Kai were ecstatic before he realized something.
“Tess! Marc! We need to go now or else we'll be seriously late for our afternoon classes!” Kai grabbed both of them and ran towards the exit, while Marc complied with Sedric through a head nod and Tessa being forcefully pulled along kept waving erratically at Sedric to say goodbye.
Sedric looked down at the palm of his hand which held a half written telephone number from Tessa.
A nearby bartender moved over to Sedric’s location and asked “What’s that?”
“Um…, I think it's an area code…” Sedric replied with a puzzled expression
“Looks like we will be having extra company, more than expected when we visit my cousin.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Approximately two weeks after the traumatic nightmare within the Polaris Engine, Kira was sitting in a chair with her hands around her knees still slightly disturbed. She was surrounded by the latest and most expensive pieces of equipment. But her greatest asset was still human input. After a long talk with her cousin Sedric and assistant Helena Vivian, she had recovered for the most part. Finally able to think about what occurred within the machine up until exiting it with a reasonable state of mind. Although avoiding all the bad parts and focusing from an aspect of improving the machine, she covered the main points out loud; recording her thoughts to a scientific journal.
"First off, the sensors need to be adjusted so that an event like that won’t occur again... The interface system will allow the user to gather information directly connected to the subconscious, combined with the machine’s massive database."
"The information will be in a form the mind is accustomed to, similar to RPGs. Hopefully purging negative thoughts maintaining a healthy dream world."
“Secondly, I adjusted the time ratio so that one hour in the real world equates to five days in the dream world.”
“Lastly, Helena and I will improve and solve the issue of post side effects and sustain the life of the subject within the machine, allowing long-term usage. After the first test, this was a major issue to the point upon exiting the machine where I felt disastrously sore, similar to phantom wounds.”
Kira gathered her thoughts as the automatic glass door into the room opened.
From the other side of the door, Helena walked in. A genius at an early age of twenty two, acquiring a Doctorate’s degree in medical bioengineering, while publishing several theses and two dissertations pertaining to the human mind and accelerated healing.
A low soothing voice was heard while Kira sat in her chair. “Are you feeling better?... We can always postpone the maintenance.”
“Ah, Helena… No, the topics at hand will require large amounts of time and work to complete."
“Yes, Ma’am.” Immediately afterwards they began the challenging work.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Phew, I think that just about settles it. We covered every issue by improving the systems, along with adding an unique interface that will allow each person to view personal information.” Kira stated while handing Helena some yogurt milk to drink.
Helena sat in a daze staring at the nine newly built Polaris Engine’s and the original machine they used as a master template. She turned her gaze and reached out for the drink.
“So, is this where your smarts come from?” With a light scoff from Kira to dismiss that question Helena continued, “I still can’t believe we were able to have a finished version of the Polaris Engine and nine others in less than two years, since the prototype. You're a genius.”
“I couldn’t have done it without your help, and please you're eight years younger than me. If anyone is worthy of that title it’s you. After your adjustments to the life sustaining system, you practically built an all-in-one instant regeneration device, that even ensures the proper nutrient intake. That alone could make you overwhelmingly rich and famous, yet you follow me around.” Kira humbly replied.
Receiving praise from her lifelong idol a minor blush formed on Helena. “Ah, my birthday was June 28, I’m twenty four now, so only seven years younger than you!”
“What! Why didn’t you remind me last week?” Kira surprisingly asked almost spilling her yogurt.
“Well..., we were so close to completing that I didn’t want to bother you and at the same time I also wanted to finish the Engines.”
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
“Enough with this yogurt! We need to celebrate your birthday and I know just the place. Let me make a quick call beforehand.”
“Yay…, I hope you don’t regret that, I’m no lightweight!” Helena excitedly replied, tossing her lab coat across the room while getting ready to go out.”
Kira picked up the tossed coat and called Sedric.
“Hello?... Kira?”
“Yes, it's me. Just letting you know that I’m stopping by with a co-worker since we just finished here, you guys are still open at four in the morning right?”
“Oh, Helena?... Alright it will be just me and another bartender here however, since we don’t open until eight.”
“Hey, you call that a bar?! Anyways that's fine… just prepare lots of liquor and a cake!”
“It’s a sports bar, not a bakery! But no worries we got it covered, we’ll be waiting.”
Shortly afterwards, arriving at the “Winner’s Circle”, Sedric greeted them outside the entrance before they entered with a boxed up cake in hand. After greeting Helena and showing her the way in, Kira stopped Sedric while looking at what was in his grasp.
“You were seriously able to find a cake? Where did you even find one… No, wait please don’t answer that.”
“You asked for a cake so I got a cake; isn’t that what you said?” Sedric replied with a hint of innocence in his eyes.
Upon opening the box and inspecting the cake further, Kira shuddered.
“What! How dare you buy that!” angered, Kira demandingly waited for a reply.
“Well..., you never said what kind and again have you seen the time?”
“Demolish that this instant!" Not taking another look at the cake Kira brushed past Sedric and entered the building.
Sedric with the cake in hand looked down and slightly smirked due to the cake being modeled after a pair of large jiggling breasts, with small print, “You’ll miss these after marriage.” Taking a finger’s full taste, Sedric walked over to the garbage and tossed the cake in, then caught up with the others.
At the bar counter, stood a bartender not in uniform with a skinny body that barely contained any visible muscle. The most notable features being his teal eyes and natural short dark gray hair.
“May I get your drinks, honored guests?”
Kira a tad bewildered looked over at Sedric. “I guess since you guys are suppose to be closed it would seem that way, but this is for the completion of our project and Helena’s birthday. So let's get rid of the formalities and celebrate!”
Ignoring Kira as she talked, Helena rose up onto a chair at the counter and pointed her finger towards several bottles. “I want those five.”
“Right away miss.” He started to mix drinks.
“No, I think you heard me wrong I want all of those on this counter now… Also, you're gonna be joining us.” Helena stated as she tapped onto the chair besides her inviting the bartender to join her.
With a quick glance at Sedric, he grabbed all the drinks she requested and cozied into the seat next to her. Preparing the drinks while acting as a distraction for Helena, he handed her the first shot glass. Immediately downing it, she asked the man about how he got around to working with Sedric especially at this time of night.
Making her a mixed drink this time, he answered while handing it to her and filling his own shot glass. “I’m here returning a debt to Sedric, as well as to earn a living, my name is Relanis Crain. My situation is kind of personal so…”
Helena abruptly cut him off by pouring him another shot. “Not something more drinks won’t fix!”
Pausing for a moment to reexamine Helena’s appearance before he gets wasted, he was utterly impressed. Helena with a mind blowing figure of an up and coming super model, had a chest that can’t compare to Kira’s, but ample enough to fit into any t-shirt perfectly. At a height just barely below his, she was quite tall at five ten. She had flowing golden blonde hair curling at the ends reaching to her mid back. Matching her seductive light yellow eyes. Before he started to drool. He picked up the shot glass immediately finishing it and prepared mixed drinks for everyone.
“Are they going to be alright? That’s their second shot and coming to a third mixed drink in less than five minutes...” Sedric said with a grim expression standing out of hearing distance with Kira.
“Of course! They’re the perfect match it seems and she deserves a long overdue break. Now come lets grab our drinks, I have much to talk about.”
After explaining the success back at Immersion laboratories a congratulatory cheer could be heard accompanied with an unnumbered shot. Kira asked Sedric if he was able to find any potential test subjects.
“It started with just Relanis and I; however through sheer coincidence... remember that guy Marc I told you about?”
“Hmmm, oh that person that helped you with the renovations?... Did you happen to invite him?”
“Well yes, but not quite. At the beginning I thought he was alone until I met two of his best friends here about four months ago. Which works out well, because they just finished their studies and will probably be jobless for a while. The first impressions of one of them was really bad however, they continued to come by often especially the girl Tessa... Anyways they seem trustworthy enough, if they were able to be best friends for so long.”
“Oh, so you like this Tessa girl do you?” Kira teased him while giving him a nudge on the cheek.
“I’m not a kid anymore. Will you stop that please, and I don’t want to talk about it…” Sedric countered with a sad expression.
“Your twenty four now... It’s been five years.” Kira replied trying not to ask any questions that would open up past wounds.
Sedric ignored the statement and stared at Relanis and Helena. They weren’t speaking as loud now, almost whispering to each other.
Helena moved her seat closer to Relanis enough to wrap her arm around his shoulder. She teased his ear by switching between softly breathing into it and light nibbles. Relanis seemed not to mind and was explaining his past in a serious tone as much as one could be while completely wasted.
“Because of duh bullies, *hic* in the past. I always fight when peeps gang up on little guy... And sooo... That's how I met Sedric. Do you understandsh why I have trussh issues?" Slightly hunched over, Relanis waited for a response.
"Mhmm, I'll definitely make you mine..." Helena seductively gave a one-sided response.
Staring directly at Helena with curiosity, Relanis aligned his sights forward again.
*BAAAAAM*
His face and the counter became one.
Helena caught herself by standing up. "Damn I think that hurt...".
As if expecting it, Sedric ran over and caught Helena before she face planted into the ground.
"Nice catch!" Kira shouted, in the meantime Sedric placed her on one of the couches along the wall.
"I think we should call it a night, or I guess morning."
"Not quite yet, I want to start testing tonight after we're all rested, so I need you to let everyone know."
"With such short notice what do you want me to tell them?"
Kira thought for a bit and came up with an answer.
“I will pay them what I pay my housekeeper, so that would make it $40,000 a day for each person.”
‘What the hell, what does your housekeeper clean, the outside of the mansion and Immersion building too?’ Sedric thought.
“So does this mean I will get 40K as well?” Sedric asked eagerly awaiting for a yes.
"Yeah, uh sure, why not."
‘I pay my housekeeper $10,000 a month. So that comes out to four months within the dream world and one day here. I was planning on paying Sedric more since he gathered everyone but if he thinks it's ok, no need to argue.’
"Let me help you get Helena home after I get Relanis onto a couch." Sedric energetically replied.
"I'll call over a company car. We can't have either of us driving and I'll just take her to Immersion, it's practically her second home."
Several minutes later, in agreement they both carried Helena into a fancy black limousine.
After Kira and Helena left, Sedric pondered the best time to contact Marc and the others.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Later that night at Immersion laboratories, Kira prepared the necessary data for all the Engines.
“Looks like they’re all set!” Kira stated, as if she was watching several of her kids graduating from kindergarten.
Disrupting her trance like sense of accomplishment, a voice came from the built in speaker on the desk. [Miss Kira. There is a group of people in the lobby saying they personally know you. What would you like me to do with them?]
Kira went to her desk to view the monitor showing her cousin Sedric and his friends. “Show them the way up, they're my guests.”
[Very well miss...]
Sedric entered first followed by Tessa, Marc, Relanis, then Kai.
“I don’t see Helena. Did we get here too early?” Sedric asked, while at that mention Relanis shivered.
“Helena woke up not too long ago and went to find her best friend, so she might be awhile.”
Sedric took the time to introduce everyone to his cousin. “As you all may know, This is my cousin Kira.”
Kira halted them with a hand gesture, not letting them add to Sedric’s introduction.
“Let me see…, You must be~”
Pointing at everyone and correctly naming each of them, she directed them to their own personal Polaris Engine. ‘Seems like she’s done her homework.’ Kai thought.
Kira set everyone beside their own machine. “Sorry about the invasion of privacy. It was necessary to get background data on everyone to implement into each Polaris Engine and the database system.”
“Oh, well for $40,000 a day I have no privacy.” Kai stated.
“Kai!” Tessa shouted as if reprimanding a bad child.
“What? I’m just making sure. That amount of money doesn’t seem right.” Both Kai and Sedric turned to Kira curiously awaiting a response.
“Yes, That's correct. I figured the amount was proper for four months work that will equate to one day here; however, there is a catch. In order to gather the necessary data from this test, we will require everyone to stay within the machine for one month.” Kira answered without feeling the need for further explanation.
“Wow! We will become millionaires at the end of the month.” Kai interjected.
“Wait, I don’t quite understand, how does one day’s work amount to four months?” Marc countered.
“The Polaris Engines create a dream world that I have now linked to the first Engine. In this dream world the time spent will be different compared to real life. One day here will equal to approximately four months while in the machine.”
“Wow, that's amazing! So it’s like how a typical dream works?” Tessa widened her eyes.
'We're going to be in a dream for ten years?!' Kai contemplated various aspects of being an immortal millionaire.
“Yes, that was the ideal I was trying to reach… However I must warn you guys beforehand. Since this is the second testing of the Polaris Engine, there lies numerous amounts of risk that could occur.”
‘Like what kind of risks...’ Kai doesn’t get the opportunity to ask as all his attention shifted to the entrance of the laboratory.
At the same time Tessa and Marc agreed. “Well, for 40,000 dollars a day. I think that will more than enough cover any risk factors.” Marc replied with a wry smile
“But won’t we starve to death in the machine, if we’re in there dreaming for a month?” Relanis questioned in concern.
“Well, Helena is the one who created the biophysical system which has healing properties, feeding our bodies with nutrients and neutralizing the need for waste disposal. And speaking of angels.”
Raising his hand to the bruise on his forehead, Relanis remembered the last words said before passing out, and hid behind his machine.
Helena was leading her friend as they entered the lab. Tessa noticing Kai gawking went up to him and whispered into his ear, “They’re out of your league. So don't try anything stupid.”
Off in his thoughts Kai ignored Tessa.
‘So beautiful, no that doesn’t even begin to describe her.’
‘That lusciously flowing, long white hair with a slight shade of gray down to the lower part of her waist.’
‘The small nose, perfect blush lips and dark red eyes.’
‘In that perfectly shaped body, she could embody a warrior goddess in the right clothing.’
Kai went on and on, as Helena started introductions.
“Hi, all. I’m Helena, I worked alongside Kira to complete the Polaris Engines and this is my best friend Sylvia Faye.”
Spotting Relanis behind the machine, Helena ran at him with a slight jump and hug. Relanis turned around to avoid the hug, but only to have Helena jump onto his back, hugging him with her body pressed against his.
“I missed you!” Helena shouted while grasping onto his body tighter.
“Ah, Help! It hasn’t even been a full day yet. Get off of me will you.” Relanis shouted, trying to maintain his balance as to not fall over.
Averting her eyes from the two, Kira labeled Relanis as a lost cause and greeted Sylvia.
“Nice to meet you, Sylvia. I’ll show you to your machine later, but for now get to know everyone here.” Kira graciously said.
“Hi Kira, I have heard many things through Helena about you. To the point I feel like we can get along together pretty well.”
“I sure hope she didn’t say anything bad.” Kira smiled.
“No, nothing too bad, just that she’s jealous of a certain area and that yogurt milk is your secret for both that and your brains.” Sylvia naturally gazed down at the yogurt's potency.
“Hmm…, I’ll need to have a talk with that girl.”
Kira walked over to Helena and tore her from Relanis to help get everyone set up in their machines.
Tessa swooped in and started interrogating Sylvia on behalf of Kai.
“Wow, your hair is so pretty, is that natural? It’s amazing. By the way, how old are you?” without even giving her a chance to answer the first question Tessa prodded.
“My hair is naturally this color and I’m twenty one years old.” Sylvia gracefully responded.
“Then around the same age as us. I thought you were older, because you look a lot more refined and mature when compared to Kai over there, who’s the same age.”
As if receiving a mixed review, Sylvia shifted her gaze over to Kai.
*Ba-Bump*
‘Crap, she's looking at me. I need to think of something!’ Kai’s heart raced; clearing his throat and readying to talk, he unintentionally avoided eye contact for a second.
“My grandma would love to have your hair.” Kai said without realizing that he not only messed up any chance he could of had, but partially insulted a better than perfect vision of his dream girl.
“Uhm…, Excuse me?” Sylvia replied with an irritated expression.
“I meant that in a good way, because my grandmother doesn’t have any hair.”
“Whoa, Kai has very bad first impressions please don’t mind him…” Sedric stepped in front of Kai saving him from any further humiliation.
Kai face palmed himself as sweat dripped, wishing his life would just end.
“Now that we have everyone here. We will need to replace your clothing and shoes. As well as secure any personal possessions that are not naturally created. Such as watches, jewelry or things containing metal like belt buckles. They will not go with you into the dream world. For this reason I have prepared separate rooms filled with men's and women's attire.” Kira explained.
Exiting from the changing rooms, everyone was dressed in expensive custom made clothing from head to toe, extremely satisfied with their newly attained wardrobe. Kai appreciated the interruption and was able to find an all black outfit.
“Everyone gather around your own machine. Remember this is your last chance to back out.” Kira waited for a response and surprisingly got an unanimous answer.
“Count me in.”
“No way, a once in a lifetime chance.”
Continuous affirmative responses were heard, while two remained speechless. Kai was staring at the floor in a dejected pose and Relanis was avoiding eye contact with Helena.
“Alright then, Helena and I will go around and get you guys set up. Shortly afterwards you will arrive in the dream world. Then, Helena and I will appear a moment after you guys… Enjoy!”
Kira and Helena made the final calibrations powering up the machines. Underneath the Immersion skyscraper two nuclear fusion reactors prevented the entire eastern seaboard from blacking out.