A World Long Since Dead
Chapter 2: “That red headed girl”
The wind was surprisingly cold for this time of year. It bit at his exposed flesh like a thousand tiny needles.
“It’s only October” Mace grimaced, zipping his jacket as far as it could go. “I remember when granddad used to take me to the lake to go fishing in October, now it feels like it’s getting ready to snow!” He thought.
He walked briskly, and soon the bright neon lights and pounding techno beats of TechArcana were visible in the gathering twilight.
He entered, shaking off the cold. It was darker inside than out, with just the light of dozens of HoloCON machines blinking frantically.
Their occupants lay on the weathered black lounges, their heads obscured by the HoloCON as they acted out their wildest desires.
It always made Mason smile to see them like this, legs and arms twitching, bodies shaking, mouths open in horror or joy, but when you are inside that virtual world… It feels so real.
No… It feels better than real!
Real for Mason was working 10 hours a day at a failing antique shop, coming here was better than reality!
Clutching his credits chip, he went straight for his favourite game: KobraCommandos.
A squad of elite soldiers fighting for freedom on an alien world, what’s not to like?
There was one lounge free, and he inserted his credits chip and lay back, placing the holoCON on his head.
As the screen flashed white and the game started, he sighed like a junkie scoring a fix.
Soon, he was gone.
Lost in a world of space battles, ferocious aliens, and beautiful, scantily clad priestesses.
Alas, after an hour or so of playing, a zenon plasma bolt pierced his armour, and it was all over.
He pulled off the holoCON, and rubbed his eyes.
“Not bad Mace.” A feminine voice rang out, raised above the tinny sound of muffled gunfire and screaming monsters. “I mean I scored higher, but you did ok for a beginner”.
“Scored higher? I don’t think I remember seeing your name on the board Jade!” He quipped, pointing to the screen above him, with it’s scrolling names and numbers written in dazzling electric blue.
The voice belonged to a tall, powerfully built woman with long, neon red hair almost to her waist.
Jade wore a cut-off leather jacket, open, and a short white tank top that bared her midriff underneath. She completed the set with a pair of worn leather motorcycle pants with red stitching along the sides, along with long, heavy combat boots.
Her tanned skin was adorned with thick tribal tattoo’s, and around her neck hung a pair of motorcycle glasses. Mason’s often wondered if she actually had a motorcycle, or if she was just really into the look. He had never actually seen her arrive here.
She was far, far too cool for this den of geekdom, and certainly too cool to be talking to a milquetoast nobody like Mason, but for some reason she was drawn to him every time he came here.
“What about some co-op action?” She replied, and climbed into the holoCON next to him, which had been vacated by it’s previous occupant.
“Sure!” he said. “What game?”
“Same one, of course. I want to get my name on that board ahead of you!” She said, winking at Mason before she placed the holoCON on her head.
He ignored the audience that they had gathered, who was alternating between stealing glances at Jade and her somewhat less impressive gaming partner, and staring at the floor once Mason’s returned those glances, and once again entered the world of VR.
He felt more confident already, and the twenty credits his grandfather had given him lasted all night before he finally succumbed to the alien forces.
He was exhausted when he pulled off the holoCon. Jade too was out of breath and her sweat glinted faintly in the reflected light. She removed her jacket to cool off, revealing toned muscles and generous feminine curves.
Mason’s eyes widened imperceptibly, watching her running her fingers through her tousled hair, her muscles flexing with the movement.
His granddad was right. She was the kind of girl a guy could get into a lot of trouble with, and Mace could only dream that that guy would someday be him.
“I… I better go” he said. “I’m out of credits, and my grandfather will be waiting for me”.
“Dammit, don’t mention that you live with your grandfather!” He chastised himself.
“Sure thing! I could give you a ride if you want?” She said.
“Nah, I’m fine, I’m just down the street”. He replied, and said his goodbyes.
As he once again braved the cold, he cursed himself.
“You fool! She was offering you a lift, you should have taken it! Maybe you could have invited her in!”.
He mentally admonished his blunder, but soon relented.
“And shown her what? Your granddads antique shop? Your collection of hentai novels and watch repair tools? You think that’s going to impress a woman like that? Maybe you can bring her to the basement and you can show off by fixing that old lady’s watch?”
He kicked the pavement in front of him in frustration.
“If only I had something to show for my life” he said. “Some skills I could impress her with, or maybe some wild stories of adventure! But I haven’t been outside of Corrin since my parents died. I’m sure she’s been all around…”
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