* Beep Beep Beep*

Kaleb’s alarm seemed to echo around his nearly empty virtual bedroom, he cracked one eye staring at the holo-display of the small rectangular clock.

7:30 a.m.

He groaned loudly as he tried to move his body; he felt sluggish, his body almost fighting against him as he moved to the light-switch he had seen hours early when he went to sleep. Sleeping in VR could always be tricky but this was different. Flicking the switch, bright orange light filled the room from overhead and his room immediately felt warmer. “Of course.” he thought “I’m a lizard, an ectotherm” cold-blooded animals needed to bask in the sun for a while before their bodies could perform stressful activities.

Thankfully, his room came equipped with heat lamps. Basking for what felt like a few minutes but was closer to 30, he quickly grabbed a change of clothes from his closet which came pre-stocked with generic clothes. After dressing he headed for his garage stopping briefly in his kitchen before he realized that he didn’t feel like eating. Another little quirk of being cold-blooded, he probably didn’t need to eat as often.

Swiping through window notifying him he had entered “The Pit” he quickly made his way to his workbench. Briefly noticing that Benny’s body was gone, corpse and all, he turned his attention to the two items on the workbench. One was the triangular sword wielded by the Bladelings scaled down to be more man-sized, at around 40 inches long with a slim handle and no hand guard the thing looked more like a Chinese sword breaker than a standard sword, it was made from the several pieces of Benny’s armour. Picking it up he quickly checked its stats.

*Sword of the Bladeling*

Piercing Attack: 10

Bludgeoning Attack: 15

Upgrades: 0/1

Durability:23/45

Grade: E

Description: The sword wielded by Cogs Bladeling soldiers. More designed to stab or bludgeon rather than slashing or cutting attacks. Usually constructed out of whatever junk found lying around. It’s not the best of swords but it seems to get the job done for the Bladelings.

Lacking a sheath of any kind, Kaleb found some Kevlar rope and tied it to the swords handle hanging it around his arm stump which was visibly bigger than last nights and tender to the touch. Looking at the other item on the workbench he saw some bulky metal segmented armor held together with rope, old belts, and what looked like bike helmet straps. It was another piece that wasn’t much to look but it was early game and any defense he could get would help. Strapping the pieces onto where he thought they might go he brought up its stats.

*Bruiser Armor*

Defense: +7

Upgrades: 0/1

Durability: 20/50

Pieces: 5/5

Grade: E

Description: Armor crafted from the armor of Cog’s Bruiser soldiers. The heavy metal plates that comprise this armor are sturdy but comprises less than ideal metal composites. While the Bruisers are strong enough to carry multiple layers of this armor, this humanoid variant is just this side of comfortable.

Strapping on all 5 pieces of this armor, 2 shoulder pads, 2 forearm guards, and the chest-piece, proved tricky given Kaleb’s current state, he could only put on 4 pieces without his right arm. Luckily the left forearm guard didn’t impede him deploying Shocky, the bracer seemed to morph around the armor whenever he tried to deploy it. setting the Last armor piece back on his workbench he checked his stats, and he saw that he was only receiving +6 to his armor because of not wearing the final forearm guard.

*Name: Professor Pack Rat

Health: 94/119 (a -25 limb injury)

Stamina: 122/122

Defense: 19 (Shield Mastery + Shield + Armor + DIY Armorer)

Research Points: 70

Gadget slots: 1/3(4)

Skills: Genetics–Beginner Lvl 3

Mechanical engineering–Beginner Lvl 3

Gadget Mastery - Beginner Lvl 1

Shield Mastery–Beginner Lvl 2

Regen–Beginner Lvl 1

Dodge–Beginner Lvl 1

Toughness–Beginner Lvl 3

Endurance–Beginner Lvl 2

DIY Armorer–Beginner Lvl 1

Electrician–Beginner Lvl 1

Metalworking–Beginner Lvl 1

Robotics–Beginner Lvl 1

Abilities: Special Diet

Limb Regeneration

Robotic Limb

Injuries: Major–Lost limb: Right arm (time till regeneration–60 hours 28 minutes)*

After one night he was already a far cry from where he started although it looked like DIY Armorer didn’t add to the Bruiser Armor’s defense, maybe because he didn’t build it himself like he did Shocky? It looked like he would lose his right arm’s gadget slot while his arm was regenerating, with Shocky installed in his robotic arm’s gadget slot and the one in his head he had unlocked last night he could still carry one more in his left hand. Picking up and slotting his headband recording device into his head’s gadget slot, he checked the time on the garage’s wall clock.

7:50 a.m. He had a little over an hour before he had to meet the others, thinking quickly he wanted to customize his new sword, but with what? Shocky was already electric should he try to attach one of the yellow crystals to the sword and keep the electricity theme going? Although he had one of the red crystals too, it wouldn’t wreath the sword flames but it might make it hot enough to make anybody think twice. Deciding to go with the fire-sword, he sloppily drew blueprint in the form of a misshapen sword on fire or as close to flames as he could get. Clicking on automated assembly he felt lucky that the system was so intuitive, it read his intention and set about installing a small square power housing where the red crystal floated into and sat.

Kaleb watched as piping seemed to meld itself into the blade running along the length of the blade and connecting to the crystal housing. The whole process took about 10 minutes and once it completed Kaleb realized he should probably give up on creating anything remotely good looking while he worked out of his garage. The blade now resembled a lumpy approximation of a sword but he could feel the heat emanating for the crystal and once he picked it up, he saw a difference in its stats.

*Sword of the Bladeling*

Piercing Attack: 10+5 (Burning)

Bludgeoning Attack: 15+5 (Burning)

Upgrades: 1/1

Durability:23/35

Grade: E

He had gotten a small damage increase but the overall durability had dropped. “Shit!” he said out loud to his empty garage, while not ruined, the sword’s usefulness now had a countdown at least till he found someone to repair durability or he learned it himself. Grunting loudly he wrapped the warm blade around his arm stump and angrily walked himself out of the house. If he was lucky maybe he’d meet stranglers from yesterday’s tutorial event, he could really hit something right now.

Unfortunately Kaleb made it to South Congress Avenue just fine, he had even met some of his neighbors while walking out of his neighborhood and if they found a 6 foot lizard carrying a lumpy sword strange; they didn’t show it. The area seemed eerily quiet after yesterday evenings running melee, and the populace seemed unaffected from the whole ordeal.

Waiting on the curb on South Congress, Kaleb looked up and down the road waiting for his new friends, it seemed he was the first to arrive. The street was quiet, but he could see signs of yesterday’s fight on the street, although they had towed the car that the fire elemental had scorched.

“Hey! Professor!” a booming voice caused Kaleb to jump slightly as Jar-lock appeared across the street a little south of Kaleb, the larger man jogged over holding his hand out as he approached Kaleb.

“Sup, Jar, lose your robes?”

Jar-lock had forgone his wizard robes from last night dressing in the more normal looking T-shirt and jeans. “No, turns out there’s a school of magic that allows for a more casual dress sense than the standard magic user attire. Normal robes offer little in the way of protection anyway so there’s no reason in wearing them, expect for some sense professional pride.” Jar-lock said, crossing his massive arms across his chest drawing Kaleb’s eye’s to the rather intricate tattoos he had on either arm, they appeared to be dragons or snakes, maybe.

Before Kaleb could ask about the tattoos Jar-lock asked a question of his own “What the Hell is that?” He asked pointing at the sword hanging off Kaleb’s shoulder.

Kaleb, embarrassed, scratched his cheek awkwardly “it was one of those swords the Bladelings were using last night. I... changed it slightly.”

Jar-lock stared at the lumpy mass “looks more like a bat than a sword, can I see it?” He asked, reaching toward the weapon but he pulled up short feeling the heat coming off of the thing “What did you do to it?” Jar-locked asked taking his hand back slowly.

“What did he do to what?” a soft voiced asked from further north up the road, both men turned and saw Abby walking down the sidewalk toward them.

Sharing quick pleasantries Jar-lock explained about Kalebs weapon. “It might look like a lumpy bat but, I added a red crystal, so the thing generates a small amount of heat.” Kaleb explained

“A small amount? Dude, I can feel the heat coming off that thing.” Exclaimed Jar-lock pointing at the weapon, a question in his eyes.

Kaleb slipped the weapon off his shoulder and handed it to the large man. Jar-lock took practice swings with the sword when he assured himself he wasn’t being burned from just holding it.

“Totally sapped the durability but gave a moderate damage increase. At least I assume it was a moderate bump, I have no sense of the damage tables for this game so I might have just turned a mediocre weapon into a shitty one.” Kaleb said watching the bigger man go through some complex moves with his sword.

“AGE Corporation loves to hide the numbers for their games, I am sure the forums will work out numbers and stats for everything soon enough.” Abby said watching Jar-lock swing the sword “where did you study?” she asked as Jar-lock stopped and returned the sword to Kaleb smiling.

“Like he said last night,” Jar-lock explained nodding at Kaleb “I was a marine for a good while there, hand to hand combat was standard, the thing is a little heavier and bigger but it has the same overall shape as the batons we used.”

Kaleb took the sword back listening to Jar-lock as he tried to mimic the Wizard’s moves, it was a little awkward with one arm but doable. The three stood around talking about various game related subjects before Two Gun and Claire showed up across the street walking out of an alleyway between the houses.

After more pleasantries and another explanation about Kaleb’s lumpy sword the five made their way south. “Well, son looks like you pulled out ahead even with losing your arm” Two Gun said eyeing Kaleb’s sword and armor pointedly.

Kaleb shook his head sighing “Maybe, but I almost have to, being a mundane means I need whatever edge I can get. I lucked out with the lizard choice but even that has limits.”

Claire smiled down at her husband while saying to the group at large “Don’t mind him, he’s just grouchy at not being given his own freebies.”

Two Gun gave a loud “harrumph” as the others in the laughed and smiled good-naturedly.

“He has a point, we all came into this game blind. Some people will get lucky, others not so much.” Abby spoke up from the back of the group, looking at each person she asked “Did you all want to exchange information on the different backgrounds?”

The others all looked at each other while slowly making their way further south, Kaleb was sure these were good people, but Gamers could be paranoid about anything. Clearing his throat Kaleb spoke up first, explaining about the different variants of mundanes along with the various point based system each had. He also mentioned his own Research Point based Garage Scientist, lamenting his small garage space and the negatives to gaining RP.

After he finished Jar-lock looked thoughtful “That’s kinda like magic users,” he started “After the Tutorial Event I went back to my Sanctum...” he paused for a second waiting for someone to say something about him having Sanctum, when no one did he continued “when I got there I got a notification saying I had been playing as the Wizard archetype, I never got to choose an archetype when I started, I clicked on Magic and Bam! I was in the Sanctum. But after the Event I got to choose... basically a school of study, Wizard, Sorcerer, or Warlock.”

Two Gun chuckled saying “I bet I can guess what you decided on.”

Jar-lock shook his head laughing “Yeah, but really, it wasn’t an easy choice. Wizards and Sorcerers have access to more domains but their Study Points are higher, and that means more time spent in my Sanctum pouring over old books and practicing spells.”

Claire looked incredulous as she asked “You would have to spend all your time at home to get stronger? How do they expect people to play the game if they are all shut in their homes?”

Jar-lock shook his head explaining “No, all magic users gain SP from using spells, but we get maximum gains while in our Sanctum. Using spells in battle gives diminishing returns, there’s only so much you can learn when using the same spell over and over. It encourages magic users to experiment and use all kinds of spells, the more we study and experiment the more we can increase our powers and stats with Study Points.”

Two Gun spoke up next asking something Kaleb was wondering himself “So what’s the difference between the three archetypes?”

“The Domains, Wizards and Sorcerers get access to one domain to start but from there they can buy any other domain with SP, some Domains are easier than others for both though. But for us Warlocks we get access to the four major elemental Domains at the start, Air, Water, Fire, and Earth and it’s a little easier to buy low tier Abilities, but we can only ever use elemental magics.” Jar-lock explained.

Abby looked wide-eyed as she asked “What else would you need? Those 4 elements must be powerful.”

Jar-lock chuckled as he continued “It could surprise you, Wizards get access to Time Magic and Sorcerers can raise the dead. All avenues now cut off for me. Though once I study enough of the lower tier elements I can move on to the bigger stuff like hurling lightning and creating tornadoes.”

They fell into silent contemplation as they continued down the street until Kaleb’s raspy voice broke the silence “Note to self: create insulated pants later.”

The group laughed at that as the implications of what their new magic friend could eventually achieve took a back seat to letting Jar-lock finish his explanations.

“The last two things are Wizards and Sorcerers have to choose Foci, for Wizards it’s likely a wand but for Sorcerers it could be any magical item, I got a pass during the Event, but if I went with either of those, I’d have to choose something to carry around all the time. But, as a Warlock I AM the Foci. I can sense the air and the earth all around us, it’s almost intoxicating. I can feel the elements in almost everything.” Jar-lock pointed a large finger at Kaleb’s sword “Except that.” He said staring quizzically at Kaleb and the sword.

Kaleb turned thoughtful as he grabbed the sword off his shoulder saying “Could it be the alien power source?”

Jar-lock shook his head answering “I don’t know, but that stuff ain’t natural, man.”

Two Gun laughed loudly saying “IT’S ALIEN! Of course, it ain’t natural! What was the second reason?”

Jar-lock smiled wide as he answered “The representatives for the Wizards and Sorcerer Councils were dicks.”

Abby asked as the others chuckled loudly “Councils?”

Jar-lock nodded “Yeah, maybe it was some kind of scripted event but the ‘Great leader of the Wizard Council: Archimedes Pendragon’ sent me a spiritual missive. Arrogant ghost is what it was, talked my ear off for 45 minutes last night all about how it would be my honor to study under the great Wizards of this age. Least the Sorcerers sent an actual living person, just as arrogant, but it seemed like they were trying at least.”

He sounded exasperated at the memory until Claire prompted “And the Warlocks?”

Jar-locked smiled wide again. “They sent a magic book and three rules: 1. Don’t kill natural animals, 2. Respect Mother Gaia, and 3. Come if or when we declare war.”

While the group turned over the implications of those three rules, the group continued down the street, walking further south. “How far is this place, anyway?” Kaleb asked.

Claire answered “We’re not exactly sure. The officer last night, an officer Tomahawk said all we had to do was head south on this street and we’d see our local Hero Liaison office.”

Two Gun snorted beside her “Just what a video game needs: bureaucracy.” He shook his head in exaggerated sadness.

Abby shrugged her shoulders at the gunslinger “We paid for realism, It might not be that bad.”

Jar-lock nodded his head before wondering aloud to the group. “What about you three? Professor and I spilled are secrets, your turn.”

Two Gun nodded glancing at Abby as he said “Well it ain’t much different really, they gave me a list of powers and then kinda just sent me loose with the basic knowledge on how to use them.”

Abby nodded along adding “We get Evolution Points the more we use and train our abilities. But the list of things we can do with those points is intense.”

Two Gun picked up the conversation again “Yeah, I mean, we can’t deviate too much from our base powers but my Enhanced Reflexes can evolve into a lesser form of Super-Speed or even Enhanced Healing. Hell with enough points I could get both.”

“And my Shadow Manipulation can transform into a Shadow Teleport or Shadow Control as long as it is Shadows I can evolve to control it. The problem is getting Evolution Points, without the proper facilities to train my powers it seems hard to earn EP by just killing mobs.” Abby bemoaned.

Two Gun seemed to agree saying “Yeah, after last night’s festivities, I barely made 7 EP. That allowed me to speed up my reflexes by two grades. We don’t have our own nifty little Councils of Greatness though.” Two Gun stuck his tongue out at Jar-lock as Abby coughed awkwardly.

“Well, actually...”

The group stopped at that, turning their full attention to the smaller woman. She seemed to shrink a little at the attention before she seemed to shake herself out of it.

“Yeah,” she said “They came to visit me at my apartment last night, the League For Mutant Rights, delightful bunch.” she grinned “they seemed a little intense but I suppose a couple years of virtual oppression will do that.”

Two Gun scowled asking “Oppression? Do we have anything to be worried about?”

Abby turned serious at Two Gun’s tone and shook her head “No, I looked it up last night both in-game and on the forums. Apparently five years ago, in-game, Mutants were granted full rights, the same as anyone else. Sure there are still Hate Groups and such, but that shits still present IRL no matter how much we say we’ve evolved.”

Two Gun sighed in relief saying “Hate is Hate, kiddo, it will never have a good reason and stupid people will always use it to fuel their idiocy. So, these Mutant League guys on the up and up?”

Abby smirked again saying “Oh hell no, they are a straight up extremist group, they believe mutant rights means keeping regular humans as slave labor and going to war with the alien races.”

Kaleb swallowed loudly as Claire spoke up “Oh! Then our late night guest must have scared them off.” She smiled down at Two Gun as he nodded. She continued “An envoy from my home planet’s consulate, complete with armed guards, visited our house last night.”

Kaleb asked this time “And what did they say?”

Two Gun adopted a holier-than-thou tone and explained “They wanted to let Claire here know, despite her choice of a mate, she was still a proud daughter of Xartha-whatsit, and they would always look out for her and her pet mutant.” He exhaled, staring up at his wife “Just like when I brought you home to meet my parents after the war, huh?”

Claire hugged her smaller husband laughing “Oh dear, they weren’t as bad as your parents.”

Two Gun looked like he would argue but then he laughed saying “yeah, you’re probably right.”

The group had stopped walking to listen to Two Gun and Abby explain about mutants, but they picked back up as Two Gun looked at Claire “Your turn, Honey, you get your own variant of points like the rest of us?”

Claire pouted exaggeratedly saying “Sadly no, just regular old stat points for me. I think it is because my abilities aren’t super powers to my people, Xarthaksians’ are just naturally strong and our skin is naturally dense, The more I exercise my strength the stronger I get; I gain stats points by working out or fighting and those points can go into my regular stats or I can put them directly into my Super Strength.”

Jar-lock grinned “So you need to find a place where you can bench-press cars and you’re in business.”

Claire smiled back exclaiming happily “Exactly!”

Kaleb thought of a more meta question “So did you choose your race first or your power?”

Claire answered “I choose the power, I wanted Super Strength, so the system kicked out several super strong aliens. All with different levels of Super Strength, some could only use their powers after recharging in the sun, others couldn’t get stronger but could choose another power that would grow. It was all very elaborate, by the time I got to character creation it didn’t occur to me to experiment with it like you did.”

The group fell silent for a few minutes, absorbing the information before Abby spoke again “He wasn’t the only one.”

The others looked over at her to see her with the telltale far off look gamers got when they were using their menus “The forums are blowing up about what some are calling an unfair advantage.” she continued to click and an imaginary keyboard, Smiling at something only she could see she said “Apparently some mutant in Colorado lucked into an invulnerable head.”

Two Gun asked what was on everyone’s mind “What’s his mutation?”

Abby closed the windows her smirk growing into a full on grin “Super Regeneration.”