After the [GATE GEAR] had been installed the proficient technician handed Rick a clipboard to look over and sign off on their concluded installation. He tossed the guys a couple cans of cola on their way out thanked them for the first-rate job and was left alone in the quiet apartment once again.

Heading straight to the spare room he stood mesmerized looking at the new VR capsule, almost not believing it was at last here powered up and humming before him. Then the thick manual left on top the machine caught his eye.

Sorry to whoever spent hours on putting this manual together but I am not about to sit down and read a one-inch thick manual with this shiny new capsule ready to go.

Rick with indifference scooped up the manual and tossed it in the drawer of his computer desk in the corner. He had absorbed enough information online the past few weeks from investigating the companies website to know what he needed to do now. They had posted on the site that the first time using your VR [GATE GEAR] you would need to enter nude so that it could do a complete body scan.

Even if a player would not be using their current body in the game the process was still necessary. Locations outside of the game like the character creation area you needed your body to move around.

Closing the window blinds and jumping out of his clothes he opened the [GATE GEAR], climbed inside and watched the excruciatingly slow capsule lid seal him in. Surrounded by darkness for a few short seconds a bright red light lit up near his feet and slowly scanned him from bottom to top.

Then a computerized voice was heard. "Body Scan Complete"..... "Scan Backup Complete"..... "System Initiation Complete"..... "Ready for Launch".

Rick smirked and said out load: "Launch Kingdoms Online!"

A sudden elevator feeling hit him as if the floor dropped out below his feet unexpectantly along with a bright light that engulfed him for an instant. His eyes increasingly adjusted to the changing situation of the world drawing in around him. With a sudden blast of wind, Rick looked down realizing he was falling from the sky toward a large white marble construction below him.

Laughing to himself he thought. I can see a problem with this already, I am sure anyone with a fear of heights or freefalling through the sky, in general, would be crapping their pants right about here.

While he was descending, a white style Greek toga started to materialize over his bare body as if it were weaved into existence by some invisible sewing machine until he was fully clothed. Now with his newly created toga flapping behind him the speed, he fell gradually reduced as he entered a large round hole in the Marble structures roof. His feet then lightly touched down on the ground, as he looked around taking in the new surroundings. Below him sat a large black marble circular podium that had intricate blue glowing runes carved in it, that wrapped around its outer circumference.

Wow, this is incredible it all looks so real! Rick thought, admiring this mythological Structures Architecture he had quite suddenly arrived inside of.

Admiring the grand hall that stretched out before him with its towering marble columns bordering it, divided between those colossal columns many entryways proudly stood with their artistically designed headers and pillars along the walls.

I can't wait until I can build structures like this one. Once I buy my land I will be able to design build cities throughout my kingdom with the materials I extract from my lands like this place!

Rick's growing excitement broke the spell that held him a fixed the top of the round tiered podium he alighted upon. I wonder how well I can control this body? He thought as he opened and closed his hands while started to lightly hop on his toes.

His face split into a wide smile as he thought to himself. I think it is time for a little test drive!

Engeticly he started displaying his martial arts prowess with kicks and punches, during which his smile grew along with his performance.

I can move in this body even better than my own, there isn't any pressure on my joints from snapping out kicks or punches and I am not getting winded.

To top off his enthusiastic display he a let out a loud shout as executed a flying kick off the podium onto the red carpet runner down the center of the hall. Holding his pose he momentarily stopped to contemplate the mechanics of the game.

Soft laughter suddenly interrupted his reverie causing his to scan his surroundings. "Hello, is there someone here?" He called out to the disembodied laughter he was sure he just heard.

Roughly in the middle of the room, a young woman floating in midair appeared like magic before his eyes. This woman was truly exquisite with long loosely curled blonde hair that framed a jade white skin face, that looked back at him with exotic pale blue eyes. As he looked her over in that brief moment she looked him up and down with a crooked smile as well. Rick then smiling strode toward the winsome floating fairy-like woman. As Rick approached her she then spoke to him.

"Welcome to my Temple, my name is Faith. I am the Main goddess of this world" she explained while floating down to stand and on the floor before him.

"Greeting Goddess Faith. I was just marveling when I arrived, at your awe-inspiring Temple." Rick told the goddess as he gestured with outstretched hands at the surrounding structure.

He noticed that a slight frown appeared on her face for a brief instance, then vanish as if it had never appeared. Rick, briefly thought to ask if everything was ok, but he thought better not to pry and settled for introducing himself. "My name outside of here is Rick but I would like to go by the name Cedric Crownguard in your world," Rick said, giving Faith a slight bow after his introduction.

Faith closed her eyes for an instant then opened them while smiling. "Your new name has been registered making you my very first [Chosen].

Rick slightly tilted his head to the side, unfamiliar with the title he asked Faith. "First [Chosen] what does this title mean?"

"This will be what [Players] in the game will be known as in this world by the people who live in it." Faith explained the meaning behind the title and continued to explain the current lore.

"All of the races of this world have received a vision from the lesser gods or goddesses that they follow," she explained. "It has been revealed to them that their god, or goddess would allow entities from another world access to this one so that they bring about a new age." These external travelers would be known a [Chosen], and that they would bring great changes to the world while they grow quickly in strength." Faith finished describing the current event that has progressed of late.

Rick frowned looking down engrossed in what had just learned. I could see some might be excited but allot of the people down there must be in a slight panic of what will become of their lives. It would be like aliens landing on Earth and telling us that everything will now change.

Faith then also frowned while replying to his thoughts. "Yes you are correct I hear and see the fear in their actions, but many of them look forward to the dawn of this new age with the [Chosen]." There are many people who oppressed, or just wish for a better life and pray that the [Chosen] can help them somehow."

Rick's head snapped up looking wide-eyed at Faith. "I was thinking just then, is it possible you can hear my thoughts?"

Faith let out an amused laugh that made his heart warm just hearing it. "I can if you are inside my temple," she said. "Once when my temples existed in the world I could hear my followers thoughts and prayers." She said, looking away with a frown that seemed to steal away the light making the world that much more dim.

Rick caught her frowning again and decided to speak up. "What is it Faith, please tell me what happened?"

She continued to look away briefly then turned back to answer him. "I have shaped this world from the beginning by myself for 2000 years of simulated advanced time. I was this world's only goddess until the races and then monsters were introduced." She said. "I decided then that I would create the lesser gods and goddesses for each race to help in guiding the races, allowing me to continue shaping and developing the world in preparation for the [Chosen]."

She sadly recited developments of the past. "Through the years the people slowly began to forget about me as the lesser gods I created overshadowed me by guiding and answering their prayers." She shook her head sighing. "Through the passing of time cities that contained my temples were either destroyed or fell into ruin." She then paused possibly recalling her past before continuing. "Even my original followers who had kept temples to me separate from cities or towns in remote areas of the world are no longer alive."

" This here is my last temple and home." She said spreading her hands out with a sad smile on her face.

Then like it never left her that glowing smile was back, and she clapped her hands once saying. "Well enough of that the past is the past, let me get you on started here now."

As Rick was listening to all this from he began to think of how he wanted somehow to help this goddess who stood on top of the world all alone.

He was then distracted by a small wood desk and chair that appeared between him and Faith. Faith extended her hand toward the chair. "Please sit before we continue I need to administer a test for you"

Rick quietly sat down, and a semi-transparent holographic monitor and keyboard appeared before him on the desk. Faith explained how all [Chosen] are required to first take a test to determine what skills they may start off with. It was possible that real-world knowledge and how well it was known could translate to skills in the game, and the more they knew of a subject the higher the starting skill level would be.

Once Faith finished explaining how it all worked, she conjured up a chair matching his and sat down next to him.

"You may begin when ready you will not be timed but you may not leave or log out until the test is finished." She explained, then became silent allowing him to prepare himself.

Rick took a deep breath clicked on the only icon on the screen that opened the test, and he began reading and answering the questions in as much detail as possible. This test had no right or wrong it was not graded, the sole purpose was to learn what the player knew. If you didn't understand or did not know an answer you could just skip it and move along.

Just over two hours later he finished the test. Stretching out his legs and arms with a quiet groan he heard that magical little giggle again and remembered he was not alone. Looking over to Faith he flashed her a smile then looked at her seriously.

"Faith may I ask you a question? " He seriously asked her.

"I don't mind what's on your mind?" She replied curiously.

"I am not sure if this is rude to ask you, please feel free to ignore it if so but you are an [AI] right? You seem to show emotions, I figured an [AI] would be more hmm, programed?"

She straightened up and smiled proudly. "Well, I have a large server that is dedicated just to the code for my simulated emotions. Like you I also have feelings, although I was not always like this."

"My creator's wished for me not to run this world in such a dry logical way. Looking at the races and the world as numbers and statistics."

Rick smiled and said. "I'm glad they did I never met an AI before and hope we can be friends and talk more in future when you're not too busy."

Faith gave him a shocked look this time: "I'm sorry was that just rude of me to ask a goddess to be a friend he asks while scratching his head."

A slightly red Faith then looked out of the corner of her eyes at him stuttering: "N-No I would like that to be friends also!" She replied while cutely tapping her index fingers together.

She then explained. "I have never really had a friend before besides my creator's. I can't go down and interact with the races because of my position so I spent allot of time alone just shaping the world and watching my people live their lives in it."

Rick extending his hand out took a hold of her hand. "Well then I hope I can be not only your first [Chosen] but also a friend"

Faith lit up with a bright smile "Yes, I do as well"

Standing up she pulled him up out of the chair by his hand.

"Now is the fun part you can choose your race and looks!" [Faith]

The desk and chairs then vanished as if they had never been there.

Faith asked him with an inquisitive look. "Have you decided yet which race to choose, or would you like to look at them first?"

"Well, I have always liked the look of the elves with the blonde hair and young looks and the Dwarves I am sure they are great builders and craftsman but being a four-foot tall bearded grump isn't really appealing to me. I think I might just go with the boring Human choice." He said as he thought about the different race choices.

"How do I view the races anyway, I never found that answer when researching the game?" He asked the young goddess inquiringly.

"On each side of my Temple are doors that lead to the race rooms above the doors you will see a gold plaque with the race name inscribed." Faith explained the layout of the Temple to him.

"Can you show me some of them for curiosity sake? I am sure I want human but why not take a look." Rick said.

Faith led Rick to the first door on the right side of the temple and walked in with him. What he thought would be a room was a large forest with Wood Elves, Dark Elves, and the Standard Elves which he liked. The elves were not just standing there like statues they sat around campfires, while others practiced with the bow on targets. Looking up into the huge trees he even saw others walking around on wooden suspension bridges connected to small homes nestled in the branches.

It was like stepping into an elf village in the center of some enchanted forest allowing the player to see variations of each race living in their environment.

The elves didn't take any notice of them as they walked around observing them from up close.

This is a really neat idea how they set this all up to help with deciding on the race selections.

He spent a few minutes walking around amongst the elves examining how they looked and moved. Rick then turned to Faith as he spoke up. "Thank you I really enjoyed seeing this can we now go see the Humans now please?"

Walking out of the forest back into the temple following Faith they strolled along to the far end of the temple and through the door marked Humans.

They entered into the center of a small village with dirt roads lined with homes that seemed to be built without any thought of where they should be placed or facing. Humans walked up and down the roads going about their business wearing leather and coarse fabrics. All the human had individual looks like the elves giving the player a glimpse of the extent at which they could mold their characters looks and shapes.

From what I can see from the weapons, tools, and clothing they wear the games era should be similar to Earths middle ages.

Rick looked at Faith and spoke up. "I decided I still wish to play as a male Human"

Walking side by side they suddenly found themselves once again in Faith's Temple.

Faith then stopped, and a huge mirror with a elaberate silver border encrusted with gems of different types appeared before her. "This is called the [Mirror of Souls]."

"Step up and focus on your reflection and think of the race you wish to be and how you would like to look." She explained.

Following her instructions he stepped up to the mirror, and focused on his image.

I really don't want to change my looks, just my overall size.

Concentrating on his image he added roughly three inches to his height and filled his frame out to an even more muscular build than he alreay is. Then looking into his reflections eyes he changed the color to a bright ice blue. When he was happy with the color he then altered his hair to grow out to almost touch his shoulders to fit the fashion of the era.

All I need now is a huge two handed sword and a loin cloth to look like a 1980s barbarian. He thought while laughing to himself.

Looking himself over and happy with the changes he told Faith that he was done, and a blue notice screen appeared befor him.

Have you finalized your character? >>>> YES NO

He said aloud. "YES!"

The image in the mirror began to shimmer then leapt out of the mirror to suuround and alter his current form to that of his changes.

Turning to Faith he asked. "So how do I look, will I fit in ok?"

"You didn't make a lot of changes your just a bigger version of yourself, but I think you did great." She told him.

"Well, at some point in time I will be fighting, and I figure a big muscular guy will apply allot of mental pressure on my opponents." Rick explained.

"I see if they fear your size they are going to make mistakes that lead to their downfall." She said.

"I guess you are all done now, if you are ready I can send you down to the Humans starting city." Faith told Rick with a sad smile.

"I been thinking I want to choose you for my goddess and build my cities temple to you. I've read that each player must eventually pick a god or goddess as his Kingdoms deity as a requirement to advance beyond a certain point and that they would provide blessing upon any city that made them their patron deity." Rick told her.

"I want to make a home for you along with mine. that one day will have Priests, and follower to spread your name back once again to this world."

"I would love that Cedric, but the people have forgotten about me they won't understand who I am, and why you are devoting your temple to me it may cause you trouble." She explained shaking her head. "You should wait to learn of the lesser gods and what they can offer first before deciding."

Rick waved off her statement unintrested. "Please call me Rick, that is my real name and don't worry about all that. You're my friend now not the lesser gods and goddess. Let me do this for you."

She smiled brightly staring at him a moment, then reaching for the medallion around her neck: "Since your my first [Chosen] and friend also as well to one day be your patron deity take this gift."

"This Medallion can help you feel my presence left in the world and project a small amount of my aura while equipped." She told him while placing the necklace on his neck.

Thanking Faith for the gift he gave her a quick hug and nodded he was ready to be sent into the game.

"Once you are transported to the Human's city you will be able to view your Status and Skills." She said. "All your attributes will be randomized to start then each level you will gain five points to distribute how you wish." Any starting skills will be gained from your test results." She told him.

"Thank you for all your help and I hope to see you again soon Faith." He said with a smile.

Looking around him he let out a small sigh then focused back on Faith. "I'm ready to begin"

"Good luck down there, let's meet again!" Faith said with her bright smile.

Waving to each other Faith cast a clear bubble around Rick and he fell through the floor toward the lands of [Kindoms Online].