http://royalroadl.com/fiction/5330 ------->This is the site for the new chapters. I will no longer post new chapters here, leaving it a quiet resting place for an old story. Shhhhh

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The four friends ran out from the park onto the walkway leading to the downtown area. The academy was located on the outskirts of the city and held the classrooms, park, sports fields, and dorms for the students. The city itself was rather small in comparison, being a small square area with buildings dedicated to the needs of the students. The Game Center was located right in the middle of the city, and was always full of kids eager to try out the newest game or buy classic movies.

Plat led the three into the large sales floor and walked straight up to the counter. Plat smiled and greeted the man behind the counter.

"Morning Nick, how are things going?"

The man, who had been snoring with his ball-cap over his face, snorted and raised his hat in annoyance. Nick was a tall average size man with a hint of chubbiness and short blond hair. He had a light beard and mustache combo and always wore gaming memorabilia t-shirts on his torso. His face lit up when he saw Plat.

"If it isn't my favorite former employee Plat; how ya been?"

Plat shook the man's hand and smiled up at him, "It's been great sir. I really do appreciate you letting me work here for the job assignment for school. I t was a real blast!"

Nick waved him off, "It was nothing kid; in fact I haven't had a chance to sleep like that since you left." He sighed sadly, "In any case, what brings you here today?"

Plat grinned and lowered his voice conspiratorially, "I was wondering if you could hook my friends and I up with the thing I talked to you about before."

Nick scratched his beard and leaned back into his chair, his eyes wandering around the air. "Can't say I know what you're talking about kid; must be something you thought we agreed on."

"Nickkkk," Plat whined, "Come on man, don't play with me like that." Plat turned to his three friends, who were all holding back grins on their faces. "You guys help me beg here."

Reva giggled and covered her mouth, "Sorry Plat, this is your quest; not ours."

Plat sighed and returned to look at Nick, who grinned at him. "No worries boy, I remember our little talks." He confirmed, "Just wanted to hear that cute whine again." He winked at Plat, who blushed heavily as his friends guffawed at him from behind.

"What kind of grown man takes pleasure in the whining of high school seniors?" Plat challenged angrily.

"What kind of high school senior barely breaks 5 feet in height?" Nick challenged with another infuriating grin, "Besides, it's amusing to see you try to act like an adult when you clearly are still a kid on the inside, kid."

Plat rubbed his temples and sighed, forced to give this battle to Nick. His small stature was the bane of his existence and the source of many problems in his life. He shook his head and folded his arms across his chest in an effort to appear impatient.

Nick laughed and reached down beneath the counter, pulling out a white bag. "I have four copies right here for you four, though I have to tell you the game itself won't be active until the servers come online." He warned them, "Feel free to try the included tutorial,but don't try to enter the game until midday tomorrow. I don't want the mods the find out I gave out copies early; I have enough trouble as it is with you brats running around here thinking you can get away with anything. Things like that take away from my dreaming time."

As he gave them the bag, and alarm began ringing in the Game Center. Nick sighed in frustration and got up from behind the counter. "See what I mean? Idiot brats think they can leave without paying."

Two tall androids walked up the counter holding two boys; one was sheepish and the other was angry.

"Boys, you should know stealing is bad." Nick began his lecture.

The angry boy spit on his shoe and glared, "No one cares you lazy old man! Hurry up and let me go so I can leave this dumb place."

The sheepish boy began sweating and shook his head, "I'm sorry Mr. Nick; I won't do it again."

Nick's eyebrows twitched in annoyance as he continued smiling at the two boys. "Well then, looks like someone hasn't learned the proper respect for his elders." Nick reached behind the counter and pulled out a see-through plate and began typing on it. Information appeared and disappeared as he scrolled through code and information. He continued smiling as he looked up.

"I see we have a Mr. Jimmy and a Mr. Rory here. Mr. Rory, it appears this is your first offence so you can go." The android released the apologetic teen, who ran off and out of the store immediately. Nick continued, "Mr. Jimmy, it appears that this is your third offence in the shopping district and you have been noted as someone in need of . . . help."

Jimmy began to look a little nervous as Nick continued to speak, "I see you are on a decent track in the Body classes; yes here it is, a rising star in agility lessons. Now, let's go ahead and change all your classes to Soul for the next semester."

Jimmy turned paler than a ghost at Nick's words, "You can't do that! You're not a teacher, and that would kill my Body score!"

Nick chuckled and pulled his hat brim over his eyes, "Yes, I'm sure your coach will be very disappointed, but he'll just move on to the next so called "rising star" right? In any case, I feel like some good meditation and philosophy classes will be good for you."

"Shitty old man, I'll kill you!" Jimmy's face was now red as he struggled to free himself from the android's grasp.

Nick held up his hand to his ear, "What's that? You said you wanted to start as soon as possible? Sure, I'll go ahead and sign you up for summer school too; the senseis love a proactive student. Andro, you mind escorting our little eager beaver to his new summer quarters?"

The android smiled at Nick and winked, dragging the wailing boy behind him and out of the store. Nick grinned and returned to his chair, the hat returning to it's normal position.

"You kids have fun now, and remember to be careful with it. Otherwise I'll be in trouble, and little Jimmy will have some company."

Slightly pale, the four chorused their thanks and quickly left the Game Center as fast as possible.

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Again, shorter than what I write normally. As I return to typing, these chapters will get longer, don't worry.

Hope you enjoyed this