Gary as Dr. Thomas Bright awoke in an office. There was an enormous glass window to the outside looking down upon a deck with workers scurrying about. The deck was marked platform D. A placard on the dark, wooden desk read Dr. T Bright. Administrator. On his wrist was some kind of device with a screen. Bright shook it an held it to his ear, but nothing happened. He started pressing buttons and the device flashed all its light and launched into instructions…

Tutorial mode engaged, G*I*C*G expansion The Space Masters loaded…

Welcome Space Masters Damien Storm, Ris Harne, Cornelius Jorell, Mic De’gene, Dean Reyes, Dr. Amelia Mann, and Dr. Thomas Bright. This tutorial will explain how to advance

Dr. Thomas Bright…Verified….The Space Masters is a new expansion with 10 new levels, a new playable race, and the seven original members of The Space Masters from 1986. You are designated as level 1. To complete the simulation, you will need to reach at least level 50, 60 is preferable, and defeat the final boss before the system will return you home. As you advance in skill, personality, and abilities, you will actually become the Space Masters. Once you engage in the simulation you will no longer be designated Gary but instead, you will be Dr. Thomas Bright. If you deviate from this designation you will be punished. All the traits and stats from your character sheet will be implemented. To access your character sheet, enter C on your interface bracelet. There are other commands accessible from the interface. Good luck! End tutorial mode…

There came a knock at the door.

“Yes?” Bright said.

A portly, balding man in a black jump suit entered the room, “Forgive me, administrator, but the men have found something unusual. You asked me to tell you if something like this ever occurred.”

“What is it?”

“A glowing gem has been found in the mines.”

“Glowing, is it radioactive? Is it the source of all evil?”

“Humorous, but no. Radiation scans were negative, sir.”

He decided to play along and see where this story line lead, “All right, take me to it.”

The portly fellow led him out onto platform D and onto an elevator. The lift moved swiftly down the shaft for what seemed like a half hour. Either they were extremely deep underground, or the elevator was slow, he couldn’t tell which. The temperature had increased considerably. Once they were at the desired level, the man stepped off the elevator and led Gary through a few more tunnels until they reached a control room. Just beyond was a mobile drill and several crew members milling about.

“These mines were originally dug by the Alteri Dominion long ago. They were looking for some kind of artifact but gave up too soon. If this is their artifact, I can see why they wanted it. The thing already killed two of my crew just for touching it.

Bright went out to the site where the blue orb was glowing in the ground. The thing was whispering to him, calling his name. He turned to the portly man, “Your name is?”

“You don’t remember my name sir, it’s Felder.”

“Felder, who found this orb.”

“I did.” A woman wearing a lab coat stepped up. “I am Dr. Felicity Bliss.”

“What is it?”

“The locals call it the Laucnar. It is an artifact left behind from the ancient wars. It was thought to be only a myth.”

“Such things are always thought to be myth,” Bright said. “Shouldn’t it be green though? I think someone got the color wrong.”

“Sir?” Dr. Bliss asked confusion apparent on her round face.

Bright chuckled, “Never mind. It's called the Laucnar, you say?”

“Yes,” Dr. Bliss took a set of tongs she had retrieved before Bright had come down and clamped the orb. She picked it up, “We need to study it, closely”

In a whim, Bright reached out for the orb. Dr. Bliss pulled it back, “Don’t touch it. It has killed two of our workers who also tried to pick it up.”

He smirked, “Stupid bitch, it’s my Laucnar!” He tripped the doctor and caught the orb as it fell. He blinked at the orb in his hand, “Heavy Metal!” He let the orb fall to the ground. “Something is wrong, I…” He felt an overwhelming urge to retrieve the orb. To his horror, the blue glow crept up his pant leg, paralyzing him as it crawled up his body and completely engulfed him. He reached down and took the Orb in hand. He held it above his head triumphantly as he looked down at the startled Dr. Bliss, “Monty is going laugh his ass off when he finds out that I actually have the evil gem!”

Dr. Bliss and Felder’s eyes meet in a confused gaze.