The flashes from the cameras are overwhelming and blinding. Those of us sitting on the stage at the table couldn't see the reporters. Ms. Harb, the Public Affairs head of the Hunnington Corporation began speaking, asking everyone to settle down and make sure their cell phones are turned off. The lights went down and above and behind us, on a very large screens started the introduction video for the Realm of Ethos, the first full-immersion (FI) game in the world. It had taken 10 years for the corporation to reach this point. Counting down now for public release in six months.

The screens brightened and I caught my breath looking with everyone else. I hadn't had the opportunity to see this introduction. It starts with the sun rising over a new world. Strange beast run across a vast plain of grassland. The the picture zooms in further and a village appears. It is a village of humans. An idyllic picture with women chasing after children and a blacksmith working away at his craft in the background. Screams are heard and then pandemonium takes hold. Women grab children and run as Orcs crash through them. Cutting them down in cold blood.

The scene continues with the Orcs looting the village. Then a band of heroes arrive and a fight ensues. The magic user is casting large fireballs, the tank is “tanking”, archers “arching” and the healer “healing”. It's a typical scene for gaming but the reality of it is scary. The lights came back up and Ms. Hurn begins the introductions.

Starting with the CEO of Hunnington Corp, Mr. Karl Hunnington himself. The man is proud of his groundbreaking achievement, the first ever Full-Immersion (FI) gaming.

Smiling, Karl gives the audience and reporters a wave and starts the introductions, “Starting from the right and going left are; Thomas Wright, Scott Bailey, Elizabeth Turner, and Angela Maher.” We all wave a hand when he calls our names. I am the far left… Angela Myers.

Mr. Hunnington then begins the long introduction about the game and the process we have underwent to become finalists for FI in the Realm of Ethos. Starting to become known as RoE.

We are disabled veterans with serious physical injuries and we volunteered to test an option to leave our bodies forever and live in-game. Now, I didn't know the other three people, we never saw the other applicants for this program. It isn't until today that we met.

To say that I am scared is an understatement. I lost an eye, part of an arm and leg in an IED explosion in Iraq. I didn't complain, it was my job to disarm the IEDs and knew that this could happen. But, having the chance to live with a fully functioning body and in a game world was too much for me to pass up. I read fantasy and LitRPG gaming books all the time. I also played D&D when I was much younger. Getting a chance to live out my nerd dreams??? Not even a question... I had to try.

It seems I completed the testing rather well. So well that I am going to be the first of the four of us. If my transition went well, the next candidate would arrive in-game a week after I did. Well, a week real-time. In-game time is doubled; it runs faster. So, I will have lived two weeks prior to the next arrival.

This effort by Hunnington Corp has the approval of the USDA, ADA, Dept. of Health, and so many organizations, government associations and somewhere PETA may have approved as well. I don't care, I am glad to try. But, prior to entering we must wave at the press and smile. I am going to give one interview and say goodbye Earth and hello Ethos.

Opps, better pay attention. Time to play nice with the newsies. I see Karl looking at me and I lean into the mike to introduce myself. "Hi, I am Angela Maher. I was Air Force EOD and I received the injuries you see in Iraq while disarming a bomb." Sitting back, I let out a sigh of relief. Ok, that part is done. One step closer to game time. This press conference is the company's announcement of our timeline and who is participating. Sweet and simple, they do all the talking... except my interview.

And on the note, we are ushered off the stage as the press conference comes to an end. I went to a small conference room with a nice little setup of comfy chairs facing each other and glasses of water awaiting us. Thank goodness this interview is happening with people who actually know the in and outs of gaming. I shouldn't have to answer stupid questions.

Peter Suciu from TechNewsWorld stood to shake hands when I walked in. I say walk... more of a walk-shuffle. I never got the hang of missing a good portion of my body's right side; arm, leg and then the eye, I just never got used to it.

"Please have a seat Angela and please call me Peter," he said.

"Hello Peter, I am glad it is your tech news outlet handling this interview." I smiled at him.

"So, no stupid questions?" Peter asked jokingly.

"At least I shouldn't have to explain how gaming works and the environment RoE contains."

"Yes, lets start there. RoE is a virtual reality MMORPG, correct?"

"Yes, it is."

"I understand that the rules for FIs, as they are referring to all people who live full time in RoE, are different than the players. Can you explain?"

"Sure. Those of us who transition to our new world could become OP very easily. You know 'overpowered' and that puts the players at a disadvantage. The, as you call us, FIs won't have pain filters. This makes the prospect of hard adventuring a tougher choice for us. Do we want to gain experience fast, but with a lot of pain or go easier?"

Peter asked, "And what is your choice?"

"It depends on my spawn point and area I live in. I have thoughts of a druid and trying for peaceful living... not sure how well that is going to work in RoE. But, the possibilities are there. Training with the Elves would be cool for that. Or a shaman class? Believe it or not, I am still up in the air about my character and its development."

"Are you thinking of starting a guild for FIs, with you being the first, they can come and learn from you?" Peter enthusiasm for this topic is practically gushing out of him.

"No, I am going to lay low and build a strong character. You see we have literally an eternity to live. I want strength but I want to enjoy my time, if that makes sense?"

Peter shook his head 'no', "Not really, I would imagine every gamer out there wants to become as OP as possible and take over the world type thing, or lead a top guild, earn fame and fortune, that sort of thing."

"Let me try explaining better. I am not going in with preconceived expectations. I will work on becoming strong. How I do that is very much up in the air."

"How much information has the Hunnington Corp given you about RoE?" Peter asked.

Shrugging I said, "Not much. I know that our characters will feel full pain, we will level differently, and we may not have all the abilities of players. This is giving the players an even playing field with the FIs. This is still a game, don't forget that. Those of us choosing to go FI have to understand we are asking to live in a very dangerous world. But a world full of new possibilities I can't wait to try out." I ended with a big grin.

Peter changed the subject, "I know we are talking the tech and gaming aspects but how do you feel this will impact people with severe disabilities?"

Nodding my head, I said, "We have the chance for lives with full body functions and an opportunity to start over and gain power. I think many will volunteer if the testing goes well. But, they must remember this is a dangerous world. If it wasn't for the players, RoE couldn't survive. It's the money generated by the players that keep the game going. I understand the processing power for RoE could fill the inside of Cheyenne Mountain. That isn't cheap."

"That is a good point. I suppose that many would find RoE too dangerous for a new life."

"Yes, that is my thought." I replied.

Peter wrapped up our short interview with, "Thank you Angela for this interview. I will see you again in a week, that is in-game time. For our audience out there, we have obtained approval for follow-up interviews with Angela to check in on her progress as the first FI in history."

I managed to hide the shock and kept a smile plastered on my face. Interviews? Who said I was going to do further interviews? Damn Ms. Harm, that sneaky bitch probably did this. I did not like that woman. She seemed... bad. I played nice with her because I had to. Otherwise, I would stay as far away from her as possible. Leaving the interview, I went to chase that woman down.

I found her at the after-event for the attendees. She glided through the people smiling and shaking hands. An occasional kiss on a check and laughter is her 'make-believe' persona. Stepping next to her I softly ask for a moment of her time. She walks me to a small room next to the party.

Looking down her nose at me, "What do you need? And shouldn't you be getting ready for immersion? Are you going to change into the outfit we purchased for you? You need to look good, this is your funeral we are attending."

"Wow, can we slow down? First, my question. Further interviews?" I asked

"Yes, look at the small print of the contract. We had options for interviews during the 6-month time period prior to public launch of the game." Harb smirked at me.

"Crap. Ok... well fuck." I mumble.

She continues, "Now change and get ready to go live as we watch your transition."

It wasn't worth arguing with her. I left her with my head hanging, pissed that I didn't have a better answer or argument for her. But, really? Does it matter? I am leaving this world and when my 6-months are finished I won't speak with the woman again. That thought made me feel better.

I went to another small room where my few favorite memories remained. I have the items I want to look at prior to dying... or living again? Wow, these are some morbid thoughts. The outfit the company or Harb purchased for my death was a stunning piece of fashion. At least I will look great. I completed my hair and makeup prior to the news conference so; I guess I am ready to go. Looking in the full-length mirror I studied my image. Scarred face, no arm and my prosthetic leg. I was an average-looking woman prior to the explosion, it's not like I lost great beauty. I still didn't enjoy the mass of scar tissue. With an hour to wait, I used the time to look at pictures, check messages with friends and then read a book. It was a LitRPG, might as well read about a life I am about to start.

A knock on my door announced the end of this life. Mr. Hunnington escorted me personally to the press conference room from earlier that day. On the stage a hospital bed stands prominent with a doctor and assistant waiting next to the bed. Cameras flash again as I remove my shoes and position myself on the bed. This is so weird.

Mr. Hunnington explains, "We will place the FI equipment on Angela and wait for her to appear in-game. Please save your question until we have finished the transition."

Karl walks to the bed and looks down on me, "Are you ready for this?"

I whisper, "Yes."

With a nod of his head to the gaming technician, they proceed. The technician puts the helmet on my head. This has all the equipment to move my personality into the game. The doctor and assistant busily attach a heart monitor, an IV and an air over pressure nose piece on my face. I don't know why they are doing this... my body will die. Oh well, this is their parade, I am just along for the ride.

I hear Karl walking the audience through the process of my transition. I completed much of the scanning of my personality during the testing, this is more about theatrics. A hush falls over the crowd when they hear I will appear on the screen and in-game.

This process is instantaneous. One moment I am on the hospital bed and the next I am standing in a large field of prairie grass looking at a screen hanging in the air before me. Looking down at my body, I see it is whole. My vision is perfect and jumping up and down, I know I wear an idiotic smile on my face. I hear a slight cough from the screen. It is Mr. Hunnington.

"Angela, can you hear us?"

"Yes, Karl. I hear you very well."

"Please tell us how you feel and how the world around you feels."

With a laugh and a smile I answer, "The air is blowing across my skin and the sun is warm. I smell the grass." I ran my hands across the top of the tall grass. "I can feel my right leg and arm. It's as if they were never missing. And my full sight is back. It is amazing."

"Angela are you ready for the next step?"

"Yes, Karl. Please disconnect my body, I am ready for this new life."

Karl starting explaining more of the process to the audience, "We will disconnect the helmet from Angela. If she is still in-game, we will stop her heart, ending her life."

In the screen I watch as a few people tear up.

It felt surreal. Watching them work around my Earth body. The helmet came off my head and I fell nothing. No jolt from disconnecting. Everyone watches me to see if this affects me.

I call out, "I am good. No problems on this side. I didn't feel a thing." I smile at the audience to assure them I am alive.

With another nod from Mr. Hunnington the doctor takes a syringe and adds the contents straight into my IV drip. I hear no sound except the heart monitor. The crowd looks from the screen and then to my body. Like a tennis match. Finally, the heart monitor starts beeping as my heart slows. Then the long tone of death rings through the conference room. Now, I have all the attention again.

"Still good everyone, no problems on this end."

Karl's grin nearly splits his face. He and other bigwigs from the corporation are clapping backs, shaking hands and champagne flows into glasses. I watch the smug look on Harb's face as she stares at me. No, there is no friendship there. She isn't happy I am alive; she is happy the process worked. Pretty sure she wouldn't care who it is as long as the process works.

I hear a growing noise behind me and turn to watch an androgynous man walk towards me. He holds out a hand and looks at the screen hanging in the air.

"It is time to say goodbye to Angela. It is time she creates her character and new life."

We disappear from the field of grass.

Mr. Hunnington clears his throat and announces to the crowd, "And that was Varuna, one of the lead AIs and a God of Ethos. I believe Angela is in good hands. Thank you for attending today's events. It is a milestone for humanity."