IAN

"Just leave the appearance more or less like the one on the left, but as a Terra Nova soldier," said Ian, appraising the right-hand figure as it became a human male of about five foot, six with close-cropped brown hair.Though not particularly muscular, it was solidly built. However, the outfit did not change from the plain black bodysuit.

"The term 'Terra Nova' is not in the VR2L database," said the voice of LadyBast without inflection. "Please describe."

"Well, all Terran soldiers are outfitted in standard issueall-environmental power armor and equipped with an M-137 "Impaler" gaussrifle (more on that later) as well as the standard field rations."

"Rations are standard equipment items in VR2L," said Bast. "Weapons must bechosen at the appropriate moment. Please stand by."

The computer ground away for a few moments before returning. "The database has no entry for the armour you describe," said the goddess. "The closest approximation consists of a bio-suit which resists damage and wear and contains all-weather insulation. Armour approximations include padded bio-armour with similar properties as the bio-suit coupled with shielding from energy attacks and Avatar armour which can be contained in a small item such as a belt, gauntlet, or breast shield and expand at the wearer's signal. Avatar armour begins with low-level sheilding, but increases inresistance as the user's level increases.

"I'll take the combination of bio-suit and Avatar armour if possible," said Ian.

"Acceptable. Character designated 'Ian' is saved," said the voice of Bast. "Basic equipment includes food, water, and basic bedroll. You may choose one weapon and one additional item of equipment. Others may be gathered in time."

"Well, I really wanted a gauss rifle," wheedled the player.

"Entry 'gauss rifle' not found. Please describe."

"Well, gauss weapons use magnetic acceleration rather than gunpowder to fire a projectile. These projectiles can be as large as solid metal bolts or as small as microscopic particles. Either way, the kinetic energy is more powerful than a gunpowder based gun and can make a really nasty hole in something."

"Description saved," said the computer. "Projectiles defined in three sizes only. Possibility for adjustments exist only within VR2L itself.

"Ian wasn't sure what that meant, but he suspected that whatever he received would not be quite what he wanted. But perhaps the 'possibility for adjustments' meant that though the computer could not design a new entry itself, he would be given the opportunity to better describe and remodel his weapon.

But there was little time for plotting now, Bast's voice was calmly asking him to adjust his statistics and name his skills. He did so, balancing the numbers to upgrade his average attributes to something a bit stereotypically soldierly. For his skills he quickly chose weapon knowledge(and design, he noted with a grin), battle tactics, and computer technology.

"Attributes designated to character 'Ian' are saved," said Bast. "Thank you for joining the VR2L test group. I hope you enjoy your stay on ThirdEarth."

*If this is how I get in,* Ian wondered as the wall rose up behind him, nearly blinding him with bright light, *how the hell do I get out?*

But he had already made the promise to test the program and, anxious to meet friends that he knew would be on the other side, he quickly stepped out of the ante-chamber and into the world beyond.

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HOW THEY GOT TOGETHER

Cheezey gaped in surprise. First she had been unable to even open her eyes in the blinding light, clenching them shut against the brilliance, and then she was in a forest surrounded by the cool green of trees and scrub.

But they were no trees that she'd ever seen. Some looked vaguely familiar, but mutated in strange ways and so much larger than any tree she had ever seen on earth.

On earth.

But she *was* on earth...in a way. A strange, warped, futuristic earth with strange, warped, futuristic trees among which she was very definitely lost.

"Damn. Should've asked for a compass," Cheezey muttered to herself. Not that she would have had any idea which direction to take even if she'd*had* a compass. But the thought of her equipment did remind her of her session in Lady Bast's ante-chamber and for the first time since arriving in the virutal world, she looked down at herself.

She couldn't help laughing...partly at her own surprise and partly in giddy excitment. The clothing she wore matched that which she had described for her character, but now she *was* the character! A Psi Lunatak...with flesh of an almost delicate mauve. Her hair was the soft colour of wheat and fell almost to her hips. Though she couldn't see her own face, she explored it's surface with her hands, outlining the small horns on her head and lingering over the slightly cooler spot on her forehead which marked the crescent-moon birthmark.

But then if it was cooler than her flesh, it wasn't really a birthmark, was it? In fact, to her fingers, it felt almost inset...as though it had been placed there on purpose. There had never been anything like *this* described on the show! But then this wasn't really an authorized world...it was a fan-based world and the primary input had come from Bast.

She wondered briefly what other slight surprises would be in store.

Ah well, little time for that now. Now was the time for exploring and trying to find her way out of the woods...or at least into a safe camping spot. Having already taken stock of her clothing and appearance, Cheezey looked about on the ground and found her pack and bedroll tied to a wooden fram that would make travel more comfortable. Though she debated the wisdom of undoing the neat package, curiosity won out and she pulled the equipment apart, taking inventory.

Food, water, matches, extra outfit, tarp for a shelter, emergency pack consisting of first aid items, fishing hook and line, sewing kit, and other small items to keep her relatively safe. She also found her knife, which she strapped to her hip, and something which made her cry out with joy. Her camera.

"This is my first view of VR2L Third Earth," she announced to no one in particular, snapping a quick picture of the patch of forest she had been facing when she had first come through the light. There was a click sound, and a noise like film being wound forward, but she knew that there would be no developing necessary for *these* shots...they would be saved to her hard drive. Finished, she strung the camera around her neck.

"No point in wasting shots on greenery," she commented, packing her bags once again, though she set one water canteen aside to carry.

All packed up and ready to go, the newest Lunatak on Third Earth chose a random direction and started walking.

*********************

Although she had no way of telling the time, Cheezey was fairly certain that at least a couple of hours had passed when she found herself on a riverbank. She wondered, not for the first time, if she should have stayed where she was. Would everyone arrive on Third Earth at the same place? Or would they be scattered around? Either way, the forest had been too close with trees for her to stay there overnight...if it came to that.

Well, too late to do anything about it now. She'd come too far to go back...which brought about the question: Had two hours passed in real time as well? And how would she know? She couldn't possibly just leave her body there to moulder, but she had no way of knowing how long she'd been in the virtual world.

She would worry about it later.

Right now, she thought that she had found the perfect place to camp. The ground just a ways from the river was nice and level and the clearing was wide: the perfect place to set up a meeting camp for any other players who wandered her way. And, most importantly, there was fresh water nearby.

Well, she *hoped* it was fresh. Considering the presence of acid lakes, tarpits, poison marshes, and the River of Despair, it was probably best to take precautions.

Cheezey began by dipping a leafy branch into the water and when it did not disolve, dipped in the tip of her knife. When this did not discolour or rust or do anything else unusual, she mustered her bravado and plunged her hand in up to the elbow. Nothing untoward happened, so she raised a handful of the water to her mouth and took a sip.

A little heavy on the mineral content, but it tasted clean enough. She sipped just a little more and decided to wait and see if there were any long-term effects. In the meantime, however, she could prepare a shelter for the night.

Finally! The shelter was up, if a bit crooked, the water seemed safe enough, the firewood was gathered, and Cheezey was exhausted! But not enough to discourage her from snapping a few shots of the campsite. She was proud of her accomplishment! The set up was perfect for welcoming newcomers!

So absorbed was she in her picture-taking, that she failed to notice the figure that emerged from the woods a little ways downstream from where she herself had arrived and wander up behind her.

"Well, lah dee dah...arne't we the homemaker?"

Cheezey jumped and turned sharply to come face to face with a pale woman whose eyes were as brilliantly red and many faceted as any pair of rubies. They held each other's gaze for one mezmeric moment before recognition sparked in each set.

"Demon," said Cheezey, grinning.

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