XAHJI

"Xahji the Myrmidon," said the player. "As for how I look...oh...about six feet tall with a medium build. Long black hair...straight...and nice features. I don't mean to sound prideful, but I have quite a beautiful face."

The description was carefully refined until the character bore more than a hint of Japanese Anime styling. Even the padded bio-suit, a deep blue for stealth, had an oriental cut to it. The whole was topped with light, retractable mecha armour.

"Character designated 'Xahji' 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."

"I would like a power instead of an addition piece of equipment," saidXahji after choosing a laser rifle as his weapon, "if that's possible, of course."

"You may choose one element and develop powers within that field as your character gains experience," said the computer. "Which would you prefer: Water, Air, Earth, or Fire?"

"I choose Fire," said Xahji.

"Very well. Please adjust your attributes."

Xahji did so, and mulled over his skill options. Finally he decided upon computer knowledge, media knowledge, and technological knowledge as his skills. Such things had always seemed so prominent on the television show.

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

Xahji sheilded his eyes as he turned to face the rising wall behind him. He hadn't expected such brightness, but what COULD one expect from so new a game? With a determined set to his mouth, he plunged into the world ofVR2L.

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WILYCUB

"Well, I'm Thunderian and I'm only a young cat, 11 years old, but tall! Five foot, one, I think. I have tiger-like features such as stripes and claws with short red-orange hair. As for my clothing, probably a tunic, pants, and boots." The player watched as the computer changed the black outfit on the right into a close-cut uniform. It changed colours periodically until Wilycub asked it to stop on a combination of deep blue and tan accents which complimented her fur.

"Character designated 'Wilycub' 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."

"A weapon?" mused Wilycub. "I guess I do need a weapon...I might have to think about that. I know what I want for my equipment though! I want a space board like the Thunderkittens have."

"I'm afraid that spaceboards are classified as vehicles and vehicles cannot be obtained until you have entered the game," said Bast without inflection.

Wilycub didn't know what to get. Weapon-wise, it was difficult to choose. She had always rather liked the twins and supposed that pellets wouldn't be out of order. "Can I have trick pellets like the Thunderkittens then?"

"You may have a kit consisting of pellets and a sling, yes," confirmed the computer. "This is listed among the items and leaves you with a choice of weapon...or a second item, if you choose."

Wilycub thought about it. The pellets *could* be considered weapons, but it was true that they wouldn't be much help in certain situations. "I guess a good knife," said the player. "It's a nice general weapon and tool."

"Very well...please adjust your attributes."

Wilycub did so, carefully balancing the numbers to give her better speed and agility. Extra dexterity, computer knowle dge, and literacy were chosen as skills.

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

Wilycub jumped a little as the wall began to rise, but relaxed a little when nothing jumped out. Still, the bright light was undaunting and she hesitated a moment before finally taking a deep breath and jumping into the game world.

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WOODSTOCK

"Woodstock," said the player. "And I'm a Felonian."

"There is no record of such a race," said the computer in its steril tones.

"It is a race of Feral cats in Altaica's fanfiction. I would be a quadruped...a clouded leopard to be specific." Woodstock waited a short while as the computer adjusted the figure on the right, dropping it down on all fours and giving it a feline sempblance. "Excellent. I would like ametal band around the tail, if possible. I should have a charm hanging from it."

"Character designated 'Woodstock' 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."

"I don't need any weapons or equipment other than teeth and claws. As aquadruped, it would be difficult to carry," the player pointed out.

"If you prefer," said the computer, "you may exchange these choices for addition points in your attribute table. Or you may choose a mystical power."

Woodstock considered it and went over her list of options. "What is the power of 'dream weaving'?" she asked.

"It is the power to produce visions in another. It has telepathic elements, but can be used not only to project your thoughts, but to project an image from the past or the future. These are not guaranteed to be accurate, however."

Woodstock accepted. The thought of a clouded leopard with divinatory powers was intriguing. With this power, she was given a few additional points for her attributes which she balanced quickly before moving on to the skills. She did not think that any of them could serve to any purpose, but it didn't hurt to look over the list. A thought occurred to her.

"I'll choose cultural, mythical, and linguistic knowledge. This is a mark of general learning, not an in-depth knowledge of any particular race, right?"

"Yes, that's correct," said the computer.

"Excellent. It's always good to know - or at least be able to learn - about your potential friends and enemies."

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

"Well, someone has to be there to keep Sonarion out of trouble," winked Woodstock as the wall raised behind her. Then she turned and, without hesitation, walked into Third Earth.

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THUNDERMANX

"Well, in my stories, ThunderManx is Panthro's nephew. He's less muscular,taller, and bigger than Panthro...he has long straight black hair that reaches his waist, and...um...armour like Panthro's but without the T-catsymbol... and no spikes. It has a limited electrical charge for self-defense... shocking someone who might touch it. There's a weapon that can charge the armour, but it runs out quickly when it isn't attached."

"Character designated 'ThunderManx' 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, ThunderManx uses his father's energy pike," said the player.

"I have no record of such a weapon," said the computer. "Please describe."

"Well," began ThunderManx, "the energy pike is about three feet long with sharp tips, powerered by a Thundrillium power cell at its center. It can shoot bolts of electricity from either or both ends... also makes a handy emergency power supply and a lantern (tips can glow a bright blue.) Like I said, it clamps onto the back of his armor, and will recharge the armor's protection."

The computer ground away, analyzing the information. "Weapon description accepted, but you will begin with the weapon's lowest accepted level of power. It will grow more powerful as you do. What would you like to choose as your equipment?"

"I'd like my bass guitar, if you don't mind," grinned ThunderManx.

"Acceptable. Please adjust your attributes."

ThunderManx did so, choosing pyrotechnics and chemistry as his primary skills though he hesitated to choose his third. Bast's voice asked him what was wrong.

"You're going to laugh," said the player with a twisted smile.

"I cannot be amused. I am merely a computer recording," replied the cat-woman.

"I like exotic cooking. I'd like a cooking skill."

"Well thank the gods *someone* does," said the computer flatly. "Attributes designated to character 'ThunderManx' are saved. Thank you for joining theVR2L test group. I hope you enjoy your stay on Third Earth."

"For a mere computer recording, you're certainly sarcastic," grinned ThunderManx, ducking under the wall before it could rise entirely. He squinted against the light and plunged into VR2L.

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TELLY

"You can call me 'Telly'...just in case there are minors," winked the player. "As to how I look, I want a sort of Warrior Maiden appearance. Leave me at five foot, five...and I'd like my hair in a ponytail, please. It keeps it out of my way," she finished as she watched the shoulder-lengthtresses of the right-hand figure pulled back. She let the computer play with her colouring, stopping on something rather exotic with lightly tanned skin, almond eyes, and rich brown hair...not too dark, but not so light that she could not hide in shadows.

"Character designated 'Telly' 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."

"I'd rather have two weapons, if that's alright."

"You may choose two weapons," agreed the computer, "but your primary skill will be with the first weapon you choose."

"Alright then...I want a bow and arrows as my first weapon and a spear as my second," said Telly.

"Very well, please adjust your attributes."

Telly considered the numbers and shifted the points around to suit the character she would be playing. Finally she chose her skills, opting for animal knowlege (with a specialty in wolves) as her primary skill, wilderness survival as her secondary, and an incongruous computer knowledge as her third. "The Warrior Maidens have certainly associated with the Thundercats enough to have a gleaning of the skill," she rationalized.

"Attributes designated to character 'Telly' are saved," said the voice of Bast. "Thank you for joining the VR2L test group. I hope you enjoy yourstay on Third Earth."

"I fully intend to," grinned the player as the wall raised behind them. With a whoop that could no doubt have been a tree-dweller's battle-cry, she charged out of the antechamber and into the brightness beyond.

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