《Haven - 「 Virtual Reality + Mystery 」》 Prologue Run. Run. Run. Don¡¯t stop running. The thoughts repeated over and over in Keiko¡¯s head as she sprinted across the rooftops of the City of the Future. Or rather, what had once been the City of the Future. At one point, Haven had been the promise of what could be. A neon paradise that would usher in a new generation for humankind. Now it was more of a graveyard for despair than any beacon of hope. Any that remained in the city did so out of obligation rather than choice. Well, almost any. Keiko eyed the gap between buildings ahead of her, fist clenching in determination. To any typical inhabitant of Haven, the jump would be deemed suicidal. An impossible distance guarenteed to be a one-way ticket to the concrete hundreds of meters below. But, whether she liked it or not, Keiko was anything but typical. Her boot planted solidly on the building¡¯s edge, propelling herself into the air. Her dark brown hair flowed behind her as she sailed over the gap between buildings as if gravity had temporarily become nothing more than a vague guideline as opposed to physics that governed the world. She landed with a thud, rolling onto the gravel rooftop before standing. Despite a few dirt marks, she was nonetheworse for wear. She turned, her eyes scanning the opposite rooftop with baited breath for any sign of her pursuers. A moment passed, then another before finally she was satisfied enough to let out a sigh. Her hands went to the satchel currently strapped around her torso, making sure the contents were secured. ¡°That should buy me some time,¡± she muttered under her breath. Her pale visage shone in the night. Her shadow illuminated by the neon lights emanating from the billboards that surrounded her. As far as she was concerned, they were nothing more than a weak attempt at portraying the vivid life that the city was meant to have. Rather than dawddle on her thoughts she turned on her heel, making her way towards the building¡¯s fire escape. While she descended into the city, her senses were filled with all the things that were muffled as high up as she had been. The sounds of transportation, the murmur of street vendors, the taste of fumes emitted from various vents around the city. It was inescapable. Once you entered the city, Haven swallowed you whole. As much as Keiko might find herself at odds with the powers that be, she. couldn''t deny that this was her home. Life would certainly be easier if she could. When she reached the street level, Keiko glanced around her, taking note of the different faces going about their business. There were times when she wasn¡¯t sure if paranoia was what kept her alive or kept her on edge. It was only after she felt satisfied that no one was paying her any mind that she began to move down the street. As she walked a navy colored raincoat materialized over her jumpsuit as if out of thin air. She pulled the hood over her head and shoved her satchel under the coatinto, her eyes scanning the streets as she moved. They said it was possible to be anything or anyone in Haven. In her experience, Keiko found that statement was only partially true. It left out that becoming anyone or anything was possible ¨C for the right price. A city barely surviving meant there was no shortage of opportunist. Couple that with a corrupt government posing as law enforcement and sprinkle in the few people who were just trying to get by and, well, there was a reason many saw Haven as an ironic name. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. "Son of bitch¡­" Keiko mumbled under her breath. Twenty yards ahead of her, two figures clad in midnight-polished armor emerged. Sentinels. The enforcement arm of the whatever could be called a government in this place. In reality it was closer to the armed thugs of the people who sat at the top. Given free reign over the city, they had a habit of making anyone¡¯s hairs stand on edge. In a face off with Sentinels it was were often better to cut loses than to take them on directly. If not particularly overwhelming in their individual strength, their numbers were suffocating. They also happened to be the group that Keiko was trying to escape. Keiko pulled her raincoat tighter around her as she walked. She kept her head low, violet eyes darting around for possible escape routes. Some would call Haven a concrete jungle, others would call it a prison. Trying to figure out which exits were dead ends versus which offered salvation was just as much part of life as knowing who was trying to scam you with fake Cryo. The artificial drug was one of the most sought after substances in Haven. Ironically, she doubted Sentinels would stop her before they stopped a peddler. ¡°Relax,¡± she could almost hear Aiko¡¯s voice in her mind, ¡°Just don¡¯t panic.¡± That was easy for her to say. Keiko had always been the most tightly wound member of their crew. Which never helped her avoid looking suspicious. Just keep your head down and don¡¯t make eye-contact. It was a mantra she repeated over-and-over in her mind as each step. Act like you belong. Wasn¡¯t that what Meili was always telling her? That was easier said than done when you spent most of your time brooding atop various rooftops. She risked a glance. It wasn''t far now. Just a few more steps after they passed and she could make a run for it. "Hey!" the robotic voice emitted through the guards helt. Shit. Keiko stopped in her tracks but didn''t turn around. Her hands clutched at the satchel beneath her coat. She couldn''t go in now. She wouldn''t. "Let me see your user card," the voice from behind her demanded. "Hey, I''m talking to you!" A gloved hand reached out, yanking back Keiko''s hood. That was all it took for her to move into action. Before the Sentinel could bark his next demand, Keiko spun in the air, a roundhouse kick connecting with the side of the Sentinel''s heading him tumbling to the ground in a heap. "Is that good enough for you?" By the time his partner recovered from shock to reach for his communications device, she was gone. sprinting down the nearest alley. She could hear his call over the radio. "Rogue ve in sector 76!" "Just great." In no time this place would be swarming with Sentinels. She made a turn and skidded to a halt in front of some piles of trash. "This is a terrible idea," Keiko muttered to herself. Still, what choice did she have? Quickly taking off the satchel she wore she buried it beneath piles of trash. Noticing a stray cat standing to the side, she reached out to stroke its orange fur. "Watch over this for me, okay? I''ll be back for it." With that she took off running down the alley, the sound of approaching Sentinels hot on her heels. Chapter 1: Beginnings Today was the beginning of my new life. On its surface that sounded like a grand statement. The kind of statement that someone would make when they were graduating from university or moving to a new city. A statement that indicated some kind of monumental change or beginning of a new chapter in their life. Now, being a junior at Crestview University, none of those applied to me but it still felt like a fitting statement to make. Awaiting me was the package I had saved up over a year for. Working two jobs and taking on an odd job for hire here and there, it was a package that contained the device that would change my life forever. Well, at least if all the promotions and reviews were to be believed. And if my video watch history was any indication it was safe to say I was thoroughly convinced. There was a reason the company that created the device was soaring to the top of the Forbes 500 list after all. ¡°Atticus! Are you coming to the quad today?¡± a voice called out to me. I looked over my shoulder, spotting Dennis, a young man from my engineering class. I barely gave him a wave back, not stopping or slowing my stride, ¡°Sorry, I¡¯ve got, uh, an essay to write! Maybe tomorrow!¡± ¡°But midterms just ended!¡± ¡°You know how it is! I¡¯ve got to make up extra credits! I¡¯ll tell you about it some other time!¡± I shouted back. I glimpsed a confused expression on the auburn hair boy¡¯s features as I returned to the task at hand. Every word I had just spoken to Dennis had been a bold faced lie. But it wasn¡¯t my fault. I couldn¡¯t afford any distractions today, hell, maybe even for the next week. If Dennis knew what I was about to begin I was sure he would understand. But given the price tag and the fever for it, I was a little paranoid about shouting it out while surrounded by other students. I adjusted the strap of my school bag on my shoulder and made a beeline for the Student Commons to pick up my package. No more distractions.
¡°What¡¯s the name again?¡± ¡°Atticus Briggs,¡± I said, a hint of irritation in my voice. ¡°Room 310.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± The elderly lady at the mail pick-up peered over her reading glasses, her chin tilted up slightly. Her eyes were scanning the computer screen in front of her in the same blank expression that they had been for the past fifteen minutes. I had been ready to blow a gasket at ten, now I was practically about to combust. ¡°And you received an email saying your package was here?¡± she questioned. ¡°You know sometimes people show up here when they haven¡¯t received a confirmation message yet.¡± ¡°No, no. I received an email,¡± I replied. ¡°No?¡± ¡°No! Yes! Yes, I received an email. I just ¨C it should be here.¡± ¡°Let me look again, you said Room 210?¡± ¡°310.¡± ¡°310, that¡¯s right.¡± With that she turned away from the computer and disappeared to the back to investigate the packages. I could only stare, my eye twitching slightly. Was she messing with me? She had to be messing with me right? This was some cruel joke the universe was playing on me because it knew how desperately I had been waiting for this moment. ¡°Ah, here we are!¡± her voice called from the back. I watched as the elderly lady emerged from the back, lifting a package that had to be nearly twice her size. ¡°A-are you okay?¡± I asked, my irritation at her giving way to concern. She let out a grunt as she placed the package onto the counter, ¡°Oh I¡¯m fine. It was hidden behind some other packages.¡± Leaning forward, her voice lowered, ¡°One of the student employees might have been trying to get the goods for themself.¡± She winked and I could only look at her dumbfounded. ¡°You know what this is?¡± I asked. ¡°Of course I do!¡± she exclaimed, ¡°You aren¡¯t the only student to have one of these come in. And between you and me, I have my own unit at home.¡± I could only laugh in disbelief. Well, I guess they said don¡¯t judge a book by its cover for a reason. Truth be told, I shouldn¡¯t have been so shocked. From everything I had read, it claimed to offer an experience for all ages. Though, I was slightly concerned at how many packages she might be lifting like that on a regular basis. ¡°Just sign there for me saying you checked out your package,¡± she said, sliding me a clipboard. I obliged, quickly writing down something that was more akin to chicken scratch than a signature. As I moved to grab the package, the elderly woman placed a hand on the box and looked at me with a twinkle in her eye. ¡°A word of advice, don¡¯t forget to use the bathroom before you jack in.¡± I laughed a little awkwardly, ¡°Thanks, ma¡¯am.¡± In reality that was probably the most solid piece of advice anyone could have given me. With one last expression of gratitude I picked up the box and sprinted towards my dorm, nearly knocking more than a few people in the process.
¡°You¡¯re late!¡± a voice shouted through my computer speakers. ¡°I know, I know. I got held up,¡± I replied, a stressed tone to my voice. I was currently in the process of clearing room in what space the single dorm provided me, which wasn''t much. In hindsight, I should have taken the chance to move off campus this semester. I likely would have if I hadn¡¯t been saving every extra cent not spent on necessities to go towards this device. Currently watching the chaos unfold in live time was my best friend, Finn Olsson. His glasses sat on his nose as he peered at me through the camera on his laptop. Finn had actually been one of the key motivating factors in why I had invested everything I had into this. Sure, when VirtuaCorp announced their project my interest peaked. It was only after hearing Finn testimony on what Virtua was like that I found myself utterly convinced on what I wanted my goal to be. ¡°How long did you say set-up takes?¡± I asked, dragging a chair across the room. ¡°For the first time? Maybe twenty minutes at most,¡± Finn said, opening a bag of chips, ¡°They say it can vary depending on each individual person but I¡¯ve never heard of anyone having issues.¡± ¡°Would they even tell us if they had?¡± I questioned. ¡°Probably not,¡± he replied, ¡°But I¡¯m sure it¡¯s fine. I¡¯ve been using it for over a year now and I haven¡¯t had any issues. Just be wary of motion sickness the first time you jack-in.¡± Jack-in. It was a term both Finn and the elderly mail-woman had used. It was a phrase that every VirtuaScape user used, though in practice there was no ¡®jacking in¡¯ required. In truth no one knew exactly the technology behind the VirtuaScape. It was far above what a third year engineering student like myself understood. Naturally, VirtuaCorp hadn¡¯t exactly been forthcoming on their patents and industry secrets either. As a result, most of the information on exactly how the VirtuaScape worked was nothing more than internet theories. What we did know for sure was that the helmet shaped visor performed some sort of biological scan. That combined with the body jumpsuit enabled the user to be fully immersed and interact in the world of Virtua. Naturally, there was a larger discourse over the whole thing. For example, the risks associated with one company having this kind of detailed information on its users. Not to mention the potential risks of something going wrong that Finn had brushed aside. At the end of the day for many the rewards outweigh the risks. Myself included. Besides, if it was really dangerous it wouldn¡¯t be so popular, right? Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. ¡°Alright, I think I¡¯m ready,¡± I finally announced. ¡°About time!¡± ¡°You just sat there eating chips, don¡¯t act like it was a struggle for you,¡± I said. ¡°Watching you clean was a struggle actually,¡± Finn chirped in response. ¡°Yeah, yeah,¡± I rolled my eyes, ¡°Are we doing this or what?¡± ¡°Yes! Get started and accept my friend invite once you¡¯re in,¡± Finn said, ¡°I can¡¯t wait to show you around. Try not to lose it.¡± His words were enough for my excitement to start blooming in full effect again. It had waned slightly in the drudge of cleaning up my room but was now coming back even stronger than before. Whatever caution or concerns that had come up had begun to creep back into my subconscious where I wouldn¡¯t be bothered by them. I moved to my computer and looked at the camera that was directing my feed to Finn. ¡°Next time I see you I¡¯ll be in Virtua,¡± I said. Finn gave me a soldier¡¯s salute before he signed off. I quickly grabbed my headset and moved to my bed. Unlike primitive virtual reality tech, with the VirtuaScape your body and mind were entirely immersed into the world. On the brightside, that meant no flailing around looking like a buffoon with a headset on. On the downside, you were disconnected from your body in the real world so it was best to make sure you didn¡¯t leave the stove on. They claimed that there were safeguards to detect external sensors like temperature that would disconnect you from the server but it wasn¡¯t something I was keen on testing. Speaking of which, I quickly placed my headset down and ran to the bathroom. A few moments later I was laying in bed, visor on and ready to begin. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s do this,¡± I muttered to myself. The VirtuaCorp logo came to life in front of my face. I clicked through a few prompts and was guided through the first time set-up. Language, Accessibility options, Terms of Service; it was all standard stuff that I didn¡¯t bother to read. A health and safety warning popped up briefly, warning against using the VirtuaScape if a user had certain health conditions. Skip. Finally, I reached the end of the set-up. ¡°Please hold for biometric scanning,¡± A feminine automated voice came out of the headset. I didn¡¯t know what I had been expecting; a flash of light, maybe some kind of tingling, or x-ray sensation. But in the end it was over before I had even realized it. I guess not everything was like in the movies. ¡°Biometric scan complete. Preparing for entry into Virtua. Welcome to a new beginning.¡± Those were the last words before my world went dark. When I came to, I was no longer laying on my bed but I was standing on my feet, surrounded by white for as far as the eye could see. ¡°Is this¡­¡± I looked at my hands, they seemed to be fine. I touched my face, felt my lips, nose, and eyes; everything seemed to be intact. More than that, everything felt just how it did in real life. The level of fidelity on my avatar was incredible. I couldn¡¯t help but laugh and marvel at how insane this was. ¡°It¡¯s actually real!¡± I glanced down, ¡°Oh. It¡¯s very real.¡± I was completely naked and given proof that the biometric scan had copied every inch of my information. I¡¯d be lying if I said I hadn¡¯t heard of some of the extracurricular activities that took place inside Virtua but I hadn¡¯t been expecting to see myself in the nude upon first entry. As if the very system had read my mind, a digital screen came up to life in front of me. Displayed on it was a selection of clothes which, judging from the look of them, were different sets of beginning outfits. There was another tab for hairstyles and color, and even make-up. But that was all. Given that a user¡¯s individual biometrics were used there were no sliders or customizations available to make physical changes to one¡¯s appearance inside Virtua. ¡°There goes any hope of making myself taller,¡± I muttered. I touched the first option, a ragged brown shirt with matching beige pants. In an instant the selected clothes materialized onto my form, fitting as if they were custom made for my exact dimensions. Hearing reviewers describe the experience in videos was one thing, but getting to experience it first hand simply left me in awe. ¡°This is awesome,¡± I muttered. Though, admittedly, the choice of outfit was not. I quickly switched through the various options laid out to me. Like any online game, the pickings for starter gear were slim. Which made even more sense with Virtua considering it was said to have a whole living breathing economy run, for the most part, by real players. I finally settled on an outfit that consisted of a black techwear jacket over a white shirt with matching pants. Not exactly what I¡¯d call a unique look but perfect for the world I was about to enter. I switched tabs to the hair selector and a mirror appeared in front of me. To be honest, I kind of liked my hair. A bit shaggy and in need of a haircut but nothing to be ashamed of. On the other hand, this was the opportunity to live a new life. Did I really want to be the generic guy who looked exactly as he did in the real world? Giving into a self-imposed pressure I began cycling through the various presets. What was the most startling was that each different hairstyle I tried on seemed as real as the original. I could run my fingers through strands of hair and not be able to tell that it wasn¡¯t real. Just who was behind all of this? What kind of genius was locked away at VirtuaCorp that we didn¡¯t know about? Putting aside my wonder for a moment, I finally settled on a hairstyle. I kept it short, with ends that seemed to defy gravity as a few spiked in different directions. Silver hair was something I would absolutely never try in my everyday life but here? What harm could it do? After all, I could always change it whenever I wanted to. Satisfied with my choices I pressed the continue tab and waited as the display and mirror disappeared, leaving me in the white void alone. ¡°Congratulations, you¡¯re ready to enter the world of Virtua.¡± I spun around and saw a woman standing behind me. A very tall, very beautiful woman. I shifted slightly, as if trying to make myself more presentable before realizing how ridiculous that was. She had long hair, the shade of midnight that framed her face and fell past her shoulders. Her face was pristine; an oval shape with high, accented cheekbones. I was not an English major but I couldn¡¯t help feeling there were any number of adjectives that could be used to describe her beauty. Her eyes had a mysterious but welcoming twinkle in them as her lips formed a welcoming smile. ¡°Are you¡­the creator?¡± I asked hesitantly. She laughed, covering her mouth with her hand. Her voice had an almost angelic tone to it. As if her voice was perfectly created to cater to the human ear. It was both nice and unsettling at the same time. Between her voice and her appearance I began to wonder if everything about her was crafted to be perfect in the eyes of the beholder. ¡°No, I am not,¡± she replied. ¡°I am ATHENA, your guide to Virtua as a new user.¡± ¡°Guide? Didn¡¯t I already do the settings setup?¡± I questioned. ¡°That was different. I¡¯m here to answer any question new users might have before entering the realm of Virtua.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± I couldn¡¯t hide the disappointment in my voice, ¡°So you¡¯re not a real person?¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid not. I am a ve designated with user greetings and administrative duties,¡± she explained, ¡°ve, virtual entities, or non-player characters as you might commonly know them, can be found throughout Virtua serving various roles from store owners, to civilians, companions for hire, and even in some unexpected places.¡± ¡°That makes sense. Even with a billion users there¡¯s going to be a need for some blank faces to fill in,¡± I reasoned. ¡°Uh¡­Is there anything I should know before I go in? Anything new users typically ask?¡± Sure, I had gone over a dozen new user articles on the internet explaining what to do and not do but I was here talking to an administrative ve. I also had Finn waiting on the other side to answer any questions but he was often light on specifics. If there was ever a time to get some more information it was now. It took me a moment to realize that ATHENA hadn¡¯t yet responded to my question. In fact, she¡¯d gone dead silent. At first I thought she might be running through whatever database of new user entries she had stored to find a suitable answer. However, when the silence continued I began to wonder if she had somehow glitched. ¡°Hello? ATHENA?¡± I waved a hand in front of her face, ¡°Great. Just my luck, something goes wrong on the first entry.¡± ¡°In the world you are about to see, not everything is as it seems.¡± ATHENA suddenly speaking up nearly caused me to jump backwards in surprise, ¡°A-ATHENA?¡± ¡°She will need your help to set them free. You will need her help, to achieve your own dreams. Or else, you might never get out.¡± Her words were spoken while staring straight at me, almost as if she was looking right into my digital soul. And what the hell did she mean by might never get out?! ¡°I-I think I¡¯m ready to end the tutorial now,¡± I stammered. ATHENA was silent again before she blinked a few times, ¡°Well, did you have any questions for me?¡± ¡°What? What do you mean! What the hell was that!¡± I exclaimed. ¡°What was what?¡± ¡°That! ¡®She will need your help¡¯? ¡®You might never get out¡¯? The words you just said to me?!¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I have no recollection of such a conversation occurring,¡± ATHENA said, her perfect smile feeling less charming and slightly uneasy now. ¡°If you ever want to disconnect from Virtua, you can do so through the settings tab in your menu.¡± I could only stare at the ve with a flabbergasted expression. Was this some kind of joke? A prank played on new players just to mess with their heads? The caution and concern that had been pushed to the depths of my mind were slowly starting to creep up again. ¡°If there are no further questions, you may select your starting location,¡± ATHENA continued, unphased by my shock. ¡°Uh, H-haven,¡± I managed to remember Finn''s instructions. ¡°Beginning transmission to Haven. Enjoy your stay, and welcome to Virtua.¡± I was baffled to say the least. Had I just imagined that interaction? There was no time to find out. I could only watch as the white world around me began to turn into streaks of color. The last thing I saw was ATHENA¡¯s slowly fading smile. Chapter 2: Welcome to Haven ¡°Isn¡¯t this amazing? What did I tell you!¡± Despite the low quality air that was undoubtedly filling my lungs from the moment I materialized into Haven, I had to admit: this was amazing. Finn''s stories hadn¡¯t done it justice. Even the in-depth reviews failed to convey just what it would be like to finally walk around inside Virtua. Literally. Despite knowing my body was back in my dorm room laying still, I felt like I was walking on a city street in every meaning of the word. ¡°Actually, I think if anything you undersold it,¡± I said, refusing to give him full credit. ¡°This place is like¡­it¡¯s like nothing I could¡¯ve imagined.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t get old either. I swear every time I log in I¡¯m amazed by something new,¡± Finn said. That wasn¡¯t hard to believe. It had been a whirlwind since I arrived and immediately sent Finn a friend request. A part of me still hadn¡¯t settled from the disorientation from my welcome session with ATHENA but it was largely outweighed by the overwhelming fact that I was walking around in what might as well be a full-fledged city. One of the first lessons Finn had given me was the distinction between players and ve. As Finn went on about some of the key spots in Haven, I spotted a woman passing by across the street. A woman beautiful enough that my jaw went slack and my neck turned shamelessly to look at her as she stopped outside a shop window. She was dressed in a slick, burgundy dress that hugged her curvy frame in all the right places. Her red hair fell down her back, her bangs tucked neatly behind her ear. Electric blue eye-liner lined her eyes, which from a distance appeared to be a darker shade. I nearly made my way across the street if only to get a better look at her seemingly perfect features. A thought crossed my mind as I stared: was this what it was like to spot a model in real-life? ¡°Finn, hey, Finn,¡± I tapped him on the shoulder. ¡°Look at her. Does every girl look like her here?¡± ¡°Hm?¡± Finn turned his head in interest but immediately a frown formed on his features, ¡°Man, that¡¯s not a user that¡¯s an ve. If you look at someone and don¡¯t see a username above their head then they aren¡¯t a real person.¡± I looked at the woman for a moment longer before I turned to look at Finn. After five seconds it was just as he said, his username appeared in lowercase neon letters surrounded by brackets. ¡°Does it really matter? I mean she¡¯s gorgeous,¡± I said. ¡°Does it matter,¡± Finn rolled his eyes and sighed. ¡°God, you¡¯re such a newbie.¡± I looked startled as he pulled a handgun from his side. Its design was sleek and like nothing I had seen in the real world. It looked more like something out of a sci-fi movie, which, given our setting I supposed, was fitting. ¡°You can¡¯t do this,¡± he pointed his gun at a passerby and pulled the trigger. Immediately, ¡°To a user.¡± ¡°What the fuck?! Finn?!¡± I shouted, my face stricken with distress. ¡°Relax, man, it was a ve. See, no username. No lootdrop,¡± Finn shrugged. ¡°Still, that¡¯s fucking psychotic!¡± I couldn¡¯t take my eyes off the now lifeless digital corpse laying on the sidewalk. ¡°Atticus, you¡¯ve got to relax. Besides, look around you, does anyone seem to care?¡± I did as he said, glancing around. Anyone that came up as a user seemed completely unphased. In fact, most were busy doing their own thing or minding their own business. Some of the passing ve¡¯s gave us a weary look but ultimately no one said anything and no one stopped to show concern for their now dead compatriot. ¡°See? This is Haven, this is par for the course around here,¡± Finn said with a smirk, as he patted me on the back, ¡°You¡¯ll get used to it. Now if this was one of those medieval worlds you might be in trouble.¡± I still had a hard time wrapping my head around what he was explaining to me. Sure, I knew part of the appeal of Virtua was the escapism and wish fulfillment that it offered. You could be a paper pusher in your real life and a kingpin in Haven. But did that mean just killing blindly? I mean, the ve had looked human. Even the blood that had gushed from him was real enough to make my stomach turn. Maybe I should¡¯ve started out in a more beginner friendly world. ¡°Are you coming?¡± Finn called from a few paces ahead of me. I snapped out of my thoughts and finally looked away from the corpse on the ground. I glanced across the street but saw that the red-haired woman had disappeared. I stowed away my disappointment and followed after my best friend. ¡°Listen, you¡¯re going to get laid in Haven, okay. But your first hook up can¡¯t be with a ve. That¡¯s like cheating,¡± Finn began. I nearly asked him if it really mattered but I was scared of what kind of example he might whip out next. At the very least I didn¡¯t want him to murder a passing NPC just to prove a point. ¡°Is that where we¡¯re going now?¡± I asked. ¡°No, no. Now we¡¯re going to the weapon shop. You are woefully, underprepared for a city like this,¡± he said. ¡°You told me to come here.¡± ¡°I know, that¡¯s why I¡¯m going to spot you a weapon this time. Next time, though, it¡¯ll cost you.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but notice that Finn carried himself with a certain confidence that he didn¡¯t have in the real world. Was that what playing Virtua for a year did to someone? It made sense. Outside he might just be another college student but here¡­well, he was clearly someone. I wondered how much of that had to do with the city itself. Haven looked like the kind of place that shaped a person for better or worse. From the towering skyscrapers that blotted out the sky, to the vibrant neon lights that only made the ugliest parts of the city shine: it was clear this place had character. It was dangerous and I could feel myself getting sucked in with every step I took. How on earth could the real world compare to this? I knew that was a potentially harmful line of thought to go down, but I couldn¡¯t help it. It was like something out of fiction had been made reality. No wonder people got addicted. ¡°Here we are: Steele Ammunition!¡± Finn declared as he stopped in front of a shop. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. I looked up at the small sign. It had certainly seen better days. Some of the lights in the letters had gone out, and some letters were downright missing. The building looked narrow from the outside, tucked between two larger buildings like it had to suck in its stomach just to fit. ¡°Looks quaint,¡± I said. ¡°Looks can be deceiving. Besides, you won¡¯t find better deals anywhere else. Come on.¡± Finn led the way inside and he was partially right. There was a bit more space once inside. The dirty walls were illuminated by the few lights that were left, a few of them flickering on their last legs. Not that anyone was there to judge the decor. Neon signs cast a glow on the hardware that people were really there for: weapons of all shapes and sizes that lined the walls. There was a smell of metal and oil in the air, mixing with a tinge of electricity burns. It was clear the shop had seen better days ¨C or maybe it was always this beat-up. One thing was for sure; it had lots, and lots of guns. ¡°Is that you, Finn?¡± a voice called from the back of the shop. A stout, burly man emerged from behind a workbench and piles of boxes that had to be considered some kind of fire hazard. He was a balding man with round cheeks. What hair didn¡¯t exist on his head had fled to his face where a mustache that was decidedly not in line with the theme of the world twirled at the ends. Well, they did say you could be anyone. As I watched him waddle up to the front counter I noticed the username that flashed above his head, just as Finn said it would. It made me wonder just who this man was in his real life. ¡°I see you¡¯ve brought a friend,¡± the stout man assessed me. ¡°A little thin on the bones.¡± Finn laughed, ¡°Go easy on him, he¡¯s new.¡± ¡°Ah, so he¡¯s fresh meat!¡± ¡°That look in your eye makes me nervous,¡± I said uneasily. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, he¡¯s just salivating over the idea of gauging you for your creds,¡± Finn said as he placed a hand on my shoulder. ¡°Unfortunately, this one is on me, Gus. Gus meet Atticus, Atticus meet Gus.¡± ¡°A pleasure to meet you,¡± Gus said. ¡°Likewise.¡± He extended a grubby paw in my direction to which I returned the gesture, not expecting to nearly have my arm pulled out of its socket as he gave it a hearty shake. He was stronger than he looked. My reaction must have been written all across my features as Gus let out a hearty laugh. ¡°Rule number one of Haven, kid, never judge a book by its cover.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡±. As I rubbed my shoulder it struck me for the first time that I could feel the soreness. ¡°So you¡¯re getting your first weapon, eh? Can¡¯t do much in this city without one,¡± Gus said as he settled himself into a chair. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Oh, yeah,¡± he waved a meaty hand, ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong, people find work doing all kinds of things in this world. What do those ads say: you can be anyone. It¡¯s just for most people that means getting involved in some kind of crime. Not to mention you need them for most bounty chasing and any ¡®quests¡¯ you might get.¡± ¡°I guess that makes sense,¡± I said. ¡°Jeez, you really brought me a green one didn¡¯t you, Finn,¡± Gus barked a fit of laughter. ¡°I haven¡¯t gotten around to filling him in on everything!¡± Finn retorted, ¡°I wanted him to experience it for himself.¡± ¡°I suppose that¡¯s fair enough. So, what¡¯ll it be, Atticus? Weapon of choice? We¡¯ve got Disruptors, Shredders, Incinerators ¨C ¡± ¡°Whoa, whoa, I¡¯m not made of creds now, Gus.¡± The weaponsmith gave another one of his hearty chuckles, a mischievous twinkle in his eye. ¡°It was worth a try. So it¡¯ll be a Scrambler then.¡± For a moment, he disappeared beneath the counter and I was left to wonder where exactly he would fit under there. Before I could raise my question he emerged and placed a pistol on the counter with a thud. It certainly didn¡¯t look as stylish as the one Finn had flipped out earlier. Though, given how easily he had blasted a hole in someone¡¯s face, maybe something less sophisticated wasn¡¯t a bad idea to start with. ¡°She might not look like much but she packs a punch in a jam.¡± I picked it up from the counter and weighed the weapon in my hand. It was slightly awkward as outside of a nerf gun and the toys in the arcade I had never actually held a weapon in my hands. ¡°It¡¯s heavy,¡± I noted. ¡°Of course, it is, ¡°Gus laughed, ¡°It¡¯s the real thing!¡± The real thing. The conviction that Gus spoke with nearly convinced me. If I hadn¡¯t just put a headset on an hour beforehand I might¡¯ve even believed him. It certainly felt real. Or at least what I imagined a real weapon would feel like. ¡°So, what do you think?¡± Finn asked. ¡°You¡¯re the one paying aren¡¯t you?¡± I elbowed him in the ribs, ¡°We¡¯ll take it.¡± ¡°Perfect! And as a newcomer special, I¡¯ll even throw in some extra ammunition,¡± Gus declared. ¡°You¡¯re too gracious as always, Gus,¡± Finn said. ¡°Only at a price!¡± He winked at me as Finn stepped towards the counter. He placed his wrist against the only piece of tech that didn¡¯t look like it was worn down which beeped for a moment before flashing green. ¡°Don¡¯t say I never got you anything,¡± he said as he turned towards me. There was a brief notification that flashed showing that I had received a carton of ammunition. My eyebrows raised and I looked at the shop keeper. Gus merely gave me a toothy smile and a wave. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s head out. See you around, Gus!¡± Finn called back as we exited the store. ¡°Damn, looks like the rain arrived.¡± I looked up to see that the skies had darkened and rain pattered against the ground. Some had pulled out umbrellas while others seemed completely unphased by the change in weather. The toxic haze mixed with the rain giving the city an eerie, atmospheric fog. It made the giant metal buildings look like industrial giants, towering over us. I had to admit, it had its own soothing beauty, especially with the rain falling like this. For a moment, I merely stood and took in the change in weather. The smell of the rain was what struck me most. Its scent was authentic. Startlingly so. More than that I could feel the rain drops as they fell onto my head, soaking my silver hair and falling down my cheeks in wet streaks. I extended the palm of my hand and watched as droplets splashed and spread across my skin, providing a cool sensation. There was only one thought that ran through my mind: this world was incredible. I looked over at Finn to see he was now donning a raincoat. I reached for the hood of my own jacket and pulled it over my head. ¡°So what¡¯s next?¡± ¡°Whatever you want! I was thinking we could find you a girl or ¨C ¡± His sentence was cut off by the sound of a notification alert. Finn went silent for a moment as he pulled up some screen that was invisible to me. Suddenly, a wide smile spread across his features. ¡°Oh, this is perfect!¡± ¡°What is?¡± I asked, still in the dark. ¡°They just put a bounty out that we can collect. Looks like it¡¯s nearby too.¡± ¡°A bounty?¡± Finn was already on the move, ¡°I¡¯ll explain it later. All you need to know is people put out bounties, anyone can do it from your grandma to the mayor. You collect the bounty, you get money. It¡¯s one of the easiest ways for beginners to earn some cash. Assuming you don¡¯t bite off more than you can chew and you get there before anyone else.¡± ¡°Makes sense,¡± I said, feeling a mixture of nerves and excitement knotted together, ¡°You said it was nearby?¡± Finn nodded, ¡°It says they were last spotted in the Kizuna District which is right around the corner. If we¡¯re lucky we¡¯ll beat anyone else to it.¡± ¡°Who are we looking for exactly?¡± ¡°Some girl apparently. Doesn¡¯t seem like it¡¯s anything major so this should be a piece of cake if we find her before anyone else,¡± Finn said as he picked up the pace. What other choice did I have but to take his word for it. Chapter 3: Bounty Hunters This was not how my first bounty hunting mission was supposed to go. When Finn had spouted off about chasing down my first bounty I had blindly followed his instructions. I had expected a fun and easy first ¡®quest¡¯ so to speak. Something exciting to get my feet wet. I¡¯d finally be jumping into the nitty gritty of what Haven had to offer. In hindsight, I might¡¯ve been a bit naive in my approach to the whole thing. Or maybe simply ignorant. Given there was currently a gun held in my face it safe to say maybe it was more than a bit. I stared down the barrel of my own Scrambler, completely defenseless. I looked the woman who was holding it in the eye. Which, given her voluptuous body and crimson, skin tight jumpsuit was no easy feat. Finn hadn¡¯t exactly described who we had been looking for which meant I had pulled my gun on the first suspicious person I came across in a dark alley. The fact that she had disarmed me and turned the tables faster than I could blink didn¡¯t rule out whether she was the bounty or not. It just meant I was no longer in the position to ask any questions. She peered at me from behind her neon framed glasses. Her dark hair was pulled tight back into a ponytail, her head cocked to the side as she studied me. She certainly looked the part of a femme fatale cat burglar, that much was sure. Though I did note that she stood out from the rest of the crowd I had come across in Haven. Whether it was her clothing or other assets was up for debate. ¡°Now, are you ready to start talking or do I have to be more persuasive?¡± the woman cooed, her voice like velvet, ¡°I¡¯d hate to have to make a mess of your pretty face.¡± I felt my cheeks flush at her words. Having a gun, my own gun, pointed at my face didn¡¯t exactly leave much room for negotiating. Not to mention with how swiftly she had disarmed me I didn¡¯t think I stood a chance of fighting my way out of here. "Uh, y-yeah,¡± I started, ¡°Listen, this is really just a big misunderstanding. I thought you were someone else.¡± It was a vague response but given I didn¡¯t know if she was the person I had been looking for or not it felt like the safer route. After all, it wasn''t technically a lie. Her head inclined with a subtle tilt, giving me the sense that she might not be buying into my simple explanation. "Did you? My, my, I wonder who you were looking for that you¡¯d draw your weapon on them first thing,¡± she mused. Her corners of her lips turned upwards in a slight smirk that was both inviting and dangerous, ¡°You should really be sure about that kind of thing. You''ll land yourself in all kinds of trouble." Clearly. Before I could respond she moved the barrel of the gun closer, letting it press into my cheek. It struck me how cold the metal felt against my skin. Even in a situation like this, this world was still giving me surreal experiences. She leaned in closer to me, indifferent to the rain that continued to fall from the skies above. Despite being situated in an alley, the overhanging buildings only offered a partial respite from the wet droplets. A lump formed in my throat and I swallowed it down, meeting her intense, green-eyed gaze. ¡°You know, it just so happens I¡¯m looking for someone as well,¡± she said, her voice saccharine, "Someone who I tracked to this location. Someone you might be working with." The cool metal pressed into my cheek. ¡°Would that¡­make you one of those bounty hunters?¡± I asked. ¡°Naughty boy,¡± she cooed, ¡°Fishing for information at a time like this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a question,¡± I replied, ¡°I mean¡­it could turn out that we¡¯re looking for the same person.¡± "Hm, would that make you my competition?" She eyed me from head to toe. Despite it just being her gaze trailing over me, I felt like she was analyzing every inch of me down to my digitized soul. "I suppose I might be willing to share the reward. Provided you give me something in exchange..." "I..." I trailed off, flustered, "I don''t know what I could offer, I mean I''m pretty new here." In fact, it was my first day but there was no reason to reveal that much to her. I already felt somewhat pathetic for trying to use the new user excuse to get out of this. Her laughter echoed off the alley walls in response, "You¡¯re cute. But you wouldn¡¯t be lying to me would you?" ¡°Do I look like someone that would lie to you?¡± I asked. Her silent response didn¡¯t give me any comfort. Another beat passed as the polluted rain continued to fall around us. The sound of droplets hitting the littered cement was the only thing that broke the long silence. That and the sound of my own heartbeat racing in my ears. I had no idea what to make of the woman holding me hostage. Was she friend or foe? Most likely, as it seemed with a lot of things in Haven so far, the answer wasn¡¯t so cut and dry. Finally a smile spread across her features. She pulled back the gun, expertly spun the weapon on her finger until the grip was facing me. ¡°I suppose it would be a waste to reset you if you¡¯re just a newcomer,¡± she said. ¡°Uh, thanks,¡± I hastily took my pistol from her grasp and stowed it away, ¡°Is there any chance I can get your name?¡± ¡°Bianca,¡± she answered, a smile forming again. She straightened and ran a hand over her firmly pressed hair, wet from the rain, "A word of advice: be careful before you go charging after something. You never know what''s around the corner in this world." ¡°I¡¯ll try to keep that in mind,¡± I replied. ¡°Good boy,¡± Bianca reached forward and patted my cheek, ¡°I¡¯ve been having so much fun with you I nearly forgot I¡¯m supposed to be doing a job.¡± ¡°A job? So you are a bounty hunter?¡± I asked. ¡°A ladies got to have her secrets, sweetheart,¡± Bianca said. She gave me a wink and before I could probe her with any further questions she leapt into the air, somersaulting backwards. She easily cleared the fence at the far end of the alleyway and just like that she was gone. I was left standing in the rain, utterly baffled by everything that had just occurred. I¡¯d likely never see her again but I doubted I¡¯d be forgetting about her anytime soon. ¡°This place is amazing,¡± I muttered. Frightening? Absolutely. That much was clear by the way my heart continued to thump against my ribcage even after the encounter was over. Yet, it was undeniably astonishing. Surreal even. Perhaps even more so due to that very reality. To think everything that had just transpired all happened while my physical body was sitting back in my dorm. That all of this hadn¡¯t been some new user tutorial but an organic accident with a real person. Or, at least I assumed so. I had been so caught up in the moment I hadn¡¯t taken the chance to check if Finn¡¯s trick on identifying users versus ve applied. Though, if I was being honest, getting her name from her lips felt much more authentic than looking up someone¡¯s usertag. It felt more real. Whatever that meant in a place like this. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. I turned on my heel and proceeded to walk back the way I had come. I doubted Finn had much better luck than I did. And if there were individuals like Bianca after the same target, I hoped for his sake that was true. Finn was a longtime citizen of Haven, sure, but I had a hard time picturing him being capable of anything that Bianca had shown off. Then again, I hadn¡¯t considered him capable of blasting someone¡¯s head off casually either. I shuddered, having forgotten the first part of my day up until now. As I walked down the alley, I spotted a cat with orange fur trotting along. Despite being simple in nature it caused me to stop and stare. I couldn¡¯t help but marvel at how even the animals looked identical to the real thing. I had assumed they had to cut corners somewhere to make this dystopian playground work. And if I had to place money on where, I¡¯d have bet that it¡¯d be in the little details one might overlook like stray animals. Instead, the cat I was looking at looked practically indistinguishable from the ones I saw in the real world. I knew at some point this effect would wear off. That I¡¯d stop seeing this gritty, grimy virtual world with such rose-tinted glasses. Hell, one day all of this might just seem normal to me. I just knew that day wouldn¡¯t be today. Besides, it was my first day still, I was allowed to marvel a bit wasn¡¯t I? I crouched down and reached for the cat. It hesitated for a moment before accepting my scratches along the back of its ears, ¡°I wish I had some food for you little guy.¡± The stray let out an affectionate sound, purring as it craned its head into my touch. He lingered for a moment longer before trotting off again. I stood and shook my head. To go from being held up by a bounty hunter to petting cats, this world really did have it all.
By the time I made it back to the main avenue, the steady rain had turned into a light drizzle. I spotted Finn¡¯s familiar figure standing almost exactly where I had left him. His arms were crossed over his chest as he leaned back against a building, watching as people walked by. From his demeanor it seemed safe to assume he hadn¡¯t run into anything like what I had. Briefly, I wondered if he had done any searching at all. ¡°Hey,¡± I called out. ¡°The hero returns,¡± Finn said, ¡°Well? Did you get her?¡± The moment I heard Finn question I was faced with the dilemma of whether to lie or not. He had already criticized me for not being up to speed on the realities of being in Haven once today. I was a little hesitant to make that twice. Not to mention the embarrassment of getting my ass handed to me. ¡°No. No, luck,¡± I lied, ¡°You?¡± ¡°Nah,¡± he said, scratching the back of his neck, ¡°Damn Sentinels probably got to her by now anyway.¡± Unlikely, I thought. ¡°Are they players too? The Sentinels I mean.¡± ¡°Hm? Oh, right. I didn¡¯t really explain it before we split. But no, they¡¯re just system ve. The catch is they¡¯re controlled by a player. Well, technically the city council but everyone knows there¡¯s only one person there calling the shots. Enforcers are the users with a badge. Technically, they¡¯re above Sentinels but they answer to the same person. Between you and me I think they¡¯re corrupt but apparently they get all kinds of benefits.¡± ¡°So then why have the bounty system at all?¡± I asked. Finn laughed and clasped a hand on my shoulder, ¡°Come on, Att, this is Haven! You think we give a shit just because there might be some power-tripping moderators who could handle it? Besides, the bounties are still a way for us little guys to earn some creds. Some people have made a living off of it.¡± ¡°And the target? Who was she anyway? Does the system tell you?¡± I asked. ¡°No idea,¡± Finn shrugged. ¡°Just said that she was wanted for theft. Most were stolen from one of the wealthier users if they could afford to post a bounty.¡± He paused, stretching his limbs for a moment, ¡°Either way, she¡¯s someone else¡¯s problem now. Bounty hunting is a good side job when you¡¯re getting started but the ones who take it seriously are a little over the top.¡± I briefly thought of Bianca. Over the top definitely fit her description. She had given off the sense of a bounty hunter more than some law enforcement but who was I to say. Finn pushed off the wall and gestured for me to follow him, ¡°Let¡¯s get some grub. All this running around made me work up an appetite.¡± We weaved our way among the crowd, the day slowly shifting to night. The fact that he had used the phrase worked up an appetite in Haven was a bit jarring. The fact that my own stomach was rumbling was even more startling. I looked at my menu and saw that the time had already shifted past six o¡¯clock outside the game. ¡°Hey,¡± I started as we walked, ¡°There¡¯s one more thing.¡± He looked over his shoulder at me, ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°The bounty system, do they ever mark ve as targets?¡± ¡°You mean like some kind of rogue NPCs for users to chase down? Not that I¡¯ve heard of,¡± Finn replied, ¡°No Deckard action here. On the forum there¡¯s been theories that it¡¯d make the world feel too much like a game. If you¡¯re chasing another user there¡¯s a human element to it. Actions, consequences, all of that.¡± ¡°Huh. I guess that makes sense,¡± I said, a slight frown on my face. Personally, I still hadn¡¯t figured out what the percentage was between life simulator versus virtual game when it came to this world. ¡°The ve are just supposed to make the world feel more alive. Well, that and get suckers like you hard for some easy money.¡± I felt my cheeks redden with embarrassment and I shoved my best friend in the shoulder. ¡°Fuck off! That was one time okay! And I didn¡¯t know!¡± Finn burst into laughter, clutching at his sides, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Att, you aren¡¯t the first one and you won¡¯t be the last. I¡¯m pretty sure there¡¯s a whole market for that kind of thing in here. Some people even speculate it¡¯s how the company makes some money back under the table.¡± I didn¡¯t respond, instead choosing to fall silent as we walked. It was partially because I didn¡¯t want to incriminate myself further by inquiring about that kind of market. How was it my fault an NPC had been one of the most beautiful women I had ever seen? If anyone should be blamed it should be the developers. There was also another aspect of it. The implication that there could be a user generated market for those kinds of services. Or the conspiracy that VirtuaCorp might be condoning or even running such markets on their own. It honestly didn''t sound that far-fetched. If anything it was a reminder of just how much Haven had to offer, for better or worse. There was still so much I didn¡¯t understand. The neon lights and filter of smog seemed to paint a straightforward picture: a dystopian playground for anyone to enjoy. In some twisted way it was a user¡¯s paradise. But then there were the little things I had gotten a glimpse of today. Watching a shady gang of users from across the street; the detached view of ve, the underground markets and services that Finn alluded to. I could tell that there was still so much I didn¡¯t know. Some of it I might not even want to know and yet I found myself wanting to learn more regardless. This place was like an addiction. ¡°Hey, did you hear me?¡± Finn¡¯s voice snapped me from my thoughts. ¡°Huh? What was that?¡± ¡°I was asking what are you in the mood for? I want to put you through the taste test,¡± Finn repeated himself. ¡°Uh, what do they have?¡± I asked. ¡°Literally everything. It¡¯s all synthetic in Haven, they can make whatever you want.¡± That sounded, well, less than appetizing, but Finn seemed excited by it by the way he carried on. ¡°The best part is there¡¯s no calories. Though I¡¯ve never been able to just binge eat. Weirdly enough you can still feel full,¡± he said. The expression on my face must have said it all because Finn reached over and grabbed me by the shoulder, pulling me into stride with him, ¡°I know it sounds weird but you get used to it. Besides, the food tastes amazing. Trust me.¡± ¡°You know I¡¯ve been doing more trusting today than I have our whole friendship,¡± I joked. ¡°Oh, come on! I haven¡¯t steered you wrong yet,¡± Finn protested. ¡°Aside from ¨C¡± I caught myself from blurting out the rest of that sentence. Aside from getting assaulted in an alley. ¡°...aside from sending me on a goose chase with the promise of glory?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± he nodded with a shameless grin, ¡°Aside from that.¡± I rolled my eyes but found myself unable to shake free from his grasp. After all, what was a ten year friendship if it couldn¡¯t survive a few gaffs in the virtual world. In fact, I don¡¯t think Finn viewed them as gaffs at all. If anything he seemed more carefree than ever. Resigned t9 my fate I gave a small sigh. ¡°Alright, do they have any kind of sushi around here?¡± I asked. ¡°Only the freshest sushi you¡¯ve ever tasted,¡± Finn replied, his grin growing. ¡°We¡¯ll see about that.¡± I didn¡¯t know if everyday in Haven would be like this but I did know one thing: I was hooked. Chapter 4: Special Delivery nicely was subjective paying customers might want to savor the flavor too and you''re holding up a seat," Ivan grunted in response. ve to be their self-promotion bots for free. It seemed unethical and apparently went against whatever vague terms of service VirtuaCorp had. Though, I didn''t know if that was actually enforced or not. You want to be more than just someone''s hang-on right? The voice in the back of my head whispered. Midnight Hour. Ask for Dante,¡± he instructed. Okay, so I guess that was a non-answer then, I thought, Midnight Hour. Opaque windows masked the form of dancing women, tempting any passerby to come try their services. Additional neon lights directed me down a side alley where the main entrance was. At the front door, two men stood guard. Hulking and broad-shouldered it was easy to assume they were the muscle of this place. Just what was this place? I thought. some kind of club. Dancing wasn''t the goal. My eyes wandered to the side, passing open rooms, some shielded just by a wave of beaded strings or a curtain; others not obscured at all. Typically each booth had two occupants, reminding me of my first trip to a strip club for my eighteenth birthday. ve could be used as performers. For all I knew, these were real users I was seeing as waiters and working behind the curtains. shit was it effective. I found myself on one knee, clutching my stomach as the man recoiled. I looked up at the man with silver hair. He adjusted the cuffs of his suit jacket as he looked at me, almost disinterested now. That''s who the rich asshole was? ¡°Does the mayor always go around punching his constituents?¡± ve. Call it one of our specialties.¡± ve.¡± ve. Then again, I had to remind myself that this could very well fall under the category of things that you aren''t supposed to do but it''s not explicitly disallowed. Well, minus the custom part. But Dante, himself, claimed that the admins didn''t actually look into this sort of thing. ve so maybe I shouldn''t have been. ¡°Uh, yeah. Have you ever been out in the rain?¡± Weird. I walked over to them briefly wondering what were the chances that every stray in Haven was coded to look like this versus the chance that this was the same cat from a few weeks ago.