《Virtual World: Sphere - Game On: For Life》


 Chapter one, first part

    "NOOOO, you didn''t!"


    "Yes I did, little man." I loved it. These rare moment of victory, soothed the memories of him wining over me. It rarely ended like this, usually it washim, winning and grinning, me in second place. A rotating golden medal, with my nick printed on both sides, gloated in my place. The silver one, with his nick, didn''t comfort him at all. I felt satisfied and calm.


    "Race you to the garage" he said


    "No we don''t. I''m to drive nice and easy" I said, not taking his bait. He lost and he needs to grow up and understand that''s life too. OK, this wasn''t "Life" as in Real Life. We were online inside Sphere, where we just have completed a car race thru Motortown. One of the many Game Zones around this virtuel world. We shared a house and a garage there, payed by the money we have won and earned. Other people chose to spend real life money and buy Sphere Currrency to cut corners. It was even possible to buy full accounts, stacked and ready to go. St1nt and I had agreed not to spend any money on this and earn our way thru.


    "I havent'' heard you say it, St1nt" I said to him thru the voice app. It was custom that the runner up greeted the winner as "Honourable winner" to show you acknowledge your defeat. The game had an integrated voicechannel too, how ever we (and many others) chose to use other apps instead. We were onOmilia, one of the voice apps used by gamers.


    "Congratulations to Pio, theHonourable winner" Molten gold fled thru my ears and mind and a smile eased its way on my pristine face. The thought of prize money going to the bank was delightful as well.


    We met at the garage and got out of the cars. I got a bit stunned by his looks, as always, Tall, regular and just the right size of fit, black hair, warm brown eyes thru his black framed nerdy glasses, I loved so much. We met halfway between the cars, still radiating heat from the engines. We hugged. We are not a couple. We do touch and hug, sharing intimacy this way. Noah told me he had created his avatar to resemble him RL. I''ve done the same with my avatar. It''s most honest and truthfull. I treasure he feels the same. I''ve never seen him RL and I trust him with m life as he trust his with me. My heartrate always bump up a bit, when we hug and I think of this. We share a good life here, and that''s all I need for the time being. Battle buddies. Besties. Confidential.


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    "See you" I said


    "Texting soon" he said


    Familiar routines were the frame of my life. Made me comfy and made me calm. I went offline and removed my headgear and thoughts of getting up in the morning, immediately filled my head. A game, or online platform, as Sphere, was created for me. There I could be, what I struggle with here. Turning around, I focus on my tablet, ready...


    Noah held his tablet with his left hand, looked at the typed message "Breathe" and swiped Send. Seconds later he recieved his reply "Still alive". A smile grew to life on his face as he put down the tablet and went for the kitchen to get a drink. Having filled a glass with juice, he went back to his desk and chair. While taking sips of the glas, he connected to the internet, thru the connection via his VPN-server. Images cam to life and using a combination of mouse, keyboard and shortcuts, the femiliar internetsite Seek showed itself. Lifting his head a bit, his face met the wall and the printet image of Pio he had put there. She was pretty, with her brownish hair and her sweet, round face smiling back and her gorgeous eyes, a little bit enlarged, pointing towards mangastyle. She did mention she had created her avatar to look like her. If this was so, she was a princess.Princess Pio Piper the princess.


    Going thru the news, he searched for bits and info about the Spheres. Some one had found a portal, a gate way to unknown areas of the world, with other rules than the ones regulating the First Sphere, as it is called now. Rumors said that the new sphere was one big "harm zone" and not like the known "Push Zones". Lurking about on the message boards and what the ordinary players knew as "forums", screenshots appeared. A new category showed up, where everybody else was used to be "citizen", now a few players had their character changed to "Traveller". Those were the few, who had found the gateways to the other Sphere. The Harm Zone. He read posts about the new Sphere turned out to be a DnD-like world. Warriors, mages and monsters. His heartrate jumped a bit, Noah started breathing a little heavy. Turning his head, the nightview ofcity gleemed of light and white red dots below on the streets and he didn''t see it. He had other images on his mind and he just had to go seek the truth.

 Chapter one, second part

    We always have a great time, when we are having lunch at work. We sit in a little room, jokingly knows as The Nook. Old, distinguished furniture (can furniture be distinguised? If they can, they must be looking like these). The library, where we work, is in an old proud building, from the times where quality was the core. The good old days. Ms Turner surprised us with homebaked cookies, "just because" as she always put it. There are three of us, Ms Turner, Mrs Delaney and then I, Piper. The young one. The lesser experienced. The assistent. The two ladies are librarians, old school, proud, distinguised. I''m thankful, I get to work here as I learn so much from them. Maybe I should rightfully have said "the three of us, who''s left", since we have experienced lay-offs and budget-cuts. The trouble also is that, not that many actually come to our library anymore. We are specific oriented towards research and scientific matters. Universities along with private researchers come to us for help. These days they "come here" by email and thru live-chat. They talk with me. Im the one scanning articles and pages of magazines and books and mail it to them. That makes me feel kind of secure in my job, knowing the two librarians are from another timeperiode than now. I love them both and I also feel a little sad on their behalf.


    "Are you to go explore with that young man this eve?" said Ms Turner.


    "I''m afraid not", I said, "It''s thursday and we don''t meet online on Thursdays"


    "That is right", Mrs Delaney said, "and tomorrow it''s friday and you go dancing".


    "That we do, we meet on fridays and we go do something, usually dancing", I said. I blushed a tiny bit, I hoped they didn''t noticed it. "Usually we go to the Junk Yard and listen to blues music and hang out".


    I sensed they wanted to add, "like we did back in the days. For Real" as a comment on the modern life, lived online artificially. I know. I try not to believe my life should be lived online. It''s difficult not to.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    "I might get some done in the appartement we share", I said.


    "Good for you" they both smiled and said. "Now you are sharing an online home, does it mean it has now become "serious"?" Ms Turner said.


    I know what she was hinting. "No", we are not in that kind of a relationship-relationship. We just like spending time together and go explore the world", I said. I didn''t belive we were a couple. Yet. That thought made me blush a little bit again.


    "Oh, Mr Squirrel is busy today", Ms Turner said.


    Feeling relieved not being the center of attention anymore, I looked out the window. The only window in the Nook showed the Campus Park and the Ol Great Oak right outside. Sure, Mr Squirrel was busy running up and down his tree.


    Coming home from work, Noah took shoes off and got dressed in his usual "at-home"-robes. Sweatpants and a T shirt. Being online thru the headgear also meant his body was to sit in a relaxed position because of lack of physical movement. He got himself something to eat and poured something to drink. He had his meal, standing by the window. It was a new routine of his. Standing up and eating. He sat hours at work. Hours at home too. Now standing up was a luxury. He didn''t care to decorate his studioappartement much. Instead he took great pleasure by the view of the city before him. Buildings, lights. Cars going and planes flying. Thursday nights were Brawler Night as he and Tirpze met up and went Brawling. The people who ran Sphere recently added a new area to the worlds. The Pirate Bay. The world was one big sandbox and you could go anywhere you choose. One giant world, all connected and all within reach. The little worm behind his mind chewed a bit. The portal. The gate. There is a gateway to another world inside the world. Someone found their way and he ached so much to find it too. He wondered if Tirpze knew more than he did.


    Carrying plate and glass to his sink, he then visited the Loo to prepare himself for 3 hours online. He timed his online time to get the sense of Control. He longed to speak with Tirpze. As he settled in the giant beanbag he used as a gaming chair, he adjusted the headgear and connected to the computer. They had been online for ages and knew each other well. He loves her voice, it was kind of a deep velvet-like one and he felt drawn the the sound of her laughter.

 Chapter one, third part

    Lifting uphis beloved XL bean bag, Noah shaked it to loosen up the beans inside it. He then let it go and it fell to the floor in a random position. Hiscomputer was already on, his chosen viewer program for the Sphere-game was on and ready for input. Cables from his headset sloped in the air between him and the console. There were head gears out there, which were wireless, however he fancied the cabled ones. They were faster and more reliable, he believed. Placing himself on the bag, with his back to the computer, made sure he couldn''t get entagled into the wireringand cables. They were thin like a spider''s thread, and about as strong.


    Wriggling himself into a comfy position, he made sure his head had the right amount of support. Older modules of headgear had a visor, to project the screen before the eyes of the player. This newer one had sensors placed at the back of his head, close to the visual center of the brain. The advantage was faster interaction between eyes and brain, the disadvagtage was the risk of a headache, because the little bulge of sensors and the cables connecting, could add pressure if the player rested too long in a unfortunate position.


    He floated, as the starting sequence began, connecting him with the servers running Sphere. Did he remember to set the timer on his smartphone, before he tugged it into the left pocket in his pants? it was just like trying to remember if you had locked the door when leaving your home. He remembered. Yes, he had. Three hours worth, this thursday eve. He still felt baffled how the sensors inside the headgear could send impulses to his braincenters and how the simple thought of movement immediatelyresultet in him, moving inside Spheres. Tapping his fingers in different manners, made him able to open different menues, which his eyes did not see. The sensors put impulses directly into his mind and it reacted as if he his eyes had seen it in real life. Amazing. And he was inside and alive in the Sphere.


    The sound woke alive from a muffled growl to a raging roar of falling water splashing, drops flying, rainbows dancing in the wet veil. The experience always catch him off guard and he dwelved in the greatness of this pretended world. It seemed he really was alive inside the game. Everything still had this grade of artificial look. However at every update things got a little more life like. Or he got just used to this to be close to the real world. He tried to help himself, not to be entirely engulfed into the game. Real life still had to be real life. And the game still what it was, a game. The Waterfall Hub was one of his favourite spots in Sphere. They met there, Tirpze and him. Now he gazed up the waterfall as it fell towards him, down next to the platform where he was standing. His clothes didn''t get wet, nor covered in drops. He couldn''t feel the moisture in the air. He longed for that one day, when the game have liftet itself to such extreme level of realistic measues. Imagine feeling your clothes get wet. Amazing.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    She was there, next to the big sign "Waterfall Hub". They walked towards each other, smiling, sharing joy. She used her usual avatar, Babydoll from the movie "Sucker Punch". She was looking as an exact replica. Blond hair in pig tails. Big cute eyes, reddened cheeks, little sexy sailors uniform. Two handles of swords sticking up behind her back. Not that she could use swords for anything here, but push objects around, if they weren''t too heavy for such games. They turned both and walked towards the orange benches, that were placed with their back towards a low wall, with greened grass and flowers on the other side. They sat. As they always did.


    - "Greetings Ms Tirpze", he said.


    -"Greetings Mr Stint", she said.


    Formalia was kept, they both felt safe. The waterfall was a distant roar, birds chirping and other people talking made the background noise. He looked around, viewing the mix of avatars looking close to and far of other human beings. On the bench next to them, a male in denims and tshirt was talking with a lady fox. It was a lady. Her eyes and lashes gave her away. He looked up, the sky was blue.


    -"Have you been to the Pirate Bay, yet?"


    -"I have", he said and sort of knew what she was to ask next, "I haveunlocked a Waypoint closer to the beach than the main teleporter" he said. He smiled too. "Didn''t explore much though, left this to later, wanna join?"


    -"Would love to, lead the way", she said.


    Letting his fingers dance, Noahhad the travelmap appear on the HUD, Head Up Display. Findingthe Pirate Bay and the waypoint he had unlocked. Then teleported. The map vanished. His view of the area around him shrunk into a pinhole, then blackened. A Swuuuuuffff sounded in the headphones and he kind of flew into the pin hole and the world extracted beore his eyes. He was now at the Pirate Bay, standing on the ground and fulll 360 degrees world around him. Allhe had to do was turnhis head or move his body. Amazing. A path went thru between a group of palm trees, which blocked the view from seing more distant. He tapped his fingers, sending commands and the game responded. An "Invite to Join" was send to Tirpze. She could now come and unlock this waypoint herself.

 Chapter one, part A

    Due the narrow path, the party of adventures had to go single file. The mountainside they were on, sloped steep to the valley on the left. On the right, it rose towards the ridge of the vulcano crater. The only straitght and level part, where exactly where the path snaked alongside the vulcano. No trees covered for the wind, it was harsh land, where only grass and grey boulders grew. The prettiness of the sight, wasn''t what they had on their mind. Endless horison of ridges and heavens. Green valley below in its lustfulll shine of green and blue, from the river it followed. They had noticed something else along the path in front of them. Getting closer, it seemed like a little cluster of trees. The valley below was frutile, up here, not so much.


    "We should make shelter for the night, as we reach the trees", said Velvet Rider


    "If we are lucky, we can get a fire going. It seem dry up here and wood should be easy to light", Death Monger said


    "Let''s just be careful, its strange to me that trees grow exactly here where nothing else comes to life", said Quax


    "Let''s just get there and check it out", said Pixie


    The two others of the party didn''t say a word.


    At the edge of the cluster, they recognized the pinetrees. It was rather dense, considering where it grew. Each tree was approximately 8-10 yards tall, providing some shelter for the wind. A circular center of the cluster showed the remains of campfires extinguished long before now. Each tree had a bulge on the side of the trunk. almost at the top. Quax noticed the circular basket ball sized globes laying scattered, partly submerged the perimiter between trees.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    "Look how smooth these are carved" he said as he touched one.


    It started move, first a bit, then more as the dirt around it got lifted and fell to the ground. The other globes came to life. Ants. Getting out of the dirst and turning, 10-15 ants looked at them, antennas scanning and dark lifeless eyes focusinig on the invaders.


    "CONTACT" Death Monger shouted his usual War Cry.


    The adventures each reached for their weapon or readied spells to cast. Death Monger reached behind his head and firmly gripped the handle of his giant sword. Velvet Rider had her arms straight from her torso, palms close and began to move her fingers. With a Swooosh, something came fom above. A giant ball of spit, hit her hands covering them. She couldnt move her fingers as the spit hardened into a bowling ball shape and as equal heavy. Spiders came to life in the trees. Balls of web were shot, aimed at the adventures. They fought back as hard they were able to, with sword, axe, bow and spells. Death Monger dealt a tough blow to an ant which in return drenched him in acid. Cranky Mofo and his hammer did what he could do and were also met with acid and web. A spider succeeded in placing web on his right arm. Iit hardened. The weight made it difficult to make full use of his weapon. Ants sprayed him and blinded him. Ants layed diying and spiders dead. They were still an overmatch for the party of adventures. One by one ,they fell to the ground. The remaining spiders came and spun them tight. No movement were possible. The remaining ants approached the now paralyzed adventures. Each got picked up and the ants walked, with an adventurere on their backs, in single file out of the little forrest. The ants walked to what appeared to be a hole in the ground. Each adventurer was thrown into the pit of darkness and the ants returned to the pine trees.

 Chapter one, fourth part

    The bar, situated at the beach in Pirates Bay, was a "Brawler Bar" and not for the faint heartet. It was listed as a "push-zone" and it was legal to push other characters or inventory. It was all you could do, though. Push. Not break or do damage. These zones were relatively new zones, added to the gigantic map of Sphere. Other zones were safe zones. You could walk right thru another character. You could pick up an item and you could swing it. It would hit something and then nothing. Just like hitting a brickwall with a stick.These new zones were crowded, everybody wanted to try them out. And sure enough. Inside the bar, two characters were engaged in a sabre duel. One player wanted to be "authentic" and wore a wodden leg. The other one not quite as enthusiastic. No harm was done. The wooden legged pirate was lucky and had a good undeflected swing at the other. The one who was hit only moved a foot or two, to the side. Then they were at it again. It was a shame that the decor of the bar wasnt that fantastic. The usual outlay of bars in Sphere, only added a barrel or two, draped in fishing net. On the other hand, most users who frequented this particular bar these days, didn''t care much for decorations. It was the mechanics of the "push-zone" that made their heart race.


    A table, not in the corner and not in front row, was occupied by two ladies. The younger one with purple hair wildly ejecting from her skull. The mature one with an asymetric cut, that suited her face well. They both wore clothes of good taste, according their age and level of renegade blood running in their bodies. Four males approached the table, more or less images of each other. They went with biker outfits, not really suited for a pirates bar. On the other hand, they believed themself to be as outcasted as would they have been pirates. One was a bit taller, wider, heavier than the other bikers. He stood in front of the group, an inch away from the table.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    - "Roses are red, eyes be black, both you Dikes, get the F out of here", the large male said.


    - "How cute", the purple headed one said, "the barbershop boys are serenading us"


    -"We''ll serenade you with alright and then you''ll be turned straight, no question about that". The males laughed.


    -"Oh, I don''t know about that. Don''t you have to have some kind of real penis to be able to do that?", said the purple headed. The mature one let out a quiet sigh.


    The young girl leaped from her sitting position into a standing one, in one fluid move. The other ones there, were amazed by this unseen move in Sphere. Then followed an unpretty performance of flailing limbs and a leg and it was as dumb as it sounds. All five characters pushed each other around and since a hit wasn''t a hit, merely a one foot push, noone were able to follow up on their insults. As if they had made a silent agreement, all five found a chair and sat, the purple headed next to the mature one, just as before. Other people pushed their tables to where they belonged and soon it all looked as before, apart from four males and a female, trying to catch their breath. At that exact moment, the door opened and St1nt, followed by Tirpze, walked into the bar.

 Chapter one, fifth part

    I want us to feel the house is ours. Our home. Him and me. I know we are not in a true relationship type relationship. However, we do rely on each other and we are a team. We talk with each other and we share. And we can give the other one space too. Friends in a deep friendlike state. When we are not together, I design clothes and sell them i Sphere. It helps us pay our way to get online and access to a premium level here in Sphere. That''s why we can rent a piece of ground to call ours. St1nt has crerated a few apps to enrichen the experience here. They have sold faily so far. He''s gifted and once he get the time, he will create magnificent apps and help paying the bills. I really enjoy my work in RL and in here too. The one balances the other. When ''Im getting worn down one place, the other one provide me energy to keep going and get my moods up. OK, I have promised myself to be true and be as authentic I''m able to. It''s a certain tendency to overthink and to hide myself and it''s just difficult to get outside my comfort zone. Now I''m an inworld designer, I get to sell stuff that people want and sometimes they contact me to get help with my merchandize. To make it fit in a specific way and such. I''ve come a fair way so far and St1nt also noticed. Gave me a compliment because of it. He sees me. I loved it.I love when we explore and go search this world. You can never see it all and surprises may always lurk around the next corner.


    St1nt scanned the bar, turning his head from left to right. The door was behind them, in a corner. To the left, there was a long bar, tables and chairs to the right. A table in the front row was vacant, he walked directly to it and Tirpze followed him. Being the man he was, he waited for her to sit, before he sat down as well. Some guests had glasses in fron of them, all empty. You couldn''t realy drink or eat in Sphere, Glasses and plates where props to simulate the real world.


    He leaned towards her, to whisper what he had to say. Actually, it didn''t make any sense, he thought. They communicated via a secure voiceapp. In reality they both wore a headset with a microphone in front. One, more distant, layer of sound, was the real time sound inside the bar. Another layer was the conversation he and she shared. They could, with the flick of a finger, switch between different channels. He could talk loud into the room in Sphere or talk comfidentlai with her. He reasoned it was a motion to show her that what he had to share was to be confidential and between them.


    "Have you heard about the changes to Sphere?", he said. She nodded no. "There are rumors, and some proof, that Sphere is actually is Spheres. There are gateways to another world in here."


    "Are you sure it''s not only new areas that has been opened, like Pirate Bay?" she said.


    "Nope, I''ve seen screenshots. You know that on our profilepage our status says "citizen"? I''v seen screenshots of players with the satus of "Traveller", he said. "Also, the names of the charaters owning the pages, has been erased on the screenshots".Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    "Must be a hoax", she said, "how come you believe it''s true?"


    "I just know. I''ve researched online in deep secret and I''ve found traces", he said. "I would really like for us to go investigate and find these gateways.


    They both sat in silence as he gave her time to let it sink into her mind.


    "I would really like for us to go explore. Only us. You are good at solving puzzles and you are quick on responding if anything happens. This is big. We are to be pioneers", he said.


    Another great pause. He noticed her eyes flickered about and she now kind a tried not to look him in his eyes.


    "Only us? You know that I''m in a pack", she said.


    "I know that you are, you know I do. We also have had these adventures going exploring you and me. Without your pack. But... please... they are not who you want to roam about with. You are treated like crap" he said.


    It truly wasn''t going the direction he had planned. She should be all psyked up and wanting to go search right away. He knew it was a bad gesture to bad mouth another players pack. It''s just, they aren''t treating as well as he was and he needed her to follow him, he needed a wingman. Badly. He chose not to define if he wanted help her or help himself.


    What a thrill to do a good job and knowing you did a good job. The race drivers jumpsuit I''ve been working on, is almost finished. Matching set for guys and gals in black/yellow. Colors that should be for every one. I''m happy that we are able to balance being online together and each for our own. A nice touch we are able to do so and are not glued together as teen couples. It''s ratehr mature actually. I remember when my dad went practising his little league team and mom stayed home doing her thing wihtout getting interrupted. Of course Stint is allowed to go do what he does with his friends. I trust he also is OK with me doing my job here as well. We are in sync and when I think of it, i might blush a bit.


    Tirpze hadn''t said something for a while and St1nt knew he had messed up. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a group of people entering the bar. He didn''t think any of it, before he realized they were heading towards their table. He knew it before he had a glance. Her pack. Mr. A-hole in front, of course. A yellow light flashed up in his right corner of his HUD. An invite to group-chat. St1nt was about to turn the invite down and instead he accepted it, hopefully showing Tirpze he was mature and trustworthy in his conduct. No need to embarras her.


    "Telling secrets, are we?", A-holes voice was loud and crystal clear. The other male and female following A-hole as puppies smirked. He had to choose his words carefully knowing her pack and her as well were a part of the conversation. St1nt looked at her and she turned her face away. Maybe she had given them away before he did say he wanted this between them. Or maybe she gave him away to suck up to Mr. A. Anyway, his secrets of believing the rumors amd wanting go find the hidden spheres, were now in the open. Mr A knew he knew. He cringed.

 Chapter one, part B

    On the ground is placed three rocks, level at the top, like stools, They are placed in a row, 6 feet apart from the other. They are facing a larger rock, carved on the top with a level area and a foot high rim around three of its four sides. The side without a rim, is facing the stools. They all rest on a grass floor, wich continue as long the eye can see. This specefic seating is placed on a hill top with lush green and shading trees and a lovely view. A figure is resting on the thronelike rock. It is viewing the horizon and feel satisfied. With right hand stretched with three fingers pointing each at one stool, the figure mumbles the word "Arise" and three misty clouds are conjured, each hovering over its own stool. They might be a couple of feet high and one feet broad. They shimmer, each their own color. The figure, twice the size of the shimmering mists focus it''s attention to them.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    "The three of you are the Lords of these worlds. You are all different and you have all a part of the two others within you". It focuses on the white foggy cloud to the left of him, " You will mainly be driven by Good and do Good in these worlds".


    The black cloud, placed to the right, got these words, "You will mainly be driven byEvil and do Evil in these worlds".


    The last one, the red in the middle, the figure told, "You will mainly balance between empathy and passion and make empathy and passion alive in these worlds".


    The figure was silent and then said "Now go do what you have to do and go claim what is yours".


    The three clouds dissapeared and then the figure dissolved. All four is gone and a buterfly, with a pattern of blue and purple on it''s wings, flew by and sat itself slowly on the throne.