n

n

nKrow landed on the street, to the curses of people that had to swerve around him.

n

"Sorry,

" he called out.

nHe snapped the grapple line, dislodging the hook.

nAs the rope piled beside him, he gestured the whole thing, plus the still-falling hook, into his Inventory.

nHe jogged away from the scene.

nA reminder beeped, flashing yellow at the edge of his vision. He glanced at it.

nOh. It was his 14-hour warning.

nThat meant it was nearly six in the afternoon, realworld time. He looked around. It was mid-afternoon, in-game time….maybe three p.m. or close.

nKrow headed for his rented room.

nThe warehouse could wait until tomorrow.

n*

nEli turned off the gentle rolling of the bio-cradle cushions, levered his body out of the seat.

nThe wall said it was 5:48 p.m. November 5, 2095 and that it was expected to rain in the late night.

nHe stretched, removed the intravenous band wrapped around his right arm, disconnected it from the ZombieFluid container on the bio-cradle, and dropped it into a disinfectant tub. He yawned, wrapped a disinfectant strip over the area covered earlier by the band.

nOther than a slight headache and minor kinks in his joints, he felt good.

nThe whole gaming rig had cost more than he paid for the apartment. If his muscles were sore after that much, he'd definitely be mad.

nEli changed into work-out clothes.

nExercising was still…ugh. But he still went through his stretches, then jogged to the park to use the machines.

nThis was his normal now: play Redlands – exercise and sleep – play Redlands – shooting lessons he hadn't been able to get out of and walking; he hadn't been able to resist continuing his walks around the city – then restart the cycle.

nIt didn't feel normal, really.

nIt had been days as a routine. He should be used to it already, right?

nMaybe not.

nMaybe it was because he was dividing his time between two worlds?

nIt felt surreal, moving between two worlds he knew existed.

nEven if at this point, one wasn't as real as the other yet.

nIt would be easier, he mused as he started jogging on the machine, to concentrate entirely on Redlands. Just to live there and pretend it was real until it became real.

nIt would be easier than the low ache of grief he felt at every new thing he learned about Greatcentral City. Every new thing that one day he would never see again.

nYeah, he could just get food delivered and never step out of his apartment again.

nEli was selfish though; he couldn't, wouldn't, let go of Earth.

nHe wanted all of it – this world and that world, this life and that life. All of it.

nAn impossible dream, seeing as he gained one because the other was destroyed.

nAt this point in time, his existence was almost perfect. He had Earth. He had a nearly true-to-life facsimile of Zushkenar.

nHe had time and knowledge.

nHe had a goal, and the framework of a plan.

nWasn't he set?

nEli didn't like to think of the nightmares he had sometimes, of playing Redlands and finding that he couldn't log out, of walking the city and the streets turning into massive mouths full of teeth that swallowed him.

nEarth was his though. Earth was his, and he belonged to her. And if he only had her for a limited time, he shouldn't hide away from her. He was hers as much as she was his.

nSo he played Redlands and readied for a life in another world, because that was the path he chose. And he walked the city, taking cabs to further places and walking from there, talking to random people and seeing random things – because he chose that too.

nThe other day, he came across a dog park and spontaneously got forced into playing race-tag with half-a-dozen canines of all sizes and colors.

nIt was unexpectedly fun.

nEli walked back to his apartment, the cool evening air soothing against his sweaty form, deep enough into his thoughts that he nearly walked into a bunch of street toughs half surrounding a single person.

nHe rolled his eyes mentally.

nThis was a public street. Most street-dogs were all bark.

nHe stepped forward.

"Hey!

"

nThe single figure turned his head.

nOh, that was the craftmaster guy that was one of Zee's HI friends.

n

"Keep out of this, move along,

" one of the group separated and moved closer just to growl at Eli.

"This is our street.

"

nEli scoffed.

"This isn't District 16.

"

nBehind the one who claimed this was their street, he could see the leader grab craftmaster-guy's collar and tug.

nBefore anyone could do anything else, the craftmaster exploded into a flurry of movement.

nThree seconds: four of the nine toughs were down. Four: the fifth and sixth joined them on the ground. Eli tripped the one near him trying to get into the fight. Five: they all ran away.

nCraftmaster-guy straightened his sleeves, turned to Eli.

"Thanks, but I had it.

"

nEli nodded, a little bit stunned.

"Right.

"

nWhy were everyone's moves so much cooler than his?

nEven failed-robber-guy at Telanweth Temple! His moves might have been predictable, but he was relentless and almost utilitarian. Scare didn't move like that when he was a Lvl 7.

nThe other guy stepped closer.

n

"I don't suppose you know which building around here Arcazy Ventre lives? The address I was given says 'Rockastre Apartments' and apparently all these buildings are…?

"

nOh, Eli knew why they stopped him now. The eyeshine of bio-infotech contact lenses was unmistakable. Someone who could afford that, you rarely see those walking around this neighborhood.

nEli chuckled.

"Rockastre Apartments is the whole block. The main one is called 'the Apartments', the one right there. The one on the left with the faux-stone design is 'the Rocks'. The third is the Smalls. Don't ask me why; it's the biggest of the three. Come on.

"

n

"I'm fine without an escort.

"

n

"I live in the same building. Have for five years. I'm pretty sure half the people there don't know Zee's full name is Arcazy.

" Oh, he remembered now!

"You're Rashid, yes?

"

nThe other peered at him in surprise and wariness. Then his face cleared.

"Oh. You're…from the café.

"

n

"Eli Crewan. We should go. The streetdogs might come back.

"

nWhite teeth flashed as the other grinned.

"I always appreciate the chance of vigorous exercise.

"

nHe cracked a laugh.

"I bet. Feel free. But, as you see, and smell probably, I already had my exercise for the day and I'm not looking to do more. Besides if you provoke them too much, they might just multiply. I'd rather you don't conduct a one-man streetwar outside my apartment. The city's got a hair-trigger on suspending transport services whenever that happens.

"

n

"There are no gangs in Greatcentral.

"

n

"Yeah, but there are tensions. And every so often, well. This district is just four streets away from the slums. If something gets caught on public record too often, the whole district would be put on a watchlist. Once that's done, we'd be semi-officially part of the slums.

"

n

"I didn't realize there was an official area.

"

nEli shrugged. He didn't think so as well. Then he came to live here.

"Unofficially, in a time of crisis, priority of emergency services and utilities are spotty going to 'problem' areas.

"

nRashid frowned.

"I see. That's unfortunate.

"

nThey entered the elevator. It rose to Eli's floor in seconds.

"Zee's place is two levels up. Can't miss it.

"

n

"Thank you. Will I see you there?

"

n

"Dinner with my aunt, so no.

" He lifted a hand in a wave. The doors closed on Rashid's nod.

nEli jogged into the shower. It was 6:43. He wasn't late yet.

nThe cab dropped him off outside his great-aunt's house at 7:18.

nThe door opened before he knocked.

nSurprisingly, it wasn't his aunt. Even more surprisingly, it was an old man.

nMost of Aunt Amila's friends were women.

n

"Are you Eli?

"

n

"…yes.

"

nThe old man turned and bellowed.

"Amila, your Eli's here!

"

n

"Tell him to come into the kitchen,

" the familiar voice hollered back.

nA shrug to Eli.

"You heard her, young man.

"

n

"I definitely did.

"

n

"Eli, come here and help these overgrown children with their toys.

" A familiar grey-haired head popped out of the huddle of four similarly grey-streaked heads.

nThat was one of his aunt's constant friends. Her name eluded him.

"I don't know much about VR headgear.

"

nBecause that was what they were poring over on the dining table.

nAlso, he thought he and his aunt would have a quiet dinner.

n

"Don't listen to her,

" another head came up to glare disdainfully at the woman.

"She's the one who bought this.

"

n

"I'm telling you it's a network cable port!

" another old man insisted.

n

"Why would it need that? Who uses cables to network these days?

"

n

"Just because you're as old as fiber-optics doesn't mean people use them anymore,

" agreed another voice.

n

"We're beyond fiber-optics now.

"

n

"Beyond? Are you saying we're old?!

"

n

"What do you call this then!

"

nEli tried to back away into the kitchen.

nThe headgear was shoved into his arms. The familiar GT logo stared up at him. A MarkVII. New, despite the line being discontinued already.

n

"Youngster, what is this?

" a wrinkled finger pointed at a port-connection on the back of the helmet.

nThankfully, he knew the answer. He had to do a fair bit of research into the GT MarkVIII headsets.

n

"It's the optional data port, for connecting to a bio-cradle.

"

n

"Cable, right?

"

nHe swallowed, feeling their intent stares.

"Uh, the MarkVI had problems with resonance between different data-transfer systems. Compatibility issues. So they put a cable port on the MarkVII, yes. All the subsequent GatesTech headsets have them.

"

n

"I told you!

"

n

"Fiber-optics?

"

nI wouldn't know.

" Fiber optics was just something he remembered from high school science history. He knew nothing about it.

nThey started to bicker again.

nEli waited until they were absorbed into fighting each other and escaped into the kitchen. He sidled up to his aunt, who was plating food.

"What's going on?

"

n

"Athur took exception to Ririn buying her own headgear, apparently it's better than his. Good for her. We chipped in to order ingredients when we realized it was getting late.

"

n

"So they invaded your house?

"

n

"Don't worry, dear. Yaken here is more than making up for it. He used to be a chef in Estonia, you know. Five star restaurant.

"

nThe man who was smoothly keeping up with three pots and a wok turned to smile at him. Then eyes caught on the bag he was holding.

"Are those peaches? Good choice, boy. I'll make preserves for your aunt.

"

nAmila beamed.

n

"Go put together the tables. We'll be eating soon.

"

nThe dining table wasn't large enough for nine people. Eli tripped through the small storage room to bring out the folding table. That meant the dining

/living area was smaller, so he had to carry a few armchairs to the corridor.

n

"Must be nice to be young,

" one of the old men patted his shoulders.

"You're still strong.

"

n

"You're just lazy!

" shot one of aunt's friends, who was helping to fill the extended dining table with food and eating utensils.

"You can't carry a plate?

"

n

"Yes, Athur, come carry the pitchers,

" Eli's aunt gestured imperiously.

nThe man grumbled as the others unsubtly pretended to be busy while chuckling at him. Four were women, his aunt's old friends – one who was named Ririn. Then there was Athur the grumbler and Yaken the chef and another old man who was not introduced.

nEli relaxed as he watched his aunt laugh with her friends.

nHe was a little envious, truth be told. He used to have friends who just dropped by each other's houses just to chat about inane things. They all grew apart after college.

nIt was heartening though, to see this. He was so happy his aunt wasn't actually lonely.

nIn his old age, would he have this too?

nHe could only hope.

n

"You're too young for old man thoughts.

"

nEli nearly choked on his baked chicken.

"Huh?

"

nYaken, the chef, who was seated across from him, reached out to touch between Eli's brows, a quick tap.

"I know the look of people having old man thoughts. Prohibited! Prohibited from people under sixty years of age.

"

n

"Bah, have old thoughts if you want.

" Athur slung an arm over Eli's shoulders.

"As long as you let me have young thoughts if I want. Old thoughts, young thoughts, life's too short to think all the time. Now that we're free, we do what we want!

"

nHalf the table groaned in exasperation.

nAthur patted Eli on the shoulder.

"Tell me, if you were my age right now, would you buy VR gear?

"

nFormer-Eli wouldn't, current-Eli needed it, so he compromised.

"If I were your age right now, I think I'd be in a wheelchair.

"

nThe table laughed.

n

"You worry too much! This is VR, you know! VR!

" Athur sighed in despair when he didn't get the expected reaction.

"You probably grew up knowing it existed. But us, we only dreamed. I was thirty years old when Augmented Reality really started pushing boundaries. That was over seventy years ago now. In my eighties when Halfworld came out. Do you know how exciting that was? Hah!

" His grin grew suddenly.

"And now I can see what a fantasy gameworld looks like for free!

"

nWhat?

n

"That wargame,

" his aunt clarified, with a huff.

"They're opening tourist accounts, apparently.

"

nWhat, really?!

n

"We're part of the test group,

" sighed Yaken.

n

"If you don't want to, you didn't have to sign on.

" Athur pointed at him.

n

"Game this, weapon that, monster this, is all the kids could talk about now.

" Yaken shrugged.

"I want to see what the blasted hype is all about.

"

n

"You should come, Eli,

" his aunt invited.

"It's on Saturday.

"

nWhoa, his hundred-year-old aunt had a seriously more active social life than he did.

n

"I'll feel more comfortable with you there,

" she finished.

"All this HP this and equipper…things…

"

nEli knew for a fact his great-uncle had once led a world-championship team of gamers. Just one year, but still! There was no way she'd call anything 'equipper things'.

nWhat was his dear aunt plotting now?

nOr rather, which friend had a grandchild of marriageable age that hadn't yet been introduced until now?

nHe cornered her after the others went home.

n

"You sounded like you wanted to talk about something when you called.

"

nShe sighed.

"It's…not important at the moment. Come to the game thing on Saturday, hm? You look pasty, dear nephew, you should get out more.

"

nEli was concerned, but his great-aunt didn't talk even with his gentle coaxing.

nHe went home.

nIt was 9:30. Too late. He'd call the doctor again tomorrow.

nHe lay back on his bed and closed his eyes.

nTurned on the recording function of his phone.

nWhere was he the last time?

nAh, the mine rumors.

n

"I said, the guild heard rumors of a mine of ethermica in the mountains. Unfortunately, the land wasn't part of the town allocation. So the guild leaders, in their wisdom, decided to start a campaign. Being a crafting guild, it wasn't a good idea. Rumors had a penchant for spreading, after all.. Then of course, when they were sent scurrying back with their tails between their legs, they announced that the less-skilled of the crafters would be trained and sent to join the campaign….

"

n