The Tandy Gamer Chronicles
By Abel Sedecim
Level 1: The Store
Welcome to the town of Tandy, your not so typical town in a typical part of the world. Everyone who lives here has a story to tell from the girl next door to the comic books geeks to people you see casually walking the streets, but no story could be quite as interesting as the tale of four brave boys who had their lives changed forever. They walked down the streets of town like many times before standing behind one another in a single file line. Four all made a club and together they were the Tandy Game Society, the self proclaimed premiere of game enthusiasts. First there was Gabriel Masters, the leader and most knowledgeable one who believes the pen is indeed mightier than the any sword and like tempered steel keeps to the rules no matter what may try to break them. Behind him was Preston Abraham, a poetic soul of nature who brings wisdom to his clan in the manner of aged sage or some kind of medieval man in his way of the verse. The third was Ken Bradsword, although he may seem meek and mild mannered within his heart beats the rhythm of the warrior with the inner grace of a terrifying creature of myth to those who cross him. Last but not least was the newest edition Keith Huntington who has effectively been dubbed the Newb, but ever determined to earn the respect of his peers he would endure endless trials no matter what feats lay before him. Together they trotted down the concrete walks chatter among themselves of things of little relevance to non-game playing persons, until they reached the root of one gamers' argument.
"Why must we take time out of our annual gatherings to visit some new game shop in town," asked the impatient Keith. "We could be using this time to go on quests and improving my stats."
"If you had bothered to read the Gamer Code, under article VIII, Section B, Subsection 2, you would have read that it is our duty to inspect the latest in open game establishments to assets any and all forms of merchandise and or company supremacy compared to the current venue of purchases on our database of known game stores," said Gabriel for all to hear. "Besides there will be plenty of time to accumulate your experience once we have completed with our current obligation."
"You're not worried because you're always the DM," he said with a grunt.
"There is more to life than just points on a piece of paper," preached Preston to Keith. "A true gamer must broaden their boundaries beyond the realm of there basement or living room to other sources for a chance of greater illumination. Whether going to a convention or consulting a fellow consortium must journey wherever the call of illumination may exist. To experience more than just game life is to gain the greatest experience of all."
"I'd still rather have my points," he pouted.
"I'm sure this won't take long," said Ken. "Just a few minutes to scope out the place and then we'll be on our way."
"Sure it starts with just a peek and before you know it a whole day is wasted."
"Just be thankful we brought you along," said Gabriel stopping the caravan in front of the doors of the new shop. "Gentlemen we have arrived…" he said presenting the shop to his friends as they looked up at the sign that he read out loud. "…Finds of Fantasy, the latest game shop in Tandy."
"Doesn't look like much," said Keith addressing its rather plain exterior and sign. It wasn't fabulous design, but more like a corner shop that was still as plain and dull as the day it was purchased. No attempt at refurbishing the outside seemed to have been applied which retained a nostalgic presence to its cinder brick layers.
"Let us not forget the old saying," encouraged Preston. "It's not what's on the outside but what's on the inside."
"On that logic this place must be a real good."
"I think Preston is right," said Ken. "It may seem shabby at first glance but perhaps there is more to this place then meets the eye."
"Let's just do this as quick and painless as possible," Keith said with a shrug.
"Well if everyone is satisfied then let us move to the next phase of our exhibition," said Gabriel taking the handle of the door knob. "A new adventure of discovery is about to be…discovered."
"Save the poetic phrases for the other guy in glasses," Keith remarked.
"Dually noted," was what he said in response and then with a turn of the knob they all entered one after the other into the shop.
The instant all three gamers were in the store there came a sound of alarms, blazing with sirens that caused each of them cringe and wander who or what events had currently transpired. At first there impression was that they were caught in some kind of criminal act, but the spring of confetti and streamers made them think twice especially. Then from out of nowhere it seemed a woman emerged with blonde hair and horn rimmed glasses wearing a party hat as the she blew a party favor and threw shreds of paper in the air. Though she looked rather chipper and exuberant in persona her attire looked strictly business and formal with her hair tied up in a bun.
"CONGRATULATION," she cheered and clapped to the four!
"Wha, wha, what did we do," asked the frantic Ken?
"Calm yourself Ken, times like this call for rationality not panic," said Gabriel at this rather disorderly display before cautiously approaching the women. "Madam, if I may inquire, my friends and I are curious as to this rather…extraordinary display,"
"Oh there's nothing wrong if that's what you're thinking," she said removing her hat and placing it on the counter nearby. "It's just that you four have just won the door prize."
"What are we the one millionth customers," asked Ken?
"Oh no," she said with a nod. "You're my first customers, and as such you are granted a very limited time promotional for just coming to my shop."
"Stars of the Cosmos, this is a rather fortuitous circumstance," said Preston.
"I must agree with my friend, it is very generous for you to offer us a consolation for our entrance Ms…"
"You can call me Aero," she said with a smile.
"Okay Ms. Aero, it's a pleasure to meet you and…"
"So what did we win," asked Keith interrupting.
"Have you no manner Newb, I won't have rudeness interrupt proper educate procedures."
"Oh it's quite alright," said Ms. Aero shrugging off the interruption. "You have the right to know your reward and I think you'll going to like it if you just follow me please."
"Well Gentlemen do you now see the importance of these inspections," said Gabriel with a certain heir to his words. "You never know what you'll find, so let's see what Ms. Aero has to offer us." So he led his friends where Ms. Aero went except one was left standing stiff in his tracks, until Gabriel noticed his lagging and called to him by name.
"Ken, aren't you coming," he asked?
"Oh, sorry," he said breaking off a mesmerizing effect. "I was miles off there for a second."
"Like you were ever here," said Keith beneath his breath.
"I just cannot shake off this feeling the moment I stepped in here," he said.
"You must still be shocked from that little hoopla just now, I must admit it shook me up too," said Preston.
"No, I got over that already," he assured. "It's just this other feeling that's sort of hard to describe, it makes you feel so serene and somewhat scary at the same time, you know what I mean?"
"I think I do," answered Gabriel. "I feel the same way whenever I enter a game store; it's like coming home for the first time in a long while and no matter how many games stores you go to or what merchandise they possess the feeling is always there."
"Gabriel we've been friends a long time and this isn't the first time we've been to a game store, but this feeling I can't seem to shake. It's almost…ominous."
"In either scenario we best no dwindle on this matter much longer for we know not how long this offer of the store keeper will last," suggested Preston.
"He's right, we better get going if we're going to see what we've won," said Keith leading the charge onward.
"Let's go before he makes another foolish maneuver," said Gabriel following after. Yet, even though Ken followed all his friends close behind he could not shake the feeling that he had pinching in the back of his brain. Yet, despite this doubt the four caught up to Ms. Aero at the back of the store where she opened a door to a new room.
"Welcome to the Game Zone," she said opening the door. Inside was a room with large tables and chairs and shelves stocked with objects of various odds and ends, intended for common play for anyone who would come. "This is the area where we'll hold competitions and gatherings in the new future, but for now I have another purpose in mind. Let's see were did I put it?" Then she left off to the shelves tossing various objects around and making a commotion that gamers couldn't help but hear and wander how a woman who looked so organized could leave such a messy area after she was done. "Eureka," she called as she held up the object she sought and then wiping the dust off of one of the tables she place it for the gamers to see. What they saw was a console game system very old and wore by the looks of it, but made by no manufacturer that they could identify. It had no plug or cords, but it did have one cartridge on its top that had no title, a real mystery to behold.
"What is that," asked Keith.
"A very special game console that likes of which have never been played before in your lifetime."
"I'd say the design is almost pre-industrial, maybe even prehistoric, but the fact that I've never seen such a device is rather intriguing," examined Preston adjusting his lenses.
"I don't see any wires," said Ken. "How do you turn it on?"
"You may not believe me, but it doesn't need any of those messy wires or even a power cord. To start all it needs is for someone to flip the switch and the rest will explain itself," she said with a smile.
"I'm afraid I find that assumption a little hard to comprehend," said Gabriel. "How could a device made ages ago require no electricity or controllers or a TV set to operate it? It just doesn't seem logical."
"There's nothing logical about this machine," explained Ms. Aero temporarily losing her jolly demeanor. "It was made by a most brilliant architect ages ahead of his time, but what do corporate merchandisers know about art and powers beyond the almighty dollar. This machine was the only one of its creation, but since you are my first customers I'm giving you the opportunity to try it out. All you need is a little faith and spirit of the true gamer will guide you from there, so what do you say?"
"I'd say this whole thing is bogus," said Keith.
"On a normal day I'd say the same, but something inside me wants to believe there is more to this device than meets the eye," said Preston.
"I still fail to see the functionality of it all, so as surprising as it may seem I'm going with Keith on this one," said Gabriel.
"Finally we agree on something."
"Don't think this changes your status Newb. What about you Ken, what is your verdict on this matter."
Ken took a moment to look at the dusty console before him, but no matter what his mind told him his better instincts began to wander closer to the question of whether this was an ordinary piece of machinery or a new adventure just waiting to be activated.
"…I'm afraid that feeling is just not going away," he said to his friends. "It's leading me to say we should give this opportunity a chance."
"Then I guess we have no choice," said Gabriel. "The Ayes have it; we'll see just what this machine can do."
"Wait, shouldn't it be a tie," asked Keith?
"I'm afraid Newbs don't count for a full vote, it's in the code if you'd bother reading it."
"Hey wait a minute," he protested.
"Afraid we can't, the decision has been decided but you know you don't have to be here," he said in rather sly grin.
"Oh forget it," he said turning to there side. "I don't care how farfetched this thing is, you guys aren't leaving me out of it."
"Glad you see it our way because you get to the do the honors of turning it on," said Gabriel.
"…I still say this isn't going to work," he said stepping up to the machine.
"Whenever you're ready gamers," said Ms. Aero eagerly watching as Keith pressing the switch marked ON. The instant he did, everyone stood back wandering what would happen next but it simply sat there with a little red light blinking on and off as if something had been broken or amiss.
"I knew this thing wasn't going to…" but before Keith could finish his sentence all the gamers' eyes lit up with dilation as a flash of brilliant white light came engulfing them like a miniature super nova explosion. Before they could even form an idea of what was happening they all disappeared in the bright light and the last thing they saw was the smile of Ms. Aero fading with them into the great unknown.