Yes, I know I have other stories I need to work on but this needed to be written. I saw "Tron" and that inspired me somewhat though I am using characters that I had already created long before "Tron" came out. So, enjoy!
It was 1985 and one of the wettest summers MegaKat City had seen. Katizens that didn't work such as the younger ones had to stay inside in fear of getting soaked from the near constant rain. Movie and game rental places declared this the year of their highest sales and income. Gaming companies started to be put into overdrive to produce more games for the demanding public.
One such company was called Gaming Corp. They were the top of the gaming industry. Their head quarters was based in the outskirts of MegaKat City. Their top minds were being put to the test to create new games, more advanced than the one before it. They had two top minds that worked for their company. One was James Claws. He was a world renowned technician, most known for his part in creating some of the most advanced gaming counsels and high tech games to go with them. His partner, the more imaginative yet just as smart of the two, was Hunter Ashfield. She was known for her unique game designs and games that not only challenged the reflexes but the brain.
It was a Friday night and both techies were working late along with some others. A new game was to be released tomorrow and they had to finish testing it out. So far it was going smoothly and no problems or glitches had been found.
"Well, I think that this game is ready to roll," a dark red furred she-kat turned towards her colleague. "What do you think James?"
"I already knew it had no glitches since I designed it, but yes it's ready to go," the dark brown tom sipped on his coffee before returning to his computer.
"I know your tech skills are good but I was afraid that something in my designs would be off," the she-kat tapped her pencil on her clipboard as she turned on her heel to a young techie. "Have you made it past level seventeen yet, Terry?"
The young tom shook his head as he worked furiously on the hand held control, his eyes focused on the screen mounted on the wall. Sounds of snarls, growls, and small explosions erupted from the speakers around the room as several other techies played the game at different levels.
"We're going to burn these kids' brains out before the summer's done," the she-kat chuckled as she watched a young she-kat, the only one to reach the last level, duke it out with some monstrous beast. "Jamie, you are absolutely fantastic at that game. What do you think needs to be improved?"
"More challenging creatures," the techie swiveled her head as the camera on the game moved to a different point of view, revealing a swarm of nasty looking creatures. "The ones on the last level all of the sudden get really hard. I think you need to build the player up for it more. Otherwise it's a really good game Ms. Ashfield."
Hunter scribbled down what the techie had just told her on her clipboard. She bit the end of her pencil thoughtfully before sitting in her chair parked at her desk. On a clean area on her notes she put her pencil to the paper, her hand gliding smoothly over the yellow paper.
"What do you think of coming to my place for a bite to eat tonight James?" Hunter looked over at the old tom. "It's nearly ten and should be getting home."
"What about them?" James jerked his thumb towards the six techies sitting at various counsels, playing the new game.
"Jamie, remember to shut down the computers and lock the door," Hunter tossed a key ring with about a dozen keys on it to the techie who had just finished the game.
"Me?" the she-kat squeaked.
"Yes, you," Hunter switched out her white lab coat for her long black coat that included a hood. "You're the oldest here."
"By a month!" Jamie countered as the two older kats walked out the door.
"Still the oldest," Hunter whispered mockingly as she shut the door with a quiet click.
"Make yourself at home," Hunter swept her hand towards her rather large living room. "I'll go get the food."
"You redecorated," James hung his coat on the coat rack and sat on one of the tan couches.
"Haven't you been over since I redecorated?" Hunter called from somewhere in the kitchen.
"No, it's been nearly three years since you last invited me over," the tom answered as he pulled his laptop from its case and set it on his lap. "I like it. Do you still have your gaming room?"
"Do you honestly think I'd get rid of that?" Hunter appeared from the hallway and handed James a glass of milk. "Do you want to see it while the pizza's in the oven? I've upgraded it."
"Sure," James set his milk down on the glass coffee table, set his computer aside, and followed the rather tall she-kat. He thought about how she was normally taller than most she-kats. She was sometimes taller than some toms. But she wasn't freakishly tall. She was just 5'10". Most she-kats didn't get to that height so she seemed very tall in a room of all females. But then again she was usually wearing steel-toed boots that gave her an extra inch or two in height.
"I can feel you staring at me," Hunter looked over her shoulder as she led him down a steep staircase into her basement. "Okay, what do you think?"
"Wow, this is very nice, Hunter," James whistled low as he gazed at the various gaming counsels, computers, screens, and the beanbag in the middle of the room. "Is this where you plan out all your new games?"
"Every single one," Hunter plopped down on the green beanbag and crossed her legs. "I've been planning a new one for ages."
James rolled his eyes. His colleague was always planning a new game. He smiled when he spoke, "How long is ages?"
"Five years," Hunter's muzzle broke into a grin at the stunned look on her partner's face. "It's a totally virtual world in which the user can actually enter. I've built the technology to bring kats into the game. In fact I've gone inside it quite a few times myself."
"You've gone inside your own game? Like literally inside of the game?" James raised his eyebrows, a smirk pulling at his lips. This was just too perfect.
"Yes, there are a few glitches that I have to work on," Hunter crossed her arms behind her head, happy to talk about her achievements.
"Such as?" James glanced about at the machinery and technology surrounding them.
"Well, something infected it," Hunter furrowed her brows. "I'm still working on getting rid of it because it could be potentially deadly. It tries to take control of the game from the inside out."
"Yes, yes, I see," James rested his chin in his hand as Hunter spoke. "Anything else?"
"Only problem is that if I don't have that control with me," she motioned to a small box like thing sitting on a glass table, "when I go inside I can't reopen the portal to come back. That's the biggest glitch. I want kids to get in and out of the game when they please but I don't want the game characters getting out."
"I see where that could be a problem," James nodded thoughtfully. "Where is the machine that takes you into the game?"
"Right there," Hunter motioned in a general direction with her hand towards a clump of computers and screens. There was an interesting piece of machinery, however, that caught James's eye. It stood up on three legs and resembled a very high tech camera. "Everything's on if you want to check it out."
"How do you put someone inside?" James stood at the computers and watched as they put out all sorts of information. Most of it he couldn't understand, to his surprise and annoyance. Just one more reason, he thought.
"You open the icon that says 'arena' and then click 'activate'," Hunter said as though she was explaining how to make a PB and J. "You have to turn on the tripod first, though. Maybe sometime I'll take you in there with me once I get the bugs worked out."
"Sounds great," James quietly flicked on the tripod then returned to the computer. He clicked the icon that said 'arena' then hit 'activate'. After looking a few times from the control Hunter would need to get back out then back to the she-kat he asked one more question, "What do you do then?"
"You would click on 'enter the game'," Hunter answered. She turned her ears backwards as a very scary and possible thought hit her. It was like she had just given her murderer a gun. "James…" as she turned she saw him look at her evilly and then there was a bright light.
James raised his head smugly as he looked at the spot where his colleague, ex-colleague that is now, had been. She was gone, completely gone. He turned towards the screen and read what had appeared in a small box.
"'User has successfully entered the game'," James read aloud. He grinned as he swelled with pride and triumph. Now she wouldn't get in his way while he created games. He would be considered the top mind of the company now. "Good-bye Hunter. It's never been a pleasure working with you."
Please remember to R&R! Thanks for reading! :)