I've always been facinated by the technological advances in our world, and the best one has just been improved. Virtual reality, my favorite thing of all time, has just become an interactive game between a network of computers, that network being the internet of course. I can now design a character, bring it to life for others to see. I can be myself, but in a different body. I can look at myself in there and feel so much better about myself, never caring about what they thought in there. I can be a new me, a second chance in The World.

I must admit, I'm not much on the outside world. But as I caress the box containing my key to a new reputation and life, I can't help thinking that it is so new, and I am one of the few who will be able to experience it first, live it first, be it first.

I insert the disk into the drive, watch as the screen comes up. I install the software, and put in the hardware and get the terminal ready. I laugh. The terminal sounds so technical, especially for just some virtual goggles and an advanaced controller. I see a starting screen come into view. The goggles hang around my neck, already getting drenched with the sweat of shivvering anticipation.

Player name? Oh, my name. My real name. Rex, I type, Rex Ikichi. Enter. User name? I bite my thumb, a nervous habit of mine. Let's see, that's a hard one. Maybe an American name. Mike? No, that's just lame. Alex? That's even worse. I'll just be my name, Rex. It's the only thing I could think of, and nobody will know it's me, and if they did, they wouldn't care anyways.

Now the fun part. My character! I look at the blank body outline, itching to get through the tutorial and get started. Should it look like me? I looked in the mirror and decided not to have it look anything like me. If I were better looking it would be better, but now it was time to make my new body. I was determined to make a total improvent on myself it the virtual world, even though I couldn't in the outside. I was satisfied with my character. Long black hair, tall and thin, dressed in black with a sweeping cloak. Penetrating eyes that could see into the very soul of whoever looked at them. He was sure to have the ladies after him. I clicked enter and waited.

Five minutes? Oh well. I decide to look at myself in the full view mirror. I like the online Rex better. His hair wasn't short. He was without glasses. He wasn't a twenty-two year old just out of college who lives with his mom. I lived with her through college as well. I looked at my body now and sighed. I'm a little overweight, well, a lot overweight. I guess you could say I was kind of a nerd. I'm looking for a job as a computer software designer, so I'm definately a nerd. A big, fat, loser.

But the online Rex wasn't.

The chair creaked as I sat down on it. It's going to break someday. Weapon time. Definatly twin blades. Fast swiping and powerful magic. I don't want to lug around something heavy all day either. I see the ok to put on the goggles. I swallow hard, and put them on and hit the ok.

I'm swept through a tunnel of lights and sounds and thrust into a world already full of people. I know what I'm doing, I've read the manual several times. I should form a party first.

"Woah. What a ride!" a singsong voice came from behind me. I was afraid to turn around. "Well, now that I'm in here, I'm completely lost!"

I felt a finger poke at my side. I turned my head slowly and looked into the eyes of a cute blond girl. I was speechless.

"You look like the kind of person who'd know their way around here. What do I do now?"

"You're asking me?" I replied shakily.

"Well, yeah, you're the only one around here! What, am I talking to the sky?" she asked, and then giggled. "Hi! I'm Fall!"

"Fall?" I asked, turning and facing her completely.

"Yup! That's my name, and I'm sticking to it! You're name's Rex, right?" she asked.

"Yeah. And the first thing you should do is form a party, buy supplies, and go level up," I told her.

"Ok. You wanna be in my party?" she asked, bouncing a bit. I blushed as I watched her breasts jiggle as she bounced.

"Sure, if you want me to," I said, still blushing.

"Great!" she said. "What are you looking at?"

"Oh, nothing," I lied.

"Hold on! My mom's calling!" she said, and her character froze.

She was enchanting to look at. Her golden hair was clipped in the back and rose up in a spikey way when you saw her from the front. Her long bangs were braided and hung in her face. One eye was purple and the other was blue, both were bright and inviting. She had gloves with no fingers on her hands, and her giant heavy blade rested on her shoulder. She seemed to be a wearing shimmery blue animal collar with small studs in it. She wore top that had no straps and didn't even cover her midriff. It was blue with white lace and didn't even fit. The piece of fabric only reached so far and ended in the front, just tied with a piece of ribbon. Her skirt was layered and came about mid-thigh, it was blue and white. Her white boots reached to her knees, and were probably two sizes to big.

I sat there wondering what would happen if I undid the little ribbon holding her top on.

She came back.