So there I was, staring down Auron's old mug. And trust me, at that point I'd rather stare down a rabid grizzly. Between the collar that hid half his face, the fact he was taller and outweighed me, carried a huge sword around like a twig and held me up without effort was enough. His hardened eye looking down at me, it's twin closed shut by a scar, certainly didn't help matters.

"Who the hell are you? And where am I?"

OK, the first half I knew. I didn't believe it, but I knew it.

The second one I was clueless about however.

"I shouldn't be surprised." Auron said looking the younger man in the eyes as he set him on his feet. "You've been torn from your world suddenly... and the one whom does it is from a game you play. You know who I am, I am Auron."

"Then... I'm on... Spira?" James asked looking around.

"Not Spira. A ship, a spaceship to be exact, heading to a planet called Hyda IV, a place you know of from another game."

"Star Ocean? I'm in STAR OCEAN: UNTIL THE END OF TIME?"

Well, 'Til' not 'Until' but you get the drift.

"Precisely. Spira does exist here, as a planet under the protection of the UP3."

James nodded slightly. "OK... And you said something about the Fayth... Aren't they... asleep or something? I don't get it."

"Even asleep they are aware, although they no longer dream."

And no, that didn't make sense to me either.

"You know what is coming, and so do they. That is why you are here, to save this universe."

"Wait... You expect me, a high school student from 2005 AD to run around the Galaxy in 772 SD, face the 'Creator' and save the universe from my game? What have the Fayth been smoking and why aren't they sharing?"

"Hmnn. Be that as it may, you are the one chosen to come here."

"Chosen?" James asked, tilting his head. "Why am I chosen?"

"I don't know." The older man said, shrugging his shoulders. "The Fayth refused to tell me. All I know is something is hidden inside of you, calling, desperate to be let out."

"Riiight... I... don't have much of a say in this do I?"

"It was not your choice to come here, I'll admit. But from here on out your choices may have more of an impact then you'd ever believe..."

Crossing his arms James looked down for a moment then back up. "How long until we get to Hyda?"

"Four days."

"Four days... not much time... I suppose I'll be with Fayt on Vangaurd and Elicoor, huh?"

"I don't know, but it is likely."

"... I need to learn to fight. Maybe the combat sims will help."

"It's a start. If you'd like I'll teach you what I know... and maybe even to perform the technique 'Tornado'."

"What?" James spat out staring at Auron like he had two heads. "But I can't..."

"It's a technique, it is possible. Wakka's Slots? Possible. Tidus' Blitz Ace? Possible. My Tornado? Possible. All you require is the training."

"Right... I have four days to learn how to kick ass and learn Tornado with nothing to build upon."

Auron grinned slightly as he crossed his arms. "Don't worry. Trust me."

"Don't have much of a choice I suppose... When do we get started?"

"Immediately."

I suppose if I had to be jammed into my own game being jammed into it before Hyda was a stroke of luck, I had the time to use the combat simulators and get ready. I wasn't looking forward to this... sure meeting Nel in person would rock, and being on spaceships sounded cool, and Hyda WAS still a resort planet, so I could have some fun in the sun...

But then I'd have to fight the likes of Crossel the oversized dragon, Albel the Wicked, Norton the moron, the Vendeeni, the Executioners... oh yeah, and Luther too.

As you may have guessed... this could not only suck big time but I might end up looking at a 'Game Over' screen, only no one will be hitting the reset button for me.

I had two things going for me though. It was at least four days until I got Hyda, and with any luck a few more until those shark-faced jack-asses arrived. So I had some time to learn how to slice n' dice. The second was Auron, who was one of those guys who'd not only seen it all, done it all... but came back from the dead to finish it all. If he stuck with me through out the game things would go a lot easier. Even if he didn't there are worse people to learn from.

"All right, Computer begin Auron One." The holodeck began using it's technology to form a field of grass, a huge five foot sword sticking from the ground. Walking over to it Auron heaved it from the ground, giving it a few test swings. "Good. Now create another sword, a 32 centimetre grip, a 30 centimetre circular guard and 95 centimetre double edge blade 14 centimetres wide."

A second blade appeared in the ground, a grip and guard about a foot each, the blade just over three feet in length just under half a foot wide. Walking up to it James pulled it from the ground, swinging it twice with both arms. "Little heavier than I hoped, but I think I can handle it."

"Good. The Fayth are aware that they can't just hand you a weapon and send you on your marry way. For around the next three weeks your body will respond to training almost three hundred times better than before."

Lifting his hat to scratch at his head James looked at the older man. "So right now ten days of training would be like ten years of training?"

"More or less. That's why I think I can train you in Tornado so quickly. With some work, and maybe a little luck, this will give you the edge you need."

"OK, so what's first on our training agenda?"

"Before one leaps he runs. Before he runs he walks. Before he walks he stands. I'll teach you a few basic stances; you can find a favourite or two from among them. For starters, begin with an 'L' stance, sword held in front and held at just above 45 degrees..."

Once we got out of lessons in stances he taught me how to walk and run, literally showing me the best ways to charge an opponent with a sword. He taught me how to swing and stab, what to look for while facing an opponent, how to fight against a foe who used a sword, pole arm, axe, lance, mace, whip, gun, bow and arrow, symbology... and that was just the HUMAN opponents.

By day three I fought recreations of almost every kind of monster I could think of, bats, slimes, golems, dragons, orcs, goblins, wolves, giant spiders, bears, four armed... things, giant bees, more dragons, guys riding dragons...

Now that I think about it... they were three long days. And of course only one of my opponents was able to defeat me time and time again.

And for those of who guessed that one foe was Auron... give yourself a cookie.

James blocked a series of quick stabs, managing to push the blade aside with his own before taking a quick swipe at his opponent's head whom had ducked with seconds to spare. Auron brought his own sword up in an uppercut motion, nearly cleaving James in two if he hadn't stepped to the side, however Auron continued his motion, spinning on his foot and catching James's gut with the blade. His sword shimmered as it passed through, the holodeck's own safety protocols protecting him from a fake but potently lethal strike. Lowering his arms James sighed and shook his head. "What is it at now, 44 and zip?"

"Yes. You almost had me on number 37." Auron smiled slightly, his collar hiding it from his new student.

Shaking his head James sat on the grassy ground for a moment. "Almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades old man."

Chuckling slightly the older man nodded. "True. You have truly improved. It's time."

"Time for what?" James asked, standing up.

"To learn Tornado..."

Like he said, those three days had a tremendous effect on me. I gain toned muscles so fast you'd think I was born with them. I had become stronger, faster, more agile and quick then I ever dared dream. My reflexes were sharpened, instincts honed, preparing for the battles I knew would come. My sword, which was a tad heavy before, was all but weightless in my hands. But drastic improvements or not...

My guess was I was in for an uphill battle.