Shout outs...

Dragon Chyld: Well you have to admit, Auron does fit, doesn't he? And as for Fayt's dad check the first chapter.

I may have forgot whether or not I feel asleep, but I do know I returned to the room later on. According to a helpful crew member it was 11:07 standard time, so I guess it was almost lunchtime. I made sure to set my watch to it as well, for the heck of it. I didn't come to this world with much, the clothes on my back, the hat on my head, the MP3 player in my pocket, plus the headphones that wrapped around the back of my head, watch on my wrist, my necklace, a little cash that was transformed to Fol through some means I have no clue about and a note reminding myself to study for my history exam.

Needless to say the exam wasn't really on my mind.

"Attention all passengers, we are now exiting gravitic warp. Please prepare for turbulence as we return to normal space."

James felt the ship jerk forward slightly, but nothing too bad as he entered the room. Auron rose from the bed as he entered. "About time you came back."

Whatever James had to say was cut off by the PA system. "Attention all passengers, we will be arriving at Hyda IV in fifteen minutes. Please gather all your belongings and head to the nearest transporter at your convenience. For those with class three baggage please head to the nearest shuttle bay."

"That would be us." Auron said pulling a suitcase and carryon from the floor, giving them to James before picking up one more.

"What are these?" James asked.

"Your clothes. A few must haves for the people of these times. Nothing to worry about."

"Oh. Umm, thanks."

"Don't mention it. Now, let's get to the transporter."

Although the technology behind the transporter was a mystery to me the idea wasn't, after all Trekkies the world over had seem Captains Kirk and Picard beam down to a hostile environment several times before. But what was it like to have your entire body deconstructed, shoved somewhere else and reconstructed? What did it feel like?

Answer: Like warm water flowing over your body. Yup. That's it. Hope you weren't expecting more, I know I was. Ah well, what can you do?

As we got to the front desk I let Auron do the talking. He got us a room, 302, and a bellhop escorted up there. Once he was gone I put the bags on the bed and asked Auron what was next.

Before answering Auron turned to the window and looked outside. "You have four days."

"Four days?" James asked, walking up next to Auron. "What does that mean?"

"In two days the Leingods arrive. Two after that... the Vendeeni."

"Four days..." James looked outside, down at the children playing in the sand and couples playing in the waves. "Four days and this paradise will be turned to ash..."

"Knowing the future is a heavy burden... Shoulder it well."

"But that doesn't answer my question! What are YOU going to do?"

Auron turned towards the door, moving to it with measured strides. "For now, my part is done. I'll be around... for now... it's your story. Live it."

Me. By myself. In the future. Light Years away from home. Alone.

Joy...

Once he was gone I opened my suitcases and looked inside. I found a book called the 'Galactic Year 772 and You' as written by the Fayth.

They have a sense of humour. I don't find that comforting…

I found some assorted clothing though and quickly changed into what would become my usual threads, slightly loose black leather pants held by a belt with a buckle with two swords crossed. Next a white button up t-shirt tucked into the pants, black cowboy boots with silver highlights and a pair of leather gloves and as I had figured all a perfect fit. I put my necklace on over my shirt and set my trusty hat back onto my head.

I opened up the book and did some cramming before I walked out and explored the hotel. Like most things in RPGs, the world as seen in the game is much smaller than the real deal. The hotel was five stories tall, a dance floor on the roof. Off to one side of the hotel was a pool, the transporter to the beach (Why have a pool when there's a whole damn ocean to swim in?), the arcade with the battle simulator game, a clothes shop, a food court, and souvenir shop. Everything you need. After awhile I took a peek into the clothes shop, since I kept thinking my outfit was missing a certain... something.

Looking around James saw all kinds of clothes, some designed for humanoids with wings or tails, but the bulk for guys with nothing extra. Eventually he stopped at a bust. He looked it over, or rather, what was on it as a female clerk walked up to him. "Do you need anything?"

""Hmm?" James 'hmm'ed as he turned to look at her. "I'm fine. Just thinking."

"Oh?" She said, looking at the poncho the bust had on. "You know, that might look good on you..."

"Your not just trying to get rid of it are you?" James asked, arching an eyebrow.

The girl giggled a bit and shook her head. "Seriously I think it would. Might even start a trend!" She removed it from the bust, and stood on the tips of her toes as James took his hat off. She pulled it down over his head, letting it rest on his shoulder. James set his hat back on and looked at his shoulders.

The cream coloured poncho came down to the bottom of his chest and was decorated with red and orange designs. "Hmm... Not too shabby really... How much?"

"375 Fol."

OK, so it wasn't the most traditional thing to wear but I liked it. And besides, Albel cross-dressed. If he could cross-dress and get away with it then I could wear a poncho no problem.

Next stop was the beach. I didn't plan on a swim, although I had trunks in my suitcase, I just wanted the exercise. Hyda was a gorgeous planet... soft sands, rolling waves, lush forests... Eventually I returned and went into the simulator. It didn't require Fol; it was a courtesy of the hotel. I walked inside and began.

"Welcome to the Battle Simulator. Please set Battle System parameters." The computer said in it's friendly yet cool tone.

"Load my character and choose a random location and opponents. Start it up."

"Affirmative. Player 1: James Jennings. Character: Sword Master Obi Wan Kenobi. User Level: B."

And in my defence the computer generated that name randomly. Maybe it's the Fayth's humour again?

"Battlefield: Ruined Temple of Gaia. Monster Level: B. Setup Complete. Continue?"

"Yes."

"Preparing to commence. This Simulation System may abort a game if it detects the players safety is at risk."

"Understood. Begin."

"Confirmed. Commencing game."

Wire frame armour surrounded him as a sword appeared before him. Gripping it he fell into his pose, bending his knees as his opponents appeared a seven-foot tall raptor with a bladed tail, an orc with a huge, crude club and humanoid mass of eyeballs. All three charged, the dinosaur outpacing them all as James braced himself. The raptor stopped and turned on it's feet, swinging the bladed tail at his head. Ducking under it James swung his sword upwards, catching the beast's neck as it turned, cutting it's head clean off.

The orc came next swinging it's massive club as James rolled between it's legs, managing a quick recovery and an overhead slice at the eyeball creature, slicing the large eye in it's head in two.

The orc roared as it turned around swinging it's club in a horizontal arc forcing James to leap over it. Quickly, James swung the sword before he landed, cutting it's huge arm enough to draw fake blood. Once on the ground he swung the sword at the joint at the man-beasts knee, severing it in two. The orc fell backwards, it's club falling out of it's hand as it hit the ground with a heavy thud.

James easily dodged the beast's clumsy arm and drove the point of his blade into it's head.

"Simulation complete. The user wins. Replay?"

"Yeah... I need the work out."

I can see why Fayt liked that thing so much now. It was a release, being able to simply go forth and kick ass... I spent another half hour in there before getting a bite to eat. After that I spent my time in the forest recalling my time it's the forests near my home...