July 23rd 2031

The convoy moved strategically in and out of the tree lines, never veering onto the roads for more than a few steps. Each step was as though it had been choreographed by a military grade general. No words were spoken, not even to give orders. If Thatch needed one of the Gunners to know something, he'd give a series of hand signs that were read fluently by the recipient. It was a perfectly oiled machine of a transport.

In the middle, were two low leveled characters, who had just moments before, been saved from an embarrassing experience cut. In front of them walked Thatch, and surrounding them in a perfect box formation, were four Gunners.

Edmond was still, mostly, in a daze about what was happening around him. The events that had occurred couldn't even be counted on one hand, but the results were astronomical. He kept his eyes forward, watching the convoy's every move. He didn't dare say anything. Any sound would have most likely sent the entire outfit into a false alarmed frenzy.

When the group finally reached the entrance to the first floor's capital city, Thatch gave the order to stand down. The group of Gunner's huddled around, awaiting their next command. Even at ease, the men looked composed and collected. Thatch removed his gasmask, revealing a rather odd sight. Thatch's complexion was sickly and pale. His eyes appeared sunken in, and his expression: Exhausted. He had no facial hair, and the hair on his head was close cut, and pitch black. Regardless of obvious fatigue, however, he spoke with authority.

"Great work, everyone. We saved two more this evening, but don't get used to victory. Khale and his group are relentless, and we'll probably hear more news about him before morning. It's just the way these things go. I'm going to escort our friends here to the nearest inn. You know where the tavern is, and I'll be there soon."

Thatch saluted his men by pounding his chest, repeating the same hand motion as he had back in the forest. His men, in turn did the same.

"Enjoy your drinks, but remember, we're on patrol again in just a few hours, so try and let your characters rest. If anyone needs to log out, I suggest you do it soon."

Thatch swiped his hand and opened his menu.

"It's 0100 now. 0800 is our next patrol. I'll meet you all here. Dismissed."

The group of Gunners began walking into the city, while simultaneously pulling off their gasmasks and other equipment. Some began laughing and talking about what had previously happened, but others remained silent. Edmond watched them until they turned a bend at a sign post.

Thatch too watched as they turned out of sight and then adjusted his attention to Edmond.

"Thank you for your cooperation. We run a very particular set of operations in my guild."

Thatch's voice was far less serious now. It instantly eased Edmond's mind.

"We should be thanking you. If you hadn't come when you did, we'd be sitting back here in the city under much different circumstances."

Thatch smirked and put his hand up, waving away the gesture of thanks.

"No thanking us, it's just what we do. Some people get a genuine kick out of hunting new players. Pretty fruitless, but I guess everyone's different. My guild does just the opposite. Now, if you'll follow me, I'll make sure you guys are taken care of for the rest of the night."

Thatch turned and began walking through the threshold of the city. Edmond moved to follow him, along with the archer who he'd been sharing an eventful hour with. Edmond hadn't thought of it yet, but he never did get her name. He decided to try and remedy the situation.

"Sorry I jumped on you, back there, I freaked out a little."

The girl turned her head quickly, as if her concentration had just been shattered.

"Oh…No problem, it turned out to be the right move. Besides, if anyone owes someone an apology, it's me. I wouldn't have aimed at you if I'd known you were new."

Edmond noticed her accent again. It was attractive, young, and far more soothing than the relentless yelling of the previous hour.

"Hey, it's a game, right? Crazy things happen. I never did get your name, though."

The girl looked over and hesitated for a moment, as if she didn't want to divulge the information. However, after a few seconds, she decided the action was harmless.

"Kitami. I know; not quite as elegant as Edmond, but I think it's okay."

Edmond chuckled a bit. His name was out of the ordinary for an online game, but names and role playing didn't appeal to him much. With this mindset, he'd decided to stay plain.

"Kitami? Doesn't sound like a name you'd hear very often in the U.K. if I'm not mistaken?"

"Well, aren't you observant?"

Kitami laughed softly, indicating sarcasm.

"Hey, if you want to stay incognito online, that's cool. I've just never really been good with coming up with names."

"Call me protective of my own privacy. Plus, isn't this a role playing atmosphere? How many stories have you read, or games have you played that had a hero named Edmond?"

Kitami pumped her fist into the air and began mocking Edmond.

"Look out Desk Job Online! Here comes Edmond! Vanquisher of Meetings and Expense Reports!"

Thatch stopped walking and turned around to look at Kitami. Edmond did the same. Kitami froze, fist still in the air. Silence. Her face went from amused to afraid in an instant.

Edmond and Thatch both burst into laughter.

"Well, I've got to hand it to you, I'd never considered my name to make such a difference. But you have a good point. I'll be sure to make sure my next character is named something more extravagant"

The three continued deeper into The Town of Beginnings. The stone streets were almost bare at half past one in the morning. The wooden stalls that would normally be selling all manner of weapons, armor, and other consumable items were unoccupied. Occasionally a player pulling an all-nighter would go running off into any given direction, but the street's main occupant was the glow of lanterns hanging in the stone walls.

As they approached the inn Thatch began to speak again.

"I don't know how you two play online, but your avatar needs rest, just like your actual body does in the real world. A good tip to remember is that if you're playing late into the night, you may as well let your character sleep then, considering your body is laying inactive outside. Otherwise you could spend peak gaming hours laying in an inn."

Edmond hadn't considered this. He just assumed that characters within the game never fatigued. He pondered for a moment. It was Friday night, he didn't have to work again until Monday morning. This would leave him plenty of time to rest his character.

When the three stopped again, they stood in front of a two story building with most of its lights extinguished.

"Here we are. I'll let you guys rest up, I'll stop by in the morning to explain everything. It'll be early, since I'll need to be with my men for the day's first patrol. I apologize for the inconvenience."

Thatch accessed his menu.

"Edmond, I just sent you a mail request. Inside is 50 col. That should cover you two for the night. Do you have any questions?"

A white box with a white envelope floating inside popped up in front of Edmond's eyes. Above the envelope read the words: "MAIL from Thatch (Smoking Gunners Guild)" He quickly accepted the request and reached into his pockets. Empty.

"Uhm…"

"Yes? What's the matter?"

Asked Thatch as he dawned a look of confusion.

"How…do I give the inn keeper the money?"

Kitami turned away trying not to laugh.

"Oh, right. Money is used as a credit system. The merchants will present you with options, when you select an option the money will automatically be taken from your credits. Col is the type of currency used here in SAO. You buy, sell, and trade in a system that revolves around it. Do you understand?"

Edmond nodded to Thatch and thanked him again. Thatch turned to leave.

"I'll send you a private message when I arrive here in the morning. Please be timely."

Edmond and Kitami watched as Thatch turned to leave.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got to go make sure my men haven't drank every ale in Aincrad."

Thatch chuckled as he started down the stone path and out of sight.

Edmond couldn't quite place his finger on it, but something didn't seem right with Thatch. Not his personality, or his genuineness…but his appearance. Even laugher couldn't pry the look of absolute weakness from his face. Had he intentionally chosen his avatar to look this way? As a means to make his character more of an underdog? Edmond quickly dismissed the thought. It wasn't any of his business.

Edmond looked over at Kitami.

"So, I suppose we should go in? Are you going to log off for the night?"

Kitami looked up at the sky. Deep thought glossed over her eyes.

"No, I don't think so. Besides, you heard him. What's the point of logging out if our characters need rest? It's not like our bodies outside the game aren't in a sleep state to begin with."

Edmond nodded in agreement. He opened the door to the inn. The only light came from a small series of candles placed among some wooden tables in a reception area. It was empty with the exception of the inn keeper, who was sitting in a chair behind his desk. He was a rather large man in a leather chest plate and green tights. He had a mustache and wore a funny little green hat.

"How may I service you, this evening?"

The voice was chipper for it so early in the morning.

"We'd like to stay for the evening, please."

"Very good, sir. Allow me to access what I have available. This will only take a moment."

The inn keeper swiped his hand and began scrolling through a translucent list of rooms. Edmond watched as the list went on. Under room numbers were different names. Players who had taken up lodge for the night. Some were occupied by a single player, others a party.

Kitami had walked away from the counter, and was looking out of a window.

Edmond approached her slowly. He didn't want to disturb her, but her fascination with the sky intrigued him.

"Heck of a moon, they created, isn't it?"

Kitami whisked around, shocked by the break in silence. When she saw Edmond, she placed her hand on her chest and smiled.

"Yeah…Where I'm from we don't really get to see the night sky quite like this. Artificially created or not, it's still pretty amazing."

Edmond thought about asking where she lived, but he decided against it. Given her accent, and the fact that she'd gotten the game a day earlier than him, she was obviously from the U.K. That was enough information. Besides, why would it matter? Tomorrow they'd separate to play the game their own way. The thought excited him. In his mind he raced through the possibilities of what his weekend of gaming would entail. Grinding out a few low level NPC's, and then questing as much as the beginner areas would allow. Maybe he'd even get to attempt the first floor of Aincrad by himself, by Sunday night! He was sure some of the floors had been cleared by Japanese players over the year the game had been available, but he wanted to fully experience each dungeon for himself. So there was simply no time to get attached to another player. Not this early in the game, anyway.

"Sir."

Edmond turned around to see who was speaking to him. It was the inn keeper, and he looked a bit frustrated. He scratched his head.

"It appears there is only one room available for the evening. It is intended for a single player. Two players can access it, but you'll need to be in a party. I do so apologize for this inconvenience."

Edmond and Kitami looked at each other for a moment. Game or not, Edmond was not experienced with sharing space with a woman, let alone a bed. He decided that he should let Kitami have it. After all, this would be a good way to show his apology for the earlier incident.

"You can have it, Kitami, I'll find another inn."

Edmond opened his map screen and looked to see if there were any other quarters he could access for the evening. He didn't find any.

"I'm afraid that would be almost impossible for someone your level, sir. Until level ten, most players are urged to stay in and about The Town of Beginnings. Traveling to the next floor with little skills or experience would be dangerous."

Edmond closed his menu. He looked up at the inn keeper, who had a very genuine look of concern spelled across his face. Edmond weighed the possibilities. He could log out, and come back in a few hours when the inn was vacating for the day…but then he'd be stuck sleeping while peak hours were burning away. Or he could risk taking an unknown trek back into the woods, towards the floor dungeon and take on the floor boss. But that option would leave him vulnerable to a plethora of dangers. Assassins, higher leveled NPC's, the inevitability of being destroyed by the dungeon, or just getting lost as a new player.

"We can share a room, I wouldn't mind that. It's just a game…"

Both Edmond and the inn keeper looked up at Kitami.

"Are you sure? I know what you said about privacy…I wouldn't want to impose on that."

Kitami giggled.

"You seem like a mature enough guy. Besides, I'm sure there's a rug you can sleep on."

Edmond smiled, he was starting to catch on to Kitami's sarcasm. He shrugged and swiped his hand for his menu. Kitami was still in his party from earlier.

"Okay, it looks like we're good to go."

Edmond hesitated for a second.

"Thanks, by the way, most people wouldn't share like this."

Kitami waved away the thanks, as if it was instinctive of her to extend the gesture.

Edmond purchased the room and the two adjourned to the upper floor. When they reached their room, they were once again put into a dilemma. The room was small, very small. There was one bed, barely large enough for one person, a small fireplace, and window that looked out over the city.

"Well, I'm sorry, it looks like there isn't a rug for you to sleep on, after all."

Kitami broke the silence. She walked in and took a quick look at what things the room had to offer (all two of them).

A long awkward silence crept into the room. No eye contact was made, and the only sounds were of Edmond looking at the cramped space, and going "hmm" under his breath. The sort of "hmm" that someone receives after presenting a subpar Christmas gift, or the same "hmm" he gave whenever he looked at any one of his paychecks from the real world.

"I can go…if you'd like. Really, it's no trouble at all."

Edmond pointed at the door behind his back with his thumb.

Kitami sat down on the edge of the bed. She looked down at her feet, which were uncomfortably moving from side to side. After a moment of deliberation, she spoke.

"No…we can just sleep back to back…can't we? I mean, come on, I'm assuming we're both adults here, right? Situations are only as weird as you make them out to be. Besides…tomorrow it won't matter, we'll we going our separate ways."

Edmond couldn't move. Sure, he was attracted to women…a lot. But it had been years since he had been in any sort of contact with a member of the opposite sex in the real world. Yes, he'd had his share of girlfriends off and on throughout high school, and one or two since he graduated…but things seem to slow down for guys who skip college and take a dead end job selling electronics at a failing company. It'd been at least three years since he'd been this close to a girl.

"Well, sure, if you're okay with it. Besides, our avatars will be sleeping."

Edmond managed to say this, although it sounded like he was convincing himself, rather than Kitami.

"Good, it's settled then."

Kitami stood up and accessed her menu. She scrolled through a few pages until she reached the one she was looking for. Just as she was about the select the option she wanted, she froze and looked at Edmond.

"I'm…going to change into something other than leather armor and a bow, if that's okay with you."

Edmond swallowed so hard his neck almost imploded. This was supposed to be a game with slaying monsters, gaining loot, and forgetting about the real world. Instead it was more like strange nights of high school past. He knew he had to play it cool. He took a deep breath changed his expression to one that could only be described as: "meh."

"Sure, I don't mind."

Kitami nodded and pressed the option her finger was hovering over. Suddenly a white glow surrounded her body, blinding Edmond and hiding Kitami from view. Edmond recoiled in shock and threw his hands over his eyes. After a few seconds the light began to die down gradually and the never ending pops of after images began to flicker into Edmond's eyes. Despite the inconvenience, he couldn't believe the length at which the creators went to make such a life like experience.

When Edmond's eyes had readjusted Kitami came back into his view. He was speechless. Kitami was now dressed or, more accurately, undressed in pair of blue shorts that matched her hair and more importantly fully displayed her agile legs, and where she may have lacked in the chest, she fully made up for it below the waist. Her torso was bare, with the exception of a bolt of blue cloth wrapped around her chest in a supportive fashion, leaving her stomach, neck, and arms somehow more exposed more than before. Her soft, blue, hair was now undone, and draped down, just past her shoulders.

"Much better. You wouldn't believe how uncomfortable a leather bra is."

Kitami spoke with confidence. It was as if she was completely oblivious to her own exposure. She stood up and stretched, once again giving Edmond a moment to see the full display of her Avatar's smooth, pale, skin.

Edmond knew he had to change the subject. He had to play this cool.

"Hey, you don't know what I do in my spare time, in the real world."

An obvious attempt to make a joke of the previous statement.

Kitami instantly stopped stretching and gave Edmond a strange look. Could he have possibly said anything more ridiculous?

"Well, if that's the case, you'll understand why I decided to switch it out for something softer, and more suitable for relaxation."

Kitami laughed and drew the covers back on her side of the bed. After climbing in she looked Edmond from head to toe.

"I'm hoping you aren't planning on wearing all that leather into bed. I DO have to have my back against you, you know."

Edmond hadn't considered this. He looked down at his attire. Somehow leather boots, chaps, gloves, and a chest plate didn't seem comfortable, for either party involved.

"Right. I guess I should change then." Edmond looked his clothing once again.

"Uhm…"

Kitami giggled.

"You don't know how to change your cosmetics, do you?"

Edmond shook his head and shrugged. To be fair, he had only been logged in for a few hours now.

"You just access your menu as you normally would. When you get to the main menu, there will be a tab labeled "cosmetic." Players can set up as many outfits as they'd like in the slots. That way your character is ready for any occasion. You can quickly switch to armor if you need to fight, stealth gear if you need to be undetected, or sleeping gear, for the obvious reason of character rest. The possibilities are endless, and it's all up to you."

Edmond nodded and accessed his menu. He selected the tab and was greeted with many empty slots that read "[new outfit]." Despite the detailed tutorial given by Kitami, he was still having some trouble figuring out the interface. After all, he didn't even do that much changing in REAL life. He'd wake up, put on his same work shirt, same pair of blue jeans, and leave for work. He slept in a pair of shorts, and wore the same tee shirt, and pair of sweat pants every weekend. His life was quite uneventful.

"Ah! I got it, there's a Hide All tab."

"No wait!"

Before Kitami could stop him, Edmond's character had been completely stripped of all of its armor…and clothing, with the exception of a pair of white undergarments that covered him below the waist. He didn't even notice as he continued fiddling with the options.

Kitami placed both hands on her mouth and quickly turned her head away. Partially out of shyness, but mostly so she didn't burst into hysterical laughter.

"Edmond…"

Edmond looked over at Kitami and saw that she was looking in the opposite direction. She was, however, pointing her finger down at his lower body.

When Edmond looked down, he felt every ounce of blood drain from his head to his toes. He was paralyzed, stricken with embarrassment. His first instinct was to grab something, anything to cover himself with…but the room was bare. Instead, what he did was far less effective.

"Well…this is…odd. Better grab a screenshot while you can…"

This was followed by the most awkward laugh he'd ever uttered in his life.

Kitami, still looking in the opposite direction, changed from pointing, to a much more sarcastic thumbs up.

"Alternatively, you could just go back to the menu, and deselect the "hide armor" function instead…Just a thought."

Edmond desperately scrolled through the menu again, finally selecting the proper function. When the same light that had encompassed Kitami earlier had settled, he let out a sigh of relief. He was now wearing a pair of cloth shorts, as well as short sleeved shirt made of the same material. Not only was the situation more comfortable, but so was Edmond's skin, no longer squeezed by the protective leather armor.

"Much better. We'll pretend that never happened."

Kitami then laid down and rolled onto her side, effectively ending the conversation.

Edmond slowly moved over to his side of the bed. Given the night's events, he no longer cared about how strange it would be to lay with a woman again. Besides, after ten seconds ago, how could it possible get any worse for him? He climbed into his side of the bed and turned his back to Kitami, who still remained silent. She couldn't possibly be asleep yet, could she? His answer came when he moved back, ever so slightly deeper towards the middle of the bed, causing his skin to graze hers. Edmond felt her tense up again, as she had the last time he had her this close to him, in the woods. Only this time, she gradually relaxed herself, and accepted situation. Edmond thought about moving forward again, but he dismissed the thought. He didn't want to further agitate the situation.

A few moments passed in silence. Edmond's night had finally come to an end. He thought of the previous event and came to a conclusion: he was…disappointed. He'd wanted to rush into the game, slay some monsters, gain as many levels as possible, and enjoy the best ale Aincrad had to offer. Instead, he'd been forced to hide on the cold ground, dragged through the entire forest and managed to take off all of his clothes in front of a girl he'd just met. All of this on top of the fact that he considered himself a gamer, and one of top notch status. He knew he was being hard on himself, after all, it was his first attempt. Tomorrow would be better! He'd meet up with Thatch, finally do some questing, and get his adventure started on the right foot.

As Edmond cheered himself up with thoughts of glorious gameplay, waiting just hours before him, he felt himself slipping into a slumber. His eyelids began to close, and the previous problems began to fade from his mind. He must have been having a dream, he began to see the word "error" flashing, in red, before his eyes.

Something didn't feel quite right. The warmth of Kitami's body was no longer beside him. When he opened his eyes, confusion immediately set it. He was no longer in the inn. Instead he was staring at the plastic of his nerve gear, which hovered centimeters from his eyes. He was back in his room. He quickly turned to look at his monitor. The clock read 3:02 a.m. An update had just been posted. He quickly moved to his desk and sat down to read it.

We apologize for the inconvenience. There will be unscheduled server maintenance, effective immediately. We at Sword Art Online appreciate your continued cooperation and support, and are working quickly to resolve the issue. Thank you.

-SAO Staff.

"Damn…so much for my weekend."