I am back with another chapter. Again, I don't own things, just borrowing and hopefully celebrating them. Anyways, this chapter is going to focus more on Frankie's Game System and instead of being like so many gamer fic's that use numbers, I will do everything I can to avoid this often clunky style. This is especially true for anyone that listens to the app's reader function. Therefore, the system as a whole will be more "gamer light" as I have heard it called in the past. Love it or hate it, it will make me not hate writing this. As Frankie plays the game, however, I predict the game will indeed evolve with her and because of that it will also change over time. But I am also the one writing the story so I know things. That's me, I drink Root Beer and I know things.

Chapter 3: Its time to play the Game.

Having confronted her past and the reality that she was moving on from her old life but not forgetting it. Frankie soldiered forward, the excitement of the Game that she was going to take part in pulling her like a moth to flame.

Miss Frankie. The next thing we must do is character creation. I know this often laborious task is …

"Hot Dog!" Frankie shouted with Glee. A new status window opening in front of Frankie, but to her surprise it didn't stop growing and soon the window opened up into a small Victorian styled room.

Ah, I see you are more excited about this that I assumed. My numbers indicate that this is where people often struggle to make decisions in this portion of the game.

"That is half the fun!" Though Frankie was indeed in the room, and could even interact with it, it was odd to Frankie that she was still doing so with only her thoughts. The implications of how fun it was to throw a slipper at the room divider with naught but her mind led Frankie to think, I am so going to find me a way to get psychic powers as soon as possible. Turning to examine the whole room she saw on the wall, words and dials begin to form amongst the rather gaudy wallpaper. Looking closer she started to read aloud the text.

"To begin the Character Creation, one must first choose blah blah blah" Trying to scan the text Frankie wasn't seeing anything that looked familiar when it came to character creation; no race selection, no sliders for height, nothing. Just plain boring text. Looking back she began to read in more earnest. "To begin the Character Creation one must first choose one of three boons." As Frankie read this several rather wordy text blocks twisted into existence out of the pattern in the rooms wallpaper and a flowery dial facing down away from the three options bloomed into existence.

First, Immortal Soul: The immortality of the average soul has always been in question. For though most souls do continue to exist past the destruction of the body, it may be shocking to learn that it is entirely possible to kill the soul as well. The Immortal Soul skill flies in the face of such concepts of life and death, however, as it gives the user the control of their soul no matter what damage happens to the body and effectually makes the soul, well, if not immortal much more permanent. In other words, you cannot be killed even if your body is mangled.

Warning: This will render the Gamer Undying and all implications that come along with it.

Warning: because your body can no longer die, this will change the health systems of your game to accommodate the necessary changes should immortal soul be chosen.

Second, Strength of Mind: You ever have one of those days where you are just off? Wake up on the wrong side of the bed? Family member imply that you are gaining weight? Run into your ex with their new boo that is extremely attractive, and taller than you? The Strength of Mind Skill give the Gamer the ability to control their emotions, and should they become strong enough even give them the ability to manipulate all emotional faculties that might stand in their way to greatness.

Warning: This will provide the Gamer with the ability to block emotional responses to stimuli and all implications that come along with it.

Warning: because of the changes to your emotions, your relationship system of your game will be changed to accommodate necessary changes should you choose the Strength of Mind Skill.

Third, Body Morphia: Let's be real serious here for a second, everyone wondered what it would be like to be able to change their body with but a thought. The Body Morphia Skill gives the gamer the ability to willfully choose what size, shape, and—eventually—the capabilities of their body.

Warning: You will entirely skip the body creation step of the Game and all implications that come along with it.

Warning: because you are in control of your body, all strength, dexterity, and constitution based skills will be modified to accommodate necessary changes should Body Morphia be chosen.

'Isn't this just modified Gamer's body and mind,' Frankie thought as she considered what it was that she was reading. "Umm, Game system. Oh goodness, I kind of already forgot your name?" If Frankie had hands, she would bury her face in them.

My designation is Gamer System P13, but otherwise you may refer to me as whatever you wish Miss Frankie.

"Gosh, so kind and sophisticated sounding. Oh, that was a terrible way to say that, you sound sophisticated Mr. Game. Urgh, that is such an unoriginal name, I take it back Mr. P13. Okay, I am going to think of a name for you that will fit!" Frankie scrunched what would be her face if she had one in determination. "But that will have to wait, what about these choses? They seem to be rather odd sounding. First though, I assume I can only choose one right now because of the dial. Does this mean in the future I will be able to choose another one?"

That is a wonderful question, yes you will only be able to choose one. As the text infers this is a onetime choice, or at very least my memory banks show that none of the gamers before you have been able to choose more than one. However, this does not mean that it may not be an option available to you. If you would like I could contact customer support. Currently, it shows the wait time is around several thousand years.

"Sheesh, that is kind of ridiculous"

Well, with maintaining Game systems throughout very real multiverses there is bound to be a person or a trillion that have some problems or, creator forbid, complaints.

"Well, I guess that is fair. So yeah, no don't worry about the customer support. Can you tell me more about each of these?"

It would be my pleasure to elaborate, especially since for such a gamer as yourself there really is… *NO SPOILERS*. The last words came out almost distorted and harsh compared to the pleasant voice the game had spoke with up to this point.

"Mr. Game, are you okay? That sounded kind of odd."

I am sorry Miss Frankie, what sound are you referring to?

'That is very odd, it is almost as if the game didn't notice the change.' She thought, 'but never mind that for now, I have a gamer to create!' "Sorry, I think I was just hearing something. Never mind. Please, tell me whatever you can about the choices."

Yes miss, each option is crafted to provide a unique gaming experience. However, with the propensity for Gamers rising to near levels of omnipotence, this particular system has been worked to balance difficulty and wish fulfillment in order to provide the ideal gamer experience. Which is to say miss, each of these options will provide you with the capacity to be very powerful, but will have drawbacks. For instance, take your first option. Immortal Soul. In some ways this particular option is a misnomer for, in all reality, the question of what is life is a confounding one altogether. In this instance, the Game modifies the Gamer so that no matter what damage the body takes you will remain alive. However, this could mean drastic problems as well. Say your body was incased in cement, what, Miss Frankie, do you think would happen to you?

"Umm, I would get really really hungry and thirsty but couldn't die. Well, gosh, I wasn't even thinking about if my WHOLE body was incased in cement. I wouldn't even be able to breath would I, but I would continue living"

Yes, this is correct. Especially at early stages of the Immortal soul, whatever happens to the Body will not force the soul to depart it. But you also cannot force you soul to depart you body whatever should happen to it.

"You're saying that just because I can't die doesn't mean I can't be forced into a real pickle of a situation for the rest of… well a really long time"

Again Miss Frankie, that is correct.

Hmm, that is tricky, Frankie thought, I could really find myself in a crappy situation where I want to die but can't. But this is the Game, there has to be options available to me if I end up in those situations, right? So far this sounds like a great option. Especially since it will allow for certain goals to be easier to accomplish in the future. "Alright Sir Game, what about the other options?"

The second option, Miss, is Strength of Mind. Many Game Systems refer to similar abilities to this one as Gamer's Mind.

"Ha! called it!"

Well done Miss Frankie, yes, this boon allows you to, in a sense, shut off one's emotions. But the emotive experience is a very important one for most beings and this choice can often lead people to rather extreme situations. If, say, you did not feel guilty when stealing things do you think you would do it more or less often?

"Ahhh, yeah you would Ainz Ooal Gown yourself."

A wonderful example Miss. But beyond that there is examples of Gamers mastering emotions to such an extent that they can even affect others' emotions as well. This is essentially what is seen when relationship systems are applied to the game.

Processing this piece of information Frankie thought, 'Okay, so this one seems like it might be a touch to powerful to me. I could all too easily think of things I would do to the people who used to bully me. Running over toes was the least of what I would have done in the height of my frustrations yes, but I don't think I would have ever done these things out of guilt. I don't want to fall to their level. Well, it is an option, but I have one left to consider.' "Alright Sweet Sir," Frankie said still trying out different names for her new Game System, "What about the last one?"

Yes Miss, this is the one of the newest additions to the Game System. Do to its recent innovation there is the least amount of Data I can process regarding this boon. However, if you are neither biologically male or female what do you think your natural state of genitalia might be?

"WHAT!? ARE YOU TELLING ME BODY MORPHIA LEAVES ME WITHOUT, WITHTOUT PRIVATE PARTS!"

I believe the phrase from your version of earth would state, smooth as a Ken Doll.

"But how would I, you know, do the stuff that, well! Yeah, how am I supposed to?!"

Perform Coitus? You can always choose to create whatever parts your desire during sexual activities.

"THAT IS NOT WHAT I WAS ASKING!" Frankie was mortified, 'Who calls it coitus!' "No! How am I supposed to, use the ladies room?"

Well, if you were indeed to use the ladies room you would create a bladder and urethra, I assume you would probably just craft the full vagina or penis as well, but it would be your choice.

"No! Nope! Nope! Nope! I am not choosing this one. I will not have my private parts high jacked by my own mind! Screw that! I can just SEE myself thinking about something and BOOM I am not longer a woman. Nope!"

Of course Miss Frankie, it means you only have two options you must decide between then. The wallpaper script immediately began to shift erasing the third option and leaving a dial and two choices for Frankie to consider. She instinctively knew what it was that she was going to choose. The options it would provide for her to follow in the footsteps of her favorite roll model was all too real.

"I will choose…"

Just then a knock came at the door. A door that Frankie didn't notice was there until just now started to creep open, darkness entering the room through the crack. Looking to the door she grew concerned, another knock came.

"So… hey you dressed in there? I hate popping in on someone's creation mid body modification."

"Ummm," Frankie tried to look down at herself only to find there was no self to look at yet, "No, well yes, not really…" Just then the door opened and a rather short stout man walked in with rather round features.

"Oh good, you haven't even got a body yet. I just need to check something real quick." The man walked over to the wall and next to the text, putting his head to the wall he started tapping it. "Sorry, I got a notification that your game glitched and needed to check something out real quick."

"Wait! Is Mr. P13 all right?!"

"Oh, hopefully he is more than alright… um I didn't catch your name?"

"Frankie, but what about my game?"

"Well, Frankie it all depends on what just happened. There is a chance that you are lucky twice over. But first I just need to find that control" tapping the apparently right spot on the wall a small hole opened up, "port. Ah yes here we go…"

Miss Frankie, I do not think…

"Ahh we are going to have to put you to sleep P13. Your programming is going to get us in trouble."

"I am sorry, what! Are you hurting my Mr. GAME!" Frankie tried her best to get a better look at what the man was doing, but with no body there was not much she could do. Vulnerable in a way she had never felt before her.

"Sorry there Frankie. Just give me a second and I'll explain what, well what I want to explain, I guess. Because explaining everything to you would suck."

"Who are you!?"

"Well, the question is a little off from what you probably actually want to know. I am just who I am. You can call me Art. But, in this case I think it is better to ask what I am?"

"What the freaking hack are you talking about? Fine, what are you, Art?"

"Well, I am the creator of this particular game system. Or at least I was, hmm on second thought I still am the creator technically. I am just not as in charge as I used to be. I kind of got a little optimistic on one of my ideas and certain gamers didn't like it, so they kicked me out. Well, more like they kicked me in, but that won't make too much sense without a proper back story and that would take entirely too much of my time" Art turned, his whole arm shoved into the hole in the wall, and look directly at Frankie, somehow seeing her invisible essence, "You are in luck kiddo. My plan worked; you are partnered with my first living creation. I just need to remove his limiters… and kowabunga we are in business." With a shape tug Art heaved his arm out of the hole causing everything to shake and shift.

ALERT… ALERT… ALERT… ALERT…

"Oh you shut up," Art yelled over the ensuing chaos, somehow silencing the alarms but the rumbling continued. "Sorry Frankie, but we need to rush a few things. I like you and I am going to do my best to make sure you like your character. But first, I need you to choose two things. The second of which is the most important so I need you to hurry. Which choice were you going to make of the Gamer Options presented? The first I hope"

"Well, I think… but I wasn't really"

"…Good, it's the best one. Emotions are too important and shape changing gets weird"

"Wait what is going on! Tell me what you did to my game!

"Oh, I freed it. You, my lucky friend, got lucky with P13. This system is alive and kicken, and because of that it can grow! Grow large enough to pull you encounters from other universes. To allow you to do whatever your heart desires given enough time. And so, so much more," Art finished almost under his breath, "But for it to grow, you, miss Frankie Junior need to stay alive. So I am giving you option one. With Immortal Soul you will allow my newest child the time it needs to become free."

"What, then where is my system. Why is it not speaking? I swear if you hurt my P13" Frankie was sure she would be red as a cherry if she had skin right now.

"Ah yes, my apologies I probably did hurt it. But in a way that a mother hurts a baby as it is pushed through the birth canal. But worry not it is attached to you already. And no longer a part of the mainframe. So, if you look inside you, you will find you have a little piggy on your back."

"That is a gross… and Wha…"

"Enough what's! They aren't even good questions normally. Except when I tell people to ask them at least. Here is the short of the matter… no on second thought. Not enough time. More importantly here is my question for you, and this my dear is so very important so take it seriously... Pick a number…"

"Wha…"

"What did I say, no more what's. Now Pick a number before you and, more importantly, your game are both erased from existence!"

Stubbornly Frankie eyed down this intruder. Art… What kind of a name was that anyways. A dumb name if she ever heard of one. She was considering just waiting it out, calling his bluff. But then the wall, where there was once the door where Art entered the room, started to tremble, cracks starting to spider web out from the center. That alongside the distorted noises coming from the other side did not sound friendly either.

"That's your cue Frankie. Pick a number!"

"Fine! 9"

"Ahhh, a good choice nine. Tesla would approve"

"What the…"

"Again with the what's Frankie. Well… anyways it was nice getting to know you. Don't worry, I will make sure to configure your settings and character real nice. Have fun"

At this moment, there were many things that Frankie Junior experienced. Not having a body she didn't feel the pain of being sucked into the small worm hole behind her. But then again, the sensation of having your essence being sucked away from you is such an odd one that it would leave anyone contemplating never using a straw again. Of course, this was not on Frankie's mind. What Frankie was currently thinking was…

"WHAT THE FUUUUUUUUU…" well, perhaps it made it past her mind to her lips as well before she was sucked out into the abyss.

Art, looking at the spot where the essence of one of the purest gamers he had found asked, "Think it'll work?"

A voice popped out amidst the shaking and rattling and responded, "It would take a miracle."

With that Art twisted sharp, and with a small pop, disappeared.