Free Continue Online (Book 1, Memories) by Stephan Morse Page B

ARC
and let it meow like crazy whenever Liz got too close.
    “ Well,
finish your coffee, and find out.”
    Liz
made me chuckle. She was barely older, a little taller, and as messed
up as I was, but for different reasons. Being twins meant we knew
where the emotional buttons were far more than most. I had been there
when her husband ran off and Beth was only a year old.
    We
parted with a hug.
    I
advised Hal Pal to get us home and spent more time flipping through
public videos. Beth had alluded to a lot of customization to the
personal interface. Instead of looking for direct footage, I tried to
sift through lesser sites. There were a few clips of shaky cams plus
deleted comments with messages of web forum bans.
    General
information spoke about a few skills. The press release had stated
all sorts of abilities from the game could be used in real life. Beth
had mentioned her singing and Liz vouched for excessive humming.
    What
could I do skill wise? Dance?
    I
laughed out loud in the van, imagining dancing enemies into
submission. Classic dance moves from Thriller might help me blend in
with zombie hordes. I could Walk Like an Egyptian through tombs to
avoid traps.
    Hal
Pal asked me what was so alarmingly humorous. Explaining why I found
dancing in a video game against monsters so amusing didn’t
register on Hal Pal’s programming. He pleasantly acknowledged
my explanation and informed me how much time was remaining until
arriving home. I checked in with my sponsor and informed her work was
giving me a vacation. Her response was vaguely positive and also held
an edge of warning. Free time was dangerous for anyone who might
relapse. We kept our conversation short as always.
    Then
I was home, hopping through the living room and into my bedroom. Hal
Pal didn’t even get a goodbye or orders to take care of our
inventory. The AI would do it anyway.
    I
stared at the ARC and took a few breaths. Why was this so exciting?
Maybe it was because it was the newest thing to happen in years. An
entire world. Worlds even, according to the slip up during the press
release. For the sake of argument, and prevent a total letdown, I
tried to access the gift wrapped item from my external Atrium view.
It failed to unwrap. Fully diving into this was my only solution.
    “ Wait,”
I muttered.
    Beth
had bracelets on. I jogged back to the van in a hurry and panted.
Exercise was not something I was used to. Maybe getting fit in this
game would help me in real life.
    “ Hal,
do we have any of the EXR-Sevens?”
    “ Three
pairs. Would you like to test them as well?” Hal Pal inquired.
    “ Yes,
please,” I said.
    “ Affirmative,
User Legate. Please remember to file a feedback form upon return.”
    My
eyes rolled. Hal Pal either didn’t notice my exasperation or
chose not to comment. It had before, since the AI had expression
recognizing code embedded somewhere in the depths of its scripting.
AI programming was a problem for those greater than I. My polishing
skills would be top notch by the end of our eventual takeover.
Thoughts of shoe shining and calling robots 'Gov’ put a hum in
my mind.
    Bands
went around both wrists. Another set went right above the ankles.
Physically they felt almost intangible. Small lights littered the
outside of my sets showing connectivity. They connected with nerve
endings and registered impulses. I laid down, reached over, and
pressed the button. One world drifted away as if passing out. The
other came into focus moments later.
    Now
I was standing in my virtual Atrium looking at a package that was
entirely too big. This was Christmas come early and I had the
mentality of a five-year-old. Wrapping paper was torn into shreds.
False cardboard was ripped. Popcorn tossed aside as I dove into the
huge box to find my prize.
    There
was certainly no cat inside.
    An
obsidian business card was my prize. I dug through a giant box filled
with packing peanuts for this small item. Words were scrawled across
and completely