(OCC: This is my strange attempt to meet some new people. I always find the best of friends from starting a seemingly random RP. If this isn't allowed, please let me know. ^_^ I don't mean any harm. Anyway, I encourage anyone to RP with me. I don't bite!)

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It had been hard to find a program to disguise his voice, but he once he did and had it installed, he couldn't help but smile at how perfectly it changed everything. After hours of creating this PC and working to change some things, Hiyami was now complete.

It had been a rough day, and quite frankly, he had just wanted to explore Mac Anu for just a bit before heading to bed. Rob and Himiko both said that they would be on tonight, but he had forgotten to get their information. Plus his cell phone had just died and had no way of contacting them until Monday when the ROTC building would be open again.

Just like the night before, everything looked so real through the FMD. But they were just 1's and 0's. It wasn't like he could really touch the stone walls that surrounded the Chaos Gate. It didn't take long before all of this thinking was giving him a headache. He wasn't playing this to solve some great mystery. He was playing this for fun! He gathered up his wits and started to move, heading into the heart of Mac Anu.

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"Do you see him?"

"Look at that hair!"

"Common colors, strange outfit."

"He looks like a damn n00b..."

Though this was a game, the words still cut through him like a knife through butter. Of course it was obvious that he was a n00b. He was carrying around one of the lowest weapons available for his class. And as much as he wanted to get rid of them for something better, he knew he wouldn't be able to do anything until he went out into the fields and dungeons.

He couldn't go alone. Not at his level. That would be suicide. But then he couldn't randomly walk up to someone and ask for help. With his inexperience, he could easily fall into the trap of a PKer rather than a 'newbie helper.' And where was Rob and Himiko? How could he pick out them when he had went this far to disguise himself. Did they go through the same trouble?

Once again, the head throbbing thoughts filled his mind, and he figured it was time to just stop and think. Through his exploration of the town, he had found that there was a small open area right next to the weapon shop. It faced one side of the canal, looking out over the part of the town that no one could access. And there he sat, one knee pulled up to his chest while he let his other leg hang down. He couldn't get wet, afterall. It was just a game...

It had been the last busy day of the season, and Olin was going to miss it. All of the employee affairs were in order, product sent, and loose ends neatly wrapped. Normally he would already be pacing, but a certain special someone had made him make arrangements for this sort of thing. Smiling and thinking back, he flopped himself into the computer chair and turned the game on. The truth of the matter was that he had gotten as farm as creating the character and reading the manuall, so now it was time to play. As he put on the neuro-googles, he couldn't help but chuckle as the voice welcomed him to the menu, and eventually, the world itself.

"Whoa..."

It took a minute for him to pick his jaw up off the floor. He had been expecting something, but it certainly wasn't this. Taking a tentative step forward, he tested the ground to see if it was real. Sure enough, it held his weight, along with the crowd of gossiping players that were apparently used to that sort of thing. Just to make sure, he tested the controls a little, getting a decent handle on them and moved to the stairs. Taking off the helm, Caraba took his first big step into the shining capital they called Mac Anu... or at least that was the plan. Instead, a woman dressed in what roughly counted as a steel swim suit whistled at him, making him miss the first step, blink in confusion and surprise, then tumble head over heels down the stairs.

"Right, I didn't pick the graceful class."

Picking up the pieces, he quickly managed to get lost in the wonder that was the city. The Heavy Axe's wandering led him up and down the streets, and often into players. Eventually, though, his feet led him to the shops, where he became absorbed in the armor he couldn't touch until he leveled a little, comparing it to the puny stuff he had right now. Then he saw the axe. Running over to the weapons shop and sending a few innocent bystanders sprawling, all receiving an apology as he ran, he stopped dead in from of the place and put both of his huge hands on the counter. The monstrous thing stretched from one wall of the place to the other, and if he didn't know better, he could swear it was sparkling.

"It's bigger than me! I bet I could knock a house over with something like that!"

As he walked walked away, making plans on how to thank the woman that had convinced him to get this, he couldn't help but think out loud.

"Now I'm really going to have to get started. But the book said something about not going alone, too. Where am I supposed to find players at my level, anyway?"

Hiyami was lost in his thoughts, his gaze on his reflection in the water below him. While this place was beautiful, it lagged in the back of his mind that this was only a game. If this was the real world, then maybe he might have a chance at life. He couldn't help but let off another sigh, his shoulders slumping. And that's when the water started to vibrate.

He narrowed his eyes a bit, watching carefully. The water would ripple, then pause, then ripple again. "....Earth.... quake?" He murmured to himself. But it couldn't have been an earthquake. If it was, the entire scene would be shaking not just the water. And then he heard the thunderous noise.

BOOM!! BOOM!! BOOM!! BOOM!! BOOM!!

Every second, the noise got louder. He didn't want to turn around. He knew that if he did, he could be met with something unfriendly. But, as human nature went, he turned to see a giant man in armor bound towards his way. His eyes widened then. The man was going to run into him and knock him into the water! "W-Wait! Sto-!"

"It's bigger than me!" The man shouted when he came to a screeching halt infront of the weapons shop. Hiyami could feel his heart pound against his chest when he stared up at the man. Sure he was sitting on the ground, but the man surely towered over him. "I bet I could knock a house over with something like that!"

The man stared at the axe, murmuring things about how to find players his own level. While he acted like someone new to the game, he knew that some people liked to make dupe accounts, to lure true newbies into their trap and PK them. But, if he was going to get anything done, he would have to take the initiative to start.

He gulped down his heart and forced himself up, walking behind the man that was leaving before picking up his pace to catch up with him. "E-Excuse me..." He murmured, unsure if the man could even hear his voice. "Excuse me! Were you looking for someone to go to the fields with!?" He felt as though he had to speak just a bit louder for the man to hear him.

After having no classes for the day, Matt decided it would be a good time to log in to 'The World' and begin raising his character. After all, it had been a few days since he had started the account, he might as well do something with it. After logging in he looked at the Control Panel it showed, a little surprised at how well set up the game was. With a smile he began looking through everything with interest, taking extra time to acquit himself with the message board. Feeling satisfied with his ability to navigate the system he decided it was time to go ahead and log in.

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As he warped in, Gale saw three golden rings go down his body. He flinched in surprise, believing he was already under attack, and barely controlled the urge to jump back. The few people around him just pointed and laughed amongst themselves as Gale sighed and shook his head, "Yeah, yeah, let's just laugh at the new guy for his initial confusion. Real mature," he murmurs under his breath and proceeds to walk forward, taking in his surroundings.

Around him was a large dome in which there was one large window, letting in just about of light in the room. As he proceeded out of the building, however, the majesty of this artificial land truly began to sink in to his mind. On either side of the bridge he walked on was a large river that was the purest shade of blue. It looked as if it were a large liquid crystal one good take in order to show of how rich they were to their neighbors. He continued forward, passing beneath a large arch, and entered a large area filled with people buying, trading, and selling amongst themselves and shops within the surrounding area.

As he continued he reached an armor shop with interesting looking protective plates and leggings and such. He took moment to really respect the fine detailing put into the armor by the creators of the game. With a small chuckles he says, "Not too bad for a series of zeroes and ones. I never dreamed people would spend so much time on these sorts of things."

Leaving the armor Shop, Gale proceeds onwards until, seemingly out of nowhere, a very large man comes running past him like a bat out of hell. With eyes widening Gale follows the man until he comes to a screeching halt beside a nearby weapon shop, yelling something loudly about the size of some item. After a few unsure blinks, Gale turns and walks over to the man, just in time to hear a timid voice beside him.

"Excuse me! Were you looking for someone to go to the fields with!?"

The source of the voice was completely invisible, and as Gale peered around the mammoth of a man he saw a small framed Twin Blade behind him. He looked completely nervous, as if terrified that the large man would attack him or, even worse, accidentally sit on him. Putting on a kind smile, Gale looks at the other guy, "Hey, I see you're new too. I'll join you on your quest, I personally could use some experience myself," he tells him, waving happily.

"Who? What, now?"

Turning around slowly, Caraba looked down at the two people and gave them his friendliest smile. Raising a massive hand to greet them both, he chuckled loudly.

"Yo! These googles are really something, aren't they? I have to make sure people don't sneak up on me like that!"

Crossing his arms and holding his chin, he gave them both an appraising look. They looked interesting enough, that was for sure. The cloaked guy was nothing to worry about, and the other looked way too nervous to have the kind of colors they did. Mostly, though, his gut just told him they were good people. Pointing at each in turn, he grinned.

"Well, now, you're too shifty looking to actually be evil. Just so you know, it's not polite to introduce yourself with a hood up."

Giving the helmet at his side a good rap, the big man nodded towards Hiyami.

"And you, you're too timid to go stabbing me, if that was you trying to get my attention. Besides, my gut tells me I should trust you two. So yes, I would love to go see what these fields look like. But which way is this portal?"

Scratching his head and turning his back on them, he scanned the distance, but failed to make out much of anything. It might have helped if he had taken the time to look at the first building he walked out of. Grimacing a little, he looked over his shoulder.

"I don't suppose one of you know which one of those giant buildings is supposed to be the warp portal I read about..."

"The Chaos Gate..." Hiyami murmured, his eyes drifting away. The chaos gate was up at the Chaos Plaza. While he had a small map at the upper right hand corner of his screen, it was hard to get lost in a place as big as Mac Anu. But he remembered that he had gone over the bridge to get to where he was.

Gathering himself once more, he finally spoke up. "I know where it's at... We'll keep going straight till we get to the bottom of the bridge, then once we go over the bridge, we can see the Chaos Gate from there..."

It donned on him then that these two guys were going to be going to the fields with him. This giant of a heavy axe and the mysterious long arm. Compared to them, he looked fragile. He made a face to himself, then shook his head. "I read on the fourms..." He spoke softly again, "That ∆ Bursting Passed Over Aqua Field is a really good field for beginners. I suppose it's like a tutorial field...

"Ah! Aren't we supposed to exchange member addresses to form a party?"

Gale's eyes widen in slight surprise as he realizes his hood is up. Embarrassed, he proceeds t immediately put it down to show his face. As the hood falls back his face becomes visible, showing his blue eyes and bright red headband. He smiles again as he looks back over at the two before him. "Ah, my apologies. I forgot I had it up to be quite honest with you," he says, rubbing the back of his head a little bit anxiously.

Feeling a little bit excited, Gale closes his eyes to retain his composure. He didn't really want to look like an excited little kid in front of the first two people he met. Confident that he's calmed down he turns to the small Twin Blade. "That sound like a good field to go to. Especially since we are, by definition, beginners," he tells him
a smile.

As he studies the large Heavy Axeman looking around for the Chaos Gate he tilts his head to the side and gives a small laugh. He may have been big but he was also rather amusing and seemed to be more of a joke than a threat. On the other hand he wasn't sure how he was in battle, so it may have been too early to judge.

Barely catching what the small Twin Blade said about the member addresses, he turns and nods, "Yes, I suppose that would be a good idea, here's mine," he says as the words "Member Address Given" flash onto his screen.

"Member address? What was that again...?"

Crossing his arms, Caraba looked at the sky and thought hard. He was sure he had read about those in the manual, but what they were for? Another few seconds and the heavy axe would have had to take off the goggles to check. A PING in his ear made him focus again, instead. Floating in the air in front of him was a message that said Member Address Received, and the handy tooltip had opened the screen for him. All that was left was to input the names...

Clickety click...

Find the button...

Searchity search...

And click to send!

Blaring trumpet fanfare!

"Whoa!"

Startled by that little burst of noise, apparently a designer's pick to celebrate the first time use of one of The World's basic features, Caraba stumbled backwards. A helpful message suggested that this also happened to be a feature of the tooltips, which he turned off immediately. Waiting a second with his arms up, as if they would stop the next bombardment of noise, he let out a big breath of air and chuckled.

"Well, that'll be the last time I leave that on, I think. All we need is yours and we'll be able to see this field you two are talking about, right? Lets hurry, I want to see what the monsters are like!"