Wild Times in Virtual Reality: Total Immersion VR Adventures Unlimited LitRPG Read online

  WILD TIMES IN VIRTUAL REALITY

  Total Immersion VR Adventures Unlimited LitRPG Series #1

  By

  Garth Ono

  * * * * *

  Copyright 2017 by Garth Ono

  Cover Art by Isikol

  This is a work of fiction. The names, characters, and locations within either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  All characters in this story are 18 years old or older.

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  The End

  About the Author

  Wild Times in Virtual Reality

  Total Immersion VR Adventures Unlimited LitRPG Series #1

  Fridays, especially Friday afternoons, are a total waste. They should just let us go home after lunch. Weekend plans danced in my head. Brunch tomorrow with my girlfriends, then shopping. I'd been saving up for three months for a new pair of cute shoes.

  "Tick tock, Ariana," Tom whispered as he passed my cubicle, wagging his brows.

  I glanced at the time on my monitor. Five minutes until quitting time.

  Gnawing on my lip, I wondered for the thousandth time if it was a good idea. Maybe my first visit to Total Immersion VR Adventures Unlimited should be alone. I played several MMORPG and PvP games with Tom and Charlie, but never any of the new virtual reality games. Yet everyone raved about Total Immersion VR Adventures Unlimited. It was said to be beyond reality. Eddy down in Acquisitions swore it was better than real life.

  Heart racing, my skin tingled, I hadn't been that excited about anything in a while. All that despite a nagging feeling I was making a mistake that wouldn't go away. But who could resist taking on a new look, new persona, and entering a very realistic world where anything goes?

  The fact Total Immersion was so notorious and people spoke of visiting in whispers worried me. My reputation would take a hit if word got out I went with two men, even if we didn't do anything untoward. And I had no intentions of letting our session go XXX, word was sex was possible in their games. I wasn't so sure about Tom, though. That was the first time he'd ever wagged his brows at me.

  Just yesterday I overheard Tom tell Charlie he thought I was a "hot Latina babe." Odd, how that made me tingly instead of being offended. Yet, I couldn't imagine doing it with either of them. They were my best male friends. None of my girlfriends liked to game, and I loved it way too much. Tom and Charlie were my weekend gaming bros.

  I watched the boss's office like a hawk those last few minutes. Mr. Mathers came up with reasons to work late at the drop of a hat ever since his divorce. He was in there with his boss, which was always worrisome. But at one minute to 5 PM I shut down my PC, grabbed my purse, and headed for the door.

  Charlie and Tom beat me out, with the rest of the office following. Everyone looked relieved and eager. I wanted to talk about what my friends expected at Total Immersion, but we couldn't discuss it in front of our co-workers. That would just start rumors about us. Very sordid rumors.

  We split up at the parking lot, and I jumped into my red Mustang. I was one of the first ones on the road, making good time toward my date with destiny. Yeah, it felt like that. Would the game prove as addictive as reported? Or was I about to waste a hundred bucks for four hours of total immersion boredom? That was not an insignificant sum for me.

  Total Immersion VR Adventures Unlimited occupied an old super market. The parking lot was already packed when I arrived at 5:10 PM. Eddie warned us it was packed every evening, so we had reservations. We made those reservations three weeks back. That's how popular the place had become in less than ninety days from opening.

  We lucked out and parked near each other, but it was in the far corner, so we had a little walk. Of course, I'd chosen to wear my five inch stiletto pumps that day. Yeah, it was a long walk, but Tom and Charlie kept me laughing the whole way. Those two guys are crazy.

  "We're still doing the medieval fantasy game, right?" Charlie asked as he held the door open for me. "Because I went to their site and pre-loaded my character."

  "Why didn't you tell me I could do that?" I demanded.

  "Eddie told all three of us at the same time," Tom said.

  I frowned. I may have zoned out for a moment during Eddie's enthusiastic descriptions of the experience. Players lived out all of their fantasies in total anonymity. Fun scenarios had danced in my head as I fantasized about doing all my favorite games in virtual reality. The possibilities were endless. As for Eddie, I got the impression the fantasies he enjoyed were of a different nature. He kinda gave me that vibe.

  We had a short wait in line, but they had ten clerks at the front desk. Since we had reservations, all we had to do was sign the releases. The uninformed were taking a lot of time by making reservations in person, and thus holding up the line. I hesitated signing, but then I'd already given them my credit card number while making my reservations over the phone, so they'd charge me a $25 cancellation charge if I changed my mind. Since they already had our credit cards on file, the company generously allowed us to use our cards while in the game to buy money. Eddie said we could use them in certain shops, too. Why did games have to nickel and dime us like that?

  The check-in lounge had a bar and café. Our session didn't start until 6 PM, so we enjoyed a beer and pizza. There was an arcade on the other side, where people played video games before they went in for even more intense versions of video games. Neither Tom nor Charlie saw the humor in that.

  "Ariana Alvarez, please report to the Check-in Desk," a woman's voice said on the loudspeaker. "Tom Miller, please report to Check-in. Charlie Connors, please report to check-in."

  My heart really began to race as we hurried over. An attractive blonde in the company uniform waited with a clipboard clutched to her bosom. The clerk smiled, had us sign the final release documents, and then led us through the door.

  "There be dragons here," Charlie whispered.

  "Yes. Yes there are dragons in the game you guys chose," the pretty clerk said. She slanted an amused look at me. "The dragon shifters are particularly… Fun."

  My face heated up. I read a lot of paranormal romance, and shifters were my favorites. My shifter of choice was dragon, too. Hey, I also read a lot of quest fantasy. I like dragons. A lot. Did Total Immersion know that? And if so, would they manipulate the game to ensure I encountered big, muscular, alpha male dragon shifters?

  She showed us to three adjacent rooms. They were tiny rooms, with a small closet and an odd sort of VR Pod, that looked like an enclosed recliner. An attendant in baby blue scrubs came in and asked me to strip down to panties and bra, and helped me into the pod. She placed sensors all over my body, before putting a helmet on my head that covered my eyes.

  "Just relax," she said. "The game will begin as soon as I seal the pod."

  "What if I want to exit the game early?"

  "Your guide will explain it all," she said. "Don't worry, we hardly ever ho
ld people against their will in the game. Unless you're captured by orcs. They never give up their prisoners."

  "Seriously?"

  She laughed. "Sorry. It's a joke."

  I felt foolish, but I'd read books about people getting trapped inside VRMMORPGs. Sometimes life is stranger than fiction. And anything seems possible when I'm half-naked, locked in a pod, and can't see anything.

  As soon as the pod was sealed, my whole body tingled. An odd coldness swept through me from head to toes. Then light snapped on and I found myself in a bright white room. Well, room might not be the right word. There was no up or down, left or right. Just endless white.

  Well, I could see me. And I was completely naked as I floated there in empty space.

  "Hello, Ariana. I’m your Virtual Assistant," a disembodied female voice said. She spoke softly, reassuringly. I felt tension bleeding away. "Shall we create the perfect you to play the game?"

  "Yes," I said.

  A half-sized image of me appeared. She was also naked. I scowled, wondering if some company employee had a naked picture of me on his monitor. At least the voice speaking to me was female.

  Detailed information about every aspect of my physic appeared, surrounding my image. I saw everything from eye color, to length of hair, to personal grooming choices down there…

  "You can change any aspect of her appearance at this time," my VA said. "You can be taller, shorter, thinner, or heavier. You can indulge your blonde ambitions, be a fiery redheaded vixen, or remain a sultry brunette."

  "Sultry? Me?"

  "You can be anyone you want to be in virtual reality," she said. "And no one outside your pod will ever know if you so choose."

  I almost said I wanted to remain looking exactly like my real self, but paused. Concentrating on my bosom, I willed my girls larger. My breasts began to expand and drop a bit with the increased weight, yet remained firm and perky. Then I narrowed my waist just a little, before giving myself prettier hips. Nice and rounded. I had to tinker a bit to get my overall look lean and athletic, but with very nice feminine curves.

  After lengthening my hair to lower back, and then tweaking my face to give me deniability if seen by someone I know. And there I was, the girl I always wanted to be in my mind. Maybe Total Immersion's VR was better that real life.

  "Do you want your character name to remain Ariana?"

  "No, change name to Ari."

  That name appeared above the image's head. Below that was Race and Class.

  "Human," I said. "As for Class, I usually play an assassin in fantasy games, but I'm thinking about changing it up this time." Would Tom and Charlie get pissed if I didn't play my usual character? We hadn't discussed what we'd do. But I was paying a hundred dollars for four hours of fantasy fun, so to hell with them. "Rogue."

  I watched my chosen Race and Class populate.

  As a rogue I could do anything. Steal, fight, slay dragons, every type of adventure was available to me. Charlie always played the drow mage, while Tom liked to be an elven ranger. I thought my rogue character would complement theirs just as well as my usual assassin.

  Clothing options appeared to one side. The first option was plain brown tunic and loose trousers. No shoes. I'd look like all of the peasant NPCs. Blend in so I could do what I wanted without anyone suspecting me. That didn't appeal to me. It was the opposite of roguish in my mind. Where was the fun of being plain after I'd amped up by body like that?

  The next option looked more roguish. It was all black: silk long-sleeved shirt, leather corset over that, tight leather pants stuffed into thigh boots. I liked the way I looked in that outfit. My breath caught, and I knew I'd found my look.

  That outfit appeared on my body and my image vanished. I noticed an unexpected weight on my left hip, and found a sheathed sword hanging off a wide belt. A long dagger rode my right hip.

  "This is the time to make any changes or adjustments," my VA said. "But if you're happy with your choices, say 'approved' and your choices will be locked in."

  "Before I approve it, will I be able to play different characters in future visits?"

  "Yes. This character will always be your default, but you can change it to anything else anytime you return for another session."

  I grinned. It was almost time. Virtual reality here I come.

  "I approve. Let the game begin."

  Chapter 2

  A door appeared in the absolute whiteness. The virtual assistant's voice brightened with joyful enthusiasm.

  "Congratulations, Rogue Ari! Step through to experience the time of your life. The game you've chosen to play is dark, gritty, and very dangerous. Perfect for a player like you! Go forth and conquer!"

  I didn't so much step forward as was thrust through. In a flash I was inside a dark and dingy room with two men. One was a gray-skinned, white-haired drow in elaborate black robes with silver trim. The other was a tall, blonde, and strikingly handsome elf in soft green-dyed leathers of a ranger. The drow mage held an elaborately carved staff of black wood, with a glowing blue crystal clutched in carved talons. The elf was armed with a curved sword on his hip and a bow in hand. A quiver of arrows peeked over his shoulder.

  "You guys look amazing," I cried. "You look so friggin real it's crazy."

  "Holy crap, Ari, is that you?" Tom asked.

  Both of them stared at me with open mouths and wide eyes. It was always exciting to make a guy react like that, though I'd only accomplished it a few times in real life.

  I wagged my eyes at the elf. "You like? I decided to change it up and chose rogue instead of assassin."

  "You look hot," Charlie said. His eyes were locked on my exposed cleavage. "I like you as a rogue."

  "Uh huh. What color are my eyes?"

  "What?" he said, taking a step back. Charlie blinked a few times. "Your lips are red and amazing."

  "Shut up!" I cried, laughing as I punched him in the arm.

  "Ouch. That hurt," he said. Charlie rubbed his arm, an odd look on his face. "Holy crap, I actually felt that. It really hurt."

  Charlie hit Tom in the ribs, making him cry out and rub the spot vigorously. I stepped back before one or both decided to strike me to prove the point. My clothes were tight and I felt them as if it was all real. Though, the tight corset didn't restrict my movement or breathing, and my boots' high heels didn't hinder me and the toe box didn't crush me. To test the point, I strode around the room a few times, marveling at how effortlessly I could walk in sky high stilettos in virtual reality. No pain or feelings that I was about to fall to my death.

  "Eddie was right. This is better than real life," I said. "A girl could get used to this."

  "I know. Me, too," Tom said. He looked me up and down with hungry eyes, before waving toward the door. "Adventure awaits. After you, milady."

  "Such a gentleman," I said and patted him on the cheek. As I passed by them, I noticed out of the corner of my eyes both men looked down at my butt. My tightly leather-bound butt. "I could be wrong, though."

  Everything was perfect. I loved the sound my heels made on the wooden floors. Even the floors were perfectly imperfect. They were just bare wood, no stain or polish. Indeed, they were quite dirty. Then I noticed the single window's glass was dingy and distorted the view outside.

  The mouth-watering aroma of cooking bread hit me when I stepped out onto the cobblestone street. It was evening, the light fading quickly. Men were lighting torches in sconces beside doors. There was just a hint of nip in the air.

  "Wow. Their attention to detail is mind-boggling," Charlie said as he moved up to my right. "I have a bad feeling I'm going spent all my money on this game."

  Tom took the spot on my left. We looked up and down that narrow, twisting street for a long moment. Men, women, and children hurried by, or spoke in pairs or small groups. Laughter filled the air, as kids squealed in play and dogs chased after them barking. Then another smell caught my attention. Cooking meat.

  "Oh man, I'm so hungry I could eat a horse," Tom said
just as a centaur walked by.

  The centaur stopped and glared at the elven ranger. Tom shrugged, "So sorry. Unfortunate expression."

  "Better watch it, elf, or you'll be eating one of my hooves."

  I stared after the centaur as he clopped away, halfway between amazement and amusement. Charlie was chuckling. Tom didn't look so pleased.

  My empty stomach rumbled. Did they put players in on empty stomachs to make us spend money on food?

  "Where can we get some money?" I asked. "I remember something about moneychangers." I pointed at a vendor pushing a large cart around. "He sells sausages."

  "I'll give you twenty dollars to eat my sausage," a stranger said.

  He was dressed like a soldier, but was one butt-ugly dude. At first I thought he was an orc, since he had a big jutting jaw and small tusks peeking out. But I could see other orcs, and he was way too small, and actually not ugly enough. I checked him out by concentrating on a spot above his head. A single line of description appeared in a red cursive font.

  Marcus. Half-orc mercenary.

  "Well, Marcus, that's very generous of you," I said. Pulling my sword. "Let me just cut that thing off before I eat it."

  I thrust at his groin, and the half-orc cried out and fled. Laughter followed him, but not from me. I glared daggers after him.

  "Well, that was just rude," Tom said.

  "I know. That jerk doesn't even know me," I said.

  "I was talking about you," he said.

  Charlie and Tom laughed. Others on the road cut annoyed eyes at them. I scowled at my friends until their joy tickled my humor back to life. Charlie asked a passerby about the closest moneychanger, while I looked around and pulled up my Head's Up Display. I liked the minimalist HUD. It was colorful, but translucent and not so in-your-face. In the upper left hand corner was a circle with my face in it. It displayed my name the way other players would see it: Ari. Human rogue. To the right of that my Health, EXP, and Mana. Mana was grayed out since I wasn't a spellcaster of any kind. In a column under my avatar were listed Skills. My defaults were: Swordfighter (Level 1) and Hand-to-Hand (Level 1).