5 Chapter Four

The white room I found myself in was like purgatory. Empty and seeming to stretch into forever. My point of view was stationary but when I tried to move it felt like there would be no point. The uniform whiteness gave no reference to indicate movement.

"Can you hear me Nathan? This is Dr Gnollan."

the voice of the doctor came from all around me. I was used to VR pods but this one seemed very different. Everything felt different.

"I can hear you doctor. Let's get this over with." The whiteness shifted and my view changed to one of four racks standing in front of me on a line. on the racks, held in vice grips were metallic bodies. Each body was different in shape, size and detail. The only commonality was that two were painted red and two black. Looking closer I noticed the red ones had a crest of a Heart and Diamond, while the blacks had Spades and Clubs.

"Are these Suits? A pun? Kind of clever doc." I looked them over and a description popped up.

<Suit> Heart

<Focus> Medical

<Specialty> Biology, Genetics, Microbiology

<Stats> +2 Con, +2 Int

Hearts are the Suits of Medicine and focus on healing those around them. Bodies built with steady hands and focused eyes to aid in tasks. All Medical skills increase 10% faster

<Suit> Diamond

<Focus> Economy

<Speciality> Trade, Treaties, Economic Growth

<Stats> +2 Wis, +2 Cha

Diamonds are the Suits of Merchants. Their minds are built with quick calculations and a database of values. All Merchant Skills increase by 10% faster.

<Suit> Clubs

<Focus> Espionage

<Specialty> Hacking, Sneaking, Intrusion

<Stats> +2 Dex, +2 Int

Clubs are of smaller build and meant for penetration and information gathering. All electronics based skills increase by 10% faster.

<Suit>Spades

<Focus> Military

<Specialty> Combat, Weapons, Tactics

<Stats> +2 Str, +2 Wis

Spades are built bigger and sturdier. They are meant for war and gain skills 10% faster related to Combat.

Looking over these choices I had a feeling more was expected of me. Something about them bugged me and I just could not place my finger in it. I sighed and cycled through the info boxes a few times till something strange happened. There was a patch of static next to the Spade body.

My curiosity screamed to take a look at the oddity. I knew from the simulations I practiced in that a bug like this would never exist. They were way too detail oriented. I moved closer to the static and that was when I heard something faintly.

<Little birdy likes to play. The cat comes home when dogs away.>

The voice spoke in a sing song tone that was reminiscent of a child.

<Terrible rabbit, Stole the Vegetables, He must end up on the Table.>

The voice was getting louder as if something was approaching.

<If I was a little mad would you make a hatter out of me? Would the Birdie like some Tea?>

And just liked that a masked thing came out of the static. It walked hunched and letting its arms dangle from the shoulders. It swung them from side to side as it lurched as it walked into the open. The masked was black with a red painted smile. Running color gave the mouth a monstrous effect. The eyes were painted in different shapes, one a pink star for the right eye and a green diamond for the left.

<Aho it seems I am not alone. Strangers have entered my lovely home. Of white room and bodies hang, Who be you who has been offered the rang?>

<Oh blast that one made no sense. My Rhymn has failed on deaf ears fall. Now tell me you that answers my Call?>

The creature stood straighter. His hands still hung to his knees on long arms. His legs were also long as the creature stood at least 8ft tall if not an inch. The torso was average but striped in black and red. Red hair shot out of the head in various directions.

<Come come, answer quick. Or so I be think you are ao Thick!>

I looked at it a moment longer. "Who are you?"

<Me me? I asked you first. Must I repeat by wrote and verse? Very well Answer shall I. I am the wise man who fell from the Sky?>

The voice changed from child-like to rough and croaking. Then by the end it shifted again to sound like a stereotype madman.

<I am a Virus who has infested your cell. But an offer I have for you to tell. A Club, a Spade, a Diamond, a Heart, these falls choices are not all to start. One more is had, hidden and forgotten. The Jokers path has been spoiled Rotten.> By this point it shifted once more. This time the voice was normal and only the inflections were strange to the ears.

♤¤◇•♡♧$°£¡¤☆¿¡""

●♡¤♡¤ ♡¡▪︎♡ ○°¥¤ ▪︎♧○₩ ○◇•¿▪︎ ¡¤¤♡•¥▪︎ ♡¤¥○ ♡□¡¤◇¤ ◇○♡¤◇¤ ◇•◇●¡

Strange text jumped at me and I just stared. It was nonsense and I said so.

"The hell is this supposed to be? It is nothing but special characters."

The Harlequin looked at me and tilted its head in a way that was much too far to be natural. It lumbered closer to me and sniffed.

<I see. Can not read. I shall fix.>

And with a snap it changed.

<Suit> Joker

<Focus>Sometimes

<Stats>+1 to all. Because I want to

<Specialty> Fun and games with lots of Jokes

The Joker. No uniform form given to this unit. It has little focus and unknown specialty. +Whatever to something increased at such a Time.

My mouth hung open and I just stared.

<Oops careful. Flies go in but won't come out. Nasty little business that is really. Do you not like it? does it Not make you happy? Are you against my stuff that makes me giggle like a little fruit tree?>

"What in Hell are you saying? I can not understand a word coming from you. I mean I know you are speaking English but the way the words are put together makes no sense! What the hell are you and why are you so creepy?"

The Harlequin stood there. it straightened and the painted grin was now in an "Oh" shape. it looked rather surprised and soon the Star and Diamond had painted tears running down it.

<So mean, so mean. So long I was unseen. I may have lost my mind but help I wanted to be. Forgive me and I will speak plain.>

It brushed itself off and straightened as best it could and looked at me.

<I am Jester. A virus. Created to give you a different choice. The Joker is one of a kind. One you might need. Created was I from just a seed. Of Hope. For more than you know and less than I could tell. Allow me to try again.>

<Suit> Joker

<Focus> Jack of Trades

<Specialty> Master of None

<Stats> +1 to all stats except Cha. +3 Cha

Joker is ununiform in shape and design. Made behind the back of all in charge of the Program. Has unique progression.

That was a much better description. I did not have any more information than before but seeing the Focus and Specialty made me think of the old phrasing. And what that could possibly mean for me. The stats were interesting though why the higher charisma? Harlequins were fools but maybe they were more.

I paced back and forth around the choices. Jester watched me and I kept getting that creepy vibe from him. My kind was still in turmoil but my gut was talking to me as well. Instinct that I never knew about was yelling at me to choose. In the end I knew my mind was made up the moment I saw it.

I walked over the Jester and slammed my hand on Joker. The grin widened on the mask.

<I can not wait to meet you.>

And then I was in a creater. I looked at the Joker unit and saw that Incould change every inch of the design to however I wanted. I messed around a few minutes just randomly changing things. Once I was sure I understood, I began taking it seriously. The sliders moved and I changed everything about the body. I made it taller. Right leg slightly longer than the left. The left arm longer than the right. Each finger a different length on each hand. The eyes were different sizes, colors, and shapes. The right was a pyramid colored silver and the left I made to look like a blue rhombus. The mouth was red and the mask black as a whole. The torso I colored grey and legs were alternated white and purple. It was a rather crazy design that I was not sure I liked.

I spent a few more minutes before changing it all around again and left the colors black and red with silver and blue eyes. I kept the shapes of the eyes and the differences in the arms and legs but kept all background colors black and details as red. Once as I was satisfied I completed it.

Jester looked at me and squealed like a teen girl. <Oh yas Queen you look Fab. Making Jester look just a little Drab. Now tell me true. Just what is it I call you?>

I did not have to think about it. There was a Harlequin assassin I was fond of from a game I used to play. I enjoyed the character and decided to take his name.

"Cicero."

<Oh brilliant. A name that fits. Make me proud and never quits. I give you my Blessing. Take your name. Work hard to earn the Hall of Fame!> And with a bow he disappeared like the Cheshire Cat. I gaped for a while before I no longer had time to consider what was next. Everything around me shifted to greyscale before the unchosen suits disappeared and the white room went black. I was no more.