Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Walking zombie like to a locker was a young man around 17, sandy blonde hair, blue eyes and a plane looking face, a rather skinny figure wearing the uniform of Johnson High.

"Damn Mike, you look like shit, rough night?" An upbeat voice to his side caused him to look over to find a young girl with black bob cut hair, her brown eyes glinting mischievously behind a pair of thick rim glasses as she waits for his reply.

Her figure well not one of a super model wasn't exactly average either but choosing to hide what she could by wearing 1 size bigger of the school uniform to help hide her figure.

"I was up almost all-night listening to hammers of war audio books, didn't exactly get much sleep, I think around 2 or 3 hours? Not really sure. And besides, you know I'm not a morning person Jess." He finishes getting a pat on the shoulder.

"What happened? We have 5 minutes to get to class so tell me as we go." Jess says practically dragging him with her.

"Who said anything was wrong? Maybe I just wanted to stay up late." He countered.

"Oh please, you only listen to that stuff when you're really pissed off and need something to distract you, and that dark world stuff is the only things that really seems to keep you calm or rather calmed down." She said back to him. "Oh look, were here, time for class." Mike replied getting a stink eye from Jess and a low muttering of 'we will continue this later.'

Taking his seat somehow, he seemed to somehow force himself awake throughout his classes till lunch time, thankful it was pizza day since he had forgotten to pack lunch, getting a few slices and taking his usual spot to enjoy with a soda from a vending machine and thanking the school for having them installed in the cafeteria, even if they added their own small charge the convenience made up for it.

"Okay mister, spill it, what happened last night, and you aren't slipping away this time." Jess says, flanking him from the side and sitting by him as a pale pair joined them, one being a classy looking young man with slick black hair and brown eyes holding a edge to them, his face smooth and handsome, the other a young woman also with black hair and brown eyes holding a calculating glint within them, both though seemed to have a rich air to them.

"So, what's the deal? I could practically feel the heat of your pissed off and irritability all morning, did little miss crude cut here do something?" the new girl said, getting a glare.

"No one asked you little miss rich bitch; shouldn't you and your brother be fine dining or something instead of having pizza with us? Or is it you've decided to grace us with your presents." Jess bit back.

"Hey, don't drag me into this, I just wanted to see what's up with Mike, his my best bud ya know, and my sis Claire here just wanted to tag along, not sure if it was to try and piss you off or to spend time with her cru-" A sharp elbow to his side seemed to cut the young man off, his sister now glaring at her brother with a red face.

"Shut up! Mikes my friend as well Chris, just because his your best bud doesn't mean I can't also be friends with him, and I'd suggest you stop all that trash novels where the rich people are assholes, were not all like that just so you know." She tells them crossing her arms in front of her accentuating a rather gifted bust getting a heated glare from Jess and a slight reddening of Mikes cheeks as he looks away.

"Okay ladies I think that's enough, you're both beautiful, now as for you Mike mind sharing what's going on?" Chris says drawing the focus back to Mike, seeing he wouldn't get any peace merely finished his slice of pizza before answering.

"You know the new Tyrant system that Dream corp released? The one that is a step up and massive emersion improvement from the helms and how the training effectiveness is three times better since it works the body and relaxes it not just tricking the mind into forcing the muscles to think they have done the actions from the game?" Mike starts getting nods from the trio.

"Yeah, we got our own custom ones a few days ago, wait no, don't tell me." Claire began before widening her eyes in realization.

"Yeah, my parents got one for Jake, it's a 'gift for doing so well in school and getting a sports scholarship.' Or some rubbish like that." Mike tells them getting a growl from Jess.

"Oh, that is fucken bullshit! What did they get you though? I mean if they spent so much on that for him surely, they got you something right?" She says, getting a bitter laugh in return.

"I made a stink about it, called them out on the bullshit, I first kept calm and asked if I also got something, they asked why they would get me something, this is to help Jake keep in shape and improve his body for the sports scholarship and maybe I can lend it some time, that made me pissed and I told them the Tyrant system is user locked, it was a safety feature to prevent other people from using a different person's account and to keep it stored safely, I would only be able to use it if he transfers his character to a different system or he clears the Tyrants data systems resulting in character deletion if it isn't moved to a different unit. the older models don't have that feature as its meant as a trial run but still, they told me to stop my bitching and that set me off, I told them I'm done with them, now I'm trying to scratch together what cash I can to buy my own helm, even a old second hand one would be fine, I heard with the new expansion coming gold would increase in real world value so if I farm in game I might make enough to move out and really stick it to them." Mike finishes grinding out his words getting looks of both anger and sympathy from his friends.

"If you want, we can help you out, I mean I honestly don't mind spotting you the cash to get your own Tyrant system, or even your own place." Chris says, "Or you could stay with us, I mean we have plenty of space and we could even get you your own room to set a Tyrant up in." Claire continued for Chris getting a headshake from Mike.

"I appreciate it but I need to do this on my own, if I take money from either of you it wouldn't feel right, same with moving in for nothing, consider it stubborn pride or just me being a stubborn ass but I want to work for this and make my own mark to prove I can do this, even if its more to myself and to show my parents I don't really need them, that I can take care of myself." Mike says, his tone going flat and low at the end.

"Well, if you want to work for it, I did see something earlier." Jess says hesitantly, slowly pulling out a flyer.

"I saw this earlier and figured I might give it a go but wasn't too sure if I should or not, but maybe we could try doing it together." She tells him passing the flyer over.

Written on it was how Exodia is currently looking for potential helpers, working for them for 3 months and your position of an outer member could be possible, along with the various benefits, but catching Mikes eye though was the detail of how a helm would be provided for the duration of their work period, and in the event of wanting to keep the helm after the contract period is over a fee could be paid in gold or real cash over a fixed monthly rate.

"Wow, you just come right out and say it? How forward of you crude cut, and I mean you didn't even say it privately either. Pity you're a member of the itty-bitty titty committee, and Mike would probably prefer my girls over what you have." Claire teases, causing Jess to blush hard and sputter.

"This would be perfect, I'd gladly do this with you Jess, and I mean this solves the problem of getting a helm to play and we can take the 3 months as a way to get used to the game and everything!" Mike exclaims having been too lost in his own thoughts to have noticed the play by play.

"You sure? I mean what if they break their word or something? It's a big guild and one of the few who never took sponsorships and the sort, meaning they could pay there way to cover up breaking their own contract." Chris says, getting a smirk form Jess.

"Now who's thinking of things to much like there a novel?" She quipped, thankful for the change of subject.

"I'm just saying to be careful; you never know what can happen when its people like that, there's always atleast one asshole who lets the power and position go to their head, I know from experience." Chris says back.

"Well either way I feel this is the right thing to do, and honestly I don't have that many options, if I save up even working my ass off with part time jobs it would take to long to get a helm, the expansion would be out by then, this is a perfect opportunity." Mike tells them finishing his pizza far more upbeat and happier, determination burning in his eyes.

"Well, when the contract thing is over maybe you can join our guild, I'm sure we would be happy to have you." Claire says, getting a jealous glare from Jess but before more could be said the bell ending lunch rang causing the group to have to split up and return to class, Mike though was more determined than before, far more awake and focused.