Beta Testers

"Vulture, stop scaring the kids," a large man sitting at a table with about six other people said. The table was filled with the remains of a large meal. The man who spoke was currently drinking what looked like a mug of beer. He had a bald head filled with scars and a black Bandholz style beard. He had a looped gold earring in his left ear. A white tank top and arms filled with tattoos. A ring with a red gem-adorned his left middle finger. Loose-fitting tan pants and combat boots completed his wardrobe. "You can call me Bucho, everyone else does," Bucho said.

The three kids were still scared but Jayden spoke up, "Hello, Mr. Bucho, my name is Jayden and these are my two friends Wei Anli and Ofan Blaise," Jayden said as he introduced everyone.

"Cultivator, Magician, but I don't know what you are. You three probably just got your systems. What kind of system you got, kid?" Buch asked.

"How do you know about our systems?!" Ofan asked in surprise.

"Ha-ha, kid, we all have systems. Well, most of us have systems at least. I've got a Fighting System. Vulture, over there has a Beast Evolution System, and Greg here has an Assasin's System," Greg was wearing dark ninja-like clothes and a black mask that entirely covered his face. His eyes were also covered but two red glowing pupils could be seen. He nodded at the kids but they noticed he occasionally seemed to meld with the background. We're all like you kids we've just had our systems longer," Bucho explained.

"I have a Superhero System," Jayden said.

"A Superhero system, those can be a challenge, but if you have a clear idea of what kind of hero you want to become it can be amazing," Bucho said.

"Sir, you said you all have systems? Why do we have systems?" Jayden asked.

"We're all Beta Testers for different gaming companies. Who made your gaming system?" Bucho asked.

"We all have G8 Superior Gaming Systems," Jayden replied.

"Oooh, G8, that's the best gaming system out there. You, kids, must be special. G8 doesn't hire a lot of beta testers but when they do their systems are always top-notch. I've got a Ningon System which is pretty good, but man would I love a G8," Bucho said. The others at his table nodded their heads in agreement.

"Let me introduce you, kids, to my friends," Bucho began. "You've already met Greg and Vulture. This pretty gal next to me is Nancy Hayes, my wife." The woman nodded. Jayden recognized her fashion sense as being based on an older earth style. She wore a pink jacket with rolled-up sleeves, a yellow and black t-shirt under the jacket, blue jeans, a thin stretchy belt, and comfortable looking blue and white tennis shoes. Her hair was short and reddish-blond, and she had a pink bandanna around her neck.

"Are you from the earth, too?" Jayden asked. Nancy nodded happily meeting a fellow human from earth.

"Where are you from Jayden?" Nancy asked.

"I'm from Oklahoma," he said.

"Oh, Oklahoma, I've never been there but always wanted to go. I come from California, we earthlings have to stick together right?" She asked with an endearing smile.

"Yes, mam," Jayden said in agreement.

Bucho laughed, his wife was always happy to meet another person from the earth. "Nancy has a Detective system. We work together as bounty hunters along with my other friends here. We just finished a big bounty and were celebrating before you came in. Let me finish introducing you.

This is Nigma Norton, we just call him Nigman, and he has a Futurist System. He invents most of the gear we use," He pointed to a man with a strange contraption over his eyes, it was some kind of visor but there were multiple visors he could pull up and down over the one he was wearing. His hair was crazy like he never bothered to comb it. He wore a backpack that did who knows what over orange overalls.

"Next is Betty Boom, she has a Gun System," he said as he pointed to a girl wearing pink shades, platinum blond hair, and a jumpsuit covered in pockets and guns. She looked like a 1990's superhero. If her name was something like Blood Boom or Deathboom or Deathgunner he would be sure she had a Superhero system like him.

"Here's, Frog, he has a Thief System," He pointed at a small man with an unusually large head and big eyes and green hair who looked kind of jittery. He was dressed in a plain light-blue shirt with baggy sleeves coming to his wrists, a pair of white jean shorts, and a leather bag strapped over his shoulders.

"This is Bill Merchant, and he has a Merchant System. He can buy and sell just about anything you need and he always comes out on top price-wise," he pointed to a snazzily dressed man with perfectly styled black hair, in a white suit whose fingers were covered in rings. He also had a gaudy looking gold chain around his neck with black slick shoes. If he had a flared collar, Jayden would think he was an Elvis impersonator.

"And Last but not least, we have Claude Mavin with his Mentalist System," he pointed to the man who was the most impeccably dressed in the crowd. His black hair was slicked back and had a Van Dyke style beard. A black tuxedo with shiny black shoes, a black chestnut walking cane with a silver base and silver knob at the top. He even had a dashing Victorian-style cape with gold interior. On the table next to him sat a beautiful black top hat.

"Our Bounty Hunger team name is the Wild Demon Hunters because we hunt the evil bad guys of this world," Bucho said proudly.

Everyone kindly greeted the kids.

"Once again, you forget all about poor me," A woman said from behind the bar. Bucho slapped his head and sheepishly smiled, "Yes, I'm sorry Maddy. This is Mrs. Madeleine (Maddy) Merchant and she runs this hotel and restaurant. She is also Bill's wife, and has a Hospitality System," Bucho said.

"You kids have a seat and I'll fix you something to eat. Poor dears are probably starving after just arriving in this place. You can't sit with those rogues; don't worry about them they're all very nice people," she said as she disappeared into the back.

Jayden and his three friends sat down at the table after some of the adults made room for them. "I'm sure you kids have some questions, feel free to ask," Bucho said with a smile.

"Can we go home?" Jayden asked.