VBL

In the private training room, as both pod doors open, Nora walks out looking exhausted, while Javier walks out with energy to spare. Ren (Javier’s friend) walks over and slaps Javier ‘s outstretched hand. A job well done.

“How did you pull off that fake?” Ren asks.

“It was a gamble.” Javier reveals.

“No way, I watched that moment at a slower speed. You reacted after the attack had already started. That was instincts.” Ren explains.

“Did you catch her moments as well?” Javier asks.

“What? No.”

“Keep an eye on her.” Javier demands.

“Good game.” Nora says while she walks up to the boys.

“Good game. You pick up quickly,” Javier says.

“Not fast enough, it seems.”

“Nonsense, it was only your second match ever. I can’t wait to see your next one!” Javier exclaims.

“You’re second person to tell me that, right behind Takeshi.” Nora explains.

**

The three teenagers walk out of the training room and back into the main lobby. Nora has a thought that’s been eating away at her since the end of the match. Until she finally gains enough courage.

“Yo Javier, let me ask you something.” Nora states.

“Okay, shoot,” Javier says while turning around to meet Nora’s eyes. He’s now walking backwards.

“You held back, didn’t you?” Nora asks.

Javier feels the intensity from Nora, as she asks.

“Perdoname (translated: forgive me) I hope I didn’t offend you.” Javier clarifies.

“Javier offending someone? That wouldn’t be the first time. Or the last.” Ren chimes in.

Javier then knocks into a white man, that’s wearing a white buttoned shirt with a loosened tie, and black slacks. Looking like he just clocked out of his office job. He also has an unlit cigarette in his mouth. This is Brian Nyx (35)

“Well, if it isn’t the TRUE KING.” Javier says while turning around.

Nora inner thoughts: The true king? Isn’t this the guy Javier had a match against the other day?

“You brat. You know I hate that nickname.” Brian retorts.

“You’re the only person that I know that hates praise, TK.” Javier persists.

“And you’re the first kid I met that doesn’t apologize for knocking into someone” Brian counters.

“Oh, sorry.” Javier says.

Brian begins to walk around Javier and to his destination, until-

“You know I’m going to beat you one of these days, TK.” Javier exclaims.

“I’m already old, kid. How long do you expect me to wait?” Brian teases.

“You ass.” Javier

“I’m an adult. Show some respect junior.”

As Brian says “junior,” Javier thinks of the last time his own farther called him junior. It wasn’t a pleasant memory. This instantly pisses him off.

“Don’t call me that!” Javier yells.

Nora is shocked to see Javier worked up from this. While Ren places a hand on his shoulders. Brian’s facial expression doesn’t change, although there is a hint of regret. While he doesn’t know the details of why Javier lashed out, he can tell he hit a nerve.

“Sorry, kid. I was just rustling your feathers. Anyway, I don’t have business with you today. I’m just here to get some practice in.” Brian says.

Brian walks past the teenagers, heading toward the private rooms.

“If you’re looking for practice then I’m right here!” Javier calls out.

“Is this old guy really that good at VBL?” Nora asks.

“Brian Nyx, otherwise known as True King. Is one of the strongest players currently in VBL. He’s also one of the remaining OG’s. He’s been playing since VBL came out. There were rumors that he talked to the creator of the game to give him some sort of hidden invincibility skill but that got debunked.” Ren explains.

“Is that really a rumor people made up about me? Whatever. They can think what they want.” Brian says.

“Fight me right now!” Javier demands.

“Kid, not only have I beaten you, but I’ve beaten you badly. You seem to have short term memory when it comes to that.” Brian says.

“My sister told me a man is only defeated when he gives up.” Javier explains.

“I like how your sister thinks,” Brians says. “But I don’t gain anything from giving you another match, kid.”

Brian walks away from the three teenagers. He reaches into his shirt pocket to grab his case of cigarettes. Only to discover it’s empty.

“Damn.”

“Out of cigarettes?” Javier asks.

“A kid shouldn’t be asking an adult that.” Brian simply says.

“It’s a shame you think that. Guess I’ll find some other “adult” to give these to.” Javier taunts.

“How the hell did you get that kid? You didn’t steal those did you?” Brian asks.

“Hell no. I just paid some dude to go in the store and grab them for me. Figured I’d be needing this at some point.,” Javier explains.

“To bribe me.” Brians says.

“Why don’t you just smoke the cigarette in your mouth?” Nora asks.

“My daughter bought these for me. Their herbal cigarettes. Not my thing.” Brian explains.

“Can’t say I blame her. This brand is more expensive than other brands I’ve seen. You must pay a fortune a year for these things. But if you don’t want it, I can just throw- “

“Alright kid. One match… I win, and you pass up those cigs.” Brians says.

“Deal.” Javier smiles, as his bait works.

“Whoa, I’m not finished, and you can’t ask me for another rematch for one week.” Brians exclaims.

“Huh?!” Javier asks.

“That’s right kid. For the past 2 weeks I can’t walk in here without you bum rushing me for a match. It’s getting old. So, I need to know that after this one, I get a break. Got it?”

Nora and Rem look to Javier as he contemplates this deal. After a few seconds he smiles.

“Alright, let’s get this started.” Javier agrees.

Brian smiles back. He then waves Javier to walk with him. Nora and Ren follow close behind them. Nora leans over to ask Ren a question.

“So how many times has Javier challenged Brian?” Nora asks.

“To tell you the truth, I lost count after 15. Javier is too stubborn to let a loss go. Once he finds a tough opponent he’ll keep trying until he wins.” Ren explains.

“Is that what he plans to do with me?” Nora asks.

“Well, he just beat you first try, so probably not.” Ren says bluntly.

Nora makes a pouty face at the directness of Ren’s words. Further down the hallway Brian walks up to one of the private rooms. Enter’s a code on the keypad, then opens the door. The inside of the private rooms are all the same so Nora and Rem go to sit on the leather couch that’s stationed on the right side of the room. While Brian and Javier walks up to their selected touch screen and begin to create a build for their match.

“So, do you play VBL too?” Nora asks.

“No. Video games aren’t really my thing.” Rem answers.

“So, what is your thing?”

“Football. I plan to play through college too. So long as I don’t have any injuries before then.”

“You shouldn’t jinx it then.” Nora states.

“Jinx it? I play a dangerous contact sport. It will happen eventually. All I can do is take care of my body and eat a good diet. The rest is up to chance.” Ren explains.

“I never really saw it like that.”

Nora inner thoughts: Up to chance. I’ve never heard of someone leaving their career up to a chance like that. Come to think of it. I never thought about what I want to do for a career. I can without a doubt say that I don’t want to be in the military like my parents, but then what is it? What do I want to do?

Eventually Javier and Brian finish customizing their builds. They both walk over to their pods.

“Don’t forget our bet kid.” Brian says.

“Don’t worry old man, you’ll get your death sticks if you beat me.” Javier counters.

The pod doors begin to close. Both combatants close their eyes. Nora looks up at the big flat T.V mounted to the wall across from her. It shows both players’ builds as the game starts.

________________________________________________________________________

Javier

Titan gauntlets

Wall

Extra health (+30)

ATK: 00

DEF:

SPD: 0

VS.

Brian

Short sword (Demon)

Wall

Speed boost

ATK: 0

DEF:

SPD: 00

Map: Central Square

**

Within the VBL HQ there’s a dark room that monitors everything that goes on within the premises and the performance of the game itself. A figure that sits in the darkness, in front of the wall of monitors, moves their eye across each one. They even have their laptop in front of them, which looks to be for coding. Until the figures phone rings.

“Yes?”

“I just got word that Brian and Javier are having another match. In private room 5.”

“Again? Okay. I’ll find it and place their stream to the front page of the app. Thank you.”

The figure hidden within shadow’s ends the call and types away on their laptop.

“That boy sure doesn’t give up.”