Omnia Online (Omnia Online Series Book 1)

by Christopher Booth

  Drake was not impressed.

  But when Samantha set up the appointment, online instead of letting Drake fumble through it, this time, she found that he could get a 500 credit discount as a returning customer looking to further upgrade his genetics. Samantha warned him that the greater cost was because the work would take greater time and materials so Drake might be under for a few days this time.

  Well, he had no job, except train with Samantha for a while, and this should help with training, so Drake agreed to go in for further therapy.

  This time, the procedure took three days, with Drake in a medical coma the whole time. So it was the next Monday afternoon that Drake reappeared from the clinic.

  On Monday Drake decided to move out of the Guild Hall, and onto his new ship. He didn’t feel as threatened any longer and decided it would be easier to maintain the ship while living in it. Drake figured he could live in the ship's main cabin, and log out from there.

  So on Monday night Drake logged out from Omnia aboard his ship for the first time.

  ***

  When Kevin logged out of Omnia, Samantha met him in the Omnia game room this time. She was wearing an elegantly simple conservative white dress with high heels. Kevin had never seen her in that outfit or in high heels at all and wondered about the occasion.

  “Hello, Kevin. I have been holding two messages for you. Welcome home.” said Samantha.

  “I’m surprised you didn’t already give them to me, who are they from, and what are they about?” asked Kevin.

  “The first one was from Apapetux, he said that they are tracking down some possible leads to Sidonia’s sister, and they will be gone for at least a week, but he wouldn’t be surprised if their trip took a month or more to complete.”

  “The second message was from Sidonia, reminding you to take proper care of her girl… I think she means the ship, not Me,” said Samantha. “Her message goes on to say that she has not yet been able to crack the data cube, but will keep on working at it as their trip allows. She will send a message as soon as she has some results.”

  “Since both messages came in while you were in the clinic, and the port records show that their ship departed yesterday, I felt the messages were not a high priority.” said Samantha.

  “Come, eat dinner.” She said and turned to walk out.

  Kevin followed her out, watching how the high heels caused her hips to move in new and enticing ways. He also noticed that the back of her white dress was all lace from her neck to her waist. It was a very nice dress.

  Kevin decided to say so aloud.

  “Thank you, Kevin, you know I live to please you.” said Samantha.

  She led Kevin into an altered kitchen. There was a small table for two. The meal on the table was Beef Bourguignon, over noodles, with French cut green beans and some crusty French bread.

  Samantha waited next to her chair…

  Kevin almost sat down before he got the hint. It appeared tonight’s dinner was more formal than normal dinners.

  Kevin pulled out her chair and sat her in it, then took his own seat opposite her.

  Without any more formalities, Kevin started to eat.

  After a few minutes, he asked the quiet girl, “So what’s the occasion?”

  He waved his wine glass to indicate her, the meal, and the room.

  “This is a time of changes. So I thought to mark an end to the old and, a start of the new,” said Samantha.

  Kevin just looked at her and waited.

  “In less than one full week real time and three weeks in-game since Omnia started you have advanced a long way.”

  “Here:” said Samantha as she waved a hand.

  Samantha brought up a blue screen for Kevin to examine:

  Name: Horatio Drake

  Race: Human

  Hit Points: 180

  Combat Level: 1.8

  Strength: 1.8 (max 4.0)

  Charisma: 2.3 (max 4.0)

  Agility: 1.7 (max 4.1)

  Intelligence: 2.3 (max 4.1)

  Dexterity: 1.5 (max 4.0)

  Wisdom: 1.4 (max 4.0)

  Constitution: 1.8 (max 4.0)

  Memory: 2.6 (max 4.0)

  Maximum values are based on personal genetics.

  “We have 20,155 credits in the bank, even after paying the clinic, with maybe 6 to 8k more on the way in a week and a half, and we have the new ship.”

  “You and I have made great progress in a short time… But this is also the past, the major threats to you in the game are gone, you are done with your service in Cairbre’s shop, you even left on good terms. We have a lot to celebrate.”

  Samantha picked up her glass of wine and held it up, “To our early successes and to new beginnings.”

  With a clink of the glasses, Kevin said, “To new beginnings. I couldn’t have done this without you, Sam.”

  To Be Continued