Read Alice in Virtuality for Free Online Page B

rating drops too much."
    "Social rating?"
    "They work it out by number of people you talk to, contribution to conversations, all sorts of things like that. Most people here are playing the game. My score is irretrievable now." She giggled.
    "I am new here."
    He wished he could say more but he felt tongue, or is that keyboard, tied. He was a bit anxious, but not in the bad way he experienced in real life, more of an excited tingle.
    "You should go soon then. I'm sure your newbie grace period will carry you over this diversion. Thank you for coming," It sounded like a speech she had used before.
    "I like it here. Can I stay a while?"
    There was a pause.
    "Well yes, of course, but you don't look the sort who would want to really."
    Martin cursed his outfit.
    "Can I go and get changed and come back?"
    "I would like that." She smiled again.
    He selected the changing room from the menu and dropped out of the world. Flicking through the available items, he wanted to choose something that reflected himself. Black sprang to mind. No. He had ideas that shone like the sun, a red of passion in his life, even if it was for a complex mathematical problem. He was over thinking it. Selecting jeans, trainers and a blue t-shirt with a yellow smiley, he entered the command to return to the world.
    A message box stated 'Unknown credentials, not permitted'.
    "What!"
    Alice appeared.
    "Not looking like that you aren't!" She stood with her hand on one hip, her voice coming over the speakers as normal.
    "You are stopping me? Let me in now!"
    Her avatar doubled over with a fake guffaw and righted itself.
    "I don't think so Martin. We went there to play and look at your score, it's pathetic. You put your nice clothes on, come back to MeetCentral and we will start over."
    "Look, this game isn't me ok. Just let me back in and leave me alone."
    "If this isn't for you, why would you want to go back in?" She put her head on one side in a quizzical pose.
    Martin said nothing, not wanting to give Alice any information about the girl with green eyes. He decided to try his poker skills.
    "Your right. I haven't given it enough of a chance Alice. It was too like the real world. I was going to go in dressed drab like this and make fun of them before I stopped playing. Just childish revenge for getting rejected."
    "Ohhh, I like it! That sounds like fun. Tell you what, how about this? You go in and do your worst. Get them all at you. Then I will join and be all over you like a rash. My score is through the roof, with the aid of my special skills of course." She chuckled.
    "When they see me with you they won't know what to do. We will make you into an anti-celebrity. I can see it, it will catch on, become a movement. We will change this reality absolutely and it will be ours! Go now! Fly my little anti-butterfly. Attack!" She gestured dramatically and laughed out loud.
    The view over MeetCentral reappeared. He had no idea how this would play out, all he wanted to do is get back to talk to green eyes. What he did know is that he wouldn't have long. Alice would be watching to see the sport she expected. He toyed with the idea of beginning a ruse and having some fun of his own by actually having a go at these idiots, but his goal was too important to delay.
    Swooping down quickly, he flew toward the notice board, ignoring the groups that were disrupted as he shot past. Hopefully Alice would think that was part of their game. Stopping abruptly at the boards, he scanned it rapidly. With growing panic, he flipped backwards and forwards through the screens.
    "There! There it is!"
    Reaching out, he was transported again. Far above the waterfall, he descended quickly. He had no idea what might delay Alice, but he prayed for it. Green eyes was below, waiting for him.
    "Well, well. What's this." Alice, wearing a red dress now, had popped into existence beside the girl.
    Martin guided his avatar between them as it reached the ground.
    "Ah, how sweet. Is this your little