Phantasmagoria
Ready To Rumble

''Hello,Mr Williams! Thank you for coming today to the Game Emporium. In afew moments you will be entering the virtual imagination gamePhantasmagoria, the ground-breaking game that is generated purelyfrom the imaginative creations of one's mind. It is the nextgeneration of 'free games', a term given to games that gives theplayer almost absolute freedom without subscribing to restrictiverules in the game. Thank you for considering to participate in thisgame, Mr Williams. I do hope you have fun, and best wishes incompleting the game!'' a computerised female face-projected hologramtells me as I enter a section of the Game Emporium which has a bannerfloating above my head with the word 'PHANTASMAGORIA' on it. Yep, Ithink I'm in the right place.

''Thankyou,'' I reply to the artificial woman. She just continues to smile,waiting for the next participant to speak to, scanning their face andrepeating the same message. I stride into a section full of peoplewalking in different directions. I see employees of the GameEmporium, wearing purple t-shirts and pants for the uniform, helpingwith queries from people, showing people how the game instrumentswork, showing examples of pre-recorded game play on large screens andshowing what the instruments look like for the participants when theyenter into the game. I'm surveying the area, looking for anygovernment workers who might have came into make sure I came, but Ididn't see anyone looking particularly like a stone wall with shadesyet.

''Gladyou could join us, Corporal!'' I hear a deep, gruff voice address mefrom my right. I turn to see a tall, wrinkled, gray haired white manin a black suit and shoes coming over to me with his arm outstretchedready to shake my hand.

''MajorTravis Crispin!'' I say, shocked to see him in front of me while Igrab his hand to shake it. Travis Crispin was my old Major in thearmy.

''Longtime, huh? What have you been doing since leaving the desert?'' MajorCrispin asks me as he puts his hand on my shoulder.

''Nothingmuch, just trying to make a living in construction. However, I'vemainly been looking after my family. You know I have a son, Major?''I say to him.

''No,I didn't! How old is he?'' he asks me.

''He's8 in September,'' I reply.

''Ohwow! Same age as my grandson!'' he beams.

''Rachelhad a son? Oh, congratulations, Major!'' I say to him, as I shake hishand once again.

''Yeah,well, time flies doesn't it?'' the Major says. I smile, reminiscingon memories of my time in the army as he says this.

''Yeah,and it's showing no signs of landing,'' I muse. He chuckles as hepats my arm softly.

''So,what brings you here, son? Want to win the money for yourself?'' heasks me frankly. I'm bit unsure of how to answer, but the Majorbegins to laugh.

''I'mjust kidding! But if you are here for that, I'm not judging you.There's a few guys here with the same intention, but I know you're anhonest man, Williams. I know you are doing it for your family,'' hesays to me. I nod slowly, showing that it is for that reason, butknowing that it's really more of a mission for the government.

''Thankyou, sir, for understanding,'' I say to him seriously.

''Hey,no formalities, son. Call me Travis, or if you prefer, Mr Crispin,''he responds in a friendly manner.

''Sowhat are you here for, Travis?You're a little too old for gaming, amI right?'' I joke with him. He laughs heartily, making his deep voicereverberate around the area.

''Yeah,you're right, I am a little too old. No, I'm here to see if myinvestment in this game is paying off,'' he replies.

''Investment?''I ask curiously.

''Afterthe army, I got into technology. Became the C.E.O. of TechWareInternational, and our company helps develop the machinery andtechnology that holds Phantasmagoria together,'' he explains.

''Ohreally? Wow, you did really well for yourself, Mr Crispin,'' I say tohim.

''Yeah,so I came along today to see how successful the game is with ourbacking,'' he continues.

''Youhaven't come before?'' I query again.

''Ohno, I've been too busy with setting everything up at the company Ihaven't been able to come down to see things progress. So this is thefirst time that I could replace the time to come in and see if mycompany's money is being used effectively,'' he responds.

''Wantto see the fruits of your labour, huh?'' I say to him.

''Yep,''he replies.

''Hello,Mr Williams, we're ready for you now. Would you like to come over sothat we can go through the instructions in using the gameinstruments?'' a short, slim girl with long brunette-hair has comeover to my left side and speaks to me. She is an employee of the GameEmporium, and she is getting all the participants ready to play.

''Ohyeah, sorry. Hey, it was nice meeting you, Major, I hope to see youagain some time. And I need to meet your family, too,'' I say toTravis before I leave.

''Yes,and I need to meet yours as well, meet your son,'' The former majorresponds as we both shake hands and part. The girl leads me away through the crowd of people in the area and into a back door that hadthe phrase 'Enter into Virtuality' plastered on it. I go through andI am greeted by the sight of a white room with closed off cubicleswith numbers written on them. The girl leads me to a cubicle on theright, which has the number '4' on it.

''Thenumber denotes which participant you are,'' she says to me as shetakes me into the cubicle. As I enter, I see a reclined chair beneatha black helmet-like contraption, with I surmise is where you put yourhead in so that you can enter the game.

''Pleasetake a seat, sir,'' the girl orders me. I silently obey and head overto the seat to sit down.

''Youwill hear a voice which will command you when the game will start.The head controller will then come down automatically over your headand will cover your eyes. You may see a slight spark come over youreyes when this happens; but don't worry, it's all part of the game.You will then be introduced to the game's gate keeper, who will guideyou to the first level, and will take you to each other level if youget through. If you need a break at any time, just shout 'Pause' andthe game will be paused, at which point the head controller will comeaway and you will be free to come out of the cubicle. The cubicle islocked from the outside, but we will know when you are out of thegame as your cubicle door will illuminate green. When you're inside,it illuminates red,'' the girl explains to me.

''Greenfor vacant, red for engaged, got it,'' I say to myself.

''Doyou have any questions at this point, Mr Williams?'' the girl asksme.

''No,thank you,'' I reply.

''Bythe way, I need to take your phone. It's just so that you aren'tdisturbed by it if it rings or vibrates,'' she says to me.

''Oh,OK,'' I say as I go into my jacket pocket and hand over my phone. Sheleaves me and heads out of the cubicle, which locks the moment it isshut. I stay in silence for a few moments, contemplating when thegame will start. I think I have to wait for the other cubicles to befilled. I can't hear anything outside so I wonder when others willcome.

''Welcometo Phantasmagoria,'' a female voice suddenly says over my head. Iguess it starts now. The head controller begins to descend downtowards my head, and soon I am greeted with the sight of darkness. Itbecomes silent for a while more, and then I see a strange blue lightflash in front of my eyes, making me blink long and hard. When I openmy eyes, I'm in a different place.

I'minside Phantasmagoria.

''Let'sget ready to rumble,'' I say as I brace myself for impendingunpredictability.