Beta

By April Klasen

“This story was amazing! I adored every word from start to finish and it’s now a treasured part of my collection”
Rachel
What if you could play the game forever?
Georgia Glass, user name Sasha, is an anti-social, gifted game design student about to have her dream come true; she’s been employed to be a beta tester for new hardware and software that will revolutionize the gaming industry. Georgia’s glad to escape her real life. “I’d give anything not to go back out. Log me in permanently, please Game Master.”
Then a bug attached to the quest they accepted sucks the beta testers’ consciousness into the game... and they cannot logout. Georgia is trapped. But they won’t be able to remain in the fantasy forever, not knowing how long they can live disconnected from their bodies.
The only way out is a portal at the end of the game. Can they complete the quest when the virtual world is determined to kill them?

• Language: English
• Publisher: April Klasen
• Release date: Mar 18, 2015
• ISBN: 9780992475277

April Klasen

Indie author. BL and fanfic whore. Artist. April Klasen lives in regional Australia. You find more of her work at www.aprilklasenbooks.weebly.com or on social media as @defiantdame

Book preview

Beta

April Klasen

Independently Published

2015

Copyright © 2015 by April Klasen

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review or scholarly journal.

First Printing: 2015

ISBN 978-0-9924752-7-7

April Klasen

www.aprilklasenauthor.com

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Hello,

I’m an indie author.

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Enjoy reading,

April 

April Klasen is an independently published author, a blogger, and an expert on finding new hiding places to read uninterrupted. For more stories by April visit www.aprilklasenauthor.com

Also by April Klasen

Blair: Salem’s Daughter

Blair: The Sleeping Daughter

Blair: The Same Daughter

The Annual

Beta

Pure PopAsia

Summertime Madness

Acknowledgements

This time I have to thank my anime addiction which led me to Sword Art Online, the inspiration for Beta. Also the internet for a crash course in gaming terminology (I don’t possess the required hand eye co-ordination to play so I’m a noob).

Thank you editors S and J, I hope to continue working with you guys in the future.

As always, thanks to Mum and Dad.

Chapter One: Login

The chair is a nice one. It’s meant to be comfortable but I don’t lounge. Straight back, knees together and sitting on the edge, I’m ready when they are. Mentally I double-check my list for preparation:

Mother: I called her last night; she asked if I was eating vegetables. I answered with a truthful ‘yes’. The company requires me to be strict with my body. Again I explained the next three months. Mum thinks it’s crazy.

Course work: My University lecturer for game design thinks it’s the best thing for me. ‘Character building and on the job experience’, that’s what he told me when I handed in my course work. I will not fall behind.

Storage: Belongings have been packed away and put into self-storage. I’m officially homeless.

That’s it. A short list. No cat to arrange to be looked after, no boyfriend to break up with and no friends to throw a going-away party.

Georgia Glass.

I jerk my head up and blink. Yes?

The woman dressed very professionally in a form-fitting, tailored suit, forces a smile. Please follow me.

Across the foyer her high-heels click, and the slap of my sneakers echo in the silence. The receptionist keeps her head lowered so all I see is the crown of her head as we pass by her desk.

My palms are sweating. I swipe them on my jeans. I’m excited. The woman leads me to the elevator and we ride in silence. I fidget.

Thankfully, we quickly arrive at floor thirteen—unlucky for the rest of the superstitious world, for me, it’s my lucky number.

The level is split into three rooms illuminated by harsh florescent lights, and linked by a long corridor. A monitoring room filled with computers and nerds; an examination room without windows, further divided by a burgundy curtain. They’re taking me there to test my physical state, and we’ll repeat the process in three months after the beta test. Finally, there is the game room.

It should really be called something else; game room doesn’t do it justice.

I am a beta tester.

For the next three months I will be inside that empty space filled with sensors, dressed only in the new suit hardware.

This way, please.

I tug the sleeves of my shirt over my palms so only my fingers stick out.

The woman holds the door open for me and closes it without following. I hear her footsteps and another door opens and clicks close. I turn to face the doctor in the room.

Hello, Miss Glass. Please have a seat.

I hurry over to an identical chair to what I’d waited in downstairs and face my doctor. He gives me the creeps.

Doctor Lindfors crosses his hands on the desk and peers at me over his spectacles. How are you feeling today?

Nervous, I say truthfully, he didn’t have to know how sick I felt that he was conducting my physical. I really don’t like being touched, or being so helplessly exposed.

I know we have been through this before. There’s nothing to worry about. He turns to his laptop and begins to type. Let’s begin, shall we? Full name? He peers over the top of his glasses, his intense look making me fidget.

Georgia Anne Glass.

Age.

Twenty-two.

Allergies.

None.

Family history.

My grandmother died of bowl cancer, my grandfather has diabetes.

Existing medical conditions.

None.

Are you on any medication?

No.

Other than the counsellor you have seen through the company, have you ever sought assistance or are you being treated for mental illness?

Sort of. When I was fourteen, I spoke with someone about depression. I cast my eyes down. I haven’t suffered from it since. Was that pity I saw in his look?

Was yesterday your last meeting with the counsellor?

Yes.

Do you smoke?

No.

Are you a vegetarian?

No.

Are you pregnant?

No.

Finally, he paused. The company just want us to double-check everything. Standing, he waves a hand to the closed curtain. Go on the other side and remove all of your clothing.

My heart beat echoes in my ears as I do as I’m told. The first time I was selected for the physical, the doctor had rolled his eyes. I’d kept my bra and underwear on, and taken my hair out of its braid so it covered me a little. I said all clothes.

My skin burnt with embarrassment. I don’t like my body. Reluctantly, I did as he asked.

This time my skin radiates heat just the same. I cross my arms over my chest, and waited. What is taking him so long?

The door opens and closes again. Is there someone else in the room?

The curtain is yanked out of the way. I scream. Dr Lindfors and the professional woman are there.

I… I thought only Dr Lindfors would be in here.

They ignore me.

My name is Beth Jones. She circles me. I can’t help but think of her as a predator assessing her prey’s weaknesses before attacking. At least she waxed.

I feel a thick drop of sweat skim down my arm. Ugh. This is humiliating.

Lindfors steps forward with his measuring tape. Raise your arms.

Hesitantly, I do.

He measures my arm length, bust, waist and hip. Moving down to his knees, he taps my thigh. Spread your legs.

Don’t think about it, don’t think about it.

Once he finishes, he pockets the tape and looks at the notes Beth Jones is taking. Yes, definitely better than before. He looks up at me. Miss Glass, you can get dressed now.

I nod and turn to my jeans.

No.

The blood stalls in my veins.

Beth coughs. He didn’t mean back in your clothes.

I look over my shoulder. Oh.

There it is. She holds it high, the florescent light glimmers off the black suit. Thousands of sensors are woven throughout the fabric and communicate wirelessly with the game.

My shoulders fall back and I stroll over. I stroke the fabric, it’s like silk. My eyes close as I dress, sighing as the fabric covers me. It’s like a onesie with feet and a hood.

When I look in the mirror I see Beth over my shoulder. She looks confused. Our eyes meet. Realising she has been caught off guard, Beth stares down at the clipboard in her hands.

The corners of my lips curve as I smirk.

Beth may be paid to take notes and look down on me but I’m the one escaping. Unlike her, for the next three months I don’t have to worry about money or how I look. I won’t be here, nor will I be Georgia. I tuck my braid under the hood.

The doctor moves to his computer. Beth, can you conduct the strength and flexibility tests?

She gasps.

I sink to the mat and wait. Curtly she nods and begins the test.

Since last time, I’m stronger, more flexible with quicker reflexes. This is what the new hardware is all about; changing the cliché of gamers.

Beth doesn’t speak to me as she leads me out to the game room. She shoots me a strange look and nothing else.

I’m bouncing with each step. It’s so close. From the monitor room, a nerd exits and stops us. This is your life support. He holds up a belt