"Another VR game just came out," my friend Marcus said, his voice excited as he looked over the table at me. His coffee sat untouched in front of him, going cold now.

I finished my muffin and held out my hand for the tablet he was almost squeezing to death. "What's it called?" I asked, curious. He didn't get this excited over just any new game.

Marcus almost vibrated in his seat as he began rambling on, "It's called Mass Effect. It's an old game, apparently. They took the last two and made it VR. It says that this one is gonna be a record breaker. They already sold out, but new stock comes in tomorrow."

VR games were all the rage since Microsoft had broken the wall of actual game immersion. Before, you could wear some goggles and use little controllers while flailing around like a muppet. Now, you could actually enter a game, becoming as real there as you were in this world.

"Last two?" I asked, absently, toying with my hair. "They didn't make the first one? Weird. Is it a full dive?"

Everyone loved the full dive system, so when a new game came out, the world went mad. Marcus was one of those people. Everything in his life revolved around VR gaming. Me? I liked it, sure, but I'd never really found a game that didn't bore me after the first level.

"No. Something about too many bugs and broken combat issues with the first game." He grabbed my soda and finished it. "But it is a full dive, so no one will care about missing the first game."

I glared. "Hey!" When he winked at me, unrepentant, I swiped my wrist over the glass-covered menu on the table, ordering another for each of us. He would just let another coffee go cold anyway. "So, if they just let you play the second and third game, how will you follow the story?" I asked, watching the little drone bringing our drinks.

"It says in the article that you get a kind of recap for the first game. Something about choices. There's already blogs online about what are the best choices for full game completion." He grabbed the fresh glass of soda from the drone and passed the second to me.

"Of course there is," I muttered, taking a sip of the cold drink. "No one cares about the stories anymore. It's all about stats."

"Well, yeah. Since Microsoft made global stat prizes, everyone wants to rack up the points. Games like this, easy money for them." Marcus shrugged. "There's supposed to be a really good story on this one, Amy. I want you to get it."

I frowned. "Why? You know I'll get bored." Flicking my hair off my face, I noted the once deep red color fading. I'd have to go to the hairdresser this week. Annoyed by the thought, I pushed my chair back suddenly, knocking a drone over.

"Damn it, Ames, you're so clumsy," Marcus said, not helping at all.

I righted the little metal thing and grabbed my glass. "I'd better head to work," I told him, finishing my soda.

"Already? Damn, girl. You need to relax more," Marcus groaned, standing as well. He looped the handle of his man-bag over his head and put his tablet away. "Get the game, Ames. I mean it." His brown eyes met my green ones, silently begging.

I shook my head and pulled my jacket on. "I don't have time for another VR dive, Marc," I told him. Most games took months to complete and with my boss riding my ass all the time about being late, I didn't want to give him yet another excuse to fire me.

"You can complete it in six hours real time," Marcus told me, linking his arm through mine as we left the cafe.

I faltered. "Six hours?"

He tugged my arm, urging me to keep moving in the busy foot traffic. "Yeah. It's their latest tech, apparently. They can make time in the game super fast without it affecting our minds at all."

I let him lead me to the road and crossed beside him, narrowly avoiding a taxi as it barreled past. My hometown had become so busy, lately. Business was booming and in ten years we'd gone from a large-ish town to a small city. I hated it. I missed the peace and quiet.

"So, will you try it?" Marcus whined. "For me?"

I sighed, looking at his handsome face. My best friend was a pain in the ass. He made me try every game he could get his hands on. I was bored of it. "Fine, but this is the last time. You know I won't make it past the first hour."

He looked away, his shoulders drooping. "I know, but I think this one will change your mind, then you can dive with me more often."

There it is. That's why. Sadness filled me. I'd met Marcus in a really dark part of both our lives. He was just coming out of a break up with an abusive boyfriend and I had lost my brother. We were both a mess and had found one another in a support group for self harmers. I'd been by his side ever since. Twelve years of gaming, drinking, crying and laughing. We'd slowly fixed one another but I knew he was lonely.

I smiled, wrapping my arm around his waist as we walked. "Okay, Marc. We'll dive more, I promise." I knew I was only helping his addiction to the VR world, but I couldn't say no to him. Now when he sounded so sad.

He put his arm around my shoulder so we could walk more comfortably. "There's romance options, by the way," he said, voice cheeky.

"Ew," I said, fake gagging. "Let me guess, it's another of those stupid anime stories, where I get to be saved by some forty year old weirdo posing as a teenager?"

"You get to wear a mini-skirt," he said, laughing. He stopped when I pinched his side. "I'm joking! I'm joking! No, it's not one of those games. It's a war game, but not. You have to save the galaxy with someone called Shepard. The article says you go on loads of missions to different worlds. They say the graphics are top of the line and it's super artsy, so it'll be perfect for you."

"Different worlds?" I asked, trying not to sound too interested. I did like explorer games, but good ones were really rare to find. No one could be arsed putting the details in.

He said nothing as we moved through a thick crowd of gamers There was yet another convention on in the town and the crazies were out in force, all dressed as their favorite characters. I loved conventions myself, but you wouldn't catch me wearing one of those skin-tight catsuits. Her boobs are almost falling out, I thought, eyes wide as one said crazy wiggled her way past, catsuit an eye-watering pink.

"What the fuck was that?" I whispered to Marcus, trying to hold in my laughter. "Looked like a giant piece of bubblegum."

"Her friend was hot though," he told me, turning back to eye up the guy Mrs. Pink was walking with. We both burst into laughter, drawing stares from those around us.

We kept giggling as we finally reached the bar I worked at. The Ugly Duckling, it was called. Ugly, yes, cute and fluffy? No. I hated working here, but I needed the money. I wanted to get into what I really loved doing ... painting. The problem was, now everything was digital, so I needed money to buy the gear first.

"Have a good day at work, Ames," Marcus said, smiling at me. "Don't forget tomorrow."

"I'll get the game when it comes back into the store," I told Marcus, kissing his cheek.

He blushed and kissed me back. He wasn't keen on that kind of thing, but over the years I'd gotten him out of flinching at close contact. "I'll send you the info, don't worry."

"Thanks for breakfast. I'll see you in the dive?" I asked, checking my watch. I had forty seconds before I was late.

"Single player, Ames, but I'll be playing too. We can compare notes," he said, pushing me through the door of the bar. "Now, go, I can almost hear him glaring at you." He laughed and waved as he walked away, heading to his favorite place in the world; the tech store.

I rolled my eyes and hurried in. "Morning, boss," I said, taking off my jacket and ducking under the bar.

"You're late," my boss, David, said, grumbling.

I checked my watch again. "Nope," I said quickly, swiping my wrist over the clock-in sign. Everything was done by barcode these days. When we reached working age, we were given a tattoo that was used for everything. We paid our bills, logged into work, ordered food and even did our banking with it.

"I'll fire you next time," David promised.

He wouldn't really. He needed me and he knew it. His clientele was mostly older men that liked having a pretty girl behind the bar and most pretty girls wouldn't even consider working at The Ugly Duckling. Not that I was pretty, really.

I was mostly average, in my opinion. Medium build, green eyes, long red hair. The only thing that made me stand out was my tattoos. I had dozens of them, winding their way up my arms from fingers to shoulders and over the front of my collarbones. I loved each and every one of them. How could I not? I'd designed them all.

"Get your arse over to the end. Mikey has been waiting too long for another drink," David said, his eyes on the giant screen that was currently playing yet another football game.

I rolled my eyes and walked over to the end of the bar. "Hey, Mikey," I said to one of my favorite regulars as I put on my apron. "You need a refill?" Trying to ignore my boss, I got into the flow of work, sparing five minutes to text Marcus to let him know I'd be diving from home tomorrow and what time.

What am I getting myself into? I wondered, taking an order of fries from the chef and delivering it to my next customer. I'd sworn up and down I wouldn't dive again after the last game I'd tried. Another anime game that had promised awesome graphics and story ... it hadn't delivered. When I'd gotten stalked by an old creeper who wanted my virtual panties, I'd quit diving all together.

Work dragged on endlessly and I became restless. I wanted to get home and paint for a while. With no work tomorrow, I could stay up late and just relax a bit, maybe even have a glass of wine.

Breaking glass and shouting dragged my mind away from a relaxing evening. I turned and groaned. Another bar fight. Two guys I'd never seen before were wailing on each other, fists flying and blood splattering the carpet.

"David! Call the police!" I shouted, before jumping over the bar. A ragged sigh followed my shout, but I didn't have time to roll my eyes. I waded into the fight, digging my elbows in to make room. "Enough! Take it outside, you fuckers!" I yelled, gasping as I took a punch to the stomach.

Pissed off, I sent a swift right hook into the big guys jaw and followed up with a kick to the balls, sending him to the ground. When he tried to grab my legs, I stumbled back. Mikey caught me and helped me stand. With him by my side, we grabbed the other guy who tried to take advantage of his opponent on the ground.

"Bitch," he snarled, swinging for me, his face a mask of fury.

I turned my head, trying to evade the punch, but didn't quite make it. I caught a glancing blow to the jaw and stumbled again. Dizzy, I tried to punch back only to miss. Mikey had my back, though. He sent a huge uppercut to the man's jaw, sending him backwards, unconscious.

"You okay, Amy?" Mikey asked, rubbing his bloody knuckles.

I nodded, a little shaken. "Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks, Mikey." I touched my jaw. "I'll buy you a drink."

"Any time," he responded, looking over my shoulder.

"You knocked him out," David said, coming up behind me and making me jump.

"Didn't see you moving your arse to sort it," I muttered, moving behind the bar. I poured Mikey a drink and scanned my wrist to pay for it myself. He'd earned it.

David laughed. "You had it handled," he told me, actually giving me a rare smile.

"Thanks," I told him, rolling my shoulder. "Can I finish for the night?" I asked him, voice hopeful. I really wanted to get home. Especially after that drama.

He stared at me for a moment. "Go on then, this once."

Shocked that he'd said yes, I blinked, mouth open.

"Go," he growled, before walking away and sitting himself behind the bar. "Before the police come and you're stuck here all night explaining why that guy won't be waking up for a while."

I laughed and grabbed my coat. "Have fun with that!" I could hear the sirens, so dipped out of the back door and walked the short distance home. It wasn't far, just a couple of streets, but by the time I got through the door, I was freezing.

Winter was already drawing in and the constant cold was really starting to get me down. I locked the door behind me and took off my coat. Checking my phone, I smiled at Marcus' text. 'Buy the damn game, woman'

I didn't respond, as I knew he'd be in a game by now, so instead I put my phone on charge and went to the kitchen. Grabbing a bottle of rose, a glass and my art bag, I settled down for the night with my paintings and my blanket.

Tomorrow was going to be exhausting, I could already tell. I sighed softly, letting my brush take my mind away and the colors coat the white canvas. Each stroke took away more and more of my worry, easing my mind until I almost fell asleep.

Giving up, I cleaned my brushes and set aside the canvas. I needed sleep. Yawning, I stripped and took a quick shower, hoping to warm up a little before bed. It didn't work, but the hot water helped ease the tense muscles in my neck. I'd been working too hard lately, pulling in long shifts at the bar that always ended up with me coming home in the early hours wearing the scent of beer and smoke.

Once I was clean, with a towel around my hair I climbed into bed and picked up my tablet to read. I didn't get past the first paragraph. My eyes were too heavy, so I let myself drift off to sleep, hoping tomorrow wouldn't be a waste of time.

A/N: Hey, guys! What is this!? Another Self instert ... I know, I know. You're thinking 'Oh god, another Mass Illusion' Well, you're lucky, cause it's not. This is just gonna be a fun story that goes through the events of ME2 and maybe beyond.

I really hope you read and review it, let me know what you think. I'm hoping to get a chapter a week, so please enjoy!