Crash held a cotton swab on the puncture where he had a blood sample taken and watched the doctor place it in a machine. “I still don’t get it doc, I’m going to laying in this slick, glorified tanning bed surrounded by a nano-gel. How does my blood type factor into any of this scenario?”

The doctor rolled his eyes at Crash. “This pod is about a million times more advanced than a tanning bed, and we will be monitoring your physical data at all times. At some point we will be comparing the data of everyone in the game and one of the ways to contrast you will be by blood type. Plus, what if some psycho comes in here spraying bullets everywhere? I bet you will be happy then that I have your blood type!” The doctor laughed.

Crash’s eyes went wide. “You think someone might be firing guns in here!?”

The doctor rolled his eyes again. “No Crash, I really don’t see that happening. Now hold your arm out, I want to get your blood pressure.”

Jimmy Cook walked into the room. “The equipment is all set to go and the stream is ready to go live, you all set champ?”

Crash nodded. “I have been ready for a week now. The adrenaline rush is all gone now. I still don’t see why we couldn’t have given me a couple of days in game to become adjusted.”

Jimmy waved his hands at Crash. “I’ve told you a hundred times now, we want to get the expression of your face the first few times you experience something new. It’s like a money shot ya know.” He snickered, “I’ve told my team to make a video of every time you see something new and awesome. You know, like, “HOLY CRAP, is that a Kraken?”

Crash turned his head real quick and stared at Jimmy. “There’s going to be a Kraken!? How can I surf if there is a Kraken!?”

Jimmy laughed. “Relax kid, that was just an example. I will give you some free advice though. Try to get a water breathing scroll at some point. There is a whole lotta stuff living deep in the oceans, ya get me?”

The doctor said, “He’s good to go, perfect health of youth and all that. Let’s get him in the pod and get the electrodes hooked up.”

“Can we go over this electrode thing again? Electricity and moisture still don’t make sense to me. I don’t want to fry on my first day in this fish tank!”

The doctor led him to the pod and said, “OK, drop trou and climb in, I’ll turn my back for your embarrassment.”

Crash yanked his shorts off and threw them on the table. “I’m not embarrassed and don’t change the subject.”

The doctor sighed. “I hope I don’t have to go through this every time Jimmy. You need to set up a questionnaire phase before this stage or we will never get the masses in their pods.”

He turned back to Crash and started applying the electrodes. “These are dermal contact pads. They are not electric. They work with the nano-gel to stimulate your musculature and make it twitch so that you don’t come out of the pod like a blob of jelly. They have been tested and retested for a few years now with no adverse effects. Once you are unconscious I will be attaching two ports to you for liquid nutrients and waste removal. It has all been tested as you well know.”

Crash looked up at the doctor. “You know, you have the typical horrible bedside manner trope of all doctors in films and novels!”

The doctor gave him an evil grin. “It’s not a trope, all doctors secretly hate their patients… Muahaha!”

The Doctor closed the lid.