Being relatively new to The Matrix Online, I thought it would be interesting to document my adventures and exploration of Mega City. These blog entries chronicle my adventures…

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Last week's adventure left me in the Mara neighborhood, so it seemed like the logical place for me to start this week's blog. Having learned from my past mistakes, the first thing I do is find a skill vendor. After checking my in-game radar, I see that there is an Operative Vendor near the Hypercube monument…which also sounds like something I need to see. I like monuments! Well, actually, I like taking pictures of myself…and monuments make good back drops. I heard that this one was my favorite color – bright red – which makes it even better!

After saying "cheese" in front of the Hypercube monument a few more times that I probably should have, it started to rain cats and dogs. I began running to take cover and got lost. I think my incredibly keen fashion sense came at the price of my sense of direction because I'm always taking wrong turns! Luckily, I met a friendly player who offered to show me to the Operative Vendor, plus, being aware of my popularity with the ladies, he said that he knew a cool club I could check out. Since I'm always up for a party, I decided to follow him. It was just a short walk away to Slosh the Operative Vendor, whom I immediately suspected was indeed sloshed. Talk about having an appropriate name! I mean, look at him…sitting on a mat…on the ground…soaking wet…in the rain. Oh well, each to his own I guess. He was coherent enough for me to make my purchases, so that's all I cared about. Now I have my soldier upgrade. Look out! There's nothing like being able to download something in a few seconds that would otherwise take months of basic training to learn.

Once I had all of my skill purchasing done, I asked my new friend to take me to the club that he mentioned earlier. Turns out, it's named Polyvinyl and has this huge marquee with giant record albums sticking out of it. Ahh…polyvinyl…I get it. With a marquee that impressive, I had high hopes that I could get my groove on inside. So, I said farewell to my new friend, put on my sexy face, and strolled on in. The club was quite impressive with its raised dance floor, disco lights, disc jockeys, and huge spinning vinyl record on the wall! There was even a balcony that had lights and a dance floor that was up overlooking the first floor area. Unfortunately, the club itself wasn't very crowded…I was either too early or all the rain was keeping everyone at home. I did manage to get a dance with a regular, though. Yeah…she totally dug me.

Since the club, wasn't quite jumping yet, I decided to leave for a while and see if the Mara neighborhood had a collector. I was also curious to see what kind of trouble I could get into with my new soldier upgrade!

Not too far from the Polyvinyl, near Debir Court, I found the collector named Loripor. From the construction hard-hat and dingy grey jump suit, I took it for granted that she was in the construction business. Apparently, she really disliked the Blackwood gang and went so far as to call them a plague on the neighborhood! Then she asked me to kill them and bring her back the onyx rings that they all wear. How did she put it? Oh yeah, she said "I don't even care if the fingers are still attached." Hellooo, psycho! This lady obviously had some issues. And what's up with everyone assuming that I'm a natural born killer? Seriously…do I look like someone who's last name should be Soprano? I was about to tell Miss Cuckooroo to stick it in her ear, but then she looked at my fancy threads and told me she'd make it worth my while. I knew what that meant – an addition to my wardrobe…and I became powerless. As I took off to find The Blackwood gang, I wondered if I needed to seek professional help for my fashion addiction.

The Blackwood gang wasn't hard to find as they swarm all over the Mara neighborhood like roaches. That wasn't nearly as upsetting though, as the fact that they were all wearing my jacket! Yes – the exact one I was wearing! I should have never believed the vendor who told me it was an original. Its coolness factor was totally ruined for me and I knew I'd have to get a new one. To show the Blackwood's how upsetting this was to me, I proceed to wipe the floor with them. After knocking quite a few of them out I realized that Loripor must have known that not all of them had an onyx ring. She just wanted me to get rid of as many of them as possible! Not only was she cuckaroo…she was crafty as well.

I fought the Blackwood guys for what seemed like days trying to get their stinking onyx rings when another friendly player found me – ok, ok, so maybe I'm exaggerating; and it was only a few minutes. They just all appeared to have left their rings at home. Thankfully, my new friend offered to help me fight the Blackwoods so I could collect the rings faster. With his help, before I knew it I was back at Loripor to collect my well deserved reward. What do you know! She gave me a new jacket! It was a really groovy trench coat. Now I could toss away the one the Blackwoods ruined for me.

Sporting my new trench coat, I thanked my new friend, waved 'buh bye' to Loripor (who I was liking a whole bunch more at this point) and decided to return to the Mara Central hardline to call it a day. With my third adventure over, I realized that maybe; just maybe…we're all a little cuckooroo in our own way. Oh, and fashion still rules.

Until next time,

-Virrago

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