.01

[System: Time Vault]

'Rhuda' -- As she was called, found herself inside a vault of sorts. There was a circular table in the middle with a high ceiling above, and walls and walls of bookcases filled to the brim with rolled up scrolls. The amount of scrolls was too much to count. It was obvious the room was important and well taken care of. Next to her stood Trunks with his arms crossed, and he bowed a little to a pink elf.

Well, not a elf but a cute type of character with light pink skin and elven ears. Two earrings dangled from them, and she wore a colorful, off the shoulders pink robe with white boots. This creature even had pink hair as well. 

"Supreme Kai of Time, we made it back safely. It seems like there was some glitch in the system." Trunks said.

The SKOT was this tiny creature then.

She frowned cutely and put a hand under her chin in thought. "I see. Well, we'll need Bulma to sort that out later. I'm just glad Rhuda came back unharmed---but, where is her Time Patrol equipment?"

Rhuda clutched the long jacket tighter. She didn't have a good answer for that either, in fact she didn't have an answer for anything, but it was obvious enough for her to understand she'd died and somehow became part of Xenoverse 3. As for how that happened? She had not a clue, but the old man who'd given her the game might know a thing or two. Too bad she was unable to ask him anything. 

"Not sure. Maybe the system error did that, too." Trunks remarked.

The SKOT nodded. "It's possible. The training simulator is a little outdated after all. Well anyway! No sense in crying over spilled milk as they say." SKOT smiled and added, "What a good session it was despite that. Rhuda really lives up to her saiyan background."

[System: Character Menu Option Added. View Stats, Abilities, Equipment and items]

"Yeah. We need a another saiyan on hand to fight those time villains," Trunks said. "With her and Broly on our side now, I'm sure things will go smoothly."

SKOT: "Let's hope for that. In the meantime, Trunks, I have some pudding if you'd like--"

The handsome man beside her coughed loudly and grabbed Rhuda's hand, saying, "S-She's uh got more training to do! With her Instructor. Can't be late for that! I'll show her the way!" Trunks pulled her away from the blinking elf and out a massive double door.

The environment outside that imposing place resembled a bird cage. It appeared to be dislocated in space somewhere, maybe a floating platform. Glass windows allowed viewing of several moons and planets around the bird cage. There was green grass with a path of stone, leading towards a shiny portal of sorts. She wondered where that would go but decided not to run off and find out lest it take her to another battle. A tiny dome home was to the left. Mechanical 'Capsule Corp' parts were strewn everywhere. It looked like a hoarder lived there. 

[System: Time Nest]

Trunks dropped her hand and sighed loudly, a puff of breath coming out. "Phew! That was close. The last time I ate her pudding I was sick for three days."

Rhuda giggled a little. 

"You're laughing but I promise it wasn't funny at the time." He shook his head. "Ah, anyway, you're probably tired right?"

She checked her Health and Stamina bar, seeing the two filled. "I'm fine."

"Really? That's surprising. Ha, who am I kidding? You are Broly's sister after all." He smiled. "For your first patrol you did pretty good."

She bowed politely, brown tail wagging. "Thank you."

"Er, right. Well uh...about my jacket..."

Trunks told her to bring it back if she didn't mind, once Rhuda was properly clothed of course. He pointed to the portal across the grass. "You can take that portal and find the [Shops] down in the Plaza. Oh, you'll need some TP medals. Here."

He deposited some blue coins into her palm. "This should do the trick. If you need more, let me know."

Rhuda wanted to bring up the subject currently on her mind. She was somehow in a video game. The last thing she recalled was falling to her death. So was this some sort of messed up death dream? "Ano..Trunks sir, can you tell me--"

[Topic Restricted]

How was she going to get answers, then? There had to be someone who could help. "Where is my Instructor at now?" She asked instead.

"Uhh, should be down by the Academy. There's a road leading to it. You can't miss it, but here [Map] just in case you get lost."

[To use MAP say 'Map']

 She left through the shimmery portal and found herself amidst a colorful tiny city.

[System: Conton City]

Conton was filled with eye candy. A staircase led downwards, leading to a covered plaza area with robots milling about. They had a [!] on their heads. So it seemed she would need to talk to them eventually, then. Across from that area was a fountain with a statue of a tall Earthling. It was a hologram and he was giving the thumbs up sign. 

Three towers with markings on them where beside that, with a road leading towards what appeared to be a school.

It would be all too easy to get lost.

"Map!"

In her field of vision a screen displayed points of interest. There were red scrolls, gray scrolls, gray stars, and other icons. She stood a moment just trying to process it all. It was all so surreal for her. Dying and waking up in a video game of all things.

Rhuda sighed. "I'm dead aren't I? I just know it. At least...this is a different place. I did want that more than anything after all. Still...a video game? On Dragon Ball no less...I hope I can survive."

She knew the term 'Dragon Ball' from catching snippets of the show in Japan, but never actually got to watch the show herself. With very little knowledge on what to do, Rhuda could only hope beating the game would enable her to cross to the afterlife, or even be reborn in her own world.

[Player Death No Respawn]

"If I die here---I'll die for real?" 

The girl hung her head a little. God was cruel. 

After checking the MAP once more she set off down the steps and walked to the nearest Shop. It sold outfits, but they were much too pricey for her current TP. The shop to the left was cheaper albeit not as unique in selections. She chose a simple crop top of white, which had a gray jacket over it, open. For bottoms she wore a pair of skintight leggings in the shade of light red, and completed it with white boots.

"Character Menu."

[Character Screen]

Only to her a screen showed a list of Stats, Abilities, Items and Equipment. She looked the [Menu] for quite some time, just studying the different display screens.

"I guess I'll go give Trunks his jacket back now," she said.

He was talking to an elderly man when she came back through the shimmery portal, and gave her a little smile.

"Hey, you brought it back." Trunks said.

"Yes. Ano, thank you again, Trunks."

Trunks smiled. "Glad to help. Have you already spoken with everyone?"

"No, not yet."

"Come back when you have."

Rhuda left the Time Nest and went back to Conton, pulling up MAP to see where her Instructor was located. "Over there.. Okay, then.."