Del awoke the next day sleeping in a plush room. He has check the night before and realized his clothes were moved from his small motel room and placed neatly in his closet and drawers. He didn't like Mr Toler assumed he wanted to stay or how Dr. Ravers assumed he was fit enough to enter the Pandora VR world. He has a large breakfast of eggs, toast, hash browns and orange juice. It was ready for him when he awoke this morning. He heard a knock at the door. A large man poked his head in his room. "Please be ready in 30 minutes." Before Del could reply the door closed.
Next to his finished plate of food was a small round vial. He knew it contained the wonderful pills that helped him with his hang over before. It was like a bottle in Alice in Wonderland which had a sign "Drink me."* Del didn't want to take the pills but he felt like shit and needed something to make him feel better. He wished he had a bottle of whiskey or bourbon. His hand shook a little. Del really wanted a drink. He grabbed the vial and shook out a small pill. He swallowed it with a chaser of orange juice.
Instantly, he felt better. He didn't want a drink of alcohol. Energy seemed to flow through him. He quickly changed into a pair of jeans and a black T-shirt. There was a knock a the front door and Mr. Toler strode inside.
"Are you ready?"
"Yes," Del said.
Del followed Mr. Toler out of the room and into a hallway. They entered the elevator and went down a few floors. The guards didn't follow them. Exiting the elevator, they walked upon a corridor with cement floors with walls painted white. He saw pipes snaking on top to different destinations. Del sensed he was far underground. There were no guards posted just cameras hanging on every corner. It was quiet, too quiet. He heard their footsteps echo along the hallway.
After a few feet, they entered a brightly lit room. Several people sat on chairs. He saw a large glass window with a view a long valley with trees and bushes and a wide span of ocean beyond. Del thought he was underground but he was not. He saw a beautiful red head lady sitting one on the chairs and a middle age man with graying hair.
Mr. Toler said, "Hello everybody. I know you guys here been here for several days taking tests. We understand your reluctance to come. But I would assure you we will be paying you guys handsomely for your time. But we do need your help."
The red headed lady said, "Can we get some introductions here?"
Mr. Toler said, "The man standing next to me is Del Grable. He is going to be a part of your team." Mr. Toler turned to him and said, "the little lady here Gabrielle Risen and the other gentlemen here is named Larry. The all shook hands. Del took a seat next to Gabrielle. He wondered what was going on here. What team?
Mr. Toler said, "I want you guys to know that we will take care of any possible problems that could arise. We will take care of you."
Del said, "What is this about? What team?"
Mr. Toler said, "I'll get to that. As you guys know, I'm cofounder of Wild Timber games. And Archibald Wickham the founder of Wild Timber Games had been missing for several years*. And we all here at Wild Timber Games want to find him."
Mr. Toler paused and looked out the big glass window. "We think we have found him or where he is. And we need your help to find him."
Gabrielle said, "So, he's in Pandora's box?"
Mr. Toler said "Yes."
"Wait," Del said, "I don't believe you. There is no such thing as Pandora's box."
"The VR world is Pandora's box. I will show you the ancient artifact," Mr. Toler said.
"I don't understand," Del said.
Mr. Toler s said, "We used game technology to hack into the box. We think he went to Pandora's box. I'm not quite sure how we did it. We didn't have this tech until now."
Del said, "Will this be dangerous?"
Mr. Toler said, "I'll not lie to you but it is very dangerous. But we need your help. You'll going to be compensated for your time. And there are also perks and awards if you find him."
Del was thinking there was another reason why he was here. He had been blackmailed into staying. Mr. Toler and the doctors here were the only people who could help John. Also, Del needed the money. He didn't want to scrounge of his dad or even work as his car dealership. Del looked at the others in this room and wondered if they were in dire circumstances like he was in.
Larry said, "So, you want us to find your boss and we get access to kickass tech. How about our weapons? Do we get the top-of-line guns?"
"Yes," Mr. Toler said.
Larry said, "This will be fun. I love games."
Del shook his head. "Larry this is not a game. Mr. Toler if we get hurt in the VR world will be hurt in the real world?"
"Yes, But we will pull you out before any irrevocable harm will hurt you."
Gabrielle leaned forward in her chair. "How do think Archibald got inside Pandora's box and not opened it?" 
Mr. Toler said, "We think somebody lured him inside who had the means to transport in."
Del wondered who could have the power to lure Archie inside the box.
"At this time," Mr. Toler said, "we can only speculate. But we need your help. You three here and a handful of others were the only people who had the brain stamina to explore this box."
Larry said, "I'm in."
Gabrielle nodded.
Mr. Toler looked at him.
"Ok," Del said.
Mr. Toler said, "Okay, so let's get started."
Gabrielle said, "I'm ready. So, what do we do now?"
Del looked at the two. They were too gun-ho. He was not excited going into the Pandora world and fight, but he thought this was a way to earn money and help somebody. He always wanted to be the person to find Archie Wickham. Archie was always a personal hero to him. He was rich, powerful and wouldn't take shit for anybody.
Mr. Toler said, "We will begin in a few days. We will have training and run some more tests. We want you to speak to your family and tell them that you'll be ok. Don't tell them what your doing. Tell them it is something overseas."
Dell said, "Can I ask you something?"
"Go ahead," he said.
"I just want to make sure we will not get hurt while we're in there. The VR world is so realistic."
Mr. Toler said, "We have safeguards on this. I'm not the expert on this. Miss Ravers will know more about this."
Larry said, "Del don't be scared. I'm very good at games. I'll protect you in the VR world."
Mr. Toler said, "As I said, you'll have a lot of support when your in there. You'll have unlimited ammo and magic. But we are not sure what you be facing. We have set drones in there and we know that the world is vast. It  is like an old magical world in the  medieval times. But there are parts of the world that changes constantly. Our drones picked up an area that looks similar to an urban apocalypse place as if an old ancient world blew up. 
You guys will only be inside in 4 to 6 hour increments. Your mind can't handle being in the world longer than that."
Gabrielle said, "Okay, when will we be paid."
Mr. Toler said, "We'll speak to you individually about this. Don't worry we'll pay you handsomely."
Del said, "Is there more people going inside with us?"
"At this time," Mr. Toler said, "but we don't any other recruits. You'll be the first group to explore this world."
Larry said, "That's great."
Mr. Toler said, "So, we're going to start tomorrow training and testing."
Larry said, "More testing?"
Mr. Toler said, "Yes, Mr. Ronald, we have more testing. We want to make sure your ok."

***

After the meeting was over, Mr. Toler guided them out of the room into the elevator. They entered a floor with plush rugs and more hospitable surroundings. The walls were painted a beige color with paintings of Renaissance masters such as Leonardo and Raphael. Del had seen a special on a Renaissance painters.
Mr. Tovar told them this whole floor was for themselves and each of them had different rooms. There was also a space in the middle called the main headquarter with computers, drinks, oven and fridge.
Mr. Tovar said, "Go ahead and you can call your friends and family on your phones to your family and friends. Tell him that you are going to be gone for awhile overseas. Don't tell him where you're at."
Mr.Tovar left them alone. They sat in the Headquarters room. They all went toward their prospective rooms. Del looked at his bedroom and it was more spacious than his motel room.
On the small table next to the queen size bed was a clock radio. He also saw a set of drawers, door to a closet and table and chairs. He sat on his bed. His phone was in his jeans pocket.
Del was about to call his dad but he decided to check his room. Mr. Toler's goons had pack all his stuff but he wondered if they found his laptop underneath his bed. For ten minutes, he had checked his bedroom and all he found was his clothes, his shaver and toiletries, but he didn't find his laptop. Del shook his head. At least, Mr. Toler's agents didn't bother to grab it.
Del took out his phone and was about to dial his dad's number but he stopped. He saw several unopened messages. He saw one was from his wife, Marion, his dad and Mom. He placed his phone on his nightstand and plugged it in. The phone needed to charge. He'll make the calls later.
Clicking on the remote control, he channel surfed on the big screen TV. Del could get used to these luxuries. The bed was soft and not lumpy. The TV had hundreds of channels. They had the best cable systems available they had HBO,  Showtime and the History Channel.
His mind couldn't concentrate on any of the shows. He was scared and excited at the same time. Del walked toward the Headquarters room. He wanted a soda and see what type of food they had. He was surprised that he didn't crave any alcohol. It has been hours since he took the magical pill.
Dell walked into the large room. He turned toward the refrigerator with the small kitchen next to it. He grabbed a diet soda and then sat on a chair. Sipping his soda, he saw the room was equipped with several computers. Gabrielle came into the room. She looked flustered. She grabbed a drink from the fridge and sat next to him.
She said, "I can't believe that we are here. Did they resort to blackmail to get you here."
Del looked at her and didn't know what to say. It was if she was reading his mind and knew about how his life had been a bad cluster fuck. "How do you know this? Did they blackmail you?"
She nodded to the security camera attached to the wall. "I don't care what they hear. They know why I'm here." She whispered under her breath, "Bastards."
Del sipped his soda. He told her an abbreviated version of what had happened for the last few months. He looked at the camera a few times but he didn't care. He knew Mr. Toler knew about his escapades and business.
Gabrielle said, "You haven't talked to your daughter in months?"
"I know," he said, "I want to talk to Jenny but my wife always messed it up."
"I don't know you and I don't want you to take this the wrong way," Gabrielle said.
"Shoot, tell me. I can take it."
Gabrielle shook her head. "It's your drinking."
"I know. I have a problem and I'm working on it."
"Also, you have been 'dating' every cute girl you can find."
Del nodded. "I have a weakness for cute girls."
Gabriel didn't smile. "Did you cheat on your wife?"
"No, I was close several times but no."
They were silent for a few seconds. He didn't like hearing about his failings coming from an almost complete stranger.
Del said, "I need to call them. So, what's your story?"
Gabrielle said, "I need the money. My mom is in the hospital and I cannot pay her medical bills. I barely make it as a waitress. Her cancer is spreading and I need to pay for her treatments."
Del shook his head. He understood about not having enough money. He had staying at a dump of a motel for several months.
He said, "So, we are all here for the money?"
Del also wanted to add blackmail by Mr. Toler but he already said enough. He also knew or sensed their was more than Gabrielle just needing money. She didn't want to talk about it now.
She said, "What do we know about this guy, Archie Wickett? All we know is that he created this game company. But we don't know anything about him or how he looks like."
Del said, "He was a genius at age ten and went to MIT at fifteen."
"You know all this?" She said.
"Yes, he's somebody I have looked up too since I was young."
"Hero-worship?"
"Well, I guess so. I have been in my own way following the investigation when Archie disappeared."
"So, you're a gamer?"
"Aren't you?"
"Not really. I was always good a puzzles and games. Mr. Toler found me when I was a sudoku contest."
"They have those."
"Yes," She said, "can you show me a picture of him on the internet. I haven't looked him up."
Del was going to use his cell phone but decided to use one of the computers in here. He turned on a computer and pulled up the internet. He type in Archie Wickham. Clinking on a picture, he showed her on the screen.
Gabrielle said, "He looks shy."
Dell studied the picture of an Archie did look shy. He saw his birthday and surmised he was close to sixty.
Gabrielle said, "So, he started a gaming company and became  a worldwide billionaire and then disappears. Do you believe he's in this Pandora's box?"
"We will find out. Let's get some food."
"Yep, that sounds good."