<span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>The Adventures of "Z" </strong></span><br/>-- A Cluster Story<br/><br/><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Background</strong></span><br/>Suzanne H. Mazie-Howells, known as "Z" to her friends,  is a computer geek with a hot web site about the latest virtual reality tech. One day she receives a package with the cryptic note: "Try. Review." Opening it, she finds a full-body virtual reality suit. "I've heard rumors of these," she thinks to herself.<br/><br/>Excited, she strips to the buff, for it's obvious that the skin-tight suit fits her so snugly that even a pair of undies would be in the way. Donning the suit is a bit difficult, but with some talc and a lot of patience she manages. Sitting down in her favorite ergonomic chair, she holds the W3 plug over the VR outlet, then presses the 50,000 contact connector home.<br/><br/>There's an audible "click" and a disembodied voice issues from the VR helmet she's still holding in her hands. "Please don helmet. You have one minute to don the helmet." She looks at the helmet in confusion, for helmets don't usually talk to her. "Please don helmet. You have thirty seconds to don the helmet." Should she? Might this not be dangerous? "Ten seconds to don helmet!"<br/><br/>She hears the countdown toward zero, once again wonders if she is being colossaly stupid, and puts on the helmet.<br/><br/>Her world disappears immediately, replaced by a lush tropival garden. Off to the side she sees a tent, with what looks like a wardrobe closet. She looks down and realizes she is naked.<br/><br/><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong><em>It's your post now, dear reader!</em></strong></span><br/><br/>This is an open thread, in which anybody may add a post at any time, subject only to the following<strong>rules</strong>:<br/><ul class="bbc_list"><li>Keep all posts consistent with the theme of the thread -  we're talking virtual reality, so almost anything can happen.</li><li>Prior approval to post is <em>not</em> needed.</li><li>Multiple postings by one author is acceptable, within reason.</li><li>There is one main character: Suzanne H. Mazie-Howells, known as "Z" to her friends. </li><li>She can be hurt, but not maimed or killed. Keep the focus on "Z" and her escapades.</li><li>Other NPCs are <em>encouraged</em>, and may be killed off or simply abandoned.</li><li>Anyone can play Suzanne. Anyone can play any NPC, including one introduced by another poster.</li><li>Once something happens, it happens. "The show must go on."</li></ul><br/>