by Terry Schott
Chapter 48
This game we play is full of contrasts. It has to be. Being warm is much better if you have known what it is to be cold. The light is a welcome break from being surrounded by darkness. Earth is contrast. Nothing is bad nor good; things are just on one end of the spectrum or the other. Some periods in a person’s life are full of confusion, peril, and pain. Other periods are filled with times of clarity, safety and pleasure. I advise you to slow down and enjoy yourself when things are good. It can go on for years, but don’t waste one precious moment of the good times. Because the bad times come, and if you haven’t built up your reserves during the good times, you may not make it through the bad and into the next session of good.
Excerpt from Earth book called- ‘The Game Is Life’
George Knight (avatar)
Brandon called the meeting to order, and the team sat quietly in their chairs. There was no scrambling for last minute updates, or whispers to get details for Brandon when he called for them. It was a calm time for their players. The team had enjoyed the break in stress for the past few days.
Michelle stood up and walked to the front of the room, smiling and looking relaxed, as if she had actually gotten a few hours’ sleep lately.
“What details do you have for us, Michelle?” Brandon asked.
“Everything is quiet and normal, Brandon,” Michelle said. “Our newlyweds have settled into their new home and careers with no excitement or incidents. They are active in their community, and everything indicates they are still madly in love with each other.”
“How long have they been married now?” Lilith asked from the opposite end of the table.
“Three years,” Brandon said, looking to Michelle for confirmation which she gave by nodding her head.
“That makes Trew 28, and Danielle still 27.” Lilith said. “No babies yet?”
Michelle smiled, “No babies in the past three years, but that’s why we’re all here today, Lilith. To celebrate the announcement of Danielle being pregnant.”
Everyone in the room smiled, a few people gave little cheers, Brandon and Lilith became very intent on the news, sharing a glance and nod during the brief outburst of the team. When silence returned Brandon spoke up with a smile. “This is wonderful news. How far along is she?”
Michelle called up a chart on the screen beside her. “A few weeks. She’s taken the test and the two of them know. It’s too soon for them to share it with their families yet.”
Brandon nodded. “This is truly wonderful news. Let’s all keep a close eye on this development, please. I also want to know what player ends up getting this avatar. It’s going to be an expensive life to buy into, let’s make sure the player buying in is worthy.”
The rest of the meeting was very uneventful. Danielle was running her own alternative medicine practice and enjoying phenomenal success. Trew was working as a middle sales manager for a large multinational company, leading a team of twenty employees. Thankfully, he was home almost every night and their relationship was not suffering due to their jobs. Both of them were happy and fulfilled; everything was terrific.
As the meeting let out, Brandon asked Michelle and Nadine to stay behind. Lilith remained also.
“Michelle, you’re Zack’s Right Hand, and Nadine, you’re Alexandra’s. The two ladies nodded. “Tell me the challenge we face with this pregnancy.”
Nadine’s face was serious. “The odds of this baby being born are slim to none.”
Michelle looked alarmed. “Why?”
Lilith spoke up. “Because having a healthy child involves spending points in luck. Significant points. When a player chooses to be a female avatar and have children, they must spend credits on luck for a successful birth. To not do this almost guarantees no births.”
“Alexandra didn’t spend a single point on that.” Nadine said sadly. “She didn’t have enough points for even the basics, let alone having a child.”
“That’s right,” Lilith agreed. “She was fine with that, because the odds of her hooking up with Trew or any other suitable mate were just as remote. She had no credits to spend in romance, either.”
“Ladies, let’s focus on the positive for a minute.” Brandon held up his hand. “If memory serves me correctly, this girl didn’t have credits to spend on one of the best Eternals in the Game, either. Yet he walked her down the bloody aisle on her wedding day.” Everyone nodded silently. “And you just said she didn’t have a chance to find love, either, based on the credits she spent. Someone show me a loveless Danielle, please, because all I see is an avatar that has one of the best relationships on Earth at this moment in time.”
Lilith sighed. “Okay, you’re right, Brandon. She’s not having a normal play with the credits she has invested. Perhaps the baby will be fine.”
“That’s a better attitude, thank you.” Brandon said. “But,” he smiled, “Just to be on the safe side, let’s put a few support players in place, in case things don’t go as positively as we know they will.” He handed Michelle a tablet with a list of players currently in the Game and available, to ‘coax’ into key support roles.
“Here’s what must be done,” Brandon said. “Twenty-four hour monitoring and support until this baby is born. At the slightest sign of a problem we go into extreme crisis mode. We will do everything we can to make sure the kids stay safe, and they have a beautiful little baby born to them. Sound reasonable?”
“Absolutely.” The ladies all nodded in agreement.
“Okay, then. Let’s get to work,” Brandon said.
“I want Angelica in on this, too, please,” Lilith said.
“Agreed,” said Brandon. “It can’t hurt to have Eternals keeping an eye out as well.”