“Hello, Zarra.”
“I’m so glad you could make it. This must be Dinah.” The beautiful woman turned to my lawyer. “It is a pleasure to meet you.”
“Thank you, Ms. Zerne.”
“And Chester Smith?” Zarra turned to my bodyguard.
“Yes, Ma’am. Pleasure to meet you.”
“Chip, I’m twenty-eight years old. You don’t need to call me Ma’am. In fact, please don’t.”
“Yes, Ma- Ms. Zerne. You can call me Chip as well.” My bodyguard smiled and blinked a few times. Then he shot me a sideways glance. I guessed what he meant by the look, and I tried to keep the smile off of my face. Even a hardened SEAL guy wasn’t immune to Zarra’s charisma.
“Let’s sit. Lunch should be coming any minute. I figured we could eat while we talked. Is that okay with you, Leo?” Zarra winked a purple eye at me, and I tried to keep my heart from skipping.
“Sounds good,” I said as I sat down. I had done a great job of not thinking about the woman for the last week. Of course, Dale’s funeral and Sal’s Shiva had helped distract me, but I figured that I was starting to get used to the woman’s good looks and her charms. I wanted today to be about the contract, her game, and my future with her company. I didn’t want to get distracted by her.
The three lawyers exchanged pleasantries with Zarra for a few minutes, and then there was a sudden shift in the mood. The four of them took out their individual data pads, and they began to calmly argue about the changes to the contract.
Well, maybe calmly wasn’t the correct word.
“My client needs his staff on suite. That includes his trainers and bodyguards.”
“We won’t be able to budge on that, Dinah. The technology we are using here at Arnacript is cutting edge. Any security leak could cost us tens of millions in losses. We can’t risk anyone seeing what is going on with Leo’s testing. This is a real sticking point for us,” Zarra explained. “To compensate, he has full use of any exercise equipment, our own company trainers, and…” she smiled slightly and glanced to me “the money is lucrative. I’m sure the champ can go without his coaches for a few years. Besides, Leo will be very busy playing our game. I doubt he’ll want to do more than exercise a few hours a week.”
“Next point is personal security. There was an attempt made on my client’s life ten days ago.”
“We are committed to Leo’s safety. Casper is in the process of beefing up our security staff. This is another area where we don’t want to budge on. I’m sure Mr. Smith is more than trustworthy, but we do not want any of our technology getting out of the campus before we are ready. There have already been a few news reports about Leo leaving Astafar Unlimited for a new game, and a bunch of news teams are trying to get interviews with me,” Zarra said with a frown.
“I’m sorry about that. I didn’t think I violated the NDA by talking to my friends about--” I began to say, but the purple-eyed woman raised her hand to stop me.
“It’s okay Leo. I knew this was going to happen. You are the most popular sports figure in the entire world. This is part of the reason I want you to work with me.”
“Ahh,” I sighed and felt my shoulders relax.
“This might be our sticking point,” Dinah said. “We are interested in your offer, but if my client ends up dead, he won’t be able to spend this money.”
“The last thing I want is Leo to get hurt. Rumor is that these people are upset that he is leaving Astafar Unlimited. That situation will blow over once they get used to him being retired. In a couple of years, he can re-emerge into the spotlight with a new game, but public figures tend to become forgotten once they step away from their entertainment role.” Zarra turned to me and smiled a bit. “I think that is another reason we are talking. You are tired of being in the public eye. All the parties and the paparazzi. It has to be exhausting. They will probably camp out in front of our campus for a few months, but then they will chase after the next shiny object. You’ll fade from their memory until our game is ready to be released.”
Chip shifted his stance, and for a second I thought he was going to argue with Zarra, but I realized that he had his eyes fixed on the door behind me. Staff, from the cafeteria I guessed by their uniforms, were walking down the hall, and they opened the glass door to pull in two food carts.
“Let’s break for a few moments while we eat our lunch,” Zarra said, and we all nodded in agreement.
The food was good. Just sandwiches, salad, an assortment of sushi rolls, and more of the miso soup that I liked. As soon as everyone had grabbed something to eat we all sat back at the table. Except for Chip. The ex-SEAL didn’t eat or sit at the table.
The conversation turned to some specifics about the game testing. One of the unclear points was the mention of the game mode I would be testing.
“We want to have two game modes on release. One will be a standard mode that most players are used to. The other will be a hard mode. In that game mode, if a player dies, they lose all of their gear, money, and they can’t respawn for twenty-four hours,” Zarra explained.
“It won’t be very popular,” I said.
“We plan on making it so that rare items, such as the relics, can only be found or uncovered by players with the hard setting. So we want to entice people to play with that setting on. We think it will increase gameplay hours and make people plan their teams better.”
“Or it will just piss them off. Some players like that kind of stuff, but most just want to have fun.”
“Plenty of people play these games for the feeling of power. We are thinking about ways to set these players apart from those that are in the standard game mode. If you can complete the play testing on the harder difficulty, without dying, these players will be very intrigued,” Zarra smiled beautifully, and I nodded at her words. I’d actually never died in Astafar Unlimited outside of player versus player battles, and a game mode like what Zarra referred to would probably interest a lot of players.
“So you just drop all your gear and money when you die?” I asked.
“Yes. Then you’ll respawn back at the nearest major city in twenty-four hours.”
“So someone else could pick up my gear?”
“Well, yes. If you die. I’m hoping you don’t. Actually, it is really important that you don’t. I want to be able to tell everyone you found all the relics without having to respawn. The hardcore players will go crazy for that story, and we’ll get a bunch of them playing on that game mode to start out. These are the kinds of players that end up becoming influencers in real society. Just like you.”
“Is there some sort of change in the payment structure if I don’t complete the game on this hard mode?” I asked.
“No. It will just inconvenience you, and my team. I understand accidents happen, but you won’t want to die. You’ll respawn without any of the equipment that you've acquired,” Zarra answered for my lawyer.
“Will the NPC’s pick up my gear for me?” I asked.
“Hmmmm,” Zarra said as she put a finger to her perfect lips. I noticed that her nails were painted a mirrored silver color with a purple trim. We had planned on other players doing it, but I suppose NPCs can. They can join your party and go on quests.”
“How does the AI program The NPCs to understand when players die? Artus seemed to think I was a normal inhabitant of the world. I imagined if I was killed in a dungeon and then respawned, it would alarm him,” I said.
“Yes. It would. That is why I don’t want you to die. We are working on an aspect of the world’s storyline that will explain how players can come back from the dead, but we want your help developing it after you have played for a few weeks. Then we can incorporate it into our AI’s logic.”
“I understand,” I said to the woman, even though I really didn’t. It seemed like Zarra’s team should have had the respawn elements figured out in this alpha phase. Everything else about the NPCs had been perfectly crafted.
The conversation returned to a few of the poin
ts on the payment and stock options. Dinah also spent a bunch of time going over the treatment for my parents, and Arnacript’s commitment to help cure them. I listened with interest while I chewed on the last bits of my salad, and I thought about my parents.
It had been too many weeks since I had seen them. Would the move to this facility cause the disease to degrade their minds even more? I guessed it would since I’d seen it happen every time I had moved them to a new treatment center.
Would Zarra’s treatment cure them?
It was probably the most compelling reason for me to sign her contract. Sure, I was tired of Astafar Unlimited, the death of my friends weighed on my shoulders, and I, thought Ohlavar Quest had potential, but I’d give away all my money and fame to be able to talk with my parents again. Alzheimer's had killed their brains but left their bodies in perfect health.
Zarra had shown me a possible resurrection.
But negotiations 101 said you didn’t just tell the other party what your real hot button was during the deal. I hadn’t even mentioned it to Garf or Jax when I spoke to them about the game. I didn’t want it to slip out during a side conversation they might have with their girlfriends, and reach Zarra through the media outlets.
Another hour of discussion passed, and Zarra’s team agreed to clear up some of the language around the treatment plan. They also agreed to provide Dinah and me with a monthly medical summary of their progress. They were small victories that didn’t seem to concern Zarra or her team much.
“Leo and Dinah,” Zarra cut through the lawyer chatter by saying our names suddenly. “I would like to be straightforward for a moment. There are some things we cannot budge on, but I feel as if we have compensated you fairly for these inconveniences. I also understand that the deaths of your friends weighs on you, so I want to be respectful of that. But, let’s cut to the chase here. Are you ready to make a decision on this today?”
“Today?” I asked.
“No, he won’t be--”
“Today,” Zarra said firmly. “I can’t budge on your entourage or security detail. So don’t ask for it, but I feel that my offer is beyond fair. What else can we do to get you to join the team? All this back and forth is straining my time. Again, I want to be respectful of Leo’s current circumstances, but if there is something else I could offer that would ensure he signed today, I will consider it.” Zarra looked at me and raised a perfect dark eyebrow. “So is there anything else you want?” Her voice was beautiful, and I let out my breath slowly.
“I’d like to talk to my client alone for a few moments,” Dinah cut me off as I opened my mouth.
“Of course. We can leave,” Zarra said as she stood from the conference table.
“Oh that’s not necessary; we can walk out into the hallway.” Dinah and I stood. Then Chip followed us out of the room and a few dozen feet down the hall so that we couldn’t be seen.
“They have made a bunch of concessions,” the woman said when the three of us are alone.
“So you like the deal?” I asked.
“I’m not Sal, hon, but we are talking about almost twenty times what your accountant estimates you’ll make in the next two years if you stay with Astafar Unlimited. They are going to treat your parents also. So that will save you another two million.” Dinah shrugged. “Ms. Zerne really wants you on her team.”
“Do you like her?” I asked.
“Yes. I do. I know Sal was suspicious, but he might have changed his mind if he met the young woman. I do have a good feeling about her. I’m not a security expert,” Dinah looked at Chip, “but I kind of agree with her about these killers. This might all blow over in a few months when you are out of public eye.”
“So you think I should take the deal?”
“Damn it Leo!” she laughed. “I just said I’m not Sal. I’m just your lawyer, but yes. If you don’t mind the two years living here, and you want to try their treatment on your parents, this money is very lucrative.”
“I don’t agree with what she said about this blowing over. People can hold a grudge for a long time,” Chip said.
“I’d expect for him to say that. It’s his job to be cautious. But look at that basketball player from the early two thousands. Shit, what was his name?”
“I’m not sure who you are referring to,” I said as I tried to think about basketball history. It was the “early two thousands” fifty years ago, and my father was a kid then.
“Lebran or something was his name.”
“Oh. LeBron James.”
“Yeah! That was his name. He changed teams or something. Everyone said they wanted to kill him. A couple of years later he went back to his old city, and they loved him again. The public is fickle. You’ve got the charm, Leo. They are just mad you are leaving their city, but you gotta do what is right for you.”
“Yeah. Thank you.” I smiled at the woman and felt my heart pang with the loss of Sal.
“They want you to commit today. Is there anything else you want? I have the feeling that girl has a thing for you. She’s trying to hide it, but I’ve played matchmaker for the last twenty years. I can see the signs.”
“You are killing me, Dinah. I like her also. Trying to keep it professional.”
“No shit, hon. This is a lot of money. Can you think of anything else you want? Or do you need me to argue that you need some more time.”
“I think I’ve already decided,” I said with a long exhale. Saying the words felt good. Change was scary, but I knew that this was the right direction for me. It helped that Dinah said she liked Zarra. Without Sal’s compass, I didn’t know who else to trust. I tended to think the best of people.
“I’ve thought about asking her if Jax and Garf can play also,” I said.
“No, that won’t work. In article five, section… three I believe they indicated they wanted you to play alone or with employees for the first two years. They won’t budge on it,” she said with a frown.
“Alright. The only other thing I’d want to ask for is another play of the game.”
“I think that is fair. You only played it once, right?”
“Yep. I loved it, but they promised to make some changes after I gave them my feedback. I want to see if they have implemented them yet.”
“How hard do you want me to push on it if they say no?” she asked with a raised eyebrow.
“If they want me to sign today, then I’ll need to play again. Zarra actually offered this to me a few weeks ago, as long as I could commit afterward. I think they will agree.” I shrugged.
“Okay. Got it. Let’s go get ‘em.” Dinah walked back down the hallway, and we followed her.
“We’ve talked it over,” she said once we entered the room. “My client would like another play test. Then he’ll be able to make a decision.”
The three women glanced at each other for a few moments. Then Zarra turned to Casper. “Can you have it set up?”
“It is ready actually, and the team is standing by. I suspected that Mr. Lennox might be playing today.” The older man smiled at me.
“Ha! That’s why I love you, Casper.”
“Leo will need to sign another NDA,” Tracey said as she handed me a datapad.
“Let me check,” Dinah said as she took the device. A few minutes later she had finished reviewing it, and I signed it with a thumbprint.
“I guess that means we are done here,” Tracey said as she stood from her chair. “We’ll work on the revisions immediately, so that Mr. Lennox will be able to sign once he finishes his session.”
“How long will this take?” Dinah asked us.
“Last time I played for nine hours.”
“Nine hours? Ha. Can your fancy jet pod take me back home?” she asked the Arnacript team.
“Of course!” Zarra looked very happy, and she nodded to Casper.
“Is there someplace I can wait?” Chip asked as the three lawyers shook hands.
“Yes, Mr. Smith. I will take you to a waiting room after I escort Ms. Gord
on-Feldt to the jet pod.” Casper replied, and he gestured to the door.
“I’ll take Leo to his room.” Zarra was suddenly at my side, and her arm snaked around my bicep.
“Can’t Chip come with me? He signed the NDA.”
“No,” both Zarra and Casper answered at the same time.
“Leo, I understand he is your guard, but you are about to become an owner of our company. You need to think about protecting our assets,” Zarra said with a reassuring smile.
“I trust Chip with my life,” I said as I nodded toward my bodyguard.
“I understand that Mr. Smith is a professional, but so are we. Let’s just be safe for now. No harm is going to come to you while you are logged in. If we get attacked, I’ll gladly ask Mr. Smith to enter the room and protect you.”
“How close is the waiting room to Leo’s room?” Chip asked before I could respond.
“It is down the hall a bit. We have a TV in there, and if you get hungry, we’ll escort you to the cafeteria.”
“I’ll show you the room. Please come with me,” Casper said to Chip. The ex-SEAL gave me a small nod, and then he followed the well-dressed man out of the conference room.
“I cannot describe how happy I am that you are going to work with us,” Zarra said as she pulled me down the hall in the direction opposite to that in which Casper had taken my friends.
“I haven’t signed the paperwork yet,” I laughed and forced myself to look away from her strange purple eyes.
“Oh, I know, but I also think you love my game, and you want to cure your parents. You are making a great decision, Leo.”
I didn’t know what to say, and I worried that if I spoke now, I would admit how much I was looking forward to more Ohlavar Quest, seeing if she could cure my parents, and working with her. So I kept my mouth closed and forced a smile to my lips.
We walked for a few minutes in silence and passed through the strange security checkpoint. The two armed goons were there, and I handed them my phone and wallet before I walked through the metal detector.
“Chip isn’t going to like giving up his gun,” I said as we walked toward the airlock like chamber.
Lion's Quest: Undefeated: A LitRPG Saga Page 20