“That is a scary thought. But it's probably overreacting,” Nora said. “Even if it's in a virtual world, it's still interaction with other people. Some people might say that it even enhances the experience.”
“Danny would say that the difference between the two is like getting a burger at a fast food restaurant versus making one yourself with fresh ingredients.”
Nora laughed. “I can't really see him saying that. He comes across as a bit, well, you know...”
“Dumb?”
“I was going to say absent-minded,” Nora said.
“He's currently working on a PhD in philosophy.”
“Wow. I would not have expected that from him. Or from what I know of him.”
“Well, he can be a bit absent-minded. But he really is a smart and insightful guy. And that kind of proves my point. You can't get a real sense of what something is like without experiencing it without the filter in front of you.”
“I'm so glad I don't have to study this,” Nora said. “I'll just sit back, play my cello and just enjoy that for what it is.”
“No use agonizing over it all, Let's just enjoy it for what it is.”
Nora gave a slight smile and lifted her beer. “While remembering that it isn't the only thing.”
Zach lifted his own glass. “I'll drink to that.”
CHAPTER 8
Struggling Together
The next few weeks had been busy. Dr. Unger had established a schedule for all of them to follow. They would have brain scans on Monday and Friday, and would go through various tests on those days as well that would test how their mental aptitude was being affected. Selene, Miko and Xavier had moved into Chicago. They had all been able to spend some time together outside of the game, getting to know one another. All in all, it had been a smooth transition, despite how hectic it had been.
The same could not be said for the situation in World at War. The Chicago region was going through massive upheaval. It looked likely that there would be a significant conflict in the near future. Ragnarok Company, the largest organization in the region, had begun to rapidly expand by taking absorbing other companies into its ranks. They would offer substantial sums of money and gear to join. Ragnarok had also recruited many new players. Through these efforts, the Company had swelled to almost a thousand members.
The issue was the absorption of existing companies. Any company joining Ragnarok would have to cast aside their own company symbols in favor of their new organization. For some it didn't matter, but for others their company symbol was a source of great pride to them, and many were resistant to giving them up.
That was where the real problem lay. About three days ago, Spartan Company had been absorbed into Ragnarok. That in itself wasn't unusual, but there had been a battle for Spartan Company's stronghold before then, which Ragnarok had won. Details were murky at best, since neither Spartan or Ragnarok were talking, but it was rumored that Ragnarok Company had taken the stronghold and used it as blackmail; Spartan Company was given it back, as long as they disbanded and joined Ragnarok, the rumor went.
Zach wasn't sure he believed the rumor, though it was certainly plausible. If it was true, however, that could spell serious trouble for Black Wolf, and it could be coming soon. The overdrive discovery had made them rich. Their treasury was over two hundred thousand gold, and he had been able to increase the member's stipend to five hundred a day. They now had a hundred NPC guards, along with more auto defenses and a pair of tower mounted guns. Black Wolf's lair would be hard to take, but Ragnarok had the numbers and motive to do so. If they could manage to absorb Black Wolf, they would have access to the riches of the overdrive formula.
And the threat of taking over their base was a real hazard. A company was required to have a stronghold. If a company was without one, they had forty eight hours to acquire a new one, else they would be disbanded and lose their treasury. Losing the base wasn't a huge problem; they would easily be able to afford one in the city with their treasury. The problem was that the only known location to gather the ingredients for overdrive was in the forest to the south. If Ragnarok took the base then Black Wolf would have to cross their territory every time they went to gather resources, and Zach hardly thought they would be partial to that after a refusal.
In fact, Ragnarok had been making requests to them over the past week, though nothing had come of them yet. Maybe their focus was elsewhere, or maybe they were already planning something. Whatever the case, they would have to do something about it soon.
Zach's wrist alert rang. He sighed and opened the menu. New message, it said. It was probably another request from Ragnarok Company. He accessed it. Zach's eyebrows went up in surprise. It wasn't from Ragnarok, after all. It was from Levi Kanagi, the leader of Ronin Company. That was unusual, Zach thought as he opened up the message to read it. They had only met in passing.
Fellow Captains, we are in a situation of crisis, the message read.
Zach looked at who else was included on the message. Bryce Ackerman of Bravehart, Gina Kubel of Grizzly, Cody Torres of Marauder, David Gane of Sacred Sword, and several other names he didn't recognize were listed. Apparently Levi was contacting most of the minor companies in the region. He continued to read.
Due to the actions of Ragnarok Company, our way of existence in this world is being threatened. Ragnarok would have us sell our freedom, our very pride, for money. If we do not comply, they will use force in order to make us do so. Under these circumstances, I ask that you all attend a council that will take place at the headquarters of Ronin Company, taking place at 8:00 PM central time. The coordinates will be contained within the message. Please reply as to whether you will be attending. Thank you all for your time.
Zach replied that he would be attending.
“Is that another request from Ragnarok?” Danny asked.
Zach sent the message to the entire company. “No. This is something else.”
Selene read over the message. “A council, huh? What do you suppose it's about?”
“Probably trying to organize some sort of alliance to go up against Ragnarok,” Xavier said. “The question is, can they get enough people? I mean, Ragnarok has more troops than the rest of the top ten companies combined.”
“I'm honestly surprised that they haven't come after us,” Selene said.
“Well, they're probably going to, so I think this meeting is a good idea,” Zach said. “I'll take a fireteam with me. Who wants to go?”
“I was going to go with Ryan, Ethan and Javy scouting to get them some experience,” Selene said.
Ryan and Ethan were the two friends that Javy had invited to join. Ethan was a heavy, and Ryan was an assault. Both would be valuable additions to the team. Danny had taken Ethan under his wing and was teaching him the finer points of the class. He had nowhere near the skill of the far more seasoned veteran, but he was learning fairly well. Ryan was being taught by anyone and everyone, most notably Selene and Gavin. He was gradually learning the skills to be successful, a quick mind and fast reaction times, and could hold his own at this point.
“Can I still go with you guys?” Gavin asked. “No offense, but a conference sounds a bit boring for my tastes.”
“None taken,” Zach said.
“Yeah, that would probably be a good idea to have you come along,” Selene said.
“So, does the other half want to come with me?” Zach asked. “I think Nora should come along as least, since she seems to do a lot of the management of the company.”
“I'm game. Someone's got to keep you out of trouble,” Danny said.
“I'll go,” Miko said.
“Yeah, I'm good with that as well,” Xavier said.
“We'll need to leave in around an hour to get there on time,” Zach said.
“Provided that we don't run into problems,” Danny mused. “I think it's a good idea to leave a half hour or so early, in case we end up running into a firefight on the way there.”
“We can dodge any monst
ers on the way there. It's not like Ronin's stronghold is in a death trap,” Nora said. She was right. The base was located to the West of Chicago, about eight miles away, and it was bordering a main road. Unless they traveled off the beaten path, there was no serious danger that close to Old Chicago.
Danny still wasn't convinced. “That's unless Ragnarok starts to throw their weight around. Maybe they'll have patrols around that area.”
“They haven't started to throw their weight around that much,” Xavier said. “They're very deliberate with how they go about things. Sort of like a hostile takeover instead of a robbery.”
Selene stood up. “Well, while you guys argue, we're going to go hunting.” She motioned to the other four in her team. “Let's go.”
“Seriously, what are they hoping to accomplish?” Nora said. “I think that some form of resistance to Ragnarok needs to happen, but we don't have the troops even if all of us band together.”
“And not all of them are joining the conference,” Xavier said, looking at the message again. “I don't see Crimson Eagle, Orion, Death Skull or Ultra Companies listed on here. We would barely have five hundred players.”
“Maybe they discovered something. A blueprint, or the like,” Miko suggested. “That could be the edge we need.”
Zach frowned. “Could be. Which means that they might be asking us for money.”
“Or, we're probably there because we're the only ones that can make overdrive,” Nora said. “And I have the sneaking suspicion that they're going to want to have us stop selling it on the open market.”
“Fat chance,” Danny said. “I don't like what Ragnarok is doing, but their money is as good to us as anyone's.”
Zach agreed with that. In spite of whatever help overdrive gave to Ragnarok, the money that it brought in was just too good to pass up. Doses of overdrive were selling for as much as a thousand credits at auction.
“So we're going to be the wrench in anyone's plans,” Danny said. “I have a feeling that this isn't going to turn out so well.”
“What, like in violence?” Xavier said.
“No, I just think that there's going to be a lot of bad blood between us and them if we don't go along. Which might lead to violence later.”
“We'll have to see,” Zach shrugged.
It took them the better part of an hour to go from their base, to Old Chicago, and finally to Ronin's stronghold. Black Wolf had been able to afford a half dozen ATVs since they had started to sell overdrive, which had shortened the journey considerably. Even through the world around was crumbling, the infrastructure of the old word was still in place.
The gates of Ronin Fortress lay ahead. The stronghold was bigger than their own, surrounded by a ten foot high wall. It looked like an old school building. Zach noticed that they had twin heavy machine guns mounted at several gun emplacements on the wall. The two pairs next to the gate trained on them as they approached.
“Halt and state your business,” someone on the walls challenged them.
Zach's team halted in front of the gates. “We're Black Wolf Company. I believe that your commander is expecting us.”
“Let them through!” the person on the wall spoke.
After a few moments, the gates swung open. They drove their ATVs into the courtyard of the fortress and parked them up against one wall of the building. Zach looked around as he dismounted. The inner part of Ronin's fortress looked just as formidable. There were guns mounts on both sides of the entrance to the main building, probably as a last ditch defense against anyone who made it over the wall. Not that such a thing was going to be a common problem, Zach thought. Players outfitted as snipers and soldiers patrolled the wall and the roof. There was at least a company of NPC troops backing them up.
The person who shouted to them on the wall descended down the stairs and walked over to meet them. “Sorry about the trouble, but we can't be too careful. I had to check your I.D. first. I'm Sam, by the way,” he said, extending his hand. His avatar had a black mohawk and beard, and he was outfitted like a soldier.
“Good to meet you. I'm Zach of Black Wolf. This is Danny, Xavier, Miko and Nora,” he said, accepting the handshake and introducing the rest of his troops in turn.
“Nice to meet you all. You will be meeting with the rest of the company commanders in council room. There's going to be limit space, so I have to ask that only you and your second go to the meeting. The rest of you can feel free to wait in one of our lounges.”
“Do you need help guarding the walls?” Danny asked.
“We certainly aren't going to refuse help,” Sam said.
Danny grinned. “Great. I'll take Miko and Xavier and help as best I can. I'd like to have a look at one of those puppies up close,” he said, looking at one of the twin mounts.
Sam laughed. “Ah, you like them? They're the specialty of our chief engineer, Darren. He figured out a way to make them through the free crafting system. Mind you, it was a pain to figure them out and then get all the materials to make them.”
“Still, that could be quite the advantage,” Danny said. “I mean, I've been on the receiving end on one of those. I'd imagine that a pair of them in a mount would be several times worse.”
“Well, you've also got quite the advantage yourself. I mean, if must be great to have the best combat stimulants on the market.”
“Actually, none of us have ever used them,” Zach said.
“You're kidding,” Sam said.
“Well, that's why we're not considered to be one of the top combat companies,” he shrugged. “It's good cash for us, at least.”
“I'll say. Well, I need to get back to my post. There's a few more stragglers coming in. Anyone going up on the wall, follow me. Mya!”
An assault class with black skin and blue hair ran up. “Yes?”
“Show them to the council room,” Sam said. He motioned for Danny, Xavier and Miko to follow him.
“Got it. You two, right this way, please.”
She led them through the front doors of the inner fortress. It was definitely an old school, Zach thought as they walked through the hallways. Most of the old classrooms looked like they were being used. A few of them had couches, tables and chairs in them. A large one looked like it was a workshop, and there were a couple with racks of weapons.
“And here we are,” Mya said, stopping in front of a set of double doors. It looked like they led into a gymnasium. “This is the council room, so please, step inside.”
“Thanks,” Zach said. He opened the door.
Inside sat a huge, long table surrounded by chairs. Most of them were occupied. He noticed the symbols in front of every seat as he and Nora made their way to their own. Bravehart, Marauder, Grizzly, Sacred Sword, Dogs of War, Redd Foxx, Archangel, and several other companies were represented. Zach greeted the few he had met in person, then took his seat. He noticed that he was close to the head of the table. Only Bravehart and Grizzly were closer, with Marauder sitting across from him.
“Good to see you again,” Bryce, the captain of Bravehart said. He extended his hand. “I bet you're a lot richer after giving up selling bullets. Which I'm quite sad about, by the way. Those were nice and cheap.”
“Well, the feeling's not mutual,” Zach laughed, extending his hand. “About selling cheap bullets, not about seeing you again. I'm certainly glad to see you again. But those bullets weren't too profitable for us, so it was in our best interests to diversify.”
“I'm wounded,” Bryce said with an air of mock offense.
“Oh please, like you wouldn't jump at the chance to be a drug kingpin and rake in the dough hand over fist,” Cody of Marauder said.
“That's an interesting comparison, to be sure,” Gina of Grizzly observed from her spot.
“Hey, never said it was a bad thing.”
Bryce leaned back in his chair. “So we all know why we're here. The question is, does anyone think anything positive is going to come of this?”
“Are you not going t
o cooperate with the rest of us?” Gina asked.
“It's not that, it's that we're about to start an open war that I don't think we can win at this point.”
“Afraid of a little action?” Cody grinned.
“Considering what it could do to my company, yeah, I'm not eager to go up against Ragnarok. I think that-”
A hush suddenly fell over the table. The doors had opened, and Levi Kanagi stepped into the room. He walked the length of the table in silence and took his seat. He was followed by an adjunct, it looked like, a young female medic with long green hair.
“Thank you all for coming to this council. As you are all very well aware, Ragnarok Company has begun to make a power play for control of the Old Chicago region. They're absorbing any company that will join them, and forcing the rest of them that won't comply. Through these methods, they've increased their size greatly. At last check, they're now the size of a battalion, about twelve hundred members in total.”
Levi shifted in his seat. “This council represents the other major players in the Old Chicago region. Together we have a strength of around five hundred members. We may not have enough strength to challenge them at this time, but it will allow us to organize resistance to any of their moves. That is, if we are all able to cooperate.”
“Just how are we going to do that when they have double our numbers?” Aaron Kelling of Band of Brothers asked.
Levi's adjunct spoke up. “Around a third of their troops are new players. They will be able to fight, but overall our companies have a higher average level.”
“The problem isn't just a matter of numbers, it's how we apply them,” Gina said. “Ragnarok has only a few strongholds to defend outside of Old Chicago, and they aren't essential. There's fifteen companies here. Half of us have strongholds outside of Old Chicago that we have to guard or our companies get disbanded. If we're talking about an alliance, what happens if Ragnarok decides to come after one of us?”
“The other members would come to their aid,” Levi said.
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