by Wells, JB
“Yeah.” Dexter had the clipboard and form in his hand signing himself up.
“Great,” Ex laughed, “So, what do you play?”
“We are currently number three on Planet Protectors Space Federation. Our clan is The Ghost Snipers Clan and we are the best!” Owen declared for everyone to hear.
“Number three?” Ex looked impressed, “and how long have you been playing it?”
“Only four months.” Isabelle was smitten with him. Her blue eyes were wide with admiration as she stared up into his. “Kieran is our leader, and whenever we play clan matches we seem to beat everyone really easily.”
“Don’t boast Isabelle.” Vicky, Isabelle’s mum had appeared behind her.
“I’m not boasting mum,” she snapped, “it’s true we just seem to win all the time.”
Ex nodded and looked to Kieran, “So if you’re that good, why isn’t your clan number one?
“We would be number two but our latest match was ruined by some guy called Pied-Piper.”
Ex seemed to change his stance, he shifted uncomfortably. “When was this?”
“A couple of days ago. I always have a skull on my screen and I haven’t been able to play.”
“The Skull of death,” Dexter laughed and passed Owen the form.
“More like the skull of zombies,” Owen said, rolling his eyes.
“Well, I think this camp will be perfect for you, all of you. We have four clans at the camp and in each you have a part to play. Take a look at this list and tell me what you think, I’ll go and have a chat with your parents.” Ex passed each of them a brochure, Kieran read the first page:
You have been selected above all others as the best – as the elite.
The laws of the Clans:
Medics
To uphold the law and protect those in need. To restore the Taken and help out fellow cadets Hunters
To uphold the law and protect those in need. To clear the way, to restrain the Taken, and wipe out the created.
Guiders
To uphold the law and protect those in need. To guide and lead those who trust, to bring all our own, home safely.
TakeDown
To uphold the law and protect those in need. To seek out targets, to stealthily attack and bring down the enemy.
IN ALL WE TRUST. WITHOUT ONE THE OTHERS WILL FALL.
“Restore the taken?” Dexter questioned.
“I’m happy to wipe out the created,” Kieran grinned excitedly.
“Ooh, stealthily attack. That’ll be you Kiwi.”
“So it’s one big game we play and we choose our Clans, right?”
Nicola, Sarah and Vicky were all laughing so loudly, Kieran turned to see them giggling with Ex.
“I think they’ll be happy with us going there.”
“Whoa,” Thomas exclaimed and ran to the table. “These are the clan symbols.” He was pointing to some pictures around the table. “Ex must be a Hunter, he’s got the wings.”
One of the other men, who was dressed the same as Ex, jumped up and walked out of the room. Kieran watched as the man walked to Jack Blaine, he took him around to the other window and lined him against the wall with the other zombies. Kieran was shocked to see the man then pull out some sort of hand held device, it was scanned over Jack’s face and then the man returned.
“What did he do that for?” Kieran could feel his hands sweating again. Jack was the bully he had to sit next to for hours in Maths, so seeing him all dressed up with his hair styled to perfection was unnerving.
“What?” Thomas pulled himself away from the table.
“They moved Jack to the window and then scanned his face.”
Thomas shrugged; he was too excited about all the things he was seeing.
“You okay?” Ex asked Kieran.
“Why are they scanning their faces?”
“Oh, he was scanning to see if he had the…virus. We are a government funded body so we help where we can.” Ex lured Kieran back to the table. “Have you decided what clan suits you best?”
“Not really, so do we play a new game or something because I’ve never seen these clan names before, or objectives.”
“Something like that.” Ex nodded slowly. “You will trial new gaming software in a completely new environment. It’s a game that you will have never played before, think of it as a mass world rescue game. You also have lesson’s for maths and English and free time to enjoy the camp facilities. It’s all like one big game; you can rank up and win prizes as well as unlock achievements. It’s all very top secret, so once you’re in the camp you cannot discuss it with anyone on the outside.”
“Is that so your competitors can’t steal the game ideas?” Owen didn’t look up; he was too busy looking over all the maps that were pinned on the walls, the pictures of campers having fun and game weapons.
“Erm…yes, that would be our main concern.” A sly grin touched Ex’s lips. “You learn, play and have fun in a brand new way. Here,” he handed Kieran the form.
Looking up Kieran noticed that was the slogan above the table, it was exactly what Ex had just said word for word. The lower part of the table said ‘Be the Elite’ which matched Ex’s shirt. He took the form and he filled in all his details, including the parts that asked for his gamer profile and account details. He handed it back and Ex looked it over, his facial expression changed to one of relief, he gave a secretive glance to the other members and nodded once.
“How many spaces are there?” Isabelle cooed, bringing back his attention.
“We will be taking around fifty new campers this summer, we have over a thousand gamers but we know who the best are and they are the ones we want at camp. We are recruiting all over the country, so the places are in demand. We’re based just outside of London and the whole camp is free, all of it.”
“Six weeks at a private camp facility, like the proper camps you see on TV,” Thomas said full of wonder.
“Trialing new games and being part of bigger clans,” Dexter added.
“And no Virus Z,” Isabelle sighed looking at the window where the growing Zombie population was forming.
“And no annoying little brothers or sisters.” Owen was bouncing around; he was acting like it was Christmas morning.
“Do you reckon we would get picked though?” Realisation hit Isabelle and she went from excited to very sad in a few seconds.
“Yeah!” Kieran felt pride in his team, if there was only fifty spaces then he felt they deserved to be picked.
###
The drive home felt longer than usual, trees flew by Kieran’s eyes as the car travelled down the road. His face was pressed against the window, his breath steaming it up and his fingers drew trails in the mist he had created.
“I think it’ll be a good camp,” Nicola said breaking the silence.
Kieran was completely stunned. He looked at her with shock. “Really?”
“Yes, Exeter assured me that you were as safe there from Virus Z as you would be at home. Plus he took us through the structure of the camp and the lesson plans; the average grade of each student was amazing. They even offer scholarships, but I think we’ll focus on the six weeks for now.”
“It would be brilliant mum. I would love to go, so much.” He turned his face back to the window and continued his solemn mood, he yearned to be away from all the zombies and more so from the Pied-Piper.
“I agree it would be better for you, six weeks at the camp where you can run around and have fun. Being at your Nan and grandad’s will tire them out too. It doesn’t take long for ‘I’m bored’ to set in, so all around yes, much better. It’s quite far though…”
“Can I go?” A little voice asked from the back seat.
“No,” their mum looked in her mirror, “you have to be eleven. That’s why we signed you up for Adventurers camp, didn’t we?”
“But I want to go with Kieran and his friends.”
“You’re just too young. Your camp is going to be much more fun, you
get to build forts, have water fights and go exploring. That’ll be good won’t it?”
Kieran turned and looked at Max who was sulking with his arms crossed.
“Owen’s little brother, Harry, is going. So that’ll be good.”
“I suppose so,” he mumbled. “Will I have to stay away like Kieran?”
“No, I think there is one night where you camp out and toast marshmallows. Other than that you will come home every night.”
“Okay, I think I’d like to go then.”
Nicola laughed and turned off the engine, they were finally home.
“When will we hear?” Kieran asked taking his shoes off in the hallway.
“They said they would email us with the details.”
Kieran spent the rest of the afternoon with his face glued to his mum’s laptop; he refreshed the page every other minute just waiting to see the confirmation. Hours passed and finally, as they were eating their dinner, there was a ping from the computer.
“It’s here!” Kieran shouted and jumped up from the table. There it was sitting in the inbox titled ‘Gamers Summer Camp admission.
4
The early morning air was fresh with a slight chill, but the sun was up already and it slowly warmed everything it touched.
Kieran watched passing fields, heat mists from the sun made it look like there were fog patches covering the ground. They had been up since five and Max was curled up on the back seat trying to sleep. The roads were empty which made the thirty minute journey quicker. The console in Kieran’s room had been unplugged since his last encounter, he hadn’t dared to plug it back in and it felt like an eternity since he’d played anything at all. He left a note on the top telling Max not to touch it, because if he did then Max would be gone like all the others.
“How much further?”
“Not far, another couple of minutes. Are you excited?”
“I can’t wait. I wonder what it’ll be like, the cabins, the gaming and maybe camp fires.”
“Just be careful while you’re there, and please do as you are told. I don’t want to hear from them that I have to come pick you up because of bad behaviour.”
Kieran rolled his eyes, “When have I ever been bad?”
“There’s a first time for everything,” she muttered
He picked up the permission slip with the pickup point address on it. He read it over and over ‘Pickup at the central train station coach bay’.
“Don’t worry, we’re going to the right place.”
The fields and trees quickly gave way to tall old-fashioned buildings and shops.
“We’re here.”
“Are we?” Kieran sprung forward on his chair, pulling the seat belt tightly across his chest.
There, at the end of the road, sat the train station. Taxi ranks lined the streets, and people hurried along the pathways to get to work.
Nicola pulled the car into a parking space and turned to Kieran, “I will miss you.”
“I’ve not gone yet,” he laughed and eagerly jumped out of the car. He ran around to the boot and pulled it open with such force it woke Max up from his nap. The road was cobbled so his suitcase rumbled loudly as he wheeled it onto the path. Up ahead he spotted Dexter and Owen. “Quick mum, I’m going to catch up with the others.” He sprinted off with his suitcase bouncing around noisily behind him.
“Kiwi,” Owen called, “come on, we have to get to the front of the queue.”
The three of them turned the corner to see coaches already lined up and people crowding around.
“There are a lot of people here already, I don’t suppose we have much chance of being at the front.” Kieran bumped his suitcase up the curb and waited with his friends.
“I don’t like the fact we can’t contact them,” Dexter’s dad, Gary spoke quietly to Nicola and Owen’s mum, Sarah. “No mobile phones allowed, seems a little extreme.”
“To be honest, I’m just happy that they’ll be away from technology. It’ll do them good to get back to grass roots,” Nicola smiled.
“I know, I’m glad they are getting away from the virus. Work has been awful. I’ve done three full extra shifts at the hospital this week already; we just can’t handle the intake. And now we have to wear ear defenders at work because of the screaming. All of the schools are shut and the town, well…” Sarah rolled her eyes.
“Any sign of a cure for this thing?”
Sarah shook her head and frowned at Gary, “Don’t be silly, they don’t even know what this Virus Z is. We’re all working on guess work.”
“I couldn’t believe it yesterday,” Nicola agreed, “we were in town and it looked like there had been riots. Shop fronts were smashed and the contents had all been smashed up and left in piles outside. Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve seen a TV outside of the house for over a week. I haven’t heard music in the shops for longer.”
“Did you hear what happened to my windows?” Sarah began to tell them about the caretaker.
“I still think this has something to do with Pied-Piper.” Kieran whispered out of ear shot.
“I do too.” Dexter was continuously pulling a bit of paper out of his pocket and then pushing it back in. He caught Kieran and Owen looking at him strangely. “All morning my mum’s been on about the permission slip, I’m just checking I haven’t lost it.”
“Summer camp here we come!” Isabelle shrieked. She was running towards them dragging Thomas and her bag, their mums nattering away as they walked behind.
“The coach isn’t here yet then?”
“No, Curly,” Kieran’s eyes scanned the area. There were three normal coaches. Some smaller buses had started pulling up outside the station, and a queue was beginning to form in every direction. There was confusion as to where the camp line started and the bus line ended.
“Campers this side please,” A voice bellowed.
“My neighbours have all got the virus,” Thomas shuddered. “Mum’s happy that we’re going away.
“But it’s not a cold virus,” Kieran huffed, “It’s him, it’s Pied-Piper.”
“Just think, when we are there we can play and you won’t have to worry about him hunting you down.” Isabelle knew that Kieran would be okay when he was playing again.
“I know, I just want to get going.”
“Campers, this side now please!” The voice ordered again.
“That’s us,” Nicola whispered and ushered the group towards the other end of the station front.
There on the bottom step of the first coach stood a man wearing exactly the same as Ex had done on the sign up day.
“Good morning,” he called to the large group of children and parents. “My name is Jessie Fallump; I will be your leader until we make it to camp.” He turned and spoke to the driver, who was seated at the steering wheel.
“What’s his clan?” Owen pointed to the back of his shirt.
Kieran looked at the symbol which was a set of Handcuffs entwined with Barbed wire.
“He’s TakeDown,” Thomas said quietly almost under his breath, “the hardest group to get into.”
“Yeah but his name, Fallump. Oh come on, as in Heffalump?” Dexter began to laugh uncontrollably, everyone around started to look and stare. A swift clip around his ear soon stopped him, his father glared at him and gave a disapproving frown. Dexter silenced himself but it was still obvious he was laughing, as his body shook.
Jessie turned back to face the crowd, a tablet rested on his arm. It was obvious he had heard Dexter’s outbreak but his face showed no emotion, if anything he generally looked like a moody kind of soul.
“Okay, can I check you all have the permission slips signed?” There was a unanimous response of muffled yes’s and groans. “Great, I will call your names out, you need to pass me your papers and then I want you to line up alongside the coach. You may want to say goodbye to your family now because the only form of communication at camp will be email, and that has to be earned.”
Kieran turned in
stantly and hugged his mum and brother. Nicola squeezed him back and choked back her tears of sadness. “It’s okay mum, you still have snot face here,” Kieran grinned and ruffled Max’s hair.
“Richard Walker?” Jessie called out.
A group of older boys barged their way through, nearly sending Isabelle and a few of the parents flying.
“Pig!” She shouted out. “What’s his problem?”
The parents all looked around, astonished and dumbfounded by the blatant rudeness of the lads.
“Want me to go sort him out?” Dexter had shrugged his backpack onto the floor; his father was holding him back by the collar of his shirt.
“I wouldn’t bother.” A young looking boy said from beside Dexter. “That’s Richard Walker, ranking number two in the UK at on-line gaming. I’m Alfie by the way.” He grinned and pulled his inhaler from his pocket, placing it in his mouth he took a few large breaths on it.
“Really?” Kieran watched with intrigue as Richard leant smugly against the coach, surveying everyone as if they were all rubbish compared to him. “I’m Kieran, this is Dex, Curly, Izzy and Ziggy.” They all greeted each other.
“We’re from Ghost Sniper clan,” Owen boasted.
“Wow, I’ve seen you guys play and you are epic.” Alfie grinned as if he was in the midst of royalty.
Kieran had never played the Solo ranking system because he played as a team, but he had thought about trying and even thought he might have been quite good. He had a knack for finding all players, and he always seemed to come across the rare weapons in a game. All of which he thought was a gift he acquired from playing so much. “Good then is he?” He gestured towards Richard.
“He’s from the clan ‘Clantisy’.”
“Ah,” Thomas exhaled with Recognition, “They’re number one at PPSF at the moment.”
“Hey, they’re the ones that have those gaming videos on the internet. They seem pretty good.”
Kieran had heard of them and had tried to arrange matches with them, but they never came through. There was talk on the forums that they would only defend their title if necessary but other than that, they were said to be too worried of losing.