"How are the Double Eaglers?"
"Tearing apart our carefully constructed little oasis. They don't help and expect too much."
Gabby frowned. "You can blame me. I sent them your way after the..." Gabby paused. Explaining how she'd once been a part of the Double Eagle before going back to the GSA and then joining the Southland would be too confusing. "Well, I sent them your way."
"I assume in your new position you'll be taking them back, or finding a new home for them." His arms weren't crossed but they might have well been.
"It's not why I asked you here, but we can discuss it."
"Then why have you asked us here?" asked Ben. "I only came to find out how much more you were going to mess things up for the Blood Farm."
The meeting wasn't going as planned, but when had things ever. Gabby bit her lower lip and thought about how she was going to frame her argument. She'd practiced it in her head a hundred times, even so far as conjuring up holograms of them so she could say the words out loud. The request was built upon careful logic and a list of points that would help them see the importance of her request.
But now that they stood before her, one hostile while the other two seemed more interested in how she'd gotten to be the Queen rather than what she wanted, her argument seemed pale and thin like watery soup.
"I want you to join the Realms and become my advisors," she blurted out.
"And how would you have us advise you? On what matters? The cut of your Queenly robes?" The words surprisingly came from Blair. Zaela looked between them, expecting a sharp retort, but Gabby took a calm breath. Blair was one of the smartest people she'd ever known. She'd expected Blair's support, but it was possible Blair wanted to test her first.
"I need help designing a new system. One that makes it possible everyone can contribute."
Blair's eyebrow went up as a burst of static blew across her speakers and Gabby knew she had her.
Gabby turned to Bracket, purposely skipping Ben. "What about you? Could you help?"
"I don't know the first thing about running a country," he said.
"Neither do I. But you ran a school and the military. I'm sure you have lessons to teach me."
He'd been visibly thrilled to see her, but now he seemed dampened by her request.
"I don't know, Ms. DeCorte. The truth is I was hoping to retire soon."
Gabby sighed. "You could still do that. And you'd ensure that you had a system that you could retire to. Let me make a mess of it and you'd better not retire anywhere near here."
"Ha. Well said. I'll think about it."
Gabby squared off with Ben. To say he looked skeptical was a major understatement. Ben looked all but ready to march out of the room. Only her position of power kept him from doing so. The Blood Farm needed to ensure its security and a solution to the problem Gabby had saddled them with.
"Ben," she started simply. It would do no good to play games with him. "Once you told me that the only definition of leadership was that someone was following you. But you never told me what to do with them."
Gabby waved off his question, she wasn't done. "I didn't expect you to nor do I blame any of my current mess on you. This is all my own."
Ben nodded and adjusted his glasses. He appeared ready to listen.
"When I gained this position of leadership I realized I had a major problem. I don't know where I want to lead them. Before, I had goals and a friend to get back." She glanced at Zaela who returned a smile. "Now I have a responsibility to those that follow. They're to looking for me for answers. But I don't want to give them."
All three of them were looking at her. They may not want to be there or help her, but she'd caught their interest.
"In LifeGame, the Coders always had to be one step ahead of the players. There's no score without points and there are no points without goals. The whole point of LifeGame was to convince people to do what the Coders wanted them to do. And when they didn't fit the mold, they shipped them to the Southlands.
"And the Southlands wasn't much different. Only the variety of the realities allow choice, but only for the Pantheon, the ones in charge."
She'd gone way off script from what she planned to say. She had an idea of what she was going to ask them before, but now with them standing in front of her, she changed her mind.
"I want these combined countries of the GSA and the Southlands to be..." She paused, searching for the right word. "...the Competitive States of the Americas."
Their eyes flickered with confusion. The name was a bit off putting, the competitive part, but she knew it was the right answer.
"In the Competitive States of the Americas, any group of citizens would be able to create their own reality and invite others in. Each one would compete with the others for the best people, or the people that best fit them. There would be places that anyone could excel no matter who they were or what they could do."
The idea took off in her mind. She couldn't speak fast enough to get it out.
"The CSA would be like the economy of countries! But no Flocks, no abusing of others. There would be a basic rule set that no one could break, but otherwise, they'd be free to create reality in whatever way they could. And there would still be interaction. Mutual defense, and stuff like that. It'd be so buffed."
Gabby put her hand to her mouth. She knew she sounded convincing until the end. She hoped the Gamer speak didn't ruin her argument.
"And what do you need us for then? It sounds like you've got it all worked out," said Ben.
"That's the problem. I don't." Actually, she'd just thought of it, her original idea had been different, but she liked this one more now that she'd said it. "And I need your help figuring it out and setting it up. I can get the coders we'll need to create it, but we need the framework of the system so everyone can join without fear."
"Oh!" squealed Zaela. "We could make sure no one could hide reality and make it something you didn't expect. That'd be totally important." Zaela winked at Gabby.
"Yeah," she replied dryly.
Blair's speakers crackled. "I would have to think about it. You've given us a lot to consider."
Bracket nodded.
"Yes," said Ben. "Can the three of us discuss it and get back to you?"
Gabby nearly jumped up and hugged them. Even with her friends' support she'd felt rather alone as the Queen. The idea of having former mentors helping her design the new system made her positively buffed.
"Can we discuss it somewhere for a while?" asked Ben.
"You can use the Mountain Temple. I think you'll find the view is good for thinking."
A will-o-wisp led them away. Zaela looked to her hopeful.
"What are you going to do now?"
Gabby sighed. "I need to go do something. I've been putting it off."
Zaela nodded. "Yes, you should." The severe mothering tone told Gabby she was late on finally getting around to it. There were so many reasons why she hadn't gone. The responsibilities of the Crimson Queen never stopped, even with a full cadre of Reality Shapers, but that had just been an excuse.
Gabby sat back on the throne and gripped the armrests a little too hard. A quick thought brought up the projection interface. The required sensors hadn't been available back when they'd been living there, which was good, otherwise the GSA would have known they were hiding out at the farmhouse and none of this would have happened.
But since she'd become Queen, and everything that had happened since with the Frags and especially Michael, she'd had those lands installed with such a blanket of sensors and cameras that theoretically she could see inside a knot hole.
That wouldn't be necessary today. Today she'd probably only go so far as the new graveyard behind the farmhouse.
Chapter Thirty
The soil had been freshly dug. The mountain air had dried the dirt until it was bleached white. It hadn't been tamped down, but made into a pile.
Gabby shivered despite only being a projection of herself, though she had set th
e sense-web on max and the winds whipping through the valley brought with it early spring chill.
Gabby loved the fall the best when the leaves rustled in the wind. The green buds growing on the branches barely moved, let alone made noise. She smiled remembering her time at the farmhouse. Those had been happy days.
The older grave had the name Malthon on it. Zaela had wanted him buried at the farmhouse when Gabby told her about it. She said it would have appealed to him. Malthon had been a friend to her, even when she'd been his Queen.
There were a lot of things that Zaela could forgive herself about, but not Malthon. Gabby thought he was the real reason why she'd given up being the Crimson Queen.
Gabby stared at the name on the second gravestone—Michael. It was strange to see his name there.
"I can't get over seeing it and I'm the one that made it," said the familiar voice from behind her.
Gabby spun around. "Then why'd you make it?"
Michael shrugged. "I felt I had to say goodbye to that part of my life."
Gabby nudged the grave pile with her boot. "Then what's in there?"
"A box of things I'll never be able to do again."
Any thought of asking about the contents of the box was stricken from her lips as she stared into his crystalline blue eyes.
Gabby finally broke the long awkward pause when she cleared her throat. "I'm sorry I didn't come up before. I've been busy."
"Responsibility rests heavy on you." He seemed genuinely concerned about her, which warmed her heart. They hadn't spoken much since the Bridge.
"You shouldn't feel bad," he said. "I've had a lot of things to sort since the operation. It's hard to wrap my head around being here but not here."
They walked a bit, cutting through the woods and around the farmhouse. Somewhere along the way they started holding hands.
"Is the robot to your satisfaction?" She had asked her technicians to make the best one the Realms could manufacture. Thankfully, the Queen had many favors coming with the Pantheon and she cashed them in to make it happen.
"At times, when I'm really into doing something, it almost feels like it's my body. That I'm not really in a box, connected to a bunch of tubes and wires, being occasionally checked on by nurses and doctors, whose only concern is that my vitals are okay. I'm still half afraid an orderly will kick the plug on accident."
Gabby glanced into his eyes and the words stumbled out of her mouth. "I...I've taken every precaution. They have generators standing by, extra power, anything they needed. If you need it, let me know, I'm still the Queen after all."
Michael squeezed her hand. "No. Everything has been totally buffed. I couldn't ask for anything more." He chuckled lightly. "Well, maybe one thing."
"Anything." She grabbed both of his hands. "Just ask."
Michael pulled one hand away and stared into the trees. "Not yet. I want to walk a while first. Enjoy the moment."
He glanced at their hands and Gabby didn't know what to make of it. She concentrated on her breathing, making sure she was still remembering to inhale.
"I'm going to go exploring eventually," he announced. "Once I get the hang of the robot. Though it's been nice to tool around the farmhouse like we did before. The other Frags are going to come visit and I'm getting the place ready."
"I'm sorry, I have to..."
"Don't apologize," he said. "It's us that should apologize. You just wanted to help your friend and you got stuck with all the responsibility."
Gabby shrugged. "Thanks."
The wind blew a barn shutter closed, startling the pair of them.
"Where will you go?" she asked.
"I'd never been outside of the GSA before this last year. I think I'll try to explore it all eventually. Visit every country, see how the rest of the world has been moving on without us."
"I wish I could come with you," she said.
"I wish you could, too. Maybe when things settle down around here."
"Mouse and Damon are going exploring. Will you go with them?" She wasn't sure why she asked. She really didn't want to know the answer, but it was better to settle it and move on.
"Yeah." The excitement in his voice put a spear through her heart. She let go of his hand. "But not the whole time. We're going to check out the Old Colonies and head over the ocean and then see how it goes."
"That's great," she mumbled. "I'm sure you'll be great together."
Michael seemed to catch the dissonance in her voice. He put his hands on her shoulders. "Gabriella DeCorte. That's not how it is."
"What?"
Wind tousled his hair. Her body was numb below the waist.
"Can I make my request?"
His eyes seemed to be looking into her soul. She was feeling swallowed up by them. She was aware she might have agreed, but she didn't remember her lips moving.
"Can I kiss you?"
"Kiss me? What about Mouse? I thought..."
"You thought wrong."
Gabby stepped away from him. "But in the game, you two were cuddling and Milton told me how you two were always together and now you're going to explore the world with her and not me."
Michael bit his lower lip, which should have been endearing but it only made her angry.
"We're just friends. Mouse is a sweet girl. She was just trying to help take care of me while you were leading us," he explained. "You have no idea how much Mouse looks up to you. She wouldn't like me just because you did."
Her insides were twisted and wore out. Why couldn't something be simple and not so complicated?
A hopeful look dawned on Michael's face. "So about that kiss?"
Gabby opened her mouth to answer when her interface woke up to let her know her guests were waiting.
"Figures."
"What?" Now Michael looked confused.
"Being the Queen." She held her hand out. "I'll be right back." And when he made a face, she added, "Don't you dare go anywhere."
Bracket, Ben and Blair waited for her at the throne. She couldn't tell what the answer was by their faces, and she wasn't encouraged by the short time they had deliberated.
"We've made our decision." Ben stepped forward. She wasn't surprised that he'd taken lead for the three of them.
"And?" she asked, trying to mask the concern in her voice.
Ben glanced at the galaxies moving across the ceiling. He seemed distracted by his answer.
"We'll agree on one condition."
Gabby held her breath. She was ready to agree to just about anything. Even if they wanted her to dance naked in front of the Realms with only a pink katana strapped to her back.
"We want you to renounce being the Queen and give up your dictator powers." Ben crossed his arm and glanced worriedly at his conspirators.
Gabby gave a short laugh, making them step back a pace. "That's it?"
Ben wrinkled his forehead.
"We want to make sure you don't interfere with..."
Gabby put her hand out. "I get it. You don't have to ask me twice. I'll be happy to give it up, whenever you want me to."
The three seemed confused by her eagerness. Clearly they didn't understand how much of a burden it was. If they knew the whole story they might.
"Well," said Ben, "we'll need you to be around long enough to ensure the changes happen. And maybe beyond that as an advisor."
"Done and done." Maybe she wouldn't be stuck as Queen forever. "I know we need to start working thing out, but I was in the middle of an important discussion on the other end." She pointed behind her as if Michael was standing there.
Ben nodded. "It's okay. We can talk when you get back."
Gabby couldn't cycle through the projection fast enough. Michael was standing there beneath the trees as the wind tickled his hair.
Her projection hit the ground at a run and she tackled him, smashing her lips against his. "—hey!"
His protests were quickly silenced as they mashed their faces together. Gabby dug her fingers into his back. After a kiss that
seemed to go on forever, they slowly parted and looked into each others eyes.
"I was worried that the sense-web wouldn't translate a kiss properly." He had a giddy grin plastered on his face. "I'm not worried anymore."
"Can I visit you on your journey?"
"I'd be mad at if you didn't."
Gabby kissed him again.
"I might be out of this Queen gig earlier than planned. When I'm done, I want to come with you. See the whole world as a projection. Maybe even the rest of the solar system, I understand we can do that now."
"I don't care as long as it's with you."
They embraced and Gabby squeezed for all she was worth. He squeezed back until she thought she might pass out.
"Look, a storm's coming in." Michael pointed over her shoulder.
The sky was a dark, pea green, thick with the anticipation of rain. The trees on the hillside bent forward as the storm pushed toward them. Gabby glanced left, where her LifeScore once resided, smiling in remembrance at what that had meant. Looking that way didn't bother her anymore, especially on that day, because standing to her left was a dark-haired boy, staring back at her with mirth in his ice-blue eyes.
"Come on," she said, pulling him toward the farmhouse. "We need to get inside before baby pigs start falling from the sky."
"Baby pigs? What are you talking about?" he said, laughing, but allowing himself to be pulled along.
"I'll tell you later." She winked at him. "But for now we're going to see how good that sense-web of yours is."
They fell through the door of the farmhouse, forgetting about the responsibilities of the world and for a few sweet hours, the world forgot about them, too.
###
If you like LitRPG or GameLit fiction like the Gamers Trilogy, try the first book in the Gamemakers Online series, which is in Kindle Unlimited, The Warped Forest.
If you haven't yet read it, try the first book in the completed Hundred Hall series, which is in Kindle Unlimited, Trials of Magic.
Or try the first book in the other completed Hundred Hall series, which is in Kindle Unlimited, The Reluctant Assassin.
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