Codename: Freedom: Survive Week One

by Apollos Thorne

  Calculations – Speed of processing logical processes.

  I now had a tool to help measure my progression while I trained. With this, I would literally level up in real life and be able to figure out the most efficient way to do so. Though part of me missed skills, spells, and abilities from the games I was used to, knowing that leveling up here meant my body would also grow more than made up for it.

  Next, I unsheathed my sword. All I had to do was look at it with purpose and a popup window appeared.

  Type: English Style Short Sword

  Material: Bronze

  Make: Short Sword

  Quality: Rank F

  Note: Quality is based upon how it ranks against all materials and makes of weapons.

  Example: The short sword you use has a maximum Rank of F with the material Bronze. Using Iron the maximum raises to Rank D. Using Steel the maximum raises to Rank C. To achieve a higher Rank than C you must use a weapon with a more effective Make.

  This would come in very handy indeed. With a better break down of the item and understanding what makes something higher quality, it was much less likely I would get taken advantage of when buying and selling items.

  “Lucius!” Victoria cried interrupting my line of thought. She was jogging our way from the tower she had manned. With the battle over she had come to join us.

  I thought she was going to run right into me; most likely to strangle me. Thinking better of it, she stopped short and brought her arms to her chest.

  “I’m mad at you,” she huffed.

  She picked a bad time to join us. I couldn’t stop smiling. “Sorry. At least I didn’t get hurt.”

  Staring down her nose at me, she jabbed her spear into the ground and unsheathed her sword. “Not yet you mean.”

  I took a step back. She actually looked threatening. Not that I believed her. Should I?

  A twitch at the side of her mouth turned into a smirk, then a full belly laugh.

  “See, you’re not that mad,” I replied, hiding my relief.

  “I don’t know how you haven’t died yet, Lucius.”

  “I have great babysitters.”

  “I really can’t argue with that,” she said, rolling her eyes.

  “Well, at least you can form your guild now.”

  She turned her head to the side like a confused puppy. The realization hit her. “You’re right!” Her posture relaxed. Forgetting me, she started to flick through her menu. I had a feeling I wasn’t off the hook.

  “Where’s my thank you?”

  Looking up, she glared at me with a spark of humor in her eyes. “I’ll pretend you didn’t say that.”

  ***

  The player line split down the middle, as Cornelius, followed by a few men, marched toward us. These men were also abnormally large, but not quite as large as the man himself. They all wore newly acquired bronze chainmail and full helms, striking a soldier's stance as they halted before us. They were bronzed colossuses gracing us mere men.

  “It seems like congratulations are in order,” Cornelius said, in his gravelly tone. Turning to each of us in turn, he greeted us by name, except when settling on me.

  “It seems I haven’t been introduced to the hero of the hour. You must be Lucius?”

  Before I could speak, Victoria answered. “If I may,” she said, stepping between us like a good hostess.

  “Lucius has been a member of our group since the first night we faced the goblin raids. That night he saved me from being trampled by the hobgoblin leading the militia. Afterward he took it upon himself to cripple the monster before being greatly wounded himself. It’s probably obvious, but he didn’t take it lightly.”

  “That it is.” He bowed his head, thanking her, before extending his hand.

  I reached out and shook his hand that was larger than a baseball mitt.

  “I remember seeing the replay of what you did that first night. It takes a lot of guts to come back from that and do what you just did.”

  My mouth was suddenly parched. I forced myself to meet his eyes.

  “Thank you, sir.”

  Kline smacked me on the back in congratulations.

  “You too, Kline,” Cornelius said. “I think a reward is in order. Is there anyone else in your group that isn’t here?”

  “No sir,” I answered.

  “I’m not sure what I can give that you don’t already have. We have been in the world of Freedom the same amount of time and you are among the top players. Even then, is there is something you would have of me? I’d like to reward you.”

  When no one was quick to answer he looked to me. “Lucius. What about you?”

  It just wasn’t accurate to say Cornelius was just another player. There were more players following him than any individual in Willingham, if not in all of Freedom. The training he could provide alone was nearly priceless, and he seemed open to train anyone. There was a lot he could provide, but there was one thing that he could probably do that no one else could.

  If Victoria’s banking idea worked out, then having friends with nearly unlimited funds would go a long way toward having everything I needed. I had been a semi-pro gamer long enough to know it would have been nearly impossible to continue at the level I was without someone backing me so I could play full time after high school. In Freedom, it was no different.

  “We are looking to form a guild. Victoria has some very interesting ideas that I think you could help with.”

  Her head snapped to look at me. With her brows raised, she mouthed to me, “Thank you.”

  If she was thinking the same thing I was he could help with recruiting, which would also bring traffic to the bank. Having him there to train the recruits would be a huge draw.

  “Is that right? I’m not sure what help I could be, but I’d be happy to do what I can. Is there anything I could do for you personally?”

  “No, thank you. I just need to get stronger. Being a member of a strong guild will provide everything I need.”

  “I understand. There is some advice I’d like to offer as well. An old friend of mine is going to be one of the trainers. He will be available now since we have finished the event. After competing with him for thirty years he is the only man I have never been able to defeat. I’m sure you have heard his name: Achilles. I think you should find him. He can help you sort things out. Tell him I sent you.”

  My eyes went wide. Since gaming took on a major role in competitive entertainment, athletes became less popular. There were exceptions though. The best in the world at anything brings with it a certain amount of prestige.

  In MCAA, the Melee Combat Arts Association, there were a handful of names that were as famous as the highest level gamers. Cornelius was one, but Achilles soared above all others. Wearing full suits of armor and wielding every weapon you can imagine, these athletes fought full contact gladiatorial style.

  “Thank you for the advice.”

  “I will warn you though. He isn’t without his quirks and isn’t quick to accept anyone. Mentioning my name should give you an edge, but you will still have to prove yourself. There is no better trainer you will find.”

  Kline nudged me and said so only I could hear, “He’s known for being a little extreme, but if you can get past that, Cornelius is right, he’s the real deal.”

  “What of the rest of you? What would you have of me?” Cornelius added.

  One after another, each group member echoed what I said about helping with the guild until he landed on Victoria last of all.

  She looked at me as if embarrassed to be put in the situation, but I knew better. How she was planning to use him I wasn’t entirely sure. There was no doubt in my mind she already had a couple hundred things in mind though.

  I nodded her on.

  “What would you have of me, my dear?”

  “Well. I think it best if we sit down for lunch and discuss it. There is a lot to go over.”

  “Great idea. Then the least I can do, besides helping with the guild, is buy e
veryone lunch. Let me check in.”

  Cornelius turned to one of his men, who reported to him quickly in a low tone that made it hard to overhear.

  Turning back to us, Cornelius smirked. “So it seems we are safe to leave this part of the wall. The craftsmen wanted to look it over in the light before declaring it finished. We won’t have to worry about the goblins getting in here. What do you guys say we escort the NPCs to the front gate? I hear they have about a thousand goblins surrounded. It would be a shame to let them have all the fun. Do you mind if we make it a late lunch?”

  We all looked around at each other, and despite not being fully recovered, we all readily agreed. I'd have a few minutes more to recover while everyone formed up. I hoped.

  “Good. I’ll send the command. If you don’t have coffee, there is nothing like gutting goblins in the morning!”

  Chapter 23 – Check Point

  June 18, 2387

  Stage one complete. The first event was designed to push the Codename: Freedom participants to show them their need to grow stronger. It has been a great success.

  Report: Our nanobot technology has surpassed all nutrient delivery mechanisms that have come before it. Each nanobot is able to work as an individual and as a part of the whole with the rest of the nanobot population to observe and deliver the perfect steroid and nutrition combination. Their ability to customize distribution levels according to the participant’s needs has been the key.

  Stage one continued. The psionic unlocking compound that was introduced to the participant’s bodies through our nanobot technology should be starting to bear fruit in as little as two weeks. Each individual selected for Freedom was determined to contain at least moderate psionic potential. Some have already been documented to possess psionic enhanced strength and a few have shown a weak telekinetic pushing ability.

  Stage two commencing. With the participants now highly motivated to push themselves to grow in strength, we are introducing the best training available. These trainers and facilities, in combination with our nanobot tech, should allow each participant to progress in strength as quickly as possible.

  That concludes the Codename: Freedom progress report.

  I have included the above report because I’m torn in how to respond. My original goal was to create the perfect training environment, which in turn would produce the ultimate soldier. It’s still early, but it is reasonable to hope that we have achieved that very goal.

  No new developments to report in regard to the criminal element in Codename: Freedom. I have still been unable to track down the responsible party. With my current workload, I may not be able to give this problem the attention it deserves. I’m considering bring someone else in on my discovery. But who can I trust?

  Sr. Director of Game Development

  Otto Konig

  Chapter 24 – Moving On

  I’d never really been a coffee drinker, but with the amount of chocolate in this thing, I wasn’t sure it should be considered coffee. When we had gotten done finishing the goblins near the front gate, Cornelius had introduced us to a new tavern, The Over Eatery. The owner hadn’t decorated the log dining room much except for four large busts of stuffed boar on the walls. Two hung on either side of the dining hall, with the longest wall free of décor to allow for full wall viewing of any Freedom coverage.

  “So just like that, 3,621 players have left Codename: Freedom, unwilling to continue. In their defense, many of them suffered some pretty gnarly wounds, which is a testament to how lifelike this game really is,” Mia said, from the augmented big screen.

  Her head rested in her hands, and she shook her head back and forth. With a sudden jerk, her hands fled the screen and her jaw dropped into a mouthy grin.

  “But on a lighter note, just as many players, some of whom you know well, have taken their place.”

  “Lucius!” cried the voice of a towering mop that had just stepped in front of the screen where Mia’s show was playing. It was Treetop. He was across the table behind Cornelius's men, but still tall enough to block the screen.

  “Hey man.” I moved to stand, but he held up his hand and began making his way through the mob of players celebrating. It was packed, making it hard to squeeze around while carrying his double large mug.

  “The gamers?” Kline said. He sat to my left, our pups between us sharing milk from a bowl.

  I nodded.

  “Did they join Harrison? I think he started his own guild.” Kline leaned forward, while looking around for him, but decided against standing. “Eh. He’s gone.”

  “Lucius.”

  Turning, I stood, tabling my mug.

  “Treetop. What’s up?”

  “Drinking.” His cheeks hugged his ears with a grin. “Saw you so I thought I’d say hi.”

  “Is everyone else here?”

  “Yeah. They’re around here someplace. If I can find them.”

  “We were leaving soon anyways. I’ll stop by when we go. We’re taking the rest of the day off.”

  “Now that sounds like a plan!”

  As Treetop left to find the gamers, Kline’s chair screeched against the well-worn floor as he stood.

  “I’m going to head to the new building,” Kline said. “Should I let Victoria know you will be by later?”

  “Yeah. It should be fairly soon.”

  “Come, Lulu. We are going to sell stuff on our way. Tell me if you see any ladies that deserve complimenting.”

  I shook my head, chuckling, as he left.

  Remembering vaguely which direction Treetop had headed, I followed with no assurance he had known where he was going. Much of the tavern was standing room only. The only reason we had gotten a seat was that we had gotten here over three hours ago, among the first visitors after the battle was over.

  I found them near the corner of the room by the entrance. They were huddled as a large group, each with a mug in their hand. They weren’t as physically impressive as many of the athletes close by, but there was no denying them. There was a solemn air as they raised their mugs.

  Stopping short, I let the moment continue, unwilling to interrupt.

  The violet eyes of the beautiful LadyHeadshot spotted me despite my intentions. Her smile greeted me. When HandshakeDeath noticed her reaction, everyone else became aware. Their eyes fell on me.

  Not too sure if I was intruding, my concerns were relieved when Vector stepped out of the huddle and offering me his hand.

  “Join us for a toast?”

  ***

  We stood together, mugs in hand. I felt it without having to be told. The battle hadn’t been easy for them, but they had made it through and were stronger for it. When I noticed that even Treetop was quietly staring into his mug, I realized that we were all facing the same reality. The first event had been hard, but this was just the beginning.

  It was Vector that spoke up to give the toast. “Gamers. We face the most difficult game of our lives. As true gamers we must play. We must face every challenge and figure out the way to conquer it.” He allowed a moment of silence before raising his mug. “To victory!”

  “To victory!” I managed to repeat with the others while swallowing down a lump in the back of my throat.

  Everyone drew back their mugs to drink, except for Treetop who emptied his mug into a wastebasket behind him.

  My surprise joined that of every gamer there. All eyes were on him.

  When he saw us staring at him, the look he gave was the soberest one I had ever seen from him. He sighed and said, “I don’t drink.”

  ***

  “So what are we to make of the event Survive Week One ending in four days, not even a five-day week?” Drool asked.

  Vector stood at her side, with Treetop and LadyHeadshot crowded around as a part of our conversation. The rest of the group was talking about weapon choices for the future.

  “Does it mean that the questing system is inaccurate?” Treetop asked.

  “Perhaps it’s not over,” LadyHeadshot replied,
her cheeks almost matching the cherry color of her lips from whatever it was she was drinking. Despite the drink, she still had her wits about her.

  “I think it’s a good thing,” I added. “If I had to guess, I’d say the one week timetable was at the most a rough estimate. The real quest was completing the mission of defeating the goblin army. Once we accomplished what was needed, the time no longer mattered. This means we can get creative in how we solve quests in the future.”

  “Good point,” Vector said. “It’s rather likely that the game developers, or AI, whatever it is that is running this world, weren’t expecting for our friend here to defeat the boss monster leading the army.”

  “Helped defeat,” I corrected.

  “Groin shot!” Treetop trumpeted.

  After telling him twice that I had pierced the hobgoblin in the hip joint, I no longer tried to argue. Besides, they had all seen it at least five or six times from the augmented broadcast on the tavern wall.

  “Well, at least the remaining event information updated, even if it is still rather vague,” Drool said.

  Quest Type: (World Wide Event)

  The Goblin War!

  You have defeated the western goblin army, but it will take more than that to get rid of this foe that has been around centuries before any humans ever graced these shores. Will you wait for the goblins to bring another larger army, or will you attack the goblin stronghold and take the fight to them?

  Reward: Unknown

  She continued, “It’s almost like they are encouraging us to attack the goblins.”

  “I think that is exactly what they are doing,” Vector replied. “I wonder if the entire plan is to get us to take the goblin city before the rest of the world opens up to us. It’s not exactly easy to search for the government’s secret purpose for making Freedom when there’s a war going on.”

  Turning to me, Vector asked. “What are you going to do now?”

  “Start training. Cornelius recommended that I seek out Achilles. What about you guys?”