Freelance Saga: Learning Curves

by Scottie Futch

  Freelance Saga: Learning Curves

  By Scottie Futch

  Copyright 2014 Scottie Futch

  Smashwords Edition

  Smashwords Edition, License Notes

  Thank you for downloading this eBook. You are welcome to share it with your friends. This book may be reproduced, copied and distributed for non-commercial purposes, provided the book remains in its complete original form. If you enjoyed this book, please return to your favorite ebook retailer to discover other works by this author. Thank you for your support.

  Chapter I: The Job

  Insanity, this conversation could only be the product of insanity. Scott Hunter, former soldier and currently unemployed job-seeker, was certain that everything that the man had just said was a lie. The idea that such a thing could be true was ludicrous.

  “So, you aren’t interested?” asked Michael Jameson, a supposed talent scout for what had to be the most dedicated game creation company in history. It was strange that he had never heard of Alterra International before. Even start-up game companies with technology like the man claimed would be big news.

  “I’m interested, but what you’re saying sounds crazy. You do know that, right?”

  Jameson smiled a toothy shark-like smile. “That’s to be expected. No one believes it when we first discuss the matter.”

  “Of course they wouldn’t. You’re trying to convince me that your game company has made a deal with god-like alien intelligences, and that deal entails sending people from our world to be players in a reality they created based on our games and pop-culture.”

  “Well, certainly when you say it like that it does sound insane.” Jameson laughed in a good-natured way.

  Scott could not help but be confused by the situation. He had received a query letter to be a beta-tester for a new full-immersion role playing experience. He had assumed that had meant a new game, not an alien world that operated like one!

  Still, even if the guy was off his nut, so to speak, he could not pass up the possibility that this was on the level. It was insane, but he wasn’t stupid. He firmly believed that the guy was just trying to hype him up for some new advancement in virtual reality software. “If I accept this gig, what do I have to do, and how much will I be paid?”

  “Ah, all you have to do is interact in the other world for a minimum of forty-eight hours each week. As far as payment, you will be able to access the Alterra International auction database and will be able to sell items that you don’t need.”

  “I wouldn’t receive any direct pay?” That could be a deal breaker for Scott. He needed a job, not a promise of potential pay if he found something cool to sell to other random players.

  “No, but if it helps, we do provide a one-time sign-on bonus of four thousand dollars. This is to cover main expenses while you adjust to the environment. Also, the average player can earn roughly that much on a weekly basis just using the auction. We take a ten percent cut, so we like to make sure you make money so that we can make money.”

  Scott stared at the man blankly. He honestly expected him to believe that he could make four grand a week just playing a game?

  Jameson waved his disbelief away. “You’ll understand things better once you have visited the other world. Are you interested?”

  “Sure, I’m interested. I’m not sure why you are so insistent that this game is a real world, but that’s fine. What I don’t understand is why you queried me for this job in the first place.”

  “We queried you because of your background. You are someone who has extensive knowledge of role playing games. You served in the US military field artillery for four years, and spent one of those years deployed. You don’t have a criminal record, but you do need employment. You are also single with no children.”

  Scott was uncertain about how to react to his admission. They hired him because of those reasons? This job sounded more like para-military security work selection than a game company sign-up. “Ok…”

  Jameson smiled that toothy smile once more. “So, do you want the job?”

  “I have to admit, you’ve got my interest peaked. When can I start?”

  The agent pulled out a contract and they went over the finer points. The thing that really got to Scott was the non-intervention clause. Alterra International refused to provide any in-world help no matter how many times you died even if you were stuck in an endless death loop. Essentially, whatever happened to a signed player was their business.

  Scott signed the contract and the hiring agent looked it over. When he was done, he nodded and said, “Alright, that’s all we needed. When is the most convenient date for you to do your test run?”

  “Test run?”

  “Yes, the quantum transfer protocol requires that you spend twenty-four hours in-world before you can return here. Once here you have to remain here twenty-four hours before you can go there.”

  “Uh, right. I’m fine any time, but if you expect me to play a game for twenty-four hours straight I’m probably going to at least need to get lunch first.”

  Jameson laughed at his pragmatism. “Don’t worry about that. I’ll set you up for test insertion tomorrow at…. ten in the morning, alright?”

  “That’s fine. When do I get paid?”

  The shark-like smile returned. “See the desk clerk on the way out. We make all of our transactions in cash due to legal reasons.”

  Yeah, that did not sound shady at all. Scott chose not to say anything about it, though. He stood up and said goodbye to the obviously insane individual then left the office.

  Jameson smiled once more then pressed the intercom button. “Ms. Havers, please see to the new applicant’s starting funds, then send in the next applicant.”

  “Yes, sir.” The voice on the other end of the line was professional, yet excited. They were having a hard time acquiring qualified applicants.

  The agent looked at the contract and smiled. “Finally. I was beginning to wonder if the people of this world were too complacent to want to live a life of adventure. Despite the nature of their fantasies and popular culture they don’t seem to want to take chances that often.”

  A knock at his door heralded the arrival of another potential candidate. Jameson called out, “Come in, it’s open.”

  Chapter 2: The Life Tutorial

  The next morning came quickly for Scott. He could not believe it when he had been handed a thick stack of twenty dollar bills the previous day. The company might be staffed by whack-jobs but they definitely paid!

  “Scott Hunter?” A young man in a lab coat approached him in the waiting area. Strangely, he looked like a younger version of Mr. Jameson.

  “Yes.”

  “It’s nice to meet you. My name is Jameson Michaels.” The lab technician, as that is the only thing Scott could feel right calling him, raised his hand and pressed it forward.

  Scott awkwardly shook hands with the man who greeted him then followed him to another room. The mystery of his appearance and suspiciously similar name were allowed to sit idle. It would be rude to ask personal questions anyway.

  “This is the quantum translation chamber. You will only need to come here once. After your testing phase, you’ll be able to freely transition to the other world and back from anywhere in either world.”

  “Right.” Scott decided that he would just go along with whatever they said. It seemed easier.

  Michaels gestured for him to stand in the center of an intricate geometric design engraved into the floor. Scott took notice of the gemstones placed in key locations and could not help but smile at the extravagance. Obviously they were cut glass. Even a company this out of touch with reality would not cut and fit diamonds and rubies the size of
his fist just to show off their new game system.

  “The system is ready. There will be a slight electrical feeling and a sudden jolt when the transition takes place for the first time. When you arrive at your destination just follow the message prompts. This time you will automatically return to this location after twenty-four hours. We will provide an evaluation of your efforts at that time.”

  “Sure thing, I’m ready whenever you are.” Scott smirked at the lab technician and then waited for the dog and pony show to end. This was interesting, and they’d paid him a lot. Still, how long could the farce go on?

  “Right. Have fun. See you when you get back!”

  Scott nodded then started to say something but the only sound that escaped his lips was a loud gasp of pain followed by a garbled scream. He felt like he was being electrocuted and torn apart at the same time. The world suddenly went dark. He floated in a sea of inconceivable blackness for a space of time that he could not fathom.

  The world returned in a blur of sound, light, and pain. However, the sight that greeted his eyes was not the laboratory. “What the hell? Did those assholes dump me in the woods?”

  He tried to stand up but found that his body was strangely heavy. His movements were sluggish, and his arms must have weighed over fifty pounds each. Despite the problems he did manage to get to his knees and then stood up slowly.

  “What did those bastards do to me?”

  Scott turned his head then floundered back a step, nearly falling down. Something had popped up out of nowhere. It looked like a floating message screen. Something you might see in a game.

  He stared at the screen for a moment then looked to his left and back to his right. “Are you kidding me?”

  Scott touched the screen to see what would happen and it disappeared. Another one popped up in its place, however. He read it then touched it again. It was a series of greeting information screens, the kind of information you might see when first entering a new game!

  “They, they were kidding right? This is not a real place! It can’t be real!”

  Now he looked around with greater interest. Where was the projector? There had to be a projector! After a brief but tiring search, Scott panted heavily. Wherever he was, he was exhausted. Why did his body feel so heavy?

  His questioning thoughts were answered with the appearance of another screen. It explained that he had minimal attributes currently. “I see. I technically have the strength and agility of a small child at the moment. No wonder I feel heavy. The strength of a child and the weight of a grown man don’t work out that well.”

  After he tapped the new window screen, a big white arrow appeared in the air then started to blink in and out of view. He had no real option but to head in the direction that it pointed.

  “They really aren’t kidding? This world really is set up like a video game. Still, is it real or just some kind of sophisticated virtual reality system?”

  Scott struggled to follow the arrow’s direction and eventually came to an open glade. At the center of the glade was a pedestal. When he approached the standing edifice a mirror image of his body appeared above it.

  “Well, that’s not particularly flattering.” In truth, since he’d left the army he had let himself go quite a bit. All night gaming sessions and poor nutritional choices had that effect on people.

  A screen popped up and informed him that this was the location where he would choose his race and general starting appearance. When prompted, the message screen revealed that there were dozens of races to choose from. His choice of race would decide where he started in the world.

  He toyed with the race choices for a moment. “Seriously? I can even be classic monster races?”

  Each race had their strengths and draw backs. Humans had no major strengths or weaknesses physically or magically, but they had a commerce and technology bonus. Dwarves and Minotaurs had a bonus for smithing. Elves had a magical bonus, heightened senses, and excelled at archery. However, they had lower strength and vitality than a human.

  Monster races had a negative commerce and intimacy modifier with any race other than their own. They also required more experience to gain a level. Scott had to consider the choices carefully. The human option would be easiest but if he was going to live another life, even if a game, why not be something different?

  “There’s even a choice for vampires, werewolves, and dragons. Weird.” What kind of game let you be a dragon? Seriously, wouldn’t that be extremely broken?

  He thought about it for a moment then recalled that there actually were some games that allowed for it. One console game franchise made that the main deal of the player character, after all.

  Scott checked the dragon information again and noticed that it provided good all-around stat bonuses but required four times as much experience. Further, it was both a class and a race. He would not be able to specialize.

  The same issue was true for all of the monster races. He could be a very powerful monster, but outside of those specific skills and benefits he would have nothing else to show for it. It was tempting, but one of the more traditional races would have to be his choice.

  He considered the remaining races then shook his head. For all their advantages they had powerful drawbacks. Dwarves were stocky and could only wear armor or use weapons designed specifically for them. The same was true for giants and half-giants. Elves might be a good choice but the lowered vitality would cause problems if he wanted to be anything but a mage or an archer.

  Scott had to consider his options from the perspective of a game player. He really hated it, but the human race offered the best overall choice if he wanted to really experience and choose from a wide variety of this game’s options.

  “I choose human.”

  The image on the pedestal disappeared and then reappeared. It looked no different than before. He was prompted to make a few decisions regarding his appearance. Just for kicks he decided to have bright green eyes and shockingly blue hair. He increased his height slightly but he could not do much else for his features.

  “Due to choosing your native race, you will be granted two additional starting skills. Is this alright?”

  “Yes.” Why would he choose not to get free skills?

  A new message window appeared informing him that he had learned two new skills. They were the skills of observation and identification.

  A loud fanfare erupted from the air around him. Scott looked around in surprise but did not know where it came from. A new window popped up to reveal that he had gained a level. “I’m already level two?”

  The old window screen disappeared and a new one arose. Scott read it over and nodded. He had received ten attribute points to distribute. However, he was required to expend them in strength and agility.

  “Well, it is a tutorial after all.” Scott put half of the points into strength and the other half into agility. He immediately noticed a difference in his body. The burdensome weight lifted somewhat and he was able to move around with greater ease.

  The image on the pedestal changed a little as well. It became slightly more muscular and toned. It was a barely noticeable change, but it was something.

  More window screens popped up. He needed to practice his new skills until they reached a minimum of level ten. “That seems pretty arbitrary.”

  Scott shrugged and picked up a rock then looked at it. The message screen instructed him to recite the name of the skill that he was using. “Identification.”

  “Well, no kidding. It’s just a rock. Good to know that it has a durability rating, though. That probably means that this game has equipment that can be damaged.”

  Scott checked his identification skill to see if he had gained any experience. “It increased by eighteen percent just from identifying a rock?”

  He immediately set about identifying everything in sight. Different rocks, random leaves, and the occasional twig or branch were easy items to identify and his skill rose to beginner level ten rapidly. “Hmm, it’s a
t level ten but nothing special happened.”

  The man shrugged then considered the observation skill. The only things in the area were grass and trees. So, he tried to observe a tree.

  “The hell, this tree is smarter than me?” Scott snorted then checked his observation skill. It had increased by twelve percent. It was lower than the increase in identification skill. Still, he persevered and observed trees or the occasional insect until his skill reached level ten.

  Once again, nothing special happened. Scott shrugged then went back to the pedestal.

  A new message popped up. “Now that you have a basic idea of how to use your new skills it is time to move on.”

  This was becoming quite interesting to Scott. He was not sure how much time had passed, but this game world was incredibly detailed. Was it really a virtual simulation, or did they find a way to add an augmented reality system to the real world in a remote location? That would have been interesting as well. The thought that this was a legitimate fantasy world based on role playing principles was still not something he was willing to accept.

  Scott followed the arrows and learned many things. He gained three more levels and was required to add five points to each of his other main stats. This put everything at six, except for intelligence, which was at eight.

  “I wonder how many levels there are in this game? I’ve been here for only a few hours and I’m already level five.”

  He reached an outdoor training area with a punching bag, bales of hay with targets painted on them, and wooden dummies. The message that popped up informed him that he would be allowed to gain a single combat skill here.

  Scott looked around but saw no weapons to choose. While he walked through the area he happened to punch the heavy bag on a whim.

  “You have gained the unarmed combat skill!”

  He snorted then could not help but laugh. “Well, that takes care of that, I guess.”

  New messages began to pop up one after the other. He was instructed to reach level ten in unarmed combat by attacking the heavy bag ten thousand times. A counter appeared above the teaching instrument.