Digital Evolution (The Game is Life Book 5)

by Terry Schott

  “That is true.” Barret laughed and pushed the key. There was an audible click and a single word, ‘Plexus’, appeared on the screen. “Love the name.” Barret watched the graphic spin.

  “Yeah, it’s a great word. New title for a new network. I’m surprised we are doing this here in the lab. I thought for sure that the General or Thorn would want to make a big deal out of this with at least a packed convention hall and press covering the unveiling.”

  “That’s not the way things like this ever go,” Barret said. “People will turn on their devices and simply find themselves connected to the new network. Over the next few weeks, the experts will research the new product, reviewing all of its technical aspects. Geek communities will slowly begin to learn about it, reading reviews and sharing the news with their circles of influence, each group less savvy than the last. A month or two from now, everyone will be plugged in; saying they read this on the Plexus or downloaded a video on the Plexus. Then, seemingly overnight and without any fanfare, it will become ingrained in our society as if it was always there. We will receive very little, if any mention, and that’s fine with me.” Barret smiled. “By then we will control the flow of information all over the world.”

  I hope I’ve done the right thing, Sparx wondered once more. His true purpose for creating the Plexus was selfish; to search for a way to get back home to Earth. He hoped that this world would not suffer as a result of his invention. If it wasn’t Plexus, it would have been another network, anyway. I am not causing anything. I’m just taking advantage of the situation to help myself as well.

  “I’m still amazed by your skill, Kevin.” Barret gripped his shoulder and squeezed. “Before we were all taken away, you were never interested in any of this. I never imagined you would return as the preeminent authority in the field of computing.”

  Sparx shrugged. “I guess the universe works in mysterious ways.”

  “It certainly does.” Barret shook his head. “I’ve spent hours wondering at the coincidence of it all, but perhaps there is no such thing as that, either.”

  “What happens now?” Sparx changed the subject. This man is too clever to allow him to travel down this path of questioning.

  “Officially, the majority of our work is done. Our company will be responsible for maintaining the network, making sure it stays secure and fast, as well as upgrading it as demand increases and users find new and exciting ways to push Plexus to the limit of its current capabilities.”

  “Unofficially?”

  “We will be very busy,” Barret said. “The General and Thorn have very aggressive goals for keeping track of all the information that is sent and shared over the Plexus. They want it catalogued and assessed in order to find those most loyal to their cause and those who plan to oppose them.”

  Sparx nodded. This was all standard operation for any government. He had experienced it before on Earth where over 290 separate countries had used the internet to execute aggressive initiatives for defense, attack, and surveillance of both their own citizens and all other countries both friend and foe.

  “We need to add one more level to Plexus,” Barret announced. “If you’re up to the challenge.”

  “I’m always up for a challenge.”

  “This one will be very tough. I need you to add an additional layer to the current array.”

  “For what purpose?”

  “To piggyback a new set of signals and information transfer protocols. And it must be done so that they remain hidden from everyone but you and I.”

  Sparx frowned. “We already have that in place. That’s where the majority of our info gathering and security are hidden.”

  “Which both the General and Thorn have access to. I need to add an additional layer so that Thorn can get reports about those activities without the General knowing.”

  “We need to spy on the General?”

  “That’s correct.”

  Sparx leaned back in his seat and tapped his fingers on the desk. Thorn is our main ally, then. He’s telling me clearly enough. There’s no need to discuss it. After a few moments he arched an eyebrow and nodded. “I think I can do that.”

  “I hoped you could. How long before that can be up and running?”

  Sparx leaned over the keyboard and began typing. I can do that in ten minutes. “I’ll need at least a day, if I don’t sleep.”

  “The sooner the better,” Barret said. “I think it will be best for all of us if we can keep tabs on the General without him knowing it.”

  “When do the millions of dollars start pouring into our bank accounts?”

  Barret laughed. “The millions are already there. It won’t take long for another couple zeros to be added.” He stood and walked to the door. “Soon we will see billions of dollars, my boy.”

  58

  Trew, Danielle, and Brandon watched the news feed silently.

  A large building burned on the screen, columns of black smoke billowing from enormous holes blasted into its sides. The scene cut to focus on a reporter who solemnly reported the details and announced the death count while emergency vehicles and personnel scrambled behind her.

  Trew pointed the remote at the screen and muted the sound. “I thought this wasn’t going to be a problem.”

  “It was always going to be a problem,” Brandon said. “I had hoped my preemptive discussion would minimize the effects.”

  Trew waved the remote at the screen. “This is the third attack in as many days. The news networks may have no idea what’s going on, but we do. Over one thousand people were in that building, likely triple that once the fires are out and they sift through the bodies.”

  “How do we stop this?” Trew’s voice conveyed his frustration.

  “Needles in a haystack,” Brandon leaned back in his chair.

  “What?”

  “Billions of people live on Tygon and there are about 150 Elites hiding amongst them. Finding them all will be like searching for a purple grain of sand on a mile-long stretch of beach in a windstorm. It’s going to be very difficult. I hoped the warning message I delivered would be sufficient, but Lohkam isn’t concerned. He knows that he has the advantage as well as I do.”

  “How did you keep him under control in the past?” Danielle asked. “For over thirty years, you all coexisted together.”

  “I didn’t keep him under control, the situation did. He knew I was his only way home. I discovered that they were all here about ten years after the Game began. They figured out what was happening, that they had all somehow been transferred to my simulation. Thorn confirmed it for them, and they knew that the only chance they had for getting home—to a saved reality—was to allow me to play my strategy out here. Things have changed. Now that they know I was successful, all bets are off.”

  “They want to go back to the Dream,” Trew said.

  “Yes, and they think I am keeping them from that.”

  “You told them that their bodies no longer exist in the Dream. That they will cease to exist if they leave Tygon.”

  “I’m betting Lohkam doesn’t believe me. He will have convinced the rest of them that I’m playing at another game, and the majority will follow him.”

  “So you have to find them and kill them,” Danielle said.

  “Looks like it.”

  “How will you find them?”

  Brandon spread his hands. “That’s the magic question.”

  “You can’t sense each other?” Trew asked. “Like Timeless can in the Game?”

  “Not really.”

  “What’s that mean?”

  “It’s complicated, but to keep it simple, I can’t sense them well enough to track them.”

  “Can Sylvia help?” Danni asked.

  “If they were on Earth, yes. Tygon’s purple deity could assist us, maybe. Ask Him when you next visit.”

  “I don’t know when that will be.”

  “Still.” Brandon shrugged. “Worth a try when you see him, although I doubt he will help. Sylvia
wouldn’t help if I was on Earth and asking.”

  “What do you suggest we do until then?” Trew asked.

  “Well, it’s obvious that I can’t just sit back and relax,” Brandon said. “I tried being nice, but they refuse to behave. I guess I’ll have to hunt them down and kill them.”

  “Before they wipe out too many Tygon citizens.”

  “That’s the goal, but I expect things will get messy. Unless I somehow get lucky and stumble upon them gathered in a single room.”

  “We could try and broadcast a message to gather them,” Trew said.

  Brandon laughed. “That will never work. Maybe before they began the big killing attacks, but now that they are in this mode they will have spread out and will not gather again. It’s going to be me against the world, but those are odds I’m used to facing.”

  “If only there were Timeless on Tygon that could help,” Danni said.

  “That would be handy, but sadly, there is no such thing.”

  “Wait.” Trew sat up. “Maybe there is.”

  “What are you talking about?” Brandon looked at Danielle but she shook her head.

  “The singing man. A younger-looking guy, dressed in a black trench coat with black round wire-rimmed glasses. He speaks in a singsong way. After a few seconds, you don’t even notice it, but he definitely sings.”

  “You mean the Timeless that interacted with you when you were George?” Brandon asked.

  “Yes, but he was on Tygon as well. Recently.”

  “That’s interesting.”

  “Who is he?” Trew asked.

  “No clue.”

  “What do you mean ‘no clue’? He was inside the Game when I played as George Knight. You have to know who he is.”

  “His eyes have platinum spots in them.”

  Trew waited for more, but Brandon just looked at him. “So?”

  “So, I don’t know about entities with platinum swirling around in their eyes. Well, I know about them, but I don’t exactly know who those players are.”

  “My eyes turned that colour in the Game,” Danni said.

  “So do mine when I’m in the Game as Azrael.”

  “I’m confused,” Trew said. “There are things that happen inside the Game, the Game that you created, which even you don’t know about?”

  “Of course,” Brandon said.

  “That doesn’t bother you?”

  “Yes, it bothers me.” Brandon chuckled. “But I’ve always been focused on one goal. When anomalies popped up over the years, I didn’t have time to explore them. If they became an issue which threatened to interfere with the main goal, then I dealt with them. Otherwise, I had to let them be.”

  “We might want to explore this,” Trew said. “If there is a chance the singing man with the red pop bottle cap gloves can help, then we should—”

  “Wait, he has red pop bottle cap gloves?”

  “Not complete gloves. Only three on one hand, last time I saw him.”

  “How did you not mention this before?”

  “I got busy and forgot,” Trew said. “I understand getting so focused that things not immediately important are forgotten.”

  “We all know the old man,” Brandon said. “If there is another being wearing red pop bottle caps on his hands, I want to meet him.”

  “Another needle in the haystack,” Danni said.

  “I’m already searching. I’ll let you know if I run into him. Contact me immediately if you see him first.”

  Trew and Danielle nodded.

  “Alright, then.” Brandon’s expression became grim. “Looks like Lohkam wants to do this the hard way. Time for me to get to work hunting Elites.”

  59

  The Gamer leaders watched as, on the TV screen, the General shook hands with seven civilians standing with him on a stage elevated above hundreds of cheering people. Melissa could be seen not far behind him. The scrolling banner on the television read ‘General Thorn makes peace with Gamer leadership. Government and citizens join forces to ensure tomorrow’s prosperity.’

  “So far, so good,” Nelson said, his eyes fixed on the screen.

  “We didn’t expect him to kill them on sight,” Susanne said.

  “Do you think he suspects they are decoys?” Jen asked.

  “He has to,” Dillon answered. “His offer was very tempting, but maybe he thinks the people standing with him are the actual leaders of the Gamer movement.” He grimaced. “I feel horrible.”

  Susanne touched his back. “They knew the risks and volunteered.”

  “One of the greatest burdens of leadership is sending soldiers into danger,” Nelson said. “I don’t like it either, but it would have been worse for all if it were us standing there beside the General at this moment. Not a single one of us trusts his offer.”

  “Turn the volume up, he’s about to address the crowd.”

  The General approached the microphone and raised his hands for silence. The cheering of the crowd faded.

  “I would like to thank the fine ladies and gentlemen behind me for their bravery. The past could have left them distrustful enough to decline my offer of peace and partnership. It is a true testament to their courage that they stepped forward to entertain the possibility of working together.”

  The crowd cheered and the General nodded, turning to face the group behind him as he applauded as well.

  “He’s good,” Susanne said.

  “The best,” Nelson agreed.

  “We have much work to do in the coming days, weeks, and months,” the General continued. “One month has passed since everyone returned from the nightmarish incident that threatened to wipe our species from this planet. We have accomplished much, but it is clear that many of you—most of you—desire a different type of life as we go forward. I want to assure each and every one of you that not only have I heard your voice, but I also agree with you. With the help of your leaders and the feedback and involvement of millions of others, we will help shape a new society that all of us can be proud to be a part of.”

  The crowd broke into applause and the General allowed it to continue for a few seconds before motioning for silence.

  “From this moment forward, the leaders behind me will be as influential as any other member of my top-ranked council. If you wish to bring issues to the forefront, have your local representatives do so through them.” He smiled and looked into the camera. “No other Gamer leaders will be recognized or acknowledged but through the unanimous agreement of the group you see assembled behind me.”

  “The clever bastard,” Nelson said. “We were afraid he would kill us if we came forward, but he has done much worse.”

  “What?” Jen asked.

  “He’s rendered us powerless,” Dillon said.

  “It’s not that bad,” she said. “We can send our instructions to the decoys and have them implement our policies. Sure, it will add a couple more steps to the process, but I don’t think it’s that big a deal.”

  Nelson shook his head and turned the volume down on the television. “He knew we wouldn’t send our real leaders forward. He stacked the deck so that he would win no matter how we responded. If we didn’t show up, he would look good and we would not. If we did show up, he would wait for a while and remove us. He will be working hard to be sure the group we sent are the real leaders, but eventually he will be certain.”

  “You’re right,” Susanne agreed.

  “I didn’t think he would consider a third option.” Nelson swore and shook his head.

  “Let the false leaders live and watch where the threads of the web lead all the way back to us.” Dillon said.

  “Exactly.” Nelson rubbed his eyes. “He’s going to keep this charade going, watching who interacts with whom, keeping meticulous notes until he has a thorough understanding of all the players in our network. When he has it all mapped out—”

  “Then he will move in and eliminate every last one of us.”

  “Not necessarily,” Jen said.

/>   “You think he’s changed his tune?” Susanne asked.

  “I would like it if he has.”

  “All of us would, but it’s impossible to say for sure. Yet.”

  “So what do we do?”

  Nelson looked around the table. “I think we stay quiet, and wait.”

  Everyone else nodded.

  60

  Melissa entered the General’s office last, scanning the faces of those assembled as she sat down. Thorn and all the other big players are here. I should be able to learn something to take back to the Gamer leaders from this meeting.

  The General entered and sat down. He opened a file and got right to the point. “I’ve read your preliminary reports and agree with you. The Gamers have presented us with false leadership, as expected.” He dropped the folder onto the table and waved his hand. “That isn’t surprising. They are frightened.”

  “With good reason,” Melissa said.

  “What reason is that?”

  “We are baiting them, aren’t we?” I’m tired of trying to figure out his angle. Time to find out once and for all if he is genuine or not. “Presenting a false front so that they trust us.”

  The General’s expression changed to surprise. “Is that what you all think? That this is some ruse on my behalf?”

  It was clear from the uneasy glances that most agreed with Melissa’s assessment of the situation. The General looked at Thorn, who shrugged his shoulders and nodded. “It does seem like something you would do.”

  The General sighed. “Yes, I suppose it does. The old Donovan, anyway, but not now.”

  “You’ve hit the restoration efforts very hard, sir,” one man said.

  “That’s how we work,” the General said. “At least, that’s how it was before. It’s taken me a few weeks to realize that the old ways won’t be accepted. Most of you were trapped in the simulation, but I was not. I simply did what I have always done. The Gamer movement rose up to show me, to show those of us not familiar with it, that there is resistance to the old ways. I am nothing if not adaptive and resourceful—”

  And devious and manipulative.

  “Which is leading me to believe that the correct course of action is a stoppage of our plan and a modification to include the Gamers.” The General leaned back in his seat and ran a hand through his short, silver hair. “Seriously, folks, if you doubt my sincerity, then everyone will.”