by Terry Schott
“You can’t stop, Addy,” she stood and walked to the bathroom. “You’ve got fans to entertain and life lessons to learn.”
She stood under the steaming water of the shower, letting it wash over her; imagining the water was washing away all of her negativity and pain. It got easier as time passed. It always did. This would be no different. In a few more days she would feel better. A couple more weeks after that and she would be ready to start planning for her next play. The years would go by quickly and she would play her best. She would make her parents proud.
Addisyn finished her shower, got dressed, and went downstairs to grab something to eat. When she walked into the kitchen, she knew something was up. Her mother and father should have gone to work long ago, but there they sat, side by side at the kitchen table.
“Morning, Kilobyte,” Trew said.
“Morning, Dad. Hey, Mom.”
“Hiya Addy.” Her mom smiled but it was obviously strained.
“You watched my last play?”
“We did,” Trew said.
“Not all of it,” Danni added. “We skipped some of the more . . . private moments.”
Addy chuckled. The sex scenes. My parents skipped past the love scenes of my life. “I know what you mean.” I’ve been a parent myself and agree with that call. “And thanks.” She grabbed a box of cereal from the cupboard and moved to get a bowl, spoon, and milk from the fridge before joining them at the table. “So, what did you think?”
Trew put one hand on Danni’s back. “It was . . .” He shook his head. “Wow.”
“We were blown away.” Danni reached for her daughter’s hand and squeezed it. “We know the Game better than most and your play was, without doubt, one of the most incredible that we have ever witnessed.”
Addisyn blushed. “It wasn’t that good.”
“It was. Simply amazing.”
“I had help. This was the first time I qualified to purchase Timeless interaction during a play. It helped a lot.”
Danni’s expression darkened. “I’d rather not talk about the Timeless interaction just yet. Give me a few days to let that settle into my brain.”
“You and me both.”
“I know that the Game can sometimes repeat itself,” Trew said, “but how you managed to gather a group of people who were all convinced that they were living in a computer simulation is beyond me.”
“You even called them Gamers,” Danni smiled and clapped her hands together silently. “Once again, there are Gamers inside the Game.”
Addisyn looked at the clock on the wall. “I have to do an interview with Lisa in an hour. I wasn’t expecting the two of you to be home and wanting to talk about this.”
“We can talk more after.” Danni paused. “Are you up for an interview?”
“Yes. I wasn’t sure when I came down the stairs, but I am now.” She took a bite of cereal and crunched on it. “I was wondering. I don’t know if this is a good time for it or not, but I’ve been thinking about this a lot since I came back.” She swallowed her food and paused.
“What is it?” Trew asked.
“I’ve always had a great team, the best I could imagine, since I started playing the Game.”
“That’s correct,” Danni said.
“Well, now that I am high in the rankings and there are still quite a few more plays before I retire from the Game, I was wondering if the two of you would be willing to spend some time directly overseeing my command centre and staff. You are the best in the world and I think that, with even more guidance than you have already given me, as well as the full-time involvement that comes with being part of my team . . . I was hoping you would be willing to work with me more.”
Trew nodded his head. “Absolutely.”
“I know you don’t want to see my plays, but I think that you could get over that now that you’ve watched this last one. You can leave the room for the intimate stuff—”
“Addy,” Danni said.
“Yeah?”
She smiled. “Your father just agreed to do what you are asking.”
“Oh.” Addisyn put her spoon down and looked at Trew. He smiled and nodded.
“And I would be honoured to join your team as well,” Danielle said.
“I know you’re both very busy running, well, pretty much running this world and the Game.”
“They mostly run themselves.” Trew grinned. “You’re right. We made it through watching you play and it wasn’t as bad as we feared it would be. You are our daughter. As your parents and sponsors, we have always wanted you to have the best chance to succeed. If you feel that involves us joining your team directly, then we agree.”
“That’s great news.” Addisyn smiled and stood to hug them.
“Now,” Danni said. “Get dressed and we will accompany you to your interview with Lisa. Things are about to get very intense for you, young lady, now that you are the number one ranked player in the world.”
Addisyn laughed. “I like the sound of that.”
69
Maxine entered the bedroom and placed a hand on her boss, shaking him gently. “Mr. Saxon.”
“Yes?” Barret opened his eyes and rolled over, instantly alert and awake.
“Samson Thorn is here to see you, sir.”
“What time is it?”
“Three a.m.”
Barret sat up. “Show him to the lab and tell him that I’m on my way, please.”
“Yes, sir.”
Barret reached for his cell phone and texted Sparx, then got out of bed and dressed.
On the way to his lab, a door opened and Sparx emerged. “Any idea why he’s here so late?”
“No, but this isn’t like him. When he shows up in the middle of the night it’s usually a sign that something is wrong.” They passed the kitchen. “Maxine, please bring us some coffee when you get a chance.”
“It’s brewing now.”
They climbed the stairs and entered the lab. Thorn and Melissa stood when they walked in.
“Problems?” Barret’s gaze met Thorn’s.
“Afraid so.” Thorn nodded towards his companion. “Barret, this is Melissa. Melissa, this is Barret Saxon and his son, Kevin.”
Melissa shook hands with the two men. “It’s a pleasure to meet you both. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Barret motioned for them to sit. “Tell me what brings you to my doorstep in the middle of the night, old friend.”
“We were ambushed on the street,” Thorn said. “A very organized group of men did their best to capture or kill us.” He smiled. “Fortunately, our reflexes were good enough to give them a surprise of our own and we managed to escape.”
“Were you followed?”
“I hope not.” Thorn traced in the air to show Barret how they had gotten here. “If they are able to track us, then there is no hiding from them.”
“Do you know who sent them?”
“No, but I intend to find out. Is it okay if we stay here?”
“Of course. We will be attending the ceremony tomorrow. I assume you won’t be?”
“That’s correct, and I think you should stay away from the event as well.”
“Do you think we are in danger, Mr. Thorn?” Sparx asked.
“I do, Kevin.”
Barret chuckled. “He’s not Kevin.”
Thorn frowned. “What do you mean?”
“I mean that this young man isn’t Kevin. It’s my son’s body, but another consciousness inhabits it. My boy did not return with the rest.”
“That doesn’t seem to bother you, Barret.”
“Of course it bothers me. It crushed me when I first learned that my son never returned from the simulation.”
“Are you sure we should be talking about this right now?” Sparx asked Barret.
“May as well.” Barret waved a hand. “I hide nothing from Sam and the sooner he knows, the sooner he can figure out a way to use your skills to help us.”
“Who is he?” Thorn asked.
“Sparx?” Melissa interrupted. “The nano supercomputer implanted into Miranda on Earth?”
“Yes.” Sparx turned to look at Melissa more closely. His eyes narrowed. “How would you know that?”
Melissa laughed. “This is crazy, but I knew Miranda. After she was released from Shane’s zoo, she joined the group that I belonged to. She talked about you from time to time. She missed you terribly.”
Sparx bowed his head. “I miss her too.”
“To clear the air fully,” Thorn said, “Melissa also knows that you were Stanton on Earth.”
“Yeah, that’s fine.” Barret waved his hand. “Let’s focus on more important details. Why shouldn’t we go tomorrow?”
“Attacking me is a very bold move. We must assume they know about you as well.”
“You think the General is behind this?”
“Yes.”
“Should we warn the leaders?”
“I don’t think we can. They are likely watching them and expect us to attempt contact”
Barret’s expression was grim. “This is bad.”
“I agree.”
Barret looked at Sparx, who nodded. “Alright, then. We won’t attend. I’m sure the leaders will be safe. The General has gained the trust of the Gamers. If this is a power move to put you out and take total control, then he will embrace the Gamer leadership fully to garner support.”
“I agree,” Thorn said. “The leaders will definitely be safe with the General.”
70
The limousine pulled up to the gates and stopped. A guard came out from the small booth beside the barricade and walked to the back of the vehicle. Nelson lowered the window and smiled as the guard leaned in to greet him.
“Hello, sir.” The guard looked first at Nelson and then the other passengers in the car. “How many are in your party and what are their names, please.”
“Good morning.” Nelson recited the names of the leaders.
The guard compared the names to those on his clipboard. “Very good, sir. The General is looking forward to meeting all of you. Please proceed to the staging area where you will be met and given further instructions.”
“Thank you.”
The guard walked back to the gate and waved. The barricade raised and the limo drove through.
“I’m nervous,” Suzanne said.
“So am I.” Dillon touched a stray lock of his wife’s hair and tucked it back into place. “But this is the right move. The General has done everything that he has promised he would. It’s time for us to join him and help represent our follower’s interests.”
“There’s the stage.” Jen pointed. A large group of people had already gathered, many holding signs declaring their support for the Gamer movement. Towers holding television cameras were placed among the throng of people with operators standing on platforms behind the large cameras and panning back and forth to show the size of the crowd for viewers at home.
They came to a stop and the door opened. A blonde woman with bright red lipstick and whitened teeth leaned into the car.
“Hello and welcome, Leaders.” She grinned. “My name is Elanor and I will be your liaison today. We are so excited to have you with us. I spoke with the General just a few moments ago and he is very happy that you have agreed to join him. Please follow me and I will take you to make-up and wardrobe.”
The leaders exited the car and followed her into the closest building and down a long white hallway. They entered a room with mirrors all along the walls and salon chairs placed around the perimeter.
“Please find a chair so that we can get you ready for the cameras.”
“Will we see the General before the ceremony?” Suzanne asked.
Elanor’s shook her head. “Regrettably, the General is occupied tending to final details, but don’t worry. He will be standing on the stage with you as the papers are signed. He has promised that afterwards you will all have a meal together.” Elanor flashed her whitened teeth. “Over the next few months, you will see the General a lot.”
“We look forward to that.” Nelson chose a chair and sat down. A stylist appeared and draped an apron over him.
“I will go over the itinerary, now,” Elanor said. “If you have any questions, please feel free to interrupt me. We want your experience to be as comfortable as we can make it.”
The Leaders listened while Elanor began to detail events planned for the day.
***
Barret, Sparx, Melissa, and Thorn gathered in the computer lab. The monitors covering one wall merged to become a single large screen. They reclined on comfortable couches and watched the preamble.
“They take the stage in fifteen minutes,” Sparx said.
“That’s a big crowd,” Melissa observed.
“All Gamers, is my bet,” Thorn said.
“It looks fine.” Barret shook his head. “But something doesn’t feel quite right.”
“Because you aren’t there and should be?” Sparx asked.
“Maybe.”
***
Cooper sat at the bar in a small, crowded tavern and ordered another drink. “Can you turn the television up, please,” he pushed the change back.
The bartender raised his eyebrows at the generous tip. “Absolutely. Everyone is here today to watch it anyway.” He moved to the screen and stood on his tiptoes to adjust the volume. “Quiet down. The leaders are about to take the stage.”
Cooper took a swig from his bottle as he watched the scene unfold.
***
Elanor walked onto the stage and raised her hands for quiet. The crowd was bigger than it had been earlier. People were packed so tightly they could barely move, so many that most could no longer raise their signs and had put them on the ground to allow others to squeeze in.
“And now, ladies and gentlemen, the moment that you have all been waiting for.” She smiled and turned to face the side of the stage. “It is my great honour to present your leaders of the Gamer movement. Please join me in welcoming them.”
The crowd cheered and applauded. Elanor clapped and waved her arms at the leaders as they came forward in single file to stand beside her. They raised their arms and smiled as the crowd continued cheering. After a few moments, Elanor called for quiet and the crowd became silent.
“Before we proceed, I have a very special treat for everyone. It has been some time since this great lady was seen, and many of us believed that she had perished during the event. I am happy to report that is not the case. Please give a warm welcome home to our beloved president. Madame President, would you come out here and say a few words, please?”
Suzanne felt a knot form in her stomach. “She’s alive? Has the General convinced the president to support this movement?”
“He must have,” Nelson muttered. “Just smile and applaud.”
The president walked onto the stage and approached the microphone amidst weak applause from the crowd. Life under the president’s rule had not been pleasant for the common citizen and everyone remembered that. She walked out as if everyone was cheering madly in support. Every inch the politician, she smiled and waved at the crowd as she stopped in front of the microphone.
“Thank you for the wonderful introduction and the warm welcome.” Her voice was smooth, the cadence of her delivery professional. “I have watched the progress of this new movement with fascination as it has developed. When I was presented with an opportunity to join the festivities today, I couldn’t resist participating in this historic day to address you all.”
There was movement at the back of the crowd. Dillon squinted as he looked closely. “Are those soldiers?”
Suzanne’s eyes followed his line of sight and she nodded. “This doesn’t feel right.”
“The General believed that normal citizens could work together with the leaders of this world to build something different.” The president pointed at the Gamer leaders without looking at them. “After much thought and consultin
g numerous professionals and experts across a diverse range of fields, my cabinet has come to the conclusion that this is not an acceptable option for the people of our fine country at this time.”
“What?” Suzanne could hear the anger in Dillon’s voice. “She doesn’t know what she’s talking about.”
“Furthermore,” the President continued, “for his part in supporting and promoting treason, General Donovan has been arrested and found guilty.” Her smile faded and her tone changed to ice. “The sentence for his crime was death, and it was carried out earlier today.” The crowd gasped as the large screen showed a close-up of the President’s face. “Everyone assembled is also guilty of treason. For those of you watching from your homes, I offer you a choice. Cease all subversive activities and return to the proper ways that our society followed before the unfortunate event which almost cost us our existence. If you decide not to do so, then you can suffer the same fate as those who chose to gather here today.”
The crowd stood in stunned silence as she turned on her heel and walked off the stage. As the clicking of her heels faded, Suzanne whispered, “What’s she talking about?”
Before anyone could answer, twelve soldiers stepped from backstage and levelled their rifles at the Gamer leaders.
Boom. Gunfire shattered the silence. As one, the leaders fell dead to the ground.
People began to scream and push as they tried to flee. Soldiers moved in from all sides, firing into the crowd.
The cameras continued to roll, broadcasting the slaughter to everyone on their video screens at home.
***
Cooper watched as the sound of gunfire rained over the television speakers like static. The customers inside the bar watched the massacre in horrified silence.
Twenty minutes after the first shots had started, the TV went quiet. Cameras panned over the thousands of dead bodies strewn across the ground.
“Turn it off,” someone said.
The bartender watched the screen with a blank expression on his face.
“Turn it off!” Cooper yelled. The bartender sprang up and shut the TV off.