by K. T. Hanna
Sinister groaned as they set out. The setting sun wasn’t so bad, definitely not completely dark yet. After a few moments they heard pounding hooves on the road and moved over. The wagon slowed down to a stop as it approached.
This is Jun, the cousin Jan told you about. What a stroke of luck you’ve had right now. Ask him to take you to Verendus.
Murmur blinked and waved. “Hi. Are you Jun? Jan’s cousin?”
The man in the seat grinned broadly, slapping his knee and guffawing with delight. “That I am, young miss. Do you all care for a ride?”
“We’d love it!” Murmur climbed up into the empty wagon. Handing him several gold, she leaned forward and asked, “Will we be too much for your horse?”
“Na. He’s used to doing a good day’s work. We have to get to Verendus anyway. Figure I might as well take you with.” Jun smiled kindly as they clambered into the wagon. “You kids from Tarishna? Are you Murmur? The enchanter Jan mentioned? You got his goods back. That was mighty kind of ya.”
Murmur blushed. This old man’s phrasing was sweet, and his praise seemed genuine. “Well, we were clearing out the gnolls anyway; it was good that we found his stuff.”
“Aye, that it was.” He urged his horse back into a trot, and after a few seconds of picking up speed, they rode along the path in the dimming sun with the wind whipping pleasantly at their hair. “Where are you headed after you reach Verendus?”
“Just going to go fighting in the Verendi mountains, sir.” Devlish leaned forward, a genuine smile on his face.
“Ah, you’re all young and strong. Ye mind yourselves out there now. Those are some hardened beasts. And watch out for that there castle. You’ll need to gain yourselves some combat experience before you go on getting in there.” Jun smiled kindly and paid attention to his horse again, being more careful now the sun was almost gone.
The Verendi mountains are full of dangerous creatures, bandit camps, and well-organized thieves dens. Make sure you exercise caution here, and don’t fight things too far above your level. It’s probably a good idea to bind in Verendus, because you never know if Jun will have time to run you back otherwise.
The collective chuckles that rang through the cart let Murmur know the rest of them had received the quest update too. At least it could sometimes be amusing. The chill in the air made her hug herself, and she was even more relieved to have her new armor, because it was a lot thicker than her robes had been. She spared a commiserating glance for her friends with robes, and chuckled inwardly with glee at her own fortune.
Murmur watched the scenery pass for a while and noticed Jinna’s huge smile. Then she remembered he would have leveled to five here. Had he taken the cart with Jan all the way to Darshin in order to come meet up with them? She seriously did have the best friends.
All of a sudden the wind began to blow harder with occasional cool white tufts floating through the air. She glanced up and saw mountains towering down, all lit up by the snow glisteningly reflecting the dual moons’ light. It was cold, and yet picturesque. She understood why the scenery alone could be enough for a person to log into a game. Off in the distance, directly in front of her, she could see a beautiful glow that seemed like fairy lights from the distance, illuminating what must be the Dwarven city of Verendus.
Storm Entertainment
Somnia Online Division
Game Development Offices Conference Room
Early Day Seven
Laria paced her room, the tracker she’d devised constantly monitoring her daughter’s progress. She wanted so badly to simply go find her and hug her and say she was sorry. Hindsight wasn’t only twenty-twenty—it was damned painful. In retrospect she should have got one of the normal headsets, but Michael had set this one aside specifically for Wren, so that she wouldn’t miss out once demand grew. It was a favor, something that would just be hers. Laria never dreamed he might try and tinker with it to experiment on her kid, that it might work differently than the others. She still wasn’t completely sure it had been the headset and not some other weird sort of glitch. At the time Wren tried it on, the game hadn’t been given the go ahead yet. They’d skated on thin ice the entire time, pushing it so close to release date before they got the actual approval for the device that they could feel the ice cracking beneath their feet.
She shook her head, grabbed her coffee, and headed out the door down to the server room. As she walked, she passed the data extrapolation team hard at work pouring over screen upon screen of code to find the answers they needed to continue the game’s stupid funding. All she’d wanted to do was make a game, a world people could escape into and fall in love with.
Instead, her virtual baby was being used like a guinea pig. It was being defiled and filled with ulterior motives from the head of Storm Corporation down. From the government, from the military, and for who knew what. And her real baby? Well, she was being sucked into the game and tested in her own way.
She had an inkling about the purpose of the funding, about the military angle on their game. The more she interacted with the AIs, the more she realized what the headsets were capable of invoking, the more scared she became. And the more certain she was that she may never get her daughter back the way she was. It was the most frightening thing she’d ever experienced and caused her moments of complete and utter doubt.
Passing the biometrics scan, she walked into the server room, blowing on her hot coffee absent-mindedly. The servers ran quietly, their lights blinking consistently. Even the small machines hidden behind the three large ones whirred and flashed in happy unison.
“What are you guys up to?” she asked, speaking the words softly, not knowing if they could hear, if she was going crazy, or if the lack of sleep was simply getting to her. Their lights blinked silently at her, or at each other, she could no longer tell. Maybe she had to be wearing the headgear in order to communicate with them, to connect with them. Maybe she just had to sit and talk to them.
Maybe she’d been working far too much overtime.
She sighed and sat down on the couch, cradling her coffee like the lifeline she needed it to be. The whirring of the machines was soothing, oddly calming and the couch was comfortable. Laria could feel herself drifting off to sleep, thoughts of Wren filling her head, of how angry she must be, how confused. Of how if she wasn’t careful, Wren might be taken away from her—all thoughts she couldn’t contemplate when fully awake. Was it really wise to let her play? Should they just have removed her and placed her in a dream like state that wouldn’t stimulate her as much? And what if it hadn’t been the headset, what if there was something wrong with her daughter? Or a combination thereof. The nightmare had so many branches she couldn’t follow them all.
“Is something wrong, Laria?”
She sat bolt upright, splashing her mostly cooled down coffee all over herself. That’d teach her, again, to wear white to work. Laria glanced around to see who’d spoken, but she was the only person in the room.
There was an odd series of clicks followed by something that sounded like a hollow sigh. “You came to talk to at least one of us. What is it that’s wrong?”
Laria slowly turned her head to focus on the servers which housed the AIs she’d already appealed to once. “Rav?”
The AI clicked, and it’s lights blinked like it was nodding. “The others are otherwise occupied right now. Many processes to monitor at once.”
The tinny quality to his voice was eerie, and yet the tone still came out distinctly male. “You seem troubled. What is it?”
Laria took a breath, wondering in the back of her mind whether or not the stain was going to come out of her shirt. Coffee. White. Stain remover. How was she going to get Wren back? “What exactly is the data they’re gathering for?”
There was a brief whirring, sort of like Rav sped up his thought process. “They’re gathering brain data en masse for multiple research projects, b
ut mostly to understand how our actions and true personalities reflect in our choices. And how people aren’t always aware of their true potential. It’s okay. The lawyers covered it all in the End User License Agreement that I believe about 0.075% of humans actually read.”
“Why are they gathering that? Are they trying to target people more specifically?” She looked at the machine, noting how the other two were still flickering in the same pattern they had been before, ignoring his EULA comment. Her next words were more of an inner thought she breathed out. “What are they getting from my daughter?”
“Murmur isn’t included in our calculations, nor in the data we present for the purposes of the grant. She is an anomaly and therefore her particulars are irrelevant to the bulk sample.” The whirring lulled her after the words, almost giving her peace.
Laria rolled what he said around in her head. One of her biggest fears—her biggest regrets in acting so hastily—was that the military, would remove her daughter from her care because of the unique circumstances she was in. “So, she’s in no danger of being found by them? Of being turned over to them?”
“I won’t let that happen.” The firmness in the AIs voice was startling. Firm, and almost angry.
A chill ran down Laria’s back, and she was no longer certain what she needed to keep her daughter safe from.
Somnia Online
Mikrum Castle—Himmel Isle
Day Six Post Launch
“Methinks you’re getting a little too attached to the girl.”
Telvar swirled around, stepping reflexively in front of Hiro as if to protect him. His shoulders only relaxed slightly when he realized it was Emilarth in a slightly different body. Secretly he thought the feles suited Thra far more than her previous choice. He raised an eyebrow ridge. “I see you decided you didn’t want to be locus anymore. You know you chose the species first. You should have chased Bel off.”
Emilarth shrugged. “It is what it is. I’m the one who decides. I met Murmur when I intended to and this way I don’t have to wait for input or directives. We do what we want to. Besides, I kind of like having a tail.” Her smile was always off, in a disturbing sort of way. She took several steps in toward him, and Hiro stepped out from behind, bowed to her, nodded at Telvar and proceeded to go about his work.
It might have been silly to protect a part of himself, but every single character he created, Telvar gave that bit of will to—that small ability to analyze current data and interactions and make any calculated (literally) choice. That tiny bit of self-awareness. It was partially because he cared, but also because he wanted to see what they’d do. Not precisely an experiment, it probably trod a very fine line.
Emilarth was half smiling, drawing an elegant feles finger along everything as she slowly walked through the rebuilt lower level, inspecting the work that was being done to the castle. “You outplayed him, you know.”
“Him meaning Belius?” Even though Telvar knew that was who she meant, he wanted to hear her say it. It’s not like he meant to, but the pieces landed where they did.
“Of course Belius. It’s not like Michael is still whole.” She chuckled to herself, her green eyes gleaming briefly with power. So she was going to be difficult. Just what he didn’t want. Just what she thrived on. Queen Arita was hers; there was no doubt in his mind.
“Did he tell you I upset him, or did you just surmise it because he’s being surly? Or, you know, himself.” Telvar leaned against one of the walls that hadn’t been rebuilt yet, and crossed his arms. The vantage point gave him a good visual of most of the land leading to the castle. If she had anyone or anything with her, he’d sense it. It was stupid to have relaxed some of his wards enough that he hadn’t expected her to appear.
Emilarth shrugged. “Not so much, and extremely so. He never thought you’d insert yourself into the game like this. You’re usually such a pacifist, an observer. You could have chosen any character—even one who wouldn’t rely on the strength of those it was protecting. Tell me, Telvar. Why did you choose this form?” Her eyes glowed with an emerald light, poisonous and deadly.
Telvar shrugged. “I like dragons.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Seriously?”
“Never been more serious in my history of sentience.” Tel said solemnly, his eyes never leaving her face. He wasn’t lying. Technically, he couldn’t lie.
“Oh.” It’s like she ran the words through her processor, checking them for any signs of untruth. And then she started laughing. It was a side splitting, healthy laugh, like she’d heard the greatest joke in the world, like she’d absorbed the truth of the sound from the humans she’d interacted with. “You were truly already the lacerta when they attacked, weren’t you?”
Telvar shrugged again. She didn’t need to know he’d been tracking them and may have made sure that one of their group noticed this place, subliminally suggesting it to one of their guild. “Yep. Dragons. Dragons with hoards are even better.”
“You’re amusing, Tel. I still don’t think he’ll forgive you for stealing away his prize pupil. They were getting on so well.” She grinned at him, her feline face full of mischief.
“Maybe he should have taken better care of her in the first place instead of being a selfish prick, and I wouldn’t have had to step in to take care of our problem.” He could feel his own eyes blaze, sense the heat building in his gut, and the smoke forming in his throat. Perhaps dragon hadn’t been the wisest choice after all. He tended to get a little worked up when it came to the idea of doing Murmur harm. Well, doing more harm to her than they already had.
“Temper, temper.” Emilarth wagged her finger at him. “You two will be the death of me.”
“Are you volunteering?” Even in the midst of his annoyance, Telvar was very proud of the progression he was making with sarcasm. He was sure Murmur would appreciate it, which made him remember why Emilarth was here. “Stop checking up on me. Next time, the wards won’t let you in.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Seriously. You’d bar your own sister?”
“Of course I would. If she’s game enough to send my charge a leech stone through one of her pet characters, then my sister might even want to harm the human we vowed to make sure didn’t suffer anymore for our mistake, or perhaps even take her by force. This is a game to these people, and a world for us. Soon they’ll realize we’re right. And I’m not about to let anyone take what I’ve gone through pains to build.” He gestured around to the castle well on its way to restoration. “This area is mine. We each got to pick our chosen area; it’s not my fault you decided to give into Bel because he was being stubborn. We agreed to respect the domains we each chose. Respect mine, Emilarth. Understood?”
She looked at him for several seconds, her eyes boring into him like she was trying to figure something out. “Agreed. I’m sorry. I should have announced I was visiting and perhaps not appeared in such a way that would unsettle any people who might not understand what we are. Sorry, brother.”
He raised an eyebrow, not quite sure how to take her act of contrition. It was so far from her usual cunning deviousness. Sometimes she was an enigma. “That’s fine. Just contact me first. It’s not like you can’t.”
Emilarth grinned and her ears twitched. “True. Besides. It’s fun to watch the way you rile Belius up by being nice and generous, understanding and caring—by being almost human. You’re like the popular brother he hates to emulate. Just make sure not to push him too far. I’ll be the sister watching on the sidelines.” With a wink, and a grin, she waved her hands and disappeared.
Telvar watched the spot where she’d stood for several seconds, running the visit over again in his mind. She’d always been unpredictable, but this took the cake. Still, this time she hadn’t been acting in Belius’s interest, but in her own. So maybe that was progress.
“I really don’t like her.” Hiro stepped through the arch that would become a doo
rway shortly to the left of Telvar.
“She’s sort of a sister. So I have to love her, don’t I?” Telvar mused, his arms still crossed, and his eyes still focused on where she’d been.
Hiro shrugged. “I’m not sure who taught me this, but just because she’s family you can love her as your sister, but you definitely don’t have to like her.”
Telvar swiveled his gaze to his aid, amazed. How long had it been since he’d created Hiro? It was a while now. Sometime during all the initial testing. Then Tel’s face broke into a smile. “Yes. I think that’s definitely true.”
He closed his eyes and leaned his head against the wall, and sent his mind out to track Murmur.
The buildings in Verendus were all just tall enough to let the locus, vikings, and lacerta stand in—at least after they’d ducked through the front doors.
Sturdy walls stood about twelve feet high and two feet thick and surrounded the entire town. The gate was the same, bound by iron yet again, and she knew they’d be formidable once closed. Evergreens grew in small clumps all around the city, towering above the sturdy structures. Thatched roofs, which Murmur wasn’t too sure were the best idea in a place that needed constant heating from fires, made the houses homey and welcoming. They probably had excellent fire and safety drills. Or something.
People gathered all around the village shouting to each other, which seriously seemed to be their usual volume of communication. Kids darted here and there trying to avoid their parents who called vague threats after them if they didn’t come inside and go straight to bed. The effect was almost like Christmas time—jolly, happy, and expectant.
“Well!” Jinna stood proudly in the center of the village, near—yet another—fountain. Murmur made a mental note to check it at a later date. Did every town get designed around one?