by Tripp Ellis
“Do I look like one of them?”
“What are you doing in here?”
“Hiding. Isn’t it obvious?” he said in a smart-ass tone.
My eyes narrowed at him. “Don’t tell me you’re afraid?”
“I’m programed with a natural fear response. Studies have shown that artificially intelligent beings that exhibit a fear response have greater longevity. It makes them more cautious and prone to avoid dangerous situations.”
“Where’s Doctor Carver?”
“How should I know? I’ve been hiding in this storage cabinet. Doctor Carver put me in here just before the ship was boarded.”
“Thanks. You’ve been helpful.” My voice was thick with sarcasm. I spun around and marched toward the hatch.
“Hey, wait! Where are you going?”
“To find a drop-pod and get off this ship.”
“I’m coming with you.” Titan followed after me.
“I don’t suppose I have a choice?”
Titan scoffed. “I’ll have you know that I am extremely good company. My databanks house a wealth of knowledge. I’m smart, witty, charming, and extremely handsome.”
I looked at him like he was crazy. “You’re modest, aren’t you?”
I peered into the corridor and scanned both ends of the hallway. It was clear. I darted into the passageway and snaked my way through the labyrinth of corridors, heading toward the drop-pods.
Titan 242 glided through the air behind me.
The sparse clatter of gunfire echoed through the ship. The fighting was dying down. There weren’t many Marines left aboard to fight. They had either been killed or had evacuated.
Several pawns blocked the passageway to the drop-pods. I unleashed a furious reign of plasma bolts at them. They responded in kind. Titan dodged the bolts with expert precision. It didn’t seem to be much of a challenge for him.
I took cover and continued to fire at the Skrag warriors. Firing the alien plasma rifle was actually kind of fun. It felt powerful, and it totally fucked shit up. A solitary bolt could turn a pawn into a smoldering ball of goo. Without energy armor, the projectiles pierced their composite material with ease. My plasma rifle lit up the corridor. My face illuminated with the blue glow as each projectile left the barrel of my rifle. I could seriously get used to this thing. My eyes glimmered with the possibility of potential weapons that I might encounter as my campaign progressed. This was only the first level. There had to be bigger, better weapons ahead. The whole experience reminded me of a hyper realistic first-person shooter video game, mixed with role-playing elements. It was better than any video game I had ever played before—only the stakes were much higher. I couldn’t walk away from this one.
It didn’t take long before the entire squad of aliens was an indiscernible pile of goo on the deck.
“Nice shooting,” Titan said.
“Thank you.”
I scurried down the corridor to a bank of drop-pods. All of them had been jettisoned, except for one.
Through a window in the exterior bulkhead, I caught a glimpse of the planet below.
The drop-pod, or Orbital Deployment Vehicle, was a little larger than a cryo-tube. It was heavily armored and thermally coated. It could withstand the scorching heat of atmospheric re-entry. It was like an oval-shaped casket. I hoped that it wouldn’t serve as one. It had a sleek, aerodynamic form, and there were thrusters enclosed by cowlings that assisted with navigation and landing.
The interior was lined with a thick gel padding, made up of an advanced closed-cell matrix. I opened the lid and climbed inside. I placed the plasma rifle in the indentation in the gel provided for rifles. “Sorry pal, there’s only one.”
“You can’t just leave me here?” Titan looked at me with sad electronic eyes. “I’m too valuable to leave behind. The information contained within my databanks would prove extremely valuable to the enemy.”
I groaned. “Get in.”
What I perceived as a smile flashed across Titan’s display screen. He glided into the pod. I grabbed the orb. To say the interior of the pod was snug was putting it mildly. There was no room for Titan. I kept him in the palm of my hand and placed my arms in the recessed area designed for them. There was a keypad that allowed me to access all of the ODV’s controls with the tips of my fingers. I pressed a button and closed the lid. It seemed that I had some intrinsic knowledge of how to operate the pod. As a combat Marine in this game universe, my character would surely have used drop-pods before. My fingers moved with muscle memory. I wondered what other intrinsic knowledge I possessed about this new game universe?
The pod sealed tight and pressurized. The ODV automatically ran a self-diagnostic.
A soothing female voice spoke. “All systems green. Launch when ready.”
I pressed the launch button and the ODV jettisoned from the Endeavor. The elongated, egg shaped coffin plunged toward the planet below. My stomach jumped into my throat. It was like we had crested the top of a roller coaster and were now plummeting toward hell.
“I’ve never been in an ODV before,” Titan said. “They say the gel cushion is so effective that even if the thrusters failed, we could impact the planet surface without sustaining damage to ourselves.”
“I’d rather not test that theory out.”
“Neither would I.”
28
The ODV rumbled as it entered the atmosphere. The exterior glowed orange from the heat of re-entry. The egg shaped coffin plummeted through the clouds, descending toward the planet surface. It was just a game, but apparently I had a heartbeat, and it elevated. I even felt a thin mist of sweat form on my skin.
I felt the thrusters kick in as we neared the surface. The pod gradually slowed, then made a gentle landing. I pressed the release button on the keypad and the lid to the ODV opened.
Titan practically flew out of my hand. “Thank God! That was horrible.”
I rolled my eyes. “It wasn’t that bad.”
Titan surveyed the terrain.
I climbed out of the ODV and grabbed the plasma rifle. The planet looked like a lush paradise. Rolling verdant hills. A variety of trees—hundreds of species including oak, pine, cottonwood, willow, and mahogany. The air was filled with their sharp, spicy scents. Granite mountains with sheer cliff faces surrounded the valley.
A new mission objective appeared in my HUD:
Rendezvous with survivors from the Renaissance.
I looked at my map, trying to locate any signals from nearby Marines. Some type of interference prohibited me from getting a definitive reading. Blips on my HUD flickered—there one minute, gone the next.
“I’m having trouble locating survivors. Are you able to pick up any signals?”
“There may be something within the mountains affecting the signal. I suggest we proceed northeast and make our way through the chasm.”
I decided to go with Titan’s recommendation. I slung my plasma rifle in the patrol ready position and began marching. I always hated humping my gear for miles and miles in the real world, now I was ecstatic to be able to walk. I would stomp across every inch of this virtual world and not complain. All of the little things that I used to bitch about seemed insignificant after my injury. It realigned my perspective. If there was anything that came out of the entire incident that I was grateful for, it was a fresh view on life.
Titan and I marched across the meadow and into the forest, heading toward the base of the cliffs. There was no doubt in my mind that Skrag forces would sweep the planet surface, looking for survivors. I kept a watchful eye as I moved through the pines, spruces, and oaks. But they weren’t the only thing I was going to have to worry about on this picturesque planet.
“So, why is this Doctor Carver so important? Why do the Skrags want her?”
“Doctor Carver is the foremost expert in the Primo Eläma language, culture, and technology.”
“Primo Eläma?”
“You don’t get out much, do you?”
I scowled
at the little drone.
“An ancient race of sentient beings,” he said, as if I was a fool for not knowing this.
“So. What’s the big deal?”
“The ancients were a technologically advanced society that had solved some of the most complex mysteries of the universe.”
“Where are they now?” I asked.
“Extinct.”
“Sounds like things really worked out for them.”
“There are rumors that they still exist, but that they left this dimension entirely.”
The crack of a twig drew my attention. My eyes snapped toward the sound. A large, angry creature snarled. I got the distinct feeling that I was going to be its next meal. It was two stories of muscle and sinew. It had a horn on its snout, like a mammoth rhino, and the fangs of a sabertooth tiger. Its head and back were covered in thick armor plating. Blue skin was drawn tight against its rippled muscles. Claws a foot-long were sharp as razors.
I held still for a moment and slowly brought my weapon into the firing position, angling at the deadly beast. But I got the distinct feeling that firing at it was only going to anger the creature.
Titan whispered in my ear. “I suggest you do not confront the Ryvok. It would be in your best interest if you evacuated the area.”
“Stay still and be quiet,” I muttered.
“I’m just offering helpful advice. But you do whatever you want.”
I lined the creature up in my sights.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
The beast snarled and flashed its fangs. It pawed at the dirt like a bull ready to charge.
“This is going to end badly,” Titan said.
“I hope he eats you first,” I mumbled.
“He’s not going to eat me, I can assure you of that.”
“You’d probably cause heartburn.”
“Please. I can take that creature out with two hands tied behind my back.”
“You don’t have any hands.”
“Exactly.”
“Were you programed to be delusional, or are you malfunctioning?”
“Care to put your money where your mouth is?”
I arched an incredulous eyebrow at him. “$100 says that thing plays ping pong with you and swats you silly.”
“You’re on.”
The creature stepped toward me. I’m not going to lie, my heart was racing. I could afford to be a little less cavalier with my life, since I had two more remaining. But I wasn’t keen on the idea of dying.
I blasted two shots at the beast, hitting it square in the head, right between its eyes. The plasma bolts left blackened craters on its armor plating, but they didn’t penetrate the surface.
My attack just pissed the thing off. It shook its head, clearly irritated from the blasts. Then it lurched toward me. It barreled through the forest mowing down trees like they were toothpicks. Massive trunks snapped and buckled. Towering trees tumbled to the ground. Leaves swirled through the air. The creature’s heavy breaths and growls rumbled.
My eyes widened with terror. I spun around and ran for my life. My chest heaved for breath. My quads burned as my legs drove me forward. It was interesting to feel muscle pain. I assumed that if I could increase my stamina I would be able to run farther and faster with less discomfort.
Titan elevated himself above the reach of the creature. That little bastard had nothing to worry about. I made the mistake of looking over my shoulder and saw the creature snap its vicious jaws at me, nipping at my heels.
29
I sprinted through the forest, plowing through the underbrush, leaping over fallen logs. The trees were the only thing that slowed the beast down, but not by much. The thing swiped and clawed at me, narrowly missing my flesh by inches.
I ran as hard as I could, zigging and zagging through the underbrush. I dashed between two massive sequoias. The beast slammed into them, but they didn’t give an inch. It bought me a few extra paces. The creature shrugged off the impact, then backed up and went around the large trees.
I put some distance between the two of us, but I quickly ran out of ground. I found myself at the edge of a precipice, staring down a sheer cliff face at a river below. The glistening waterfall beside me fed the river. The dull roar of water slamming against the rocks below filled the air.
Titan hovered beside me. “I hope you’re not afraid of heights?”
I glared at him. “Bite me.”
I had no idea how deep the water was. There could be anything underneath the surface. It was at least a hundred foot drop. I didn’t have a lot of time to hem and haw about it. A quick glance over my shoulder let me know that the creature was still barreling toward me.
“My sensors detect the water below is 8 feet deep.”
I didn’t know how closely the physics in the game world mirrored the real world. I assumed they were pretty close. Everything had been spot on so far. I wasn’t a mathematician. And even if I was, I had no time to calculate an equation that factored in velocity, buoyancy force, potential energy, etc. The simple answer was I would have to be batshit crazy to jump off the ledge, or in mortal peril. I decided death by impact was probably preferable to sharp fangs.
I leapt from the ledge and plummeted below just as the creature swiped its razor-sharp claws at me.
Titan hung in the air just beyond the creature’s reach, taunting him. The little drone was saucy, no doubt about it. The beast continued to swipe at him. Titan evaded each attack with technical precision.
I hurtled through the air and slammed into the surface of the water. The bottom of the riverbed came up to greet me entirely too soon. I saw red and felt pain rush through my entire body. My health bar read: 9%.
I pulled myself to the surface and gasped for breath. My legs should have been shattered, but they weren’t. The only ill effect that I seemed to suffer was the reduction in my health. I swam to the opposite shore and pulled myself aground. I rolled onto my back and tried to catch my breath.
9% health had put the fear of God in me. I was extremely vulnerable. I wouldn’t be able to survive even the slightest attack.
I gazed up the cliff face. Titan was still taunting the beast. He had balls, I’ll give him that. The drone kept moving in and zipping back out of reach. He dodged the creature’s swipes to the point of frustration. The deadly beast snarled at him and grew overzealous in his efforts to swat the tiny drone. The beast lost its footing on the edge of the cliff and tumbled down.
My eyes widened. The last thing I needed was that snarling thing down here chasing after me.
The beast flailed its arms as it tumbled down. It smacked the water and its head cracked against a large boulder that protruded through the surface. The large rock did what my plasma bolt wasn’t able to do. It split the creature’s head open, painting the rock with crimson blood. The beast was dead on impact.
The fast-moving water carried the beast downstream until it ran aground in a shallow area.
Titan descended the cliff face and flew beside me. He had a beaming smile on his digital faceplate.
“You’re a troublemaker,” I said.
“Just having a little fun. You owe me $100. Pay up.”
“I don’t seem to have any cash on me at the moment. Put it on my tab.”
Titan rolled his digital eyes. “I should have known you weren’t good for it.”
I climbed to my feet, the water still dripping from my battle armor. I realized I had lost my plasma rifle when I splashed down. All I had left was my 9mm, holstered at my waist. I cringed and grumbled a few obscenities under my breath.
As I turned away from the river I was met by the barrels of angry assault rifles. I was surrounded. I fully expected Titan to do his disappearing act.
My eyes flicked from the big black barrels to their owners—a squad of Marines. “Hey, we’re all on the same team here, aren’t we?”
The angry faces of the squad scowled at me. A woman with short blonde hair and blue eyes was the squad leader. Lieut
enant Parker was painted on her chest plate. She had high cheekbones, full lips, smokey eyes, and the sexiest of beauty marks. She barked a question at me. “Who the hell are you?”
She could bark at me all day long and I wouldn’t complain.
30
Sergeant John Archer,” I replied, then motioned to the drone. “This is Titan.”
“Who sent you?” Parker asked.
“I’m here to help. Would you mind putting your weapons down?”
Lieutenant Parker’s piercing eyes flicked to Titan for a moment, then back to me. “Who sent you?”
“Were you aboard the Renaissance?” I asked.
“You’ve got three seconds to tell me how you got into the game and what you doing here?”
“I take it you aren’t an NPC?”
“Two seconds…”
“Is she always is friendly?” I asked one of the other Marines.
“One second…”
“Okay. I’m here to defeat Krong. Caelus sent me.”
Lieutenant Parker’s eyes narrowed at me, but she didn’t squeeze the trigger. I felt like that was a good sign.
“How did you come to know Caelus?”
“That’s really a long, complicated story.”
“We’ve got plenty of time.”
I gave her a brief history of events.
“You expect me to believe that?”
I know it must have sounded like a tall tale, and I didn’t blame her for not buying into it a hundred percent. “Look, lady. I don’t care what you believe. But the fact is I’m here. And the only way I’m getting out of here is by defeating the game. Excuse me for trying to make a difference and help you people.”
“You’re such a moron,” Parker grumbled.
“Excuse me?”
“Caelus and Krong are one in the same.”
My face twisted up, perplexed. “What do you mean?”
“Krong has infected Caelus’s neural network.”
“That’s what he said. That’s why I’m here.”
“Fool. He wanted you in the game so you couldn’t tamper with his neural network from the real world. Now you’re stuck in here, just like the rest of us.”