Know Thy Enemy

by Dawn Chapman

  Leenz pulled the rifle from a corner, threw it to him. Pierce checked the ammo. Empty. “I’m not a fool, Pierce.” She rubbed her hands together. “You needed to defeat me to get your instructions. Now we’re in this together. There’ll be no guns between us. I do this as a sign of good faith. I could have tortured you to get the information I needed. Then I could shoot you, shoot your beast, go on with my life. But I’m not going to.”

  He was too tired to argue. Instead, he sat back down. They remained silent, until she started again. “Call it honour, or whatever you want. If you don’t want to tell me what we are facing, so be it. But you won’t get rid of me.”

  Leenz handed over some sort of tea; it wasn’t bad. They drank it and divided one of her ration bars.

  When Pierce spoke again, it was only to ask, “Does this happen every single day?”

  Leenz smiled. “Let’s say I was lucky today. It’s not like this everywhere on the planet. This winter’s one of the main reasons we don’t inhabit this region much. The forest and the planet’s freezing conditions aren’t nice. I guess that’s why they chose here to build their scientific bases.”

  Pierce chewed his ration, with its cardboard taste, dry, but filling. There was a lot about New Ararat he still had to learn, but having a native guide certainly helped. Although a pain in the ass, she was growing on him as much as Chopper had.

  HEALTH—80/100

  “Who is Wayne?” asked Leenz.

  Pierce almost choked. “Where did you hear that?”

  “You kept talking about him when you were unconscious,” she explained. “Just kept repeating it. Please, Wayne. Help me, Wayne. Wayne, I need you here.”

  Pierce smiled, remembering. “Someone I have back home,” he said. “He’s the only person I have left. And he always knows what to do.”

  “Are you going back after this is finished?”

  “I don’t know,” said Pierce. “Am I?”

  Though Pierce’s thoughts often wandered to Wayne and his real life, they didn’t speak for the rest of the night.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Drayk

  The cool voice coming through to them startled Drayk. “I know you’re scared, but please let me help.” Amy.

  Drayk noted his popup—

  HEALING BUFF—INCREASED HEALTH FOR FIVE MINUTES.

  His health stopped dropping, and his focus increased. The operation and now this was clearly too much for his ‘fresh’ in-game status.

  HEALTH—35/100

  FOCUS—50/100

  “Who is she?” Drayk asked, his mind wandering back to the pink lady. “Why is she here?”

  “Amy was injured, when I first came to New Ararat. I was the one who spotted and helped her.”

  “I still don’t get why though.”

  “Concentrate, Drayk, you need to find out what that is.” Altus pointed to the large nanite. “Do you think you can?”

  There was something in Altus’ face which told Drayk he wasn’t so sure. Drayk didn’t want to fail. I have to do this. His knowledge of his father’s tools, his trade—science—would really help here.

  I can, I can.

  Drayk allowed a connection through to the robotic nanites. There was a tiny light, flickering. Instinctively, Drayk knew that was the reason for the red dot. When he questioned it with a code, the lights flickered to amber. A positive, right?

  Drayk took it as such, moved forward with the next response.

  This time he made it blink green: a pop-out screen opened to his right, several lines of code whirled past.

  So, so fast, Drayk struggled to understand, to read it, then process it for a response.

  “What is it doing?” Altus asked, but Drayk didn’t have time to answer.

  One section of code he paused over—a question from his father. His father had known there’d be a time when Drayk might delve into the Virtual world, and would want access to the inaccessible. The question stung.

  Drayk backed away, wanting to push Altus away, but Altus held on to him. “Whatever it is, you can do it. Just don’t think, act.”

  It wasn’t just a question. It wanted an emotional response, a reaction to something even Drayk wasn’t sure of.

  “I can’t,” he stuttered. His body started to shiver, to shake so uncontrollably. There was nothing he could do to stop Altus from shaking with him.

  Altus took off his jacket, covered him. Although there was comfort from it, it wasn’t what he really needed. Drayk wanted Cale here; in fact, he needed Cale here to help process what he was about to say.

  Drayk stared at the tiny robot whose blinking light had flickered back to red:

  ACCESS DENIED

  BUFF EXPIRED

  Drayk’s focus dipped again.

  He brought the programming screen back up. Attempted to access the code once more, to alter it. To move, change some of what he saw. Pain erupted through his chest. He turned away and hit the chamber walls. The counterstrikes against his code changes from the robot were fast, so fast, all he could do was try and be faster. Together, he and Altus re-wrote the code at incredible speed.

  There was a scream. Something really bad, something Drayk knew he had no answer for.

  Then a pop from the robot, and it vanished, leaving a note for him.

  Drayk read it, then looked to Altus. “My mother, she—wasn’t my mother.” Drayk understood the ramifications. He had no idea what it’d mean if the authorities found out.

  But more to the point, who was his mother?

  HEALTH—15/100—DANGER TOO LOW

  FOCUS—10/100—DANGER TOO LOW

  STAMINA—5/100—DANGER TOO LOW

  Altus dropped the connection within and stood back from the chamber. “What do you mean? Your family name has been around for many years, your reputation—”

  Warning signs everywhere. Flashing lights lit up the room. Altus turned to face him. “What was that?” A screen finally moved to the front of their view.

  INSIDE DEVICE—DEACTIVATED

  When Drayk glanced back to his health bar, it flickered on its last ten percent.

  HEALTH—10/100—DANGER TOO LOW

  FOCUS—5/100—DANGER TOO LOW

  STAMINA—3/100—DANGER TOO LOW

  Altus called for help, but he didn’t move away from Drayk. “You did it, but at what cost? You need warmth. Rest.” He wrapped him back up in his arms until a blanket and heated pad arrived.

  “Feels better, thank you.” Drayk squeezed Altus back, although for a moment it felt uncomfortable. It eased his mind.

  Altus smiled, eyes twinkling. “Good. Drink, we can replenish some of that energy with this.”

  Drayk felt a straw at the side of his mouth. He sipped, and read.

  YOU’VE BEEN GIVEN ALTUS’ HEALING POTION

  Instant release flooded through him. When the liquid was gone, his focus seemed to return.

  “You need real food now.” With a tug, a step, they both rose; even with shaky legs Drayk still managed to walk. He was handed some clothes: soft silken slacks and a shirt. It felt wonderful against his skin; he savoured the warmth it gave.

  Altus watched him closely. “Ready?”

  Drayk nodded. “I’m famished. Hope there’s something tasty in here.”

  With a laugh, Altus led him down a corridor toward the smell of fresh baking bread.

  Sitting at a table, Drayk waited as Altus fetched their food.

  Drayk took a cup: a warming liquid. It tasted sweet and filled him with hope. His steady red status bar took on a different glow as it started to refill with energy.

  “What do I owe you for this?” Drayk asked.

  “For what?”

  “For all of this…” Drayk motioned around the room. “There must be a price for bringing me in through the back door?”

  “There’s a price for everything, yes. I didn’t want to burden you with things like that, considering you’re actually trying to better yourself.”

  “I’m not bothered about me, b
ut I want safety for Cale.”

  “Cale is your partner?” Was there a hint of jealousy there? Drayk wasn’t sure.

  He shook his head, drank more, “My twin brother. I thought I told you all this?”

  “I am really forgetful sometimes.” Altus tore off a hunk of bread to butter. There was something different about the butter, something very tasty. Almost as if it were real.

  Drayk wanted to try everything here; this was a whole other world. He put his hand to his chest, where there used to be an inner thrumming, and felt nothing.

  Altus broke in on that musing. “What did you do in there? How’d you re-program the bot so fast? I’ve never seen anyone work like that before, ever.”

  “School, but I see it differently. I like gizmos, other pieces of equipment. Science fascinates me. There’s a section in a smaller game I used to play with Cale. I’ve had some time to perfect the ways I worked, thinking on the spot with electronics, code.”

  “I can see that. You’d be valuable to have, here in this community.”

  “I can’t stay,” Drayk said. “There’s a quest in here with my name on it. I know it. Something that’ll save Cale. Will save this…” he looked around, then waved to the window at the room’s far end. “It’ll save the world outside. Our world.”

  “I don’t think it’s possible.”

  “You never heard the fight was for a new world? A place where everything was perfect?”

  “A pipe dream your father played out to you many years ago.”

  “No, I believe it’s still in the cards. There’s a point to this ‘game.’ To being in here. It’s not just dungeons, finding artefacts, building cities, towns, or about the fighting stats.”

  Amy walked in. Her strange gait and pink skin seemed so weird in the room. All the other Maxol watched her curiously, but they weren’t hostile. They only moved away when she drew near. She took up some food and a drink, then edged toward their table.

  “I’d like to think something good will come of this game, something better.” Altus waved Amy away. Drayk sensed their need to talk more on this and many other subjects—subjects he didn’t want to broach just yet. Drayk could see that consideration written all over his face with his pinched forehead and raised eyebrow.

  “Do you have any idea what quests there really are?”

  Drayk shook his head. “I know nothing of this world. It seems everything my father did for me, was to prevent me being here. His decision has serious repercussions for Cale, too.”

  “Perhaps it was something to do with your mother?”

  That was something Drayk wanted to find out. Who is she? What is all this? What does it mean for Cale? For me? “Maybe I’ll find out, out there?” Drayk looked to the windows. “Maybe there’s a reason for not wanting me in the game.”

  “I don’t know,” Altus said. “I think you have to learn as much as you can. Do as much as you can.”

  Drayk met his gaze, “And that brings me back to the one question you never answered. What do I owe you?”

  Altus’ eyes blinked. “The highest price you can pay—your in-game life. You belong to me.”

  Drayk swallowed. “I don’t understand.”

  “This town is built with… It’s not been easy for any of us, we sneaked into the game. It fought tooth and nail to beat us back, to eradicate us.”

  “You want me to fight?”

  Altus nodded. “I need warriors, those who are capable of learning, of doing.”

  “Do I have a choice in this?”

  He could see Altus wanted to shake his head, to say no, but he didn’t. “There’s only one way out. You need to complete a quest for me.”

  Drayk could do this and still fight for Cale. For our future. Surely there was time and energy for that.

  “What quest? Tell me as much as you can.”

  Altus reached into his pocket, rooted around, then pulled out a disk. “I can’t tell you about it. You either accept it, work through it on your own, or deny it now. It may bring you your freedom… or nothing but pain and misery.”

  All very confusing, but Drayk wanted his freedom. Now that the Guild had rejected him, his mother wasn’t his mother. He wouldn’t be tied to Altus as well. As he reached out for the disc, Altus’ shoulders slumped while he looked away.

  Drayk read through the pop-ups, thought about how he might accomplish any of these tasks.

  QUEST FOR ALTUS

  YOU MUST REACH GRAGALOR’S MOUNTAINS BY MOON CHANGE

  YOU MUST COMPLETE THE INTERNAL DUNGEON IN TWENTY-FOUR HOURS

  So much to take in. Questions spun through his mind. How far away was this Mountain? When was the moon change? What kind of monsters would he fight along the way? Would he be okay levelling up, fight smaller ones along the way? He hoped so.

  The scrolling pop-up continued—

  REWARDS FOR COMPLETING THE QUEST—

  —ALL TIES WITH ALTUS BROKEN

  —BONUS— UNKNOWN

  —SKILLS— UNKNOWN

  ACCEPT—Y/N?

  It sounded too good to be true. He nodded. More for Altus than the voice in his head. “I accept.”

  Altus looked out the window. “I’ll allow you to stay here tonight, recuperate your strength, look around. You’ll have free rein. Talk to whomever you like. Learn as much as you can.”

  “You won’t talk to me?”

  “No. I want people to stay, Drayk. You’re leaving. I’m sorry, it’s nothing personal. I really think you’d do well here, but I can’t force you. However, I’ll give you this.”

  Altus stood, reaching into his pocket again, and pulling out another card. “On your science skills alone, I’d accept you back. You need only ask.”

  As he paused, Drayk watched as the energy seemed to drain from him. His eyes narrowed, lips curled. “You have two respawns. That’s it. Two chances to come back. The last one, your third is it, the end. “

  The card confirmed—

  GIFT, TWO RESPAWNS

  Drayk pocketed the card. “Thank you,” was all he could say. The more his thoughts wandered, the more he realised how special this gift was. More than amazing, he knew he could die in the game. He hadn’t known he could be brought back. To actually have more than one chance, that meant everything to him.

  But now, there was some semblance of panic, that dire moment he could never come back from. There was a point he also had to give up. It solidified in his mind. Two deaths, that was it. On his second rebirth he’d have to make the decision: carry on or risk death for real. Or take the next best opportunity: return to Altus to fight for him.

  To survive, he’d do anything, but to do what?

  Drayk watched Altus walk away, shoulders slumped. He seemed down on this decision to let Drayk take a chance on leaving.

  A few moments later, Amy slid next to Drayk with another steaming bowl. “Here. Marik’s pudding, it’s the best here.” Upon Drayk’s closer inspection, she added, “You’ll love it; you need the strength.” She indicated his health bar once more.

  Drayk took the bowl, digging in. The smell was delicious. “He let you choose, didn’t he?” she asked.

  On his nod, she had tears in her eyes. “Drayk, you realise this was our last card. You were our only hope.”

  Drayk put the spoon down, and asked, “What do you mean, only?”

  Amy’s tears spilled down her cheek. “There’s a raid party heading our way. It’s been scheduled for many moons. They’re coming to finally wipe us out.”

  Drayk swallowed and pushed away the pudding, its wonderful taste replaced by a sick feeling. “I can’t allow that.”

  “You made the choice to accept the quest. You have no choice now.”

  “When is this attack? I can to get to the mountain, complete the quest before the next moon change.”

  “There’ll be no time to train.” Amy stood, pushing herself away from the table. “I don’t expect I’ll ever see you again.”

  “I’m not like that,” Drayk tried to say a
s she walked away. “I could return, defend you still…”

  Amy didn’t face him, but her words struck hard. “The attack is less than two moon changes away.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Pierce

  “That’s the base, right?” Pierce first saw the facility at a distance. Gigantic, at least three times bigger than the previous one. Made out of some sort of dark concrete, casting a shadow over a large portion of the forest.

  Leenz stared at the sky. Pierce did the same, then realized there were no birds flying over that area.

  “Is there something I should know?” Pierce asked.

  Leenz pointed. “That’s the main lab of this section,” she explained. “All the others on the planet respond to it. Ferries come in, go from here to the other labs. If mutants took over here, they’d easily escape to the other labs.”

  “So, you think it started here?” Pierce asked.

  “Can’t tell. Stop here, please. I want to check something out.”

  Pierce ordered Chopper to stop his long-legged lope. Leenz jumped from Chopper’s back, climbed up the nearest tree. “Hand me your binoculars,” she said, reaching down, grabbing for them.

  Pierce stayed put, chewed a ration bar, tossed a bit to Chopper. This made them both feel better, his stamina renewed.

  Since they’d ridden a long time, Leenz had more than one chance to finish him. But she didn’t. Pierce wouldn’t go as far as saying he trusted her, but he was pretty sure she wasn’t interested in harming him. At least not yet.

  “So?” he asked as she came down. “Anything worth mentioning?”

  “You won’t have much trouble with this mission,” she said, giving him his binoculars. “That place is dead. Six watchtowers on the top, all of them empty.”

  “Doesn’t mean no one’s around.” Pierce helped her onto Chopper’s back. “Maybe you’ll find your resistance friends there.”

  Leenz shrugged. “Very unlikely. At least one of those watchtowers should be occupied. No sign of blood or shots, either. There was no fight to overtake this lab. Don’t think there’s anyone in charge at this moment. That can only mean the place has been evacuated. That…”

  “Or what?”