Know Thy Enemy

by Dawn Chapman

  Drayk’s eyes widened; he held out a hand for Pierce. The scales on the outer edging were what interested Pierce the most, instead of gripping his hand in the usual handshake, he held it gently, bringing it closer for inspection.

  “I’ve seen this before,” he said. “These markings…. where have they come from?”

  Drayk pulled his hand back. “They’re mine, unique to me alone. You can’t have seen these.”

  Pierce remembered back to a dream before the car accident. “Leenz,” he ordered, “get us out of this room, now. And get me a pad or something to draw on.”

  Drayk eyed the both of them with grave suspicion, but then he nodded. “All right, let’s see where this goes. You’ve got my attention, but I have to ask if I can call back my friends. Haal was outside this room, hiding from you, plotting a rescue.”

  Pierce glanced to the other side of the cavern walls. He couldn’t see the two men who had snuck off, but he knew Drayk was right. The problem was, there’d be three of them and only two on his side.

  “Call them; let’s see what they plan on doing.”

  Drayk shouted, but Graylin was the only one who answered. “I’m healing. Haal had to leave. If you can, please help pick me up.”

  Drayk motioned to the other side, just as a wave of pain hit Pierce. Pierce said to Leenz, “You go with him, get the other guy, and bring them out of this room. I trust you.”

  He had not wanted to admit that he did. After the whole ”pill” saga he thought was false, he wanted to ask her about it now. The woman and her skills had grown on him. She was slight in thought, quick in temper, but smarter than anyone he’d met before.

  Leenz nodded, moving away with Drayk. Pierce made his way back to Chopper in the back tunnels, then pulled his monstrous growing creature to the other side, west of the cavern to wait for them. He heard talking, mumbling behind him. Raising his weapon, his torch lit up the room. There appeared Leenz with Drayk and the larger Maxol.

  “Are you feeling any better?” Leenz asked, placing a hand on his shoulder. Pierce wanted to push her off, but he couldn’t. The concern and the emotion from her were nice. Something he didn’t have. His thoughts turned to Wayne, all the time they’d shared, the good, the bad. He tried to think once more on the dreams he’d had back then.

  “Something to draw on?” he asked, Leenz pulled out something for him, with a digital display.

  “I’ve never met you before,” he said, noting the markings on Drayk’s hands. “You’ve got those running up the back of your arms. Your spine, correct?”

  Drayk nodded, but he was confused. “We both do, it’s pertinent to our family tree, our lineage.”

  “Then how do I know this…” Pierce drew the intricate shapes, and markings that no one had ever seen before.

  The lines formed in his mind. Pierce just copied them. Leenz moved to Drayk, spinning him around, pulling the back of his T-shirt up.

  The designs matched. He let out a loud, “Wow, I do not understand how two aliens, a million light years apart could have that connection.”

  Pierce put the device down, stroking the side of his head.

  “Still in pain?

  Pierce shook. “No, I…” he plonked himself down and Chopper nuzzled into the side of his head, the large thick blue tongue licking cautiously.

  “I feel better,” Pierce continued, “I just…” he looked to Drayk. “I feel like I’ve found something I’ve been missing my whole life.”

  When his eyes met Drayk’s, a spark of more than recognition crossed between them.

  Drayk tucked his shirt in, held out his hand again. “I do too, like a brother has just come home.”

  Pierce took his hand this time. Drayk pulled him in close. “We have a lot to talk about, a lot to do. This place is evil. I want to get in deeper to see what the wiring is like. There’s spots in the walls that look and feel odd. I can see the differences in them. I know you feel it, but you can’t see it. Let me be your eyes, you be my emotion.”

  Drayk breathed in the scent; he was now almost nose to nose with Pierce. Their skin touched along his hand and arm yet it didn’t feel wrong, or anything other than brotherly friendship. “There is indeed a lot for us to do. We’ll get there.”

  “For now, let’s move in deeper. See what comes up.”

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Drayk

  Drayk agreed there was more to this than anything he’d ever felt before. Pierce was a complex character, not only in the game but in his real life.

  When they’d touched and were close, Drayk had got a taste of his pheromones. The person underneath them was terrified, at home inside the game, but scared by the pain he was in. Drayk didn’t understand the pain, but he wanted to.

  Drayk wanted to do something for Pierce, but he could only talk, see what fears and issues he had. Hope they‘d become friends.

  The tunnel ahead was something they’d all have to tackle together.

  Drayk flicked the side of his pop up screen, without thinking sent an invitation to both Pierce and the woman he was with.

  The woman instantly replied, “I can’t.”

  Drayk glanced at Pierce raising an eyebrow. He asked, “She’s hiding a lot from us. Do you think we can really trust her or anyone else?”

  Drayk stepped forward, lowered his head to Leenz. “Whatever you’ve done in your past, whatever you are now, that doesn’t matter. It’s what we do from here. A future, for not only us but those we love, those around us.” Drayk motioned to Pierce and Chopper.

  Leenz nodded. Within a second, she’d accepted the request to join their party.

  Pierce was a little slower. “I never thought to even ask you,” he said to Leenz, “I’m sorry.” When he accepted the request to join, Drayk let out a gasp.

  Drayk saw both their stat sheets in full. Leenz was something else, but with Pierce, he almost took a double take.

  The inside of Pierce’s head was full of nanites. “You don’t know, do you? The reasons why we’re connected?”

  Pierce and Leenz stared at Drayk; he stepped forward. “There are nanites in your head. Not just normal ones either. They’re like mine; they’re unique. It was my father who created them. They also need re-programming. They’re supposed to encourage you away from the game with pain, hallucinations, much more. I need a lab, a computer station. Or your suffering will continue till you break down.”

  Something clicked in Pierce’s head as the recognition settled. “I’ll cope for now, but you can fix them, right?”

  Drayk wanted to say yes for sure, but maybe the only lab he could do this in was back with Altus. “I think so, if you’re sure your resolve stands.”

  Pierce turned to Leenz, slugging her in the arm. “I knew you lied to me about that pill. I could kill you now; you wouldn’t blow up.”

  Leenz’s eyes lowered. “At that time, it was the only thing I had to keep myself alive. I’m sure you understand; hope you’ll forgive me.”

  Pierce, held his fist out to her; she bumped it with hers. A gesture Drayk wasn’t aware meant anything. When Pierce held his fist out to Drayk, he reciprocated the gesture.

  “I’ve never seen stats like Leenz’s before; I believe she’s been here from the very beginning.”

  Leenz smiled. “I’m an elder, yes. I know everything there is about this planet as it’s mine. I know everything about the players inside it.”

  Drayk believed now more than ever that something was amiss. He leaned in, “As the lowest level, you’ll still have to stick to the back, but we’ll be fine with Leenz leading the way. She has more energy, power than some paragons I’ve met, those who battle the largest monsters.”

  Leenz moved away, leaving the two guys to talk.

  Drayk didn’t move from his spot, but he did inch closer to Pierce. “I have some thoughts as to who and what has done this, but I need to confirm. This isn’t a dungeon, it’s much more than that. I see through the walls with the nanites help, and I want to know more.”
>
  “It’s a spaceship, isn’t it?” Pierce said, putting his hand over his mouth.

  Drayk’s mind whirled, “How did you know?”

  “A guess, I think I saw something earlier. We came through a terrible place to get here. The Araratian dead haunt the mountain. The worst thing I’ve ever been through. And there was something in there that haunted before, before we came.”

  Drayk thought back to his visions, the massive ships that were blasting away, the mages that fought for their planet’s life.

  “I know what happened here; it was the Araratian’s final battle. They brought down an alien mothership with their magic powers.”

  “So, it is a ship?”

  Drayk’s eyes flicked to the walls. “All of it, from the top to where you came in. I believe so. I also believe the monsters in here are meant to put off players.”

  “We can beat them though, right?”

  “No, not now. We need many more people, but we can come back.”

  “You mentioned a village with mixed species, yes.”

  Drayk motioned toward Leenz. “We’re pulling out.” he shouted.

  Graylin’s eyes widened. “But your mission?”

  “My mission is not to follow this stupid game,” Drayk said while slapping the side of his head. He turned to Pierce. “Would you do me a favour?”

  Pierce watched as both Graylin and Leenz walked back over. “Depends.”

  “I need you to kill me. I need to die. Now, so my nanites will do whatever they must. That will allow me to return to the village on my own terms.”

  “You’ll be bound to Altus though.”

  “My brother is already on his way to fight the Arkillion war. This mission was bogus. This game isn’t just a game. It’s much more than that. I don’t know or understand the full story. But my father planted seeds for us to follow. I need to die, Pierce.” Drayk turned to him. “You need to shoot me now. Then follow Graylin back to the forest to the place where we first met. I’ll meet you there in a couple of days.”

  Pierce grabbed Drayk’s hand, pulled him back in, raising his plasma rifle to shoot at point-blank range. “I’ll not betray you,” Pierce said, and he pulled the trigger.

  Pain shot through Drayk’s body, more severe than anything he’d ever felt. Or even thought was possible inside a game.

  There was bright light, motion to his left. But someone else was with him. “You’re all right,” the voice said. Female. Amy?

  Drayk coughed, the pain intensifying. He saw thousands of tiny blips forming across his vision. Then his master nanite appeared.

  Mission completed.

  “You’re ready my son.” A familiar voice said. “Win this. For you. For us. For everyone.”

  Drayk opened his eyes, staring into Amy’s pale irises. Her smile wasn’t there, but concern was. When he carefully turned his head, Altus watched him.

  “You’ve been gone much longer than I thought you might. You don’t realise what you have done at all do you?”

  Altus reached, placed a hand to Drayk’s forehead. Drayk didn’t pull away. Something there, he felt it.

  “Altus, I’m… not…”

  Altus helped him to sit up. “Our species is a complicated one. You feel my intentions. They’re the truth of my emotions. I hoped it’d be Drei who came, but you did.”

  Drayk didn’t pull away. He stared into the village leader’s eyes. He now wanted to defend him with everything he had.

  “What happened out there?”

  Drayk wasn’t sure if he could tell him. “I met my human brother; we have allies as old as the planet, as old as the war.”

  A smile crossed Altus’ face. “I knew it, but there’s a lot you don’t know. We must talk soon when you’ve recovered some.”

  Altus allowed him water, then food, “Come see me when you’re ready. We’ve a lot to talk about.” He’d left, allowing Drayk to recuperate on his own terms.

  Drayk dressed in the clothes provided for him. A guard pointed in the right direction; he still felt a little on the dazed side but wobbled down the corridors.

  Moments later, he knocked on Altus’ door and waited.

  A shout came a moment later. “Come in, Drayk.”

  Altus stood with Haal, and Drayk had to do a double take. “Drei’s fine,” Haal said. “We both saw Cale off to the shipping centre earlier this morning.”

  Drayk stepped into the room, closing the door behind him. “What’s going on?”

  “This…” Haal pointed to a large 3D map beneath them. “Is the army heading our way?”

  Drayk stepped closer to look. The map was detailed, and he recognised where they’d just come from, where the army was settled.

  “How long till they get here?”

  “We’re still estimating, but they’ll not cross over the mountain pass from their side till winter is over. We have around a month left. The winds over this pass are so much harder to cross, and the snow’s beating you back alongside freezing temperatures.”

  The 3D map of New Ararat was split, four sides, four climates. That kind of made sense, but for a full planet… No, there should be real seasons, not one massive complex unit where the seasons did what they wanted.

  “How come you’re here, Haal?” he asked.

  “I knew I had to head back.” He held up a hand, holding a device. “Gives me an instant transfer to a pre-set location.”

  Altus placed a hand on Haal’s’ shoulder. “Haal’s my second in command here, our trainer.”

  “That explains a few things. What about the guild?”

  “Just a cover, we work inside their rules for raids, but they knew when the time came we’d separate. The time is now. I also went to the guild’s leaders; with their backing we’ve more of a fighting chance to save this place.”

  “The guilds are joining to help fight?”

  “Drei was the one that persuaded them; she has a great way with words.”

  “Torin?”

  “He took a little more to convince, but he loves his sister. It seems she loves you.”

  Heat rose up Drayk’s neck; he couldn’t meet Altus’ gaze.

  “I… don’t know.” Drayk fumbled.

  “What happened with the two you were with?” Haal asked. “How did you die?”

  Drayk placed a hand on the table, and met Altus’ stare. He couldn’t read what the young leader was thinking or feeling, but he knew he didn’t feel the same. Or do I?

  “The human man has the same nanites in his system I have. The Araratian with him is a scientist from the earliest days on New Ararat, before the planet fell to the powers which brought us here.”

  Altus folded his arms and glanced to Haal. “That doesn’t explain how you died.”

  “I asked him to kill me.”

  “But you had a chance to complete your quest.”

  “Maybe, but there’s… didn’t you notice anything different about my body when I was re-born?”

  Altus tapped a few keys on the computer’s main readout, a 3D image of Drayk’s body. Something about it was different. Altus looked closer, “Would you allow me access to your stats?”

  Drayk nodded, but he already knew what’d happen. He sensed it in his bones.

  Character Name

  Drayk Vellis

  Age

  18

  Level

  Unknown

  XP -

  Unknown

  Stat Points

  Unknown

  Talents—Empathy

  15/20

  Talent—Eeksah Trained—

  Kildros Daggers

  50/100

  Health

  100/100

  Mana—Level 1—Trainee

  30/100

  Stamina

  50/100

  Armour

  50/100

  Strength

  25/100

  Intelligence

  80/100

  Wisdom

  50/100

  Constitution

>   50/100

  Agility

  50/100

  Luck

  80/100

  Charisma

  100/100

  “This can’t be possible. You’re showing an exponential increase across the board.”

  “My little friends gave me a boost. They said I needed to die to unlock something my father left for me and it did. What you don’t see in there is the real truth.”

  “Level unknown?” Haal’s eyebrow raised. “You’re not part of the game anymore, are you?”

  “Correct, no longer tied to anything within the systems here. Not to you, not to anything. No one can see me unless I let them.”

  Altus’ jaw dropped. “Off the grid in every respect?” His face pale.

  “I think my father managed to get across to their system. The human, Pierce, can also be like me, I believe. Pass the nanites across, be it through some weird way he touches, across the net, I don’t know. The technicalities of that are astounding, but there’s programming in him which matches only the one thing. I need to sort it out before he’s hurt more, then he too must die.”

  “Where is he, the human?”

  “I told them to wait for me somewhere safe. I needed to know you’d allow me this freedom. Trust me?”

  Altus stared at Haal, and his eyes said everything. “You’ve known his brother a long time. How do you feel?”

  “I’d trust both of them with my life.” He didn’t hesitate, but he added. “Drayk really needs to get his levels up though. I can’t go easy on him.”

  Haal nodded. “I’ll pack us some gear. We can head out after the evening meal. There’s been a lot more pirates and bandits in the forests than before.”

  Drayk nodded. He knew of one who’d almost be certainly looking for him. Zelak. “As long as we keep away from some places, I think we’ll avoid them.”

  Chapter Thirty

  Drayk

  Drayk’s alarm went off earlier than he wanted. He sighed, stretching before he got out of bed.