“I confess it took me a few tries to understand the installation process. Hannah had a lot more trouble installing that card game tournament monstrosity. Now she can’t stop playing it. She takes great delight in beating your shipmates.”
“I see. Alright, ok, unexpected to the say least, but not a bad thing.”
“Whys that? Gambling fits Hannah perfectly. Nadine doesn’t want anything to do with it, she stick to the forum. Apparently there’s an entire section dedicated to trading and she’s been spending her free time there. Personally, I don’t find the markets that entertaining.”
“At least she’s expanding her knowledge. Though, it is a subject only she could find fascinating.”
“One would suppose so. I believe Katarina is attempting a similar goal in a different way. She watches war documentaries constantly.”
“War documentaries?”
“Indeed. She followed a link from a thread that ended up taking her to the entertainment library. Would you believe she goes to sleep listening to them?”
Runner could only provide a noncommittal grunt before exiting the wagon.
Katarina sat in the drivers box, a slightly vacant stare on her face. Her eyes were clearly focused on an invisible interface menu floating before her. If what Thana said was true, and he had no reason to doubt her, she was deeply engrossed in a documentary about a previous war or conflict. Pressing a hand to her pauldron as he passed, so as to not surprise her, he lightly jumped down and stepped away from the wagon.
“Your turn Nadine, hopefully at the next town we can just dump everything for a profit and empty the wagon.”
“N-n-no, that’d be a wast-t-te. I won’t buy as much th-this time.”
Unwilling to allow Runner to continue the conversation Nadine hopped up into the wagon and disappeared inside. Grunting over being shut down so casually he turned his head to see Hannah walking up to him.
“Your own damn fault, idiot. She knows you won’t say no to her, so she’ll just use it to her advantage,” Hannah explained. Falling in next to her as the rear guard he could only chuckle.
“You’re probably right. Though would any of you prefer the alternative? Would you rather I ruled you all with an iron fist? Imposed my will exactly as I saw fit and did as I would? That’s how many others would do it. It’s how many others do act.”
“I wasn’t complaining ass-hat, I was explaining. And no, I wouldn’t prefer it. I’m not a masochist.”
“No, but apparently you’re a gambler. I hear you’ve been playing cards?”
“Yeah. I win more often than I lose but there’s a few card sharks on your ship.”
“Was it uh, hard to install? Did it make sense? Did Thana help you?”
“Hard to install? At first, yes. The damn thing wanted me to tell it what to do. I asked in the thread that it was posted in and they helped me out. Well, some did. Quite a few told me to read the fucking manual. A few offered directions and that worked. After that it was a piece of cake. The only part I didn’t get was something about my profile and how much it used. No idea. Thana said her little logic games thing only took one percent each.”
“Games? Plural?”
“Yeah. That stupid number one and a game about finding fucking firebombs. It didn’t make any damned sense. Cards though? Cards make sense. You should play with me. We could double our odds if we knew what each other had. In fact, if we-”
Runner didn’t reply but nodded his head as if considering her words. In truth he was considering the situation as a whole. Naturals were utilizing programs on a ship that they were in fact installed on as part of a larger program. This was coming pretty close to how some people believed the end of the world would come about. True AI that could utilize other programs. Not for the first time Runner wondered how bad things were getting.
How much could the server handle? Why did the capacity expand? Why did it expand by so damn much? What if it all crashed? Were they currently docked at an orbital station? Were they already under the care of engineers working to free them?
The one thing he knew for certain was that the Naturals in his care were more like people now. There was nothing left of their original programming at this point. If he wasn’t so terrified for the end result, he was sure that this would be classified as a scientific miracle.
He’d been level capped before they’d even managed to get the rest of the abilities for the starting classes. Hopefully in taking the next promotions he’d finally unlock the password to the admin controls.
He’d spent every night hammering at the login screen until he locked himself out for the hour. He doubted random guessing and brute force tactics would work, but he had the time to try. Why not?
It’d be a few hours more until the current password lockout expired and he could try again.
Warning, your Campsite has been invaded.
Stumbling over his own feet he started to fall before Hannah managed to catch him by the arm. Trying to steady himself he let Hannah guide him.
“The hell is wrong with you Runner?” Hannah asked, her voice edged with annoyance and concern.
“Err, sorry. I left the Campsite up the other day. I wanted to see if someone would enter it. We camped pretty far off the road and it wasn’t something you could really see from the road. I got a message to the fact that an intruder attempted to enter the Campsite. It could be random dumb luck but I don’t really believe in coincidences.”
“Fuck. You think it’s that Tim guy? The one who’s after me?”
“Ted. Ted Henshaw, and maybe but probably not. He wouldn’t find the Campsite, he’d be trailing you directly, wouldn’t he? You’ve got a quest marker, he’d have no need to deviate from the road, he could actually follow you just by watching the map. No, no this is probably Mr. Personality or the thieves guild. Damn. I really thought we’d lost them. All that work for little more than half a day. I mean, I’m glad we got even that much but I was hoping to lose them entirely.”
“Would they know that you’re now aware? Can we set up an ambush? Can we trap or imprison them or something?”
“They would have received a warning that they were entering someone else’s campsite. One must assume they’re aware they set it off. I’m unsure if that’ll speed them up or slow them down though. They’ll be more cautious as the trail us, looking for ambushes as they go.”
“If it were me? It’d speed me up and I’d try to catch you before dawn, when everyone assumes the worst of the night is over.”
“I’d have to agree. It’d be my own approach. Which of course this means it’s not safe to camp or sleep in the open tonight. We’ll use the benefits we have then as best as we’re able. Let’s see.”
Targeting the wagon Runner used Campsite on it directly. There was a momentary pause as the server considered this request.
A few seconds passed before the wagon suddenly became a campsite. Apparently it fell within the boundaries enough that the world could accommodate for it.
“Runner? Did something happen?” called Thana’s voice from inside the wagon. Having a campsite appearing on top of you would definitely set off a message alert.
A quick two step later and he clambered up the side of the driver’s box. Sitting down next to Katarina he patted her arm to get her attention.
“I left the old campsite up just to see if anyone would stumble across it. It so happens, someone did. We were really far from the road. It might just be paranoia, but I’d say we didn’t lose them. Whoever they are. We’ll need to start sleeping in shifts and throughout the day. We won’t be able to stop for the night if we want to keep our distance from them up. When we get to town we’ll sell everything and keep it empty, sorry Nadine. We’ll get better speed and more room for everyone to rest easier. Our best bet is to reach Crivel faster than they can close the gap. With the sheer number of soldiers and troops in the area we might just be able to lose them.”
Chuckling beside him Katarina shook her head, smiling. “Never easy, al
ways a problem with you.”
“Meh, you love it Kitten. Spice of life and all that crap. Any objections? No? At this point I’m open to any suggestions, ranging from doing nothing to going elsewhere.”
“Whatever plan we develop, we should be taking the quickest feasible route. Being able to recuperate in the wagon, is an unexpected boon that they will not have, nor expect. We simply don’t brake for anything and continue onward.”
“Run fast-t-ter t-t-than they can. It-t-t-temize the wagon and sprint, resting in between t-t-t-o recover stamina.”
“Turn around, prepare defenses, engage.”
“Set an ambush for the shits, cut them down before they can even respond. Lots of nasty things you can do at range.”
“All very valid plans ladies, I thank you for the suggestions. For now, let us do as Thana suggested and sleep. Hannah, Katarina, get in there too. I’ll drive the wagon.”
Brooking no nonsense he pressed himself against Katarina’s side, attempting to dislodge her bodily or at least give her the impression it would do no good to argue. Eventually she stood up and and stepped into the back, Hannah clambering in behind her.
“Runner-”
“I know Thana, it’s not very dignified. I’m sorry. If I can manage better in the future, I swear I will. I’m not looking, I’m not suggesting to join you, we can even close the flaps if it helps. I’d say take off any armor that takes up room, especially you Kitten, and get snuggly. You wanted an adventure Lady Death, you’ve got one.”
There was no response to that. In a few short minutes, each one of his party members had the icon of floating Z’s next to their name.
Runner kept himself looking straight forward and kept the wagon at the fastest setting. It didn’t require much thought really, agitating the horses when they started to flag was more than enough. He gave the animals another tap of the reins.
Speeding up once more the horses stayed close to their maximum speed. Runner was left with his crowded thoughts, nagging questions, and no answers.
Chapter 17 - Clash -
1:39pm Sovereign Earth time
11/01/43
They’d traveled the roads heading to Crivel for weeks. Only pausing long enough to sell their inventory they made their way northward. It was his turn at the helm as everyone else relaxed in the wagon. It looked like all four had fallen asleep swiftly. Everyone had definitely gotten used to living on the run, sprinting along that razors edge.
Judging from the forum posts he’d been reading this morning and speculations from players in the area, they’d be able to reach Crivel a day before the siege could start. Nadine wouldn’t be ready for her promotion but that wasn’t something they could wait on.
Twenty-four hours to finalize class assignments and get back out didn’t seem like enough time. There was no other option though, time marched ever onwards, and every day the graveyards received more tenants.
He needed to break his level cap and remember more. He only needed one memory. One stupid little memory that was all of one word.
Checking the number as he did every morning, he found it’d climbed up to twelve thousand in the graveyards. Every one an empty shell probably, a living zombie as it were. Each and every life was one more in his ledger he’d have to hold himself accountable for.
There were so many things he could have done better, that could have given him extra time, and with less headaches. Thinking of Hannah by herself she’d already cost him more than a few days. That doesn’t even begin to count for Thana or Katarina and the trouble that they caused with Mr. Personality. Mr. Personality and Miss Mystery.
Yet he had chosen this, hadn’t even considered differently at the time. Looking back there was quite a few choices he could have made regarding his followers that would have granted him more time or expediency.
Clenching his hands on the reins he could only be angry at himself, for these were his choices, no one made them for him. Squeezing his eyes to slits he turned his head to the side, as if he could escape the very road he was on if he couldn’t see it. Anxiety, anger, and fear had claimed the quiet moments, leaving him wrung out and upset. It was in these solitary times that the weight of it crushed him, pinned him in place, leaving him writhing in the agony of self doubt.
“Good evening, Heathen. Looks as if we judged your course accurately.”
Snapping his head up in the direction of the speaker, Runner narrowed his eyes. Pulling on the reins he slowed the wagon. Mr. Personality himself had just stepped out of concealment up ahead of him. He’d been crouched in the bushes on the road side, waiting.
“Bullard! To what do I owe the misfortune of your company to,” Runner said with a misshapen smile. Hiding his intentions with his open greeting he triggered a preset alert with a thought. A shrill alarm spun up in volume over the course of two seconds then went silent. Sleeping icon’s disappeared from all his comrades. Suddenly, his paranoia didn’t seem like enough. He hadn’t forced everyone else to set up macro built alerts, but he would be after this. If they got out of it.
“Runner? What are you-why? I don’t-how?” said a stern voice, stepping out from behind Bullard.
It was her, his mystery guest, the one who demanded his attention.
Yulia Orlov.
Memories of a woman he thought had been a previous ex jumped to the front, attaching themselves to Yulia instead of a different woman who looked very similar.
Staff Sergeant Yulia Orlov, of the 5th infantry, on her third tour of duty. Standing close to six foot she was definitely on the tall side. Long limbs, a pale complexion, and an athletic build, gave her the appearance of fragility. That couldn’t be any further from the truth considering what memories her mere name sparked into context. Muscles built from constant strength training lurked just beneath the surface and years of martial arts training.
He pulled out a memory he attributed to someone else but now pinned it to Yulia. Being manhandled by her easily in some of their bed play. While certainly attractive, her face would be described as handsome before anyone suggested beautiful. Large fiery green eyes were set in a mask that seemed to be permanently set in a frown. Her hair was a dark brown and chopped short in accordance with military statue, curling ever so slightly at the tips.
Many small memories that had no matching owner floated together to create a shattered picture of her in his mind. He learned nothing new, but instead found different fragmented memories that joined to create a larger picture. Emotions came boiling up from his stomach, demanding their presence be recognized.
“Hey there Jewels. Radiant as ever. I wish I could answer that for you but you’ll need to clarify. Wasn’t so much of a question as a collection of single words.”
Shaking her head she dismissed his tone, her arms folding over her chest.
“You’re still an asshole. How are you here?”
“Oh, this fine wagon of course.” Runner explained, slapping the drivers box. At the same time he sorted out predesignated commands to his companions. They were simple things but they’d get them moving. Mentally targeting Bullard he threw up a raid icon of a Red X over his head. It’d only be visible to his group but it would help indicate enemies. A moment later he targeted Yulia and gave her a giant Blue O in a similar fashion. “Traveling to Crivel to tell the truth.”
“By the Sovereign Seven Runner! Why are you on the ship. You weren’t supposed to be here. That was the point of it all. You were going back to teach, you said.”
“I wish I could tell you, but I have no memory of deciding to teach. Or how I ended up here. I’m afraid I’m missing quite a bit. I’m not sure if I’m more scrambled then others but I have a thought that I might be.”
Distance indicators to each of his companions changed, Katarina’s by only a meter. Nadine, Thana, and Hannah’s by thirty meters and increasing. A flash on his mini-map popped as several more raid icons appeared behind the wagon. A white skull, an orange Square, and a yellow Star. They were all marked and just on the side of
the road.
“Helpful as ever.”
Bullard had been looking from Yulia to Runner and back as they spoke. Yulia suddenly looked at him just as it appeared he was about to speak. Cowed by that look, Bullard remained silent. Yulia returned her gaze to Runner.
“Are you the only Commissioned?” she asked him.
Nodding his head he mentally clicked the symbols that were behind him and found they were the NPCs. He wasn’t able to determine their classes since they were just NPCs and named “Mercenary” but he had a good guess since they were in ranged ambush positions.
“I believe I am. When I did a user search it came up as four hundred and ninety-nine thousand with some change. The problem being that it wasn’t the full compliment. I suspect the bridge pods are non-operational.”
“Damn. Are we in orbit around home base or at our LZ?”
“I don’t know. Every external sensor is down. We can receive, but not send. I have access to the Admin panel and could theoretically change the game to make everyone immortal, log everyone out into non-hibernation, or even pause the whole game, but I don’t have the password.”
“Hence the trip to Crivel. You’re level capped and you can’t get your memories back until you class up, to level up.”
“Got it in one, yep.”
“Do-do you know how many have…?”
“I can guess. No one would be in a graveyard unless they were KIA. There are currently over twelve thousand people in graveyards throughout the game world.”
“By the Sovereign, that’s an entire division.”
“Yes, well, I’m working on it. I’m hopeful though. Outside access of the ships registry has been confirmed. They logged in and have been making changes to the program. I imagine they’re trying to stabilize and work on it. Haven’t been able to make contact though to establish Friend or Foe protocol.”
Yulia said nothing, merely watched him. Runner looked away from her to size up Bullard. Physically unchanged since he’d seen him at the cafe he looked like the very image of a knight.
Otherlife Dreams: The Selfless Hero Trilogy Page 25