The Feedback Loop (3-Book Box Set): (Scifi LitRPG Series)

by Harmon Cooper

  “Yeah, I thought it was a mechanical spider for a moment.”

  “These send steam to the homes and buildings.”

  “What about all the smokestacks around the city?”

  “Mainly for ambiance.”

  “All of this is for show,” I remind the God-like NPC.

  He turns to the machine and looks up at the machine’s giant fly-wheel. “It is a work of art, if I do say so myself.”

  “That’s great and all, Ray, but we’re here on business.” I clear my throat. “Tell us everything you know about Tritania. Everything.”

  ~*~

  “I suppose we shall cut to the chase. When will you dive there?” Ray Steampunk asks.

  “Soon, today or tomorrow, we want to rescue Strata Godsick’s son. This may give us a leg up in our struggles with the Revenue Corporation,” I say.

  “You’ll kidnap him?”

  “No,” Zedic says, “we’ll rescue him from the glitch preventing him from logging out.”

  “How are you so sure that it’s a glitch that prevents him from logging out?” Steampunk asks.

  “Because, Strata wouldn’t have reacted the way he reacted if things were otherwise.” I recall the head Reaper himself attacking the barrier separating us as soon as Steampunk transferred the whereabouts of Godsick’s son to my inventory list. Even with his stupid mask on – there was real panic there. “It’s like this, Ray – things are heating up in the real world. There’s a federal investigation underway, Frances is in the hospital, and the Reapers may be close to getting over on us. Now who do you want to see win? The bad guys or the good guys?”

  “Isn’t it obvious?” he asks. Gears wind all around him as pipes rise from the floor. The pipes twist and turn, rearranging themselves into a throne. Steampunk sits.

  “You’ve just snapped your fingers and a throne appeared – not so obvious as to what side you’re on, pal. That’s some super villain shit right there.”

  Zedic snorts a laugh, which encourages me further.

  “Look, Ray, you and I – we – go way back. Remember when I saved your ass alongside my friends in Morlock?”

  “And I paid you for that in information. Plus, if I recall the situation correctly, I too saved you.”

  ‘are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

  He nods ever-so-slightly. “There’s a town here in Steam called Imperium, which has a famous landmark outside its city limits. The Laputa Castle Ruins are something that people from all over Steam vacation to see. The Ruins have recently been threatened by the Boilerplate Army, and I’d like to not have to rebuild them. In fact, an attack on the Ruins should happen … ” A panel on the armrest of his throne opens and a gauge extends out of it. Ray looks at the gauge for a moment and says, “The attack should happen within the hour.”

  “First, Ray, Christ man you’re an NPC NVA Seed – mouthful, I know – which means you don’t have to put on an act with us.”

  “An act?”

  “You know very well what time it is. You don’t need to look at some gauge to tell the time!”

  His sclera-less eyes relax as he smiles. “I wasn’t checking the time, Quantum, I was seeing how close the Wellsian War Machines are.”

  “Wellsian War Machines?”

  “Yes, steam-powered assault machines with three legs. About three or four stories tall. They have mounted Gatling guns and they’re quite fast, especially for mechanical tripods.”

  “So we take out the Tripods and you give us info?”

  “You scratch my back and I scratch yours. I won’t just give you information; I’ll give you something that will greatly aid you in Tritania.”

  I turn to Zedic. “What do you think?”

  “Could be fun.”

  “What are you packing? I have an upgraded Slice Bang I could let you borrow.”

  Ray Steampunk says, “No need for tiny weapons. I’m going to give you two something that will give you a true advantage over the tripods.”

  “Which is?”

  “A pair of Steam Enforcers.”

  ~*~

  We spawn on a cliff overlooking a vast valley filled with dense fog. Dagger-shaped rocks jut out of the mist like skeletal fingers, reaching towards the sky.

  “This must be the place.” Zedic stands with his hands on his waist and his back to the valley, looking up at a crumbled castle partially covered in moss. Portions of the outer wall have been heavily pounded and the remains of huge siege engines are littered about.

  Rocket: Beautiful, isn’t it? I once had a date here with the steampunk girl I told you about, Q.

  “Great.”

  Rocket: We nearly got to third base.

  “TMI.”

  Rocket: She thought the place was haunted, so she didn’t want to take off her top or anything.

  “Why are you telling me this?”

  Zedic says, “He has a point, Rocket, your love life with a steampunk girl doesn’t really help us at the moment.”

  Rocket: I was reliving the experience through your ocular data!

  “I hope you’re reliving it with your pants on.”

  Rocket: Sometimes I think you like to tease me.

  “Me?” I give the thumbs up to the sky. “Trust me, I’d never do that. Never.”

  Zedic picks up a saber pistol with a broken blade. He examines it, spins the cylinder. “Wonder why this one didn’t dematerialize?”

  “All for show,” I remind him as we move towards the abandoned castle. “I’ll tell you what I’m wondering – why would the siege gear be on this side? We’re at the back, right?”

  “I think so.”

  A golden sphere appears in front of us and Ray Steampunk steps out. Waves of light radiate from his body, cascade around him, form ellipses, and disappear. “It might be difficult to tell, but we’re actually at the front of the Laputa Castle,” he says. “There used to be a great land bridge extending across this valley named after my mother, Ada.”

  “And it was destroyed?” I ask.

  “Yes, that is what you see sticking out of the valley below. Ada’s Land Bridge. The Boilerplate Army attacked the castle with siege weapons and destroyed the bridge.”

  “Why’d they attack it?”

  “Because I used to live here.”

  “Here?” I ask, turning back to the mossy dump. “I mean, it’s big, Ray, but it looks more like the place the Count of Monte Cristo would have lived rather than Steam’s NVA Seed. Your airship is definitely more apropos. Ballsy too.”

  “I lived here when I was human. Once my human avatar died, the Boilerplate Army found out and attacked the castle.”

  Human avatar? I glance to Zedic just to see if he picked up on the phrase. If he did, he’s keeping a poker face.

  “I decided to leave the Ruins as they are and move to an airship. The player who discovered my secret was banned from ever entering Steam again and this place became one of the many famous sites in Steam. In a way, it symbolizes the death of my human avatar and my rebirth. As you know, humans must die, but NPCs can’t.”

  “You’re getting pretty cryptic on us, Ray.” I say as my mother’s face flashes before my mind’s eye. Considering her a human avatar minimizes the tragedy of her death. I open my mouth to say something more, but decide to hold back for once – how is an NPC supposed to understand the weight of a loved one’s death?

  “You said the Tripods were set to attack the Ruins,” Zedic says. “If so, why?”

  “Remember the giant engine back in Locus? Well, there’s a duplicate directly beneath us. If they got their hands on it … well, it would give them near limitless power.”

  “Shouldn’t there be something guarding the place?” I ask.

  “Come.” Ray lifts into the air and we follow suit. We descend into the valley, stopping in front of two enormous boulders.

  The earth shakes as huge mechanical legs tear out of the ground, pulling roots and overturning stones. Boulders bang and clank as they rearrange themselves to f
orm two massive Steam Enforcers with stone armor. As debris settles all around us and the steam hisses out of the mechanical monsters, Ray turns to me and asks, “Have you ever operated one of these before?”

  “I can’t say that I have.”

  ~*~

  Sitting in the head of my Steam Enforcer, I survey the landscape before me. The scrim of fog leaves the ground in a murky haze, almost giving it the appearance of a body of haunted water. My hands grip two finely wrought brass joysticks and my feet are on a pair of pedals. I turn left to see Zedic’s Steam Enforcer examine its Gatling gun. He shakes the weapon and spins its barrels to clear away the dirt and debris.

  Ray Steampunk: You and Zedic can communicate with me this way.

  “Over iNet?”

  Steampunk: Not iNet, just the in-game messenger service. Anything you say aloud will be relayed to Zedic and me on your display screen, just beneath your Advanced Abilities bar.

  “Isn’t that against the rules?”

  Steampunk: I make the rules.

  Rocket: I’m totally jelly right now – you guys have Steam Enforcers! Taking screenshots!

  “Jelly?”

  Rocket: Jealous.

  “Don’t get too jelly, kid. This thing is too big to put in my inventory list.”

  Steampunk: No it isn’t. Anything can fit in your inventory list.

  “You’re serious? You’ll let us keep these?”

  Steampunk: Yes, if you help me defeat the Tripods.

  “You’ll let us keep these and you’ll give us some help in Tritania?”

  Steampunk: I’ve already agreed to do that.

  “Why do I feel like you’re getting the short end of the stick here?”

  Steampunk: I’m sure I’ll have one or two other favors to ask of you at some later date. The length of the stick has yet to be decided.

  “I was afraid you’d say that.”

  Zedic: Give us some pointers on the Enforcers. How do we use these bad boys?

  Steampunk: It’s not particularly difficult. Left pedal is the left foot; right pedal is the right foot, similar to a bicycle. And before you ask: yes, I know bicycles are single-track vehicles which differ from the way a bipedal hominoid would walk. However, the process is nearly the same – pedal fast, run. Back pedal – walk backwards. Pedal slowly – walk.

  Zedic: What about sidestepping.

  Steampunk: Press both feet down and lean left or right.

  Zedic’s Steam Enforcer steps left then right, quaking the ground.

  “Alrighty, so it’s like a bicycle that would drive a physicist mad.” I move the joysticks back and forth and my arms move. The Gatling gun in my right hand comes up and down. “What’s the trick with the joysticks? Also, how do I goose it?”

  Zedic: Goose it?

  Steampunk: You goose it by pedaling quickly.

  “What about my AA bar? Can I crank up the juice that way?”

  Steampunk: You can, but you should be careful doing that. While powerful, Steam Enforcers can have problems with equilibriums.

  “Couldn’t you just fix that?”

  Steampunk: I could.

  “So why don’t you?”

  Steampunk: It makes things more interesting.

  A flash of red at the other end of the valley spells trouble; the Wellsian Tripods have arrived.

  “What about the joysticks? Any tips?”

  Steampunk: The red button fires your weapon.

  “How do I swipe my arm or move my fingers individually?”

  Steampunk: Look more closely at the joystick. On the front are four buttons and on the back is one button.

  “I see it.”

  Steampunk: Those are your fingers. Press them to release the finger.

  “So I can give a Tripod a pretty big backhand?”

  Steampunk: Indeed.

  “Roger that. One more question: how do I jump?”

  Steampunk: Your seat is spring-loaded. Stand slightly and sit down hard. The harder you sit, the higher you’ll jump.

  Out of the corner of my eye I catch Zedic’s Steam Enforcer hopping up and down.

  “Alrighty, bring on the Tripods.”

  Chapter Five

  The Wellsian Tripods, dozens of them, swarm towards us. They’re not too fast, but their numbers and their guns make up for their speed.

  I slam my feet down and kangaroo into the air, land directly on top of one of the Tripods and smash it flat, just as you’d illicitly crunch a Mandatory Recycle Under Penalty of Law aluminum beer can. It explodes underneath me; smoke and flame and debris fly up around me. I take full advantage of the target-rich environment that surrounds me; I fill the air with supersonic flying metal and the Tripods shred and burn and explode in a most satisfying manner

  Everything is copasetic until a Tripod vaults into the air and the water tower-shaped pod detaches from the vehicle’s legs. New legs pop out of the bottom of the Tripod’s head and it lands on me, attaches itself to the face of my Steam Enforcer.

  “What’s it doing, Ray!?” I jerk the joysticks left and right, but the Steam Enforcer’s arms aren’t bendy enough to reach around and peel the face hugger off

  Steampunk: I was not aware that the Tripods could do that.

  A panel on the pod’s belly opens and an enormous drill saw emerges.

  I press the joysticks forward and jump at the same time, which launches me into the air face-first. My Steam Enforcer face plants hard, crushes the pod, and saves me from an early morning mincing. My nose dive has, however, created another small issue.

  “How the hell do I stand back up in this thing?”

  Steampunk: Easy, lean back in your chair like you are trying to gain altitude. The exoskeleton will do the rest.

  I lean back like I’m shooting for the moon and the Steam Enforcer rights itself.

  “Back in business!”

  Rocket: Hey, Q, your swordstick has arrived. Do you want to log out and make sure it’s what you ordered? The drone is about to leave …

  “Not now, Rocket! Can’t you see we’re in the middle of something?”

  Rocket: Sorry, I logged out for a sec to take a piss.

  Zedic: I’m taking heavy fire!

  “I’m on my way!”

  My divemate is practically at the other end of the valley; the strobing bursts of weapons fire and exploding Tripods backlight his Steam Enforcer, but fog and distance and his erratic motion make it hard to get a good eye on the action.

  “Any long distance weapons?” I shout as I drop a fist onto the head of a Tripod.

  Steampunk: Blue button, left joystick.

  As soon as my thumb meets the button a series of three reticles crank down from the ceiling. Each of them is rimmed in brass, and each is larger than the one in front of it.

  I get the gist of the unnecessarily retro contraption pretty quickly. The reticles line up and I lock onto a line of three Tripods making their way to Zedic. Another press of the blue button and steam balloons into the air all around me. Rockets sail over my head and connect with the Tripods.

  “Here come some more, Zedic!”

  I launch three more steam-powered missiles and connect with another trio of Tripods.

  “Ray, give us a headcount! I mean, if you’re not too busy or anything … “

  Steampunk: You are doing better than I had anticipated. There are twenty-five left.

  “Thanks?” I say as I pedal my way over to Zedic. Steampunk was right – it is like riding a bicycle.

  Rocket: So should I sign off on the package or not? The EBAYmazon drone will only wait another couple of minutes or so.

  “Yes, sign off! Dammit Rocket I shouldn’t have to tell you this. Whenever there’s a weapon delivered sign off, especially if … ” I sideswipe a Tripod, sending it straight into a large pillar of solid rock. “Especially if Aunt Samantha is paying for it!”

  ~*~

  It doesn’t take us long to clean up shop. The Wellsian Tripods really are no match for our Steam Enforcers. I take my time
with the last one, pulling it apart one leg at a time as it fires its weapon at me.

  Zedic: Having fun over there?

  “A little,” I say and I pull off the last leg. The pod is on the ground now, twitching. I drop my foot on it to finish the job. “Well, Ray, we’re done here.”

  Not knowing how else to disembark, I throw both joysticks out and jump at the same time, landing belly down on a pile of Tripod carcasses. I’m out of my Steam Enforcer seconds later, admiring my handy-work.

  “The purple button on the vehicle’s dash lowers you to the ground and places you in a better position to disembark,” Steampunk says. He’s floating above me now, casual as ever.

  “I’ll remember that for next time.”

  Zedic disembarks the correct way – his Enforcer crouches into a spectacularly large doggy-style position. “That was awesome,” he says as soon as he’s out of the cockpit. “Seriously awesome.”

  “I am glad you enjoyed it,” Steampunk says as he lands in front of us.

  “So, are you going to fulfill your part of the bargain or what, Ray?” I ask.

  “I am an entity of my word; please step off the Steam Enforcer.”

  The Enforcers shrink; once they’re down to fire hydrant size, their forms waver and two golden gears appear.

  ‘add these gears to your inventory lists,” Steampunk says. “If you want to use your enforcer: equip the golden gear, drop it on the ground and step back. It will take about one minute to grow to its full size.”

  “Thanks Ray, I’m sure this will come in handy.”

  Steampunk says, “Rocket, you are their in-game monitor?

  Rocket: I am.

  “Excellent. I will transfer everything I have on Tritania to your account; the schematics, world maps, everything. Bear in mind that whilst I helped develop the fantasy world, some of it has likely changed. Tritania is a heavily modifiable world. The NVA Seed of the world, The Sage of Gotha, is a human player who believes deeply in the ability to mod and change the physical environment. Further, you should know that Tritania is an adventure world with turn-based battling. Foes will randomly attack you wherever you go, similar to the way an RPG plays. There will be dungeons, traps, large battles and everything in between.”