Chapter 10 – Vanya
My eyes went back and forth between Edan and Jinx. Who else was in on this? What other players were hiding something? And how could Jinx not know about this? I had to ask. “Jinx, did you really not know about this?”
She shook her head and glared at Edan.
“Maybe your dad left you out of this on purpose. Do you think he’d have to know about your side project?”
She flipped her eyes in my direction. “Don’t you dare.”
Edan obviously enjoyed watching her fume and egged on the situation. “My, my, my. Hiding something else, eh? Iolite do tell.”
I looked over at Edan. “Jinx told me about one of the reasons we’re actually in this game.”
She finally got out of her straps and came screaming at me. I put my arms up in defense but just before I was in her reach Phineas generated a manifold that swallowed her up.
“I can only keep her there for a short time while we fly so you better get to the point.”
I nodded. As I spoke, I could see that they hung on my every word because no one really seemed to know the whole truth. “The Excisionist are taking family members and putting half of them in the game while the other half gets implanted with an Omega Wave Interceptor Device that controls their mind. There’s only data to support being safe in the game for sixteen days. After that, no one is sure what happens with either the device or the game and we’re the guinea pigs for this experiment. They are getting rid of anyone that’s not doing well in the game and there’s something bigger they want us for assuming we pass off the game.”
Wes seemed the most shocked by my speech. “What could they possibly want us for?”
“I’m not sure. I think we’ve got to get in to Alchemist’s Crypt and find her brother. Since he’s plugged into the game, we could find his location and then go after Jinx’s dad.”
Phineas cut in. “I think it’s better to get into his game files and personal files rather than find him. He probably wouldn’t tell the truth even if we held Jinx hostage as leverage to get him to talk.”
I shrugged. “His oldest two kids, a boy and a girl, both had the device implanted and the girl died when he pulled it out. His son however, had some success living in the game world here. He’d probably be the one to interact with.”
“I – Oh…sorry guys. I couldn’t keep her there anymore.”
Jinx rushed out of the Calabi-Yau manifold and flopped onto the floor of the ship. She snarled at everyone. “I could kill you all with one message to them.”
Mica was confused. “You’d really kill us?”
“In a heartbeat.”
He looked up at me. “Could she really do that?”
I nodded. “She could do almost anything with the help of Dr. Sonnet, Genesis, and Alchemy. They’re the ones helping her with her little side projects.”
Edan’s face dropped as he leaned forward and stared down at her. “I can’t believe they’d help you. If you really think they’re on your side then you’re definitely being played.”
Amber punched several buttons and then swiveled her chair around to see us. “You mentioned drugs before. What are they really up to and what are they injecting us with?”
I’d been too distracted to ask this question myself, but really wanted to know the answer. “Yeah, and why would you know about it?”
He sat back in his chair and folded his arms. “Why should I tell you anyway? You probably won’t believe me.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “At this point, I’d believe almost anything.”
Everyone nodded and awaited his response.
He shrugged. “Okay. Since we’re all getting everything off our chests, I’ll tell you, but you better not freak out about it.”
I knew I spoke for everyone but couldn’t promise they would take it well. “We won’t.”
“Fine. I’m actually a novitiate for the Excisionists.”
Opal gasped.
He glared at her. “Quit acting like you don’t know anything either. You’re one too.”
“No, I’m not. How dare you–”
“Oh, shut up. It’s not like they can do anything to you. You’re not even in the same room as them.”
I raised my brows. “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised by this. It makes sense that they wouldn’t let you play around the trash that came into the compound last.”
Edan rubbed his forehead. “It’s not like that, and besides, I’ve seen how you take care of Mica. I’d love to have something like that with someone, but instead I’m locked up on some level of the compound and can only interact with those of my same status–”
“Oh boo-hoo. You haven’t the slightest idea what it’s like to be bullied, go to bed hungry more often than not, and to be looked down on by everyone else around you. I’ve seen and heard things you’d never even dream of. I’d do anything to trade places with you, make sure no one ever treated Mica badly again, and to never have to feel like I’m an outsider.”
His eyes dropped to the floor. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize–”
I was annoyed with his lack of comprehension on the subject. “Of course you didn’t. None of you ever do. That’s why my parents brought us here in hopes of being equal, but it turns out that no matter what we try, society will always have classes and we’ll always be at the bottom.”
The cockpit was silent for some time as they let it all sink in.
Edan finally got up the courage to finish his thoughts. “Iolite, I don’t want to be like the rest of them.”
“So then don’t. If you’re really going to be an Excisionist, then do something different. Stop letting them control us and make everyone treat everyone else with respect. That’s really all we need. Respect and dignity.”
He nodded. “You’re right.”
I pointed at him. “I know I’m right. But what are you going to do about it?”
He sat up taller. “I’m going to start by telling you the truth. My mother is the head scientist over pharmacology. Her theory is that humans can be influenced by psychotropic compounds and genetically modified to inhabit a more perfect physical form.”
I didn’t quite grasp what he was saying. “So, you’re saying we’re being physically and psychologically changed?”
He nodded. “It’s more than that though. I’ve seen a suit that we are supposed to live in and transfer our consciousness into. It’s mostly like an exoskeleton to protect our easily damaged bodies, but it can do so much more and is controlled by our minds. That’s why we are in the tanks and have the headsets and glasses. This sheath is how we will be able to protect our soldiers and unify the world once we’ve subdued our enemies on the other continents. We get to be the test subjects, and what’s more is people like Mica and Amber will have enhancements that the rest of us can only dream of.”
Mica’s eyes lit up. “I could be a soldier? That’s so cool.”
I could tell he was intrigued and because of his youth completely unaware of the consequences. “Mica, there may be more to it than you think.”
He was giddy with excitement. “I don’t care, think of what I could do as a soldier. And besides, that’s what I’ve always wanted to be.”
Amber spoke before I could. “We’re almost to Tuman.” She turned her attention to Edan. “Want to explain why I would get more enhancements than the others?”
Edan hesitated. “Um, well, you have some…um, unique configurations in the synapses of your brain that can allow you to receive implants in your brain giving you the ability to remotely control weapons systems.”
I was flabbergasted. “They really think they can control the whole world with a bunch of kids in robot suits?”
“Well, yeah, I guess. Think of it this way, our technology is way more advanced than anyone else’s. They wouldn’t be expecting kids, plus if they train us now, we can enforce the laws of the land for many years to come and the sheaths will extend our lives so we can make a real difference.”
“
If you’re a soldier, then that means someone else has to be running the government. How do you plan to make a difference if you’re always fighting for someone else’s cause?”
“That’s where it gets a little tricky. Because my mom is what she is, I’d be the head of the new military and the Excisionists would have to have me on their panel meaning I’d have some influence on major decisions. And I wouldn’t let them send my men out unless I agree with their reasons.”
I snickered. “Your men?”
He cracked a smile. “And women.”
“Who says we’d fight for such a weirdo anyway?”
His smile grew larger. “Takes one to know one.”
Amber interrupted our banter. “We’re here.”
We all looked over at our leader. “What’s next Jinx?”
Jinx had been quiet for some time now and just sat on the floor against the wall of the ship. “Sounds like you’ve got a new leader to follow. I think I’ll leave you to it.” She tapped her headset. “Cygnet, get me out of this game.”
Cygnet’s sweet voice responded. “I’m unable to complete your request at this time.”
“Cygnet, code seven-seven-two-four.”
“Code acknowledged.” Seconds ticked by and nothing happened. Finally, a response came. “I’m unable to complete your request at this time.”
Jinx slapped her hand against the floor. “What do you mean you can’t complete my request?”
Cygnet didn’t hesitate to answer. “Jinx, your override code has been superseded by Genesis. You are to remain in the game until you can complete the final level, at which time your code will be reactivated.”
Panic entered her eyes. “Cygnet, you said there’s a limit on how long we can be in the game before our neurons could be damaged. How long have we been in the game?”
Cygnet’s response was shocking. “Jinx, you’ve been in the game for thirteen days while Edan and Opal started fifteen days ago. Neural protection from the initial injections lasts for sixteen days.”
Opal’s respirations increased significantly. “Cygnet, how can we get another injection?”
The answer was chilling. “Additional injections are currently being withheld to determine the effects on the subjects of the game.”
Opal’s tremulous hands covered her face as she tried not to cry.
Edan turned to Jinx. “What else do we need to pass off to get to Zerkola?”
“On Dobleest, retrieve the horns of the Cimmerian. On Verbinia, retrieve the cave spiders. Kill the glacier demon and retrieve the compass on Yargkee to be used for the labyrinth on Kaplya. Next, on Marxia build a ship that’s capable of transporting everyone to Zerkola. When we get there, we’ll have to use the items we’ve collected to make entry into the Alchemist’s Crypt and move up the ranks to pass off whatever the final objective of the game is.”
Opal started wailing. “We’ll never get that all done in twenty-four hours.”
Zuri pulled out a calculator and started punching buttons. “That depends. We could split into groups to pass stuff off after we do the two bosses that need more people, and then meet back on Marxia.”
I was skeptical of the timing and logistics. “How do we transport the groups if we only have one ship and one person that can fly that ship?”
She punched a few more buttons. “Okay, we try this. Amber takes us to Dobleest first and then to Yargkee. That will take maybe two hours at most. We drop a group on Verbinia, wait for the compass and then leave another group on Kaplya. She then takes me to Marxia where I start the plans for the ship while the rest of you finish the objectives. She flies back to Verbinia, then Kaplya, then we all meet on Marxia. That shouldn’t take more than four hours. That gives us roughly four hours to build the ship and get to Zerkola leaving us with about fourteen hours to get into the Crypt and finish the game.”
Although her eyes were full of hope, I wasn’t convinced we’d be able to stick to that timeframe, especially once we reached Zerkola. Opal wasn’t wailing anymore though, so I figured I’d keep my thoughts to myself. We disembarked from the Leyv and walked quickly to find the shipmaster.
Jinx had perked up some with the new plan and provided directions to improve efficiencies while we traveled on our way to the Kvadrat. “Let’s get this ship and get out of here. After we pass off the next two planets, we need to split into two groups of four. Crispin will go to Verbinia and Phineas to Kaplya since those are your home planets and you know them best. Wes, you can’t go to Verbinia without an oxygen pack, plus something to keep you warm so I think you should go with Phineas.”
Wes’s rows of teeth flashed in the light. “Done.”
“Opal, you can’t enter water either so go with Phineas.”
She nodded nervously while she wrung her hands.
“Edan, head to Kaplya too since you’re a desert dweller and can use your cloak to get places and steal the compass so they can get through the labyrinth on Kaplya.”
“Okay.”
Jinx looked over at me. “That leaves you, your brother, and me with Crispin. Mica can you make frozen tunnels with the water on Verbinia so we don’t have to swim?”
He nodded emphatically. “Yep. And I can make stairs if you like.”
“That might be good too.”
Crispin seemed slighted by the conversation about Mica’s abilities. “Hey, I can freeze water too you know.”
Jinx rolled her indigo eyes. “You just use it for weapons, what he does is more useful for this situation.”
Mica beamed with pride at the praise.
We finally reached the Kvadrat. It was a cubic building made from green glass surrounded by deeply fissured black barked trees bearing salmon puffballs for foliage. We entered the structure and Amber once again led the way to the pudgy Shipmaster Yardis. He was still sitting on his gilded chair with dozens of brightly colored curled tubes surrounding him. Each one was still connected to either a different pot of dark liquid or an instrument that emitted strange noises. I found myself staring at the small details carved into his beard, the rich embroidery in the long garnet robe he wore, and the pockmarks that littered his sable skin. He was such an odd character I couldn’t pull my eyes away.
Crispin interrupted the creature’s activities. “Shipmaster Yardis, I need a ship.”
The pudgy beast stared at him with crossed arms. “You again?”
“Yes. I need a ship.”
“You’re quite rude and I’ve no patience for this.” He wrapped his lips around a tube and pulled in a long draught.
Amber approached and pulled out a Bismuth Crystal. “I’ll trade this plus the Leyv for the Vanya. Do we have a deal?”
He eyed the cubic crystalline structure with greed. “I’d need something else to sweeten the deal. You see, ever since you left I’ve had many Tumans seeking a ship. Turns out, it’s becoming fashionable again to ride in something so elegant. I’ve already had two offers for the Vanya and one Bismuth and a little old ship simply isn’t enough.”
Jinx pulled out a second Bismuth and four coins. “Take this too.”
Crispin began to protest but was cut off by the Shipmaster.
He clapped his fat little fingers together and nodded. “Done.”
He turned back to his music making and his small assistant gave us the new card after taking our payment. We hurried back to the shipyard and immediately boarded the shiny new ship. It was twice the size of the Leyv with more room in the cockpit along with quicker travel and better weapons. The ship itself had many disintegration cannons on the exterior and there was a weapons room containing both armor and weapons upgrade stations. We took turns upgrading what we had while Amber flew the ship. She decided to wait to upgrade her items until she reached Marxia to keep us from losing time. Everyone seemed happy to be on the move again after the revelations about the game we were in.
When we got back to Dobleest, Mica brought us to the area where the Cimmerian lived. The creature was a massive black figure looming in the dista
nce. There were crooked horns atop the head and arms that were as large as tree trunks. The thighs were sinuous and covered in moss. It tore trees from the ground and tossed them like toys into a pile creating a haphazard tangle of roots and trunks. The health bar above this boss was incredibly long and I was glad we’d had the chance to upgrade everything before we encountered the beast. It turned and faced us with shimmering silver eyes as it hungrily stretched open its jaws. Reaching toward us were bulky crooked fingers ending in pointed claws.
The Excisionists: Book 1 Page 19