Initializing

by K. T. Hanna

  “I understand. I’ll take full responsibility for them.” She heard herself saying, not realizing she was speaking. Ava frowned, coming back from whatever daydream she’d floated off into this time. If she got much more absent minded, Shayla was going to kill her. Neither Shayla nor Jessa liked to talk about Mi-chael.

  “No,” she answered, frowning. For a moment his voice seemed uncharacteristic, wild. “I understand completely. Of course we want people to have the full immersion experience.”

  Again she listened, cocking her head to the side. It was hard to do, but she had to. “No, I can’t do that right now. I have too much going on with this launch. You’ll have to find someone else to test it on.”

  His tone of voice made her almost change her mind. Almost. She’d said no, and she had to be firm. She’d been told she was far too easy a pushover. “I truly can’t, Michael. Sorry.”

  His laughter filled her head, and she smiled at his joke, before a peal of her own laughter echoed through her office. “No point in playing Somnia if you’re not jacked in.”

  She terminated the call and turned to her calendar, marking in the delivery dates in both hers and their production group’s. A couple of minutes later, just as Ava was getting ready to go to lunch, Shayla popped her head in. “Thanks for organizing the shipments Ava. I don’t know where we’d be without you!”

  Ava smiled back at Shayla. The woman could sometimes be so scatterbrained, but she was brilliant.

  Real World Day 2: Somnia Online

  The cool wetness tickled the back of Murmur’s throat, tugging at her. Her consciousness slowly crept back from the precipice it had been standing on for however long. A pounding sounded close to her, regular and aching. And she realized it was her head.

  More of the cool liquid trickled down, and she tried to open her eyes, but the lids were extra heavy, and her head felt like it was the size of her bedroom. She tried to move, but ended up with a pathetic half wriggle.

  “Wren?” Someone shifted on the ground next to her, and then their voice was closer. “Wren, are you okay?”

  She tried to open her eyes again, but opted for her mouth instead. “S’okay. Hurts. Ish my head big?”

  He chuckled and she instantly knew it was Evan, Havoc. “Figuratively or literally?”

  “Shut up, you.” She already felt better. Slowly, with Havoc’s help guiding her gently, she sat up and blinked in the dull cavern lighting.

  “Mur!” She heard Sinister yell, almost loud enough to be dangerous down here. “You’re okay!”

  Murmur smiled, but it tugged on her hairline and made her cringe again. “I think I might have overdone it.”

  “No shit.” Devlish stood in front of her, his body casting a shadow she sorely needed. Even the dim light sort of smarted. “You worried us, Mur.”

  “Sorry.” She slowly pushed herself up to standing, Havoc at her elbow. “Didn’t mean to hold us up.”

  Jinna didn’t often speak, but he stepped forward, and cleared his throat. “Hold us up as much as you like. You made us not have to do a corpse run. I think you’ve earned the right.”

  “Thanks.” She smiled, glad to see everyone had survived. “I think I’m just going to rest for a few minutes before I cast anything.”

  While she knew that might slow them down even more, she also knew that her head wouldn’t allow her to cast any spells in this state. Add to that she was a little apprehensive about her new skills, and she wasn’t in the best frame of mind.

  Sinister walked up and leaned against Murmur. “Just don’t ever sacrifice yourself for us again!”

  Murmur pulled back. She studied her friend, concerned about the degree of worry reflected in Sin’s brow. “That’s like, what we do, hon. But I’ll promise to be less reckless next time, okay?”

  Sin grimaced and nodded before walking away.

  Hesitantly, Murmur focused on her own shielding, and activated it. No pain shot through her head, no amount of warning whatsoever. Apparently it wasn’t the baseline Mental Acuity skills that did it. More confident, she also activated her sensing net.

  “I’m okay. I should be able to Mez, but I’ll keep it at that for a bit. No Mind Bolt for a while.”

  Rash stepped forward. “That really hurt didn’t it? Like lingering hurt, not fleeting?”

  Murmur hesitated for a moment, but she didn’t have anything to hide from her guildies. “Yeah. Pretty much not a fan. I need to figure out how far-reaching consequences are.”

  “Didn’t you only just get the skills?” Mellow asked, picking some dirt out from under their fingernails.

  “Level ten,” she answered.

  “Exactly. Only just. If you’re supposed to watch how often you use it, I doubt that level eleven was where they thought—hey she’s already amazing at this shit, let’s give her unlimited invulnerability from bad side effects.” They paused, raising an eyebrow. “That is if I’m understanding these special skills right.

  Murmur sighed. “No, you’re right, at least I think you are. I’ll be more careful from now on.”

  Still, as they headed in slightly deeper, she wasn’t sure if she’d ever be able to bring herself to use the skill again.

  This go around, they were more cautious. As they approached the epicenter of the bandit operation, casters were more common. With multiple stuns, and several ways to take care of annoying casters, no one made Murmur have to step in and do anything fancy.

  While she was eternally grateful for the fact that none of them seemed to hate her for showing weakness, she couldn’t help but despise it herself. But the fact was, she’d been knocked briefly unconscious in a fucking game. In a virtual world, not the real world. When she logged off for her next break, she was going to have choice words with her mother.

  “Slow and steady wins the race.” Merlin intoned wisely as Dev, Rash, Veranol, and Havoc hit level twelve.

  Murmur’s perception of time was off, and she glanced at the in-game clock, frowning. They must have been playing for ten straight real-world hours. Even with the boosted experience down here, that was an age.

  “Slow and steady is not getting dead.” Rash laughed. “Either way, let’s get everyone else up here.”

  Murmur deeply regretted not having grabbed her spells when she last went back to her guild. Considering the game had abolished that stupidly archaic inventory limit that plagued older games, she wasn’t going to run into the same problem next time. She’d get both her level twelve and sixteen lots together. A wave of excitement rolled over her, quickly followed by a bout of nervousness at the prospect of continuing on. After all, the thrill of gaming came with risk and reward, and this game’s risks seemed almost too realistic.

  Getting stronger, moving up through levels, developing strategies. If she could make a living by staying in the game, she’d choose that path over anything else. She was getting so used to the game now that it barely took a thought to activate her abilities. Weaving spells went faster the more deft she got at it, and she could juggle Mez, DoTs, and nukes with an efficiency of timing she hadn’t previously possessed. Keeping her shielding and sensor net activated barely took a thought now, but she still hesitated to use her psionic abilities. Maybe if she was more wary of using them, the next time they wouldn’t have such a disconcerting effect.

  Rashlyn dodged and dived, kicked and punched, bantering like a fool. “You’re looking all badass there, Dev. Sure that’s their soul you’re sucking out and not yours?”

  Dev grunted again, his habitual response it seemed, and Murmur laughed. Whereas Rashlyn was in lighter armor—leather from the looks of things—Dev was in full plate, shield and all. The dark aura that surrounded him once he was in tanking mode lent an aura of evil to his character. Murmur thought Rash had a point, and not only that, but the system, however it scanned them all, really did seem to have hit the nail on the head for all of them.

  “We’ve been down here too long.” Sin groaned as another set of mobs died. She prodded one with her foot
as she stretched her arms across her chest.

  “Not only that.” Merlin frowned as he sat and meditated. “Have you noticed these bandits seem to be getting a little smarter? Trying to find a way to line of sight them so I don’t accidentally pull two groups of them is getting more and more difficult.”

  Murmur frowned. “Think we’re going to have to adjust our pulling strategies as the opponents level up?”

  Beastial nodded. “Yeah. There was less pain from level one to ten mobs. But once we hit double digits, there was an increase.”

  “That’s steep coming from you.” Mellow muttered, loud enough for everyone to hear.

  Beast shrugged good-naturedly. “S’all good, just wait until you try to get some shut eye. Shir-Khan is going to bite your ass.”

  Murmur cast invisibility on herself and moved around the raid, sussing out just how many more groups they had to work through before they reached the throne area. Jinna snuck up beside her, peering out too. With his own stealth activated, he seemed to be formed out of water—sort of gluggy and solid but see through. It was a very cool effect.

  “That patrol is pretty fucking close.” Jinna’s voice was barely audible.

  Murmur nodded, concerned. There’s no way they could take on eleven opponents at once. If they misstepped, then they’d pull the patrol—and the second group. It was going to be a nightmare. And then she had an idea. Tapping Jinna on the shoulder, she motioned him to come back with her.

  “Hey Rash?” Mur asked, dropping invisibility. “That Feign Corpse thing you do. How often does it work?”

  Rash glanced at something briefly and shrugged. “Ninety percent of the time. My skill in it is level twelve so it technically should work. Why?

  “If you can run around that rocky outcrop there,” Mur pointed to the one just ahead of them shielding them from the sight of the mobs closer to the throne, “and pull them back to the side of it so they still can’t see us? We’ll be jumbled up on top of one another here in the corner. Then Feign Corpse long enough for some to begin walking away. Once you stand up again, technically you should be able to drag a few of them with you.”

  Rash nodded, biting her lip. “Sounds good in theory. Would help if you also soothed a couple of the back bandits so they’re less likely to turn back around once I stand up.”

  “Awesome plan.” Havoc smiled, and resummoned his pet. “There we go. He’s a lot hardier now.”

  Devlish shrugged. “Fine. I’ll just wait here while you pretend to die.”

  Rash laughed. “You do that Sir Dread Knight. You do that.”

  “Everyone buff up.” Murmur ordered, the words almost like a habit. She knew there were reasons the others liked her to lead raids, but she didn’t have the temperament for people suddenly overcome with idiocy. It’s why she was picky about who she gamed with. Not that she minded helping people, just not when she was trying to get shit done.

  Lining herself up just behind the outcrop where she’d be able to see Rash as her friend fell close to her feet, Murmur cast invisibility. “Ready when you are, Rash.”

  With all the others squashed into the corner behind them, Rash nodded, and crept out.

  “This game is far too realistic when I can smell your stinking BO, Veranol.” Sin’s whisper almost caused Murmur to choke with laughter and she had to hiss out a shhhh before she lost her cool.

  Rash stood up closer to the bandits, moving slowly and deftly toward them, inch by inch. One of them saw her out of the corner of his eye, and Murmur distinctly heard it say, ‘What the fuck is that person doing here?’ before the whole group shifted and began pursuing the monk.

  The bandits were fast. Luckily, so was Rash. She flitted about, over a stool with a light step, toward the outcrop. Closer and closer, the bandits had weapons drawn now, and the casters were trying to move in because she’d already run out of their range. Reaching the outcrop, Rash activated Feign Corpse.

  Her character arched up, throwing one arm over her eyes and staggering for two steps before falling in a heap of boneless skin right where Murmur told her to. Still invisible, Murmur watched as the casters, who were way back waited while what appeared to be a rogue inched forward and poked Rash with the tip of his sword. To her credit, whatever the spell did, it convinced the rogue she was, in fact, dead.

  The mages headed back before the melee classes, a good distance, considering their range. For a moment Murmur had to wonder what might have happened had one of them landed a DoT on the monk, but since they didn’t.

  “Now.” Murmur whispered.

  Rash stood, and three melee mobs turned around and dashed after her. The rogue had been checking over his shoulder periodically, apparently wasn’t as convinced as the others. She rounded the corner, and Murmur dropped her invisibility. “Next time we’ll grab that patrol.”

  Rash beamed, her face flush with excitement. Murmur smiled, realizing her friend looked amazing when she was in her element. Strong, confident, and completely capable. They were the best people to surround herself with.

  Splitting her focus, Murmur kept the mobs Mez’d, DoT-ed, and nuked with ease. She frowned when they were done. So close to the named. So close to the quest completion.

  “That went marvelously.” Sin clapped her hands and rubbed them together greedily. “I say we just rinse and repeat.”

  Devlish pouted. “I feel totally superfluous. You just need me to take the big hits.”

  Sin turned toward him, blinking in confusion. “And that’s news because?”

  “Shut up.” But he was grinning as he squeezed himself back into the corner.

  Sin grumbled again. “I swear, I’m going to figure out which herbs to mix in this game and craft a freaking deodorant.”

  Murmur laughed, cast invisibility, and waited.

  Murmur stood, staring at the throne from their hiding place, not to mention all the bandits around it.

  “You really should have bought your spells, Mur.” Havoc’s admonishment wasn’t making her mood any better.

  “I was a little preoccupied with technically changing classes, but next time the game springs something on me that no one knew it could do, I’ll make sure to grab my next level spells.” Her sarcasm washed over the group, and everyone but Havoc snickered, or tried to hold back laughter.

  Havoc frowned at her. “There’s no need to be snappy.”

  “And there’s also no need to state the obvious.” The fire had gone out of her words, and Murmur found herself drained, again. “Sorry. It’s been a bit of a day for me.”

  Havoc hesitated, moved a step closer and put a hand on her shoulder, squeezing it gently. “Yeah, I sort of forgot. Didn’t mean to be an insensitive prick.”

  Murmur nodded and flashed a smile to let him know she didn’t hold it against him.

  “Well, now that’s out of the way.” Sin grinned and stretched her arms up high, wiggling her hips as she completed the movement and looking back over her shoulder at Murmur pointedly.

  “What?” Murmur raised her hands in the air defensively. “I didn’t say anything.”

  “No, but you thought it.” Sin shot back with a smirk.

  “Hey, I’m the one with the mind powers, remember?”

  They laughed and the tension leaked out of their group.

  Standing a ways downwind of the throne, in a convergence of shadows caused by the winding paths above, they all stopped and looked at Darjin, the Bandit Leader. He was pure bulk. Muscles bulged, and dark blue tattoos lined his body. He wore his long hair in a thick braid that hung over his shoulder, and one eye had clearly gotten the wrong end of a sharp object at some point in his life. The thick white scar ran from mid forehead, through his right eye, and half way down his cheek. It gave him a formidable appearance.

  “He’s a freaking shaman, isn’t he?” Dansyn muttered, glaring at Veranol.

  “Yes, let’s be angry at me because I had so much to do with his class.” Veranol’s response caused a nervous laugh to ripple through the group. “H
e’s fifteen, guys.”

  Beastial gulped audibly. “Fifteen. That’s a pretty powerful fucker right there.”

  “Going to need a stun rotation.” Jinna voiced softly.

  “Jinna, Dev, Beast, Rash, Dan.” Devlish listed the order out in a mechanical fashion, his eyes narrowed, thinking whatever tank thoughts he had running through his mind. “Mur, you can take care of the other two?”

  She nodded before realizing he wouldn’t see the movement. “Yes.”

  Dan fidgeted, his hands clenching and unclenching as he watched the bandits in front of them. Murmur reached over and patted him on the shoulder. “S’all good, Dan, we got this. I shouldn’t need you to take one of his guards.”

  “By the time we’re in range, they’re going to see us.” Merlin threw in that pearl of wisdom with a shrug of his shoulders. “So while we’ve been able to strategically pull the others, these guys have no shelter in front of them. We’re going to have to fight them in an open space and, well. The pull could go rough.”

  “True.” Exbo shrugged. “But if we have to, we can always kite one of the guards. At least they’re not casters.”

  “No, but Darjin is a freaking healer,” Mellow’s outrage reflected the tension in the group. “I’m going to curse his ass into oblivion.”

  Murmur’s thoughts were grim as she surveyed the area. “I need to keep them as close to the dais as possible. I’ll hit Mez as soon as the left mob is in range, and then I’ll take care of the other. Actually, Dan, can we time it, and then I’ll immediately take him from you?”

  The bard’s eyes lit up. “Excellent idea. Merlin can shoot Darjin at the same time, and that way we should be able to pull off the initial stage of the fight, without too many risks.”

  “Excellent.” Mur ran through her spells, excited to get back to her trainer after this, and yet so eager for the fight it was almost painful.

  “Merlin, Dansyn, you’re with me. Cast when in range.” Together the three of them moved forward, the bard and Murmur using invisibility, and the ranger in sneak.