by Terry Mayer
"Let's do it, uh maybe you can go outside and help Jack mend the walls Nate."
"I'm on it!" he replies running out the door as another explosion rocks the building.
Standing outside Jay's door, they look at each other, and then Jethro swings the door open and charges into the room. Standing against the far wall, Jay looks at them with hungry eyes just as another explosion blows out the back wall and throws everyone to the ground. Pulling herself from the rubble, Natasha sees Jay stumble up as sunlight streaks through the newly made opening. As Natasha screams a warning to Jethro, Jay bursts into flames.
*****
Running into the courtyard Nathan sees Jack franticly building walls. "Jack, what do you want me to do?"
"Nate? Cool, you ok?"
"Yeah I'm fine."
"How about Jay?"
"They're giving him the cure now, he should be fine."
"Great Nate, so glad you're back in the world of the living. Start repairing the walls but stay well back, you never know where another creeper is going to blow."
"I'm on it Jack," shouts Nate, delighted to be back with his friend. Rushing to a hole, he starts laying blocks.
"Nate, just go two blocks high, nothing can get over that and it saves time."
"You sure Jack? Seems like there's still a big hole," replies Nate.
"Yeah, Natasha taught me."
"Ok cool," he replies moving onto another gaping hole in the wall.
*****
Running straight at Jay, Natasha dives on him and stabs the syringe into his neck. "Jethro, a little help."
Running over, Jethro grabs Jay and helps drag him into the shade, and the flames immediately extinguish.
"Come on Jay, hold in there," extols Natasha holding him down. Slowly he stops shaking, opens his eyes, and says."Argh"
"Oh no Jay..."
"Argh, get off of me will you? You're crushing me!"
"Jay? You're alright?" Throwing herself on him, she gives him a huge hug. "I thought I had lost you."
"Yeah, well I'm fine, nice to see you too Natasha."
Suddenly embarrassed, she jumps off him and helps him up. "Well, good to have you back. Come on we need to help Jack."
Slapping him on his back, Jethro congratulates Jay. "Good to see you Jay, I thought you were a goner for sure."
"Nah, you can't get me that easily, although being a zombie was no picnic."
"I know just what you mean."
"What, you too?"
"Afraid so, Nate too. It seems Jack and Natasha saved us all."
"No way, for real? Little Jack saved everyone?"
"It would appear so, yes."
"Way to go Jack, where is he anyway?"
As another detonation splits the air, Jethro replies. "He's outside, repairing the walls. It seems we're under attack from creepers."
"Oh no," shouts Jay rushing out of the tower. As he leaves, a creeper rushes in through the hole in the wall, heading straight for Jethro and starting to glow, a sure sign that he is about to explode. Diving through the door and slamming it behind him, Jethro dashes out of the tower as the wall behind him explodes, sending him flying through the air. Scrambling to his feet, he runs back to the entrance and places blocks across the opening. Looking about, he sees Jay and Natasha standing on the wall looking out across the field. Joining them on the battlements, he interrupts their conversation.
"Uh people, you might not have noticed but we're under attack here."
Just pointing out over the battlements Jay replies. "Look!"
Looking out, Jethro gives a gasp. "But how is this possible? I've never seen this many Creepers before."
"Who knows, it must be another mod pack. Maybe we missed it with all the explosions taking place, but we can't defend against that. We need to evacuate, now."
Jumping from the wall, he runs in the direction of Jack and Nate shouting. "Guys, we're leaving, grab anything useful, and meet by the back wall in one minute."
"What's up Jay, we can defend, just keep repairing the walls."
"No time now to discuss it, just be there in one minute, now move."
Running back to the tower, he grabs the furnace and crafting table that Natasha left outside and prepares to leave. Jumping from the wall, Natasha and Jethro look from one to another.
"So Jay, what's the plan?"
"Head for the coast, creepers can't swim. Maybe we can find an island or something."
"Yeah, but you saw what was out there, how we going to get there?"
"Over the back wall, the field is relatively clear, just a few creepers. As long as we move fast, we should be able to stay ahead of them. Right, let's move," he shouts as Nathan and Jack run up. "Over the back wall and head for the coast where we'll make a boat and get away from this nightmare."
Jumping to their feet, they climb the wall and drop on the other side.
"Ready?" asks Jay, looking at each in turn.
"Let's do this," says Jack, holding his hand into the circle.
"Yeah," says Nate, holding his on top of Jack's hand.
Following Jack's lead, the other three place their hands in the centre of the circle and shake.
Breaking, they run across the field, dodging creepers and heading for what they hope is their salvation.
*****
Here ends the first book in the Masters of Minecraft Series.
Book # 2 - The Invasion
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 - Run, Don't Look Back
Chapter 2 - War Room
Chapter 3 - Who Are You?
Chapter 4 - The Invasion
Chapter 5 - The Last Stand
Chapter 6 - New Strategies
Chapter 7 - And Another One Bites The Dust
Chapter 8 - New Beginnings
Chapter 9 - The Falls
Chapter 10 - So, What Now?
Chapter 11 - Game On
Chapter 12 - Notch vs. Herobrine
Players
1. Jay Lightningbuilder
2. Jack the Dweeb
3. Nathan the Noob
4. Jethro Skybuilder
5. Natasha
6. Darknight
7. Captain Sparkles
8. Sky
9. Unknown
10. Unknown
11. Unknown
12. Unknown
1 - Run, Don't Look Back
After running for the last two hours, the five survivors crouch behind a low wall overlooking a small village.
"So what do you reckon Jay, is it safe?" asks Nathan.
"Nowhere is safe, but sometimes we have to take a chance. What do you think Natasha; shall we give it a try?"
"I think me and you should head into the village and check it out, the others can stay here so if trouble breaks out they can either rescue us or at least get away."
"Good idea, Jack, you take the others over to that small wood over there and watch our backs, any sign of trouble give one of those loud whistles that drives mum nuts."
"Ok Jay, come on guys, it will be dark soon and we have to make a decision one way or another." Heading off across the field in a crouched run, they make it to the woods unnoticed and signal an all clear to Jay.
"Right Natasha, you ready to do this?"
"Ready as I'll ever be."
Heading into the village at a quick jog, they make it to the first house unnoticed and stand with their backs to the wall.
"Right Jay, you head into this house and I've got your back."
"How come I have to clear the house?"
"Because I've already cleared one village so that makes it your turn, you cool with that?"
Remembering how Natasha and Jack had cleared a whole village in search of seeds to make a cure for the zombie virus for himself, Nathan and Jethro, he sheepishly nods his acceptance.
Right, on three, two, one, go, go, go.
Running to the front door, he kicks it open and with sword raised, charges inside to find two zombies standing in the corner. Immedi
ately they sense fresh meat and turn in his direction. Bringing his sword about in a wide swing, he slices the heads from the zombies and they both fall to their knees.
Hearing the all clear from Jay, Natasha walks into the house and takes in the scene. "Right, search for anything useful then we can do the next house."
Searching cupboards, Jay looks over his shoulder and remarks."Got a better idea, why don't we just run from house to house and open all the doors and let the zombies out."
"Because there could be too many to fight and then we'd be zombie chow you idiot."
"Yeah, even in the sunlight? Not so smart now, eh?"
"Well, I never did say I was the brains of this outfit now, did I?" she laughs. "Good idea Jay, you ready to give it a try?"
"Lets do it, we don't have much sunlight left."
Running from house to house they kick open the door, shouting at the shambling figures as they run. Soon quite a hoard have stumbled from the shadows and are in various states of death as they burn in the sun. As the last house is cleared, Jay remarks. "Not the brightest bunch, are they?"
"Hey, don't knock it Jay. If zombies actually had brains, we would be in some serious trouble here. Get the others, this place will have to do, it's as good as anywhere else we have passed."
"Agreed," replies Jay walking to the edge of the village and signaling the all clear to the others.
*****
2 - War Room
Sitting in the war room, or in this case, what passes for the village pub, they discuss their options.
"I say we make a stand here, it's small enough to defend, but large enough so we are not too close to the walls," announces Nathan.
"I don't know Nate, we will never defend any place against creepers, not with the numbers we saw this morning. I still think Jay's original idea to head to the coast is the right one," replies Jethro.
"Yeah, it could work Jay," joins in Natasha.
"But guys, we've been running for hours. The coast is nowhere in sight. I don't know about you but I've never been in a biome that just keeps on going. I don't think there is a coast here at all."
"Yeah, and it's getting dark. If there are as many zombies around here as there were last night, we will never make it. We need to hole up until morning."
"Agreed, right Jack and Nathan, you're in charge of building walls, two blocks high around the entire village. Jethro and Natasha, start digging a singlewide tunnel to that small hill behind the village. That's our escape route if the creepers arrive tonight. Use whatever you dig out to build the walls so you can keep your inventories full. Right, let's move, we don't have long."
"Uh cool Jay, but what are you going to do while we do all the work?" asks Jack sarcastically.
"Little brother, stop worrying about me. I'm going to search the village, see if I can find anything valuable, now go."
Jumping up they all run off to perform their tasks as Jay sets off searching each house in turn. In the fourth house he finds a chest with a couple of iron ingots and some bread. In the fifth, he collects a few pumpkins and a chest with meat stored in it. Great, at least we can all eat and replenish our health, and with the iron and seeds, we can make some more zombie virus cure.
Removing his crafting table and furnace from his inventory, he walks around the village looking for some sand. When he finds some, he digs up four cubes, puts it in the furnace with some wood, and makes four glass blocks. Laying two of the blocks on the crafting table, he combines them with an iron ingot to make a large syringe, and then fills the syringe with zombie flesh and seeds, creating a cure for the dreaded zombie virus.
With his tasks completed, he heads back to the village pub when something catches his eye. Walking towards a small decrepit looking house, he wonders how he missed it when he cleared the village. Drawing his sword he kicks open the door and rushes into a small single room that is empty apart from a large table. Cautiously checking under the table, he turns to leave when a small, shrunken creature lands on his back and starts tugging at his hair.
"Get off me you witch," he screams, grabbing her robes and throwing her across the room.
"Witch, who are you calling a witch?"
"You, you old crone."
"I'm not old, I'm only fourteen. Well I was when I got here anyway."
"What do you mean, we've only been playing for a few minecraft days, if you were fourteen when you got here then you still are, duh!"
"Duh yourself, fool. I've been here forty years or more. I've lost count."
"What! But that's like, 200 odd earth days!"
"Like I said, I think I'm still fourteen, but hang on. Two hundreds days would make this about March, so what do you know, I'm actually fifteen."
But how can you have been here for that long. We only just arrived?"
"You're not the first to arrive here and no doubt you won't be the last."
"There's others? Great, where are they, maybe we can work together and get out of here?"
"Dead, every single one of them."
"Oh, so what happens to them when they die?
"No idea but I didn't want to find out myself so here I still am."
"But your parents must be looking for you?"
"Yeah, so what do you suggest, I just kill myself and see what happens, hope for the best?
"No, I wouldn't."
"Of course you wouldn't. There's no guarantee that we go home after being here, wherever the heck here is, so I for one am not killing myself."
"Ok, ok, I got it. Sorry I brought it up. By the way, the name's Jay," he says holding out his hand.
Eying him warily, the old crone steps forward and pulls back her hood revealing a fifteen-year-old girl.
"My god your human!"
"Yeah, I usually get that reaction."
"But we're all block men. Why are you human?"
"Don't know, but I think I was one of the last humans to arrive before you all became Steve's."
"So have there been a lot of humans here?"
"Dozens over the years, but they have always been evolving. When I arrived, quite a few others were here already but no one lasted very long against the mobs. Then these blocky characters started arriving. Not quite like you but not like me either, but they would usually get killed pretty quickly, then I guess the first Steve arrived a couple of years ago and even though none have survived they last a lot longer than anything else."
"How come?"
"Well, for starters you have this inventory thingy inside of you. Man that would be so helpful, and you can build things so quickly either on the crafting table or just by placing blocks."
"Yeah, that is pretty cool," he smirks.
"Great for you Mr cool. Not all of us can do that."
"Sorry, so what is it with this place, why is everyone coming here?"
"The Masters of Minecraft tournament. It's all been a test, readying humans in preparation for this tournament."
"But who is running the tournament?"
As she is about to answer a shout comes from outside.
"Jay, where are you bro. We've finished the walls, what do you want done next?"
Looking back at the girl Jay sighs, "duty calls, you better come with me and meet the rest of the gang."
*****
3 - Who Are You?
Back at the pub, they all surround the girl and ask question after question until Jay shouts for silence.
"Come on guys, she can't answer you if you keep firing questions at her. Jethro, you start."
"Right, nice to met you young lady. My name is Jethro Skybuilder, and you are?"
"Hailey, nice to meet you Jethro."
"Nice indeed. Before we start let me introduce you to everyone. This is Nathan, Jack, who is Jay's brother and this is Natasha. Right, introductions out of the way, maybe you can explain what is happening?"
"You have all been invited to play in the Masters of Minecraft tournament, that you know, but what I don't know is why Nathan and Jack are here?"
> "What do you mean?" asks Nathan.
"Well, for years this world has been in preparation for the tournament and a list of players was announced a few weeks ago, but Nathan and Jack were not on the list."
"How was it announced?"
"In the sky. A list of twelve players printed across the sky and the voice read them out, but like I said, you two were not on it."
"They weren't invited. They were holding onto me when we teleported, or whatever it was, and were dragged in. Nate here hasn't even played minecraft before."
Looking at Nathan, Hailey gives a little smile. "Tough break kid, not the best circumstances to learn how to play."
"No, not the best," replies Nathan with a shrug. "So, who was on the list?"
"Right, there was Jay Lightningbuilder, Natasha, Jethro Skybuilder, Sky, Captain Sparkles, Darknight, PowerGlide, Warlord999, Munster, Lenno Lenno, PowerMad and Notch."
"Notch is here? Well I guess that rules him out as the person running this game."
"No, it's not Notch that runs this world it's ...." As an explosion detonates outside Hailey, is stopped in mid sentence.
"Quick everyone, outside, sounds like the creepers are back."
Running out of the pub, they head to where the explosion had ripped a hole in the wall surrounding the village. Ducking through the opening Jay expects to see hundreds of creepers advancing on their position but is shocked to see nothing. Just empty fields.
"Looks like it was a lone creeper. Guess we just got lucky but seeing the hole left by just one creeper I think we better build some more defenses. Before it gets too dark I suggest we dig a trench around this village, two blocks wide and at least four two blocks deep, more if we have time. Use the cobblestone to build a two block high wall behind the trench. Hopefully, that will keep the creepers away from the village. Hailey, watch our backs. Ok, let's move."
Running from the village, they all head in separate directions and start digging. Work goes quickly and it's not long before a deep trench with a low wall is built all around the entire village.