by Cosimo Yap
With his cybernetic vision Alan could easily identify any isolated targets and enemies of interest. He took care of the odd Crimson Guard and grey-masked assassin, but most of the crew were grunts, worth little experience. Alan almost wished there were more Haxlards aboard the ship for him to harvest.
When half the crew, around 75 Haxlards, had been killed, people were finally starting to figure out something was wrong. It was probably because of all the dead bodies were in one of the bathrooms. But by then it was too late.
Alan had control of most of the ship’s systems, his hack successful. He locked the crew out of key areas, such as the engine room and communications systems, and cut through the rest. The basic laser pistols the majority of the crew carried did almost no damage, often even letting Alan regain some energy.
Morale quickly shifted from anger to panic, as the crew still left alive—lower level grunts with poor weapons—tried to escape through the shuttle bay.
Alan left them access to one escape craft, watching through the ship’s cameras as the last 30 members crammed into the shuttle and took off.
Alan trained the Titan’s weapon systems on the shuttle and fired a missile. It exploded. A perverse sense of satisfaction and glee tore through Alan. He tried to suppress the feeling.
Messages appeared:
x97 Level up!
No bonus ability points due to the ease of the battle.
+4300 Survival points
A nearby ship, the Bastion, opened a communications channel with the Titan.
The Titan’s data banks had a history of messages that Alan drew upon to make his own seem authentic. The Bastion was informed that the blown-up shuttle had contained players that had attempted to take over the Titan. The Titan had only sustained minor damage, and required no aid. Once the quest from the Weaver was shared, edited with Counterfeit to look more like an official order, it ended any questions. Direct orders from the Three were treated like gospel.
Alan sent a few encrypted messages down to the Black Rose base, letting them know of his accomplishment.
***
“Your work is most impressive. I can’t imagine how you managed to eliminate the crew by yourself,” S said. He stood around the Titan’s command table, a 3D map of stars projected above it.
“Most systems are going to need to be disabled if we’re going to fly this ship anywhere,” Enigma said.
Alan nodded. It had taken him almost ten minutes to reload the missile bay. Most of that time had been spent walking to where the missile launcher was on the ship.
“Wait, why are we not bringing any of the members of the Black Rose guild aboard the Titan? A few of them could help crew the ship,” Alan said.
“I don’t trust anyone not properly vetted,” S said. “They were sent into the Abyss Labyrinth and told to attempt to find and aid the initial raid group. For now, we only need the four of us, with one person keeping a careful eye on Aurora at all times.”
Alan said, “I want to prove my worth to the Empire.”
“You have already proven yourself more than capable. I will endorse your advancement to full citizen myself,” S said.
“I want to be more than a citizen,” Alan said. “I read in files I was provided that political guests, diplomats and the like, were hosted in the Imperial Palace before the Extinction Event began. I saw a few names of interest: Kitana, Daisy, and Ace. I believe since I have already betrayed the Black Rose guild, I could convince the three of them that I have returned with Earth’s best interests at heart and speed up my homeworld’s entrance into the Empire.”
“A good idea, but you forget our initial mission,” S said. “I’ve already sent out a few feelers, to see if we can locate a nearby source of void crystals. It seems unlikely, but four fighters will hardly make a difference in the Empire’s defense.”
“Even with a spaceship?” Alan asked.
Enigma spoke up. “The Weaver worries me. The sooner we leave this region the better.”
S frowned. “The Empire faces the Smith, and a squad of the Black Guard are said to be the equivalent to a Predecessor. They are fewer in number than the Weaver’s drones, but I don’t see how we could do much to help.”
“I’ve already defeated two Predecessors. What are a few Haxlards?” Alan asked. He unsheathed his soulsteel knife, the blade emerging from his arm into his hand.
S stared at the knife, and then turned to Enigma. “Where did this guy come from? We need to recruit the rest of his homeworld straightaway. Set course for the capital. I think the Emperor will want to meet you in person.”
“I can hardly wait,” Alan said.
Chapter 23
“Looking for something?” Phantom asked. He and Alan stood alone in the Titan’s hold, where the items from the Black Rose guild had been stored, as well as the power armor, weapons, and miscellaneous drops from the crew Alan had eliminated.
“Checking what was nabbed,” Alan said. “This has to be, what, at least a few billion credits? I should get a commendation for retrieving some of it.”
“Don’t count on it,” Phantom said. He lifted up a bottle of whiskey and drank straight from the bottle.
“I remember in the original message that if the Extinction Event is too brutal on the infrastructure then game areas may be reset,” Alan said. “By the way, I was wondering, where did the nukes go?”
“They’re in a safe location,” Phantom said. “I couldn’t help but notice you took an interest in my bomb designs. Looking for something in particular?”
“Trying to figure out a weapon capable of killing one of the Three,” Alan said. He manipulated Counterfeit to bring up only the reverse option of the end to an Empire quest and showed it to Phantom.
“That’s why you want to meet the Emperor, to complete a quest? Alan, let me tell you now, you do not want to meet the Emperor,” Phantom said. “Twice, twice I have met the devil, and each time brought new levels of suffering that I had not imagined possible.”
“Thanks for the warning, but I can handle myself,” Alan said. “If you have such a poor opinion of the Emperor, why are you following him?”
“There are greater and lesser evils in this universe, and the Emperor is a lesser evil,” Phantom said. “Omega running the universe? That is a greater evil, one that I will not let come to pass.”
“Wait, you decided to fall in with the Empire to stop Omega, how does that work?” Alan asked. “Wouldn’t you be better off talking to the Authorities?”
“No, even the Authorities have different opinions on the subject, and the ones that would want to stop Omega don’t want to spark another Cyberwar,” Phantom said. “Too many believe that immortality is worth any price, no matter the cost, even if we become synthetic, soulless monsters.”
“I’m not sure what you’re getting at, but if a tool would help me reach Aleph I’d take the tool,” Alan said.
“But AI’s aren’t simple tools!” Phantom shouted. “Once again I am reminded that technology isn’t meant for everyone. The future where Aleph is reached but out of our control is far more dangerous than the one where Aleph is never found. There is a point of no return, where no matter what we do or how we struggle we can only be enslaved or destroyed, and I will not let AI’s reach that point!”
Alan stood next to Phantom silently. He wasn’t sure how to respond to the outburst, and if he said the wrong word Phantom might kill him.
A few seconds later Phantom seemed to have calmed down. “I came here to let you know we have decided to keep Aurora in a medically induced coma until we arrive at the Imperial Homeworld, Domus. The latest communications stated that the palace still stood. The Black Guard is busy wiping out the outer planets, converting serfs and citizens dissatisfied with the Empire.”
“Yes, the Empire and Alliance are much more spread out than Khersath, aren’t they? Many separate solar systems contained within each,” Alan said.
“I’m sorry, Alan, for not being a proper mentor—for leaving you with
Enigma. There are too many other problems, too many—”
“I think you’ve had enough to drink,” Alan said. “Get some rest. Besides, you and everyone else in the Game have taught me the most important lesson of all. The only person you can depend on is yourself.”
***
Getting through border security had been tough when they showed up outside the Empire in a Haxlard ship, but S knew the right people. They were inbound to Domus within hours of their arrival.
It took a few days, but they reached Domus’s orbit eventually, and a shuttle was sent to take them to the Imperial Palace.
The planet Domus was small, but with great mass. Without power armor or increased stats, the increased gravity would have been oppressive. Instead, it was merely uncomfortable. Domus was covered by dark grey and black rock, and its natural resources had been mined up long ago. Every dungeon had been carefully mapped out and belonged to the Empire.
Domus was also known for harsh heat and short nights. It was an odd choice for a capital planet. Fuel, food, water, everything had to be imported to the Imperial Palace.
“I have arranged your quarters. They’re a bit sparse, but room is tight. Many of the Imperial families have retreated to the palace, in addition to various diplomatic envoys,” S said.
“I don’t care about nice things,” Alan said.
“Yes, well, I think it is best if you keep to your room until the Emperor meets with you. Don’t want to piss off the wrong people,” Phantom said.
“No, Alan should mingle, introduce himself to other servants,” S said. “I’ve had many stimulating conversations in the stone gardens.”
“And when will the Emperor meet with me?” Alan asked.
“The Emperor’s schedule is not known to one as low as I,” S said. “I was only instructed to bring you to the palace and help you get settled in. Your feats must have reached the Emperor’s ears, but I don’t even know if they’re on Domus; the Emperor is often off traveling with no rhyme or reason.”
“Even with an Extinction Event taking place?” Alan asked.
“The Empire does not coddle the weak. Citizens do not beg for help, they earn it,” S said. “That being said, yes, we might benefit from a more proactive leader, one that was willing to make public appearances, but a deeper game may be taking place as well.”
The shuttle landed a few miles away from the palace, where Enigma and Phantom left with a medical capsule Aurora was placed in.
“You will need to leave your railgun behind,” S said.
“Of course,” Alan said. He disarmed and followed S on a stone pathway toward the palace.
Two presences followed them, though Alan’s bionic vision saw nothing there.
The Imperial Palace looked more like a fortress than a palace. It appeared like it could hold anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand people—many less than Alan had expected.
A dark, stone construction embedded in the side of a mountain, the palace looked like something that would have been built in Mordor. Except there were no towers or spires, and everything was built either close to the ground or was already part of the natural mountain.
A gatehouse leading into the palace was guarded by two Predecessors wearing black armor. Each held two spears, one in each hand, tipped with soulsteel. A single throw could end Alan’s life in an instant.
Alan scanned for mechanical defenses: turrets, shields, and the like, and was surprised that he didn’t find any.
“Where are the defenses; are those Predecessors guards?” Alan asked, trying to fish for information.
S said, “The denser atmosphere serves as natural shielding against a few weapons, but the true defense lies in the nigh-indestructible nature of the outer black rocks of the palace. Many years of psionic ritual and sacrificed blood empower the walls. Little escapes the Imperial Guard—Predecessors with soulsteel blades need not worry about laser or missile attacks from space.”
“I’m surprised Predecessors would be willing to serve as guards,” Alan asked.
S smiled. “Once subdued, Predecessors are quite reasonable. All humanoids can be found within the Empire’s ranks. You are no longer in a small guild. We are at the center of one of the strongest empires ever known.
“Imperial Governors have to at least have an S rank combat rating to even be considered for the position,” S said. “Don’t worry, though; no one will kill you for your soulsteel without the Emperor’s permission.”
“They will if they think they can do it without getting caught,” Alan said.
“In ordinary times I would agree. But during an Extinction Event? No, you don’t need to worry,” S said.
As they neared the palace it was like Alan had entered a cell-phone dead zone. No signals were coming in or out of anywhere. He could barely access his own power armor. Anytime Alan tried to reach out, connect to any device, the signal would be devoured by a massive force emanating from every direction.
It was the walls. The black stone that Icewolf had used to stop communications must have come from here. Only it wasn’t one small, tiny piece of stone. It was everywhere: embedded in the walls, the artwork, the paved floor. A hacker’s worst nightmare.
Alan began to wonder if coming here had been the right choice.
S led Alan on a short tour of the open areas of the palace, showing him the places he was allowed to visit. Alan noted that the guard’s barracks was behind the heavily fortified gatehouse.
The stone gardens near the entrance consisted of Zen designs that calmed the mind. Black, grey, and white stone painted pictures of universes being born, stars collapsing, and haunting geometric patterns. Alan noted a subtle undercurrent as well. The different-colored stones seemed to be fighting for space. With a slight nudge, the balance would be broken, and the stone garden would turn from a calm lake into a raging, chaotic storm.
Stone statues of past servants also lined the hallways: a Predecessor wielding a massive soulsteel sword, a psionic Ælven woman with an orb of energy, and a masked person in Revenant power armor caught Alan’s eye.
There was little vegetation, little color in the palace. Everything seemed to be a shade of black or white. Even the few players that roamed the halls wore white or black, with the occasional grey. Alan and S fit right in, as each wore black power armor.
The dining hall was simple with wooden benches across the room and an elevated platform for higher-ranked servants at the front. S let Alan know meals were served every four hours, and that he was also allowed to visit the kitchens and dine in his quarters.
The palace also contained a library, a room with actual, physical books, instead of servers or data cubes. Alan browsed the titles in the room. The books seemed to date quite far back—histories and treatises written by Empire scholars.
It felt like Alan had stepped out of the Game and into the past, into a simpler time before machines had taken over. The only difference was that many objects varied in size to account for a range of players, from dwarf to Predecessor.
Most of the palace was off limits to Alan, and the tour mainly consisted of S noting places that Alan couldn’t go. Eventually, S got around to showing Alan his quarters, a small room the size of a closet at the far end of a side hallway. Half the room was a stone slab with a feather mattress on top of it.
Alan asked a question, “Where are the capsules—where do people update their abilities and their respawn points?”
“The catacombs. That’s where Phantom and Enigma went with Aurora,” S said. “Certain pieces of technology are not allowed inside the palace. They wouldn’t work anyways. I agree that it seems a bit backward at first, but you’ll adjust with time.”
“How did you end up in the Emperor’s service as one of the servants?” Alan asked.
“I was born to it,” S said. “But now, I have other business to attend to. The Emperor will visit you. Do not cause any trouble in the palace.”
“Thanks for the tour,” Alan said.
S left the roo
m.
Alan sat down on the bed. Perhaps he’d seemed too enthusiastic about joining the Empire and serving the Emperor.
Alan shook his head. He had other things he needed to concentrate on. The lack of Eve and Lambda, of someone to bounce ideas off of, was distracting. He could talk to Doppel, but that would have been like talking to a virtual assistant: sad and meaningless.
After asking a few guards, Alan managed to discover Daisy and Kitana were staying in another part of the palace. Ace had fallen in battle. Alan would visit later, when he could move about undetected.
Curiously, Alan noted that one of the invisible presences had continued to follow him, even after he’d entered the palace grounds.
***
Alan knocked on the door. Then, after a moment’s consideration, he took a few steps backward.
The door opened, revealing Kitana. She had gained new scars and seemed to have grown even more deadly in the process. Her presence had intensified, emanating a greater aura of blood and death.
There was a pause, and then Kitana’s sword was in her hands.
“Wait! I’m here to talk,” Alan said as he scrambled backward into the hallway. He raised empty hands.
Kitana lowered her weapon. “Talk. But a betrayer’s words are meaningless.”
“We should speak privately,” Alan said. He took a look inside Kitana’s room and caught a glimpse of a figure sitting on the bed. Daisy. A few puzzle pieces clicked into place.
Kitana began to raise her sword, but Daisy said, “Wait. Let’s hear him out.”
Alan stepped into the room. “Do either of you have an ability to ensure our conversation isn’t heard? Most of the technology I possess doesn’t work with all the signal-draining stone around us.”
“No ‘Hello,’ no ‘Good to see you’?” Daisy asked.
Alan shrugged. Last time he’d seen Kitana she had tried her best to kill him.
“Straight to business, then,” Daisy said. “As an ambassador, I can guarantee our conversation will not be overheard. So tell me, Alan, why did you betray humanity?”