Beta 1.0 Test

by Harley Vex

  Candi nods. "Glad to see that everyone's enjoying 1.1 so far. I know there are some new and surprise features."

  Val nods but says nothing.

  "Peat sucks," I blurt.

  Candi snaps her gaze to me. Have I said too much? I snap my mouth shut, but Candi smiles. "Don't worry. We all know so you're not spoiling any secrets. So, Crap Torches is your nickname for those."

  I must have muttered it to myself more than once while trying to light up that one cavern and maybe again while making my Dreadmoth Destroyer.

  "Um, yes," I say as everyone laughs.

  "My nickname for them is far worse," Candi says. "Just take a synonym for 'crap' and you have what I mean."

  More laughter sounds. But Candi doesn't join in.

  "It's best to move on to something better as soon as possible, as you've found out," Candi says. "Peat mines are no good. Fast, but not worth it." Then she clams up as her cheeks pale and her gaze flicks to her pants pocket where the phone is located. Awesome. It's got to be bugged. If anyone can screw with technology, it's the government or Anthony Anton.

  Candi is trapped beyond belief.

  No one says anything about it. No one's dumb enough to comment on it. It's a silent understanding.

  Candi wipes her mouth. "We've got three more hours until the place closes." She rises. "I'm going to get some fresh air and come back in. Maybe I'll join you at the claw machine in a bit."

  I watch as she empties her tray and heads to the front doors. Matt looks at me, eyes full of shock, letting me know I'm about to miss a super obvious cue. Even if Candi's not interested in dating any of us, she knows more than what she's letting on, and besides, I still have to let her know to check out Natalie's channel.

  So I follow, and no one says a word.

  The line out front has emptied but I'm still wearing my plastic armband to get back in. I find Candi leaning against the building and staring at the expressway on ramp a quarter mile away. The sounds of light traffic fill the night.

  "Hey," I say, not sure whether I should approach.

  She motions me over. "Having fun?" A warning to watch every word lurks between her words. Yes. She wants to talk to me as much as she's allowed.

  The rest just might be a ruse.

  "Yeah. This is great," I say.

  "I'm sorry I couldn't make it to Natalie's weekend thing. I got your note and your sister sounds cool," Candi says. "I wanted to show up but I'm just so busy. I've been playing Creationist forever and that, combined with this, is catching up to me."

  "That sucks," I say, joining her in leaning against the building. "Can't you take a break?" Who is Candi, really? How did she get involved with Salvos Corporation?

  "Not during this time. It wasn't so bad in alpha, when it was just me doing the testing," she says. "Then I got to handle all the rest. They told me I'm good at putting things together. That I can relate to other gamers." She rolls her eyes and looks at the sky, and I sense the massive strain she's under. But she says nothing more.

  The bulge of the phone is still lurking in her pocket.

  We're pushing our boundaries. "Work can catch up with you. I'm glad we can have nights out." I clear my throat and Candi looks to me. "Say, if you need any more players, even in the future, my sister Natalie is awesome at playing arena maps and hardcore survival. You should have seen her playing one of Vox's maps the other night. The Barrens."

  "Oh. That one," Candi says with a smile. "Tough map. Just surviving to the end is an accomplishment."

  "Ever played that one?"

  "Several times," she says. "What's your sister's player name?"

  Natalie might have a chance. It's a start. "ElfQueen546. Her skin is, well, an elf queen. And that's her GameTube channel name, too. Even if you can just get her more subs, that would be helpful."

  Candi nods. "I'll see what I can do. I can imagine she's tough, like you."

  "Um..."

  Compliment.

  Yeah.

  "Thanks. You don't know what this means," I say. Maybe, if I do somehow screw up and get killed, Natalie will be able to come in and earn some money for herself. "I'm not trying to create trouble or anything, so I get it if you can't." I'm sorry, is what I want to say.

  Candi's eyes sparkle. Is she amused? Why? I did nothing but put pressure on her. This was a fight I never wanted, but one I have to have. Thanks, desperation. But maybe Salvos is making her miserable and she's glad I'm being a thorn in its side. A man can hope.

  "I'll do my best," she says. "Salvos might decide it's about to have openings soon. You never know. People make mistakes all the time, especially when it comes to caves and cliffs." She stares at me, deadly serious again, before she peels herself from the wall to head back inside. "Come on. The claw machine's waiting, and we're getting that stuffed turtle I saw in there earlier."

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  One of my reports showed up in the break room yesterday.

  Natalie's buzzing text wakes me early the next morning and that's what I find when I grab my phone. Huh? I blink, remembering how late we were all out last night. But I read the text again, trying to understand.

  A report? I text.

  Yes. About company spending. They're confidential. I swear, I didn't leave it there.

  I swallow. Natalie's told me about them before, spreadsheets she has to do about spending for her boss, and they're not supposed to be anyone else's knowledge. If one of them got left in the break room—

  I gulp. Did anyone find out?

  Kristen told me about it this morning. The cleaning lady slid it under Mark's door with a note.

  Kristen is a co-worker that has an office next to Natalie's. I gulp. Her boss, Mark, can't can her for short-term disability, but the law doesn't stop him from canning her for some other reason. I shoot out of bed, pacing as I text. Natalie couldn't have completed the process for filing for disability yet, and if she has, it won't matter if something like this blows up. Does he have a key to your cabinet?

  She doesn't answer for a bit. I open the fridge and stare at the leftover pizza boxes, then slam it again.

  I shouldn't have printed it. But the stupid program corrupted the file last time.

  I ball my fists at the injustice of it all. Clearly her boss has lured her into a trap and maybe even planted that report himself. Now he has a reason to worm out of paying disability. Mark should work for Salvos Corporation. Wow, I can't believe I'm thinking that.

  Lawyer. NOW. Before he does a meeting. I text her a link with a bunch of local lawyers and make a couple of recommendations. I hate throwing this on her when she's already sick and struggling, but what else can I do? Any cameras at your work?

  Don't think so. But thanks. I will. Taking a half day for an appointment anyway.

  And thanks for that first payment!

  She's gone after that. Yes. Mark's been setting her up forever, building a record, making his case. I want to kill him. But I let out a breath and change my clothes. The best thing I can do for Natalie is make sure I stay alive in Salvosera. She needs to know she can lean on me.

  Thumps from down the hall jar me. Angry shouts follow.

  What is going on out there?

  I open my apartment door. Down the hall, near the elevator door, Val's apartment door is standing open and sliding noises are coming from inside.

  "What—?" I start.

  "I can't believe this," Val says, furious, from two doors down the hall. "This wasn't in the contract. I did not terminate my own testing period."

  I gulp.

  Last night, Candi mentioned mistakes made in caves and on cliffs, and the fact that Salvos might have openings soon. And I understand: last night, Val was about to die in a cave or about to fall to her death.

  Candi logged us out right before it happened, maybe to give her a chance to think about how to save herself.

  But it didn't work.

  "We're sorry. The contract clearly states that the conditions for termination can change," a ma
n says in her apartment.

  "I saw that, but don't we have to be notified?" Val asks.

  I storm out of my apartment. Did Salvos pull a trick on her? I march right to her door which is cracked an inch.

  "What's going on in here?" I ask, knowing full well I shouldn't get involved. But Val, PrincessKitty21, is my friend. She's not facing this alone.

  I find Val standing over a bunch of folded cardboard boxes that have been thrown at her feet. She's got her arms crossed over her hot pink shirt and she's staring up at two guys in suits I've never seen. Neither guy appears intimidated. An older man with a no-nonsense look in his eyes holds paperwork. He's the one who turns to me and narrows his eyes.

  "This is not your business," he says in a patient tone that infuriates me.

  Yes, it is. "Why are you kicking her out? She did nothing wrong!"

  "Close the door," the older man snaps at his partner, a younger one. It's clear that leaving it open was an error.

  But I put my foot between the door and the frame, and the young guy looks like he doesn't want to chance it. "No. What are you doing to her?"

  Val's eyes widen in warning. She knows about Natalie. While I've stayed shut up about my pay, I mentioned moving her into my apartment if things get bad. And I'm putting myself and my sister in danger.

  What am I doing? Dad would have a panic attack.

  "Young man," the older one says, pushing up his glasses. "Your contracts have provisions for changing the conditions of your residence here and ability to participate in the closed beta program. Though I am Salvos Corporation's Regional Manager, I am not at liberty to explain the exact changing terms. But they are done in the best interest of all parties."

  This is one hundred percent a threat. I'm not proud of it, but I take my foot from the door and back up a bit. I don't realize why at first, but then Val walks over to me, stare warning me not to aggro these guys any further.

  She takes a breath, calming herself. "Mike. It'll be fine. I'll be okay. I'm just a tiny bit annoyed right now," she says, choosing her words carefully. "I've got somewhere I can go and a fan base that'll keep me going. We'll still play Creationist online together. I'll stay in contact with all of you."

  "You sure?" I know she can't say anything with these guys here, or even after she leaves, or even on a private Creationist server, thanks to that non-disclosure agreement. The guys' stern faces tell me she'd better not say a word.

  "Positive," she says, lifting her tone and opening her arms for a hug.

  I shove my anger down and we hug. "Good luck out there, Val."

  Then we separate and she stares at me, all serious. "It was fun. We'll play together again once Salvosera starts multiplayer. All of us." Then she turns to the two guys. "Are either of you going to help me pack, at least? Because if you don't, I'll have Mike help me."

  The trap works, and I grin as the two guys assemble the flattened cardboard boxes. They don't want me and Val alone in the same apartment where we could speak freely, even if the place is bugged. Val doesn't have much in her apartment but enough to give the old Regional Manager a backache when he's done. And that I'm glad for.

  * * * * *

  Are my chances better now that our group has been whittled down to six?

  Yes, I decide. My chances are twice as good as they were. And I feel like a jerk for the thought because that means Val's gone. But I want to find Candi to make sure she meant Val when she was talking about an opening. And I want to remind her to check out Natalie's channel.

  Give it up, a voice says in my head as I get off the elevator and walk into the testing room. Two people are already suited up and immersed, probably Matt and Liz. They're still here. But what about Candi?

  She got me in here. She knew I needed help and that's a big part of the reason why I'm here.

  I don't find her in the lounge, either, or the meeting room. The rest of the place seems empty today. I think of going up to her apartment which is on the floor above mine, but I talk myself out of it before I can get up the nerve. What gives? I know Candi secretly hates this arrangement and we have to stick together. But the more I'm around her, the less I believe I'm ever going to figure her out.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  I can't let all these thoughts torment me. Salvosera waits and it's still my biggest shot at helping Natalie once per boss fully puts together his screwed-up case against her. I don't know what else to do. I'm not a lawyer and don't know every aspect of law but I sense a lengthy legal battle before Natalie, one that she's not going to have the energy to face.

  And she won't be able to deal with it if she's on the streets, like I might be if I don't make sure I make progress and stay alive.

  So with a heavy heart, I head back to the testing room. Liz waves to me as she emerges from the changing room.

  "Hey," she says. Then she must see my long face because she approaches, helmet under her arm. "What's up?"

  "Val's being made to leave," I say, not caring about the cameras.

  Liz's eyes widen. "She's what?"

  I am taking another massive risk. "I don't know what their reasoning is but she's moving out. She told me she'd be okay." Don't die, Liz. Please. I don't want to see any of us get kicked out of here, but I know that one more of us will have to go. We're the herd. Anthony said so himself. And now he's got us racing against each other, scrambling for a prize.

  "What? I have to go up and say goodbye to her," Liz says, eyeing the elevator.

  "No," I say, moving to block her. And I hate that I'm doing it. Salvos won't like it if we all go up and put attention on the spectacle the Regional Manager didn't want me to see. What am I becoming? I'm just parroting them so I can avoid being the next one taking a trip into the wood chipper, and I hate it. Maybe Candi and I have more in common than I think.

  "Why are you stopping me?" Liz asks. "Val's my friend."

  I fumble for an excuse. "You can't leave the testing room in your Salvos Suit." I haven't seen too many other people in this apartment building but I'm sure Salvos wouldn't like us parading around in our futuristic gear.

  "Geez, Mike. Quit being such a stickler for the rules. Well behaved women never make history." Liz huffs but she backs off, waiting for her turn in the changing room...again. Don emerges in his suit and looks after Liz, confused. He's also holding his black helmet under his arm.

  She's right. I'm so worried about getting kicked out that I'm acting like a puppet, and I hate it. Don looks at me, still confused.

  "It's nothing," I say, hating myself.

  But Natalie—

  I have to hold on for her.

  She comes first.

  "Liz's upset. I might be a guy, but I know when something's wrong," Don says.

  I gulp. Can this get any worse? I eye the cameras on the ceiling and the elevator door, but no goons come in to escort me off the premises. Maybe I haven't broken any rules.

  "Val's packing up her apartment." I leave it at that.

  Don's eyes widen. "What? She was fine last night."

  I don't want to try to convince anyone anymore. "I don't know what it was about. I think she's still here, though. She told me goodbye." Stupid camera. If we were off the premises, I might be able to open up to Don, but Salvos would probably find a way to track that, too.

  Liz emerges from the changing room, back in her plaid and jeans, and rushes upstairs. Don dives into the changing room to get back in his everyday clothes, and once he's done, that leaves me with Matt and Kevin, who are both immersed in their games. Neither of the figures can be Candi. She's missing in action right now.

  I wonder how she's holding up.

  But, Natalie.

  I should let Matt and Liz say their goodbyes to Val. I don't know how to log out Kevin and Don, so there's nothing I can do at the moment since Candi seems to hold the controls for that. If it's possible for us to do, Matt and Liz would have done it. And Candi must already know about Val and she's not logging them out, either.

  So what I hav
e to do next is clear.

  Contract conditions can change at any time. That must be in the missing pages of mine, among other horrible things. I've got to get into Salvosera and keep wowing corporate.

  So I dive into the changing room, find my suit, stuff my clothes in my locker, and get into the closest empty box. I shove all the uncomfortable thoughts from my mind. They won't help me now. The blue light bathes me as the plastic pads tingle against the bare skin of my chest, arms, and thighs. My helmet goes completely dark inside, and with a wave of dizziness and a falling sensation, I'm logging in.

  I blink, and the dull light of the peat mine greets me. I'm standing near the end of my tunnel, and I remember that I've made a staircase down with my Granite Hammer and Shovel. The dank smell of peat and swamp surrounds me again. I blink, getting my bearings. I've tunneled in far enough so that I can't see the outside and I've collected some Clumps of Peat. A stack of ninety-nine rests in my hotbar and I move it into my inventory. That should be enough to make a ton of Crap Torches and maybe enough to attract more Dreadmoths. But Spark Ore would be better. While I'm here, I should make a staircase down into the Common Stone layer and do some boring strip mining. The key will be to light my way as I go.

  At least I've reached stone, having cleared all the Peat from the floor. I keep my hotbar in my view and tap my Crap Torches, highlighting the wooden box. A torch appears in my hand, glowing with embers, and I highlight the Peat wall to place it. Better. Weak light floods the area and I can see.

  I equip my Granite Hammer and continue my dig.

  Until, five seconds later, a crackling noise erupts behind me.

  I jump, heart leaping into my throat, and whirl, swinging my Hammer at the Lavaworm behind me. But there's no Lavaworm. I swing through empty air as I backpedal into the end of the tunnel. I grunt. Now I can see my tunnel entrance, fifty feet away. The last of the daylight is fading, but no monsters have come into the tunnel with me.

  The crackling sound stays. And it's close.

  What the heck?

  The wall.