by Tony Corden
“How much will they pay if they manage it?”
“Somewhere around a billion VCr a month.”
“Why would they pay that much or even offer the management to us?”
“Publicity. If people think they might get even a portion of what you do, then they’ll spend more time in Cosmos Online than elsewhere, and they’ll spend more. The benefit to Cosmos Online is ten times what they potentially lose by you seven claiming the station.”
“What do the rest of you think? You all have a share.”
Wisp said, “I don’t have the skills myself, but if we can find people I’d prefer the option of keeping control. I’d also like to sit in on the discussions concerning the contract. I’m in my second year of law and I’m interested in Contract Law especially as it relates to Virtual contracts.”
Zach and James nodded although James said, “We’d like to keep control, but we’d want the option of selling our portion if something happens.”
Stephen answered, “I suggest you all sit down and draw up a contract which sets out the conditions for selling your share and to whom. You should have Wisp work out the details. At the moment, the limited contract you have within Cosmos Online offers the first right of purchase to those in the group, and it sets out the cost based on money earned. There are currently eight shares, Leah has two, the rest of you have one each. I have firm statements from Thad and John that Leah holds their vote on moving ahead.”
James said, “I agree with moving ahead but would like us all to meet soon to map the way forward. By soon, I mean, within the next twenty-four hours.”
Amy said, “I’m all in. Leah has my vote as well. I’m happy for Leah to represent me at the meeting. I’ll listen at a distance.”
Zach said, “If James is OK, then I’ll give him my vote so he can represent me.”
James nodded, and they all talked over some of the details until the fifteen minutes were up. Everyone disappeared except Leah. Gèng said, “Leon asked me to tell you that his only concern is the speed at which everything is progressing. He’s worried this is beyond his ability.”
Leah nodded and said, “We’re all swimming in deep water at the moment. We need to find more competent people. Can you approach one of the people at Emerald Trustees and see if they can recommend several people of integrity?”
Gèng agreed and then transferred Leah to the meeting.
52
Chapter 52
December 17, 2073 - Afternoon - Part 5
COSMOS ONLINE
The meeting was held in the Cosmos Online corporate offices. Besides those who came with Leah there was a team of Cosmos Online lawyers, three developers and both the CFO and CEO of Cosmos Online.
When everyone was seated the CEO, Jānis Sokolovkis said, “Welcome, we’ve been very interested in your play over the last week or so, and I must say I expected you to take a little longer to reach the control room. The developers placed the station maps in the computers, but none of our alpha or beta testers even looked at them. Atherleah, I’ve been told your problem-solving ability is causing my developers some angst. They expected the collection tower in the station to take at least three, or even four attempts.”
Leah bowed her head briefly in acknowledgement of the compliment and then waited. Jānis continued, “The fact that you have lawyers ready speaks well to your understanding of the situation. Never before has a Level Five Station been discovered, and from what I’ve been told you may have discovered several of them. I only mention that because a second find coming so soon after the first will probably reduce the overall advertising potential.”
Leah smiled and said, “Conversely, it could increase it. I suspect the modelling shows both could occur depending on the right advertising.”
The CFO, Asale Mutharika said, “That may be so, but those same models suggest the biggest factor could be the arrangement we come to today. I assume your research has shown the range of options available to you. We would prefer that you, especially given your current high visibility, take over the management of the station but only if you have an experienced team to move forward. We can set up a caretaker team while you resource your own, but we’re concerned we may lose the excellent opportunity this find presents if you should fail to provide adequate leadership. Either way, we would like to begin promoting this in the next news cycle and use the momentum you achieved in the Merkize promotion.”
“Aren’t you in competition with Dunyanin?”
“Not as much as you’d think. Most people play in at least one space and one fantasy world. With you as the face of the new venture, the models show both Dunyanin and Cosmos Online will get value added from the joint advertising. The amount of value added increases considerably if you personally are in control of this sector of space.”
Leah subvocalised to Gèng and said, “You’d better fill Sharon in on what’s happening.”
To the room, she said, “Stephen, Leon and Priscilla are our representatives to work out the fine details. Can you run over the main points so James, Wisp and I can agree on how to move forward?”
Asale said, “OK, the summary then. Cosmos Online upholds your claim to the station and the portal, conditional on your full utilisation of the game’s features. Cosmos Online will manage the public areas of the station, and all revenue through the public areas will remain with Cosmos Online except for income related to daily usage. It’s a bit complicated but fundamentally Cosmos Online shares a portion of the fees gathered among the various station managers to encourage productivity. It works out to be that roughly half of the fees generated on a daily basis are split between the stations that draw in the most players.
“The other areas are yours to manage. This includes the private areas, living areas and the docks. If the portal comes online, then you will manage the portal and set appropriate fees. You are also responsible for the defence of the station, although you will have access to the full capability of the station's weapon systems. If you are evicted, we will rework the contract with whoever takes your place. While your claim covers the whole system, it does not include the resources which are hidden and currently unclaimed. Should someone claim them, then you will receive part of the income generated.”
Leah asked, “Who manages the various quests?”
“Cosmos Online has put years of work into this facility, and we’ve designed tens of thousands of quests both in the system and on the planets below. That said, we think you are better placed to market and manage the quests. You’re committed, and the team you bring will be driven to market this system above the others. No one else has agreed to take on the quests because our offer is to sell you the quests we’ve developed and we want payment up front. The quests themselves don’t generally earn Cosmos Online money except as they draw people into the game and encourage them to buy expendables. Without quests, no one will come."
“If we buy the quests, I would expect that to include the resources to manage them, including the relevant AI and developers.”
“It does include the AI, but the developers will be reassigned.”
“What if we wanted to pay the salaries for any Cosmos Online developers who wished to remain on the team and who we thought would be assets?”
Asale looked over at the developers. One of them, a Rebekah Jones, said, “I would like to stay in the system. I’ve spent three years preparing the quests. If Cosmos Online were willing to appoint me to work with your team, then I would love to do that.”
Asale said, “I will consider it after I discuss the situation with Mr Sokolovkis and the HR department.”
Leah nodded and said, “May I have a private discussion with my advisors and team? It won’t take long.”
Asale nodded, and everyone disappeared except those who came with Leah. She said, “I’d like to take the full deal. We will take everything offered and manage the quests.”
Wisp and James nodded their agreement. Leah continued, “I’d like some indication of what resources we will h
ave on each of the planets. As to marketing, I think we need more than twenty-four hours to get things ready. Please push for forty-eight or seventy-two. Tell them we can keep the lid on it if they can.”
Gèng interrupted and said, “Sharon would like in on the meeting.”
Leah said, “Sharon will join you guys. Are you OK if we leave the rest up to you four, and Wisp?”
Leon said, “It’s OK for now as I knew this was happening. I imagine both Stephen and I would rather find an associate who can be responsible for this part of your business.”
When Stephen nodded, Leah asked, “How long do you need to find someone you’ll trust with this?”
Leon said, “I have two people in mind, but I haven’t broached the matter with them until we knew it was going ahead.”
Stephen said, “Same here. I have someone in mind.”
Turning to Wisp he said, “If you are interested in Virtual Contract Law, then being a part of these discussions will look good on your résumé. To help, I’d like to offer you a position as a paralegal assistant with my firm. Does this interest you at all?”
Wisp’s smile lit up the room as she readily agreed.
Leah said, “OK, I’ll let them know we agree in principle and need two hours to review their offer before we can enter into detailed discussions. Will that give you time to get those people on board?”
They both nodded and Leah asked Gèng to let Cosmos Online know they were ready. When everyone had returned, Leah outlined the things she’d discussed and after agreements from all concerned, everyone logged out, with Leah going back to the Tower.
53
Chapter 53
December 17, 2073 - Afternoon - Part 6
STORK TOWER
Leah was about to log out for a real-time break when Gèng said, “Leah, you finished a little earlier than anticipated in Cosmos Online. One for the times specified in the invitation by Mr White is only five minutes from now if you wanted to deal with that soon.”
Leah changed direction and said, “Thanks for reminding me. The invitation was for Ascendent but not the Café Florian. Did I miss something or wasn’t the venue specified? “
“It wasn’t specified. I suppose you will find out at Reception.”
ASCENDENT
Leah shrugged and entered the portal to Ascendent. She arrived in the same lobby as before and approached the rosewood counter. The same woman as before said, “Atherleah, welcome to Ascendent. I understand you have an invitation to a free session with one of our personal trainers. Mr White is our most requested trainer. The offer he is extending is for one free session to evaluate if he will consider a longer contract. If he agrees to train you, then you will need to become a member of the club. Ascendent accepts no liability with regards to the outcome of the interview. We do have a supply of clothing suitable for the session if you should require it.”
Leah, who’d been clothed by Gèng in an elegant black thigh length cocktail dress, said, “That would be appreciated, as it seems I mistook the nature of our meeting.”
The woman reached beneath the desk and handed Leah a furoshiki wrapped parcel. The cloth was made of silk and had a plain white and black design with the Tokaido logo on it. Leah bowed her head slightly and then followed the woman to a changing area where she dressed in the heavyweight dogi before following the receptionist into a large dojo. Sitting near the centre of the fighting square was a well built Caucasian man of medium height. His hair was what Leah had always been told was salt-and-pepper, and he wore a thin moustache. He was wearing a black dogi in contrast to the white one she was given. As she approached, he stood and took what she thought must be a ready stance. The receptionist disappeared, and Leah took a similar stance opposite the man.
He bowed in a similar way as Yuè Fēi had done. She returned the bow but used the one John had shown her. Mr White attacked. His left hand jabbed upward toward her head, she blocked it his left foot came forward and swung in level with her head. Leah was ready and helping the leg over her head when she brought her left leg in a sweep at Mr White’s right leg. He rolled over the attack, and as he fell toward the ground he managed to get his right leg around to spear a kick towards Leah’s left hip. Her left hand came down, blocking the spearing kick and then Leah stepped back to let him get to his feet. They sparred without conversation for ten minutes, and then Mr White stepped back and bowed. Leah did the same.
Mr White said, “Well done. You’ve reasonable natural ability, and your technique is sound. You tend to drop your left shoulder slightly before you attack from that side, and you’re a little hesitant to take advantage of your opponent’s mistakes.”
Leah bowed her head and said, “Thank you.”
Mr White raised his eyebrows. “What? No snarky comeback to put me in my place? I’ve watched you trade verbal blows with some of the best in the business, and all I get is a ‘Thank you’?”
Leah smiled and said, “I’m tired, Mr White. Snarky is for the mornings. Polite small talk is more de rigueur for afternoon conversations.”
He lowered himself to the floor and sat crosslegged, indicating Leah should do the same. When she was also sitting, he said, “We have a mutual friend in Thomas Ellis. He passed on a suggestion that a few of my friends and I should look closely, but covertly, into Leo Barnsworth. He asked that anything interesting we found should be shared with you. The suggestion was intriguing, and several of us spent some quality time combing the publicly accessible data. What do you think we found?”
“Besides a paragon of British neo-monarchism and a highly respected member of the world’s corporate elite?”
“Well, obviously, those things go without saying.”
“I suspect you found an enigma.”
“We did indeed. What do you think is the cause of this enigma?”
“I think here is not the best place to discuss any theories I may or may not be considering.”
“Ascendent is one of the safest and secure places in the multiverse. No one, not even Ascendent, is recording this meeting.”
“I haven’t even discussed what I think in the privacy of my own world. Are you that confident of this venue that you’ll wager your continuing health, and mine, on it?”
“Yes.”
Leah stared at him for a minute then said, “Perhaps introductions are in order then, Mr White. My real name is Atherleah.”
“Mine is White, Major Franklin White, 22nd SAS, retired.”
Leah waited for Gèng to verify this, then said, “I’m not sure what the actual enigma you uncovered is, but I suggest it begins eight years ago in 2063. Since then, I suspect you’ve found little or no evidence of Leo Barnsworth outside of the multiverse.”
Mr White raised his eyebrows and said, “The enigma indeed begins in 2063, but the lack of any real-world evidence escaped my notice. Please hold while I check something.”
Leah waited for several minutes until Franklin said, “That gives a different slant to things. We were thinking some form of extortion, but your observation points more toward murder?”
“No, I’m pretty sure he’s alive. There are too many things which require current DNA authentication these days. Even the methods used two years ago to fake the scanners are now obsolete.”
“Even though you don’t know the red flags we found, can you guess?”
“His character changed. On one level he became more elitist, and he consolidated his businesses to major in high earning multiplayer games with large numbers of players. On another level, his politics probably shifted toward encouraging the welfare state, and he subsequently invested heavily in helping the poor access Pods.”
“That is an interesting slant to what we found, but accurate enough even if a bit simplistic. The changes are both subtler and more encompassing than you suggest. Your analysis and recent rumours of players being controlled present a rather damning picture of this paragon.”
“Indeed, perhaps the rumours have more substance than your comment might suggest.�
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“How much more substance?”
“Some might estimate a number in excess of a quarter of a billion, but that seems low to me.”
“Have you proof?”
“Yes.”
“Do people suspect you have proof?”
“That the second Earl Barnsworth is being impersonated, no. If they did, then I’m certain I’d be dead no matter how much I think I’m protected. That people are being enslaved, yes. It’s been swept under the rug by Virtual Security, some of whom are involved. The numbers, I don’t think they believe I have proof. Otherwise, they may have acted even more aggressively than they have.”
“Thomas intimated that you’d been shot.”
“I assure you it hurts worse than a mere intimation.”
“Can you show me the proof?”
“It depends on what you’re planning on doing. I need allies, but I don’t need people rushing off and spoiling whatever chance there might be to solve the enigmas, plural.”
“How many enigmas like this do you know of?”