Keep Your Friends Close

by N. D. Roberts

  Eve shook her head. “No, you will reset to the moment before you died. There were some concessions that had to be made for your starting positions. Once you are together, any death will trigger a group reset to the beginning of the last objective chain.” She looked into the distance. “I advise you get to the Gemini sooner rather than later.”

  The twins gave Eve identical confused looks.

  “The Gemini?” Alexis asked.

  “How do we find an objective chain?” Gabriel cut in.

  Eve tilted her head toward them, the smile in her eyes missing the spark of life from a moment ago. “Hello, children. Is there something I can help you with?”

  Too late, Gabriel groaned, realizing immediately that the real Eve had departed the NPC avatar. She’s gone.

  Alexis grabbed Gabriel’s hand and pulled him out of the anteroom. She gave us the name of a ship. We’ve just got to find out where it is.

  Belv’th, First City

  K’aia couldn’t believe the difference between the city she knew and the one she was in.

  The streets thrummed with a low, angry energy that was entirely absent on Devon. She knew the unspoken words by heart. The language of oppression didn’t change from setting to setting.

  She was drawing attention. People were pointing and whispering snide remarks about her being far from home. One thing that was exactly the same was the scarcity of four-legged Yollins in her locale.

  This planet just wasn’t appealing to anyone who could live by legitimate means on Yoll. K’aia had long suspected her family operated on the shady side of things when it came to earning a living. This time around, she hadn’t visited the wreck of their old house, not wanting to find proof of her suspicions with wiser eyes.

  Maybe she should have gone searching for the truth. It wouldn’t have been worse than what she was seeing here in the city. Without fear of reprisal from Baba Yaga, the slave trade was in full swing in the market squares, as were the fights.

  K’aia had mostly forgotten how First City had been a stew with a fetid mixture of pirates, mercenaries, and asshole bullies before Bethany Anne had laid down the law. It didn’t matter who held the money. They were all bent on forcing ordinary people who found themselves in hard places into even worse situations.

  Like the fighters in the shabby ring in front of her. K’aia knew desperation when she saw it. One of the two would kill the other for the sake of a handful of credits to feed their family, and K’aia was angered by it. There was no judgment to be passed on the fighters, only pity for them, and whichever family would be short a provider, come the end of the fight.

  The responsibility was with the fight-runners. K’aia’s list of things they ought to do something about was growing longer by the minute, but there wasn’t a whole lot she could accomplish by herself.

  Which meant she should stop wasting time pining for a planet that wasn’t real and find the one person on it who was.

  Easier said than done.

  K’aia picked up her pace. She skirted the bazaar, knowing she would be slowed to the point of frustration by the mid-afternoon crowd.

  Nothing would be simpler than strolling over to the Enclave and finding him there, but she knew Trey. He wouldn’t have stayed where he had entered the gameworld.

  K’aia’s hunch was rewarded by the sight of Trey’s golden fur a few hundred feet away in what should have been Hexagon Plaza. He was standing in the middle of the road, shouting curses at the sky. “Kid’s going to get himself killed.”

  She started forward when she spotted the speeding cattle truck; her prediction looked like it was about to become a reality. There was no way she was going to reach him in time. Her heart lurched in her chest as the plea tumbled from her mouth. “Eve, please don’t let that dumbass die just yet?”

  Trey dropped flat to the ground in the instant before the trailer thundered over him.

  “If that was you, thank you.” K’aia breathed a sigh of relief and resumed her progress toward Trey’s position. The crowds sucked, but then, crowds did when you were the size of a small vehicle and weren’t the most graceful around the rear end.

  The staff Eve had given her helped. A few pokes with the inactive end cleared the more obstinate shoppers quickly enough.

  Trey got to his feet as K’aia approached, the storm of emotion passing from his expression at the sight of her. “K’aia! Eve had me thinking I had to search the whole city for you.”

  K’aia passed Trey the staff, snickering at his look of surprise at being handed what was still prototype technology. “Eve is an ass. She makes up for it in other ways.”

  Trey’s eyes widened at K’aia’s daring. “Eve is a delight. I won’t hear any different. Look at this!” He brandished the staff. “I could teach Da’Mahin a thing or two with this if that mangy asshole was worth my time.”

  K’aia snorted her laughter. “Yeah, sure. C’mon, we need to find a place to set up a base of operations for when the twins get here. I’m guessing we’re not going to get a warm welcome in the Enclave.”

  A slow grin spread over Trey’s face. His horizon had grown infinitely brighter now that he wasn’t facing it alone. “I don’t know, a lashing gets you pretty warmed up, right?” He couldn’t hold his laughter in for long. “This isn’t so bad. I’ve got an idea or two about where we can find a base. What are you thinking for size?”

  K’aia’s chest heaved as she struggled to control her laughter. “I don’t know. We’ll need room for whatever ship the twins manage to get their hands on.”

  Trey set off for the bazaar at a jog, slipping through the crowd easily. “Follow me. I know the perfect place.”

  K’aia shouldered her way through the shoppers after Trey. “As long as it’s perfect and cheap. We’re not exactly rolling in credits.”

  Trey paused to wait for K’aia to catch up. “This is a game. I had no problem relieving Ch’Irzt of the contents of his pockets.” He flipped a credit chip and caught it in his hand, then passed it to K’aia. “You should probably keep that. You know I’ll lose it.”

  K’aia examined the chip before shucking off her pack and stowing it safely inside. “Fifty thousand is a good start. We’re going to need plenty more than that, though.”

  Trey shrugged. “We can get fat on the proceeds of crime.” He grinned at K’aia’s look of disdain. “Not like that. Wanna go shut down some illegal fights?”

  K’aia punched Trey in the arm and moved to get ahead of him in the crowd. “Why didn’t you say so? I know just where to start.”

  3

  Heart of the Empire, QBBS Meredith Reynolds

  Alexis, who was fiddling with a panel she was using to hack Meredith, paused. Are we clear?

  Gabriel scanned the area quickly and ducked back around the corner. Yeah, it was a civilian. Are you having any success with persuading Meredith to reveal the location of the ship?

  Alexis was surprised by Gabriel’s surge of frustration. I’m getting there. It doesn’t feel right to mess with her, so I’m sneaking around disguised as a routine system inquiry. You okay? She continued her search of the system for any mention of the Gemini project.

  Gabriel nodded without turning from his lookout position. Yeah. The game isn’t what I expected, is all. This is exactly the same situation we were in with the Izanami.

  You couldn’t have expected this, surely? Alexis debated how anyone could be prepared for the total immersion. Eve created a ton of scenarios, but they all had a narrative we had to follow. We are the narrators in this universe. The question is, what are our parents expecting of us?

  Double dammit. Gabriel left his place and picked up the small toolbox Alexis was using. We haven’t learned our lesson at all. We aren’t going to find the ship in the system.

  Alexis groaned. You’re right. Mom wouldn’t put something meant for us where just anyone could find it. We have to ask permission to leave, don’t we?

  Gabriel nodded and handed her the toolbox. Think of it as an inoculation.
We have to leave home for real at some point, right? We’ll get to gauge how badly Mom’s going to blow her top when it happens.

  Alexis snickered. Maybe I should introduce a boyfriend to Dad while we’re here?

  You have a boyfriend? Gabriel’s disposition darkened instantly at the thought of any male near his sister. Why haven’t I met him?

  Alexis fixed Gabriel with an icy stare. Rein in your caveman attitude. I was joking, and you are just as bad as Dad. She flounced off to find their gameworld parents, thoroughly annoyed with her brother.

  Gabriel, for his part, had no clue what he’d done. He hurried to fall into step beside her. Sorry? I don’t know why, but please accept my apology before we miss something vital to getting the best outcome.

  Alexis sighed. She wasn’t being fair. It’s starting to sink in that we’re here instead of home. It’s going to be a challenge to keep ourselves from getting so deep into this world that we forget what’s real and what’s not. I shouldn’t take it out on you.

  Gabriel bumped her arm with his elbow. What are brothers for? We’re both feeling out of place, so it’s only natural. All we have to do is be good to each other, and we’ll get through it just fine.

  Alexis felt her confidence return. You’re right. Our friends will be wondering where we are. We have to focus on getting to them, so whatever comes next can wait.

  They found Bethany Anne alone in her private quarters.

  Bethany Anne looked up and smiled when Gabriel and Alexis popped their heads around the door. “I was wondering how long it would be before you two got here. Come in.”

  Alexis felt Gabriel’s discomfort with the NPC. She smiled and went over to give Bethany Anne a hug like she normally did when she saw her mother. “Hi, Mom.”

  Gabriel stood back to give Alexis room to take the lead.

  Bethany Anne’s knowing smile was just the same as it had been every day of their lives. “Why do you both have that ‘I want’ look? Sit down and let’s talk.”

  Alexis took the seat beside Bethany Anne at her writing desk and waited for Gabriel to perch on the arm of the loveseat behind her before beginning. “It’s not something we want. It’s something we need. We came to ask for your permission to leave the Meredith Reynolds and explore beyond the Empire.”

  She closed her eyes and waited for the inevitable explosion and scene switch. However, they did not find themselves in an underground bunker at a wave of Bethany Anne’s hand.

  Gabriel looked at Bethany Anne in total confusion. This wasn’t the reaction either of them had been expecting. “You’re smiling. Why are you smiling?”

  Bethany Anne stood up and headed straight for the door. “Your father and I saw this coming a while ago. Come with me.”

  Gabriel wiggled his eyebrows at Alexis as he got up to follow Bethany Anne. What do you know? It wasn’t so sucky after all.

  Alexis stuck out a foot to trip him. You suck. You get to tell her the next time.

  Gabriel evaded the trap easily. Nice try, sis. He smirked at Alexis and slipped out into the corridor.

  “Where are we going?” Alexis asked as she and Gabriel fell into step on either side of Bethany Anne.

  “To my hangar,” Bethany Anne told them without slowing her pace. “You aren’t going anywhere without my full protection.”

  Alexis narrowed her eyes playfully. “You’re just letting us go? No fight? Who are you, and what have you done with our mom?”

  Bethany Anne chuckled. “I won the bet on whether you two would ask permission before leaving, so I’m happy. Besides, you’re growing up, and it’s only rational you would want to stretch your legs and see some of the universe.”

  Mom had something to do with this, Gabriel stated conclusively. Our real mom, I mean. Dad, too. This was a test, I know it.

  Alexis nodded. I think so, too. But we passed, which means we get all the good toys to play with. I’m glad we worked it out. Mom loves to go overboard, whether she’ll admit it or not.

  Her words dried up in her mouth when they entered Bethany Anne’s hangar.

  “Welcome to the QGE Gemini.” Bethany Anne swept her arms wide to indicate the shining blue ship. “What do you think of your ride?”

  Alexis stopped in her tracks, a squeal sneaking out despite herself when she saw the modulated design of the ship. “She’s beautiful! So different from the warships we’re used to.” She darted across the hangar to get a look at the name stenciled on the curved flank, swerving to account for the outward-canted legs. “QGE? What class of ship is she?”

  Bethany Anne led the twins underneath the ship. “The Gemini is a galactic explorer-class starship. Your EI will instruct you on its capabilities once you’re aboard.”

  Her face softened as she came to a stop beneath the larger of two hatches in the belly of the ship. “Your father and I have stocked the holds with everything we thought you might need for an expedition. Be brave, my loves. Remember who you are and what you stand for.”

  Look at her face, Gabriel murmured. This is a recording of Mom. Do you think anyone can inhabit their avatar?

  Alexis threw herself into Bethany Anne’s arms, overcome with the same mixed emotions she felt coming from her brother. This is going to be very hard to bear if the game keeps crossing with reality.

  Even Gabriel got his hug this time. He found embracing the avatar uncomfortable, but it was his last chance to feel his mother’s love for a while. “Bye, Mom. We’ll make you and Dad proud. Promise.”

  The hatch slid out and across, and a ramp wide enough for a roamer descended to meet them. Gabriel’s eyes grew wide at the female silhouette standing inside the hatch. “That doesn’t look like Izanami.”

  Bethany Anne chuckled. “Well, this is your ship, made for you. You take care of Gemini, and she will take care of you.” She shooed Gabriel and Alexis onto the ramp, her eyes misty. “I’ll leave you three to get acquainted. Make sure you call home once in a while, okay?”

  “We will,” they promised as Bethany Anne moved out of the shadow of the ship.

  Side by side, Alexis and Gabriel walked up the ramp and boarded the Gemini for the first time.

  Lights came on overhead when they entered the cargo bay in the rear module of the ship. The first thing they saw was the double line of vehicles in the center of the cargo bay. The next was the owner of the silhouette, a smooth-faced EI with features somewhere between Baba Yaga’s and Eve’s.

  Gabriel smiled and introduced himself. “But you already know who we are, right?”

  The EI glided toward Gabriel and Alexis, the intermittent static in her avatar marking it as a holoprojection. “I am Gemini, and yes, I know who you are. Welcome aboard, Captains. If you would follow me, we will take a tour of the ship before we depart.”

  Alexis narrowed her eyes. “Captains? Ships usually have one captain.”

  Gemini glided slightly ahead, her footsteps falling a hair’s breadth above the carpeted floor. “This ship can be called many things, but ‘usual’ is not one of them. ”

  Gabriel frowned, the corner of his mouth turning up in bemusement. Alexis, I think she might be real.

  Alexis also recognized the hallmarks of an unrestricted personality matrix in the EI. Maybe. It could be that one of the objective chains Eve hinted at is helping Gemini ascend to AI status.

  Gemini turned her body to face the twins without pausing in her steady progression. “If you are ready, we have a lot to cover before we leave.” She smiled at Alexis’ and Gabriel’s indications to continue. “The Gemini is a galactic explorer-class starship. We are equipped with the latest in navigation, shields, cloaking, and weapons.”

  Alexis accessed the ship’s systems in her HUD and pulled up their offensive capabilities. “We can convert Etheric energy into weaponized plasma? That’s going to come in handy.”

  Gabriel was similarly impressed with what he found in the defenses. “The outer shields can be converted to emit an EMP pulse. We’re protected by the inner layer.”

&n
bsp; Gemini followed the back and forth with growing concern. “I am confused. My directives tell me that our mission is to explore. We are to act as diplomats and ambassadors for the Etheric Empire. We do not need to compound the popular myth that all humans are aggressive and deadly. It is to be hoped that we will avoid confrontation whenever possible.”

  Alexis nodded solemnly, understanding Gemini’s reticence. “It’s our hope, too. Unfortunately, we know to expect differently. Our expedition won’t consist entirely of peaceful encounters. There are a lot of isolated planets and strange new worlds to explore once we leave the Empire. The systems beyond the borders can be feral, rife with dangerous people and organizations that have no regard for justice or freedom.”

  “We don’t want to give the wrong impression, either,” Gabriel clarified. “Humans are aggressive and deadly—when it’s necessary. We were not raised to allow evil to prevail when we have the power to prevent it.”

  “That’s true,” Alexis told Gemini firmly. “Wanting to live in peace is great when everyone else wants the same thing, but standing by while bad things happen would make us no better than the ones committing the evil.”

  Gemini’s avatar flickered while she devoted extra cycles to the contradictory statement. “You are saying that to prevent violence, you must commit violence? I fail to understand the logic.”

  Gabriel lifted his hands. “I agree, but what can you do? We don’t make the rules. We just have to use them to our advantage, same as everyone else.”

  Alexis smirked. “Only we play to win. Our mom always says the only fair fight is one you lose.”

  Gemini absorbed the information with interest. “I will consider the varying consequences of unplanned contact with new species.”

  Gemini’s tour began with an elevator ride that let out on the mezzanine level of the bridge. “This is the navigation center. The lower-level access opens onto your ready room, where the long-distance communications are placed.”