“That will be fine,” Ioaniss said.
“Very well. That’s all the intel we have to cover at the moment, so let us attend dinner and start the wake for our fallen,” Tyr said. “Tomorrow, the true test will come and we will lose even more of our numbers before we bury Stein.”
The meeting ended and the various leaders left the tent with pensive looks as they each went toward their encampments. Gerald and Alburet walked back toward Alpha Company’s section. “We lost three,” Alburet said softly. “Not as many as the others, but still, it felt like losing family.”
“Yes, it did. We’ll celebrate what Vanessa, Kauree, and even Ivonna did for our Guild, and what they believed in to be with us for this.”
Eyes going to Chris and Deirdre, Alburet felt his blood chill. “I have family here still.”
“Do you want me to send them back when the portal opens?” Gerald asked. “I can try to order them back.”
“Stacia would be upset with me,” Alburet replied. “I’ll trust that they know what they are risking, even more so because of the losses today.”
“Al?” Gerald said, stopping the two of them in a small clear space, “Mary told me about what she asked of you and what she offered. Are you sure about the scholarship? As a friend, I would be honored to set up the trust and make sure that it was managed by the right people.”
Staring at the ground, Alburet took a long moment to consider what Gerald was offering. “If you have a daughter with Marysue once you leave here, and she is taken from you when she grows up, would you accept a similar offer?”
Gerald inhaled sharply, “I don’t know. I would probably set up a fund myself, honestly. Though I’d also do everything I could to make sure that whoever hurt my daughter paid for it.”
“Yes... justice must be had,” Alburet nodded sadly. “I won’t ask for it, but I won’t oppose it, either. My friend inside Mindblown hasn’t contacted me since I asked for Marysue. I’ve done what I can for her, so please let her know. Just in case I’m not here after the raid.”
Gerald’s eyebrow went up, “You think they’ll pull you that fast?”
“I have no idea, but anything is possible.”
“I’ll inform her… and Al? Thanks,” Gerald said, clapping him on the shoulder before he continued toward his tent.
Watching the Defender precede him, Alburet gave his friend’s back a tight smile. “You’re welcome, Gerald.”
Dinner was served and, during the meal, Tyr announced the limited wake for the fallen. The next few hours saw tears and laughter intermixed as people celebrated friends no longer with them. Alpha Company celebrated their receptionists and the Paladin who had died defending Ferrin. Ferrin cried more than any two people in the Guild, his anguish at not being able to save Ivonna clear to all who talked to him.
After an hour, Alburet and his wives retired for the night. Fluff drew for an hour in their tent, showing them the art she created to immortalize their fallen, along with the quick map Alburet asked her for. When she was done, they curled up in their blankets and, after a while of holding each other, eventually found some sleep.
Chapter Thirty-six
Blinking, Seamus realized he was in Victoria’s study. The raven-haired beauty was sitting across from him, sadness etched on her face. “Vicky? What’s the problem?”
“It saddens me to see so many deaths,” Victoria replied softly.
Vanessa, Kauree, and Ivonna flashed through his mind, “Yeah, it’s hard to accept.”
“You didn’t have an episode, which is good,” Victoria went on as she cleared her throat gently. “You’ve been integrating all your personalities well. Our visits will soon be over, as you no longer need me to watch over you.”
“Isn’t that something to celebrate?” Seamus asked.
“It is,” Victoria agreed. “Would you like to give a statement about the crime you committed? I have been told that it might help your appeals. With the time you’ve served already, it’s possible that you could go free if Moorehead gets your case before the right judge.”
A long moment passed as Seamus tried to process her words. “I could be free?”
“Moorehead thinks that with your clarity now and the right statement, you could have the case reopened and possibly the murder charge reduced, since it’s obvious you were not in your right mind.”
“No. I was in my right mind,” Seamus said. “That sick fuck deserved what I did. Deserved a lot more than I did. I know what I did, and know that I wasn’t really me at the time, but I don’t regret my choices. I’m sorry I tarnished Kaylee’s memory by doing it, but I still think I was right. That bastard would have pled down and maybe gotten twenty years. I couldn’t stomach that idea.”
“Very well, Seamus. I won’t ask again,” Victoria said softly. “By not doing so, you’ll stay in the care of Mindblown as our test case. That does mean that Karen and Julia will never get to meet you in the flesh.”
Hands tightening, Seamus thought over the offer again before he shook his head. “If we finish this quest, they can come with me to Delta World. Right?”
“I can request that as your boon,” Victoria replied slowly. “Is that what you really want, though? A life trapped inside a pod, where the world is virtual only?”
“If I have my wives with me, it will be as close to heaven as I’m likely to ever get.”
Victoria’s lips ticked up the smallest fraction at the corners, but then her expression became serious once more. “Very well, Seamus. If you can complete the quest, I will strenuously lobby for your request. They will each need to sign a long list of waivers and disclosures for it to be possible.”
“They’ll do it,” Seamus replied. “If it will help, you can send the forms to my bag and they’ll sign them today.”
“They will need to step out of the game and sign them in person, sadly,” Victoria said. “That all hinges on you completing all of the quest parts, do not forget that.”
“I’m aware,” Seamus replied. “About my other message to you—”
Victoria held up a hand, cutting him off. “That will be between Francis Bennet and Alvin once their six-month testing phase is over. I have given him my opinion on the matter, but it is out of my hands. If Marysue pushes with the full weight of the Dorn name, I’m sure that will influence the final decision.”
“Can I tell them that?”
“You may inform them.”
“Thank you.”
“Why did you turn down Marysue’s offer of the scholarship?”
“You know why, if you were watching.”
“Do you think Kaylee would be upset that her memory would be the inspiration for helping others get a hand up?”
“No. I just can’t ask for it.”
“Stubborn as always,” Victoria sighed.
“Why this scenario?” Seamus asked, changing topics. “Why the Final Deaths for all the natives?”
“Will this be remembered? Will it be something that players talk about for twenty or more years?” Victoria asked in return.
“Yeah, the raid will be remembered... the lead up with all the deaths will be remembered.”
“That is why. It doesn’t matter how I or others feel about it. What matters is that it will cement Mindblown’s name in gamer memory. Delta World won’t be public for a few years. We won’t even hint about it until the last crisis for Alpha World starts. We’ll have a few internal testers for Delta World and a handful of alpha testers, but that’s it. Even then, it’s been agreed that once Alpha World’s story is done, the servers will stay up for those who have accounts. This way, anyone who has made a real home for themselves there can keep going back.”
“That’s surprising for a business,” Seamus said.
“That will also be remembered, and it will help portray the company as the best gaming company. Though the projected figures show that almost all of the players will transition to Delta World if they can.”
“This whole story line with Stein, Dimitry, Bitch, and the nobles.
Why use it as the first story? Why not the Dragons, or the Troll war that I’m sure is coming?”
“Most of our players chose Human as their race, did you know that?”
“No, but since you mention it, yeah... most of the Guild seems to be Human. That’s odd. I would think most would want to be different.”
“Why did you choose Human, and not Dwarf, Lunari, or Elven?”
“Didn’t care for the way they looked, mostly; also kind of wanted to be me.”
“Exactly. A majority of our players want to be the hero. Those players chose an idealized version of themselves in appearance. A few have fully embraced that idea, with a subset allowing themselves be who they want to be away from society’s ideals.”
“I don’t fault them.”
“Neither do I. The fact that they allow themselves to be free inside Alpha World is truly inspiring. Sadly, with everything good comes the bad. We have a very small section of players who allow themselves to be everything bad and evil while playing. Bloodmoon, for instance.”
“What happened to her? She left the testing phase.”
“That is an internal matter, but suffice to say she won’t be allowed back in any of our long-term facilities again, for any game.”
“Good,” Seamus snorted, “least she deserves.”
“I mourn the fact that she didn’t try to overcome her demons, but no doctor can save every patient,” Victoria sighed.
“You have Julia, Karen, and me. Three successful cases against Bloodmoon’s failure is still pretty damned good, Doc.”
“Yes, your case and Julia’s are wild successes. Mindblown will be launching a psychiatric program next year. Our papers exclude patient names, but your case and Julia’s are being used.”
“Shouldn’t you ask us?” Seamus asked sourly.
“We did; you signed the forms. The terms were buried in the agreements,” Victoria shrugged. “Do you object to your case being used to help others?”
“No, but I do object to Julia’s story being splashed all over.”
“A clinical paper is hardly a splash. All names are omitted, just the cold facts are used. Could someone use the facts to try and dig out who the case studies are about? Of course, but most researchers have some integrity.”
“All of this seems beyond the point,” Seamus said. “Why did you really bring me here, tonight of all nights?”
“Because the end of your quest is in front of you. I know you’ve been torn over the request that Rolland gave you, as well.”
Sighing, Seamus looked at the ring on his hand. “To give up my chance at the quest to give the King a second chance.”
“Exactly. That ring gives you a very good chance, if you are careful, to come out of the final fight alive.”
“Without it, I might fail, and then…” Trailing off, Seamus didn’t want to think about what failure meant.
“Your boon dies with you,” Victoria said, watching him intently.
“Why do I feel like this is a test, and not as flat as it seems?”
Victoria’s lips twitched, but quickly stilled. “Does that seem likely?”
“Yes.”
“I can neither confirm nor deny your conjecture, Seamus. I would only tell you that your actions will have lasting repercussions either way.”
“Has Alvin spoken about me?” Seamus asked, changing the topic.
“Indeed. He has been watching as much as he can while still managing his tasks. It has been heartening to see him so invested in your story. Alvin is rooting for you, Seamus.”
“None of this is being recorded, is it?”
“Alvin will see this conversation, and only Alvin. Would you like to say something to him specifically?”
Lips pursed, Seamus took a moment before looking directly at Victoria. “Can you change?”
Form blurring, Victoria vanished to be replaced by Alvin. His old friend sat in the chair slouched, as he was prone to do, and was wearing a shirt Seamus remembered, featuring a quip about casting fireballs and killing everyone in the room. Alvin looked far from the lead of Mindblown’s Alpha World game, looking instead like he normally had at gaming, years before. “You wanted to speak to me?”
“Good one, Vicky. You even have his voice right.”
Alvin shrugged, “I’m a busy man, you know. I have to make sure everything is set for the raid tomorrow.”
“Sure, Alvin. I won’t take up a lot of your time, but I want to say a few things. Mostly, thank you. Thanks for this chance. Because of it, I’ve found myself, but more importantly, three wonderful women. I know you had a hand in getting this set up, and I’m not going to forget to thank you. Beyond that, I have to thank you for something even more important to me... Thank you for taking care of Kaylee, for me and David. Keep her ashes safe, and every once in a while, think of me and David when you see her. Before you go, make sure her ashes are buried with David; she should be with him. Can I ask a small favor? Get me the paperwork to hand over my power of attorney to Julia and Karen? One or both might want to cremate or bury me when the time comes.”
“Seamus, you’ve always been a good man... sometimes an ass, but mostly a good man,” Alvin replied. “You’ll be alive for years, probably longer than both of them with the medical treatment you get with us. I’ll see what I can do about the paperwork, but maybe you should think more broadly on what life is and what it might be. Now, stop wasting all my damn time, you sentimental bastard.” Getting up, Alvin walked around the desk and bro-hugged Seamus when he stood up. “Win this one. Once more, for old time’s sake. Just like our last game together, when Harry stacked the deck against us by putting Tiamat and Vecna together. You had answers for everything that Harry did... when the dust cleared, we were all down, but you survived it, got us back to town, and rezzed us.”
A smile grew on his face as Seamus remembered that last game with Alvin. “Hierophants are overpowered, especially with solid teammates around them.”
“Saved the world and the King,” Alvin laughed before he faded away.
“The world and the King,” Seamus muttered as the dream faded around him.
Chapter Thirty-seven
Waking up with the dream fresh in his mind, Alburet tried to recall as much of it as he could. He could remember bits of his conversation with Victoria, but not the full encounter. He did recall the ending speech Harry gave the table after the campaign Alvin had mentioned, and his complaints afterwards.
~*~*~
“You’ve driven the manifestations of the two evil gods back to their home planes. After dragging your friend’s bodies back to the city inside the bags of holding, you get them resurrected by the church of Bahamut, who are overjoyed that you managed to accomplish the mission. As your group leaves the church, a message from the King is waiting for you. He wants to see you, and now. Accompanying the messenger, you are brought before High King Elindal, who after a long and tedious speech, thanks each of you in turn and grants each of you a boon from the crown in honor of saving his soul from the clutches of Vecna.”
The group was all smiles as they discussed what they wanted their retiring characters to end up with.
“You all suck, by the way,” Harry frowned. “Setting up a series of contingency spells on the King was stupid; you could have used those slots during the fight.”
“What would have happened if we hadn’t?” David asked.
“The King’s soul would have been swapped with Vecna’s when you dropped him, but noooo, you had a true res contingency spell which fucked my death curse. The whole next campaign arc was going to be your new characters working for the false King and doing Vecna’s will until you realized it at higher levels.”
“We saved the King and the world,” Seamus chuckled. “Hero-ing done right.”
“Asshole, you’re not allowed to play that class again,” Harry sighed. “You either, David.”
Exchanging knowing grins, they agreed that they wouldn’t play the same class for the next campaign.
; “Fine, we’ll see you guys next week for character creation. I’ll cobble something together for the next arc, fucking King-saving assholes.”
~*~*~
“Save the world and the King,” Alburet muttered.
“Al?” Karen asked, stirring beside him. “You okay?”
“Yes and no,” he replied softly. “I think I have to do something you’re not going to like.”
Eyes sharpening as she realized what he meant, Karen grabbed him. “No. Al, don’t.”
“I was just reminded by an old friend of a moment years ago… about when we stopped the evil wizard from killing the King, and in doing so, saved the world,” Alburet said. “I think I have to give the ring to Tyr.”
Gamer for Love (Alpha World Book 8) Page 33