by A W Wang
When we reach the black-trimmed entrance, machinery whirs and the massive double doors slide apart.
Still cautious, we enter, ready for a fight.
The inside is quiet and, except for a rounded staircase leading to an overhead platform, empty.
“This might be a place of sanctuary,” Jill says.
I reply, “You’re probably right, but let’s not take anything for granted.”
Instead of taking my advice, Ty hustles to the second level, his heavy steps echoing off the concrete walls.
Furious with the cavalier attitude, I help Talon up the stairs as everybody else rushes past.
Thankfully, only a sleek silver tram waits for us.
When we cross to the first car, slim doors slide apart and cool air spills past.
The ten-meter cabin is surprisingly luxurious, with plush carpeting and wood paneling. While the others plop into leather swivel chairs spaced along the broad side windows, I drag Talon toward the first-aid sign in the rear.
After passing through a rubberized enclosure, we enter the back car. A narrow yellow panel stretches down the ceiling, casting soft gleams over the mostly windowless space. In contrast to the front, this cabin is purely functional, serving as the armory and medical center.
I set Talon onto a long table near the entrance as Jill joins us and pulls down an overhead cabinet marked as first aid. Surprisingly, the contents are limited to medieval wraps and lotions. She shrugs. “I guess everything’s going to be period specific.”
“Caveman to swords. It could be a progression,” I reply, pointing at the armory.
Not interested in the nuances of the overlords, she grabs a handful of cloth along with a couple of bottles and gets to work on Talon.
I walk to the rear and examine our new weapons, which rest in floor-to-ceiling wooden racks.
While there aren’t any long spears, all other types of medieval weaponry—from swords to knives as well as bows and crossbows—are represented. Everything one could want for killing in pre-gunpowder times.
On the other hand, the protective measures along the other side—leather armor, mailed shirts, and small shields—lack the bulk for a protracted fight.
Speed is of the essence.
The doors close, and a gentle shudder runs through the car. Through one of the portals located between the racks, I watch the station slide past. The tram settles into a smooth glide, and on the high single rail, we drift from the beige and greens of the island and head over the rolling blue ocean.
I pull out a long sword that is similar to the weapon that sent me as close to death as one could reach without dying. My lips crease into a faint smile, and I think of the fingers of darkness and wonder when my old friend will reappear.
Ty wanders into the car. “Those guys were pretty bad.”
I shrug. “They were AIs. Maybe they were set to mimic the quality of people we’ll fight in the real world.”
“We can plow through them with ease.”
I gesture to the table. “They were good enough to wound Talon and kill Kai.”
“That was because we were surprised. We’ll win the next one.”
“Winning a fight means nothing,” I say, slamming my sword back into its holder. “We have to get out of the one-scenario-at-a-time mentality.”
Ty peruses a rack holding knives and short swords. “We’re doing fine.”
Talon groans.
Jill shrugs. “Sorry, I have to stitch the wound.”
“I’ve had worse,” Talon replies through gritted teeth.
Ty says, “We’ve all been wounded worse. Just make sure she can function.”
I step close to the bearded man. “Don’t let those cushy seats fool you. We have one dead and one wounded from one fight.” I hold up my index finger for emphasis. “Things are only getting worse. Imagine everything you’ve experienced so far in the program compressed into what we have to face in front of us. And then some. The odds say we’re not even supposed to reach the volcano, let alone climb it. And that’s not even including fights with other teams. This is a war, and we don’t get any reinforcements.”
Ty scowls, his eyes full of fury.
After having been exposed to far worse from teammates like Cat, Jet, and Block, I chortle.
“So what do we do differently?” Jill says to break the stalemate.
“We plan and utilize the different skills we have,” I say loud enough to carry into the front car.
A minute passes before everyone nods, including a reluctant Ty.
After I call the rest of the team around the first-aid table, we discuss people’s strengths and weaknesses with the arms available. A few disagreements arise, but eventually, we all get slotted into a role for the good of the group. Besides myself, there is one other archer and one crossbowman, three with short Roman spears, and the final three with long swords. Hopefully, something for everything we might meet.
With the assignments made, I select a mid-sized bow and short sword. For close-in do-or-die defense, I wrap a double-edged knife around my thigh.
When Jill finishes patching up Talon, I help my injured comrade into a mailed tunic, hoping to protect the wound. Before this is over, we’ll need everything we can get from every one of us.
As soon as everybody arms and armors, we clank to the front car and drop into the plush seats, waiting to reach our destination.
In the cool and comfortable atmosphere, the respite passes too quickly.
When the narrow white beach and tree line of the opposite shore come into view, the group sits straighter as anticipation for the next circle builds.
The tram leaves the water and enters the shadows of the tall forest. Too soon, the way station appears, and our pace slows. As the giant circle of red slips beneath us, everyone stands and prepares for whatever will come.
A moment later, the vehicle stops and the doors slide open.
We step onto the platform with soft clinks of metal.
Although spatters of blood taint our grim faces, nobody, including a grimacing Talon, shows any signs other than being ready for the next challenge.
Good.
“Let’s do this,” I say. After the others nod, we descend to the lower level.
The new structure is identical to the one we just left. More repetition from the overlords. As I walk to the main doors, I wonder when or if we’ll be able to use that to our advantage.
Anything to put off Death’s spindly fingers.
By some unspoken decree, everyone pauses at the threshold. After a few deep breaths and moments of reflection, Jill steps forward and punches the control panel.
Machines whir, and the outer doors open.
I heft my shield and step onto the red surface.
A yellow arrow points the path to the next way station, and we head as a group into the dense and shadowy woodland.
Fifty
As I cross under a sunbeam poking through the forest canopy, an arrow whizzes by and thunks into a nearby tree.
Swords clash in the background.
Another shaft zips over low-lying foliage, and I raise my shield to deflect it. Before any more arrive, I skirt past a thicket and jump into cover behind a giant redwood.
A second later, Jill and Mouse join me.
Winded, I search the endless sea of trees and yank an arrow from my almost empty quiver.
This is the ninth fight we’ve had with a roving band since getting off the tram. Unlike regular marauders, who care about their own lives, these constructs pursue with abandon, attacking until one side or the other is wiped from existence.
So far, we’ve been lucky with only minor wounds and no more dead because these attackers fight only marginally better than the cavemen from the island. But they come from an endless supply and keep bleeding our resources and strength. For every minute we waste battling in this accursed forest, more of these obstacles will arrive, which will delay us further and cause more obstacles to arrive.
A total shit
-show.
Jill touches a slice cutting across my leather chest protector. “You alright?”
“Just a scratch. Nothing serious.”
Movement comes from the underbrush, and I fit the arrow to the bowstring.
Twenty meters away, Talon bursts from a line of shrubs dragging one of the Jims, who has a gash running down his leg. A second later, red-haired Tom forces his way through the dense branches, limping and holding his dangling right arm.
“Get ready,” I say.
Shouts come amid a flurry of clashing metal, and our last three, Ty, the other Jim, and Cece, get pushed into view. As they struggle to maintain their footing, the newest band of bloodthirsty marauders emerges.
“Shoot straight!”
Metal twangs as Mouse unleashes her crossbow. The bolt sinks into the eye of a huge bearded obstacle, who flops backward and crushes a tangle of bushes.
Jill and I shoot, aiming over our people. Arrows thud through leather and into flesh. The rapid firing decimates the second line of pursuers before our quivers run dry. Mouse has a larger supply of bolts and keeps shooting as we sling our bows.
After the wounded move past, Jill and I draw our swords and join the line with Ty and the other two long swordsmen.
A curved blade flies at my head, and I meet it with a stinging block.
An obstacle groans as Jill thrusts her sword into his gut.
I kick at my opponent’s leg, knocking him off balance. Before he recovers, I send the pommel of my weapon into the bridge of his nose. As he falls away, I slash at his neck.
Blood fountains, and the obstacle tumbles into the shrubbery.
A moment later, everything stills.
Ty yanks his sword from a marauder. “These things are chewing us up.”
I wipe my face, scanning the nearby woods.
Hollow scrapes and muted footsteps drift between the trees.
“More?” Jill asks, pulling an undamaged arrow from the soft earth.
Wearily, I nod, unsure of how many more skirmishes we can handle. “Let’s keep moving.”
As we trudge further into the endless woodland, trying to move in silence and stay hidden, Ty sidles to me. He glances at our wounded and whispers, “We need to travel faster. We might need to leave anyone who can’t keep up.”
I hate that I’ve already considered the idea, but Ty’s right. It’s as the witch avatar stated: The bands of marauders are getting more frequent. While we’ve bypassed most of them, with our slower movements and lesser choices of route as we near the way station, we’ve had to battle through the last two groups. And now we have even less ability to avoid the next one.
“Well?” Ty says.
I survey the vicinity.
Many shrouds of darkness sit under the looming trees and their thick crowns. Too many places for lurking enemies to hide. However, the volcano is a long, impossible distance away.
Taking a deep breath, I make my decision. “We can’t leave anyone. Numbers are more important.”
“It’s them or us.”
“The weapons are progressing, so I assume the first aid will improve too when we get to the other rings. Remember, we’re not getting any more people.”
“You’re betting our lives on that assumption. I wouldn’t want to be left behind either, but this is war.”
“Then we better make sure we all make it,” I reply a little too loudly.
To emphasize the point, I brush past him and march to where Talon is supporting Jim. After taking Jim from her, I glare at Ty.
While he mumbles and stalks away, Jill sends me a nod.
I return a tight smile. The defiant gesture is just bravado, but sticking together will help far more than making harsh decisions so early on.
The leaves rustle from a sudden breeze, and fearful glances flick to the rear.
“Keep moving, people. There’s nothing there,” I say, knowing that with our plodding progress, it’s only a matter of time until we’re hit again.
As we cut through denser forest, Jim weakens from the loss of blood, forcing me to shoulder more of his sagging form.
“Just a little further,” I say.
A few steps later, Jill supports him from the other side, and we make better time.
In the lead, Mouse halts and raises her hand. She’s spotted another group of marauders.
With a sigh, I pull Jim into the shadow of a redwood.
Ty sends a meaningful stare.
After glancing at Jill, who mouths “Stick together,” I reply to Ty with a shake of my head. We’re committed to our team.
Soon, the noises of the searchers lessen, and we step from the shadows. I speed the pace, almost dragging Jim to stay in front of any other would-be obstacles.
Finally, after starting and stopping to avoid our enemies too many times to count, slats of sunshine fall between the thinning trees ahead.
“Come on, it’s not too much further,” I say, pushing harder under Jim.
Ty and Mouse jog ahead, acting as scouts.
A minute later, they stop well short of the clearing, holding up their hands for caution.
I give Jim to Talon and draw my sword, hurrying to their position with Jill. As we near, I slow and kneel next to Mouse.
She points at a row of squat shrubs. “There and there. You can see the shadows aren’t even.”
I squint at the dark patches, unsure of her suspicions.
A breeze blows, and although the leaves and branches rustle, human-contoured shapes remain motionless.
Jill cusses.
“Is there any way around them?” I ask.
“Not dragging the way we are,” Ty replies.
Talon runs up breathless. “There’s another group coming from behind.”
“How many shots do you have left?” I ask Mouse.
She holds up three fingers.
Not enough.
The nine groups we’ve fought and destroyed all had ten men. We can win against another one, but with three wounded and only a few recovered arrows and crossbow bolts left, any victory will be of the Pyrrhic variety.
“How long do we have?” I ask Talon.
“No more than a few minutes.”
“Damn,” Jill mutters.
We’re caught between two forces and have to pick who we want to fight. It’s not a decision. We have to plow ahead and into the clearing regardless of the consequences.
The enemy in front shifts, and I recognize a familiar form. Before anyone can protest, I jump from cover and toss aside my sword and helmet.
“Vic, what the hell are you doing?” Ty says.
“Thinking outside of the box,” I reply.
Seconds pass as I wait for an arrow or bolt to impale me, wondering if the humor of the overlords is as twisted as I’m imagining.
A woman wearing a helm with protecting ear flaps steps into the open.
I push my hand in front of the crossbow to forestall any aggressive action from Mouse.
A familiar voice says, “Fancy meeting you here, Vic.”
“Hello, Cat.”
Fifty-One
“You know her?” Ty says.
“We were on the same team,” I reply. “Twenty scenarios together, so don’t do anything stupid.”
“You mean stupider than this?”
“Do we have a choice? Just keep calm and let me do the talking.”
Cat puts away her sword. “What do you want, Vic?”
Despite the craziness of our parting and even though we’ve only been separated for a day, I already miss her. “How about a little chat?”
Cat checks the surroundings before saying, “Sure, we’re kind of busy, so it’ll need to be a short one. Meet halfway?”
“Perfect.”
When I jog toward her, Ty jumps out and runs next to me.
“You’re not going alone.”
As an answer, I blow out a sigh.
To even the numbers, a woman with a blue mullet and 5.4 score steps out and accompanies Cat.
I grind my teeth in frustration because handling Cat will be enough of an issue.
When we near, I raise my hands in a gesture of peace, and the two groups stop a sword’s length apart.
Streaks of blood cover Cat’s face and green-trimmed clothing, but she seems uninjured.
Although her eyes are narrowed with anger, she calmly says, “What happened to slow and steady, Mr. Bright Smile?”
“I had a change of heart.”
Her lips curl into a dour smile, and she points at the cuts over my armor. “Rough time?”
“Not so bad.”
“So why are we standing here?”
“I want to propose we join teams.”
Ty and the blue-haired woman snort while Cat breaks out in hysterics.
I wait for their initial reaction to wear off. “Why is this a bad idea?”
Cat smirks. “At least your sense of humor has gotten better. Did I ever mention you have the worst jokes ever?”
“If we fight now, the winner won’t have enough left to even get past the next circle. How’s your team doing, Cat?”
Her face darkens. “Not as well as I’d like. But we’ve got enough left to beat you guys.”
I push my hand out to prevent Ty from stepping forward.
“Even if you could, the desert will be worse. And the arctic after that. Every loss will make your chances that much smaller. You won’t make it to the volcano.” I twist my head to Ty. “The same goes for us. We’re carrying a lot of baggage now. We won’t make it either.”
Ty says, “The Ten Sigma Program is about each person being able to overcome, so—”
“In any way possible,” I interrupt. “Even if that means teaming up with your enemy. So what do you say, Cat?”
The blue-haired woman answers, “Your pal is right. We still have to kill each other. And that’s going to be a worry the whole time we’re teamed up.”
Even though she has a point, I push onward. “This is the entire remaining program rolled into one, so it’s not about one scenario. This is about getting to the finish.” I swing my gaze over each person. “We go as far as we can together. We’ll separate in the ring of canyons before the volcano. Until we get there, we have a truce.”
As Cat pinches her chin, considering the offer, I consider the multiplying bands of marauders.
