by Eden Redd
Digital Hearts
Late Night Ambitions
Eden Redd
Digital Hearts: Late Night Ambitions © copyright 2019 Eden Redd
All Rights Reserved
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“Sul Sul!” ~The Sims
Editing
Lucid Dream Editing
One
Wind swept across the sand, caressing it with invisible ebbs and flows like a peaceful river in some forgotten forest. The sun’s brilliance beat down as it hung low in the clear blue sky. Particles of sand spiraled into miniature dust devils, existing for mere seconds before they tumbled to the hot touch of the desert. A vulture glided on thermals, sharp eyes on the small valley below, bodies moving into position.
Mechanical power suits moved to the barrier edge, visors up as weapons were checked and rechecked. Shadows painted under worn out eyes as power clips were inserted into plasma rifles and safeties were turned off. The whirl of power armor was lost to the wind as nineteen soldiers moved into their designated positions. To the right and left of the small, armored camp, walls of rock reached up to the sky. On the edge of each side of the valley, autocannons scanned the desert beyond, AI’s looking for any hint of movement.
David took position behind the battered barrier, eyes glancing over to the walls of the thin valley. Cracks and blast marks painted the natural valley walls. Looking down at his power armor, the marks were still there from the previous attempts of the enemy as they tried to muscle their way through. A sigh filled the air around him as another soldier stepped to David’s side and hunkered down. Mina lifted her plasma rifle and scanned the horizon before glancing to David and giving him a bemused smirk.
“Why so nervous?” Mina smiled before making a fist and hitting him on the shoulder.
“Morgan isn’t here yet. He’s never late,” David said as he kept his senses alert.
“He still has a few minutes before the mission start time. It’s the final objective and he wouldn’t miss this for the world.”
David shook his head. “We lost sixty players over eight missions. You know the Naliks are going to throw everything they have at us. I have a bad feeling we aren’t going to make it.”
Mina lifted the rifle scope to her eye and continued to scan the horizon beyond the valley. “Morgan won’t let that happen. He’s seen us through tons of missions. Besides, I want the sweet credit payout so I’m not going to let some lizard people take that away from us.”
David’s shoulders deflated, his power armor sagging. “And if we are overrun?”
Mina grinned, showing her teeth, “Then we go on vacation and recharge our batteries. I’m sure we can convince Morgan to join us this time.”
David leaned his armored chest on the barrier. “He’s been so distant lately, like more than usual. You think he will join us this time?”
Mina continued to scan the horizon, “He better. You only get one chance to experience Digital Hearts.”
David’s eyes widened as he looked to the redhead, “You got an invite?”
Mina nodded. “Yup. Plus, I have two extra invites so you guys better join me.”
“How did you get noticed?”
The redhead lifted her eyes from the scope and grinned. “Pure luck I think, but I’m not going to say no and neither are both of you. We have been fighting for months and I know we all need the break. When the fight is over, the three of us need to talk about it.”
“Shit, you know I’m onboard. It’s Morgan who may need some convincing. He never takes breaks and I think he’s going a little crazy. Did you see how he was in the last battle? It was like he turned into a demon.”
Mina’s smile dimmed, “That’s why he may need this. When it’s over, let’s talk about it.”
A small chime filled the air. Armored soldiers lifted up rifles and readied themselves. David and Mina looked around, trying to spot their commander and friend, but saw only their fellow soldiers and sunlight bleaching the terrain. A nervous vibration rippled among the troops as visors slid down to cover wide eyes. Autocannons continued to survey the desert beyond the valley when wisps of smoke rose up like snakes in the distance.
“Dammit,” David cursed, “They’re not waiting.”
“We got this,” Mina smiled as she looked through her scope once again, the readout showing the distance in meters of the smoke and dark edges of the advancing army.
An armored figure materialized in the base, just before the doorway. Arm rising up, a holographic image appeared, showing a simple room with a man lying on a bed. Machines and tubes beeped and worked as the person lay, eyes closed. The dim light of the base cooled hard nerves as a sad pulse ran along a tender gaze. Seconds ticked away as alerts filled the player’s vision, indicating mission objectives and a timer counting down.
Morgan let his eyes drink in the image before letting his arm drop and the holo-image blinked away. Black armor with blue edges whirled as he took hold of his plasma rifle and hoisted it up. Left hand reaching out, he touched the keypad and the doors slid open. Light spilled in as the commander stepped out of the base. The sides of the valley yawned upwards on either side of him as most of the soldiers at the barrier turned their heads and raised armored fists.
David and Mina looked back and smiled from behind their visors. Digital faces appeared in the corners of Morgan’s visor including Armor Points, Health levels, ammunition numbers, and locations. Morgan saw the smiles of David and Mina and returned theirs with his own. The commander stepped close to the barrier edge before he opened communications to what was left of his platoon.
“You know the drill, hunker down and keep firing until nothing is left standing. Let the autocannons do most of the heavy lifting as we maintain the line. Once they reach the valley edge, the cannons cannot spot them so it’s up to us to mop up those who get through. No one goes over the barrier unless I say so. I don’t want a repeat of what happened to Scottie and Matt.”
Metal heads nodded.
Morgan began mentally tapping at the images of his team, sending pre-designated commands to each one. “Follow your orders until I give the all clear. Dawn, Jerome and Neb, aid the autocannons with long range attacks. Blaise, Harmon, Zeb, Eric and Valen, medium fire range support. Daniel, Bobby, Zach and Bonnie, short range and medical support. Paul, make sure you’re flight pack is primed and ready. I will need you to blast up to the autocannons for repairs if they go down or take too much damage. The rest of you have your orders. If the enemy gets through, fall back to the base and use it as our last means to keep the enemy busy.
“I won’t lie, this scenario has a low success rate. That doesn’t mean we can’t beat it. There is no escape route and no one is coming to aid us. We are literally fighting until the last person bites it, but that doesn’t mean we can’t take this on as a family. There is a credit pay-out for success, but don’t let that be your motivation. Your motivation should be each other. I believe in us and nothing will stand in our way.”
Heads nodded and smiles bloomed. Morgan made his way to the middle of the barrier and took his position between David and Mina. Thick metal arms rested on the barrier as targeting sensors began to pick targets.
“I believe in you too,” Mina smiled.
“Nice speech,” David nodded.
Morgan smirked as he switched to a private channel with David and Mina. “You think the family part was too much?”
“I think it was just right,” David grinned.
Mina shook her head, “Eh, it could have used a little more ‘This is Sparta!’ since we are playing almost the same exact scenario.”
Morgan nodded while David’s brow went
up.
“I thought you said we got this?”
Mina shrugged. “I just wanted you to feel better before we die.”
“Why do you play with my emotions?”
“Because it’s easy,” Mina cackled.
“Just remember, I need you both at my side,” Morgan said as Mina stuck out her tongue to David, “Once the enemy gets close enough, I’m going to tank them while you keep the extras off my flanks.”
“Scottie tried to tank and he was cut down instantly,” David said sheepishly.
“Scottie didn’t have a plan and two best friends. I trust you both to keep the enemy off me until I reach the valley entrance. If we’re going to win, we need to push the boundaries. Are you in?”
Shadows colored David and Mina’s eyes.
“Are you in?” Morgan repeated.
“I’m in,” Mina said simply.
David hesitated before lips parted. “I’m in under the condition we enjoy some time off after this.”
It was Morgan’s turn to hesitate. “We can talk about it afterwards, but I need to know you have my back.”
David eyed his commander and best friend. “I’m in.”
Morgan nodded as he turned to the horizon before the valley entrance. “The enemy is approaching. Stick to me and maybe we can survive this,” and switched back to normal comm mode.
Smoke and dust billowed in the vast distance, faint humanoid shapes rising into view. The gleam of metal shined from the bright sunlight. Bodies marched, covered partially in armor and holding plasma rifles. Several large battle suits walked along, kicking up sand and dust. The number grew with each passing second, the cloud and bodies growing larger. Visors took in information, detailing weapons, armor weak points, and reptilian faces. The plasma autocannons stopped moving from side to side, aiming at the approaching force.
“Shouldn’t they have waited until nightfall,” David whispered through comms.
Morgan kept his gaze steady as he watched the approaching force. “They didn’t wait because they have no fear. They believe they can take us out and by the size of their forces, they’re right.”
“I bet David will die first out of the three of us,” Mina laughed.
“Mina, what the hell?” David said sharply.
“I’ll take that bet,” Blaise said over comms.
“Me too,” Bonnie added.
“Me three,” Dawn laughed.
“You guys are hilarious,” David growled.
Morgan barely held back his smile as eyes studied the troop movements. Several naliks lifted up rocket launchers while the front line hoisted up rifles. Eight times they tried to storm the valley and eight times they were held off. The first few times Morgan’s forces suffered heavy losses but the player had to shrug it off. Some players didn’t take the fighting seriously and aimed for a quick payout before moving to other war grids. Most players knew staying in the fight paid more, but many didn’t have the conviction to see it through to the end. No matter how bad it got, Morgan knew in his heart you stayed until the final plasma bolt was fired.
The enemy forces moved to the edge of autocannon range and stopped. Black eyes stared out to the valley as armored soldiers waited silently behind their metal barrier. Morgan kept an icy gaze on the enemy, information appearing in the corner of his visor. Heartbeats were steady among his soldiers and the mood silent. A swirl filled the commander’s heart as he let his metal finger glide over the rifle trigger. Morgan remained steady as a roar blasted out from the Nalik forces.
Mina’s smile faded away as David hummed a small tune.
“See you in the lobby,” David whispered before returning to humming a nondescript tune.
“See you in the lobby,” Mina said in a low tone.
Morgan remained silent as time crawled into long moments. The roar of the enemy bellowed on and like a match going off, they charged with the power of a tsunami.
“Burn them down,” Morgan shouted and opened fired.
Plasma autocannons flashed to life as bolts rained down on the advancing line. A string of explosions rippled beyond the valley entrance as bodies were shredded to smoking husks. Sand and debris filled the air as bodies burned and fell, holes punched through them. The world took in sharp, crystal clear edges as Morgan unleashed bolt after bolt. Plasma filled the valley entrance, sending bodies in different directions. The enemy knocked away the dying and stepped over them with depraved indifference as they charged into cannon fire. Rockets filled the sky, snaking and streaking toward the auto cannons. Small, swivel mounted defense systems fired streams of small plasma bolts, blasting rockets out of the sky while the main cannons put the enemy through the meat grinder.
Light and explosions peppered the space of the valley entrance and beyond. Lizard men and women hissed and roared as they returned fire. The valley edges exploded from plasma strikes as the opposing forces unleashed on each other. Bolts struck the metal barrier, but Morgan’s forces held fast. They had been through enough battles to know hesitation would get them killed. Ignoring the close calls, they hunkered down and continued to aid the cannons.
Above them, the cannons fired with unfeeling precision, cutting bodies in half as they swept from side to side. Morgan drank it in, seeing limbs fly in several directions as bodies fell. The enemy had no fear of death and it made them very dangerous. They threw themselves into the fray without second thoughts, their lives ending in a flash and burn. In the back of Morgan’s mind, he respected them, but in the moment, they were just the enemy and he wasn’t going to let them pass.
David’s demeanor switched as the fire was lit. Adrenalin pumped and the soldier found himself shouting and cursing as he fired into enemy. Mina grew deadly quiet, each pull of the trigger blasting holes into any stragglers missed by the main cannons. A dark symphony played in Morgan’s heart as the vibrations of battle sang on. It was undeniable in its power as he fired, each shot true and deadly. For a few seconds, it seemed Morgan’s forces were able to keep the enemy tidal wave at bay. Screams and grunts blended with the deafening roar of the cannons. Blood shined crimson red from falling bodies. Battle suits took position and their cannons blazed to life. Rockets streaked and time stood still, the warzone glowing in everyone’s minds.
The tide turned when a rocket slipped past the defenses and struck cannon one. An enemy battle suit took advantage as the cannon stuttered and whirled, trying to correct itself. A string of plasma bolts struck the side of the cannon and continued to beat into it until black smoke began to rise.
“Paul,” Morgan said with a calm tone.
Paul’s armored head nodded before he activated his jet pack and blasted upwards into the sky. Morgan, Mina and David continued to provide cover when alerts flashed. A rocket snaked through the sky and before Paul was about to land, it struck him in the side. Morgan glanced over, seeing Paul’s face twist into a snarl before he disappeared from the visor. Glancing up to the cannon, Paul’s smoking power suit was falling, an arm and leg missing.
“Fuck you…,” Bobby managed before a bolt shattered his visor and the back of his armored head blew out.
Morgan didn’t wince as the enemy pushed against the plasma rain. Cannon One spit out a few bolts before another rocket struck it and then another. The explosion sent pieces into the sky and falling down onto the valley floor. The remaining cannon blasted out excessive force, cutting into the advancing army but barely slowing them down.
A scream rang out as Bonnie stumbled back. Correcting her stance, she dug in and fired back until several bolts struck her chest and sent her flying backwards to the ground. Zach moved to her and touched the fallen suit. By remote command, he opened her visor to see Bonnie staring up at nothing. A wall of plasma bolts filled the valley as the enemy marched to the mouth and soon pushed in. The remaining cannon faltered as it was struck several times, but continued to fire into the enemy.
Morgan kept his cool as Harmon and Valen winked out of his visor. David laughed like a mad man as he fired into
the growing crowd at the mouth of the valley. Mina gritted her teeth as she switched to auto-fire and held down the trigger. Morgan watched as his forces winked out one by one. The writing was on the wall, and the tide was turning. If they stayed where they were, they would be overrun. The information didn’t faze the commander as he stood up. Left hand on the barrier, he vaulted over the edge and fired into the forces pushing through the valley entrance.
David and Mina stood up to full height, covering their commander. Chaos bloomed as Morgan marched toward the enemy. A bolt glanced off his shoulder and he stumbled before catching himself and moving forward. Blaise jumped over the barrier and assisted, firing without hesitation. A bolt struck him in the leg and blew out the hydraulics. Falling to one knee, he continued to fire until another bolt struck his chest and another blasted his rifle from his metal hands. Reaching down to his thigh, he pulled an energy blade as a scattering of Naliks rushed toward him. Wrist snapping outwards, the energy blade sank into a Nalik’s chest while the others pulled triggers. Blaise stuck up his middle finger as bolts smashed into him and he fell backwards, no longer moving.
Morgan pressed forward, David and Mina creating a ring of plasma around their commander. The commander grunted as he took another bolt. Stumbling forward, he took in the valley entrance. A mere thirty feet away Naliks were cut down, but some eyed the hulking power suit as it advanced toward them. Some aimed and shots went wild as Morgan’s soldiers picked them off. The mouth of the valley was filled to the brim with snarling and growling lizard people.
“Initiate overload and automatic sequences,” Morgan commanded as he drilled into the enemy.
Commands filled the edge of his vision as the he watched the enemy blasted to pieces. The power suit moved forward as the back of it opened up like a metal flower. Morgan fell back, allowing himself to hit the sandy floor and pulling a plasma pistol from its holster. The power suit continued to walk forward as Naliks rushed into the fray. Pistol up, Morgan crawled backwards while firing into the enemy. A timer filled the corner of his vision.
