I switch to my faithful rusty spear and begin jabbing at the zombies caught in the mud. I take out half of them before the mud pits disappear. Then I switch back to my axe.
There are five of them left.
They move with astounding speed and force me to retreat. I decapitate two and their heads roll past me down the stairs. One wraps his arms around me, catching me off-balance and sending me falling to the ground. The impact knocks the breath out of me and I gasp for air as I hold him off. His teeth continue to chomp, hungry for my flesh.
His body falls limp and I push him to the side. The girl has saved me yet again.
Before I know what has happened, the other two zombies step over my body. They don’t care about me anymore. They want the girl.
Without thinking, I switch to Grappler and fire my grappling hook. It hooks one zombie through the shoulder, halting it for a moment. I equip my spear in my other hand and throw it as fast as I can. It soars through the air, impaling the second zombie through the side of his head just as his teeth are inches from the girl’s face.
I jerk the other zombie hard with the grappling hook, pulling him off his feet and slamming him to the ground. With all my might, I stomp his head in and his brains splatter against the wall.
The girl’s yellow dress is now stained red.
“Are you okay?” I ask. She nods and wraps her tiny arms around my leg.
“Let’s go find Mommy.”
We hurry up the stairs. The walls are covered in bloody handprints and streaks. When we reach the top, the door lies on the floor, broken off its hinges. A long hallway extends in front of me. Smoke billows out from under half a dozen doors.
I check my map and see a small blue dot in the room at the far end. It pulsates slowly, drawing me towards it. That must be her mother.
“Follow me.”
Smoke fills the hallway by the time I reach the final room. I knock, but no one answers.
“Stand back. I’m going to kick it in.”
I kick hard next to the door handle and the door flies off its hinges.
A young woman huddles behind an overturned bed. She has a sniper rifle propped against the window.
“Mommy!” the girl screams and jumps into the woman’s arms.
“Kaley, I never thought I would see you again!” Tears run down her cheeks as she holds her daughter tight. “I lost you when we were taking cover and ended up trapped in this building. I came up high to see if I could see you. But then the dead found me. They’ve been trying to get in for days.”
She puts Kaley down and walks over to me.
“Thank you for saving my baby. How can I ever repay you?”
Congratulations! You have completed the quest ‘Find My Mommy.’ Reward: 100 gold.
“You don’t owe me anything. Is there somewhere I can help you get to?”
“No thanks. The streets are clear for the moment. If we can get out of this building, then I think we can find our way home.”
I help the two of them out of the building. As soon as they exit, they disappear around the corner. A message flashes across my screen.
Congratulations, Esil! You have completed the first quest of the Developer’s Tournament. Reward: 1000 gold.
A portal appears in front of me.
Holy Shit.
I’m in the thick of it.
Chapter Fifteen
“You have to wait a week for the clue?” Buzz asks. His brow is furrowed in frustration on the small video feed in the top left corner of my vision. “That’s bullshit. You were the fifth one to complete the quest. Why do you have to wait?”
“I wish I knew. The notification said they would be releasing the next clue in a week. I guess with all one hundred spots being filled, they want to give us a chance to do anything we can to prepare for the next task.”
Once I was out of Apocalyptica, my notifications blew up. I was the fifth person to complete the quest. Princess Aleesia was third. There were a few other familiar names in the top one hundred that I recognized as well. Two of her dwarven followers, Ordin and Klink, also managed to secure a spot. Jayce—one of our partners from steamball—made the cut as well. And of course, Ryken, the death knight, who we all have to thank for accidentally telling the world where the first quest was.
The forums are the busiest I have ever seen them. Posts pile up faster than I can sort through them as people try to predict what the next clue will be, or how each contestant completed the quest. Many famous names didn’t make the final one hundred. The developers announced they would be releasing highlights of each player who successfully completed the quest the next day. I’m excited to see how everyone else managed to get the girl to her mother.
“So, what now?” Buzz asks.
“Well, tonight, I’m going to rest. That quest really took a lot out of me. And starting tomorrow, I’m going to level grind. I was lucky with the first quest that level wasn’t an issue, but I can’t count on that going forward. I need more spells, more weapons, and better stats.”
“Okay, buddy. You earned your rest. I’m going to check out the ladies and play a little steamball. I’ll catch you later.”
Buzz’s face disappears from my vision.
I climb out of my haptic suit and take a cold shower. The water feels good on my skin, washing away the sweat and grime caused by the stress of the past few hours. I still can’t believe that I finished fifth out of everyone. Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good. And all that gold I won today, I can buy almost anything I want.
After I eat and power up my room, I browse the web for a bit. It’s easy to get lost in the game of it all. An entire universe filled with worlds designed to entertain. For most people, that’s all it is. I wish it was that way for me. When I think about Buzz’s mom, my stomach goes in knots. I’ve never met her, but her life is in my hands. I’ve never had anyone depend on me before. Is this what it’s like to have a family?
I pull up a map of The Boxes and search for a doctor. There are none in The Boxes. Those of us who can afford medical care are visited by drones. Real doctors are expensive. Luckily for me, I came into some gold today.
It’s five hundred gold to arrange transport to the doctor’s office just outside The Boxes. I book it. I want to hear from a real, living, breathing human what is wrong with Buzz’s mom.
We won’t be going in to work tomorrow. Tomorrow, I’ll step out into the world for the first time in almost a year. I’ll leave The Boxes for the first time I can remember.
My hands shake a little as I rip open the foil packet of my processed food. I don’t know what to expect once I leave my box. I know what is outside of my window. Other boxes. Drones. That’s it. I made the trip from the orphanage to my box a year ago. Even then, I saw nothing more than other boxes. My stomach churns with each flavorless bite I take.
When the vehicle that is supposed to pick us up arrives outside my door, I take a deep breath. A package enters through the airtight chute and I open it. Inside is a bright yellow mask along with a yellow wind suit that swishes with every movement. I remember wearing the mask the last time I went out. It filters the air. Makes it safe to breathe. These disposable masks last for eight hours before the filter is no longer safe. It covers my entire face aside from a piece of heavy plastic for me to see through. When I press a button on the side of the mask, it suctions to my face. It feels like my eyes are going to pop out for a moment, then it calibrates and I can breathe easy.
Once the mask is secure, the small light next to the door that is always red turns green. I press ‘open’ and a loud hiss fills the air as the door opens. Once I leave, the air system will flush out the entire room.
The transport vehicle is docked with my box and I am able to step directly inside. The inside is cramped and gray. I booked the cheapest transport available. No bells and whistles. It seats up to four people, two on each side facing one another. Two windows allow me to see the world around me. So far, it’s nothing new.
The ve
hicle unhinges from my door and drifts through the air. A small screen across from me details the route to Buzz’s box. Everything is already routed. A thought dawns on me.
This is the first time I will see Buzz’s real face.
I arrive at his box moments later.
When the door opens, he looks just like his avatar. His dark hair is cut close, and his eyes are big and expressive. A wide grin stretches across his face. The only difference is a scar that runs down his left cheek.
“You’re even uglier in person,” he says before wrapping me in a bear hug. Our suits crinkle as they touch. This is the first human contact I’ve had in a year. It feels strange, another human body so close to mine. So warm. “This is my mom, Maria.”
Even through the suit, I can see she is having a hard time walking. Her face still holds a lot of youthfulness, but her eyes tell a different story. She has the same dark hair and round eyes as Buzz, but she moves with a frailty no one her age should have.
“Thank you for this, Esil. You are a good boy. Buzz is lucky to have a friend like you.” She wraps her hands around my arm. Her grip shakes slightly as she holds me.
The door closes and hisses as it locks into place. We take off and the car we are in slowly descends towards the ground. A dozen boxes pass by my window on the way down. I can’t believe how many of us live our lives locked away like this, the only interaction we have taking place in a virtual world.
I search for the orphanage, but if it’s there, I don’t recognize it.
As we float along, several feet above the ground, something strikes me. This all seems less real to me than the worlds in Pangea. It feels less detailed. Everything is gray and bland. Has the world always felt this way?
“Thanks again for doing this, Esil.” Buzz’s words draw me back to reality. “I know you were wanting to level up.”
“This is more important. Pangea will be there when we get back.”
“I’m excited to see how you did it.” Buzz changes the subject. His hand rests on his mother’s leg. She stares out of the window, using the wall to support her. “I know you told me, but I can’t wait to watch it. I’m going to watch everyone’s and see if there is anything that might help you.”
When we cross the line out of The Boxes and into Graytown, things don’t change much. There are storefronts and a few people walk the streets, but they all wear masks and are fully clothed. Nothing is exposed. Everything is the same gray as The Boxes. These people aren’t that different from us. They just have a little more money to walk around.
We pass a man sitting on the street corner. Ragged clothes cover only parts of his body. Boils and tumors cover his skin. He doesn’t wear a mask, though I’m not sure it would do much for him at this point. A cup sits in front of him on the ground, though I don’t know what he hopes for. Maybe water. We haven’t used physical currency in half a century.
A few moments later, we leave Graytown and arrive in Civic City. I remember studying about it in school. They are more well off than either The Boxes or Graytown, but to me, it doesn’t look that different. The architecture is nicer, and the clothes the people wear are finer, but they still wear masks as they walk about. Everything is still ten shades of gray. Until we come to a stop at the hospital.
The hospital is like something out of Pangea. Tall pillars and parabolas jut into the sky, a mixture of brilliant white and glass. The brightness of the hospital contrasts starkly with everything else, including the dull gray sky.
Our vehicle takes us to a landing pad. The appointment is already booked, so the itinerary replaces the map on the screen in front of me. We will be meeting with Dr. Halfstead, who specializes in radiation poisoning.
The door hisses open and we step into a white room. A female voice tells us to remove our masks and suits. Buzz helps his mother. When we strip them down, all three of us wear the same black clothes the developers gave us when we moved into The Boxes. They fit tight against our skin and stretch as we grow.
There is another hiss as steam fills the room. A moment later, it disappears and the door opposite the vehicle opens into a lobby. It is the same blinding white as the outside of the building. The marble floors gleam, reflecting the lights overhead. It is all a lot to take in. Several drones roll past, on various missions for the hospital. People sit in white leather chairs, waiting for their appointments. This is more people in one space than I have seen since living at the orphanage. They are all absorbed in their own worlds. I can see some logged into Pangea on their mobile devices. Others watch movies or read magazines, turning the page with a wave of their hands.
A nurse sits behind the counter up ahead.
“How may I help you today?” she asks. Her red lips offer me a grand smile.
“I’ve scheduled an appointment for Maria Halifax with Doctor Halfstead.” I lean against the counter.
The woman touches a few holographic screens that hover in front of her. She moves them around, taps them and they change before my eyes.
Another nurse appears from behind a set of double doors.
“Miss. Halifax, this way, please.”
We all walk towards the door.
“I’m sorry, sir, but it’s kin only,” the nurse says, barring my entry.
“There’s no need for that,” Buzz’s mom scolds the nurse. “He’s as good as family.”
The nurse decides not to argue. Maybe it’s because Buzz’s mom looks like she can barely walk through the door. Maybe it’s because she knows we’re from The Boxes and doesn’t want to test how far we’d go to get what we want. There’s a certain fear those from outside The Boxes have of us. They think we’re lunatics, or contagious. Being a medical professional, she knows the second isn’t true.
We walk through the door and she leads us into a room. A large metal canister sits against the wall, big enough to hold a human. There is a touchscreen on the side. The nurse points to a few chairs in the corner.
“You two can have a seat over there. Miss Halfiax, can you please step into the machine so we can take your vitals? You can leave your clothes on.”
Buzz’s mom steps into the giant canister. It whirs for a moment and a few lights strobe inside. The nurse has her hold up her arms. She enters a few commands into the touchscreen and then leaves after telling us the doctor will be with us shortly.
Several minutes later, a knock on the door announces the doctor’s arrival. He wears a sad smile when he enters.
“I hear you wanted a second opinion on the scan our drone took?”
“We just wanted to be sure,” I say.
“I’m sorry, but the scans weren’t wrong.” He looks at Buzz’s mom. “Your body is failing you. At the current rate, you have a year. Maybe more, maybe less.”
“But you can fix it, right? If we have the money. There is a cure?” I stand up, overcome with emotion.
“Look, I know where you’re from. Life is hard in The Boxes. You probably spent everything you have for this visit. The procedure is expensive. Most of the people who come to this hospital couldn’t afford it if they needed to. I know it’s hard to hear, but that’s just the way things are sometimes. I can give you medicine to deal with the pain. It’ll make it all easier.”
“We’re not interested in that right now.” I fight to control my voice. “If we had the money… If we had a hundred thousand gold, could you cure her?”
The doctor sighs. “If you had that much gold, we’d have a very good chance of curing her.”
“Then we’ll be seeing you again.”
Chapter Sixteen
When my highlights of the first quest go public, I become one of the most popular players in Pangea overnight. My inbox is full of message from other gamers, fans, and companies offering to sponsor me. It’s a lot to process all at once. Everyone has a different opinion of my decision to ask the girl for help.
“U lucky bastard! 100% luck, nothing else. UR gonna b out n the next round.”
“Wow! I never would have thought to ask th
e girl for help. I can’t wait to see what you do next round. And only level thirteen, too.”
“Congrats on completing the first mission, Esil. We at VR HaptiX, the latest and greatest in VR and haptic suits, would love to sponsor you going forward. We’ll outfit you with everything you need to take your gaming to the next level. Please respond back with a time you are free to set up a meeting and we can hammer out the details.”
They go on like this for quite a while. It’s all a little overwhelming to be honest. To go from being a nobody to having my name plastered on forums and around the web is not something I signed up for. I just want to compete and be left alone. Even at the orphanage, I was the lone wolf, never the alpha.
I haven’t had time to check out any of the highlights from the other players yet. Leveling up is my biggest priority right now. Buzz said he will give me the breakdown of any interesting tactics once he’s watched them all.
The Mortican Mountains is where I spend most of my time while I level. It’s an expensive world to get to, so I’m less likely to be bombarded by everyone who has watched my highlights. I turn off my gamertag as I level up so I’m less conspicuous. So far, I’ve gained two more levels and attributed my stat points to Dexterity and Intellect. I really want to up my spellcasting for whatever comes next.
Level 15:
Strength -14
Agility -1
Vitality -2
Intellect -5
Dexterity -3
Stamina -0
I’ve also gained a few new items. The rusty spear I’ve carried since my first day in the Mortican Mountains has finally been replaced by a beautiful Elvish Spear. It catches the light at every turn, illuminating the ground with the reflected rays of the sun.
Item: Elvish Battle Spear. +12 attack, +15% armor penetration. It’s long and strong and down to get the killing on.
I practice with it on a few wandering bears. It’s a great close combat weapon with the bonus that I can throw it from a medium range with pretty good accuracy. I alternate between it and my axe as I see fit. The spear has better stats, but nothing feels as natural as my axe.
Pangea Online: The Complete Trilogy Page 11
