The feed zooms in on a table of analysts as they discuss those still competing. I tune it out. There will be plenty of time to catch up on everything once the results are finalized. A few of the other teams disappear through their own portals, so I assume it is safe to leave.
“What do you say we get out of here?” I ask Dean.
He shrugs. “Don’t you want to talk to any of the other teams? We could probably learn something.”
I look around, but there’s no one who interests me. We’ll study them behind closed doors. “This stage is over, and all that matters now is the next stage. I’ll reach out to Talia later and see what she thinks about everything, but as far as the rest of these people, they’re our competition. Don’t forget that. We’ll learn more than we’d ever want to know about them in the coming days. For now, I’d like to sit and gather my thoughts. And I know the other kids will be dying to hear you tell them all about today.”
Dean grins. “Alright, captain.”
I open a portal to get us out of here. Right before Dean steps through, I call to him. “You did good today.”
He nods. “Couldn’t have done it without you.”
Dean steps into the portal and disappears. I follow behind him, and a moment later, I’m in my home portal being licked vigorously by Fenrir. I play tug-of-war with him for a few minutes before finally logging out.
Back in my apartment, I strip out of my haptic suit and lay on the couch. For a few minutes, I just close my eyes and listen to the birds chirping outside my window. This is one of the few peaceful moments I’ll have over the next few days. Everything has come full circle, and now I’m right in the middle of another tournament.
My tablet beeps, letting me know I have a new message, but I don’t move. It’s been a long day, and we’re just getting started. It beeps five more times, but I just roll over.
Pounding at my door finally forces me to get up. I creep over to the door still wearing my underwear, and bright light blinds me as I crack the door.
“Dude!” Buzz rushes in past me. “What are you doing? It’s time to celebrate! You made it through the first round.”
“What are you doing? I figured you would be working with the tournament in full effect.”
He cocks an eyebrow at me. “You know I’m not supposed to talk about that with you.” He plops down on the couch. “But it’s an off day for the testers. The programmers are working on the back end as things are finalized.”
“That quick?” It feels like it hasn’t been that long since I was testing the old version of The Broken Lands.
Buzz leans back and props his feet on the edge of the sofa. “I wouldn’t call it quick. We’ve had testers cycling in and out twenty-four hours a day for weeks now. It’s crunch time, but we aren’t cutting any corners. You’re gonna love what they have planned.”
“And you can’t tell me anything about it?”
“My lips are—” He claps his hands together and barks. “—seals. My lips are seals.”
I roll my eyes at his terrible pun. “Don’t quit your day job.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.” He sits up and taps the sofa beside him. “So, tell me all about it. How’s Esil Jr. holding up?”
“Don’t call him that.” I scowl at Buzz. “Let me throw on some clothes before we start talking business.”
I toss on a pair of sweatpants and a hoodie and join Buzz on the sofa. “Dean’s good. Much better than I was when I first got into Pangea. He’s smart. A little too reckless at times, but he’s saved my butt just as many times as I’ve saved his. We’ve got some tough competition, but I think we’ve got a real chance.”
“I don’t doubt it. Grayson wants to get together later and go over some of the footage. To talk about where you could improve and go over some of the alternatives other teams took.” He pats me on the knee. “The old man’s taken a real interest in this. He’s been glued to the feeds all morning following yours and half a dozen others taking notes.”
I don’t know where I would be without these two. “I think being put in the mine with you and Grayson was probably the greatest thing to ever happen to me.”
Buzz grins. “Well, duh. What would your life be like without me in it?”
I shove him in the shoulder. “I’m starving. Want to go grab a bite to eat?”
Buzz jumps to his feet. “Have you known me to ever turn down a meal?”
We arrive at the cafeteria, where feeds of the tournament are displayed all around the room. I better get used to it because there will be no escaping this madness until a victor has been crowned.
I grab a burger and Buzz takes two. I give him a questioning look and he just shrugs.
“What? I’m a growing boy.”
“You’ll be an expanding boy if you keep it up.”
We take a seat across from one another underneath one of the TVs. At least that way, I don’t have to watch it.
My tablet beeps again, and I remember I never checked my messages from earlier. Buzz shoves food in his mouth as I pull them up.
The first two are from Buzz.
Esil, I see you’re done with the tournament. Want to hang out? -Buzz
Screw it. I’m coming over. I hope you’re dressed. -Buzz
The next two are from Grayson and Aleesia.
Good job, kid. You two are quite the pair. Let’s meet up later and go over strategy. -Grayson
Esil, I’m so proud of you. Work is super busy at the moment, but I’ve been following along. Can’t wait to see you soon! -Aleesia.
And then there are several from various Pangea departments.
Esil Allen,
Congratulations on completing round one of the Pro-Am Tournament! You will be contacted over the next few hours regarding scheduling for interviews and post-stage conferences. We’re excited to follow your journey through the next stage of the tournament. And as always, never stop leveling!
-Pangea Online Developers
Esil Allen,
Congratulations on making it through stage one! We would like to schedule your first interview for this evening at 17:00, where we will be asking you and your apprentice questions about what it took to make it through stage one.
-Pangea Communications
I set the tablet on the table and groan.
Buzz looks up from his food. “What is it?”
“We have our first interview tonight.”
He dips a fry in ketchup and points it at me. “Mr. Allen, tell me, what’s it like being one of the most famous streamers on the planet?”
I smack his hand away. “Oh, shut it. I had my five-minutes of fame during the last tournament. I don’t even get half the followers Ryken or some of the others get.”
He stuffs the fry in his mouth. “That’s because you do the bare minimum. Who wants to follow someone who only streams for an hour every other day?”
“Meh, I’m just not an entertainer. I did what I had to do to get to where I am. Nothing more than that.”
Buzz grins. “And that’s why people love you. The reluctant hero.”
“Eat your other burger and shut up.” I dig into my own and for the next few minutes, all we hear is the sound of chewing and slurping.
When we’re done, I message Dean, telling him to meet me at my portal ten minutes before the scheduled interview. Then we head back to Buzz’s place, where Grayson is sitting in front of a monitor with sixteen feeds going simultaneously.
“I never took you for a fanboy,” I tease.
He hands me a tablet without looking away from the monitor. “You’ll be thanking me if any of this comes in useful.”
I glance through it. He’s labeled every team and left detailed notes, ranging from their route, the weapons they picked up, even the monsters they fought. These are probably better notes than the analysts have.
“Have you taken a break at all?” I ask.
“I’ll rest when I’m done.”
I sit down beside him. “How valuable do you think any of
this stuff will be? It’s not like any of this carries over into the next round.”
He types a new note as one of the teams swap out their weapons in a storage room. “That’s where you’re wrong. You can learn a lot about someone just by watching them play. The way each team interacts here is likely how they will behave going forward. For example, Ryken always takes the lead. He’s fearless. He’s doing this more for personal glory than to help the girl he is with. And the two gnomes, they made it through without fighting anything. They’re crafty. You’ll want to watch your back around them.”
“What about me and Dean?”
Grayson cocks his head to the side before turning around. It seems I’ve finally gotten his attention.
His mustache curls up at the edges and I can tell he is smiling. “You’re a special case. More like two solos who happen to be playing alongside one another. You both go in half-cocked more often than not, especially the kid. You both have good instincts, but they will only take you so far if you don’t learn how to work together. This—” He taps at the tablet I’m holding. “—just might keep you in the running until you do. Now, if you don’t mind, I have work to do. I’ll have you a full write-up by the time you’re done with your interviews.”
He resumes his diligent note-taking, and I’m left there speechless. He’s right. More than I’m willing to admit. Even by standing aside and offering to play support as Dean led the way, we were never truly in sync. We reacted to one another, because that’s what we’ve done all our lives. We’ve reacted to everything around us, never able to blaze our own trail.
I glance at the clock on the wall. There’s still a couple of hours until the interview. If Dean and I really want a chance at this, then we need to be a real team.
I stand up from the sofa and head for the door. “Sorry, to head out so soon, but there’s something I need to take care of.”
“Is everything okay?” asks Buzz.
I nod. “Yeah, I’m going to see if Dean wants to move in with me until the tournament is over.”
Chapter Seventeen
I rush back home and call Dean for a video chat. He looks confused when he answers. Several children sit behind him in the background.
He furrows his brow. “What’s going on? I thought we were meeting up in a couple of hours for the interview.”
“Everything is fine.” I wave at a young girl peeking over Dean’s shoulder. “I actually have a proposition for you. We’re going to be spending a lot of time working together and strategizing in the next few days. I thought it might be better if you came and stayed with me until the tournament is over.”
His mouth drops and he stares at the camera for a long time before speaking. “Are you serious?”
I can’t get a read on what’s going through his mind. “Absolutely. So, what do you think?”
“Uhm, yeah, that would be great.” He seems a bit awestruck. “I’ve never been outside of The Boxes before. How do I get there?”
“I’ll send a pod to pick you up. Don’t worry about bringing your haptic suit. I’ll pick up one from headquarters for you to use. Go pack your things, and I’ll get everything else taken care of.”
He flashes me a wide grin. “Yeah, sounds good. I’ll get right on it.”
He ends the call, and a strange sense of relief washes over me. I call Mr. Green to make the arrangements with the orphanage and put in orders for the pod and haptic suit.
By the time Dean arrives, I have the couch converted into a makeshift bed, and a second haptic suit set up next to mine in the other room. The fridge is stocked with food and snacks in case he gets hungry. Preparing the place for a guest feels nice. And with this being his first time out of The Boxes, I want him to feel as welcome as possible.
I meet him out front of the main headquarters building. Dean climbs out of the pod wearing his hazmat suit and face mask, carrying nothing but a small backpack. His head turns on a swivel as he takes everything in.
I extend my arm, offering to take his bag. “You can take that off. The air is safe to breathe here.”
He’s hesitant, but he eventually removes his mask, closing his eyes and taking in a deep breath. “So that’s what fresh air smells like?”
He climbs out of the hazmat suit. Underneath, he’s wearing gray pants and a matching shirt. The only outfit most people in The Boxes can afford.
“We’ve got about an hour before the interview. Do you want to get settled in? I’ll give you the tour tomorrow.”
He nods. I get the feeling he’s a bit overwhelmed by all the sensory input. Birds chirping, drones buzzing, blue skies, and real plants. Not to mention all the people walking around as they please. It can be a lot to take in for someone who’s never experienced it.
I keep quiet as we walk, letting Dean bask in the wonder of it all.
I remember the first time I came here. The pod door opened and I freaked out because I didn’t have my mask on. Nowadays, I can’t even remember the last time wearing a filtration mask crossed my mind. Probably when I visited the orphanage, and that’s about it. I’ve gotten so used to luxury that it’s become the norm.
I stop in front of my apartment. “Well, here it is.” We step inside and I lead Dean to the living room. “This is where you’ll be sleeping. I have our haptic suits set up in the next room. Bathroom is over there, and my bedroom is down the hall. Feel free to grab whatever you’d like from the kitchen and there’s always the cafeteria in the main building as well.”
Dean just stares at me.
“What?” I ask.
“It’s so…” His words trail off.
“Different?”
He nods. “Yeah, that’s one way of putting it. It’s like being in Pangea. So detailed and full of color. I always wondered what it was like out here, but I never imagined it would be like this.”
I look around at our surroundings, remembering how much of a change it was for me. “It’s a different world, that’s for sure. Do you want to go meet Grayson and the others before our interview?”
He agrees and we head over to Buzz’s apartment. Maria, Buzz’s mom, lets us in. Grayson is still working on his notes and Buzz is fast asleep on the couch, a bead of drool dripping down his chin.
“You must be the famous Dean I keep hearing about.” Maria smiles. “You did a great job today. Would you boys like to stick around for dinner?”
I wrap my arm around Maria and pull her in. “Unfortunately, we can’t stay long. I just wanted to give Dean a chance to meet everyone before our interview.”
Grayson stands up, finally taking some time away from the feeds. He extends his hand, and they shake. “You did good in there today, kid. I can’t wait to see what they throw at you next.”
“Thanks. You look different from your avatar. I’m not sure what it is. Similar, but different.”
Grayson laughs. “Old age catches up with us all eventually.”
“Wasgoingon?” Buzz stirs on the couch. “Whos’ere?”
“Ah.” Grayson turns toward Buzz. “Sleeping beauty has arisen.”
Buzz wipes his eyes with his fist like a small child and sits up. “Are you Dean?”
Dean nods.
Buzz jumps from the couch and wraps him in a bear hug. “Welcome to the family. It’s taken a while but people from The Boxes are finally making our mark on the world. I hope you and Esil crush it.”
Dean’s face is bright red once he’s released. “We’re going to do our best.”
I’m sure he’s not used to human touch at the orphanage. Or praise. I know I wasn’t. I’m still not in a lot of respects.
“What are you working on?” Dean points to the feeds Grayson has been following.
“Oh, just taking some notes for you guys to look over later.”
Dean’s eyes light up. “Mind if I take a look?”
Grayson looks to me as if waiting for permission.
“Have fun. I’ll check it out later.”
Buzz and Grayson take a seat around the mo
nitor while Buzz, Maria, and I sit at the table.
Maria leans forward, her voice barely above a whisper. “Are you sure it was a good idea bringing him here, Esil?”
“What do you mean? This is beyond anything he’s ever experienced. Don’t you think it’s good for him to know there is more out there?”
“What happens when he has to go back? Back to the world you fought so hard to escape.” Her face is kind, but intense.
“I hadn’t thought about that.” Could it be that offering him a taste of this life will only make it worse when it’s over?
“Don’t listen to her.” Buzz waves his hand through the air. “Just being here, it’ll give him a goal to work toward. It won’t make him any more miserable when he goes back.”
Maria purses her lips. “I hope you’re right.”
Before I know it, it’s time for us to leave. Our first post-stage interview awaits.
Dean and I sit in my home portal waiting for our interview to connect to the display along the wall.
“How’s the new haptic suit feel?”
Dean wrestles with Fenrir on the floor. The massive wolf lays on his back toying with Dean as he paws at him.
“It’s good. Fits like a glove.”
The display blinks and Nancy’s face appears as she thumbs through a tablet. She must be putting in the hours during this tournament. I just hope the questions are geared more toward our performance and less about our origin.
She looks into the camera. “Alright, gentlemen. We’ll be going live in ten seconds. Standby.”
There’s a beeping as a timer counts down on the screen. When it hits zero, Nancy smiles.
“Thanks, Janine. As we continue our interviews for the day, here we have a name that needs no introduction, Esil Allen. Esil and his protege, Dean Wilmington, took an unconventional route into the control room, climbing through the vents and bypassing a Nimbus Dragon. Only one other team thought to use the vents to their advantage. So, Esil and Dean, what made you want to take the road less traveled?”
Pangea Online: The Complete Trilogy Page 64
