“Damn,” Runner said, looking back to Faye. “I’m afraid our time is drawing to a close, Faye.”
“Can…can you give me more time? A few hours maybe? It’s a lot to take in. Put me in a closet? A prison cell? I need time,” she muttered, her voice fading at the end.
Runner could only imagine her tactical mind was burning through the information at a truly frightening rate of speed.
Runner stopped and scratched at his head.
“Well, maybe. Grace, do you think you’d be comfortable taking care of Faye with a few of your squad to back you up? Keep her in the sleep spell while she thinks it over. It isn’t a true sleep so she should be able to process her thoughts. You should have more than enough potions to keep her gone until tomorrow morning.”
“I don’t like leaving you unguarded. Though I do like the idea of keeping an eye on her.”
“I’ll take the rest with me—you’re welcome to pick who. Probably a good time for you to figure out who your second is anyways.”
Sophia pressed her full lips together in annoyance and nodded once. Her left hand came up and Faye was put to sleep once more. Sophia turned and left the room to prepare her squad.
Runner leaned in and spoke into Faye’s ear.
“I’ll be back to check on you. They’re under orders not to harm you in any way. Please let me know if they disobey. We’ll talk more on my return. Oh, and Faye? I really do have a deep respect for you. You handled the entire ordeal far better than I expected for someone in your position. I truly do want you for myself. It’d be like shattering a masterpiece if I had to dispose of you.”
Runner left the general there. Alone in a room and tied to a chair.
Time to see the queen.
9:40 am Sovereign Earth time
11/18/43
Ten minutes had passed since he’d presented himself at the throne room door. Ten minutes before he was called in.
“Runner Norwood, known as Breaker, general to King Vasilios, chosen of Ernsta, Brunhild, and Amelia, ally to the peoples of Kastell!” shouted the herald as Runner entered the room.
A day after the king’s death the entire throne room had changed. Everyone was dressed immaculately, it smelled quite nice, and there were even decorations here and there.
Ally, eh?
A single throne sat atop the dais now, the queen standing before it. Her giant war axe rested in easy reach against the throne. She resembled King Vasilios far more today. She looked queenly and felt like it. Majestic. Powerful. Regal.
Dropping to one knee at a respectable distance, he bowed his head deeply in respect to her.
“Queen Helen, the task is done. The enemy army is broken, I am interrogating the captured enemy general, and her forces are being processed as prisoners. By your will and hand, Kastell is free of invaders,” Runner said loudly, making sure all heard his words.
“Stand,” the queen proclaimed. Runner brought himself to a standing position. “We personally thank you, Runner Norwood. Your forces bled for us while we hid behind our walls. We will not forget our brave Sunless brothers and sisters who died on our land.”
Quest Completed
Quest rating: Extremely difficult. Rewards tripled.
Raid leader: You receive a quadruple portion.
“°úÆ▀█╪╓”
Experience Reward: 835% of current level
Reputation: 2,000
Fame: 3,000
Money: 1,000 Platinum
Level up!
You’ve reached level 28
Level up!
You’ve reached level 29
Level up!
You’ve reached level 30
Level up!
You’ve reached level 31
Level up!
You’ve reached level 32
Level up!
You’ve reached level 33
Runner balked at the rapid screen prompts. Leveling up would need to wait for a quiet moment alone.
Queen Helen bowed her head to him. No small sign of respect from a royal.
“Though others may know you as Breaker, we name you Vindicator. You, who showed up unasked for and unwelcome. Who bled for us and forced us to help ourselves, despite our original unwillingness. Who asked nothing more than that we join in our own battle. You gave us our honor and preserved our right of personal governance.”
You’ve earned the title Vindicator
You’ve earned 2,000 fame
Runner ducked his head to the queen once again in thanks.
“Thank you, my queen.”
“This is a minor thing. What else can we reward you with?”
“I ask nothing for myself. My home is in disrepair and my people will have needs. I have requested crafters from Vasilios. As your people are renowned for their martial skill and equable customs under the law, I would ask for a contingent of your guards to be loaned to me for a year. I would ask they perform their function there as they do here. I will pay their upkeep equally to what you pay them now plus a small bonus for being away from home. I would ask for only volunteers.”
Queen Helen tilted her head to one side as she studied him.
“You annoy us. This is not a proper reward for your services.”
“Yet it is what I request.”
“So be it. We’ll have this taken care of. Where is your home?”
“Vix.”
“You are the owner of Vix?”
A Quest has been generated
“A Homeland”
Experience Reward: 140% of current level
Reputation: 400
Fame: 400
Title: (Determined by choice upon completion)
Money: 0
Do you Accept?
Yes/No
WARNING! Experience Reward is adjusted based on current level at turn in
Runner hesitated before answering. He had only meant North Wood Fort, but if he could claim the whole island…well. That’d be great, too.
/Yes
Quest Accepted
“Ah, not as of yet. Though it is my goal. My base of operations is the North Wood Fort.”
“We are curious. What will you do now?”
“We’ll rest for a few days, finish up the prisoner processing, and then I must head south. I will end this war by bringing it to the enemy’s doorstep.”
“Did good King Vasilios include that in your mission?”
“No, my queen. I will be asking for volunteers of those who came with me to follow me south. I will go by myself if I must.”
“No such thing. We name you general of an army yet to be formed. They will serve you in whatever fashion you need them to in the goal of ending this war. They will be ready by your departure. We will also send a dispatch to our good neighbor Vasilios and ask his forgiveness but that we encouraged you to go south.”
Runner felt better with that offer made. He had been hoping for something along those lines but hadn’t dared ask for it.
“You should know, the royal family of Faren is no more. They were murdered in a coup by a man named Jacob. He is now acting as king. We hear another tale that he is the champion of Lambart.”
Ah. That does explain a few things.
“Yes. That’s one of the reasons I need to head south. Jacob is an…acquaintance of mine. An acquaintanceship I’d like to end. Violently.”
“We understand. Go. Rest, relax. We’ve prepared a room for you in the royal guest quarters.” Queen Helen dismissed him.
Runner bowed at the waist to her, then left the throne room. Pausing in an empty antechamber, he called up the level up screen as his personal guard spread out in the room. He dropped three points into dexterity, two into intelligence, and one into agility, then closed the screen.
Memories of a life spent at home on a computer blasted him. Learning how to work through, on, and around systems. Playing video games till his joints ached from pods and controllers.
Very introverted things. Things that he had known about himself without knowing.
/>
Calling up the character stats screen, he read over his numbers.
Name:
Runner
Level:
33
Class:
Race:
Human
Experience:
81%
Alignment:
Good
Reputation:
2,020
Fame:
18,155
Bounty:
0
Attributes-
Strength:
1
Constitution:
1(31)
Dexterity:
14(44)
Intelligence:
13(43)
Agility:
8(38)
Wisdom:
1
Stamina:
1(31)
Charisma:
64(124)
Runner felt a little better. He’d been unmoving on his level for so long due to the massive nature of his army-sized raid.
Taking a breath, he tried to organize his mind.
Okay. To-do list: Faye, prisoners, medical server, Jacob, Srit.
Slapping his cheeks with his hands, he tried to work up some motivation. Success tended to make him complacent.
Stepping out of the antechamber, he decided to go to the prisoners first. Faye might need more time. Sophia could keep her company. Runner even trusted Sophia.
A minute or two later he was at the gatehouse and hopping into Boxy. Runner made his way to the controls and sat himself down.
They had decided to process the entire lot of them on the site itself. Ernsta would be holding sway over the proceedings as each swore to her on their life. Much as the first set of prisoners had.
Today felt like it would be a long day for him. Runner checked a sigh and flipped the brake and slid the shifter into gear.
6:43 pm Sovereign Earth time
11/18/43
Runner collapsed face-first into his bed. He had managed to get nearly nothing done.
Such a great accomplishment of derring-do.
Runner let his mind drift and thought about the day.
Faye had wanted more time in the end. Again.
She did agree to swear to the triumvirate of goddesses that she would remain in the room unguarded until told she could leave.
Apparently Srit had turned up but Katarina, Hannah, and Nadine had hustled her off and they were now in “training.” Runner didn’t care, so long as they were all safe. Safe and happy.
Thana and Isabelle were the only ones present at the prisoner camp. They were as busy as he was.
Conversation had been work related since there wasn’t any time for anything else. On top of that he swore that there was a certain chill to Thana.
“Medical server,” Runner mumbled into his pillow.
Groaning, he rolled over to a sitting position and called up the ship’s system console.
Logging in, he confirmed that the medical server was indeed ready and connected to the main computer. He could begin transferring people at any time.
Pulling up the name of a brain-dead crew member, he mentally winced.
Mitica Vasile.
A name he wouldn’t forget anytime soon. He had been the first brain-dead crew member he personally confirmed.
/Status Vasile, Mitica
User: VasMit001 logged in
/Status POD 348,431
█L █O █A █D █ I █N█G█
ALERT: POD 348,431 reports no brain wave activity
LOG: Emergency medical teams alerted seven hundred ninety-two hours and four minutes ago
/Activate dream sequencer VasMit001 MedServ01
Connecting…
Connection successful
/Transfer VasMit001*TGBD MedServ01
Transferring…
Error: Credentials lacking for MedServ01.
IT department must authorize
User: NorRun001
Transfer request pending
Please enter Password: ***************
Password Accepted
Further confirmation needed
Captain must confirm transfer
User: NorRun001
Transfer request pending
Audio verification needed: 4238147 Xulu Foxtrot Romeo
“Four, two, three, eight, one, four, seven, xulu foxtrot romeo,” Runner repeated aloud.
Verification Accepted
Transferring…
Transfer Complete
/Current active Users MedServ01
1
/Status Vasile, Mitica
User: VasMit001 logged in
“Right, then. Pending a test on a live person, seems like it works? Goodie.”
/Activate dream sequencer NorRun001 MedServ01
Connecting…
Connection failure
ALERT: POD 500,000 is unresponsive
It is not part of the network
/Transfer NorRun001*TGBD MedServ01
Transferring…
ALERT: POD 500,000 is unresponsive
It is not part of the network
Runner hung his head, putting his face in his hands. Jacob had decided that Runner would join him in his off-network status. Maybe Jacob had hoped it would prevent Runner from being able to access his IT privileges.
Doesn’t matter. I have no idea how he did it, and I can’t undo it. I’m trapped. I can’t leave. Not unless Jacob tells me what he did. Or I figure it out.
Using one hand, he typed two commands into his console.
/Current active Users
499,921
/Pods in network
499,919
Closing his eyes and swallowing a catch in his breath, he lay back down in his bed. His hands closed in on his face and covered his eyes as if he could hide away from the truth.
For better or worse, Runner would be one of only two people who couldn’t leave the game safely.
And he was alone again. Alone in his room.
His party had been sequestered elsewhere. For whatever reason, Queen Helen had decided that Runner needed his own room.
Probably related to her daughter. He didn’t blame her for that really.
And here in the heart of Kastell, he had no need of his own guards. Sophia and her squad had returned to their rooms.
Alone.
10:43 pm Sovereign Earth time
11/18/43
Runner sat bolt upright, looking around the room for enemies. They were coming. Eyes darting from corner to corner, checking, moving, Runner cleared the room as he began inventorying his options and what he had on him.
He knew he was locked in a room alone. He had escaped the pursuit and ducked into this room hoping to find an escape. Instead he was now surrounded by those who would kill him. He had to get out, he had to find the others—
Soft warm arms wrapped around him from behind, holding him in a tender embrace.
“Be calm. All is well, dear heart. You’re safe,” Thana whispered into his ear. She had pressed herself bodily into his back. She held him gently as if her grip was as thin as tissue paper.
Runner panted heavily, his right hand gripping one of Thana’s forearms. Slowly, the nightmare was clearing. Like fog burning off under a bright sun.
Swallowing, he shook his head as his brain clanged into first gear.
“That was a bad one,” Runner whispered, his voice shuddering.
“I know, I’m sorry. I’m here for you,” Thana said, her chin pressed to his shoulder. “I must concede I do not envy your ability to dream at times. You so often have nightmares.”
Runner’s jangled nerves were calming as the adrenaline fueled panic died away.
“Oh, they’re definitely terrible. Dreams, in general, are great though. They often provide inspiration or maybe a reprieve.”
“So I read. Sexual fantasies included.”
“Indeed. Where else can I get four women to share my bed at the same time?” Runner jokingly said, and th
en regretted it instantly. In this moment of closeness, he’d forgotten about what he’d done to and with Katarina. He could also conclude it was the reason Thana had been a little distant.
“When you’re calm, I believe we should talk,” Thana said quietly, patting his shoulder with a delicate hand.
And there it is. Here we go then.
“Stop tensing. I’m not leaving, nor is Hannah, or Nadine.”
Runner nodded his head, closing his eyes.
“Are you already set on this then? I wouldn’t push this on you until you’re mentally…fit? Stable isn’t the right word.”
“I’m fine. Please, continue.”
Thana was silent for a second or two before she began speaking again. She didn’t release him though. If anything he’d swear she leaned into him more.
“You slept with Katarina.” It wasn’t a question.
“I did.”
“You chose her?”
“Not exactly. I told her up front that if it had been you, Hanners, or Rabbit, I would say yes to them as well. Much as I explained to Hanners the other day, I’m taking the coward’s way out. I won’t be choosing anyone. I’m afraid I couldn’t choose even if I wanted to. I fear losing you all in choosing, and I fear losing you all in not choosing. So I choose not to choose.”
“I see. A terribly Runner answer of you. So you would have slept with anyone?” she asked in a whisper.
Runner pressed his lips together as his left hand dug into his pant leg. His right hand remained holding to Thana’s arm.
“No. Never. You, Hanners, Rabbit, and Kitten. That’s it.”
“Ah,” she whispered.
Time moved on a second at a time. Agonizingly.
“I suppose it’s a good thing no one is asking you to choose then, isn’t it? In fact, one could say you’re the only one who’s been worrying over this the entire time.”
Otherlife Nightmares: The Selfless Hero Trilogy Page 28
