I’m glad to hear that. I’d miss you. When you come back, you’ll probably be alone where you were last.
We’ll be in Vix. I plan on making our home there. We’ve quite a bit of work to do but I believe it’ll be our best course of action for a long-term plan and solution.
Our home?
Yep. AI, Human, Natural, what the fuck ever. Home for my family.
An immediate response was not forthcoming. Runner turned his statement over in his head and found nothing wrong. Perhaps Srit was merely processing something difficult in her outreach.
I’ll come home, to my family.
You damn well better. Or I’ll tie you up and leave you to the mercy of Hanners. Who we both know—
Has none.
Then Runner had to squint at the sudden return of light and noise. He was standing in the exact place he’d been before Srit had carted him off to deal with the Omega.
Checking the clock, he saw little time had passed between then and now. Faye got to her feet near the table.
“You’ve returned, Lord Runner,” she said. A smile blossomed on her face. She looked around before her eyes returned to him. Her smile faltered when she realized he was alone. “Where’s Miss Srit?”
“She’s running a rear guard action for us. She’ll return to us once her mission is complete. Though I don’t know when that’ll be. Let’s hope for sooner, rather than later.”
Runner gave himself a firm shake, almost like a dog flinging water from its fur. Not having a body had been quite disorienting.
“We have no news as of yet, Lord Runner. Though a significant force was seen marching towards us. No news on numbers yet but it shouldn’t be too long. I ordered a full encampment and rest. The cannons have deployed and the tanks are ready. I apologize fo—”
“Faye?”
She stopped and looked at him, his interruption and use of her first name bringing her up short.
Runner grinned and met her eyes, staring into her like he was reading her very soul. His close call to the end felt too close still. He felt like he needed to desperately remind everyone in his personal council how much he depended on them and believed in them.
“I trust you. In my absence, I would expect you to make decisions. You need not apologize for making them. Unless you feel they were incorrect?”
“Ah, y-y-yes, Lord Runner. That is, no, not in error,” Faye stuttered, nodding her head.
“Send the scouts backwards and out to all sides. This force coming from the front seems too obvious and something they’d want us to focus on. The trap we were smelling earlier seems even worse. I fear a flanking maneuver or encirclement.”
Faye brought her fist to her chest in salute.
“Right away,” Faye said gravely, scurrying out the door.
Sitting himself back down in a chair, he noticed Nibbles sprawled out on the map. Sleeping. His level was twenty-one and he kept getting bigger.
“Damn, Nibbles. You’re already a big dog size. Keep going and you’ll be as big as a horse.”
One big black eye opened to look at Runner for a few seconds before closing once more.
“Hmph.”
Settling in for the next scout report, Runner began working through his potion materials. Never enough potions.
Or time. Then again, I do need to make rings for everyone. Much like Kitten’s. And since we have the time…
An hour passed as Runner made a ring for each of his group. He tried to make each unique and used a different gemstone and cut for every one.
Nibbles got up at some point and left, leaving Runner alone in the command tent.
Sophia stuck her head in once to confirm his position but left before he could engage her in conversation.
The camp as a whole started to feel ill at ease. On edge. Holding its breath before an expected storm. Pursing his lips in thought, Runner wondered about it. The only idea he came up with made him nervous. So he called up the local area in a search.
/Who Tristan’s Field
Over 100,000 matches.
Display all matches?
No
/Where Jacob Chesed
Faren
Runner growled and stood up. Trap indeed. With that many people he could only bet on them being completely surrounded.
At least Jacob wasn’t here. A small comfort to not have to deal with a champion.
“Grace!” Runner shouted, moving over to the table.
“Sir?” the called woman said, sticking her head in the tent.
“I need everyone. Get them. At the same time, get the camp building defensive embankments,” Runner commanded. Considering it, he realized it wouldn’t matter if they had enough defenses for the entirety of the player base. Simply put, they were too many. “Focus them on covering our flanks and in facing the incoming army. I think they’ll be here soon for a fight.”
“At once.”
Runner mashed in commands to confirm the status of the medical server. Everything checked out. No errors, no problems. Working as intended.
Sure, sure. You just happen to kill my test subjects dead.
He could have tested it on a live subject. Could still do so. Then he realized it didn’t matter. He would sacrifice them all to save those he cared about if pressed.
Grunting, he slammed the virtual console closed. The pressure and stress of it all came back. Through his companions, both during the day and at night, he’d managed to shift quite a bit of the load to a manageable spot.
This wasn’t a crossroad he could avoid though. Pressing the heel of his hand to his head, he thought on it.
Send a warning. That’d do, right? Warn them away?
He didn’t have the best feeling about the idea, though he’d do it if it even had the possibility of success.
Runner hacked at a message until he felt it conveyed the right tone. He reread the message in his head for the twelfth time.
Anyone found in Tristan’s Field in the next twenty-four hours will be subject to a mutiny charge and face sentencing. Furthermore, anyone found in the company of known rapist Jacob Chesed will be found guilty of aiding and abetting.
Please leave the area immediately.
Thank you for your assistance.
Utilizing a ship-wide distribution list, Runner sent it off. Shifting his weight around he put a hand behind his head, drumming his fingers against his skull.
As one group, his cadre entered the tent. Most took seats at the table while Sophia stood at his right elbow.
“And what perchance is the newest predicament, dear heart?”
“Three hundred thousand problems are in the area. I believe they’ll attack. Perhaps on the heels of using the ever happy fanatics as a battering ram to crack open our defenses.”
“Always a problem.”
“Fuck me with a sideways shovel.”
“I’m assum-ming we have no time to run away?”
“That’s correct, Rabbit. Wouldn’t matter anyways. Have to face them eventually. Nor do I know when they’ll attack.”
Runner looked to Isabelle since it looked like she might burst.
“My lord, I’ll scout it out for you.”
“Then get going, Belle, don’t get caught. I need you to report back with actual information. Can’t do that if you’re dead. Head in one direction and circle around if you make contact until you hit another cardinal direction and check. I’m betting you’ll find them at both. Which will be a pretty good indicator we really are surrounded. Then come back.”
“Right away, my lord,” Isabelle said with a salute.
“Hold it there, Belle. After the meeting ends.”
“Oh, uh, of course. Sorry, my lord,” she said, sitting back down.
“Lord Runner, are you certain? You know I’m not one to quit and I’ll use whatever tactics I can. This… this is too much.”
“Dead certain. I’m positive, Sparky. Grace should have already alerted the camp to start building defenses facing Lambart’s own. No point i
n trying to defend against three hundred thousand. Emptying the frickin’ ocean with a teaspoon.”
“I did, sir. They’re working on it.”
“Good, thank you, Grace.”
“Ah. I wondered about the sudden activity. Lot of wood being carted around. Makes sense now.” Faye nodded her head.
“Here’s the thing. We have to operate as if the three hundred thousand don’t exist. If they do, we lose, if they don’t, we have a shot.” Runner blew out a heavy breath and leaned over the map.
“I figure Lady Death and Kitten take the left. Belle and Hanners take the right. Rabbit, you’re on assignment to Sparky. Grace and I will hold the center. If we roll the cannons during their approach, from the moment they’re in range, we’ll bleed them fiercely.
“They’re here to engage and pin us. Soften us up,” Runner said, positioning the small pieces into the proposed arrangement on the board.
“Think you can hold the center by your lonesome, jackass?”
“I’ll have Grace with me, but yes, Hanners. I believe I can.”
Runner picked up the small map marker, a small sculpted likeness of himself that captured a wry sense of humor in the smirk on its face, and held it up to his eyes.
“By the way, did you make these, Rabbit?” Runner asked.
“Yeah. Are they that bad?”
“Not at all, I love them. When do I get my own set? And by set I mean me, Lady Death, Kitten, Hanners, yourself, Sunshine, Grace, Sparky, Brighteyes, Angel, and Minxy.”
“I’m working on-n them. Promise,” Nadine said, her lips curling into an appreciative smile.
“Fantastic. Thank you. Okay, so. They’ll have far more than we do and could wrap up around us with their flanks. We use the tanks to keep their flanks from doing so. Tell them to keep out of the center but make long passes through the sides.”
“I agree on paper with your outline. I fear they’ll still overwhelm us in the number advantage. They’ll try to crush our center. Those we’ve fought have also had a few levels on the majority of our troops,” Faye said.
“I know. It’s the very reason I’m sending myself to the middle. I won’t have the sheer firepower or control as most of you, but I’m confident I’ll be able to take my pound of flesh. And then some. Though in my own way.”
As his voice fell off, everyone turned introspective. This was it, then. The battle they were expecting, just not this quickly or in this fashion. The probability of it being a slaughter was very high.
“I have nothing to add, Lord Runner. I believe this is as best as we’ll get.”
“Then that’s settled,” Thana said, clapping her hands together. “Everyone, get some food, freshen up, and get your troops together. Stock up on potions. Runner has been spending all his free time churning them out. Best we use them all.”
“Ah!” Runner blurted out. He’d nearly forgotten the rings he’d made. Moving over to the entrance, he held up his hand to Hannah to stop her from moving past him.
“One second, Hanners,” he said. “Everyone, as you exit I’ll be giving you a new ring. Please be sure to equip it. It has the ability to cast Stealth, Throat Strike, Silence, Blink, Cleanse, and Disarm. My apologies, Kitten, you already have yours.”
Katarina chuckled and held up her left hand to display said item. Runner realized that she’d removed her armor. Now that he thought about it, she’d taken to removing her armor for meetings and seemed more at ease with herself in normal clothing.
Exiting the tent, Katarina went off to prepare.
Hannah eyed him sideways. She never did care for surprises, even if was receiving a gift.
Selecting the small bag from his inventory that he had put the rings in, he opened the sub-inventory window and pulled free the particular ring he wanted. He handed Hannah a blue trillion-cut sapphire mounted in a ring the duplicate of Katarina’s.
“Here you go, Hanners.”
“Uhm. Thanks, Runner,” Hannah said, ducking her head. Closing her hand around the ring, she scampered from the tent.
Faye happened to be next in line and tried to slip by him. Her brows had come down a fraction and her lips were pressed tightly together.
“Where you going, Sparky? I told you I had something for you.”
Stopping in her tracks, her eyes jumped to Runner’s.
“Me?”
“Yes, you. Who else, idiot? You’ve a brilliant mind for strategy but I’m starting to wonder about your common sense.” Runner grinned and snorted, then plucked a marquise-cut citrine from his bag and placed it in her hand.
“Why?”
“Because you’re important? Also very hard to replace something that’s one of a kind. Rings are easy.”
Faye’s mouth opened and closed once. Runner gently pushed her to the side while she figured out what she wanted to say.
Sophia bounced up to him, a grin plastered to her face and her hand out.
“You’re all smiles, Grace. I’ve given you other items greater than this already,” Runner said, a little confused. After fishing a shield-cut onyx ring free, he pressed it into her open hand.
Sophia only grinned wider and stepped to the side, next to Faye. Wrapping her arm in the general’s, she escorted her out of the tent.
Thana took a step forward to place herself in front of him. She tilted her head to the side and held up her left hand to him. Deliberately she lifted her ring finger a little above the others.
Nerves weighed on him at the obvious gesture. Feeling a little silly, he brought out the radiant-cut smoky quartz ring and slipped it onto Thana’s finger.
Giving him a brilliant Sunless smile, she turned her head, presenting the side of her face to him.
A lot like a positive reinforcement Pavlov experiment, he pressed a kiss to her cheek.
“Thank you, dear heart,” Thana said, taking his hand in hers and lightly patting it before leaving.
“You’re very well trained, my lord,” Isabelle said, grinning and stepping to take her place in front of him.
“Shut it, or I’ll train you, Belle. Maybe you’d like to sleep at the foot of my bed every night? My feet get cold, maybe you could warm them as a footrest.”
“All bark and no bite, my lord. Now ring me so I can scout,” she boldly claimed, holding her hand up in the same way Thana had.
For fuck’s sake.
Grumbling, he got out the oval-cut malachite and slipped it onto Isabelle’s finger.
“I’m off. If I get the time I’ll take a peek at Lambart’s forces as well.”
“Go, be gone then.”
Isabelle saluted smartly and left.
“It’s because of who you are,” Nadine explained. She hadn’t moved from her spot at the table.
“And what exactly am I then?” Runner said, his hands pressing to the sides of his head.
Enough to deal with without every single one of them taunting me.
“You don’t kn-now?” she asked teasingly.
“I know who I believe I am.”
“I’ll n-not spoil it. Let’s just say it has to do with being able to tease and prod the strongest person we’ve met.”
“Hmph. Here, Rabbit.” Runner changed the subject, holding out a round-cut jade ring to her.
“Thank you. It’s very pretty. And thank you for what you did, Run-ner.”
“What I did?”
“Not putting me in the fight. I’m sorry. I can defend myself, and would do what I have to, but I’d rather n-not.”
“I know, Rabbit. Your kind and pure heart is one of the things I want to protect.”
“So long as you don’t hurt yourself in-n doing so. You’ve had a dark look about your eyes for the last couple days.”
“Mm. You’ve got me there, Rabbit. I’m afraid my medical server failed. I’m not positive moving the three hundred thousand would save them.”
“You’re n-not?”
“Nope. Could very well kill them rather than save them. Every single one of them.”
&
nbsp; “Then why do it?”
“Because I want to protect Tirtius and you all,” Runner said, the simple answer rolling off his tongue before he realized what he was saying.
“I don’t like it. It’s n-not right, Runner. There has to be an-nother way,” Nadine said, her voice picking up in energy as she went.
“No, I can’t imagine you would, Rabbit. But that’s the world. If I don’t potentially kill them all, it’ll continue. Truthfully, it almost doesn’t even bother me. The idea of it, that is. I’ve done as bad to others, merely not on this scale.”
“And that’s the worst part. It’s what worries m-me. You’re a good person, Runner. This should concern you. Possibly killing three hundred thousand shouldn’t be a casual conversation. Your heart is dark and cold. It’s not who you were when we first m-met.”
Runner only nodded his head and patted Nadine gently on the shoulder.
“See you later, Rabbit,” Runner said, and promptly escaped. Her pure beliefs made him feel sick with his own actions.
Maybe it’s the same way Hannah looks at you.
1:28 pm Sovereign Earth time
12/08/43
Runner watched the oncoming horde as if it were a global disaster about to sweep the island clean of life. Fifteen thousand people took up a lot of space. Especially when they were already in formation and moving.
Runner checked his equipment and then his stats screen.
Name:
Runner
Level:
33
Class:
Race:
Human
Experience:
81%
Alignment:
Good
Reputation:
2,020
Fame:
18,155
Bounty:
0
Attributes-
Strength:
1
Otherlife Nightmares: The Selfless Hero Trilogy Page 35
