Coders

by Thomas K. Carpenter

  The Realms had no restrictions on what reality could be. Each Realm made its own rules, created its own reality. Gabby had seen as much in Panner's Realm and for two drug filled months, Gabby had been happy there.

  Zaela spoke derisively when Gabby mentioned Panner. He drugged his citizens so he didn't have to work as hard at running his Realm, regurgitating old realities to keep them in line.

  Without restrictions, Zaela could make the world be anything and she often did. The other Reality Shapers had been stuck on the formal rules of reality. Zaela learned about her subjects and made reality fit their deepest desires.

  The subject of Bubble World and Silly World came up. Zaela didn't know Drogan, but she nodded along to the explanation of how they shepherded him through difficult times using the alternate realities.

  Zaela had other insights about her experiences. That not everyone was willing to be led by the nose. A certain portion - but sadly a small one - of the population wanted real choice, and would fight the false reality eventually. These people they put in positions of power. Malthon had been one of these people.

  But Gabby didn't want to hear about these theories. She wanted to know how Zaela had become the Queen. Did she kill her? Did she usurp her power and thrown her down?

  Gabby thought she knew the answer. Or what Zaela wouldn't have done, because she knew her so well, or thought she did.

  It was much simpler than Gabby would have imagined. The Crimson Queen was dying. For all her reality manipulation, she couldn't really change the most important one. She was still alive, her body kept alive using the best technologies, while her consciousness explored the world as a projection. Zaela consulted with her from time to time. The former Queen, Katharine had been her name, planned to have herself unplugged once she'd explored the rest of the world and the other planets of the solar system, because you could beam your projections there now, though it was horribly expensive, since other countries of the world maintained the sensor networks.

  Katharine had given Zaela control of the Realm. Picked because she was the best, hated the GSA, and reminded Katharine of the daughter she never had.

  "But why the deception with me? Why didn't you tell me this before?"

  "I still hated you, for what I thought you did to me back in Final Raid. And I needed you, because you had the Coder software. Cassius' little program for wiping Coders provided the backdoor into the system to modify reality."

  Gabby pulled away from Zaela's arm, pacing across the cobblestones. "Was I that bad that I deserved to be sent to my death in your little war? And you almost killed Michael. He's barely alive."

  Zaela collapsed onto a stone bench with her head in her hands. "I didn't want to hurt you. Really I didn't. You weren't supposed to leave the game like you did. Once you did I was so worried and sent Malthon after you. I would have never forgiven myself if you'd died."

  "Malthon's dead."

  Zaela popped up like newly formed avatar and strode to the edge of the garden and stared at the fog between the mountains. Gabby stood by, close enough to touch, but her arms stayed crossed.

  "I hated you, Gabby. Hated you with all my heart for manipulating me like you did. I thought you'd left me. Forgotten me." Zaela glanced back to make sure Gabby was still there with a mixture of anger and regret.

  "I never forgot you, Z."

  "I know." Zaela wiped her face. "When I brought Michael out of the game, he told me." She pulled a leaf from a bush and rubbed it between her forefinger and thumb. The leaf tore in half and she threw it onto the cobblestones.

  "Z." Gabby put her hand on Zaela's shoulder, but she shrugged it off.

  "So many people of died because of me," said Zaela. "I'm not made for this and now that I've made sure the GSA can't sell the losers anymore, I don't know what to do."

  "Z, it's okay—"

  "—it's not okay!" Zaela spun around, conflicted and clenching her fists. "People have died because of me. I can't do it anymore. I can't be the Crimson Queen."

  "Then what will you do?" Gabby asked hopefully. Maybe they could escape into the Freelands like Gabby had hoped since it had all started.

  Zaela stepped close to Gabby and grabbed her hands, tightly and together. Zaela's eyes were pleading with Gabby even before her friend spoke.

  "I'm going to give the Realms to you."

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Learning that the Crimson Queen was Zaela had been shocking, but in retrospect, as they strolled through the garden, not all together unsurprising. Rather than being speechless, Gabby had been disappointed with herself for not seeing it earlier.

  Only the unlikely chance that Zaela could become the Crimson Queen had factored into her surprise. But being asked to become the Crimson Queen, ruler of the largest Realm of the Pantheon, and now owner of the Greater States of America seemed ludicrous to say the least.

  Gabby stood stunned for at least five minutes. It was hard to even wrap her brain around the idea. That Zaela was the Crimson Queen? Unlikely, but sure, it could happen to someone else.

  To become the Queen with all that responsibility? Gabby kept wanting to laugh.

  "Who am I to be a leader of so many? I couldn't imagine the weight of it. I was freaked about University, let alone running a whole country and I know nothing about Reality Shaping."

  Gabby realized she was still holding hands with Zaela. She let go and faced the valley beneath the mountain peaks. The sun was melting the snow and fog formed and drifted to the lower areas. Gabby imagined she could scoop up the fog with her hands.

  "I can help with the Shaping," said Zaela. "If you want. But why use that? Why not another way?"

  "I...don't know what that other way would be." Gabby spun back to Zaela. "And why would people follow me? I'm not from here."

  Zaela shrugged. "They didn't know me either, but with the Crimson Queen skin, they won't know any different. And if you ever leave, then you can do so anonymously."

  Gabby paced across the stones. "But I don't want to be the Queen."

  "Then be someone else. I can make that happen, too." Zaela smiled and opened her palms out in an open gesture. "And anyway, I talked to your friends. It's clear you know how to get people to follow you. Mouse defied her father because she wanted to stay with you and help you get me back. Michael has given his last days to you."

  Gabby wanted to add that Mouse was also trying to steal Michael away from her, but given the weight of the conversation and that Michael was dying, bringing that fact up seemed petty.

  "You could get others as advisors if you wanted. Give them pieces of your power, just like the old Queen did with the Shapers." Zaela put her hand on Gabby's arm. "And you'd have your friends to help. And you'd have me."

  Gabby shook her head. "I can't. Why can't you keep it and I advise you?"

  Zaela pressed the bridge of her nose with both hands. It seemed she was squeezing the memories from her head. "I only know the one way. The old way. I can't. And I..." Zaela paused, looking sheepish as the words hung half formed. "...I liked having power. After so many years of hating LifeGame and being forced into do things I didn't want to do, I reveled in power, drank it up like a drug."

  "And why wouldn't you think I might do the same?"

  Zaela laughed, a quick cutting laugh that seemed to slice the question into pieces. "You abhor power. You spent your whole career in LifeGame making sure no one ever had too much power, making sure Avony and the Evil Dolls didn't rule the school, looking out for the lesser players, looking out for me."

  Zaela strolled to the gingko tree and caressed a leaf. "No, Gabs, if anyone can have power without loving it too much it's you. That you're even arguing with me just proves I'm right. Anyone else would have already taken the reins and started ruling without cause or thought."

  Gaming had been her life. She knew everything there was to know about game theory and hacking and being an eighteen-year-old girl. But she knew nothing about running a country, about leading a country full of people, abo
ut taking care of them.

  "I can't—"

  "—you have to."

  Gabby bunched her hands into fists. "I won't." She threw her arms down, expanding her fingers in frustration, trying to shake away Zaela's request. "I would ruin it, mess it up. I'm not the right person."

  Zaela paused in front of her. Her eyes stared back with such intensity that Gabby became afraid.

  "I'll give it to Panner then. Or disband it. Cut the cord on the whole program and let them all go free."

  "What?" Gabby stamped her foot. "You can't do that. Panner's inept. He'd turn it into his own private orgy and then release a million drug dependant idiots on the world. And if you disbanded it, you'd create so much chaos it'd be worse than if I were running it."

  As the words slipped out of her mouth, she knew she was trapped. It was exactly why Zaela had threatened it. She was going to protest, even offer that she'd give it to someone else, someone more worthy or more likely not to screw it up. Ben, maybe. But she quickly realized he would never take it. He'd only taken the lead role in the Blood Farm because it was inevitable. He'd never willingly take the Pantheon from Gabby.

  Zaela stepped close to her, so near she could feel Zaela's breath hitting her face.

  "I know another reason you should take it. Be the Crimson Queen."

  Gabby almost didn't want to know.

  Zaela continued without her asking. "Michael." Gabby felt the chains being thrown over her shoulders. Felt her best friend's trap close. "If you're not the Crimson Queen, then who will save Michael?"

  The whole world became his ice-blue eyes. Even if he might be promised to Mouse, she still had to save him.

  "I accept."

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  The Crimson Queen sat on the gilded throne, back straight and tall, listening as the head of the Textiles Group made a series of requests. The man, heavy-set and bearded and slightly older than her father, droned on in a monotone voice, listing the many reasons why the Queen needed to lower business taxes on real cotton clothing.

  He went on, using shared holograms to illustrate his point, but the graphics were as boring as his narrative. Gabby set her Queen skin to automatic while she turned to Zaela, sitting invisible in a chair next to her.

  "This is the third time he's made this presentation this week. Hasn't he heard me say no enough?"

  Zaela shrugged. "Some fools will never listen. He wants to wear you down by making you fall asleep, I guess." She shrugged. "Regretting your virtual economy?"

  Gabby face palmed. "The economy is working great. It's the idiots that want to game the system I can't stand. He's not arguing because it's a good tweak to the system, he just wants it easier for him."

  "Then get rid of him."

  Gabby squinted suspiciously at Zaela. "You're full of easy answers. Why did I take this mess from you?"

  Zaela grinned. "I didn't make you turn this into a functioning representative system. Remember I was an evil dictator using power to seek revenge on a system that had disowned me."

  Zaela sat back in her chair looking pleased with her arms crossed.

  "We've only been this way for a month and already I'm regretting it." Gabby looked up to the ceiling, which was a much improved view than the one before her. Galaxies floated across deep space, glittering like a sea of jewels. She thought she saw a supernova in a nearby nebula.

  "Gabby," whispered Zaela.

  "Huh?"

  Zaela nodded toward the Textiles Rep. He was waiting with his hands behind his back, head tilted in confusion.

  "Oh Mario!" Gabby quickly replayed the last thirty seconds on fast forward to hear the question, though she had a good idea of what it would be.

  After inhabiting her Queen skin, she gave the Textile Rep his answer and he left, looking like he had every intention of returning the following day.

  Gabby heard a raucous shout at the back of the throne room coming from her apartments. Her friends, minus Michael, appeared so she rescheduled her other appointments for the day. She had other important visitors coming soon anyway.

  Drogan ran up and scooped her into his arms.

  "Hey, Gabby-umbrella!"

  "Hey, yourself, you big lug," she grunted. "Could you squeeze a little less? I am your Queen you know."

  Drogan's face turned to one of immediate subservience. "I'm sorry, my Queen." He bowed at the waist in a very un-Drogan like manner.

  "I'm just playing, Drogan. You don't have to do that."

  A face wide grin erupted. "I'm just playing, too!"

  Gabby laughed. "Well you fooled me big fella." She patted him on the arm, which was all she could reach since he was so tall. "How's the new FunCar project going?"

  "Great!" He clapped his hands. "So happy happy that Gabby-umbrella let me play with FunCars. They like toy cars I had when I was little."

  "I can't ever imagine you being little, Drogan. But, okay." Gabby had sent him to help a group of citizens wanting to expand the FunCar fleet. It was the part of the GSA that everyone had liked. Drogan had designed a new engine that was way more efficient than the current ones and was making immersives that explained how to repair them since the only repair stations were in the GSA territories. So now everyone knew Drogan, which made him happy, though it took him forever to get anywhere because he had to stop and give so many hugs.

  Avony and Milton, though Gabby tried to remember to call him Millie, approached and released hands long enough to give her a hug.

  "I heard you two got engaged. Who asked who?"

  Avony laughed, looking sheepish. "I guess I did."

  "And you're not dressing so slutty anymore," she said to Milton.

  He wore the same female skin, but now the clothes were more fashion friendly and less advertising for business. "I got my girl, I guess." He shrugged.

  Soon after they'd reunited, Gabby had tried to tell Avony about Milton, but she said she already knew and didn't care. Avony felt she got the best of both worlds with Milton, or Millie as everyone had been calling him.

  "We're going to go back to the GSA territories and introduce each other to our parents," said Avony. "I'm not sure how they're going to take it, but I don't care."

  "My parents are just going to be happy I'm alive. I think they thought I died over a year ago."

  Gabby nodded. "I wish I could go back too, though I did send my parents an immersive that I'm alive. I've put them through enough gyrations already."

  "You should see the gyrations that Avs puts me—"

  Everyone but Drogan yelled, "Millie!"

  Gabby collected Mouse in her arms, giving her a warm hug. "How's your father?"

  "Great!" she whispered behind a cupped hand. "He couldn't wait to leave the territories. We're going to explore the Freelands while they're still free."

  "Yeah," said Gabby regretfully, feeling guilty already. "Promise me you'll send news about what you learn. I think I'm going to need it."

  Celia stood in back. Gabby saw no sign of her insects, but she knew they were hovering nearby. Celia had been working with the Queen's scientists trying to design new bugs to replace the one's she'd lost on their journey.

  The waif wore a black cloak around her dainty white dress, all of it real. Even the way Celia stood was a statement to Gabby. It always made Gabby uncomfortable, that and she was Michael's sister.

  The words tangled around her tongue and she only got out, "Good to see you, Celia." She tried to hide the grimace from what words she did get out.

  "Thank you." The words startled Gabby. Celia still wore bandages across her eyes, crimson ones. Gabby didn't know if she was being mocked

  "What? I..."

  "For easing his pain."

  Gabby nodded and started to muster up an answer when a helper projection appeared to notify her the guests had arrived. Celia would have to wait.

  The Frags disappeared, quieter than they'd come, except for Celia, who lingered for a while. Gabby sensed Celia had more to say, but there was no time.

&n
bsp; Two men and a woman entered the throne room. Gabby almost reflexively donned her Crimson Queen skin, but her guests knew who she was since she'd sent an immersive requesting their presence.

  Ben looked no different than she'd seen him last, except maybe a bit more gray around the ears. He touched his wire frame glasses, adjusting them. He seemed the least surprised to see her.

  She smiled when Administrator Bracket saluted her. He was the one she thought least likely to come. After all, he'd fought the Southlanders for years and his former student had been his system's downfall.

  Lastly, the woman who Zaela had called Blair the Chair wheeled up, sucking on her breathing tube. The wheezing of her nebulizer cut through the silence. Blair gave Zaela a knowing wink before turning back to Gabby.

  "Thank you all for coming. I know the journey was long and not without its sacrifices, especially not knowing the purpose of the visit."

  A warm smile broke across Bracket's face. "When the conqueror of one's country asks for an audience, you don't delay." He chuckled. "And I had to know how the student that once escaped the system ended up ruling it. I hope at some point you will regale us with your exploits."

  Having Bracket, former Administrator of her school, make that request both bolstered Gabby and made her feel like she was back in LifeGame. It was hard to shake the feeling of authority over her he'd had, though he'd never abused it, or she would have never asked him to come.

  "I would be happy to."

  Blair rolled forward. "Your parents send their love, though I think they were rather perturbed you'd asked me to come rather than them."

  "I'll visit them soon enough." She paused. "When I get time." Gabby leaned down and gave Blair a hug. "I'm sorry you couldn't bring Frank. I hope everything has been okay."

  Static erupted from her speakers, briefly forcing everyone to cringe before quieting. "Wonderful. I just hope those books I provided helped you."

  "More than you can imagine."

  Gabby paused when she noticed Ben watching her. He seemed less pleased than the others to have been called, but he had more responsibilities than they did, including extra mouths that she'd sent to him.