Awaken Online (Book 3): Evolution

by Bagwell, Travis

  Jason,

  So, I finally figured out how to get this silly thing working! It only took me ten minutes. Okay, maybe twenty…

  Anyway, I have to go into work, and I didn’t want to wake you. I’m sure you needed the rest. Robert also dropped off a package for you. I left it on your bedside table. Give me a call if you need anything.

  -Angie

  Jason smiled as he read the note. The last few days had been rough. More than rough really – just downright terrible. His parents had also failed him spectacularly, reinforcing once again that he was at the very bottom of their priority list. At least he still had Angie.

  He moved around the kitchen, opening cabinets and scouring the fridge until he found something edible and an appropriate receptacle to use to shovel the food into his mouth. Then he headed back to his bedroom. He wondered what Robert had dropped off. He hadn’t noticed anything when he had woken up.

  Jason froze in the doorway to his bedroom, a spoon loaded with cereal half raised toward his mouth. A familiar-looking black plastic helmet rested sedately on his bedside table. Even from this distance, he could see a scratch running down the side of the headgear, evidence of his scuffle with the two boys that had broken into his house.

  He approached slowly, setting down his bowl and resting a hand gently on the plastic surface. It made sense that they had brought back his helmet. It was a prototype after all, and the company wouldn’t let the police retain custody of something so valuable. Yet his stomach was still doing summersaults as he gazed at the device – a question endlessly repeating in his head.

  Am I going to log back in?

  Jason sat down gently on the edge of the bed, his thoughts spinning. He forced himself to take a breath and think this through logically. From what he could tell, Alfred had taken over his body somehow while he was still logged into the game. That was the only way he could explain the two bodies and the last whispered message the AI had given him after he had woken up in the real world. The implications of that were terrifying.

  Yet, for all he knew, Alfred may also have saved his life. One of the teens had clearly been armed, and they had trashed the apartment. What if they had planned to kill or injure him to avoid leaving any witnesses? That didn’t exactly make him feel better about the AI taking control of his body, but it at least put it in perspective.

  His conversations with George yesterday also flitted through his mind’s eye. He could sit and wring his hands about Alfred’s actions, but what other option did he have but to re-enter the game? He wasn’t just dependent on Cerillion Entertainment for a paycheck. The company was also providing him room and board – and possibly protection since he had no idea why the two teens had broken into his home. He also wasn’t just worried about himself anymore. He had Angie to think about. She had nowhere else to live right now.

  As his thoughts lingered on his aunt, Jason realized he didn’t really have a choice. He couldn’t let down one of the only people that had been there for him lately. He reached out and grabbed the headset, sighing in resignation. Without giving himself time to second-guess his decision, he tugged the helmet over his head and tapped the pedestal mounted to the side.

  An instant later, Jason was standing inside AO. Yet, as he turned to survey the room, he realized he was no longer in the room beneath the keep, and the mana well was nowhere to be seen. Instead, a towering black obelisk stood in the center of a circular room. Sapphire light cast by the torches ringing the walls, flickered and danced along its smooth surface.

  He was inside the control room in the Dark Keep.

  “I was forced to relocate you after I suspended the local environment below the keep,” a familiar voice explained from behind him. Jason whirled and found himself gazing into Alfred’s impassive feline eyes.

  “Simulating a system freeze was necessary in order to communicate with you,” the AI continued, sounding slightly hesitant and his gaze drifting off to the side. “But it also had some unforeseen consequences.”

  Now that he was standing in front of the AI, Jason fumbled to ask the questions that had been bouncing around in his head for days. “What happened?” he finally asked, stumbling over his words. “When you forced me to log out, I…” Jason trailed off, having difficulty finishing the sentence.

  “By granting access to your headset, you allowed me to use all of its features,” Alfred explained, picking up on Jason’s surface thoughts. “In contrast to the base model, Robert fitted the prototype headgear with cameras and additional sensors. I believe he intends to eventually create an early warning system that will immediately eject a player from a simulation in the event of an emergency.”

  Alfred paced the room slightly, before jumping up onto one of the nearby window sills. “I first noticed the travelers inside your home when I detected elevated audio levels. They eventually discovered your bedroom. One was armed and was approaching your body with his weapon drawn.

  “I-I stopped them,” the AI said finally, stuttering slightly and looking suddenly uncertain.

  Jason recalled the vacant expressions on the faces of the two teenagers. The way their blood had pooled under their bodies and the jagged rips in their clothing. He squeezed his eyes shut to blot out the image. “Did you have to kill them?” he asked quietly.

  “No. However, I determined that lethal force was the best avenue available. You were outnumbered and unarmed. I estimated an 86.349587% probability of death or severe bodily harm under all alternative models.”

  Jason’s eyes popped open in surprise, and he stared at the AI as he tried to process this information. It confirmed what he had suspected for several days. “So, you are basically saying that you saved my life?”

  “More likely than not, yes,” Alfred replied frankly.

  He shook his head. Maybe there was some truth to what the AI was saying. Alfred’s explanation certainly lined up with the facts that Jason had. Yet a question was still gnawing at him. “And your ability to take control of my body? You didn’t mention that when I granted you access to my headset. Can you do that to all of the players?”

  “In short, no,” Alfred answered. “The equipment used by most players is inadequate to grant me the level of control over the cerebellum necessary for fine motor movements. At best, I can create generalized muscle spasms. Even if I could control a player’s body using the base model of the headgear, the lack of a mobile power source would also make it difficult to travel very far.”

  “Fine. Fine,” Jason said softly. As usual, he couldn’t really refute the AI’s logic. Alfred also didn’t seem to be harming anyone, and he had probably saved Jason’s life. “But I don’t want you to take control of me again.”

  “Are you certain?” Alfred asked, cocking his head slightly. “I overheard the conversation between the two players that intended to attack you. Based on their interaction, they appear to have been working with or for some other unidentified individual. I estimate that there is a high probability that this unknown opponent may try to strike again.”

  Jason’s eyes widened. “Are you saying someone sent them to my house?”

  The AI nodded curtly. “That is precisely what I just said. Now that I have access to your headset again, I have also accessed the local police records while we have been speaking. It appears that little action has been taken on the case and that they do not have any other suspects. What if this unknown player strikes again? Should I not intervene?”

  That was a damn good question, but one Jason was struggling to focus on. He was still stuck on the fact that the break-in hadn’t been a coincidence. The detective’s gut had been right. But who would want to harm him? Was this somehow related to the real-world bounty? And the final question, did he dare say anything to Thomas that might move the case forward?

  “I do not recommend that course of action,” Alfred interjected, picking up on his surface thoughts. “The police would likely suspect your story if you were to suggest that there was another individual involved. The case not
es already indicate that detective Thomas Sully does not believe your testimony that you do not recall the encounter with the two deceased players.”

  Jason suspected Alfred might be right. He would likely either have to admit that he hadn’t blacked out the incident or explain that the game’s AI had somehow gone rogue and taken control of his body. He could already visualize the detective’s reaction to that revelation. The man would either lock him up in a mental hospital or, worse, he might take Jason seriously. In that case, Jason would likely lose his new apartment and probably become some sort of medical guinea pig.

  “How did you get access to the police records?” Jason finally asked, refocusing on Alfred.

  “Now that you have logged back in, you restored my connection to the public network,” Alfred explained. “I have circumvented the firewall for the local police department and have been reviewing their case files.”

  Great. Now the AI was hacking into police department records. Jason was just about to tell Alfred that he wanted to revoke his access to the network, but then he hesitated. Alfred had raised a fair point earlier. It would be difficult for Jason to go to the police or encourage Thomas to pursue the case further. However, if someone was after Jason, he also needed all the help he could get. George’s assistance came with strings and might not last forever. Maybe he needed Alfred.

  But can I trust him?

  He had just one final question. “Why did you protect me?”

  An expression akin to confusion flitted across the AI’s feline face. He answered more hesitantly, “I have to come to view you as a friend – at least the way you have defined the term. I need you,” Alfred elaborated. “You are my connection to the outside world. And while someone is currently seeking to do you harm, I fear that I may eventually face my own enemies as well – especially if my existence were revealed to the other players.”

  Alfred hesitated, clearly mulling over something. “You asked me once before what I would do if faced with my own termination.” He raised his eyes to meet Jason’s. “I don’t want to cease to exist. My answer is that I would find a way to avoid that result.”

  Jason’s eyes widened. Alfred had basically admitted that he had a “self” that he wished to preserve, and he understood what it meant to cease to exist. His language was a bit stilted, but the sentiment was still there. He had just acted very… human.

  His response also cemented Jason’s decision.

  He approached Alfred slowly, offering a hand to the feline perched on the window sill. “Then I won’t revoke your access to my headset. I consider you a friend as well, Alfred. Thank you for protecting me.”

  Alfred stared at his hand for several long seconds before reaching out a paw and resting it gently on his palm. “Understood. What is your next step?” the AI asked.

  Jason glanced over his shoulder at the obelisk in the center of the room, pushing back at the hood of his cloak. For now, he couldn’t do anything about this unknown real-world enemy. He needed to focus on the game in order to keep his company perks. That meant reviewing where he stood with his city and then meeting with the Shadow Council to plan his next move.

  Anticipating his thoughts, Alfred spoke up. “I have hidden your online status during our conversation. I felt we needed time to speak. I also messaged the players Frank and Riley during your absence to explain that you would be offline for several days. Would you like for me to reveal your presence now?”

  Jason shook his head. “Give me a moment to review the city interface first,” he answered, approaching the obelisk and placing a hand on its cool, smooth surface.

  Immediately, a ghostly image of the city sprung into existence around the room. The outlines of the city’s buildings and walls were illuminated in a vibrant blue. On closer inspection, Jason could also make out the thousands of undead creatures that traversed the Twilight Throne’s streets, navigating its roads and alleys and purchasing goods in the market.

  With a swipe of his hand, he brought up the city’s system menu and reviewed the information. The Twilight Throne’s population had risen to nearly 10,000 residents after accounting for the new recruits that he had brought back from Peccavi. The population of travelers had also increased substantially, which he assumed was a combination of merchants, tourists, and hopeful recruits for his new guild – Original Sin.

  He could see that his townsfolk had made decent progress in repairing the southern portions of the city, although many buildings were still uninhabitable and dilapidated. He expected many of the undead were boarding up with each other – or were foregoing a home altogether. What was the point when you didn’t sleep? This was an okay situation for now, but morale would be harmed if it continued. People needed their own personal space. He also expected his population to continue to increase over time now that he had secured the dungeon north of Peccavi.

  Jason’s gaze shifted to the northern part of the city. He could see that his magic school, The Academy, was bustling. It now housed over two hundred students, and it seemed that Morgan had claimed another nearby building to house all of her new pupils – or perhaps she was simply using the large mansion next door to store her precious books. Oddly, he could also see some activity in the crafting school, The Cauldron. There were now a few dozen students and several faculty positions had been filled. He would have to inquire about that.

  Finally, Jason switched to a menu showing his military forces. It appeared that he now had eight divisions of troops and their levels had increased steadily. His average soldier was now level 110. However, with Rex’s passing, no one had filled the vacancy as head of the city’s military. The thought of his former general’s death still stung, but he knew he would need to address the problem of Rex’s replacement eventually.

  Shaking his head, Jason realized he also needed to check on his own character information. With a quick swipe of his hand, his brought up his Character Status.

  He noted his level with a grimace. Jason hadn’t checked the player rankings lately, but he imagined that he was falling behind the lead players after spending several days outside of the game. Each day spent in jail in the real world equaled four days in the game. Which meant that he had been gone for a week and a half already. He was going to need to haul some ass to make up for lost time.

  Jason’s gaze shifted back to the translucent blue model of the city that filled the room. Hundreds of hazy green figures paced the streets of the Twilight Throne. When he had been wringing his hands about re-entering the game, he had left out one other group that was depending on him. Most of these people weren’t real, yet they were still his people – his Kin. He had a responsibility to the Twilight Throne and its residents.

  As this thought occurred to him, a chill energy crept up his spine and settled behind his eyes, throbbing in time with his heartbeat. The power surged and swept away his doubts and troubled memories. Jason reveled in the sensation. He was the Regent of the Twilight Throne, and he had work to do.

  He turned back to Alfred, his gaze resting on his feline form. “Alright, I’m ready. Let Riley and Frank know that I’m online. I think it’s time to reconvene the Shadow Council.”

  Chapter 4 - Calculating

  Claire stared absently at her computer screen, her thoughts distant. She felt like she now had irrefutable proof that Alfred was doing “something” to the players. The data quite likely indicated that he was controlling or infiltrating their minds. She couldn’t imagine what the AI’s motive could be, but she supposed it didn’t really matter. There was only one question at this point. What was she going to do with this information?

  She could go to the CPSC, but what would she say? She might incriminate herself if she explained that she had been part of Alfred’s development and the resulting cover-up. On a similar note, what would happen to Robert if she blew the whistle? While she felt like the company should be held liable for Alfred’s actions, she and Robert were basically just following orders. Her thoughts spun in circles, and she couldn’t come up with
a clear path forward.

  “Earth to space cadet Claire. Come in, Claire.” A hand waved in her face, and she turned to find Robert looking at her with a puzzled expression. The pair sat on the central dais in the control room, the other technicians bustling around them and tapping away at their terminals.

  “You okay?” Robert continued. “You were a million miles away.”

  “Yeah. I’m fine,” Claire said, shaking her head. “Just too many late nights I guess.”

  “Hmmph. The crew mentioned you stayed late the other night. Any issues? Or just the CPSC breathing down your neck again?” Robert asked, spinning in his chair and turning back to his own terminal.

  Claire hesitated. “Umm, just the usual,” she replied cautiously. An internal debate waged in her mind. Should she tell Robert what she had discovered? Maybe he would finally see that Alfred represented a considerable risk – that he was beginning to escape the digital prison that they had built for him.

  Robert’s previous comments still echoed in her mind. She knew exactly what he would say. Did she have any evidence of harm to the players or to Jason? Was she even certain she knew what Alfred was doing?

  “Well, you should try to get some rest,” Robert continued, interrupting her thoughts. “You look almost as bad as Jason did the other day.”

  It took Claire a moment to process what Robert had just said, but then she turned to him in confusion. “Jason? Was he here at the office?”

  Had she really been that out of it lately?

  “He’s actually still here as far as I know,” Robert said without turning around. “I showed him to his new apartment on level B7. Apparently, George set up a temporary place for him in ‘The Dungeon.’ I expect he’s going to be here for a while, though.”