by Cosimo Yap
Alan looked down at his tablet—it took it a second to find the language the alien spoke and download it:
Disgraceful. Those players have no grace.
“Um, right,” Alan said.
Another series of grunts and antennae waving.
I can’t understand your moon-language, turn on the two-way translation.
Alan did so, a series of runes appearing on the screen, facing the slug creature.
Those players have no grace. No hope. But you, I can see you still have hope. 50,000 credits. New character. New capsule. Untraceable. Play as new race. Human. Good deal, very good.
“No thanks,” Alan said, glancing at an Enforcer a few feet away.
Your loss. The slug ambled away.
Alan began to walk out of the square surrounding the Administrative Center, but an Enforcer stopped him and herded him into a shuttle. He was flown back to his room, where he waited for a robot to finish installing his capsule.
***
“And what is the plan?” Alan asked.
He was back in-game, aboard the Haxlardian ship, Titan, sitting in the luxury suite with Kitana, Thiago, and Aphrodite, who had been studying elsewhere.
“The plan is simple. Easy. We,” Thiago pointed at Aphrodite and himself, “are merchants. You,” he pointed at Alan and Kitana, “will protect us as we do business at the various trading hubs. You will be bodyguards. No more, no less. In case you’ve forgotten, most places in the Game don’t just let you hop around teleporting everywhere.”
“But how will that help us win the war?” Alan asked.
“That doesn’t concern you,” Thiago said.
“I’m not going to travel around with you doing nothing,” Alan said. “I’d get no experience.”
“You will, though not much. I am in charge of this mission, and you will listen to me,” Thiago said. “No surprises. Besides, what could you do that would change the course of an entire war?”
Alan leaned back in his chair. “I could probably sneak into wherever the AI that oversees the UWG military operations is kept and hack into it. Maybe disable it. Or I could find wherever they’re keeping the nukes, maybe activate a couple.”
“I think you’re overestimating yourself,” Thiago said, arms crossed.
“Are you? Overestimating yourself, that is,” Aphrodite said.
Eve, what are the odds? Alan asked.
Roughly 30% with a high margin of error. Us escaping unscathed is roughly impossible, Eve sent. She had finished recompiling. There was a slight increase to her processing speed, but not much else had changed.
“I don’t know,” Alan said. “I’d give myself a one-in-three chance.”
“Maybe you’re much more talented than I think you are and I’m misusing your talents,” Thiago said. “But no going on some secret mission. No nuking anyone or anything. This is a war for the control of Earth, to defend it against the alien invasions that will come afterwards. Both sides are keeping damage to infrastructure to a minimum. Besides, nukes aren’t effective against shields. Their use would only mean that the winners of the war would need to buy a bunch of expensive, radiation-scrubbing robots.”
“You can’t win a war without breaking a few eggs,” Alan said, prompted by Lambda.
Thiago scoffed, turning to Kitana. “Talk some sense into Alan, he clearly won’t listen to me.”
Kitana looked up from her tablet. “Listen to orders,” she said to Alan. She turned to Thiago. “But I’m with him. Sitting around guarding cargo sounds boring.”
“It’s work, work that needs to be done,” Thiago said, throwing his hands in the air.
“Look, I’ll follow orders,” Alan said, “I just want to know why I’m following orders. I need to know there’s some game plan, a path to victory. I can’t help if I don’t know why I’m doing what I’m doing.”
“Fine,” Thiago said. “This information is confidential—if you breathe a word of it to anyone it’s your head, not mine. We are going around the trading hubs gathering information from Legion of Man spies, maybe doing a bit of the legwork ourselves. Hell, I’ll even look into extra tasks for you two to help sate your bloodlust.
“But our primary goal is information gathering, not disrupting United World Government operations. We will then return to the Legion of Man’s main base on Mars, to discuss a plan of action with their leaders. Once we’re on Mars you can be their problem, not mine.”
“Information gathering? I can work with that,” Alan said. “So what are we selling? What am I guarding?”
“Materials for power armor and laser rifles, and a bunch of assorted items that the UWG requested. You saw me talking to Ace and Daisy; they were the ones that hooked me up with this deal,” Thiago said. “I’ve also brought an assortment of stims.”
“Stims? Aren’t they supposed to be highly addictive?” Alan asked.
“They’re also expensive, and can increase an average soldier’s fighting potential nearly five-fold,” Thiago said. “I’ll let you try a free sample if you want.”
“Thanks, I’m good,” Alan said. Based on Eve’s research, stimulated combat drugs worked similarly to his Machine Lord implants, and using both could cause unintended side-effects.
“Your loss,” Thiago said. “So, we’re clear then? You are guards, you keep to yourself and hide your status at all times. If anyone asks too many questions, let me know. I have a few counterfeit ID’s, but I’m not sure how well they’ll work with the Game and all. And no sneaking off to secret missions or underground fight clubs without conferring with me first. Understood?”
“Yes, sir,” Alan said. Kitana nodded.
“Good. We can discuss specifics when we near Earth,” Thiago said.
Alan left the suite with Kitana, and they began walking down the hallway back to their rooms.
Ask Kitana if she trusts Thiago, Lambda sent.
“Do you trust Thiago?” Alan asked.
“I trust my sword,” Kitana replied.
Try to be less blunt and obvious, Lambda sent. Though I suppose being direct with Kitana is the best option. That conversation with Thiago was interesting.
It was? Alan asked. All I got from it is that we’re expected to follow orders.
Oh, I don’t mean in terms of information gained. I just mean in terms of team dynamics. I suggest we plant a few bugs on Thiago, Lambda sent.
And how do we do that? Alan asked.
Hack into his weapons, armor, and communication devices in Cyberspace. I’ll take care of the rest. To perform a more complicated attack—where you alter the communication between Thiago and whoever he talks to—you need specialized software. But to listen in is simple as pie, Lambda sent.
All right, Alan sent.
Whatever data we acquire will be encrypted, but the key to the encryption should be found on whatever communication device he uses, Lambda continued. Eve and I can break the encryption in a matter of days.
What if I wanted to view past messages Thiago has sent and received? Alan asked.
That is more complicated, Lambda sent. To hack into message and player logs requires hacking into the Game itself, which is a big no-no. Players used to be able to directly access capsules in real life to do that work, but if you were caught red-handed by the Enforcers, you’d get banned from the Game, and probably lose the hand.
Let’s stay away from that, Alan sent.
If you do successfully hack a real life capsule you can cause some serious damage, Lambda sent. Depending on the level of the hack, you could hold a player’s account hostage, make them spend ability point or credits, or even turn them into a zombie-bot under your control. When you upgrade your capsule, you need to be careful, and make sure there aren’t any backdoors or potential Trojan horses.
Now I’ll constantly worry about my capsule’s safety, Alan sent.
On the top floor of Khersath? You’ll be fine. I’d be more worried about your Earth friends, Lambda sent.
Let’s just focus on planting t
he listening bugs for now, Alan sent.
I suggest placing bugs on Aphrodite and Kitana as well, Eve sent.
Yes, better safe than sorry, Lambda sent.
***
Alan stepped out of Thiago’s suite, advanced invisibility activated. Planting the bugs had been laughably easy—Lambda and Eve did the work in Cyberspace without anyone’s notice. The rank E protection programs had been wiped out in minutes.
Gaining access to the suite had required hacking into the Titan’s network, which was defended by a small laser shield and a few rank D Haxlard soldier programs. Lambda and Eve took them apart.
Alan didn’t need to go far to plant a few bugs on Aphrodite—he’d found her lying next to Thiago, asleep. Kitana proved more difficult to monitor, as she wore no power armor that Alan could hack into. Instead, he had to leave a single bug on her tablet. He felt slightly guilty, spying on his guildmate.
As Alan began walking back to his room he received a message:
Pharaoh: Meet me in the bridge.
Alan sprinted back to his room, deactivated his armor’s invisibility, and walked to the bridge. It was best to keep up appearances.
Two Haxlards, which Alan now knew were Crimson Guards, stood by the entrance to the bridge. They let Alan in.
Pharaoh looked down at a 3D star map that represented the Haxlard region of space, with Earth at its edge. Eve had continued to teach Alan galactic geography, but it was difficult for Alan to wrap his head around spatial coordinates that used three dimensions. He got lost without a GPS, and apparently distances couldn’t be measured with simple, Euclidean, straight-line measurements due to various factors. Space travel was complicated.
“Blessed be the Three. Welcome back aboard, Alan,” Pharaoh said.
“Thank you, glad to be here,” Alan said, walking up to the command table and the star map it held.
“I called you here to ask that you not hack into the Titan’s systems. My ship is precious to me, almost as precious as the Three,” Pharaoh said, looking up from the table. Due to the mask Pharaoh wore Alan could not read his facial expression.
Alan prepared an excuse, but Lambda sent, Never lie to an Ultihaxlard. Acknowledge his request.
“I understand,” Alan said.
“Good. I trust my old AI has been helpful. A new one has been installed, but it isn’t the same. Not that I’d ever question the Three’s orders,” Pharaoh said.
“The Three had you give me the ship’s AI?” Alan asked.
According to Eve the three Haxlard gods seemed to have real, physical presences in-game. Most suspected they were a few of the original players of the Game, grown so strong that they were able to cultivate an entire race of beings. They were never seen outside of Haxlardian space, but were purported to be as powerful as the strongest of Predecessors, maybe even stronger.
“The Three, give a command to one as low as I? I wish to be so blessed,” Pharaoh said. “No, it was one of their agents who gave the order. But the Three’s wishes are not the concern of outsiders. This war for Earth is. Many are unsettled by this new development, for when my brethren and I held discussions with the United World Government we were under the impression we were dealing with the de facto human rulers.
“We do not care who wins the war, only that they maintain close ties to the Haxlard Empire, and the Three. I ask that you extend these sentiments to the leaders of whichever faction you represent. And, should you discover that your leaders have no desire to keep to the treaty they signed, and throw in with, say, the Empire, you will be greatly compensated.”
A new quest appeared:
A Diplomatic Envoy:
Get word to the Legion of Man or United World Government leaders of the Haxlard’s wish for closer ties.
Reward: Increased Haxlard reputation and 250k credits.
Penalty for failure: Decreased Haxlard reputation.
Bonus: Discover if either side is supported by the Empire. 10m+ credits for hard evidence.
“Can’t you talk to them yourself?” Alan asked.
“No, the United World Government has stopped all contact with Haxlardian envoys, while the Legion of Man has ignored us from the start,” Pharaoh said. “Payments from the United World Government continue to be deferred, citing the ongoing war. Due to the nature of the war, now that it has reached a standstill, it does make the Three wonder.”
Odd, Lambda sent. They should have at least left the lines of communication open. Otherwise the Haxlards were bound to assume something fishy was going on.
“I understand,” Alan said. “I’ll try to deliver your message and find out what’s going on, but I make no promises.”
“Thus far we have been most helpful to Earth and its people, helping bring your civilization into the space age,” Pharaoh said. “Any foolish idea of rebellion will only result in Earth being annihilated. No faction within the Game can withstand the might of the Haxlard Empire.
“I hope you have a pleasant journey. I am sending two of my personal guard to help keep you safe; please bring them with you while on the ship. They will also check in on you periodically to ensure your safety.”
Thank him for his kindness, and bless the Three, Lambda sent.
“Thank you, blessed be the Three,” Alan said.
Pharaoh nodded.
Alan exited the bridge, escorted back to his room by two Crimson Guards. It looked like there would be no more late-night escapades.
Chapter 14
Alan stared up at the ceiling of his room. It was grey, slightly curved, with a small vent in the corner.
Alan are you listening? Eve sent.
Yes, I’m listening. It takes a month to travel from Earth to Khersath, which is right in the middle of the line between the Haxlards and the Empire, Alan sent. To get from one end of the Haxlard territory to the other takes about three months. The Alliance, the Empire, and the Haxlards all meet right about where Khersath is, which is contained in a strip of free space under Administrator control.
That is the general information—state the specific measurements, Eve sent.
Wait, my travel in real life from Earth to Khersath took half that time. Why’s that? Alan asked.
Perhaps the craft you were in was more advanced. It was Administrator-sponsored, was it not? They may hold technology others do not. Enough stalling, what is the answer? Lambda asked.
I’ve forgotten. There’s only so much I can memorize, Alan sent.
If you wish to become the best—
Then I have to give it my all, I know, Alan sent. But studying is boring. Who needs to know that the diameter of the Milky Way is about 100,000 light years? Besides, you already have all this information, why do I need to memorize it?
To know it by heart, Lambda sent. Connections are everywhere, but to make them you must have the required knowledge. However, this constant tutoring does seem to be ineffective.
Yes, the rate of retention of information has proceeded in a downward trend, Eve sent.
Well sorry if I can’t absorb information like I’m a machine. My brain isn’t a hard drive, Alan sent.
It is no fault of your own, simply a flaw in your biological nature, Lambda sent.
Also, if the Earth is so close to Khersath, the center of the universe for any star map, why is it we weren’t introduced to the Game until now? Alan asked.
How many stars are in the Milky Way Galaxy? Eve asked.
Around 300 billion, Alan sent. Okay, I can see why it might take a while to search outward. But what pattern do the Enforcers use to find sentient species? How far out into the universe have they looked?
We have divulged from the lesson and forged into dangerous territory. Do not ask questions about the Enforcers and their real life capabilities, Lambda sent. How about we play a game instead?
A game? Alan and Eve both asked.
Yes, a match between you and Eve. Enter the Arcade and find a game called Cyberwar. Purchase it, Lambda sent.
Alan exited his room. The Cr
imson Guard standing by the entrance looked down at him.
“I would like to enter the Arcade,” Alan said. The guard nodded, and led Alan to the capsule room.
Alan entered a spare capsule; Kitana and a few Haxlards were in the others.
A familiar prompt appeared, asking whether Alan wanted to set the Titan as his respawn point. He declined. His current respawn point was the Black Rose guild headquarters, and it would stay that way until he died or finished the mission.
Wars prevented players who died from re-entering the combat zone. Phantom had one of the specialized Revenant capsules, though he’d told Alan he would only exchange 3C for 1 ability point, compared to Cerberus’s 5:1 exchange rate. Phantom’s capsule had different Cyberspace upgrades available, too, but Alan didn’t have the spare points to purchase any.
Navigating the menus in the capsule, Alan entered the Arcade. A cube of screens enclosed him showing ads for the latest content, special deals on games, and the results of arena runs. A scantily clad Ælven woman advertised adult holofilms. Alan had yet to try watching any holofilms due to Eve’s incessant training.
The game is called Cyberwar, Lambda sent.
Right. Alan cleared away all the ads from the screens and searched for Cyberwar.
The game was popular, with daily tournaments that had prize pools of tens of thousands of credits. A yearly tournament called “The War” had even larger rewards: rare abilities, items, and accolades were awarded to the top contestants. Guides to Cyberwar and ongoing matches appeared as well. Alan looked at the price.
5,000 credits for the base game, 25,000 for the complete expansion set? That’s absurd, Alan sent.
It used to cost more—a pound of flesh so to speak. Purchase the complete version and look through the game guide. I’m interested in the changes they’ve made, Lambda sent.
Not one to question his AI, Alan purchased the game, as well as the 500-credit game-guide. The other guides, interactive and AI-led, were in the 1,000+ credit range.
Alan started reading through the guide.
