by Dawn Chapman
Pierce didn’t really understand the gesture but he watched as she took it from him. “I’m sorry, Altus, I’d not meant for you to find out like that. I wanted to tell you in private.”
Pierce had no clue now, but he asked, “Tell him what?”
Altus’ now placid eyes met his and he said calmly, “The Araratian we fought with in the forest is none other than the last Royal from the Planet’s population, which was almost wiped out eight years ago.”
Pierce stared at the woman before him; she looked away. “Royalty?” He let out a laugh. “She’s no Royal. She laughs, eats and farts like the rest of us.”
Leenz and Drayk let out belly laughs.
“Humans are so weird,” Altus said.
Leenz took the weapon from him, placing it in her bag.
“You had it all along and never thought to use it on me?” Pierce stepped in close to Leenz.
Leenz lowered her head, “I was researching,” she lied.
Pierce knew there was more to it, “Research, all right.” He turned back to Drayk and Drei, then nodded over to the machine Leenz had been using to study him. “There’s some interesting results,” he said. “Leenz was going over the details before we were disturbed.”
“I’m sorry for Amy’s behaviour. I think there might be more traitors in our midst if she’s been conning me for so long. I could never have thought it. She’s been so good to me, to all of us here.”
Leenz agreed, and moved to the computer to bring up an image of Pierce and Drayk side by side, leaving Amy’s body on the floor. When she started to fizz, slowly it evaporated, and she was gone. After a bit, so was the stench.
“We’ve lots to talk about, and much more to fix between us. The other humans in this settlement are scared. The fact is she shouldn’t have been here, but she was.”
Drayk moved in to look at the results; he turned to Leenz and Altus. “We should try working out a way to figure them out. They must have allegiance with the wrong people. I think we really need to be sure the people we’re fighting with are on our side. That might go really wrong otherwise.”
“I agree, I’ll ask Haal to come up with some way to test people, even if it’s just to question everyone individually.”
“You think it’s possible?”
“I don’t see why not.”
“Maybe. I’d like Drayk and Pierce to stay here; I’d like to run a couple more tests on them both while we’re down here.”
Drayk nodded. “I’ll be okay. I’m sure Leenz’s not going to kill me off.”
“That weapon?” Pierce asked. “Have you used it a lot?”
Leenz lowered her head. “I’ve used it on those who have meant to hunt me, killed those I loved, who I do—love.”
Pierce blushed. Drayk took a second look between the two of them. “Is there something going on I need to know about?”
Pierce glanced his way, said all too quickly, “No. Why would there be?”
Drayk shrugged, hopped onto a table. “Run as many tests as you like,” he said. “I’ll be happy with the rest, physically and emotionally.”
Leenz indicated for him to remove his clothes.
“I’m sure you just want everyone naked around you,” Pierce said.
Drayk laughed.
“What amazes me is the fact you’re both so similar. I’ve never seen DNA crosses like this before and I’m talking about your real DNA. Game stuff can be simulated. I’ve dug really hard to get this info.”
“Here,” she pulled up a view for them both, then pointed out the crossovers in their sequences.
Drayk stared at Pierce and asked, “You mean we’re the same species, or we’re related-related?”
“Ah, no, I mean you and Pierce are really brothers of some sort.”
“What about Cale?” Drayk asked. “He’s my brother. How does that happen?”
“I‘d like to get some tests from him, but I know it’s not possible. He’s gone to war, yes?”
Drayk’s head fell. He let out a sigh. “I know we can find him to see, but it might not be for a while. Can you summarise, let us know everything we need to?”
“I’ll try,” she said. “But I think more study on this, maybe with some other scientists that Altus trusts, are in order.”
Drayk slipped off the table and dressed. “I’ll go ask, then send them over.”
Leenz’s face was still stuck in the machine, reading results. She didn’t even look up. So, Pierce indicated the door, and then they wobbled out toward it.
Drayk followed, and asked Pierce, “Everything all right between Leenz and you?”
Pierce opened up, not like he thought he might. “I don’t know. She’s not of my species. How do I deal with that?”
Drayk smiled, “Well, love is a very strange thing. I never thought I’d find a mate, let alone fall for two.”
Pierce stopped walking, leaning against the wall, he ran a hand through his hair. He’d turned white. “There’s so much to learn about different species. I’m more than a little overwhelmed.”
“As I am with you, but I like the idea we’re related, even if it’s in some very bizarre way. It’s nice to add another member to my family.”
Drayk saw Pierce’s face fall. His hands trembled. Drayk reached out and touched him. “What’s wrong?”
“I don’t have any family. Now you’re saying that, I feel weird. I might have two brothers? I never thought I’d have family ever again, let alone someone who could actually love me.”
“Why have you no family?” Pierce’s eyes met his; there was terrible anger in them. Drayk took a step back. “It’s okay, you don’t have to tell me. But I’m here if you need to at any time. It’s good to share, especially if you’re not used to talking to others. I’ve done this a lot myself in the last couple of days.”
“Coming out here, this is what helps too, though I don’t think this is anything it was supposed to be. A game.”
“Promises are filled with many things, but I don’t think the people running this have any intention of making it real for us.”
“We’re trapped?”
Drayk shrugged, moving to the food queue to load up a plate for himself.
“I hope so.” Drayk turned to him, “The device you have in your ear, attached to your eye, it’s used to help you see your game stats? I knew you’d put it back in from the other week, just wasn’t sure if it still worked.”
Pierce touched it without realising. “Yes, but it’s been glitchy. I don’t even know if anyone’s watching me, or if I’m doing anything good.”
“Come with me, let’s eat this in the lab, see if I can get it to work for us, not for them.”
“I’d like that,” Pierce said. He followed Drayk back out to the labs.
This time they moved to one where Leenz wasn’t. For a few minutes they enjoyed the food. Drayk really tried to finish what was on the plate, but he pushed it around instead. Pierce shovelled in all of his with a grin.
He put the plates to one side. “Let’s try to see what’s going on with the device then…” he indicated Pierce’s ear.
Pierce pulled the device from his ear gently, detaching the eyepiece more carefully. There was a slight ping, a noise pulled Pierce’s attention to the computer he was hooking it up to. “I think the nanites have had something to do with disabling the device. They’re working for you, so you’re getting in better shape, but they’re also against anything hurting the way they want to go.”
The computer popped and pinged again. Then something came to life before them. There were several images displayed before them. Drayk looked to Pierce, “Do you know what this is?”
“It’s my flat? Each of my rooms? What did it connect to there?”
A loud bang sound, as a door slammed. Pierce watched wide-eyed.
Drayk asked, “Is that your friend, Wayne? Have they lied to you about his capture? I don’t understand?”
Pierce’s face whitened. “I don’t know why he’s in my home either. I
f I’m not there…”
They watched Wayne move from room to room, seemingly to search for something. He opened drawers, cupboards, everything and anything.
“I don’t understand what he’s looking for,” Pierce said. Wayne almost stood before the camera, stared right at them.
“Is there a way we can talk to him?” Pierce asked.
Drayk tapped on his keyboards, activated several programs. “I think I understand why and how my father was able to infiltrate your world. The codes you use are basic, really easy to pass back and forth over space with these huge computers they’re using.”
“Can we talk to Wayne?”
“That room, there,” Drayk pointed to Pierce’s gaming room. “I need him in there; it’s the only place he hasn’t looked for anything.”
They both watched as Wayne fumbled in the kitchen and eventually opened the game room door.
Inside he plonked himself down on the couch.
Running a hand through his hair, he stared into space, not doing anything but thinking.
Pierce poked the screen. “Come on! Put the darned unit on!”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Drayk
Drayk waited, but he could feel his new friend’s apprehension. He felt the same. Though he wasn’t sure how any of this might make it easier on them both.
Wayne picked up the game helmet and controls. Then he was in. Drayk moved to Pierce’s side, “I can get you a direct chat if you’re sure?”
Pierce’s eyes darted to his friend. “I need to talk to him.”
Drayk picked up his earpiece again, handing it to him. “Go ahead. Just make sure you tell him he’s not to respond in real life, only in the game he’s playing.”
“I can do that. Convince him to use the game interface.”
Dray nodded then handed over the earpiece. “Go for it then.”
Drayk watched as Wayne stopped playing, listened, frowned, and continued playing. He’d heard Pierce’s voice through the device.
“What the hell is going on?” Wayne asked, concern evident in his tone. His fingers manipulated his controls. “They said you’d been in some accident in the gaming trial?” His eyes were only on the screen before him. “They said you were dead! What is going on?”
Pierce leaned on the console; Drayk eased him over to sit down before he fell over. Pierce placed a hand on Drayk’s, and he spoke out to him. “He thought I was dead!”
Drayk wanted to say something, but he just patted his arm.
“I’m not dead, least I don’t think I am. Wayne, I’m in this game. It’s like nothing you’ve ever seen, or been a part of. I don’t know what’s going on, but I’ve gone off grid for them. They don’t know where I am, or who I’m with. I need it to stay that way.”
“Okay, but I need more information. How can I help? What can I do?”
Pierce squeezed Drayk’s arm. “I’m working on it. I need to know I can count on you, some specific time, or anything. I don’t even know why you’re in the house, but, I’m okay with that.”
“Pierce, there’s so much going on here, I really need to make sure this is a secure place to talk, or can you do it from there?”
“I’ll make sure. Meet me again in one of your days. That gives me about four in here. Is that all right?”
Wayne spoke clearly, “Yes, mate. I’ll be back. I’ll tell you everything then. Let me play some more of this game. Then I’ll go. Sorry for being here, but it’s the only place I could think, to gather some thoughts on what was going on. I’m glad you’re alive, really glad.”
Wayne pulled back from the chat, then continued to play the game with the both of them watching.
Drayk could see the conflicted emotion on Pierce’s face. “So, your name’s Pierce Hunt? As in what’s all over the walls?”
Pierce stared at the wall. Drayk looked over. “Yeah, there’s many trophies in my name on there, not that I think I deserved them.”
“That’s possibly up for debate; your friend really thought you were dead. That’s loyalty there. He’ll not tell anyone at all, will he?”
“There must be some way we can sort this out, get me somewhere safe. I don’t trust them at all.”
“I don’t know, I don’t know what your world can do. If he found you, how could he move you?
“I’ll need to pull in some favours. I’m sure I can work it out. We’ve four days to plan something, something to tell him, something he can see and believe.”
Drayk nodded, “Four days!”
Pierce patted his full stomach. “We’re late. Come on, or we’ll be throwing it back up if Leenz has anything else to throw at us.” The two of them made their way out of the lab.
“Oh, she will. Have you seen her work out with Haal and Drei?”
“She’s some trainer. Their stats are going through the roof. Ours, not so much.”
“I don’t think we’re attached to their rating system anymore. Have you noticed everything we do doesn’t seem to budge it? Or if it does move it’s so random… I’m confused by it all.”
“Yeah, I noticed. I think that’s what is depressing me. I really want to focus though, complete the quest.”
Drayk agreed, blowing out air, then tasting the room around him. “That’s my friend! You’ve got to get your head in the game!”
“I think with you behind me, the fact I want to help Cale as well. I have something to look forward to, a future with the people I care about. Want to fight for. I want Wayne here though; do you think it ‘d be possible?”
“Let’s get some drinks before training.” Drayk stopped walking and breathed in the smell from the canteen, “I don’t know. If he finds you, your body, gets you to a secure location... maybe we can bring him.”
“Then we’ll have to focus on getting it done.”
Drayk nodded. “I think it’s imperative your body is safe if they’re telling everyone you’re dead. I’d hate to think it was in real danger.”
Pierce ran a hand through his hair, growing well now in the heat and with the great food here.
He had to get Wayne to safety; he just had to. Nothing he wouldn’t do for his friend. That made him think a lot about everything in their past, the memories of his bullying fluttered through to his mind. He paused.
“Something wrong?” Drayk asked.
They stood in the queue to get drinks. Drayk picked up two mugs, and Pierce gathered himself. “I think I’m okay, just remembering things, things that I thought Leenz had buried with her operation.”
“The nanites are strong. They’ll rebuild everything that goes wrong, is injured or might need to just be better.”
“I like that idea, but I also don’t really want to remember; some of it was very hard.”
Drayk’s face pulled what Pierce could only think of as a frown. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to go all psycho like she thought I was, but the memories are hard on me. I did lots of things I regret; some I shouldn’t regret.”
Drayk put the mugs out for filling. “I know. I think we’ve all done that. My biggest mistake was not joining the guild earlier, or, well, thinking that it was the answer to all my prayers, when it really wasn’t and couldn’t be.”
“Haal seems a great guy; he’s your brother’s best friend?”
“Yes. I really never knew, so stuck in my own world thinking that everything I was doing was helping, working for us, when it wasn’t. I missed so much.”
“That wasn’t your fault. You’re not his parent; you’re his brother. You didn’t have to be the adult, and you did your best.”
“I think I should have just been more honest with him.” Drayk sat down at an empty table with Pierce a moment later. They enjoyed their drinks.
“Leenz is going to cripple us. You know that right?”
Drayk nodded. “She’s been really trying to get our levels up. If we can break into their interface, I think we’ll be fine, like I said.”
“Good, I’m getting tired of not growing as a player. Fun
ny how you think you’re invincible yet when you’re not, you don’t want to take any risks.”
They drank the rest quickly and then met with Leenz in the training arena; something Altus had managed to put together that was a bit more private than the outer training grounds.
Here she picked out her two swords, then pointed to the weapons choices they both had. Altus was there to help, which meant Drayk was pitted against someone much higher than he was.
“I didn’t know you’d be joining us,” he said. Pierce picked a sword and shield, testing their weight. No way he could fight against two without some defence. He knew it, and so did Leenz.
This time though, he wanted to really give her something to work with. So, he made sure when he went in for a strike, he used all the tactics he could to trick her into expecting the wrong parry.
This worked only the first time. He managed to hit her pretty hard. Leenz grinned, saying, “I won’t fall for it again; you know it.”
And he did. She didn’t fall for any tricks again. The more each tried to strike the other, the harder the other fought to shield themselves. Soon, sweat was dripping down both their faces and off their clothes.
Drayk called, “Time out guys.” He stood holding out bottles of water to each of them.
Pierce grabbed for the closest bottle, as did Leenz. As her hand met his, he pulled her over, laughing.
“That was a timeout,” Drayk laughed, “not an excuse to try to pull one over on her.”
Pierce held out a hand for her to get up. Her eyes flashed angry, but she accepted it, then reciprocated the pull. Pierce spun over onto his back.
“Guess I asked for that one.” Pierce started laughing even more. He looked to Drayk and Altus who both laughed, then a pain hit him in the side.
Pierce let out a wail.
Drayk was soon at his side. “What is it?”
Pierce tried to think, to feel, but the world around him started to fade….
Drayk
Drayk watched as Pierce’s body fluxed in and out of their space and time.
“What’s going on?” Leenz said. “What’s happening?”
Drayk didn’t want to tell her, but the fact was, he thought Pierce’s real-world people were raising him out of the game. To what end he had no idea. Had Wayne betrayed them?
