by Dawn Chapman
Marik agreed. “Here.” He reached around his neck, pulling out a necklace. “I can track you with this as well, just in case your nanites aren’t working where they take her.”
“Good call.” Marik was right. Lots of reason why nanites might not work. Especially underground again. Marik knew it and so did Drayk. The only place someone would go with an elder was back to basics, and that meant no time to get out of this mess. Drayk had to get going back to Gragalor mountains, into the deep.
Marik turned to rush away. Drayk used his small set of skills and pushed forward, down into the village streets. People, lots of them, glanced his way, but no one stopped him. That meant they weren’t looking for anyone else. Drayk felt safe following.
The village’s outer edges began to fade, and the back mountains grew closer. His pace was steady and his stats okay, without lowering stamina, for this small mission.
Drayk hadn’t thought at all about Chopper until he heard stomping footsteps behind him. Then the silly yellow creature with a bright blue eye stared at him. Drayk stopped to put a hand out. He’d grown considerably since he’d last seen Pierce with him. He wasn’t so sure on how to approach such a creature.
Drayk did see his stats though.
MROVIAL GIANT
LEVEL 17
HEALTH—100/100
Chopper’s tongue lolled. He looked up ahead. “You’re wanting to find Leenz aren’t you?”
The creature seemed to nod, it’s wide toothy grin spread menacingly. Drayk tried to swallow but found his throat dry. “Do you think I can ride you?”
Chopper moved forward, putting the teeth away, it lowered his head to the ground, almost an invitation.
When Chopper stopped and panted, Drayk hopped off and climbed the largest tree to survey. The river itself wasn’t going to be hard to cross, but this bridge had the looks of recent damage. There were some deadly looking cuts to the ropes.
“Do you think we can cross over?”
Chopper looked to the bridge and instantly backed away. Drayk glanced down to the turbulent waters; it was the bridge or nothing.
But the creature’s eyes changed, his skin colour darkened to green. “That seems like you understood me. Okay, I’m on my own.” Drayk reached into his pocket and pulled out an apple which he gave to the creature.
Chopper ate it. Drayk moved to tackle the river and the bridge. Nothing suggested it would hold his weight. I just have to try.
Carefully, he stepped onto the first set of rungs and edged out a foot at a time. Daring himself not to look down, Drayk held on. The ropes wobbled in his grip. If the rails broke, at least he’d have some chance to actually hold on with rope in his hand.
One step at a time, one breath at a time, he edged over.
Halfway, mostly across, the ropes started swinging, planks below him cracked. Drayk got a sudden view of the river below. Sharp rocks and raging water.
No, I can’t fall. He tightened his grip, made the jump for the next two wooden slats hoping that they’d hold.
The gap between them seemed to be forever, but he told himself, “Only four to go.” With that added momentum, Drayk made a run for it; letting the rope go.
He was over. Chopper wailed on the other side. Looking for a way to get across, but he found none. Drayk waved him back.
This was going from bad to worse. A city stood up ahead.
Cities meant more people, more players, NPC’s.
Drayk tucked his head in low, resigned to walk forward toward it. By pure accident alone he noticed a horse and cart up ahead. The two larger figures he’d seen with Leenz!
Quick or not he had to get her back. He only hoped the cart’s cargo was Leenz.
His fast thinking had paid off. Within minutes she was safe. And they were way ahead of any pursuers. Drayk had turned off the road, stopped the cart, and found her bound and gagged. Her fierce yellow eyes stared right at him. She spoke as he grappled with the ropes. “You brave, stupid fool. We’re across the water, you know. Totally different rules here. You should have left me. I’d have come back to you.”
Drayk swallowed. “Sorry.”
She helped untie her own feet then moved to take control of driving the creature. Drayk confessed, “I left Chopper at the bridge. Do you think he’ll return to the village?”
Leenz nodded. “Chopper’s a smart cookie. He’ll probably wait then move on.”
Chapter Forty-Two
Pierce
Pierce wheeled himself into the training room the next morning, instantly wanting to vomit at the blood and gore everywhere.
Behind him, Gerard didn’t push the chair in but sidestepped it. with a low whistle. “Whatever happened in here was major.”
Pierce didn’t need to know. He moved past the larger blood splatters, going to pick up his training gear.
The door to the room’s opposite side opened; in came two guards.
Gerard motioned, Pierce turned, seeing them. One stepped forward and said, “Follow the instructions on your data pad. You can’t practice today. Go shower and change into uniform.”
Pierce didn’t smile or acknowledge any of them. He just put the weapon down and backed away, spinning to leave. That left Gerard with the guards. Pierce didn’t ask any questions. He had to be content Gerard could handle himself.
Pierce returned to his room and showered off, putting on the uniform, as asked.
It wasn’t like anything he’d worn before. He didn’t like the fabric. Dressing himself had been a pain in the ass as well, but he’d worked with it. Get over it. He had to believe that something else was going on here. I’ll be okay.
A ping rang in his ear, and a message popped up.
“Pierce?”
Pierce didn’t know what to say. Cale’s voice came through. “Don’t let the loss of your friends get you. You’ve got to be the one who survives this. They’ll put anyone you know in that room, so you’ll fight for them, not for yourself. Don’t let the apparitions win. You can do this.”
That meant a lot of magic or stupid gaming programming going on here. He hated it.
Pierce nodded, and answered, “I’ll do my best. Cale, no matter what, I’m going to come for you. Here in the future, anything, you’re not alone, but if I go into that room, I don’t know if I’ll come out.
“Yes, yes you will. Remember, Drayk likes you. I know you’ll win. You will. For me. For Drayk. For all your friends.”
Those last words almost had him in tears.
Pierce had never thought he’d have friends. He still thought Wayne was just someone who did his job—getting paid for it.
Pierce nodded and spoke clearly. “I’ll see you soon, Cale.”
And the door opened.
That meant he was going to be taken to the room. The instructions were for him to follow the yellow line down the corridor, so that is what he did. Wheeling himself slowly, listening. “Drayk, if you can hear me now, you’ve got very little time. I’m pitted against the worst horrors in here. You have to get me out. Now.”
No reply. But Pierce knew his master nanite had heard, translated and sent it.
Outside the main arena doors, Pierce stopped his chair. The room was behind them. He knew it. He felt it. Smelled everything he thought he would.
Death.
The door slid open. Into the darkness he wheeled himself. What he’d face he had no idea.
Drayk
Drayk almost fell off the chair where he sat by Leenz, when the message had come in loud and clear from Pierce: “Drayk if you can hear me now, you’ve got very little time. I’m pitted against the worst horrors in here, you have to get me out. Now.”
He didn’t have time to reply, the images flowing toward him gave no other option but to kick his ass. He grabbed the reins from Leenz and pushed the creature and their cart to speeds he didn’t know possible.
Before them once more, the river spanned. Drayk dismounted and paused before the water.
“Drayk,” she shouted as he turne
d to run away, “What the hell? You can’t run all the way back to Eldhams.” On his terrified look, she asked. “What is it?”
“I can’t swim.”
Leenz close behind him now, grabbed him and threw him over her shoulders. “Just hang on to me.“ Leenz slipped in, and then swam quickly, the water cold and deep.
Drayk panicked, swallowing a ton of water. Something came running from the left bank. Lenz shouted, “Chopper!”
When they climbed out, he patted the large creature on the back. “Go home you say,” he grinned at Leenz, “He’s the smartest creature I’ve ever met.”
Drayk hopped on with one push as Leenz did behind him. He spurred Chopper on. The three of them bounded for Eldham’s village at almost breakneck speed. Chopper’s stamina faded quickly, but he kept going, almost like he knew. This was his master’s life, or it was over.
Leenz poked Drayk’s back. “Slow down just a little. There’s still smoke up ahead.”
Drayk pulled on Chopper’s spikes until he slowed, his skin changing from purple to blue. Chopper panted as he walked. His huge ribs blowing in and out, sweat coating his back so much Drayk almost slid off.
“You’re right. I’m sorry.” They needed to be quiet to get into Altus’ village: slow, steady.
He and Leenz then both ran recon through the village’s side streets. It looked like it had taken a big hit, but there were no enemies inside the camps.
Drayk felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned to see Drei.
“Altus is asking for you two. Max and Wayne are outside the enemy base on earth. They’re about to launch the rescue for Pierce’s body.”
Drayk and Leenz ran for the labs. Drei in tow, kept pace. “Drayk they can do this; they’ll get him. I know they will!”
Max stood with Wayne at the outer edges of some strange encampment. Drayk ran into Altus before they sat down to watch the latest section of their plan unfold on a screen.
Drayk moved to sit, picked up the headset. “Max, we’re here. We’re watching. Leenz is safe.”
He heard Max’s heart rhythm change. “Drayk, you’ve no idea what I just went through, I saw everything though your eyes; that bridge, those goons”
Drayk looked to Altus, “Sorry. Had to do it.”
Max took in a breath. The stale air stung Drayk’s lungs even if he wasn’t there to breathe it in for real. Everything Max did, he felt and tasted.
“We’ve watched their guards go in, they’re very under-protected. I think we can do this with minimal casualties. There’s something here that we both want to do. That’s to win. I’ll win, but I can’t kill any of my fellow humans.”
Drayk swallowed, saying, “Max they’re not human. I know this is your planet, but I’ve seen them. They’re in shells, almost like clones. But they’re not real.”
Max fumbled with his weapon. “What?”
“The images you’ve been seeing flitting in and out: the horror. It’s not true. They’re like clones! Trained to kill and sent in for the real battle. It’s nothing to do with us, this planet, these two worlds aren’t what the goal is. There’s something else. I can only think it’s massive. It needs lots of people. Needs so many millions that the only way they can get it in is by mass production, mass training! That’s the game.”
Max looked out to the building’s main doors, to his small team around him in riot gear. The best equipment that they could get at such short notice in the real world.
“You’re right, Drayk. I’m a kid, a teen. I’ve seen it on new Ararat, the facilities, the science bases. The human zombies.”
Leenz squeezed Drayk’s hand. “Take them out,” she said. “Get Pierce to safety.”
Max punched his metallic fist in the air. “Move out!”
The team around him spread out. They moved, set charges. Wayne was second in front of Max. Really just the witness. Max was the main shooter. Even with his fake hands, his skill and dexterity outmatched any human.
The door exploded inward, and they rushed into the building, tagging, shooting all the guards, the scientists.
There in front of him stood a swimming pool. In that pool three bodies floated.
Pierce
With his extra vision, darkness made way to something Pierce had never seen. There before him was a huge tentacled creature, yet he smiled. Gerard was there. He was glad he’d had a chance to talk with him the last few weeks. Together they had a chance at fighting. Even if it were just distraction techniques until the other could get away, or win.
Pierce knew he couldn’t focus like this. He turned away from Gerard who’d provided him with the means to train and the guts to keep going.
Pierce ducked the creature’s first swing at him, waited a beat. It knocked the first weapon out of his hands, but he pushed back, sliced at it from underneath. No joy—it didn’t seem to take any critical hits. It just split in two.
Pierce’s biggest issue was that it was aiming for Gerard. For Pierce to witness this, knowing he couldn’t fight as quick or as smart, stung. No way will Gerard win against this tentacled creature.
Pierce witnessed it strike again and again. Yet, all he could do was lunge, wait, then stab too. When he tried to go in for a killing blow, or to help Gerard his friend took several critical hits.
Gerard called for him. “Pierce, help me! Please!”
But Pierce moved away, dodging the creature’s second strike. Waited. Gerard who’d had his back from day one and become a true friend, was almost out of luck.
Pierce shouted, “What’s your name? Your real name?”
Gerard’s face fell: he understood he wasn’t going to get help. He stood still, the terrible creature whirled around him. “Marcus Chase. I’m from NYC. I live on Boulevard Street. Ten-twenty-one.”
His infectious smile made Pierce want to grin with him. The creature whirled around. With two quick jabs, it struck and sliced Gerard in half.
Pierce swore under his breath. “I’ll find you Marcus. I won’t let you down.”
As the tentacles came in for another hit, Pierce felt a slice to his upper chest.
Looking to the far wall, Pierce noticed how it shimmered and then faded. There appeared a creature like nothing he’d seen on the ship before. There were a thousand heads which whirled to stare at him, and then came a thousand voices.
The voices boomed in his mind, many tones and intonations.
This one is different, stronger.
We underestimated him.
We shouldn’t have tried to take his world.
They will be the death of us.
No, they will not, we will strike back, harder.
Then with a swipe Pierce’s wheelchair was ripped from beneath him.
Hanging upside down, Pierce now faced the creature. Blood spurted from Pierce’s wounds, and he felt a tug of something else.
The tug was from his real world. Pierce couldn’t see or focus. He hung looking into the creature’s eyes, and he yelled, “Shove this up your mother fucking, stinking ass.” He dropped his latest creation: a metallic, glistening bomb.
He never felt the explosion ripple through the alien ship, but he knew. It felt like Cale was still alive. As all he heard was the, “Fuckin’ A!” resounding in his head.
Max
Wayne spotted Pierce’s form, then Drayk saw him baulk at his best friend’s physical state. Within a second, Wayne had jumped into the pool. He ripped the nodes and equipment from Pierce’s body. Wayne pulled Pierce to him, holding him tight. “We have to get him to your friend’s ASAP. He’s a mess.”
Max could only shoot at the enemy still struggling into the space, trying to end them all. “We’ve got this; our escape is well planned.”
One of Max’s friends called out, “What about these other dudes?”
Max could only look, he wanted to help, but that wasn’t their priority. “No. Have to leave ‘em. we have to get Pierce to safety. That’s the bounty.”
“No, we can take them with us.” The other guy nodde
d, and they pulled out the other occupants of the pods. Within seconds they all turned and they fled.
Resistance on the outside wasn’t anywhere near what Max thought it might be. They’d already done the hardest part; they had Pierce. Max felt better than he ever had in any game.
He ran with Wayne at his side, glanced to the man he’d dubbed hero. Pierce didn’t look like a hero. His body was so weak and skin pale white and wrinkled. Max’s heart sank, but he hoped that there was a way to rescue their world. To pull it out of the bag. Win. They had to. Max wanted more than anything to enjoy his life. But what life has it become?
“Wayne, we’re not far from being done. I need to join Pierce in the game, at his side. But I’m miles away.”
Wayne smiled. “There’s time. I’m coming with you. There’s time.”
Drayk
Drayk followed it all on screen. He watched them making their final run for it. I’ve got to go. “Leenz I need to be here when Pierce wakes. You do, too. Altus, you’re to watch. Keep me informed. But I need to go to the respawn point.
Leenz moved with him, at his side in a flash, watching the screen as the others made their way, now finally safe, into the dark.
“I know. We can get there with some extra help from Chopper.”
“He’s tired,” she panted, even though she’d not physically done anything.
“No, he’ll do this,” Drayk said. “He knows what’s at stake.”
Leenz pulled Drayk away from his last glance at the computer stations. They ran for Chopper who was munching food outside. He took one look at Leenz and turned purple. His mouth hung open, the biggest lopsided grin a creature could have plastered on his face.
“Stupid animal,” Leenz muttered, but Drayk had no option but to laugh. They leaped on, and Drayk motioned for the monster to run, but he didn’t need any direction. It was as if he knew and perhaps he really did.
The trees whizzed past, and the mountain loomed in the distance. Drayk knew that the fight ahead was their true calling, but for now they needed to re-group. There was so much they needed to settle here in this village, to learn, to move forward.
No. More than that, to grow as a unit, a family.
