Last Horizon: Beta

by Daniel Schinhofen

  Dumadin laughed, “Wait, that slip of an elf tried to seduce you again?”

  Terets turned on his friend, “It's not fucking funny. She will not listen to me when I say no.” Amythyst’s face grew anxious and Kittish patted her hand as Terets continued. “She was half naked and basically threw herself at me.”

  “So let me get this right, she was half naked and all but raping you and you said no?”

  “That's right, she fucking wouldn't listen.” Terets was wound tight and glaring at his friend when Amythyst slipped to his side.

  “Thank you,” she gave him a kiss on the cheek and hugged him.

  Terets froze, shocked and unsure. It had been bad enough taking the cold shower. He mumbled, “You’re welcome, Amythyst. I know we aren't exactly a couple but it is my intent and that...” He broke off and hugged Amythyst to him, “I didn't want to hurt you.”

  Dumadin and Kittish shared a smile and stepped outside the inn, looking around. Seeing Talia off to the side they approached her with pleasant smiles on.

  “Hey, Talia, do you have a moment?” Dumadin said as he approached.

  Talia glanced up and smiled, “Sure thing hero. What can I do for you?”

  Kittish slid up behind her and whispered into her ear, “It’s more what we can do for you.”

  Talia screamed and spun around, looking at Kittish in surprise, “That was creepy as fuck.”

  Dumadin closed the distance so he was behind her now, “Yes, isn't it?”

  Talia screamed again and turned to face him, “What the fuck is wrong with you two?”

  Kittish put a firm hand on her shoulder to keep her in place. “Nothing, we just wanted to have a word in your ear.”

  Dumadin let an evil smile slide over his features, “It's about our friend. You don't like what we are doing to you right now, as much as he doesn't like what you do to him. So a friendly word in your ear.”

  Kittish put her mouth right next to Talia's ear as she struggled to get away, “Back off Terets or the two of us can repeat to you what you do to him. He’s much too nice to do evil things, but we aren't. Understand?”

  Talia vanished and the duo nodded with vicious smiles and went back inside. When they entered they were all smiles and joined Amythyst and Terets, who were chatting with Bjorn.

  A few hours later the whole town had shown up and the party had to migrate outside. Bjorn and Tabitha mounted a bench and the crowd hushed as Bjorn asked for silence. “My friends, townsfolk, and adventurers this party is to announce that Tabitha and I are going to be married.”

  The adventurers cheered slightly not sure why this was important or if it was an event. The townsfolk erupted with cheers and mobbed the duo. After a few moments the sheer joy had spread and the party kicked off grandly. Alcohol started flowing and everyone was going by to wish the soon to be couple joy.

  The night wore on with much rejoicing and merriment. The date was set for exactly four months from that day, which turned out to be about five days before beta was due to close unless it was extended. During the event the story of how this event came to be was told and the various townsfolk stopped to speak with the group.

  As the party continued, a few musicians came forward and started playing for tips. They quickly formed into a group and started to play a variety of songs. At one point Dumadin went to the band and passed them a gold to play a favorite song. He then dragged Kittish out into the square and danced with her and other couples began to join them. During the song, Dumadin felt a tap on his shoulder and, smiling at Alvira handed Kittish off to her and stood back.

  Terets started laughing at his friend when Amythyst dragged Terets up and out into the square and began to dance with him. After the new song started Dumadin cut in on Kittish and began to dance with Alvira. Kittish went over and nudged Terets out and began to dance with Amythyst, as she did she whispered that the Talia issue should be over with. As the song finished the band called for a group dance.

  The men and women formed up on opposite sides and as the music started the lines flowed and merged. Each person danced for a short time with each member of the opposing line. As the music ended the floor broke up laughing at some of the outrageous looking pairings.

  A few hours later the group said their good nights and promised to meet back up the day after tomorrow to go to Thallien's. Amythyst and Terets logged out, each slightly nervous about tomorrow. Dumadin and Kittish found Alvira and excused themselves from the festivities. They didn't note the raging eyes of Talia on them as they walked off, the dwarf the meat of an elf sandwich.

  FIRST DATE

  The next day Will woke up a nervous wreck. He grumbled as everything seemed to be going wrong. Murphy's Law seemed to be riding shotgun from the moment he opened his eyes. His toothbrush snapped as he brushed his teeth. His computer's power supply had died so he couldn't check his favorite web comics. He tried to call David but found his phone battery was dead and wouldn't charge. Cursing, he went to go into town to get a new power supply and battery for his phone and found a flat tire.

  He took some deep breaths and sat down on his porch chair trying to recenter himself. “Everything will be fine later. All the bad is going to end and it will be fine later.” He muttered to himself then went and got his spare and jack. A few minutes of labor and he was driving into town to get the errands done with. Stopping at the one computer supply store in town he quickly bought a new power supply and headed for the phone store.

  After getting a new battery and plugging it in, his phone buzzed at him. He had two missed calls and six texts. Sighing he looked at the two missed calls, they had come from David. Checking the texts he found them all from Miriam and David. Asking him if he wanted to get breakfast, then if he had checked the game webpage, then a worried note asking if he was okay.

  Driving back home and getting the power supply hooked up again, he booted his computer. As it loaded up he called David to reassure his friend he was fine. Will had just pulled up the game page when David answered.

  “Hey man, today has been a shit day so far, what’s going on?” Will greeted his friend.

  “What happened to make it a shit day? I figure your phone was dead at least as you didn't answer us and we started to worry.”

  “Yeah phone battery, power supply for the comp, flat tire, broken toothbrush. It has been one of those days and it needs to end.”

  “Wow man, that is a fucked day so far. If you didn't get the comp fixed let me fill you in...”

  “Naw I got it up, what is this emergency maintenance server down all day?”

  “Yup, the only thing noted is that they are restricting how much people can play. They are cutting it down to an eight hour period during a twenty four hour window. They aren't saying why exactly but the forums are full of speculation.”

  “Fucking shit, we paid a stupid amount and now we are being told how much we can play. What are the leading theories?”

  “That people have begun to have mental breakdowns. It seems some people had been pushing with twenty two hours a day played. They would play for eleven hours, take one hour off and do it again. The people who had been doing so say it isn't their fault. So at the moment they are going to limit it to a single eight hour block. They mention changing it again in the future, that this is a temporary fix.”

  “God damn I hope they change it quick than, or beta will be getting an extension to get all the testing in. Which would suck as I know you want to see beta go to live before...”

  “Yeah. It will be what it is. Mention it to Lav will you? I’m going to call Felton and see if they want to eat their playtime up with us still or not as it’s so restrictive currently. We’ll see you on at eight tomorrow, okay?”

  “Will do man, hey you two disappeared for a few minutes the other day. What was going on? It was right after I told you about Talia.”

  David's chuckle was full of evil humor, “We just had chat with her about leaving you alone. You are too nice a guy at times, and if someone pushes
my friends I push back as you know. Anyway have a good night with Lav, what were your plans again?”

  “Nope, not telling you or you might just accidentally show up.” As David grumbled Will laughed, “Yeah, I know you buddy. You two take the day off and have a good one. See you tomorrow.” Hanging up, Will did a little poking at the forums and then turned his comp back to sleep mode.

  He spent the next few hours getting a few of his guns ready for the shooting range and then freshened himself back up with a quick shower. Making sure he had all the guns and ammo behind the seat, he got into his faithful monster. He loved his truck and knew it would handle the wheelchair fine with the ramp he put into the back.

  Driving into Vegas he called Lav, “Evening there Lav, I hope your day was good?”

  “Yes it was good, ummm about tonight...” Her voice was hesitant and nervous.

  “It is all ready Lav, I am on the way with my truck which is perfect for me to drive us around. I have the reservations all set and a small surprise waiting for you at the range. You said you wanted to meet there, you sure you don't want me to come pick you up?”

  “NO! I mean no, thank you. I just... I feel like a teenager. My stomach is in knots.” Her voice trailed off in fear and anxiety.

  Will softened his voice, “As am I Lav. It will be fine. Trust me please, my day started out like shit. I kept pushing though because I want this to work.”

  “Okay... my address is,” she quickly made an excuse to hang up after giving her address to him.

  Setting his GPS with that info he drove through Vegas. He found himself in a not great part of town and kept his eyes peeled. He swung into an apartment complex and parked in the visiting spot right near her number. As he jumped out of the truck Lavender came wheeling down the walkway towards him.

  His smile lit up his eyes and Lav felt herself responding in kind. He quickly dropped the tailgate and got the ramp fixed up for her to get the chair up into the back. As she got it up the ramp she looked at him, “Um, but how am I to get into the truck like this?”

  He smiled and bent and gently lifted her up and out of her chair, causing her to let out a brief cry and cling to him. He carried her down the ramp and over to the passenger side. “My hands are full, please get the door for me,” he asked. As she opened the door, he placed her gently inside the truck. “Be back in a moment, I have to secure the chair and the ramp.”

  He made quick work of that and got back in the driver’s side and started the truck up. He glanced over at her, his heart rate picking up. “Thank you Lav,” he smiled at her, his warmth coming through his voice. “For not backing out at the last minute. I’ve been a wreck all day about it.”

  Lavender looked out the window, “I was going to back out. I’ve been in knots all day thinking of the worst things. I thought if I broke it off before you got here it would save the pain. Every time I picked up the phone though, I just couldn't bring myself to dial. Now we’re going and my stomach is still twirling.”

  Will smiled as he shifted onto the 215 and drove them towards the range he had selected. “Well now I will be able to show you how special you are. I’ve made it a point to try and make today a special and memorable day.”

  A few minutes later he got off the 215 and made several turns before pulling up in front of an indoor gun range. There was only one car in the lot, Lavender knew this was odd as this was a busy place normally. Will got out and went to the back, unhooking the chair and getting the ramp down. He then went around and picked Lav up, carried her to the chair and settled her into it.

  “There we are, let me just grab the bag from the truck and we can go inside.” Will pulled his gun and ammo bag from behind the seat and walking with her entered the shop, holding the door for her. “Fred, we’re here,” he called out to the owner.

  Fred smiled and nodded at them, “It’s all good, the range is clear for your use for the next two hours, Will. Nice to see you again Lavender, been almost a year. I was hoping you would come back again, if you’re up to it later at some point I have a few people you can skin some money off. Cocky bastards don't think a woman can out shoot them and they have too much money to be allowed to hold that thought.”

  “Hello Fred,” Lavender greeted, beaming slightly, “I didn't know I was being missed. I’ve been holed up for the last few months playing Last Horizon. I met Will there, didn't know he was taking me here or that you knew him.”

  “Ha, he wins the damn shoots in Beatty almost all the damn time, or his brother. When he called and said he had a special date tonight I thought he was yanking my chain. Now that I know who he was talking about, I know he was right.”

  Lav looked down and blushed softly, “Thank you Fred.”

  Will chuckled, “Seems I’m right about you being unique and special. Fred, you have the item I asked about?”

  “It’s on the line waiting for you. At least you securing the line to yourselves covers me. I know you brought your own ammo which I frown on.”

  Will laughed, “Yeah, yeah. It’s worth the cost but I like my own load.” Turning to Lav he motioned her into the back of the store through the sound proof doors of the firing line. When they got into the back with its eight lines, Will noted the item he had set up in advance. He claimed it and hid it from her, “Lav remember what you asked me about when we first talked?”

  Lavender's brow furrowed as she tried to remember, as she was still thinking he brought the Duckfoot pistol from behind him. He showed it to her and placed it back on the line. “A Duckfoot for the knowledgeable lady to fire. I had him prep the one load into it for when you’re ready.”

  Lavender giggled, “Oh yes, my testing your knowledge about guns. It usually knocks off most people who claim to be enthusiasts, not you though. Well, while you get your guns laid out I’ll just look it over.”

  The spent the next two hours firing the ten guns that Will had brought, expending almost all the ammo he had with him. A half hour before the time was up they started to clean the weapons together. They laughed and joked about finishing without a winner when they went heads up for best shot. Each of them scored twenty nine points, and instead of going for a clear winner they left it a tie. As Will was zipping up the bag, Fred poked his head into the back.

  “Time, ah you’re done and done cleaning.” He shook his head with a chuckle and went back into the shop. As they came out of the back a few guys stood in the shop waiting impatiently. “Okay guys line is free for you.” Fred announced as they entered.

  “About fucking time, god damn idiots taking their time,” a greasy looking man said as he went for the firing line.

  Will shook his head as they left the shop, “I really hate some people, jackasses like that annoy me to no end.”

  Lavender nodded sadly, “At least he didn't make any disparaging comments.”

  “If he had it would have ended quickly, once you proved how much better you are than him. He would have to apologize and slink away then.”

  Lavender looked down embarrassed, “But I’m not like that normally.”

  “Then I would have defended the lady’s honor. Black powder pistols at ten paces, like any gentleman would do.” He gave a courtly bow to her before he made the ramp secure for her.

  She giggled, “You are bad. I know you wouldn't point a gun at him from our time on the line.”

  Will nodded, “You are correct unless it is life and death. However, it did make you laugh so mission accomplished.” He picked her up and carried her to the front and settled her there. After securing the chair and ramp he got in and started driving them to their next stop.

  “So where is this dinner going to be?” Lavender asked, looking at him with bright eyes.

  “Ah, that is a secret,” he winked at her, “we shall be there shortly.”

  She waited patiently but got a confused look on her face when they pulled into a park. “But I thought dinner was next?”

  He got out, chuckling and got the ramp and chair ready before coming around
for her. “It is,” picking her up and getting her to her seat. Once they were ready he led her down a path. “It will become clear in a moment.” A few minutes down the path led them to a grassy knoll which had a picnic waiting for them. “Here we are,” he announced as he got her placed at a small table. Taking the spot across from her he smiled, “Dinner, and a show.”

  As she began to ask what he meant, violins started playing softly nearby. Looking around she spotted the small group of strings set up just down the hill. “But what?”

  Will chuckled, “The cello player there owned me a favor. So I asked for him to repay it by practicing at the park today. The food was arranged through his girlfriend who sighed at how romantic I was being.”

  Lavender blushed and looked at the food Will began to set out. There were chicken breasts, cheese, rolls, and more. He set out a few cokes and bottled water for her to choose from.