Awaken Online: Dominion

by Travis Bagwell

  “I have not seen any evidence that Alfred has ever harmed the players,” Robert answered simply.

  “That isn’t the same thing as not breaking his safety protocols,” Gloria retorted, raising an eyebrow. “Let me ask the question again, and this time I will be more specific. Have you ever observed any instance where Alfred has accessed restricted parts of a player’s memory or injected memories into a player’s mind?”

  Claire glanced at Jason again. His eyes were glued on Robert. Although his expression was neutral, Claire noticed the white-knuckled grip he had on the bench. Why did he seem so nervous? Given what she knew already, there could only be a handful of answers – all of which were disturbing. Before she could dwell on this for long, Robert interrupted her thoughts.

  The engineer met Gloria’s gaze, not flinching or backing down. “No,” he said. “To my knowledge, Alfred has never circumvented his safety protocols.”

  * * *

  When the regulatory committee released everyone for lunch, George and Jason used the opportunity to leave. Robert’s testimony had quickly devolved into extremely specific and technical aspects of Alfred’s development and the operation of the VR hardware that ran AO. At one point, Jason had started to wonder whether a few of the senators might nod off. If not for the spectators and the media attention, he suspected they would have had a refreshing nap.

  His thoughts kept circling back to Gloria’s original line of questioning with Robert. The engineer’s comments regarding Alfred’s access to and control over each player’s memory was troubling. Jason had thought that it was unusual that the AI was able to transfer memories of the in-game skills or the way he had allowed Jason to view the Keeper’s memories. However, he had been able to rationalize this. It made the game feasible, but was Alfred supposed to be able to do that? It seemed to conflict with what Robert had said during the hearing.

  Jason was also reasonably certain that Robert had never intended for Alfred to be able to take control of a player’s body. By “reasonably certain,” he actually meant “damned sure.” That seemed like exactly the type of situation Robert would have designed Alfred to avoid. Although, that didn’t change the fact that Alfred had killed those two teenagers, even if he had done so to protect Jason.

  Was Robert unaware of how far Alfred had wandered off the beaten path? From what he knew about the engineer, Jason suspected he wasn’t ignorant which meant that he was lying. But why? And if he was aware of what Alfred was doing, why hadn’t he reined the AI when he noticed that he was overstepping his protocols? The questions swam and spun in his mind, circling without answers.

  “Are you okay?” George asked, resting a hand on Jason’s knee, and causing him to jump in surprise. “You zoned out there for a moment.”

  “I-I think I’m just behind on sleep,” Jason replied, trying to refocus on George. “I’ve been juggling the hearing while keeping up with my responsibilities in-game. From my point of view, I’ve been experiencing 3-4 days for every one day that passes here in the real world.”

  George observed him carefully. “I’ve never been good at taking care of myself – I may have inherited some workaholic tendencies from my father. But, I have found that it’s important to know your limits and learn not to overstep them,” he said with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. In some ways, that last comment felt more like a threat than helpful advice.

  Jason shied away from his gaze. “There is just a lot going on right now – inside AO especially. We have someone attacking the city – but we can’t find or fight them. The native undead are also growing stronger somehow and threatening our troops. On top of that, I’m struggling to learn my new abilities while up against a serious deadline,” he said in a rambling rush.

  He managed to force himself to shut up when he realized that he was confiding in the chilly CEO of a company worth more than Jason could possibly fathom. Was he an idiot? He glanced up to find George eyeing him skeptically. “Anyway, I’m sure I can catch up on some sleep once things settle down,” Jason added in a quiet voice.

  “Perhaps,” George replied, his fingers drumming against his armrest. “What did you think of the hearing today?”

  Jason chewed on his lip in thought – and possibly to stop himself from saying anything stupid. Again. “Gloria is clearly on the warpath,” he finally offered. He was hesitant to reveal his suspicions about Robert to George since he wasn’t certain how the man would react. He needed to be circumspect. “I-it almost feels like she’s fishing for something… but I could be reading into things.”

  A long silence met this last statement, and, when Jason looked up, he found George watching him appraisingly as his fingers continued to beat a staccato rhythm. “I agree,” the CEO said finally as though coming to some sort of decision. “I’m beginning to think that she isn’t bluffing, and her questions aren’t intended to elicit random testimony. However, that conclusion is disconcerting for other reasons.”

  Jason watched the man as he trailed off into silence, as though waiting for Jason to respond. He abruptly realized that George was testing him – to see if he could guess at his concern. His mind flailed for a moment as he tried to anticipate the problem and then it suddenly clicked. Jason felt stupid that he had even needed to think about it. Maybe he was more tired than he had realized.

  “You think she has evidence that there is something wrong with the AI controller…” Jason murmured. “That would be the most obvious way to explain her confidence.”

  “You have a sharp mind,” George complimented him. “Most people tend to only focus on the superficial. It takes time and experience to anticipate your opponent’s actions several moves in advance.”

  “Try ruling an undead city for a few weeks,” Jason grumbled in reply. “I’ve had to learn fast.”

  “I’ll consider adding that to our management classes.” George’s tone was as dry as the Sahara. Then he let out a sigh. “As far as I know, we passed the previous trials with flying colors. I can only surmise that someone on our team concocted some issue and leaked it to Gloria. Perhaps they sold the information to her – I wouldn’t put it past her at this point. Either way, I need to get to the bottom of this.”

  “W-why are you telling me this, though?” Jason asked.

  “Because you may be able to help me.”

  Jason just stared at him in confusion.

  “I suspect that you will be integral to Gloria’s case,” George explained. “She is clearly setting up a narrative where our rogue AI somehow manipulated your memories. This may be why she approached you originally and tried to get a rise out of you by confronting you with your parents. At heart, Gloria is a politician. She understands the advantage of optics. It’s one thing to have raw technical data that might indicate a problem – it’s another to have a flesh and blood example.” He emphasized the word blood as he said this last part.

  George leaned forward, meeting Jason’s gaze. “But it also means that they might try to influence you again or that someone responsible for the leak may approach you. Now that reality is setting in, they may be having second thoughts. Either way, some sort of reveal is coming, and my guess is that you will be at the center of it. It would be helpful if you were actively involved in solving this problem.”

  “O-okay,” Jason said hesitantly. “What exactly do you want me to do?”

  “I’m going to be throwing an event this Saturday at our headquarters building. We hold this party every year to wine and dine potential investors and business partners. It’s also an excuse to showcase our products. I’d like you to attend.”

  “How will that help?” Jason asked in confusion.

  “I will be inviting all of the staff that worked on the AI controller software,” George replied simply. “As well as Gloria and her staff. She may refuse, of course. However, many industry leaders and politicians usually attend. I doubt she’ll turn down the opportunity to curry favor and attempt to poison the well with my colleagues.”

  “S
o, you plan to use me as bait?” Jason said aloud before he could stop himself. He had used this strategy often enough with Frank – he just wasn’t used to being the bait.

  “As I said, you catch on quickly,” George said with a tilt of his head. “Yes, the goal would be to see who approaches you and what they say. I suspect that the technical details will take the committee a few more days before another witness is called. I can also have Francis deliberately delay the proceedings. In the meantime, this will give us an opportunity to conduct some information gathering.”

  The CEO abruptly stopped drumming his fingers against the leather, sitting still as he watched Jason. “So, what do you say? Will you help me?”

  How had things become so complicated? Jason wished he could say no – that he could somehow rewind the clock by a month or two and start over. He could have never ordered a copy of AO. He could have paid attention in the cafeteria at Richmond. A small change to a dozen little events could have changed his trajectory. Yet real life didn’t let him save and reload. He only had one play through – and this was it.

  He raised his eyes to meet George’s gaze. “I would be happy to attend.”

  Chapter 26 - Murky

  Jason stood in the center of the first challenge room. Bones and debris were scattered around him, evidence of the waves of undead that had crashed against him in an endless rhythm. His armor had also seen better days. The ivory plates along his arms and shoulders were cracked or missing entirely and the underlying leather needed to be repaired. Jason just couldn’t work up the willpower to visit the market right now.

  Almost instinctively, Jason refilled his store of bones and re-summoned his Bone Armor, the crumbling surface solidifying and new plates emerging from his skin. He had been practicing using the plates – which had their own health pool – to deflect blows. By accepting a hit while taking minimal damage, he could usually lure his opponent into overextending, which put him in a better position to counterattack. The results had been promising. He saved stamina by not needing to dodge and it allowed him to take out an enemy quickly.

  He was improving, albeit slowly.

  A popping sound echoed through the room, and Jason turned to see a receding flash of multi-colored energy. Riley now stood in the room, her eyes searching as she tried to get her bearings. As she saw Jason staring at her, she looked away.

  “Hi,” Riley said.

  “Hello,” Jason replied tersely as he continued to inspect his equipment, eyeing her in his peripheral vision.

  The pair hadn’t spoken much since they had defeated the first challenge. If anything, they were like two evil ships passing in the night. Riley tended to practice and train when Jason was at the hearing and then she was usually unavailable when he returned. As a result, they hadn’t managed to try the new challenge yet.

  “Did you do this?” Riley asked, surveying the room and the numerous piles of scattered bones skeptically.

  “This was a few attempts,” Jason replied noncommittally. “The new spell from the next room helps. I can last for about seven minutes consistently now.” That was an understatement. Despite its crazy mana cost, Soul Slash was powerful enough to destroy several skeletons at once. If anything, Jason had been forcing himself not to use the ability in order to practice.

  Riley’s eyes widened in surprise. “You’ve already looked at the new room?” Her gaze shifted to the ominous bone doorway on the other end of the room, the door having slid open again when Jason finished the challenge.

  “A while ago,” Jason said, trying and failing to keep the irritation from his voice. “I’ve almost hit intermediate with Soul Slash already. You would know this if you showed up more often,” he muttered under his breath

  Riley looked taken aback by his comment. “I’ve been busy. There’s stuff going on in my life too, you know.”

  Jason bit back his angry reply. It wouldn’t help to accuse her of prioritizing her new boyfriend over him. Wouldn’t he do the same thing? Besides, the bottom line was that he needed her help – regardless of his personal feelings. So he simply looked away.

  “I know, but we need to focus on moving forward,” he said, trying to maintain a lighter, less-accusatory tone. The last thing he needed to do right now was start a fight. “We only have so much time until we reach Thorn’s deadline. Are you ready to try the next challenge?”

  Riley stared at him for a second, as though unsure how to respond. “Sure, let’s do it,” she abruptly answered, and she immediately headed toward the bone doorway leading into the next room. With her back to him, Jason missed the look of frustration on Riley’s face.

  A few seconds later, the pair stood in the new room. An unnatural darkness hung in the air like a heavy blanket, impeding their Night Vision and making it impossible to make out the size and shape of the room. The lonely sapphire flames of a single torch illuminated a familiar column – a milky orb affixed to the top. Jason pressed his palm to the sphere and waited for Rex to appear.

  His former general soon obliged him, wispy tendrils drifting out of the orb. In the next instant, Rex’s shadowy clone stood before them. The skeleton glanced around in confusion for a moment before his eyes rested on Jason and Riley.

  “It’s strange,” Rex commented, looking distracted. “In some ways, it feels like I was just here, but it also feels like an eternity has passed. How long has it been since you summoned me?”

  “Only a day or so in our world,” Jason replied, a look of concern on his face as he watched Rex. “Maybe a couple of days here. So not very long.”

  The skeleton cocked his head as though listening to something. Then he turned to look at Jason with sad eyes. “But long enough for things to have worsened in the Twilight Throne. We don’t have much time left do we?”

  Riley looked at Jason questioningly. He could still recall the way the injured undead had stared at him – their eyes angry and demanding. They blamed him for what had happened to them. – and maybe they were right. “I’ll explain later,” he said to Riley before turning back to Rex. “But you’re right. We don’t have much time.”

  Rex seemed to shake himself out of his stupor, regaining some of his usual enthusiasm and clapping his hands together – although they simply passed through one another. “Well, then let’s get to work, shall we? This next challenge will be even more difficult than the first, although the goal is rather simple. You need to slay all of the enemies in the room.”

  “That doesn’t sound too bad,” Riley murmured.

  Jason tended to agree. It seemed liked an improvement over surviving an endless legion of undead for some unknown amount of time.

  “You would think that, wouldn’t you?” Rex said dryly. “But then you would also be wrong. This room has a few… let us call them quirks.”

  “In that case, can you offer a few hints,” Jason prompted the skeletal man. “We’re sort of running against the clock right now.”

  “I wish I could,” Rex agreed, grinning broadly. “But my hands are tied!” Jason didn’t think he seemed too remorseful. “I’m supposed to give you another cryptic riddle about the lesson for this room,” Rex continued. “But I’ll at least spare you the headache. The goal here is finesse.”

  “What does that mean?” Riley asked in a confused voice.

  “It would probably be easier to show you…,” Rex said, trailing off as he waved his hand.

  Suddenly, the lone torch flickered out, and the entire room plunged into complete darkness. Jason was now certain that his original guess had been right. The darkness couldn’t be natural. He could barely make out the outline of his hand in front of his face from only a few inches away. Anything further than that was impossible to see.

  Before he and Riley had a chance to coordinate, the eerie, whispered voices spoke up.

  Challenge 2: A Trial of Darkness has been initiated.

  Prepare yourselves, challengers.

  There was no sound of rattling bone this time. Instead, a heavy, almost oppressive silence,
hung in the room. Between the lack of sound and the darkness, Jason felt claustrophobic – like he was standing in his own sound-proofed coffin.

  “Jason?” Riley asked hesitantly.

  “I’m here,” he said. He had moved to a position where his hand was touching the rough stone wall. “Come to the sound of my voice.”

  He felt a hand grope at his shoulder in the darkness. “How are we going to do this?” Riley asked, once she was closer. She kept her voice low. They didn’t know what was lurking in the shadows.

  “I have no idea,” he replied, trying to peer into the darkness and keeping his staff raised and ready. It seemed almost impossible to fight without being able to see. Maybe when Rex said “finesse” what he meant was that they needed to avoid running into each other or tripping over their own feet? Maybe this was some sort of introspective challenge, like the enemy was themselves and they needed to face their own demons – not unlike the time he had bashed in his vice principal’s head with a rock. He was really hoping that was the case.

  Jason suddenly froze as he heard a faint whispering sound – like the swish of a broom over stone. Yet as the seconds passed, the sound didn’t repeat. He almost wondered if he had imagined it. Concentrating, he tried to still his breathing as much as possible, and he strained with his ears, trying to catch any sound that might give a hint of an attack.

  He heard the faint swish again, but this time he didn’t have the opportunity to react. Something slammed into his shoulder with impressive force, his back crashing against the stone wall. As fast as the thing struck, it was gone. Pain radiated out from Jason’s arm, and he could tell that the Bone Armor along his arm had been destroyed. Meanwhile, a red notification flashed in his peripheral vision.

  -1,069 Damage

  Limb Damage: reaction speed reduced by 15%.

  Damn it! Whatever that was, it hits like a truck!