Alpha Company (Alpha World Book 3)

by Daniel Schinhofen

  Alburet chuckled, “I don’t see why not. I could probably even send just you to some of the ones further down the list. I’ll get Kim to give you a copy of the schedule. She has transport already arranged for each one, so it will just require you to be at the guild hall.”

  “Alright. This is really going to get interesting,” Gerald grinned as he took Mary’s arm. “We’ll head out to the Orc Grasslands, check with those guildies.”

  “Sounds good. We’re on our way to the Goblin Fort. No idea which spot the other two will be at.”

  The pairs headed off to their chosen areas. Once at the Goblin Fort, Alburet summoned Bob. “Bob, how are you doing today?”

  “Any hotties with you? Stacia, of course, but none of the others?” Bob sighed, shaking his head in obvious disappointment, “Did you run them off?”

  Stacia giggled, “No. We be doin’ help work for our guild mates. Tomorrow we be huntin’ with them again.”

  “Well, okay,” Bob sighed, a hangdog look on his face.

  Shaking his head, Alburet summoned Tiny, “Tiny, how are the wives?”

  “Doing well, master,” Tiny rumbled. “My first wife asks if you will ever make it out to the Infernal Plane to visit.”

  “No idea,” Alburet replied. “Can I even do that? We’ll just have to see, I guess. How many wives do you have exactly?”

  “Three,” Tiny told him. “I am sure that once you complete the questline to become a Half-blood my standing will improve, and I will have five. As your Destroyer, your reputation reflects on me.”

  “So the number of wives you can have is based on your standing?”

  “The higher our rank, the more we can protect and keep happy,” Tiny rumbled. “I keep trying to get Bob to go out with my second wife’s sister.”

  “Darkness, no!” Bob shuddered. “I’m an Imp, Tiny. We only go for Succubi. I’ve told you this time and time again.”

  “What’s wrong with his wife’s sister?” Alburet asked, despite a bad feeling.

  “She’s an Imp Mother,” Bob made a gagging sound. “I could spelunk in her and she might not feel it.”

  Alburet’s eye twitched as he tried to get the image Bob had just put in his head out. “Gah, brain bleach needed, stat.”

  “We are not hunting gnolls today, master?” Tiny asked.

  “We be helpin’ the younger members of the guild,” Stacia informed him.

  “Protecting our allies,” Tiny nodded, “this is good.”

  “Okay, let’s head out,” Alburet told them. “That duo on the left corner of the keep is our first set to check with.” Alburet directed them towards the pair that had been in the guild hall earlier.

  As they crossed the open ground which was filled with players and goblins, he noted two more groups killing in the field. He had Tiny pause at the first group of three, one of which was a Paladin. “Afternoon, Alpha Company,” he greeted them as they killed the goblin they had been fighting. He noted their levels, eight, eight, and nine. “How is the day going?”

  The Paladin, Jaxton, answered, “Not horrible. A little slow out here, but without a healer it’s not like we can do the courtyard.”

  “No healer in the guild this level?” Stacia asked.

  “One or two, like her, but she’s with that group over there,” Jaxton said, pointing at Brightlight, a priestess with two other people.

  “Come with us,” Alburet said as he turned and headed towards the other group of Alpha Company. He waited for them to finish their goblin, “Alpha Company, how is the fight going?”

  Brightlight turned to face him, “Oh, the guild leader is out with the rookies. It’s slow. If we had a tank we could hit the courtyard, but we don’t have one.”

  “Jaxton here is a tank,” Alburet informed her. “Your groups would be one person over, though. Are any of your damage types willing to sit out to let the others hit the courtyard?”

  “I’ll sit,” an Elven female with a bow piped in. “I’d prefer a less constricted area then the courtyard.”

  “There we go. You all group up and head out and I’ll take,” Alburet winced at her name, “Leggylass.”

  Jaxton nodded, “Drop your group, I’ll toss you invites,” he told the healer and other damage dealer.

  Alburet sent Leggylass an invite as he moved off towards the other two people he’d spotted earlier. “Follow me, Leggy,” he told her as he started towards the duo.

  “So how did you get so high so quick?” Leggylass asked as she followed him.

  “I’ve been testing since the game went live,” he told her. “It’s why I’m the guild leader.”

  “Ahh, so that’s why you weren’t there for the start of our testing,” she nodded. “Where are we going?”

  “To meet up with those two,” he pointed to the Trapsmith and Elementalist who’d been in the guild hall earlier. “I’ll just sit out behind you guys to help while you three do your thing for a bit.”

  “Yeah, at your level we probably wouldn’t get any real XP if you were in our group.” Leggylass mused out loud as they finally got to the duo.

  “We meet again, guys. How’s it going?”

  The Trapsmith looked over, “It’s touch and go at times, but we’re doing okay.”

  Firepalm, the Elementalist, nodded, “We’re holding up, but it’s going slow. No healer or tank.”

  “I brought you some more damage,” Alburet said as he removed Leggylass from his group. “Leggylass prefers ranged combat and she should fit right in with you two.”

  “Oh. Nice to meet you, Leggylass. I’m Ironhand,” the Trapsmith introduced himself and indicated the Elementalist, “this is Firepalm.”

  “Goblin incoming,” Tiny rumbled as he turned to face it.

  “We’re just observing, Tiny,” Alburet told him. “Step back and let them deal with it. We can pick up anything that they can’t handle.”

  “As you wish, master,” Tiny rumbled, stepping back behind Alburet.

  Alburet watched the trio as they fought the first goblin. He didn’t know anything really about their classes, so he stayed quiet. He did ask Stacia to inquire about a tank and healer willing to help level seven guild mates kill goblins in the Guild chat. After the first goblin died he started asking them about their classes, what abilities they had, and what spells or skills.

  Firepalm had plenty of raw damage, but no other utility. Ironhand had an Immobilization trap, but it took him some time to set it up so could only be used ahead of a fight, plus he could only set up one trap at a time at his level. Leggylass had good damage as well as a skill called Kneeshot, which slowed the target she hit with it. By the time the next goblin came towards them the trio had a plan, and when the fight ended they laughed about how easy it had been.

  “Asthore,” Stacia called to him. “A druid says they will come out. They will be at tha fort in five minutes.”

  “Tiny, Bob, go with Stacia and retrieve the Alpha Company member,” Alburet told them.

  “Yes, master,” Tiny rumbled as he waited for Stacia.

  Stacia kissed Alburet’s cheek, “Be back shortly, love.”

  As Stacia ran off with the demons, Leggylass turned to him. “I’m curious. Is she an NPC? I mean, she has a last name. I haven’t seen any player with a last name.”

  “Yes, she is an NPC,” Alburet grinned as he watched Stacia running.

  “Wait, we can hook up with the NPCs?” Firepalm said. “I’m so going bar crawling tonight.”

  Ironhand laughed, “Wingman?”

  “Hell yeah, dude!” Firepalm agreed, high-fiving Ironhand. “Think about it, we can have fun and not have to worry about kids or STDs.”

  Leggylass sneered, “Just like boys, letting the little head do the thinking.”

  “Yo, chill Leggy,” Ironhand said. “You can come with. If nothing else it means we get a really good look at the city.”

  Shaking her head, Leggylass frowned, “You really want a look at the city, or do you just plan to find some NPC women to fuck
?”

  “Both?” Firepalm chuckled.

  “I’d actually like to see the city, but why would it be wrong to see if anyone willing was around?” Ironhand asked Leggylass with a serious expression.

  “Forget it,” she sighed, “the next goblin is coming.”

  Alburet had watched the back and forth and nodded as he could easily see what the guys were missing. They didn’t miss a beat on the next goblin, but they didn’t celebrate like they had with the last one. They killed another goblin in silence before Stacia came back with a dwarf in tow.

  “Asthore, this is Greenbeard,” she said, introducing dwarven Druid, who did in fact have a green beard.

  “Welcome to the party, Greenbeard. These are your party members, Firepalm, Ironhand and Leggylass. Iron, toss him an invite. We are heading inside the courtyard where another group’s hanging out.”

  “Wait, what?” Ironhand asked. “We don’t have a tank.”

  “XP is awarded to the first group that damages a mob. So Stacia is going to hold mobs off to the side for you to take one by one. Tiny will grab one with a taunt when you’re ready, which doesn’t do damage and will give you a small window to unload on it. Iron is going to be busy with his traps and Leggy can slow them down if they do come after one of you. Fire, you’re the most likely target since you do the most damage. Greenbeard should be able to heal any damage you all take.”

  “Yeah, but,” Firepalm started, but got cut off.

  “We can do it,” Leggylass said aggressively, “where are those balls you were just thinking with? Don’t tell me a bunch of goblins turned you into a eunuch?”

  Greenbeard coughed, “Wow, did I miss something?”

  “The after-party idea was less than well received by Leggy,” Alburet told him. “You can do the courtyard with our help, or would you rather sit here and do this one at a time?”

  “Fuck it, let’s go,” Ironhand said, “the guild leader says we can pull it off and is backing us.”

  “Fine, but if we die he owes us a beer,” Firepalm sighed.

  “Deal,” Alburet laughed. “Bob, it looks like a slow day for you. Did you want to hang out or take off?”

  “I’ll stay,” Bob said, eyeing Leggylass. “The cute one there might decide an Imp is the way she should go after all.”

  Leggylass blinked, “Did he just prop me?”

  Stacia chuckled, “Just treat him like tha horniest teenager ya can think of.”

  “Ugh,” Leggy frowned, “that bad?”

  “Hey,” Bob called out, clutching his chest as if her words hurt. “Please, Legs, take it easy on me. I have a delicate heart.”

  “Okay, we’re moving out. Tiny, take the lead,” Alburet said, cutting off further conversation. As they started to move he tapped Leggylass on the shoulder and spoke softly. “Leggy, men are dense as fuck, as I’m sure you know. I’d wager they’re both shut-ins, which means they aren’t used to dealing with women, or even people in general mostly. Ironhand might be able to be redeemed if someone took the time to show him a little attention and teach him social awareness.”

  Leggy frowned but didn’t reply as the group entered the courtyard and took the front right corner across from the other Alpha Company group. Alburet waved to Jaxton as his group got into position. Stacia dazed the first goblin that came close, shifting to Succubus form as she did so.

  “What the fuck?” Firepalm breathed as he stared at Stacia.

  “That is my wife, if you don’t mind,” Alburet said sternly.

  “Your wife is an NPC succubus that’s also your minion?” Greenbeard asked with incredulity.

  “You recall the patch note about NPCs no longer becoming minions? That was my fault. She was a Half-blood when I met her. Somehow, I hit a quest that is now no longer in the game, she became a full demon and I bound her. I had just been getting into a serious relationship with her when all this happened. Her becoming my minion just moved the relationship along a bit faster, and I married her.”

  “That is so weird,” Ironhand said, tearing his eyes off the sexy demon. “Err, trap, right, sorry,” he coughed and began to set his trap up.

  “She’ll hold that one,” Alburet nodded. “Tiny, taunt the next one over once his trap is set.”

  Tiny roared as soon as Ironhand stood back up and led the goblin to the trap before stepping back. Leggy’s first arrow hit the defender’s shield, “Shields suck,” she sighed.

  Alburet stepped in and cast Sap Strength on the goblin, which made it drop the shield. “All yours now,” he chuckled.

  Her next arrow crippled its knee, slowing its movement speed for fifteen seconds. Her next arrow took it in the chest, “A little help guys?”

  Ironhand was already preparing his next trap, which meant she was talking to Greenbeard and Firepalm, both of whom were still eye fucking Stacia. Alburet growled slightly and stood in their line of sight, “Either start killing goblins or we’re done for the day.”

  That snapped both men from their reverie concerning the finer points of Stacia’s anatomy. “Err, right,” Greenbeard coughed as he tossed a simple DoT onto the mob.

  “I was busy looking at her fine ass, and wondering what that tail could do,” Firepalm smirked. “Sorry for the delay.”

  Alburet kept his eyes pinned to the Elementalist as the group killed the first goblin inside the walls. “You want to retract that statement?” Alburet asked once the fight was over. His voice was cold.

  “Why would I?” Fire laughed. “She obviously is worth the comment. Dude, you can bounce quarters off that ass, am I right? I mean, just thinking about what I would…”

  Tiny spun on the Elementalist, letting out a roar as he stalked forward, “Impudent whelp, to speak of the master’s first wife as if she were a common trollop. I shall have to tear your head off and stuff your words back down your throat.” Small sparks sizzled from Tiny’s eyes.

  Firepalm backed up quickly, his eyes going wide, “Woah, woah, hold up, I take it back okay? I was just joking, that’s all.”

  “Tiny,” Alburet said, his hands clenched tightly as he took a few deep breaths himself. “Stand down. If he does it again, then you can rip his head off.”

  “What happened to if we had a problem taking it to an officer?” Greenbeard asked.

  “There was also the bit about respecting your fellow members. Stacia is also a part of the guild and I lead the guild. Did any of his comments sound respectful to you?” Alburet asked, turning his flat gaze to the druid.

  Greenbeard held up his hands in surrender, “Point. You do know though that she does kind of pull the eye, right?”

  “Yes, and feel free to look, but those kinds of comments shouldn’t be said out loud by anyone. Would you want someone to say that about your mother or sisters?”

  “He has a point,” Leggylass added. “Any woman would be offended by those comments.”

  “Whatever,” Firepalm said as he regained his composure. “Fuck this shit. I’m not into the whole dictator angle you got going on.” He tapped something and his emblem fell off, “Later, dick. Oh, and Leggy? You’re just a bitch who can’t get laid. Go find a stick and rotate on it for a while.” He laughed as he walked off, “See you, losers.”

  “Damn. I thought he was okay at first, but wow, what an ass,” Ironhand said as they watched the Elementalist leave.

  “Well, that’s one potential problem gone,” Alburet sighed as he shifted his gaze to the others. “Sorry about the outburst, but I’m not going to let anyone demean my wife. We good to keep going?”

  “Can we even do this without his damage?”

  “Jaxton,” Alburet raised his voice. “You guys going to hit the keep?”

  “We were just discussing giving it a go,” Jaxton called back.

  “Once you finish, can you and one of the damage types join up with this trio and run it again with them?”

  “They’re only level eights and one seven,” Brightlight added, “that is asking a bit much.”

  “I
’ll get them to nine,” Alburet told them.

  “If you get them to nine, then yes,” Jaxton replied.

  “Done,” he turned to the trio. “We’re heading into the keep. Iron, toss me an invite.”

  “Wait, what? How can we even do that?” Ironhand asked as he sent Alburet an invite.

  “You might not get a lot of XP from the mobs, but you should kill it with the quest XP. We’ll be able to clear it twice by the time they get through the first time.”