Minecraft (Masters of Minecraft Box Set Book 1)

by Terry Mayer

  BOOM. The canon sound explodes in the air and then the thunderous voice announces...

  The seventh competitor has been eliminated. Jethro Skybuilder has not proven worthy. Five competitors remain. Continue the tournament.

  "Noooo," she shrieks. "Jay, I'm so sorry."

  Hovering over the jungle canopy, Hailey is lost in remorse and fails to notice a huge black shape move across the setting sun.

  *****

  Like taking candy from a baby, PowerGlide smirks to himself as he pushes further into the jungle. I just wish I could have seen the look on Jethro's face when he realized I shot him from behind, but never mind, the look on the others face's was priceless. Mind you, that was weird, the moment the arrow hit Jethro I got hit by something too, what's the chances of that?

  Right, time to concentrate again, he thinks, moving to the East, trying to circle back around behind the others. If I can get behind them again I should be able to take another one out before sunset. Moving cautiously, but still making good speed he continues to push through the jungle foliage, intent on his prey.

  *****

  8 - Explain It To Me Again

  "So who is leading at the moment?"

  - I would have said Jay Lightningbuilder, but he just took a turn for the worst. Presently I would venture that Natasha and Nathan the Noob are in the strongest positions.

  "You're kiddin' me. Nathan the Noob cannot win this tournament. He is not calibrated and we have no idea what will happen if he wins."

  - Yes Notch, but there is nothing that we can do. The program is now locked and no one, not even us, can alter its presets.

  "I know, I know. So, remind me again why I agreed to this tournament?

  Looking at him with a worried expression Herobrine replies.

  - Notch, you already know everything that I know.

  "Yeah, yeah, I know, but just humor me, I'm still a little fuzzy."

  - To create true, total immersion virtual reality, as we are presently witnessing, is beyond the science of humans, and will remain so for decades, but when you discovered the growth accelerant..

  "Oh yeah, I remember, that green slime."

  - Yes Notch, the growth accelerant, we were able to jump dozens of years of research and build the first organic computers.

  "Yeah I remember all that now, but why the tournament?

  - Do you really not remember Notch?

  "Not really, but I do remember it will save years of programming."

  - One word Notch, Charles Darwin.

  As his memories flood back into his consciousness, Notch jumps in the air fist pumping.

  "Yes, survival of the species. We had to teach the organic computer to think and survive but within controlled conditions."

  - Exactly Notch. We could not allow the computer to learn to survive without a safe, secure platform, in this case the tournament, to live within. If we had simply taught survival in the real world it could have learnt too well and turned against us.

  "So what exactly will the tournament achieve?

  - If you are correct in your calculations Notch, then when one of the pre-calibrated players wins the computer will have learnt how to survive and how other species survive so allowing the world to co-exist in virtual reality.

  "So in effect out virtual world becomes real?

  - Yes Notch. The world of Minecraft will become a real place at the end of the tournament.

  "Awesome. So what happens if Nathan the Noob wins?"

  - I don't know.

  "What does that mean? There must be a contingency plan in place."

  - No Notch. The only way the computer could learn, at the speed we needed it to learn was to pre-program all outcomes and grow it in the form we wanted. Unfortunately, because Nathan the Noob was not calibrated, we cannot know what will happen if he wins.

  "Ok, so how's the computer handling the fact that he is here?

  - Surprisingly well. It has simply allocated a player rank to him and started the game, as it also did with Jack the Dweeb.

  "It's thinking for itself. So even if Nathan wins, we should still be ok?"

  - No Notch, I don't believe we will. If Nathan the Noob wins the tournament the computer will have to interpret the results itself. That is free thought Notch, the very thing we were trying to avoid by growing the intelligence here, in the world of Minecraft, and not in the real world.

  "So what exactly does that mean?"

  - It means, if one of our players wins then the world of Minecraft will be born, just as we have been working towards, but, if Nathan wins then the computer will become sentient and will be in control of this world, not us.

  "God help us all. What have we done?"

  *****

  Looking at the ground Natasha turns to Nate and whispers, "I think he went this way. Looks like he is trying to circle back around on us."

  "How can you tell, it all looks the same to me."

  "I don't really know, but when I look at the ground here, it sort of looks different. Not like in the real world where I would look for a broken twig or a muddy footprint, but it's sort of hazy, as if something smudged the block when it was walked on."

  Looking closer Nate remarks, "nope. I just can't see it, but if you say you can then that's good enough for me."

  "Good lad Nate. So if PowerGlide is being crafty and circling back maybe we should do the same and surprise him. What do you think?"

  "Great idea, it's time for a little payback," he grins, smacking the flat of his sword blade against his hand.

  "Oh Nate, that reminds me," grins Natasha, removing the crafting table from her inventory. "If we are going into battle we better be prepared. Here," she says handing Nate a gleaming diamond sword that she had just knocked up on the crafting table.

  "Wow Natasha, for real. This is awesome," he yelps, swinging the blade above his head, testing the weight of it, "but maybe you should have it, seeing as you're the best fighter."

  "Thanks Nate, but no need to worry, I've got one too," she replies, lifting her own diamond sword from the crafting table, which she then places back in her inventory. "I meant to make these ages ago after we found the diamonds in the temple, but with everything that happened I just forgot."

  "Totally cool. So, are diamond swords any good?"

  "Oh yeah Nate, they are as good as you can get, unless you can find an enchanted one."

  "Cool, thanks Natasha."

  "How about we go test these bad boys out on that grifter, PowerGlide?"

  "Hell yeah, lead the way. It's payback time," he replies, following Hailey back the way they had just come, trying to catch PowerGlide in a trap.

  *****

  This is going to be epic, thinks PowerGlide as he pushes his way quietly through the foliage, trying not to break any blocks and leave a trail. I can't wait to see their face's again when I ambush them from behind. Moving steadily in a large circle, he spots movement just ahead, at the edge of a clearing. Weird, I didn't think I would catch up with them yet, they must be moving really slowly. Edging forward very carefully he watches as a lone figure moves out of the jungle and steps into the clearing, intent on it's prey.

  "Warlord!" he exclaims, slapping his hand across his mouth but not before his old friend lifts his head in his direction and their eyes meet through the jungle foliage.

  "Well, well, well. If it isn't my old friend PowerGlide, all alone in the jungle."

  "You don't know I'm alone Warlord."

  "Course you are, I'm not deaf. I heard PowerMad and Munster get eliminated."

  "Well yeah, that's true. Most unfortunate circumstances."

  "Yeah, I'm sure. So what now," Warlord asks, standing up straight and readying his sword.

  "Ah, come on Warlord, what's your problem, I thought we were a team?"

  "You have no idea what a team is. You're a dictator Glide and I don't want any part of you."

  "Fair enough, but just remember, it was you who ran out on the group and got PowerMad killed, not me."
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  "Yeah? Well I guess I learnt from you, everyman for himself."

  "Well, I'll see you around," grins PowerGlide, stepping back into the jungle and disappearing.

  "Not if I see you first," replies Warlord, stepping out of the clearing and moving away from PowerGlide.

  *****

  "What do you make of that?" whispers Natasha.

  "Looks like we may have just got lucky. I can't believe we have two of them tracking us."

  "Yeah, I'm sorry Nate. This is all my fault. I was so keen for revenge that I did not even stop to think that we may still be the prey."

  "Yeah! Well as far as I'm concerned nothing has changed. PowerGlide killed Jethro and he still needs to be held accountable."

  "But if we take on two of them at once we could all die."

  "Maybe, but we still have the secret weapon. We know that when you attack another player you loose equal health points, I bet they haven't figured that out yet."

  "So what do you suggest?"

  "Let's treat them like the pigs they are and hunt them down individually."

  As a wicked smile creeps up the side of Natasha's face she nods and whispers, "remind me to never get on the wrong side of you Nate, you are truly wicked," seeing Nate's face drop she continues, "and I love it. Come on, let's bag ourselves some pigs."

  *****

  9 - Don't Get Jethro'd

  Hovering over the jungle canopy, Hailey is torn between indecision. To search for Jay, who she knows is dead after the announcement or to try and find the others.

  "So what should we do Medousa?"

  Turning her huge head towards Hailey, Medousa blows a small stream of fire though her nostrils, and then turns back towards the jungle canopy.

  "Right you are girl. The others would never forgive me if we went back without even looking for Jay. Go ahead girl, do your stuff."

  Taking a huge, shuddering breath, Medousa seems to grow and pulsate then just as suddenly she exhales and a rolling stream of fire sprays from her gapping jaws onto the jungle canopy, instantly incinerating everything within a 50 block radius.

  "Wow! Remind me not to get in your way any time soon. Way to go Medousa."

  Edging cautiously through the opening, Medousa and Hailey descend into the twilight of the jungle below and settle onto the jungle floor.

  Looking around at the uniform jungle there is no sign of Jay so Hailey listens for any noise and is rewarded with a gurgling sound. "Right, you stay here, I'm going to take a little look around," she says, patting Medousa on her neck and moving towards the source of the noise, bow at the ready.

  Stepping from behind a large tree, she finds the source of the gurgling. A small river flows through the jungle, totally concealed from above by the jungle canopy. Moving towards the edge she scans in both directions for any sign of life and is rewarded with something on the far bank. "Jay, Jay," she screams wading into the river. Approaching the shape she comes to a complete stop as she realizes that it's a pile of possessions sat on top of a large stone.

  "Oh no, Jay. I'm so sorry."

  Bending to pick up the diamond sword she is startled by a voice.

  Stepping from behind a tree Jay looks angrily at Hailey."First you throw me off the back of your Dragon and I fall to certain death, only to be saved, by pure luck I must say, by this beautiful little river. Then, when I'm drying myself off you try and steal what little possessions I have left."

  "Jay, you're alive!" Jumping with excitement Hailey bounds forward and throws herself into Jay's outstretched arms, kissing and hugging him.

  "Wow, calm down girl. I'm fine, no thanks to you."

  "I'm so sorry Jay, I never meant to hurt you, are you hurt? Oh Jay I'm so sorry," she gushes and bursts into tears.

  "Shh Hailey, I'm only messing. I'm fine, really. That river broke my fall, look, no damage," he says, letting Hailey go he raises his arms in the air and pirouettes.

  Laughing, Hailey throws herself back into Jays arms. "But I heard the cannon after you fell, how can you be ok?"

  "It's wasn't me." Looking crestfallen he continues, "it was Jethro, he died Hailey."

  "Oh no, not Jethro. He was so kind."

  "I know, this game really sucks."

  "So what now?"

  "Well, I see you still have that infernal flying machine," he says sarcastically, looking over at Medousa sat in the clearing she had just made, "so I guess we still try and find the others."

  "Natasha and Nate, of course."

  "Yeah, I feel kind of responsible for Nate. The only reason that he's here is because of me."

  "No Jay, it's not your fault, it's Herobrine's."

  "Yeah, but who is Herobrine? He's not even real, someone else must be behind all this."

  "Notch."

  "Nah, it's not his style, he loves this game."

  "Just think about it. Who else loves Minecraft more than Notch? Why wouldn't he want it to be real?"

  "Two reasons Hailey. One, real life hurts. When we fall or get shot by an arrow it's really painful, who in their right mind wants to experience that. And two, this is way beyond what Notch built. Minecraft's just a game but this is way beyond anything anyone has ever created."

  "So if not Notch, then who?"

  "Not who, but what."

  "Huh?"

  "Think about it. The best we could do with virtual reality before this was some 3D goggles or holographs, but this, this is in a whole new category. It's like comparing a mainframe computer to an calculator. Yeah, they are both counting machines but one is so much more. This is not a human invention."

  "I guess, but that makes it even more scary than before. At least when I thought that Notch was behind it then maybe we really do go home when we die, after all, I never imagined him as a mass murderer, but if aliens built this place then who knows what their morals are?"

  "I know, but I just can't think of any other way that this could be real."

  "Maybe were imagining it. We might be in some hospital, being pumped full of drugs, you know, like in The Matrix or something."

  "Maybe, but how do you explain that I remember being pulled inside my xbox then?"

  "Oh Jay, after they grabbed and drugged you they changed your memories to make this place seem real."

  "Oh come on Hailey, you really think that they would go to all the trouble of drugging me and changing my memories so that... what, why are you looking at me like that?"

  "Really Jay, can you hear yourself. You think that's too much trouble but it's perfectly normal for an alien race to create a whole new world and transport you into it through your xbox?"

  "Huh, yeah. I guess a little drugging would be easier than all this," he replies waving his hand at the world that surrounds him.

  "Anyway, I'm just glad you are ok," she replies, stepping forward and kissing his blocky cheek.

  "Yeah, me too, thanks Hailey."

  "Right, so are you ready for anther go on my infernal flying machine?" she smiles over her shoulder as she walks back to where Medousa is waiting.

  "Sure, but this time I'm tying myself on, and no messing Hailey, I mean it."

  "Sure Jay, you can trust me," she winks at him.

  "Ah man, women!" he gasps, following her over to Medousa. "And you, no more hard turns, I do not want to fall off again," he chides, poking Medousa in the neck.

  With a deep, rumbling growl she turns her head to face Jay and emits a tiny flare of fire.

  "Oh sorry, never meant to poke you," he stammers, faced with a huge angry Ender Dragon.

  Laughing, Hailey jumps onto Medousa's back and shouts, "now, now children, play nice. So you coming or not Jay?"

  Climbing up behind Hailey, he removes a length of string from his inventory and securely ties himself to the saddle. "Sure, just remember what I said though."

  "Sure Jay, now hold tight."

  And with that thought echoing in his head, Medousa launches herself into the air, and flies up through the opening in the canopy, spinning as she exits the
trees.

  "Not again!!!!" screams Jay, grasping Hailey tighter, squeezing his eyes shut while trying to block out her joyful laughter.

  *****

  "What's he doing now Natasha?"

  "Looks like he's trying to circle back around again."

  "So who's he tracking, us or Warlord?"

  "Warlord. If he had been trying to track us he would have headed in this direction. Let's just follow him and see what happens."

  "Ok, you go ahead, I'll be 10 blocks behind you."

  "Feeling a little scarred there Nate?"

  "No, but I don't trust PowerGlide or Warlord, so I'm going to hang back and make sure no one is tracking us."

  "Good idea Nate. If you spot something let me know and I'll drop back and help." Watching as PowerGlide pushes silently through the foliage, Natasha gives Nate a smile, winks and moves forward, tracking PowerGlide's every move.

  Waiting in the undergrowth, Nate waits for Natasha to pull ahead before stepping into the jungle and moving forward, a few blocks to the left of her position. Stopping and crouching behind a large fern, he waits and watches the spot that he and Natasha had just left. Just as he is about to give up a shadow moves across the trail and Warlord steps out into the open. Bending, he examines the trail and then pushes forward, following Natasha.

  I knew it! I better warn Natasha, he thinks, moving back onto the trail and silently pursuing Warlord.

  *****

  Amateurs, these guys are leaving a trail I could follow in the dark, thinks Warlord, bending to examine a broken branch. Can't be much farther ahead of me now, but I wonder where PowerGlide is, he thinks, glancing over his shoulder.

  Edging forward, Warlord spots movement up ahead and slides behind a tree trunk. Removing his bow he notches an arrow and steps around the tree, pulling back on the string, ready to send death at who ever is there. Releasing his breath as he pans from right to left he is struck in the side and feels his ribs crack, sending him crashing to the floor.