Yin swallowed and paled, her beautiful features suddenly tinged with fear.
Dirk winked and relaxed his tone. "You're playing with the big boys now. If you want in, we're happy to have you, but you have to understand that you play by our rules and our rules alone. If the wrong people hear about this, it could put good American lives in jeopardy. And I know you wouldn't want to be responsible for any young men dying, do you?"
Yin grew even paler, shaking her head. "No. Not, not even my ex-boyfriend."
Dirk flashed a brilliant smile. "Then you have nothing to worry about. Just remember, loose lips sink ships."
"Loose lips sink ships," she whispered. "Got it."
Val smiled. "Don't worry, you can always talk to us about whatever's on your mind. We're all on the same team, after all."
Dirk gave a reassuring nod. "Exactly. Any time you're feeling overwhelmed, you can talk to any of us. No judgment. Just trust."
"Got it." Yin actually saluted. Val couldn't help grinning, she looked adorable.
Dirk nodded. "Excellent. I'll go check on Julia. You keep an eye on our Val, here."
And within moments it was just the two of them, Yin's gentle almond eyes locking with Val's own. "That was some epic level heroism you pulled back there, saving Julia's life like that. And I don't just mean in game. Dirk is serious. This is all really... real, right?"
Val sighed and nodded. "I think it is, Yin. I'm not sure how, but, I think it really is. And our connection with this planet's growing so strong that even jacked in, our bodies respond to stimuli as if we really were here."
Yin grimaced. "So poor Julia would have either died of a heart attack, or by being pulverized by some sort of plasma bomb. Either way, dead is dead."
Val nodded.
Yin swallowed. "You really are a hero, you know. You saved my life, you saved Julia's, you even saved poor Rich, who's now too scared to ever play."
Val grimaced. "And I killed a handful of men when I first jumped in, thinking it was all just a bloody game."
Yin nodded. "You did, Val. But you didn't know. It's not your fault any more than someone telling you that your school journal had transformed into a death book, and anyone you wrote revenge fantasies about died."
Val blinked at the odd idea.
"Sorry, it's a popular spin in anime. The point is, only when you know what's really going on, should you feel responsible. Some people will say that's bullshit, that we're responsible for everything that happens as a result of whatever we say or do, whatever our intentions, any number of steps removed. But that means that chance, not good intentions and attempted good deeds, decide whether we go to Heaven or Hell. Let's say all I did was laugh loudly at a joke, and someone scowls at me and doesn't look where he's going. Is it my fault if he got hit by a car? If I put on a particular dress, and some psychopath is triggered and starts attacking pretty girls because I reminded him of his ex on that particular day, does that mean it's my fault too? Personally, I think that's crazy. Intent has to matter."
Yin squeezed his uninjured hand. "As far as you knew, this was just a game like any other. You weren't trying to harm any innocent when you were goofing off in the starter zone. We all thought it was just a game. And, well, don't forget, you brought that whole rejuvenation center the Dominion hadn't even tried to fix back online, so any civilian or soldier who ports in that way, well, he has you to thank for not drowning to death in rotting gloop."
Val grinned. "Thanks, Yin. Actually that does make me feel better. I'm glad I can let go of that burden of guilt at least."
Yin's gaze grew sympathetic. She gently brushed his brow. Val swallowed, his heart suddenly kicking up a notch. Damn if she wasn't one of the most beautiful girls he had ever seen.
"So what was it like, being trained as a government assassin?"
Val laughed at that. "I was a water treatment specialist. Ask anyone."
She smirked at that. "What you are is an ass." She gently stroked his cheek. "Do you need anything, Val? A glass of sangria? Or maybe... me?"
Val blinked at that. Yin broke out in silvery peals of laughter. "Oh look at your face, boy! You're too much!"
Val smirked. "Ha ha," he said.
Yin's gaze grew solemn. "I'd totally take you in a heartbeat, if you said you were interested in me. And I don't just mean as a fling, my bullshit about boys and bling aside." She flashed a sad smile. "But I think someone else is already in love with you. Seriously, fiercely, in love with you. And I already like her too much to hurt her, stealing you away. Besides, you saving her life like that? So fucking heroic. How can it not be a bloody sign?"
She winked. "Besides. Dirk is one deadly fine piece of meat. I wouldn't mind sampling his wares." She grimaced. "But then I might seriously fall for him, and he'll be the cold commanding officer and I'll be the sad little wispy girl pining for the love he never shows me outside of the bedroom, like I'm in some maudlin Korean drama!"
Her gaze turned reflective. "Chris is nice enough. Friendly, sweet, hyper-positive. He'd be a great inspirational coach, but let's be honest, he didn't get into college on his grades, that's for damned sure. He's like a big goofy dog everyone loves, but when it comes to leadership, his snout points to Dirk faster than you can say 'yes, sir!'"
Val chuckled at that, before wincing at the pain. "Wow. Looks like you got us all figured out."
Yin winked. "I'm a smart girl, Val, and I know what I want."
"All the boys and the bling."
"That's right," she said, kissing a surprised Val on the lips before smiling and stepping back. "I hope you and Julia can have that happy ending. But if not? I'd snatch you up in a heartbeat." With those words she sauntered off, rolling her hips, her teasing smile making it clear she was having him on.
Val couldn't help grinning as she left, chuckling over all the twists and turns of the day.
Julia's soft voice suddenly tickled his ear. "Val, how are you feeling? You looked like you were about to drift off. You shouldn't do that until you've had at least one more potion."
Val blinked himself fully awake, realizing he had been about to crash, an empty seat where Chris had sat minutes before going on about army life before he had nodded off. "I think this room just puts people to sleep."
Julia grinned. "That would explain the bed and everything, right? As if this were some sort of, I don't know... bedroom. Anyway, here is your third greater healing potion of the day." She squeezed his hand. "You just tell me if it's too much, okay? Most people, for whatever reason, can only handle one, or at most two in a day before they grow averse to it, where it actually seems to sicken them. Chris's limit is one per session, Dirk and I can easily handle two. Yin? I don't know about. Of course we knew we had to give you two no matter what, it probably saved your life... but we did risk you getting violently ill. As for a third? Well, I know I can't handle it, but maybe you can? For some reason, Dirk takes it as a given. I wanted to check first."
Val smiled into concerned eyes that glimmered like jewels with unshed tears. "It's okay," he assured, solemnly taking the stoppered potion, gazing for a moment at the glittering ruby texture, sensing the potency resonating within, feeling no aversion to it at all. When he took a cautious sip, it tasted of apricots and honey with a dash of peppermint, flowing down his throat like sweetest nectar. He gave a satisfied sigh, feeling the dull throb in bones that had been shattered only hours before and mended to hairline fractures now knit themselves up the rest of the way, finding both exquisite relief and a weariness so great he had to fight to remain conscious.
Julia gave a relieved smile. "Your body's taking it just fine. I had hoped, but..." She turned away, wiping her eyes, unable to hide the tears flowing down her cheeks. "Heaven's grace, Val, if you hadn't gotten there in time, if the injuries had been any worse..."
Val squeezed her hand as Julia turned away, trying to hide her sobs.
"It's okay, Julia," Val soothed. "The spell got the best of you. That's all."
Julia gave a furious
shake of her head. "That's not all, Val. If only you knew how diligently I've been studying that spell, trying to learn it after suffering the most degrading of instructors. It left me fiercely intent on imprinting it on my mind and how I've tried, Val. I have almost all the requisites. I'm third rank in Creation, Control, Fire and Earth, so I should be able to cast 30th level spells comfortably, and 40th level spells with diligence and concentration. But this 45th level spell almost got me killed. Almost got you killed! And damn if I'm not a fool for pushing myself so fast, so hard..."
Val reached out and clasped her hand once more. "Julia?"
She sniffled and swallowed, gazing up shyly through her growing bangs, the shine of her chrome port bothering Val not at all. "Yes?"
"It's okay," he smiled. "It sounds like this spell is far harder to learn than most, requiring not just a discipline and an element, but two of each. You must master creation to summon it into being, and Control to lock in the directional effect, so the bad guys alone get hit by a blast of superheated armor-piercing shrapnel, and your allies need only worry about the shock wave in the rear. Clearly, it was designed by a master during the rebellion, centuries ago, and even with directional application, now we know that we should be at least forty feet back from the target."
Julia shook her head. "No, Val. If I had controlled the blast radius properly, you would have been hit with nothing worse than a loud roar. The shock wave, the heat blast, the tungsten shrapnel, all of that should have been confined to a 120 degrees arc. You can even tighten the cone, if you're really, really good." She paled and swallowed. "But greater spells, of which I'd count this as, tend to gravitate back to their caster if not summoned properly. Not such a big deal with low level, easy to control spells, where cutting off your will ends the circuit. This spell, unlike anything else I've ever tried to cast, is death if I mess up."
Val nodded. "And you know how important this mission is. And you felt compelled to push yourself to be all that you could be, knowing this spell could make all the difference."
Julia shook with shame. "And for that arrogance, I nearly killed you. I nearly killed us both. Hell, I could have taken out a good portion of the manor!"
Val gazed thoughtfully at Julia, his finger absently caressing a crimson strand. She smiled through her tears at his touch. "You're no fool. And you had deliberately headed to the far side of the compound. You didn't pull out because you were trying to keep control of the spell, trying to make sure it wouldn't fly into any of our friends."
Her smile became sad. "Gods, Val, if only I could use that excuse. Fact is, I did freeze. I was so lost in the desperate terror of trying to control that greater evocation that I had forgotten completely about saying p... the p word." She swallowed, clenching her hands into trembling fists. "I feel so damned awful, endangering you like that. And seeing you so hurt, screaming in pain..."
"I didn't scream," Val insisted.
Julia quirked a smile. "Oh, you screamed just a bit, Val."
"You must have me confused for a wuss somewhere. No wusses here," he haughtily assured.
Julia's eyes twinkled, her smile grew. "Oh, you were sobbing like a baby, Val. Like a little lost boy who needed a hug."
Val laughed at that. "Well, in any case, I feel a heck of a lot better now. Just, you know, tired as the dickens."
Julia nodded. "You and me both. Do... do you still want to come back, tomorrow?" Hopeful eyes gazed into his own.
"Of course!" Val said. "I'm loving the game, and the company. Besides, someone has to stick around and keep you safe."
Julia grinned. "No other hero I'd rather have by my side. Get some rest, Valor."
Val smiled as her soft lips brushed his cheek, finding her blush absolutely endearing and was trying to think of something wonderfully clever to say when he finally fell asleep.
14
"How are you feeling, Val?"
Val looked up from his plate of pancakes, sausage, eggs and hash browns. Well seasoned with plenty of butter and maple syrup on the side. He flashed a pleased smile. "Great, after this feast!" Then he yawned.
His father's smile couldn't hide a trace of concern. "I'm glad. It looks like you could use the grub. If you don't mind me saying, you look exhausted, son."
Val winced. "Let's just say I might have hit the weights and training swords both, the other night, and it's been a while since I used either."
His father nodded. "I'm grateful beyond words to have you back, but you pushed yourself considerably, getting here. Your body might still be recovering from your ordeal. And I know you've also been spending a lot of hours under the VR helm. With Julia."
Val avoided his father's considering gaze, returning his focus to his still delicious breakfast.
"Andrey hopes we'll come by tonight. He says he has some things he wants to discuss with you, foremost is his appreciation for you being willing to devote so much of your days in Julia's company." His father grinned. "In my day, we had other ways of going out, Val. As wonderfully exciting as virtual dragon slaying might be, there's a lot to be said for taking a girl out for dinner and a movie, or just an afternoon by the lake."
Val blinked at this, carefully swallowing his food. "Julia and I are growing into fast friends, and I'm really enjoying gaming with her."
His father raised an eyebrow. "Are you saying you aren't interested in her as a girlfriend?"
Val flushed and looked away. "No, I'm not saying that. It's just that, well, remember, what feels like only a few days back for me, Julia and I had been gaming buddies for almost half a year, back when she was 17, and the last thing I'd let myself feel is romantically interested. It just... I didn't want to create a lot of drama, and let's be honest, I was nothing special, then."
His father frowned. "Bullshit. You're a man any woman can be proud to call her own, injured or no. And the fact that you've recovered so damn well is an incredible blessing, but it doesn't define you." His father took a deep breath, his gaze softening. "Besides. You saved her life, and you're both adults. Whatever demons still haunt you, son, it's time to let them go. You deserve to be with someone who cares about you, whoever she may be."
Val blinked at that. "How did I save her life?"
His father flashed a strangely sad smile. "She went missing, Val, and Andrey asked for your help. You rose to the occasion and helped reveal an incredibly ugly conspiracy. And even though we weren't able to rescue Julia or yourself then, I have no doubt that had you not done exactly as you had, none of those two hundred boys and girls would have been found in that warehouse, three months ago."
Val frowned. "But wasn't I just another one of those captives?"
His father shrugged. "That's something we may never know."
Val shuddered then, recalling flashes of the strange dreams that had plagued him last night, sleeping off the effects of that intense VR session. Flickers of running through corridors as gunmen chased him, seeing Julia gazing at him in a pristine white suit, sobbing tears of blood.
The humming throb of a massive dreadnought in deepest space, and he striding the corridors like an avatar of death. Icy, fearless, embracing his own oblivion, that terrible acceptance giving him a strength that seemed to cow all those who dared to face him.
Gambling with oblivion itself as he handled a blade of crackling darkness so like the one that Inquisitor had wielded just the day before.
Effortlessly cleaving through the flesh of men who screamed and begged.
Before sending them all spiraling to hell.
For I am become Death, destroyer of worlds.
Val closed his eyes tight, gripping the lip of the table for all he was worth, struck with sudden vertigo that almost sent him crashing to the floor.
"Val!"
In an eyeblink his father, never slow, was supporting him, and how humiliated Val suddenly felt, as if he were a cripple once more. "Sorry, dad, I'm suddenly feeling dizzy." He forced a laugh. "Maybe I'll hit the hay after all."
His father's concerned gaze
met his own.
Val couldn't help but look away.
So many of his father's secrets he desperately didn't want to see.
His father sighed. "Come on, Val, let's get you to bed. We'll take a rain check on Andrey's invitation."
Val shook his head. "No. It's okay, dad. Or... let's just see how I feel? And regarding everything else you said; taking Julia out, or anyone out... not a good idea."
His father patted his back as he helped Val back to his room. "I've been reaching out. Touching bases with old acquaintances. As far as I can tell, no one living has any beef with your former unit."
Val frowned. "Then why was someone trying to kill me the moment I woke up?"
His father's gaze hardened. "I don't know, and it's not something I'm going to let go. But Val? I called in some favors. No professional organization has a contract out on you, and almost none are opposed to targets paying a blood price to get in the clear. Serious syndicates are about the bottom line, not needless risk, and closing off opportunities to subcontract for the government would run counter to their own interests."
Val blinked at that, surprised by his father's sangfroid, but of course he knew how the world worked at least as well as Val did.
"As far as independent anonymous bounties, there are no contracts out for you on any darkweb site viewed by serious players." His father chuckled. "In fact, save for old HEMA events and gaming sites, you're a ghost, as far as the internet is concerned."
Val flashed a mirthless smile at that, having been privacy focused and using the internet only through aliases even as a teen, touching no controversial site til TOR and TAILS were second nature to him, assuming someone was always watching.
"That's good to hear. Still, I should see what Papa Dominic's associate has to say."
His father frowned at that. "Let's think that one through, Val. He's the man who accepted the contract to take you out in the first place. Even though he used an intermediary, even though he tried to save face, implying that he never would have taken the hit if he had seen how young you were or that you seemed likely to wake up, he was still the one who accepted the contract." His father held up a hand. "Now as far as I'm concerned, you played the man perfectly, holding him at gunpoint while you each sought to charm and interrogate the other. Implying you might be open to working for him, sparing his men, even giving him a point of contact with you in the form of a man you would reach out to for information was all well and good.
Endless Online: Oblivion's Price: A LitRPG Adventure - Book 3 Page 24
