Alterlife

by Matt Moss

  I rub the back of my neck. “Pretty good,” I tell her, but don’t go into the details. “But there’s no excuse for what I did. I screwed up, and I’m sorry. Hopefully that extra ten grand will go a long way. Maybe even buy a new car?”

  She reaches across the desk and puts the gold in her inventory. Immediately, her mood lightens tenfold. “Maybe,” she says, raising her chin slightly.

  “Can we still be friends?”

  She gives me a look. “We never were friends.”

  I nod, rubbing the back of my neck again. “Right. Well, now that I’ve utterly shamed myself, I guess I’ll be going now. Take care, Eldra.” I walk to the door and turn the handle.

  “What, just because you killed a Daemon, you think you’re big stuff now?” she says, stopping me.

  “Wait. You heard about that already?”

  She walks around the desk to stand in front of me. “I’d be surprised if the news hadn’t spread all across the server by now. More than likely, your name is renowned throughout Alterlife.”

  I look at her blankly, trying to wrap the words around my head. They hit me like a ton of bricks. I never even thought about that. I’m a somebody...

  “Having a friend like you could be a blessing. Or a curse,” she adds. A smile creeps across her face. “But I’m willing to bet on you. Yeah, we’re friends. Just don’t steal from me again, okay?”

  I look down, smile, and raise my eyes back to hers, glad to be forgiven. “Thank you, Eldra. It means a lot to me. And I won’t steal from you again, I promise.”

  A finger wags at me. “Now Gamemaster Deakins on the other hand...” A slow shake of her head is all I need to know.

  “Yeah. I’m not looking forward to that meeting,” I tell her and open the door. “See you around, Eldra.”

  I sit on the stone fountain and wait for the next newcomer to join Alterlife. It doesn’t take long before one spawns and looks around like a newborn babe. Like clockwork, Gamemaster Deakins appears.

  “Greetings, my name is…” he begins but stops as soon as he sees me. His eyes narrow and he purses his lips. The moment washes away and he turns back to greet his guest. “Greetings, my name is Gamemaster Deakins. Welcome to Alterlife, the place where dreams come true. This world is a magical place. And the people, oh the people are quite lovely here. True, honest people, they are. What can I help you with today?”

  Point taken, Deakins.

  After answering a few brief questions, Deakins bids the traveler farewell, then turns to walk away.

  I catch up to him. “Hey, wait up.”

  “I’m not speaking to you,” he says without stopping.

  I walk beside him. “I’m sorry. C’mon, will you at least talk to me?”

  He stops and turns to face me. “I haven’t the time for liars and thieves.”

  I hold a finger up. “One, I never lied. I delivered the money to Eldra as promised just a moment ago, with interest.” I hold another finger up. “And two, I’m not a thief. I just borrowed the money.”

  He holds three fingers up. “Three, you’re a manipulator—worse than a liar. Have a good day, sir.”

  “Please don’t walk away. I think I’ve bitten off more than I can chew and need some advice.”

  He gives an exaggerated turn. “Oh? And what might that be? Owe money to someone else, do you?”

  I have enough money now that I don’t have to borrow from anyone ever again.

  “No. The leader of the Black Knights just made me commander of the guild.”

  At the mention of my title, Deakins practically jumps at me and puts a finger to his mouth. “Quiet.” He looks around, nervously, and pulls out his ledger. “We can’t talk here. Say the word ‘tutorial’.”

  “Tutorial.”

  He taps a finger over the book multiple times. Instantly, I’m transported back to the spherical room, standing by a tall, square wooden table in the middle of the space with no chairs.

  “Deakins? Where are you?”

  Instead of the program speaking to me, it’s Deakin’s voice that fills the room. “Here we can speak freely, outside the server. This is a direct connection to your host. Commander of the Black Knights, eh? How did you get yourself tangled up with that lot, let alone rise to such a rank?”

  “Long story, but I’ll give you the rundown.” I stole a treasure map. “I found a treasure map and uncovered Thal’s Sword of Eternity. I also have his Amulet. And a cloak of invisibility that I got from a crazy guy in the woods, but that was before. Anyway, I used the sword to kill the Daemon after it killed the commander of the Black Knights and most of the raiding party. The guild leader heard about it and made me the new commander.” I take a deep breath after letting the words spill out, and wait on his reply.

  “Is that all?” Deakins asks.

  “Pretty much.” I leave out the details about my companions, Deana and Gage. If I’m going to be cobbled up in some mess, I don’t want them to get tangled up with me.

  “The items you speak of... I’ve never heard of them, which surprises me. And makes me nervous.”

  I take them from my inventory and show them to him. “Aren’t Gamemasters supposed to know about everything in the game? How could you not know about them? Thal’s lore is widespread throughout Alterlife.”

  “That is what concerns me. If we’re not making these items, then who is? And how are they getting into the world?”

  The room grows deathly quiet as Deakins thinks. “I will ponder on these things.”

  I place my hands on the tall table. “What should I know about the Black Knights? Should I be concerned?”

  “Concerned? Maybe. Wary would be my advice. There are some powerful players in the guild, and if they are that powerful in the game, they’re powerful in real life, too. If I were you, I would be careful of who your friends are.”

  It’s just a game.

  “Okay, I’ll keep my eyes peeled. Deakins, thank you. For everything.”

  “Take care, Ace.”

  “Hey Deakins, one last thing. Are you going to ban these items that I carry?”

  “I’ve already tried, Ace; the second after you told me about them. Apparently, whoever made those items protected them from being banished by a Gamemaster.” A pause. “I’ll be seeing you around.”

  The room fades away and I’m standing back at the fountain. Deakins is nowhere to be seen. I stare into the water. Something about how he said those last words makes me feel uneasy.

  Well, Ace, you’ve certainly made a name for yourself.

  So what if I did?

  For once in my life, I’m a somebody.

  I’ve never felt this way before.

  9

  ACE THE GREAT

  Monday.

  I tell my family goodbye and head to my job. After putting in four solid hours, I tell Mr. Lee that I have his money and need to take a longer lunch break to get it from the bank. He’s surprised that I’m paying him back so quickly.

  “I’m a man of my word,” I tell him.

  I just don’t tell him that the money is in the game and that I need to transfer it to the real world somehow. I’ve read some forums on how to transfer money, but opinions seem to vary on the subject, and some even go into the realm of breaking the law. And since I haven’t been in contact with Deana, I need to ask someone at the guild.

  Cervial. He will know how.

  I grab some fast food on the way to my friend’s apartment. Once inside, I lock the door and log back in.

  The map brings up the places I’ve been. Now that I’m a member of the Black Knights, I can teleport to Faldron’s Reach anytime I’m in another town; a perk of being in a guild. To do this, you have to find the waypoint in the town. In Eden, it’s the fountain.

  Standing at the fountain, I access the waypoint through my HUD and everything goes black. A few seconds later, I’m standing in front of the Black Knight’s keep in Condren. A few steps away are the steps that lead me to Faldron’s Reach. At the top, I show the guar
ds the mark of the guild. They stand aside and two of them work to pull one of the massive doors open to let me in.

  I rush to look for Cervial, and run through the hall. I search for him in the temple. No dice.

  The library is the most likely place he'll be.

  When I see him sitting behind a desk, reading a book, I let out a sigh of relief.

  I jog towards him, not wanting to waste any time since I told my boss I would be back as soon as possible. “Man, am I glad to find you.”

  He peers over the top of his glasses to address me. “Ah, commander Ace. Congratulations on the new position. I’m sure you’re as surprised as everyone else.”

  I rub the back of my head. “Thank you. Yeah, it caught me off guard, that’s for sure. Can I ask you a quick question?”

  He lays the book down. “Anything.”

  I show him the money that’s in my inventory. “I need to transfer some of this to the real world.”

  He cocks an eyebrow. “Can I offer you a piece of advice? You shouldn’t be carrying that much gold on your person. You could lose it all if something bad were to happen. What if you get robbed? Or even killed? A sensible and safe thing to do would be to put it in a bank. And an even safer and more sensible thing to do would be to store it here, at the guild’s bank.”

  All valid points but I’m not here for a lecture. “You’re right. I’ll do that later, but right now I need to get back to work and need to transfer some money fast.”

  He folds his hands. “Duly noted. Simply visit any bank and tell the clerk that you would like to make a transfer. There’s a small amount of paperwork, and some identification and verification requirements upon setting up the account, but it’s relatively easy overall.”

  I slap the desk. “Great. Thank you, Cervial. I must be going now.” I start to leave.

  He stands. “Will you be returning later? The guild is preparing a celebration for killing the first Daemon and you are the guest of honor, as you should be since you were the one to slay the beast.”

  Pause. “Me? The guest of honor? Gee, that kinda puts me on the spot. I’ve never received such praise before.”

  Cervial grins. “Well? Shall we be expecting you?”

  “I don’t see how I can pass that up!”

  “Excellent. I will let the Guildmaster know that you will be in attendance. Oh, and, Ace. The party starts at six.”

  I make my way to the city bank and wonder what I’m going to tell my wife. I’ll have to think up of some excuse for coming home late from work because I can’t miss the celebration, being the guest of honor and all. I shouldn’t be too late, though. I mean, it’s a party inside of a game. How exciting can that really be? I’m sure I’ll just get on stage, say a few words and call it a night.

  Okay, Hollywood.

  At the bank in Condren, I transfer some funds and put the money into my personal bank account, not the joint account that I share with my wife. And I don’t transfer all the money because I want to keep some in Alterlife in case I need it. Also, because I don’t want anyone asking questions, or any holds to be put my account.

  I want to surprise Jenny with what I’ve built with Ace, but still need to make some more money first before I can quit my job and do this full time. By the way I see it, another good raid or two should set us up nicely and I’ll be able to do just that. I’m sure that after she sees how much I can make in the game, she’ll take it more seriously and let me treat it like a job.

  I hand my boss the money but don’t tell him how I came by it, reassuring him that it’s legit.

  Mr. Lee takes the cash and shakes my hand. “John, I didn’t expect you to pay me back so quickly. And with interest at that.” He puts the envelope full of money in the top drawer of his desk and locks it shut. “But I’m sure glad you did. And I’m happy that whatever it is that you’re doing is working out for you.”

  “Thank you, sir. Yes, things are starting to look up for me for once.”

  “Should I drug test you?” he asks with a grin.

  “Dammit, Mr. Lee, I’m not a drug dealer. I told you the money’s good,” I reply with a smile.

  He nods. “Alright then. Well, hopefully things aren’t working out too well for you. I’d really hate to lose a skilled operator such as yourself.”

  I fold my hands behind my back. “I appreciate that, sir. Really, I do.”

  The clock on the wall says it’s fifteen minutes after five. Past quitting time and nearer to the party. If I don’t leave now, I’m going to be late. And I’d hate to miss my grand entrance. I tip my worn out trucker hat. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Don’t be late,” he tells me, humor thick in his tone.

  “You know I haven’t been late a day in my life.”

  He raps his knuckles on the desk. “I know. Take care, John.”

  “Don’t spend all that money in one place,” I tell him at the door, pointing at the desk where he stashed the money.

  I jump back in the truck and drive like a bat out of hell to get back to my buddy’s apartment so I can make the party on time. He’ll be home, which I think is kind of strange since I’ll be in Alterlife while he’s doing whatever. His house, though.

  I use my key to unlock the door and find him hooked up to the NueView, a cigarette hanging from the corner of his mouth.

  “Grady, come on, man. I’ve been letting you use the system, but I told you I needed to be back in Alterlife by six.”

  “Yeah, yeah, I hear you,” he speaks, eyes wide behind the lenses.

  I watch his pupils dart around behind the contacts that are lit with small circuitry. Freaked out by what it looks like from the outside, I wave my hand in front of his face. Nothing. It’s like he’s here, but…not. Automatically, he takes a draw from his cigarette.

  I shake my head and go to the fridge for a drink of water. Gotta be sure to use the bathroom before I log in. Last time I pulled a full six hours in the game I nearly pissed on myself and didn’t even realize how bad I had to go until I unplugged.

  After quenching my thirst, I return and find Grady taking off the NueView.

  He takes one last drag before putting the smoke out on his large glass ashtray. “Nothing like a daily dose of Caribbean sand and a woman with a tan after a day at work,” he states.

  “That one again, huh? Don’t you ever want to go anywhere else? I mean, you could literally go anywhere you want.”

  “That’s my heaven. Why would I want to go anywhere else?” He walks to the fridge and cracks open a beer. “It beats that world of wizards and dragons that you and your nerd friends live in, that’s for sure.”

  I set the glass down. “Funny.” I go use the bathroom, wash my hands, and return. “Speaking of which, I need to be getting back to that place now.” I sit in the recliner which is warm from where he’s been sitting, and hook up. “What are you going to be doing?”

  “Drawing dicks on your face, more than likely.”

  “Quit playing. I mean it, man.” He leans on the counter and waits for me to log in. I shake my head in warning. “I swear, if you do, I’ll kick your ass.”

  “No, you won’t.”

  “And I’ll take my system elsewhere. Say bye bye to your Caribbean life,” I tell him and put the contacts in after sanitizing both of them and the Brainwave with the NueView cleaning solution. I put the headpiece on and strap the power pack to my chest. “Hey Grady, I’m serious. Don’t mess with me.”

  He puts his hands up. “Alright, damn, I won’t. I was just kidding. I’ll just stay in my room and watch a movie or something like a good boy.”

  After I see him go into the bedroom and close the door, I text my wife.

  baby, not gonna make it back on time. gotta work late. see you at home. love you.

  I turn my phone off and put it in my pocket.

  Log back in.

  Back in the city of Condren, I go to one of the many Tailor shops and purchase their finest clothing. It’s nice dressing up for a change. I’ve ne
ver been able to afford this black, silk, button up shirt and fancy pants in the real world. And I won’t feel out of place because I saw other people dressed like this as they walked up the keep’s steps. In most games, from what I remember, people just show up to a special occasion in whatever they’re equipped with, including weapons and armor. Those valuables add to the prestige that you’ve built around your character.

  But this is much classier.

  As I adjust my collar, I approve of this attire much more.

  Outside the Tailor, I hit the city streets in the evening light and the air is crisp, the night full of promise. My spirits are high because I’m about to introduce myself to the world. Ace, commander of the Black Knights, the greatest guild in Alterlife, slayer of Daemons, wielder of the weapons of legend.

  John. Heavy equipment operator. Husband. Father.

  In that moment of consciousness, I press the Amulet to my chest, close my eyes, and realize that everything that matters in my life is at home eating supper right now. And I’m missing them.

  But I’m reminded of why I’m doing this. My family is everything—my world, my dreams, my hopes, my future.

  What I’m doing in Alterlife is the chance of a lifetime.

  I’m doing this for them. To give them a better life. That’s what a man does. It’s his duty.

  “You’re running late for your own party,” a voice all too familiar says next to me.

  I turn to find Deana dressed in a delightful red evening dress, her long, auburn hair tied up behind her neck, standing behind me. “Deana! Nice wig. I thought you were never going to step foot near Faldron’s Reach again. A little too close, don’t you think?”