The Cheater's Return

by Brian McGoldrick

  Patrick's eyes turned colder than the void between worlds. "Just watch me. It may take decades or centuries, but I'll destroy it in the end."

  Patrick looked at Vincent. "Vinny, do you have any interest in the unique Inheritance Class of a Class Emperor follower of a God?"

  Vincent's eyes narrowed. "A Rank 9 Class? What kind of Class? Is it strong?"

  "Dark Marauder. You can think of it as the ancestor of the Shadow Knight, only more violent and brutal."

  Vincent almost frowned. "I am going to triple-class, but that might work for one of them. Let me think about it."

  "No problem."

  A voice came over the loudspeaker. "This is the Captain. We are on final approach to the City of Mann. For your own safety, it is suggested that all passengers fasten their seat-belts, at this time."

  * * * * *

  As he followed Morgan through the airport, Patrick looked around. Everything had a clean, well-maintained appearance that was seldom seen in Yukon City.

  Other than the neighborhoods for the rich and the City Council Building, Yukon City was in a state of perpetual decline. When a building reached the point of collapse, a new, more poorly constructed building would replace it. The city's airport was no different. Yukon City was dying.

  From the airport alone, the City of Mann gave the impression that it was still thriving.

  Vincent adjusted his pace to walk next to Patrick. "Quite the difference from the old Yukon City neighborhoods, is it not?"

  "Yeah. With the declining production from the mines, Yukon City is dying. We were living in one of the richest mining regions left, but more and more mines are being shut down. I wonder what will happen to the city-states in that area, when all the mines are played out?"

  Vincent looked around and lowered his voice. "If you can get access to historical records, you should look through them. The Earth is dying. With the level of our resources and food production, we should not have enough, but somehow the Church keeps juggling commerce and supplies in such a way as to keep the city-states from collapsing. At the same time, they keep the city-states dependent on the Church. The City of Mann is the only more or less self-sufficient city-state in the world."

  Patrick frowned. "That doesn't make sense."

  Vincent glanced upward. "I think the Church keeps us out of space for a reason, and I am far from alone in that belief."

  Glancing upward himself, Patrick scratched his chin. "Could be."

  Putting his hand on his fat stomach, Patrick froze in place and looked around.

  After taking a few more steps, Vincent halted and turned around. "Is something wrong?"

  With a confused look in his eyes, Patrick started walking again. "No. I just had a weird feeling, like I was being watched."

  Vincent looked around at the thousands of people scattered around the airport terminal. "I think a lot of people are watching us. Though, most of them appear to be focused on Raven Goddess."

  Patrick's frown was so intense that it was clearly discernible on his fat face. "None of them are hostile. I had a cold feeling, like someone was ready to attack."

  As Patrick's party exited the terminal, a man in a trench coat, with his features concealed by his hat, stepped out from behind one of the pillars supporting the ceiling. No one in the crowd paid any attention to him, and after a minute, he turned and left the terminal by a different exit.

  * * * * *

  The infirmary under the City Speaker's House was filled with all the latest medical technology, including equipment that was not available outside the City of Mann. It contained a five-bed general ward, four private rooms, and an operating room. The underground facilities dated back to the founding of the City of Mann and were constructed underground for increased safety and defensibility. They were among the most secure locations in the City of Mann.

  Two of the beds in the general ward were occupied by Mi-Cha Song and Chin-Sun Song. Both of the girls were still sedated.

  "Ma'am, if there are no problems, we will bring them out of sedation now." The whipcord lean doctor was on the latter side of middle age, and his eyes had a sharp intensity more suited to a soldier than a surgeon.

  "Please, proceed." Morgan's voice was nearly devoid of emotion. Since stepping out of the scramjet in the City of Mann, she had, once again, donned the frigid persona of the Immortal Ice Queen.

  The doctor nodded his head. "Yes, Ma'am."

  One after the other, the doctor attached electrodes to the heads and necks of both girls. After observing the displays for the equipment, he made adjustments to the settings and waited.

  Patrick, who considered himself to be extremely knowledgeable in regards to technology, had no clue what the devices attached to the two girls were. Though he stared intently at the displays, he could not decipher the meaning of readings on the screens.

  After a few minutes, Mi-Cha groaned and rubbed her eyes with her hands. As she felt the electrodes on her temples, she went to remove them, but the doctor grabbed her hands, stopping her.

  "Miss, leave those in place, until I tell you otherwise."

  Mi-Cha struggled, but the doctor's grip was like iron. "Huh? What? Where am I? Who are you?"

  "I am a doctor and you are in my ward. Please, calm down." The doctor had a bedside manner and demeanor that would have been more appropriate to a jailor than a physician.

  "Mi-Cha, relax."

  "Fat Pig! Why am I here? Where am I?" Mi-Cha's voice tripled in volume.

  "The City of Mann. I kidnapped you. You won't be getting out of here until whatever the Church did to your mind is undone." Whether intentional or not, Patrick's tone bordered on condescension.

  "You fat bastard! Let me out of here!"

  Patrick shook his head. "Sorry, Mi-Cha. Can't do it. It's for your own good. Hate me all you want, but you're not getting out of here."

  Abruptly, Chin-Sun sprang to standing position on her hospital bed. "Let me and Sis go, disgusting pig!"

  As Chin-Sun leaped toward Patrick, she spun in midair and struck out with a spinning back kick, but as Patrick casually grabbed her foot, she stopped dead. After gaping at Patrick in wide-eyed amazement for a second, she used the foot he was holding as a pivot and snapped a roundhouse kick at his head.

  Catching Chin-Sun's other foot, Patrick's fat lips parted, showing his big white teeth. "Pink. I never would have taken you a pink panties girl."

  "Disgusting pig! Pervert! Put me down!"

  With a shrug, Patrick released both of Chin-Sun's feet.

  Thud!

  Chin-Sun tried to break her fall and was only half successful. "Ow! Fat Pig, you bastard! Why did you do that!"

  Patrick chuckled nastily and looked at Mi-Cha. "She's not as good you were at her age."

  Mi-Cha glared at Patrick. "You bastard! You're never serious! Everything is a joke to you! I hate you!"

  Even with the layers of fat concealing his expression, Patrick's face seemed to turn cold. "I'm almost out of time. Should I get all depressed? Should I run around bemoaning my fate? What do you expect me to do? What do you want from me?"

  Mi-Cha's face twisted into an agonized expression. "Get mad! Hate me back! Anything! They made me hate you! They made me hurt you! And you just make jokes!"

  Patrick sighed. "I could never hate you. You were my only friend. I hated the Church. I hate the Church, but if I let you see that, you would have reported it. I couldn't give them the satisfaction. I hate the Church, more than anything. If I had the power, I would bring them down."

  Silent tears started to run down Mi-Cha's cheeks, and her voice dropped to a whisper. "I didn't want to hate you. You were my friend. I just wanted to beat you. I wanted to outdo you. I wanted to win just one time."

  "Sorry, Mi-Cha. The thing I'm best at is fighting. You never had a chance."

  Mi-Cha's expression flicked between a frown and a smile. "I know. You're a fat, obnoxious bastard, but you were always the best fighter. I hate you, and I hate myself more."

  Mi-Cha
sighed, and her shoulders shook. "Help Chin-Sun. Please. She's never logged into Primacy Online . Not ever."

  Morgan stepped up next to Patrick and looked at Chin-Sun. "You are in the City of Mann. My city. There is no need to obey the draft. As long as you never log in, the Church can never do anything to you, but you will have to live out your life here. If you leave, I can no longer protect you."

  Chin-Sun stared at Morgan for a bit, before turning to Mi-Cha. "Sis, I'm not afraid. I want to play, but I don't need Fat Pig's help. I don't need a babysitter. I'm an adult, now."

  Mi-Cha shook her head. "It won't be like the Arena League matches you watch. The matches have rules. You don't know how dangerous Primacy Online can be. If you make one mistake, you'll die. Please, Chin-Sun. What will I do if you die? Go with Fat Pig. He really is the best, and that woman next to him is the second best. Learn from them."

  Mi-Cha looked up at Patrick. Standing a full two meters tall, he towered like a giant over her 150cm height. Seeing the difference between them, once again, Mi-Cha frowned and tried to hide the fear in her eyes. "I don't need you, either of you! But I'll go with you to keep Sis happy. You should be grateful to me!"

  Patrick laughed at Chin-Sun, and seeing her blush in embarrassment and glare, he laughed harder. "Yeah, whatever. Just don't get in my way."

  With outrage displacing her fear, Chin-Sun clenched her fists. "Fat Pig, I'll be better than you! Just you wait! I'll be so good, I'll make you cry!"

  "Doctor is the cryogenic chamber ready?"

  The doctor turned his attention to Morgan. "Yes, Ma'am. We can freeze her at any time."

  Morgan met Mi-Cha's eyes. "I have people researching the Church's mind alteration, but as yet, they have no way to reverse what has been done to you. We will store you in cryogenic suspension until a cure exists. Once you are resuscitated, you will be able to live the rest of your life as you choose."

  Mi-Cha returned Morgan's stare. "Why are you doing this for me?"

  "Because Crom Cruach asked me to." Morgan's words were delivered in a tone that suggested it was the most natural thing in the world.

  Mi-Cha wiped away her tears and looked at Patrick. "Thank you."

  "I missed my friend."

  Mi-Cha looked down. "Freeze me, now. Please. I don't want to keep hating you, like this."

  "Doctor." Morgan delivered the single word with a tone that made it a clear-cut order.

  "Yes, Ma'am."

  The doctor gestured toward the door. "This way, miss."

  "Hey, sis! Wait for me!" Chin-Sun ran out the door, chasing after her sister.

  Morgan stared at the empty doorway, until she heard another door close, and turned to Patrick. "What do you think of the girl?"

  Patrick frowned, and after a few moments, he shrugged. "She's pampered, high strung, self-absorbed, self-indulgent, arrogant, and completely lacks situational awareness, but she has passable reflexes and agility. Since she was a child, she has always judged people on their looks. Attractive people are good, and unattractive people are bad. She's always hated me because I'm fat. Just keeping her alive is going to be a problem. I don't know if she has any worthwhile skills. I don't know how we'll make anything useful out her."

  Morgan laughed. "Do you not dislike her?"

  "Not particularly."

  "Do you like her?"

  "Not particularly."

  * * * * *

  With Morgan at his side, Patrick faced Vincent, Laura, and Chin-Sun. After telling them the truth about there being only one world for Primacy Online and the quests that the QCP had given him, he carefully appraised their expressions and demeanors.

  "Just to be certain you understand, the QCP is my enemy. It will try to manipulate me through the quest system. It might try to destroy me. My purpose is to destroy it and break the game. I think there may be a way to accomplish it in the Tower of Balor. Are the three of you sure that you still want to risk running with me?"

  Vincent gave a single bark of laughter. "I have never run from trouble in my life."

  Laura gave Vincent a sweet smile. "That is true. He usually jumps in with both feet and looks for something to hit."

  Patrick gave Vincent a thumbs-up. "I always knew you were a badass, Vinny."

  "Insufferable man."

  Looking sidelong at Patrick, Laura rolled her eyes. "Wonderful. You will probably encourage my man to achieve new levels of idiocy."

  "I always consider my actions carefully." Vincent pointedly did not look at his wife.

  Laura sighed theatrically. "At least, the war will not be boring."

  As she watched the nonchalant behavior of the others, Chin-Sun could not keep the fear out of her eyes. "Stop trying to scare me off, Fat Pig. It's not working."

  Patrick shook his head. "You don't have to come with us, brat. If you stay here and keep an eye on Mi-Cha, no one will blame you."

  "I'm going!"

  Again, Patrick shook his head. "What do you plan to take for a class?"

  For twenty seconds or so, Chin-Sun stared at Patrick with a blank look on her face, and then, she smiled ingeniously. "The same class as Fire God."

  "Huh?" Patrick stared at Chin-Sun with the same kind of blank look that she just had.

  To the side, Vincent and Laura were obviously struggling to keep from outright laughing.

  After five or six seconds, Patrick shook his head. "Fire God doesn't have a Class. No Arena League sheathe does. They have a collection of custom created Abilities that usually follow a single theme. I thought you were an Arena League fan. How could you not know that?"

  Fire God was considered to be the ace sheathe of the Yukon City Arena League team, the Northern Warriors. It was not a character sheathe and did not have a normal Class. Unlike normal character sheathes, Arena League sheathes were not tied to a single person. Over time, counting fluffers, they would be used by many people, in some cases, dozens or hundreds of operators had used a single arena sheathe before its destruction.

  The Arena Leagues were a form of gladiatorial sporting events that had replaced the professional sports from before World War III. The Arena League athletes that operated the sheathes were media stars that did nothing but train and put in public appearances. They did not Level or Rank their sheathes up. All the grunt work of grinding out Levels and Ranks was done by fluffers, children from poor backgrounds that were too young to play Primacy Online .

  As a group, the Arena League teams in a city-state sponsored challenges in their city. The only purpose of the challenges was to test talent for the game. Those children with a high potential in specific areas were either marked by the Arena Leagues as potential, future operators or recruited as fluffers.

  While Chin-Sun stared at the floor, Laura looked on with a faint smile. "Crom, you have no understanding of the mind of a teenage girl. She does not care about the Leagues or the sheathes. It is just one or more of the operators that have caught her attention."

  "Oh." Due to the layers of fat giving his face the shape of a beachball, Patrick's expression was blank, but he could not hide the disgust in his eyes.

  "Child, do you know what the game Classes are?" Laura's voice was softly encouraging.

  "No."

  Laura sighed softly. "What are your interests and talents? Have you never played any of the VRMMOs? Do you have any martial arts experience?"

  Chin-Sun turned toward Laura. "The only games I play are RTSes. Mi-Cha has been training me in karate and hapkido for years, but I really don't like sparring with her. She always wins."

  "Real Time Strategy, eh? Are you any good at it?" Patrick's voice held a hint of interest.

  With an air of superiority, Chin-Sun looked over her shoulder. "I was first in the Yukon City qualifiers for Elemental Invasions, and I've been at least Top 500 ranked in any game I played seriously."

  The evil glint in Patrick's eyes made Chin-Sun shy away. "Keep your distance, pervert!"

  "You're not thinking…" Laura's voice trailed off.

  "Necro."


  "That is cruel. What girl would want to play with dead things?" Laura's bland expression and tone concealed any thoughts she might have had.

  "What do you call the Council of Witches, then?" Patrick's pretense of innocence was not very convincing.

  Laura frowned. "A pack of psychotic shrews. Do you not have your own issues with them?"

  Patrick frowned. "I only fought that bitch Wasser the Vile. She went through her undead like they were disposable junk. I have no clue how she had enough Mana to keep summoning like she did."

  Anger filled Laura's face. "The Councilors and Delegates drain the Mana and life from their followers. They are the most despicable parasites I have ever heard of. They kill their loyal followers time and again, just to make things more convenient for themselves. I have heard that many of the lower-Level members of their organization develop severe mental problems and commit suicide in real life."

  Laura paused and met Patrick's eyes with a level stare. "The entire Council of Witches has joined Primacy Online VI as volunteers."

  Patrick's eyes revealed a gleam of cold malice. "So? We can kill them for real this way."

  Laura nodded and turned her gaze toward the silent Chin-Sun. "Child, what do you think of being a Summoner. Instead of fighting yourself, you would control your summons to fight in battles for you."

  Chin-Sun grinned. "That sounds like an RTS."

  Patrick frowned. "It's similar, but it's not the same. Summons are not as predictable as computer AIs. You need to manage them a little differently."

  Laura laughed, but when she spoke, her voice held clear admiration. "So says the greatest Shadow Knight."

  As Chin-Sun looked back and forth between Patrick and Laura, her confusion was obvious. "What is that supposed to mean?"

  Staring into space, Laura smiled fondly. "Shadow Knights are not Necros, but there are those among them that can raise armies of the living dead that number in the tens of thousands. Watching Crom Cruach destroy the armies of the Church Crusaders with his legion of skeletal knights and archers was like watching an artist at work. He painted the field of battle with the blood and corpses of the Church's dogs."

  Chin-Sun's eyes narrowed, and she glared at Patrick. "I'm going to be a Summoner. I'll be better than you, Fat Pig. My armies will crush yours!"